Written By:
Emily Fieldus
 

Chapter One

I walked out the door hopelessly awaiting another boring day at school. “Can this day get any worse?” I asked myself. Then I froze. I stared awestruck at the amazement of what I saw right in front of me.

Chapter Two

“A…A warp pipe!” I whispered to myself. “I wonder where it goes.” I asked myself. I broke out of it. “Come on Emily, Focus! I’ll be late for school if I go in that thing.” I said. I took a couple more steps toward school. Then I thought what the video game world? Then I looked back. I stopped and went back to the warp pipe. I jumped in; I was ready for what was going to happen to me next.

Chapter Three

“Where am I?” I landed in a dark damp forest similar to a game I’ve played before. I looked around. Lightning flashed, and I could hear crows calling to the moon. So I kept on walking until… I saw a huge two-story mansion at the end of the forest. I gulped. As I walked up to the mansion I could hear hideous blood-curdling screams and cackles. I opened the door and went in.

Chapter Four

I walked down the foyer and opened the door on the right. I entered a hallway full of doors. I opened the first one and went right on in. I began to take in my surroundings. A row of bookshelves lined the back wall. Chandeliers lent a pleasantly yellow glow to complement the light from a crackling fire in the fireplace. An elegant coat rack stood near the door, and on a comfortable-looking green recliner sat a ghost reading a book. “It’s a ghost!” I screamed. The ghost jumped up in surprise. “A ghost! Where? Where?” He said. Then he stopped and bonked his head with the book, or tried to, as the book went right through his head and came out the other side. "By Jove, what a fool I am, it's me!” He stood up straight and bowed politely. “And where are my manners? Let me introduce myself: I am Neville, ghost in residence here in the study, at your service and your family’s, I'm sure.” He said. “I’m trying to find out how to get home,” I said. “Do you think you could help?” I asked. “And who do I have the pleasure of addressing?” asked Neville. “Oh, sorry, I'm Emily.” I, having already evaluated the ghost and found him only moderately shocking, was over by the bookshelves checking out the reading resources. “I'm honored to welcome such a distinguished guest to the Mansion. Of course we shall be grateful for the opportunity to be of assistance, but first, we must elucidate the potential complications. Just where, pray tell, is your home, did you say?" Neville asked. “I didn't,” I replied. “I come from… from the real world, not from a game.” I said. “By my faith, the real world? Remarkable. Now, I must inquire, how was it that you ended up here in the mansion? I was so absorbed in my novel that I missed your entrance completely.” Neville said. “I found a warp pipe.” I said. “Well… let us figure a way to get you home later. Come I will take you for a tour.” He said. Meanwhile Neville led me down the corridor. The walls and ceilings were elegantly appointed with carved wood trim and amply lit by stylish chandeliers like the one in the study. They proceeded down a wide staircase with intricately decorated wooden banisters and thence through another corridor. Neville was chatting all the while: “You see, the rebuilt mansion was modified in several respects from the original plan. The Boo’s had added an enhanced grand ballroom in addition to the more modest dining room to which we are repairing currently. Though I must say that those of us ghosts who have re-established ourselves here in the mansion find the new design… How shall I put this delicately... not an improvement on the more traditional arrangements to which we had become accustomed.” He said. “So…The ghosts don’t like the floor plan?” I asked. “Precisely.” Neville said. Neville spoke again: “The Ball Room is through this door. Shall we?" He said, gesturing vaguely to his left.

Chapter Five

I took a step forward and turned the knob of the door. I opened the door, to see two grand crystal chandeliers giving off a faint glow over two black and white circular tiles. “Oh! Oh! I recognize this place! This is where the Whirlindas dance! Isn’t it?” I asked. “Precisely.” Now I will need you to baby-sit the twins for me, while I go tell King Boo that you are here.” Neville said as he started for the wall. Then I stopped him. “No! No! No! Don’t tell King Boo that I’m here!” I said. “Why not?” Neville asked. “Because…” I paused to think of a solution. “Because if you tell him that I’m in here… I mean, this Mansion, then he’ll send all of his Boo’s to come and find me, capture me, and then the most terrible thing… Trap me in a portrait!” I cried. “Yes, but you are not a portrait ghost.” Neville replied. “But King Boo trapped Mario in a portrait… Right?” I asked. “Yes… I suppose you are right. I am terribly sorry for making you frightened.” Neville said. “Oh… That’s okay.” I replied. “But I could make it up to you by baby-sitting the twins for you.” I said. “By Jove, would you really do that?” Neville asked. I nodded. “Well… alright.” Neville said, opening the door from the ballroom. As I walked out, Neville followed.

Chapter Six

We kept on walking until we got to Madame Clairvoya’s room. “To see how you are going to get home… you need to talk to Madame Clairvoya first.” Neville said. I turned the knob and went in. I walked up to her, and I asked nervously. “Hi.” I said. “I have a question to ask you.” Madame Clairvoya turned around from her fortune telling and stared at me. “Yes?” She asked. “How do I get home?” I asked. Madame Clairvoya said, “You need to find the five items.” She replied. “Five Items!?” I cried. “You know… Mario’s Items he lost as he was struggling to get away from King Boo to put him in a portrait.” She reminded me. “Oh! Those items!” I replied. I took a deep breath. “O…K.” I said as I left out the door. Neville stood there. “So?” He said. “Madame Clairvoya told me to find five items that Mario left behind.” I replied. “Well… I must say you are baby-sitting the twins now. May be you can make a deal with them, and then they will give you the shoe.” Neville said. “Yeah… I guess so.” I said. “Come…” Neville said. “It shall be an honor for I Neville, to lead you to the twins room.

Chapter Seven

When we got to the Twins Room… “So this is the Twin's room?" I said. "What a mess!" I was standing just inside the door, next to a small table holding a large globe. The room was decorated with cheerful blue and white striped wallpaper. A bunk bed lay on one side, a desk on the other. A mobile of string and tiny toy planes hung from the ceiling. A toy chest was in the corner, open and nearly empty, its contents strewn all around the room. There were tennis rackets, rubber balls, wooden trains, cars of various sizes, models, and construction, rocket ships, coloring books, building blocks, boats, dinosaurs, crayons, a pop gun, balls of string, lengths of rope, buckets, shovels, marbles, magazines, polished rocks, jigsaw puzzles, large pieces of chalk, action figures, drawing books, watercolors, and stuffed bears, beavers, rabbits, macaws, fish, frogs, dolphins, whales, moose, weasels, otters, anteaters, bluebirds, eagles, and a slug (a stuffed one, of course). I made my way through the mess taking in my surroundings. Suddenly a high pitched giggle filled the room... I looked around. It certainly wasn’t Neville, besides he wasn’t given to giggling anyways.

Chapter Eight

“Nanner, nanner, can't catch me!” said a high-pitched voice. “Can so!” Said another voice. “I meant the old folk, not you!” said the first voice. “Okay… You guys. Come on out.” I giggled. “Aww, aren't you gonna’ play with us?” From behind a large wooden box next to the toy chest protruded a ghostly translucent blue head topped with neatly combed blonde hair parted in the middle. The disconcertingly green eyes blinked and the ghost said, “Who are you? I haven't seen you before. I'm Henry! Want to play?” He asked. “Uh… Henry? Where’s your brother?” I asked. Another similar ghostly head popped out upside down from the center of the mobile. “I'm not his brother, he's my brother! He's just Henry. I'm Orville! I'm the big brother.” He said excitedly. “We're twins,” replied Henry. “You can't be the big brother. Besides you were the big brother yesterday!” Henry argued. “Would you play hide and seek with us?” Said Orville, forgetting about the argument. “Wait a sec Orville!” Henry exclaimed. “Are you our new parent?” Henry asked. “No way!” I exclaimed. “Oh… Are you our new baby-sitter?” Henry asked. “Just for the day.” I replied. “Are you gonna play hide and seek or not?” said Orville. “Oh… well… I guess so. But first what’s your version of hide and seek?” I asked the twins. The twins looked at each other. Then they both looked back at me. “Well…” Orville said. “Well, you go outside and we hide in boxes.” Orville explained. “Okay…But if I play hide-and-seek… You are going to give me Mario’s shoe. Okay?” I asked. “Oh… Okay.” Orville moaned. “Well, that version of Hide-and-Seek seems pretty simple.” I replied as I walked out the door. I went to the right side of the wall closed my eyes and waited. I could hear the twins arguing. “I'm first!” said Orville. “I'm first,” said Henry. “I'm the oldest.” He argued. “You are not! I'm the oldest. I go first.” Orville argued back. “You were first yesterday! I'm first.” Henry argued. I opened my eyes, and walked to the door. I opened the door. The twins stopped arguing and stared at me. “Hey! We weren’t ready yet!” Orville exclaimed. “Henry… Orville…It doesn't matter who goes first,” I said. “If you stop arguing you can play together and have more fun.” I said. “Okay, you're right, but I'll go first!" said Henry. I rolled my eyes. “Okay… I’ll go outside your room again… Now you guys promise not to argue over who gets to go first?” I asked. “Okay!” They both exclaimed excitedly. “But, you sound like our mother.” Orville said. I giggled. These two guys are actually fun to play with. I thought as I walked out the door.

Chapter Nine

I closed my eyes again. In a few minutes they called, “Ready!” I opened the door to the twin’s room and walked right on in. A box lied on the floor. I walked right on over to the box lying on the floor. Then I tapped on the box and asked myself sarcastically. “I wonder if there's a ghost in here?” “There is not!” Came a voice from inside. “You cheated! I'm not hiding in here anyway! You should have found Orville first!” The voice cried. Then I heard a noise coming from the direction of the bookshelf. I saw the last second of the bookshelf shake. Then I heard a whisper from behind the Bookshelf. “You are found and I'm not! My hiding place is better and he doesn't…” There was a pause. “YOU BETTER NOT BE LISTENING! YOU CAN'T FIND ME NOW, THAT'S NOT FAIR!!” The voice exclaimed from behind the Bookshelf. “I win! I win!” said Henry, popping out from the box. I giggled. “Okay you guys, time to give me the shoe.” I said. The twins moaned. “Yeah… I know you guys want to keep on playing Hide-and-Seek. But I promise you I will come back and play with you again.” I said, trying to sound disappointed. “HOORAY!!!!” The twins exclaimed excitedly.

Chapter Ten

Henry got the shoe and handed it to me. “Thank you, Henry. You guys were great kids for me while I was baby-sitting.” I said. “Thanks guys.” I said. “You’re welcome!” The twins called, as I headed out the door. I walked across the hall down to the left into the laundry room. I wandered around the room, trying to find an item of Mario’s. I looked everywhere until I gave up. “It’s hopeless… I’ll never get home.” I cried hopelessly. But then I realized something… I forgot to check one more spot in the laundry room. “The washing machine! I forgot to look in to the washing machine!” I exclaimed as I ran to the washing machine. I pulled as hard as I could, and finally opened the washing machine. I searched all around inside the washing machine until I found… “Mario’s Hat!” I exclaimed. “Two down… Three more Items of Mario’s to go!” I cried. “Okay…” I said as I headed for the end door that lead to the Courtyard. I opened the door that lead to the Courtyard and found myself outside surrounded by creepy looking trees, similar to the ones I’ve seen in the forest when I’ve landed here. I stated looking around. Then these two ghosts surprised me. A White Hanger, and a Pink Hanger (The ones that drop bombs.) But I just ignored them. (And I also stayed away from the bomb.) But before I went in to the door to another area… I looked back… and thought to take a look in to the Birdhouse in the center of the courtyard. I ran back ignoring hose annoying ghosts again. (The White Hanger and The Pink Hanger.) I tried to look in to the Bird house but I couldn’t see a thing thanks to the darkness of the Courtyard. So I jiggled the Bird House and nothing came out. I jiggled it again with all my might… Then something popped out.

Chapter Eleven

“Mario’s Letter!” I exclaimed excitedly. “Mario Letter! I’ve found Three Items of Mario’s now! Three down… Two more to go!” I cried as I ran back in to the door that lead to the Courtyard. I opened the door and ran to the door that lead to the Conservatory. I opened the door and welcomed myself right on in. I saw a bunch of instruments scattered all around the room. I saw the saxophone, three drums, a xylophone, a beautiful harp, and a large grand (But sort of old in a way.) Piano. I looked around and sat down on one of the blue patted chairs near the harp. I poked at the strings until I heard something drop on the floor. I looked down. Then I saw…

Chapter Twelve

“Mario’s Star! I found Mario’s Star! I found Mario’s Star!” I exclaimed. Then the instruments started to play the Mario three theme song. “Cool!” I exclaimed. “No Emily… Snap out of it! You’ve already done this once! I have to control myself!” I cried. I walked to the door of the conservatory and opened the door. I walked out of the conservatory and started walking down the hall to another door. I opened the door to the other room and walked in. I noticed I was in the projection room. “Cool! I wonder if I could do slideshows?” I asked myself. I turned on the projector and waited. Something dropped on to the floor. I looked down on the floor.

Chapter Thirteen

“Wow! Mario’s Glove!” I cried as I picked it up. “Wait a second… That’s the fifth item! That’s the fifth item! I’m one step further to going home!” I exclaimed excitedly. “Okay… Com down… Com Down.” I said to myself as I took a deep breath. I looked at the projection screen. I jumped down to the floor. The projection screen showed a large Boo and at the top it said: GET OUT OF HERE!!!!! “O…k that was just one of the creepiest things I’ve ever seen in this Mansion.” I said. Freaked out. I turned around and headed for the door. I opened the door and went out the door of the Projection Room. I entered the hall once again, and I ran so excitedly that I tripped once. I quickly got back up and started running again all the way to the Fortuneteller’s Room. I went inside the Fortune Teller’s Room. Madame Clairvoya! Madame Clairvoya! Madame Clairvoya!” I exclaimed instantly to catch my breath. “I have the five Items you wanted! Now… how do I get home?” I asked. “Oh… that’s easy…” She said. “Just go through that mirror.” Madame Clairvoya said as she pointed to the right of the room. “Thanks…” I replied looking in her direction she was pointing at. The mirror suddenly warped in to a portal. Neville came in and stood beside the mirror portal. I think it is time for you to go home, to the real world where you shall belong.” Neville said. “But… I promised the twins I would play Hide- and-Seek with them again! There such great kids.” I said sadly. “Hmmm… Neville thought. “I have an idea!” He cried.

Chapter Fourteen

“We could get the warp pipe to your backyard…” Neville explained. “Really!? That would be awesome!” I exclaimed. “It will be done tomorrow.” Neville said. “Thanks Neville… Thanks Madame Clairvoya.” I said. Madame Clairvoya looked back at me and nodded. I walked into the mirror portal. I warped back into my room. I looked at the time. The clock said, 3:30. “Well… I learned a lesson today…” I said. “That some ghosts can be nice” I said as I took a book of my bookshelf. “Also… To never do that during a school day!” I giggled. The End…Or the Beginning of a new adventure?

 Written By: Emily Fieldus
 Date Submitted: March 12th, 2005

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