Rewritten: 23 May 2014

Originally, I wrote this on paper, and I recently discovered I had intended this part to be somewhat longer. Please enjoy.

(Just FYI, the series was complete at first, but while rewriting, I deleted some chapters and made it incomplete again. I didn't change the status. Forgive me for my incompetence. *bows*)

His fingers brushed my skin; caressing my cheek, tracing the out line of my lips. "Is there nothing that will break down your walls, Rin-chan?" he murmured.

"No one's ever done it, so I suppose not."

He smirked, then rose to his feet. All of a sudden, I felt a strange numbing sensation take over my legs. I gazed down and a scream bounced off the walls; my scream.

The same black goop that had turned Len into this, this tyrant of a demon overlord was, beginning to engulf me

"Toys are no fun if they can't be broken. I can't wait to see you break, Megurine Rin."

I wanted to yell and holler at him, but by then the sludge had reached my mouth. I saw Miku, sneering at me, believing she was the victor. It was a struggle, but I shakily stood up and stared her in the eye.

I was not giving up; not by a long shot. I was satisfied to see her pale, before blackness dominated everything else.

~.~

Where was I? Who was I?

The Labyrinth, a tiny voice rang. The second question had two answers: Megurine Rin and the princess.

I flung my eyes open and my head throbbed with a sharp pain. I touched my temple as memories flooded my mind, one standing out amongst the others: Len-kun.

"So this is your darkness, huh, Miku?" I shouted to the empty space; strangely there was no echo. I had to give her credit; surrounding mewas a darkness so black and consuming I would have been able to see better with my eyes closed.

"Are you Megurine Rin?"

I spun around to see a tiny pinprick of light illuminate the face of the person behind me, like an itty bitty firefly. A mirror? I wondered.

Not a mirror, I realized as the girl lifted her hand to let her firefly light land. She looked exactly like me, but there was something cooler about her expression; I guessed she wasn't the type to fly into explosive, unreasonable rages.

As my eyes grew accustomed to the dimness, I noticed her clothes were similar to mine, except I wore white and she wore black.

"Who are you?" I asked.

She looked up to meet my eyes, and I felt a chill go down my spine. Her eyes were as black as the rest of this place.

She crushed the light, engulfing us both in darkness. Before I could react, she had slammed me into an invisible wall. I felt something encase my wrists and ankles, binding me to whatever wall I was pressed against.

"I am you," she breathed into my ear, her voice reminding me of kids from horror movies. "I'm your worst nightmare."

Then it began.

What was a nightmare in the Labyrinth? Well, imagine every pants-wetting moment you've ever heard, imagine those times where you hold your breath out of fear whatever's chasing you might hear you, those times when you're shaking and trembling but there's no escape.

OK, now multiply that feeling by about a thousand.

I couldn't describe each and every nightmare I faced; even the thought of reliving those horrific moments has left me feeling weak in the knees.

I was so terrified I couldn't even breathe, much less think straight. I was screaming and crying and shrieking and begging without shame for my release. There would be times when I was so tired I thought it wasn't possible for me to be afraid anymore.

The nightmares would stop for a few precious minutes then, but the moment I relaxed, they would start again, drilling into my head that no matter how much fear I experienced, there was always room for more.

During one such break, I found myself thinking, Why?

Why was I fighting, struggling to keep alive? What was the point of trying to fight the fear? What was the point of doing anything really? There would always be fear and despair, and to hope would just prolong the pain.

I felt a hand on my chin, as lips brushed my ear, "Finally."

My chains disappeared, dropping me to the ground. I lifted my head to see the other me holding another firefly light, her hand outstretched. "Isn't it easier to disappear into the darkness, Rin?"

Was it? Would it be easier than fighting?

Everything was easier than fighting. I didn't notice I had lifted my hand to accept hers until a voice inside my head shouted, "Stop!"

I withdrew my hand and put it over my chest.

"Remember your reason for fighting. Remember who you are. Who are you, Megurine Rin?"

I laughed to myself, slowly getting to my feet. I heard the other me hiss and I saw that my body was glowing with soft light. That Snitchy sure knew what to do.

"The princess!" I yelled, and the light spread across the realm. The nightmare howled as she, and the rest of the darkness, lost themselves to the light.

~.~

"How?" a voice growled, shaking with anger. I opened my eyes and saw Len's face twisted with rage.

I glanced at Miku. She was going to pay for that.

"Ba, Ka~" I sang, enjoying the echo. "Since when does the princess actually lose?"

He composed himself, his face relaxing into cruel smirk. "Such an impressive toy. Miku."

"Yes, my lord." A heavy sword materialized in her arms, and she held it out for her master to take.

We were evenly matched, I guessed. I was smaller and quicker than him, and with all my practice slaying demons and whatnot, I was certainly limber.

I watched him take the sword, swinging it with just one hand for good measure. Judging by his ease with its weight, he was much stronger than me, and one blow from him could easily determine my loss.

Rather than nervousness, I felt an odd excitement rush through me. I would defeat him. I would bring my Len back.

He held it up, his eyes narrowed at me. "Prepare yourself."

In a single move, I had drawn my katana. I readied myself, as he charged towards me.

CREDITS!:

For favoriting/subscribing: mirrorsound, ILoveFanfiction-AnimeAdik, Mello3, Kagamine Dream & TheDarkestTalent! Arigato gozaimas!

MissManyFandoms: The book is going to be called 'Crimson: The Color Of Flames'. Sorry I took so long, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Review?

Sparkles X3: Gomen, for causing you grief over Len! I wanted to add more lovey-dovey parts but I already planned the story so I couldn't. Don't worry, Epilogue II will definitely have loads of fluffy RinXLen!

animelover: Gomen, Gomen, I've been so busy lately! Ne, don't eat me, OK? *sad puppy face*

Kodamnation: You welcome! It was awesome and definitely worth the wait.

ILoveFanfiction-AnimeAdik: Miku's fault for that. Sorry it's so short!