Chapter 9: Nature Can Be Cruel Sometimes
Once Bowser had gone, taking the last of his remaining troops with him, I was alone except for the kind, shy koopa maid who tended to my private room. Knowing that she liked to feel useful, I told her to keep things clean while I was away. She promised to keep the dust at bay and the sheets smelling fresh.
I didn't bother telling anyone else that I was leaving; there was no one left to tell, except maybe the head cook. And she was beside herself right now; with the entire royal family gone, she had no one to feed - and nothing to do. I didn't particularly feel up to one of her rants, so I stayed away from the kitchen as I prepared for my journey.
I packed my old travel bag with basic provisions and traveling money, then changed into my other dress - the first one I designed with the seamstress shortly after I came to Darkland. It wasn't as fancy as my daily gown or as plain as my old traveling gown - which I would have worn if I hadn't discarded it a few weeks ago - but it would do. After slipping the slender ensemble on, I considered whether or not I should take my circlet or travel incognito. In the end I decided to take it and be open about my identity, since it might help open some doors in the future. Although I was fully aware of the threat this might bring on myself as a result.
Because this was more than just a kidnapping; it was a direct attack on my new family. The culprit had no doubt been waiting for the chance to strike - a chance I had witlessly provided. Bowser had eight children and any one of them could have been taken - or me. Grabbing a princess - or in my case a young queen - was much more common than grabbing a prince.
But like any kingdom, Darkland had only one crown prince, and Junior was it. And I didn't believe for an instant that Junior, easy target that he had been, playing outside like that, had been snatched up solely for sake of convenience. No; the kidnappers, whoever they were, had taken the King's heir deliberately.
The thought terrified me, and would have even if my new family was as common as they came. I didn't know if Junior was hurt, or cold, or hungry; the thought that he might be crying that very moment, wishing for his father - or me - to come save him made my throat tighten painfully.
My resolve firmly in place, I slung my bag over my shoulder, fastened my cloak around my neck, then started for the door...only as I reached out for the handle I paused, my eye falling on my left hand. Unlike my crown, I had instantly grown used to my beautiful wedding ring, even though it was kind of heavy. It was already like a part of me and it felt strange to take it off, but the last thing I needed right now was for something to happen to it. So, with a quiet sadness touching my heart, I slid it off and carefully placed it in the top drawer of my vanity before quietly leaving the castle.
Only once I stood outside the safety of the castle walls, I wasn't sure where to go, or if traveling on foot was a very good idea. But I hadn't much choice; the koopalings - lucky little ducks - all had their own airships, but it hadn't occurred to me to ask for one of my own, or at least for some small form of flying transportation. It would certainly have been useful as I set out that especially dark afternoon, but it was merely my own two feet that carried me away from the castle - my home.
I had traveled outside the castle before, but under much more pleasant circumstances. And even though I had studied local territories extensively, I had never actually visited them before, and I wasn't sure where to begin. Still, I was thankful that I had been born with the traits of a bookworm, and that I actually enjoyed sitting in a silent library reading for hours; I would have been completely lost that day otherwise.
Not knowing what else to do, I made up my mind and started for one of the closest, largest places I knew, and had already visited not once, but twice - Mushroom Kingdom, of course. Where else? They weren't exactly our allies yet, but I was hoping that maybe someone had seen or heard something. It was as good as any place to start looking for clues, and so I started the long trek in that direction.
I walked for an hour or so, the sky gradually brightening from murky red-tinged black to pale blue, the dark, chunky brown dirt crunching beneath my feet slowly giving way to lush green grass. Soon white clouds and a cheerful yellow sun hung over my head...and in all honesty, it felt a little strange.
Eventually I reached a quiet wooded area full of lush bushes and tall trees full of shiny leaves, with colorful and fragrant blossoms growing at the base of their trunks. The path I walked was a trail of well-trodden soil; pale brown, dry, and soft so it puffed slightly if I were to scuff my foot. The air was calm and quiet other than the faint chatter of animals I couldn't see - and then suddenly a strange squealing sound rang out.
Startled, I hurried forward and rounded a bend in the path, my cloak trailing behind me in my haste. I skidded to a stop a moment later and stared at what was before me; a brightly-colored - pink, to be exact - creature running back and forth across the path, flailing its arms and making shrill, unhappy sounds. Bouncing after it like a shadow against all the green was something round, black, and fuzzy-looking.
From my studies I recognized the pink thing as a yoshi, but I wasn't sure what the black fuzzy thing was. I could figure out on my own, though, that it wasn't up to any good, judging from its big bugged out eyes and vaguely maniacal grin. Dropping my bag, my eyes darted around for a weapon. The thought almost made me kick myself.
Junior's life - and possibly my own - was in danger and I had left home without a weapon? That wasn't just goose-witted, that was downright dim-witted. Granted, I was used to being around my husband, who could spit fire and claw his way through solid stone, and not really accustomed to the thought of fending for myself...
There was time to scold myself later. Thinking fast, I snatched up a large nut I found at the base of a nearby tree and pitched it with all my might. It clobbered the silly, bouncing thing on the head - or maybe it was all head, I really couldn't tell - and it bounced away with a frightened squeak. The yoshi stopped flailing and squealing and wiped its teary eyes. "Thank you," it sniffled.
The voice was a little high-pitched, but despite that - and despite the coloring - all my instincts were telling me that I was talking to a boy. I wondered if he felt bad about all that...pink. "No trouble," I said, bending and picking up my bag again. I looped the strap over my head and situated it so it slung across my torso, letting the bag settle against my right hip, allowing easy access while leaving my hands free.
"See you," I called absently as I stepped onto the path again.
There was a silence, and then a pair of feet scrambled behind me. "W-wait!"
I paused as the gaudy-looking creature darted around and stood in front of me. "I have to do something to repay you," he said, clasping his chubby pink hands.
"Really, that isn't necessary," I said, as kindly as I could.
I had read all about how a yoshi could swallow just about anything whole, so I wasn't really confident in how helpful a yoshi who failed to think of this could be. On top of that, his voice and mannerisms had me thinking that he was awfully young. I wasn't sure what a full-grown yoshi was supposed to look like, but he seemed kind of small to me.
"Aw, come on," he insisted, bouncing a little. "At least let me carry you to wherever you're going. Please?"
Now that I was open to. I had already traveled from Darkland to Mushroom Kingdom once before and knew that several more miles awaited me. My feet were already getting tired, and that tightness in my back, which I had managed to forget about for the last few hours, was starting up again.
"I was on my way to Mushroom Kingdom," I said.
He gave a little hop and spun around so his tail was facing me as he indicated to the little saddle conveniently placed on his back. "Me too! Hop on," he said eagerly.
As I perched on his back facing side-saddle, it occurred to me how this was going to look; the Queen of Darkland riding into town on the back of a hot pink yoshi. I was having second thoughts about revealing my identity.
"By the way, I'm Mooshi," my ride said as he took off at a brisk trot.
"Just call me Rosie."
