Home Again

Galatic Hot Dogs

"I can't believe it," Marcus said, observing my leg. "It's all fixed?"

"Yep," I replied, giving him a grin. Euphoria flowed through me. "No need for that stupid crutch anymore - I'm finally free." My voice was full of the stuff. I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't. After so long, and it was fixed like that. I could run free. I ran past the lockers, brushing my hand against the metal doors like a young child. That was what I felt like - young again. Young and free.

"Slow down!" Marcus called, racing after me. "Hey, maybe I should enter Poptropica and get my own wish! I'd wish to enter the MLP world as my OC, Black Lightning." He showed me a picture of his pegasus pony character. "That would rock!"

"Yes," I said. I grinned. I couldn't stop grinning. It was like part of past me had returned at last. The past me that had been crushed so long ago. I was at lost for words.

"You're super dreamy, smarty-mouth," Marcus teased. He adjusted that jacket he always wore. "You're a freaking weirdo. I mean, who else enters computer games?" He laughed. "But seriously, I'm glad I saw you playing Poptropica that one day."

"Me too." I said, still smiling. My toes were tingling.

"You've gotten a lot more confident," Marcus told me. "I'm not one of you sympathetic girls - but even I can see that. Good on you, man."

"Thanks," I replied. My lip quivered. "You're the best, Marcus. I've known Fierce Fox longer yet... I bond with you better. And it's not just you. It's weird. My relationship with Fierce Fox is strained but with my other friends... it's..."

"Don't worry about it," Marcus told me. "My mom said it's good to have a variety of friends. And mothers always know, right?"

"Yeah." I replied. Then I hugged him. He hugged me back. Friendship is something that costs no money whatsoever, yet it's a lot more valuable than riches. Cheesy as that sounds, it's true. You really realize it when you're with people you care about. Trust me on that one.

Galactic Hot Dogs Island, unfortunately, is not my favourite island. I don't mind the advertisement islands too much, but Galactic Hot Dogs is a bit too obnoxious for my tastes. Oh well. Poptropica is Poptropica.

Fierce Fox and I landed in front of a yellow spaceship. I noticed a pale brown banjo was over her shoulder. I guess she must've enjoyed playing the banjo quite a lot, ever since she became the best player for such instrument. Anyway, we approached Humphrey - who is a large, green Poptropican wearing a white shirt and jeans with a strap over his shoulder. He's not exactly human - he's more like an anthropomorphic alien or monster type of thing. He told us he was entering a food competition with his best friend (and captain of the ship), Cosmoe. They were cooking a 'mega-dog'. Like I said, obnoxious.

Fierce Fox and I entered the spaceship and spoke to Cosmoe, who looks a lot more human than Humphrey. He has tan skin and blonde hair that sticks out like a sword. He is wearing an orange jacket, jean shorts, and a white underlayer. We spoke to him. He needed nuclear power to cook his mega-dog. Not exactly safe, Cosmoe. Best part, he made us get it. There's a lot of ways to die in Poptropica, but I didn't really want exposure to nuclear energy to be one of them. Oh well, it didn't happen anyway. You guessed it, Poptropican physics.

Fierce Fox and I headed through Funketown (the name of the place where we had landed) which is a sci-fi inspired city. Pretty much everything is shiny metal and there are lots of aliens roaming around. Thankfully I happen to quite enjoy science-fiction. Fierce Fox and I got to the arena, where the food competition was happening. There was a row of food trucks, all serving various food. Two people were standing near the entrance.

"For the last time, you were born evil and I don't know what kind of a horrible mother I'd be if I didn't raise you to be evil!" the evil queen yelled at her daughter, Princess Dagger.