Little Feelings

Let's go back a few, Joy and Sadness got transported out of Headquarters, the islands are being destroyed, they meet Bing Bong, Bing Bong fades, the console stops working, Joy and Sadness arrive, Joy and Sadness make a mixed core memory. Simple, right? After all of that, the emotions knew how to make "mixed memories." Two feelings in one kind of memory, it makes things a bit more advanced. Ever since then, the emotions have always been making mixed memories, but it's only been two emotions. A few weeks after Riley turned thirteen years old, Joy thought of something. Why only two memories? Why not ALL of them? So that's exactly what they were about to do. Sadness had second thoughts about it, she read in the Mind Manuals that emotions and memories are a powerful force. If they put five feelings in one memory, something chaotic might happen. But Joy never listened, "memories seem so simple." She thought. But how does she know? Maybe she should read the Mind Manuals once in awhile. But the emotions will possibly get in a lot of trouble if they made memories at the wrong time, so they had to wait for the perfect moment. But experiencing all kinds of emotions seemed impossible. That's when Riley had a terrible day at school, nothing was going her way. Her friends realized she wasn't speaking to them, she just avoided eye contact with them as she was walking home. It's probably not relevant to explain. And while Riley was walking home, the emotions found the perfect moment. But of course, they had second thoughts.

Sadness: "Joy, I'm still having second thoughts about this…"

Joy: "Don't worry, I assure you, we'll be ok."

Disgust: "Yeah, let's just get this over with so we won't have to keep contemplating on it."

Anger: "I'm also getting a bit impatient."

Sadness was very nervous, probably just as nervous as Fear would usually be. But there was no stopping Joy, she wanted to figure out the unknown nonetheless. So Sadness warned her one more time.

Sadness: "Ok… fine. But I'm warning you, emotions and memories have powerful connections, one mistake could end up changing our entire lives."

Joy: "Ok, you've warned me. But how much energy would it take?"

Sadness: "Probably five emotions."

Fear: "That… kinda makes sense now."

Joy: "You guys were so curious about this, you want it to happen, don't you?"

Fear: "Probably not, because Sadness is being really convincing."

Anger: "Fear actually has a point. Maybe we should think twice."

Disgust: "Ugh, I guess we weeeeere thinking about it for a while. Should we really get it over with though?"

Fear: "Uhhhhhh…"

Anger sighs, and just accepts that Joy wants to do this with them, leaving Sadness alone in her case.

Anger: "Yeah, let's do it."

Joy: "WHOO! Thank you! This will be a great moment in history!"

The emotions slightly laughed at Joy's enthusiasm, so they all go line up at the console. Ready for the big moment.

Joy: "Ready, Sadness?"

Sadness: "No…"

Joy: "Ok!"

"Three…"

"Two…"

"ONE!"

All the emotions slam their hands on the console, it lights up of all their colors, it was working. The emotions then heard a rather unusual chime, it sounds more different than the chime they hear when they make a regular memory. They all turned their heads to where the memories originate, and see a five-colored memory slip out and go into the row of other memories.

Joy: "Oh my lord…"

Fear: "Wow…"

Disgust: "It… worked?"

Anger: "Holy crap…"

The emotions were amazed, they saw all the colors of the memory shine as it rolled with the rest emotions in the row. Everyone immediately ran over to the five emotions combined memory. Sadness was bewildered, she was surprised nothing too bad happened. Or at least she thought. Joy immediately went over to the memory, and plucked it out the row. It was bigger than other memories, Joy had to lean it against her chest to be able to hold and balance it. Everyone stared at it in amazement and curiosity glimmering in their eyes. It was shining with rainbow. (Expect for orange.)

Sadness: "Wow… it… actually worked!"

Joy: "What did I tell ya?"

Fear: "This is amazing!"

Anger: "That thing is big."

Disgust: "It's a work of art…"

Joy: "Should we keep it? Or send it into long term?"

The emotions really thought, it seemed bad to keep it with them, even though it would be cool to keep a five mixed emotion memory. But it seemed right to keep it down in long term, where all the other memories can live for eternity. (Unless they fade.)

Fear: "Hmmm, that's a hard decision…"

Anger: "I think we should keep it."

Joy: "That's a choice we'll think about later, but just look at this!"

The emotions did as Joy said, the memory was swirling and combining with all their colors. There was a silhouette of Riley walking home, she was looking down. She was experiencing all kinds of emotions. Everyone was feeling proud of the memory they made. Joy then saw something wrong, the memory looked like it was getting bigger. That's when it knocked all the emotions back, it had turned giant. They all screamed and wondered what had happened. They just stared at the memory floating at them ominously.

Joy: "What just happened?! Wha…?"

Fear: "Is it going to attack us?! Why did it do that?!"

Sadness: "Ohh no…"

Disgust: "Ok! That was weird."

Anger: "Did we do something wrong?!"

Joy and the others were completely sitting still, that's until they started slowly sliding against the floor, they weren't doing it themselves. They were sliding to the memory. It was sucking them toward it, like a black hole.

Joy: "Wait, WHAT'S HAPPENING?!

Sadness: "Nooo! I knew something bad would happen!"

Fear: "IT'S THE APOCALYPSE!"

Anger: "ARE WE GETTING SUCKED INSIDE IT!?"

Disgust: "Why is this happening?!"

As the emotions got sucked toward the memory faster and faster, they tried to escape the force, but they struggled. Sadness was the first one to come in contact with the memory, Joy realized she went INSIDE it. Joy stood up and leaned away from the memory, she tried taking steps to escape the memory. But it was no use, the force made her slip and completely fly into the memory. Along with everyone else, they all got sucked into the memory. Then the memory shrunk, and shrunk, to the size of an atom. And it completely disappeared.

Riley steps into her room, she throws her backpack on the floor. And sits on her bed. She feels no emotion. She looks down and strokes her ponytail. She thought about all the bad things that happened to her. Today her friends, Bree and Gace promised that they would go play hockey with her, she was excited to get to play with them for the first time. But Bree had to go visit her grandma. And Grace had a doctor's appointment. So they weren't available. Riley was very sad. There wasn't more hockey practice until Wednesday. And it was Thursday. Riley was looking forward to it so much. It wasn't her friends fault though. Riley then started getting a headache, she didn't think much of it. She thought it was from a tiring day, until it got worse. It felt like it was melting a bit, though it really wasn't. Riley winced in discomfort, and rubbed her head. Her eyes felt droopy, and her head made her feel dizzy. She wondered if she was having a mental breakdown or was dying. She opened her eyes, and looked forward. She then saw a multi-colored ball come from her point of view. It hovered ominously in front of her, she was confused, and wondered if she was just going crazy. Until it flew quickly to her bedroom floor, it hovered for a few seconds, until it grew a medium size and started to glow. Then with a chime, Riley heard a group of screams, and saw five different colored sprites fall to her bedroom floor. She leaned in, trying to see what they were.

Joy: "Ow… what happened?"

Sadness: "Where are we…"

Fear: "D…Did we die?"

Riley: "What the…?"

The emotions quickly turned to where the voice was coming from, and they saw Riley! But she was tall and big, and they were short and small. About the size of an average pre-teen's palm.

Emotions: "AAAAAAAAAAH!"

All the emotions screamed as they saw the big Riley. They didn't take the time to process it was their girl they were staring at. The emotions ran, trying to find somewhere to hide.

Riley: "What- Hey! Wait! Stop!"

Riley tried to grab the tiny sprites, thinking they were some kind of magic creatures. Riley's hands went all over the place, she tried grabbing everyone. She eventually caught Joy, but Joy's slim body made it easy for her to slip out. So she did, she sprinted for safety and escaped Riley. Riley then turned and saw Fear, he was about to hide somewhere, until he was stopped. Riley quickly put her hands on top of Fear, completely trapping him.

Fear: "AAAAH! NO! LET ME OUT!"

Fear tried to escape Riley's capture attempt, but Riley was too strong. Fear eventually accepted his fate and sat there, terrified. Anger and Disgust saw Fear struggling, and Anger sprang into action.

Anger: "HEY! Leave him alone!"

Anger bursted fire out his head, slightly burning Riley.

Riley: "Ouch! Hey!"

Disgust: "Release him now!"

Joy then looked out from her hiding spot, and realized it actually was Riley. So she stopped the commotion.

Joy: "Guys wait! Stop, it's not a monster… it's RILEY!"

Anger: "Wait, What?!"

Disgust: "Huh?"

Riley: "Wha- how do you know my name?!"

Anger: "We'll answer that easily, but let go of Fear first!"

Riley did as Anger told, she quickly took her hands off Fear. And Fear sat there, trembling and staring at Riley in terror.

Riley: "Ok, there. Now how do you know my name?"

Joy: "Riley, we're your emotions!"

Riley: "What?"

Sadness: "Yeah! We're from your mind."

Riley: "My… mind? Hang on… my emotions, my mind? What's going on here?!"

Joy: "Yeah, we control your feelings."

Riley: "Really?! Am… am I dreaming or something?"

Disgust put her hands on her hips, and tried to completely convince Riley that this was reality.

Disgust: "Nope, you're not in a dream, hun. We can assure you we're real."

Riley: "That explains why I saw that colorful ball come from my head. How… how did you all get here?!"

Joy: "Well, it's a lot to explain. We make these things called "memories." And there's this console that controls your feelings and most of your actions. And whatever corresponding emotion operates the console, a memory is made. And the color of the emotion is on the memory. We can also make "mixed memories." Where two emotions operate the console at the same time, and it makes two feelings in one memory. Today we tried to make five in one, and… we did. But… it grew huge and then sucked us inside it. And now we're here, talking to you! Our girl! Our kingdom!"

Riley listened closely to Joy's explanation. Joy wasn't hesitating to explain the whole story. It made her sound very reassuring. Riley couldn't believe what she was seeing. Five little people controlling her actions and feelings? Making her memories? Sounds like a fantasy! And they were here, all because of a five mixed emotion memory.

Riley: "Wow… you can do all that? And you make my memories? You sound like you're really telling the truth, all that happens in my mind?"

Sadness: "Yeah, we've had some crazy adventures in your mind palace. We can recall some of them."

Anger: "Yeah, a very memorable one was pretty wild."

Riley: "I can't believe you all control my feelings, and with just a console? I'm amazed."

Joy: "Wait… the console! We're not operating it!"

Sadness: "Oh no, Riley's going to have no emotions!"

Disgust: "Oh, that's not good!"

Anger: "What do we do?!"

Fear: "This is terrible!"

The emotions started panicking, worried that Riley would have no emotion for the rest of her life. They needed to find a way to get back in her head, but it seemed impossible. They all started talking and pacing, anxious about what would happen without Riley's feelings. Riley saw the tiny little sprites in a commotion, and though she felt bad that they were worried for her, she couldn't help but chuckle a little. Seeing the little creatures panic and talk was like watching kittens fight almost. Joy realized Riley was laughing and got confused.

Joy: "Wait… did you just laugh? I make you do that, how can you do that if I'm not at the console?"

Joy then realized a wave of yellow light was gently flowing from Joy to Riley. It almost seemed like… a connection.

Joy: "Woah… what… is this?"

Sadness: "That looks like a connection. Could that mean…"

Joy: "Riley can still feel? Even without us at the console?"

Sadness: "Yeah, I think it's a sort of universal connection. Between embodiments and their owners…"

Riley: "Wow, that's so cool."

Joy: "Why did you laugh though?"

Riley: "I'm sorry, I can't help but say you all look so cute and tiny. I couldn't resist!"

The emotions felt flattered in a way, being called "cute" wasn't something they thought they'd ever experience. If emotions could blush, their faces would be slightly pink right now.

Joy: "Aww, thanks. I guess we are, huh?"

Fear: "That's sweet. Being tiny does make you cute, I guess."

Disgust: "Cute and gorgeous."

Sadness: "Yeah, we are a bit small."

Riley: "So… do you recall all the adventures you've had in my mind?"

Joy: "Yeah! We can tell you all about 'em. Wanna help me out, Sadness?

Sadness: "Huh? Oh! Sure."

Riley, Joy, and Sadness talked for quite a while. Riley put Joy and Sadness on her nightstand. And Riley sat on her bed to listen to them about some memories they've had with each other in her mind. Meanwhile, Anger, Disgust, and Fear were chatting on the floor. Talking serious.

Fear: "Ok, first things first, how are we small?!"

Disgust: "Well, how am I s'posed to know? Sadness actually might have an idea."

Anger: "Well, she just knows everything, doesn't she?"

Disgust: "She reads the Mind Manuals more than us. Of course she does."

Fear: "Well… she's given us some hints. She did say that emotions and memories are powerful connections."

Anger: "That's true… and I think we might've overpowered it too much. Making it somehow transport us outside the mind."

Fear: "Hmmmm, this is gonna be one tough mystery to solve. You think we should go ask Sadness?"

Anger: "Well, they're in a middle of a conversation with Riley right now. And I can't hear from over here, we're too small. So I guess we should wait, who knows how long they'll be talking about our memories."

Disgust: "We might as well join them."

The three other emotions walked over to go and try to listen to Joy, Sadness, and Riley's conversation.

Joy: "And after that, we brought Jangles back up to Dream Productions, and as expected. We woke you up! And the Train of Thought was running again, and we were back on the road!"

Sadness: "Or back on the tracks."

Riley: "Wow, so that was the bad dream I had. That's cool!"

Sadness: "Yeah, we're sorry for waking you up. We didn't think we'd get a chance to apologize to you for that."

Riley: "It's ok, you had to for the train to start running. Though it was kind of scary."

Joy: "Heh, yeah. It was really scary for us too. We'll continue the story later, I'm tired."

Riley: "Oh, that's fine. But I can't believe all this stuff is in my mind. It's so cool to hear about it from you guys."

Sadness: "Yep, we know you Inside Out."

Riley chuckled at Sadness' comment. Riley thought she knew herself better than anyone, but these were her literal emotions, they controlled her feelings, they made her memories, and they saw the inner workings of her mind.

Fear: "*yawn* Yeah, we really do."

Anger: "Man, is it getting late? I'm getting tired."

Riley: "You guys sleep?"

Fear: "Yeah! We all have little bed cubbies we sleep in."

Disgust: "Yep, I guess it's a bit strange emotions need sleep."

Riley: "Huh, well it is getting dark outside."

Joy: "Oh, our beds are still in your mind. How are we gonna sleep?"

Riley thought, the emotions needed to sleep somewhere. It would've been a bit dangerous if they slept with her. So Riley got an idea, she grabbed an extra pillow she had, and wrapped a spare blanket around it. She had made a simple pillow bed and showed it to her emotions.

Riley: "Will this work?"

Joy: "Hmm, let's test it first."

Riley put the handmade bed on the floor. Joy went inside it and tested it, it was actually pretty comfy. The other emotions also tested it, and also enjoyed it.

Fear: "This… isn't so bad!"

Anger: "It's not the same, but it's quite alright."

Disgust: "Considering you use a cinder block as a pillow. But I think this is fine too."

Sadness: "This is nice…"

Joy: "I think… this is a pass!"

Riley: "Yesssss. Great!"

Riley then thought about where to put her emotions to sleep. Under her bed? On her dresser? Somewhere where her parent's can't see them. It would be awkward if her parents had to see five little people from her mind, so she needed to hide them.

Riley: "Where do I put you guys? I don't think I should let my parents see you."

Joy: "Huh, you're right. That would be a bit weird. Hmmmmm… maybe… under the bed?"

Fear: "What?! There's monsters under the bed!"

Anger: "No there isn't, you idiot!"

Riley: "Or… oh! How about my nightstand? There's a drawer there that might fit you all and the bed."

Fear: "Ok, that's actually way better."

Disgust: "Sure, why not?"

Riley opened her nightstand drawer, there wasn't anything in it. And she placed the bed inside. She gently picked up their little emotions one by one, and they all got comfy in the handmade bed. Joy flopped herself onto the bed, tired from talking to Riley about her and Sadness' adventure, Anger put his hands behind his head and crossed his legs, Fear curled up and tried getting cozy and used to his new sleeping place, Sadness and Disgust casually lied down, ready for sleep.

Riley: "So, I guess I have five tiny emotions sleeping in my drawer, heh. But are you all ready for sleep?"

Joy: "*yawn* Yeah. G'night, Riley.

Sadness: "Goodnight."

Disgust: "See ya later."

Fear: "'Night!"

Anger: "Goodnight, kiddo."

Riley closed the drawer and turned off her hockey lamp. She completely forgot to sleep in her sleeping clothes, but she didn't mind. When she got nice and cozy, she heard a little voice call out to her.

Fear: "Oh, hey uh… Riley?"

Riley: "Yes?"

Fear: "Can you… leave the lamp on, please? I don't like the dark."

Anger: "Oh boy… here we go."

Disgust: "Yeah, he sleeps with like, nine nightlights."

Riley: "Oh, wow. Really? Well, if you want to, it's fine. I'll endure it."

Fear: "Thaaaank you…"

Anger shrugged and went back to falling asleep, he still found it kind of annoying that Fear is begging for light because he is afraid of the dark. Disgust still didn't really like it, being in disdain of Fear's pessimism. Riley was able to fall asleep with her hockey lamp on. And drifted off to sleep, she still wasn't completely convinced that there were literal emotions from her mind palace in her room. So she wondered if she woke up the next day and they would be gone, she'd be disappointed, but also curious. Riley then remembered Joy's mention about Dream Productions. A studio that broadcasts her dreams and nightmares into her view during REM sleep. Riley wondered what kind of dream she'd have from the little people she saw today. And what would happen in the future if she'd had to take care of little people for (probably) her whole life. What would happen if her parents caught her and saw her emotions? Riley also thought for a small amount of time about revealing these little emotions to her friends, Bree and Grace. And Riley had one more thought. Did everyone else on Earth have these little feelings in their mind too? Riley's mind was running wild, but decided that she'd keep falling asleep, and see if those emotions she had met today would be gone tomorrow. Riley then entered REM.