[Bad Language Ahead]

[And now for the trippy part of our program :- ]

As Peggy was yanked under, the unexpected suddenness of the jerk had her nearly choking in water.

Her training instantly kicked in, and the agent fought against her evil double's tight grip on her arms. But it was a fruitless endeavor, for Peggy was dragged further into the darkened depths.

After much effort, she was finally able to pull one of her wrists free. The other was still latched in the malevolent doppelganger's constrictive grip, and Peggy could not pry it off.

They continued to descend deeper and deeper.

Worried, Peggy looked above and nearly exhaled from shock when she saw how far they had already traveled. Only a small pool of light could be seen. If she did not get away now, she would not have enough air to make it back to the surface alive.

As if sensing her growing horror, her malicious twin turned and grinned nastily at Peggy. The doppelganger's lips expanded inhumanely wide, much like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.

Seeing such a terrifying sight caused Peggy's fear to take over and run rampant. She desperately beat at the hand holding on tight. Finally, she knocked herself free and slipped away before she could be grabbed again.

Aiming for the smidge of light above, Peggy only glanced back once as she frantically swam upwards. All she could see was her lookalike's cruel grin of malice that seemed to glow brightly as it continued to sink lower into the blackened abyss.

Ignoring the shudder of revulsion that coursed through her, Peggy kicked faster, knowing that her life depended on it. But it was taking too long, and the agent realized that she wasn't going to make it. She would drown miserable and guilt-stricken.

Instead of sorrow overwhelming her, anger at the unfairness of it all flared up. She was not going to die on some stupid adventure.

Lungs bursting, she fought every base instinct to breathe. Nearer and nearer, she swam until finally, she reached the surface.

Peggy burst forth from the cold water and pulled in deep lungfuls of air. Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of vertigo washed quickly over her, and she felt incredibly fatigued. Beyond exhausted, it would have been so easy just to let her body sink back under.

Then in the distance, she saw her friends staring at her. Once more, they only watched. Just like how they had with Howard. Just like how they always did.

Their inaction enraged Peggy, which fueled her resolve to survive. Without their assistance, she was forced to crawl her way along the slope of the pool's interior.

Peggy made it onto the cold cement floor of the chamber. Her heavy, waterlogged clothes weighed her down, almost as if they were the burdens she always carried. She then slipped and slid until she was far enough away from the pool to feel safe. Drained, she collapsed onto the chilled floor.

She barely registered that Jarvis was the closest. And yet still, he did nothing to help. Instead, his back was to her. Peggy knew that his worried gaze had stayed fixed on the water she had barely escaped from.

Wheezing, Peggy lay there, trying to catch her breath. Between gasps, she turned her head to give her so-called friends a piece of her mind but stopped before a peep could be mustered.

Doing a double-take, she saw that the Russian couple's appearance had been dramatically transformed. Their usual attractive features had changed into gross caricatures of ignorance and indifference.

Peggy studied them in horrified fascination.

Zdenka was staring off into the unknown, her face a mask of befuddlement. Her vacant features were slowly fading as if she was disappearing as an individual.

Leaning against the wall, the aloof Dmitri had the sneer of self-loathing and was hunched over in an indolent manner. The cold exterior that he exuded was actually turning him slightly blue.

When Jarvis turned around, she saw that he had also been drastically transfigured. From the constant fear, his face had a deathly pallor, making it appear very gaunt. And his eyes were impossibly huge, while his mouth was an open maw of terror.

Peggy was bewildered as to what was going on. Part of her wondered if she had actually drowned and this was her punishment for allowing Howard to die. But deep down, a part of her knew that all this was all too real.
She stuttered, "What, what happened to all of you?"

A disinterested Dmitri did not seem to care, and Zdenka stared at Peggy blankly. Jarvis glanced at the others and was shocked by their altered appearance as well. He then looked at Peggy and took a step back in horror. With terror in his quivering voice, he asked, "Miss Carter?"

Still too tired to stand, Peggy crawled over to the pool and looked down at her reflection.

The angry determination that had helped propel her to the water's surface had also transformed her features. Her forehead had an exaggerated crease down the center, and her mouth had taken on a rictus of a sneer. She tentatively touched her face, fearful that it might bite her. Thankfully nothing happened.

But then it didn't change either when she tried to smooth out the deep lines of scorn. And no matter how much she attempted to relax, her brow stayed the same, as did her mocking smirk.

Peeved, she cursed at this new effrontery. To add insult to injury, would she now be permanently stuck like this? Her mother's stern voice echoed through her mind, "Don't frown, Margaret. It will stay like that forever." Frankly, she wished her mother would just shut the hell up already.

Surprisingly she felt her brow pull downwards more and she snarled in anger. The indignity of being frozen forever like this made her turn on Zdenka. She asked in a voice of barely controlled fury, "Why are we like this, Doctor?"

But the Russian Doctor could not answer. She no longer had any to give.

Peggy snapped at them all, "Well, something must have happened after I was pulled under the water."

Dmitri was too indifferent to care, leaving the nervous Jarvis to reply.

The manservant shook his head as if to clear it, but still, he could not release the anxiety trapped inside. With his eyes unbelievably wide, he explained, "After you were dragged below, the air seemed to change. It almost felt as if I was underwater. Then when you finally broke the surface, there was a loud pop, and the room shifted."

Suddenly he fearfully glanced around as if something might jump out at him from nowhere.

Peggy tried to raise her eyebrows to signify surprise, but her furrowed brow refused to yield. Through clenched teeth, she demanded, "Wait, what happened again? That doesn't make any sense."

Jarvis looked back at her and tried once more, "I know it doesn't. The best I can describe it, it was as if a record was flipped over to the other side. A very awful and strange side." As if seeking confirmation, he added, "Doesn't the room seem off now, almost otherworldly to you?"

"Yes, it does not feel natural anymore, almost surreal," Peggy growled. Normally she wouldn't put much credence in someone this scared, but he was right that things were certainly bizarre. Much more than usual, she thought with a grimace.

Peggy struggled to her feet, her soaked clothes and anger continuing to weigh her down. She stumbled toward her petrified friend.

Soon a look of new distress crossed Jarvis's ashen features, "God, you don't think we will stay like this forever, do you?"

"I don't know," Peggy grumbled, "With our luck, probably. I fucking hate this." Seeing her friend's horror-stricken face, she patted Jarvis on the arm. It was a bit harder than she meant, so she forced herself to take a deep breath. "Sorry, probably part of another test or something."

Jarvis stuttered his head and muttered, "Didn't Abaris say that we were not ready to enter?"

Internally she cursed. Yes, that was probably it. Since nodding seemed to be the only action she could express nonverbally, she did so. Through clenched teeth, she gritted, "Yes, it was something about how we had to be healed of mind as well as body. Oh no, is that what all this is about? Don't tell me that we cannot be allowed out of here until we are purified throughout?"

Jarvis did not answer and instead stared worriedly at the pool.

As Peggy angrily wrung the water out of her shirt, she stomped over to Zdenka, "Well, Doctor, do you concur?"

"I don't—" Zdenka was at a loss.

It took all of Peggy's willpower not to shake the woman.

"Think, Doctor." Peggy bit down on her words before she could growl, "damn-it." Taking a quick breath that did not calm anything, she added, "Could that explain why whatever negative issues we carry inside ourselves are now reflected outward?"

Zdenka shook her head, not in denial, but in trying to clear it.

From her tightening jaw, Peggy's voice rumbled dangerously, "Didn't the opening plaque say something about needing to learn? Maybe it's figuring out how to control our emotions."

The Russian Doctor continued to look askew at Peggy as if she was that blasted confused dog from the RCA advertisement.

Regardless of their situation, Peggy was sure that there had to be a way out of this somehow. The bastards who created these tests had made sure of that. Well, whatever was going on, things were continuing to worsen as the growing frustrations she felt were affecting her exaggerated features.

With Zdenka being no help and Dmitri too aloof, Peggy turned to Jarvis. She had to grab his arm to get him to look at her. It seemed that his attention was focused on some perceived horrific noise that she could not hear. He flinched at her touch.

She loosened her tight grip and asked through a taut sneer, "What do you think, Jarvis."

"I think we should get out of this room," the manservant replied shakily. He looked fearfully from her to the pool.

Peggy nodded. His overactive imagination had raised a valid point. But where did they go?

Before she could deliberate, Jarvis rushed out the way they had come in.

"But, but that is the wrong way," a frustrated Peggy felt her forehead crease deepen from this new annoyance. Somehow a small voice wormed its way past the throb of rising anger. Maybe since they were now on the flip side of the labyrinth, they could leave that way.

She went to follow him but saw that Zdenka was staring perplexed at the pool while a bored Dmitri continued to lean against the wall as if he was holding it up. Regardless of how much she wanted to throttle them, the Russians were still her responsibility.

"Come on, you two," Peggy's bark of command had them finally looking at her.

Her threatening features also kept their attention from straying, but they did not react otherwise. Though Peggy would have loved to get into an altercation with them, it would have been counterproductive.

She growled, "Move it, comrades."

Finally, the Russians followed Jarvis out of the room. Peggy fought the urge not to kick the loitering Dmitri in the ass to get him to hurry along.

Trailing behind them, Peggy fleetingly wondered what it was about this labyrinth that was causing their bodies to become such exaggerated caricatures of what they were internalizing. It was incredibly annoying because she always prided herself on having mastery over her emotions.

Furious at her lack of control, she suddenly felt her face constrict even more.

Though difficult, she forced herself to focus past this intense resentment. Somehow she had to stop these overwhelming emotions, but she did not know how.

Adding to her problems, it seemed that her body and mind were feeding off each other more and more. With every step she took, breaking out of this perpetuating vicious cycle was becoming increasingly difficult.

And she somehow knew that these all-consuming emotions would eventually eat away at her until there was nothing left.

Grumbling to herself about how this type of crap always seemed to happen to her, Peggy continued to push the two Russians ahead of her. At least her actions did not draw any protests from either of them. That might have set her over the already jagged edge.

It was tedious work to get the indifferent Dmitri down the corridor with the befuddled Zdenka in tow. But she did not worry that Jarvis would wander too far ahead of them. In his current state of mind, she figured that once he realized that no one was with him, he would stop moving out of fear.

What she had not factored in was how terrified he would become from being so alone. After walking a bit, she found him cowering on the floor in a fetal position.

Great, there went the last person who could have helped her think their way out of this. Typical, she angrily thought, then turned cold when she felt her facial expression pull painfully into a worsening sneer of fury. Barely able to think through her spite, Peggy understood enough that something needed to be done to save them all and fast.

In two strides, she was standing over Jarvis. Figuring that talking out loud might work, or at least it would engage his curled form, she growled through gnashed teeth, "Alright, so there is something about this labyrinth that not only transforms but heightens our inner turmoil. And I bet that these intense sensations will only get stronger the longer we stay in this awful world."

Jarvis groaned from fear, and she nodded bitterly in agreement. As more anger washed over her, she felt her mouth stretch grotesquely back. Peggy realized that she would soon resemble her evil counterpart from the pool.

Her jaw was clenched so hard that it was difficult to make out what she was saying when she snarled, "To break free, we need to somehow conquer these inner demons that are taking over our bodies." This was going to be damn near impossible to accomplish when all she wanted to do was beat in some heads.

Trying her best to focus, Peggy confronted the issue closest to the surface. As she picked this turbulent emotion apart, it felt as if the fury she carried was a fresh wound that refused to scab over.

Grumbling, she figured it had to be about this last ridiculous test. Hadn't they done enough already to prove they were worthy of what awaited them at the end of all this?

When nothing changed, she realized that wasn't the deep-rooted issue that was taking over her body. True, she wanted to tear down these stupid walls, but that wasn't it.

Her perpetual frown made it easy for her to shut her eyes. In seconds, the crux of her ire came right to the forefront. This all-consuming rage stemmed from the fact that her friends had betrayed her and Howard.

Peggy concentrated on calming the part that wanted to rip them all to pieces with her teeth. It was difficult, but acknowledging the issue made the rage abate somewhat.

Another thought pushed past the lessening red of anger. The plaque over the entry said that we needed to be as one. That must mean they should work on their emotional issues together.

Relying on others was a bitter pill to swallow until she remembered that she and Jarvis had been through some really bad times together. Over the years, he had become one of her dearest friends.

Hell, she had even grown to care for the Russians, too.

With the urge for forgiveness tugging at the back of her mind, Peggy turned to the one she had trusted her life with the most. Maybe by helping him, she too could heal as well.

To the curled form, she asked, "Mr. Jarvis, what are you so afraid of?"

His voice was muffled, but she heard distinctly, "That there is something in here with us."

Her heart nearly broke, for his voice was no longer strong but was weak and frail. Instantly protective of him, she reassured, "I will not let anyone hurt you. Now tell me, what else are you so afraid of?"

"Besides that, all of you will leave me alone," he whispered in a tiny voice. Then as if scared that his reveal had made matters worse, he ducked further into a tight ball.

Peggy watched horrified as his body rippled and molded around his bent physique. More and more of his usual tall form was being absorbed inwards. In moments it was difficult to discern that he was even human.

She feared that he would hide inside himself forever if she did not get through to him. "Mr. Jarvis, you will never be alone." It was difficult to keep the sneer out of her tone.

Sadly he replied, "No, Mr. Stark is gone forever. And now you hate me because I allowed him to die. You would be more than willing to leave me here, all by myself." Only enough of his head poked out so he could look over at the Russians, "And they only care for each other. So out of spite, all of you will leave me here, alone." He once more ducked his head back into the folds of his normally long-limbed body.

Kneeling at his side, it took some doing to find, but Peggy was finally able to pull his head out of its protective shell. She tried not to grimace when she felt his neck twist around abnormally from the lack of him having a spine. She grasped his chin a little harder than necessary, so he would look her in the eye, "You still have your wife Anna, and she loves you very much."

She saw that his gaze had become distant as he thought of the love of his life. Still, his body did not morph back to normal. This reaffirmed that for them to succeed, they needed to work on every piece of the self-doubt and inner turmoil that this adventure had churned to the surface.

The tightness of her mouth loosened somewhat, and Peggy added, "I don't hate you, Mr. Jarvis. You are my friend. One of the last true friends that I have, please believe me."

The sincerity in her voice had him vaguely smiling, something opposite of what made his face so fearful. This happiness seemed to loosen his gaunt features, and in moments his smile widened. "You don't hate me," he said more as an affirmation to himself than to her.

She shook her head vigorously and replied softly, "No, I don't. You upset me sometimes, but I don't hate you."

At this admittance, the internalized pressure lessened even more within her, as did her face.

Jarvis confessed, "I should have stayed with Mr. Stark." Then as if surprised to have heard this from his own lips, he covered his mouth with his hand, worried that it would set his friend off again.

Peggy stated emphatically, "No, this is all entirely my fault. I should have never let any of you come with me on this trip."

That was when she realized who she was really angry at. By allowing Howard and Jarvis to join her, she had placed them both in danger from the very first day. She was the reason Howard had died and that Jarvis was in these dire straits now. This was all her fault.

Suddenly, she felt her face pulling, changing to add the guilt she always carried, buried deep inside.

Shame and anger were nothing new to her. Her last words to her brother, of not being able to save Steve or Howard and all the things she wished she could have changed from her past.

These two debilitating emotions often went hand in hand, and right now, it was as if they were pushing her down with all their might. Struggling to stay upright, Peggy now felt as if she was suffocating under their combined weight.

No longer able to stay upright, she collapsed onto the floor, her cheek pressed hard against its cold surface.

Looking at her in concern, Jarvis flinched as Peggy's features continued to morph. Her angry sneer was still prominent, but guilt caused her eyes to become sunken, and the skin around them darkened as if bruised.

Lost in a spiral of despair, Peggy's blame-riddled thoughts swirled, twisting with that other destructive emotion of anger, and they fought for dominance over her soul. She should have known that her actions would cause her friend to die. She failed to save Howard, and now the rest of them will die, too. It was all because of her.

Peggy's barely held sob sounded like a haunted moan. Her hand shakily covered her face from the growing ache within. In those seconds, she felt herself being pushed further down onto the ground. She did not know how much longer she could live under this heavy burden. And frankly, she did not know if she even wanted to.

Then she felt Jarvis' tentative touch on her arm, and she did not flinch from it. Embolden, Jarvis then grasped her hand in solidarity, and she stared across at him as his head poked further out of his protective curled form.

His voice was shaky yet reassuring, "No, Miss Carter, you are not to blame for any of this. We all knew what we were getting into. The fault does not fall upon your capable shoulders alone."

Her lips trembled at his familiar and supportive words. Struggling over to him, she wrapped her body around his contorted frame. Both then cried in sorrow over the loss of their friend and all the other tragedies throughout their lives.

Soon Jarvis was no longer tightly coiled, and he was able to wipe Peggy's tears away. Already feeling better, his face was not as emaciated and pale from hopelessness. There was still fear, but the more pronounced alterations had been mostly abated.

Peggy wished she could say the same for herself, for her face still felt tight. At least the weight that bore her down had lessened somewhat.

Trying to tackle the guilt and anger that intertwined one another as if they were lovers, Peggy admitted, "But Howard was my responsibility. I should have been the one to die, not him."

Jarvis shook his head sadly, "No, Miss Carter. Mr. Stark chose to die so all of us could live. There was no possible way you could have changed his mind. Trust me. I had tried many times in the past."

If Peggy could, she would have smiled. Instead, she looked away in shame.

Seeing that his words had not caused any change in her, Jarvis stated adamantly, "I know that you prefer to work alone, but the point is you don't have to. We can get through this together, Miss Carter."

She replied meekly, "Honestly, I don't know if I can rely on anyone anymore."

With a hint of sorrow, Jarvis confessed, "I had no right to go against your wishes back on the plane. It is easy to see how you could view that as a betrayal of our friendship. Over the years, you have come to trust me, and I hope that you will give me a chance to earn that right once again."

He grinned at the memory of her stubborn devotion to working alone, "I remember all too well how difficult it was for you to depend on me when we originally partnered."

Peggy stifled a sob when she stuttered out, "Yes, on account of Colleen having died because of me."

Jarvis shook his head, "No, it was the assassin who had killed her, Miss Carter, not you. Please forgive yourself for that and all the other burdens you hold so tightly onto."

"It is so bloody hard at times. Those emotions are almost like old friends to me," her forced grin came off as a grimace.

"Then it is time to make new friends," Jarvis quipped. Seeing her continued struggle, he added, "Always remember that you have many people in your life you can rely on for help. There's me, Daniel, Angie, and of course, Mrs. Jarvis. And countless others."

Concentrating on those who were her closest friends helped her to relax somewhat. It seemed that it was not just the Labyrinth telling her that she could no longer continue her path alone. If she was going to get through this perpetual death trap or even her life past all this, she would need to trust other people for help and let them in.

It would not be easy. Due to a dangerous and costly war, her reasons for going solo had been conditioned this way. But she would try her best.

Peggy found that by opening herself to this possibility, she was finally able to exhale a deeply held breath. It felt as if it had been trapped deep inside for a very long time.

As her features relaxed in intensity, she knew they would survive this test.

Seeing that his words had some positive effect on his friend, Jarvis slowly unwound his twisted body, and together they stood.

Though Jarvis was doing better, Peggy could not fully get rid of the two strong emotions that warred within, but at least she did feel the sense of guilt lessen in strength.

Fleetingly, she wondered how Zemo was going to survive all this. But then, knowing the megalomaniac, he was at peace with his need to destroy all of humanity. The smug Baron was probably strolling along, fine as can be. It was very easy for someone with no moral compass.

Hatred instantly overwhelmed her as she thought about that arrogant bastard. It was such an injustice that villains like him lived while good people like Howard died.

She felt her face constrict in seconds, this time more severe in strength. Not wanting to lose what relief she had just gained, Peggy tried to corral her anger under control, but it was not working.

Suddenly, they heard the terrible roar of the Minotaur in the distance. Peggy had to hold Jarvis tight, so he would not collapse in on himself from fear again. The monster brayed louder, and it sounded as if it was charging toward their location.

With the labyrinth continuing to curve back and forth on itself, it was difficult to be sure exactly where the monster was. The creature could just be on the other side of the wall, or a few sections over, for sound seemed to carry rather well.

Through gritted teeth, Peggy reassured Jarvis, "We will get past the beast that guards our path."

"Sorry, but ever since Bernard, I have had this fear of odd beasties," he quirked a grin, his slightly jovial tone a balm to her soul.

Peggy was able to force a glimmer of a genuine smile in return.

The Minotaur continued to make its horrifying part human, part braying noise that made the hair on the back of their necks stand.

Putting on a brave face, Jarvis fearfully stammered, "It is alright, Miss Carter. We will conquer this new obstacle together."

She looked at her friend and saw that he was still struggling with his inner demons, too. Even with that warring within, he tried to be stoic for her.

Seeing him fight his fears to be strong for her gave Peggy the power to abate her anger somewhat. He was right. They would get through this, and then they would make sure that Zemo got his comeuppance. Quickly she took calming breaths and thought of serene times.

Slowly she felt some of the deeper creases on her face smooth out. As it did so, she heard the creature halt. Its loud snorting seemed as if it was on the other side of the wall. But at least it had stopped its deadly pursuit.

Then a thought struck her. Perhaps the Minotaur was honing in on their strong emotions. At this revelation, she could only smile a grimace in response. But at least she now had an idea on how they could accomplish getting past the hungry beast.

And it was not just accepting that changes needed to be done. Recalling the plaque at the beginning of the Labyrinth, she knew that somehow the four of them must be in harmony with their accentuated emotions if they were going to make it out alive.

As her clenched jaw continued to relax, Peggy asked Jarvis, "I need your assistance with curing our new friends of their problems," she waved her hand to indicate the Russian allies. "Then, as the sign above the door said, we can all escape together as one."

Jarvis nodded in agreement, and they turned to view the Russians.

Before proceeding, both studied their Soviet friends. Judging by how far they had already mutated, the Russian's internal strife was winning. Dmitri's aloofness was apparent by his atrocious posture and strange skin tone, while poor Zdenka's features had nearly vanished from her befuddlement.

Hoping her theory was correct, Peggy added, "To get past the Minotaur, we must cleanse these destructive and negative thoughts from our minds. I think the creature is attracted to them."

"Then we best hurry," there was a fearful lilt to Jarvis' voice, and the beast loudly brayed as if it was locating them.

Still being quick to temper, Peggy nearly scolded him. But there was no need to say anything out loud. Instantly both felt a familiar painful tug on their features as these turbulent emotions boiled forth. The nearing Minotaur's growl sounded closer, almost as if it was just around the corner.

Both quickly exhaled a calming breath. Automatically, they concentrated on what they had learned about themselves within the labyrinth. In moments, their faces relaxed somewhat. Just as quickly, the sound of the advancing Minotaur ceased, and the fearsome beast retreated.

Nodding quickly to one another, Jarvis then made a beeline to Zdenka while Peggy focused on Dmitri.

She hoped they would not have their work cut out for them with these two. With the twin threats of the all-consuming labyrinth and a ravenous Minotaur, time was of the essence.