The sun beamed in through the open window, right into my eyes. I grumbled, rolling over and trying to go back to sleep. I still felt tired, pulling the blanket over my head and wishing it was still night. I swore to myself that today was the day I'd finally leave Maple Island and get a proper job on Victoria. My mind kept telling me to wake up, but my body was refusing to move. I had almost fallen asleep again when someone knocked on my front door. I rolled over again, and fell off the bed head first. I hit my head on the hard wooden floor, the throbbing pain was better than any alarm clock. I rubbed my head, stumbling over to the door and opening it.

"What?" I yawned, scratching my head. The daughter of the couple that lived next door was standing outside. She was a few years younger than me, and seemed to consider me a big brother figure, though I couldn't understand why. I expected her to be here to wake me up and see me off. Instead, she turned and ran off screaming. I stared blankly for a moment, wondering what was wrong. A second later I realized why, I was standing in the doorway in my underwear. I slammed the door shut, and ran over to the dresser, now very much awake.

After getting properly dressed in my grey T-shirt and blue jean shorts, I slipped on my leather sandals and grabbed the sword leaning against the wall by my bed. I glanced at the mirror as I left, my long brown hair was sticking in all directions like a bad wig, but I didn't really care. I pushed up my thin silver-framed glasses and yawned, wondering if I was really ready to leave this all behind. It's not like I had much of a choice though. I was broke, and going to Victoria to find a job was my best bet to earn some cash. After taking one last look around, I grabbed the bag sitting by my door and headed out.

Southperry, the only port town on Maple Island, was a long walk from here. My house was tucked away in the mountains by a waterfall, far from any cities. The only time I went to a town was when I was running low on food and had to make a short trip to Amherst. The only people I ever really got to know were my neighbors, and they were a five minute walk from my front door. I stopped by to say goodbye on my way out, but they didn't seem to be home. After waiting a minute to see if they were just busy, I gave up. I took a notebook from my bag and wrote them a short note, slipping it under their front door before leaving.

I walked slowly along the road to Southperry, occasionally stabbing a snail that got too close, but never really putting any effort into it. This island had gotten boring. It was small, secluded, quiet, and the monsters were pushovers. A vacationers paradise, probably, but not somewhere I'd want to live my whole life. I had explored every nook and cranny of this sad little island over three years ago, and my thirst for adventure had gone unquenched for far too long. I suppose that was the real reason I was leaving, the lack of funds was never a very big issue for me.

I skewered another snail as I passed by the road leading to Amherst. I was going to keep on walking, but noticed someone running down the road and yelling. I stepped aside to let the person pass when he got close, a bit surprised when he skidded to a halt in front of me and started shouting.

"What did you do with her! Speak up!" the boy shouted, brandishing a sword at me.

I just stood there and blinked, wondering what this daft kid was on about, and what idiot would give him a weapon.

"Don't act stupid! Tell me what you've done with her!" he shouted again.

"I think you've mistaken me for someone else. The only things I've done today are fall out of bed, skip breakfast and started a trip to Victoria. Nothing involving anyone else. Now if you'll excuse me..." I turned back to the road leading to Southperry, but the boy dashed in front of me.

"You're Nemo aren't you? The weirdo that lives in the middle of nowhere all by himself?" the boy asked, still pointing his sword at me.

"Who are you calling a weirdo you little punk!" I yelled, grabbing my sword and swinging at his, knocking it out of his hands. "I'm tired of this lame interrogation, what exactly are you accusing me of?"

"Alanis is missing, and her parents said the last time they saw her was before she left to see you, so what did you do to her!" the boy continued to yell, even though he was now defenseless.

"Alanis... you mean my neighbor's kid?" I mumbled, remembering my 'brief' encounter with her this morning. "I saw her for a moment, and she ran off. What do you mean she's missing?"

"Nobody knows where she is, and you seem like the last one that saw her. Where did she go!"

"I can't say for sure, but if I had to guess... probably the small field on the other side of the lake. She told me once that she goes there to think. It's not hard to find, just-"

"WHAT!" the boy shouted. "Are you stupid? That place was infested by orange mushrooms recently! I've got to help her!" He started to run off, but I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt as he tried to pass.

"Now who's being stupid? You'll get yourself killed running into a place like that! I'm used to dealing with monsters, I'll go see if she's even there. You look elsewhere, maybe she's gone back home already." I said sternly. The boy gave me an irritated glare, and then nodded, running back in the direction of Amherst.

The moment he was out of sight, I sighed and started walking back the way I came. "Crap. Why does this have to happen now of all times? No luck at all... always something getting in my way." I grumbled to myself.

I soon came to a fork in the road. One path led back to my house, the other went to the lake. I gave the road home a sad glance before wandering off toward the lake. The sun made the surface of the lake shimmer, the green trees and misty mountaintops under the clear blue sky was a beautiful sight. Most people would probably find this view to be tranquil, or maybe even romantic. I however, was more interested in the four orange mushrooms that had appeared out of the trees and started chasing after me.

I sprinted down the road leading around the lake, the hopping orange pains in my arse still close behind. The road was mostly empty, apart from the occasional snail. I looked over my shoulder and noticed two more had joined the chase, but I couldn't figure out what had made them so angry. They had never acted like this before when I went hunting, but I didn't have much time to wonder about it.

Up ahead were three more of them, but they seemed to be looking at something else. When I got close, I realized they were gathered around someone that was sitting on the ground. I glanced back over my shoulder, the mushrooms were still after me, but a lot farther away than the last time I checked. I turned my attention to the group ahead, unsheathing my sword and getting ready for a fight.

I ran up behind one of the three mushrooms and jumped on it, bouncing off it's cap like it was a trampoline and diving at the mushroom directly across from it. I slashed downward as I landed, splitting the mushroom in half. I turned to the person on the ground, a bit surprised by who it was. Alanis was sitting there, her expression somewhere between shock and relief. I ran by her, slashing a chunk out of one and quickly thrusting my sword into the other. I looked up at the flood of orange coming down the road, cursing under my breath. I spun around, picked up Alanis and charged down the road.

There was a problem, however. I forgot the road came to a dead end at the base of the waterfall. I skidded to a halt, looking around frantically for a place to run. A rocky cliff ahead, a clear blue lake to the left, steep mountains to the right and a horde of killer mushrooms coming up behind us. I was brought to my senses as Alanis pointed out a ledge a short distance up the cliff, it appeared to sticking out far enough to hold a person or two. I found a good area, and sent Alanis up first, in my haste earlier I didn't realize she hadn't even been injured.

I climbed up after her, just as the orange mushrooms arrived and started diving at me. Luckily I got high enough all they hit was the cliff wall. I got to the ledge and sat on the edge, watching the mushrooms hop angrily below. I leaned back and sighed, wondering why I always seem to get caught in such idiotic situations. I glanced at Alanis and smiled weakly, wondering in the back of my mind if we were going to be trapped up here forever.

"I'm glad you're all right." I said, the pathetic smile still on my face.

"I'm glad you're wearing pants this time." Alanis giggled.

"Geez, I save you and that's all you have to say?" I chuckled.

"No, I'm also wondering why you're not on a ship to Victoria by now. Chicken out again?" she grinned.

"Of course not, some psycho kid told me you were missing so I came to find you. Besides, shouldn't you be a bit more worried?" I asked, starting to wonder if she'd hit her head when she fell.

"Nah, we'll be fine! Now that we're out of reach it's only a matter of time until someone comes to help us." she said.

I had forgotten how optimistic she was, it was a bit annoying at times, but she was probably right. "I guess so... looks like I won't be leaving today at this rate." I sighed.

"Things always seem to go from bad to worse for you, don't they?" she laughed.

"I'll say... from some punk brandishing a sword at me, to having to find you, getting chased by a bunch of mushrooms, and then getting stuck up here." I grumbled.

"Wow... it really must suck to be you." she laughed again.

"You have no idea..." I muttered.

A sudden explosion below us shook the ledge we were resting on, bits of mushroom soaring in all directions. I looked down and saw someone holding a bow, waving at us. I leaned over to try and figure out who it was when Alanis rushed forward, bumping so hard I nearly fell off the cliff.

"Hi dad!" Alanis shouted down to the archer.

"That's Clint!" I exclaimed, looking down again.

"You okay Alanis!" The white haired man yelled, it wasn't until I heard his voice that I was positive it was Clint.

"Clint? You never told me you were a hunter!" I shouted down.

"You never asked! Now get down here!"

After explaining things to Clint, leaving out a few minor details, I continued on my way. I was passing by Amherst again, when the same little punk that held me up last time came charging down the road at me again. I groaned, wondering if I should stick around and see what he wants or start fleeing toward Southperry so nothing else will distract me from getting to Victoria today. After reluctantly deciding to wait, I instantly regretted it after hearing the first words out of his mouth.

"Hey weirdo!" he said as he approached.

"That's Nemo, you little brat!" I yelled at him, getting irritated from the constant delays.

"Whatever. You ever find Alanis?" he asked impatiently.

"I found her, she went home, now leave me alone... I have a ship to catch." I grumbled, pushing up my glasses and starting off down the road again.

"Thanks weirdo! I'll be sure to tell my dad he was wrong about you being a reclusive freak that only cares about himself!" the boy called after me, before dashing down the road leading back to Amherst.

"I really hate kids sometimes... geez..." I sighed.

The port town of Southperry was finally in view. I stared at the town for a moment, wondering if it was real or if some other distraction was going to come along. Nothing happened, I didn't jump awake and end up back in bed, the town didn't fade into oblivion or spontaneously burst into a massive fireball, so I knew I couldn't be dreaming. I smiled and dashed toward the town, wanting to leave this island as soon as possible.

I hurried to the dock and purchased a ticket, making my way onto the ship. After looking around for a couple minutes, I walked to the bow of the ship as it left the port. I stared out across the endless sky. The sun was shining brightly, and there was a cool breeze blowing across the deck. I took a deep breath and grinned, that familiar, but long forgotten smell was in the air again. The smell of an adventure.