[You'd think, by now, she'd be floating around like the social butterfly that she was. Chatting up anyone she finds and making new friends here and there.

Nope.

Day in and day out, she'd be working. Classes, counselling or just hiding in some secluded corner of the library with a mountain of books and some tea. Today being no different, one would find her in the library reading...fairytales. She's been reading mythology books all her life. Time for something a little different.

But she didn't really notice her Lucario fiddling with her laptop.]

Lucario, what do you think about this? Princess by day, monster by night. It's basically Lucian!

[Well, it had been about two months. When there was still no stream of words chattering at her through the library, Vianca decided it was time to try one last thing. He had said he was going to go ~find himself~, but honestly what did that even mean when it came to Wheatley? AND SO, a few flyers started to go up around FDC and campus:]





[Maybe you caught the creator hanging some of them up!]

Guys, you will NOT believe what happened to me! I don't know if anyone noticed, but I've been gone for MONTHS! MONTHS! And guess where I was all this time?

Jail. That's right. I went to jail. It turns out I never repaid the debt I racked up on my credit card since the first time I saved Angel Land and bought stuff off the black market, and the debt collectors who I didn't even know were hounding me finally nabbed me after all these years. Three decades and high interest rates did me in so bad... There were so many zeroes tacked onto that amount that I couldn't count them! Wonderful, incredible, amazing, benevolent, wise and all-the-other-good-adjectives-I-can't-think-of-right-now Lady Palutena was gracious enough to bail me out, but I'm still not a free angel yet. The debt's not completely repaid, so I have to keep shelling hearts out until I'm in the clear. That said, uhh... Does anyone know how I can get that kind of cash fast enough?

Auuugh! And now my credit score is in the pits, too! I'll never be able to buy a house, or a car, or a high-def flat-screen TV even if I wanted to! I might as well resign myself to a life of eternal bumhood...

Uh. Long story short, I'm back. I didn't miss too much, did I?

[Zelda has always been totally about Valentines Day. She does have something of a fascination with all these strange and exciting new holidays unique to Final Destination, and though some of them don't quite make sense to her (according to the relative placements of Groundhog Day and the vernal equinox, there are six more weeks of winter no matter what, shadow or not), she can totally get behind a whole day celebrating love.

So the dorms have been obnoxiously decorated with her usual Valentine decorations. There are paper hearts and Valentines garland. How wonderful!

Zelda's a little oblivious to the fact that some people...might...not...like...Valentines Day. She's out in the halls with a stepladder. YOU CAN HELP HER DECORATE.]

( [SUPER BACKDATED HOSPITAL ACTION.] )

[MEANWHILE IN THE MORE OR LESS PRESENT she was actually making a video post, which happened practically never. It was, however, still too cumbersome to type very well, and she had a number of things to bring up. None of which were her extended absence, which she didn't expect anyone to actually notice.]

Hello... I'd like to apologize for the disarray in the library. We are working to put it back in order as quickly as we can.

[Because it got wrecked. Wheatley has been doing the best he can, but he was Wheatley. Things were going about as well as anyone could expect.]

In order to speed this process, I would like to ask if there is anyone currently present that is skilled with robotics? My assistant's robotic chassis was... unfortunately incapacitated. It would be greatly appreciated if we could ask for your assistance in repairing it.

[She looks about as uncomfortable as someone who only linefaces could. The little girl looked down at her desk for a few moments and then she picked up a piece of paper with a crude drawing of a flower on it, holding it up to fill the whole frame.]

... I am also... searching for this flower, if anyone has seen one. There used to be a small patch of them in the forest, but that part of the forest no longer exists. I do not know where else to look... They are somewhat large, and come in different colors. I would be very grateful if anyone could point me to where they have seen one. It is... very important.

Thank you.

[Lo! Somewhere in the library is some student of Smash Academy at the public computers, making a post to the network and probably asking about homecoming dance or something. Somewhere in the library off screen there is a barking voice, obviously annoyed and sounds suspiciously like Captain Falcon.]

Keep it down with your stupid video diary, I'm trying to think!

[S-Sorry, coach! The kid says, then goes on to timidly explain that it's not a video diary, but a post to the school's network! The kid looks back at the recording video apologetically while "coach" can be heard muttering off-screen.]

Network? For the school? So everyone can see what you're doing right now?

[...Yeah? This appears to have sealed the nameless student's fate, and suddenly there is the torso of a man in bright red spandex with ridiculous thighs behind him. The kid is grabbed by the scruff of his shirt collar and violently thrown clear across the room into a bookshelf. The shelf teeters backwards then falls into the next shelf behind it, and then the one behind it, and it's a magnificent domino effect to which does not seem to concern him. If anything he seems proud of the fact there are now books are everywhere and the kid probably has a word concussion. Red spandex coach-sound-alike sits down in front of the computer. He is also a coach-look-alike! Only EVIL LOOKING. It's probably skull on his helmet and the spikes on his shoulder pauldron. Or maybe Falcon is going through some midlife crisis and felt like a wardrobe change and got lost in a Hot Topic. Or it's some crazy clone.]

Hi. [Either way, this coach also has fangs, which are easily seen the moment he starts speaking.]

I know you're here. I saw the your shitmobile in the parking lot. Or, you know, was in the parking lot. [He grins. It's an awful fang-filled kind of grin. WHAT DID HE DO... HE DID SOMETHING BAD.] And the big floating hand said so. I'm going to find you eventually, so why don't you make this easy and come out of hiding. I'm not going anywhere until then!

( And lo, a little red guy with clown shoes descended from the heavens... )


[There's a new video on the Network.

The first twenty five seconds of it are some kind of black, triangular nose on the end of a peachy colored snout. It moves around and the microphone stutters and wheezes and whoever this nose belongs to can be heard muttering something unintelligible.

Then, a violet eye stares into the feed, blinks several times with a big, red eyelid. Then he draws back so you can see his Echidna-ey face in its full glory.]

First off, I ain't wearing this uniform thing. I was hatched with fur. It's good enough for me, it should be good enough for you.

Uh... anyway. I'm Knuckles. Knuckles the Echidna.

Hmmm...

[He's sort of run out of things to say. He has questions, but he's not really used to talking to a computer. He's used to smashing them to gain extra lives and shields and stuff.]

Anyone know anythin' about the Floating Island above this school? It's kinda important. If you've got info on it, I'd like to know.

So. Thanks in advance.

[You are now treated to over a minute of closeup footage of his white-swooshed chest as he tries to figure out how to turn the computer off.]

( [Vianca was lost.] )
---

[and lo, a text post appeared at some point on the network. She had vain hopes, that one.]

If anyone sees the nurse, Rhys, it would be appreciated if you could inform him that Vianca is looking for him.

Thank you.

... Remain safe while odd things are about.

[What audio feed doesn't show is his unamused expression, and one that's probably been seen many times before. (So it means no one would be missing anything.) He hasn't forgotten the past or how he's spoken to the network previously. At the same time, the developments in his life aren't ones he wants to fully share. There are some things he wants to keep to himself. At least for the time being.

And even when he's ready to start sharing that kind of information, he wants it to only be for certain people. So he settles for speaking only. What a surprise it will be for his students. Provided they even knew him before.]

I will be occupying the fencing class as its instructor once your summer comes to its end. Students who choose to enroll are expected to show up punctually. If you choose to be tardy, I choose to dismiss you by force.

[Yet it's summer now, which means mostly classes are likely a moot point.]

In spite of your momentary reprieve from your tutelage, the fencing floor will remain open for training. You will also find my personal quarters for tutoring in TD-18. Prior notice would be appreciated, rather than your visit going unannounced.

[Vianca did not do very much of the gifty thing. She did not expect any, and rarely gave them out to people who were not her Sisters, but since those were very lacking... The people she talked to most.]

Rhys - A nice set of the Harry Potter books.
Wheatley - A pin tied to one of his handlebars.
Knuckles - A thank you card.

A couple of thick, dusty books were left outside of Blue's door.

And also Small letters to everyone of importance no longer at the academy, though whether they were sent depended on if she had their address.

[Hoo boy, has Mary ever had a lot on her mind since the whole dramaballs thing. Being literally tossed aside by someone you thought you could trust really does put a spin on your perspective. Here she is now, gaze downcast, looking like she's thinking hard about what she wants to say. But also looking like she's hoping being on the extra cute and vulnerable side might help make this easier.]

Um... Hey, everyone...

I had to think a lot about this. For a really long time, too! But I think I finally know what I have to do. And that's apologize.

Seth did a lot of bad things, and that fat guy too, and people are mad at them... But I did bad things too and I think people got mad at me for them. Even when they said I should stop I kept doing it because Seth told me to, and friends listen to each other... I... thought he was my friend. He wasn't.

So I'm... sorry. I'm really, really sorry! To Ai and Vianca and Red a...and Garry. And everyone.

I don't want to be bad, so... I'm going to try to be good, and then nobody can even be mad at me. and we can all be friends. Real ones. Okay?

[Anyone around the school today might be graced with the odd sight of a young girl, a student judging by the uniform, crouched at varying points around the building, and very intently scratching little geometric triangle patterns into the walls. Every once in a while, she references a notebook she's carrying with her, and a map of the school with strategic points marked in pen.

In the places she's already gotten to, those weird triangle designs appear to be faintly glowing blue.]

---

[Later, the same girl appears in a new video post on the network, waving at the screen with a nervous smile.]

Hi, um. I'm Carter, I'm a new student?

Anyways, I'm sorry to anyone I might have run into or weirded out earlier? I know what it looks like, but I wasn't actually drawing on walls or anything. Well, I was, but it wasn't graffiti or anything, I was trying to put up wards! Er, protection. For the school. They're probably not as good as what my old school had, but the people who put those up were way better at magic than I am, heh. Anyway, if you could, just, try not to take them down? Please? It's really pretty important.

[She pauses, waiting for that to sink in before she starts talking again.]

Oh, and hey, can I ask someone what happened in this city? I'm not even talking about how messed up it seems right now, though if someone could tell me about that? I'd definitely want to know. It's just, this place is setting off so many pings, I think even the bees are getting confused. They're definitely making less sense than usual, and honestly? I didn't even think that was possible.

( [Circumstances.] )

[Hey look it's the tiny librarian that has made herself incredibly scarce recently. She doesn't look happy, but when has she ever looked happy? More so, she seemed a bit… sad. Those that knew her knew she was very quiet, but she was speaking up now.]

Hello. I will be brief, as I will not say anything good.

Some of you may know Mary. Some may not. She hurt my sister. She ripped off her petals. She assaulted me. She took some of mine. I do not know if you know what that means. I do not know if you know what it means to destroy a petal. It is not good. It hurts. Mary told me to be quiet, but I will not.

I know some of you have flowers of your own. Please take care of them. Please be wary.

Thank you.

vianca my screens buluryy

key board too

What doe

¯\_(°◇°;)_/¯

[The first thing the video shows, is a chest-to-knees view of a pacing body in a white labcoat, flipping some sort of object in his hands as he does. He stops, and that's when the object comes into view.]

[It's a... red-handled crowbar? It's quickly hung on a belt loop and the owner settles into the chair, a brown-haired man with a beard and thick black-rimmed glasses. He fidgets awkwardly for a moment and finally--]

...Evening. M' name is Doctor Gordon Freeman. I'm now the new physics instructor here at Smash Academy. Should you need to contact me for scheduling or anything else, you can do it by this number or you can see me in my... ugh, office. I'll be there or in the library all day.

[Action]

[True to his word, the first thing he does after shoving the old textbooks out of that broom closet they call an office he heads for the library... he's got some research to do. Places to go, portals to build.]

[The clip begins with Pit scrambling away from the desk like he's trying to run away or something. The little white office chair rolls away upon impact. Turns out he's just setting it up so he's standing presentably in front of his webcam.]

Good morning, everyone! Nice breeze today, huh? It is I, Pit! And I have returned from a great absence! [He said those last two sentences with a booming audacity, like he had turned into a narrator briefly.] Remember me? [He's waving like a loony.] I sure hope so.

Anyway! Oh wow, it's been a hectic past few years for me. Where do I start? I was faced with a bunch of old foes again, met a bunch of new ones, got thrown into the middle of a huge war, and I'm talking HUGE! Take a lesson from me and never get stuck in the middle of a skirmish when there's a bunch of ornery gods involved. Uhh, let's see, I... oh hey, I went to space! That's gotta count for an experience. I got turned into a ring for three years, not to... mention other things, watched Angel Land go to the pits-- hah, no pun intended! Saved Lady Palutena from the Chaos Kin, and all around kicked butt. Lots of butts. The sheer number of clobbered butts would shock and amaze you. And boy, were they ugly!

But I saved Angel Land all over again, and it should be pretty peaceful now. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here! That's right, you heard me! I'm gonna be taking classes all over again! Isn't that great? I missed this place sooo much. And I missed you guys! I'm ready to leap out my dorm window and run out and hug every last one of you. Even the jerks I don't wanna hug so much!

But I'm warning you! I've been charging these arms for 30 years. It's gonna be a tight squeeze.

[He stands there for a moment, pondering what the heck else to say, before he shrugs and calls it good.] Okay, that's enough for now I think. I'm gonna shut this video off. [He comes back over and searches his keyboard for the right button, then clicks it off, but not before whispering a dramatic "goodbye...".]