[Deleted]

The Elephant looked at Paula very closely. "Strange, it's as if your like cosplaying as the ex-goddess who created this land." The Elephant looked suspiciously at the trio as Paula began to back away. "Uhh, yeah. The ex-goddess is really popular from where we came from. And now were going to go...Go into this town." Paula walked towards Happiville, ignoring the suspicious anthropomorphic elephant as she soon entered the town.


(Ignore everyone in that picture)



To notice, to her liking that despite the town previously looking fluffy and cheerful. It was now just like. Well any regular town you would find back in the reality. "Despite not looking like what was in my drawings. It seems Happiville improved for the better." Paula looked around for anyone that they can talk too. And that was when she noticed a store that she quickly remembered.




Sarah-Jane's Scrumptious Surgery Delights was a store that belonged to a snake woman that was always so happy. Paula ran towards the store before looking back at the others. "Come on. The owner of this store might tell us where the root is, trust me, she's very cheerful, nice and especially helpful." Paula said before entering the store.



However the inside...Was not very cheerful and was in fact gothic. Although there was candy everywhere. There was even an aisle full of ice cream. "What happened to the store? I remember drawing the inside of it. Which was very colourful." Paula was...Confused and a bit sad at best.

Which caused a small drip of water to hit her on the head. "Huh?" She looked up, but the roof was perfectly fine. It was like the drop of water just appeared in thin air...Strange. There was also a bell on the counter for anyone to ring it to attract this Sarah-Jane girl to them.

[Coolshaymin]

It seemed like that conversation was taking a bad turn as the Elephant grew suspicious of them. Thankfully they managed to get away and Rosalina chose to not add to the conversation since she was still heeding the words of the squirrel. Especially if Paula's mind people did not consider it... her mind was a suggestion that the people was bringing up for the group. Though this town did not look as normal to Rosalina. Seriously, where was the mushrooms and other themeatical buildings? What kind of definition of normal are you running here? Not a single pipe attached to a house either, how disappointing this town was... Paula had a very different definition of normal, let's leave it at that.

"It seems... odd for a candy store, doesn't it? It doesn't really fit the merchandise..." Rosalina said to the others before looking to the bell. Though she looked to Paula instead as she reacted to something the galaxy guardian did not notice. A drip of water was a very subtle thing if you weren't looking for it afterall. "Something wrong?" Rosalina asked with a hint of concern at Paula's questioning reaction to something. She seemed to not be too invested on checking on the store owner while she was concerned for what bothered Paula.

[TartoonHand94]

“Well this Is a traditional wrap she who plays the role of the Goddess in the Wing Ceremony wears…” Zelda admitted, basing her excuse in some truth. “I’ve grown rather… attached to wearing them.”
Hoping this was sufficient explanation, she hastily followed Paula into Happiville, bidding the elephant goodbye.

It didn’t seem as over-the-toply fluffy as it did from the outside, but it seemed peaceful enough. It wasn’t exactly Skyloft, but after all, where is? And considering all the stores weren’t bunched up into one bazaar, it really wasn’t Skyloft. But Paula was very excited about this candy store, so why not?
Zelda happily followed her, though the Cigarettes, Cigars, Pipes and Tobacco signs didn’t exactly wet her appetite… And the inside totally dried it out.

“…Are we sure they’re selling the same kind of candy?” Zelda asked sceptically. The interior design was bold, and unique, she’d give it credit for that. But it seemed more like the place you’d buy dark magic and spells and hexes than chocolates and sweets… Perhaps the purveyor of the store could enlighten them.

(maiQKnkSp_1d20+5 Zelda's search for either the store owner or a way to summon them.)1d20+5

[Deleted]

"I think so?" Paula said to Zelda as she continued to look around the candy store. "I know, I wouldn't of imagined such a dark gothically place, it seems weird for a town like this." Paula vented to Rosalina.

Paula rubbed her hair before looking back at Rosalina. "I could of sworn a drip of water fell on me." Paula looked up. "But the roof didn't seem to be leaking. I, must of literally imagined it, for some reason. After all we are in my mind." Paula pointed out to Rosalina. Meanwhile Zelda's search for the store owner would her to...A gothic looking mermaid that is able to walk around thanks to small wings behind her back, she turns and looks at Zelda. "Who are you some hippie chick who's passing through town?" The woman asked as Paula followed the voice and eventually caught up to Zelda and...

"Sarah-Jane? Is that you?" Paula sounded surprised. Sarah-Jane looked different then the way she drew her back when she was little. Sarah-Jane was surprised that she saw Paula. "You-Your back!?" Sarah-Jane sounded very surprised at Paula, who was confused as to why Sarah-Jane looked the way she did. As did her store. "Sarah, what happened to the store? And you...Your into goth stuff now?" Paula was surprised at Sarah-Jane's change of personality. She used to be a happy floating mermaid who ran a colourful candy store, now she looked sad...



"I was sad that you left Polestar...But I moved on soon after and met a man. He was rich and had a manor...But then he revealed that he only saw me as the sister he never had and married someone else...I...Something broke in me that day when he said that...It didn't help that the accident happened shortly after him and the girl's wedding." Sarah Jane sadly lamented, unaware that her story is literally The Little Mermaids without the depressing ending and the attempted murder. Just the rest of it.

"What...Accident?"

"The manor, which was by the cliff side, lost balance and fell into the sea where it sank to the bottom of the ocean. Nobody in the manor survived. They say that the man's father, who owned a sea foam factory right beside it. Don't ask why, might of been the cause for it to sink faster in the ocean. If only it wasn't there...He could of gotten out...But he was gone...And that broke me even further..."

Oh well maybe there was a depressing ending after all...To the guy and his wife that is, I guess in this version the mermaid was spared by the adaption that is Sarah-Jane's imaginated life created by a young girl.

...Well...Paula had a very active imagination. But the young girl was in shock of over what happened to one of her imaginary friends. She wouldn't of imagined such a future for her! "Sarah, I had no idea." Paula comforted the mermaid, patting her winged back, she turned and smiled. "But...Your back and i'm happy again." Sarah Jane was unaware that Paula's visit here...Was only going to be temporarily.

The only thing remains...Who's going to break this news to this mermaid?

Just then two drops of water fell on Rosalina and Zelda's heads respectfully just like what happened to Paula earlier.

[Coolshaymin]

"Hm... Perhaps you're right. It would make sense," Rosalina replied to Paula as she looked up to the ceiling. Yeah, it didn't seem like there would be a reason for it to leak in here... But why would Paula imagine something like a drip of water falling onto her? Well, there was not really a reasonable answer she could come to, as far as the guardian could ponder on the state of this world, when it came down to it, she really did not have any experience with the worlds that would be kept in one's mind.

Rosalina snapped out of her thought as Lumio began heading towards the voice that greeted Zelda. The Luma's Mom came along to see a peculiar being. She looked to be a flying fish person. It was not too abnormal but clearly one of Paula's mind. Though it looked like the store was not the only one to change in theme as this mermaid was apparently not always like this. She told a sad story of betrayal that sounded a lot like one of the stories Rosalina had. It's not one she read often, especially not to the Lumas since... that book could be fairly dark at times. Lumio possesed a frown as he seemed to consider some way to cheer up the mermaid.

"..." Rosalina just kind of remained silent even as the story ended... They were only going to be here temporarily... But the mermaid was so happy to see Paula again. She seemed to ponder the situation before a drop of water fell on her head. "Hm?" Rosalina looked up again... She felt it this time and Paula did not seem to. "Mama!" Lumio spoke as he pulled on Rosalina's dress as he seemed to be trying to tell her something. He was still young and not really the best at conversation... But she go the gesture. "You know, my childern taught me something. No matter how far apart you are, or even how distance you become, even if one close to you is loss, they are not gone completely. Look out to the stars, and hold them close to your heart, and it's like they were never gone. They will always be there to look upon you," Rosalina reassured, not really telling the mermaid the visit was temporarily, but giving her reassurance, both for her loss and in case someone else told the mermaid. May make the news easier for someone else to break, and if the mermaid takes it to heart, they could  feel better about it.

[TartoonHand94]

“Well if you imagined it, and we are all inside of your mind, would that not mean-?” Zelda calculated before being cut off by… A gothic looking mermaid that is able to walk around thanks to small wings behind her back. Zelda gasped, being caught off guard, but finding the source of the voice she regained her composure. Even mermaids could fly. It would be best not to tell a certain angel…

Sarah-Jane’s story was heart breaking. It started to make sense to Zelda why she took up this aesthetic.
But still, yet another character redesigned since Paula was a child… this was getting more and more suspicious…

“Rosalina’s right, Sarah-Jane. No matter how near or far they are-!” Suddenly Zelda felt a drop of water land on her head too, just like Paula did prior.
She looked up, not expecting to find water continue to drip, but what came down might not have been water.

“Sarah-Jane, I do not mean to alarm you, but something upstairs might be leaking.” Zelda decided to say, playing along just in case she could be lead to the real cause of the dripping water.

[Deleted]

"Yeah Sarah-Jane. I'll be much closer then you think." Paula pointed to her head to Sarah.

Sarah-Jane realised what the girls mean when they said that no matter how far Paula will be she will be close to her no matter what. "Oh god...Your leaving aren't you?" Sarah-Jane teared up. Paula moved forward. "Sarah, wait, it's not like that. Let's just explain more things cl---No...Just, please leave me alone!" Sarah-Jane began to move away from the trio. Paula tried to reach out to her again. "Sarah wait, you don't under---Just leave me alone...Like you did the first time."

Sarah then turned to Zelda, angry and sad as she is, she suddenly screamed at the princess. "NO YOU HIPPIE I DON'T HAVE A SECOND FLOOR NOW LEAVE ME ALONE AND GET OUT OF MY STORE. ALL OF YOU GET OUT!" As Paula tried to call on her again...

The trio were suddenly outside her store, having been teleported for some reason. "Sarah!?" Paula...Was sad that she left her old friend on bad terms. "This is all my fault." She turned back towards Rosalina and Zelda. "I forgot about everything I ever made about this place. All the people and locations I made, and they didn't take it well." Paula sat on a sidewalk, sad over her biggest mistake. As she did so...The sky started to fill with dark clouds and it began to rain...Heavily.



"Strange...I can't cry for some reason." Paula lamented...She really needs some cheering up. Fortunately she'll take her friends words for granted, unlike Sarah-Jane who didn't take the trio's visits that well.

"..."

[Coolshaymin]

Rosalina frowned as that situation got ugly fast. Even her's and Zelda's help did not stop the mermaid from freaking out about the idea of being abandoned again. She got very misunderstanding very fast as she refused to listen to what the blondes had to say any faster. Unable to do anything as they were kicked out onto the street, clearly on bad terms with the flying mermaid in very quick of a manner. On top of that, it started to rain as Paula began to feel bad about abandoning all of her imaginary friends. If only there was some kind of... Foster's Home for them.

Though, she realized something about the water drips now with Paula's words and the environment and when they occurred. Rosalina telepathically linked to Zelda's mind to send her a message since it was the easiest way to not alarm Paula. "These water droplets ARE her tears," Rosalina's voice rang in Zelda's mind for a moment before walking up to the young girl and sitting down, waving her wand to create a magical barrier above her's, Paula's and Zelda's heads to shield from the rain. "It is kind of sad isn't it, seeing this happen due to forgetting about this place as you grew up, huh? It's not your fault though, we all grow and mature, growing out of touch with that of when we were young. I guess none of us really considered what happened to these places when our views change and grow. However, while it may seem grim, let me tell you, the only one that can change your mind is you. You could not prevent this, but unlike everyone else you have been shown what happens and you can change it. Though, you have to grow as well, it's difficult, but I feel this is part of the test. I feel bad for her as well but the past can't change, but the future can... Or maybe they both can if you put your mind to it," Rosalina tried to comfort and reassure, offering Paula options and reassurance it was not her fault.

[TartoonHand94]

“But then where is all this water coming from-wait, Hippie?” Zelda shot an offended scowl at Sarah, only realizing she had called her that the second time.
“Why I’d never.” She would’ve marched out of the store with her nose in the air had she not been mysteriously teleported there somehow. Realizing how upset Paula was about the matter brought Zelda back down from the name Sarah called her, back in touch with the real gravity of the situation.
Being outside was immediately proven to be disadvantageous. As Zelda, suspected, it began to rain outside. But not just because of normal weather, which didn’t apply in this realm either way, but because of Paula’s emotional state. Wait…Zelda didn’t figure that out herself. Rosalina did you say?... No she didn’t she was talking in her head! Communicating with each other’s minds, Inside her mind? How did that work.

(Thanks for that Rosalina.) Zelda thanked her telepathically for the umbrella barrier. (And I agree. If her emotions can affect the world around her this way, we’re going to have to cheer her back up if we want to make any progress from here on out. And I have an idea.)

“Perhaps it is not too late.” Zelda suggested, sitting down beside Paula. “As long as we’re here, we could find a way to make it up to everyone you’ve created.” She suggested, taking her Goddess Harp out of her adventure pouch. She welcomed Paula to lean into her shoulder or rest on her lap as she began to softly strum the Song of Storms. And with it, she improvised some lyrics:

“Rainy day, skies are grey
But it only seems that way
We’ll help you If we may to keep darkness at bay

All this pain, inside your brain
Alacrity can contain
Rainbows always chase the rain

Paula dear, have no fear,
No reason to shed a tear
So long as we’re here,
We’ll help you make it clear

Give it time, give it thought
Remind yourself what you forgot
The answer will soon appear”♪

[Deleted]

"What are you two talking about?" Paula said in the two's subconscious. She does have psychic powers after all, including sending telepathic messages into people's minds, such as what she just did to Rosalina and Zelda. She smiled as Zelda and Rosalina comforted her, with Zelda even singing her a song. "Thank you both for the kind words, and song from Zelda." She smiled again, putting her hands on her hips, feeling energised again and willing to find the root again, along with helping people in this town.

Unfortunately Paula's happiness was short lived as the ground began to shake for some reason. "What the heck is happening now?" She wondered to Rosalina and Zelda as she looked up and gasped at the sight of what was coming towards the trio, it was a giant wave of water. "Lookout!" She screamed as the wave quickly hit the bubble the trio were in and launched them towards town hall of Happiville. Paula screamed as the bubble crashed through into town hall, into the mayor's office and into a shelf, which quickly broke from the impact of the ball.





Paula recovered and turned back towards Zelda and Rosalina. "You ladies ok?" She asked her friends, not knowing that the mayor of the town is standing behind her. "I say, what are you fine lovely ladies doing just breaking through my shelf and window at this fine houra?" The mayor who had a southern bell voice said, Paula got up and realised what that voice was.

"Wait, that voice. I heard it before...Eliza?" Paula turned towards the mayor of the town, Eliza Prickley, who twirled a parasol at the three, but was awfully confused.

"Paula...Your, the original Paula and not a clone?"

"It's nice to see you to---Clone?" Paula asked, sounding a bit worried.

[Coolshaymin]

"Could you not use your psychic powers to peek in on others' conversations, Paula? It's not very polite," Rosalina scolded rather gently since Paula was bad off enough right now. Zelda seemed to have a plan to cheer up Paula as well as she took out a harp and played a tune with some singing. "That is very nice, Zelda, thank you," Rosalina remarked with some light hearted clapping. At least the girl was feeling better now and they may continue in higher spirits. That is until something happened to break the mood...

A giant wave of water came out of nowhere and swept the group up. It came so unexpectedly Rosalina had no time to fly out of the way and had little choice in the matter as she was brought with the water stream. She was however able to keep herself from getting wet by summoning a cosmic bubble around herself to shield herself from the elements but the force still took them right to the Town Hall. Crashing into the place and leaving a mess, Rosalina held her head despite the mystic barrier shielding her as she got to her feet.

The mayor greeted them... Who was really casual to guests that broke into the place by a wave... Was that normal here? What even was this wave and where did it come from? Those were not the only questions that needed asking of course. "Yes, this is the real Paula, and we are her friends, Rosalina and Zelda. It's nice to meet you, Eliza. What is this about clones?" Rosalina asked. She has had her fair experiences with clones of course. A cosmic creation in the galaxy were Cosmic Clones that either mimicked the true one to the exact move, or the ones that tried to get and take their goal before they can. The Cosmic Guardian was able to summon Cosmic Clones herself, mostly in the former sense, but still, there were many types of clones.

[TartoonHand94]

Zelda hiccupped, startled by Paula’s sudden presence in her telepathic conversation with Rosalina. How did-? Oh right, of course she did. She’s psychic.
“…It Is rather rude to eavesdrop…” She sheepishly agreed with Rosalina, not that it bothered her at all. No harm done.
Zelda curtsied as a bow to Rosalina’s applause and sighed in satisfied relief to see Paula energized and back on her feet again. “Shall we be off, then?” She smiled, eager to join Paula in resuming the search for the root and helping the people of the town.
It seemed more like they were the ones in need of help. An unexpected earthquake began to rumble under their feet.
“Now what is happening?” Zelda gasped, unfamiliar with the nature of earth quakes. It wasn’t an earthquake…it was… Oh no! A tidal wave was headed right for them! Acting as quickly as she could, Zelda grabbed Paula by the arm and tried to make a run for it. Unfortunately there was not very far she could run in the bubble Paula made around them.
Not letting go of Paula yet, Zelda, her and Rosalina rode the wave, crashing into the shore that was town hall.

“Oh dear.” Zelda groaned, recovering from the impact. “Yes I’m fine… I think. Thank you for the bubble. That was quick thinking. Are You okay?” She praised to Paula, inspecting her person. Thanks to the bubble, Zelda didn’t have to wring out all her clothes dry. And thank the goddess for that too, since they were now having an audience with the mayor!

“Oh my! Our humblest apologies, miss!” Zelda curtsied humbly, trying to apologise for their destructive intrusion. A choice word from the mayor caught their attention though.
“Do you mean to say there is a Clone of Paula about?”

[Deleted]

"Sorry, the last time I didn't read anyone's minds I was kidnapped by an evil cult and almost brainwashed into becoming there high priestess." Paula revealed to Rosalina and Zelda before crashing into town hall, where they soon met Eliza, who looked sad when the three asked about the clones of Paula.

"Fine, I guess I should tell you about the clones...When Paula first created this place, us citizens of Happiville looked up to her, as a sort of god, like figure who will never let us down. I of course, was Paula's first ever creation, I was based off of a girl from a postcard which turned into a show about strawberry's and other food based products and as such, I had taken it upon myself to make sure Happiville remained happy and worked alongside Paula to make things happy for every resident in the town. I did a pretty good job at that for about eight years or so...

But then Paula left our lives. She grew up and we were forced to grow up without her, nobody took the news well that our goddess had stopped focusing on making more about Happiville to focus more on the world known as reality. So I tried to create a new goddess." Eliza revealed to the three.

"New...Goddess?" Paula asked as Eliza smiled. "Of course Miss Polestar. I tried to create a clone of you, everyone in this town did, but nobody was as determined to remake you then Sarah-Jane, the second person ever created in this town." Eliza responded.



"Unfortunately, no matter how many clones we made of you, it just didn't feel the same...They all didn't feel like the original. We at first got rid of the clones that we didn't like or were unlike you, but more and more citizens kept trying to remake you using some magic clay that we found, until there was an overpopulation crisis in this town. In our haste, we hired some construction workers to create an island utopia for all the Paula clones and shipped them off there to handle the crisis, and I took up position as mayor to try and keep the town happy...But I failed...And now the town is on the brink of collapsing and becoming a ghost town." Eliza sadly lamented, twirling her parasol in sadness as Paula tried to walk closer to Eliza. "Eliza...I had no idea, i'm sorry. But we all have to grow up at one point or another. We eventually forget things that we did in our childhood, but...Maybe Happiville becoming a ghost town is a good thing?" Paula suggested, Eliza looked up and raised her brow.



"What are you implying Polestar?" She asked her old friend, who smiled. "I think it's best if everyone just...Moves on and go on with there lives without looking up for me for support. I might not be focusing that much on Happiville that much anymore because of issues outside my mind, but that doesn't mean you can just wait and hope I come back, you have to move on and do your own things instead of trying to wait for something that might not even happen, besides. Even if i'm gone, I will always be here no matter how many clones you make of me." Paula tried to convince Eliza...Who looked uncertain.

"But...Your here, again, and you brought friends." She stared at Rosalina and Zelda, Paula grabbed her hand. "But were going to leave again Eliza, and I might not come back for a long while again. You need to let go focusing on my life...

And focus on your life. I may have created you, but you have free will and with it, you have a life too and your real just like me, Rosalina and Zelda...Despite being in my mind. But still, your talking to us right now, like a real person." Paula responded. Eliza remained quiet, unsure what to do, beside Zelda, there was a large ticking clock that was about to strike a new hour.