You know, Planet, I don't think I ever mentioned how I got you back. I mean, I'm still in this void, and I never got to return to find you.
I didn't. Arianna just poofed me up a replacement, which is what I'm using now. It feels kinda weird, not using the real one, but a book's a book. As far as she knows, I'm just using you to record important information. Which is kinda true.
Kinda.
As it turns out, Rose had her phone this whole time. While we were talking to Seafoam, she had wandered off, and someone had called her. It was only after Zavier'd shut down his phone that we heard her screaming into the phone.
"WE! DON'T! NEED! A PROTOCOL TO EXPEL KIDS!" -Rose
"Um, Rose? Who-" -Scarlette
Ignoring her, Rose continued to shout at whoever she was calling, pacing around as she did so.
"Get the students evacuated, then! I don't freaking care if they're 'in the middle of lessons'. What matters more, their lives or their education? Even the principal managed to figure this out, and you, the security guard, did nothing?" -Rose
"Trouble in the school, I assume." -Arianna
"What's 'assume' mean?" -Fatin
I'd almost forgotten she was there. Stunned, I stared at Fatin for a few moments, before turning back to Rose. She hung up, apparently not having noticed us. When she did see us, she sighed, blushing slightly.
"... How long have you been standing there?" -Rose
"Most of the call." -Khairul
"Damn." -Rose
*gasp* "You can't curse!" -Fatin
"That barely counts as c-" -Zavier
"Fine, then. No cursing." -Rose
She paused, then turned to Zavier.
"Moving on from that, Zavier, text Seafoam or whoever else you know in the school. I don't care." -Rose
"Wh-" -Zavier
"Just do it." -
Nike Rose
Zavier furrowed his eyebrows, then whipped out his tablet, typing something in. I leaned over his shoulder to see what he was typing, while Arianna rolled her eyes.
"We can't spend all our time just socialising. We have far more important matters at paw. Kris will surely have recovered from any fatigue or injuries he may have suffered, and..." -Arianna
She continued talking, her words fading out of my line of hearing. Static filled most of the screen at first, but it began to fade, showing an image of Seafoam. He was sitting in a chair, staring at the screen with his arms crossed on the table. A familiar voice called out to him from offscreen - Elven? I couldn't make out what she was saying, though.
Narrowing her eyes, Rose snatched the tablet away from him. Though Zavier seethed with annoyance, he said nothing, apparently sensing that this wasn't the best time to protest.
"Seafoam. What are you still doing in school?" -Rose
"Am I not supposed to be?" -Seafoam
"From what I've been told, you were specifically told to get out." -Rose
"Um, wait now. What's happening here?" -Zavier
"... It's a long story." -Seafoam
"We have plenty of time." -Rose
"No, we don't." -Arianna
"We do now." -Rose
"Great, 'cause I was just about to tell it to you!" -Cardi
The screen switched to her grinning face, hair falling over an eye. Without another word, she launched into a long explanation.
"See, the principal told us about this weird guy who tried to take over the school and then a bunch of epic heroes tried to stop him but then the guy ran away back to his hellish home and the heroes followed him and then they died so they sacrificed their lives for the school-" -Cardi
"... Talk about misinformation." -Rose
"Should that not be disinformation? The principal was there, after all." -Khairul
"Yeah, but she wouldn't know much about what's happening. Didn't she run away or something?" -Rose
"I do not believe so. We-" -Khairul
"Um, guys? This isn't the time to argue. I'm pretty sure the Jocks headquarters has an outlet to charge my laptop, but it's really not the time to be talking. I think Rose already knows, but there's... kind of been a... um..." -Seafoam
"Huge, honking disturbance." -Phoenix
"How huge?" -Me
"Well, some dude came along. I think he's looking for somebody - he mentioned a Kris." -Phoenix
"The police?" -Fatin
"... Unless the police are a lot more brutal than I've been informed, no." -Phoenix
"Well?" -Zavier
"This guy's been mentioning something about portals and blah blah blah. I'm not sure, actually - he's mostly been whispering to himself, so Phoenix and I eavesdrop. But more importantly, he kinda sorta trapped us in the Jocks HQ." -Cardi
"Wait, Jocks? Why?" -Zavier
"Because they're fabulous?" -Cardi
"... I am quite fabulous." -Seafoam
"I, um, think it might have been because we were always here. I don't think he wanted to trap us, but then this place is... immune... I think." -???
A quiet voice spoke from offscreen, and Cardi, who was still holding the laptop, turned around. Thankfully, this provided us with a nice view of the one who had spoken - a tiny dragon-cat thing, standing next to a tree.

She shook her head, shrinking back from the camera.
"... Maybe we can take this to text? I... don't really like cameras..." -???
"Yeah, sure. First, though, do you know the guy's name?" -Rose
"Why the question?" -Cardi
"'Cause I'm guessing we're gonna be mentioning him a lot, and I wouldn't wanna keep referring to him as 'the guy'." -Rose
"His name is Yveltal-" -Seafoam
"Wait, what?" -Arianna
Before she could say anything more, or even move from her spot, he switched off his phone. The click echoed through the dark landscape, in spite of the lack of anything to echo against. (I don't know, science here is weird.) Arianna seemed stunned, standing with her mouth agape and ears flattened.
"Um, what's up?" -Zavier
"Did I mishear, or did he mention Yveltal?" -Arianna
"Yep. Yveltal." -Zavier
"And I'm not mishearing now, am I? You said Yveltal? As in, the creature from the video game?" -Arianna
"Yes." -Zavier
"We are officially doomed." -Arianna
"How much more doomed than when we first came?" -Scarlette
"Quite. Yveltal and Kris are... partners, in a way. The latter created him, as a helper of sorts. A golem." -Arianna
"IF YOU GIVE ME ONE MORE INFO DUMP, YOU LITTLE EXPOSITION FAIRY-" -Rose
"Though they've never really liked each other, they're usually together. If they are not, then they must have some kind of sinister plan - I doubt, after all, that they would just ruin all plans on a whim." -Arianna
"... Sounds legit! I mean, Kris is basically the most chaotic person any of us have ever met, he has enough power to force his own creations to do what he wants, but yeah, I'm sure you're right." -Rose
Arianna sighed, staring at the kitten with an exasperated look.
"You don't understand, Fatin. I've known both for a long time, and they've always stuck together. Yveltal protested, sure, but he never dared disobey." -Arianna
"Wait, so he protested? Doesn't that mean he's, like, free will-ish and stuff? And he's a golem?" -Fatin
"... I have nothing to say about your grammar." -Khairul
"Me grammar's epic." -Fatin
"And yes, he does have free will. Why, exactly, I am not certain. But that's off-point. Zavier, get your friends to investigate as soon as they can. I'm getting you home, no matter what it takes." -Arianna
"Uh, how about no." -Zavier
Zavier slipped the tablet into his pocket (which is apparently really large), passing something to Scarlette as he glared at Arianna
"You won't get your schoolmates to find out what Yveltal's up to?" -Arianna
"Not that. I mean the 'getting us home' part." -Zavier
"What? Why not? You won't be doing anything, apart from returning home. To safety. You wouldn't even be anywhere near Yveltal." -Arianna
"Well, yeah I wouldn't, but I sure as-" -Zavier
"No cursing!" -Me
"-hashbrown ain't about to stand idly by while some random girl goes out and saves the world." -Zavier
"And yet, that's exactly what you will be doing." -Arianna
"Why?" -Rose
"Because that would be dangerous. And it's my responsibility to save you. Risking the lives of six weak teenagers, last I checked, wasn't part of my duties." -Arianna
"We could still help you. Not letting us help would risk the lives of an entire universe, and I get the feeling that might go against your moral beliefs." -Rose
"And what, exactly, could you do that I can't? Not that I mean offense, but you... uh..." -Arianna
"Well, could you dance ballet? Or make a thousand bad jokes in a row? Or name every one of Malaysia's MPs, starting from the nineties? Or win every chess game you play? Or strive headlong into danger without regard for your safety? Or... whatever it is Thalia does, 'cause she kinda seems pretty useless anyway." -Rose
She pointed at herself, then Zavier, then Khairul, Scarlette, Fatin, and me. Our reactions were mixed - Zavier was grumbling, Khairul seemed mildly disturbed at the fact she knew all that stuff despite only knowing us for three or so weeks, Scarlette seemed mildly flattered, and Fatin was still grinning.
Arianna raised an eyebrow at Rose, then a paw as she began to walk away. Some shiny, glittery thing fell to the floor - the same stuff the images she created earlier were made of. Fatin touched it, but instantly withdrew as if it had burned her.
"Well, no. But why would I need to?" -Arianna
"You can never be too prepared." -Rose
Arianna rolled her eyes, turning back to stare critically at us. In particular, Fatin, with her small build and ever-present grin, as well as me. I'm not exactly the most muscular of girls; in fact, I think I'm the least strong person in my class. Though she had no way of knowing that, it does kind of show in my build.
Tension seemed to hang in the air, but Rose didn't notice. Or didn't care. Marching up to Arianna, she gave her a death glare, and the two seemed to have a glaring contest before the brown-haired canine sighed, conceding.
"... Fine. And do the rest of you want to stay?" -Arianna
"Yep." -Zavier
"Of course." -Scarlette
"Yeah!" -Me
"Sounds fun!" -Fatin
"... What happens, happens. I'll come if the rest do." -Khairul
Rose grinned smugly, and Arianna sighed once again.
Arianna's not been using contractions for about half the story, but apparently, under stress, she forgets that.
Next post will, unfortunately, be delayed by a couple days.