Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: This story focuses on a theme of appreciating the world around us that we take for granted, and also the theme of opening yourself to the different people who come into your life, as worthwhile friendship are sometimes formed from the strangest of circumstances. Rosalina is an interesting character to write about because I'm sure she perceives the world differently than most everyone else. While she does serve as a mother figure to Lumas, I can't help but feel like she really would still be somewhat of a child at heart, having lived her life away from civilization and the things that shape people into adults.

Same Skies: Princess Without a Kingdom

She sipped the coffee with long, slow gulps, savoring its aroma and flavor. Hunched over the counter, she sniffed in the rich scent, then let a sigh pass through her nostrils.

"Ya like that Hoolumbian brew, there, eh?"

Jarred from her stressful state of reflection, she looked up at the beady-nosed fellow down the way, across the counter. His small body sat within a puff of white that drifted carelessly along the aisle as he casually drank his own mug of coffee.

"Yes," she mumbled in response. "I've never had it before."

The server's eyebrows lifted from behind his round glasses, and his small mustache twitched about.

"Ah. That so, mm? Well, then you're tasting quite a fine example. Those beans are fresh, came here this morning straight from the fields."

She nodded appreciatively at that notion and stared into her mug with longing.

"So what's eatin' away at a fine lady such as yourself?" the server prodded gulping in some more black coffee and breathing out an "Ah" in satisfaction.

She cast her pale, lonely eyes back at him and replied, "I'm on a business trip. It's been more problematic than I anticipated."

The server chuckled and nodded with empathy.

"I know how that goes. It's good that you're taking time to yourself - have a drink, sit for a while, work things out in the noggin, ya know?"

She hummed in agreement and stared back at her drink, her mind wandering elsewhere. The server, eager to keep her grounded, floating his cloud over and parked it right across the counter. He stared at her drooping form with furrowed brows. She clearly wasn't from around here, he observed, based in her physical structure: long limbs, narrow abdomen, curved and tall rather than round and short. If he didn't know any better he'd mistake her for Princess Peach Toadstool. While she did possess a striking resemblance, her eyes were colder and isolated with a tint of melancholy.

He raised his mug toward her, once again pulling her head from the clouds.

"Either way," he said, "I wish ya the best of luck with your business, Ma'am."

The woman returned his encouragement with a small smile and clinked her mug against his. The two of them like-mindedly drank the remainder of the coffee in a long gulp.

"What is this drink called?" the woman checked, having forgotten it in her own worried thoughts.

"It's a Hoolumbian, Ma'am," the Lakitu told her with a nod. "A fine brew."

The woman rose from her stool, dropped a handful of golden coins on the counter beside the empty mug, and rose her palm to the man briefly to indicate a motionless wave.

"Thank you, Sir," she said with a hint of genuine gratitude.

"No problem, Ma'am," he dismissed, reciprocating her gesture. "You take care now."

The blond woman made her way to the door and grabbed a dark green trenchcoat from the coat rack. Slipping it over her blue shirt and slacks, she gazed at the dripping window pane, her eyes blurring the street outside and focusing on the rivulets trickling down its clear surface. Such a beautiful thing, this rain phenonemon. She had nearly forgotten just how serene it was.

Stepping into the rain, she surrounded herself with the crisp, cold smell, the calming patter of water as it splashed upon everything around her, and she made her way through the chilled early evening. Each step felt like pressing a key on a piano, the medley of the rain enveloping her tired soul with tranquility.

Her feet ached and pinched as she wobbled her way through the castle halls. Her eyes burned with frustration and impatience, but her demeanor would otherwise not allude to such anger. This outfit was tight and constricting. Business attire was not at all her style and she felt like a fish out of water while wearing it - more like a bird IN water, she decided.

The faint image of a large, yellow star formed itself beside the woman as she struggled to reach her quarters.

"Evening, Ambassador," it greeted with a gruff, warm voice.

"Good evening, Sir," she grumbled through her pain, trying her best to maintain formality. The image stared perplexedly at her with its beady eyes and bushy white mustache. After a moment of silence, the hologram spoke once again.

"How is everything coming along? Have you reviewed everything?"

"Three times," she dutifully assured, limping to a stop.

"Ah, triple-checked, have we? Wonderful, just wonderful. Your assistant should already be there waiting for you."

The blond woman in dark blue had come to a stop by this and was slipping her feet out from the high heel shoes.

"Assistant?" she murmured. "I didn't ask for an assistant, that's not necessary." Despite her respectful tone there was a pinch of indignation in her words.

"That's right," the apparition concurred, "But we've noticed that you seem to be having a bit of trouble getting acquainted with things and felt it'd be best if, at least for now, you had an aid to help...-" He grimaced as she limped, barefoot, through the empty castle hall. "-...accomodate your needs."

The woman's eyes strayed from her superior and she sighed that exhausted sigh, conferring that the ghostly star was correct.

"Very well," she muttered with a nod. "Thank you, EldStar. I appreciate your concern."

"Take care." And with that, the apparition of a star blinked out.

An assistant? She was not looking for an assistant. She had only ever had one. One who could never be replaced. And as far as she was concerned, she wasn't going to give anyone the chance to try.

As she reached the guest quarters, a pair of short, pudgy guards wielding spears stood watch over the entrance to her room. She nervously approached them, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as they raised their eyebrows at her. She felt quite unprofessional and inadequate as it was, but having two witnesses exponentially increased the feeling.

"G-good evening, Ambassador," one greeted, prying his eyes from her bare feet. "Your assistant has arrived, he's waiting for you."

The other guard seemed to be holding back a snicker as best he could, and her heart sank a bit. She was supposed to be a figure of respect, respresenting her nation, yet she was making a mockery of herself. Perhaps they had been wrong - maybe she hadn't been the best choice for this job.

"Thank you," she sighed out, hurriedly forcing herself in and closing the elegant wooden double doors behind her. Her spacious guest room was a sanctuary at last from the stresses of this world she had long forgotten. She immediately dropped her turqouis glass shoes and dashed for the balcony at the edge of the room. Tearing open the glass doors, she stepped out into the evening air, the sweet scent of recently poured rain still fresh on the breeze. She tore the clips holding her hair in a bun and let the damp wind whisk it around. This stuffy formal job was quite unlike anything she had experienced thus far. Doubt plagued her heart as she wondered if-

"Excuse me?"

"Ah!" she yelped, spinning around in a flash, eyes wide and surprised. An average-sized Star Spirit was floating feet away from her, its eager eyes and silly grin oddly comforting.

"Oh." She rubbed her forehead, trying to calm herself. "H-hello, Sir," she squeaked timidly.