Authors Note: I don't own Sander Sides, Thomas or his friends. If you don't like it don't read it. This chapter took forever. Life got busy, I had writers block and I have a health issue I'm working with at the moment. I am goona try and write more. Enjoy. Warning emotions ahead.
Taking On Anxiety
At the end of 15 minutes everyone came back over to the chairs to discover a green one had been placed between Creativity's chair and Deciet's.
"Oh no" muttered Anxiety looking apprehensively at the chair.
"What is it Anxiety" Lilly asked him.
"Well each of us sides have a colour we associate with. Green, well green is the Dukes" Anxiety says moving away from the green seat.
"The Dukes?" Thomas asked.
The sides all looked among each other, even Deciet looking slightly uncomfortable about the Duke.
A bright light suddenly fills the room and when it vanishes in its spot is a figure with black clothes and a green sash.
"Helllooooooooo losers" the figure yelled very loudly.
Everyone just stared at the figure. Until...
"Who are you?" Thomas asked.
"I am the Duke." The Duke says unhelpfully.
Another flash of light appeared and Dawnlilypotter appeared once again.
"Hi, sorry about this but where I am from you, Thomas, have just discovered a new side. The Duke is Creativity's twin brother and encompasses the darker side of your creativity. Think of him as a toddler with no impulse control." Dawnlillypotter explained.
"JUICY BUTTHOLE!" shouted the Duke suddenly.
"Duke you will sit down! And please try to contain your outbursts." Dawnlilypotter ordered before turning back to explain to the others.
"You experience his contributions through intrusive thoughts. Like when you have the thought that you should jump from a moving vechile or infront of a moving vechile that is him"
"Ohh" everyone in realizations.
"Alright everyone sit down and then you can continue" Dawnlilypotter suggested.
Dawnlilypotter waited till all were seated before vanishing again.
"Let's continue" Talyn said looking towards the screen.
Everyone turned to the screen and it flickered to life.
Thomas: hey I'm Thomas and I don't give a *beep* I take them. I said fork why was that bleeped.
Everyone laughed at that. Anxiety just muffled his laughter still uncomfortable with the Duke's presence. Morality looked over at Anxiety and grabbed his hand giving him a comforting smile when Anxiety glanced up. Morality almost squeeled in joy when Anxiety answered with a small smile.
Thomas: What is up everybody! So I don't know what it is right now maybe it's because it's this time of year or maybe because I'm back home with friends but strangely at this moment I am actually feeling quite relaxed.
Anxiety: Hi!
"Oh no" Anxiety muttered hunkering down further in his seat.
"It'll be fine" Morality whispered.
"No it won't everyone will hate me." Anxiety answered loudly gaining everyones attention which further hightened his anxiety.
"Anxiety even if I react badly in the series. I promise that I will learn from any mistakes I make towards you. That is the point of these viewing isn't it?" Thomas said rubbing his thumb over the palm of Anxiety's hand. Which he noticed calmed him down slightly.
Thomas: What the heck?!
"Oh that was definetly a bad reaction. I'm sorry I promise I will work on that." Thomas said to Anxiety who was starting to feel very uncomfortable and had pulled his hoodie over his head.
Anxiety: Oh I'm sorry was I not wanted at this exact second?
"Look at who is being sassy. You go boy" Joan cheered causing Thomas's friends, Morality and the Duke to laugh. Anxiety smirked slightly under his hood.
Thomas: Oh for crying out loud. Okay everyone please welcome my anxiety.
"Rude!" yelled Terence. Everyone snorted and Thomas looked embarrassed about how his future self was reacting to Anxiety. Creativity smirked.
Anxiety: Sup
Thomas: I don't get it I was just making a youtube video there is literally nothing to be anxious about.
Anxiety: Aren't those the best times for me to show up?
Thomas: I even was saying how relaxed I was feeling.
Anxiety: Ah but that's when you start wondering why you do feel all relaxed. You don't usually feel this way so what are you doing different? What are you doing wrong? What are you forgetting to do?
"Oh my god, that's alot of things to worry about." Valerie mutters.
"That's my job" Anxiety answers.
Thomas: Okay stop it! Stop it!
Anxiety: Sorry kid but this is what I do.
Thomas: Okay this is what frustrates me about anxiety sure I get it when I'm nervous about doing something or when I have to interact with a bunch of people socially or when I have a big project due but sometimes it just shows up.
Anxiety: Yo.
Thoams: Out of nowhere and ruins whatever peace I have like I'm kind of getting fed up with it. There has got to be some way out of it.
Anxiety looked down and curled further in on himself. Upset that Thomas doesn't want him. Wanting to run back to his room and hide.
Morality was looking at Anxiety worried for him. Morality decides to pull Anxiety close to him and hug him. Logan frowned at the screen and vowed to speak to Thomas about what he had read earlier on about the positives of anxiety. Creativity smirked hoping that Thomas would actually get rid of the dream killer.
Deciet frowned, true he didn't get along with Anxiety but he was still once one of his best friends and knew how much that would have hurt Anxiety. The Duke just pushed Creativity of his chair when he saw him smirking meanly at Anxiety. He still liked Anxiety even if Anxiety was still scared of him.
Thomas's friends frowned as they saw the reactions from the sides, though they were amused at the Dukes reaction to Creativity, and vowed to find out about all the negative reactions. Thomas just hated himself abit more when he saw how upset Anxiety was and vowed to behave better towards Anxiety and give him a chance.
Anxiety: Oh boy I would like to see you try. You can't just quit me.
Thomas: Prince dude!
Creativity: Hello you summoned me?!
"Finally the best person in the show has showed up." Creativity boasted.
"Creativity it is not the time" Logic reprimanded annoyed at another interruption.
Creativity pouted.
Thomas: Hey you represent my fanciful side right?
Creativity: Right!
Thomas: My hopes, my dreams, my creativity.
Creativty: All that good stuff!
Thomas: Great! Well right now I hope and dream to get rid of my anxiety.
Anxiety winced and tried to focus on his breathing as he felt it deepen. He tried to pull away from Morality but Morality would't let him hugging him tighter and started rubbing his back to help soothe him. Thomas was becomming more and more ashamed of his reaction to Anxiety.
Creativity: Your what now.
Anxiety: Hey there Princey.
Creativity: Oh okay. I can't stand that guy.
Anxiety was just continuing to become more anxious. His breathing deepened again.
Thomas: Tell me about it.
Creativity: Well getting rid of that is a tall order.
Thomas: What should I do?
Creativity: Well this might be time for you to get creative. Travel somewhere in your mind to bring in recruitment.
Thomas: True.
Anxiety: Hahaha you would need some super heavy-duty recruitment.
Anxiety: Where are we? What?
Lilly: Its your girl superwoman!
"Ah this must be why I am here." Lilly said. "Though I am usure how I would react to such a physical embodiment of Anxiety."
Thomas: Lilly! Oh my goodness it worked.
Lilly: Whats up Thomas?
Thomas: Well long story short you ever have a conversation with someone and you think it went well but then there's something in the back of your brain trying to convince you it went horribly.
Lilly: All the time.
Thomas: There's the something.
Lilly: Oh so you're the guy.
"Um I'm also having such a negative reaction to Anxiety. Sorry Anxiety I will try and work on this" Lilly frowned at herself.
Lilly: Listen dude once in a while can you let me just like order a pizza without being nervous about talking to the delivery guy.
Thomas: He won't even let me go to bed without thinking about something I did seven years ago.
Lilly: Oh so annoying. And you know those times the teacher asks does anyone have any question and no one says anything. I actually had a question!
Thomas: Me to!
Lilly: Auggh!
Everyone frowned at all the negative reactions of the two on the screen. Anxiety was ready to just leave unsure how much he could handle. He knew it was a bad idea to do this series. Morality frowned at how mean everyone was being towards Anxiety as did Logic who realised that part of how Anxiety acted must be a defence mechanism.
Anxiety: Look it's my job okay. A little blood pumping's good for the old circulatory system.
Lilly: Okay we're not talking about a little dude.
Thomas: Well actually Lily that is why I brought myself here. To see if maybe you knew some ways that I could bring them down.
Anxiety: Pfffft. Yeah right.
Lilly: Well destroying anxiety can be really tough but bringing it down can be easy through a few different ways.
Thomas: What do you mean?
"I'm not sure I like all this talk of getting rid of one of my kiddo's" Morality frowned pulling Anxiety tight to him as if to protect him.
"Yes this kind of talk cannot be healthy" Logic stated pushing up his glasses as he carefully watched Anxiety's face.
"Of course it is. Anxiety is just a nusiance and a mental illness we can do without" declared Creativity.
The Duke pushed Creativity off of his seat again yelling "MEAN!"
Anxiety just wanted to disappear. He could feel tears trying to fall but kept pushing them back not wanting to appear weak.
Lilly: It's montage time.
Anxiety: Gee Lily I wonder what your friends are saying about you right now. What could they possibly - this is actually a really good episode. You're reading a book right now when you've got all this other stuff to do?
Lilly: This book is sooo good. Honestly it's nice to just take a break and enjoy some reading. It's a beautiful day.
Anxiety: Yeah I well I was saying -
Lilly: Is someone making pasta right now? Oh I love pasta!
Anxiety: I like pasta too but I was saying...
Lilly: Oh look at that bird!
Anxiety: Grrrrr. Let's go over all the things you did wrong today.
Lilly: I did everything I could have possibly done today the best I could have done them. And you know what I'm happy with everything I accomplished. I did those things and I did them well.
Anxiety: Okay but all the things you gotta do tomorrow?
Lilly: There's no need to worry about tomorrow because right now I'm doing exactly what I need to be doing and that's getting some rest.
Anxiety: And that's getting some rest. Come on!
Anxiety started to shake as he continued to listen. Thomas was going to stop listening to him and ignore him? What if he ignored one of his safety warnings and got hurt or worse died. He started to panic even more. Morality who felt Anxiety starting to shake started to hum to him to try and soothe him. Logic worried about Anxiety's reaction to the footage so far.
Thomas and his friends all started to feel very uncomfortable as they realised the impact these words were having on Anxiety.
Thomas: Wow and those work?
Lilly: I mean yeah. They definitely helped me but everyone's different and anxiety can be a constant struggle.
Anxiety: That's right.
Lilly: But they're are ways of shutting it up yah nasty!
"I am sorry. I can't believe how rude I am being. I wonder what has gotten into me" Lilly said to Anxiety worried about how harsh she appeared.
Thomas: Lilly thank you!
Lilly: Of course dude no sweat. Remember everyone goes through this from time to time.
Thoams: Right.
Lilly: Right but now you gotta go Yeah Dan and Phil are on their way, they've been having these nightmares they need help with.
"Wow you help everybody don't you?" Talyn says amazed to Lilly.
"Yep, though I am worried about how harsh some of my advice seems to be with Thomas." Lilly stated.
Thomas and his other friends were also worried.
Thomas: Oh boy you are busy. Okay later.
Lily: Catch ya later.
Thomas: Bye.
Lilly: Dan, Phil talk to mama!
Thomas: Well that was cool.
Anxiety: Whatever that was Lily. You don't have what it takes.
Thomas: Oh yeah?
Anxiety: Mm-hmm ... Woah.
Thomas suddenly looked worried on how just breathing in deeply seemed to have such a physical effect on Anxiety. Anxiety's breathing grew harsher and he started to struggle in Morality's arms wanting to leave.
Thomas: I have anxiety. There's nothing wrong with that it's something I can control.
Anxiety: No.
Thoams: You are thoughts I create. Questions I ask. Fears I have nothing more.
Anxiety: Hmm.
Thomas: Bye
Anxiety: Fine but I'll be back.
Thomas: I mean I'm sure you will be but I'll be ready.
Anxiety: Okay well.
Thomas: I did it.
Tears started to leak from the corners of Anxiety's eyes as he heard the joy in Thomas's voice as he successfully banished Anxiety from the video. 'Of course he doesn't want you, you should just leave and never come back' Anxiety thought to himself. He struggled harder in Morality's arms. Morality was becomming more and more worried for Anxiety as he tried and failed to soothe him. Logic was becomming concerned with how hard Anxiety seemed to be struggling and was shocked when he glimced the tears no one else had seen yet. The darker sides grew uncomfortable with how one of their own are being treated.
Creativity: Indeed!
Thomas: Ahh! Forgot that you were still here.
Creativity: Well it look like you had that all under control so?
Thomas: Here's hoping I do and I hope those tips come in handy for you to.
Creativity: You can conquer this Beast!
"Anxiety is not a beast!" Morality growled feeling really protective of the youngest side.
Creativity rollled his eyes at Morality and looked away ignoring him.
Logic frowned as he realised how much control Creativity had had over Thomas in the episode and vowed to talk to Thomas about how they could correct this issue.
Anxiety was crying sliently now.
Thomas: Thanks for helping me get creative.
Creativity: You're welcome!
Thomas: Nice. Moana ah. Here's hoping for many peaceful, chill moments to come for all of us and until next time take it easy guys gals and non-binary pals. Peace Out!
"This episode is alot harder to watch then the prevous ones" Terrence stated shifting uncomfortably at the atmosphere in the room. Everyone agreed.
"Shhhh we still have the afterscene" Talyn stated unenthusiastically still staring at the screen.
Anxiety: He thinks he is so great. Well he is not. Look I'm just trying to look out for him. Yeah he was invited to a couple parties if I wasn't there to convince him not to go who knows what bad things could have happened.
Creativity:Yeah he might have had to talk to some people, dance ridiculously and have a fun night.
Anxiety: Yeah! Wait what?
Creativity: I don't like you.
Anxiety: Your just mad because I just came from a My Chemical Romance concert.
"Anxiety are you alright?" Morality asked pulling back trying to see his face.
Anxiety just pulled his hoodie tighter over his head and ran out of the room ignoring the others calling him to come back. Morality ran after him telling the others to stay put for know.
Thomas bent over and put his head in his hands ashamed of his future behavour.
"You should apologise. And maybe not let Creativty have as much influence on you when you interact with Anxiety." Logic stated to Thomas uncomfortable with the strong emotions that were present int he room.
"What do you mean about influence?" Thomas asked Logic confused. Thomas's friends were also confused so looked over curiously.
"Alot of your behaviour in that episode was being heavily influenced by Creativity so alot of his hate for Anxiety bleed through to your own feelings. Affecting how you interact with him." Logic stated straightning his tie. Thomas and his friends looked shocked.
"Common we don't need that creepy cookie anyway. We should just get rid of him" Stated Creativity.
"Creativity, enough I have had it up to here with your cruel comments escpecially towards Anxiety. I f you have nothing nice to say I don't want to hear a single word out of your mouth." Thomas scolded finally having enough of Creativity's attitude wondering why he hadn't seen this behaviour sooner.
Creativity sat pouting.
"I'm going to go find out how Anxiety's doing." Thomas said getting up leaving the room. The others all settled down to wait until the three missing came back. Logic again pulling out his book on helping anxiety. Thomas's friends spoke quielty to one another about everything they had learned so far about Thomas and his sides. The Duke started twirling around the room making himself dizzy. And Deciet stayed quiet and still not drawing attention to himself.