Sorry this chapter's a bit shorter than the first one, guys. I just want to make sure I keep posting these because I really want to get this story out there.

To my reviewers:

Lalaith: Thanks for being my first review! I assure you, I'm up for the challenge. Haha.

Oh Shiz: I appreciate the compliment! You know it's strange, I wasn't going for comedy but my stories always seem to come out that way.

Ohmyrentness: Well, thanks! Good to know I have support.

"Oof, oww… I should know better then to piss her off…" Alexi mumbled, brushing herself off and standing up slowly.

Angel and the girl called Mimi both turned to face her.

"At least she didn't get you too bad, right girl?" Mimi interjected cheerfully. She moved to help Alexi.

Angel frowned. This was all way too much to take in at once. "All right people, I appreciate the help and all, but… what the hell?"

"Don't you worry! You just focus on getting back home, okay sweetie?" Mimi said quickly, her voice dripping with syrupy sweetness.

"Yeah, I don't need to worry…" Angel repeated. She felt strangely calm and at peace all of a sudden.

Mimi patted her back and continued talking. "Just take the ring and go downtown… oh! And give my regards to Benny the Sleazeball!"

Alexi stifled a laugh at the nickname, passing it off as a cough.

Angel turned to the smooth-talker, frowning. "You know him?"

"Oh, we had a, erm, thing in the past. It didn't end well." Mimi pouted. "Bastard."

Alexi sighed. "Men! You know… they seem to be afraid of me for some reason…"

Angel laughed softly. "Well, all right then. But I don't think this Benny will want to help me if I insult him like that!"

Mimi giggled. It was a lovely sound. Angel was reminded faintly of wind chimes.

"No, no, of course not! Perhaps I should have just kept my big mouth shut! No, off you go!" Mimi pushed Angel gently in the direction of Jaune Street. "I'll come say goodbye before you leave, don't worry!"

"Thanks, sugar!" Angel called behind her. She didn't know what it was, but something about the Latina girl made her feel very happy. She'd almost forgotten that she'd just shot through a black hole into a magical world and killed someone.

As she began walking, Angel took a moment to observe the scenery. Jaune Street was actually quite lovely, in its own way. Though it was a bit run-down, Angel could see that the city was once thriving with life. The buildings were tall and impressive, and the road was wide to accompany the countless people that no doubt once traversed it.

She followed the street into a small, quiet park filled with trees. It looked as if nobody had been there for awhile, as the plant life was overgrown and taking over the fences and even the sidewalk that Angel was following.

The wind picked up and Angel pulled her white jacket tighter around her shoulders. Even the wind here was lovely, she noted. When it blew, it almost sounded like a voice whispering in her ear. Wait a minute… was that a voice?

Angel listened more closely. Yes, there was definitely a voice. But where was it coming from? She listened closely.

"Uh, excuse me? Miss? Yes, you down there in the blue dress?"

Angel looked down at her blue dress. The voice was addressing her? "Um… hello? Where are you?"

"Up here! In the tree!"

Angel looked up at the massive oak tree she was standing in front of. Sure enough, she saw a young man clinging to one of the tall branches. "I'm, uh, stuck." He said in a small voice.

Angel glanced at him skeptically. "Need some help?"

"That'd be nice!"

"Um…" Angel looked around nervously, trying to figure out how to get the very trapped man back to earth. Glancing to her left, she spotted some dead shrubbery. "Here, jump onto this!" She shouted back up, dragging the bushes directly under the tree.

"Well… all right…" He replied, looking less than convinced at the safety of the plant. "Goodbye cruel world!" He cried dramatically, leaping down. He landed unceremoniously in the heap of leaves with a resounding "Oof." Angel couldn't help but giggle a bit. At least he didn't miss.

Groggily, he raised his head from the rubble and looked at Angel. "Uh… thanks."

Angel tried to keep a straight face. "You're welcome." She walked over to him and offered him her hand to stand up, which he readily accepted. She hoisted him to his feet easily. He was surprisingly light. "I'm Angel." She introduced, shaking his hand (as she was still holding it).

"Mark." He replied simply, shooting her a crooked smile.

Angel took a moment to look at Mark. He was rather pale and very thin, donning black jeans with a sweater that would have looked sharp had it not been so worn. His hair was blonde and spiky, his glasses thick, and his eyes blue and captivating. He radiated… friendliness.

"So, Mark, what exactly were you doing in a tree?" Angel inquired, amused.

He chuckled nervously. "Hiding from his woman named Alexi. She's… uh… well, crazy."

Angel burst out laughing.

Mark looked at her quizzically. "You know her?"

"You know, she did mention something about – well, never mind." Angel managed to choke out.

"Huh. Well anyway, I've never seen you around before. Where are you from?" Mark seemed ready to dismiss the topic of his apparently insane stalker.

Angel didn't blame him. "I'm from… out of town. I'm going to meet the governor to see if he knows how to help me get back."

Almost as soon as the words left her lips, Angel wondered if she'd said something wrong. Mark's eyes darkened. "Oh." He said softly.

"You know him?"

"Not anymore."

Angel was puzzled. "Something wrong?"

"Me and Benny just don't get along nowadays, I guess. Oh well." The corners of his mouth twitched up in a tiny smile. "It's been a long time, maybe I should just get over it. Besides, I know how to find him. Do you want some help?"

Angel liked the sound of that. She hadn't thought of it before, but finding some guy she knew nothing about save a name would be hard in this strange, mixed-up world. But Mark had seemed a little off since she mentioned him.

"If you're sure." She answered carefully.

"Yeah. Yeah, I am. Anything to get away from Alexi for awhile, anyway." He half-joked. He offered her his arm in a mock gentlemanly fashion. "Shall we?"

Angel accepted in an equally mocking gesture and looped her arm through his elbow. "Okay, onwards to Benny!" She giggled. The pair marched forward and Angel hummed merrily, totally oblivious to the real reason Mark needed to see his old friend.