She's a Little Slow on the Uptake (Inanimate Insanity)

The Star-t of Something New

Apple paced back and forth, insides a tight little ball. Her heart beat an elevated rate in her chest.

Then she checked her wrist for a (nonexistent) watch. Then she tapped her foot, arms crossed, as if the time would pass faster.

It didn't. But it always seemed to in cartoons.

Then she fell to the ground dramatically. "Aaaaagh! Guys! Is there any way to make this stupid rocket go any faster?!"

She got no response. In fact, neither of her companions seemed to be paying the slightest bit of attention. Yin-Yang was silently arguing with himself, and Fan was typing away on his phone, muttering to himself.

"Listen to me!" Apple wailed.

"How about we don't!" Yin-Yang yelled, then corrected, "No, Yang! We should listen to our teammate. NO! She's stupid, just like you!"

Fan looked up from his phone with a little grin. "I'll listen to you; I'm a huge fan!"

Apple punched the air. "We have to make the rocket go faster. We have to save Marshmallow in time!"

"I thought you hated each other," Yin said, sounding confused.

"Just like I hate you!"

Yin-Yang punched himself in the face, then fell to the ground with a loud crash.

"There are more important things than hatred in this mortal world," Apple said dramatically. "We never got the chance to be friends. She can't die." Her voice grew hoarse.

Fan gasped. "You and Marshmallow, friends?! What an absurd notion! I have to write this down..."

Combined with Yin-Yang's weird act, it was clear nobody was listening, even to her. She sighed sorrowfully and walked up to that big window at the side of the rocket to watch the stars go by.

"There are more important things than hatred in this mortal world," Apple repeated under her breath.

She put her hand on the railing.

"Oh, Marshmallow... I'm sorry I ever hated you. If only I knew how dumb it was... maybe we wouldn't be in this mess. I promise, I forgive you. And I'll be the best friend I could ever be."

She closed her eyes and sighed. She could scarcely even picture Marshmallow's smile. The only thing she could remember was common stuff, like the sensation of Marshmallow's pillowy fist plowing her with enough strength to send her careening twenty feet, or how her squishy body got an imprint like a glove every time she hit her.

'There are so many good times that she can't die now!'

The first day they ever met suddenly flashed back to her consciousness. So did the times she helped her with math problems, and their celebration with Paintbrush after winning episode seven's challenge.

'...There are actually hardly any good times where we were both happy...'

Oh, there was also their truce. The warm union of their hands in a totally-radical handshake.

Tossing aside the masks of hatred like rifles on a battlefield, they saw one another in the fresh light.

It was unforgettable!

It was also one of her only fond memories of Marshmallow.

Apple had begun to smile at the memory, but then frowned.

"If I fail, I won't even have many good memories with her. What's wrong with me...?"

'My tummy-aches weren't saying bad things after all. And now, I miss her. I need to bring her back!'