Yoshi Party[Tf/TG Apocalypse Story]

“I know she said not to bust up the jeep, but how could she even tell? It’s missing a front windshield and the windows don’t even work,” Ryan comments, leaning over the steering wheel as the field medic slowly holds his hand against the front windshield's missing spot.

“It is cleanly removed though at least," the medic replies, jumping out onto the cracked asphalt. "They take good care of the vehicles we do have.”

The open-top Jeep grinds to a complete halt in front of the medium-difficulty apartment complex, pulling you out of your daydream. Phillip glances back at you from the front seat with a cocky grin. “The zombie lives~” he teases, noticing you finally moving.

“Just preserving my energy is all, you should try it!” you offer with a laugh, opening your door and hopping out onto the dusty, post-apocalyptic street. Your squad gathers around the hood of the car to quickly map out the building.

“Same plan as usual, everyone," Ryan says, pointing up at the concrete structure. "Two up, two down, meet in the middle. Support each other where the other one fails. You two head to the top, and we’ll take the bottom. Don’t hesitate to use your walkies, but do your best to stay quiet obviously.”

Phillip throws a casual arm around your shoulder, giving a confident thumbs up. “Let’s get it done!” He slips away, jogging toward the rusty metal fire escape staircase on the side of the building. You check the cylinder of your revolver, adjust your heavy backpack, and march up the steps right behind him.

You notice the fourth-story window is already shattered, providing an easy entry point back out in case of an emergency. Phillip continues up to check the fifth floor, leaving you to shine your flashlight through the broken fourth-floor glass. You slip your respirator mask over your face to protect against the rampant mold, unlock the frame, and quietly step onto the dusty carpeted floor of an old living room.

Your heavy boots kick up faint clouds of dust as you glance around, your flashlight beam freezing on an old CRT television. Plugged into the console beneath it is a retro game cartridge, completely pristine despite the decay around it. You crouch down, wiping the dust off the label to read the bubbly, colorful text: Yoshi’s Party Game.

You tilt your head in a daze, your hand moving completely on its own to grip the plastic cartridge. The moment you pull it up, a sharp, vibrant blue spark arcs out from the console, zapping your palm with an intense, stinging burn! You gasp, pulling your hand back—only for a violent flash of digital static to flicker right across your eyes.

[Yoshi (2) joined your party~!]

You blink in total shock, but the bright text remains glued to the bottom left of your vision. A faint, distant sound begins to echo directly inside your skull... trumpets... drums... preppy, loud stadium music, growing louder with every heartbeat. Your skin suddenly feels strangely tight, and a warm, heavy pressure begins to bloom deep in your belly. What do you do? Do you call out to Phillip, try to drop the cartridge, or step out into the hallway as the game begins?