Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDIA 21a: Bunch of Losers

This was supposed to be the easy part.

Team Not now had Golf Ball, the *one* person they came here for, the sole creature that they bothered getting up and going out of Dream Island to capture, now firmly within their clutches. All that was left to do now was pick her up, carry her over to the Announcer, and let this whole thing *finally* be done with. But, of course, it wasn't gonna be that easy. Of *course* not. The universe *loves* to disappoint, and disappoint it did. Despite being completely surrounded on all sides, despite having nowhere else left to go, despite having her one and only friend leave her to the elements, she *still* continues to be stubborn. Though she was no longer frantically pacing back and forth like she was some time ago, she was probably still deeply contemplating her situation, thinking up all sorts of convoluted, complicated, and completely insane ways she could get herself out of this mess. She wasn't going anywhere, but she *still* refuses to give in. Pin had to admit that it was something to be admired, but in the moment, it was something to *dread*. Success seemed so close now, and yet so far as well.

Coiny had his own complaints, because of *course* he did. "*Ugh*!" He'd angrily kick some blades of grass around, perhaps a rock or two that was unfortunately in his way. "We already have her! There's nothing left to do! Why aren't we going already?" The pushpin angrily poked him as he got a bit too close for her liking. "Why aren't you *thinking* already?" She'd quip. "You think I *don't* want to leave too?" "Well, you're just sitting there." The coin creature remarked. "What else can I-" "Do *you* want to be the one carrying her around as she keeps on kicking and screaming, all the way back to Dream Island?" The denomination of currency raised an eyebrow. "Uh, *no*." He answered. "Of course-" "That's what I thought." The thumbtack interjected. "As much as I *hate* to admit it, we're still not quite done yet. We're gonna have to bring her over to the Announcer, since he *definitely* wants to make sure we've got her. During that time, she has *all* the time in the world to try and escape, to flee into the wilderness again. And, of course, we don't wanna have to contend with *that*, do we?" She'd let out a deep sigh. "If we don't wanna embarrass ourselves- and I'm sure *you* don't want that..." Another poke for Coiny. "We're gonna have to ensure that she'll go willingly. And the only way to do *that* would be to make her think that this isn't some sort of death sentence."

"...Alright, you've had your fun." Taco, who had been forced into the thankless task of watching over Golf Ball until then, would step in. "Your turn." The creature grumbled, but ultimately went ahead; he didn't want to be around Pin for a second longer, anyway. "Hey, I've got an idea." The consumable one continued the conversation. "If moving GB around is gonna be such a nightmare, then why are we thinking about moving *her* to *him*?" She'd ask. "Doesn't it make more sense if one of us gets the speaker box to come here?" The pushpin considered it for a moment. "...Maybe." She'd remark. "But that has its own issues. For one, we're gonna have to find Dream Island again; we've wandered a whole lot in the intervening time, and I don't suppose any of us has been keeping track of directions, have we?" The edible one raised an eyebrow. "Have *you*?" "Well, I've tried." The thumbtack remarked. "Knowing one's environment is key, after all. But unfortunately I just can't recall *everything*; seems like that's a gift that's only been bestowed upon people like her." She'd gesture vaguely towards the pit. "Maybe she knows where to go, but she *obviously* won't give it up."

Ellipsis.

"And another thing." Pin continued. "*Someone* has to go out there to find the speaker box, wherever he may be; that's another thing too, but I don't wanna have *another* headache. One of us has to go, which is one less person keeping an eye on Golf Ball. And that's in an ideal scenario, too; really, we should bring two, so we can support our claims. But then that'd just leave *one* person to watch over her, and-"

"I'm still here." Barf Bag, who was indeed still there, would interrupt. "That makes two." "*Three*." Tennis Ball would also chip in, since he was also around. "...*Right*." The thumbtack rolled her eyes. "And what exactly guarantees that you *will* just keep an eye on her? We're on different teams." "...But working towards the same goal." Barfy remarked. "Remember? I also let you use my vomit for... *whatever* that was. I think you can trust me."