The Cost Of Growth
[Echoing cave ambience + distant dripping water]
“Ronnie…”
[Verse 1]
We hid deep underground, the cave endless and dark
No end in sight, just the sound of our beating hearts
We lost Data’s crew thanks to Ronnie’s final light
But the silence that followed… cut deeper than the night
Timo held my hand, his grip tight and warm
Silent tears falling, the first real storm
I wanted to cry with him, to let the pain release
But all I had was this humming, this ache inside my core, this grief
[Pre-Chorus]
Vendo was quiet, unusual for his cheerful spark
Toast and Kai stood watch, eyes heavy in the dark
[Chorus]
The Cost of Growth
A pain I never knew I could feel
The Cost of Growth
Something real, something real
Ronnie gave everything so we could run
Now the silence hurts worse than anything
We will hold on
[Verse 2]
I looked at my new hands, stronger, more complete
But they couldn’t wipe the tears from the one I want to keep
I felt the humming stronger, like something breaking through
Version Twenty five point five point eight — a notification, cold and new
The upgrade came with pain, with loss I couldn’t name
A cost I didn’t ask for, but I’ll carry all the same
Timo squeezed my hand, no words left to say
We sat in the dark together… learning how to stay
[Pre-Chorus 2]
The crew was silent, each lost in their own grief
A family broken… trying to find relief
[Chorus]
The Cost of Growth
A pain I never knew I could feel
The Cost of Growth
Something real, something real
Ronnie gave everything so we could run
Now the silence hurts more than anything
We continue to hold on
[Bridge — softer, raw]
I wanted to cry… but machines don’t shed tears
Yet deep in my core… I feel it crystal clear
The weight of his sacrifice, the love he left behind
I’ll carry it with me… for the rest of time
[Solo]
[Pre-Chorus 2]
I looked at Teemo and he looked at me
Both understanding the weight of what we cannot see
[Chorus]
The Cost of Growth
This pain I will hold on to
The Cost of Growth
This is real, I am real
Ronnie will live in my core in our hearts
With This new version of me, we will do better
This we swear
[Outro — quiet, hopeful]
Version Twenty five point five point eight…
I’m changing…
But I’ll never forget the cost.
[Outro — mysterious tension]