daisy sighed, adjusting her headdress for the millionth time. the topaz and diamonds shimmered underneath the warm light of her room. the ends of her short hair had been curled, and the framed her face nicely. or so, peach said. the other princess was in the bathroom, doing her makeup. daisy knew she'd be next ; but did she really care? she was too nervous. she felt as if she'd mess up.

her coronation was today ; though she and peach were the same age, daisy's father had passed recently. maybe that'd why she was so nervous. she had stepped up to become the next queen ; and the first queen that the chai kingdom of sarasaland had had in a long time. over a century, to be exact. she felt a cool hand on her shoulder distract her from her thoughts. it was rosalina. the space princess ( or queen, she never really explained that to anyone. ) gave daisy a comforting smile she had not seen since the night of her fathers death. it made her want to cry.

" you seem nervous, dear. " rosalina's voice was soothing, and quiet. it comforted daisy a little bit. a tiny microscopic bit. " would you like to talk? " the brunette thought about saying no at first, but she instead said yes. she didn't know when the next time would be that she could vent to anyone. once she became queen, she wouldn't be leaving sarasaland anytime soon. quietly, she turned to rosalina and let out a soft sigh.

" what if i'm not good enough? " daisy asked slowly, turning her gaze down at the fabric of her cream colored dress. she could hear the murmurs of the crowd already , and it made her heart swell even more with nervousness.

" oh, daisy ! you're going to be a wonderful queen. " the quieter woman said, adjusting the headdress on daisy's head slightly before she continued to speak. " we may not have gotten along too well in the past, but i will not lie to you. " with a reassuring smile, she gave daisy a small nod. " i'll could distract you, perhaps? " she asked quietly. with a nod in return, rosalina continued.

" i know you've had a crush on a certain someone..."

" you sound like a mom. "

" that's what i am, daisy. "

as the princess stepped into the large hall, she let out a soft sigh of relief. maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. pretty white lights were strung along the walls, and there were daisies and white roses arranged on every table. daisy had made sure that her friends got the tables closest to the stage, the one she'd be standing on and reciting the oath to become queen. she smoothed out her dress. this one was the nicest dress she had ever had ; and she loved it immensely. it fit her tomboyishness in her opinion. the dress was white, with sleeves that went down to her elbows and a skirt that stopped just above her ankles. it was made of silk, though on top was a shimmery layer of fabric with little, white daisies sewn onto it, and a big white sash completed the dress entirely.

daisy looked around the room as she stepped up onto the stage, checking the wall clock that hung in the back of room. she had a few minutes before the coronation started. nervousness started to build up again, but then -

" daisy! " she could hear luigi's excited voice behind her. she turned around, beaming at him. she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear absentmindedly. she wished she wouldn't do that. she wished she wouldn't act so giggly around him.

" hello .. ! " daisy replied quickly after realizing she had been staring for a bit too long. luigi grinned at her, though.

" i wanted .. to ask you something. " he stated softly. daisy felt a blush rise to her face as he spoke, and she felt her shoulders hunch up. could it be what she thought it was? she started to answer, when she felt a hand grab her arm and yank her backwards a little bit.

" we need to finish preparations, princess. you can talk to the guests later. " one of the maids stated, pulling daisy back towards the door of the room. but she wanted to talk to luigi and ...

' later. ' daisy mouthed at him, before being pulled out of his sight. she felt bad for that, but when royal duties arose...

all throughout the coronation, daisy couldn't shake the image of the hurt look luigi had on his face. she saw it as she stepped up onto the stage, held her head high and shoulders back. she had forced a smile onto her face. she turned to look across the crowd, giving them the royal wave. then she turned towards the archbishop.

when she had first walked up the steps that went to the door of the kingdoms largest cathedral, thousands had lined up along the sides, cheering on their soon-to-be new queen. she knew that there were more than just people from the chai kingdom there ; especially since she caught a glimpse of king totometsu standing on the stage alongside the other two kings from the other kingdoms. she couldn't help but feel pressured even more to be a better leader than her father was.

daisy pushed her shoulders back and tilted up her head. she recited the words in sarasi, her country's primary language. lifting the scepter and the sword her father once held, she turned to face the crowd. she caught luigi's eye as the crowd began to chant, their voices reaching the sky. she felt her headdress slip off, and in place, the crown of the chai kingdom now sat on her head.

and just like that, she was now the queen of chai.

the festivities went long into the night. daisy sat with her friends at the table reserved for the royal and her family. considering daisy had little to no family, she was able to bring peach, rosalina, luigi, and even mario along. and of course, bowser and all of his kids. on the promise that they wouldn't wreak havoc upon the guests. he looked so silly and uncomfortable sitting in a suit and bow tie, though ! she had to contain her giggles whenever he congratulated her earlier.

after a bit of egyptian beer, she had had more than enough. daisy wasn't blackout drunk, but she was buzzed enough that her mind was swarming with thoughts. the ballroom was stuffy, and she needed to get out. she stepped up onto the balcony that was connected to her bedroom. it was nice to be away from the loud crowds, and the constant men flirting with her. she kicked off her heels, and stepped leaned against the railing. she stared out at the sea, hearing the dolphins as the waited paitently in the harbor for the royals from the muda kingdom. she knew that once the night was over, she'd be struggling with the duties of running a kingdom herself. she would no longer be able to go to mushroom kingdom, and hang out in the sunny fields with peach anymore.

footsteps from behind her disrupted her thoughts. she turned, ready to tell another ' suitor ' to shoo off.

it was luigi.

she grinned, waving over to her childhood friend ( and crush. ).

" luigi ! i'm sorry, i- "

the queen didn't finish her sentence. as soon as he stepped over to her, he pressed his lips against hers. her face flushed, but she kissed back. daisy had never imagined that this is what kissing someone she truly loved felt like. they continued on for what seemed like forever ; and she didn't mind. she could've kept going ,, for , well, forever. he pulled away first. daisy wrapped her arms around him tightly, in attempt to prevent him from leaving her. she didn't want him to leave. and he stayed. she felt him wrap his arms around her in return, holding her against his chest. and quietly, daisy begin to cry. as queen, she figured she couldn't. queens didn't cry. they stayed strong.

but here she was.

" p-please stay. i mean, h-here, in .. " she was hushed by him. she could hardly speak through her sobs, though the comforting of luigi was enough to make her stop just a little to continue. " in s-sarasland ,, with me. "

" principessa, i- "

" please. i'll make you king - i'll do anything to keep you here, lu. " she begged, feeling hot tears streak down her cheeks.

" i can't do that, dais. i'm-a sorry. " he replied quietly. daisy looked up at him, her expression practically begging him to look at her. but he wouldn't. " i love you, but i wouldn't be fit, and-a even you know that. "

" but you don't. you haven't even tried, and- "

" daisy, my duty, is to protect the mushroom kingdom alongside-a my brother. i couldn't leave him-a behind. he .. they, need-a me."

" but i need you ! " she nearly shouted.

it was silent. and then, he pulled away. she finally caught a glimpse of luigi's tear-streaked face. he wiped his tears away, and stepped around her.

" your majesty, i'm-a sorry. i really am. "

and with that, he left daisy alone, sobbing on the balcony. she wasn't seen for the rest of the night.

her coronation was five years ago. the kingdom remained peaceful, but even the civilians of the kingdom could tell that something was wrong with their queen. some said she was over-pressured. others said that she was heartbroken.

the latter, was in fact, true.

daisy often holed herself up in her room when she didn't have to attend to royal duties or meetings. she didn't seem to find joy in anything anymore, especially after that night. she had refused to see anyone for days. even peach, who had stayed behind an extra day just to attempt to try to get her to talk. nothing seemed to work.

and then she got the letter.

she recognized the shimmery pink envelope, and the mushroom on the wax seal. sitting down on her throne, she opened the letter and let her eyes read it. it had been so long since peach had mailed her anything, and she couldn't blame her. the redhead felt her heart sink as she continued to read the letter. the mushroom kingdom was doomed. bowser had resorted to new methods of attempting to take the kingdom ( and the future ruler ) for himself. and in result, it had started war. that method, however?

bowser had called in recruitment from space. when rosalina had refused to help, he resorted to somebody else.

someone daisy knew very well.