Authoress' Notes: You can tell by the chapter name that something bad's gonna go down, right? Okay, so maybe all hell won't break loose like I said earlier, but it's close. Meh, I let peer pressure get the best of me and got "Super Mario Galaxy" on Black Friday. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, since I found the last 2 extremely tedious... Aside from that, the preview for "BOA2" this time and in Chapter 30 has virtually nothing to do with the previous 3, but Chapter 29's will. Only 2 left now! Can you say "excitement"?!

Better Off Alone

Chapter 28: Heartbreak

Koops spent the next few hours thinking about what Ms. Mowz said earlier. He stood in the kitchen washing the dishes, as Koopley sat at the table with a newspaper. He'd told him all about the legend and the Crystal Stars, but failed to mention their relation to Kevin. That part could wait until everything else was sorted out.

He sighed for the umpteenth time. "Dad, I'm really worried. I'm not sure what we should do..."

"Oh, come on, Koops. We've had worse things happen," responded his father. "I bet all that gobbledygook isn't even true. I mean, Vivian may be a little out there, but come on! A princess? That's like... like being related to the Stalwart Koopa; impossible!"

Koops was about to reply, but decided against it. If Koopley didn't believe the legend, he sure wouldn't believe what he just said was actually true. Once again, Ms. Mowz's words rang through his ears...

"If the Great Enemy isn't defeated... Vivian will surely die."

He shuddered at her words. If anything ever happened to Vivian, he didn't know what he'd do. He'd already lost her once, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing her for good. In the den, he already had a list of everyone's phone numbers and locations so he could call them at a moment's notice. His only fear was that Flurrie and Bobbery would be unable to answer...

Tomorrow, he'd call everyone bright and early and tell them of the matter at hand. Tonight, he'd tell Vivian first and make sure she understood how important it was for them to find the Great Enemy and defeat it... It seemed like a reasonable thing to do, especially since she naively believed everything he said. He just hoped she'd actually believe such a crazy story...

Almost on cue, he felt her entrancing presence nearby, turning to see her leaning on the stairs. He noticed she was up particularly late, usually getting up before both him and Koopley; the clock in the den read 2:30. She shook her head and groaned, looking flustered.

"Hey there, Vivian. Uh, what's wrong?" asked Koopley. "You look a little under the weather there."

"N-nothing," she said, sounding out of breath. "...Just feel a little... dizzy."

"Uh, maybe you should sit down," suggested Koops.

"Yeah..." She ran a tired hand through her ruffled hair and approached the couch, flopping onto it with another tired groan.

Concerned, the younger Koopa approached her. "You don't look too good. You sure you're feeling okay?"

"I don't know... I just woke up feeling like this."

"Was it... last night?" he hesitantly asked.

She shook her head. "No, that wasn't your fault. You didn't know..."

He let out a quiet sigh, relived that wasn't the case. Stooping to her level, he gently touched her forehead, feeling a fever. "I think you might have a cold. You're pretty hot."

She squinted her eyes in pain. "This... doesn't feel like a cold."

"What's it feel like?"

She shivered. "Something... really bad. Really, really bad..."

"C'mon," he gently urged. "We need to get you back to bed."

"Okay..."

She groggily stood, walked a few feet, and promptly collapsed. Koops went to help, but she refused to accept it.

"No... I'm fine. Don't worry, I can get up..."

She struggled to stand again, pushing herself up from the floor, but was suddenly back where she started, her arms numb and uncooperative.

Koopley ruffled his newspaper. "You kids need any help over there?"

"No, Dad. I got it," called Koops before turning back to Vivian. "Listen, I think there might be something really wrong with you."

"...No, there's nothing wrong. I... fall like this all the time..." She tried getting up once more, but found her strength depleted. Koops caught her before she hit the floor again.

"You don't fall this much. Let's get you to bed before you get a concussion."

Taking her by the arm, he carefully led her upstairs and to his room. Once there, she flopped onto his bed, having no energy to get herself into comfortable position. Koops solved that problem by carefully lifting and placing her under the sheets. She responded by curling up in a tight ball, still trembling.

"Where does it hurt, exactly?" he asked, looking her up and down.

"Everywhere..."

"Everywhere?" He put a hand on her chest, noticing her breathing had become excessive and labored. "How?"

She groaned. "My stomach's upset, my head's pounding, and I'm freezing cold... I can't feel my hands, my throat's really dry, and... I think I might need to throw up..."

He removed her hat and brushed back her hair to see an exhausted face. She still had that fever, and her eyes no longer sparkled like rubies in the faint, afternoon light of the room. They now looked dull, drab, and lifeless; more like dirty copper instead of the piercing, almost intimidating crimson he found himself drawn to. It was plain to see she was merely a shell of her former self, nearly resembling the mistreated outcast he first remembering seeing in Boggly Woods. Her normally soft, smooth hands were now cold and clammy, while her beautiful hair seemed to loose all its luster and color. She now appeared starved and sick, when she was all too taken care of earlier. What could've possibly caused this? She was just fine last night...

Last night...

Last night...

What happened last night?

...His eyes widened as he began to recall what happened last night, before Vivian came home in tears. Ms. Mowz's horrible words resounded in his head again...

"...We have even less time to defeat the Great Enemy than I first thought... A week, if we're lucky. If the Great Enemy isn't defeated by then, Vivian will surely die."

He gulped. Less than a week?! That's probably why she was acting like this! She was... dying.

With teeth clenched, he looked back down to see she was shivering again. "D-don't worry," he said, gently rubbing her stomach. "I-I'll make you some Shroom Broth, o-okay?"

"Okay..." She smiled weakly and closed her eyes, failing to notice how shaky his voice and hands had suddenly become.

Casually leaving the room and closing the door, Koops bolted downstairs, almost tripping over himself to reach the front room. Koopley raised an eyebrow as he performed a near-perfect backflip over the couch, landing inches away from the phone.

"Er, you all right over there, Koops?"

"Yeah, sure," he mindlessly replied, frantically dialing Goombella's number. "No problem over here. Just perfect..."

His father shrugged and went back to reading the newspaper as the other end of the line rang. Koops felt like he'd been waiting forever when someone finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"Goombella?"

"Koops? Oh, hi. Uh, what's wrong? You sound a little paranoid..."

"That's not important. Listen, how soon can you get back over here?"

She laughed. "Koops, Waffles and I just visited this morning. I doubt I could see you again at least for a couple of days."

"But this is an emergency! I need you, Waffles, Ms. Mowz, and everybody else to come here as soon as possible!"

"Why? What's the big rush?"

"It's Vivian..." he whispered. "She's... she's dying."

Koopie Koo stood before a mirror in Katherine's living room, glaring at herself for allowing such an affair to go on this far. She furiously combed back her loose and unkempt hair, pulling it all together with her favorite pink scrunchie to make a ponytail. Katherine walked by, munching on a Mushroom when she noticed something eerily different about her face. Before she could ask, she was already making her way towards the door.

"Hey, where're you off to in such a hurry?"

"Out. To give Koops a piece of my mind."

The other Koopa groaned, stopping her before she reached door. "Koopie Koo, wait. Please don't do anything you're gonna regret."

"The only thing I regret is the fact that I didn't see this sooner. Now can you please let me go?"

"Why won't you just leave Koops alone? He's happy with her, and you should be, too. So what if his tastes are a little... misguided? Shouldn't the fact that he's finally found what he's looking for in someone like Vivian be good enough for you?"

"That's the problem! Koops isn't happy with Vivian! He just thinks he is! And I'm going over there to snap him out of it once and for all!" She angrily yanked away from her friend and, fuming, stormed out the door.

Katherine was about to go after her, but quickly decided against it. Something told her that inferring would only make such a bad situation even worse. All she could do was hope Koops had enough backbone to defend his decision without hurting Koopie Koo too much...

Koops tried his best not too look so miserable, but at this point, it was impossible. His enthusiasm was almost as empty as the cloudy, starless sky above him.

Ever since earlier that day, he'd been doing everything he could to make Vivian feel better. From cooking her special meals as a remedy, to loyally staying by her side to help quell her pain; he did it all and more, but to no avail. At least he could tell she appreciated his endeavors, despite them not working. Conversely, her tired smiles made him feel like an unworthy lover. He was starting to feel her condition required something a little more effective...

He'd called every one of his friends, some three or four times, but only two responded; Goombella said she'd be there in the morning, as did Waffles who, conveniently, was spending a few days with her. Unfortunately, Flurrie and Bobbery were unable to answer his calls, and there was no way of telling where they were. Ms. Mowz was also unreachable, but something told him she was already on her way.

He shook his head sadly, almost ashamed to call himself Vivian's caretaker. There wasn't anything else he could do and whether it was his fault or not, he felt he should take the blame for being unable to help in what could be her final hours...

It was late now, very late. The two had almost completely lost track of time dealing with the Shadow Siren's illness. They sat in the lush Shhwonk Fortress together, enjoying the quiet, moderate outdoors like they did every so often. Koops figured maybe getting out of the house more would help. It seemed to work for a little bit, but he could tell by her shivering and cringing that the problem hadn't been solved.

He frowned, worriedly placing a hand on her shoulder. "Not feeling any better?"

"N-no..." she coughed. "I... I think it actually got a little w-worse..."

Sighing, he sat up and took her in his arms. "Okay. Let's go back home. Maybe some sleep will do you some good."

She silently nodded, holding onto him as he stood. Deep down, she began to wonder if she was being a burden to Koops. Sure, he didn't seem to mind doing all he could for her, but she only wished she'd get better so he'd be happy. She hated to hear him sigh so dejectedly whenever an act of kindness went awry. It wasn't like she was trying to be sick; honestly, she felt awful, and wanted to get better just as much as he did.

The only way she could even begin to describe her plight was as those nagging pains she occasionally got. She couldn't explain what they were, or how she got them, but she'd had them ever since the Shadow Queen was dethroned...

She did, however, know they were frighteningly similar to the ones she felt on the moon, but getting progressively worse in a much shorter time. She started feeling dizzy and sick... Everything around her became blurry and disoriented, and the ache was agonizing... She felt like her entire body's insides were being scalded by Hooktail herself, yet she couldn't express more than a few hoarse coughs, due to the burning in her throat.

Why was she feeling this way? What was causing this? And how could she make it stop? It was one thing if this was happening when she was by herself, but now that Koops was around, she had to worry about him worrying about her. She decided she'd show him she could take care of herself and was much more than a hindrance... Using what remained of her strength, she pushed away from Koops, standing on her own.

"Vivi--"

"No, I-I can stand myself..." she replied, smiling weakly. "I've been too much of a thorn in your side already. I... should be able to carry my own weight..."

Her companion sighed, not being one to argue. If she wanted to stand and walk by herself, who was he to stop her? Instead, he slowly went ahead, making sure she didn't fall behind on the way back. ...Besides, no harm could come from her simply following him, could it?

Beldam sat behind Katherine's house, watching as Koops appeared on the scene, Vivian slowly trailing behind. This was perfect; she had to make sure the two were separated for what was going to happen next.

Right now, Koopie Koo sat inside the house, ready to give him an earful he'd never forget. All she had to do was keep the simpleton busy long enough for her to lower the boom, then shove it all in her face, and it'd be all downhill from there. A malicious smile crept upon her face as he walked up the front stairs and rang the doorbell, yawning. Once the door opened, Koopie Koo angrily pulled him in and slammed it closed, just in time for Vivian to come up. It was time to work her magic...

The young siren groaned and shook her head as she approached the front door, not feeling well at all. If anything, her pain had gotten even worse from the short stroll home. All she wanted to do now was curl up in bed, get a nice, hot cup of Koopa Tea, and fall asleep with the ever-vigilant Koops by her side. She smiled sleepily as she could already feel his strong fingers massaging her scalp and giving her a much-needed tummy rub.

She was about to open the door when something rustled in the bushes nearby. Startled, she drew back from it, ready to disappear into nothing when the cloak emerged.

"I see you haven't been taking my advice. You're still seeing that Koopa, aren't you?"

Vivian scowled. "Yes, I am. Koops is nothing like you said he was, so why should I listen to someone like you?"

The cloak shook her head. "I always thought Shadow Sirens were smarter than this, being weirdoes and all."

"Maybe you had a bad experience with Koopas, but that's your problem. Koops loves me and I love him, okay?" She massaged her head in pain. "...Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go lie down..."

"You've been duped more times than you've been enlightened, and it's quite pathetic. There are certain ways to tell if your 'friends' are real or not, and I haven't seen even one."

"...But..."

"You're a Shadow Siren, something that the people of Rogueport have feared and hated since the reign of the Shadow Queen. The only way you'll ever find someone who really likes you is if you stop hanging around these ingrates and find others of your kind."

"But... there're the only friends I've ever had. They took care of me and everything, even when my sister banished me..."

"And she had good reason, too! Maybe if you hadn't been siding with complete strangers and stayed with your siblings, this wouldn't have happened!"

"No! My friends care about me! I know they do!"

"How? Just because they took you in and said a few nice things? Hmph, you're so gullible. I'm surprised they haven't kicked you to the curve yet!"

Vivian began to feel faint, her sudden outburst making her head throb painfully. She struggled to keep her balance, rubbing her tender head with weary moan. Unbeknownst to her, this was just what the cloak was hoping for.

"L-listen..." she gasped breathlessly. "Can't you just leave me in... peace? You don't know w-what you're talking about..."

"What a greenhorn! What do you think this is, la-la land?! Candy and flowers don't cut it anymore! Everyone knows that!"

"That may be true, but I know who my real friends are..." She frowned. "And you're not one of them..."

The cloak scoffed. "Don't you find it kind of odd how all of your so-called 'friends' are always smiling in your face? They sure don't do that to one another."

With her headache gradually getting worse, Vivian was getting more annoyed, almost to the point where she was seething. "I don't know who you are, but you've no right to tell me what I can and can't do... I may've been tricked in the past, but this is different. "

"I don't, do I? Do you want proof?" She listened carefully through the nearby window, glancing quickly inside to see what was happening. Satisfied with the matter at hand, she smiled and pulled Vivian over to see. "...Then I'll show it to you..."

"Koopie Koo, what're doing, yanking me in here like that?" growled an irritated Koops. "You almost scared the shell off of me!"

"Frankly, Koops, I don't care about that. What I am worried about is you and that Vivian girl!"

He frowned. "Oh, so now you feel like talking to me about that..."

She sighed. "Okay... I'm really sorry for running off and ignoring you for all this time. I see now I was wrong about you. I know exactly what's going on here."

"...You do?"

"Yes!" She grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "Don't you see? It's Vivian! She's got you brainwashed! You don't know what you're doing! You only think you love her!"

He shook his head. "Vivian wouldn't do that. You don't know her like I do."

"I know that she was a follower of the Shadow Queen!" Koops perked up, wondering how she found out about that. "Isn't that enough to at least keep an eye on her?"

"Koopie Koo, when're you gonna get over this? Look, I'm sorry we didn't work out, but I've made up my mind..." He sighed, turning away. "We're through."

"See?! You're even more under her spell than I thought! What kind of levelheaded Koopa would turn down one of their own for some kind of a freak who isn't even of their species?"

"Don't call her a freak!" he snapped. "Just because she's not a Koopa doesn't mean she's any different from us! She has emotions and needs just like we do! Stop being so stereotypical!"

"Stereotypical?! I'm trying to save your life here! If you continue to stay with her, she will kill you!"

He massaged his temples and groaned. "You know what? I'm done arguing. No matter what you do or say, you'll never change my mind. We've drifted too far apart, and I sometimes wonder what I saw in you in the first place. Just... let it go."

"You don't even know what you're talking about anymore!"

"Please, Koopie Koo... It's late, and I'm very tired. If you can't act like you've got some sense... then just go home."

She lowered her gaze. "So you're just gonna let her control like that? Be her slave? Be her little pet?"

"I'd rather be the pet of someone who admires me than one of someone who thinks they own me," Koops spat. A small part of him almost felt bad for saying that, but it was for her own good.

Koopie Koo was clearly taken aback from such a crude remark, but shook it off. "...Fine. I think I know of one way to snap you out of this..."

Koops frowned as she stepped closer to him, gaze still on the floor. He was ready to question her motives when she threw herself on him and pulled him into a deep kiss.

...Vivian clutched her chest with a trembling hand, feeling her heart crumble to pieces for what seemed like the millionth time. It hurt so bad... like he'd sliced her open and crushed it himself. She'd almost forgotten the horrible feeling that was treachery. She bit her lip hard, feeling the tears beginning to well up in her eyes.

The cloak nonchalantly toyed with a twig, freezing it in her palm. "So? Was I right, or was I right? Your little boyfriend seems to be busy with another girl. ...Another Koopa girl."

"B-but he said..."

"That he loved you? Yeah, that's what they all say. Men are so promiscuous. It must be devastating when it comes to being a different species."

...All this time, she thought he was trying to help her, when really he'd been hiding Koopie Koo behind his back. She should've seen it sooner. She was a Koopa, she was attractive... she was even living with him before she came... How could she've not known?

Hanging her head, she slowly placed a forlorn hand on the window, hoping against all hope this was some sort of nightmare. A tear ran down her cheek, glittering in the sudden appearance of the moonlight.

It didn't seem fair. Why did this have to happen? To her, of all people? Just when she thought her days of suffering had come to an end, Koops would turn around and betray her... Devastated, she managed to pull herself away from window, turning so that her back was against the side of the house. Her aspirations crushed, she sullenly slid down until she hit the ground, curling up into a ball of failure. She didn't want to look at them kissing anymore; it tore her very soul like a searing hot sword. More tears fell from her eyes as the fond memories she shared with him flashed through her mind in a kaleidoscope of sorrow...

She could tell when Koops saw her, his day would automatically get better. When she felt sad or lonely, he'd offer her a hug and some kind words. And when she felt like giving up, never to try again, he was always there to lift her spirits and help her see the good in what seemed like a hopeless situation.

Never had she been so open around anyone since Lillian, and that was a compliment. Coming from someone like her, she thought Koops would've been honored to know how much as admired and looked up to him. ...All she ever wanted, for once in her miserable life, was to be happy with another who wanted her to be happy. And she didn't care if was a Koopa, Goomba, or Toad; she loved him unconditionally. Apparently, he wasn't as fond of her as she was of him...

And what about the others? Were they all hiding something, too? Of course they were. Everyone was buddy-buddy amongst themselves, but when it came to her, everything seemed so superficial... She always thought it was because of her inferiority complex, but she saw now that wasn't the case.

They were all just using her to get what they wanted, what they craved, what they desired. They were all off onto bigger and better things... And where was she? Still a lonely misfit in a world of normal people. She knew it was too good to be true, to be able to actually have your guard down without someone trying to stab you in the back. It was only a matter of time before she'd wake up from such a dream... And to think, they used to bring her warmth and happiness, but the only purpose they served now was to remind her of how foolish she was.

She followed them, she trusted them, she loved them. She thought they would be different, she though would treat her better. She thought they were her friends... her allies... her family...

Another pair of tears dotted the grass as she began quietly sobbing, harder than she ever had in a longer time, possibly since Lillian died. Her shoulders shook and her throat became tight as stood and slipped off Flurrie's lovely necklace, staring at the blurry beads through watery eyes. Without a second thought, she let it fall to the ground and turned away, her face in her hands as she disappeared into the shadows. Her choked sobs could still be heard fading off in the night as her unrequited love was realized...

Koops' eyes snapped open as he realized what was going on. He himself was liking it, but his heart could only differ. It was like a struggle between what was normal for the benefit of others, or what he wanted, despite the weirdness of his liking. Then again...

He figured it was only pure nature that made a simple kiss so enjoyable; he couldn't help but be swayed by the sweet lips of a girl from his own species. As much as Vivian had going for her, the Shadow Siren's kisses felt a little... awkward, almost as if their lips didn't quite fit together right. He hated this fact, he really did, but...

Wait, what am I doing?! he frantically thought to himself. This isn't right! I... I don't love this girl! I don't...!

So what did her lips didn't exactly feel right? So what if she wasn't a Koopa? So what if she didn't live up to others' normal expectations? Big deal! Wasn't happiness and harmony all that really mattered in a relationship? And he knew they already had more than enough of both. Plus, he may've wanted a Koopa, but he yearned for Vivian. As he began to remember how he came to love her in the first place, the right choice suddenly became clear...

Snapping himself out of the mesmerizing trance that was Koopie Koo's kiss, he pushed her away. Confused, she looked back at him.

"No, Koopie Koo. I... I can't do this."

"Why?" She gently caressed his face. "I'm a Koopa and you're a Koopa. Your ancestors were Koopas and your children will be Koopas. It's what you are and what you want. Vivian's a Shadow Siren, and there's no way you'll ever truly love her. You're just a little... confused."

He grabbed her hands, taking them off his cheeks. "That may be true, but..."

"But what?"

"...Even if she and I are nothing alike, I really do love her. Instincts are one thing, but... love is another. I know it's not normal, but there's no law in the Mushroom Kingdom that says one can't strive for want they want. And what I want... is her."

Koopie Koo looked down, shocked and disappointed at the same time. She suddenly began to get the feeling that it was her who'd been misguided. There was no way someone who'd been brainwashed could say something so... deep and profound. Ashamed, she kept her gaze glued to the floor, unsure of what to do next. Koops cleared his throat.

"Look... I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I... was just so focused on getting Vivian's attention, I guess I... forgot all about you." He hung his head in equal shame. "Please accept my apologies..."

"Well, I guess it's not all your fault. Maybe if I had stopped doubting you all the time, we'd be on better terms..." She smiled. "There're plenty of fish in the sea, and I can always find another boyfriend... Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?"

"Sure," smiled Koops, holding out a hand. "That's what friends do."

She returned the smile and also outstretched her hand, giving him a firm handshake. Afterwards, Koops could feel a sense of unity in the air. It was like the first part of a complicated puzzle had just been solved. A great weight was lifted off his shoulders, and now all he had to do was help Vivian--

He blinked, suddenly remembering her. "Wait... Where's Vivian?"

"Huh?"

"She was... right behind me earlier... Did you see her?"

She shook her head. "No... I didn't even know she was with you."

Puzzled, Koops opened the front door and peered down the trail. There wasn't even a trace of the Shadow Siren. He stepped out and walked a few feet away from the house until he was practically standing where he last saw her earlier. Once again, he glanced down back towards the path leading to Shhwonk Fortress, seeing nothing but the gate leading there and the citadel itself. As Koopie Koo appeared behind him, he turned his attention to the road leading to Petal Meadows, wondering if Vivian had decided to go make a quick visit at the shop. Alas, the store was closed for the night, not one light on inside. Now he was starting to get worried.

"Are you sure she was with you?" asked Koopie Koo. "I just didn't see her."

"She was here," muttered Koops, leaving. "I know she was."

"Where're you going?"

"I'm going back to Shhwonk Fortress," he answered. "I need to find her. She's... not feeling too well."

She ran up to him. "...Hey, I, um, feel a little bad about earlier, so... let me make up for it. I'll help you out, okay?"

Koopie Koo could tell he was surprised by her offer, but she meant it wholeheartedly. Together, the two Koopas began retracing their steps all the way back to Shhwonk Fortress, not once thinking of the damage that had been done.

From the bushes, Beldam, who'd been listening to the whole thing, stuck her head out. She couldn't believe how well that worked! Things couldn't have done better if she'd planned the whole scenario herself! Tricking Vivian into thinking Koops was against her was one thing, but the kissing? Absolutely perfect!

Now it was all up to her, but given her current position, she was practically home free. She removed the cloak entirely, happily tossing it into the bushes and pulled out a shimmering, blue star of celestial proportions.

"The Sapphire Crystal Star, the Star of Fortitude," she said, laughing at her evil visage in the cobalt reflection. "You always were my favorite."

Authoress' Notes: OH NOES! Now look at what's happened! Too bad it's only gonna get worse... On a lighter note (pun intended), I caught a shiny Starly and Hoothoot a few weeks ago. Both were caught within a day of each other, with no cheating/method/effort whatsoever. What's that got to do with this story, you ask? Absolutely nothing. Just a Trainer giving herself some props. :)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, now she'd done it...

She'd really gone overboard this time...

Why'd she have to get so close to the edge, anyway?!

A young Shadow Siren gurgled and coughed, spewing up water with each gasp she struggled to take. The rough waters were making harder and harder to breathe as she was swept away with the strong current.

But it wasn't her fault! All she wanted was a drink of water, that's all! And where was Beldam? She was supposed to be looking after her, but now she'd up and disappeared! Oh, this was bad. This was very bad...

She called for help the best she could over the sounds of deafening waterfall nearby, but-- Wait... waterfall?! She couldn't swim through that! Using all her strength, she thrashed about in the waves, trying to reach land.

It wasn't that far off! She could do it! She knew she could! All she had to was make it... to... that... big rock...!

Somehow, she managed to grab onto the huge boulder not too far from where she'd fallen in. Out of breath and completely exhausted, her worst fear came true as an enraged Nibbles happened to flip-flop by. For no reason, it angrily snapped at her tiny hands, causing her to flinch and let go of her lifeline. It then proceeded to bounce over the waterfall, continuing on with its meaning journey down the river.

Horrified, she tried to get back to the rock, but the water's flow had increased, while her strength had decreased. She was just about to give up and wish for a swift demise when all of a sudden, someone picked her up.

Picked her up? From such a raging rapid?

It didn't seem possible, but as she suddenly came in contact with the sweet, glorious thing called ground, she was all too happy to believe it was true. Whoever it was had literally scooped her up from the water like she was nothing more than a wayward Cheep-Cheep.

Her savior groaned, as if irritated. "If you're going to take a drink, don't do it where the water can kill you. There's a pond right over there."

She lay on ground before him, unsure of whether she could get up or not. He didn't sound too mad, at least, not as mad as Beldam would've been...

Maybe he was a friend! She may've been clumsy and not too bright, but that didn't mean she couldn't be friends with him!

He groaned again. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Uh-huh." She looked at him with golden eyes and smiled. "Thank you! I'm not a very good swimmer."

"...I see."

She stood and watched him happily, almost as if she wanted to play. He raised an eyebrow, shrugged, and calmly walked off, not thinking twice of her. Much to his dismay, she began to follow.

"...Do you want something?"

She grinned. "Can we play?"

"I'm busy," he answered, and kept walking.

She followed. "With what?"

"Things."

"What kind of things?"

He sighed. "Things you don't understand, now if you please..."

"Thank you!"

"...What?"

"Thank you! 'Please' and 'thank you' are the magic words! I didn't know you knew them, too!"

"Look, why don't you go and play somewhere else... er, whatever your name is."

"My name? Oh, uh, Beldam calls me a lot of names." She began naming each one off on her fingers. "Stupid, idiot, lard-for-brains, dimwit, knucklehead--"

"No, no..." He groaned, shaking his head. "What's your real name? The name your mother gave you? The name that everyone except Beldam calls you?"

She smiled. "Oh, that's easy! Mother calls me Marilyn, and other people call me stuff like 'Your Highness' and 'Princess Marilyn'. I think it's 'cause I'm important."