The story so Far: What officially began their trip back to the Fabricated World was a dream that told them all they needed to know: Mary's back for revenge but what they don't know is that this time Mary's more determine than ever to get out. Christie hasn't met any of those strange statues and paintings that would normally attack her, only a strange doll that saved her even though it knew Mary would kill it. Christie then sacrifices a petal of her rose to use for her burial mound and then goes on her way. The first challenge overcame involved distunguishing reality from fantasy(quite literally I might add). It took her a subtle push from someone in her dream before she realized what to look for and when she finds the painting and throws it off the wall the scenery faded in around her and a yellow room with many doors replaces it. It is then that Ib and Gary round the corner just to see Christie bending over a picture with both hands on her knees.

Was that too long? I apologize for that XD

Anyway I still don't own Ib so let's get this show on the road!
~T~
(Ib's POV)
"No way!" Christie had just told us her story of what happened so far. Apparently I wasn't the only one surprised that a doll had been killed for helping her, looking at Gary I could see that he'd had some doubts but I didn't have doubts because the grief in Christie's eyes was plain to see. She was trying so hard to hide it but she'd aways been my sister, I knew when she was troubled or depressed.

"Yes way and then...Don't be mad but I sort of gave up one of my rose's petals for a makeshift burial ground." She smiled bashfully pretending innocence but I stared at her shocked and for a moment there I was thinking of blasting her to the sky and beyond but Gary beat me to it.

"Christie are you crazy!" Christie visibly flinched but he wasn't done yet,"You know its dangerous to sacrifice even a small portion of your rose,"crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes he finished with,"What do you have to say for yourself?"

Christie looked up at us with wide and fearful eyes as though just now realizing what she did,"I just...Felt sorry for the doll. It had sacrificed itself for me...Even going so far as to keep my rose safe. I felt that it was my fault the doll had gotten killed..."

Gary deflated at her grieved look and he sighed,"Alright I'm sorry for getting so angry. I was just worried that you were in pain."

That was when I decided to pipe in,"How are you feeling anyway Christie? Especially where coming here is concerned." Studying Christie once again it seemed as if she were better off than I had previously thought. Ever since we were little I had thought that she would need my protection, she is my little sister after all. But already even without me she had met Mary and maturely sacrificed a part of herself in hopes that the doll could rest in peace.

"Don't worry Ib I'm okay!" For not the first time Ib felt guilt at bringing Christie along. Those amber eyes of her looked way too wise but she seemed happy enough at finding them. "Anyway we should get a move on already!"

Before they could say anything Christie had moved off to check out one of the rooms. Gary stared at Christie concerned for a few seconds befoe gripping Ib's hand and rushing them both over to Christie. Inside the room Christie was kneeled in front of writing on the wall.

"Hm? What'd you find Christie?" Gary let go of my hand and went to kneel beside Christie but I couldn't help stare at my hand which seemed too cold without his hand wrapped around it. I could hear Gary bite off the end of a curse and that surprised me enough to go see what all the fuss was about.

Getting down on both knees and smoothing my skirt down in the process I grabbed Gar's arm and Christie's shoulder to steady myself and read the blue words that also looked freshly painted, and still seemed to drip paint. The words said,"Oh its SO nice to see you all again! Let's play another game! This time let's have a treaure hunt!"

"A...Treaure hunt?" Whispered Christie,"Could this be...Mary?"

"No doubt about it,"Replied Gary. I noticed that though he tried to keep his emotions hidden from them, his violet eyes revealed that he was fearful.

I sighed and ran a small hand through my hair slightly mussing it up a little,"I don't want to play by her games but I have the feeling we won't be able to go on unless we do." Sitting back on my heels I wondered, We don't even know what we're looking for though. What do we do?

It was Christie that spoke her worries first,"If this is a treasure hunt then what are we supposed to look for?" She stood up and walked to the door, her blue skirt swishing behind her as she went. Turning to the right and left I could see her eyes moving and I realized they were moving from door to door. Then, obviously done she came back to present her findings,"Including this door there are five doors in all. Whatever we're supposed to look for must be something out of the ordinary right? If that's so then let's go already."

Christie was in a rush to get us moving it seemed. I had long suspected that she'd came with us to this world for a reason other than to stop Mary and my suspicion was more so confirmed when she grabbed both of our hands and hurried us into standing positions. In fact she was just about to rush out when Gary called her back.

"Huh? What is it?"

"Now I know its obvious that we've got to split up in order to be one quicker but we should also know that this place is dangerous,"and here he threw hand gestures around in order to talk about the Fabricated World, "If one of you is in danger yell and the both of us will come running, okay?" He shared a look with both of us making sure we understood.

"Alright,"Said Christie.

"Okay!"

A frown appeared on my face as Gary and Christie left to go explore the rooms. Why couldn't we just skip the treasure hunt and get out of here? Though I thought that question I had to see myself and so maybe you can say the curiosity got the better of me but I had to explore this room fully before coming to the conclusion that we had to do the treasure hunt, because like I told them, I didn't want to play by Mary's rules.

With that in mind I exited the room and continued on to the back of the room where I found five pedestals. The pedestals were almost golden brown in color and looking closer I could see various shapes of indentions where certain items would no doubt fit.

I sighed and thought, I guess we have to do the treasure hunt after all.

But wait...Five? Christie had counted five rooms including the room we had started in yet the only thing that was in there was the writing. Confused I started to turn away when a small rumbling shook the ground, it wasn't enough to make me fall but it still caught me off guard nonetheless.

When the rumbling stopped I noticed that there was a small plaque on the ground in the center of the five pedestals, it must have risen when the rumbling started. Crossing my arms behind my back I bend low to read the words.

The hidden room will only reveal itself to the one whose heart rings true. Solve the challenges laid before you and the hidden path shall be revealed.

Even though the writing was slightly poetic in nature I understood what I had to do to reach the last final room. I had to go through the other rooms first and solve their challenges right? But...The one whose heart rings true? It almost sounds like only one of us would be able to go into that room.

Deciding to put it to the back of my mind I straightened and turned around just to see that there were two open doors. Curiously I crept up to one of them and peeked through the open door. Through that door there seemed to be a maze in a...Dungeon? It looked like a medieval dungeon type maze with the only light to be seen torches hanging on the wall.

Figuring that either Gary or Christie was in there I crept to the other door, which was on the other side of the room. Inside of the room I saw Gary. He didn't seem to be paying attention to anything except a picture frame in front of him. Ib stole a moment to study him noticing how he didn't seem fearful like he usually did but really thoughful. His long slender pianist like fingers cradled his chin giving him an even more thoughful look. His other hand was on his hip and he was unmoving for a few seconds when at last that hand on his hip reached out to pull a puzzle piece out of the frame and switch it with another.

That was when Ib zeroed in on the frame. She tried not to giggle at the challenge laid before him. Gary's challenge was to put puzzle pieces of a Milk Painting back in their right places. She remembered Gary telling her the last time they'd been here that Milk Paintings weren't too fun and then a little after they escaped he'd confessed that Milk Paintings were his pet peeve.

I whispered,"Good Luck," and then turned away. I didn't even have to fear that he would hear me and his concentration would be broken because he didn't react. Or I thought he didn't react any way until I noiced him turn slightly and smile at me before turning back to the painting. I couldn't help but turn red at the smile, it was one of his usual ones but the smile was brighter than the dim lights in this room, cliche speaking of course.

I rubbed both of my cheeks trying to wipe away the rosey blooms. Choosing a door entirely at random I flung it open only to be face to face with an empty room. Well not entirely empty because on the far wall there was a big red button and a sign above it that said "Press me."

With really no options left I stomped towards the button and perhaps my first challenge.
~T~
Well that was kinda anti-climatic huh? I think this is a short chapter but I felt like I should have ended it there. It seemed appropriate :D

Please R&R or I will send the evil monkeys after you! Yes I'll send them after you with a vengence! Not really, cut me some slack it was a joke DX

See you in my next chapter :3