Chapter 2

This had to be the world's most horrible job! Giving the great turtle-king a pedicure. Kamek was sentenced to this task for his disloyalty to Bowser. The koopa king purred with contentment and looked at all of the jarred star kids in his chambers. Kamek was given two hundred thousand gold, three star kids and an apprentice for his good idea; the student would take over in a few years and Kamek could finally retire.

"Kamek, maybe we should go on a vacation; where do you think we should go?"

Kamek stood up with the nailbrush in his hands. "We have to go to Glitzville! They just quadrupled the size of the island and put in a big casino!" He was still a bit sad that he missed the title match but was getting over it.

Bowser ran his claws through his hair and chuckled. "Good idea. I would like to go there. You are a very smart servant; until you do something really stupid to screw up your good streak."

Kamek washed the king's feet and dried them with a fluffy white towel. "We should leave for Glitzville soon. They are having a grand opening celebration for the next two nights, and lots of pretty girls will be there."

Bowser scratched his forehead. "Well, I have nothing better to do so we can leave tonight. And you promised pretty girls. If Peach isn't there then you're in for it."

Kamek sighed, and grumbled something incoherent and insulting about his master. He was promptly tripped by Bowser's tail. The koopa king began to laugh evilly as he waddled out of the room to pack his bags. He took a pair of star kids with him to use. There would be many more when he got back. The trap to catch the star kids was working very well.

Maybe too well! As the princess-now-become-queen brushed her hair, a knock came at her door. She hummed a little song as she put on her robe and made her way. Undoubtedly it was a servant with her evening tea and cookies. Tomorrow she was leaving for vacation, and she was about to pack after she had her snack.

"Just a moment!" She called in her usual, feminine voice. She turned the white porcelain doorknob and peeked out to see who it was. She jumped back in surprise, and locked the door.

"It's just me and I can't stay long. Please let me in."

She opened the door, now wearing a less revealing robe. "Geno, you shocked me! I had to change so you wouldn't see too much of my skin."

He smirked a little. "It didn't bother me at all, princess; or should I call you queen now? Queen Avalon, you took your mother's name?" She nodded, and he changed the subject. "I have a very important matter of business; you see, star kids are vanishing from Star Haven. It seems they are fleeing."

She gasped. "That can't be! Star Kids love it there! Why would they leave? No, something must be capturing them!"

"They are fleeing. We have searched high and low for anything harmful. They are leaving and we have no idea why! Do you know why? You always have a second sense with these kind of things!"

She thought a moment. "Let's head downstairs and ponder over this."

He blocked off the door as she tried to head out. "I like it in here; because of the privacy."

Avalon shrugged and sat down. "Well, maybe they aren't happy after all."

"How can they not be happy? We give them everything they need in life. They are safe and secure, have anything they wish to eat and drink, entertainment… If you were up there, you would never leave. It is called star haven because it is a haven; paradise to all."

"Maybe they're leaving because they want adventure. Perhaps they are tired of the safety of Star Haven. Even I go out for adventures once in awhile. I tire of the safety of the palace walls." She stood up and waked over to the window. "See how beautiful the world below the stars is? Down here, the land, is a haven to me, not up there." She gestured toward the sky.

Geno looked offended. "I will find the star kids and interrogate them. You must be wrong about all of this; your world is disgusting. Look at it." He glanced across the countryside with piercing eyes. "Fat men and inbred children; none of the femmes in the land are pretty, except for you. You don't fit in, I think it is time you were pulled from this dreadful place."

Avalon sighed. "It is not my time. My mother said I would see my first two children before I left, and I plan on waiting until I find the perfect man."

"You have waited long enough, Avalon. You're nineteen; you were a year and a half old when your mother was that age."

"She had an arranged marriage."

Geno scoffed. "And so did you but you had the law changed so you could get out of it. Changed because the man you were destined to marry was too ugly."

She turned away from her friend and huffed. "I think you should go. You did say you couldn't stay long, and you've already stayed too long for my preference." But Geno had already left after his last remark had been said.

The princess huffed and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Ever since Geno had become a Star Spirit, his attitude had become arrogant. Why did he want her to leave the land so quickly? She wouldn't let him rush her. She would wait until she found love before she fell into a marriage and had children.

She sat down and her shoulder was caressed. It was Geno once more. "By the way, a good friend of mine wants you to have dinner with him tomorrow night in Glitzville. He's the king there. Make yourself pretty, put on a smile and entertain him. He may be your last hope at ever being married, with your reputation for being a tease and all. Somehow he is quite interested in you."

Avalon seemed confused. "Glitzville has never had a king. How stupid! A tiny little island like that having a ruler… Delfino has no king and it's tenfold in size!"

"He's the first. And I insist you meet him. He's been bugging me for the last week about you. Well, I will tell him you accept. Wear something…. Not pink for a change." Geno nodded and vanished in a swirl of golden sparkles. Avalon began to pack, and in a moment her tea was brought. She sipped on it before she went to sleep.