[Wakino+] New Game+

Several months have passed since the crew split up, a longer period of time than their whole adventure even lasted in the first place. It's strange to think about. Between League funding, various loans Jennifer assisted in obtaining with amazing interest rates, and even a sizable donation from an anonymous Phantasia, progress on the development of both Melanie's gym and school ticks away at a ridiculous pace. While "Galia" never had a place in this revised world, Razor Crags was still host to a similar occult-obsessed faction of Aether. However, without the intrusion of the extradimensional prodigy, the group was not nearly so much of a threat and left far fewer victims in its wake. Melanie couldn't help but dislike the fact that the diminished suffering left her without an established population of people in need of help.

Given the location of the cult headquarters, location wasn't much of an issue: there isn't much interest in gloomy, unoccupied warehouses in such a remote place as the Crags. While the same building was used in both iterations of the world, the cult in this new one did not have the same passion for industry and expansion, leaving a rather simplistic space behind. Mel opted to use this building as the main site for the school, with clear inspirations from Galia's base, albeit with a much more dignified and intriguing stylistic flair at Phantasia's insistence. Several other structures in the area were also purchased, paving the way for a proper and accommodating campus as well as the gym itself.

Melanie stands in the entryway of the main building with a scowl. The cacophony of construction and renovation drills into her skull. Before her is a grand staircase, which leads to a second floor as well as an extravagant assembly hall. Those few who remember the previous reality would likely note the familiarity of the melancholic view of the forest from the assembly hall. Melanie ascends the stairs and veers right, entering a nondescript door leading to a small, simple bedroom. Almost immediately, she breathes a sigh of relief and jumps onto an incredibly soft bed bearing her pseudotrademark green coloring. Just as swiftly, her eyes well up with tears and she curls up while clutching the sheets. "Stupid Knoxy..." She mumbles to herself. "...and stupid Loonie."

Her time apart from Luna had taken a heavy toll on both her emotional well-being and self-confidence. When Knox was around, and he usually was, she was able to manage...albeit with periodic rants and a healthy amount of carnal attention. But when he was away, typically to help his old crew mates settle into civilian life, she struggled. Even if she was substantially stronger than she had ever been before, she was still dealing with several new kinds of stress than she was used to, chief among them being the increased social presence accompanying her introduction into the League. Now add on to ALL of that some ridiculous argument she dragged Knox into over some irrelevant matter he's probably already forgotten about, and you've got volatile melons.

She wraps the green bed sheet around herself. Even if it never really gets cold enough in Wakino to warrant it, it still gives her great comfort. "...and stupid, stupid, stupid Melanie...well, both of us." She has no idea why she misses the sadistic megalomaniac. Her goals were reprehensible, she endangered Mel, her family, and her friends, and their paths should never have crossed in the first place. But she can't help but feel like she lost a...sibling...or something like it. Fighting so many various copies and iterations of yourself just gets...confusing. She starts to reflect on the differences between this world and their original altered world, as well as the implications of Ululane's separation and integration into the pantheon, but at some point she nods off completely.

Some time later, she wakes up in a state of confusion. After the fog clears, she realizes how dark it's gotten and the sounds of construction have silenced. She recalls her original reason for coming was to check in on the progress of the gym. Cautiously, Melanie gets up and walks out the door, exits the building, and strolls across the campus to the building that will be housing the gym. As she approaches, she's briefly gripped with a sense of horror as she notices a pale shape coming her way. "Hey! Long time no see~!" Eliza chirps. Mel stares for a second longer "...oh...u-uh, t-that is, I m-mean, hey." Melanie mumbles. "Why are you here?...uh, not like I d-don't want you to be, b-but like, t-this isn't Conch, an-" She's cheerfully interrupted by Eliza. "Calm down~! Deep breaths~! Just as cute and crazy as ever~!" She teases. "Rhenea figured you could use some help with the gym, since it can definitely be pretty daunting when you don't have anyone else enlisted yet. So, basically, I guess I'm on loan?" Eliza's smile is met with a blank stare from Melanie which quickly progresses into joyful tears and a vice-like hug. "R-Really?! OHMYGODTHANKYOUFUCK! It's j-just, I don't know m-many ghost trainers, or how b-badly to beat people up, a-and I haven't r-raised some w-weaker pokemon for people with f-few badges, an- well, too many details, we can cover those later...I should...t-treat you to dinner, r-right? I-Is that normal? A-Are you hungry?" With an amused nod from Eliza, the two wander off into town. Melanie can't help but recall how welcome Eliza made her feel in Wakino on her first day, and a faint smile crosses her lips.

It's...it's not really so bad, she thinks to herself.