Merging Realities || an II AU

Prolog: Exploration

Welp. Here it is. Here is the crazy mind dump I call Merging Realities.

Btw, this is set after e14, but before III.
Enjoy Ig .-.

~———~

No POV:

It has been a while since Mephone4 was at the show grounds. A week to be exact. The final four have started developing their own hobbies to pass the time, along with a daily challenge. Just for fun.

Lightbulb was sitting on the grass near the remains of the vending machine, drawing in her notebook to get her mind off things. She was still upset by the previous elimination, but was slowly getting over it the more she tried to be happy.

However, today, she thought of doing something different: Exploring.
She wrote it down in her notebook for safe keeping and went to join the others for the challenge. Hoping to think about it, and possibly share it with the others after they were done.

~Lightbulb POV:~

I flopped down onto the grass. That race was fun, but I want to see what the others think about my idea. After all, everyone else has something to do around here. Suitcase sings and likes to draw with me, Baseball has started a diary to 'get his mixed feelings out' as he said, and Knife, well... I don't really know what he does. But he is usually the one setting up the challenges, and probably just likes being helpful despite his 'Jerk' persona.

But for me, I don't have a set hobby. I just kinda wander. And draw when I'm bored enough.    I flip through the pages of my notebook and find where I wrote my idea down, glancing at the sketch of Painty and Baxter beside it.

Painty.

I frown. Do I really miss them that much? Sure, we fought a lot, but that was all fun in games. Right?

I shake my head and smile again. Maybe OJ will let me visit! ...hopefully. He's been pretty closed off lately.

My mind finally wanders back to the idea of exploring. And I walk over see what the others think of it.

"Hiya Gang!" I say as I walk, notebook in hand, to the others who were chatting.

"Hi lightbulb." Knife said "what ya got this time?"

I could hear Baseball and Suitcase say their own greetings before I took a deep breath and spoke "I think I've finally decided on a hobby I want to do!"

More whispers of congratulations and genuine happiness came from the others before it turned into more confusion and question.

"What's the idea?" Suitcase smiled as she looked up at me. "Yeah, you know you don't need to get a 'go ahead' from us." Knife stated. He had taken up a leader role out of us. "I'm curious as well. Spill it!" Baseball said with a challenging glare before chuckling a bit.
Ok then...now I'm nervous. Godda make this count.

"I thought: what if I started exploring... like, small areas around here that I want to find more about?" I started second guessing myself before Knife spoke up again "you know that's kinda dangerous...with you, y'know..." he pointed to his head reminding me I was made of glass, and could shatter if not careful. "But I mean, if you want to be reckless...go ahead. Just be very careful, ok?" "Ok!" I responded back to him before turning around "See ya tomorrow everybody!" I waved goodbye before walking back near the vending machine.

I immediately started thinking of something I could do. But, while I'm here...
Why not explore Testy's lab? She's not around so it wouldn't hurt... right?

I slip through the tunnel that managed to get open. Geez. The damage from us destroying it for that rocket did a number to the inside... I walk around, remembering all the fun times me and Testy had. Then I remember that weird Time Machine thingy. I skip towards the table it was on the last time I was here and looked at the shelf near it.

"Hmmm... let's see." I start narrating myself  "what goofy thingos can I find here...I'm sure there's something."
I continue inspecting the shelf, but to my disappointment, there was nothing that seemed fun. Not even that funky bow that was here before...That's a bummer, I wanted to cause chaos.
"Daww...welp. but I should probably go back now...the others are probably worried." I continued to 'announce' what I was doing, muttering the last part
"Welp. Bye bye lab! You were fun while you were not in shambles!"
After that, I climb up the ladder that leads to the outside

I sit back down. Trying to think of more areas I can explore tomorrow. I could go to spac-  nope, nope. I cut my thoughts off there. I don't thing going to space would be a good idea, huh? Yes stars are pretty n' stuff but there's a reason I did not go there when Marsh was up there, how would I even do that?? Now I wish I did go while i had the chance...

I shake my thoughts back to exploring. I know there's a lot of places I have not been, even more that I don't know that Well! Choosing just one will be a nightmare. So, I just sit there, wracking my head on what to do, until it suddenly comes to me. I have not explored it much, and only really went there once to it will be perfect!
I immediately write my exploration target before closing my book and laying down to look at the sky as the stars were forming. Lazily staring at it, taking everything in, further hyping me up on the areas I have yet to discover.

I finally close my eyes not long after everyone joined me near the lab, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Tomorrow is going to be fun.

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Hope you liked that! Sorry if they seem out of character (especially Baseball, I don't know how to write him) I'm trying my best.

heres the art for the chapter btw
Hope you like it bc I'm doing that every chapter >:]

And Lighty, sweetie. Tomorrow is not going to be fun.

Friendly reminder that I'm more active on my YouTube channel. The design/character chapter will be up after I introduce a few more characters.

Byeo! Have a fun day/night! Ima start that map part now.
             
                                         -CodaCosm0

Words: 1090 (965 for the story alone)
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@galixypawerpack?si=FPlSaxEQTIt-jG5t
Time taken: around 2 - 3 hours.