Roman's footsteps echoed across the mindscape. Never enough. It was never enough. He was never enough for Thomas. He couldn't defend him from the snake. If he couldn't be Thomas' hero, he did know who he was. He wasn't enough. He had to find a way to be better. He had to protect Thomas from the snake. He had to defeat the snake. He gritted his teeth and ran deeper into the mindscape. There had to be something in here that could help him. He didn't even know what he was looking for. He just wanted a way to take down that dirty, lying snake. He wiped the tears from his eyes. Hero's didn't cry. He was a prince for God's sake. He was above this. "Kiddo, wait up!" Paton cried from behind him. Startled, Roman whirled around and drew his sword. "Oh. It's just you." Patton came to a stop in front of him, and Roman gave him a moment to catch his breath. "Kiddo, why are you running away?" "I'm not running away," he said tensely. "Then what are you doing?" "That's none of your business." "Kiddo, I'm worried about you. You haven't been acting like yourself ever since Janus told us his name!" "Are you crazy?! You're the ones who haven't been acting like yourselves. He's literally Deceit! He's tried to foil you at every turn! He's evil! How can you just forget that? How can you just pretend like it never happened?" "I haven't forgotten, kiddo. I still remember. But I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. He's a side, just like you." "I am nothing like that snake!" "You know that's not what I meant." "Well then what did you mean?! That we should side with evil?" Patton put his hand on the prince's shoulder. "Of course not, kiddo. But Janus isn't evil. Just like Virgil's not evil." Roman shrugged him off. "I'll believe it when I see it." He turned and began walking in the other direction. "Don't try to stop me. I'm doing this for Thomas. I'm doing this for all of you." He ran deeper into the mindscape. He thought he heard Patton's footsteps echoing behind him, but when he turned around, there was no one there.
As he plunged further into the depths of the imagination, the scenery around him became darker and more grotesque. He must have been at the edge of Remus's territory. Instinctively, he began to change course to avoid his brother's room, but upon second thought, realized he might find something useful. He plunged deeper into the mountainous swamp, and before long, heard the sounds of a morning star hitting rock. He ignored it. It wasn't enough. It was never enough. He came to a clearing, surrounded by craggy boulders, and half destroyed trees. Remus was standing in the center of the clearing, morning star in hand, chest heaving. Roman stopped dead in his tracks. Something had just occurred to him. He was never enough, but maybe...Remus turned around and noticed him staring. Roman didn't say anything, but Remus seemed to know what he was thinking. It was probably twin telepathy, or something like that, but he didn't care. Roman took a step towards his brother, and both of them dropped their weapons. They reached out. Patton leapt out from behind a rock. "Roman! No!" But it was too late. Their fingers brushed, and there was a blinding flash of light as the two sides were pulled together. Patton was knocked off balance and fell to his knees. When the light cleared, there was one person where there had been two.
"No. It can't be." Romulus extended his hand, and examined his fingers. He hadn't noticed Patton yet. Thoughts raced through his mind. There was a reason they had split Romulus apart. Of course, Remus and Roman had changed a lot over the years, maybe Romulus would be different too. But Patton tried not to get his hopes up. Last time, he had helped to split the two, but he had needed Janus and Virgil's help. He wasn't sure he could do it alone. "It's good to be back. It's been what? 15 years?" Patton whimpered. Romulus noticed him for the first time. He glanced down at him and drew his sword, leveling it at Patton's chest. "There you go," he said with a smile. "Bow to your king."