Chapter 5: Trip through Memory Lane

It was late evening when Bella and Rosalina were back on the Comet Observatory. Toadsworth had walked with the pair back to the royal palace to help pack all of the items that the princess would need for the trip through space.

Rosalina felt a large amount of relief. She was no longer hated or being blamed for everything that happened when Bella was a child; she had done everything she could for her, and now everyone saw that fact as well. Sure, Rosalina wasn't her biological mother, but it was still like she was a second mother to Bella. In addition, the fact that the princess's memory was restored meant that Rosalina wouldn't be a complete stranger to her. Their relationship would be similar to the day that Bella had defeated Bowser the first time.

The squeals of lumas echoed through the observatory as the two had boarded. "Mama is back, and so is sister Bella," they cried, surrounding the duo as they walked in. They hugged the princess causing her to giggle. 'It's just like old times' the Queen thought to herself.

It really tickled Bella to see the lumas again. She had been raised with them her entire time on the observatory. She had always played games with them, and read stories to them as a child. The lumas were as much as a sibling to Bella as she was to the lumas, and she really loved them with all of her heart.

Rosalina brought the princess into her room. Bella's bed was still in the same place as it had been when she had her 17th birthday a few months before: right beside queen's. They slowly brought all of her things into her room, Bella's eyes catching the starbunny which still lay on her bed. She picked the stuffed bunny up, and her mind moved backwards in time to when Rosalina took her to the special planet she had played tag with the lumas and starbunnys on.

She remembered meeting Junior there, and how they had become great friends over the next few years, constantly playing together. Her heart beat a little faster in her chest. 'I wonder if he's doing okay' she thought as she put the starbunny back onto her bed.

Rosalina helped the princess arrange all of her clothing, supplies and possessions in around their room. "Thanks mom… I mean, Rosalina," Bella said hugging her metaphorical mother.

"You're welcome sweetie," the Cosmic Queen replied a comforting smile on her face. "Come, I will get you some dinner."

….

The two sat down in the kitchen, eating some starbits, just as they had done for all the many years before Bella had learned of the existence of her real parents. In essence, it was like old times; the two sitting at the same table keeping one another company. It was as if nothing had happened between the princess and the queen. This feeling of normality made Rosalina begin to tear up.

"Rosalina, what's wrong?" Bella asked, finishing the last of her starbits.

"I'm okay Bellatrix. I'm just thinking back to the day everything happened, and when you fought Bowser," She replied wiping her eyes and tears that had fallen down her face. "It just feels weird, both of us sitting here again."

She got up from the table, and hovered over to the window to look out at the stars.

"Bella, I owe you an explanation for not telling you about your parents."

The princess looked intently at the Queen waiting for her to talk. "Go ahead."

"I never meant for everything to turn out the way it did." Rosalina started. "I just wanted you to have a happy childhood." She continued. "When you were young, Bowser tricked me, and made me think I saw your parents die. I just didn't have the heart to tell you that they were your parents." She stared at the ground. "That day, I thought they were gone forever, and I vowed to step in and take the place of your mother and raise you to have a normal life. I had no idea that Bowser had tricked me until after Toadsworth showed up and had told me they had detected your mother and father again." Rosalina turned back to look at the princess, more tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry I lied about everything, Bellatrix."

The princess stared at Rosalina, pondering what the Queen had said for a few seconds. "Rosalina, I'm sorry I was mad at you the day Toadsworth showed up. It really hurt me when I found out that you lied, but I realize now that it's because you loved me," she replied, getting up and walking over to stand beside Rosalina.

"You showed your love for me when you saved me from Bowser, putting up your force field when he charged at me. I could have died had you not rescued me from his attack. If it weren't for you giving me some of your magic, I could have never defeated Bowser the first time," She said grabbing the Queen's hand and leaning her head against her shoulder. "You raised me as your own, and gave me a part of yourself. Thank you."

"I love you Bellatrix," the Cosmic Queen replied, a comforting smile on her face.

"I always will love you too Rosalina. As long as we are together, I know that we will be able to find Mario and Peach again." the young princess replied, the pair turning to look out the window to look at the vast array of stars. The sound of lumas crying "Awe" could be heard in the background.

….

"Is there any sign of my parents today, Rosalina?" Bella asked, walking into the observatory's control room.

"Sorry Hon," the Cosmic Queen replied, turning to the princess with a saddened on her face. "I wish I could say I had some better news, but there is still no sign of them according to the comet computer."

It had been 6 months since the King and Queen of the Mushroom Kingdom had been kidnapped by Bowser again. Rosalina and Bella had been searching the universe far and wide, looking amongst many galaxies to try and locate the Royal Couple. They had even looked for them at the center of the universe where Bella had fought Bowser before, but never found them. So far, their efforts had been in vain, and had still not yielded any results.

All of the stress of travel, and anxiety over her parents being missing was beginning to take a toll on the young princess. A few tears started running down her young face. "We're never going to find them, are we?" Bella asked the Cosmic Queen.

Rosalina hovered over to the princess, and took her by the hand. "Come with me dear. Let's go and have a talk," she said, leading Bella up to the observatory library, the two sitting down beside each other on a couch.

"I had another nightmare last night that my parents will be lost forever," Bella sobbed, more tears flowing down her face. "I just don't know if we'll ever see them again."

"Bellatrix, you can't think that way," the Queen replied, wrapping one of her arms around the princess's shoulder. "It took us many years to find them the first time, and we've only been searching for a few months now."

"When you were a baby, and your mother left you in the Mushroom Kingdom, I made a promise from the day I began looking after you. I promised to keep you safe, and find your parents. We may not know where they are right now, but I assure you: I can sense they are alive, and we will find them."

"Do you promise me that?" Bella asked looking into Rosalina's face.

"From the bottom of my heart," the Queen replied, a comforting smile across her face.

Bella hugged her metaphorical mother tightly. "Thank you."

A/N: Awe, things are semi-normal again on the Comet Observatory. Bella also now understands why Rosalina never told her about Mario & Peach: To protect her innocence. Now that the duo have talked, they can try to find her parents once again; this time with love, trust and support similar to when they were together before.

The problem is: Where are Mario and Peach located? Stay tuned for the next chapter!