A hero will arrive from another world;
They and their friends will travel far across the islands' raging whirl.
On an island where villains are caught, the hero and their friends will decide:
Save the world or watch it die.
Those were the words that woke me up, early in the morning. Panic waved over my body like currents; sweat drenched my forehead. I leaned back in my white bed, my pale blonde hair roughly spread out.
I knew what was coming for me. But would I be able to stop it?
"Alice?" Mom's voice.
Relief flooded through my body, and I sat up. Mom entered the room, bags under her eyes. Her chest was heaving.
"This… this… island," she stammered. "This is the one… that god will be on, right?"
"Yeah…" I replied, biting my lip. My mother put her hands on her shoulders.
"D-don't die, Alice," she sobbed. She smiled gently. "But I believe in you. I know your dad would… he was so encouraging. I wasn't… and I wish I was. But it's never too late to change, right?"
I couldn't help but think about Fierce Fox. "Yeah… that's true."
"Well," I sighed, as we landed on the oil rig that is Super Villain Island. "Here we are."
"Nice day for saving the world, huh?" Fierce Fox asked, shrugging at me.
The oil rig was a few layers, containments of oil hanging from rope. The sky was a beautiful blue, though I could hear the echoes of storms in the distance. Cranes held up the many platforms, covered in silt.
"This way," I led Fierce Fox up the platforms, into the pale green control room.
It was much less interesting than the one on Lunar Colony. There was only one computer and the room was much dirtier and scruffier. A woman wearing sunglasses and a helmet was frowning over something.
She sighed. "What is he planning now? This girl he's working with… much too confusing. And now he needs another volunteer."
"We'll do that." I volunteered, my breath clogging in my throat. Fierce Fox nodded in agreement.
The woman stared at us. "You sure about that? Most of our volunteers didn't come back."
"We're sure." Fierce Fox confirmed, putting on her brave face. Mine faltered.
The woman sighed again, sounding heavier. "I'll have our chopper give you a lift. The pilot will meet you outside. Just promise me to be careful, and come back right away."
Fierce Fox and I glanced at each other. Then we exited the small room, and came to the cool, crisp environment that was the outside. A loud engine sounded above our heads. It was a sleek, white and navy blue helicopter, lightning patterned on the side. It parked on the roof, and its door opened.
Fierce Fox and I climbed aboard. It lifted gently into the blue sky, taking us away from the oil rig. I slumped on a plump seat, next to Fierce Fox.
"We'll be fine, okay?" she assured me. "We've taken him down before… we can do it again."
I nodded in agreement. She kept a grip on my arm as the sky danced around us.
"So, what island's next?" she asked, as the helicopter approached some rumbling clouds.
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," I answered. I shook my head. "But let's not think about the future. We… we need to focus on now."
We might not even get to the future, I grimaced.
My thoughts turned to the present, as wind and rain slammed against the windows. I saw lightning in the sky, which was really not a good sign.
"It's too windy!" the pilot cried. "I can't land! You'll have to jump!"
"Jump?!" Fierce Fox repeated, as the two of us stood at the open door, wearing parachutes.
"You'll be fine!" the pilot assured. "When the weather clears, call me on this walkie-talkie and I'll pick you up!"
A walkie-talkie entered Fierce Fox's inventory. Meanwhile, I was staring at the dark abyss we had to jump into.
"Are you crazy?!" Fierce Fox shouted, glaring at the pilot.
"We've done worse." I argued, shrugging.
"Go!" the pilot ordered.
And that's when I sky-dived for the first time. I mean, I had done worse. Don't even talk about jumping into the Underworld. But at least Zeus wasn't trying to kill me then. Not to mention rain pouring down my body, lightning flashes everywhere.
"This way!" Fierce Fox cried.
I darted towards her, as a flash of lightning soared down from the sky. I closed my eyes, feeling my skin prickle. Even Fierce Fox seemed a bit frazzled. Suddenly, I got an idea.
"Let your parachute go," I blurted. "And grab onto me. We'll fall faster."
"What?!" Fierce Fox bellowed, staring at me as if I had turned green. "You're as nuts as that pilot!"
"We don't have time, come on!" I told her.
Fierce Fox frowned.
"Do you trust me or not?!" I cried.
"I wish I didn't have to," Fierce Fox groaned.
She released her parachute, and grabbed onto me. Just as I predicted, we started falling faster, though it got harder to control. Soon, we started dropping, falling through the rain and clouds. I felt like screaming, but fear closed my throat. I was so relieved when we finally landed in the ocean.
We swam across the wild seas, to an island made of cliffs. Cliffs are bounded together in dark shadows, covered in vines and other plants.
Fierce Fox and I scaled up such rocks; I slipped a few times. Maybe the falling rain contributed. Eventually, we reached the top; a camera scanned us. A brick wall covered with vines opened up, revealing Erewhon Prison.
The inside was much nicer than the crazy outside. Security patterns were on the marble walls. Lights hung down from the ceiling, and some of the wall was made of black brick. A security guard let us through the security system, which was not very pleasant.
"It's your life." the guard warned us, just as we finished.
That did not sound good. I gulped, as Fierce Fox and I entered the guard room, which was full of monitors and cameras. A lift was at the end, with the words, 'Dr. Jupiter's Lab', though they'd been scratched out.
"Weird," I observed. "They weren't scratched out in the original island…" I sighed, and shook my head. "Well, here we go. I don't know what's going to happen behind these doors, but I hope it's not my death."
Fierce Fox nodded in agreement. Then we headed inside the elevator (which made me uncomfortable- still hate elevators).
The elevator passed a bunch of previous villains, who I didn't really want to look at. They appeared quite sad... I couldn't help but feel a little bad for them. Oh well. My heart stopped as the elevator arrived at 'Dr. Jupiter's' lab.
Inside there it was quite dark. Dark platforms stood on pillars, and I saw large engines and experiments, though they were turned off. I gulped when I saw that the Dream Machine wasn't activated - and the four villains weren't there, either.
"There's supposed to be a machine here…" I gaped, as we leaped down to the cold, hard floor. I gazed at the shelves of strange objects on the wall, while Fierce Fox shrugged at me.
"Alice!" a voice croaked, echoing through the empty lab.
A girl raced over to us. She had long, soft brown hair in low, messy ponytails. Her green tank top and shorts were torn. Her tanned skin was clammy. Stress filled her eyes, and her hands stuttered as she talked. Though she looked different, I couldn't doubt I recognized this person.
Louisa Van Tulleken.
"Louisa?!" I gasped. "How… what…"
"Alice!" Louisa gasped. "You've… you've got to stop him! He's going to use me to… to destroy Poptropica!"
"Zeus?" I questioned, raising my brow.
"Yes!" Louisa cried, sitting on one knee. "Alice… please. He'll… he'll kill me. You. Everyone you love."
"How do we know you're not lying?" Fierce Fox queried, scowling.
"How…" I stammered. "Why… how are you here?!"
"I know it's hard to believe me," Louisa whimpered, staring up at us. "But you must… stop… him. I… c-can't. Please… Alice." She gazed into my eyes. "Don't fail Poptropica like… this. This game is… your solace. Don't… don't let it die."
Pressure burned into my shoulders. "Louisa, how… how did you get in here? Why are you… how did-"
"He's coming, Alice," Louisa told me. "Save Poptropica first… and we'll talk later."
I sighed, and stretched out my hands. "Alright." I took a deep breath. "Where's Zeus? What do I need to do?"
Louisa, her legs shaking, stood up. She gestured for me to follow her, but shook her head at Fierce Fox. My Poptropican raised her brow.
I gave her an assuring nod, and trailed behind Louisa. My friend led me to a small, encased room. The four Villain totems were inside. I gaped, feeling my heart pumping.
"Here they are," Louisa explained. "Zeus… he knows only a human can activate their true power. Well, they are strong without human power, but godly power can still overcome them. Zeus knows his brothers will be able to stop him, even with this power. Unless… unless a human chooses to unlock their power. That is… that is the hero's choice." She faced me. "But only one human - not Poptropican - can do it." She smiled. "And that human is me. Goodbye, Alice."
Suddenly, the roof burst open, and good old Thunderpants himself entered the room. His body was glowing with electricity; my heart began pumping. He glared at me, his red toga flowing. Thunder boomed in the background. He raised his lighting bolt.
"Goodbye, mortal." Zeus boomed, throwing the lighting bolt. The last thing I saw was a tremendous explosion, and then there was darkness.
"Dad, why do you want me to be a hero? Like Hercules?"
"Oh, Heavens no, Spark! Heroes aren't about saving the world and all that. Heroes come in all different shapes and forms. I think you can be a hero that inspires people. Travel, and teach them about whatever is right. That's heroism. I think you can do that, Spark. Be much better than me."
"Really, Dad?"
"Really, Spark. I believe in you."
I looked at my mom as we sat in the kitchen. "So dad was in prison…?"
My mom grimaced, nodding. "Yes… but he changed. He was a different man once he got out of prison. He didn't want you to turn out like him."
"Why wouldn't you tell me?" I asked. "What did Dad do?"
"Oh, Alice…" Mom reached for my shoulder. "We only wanted to protect you. Your father was a bank robber, but he was young and stupid at the time. The woman he was with… well, he betrayed her, and she still hates him. She's a vindictive woman… she has a child, and… she probably corrupted her child, too."
I paused, gazing at my toast. Then it hit me.
"They know," I got out. "At school. They know who I am… who my father was…"
"Don't let their words define you," Mom told me. "You're a hero, Alice… never forget it."
My vision blurred. Pain cried out from every angle. A fiery hot sensation burned inside me.
"How could they do this to me?!" I screamed. "Don't they know what I went through?! I didn't do anything wrong! And Dad! WHAT DID HE…"
Mom paused, looking down.
"That woman's child..." she mumbled. "I think she goes to your school."
White spots covered my vision. I couldn't feel anything. Was I dead? I tried to move, but my aching body wouldn't let me. My head was on a soft, white pillow, in some kind of bedroom. A creepy bedroom.
The walls were black, and the bedframe was a dark green colour. The floor was marble black, and there were creepy skull candles on the wall, which gave me serious déjà vu.
What's going on…?
My memories felt a bit blurry. I think something hit me… what hit me? Am I dead? Where's Fierce Fox? Maybe this is a dream… Though I'm getting some serious déjà vu. I'm sure I've been here before… Or at least somewhere like this.
That's when I heard some weird murmuring outside.
"I think she is awake, m'lord." a woman's voice.
"Excellent," a deep voice replied, which sounded awfully familiar. "When she is ready, tell her to come to the throne room."
I raised my eyebrow, trying to get the pieces to come together.
Lord… throne room… who is this? Though they seem so familiar-
"Greetings," my door opened, and a ghost entered my room. Yes, you read that correctly. A ghost, who had pale, flowing robes and long hair. I felt sweat build up on my palms, and I crawled up against my pillow.
"Do not be afraid, human," she said. "I am only here as a messenger for my lord."
"Um…" I chewed my lip. "Where am I? What's going on?"
"Your questions will be answered shortly," the ghost replied in a whispery voice. "Are you capable of walking?"
"Not really…" I replied.
I took the black duvet off myself and noticed my skirt had burn marks on it, and a black cloak had been tied around my torso.
"Try walking." the ghost said, gesturing at me.
I stood up, and as soon as I touched the ground, I felt perfectly fine. You gotta love Poptropican physics.
"Whoa…" I stared at the ghost. "So… can I see this lord guy now?"
"Of course," the ghost nodded at me. "This way, human."
She floated out of the room. I followed her, mixed feelings brewing inside me. We walked through more creepy corridors, and my mind finally began taking everything in.
I've definitely been here before, or some part of it, I thought. The ghost and the skulls, the black colours… wait a second… I know where I am! I'm in the-
"Long time no see." a familiar voice greeted me, as we entered the throne room.
The ghost disappeared into thin air; I was left alone in the throne room, where I had definitely been before. The man - or should I say god - stared at me with dark eyes and black hair.
"Um, hi… Hades," I greeted, shaking. I was in the Underworld, in Hades' throne room. The Underworld. Did that mean I was dead? "Err…"
"I suppose you'll want an explanation," Hades mused. I nodded eagerly. "No, you are not dead. But you almost died."
"How?" I asked, chewing my lip. Hades frowned.
"My youngest brother tried to kill you." he answered grimly.
That's when the memories flooded back - Louisa, Zeus, Fierce Fox, Super Villain Island… I remembered it all. And I knew what Zeus was going to do.
"So… how was I saved?" I asked, raising my brow.
"My niece Athena figured out Zeus' plans, just before you arrived on Super Villain Island," Hades answered. "She saw what Zeus was going to do with that other mortal from your world."
"Louisa." I blurted out.
"Louisa," Hades nodded. "Anyway, she knew that Louisa was going to assist Zeus. You were not, so she saved you for that purpose. She contacted me, and brought you down here. Zeus can't get you down here… however, he would assume you are down here regardless, as a deceased soul. If you were anywhere else, he would try to kill you."
"So…" my brain put it together. "Louisa is helping Zeus… she's going to activate the totems, then Zeus will take over Poptropica. However, I could also be the hero, and Zeus doesn't want that… so he tried to kill me. But… can't you stop Louisa? Like, kill her or something?"
"I am afraid it's too late for that," Hades sighed. "She and Zeus are working together as we speak." He frowned. "We only kept you alive because if you're dead, Poptropica is doomed. You must stop my brother and his human assistant from destroying Poptropica."
"How long has she been here for?" I asked. "Has… Zeus been hiding her or something?"
"I assume so," Hades answered.
"So, how do I stop Zeus?" I asked, peering up at the god. "Also… um, do you know where Fierce Fox is?"
"You must seek my niece Athena," Hades replied, leaning back in his throne. "I believe she will know what to do." His expression changed. "As for your companion… you will have to wait and see. But fear not, she's not in danger."
"Alright…" I replied, feeling nervous. "How long do I have before Zeus destroys Poptropica?"
"I don't know exactly," Hades answered. "But knowing my brother, he will probably want to do it sometime dramatically, like midnight."
"What time is it now?" I asked, lacing my fingers together.
"You have a few hours until midnight arrives," Hades replied. He stared at me intensely. "You'll have to hurry."
"Got it," I said, trying not to shake. "So, where is Athena?"
"That mirror in your inventory will take you to her." Hades said, pointing at my inventory.
I reached into it, and pulled out the mirror. A glowing, golden olive symbol was on it. I breathed in deeply.
"But… when I go to the, uh, surface…" I began. "Won't… Zeus find me?"
"You have been here long enough for Zeus to believe you are dead," Hades replied, standing up. "But don't be ignorant. Try to stay incognito and hide from him best you can. If anything, it's good to wear something that disguises you."
"Thanks," I replied.
The whole world at stake… I felt knots in my stomach.
"Now go, child," Hades waved a hand. "You must save the world."
"Saving the world," I said, fear clenching my heart. My feelings were surprisingly mixed, and I didn't like it.
I lifted my hand, and brought out the mirror.
"Thank you," I waved. "Again."
Hades nodded as I pressed the olive on the mirror, and glowing light covered my vision.
The light cleared, and the physical atmosphere around me felt much lighter. I was no longer in the Underworld; instead, I was in the area nearby the Tree of Immortality. I was underneath a bushy olive tree, the sun shining above my head. I heard a few animals chirping in the distance, and leaves falling into my hair.
"Uh… Athena?" I called out quietly, in case Zeus was around. "Are you… here?"
"It seems my uncle did his job." a woman's voice said nearby me, aged with wisdom and familiarity.
Athena, in the disguise of an old woman, approached me.
"Hey… Athena." I greeted, straightening my posture. "Hades said I needed to speak to you."
"I will not tell you exactly what you must do," Athena replied softly, her eyes glimmering. "But I will guide you. Remember the prophecy, Alice."
"The prophecy…?" I questioned. I chewed my lip, and thought of the prophecy. "The hero will travel with whom they are connected to over islands… Fierce Fox? But I don't know where she is!"
"Think of the entire prophecy." Athena encouraged.
I racked my brain. A hero will arrive from another world; They and their friends will travel far across the islands' raging whirl.
Friends… friends…
"Friends?" I asked. Athena nodded, gesturing for me to continue. "I need… I need help from my other friends?"
Athena bowed her head. "You have made friends on other islands. Now it is your time to find them."
"And… with their help, save the world?" I asked, tapping my chin. Athena nodded again. "But… how do I get to them? I have no transport."
"Are you sure?" Athena asked, raising her brow. "Think about what you've received from Poptropicans on other islands."
I searched my brain again. What've I got from other islands? Think, Alice. No, don't think about school! Think about now… Hey… wait a second, Dr. Langley gave me a plane on Game Show, didn't he?
"Dr. Langley's plane?" I questioned. I reached into my inventory, and grabbed the remote. Athena stared at it approvingly.
"You are understanding now," she confirmed. "You must go and seek your friends. Then, you must stop my Father and Louisa Van Tullekan, before they destroy the world."
"How will I do that?" I asked, fumbling with my fingers.
"You will know when the time comes." Athena answered, gazing into my eyes. "But it'll involve teamwork, and these other friends. I wish you luck."
"Thanks, Athena," I said, bowing my head. I raised my thumb over the airplane button on my remote. I pressed it; Dr. Harold's plane arrived, with the words, 'Property of the inventor'.
"Before you leave, human," Athena raised her hand. "Do not forget your fatal flaw. Don't let your guilt get ahead of you… if you do, you could fail us all."
"A-alright," I nodded. "I'll try." I climbed into the plane, facing the control screen. Athena seemed to have disappeared, which left me alone. I sighed, and took in a deep breath.
It's time to save the world.