[Mari]

(( TartoonHand94 Tagging for convenience~ ))

Princess Peach was working with a few toad volunteers to help clean up her castle. It wasn't in the worst of states, but it was unbefitting her most regal of friends. A room had to be prepared, and not a bare bones room either. Certain people deserved better, those who meant a lot to you. Those you wanted to know you cared about them the moment they walked in the door. ...There had to be flowers, and mushroom printed sheets, and a glass of fresh water, and lights, and a generous amount of pillows! Peach didn't often do the hard work of cleaning herself, but her staff was a bit lacking in numbers at the moment. Princess Peach worriedly stocked the room with some more necessities and even a few luxuries. Her guest wouldn't accept any less! ...Well, maybe they would--But Peach had standards!

With any luck, the room would be ready for Daisy before the other got curious enough to go exploring and find her.

[TartoonHand94]

"77...78...79..80! Yeah that aughta do it! " Daisy chimed as finished her bouquet"It may not be bushel of Pompons, but it's no Pakkun scrub either. I hope she'll like them. Naw sure she will! ...it's been so long though..."
It had been quite a while since Daisy had last seen the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom or her magnificent castle. Quite a while felt like forever, considering she was her best friend.
Daisy's duties to her own kingdom, the diverse Sarasaland, kept her occupied year round, only ever getting any free time to herself every once in a yellow moon. But any time off she'd ever get she'd spend overseas in the Mushroom Kingdom competing in Mario Tennis or Mario Golf tournaments , Mario Kart Grand Prix, or whatever Mario Party invitation landed in her mail box. Why couldn't she ever host a shindig like that in her own kingdom, she thought. Sarasaland was simply not the kind of place. They simply didn't have the coins orto spend on anything that could match what Peach hosts naturally, or the space. The Mushroom Kingdom was always a home away from home for Daisy, a magical place she wish she could just move to and live forever. To live the high life that their princess did, who'd care if she got kidnapped on a daily basis, it almost sounded like fun compared to the monotony watching over Sarasaland.

Sadly, like wishing on a prankster comet, this wish came true.
Unable to return to Sarasaland due to... unforeseeable road blocks, Daisy was stranded in what was left of the once bounteous Mushroom Kingdom.
"Whoa man... This place used to be way more colorful... I mean it's not like it's as gray or green as...sigh, Sarasaland, But hey, it's still the Mushroom Kingdom! It's always a party here! And we're still gonna have a blast together! Just the two of us... together again..." she reassured herself, clutching her bouquet, as she made her way up the rocky road to Princess Peach's castle.
"I wonder if the waterfall's still flowing. That thing was so cool."

[Mari]

Princess Peach held out her arms at her side as if to push her responsibilities away from her, taking a moment to calm herself down. The room looked fine. It looked great, really! It was missing a couple of things she'd normally want to present to such a highly esteemed guest, but these were tough times and she would just have to hope Daisy understood. Thankfully, the castle hadn't come under attack by any starvia infected creatures... yes. That was a problem she would need to solve soon, especially if she was going to house guests.

Princess Peach would step out of her castle, meandering her way onto the bridge overlooking the familiar moat surrounding her castle. The sound of a waterfall crashing nearby was the background noise of Peach's thoughts as she pondered Daisy's location. She had already made the decision to leave the castle in search of the other if Daisy didn't arrive soon. Peach was beginning to worry about her good friend. Who knew what could potentially happen out there?

[TartoonHand94]

"Had I known I was gonna get there on foot, I wouldn't have done it in this nice dress!" Daisy huffed as she dabbed her brow with a yellow trimmed handkerchief.
"At least in a warp pipe I wouldn't have be in this sun."  She glared at the sky. A single passing cloud noticed and glared back on the spot. "N-not that there's anything wrong with a sunny day!" She amended, simpering at the sky. She'd take walking in the sun over hiking in the rain any day.

Stretching her arm and shifting the bouquet to be carried in her other hand, a smile started to sprout on her face as the landscape grew more and more familiar
"...Should be over this last hill... Almost there! I could taste that cake already!"
Daisy heard the waterfall rippling from the other side of the hill over the hills and her smile blossomed into a grin, her heels began to pick up speed up the path. It's a good thing she had been an experienced master at running in a dress, not even needed to stop and lift it while running uphill.

And at the top of the hill, she saw it. Princess Peach's castle in all of...what's left of it's former glory. Daisy clasped her bouquet and what was expected to be a squee of excitement turned out to be a mere sigh of understanding that Peach and her castle had seen better days. But this pause in the excitement was brief. She peered down at her flowers and just as quickly reminded herself that Peach's castle was finally in view!

Daisy fluttered down the hill side as light and gracefully as her athletic yet princessly legs could take her and she bounded over the fields to rejoin the path, bouquet nestled in hand.
She could barely make out a pink-clad figure on the other side of the bridge, and her eyes widened as her legs picked up speed.

[Mari]

Princess Peach noticed the movement pretty much immediately. It was still rather quiet around her castle and because of the starvia her guard was up. Seeing a familiar yellow dress, however, she relaxed and began moving out to meet Daisy. Her heart raced, but she raised a hand to her bosom as if to still it. There was no time for that now. She had a greeting to make! Peach pranced out to meet Daisy, running with alarming speed--for a girl in high heels, anyway. She didn't stop either until she finally closed the distance between herself and the other, giggling joyously as she went to playfully throw herself into Daisy in an ever so affectionate hug.

"Oh, Daisy... I'm so glad you're safe!" the princess blurted out energetically, giving the other a biiiig squeeze from her admittedly pretty weak arms. "How have you been? Are you alright? Are your parents okay..?" Peach began asking, worrying frantically over the other.

[TartoonHand94]

Instead of slowing down, Daisy could only increase her momentum at the sight of Peach prancing over the bridge.
What would've been a very dramatic looking reunion if seen in slow motion, looked faster than the human eye could register when witnessed in real time.

She caught her best friend in her arms like a trophy. Ever the competitor, Daisy met Peach's squeezing hug and raised her a lift and a spin-around.
The two were a pink and yellow swirl of frills, hair, jewelry, and giggles by the time Daisy finally set her down.

"Aw you don't have to worry about me, silly. I'm a big girl after all!" Daisy chuckled merrily "I'm just glad You're still safe after all of this madness!" she slowed down, finally catching her breath from all that excitement." You always seem to wind up in a pickle, even on the best of days." she sighed, holding her friend's relatively daintier hands in equal concern for the other beings. "We always worry about you... "

Doing so reminded her of the Other beautiful thing of many petals she was holding, her bouquet of flowers for Peach!
"Oh! I almost forgot! These are for you!" she announced, regaining her composure "The finest flowers in the fallout." she boasted, doing her best curtsy for the princess. Her dress could've done well with a fluffing now anyway. "I picked 'em myself!"

[Mari]

Princess Peach was caught and picked up by the stronger of the two of them, giggling hysterically and clinging to the other as she was spun around. It was moments like this she forgot the state of the world and her troubles. Even in times like this, it was always worth celebrating the little things. As Peach was finally set down she gently released Daisy, allowing her hands to fall into the other girl's. She beamed appreciatively at Daisy as the other spoke. "Oh believe me, I have found myself in quite the pickle." Peach replied light-heartedly. "But this time, she had me to protect her~!" Perry chimed in cheerily from amongst Peach's person.

Princess Peach would smile gently, lolling her head slightly at the other's gift. She would return the gesture of a curtsey, gratefully accepting the flowers. "These are beautiful, Daisy." The princess replied, hugging the flowers close to her chest and producing Perry with her free hand. "You're so sweet, worrying about me and bringing me these..." she murmured, shaking her head slightly. "This is Perry, my friend!" Peach introduced. Perry beamed at Daisy from over Peach's shoulder. "Hi! I'm Perry, Perry the parasol!" Perry chimed in.

"Won't you come inside..? It's still not safe out here." Peach would interject just a moment after Perry finished, a tad concerned. You never knew when the starvia would become active.

[TartoonHand94]

"Ah Perry the Parasol, what an unexpected surprise!" she smiled, greeting Perry with a polite nod. Despite catching her off guard, a surprise like Perry  did not phase her at this point. What bothered her more was the fact that a talking parasol was the least strange thing she had seen all day.
"Pleased to meet you Perry."~ she finished with a mini curtsy for him before turning back to his holder. "Aw shucks Peachy, these flowers are the least I could do for taking me in on such short notice." Daisy blushed sheepishly  "Things have been crazier than usual, but it's a good thing I have These to protect me!" as she flexed her trim and toned biceps, both inconspicuous until flexed. " I don't know what your stance on whether princesses should carry guns buuuut... HuahAh." she posed playfully showing off more of her mighty maiden muscles. "These babies came in handy more than once today!" 

[Mari]

"Princess Peach talks about you a lot~!" Perry remarked innocently. Judging by his tone of voice, he had only heard good things. Peach seemed slightly startled by Perry's words however. "...Yes, of course. The lovely Princess Daisy and her exquisite thew~" Peach replied, quickly regaining her composure. Phew! Nailed it. She would lean in and playfully fawn over Daisy's muscles as she spoke, swooning a bit as Daisy flexed and giggling at the circumstances. Perry just sort of pondered what was going on for a moment before it suddenly occurred to him. He... didn't know what these words meant! The parasol was decidedly quiet as a result. "My oh my~" Peach went on, fanning herself rather dramatically. Finally, she would daintily offer Daisy her free hand to take. She, of course, intended to lead her inside.

[TartoonHand94]

"Even Tatanga's terrified to tango with me twice!" she flexed one last time posing as Mario did on his quest to save her long ago. It seemed to grab her attention when Perry mentioned Peach talking about her behind her back."Is that so?" she winked accepting the compliment and owning it.
"The buzz in Birabuto's been all about Rosalina's recent smash hits around here." she pouted, almost hesitating to take Peach's hand. "Well..." she warmed back up, taking Peach's hand tenderly "Wait'll they get a load of the mess -I'm- gonna make!" she affirmed confidently. She then graciously accepted Peach's escort inside.

So, tell me more about this... Starvia thing I've been hearing about.

[Mari]

Princess Peach took Daisy arm in arm and began to lead her inside, gently patting her shoulder. Her mind drifted to Rosalina for a moment, but she declined to comment on that--for now. She was by no means an expert, but she knew enough to relay the important details. "The Starvia is a virus in the air." Peach explained, gesturing ith her head at the very air around them. "It looks kind of purple, but sometimes it's difficult to see." she went on to explain as the two girls entered through the doors of her castle. The inside of the castle was looking pretty alright, actually, if you didn't count how it was devoid from people.

...The big trophy of Petey Piranha standing around was a nice touch, though!

"They infect people and turn them evil. Nurse Joy is looking for a cure, but right now there isn't one." Peach lamented, releasing Daisy's arm and turning to face her. "So it's really important that you stay safe and avoid them for now." the princess warned with concern in her tone.

[TartoonHand94]

Daisy shuddered at Peach's description of the Starvia. She didn't even take another breath until they were well inside the safe confines of the castle. 
“Golly...” Daisy responded perturbed
“Hiyoihoi only knows how I managed to get here without runing into any of that stuff. I'm usually pretty good at noticing purple.” she continued, peering around herself for self security. There seemed to be a recurring pattern in Daisy's life of purple things being evil: Tatanga was purple, Waluigi's purple too, and given how naturally green Sarasaland is, purple sticks out in Daisy's eye faster than any other color. “I guess my best option is to stay here after all... ”

“...Hey, where Is everybody?” Daisy blurted upon realizing how empty Peach's castle was that day. It even echoed.

[Mari]

Peach's shoulders fell. She seemed to feel a bit guilty, for a moment. "Well that's the thing..." Peach began softly, turning to glance around her empty castle. "The Castle is... It isn't safe, from the starvia." Peach explained rather sadly. Her beautiful castle was but a temporary home, for now. One never knew when the starvia might roll through. "All of my people. They had to evacuate to a place called the Life Sphere. It's the only place that's truly safe." she explained softly. The princess would turn to Daisy, smiling weakly. "...I want to change that. I want the castle to be safe again." she explained, gently folding her hands before her.

"...Do you still want to stay here with me, knowing we might have to flee if things get messy?" she asked softly.

[TartoonHand94]

A cold shiver ran across Daisy's spine to hear that even Peach's castle wasn't safe from Starvia. On the other hand, it kinda figured that it wasn't, considering how often the place is under attack with zero resistance. It's a wonder the Mushroom Kingdom wasn't conquered years ago when it's armed force majorly consists of two plumbers.
But regardless, it broke Daisy's heart to see the sadness in her best friend's eyes. She couldn't stand for Peach to be like this.

Daisy was going to do something about this, and something big. She quickly examined her surroundings looking for something that would cheer her up.

She spotted the Petey Piranha standing in the light of a window, and it gave her an idea.

“Of course I'll stay here with you! Daisy answered, putting her hand on Peach's folded hands in assurance.
"Peach, your castle has remained standing tall through over 30 years of Koopa assaults, invasions and even its very own castle-napping! Yet here it is, still standing today! she proclaimed taking both Peach's hands, hoping to inspire.
"This palace is my home away from home, and I promise you, I'm going to keep it standing till tomorrow! ” She proudly announced to the ceiling. 

“And y'know what?... ” she said, turning back down into Peach's face “...We won't have to evacuate either! She leaked, putting her arm around Peach's shoulder and turning her toward the Petey Piranha statue.  “You said the virus spreads through the air, right? Well that gives me an idea...”

[Mari]

Peach noticed Daisy's plotting and her head would lol to once side as she watched her friend look about. Her own gaze drifted to the Petey Piranha trophy, standing where the mighty piranha plant had fallen after attempting to steal her precious cake. Her attention returned to Daisy and she smiled, her gaze drifting down to her lap where her hands were now being grabbed. "Oh!" Peach blurted out, raising her hands and allowing Daisy to take them more comfortably. The other had always been a more hands-on kind of girl.

The princess appeared quite pleased with Daisy's enthusiasm. The universal compression had been quite hard on her, and she needed that strong personality at her side now more than ever. "I'm glad I can always depend on you, Daisy." Peach replied, grasping Daisy's hands in turn. Her grasp was quite gentle and quite dainty, especially compared to Daisy's rather surprising strength. "Nothing would make me happier than to turn the castle into a bastion of safety for those traveling through the re--...My kingdom." she explained in a matter-o-fact tone, her eyes glimmering with approval.

"What did you have in mind?" Peach would finally ask.