We shouldn't waste any time than we seem to have already lost. Go back to where this has apparently started, and we'll brief you from there. Just keep any and ALL communication devices hidden. The last thing we need is for someone's phone to get lost.

Mavis's POV

In 'Remake', Tom opens one chapter comparing the skids (main mode of transportation and possible time travel device) to La-la-land, where you stand and watch ads or look at yourself in a mirror (1); in 'Storm Front', Archer and Daniels stand and talk while past events swirl around them like small TV screens (2). However, my experience is more like Continuum, but instead of just jumping in and falling out (3), you get the overwhelming urge to run.

When I DO make it through and pull myself up, I've found I'm on a road behind some small brick buildings; the other side of me is covered by trees. Thinking that's a good place to hide, I duck in there.

"Mavis? Come in Mavis, over," comes the voice over my wristwatch. It's Kane!

"This is Mavis. I've made it through the time portal, but I'm not sure where I am or which direction I'm supposed to head next."

"Don't worry, Mavis, we'll take this opportunity to brief you so far on what we know. We can't really see you clearly on the screen but you're coming through loud and clear," my father says, and I can hear some of other conscious agents. I can imagine them crowding around Kane's work desk so this isn't an average briefing. "You might run into spotty areas so you'll have to find a phone of THAT time to communicate further. For the sake of convenience, Kane will be your main receiver. Call him if you need help."

"Will do. Now what about this town? I SWEAR this place sounds familiar."

"That's because we lived here, several years ago. You were still a toddler so you probably won't remember. The town of Thneedville was first known for its bizarre-looking trees called Truffulas, and according to legend, they were guarded by a nature spirit called The Lorax."

I immediately remember, somewhat vaguely, a building painting of a tree with no branches and a funky-colored top that I commented looked like cotton candy. Others appear to recognize this story as well and there are several voices before Dad quiets everyone down.

"As fun as this trip down memory lane is, you're not there 'to speak for the trees', you're there to save the future by saving the reputation of a world-famous soft-drink. Sort of. While you were preparing and traveling, we dug up some things on the plant and the people running it. Can you see the photo? This is who's in charge."

The photo on my wristwatch is fuzzing out a lot but I manage to make out the image of a girl and to be honest, I can't believe what I'm looking at. This girl has very curly blond hair, she wears what look like cowboy boots, and her dress is Barbie pink worthy. But that's not what I'm most shocked by. "This can't be who's in charge. She looks way too young!"

Pansy comes on. "That is absolutely true, but there is a lot more to this girl there meets the eye. This plant is one of the few remaining bottling sites that's independently owned and operated. It's almost as old as the company itself. And it's been in this girl's family all its existence, which might explain why her family is well-off."

I roll my eyes and I hear Perry groan "Sounds like we got a rich princess to deal with…"

"Appearances can be deceiving." Pansy reminds us. "She can come across as a bit of a snot, but that doesn't her bad. In fact, according to those who know her best," I hear papers scuffled, "she absolutely despises unethical business practices and unfair competition. Lying is something she really hates."

"If you absolutely have to make contact with this girl, her concern for her family and company's reputation could be your way in." Kane points out, even though I'd rather avoid coming into much contact with people in general if I can possibly help it.

"What's her name?" At this point, the whole 'spotty area' thing decides to show itself and I get fuzzouts between words.

"Eli…s…..e S….Hill…ira…..d."

"Come again? You're breaking up a bit…" Thankfully, it comes out better this time.

"Elise S. Hilliard." After that, the connection breaks up entirely and I'm left on my own. I look out from between the trees. Well, I think to myself. Ready or not, Princess, here I come.

Elise's POV

I stare at my office door, and hopefully, I'm looking very business-like while doing it. I'm probably not but it doesn't matter. My office is at the other end of our long and efficiently running machinery and one would have to hoof it across the large, warehouse-like space to get here.

Normally, I would be doing paperwork, but my mood for it was broken by a sour message I got over our fax machine this morning. I only had to see the large printing of the word 'air' before I immediately realized who it was from and what it was about.

"Aloysius O'Hare…" I growl under my breath. Aloysius O'Hare has been running my butt ragged nearly since Day One of my term as CEO of our relatively small yet very successful business. Ours is one of the few remaining Coke bottling places that hasn't been consolidated, and that's the way it's always gonna be as far as I'm concerned. Besides yours truly, O'Hare Air is our biggest competitor in terms of hiring, building space, suppliers- and speaking of suppliers, I recently got a letter from one of them telling us of new town import prices which none of us were aware of until I called City Hall and left a message. Guess who heads up City Hall?

He's just one of many who believe you are unfit. The thought makes my blood boil. It is true I'm only just twenty-one years old, I've only been in business school for a little over a year, and have taken over for my now-retired stepfather after my sister, Iris (4), wanted to pursue a writing career and take care of my now one-year-old infant nephew (5). But my father always told me that I was smart and not to let anyone say otherwise, so how would O'Hare argue with someone who graduated an all-girls' school with a 4.0 and higher?

Ooooh, I better stop thinking about business workings and all that, my thoughts inevitably lead back to him and our town's (literally) dirty secret. I shake my head to clear it because if I think about this too much longer, I'll go crazy. I lazily look over some of the paperwork I've completed. One of them is a job application from a new employee named Rod Ringo, a tannish-skinned man around my age with a slight Spanish accent (he comes from Venezuela, he said) hair that reminds me of my childhood rival's before he turned fourteen. Ringo also has this tattoo of a canoe with its paddle across it on his left (our right) arm, so it looks like he has a seaweed-coloured X on his arm.

When I reread his application, I noticed he was recommended by his former company, called L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N. At his interview, he explained it was a company that makes parts for machinery and so far, he hasn't given me any reason to doubt him.

LOVEMUFFIN, I think to myself. Either that is the greatest acronym I've ever heard of, or the person(s) heading it up are just plain loony.

…

(1) From the 1995 novel [Remake], by Connie Willis.

(2) A two-part episode of the TV series [Star Trek: The Next Generation].

(3) TV series from Canada that concluded in 2015. I only have ever seen the series finale of it, but the MC's final time travel trip was basically her jumping into the portal and falling out the other side. :D

(4) Iris is the oldest bachelorette from 'Harvest Moon: Story of Seasons', and like Elise, she will be appearing in The Princess Maker's Dr. Seuss story series. In the game, Elise mentions an older sister but I made her Iris, as they are both blondes :D

(5) The nephew in question is actually Mistel, a bachelor from the above game and the younger brother of Iris. I couldn't think of how to fit Mistel in as their brother so he's actually Elise's young nephew.