[When the video comes on, Ema looks rather... intense, glasses pulled down, staring at the camera seriously.]

I'm here to talk to you guys about something very serious: science club!

I haven't been able to find out about one already established, but if it exists, I don't want to step on any toes, so you guys should contact me! But if there's not one, I'm here to make one!

[And now she looks less intense and more cocky.]

I've talked to a lot of people at this school who love science, like me! There's got to be enough of us to start a club. Any kind of science is welcome! Chemistry, physics, astrology... [Astrology isn't a science, Ema.]

If you're interested in science, you should join! I'm working on finding us a club room, and I've been looking on the internet for experiments and stuff we can do! It'll be fun! First meeting Friday at four PM. See you there!

[She starts to turn off the video, and then something important occurs to her.]

Oh right, I'm Ema Skye, scientific investigator! Nice to meet you!

[And now she turns the video off.]

[Bip! It's that angel kid you see around sometimes. The one who never takes those leaves out of his hair. He looks a little uncertain about what he has to say, but also keyed up, like he really wants to let loose on his info.]

Soooo... yeah. Yarne's entry sort of reminded me about what happened about a month ago. It's been on my mind, but I think now's the time to let it out of the closet. Or in this case, the basement. Or the bunkers.

You know the bunkers, right? They were used in the Aparoid War I wasn't a part of. Well, deep beneath them is a series of mysterious tunnels with all kinds of weird stuff in them- 'ghosts', Redeads, booby traps, you name it! But me and a few other investigators explored the tunnels a bit and found something pretty weird. They were statues of our friends! And they were so lifelike I thought maybe they were turned to stone. I saw Knuckles down there, and [HE'S BREAKING OUT THE COUNTY FINGERS!!] Midna, and Fox and Bowser Junior and Lucas and Snake and... even me, or so I thought. Actually, it was just Pittoo- he's kind of like my dark and grumpy doppelganger but not. It's a long story! Anyway, there were too many to name in one post, but it was creepy with a capital C. We're not sure what they were for, and maybe that's the creepy part. Also because- hello? They're statues of our friends! And there were a lot, all in amazing detail. Whoever made them had talent coming out of their ears.

Yeah, Hifumi sure wasn't kidding. There were a lot of statues down there. I-I mean! Figurines! Man, I still don't know the difference. Sorry for my ignorance.

[VIDEO]

[A girl with a long purple ponytail, who seemed to be dressed like some kind of Arabian dancer, poked at her camera when it flicked on. Clearly she had never seen a computer before in her life, and she was none too enthused about it either.]

Great... what am I supposed to do with this thing? Hey, how'd my picture get on there?! [She delivers a few sharp whacks to her computer monitor, making the webcam shake. Suddenly she leans in really close, staring directly into the camera.] Is that like an eyeball for this thing? That better be able to close! What the heck did I press again...

[She starts pressing buttons. Then yanking at cords. Eventually she manages to unplug the computer and the feed cuts out.]

[ACTION]

[Having gotten sick and tired of trying to figure out that computer monstrosity, Shantae decided to go do what she did best. Talk to every NPC. Explore the campus and see who she met along the way. She definitely looked a might out of place, that's for sure. And she had no idea where anything was yet. So this was probably not the best idea she ever had.]

Hey guys! So, classes are starting up in a week or so. I'm curious: what classes has everyone signed up for?

I'll start off, I guess: so far I've got second semesters of autoshop and biomechanical engineering, as well as archeology, computer programming and physics.

Anyone taking any of those? Maybe I'll see you in class!

So, guys! Looks like the school year's comin' up! Everyone ready? Feels weird now that I get to say that, graduatin' and all.

Still feels weird but I'm gonna get used to it. Especially now since I actually signed up for college classes!

Do ya believe they got so many things to choose from? I couldn't even decide at first! But to take the real cool soundin' classes like "Neurophysics", ya gotta take normal physics n' stuff.

But hey while we're on the subject of goin' back to school, Boxin' Club members!

I ain't got around to askin' this durin' practice so I guess I'll talk 'bout it here.

You guys get to make up your own stage name! I got some info that Capcom High n' stuff started doin' a thing too! Y'know what that means? We get to have real matches with rival schools! So we get to show our stuff, and if ya want you can give 'em a name that people will remember for the rest of their lives!

So hit me, whatcha guys got!

Hey guys. Two things.

First thing! Whoever put up all those Anti-Eggman fliers in town? You are awesome. I'm not even kidding - Whoever you are? I'ma buy you lunch. You are a friend to every sane person in this city and I salute you.

Second Thing! I'm lookin' to take some folks to my Island next weekend for a couple days. Most years I invite some friends over there and we have a little get together and folks run around and go nuts in all the different places my Island has to go nuts in. I'm gonna make the invite a little more open this year - If a weekend on an Island sounds like somethin' you wanna do and you can promise not to leave the place in a mess or be a jerk? Drop me a line and let me know.

I think that covers it.

[Action, dorms.]

After returning back to her dorm after a long day at the workshop, Lucca couldn't wait to enjoy some of those sweets she'd bought at the bake sale, along with some tea. Which she did, poffins included (even though she learned at school later that afternoon that they're actually meant for pokemon. Whatever, they were tasty.)

Then she had more tea.

And more. And then some water. Into the second full gallon of fluids and still feeling parched, she'd started to get worried. Full-on panic didn't set in until the pain did. Burning, throbbing, the feeling of cells tearing themselves apart and new ones growing between them in record time. Poor Chiyo will probably find her the bathroom door locked and shower running, but the sound of runnig water won't do much to obscure the, sobbing and pain-filled wimpers.

[Audio, next day, early afternoon.]

Ah... Hi, this is Lucca. Sorry, but I won't be leaving my room for a while. I've... come down with something, rrbt. Don't worry, I'll be fine, just... don't try to come up here. It's, ah, contagious. Yeah. So whatever you do, don't come and look for me. It's rrbt, for your own good!

Well, seems like Prom did what it needed to do, eh? With all the grad stuff I hadta to, seemed like forever since I made a post on the network.

Feels pretty good.

[So what WERE you doing here, Mac?]

I guess aside from the WVBA stuff, I guess...You get to that feelin' of what ya wanna do now.

So I guess I wanna hear the public opinion on somethin'.

Y'guys up for an official boxin' class? Or maybe a Boxin' Club?

Anyone like a sub teacher?

[Sounded like you're just itching to do too many things Mac.]

[R.O.B. hadn't been seen around the academy, not since his encounter with Copy X. But contrary to popular belief, R.O.B. wasn't dead. However, once he had regained consciousness, mind floating about inside Naoya's computer, he learned the reality of what happened after his unfortunate battle against Copy X...]

I have failed.

They are all gone.

Everything is gone.

I have... no purpose.

Attention, Smash Academy! As you certainly are all aware, I am Dr. Ivo Robotnik, the GREATEST SCIENTIFIC GENIUS IN THE WORLD!! And I have a few announcements to make!

In light of recent events, I've put forth, shall we say, a PETITION with the mayor's office. Mayor Tabuu and I discussed the matter at GREAT LENGTH, and I offered my services to quell this uprising. Mayor Tabuu recognized my genius, and has CONTRACTED ME TO ORGANIZE AND OPERATE THE CITY'S SECURITY FORCES!

No longer will this little racial spat be allowed to harm ANYONE ELSE! Therefore, effective immediately, and by the power invested in me by Mayor Tabuu, THIS CITY IS UNDER MARTIAL LAW, BY ORDER OF THE EGGMAN EMPIRE!!

And with this new state of martial law, the following rules are now in effect!

1. A CURFEW OF 10:00 PM IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL CITIZENS. ANYONE OUT PAST THIS TIME WILL BE SUBJECT TO DETENTION!!
2. RALLIES OR ASSEMBLIES OF ANY KIND WILL BE DEALT WITH BY IMMEDIATE ARREST AND DETENTION!!
3. RACIALLY MOTIVATED CRIMES WILL BE PUNISHABLE BY IMMEDIATE ARREST AND DETENTION!!
4. RACIST SPEECH WILL BE IMMEDIATELY PUNISHED.
5. MY ROBOTS WILL BE PATROLLING THE CITY. ALL CITIZENS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT FOR INSPECTION WHEN INSTRUCTED. IF YOU DO NOT COOPERATE YOU WILL BE ARRESTED AND DETAINED.

Worry not, Smash Academy! Final Destination City is now in the VERY CAPABLE HANDS of ME and my LEGION OF ROBOTS!!!

OHOHOHOHOHO!!!

[There is Blue. Blue is on the video. She has her chin in her hands sitting in front of a bed, and its really obvious she's not in her usual room. The bed is super messy and there are chew toys and bones balancing off the side. What.

Yeah she was still in Jock's room, don't freak out, Blaze. SHE... PROBABLY TOLD YOU...

Probably she could touch on some of the more serious current events, but she can only take so much thinking on those on her own before the desire to talk about something more uplifting took over.]

Graduation is coming up, isn't it? How many are you are graduating? Do you have plans yet? It must be really exciting to be hitting that milestone!

I think I saw something about a dance too...? Is that right? I thought those sorts of things were usually separate!

It's some crazy crap out there. We all know that. If you need to be gettin' anywhere, I'll be doing free trips out from campus. Just let me know, and I'll get you there. You might see a lot more of the Highwind in the skies, try not to let it bother ya none.

Stops in the city are possible, but at your own risk. She can only take so much at each hot zone.

( The Action Part - Hi, there's a picture under here. )

---

[Video]

[She sits at her desk, chin in the palm of her left hand. Giving a light wiggle of her fingers, she smiles a mite.]

Greetings, beloved academy.

I know some of us have gone home for the holidays, but I was thinking with the new year approaching, we should spend it together, right? We're like a family, after all, as sentimental as that might sound.

I want to put together a gathering. Not so much a party, as I know we've got one today in commemoration of Christmas. So to prevent tiring people out, I thought perhaps something simple. Like a potluck! If you want to bring something from your home to share with us, I think that would be sweet. And I'd provide some yummy things to eat, too.

If this is something you guys would like, I'll be happy to arrange everything.

Hang on, there's gotta be--oh there it goes!

[The feed blinks on and shows a teenage girl with short purple-brownish hair. Or is it brownish-purple? Her small frame is barely discernible under the baggy clothes, steampunk-zepplin helmet and HUGE glasses. We're talking really big here. See-through-walls big.]

Hello, Smash Academy! My name is Lucca Ashtear, inventor and robotologist extraordinaire! I'm a new student here! I couldn't pass up the chance to garner new insights on the science and technology of other worlds!

It... looks like you're in the middle of a winter festival of some sort, judging by the decorated trees and fake snow everywhere. Well, I couldn't pick a better time to show up... oh!

[She consults a paper with a rustle and a quick downward glance.] By the way, uhm, Ondrea? I'm your new roommate! [She scratches the back of her head, jostling the helmet slightly.] I'd like to get to know you before I just, you know... wander in and start moving furniture around. That'd be a little awkward.