Overtaken - a BFB/II2 fanfic (very slow updates)

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Purgatory Mansion. Usually a relatively quiet place, even with its ghostly residents. But it's seen a lot of activity today, and it's going to see even more. On the outside, it's clear that a hot air balloon has somehow crashed into the roof of the building, as the balloon's canvas is draped over a great section of the west wing. At the moment, though, everyone is inside... except for a small rock and a large device, both of which just mysteriously appeared outside the mansion's front entrance.

But that's of no interest. Let's see what the current inhabitants of the mansion are doing instead, eh?

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Baseball carefully sipped his coffee. "Thanks. I needed this, especially after being trapped for a few days."

"It's the least I could do for a fellow sports globule!" Basketball replied cheerfully. "Speaking of... how are you guys all holding up? It sounded like you guys went through a LOT in the MeCloud."

"You can say that again," muttered Balloony. "I don't often say this about others, but Cobs is a real menace. Baseball, you told the others about the story the Shimmers told us, right?"

"Yup."

Paintbrush set their teacup down on the table. "Sorry to change the subject so abruptly, but I'm still really confused about what happened to Lightbulb. I mean, that... wasn't anything like her."

"Isn't Paper friend a therapist? Maybe he knows why Lightbulb was being weird!" Grassy suggested.

Shaking her head, Basketball replied, "That's not a bad idea, Grassy, but I already looked for Paper earlier, and I couldn't find him. Or OJ, or Firey, or Rocky... makes sense why the other three might hang out together somewhere, but Rocky?" She pursed her lips. "I don't know. There's too many strange things going on."

"I'll go look for them." Paintbrush stood up. Despite their tea, which usually helped to calm them, they were still feeling restless. Marshmallow stood as well, having finished her drink, and they left the kitchen together.

"Hey," Marsh whispered to her friend in a low voice once she was sure they were out of earshot of the others. "You sure you're alright? I know Lightbulb's, what... your best friend?"

Painty shrugged. "Not sure. I'm used to her dying; she usually finds some way to get herself shattered every other week or so. Just... well, I already said so in the kitchen, but... what was she doing??"

The duo climbed the stairwell in the lobby that wasn't blocked by the balloon wreckage and started glancing in rooms as they passed by. "Not to make you worry more, but you did hear Bow say how Lightbulb might have had red eyes, or something?"

"I did, but that just makes this even more confusing. Normally, this could have just been some really weird prank gone wrong. But red eyes?" They shook their head.

"I wish I could provide theories."

They settled into a relatively comfortable silence. Paintbrush had to admit; even if the conversation topic was unsettling, it was nice to talk to Marshmallow again. They'd missed her.

End of the hallway. Marsh gently pushed open the last door there to find Fanny inside. Upon hearing the door creak open, Fanny jumped slightly and turned so that she was facing away from them. "Oh! Sorry!" Marsh apologized, already starting to close the door again. "We didn't mean to intrude-"

"It's fine," Fanny interrupted. "Actually, I hate intrusions, but you guys need to see something. Don't come any closer, though."

Painty and Marsh exchanged glances. "Uh, ok..."