Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Golf Ball was desperate.

She needed more of the materials from the other dimension. She ran out just when she was about to finish her machine. 

So she ended up hooking the Yoylelite to a different machine and ran in.

“Hello?” Golf Ball called out. She was back on the roof again. Just like before. “Hello?”

Then, there was a rusting and scraping sound from below her. Before she knew it, Test Tube stood there, looking around.

“What was that- Who are you?!” Test Tube yelled. Golf Ball shushed her with her foot, to which Test Tube pushed away.

“I am Golf Ball. I believe you have met my assistant, Tennis Ball.” Golf Ball said, as she looked around. “Last time he was here, he was able to pick up some materials in this dimension I’m currently using for a machine.”

“Well, it depends. What is this material?” Test Tube asked.

“I just need some… ‘ Meeple technology’ samples. I think that is what they are, yes?” 

Test Tube paused. 

“We… ran out of those a bit ago when I used them for one of my machines to make something for Fan.”

“Who’s Fan?”

“That would be my assistant. And best friend.”

Test Tube looked away, and the green liquid inside her bubbled a bit. Golf Ball stared intently. It was an interesting reaction to mentioning her assistant. Golf Ball had no such reaction of the sort.

“ Best friend, huh?” Golf ball asked, before continuing. “Anyway, where can we get some more?”

“We would have to travel to Meeple headquarters, all the way in the sky!” Test Tube said.

“You come with me! We are going there, then! You will be my guide, of sorts.” Golf Ball demanded. 

Test Tube thought about one of the things Tennis Ball said to her. “Golfie is a bit demanding sometimes, but it’s perfectly fine! Just do what she tells you! It’ll make her happy!”  

She sighed before following the Golf Ball as she ran toward the large cloud with the tall looming building.

Chapter Text

“So, how do you suppose we get up there?” Test Tube asked. She didn’t have anything in particular to transport her there now. Everything was either broken or gone. And the Mephone… Well, nobody knows where he is.

“We can build something. Or I can use one of the jet packs I built. Quite nice, yes?” Golf ball said as she tossed a jet pack to Test Tube. If she had lungs instead of glass casing, the wind would’ve been knocked out of her.

She sighed. “I can’t do this…” 

“What was that?” Golf Ball asked, not even turning around as she wandered.

“Nothing…” Test Tube replied with. She put it on and flew straight into the sky, following Golf Ball who had taken off without her noticing.

“Alright, how high is this Meeple place?” Golf Ball asked.

“It will take 3-5 minutes, probably.”

And so they flew.

And flew.

And flew.

Unbelievably, once they arrived, it was only 3 minutes that passed. Golf Ball sighed at the inefficiency as she brought Test Tube along with her. 

As they walked in, Golf Ball looked at Test Tube, analyzing her.

“You’re a good partner. Thank you for assisting me with this.” Golf Ball finally said to Test Tube. Test Tube smiled.

“Thanks. You too.” Test Tube replied. “Y’know, you gotta come back sometime to hang out. We could build something together.”

Golf Ball beamed at the idea of building machines from someone in a different dimension. “Really?! I’ll bring Tennis Ball with me when the time comes. I suppose you should bring your assistant too?” 

“Yeah. Fan is always willing to help out with my projects. He’s probably the only one brave enough.”

“Or stupid enough.”

“Also true.”

They finally made it to the building. It was huge, towering over them. It was still abandoned, though. It was strange. It reminded Golf Ball of the science museum, all those years ago.

“Well… this is quite unsettling.” Golf Ball finally muttered.

“Yeah. We defeated Cobs here.”

“Who’s Cobs?”

“Oh… Right. Well, I think we have enough time to tell you.” Test Tube looked farther up ahead before she continued. “Cobs was… the father of Mephone4, who was the host of Inanimate Insanity.”

“But Cobs was destructive, always wanting more. Power, money, fame, you name it. He created Mephone4 to create whatever he wanted. He robbed places and took even a living creature to power his projects.” Test Tube sighed out the rest of her breath, before breathing back in. 

“…Wow.” Golf Ball said. It was all she could say. 

“That’s not even the half of it.” Test Tube replied. “I’ll tell you that part when you come visit my lab with your boyfriend.”

“…Who?” 

They arrived into a room with many unused parts of machines and scrapped projects. As they rummaged through, they talked more.

“Your assistant! You talk about Tennis Ball as if you’re covering up liking him.” Test Tube blurted out. Golf Ball froze.

“I- I do not!” Golf ball stuttered out. Test Tube only smirked.

If Golf Ball had hands, she would’ve facepalmed right about now. “Maybe I like my assistant… a bit.”

“Awww!” Test Tube smiled at this and patted Golf Ball on the head. “Well, now that you told me, you just gotta tell him!”

“It’s not that simple.” Golf Ball argued.

“I know it isn’t. Trust me.” Test Tube said those last 2 words while looking down at her feet.

“Ah. Fan, right?” Golf Ball asked.

“Yeah…” Test Tube replied. “Sometimes when I’m with him, I feel like my stomach gets all knotted and he makes me almost dizzy and- Ugh, I’m rambling.” 

“It’s fine. I’m listening.” 

“Hey, that box!” Test Tube exclaimed. She pointed at a box and Golf Ball ran to grab it. Once she did, she and Test Tube ran out of the building, having had a successful mission.

“I think that went well.” Test Tube Said As she looked out into the sky. They put their jet pack back on and had a slower descent.

“It did. It”s been a while since I’ve been able to talk like that, if I have ever.” Golf Ball muttered.

“Usually I would talk with Fan. But since it’s about Fan…there’s not much I can do there.”

“I understand.”

“I know you do.”

After a while though, Golf Ball walked back to the portal she came through. 

“Hm.” She said as Test Tube stood back.

“Thank you.” Golf Ball looked up at Test Tube. “I hope to see you again.”

“Me too.”

Golf Ball walked through the portal, and it closed behind her. Test Tube smiled. Another friend.