'What If...' No. 1

Chapter 9 - StoryBusters

With Key by my side, it made spotting small things much easier. Key could fit into much smaller spaces than I could, making them the perfect partner. I never expected to team up with a Bugsnax at all whilst on the island, but it was the best thing I could have done. Key trundled along the ground whilst I walked slowly beside them.

Nothing could be found in Sugarpine Woods, so I simply caught a Kwookie and a Charmallow whilst Key ran around frantically. We both continued walking into Frosted Peak. The atmosphere was too cold up there for Key, so I quickly got them over by the fire. The two of us sat there with the comforting glow of the fire.

I sighed as I took the last bit of food out of my bag- a sausage roll. I took a bite out of it, the pastry crumbling into my lap. Looking over at Key, I thought to myself, "Do Bugsnax need to eat too? Maybe Key is hungry or something. The Bugsnax do like the sauces-"

I tore off a small bit of the sausage roll and placed it in front of Key. Key stared at it for a moment before trundling towards it and eating it. It did confuse me how they could eat it, but that wasn't something I needed to worry about. Experiments and discoveries are Floofty's thing. I smiled as I picked Key up and placed them in my lap.

Key seemed comfy there and I stroked them a bit. "Maybe the Bugsnax aren't evil parasites after all. Most of them are quite calm and peaceful, and there's always violent creatures in nature." The moon was out, with a thin crescent shape that looked like a smile. As I sat there, tiredness struck me and I lay down in the blanket of snow beside the fire, falling asleep quickly.

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Walking through the lush green grass, I gaze around at the strange creatures surrounding me - Bugsnax. Sweetiflies hovered in the air. Bungers bounced up and down as they trodded along. On the ground in front of me, was something unique and indescribable, the mystery I was looking for, with a Kweeble bobbing beside it. I quickly leaned down and picked up the mystery item, holding it in my hand.

In my hand was a triangular key, the same one that was brought to me by Key. I looked around me, the scenery began to shift to one of sandy beaches and palm trees, giving it a tropical feel. The combination of bubbling lava and cool ocean water gave the air a warm and pleasant atmosphere, making this place perfect for Bugsnax of all varieties to thrive. A shipwreck sat in the background along the cliff edge, seeming out of place, yet also fitting into the environment quite well. Beside it was my Lunchpad, which made me feel confused.

I walked across the sand, leaping over the lava streams, making it to the Lunchpad. I stood onto it for a moment, before activating it. It sent me flying over the cliff edge and down into something on the other side. All I could see was black as I landed at the bottom. There was a light at the end of a triangular shaped hallway and I began to head towards it, wanting to see what was at the end...

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I felt something shaking me and I lay there. My head felt as if it had been hit over and over again. "You useless Grumpus, wake up. You are not of any use if you are dead." I was confused as I opened my eyes. I was lay on a table with Floofty beside me. "I'm sorry, why would you think I was dead?" I sat up, staring at Floofty in confusion.

"You were sleeping on top of a mountain where the temperatures are below freezing next to an unlit fire." Floofty said with arms crossed, "It was very likely that you would have died if I had not managed to transport you down here." My confusion only grew from there. "First of all, I did not know you were strong enough to carry a Grumpus, and secondly, how did you find me?"

"Well, I did not carry you, I dragged you. But you did also roll down the hill the majority of the way. And a Kweeble showed me the way. I would not have follow if that parasite did not make it seem like it was of the up most importance." Floofty then pointed to a Kweeble which was bobbing from side to side next to me on the table. I smiled. "Thanks for that."

"Just to inform you, I already distributed the specimens you had collected in your bag into their respective containers." Floofty said, staring at me, "I thank you for continuing this gathering for me. You are not as useless as I had originally believed." I chuckled, thinking to myself, "At least Floofty's giving better compliments now. It still feels like an insult though."

I then remembered the dream I had. The Lunchpad. The triangle hallway. The key. Boiling Bay. That's where the key needs to go. I sat up and climbed off the table. "I've got to get going. Thanks for helping me out." I quickly stood up and walked out, Floofty seeming not to care. Key trailed along behind me.

It only took a few minutes to make it to Boiling Bay. I easily hopped over the lava streams and over to the shipwreck. Taking the Lunchpad out of my bag, I placed it on the sand beside the shipwreck, in near the same spot as I remembered in my dream.

Key already stood on it, and after a moment I stood on it too. I stared into Key's little eyes, before activating the Lunchpad. The two of us went flying up into the air and over the cliff. As we fell down the other side, I thought to myself, "This is the story I've waited for." We continued to fall, the story of a lifetime awaiting not too far away.