Chapter 28: Deceit's Master Plan
Roman was held up in his castle walls in the Imagination. He couldn't show himself in the Commons even if he wanted to, if he left the Imagination what little land he had would probably be gone once he came back. He wasn't a hero. He was a coward. A cowardly Prince held up in his castle because he was scare of losing the Imagination to his brother. Of not being who Thomas needed him to be. No, coward wasn't it. He was a Villain too. He who had alienated the Dark Sides as they came, even laughing at their names. Even Virgil, he was almost responsible for them losing Virgil. How he had conned the sweet Shadow of a Prince to fall in love with him was beyond him. He didn't deserve Virgil's devotions. He couldn't even create a decent idea that would wow his fellow Sides and Thomas. He wasn't the hero Thomas needed him to be. He was the cowardly villain that he had accused other to be, and Thomas didn't deserve that. Roman brooded, silently watching as the plants in his magical garden wilted and died as his eyes laid on them. The animals turning to stone and to never move again. He didn't deserve to be able to make such beautiful creations.
"Geez, Princey, I thought I was suppose to be Anxiety." Roman's eyes widen and whipped his head around at the sound of Virgil's voice, as cut through the silence.
"Virgil….?" He mumbled slowly getting to his feet as the Emo glanced around the garden and laid a pale hand on the unicorn statue that use to prance around joyfully.
"What the hell happened?" Virgil asked, taking in the drastic change.
"What are you doing here?" Roman asked, he thought he locked his side of the door. Didn't he?
Virgil looked at him with a serious look. "You seriously didn't think that we would just sit by and let you hide yourself in the Imagination did you?" Virgil asked, coming to stand directly in front of Roman.
Roman didn't answer, merely looked away, unable to look Anxiety in the eyes any longer, because he didn't deserve them to come look him. Wait. Virgil had said, 'We,' as in him, Patton, and Logan, so where were the other sides. "You said we. Where's Padre and Logan?" He asked, looking behind Virgil, but there was no sign of the others.
Virgil immediately looked uncomfortable, and pointed beyond the garden wall. "When we entered, the door opened up, in the Dark Forest. We didn't know that it spread so far into your lands. Patton and Logan didn't make it." The Anxious Side said, hand coming to grip onto Roman's red sash desperately, tear leaking from his eyes causing some of his eye-shadow to run as well and onto his hoodie and black t-shirt. "Its horrible out there Roman. I was afraid I wouldn't make it here. You got to do something!"
"Me?!" Roman jerked away like he had been burned and Virgil jerk from the sudden movement. "Are you sure I'm the best person? I mean I haven't been like myself lately. Have you not seen the Imagination lately?!You're no safer with me than with the others. I'm losing land and I can't push it back. I don't even know if Remus is the one doing it! If he is and I am unable to push back that means that Thomas favors Remus and Remus will end up being the Creativity that Thomas will rely on my brother instead of me, which means that Thomas doesn't need me anymore!" Roman panicked, pacing with his arms wrapped around himself like he was trying to hold himself together.
"Prince! Princey! Roman!" Virgil shouted, needing to grab hold of the Creative Side to get him to stop talking himself in a spiral. "Snap out of it! This isn't you. Your, Prince Roman! And this is your domain." Virgil stated. "And your friends need your help."
Roman moved out of Virgil's grip. "No they need a hero. And I'm not a hero! I'm a cowardly villain."
Virgil stepped toward the Creative Side again, with determination in his eyes. "Did I say they needed a hero? No. I didn't. I said they needed you." The Emo snapped poking the other in the chest. "Now quit doing my job and do yours." The Anxious Side fixed the Roman with a stern look with his fierce brown eyes.
After having a bit of a tense stare down Roman blinked and took a breath. "Your right. I can't very well expect you to go and venture through the imagination alone with it taking on Remus's chaotic nature."
At his words Virgil visibly relaxed. "Oh, good. I am the worst at giving motivational speeches. It goes against my nature. Don't make me do it again."
Roman cupped the Emo's face with a worried expression. "I'm so sorry Virgil. I'm making you uncomfortable pushing you into this role." He went to touch their foreheads together.
Virgil pushed away at the last second. "Don't sweat it. Right now, we need to go get Patton and Logan before something bad happens to them. We might even need to check on your brother, this much control cannot be good for him. He's unstable enough as it is." Virgil warned, already jogging back to the castle. Roman just behind him. "Do you think you can have some horses waiting for us out front?" He asked, looking over at Roman.
"No, problem." Roman huffed.
As soon as the front double doors opened revealing two horse and white and a black one with white marking on its legs. Roman jumped expertly onto his steed. Virgil walked slowly up to his and jumped back when the horses sniffed at him and reared back on its hind legs, snorting threateningly at the Anxious Side. "Maybe I should ride with you?" Virgil suggested when the horse went to bite when he tried again to mount the beast.
"I don't understand I made the animal just for you. It must be because of this invasion of the Dark Imagination." Roman said, slightly confused, but held his hand out for the Emo to take. "I guess there is no other way around it. Up you come." He said, practically lifting Virgil up onto the white horse, making sure the Emo had a good grip before steering the horse into a full on gallop. They ended up charging straight into the Dark landscape. That seemed to be spreading faster than normal. "Where was the last place you saw them Virge?"
Virgil who had a death grip on Roman's waist, took a moment to answer. "I lost Logan near the village. They were all acting strangely, and there were monsters. And Patton in the cemetery. I don't know how but I was too scared to go back in."
"Cemetery? I don't remember creating cemetery." Roman gaped.
"I know! What are we going to do?" Virgil asked, in a terrified voice.
"We're going to the village first. That's the closest. I wouldn't be surprised if Logan has already figured out help himself." Roman said, steering the horse to the village that was coming into view. Roman gulped loudly at the sight of how drastic the his village looked compared to what he had originally designed it to look like. And Virgil hadn't been exaggerating about the monsters that were now roaming his once peaceful village. Even the Villagers looked less friendly. Some even carrying pitchforks and torches. Others running and hiding.
"They took him in there." Virgil pointed, toward sinister looking building, that Roman absolutely knew that was not his.
"Oh sirs. Please do not go in there. A group of goblins and trolls have been taking people in there and none have escaped. Not even the one the Princes could get away." A peasant woman warned, before continuing on her way cradling what looked like a dead baby corpse.
"Princes?" Virgil asked.
"Oh, um…." Roman coughed slightly. "I may have created my subject with the knowledge that you and Patton and Logan are the other Royals that rule this my kingdom with me. Even if you are rarely seen. They will know you if they see you." The Creative Side explained.
Virgil blinked around at what was left of Roman's villagers. "Oh. That's amazing. I didn't know you could do that."
Roman chuckled slightly pulling the horse to a stop in front of the sinister structure that was plaguing the village. Screams could be heard from inside causing both Sides to hesitate before walking forward. "Maybe you should stay out here." Roman suggested, placing a hand on Virgil's shoulder.
"Are you kidding?" Virgil huffed, shrugging out of Roman's concerned grip. "You are not going in there without fight or flight by your side." He said, sending a reassuring grin Roman's way. "Now let's stop wasting time and go get Logan." He stopped Roman, just as the Side was about to speak. "And don't worry, your the knight in shining armor and the confidence here. We need you Roman." Virgil said, moving to the side so Roman would be in the front.
Roman decided he was going to avoid the areas that held mostly troll and the poor tortured and dying citizens of his village. He had to get Logan first. Logan was first priority and he would make it up to his fictional citizen later. Virgil stayed close to him the entire time. Staying surprisingly quiet and a calm presence near Roman, and that was surprisingly helpful to Roman. He felt trusted for once in a long time. Virgil was trusting him to be his hero and he didn't want to fail the Anxious Side. Somehow he knew when they were close to Logan. Virgil also seemed to sense, if the sudden hand gripping the back of his sash said anything.
The chamber were was at the end of the hall and guarded by two trolls. Virgil stayed put while Roman proceeded to disarm and eliminate the two creatures, effortlessly and when the Prince turned to make sure Virgil was okay he found a rare smile on the Emo's face as he practically jogged to his Side. "Good job, Singalot's." He cheered.
"Shhh!" Roman cautioned. "Never thought I'd be the one cautioning you." He sighed, when Virgil seemed to realize they were still not out of the woods.
"Its just good to see you back." Virgil said, quickly, as he and Roman edged closer to the chamber doorway. "There he is." The Anxious Side whispered.
Roman nodded. Scoping the room out. There didn't seemed to be any more trolls. It seemed that the creatures had merely attached the Logical Side to a pile of chains in the center of the room. Which was strange. Logan would have been able to get out of a trap like that easily by simply using whatever sciencey stuff he had stored in that nerdy brain of his; he was Logic after all. Virgil deemed to stay near the door again, as Roman steped into the room. "Logan." He whispered called.
The Logical Side's head snapped up. "Roman?"
"I'm going to get you out." The Creative Side comforted, walking around the Logical Side.
"Its impossible Roman, I have already tried." Logan shook his head.
Out of sight from the other two, Virgil held his hand out as a serpent slipped from the wall, petting it, before sprinkling a few golden lights onto it before sending it back into the wall, with a satisfied smiled, his left eye glowing yellow for a split second. Then resumed his spot cowering by the door. "Guys look out!" He warned, pointing at the smoke that was starting to form around the trapped Logical Side.
"Beware ye who dare enter. Less ye wish to awaken the golem of this land. Leave its sacrifice or except thy fate!" A disembodied voice thundered. A massive stoned hourglass rising from the ground. "Lest thy true horror comes to wake. Thy choice is thy's, best not to waste anymore time." The smoke immediately cleared revealing different symbol now circling Logan feet, the now present hour glass dropping sand and emptying quickly.
"Okay, Logan I'm coming to get you now!" Roman said, not wanting to waste anymore time and wait for the sand to reach the bottom and the creature the Logical Side was chained to awaken.
"Proceeding without a plan seems ill advised. For we do not know what these symbols may result to stepped on. We do not want to set off another trap." Logan shook his head.
Roman looked at the symbols on the floor at Logan's feet then back to the hourglass. "Lo, we don't have time to stop and figure out this puzzle. We don't even know what these symbols mean. I'm just going to come over and break the chains. I can do that I am creativity, remember."
Logan stared at Roman for a minute before a look of realization crossed his face. "Okay. You may be right. But the golem what if it wakes?"
"Then I shall slay it." Roman said, confidentially. Although he didn't feel so confident with his side shrinking in size by the minute. But if Logan believed in him, and Virgil believed in him he would risk everything for them; Everything for Thomas.
Logan glanced at the symbols at his feet once more before taking a breath and nodded his head for Roman to go ahead. "This is your area of expertise. Roman I trust your judgment." He said.
Roman nodded once and walked to where he was just within arms reach of the logical side and poised his sword arm to strike. He paused only long enough to look to Virgil who was watching him closely with trusting eyes and then to Logan who had prepared himself, to be ready to run once he was free. Taking a deep breath Roman brought the sword down on the chains in one swift stroke, the Creative Sides blade proving durable enough to break through the metal links. He grabbed Logan's arm and pulled him forward and away from the center of the room and the symbols that circle him, ushering the Logical Side to run to Virgil. The Princely side stood by himself in the center of the room, waiting for anything to happen. The three Sides waited with baited breaths and after a few short minutes, the hourglass emptied and disappeared. Even the symbols on the ground vanished and the chamber was left silent.
"Huh." Roman said, relaxing his stance, returning to the two waiting Sides.
"Amazing! Roman how did you know it was a false trap?" Logan asked, fixing his glasses and a notebook and pencil materializing in his hands so he could take notes.
Roman shrugged. "Its the Imagination, Specks. It might not be mind right now but it is still connected to me." Roman answered, having not really thought to much about why or how he knew the obstacle that trapped Logan was a false trap. But there was something else, that he couldn't put his finger on."But I have a feeling." The creative Side continued, placing a hand on the nearest wall. "There something that doesn't belong in these walls. I think its best we leave now." He said, turning to push the two Sides in front of him.
"What do mean something in the walls?" Virgil asked.
"Can you elaborate Roman?" Logan questioned. As the Creative Side guided them safely out.
"We don't have time for long explanations, L" Virgil snapped, starting to walk faster than all of them when the exit came into view. "We gotta get Pat." He said, running further ahead, once they were outside, not bothering to stop next to the white horse that was waiting for them.
"Virgil wait!" Roman cautioned, he and Logan forgetting the horse to chase after the Emo who was running further ahead and around the sinister structure. The Emo Side dodging out of the way of lunging monsters and plants that made to grab him.
"This way!" Virgil called back.
Roman did his best to keep up, while shielding Logan, slicing at the monsters and plants that had failed to grab Virgil and were now focusing on them. "Slow down, Stormcloud!" He called. "You okay back there, Logan?" He asked immediately after.
Logan was keeping close to Roman's back, but it was clear he was not of the athletic type. "Satisfactory, Roman. Although, I must say the Imagination does seem a bit wilder than normal. Have you figured out what is causing it?" The Logical Side asked.
"No. But I we don't have time to worry about it. We got to get to Patton and make sure Remus is okay. This much chaos must be affecting him. Has Thomas been showing any signs of distress?" The Prince of Creativity asked, as they ran almost barreling into Virgil who had skidded to a stop.
"Not to according to my observations. Nightmares have increased however." Logan answered out of breath. "Enough to release a bit of the chaotic energy but not enough for this much corruption."
"There he is!" Virgil pointed, pulling Roman to the front and pushing him forward. When Logan went to follow the Creative Side, the Anxious Side pulled him back and pushed the Logical Side into a bush to better hide him."Stay!" He growled, pointing a finger at the Logical Side. "We don't need you to get recaptured." He added, in his usual cautious tone, before edging his way after Roman.
Logan did as he was told, with narrowed eyes as Virgil disappeared after Roman. "Hmm." He hummed as he jotted a few things down in his notebook.
Roman found Patton sitting in in the cemetery, right in the middle of a pentagram with candles and incense surrounding it. He was holding a book and reading it out loud from it. The Moral side was shaking slightly and pale in the face, but kept his eyes firmly on the words in front of him. "Finally, near the bottom of the door was a tiny set of burnt hand-prints, as if the youngest little boy had tried in vain to push open the door and get help for his family. The end." Patton read his voice shaking, revealing how scare he was.
"Another. Read us another, Daddy."
"We want another."
"Dad, we are still awake."
"Pat." Roman called gentle, over the softly and menacing childlike whispers.
Patton jumped with a squeak, accidentally slamming the book closed, as he looked toward Roman. "Roman! Oh, thank heavens. They won't let me leave!" The Dad Side whimpered.
Just behind them Virgil was crouched slightly behind a tombstone, a serpent slithering up from the ground and into his waiting hands. He petted it before sprinkling a bit of yellow lights on it, before sending it back into hiding and resumed watching the two Sides.
"What do mean they won't let you leave, Padre? Just stand up and take my hand." Roman practically pleaded, holding his hand out.
Patton shaking his head the whole time.
"Read to us!"
"Or we'll get angry!"The whispering voices demanded.
Black vines erupted from the ground and wrapped around the Moral Sides ankles, anchoring him to the ground and Patton shakily re-opened the book in his lap. "This seems to keep them calm. And the pentagram seems to keep everything else away. But Roman, I'm so scared. I don't wanna stay here!"
"It's going to be alright, Patton." Roman reassured.
Virgil rolled his eyes, from where he was hidden and started counting down silently with is fingers.
"I'm going to slowly step into the pentagram with you." Roman said, calmly and slowly. As soon as his boots toed the marking on the ground. Several tombstones began shaking.
"Intruder!"
"Stay away from our Dad!"
"He is ours!"
"We want our stories!"
"We will kill you!" The whispering voices snarled. Decaying and mangles limbs began popping from the ground.
"Read Patton! Read!" Roman instructed, quickly.
"There-There was once a miller who had one beautiful daughter." Patton began reading out-loud, and while that seemed to quiet the voices, it did not stop the creatures that were pulling themselves from the grave. The Moral Side still reading, despite the urge to close his eyes.
Roman was quick to defend them. Taking the heads off the undead that got close. It wasn't until his missed one that he seen the pentagram circle that Patton sat huddle in glow a faint yellow color as it evaporated the vile creature that had tried to grab for the Heart. "Patton are you able to leave the circle?" He asked, once the undead numbers were dwindling.
Still reading Patton shook his head, and slowly stuck one foot from the circle.
"Where are you going, Daddy?" The whispered voices spoke again.
Roman finished the last of the undead. And watch as ghostly children appeared above Patton, just outside the circle.
"Yes, Father. Where are you going?"
" You know you cannot leave."
"You must read to us."
"We want our stories."
"We have made sure you stay safe."
"No reason to leave us again."The children all spoke at once.
Patton whimpered and squeezed his eyes shut.
Roman knew that Patton didn't mind reading to children, but the Dad Side was also easy to scare. And this ghost children were using that against him. Were keeping him trapped.
"Now see here." He snapped, taking a confident step toward the ghosts and Patton. "That is no way to talk to a parent!"
All the little ghost turned to glare at him.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves!" He continued. He could feel in his very being that this was the right course of action. He would not need his blade to free Patton. The waver in the little ghost children's resolved was not missed. "As you rightful ruler I demand you apologized to Padre and got back to sleep!" He demanded.
Virgil who was watching close by smiled made a quick motion with his hands.
"We're sorry."
"We will go back to sleep, now."
"Can we get another story tomorrow?"
"It gets lonely."
Patton glanced around and watched as the children that had been scaring him looked and sounded less sinister. "Aww. Of course we will have someone come read to you." He assured, quickly. The pentagram fading as the ghost started sinking into the respective resting place. The book vanishing with it. The Moral Side was quick to run to Roman's Side as soon at the marking on the ground were gone and hugged the Princely side. "How did you know that would work , kiddo?" He asked, happy to be free.
Roman shrugged. "I'm just happy that it did work. I must still have some power left, even if it is turning over to Remus." He mused.
Virgil who was still crouch out of veiw, didn't notice when Logan approached from behind. "Is everything going according to your plans then?" The Anxious Side turned his attention to the Logical Side, with a look of confusion.
"I'm sure I don't know what your talking about." He answer, sounding just as confused.
"Mhmm." Logan responded, looking at the Emo with narrow eyes, as he walked around him and to the other.
Virgil standing and following close behind. Scanning the area around them as a thick fog began to subtly settle around them. Roman, Patton, and Logan congregating together making sure they were alright. Roman's relieved smile falter, as he knelt to the ground and placed a hand on it, just as Virgil joined them. "Something is not right. That same feeling from the village is still here, but in the ground now." The Creative Side mumbled.
Hands hidden in the pocket of his hoodie, Virgil snapped his fingers, so no one would see the yellow sparks of light that came form it.
"What do you mean Roman?" Logan asked, eyeing Virgil with knowing eyes, before flickering his gaze back toward Patton and Roman.
"I don't know. Its like something is here that doesn't belong here. But somehow its here and moving through the Imagination." Roman said, trying to feel what the Imagination was trying to tell him. Although with his land so small and therefore his influence not at full strength, he was unable to reach it. Something seemed to be shielding it, so he wasn't sure if it was malevolent or not.
A slimy tentacle wrapped itself around Virgil's waist, as the Emo made eye contact with something through the fog. When he was lifted up he made sure to let out frighten and startle shout, causing the three Core Side to jump at the sudden sound. "Roman, help!" Virgil pleaded, hand outreaching for the help that wasn't going to make it in time.
"Virgil! I'm coming!" Roman shouted back, running after, fist gripping hold of Patton's cardigan, the Moral Side grabbing hold of Logan's wrist in a death-grip as the Creative Side dragged them along. But it wasn't long before the desperate sprint to catch up, died down to a jog before they stopped. The Princely Side spun around trying to pinpoint where the Virgil had been wisp away to, not letting go of his grip on the other two. "Which way-?" He panted, seeing three pathways appear in through the fog.
"There! Virgil's hoodie!" Patton said, indication to the middle path, where a carnivorous plant was chewing on the hoodie.
"Let's go!" Roman urged, pulling the other two along again. Logan using his free hand to grab the lost clothing article when he passed by.
"This fog came out of no where." Patton whimpered, tightening his grip on Logan and Roman.
"From my knowledge this is on pare for the Imagination on Remus's Side. When we get Virgil back we're going to go find my brother, and find out what is going on once and for all. Its not right that its targeting you guys. Its unnatural." Roman stated.
Patton gulped loudly. "But we're not suppose to go to Remus's Side. You even said, it was too dangerous."
"Patton if you hadn't noticed, we seem to already be within Remus's wild lands." Logan corrected.
"And I only said that, because his Side favors no one. Not even me." Roman said, minutely sword up in defense a slug monster passed chasing, some chicken like creatures with that look carnivorous themselves.
"Help!" Virgil's voice echoed further up ahead that had the three Cores Sides sprinting again, ignoring the thorny bushes that reached up and grabbed for them. Roman cutting through a big tangle of thorns that blocked their way. The Princely Side having to hold his arm out to stop Patton and Logan from taking any more steps, so they wouldn't take a step in the purple bubbly pond that stretched in front of them. Virgil sat in a giant golden cage that hovered over the deadly looking pond. "This stopped being funny thirty minutes ago! Deceit! Remus! I know you hear me!" The Emo shouted, glowing purple eyes snapping to the three Side. "Roman! L! Patton! Get me out of here! I hate heights!"
"Calm down, Stormcloud. I will get you down. Some how….." Roman mumbled the last part where Virgil couldn't here it.
Calmly watching the three on the other side of the pond hidden by thorns Deceit and Remus were crouched on the ground. "You remember your part?" Deceit asked, not taking his eyes odd the four Sides.
"Yeah. The ponds just melted grape jello." Remus nodded, with a wide grin. He could barely keep himself still with the crown seeming to just make surge with power that he wasn't use to. But he knew it was meant to be his. He could create anything he wanted. "Oh, and the maneating monster at the bottom knows not to eat anyone." He added as an after-thought.
Deceit narrowed his eyes switching from Remus to the lake. "Yes, well, we did talk about adding creature life didn't we." He huffed, no amused. "Well, no matter, Roman isn't about to go with a half-baked plan, that isn't my cue." The Deceitful Side smiled. Holding his hands out and creating a serpent, making it longer and bigger that if it opened its mouth real wide it could swallow the Duke on command should Dee give it.
Remus felt a pleasant shiver run down his spine at the thought. And stored it away for later, to try and convince Janus to give it a try on a later date. Once the Snake was formed it was Remus's turn to take over. Letting a green light form around the creature, changing its features and adding a touch of poison green into its color scheme. Janus groan in discomfort beside him. "You okay Deedee?" He asked, pausing only slightly, until Deceit waved for him to continue.
"It doesn't feel weird letting you manipulating something that isn't a part of my being. It is dangerous so don't keep going." Deceit grunted, with closed eyes, trying hard not to interrupt Remus's work. When the Duke was finished and Deceit open his eyes he found his once beautifully yellow snake a picture of grotesque horror. It now had three different elongated fangs, that were dripping with poison. Its head big enough it that it could eat them. Its features between that of a snake and a dragon with multiple red eyes, with sharp deadly spines going down its back all the way to its tail, that now had a rattlesnakes rattler on it. Patches of deadly poison green scale littered its body, that now had two arms with sharp claws, near the front so it could grip things. "Horrible job, dear." He complemented, when he felt Remus finished. It still felt off but this way he would be the one controlling the creature, instead of letting it run rampant, like most of Remus's creations. "Are you ready to be devoured, sweetheart?" He asked. The serpent hissed as it raised itself to the Dukes level.
Remus was already grinning with joy and vibrating in his spot while nodding his head enthusiastically.
Satisfied with the response, Deceit held his yellow gloved hands like his was holding the strings to a puppet and began to move his and Remus's joined creature. Roman needed to his confidence back. He needed to be reminded that he was fearless. He does get things done. That he was not only Thomas's hero, but the others too, including his brother. The Imagination shrinking on his side was nothing more than due to his lack of confidence. What better way to finish off this little adventure than to give the Prince the power boost he needed. Virgil's cage was special. And Roman would have to be the one to save the Anxious Side before he spiraled, taking Thomas with him. Of course Deceit didn't plan on letting things go that far. Even as he let the creature swallow Remus he was confident the Creative Side would be alright. But that didn't mean he had to make things easy either. With Remus swallowed by the serpent creature, the creature slid silently into the poisonous looking pond disappearing from sight. Deceit turned his attention back to the other side of the lake.
Roman seemed to have summoned a rope and threw it like a lasso to the cage where Virgil caught it and had begun tying it to one of the bars. It seemed they thought they could pull the free floating prison down to safety. Deceit smirked. Now that just wouldn't do. Deceit twitch one of his pointer fingers up. And out from the deadly looking purple pond jumped out the monstrous serpent, its jaws snapping the rope in half with its powerful jaws as it use its two claws limbs to grab onto Virgil's golden cage. With a few little movements of his fingers, Deceit had the creature wrap itself around the cage, pulling a worried and scared sound out of all the Sides present, especially Virgil.
"Ro-Roman, what is that?!"
"What the hell is this?!" Patton and Virgil both shrieked. The Emo in the cage trying to put himself in the center and away from the creature.
"I don't know. I didn't feel it before now. It was just made!" Roman answered sword already pointed at the new threat.
"Well. What should we do now then?" Logan asked, eyeing the creature with interest.
"I'm thinking." Roman said, eyeing the new threat trying to find a weak point.
"Think faster!" Virgil urged.
Eyes moving from place to place. Roman finally glanced at the pond where he had unconsciously dipped the tip of his sword in while he was thinking. He lifted the blade and watched the purply thick liquid slide off. "I'm going to get in the pond." He finally stated a moment later.
"That's a stupid idea! Are you trying to kill yourself?!" Virgil retorted, and flinched when the serpents began eyeing him with its many eyes.
"Well I don't hear you coming up with something better!" Roman snapped back. "Do you want to get rescued or not?"
"Rescue! Don't you dare leave me like this! And you better not kill yourself in the process! This is just bad! Like life altering! I think- I think I'm spiraling!" Virgil said, starting to hyperventilate.
"Logan you talk and Patton talk him down. I'm going in." Roman said, switching his attention the Logical Side.
"Are you quite positive you will be okay?" Patton asked, sounding almost as worried as Virgil.
"Of course, I mean the Imagination has always protected me and Remus. I don't see why that would change now." The Princely Side reassure with a confident smile.
"Yes, but that was before you started looking land." Logan pointed out.
Roman prepared himself to jump into the poisonous pond, with determination. "I am still the Prince of Creativity. I will be fine. You guys calm Virgil." He said, again, and dived into the purple pond.
Virgil panted as the air around him got thinner as he watch the Princely disappear into the poisonous depths of the pond. This was a terrible idea! What was Roman thinking?! The Serpent hissed irritated and the caged jerked as it moved, from something grabbing the tip of its tail. Virgil watching as Roman appeared seemingly unharmed from the dangerous liquid that surrounded him and began using the gigantic creature as a latter to get to Virgil. The anxious side wished he could be as fearless as Roman looked right now, he was the embodiment of fear so that was impossible. Already he could think of the many, many ways this could all go wrong.
"Kiddo! Look this way!" Patton called. Grabbing The Anxious Sides attention.
"Yes, I believe the best option right now is for you to stay engaged with us as we try and distract yourself from having a panic attack." Logan stated, calm as ever. "Patton say something distracting." He said in all seriousness, looking to the Heart.
"Oh, um…..how's it hanging up there, kiddo?" Patton asked, with a bit of a force smile.
The serpent let out a furious roar like hiss as it dived into the water curling its body around the Creative Side and taking him back under the bubbling purple liquid. Virgil tried his best to keep his eyes on the Logical and Moral Side. "I- I can't. I hate it! I'm going to die! And the air is getting thinner."
"Actually Patton that is the wrong thing to ask when trying to distract someone from a panic attack." Logan corrected, moving to the side as a splash of purple liquid landed near him, from Roman's fight with the monstrous serpent. He eyed the oncoming shadows answering Virgil's distress, a clear sing that the Anxious Side was going to have a panic attack and therefore Thomas as well. "The best distraction is to not talk about what is causing these negative feelings. We need to talk about something that will take his mind off of being trapped above a supposedly poisonous pond and a hungry looking serpent."
"Yes, Logan thank you for the reminder!" Virgil snapped, when the serpent latched back onto his golden cage like a dragon curling around its hoard and hissed threateningly at the Princely Side who breached the surface after being held under the water.
"You foul beast, I shall free him! Is that all you got!" Roman shouted, with a confident smile on his face.
As if in answer the serpent opened its mouth and coughed out a morning star that landed into the water near the Prince who watch it sink with shock on his face.
"Ah, that would explain why we haven't seen Remus during all this." Logan said, fixing his glasses.
"Anything else you want to ask it before I become desert?!" Virgil snapped.
"I only have one thing to say." Roman snarled out, fixing the giant serpent with a deadly glare. "I will protect my friends and avenge my brother, you foul beast!" He roared, throwing his sword at the serpent, the blade stabbing it in the eye.
The creature let out a pained sounding screech shaking its head from side to side to try and dislodge the blade. Deceit hidden on the other side of the pond covered his serpentine eye as a pain radiated through it. That had hurt, but he wasn't going to stop. He kept his focus on the fight with his creature and the Creative Side. Roman had managed to grab hold of the spines and had climbed his way to the head of the snake and made a leap for the golden cage, the giant serpents head following him with its jaws open.
As soon as Roman's fingertip touched the metal, the cage soon evaporated into sparkly golden lights, that seemed to keep a very startled Virgil hovering in the air, when it cleared some the sight of a golden crown floating above the Anxious Side. Roman grabbed at Virgil around the waist as the golden crown seemed to gravitate to the Creative Side and placed itself on his head. Causing the Prince of Creativity to glow red, he could feel a surge of power flood through him almost immediately, the sword in his other hand changing from its normal katana form to that of an elongated odachi sword. Dodging the snapping jaws of the serpent on his descent down Roman used his new sword to cut the head off the monstrous serpent that had dare stood in his way. Landing smoothly and confidently next to Logan and Patton, with Virgil safely hugged to his Side, Roman watched his foe's body and head drop.
Only the body did not drop into the water. Much like the hydra in the movie Hercules, something was emerging from the guts of the serpents. Roman pushed the others back behind him, ready to fight whatever came out. After a few agonizing minutes of the body just squirming and wiggling, out popped a big brightly glowing ball of green light, cackling gleefully.
"Oh that was so much fun! I always wanted to be eaten and swallowed whole!" Remus cackled, his brightly glowing calming down to mirror that of Roman's "Oh, hey Romatoe what's shaken? I been wondering when you were going to show up to dull things down, haha!" Remus said, as he tackled the Princely Side to the ground a hug, taking Virgil with them. "Let's have an orgy! Whatdoya say, Virgey, a little brother on brother action has got to get your blood pumping." Remus cackled fixing both Roman and Virgil with his brightly glowing green eyes. "I promise I bite." He said, snapping his teeth.
Roman used his legs to pushed his twin off himself and Virgil. "Remus, now is not the time. Have you not seen the Imagination?!"
"Amazing, it feels like you two are radiating more energy than normal." Logan said, off tot he side. Writing furiously in his notebook. Patton standing slightly behind him looking awed at it.
"Oh! Patton and Logan can join in too! I can think of so many things we could do, So, many, many things! I am just buzzing!" Remus said, excitedly.
"Yes, but Remus the Imagination." Virgil insisted, gesturing to their surroundings.
"Like it? Roman gave it to me!" Remus gushed, getting up and twirling around as if showing off a new room.
"No I didn't!" Roman said, stomping up to his brother.
"Roman look!" Patton said, looking over his own shoulder where the thorns once lived, only now they were gone. Revealing beautiful landscape re-forming where Roman's Kingdom laid.
"Hm, it seems that once you claimed the crown on your head, the Imagination is once again righting itself."
"Oh yeah! You should try creating with it. Its such a high!" Remus said, looking at the purple pond, as it rose up in to a jello like monster with sharp teeth in the visible in its body. And Remus began creating even more monstrous creations without so much as a wave of his hand.
"Remus stop it!" Roman demanded, seeing his brothers creation rampaging without care, and that just wouldn't do.
Remus tilted his head and grinned widely at his brother. "Make me." He dared.
Deceit who was taking deep silent breaths, hands holding his his neck to assure himself that his head was still very well attached to his body was making his way over to the other side of the pond to join Remus. As soon as Roman tackled Remus, who was doing a wonderful job at baiting his brother. The whole Imagination seemed to erase the excess land that belonged to Remus. Almost like two magnets repelling each other, the twin both fell backward away from each other their crown falling from their head.
"Remus!" Roman shouted, picking himself up along with is crown.
"Aww! Come on! I wanted us to fight!" Remus pouted.
Deceit quickly put on his normal facade and decided it was time to make his presence known. "Well that was sadly disappointing." He said.
"Deceit." Virgil grouched.
"Hey Janus!" Patton waved. Logan merely eyed the Deceitful side with an arched eyebrow that Deceit pointedly ignored.
Deceit nodded in greeting. "Pity. I was growing quite fond of the new look the Imagination had taken. Finally feeling better Roman?" He smiled.
"Thank you…..I think." Roman said, although he sounded cautious to Deceits words, he still kept that air of confidence and that was all that Deceit needed to see. Also the Imagination felt more healthier now.
"I see you've been playing with your crown. Perhaps I could tempt you to come with discuss future ideas." Deceit beckoned to Remus, swiftly turning his back on the others, knowing full well that Remus was following him.
The Core Sides watched the two go. "I can't tell if he is mocking me, or being sincere." Roman admitted.
"I don't understand what just happened." Patton said. "What about you Logan?"
"I have many thoughts on the matter." Logan said. Snapping his notebook closed. "But perhaps we should return your crown to your castle. Yes, Roman?"
"Yeah. I honestly don't understand how it even left the treasury room. I guess the Imagination knew I would need it." He said, leading them through the now safer Imagination.
"Don't worry. I will be sure to explain it to you." Logan assured.
"Oh good. Cause I think I missed a few things." Patton grinned.
"I just don't want have to go through that again." Virgil mumbled. Walking closely next to Roman.
(Remus's Castle)
Janus spied through Remus's telescope watching as Roman Side expanded back to the way it was. He kept a hand on his neck still feeling the pain that that the serpent had took, Remus had even pointed out the his serpentine eye was slightly bloodshot. But that was a small price to make sure that Thomas's Ego and Confidence remained balanced and healthy. He watched contently as the four Sides entered Roman's castle and even panned over to the garden Roman was so proud of and watched as the creatures and flora all began returning to their normal state.
"That was so boring! I mean I loved getting eaten, but you could have let us have an all out boss battle." Remus pouted where he sat on the floor of the watch tower, twirling his crown around on his finger, absently.
"Yes, because the plan was to let you and Roman beat each other to a pulp and truly send Virgil into a panic. That is exactly what we wanted to do to Thomas." Deceit chided.
Remus stuck his tongue out.
"I didn't see that." Deceit said, turning to fix the Duke with a smirk.
"I know. That's why I did it. Are you going to come over and spank me?" Remus smiled.
"Hm, maybe later. I'm feeling very energetic right now." Deceit sighed, rubbing his neck again. "Maybe movie night tonight." He suggested.
Remus hopped to his feet and summoned his door. "Say no more, Janny. We can do whatever you want. I'm not going to let anyone stress you out. We can grab our stuff and spend the week here in the Imagination and where you can relax. I'll even put in a few heating lamps." Remus beamed as they enter their common room. Deceit merely smiled a let Remus lead the way and make the plans for the oncoming week. Besides a nice quiet week sounded simply divine.
TBC
A/N: I had so many ideas for this chapter and rewrote this several times. I hope it turned out ok. Let me know by Voting/Kudos, Bookmarking/Following, and/or Reviewing.