Chapter Text
The princess was running for her life. She could hear the guards getting closer and closer. It took her remaining strength to keep running simply because getting caught was out of the question.
Getting caught meant getting arrested or, worse, going back to the palace. The results were unpredictable and would only hold her back from helping the ones crying out to her at night.
Why, she cursed herself, why didn’t I bring more to eat?
She cut through the trees, hoping to extend the distance between her and her pursuers. She found herself back on the road several snags later and, on the horizon, could make out a run-down carriage.
It seemed though they would be her last chance.
…
Two rather cunning elves made their way along a dirt road. They walked beside a repurposed farming carriage, old but reliable. They walked with a sort of swagger, as a successful endeavor meant they left a small village with more riches than they had brought in. With the desire to obtain even more, they were heading towards the center of the kingdom. Their business was risky but rewarding.
“Do you hear that?” The taller of the two asked, breaking the silence.
The shorter elf nodded.
“Sounds like running.”
They stopped in their tracks, halting the horse, and looked at each other. They shared the same worry. If they were caught…
“Wait, no,” the tall one retconned. In the distance, a lone figure raced down the path. Whoever it was was fairly clumsy, and as they got closer, he could see it was because they were wearing a dress.
He waved his hand off. “Eh, it’s just some weirdo. Come on, let’s go.”
However, before either of them could move on, the figure started calling out.
“Wait! Please!”
The figure finally reached their carriage, catching her breath. She had long, platinum blonde hair over an eye, and a dark cloak over herself. She was rather tall for a human, they observed, though the cloak made it difficult to observe anything more.
“You must hide me! Please!”
The elves looked at each other once again, raising an eyebrow each. It was an odd plea to hear in the middle of the woods. It was a little concerning, too.
She must’ve realized that as well. “I’ll-I’ll pay you! Please , I–”
“Say less,” the shorter one interrupted, pointing to the back of their carriage.
“There’s some room in there,” he hesitated. “Probably.”
She hastily hid in their carriage, throwing random bags over herself. They were heavy but large enough to do the job. A small gap allowed her to see outside, though not very well.
A moment after she hid, she saw three mushroom guards stop the two elves.
“Halt civilians!” the captain exclaimed, trying to square himself up to them. “We are in search of a thief. Have you seen a young woman in a cloak around here?”
She held her breath.
“A thief?”
“Cloak, eh?”
“Blonde hair?”
She could feel her heart rate race. The added information wasn’t too promising on her part. She hoped, no, prayed that the carriage supplies were enough to hide her from sight.
“Yes! Exactly! Where did you last see her?”
“Well…” the tall one began.
“There was some lady down by the fork over there–”
“–asking us for directions. She ended up goin’ the other way, though.”
The captain shot a look at the rest of their brigade, “To Diamond City! Of course, she went that way–I TOLD YOU GUYS.”
Immediately, the toads turned around, too caught in hubris to realize they’d been poorly lied to. The elves waited for them to leave earshot before turning to each other.
Simultaneously, they burst out laughing.
“Idiots!”
Yet, she still held her breath with anticipation. The sound of steps coming her way caused her to tense in place.
“They’re gone now,” the tall one opened the back of the carriage to reveal her hiding spot. No longer terrified for her life, she could take a good look at him. His hair, like hers, was swept to the side, although it didn’t cover his eyes. A thin mustache complimented his long face, giving him an overall sinister look that made her weary. He flashed her a cheeky grin, “Time to pay up!”
She sighed, really only promising payment out of sheer desperation. A part of her hoped they’d do it just for the sake of helping another.
Slowly, she left the carriage, additionally noting how uncomfortable it was back there. She could have sworn they had bags just filled with metal.
“Oh, of course. Payment,” she deeply regretted leaving without more coin and dug into her pockets desperately. She had used all her money, resulting in the stealing fiasco she just escaped from. She had her wand and the grand star she used to power it, but there was no way she would let strangers even take a look at it.
“So…um…what are your names?” she asked to ease her awkwardness and buy time.
“Of course, m’lady !” The tall one did a small curtsy. She was beginning to dislike him intensely. “From out of the great Kingdom, I am–”
“–that’s Waluigi, and I’m a Wario,” the shorter and significantly more muscular one, Wario, interrupted.
Waluigi sharply exhaled, his regal demeanor changing in an instant. “ I thought we were using fake names! “
Wario fired back. “Oh yeah, like last time? When you kept forgetting yours?!”
Grumbling, the purple-clad man crossed his arms and turned away.
“The name’s Waluigi.”
“I already told her that.”
“I wanna tell her my own name.”
“That’s stupid.”
“You’re stupid.”
She held her hand out before their bickering could grow into anything more. Having no other option, she saw it would come down to the ring on her finger.
“Um. Here,” she continued awkwardly, still holding out her palm. Waluigi was about to say something before Wario snatched the silver ring.
“It’s not gold, but it’ll do,” he grinned, admiring the aquamarine set in the middle. “ So shiny… ”
She sadly watched him toy with it until it was snatched again and returned to her. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
“You dunce!” Waluigi scolded Wario. “We can’t take that!”
“ Wah –why not?!”
The princess nodded in consensus. As much as she didn’t want to get rid of it, it was only fair. “It’s real, I can assure you both.”
Waluigi shook his head, “That’s exactly why we can’t take it. It’s way too expensive. If those guards were being honest, and you really are a thief, you’d be effectively framing us!” He glanced at the part of her blue dress that was exposed under the cloak, which she hid as soon as she noticed.
“I hope someone like you is just too naive to know any better,” he finished coldly.
She felt her face redden, “You don’t know me. I was trying to repay you for your generosity.”
The looming man scoffed at both her and the term “generosity.”
“Just keep your pretty ring and go, girlie.”
Wario stood in between them, flabbergasted. He hardly saw how he was the dunce accepting expensive jewelry. He could handle a few more warrants.
Nonetheless, the elven men promptly left her to her own. She stood silently, watching the horse-drawn carriage disappear in the distance. Once those toads realized they were tricked, they would be back on her case, and there was no point in sticking around for that to happen.
…
She had been walking for hours on the rough path, hungry and lost. She sensed that night was fast approaching, and she still hadn’t made it to any town to rest. At that point, even prison sounded nice.
Eventually, she found a stump to sit on off the road. Taking out a journal and pencil, she settled that there was no better time to write than now.
Entry 3:
I encountered two eleven men today. My journey may have been cut short if it weren’t for their help, and for that, I am forever grateful. I, however, hope not to meet them again. They seemed very underhanded, though not outwardly. I only remember their names because they started arguing about it.
The shorter one of the two, Wario, I believe, was more agreeable than his companion, if I can recall, Waluigi. I got the feeling he didn’t like me very much, but it was thanks to him I didn’t have to fulfill my end of the bargain.
She set the pencil down, listening to the evening birds. Waves of emotion washed over her, and she soon softly cried tears of regret.
Why do they want me to help? Anyone else would have been better suited.
Images of small, pleading stars haunted her mind. She knew next to nothing about them, but they had been calling out to her in her dreams for the past year. Visions of smoke, lava, and eggshells would terrorize her to no end. It soon became apparent to her that they needed help, and those visions were clues as to where they were.
The Dark Lands were the only place of such fire and fury; if helping those stars meant going there, she would.
Amid her tears, she did not hear a familiar horse-drawn carriage roll up.
“What. Are. The. Odds?” Wario exclaimed to Waluigi, who was now sitting in the open carriage. The princess wiped her tears and stood up.
“Odds of wha–” Waluigi started until he turned to see her tear-stricken frown. “Oh, you.”
He hunkered down and faced away from her.
Seeing these two was the last thing she expected, but she changed her mind about never wanting to see them again.
In truth, she was very glad.
Wario let out a hearty laugh. “Well, it looks like you found a good spot for camp. I’mma make dinner.”
…
She graciously ate the soup prepared for her. It didn't matter how it looked or tasted; she felt as if she'd not eaten in years.
“What was your name again?” Wario asked her between mouthfuls.
“I never introduced myself. I’m–” she fumbled on her words, realizing it would be in her best interest not to reveal her full name, Rosalina.
“–Rose,” she settled on.
Waluigi put his bowl down, sneering.
“Say, Rose, what’s a fancy lady like you doing here by yourself? Didn’t mama ever tell you it’s a dangerous world?”
She frowned at his rude remark.
“I’m looking for someone.” Well, “someones”, really.
“Uh-huh,” he drew out, eyes narrowing, “All alone?”
Rosalina took a deep breath, wondering why he was trying to aggregate answers from her. It didn’t help that she had to choose her words very carefully. The last time she was sincere ended horribly for her, and it would be unfortunate to experience that again.
She pressed her hands against her temples in frustration. “I ran away from home, okay? I’m looking for someone, I’m lost, and I’m running away.”
At that moment, it felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. She told the truth, even if it was essentially interrogated out of her.
He looked at her impassively, reaching back for his bowl. Maybe something about what she said resonated with him because he didn’t ask any further questions.
…
It was probably close to midnight now, and Wario slept right by the put out fire. Rosalina soon learned that the mustachioed man was an incredibly loud snorer.
To avoid any nighttime critters, she stayed in the back of their carriage. The wooden board she rested on was nothing like the soft mattress she had back in the palace, but it was better than nothing.
Looking at the night sky between the tree canopy, Rosalina wondered if it was fate she’d met with the two elves again.
There's a reason for everything, after all.
She was midway into slumberland, when she felt a soft weight fall onto her. Her eyelids fluttered open, but to no avail, since it was pitch black in the forest.
“Ya trying to freeze to death?” a voice mumbled. Rosalina couldn't make out who it had been, and fell asleep before she could think any further of it.