ReStart.
They had started over.
The trolls, the kids, the dancestors, they had all started over. Not their session, but rather, their lives. There was only one way to get to live a normal life now.
A normal life without the game, without the drama, without the weird talents and abilities and most importantly, without any of the bullshit that the game had brought. No Jack, no Lord English, no Doc Scratch, none of it. They had to start over completely.
Aranea had mentioned that there was an option, but everyone had dissed it, brushed it off, said it was stupid and wouldn't work. But now, as Terezi sat there near dead, she pulled out Dave's phone, which she had kept so furtively, and messaged her past self. Back when she and the others were in labs, exploring, all alive.
"1T'S A TR4P," she said. "DON'T. PL4Y. TH3 GAM3.
W3 4LL D13.
FOR GOOD.
NO GO1NG B4CK.
DO WH4T 4R4N34 S41D.
GO TO TH3 3CTOB1OLOGY L4B.
F1ND TH3 GR33N BUTTON. PR3SS 1T.
1T W1LL R3V3RS3 4LL TH1S. 4LL OF US, 3V3RYON3, W1LL L1VE ON 34RTH. 1N TH3 S4M3 T1MEL1NE.
NO, W3 WON'T R3C4LL OUR L1V3S ON 4LTERN14, B3C4US3 4LT3ERN14 W1LL F41L TO 3XIST.
1 4M NOT 3V3N COMPL3T3LY SUR3 HOW THIS WORKS. 4LL 1 KNOW 1S TH4T 1T W1LL T4KE US TO TH3 CURR3NT UN1V3RS3.
4ND 1T W1LL R3S3T TO TH3 V3RY D4Y JOHN W4S TO ST4RT H1S S3SS1ON.
ONLY H3 WON'T.
TH3 G4ME WON'T 3XIST. 4ND TH3 WORLD W1LL B3 4S THOUGH W3 W3R3 4LW4YS P4RT OF 1T.
1 KNOW 1T'S CONFUS1NG BUT JUST DO 1T, 1T'S OUR L4ST HOP3."
Terezi layed her down, defeated, and hoped her past self listened. She was the last one left. She did what she could. Now all she could do, was wait.
John's alarm went off early Monday morning. It was his birthday. He rolled out of bed, scruffed up his hair, and walked out of his room to get on with his usual morning routine.
He had his hair done, teeth brushed, breakfast ate, and he was heading out the door. Then he remembered something: His phone.
"Hey Dad, I forgot something," John called, walking back into the house.
"That's fine, son. Happy birthday."
John bounded upstairs and swiftly grabbed his phone. 3 new messages.
He walked back out the door, shutting it behind him, and scrolled his messages.
Dave: dude im nervous about jade
Dave: what if she says no
Dave: oh ps happy birthday
Vriska: John, did you get number 8 on our math homework last night? Happy birthday btw.
Something felt different, but John couldn't tell what it was. Like there was something nagging at him, in the very back of his head, but he didn't know what. It was strange, but he decided to ignore it.
Once he was seated in his middle seat on the right of his bus, he replied.
"don't worry dave, she can't say no to a strider. and thanks!" John texted.
Vriska: Joooooooohn. Hello. Problem 8. I need it. Please?
"oh sorry vriska, hehe got caught up talking to dave, and the answer is 413. haha, just like my birthday! :B"
Dave: yeah lets hope youre right
It wasn't long before John arrived at Highlands Middle School. Him, along with all his other friends, were in 8th grade. It was already mid April. He couldn't believe that he was just now turning 13 but would soon be in 9th grade.
The halls were crowded. But as he made his way to his locker, he was able to decipher some people from the mess.
For example, Karkat. It was easy to spot him out, he was the only kid in the hall who was short with black hair. He was looking quite sheepish standing over by the water fountain talking to Terezi.
He could also spot out Rose and Kanaya. Those two were always together, he swore there was something going on between them.
As John made his way down the hall to his locker by the restrooms, the nagging thought in the back of his head grew stronger,
Wasn't he supposed to play a game today?