Pangaea

It’s been a few months since Amberly told me her proposition. I had decided to wait it out just to make sure it was... well, real. And to make sure she didn’t add anything as a type of catch. Although if there is one, she’ll probably wait until I decide to take the plan into action. She did have her clever moments.

Amberly’s proposition was that I stop the world again. Except this time, in order to keep the action from being reversed again, I had to prove to Darwin or Galilei that it was worth it. Meaning, the earth benefitted in some way from it. Preferably a big way to keep it in effect.

That wasn’t all of it. What also differed from last time was that I had to unfreeze all of the world’s people without any of them finding out about the earth and its own government. And if that’s not tricky enough, the rest of Amberly’s plan is skeptical, and isn’t entirely guaranteed to happen even if I do somehow get permission to stop the world again. When she told me the ultimate goal, my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

She wanted me to recreate Pangaea.

“What?” I had asked her, when I thought back to the rest of our conversation. It was the only thing I could manage, at the time, to get out. She rolled her eyes at me.

“You know, Pangaea. The vast supercontinent that once existed but doesn’t anymore. It was what all of the continents together were called,” she explained, and now it was my turn to roll my eyes.

“I know what Pangaea is, or was,” I clarified. “My reaction was out of shock. What I meant was, how is that even possible? It at one point existed, maybe, if you believe in the theory. But how can someone create it again? At the moment, the continents are drifting even farther apart as opposed to together.”

“Oh no, it existed alright,” she said. “Daddy told me about it. But it was before I was born, so I don’t know about it personally...” she trailed off. “But whatever. Anyway, the only reason the continents have drifted apart over the years is because of the world’s society as a whole. I mean, have you heard about all of the wars going on these days? It’s tragic, really, but that’s why the continents are no longer united. Or one of the reasons, anyway. The others are mainly related to global warming, but I won’t even go into those debates.”

“So basically, people would most likely riot if this happened,” I said to her. “In a huge way. And you’re saying that this could work, how?”

“Okay, so that’s one big dilemma with getting it to work,” she agreed. “But c’mon, Marley, the pros outweigh the cons. Once this is done we’re one step closer to a better society. And I haven’t even told you the best part yet.” She stopped to add the momentum. “Once the world stops again it will counteract the fact that Galilei ever erased Nick’s memory. Meaning, the more time that passes as the world is stopped, the more he’ll remember you! And if it’s stopped long enough, he’ll remember you fully, Marley.”

“What? How?” I asked her, not believing her. “Amberly, you of all people are one of the last that wants Nick and me together. How can I rely on what you just said, being real? Because honestly, I don’t there is no reason why I should believe you. And even if I did agree to your plan, there’s too much at stake. Plus there has to be something in it for you, which I’m not sure if it’s going to be a good or bad thing.”

“Aw, Marley, c’mon! Why won’t you except my help?” she asked me, in that annoying voice she used to try to sound sweet and innocent. It wasn’t working on me though.

“Um, maybe because the last time you helped me was... oh, before middle school,” I pointed out. “Seriously, do you really think I’m that dumb? You’re either making me do this out of spite you still have for me, seeing as there are a hundred ways it could go completely wrong, or there’s something in it for you. Take your pick.”

“Okay, fine. This idea would help me get props from Daddy, alright? Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“Explain,” I said to her, not exactly knowing what she meant.

“Even though it may seem like it, he can’t be in charge of the world forever. So he has to pass the position on to someone he trusts and knows is wise. Someone like me,” she said, sounding satisfied. I nearly choked on my own spit.

“Okay, I don’t exactly know if he trusts you Amberly, but you’re far from wise,” I said to her honestly. “For example, take when I first stopped the world. You were supposed to be the one keeping an eye on me, and yet, I was able to stop it without you noticing. And now your plan is to stop it again, but this time with intention? I can’t see how you are seen as more wise, or even gain more trust, in Darwin’s eyes.”

“Well, yeah, but that’s why we have to do this with the good intentions for society this time around, Marley,” she said. “Once my dad realizes that this could be beneficial to help reunite society, he’ll see how smart of a plan this was. Ergo, seeing me as more wise. The worst that could happen is the idea being rejected. Think about it.”

“Oh, I am thinking,” I said. “And what I’m thinking is that this could get more watch patrol on me than there already is. Which, I know doesn’t affect you, but it affects me. Even worse, the world could be taken from me for good for even suggesting it, seeing as Galilei or Darwin may think I’ll stop it again anyway even if they reject the idea. So yeah, Amberly, alright... I’ll think about it. But give me a few months.”

“Fine, but don’t take too long! In order for this to work we have to stop it again when you stopped the world the first time! Otherwise, it won’t work on the Nick agenda!” she said, as I started to back away from her. “And just know that the longer you take the more times you’ll see him around campus, not remembering you.”

“You think I didn’t take that into consideration?” I asked, turning back to her. “And God, Amberly, keep your voice down. Just because we’re the only ones here, doesn’t mean no one will overhear you!”

And so, that had been the predicament I was left with. If I went along with Amberly’s plan, managed to stop the world again and create Pangaea, Nick would remember me. And that fact alone had done a lot of convincing. But I still wasn’t sure if Amberly was telling the truth with that part, so if I asked for permission, I would have to ask Galilei or Darwin if that would really happen. Preferably Galilei, who I knew would be the sure fire one I would confront with the topic.

I’d have to ask Amberly to take me to her, though, or at least tell me where she was... because seeing as she had made sure I was knocked out when she transported me back here, I wasn’t able to see anything about how I got back.

“Aw, make your decision yet?” Amberly asked me when I approached her in the campus library after my last class that day. Amberly wasn’t one to study, but I overheard girls in my last class gossiping and I knew she would be here. There was apparently a new transfer that was ‘super cute and mysterious’, according to the gossip twins. He was also very serious and studious. So I knew Amberly would probably be here where he probably was.

“I need you to take me to Galilei,” I said, not directly answering her question. “Or at least tell me where she is. I need to ask her a few things before I make my decision.”

“I see, well, I’m going to have to take you. Even if I did tell you where she is, it’d be impossible for you to get there. For an average human, anyway, on your own.”

“Fine,” I agreed, as we headed out of the library. I noticed Amberly was doing it regretfully, keeping a secretive glance on the transfer student. “Amberly!”

“Oh, please. You have your love life in mind at the moment, and so do I,” she argued. I couldn’t disagree with her there. “Oh, and I love your hair by the way! You let it grow out, which is better compared to that moppy thing you had going on. Geeze... I wish my hair was able to grow that fast.”

“Amberly, focus,” I said. “Where is Galilei?”

“Where do you think she is?” she asked rhetorically, as we made our way into the closest girls’ restroom and made sure no one else was in there. “My dad’s in the South Pole. What’s the opposite of that?”

“The... North Pole,” I answered, not believing I wasn’t able to figure that out before now. It was so obvious.

“Exactly,” she stated, after making sure the room was clear. She grabbed my arm. Then there was a flash of bright light before everything went black.