Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDI 12a: Heart Racing

Another Name spent quite a bit more time floating than one would normally.

When you got past the initial shock of being kept up in the air with nothing but a balloon, some string, and a lot of gumption, it was actually a pretty relaxing and tranquil experience; the helium kept its hold, they balloon was grabbing on tight, and it kept them floating for a good long while. Sure, the feeling of having *nothing* to land on, as well as the possibility of falling several kilometers to your death, was always present and looming, but after everything they've been through...

Did any of that really matter?

While the rest of the Namers kept talking leadership, Pen was more than content to just hang out on his own; just like always, he had quite a lot of things on his mind. Things he'd prefer to keep to himself, if it had to stick around at all. That one word just kept on appearing over and over in his head, always tormenting him: *weird*. Pen was acting weird, they'd always say. First regarding him and Teardrop, then Leafy and the Grapes, and now this too. Ever since the competition stated, there was always *something* that anyone could use against him; his enemies, his teammates, and even his close friends. And the longer it dragged on, the more it kept circling around his head like birds around prey, the more he figured...

Maybe they're right.

But still, that's a foregone conclusion at this point; the competition came around, turned their whole lives upside-down, and so they had to start acting differently to keep up. Change with the times, as a certain little ball would say. It's a drawn out, tired trope at that point, a thing hammered home many times by this stage of the game. And yet while everyone else had moved on from shakeup, getting used to the strange new things that were brought about by the competition, eyes were still turned on Pen and his strange antics.

Why *is* that? What was it about his actions, his new mindset, that made people come around to it again and again like a broken record? The writing utensil could name a few other people that have undergone a similar change in thinking; his pals, along with those two balls were just several of a few. And yet... It was just him. He alone seemed to hold everyone's interest, made everyone talk about just how much the Battle for Dream Island had mixed things up, made them just a bit different from their usual selves. It was starting to get repetitive, overdone, sickening.

Like most other people, Pen wanted his own time in the spotlight; living under Blocky's shadow always made him yearn, made him wonder why he didn't have the same notoriety despite playing a crucial role behind the scenes. But now that he had all the attention on him nearly every single day, it was starting to get infuriated. What's the deal? Who's writing the script for this dumb competition, anyway?

"Hey, uh, Pen? What was that?"

A chance breeze had caused Eraser to drift right towards him. "It's just the wind. Duh." The ballpoint quipped; the pink one scoffed. "You know what I meant." "Well, maybe I don't, actually." Pen replied. "Back in the day, it's because you didn't have a brain to keep things straight; now..." He'd let out a sigh, propelling him ever so slightly. "You're one to talk about me being weird." "You *are*." Eraser grabbed him by the arm to make sure he wouldn't float away. "You always had that strange thing with Leafy, but *that*? That I just can't let go of." Pen ever so slowly turned towards him. "I thought we already went through this?" He'd ask. "I told you about what the plan was; about how they were better as *temporary* allies than constant enemies. Why are you-" Ellipsis. "Oh. Right." He'd let out another sigh. "Just stop worrying about it and-" "Stop worrying?" Eraser was baffled. "Dude, you're my bro! My *best* bro! Blocky's cool and all, but you're the only one that ever really *got* me! And I got you too, but now you're starting to act differently, and-"

"Acting differently?" Pen groaned. "Look at yourself! One moment you say that you *completely* get what I have in mind; the next you're suddenly questioning me again! You keep going back and forth from one opposite to the other, and it's driving me insane!" His eyes darted around, looking for... something. "Maybe you're right, maybe *they're* right; something *might* be up with me. But clearly it's because everyone else changed, not me!" "We're the ones that changed? Not you?" Eraser raised an eyebrow. "Dude, you stood up for Teardrop! The silent one! She hasn't done anything to-" "There you go again!" Pen interrupted. "I remember telling you about *that* as well, and now you're nagging me about it *again*! This is just getting ridiculous!" He'd angrily wave his arm, forcing Eraser to let go of him. "I'm not gonna keep explaining myself over and over again if *this* is ultimately what happens; all you need to know is that I'm doing all that it takes to survive. Just like everybody. That's it." He'd take a deep breath. "I don't like it, you don't like it, *nobody* likes it. But that's what's happening now. Nothing we can do about it."