the next few days, Daisy stayed very quiet as she still had a few things yet to think about. She knew that Fiona and Thompson were not going to let her stay at the Hollow when they found out she had been keeping the secret of her being a princess. She was also considering going back to the dark lands to make things right with Bowser. All of that changed when one night Daisy had to fetch some water for Fiona to make dinner, she found Thompson, who she hadn't really talked to except for the few sarcastic comments, sitting by the well.

"When were you going to tell Fiona?"

Daisy put down the wooden water pail that she had been carrying underneath the pump, "Tell Fiona what?"

Thompson got up from where he sat on a log beside the pump to face her, "That you're princess Daisy of mushroom kingdom?"

Daisy was so startled by that, that she dropped her pail, "How did you know?" she gasped as she turned towards the turtle.

"I'm not stupid Daisy! I saw your face when you first arrived here when I called you princess. I also know that Princess Daisy of the mushroom kingdom is famous for wearing the light orange dress that I found you in!" Thompson explained when he picked the pail up and began to fill it again.

Daisy's cheeks went red with embarrassment as she begged Thompson not to tell Fiona about her being a princess. "Thompson, please! Don't tell her!"

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't!"

Daisy's hands went to her hips, "Because, I know you were adopted by Fiona and there's no where else for me to be right now."

Thompson looking into Daisy's eyes as they went wide like she was going to cry, "Ugh! Daisy, I'm not going to tell Fiona. But has anyone told you, you are cute when you're frustrated?"

Daisy was quite startled by that since she thought all along that Thompson thought she was just a pain in the butt. At that moment she wished that Thompson still thought that because even though it was supposed to be a joke on Thompson's behalf, that was the sweetest thing anyone had said to her since the last time she saw Bowser.

Thompson saw the light drain from her green eyes and knew he had said something wrong. So he coughed, clearing his throat as if symbolizing that he cleared the slate, "Daisy, I'm sorry. I was just kidding."

Daisy just muttered what sounded like 'I know' before she turned around and walked back down the leaf covered path to the hollow.

Thompson stood there still clutching the brown wooden water pail in his green hands. He wondered what he had said to make Daisy so sad. Maybe it was because he had been such a jerk to the fair princess since he found her that day in the woods. But that couldn't be it, it had to be something deeper than that. But what? he thought.

Meanwhile, Daisy was in the hollow helping Fiona make dinner. Fiona her self had sensed something was wrong because usually she couldn't get Daisy to shut up, now she was silent. Fiona was quite curious "What's wrong Daisy? You're quieter than usual."

Daisy just shook her head and said it was nothing. Because if she told Fiona what the real problem was, then she could just say good bye to her new found friends.

Fiona knew that Daisy had just been outside with Thompson, and she also knew that Daisy had forgotten the water pail, so something must have happened between the two of them.

"Did Thompson say something?"

Of course Thompson hadn't said anything, Daisy's head turned sharply towards Fiona, "No, Thom didn't say anything."

Fiona wasn't buying it, but she was intrigued by how Daisy had defended Thompson just now considering two weeks ago she couldn't stand him. So since Daisy's lip was buttoned so tightly, Fiona decided to speak to Thompson.

Daisy was taking an early evening, so Thompson and Fiona decided to have a bonfire outside so the wouldn't be disturbing her.

At first, Thompson just stared into the glow of the fire thinking about how the orange from the glow reminded him of Daisy's orange dress and what he could have possibly said to make the fair princess so upset. Fiona saw how quiet Thompson was being, and she really was curious to know what had upset Daisy, so being as close as she was to Thompson, she asked him what happened earlier that day when Daisy went to go get water.

At first Thompson didn't know what to say because he knew Daisy didn't want Fiona to know who she really was, and telling the whole story of what happened earlier that day would really give that secret away. So he just acted like he didn't know what she was talking about. "What do you mean Fiona?"

"Well, I send Daisy out to get a pail of water all happy as she went, and then she comes in quiet without the water pail. Now what did you say?" Fiona asked as she climbed up on the stone bench and sat down with her tail curled around her for warmth.

Thompson rubbed his green hands together as he considered telling Daisy the truth. "Uhm, I was joking around and told her she was cute when she was frustrated."

Fiona knew exactly why Daisy reacted in that way because she knew how Bowser was the type to goof around and be sarcastic and knew that's how Daisy would react when reminded.

"But I don't understand why she should react that badly?" Thompson wondered as he removed himself from the stone bench.

Fiona sighed, "I do."

Thompson sharply turned to face her before he wanted to know, "You do? Then what's the reason?"

Fiona was quite shocked and taken aback by this because the Thompson she knew was a tough turtle, didn't usually care about another person, and now he was concerned about Daisy? Fiona laughed, "My Thompson, you sure care a lot about what's wrong with Daisy."

Thompson clenched his jaw and tied to tell Fiona that no he didn't care about Daisy, he was just curious. "I'm just curious to know what's wrong with her."

Fiona wasn't buying it, she knew that Thompson had grown to care for the girl, "Thompson, don't lie to me. You care about her!"

daisy was just about to come from around the corner of the hollow when she heard Fiona say that and knew it was probably a private conversation and knew she shouldn't be listening but for some reason, her body stayed planted right where she was.

At this point, Thompson was starting to get flustered, "Fiona, why would you say that? She's annoying, she's a pain in the butt, she gets emotional at the drop of an acorn. That's not the type of girl I want."

Daisy couldn't bare to listen to any more of that because for some reason her heart began to beat as if it was about to break and she didn't want to make a big scene so she went back into the hollow.

"Is that all you think about her?" Fiona asked knowing there was probably something else behind that thick wall Thompson had built.

"Yeah, I'm a turtle and she's a beautiful human. How could that possibly work?"

Thompson said quietly instead of the tough strong voice that everyone had grown accustomed to. Fiona motioned for Thompson to sit back down on the bench beside her. When he did, Fiona put her paw on his leg before she told him, "Thom, listen to me, I don't really thing Daisy cares what breed you are. And you shouldn't either! If you care about her, you should tell her instead of denying it."

Thompson knew Fiona was right as he hugged the wise old fox. He needed to tell Daisy, but what a shock it would be. He had been mean to her since she arrived at the hollow three months ago and now he suddenly cared for her.