Oh look, it's the story actually starting— I MEAN the next chapter! Enjoy. =D

Chapter 1: Last Day Shenanigans

"…now I want this paper due the moment you walk in after the summer holidays, is that clear?" my teacher asked. We all answered yes.

"Good. Now about tomorrow, seeing as it's the last day of school, the teachers wanted to take everyone on a special field trip." Everyone, including me, looked up when she said that.

"Yes," she continued, "A very special field trip indeed. We'll be taking a tour of Dark Bowser's Castle!"

There was not a single sound in the room. After the terrorist attack almost two years to the date, everyone wanted to have nothing to do with Dark Bowser. That included going to the castle.

Well, everyone except our teacher. She is the only person in the entire town that fully supports Dark Bowser and Fawful's reign over the kingdoms. We don't know why, and we tried to figure it out. But every time we ask her, she says something like, "Everyone's entitled to their own opinion," or, "I shouldn't have to answer to my students," and her favorite one: "Why shouldn't I?"

That last one always started a debate in our class. We learned early not to use that one to our advantage and avoid class work. Whenever we used an entire period, she'd double our homework for that night without even teaching it to us. Those first few nights were brutal.

I was the one to break the silence.

"Why?" I blurted out. I could feel everyone glaring at me when the word escaped my mouth.

She just stood there for a few seconds and then asked, "Well if that's your attitude, why don't I add ten pages to everyone's essay?"

The class protested a loud 'no'.

"Then you will go on this field trip and enjoy it. No questions asked."

Thank goodness the bell rang then. As everyone packed up, I heard her say, "Go home and get a good night's sleep. You'll need it for tomorrow. Hope, I wish to see you at my desk now."

I groaned and rolled my eyes; right then, I was talking to my best friend, Kory.

Kory was an interesting guy. He was human, but had some Koopa in him. Some people said that he is actually the nephew of Lord Bowser himself, but those were just rumors. I don't believe in them at all.

I met him when we were eight on the first day of school that year. He wasn't really liked for some reason. I stood up for him, feeling sorry for him, and since then we've become really close friends.

I told him that I'd catch up with him later and we said bye. I left my bag at my desk and waked up to the teacher.

"Hope… I have news." Oh, boy. That didn't sound good. "You've been accepted into the history advanced placement class for next year."

"That sounds like great news!" I tried my best to hold back that I knew there was some sort of a catch to her statement.

"But-" I knew it. "-your college preference. Woohoo Hooniversity. Hope, they only specialize in the study of laughter and the Mystery Blocks."

"But, Mrs. Goomley, I did my research and found that they also have the required college courses to be an actual college. They have the major I want!... or at least something like it."

"See, Hope, that's the exact realization I was hoping you'd get to. I've done my research too and saw that WooHoo just teaches about the Beanbean history; they don't cover any other history like ours for instance."

"But we share the same line of history now thanks to Dark Bow—"

"Don't address our great leaders like that!" I could feel the ice in that comment; her comment was that cold.

I quickly apologized and continued my reasoning. "We both share the same history now because of… the incident that happened twenty years ago."

"Yes, that may be true, but they cover the Beanbean side of it. They don't even touch what happened in say… Rogueport. They may say that they were involved in a revolt, but that's because they joined up with the Beanbean Kingdom along with another kingdom they will only slightly mention."

I sighed irritably. She had a point I couldn't argue.

"Besides, wouldn't you want to go to U Goom? It's much closer and it deals with the Mushroom Kingdom's history."

"Mrs. Goomley, I want to study in a history class that can cover all the kingdoms dating back to, like, even before the original Power Stars from Peach's- excuse me, formerly Peach's Castle. How did that affect the other kingdoms? Did it at all and why?"

"Darling, no one has answered that question—"

"And why should I let location bother me? Maybe I want to study abroad. Oh, and one more thing; if I go to U Goom, I'd be the only Toad there!"

"It's the same deal with WooHoo. And besides, there are also Koopas that attend too." She countered as if she was trying to make a point.

"And that's the thing, because it isn't! Thousands of Toads apply every year and hundreds get accepted along with hundreds of Beanish."

"So it's okay to go to school with Beanish, but not with Goombas and Koopas who were the assumed vermin of the Mushroom Kingdom until just recently. Is that what you're implying?"

"No! I was just saying that it'd be awkward being the only Toad there."

There was a long pause. I could tell she was angry at me for almost suggesting what she feared, but she leaned back in her wheelie chair and folded her arms.

Finally she spoke, "Hope, I think it best you go now. Get some rest for tomorrow and think about our chat a little bit over the summer. I just want you to do what's best for you."

"Thanks, Mrs. G." I whispered as I walked back to my desk. Apparently she heard me.

"Oh, don't thank me. You gotta get home pretty soon; your mom must get pretty worried sick about you if you don't get home fast enough thanks to what happened two years ago."

"Oh, it's fine. Kory's probably there now waiting for me and he probably also told my mom I was talking to you."

I never in a million years would have guessed what she said next. The room was quiet as I put my backpack on and headed for the door.

"I've been watching you two all year and think you're the cutest couple in the class."

I was one foot out the door and one foot in and all I could do was turn slowly and stare at my teacher confused. Teachers shouldn't know that type of thing; they should be busy with our papers and setting up the schedule for the next week – year in her case.

Or maybe she didn't have anything better to do, so she thought she could just watch everyone awkwardly throughout the year and we just happened to be on top of her list of people to secretly stalk.

"Hope?" she called out to me. She was trying her best to pull me out of the trance I was in after she had said what she said about Kory and me. I blinked a few times and looked at her.

"Yes?"

"You must-" "-NOT GO TO THE CASTLE TOMORROW!"

I couldn't believe what I had heard. First, she said not to go on the field trip tomorrow. Second, it wasn't even her voice! The voice that said that sounded chipper and… well, just not like Mrs. Goomley.

"Can you say that again; I think I heard something different."

"Oh, no problem. What I said was that you should feel special hanging out with the only human left in Toad Town."

"Yeah, I definitely heard the wrong thing. Wait… did I say that out loud?" I realized too late.

"You did, Hope. Are you feeling all right? Maybe you shouldn't go to the castle tomorrow."

That time, it was definitely Mrs. Goomley.

"Maybe you're right." I agreed. Sighing, I breathed, "Well, I better go now and rest up."

"Don't even think about coming tomorrow! I'm marking you sick because I actually know you are. See you in a few months!"

I waved good-bye, but felt the urge to tell her to do the same for Kory if he didn't show up. For whatever reason, I didn't have to; she told me as if she had read my mind and thought to inform me that she'd do just that. She didn't tell me why, though she gave me a look saying that I should already know why.

I shrugged it off and grinned, starting the short walk to where Kory waited for me.

~*-Beyond-*~

"Whoa, whoa, wait. You don't get to go on the field trip tomorrow because you faked hearing a voice in front of Mrs. Goomley?"

"Kory, I didn't fake it! …but yeah, that's how it happened."

I ended up explaining what happened with Mrs. Goomley to Kory as we took a little stroll through Toad Town.

Every day after school let out, Kory and I would go on a walk – more like mini adventures – since I can remember. Some days we'd go to the Outskirts, other days we'd go to the edge of Forever Forest and dare each other to get closer, and sometimes we'd go on wacky, hair-brained trips all across town.

Today I was headed for the abandoned library and Kory happened to tag along. The library used to be the pride and glory of West Toad Town until the Shopping District plan was approved. I had a job there when I was slightly younger and when it was still open. However when the shops finally opened up, that vast collection of past knowledge and imagination beyond belief shut down along with my Librarian Apprenticeship.

Two years ago, in the bombings, the library was one of the few buildings in West Toad Town left—well, minimally scathed. The columns are cracked and the windows are busted and there's a hole in the right wall big enough for someone to crawl inside, but that's all. No one ever enters the building (it's locked in the front) except for us. Who do you think locked the door?

We were passing the Clinic, just three blocks away from the library, on our way westward as Kory asked what the voice said to me. I answered him plainly, but couldn't shake this shiver that felt like tiny Wrigglers crawling up and down my spine. Apparently my parents were two of the victims to the Blorb infestation all those years ago. My mother said that there was no chance of survival until the Heroes produced the cure. They weren't the first to contract it, but they were the first to start "going under" if you know what I mean.

Thankfully the Heroes arrived just in time to save everyone including my parents. I have them to thank that I was even born! That's just one of the many reasons I admire those brothers so.

A few minutes of chitchat later and we made it.

"Why are we here again?" Kory gaped at the building like he always did before we broke in. I can't say I blame him; the building is an engineering marvel.

"Because," I started, "I've been reading this ancient book in here and I wanna finish it today. It's some book from seventy years ago by the author Kylie Koopa and I've become a fan of her work! She was a journalist before she started her book writing and—"

I could have gone on all day about how wonderful Kylie was, but Kory interrupted thankfully. "We better go in so you can just show me."

I led him around back, like I always do when he tags along for a trip to the library, to a thicket of bushes. I looked around once, twice, thrice before pulling it away to make sure no one was watching. A hole hid behind my makeshift camouflage.

"Why don't we just use the back door again?" Kory asked as I stepped through the small gap.

"Then everyone can get in! And I swore to myself that I would keep everyone out of the library to protect it after it shut down for good."

"Yeah, but a library is for everyone." Our confab started echoing as Kory entered through the side. The ceiling stands forty feet in height supported by pillars and bookshelves and a second floor.

"Everyone swore off the library when the designs for the Shopping District were approved, so there! My actions are justified."

"But that gives you no right to keep all of this literature to yourself. You're no different from Fawful and Dark Bowser when it comes to hording the library."

Human logic baffles me.

"Fine, when those two die and I become queen, I'll fix up the library and open it up to the public wearing Princess Peach's ceremonial pink dress," I retorted, sticking my tongue out.

"Anyway," he chuckled, "where exactly is your book?"

"Second floor, Historical Non-Fiction, 'Koo,' Fungicide: The Epic Battle for the Mushroom Kingdom… I put it on one of the carts for easier access."

"Well you certainly are the resourceful one today." Kory started heading in the wrong direction.

"Wrong way, silly! The stairs are this way!" I called, echoing in time before he got lost in the Children's Section. I know this library like the back of my hand. I caught a hint of blush before he came running back to me.

"Lead the way, your greatness. I'll follow you anywhere. I'll follow you to the ends of the Mushroom World. I'll—!"

"Stop it!" I can't handle him when he teases me, especially with my height. Don't get me started on that.

We laughed on our way up the stairs and down the upper hallway until we reached my special reading desk.

"I'm gonna put my backpack down here, so don't let me forget it." Kory told me.

I really wasn't paying attention, but asked him a question about it anyway. "Why, what's in it?"

"It's got my permission form, for one thing. I haven't gotten it in yet…"

"Kory!" I almost yelped. "That was due last week! How come… oh."

His home situation isn't…perfect, shall we say. He's not really allowed to do anything unless his parents let him or I take him for a "walk" somewhere in town. It's because they believe the suspicious rumors spreading around town that he actually is Bowser's nephew and want to save him from, I dunno, the evils of the world or some crud. Whenever I said it was a bunch of bunk in front of them, they literally threw me out of the house and banned me from Kory for a week.

The whole affair is just silly. If I were him, I would have moved out of there a looooong time ago and moved in with me.

"Yeah, my parents don't really want me going near DB's Castle so you can imagine."

"Well thank goodness Mrs. Goomley let you off the hook."

He laughed as I browsed the cart I left my book on. "Ha ha. W-When did she do that?"

"Right as I left today," I answered without missing a beat or looking back at him.

"Oh." Silence fell over both of us as I began to read.

I must have read for hours without a break. I remember having so little to read before, but that turned out to be wrong. I didn't notice the sun setting or Kory playing with his 3DS and then having to go find an outlet to plug it in. I didn't even remember that Kory took off his backpack.

"Hey, Hope, it's getting pretty late. Shouldn't we head out?" Kory asked, finally breaking our silence.

"Almost done…!" I answered with a mere paragraph left.

"Well hurry up. It's getting drafty in here and I'm getting a little chilled."

"Done!" I exclaimed with pride and a sigh. Wow, that was one long book.

"Okay, that's great, let's go already!" he called from downstairs. I could imagine that he started his fake shivering to emphasize his desire to leave. I giggled at the thought and ran over to him downstairs by our hole.

~*-Beyond-*~

"Thank you for having me for dinner, Mrs. T." Kory thanked after forking down the last bits of dinner from his plate.

"My pleasure! You know you're always welcome here."

"Of course. A friend of Hope's is a friend of ours," added Mr. Broque in his French accent. "And especially in these times you've got to keep your friends close."

"By the way," my mother started. "What kept you from getting home on time?—"

"I think this is an excellent time for pie!" proclaimed Mr. Broque, just in time too. "Come with me, Kory. You can help out."

Kory and Mr. Broque left the table to fetch the delectable treats while my mother continued to grill me about my day.

"You seem to have avoided the subject young lady," she said with that certain smile that told me I wouldn't get away with this secret. "I must say you're becoming quite the queen of deception."

"What flavor do you think they'll bring out?"

"Hope, where were you this evening?" Her voice was stern, matching the expression on her face.

I hated when she wouldn't let me get away with anything, and that was usually all the time. I didn't want to worry her by telling her I spent the rest of the day in a dilapidated building ready to crumble at any moment – and of course I would never word it like that! – but still, she's my mother…

"Who wants some Peachy Peach pie?" announced Mr. Broque as he burst through the archway. "Sadly it's only leftover from a few nights ago so it's reheated."

"I do!" I suddenly blurted out.

"Since when did you like leftovers?" Kory asked as he popped his head out from the kitchen.

"Siiiiiiiiiince now, silly!" I was so grateful to have pie in front of me, I started cramming it in my mouth just to avoid my mom's question. Gobble after gobble after gobble; I couldn't stop myself! The looks I got made me feel like a pig but I didn't care.

Sadly I ran out of pie in less than two minutes.

"Now you were saying?" My mother asked again in her sweetly inquisitive voice.

"Theoldabandonedlibrary." I slurred after a moment of pause.

"The what?"

"She wanted to finish a book after school so we—" Kory didn't even have to finish because my mom knew exactly how he would finish that statement. My summer was officially ruined.

"The library AGAIN? Hope Rosaline Toadington, I'm ashamed. You've gone too far this time, what with going to that-that- you know that's restricted property!" I could feel her voice rising with each stressed accent. "I've told you time and time again not to go over there! What if the ceiling collapsed?! You know how I felt when you didn't get home immediately during that attack!"

She paused for a moment to catch her breath. Her rosy cheeks puffed in and out with each strain. I slunk down my chair, fearing the worst for me. I've had enough of you! You're going to Gran-Gran's house for the entire summer! Or I'm revoking my trust in you; I'm picking you up from school next year! Or worse…

"You're grounded for the summer, young lady! That means you tell me where you're going and I make sure you get there, I'm reinstating your curfew, I'm having Mr. Broque lock up his sweets—"

"What?!" I blurted.

"—And you can forget your birthday party at the Karting Grand Prix next month. And I'm timing Kory's visits."

"But Mrs. T…"

"I'm sorry Kory, but this is a punishment. Hopefully this lesson will finally sink in. You can have the rest of the night if you want though."

A mixture of moping and unfriendliness filled the air the next few minutes, as everyone remained silent trying to absorb how grave this situation was. I don't see how I did anything wrong… I didn't—never get caught. No one even wants to go near that place anymore.

Sigh…

"Maybe now is a good time to start getting ready for bed, Hope," Mr. Broque announced to finally break the silence. "Kory can do…whatever Kory usually does, I guess. Help you, maybe? I dunno."

"I'll do just that, sir."

We scampered off upstairs to my room. My private sanctuary was a name that fit better. My mom never invaded my privacy (except when I was grounded) so it's the perfect place to talk, play games, hang out; you get the idea.

It certainly looked cozy from an outsider's perspective: bunk bed, with the bed on top and a desk underneath; various posters of karters and actors strewn all over the walls; a small television with a Wii console hooked up next to it; too many Wii games lying around on the carpet; a dresser with a Lil' Oink piggy bank on top and a lamp next to it… too much detail?

I started up my Wii to play my bootlegged copy of Mario Kart Wii and vent a little by p'wning the 150CC mirror computers when Kory started talking.

"Dude, this sucks! Grounded the entire summer for reading. How does that make you feel?"

"You can't even imagine." I mumbled sarcastically. I got back up from sitting on the floor to start rummaging for the Wii Wheel.

"She seemed pretty mad at you this time. Is she feeling well?"

"No. She's just finally coming to grips that she'll lose me in a year, so she's trying to keep me to herself before that can happen. Just a theory. Where is that stupid Wii Wheel?!"

"Hope, calm down. I think you just need to get to bed and sleep off your anger. I mean, who knows? Maybe your mom'll have a change of heart in the morning."

I stopped my panicked search for a moment as I thought about his logic. Morning. In the morning, I'd be sleeping in while everyone goes on the field trip, which meant I'd be getting more sleep. He'd be sleeping in too because he wouldn't be going too. But everyone else would have to get up early, pack their backpacks-

I swear my heart skipped several beats after I remembered Kory's backpack.

"Oh my Grambi, I totally forgot and I'm so sorry, please don't kill me!" I rushed my words as I ran into him for… I can't even say exactly what I did or why, but I hugged him tightly.

"Hope, calm down! Take a deep breath and tell me what's wrong."

"You-your backpack!" I stammered. "We left it in the library! I'm so sorry…"

I looked up at him and I could see it in his face that he thought that we were idiots for leaving it there. Instead of saying anything right away, he hugged me closer. I started feeling calmer as he gently rubbed my back.

"Don't blame yourself," he consoled. "We just have to get it back now is all."

"But my mom's expecting me in bed soon… and I can't go anywhere now that I'm grounded."

At that devastating realization, we pushed apart and stared at each other. There was only one way to go out at this time of night.

"Sneak out," we said simultaneously.