OMG! JUST GOT MY 200TH REVIEW! CELEBRATE!

*Streamers, punch bowls, candy, the whole deal*

WOOO!

rolls eyes: Wow. You have a pulley?

GREENis my fav color: yum yum yum! Hmmm... anybody else feel sorry for Gaz? I know I do! (Maybe. Not sure. And I'm the author. Wooww.)

JustIncaseYouDidntKnowImCrazy: You can't stop laughing because HE can't stop laughing! It's contagious. HA! CLIFFHANGER! CLASSIC! Yay! Stalking! Also, Oopmaloompas scare me. There were girls practicing dances for the Willy Wonka thing at school and they were dancing creepily to the Oppa-Loompa-Doo-Ba-Dee-Doo song. As I walked away, I couldn't help but whisper to myself, "I'm scared."

Gaz walked behind the villagers, head held high, refusing to lose her dignity. They weaved in and out, through the trees. Once she heard a rustling and looked back to see that Kama had tripped on a branch and Zim was helping her up. She was blushing and smiling dreamily. Gaz narrowed her eyes and snapped her head forward again, telling herself that she didn't care.

They kept walking until they came to a large clearing with houses made expertly from branches, mud, and huge leaves. The villagers shyly watched them walk in from the sidelines. One of the smaller children slipped away from their mother, who was crying, "Mechledeck! Gadza, Gadza!" The child ignored her and ran up to Kama, laughing and smiling.

She smiled back, patted him on the head, and gently nudged him back in the direction of his mother. She smiled gratefully at her. Gaz snorted.

They came to a large fire in the middle of the village. The leader clapped his hands, yelled something, and other villagers ran up and offered the visitors food, which they had apparently prepared quickly. Gaz hungrily grabbed some and wolfed it down. The villager who had given it to her stared at her, pink eyes wide.

"What?" She said, her voice muffled by food. The villager just bowed hastily and left. Gaz shrugged and swallowed her mouthful.

Zim was talking to the leader, nodding and putting in a few words every now and again. When they paused, Gaz inserted herself into the conversation.

"So, what're we talkin' about, huh?"

Zim looked at her. She looked right back. He sighed.

"He was telling me why he and his tribe are in the forest." He paused and looked at her like he wanted her to go away.

Of course, she didn't.

"Aaaannnnd?"

He sighed again. "Fine. He says that his tribe started when a group of Irkens were banned by Tallests long ago. They repopulated, created their own cultures, religions, communities. They live out in the wild, depending on nature, unlike the Irkens who depend on technology." He shrugged. "Not what I would have chosen, but whatever."

"So, can they get us out of this forest?"

"Yes, but they insist that we stay for a special ritual later. They wouldn't tell me what it was, though."

"Uuuuggghh! I just want this nightmare to be OVER already! I don't even remember how I GOT here anymore." She stood up and stomped away. She walked a little ways away from the village and leaned against a tree, her head down.

That stupid little crap! It's almost like he wanted to be stuck in this forest!

'Nooo, he wants to be stuck in this forest with YOU, silly-head!'

"GAH!" Gaz shouted and fell in her confusion.

"WHO'S THERE?"

'Nobody!' she heard in the same voice as before. She suddenly realized that it was a more cheery version of hers. Not only that, but it was coming from her head!

"What the hell...?"

'Ah ah ahh! No bad words missy!'

"What's going on?" She said, standing up.

'Nothing really,' the voice replied. 'I guess I'm just a figment of your imagination. I must be a remnant of the happy fruit!'

"Oh, God."

'Either way, I have a feeling that I'll wear off soon enough.'

"How can you feel anything?"

'Never mind THAT! The important thing is how YOU feel.'

"Feel? What are you, from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?"

'Mikey Who's What?'

"Is it weird that I know, and you don't, even though you're inside my-"

'Head? Yeah probably.' The voice interrupted.

'Anywhoo, the important thing is that you learn to express your feelings!'

"Umm... what?"

'Let's just say that I'm your denial talking.'

"I thought you were the fruit."

'I'm both!'

"Huh?"

'Wow, you're almost as clueless as ME! Teehee!'

Gaz scowled.

"Look, I don't know what's going on here, but if you could just GO AWAY, that'd be fantabulous. Wait, did I just say..."

The voice giggled. 'Yup! That was my bad. Sorry. I'll go away as soon as I tell you that... Uh, oh.'

"What?"

'I can feel myself slipping away...'

"Thank God."

'Just remember!' The voice was getting fainter. Just before it faded away, Gaz could hear one last thing:

'Don't try to deny what is meant to beeee!' And it was gone.

"'Kay..." Gaz said slowly. "I am now 100% insane. Greeaaat"

She slowly made her way back to the village, pushing the voice's words out of her mind and hoping that she was still sane enough to continue her rule over her empire once she finally got out of that hellhole.