Chapter 3

Glitzville had grown by tenfold. The floating isle had now become a floating city, with lovely hotels, restaurants, and a massive casino. The glitz pit was still the main attraction, and was now three times its original size. Avalon took a carriage to the casino and at the door she was greeted. Her two toadette servants stayed by her side at all times, and a yoshi-bellhop in a red suit lead the three of them to their rooms. The princess was to stay in the royal suite and the servants next door in the just as nice honeymoon suite.

Avalon walked into her room and was surprised by the beautiful basket of fruit, three bouquets of roses and three bottles of Delfinian champagne. The yoshi put the bags in her bedroom, and started to leave. She gave him a generous tip and he left with joy on his face.

The fruit basket was filled with all of her favorites; dragon fruit, passion fruit, star fruit, and a large red fruit shaped like a dragon fruit, but having black tips on the spikes of it. A cluster of champagne grapes and quite a few lychee fruits were the rest of the items in the basket.

Attached to the basket was a small card that said diner was at seven and that the king was looking forward to meeting her very much. The flowers and the champagne gave her the same idea. She felt special, and a bit worried by it all. Why so many gifts from someone she didn't even know? It was a bit overboard, ridiculous, she felt as if she had a stalker.

But Geno's words had struck a chord in her heart. Time was fading fast and her time in the world below was almost up. She wanted a baby so badly; a little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, tiny toes and fingers, a plump little boy with an adorable smile and matching personality.

At one time she was very attached to Geno, even believed she loved him, but he made it blatantly clear that it was impossible for a relationship to work between worlds. Geno also loved a strong woman, and Avalon was anything but. Her self-esteem was strong but not her battle skills. She braided her hair and put it up in a tight bun, gritting her teeth in anger. She didn't want to leave her land. She hated her mother. How could a mother sell her daughter's soul away like this?

Her mother was once a member of the Koopa Kingdom, and worshipped the dark star spirits. The King of the Mushroom Kingdom fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage if she changed her ways. In order for her sins to be repented, she had to give her purest child's soul to the star spirits.

Avalon had been considering joining Bowser for the last few years. If she did so, she could stay on Earth, but if she joined then she would become his Queen, cursed to an eternal life of worshipping him. But still, she would be able to raise her children, if it was possible to have children with him.

"Do you like your dinner?" The so-called king asked as she sat at his table. He lived in a large penthouse in the top of the casino.

"It's very wonderful. You must have a good chef, King Link." She remarked.

He stared at her for a few moments, and as he did, his heart began to break. She really didn't remember him. Everything Geno said was true. She remembered nothing of their romance. He didn't forget anything, not even the smallest detail.

Her hair was up tighter than he had ever seen it before, in a small diamond tiara, and she wore an azure silk gown which was strapless and had a short train. Her earrings were teardrop diamonds, matching the tears he could see her trying to fight back.

"I think I should go." She announced as she stood up slowly.

He also stood. "I didn't mean to make you upset earlier. Please don't go, Ava." He called as she grabbed her dark blue cape and fastened it about her neck with the brooch. He took her arm. "You don't believe me, but I have no reason to lie. Ask Geno." He begged. "I've never been like this, but you changed me somehow." He paused. "I killed the chancellor because he was corrupt."

Avalon yanked her arm away. "That was supposed to make me believe I loved you? You are a liar and a murderer. And how dare you try to bring Geno into this! Geno would never be friends with a murderer. And right now I have little to no faith in him anyway!"

She slammed the door and headed back to her room.