A\N: Hello Poptropica fandom, long time no see. This fanfic really is an old classic of mine, started back in 2016. :0 Reading it back now, there are so, so many problems with the original Home Again I could make a forty chapter analysis on it. So I decided to do a rewrite of the story, with a plot that (hopefully) makes sense, more fleshed out characters, and more. Now, I understand that Poptropica nerfed a lot of the old islands. However, this fanfiction takes place in 2016, so before all the old islands got nerfed lol. (So yes, I'll be using Monkey Wrench too. Since the new tutorial Island isn't really that exciting anyway lol.) I'm not going to completely change the original story, however there will definitely be some differences (aside from general writing improvement lol).

The sequel has also been deleted, might (emphasise might) rewrite it too when more Poptropica updates come out. So everything that happened in the sequel isn't canon anymore. Tbh that thing needs a rewrite even more than this story does lmao. But we'll worry about that some other time.

Before we get into the story, one last shout out to the fanfic that inspired this and the original Home Again, the Teen Titans fanfic I Belong by SNOffourier on Fanfiction . net, go check it out, if you like Home Again and Teen Titans, you'll like I Belong. Alright, I've kept you waiting long enough. Welcome to the rewrite!


I'd always found it ironic that I actually felt more lonely around other people than I did by myself, especially at school.

I thought I'd get used to it after a while. I thought that if I pretended it didn't bother me, I'd be fine. But I was doing nothing but lying to myself. Every little sneer, little head turn, little glare, chipped away on my soul, one piece at a time. You'd think I'd learn. You'd think I'd understand that this was just how my life was going to be. But I kept naively hoping things would get better, when things only kept going further and further downhill.

The worst part of my life wasn't the crutches I had to use all the time. Fine. Maybe I couldn't become an Olympic sprinter. I didn't care. No, what really got to me was everyone else at school.

I was just walking out of my classroom, minding my own business, crutches under my arms. I'd gotten used to grabbing my things without anyone else's help. Not that I had many things to carry.

There was another student ahead of me. That day, I suppose I was feeling a little hopeful. A little naive. After all, the student looked friendly enough. I tried to say hi. But the student just ignored me and moved on.

Sniggering built up behind me, beside me, ahead of me. A flash of red hair raced right before my eyes. I knew those piercing blue eyes from anywhere. Chrissi Laughlin, the biggest tormenter of my life, the ringleader of all the laughter. One of the many reasons I struggled to get out of bed every morning.

"Good morning, Crashice," she hissed. "Did you think I forgot to greet you?"

I wished I had the power to run away, or at least fight back. But I had nothing. No strength, no stamina, I was spineless, gutless, worthless. I couldn't even speak up for myself.

I gazed up at the monster that haunted my nightmares. She was tall and slim, with short, curly red hair, and pale, freckled skin. She wore a simple mint-green sweater with a white heart on the center, a grey belt, and blue jeans. A gold necklace dangled around her neck. I suppose if I was anyone else I'd think she was pretty. But to me she was nothing but a demon.

Please… just leave me alone…

Faces jeered at me from every angle. Chrissi held out a foot, knocking over one of my crutches. I held out my hand, grabbing onto the grey wall at the very last second. My chest rose and fell.

Why are you doing this to me…

"Don't look so sad, Crashice," Chrissi giggled. "We'll get to see plenty more of each other this week."

Tears burned behind my eyes. 'This week' was only the beginning. She was going to be there for the rest of my school years. I was trapped in an endless cycle. No escape.

But it's what I deserve… they wouldn't bully me if I wasn't so useless.

I can't even run away… I really am worthless.

The school bell rang. My whole body tensed up. The other students cleared out, leaving me all alone in the hall once again. I breathed out, grabbing my crutches. Every day, it got harder and harder to get up. I didn't have much fight left.

But my mother was waiting for me, so I didn't have a choice.


Mom smiled at me as I made my way over to the car, school bag over my shoulder. She looked similar to me, except she had brown hair instead of blonde, and her skin was a deep tan. Her eyes were the same brown as mine, though. She wore a white cardigan and jeans, as well as black boots.

Our car was a small blue sedan, a second hand. The passenger seat was open for me as well. I breathed out. At least I'd still be able to drive in the future, I suppose. After the fun venture that was taking off my crutches and fitting them in the car, I got into the passenger seat, slipping my seatbelt on.

"Hi, honey," Mom smiled at me. "How was school?"

"What do you think?" I deadpanned.

"Honey…" Mom reached out a hand.

"Why do I have to keep going there?!" I shouted, looking away. "Everyone hates me!"

"Alice, please…" Mom reached out a hand.

"Let's just go home," I snapped.

Mom sighed heavily, turning the car on. We didn't say a word the entire trip home. As soon as we got home, I stormed inside as fast as I could, dumping my school bag on the kitchen table. I limped down the small hallway, crutches clanking against the wooden floor. Our house was a simple unit; two bedrooms, a small living room and kitchen, one bathroom/laundry, and that was it. My bedroom was at the end of the hallway, opposite the bathroom/laundry.

Our house was fairly neat, I'd say; plain curtains, some nice tables, white walls and wooden flooring. A few fake plants here and there. Nothing to brag about, but nice enough. My own room wasn't that much of a sight. It was simple enough: a single bed with a plain white doona, a desk with my laptop and schoolwork, a window with pink curtains, a cupboard for clothes, a large mirror, and a wooden floor. Maybe it was plain… but I liked the simplicity. Anything more would've been too much for me.

I gazed at the mirror. I looked like a mess; my short, blonde hair was disheveled, and bags were under my brown eyes. I wore a white t-shirt with grey sleeves, puffy at the end. The shirt hung off my bony frame. My skirt was grey as well, matching my grey socks. My shoes were black flats. A little bow headband was on top of my head. I grimaced, turning away. I couldn't look at myself anymore.

I'd almost been slightly gangly; I wasn't tall by any means, I'd say about average height, but I could never get my body to look quite as slim and attractive as a model's. It had gotten even worse after the accident, the accident where my life had fallen apart. The accident that I hated to talk about.

I sat on the chair at my desk, crutches leaning against the wall. It was arguably the best chair in the house; large, comfy and soft. It was one of the few places where I could sit and forget about my worries for a few hours. I opened up my silver laptop, switching it on. After a few minutes of waiting for it to boot up, I opened up a browser, light covering my face. Then I opened up the best website of all time: Poptropica.

Even the blue loading screen was enough to get me smiling out of pure anticipation. I watched a group of Poptropicans running across the screen. After that, I clicked 'returning player', and eagerly signed in.

My Poptropican Fierce Fox appeared on screen, landing on Home island. She was a Poptropican with the same skin tone as me, long, fiery red hair, a yellow shirt with a music note on it, and a black jacket and skirt. She also wielded the 'Lightning Staff' item. She looked really badass in my opinion, way more badass than I ever would...

My grin grew wider as Fierce Fox bypassed a friendly-looking Amelia and hopped onto her big, golden blimp, leaving the safety of HUB island to venture into the world of Poptropica. Of course I took her to my favourite island, Mythology Island. Mythology Island, as you might have gathered from the title, was based on Greek Mythology. While it was my favourite island, all of the islands were near and dear to my heart. Poptropica itself was very near and dear to my heart.

No, that wasn't doing it justice. The game had been there for me through thick and thin. If my crutches were there to support my legs, then Poptropica was there to support my psyche. No matter how much went down at school, Poptropica gave me the escapism I needed. It was one of the few things that kept me going, no matter what.

My breathing got heavy as I led Fierce Fox through the island I'd played countless times. I choked up as we approached Zeus' palace on Mount Olympus.

Fierce Fox is so lucky, I thought, a tear trickling down my cheek, splashing on my laptop screen. She gets a life full of adventure… all I get is torture…

"Foolish mortal!" Zeus boomed. "How dare you enter my realm!"

Lightning crackled around his body. I rolled my eyes; the idiot never learned. He had nothing on Fierce Fox and I. I'd played the island to death; I could beat him in my sleep. He reminded me of Chrissi, interestingly; he was nothing but a bully who thought he had infinite power. The difference was I could always beat him. Chrissi always defeated me.

I directed Fierce Fox around, using the combined power of Poseidon's trident and Hades' crown to defeat Zeus. The god cringed and fell back, securing my medallion for the gazillionth time.

Pitifully, I wished I could do the same thing with the people at school. But I had no such power.

My tears picked up again as Athena gave Fierce Fox the medallion. I was green with envy. I wanted that life more than anything; but I could never have it. It was all just a computer game. I was stuck in the real world with no one but myself to cry to.

I slumped back in my chair, my tears becoming a waterfall. I sobbed and sobbed, my breaths heaving. My eyes were red and puffy, my throat choked. I clutched my laptop like a lifeline.

All I want is something better… something better than my life.