Chapter Text
After one week of suffering, the void finally was remade - everything changed. It seemed like that it finally changed for good, but of course, it is impossible to reach perfection to all eyes, and the so-called one that made it impossible was Grappler. They were on the edge of the lobby, staring at the roots that made the land stable looking like they didnt had a single thought in mind - Except they did, and it was about that one new person, Glider.
Everyone went following them, looking and observing them like it was a masterpiece. It's okay! In fact, they did help the new spawn be born, so a sense of pride is fair. But Grappler couldn't help but feel uneasy, after all it is the first time they ever witnessed something like that, considering the fact that Spirit and them were the last spawns and born together.
Grappler stayed on the edge waiting for Spirit to talk to them, wanting to train together like they always did. However, it seemed like Spirit was also interested in the new spawn, and followed everyone along.
Before everyone left to start a Round, they seemed to pressure Glider to use their ability. And that's the sight that really annoyed Grappler - they were just a little copy of them! And that explains A LOT why Grappler is actually feeling so weak after the amount of energy they probably accidentally sent to the new spawn.
Grappler tried to dismiss these thoughts and their rage, throwing a rock that was near them to the void, observing it fall, before changing their focus to their rope. How it looked like it could lose grip so easily compared to before, and how Grappler itself felt dizzy just by the thought of grappling like the old times. In the end, they still need to enjoy everything.
It's not like Glider will ever be as incredible as they were, anyway.
Grappler sighs, putting their rope on their waist and getting up to go to the lobby choosing device path, and just like they thought, everyone was on a run, except Wanted for some reason.
“Hey! I was looking for ya!” Grappler looks back, meeting with the missing Wanted. “Sooo, you're gonna join our lobby right?” They give a pat on Grappler’s back.
Grappler kindly removed their hand. “I actually was gonna go alone to see the new moveset ‘cuz I'm feeling a little weak.”
Wanted mumbles in acknowledgment. “Well, if you ask me, I didn't change a damn thing! I dunno if it is because we didn't go that far, but if you want I can give you some company? I know Spirit wouldn't like to see you all alone.”
Grappler looks away when they hear the Spirit's name. “Sure, I'll create a party real quick.”
And just like they said, they create a party, waiting for Wanted for not so long time, before starting the round, choosing the best choices as always - Mart and Bell.
They passed the first round easily, but before Grappler could resume their round, Wanted patted them on the shoulder, grabbing their attention. “Seems like the initial enemies are harder as well. I saw Charger dying to Bell cuz you know how they are! Always bonking onto it to get more height.” They giggle, seeing Grappler's confused face. “Bells get enraged after some bonks, weird right? And mart is faster, too!”
“What the hell..??” Grappler says, in disbelief. Did this Glider bring the whole buffed gang with them when they were spawned or what? “...Fucking cursed newspawn..” They mumble, voice low enough for Wanted not to hear.
Grappler sighs, resuming back to the round, choosing Springer this time. And it continued as they both went at a pretty good pace until level 10 brought up - One of the favorite parts of Grappler's progression, considering the fact there's tiles that they can really swing now, and because of the amount of jumppads to recover their stamina, of course.
Well, it would be one of the favorite parts of their level progression, if it wasn't for the fact that they CAN'T recover at jumppads anymore, which was the first frustration they had. But it 's okay! They never had a problem with stamina anyway, Grappler is stronger than that.
Their frustration is interrupted by the Last Robloxian Standing sound, focusing on getting the last gifts that Wanted was supposed to collect, on the other side of the map. So they pull their scarf to their mouth and giving a giggle of happiness, they throw themselfs to the void, grapples the tiles and- Bonk?
Grappler couldn't register anything what happened after that, the dizziness and headache that was following them in the lobby plagued their senses like there was no tomorrow. Their hands instinctively flew to their head, trying to regain consciousness, as they still felt the wind going against their face, because they were still falling.
“Huh.” Grappler mumbles, their vision coming back and also being teleported to the lobby yet again - They lost.
“Yeah that was weird stuff alright..” Wanted says, looking at them confused. “You bonked! Just like diver and charger do, but on the celling.’
Grappler stares at them with the corner of their eyes. “What? I shouldn't bonk though..” They look at their rope. “My stamina, i felt weak too.. And- And i cant even recover at jump pads anymore!”
They suddenly stay silent, turning back to the edge of the land and sitting, looking at what they call Sky - even though it isn't bright or whatsoever. Grappler hear footsteps behind them, and the weight of Wanted's presence sitting near them. “Dont think too hard about it, it will only make you more upset. Wanna hear what everyone found out when I was on that run? It might help you distract yourself.”
Wanted looks at them from the corner of their eyes, hearing a low hum in acceptance. “So, get this! We chose mart infection right? Cuz it was easy before the void reshaped!” Wanted starts giggling. “And like, Diver rolled Martapocalypse on the chance altar, we didn't know the marts can fuse themselves now!” They look at Grappler seeing their confused look.
“They can do what now…?” Grappler ask, their tone filled with desperation.
Wanted starts laughing. “HAHA YEAH! AND THEY STARTED MERGING AND A BIG MART APPEARED TOWARDS THE NEW GLIDER GUY!”
Grappler starts giggling, that's a sight they wouldn't like to lose for anything. “Pffft- Really? Were they desperate?”
“YES YES!” They started laughing even more, wiping tears out. “Gosh… It was so funny dude, you know how newbies act.. So innocent, no thought behind their actions, you know?”
“Also..” They continue talking, when they see Grappler nodding. “This Glider person might be someone you can connect to! You and them have similar moveset.”
Grappler shrugs. “Hm. I don't know, i keep having this feeling that there is something wrong with them. Actually not them but everything that the void was reshaped into.”
Wanted inspect them for a second, before replying. “Wouldnt that feeling be fear?” They stay silent, choosing their words. “Fear of the change we are facing, after all, we are stuck in an eternal loop, sorta.” They say, gesturing with their hands. “It would be a normal thing to feel.”
Grappler looks at the ground, not replying. “I'll have that in mind.” They stretch themselfs. “...Anyway Wanted, thanks for checking up on me, but ill probably go back to the lobby, I got really tired dealing with this suddenly… Weakness.” Grappler changes subject, quickly but natural enough.
Wanted looks at them, with a smile. “Well, just don't get all fuzzy and sad about it ‘kay? I always see you happy with Spirit talking about the void, and I don't want to see you hopeless.” They say, patting Grappler yet again on their back. “Say, promise me that you won't give up, aight? You are THE Grappler after all.” They give Grappler a light chuckle, shoving them weakly with their elbows.
Grappler shots them with a grin. “Yeah, thanks!” They get up, giving a low wave to Wanted and leaving.
The first thing Grappler do when they meet themselfs back onto the main islands is to go back to the corner they initially were, and support their weight onto the pillars, sighing as they sitted. Their headache had made their head completely blank, and they forced themselfs to look at something dark yet darker enough to make them forget about the pain.
Grappler tried to remember Wanted's words about Spirit, how they love the void and the thrill. They wished Spirit was there to give them some company, hell, even now would be a good timing too! Even though Grappler would never admit it of course, they always thought that the brave ones never let their real feelings slip out, but Spirit always seemed to see through their facade.
After all, Prisoner never showed their true feelings before their incident.
Grappler stops thinking, when they hear faint voices in the center of the land, where there was a huge tree. They tried to focus on it, to understand who and what was being said.
The first voice was impossible for Grappler not to recognize.
“Well, I don't think you should see the void as an obstacle, try to break free from the fear of it and you are gonna do just fine.” It was Spirit. Grappler by instinct peeked their eyes towards their voice seeing their figure talking with someone that was obscured by the tree.
“Uh-huh! I am just trying to be careful to not miss jump pads that much!” It was a new voice, one which Grappler supposed it was from the new spawn.
Spirit was talking to the Newspawn about the Void. Grappler and Spirit always talked about the void together.
“Kehehe!” Spirits laughs. “We all started by that one thought, just try to have fun and you will do fine, you wanna try training here?”
“Oh, I would love that!”
Spirit was going to train with Glider. Grappler and Spirit always trained together.
Grappler observes them distancing themselves away from the main island, making it impossible to follow them by simply looking.
It's not fair. IT’S not fair how this newspawn thinks they can steal all Grappler's gear energy and then replace them. This place isn't heaven for them to be all happy about.
They DON'T have the right to even think that they can replace someone as incredible as Grappler. That won't happen, no matter what.
Grappler cannot simply accept the fact that this newspawn thinks that they are gonna hug happiness in this place, or even worse, comfort.
They will do everything to make sure Glider will have the worst experience of their life.
Grappler gets up, fists clenched like their headache suddenly disappeared, heading back towards the lobby. Their weakness? Their rope seeing how it would snap at any second? It won't matter, because they are gonna be the best they always were, and they are gonna teach this Newspawn their place on this land full of misery.
Tomorrow's gonna be a good day for them, and it will be even better if this Glider ever dares to show themselfs in front of them after the mistake they made.