The sky was orange.

Directly above her, it was rosy-colored. Near the horizon, it was yellow. But in its vast majority it was orange.

The ground was wet and soft. She pushed herself upright with her hands, and felt the ground give and resist in turn, springy.

"Gloam Valley," she murmured. "Why am I here?"

She stood up and swayed a little, but steadied herself and looked around. "Hello?" she called loudly. "Is anyone else here but me-e-e?"

No one answered.

"Golly, it sure is quiet here," said Mimi softly. "Where is everyone?"

A little way away, she saw Natasia, lying on her side on the boggy ground. Avoiding puddles and still rather disoriented, Mimi made her way carefully towards her friend.

"Nassy?" she called. "Nassy, wake up!"

Natasia moaned softly and sat up, wiping marsh water off her glasses. "Mimi?"

"Who else?"

Mimi held out her hand and helped Natasia up. "Where are we?" asked the secretary.

"This is Gloam Valley. Merlee lives here. Merlee the Ancient, that is, the one I, uh, worked for."

"Of course." Natasia looked around. "Is it always this wet?"

"Uh—yes, I think so," said Mimi apologetically. "Merlee's Mansion should be this way. It'll be drier there."

"Yeah, um, I should think so," said Natasia. She looked at Mimi. "But I'm not sure how welcome you'll be."

"Yeah," said Mimi, frowning. "All these dummies can't just forgive and forget."

"Why don't you just transform into someone she won't know, 'K?"

Before Mimi could respond, someone else did.

The voice came out of midair, quick and rather panicked. "Mimi? Natasia?"

"Yes?" said Natasia.

"My apologies for being a bit late, I expect you've both got quite the headache." This was true; Mimi nodded and put a hand to the back of her head. "I figured out what was happening a little late, I suppose I'm a bit slower on the uptake now. Sorry. I'm in Flipside, or what's left of it, working on improving the state o things, in more ways than one. Both of you are perfectly capable of leaving. I sent you to Gloam Valley because it seemed safe, for now, and because there's an Ancient there. Will you please tell Merlee that a friend has the situation in Flipside under control?"

"Sure," said Mimi.

"Much thanks. Once you've successfully convinced her that it's going to be fine, I need you to go to the Mushroom Kingdom. Do you have that? The Mushroom Kingdom is where you have to go."

"Yeah, I'll make a memo of that," said Natasia.

"Good girl. You do that. Surely you remember the Heroes? Two of them are imprisoned, and the other two are attempting to remedy that. I need you to assist them. Can you do that?"

"Yes, sir," said Mimi, and saluted the empty air.

"Excellent. Then, you should--" The voice broke off and there was the sound of shifting stones, and a muttered curse, before the air went silent.

"Yeah, that was interesting," said Natasia, which summed up Mimi's thoughts on the sort-of conversation.

"Let's go to Merlee's Mansion," said Mimi. "She is related to Merlon, after all, so I'm sure she'll understand. And being dry would be super."

"That sounds like a good plan," said Natasia. "And in this case, I think deception would be a bad idea, 'K?"

"Come on, my feet are soaked," said Mimi, and they set off for Merlee's Mansion.

The Mansion towered over its little segment of Gloam Valley, white and clean against the backdrop of eternal sunset sky. Mimi was quite pleased at having found her way there, and it was she who knocked loudly on the door. "Madam Merleeeeee? I'm sorryyyyyyy for everythiiiiing, but we're wet and we have an important message for youuuuuuuuuuuu, so if you'd let us innnnnn, that would be superrrrrrrrrr!"

"Who's that at the door I see, who claims to have a message for me?" The door flew open, and Madam Merlee stood there. "Ah, the girl I never truly knew. Merlon has told me much about you."

"Um, I suppose thats, good," stammered Mimi. "I'm...uh...supposed to say..."

"Yeah, a friend has the situation in Flipside under control," said Natasia.

"Thanks, Nassy," said Mimi, relieved.

"Flipside is protected by—a friend?" asked Merlee with a frown. "Is this so? If it is, to what end?"

"I would guess the end of helping us out," said Natasia, rather testily. "Please, we don't have all day to make you believe it."

"That would make sense, or so I would think," said Merlee. "I hope it doesn't go awry when I blink. You are welcome to leave, like undersea ink."

"Thanks," said Mimi. "You're the best." She led Natasia away. When they were well out of earshot, she began laughing. "Like undersea ink? What kind of metaphor is that?"

"A poor one, but one that rhymes," said Natasia. "Let's get to the Mushroom Kingdom, 'K?"

"If only we were drier," sighed Mimi. She flipped out (of Gloam Valley, of course).

Natasia blinked and rubbed her glasses. They were still wet and blurry. She felt in her pocket for her extra pair, but they were gone. Shaking her head and frowning, she flipped out as well.

They soon came to wish that they'd remained wet in Gloam Valley for a while longer. But they didn't, and by the time they wished they had, it was too late.

A/N: That was kind of short, but I liked the ending a lot. It ranks up with the first chapter, and with another ending that doesn't come until later. :P You don't really think I'll give it away, do you? And cookies for all who reviewed, thanks...both of you...-sigh- Only two reviewers. Ah well.