AU: Player's Game (From last year, in case you don't remember, it's where game servers are basically never-ending death games and Sabre was dragged back to one against his will, the Steves keeping in contact with him and trying to get him outta there.)

Context: A morning before the games start, Sabre gets some downtime to talk to his friend via a communication device the Professor sent him.

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[Sabre's POV]

The cold air made me shiver and my fingers were almost numb, but I didn't care. I'm not going to be able to see stuff like this often, just like before...

As the stars faded away, the rising sun painted the sky like watercolors. I watch from my tiny balcony on my similarly tiny dwelling as pinks and oranges and yellows gathered on the horizon, surrounding the great ball of fire that melted away the chilling temperatures of the night. Instead of trees and mountains, large signs and tall buildings in the distance made silhouettes in front of the colorful sky. Leaderboards and game hubs, of course. What else? The gamemasters want to remind us that we're stuck here, pawns in their sick and twisted games. Not in a bustling city or somewhere, somehow, in the natural world.

I know that all that's behind those structures is the edge of their world, and past that the void, the floating landscape surrounded by an invisible wall to keep anyone from jumping into it. But... it's nice to imagine. Imagine that there's a real horizon past the confines of this place. The world might not have been what I dreamed it to be before I entered the Steve Realm, but I would give anything to just be able to go back... back to my home.

A familiar voice suddenly comes through my earpiece, startling me for a moment.

"Sabre? You're awake already?"

It's Light. I take a moment to warm up my hands by cupping them and blowing warm air into them, then respond.

"Yeah, just... watching the sunrise on my dwelling's balcony before I have to go back into the ring." I sigh.

"The Professor's equipment showed that temperatures reach below freezing at night there, why are you outside?" Light asks. He sounds worried.

"The gamemasters make it that cold at night so people don't try to sneak out of their dwellings or not go back to them entirely, as a way to prevent people from trying to escape." I explain, watching as a light blue begins to appear in the sky. "No other places get heat at night, so if anyone is out of their dwelling they'll freeze, and respawn to find themselves in huge trouble. But, it warms up enough to be livable just before sunrise starts. I'm out here because it's like a break from the constant chaos and fear before the games start at eight o' clock. Watching the sun rise is like getting a little bit of normalcy here."

"Yeesh... bet you'll be glad to be home soon enough, huh?"

"Oh yeah. It's pretty, but it's cold as heck out here and I'd really rather be back at my house right now."

"I guessed as much." I hear Light laugh a little on the other end.

"So, what are you doing up and at the lab so early?" I ask, smiling. "Meeting? Somebody not-naming-names blow something up again?"

"Nah, I'm stationed here to help monitor you and in case whoever those 'gamemasters' sent to get you come back to ruin our communication equipment."

"Really? That's a concern over there?"

"Well yeah, considering your history the Leaders figured Professor Red would need a hand keeping you in line."

I start laughing. So does Light, after a minute.

"Screw you, man." I reply, taking a breath.

"What? Am I wrong?"

"Have to admit, Snowball, not really."

"Hey, watch yourself."

"What? Scared the Professor is listening in?"

"No, why? Has he done that before?"

"Considering he digs tunnels under people's houses, I wouldn't put it past him to do that too."

"Pft, true. I should probably quit using his stuff then before he comes in and yells at me."

Just then, a well-known siren blares from every which way around me. Its annoying note interrupts the tranquil morning as the peaceful, calm colors of the sky slowly start fading into the surrounding blue. Some people get up and poke their heads out their windows, grumbling in annoyance at the daily rude awakening.

"I have to go too." I tell Light. "7:30. Time for everybody else to get up so we can head to the game hubs in time. If I'm not there by eight I'll get in huge trouble."

"Alright. Stay safe out there, Sabre. We'll talk again once the game starts." Light replies.

"Let's hope we can figure something out this time." I say.

I hear a small, quiet click, and know that the call ended. Standing up straight and stretching for a moment, I take one last look at the fading colors before heading back into my dwelling so I can find my gear and get going.

I can only hope that today's games won't bring any more pain.