𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 [𝙽𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚡 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚕𝚎𝚢]

4

-%-%-%-%-

THE END IS NEVER THE END IS NEVER THE END

-%-%-%-%-

It was cold. It was so cold. The air was so stale. If The Player weren't here, he'd curl up in a ball and bawl his fucking eyes out under his desk.

But there was no time to deal with his exhaustion, his blaring headache, and his dry throat.

The Player walked through the halls again.

A door read "New New Content".

The Player walked through the door.

And oh, how Stanley missed that voice.

"Oh good, you noticed my sign. Yes, I have something very exciting to show you!" The Narrator sounded tired, but ten times less tired than how Stanley felt.

He should keep track of how many times he would cry if The Player weren't here.

"You see Stanley, I've been reflecting on the Stanley Parable, and about how roundly disappointing this Ultra Deluxe version has turned out to be."

Stanley hung onto every spoken word as if it were a lifeline.

"The original Stanley Parable was a landmark, and any new content for it should live up to that legacy. So forget this Ultra Deluxe nonsense! I say we take it one step further."

Would it please just shut up about the game?! Were they not going to mention what just happened?

But it couldn't hear Stanley.

It never could.

At least it was there.

"Which is why, I'm very proud to announce, for the first time ever... The Stanley Parable 2!" It spoke. At least it was happy. The Player seemed content with this content.

It took The Player through a convention-like, blinding white, and spoke of how it (admittedly very justly) fixed the developer's shitty update.

Stanley didn't really care; he just wanted to take a break.

And thank fuck one came; The Player finally left.

And Stanley fell to the floor, facefirst.

"Oh, dear- Stanley? Are you alright? What's going on?" Well, it was good to know that The Narrator cared.

How did The Narrator expect Stanley to give any sort of answer?

Stanley tried, with incredibly shaky limbs, tried to push himself into an upright position.

Everything was so stiff and aching; the activities of The Player did not help his pain.

He barely managed it, but he was able to sit up, pulling his legs close to his chest.

"Errm- Maybe we should reset. If you get to the meeting room, maybe we could discuss what's going on." It suggested, bringing that black screen Stanley missed so badly.

-%-%-%-%-

THE END IS NEVER THE END IS NEVER THE END

-%-%-%-%-

"But as he came to his wits and regained his senses, he got up from his desk and stepped out of his office." The Narrator gave again.

Never before had Stanley disobeyed so early on, save for the time The Player had closed the door and stayed in the room the entire time. But Stanley himself had never done this, and this was even earlier on than that.