The being didn't remember when or how it ever came to existence. For the longest time, it thought it had always been. Like he was the god of this lawless world. When he was free, he never even gave it a second thought. Why would he ? He was so powerful and everyone was so fun to play. Why wouldn't he be their god ? Why would he be so powerful otherwise if not to make them his plaything ? Any other explanation didn't really make any sense to him. If he was any less than that, he shouldn't be able to do what he does. If he was meant to be anything less than that, then his powers sure didn't reflect that idea.

Back then, he didn't question any of that, it was just the conclusion he came to. For the longest time, he simply was. There was no need for him to wonder who he was or where he came from. His earliest memories were more peaceful as he wandered the land, with curiosity and awe but without knowing who he was or what exactly he was. How long did that last ? Ten days ? Ten years ? Ten centuries ? He really couldn't tell.

Time was a bit weird like that, especially when you've spent a considerate amount of time IMPRISONED. Um, anyway. Another problem was that it was a very, very long time ago. Ask any witch what it was like when they were a mere few years old, and they would struggle to come up with any specific details. Most of their memories are going to be linked to specific persons or emotions rather than specifics. That was pretty much the case for the Collector when it came to his first few hundreds of years. He didn't really remember much of that time or when things started to change. He wasn't complaining though, it was much more fun to be in control of the world around you than being controlled by it, so memories of such a time weren't sometimes he was in a rush to get back. Although the big meanie who put him in here probably would argue otherwise.

Now what did this all have anything to do with anything ? Mmmh…Nothing much, he was just a bit bored at the time being. Waiting on Philip to get done with the Draining Spell was horribly boring. Counting was NOT a fun game at all. He wanted to push people around, smoosh them against the wall. He wanted to make giraffes again. People were so frightened by that one, it was hilarious. They were always scared of what he made. Because they were a bunch of plebeians, what did they know about having fun anyway ?

All they worried about was stupid things like not squishing, running away from him and just generally not wanting to play any games. Grown-ups weren't any fun. He thought to himself, even if he ever made it out of there. They still wouldn't want to play with him, so why should he concern himself if they live or die ? Philip was at least willing to spend time with him. So most of the time he's spent here since making the deal with the so-called Emperor have been to daydream about all the fun games he would play with him once he was freed. He wondered how stretchy he was. Could he bounce him around ? He hoped so. It would be a shame to have a playmate after all these years and have him break instantly.

'' Uuuuuuggggh ! '' The child-like being rolled around his spheric prison in the In Between Realm. He wasn't really needed at the moment so he was trying to pass the time by thinking mostly. It sucked so much, he couldn't even have his real form in here. It was the same dark colors that has worn ever since he was trapped in this awful place. It really made matters so much worse than they already were. When even *he* wasn't allowed to be in colors while everyone else could. This wasn't fair, he thought.

Why was it that when everyone else had fun, it was good, but for him it was somehow wrong ? Games are fun ! It's something he misses sooooo much, there's only so many games he can play with himself here. He can't even summon anything to play with him. There's no laughter or joy in here. It's just him and his thoughts and the occasional visit from or to Philip about his training or his plan. Even that gets boring sometimes, because he's always aaalllll business.

'' 'We'll play after the Day of Unity, I promise. Oh, you just have to be patient, I will free you once it's done ! ' '' He muttered to himself, pouting. Of course, waiting a day or two after waiting AT LEAST a few hundred years was nothing. It was relativity that hurt the most. Before, it seemed a lot shorter because there was no hint he would ever get out. Now, there was someone willing to free him and it really couldn't come soon enough for him.

As he laid down in this realm, for hopefully one of the last times. He swore he felt someone else in here.

'' My sweet child… '' The voice was faint and it came from behind him. He frowned as he rose up, pointing his finger, ready to play with/annihilate the first thing he saw, but there wasn't anything. It was the same as it ever was, both bizarre but also horribly empty of any sort of life. He stuck his tongue out.

'' Good, stay away, I didn't wanna play with you anyway ! Ugh, rhyming away with anyway is laaaame… '' He pouted, his rhymes game was slipping, thankfully he still had time to practice those before he got out, that was an upside. But who WAS that ? He couldn't have imagined it, he was the only one there and Wittebane sounded absolutely nothing like that. This was confusing, he shook his head. He was pretty upset by that, he wasn't insane, if this place wanted to make him so, it would have done so by now. It was probably for the best he got to rest for real and ignore that. Waiting for the end of this eternity was worth so much more than this.

And soon, he would get to play with the Boiling Isles again and that really did put a smile on The Collector's face.

Few post-chapters disclaimers.

1. Yes, this was very short. This was much more a chapter to establish a premise more than anything else. Any chapters that happen before or after this point will be longer than this. I can promise you that.

2. The possibility of my interpretation of The Collector being different from yours or from the show's are very likely since he is still a character that has yet to be explored in full detail. So this story could age very poorly. But I still want to give my own take on a character I find insanely fascinating. I just hope you guys will be on board with reading it and I'll understand if a lot of you aren't.

3. Thank you for taking time and reading all that !