Chapter 24
Envious Flower
"Then everyone disappeared! It was awful and –"
"She didn't know what to do. So started to beg me to let her join the Koopa Troop," Bowser added, cutting off Peach. "It was embarrassing! But I agreed."
"Liar," she hissed in the reptile's ear, while Daisy was amused by Bowser's tale.
"I see," Daisy said, "then after a long trek in the desert my guards found you and brought you here."
"Right," the two said together.
"Um, Daisy," Peach said. "Your garden – which is lovely by the way -," Daisy beamed since she was the one who cultivated it herself - "I noticed there was an accident of some sort. What happened?"
"Nothing you would be interested in. Just some starry thing that fell into my garden."
Peach paled at the answer. Did it have something to do with those seven odd shooting stars? It couldn't be…
"I do have some important information regarding the object that fell from the sky and in to your garden," she said sugary, "but if you don't want me involved…"
"Wait," blurted Daisy. "What do you mean important information?"
"Well," continued Peach, "last night I saw seven colourful streaks of light shoot across the sky. I believe one of these mysterious streaks might have destroyed that part of your garden."
"Hm," pondered the Princess of Sarasaland thoughtfully then shouted, "Guards! Bring in the luminous asterisk that damaged my garden!"
Her voice echoed through the throne room, and a few moments later two guards, and Toad, entered. Daisy's servants both carried the primrose Star, radiating with dim light.
"Did I miss anything?" Toad asked, while Daisy received the glowing object, and the two shook their heads.
"No, but if you came later you might have," said Peach, staring at the Star. "Look at that."
The yellow Star was not huge, but Daisy had to hold it with both hands to secure it from dropping. She turned and set it down on her throne seat, and the star hovered a few centimeters in the air.
"Peach…" whispered Bowser. "That Star… it looks awfully like a Star Piece. Do you think the Star Road…?"
"I don't know," Peach accused grumpily. "Did you do anything to the Star Road when you stole the Star Rod?"
"I get blamed for everything," grumbled Bowser. "I did not do anything to the Star Road when I stole the Star Rod. Jeeze, better?"
"We better take the Star Piece," said the retainer, "Daisy might accidentally tamper with it."
"Ahem!"
The three were completely absorbed in their little conversation that they forgotten that Daisy was nearby. The Princess gave an expression of disapproval at the trio and they hushed.
"Daisy," Peach said gently to the Desert Flower, "that object is no ordinary star. It is a Star Piece and it must be returned to the Star Road."
"Star Piece? Star Road?" Daisy said, confused. "What are they?"
"They grant people's wishes," explained Peach. "However, the Star Road has been shattered into Star Pieces."
"How do I know this is true?" said Daisy. "You three have been so engrossed in your conversation, how do I know this isn't some scheme to take my Star?"
"I assure you," said Peach, "this is no trick! That Star Piece is real, and so is the Star Road. If we don't find all of the Pieces our wishes will go unfulfilled. We didn't believe it ourselves, but we saw the seven shooting stars at night and now this…"
"And the person who broke the Star Road is probably very powerful," added Bowser, sending shivers down Peach and Toad's spine. The image of Smithy and his plague of machinery servants still haunted them.
"We need that Star," said Peach, "to return the world to normal."
"Why should I give it you to!?" Daisy demanded. "I found it first!"
"This situation happened before," said Bowser, "and we were the ones who saved the Star Road"
"We? Who is 'we'?"
"Four years ago," Peach began, "a giant sword crashed into the Star Road, destroying it into seven separate Star Pieces. These fragments were scattered throughout the Mushroom Kingdom and nearby regions. I found all this out after I was saved from Booster and I knew I had to help. I joined Mario, Geno, Mallow, and Bowser, and the five of us defeated Smithy, the one who caused all of the havoc. I fear Smithy may have returned, and he'll be after the Star Pieces, including yours."
Peach finished her speech and watched Daisy's face soften into a more understanding and thoughtful expression. Princess Toadstool was satisfied that Daisy was beginning to realize just how important the Star Piece was, and hopefully how much risk she would be in if she kept the Star in her possession.
"Please, Daisy," said Peach, "Give us the Star."
The tomboy's eyes flickered dangerously at the blonde Princess. How dare she command her to give – no – surrender her Star to them! It landed in her territory! She was sick of all the praise her revered counterpart received. Peach was nothing but a bimbo masked by her sweetness and garments.
"I was going to give you the Star," said Daisy, "but your imperious commanding tone of voice made me change my mind."
"What!?" the three cried in unison.
"That's bull!" exclaimed Bowser. "That Star Piece is vital to the Star Road!"
"I know," said Daisy, crossing her arms to confirm her decision, "but I'm going to be the one to help pierce back the Star Road."
"Daisy," begged Peach in a placating voice, "I understand you want to help -."
"Shaddup bitch," Daisy snapped. "You don't understand."
"Conflagrate her," Toad muttered to the Koopa King, but Peach shook her head in disapproval before turning to Daisy.
"What do you mean?" she asked soothingly, but her attempts failed to calm the outraged Princess.
"What do I mean!?" Daisy repeated loudly. "Simple! I'm sick of you and your goody-goody personality! I hate being overshadowed by you. People commend to you, speak praise of you. They saw you are lovable, amiable, and beautiful," she leered at Peach, who flushed cerise under the hateful glare. "You go out and fight! Luigi also has the same problem as me. We both have someone surpassing us, even when we both are as skilled and talented as them! It's just that no one notices because we're not big egoists like you and Mario! I want to prove that I can be just as good as you, but your ego and so-called important conceals my abilities! I want to be the one to save the world! Oh, I wish I could cut you down to size!"
The last words were barely out of her mouth when the pale yellow star turned into a saffron colour and started to sparkle. Its glowing light increased, blinding the surprised group. Suddenly a luminous beam shot out and Peach cried as the phosphorescence emitted from the Star engulfed her. She fell to her hands and knees, teeth clutched together, trying to bear the intense pain that flowed through her body. When the harmful light abated, she was numb all over and trembled violently. Weak and still shaking, she struggled to stand, but her muscles rebelled. Toad ran up to her, kneeling beside the fallen Princess. Her strength was returning, and she managed to get up with the aid of her concerned friend.
"What… just… happened?" she gasped slowly, leaning slightly on her retainer. She was amazed he could support her; maybe the little guy was stronger than she thought. She turned to Bowser who towered over her.
"Um, Princess," Toad said nervously. "You, um, changed a bit."
"How?" she questioned worryingly. "What did the Star Piece do to me?"
"You…" Bowser paused, searching for the most appropriate word to describe Peach's transformation, "shrunk."
