Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDI 24b: Nightmare 2

They just couldn't catch a break, huh?

The Final Three were minding their own business, hanging around in their own homes, when the Announcer went to each one, knocked on the door, and *politely* requested that they head out for what's *totally* a quick little announcement. Just a little bit of information before they're actually allowed to rest. Honest. They all briefly considered just staying inside and taking a nap or something, but... well, what's the worst that can happen? Probably can't be that bad compared to what'll happen if they just stay put.

The three of them would then reluctantly head out, forming a distant semicircle around the speaker box. "Hello, everyone. Again." The robotic talker began. "Let me guess." Taco interjected. "We're just gonna finish things up right here? Right now?" Pen shrugged. "After everything we've gone through..." He'd sigh. "I dunno how to feel about this. About *anything*. Almost feels disappointing that *this* was the way things turn out." "I'm just here to quickly go through how things will wrap up. Later." The Announcer answered. "Just a quick explanation, and then you can all return to whatever you are doing." Teardrop gave a quick thumbs-up.

"So, just to catch everyone up: you are the Final Three. Out of all of you, one will be selected to be the winner of the Battle for Dream Island." "We know." The one with the cap interjected. "Why do you gotta keep saying it?" "Shush." The speaker box interrupted. "Anyway, in order to determine who is worthy of becoming the winner, we will be releasing the eliminated contestants shortly. They will be given time with each of you, and you will be allowed to make your case as to why you should win." Pen seethed. *Spectacular*. "Afterwards, the voting will begin: the eliminated contestants will vote, and whoever gets the most votes will be the winner of BFDI."

"...Alright." Taco shrugged. "Cool. Just a question, though: now that one of us is actually gonna win it, when are we gonna get to actually *see* Dream Island?" She'd ask. "Given that it's the thing everyone is battling for, I find it a bit off that we haven't even seen even a glimpse of-" "Moving on." The Announcer interjected. "As you are the Final Three, you each get a special prize." The consumable one would look at the machine, rather perturbed by... *that*, but any and all complaints are quickly thrown out the window as each one of them is promptly given a medal. They're then immediately distracted by just how *shiny* the thing is, as they're all a bunch of easily-impressed buffoons that have been rendered docile by being forced to compete against and betray each other for the sake of some prize they don't even know the basic details about.

Or something like that.

"Hm. This reminds me." Pen would comment while inspecting his medal. "I don't think we got any prizes for the last few contests. Are you just keeping those until one of us wins? Or-" "I advise you to get ready." The Announcer concluded. "The eliminated contestants will be arriving shortly."

-

Absolutely *nobody* was excited to meet up with their old... friends; and out of the Final Three, Pen was the least ecstatic of the bunch.

He only felt like he had *just* barely gotten started on preparing when the eliminated contestants started knocking on his door. Fortunately for him, however, they all seemed to be a bit distracted by a more pressing matter: there's 17 of them, and there's just a single Pen. What're the chances that all of them are gonna walk away with all their questions answered? More importantly, who's even gonna get to talk?

He could see the commotion quickly developing out his window, and for a moment he considered just using a chair to break a window and make a hasty escape, just like TD did that one time. *Unfortunately*, however, the whole conflict seemed to get 'resolved' by the time he made up his mind on the whole thing; Blocky and his clique were able to push their way through the rest of the crowd and kick the door open.