Chapter 36; Good versus Evil
Peter was worried. Oh, he was definitely worried. What was worrying him wasn't the fact that he had mysteriously been sent to some kind of forest. Well… actually that also worried him. But what worried him the most was the fact that he appeared to be lost.
"Hello! Is there someone here?" – yelled Peter.
No answer came.
"Anyone?" – asked Peter.
Again, no answer came.
"Not even a good looking woman?" – inquired Peter, feeling a bit hopeful.
If there were any good looking women in the forest, they wisely didn't answer.
"Damn… just my luck." – mumbled Peter.
Peter looked at the forest. It was… well… full of trees. And more trees. And some rocks. And more trees. Oh! And trees!
But no sign of civilization. He was all alone in a mysterious and spooky forest.
He was all alone… he would have to use all of his skills with Nature to survive. He was after all a very experienced Ranger.
Yeah! He was a Ranger! He could easily survive by eating berries and roots… hunting ferocious animals… starting a warm fire…
Errr…
Damn! He was as good as dead.
"Where the hell am I?" – yelled Peter, feeling frustrated by the lack of answers.
"You are inside your own mind, Peter."
Okay! That was strange… someone had answered him. Was he imagining things? Maybe. But who cares? At least he could talk with someone.
"Oh! Really? My mind is a forest?" – asked the Peter.
"It's just a representation of your mind… It is not supposed to be a real forest."
"What? So this is all a sort of… illusions?" – offered Peter.
"You could say that, yes. It's a reflection of your thoughts, of your memories and of your personality."
"But why a forest?" – inquired Peter.
"You are a Ranger, Peter."
"Oh! I guess that makes sense." – agreed Peter.
"No it doesn't. But still here it is, right in front of you."
Well the unseen person seemed to be right, Peter admitted. But… wait a second… if he was inside his mind… then who was he talking to?
"Hey! Who are you by the way?" – asked Peter.
"Me?"
"Are you by any chance a beautiful woman?" – inquired the Ranger.
"I have a manly voice, Peter."
"Oh! Is that a no, then?" – replied Peter.
"Yes."
"You are a beautiful woman, then?" – questioned Peter.
"No… I mean yes… I mean… Argghhh! Damn you and your stupidity!"
"Well… if you aren't a beautiful woman with a manly voice, who are you?" – asked Peter impatiently.
" I am…"
A guy stepped out from behind a tree and looked at Peter. The Ranger couldn't help but feel surprised. What? It couldn't be… but it was… it was…
"… you." – said the other Peter, while showing an evil grin.
Yes! That was it! It was him! Wow!
"By the gods! You are me!" – said Peter.
The other Peter nodded.
"That's what I said." – reminded the other Peter.
"You are really like me! Wow!" – stated Peter.
"Yes, I know it is quite fascinating, but…" – said the other Peter.
"It's like looking at a mirror." – interrupted Peter.
The other Peter gave a sigh.
"Yes, yes… But like I was saying…" – continued the other Peter.
Suddenly, Peter started jumping. The other Peter looked confused and then shrugged.
"Why are you jumping, Peter?" – demanded the other Peter.
"Oh! I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't really looking at a mirror." – replied Peter.
"Pathetic…" – grumbled the other Peter.
Peter started examining the other Peter.
"I think that your nose is a bit bigger than mine, though." – added Peter.
The other Peter grabbed his nose and looked a bit uncomfortable.
"It is not!" – growled the other Peter.
"Oh, it is nothing, I am sure! Don't worry about it." – assured Peter.
"Shut up! We look the same!" – yelled the other Peter.
"If you say so… big nose." – whispered Peter.
"I heard that!" – growled the other Peter.
Peter showed the other Peter a joyful smile. Wow! This was fun!
"Look… Hey, what should I call you?" – asked Peter.
The other Peter seemed to think carefully about the answer.
"You may call me… Evil Peter." – replied the other Peter.
"Evil Peter? Why should I call you Evil Peter?" – asked Peter.
"Because I am the evil version of you." – answered Evil Peter.
"Really?" – inquired Peter.
"Yes." – assured Evil Peter.
"Wow! I have an evil version of me? Are you my evil twin brother?" – asked Peter.
Evil Peter sighed. He knew that Peter was stupid… but Evil Peter had never imagined that he was this stupid.
"No, nothing that farfetched! I am just the part of you that hates doing good deeds and likes running naked in public places." – explained Evil Peter.
"Hey! I also like running naked in public places!" – corrected Peter.
"Oh! Then I guess that I am the part of you that hates doing good deeds." – said Evil Peter.
Peter looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Are you sure that you aren't my evil twin brother." – inquired Peter.
"Positive." – assured Evil Peter.
"Because you and I look very much alike, despite that big nose of yours." – added Peter.
Again, Evil Peter grabbed his nose and looked a bit uncomfortable.
"My nose is not big! And we aren't twins!" – raged Evil Peter.
"Oh! But I have always wanted to have an evil twin brother…" – mumbled Peter.
"What?" – asked Evil Peter, feeling completely lost in all of this dialogue.
"I mean, almost every Hero has an evil twin brother or at least an evil stepmother." – explained the Ranger.
"Evil stepmother? I can't be your evil stepmother!" – growled Evil Peter.
"Then can you be my evil twin brother?" – begged Peter.
Evil Peter glared angrily at the Ranger.
"Arggghhh! Fine! Can I please continue?" – asked Evil Peter.
"Of course, my evil twin brother." – assured Peter.
"Just call me Evil Peter, please." – reminded Evil Peter.
"Evil Peter Please? That's a strange name." – said Peter.
Evil Peter sighed. What had he done, besides evil and terrible deeds, to deserve this torture?
"I hate you… I really do…" – growled Evil Peter.
"Why are you here, then? Ah! I know! You have brought me a gift, haven't you?" – asked Peter, looking very anxious.
"Well… it's a sort of a gift…" – admitted Evil Peter.
"Yeah! What is it?" – asked Peter.
"It's your death, Peter." – replied Evil Peter, while showing an evil grin.
"That's a bit lame, man…" – stated Peter.
"I know. But I am the Villain, Peter. I am supposed to say lame things. And I have to abuse on the clichés." – explained Evil Peter.
"You have?" – asked Peter.
"People expect that from me. For example, I was talking with that smelly guy…" – continued Evil Peter.
"Grayson?" – offered Peter.
"Yes, that's the one… And I was acting all mean and evil… It was mostly clichés. I threatened everyone and their goat, I did the maniacal laugh… I even made Grayson an offer to join me." – concluded Evil Peter.
"To join the bad guys?" – asked Peter, completely horrified by the revelation.
"Yes." – confirmed Evil Peter.
"Did he say yes?" – inquired Peter.
"What? Of course not! That would be stupid!" – replied Evil Peter.
"Wait… Didn't I say yes?" – asked Peter.
"I rest my case, Peter." – stated Evil Peter.
Yeah! It seemed like a solid logic and…
"Hey!" – yelled the Ranger.
"I mean why would I want Grayson to join me? He is a stupid coward!" – said Evil Peter.
"Why did you make the offer then?" – inquired Peter.
"Because I am the Villain, Peter. I am supposed to make that kind of offers. People expect that from me. Seriously, man… read a book or two." – grumbled Evil Peter.
"I read books…" – said Peter, feeling a bit hurt.
"I mean real books. Not the ones that involve little ducks and kittens." – added Evil Peter.
"I like little ducks and kittens…" – added Peter, looking sadder.
"Look… The point is that people expect a certain type of behaviour from the Villain." – explained Evil Peter.
"I am so confused…" – said Peter.
"How can I be so stupid?" – growled Evil Peter.
"Hey, that's easy. I am not even trying very hard." – stated Peter.
"Killing you will be a pleasure…" – grumbled Evil Peter.
That comment seemed to make Peter lost in his thoughts… which was never a good sign.
"I wonder… if you kill me, will that be considered a murder… or a suicide?" – asked Peter.
"Who cares?" – yelled Evil Peter, failing to see the point of this tiresome conversation.
"I care…" – mumbled Peter.
Evil Peter sighed.
"I don't know… murder, perhaps?" – replied Evil Peter.
"Okay, then. Thanks!" – said Peter.
Evil Peter nodded and then started searching his pockets.
"Wait… I almost forgot… I have to tell you about my evil plot!" – said Evil Peter.
"You have?" – asked Peter.
"Trust me on this!" – assured Evil Peter.
"I trust you, Evil Peter. After all, you are my evil twin brother." – said Peter.
"There is an old saying, Peter… perhaps you have heard it before… Inside a good person there is a bad person trying to get out." – continued Evil Peter.
"Nope, I never heard it before." – replied Peter.
"Why am I not surprised?" – grumbled Evil Peter.
"I don't know. Why aren't you surprised?" – asked Peter.
"Because you are an idiot." – mumbled Evil Peter, as if the answer was obvious.
"Yes, that's right. Hey! But you aren't an idiot!" – said Peter.
"Ah! Glad that you were able to notice it." – stated Evil Peter.
"How come?" – inquired the Ranger.
"Because, Peter… I have been given a gift." – explained Evil Peter.
"What? Why did you receive gifts and I didn't?" – asked Peter.
"What?" – growled Evil Peter, that was beginning to have a headache.
"I always knew that our parents liked you best!" – cried Peter.
This was complete madness, Evil Peter thought. That bastard was as crazy as a… crazy guy.
"But… but…" – mumbled Evil Peter.
"I mean here you are visiting your own good twin brother and do you have a gift for me? I think not." – grumbled Peter.
"I am sorry, okay? Next time I will bring you a gift!" – assured Evil Peter.
"Promise?" – asked Peter.
"I promise! Now… can I please continue?" – begged Evil Peter.
"Sure." – replied Peter.
"Thanks! So I received a gift… I received power! Unlimited power!" – yelled Evil Peter.
"Power?" – inquired Peter.
"Dark power! It made me stronger… it made me smarter… it made me more evil!" – explained Evil Peter.
"But… who gave you that dark power?" – asked Peter.
"Who? Who? Who?" – mocked Evil Peter.
"Is there a howl in here?" – inquired Peter.
Evil Peter's eyes yelled "bloody murder". He hated being mocked… especially by himself.
"Stupid joke…" – grumbled Evil Peter.
"I know." – said Peter, while showing a joyful smile.
"The Evil Queen gave me that dark power!" – continued Evil Peter, trying his best to forget about that pathetic joke.
"Evil Queen? What Evil Queen?" – asked Peter.
"The leader of the Crimson Draco Legion." – replied Evil Peter.
"I never heard of them." – said Peter.
"Bah! They are pure evil!" – yelled Evil Peter.
"Yeah, yeah…" – mocked Peter.
"No, really… they are." – assured Evil Peter, feeling a bit uncomfortable with Peter's lack of concern.
"And why would the Evil Queen make you so powerful?" – asked Peter.
"Why? Haven't you figured that out already?" – mocked Evil Peter.
"No." – answered Peter.
"Inside a good person there is a bad person trying to get out, Peter. The Evil Queen has given me the power to get out. And I control your body now." – explained Evil Peter.
"You what?" – yelled Peter.
Ah! Finally! The idiot was scared!
"Yes! For years I was trapped in your mind, not able to control your body! I had to suffer horrible tortures!" – growled Evil Peter.
"Tortures?" – asked Peter.
"Well… Watch you take a bath, for example. I mean, Peter, why do you always eat the soap?" – inquired Evil Peter.
"It tastes like salt…" – replied Peter, looking ashamed.
"It figures… You are sick, man!" – grumbled Evil Peter.
"But…" – mumbled the Ranger.
"But nothing! I am in control now! My body! My will! You are now trapped in my mind!" – yelled Evil Peter.
"But… what about me?" – asked Peter, showing a worried face.
"You? My dear simpleton… you are as good as dead." – mocked Evil Peter.
"But why?" – asked Peter.
"Because, Peter… I am evil. I like kicking puppies… I like doing evil deeds… I like mimes!" – raged Evil Peter.
"No!!!!!!!!!!!!!" – yelled Peter, caught completely by surprised by that last revelation.
"Yes! I am pure evil! The Evil Queen made like this! She was tired of your meddling, Peter! She hates good guys! Especially Heroes…" – growled Evil Peter.
"But… if you kill me, then…" – mumbled Peter.
"Yes, Peter. Your body and mind will be all mine! All mine! Muah-ah-ah-ah-ah!" – yelled Evil Peter.
Peter looked at Evil Peter and then shrugged.
"That's not very nice of you, evil twin brother!" – suggested Peter.
"That's because I am not very nice, Peter! I am evil!" – reminded Evil Peter.
Evil Peter took something out of his pocket. It was some sort of a dark crystal ball. The evil version of the Ranger threw the magical object against a tree and a fire started.
"What? What is happening?" – yelled Peter.
The fire was devouring all of the trees, burning everything in its passage. Soon all of the forest would be destroyed by the cruel flames.
"The fire is destroying your precious forest, Peter." – explained Evil Peter.
"But isn't the forest like… my mind?" – asked Peter.
"Ah! For once you are right." – mocked Evil Peter.
"You are serious, aren't you? You really want to kill me!" – squeaked Peter.
"Bah! Isn't that obvious?" – asked Evil Peter.
The Ranger looked at the burning forest and then at Evil Peter.
"Please! Stop!" – begged Peter.
"No, Peter. I won't stop. You are as good as dead." – mocked Evil Peter as he enjoyed the horrible fire.
Evil Peter looked at the frightened Ranger and laughed cruelly.
"Oh! And by the way…" – said Evil Peter.
"What?" – asked Peter.
Evil Peter was a Villain. He was an evil bastard, with a sick sense of humour. He knew that Peter was as good as dead. But why not mock the idiot a bit more? Why not hurt him where it hurts the most?
"Salt sucks." – replied Evil Peter, while showing an evil grin.
Peter's mouth was wide opened in shock.
"What?" – growled Peter.
"Yeah, I have been thinking… Salt is too much salty. I prefer pepper." – explained Evil Peter.
"Only an evil twisted person would say that!" – said Peter.
"Really? I thought that only someone with good taste would say that." – mocked Evil Peter.
"Salt is way better than pepper!" – added Peter.
The fire was devouring everything in its sight, corrupting the Ranger's mind. Soon every tree would burn down... and then Peter's mind would be completely destroyed.
"Ah! All of you salt lovers should die… and I will make sure of that." – growled Evil Peter, while laughing cruelly.
Peter looked at the fire and then started running towards one of the trees. He had to save it from the fire! It was his only hope! If not his mind and body would be occupied by an evil version of himself that hated salt.
"Cough… Cough…" – coughed Peter, looking desperate.
Evil Peter showed an evil smile. Yes! He was going to win! Nothing could stop him now!
"Goodbye… Peter, the Ranger." – mocked Evil Peter.