Chapter 35
Parasol, Hat, and Purse
Wide, adoring, sapphire eyes fluttered open, glancing around, soaking in the surroundings. Peach was lying down on a grassy field, with lush trees scattered. She sat up, rubbing her slightly bruised head, moaning.
Where am I…? This isn't Lavalava Island! Am I dead?
Peach pinched her arm, and winced, making her think otherwise. In the hazy distance, tall gray buildings reached up into the heavens, the sun reflecting off the glass. Peach stood up, her right fist hugging her breast as she twirled around, unfamiliar with any of the landmarks. The Princess gave a tiny 'oh' when she realized she was her normal height again. Her head felt oddly light, and she discovered her crown was missing.
Oh yea… it fell during the explosion. Wait. Where's the Ax-Blade? Where are the others? What IS this place?
"Excuse me, are you lost?" a delicate feminine voice asked. Peach pivoted, her eyes enlarged when she saw the speaker.
A slender human stood before her – a human! She had curly brown hair that flowed in wavy thick locks framing her pale oval face. Her right hand clutched a red purse that matched her summer dress she wore while her left held a small closed parasol. The woman's liquidly brown eyes were almost hidden by a fashionable sun hat. Peach was too astounded to speak clearly.
"Y-yes, I'm lo-lost," she stammered, looking around nervously. "I-I have n-n-no idea w-where I am."
"You're in Prospect Park," the woman explained. "The centre of Brooklyn."
Brooklyn? Peach nearly blurted out, but bit her tongue. But… The Mario Brothers came from Brooklyn! Is… Is this the Real World? The one that doesn't sustain magic?
The woman pondered; she didn't know whether to continue her way or help this poor dazed girl that wore a strange pink dress. No evening gown resembled the one she donned. Did this blonde girl get lost? Where were her friends and family? She looked so helpless and vulnerable… The Brooklynite sighed, surrendering to her tugging conscience, and gave the girl a welcoming smile.
"I can help you," she offered politely. "You don't seem to know this city very well, and you're already lost."
Peach's eyes lit up with hope and she curtsied gracefully, although the gesture seemed awkward to the woman. People never curtsied in Brooklyn. The stranger was probably foreign, which explained the attire, so the Brooklynite mimicked Peach.
"Thank you very much…"
"Pauline," she supplied and Peach nodded gratefully.
"Thank you very much, Pauline. I'm Pri- er, Peach," she quickly corrected, remembering Mario saying that in his Kingdom, royal titles were rare and hardly used. Plus Pauline might question her identity further if she said 'Princess Peach."
"Peach?" Pauline repeated, trying not to gawk. "Oh! It must be your nickname! I apologize. C'mon, I'll show you around.
