Wonderland - Part 1

I was twelve years old when I fell in love. It wasn't captivating or as cheesy as the ones in the books Mr. Guy gave to me, but, in an awkward sort of way, it felt special.

Strange. I thought that my days alone had purged me of all these bubbly emotions. I thought, because of what happened, I could never smile again. My face froze into an apathetic scowl, and eventually, that was what I was known for to my colleagues.

Yet, every time I look at this round and adorable creature... that face just melts.

I love it. I love him. His pointy ears, his expressive eyebrows, his long fluffy tail, his lucky smile knitted into his cute and precious cheeks. I love all of him.

"Can we go?!" I asked Chief Roberts while stellarly shoving a piece of paper to his face. It was a flyer. News has it that Mishy— the thing I fell in love with— was going to be a mascot for an in-development theme park in Crossbell called Mishelam Wonderland. I wished it was closer to Leman but even so, I just HAD to go there. As soon as it opened. Nothing would stop me from petting Mishy in person. Nothing.

Chief Roberts was... less than enthusiastic. "No."

I was devastated. The chief explained to me that the Foundation would be in the middle of a business crunch in the next few months. Meaning lots of extraneous meetings, project developments, field testing, etc. On paper, he was right, but according to my calculations, if everyone worked in peak condition the team would have a weekend free, at the least. One weekend was more than enough time. Maybe not as soon as MWL opened, but it still counted.

Chief Roberts solemnly shook his head. He looked far more dejected than even me. Clearly, he wanted to go with me, but I guess the Foundation would really be too busy at that time.

Is this what it felt like to be heartbroken? If I worked extra hard, then maybe my chances of going would increase. I asked again the week after. Rejected again. I asked every Sunday since— Chief Roberts still said no. Somehow, the more we busied ourselves, the more work seemed to come piling in. It just felt endless…

A month before the grand opening, I still wanted to go. I gave up on asking the chief— couldn't stand him anymore. Instead, I started saving up a portion of my allowance every week to afford the exorbitant entrance fee. I also needed money for food, airship tickets, one night's stay in an inn, and, most importantly, Mishy merchandise. I wouldn't be able to save up to go on any of the attractions, although I could live with that. I just wanted to be there to experience Mishy's cuteness firsthand.

And so, the day before MWL was set to open, under the (fake) pretense of visiting my parents, I boarded an airship bound not for Remiferia, but for Crossbell. I intended to spend the night in the city and visit tomorrow, however…

Something happened that I hadn't been able to anticipate.

Of all the neglectful times my parents never bothered to check up on me, they just had to go and visit the Foundation as soon as I had left for Crossbell. My cover blown, Chief Roberts frantically contacted me on my laptop terminal and demanded an explanation. I wanted to ghost him outright, but with my parents involved, as well as my livelihood and reputation within the Foundation, I couldn't.

Game Over. Chief Roberts ordered me to return to Leman first thing in the morning as I got off the airship late into the night. Fortunate— considering I could barely move from my inn bed. Exhaustion and bitterness getting the better of me, I slowly closed my eyes and tried to forget what awaited me tomorrow. So close...

Just like that, my brief trip to Crossbell came to an end.

…

"What a bother."

I couldn't sleep.

How can I? I wasn't fine with it at all. I was here. MWL was literally at my metaphorical doorstep. If I had a bit more time, I could…

Time?

It was nearing ten. To my knowledge, the ferries crossing Lake Elm were still operating at this hour. The Crossbell waterfront was only a ten-minute walk away from my inn— five if I ran.

I got up without a hint of hesitation.

I threw on my jacket before making my way out of the room. To avoid drawing suspicion, I hid my hair with a black newsboy cap I brought along with me. My flat chest and petite stature made it easy for others to mistake me for a boy, which made walking around unsupervised easier. Gliding down the stairwell, I gave a quick greeting to the inn owner before sprinting towards the waterfront.

Dazzling city lights bombarded me on all sides as I ran. Businesses thrived, as was usual for a capitalist-driven economy like Crossbell. I couldn't take more than five steps before a salesman called my attention. They were fishing for an easy sell from an unsuspecting kid like me with their cheap smiles and feigned concern. I ignored them and kept running, my legs nimbly guiding me through the densely crowded streets— a far cry from my usual unathletic self, even if I mostly got through due to my enhanced senses.

Three minutes to ten and I saw it: the long line of people in front of the docks. The ferry was just about to leave as indicated by the busser calmly instructing people to hurry along. Taking my chance, I carefully blended myself with the boarding passengers. The chances of authorities learning of a kid trying to sneak in the boat were high, so I passed my fare around as subtly as I can. With a little bit of luck, the crew might see me as just an ordinary passenger; they wouldn't want to delay a trip on such a busy night, after all. Those that bothered to look under my cap were met with my frosty glare that quietly scared them away.

Operation success. I got through the first hurdle with relative ease. Perhaps it was destiny or fate, or maybe the Goddess took pity on me today. In any case, I could hardly believe it. The gentle waves rocking the boat, along with the sweet lake breeze touching my cheeks made me realize this was all real. I felt my face strain from a smile I wasn't able to contain. I saw the glistening sky reflected off of Lake Elm.

I wasn't much for sentiment, but I admired the beauty. I was a scientist. Science was full of beauty. It was our profession to explain the world around us in beautiful formulas in lieu of words. How then would science explain this beautiful feeling I felt in my chest? My heart wouldn't stop thumping; I felt like I could pass out. My body shook with excitement as if it was. I breathed a sigh of relief an old man would after achieving his dream after a lifetime of work. Mishelam Wonderland was, after all, the place where dreams became reality.

I was actually going to Mishelam Wonderland. THE Mishelam Wonderland. The paradise for Mishy fans everywhere.

It wasn't open yet, though. Oh well.

I hopped out of the ferry and made a passing glance towards the guard stationed there. I assume that because of the late hours or the prospect of his shift tomorrow being hectic, he looked about ready to clock in. His tired eyes didn't even squint when I waltzed past him and into the resort area.

Another guard stood in front of the gates to the park— one last obstacle between me and Mishy. Figures. Before flashed a light on me, I ducked behind some bushes nearby. Negotiating with him had an evaluated success rate of negative one-hundred percent, and I highly doubted that pleading would be effective either, so I was faced with two options: turn back, or find a way to sneak inside.

The first one held no merit for me nor was I intending to go back empty-handed anyway. Surveying my surroundings, I racked my brain of possible ways I could distract the guard long enough for me to sneak past him. A few minutes of silence went by without me coming up with a reasonable plan. Most were either too dangerous or had a high risk of me getting caught, so I tossed them aside. There must be something I could do— an object I could use. My ears twitched as my hearing picked up on the subtle noise of the guard walking back and forth from his post.

A split second after, a noise brought me out of my trance. It sounded like glass shattering. A light deep in the park dimmed.

The guard heard it too and ran towards the source of the noise. I didn't second guess my assumptions: an orbal lamppost shattered suddenly for whatever reason. I didn't ponder on why, though; it was my chance. Taking care not to snap any branches, I jumped out of the bushes and squeezed myself through the gates, barely slipping past the guard as he made his way back towards the entrance.

Another success. One good thing after another. My luck was implausible.

I took cautionary steps forward and focused my hearing in case another guard was patrolling lit walkways. There were a few, but I could tell they weren't close to where I was— at least not yet. I was free to wander around the park for the time being. And that I did.

Wonderland was just as wonderful as the name implied.

In the center of the plaza, a flowerbed artistically framed as Mishy's head greeted me with a smile. I smiled back and waved a trembling hand. The flowers smelled fragrant and inviting, like Mishy himself. I had to hold myself back from jumping into them.

Which reminds me. Bundled along with the flyers was a tourist map detailing MWL's various attractions. If I looked to my right, I'd chance upon a hill leading up to the park's horror mansion. Straight ahead from the plaza would be where most of the recreational rides like the merry-go-round were located, while going left would take me the refreshment stands and souvenir shops selling all kinds of merchandise. I definitely had to stop there before I leave. Past the shops led to the park's Ferris wheel. I could actually see it from where I am, a massive black silhouette against the night sky. Each car can carry up to two people, making it a prime target for couples.

'Where should I go first?' I felt so excited that I couldn't breathe. I squealed in joy as I ran from one place to the next. Naturally, all of the attractions were Mishy-themed. Some even had statues of Mishy built into them. If I saved up for an orbal camera, I would have taken pictures of all of them.

I spent the better part of an hour like that, stopping only to the many Mishys scattered throughout the park. On occasion, staff members working on last-minute preparations or a patrolling guard forced me to hide— but even that didn't sour my mood. I was just ecstatic. Everything in the park felt magical. Even if the place was half abandoned, being surrounded by the festive decor hung up for tomorrow's celebration made my entire trip worth it.

I'm glad I came here.

My legs were about ready to give in, so I decided to stop by the park's rest area. Gulping down a bottled juice I packed for the trip, I collapsed atop one of the soft wooden benches. I've already taken a look at all the rides. After a short five minute break, I'll browse the merch in some of the souvenir shops and—

...Soft?

Something warm and alive fidgeted under my butt. It didn't make a sound— I did. Thankfully, I covered my mouth to cover my yelp. It had probably been my fault, but I glared daggers at the offending creature, hoping that the darkness masked the blush burning my face.

I did not expect it to be a person: A girl with silver hair, sleeping soundly on the bench.