Bats and Bravado: A Princess Daisy Story

A Princess and a Koopa Walk into a Bar

Daisy didn't know why she came here. A shopping trip with Peach seemed too out of the blue, and perhaps even inconsiderate with the crisis in one of Sarasaland's Kingdoms. It suffered a terrible earthquake. Daisy lost sleep trying to help the citizens and allocate aid, but once Peach saw the bags under her eyes, she demanded time for self-care. Granted, the Kingdom was doing better now, so perhaps a break was due regardless.

"What do you think of this one, dear?" Peach twirled with an icy blue dress, her attempt at playfulness limited by her neck brace. Before fleeing the Kingdom, one of her Toads had struck her with a broom. Toads usually weren't prone to violence, not anymore; something must have pushed his limits.

Daisy shrugged. "It looks good."

"But you said that for every dress! Have you at least found something you like? While I like your new look, you've been wearing it for a while now. Did something happen to your classic yellow dress?"

Daisy brushed her lime and yellow skirt, short enough to reveal orange heels. There was another reason she agreed to this trip. Being in Sarasaland started to feel uncomfortable and confining, as weird as it sounded. She had lost motivation to play sports. This has been going on ever since she heard rumors of...his return, as if the mere utterance of his name flipped a switch in Daisy. It was baseless gossip, but his looming shadow suffocated her.

Peach waved a hand in front of Daisy's face. "Are you still there?"

Daisy forced a smile and reassured her, but Peach was not convinced. She tapped her chin while looking around, then beamed at a display window. "Would you look at that dress over there?" she marveled. "It's got your signature colors, even a similar design to your old dress, but with some fancy touches! Isn't it lovely?"

The mannequin behind the window displayed an orange gown with puffy sleeves, layered with deeper shades before reaching a sparkling hemline. Daisy looked at her reflection on the dress.

She drew back. Everything that resembled her old things, or reminded her of the 'old' Daisy, felt strange and uneasy.

Peach pouted. "Are you still thinking about that earthquake? You know worrying about it will not do anything but tire you out some more." She clasped her hands together. "Perhaps shopping won't destress you, but I know what will: baseball!"

"...baseball?"

"You have your bat, don't you? You'd always carry it in your motorbike bag. I remember how happy you were whenever we played a match against Mario and Luigi, especially when we won."

Daisy hummed. She would play for hours, and only when the match was over did she notice the setting sun, notice her hunger and sweat and body aches. She felt invincible.

Daisy wrung her fingers. "You really think it would pull me out of my funk? Make me feel that same way again?"

"Why wouldn't it?" asked Peach. "You're Daisy!"

Daisy nodded to herself. Yeah, she thought, I'm...I'm Daisy.

"Let's go to the field, then," said Daisy, "and invite the Mario brothers for a match. Just like the old times."

Daisy walked to the small parking lot next to the store. Camellia bushes guarded the sides of the stone streets, and each store had an identical wall lantern.

Her bike's tires were flat. Her sports bag was tampered with and her baseball bat was missing.

Daisy frantically searched the bag. Everything else was intact, the bat was not valuable to begin with, so why...?

Peach gasped. "Oh dear! Who would dare to steal from you like this, out in the open? I'm terribly sorry, Daisy. I can ask Mario for help. I will have the thief arrested in no time, rest assured."