Are you going to stay in someone’s shadow for the rest of your life? A background character? A pretty partner for the strawberry main? You have been asking yourself these questions often. After Gardenview was abandoned, the toons being left behind…everyone seemed to start to rationalize everything. Their moods, their interactions, even their actions, all dictated from how they acted in that stupid little kids cartoon. They would try to speak to other toons, others who were in denial about this fact, telling them to snap out of it, though, the denial was heavy.

At first…you were in denial too. You were scared. You wanted things to stay the way they were. Perfect, happy. But good things only last so long. You were starting to think for yourself. Think outside of what your brain tries to coax you into thinking. Your “best friend” Sprout on the other hand…wasn’t doing to well. He could see you thinking about it. Rationalizing everything. He wouldn’t let you go.

You were his one thing he had left to hold onto sanity. More than his best friend. He’s obsessed with you. He had been ever since he was created. The show, shows you both together constantly, and he loves that. You felt bad, staying with him and trying to help him, though…you need to speak up for yourself too.

One day, you go to Sprout. Chest heavy, stomach turning, fists clenched to sides. You confront him in your room. You both shared a room which made it worse. You tell him about how you wanted to leave him. How you were sick of standing in his shadow, how you weren’t happy anymore. He just stood there. Eyes hollow. Mouth unmoving. You finish talking, and he slowly walks away from you, going to his dresser. His hands land on a bat that he picks up, before looking back at you. Any sort of sanity in those eyes snapped at that very moment. He approaches with it.