Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDI 13c: Don't Lose Your Spheres

"Alright, people! Gather around again! It's almost time for the next challenge!"

The contestants had become well-accustomed to the Announcer running things around here, and so when Golf Ball once again assumed the hosting mantle, nobody would end up caring all too much and just ignored the ball most of the time. "PEOPLE!" She'd shout to try and get their attention. "Stop bickering, or I'll have you all eliminated!" Despite that (half-serious) threat, everyone continued not caring whatsoever about what GB had to say; she'd sigh in response. "As you've all made it to the Final 11, I'm giving you all a reward." That'd *finally* get everyone's attention. "Ooh!" Firey exclaimed. "A reward? I *love* rewards!" Golf Ball sighed. "I *know*." She'd scoff. "You want it? Follow me."

The contestants all went in a single line (per GB's orders) as they walked for several minutes; as the PRISON grew farther and farther away from them, most of them would continue their chatter on the go; some would muster up the courage to willingly talk to the bossy-bot. "So, uh, what *is* the prize?" Pencil asked. "Yeah." Match joined in. "We're, like, *dying* to know." "We're already on the way there." Golf Ball replied. "Would it really kill you to be just a little bit patient?" The writing utensil scoffed. "Would it really kill *you* to be a bit more open, a bit less bossy?" She'd chuckle. "Well, maybe it'll kill you either way-" "You two, knock it off." Tennis Ball suddenly interjected. "Why not tell me, GB? I mean, no harm in that, right?" "I *said*..." Golf Ball grumbled. "We're already going there. Stop bugging me!" TB merely gave her an angry look before backing off. "Ooh, is the reward flammable?" Coiny chimed in. "I wanna see the look on that dumb Firey's face when he accidentally burns his!" "Grr!" Firey shouted. "Well, I hope the prize is... uh... Coiny-phobic! Maybe it, uh... rolls away from you!" "STOP IT!" Golf Ball shouted. "We're here."

The place they'd arrived at looked a whole lot like the PRISON; the only difference being that it was a bit smaller and had some windows here and there. It was still incredibly bland, dull, and lifeless though.

"When I was building that place for the eliminated contestants, it got me thinking." Golf Ball explained her rationale. "It was *definitely* a step in the right direction, but I didn't think it was going far enough. Why, after all, do *they* get to have a comfortable home, while the remaining contestants, who obviously have more value and do far more, have to stay outside?" She'd pause for a moment to breathe. "I knew that it was going to be an additional effort on top of the work I was already doing as host; I was staying up most nights getting the PRISON up and running. But ultimately, I knew that it needed to be done. There had to be *some* payoff for everyone, even if they didn't win Dream Island. So, I got to work." "Uh..." Pen raised a hand to interject. "You mean, you got your... *workers* to work?"

Golf Ball blankly stared at him for a movement before moving on. "So, as a reward for making it to the Final 11, I'm giving you all a place to live that *isn't* just the outdoors; each and every one of you gets to have an apartment that you can call home, a little place where you don't have to be bothered by *anyone*." She'd chuckle to herself ever so slightly while stressing that last part. "So, let's go check it out, shall we?"

Of course, everyone was immediately ecstatic at the prospect of seeing their brand new abodes; who could've guessed that living out your days in the great outdoors, with no shelter from the elements or others, was a *terrible* idea? The next few minutes were spent seeking comfort in the many amenities and claiming rooms for themselves; a few wanted to specifically be next to their close friends and allies, and others wanted to be far away from their sworn enemies, but most were fine anywhere, seeing this as a *vast* improvement over having no home at all. Some of the more... *disadvantaged* contestants would be pleased to know that the place was built to accommodate them; the furniture was fire-proof and lined with protective cushions, the electronics were waterproof to some degree, and everything was ergonomically built to be friendly for objects with any number of arms and legs.