Home Again

Super Villain Island Part 1

A hero will arrive from another world;

They will travel with whom they are connected to over islands.

The hero will make many friends; some unexpected.

On an island where villains are caught, the hero and their friends will decide:

To save their world or watch it die.

Those were the words that woke me up early in the morning. Panic washed over my body like a current. I felt sweat drench my forehead. I leaned back in my white bed, my pale blonde hair roughly spread out. For the entirety of the hero business, I'd been mostly confused. What did it mean? What was going to happen? Now I felt a stab of fear. This prophecy could end the entire world, or save it. And by the prophecy, I meant me. Or Louisa?

"Alice?" Mom's voice. Relief flooded through my body. I sat up. Mom entered the room, bags under her eyes. She seemed to have been worrying as well. "This... this... island. This is the one... that god will be on, right?"

"Yeah..." I replied, biting my lip. Mom put her hands on my shoulders.

"D-don't die, Alice..." she sobbed. She smiled gently. "But I believe in you. I know your father would have... 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. "Never."

"Well," I sighed as we landed on the oil rig that is Super Villain Island. "Here we are. Your favourite island." Fierce Fox flinched a little at that. I guessed it was because of the prophecy business.

"Nice day for saving the world, huh?" she asked, shrugging at me. I chewed my lip as a response. The oil rig's a few layers, with barrels of oil hanging from rope. The sky is a beautiful blue, though I could hear the echoes of storms in the distance. Silt-covered cranes hold up the many platforms.

"Don't die, Alice." Mom's voice echoed in my head. I gulped.

"This way," I led Fierce Fox up the platforms and into the pale green, dirty control room. It's much less interesting than the one on Lunar Colony. There's only one computer, and the room's much dirtier and scruffier. A woman wearing sunglasses and a helmet was frowning over something. And I knew exactly what she was frowning over.

She sighed. "What is he planning now? That 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? Previous volunteers never came 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. We exited the small room and came to the cool, crisp environment that is outside. A loud engine sounded above our heads. It was a sleek, white and navy blue helicopter, with lighting designs. It parked on the roof, 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. She flexed her muscles. "I betcha Dorkarama can't stand against this!"

I pouted. "I hope."