Chapter 20
She had finally reached the large golden gates that lead into star haven. As she neared, the way opened, and she was lifted and carried upwards by unseen forces. High up into the sky… a few minutes passed, and now she was in a small deserted village… starflowers bloomed and glowed almost joyfully, while a small stream of pure water seemed tranquil.
Silence filled the soft scented air. The ground was white sand, which was so soft it was like walking on silk-threads. She took off her shoes as a sign of respect to the citizens of star haven.
Humans were rarely allowed here. One time Mario was allowed. Before him, no human had set foot in star haven in hundreds of years. Then again, every once in awhile, a human would die and become a star spirit. The princess's mother was in transition, waiting for a star spirit to retire so she could take their place.
The star spirits looked completely human, but were actually a type of angel. The women had wings of the color they represented, feathered and birdlike, while the men had sleek gray ones like shark fins… currently there were three women and four men. On the dark spirit side, which was a completely different place, there were four women and three men.
The spirits were very fond of Avalon. She was one of the only four beings living in the land below that had the mark of the spirits. Avalon and Link had the good mark, while Cherry and Bowser had the bad. Cherry's mark was fading, however, so soon she would be neither.
"You've got three minutes to spare!" A star kid chirped and smiled at Avalon. She had never been to star haven before, and she was lost.
"Which way do I go?" She asked, sounding a bit worried.
"Up to the top area, and straight ahead on the stairs." He shimmered, as all the star kids did, and watched until she was out of sight. "Good luck your highness."
As she stood in the hall of the great spirits, they were not visible at the moment, for she was a mortal.
"It is I, Queen Avalon of the Mushroom Kingdom! I have just one favor to beg of you! I know how to make everything right again. I want Bowser to be as kind and noble as Geno, and Leo to be silenced as King Wart is."
She waited in silence. It lasted a few minutes but it seemed like an eternity. Seven forms appeared from the darkness. They all looked stern and were human.
One of the star spirits was a woman with white hair, and a tranquil colored blue dress. She was the only one who approached the nervous princess.
"Your wish will be granted." Her eyes shimmered a white-silver as she grabbed the princess's staff and snapped it in two violently. "However, your relics are counterfeit. I'm not sure how you will get home safe."
The queen seemed a bit confused. "No! They can't be fake! I had them locked in the ritual room! I've never even moved them since the day I got them! How can it be?"
The spirit in the blue dress was the only one who would talk to the princess. "I hope you get home safe, your highness, but this is your last wish. We cannot make it so."
She nodded. "I thank you for letting me come before you, and as long as my people prosper, I don't care what happens to me at all."
The woman smiled at her kindly. "If you make it back home, you have earned another wish through your unselfishness and loyalty to us. Now hurry home while you still can…"
So as if she had fire at her heels, she ran down the stairs. This was the spot where the spirits had carried her up with their unseen powers. A gentle wind pushed at her, and she fell down the crevice and into the warm soft arms of Geno.
She blinked in surprise. "Geno? You're human!"
He smiled. "Yes, I am. I was granted a wish after fixing the star road. I am a Star Spirit to be, and I will escort you safely home."
She fell asleep from the magic the star spirits cast as they granted her wish. Her memories of Star Haven were washed away, as the memories of everything that had happened in the past six months.
