Hours later, Peach is still walking. This time, across a huge extension of damaged and barren soil. The hellish heat, the hunger, thirst and feetache are almost finishing her, but she's decided to keep up: she needs to save Mario and Luigi, no matter if she dies trying. Three hours of walk left until she arrives in Kork.
—How foolish I was left home without any water or food!—finishes, feeling very stupid. Spent her entire life in the comfort of a castle, just giving orders, while servants, guards and third parties did the entire hard job. Inexperienced, Peach didn't know to ready herself properly to an adventure. —I guess I'll die over there!
Some vultures are watching the princess. They're waiting for her death to feast over her body. But one of them, impatient, flies over her, attacking with it's beak and claws.
—OUCH! OUCH! GET OFF! GET OFF!
The other vultures attack too, leaving her with several superficial and some deep cuts all over. Suddenly, her thoughts turn to Mario and Luigi, the reason she left home, and reacts: with the little energy remaining, she blows the birds with her parasol, making them move away.
—BACK OFF, FILTHY BIRDS! LEAVE ME ALONE!
More exhausted than before, Peach turns to continue her way, but, suddenly, she hears angered screeches behind: all the vultures are flying furiously in her direction.
—Oh no! They're many! I need to run!
But the princess can't go too fast due to all the tiredness and everything else that drains her energy. Soon, the birds reach her and resume the attack.
"Darn it! Is this my end? Will I never be able to see my sons again?", she thinks to herself, laid, wounded, bloodstained. From far, a high-pitched screech is heard, making the vultures stop and get fearful. Peach manages to raise her head a little and sees two giant birds coming: they're eagles, whose habitat is in Kork. The butcher birds run away quickly, fearful. The eagles land near the princess, now kneeled down and a shadow covering her eyes, as if she was half conscious.
Suddenly, some kind of magical barrier surrounds the regent, surprising the giant birds. This barrier heals all her wounds and swellings, as if the vultures hadn't attacked. The tiredness and pain also vanish.
—Your Highness, can you hear us?—asks one of the eagles, a male, after some silent seconds. The shadow covering the princess' eyes disappears, and then she realizes her healed wounds, swellings, pain and tiredness.
—Did I do this?—asks to herself, unbelievably, standing up.
—Yes, Highness—confirms the male eagle. —We saw the vultures attacking someone here and we came to see who was. We live in Kork, sharing territory with Held and his people. My name is Silverado—reveals, bowing the princess.
—And mine is Selima—introduces the other eagle, a female, also bowing. —Who could say the regent of our beloved kingdom is a regenerator?
—I am what?—stucks Peach.
—A regenerator, a person with healing and regenerating powers—explains Selima.
—I don't know how I did this, sincerely… I… didn't know… Well, perfect, anyway! It'll be very useful in my quest!
—Allow me a question, Highness: are you going to Kork?—says Silverado.
—Yes, clean the mountain's water. Held asked me this.
—In that case—sentences the male eagle—, we'll take you there. We also need this water and the pollution reached concerning levels! Everyone is desperate because we can't purify the mountain! Come, ride on my back—offers, leaning, so Peach can ride. The eagles take flight to Kork. Happy for the lift, Peach stretches her arms out, letting the wind plays with her hair and relieves the heat.
