With the idea of interacting with people shelved for now, I went searching through my game collection. I had quite a few options. “Should I start with power ups?” That question shrank my options a bit but It also made me curious. Eventually, I made up my mind on one of the Super Mario games. I wanted to see what would happen with three items from this game. Considering I should be able to get 2/3 items within the first level, it shouldn’t take too long. Stuffing the game into the console, the first item came up quickly: Super Mushroom. Once the red-spotted mushroom was on the TV screen I paused the game got up and reached for it.

  I was able to enter the screen and grab the round mushroom-shaped power up. Pulling it out of the screen, I pced it on the coffee table next to me and went back to pying. The second item I grabbed was the 1Up Mushroom. Identical to the Super Mushroom but green instead of red. In the games it acted as a bonus life, what it would do in real life?

  I beat the stage before sitting back on the couch. I looked down at the questionable items I had removed. The two mushrooms moved back and forth on the coffee table. It was kinda cute to watch them continue the game-like behavior.

  “So, do I eat them or...” Actually, I don't know what other options there are.

  Picking up the green 1UP I examined it. Green top with white polka dots, it looked identical to the game (as far as I can tell). These things weren’t as big as I expected them to be, you could easily hold one or two in your hand. Tossing the little thing into my mouth, it tastes kinda like mint, but it has a chewy mushroomy texture. After I swallowed I heard a distinctive sound effect. "What happened?" I wondered looking around the room. When I looked up I noticed a green 1UP above my head. So, it does work. Though I have no idea how an extra life would work outside of the game.

  While I contempted how the extra life would affect me. I picked up the red mushroom. In the games it acted as a hitpoint that made the characters bigger and they would return to normal when they lost it. Stuffing the red Super Mushroom into my mouth I expected it to be about the same as before but instead found taste to be off. Strawberry with the chewy texture of a mushroom and with a hint of a cherry aftertaste? It felt more like medicine. Not wanting to hold on to the taste for long I quickly swallowed.

  After swallowing the Super Mushroom, I felt a sort of buzzing. Spreading throughout my body I felt myself grow. Growing from an average height of 5’8, I think I gained about six inches in height. “Holy shit…” Not only was I taller I was ripped. While jarring to go from a skinny 5’8 to a bodybuilder quality 6’2 it wasn’t the weirdest experience I would have today. After taking some time to admire and adjust to the changes I grabbed the controller again. On to the third item.

  While the Fire Flower was an option for the third item, what would I gain from that? A costume change and a dangerously unstable way to throw fireballs? In this apartment? How could I even control it? Leave the fire shooting to Sci-fi guns.

  I continued to py the game until I got to the right stage. I’m in no hurry. I also took out some more 1UP’s on the way (It's fun to watch them scurry around the table). After a few stages, I found it. It was the reason why I had to py this game, The Super Crown. In game, it's an item that transforms Toadette into Peachette, a Princess Peach lookalike. It only works for her and is only obtainable by her. Online, however, the Super Crown is used to transform many more characters into Peach lookalikes.

  I pulled out the pink shroom crown and held it up to my face. (I swear this thing just blinked at me). " I'm not sure what will happen if I put this on." There is a much higher chance that nothing happens than something happening, and I ck test subjects. Biting the bullet, I pced the crown on my head.

  Immediately after pcing the crown on, I heard an audible 'poof.' A cloud of smoke covered my vision. Waving it away as I moved out of the smoke. Once I was out, I was going to check the changes. my eyes were stopped by an abundant chest. "I'm stacked!" They were big enough to block my view.

  Another thing I noticed; my clothes changed again. When I ate the Super Mushroom they grew with me. Everything I was wearing was changed to fit my altered body. While I don’t particurly mind my sweatpants, or my t-shirt clinging to me, whatever my boxers changed into I could do without.

  As I moved towards the bathroom to get a better look in the mirror. As I did, I noticed more differences. There was a simple change in my gait and my hair also grew quite a bit longer and now hung to the middle of my back, it was also a shiny blonde color.

  “Hummm, I guess this is what Peach would look like," I said looking over my facial features. According to what I know I ‘should’ be an almost exact copy of Peach. The face shape and hair sure, even the plump lips. I think I still have my eye color... I was curious as to why my body was so- I can't remember Peach ever being this big and I had always been rather skinny.

  "Will I just change back if I take the crown off?"

  Curiously the crown stayed on my head. No matter how I moved or tilted, it sat surprisingly well. Grabbing it with both hands I was expecting to pull, but it came off without issue.

  As soon as the crown left my head I heard a poof as I returned to ‘normal’. I still seem to be under the effects of the Super Mushroom. The experience was interesting. Even if I don’t pn on using it anytime soon "I think I’ll keep it." I said thinking It would have a use somewhere down the line.

  Returning to the living room, I think I was done with the game for now as I looked at the pile of 1UP mushrooms on the coffee table. They all moved about like they would in game, moving from one edge to the other. Some moved randomly while others moved in a pattern. Picking one up I ate it with the sound effect pying in my head and another green 1UP appearing above it.

  “Now what..." I asked myself. Looking back at the TV having turned off the game I watched a commercial for the new Harry Potter game. "Well, that's a series I could start with”.

  End

  If someone dies wearing a Super Crown does their skeleton keep the hair?

  Are they just mushrooms or are they ‘alive’ alive?

  If your Super Mushroom buff sts longer than 6 hours contact your doctor.