Wow. I haven't updated in awhile. Really sorry about that. Well I'm back in school so updates are going to be even slower than before. Sorry, but I'll try my hardest to write during the week if I have time. Well, in this chapter just a lot of talking nothing too actiony. (lol that's my new word.) Hope it's not too dull Enjoy!

I don't own anyone except for my character Maria. Don't use her without permission hence the reason I call her MINE.

Medicine.

Doctors.

Hospitals.

How she hated all of these things.

And Maria, Princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, never hated anything.

Except the place she was in right now.

The Palace Hospital Wing.

What a long night it had been for the poor girl. After being found by her father and uncle in a coma-like state, she had been sent to emergency room for immediate medical attention.

Maria closed her eyes in frustration.

This place was far too familiar to her.

Every since the princess was a child, she had been cursed with what the doctors called "attacks."

They simply stated that the princess had a weak heart and if under intense stress, her body would shut down for a couple hours.

To her, it was fancy talk for "We Don't Know."

Even worse, the doctors gave Maria pills to "strengthen her heart."

She vowed to never take it.

The medication would make her nausea, light-headed, and on the rare occasions, depressed. She always chose to have attacks over extreme sadness and feeling sick.

More importantly, however, the princess did not take it because of pride. While many did not realize it, Maria was proud in her strength. Though she embraced being pampered by maids, she despised being called "delicate" or "fragile." When she would step up to the throne, she did not want her people to consider her weak.

Taking medicine for her so-called "weak heart" was an insult to her very persona.

She refused.

"That's one thing I truly admire Junior for," she thought, "He believes that I'm strong and I don't need hospitals to overcome my weakness."

Sighing, the princess's mind returned to the previous evening.

"Junior... is cursed. I wonder what will happen now," Maria whispered to herself, "I... hope he's okay."

I wish we could talk.

Trying to comfort herself, the princess reached for her necklace.

It was not there.

Panic filled her mind , thinking of the possible outcomes if someone other than Toadette found it.

None of them were good.

As she was about to jump of the bed, a voice stopped her.

"Hey, cous."

"Luciano," Maria said with a false smile to hide her fear.

Her smile faded when she saw the damage Junior had done to her cousin.

The prince was in a wheelchair.

The Toad servant guided Lucian next to princess's bed and with a bow, left.

"You feeling better, I assume?" he asked gently.

"Yes, much better. Thank you," she replied, "How about you? What happened?"

"That dragon broke my ribs, two on each side," he gritted his teeth, "And my left arm is completely shattered, but they say I'll live."

"Thank goodnes, I'm so glad to hear that."

"Yeah..."

"...I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Maria," the prince stated.

"Luciano! It wasn't your fault!" she cried out, "It was a dragon for goodness sake!"

"I know..." the prince said staring at his broken arm, "I just feel terrible for not protecting you..."

"You and Junior," she muttered.

"Junior? Who's that?"

Cursing herself for open her mouth, Maria merely mumbled, "No one," and gazed at her hands.

"Was he the one who made this?" the prince asked, holding up the star necklace.

Lifting her head in surprise, the princess gently nodded, took the jewelry and placed it around her neck where it belonged.

"It's a beautiful piece," he continued, "I have never seen anything so precise or stunning... as if it was conjured by magic..."

Maria's eyes widened. There was only one race that could use magic.

Koopas.

Paralyzed with fear the princes did not move nor talk, fearing for the worst.

Luciano merely stated, "Does Bowser Junior treat you well?"

Maria closed her eyes.

It was over.

He knew.

Everyone would know.

No point in avoiding the subject.

"Yes," she said quietly, "He is kind to me."

"Good. That's I needed to hear."

The princess darted her eyes towards her cousin who was gently smiling at her.

No outburst?

No tears?

No speech about being a disgrace?

No.

Just a comforting smile.

"When?" she asked.

"When what?"

"When did you realize the truth... about us?"

"The moment I saw the necklace," Luciano said, "I always thought it was odd you were so close to the koopa whenever we held a tournament of some sort. It makes sense though."

Maria was ready to faint from. Here she was talking to her cousin about the one thing she swore never to tell anyone! Well...besides Toadette. Everything was nerve-racking...yet relieving... For so long she had wondering...dreaming...what her family would say..now she had no choice because Luciano would tell them...

Knock knock.

"Come in," the prince said.

Bowing a quiet Toad main entered the room.

"Pardon me, Master Luciano, but your mother wishes for your to return to pack since you will be leaving soon."

"Yes, of course. I'll be there in as moment. Thank you."

With another curtsy, the servant left.

"I guess I'm going home a little, cous," the boy said depressingly ad wheeled himself to the door.

"Wait Luciano!" the princess cried out, "When are you going to tell everyone?"

"Tell everyone about what?"

"About...Junior."

"Maria," the prince said softly with a smile, "I'm not going to say anything to them. You can tell them when you are ready."

"It's your secret. Not mine."

--

Sleep. How Maria wished she could.

But something bothered her.

It had been over a week since Luciano had left, yet Junior had not appeared once to her. That worried her. The princess desperately wanted to talk to the prince about everything, but there had been no word from him. And she dared not to sneak out since she had not fully recovered.

The girl listened to the clock chime midnight and remembered all those times when Junior would walk through her balcony door to visit her.

Maria wished that would happen again.

Click.

Snapping her head up, the princess's eyes stared frantically at her balcony door which slowly swung open. The worst thought came to her first: King Boo. Just as she was about to scream for help, large figure stopped her.

"Junior?!"

The prince said nothing, but slowly closed the door behind and walked quietly to Maria's side.

"Junior anwser me!" the princess said in a loud whisper, "Why haven't I heard from you? Why didn't you say anything?! Don't you know how-"

She froze, looking at the prince's eyes.

His ruby eyes...

His bloodshot, tear-stricken eyes.

Ever since that night went Junior flew away, he never stopped crying.

Even now, it looked like he was ready to break down.

Gently wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her face into the koopa's snout, Maria softly whispered the words he needed to hear.

"I forgive you."

With that, the prince began to shake and Maria suddenly realized her boyfriend was crying. Never one had the princess seen her boyfriend so vulnerable...so weak. In a way it scared her.

Yet she could do nothing.

Just calm his woes.

--

"So...will they... go away?"

"...probably not."

"Maria-"

"Junior, really, ...it's okay. It's not your fault."

The couple who had reunited the stroke of midnight, were now talking about what had happened during that long and painful week. While Junior apologized over and over again, Maria repeatedly told her boyfriend that she understood and wanted to move on. Even though the prince had nearly killed her, the moment he let go because of her plead, proved to her that the dragon was not truly Junior.

However, even with that understanding, the koopa was still filled with guilt and decided to ask about the claw marks that he had given her.

They were going to leave a scar, forever reminding the prince of what he had done.

But Maria, in all her stubbornness, simply brushed it off.

"It doesn't matter to me," she said nonchalantly, "To me, scars are just physical memories. They will always remind you of what happened, but instead of just thinking, you'll see it too. So even if they disappeared, I still remember it."

"Who knows," the girl continued resting her arm on Junior's shoulder, "Maybe they will heal..."

A silence filled the air at that moment, each taking in the quiet atmosphere. Nothing could be heard except the occasional chirping of crickets.

"You're strong. You know that, Maria?"

"...no. No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are," the koopa said seriously, "With everything that has ever happened to you...you can still place a smile on your face. Even after your mom's death..."

The princess said nothing, but kept her hugging her knees, gazing into space.

Mom...

Junior placed a claw on her shoulder and asked, "Maria? You okay?"

Mom...

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Where are you?

"I miss her," she mumbled as more tears fell, "I miss everything about her. Her smiles, her hugs, everything. She always made me feel strong. She always said I could do anything... She was my strength... Then she was taken away! And...you know what hurts the most?" The princess asked Junior with a face already turning red from her sobbing.

The prince look to her, simply asking her with his sad eyes.

"I never got to say good-bye."

Then Maria broke down and cried. She wasn't even sure why she was crying. Perhaps it was her way of trying to get over the terrifying dragon incident. Or perhaps she was just crying because she had never truly mourned over her mother's death unlike so many other people.

Junior careful surrounded the princess with his muscular arms and held her as if that would make her tears fade away. Though his gesture was caring, his face was the complete opposite. It was full of deep thought and resentment. Something was bothering him.

Finally after a moment of pondering, the koopa lovingly cupped the princess's wet face. His look was serious yet he seemed uneasy.

"Maria, I have to show you something."

OH NOES! Another cliffhanger! What does Junior need to say?! Well there ya go! Chapter 7! I really felt the last scene with Maria crying about her mom was too weak and too short. If anyone has any advice on how I could connect that better, I will appreciate it. Alright, the next chapter is probably one of my favorite scenes in my story because...well... I don't want to give it away. lol See you guys in Chapter 8: MORE ACTION! YAYS!