CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Queen Daisy sat up in her throne, suddenly paying very real attention to the man in front of her. With her black silk gown and veil, she was very intimidating. Her turquoise eyes glittered, her brow furrowing. She stroked her chin thoughtfully.

"Why was I not informed of this sooner?" she asked quietly.

The little man trembled. "Forgive me, Your Majesty, we were told only a few hours ago, and you were busy with State Affairs…" His eyes shifted to the sides of the court, full of silent courtiers and nobles. He gulped.

The Queen of Sarasaland sighed. She waved an impatient hand, saying, "It is not your fault. Thank you for telling me, Ghais. You are dismissed." When he had scampered out gratefully, she closed her eyes, the only respite she had time for.

A few seconds later, she opened her eyes and sat up, every inch a queen. The Queen turned to the herald standing next to her throne.

"Call in the pilot of the fastest messenger ship we have!"

Everyone was enjoying themselves, reviewing the day in the Great Hall. Dinner had not yet been served, yet from the smells coming from the kitchen, it would be as appetizing as anything Kirly and her apprentices had made so far.

A guard was leaning against a pillar outside when a sudden noise caught his attention. He straightened as a small messenger ship landed smoothly on the lawn. His head tipped curiously as a young boy ran out of the ship, clad in full royal regalia of Sarasaland. The boy noticed the guard and, accompanied by his own, ran to him. He bowed, and what he said sent the guard running to find a servant. The guard bade the boy wait as a servant hurried to tell April of the messenger.

Lyssa and Michael had just piled the food onto the table. Grilled pork with a mango glaze, steamed white rice, roast beef, garlic mashed potatoes, French bread, salads galore, and so much more were haphazardly piled on the groaning table. As they made drink rounds, a servant rushed in, her hair disheveled and her cheeks flushed.

"Miss April, Miss April!"

April looked up. "Yes, Sara, what is it?"

"A message has just arrived from Sarasaland!"

Peach and April both froze, and looked at her expectantly. When no message came from the servant, April asked, "What is the message, Sara?"

The servant bowed, embarrassed. "My mistake, ma'am. An actual messenger has come. He is waiting outside right now."

"Bring him in!" She nodded and ran to fetch him.

By this time the whole table was looking curiously after the servant. Mario took Peach's hand, and waited. Kirly stepped out of the kitchen, arms crossed and eyes hard.

A few minutes later, she reappeared, tugging a boy of about thirteen or so behind her. He was neatly dressed in a black jacket with a cap on his short blond hair. A red pin with a large symbol, signifying a Sarasaland messenger, was pinned onto his the right side of his velvet jacket. He and his guards bowed low to Peach, Zelda, Marth, and then to April. He cleared his throat, and spoke in a loud, clear voice, free of cracks and shivers:

"Her Majesty, the honorable Queen Daisy of Sarasaland, is pleased to inform you that in three days time, she will make a pilgrimage to the Smash Mansion, with a small entourage of one hundred, composing of 75 guards and 25 maidservants. She comes to offer support and protection from our common enemy." He bowed again and stood, his hands clasped, waiting for a response.

He got one from Kirly. "Three days? Aiyah!" She looked around the room nervously, every out-of-place detail popping out. "This place is in no sta'e to gree' a Majesty!" She clapped her hands, and servants rushed into the room. "I need this whole Mansion cleaned by the time Her Majesty arrives in three days! No time wasted! Get to it, go on, get!" The room was filled with the noise of scrambling servants, and Kirly's shouted instructions.

April sighed, and said to the messenger, "Tell the Queen we shall be glad to welcome her, and we wish her a safe journey. Sara, please find them rooms for the night."

He bowed and thanked her, and smartly turned on his heel, the servant guiding them out.

Protests immediately started pouring out from several Smashers.

"This is ridiculous! We have come here to continue a tradition of fighters, not to get involved with court politics!" Ganondorf protested.

"I think it's a bit more that petty court politics," Peach said quietly.

"April, we cannot house one hundred more people!"

"Yes, we actually can. Wait, Lyssa, run after that boy. Ask him how long will she be with us." April turned to Ganondorf and said, "We cannot ignore a royal degree. If she says she is coming, she's coming. That's royalty."

He sneered and said, "Yes, we all know how annoying royalty can get." He looked pointedly at Zelda, who crossed her arms and said, "That wasn't me. That was Link!"

They both looked at Link, who put up his hands defensively. "I'm staying out of this."

Peach was thinking the proclamation through. She spoke up, "How can we fit one hundred servants and one Queen? Sure, the house is big, but not that big…"

"The technology here is incredible; we can put in some numbers and location, and the technology can put it up quickly and efficiently."

Peach nodded, thoughtful. "Alright. We need one big commons area for the soldiers, right across from the apartments where Daisy and her maids will stay. I say we build one right behind the mansion."

"That sounds good."

"Wait, if a queen comes here, then the… attackers would have a double target and would be more likely to attack."

"People with flashes would come, too." Popo shivered, remembering.

"Could she come in disguise?"

"How could you disguise a queen with a procession?"

"I don't know!"

"I think it's the only way. We need to inform her, but the messenger will probably stay until she comes and only then will he leave. That's too late."

Lyssa came back in. Above the din, she said, "He said she would probably stay here for several months at least."

Ganondorf huffed.

"Thank you, Lyssa. Bring them some food and drink. We need a runner."

"What I don't understand is why we can't just message her."

"Sarasaland prides itself on being technology free, for the most part. They wouldn't have phones and computers, and they wouldn't take messages if they did."

"That's really annoying."

"Who's the fastest?"

Everyone stopped debating and looked quietly at Sonic, who was unaware of the sudden attention. He looked up, spaghetti hanging from his mouth. "Oh, God. What?"

"We need you to run a message to Queen Daisy. Tell her the only way that is safe enough for her to arrive is in disguise. All of her guards and maidservants, too."

He sighed, slurping in the rest of the spaghetti. Everyone waited in silence. "Okay, fine."

April and Peach sighed with relief. Sonic stood up and stretched, saying, "When do I leave?"

Leave for what? April turned to face the doorway. Chiarina was standing in the Dining Room doorway, her face scrunched up in confusion from the chaos surrounding her. No one else had seen her yet.

April stood, and while Kirly and Medina (who had been standing in a corner watching with amusement) rushed to her sister, exclaiming.

While the rest of the Smashers debated every aspect of the situation, April and Chiarina had a talk.

When did you get here?

A few minutes ago. I need to talk to you and Peach. Alone. Leave for what?

Apparently, the Queen of Sarasaland is coming for a little visit, to sum it all up shortly. And Sonic has to deliver a message to her in three days.

April! In Sarasaland?

I know! But we can't refuse!

This is awful.

I know. Welcome home.

They looked at each, a defiant look in their eyes.

Chiarina sighed quietly, shushing the cook and her niece. She backed out of the room.

Where are you going?

I'm not ready for a confrontation just yet. Meet you with Peach outside after dinner.

Okay. Chiarina, I'm sorry-

It's fine. We have a lot to talk about. Even though Chiarina said it was okay, the look on her face told April otherwise.

April sighed, and focused on Sonic, who was receiving directions to Sarasaland from Peach, Mario, and Luigi. He nodded, trying to remember all of the details they were throwing at him.

"I have one more question. What are we going to disguise Daisy as?" That came from Snake, who had been quietly summing up the situation in his head.

A laugh came from Medina. He looked at her, for the first time realizing it was the teen Captain Falcon had been with.

"What?"

She stepped forward, her multiple piercings shining and her purple hair shimmering. She grinned at Snake. "I really enjoy this assignment."

April looked from her daughter to Snake. As soon as she realized what was going on between them, she shook her head. "No. Medina, no."

Medina stomped her foot. "Come on! No one would suspect a thing!"

Snake looked at her. "What? What do you have in mind?"

"Rockers. Piercing, colored hair, music, the whole nine yards."

As Snake contemplated, April turned towards Medina. "If you really think the Queen of a huge land would dress up as a rocker-"

"Actually, I think she would like that." Peach entered the conversation. "She's a tomboy at heart, not one for wearing dresses. As long as it's black, they would do it."

April looked to Snake, who nodded thoughtfully. "As long as their willing to do it, I guess."

Medina laughed triumphantly. April sighed and sat down again. "Sonic, you can leave after dinner. Medina, gather items the procession will need and give them to Sonic. Let's eat first."
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Peach followed April onto the darkening veranda. As they entered a sitting area, Chiarina rose to greet them. Peach gasped and said quietly, "Chiarina! Oh, my God."

Chiarina bowed and said, "Good evening, Peach. Please, take a seat. I have a lot to say."

They all sat, and Chiarina took a deep breath and started.

"When the man kicked me out of the window, I landed in shadow, so he couldn't see me when he came out. I tailed him and his followers into the forest. A few hundred miles from here, they have set up a headquarters of sorts. It's an old mansion, much like this one. They call themselves the Brotherhood, and their symbol has been reappearing throughout the world since last March."

Peach unconsciously touched her wound.

"It's a curved triangle with an eye in the middle. Very simple, but effective. In at least thirty-four countries, it is regarded as the symbol of highest evil. I entered the headquarters as a servant, and what I overheard disturbed me. Apparently, they are planning another attack."

"When?"

"I couldn't hear. But I know who they are going to use to conduct it. A Count Hugh Jackson, does that name sound familiar?"

Peach shook her head, thinking. "He must be from Daisy's court."

"Also an advisor Kilper, and Ambassador Burius."

"Now those sound familiar. My father's favorite advisor, and Daisy's father's closest ambassador from our kingdom." She shook her head. "So many traitors. It breaks my heart."

"All three are apparently captains in this Brotherhood, and all are at Daisy's courts, serving as her personal advisors and trustees."

"If they are her favorites, then surely they will hear of her traveling to the Smash Mansion."

All three ladies looked at each other, horror sketched on each face.

"Oh, my God. They could kill her when she is traveling here!"

They all leaped up and ran into the Great Hall, where everyone was sitting.

"SONIC!"

He spun around, tripping on himself. "What what what?"

Peach bent down and whispered in his ear while the others exclaimed around Chiarina. She smiled and waved away their worries, assuring them she was fine. She looked at Peach, who looked at Sonic, who nodded, his face set with determination. Medina walked into the room, dragging a huge duffel behind her. She dumped it in front of Sonic.

"I hope you can carry one hundred pounds of clothes and make-up for seventy miles, dude."

He tested it, making sure he could. He shrugged, saying, "Easy. Okay, I'm ready."

One hour later, everyone was in their rooms, not necessarily asleep, watching Sonic as the blue blur raced to tell the Queen of the traitors.