Chapter 2

I rubbed my eyes and did a double take. The creature was small, probably smaller than my five-foot two height. Its head was large with what looked like a turban on top. The turban was colored in a similar fashion as the house he emerged from. His body was tubular, with short arms and stumps for legs. He looked like a colorful, walking mushroom. I knew that this couldn't be…mushrooms are things in the ground, things a person eats. I saw him walk away, thankfully in the opposite direction than where I was positioned. I looked for other life forms, but no one else was out. I quickly entered the town and ran in a dark space between two houses. I positioned myself to observe, not to be seen. What kind of place did I land in? My previous thought of being on a different planet came to mind. Could it be possible? Was I abducted and landed in some foreign planet where fungi were the intelligent beings? Did they pick people to eat?

I tried not to let my mind wander too far as I was afraid I would go in to hysteria. I needed to remain somewhat calm. I couldn't stay in this alley; I had to find some food, water, and shelter. I needed someplace safe. Is there any safe place for me? I continued to watch in my nook, waiting for more creatures to pass. As the sunlight faded away, streetlights began turning on, and I heard an excited chatter of voices.

"Are you looking forward to the Starlight Ball? It's only a few weeks away!" a high-pitched voice giggled. I was baffled that they were speaking my language. I wasn't going to try to understand how or complain, though; I knew what they were saying, and that's all I cared about.

"Oh yes! It's been too long since we've had any celebrations in this town. Do you know who you are taking?" another asked.

The first voice continued to giggle, failing to give a reply. Her giggling became louder, and she was practically next to my hiding spot. I pushed myself back as far as I could go, hoping my bike and I were not visible. The second voice, which sounded a little older, continued on. "Well, you have plenty of toads to choose from! I hear Evan is single, and I know for a fact that Triston likes you." Their soft footsteps stopped, and I held my breath. I could see the outline of two mushrooms in front of me. "Is this where we are meeting Annetta?"

The giggling one nodded her head, apparently still thinking of her many "toad" options. The other solemnly continued, letting out a heavy sigh. "Even though it's going to be a lot of fun, I can't help but think poor Luigi," the creature's head shook as it spoke. The giggling stopped, and a sharp intake of breath was clearly audible. "You know, I don't think I saw him at the dedication. In fact, if he goes I think this will be his first public appearance since-"

The voice was suddenly cut off by a loud greeting. "Tinny! May! Sorry I'm late, had trouble with my shell." I was expecting another mushroom to arrive, but instead a large turtle approached. The turtle must have been as tall as I was, if not taller. It practically over powered the small mushroom people. I was unable to make out any more details, but it took all my will power not to bolt out of my spot, screaming and running away from the creatures.

"It's ok! We were just talking about the ball and all of May's possible dates." The giggling resumed, and the three voices trailed off as they walked away from the alley. Walking turtles? Talking mushrooms? What else? Are there any humans around? I tightly wrapped my arms around my legs, resting my head on my knees. Hot tears ran down my face as I rocked silently in my space. My mind raced, and I yearned for my home. I promised myself I would enroll in college first thing, and I'd stick to it this time. I closed my eyes, trying to pretend everything in front of me was just a figment of my imagination. But I knew when I opened them nothing would have changed.

I must have dozed off in the alley because when lifted my head it was completely dark. The streetlights were brightly lit, and I was able to see with more clarity the things that passed. Occasionally more mushroom people passed and I was able to see that they, like people in my world, did not look the same. They all were rather small, but their turban hats bared different colors. Some had additional shapes emerging from their head with what I guessed to be hair. I saw more turtles with red, green, pink, and blue shells; they wore shoes, and I even saw one walk by with high heels. I began to become desensitized, and the shock of walking turtles and mushrooms subdued. Either that or I was so delusional I didn't care. When they walked by, their conversations were not that much different than people had in Phoenix: work, school, politics, and parties. Still, I was not confident enough to approach them, even if they did seem 'friendly.'

Eventually I saw a third creature walk by, and if it weren't for the cheerful sounding conversation he and a mushroom were having, I would have thought he was dangerous. He was extremely small, smaller than the mushroom person beside him. He looked like a brown mushroom, except he had large eyes, black feet, and a rather large mouth. His mouth gleamed with white, pointed teeth. It was creepy to see him smile and talk about what he was going to have for dinner.

Dinner. The reminder of food made my stomach grumble. My little granola bar had worn off. My mouth felt sticky from thirst, and I could feel my head throb. I needed to find something, but where? I decided I needed to move further into the town. I checked the street for clearance, and when no one was around I bolted to another alley. I ran pretty far with my bike, making it a few streets down. I saw someone coming and dived between a mushroom hut and a small cottage. I shoved my bike in the very back and perched on the edge of darkness and light. A mushroom person passed, but unlike my last hiding spot, it walked rather fast, almost at a run. Everyone who passed practically ran past my hiding spot. Am I safe here? I wondered. No one looked comfortable, and I was nervous that I chose a dangerous hiding spot.

I heard a loud bang followed by a scream. "WHY YOU" was all I was able to make out, because the words were drowned out by a loud laugh. The laugh was very high pitched and came out in short bursts. I saw a turtle run past my spot, accompanied by a trail of black smoke. I coughed; the smoke smell was atrocious. The laugh became louder, and I slunk back further into the shadows, covering my face as to try to dampen the sounds of my coughing. Something ran by where I was hiding, and my coughing became sputters. Legs, human legs. The person ran by so quick I wasn't completely sure if it was a human but was almost positive it was. I inhaled a brave breath and peeked around the corner, letting the light shine on me.

The man was extremely tall. He would have easily been a valued member of any basketball team, regardless if he had any sport skills; he could have stood next to a basket and simply place it through the hoop. Not only was he tall, but he was very slender. I could not see his face, but on top of his head was a large purple hat. His clothes didn't look too different than what men I was used to seeing, wearing jeans, a dark purple shirt, and white gloves. He was mocking the turtle, imitating smoke coming from his backside and running in a circle. I didn't listen to what he was saying; I was too fixated that there was a human in this town. I heard movement in the house next to me, and a mushroom person emerged from the front door.

"Are you up to no good again? It's late, and SOME of us have to get up in the morning." The voice was annoyed and pointed at the tall man with the purple hat. "PLEASE quiet down."

The man simply replied "I am always up to no good! What is life without a little mischief and mayhem?" He laughed, "I'm going home now, so wittle mushwoom can go sweepy sweep." The mushroom person grunted and immediately slammed his door shut.

The man turned around, and I ducked back in the darkness. He walked past me, stopping at the small cottage. This must be his home. I needed to talk to him, find out information. I didn't have many choices, as he was the only human I had seen all day. I waited for him to go inside; I thought it would be creepy popping out of the dark alley, saying "help me, stranger!" I left my bike and prepared myself; I gathered all the courage I could muster, brushed off some dirt off my white shirt, and lifted my hand to the door. Here goes nothing,I told myself, and knocked.

"I'm busy! This better be important!" I heard faint voices coming from the house, and footsteps approach the door. Without warning, the door flew open. The man surveyed me, taking in my desperate appearance. My eyes starting to lose focus and I grabbed the frame of the door. My hunger was beyond reasoning, and I was becoming dizzy. "What kingdom were you dragged in from?" I blankly stared back at him, unable to comprehend his joke. "You're a little too…" he flicked my sweat caked bangs away from my eyes, "messy for my taste. I think you are more my brother's type. Sloppy and smelly." He laughed and turned around to close the door. I reached at him, pleading him to stop with my impulsive move. "Woah there, I've been known to have ladies desperately falling for my devilish looks, but you smell worse than Wario's bathroom." I clung on to his shirt, afraid if I moved I would pass out.

"Please. I need help…food…water…" I trailed off, my words barely audible. All the confidence and energy I had left when I stood up. "Please," I cried. His face suddenly changed. It was hard to make out his exact features, as my vision was blurred, but I think he became concerned.

"Sorry, toots, I thought Wario sent you as a joke. Gee, you look like hell. Come on," he said, ushering me to his couch. I was too out of it to be offended by the use of calling me "toots." The stranger ran to another room, and I felt my eyelids becoming heavier. He came back with a glass of water and a plate that had a sandwich and a rather large white and red mushroom. "Eat this first," he said, forcing the mushroom in my weak hands. I didn't know what it was, but I was beyond questioning. I took a bite and it wasn't like any mushroom I have ever eaten in my life. Its texture was light, almost like I was eating cool air. I felt the coolness travel through my body, but instead of making me cold, it gave me strength. My vision began to return, and while I remained hungry, I wasn't feeling ill. I finished the rest of it and reached for the water. Water never tasted so amazing. "All I had was bologna, so if you don't like that, you're out of luck."

Now that my vision was back to normal, I studied the man more closely. His face was elongated, and he had a very long and thin mustache. His nose was rather large, pointed, and very red…like a person who was washing their face and scrubbed their nose a little too hard. I also noticed that he had pointed ears...maybe he was an elf? His dark eyes surveyed me as he rubbed his hands through his dark brown hair. He was kind of cute in an alternative rock kind of way. "Thanks, it's great," I muttered, biting into the sandwich. "What was that other thing you gave me? Was it some sort of drug?" Should I be worried?

He looked puzzled. "A power up? You're kidding me, right?" I shook my head and continued to finish the sandwich. "You don't know what you just ate?" I shook my head again.

"Not the mushroom. I know what bologna is." He surveyed me, and I could almost see the gears in his head turning.

"I've never seen you around Toad Town…or the Mushroom Kingdom, come to think of it. Who are you?" I wasn't sure how to answer his question. How do I explain I am from another possible world? Should I just outright say it? I slowly chewed the sandwich, buying time and thinking of the best approach. I decided to be honest, but not give away too much detail; I wasn't ready for a long conversation. "My name's Jelina, and no, I'm not from here." I drank the rest of my water and sat quietly. I had a million questions brewing in my head, but now was not the time. I'm sure he had a million questions to ask me, too.

"You don't talk much, do you sweet cakes?"

"Sweet cakes? Toots? What's with all the cheesy names?" I asked. I hoped he didn't think I was THAT type of lady. "Is sweaty and smelly really your type, and you just don't want to admit it?" I couldn't imagine I looked in any sort of condition to be hit on! And it would have been a little awkward. A moment later I realized what I just blurted out; I put my hands over my mouth and felt my face redden.

He smirked, not answering my question. "So really, where are you from? And more importantly, why are you at my house?" I gazed blankly for a minute, face still red, and he continued. "You look liked you were on the wrong end of a bob-omb." He stared intently at me, making it clear I was not able to avoid his question.

"The desert, I'm from the desert. I'm not sure where I am right now, though, or where I'm going. So…I guess you can say I'm lost." It was the truth, maybe not the entire truth, but a chunk of it.

He became angry at this news. "Sarasaland? You mean to tell me that YOU are from Sarasaland? How dare you show your face at my house…" his face became violently red and his hands were trembling, "…I know traveling is now easy for you after…"

"No!" I frantically waved my hands. "No, I've never even HEARD of Salad Land!"

The color drained from his face, as well as mine, and his affect returned to a calmer state. "Sa-ra-sa Land. Not Salad Land," he annunciation. His mood lightened, and he laughed at my pronunciation mistake. "Sorry, I am not too happy with them after some things that happened, and it's the only desert close by."

I noted to be cautious with the subject of this Sarrarra, or whatever it was called, Land. "Sorry, I've been traveling all day, and my mind is all jumbled." I put my hands on my face, and I could feel the tears coming back to my eyes. "I'm tired, and it's been a long, messed up trip."

"Hey, hey, hey, don't cry." He looked uncomfortable, squirming as he uneasily patted the top of my head. "Please, don't cry." I guess men of all worlds weren't comfortable with a blubbering, crying woman. "Do you have a place to stay at least?" I shook my head, the tears falling faster. "Any money? There's a toad hotel…" I shook my head, and tears fell faster down my face. I highly doubted that this place would take my debit card. I had nothing of real value except for my bicycle. Could I sell that for something? The thought sickened me, and I went from light crying to downright sobbing. He put his head in his hands and shook his head.

After a minute, he looked at me and sighed. "Look, you can crash here for the night. Don't think my place is some welcome mat, but the way you look, I don't think you are going to suddenly steal anything and run off. You wouldn't be hard to catch, either."

"I don't want to be a bother, I'm sorry…" I started apologizing and getting up to leave, but he grabbed my shoulder and held up his other hand.

"You're not sleeping on the streets." Even though his voice was firm, he still looked wary from my crying, which had settled down to a light stream.

I wiped tears off my face and forced a small smile at the stranger. Taking a deep, shuddering breath I forced myself to stop crying; he eased at this gesture. "I never got your name."

"Waluigi's the name, master of mischief and m-"

"-mayhem. I heard you outside," I finished for him. Waluigi. The name felt strange on my tongue, and hard to say. "Mind if I call you Wally?" He was taken aback by my question. Maybe he wasn't used to nick names, but he chuckled and I knew he wouldn't mind. He stood up and took my plate. I sat there, and suddenly let out a big yawn. "Wally?" He turned around, curiously studying me; I must have been a strange human to him. "I have a bike outside…will it be safe in the alley? Should I lock it up somewhere or is it ok to leave it? I also have some things in my basket-"

He smirked, cutting me off before I could finish. "-no one messes with anything near my house, unless they want to be set on fire." He walked into the kitchen, and I saw him peer out a tiny window, I assumed to make sure my bike was still there. I tried to keep my eyes open but lost the battle. Lying down on the couch, I drifted into a dreamless sleep.