Chapter 26
Just PeachyPeach was shocked and it took a while to absorb it in. She shrunk? How much? She glimpsed at her friend and realized she was above eye level with Toad's cap. She estimated she lost almost half her height. Daisy gazed at her Star Piece dreamily, filled with wonder and amazement. That Star was a fragment of the Star Road, the place where wishes were granted, and now she had some of the power. Oh the possibilities!
"Daisy!" Toad yelled furiously. "Wish for Peach to return to her normal height! Right now!"
"It's strange," Bowser said quietly to Peach. "How did the Star Piece made Daisy's wish come true – even if it wasn't exactly what she wanted – it never happened before."
"Maybe," she responded, "because we never made a strong desirous wish in front of a Star Piece. I thought the Star Road was broken completely. I guess each Star Piece still contains some magic within them."
"Me, wish for Peach to normal?" jeered Daisy. "Why should I when I have more important things to wish for? Like…" she turned to the pale yellow Star Piece, "I wish that Peach was nothing but an ugly hag!"
"You wish WHAT?" Peach cried in outrage. "This is iniquitous!"
The Star Piece started to glow again, transforming into a more vivid gold colour. Shining with brilliant light, the Star commenced to emit a beam, but the ray suddenly died. The Star Piece gleamed, then shimmered until gradually fading back to its neutral appearance. Peach, who had shielded her self, peeked through her fingers nervously at the Star Piece, which hovered idly above the throne seat. Daisy gaped at the Star in disbelief.
"No, no, no," she repeated, "this can't be!"
"Hand over the Star," Bowser commanded. "You had your sick twisted fun."
Infuriated, Daisy pivoted on her heels and faced the three guests.
"Never!" she shrieked, "I will call in my guards if you continue to threaten me!"
"Threaten?" Bowser replied wrathfully, "YOU'RE the one who wished spitefulness, not us, and you call us threatening!"
"Daisy," Peach pleaded in mollifying tone, "I beg of you. Just give us the Star, please, before anymore harm and hatred is inflicted upon our hearts. Envy doesn't get us anywhere and we need the Star Piece. If you keep it, Smithy – or whoever it is – will probably come after you and take over your Kingdom in the process!"
The soothing words hit a heartstring and Daisy's anger mitigated, leaving an empty and unsettling feeling in her stomach. The shaken tomboy paced once and stopped beside her throne seat, her lip quivered slightly before she spoke.
"Go… take the Star," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "There's a Warp Pipe in the courtyard, it should lead you back to the Mushroom Kingdom."
Peach nodded and quickly walked up to the royal seat. Daisy's back was turned, but she patted the Princess's shoulder sympathetically.
"Thank you for understanding," she whispered. With the primrose Star in her hands, she returned to her partners, tilting her head at the exit. Bowser followed her, while Toad lingered, focused on the tomboy. When the two were out of sight, the retainer took a few steps toward her.
"Princess Daisy of Sarasaland, you wonder why Peach seems to surpass you. Easy, Peach is a kind, considerate girl who will cast one's bread upon the waters for her friends and strangers alike. You, on the other hand, are so wrapped up in yourself, seeing everything through envious eyes, you don't even stop to think about others but you and how you can overshadow Peach. I know you are a good person, Daisy, but please, discard your jealously and emulousness of her. It only disrupts your thoughts and actions and I don't want to see harm come to you because of it."
Before Daisy could completely take in what Toad said, the retainer was gone.
