I've been running for my entire life. Running from the truth. I've found someone who helped me. They make all the running worth it. His name is Ness. A boy that…means the world to me. He saved me from utter turmoil, and I am forever in his debt. But something I learned is….no matter who you may find. What you may do. Or how you live your life. You will never lose that dark side of yourself. Not unless you confront it. And I…I did not. I ran. The more I ran the more it grew. The more it grew the harder it had become to hold it in. To deny it of what it wants…freedom. Darkness can not leave. Darkness only leads to more darkness. I need to confront it. I need to show who's the boss of my body. My mind. But I don't know how to. Although, I know someone who does.

I get out of bed and try to sneak out of the house. Ness, who I swear was sleeping, grabs my hand. "Where are you going?" he asks.

"On a walk," I simply say. I am walking. But Ness is too smart. He knows me too well.

"Lucas.."

"I need to deal with something."

"Then let me help." Ness shoots me around and pins me against the wall.

"Ness…you can't help me with this."

"Yes, I can!" He doesn't get it. But…he also doesn't know. I told him about my brother…my mom…my dad…and even my dog. But I never told him exactly how I thought about it. Sure, sad of course. Anyone would be sad about losing their entire family. But for me…I'm much more. And he can't help me with something he was never involved with, to begin with.

"It's my mind, Ness. I need to fix it."

"Is this about what you did to Luigi?" Luigi…I still hold him inside me. His spirit. His power. I didn't want to do it. I swear. But neither he nor Mario or anyone who will find out will care. People, in trauma, only look at the surface. Never once do people take time to understand. That's just not how life works. Not for me, at least. No one cares about what's deep inside me. No one, but Ness. Even my brother, when he was alive, didn't really take time to understand me. If he did, he wouldn't have left me. Although, maybe if he did know what was inside me, it would make him want to leave more. My dad…my mom…no one. No one cares but Ness. He's the only one. I don't even care.

"No…it's something dealing with something that happened way before the merge." Ness let go of me, already sensing what it is I meant. He sighs before bringing me into a hug.

"Be careful, Lucas. And know…..I'll be here…" He moves his hand to my heart. He really is sweet. Sweeter than anything. I smile, knowing he's genuine. We touch our foreheads together, which is something we do frequently, before walking off. I'm gonna miss him. I have a feeling this journey will not bode well for me.

I walk over to the Pokemon Center of Pewter City. This place is acting as our main hub. In between Onett and the Port of Badon. The perfect place to have a base. I enter the Pokemon Center and see him. X. He's sitting at the table that acts as a meeting spot for the elites of the group, which Ness is actually a part of. "X?" X looks up from a photo he's looking at. He makes the photo disappear and walks over to Lucas.

"Lucas. What can I help you with?"

"X. I know you. You know exactly why I'm here." X sighs before walking over to the table and sitting on it.

"Are you sure about this, Lucas? A journey into your mind can result in negative outcomes."

"How negative?"

"You will encounter your inner demons. You will see the deepest parts of you that you wish to forget, and may have already forgotten. If you fail to overcome them, they will overcome you."

"I won't let that happen. Too much is at stake."

"That…we both agree on. You need this. Even if it's really risky." X gets off the table and walks over to me. "There's just one rule when you're down there. Don't Misbehave."

"What? Why?"

"I already told you. Down there, in your mind, your darkness they're….They're Still Untamed. They can get to you. If you do anything that can be seen as misbehaving…they win." I nod. But…part of me doesn't think I'll be able to withstand the urges. I just need to see this through. X sighs before placing a finger in the center of my forehead. "Are you ready?"

"Yes." No. I'm not. But I'll never be ready. I just need to do it. That's when there's a sudden shock around my body. I feel frozen in place. X disappears. But he's not the only thing that does. Everything does. Everything fades to black around me. Once there is nothing but darkness around me, I'm finally able to move. My mind is truly full of darkness. It's pitch black. Nothing can be seen or heard. It's just silence. That is until there is a dark and deep voice.

"You are Here To Travel The Night. The question lies. Can you live without the light?" the voice echoed through the darkness.

"Can I Live Without Light?" I didn't get a response. I look around, hoping that something will happen. I can't journey through my mind if I don't have any idea where to go. "Hey, Mr. Voice! I could use some help!" Nothing. This voice is starting to annoy me now. "Come on! I can't do this without you!"

"You require my assistance?"

"Yes! Please!"

"Good. You admitted it." The dark area I'm in starts to shake. I fall to the ground and the shaking continues. But then suddenly…stops. I stand up and still don't see anything interesting yet. This is a lot more boring than I thought it would be. I don't get anything from this voice.

"Wow, thanks, Guide," I say sarcastically. I walk through the darkness, not really knowing where I'm going before I slam into…something. It's nothing, though. There is absolutely nothing in front of me yet…I can put my hands on the wall. It feels like a wall at least. It's probably smart for me to follow this. It makes sense right? Probably. I need to be careful though. As X said, one wrong move and I'm a goner. I stay along the wall.

That's until I fall back, I just found an opening. I stand back up and I feel a bit more shaking, but less so. That's also when the darkness finally breaks to show….Sunflowers. I turn around and find the entrance blocked off. "What? Where….where am I?"

"A maze. You must make it to the end of the maze. Do not slow down. Do not go through the Sunflowers. Stay on the path. And you cannot go back."

"Great, now I'm Trapped In This Maze. I hate mazes." I follow a path, trying my best not to ruin the beautiful Sunflowers. I really do love them. They're so full of light and it just makes me so happy to be around them. I just wish I could get closer. I always feel relaxed when I'm able to touch them.

I continue going through the maze when I seemingly make it to the middle of it. In the middle is a gravestone. I can't tell who it is though. I have plenty of people who are currently under the ground, so this could be anyone. I start to get closer and closer when…

"NO! You must Learn To Obey! You can't escape your demons if you don't obey! Find the exit to this maze. Now!" I jump at the sudden anger coming from the guide. My guide is rude. Something about this doesn't feel right. It seems like I should be doing something different, but if I can't trust my own guide, then how can I trust anyone? "The best way to learn to overcome your demons is to Feel A Little Confined with them. Seeing them head-on. You have to Give Them Something To Bite and then bite back, and you'll be better. You'll be….perfect." The guide…they're right. I need to face everything. I need to stare them in the eyes and beat them. I-It's the only way. I can't show weakness. I can't show them they're getting to me.

"I…I need to be stronger."

"Good." A hole appears underneath me and I start Goin Down….Down….Down…Further. I close my eyes, hoping nothing bad happens when I land wherever it is I'm going to land. I land on my back, but thank goodness this is all in my head, cause it doesn't hurt. I stand up and sigh in relief. That's when I look around. I'm…home. My home back in Tazmily. Why…why am I here? I need to be facing my demons, right? What demon is at ho-... Oh No.

I run upstairs. I know what happens here. Something….bad. Something…..horrifyingly bad. I don't see anything. Thank God. I can't imagine what would happen if I saw it. That's when the roof blows away, showing the darkness surrounding the house. I see something start to fall but…I don't know what it is. I look closer and…I see him. My dad.

"D-dad?" He's falling down. I try to get into a position to save him. I…I need to save him. I'm….I'm So Close. Just save him. He needs me. I hold my hands out to try and catch him from falling, but something comes out of the darkness. A noose. It wraps around Dad's throat and at the time I was supposed to catch him, to save him, his neck snaps on the noose. The loud crack makes me flinch, but when I look back, I see what I saw way back then….My Dad….dead…his head in a noose, over my brother's bed. "N-no….n-not again…" I failed again. I was supposed to save him. I was supposed to be a good son. B-but I failed. He's gone. It's my fault.

"Lucas, you are a being of Total Insecurity. You are weak. Crying over something so….miniscule. In order to be strong, you must take these in stride. You must be willing to do to others what happened to you."

"If…If I'm weak…" I say as I'm on my knees, staring at my Dad's wide yet dead eyes. Staring down at me; disappointed. Sad. Angry. Everything everyone feels about me. "What am I going to do? When They Come After Me."

"You must learn to be strong. You must learn what it means to be dark. Darkness is not weakness. It is strength. Use it. Fight back." I start to feel a strong wind going against me. It gets stronger and stronger before it blows me away out of the house. Before long, I fall to the ground and roll back a bit. I slowly get up and wipe my tears away. The guide is right. I do need to be stronger. I can't, I shouldn't be scared. I start to walk backward, watching as my distant house grows more and more distant. I then bump into something. I turn around and see…the back of my mom.

"M-mom?" One heavy step. Then another. The steps are familiar. I know them. They belong to a Drago. But not just any Drago; the Mecha-Drago. "Oh No." I know this time. This started everything. This sent me down the path, the path that led me here. I look at my mom. I should just grab her, run off. But I can't. My mom…she's…wait…why can't I? I should be able to. Nothing is stopping me. I see the Mecha-Drago finally, towering over me and my mom. I become frozen with fear. I try to move. I'm So Close. I can so easily grab my mom and run off. I can do that, I should do that. I need to be stronger, I need to lose the fear. The Mecha-Drago swipes at my mom. I'm too late. My mom gets launched away, huge claw marks over her body. I can finally move, but at what cost. I let her die. I could've done something, but I failed.

I run over to where she is and see she is already gone. I grab her head and place my forehead against her as I start to feel tears fall from my eyes. I can't do anything right. All I do is let people die. All I do is kill. I can't….

"Lucas….you're still a being of Total Insecurity. You must overcome said insecurity if you want to become stronger."

"B-but I can't do anything When They Come After Me! I…I just sit there…watch them win. I can't, I'm not strong enough."

"Not yet. But soon, you will be." My mom disappears. She's gone. I let out some cries before I hear a giggle. I know who it belongs to, or rather, who it belonged to. "Those Ears; They Perk. You know who it is. You know who is next."

"I-I can't overcome my parents, h-how am I going to overcome him!?"

"I know you won't." What's that supposed to mean? Isn't he supposed to be helping me? Isn't this journey supposed to help me become stronger, to overcome my darkness? Why is it doing the exact thing I'm supposed to overcome? But, he does seem right. To overcome darkness, you must face it, thrive, and pass. I stand up and try to stand my guard, by my eyes won't stop crying. Soon enough, I start to see him. Red Eyes. I try to hold everything in as the figure gets closer and closer and further and further out of darkness. It's exactly who I thought it was; Claus. I need to bite my lip, I need to not let him affect me. I need to overcome it! I…I need to. He takes his helmet off and I see his face...I can't. I can't do this.

"CLAUS!" I scream and try to move, but I can't. And I Can't Scream Loud Enough. I never could. Not before, and not now.

"Lucas. You are On The Stage To Play A Song Of Fear. You must stand your ground. Do not falter. Do not feel Unnerved." He makes it sound easy. I don't know what to do. I then feel something weird. I look down and see a Franklin Badge. Oh no, not again. I can't go through this. Not another time. Please. I try to pull the badge off. But I'm Denied. I try to scream again for him to stop, but still, nothing. I can't save my dad, my mom, And I Can't Scream Loud Enough to save him. Can I do anything right? I see him aiming his arm cannon, charging it up. He shoots, the shot bouncing off the Franklin Badge and barrels toward him.

I run over to him. He's lying down, a big mark across his chest, he's a bloody and watery mess. "C-Claus? I-I'm sorry. I-I should've saved you! I needed t-to help you l-like you've always helped me! F-forgive me!" Claus put a hand on my face, making my face bloody.

"You're right. You should have helped me….you should have done more. On The Stage To Play A Song Of Fear…and you failed." What? T-this isn't how that moment went down. "I-if you think I-I will ever forgive you." N-no…this….this is not what happened! Th-this is fake. This is- "You're the worst brother….ever…" his hand falls and he's dead. But he's right. How can I call myself a brother if I couldn't help him? I lay him down and stand up.

"Are you ready to become stronger? Become the brother he wished you would become?"

"Y-yes….I will do anything." I need to do this. I need to be stronger, for Claus, for my parents. I need to protect my family!

I suddenly start falling down, but I'm not as panicked as before. As I'm falling I see my parents, my brother, and even my dog hanging from a noose. I'm doing this for them. I need to do this for them. Even if it means Goin Down, Down, Down, Down….I need to be stronger. I then land on the ground, on my feet. I look up and see Luigi strapped to a chair with his eyes covered with a blindfold. I look down in my hand and see a knife.

"Kill him. He's after you. Your family." I…I can't misbehave though, right? But…is it really misbehaving if I'm doing it to protect my family? No right? No, it's not. It's honorable. It's strong. It's what I should've done back then. I should've killed everyone who stood in my way to find Claus. I should've never hesitated. I will not make that same mistake again.

I start walking toward him. I keep hearing the voices of my family, crying in pain. Reminding me of the mistake I made. Reminding me that I will get stronger. No matter the cost. I stop in front of Luigi and rip the blindfold off. Luigi looks up at me. "Oh no." I bring the knife up and let out a long sigh.

"Luigi….I'm So Close~."

"L-Lucas, no, r-remember, you're a good guy! Y-you're not supposed to do bad things!"

"Lucas. You're a being of Total Insecurity. You must do this!" Conflicting reports. Would I rather stay how I am, let people walk right over me, get to my family. Be a weak…piece….of shit. Or do I stand strong, use my darkness to fight, to become stronger. I don't need to be told twice. "What do you do when they come after you?"

"What do I do When They Come After Me?" I smirk as I bring the knife up to my face, getting some of my brother's blood on it.

"Oh No! L-Lucas, don't! Don't listen to him-" I put a finger to his lips, shutting him up.

"Shshshsh. I'm So Close. So close to getting rid of my Total Insecurity. It's been holding me back. Letting everyone get over me, get to my family, as I stand on the sidelines. But no more. When They Come After Me. When you come after me. I'll make sure they won't get the chance to regret it."

"Oh No…." I slash at Luigi's throat. This is for my mom. I slash again, but the other way. My dad. I slash at his eyes. My dog. Then…I just keep stabbing him. His chest, his side, his head. Everywhere on his body. I was getting blood everywhere. It's all for my brother. My family. Showing them I'm no longer weak. As I stab and stab and stab, I accidentally toss the bloody knife away. I look at my bloody hand.

"I'm Gonna Bleed."

"Good. You won't leave me, will you? You will let me help you get even stronger."

"I'm Gonna Stay. I'll Never Leave." I stand firm. I will never leave him. He will help me get stronger and stronger. I need it.

"'Til Night Becomes Day." The darkness around me starts to disappear. I'm back. The real world. X is gone. I look around a bit more. "Whatever Happened To The Others That Came? You friends. They are in your way. They will try to stop you. You need to make sure they don't get a chance to fight back. You must…"

"Kill them." I need to be rid of them. I need them gone. I need to be stronger, and if that means killing them, then so be it. I get out of the Pokemon Center and start walking toward the first house I know I have a friend in. I knock at the door and it opens to show Joker. He looks concerned and lets me in.

"What happened?"

"I'm Gonna Bleed…" I say softly. He runs off to get a rag. He runs back and starts to clean up the blood.

"I'm Gonna Stay. I'll Never Leave. So don't worry, Lucas. You're safe with me." He says that, but I know it'll only last 'Til Night Becomes Day. He'll abandon me. He'll forget about me. He'll get in my way.

"Whatever Happened To The Others That Came?"

"The others? I'm not sure. It is pretty late so they probably went to their houses." Good. Fewer people to get in my way right now. Joker turns around to clean off the bloody rag. I walk behind him and grab his head.

"Oh No." I then snap his neck. He falls to the ground and I smirk. "Oops. Didn't mean to do that." I cackle a bit before kicking his gut. Pathetic. Supposedly can hold the power of gods yet dies to a simple head snap. I get out of the house and start heading toward the next house. I'm So Close. Just a few more steps and I'll fully make the transition. I'll finally be stronger.

I knock at the house and start to fake cry. I know I need a new excuse outside of the blood. Sora opens the door and lets me in almost immediately. "What's wrong?"

"I-It's Joker. H-he's….He's gone."

"Lucas…" Sora rubs my back. I will no longer let my Total Insecurity run my life. I will no longer let them hurt me; When They Come After Me, I will fight back.

"OH NO!" I yell as I point out. Sora turns around and brings out his Keyblade. He doesn't see anything of course. But it gives me time to form tentacles, thanks to the help of my trusty guide.

"Anytime, Lucas. We're in this together~" the voice says.

Sora turns back around and takes a surprised step back. "L-Lucas?" I have one of the tentacles wrap around his neck. He drops the Keyblade as he tries to claw at the tentacle, but it's useless. He can't fight back.

"I'm So Close, Sora. So close to being strong. So Close to becoming better. But I can't be better with you." Anther tentacle stabs into his chest and flows around the entirety of the inside of his body, making him scream in agony, but it's such a lovely sound. Soon enough, my tentacle comes out through Sora's mouth. "I am no longer a being of Total Insecurity. And When They Come After Me, I will make sure that I am the winner." I then make Sora explode, getting me all bloody. "Oh No. Now I need to be cleaned…guess I should pay a visit to Ness~"

I walk out and I'm actually able to fly. Which feels amazing, feels so free. But there's one more person that stands in the way of me getting stronger. I land in front of the house I share with Ness. I enter the house and he jumps up to greet me but hesitates. "What happened to you?"

"I've become stronger." One of my tentacles goes over to pin Ness to the wall. Ness struggles to try and get out, but fails. "I know what you're thinking. Oh No, the weakling, he's fighting back. How terrible."

"Lucas, I'd nev-"

"SHUT UP!" One of my tentacles enters Ness's mouth, making him tear up instantly. I walk closer and closer to him. "I will not be held back any longer. I will not let anyone, let alone you, get in my way of becoming stronger." I stab my hand through Ness's chest, making him scream. I grab his heart and move my head closer to his. "It was lovely to be around you, Ness. But that must end." I rip my hand out and bring out his heart, with Ness falling unconscious instantly. I drop the heart and plant my foot on it. "So long." I stomp on the heart.

I fall backward and shake my head. I'm back in the Pokemon Center. I look up and see X. He sighs. That was….all the journey. I stand back up. "What did you do, Lucas?"

"I-I was following orders."

"I said not to misbehave. I told you not to let the darkness get a hold of you, and you did just that."

"I-I…I was following orders."

"Who's?"

"My guide. He was telling me the things I needed to do to overcome my darkness."

"A guide?"

"Yeah, h-he was in my head and was guiding me through everything."

"Lucas…"

"What."

"There is no guide. You're supposed to do that journey yourself."

"Then…who…who was giving me the orders?"

"Nightshade." What? I…I let him control me? I let him use me. I failed. "Go, Lucas. Enjoy your time before you get taken in. He got to you and we don't want to risk him taking full control." I bow my head. I understand. I do. Nightshade is too dangerous to be kept free. If it means I need to be chained up, then so be it. But I'll make sure Ness and I leave with good memories…I'm sorry, Claus. I did fail you. If not before, then for sure now. I am sorry.