I like this one a lot,, I might make a full peice + the rest of Buzz from it. Anyways I might yap about this AU later (insert image of guy talking to a brick wall). Includes a lot of interdimensional apocalypse stuff, the usual. Just so I can add the talking dinosaur and talking porcelain pig and the force field dog y’know.. the usual
It’s been a day since the turnip burnt. To be useful, Buzz joined a team of scouts to help them explore the terrain more and find better fuel for the ship. The further they moved from the turnip, the more dangerous the terrain was. The scoutmaster mentioned something about heading back and rerouting but Buzz didn’t notice.
All on his mind was fixing this mess he made. Buzz swung the laser blade over a few thick veins. After getting through, Buzz finds himself on a small stream of what appears to be water.
Buzz pulled his arm up and snapped the communicator open, “There appears to be a stream of water, north of the turnip, heading west at normal speed,”.
Buzz carefully moved forward and crouched down to examine the water. If there's a stream, it must lead to a larger water source. There might be something useful for him to bring back to the turnip. Buzz closed the communicator and followed the stream, silently hoping this leads to something.
After what felt like a while, Buzz indeed stumbled upon a vast pond. Buzz scanned the pond. It was blue but the more Buzz looked down, the more the marine life below was visibly foreign and colourful. Before Buzz could open his communicator, he noticed something in the distance. On the other side of this vast pond. Something rotating in the distance. The longer Buzz stared, the more it looked like.. no.. it can’t be..?
Buzz moved around the pond, to try to get somewhat closer to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him. It was.. a house. And that thing that Buzz saw rotating.. was a windmill. How was this possible? This planet should be uninhabitable.
Buzz probably stood there for the longest time, eyes kept on blinking to make sure he wasn’t actually hallucinating. The house looked like it was made of wood but there were no trees in sight. Around the house was a wooded fence. The fence extended out to the side of the house, almost like there was a farm of some sort.
Buzz followed around the pond all the way to the fence. Now that he’s closer, Buzz could definitely see a farm. The house further away, stood silently and proudly. Well kept and seemed like nothing has harmed this building at all. Which could be a good sign, meaning this planet has no extreme weather. Buzz moved closer to the fence, which was about the height of his waist. He gave it a firm pat. Solid.
Buzz looked over the fence and could see weird shiny crystals poking out of the ground. This wasn’t any normal produce… What could it be? Buzz thought over it for a moment before finally but hesitatingly, raising a foot and getting over the fence.
The soil was definitely a little softer, like it had been raked or something. Buzz carefully moved forward towards the shiny crystals when-
SPLAT
Buzz looked down and raised his foot, he stepped on a weird fruit-looking thing growing out of the soil. Slight hidden which was why he missed it. It looked like potatoes, and the one he stepped on was new. Not fully developed. Buzz was about to scrape his foot to get rid of the residue but-
“MY BABY!!!” A shriek from someone.
Buzz stood on guard and scanned the area. No one was around though… where could the sound be?-
“YOU MONSTER!!! DO YOU HAVE NO SYMPATHY!!?!!?!!” The shrieking continued.
The shrieking stopped and now all he could hear was loud crying. Buzz still couldn’t spot a single person in sight. Buzz was now scouting the sky, maybe it was a drone? But nothing was in the air. Buzz looked down this time and that's when he saw it. Or them?
A couple of mature potatoes, one was crying, her tears slowly rolling off the flowers surrounding her soul. This must have been the voice that first spoke. Then the other one looked angry. Buzz shook his head, blinked for good measures but the crying was still piercing his ears and the potato was still glaring at him.
A deeper voice now yelled, “Is that what you invaders do, huh? Kill the natives and take over our home planet?!?! YOU MONSTER!!! YOU KILLED MY SON!!!”.
Buzz checked his helmet, was there a crack? Did he lose oxygen somehow and now he’s suffering from hallucinations???
“OH, don’t make that face, MURDERER!!!” The potato snapped, “I hope this haunts your conscience at night!!!”.
Buzz tuned out the yelling and crying from the potatoes and checked his suit and everything, nothing cracked. There's no warning from the suit itself either. Buzz looked back at the potatoes, was this another one of the planet’s intelligent lifeforms?
Buzz finally decided to address the potatoes, he interrupted the yelling from the one potato, “No, wait- let me explain. I didn’t mean to step on your.. child.. I didn’t-”
“NOW YOU’RE DENYING!?!? I may be old, you ugly ogre but I can still see well!!!” Then the potato spit at Buzz’s boot making Buzz step back.
Buzz tried to talk to them civilly but these potatoes did not want to communicate with him at all. With one crying and the other yelling threats and insults at Buzz. Buzz wanted to try again and gain some information about this place.
“What’s going on here?” A voice behind him alerted Buzz and made him stand guard while pointing his laser at the figure.
A tall.. human? No, that can’t be. A human dressed up as a cowboy of all things, standing tall behind him. When Buzz whirled around and aimed his laser at him, Woody stepped back and had his hand close to his holster.
“Whoa there, partner. Easy there,” he reassured despite being possibly armed.
Buzz looked at this cowboy up and down. There's no way this could be possible. The talking potatoes might be a stretch but this??? A whole human? Or maybe he just looked like a human and was actually a shapeshifter?? Buzz had too many questions.
“Identify yourself.”
The other blinked, “Me?” he pointed to himself unsurely.
Buzz frowned and he moved closer, “Who else would I be referring to?”
“Still here by the way!” The potato yelled behind Buzz which made him groan but he kept his laser pointed at the other.
“Answer the question.” Buzz made sure there was no room for excuses in his tone.
The other pulled his hand away from the holster and put them up, “Ok, ok, the name’s Woody Pride.” he said calmly, “But folks around here call me Woody.” he extended a hand to shake.
Buzz looked at the hand then to Woody. His laser still pointed at this ‘Woody’.
“How do I know you’re to be trusted?” Buzz remained firm.
Woody pulled his hand back, “Ya, I don’t blame you. Shapeshifters do be roaming these terrains.” His hands are now on his hips.
Buzz looked up at Woody, “So you’re admitting to being one?” he questioned.
“What? ME?! No- I’m nothing like them!” Woody said in an almost offended tone as he gestured to himself, “What makes you think I look like one of those creatures?!”.
“Because,” Buzz adjusted his position, “You look too human, and I’d recognise a member of my crew,” he added.
Woody stared, “That’s because I am human.” he looked Buzz up and down, “And what about you, short stack? Are you human?” he countered as he gestured to Buzz.
Buzz, now offended, lowered his laser to gesture to himself, “I am more human-looking than you,”.
“Wow, and what makes me not look human to you?” Woody asked with his hands on his hips.
“Because I’m at least 5’9. Not a 7-foot something like you.” He stated earning a laugh from the cowboy.
“I’m a 6’8 at best!”
“Not to mention you’re easily breathing this atmosphere’s air when signs show this is highly unbreathable for a human,” Buzz added in hopes that this shapeshifter would give it up.
“Woah wait- what?” Woody looked at Buzz, “What are you talking about? The air’s fine.”
“It isn’t, results from the lab-”
“Are wrong. If the air was so dangerous, then how would I be breathing?!” Woody snapped.
Buzz simply answered, “Maybe you’re a shapeshifter.”
“Oh, for crying out loud-” Woody gripped the edge of his hat, “I’m NOT a shapeshifter! I’m a human just like you!” Woody walks closer and gestures to Buzz.
“Thats what a shapeshifter would say.” Buzz eyes Woody the entire time which made Woody groan.
“You don't believe me, huh?” Woody now asked, hands on his hips with an annoyed expression.
“No, I do not,” Buzz affirmed.
They had a staredown. The silence now soaks in around them, allowing the terrain to just exist and make its own music.
“Hey, Woody!” The potato from the ground suddenly pipes up, “The button near his head, it unlocks the helmet thing.”.
Woody’s eyes snapped to the button near Buzz’s neck. Buzz’s eyes widened, knowing exactly what Woody was thinking. Buzz shot a laser towards Woody, making Woody dodge back. Buzz made a run for it, but Woody being taller had longer legs, which made him faster.
Woody tackled Buzz into the soil. Woody tried to reach for the button but Buzz shoved Woody off easily. Realising Buzz had the upper hand in strength, Buzz tackled Woody back. Buzz pinned Woody down with his forearm and tried to choke the air out of him. Woody kicked him off and jumped onto Buzz’s back. Buzz tried shaking Woody off but he had a strong grip. Woody took his chance, balled up a fist and pushed the button on Buzz’s neck.
Buzz heard the ‘click’ of his helmet retreating. He had no protection and the atmosphere’s air was now going to pollute his lungs and he would die. Woody got off of Buzz as Buzz started choking for air. Buzz gripped the edge of his suit, falling to his knees thinking this is it. He was going to die and the crew wasn’t going to find his body because the shapeshifter would eat him.
Buzz closed his eyes, awaiting the feeling of death to slowly get him. But then, it never did. Buzz’s eyes snapped back open. His vision was fine. He could still see clearly. His breathing was fine too. Buzz was confused. The lab results showed..? Then he heard an agitating grating voice. The sound of mocking laughter.
“Oh, you should’ve seen the look on your face!” Woody pointed at Buzz as he leaned forward holding his stomach.
Buzz straightened his back, still on his knees looking at Woody then around him. The potato was also laughing. Now he’s hearing two laughs.
“I- how?” Buzz pushed himself back up.
“I told you, genius. The air’s fine.” Woody straightened up, wiping tears off his face.
Buzz observed Woody wiping the tears off his surprisingly fair and flawless skin, “You find this funny?” he said with mild annoyance in his tone.
“Oh no, I don’t find this funny,” Woody said as he tried clearing his voice but laughter kept bubbling up in his throat.
Buzz huffed as his brows furrowed, “Now you’re being sarcastic.”
“I’m not, I swear!” Woody said but snorted then.
Woody continued laughing again, slapping his knee as he bent down to laugh harder. Buzz observed Woody until he was finally done laughing.
“Ha, I haven’t had a laugh that good in years,” Woody gripped his belt and pulled it up.
“Are you always… this expressive?" Buzz asked as he gestured to Woody’s whole body.
Woody raised a brow, “I’m not expressive, you’re just stiff as a rock.”
Buzz moved forward, “I’m not a rock,”.
“It’s figurative, you idiot,” Woody did the same.
Their noses were almost touching at this point. Both holding their glare, not backing down. Buzz’s eyes suddenly caught something glimmering. He looked down at Woody’s chest and saw a sheriff's badge on his chest.
“Sheriff?” Buzz looked up at Woody, “So you’re in charge?”.
Woody straightened his back, “You could say that,” he says as he tilts his hat.
Buzz made a mental note of that, “How long?”.
“For as long as I could remember.”
Buzz eyes wandered back to the crystals growing in the soil. Woody noticed and followed his gaze.
“Oh, so that’s what this is about?” Woody asked as he walked over to the crystals and pulled a huge chunk of them out.
“What are they?” Buzz asked as he moved a little closer.
“They’re kinda like coal, but last longer,” Woody explained as he cracked the crystal into a smaller piece.
Woody holds up the small crystal shard in his fingers, “This little guy right here can power up a whole tractor.”.
Buzz wondered if that small of a piece could work a whole tractor, he’s sure the crystal is powerful enough to charge a ship. Or maybe, hopefully, the turnip too.
Buzz looked from the shard to Woody then back at the shard, he tried reaching for it but Woody pulled it back. Hiding the shard in his palm.
“Now, what would someone like you need it for?” Woody asked with a curious smirk.
Buzz’s brows furrowed, “I just need it.”
“Don’t we all?”
Buzz slowly started to grow irritated, “I have my reasons, I just need it!”.
“Well, I’m sorry I’m not just giving my stuff willy nilly to some stranger!” Woody’s hand gestured to Buzz.
“You could be some invader for all I know,” Woody said, “I don’t wanna be responsible for this planet’s mass destruction.”
Woody turned around and placed the crystal and the shard back into the soil. His boot gently but firmly pushed it deeper. Buzz watched, silently debating what he should do now. That crystal could be beyond useful to him and the crew.
Buzz looked at Woody now. He’s the only thing in the way. In the way of his key to fixing everything. Buzz doesn’t know Woody that well either. And the chances of Woody still being a shapeshifter are there. Buzz thought maybe it was best he got rid of Woody, it’d be easier. But as quickly as the thought came, it was wiped away. That wasn’t right. Buzz knows he’s desperate but he wasn’t that desperate.
Buzz carefully walked over to where Woody was standing, “Buzz Lightyear.” he started, “But people usually refer to me as Buzz.”.
Woody listened, as Buzz continued.
Buzz adjusted his footing, “I was one of the first rangers to scout this planet to see if it was inhabitable. Me, another ranger and a rookie.”
A gust of wind blows alongside them, “We were under attack. I was trying to bring everyone to safety.” Buzz explained as the memory replays in his mind, “I thought.. I had everything under control.”
“I was wrong.” Buzz’s palm balls into a fist, “The ship went down and now, we’re stuck here.” He looked around the terrain.
Woody was now facing Buzz, listening intently, “Anyone got hurt?” he asked.
Buzz shook his head, “Thankfully, no. But because of me, everyone is marooned on this planet.”.
Buzz finally looked up at Woody, “That’s why I need those crystals.. it’s the only way I can fix my mistakes.”.
Woody opens his mouth but Buzz cuts him off, “I know I’m a stranger to you and you’re not obligated to help me. But please.. help me just this one time.”
Woody looked at Buzz, his expression now softened with sympathy, “You really feel bad, don’t you?” he asked.
Buzz hesitated, but finally admitted, “I failed them. I should've just let them help me, but I didn’t want to appear… useless.”
Buzz felt something warm on his shoulder. A hand. Woody held Buzz’s shoulder steadily. They made eye contact, and it gave Buzz goosebumps. He’s never had a talk like this with anyone before. Especially with somebody he just met.
“I get it,” Woody said softly, “Asking for help is the bravest thing someone can do.”
Buzz noticed how close Woody was. Buzz could feel his face heating up, so he exhaled and nodded as a response. His eyes suddenly became so interested in the soil.
Woody gave another pat on Buzz’s shoulder before pulling away. Buzz kept his eyes to the soil.
“Catch.”
Buzz’s head snapped up and he caught it instantly in the palm of his hands. He opens it and sees a shard. Buzz looks at Woody.
“I don’t know how much you need. But I’m sure you and your little crew would like to do some research first,” Woody smiled.
Buzz was speechless. He couldn’t find his wording but did manage a smile.
“If you ever need more. Don’t be shy to come on over,” Woody says in the most casual tone with a hint of tease.
Buzz secured the shard and then turned to Woody, “Thank you.”.
Woody tilted his hat, “The pleasure’s mine, partner,”.
Woody turned to the house, glanced back at Buzz, “I’ll see you later, space ranger.”
Buzz huffed out a laugh, “Until next time, sheriff.” which made Woody laugh too in the distance.
“You’re still a murderer.” The potato in the ground glared at him.
“I’m so sorry, I really have no intentions of-”
“Just leave.”
Buzz awkwardly nodded, “…right,”.
Buzz hopped back over the fence and made his way back. The further he goes and the smaller the windmill becomes, Buzz looks back one last time.
