Puzzlenauts [An SMG4 Fanfic]

Prologue

(Art by SadSquid0)
Darkness encased him as he sat in the garbage dump, alone, with the only light in the area emanating from his broken TV screen. He'd been defeated yet again. Another plan foiled. Another attempt to find stardom by defeating the SMG4 crew proven to be a waste.

Mr. Puzzles leaned against the wall. He needed a break. He was exhausted, not only physically, but mentally as well. He let out a glitched sigh before collapsing into his head and shutting off his screen, finding solace in his own mind.

The cyborg sat there, looking around at the TV static surrounding him. It wasn't much, but it was an escape. He stood up, beginning to walk through the channels. He could put off tormenting the SMG4 crew for a bit.

He walked through the static, coming upon a familiar house at the very end. It was a black and white house with a 1950's feel to it. He walked inside, taking in that melancholy nostalgia that came with entering this place.

He then felt a familiar pang of sadness as he looked around, noticing a small child crying.

The child was an inky black shadow, with a t-shirt, short, sneakers, and a ball cap on his head. He had bright white eyes that were filled with tears.

Mr. Puzzles face illuminated with a worried expression as he walked towards the shadow child, picking him up in his arms and holding him close as he sat down on the grayscale couch. "Hey... it's... it's ok, Little..."

The child looked up at him, sniffing and wiping his eyes on his arm before he pulled out a board similar to those in silent movies that read in messy handwriting, "We're alone again."

Mr. Puzzles sighed, pulling him close again and rubbing his back. "We... won't be. I'm so close to getting 5 stars again."

Little looked away, pressing his cheek against Mr. Puzzles' shoulder with a slight grimace in his eyes.

"We'll be the stars of the show in no time, Little!" Puzzles pulled him back, a large smile on his screen. "Everyone will love us!"

Little looked at the screen before turning away. He pulled out another board and held it to the other's face.

"Will we have friends?"

"Of course!" Puzzles exclaimed. "Dozens of them! Hundreds even! We'll be loved by millions! Everyone will know our name!"

Little put the board down and gave a sad smile and a nod towards the other.

Mr. Puzzles smiled, patting the child's head. "Don't worry. I've got it all under control! Everyone will love us!"

The cyborg stood, putting the child down and putting his hands on his hips with a confident smile projected on his screen.

The child looked around. He couldn't help the tears that were starting to form again, knowing full well that the other was lying to him. He wasn't stupid. He knew. Otherwise, why would he still be saying the exact same thing he'd said for the past few years?

Mr. Puzzles continued to sit with his inner child, showing him shows on his screen as he contemplated his next move.

What was he going to do? He was tired... so tired... but he couldn't give up. This was his dream. His entire reason for being. If he gave up now... what would there even be for him?

After a few hours, he'd decided he'd waited enough. It was time to get back to work. Back to planning. Back to his destined 5 star rating. He'll get it. He just had to keep working.

He said goodbye to his inner child, attempting to exit this TV world.

But then he found he couldn't. He was stuck.

Mr. Puzzles screen changed to a petrified expression as he continued to attempt to leave this place.

But he couldn't...

Little walked up to him, pulling on his pant leg and pulling out the silent movie card. "What's wrong?"

Puzzles looked at the child, panic evident in his animated eyes. "Oh... uh... nothing!" He said, patting his head. "Nothing..."

Little felt the worry emanating from the older and hugged his legs, crying again.

Puzzles sighed, patting the child's head.

His mental state was truly fucked, wasn't it?