Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDIA 7c: No More Lies

If you close your eyes for long enough, you could *almost* delude yourself into thinking that everything's just fine.

Match and Pencil were relaxing by the pool; lying down, taking in the sun, and doing nothing more but counting the seconds tick by. The breeze blew by, the water occasionally rippled, and the chatter from random nobodies would occasionally fade in and out of existence. Life was good, for the most part.

"So..." The matchstick just couldn't last *that* long without a bit of dialogue, though. "So, like, what's the plan?"

Ellipsis.

After a few seconds, it was as if she hadn't said anything at all. In any other circumstance, she would've been content with just leaving it be. But right now...

"Uh... Pence-Pence?"

Finally, there was a response; Pencil grumbled to herself for a moment, yawning and stretching her limbs. "...What's up?" The writing utensil asked. "What's the plan?" Match asked once more. For a little bit, it seemed like she was gonna get the silent treatment once more, but this time around, the one used for drawing seemed to get the memo.

"...Huh?" She'd turn to her, raising an eyebrow and with a confused look on her face; the one with the red 'hair' didn't seem all too fazed, however, still relaxing on her seat. "Plan? What... What plan?" "Uh, you know." The matchstick continued. "You heard what that speaker box, like, said; that bossy-bot is out and about, trying to, like, ruin our fun. What're we gonna do about that?"

The one with the eraser sat there for a moment, befuddled. "...Didn't we already go over that?" She'd ask. "The plan is that there is no plan; we've already got that dumb Pin working on it. She can have all that miserable, sappy stuff for herself." She then returned to her usual, lax, comfortable position. "As for us, we're gonna do the same thing we've been doing: relax and enjoy Dream Island."

Match wanted to say *something* in response, but nothing would come from her for a while. Her thoughts were still a bit full, her mind clouded and dazed. She thought back to everything she'd gone through, everyone she crossed paths with. Maybe...

"Thanks." The matchstick momentarily chuckled. "I just wanted to, like, hear that again; after spending so long Battling for, like, Dream Island, it's nice to *finally* get some time for, like, myself."

And then there was silence once again.

At a respectful distance, Flower was watching the two of them do a whole lot of nothing. She just stood there, doing nothing like the rest of them, with the slightly remarkable exception of working on photosynthesis behind the scenes.

She considered going up to them. She considered taking the initiative for once. She considered having them do things *her* way for once, regardless of if they hated each and every second of it. What did she have to lose, after all? What's the worst they could do? Reveal the truth? As if that was gonna change *anything* about how everyone felt about her. Why was she being so hesitant *now*, of all times?

The one with the petals let out a deep sigh, resigning in defeat and walking away from the two gossipers. She'd walk in a circle around the island, thinking about her possible choices going forward.

What was their deal? What was *everyone's* deal? Doesn't she want the same thing as the rest of them? Don't they all want a chance to be seen, some time in the spotlight? Don't they all want some praise and affection? How come *they* get to do all that just fine, and yet when *she* does it, it's suddenly a crime? What sets her apart from everyone else? What made her... *worse*? What caused the universe to pour all the bad luck onto her?

She eventually wandered to the gates of Dream Island. Seeing its vast scale compared to her unnerved her a bit; for a moment, it felt like she was still a prisoner. But she can leave at any time, surely. The thumbtack and the others did it just fine.