The Monochrome desert was exactly as its name had implied-a black, white and grey desert. The sand was white as snow, the cacti were grey, and everything was outlined in black. Poniko gazed in wonder at this strange place. Suddenly, she felt her gut coil in itself, and she doubled over in pain. Madotsuki was shocked at this.

"Uboa m-must hate this place..." Poniko smirked. "He's tripping right now..."

Madotsuki shrugged it off. She marched on with Poniko close behind, and eventually they ran into two girls who appeared black and white, who were having what appeared to be a campfire in the middle of the desert.

"Monoe! Monoko!" Madotsuki called out to them. "I brought someone I'd like you to meet!"

"Oooh!" Monoko cried out excitedly. "She's so cute! Like a Barbie doll!"

"Hello, there." Monoe stood up straight, putting out her hand for a shake. "You new around here?"

Poniko shyly backed away. She still had difficuly socializing with people, and meeting these two wasn't going to change that. Absolutely not.

Everyone just stared at the shy girl. This made Poniko just look at the ground. She felt sick, and all she wanted to do was go home.

Madotsuki apologized on her behalf. "Sorry, she's just shy."

"Ah, I see." Monoko figured out. "I was shy once, too."

"No way. YOU?" Madotsuki asked, snarkily.

"Uh-huh!" Monoe defended. "For the first years in middle school, she didn't speak to anybody. She would just sit in the far corner of the classroom and listen to the teacher blab."

Poniko smiled, thinking f herself in rleation to this statement.

"Anyways," Madotsuki asked. "do the two of you know anything about an 'Uboa'? Poniko is inflicted with him, and..."

"EEK!" Monoko cried out, her extra arms shooting outwards. "NOT THAT EVIL BEAST!"

Poniko was surprised by this, but she felt Uboa's pride and satisfaction. God, she hated him.

"Get out of here with your Uboa!" Monoe yelled. "OUT, OUT, OOOOUUUUT!"

Madotsuki grabbed Poniko by the wrist and ran, dodging rocks being tossed at them. Poniko received a rock off the back of her elbow.

They went out through the door and caught their breath. As Madotsuki hunche dover, huffing and wheezing, Poniko immediately walked to the door leading to the Snow World.