Chapter 3: A Hero Appears

Normally one would call me almost unnaturally graceful. Tripping was something you'd never see me do (I suppose that's because I 'float' instead of walk). But I was worn down from the events that had taken place not much earlier, so walking was my only method of transportation at the moment.

My legs, being unused to the strain walking put on my muscles, caused my face to make contact with the soft earthy ground not once, but twice.

Carefully and slowly pushing myself up, I wiped the mud and dried leaves from my face. Covered in dirt, mud and grass stains, twigs sticking out from my normally neat hair, just one look at me would be enough to scare the poor luma's into thinking I was some sort of mud monster.

I giggled at the thought. But then as quick as my joy came, it disappeared. That's when I remembered where the luma's were: trapped in a strange place with this supposed 'D-Joker'. The promise I had made to protect them no longer could be kept. I had already let them down.

But I would still do everything, anything, to save them.

Finally rising to my feet, ever so softly and swiftly I brushed away the bits of grass and broken leaves that had adhered themselves to my clothing.

Looking down, I noted that my favorite pale blue dress had a rather large tear in the fabric towards rim.

I'll have to make a new one once I return home, I thought in dismay. I had owned this dress for as long as I could remember...long before I ventured out into space.

My mother made it for me as a going-away gift. It was made from a special silk, coated with stardust which gave it an almost unearthly glow. But most importantly, made with a mother's love. Nothing could replace that.

Not allowing my memories to take over for what must have been the hundrenth time that day, I reminded myself of my current situation.

Turning towards the direction of my destination, I took off walking with a somewhat swift pace. My leg hurt a little. No problem though. I've had much worse as a child. A little pain was nothing.

The darkness within the forest made me squint in an attempt to make out what was in front of me. My energy had returned for now, so I took advantage of my second wind as I zipped and zoomed, jumping over an occasional fallen log here and there, and of course avoiding any low hanging outstretched tree branches.

Just up ahead, the red glow of a fire could barely be made out between the small spaces in the tree branches.

"Finally." I cried aloud, relief flooding my now horribly sore body, "I made it."

Pushing the last few branches aside, I stepped out into the clearing. The sun had just barely begun to rise. I made it. Albeit barely.

But I couldn't allow myself to rest just yet. Here is where my worst nightmare would be realized. I slowly turned to the spot I had left Hoshi-

Yes...it was as I feared. The grass was empty.

The image of a small red and pink striped luma, sleeping soundly and safely by a fire entered my mind. Grief and guilt washed over me. If only I hadn't left...maybe you would still be safe. Or maybe if I had never fallen asleep back at the observatory, we'd both be safe and-

Shaking my head to dislodge the thoughts, I knew thinking negatively wouldn't get me anywhere, so decided to take a few moments to look around more carefully.

The fire had settled down to not more than a few dying embers, still providing enough heat to keep one warm.

My sleeping place was no longer there. The hay must have blown away with the wind, I thought, however, I do find it strange, since I haven't felt even the slightest breeze since I came here.

And that's when I noticed something I had completely missed.

The campsite was littered with at least a dozen half eaten apples. Some had twigs sticking out of their sides. Curiously, I approached one of these and picked it up.

"Ouch!" I cried out in pain whilst dropping the apple to my feet. It had been burning hot. Had someone tried to roast it?

SNAP.

Again? No wait, the sun had begun to rise over the mountains in the distance. Perhaps my clue was about to appear.

Still, after our last encounter, I couldn't help but raise my defenses. Slowly stepping into a stance, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to sink into a tranced state, tuning into the energies around me.

Nothing seemed out of place. Unlike last time when I had felt hostile and busy energy, this time everything seemed quiet and still. Did that mean he wasn't planning to attack?

I relaxed. My senses had never let me down before, so- THUD.

"Ooh..." I sat up and rubbed my forehead. The pain was unmistakeably worse due to the apple that had made contact with it only an hour earlier. But did this mean...surely not...I was- wrong? There had been a danger after all?

I quickly pulled myself up into and back into a stance.

"Enough cheap tricks," I said with as much authority in my voice as I could muster, "come out and fight, or don't fight at all." Tired and sore, this time I would certainly NOT stand for any games. If they wanted a fight, so be it.

"But I wasn't pulling any cheap tricks! It was an accident, I promise!" a voice said hastily from behind one of the tree's.

An accident? I looked to the ground and saw it was a banana that had knocked me into a fit of pain.

A banana. I had to give a small laugh at the thought of me being hit with one. It seemed like something comical you'd read about in a book. Even though the pain I recieved was far from comical. I grimaced, bringing my fingers back to the spot on my forehead, tracing the area I was sure would be bright red right about now.

But the voice sounded familiar...

Slowly, walking towards the small cluster of tree's opposite of the one's I had come from, I pulled aside the few branches blocking my view only to find...

I blinked in surprise. Was I seeing things? Perhaps breathing in the air on my old planet had made me slightly delusional?

My trance was quickly broken as something streaked straight across my line of sight.

"Mama!" Hoshi rushed into my arms, sobbing hysterically.

Cradling the shivering luma in my arms, I stroked it with my fingers, softly whispering to calm it. "Shhhh, it's alright now. I've got you." I sensed, rather than felt Hoshi's fear subside. In a few moments, it would undoubtly fall alseep in my arms. More grateful than words could describe for the luma's safety, I could only hug Hoshi close, knowing that I would do everything in my power to keep it safe.

"Who are you?" said the other voice in a surprised tone that perfectly mirrored my own surprise.

I didn't answer, instead kept stroking Hoshi, who seemed grateful for my presence. Would it be safe to give this person information? Even my own name could give away too much. They could be a spy for D-Joker...perhaps they had even attempted to capture Hoshi?

"Who are you?" The voice said again, slowly, before drifting off. They sounded a bit dazed, almost as if they were having trouble recalling something.

This time a spared a glance. I hadn't been wanting to make eye contact after my last reaction, but now that I had, it was as if some magnetic force wouldn't allow me to look away.

"Is your name...Rosalina?" I twitched unwillingy at the sound of my name. How did they know? Had they been spying on me this whole time?

And then I had a strange feeling. No, I thought to myself, and wasn't sure why. He's not the enemy.

The man who stood before me was someone important to me, or at least, that's what I felt.

Why was it that I had this feeling as though I knew the person standing in front of me, and yet, I was sure I had never seen them before in my life?

"Who are you...?" But even as I said the words, a name formed in my mind.

"You don't know me? I was sure just about everyone had by now." I shook my head, despite the fact I now knew the answer.

"It's-a-me, Mario!"

Star: Woot! Chapter 3 done! :D Bet you weren't expecting Mario to show up so soon, were you? If you did...I fail as an author. xD Sorry if it's a bit short, but i'm already almost done with the next chapter. More action in that one, I promise. ;3 Can't believe it took me this long to update, heheh. Sorry about that. And thanks for the reviews!

I knew there must have been a few grammar mistakes, but I promise to skim back over everything when I get the chance. And there is one reason in particular why i'm keeping the first chapter in third person. You'll see why later on. ;3

Keep in mind that there's a reason Rosalina doesn't remeber Mario at first. Hopefully it will be sorta cleared up next chapter. Reviews are appreciated! And until next time, mata ne!~