~Chapter 2~

The Orange Sanity Ring, and Hope

"Come on, Milah! Don't give up hope! We can still defeat Dimentio!"

We were back in Toad Town. Nastasia, Peach, Daisy and I were in the café that Nastasia had gone too earlier.

"I know..." I still wasn't convinced.

Daisy sighed. "When is that next ring gonna reveal itself? I'm BORED."

Peach banged her head on the table. A lot of Toads looked. "Will you please be quiet? Be patient!"

Daisy mumbled, "If it was MY kingdom...Pfft..."

I stared at the mirror. I thought and thought, 'Hurry! We need to get there before they do!'

Suddenly, the image changed. There was a small village in a desert. There were palm trees, and beautiful sand dunes.

I smiled. "The Sahara Desert...that's it!" I stood up, a grin on my face. "Get the boys!"

We ran over to the Boney Bar, beside the café.

It was a total wreck. Beer was on the floor, toads fighting toads, some high, etc!

In a corner, we saw Luigi and Mario singing a horrible song. Bowser was taking coins from smaller toads. O' Chunks was arm wrestling a buffer toad.

I almost burst out laughing. Nastasia shook her head. "Oh my..."

I snickered. "Nastasia, get O' Chunks, Daisy and Peach, get the brothers."

Nastasia went over to Bowser, and used her hypnotic powers to control the arms of the toad and Bowser.

She pushed up her glasses. "Stop it. We gotta go, K'?"

Chunks grunted. "Fine."

The toad laughed. "Letting your mommy fight for ya!"

O' Chunks just grabbed the toad, and chucked him across the room.

Peach helped up Mario, and Daisy helped Luigi.

Peach shook her head. "We have to go! Milah knows where the next ring is."

The others left. It was hard to get Bowser.

"Come on Bowser!" I pleaded. "We need you! Come on."

"No. What if I don't want to?"

"You have to! Besides, if you do, after we beat Dimmy, you have the chance to snatch Peach! AND Daisy!"

"I can do that any day."

"FINE!" I walked over to the wall. I aimed...and hit the wall! I punched a big hole through the wall. Everyone looked.

My eyes grew red. "NOW ARE YOU COMING?"

"Um...yeah. Let's go."

The others were waiting outside.

I smiled. "Ready?"

Everyone nodded.

I closed my eyes. "OK. Take us..to the Sahara Desert!"

We were coming up to a village.

Nastasia turned to me. "You seem to know this place."

I sighed. "Not this place. But this is my home world."

We were surrounded by green and red palm trees again. But this climate was very hotter. The village was full of clay houses, with people dressed in clothes from head to toe.

"Ey', these people look funny. Is this what yer usually dressed like?"

O' Chunks said.

"No. I dress differently. Different lands, different styles."

"So," Daisy said, "What are we looking for?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Some one that doesn't fit, remember?"

Daisy nodded.

O' Chunks pointed. I turned my head.

"Hey! Look up thar! Isn't that Dimentio?"

I glared. "Yes it is..."

The two almost fell, but they laughed.

"Ah, O' Chunks, you gave me quite the fright. Give up. There is no point in trying to get the Orange Sanity Ring. We already have the Red one, and you need all eight to defeat us!" Dimentio chuckled.

I sighed. "O' Chunks...he's right..." By then, I had completely given up hope. In the bar, I had a tiny spark of hope. When I looked into the mirror, I did too. But when I remembered that they had the Red Sanity Ring, and we can't defeat them without all eight.

"'Ey now, me lass. We can get the ring off 'em." I smiled.

Bowser then bravely shook the tree they were on. They fell, but caught themselves.

I took the opportunity to read Toni's mind.

My eyes widened. I thought, "EW! EW! EW! EW EW! EW! EW! EW! EW! EW! EW!"

"Disgusting!" I whispered.

I heard Toni mumble something, then she flew and started to choke me!

I thought fast, and kneed her in her stomach with all my might. Ton then rolled over in pain.

The ring flew off her finger, and Daisy ran and caught it!

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a girl and turned around. She had short pink hair, with sunglasses. She had a white shirt, and a pair of blue jeans on.

I smiled. "Yes! Another guardian!"

Toni muttered. "Oh great..."

"Oh shut your trap, Toni. Milah, if you seek the Sanity Ring, then you must fight my true form..." The girl turned into a huge scorpion.

I got my magic ready. "OK, everybody! Defeat her for the next Sanity Ring!"

The scorpion slashed us with its huge tail. All but Daisy and Bowser fell over.

That hit us hard. I could barely breathe. "D-Daisy...use the ring..."

Daisy looked at her hand. The ruby ring was glowing.

I looked up at Bowser. "Bowser...when Daisy hits it...grab the stinger!"

I fell down.

Daisy pointed the ring at the scorpion. A blazing crimson fire blasted from the ring. Bowser ran through the flames, and grabbed hold of the stinger. He pulled as hard as he could. It popped off!

The scorpion fell to the ground, and returned to its normal form.

"Well done." The girl said. "You deserve this." She handed me the ring.

Before Toni and Dimentio flipped, I read Toni's mind.

"Toni?"

"Yeah?"

"Next time we fight."

I smirked and whispered, "and next time, we're gonna be ready!"