Archive of Our Own ^beta

Rambley knew they both needed a well deserved rest!

When he opened his eyes, it was day. He supposed that is how time often works! Plus it will most likely be much easier trying to get the park started back up with everything all bright! Now where’s his buddy?

Then an alert at the entrance at the park showed up. He hopes they didn’t decide to leave! He’d understand if he did but still panic set in. Then another alert… then another, and another.

Moving to the screen in the front he saw what he hadn’t seen in years.

Crowds of people, all waiting neatly at the front gate, decked out in indigo park merchandise, and ready to come on in!

Looking at the date in his system it was the past. Before the parked close.

He couldn’t help but smile as the clock chimes and he yelled into the crowd “welcome to indigo park!!”

Cheers from all ages, and the rushes into the park.

He remembered everything so well yet still fumbled from his excitement as he switched from being in the train ride, to the information kiosk convincing guest to buy their product, showing up on some other screens just to say hi!

The day went by so fast, as he recited everything he had been longing to do again for so long the whole day.

Then the park closed down. He sighed and closed his eyes.

When he opened he was no longer in the park. As he saw the cartoony outdoors he couldn’t help but smile.

He remembered this! Everytime the park closed he’d be sent to a world with all his friends, they’d get into silly situations, and have fun chats then they’d all go to bed and in the morning the park would reopen and he could chat to all the customers about his day and friends! When the park closed down he stopped coming there. He’s not to sure what it actually is in the theme park, he thinks it might just be a tv show, or maybe it just happens so he can talk about his friends and seem much more real to the guest in the park!

It makes every trip to indigo park so much more special! It’s always different, he almost forgot about it! He was only able to talk to his new buddy about the theme park and what he remembered from his friends before. But now he’ll be able to do so much more!

He walks in the woods to where he knows his friends are, grabbing some rambleberrys, could this day get any better! He hasn’t had some in forever!!

He walks with a smile, til it suddenly falls. There goes his good day! Of course Lloyd is the first person he runs into.

“Hey Lloyd.” He sighs.

“Now now! SAY MY FULL NAME!” He yells.

Rambley doesn’t “bye Lloyd.”

He walks off without a second glance.

Yet Lloyd follows “now now! Don’t pretend like you don’t respect me!”

“I don’t need to pretend.” Rambley walks faster, not making eye contact.

Yet Lloyd STILL follows “that’s not very nice! What would you all do without the AMAZING LLOYDFORD!!!” He grins.

“Be happier.” He mumbles.

This is rambley first day back, he doesn’t want to waste it with Lloyd!

Lloyd pauses, but doesn’t stop following him. “admit it dear rambley! I’m keeping this friend group together, after all you’d be so bored without me!”

“Lloyd. I don’t like you. You are not my friend!”

Lloyd gasps, and overdramaticly puts a hand to his forehead.

Rambley knows that’s harsh, but he’s friends with everyone! Except for Lloyd.

Now when rambley walks off Lloyd doesn’t follow.

Maybe he could’ve talked to Lloyd more, but he wanted to talk to his friends first, hopefully this isn’t a show, because if he had an episode with Lloyd he just ruined it!… a part of him can’t help but wonder if maybe that’s the reason the park closed. Maybe he accidentally did something off script! That would be horrible! But that’s highly unlikely, he’s programmed to follow a clear set path, he couldn’t derail from it if he tried…? Could he?

He shakes his head, he better meet Mollie or Finley soon! Then everything will return back to normal.

Speaking of which, he thinks he remembers this lake! “Finley!!!” He shouts.

The water ripples, as a head pokes out. Just how he remembered him! “Hello rambley” he says in a deep voice. “How are you….”

“I’m doing great buddy!! Got any adventures for us”

“No….. I just want sea shells….”

Rambley laughs “I should’ve expected that! Well I’ll leave you too it! I’m going to meet up with Mollie. You’ve seen her?”

“No… I’ve only seen Lloyd… he’s been pacing around here, scaring the fish”

This better not be a Lloyd episode….

Either way rambley smiles “thanks buddy!” He skips along. Hopefully he can find Mollie before it gets too dark.

Though it’s still morning, he has time to pick a few more rambleberrys!

He walks to where he knows Mollies barn is. A skip in his step.

Til suddenly he hears an all too familiar booming voice. “Oh here he comes too-! Protect me Mollie!!”

ITS LLOYD AGAIN?!!!

Mollie stands up in front of Lloyd.

“Are you sure …?” She then asks Lloyd.

“They must’ve!“ Lloyd responds.

At that Mollie nodded “hey! Don’t come any closer! Where’s Salem!” She shouts to him.

“Mollie? Why would I know where Salem is?” He laughs as he continues walking forward! “I just woke up!”

“You don’t look at purple-y… but don’t think that’s lowers my guard! Only someone Salem has taken over would deny friendship!!!” She then says.

Rambley pauses. Then laughs. “What? Oh no no! You’ve got it all wrong, I love friendship! I’ve just never been friends with Lloyd.

“SEE WHAT I MEAN!!” Lloyd says dramatically.

“Well-“ she looks at both of them. “I mean I know you two have never liked each other! But I do see what you mean.” Mollie says, letting her guard down. “Sorry for the scare rambley!l she says.

Maybe rambley was a bit too harsh! But even then he’d rather not apologize to Lloyd of all people!

“No worries” he says. “Sorry for the confusion”

“Aw it’s okay,” she smiled.

“Have you been working on something Mollie?”

Lloyd scoffs. Then a sound is heard.

“…did someone say Salem!!”

“Oh no!!” That’s not good! Rambley didn’t want to have to deal with them on his first day back. “Salem!! Get on out of here!”

“Nah. Why would i?! Clearly you all want an encore”

The last thing rambley needs is seeing his friends all messed up again! A part of him wonders if maybe that’s what happened! Is that why Mollie tried to attack his buddy before they… stopped her… was it really salems doing! Are they why the parked closed down?!

If so that means he could stop it….

But the mascots weren’t all purple when he saw them before… and there’s no way they could make the effects last out in the park… right?

Rambley doesn’t actually know what happened… and if this is just the past then that means the park is bound to shut down again! And he’ll be alone for years!

But if someone else remembers surly it won’t happen! Even if it’s one employee they’ll try their best to make sure the park stays in tact… but the others don’t seem to remember… what if it’s just rambley! He can’t fix this.

Then another thought pulled at his mind. What if his buddy is somehow still in the future! Alone! And abandoned. He thinks they’d probably just go home, and even though it pains him to know the park would bever be fixed the alternative is his new buddy continuing and getting hurt! That’s not good at all!

“Finally rambley the rambler is quite!” Salem laughs.

He looks at them.

“Rambley?” Mollie asks. Much more concern in her voice then he’s ever heard before.

“Sorry!! I was just thinking about the park! You know how it is! I love it so much I get lost in thought!

Salem laughs. “Oh c’mon, no one even cares about your park!”

Mollie quickly said“that’s not true!! We make so many guest happy! And people love working there!”

“Please the people there just want a quick laugh and money! Right rambley”

“No!” Rambley says quickly.

“And if I win this it will all be rumble! I’ll take out the park, and all of friendship! And I bet no one would care that they haven’t heard from you all in years!

Mollie gasped. “That’s a horrible thing to say Salem! And just plain untrue.”

Rambley didn’t say a thing. Maybe they did win. But it felt worse than anything Salem could do.

“And rambley? How does it feel knowing your park and friendship mean nothing?!” They laugh!

“Well- I would care! And I know one other person would come to check on us as well… even if no one else did…”

Salem gives him an odd look. “And if you weren’t there to care?”

“Well…. Then I don’t want anyone coming in in case they’ll get hurt, but I’m sure we’d live on as joyful times in the peoples pasts!”

“Whatever! I’m here for a fight anyways. Mollie won’t you be a dear and come over here”

“Never!”

“Fine! Guess I’ll just use squirrels again!!”

Lloyd was gone at this point, no one knew when he left but it had to be a while ago. That left Mollie and rambley to fight those squirrels. And of course they won!

Soon Salem left, and it was just Mollie and rambley. He missed her!

“Hey rambley?” She said. “I think more people care about the park then you’d think! Look at how many people come in smiling everyday. I’m sure if we ever closed there would be crowds of people trying to come in and help out the park.” She smiled

“Oh… thanks Mollie”

If only she knew.