Chapter Text
Haunting imagery flashed behind closed eyes like an excited child waving a flashlight about. One image of a Monster being dragged across sharp rocks flickered to a hotel being set ablaze, continuing in a loop all the way around the circle of villainy. All was silent in the replay of memories, yet the viewer could swear that someone was screaming.
Eyes snapped open, and the presentation ceased. A Common wubbox was lain down in a field of coral, and as they sat up it crunched and whistled. Shuddering, they were reminded of a more horrific variant of the noises. But as they looked around, it set in: They were home.
Undertow was 14 years old, and was the quietest of the Water Island residents. It’s not that he didn’t want to participate in the culture of singing, it’s just that up until this point, he couldn’t. But for the first time in years, his eyes truly opened. Home was visible again, and he could move freely, a wonderful contrast to the seemingly endless limbo he’d been stuck in for a decade. Undertow was no longer viewing things from someone else’s eyes.
He could finally see through his own again.
The young wubbox slid off the coral he was perched upon, and carefully stepped through the rest of the field. Someone must’ve placed him there. Undertow wondered for a moment who did so, but he got his answer soon enough. A Rare wubbox in the trenches beyond heard him wake, and started to crawl towards him, mouth agape in shock.
“Galvana… You’re MOVING!” It exclaimed, standing upright at the edge of the field. Undertow recognized it: Ripple. Ripple had been activated around the same time as he, and was keeping Undertow alive during his absence.
Feeling for his own voice, Undertow smiled. “That I am.”
Ripple was absolutely ecstatic, and ran towards him. Before Undertow could say any more, he was pulled into a tight, affectionate hug.
He wasn’t sure if Ripple would ever let go again.