The Bwahahaha continues.

This one may get a sequel chapter as soon as I figure out how to not drop it into the deepest angst pit.

Stick to the Script and Other Stories

By Bilbo-sama

A Gilded Cage

Roland groaned as he returned to consciousness. He could groggily register the luxurious covers and soft mattress. Strange, his sheets have never felt this silky.

He opened his eyes, sat up in bed, and froze.

He was in an unfamiliar room. The walls were made of an unfamiliar stone. The bed was big enough to hold several people at once with sheets that contained an unfamiliar emblem that nagged at some part of his mind. The small arched window did not contain glass at all and he could see the domed roof of a nearby building in his line of sight.

He was definitely not in Evermore.

"What in the world?" he quickly got out of bed and rushed towards the window. His suspicions were confirmed. He's not in Evermore nor is he in one of the other four nations of this world. How did he get here?

The buildings as far as he can see, resemble Greco-Roman architecture. He can see people coming and going but he was too far away to recognize what species they were. They mostly looked like vague silhouettes of people from this distance.

He attempted to stick his hand out of the window and was met with a force field. "What the-"

There was the sound of a door opening, "Ah, you're awake." That voice...Roland turned around.

He gasped, "You!"

Doloran stepped into the room and Roland had the feeling the man was raising a hidden eyebrow at him.

"Me," agreed Doloran before he smirked. "Good morning, Roland. Did you enjoy your rest?"

"What did you do?" demanded Roland.

"You don't remember?" asked Doloran, "Understandable. I had to catch you while you were alone."

Roland felt the fog in his mind clear up as he tried to recall what he was doing that allowed Doloran to capture him.

They have calmed Bastion and spent two days touring Broadleaf. Last Roland remembered, Evan and President Vector had just signed the Declaration of Interdependence. Roland was on his way to the guest suite in Zip's compound when...he blacked out and woke up here.

"How long have I been out?" asked Roland, horrified.

"A day," replied Doloran.

This set off Roland into a panic. He charged towards the sorcerer, hoping to knock him down so he can run out of the door and make his escape. Doloran had seen this coming and calmly tapped his staff against the floor. The orbs on the staff flared and suddenly Roland was lifted off the ground and up onto the ceiling. He closed his eyes and braced himself for impact when suddenly he felt the rush of air against his face stop. Confused, he opened his eyes and found that he was being lowered onto the floor.

Doloran grinned as his prisoner predictably curled his hand as if gripping a sword. The flash of light indicating an item retrieved from an arms band did not appear.

"Looking for this?" Doloran slipped off the missing arms band from his own wrist and watched as Roland's eyes widened in terror.

"Give that back!"

"No," grinned Doloran, amused by his prisoner's reaction. "I think not. I'm still in need of it."

He snapped his fingers and immediately magic poured from his staff and onto himself. Roland watched agape as the sorcerer transformed before his very eyes.

"After all," said a transformed Doloran, who now looked like an exact duplicate of Roland. Even his voice changed to sound like Roland's, "it's part of my disguise. I can't convince them if I don't act and look the part."

"Why are you doing this?!"

"Because it's becoming clear to me that Evermore may very well succeed in uniting the world. We cannot allow that to happen. No one must stop the return of the Horned One."

The false Roland then grinned maniacally, "Additionally, if I can't obtain Oakenhart, then King Evan's bond with his Kingmaker will do."

He laughed and, with the help of magic, exited the room. He closed the door and locked it just as Roland roared with rage and rushed to reach the exit. Doloran listened as Roland banged on the door and shouted curses and pleas.

He'll tell him of who they are to each other later when the other man has calmed down enough to listen. By then he'll have no choice in the matter but join Doloran on his quest.

Doloran chuckled before teleporting to Evermore where the final piece of his collection awaits.