A/N: Alright, so I had NO idea this story would become so popular. Unfortunately, due to the craziness in my life, this story will be updated much, much much less frequently, about once or twice a month maybe. I know, I just killed my reputation as a regular updater. But I have three stories on here and one on fictionpress and a million tests so I honestly can't handle it. I'm really sorry! But I like working on this story, so hopefully I can keep this updating up.

Enjoy, read, and review!


Luigi's eyes opened and he looked around him. It took him a while to realize what had happened last. Daisy was taken from him by two ugly animal creatures, and he'd run to the pipe back to Brooklyn.

New York City; the city that never sleeps; the city he hadn't seen in at least ten years; the city where Daisy was being held hostage.

An acrid smell rose up in Luigi's nose, and Luigi knew the smell to be none other than sewer gas. Well, it only made sense, seeing how Luigi was in the sewers. Next to him he saw the suitcases, and he got up slowly and retrieved them.

The ground shook and it took Luigi a while to figure out it was the subway. Well, at least that gave him a sense of direction. Dragging the suitcases behind him, Luigi trudged through the sewers, looking for a ladder that would lead to a manhole.

Eventually finding one, Luigi slowly lifted the round circle and looked up to see a yellow taxi cab heading straight for him, and he immediately closed it.

He'd have to find another manhole.


It was gray all around Daisy, and people seemed to fill the streets, cars zooming by without any hesitation, and people shoving their way past.

"Excuse me!" she yelled at a man who'd walked into her while on his cell phone. "These people are so rude," she muttered under her breath. Daisy had been disoriented up until this point, having been in the sewers for almost an hour and then finding her way out, she was now walking aimlessly in a daze, in a place she'd never seen before.

She needed a break from all these crowding people, and took a step inside a deli. "Hello," a man said dully from the counter.

"Hi," Daisy replied back cheerfully. "Um, sorry to ask, but… where are we?"

The man looked up from the newspaper he was reading and looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "You're on 48th and 8th," he said.

Thinking that was an odd name for a city, Daisy elaborated. "No, like, what is the name of this city? I… I knocked myself out on something, my head hurts bad." She rubbed her head for more effect.

"Oh, well, you're in New York City. Wonderful place. You need Advil?"

"Excuse me?"

"Advil. Take two and it might get rid of that headache of yours."

Daisy's head did hurt a bit. "Sure, I'll take some."

The man reached behind him and placed a white packet on the counter. "Three dollars no change," he said.

"What? I don't know what dollars mean." Daisy knew it had to be some kind of currency like coins, though.

"That confused?" the man asked. He smiled at her. "Well, I'll give 'em to you for free, pretty lady. Take a map too. This city's pretty easy to go navigate though. Here you go."

"Thank you very much," Daisy said, grabbing the packet of pills and map and leaving the deli.

"You take care of your pretty head now, okay?"

Daisy smiled. Though she may not be a princess here, she was sure treated like one.


Luigi felt somewhat out of his comfort zone, but then again, he felt at home. With no money, Luigi found himself walking across the Brooklyn Bridge with two heavy suitcases rolling behind him. He had taken off his cap and stuffed it in his bag, letting the steady breeze cool his head.

He didn't even have any idea where Daisy would be. Was she even here? A chill crept up his spine as he realized that the two creatures that had attacked him might have tricked him to get him away from the Mushroom Kingdom…

He decided to search for two days, and if he didn't find her in two days, he would go back. But what if she really was here? Then he would leave her? But if she wasn't, then the Mushroom Kingdom was in terrible danger.

Luigi shook his head. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, he thought ironically as he walked off the Brooklyn Bridge.

He looked around and then headed towards the heart of the city. Though he wanted to sweep the whole city right now, Times Square was his best bet.


Daisy stared in awe at all the flashing lights surrounding her; the glamorous glitter of the city was nothing compared to what she had seen before back home. A giant red Coca-Cola advertisement played over and over again at one side, and she walked towards it, following the mass of people in front of her.

Vendors lined the streets, selling hats, scarves and shirts. Daisy admired one of the hats for a while, replacing it with her crown.

"Only twenty dollars," the vendor told her. "It looks beautiful on you."

"Really?" Daisy asked. Her view of the city so far was good; everyone complimented her left and right.

"On a pretty head like yours, any of these hats would look great. Need a mirror?"

Daisy wasn't one to be fooled. She had no money, and this man was obviously trying to sell her one of his hats. "No thanks," Daisy replied, putting the hat back on the rack.

"You sure?" the vendor called out to her as she walked away.


Luigi meandered his way through the city traffic. Having two suitcases was not the easiest thing to when walking in the city. As he walked farther down Barclay, he noticed something different, something missing from when he was last there.

The World Trade Center was gone.

Luigi stared in shock at the empty space, then crossed the street to where the towers once stood. He couldn't understand. Had they been bulldozed to rebuild, or had something happened? As far as he could tell, none of the other buildings around the area looked damaged.

Walking over to one of the walls under the giant canopy, Luigi began to read, and after just a few sentences he felt like he couldn't breathe. But he continued to read anyway.

Anger welled up inside him along with the guilt that he hadn't been there, that he never even bother to see or find out what had happened. Someone had destroyed the towers in a way that made Luigi sick.

Walking over to cross-link fence, he peered through to see what remained of the towers. There was nothing left.

He hadn't been there when it happened. He could have stopped it…somehow… but there was no way he could have. He was a strong even somewhat courageous hero in the Mushroom Kingdom, but in America he was just another citizen.

His thoughts drifted back to Daisy. Whatever had kidnapped her led him here. Luigi couldn't help but think that this force that had brought him here meant harm for the people of America. For the world.

Humbled, Luigi turned away and continued his search in the city.


As the sun went down, Daisy felt her stomach tighten with hunger. She had no money, and no one would lend her some to buy food, even though she offered generously to pay it back. Her flowery orange dress had been torn in several places, and dirt covered her shoes.

She stayed in Times Square, however, and the lights brightened as the sun finally took one bow before descending beyond the horizon.

Growing tired, Daisy became surprised when she heard a faint noise calling her. "You!" the voice half-whispered and yelled. "In the orange dress, come over here!"

Daisy followed the voice. "Yes, keep going!" it said, leading her out of Times Square, down near the deli she'd been at before. There weren't as many people here, and Daisy was aware of her vulnerability. "Look to your right," the voice said again, and Daisy looked over to see and odd pair of eyes staring at her from the ally way. "Come closer I won't hurt you, promise. You and I are friends."

"Then show yourself," Daisy called out to the eyes.

"I can't, not in front of so many people. Please, I won't hurt you."

Sensing some compassion in the voice, Daisy followed her instincts and walked towards the eyes in the ally way. It looked similar to the cat-looking creature that had attacked Luigi back in the Mushroom Kingdom, except that this was seemed kind and was obviously female.

"I'm Lira," the creature said, extending a human-like hand, with the exception of the retractable claws on her fingers and the dark tawny fur. "I was hoping to catch one of you. Are you Peach?"

"Peach? No, I'm Princess Daisy of Sarasaland," Daisy said, shaking Lira's hand. "Peach is the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom."

Lira seemed somewhat surprised at this news. "Well then," she said. "I bet you're wondering what I am."

Daisy wasn't quite sure what to say to such a comment, so she simply twiddled her fingers.

"I am a Were," Lira said, her cat-like ears going flat against her head. "Do you understand what that is? I am of the Werecats. You don't see us very much, if at all, in your world. They don't ever see us in this world. We live in another world where humans and toads and all those other creatures don't exist.

"But we hate you with all the same, equal ferocity."

Daisy prepared herself to fight.

"Relax, Daisy," Lira said. "Remember what I said before, I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help you."

"But you hate me already," Daisy said. "So how can I trust you?"

"Being raised in a society where people tell you time and time again that you must hate these people, that you are the better compared to all, you can't help but feel some animosity. I, however, have chosen to put that aside to help you, because…"

Lira trailed off, however, as the sound of footsteps came from behind Daisy. Daisy turned around to see two men walking towards her, one with a pocketknife in hand. "Lira!" Daisy called out, but there was no answer. Turning around, she realized Lira had left.

One of the men grabbed Daisy's arm and attempted to bring it to his mouth. "Hey there, beautiful, that's a pretty dress you got on…"

"You jerk!" Daisy yelled, pulling back her arm and punching him in the face.

"What the hell, bitch?" he cried out, his companion walking towards Daisy, but at least he had no weapon. Daisy kicked him in the crotch and he went down easy, writhing in pain.

"Get out of here!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, attracting the attention of passersby. They began to point, and the two men got out of the ally way and away from Daisy as fast as possible.

"No one calls me that," Daisy said, retreating back into the ally way. She looked up on both sides of the buildings. "Lira?" she called out, looking for the werecat. "Lira, they're gone."

But nothing stirred above her. Suddenly she could feel the cold and the dirt around her, and she slumped against the wall and cried. She wanted someone to find her. She wanted Luigi by her side.