Chapter 10: Everybody Deserves a Second Chance

Randomness went up high to strike at the Master, who swatted him away. He landed with a hollow thump.

Joy watched this and told the other emotions, "Okay, we're going to have to help him. Something tells me that there's going to be one winner…"

"And it won't be Randomness," Sadness mumbled.

"I can agree, Joy, but none of us know how to fight," Fear pointed out.

Joy picked up a scimitar from the pile of scattered weapons and told the emotions, "Okay, so this is our first fighting lesson! The way to pass is survive!"

(AN: Okay, maybe it looks a bit weird to have a bunch of emotions fighting. Well, it's better than what them lemoners do)

Joy shouted a random battle cry and charged straight for the Master. She jumped off the ground and propelled herself to stab his leg.

The Master simply stepped back, and Joy faceplanted on the floor.

"Déjà vu," Randomness commented, remembering the time the two were 'ice skating.'

"We all have our strengths," Joy told him, her voice muffled.

Anger carried a ball on chain, yelling, "DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!"

He swung it at the Master, but instead of swinging at his opponent, it just fell on Anger's foot.

The words Anger used were so horrible it would make this fanfiction rated M.

As Anger was cursing in pain, the Master casually nudged him, and he fell.

Disgust charged from behind him, and attempted to stab the Master's back with a katar. Instead, the Master spun and… what… Spat? Shot a lint stream? Peed? Hard to tell. A giant hole opened in his stomach and something clear and liquidy spilled out. Disgust was covered in it and couldn't seem to be able to move.

Sadness sluggishly attempted to hit him with something like an old-fashioned Aztec club. Unfortunately, she was only a quarter there when the Master noticed her.

"Are you really going to attack me like that?" he asked.

Sadness still carried on as she said, "I'm just too sad to attack you properly…"

The Master simply ignored her from there. He turned to Fear, who was still attempting to aim his bow correctly.

"Boo," the Master said, aiming both of his weapons at him.

Fear yelped and hid behind a shelf.

The Master transformed his weapons back to hands and commended, "This has been fun. Too bad it has to end now…"

"Well, this is it," Anger said. "We had a good run, more or less, did we?"

The Master transformed his hands into two rocket launchers and pointed it at the emotions.

Then he jerked and went stiff. The emotions, confused, looked for a reason why.

Sadness had smashed her club into the Master's foot. Using power or not, that thing was strong enough to throw him off.

"Ow," the Master managed.

Long enough for the other emotions to gain their bearings… except for Fear. He was still unaware of the Master's pause and hiding behind his shelf.

Randomness went high and brought his giant sword down in a straight arc. Joy stabbed the Master's knees while he was focused on Randomness. Anger, given more time as the Master had phased his attention on Joy, dropped the ball of his mace again… but on the Master's foot this time. Disgust then hit his right quadricep and he kneeled down. Randomness tried to swing for the head again, but the Master grabbed his sword and swiftly threw him away, only to get stabbed in the shoulder by Joy. The Master dropped Randomness, who got on his feet again. He drew his sword out, ran at the Master and knocked him down with his momentum. The Master fell on his back and found Randomness's giant sword at his throat.

He gulped and congratulated, "Well, Randomness, you have won. Now end my life in victory."

Randomness's eyes widened and, as he removed his sword, he asked, "What are you talking about?"

"You beat me in a fight. Only the strong survive. I lost. That means you kill me."

"What? Oh, yeah, tell that to those out there who are wimpy. They're still alive. No. The ones who survive are the ones who have friends around them."

The Master pondered at this as Randomness exchanged grateful looks at Riley's emotions.

Finally, the Master said, "I appreciate your kindness. In return, I shall grant you something. You shall be the new Master of Memories, with me at your service. You will have limitless power and be able to watch over humans and their emotions. In addition, I shall allow your new friends…"

"I AM NOT HIS FRIEND!" Anger interrupted.

"…to live and have their human prosper. Well, you shall. Your choice."

Randomness considered this. To be the Master of Memories was basically being the master of living things. He would be unstoppable, and he would never have to suffer through mistakes he made.

Then he looked over at the emotions. His relationship was still a bit rocky with Anger, Fear, and Disgust, but he was still friends with Joy and Sadness. He had gone to Sadness when explaining his time with Insanity, all of the horrible things that had happened then. Joy… the two were always laughing and being… uh… joyful? Point was, the two had become the best of friends.

Randomness looked back at the Master and told him, "No."

"No?" the Master repeated. Angrier, he said again, "NO?!"

"No."

"You dare turn down my generous beyond everything gift?!"

"Yes… but don't get me wrong. I would love to be the Master of Memories, but… I don't think I can control that power myself."

The Master was speechless with shock.

"However," Randomness told him, "I do want something."

"If it is within my power," the Master said respectfully.

"I want to have these emotions' 'mistakes' to be forgiven… and also… I want to stay here."

Once again, he looked over to Joy. She held her hands over her mouth in shocked delight.

In the background, he could hear Anger growl something harsh, but the red emotion didn't object.

The Master got up and bowed respectfully. He said, "I shall allow it. Have fun."

He disappeared into nothingness, bringing all of the weapons with him.

For a while, silence rippled.

Then Disgust broke the silence by saying, "You couldn't have asked for a ride back, could you?"