Chapter 6

As she was about to reply, Link was behind her, holding the small plate of fluffy angel food cake. He didn't seem to notice Leo at all. She grabbed his arm and squoze tightly, and then, feeling dizzy she stumbled. Link caught her in his arms. "You don't look so well." He announced. "You look really flustered."

He helped her over to the cold stone wall, and she leaned against it. "I feel really warm.... I need some water."

Link nodded. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

Link went to fetch her water, and as soon as he was out of sight, Leo appeared, and grabbed her wrists. She didn't feel well enough to fight back.

"Your boy toy has got to go. You belong to me. Don't you forget it." He growled as he grabbed her shoulders. "Either you tell him, or I will. The moment he finds out, he won't want you. No man wants a woman like you. You will never find a king. I drugged your wine, my dear, and I will now take you back to my palace for a few hours..."

Avalon closed her eyes, and braced herself for what Leo was going to do.

"My future queen, I haven't met this friend." Link announced as he rounded the corner, and handed her the water. "Who is he?"

"This is Leo. I speak of him on rare occasions." She shrugged his hands away. She still felt quite weak, and Leo knew that. If he wanted her again, he would need to get this stranger away.

"Ah, I have heard of Leo. Isn't he the father of Daisy's oldest child?"

Leo snapped. "I have never even touched that witch of a woman. Why, the mere thought if it sickens me. Why any man would want a used woman is beyond me." He glanced at Avalon and smirked. "Don't you agree, your highness?"

Link supported Avalon, and glared at Leo for just a moment. "My bride to be isn't feeling well. You will have to excuse us." He escorted her to a small stone bench, and sat her down. She leaned against him, and groaned.

"Oh... My head!" She leaned her head on Link's arm, and then lifted it again with all of her strength.

"Lean against me if it makes you feel better, your highness."

She leaned on him, and her head felt clear enough for her to talk. "Thank you for deceiving Leo... he drugged me, and..." She couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence. Link shushed her.

"Don't talk, okay? I'm going to carry you back to your beach house now." He picked her up and laid her across his shoulders gently, and carried her up the beach. As he did so, a few toads chased her down. One of them hurried ahead of them to unlock the door to the beach house. He looked at Link angered and accusing.

"Help her inside and then leave! I don't know what you did to her, but..."

Link laid her down on her bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she spoke softly, "He saved me, from Leo... Leo drugged my wine, and Link kept him away from me."

The toad felt guilty for accusing Link, so he humbly apologized. Link forgave him, and told him to watch Avalon closely. It wasn't a spell. Link would have sensed a spell. Avalon's hero started for the door, and she sat up.

"Wait, please don't leave me! He'll come back, I know it!" She begged, and then fell back down from exhaustion.

Link sat on the edge of the bed, and watched her until she fell asleep. The toads sat in chairs, supervising to ensure that Link was polite and kind to her. From what they saw, he was king quality. They still would not let them be unsupervised. The princess moaned and rolled away from Link, clutching her abdomen. "Oh, my stomach..."

He put his hand on her forehead. "You're not warm. Would you like me to fetch a doctor?"

Avalon clutched her stomach still. "I'll be okay. My dizziness has gone away."

He nodded. "I still think I should call a doctor. I am beginning to grow rather fond of you. I would like to go with you and be your head knight."

She smiled as best as she could, but soon passed out. One of the toads had called a doctor, and informed Link that the doctor was on the way.

"It should be out of her system by morning." The doctor looked at the vial of blood he had collected. Her blood was red, with just a few black groups of cells here and there. "The black cells are the toxin... The white cells are killing the poison, and with all of the vitamins she takes, she will be fine shortly."

The small group eventually drifted off to sleep... well, all except Link of course. He stayed wide awake, for several reasons. He didn't know where to sleep, and also he felt responsible for her highness's safety. He missed being someone's hero. In his world, he was a hero, guarding the princess, and here, he needed someone to care for.

The plane landed, and the princess's pilot, a blue shelled para- troopa, got out of the plane and ordered his crew to check the plane's workings. His crew consisted of two snifits, a blue robed shyguy, and the co-pilot, another para-troopa with a green shell. The flight attendants were two cute little shy guys in white robes.

The co-pilot and pilot oversaw everything that happened to the plane. They trusted their crew but since they were all fairly new on the job, they liked to be watchful.

Link met Deadly guy and told him to take care of the temple while he was away. Deadly guy said goodbye and Link knew he could be trusted.

"Are you nervous?" Avalon was back in good spirits this morning, apparently very excited about going home. She wore a red sundress with white spots. It was knee length, and she wore matching sandals, her hair up in a red bow. She took her off sunglasses, they were red and star shaped. She was adorable to Link.

"Slightly." He admitted. "What is this thing?" He questioned. "How does it fly, without wings?"

She chuckled. "It's a jet airplane, and I don't know how it works. I leave that to the pilot. It's his job to know how it works."

Link nodded. "Makes sense." He paused. "I want to find out how it works. Maybe I'll ask the... Pilot?"

She laughed happily. "You know what? I'm going to enjoy showing you around my kingdom tomorrow. Tonight we will have a good night's sleep in my palace, and tomorrow we will go out in Mushroom Town. I need a new wardrobe anyway, so we will stop by the tailor and get you some knightly outfits. I want my head knight to look like he should."

He nodded. "I wish you wouldn't spend money on me, your highness."

She blushed. "I've never had a knight that I actually wanted around me. I want to buy you gifts, and after all, you should look like a proper knight, don't you agree?"

He smiled at her. "You are a one of a kind person. I still wish you wouldn't spend so much on me. I haven't earned it."

She giggled. "Oh you will. As often as I get attacked..."

He smiled. "How many days will it take us to get to your kingdom?"

"It's a one hour flight." She announced, as Link buckled himself into his seatbelt, copying her. He had never seen one before. "I'm going to paint my nails again."

"Why? You're wearing red on your fingers and toes, and they look beautiful."

She smiled. "I know, but it gives me something to do. Right? They will just be finished when we land."

Link nodded. "I want to ask you something, your highness... that man at the party last night... why did he drug you? Why was he talking to you like that?"

She sighed, and rubbed some lotion on her hands. "Leo wants me to be his queen, yet I do not love him. Leo is Bowser, in human form. After all of the evil things he's done... He's the eldest son of the head dark star spirit."

Link gasped. "And you are the only daughter of the head light star spirit."

"If we were to marry, which will never happen... I will die before then... Our child would be a catastrophe. I am barren, unless I have a member of the star kingdom, either side, be the father of my child. Even then I am only allowed to be pregnant one time. My mother made it that way to ensure my safety."

Link nodded. "They Daisy is not of the star spirit kingdom?"

Avalon nodded. "She is a member of the dark star spirit kingdom... or she was. They took her essence away. She was soiling their name with her actions."

Link scoffed. "She was removed from power. That's why she hates you?"

"My middle sister, Cherry, is a member of the dark spirits. She doesn't bother me, but her and Daisy fight quite a bit."

"This is all so confusing...." He yawned. "Is it okay if I sleep?"

Avalon nodded. "Go ahead. I will wake you when we get there."

He watched her for a few minutes, but fell asleep shortly thereafter. Avalon watched him. She had never seen him sleep, and it was amusing to her. He didn't snore, but he did drool a little bit. She finished taking the polish off her nails, and putting on the first layer. She sat and thought; her fingers and toes dried quickly.

By the third coat of the red lacquer, the plane started to land. Link had slept through the takeoff, landing, and everything in-between. Otherwise, he probably would have been a bit frightened.

A shyguy poked him, and stared. Avalon was already off the plane, but she didn't have the heart to wake him. He looked so peaceful.

Link shook awake, and looked confused. "What happened? Where is her royal highness?"

The shyguy pointed towards the open door. A few yoshis cleaned up the plane. One was vacuuming the red carpet; another was picking up the cotton balls she had soaked in polish remover. Link watched them for a moment. "We landed??"

The shyguy nodded as shyguys do. They rarely spoke. Link grabbed his leather bag, and walked down the stairs and out of the plane. He could see Avalon sitting on her brown horse. She had shiny black hooves, muzzle, mane and tail. Avalon hadn't seen Link get off the plane yet. She kissed her horse on the top of it's head, and scratched behind it's ears. The horse seemed to be enjoying the attention, as it arched its neck and whinnied in happiness.

"Your horse is beautiful." Link announced, as he approached her, his pouch over his shoulder now. "Does she have a name?"

"Chocolate." She replied. "I got her about three years ago, and... well, she's the color of chocolate... and I love chocolate."

"What is chocolate?" He questioned. Avalon's jaw dropped.

"You poor deprived man..." She whispered. "Tonight you will have chocolate for dessert." She pointed. "Oh, and here comes Licorice.... "A pure black stallion was being led by about ten toads. They all held the rope to keep him from throwing a fit. He didn't like to be separated from his mate. "I will ride him. He is very temperamental, but for some reason, he adores me."

Link took Licorice's rope from the toads, untied it, and got on the horse's back. He whispered something in Licorice's ear, and he was calm.

Avalon whispered something to her horse, and held on tight, as the horse bolted off, up the paved road of red brick. Link commanded Licorice, and followed Avalon's horse.

All of the toads on the runway bolted in fear.

Large trees shaded the path the pair rode on. Roots jutted out of the brick making the pathway uneven. Avalon's horse leapt over all of the undulations, and continued quickly toward the palace.

Licorice snorted, and without Link's command went faster, and was soon right next to Chocolate and Avalon. Chocolate also snorted, and went even quicker toward the palace, a brown streak and nothing more. It was obvious the horses were very competitive, and as they neared the white iron gates, Chocolate was in the lead. She stopped before Licorice did, right in front of the gates, so Avalon could dismount. The horse got on it's knees so Avalon could easily dismount.

She did so, and after she was off, Link and Licorice stopped. Link got down, and a pair of toads opened the gates.

"Welcome home your highness..." One of them was red spotted and in silver armor. He bowed, and his partner did the same.

A few snifits came and took the horses, leading them off to a stable that was to the far right, made of fine stone, decorated with carved images of horses, and shaded by large oak trees.

The toads followed the queen and her friend, and as soon as they were safely inside, the gates were shut and locked tightly. Inside, the path was made of white shale, with soft moss growing in the cracks. Link marveled at the beautiful cherry trees, in full bloom, lining the pathway. Behind the trees he could spot Yoshis. They were learning combat from a large gray koopa.

"Yoshis! Hundreds!" He exclaimed as he pointed.

She nodded. "Yoshis are a very valuable member of my kingdom. These are the patrollers. They walk the palace grounds, or at least they will when training is completed." Avalon skipped ahead. "I'm so happy to be home again." She announced. "You see, I love vacation, and your paradise and all, but this really is my paradise. I like feeling safe, and I only really feel safe here."

He nodded. "Yes, I understand what you mean. You see, I only feel happy when I have someone to defend. Odd isn't it?"

"Indeed!" She announced. "When we get inside, someone will show you to your room. You can take a nap, if you wish. Tonight my friends will be visiting. I will come up at four and help you find something to wear, and show you how to work the shower too."

They walked inside, and Link was in awe at the beauty and wealth in the palace. There was a gold staircase with star shaped post-toppers of silver, and the stairs themselves were lined with rich red velvet. The top of the room was what seemed like a thousand feet high, with a stained glass globe as the cieling. It was a beautiful picture of the star spirits, and star haven.

"How pretty." He announced. "I am sure they would be very impressed to see how adored they are by their people." A huge fountain was at the center of the room, a large sliver basin with golden star shaped ornaments squirting water. Link approached it, and looked at it more closely. Koi swam in the water, and hid under the large blossoming lilies as he approached.

She smiled halfly. "Oh, they know. They came and built the ceiling after Bowser destroyed the old one. My mother sent me that fountain from star haven. The best artisans live up there, and in Nimbus Land."

As she spoke, a snifit decked in green and black approached Link, and bowed.

"This is Theo. I guess that he is your attendant. Now he will show you your room, and how to work everything. At seven he will come and get you, to lead you to the dining room. I have a few people who want to meet you."

Link nodded, and followed the snifit. As they headed up, he watched Avalon. Four proper-dressed toads approached her, and lead her to the throne room. He recognized the insignia of the crown over the doorway.

That evening, dinner was silent. The princess's advisors didn't know what to say. An odd looking boy appeared at the palace, and was now eating at the head of the table, opposite the queen. That spot was known as the 'knight' spot, only an honourable person could sit there. The thing that worried them was how handsome he was, and how polite. They had never had a polite guest. Mario and his brothers were all sloppy, and talkative.

The princess ate her meal of watercress and wild mushroom soup, and a simple green salad with duck breast and yellow pear tomatoes. Link had never eaten food quite like this, but he found it quite tasty. The advisors watched him carefully, and all held their tongues, though they wanted to say something; to ask him who he was, and what he wanted of their princess.