The Battle for Dream Island continued, just as it had done for the past decade.
A long time ago, a *really* long time ago, so long a time that barely anyone (save for Golf Ball and anyone as smart and obnoxious as her) can even remember how long of a time it was, there wasn't such a thing as the Battle for Dream Island. In fact, it was basically impossible for them to think that there was even the slightest chance for them, let alone everyone else that hung around in those days, would suddenly and inexplicably be dragged into a competition for some landmass that they'd never even get to see. It was just far, *far* beyond the range of possibilities, well into the realm of the mad and the insane.
In those days, all the contestants (well, they wouldn't know about that yet) knew about was this... mundane existence. They all stood around in the green fields all day, taking in the fresh air, talking to each other, getting into all sorts of mischief, and so on, and so forth. Sometimes they'd wish that there was something more, of course; it is the natural desire of all living beings for them to experience something new, something novel. But in the end, they'd all agree that this wasn't all too bad. Things were nice, things were calm, things were peaceful. There may be a hiccup or two every once in a while, but that's to be expected in life. As long as things were fine for *most* of them, they could live with this status quo. And that's how everything would be for quite a while, and that's how everything would seemingly stay for the rest of time. There's no incentive to go anywhere, no drive to be anything more than... *this*. Sure, they were *probably* up to something else before wandering into this part of Goiky, but that was all but forgotten at that point. This was the way things were, this is the way things are, and this was the way things will be. Everything was great. Everything was perfect.
And then, all of a sudden, they weren't.
The speaker box suddenly fell from the sky, appeared out of nowhere, and declared that the twenty of them would all be Battling for Dream Island. Again, this should've been something that was completely and utterly unthinkable. A series of circumstances so bizarre, so completely out of the ordinary, that any sane person that follows common sense, reason, and logic would immediately dismiss any thought of it as pure nonsense. And when confronted with the possibility in real life, would immediately turn around and flee as soon as they could. But somehow, through some fluke of the universe, some *mistake*, the contestants would wind up agreeing to this wild and crazy scheme, becoming willing to play the speaker box's twisted little game. Just moments ago, they would've declared it crazy if someone told them they were gonna get roped into stuff like this. But now, it was gonna be all they could think about.
The formula was simple. *Very* simple. But somehow, *somehow*, it was a very potent one. After a quick little challenge to determine the strongest out of this weird little group, they'd all be divided into two teams of ten: the Squishy Cherries and the Squashy Grapes. Something about that arbitrary division, as random and irrelevant as it may be if given any more than 2.763 seconds of thought, *really* pushed them over the edge. In those days, there might have still been some doubts as to whether or not they should allow all this to... *happen*. Were they really gonna obey every single word this speaker box says, despite being a complete stranger appearing out of nowhere? Were they gonna start fighting against those they tolerated, perhaps even befriended, just because the lines in the sand told them to? Whether or not there were level heads during that critical time has been lost to history, as the conclusion completely swept them away, submerged them under the sea of insanity. With the teams set, the short- and long-term goals listed out, it was all the contestants could think about, could focus on. They were gonna lead their team to victory, they were gonna win Dream Island, no matter what the cost may be.
As the episodes went by, as more and more time passed, the Battle for Dream Island cemented its iron grip over the minds of everyone, sculpting their lives and their routines to be *solely* around the prospect of winning this mysterious landform, a place that was shrouded in mystery. It didn't matter anymore just how strange the whole premise was at face value. Why exactly were they selected to win this island? Why was it being given away in the first place? What evidence do they have that the island even exists? What exactly were they gonna do after this? Who was the one *really* pulling the strings? Who were the insane, deranged, completely mad people that were telling them to do this and that, making them act out all sorts of twisted and sickening narratives for their entertainment? None of that seemed to matter, *apparently*; winning Dream Island was the sole priority. Even as their dreams were so thoroughly crushed by the boot of reality, even as they were all thrown into a cramped metal box for years and years, they continued to endure, they continued to hold on. Despite how utterly absurd and ludicrous the whole thing was, they just *really* wanted to win something. After all, at that point they've already invested *so* much, did *so* much. Were they really gonna let that be all for nothing?
