Chapter 4: Memories or Lies?

"Mario..." it sounded so familiar, but yet... "Haven't we met before?" I asked incredulously.

Mario looked off to the side and scratched his head for a moment before replying, "I a-think so. But ah, I can't remember where or when. But I do know your name, so that means we must have-a met somewhere."

"Yes, that's true..." the magnetic force vanished, and so I directed my gaze towards the stars. Hoshi, now sound asleep as I had predicted, lay in my arms.

And then something hit me- not literally, thank goodness. I've had enough of being hit with fruits. But I remembered- the clue. It should be here by now.

"Mario, I hate to trouble you, but would you watch over Hoshi for me? Just for a few moments. I need to search the area."

"No problemo." He said whilst flashing a quick thumbs up for reassurance.

Carefully slipping Hoshi into his arms, I turned back towards the mess of a campsite. Where to begin?

Ten minutes later, I had torn apart the camp, put out what was left of the dying fire, and left no rock unturned.

But there was nothing.

A small sigh wished to escape my lips, but I held it back. Sighing is unladylike, and it's what you do when you're ready to give up. My children are counting on me. There is no giving up.

"Mama! Mama!" Hoshi came flying and knocked right into me, causing it to tumble a bit in mid-air before adjusting it's position so it was upright again.

"Calm down little one," I giggled softly, "Seems you're finally awake. And energetic, as always." The complete opposite of what it had been when we first arrived.

I turned to see Mario walking over with a heap of fruit in his hands. Hoshi left me and zoomed over to him, grabbing one of the strange striped fruits, and then settling down on the grass by his side. Hoshi must really trust Mario, I thought with a small smile. It made me wonder just what had taken place while i was gone.

"This stuff tastes really good, mama!" "Oh?" This surprised me, because being a luma meant Hoshi lived off of star bits. I had never seen any of my children eat anything besides the colorful crystals. This however, sparked my intrest, and made me wonder if I should try one myself. It had been hundreds of years since I had eaten actual food.

The fruit now rested on the grassy earth in a pile next to Mario, who was sitting next to the pile with an apple in hand. I walked over and sat down, grabbing a golden star-shaped one out of the assortment. It looked edible enough.

Taking a small bite, I smiled. It was actually delicious! I had tasted something similar in the distant, very distant past...but I couldn't recall what it was. Still, this was just as good, or perhaps more delicious than star bits.

"How is it?" Mario asked with a goofy grin on his face. How can he be so carefree when he is in this sort of situation? "Surprisingly, wonderful," I replied, allowing myself another bite, and giving a small smile thereafter to prove I did indeed enjoy it.

"But, if you don't mind me asking, how did you end up in this place?" Mario turned to face me, "I don't a-really know," he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I remember getting up to grab a midnight snack, when I heard the door open. Luigi was asleep, so I thought it was just me-a hearing things. But then I can't remember anything after that. I just-a woke up here." He finished with a small shrug, and went back to eating the apple.

That's odd. Why would he be here- unless- Wait, could it be? He was at the campsite, after all. And there was nothing else...

Mario was the clue I had been looking for.

But, why Mario? And did he just- "Did you say 'Luigi'?" "Yeah! He's my little bro, after all. Do you know him?" "Yes, he once saved the universe with my help...or..." Huh? He was the one who did all that...right? So why was my memory getting fuzzy?

"He did? Mama mia! He never told me about any of that. I'll have to ask him about it when I get back home." Even though i'm sure it was Luigi, how come...

Something isn't right.

Mario and Hoshi are fast asleep at our new campsite. We went the entire day; walking, running, doing whatever we could to get somewhere but found nothing. Not a single living soul resided here. So D-Joker wasn't bluffing when he said he took all the animals.

Getting lost when it's dark isn't an option, so we all- minus Hoshi who disagreed with this, as per usual routine- decided it would be best to rest and pick up the search in the morning.

But it's hopeless. I know that. What are we searching for? What is there to find? And only I know that the clock is ticking, every second closer to whatever horrible things that joke of a joker talked about.

I sat on a rock a few feet away from camp. After realizing I had about an hour left before the deadline, there was no time for sleeping.

The moon shone brightly in contrast to the endlessly black sky. Each star looking as if it would fall at any moment to make a rain of broken dreams and lost memories. I still hadn't figured out what happened earlier when Mario and I were discussing Luigi...I felt like everything I said had been a lie. But how could that be possible?

And there's that forbidden topic coming to the surface again; memories.

Standing, I walked off into the forest, knowing this time exactly where I was going.

Star: GAH. I'm sure there's some typos and stuff in here; it was rushed. But I hope you guys are hanging in there! The action I promised is being put off until next chapter BUT no worries. I'm already basically done with the next chapter; it should be posted sometime tonight /is trying to finish it before she loses motivation

And I am soooo sorry for taking this long to update! A ton of health issues lately. I swear, it feels like it's already 2012 lol. So much bad luck lately. And for those of you living in the US and on the East Coast...well, you should know how much fun everything is right now. :c Bewteen the earthquake and hurricane that hit...geez, talk about weird.

Weeell, enough of me talking. xD See you all soon!~