Chapter 11 Hunted

Celia groaned. Her head felt like it was on fire. Her hair clung to her scalp and cheeks, her forehead was caked with sweat. As she laid in the hospital bed, she had to use all of her self control to keep from passing out. Her vision was already starting to go black. Noises were starting to blend together into one echoing symphony.

She could barely make out Aqua standing above her. The Princess of the Lake Kingdom's silky, hazelnut colored hair was hanging over Celia's face. The fibers tickled her nose, causing her to sneeze. The Princess gave her a look of disgust as she wiped the liquid off her face, but Celia hardly cared. It now felt as if her nose had shattered.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice could be heard. Celia saw what appeared to be a floating white blob. Her mind immediately jumped to "boo," so she naturally freaked out. She tried to jump up, but Aqua restrained her. She could barely hear Aqua talking to her.

"Celia, calm down. This bonneter is here to help you."

The white blob floated up toward Celia. It looked like a nurse's hat with eyes and little stubs for arms. In its hands was a syringe.

"Hold on sweetheart, just give me a second."

Before Celia could say "that hurts like World Eight," the bonneter injected the formula into her arm. To Celia's shock, her vision, hearing, and headache cleared within less than a millisecond. She sat up in the bed and rubbed her eyes.

"Uhhh…" she groaned. Aqua leaned forward.

"Are you feeling better?"

"I...I think so." Celia turned toward the bonneter. "What was that?"

"Essence of one up," the cap creature said with a cheery tone.

"Ah," Celia said with a nod of the head. "That makes sense."

A silence befell the blue walled hospital room. Celia held her hand to her forehead, rubbing it like it was a magic lamp. The bonneter glanced at the Princess. There was a very real sense of wonder in her eyes, as well as what appeared to be reverence. She started to bow.

"Princess Aqua…"

"Please, no need for formalities," Aqua she held up her hands. She leaned on the side of the counter that housed the sink, a first aid kit, and a box full of scalpels. "I hate formalities."

"Oh," the bonneter nurse said. She chuckled, which Celia found fascinating considering she didn't appear to have a mouth. Really, how was she talking at all? Telepathy? "Well, if that's the case, I might as well treat you like any old country bumpkin."

"Sounds good to me," Aqua said dryly. Celia leaned forward on the bed, closer to the bonneter.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it," the bonneter said. "It's all in a day's work." She examined the half Koopa girl. "I must say, you do look rather pretty."

Celia blinked in surprise.

"Me? Really?"

"Of course! Your skin and hair really compliment each other, and your eyes look like garnets." She laughed. "Any guy would be lucky to have a beauty like you."

Celia blushed. Aside from Roy, she had never heard anyone compliment her on her more koopa like features. It brought her back to the first time Roy had ever told her that he liked her. It had been a moment that will forever be ingrained in Celia's memory.

Of course, this memory acted as a double edge sword. She recalled how dead set serious Bowser had been on kidnapping Aqua. He had really been riding on the hostage negotiation going well. As she thought about this, she started to feel sicker and sicker and sicker.

"Celia?" Aqua asked as she leaned toward her new friend as she was turning green. "Are you alright?"

Celia was about to speak up, when all of a sudden another bonneter rushed through the door. This one also resembled a nurse's cap. His eyes were wide with fright.

"Fedora!" He shouted at the bonneter who had given Celia the injection. Fedora looked concerned.

"What's wrong, Beret?"

"A Koopaling has been spotted outside in the street! We need to put the hospital in lockdown!"

Fedora's eyes grew wide. She turned toward the two girls.

"You heard the man. Get down behind the bed while we lock the doors."

Aqua instantly grabbed hold of Celia's hand. The two crouched down on one side of the bed seconds before the room went dark. Celia heard the click that signified the locking of the door. As she huddled in a pack with Aqua and the two Bonneter's, her sick feeling started to accentuate. Because of this, it seemed like hours before Celia heard the all clear ring out on Beret's walkie talkie.

"Whew," Fedora breathed a sigh of relief once the lights came back on. "That was close."

Beret and Aqua also breathed sighs of relief. Unfortunately, the most that Celia could do was stare down at the floor as realization hit her like a freight train. Bowser was, without a doubt, furious at her. Sure, she had saved Aqua. But by doing so, what had she risked? Her good standing with the Koopa King? Her place in the Koopa Kingdom? Her relationship with Roy?

The answer was all of the above. Celia groaned and put her hand to her forehead as she fell to the bed.

"Oh my developer," she groaned. Aqua looked down at her with worried eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"Bowser is probably upset with me."

A moment of silence befell the scene. Aqua blinked not once, but twice.

"So?"

"So, that means that I am in big trouble! If Bowser or any of the Koopalings were to find us, then that means my life is over! I'll never be able to step into the Koopa Kingdom again!"

Aqua snickered.

"Okay. I don't see why you would want to, but whatever."

Celia shot the Princess a glare.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Aqua looked at Celia. Her eyes and mouth gave of an incredulous shine.

"Seriously? You don't see anything wrong with being around a race of people who kidnap princesses for their own gain?"

Celia's glare grew angrier. Her eyebrows scrunched so low over her eyes that the muscles in her face hurt. She stood up and faced the Princess.

"Number one, my father just so happens to be part of this 'race who kidnaps princesses.' Secondly, the koopas have been very kind to me! They treated me like I mattered when humans and Toads didn't! They treated me like an actual person!"

Aqua stared at Celia, but not with sympathy. Celia actually couldn't pinpoint what emotion that the Princess was feeling. Aqua scoffed and shrugged her shoulders.

"Okay. If you wish to believe that my kidnappers are nice people, then I guess I can't stop you." She sighed. "That still doesn't change the fact that you and I are now being hunted."

Celia became concerned. Aqua was right. The Koopalings might be her friends, but that hardly mattered now. She betrayed them. She was now on their wanted list.

"Oh man," she moaned. She placed her hand to her forehead again, for her headache was starting to return. "How are we going to get you to the Lake Kingdom without being spotted?"

Suddenly, Celia heard Fedora and Beret clearing their throats. She glanced at the bonneter, who were smiling with their eyes.

"I think we might be able to help with that," Fedora said slyly.