SSFL Gaiden: Rain World High

Monk had been wandering the area around Five Pebbles and Looks to the Moon with no way out, with no other Slugcats, for over 500 cycles. he has become battle-hardened and has a pet Blue Lizard and a Grapple Worm, and has settled down in the Sky Islands. every cycle is the same: hunt Eggbugs, go around in a circle, feed the Lizard, that sort of thing. not even latching onto Popcorn Plants brings him any joy any more. he wanders the Sky Islands, wondering why he could never find his sibling, Survivor, when suddenly, a gust of wind appears behind him. he turns to look at the strange object, but just as he could catch a glimpse, it teleports away. a... Vulture egg? why was it floating, had limbs and a face, and was really big? was it a Miros Vulture egg? but even those don't have limbs and a face, nor are they floating! why did he just hear a laugh? suddenly, the fur on his back stands on end, as thunder strikes, but no Rain falls. something isn't right... "Hey." a strange voice from behind him says. wh-? Monk turns slowly. what could possibly- the vulture egg? but how? "Yes, I know what you're thinking, 'how could a vulture egg possibly have such anomalous features and be so large?'" the egg says, before adding: "Well, I am NOT a vulture egg. I just happen to look like one. Name's Bumpty, by the way. Flumpty Bumpty." Monk says nothing, for he is so scared he can hardly move. Flumpty continues: "Listen, I know you want a way out, but I can tell you now, that the Void Sea won't offer you a way out. When you wake up, you will just come back, as if nothing ever happened. But I have a solution." Monk musters up the courage to speak. "I-I..." Flumpty says: "I understand, it's hard to talk to strangers." Monk proceeds to actually say something. "no, it's not that. its just... i already know the void sea won't provide me the death i seek. i already tried it, and i woke right back up again..." Flumpty says: "Like Sleep, Like Death, you will wake up again, as if it had never happened." Monk says: "so, what's the solution, Flumpty?" Flumpty says: "Come with me." they walk through... a portal? Flumpty and Monk then walk through a black corridor, with only Monk's Neuron Fly-based bioluminensence providing light. they approach the end of the corridor. Flumpty says: "And here we are!" Monk says: "where is here?" Flumpty says: "Oh, nothing, just a simulation of a late 90s city, except inhabited by Slugcats instead of humans." Monk says: "what's a human? what are the 90s? and what is a sim-" Flumpty shuts him up. then Flumpty says: "You serve a special role in the simulation, for you will be the one who knows that he is even in a simulation in the first place." then Monk gets put into the city simulation, late at night. he goes to sleep, not knowing, that not only can he not escape once he does that (death resets you to the last place you slept), but that tomorrow is a sunday. *Scare Chord!* As Monk falls asleep, the city simulation comes alive. The streets light up with neon signs, and the hustle and bustle of the city can be heard in the distance. Monk wakes up to find himself in the middle of a bustling street, filled with people going about their day. But something seems off. The people are all wearing the same clothes, and they all seem to be following a set routine. Monk realizes that he is stuck in a simulation, and he has no way of escaping. To make matters worse, it's Sunday, and the city seems to have shut down. There are no taxis, no public transportation, and all stores are closed. Monk must navigate the empty city to find a way out before it's too late. He begins to search for clues and finds a small cafe that is still open. The cafe owner tells him that there is a way to escape the simulation, but he must solve a series of puzzles to unlock the exit. As Monk travels through the city, he must solve riddles, outsmart puzzles, and avoid traps to get one step closer to escaping. Time is running out, and he must use all his skills as a detective to solve the mystery and find his way out. As he finally reaches the end of the puzzle maze, he comes face to face with the mastermind behind the simulation - a rogue billionaire who has been testing his new technology on unwitting victims. With his detective skills, Monk manages to take down the rogue billionaire and escape the simulation. Exhausted but victorious, Monk finally wakes up in his own bed, safe and sound. that was just a dream. Monk wakes up in a cold sweat at around 8:00 am (they have no sense of time beyond how much longer before it rains, but they have human clocks), to find HIS WHOLE FAMILY at the kitchen table. he is confused. did Flumpty get to them first? do they know the world isn't real? he hugs his older sister, Survivor, because he spent years looking for her, and he finally found her. not where she was expected to be, but somewhere. for a moment, the world fell silent, as if the two who had lost each other had finally found eachother again. they don't know that their little sister Worker is giving them a dirty look. As they sit down for breakfast, they catch up on everything that has happened since they last saw each other. Survivor shares the harrowing story of how she managed to survive in the unforgiving world of Rain World, using her intelligence and resourcefulness to overcome countless challenges. Monk is amazed at his sister's bravery and intelligence and feels proud to be her brother. Worker, who has been quietly listening, finally opens up and admits that she was wrong for judging Survivor and not understanding the risk she took for the family's sake. The three siblings reconcile and vow to work together to overcome whatever challenges come their way in the uncertain world they live in. As they finish breakfast, Monk realizes that his family's visit is a sign that he needs to leave the safety of his home and explore the world outside. He knows that it will be dangerous, but he is determined to venture out and find his own place in the world. With his family's love and support, Monk sets out to uncover the secrets of the city and forge his own path in the world.