2004

Blue Screen of Death

"Where are we supposed to go!?" the red stick figure cried out to his new companion. The black stick figure faced downwards to the ground, and spotted a slot of interest, with a singular dot and 3 overhead rings above it. 

The figure leaned down swiftly, and despite the searing pain, punched the icon repeatedly. The red figure winced softly at how painful he imagined that must've been.

"Almost.. almost!.. Got it! Here!!" his companion then yelled, prying open the tear he made in the icon and lifting it all the way up to make for an entrance. 

The red stick figure marveled at his strength. But what stunned him even more was the bright light being emitted from this tear he had made.

"Woah!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.

"I didn't think that would work, actually!" the black one admitted. 

The two stick figures shared a look of victory, before a loud explosion from just above their heads broke the moment, and caught their attention. "We have to go!" the black one yelled. 

The red one barely even had any time to react, only being able to let out a brief "huh?" before crying out in surprise, as his hand was taken by the black stick figure, and pummeled headfirst into the open crack. 

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The world melded into zooming circular white and gray streaks, whipping past them as we fell for what seemed to be eternity. Or were we flying? It was hard to tell. 

The red stick figure glided effortlessly through this harrow tunnel beside his new companion. He looked around in a state of awe for a bit.

"Woahhhh" he muttered to himself. 

The little stick figure then turned to face his friend. With a proud look on his face, he balled his fists and put his arms up in a flexing position. "Yeahhah! We just did that!" he cried victoriously. 

The black stick figure turned to his left as he heard him speak, and laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess we did," he agreed. Laughing, the red stick figure put his arms down, and continued to glide gently alongside him.

Silence filled the air, as only the whipping winds of this cable cord-tunnel surrounded them in what seemed to be an infinite path. Until the black stick figure broke the silence.

"What's your name?" he asked softly, turning his head to face him. "What?" the red one replied, seemingly stunned by his question. The black one's eyebrows raised softly. "Your name, what is it? Noogai did give you a name, didn't he?..."

The red one still seemed stunned, but slowly turned his head forward as he thought about it. He was only just a few minutes old, after all. 

"...The Dark Lord. My name is-" he said quietly, before pausing. He quickly brushed off his shy persona, and put his hands on his hips proudly. "Heh, yeah! I-I'm The Dark Lord! The lord of all things dark... I think!" 

The black stick figure's eyes widened a bit. And he couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at this young new life. Something about "The Dark Lord" was refreshing to him. A new free-spirited mate. One who had a lot of spunk to counter the black one's constantly angry persona, and unheard strength, just like him! 

And all this, away from Noogai, as they called him. A What an interesting way this could go, he thought.

The Dark Lord then turned back to face the black one. "What's your name, old man?" he teased, flashing a toothy grin. The black stick figure chuckled, and put his arms confidently to his side, to glide easier through the tunnel.