Chapter 11: Your Helping!

Deceit woke up with a shiver running through him, which was odd to say the least. He did not remember even going to bed, the memories he did have from last night revealed that he had indeed been hit in the head and was now waking up cold and uncomfortable. But there was also something very warm and comforting wrapped around him and hugging close to his right side. He turned his head slightly to see who or what his small heater was and only frowned slightly in seeing that it was Remus. Remus was w the one keeping half of him warm be wrapping around him with both arms and legs. The little Duke was snoring softly as one of his arms hugged a toy octopus close to himself and his other arms was thrown across the Snake Halfling in much the same way. Reach to try and dislodge the Creative Sides grip, revealed that not only was he trapped in a sleeping Remus's arms, but he was tied up with his arms pinned to his side and in a sleepingbag. Deceit let his head drop back onto his pillow and sighed a little frustrated. He wasn't unfamiliar with being cuddled. Virgil would like to cuddle after waking in the middle of the night sometimes, but it was something he refused to make a habit of, Deceit wasn't always going to be there whenever the Anxious Side got scared of something. They were all going to grow up someday. Deceit was painfully aware of that fact, and he too was only a kid, there were somethings he would be unable to provide.

So, despite the ropes keeping his arms out of service, the Snake Halfling began wiggling slightly to slowly slide himself from the young Dukes arms. If he ever felt like a snake before without shifting, it was now. He was halfway out of Remus's arms before the he began moaning in his sleep, causing Deceit to pause in his slow escape. Remus's eyes blinked open, sleepily before closing again. Deceit stayed still a few minutes longer to be sure the Duke was still asleep before squirming the rest of the way from Remus's arm. However, once he was free he paused again and glanced back at the Duke. He was almost out of his sleeping bag when the little Duke moaned again his arm reaching out and grasping where Deceit had once been laying. "Dee…..?" Remus moaned. Deceit found himself holding his breath.

Remus's head lifted slight his eyes only half open and glowing green, for a moment Deceit was sure he was awake, is not for the fact Remus's was not bouncing around yet and rambling. The sleeping Duke was still moving his arm, but Deceit was no longer looking at the arm, or the glowing green eyes on the sleeping Duke. No. The Snake Halflings attention had moved to the silhouettes moving behind Remus, and they were growing bigger and snaking their way over and around the Duke, revealing the silhouette to be tentacles. Deceit hissed threateningly without thinking the closer the tentacles came to him and he could wiggle himself away fast enough to get away. What if it was a monster Remus had conjured to play some twisted game with Deceit. The slimy things wrapped themselves around the wiggling Snake Side and pulled him back to Remus's, who in his sleep released his hold on the toy octopus and instead hugged himself closer to Deceit in a crushing hug. His half lidded glowing green eyes, fading back to brown and closing with a content sigh as he buried his face in the Snake Halfling's neck. Which wouldn't be so bad, if the tentacles weren't tightening themselves more around Deceit. It was too much, too close, and too tight. "I'm ….mmyou." Remus mumbled.

Another hissed escaped the young Snake Side as he try to wiggle and loosen the hold on him. "Let go…." He hissed, trying to make himself sound calm and not bothered, but failing. The slimy tentacles kept twirling around him tighter, some loosening while other tightened in a certain rhythm with Remus's breathing, preventing him from getting away.

"Mnom..." Remus mumbled.

The tentacle closest to Deceits face loosened and tightened, the end of it stretched and seemed to lengthen to where it started twirling itself around his mouth. Now Deceit sis not like that. He tried move his head away, to try and somehow shove the tentacle with his chin, but that didn't work thanks to the suckers. After one more tighten squeeze from the tentacles and the tentacle on his mouth actually began invading the young Lying Side had had enough and bit the green and slimy tentacle, but was careful not to use his fangs. /

Remus's eye snapped open and the tentacle seemed to snap back behind his disappearing from sight. The young Duke and Snake Halfling looked each other in the eye, Deceit giving his best glare with a slight scowl and arched eyebrow. Remus merely look sleepy and surprised. Deceit was about to demand Remus explain himself, but never got to say a word when Remus started sneezing in rapid secession in Deceits face, the sneezes finishing off with a very wet sniffling from Remus.

Deceit blinked rapidly and ignored his first reaction which was to get angry. "Bless you." He mumbled. He had never been sneezed on before. And honestly really didn't know how to act.

"I'm sick.,,," Remus mumbled, dropping his head on top of Deceit chest and hugged him closer. "I'm sleep more and let the rat eat our bones."

"Ratsss!" Deceit hissed, scanning the floor. He didn't like the thought of rats on scurrying on him. Another shiver ran through him, and that on top with the threat of vermin might be around he found himself on high alert.

"Go back to sleep." Remus said, rolling himself on top of Deceit, in a bear crushing hug and sneezed again.

Deceit sighed and let his head drop. "You don't need to eat." He said, feeling a little hungry himself.

"I wanna sleep with you." Remus countered. "Just a little boogers and mucus."

"Don't eat something and forget the I need to eat too." Deceit reasoned.

The Creative Side lifted his head and snapped his fingers to bowls of something brown and lumpy materialized beside them. Remus pulled Deceit up with him and yawned. He propped the Snake Halfling up and picked up both spoons. "Say 'aawww.'" Remus said, lifting the spoon to Deceit, who kept his mouth shut and shook his head. He could smell the whatever it was on the spoon and it smelt burnt and Deceit couldn't tell if he smelt fish or apple in the brown sludge on the spoon. Remus gave him a confused look as he put the spoon down and looked at the bowls he had conjured. "Can you make something better?"

"No." Deceit said. He really hated his backward talk came out sometimes. It was struggle to control it sometimes and for some reason around Remus, it got worse. "Do you even have a kitchen?" He asked.

Remus tapped his chin thought for a moment. "I didn't think about that when I made my castle." He mused.

"So I am in a dungeon in the imagination." Deceit said, and if his arms were free he would have crossed them in a sign of annoyance.

"Yup!-Aachoo!" Remus nodded with a sneeze. "I took you once I could get past the barrier that was keeping me away from your place." The young Duke smiled proud of himself.

"That was me." Deceit said.

The smile on Remus's face disappeared. "Why?" He asked really confused. He and Deceit were friends. Why would Deceit keep him away?

"You and your brother should not be separated. You are both Creativity." Deceit explained.

"Bullshit!" Remus spat. "Roman will do just fine with the others, but for me they are boring. I rather spend time with you. I see R everyday in the imagination. And its just not fair that Roman can live with his friends and I can't live with mine!" Remus argued, standing up and stomping his feet.

"It is not unreasonable to want to keep sibling together!" Deceit yelled back. Although something in the back of his mind were telling him that it probably wasn't smart to get in an argument with the boy who had him tied up and in a cold dungeon.

"Well, I'm not going back! And you staying with me! If I can't live with you on your side of the brain, then you are going to live with me here!" Remus shouted, a big sneeze following after.

"Untie me and do not stop being ridiculous!" Deceit scoffed, somehow managing to get to his feet without his arms. Did Remus not understand that living with the other Creative side, Morality and Logic he would be able to influence Thomas more.

"I can be ridiculous if I want to. I rule here! I'm the Duke!" a length of rope manifested itself from the coils pinning Deceits arms to his side and to Remus clenched hands. "And we're going to the kitchen." He huffed, and lead Deceit from the dungeon by snapping his fingers, the door unlocking and opening by itself.

"Thought you said you didn't have one?" Deceit asked, rolling his eyes but began following Remus. It was too cold in the dungeon and the Snake Halfling would rather be anywhere else if it meant getting away from the cold. And if he followed willingly a lot closer to the other boy it was because Remus radiated heat like a furnaces that Deceit just wanted to be near. Of course he could be feeling the fever coming from the other boy too. It hadn't escaped his noticed that Remus did indeed have the sniffles like he stated before. And based on those bowls he conjured, didn't know how to make eatable food. So suppressing another cold shiver that threaten to run through his body.

"I just built one." Remus said, sounding proud of himself.

Rolling his eyes again Deceit decided he would play along with the Creative Sides antics for a little while. Maybe he did go over board in preventing Remus from moving his room back, sooner or later the young Duke would realized he wouldn't want to hang around a Side like Deceit. A literal snake of the mind. Deceit did not want another side he had to hide away from Thomas, because their jobs were viewed as bad. Remus was Creativity and Deceit didn't see any reason as to hide away a part of Creativity. "Then please lead on, oh Great Duke." He snarked, as he followed along.

Remus already losing himself to a happy tune and a few sneezes as he lead the way.

(Virgil)

"Do not fear dear citizens! I will vanquish this beasts!" Roman declared, as he and his white pony charged forward as goo like creatures creep forward, everything they touched turning black and gooey just as they were.

Virgil watched from on top of a hill with his hood up and over his eyes, as the Prince met the monsters head on and with one swing of his blade vanquished the sludge looking monster and returning them to nothingness. Virgil watched the battle anxiously, worriedly biting his thumb nail. He couldn't understand how the Prince could be so confident and brave when going up against creatures that could cause serious damage. But he didn't dare show his presence to Prince Roman. Not after Deceit had gotten rid of the stupid deforming apple that Virgil had not meant to take. He had been punished to his room for a whole day after that and didn't want a repeat. That day had been bad for his own anxiety and he didn't want to make Deceit hate him by getting in trouble all the time.

So, today he decided to venture out on his own. He had been following the Creative Side around all day, trying to find the perfect time to leave his gift where the Prince could find it. He had made an apology gift for the Prince to try and make up for their past encounters and hopefully make a new friend. Even while battling the boy Prince seem to sparkle and glow. Virgil exhaled the breath he had been holding when the monsters were all gone. Roman had then dismounted and was examining the leftover goo. Virgil didn't really understand why he was doing that, but maybe it was just something the Creative Side liked doing.

Keeping himself low to the ground Virgil began creeping closer, gripping his hastily wrapped gift in one hand. He tried to ignore the thoughts bouncing around in his head that warned him that the Prince was going to run him through on sight. That his gift was not good enough for someone like the Princely Side.

Turn around you idiot and go home.

He's not going to like it.

He already hates you.

Your going to get in trouble and then Deceit will hate you too.

Your going to get a sword in your gut.

Stupid.

Wimp.

Coward.

Evil.

Virgil shook the thoughts from his head. They were just in his head. He could make up for past mistakes. It didn't matter if the Prince didn't like him as long as he was able to greet him properly.

"Hey!"

The loud voice behind him called out causing Virgil to shout out in his double voice that Deceit had deemed his Tempest Tongue. His grip on the gift fumbled and slipped through his fingers, crashing onto the ground. Looking over his shoulders revealed Morality walking over holding a handful of flower with a big smile on his face. And Virgil was hyper aware of the Creative Side coming their way. "Padre? Who are you talking to?"

"Oh, sorry kiddo, didn't mean to scare you." Morality said, stepping forward.

Virgil backed away from the two approaching sides pulling on the strings of his hood to try and calm panic that was filling in his chest.

"You…." Roman said, his eyes shifting to Virgil eyeing the Shadowling up and down, hand already on his blade.

"Now Roman, be nice." Morality said, smile turning into a gentle one as he took another step close rot Virgil,

Virgil back up more. He was stuck in wanting to stay and sink out to run away at the same time. On one hand Roman wasn't charging him, but on the other his gift was ruined now. Then there was Morality. The Heart didn't seem upset with seeing Virgil but then Deceit had said it was best if the Light Sides didn't know what Virgil's job was. They didn't know what Virgil was capable of. Once Morality realized what Virgil was he wouldn't be smiling comfortingly at him anymore. He just had to leave. He just needed to leave and go to Deceit and Deceit would read and make things better.

It must have showed on his face, because Morality's smile soon turned a little worried. "Hey, its okay."

Virgil's eyes went to the Creative side who was advancing as well, hand still on the blade, but not yet pointing it at Virgil. The situation did seem okay. In fact to Virgil it was anything but okay.

"Your that new Side Deceits been taking care of aren't you?" Morality asked. And when had he gotten closer. The Moral Sides sudden closeness had Virgil scrambling backwards that he tripping over his own feet and landed on his backside. "Oh, are you alright?" Morality asked approaching a lot quicker. Which caused Virgil to start scrambling, practically crab walking backwards from the bubbly looking Side.

"Careful, Padre." Roman cautioned.

"Y-Yeah. Back off! I'll-I'm…." Virgil gulped. He had to sink out. This was going all wrong! Why did he think this was a good idea?!

"Don't be silly Roman. He not going to hurt us are you?" Morality said.

"We don't know that he want either." Roman countered.

Okay it was time to go. It was time to go. They were talking about him like he wasn't there, so he should just go. "Roman!" Morality gasped appalled by the suggestion. Virgil began sinking out, while the two were distracted. Morality noticed first. "Oh no! Wait you don't hav-"

Virgil appeared in his room before the Heart could finished his sentence. Safe in his room the Anxious Side starting taking deep breaths to steady himself. He knew he would fail. He didn't know why he even try. Curling up on his bed Virgil tried to calm himself down enough to go to sleep. Then he wouldn't have to tell Deceit that he ran into trouble again in the imagination. At least not until morning at breakfast.

When breakfast came around and Deceit wasn't in the kitchen. Virgil began to panic more. Deceit was always the first one up making breakfast and to make things weirder the common room looked like it was ready for someone to nest there for a while. But had been left forgotten That did anything but calm his nerves."Deceit?" He called out in their part of the mind and received no answer.

The Anxious Side ran back up the stairs and knocked hurriedly on the Snake Halfling door and opening it when no one answered. The bedroom was empty. Deceit was gone.

He left you.

Even he doesn't want to be around you.

Useless.

Pathetic.

Your nothing but a burden anyway.

Virgil shook his head at the voices in his head, Deceit would not just leave him. "Deceit? We need to talk." Another voice called out from the mindscape. It sounded like Logic's voice. But Deceit wasn't here. And it sounded important.

After a few minutes of silence someone else called out. "C'mon Kiddo! Its really really important. Right Lo?" And there was Morality's voice.

Virgil picked at his sleeves unsure of what to do. Should he go in Dee's place, or go lock himself in his room.

"No use ignoring us Deceit. We will come to you if need be." Logic said.

Oh, that was bad. The Light Sides never if rarely come to their side of the brain. Before he could talk himself out of it. Virgil popped into the Lights Sides common room. Morality let out a yelp of surprise seeing Virgil appear at the bottom of the stairs. Even the Princely Roman jumped at his sudden appearance.

"Well, this is surprising. I do believe I called for Deceit. Not- uh, I'm afraid I don't know your name." Logic said, adjusting his glances.

Virgil did his best to not look like he wasn't sure of what he was doing. He tried to look relax. "Sup." He nodded in greeting.

"He looks like Caspers long lost cousin." Roman commented.

And Virgil wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. But he was going to go with not a good thing. "You called. What do you want?" He asked getting straight to the point. The quicker he knew what they wanted the faster he could return to the back of the brain and panic. And then search for Deceit and then panic some more.

"We called for Deceit. Not you." Roman said, with a hmph-ed.

"Do you even know who Deceit is, your royal snootiness." Virgil said with enough sass in his tone Deceit would have been proud if he were there. Virgil was quite proud of himself, he sounded confident and that was a feat in itself.

"As a matter of fact I do. The kid with the bowler hat." Roman said proud of himself.

"Well, he's not coming. So, your stuck with me." Virgil said, stuffing his hands in his pocket.

"And you are?" Logic asked.

"A part of Thomas. That's all you need to know." Virgil answered, remembering that Deceit had said that the Light Sides wouldn't like him if he revealed his job. "If you don't anything I am going to leave."

"This is strange. Deceit always answers when we call a meeting. It is his duty to show." Logic mused. "Why would he send you?"

Virgil shrugged. "I dunno."

"Well you must know something." Roman interjected.

"Why do you want Deceit anyway." Virgil asked, just wanting to answer their question so he could leave.

"Why?! As if you wouldn't know!" Roman spoke loudly. Causing Virgil to flinch a little. "You stole from my side. You took from the imagination! And then your 'Friend' Deceit put it back for you and now its corrupted and ruining my side! Its creating creature none stop that are plaguing my land!"

"Now calm down Roman. No need to get upset." Morality said, trying to be the mediator of the group.

"Up set? Up set! I am not upset, I am angry!" The Creative Side bellowed.

"Same meaning." Logic interjected.

Virgil shrugged again. They had put it back what else did they want them to do. Fight the creature. Fat chance that was going to happen. "And you want Deceit for….?" He prompted.

"He's the only one my brother talks about. And since we cannot find my other half-" Roman said, doing a little wave of his hand.

"We thought maybe Deceit would know where he was." The Moral side said with hopeful smile.

"Well, you're out of luck. Deceit no where to be found either. Your stuck with me." Virgil said, hunching a little deeper into his hoodie.

"What? Where is he?" Morality asked.

"I dunno." Virgil shrugged. "And since I obviously am no help to you. I'm leaving." He said, getting ready to sink out.

"Then I guess your it." Roman said, grabbing hold of the anxious side by the back of his hoodie, stopping his escape.

"Let go of me!" Virgil bit out, his tempest tongue slipping at the end.

"To the imagination!" Roman declared speaking over the other boy.

And faster than Virgil can blink he found himself rising up in the Imagination with Roman keeping a firm grip on him, the difference in transportation making his stomach nauseous. Morality and Logic seemingly had tagged along to. "I'm sure there was a better way of to ask for his help Roman." Logic huffed, straightening his glasses.

"Yeah, Roman, its impolite not to ask." Morality said.

"And give him a chance to run never." The Creative side said, not letting go of boy in the hoodie. "Witch, I have brought the thief. Now give up a clue as to help save the imagination." Roman ordered.

Virgil looked around the room he had been taken to. It was circular in shape and had deep blue curtain with bright gold trim. In the middle of the room sat a women in full witches attire and sitting at ta round table with a crystal ball. "Greeting my Prince. For the future of the imagination I see..." She started. And Virgil balked a little at the smokey in the ball started changing color. "A beast of great must be made. A new land made for two to come and battle. Matched in skill and wit. Two of a whole must come together again as one. You must use fusion as your answer." The Witch answered, and then went still with a gentle smile on her face.

Virgil blinked. "Was that suppose to be helpful?" He asked looking to the other three sides. Well, mostly to the Creative Side, who sent a warning glare his way.

"Yes. Its called a riddle you little nightmare." Roman said, finally letting go.

"And apparently we need Remus. It sounds like you two must fuse again and bring King back." Logic suggest.

"Oh that would be wonderful and sad." Morality said. The three side ushering the Shadowling out in the hall with them.

"And I'm here for what, exactly?" The Shadowling asked. This was all confusing and new and terrifying and he just wanted to hole up in his room and hide away from all of it. This wasn't how he wanted to get to know the Prince. Or the other Sides.

"You caused this. Your going to help fix it." Roman declared.

There was a wagon waiting for them out the castle courtyard. The wagon being pulled by Roman's white pony. Virgil hesitated in boarding the wagon. What if it wasn't attached to the pony right and they all tipped over and died and then how would they help Thomas if they were dead!

"Hey." Morality's voice, chased to bad thoughts from his head. "Come on. Its safe." He reassured.

Not wanting to appear weak he huffed. "Whatever..." He hopped into the wagon and before he could sit down like Logic and Morality, Roman signal the horse to start running, which jostled Virgil and caused him to practically drop into the wagons seat. "Slow down!" He snapped to the Creative Side who was starting to now get on his nerves with all his impulsive actions and words.

"Yeah sure." Roman shot back, not slowing down, but instead pushing the pony faster across the imagination.

Virgil hunched deeper into his hoodie and sitting as far from the other two side who were sharing the wagon with him as he tried to stop himself from being jostle about too bad. This was his first wagon ride and this was going to be his last after today. That included hay rides. Thomas was not going to be getting on any horse drawn wagon hay rides if Virgil had anything to say about it in the future. It was clearly unsafe and no seat-belts. "Dee..." He whispered out hoping Deceit would answer his soft and pleading summon. "Light Sides. Dee. I'm with the Light Sides." He whispered. Hoping Deceit would show up soon wherever he was in the mindscape.

"So I never got your name!" Morality piped up as they rode.

"Indeed." Logic agreed. "I most encouragingly like to learn your name. After all you have been here for a few years now."

"Didn't hear you spitting out your names." Virgil mumbled, playing with the string on his hoodie.

"Oh! Well I'm Patton!" The Heart smiled.

"You may call me Logan." Logic said, stoically. "And you are?" Morality or rather Patton leaned forward and even Roman peeked over his shoulder to hear Virgil's name.

"Nunya." Virgil said.

"Nunya?" Patton asked. "Is that a name?"

"I am unfamiliar with it." Logan said with a shake of his head.

"Nunya business, so leave me alone." Virgil said.

"What are you five?" Roman huffed.

"What are you an idiot? Just drive the wagon you majesty." Virgil snarked. And smirked when Princey let out an offended gasp.

"Well this is going to be interesting." Logan said, looking at a group of trees that were at the edge split imagination. The tree that were once a beautiful orchard of apples was now nothing but a big glob of goo that hand goo like monsters emerging from it.

"Oh crap." Virgil gulped. Where was Deceit?!

TBC

A/N: Okay so I think one more chapter and then I'm aging them up a few years. Hope you liked the new chapter. Let me know by leaving some kudos, bookmark, and/or Review.

And I will try and post again next Saturday.