Minor character death warning!
Time Tangled Island didn't look much different from the previous time I visited. Party Time Tower is still there. So is the lab, except it's much calmer. I held out Mighty Penguin's address, scanning the words.
"Where's Back to the Future avenue?" I asked. I giggled at the terrible pun name. "Oh, wow." I ended up finding a bunch of apartments and houses beyond Party Time Tower. I moved as fast as I could- it was the end of the world, after all. Eventually I found Back to the Future avenue and headed down it. I stopped in front of number 12. It's a simple, small house with a brown roof and cream bricks. Sighing, I knocked on the door.
"Just a sec!" a familiar voice called from inside. I heard some rustling and someone stomping around. Then the door opened, revealing Mighty Penguin. He was back to his male self, wearing casual clothes. A baseball cap is slicked over his dark brown hair and he's wearing a dark blue hoodie. Grey pants are on his legs and he's wearing no shoes (as usual with Poptropicans).
Mighty Penguin's face lit up as he stared at me. "Hey, Alice! 'Bout time- get it, since we're on Time Tangled- you came over to visit!"
I shook my head. "I'm afraid I'm not here for a casual visit." I sighed. "I need your help with something major." I did a little awkward shiver, 'cause that's just what I do sometimes.
"Er, what's that?" Mighty Penguin asked, raising his brow.
"I need you to help me save the world." I replied, chewing my lip.
The next stop on the 'save the world' journey was to pick up Amelia. I was petrified- very- and my body felt cold. Yet I felt dashes of enthrallment, too. I was nervo-cited. Mighty Penguin was still a little perplexed, but he got the jist. He knew what we were doing and even helped me plan... a little. Though it didn't really have to do with saving the world, I asked him if he had a voice. He told me yes; it usually made him a 'background character' on islands for reasons he didn't know. I didn't reply.
We landed on Home Island. It felt odd going on a quest without Fierce Fox- like something was missing. And I felt worried, too. Is she okay? I really hoped so. Hades told me she's not dead, but what if she's injured and trapped? It made me uncomfortable to think about that.
"Hey, you alright?" Mighty Penguin asked, waving his hand in front of my face.
"Yeah… just worried, that's all." I sighed. "Come on, let's get Amelia."
Amelia, thankfully, was rather optimistic. Well, she always is, even during a tragic event. I felt slightly jealous of this, since my feelings were so mixed and weird. But above all, I was nervous. So very nervous.
"Who's next, Alice?" Amelia asked enthusiastically.
I took a deep breath. "C.J from Shrink Ray Island."
C.J was still at school with her parents. She gave me a nod when she saw me and a wave at my friends.
"Hey, Alice," she greeted. "Thanks again for your help."
"No problem," I replied. "But now I need your help."
After C.J was Thomas Edison on Mystery Train Island. Zeus hadn't destroyed that island, thank everything. Thomas was still in Chicago, so we had to fly over there by plane. It was way quicker (and less mysterious) than taking the train. Thomas was by his stand and seemed quite happy to see me. I told him about the plans.
"Yes, I've heard of the gods on Mythology Island," Thomas commented. He frowned. "I don't normally go on islands like that. They… disturb me. But if it's for Poptropica, I'll do it."
I checked my list of all my closest friends. We had one left: Sprocket. We picked him up- he seemed terrified of the idea (ditto, buddy) but he agreed to come. I thought about contacting some of the nice gods as well, but they were gods, and we were mortals, so I scratched that idea. I wanted to find Fierce Fox too, but I knew we didn't have enough time and would have to go on without her. So with a sigh, I landed the plane on Early Poptropica, hoping Zeus wouldn't find us.
"Alright," I began. My friends and I were sitting in the small plane, on top of the Pop Art museum (which is totally illegal in my world, but whatever). "So, you all know what's going on. I guess… I guess now we have to figure out a plan to stop Zeus and save Poptropica."
"Pfft, like we know a lot about Mythology Island," Mighty Penguin commented. "Yet alone the gods. I've only heard of them, really."
"Well… today you get to meet and fight one of them," I replied. I shook my head. "But think seriously. We… we need to come up with a plan."
"Confrontation?" C.J suggested. She shrugged at us. "What? I want some action! School can be very mundane sometimes."
"I think a sneak-attack would be better," Thomas retorted, tapping his chin. He snapped his fingers. "We'd get them by surprise!"
"Element of surprise…" I mused. "That'd be good. Though Zeus is a god, so if we enter his realm he'll probably be watching us or something."
"I'm good with machinery, not gods," Sprocket sighed, his engines whirring. "But I think we could use some weapons. Do you have any?"
"Well, I've got Hades' crown," I answered. "I think. And I had Poseidon's trident, but it's disappeared for some reason." My face crinkled. "Uh oh… I hope Poseidon doesn't find out."
"Erm… who's Hades?" Mighty Penguin asked, furrowing his brow.
"God of the Underworld," I answered. "And Zeus' brother. But he's one of the good guys, I'm pretty sure. Same with Poseidon, his other brother. Anyway, has anyone got any other ideas?"
Mighty Penguin's eyes lit up. "Hey… what Sprocket said with the weapons. How about we burst in, guns blazing? We'll all get a weapon and attack!"
"But do we have enough weapons?" Amelia asked. "It seems only Alice has a weapon- and it seems to be a defense more than anything."
"Well, it's like I want to be on the offensive," I sighed. I stared at Mighty Penguin. "That's actually a pretty good idea, MP. But Amelia's right. We need more weapons."
"I have my shrink ray!" C.J said cheerfully. She brought out her backpack and pulled out her shrink ray. I grabbed Hades' crown and held it in my hand. Fear radiated from it, clenching my heart. Same with the others.
"Underworld, alright," Mighty Penguin muttered, his eyes widening. He shook his head. "Well, you two are sorted. I've got no weapons apart from my fists."
"I'm a robot," Sprocket said quietly. "I have… guns and things."
"An adventurer is never unprepared!" Amelia said gleefully, pulling out a dagger. She flinched. "Just remembered it was in my pocket… heh..."
"I've got no weapons," Thomas sighed. "Nothing but my inventions." He shrugged. "Maybe one will be useful."
"Actually, I think there's a pole vault in my house from the Poptropolis Games," Mighty Penguin mused. He grinned. "Could be useful."
I shrugged my shoulders. "Hades' crown, a pole vault, a shrink ray, robot weapons, some inventions, and a dagger. Alright, then. Let's see how this will go." I tried to ignore the welling fear inside me. We're gonna fail, we're gonna fail, we're gonna fail!
Calm down, I told myself. We'll be fine. We… we have to believe.
Pfft, like you can do that, the voice replied. I ignored it.
THIRD PERSON
Zeus stormed around on the mighty Mount Olympus. The skies were dark and thunderous, creating the perfect atmosphere. The villain totems were in the middle of the area, glowing with electricity and waiting to be awoken. A girl was on the floor, her brown hair covering her tired eyes. It had been a while since she'd slept or eaten properly. The past few weeks had been nothing but training and the girl felt it burn in her limbs.
"It is time." the god declared. Louisa stood up, pushing her brown hair out of her eyes. Her red glasses sat upon her nose as she stepped forward, nearing the totems. This was it. The end of the world. Alice's world. She almost hesitated, but kept pushing forward. Alice's criminal father had killed her mother. Why should she be merciful to his daughter and her happiness?
Suddenly, Zeus held up a hand. His face creased in dismay. "Mortals approach." He took a step back when he saw such mortals.
"Stop right there!" Alice was in front, her blonde hair flowing. A group of Poptropicans were behind her, clutching various weapons. The only one Zeus saw threat in was Alice's weapon- his brother's crown. Though Zeus could see fear in the human's eyes. Mortals were scared very easily. This wouldn't be difficult for him. Alice may not have been killed before, but she would definitely die now.
"You survived," Zeus chuckled darkly. "How amusing. But I'm afraid your victory has been cut short." He formed a lightning bolt in his hand and launched it at the friends.
"MOVE!" Mighty Penguin screamed. The friends leaped out of the way just as the lightning bolt smashed part of the marble floor.
"Foolish mortals!" Zeus boomed. He rose into the sky, power flowing around him. "You will regret interrupting my plans!" He formed another storm in the sky with thunder claps so loud they could be heard on Early Poptropica. Alice finally felt fear hit her all at once. She was going to die.
ALICE
I was terrified. My voice had become all croaky, and for a moment, I was paralyzed. Come on, pull yourself together! I told myself sternly. I sighed and stared at my friends.
"Guys," I ordered. "Don't let Zeus get near the totems-" I pointed to such items, "-and try and fight him off best you can. I'm not really sure how to defeat him… let's just focus on not letting him get anymore powerful." My friends nodded and brought out their weapons. I put on Hades' crown and felt myself grow to a god size. I adjusted for a few seconds, then approached the totems. Zeus was glaring at C.J, who'd shrunken a statue of him. Thomas and Mighty Penguin joined my side (they looked oddly little) as we stared at the totems.
"I think we should destroy them," Thomas suggested. He shrugged. "I don't know! I don't understand any of this!" He gave a nod at my height.
"Ditto, Tom," Mighty Penguin agreed. He raised his pole vault. "But let's destroy 'em anyway."
"Don't try it." Louisa warned, crawling over to greet us. She stood up and clenched her fists. I noticed how tired and weak she looked- like she hadn't slept for a week. I don't think Zeus was looking after her very well.
"Louisa…" I began. "Why are you doing this?"
"None of your business, Crashice!" Louisa snapped. "But you can thank your father for this!"
"What?" I questioned, raising my brow. Louisa nodded at Zeus; a gust of wind blew Thomas, Mighty Penguin and I away. Then Zeus focused on Amelia who was running around, wielding her dagger.
"Yeah," Mighty Penguin nodded. "Destroy the totems, then take down the god?" Thomas and I figured that was a good plan.
"Oh, it's not going to be easy," Louisa said, grinning maliciously at us. "You may have Hades' crown, Alice, but that doesn't guarantee your survival. In fact, none of your friends have any chance of survival. So you really made a big mistake coming here." She gestured to Amelia and C.J, who were unconscious. Their clothes were burnt.
"I won't waste my powers on pointless mortals," Zeus scoffed, his red toga flowing. He glared at me. "You are an exception. You are delaying my plans and I can't have that."
"Get the totems!" Mighty Penguin shouted. He and Thomas raced towards the totems, grabbing Zeus' attention. I tapped the crown out of nerves; suddenly I turned invisible, like the air.
Huh, I thought. Didn't know it could do that. Being invisible, I raced forward. I summoned some small, firm, pink clouds- I could do that if I had a godly weapon- and floated in the sky. I didn't have any other weapons, apart from some stuff in my inventory. I charged towards Zeus, fists clenched. I managed to hit him before he could harm Thomas or Mighty Penguin. Zeus glowered and summoned his power balls, smashing me to the ground.
"No more games!" he boomed. "I don't have time for you pesky mortals!" The skies suddenly darkened and lightning crackled in the distance. I got a very bad feeling in my gut. Lightning swirled around, creating a massive ball of energy. My friends and I backed away slowly, the scent of ozone filling the air. The lightning was hurled down on top of us. Well, almost. A powerful force shoved us out of the way.
That force belonged to Fierce Fox.
"Fierce Fox!" I cried, flabbergasted. There she was, in all her glory. She wasn't burnt at all and a look of determination was expressed on her face. Her long, red hair flowed in the wind. Gripped tightly in her right fist was Poseidon's trident, which explained where both she and it had gone.
"Curse my brothers!" Zeus roared. Power began filling the air again. The god stared down at Louisa. "Use the shield on the totems. On my word… you know what to do." Louisa nodded. I felt fear stab me again.
"Here," Fierce Fox held out her hand to me. "I'll deal with him." She grabbed Hades' crown from my head; I returned to my normal self. The enlarged Fierce Fox charged after Zeus. That left the rest of us to deal with Louisa and the totems.
"Did you think this would be easy?" Louisa asked darkly. "Before Zeus flew off to fight your friend, he gave me a special gift." She dropped something on the floor. It appeared to be a little lighting bolt. It exploded across the floor, sending out sparkly, yellow waves of electric power. In horror, I leaped up. However, my friends were electrocuted and knocked out. Louisa grinned maliciously at me and raised the lightning bolt.
"Why are you doing this, Lou?" I demanded. "How did you even get here?!"
"I could be asking you the same question," Louisa answered. She clenched her fist. "As for why I'm doing it? Well…" Her expression darkened. "I think it's time you got a taste of your own medicine. You took away my family and what was left of it. Now it's time I take something from you." Strangely, her voice trembled as she said this.
"Louisa, look, I'm sorry about your mom's jacket," I insisted. "It was an accident! I would never do something like that on purpose."
"No, Alice," Louisa growled. "Do you know anything about your father? What really happened in that car accident?"
"No…?" I breathed. I felt fear well in my chest, while lightning bolts filled the sky like asteroids. "I don't understand. What did Dad do?"
Louisa snarled. "You don't know? Well, I'm not surprised your mom didn't say anything. Let's just say your dad is a little more… bad than you think he is."
"... what?" I asked, raising my brow. "I don't-"
"Alice, you idiot," Louisa growled, shadows appearing more prominent on her face. She really did not look like the friendly girl I saw at school. "That car accident. Your dad died, right? Well… there was another woman involved. She died too. And she was… my mother."
I gasped in shock. I didn't know the woman was Louisa's mom! I was too focused on Dad to worry about who the other person was- same with my mom. It made me feel sick and guilty. My stomach trembled under my loose, white long-sleeve.
"That's right," Louisa continued. "Once you learn your dad's… little secret, you'll see that we bullied you for more than your leg."
"I..." I was gobsmacked. I couldn't even focus on my friends lying on the floor or Fierce Fox fighting Zeus in the sky. I always knew deep inside that it was silly to tease me about my injuries- that it was more than that. But what did it have to do with Dad? I didn't think he was anything bad. Quite the opposite, frankly. His death had affected me greatly- if he hadn't died, I wouldn't have let myself be bullied. It was because we had such a good relationship. It felt like a betrayal to know there was something he didn't tell me.
Louisa bowed her head. "Alice… it's complicated. We went to the same schools, since we lived near each other- that's how we met. I found out you were Mr. Manchester's daughter after mom died- and that it was your dad's fault for her demise. I told Chrissi- she's like my big sister- and she was disgusted. That's when she turned on you. I could've been mean to you myself… but I wasn't… because I was…" She shifted uncomfortably. "I am… I… had a… er… crush on you."
That hit me with surprise. "You're gay?" I asked. I bit my lip. "I mean, I don't have a problem with that, but… I didn't know you… er, liked me."
Louisa sighed. "Yes, I'm gay… and I liked you. That's why I was nice to you. But part of me still hated you, after what happened to Mom. That's why I let Chrissi bully you. She was taking out my anger on you... for me."
My brain slowly processed this information. "So… Chrissi was really bullying me on your behalf?" Again, I felt stunned. "Oh man… there's so much I don't know!" I had millions of questions, especially ones to ask Mom. I gazed at Louisa. "What about your dad?"
"He left when I was born," Louisa answered, gritting her teeth- I could see she had some daddy issues. "We're not talking about him." She raised the lightning bolt. "I've been wasting time talking when I should be killing you and your friends! So now, die!"
"Wait!" I cried, holding up my hands. "Lou… you really don't have to… do this. When… Dad died, it took a lot out of me- if he hadn't died, I would've stuck up for myself. I turned to this computer game he once showed me- Poptropica. And that's where I found my solace. Then I started entering it and slowly getting my confidence back. It's pushed me where nowhere else has. I've made new friends… and, now, here I am, saving Poptropica."
"Nice story," Louisa commented. She glared. "But I'm not taking mercy!"
"Wait!" I shouted. "Louisa… I'm sorry about what happened to your parents… but you can't hang onto the event and turn evil. You can't hurt everyone like this. I hurt myself- and a few others- when Dad died. But I'm learning... you have to let go. I get that you're upset… but this isn't right. And it's not just for me- it's for everyone."
"I don't need to listen to you!" Louisa roared. She faced the stormy skies, where the two figures were launching lightning at each other. "M'lord! Is it time?" A crack of lighting slithered across the sky as her answer. Louisa grinned and turned to the totems.
"Louisa!" I pleaded. "You can't do this! You'll hurt so many people!"
"You can't convince me, Crashice," Louisa growled. "Give up and go back home. If you have one, that is." She reached her hands out to the totems. I stared at my friends, who were still on the floor. Lightning was wrapped around their bodies, so they couldn't move. Meanwhile in the sky, Fierce Fox was getting tired, yet Zeus was still strong. Louisa was at the totems, ready to release their power. I wouldn't be able to stop them. I was doomed. I had failed.
I turned away, feeling tears burn the back of my eyes. Fierce Fox crashed-landed onto the marble floor; the electricity grabbed her too.
"Good, Crashice!" Louisa called. "Walk away, go home! That's where you'll be safe!" She pointed to my mirror, which appeared in my hand. It showed a picture of my living room covered in a toasty light. Mom and Dad were there, looking all happy and cheerful. I gazed back my friends: doomed, stuck on the floor. Louisa was holding the totems. I could already feel the energy building. Even if I stayed, Poptropica was screwed. If I went home… at least I'd be safe.
Home vs. Poptropica. The choice seemed so easy... so obvious. I reached out to my living room.
"Alice, don't you dare!" Fierce Fox warned, looking old like her future self.
"I can't, Fierce Fox." I said quietly. "It's the end." My parents were smiling at me from the living room. So inviting, so safe…
"You can take them on!" Fierce Fox encouraged. She eyed the godly weapons laying on the floor, shining brilliantly. "You can destroy them!"
"I can't," I insisted. "Godly power won't be able to stop them."
"No," Sprocket was now awake. "But what about human and... godly power? I heard humans have lots of power here…"
"I don't know…" I said, feeling weak inside. Bursts of hope within me were like firecrackers, trying to explode. But my brain wasn't giving them any ignition.
"The power will be unleashed!" Louisa bellowed. She raised the totems; they glowed with white energy. Suddenly, they started taking energy from Louisa, turning her skin deathly pale. Red vanished from her cheeks and light fluttered out of her eyes.
Louisa was dying.
"FINALLY!" Zeus boomed as the totems surrounded him. "I HAVE FULL POWER!"
Louisa fell to the ground, her chest heaving. I realized the totems must've taken so much energy from her they killed her. It made me feel all sick and weird inside- like I'd eaten too much and my body couldn't decide whether to vomit or not. My brain didn't even conclude she was dead until she stopped moving. It just didn't feel real… she couldn't be dead! It happened so suddenly. Like Dad's death. And Zeus didn't even care. Selfish jerk.
The mirror dropped out of my hand. "Zeus… Louisa…"
"I knew that would happen all along, mortal," Zeus grumbled. "I did not tell her this, though. She would have never agreed. But it's too late now. Poptropica is mine!" The totems glowed in front of him, forming a beam of power. The beam swirled around the god. I had to shield my eyes. When the light subsided, Zeus was gone, and the sky was covered in black clouds. In the distance, I heard things smashing and crashing, and screams of the innocent. If I felt anymore sick I would've passed out.
It felt like I'd failed. I could've saved Louisa… but I chose to admire home and think of safety, where I couldn't fail. But I'd failed anyway and I hated it.
"Oh guys…" I stared at my friends, who were now awake.
"Holy moley," Mighty Penguin whistled. "That Zeus guy is serious."
"Well, it's over," I said, like I was talking about a football game and not the end of the world. "Hope you guys like Zeus-tropica."
"Alice!" Fierce Fox glared at me, wiggling in her lightning prison. "You can still stop him!"
"Heh," I replied in that casual tone. "We lost. My fault. But it's fine, y'know? It's why I don't try." My emotions were mixed. I felt so sick I couldn't do anything. Tons were going to die because of me. I was a big fat failure.
"Don't be stupid!" Fierce Fox screamed. "You can! You've got the weapons! Don't you remember what Sprocket said?"
"I CAN'T, OKAY?!" I screamed back, tears flowing out of my eyes. I gazed at Louisa. "I should… go home."
"Please, Alice," Amelia begged, sounding desperate. "Do it for us! Your friends!"
"That's right, Al!" C.J agreed. "We think you're cool, so show that god you're cool too!"
"I think you'll do fine." Thomas nodded. I couldn't help but smile.
"You guys are awesome friends…" I sighed. I shook my head. "But it's impossible."
"Just try," Fierce Fox insisted, giving me the kindest grin I'd ever seen on her face. "We'll support you no matter what, okay? We got you!"
I sighed. "Fine… fine… I'll try. For you." A cheer sounded from the group. My inner firecrackers sizzled. I placed Hades' crown on my head and gripped Poseidon's trident in my fist. "Alright… let's go fight a god."
It was no surprise to find Zeus in front of a Liberty-sized statue of himself. The skies were dark and red. The seas were wild. The air felt thick on my skin and debris floated around here and there. I sighed and raised Poseidon's trident. Clouds formed under my feet and carried me near Zeus and his stupid statue.
"So!" the god chuckled. "You dare to enter my presence, mortal?"
"Stop this, Zeus!" I growled, clenching my fists.
"I don't see why you are still trying," Zeus replied, rolling his eyes. "Oh well. It will bring me much amusement to see your demise!" He summoned the four totems; they turned into a beam. The beam charged towards me, glowing with pure, white energy. Screaming, I leaped out of the way. The beam landed in the sea and caused a mini tidal wave, which headed towards an unfortunate island.
I raised Poseidon's trident and threw some lightning bolts at the god. Zeus flicked them off like they were flies and raised his massive fists. The sky turned a darker red. It started raining fire. I yelped and hid under some debris, but the fire soon destroyed it. So I sighed and fired at Zeus again, but I couldn't land a single blow on him. I realized the whole battle was going to be like this, especially when Zeus threw red-hot, ginormous cannonballs at me.
I thought, well, Sprocket said something about human energy powering weapons. If I can use some of my energy to power the godly weapons… could that work? But... even if it does, I don't know how to power the weapons.
"DIE, MORTAL!" Zeus screamed, bringing down another power beam. I scrambled out of the way and focused on the godly weapons. They're pretty powerful on their own. With my 'human energy' they might be more powerful than the totems. I assumed I needed to transfer my energy or something, so I did. That didn't work, so I thought about what Louisa had said. Something about sacrifices. So I thought about sacrificing my energy, and by the gods, it worked.
I felt tired after it was done, like I went to bed late, but the energy from the weapons felt quite strong. Zeus was still causing destruction. I guess he was bored. I put the crown on my head and the trident in my fist and flew up to fight the god. He smirked when he saw me, expecting another lousy attempt. I showed him 'lousy attempt' and nearly knocked him out of the sky.
"Well!" Zeus exclaimed. "Seems you've got some power to spare, mortal! But you will not prevail for long!" He and I clashed in the sky. Zeus used his own godly weapon as well as the totems. I turned invisible and scared Zeus, then knocked him with a blow from the trident. Zeus retaliated and smashed me with a power beam, though I got up quickly. I went from being thrashed to the one thrashing. We fought all over the sky, causing quite a lot of damage. I realized eventually nothing was going to happen, so I needed to change the odds. And that was by destroying Zeus' totems.
I approached the villain totems which were floating around Zeus. I focused all my energy with the crown and the trident and blasted it towards the totems. One cracked and rained down into dust. Zeus glared daggers at me.
"You will not stop me!" he boomed. The totems flew around him again, forming another power beam. It was easier to avoid than the previous beams, due to the missing totem. I grinned and edged towards the god. He shot some lightning bolts at me. I deflected them with my OP weapons. I launched a beam of my own and destroyed another totem. It only got easier from then; soon all the totems were destroyed.
"I cannot believe this!" Zeus raged. "The totems were supposed to be impossible to destroy!" He glared at me and clenched his fists. The sky rumbled. "Bah! I don't need those pathetic totems to beat you! I am the God of Thunder!" He disappeared in a crackle of electricity and popped up inside the statue of himself, animating it. It glowed with white energy. The eyes shot out lightning bolts three times my size- and I mean my bigger form.
I raised the trident again and charged for the eyes. I let the energy flow and smashed it into the eyes. They shook and fizzed, like soda when you shake it. I hit them again. Power rumbled within the statue. Zeus returned to his normal self and glared at me.
"No!" he screamed. "I WILL NOT LOSE TO A MORTAL!" His body turned pure white just as I chucked the trident at the god. I didn't see what happened as my vision was covered in nothing but light.
...
"Dad, why are you acting so weird today?"
"No reason in particular, spark."
"It's Halloween! There's lots of candy and stuff!"
"It must be the candy, then. That's what you're seeing."
"Oh... okay. I love you, Dad."
"I… I love you, too, Spark."
THIRD PERSON
Alice awoke in her bed, her forehead covered in sweat. Her chest was heaving and she felt mixed inside. Her frantic mind tried to contemplate everything that had happened, but it couldn't. She shook her hands, admiring her room. The blandness brought odd peace to her, settling her frantic heart and mind.
"Alice?" her mother's voice croaked outside. "Oh, Alice!" the woman raced in and flung her arms around her daughter. "You're okay! I was worried sick!"
"Yeah… I think." Alice replied unsteadily, her arms trembling. She had so many questions and so much confusion. She felt more sick than ever.
"What's that necklace?" Alice's mother asked, pointing to a golden medallion around her daughter's neck.
"It's the medallion," Alice examined, gazing over the golden item. "The medallion for Super Villain Island… I did it, I really did it!" Then she passed out from utter exhaustion. Her mother chuckled and pulled the doona over her daughter.
"Sleep tight, sweetie." she said, leaving the room.