#techyockingdomcoaster

[techycatartist]

Sandy slept soundly, their hand gripping a blanket— Shellraiser’s jacket— as he floated towards them.

“Thank goodness…they’re still here”, he quietly remarked.

“The things I would’ve done if you had vanished…”

He glanced at the front of the Charging Station.

“I wouldn’t have been willing to come back as myself”.

Shellraiser places his right hand on the Charging Station.

“How do we get out of here?, he thought.

Sandy began pulling their hands away from each other. Cracks quickly appeared from the incision they had made.

“C’mon…!”

A jagged hole emerged from the gap between their knuckles; light shone from within, a faint movement present.

Sandy‘s body trembled due to the pressure, but they soldiered on.

“The fact that they were able to break the barrier at all is commendable…but to be able to do so as it becomes stronger and stronger…shows their determination”.

Shellraiser looks down at his arms— visibly toned as a result of all the exercise he partakes in.

“Sandy isn’t strong enough to do this on their own, but if I were to help…”

Shellraiser’s confidence fades.

“…I would be a massive hypocrite”.

He sighs, leaning up against the side of the Charging Station.

“I stand by what I said to Sandy— their misguided desires, the unknown danger of it all…how it was different from me replicating their actions to find where they had gone”.

Shellraiser felt his mask sag; he swiftly brought his hands to the back of his hair, untying the knot.

“But do I really have another choice?!”

Shellraiser gripped his mask.

“At worst, we’ll die if we go through that Charging Station”.

Shellraiser brought his mask up to his face, making sure to perfectly align the slots for his eyes.

“It could wipe our identities away, or even mash us together as it “creates” a Coasterdroid for this coaster…”

Shellraiser brought the ends behind his head, twisting them together.

“…or it could leave us alone— and lead us back home”.

Shellraiser finished the knot, pulling it tightly.

“I can’t appeal to Sandy like I had tried to dissuade them”.

He swam up, just in time to see Sandy begin to stir awake.

“So I’ll have to try something else”.

Sandy stretched out of their sleep.

“Hm…?”

They noticed Shellraiser’s jacket.

“Did you give this to me?”

Shellraiser smiled; “Yes”.

“…Thank you”.

Sandy gently handed back the jacket to Shellraiser.

Shellraiser took a breath. “So. I’ve had some time to think about some things, and…”

Sandy tensed up.

“I’ve decided to join you in breaking and entering this Charging Station”.

Sandy’s eyes widened, the shock kicking the tenseness out of them.

“What?!”

“Yes, despite my status as the park’s signature coaster, there are many things about myself that I don’t like— that pothole is a particular bother for me. I know I was quick to criticize your way of thinking, but I was only thinking of the negative outcomes”.

“Hey, you know you don’t have to do this because I am, right? I mean, you’re Shellraiser, the steepest roller coaster in the world! I like seeing you as a Gerstlauer Eurofighter, as Takabisha’s twin! Besides, your coaster’s way more reliable than mine…”

“I’m honored by your praise, but this is what I’ve decided for myself— just like you have”.

“Oh…okay then”.

“Don’t worry”.

Shellraiser extended his hand.

“I’ll be with you the entire time”.

Sandy looked away, grabbing their shoulder.

“Okay”.

Sandy returned the hand-shake.

“We’ll do this together”.

Sandy stood in front of the Charging Station, glancing up and down at it.

“You can start it, Sandy. I’ll jump in right after”.

Sandy extended their fingers, holding their hand vertically as they pulled their arm back.

Suddenly, their arm thrusted forward, slicing right through the front. Sandy quickly repeated their actions, bringing their other hand inside the Charging Station. Then, they began to pull their hands away from each other— and a hole began to form.

“Okay…you can help me now!”, they requested. The Charging Station began to drone back at them, a low hum returning to the soundscape.

Shellraiser maneuvered his arms over Sandy’s shoulders, tightly gripping the sides of the broken barrier.

“You pull down, I pull up, OK?”

Sandy gave an affirmative “Mmph!”, placing their feet on the bottom edge of the Charging Station.

Shellraiser immediately felt the power of the barrier as he pulled, electricity blipping through his fingers— though it wasn’t enough to stop him.

“It’s working!”, Sandy exclaimed in-between huffs.

The gap had quickly expanded above Shellraiser’s head, and was currently making its way past his chest. Shellraiser could hear the “conversation” again, echoing from within.

“C’mon Sandy…show me how strong you are!”

“I’m trying!” Sandy could feel their muscles scream in pain. “I don’t exactly have “breaking-through-a-barrier” arms!”

“Then let me help you!”

Shellraiser pulled his right hand off the gap’s jagged edge…only for it to begin reforming. He yelped, quickly reversing his decision.

“Sandy…I can’t move my hands away without undoing my efforts— you must do this on your own!”

Sandy let out a frustrated yell. “Maybe we should’ve swapped directions!”

Sandy flipped themselves around, keeping their hands on the gap. Their back was now grazing the inside of the Charging Station, briefly letting go to reposition their arms.

“That’s it— tilt your head back slightly, it’ll give you more leverage!”

Sandy was breathing heavily; “I’m not sure how much longer I can do this…we might just have to crawl our way to freedom, Shellraiser!”

Shellraiser analyzed their progress— and was hit with an idea.

“USE YOUR LEGS!”

Sandy looked down at their feet; “Shellraiser, you’re a genius!” Sandy pulled their legs away from the surface of the Charging Station, scrunching their body up as they placed the edge of their heels on the gap.

As soon as Sandy began to push down, pain shot through their legs. They yelled out in surprise; “My everything is burning!”

“Push through it, Sandy— you’re making progress!”

At this point, the barrier had moved past Shellraiser’s stomach; Sandy gasped at the size of the gap.

“I think it’s almost enough for us to climb through! Though, you might need to crouch down, Shellraiser.”

“It’s ok, just keep pushing down!”

Sandy began to shuffle their feet into the gap, trying not to lose their grip…or balance.

“C’mon…”

Every movement was strenuous, no matter how little it was— but they were making progress.

“C’mon…!”

Their feet began to tilt towards the inside.

“I’ve...”

Using every ounce of strength they could muster. Sandy nudged their feet forward.

“…got it!”

Sandy placed their heels firmly on the edge of the Charging Station….and felt electricity pulse through their body.

All Sandy could do was gasp.

Pushed back by the force of their launch, Sandy slammed the back of their head right into Shellraiser, who let out a pained grunt.

Everything went black.

The momentum carried them forward, ripping them away from the Charging Station.

It quickly closed, looking no worse for wear.

Shellraiser and Sandy tumbled through the void, unaware of where or when they’d stop.

“Attention, loyal subjects!” A woman’s voice crackled over an aging P.A. system. “Dutch Wonderland, the kingdom for kids, is now open! Once you make your way through the entrance, we’ll check your ticket— and the fun can begin! All patrons are subject to a security check before entering…”

“We’re here”.

RMT looked down at Slime Streak, holding her hand as the two walked past the entrance.

“I understand why you’d want a change of scenery, but you’ll always be welcome at Great Adventure if you ever want to come back”.

Slime Streak gave a small nod in response.

RMT sighed; she hated seeing Slime Streak like this. “They’re going to come back, dear. I just know it”.

Slime Streak turned away from RMT.

“…and if you can’t reach Shredder or Timmy, call me. I’ll get here as quickly as possible. Though I’m sure this is nothing a queen can’t handle!”

“Thanks, Miss Mine Train”, Kingdom Coaster replied. “Though I must say…it’s unfortunate that your 50th anniversary isn’t going too well”.

“It’s not what we would’ve wanted, but we’re making the best of it— though with how silent they’ve been with Flash, I fear that they’ll be delayed…”

“I wonder if the merger messed things up?”

“Well, it hasn’t actually been finalized yet”.

“Maybe it’ll help things, then”.

“That’s our hope. I’d say they should fix the Skyride, but perhaps the company should help the park finish our current refurbishment projects before we start another one. Though I would like to see it run again someday…”

Slime Streak sat off to the side, watching the two converse— but not actually paying attention to what they were saying.

“YOU THERE!”

Slime Streak jumped as a lance poked into her line of sight. She quickly got up from her seat, turning towards the voice.

“I understand that our queen has graciously allowed you sanctuary within the walls of our kingdom, correct?”

“Yes…?”

“Though I admire her generosity, I must notify you that any attempts to harm the queen or her royal mage will be met with physical resistance, courtesy of me— Sir Joust! It is my duty to guard their lives, and as someone trained in the art of the blade— and with Mayhem at my side— don’t even think about fighting back! Do you understand?”

Slime Streak was unimpressed, sitting back down; “Sure, I guess…”

Joust lowered his lance; “Aw, c’mon! You’re supposed to quiver in fear at my awesomeness! It’s no fun if you don’t play along…”

“I don’t feel like playing along, Joust”.

“Why not?”

Slime Streak sighed; “My best friend is missing”.

“Oh…”

Joust sat down next to her.

“Apparently Sandy got stuck inside their Charging Station, and that led to Shellraiser to go inside his to find them”.

“So he’s missing too?”

Slime Streak nodded sadly.

“Oh. That’s bad”.

“It is. It makes me feel…ultra sad. Like, sadder than when you scrape your knee or drop your ice cream. It’s a sadness that doesn’t go away”.

“…Could you make it go away?”

“Well, that’s why I’m here. I needed a break from living in New Jersey. That’s where my sadness originated”.

“Then maybe Pennsylvania will bring you some happiness!”

“I hope so, Joust. I really do”.