I’m Awake Now

by WolfsBane54

Summary:

Deceit remembered his first moments. He was the first to become aware. Curled up safe and comfy in his own space that was to be his personal room when it was time for him to wake up. But it wasn’t time for him to be awake yet. The others had to wake up before him first. There were a few things that he was knew though, like he knew he was more than just Deceit; he just wasn’t sure what else he was yet. But he knew that he was important no matter what. But for right now he was just meant to be there, and sleep. He was to wait and sleep in his comfy warm space as the others started the building blocks of the person they were to help make. He could subtly feel whenever one of the others woke up and began to move around. Could feel the space around him shifting and changing. He really wanted to wake right away, but he couldn't. He had to be patient, and dream of what he thought the others were like and what they created as their home, while he waited and slept. He couldn’t wait to meet the others

“I’m here! I’m awake now!” He called as the flunged the door open excitedly running out.

Chapter 1

I’m Awake Now

Deceit remembered his first moments. He was the first to become aware. Curled up safe and comfy in his own space that was to be his personal room when it was time for him to wake up. But it wasn’t time for him to be awake yet. The others had to wake up before him first. There were a few things that he was knew though, like he knew he was more than just Deceit; he just wasn’t sure what else he was yet. But he knew that he was important no matter what. But for right now he was just meant to be there, and sleep. He was to wait and sleep in his comfy warm space as the others started the building blocks of the person they were to help make. He could subtly feel whenever one of the others woke up and began to move around. Could feel the space around him shifting and changing. He really wanted to wake right away, but he couldn't. He had to be patient, and dream of what he thought the others were like and what they created as their home, while he waited and slept. He couldn’t wait to meet the others………………

……………..

……….

…..

Deceit sat up with a yawn. His arms stretching above his head and his legs stretching out as his nice warm blanket slid off him. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he opened them to look around at his space for the first time. It was everything he imagined. It was nice and roomy. With a big toy box for his toys, he found a yellow plush snake with green button eyes and a tongue that was sticking out. He immediately dubbed it as his favorite out of all his toys. There was a big wardrobe for his clothes. The thought of it being a great hiding pace for when he and the others played tag wiggled into his brain as he explored it. He found a hat that was just a bit too high for him to reach, even as he stood on his tiptoes. Besides that he was able to reach the rest of his clothes. Changing out of his pajamas, and into a pair of black pants and a yellow play shirt finished with black shoes, that had cool yellow lines that streaked across them.

He rubbed and pulled at his hair trying to get rid of the messy bed head that was his hair, it was then he realized his room had an extra door. The door opening on its own, like it knew he needed it to, revealing a bathroom. There was a step stool by the sink that he immediately use to see himself in the mirror. He leaned forward as much as he could to look at himself. Deciding that his hair was fine. But immediately became entranced with his face. He had scales on the left side of his face and two different colored eyes. He bounced excitedly on his toes.

He looked so cool!

He ran a hand on his face, feeling the smooth scales. Marveling at how they reflected the light and changed from yellow to greenish, depending on how he moved his face. The eye on the side with the scales was even slit like a snakes. Eyes twinkling with excitement, he held up the snake plush and with it tongue sticking out and smooshed their faces side by side and stuck his tongue out like the snake and did a playful little hiss.

There! They looked similar now.

Deceit laughed, and nuzzled his face into the snake plush. He couldn’t wait to see the others. Couldn’t wait to show them his scales and how he too could also sound like a snake too.

“Come on, Sir Slithers!” He beamed jumping from the step stool and running from the bathroom. He made a beeline for the bright yellow door that he just knew would lead to the outside. Where the others were waiting.

Where they had built a home for all of them. A paradise that would be theirs as Thomas grew.

Thomas.

That’s who they were created for. The name popped into Deceits little head, like it was something he had known before now. The name a familiar ring to it like he had heard it several times before. Thomas! Who created them, with his first breath of life. Deceit was to represent Thomas. Deceit was for Thomas!

Deceit laughed and smiled and hugged his snake toy close in a one armed hug at this realization. His other hand already grabbing the door handle. Twisting and pulling the door open.

“I’m here! I’m awake now!” He called as the flunged the door open excitedly running out. More the ready to meet the ones he waited so long to meet.

TBC ???

(Maybe We’ll have to see. Let me know what you think. )

:)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Deceit wasn’t sure what he expected to see beyond his room. His excitement was the only thing he could feel at the moment, but it instantly dampened slightly, when all he saw was a hallway. His door was the only door there. He didn’t understand. Where were the others and their doors? He spotted a set of stairs that led down.

Maybe they were downstairs. He decided. The lack of other doors quickly vanishing from his mind.

“Hello!” He called running down them. He looked around in awe at the area around him. He was in a house. This was their home! “Wow!” He said, hugging his snake plushie close. It was perfect. There was a kitchen and a living area.

He ran straight to the tv finding movies that were ready to be watched. There was even coloring books on the coffee table. All ready to be colored on. He went to the couch and climbed up on it, and jumped, once, twice, and on the third let himself land on his butt. The couch was super soft. He rolled on the couch for a moment before jumping off it and running to the kitchen. The fridge was stocked with food and treats, there was even a variety of juices. He wasn’t hungry right now, so he just let the fridge close, He did spot a cookie jar on the counter and a step stool out and ready for him to climb up and get the cookies within. He took as many as his little hands could stuff in his pockets for later. He didn’t want food right now. He wanted to find the others.

He held his plush friend s out so they were face to face. “Where are they Slithers? I waited so long to meet them.” He said tot he snake plush. He had waited a long time. He was the first, but he was to sleep longer than them. He was to be the last so to be sure everyone was up and doing what they should. It was something he just knew was suppose to happen.

He nodded his head as he listened to Sir Slithers.

“Right. Maybe they’re playing somewhere, that not here.” He agreed. “But where.” He mused, looking around.

He wanted to go play too.

He spooked a little when he noticed himself sinking down. “Oh?” He hugged Sir slithers close. This felt natural, but he still didn’t know how he felt about it. He was amazed to find himself pop into a new place. He was outside.

“Oh, wow!” He said excitedly. He immediately started running around. It was a kids paradise! There were giant mushrooms. And laughing lilies.

Rockinghorse flies. And butterflies made out of butter.

There was even a unicorn!

He made a beeline right for it. The creature was grazing out in the open and he was going to hug it!

“Uni!” He shouted out jumping up and wrapping his arms around the unicorns long nose.

The creature nickered softly shaking out his small arms to continue grazing.

“This place is amazing!” He said, to Sir Slithers and the unicorn. Spinning on one foot quickly to look at everything again. There was a rainbow in the sky too! He tilted his head all the way up in fascination to get a better look. Stumbling a bit that he grabbed onto the horn of the grazing unicorn to stabilize himself. “This is the Imagination.” He breathed out, in awe. The word for the place he had found himself just popping into his head like he had known all along.

Jumping on his toes in excitement he petted the unicorn goodbye and ran further into the Imagination. Deep within him another piece of information clicked into place. If the Imagination was this active and magical, then that meant the others like him were already hard at work.

“Hellooooo! I’m awake now! I’m heeerrrrrreeee!” He called as he ran.

Stopping here and there to excitedly inspect and play with the different creatures and plants he found. There was even place that was all bouncy. Everything was balloons and bouncy castles and he jumped on each one that was in his path with gusto. Leaving the bouncy lands, he found candyland! He loved that place the most. There was sooooo much candy and he wanted to eat it all! But first he had to go to the others. He had to meet the ones he had to let wake and create without him. The ones he was meant to help as Thomas grew. Each place in the Imagination, he knew was experiences that the others and Thomas had, while he was asleep. Deceit was a bit jealous that he had to sleep so long and miss all the fun, but he was awake now.

Although, his least favorite spot was snow mountain. He did not like that mountain or the base of it at all. It was too cold and made him sleepy and Deceit did not want to go back to sleep. He had just woken up yet being near the cold snowy mountain, made him sluggish. He had to quickly run away from the cold place. Quickly finding the warmest spot in the Imagination.

A beach!

A happy hiss escaped him, as he ran, kicking his shoes off as he went to get his feet wet on the ocean that was lapping up on the shore. He found more magical creatures in the water. He was going to have to remember to search his room for swim wear next time so he could go swimming. Hopefully with the others when he found them. He found himself a pretty seashell before deciding to search for them.

They had to be somewhere. Right?

TBC

A/N: I decided to continue. Hope you don’t mind the short chapters. Its the busy season for me work wise irl, with the holidays coming up. plus i have two other stories that i need to finsh before i can promis longer chapters for this one.  Let me know what you think. :)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Deceit was starting to get worried. He hadn’t found the others, and he and Sir Slithers had walked the whole Imagination. Or at least most of it. He was standing at the edge of a forest that was all dark and creepy looking. There was thick fog on the ground and scary sounds were coming from it.

Not that Deceit was scared.

He wasn’t scared. Sir Slithers was a little shaken, but not Deceit.

He stared in awe at the new land before him. He didn’t want to go through there….for Sir Slithers sake, of course. He didn’t want to make Sire Slithers do anything he didn’t want to do. “We will go around.” He said to his plushie. Walking along. A shiver running down his spine that had him looking back, because he felt like someone was watching him, but he didn’t see anything. Just the scary, dark land that Sir Slithers didn’t want to go through.

He walked along the edge of the scary land, that seemed to stretch on for miles and miles and miles; He wasn’t sure when it ended. The whole time he would turn around to look behind and at the dark land every time he felt like he was being watched. It made him walk faster. Trying to leave the land behind him as fast as possible. Especially, when the scary sounds started getting louder and louder. Only because Sir Slithers was scared though, not because Deceit was scared. He wasn’t scared.

However no matter how far he walked the dark land kept going. Like the land itself was following him along with whatever was watching him. Because something was most definitely watching him and it was putting Sir Slithers on edge. That Deceit hugged the snake plush close for its comfort.

It only started to fade into the distance, when a castle on a large hilltop came into view. A grand castle that looked like it came from a fairy-tale. Smiling big, because the others had to be in there. He began to run to the castle.

“Heeeellllllooooo! I’m Here! I’m coming!” He shouted at the top of his lungs breathless as he ran.

He almost didn’t notice that he had ran head first into a village, until a barrel full of water dropped in front of him.

“Oops! Sorry lad.” The owner of the wagon the barrel had fallen from said, picking the empty barrel up and placing it back before moving on.

Deceit watching silently, before continuing to head for the castle this time taking the time to look around at the village was walking through.

There were people walking all around. They weren’t real people. They were created here, by one of the others. The whole imagination. They were to live out a fantasy like story life here. The little village was spread out an in front of the castle. Just nestled below the hill.

“Moraaaality!”

Deceit stopped and looked around. Immediately recognizing the voice and the name of one of the others. The name Creativity clicking into place in his mind. Beside the name Morality. Like the names were there the whole time, hidden in his head, until the right moment.

“Hellllloooo!” Deceit called excitedly, running towards where he heard the voice.

“Moraaallllityyy!…...There you are!” The voice called. “Logic is waiting!”

“Sorry! I found puppies!” Another voice joined the Creativity’s. Morality’s voice.

“I’m here!” Deceit called again realizing that the voices were moving away. His path getting blocked by a group of villagers that were busy moving a heavy looking wooden crate.

“What was that?”

“One of the villager kids. Come on! Logic says its story time!” The voices even further away now.

“No! I’m right here! I’m awake now!” Deceit called, trying to wedge himself through the crowds. He didn’t hear the voices anymore.

Getting free from the crowd and booking it for where he was sure he had heard Creativity and Morality. Stumbling here and there, as he dodged villagers and wagons until he was out of the village. He had to stop for breath and just happen to look to the side to see the dark lands again, when he felt eyes on him again.

Was it literally following him?

“Hmmm……” He hummed worriedly, not knowing how he felt about it. He set him on edge for some reason.

It was close to the castle. Why?

“Its okay. I’m not scared, Sir Slithers. Its okay that you are.” He said to his companion. The feeling of eyes on him, making his skin prickle.

He tried to reassure Sir Slithers; not himself, because he was not scared.

“Let’s go to the castle.” He mumbled, walking away at a fast pace. To get away from the feeling of being watched and to get to the others. They couldn’t be too far away now.

They had to be in the castle. He decided making beeline for it.

The whole time the dark land stay this time. Sitting just off to the side of the more brighter side of the Imagination. Deceit paused, as that thought entered his head and looked a the dark lands, and it scary noises, scary trees, and the forever feeling of being watched. Was that a different part of the Imagination? Why would Creativity, make two halves of the Imagination? A….Dark Imagination. The thought trickled into his mind, and clicking place. Making him certain that is what the dark lands were.

He hummed to himself again. The knowledge that Creativity was the one to make the Imagination clicking into place immediately like it was always there. Why was he able to know that?

A particular scary growl startled him from his thoughts and the final push to run the rest of the way to the castle, its doors wide open and inviting. The others had to be in there. He just knew it.

He and Sir Slithers were close. He was about to finally meet them!

TBC

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It turned out a castle was really big on the inside and lots and lots of stairs. He was worried that he was going to get lost in the many halls of the castle. Everything was so shiny. He wanted to touch everything that caught his eyes. There was people in the castle too, like in the village, all were doing their jobs. No attention was paid to him. “Excuse me?” He said, tugging on the skirt of one of the ladies that was wearing the black and white dresses.

She looked down at him with a polite smile, pausing in the dusting that she was doing. “Yes?” She asked. “Is everything okay?”

“Um… Yes, I’m fine…..Um, I’m looking for the others.” He said, the little lie slipping easily from his mouth. Because he was fine. He wasn’t lost. He wasn’t starting to get worried about never finding the others either.

“I believe the other village children play in the village.” She answered with a smiled.

Deceit shook his head. “No. The others. Creativity and-”

“Oh, Prince Creativity. The young master and the other two Princes have gone to have story time. It is Prince Logic’s favorite activity of the day!” She said. “The young Princes don’t wish to be disturb when its story time. Maybe come back another time.” She suggested.

Deceit hugged Sir Slithers tighter. The others were known as Princes here? That sounded like a fun.”I’m one of the Princes.” He said.

She laughed turning back to her dusting. “Oh, children and their imagination. The Princes, should be done in a bit. Why don’t you try and find the garden or something. Who knows maybe they’ll want to play again after story time.” She suggested.

Deceit pulled a grumpy face. He wanted to join in on story time. “But I want story time too.”

“We mustn’t interrupt story time. Its a very important creative process, especially for Prince Creativity.” She said, no longer looking to Deceit.

Deceit didn’t care. He was suppose to be there with them. Tired and done talking to a fictional person that wasn’t going to help him, so he stomped away. He’d find where story time was all on his on. He looked through every door that he passed, even if they didn’t open, he would pull and push just to make sure. He tried to do this as fast as possible. More focused on the doors and getting frustrated, the longer it took to find the others. His mind going back on how close he had been in the village hearing Creativity call out for Morality and Morality had responded.

It wasn’t fair!

Why did someone come and look for Morality but not him?

Didn’t they know he was asleep?

Didn’t they know to wait for him?

He knew! He knew and he was the first. He just had to sleep longer.

Why hadn’t someone come and look for him?!

He slammed the door to the room he was just looking through, turning and speed walking, his eyes getting blurry as he walked. He looked down and sniffled rubbing his face on Sir Slithers head, and reached a hand into his pocket where he had stuffed some cookies. If the others didn’t wait for him, then he wasn’t going to share his cookies. He was still looking down, when he ran into another person. The two of them sprawling on the floor, with an ‘Oof!’.

“Morality?!” Deceit looked up at Creativity’s voice. “I thought you went back to play with the puppies.” The young boy that was dressed like an actual Prince said.

“Morality?” Deceit repeated, looking down at himself as he stood back up and then at a nearby window that was shiny clean that he could see his reflection. Finding his scales gone, and in different clothes and glasses.

“Yeah, you! I thought we decided not to play pretend anymore after Logic struggled with it.” Creativity said. “Where did you get the cookies? Can I one?” Creativity asked, bouncing on his toes slightly in excitement.

“No.” The words left his mouth before he could even think about. Because he had originally brought these to share. He just didn’t feel like it now that he had once been ignored, and now mistaken for Morality. Not to mention his look had changed and he didn’t know how he did that.

He wanted his scales back.

“But your always the one reminding us to share!” Creativity said in a whiny voice.

Deceit pouted back. “No.” He said again. He didn’t know why, he just knew he was upset, they had all forgotten about him and went and began playing Castle without him. “I don’t have to share!”

“Well, fine!” Creativity huffed, looking confused. “No need to get huffy.”

Deceit turned his head to look around again thinking. His eyes finding his reflection again. He really did look different. Like Morality; if Morality liked to wear a blue soft sweater that had kittens and puppies on it, and khaki play shorts. “Where are the puppies?” He asked.

He didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to reveal who he was yet. He like how Creativity was traeting him. Like he really knew him. And something was telling him that maybe he could learn more about them, if he looked like one of them. He’d reveal himself after.

“This way. By the way. Where’s you get the toy? I didn’t think you liked snakes? And what else was it….Spiders!” Creativity asked as they walked.

Deceit shrugged. “I found it.” He answered, deciding to keep his answers short.

He’d tell the truth once they found the puppies. He wanted to pet a puppy first, and talk with Creativity more. Besides he didn’t know how to turn back anyway. It’s be weird to say something when he didn’t even know how to turn back to normal. So, for now he reasoned, that pretending would be fine for now as he listened to Creativity talk as he led them through the castle. Happy to just have finally found one of the others.

TBC

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Puppies!” Deceit cheered, bolting for the many, many, many puppies, Creativity had taken him to. They were in the garden of the castle.

Creativity ran with him to the puppies. The two of them cuddling with them. “Even Logic likes them! Hey! Do you think I should make the creature from the story he read us today? I think it’s be cool!” Creativity asked.

Deceit who was rolling around on the grass, letting the puppies yip, jump, and lick his face, was barely listening. “Sure!” He answered anyway. Not paying any attention, but very much aware of Creativity standing up and pointing to another spot in the garden. The next thing Deceit knew, he was being picked up by something. “Whoa!” He said, amazed looking at the creature that had scattered the puppies.

It was dark in color with big ears and a long nose that was wrapped around Deceit. “I know right!” Creativity said, pleased. “It sounded like it would be a be creature from how Logic was reading, so I made it big!”

“What is it?” Deceit asked, turning and petting the new creatures.

“Logic told us during story time, Morality. Weren’t you listening?” Creativity asked.

Deceit nodded his head. Right he was stuck looking like Morality. He was pretending.

“Silly.” Creativity laughed. “Anyway. I’m going to go and find my sword and shield. I crave adventure!” He shouted, running back into the castle.

“Yeah, I want to come!” Deceit called, kicking his leg wanting down, but not knowing how to get the creature to let him go. Thankfully, it just seemed to put him down, the more he began to squirm. As soon as his feet touched the ground he was running to catch up to Creativity who was already out of sight. “Wait for me!” He called. Listening hard as to Creativity’s footsteps.

Creativity was fast.

He and Sir Slithers was having a very hard time keeping up, It was only because Creativity talked as he ran through the castle, that Deceit was able to trail behind. The Creative Prince, leaving out of the Castle through another door. Deceit pushed through, and tripped over the pile of bodies that Creativity had ran into first and fell to the ground with them.

“Ow!” Another boy with glasses snapped, with a book laying on the ground beside him, along with another boy.

“Ouch!” Creativity yelped, having landed on his butt.

“Owie!” Another boy groaned from behind the boy with glasses.

Deceit grunted, getting to his knees to take in the ones they ran into. He looked at the boy that looked exactly like how he looked at the moment.

Uh-oh!

Creativity kept calling Deceit Morality, that had to be Morality! No. That was Morality. The name in his mind clicked with the boy that was fixing his glasses on to his face. They must have fallen off when they all collided.

“Creativity! We’re not suppose to be running indoors.” The name Logic, slotted in place when Deceit looking at this boy.

“Sorry, Lo. I was on my way out.” Creativity smiled apologetically.

“Doesn’t matter.” Logic huffed, as they all picked themselves up.

Deceit tried to make himself not look like Morality any more. He was really trying. But he was stuck!

“Me and Morality were going to go on an adventure!” Creativity cheered, looking ready to continue on his way.

“We were?” Morality; the real one asked looking confused.

“Nonsense, Morality has been with me. We were discussing what you could do with the Dark Imagination, since there’s nothing but scary monsters there. Especially after that one creation was made and lives there.” Logic denied, with a shake of his head.

“But I’m standing here, and there.” Morality pointed out, pointing at Deceit. He didn’t seem mad. In fact he looked really excited about it. Hopping around and unable to stand still. While Logic, stood still and not really amused.

Deceit hunched his shoulders.

Oh no.

This was something he didn’t want to happen.

“Hi….” He mumbled a little sheepishly, with a little wave, hugging Sir Slithers close.

Three pairs of eyes turned to him, then two sets turn to look at Morality. “Who’s the real one?” Creativity asked.

“I am!”

“I am!” Both Deceit and Morality answered at the same time.

Deceit bit his tongue. He didn’t mean to say that. It just came out. The lie just came out. He had meant to say that Morality was Morality. Why did that come out of his mouth?

Morality was now looking at him without that bubbly smile and had stopped moving.

“But I’m Morality.” Morality mumbled.

“No. I am Morality.” Deceit hurriedly moved Sir Slithers up to cover his mouth. What was he saying?! That’s not what he wanted to say. He was trying to say he wasn’t Morality!

“Lying is bad you know.” The real Morality said, looking disappointingly at Deceit.

“I’m not lying!” Deceit said, again a lie slipping out of his mouth. Shocking him into silence.

Again?

He did it again!

Th three were looking at him now with suspicion. “Yeah, this one is our Morality.” Creativity decided, placing a hand on the real Morality’s shoulder before placing himself in front of him and Logic. “Which means you’re a doppelganger from the Dark Imagination!”

“What?! No I’m not! I’m meant to be here!” Deceit shook his head.

“Likely story.” Creativity declared.

Deceit watch fascinated, yet horrified when a sword appeared in Creativity’s hands. He was most positive that, that wasn’t safe.

“Go back where you came from! And tell the Duke to leave us alone!” Creativity shouted, threateningly, the sword now pointed at Deceit.

“Is that really necessary?” Logic asked, from behind the young Prince.

“Yes!”

“Yes!” Both Creativity said at the same time, only Deceit meant to say no. He meant no! Why is his words betraying him?! His eyes started to burn, as he fought back tears. He didn’t want to cry in front of the others, but why was everything turning out like this.

“See! It agrees!” Creativity declares, before charging. Ripping himself away from Logic and Morality who each had a hand on the young Prince.

Deceit screamed in fright and turned to run away from the Prince. He ran as fast as he could be found that he barely out paced Creativity. He only ended up getting away, because he tripped and fell head first in the dark Imagination bushes. He stayed only long enough to watch as Creativity ran back to his castle, apparently not interested in chasing him into the dark lands. Deceit then bolted away from it as well, especially when a loud screech echoed from further within.

Getting away from it.

He ran back on the to Imagination lands, and ran far from the castle and the others, unable to stop the sobs that escaped. Him. He didn’t mean to. He had tried to tell the truth. He really had tried. At some point he stopped running hiding himself within the bushes that had some pretty flowers on it, that were making nice music as they swayed in the wind. It was calming as he tried to gather his thoughts and noticed it was then that he no longer looked like Morality. He was back himself. His clothes were back too.

Sighing in relief he went to hug Sir Slithers. And that’s when he realized.

Sir Slithers was missing!

TBC

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Deceit sniffed trying to hold back his sobs, as he tore through the bushes around him and grass, hoping to find Sir Slithers somewhere hidden in them. His mind for now pushing away the embarrassing and disappointing first impression he gave to the other three to look for his companion. Sir Slithers had been scared, not Deceit that's why he had to find him and hug him and never let him go. Especially now! Not because Deceit needed the comfort, but because Sir Slithers needed the comfort. He wiped some snot that was running, as he sat and looked around, jumping a bit hen he noticed the Dark Imagination was close to him again. He didn’t understand how the bit of land was able to move like a living being. It was like it was spreading and reaching into the Imagination. It was eerie. A bit of information in his head clicked into place telling him the Creativity was suppose to be able to control everything here. Did that mean Creativity was letting the land move then?

That couldn’t be right though. Creativity had sounded upset talking about the creatures that must live in there. Had even thought Deceit came from there. Sniffing again at the memory, Deceit ran a hand over his scales. Now that he thought about it. The others hadn’t had scales on their faces. Or anything creature like on them.

Deceit was the only one…….. Upset once again, the little snakling tried to retrace his steps. Staying away from the Dark Imagination. The land seeming to stay far behind him. Every now and then he’d check to see if it was indeed following him. Noting how it was, but it never encroached far on the Bright Imagination. Like there was a line that it could not cross. With that knowledge Deceit felt less afraid of it, even though he still felt the eyes hidden within it watching him. After walking a bit Deceit frowned even more seeing that he didn’t know where he was. He was loss. The meadow he was in continued on for miles and miles and seemed never ending. He couldn’t understand it. He had walked the way he came. He was sure of it. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out another cookie. Sniffing again as he munched.

Eating a cookie might make him feel better.

He found a large flat looking rock that he could sit on. It was big enough he could lay down too, if he wanted, and covered with fluffy thick green moss. It sat right next to a little bubbling brook of crystal clear water. It took him a minute to climb on it, but once he was situated he looked around again. There was no one around. Not creations. Not even the Dark Imagination was in sight in the distance.

Though it was peaceful Deceit still couldn’t stop himself from feeling sad. He hadn’t made a good impression on the others. They thought he was a creature from the Dark Imagination and then he had to lose Sir Slithers. Though it wasn’t his fault, he decided Sir Slithers should have kept up.

That particular lie slipped away with the tears that fell from his eyes. Now that he didn’t feel like he was being watched, he couldn’t keep his mind off everything that had went wrong and how lonely he was starting to feel. Why hadn’t the others waited for him? Why didn’t they recognize him, like he could them? Where had he lost Sir Slithers?

The little snakling cried and cried, wiping his face messily with his hands. He did try to leave, but found he couldn’t. He couldn’t remember how he got there in the first place? And it just added to his misery when he realized the sky suddenly turned dark. The sky changing almost instantly to a night sky filled with stars and a large crescent moon.

It was beautiful, but he didn’t care. How was he suppose to sleep alone? Without Sir Slithers? The sounds of the night life immediately started up and Deceit hunched in on himself, wrapping his arms around himself in a self hug and laid on his side. The sounds of the night weren’t scaring him. He…..He just wasn’t use to them. That was it.

He tried to muffle a sob, bring his hands to his mouth to silence them. Creativity probably meant the nighttime to be calming and beautiful and soothing, but how could the sounds of the night be soothing when you couldn’t see what was making it, out alone in a place that was totally brand new to you.

That’s why he didn’t want to go to sleep here, Deceit decided.

Not because he was scared, but because he wanted to know where the sounds were coming from. Even though he stay curled up on his mossy rock, making himself look as small as possible. It was like the nighttime allowed the Dark Imagination to expand. Deceit watched as a lush full of apples suddenly began to rot and wither, looking like the tree of within the Dark Imaginations edge. The grass turning black and brown. Deceit could immediately feel eyes on him again and it made his scales prickle with uneasiness. Another piece of information awoken within Deceit. The Dark Imagination could spread at night and only be contained when day time started again. He tried again to leave the way he came, squeezing his eyes tight and trying really hard to think how he triggered himself there the first time, but nothing happened and him sniffle and take deep breaths to try and calm himself down, hugging his knees close to his chest. The only thing that hadn’t changed was the rock he was laying on. The fluffy thick moss still soft and green, he was glad for that at least.

He kept his eyes squeezed tight trying to ignore the sounds of the nighttime. Of the screeches and growls, and scary sounding hoots. Evil laughter and cackles in the distance like an evil witch or something. Of the crunching of creatures prowling around. Coming and going. Some getting close and passing by. Deceit refused to look. If he didn’t look it didn’t exist. His arms tightened around himself. He really wanted Sir Slithers. It wouldn’t be so bad if he had Sir Slithers.

He flinched when something slimy touched his leg and muffled a whimper that almost escaped him. He didn’t want to look. There was nothing touching him. He imagined it. The slimy thing seemed to leave, moving away instantly. It was then that something radiating a lot of heat crept up behind him. He could hear the crunching of dead grass under their feet, getting closer. The closer that something got, the quieter the other sounds got. Self preservation instinct, something  that settled along side with the little lies he was telling himself that if he stay perfectly still and not move. Whatever was stalking up behind him wouldn’t bother him if he pretended to be dead or asleep; as long as he stay perfectly still.

It felt the eyes of the Dark Imagination was closing in on him with those footsteps. But he didn’t move. He didn’t open his eyes. He stayed still. Even when that something circled his rock. Over and over and over and over again. Nonstop. The scary sounds of the night still happening around Deceit, but now much much quieter than before. The only other Sound Deceit heard, before his exhaustion finally caught up with him was someone huffing as if amused or something, as they continued to circle his rock.

Deceit didn't mean to, but he fell asleep to the crunching of dead grass and those feeling of eyes watching him. 

TBC

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Deceit opened his eyes feeling groggy that immediately went away at the sight of sharp teeth in his face. The young snakling scrambled backwards and fell off the large rock he had been sleeping on. Taking a moment to calm down, he finally registered what he was looking at. It was a big piece of wood that had been propped up, with painted on eyes and a mouth that looked like it had been smashed to make the sharp teeth that had been in his face, and for some reason two pieces of rope that were twined together sticking out between two of the bottom teeth. There was also a piece of paper stuck to it with the letters ‘B’, ‘O’, ‘O’, writing in green on it.

Deceit huffed, not amused. In fact he was upset all over again.

“Very funny.” He hissed, angrily, the lie slipping out. He felt better when he lied. But it didn’t make him feel good enough to not be upset that he was still in the Imagination and still hadn’t found Sir Slithers. It all just continued to remind him how he didn’t make a good impression with the others.

With those memories popping up, he poked his lips out and sniffed. Turning away from the crudely made joke that had scared him and to the bubbling brook, finally acknowledging that the Imagination was no longer the scary Dark Imagination. He shivered remembering how scary his first night in the Imagination was. All the more reason to find Sir Slithers.

He stared at his reflection in the water, his mind going back to the others. Creativity, Logic, and Morality…...They hadn’t liked his scales. He ran his fingers on his scales again. His view on them now changed that it marked him different, and made the other look at him weird. This was not how he thought his first few days being awake would be…...The scales shimmered in the sunlight. His snakes eyes stared back at him, overshadowing his more normal features. His gritted his teeth…..His too sharp pointed fangs making him even less…..normal…….Hissing angrily he hit the water with his hands, distorting his reflection. He didn’t like his scales anymore!

Getting even more upset he hooked his nails under the scales and pulled. He screamed in pain and stopped immediately bring new tears to his eyes. It had hurt so bad! He hit the water again to distort his reflection, with an angry yell. Why did he have to look so different from the others? He didn’t understand.

He raised his hand to hit the water again, only for something to whistle in the wind and hit him in the back of the head, stopping him in favor of turning around and rubbing at the sore spot. “Ow! Hey!” He hissed. His eyes looking for the culprit and finding none. Lookign down he seen that it was a small rock that had hit him. He picked it up and threw it at the

He hmphed and stood up. Nothing was there but the creepy sculpture thingy that had been in his face while he slept. Sniffing and deciding he’d had enough feeling sad, Deceit started to continue his search for Sir Slithers. He’d just walked for a bit when he noticed the Dark Imagination again, on the edge of the invisible line that it couldn’t cross in the day. He kept his eyes on it, the feeling that something was watching him from within the dark scary trees was back. He didn’t know why he felt like it, but was like not just the Dark Imagination was following him, but unlike other knowledge and information that would just click into place, nothing like that was happening. So he wasn’t sure if he was right.

He just knew he wanted to find Sir Slithers and finger out how he could get himself to pop back into his room. He didn’t want to be in the Imagination anymore.

He looked everywhere every couple of feet looking for Sir Slithers. His friend had to be so scared. He wasn’t going to look the toy snake out of his sight at all when he found him. He noticed that he couldn’t find the places he had visited before. Like the whole Imagination had changed.

He paused as another bit of info locked into place. The Imagination changed everyday. Nothing stayed the same. “Uh, oh.” He breathed. He wasn’t just lost. He was truly and really lost in the Imagination. But he was positive he was walking the right direction to Creativity’s castle…….Wasn’t he?

He looked around again.

Again spotting the Dark Imagination that was following him from a distance. This time spotting something different.

Sir Slithers.

Sir Slithers was laying right between two trees of the Dark Imagination.

“Sir Slithers!” Deceit called, running to the snake plush. His wariness of the Dark Imagination forgotten in favor of going to rescue Sir Slithers.

He was just about to reach the toy, when so suddenly that Deceit almost tripped ove rhis own feet from shock. The toy snake plush zipped away deeper into the Dark Imagiantion and only stopped several yards away as if waiting.

Deceit, hissed again, but this time with uncertainty. He hadn’t mind when Sir lither was just at the edge, but going deeper when he wasn’t even sure what was in there. He fiddled with his hands worriedly. Did he really want to go in there?

He must have stood there too long, because after a bit Sir Slithers zipped further away and out of sight.

“Ah, no! Stop! Come back!” He called, taking a few steps closer and stopping before he crossed the invisible line of the Dark Imagination.

His resolve to cross made for him with the growls and snarled within started up.

He took several steps back. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t want to go in there. But he wanted Sir Slithers back.

He turned his back on the Dark Imagination, with a sob, over the conflicting emotions he was feeling, tugging at his hair.

Something landing behind him had him jumping around and away to see another rock on the ground just by his feet. Bigger that the one by the water, with a piece of paper attached to it reading; ‘Tag! You're it!’. With a face sticking its tongue out at the end.

“What?……” Deceit asked to no one. Picking the paper off the rock. “Tag?” He mumbled, looking back into the Dark Imagination where Sir Slithers had vanished.

Sir Slithers was playing…..tag?

No.

Not Sir Slithers. Whatever was watching him. The eyes he couldn’t see. They were playing with him. Not Sir Slithers.

But if playing meant he’d get Sir Slithers back……….

Worrying his lip with one on his fangs, Deceit took a slow step into the Dark Imagination and began to follow where Sir Slithers had went. Fully aware of the invisible eyes that were watching him as he did so.

TBC

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Deceit huffed and puffed, hands on his knees. He had lost track of Sir Slithers. He didn’t even know which way the snake plush could have went. Now he was lost!

He was lost in the scary part of the Imagination!

He was lost and upset!

And he just didn’t want to be there anymore!

He refused to let the tears that threatened to spill over run. He didn’t want to seem weak to whatever was watching him. It was always watching him. He just didn’t know where.

He could look to the left and to the right, even behind him, or way in front of him. He could never see anything…...Well besides the scary creatures that would cut into his path. They would look at him and make scary growling and snarling noises, and just when he’d think they were going to eat him. They would turn and runaway. Like Deceit was more scarier or something. The first time it had happened, he looked behind him thinking something worse than the first creature had come up behind him, but there was nothing.

Now though, there was barely any scary creatures. Like they had all vanished….just like Sir Slithers. Deceit stopped caught his breath letting his eyes drift to the murky dirty green waters. A bridge stretched across it to a large castle that almost looked like Creativities, but more darker….and scary looking.

Deceit felt his mouth drop open at the intimidating structure. Did Creativity redecorate? Why would he do that?

Deceit couldn’t help but wonder if it was to scare him off.

Well….It wasn’t going to work. Not if Sir Slithers was in there. Deceit wanted his friend back. So instead of letting himself appear afraid, took a deep breath and walked across the bridge and knocked on the castle door.

“Creativity!” He called, waiting a moment for an answer.

Nothing.

Nothing but the howling winds that liked to move through the dead tree now and again. Sounding like a chorus of ghosts. He tried very hard not to think about that.

“Creativity! Open the door!” He shouted, knocking again, and pushing at the heavy looking door, surprised when it just opened up.

There was laughter echoing through the dark hallways as he caught himself. It sounded like Creativity, but then it didn’t sound like Creativity. “Hello? Creativity?” He called again, arms coming up to hug himself as he noticed that the inside of the castle was no longer light and inviting. It was now dark, scary, and foreboding. There were even bones scattered all over the floor, and some of the big light fixture thingies that were suppose to be on the ceiling had crashed to the floor. It looked like something had went on a rampage in here…….But Deceit didn’t feel like any any had been in danger. He felt like he would know if something had happened. If anything, he, felt like he was the one that had to watch his back.

“Hello….” He called out more quietly. “I’m not scared, Creativity. So come on out….Or stay……” He said, his voice slowly going more quieter at the sound of something slamming further down the dark hallway.

He wanted to venture forward, but his feet wouldn’t move. They felt glued where they stood.

Something growled in his ear, and when his head whipped around to see what it was, if was a skeletal face with bone hands reaching out for him. Deceit screamed and ran, just in time to miss being grabbed. A giant spider dropping down in front of him, making him turn down a random hallway. A rusted suit of armor stepping from its podium had him thinking twice about rooming into certain rooms. Some inky creature leaking out from behind painting, had him running faster as it reached for his legs. He hadn’t even realized he’d run into a very large room, until the double doors slammed shut behind him. Sending the room into total blackness.

“Aaaaahhhhh! Let me out! Let Me Out!!” He shouted, banging on the doors, and trying to push them open.

But they wouldn’t budge.

They were stuck.

He had even tried to pull.

They whole time, he could hear something scurrying around him. Eyes watching him. He didn’t want to be there anymore. Something in the darkness of the room that radiated a lot of heat crashed into him, sending him and it to the floor. Deceit hissed on instinct and fright, trying very hard to look over his shoulder, only for what felt like a hand, with his scale side facing upward, while sitting on his back; pinning him. “GET OFF ME!!” Deceit hissed, struggling, legs kicking, and trying to reach behind him to try and hit whatever was on top of him. He was able to make out two green glowing eyes staring down at him, but that was it. Then another hand came from the darkness and touch his scales.

He flinched at first, not knowing what was going on, but his panic soon turned to confusion when he noticed that whatever was pinning him was petting his scales. Feeling them…….But why? His struggling fully came to a stop when something wet came from no where and moved along his scaled cheek. It took a few shocked seconds to realized, that he had just been licked. “Ew! Stop that!” He snapped, glaring hard at the green eyes, the only part of the creature he could see.

The green eyes stared back, but with laughter in them, before the weight pinning his was gone and so were they. There was more scurrying sounds, and something else slamming, before the lights in the room flicked back on. Revealing a very dirty and big room, with a big chair at the far end, surrounded by toys that looked like they were either broken or dirty, on the floor. However, Deceit didn’t pay any attention to them. Standing up and rubbing at his wet scales to dry them, he eyes locked onto Sir Slithers.

Sir Slither was sitting on the big chair with the only other clean toy; a green octopus.

Deceit sniffed and looked around the room one more time. Finding no one else there but himself, and the toys. Deciding it was safe, to ran to the big chair and snatched Sir Slithers from the chair and hugged the snake. “Don’t you do that again!” He scolded the snake, making sure to point his finger to prove his point in the plush snakes face.

He let a moment of silence ring between them before side-eyeing the toy octopus, that was still on the chair watching the two of them. “So, who’s your friends?” He asked, going to pet and feel the toy octopus. It looked like it would be soft and cuddly like Sir Slithers.

Before his hand could touch it though, something crashed behind him, that had the Snakling whipping around to see a table full of food.

“Uh…..N-no thank- Eeek!” He practically shrieked, when the toy octopus all of a sudden sprang to life. Hopping from the chair and over to the table and climbing on top of it. Waving a leg at him, like it was inviting him over.

He didn’t know if he wanted to go over.

The feeling of those eyes watching never left either. He was still being watched. Not he just didn’t know if it was the animated toy octopus plush, of whatever had pinned him in the dark earlier.

Deceit hissed in distrust as he shuffled his feet, hugging Sir Slithers.

Sir Slithers had been sitting next to the octopus before. And his snake friend was unhurt. There was no tears or dirt on the toy snake, even though he had seen it being dragged on the ground.

He just wasn’t sure why Creativity would do something like this. The young Creative Side hadn’t seemed like the type to like this type of dark stuff. So, why was he showing Deceit this? He didn’t understand.

He shuffled close to the table, sniffing the air. It didn’t smell…..to bad………. He didn’t want to be rude, but he didn’t think he could eat anything on the table. The closer he got to the table the clearer he could see that there was foods on there that looked…...interesting to say the least. He couldn’t see himself eating a rat, yet there was a large plate of them piled high. And then bread that had fuzzy stuff on it, along with cheese. Then there was a bowl of soup, that had stringy stuff in it.

He made a face, and stuck his tongue out. “Yuck.” He said, shaking his head.

The only thing that looked okay, was the cookies. And Deceit found he liked cookies. Plus, had ate all his. So without hesitation he circled the table and climbed a wiggly chair to reach them. He practically had to climb onto the table just for his fingers to even touch a cookie, before the octopus came over and pushed it closer.

“I had it.” Deceit pouted, the little lie slipping from his mouth, but grabbed the plate of cookies anyway. He climbed down from the table and chair and was content to just stand with his plate of cookies, with Sir Slithers held in the crook of his arm and began eating.

The first bite he immediately knew something was wrong. For one, the cookie tasted weird! Second, when he tried to spit it out, the crumbs of the cookie, wouldn’t let him, sticking to his tongue and the roof of his mouth.

“Mph!” He tried to call for help, but dropping the plate of cookies and while trying to get his mouth open, accidentally swallowed the disgusting blob. Then he could open his mouth, spitting out whatever was left.

He immediately felt his stomach roll, and he did not like that feeling. The hugged his stomach and glared at the cookies. They were not good cookies, they had fooled him. Whoever had put them there had fooled him.

He looked up at the little octopus that had jumped from the table to stand before him, holding a piece of paper, that read ‘Follow Me!’ And then the plush toy was off, scurrying away on its eight legs dropping the paper.

“Hey! Wait!” Deceit demanded, chasing after. The octopus was the only thing that didn’t seem so bad around here, and he didn’t want to be left alone, with the invisible eyes that were watching him. Probably laughing at him too. Still he tried to at least catch a glimpse at who was staring at him as he followed the octopus plush to a side door he hadn’t noticed, and down another dark and gloomy looking hallway. Sir Slithers held tightly in his arms as he did.

TBC

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Deceit was jumping up and down on the bed. The little octopus plush had led him to a big bedroom with the biggest bed, that was super bouncy. He couldn’t stop the giggles that bubbled out of him as he jumped. The animated octopus flying in the air with Sir Slithers, the two toys going just as high as he was. It was fun and he almost forgot he was in a scary looking castle. He could almost forget about the eyes that he knew was watching him. Creativity must have gotten tired of trying to scare him or something. He did one final jump on the bed before he let himself fall flat on his back. He stayed there a moment longer before he rolled from the bed to explore the rest of the room.

It was a mess.

He didn’t really like that it was all a mess, but at least the bed was clean.

He made sure to grab Sir Slithers, before he walked from the bed. He didn’t want to lose the snake plush again.

The room was big and spacious, but it didn’t look it at first glance. There were broken and dirty toys scattered around this room too. Even dirty clothes and shoes. Yet he hadn’t seen anyone besides the octopus plush and whatever attacked him in the dark. He rubbed at his scales again not liking the idea that something had licked them. “Creativity, is this you’re room?” He asked, waiting a moment for an answer, but received none.

“Why are they acting weird?” He mumbled, mostly to Sir Slithers. “I think I liked it better when I could see them.” He decided.

The little octopus plush scurried past him and to the window. A soft plush tentacle tapping on it.

Deceit ran over and peeked out, curious as to what it wanted him to see.

“Oh, Wow!” He gasped. There was white stuff falling from the sky.

Snow. His mind supplied, like he had always known this his whole existence. The ground below was already white with it.

“Has it been snowing the whole time I’ve been in here?” He asked the plushies. “I want to go play in it!” He smiled. He wanted to feel what snow felt like.

He rushed from the room, ignoring the feeling of the invisible eyes watching him, in favor of wanting to experience snow for the first time. Sir Slithers in his arms and the octopus plush following after, rushing to keep up with him. The little animated toy corrected him a few times on which hallway he need to down to get back outside.

He practically barreled out of the castle and dived into the nearest pile of snow. He imagined it was soft and fluffy, and maybe it taste sweet. As soon as he dived in and sat right back up, he now knew it was none of that. It was wet and cold.

Deceit was quick to get back on his feet with a shiver.

He let out a breath and watched fascinated that he could see his breath in the air. With each breath he took he could see it.

This new experience was enough for him to ignore the wet and cold for the moment.

Especially when a snowflake fell on his nose. He immediately stuck his tongue out, trying to catch as many snowflakes on his tongue as possible. He didn’t understand why he did it, only that it was fun. There was even snow in an icy form on the plant life. It made the Dark Imagination less scary. More fun.

Fun that quickly started to fade the longer he was outside.

He was getting cold. Really, really cold. So cold it was starting to become difficult to keep moving. He was running in circles, or trying to run in a circle with the octopus plush, when his legs decided they were too cold to even move anymore. Slowing down to stop, panting with his breath clouding in front of his face. “Wait….Let’s stop.” He told the animated octopus plush that was still running around him, continuing their play. He was starting to feel tired now. Tired and cold, maybe it was time to go in. He didn’t want to. He was having fun. But he felt like he was getting too cold now. He tried to hug Sir Slithers close for more warmth, but his arms loosened instead and his friend slipped from his arms.

He slowly bent down to pick the snake plush back up. Another shiver running through him so hard, that his tilted forward on face planted into the snow. His groan, has he became more wet and cold, that turned into a yawn midway. He couldn’t make his body listen to him and he didn’t feel like trying very hard to make it. He was rapidly getting more sleepier.

It wouldn’t hurt to sleep in the snow, right?

The octopus plush scurried to his face nudging him with its soft tentacle. As if urging him to stand up.

He would have shooed it away, but all he did was yawn and let his eyes slip close, before struggling to blink them back open. The little octopus plush was making squeaking noises, and jumping on the snow. Deceit found its antics funny, though no laugh left him. But he offered a tired smiled instead. The longer he laid there, the less he was feeling the coldness from the snow.

He must have closed his eyes again at some point, because the next thing he knew he was hearing something walking toward him. The snow crunching under their feet. “Hey!”

Deceit hummed at the new voice in his ear.

“Hey…..Did you die?” The new voice kind of sounded like Creativity, but also not Creativity. The pitch seemed different. Deceit tiredly noticed.

He didn’t feel like dealing with Creativity now though. He was tired from playing in the snow and wanted a nap.

Faintly he felt something touch him and shake him, but it was fading quickly as he let himself not worry about it.

“Your scales are going to fall off, if you sleep in the snow. I want them if they do.” The new voice said, right in his ear, a furnace coating against his side. “I want your corpse too.”

“G’way ‘Tivity.” Deceit slurred in a mumble. His body curling closer to the heat source without much input from Deceit, and he sighed content when more of that heat grabbed and tried to wrap around him.

TBC

(Would you all like a different POV, from Deceits host and owner of the Octopus Plush?)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Deceit woke up with something ticking his nose that cause him to sneeze. A big sneeze that had his sitting up to do it, causing him to hit his head against something. “Ow!” He complained, rubbing the sore spot, eyes closed still from the headache he was just given.

“That’s going to be a knot! Think it’ll turn into a horn if we do that again!”

Deceit opened his eyes to see Creativity crouched over him, with a big grin on his face, showing off some sharp canines. But while the other boy before him looked like Creativity, something in Deceits head told him this wasn’t the Creativity that he had met with Morality and Logic, but at the same time was Creativity, just different.

“Knew I could get you up!” The boy gloated. “You were almost an icicle! I thought about taking your scales, but wanted to make sure you weren’t dead yet. Of course if you had died, I could have had your scales. Speaking of can I have some scales? Why do you have scales? Did Logic do it? I knew he’d like to play evil scientist!” The other boy rambled, crawling forward to get even more in Deceits space. Deceit had to scooted back and away from him, kicking the covers of himself as he did so. Because wow! This Creativity was not like the other. He was kind of overwhelming. “Hey, why aren’t you saying anything? Did your tongue fall out? Ooo let me see! I wanna see! I bet you have fangs!” The other Creativity said, launching himself at and on top of Deceit.

“Oof! He-!” Deceit got cut off by the other boys hands literal grabbing his mouth and keeping it open.

“There’s the tongue. Whoa! Look you do have fangs!” He exclaimed excitedly.

Having another persons hands all up in his mouth and being pinned was more than enough for Deceit to get irritated and so bit the fingers that the other Creativity had dare to keep there.

“Ouch!” The other Creativity held up the hand with the bitten fingers but did not get off of Deceit. He was looking at his hand with unbridled curiosity. “Do you think your poisonous?” He asked, not sounding worried. In fact he sounded excited about the idea.

“I am poisonous!” Deceit hissed offended and immediately clamped his mouth shut at the little lie that slipped out.

The other Creativity instantly frowned. “Okay. Sooooo who are you?” He asked. Acting like hearing the lie didn’t faze him. Did he not care? Deceit couldn’t help but wonder.

Deceit pushed the other Creativity off him. “Who are you?” He asked instead of answering.

“Oh! Isn’t it obvious? I’m Creativity!” He announced, bouncing on his feet.

“I already met Creativity.” Deceit huffed, no longer amused with being stuck in the Imagination.

“That was my brother. He says he’s the Prince of Creativity. I’m the Duke of Creativity! Ruler of the Cooler and Awesomer, side of the Imagination! The Dark Imagination!” The other boy said, proudly.

“You’re the one that’s been spying on me?” Deceit asked, noticing that he no longer felt watched.

“Yup!” The little Duke answered proudly. “At first I though you were a creation, but you acted SO weird! And you looked nothing like a creation made by my brother. So, if you were then you were one of mine, but I didn’t remember creating you. So, the Imagination must have made you. It can do that you know! So if the Imagination made you then I was going to relocate you to My side. My brother doesn’t deserve a creation as cool looking as you.! Plus, I wanted to get a closer look after seeing your scales!” The Duke rambled excitedly, getting closer.

The other boys rapid approach had Deceit backing away quickly and getting to his feet in a hurry, while making his retreat. “I’m not like you and the others!” He snapped a little irritated that no one seemed to know he was one of them! He was a Side of Thomas! He barely noticed that his words had slipped out into a lie.

The Duke laughed. “Well, duh! I know that now!” The little Duke stopped trying to corner Deceit. “I mean just look at you!” He wave a hand at Deceit. “One half of you doesn’t look like any of us! And we all resemble each other. But you! You are different and that is Awesome! I want to know why?!” The other Creativity manage to grab hold of Deceits sleeve. “Tell me why! And How?! I want scales! Can you share ‘em?! Have you tried?! Let’s try!”

Deceit was pushing the Duke of Creativity away and odd him. He wasn’t sure how he felt. He’d just been awake for two days and he only meet four of the others. Three of which chased him off. And then this one! He wasn’t being chased but he felt very overwhelmed. The past few days were just a lot to take in and he couldn’t get himself back to his room to be around something familiar. “No! Stop! I don’t want to be here anymore! I want my room! I want my room!” He shouted, not meaning to whine and for tears to spill from his eyes.

But it made the other Creativity pause. Enough so that Deceit could wipe his eyes and back away further. He didn’t want to be in the Imagination anymore. He wanted his room. His space. And he couldn’t stop the crying once it started and he didn’t want to cry in front of anyone.

“Hey! Wait don’t g-” The Duke of Creativity was saying before going silent.

Deceit barely felt himself sinking away through the floor and so stumbled and fell on his butt rubbing and sobbing into his hands. He looked at his new surrounding and was relieved to be back in his room, but started back crying when he realized that, because he hadn’t expected to be back in his room, he had left Sir Slithers behind in the Imagination. That just made him start crying all over again. He didn’t want to be awake anymore! Why couldn’t he do his job asleep and in his room?! He sniffled and crawled himself into a ball into his bed. Rocking himself and hoping to maybe drift off and forget about the last two days.

TBC

A/N: Making a separate short story with Remus's POV. I'm going to try and keep this one strictly Janus's Story. 

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

In the end he couldn’t go back to sleep. His room refused to turn off the light and let him. Deceit had groans, sobbed, and yelled at the room only for it to stay lit and sleep to evade him. It made him upset, and now mad at the room, that he stomped out of it. Going down the stairs and to the kitchen where he had found the cookies in. He hoped there were more. He didn’t think he took them all. He really needed a cookie.

He sniffed and wiped his nose with his sleeve as he got a stool and looked into the cookie jar. Seeing that there was more in there actually did manage to put a smile on his face. He hugged the cookie jar and carefully stepped off the stool and ran to the couch in the living area. Digging his hand in the jar and pulling out two cookies to munch on. The tv flicking on and playing a cartoon he hadn’t seen before, but Thomas has. The cartoon played and Deceit soon found himself hyperfixated on it. And then another movie played.

And another.

And another.

Some started taking on a darker turn, that had Deceit curling in on himself, while eating cookies.

“Hey!”

Deceit jumped and hissed startled at the loud voice in his ear. Turning to see another boy he hadn’t met before, but instantly knew who this was; Sleep.

“Finally!” Sleep huffed, he was wearing blue sunglasses that had a character from one of the cartoon on them and was holding a juice box in his hand. “I was told you finally emerged.” He said, before taking a sip from the juice box.

“Huh?” Deceit said, not knowing what to say.

“Look. I’m Sleep. You are suppose to be watching the others, you know. Keep them out of trouble and out of my way. Ix whatever they mess up. Thomas needs to go to sleep. That meannnnsss…..” The other boy said, drawing out the last word.

“Um….Something is making him not sleep?” Deceit guessed.

“Exactly! Now go fix it. So I can get to work.” Sleep said, doing a slow clap with the juice box, before putting the straw back in his mouth. “Well?” He asked, gnawing on the straw.

“Well what? I don’t know where I’m suppose to go?” Deceit answered. “And I know exactly what I’m doing!” He snapped. His words coming out in a lie. So he tried again. “I Know Exactly What I’m Doing!” It happened again. He couldn’t control it.

“Look. I just want to get Thomas to sleep. Go to the Imagination and get the two Creativity’s to knock it off. I have a dream party to put together. Special invite only.” The little Sleep Function snarked, spinning on his heels and leaving just as fast, slamming the front door behind him.

Deceit was left blinking dumbly on the couch. The Sleep Function wasn’t wrong. It was Deceits job to watch everyone in favor of Thomas. He was all about self. He knew that much. That meant that he advocated what Thomas wanted, and took priority of his happiness, ego, and safety. If the two Creativity’s were the cause of Thomas not getting sleep then Deceit was to make sure they didn’t go overboard and hurt Thomas with their antics…...But he didn’t want to go back to the Imagination. He just got out of it.

“Can I even go back?” He asked out loud to himself. The first time had been an accident. The first time he had just wanted to find the others and meet them and have fun. Now he just wanted to stay in his own space and not have the others chase him again. Though the Other Creativity; The Duke, he had just been a bit too much to handle after everything else. Deceit supposed he had probably been the one to overreact, maybe. Though he felt he had a right to.

But how was he going to make the Creativity’s stop whatever they were doing? How was he suppose to get back to the Imagination anyway?

He hummed thinking hard on it, and while he was doing it, noticed he was sinking out like last time. Popping right back into the Imagination. He groaned unhappily. He hadn’t wanted to go right away! He truly wasn’t ready to go to the Imagination again. However, something in the back of his head kept telling him, that he was meant to be there. Right smack in the Imagination that was not the Dukes, he looked to the side to see the Dark Imagination very close though.

A loud ‘BOOM!’, had Deceit jumping and take a couple of steps back, before spotting a large plume of smoke rising in the air. He barely had time to think before hearing another loud sound that reached his ears, the sound of angry shouting and yelling. Worried Deceit rushed forward. He needed to get there before someone got hurt. Something telling him that it was his job to stop the ego and pride of Thomas from hurting each other. That sudden little knowledge did have him pause slightly, now that he knew that the two Creativity’s also had other jobs too. He was moving again though in the next second,

He just pushed past a bush and was able to see the two Creativity’s, when something flew and hit him square in the face! It hit so hard he fail backwards, hand quickly coming to cradle his face. Tears pricked his eyes, as he wiped his face off, feeling a little embarrassed that it was just a wad of dirt and grass that had took him down the impact of the Creativity’s fighting. He rubbed at his face, because that had hurt! Instead of standing back up and running to stop the two, Deceit decided to stay down and just watch, see what was wrong.

From what he could tell they were fighting over something. He couldn’t really see what it was.

“It’s mine! I created it!”

“No you didn’t I did! Look how cool it looks!”

“I made it! That’s why it looks cool!”

The two Creativity’s were shouting. Deceit listened for just a moment longer, watching the two wrestling on the ground before deciding to crawl forward and sneakily as he could crawled past the two Creativity’s to see what they were fighting over more clearly. The object of their fight turned out to be a very large golden egg with interesting looking markings on it. Deceit hummed positioning himself behind it so the two Creativity’s wouldn’t see him.

“Stop trespassing on my side and let me finish it!”

“I should get to put the final touch!”

“You don’t even know what it is!”

“Neither do you!”

Deceit blinked. So this wasn’t a finished creation. It just needed a final touch. He doesn’t know why he did it. He just liked how shiny and pretty it was.. He just wanted to trace one of the swirly lines that were on the eggs shell, but as soon as his fingered touched it, something zapped through him, tingling not his skin, but his scales. He made his breath stop for a split second before he was blow backwards again, this time from the egg exploding. Deceit tumbled down the hill and away from the two Creativity’s. Hand quickly coming to cover his mouth, not wanting to make a sound and get caught. When he finally came to a stop he crawled into the nearest bush when something roared long and loud, and the sound of whooshing wind reached his ears. He heard both Creativity’s both shout in surprise and then everything went quiet.

Deceit kept himself down in to dirt hidden in the bush leaves, with his eyes squeezed shut. He listened. The stomping of running feet ran past him.

“This is all your fault!”

“Nuh-uh! You’re the one that stopped me from finishing it!”

“Because it was my Creation!” The two Creativity were arguing as they ran.

The little Snakling watched them run. Eyes going to the sky as something very big flew over head. It looked like a giant flying lizard. It circled the area, before landing. The giant lizard; Dragon his brain informed him with a gentle nudge. The Dragon was looking around and down at itself. “Oh!” The creature breathed out. “I hatched!”

It was a girl dragon. Of course she was a girl dragon she had pointy hat on her head. The dragon was prancing about in a circle trying to get a good look at herself. Deceit watch intrigued. Is that how a new Creation of the Imagination acted when first created? The Dragon’s scales shimmered and glimmered. Her scales looked black, but when the light of the moon hit just right, the dragons scales shimmered between red and green. He didn’t even realized he was sitting up from his huddle on the ground, until the dragon looked at him.

Her yellow eyes met his and Deceit felt a cold shiver run down him. “What have we here?” The Dragon hummed, stalking forward slowly. She took two slow steps before Deceit felt his body become unfrozen and back peddled quickly away, turning around to start his up the hill, using both hands and feet. “Not so fast, little hatchling.” The Dragon growled lowly.

Deceit was sure he was going to get away until he was picked up by the back of his shirt and deposited between the Dragons large claws. A scared squeak left him when he met those yellow eyes again, and big sharp teeth that were way too close. “Uh! H-Hi…..” He gave a tiny wave, with swallowing the sick fearful feeling in his gut, trying to hide his fear and come off….pleasant at the least. All the while his eyes never left those teeth.

Could he get killed by a Creation fo the Imagination? He really hoped not.

TBC

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“Oh, you’re scales are just freezing! Aren’t you cold little one.” The Dragonwitch, for that is how she had introduced herself said. Blowing gentle embers onto Deceit’s scale side.

The little ember felt nice, and even though he was still a bit nervous about being alone with a dragon, the warmth was enough to relax him. “Maybe a little.” He admitted.

The Dragonwitch blew out a few more embers, looking down at the little snakling leaning against her claws. “Better?” She asked.

Deceit nodded. He did feel better now that he was warmer.

“Good. Now. I know I was in an egg, but I know it was you that let me hatch. Am I to assume the two who created me, were busy?” She asked.

Deceit thought for a second. He didn’t want to tell her that the Creativity’s had been fighting and then got spooked from her sudden appearance. Besides they were stopping Thomas from going to sleep, so they had been busy. “Yeah.” He answered.

He felt her tail move across the ground, as it came into view and circled around. Making him even more aware of how big she was. “I see, well, that means you don’t know why I was created.” She said.

Deceit shook his head.

“Well, little one. I’m the villain of the Imagination. Or one of the few.”

“Villain?” Deceit asked.

The Dragonwitch nodded. “Yes. I am a Dragonwitch. Half Dragon. Half Witch. I am to fight against my creators whenever it is time to live a story. Do you know what that means?” She asked, sounding so patient for a creation that was just made.

“That you have a purpose?” Deceit said, not meaning it to sound like a question.

“Exactly, little one. Now.” The Large Dragon began to move, now standing up and towering over Deceit even more. “A villain is someone meant to be hated. Feared even. As such I would like to meet my creators.” Deceit nodded, showing he was listening. “To get them back here, I will need to do something scary. You’re allowed to scream and run away. Just scream really loud so they will come to me.” She said.

Deceit nodded again, before catching what she just said. “Wait, what?” He asked.

But the Dragonwitch had lifted here head out of hearing distance and seemed to take a breath, before bring her head back down and roared right in the young Snaklings face. Deceit sat frozen, eyes wide and hands going to cover his ears. She was really loud and her teeth were right there in front of his face like she was going to snap him up, but for some reason the fear only spiked for a moment before vanishing. He just sat there in awe, and watching her scales shimmer and change.

Once the roar was done, even the Dragonwitch was looking at him funny. “Hmm, you didn’t scream.” She stated. “How odd.”

Deceit looked around them and noted that the Dragon witch had moved her tail that had curled around, so he would be able to run. “I didn’t find the roar scary. I believe you would have ate me, or scared me sooner if that is what you wanted to do.” He said, fiddling with the hem of his shirt to have something to do with his hands.

“I see.” The Dragonwitch hummed. “Well as true as that maybe, do you think you can act scared and scream and run? I can’t play my part if you don’t.” She said.

Deceit stood up with a nod and took a deep breath, and let out the loudest scream he could let out. Once done, he smiled a bit seeing the Dragonwitch clapping her claws.

“Good job! That should do it! Now run on along.” She praised, gently pushing Deceit to move. “No need for your assistance in whats to come.”

“But-” Deceit started, but she didn’t let him finish.

“No. You play no part in the story that is to surround me.” The Dragonwitch said, stopping him.

Deceit pouted, but he guessed she was right. He hadn’t wanted to come back to the Imagination in the first place anyway. That had been Sleeps doing. Deceit decided he didn’t like Sleep. Well, he guessed that what the Creation was telling him made sense. He had done his job and stopped the Creativity’s from fighting. “Okay.” He finally voiced.

“Good, now go on.” She said, motioning for him to start walking away.

Deceit did just that. Though he kept looking over his shoulder at the Dragonwitch wanting to continue to see her scales. But soon had to just stop and keep walking.

“Hey!” Sleep popped in next to Deceit, once the Dragonwitch was out of sight. His sudden appearance startling Deceit for a second. “That was quick work.” The boy with the juice box said, sounding from happy.

“It was difficult.” Deceit said, not meaning for the lie, but decided he was grouchy and pouty enough to not worry about it.

“Oh? Well, I guess those two can be a lot.” The other boy nodded. “So! How was your first few days roaming the mind?” Sleep asked.

“Great! The time of my life.” Deceit huffed, another lie slipping from him. He didn’t try to correct that one either.

“That’s great! Well, work buddy. I’ll be seeing you. You can go back to doing with whatever you were doing. See ya!” Sleep said, veering off and running in another direction.

Deceit huffed again. He wasn’t sure how he could leave the Imagination. He barely understood how he could travel.

Roaring from where he left the Dragonwitch had him looking back. He guessed the Creativity’s were back and met her. He wondered how that was going? He thought about turning around but the Creation had told him no. And he wasn’t really too ready to meet the Creativity’s again.

He turned back around to keep walking and gasped out loud coming face to face with the Second Creativity. The Duke. Deceit stumbled back to get more space.

“Hiya, Snakey!” The little Duke laughed. “I was hoping to run into you.” He said, getting back into Deceits space.

“But - but that Dragon…You...?” Deceit stammered.

“Oh that. Yeah, I made it! Cool right! My brother is with it. Let’s hope it eats him!” The little Creativity smiled, grabbing hold of Deceits hand and pulling him closer. “Follow me!” He insisted, dragging the snakling with him in the opposite direction.

“But- but-”

“Haha! Butts!” Laughed the little Duke. He pulled Deceit along quickly the two of them walking straight into the Dark Imagination that was spreading in the dark.

Deceit was tugging to get his hand back. He didn’t want to travel across the Imagination again, but the little Dukes was strong. “What about making dream? Creativity is suppose to help make dreams!” He insisted, the information popping into his head like he had always known it.

“Yeah, but tonight it my brothers turn. Besides, I want show you something!” The little Duke said, sounding very cheerful.

The two of them broke through some bushes and before Deceit was a playground. A playground that looked abandoned. With a big mascot that looked like it would move and eat you stood waiting. He suddenly found himself able to actually pull his hand back.

He wasn’t going in that park! Nuh-uh!.

The Dragonwitch was one thing. She could have killed him from the get go. But Deceit wasn’t about to test his luck twice.

The Other Creativity looked at him. “What’s the matter? Lets get on the swing and see if we can make it swing over the bar!” He said, excitedly.

Deceit shook his head. He didn’t want to. He wanted to go back to his movie and the couch.

The Little Duke didn’t seem to notice Deceit was not following him anymore. Going on over to the swing set and picking one. The chains holding the swing seat squeaking loudly as his began kicking his legs and swinging back and forth on it.

“I want to go home.” Deceit said, happy that his words did not come out as a lie this time.

“That’s so boring! We can go to my castle! Oh!” The little Duke, who was already swinging really high jumped from the swing and landed on his feet like he had done it a dozen times and then ran right back to stand in Deceits space. “You forgot this last time!” He said, pulling Sir Slithers out of thin air.

Deceits immediate reaction was grab his toy snake from the other.

The little Duke let him too, with a big smile on his face. “Yeah, I did look for you, but you’re a hard one to find. Where do you go when you’re not in the Imagination?” He asked.

“I go to my room.” Deceit mumbled in answer.

“Is your room with the other rooms? I haven’t left the Imagination since I found I liked it better than following the rules with the others.” The Little Duke asked rocking on his heels, staring as Deceit with the same big smile.

“I woke up alone.” Deceit said. He hadn’t known the others were living together. Why had he woke up alone then?

“Cool! Show me?” The second Creativity asked, bouncing on his feet, once again grabbing Deceits hand.

Deceit felt the human side of his face heat up slightly. “I definitely can.” The lie came out.

The little Duke stopped bouncing to stare at him. “We can both go. As long as you think about where you want to go I can follow. I just got to hold onto you since I don’t know where to go.” The second Creative Side said.

“Think about it where I want to go?” Deceit repeated.

“Yeah! You got to really focus on it.” The Duke nodded.

Deceit chewed on his lip for a second and that must have made one of his fangs to stick out, because the second Creative Side leaned in closer to his face. It made the Snakling stop and instead tried to focus on the couch he had been sitting on before he was told to go to the Imagination. Closing his eyes so he didn’t focus on how close the little Duke was to him.

When he opened his eyes again they were back in the front of the tv.

“Wow! This place is exactly like the other place!” The Duke hyped, dropping Deceits hand and running around the place.

Deceit was secretly pleased that it had worked. He didn’t want the other Side in his room. It was his room and the second Creativity liked getting into his personal space too much.

“I’ve decided!” The Duke announced once he did a lap through the kitchen and the living area, and up the stairs, then back in front of Deceit. “I’m moving my room here!” He announced.

“Huh?!” Deceit said, stopping midway of climbing back on top of the couch so he could watch more tv.

“Shocked speechless with happiness! I knew you would be! I seen you door. The yellow one, and I placed my door right across from it! We’re roomies now! Although your door was locked, but I guess you can show me around later! What movie are we watching?” The little Duke rambled jumping on the couch next to Deceit, who was holding tight to Sir Slithers.

“What?” He asked. He honestly didn’t know what to say. He certainly hadn’t expected that.

“Movie. What movie were you watching? Think it would be okay to restart?” The Creative Side asked.

“That – uh oh okay?” Deceit said. Watching as the little Duke snap his finger and the movie on the tv restarted, and the octopus plushy appearing out of thin air into the other boys arms.

“By the way this was Slimy! Cause octopuses are wet and slimy and can go anywhere!” He said, shoving the octopus plushy toward Deceit. “He and you snake became friend while I had it. That means we have to be friends too!”

The octopus Plushie booped the nose of Sir Slithers, who Deceit hugged tighter not wanting to lose his plushie again. He remembered the octopus plushie it was animated and moving the last time he saw it. “This is Sir Slithers.” Deceit said.

“Good name!” The Creative Side smiled. “So how long have you been awake?”

Deceit shrugged. “A few days.” He said.

“Cool! I can show you around and everything! I know where everything is! And I can go anywhere! Sometime I sneak in and my brothers room and pull pranks. You can come with sometime!” The other rambled, the movie playing on as he talked.

And talked.

And talked.

Deceit lost track at some point. He did try to listen but it was kind of hard. He never knew that someone could talk so much.

“Oh! And another thing! When we go visit the others. Logic talks a lot about boring stuff! He can go on for hours and hours!”

At some point he had fallen asleep and had woken up the next day with the other boy staring at him. “Yah!” He shrieked, not expecting the close eye contact. “Don’t do that!” He snapped, as the other laughed.

“Your face went funny for a second!” The little Duke laughed.

Deceit glared at him for his laughter. Scooting the plushies that were piled on him onto the couch. He walked around the laughing Side rolling around on the floor and to the kitchen. He found milk and a box of cereal and bowled with spoons. Apparently whatever they needed, would be given when they needed it.

Deceit stood up on the stool in the kitchen to make the quick breakfast.

“CocoPuffs!” The little Duke said, reading the cereal box. “That’s so blah! I want ketchup with it!” He said.

Deceit paused and made a face. “Ketchup?” He repeated.

“Yup its delicious with cereal!” The little Duke nodded. “I’ll show you a fun way to eat it too!” He added, following Deceit to the table.

It turned out that the little Dukes fun way involved shoving his face into the bowl and playing with it. He even got Deceit messy with cereal and milk too. Which meant they both needed a bath. Deceit had used the excuse of wanting to change his clothes, which wasn’t a lie. But he went to take a bath before he did so.

He didn’t know how he felt about the other boy. On one hand he guessed it was good not to be alone. But the other boy just went on and on, and seemed to not be able to pay attention for too long. Not that there was anything wrong with that. Deceit just felt that he wasn’t ready for a lot of the things the other wanted to do. He didn’t want to travel the Imagination anymore. If anything he wanted to learn more about his role and the roles of the others. He guess that meant he could start with the Little Duke, before searching out the others and learning about them.

“Deceit! Are you almost done?! I got a whole day of fun planned!” The little Dukes voice shouted through the door in his room.

Deceit rolled his eyes, but couldn’t help the small smile on his face. He guessed having someone living with him wasn’t so bad.

TBC

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Deceit wasn’t sure what he expected living with the other Creativity. But it seemed like the little Duke seemed bound and determined to get into the Snaklings room. Something he did not want to allow happen. So he and the Creative Side spent a lot of time downstairs and sleeping on the couch in front of the tv. It didn’t seem to bother the Creative Side one bit that they were sleeping always sleeping on the couch. Deceit had tried a few times t sneak away and actually go to his room, but he literally couldn’t. The little Duke liked to snuggle, always holding on tight to Deceit with arms and tentacles.

The first night Deceit had seen the tentacles had been an experience. He had actually bit the one in fright thinking it was going to choke him. He was laying wrapped up in the Dukes arms as the other drooled on him. Deceit was not happy about being drooled on. He told himself that the Creative Side made up for it, by being a living heater.

The other boy was really warm and Deceit liked being warm. He did not like being cold. Something the Creative Sides room was. The Dukes room was cold and Deceit dreaded being dragged to the room to play. Not only was it cold but messy too. The last time the Duke had took him in there, something from under the bed had grabbed his foot. He never sat on the bed with his feet hanging off again after that.

“Morning Snakey.” The Duke yawned. Grip tightening around Deceit, from the tentacles and the Dukes arms, squeezing the breath from him, as the Creative Side stretched and hugged at the same time.

Deceit tapped against the nearest tentacle. “Let me up. Breakfast time.” He said, stifling a yawn himself.

“No!” The Duke mumbled, pressing his face into the back of the snaklings neck. “Let’s go back to sleep.” He said.

“Hungry.” Deceit said, kicking his legs out to try and detangled himself from the other boy. Succeeding in freeing them. He ended up rolling out of the hold.

The Duke huffing sleepily at him, as he looked over the couch at him. “Always so bossy.” He yawned, with a sleepy smile.

Deceit stretched and yawned again now that he was free. Going to the kitchen and finding their usual breakfast. He stood on his stool do he didn’t have to use his tiptoes and poured the both of them their cereal. The Duke always insisted eating it with ketchup and with anything other than a spoon.

The Creative Side ate with gusto and was up and running to toss his bowl in the sink. The bowl making a loud sound that told the young snakling that it was broken just like the ones before it.

“I have so many ideas today!” The Creative said was rambling, running around the table as Deceit finished his breakfast much more slower than him. “I can’t wait to show you! You’re going to love it! It Halloween you know! Scary time! Spooky time! The time for Murder!-” He rambled on and on.

Deceit spat out his cereal. “What?!” He asked.

“Oh! I got go set something up! Stay here!” The Duke was quick to sink away, before Deceit could ask another question.

“Murder?” Deceit repeated. That didn’t sound like something Creativity would say.

Maybe that was because the Duke was more than just Creativity. The thought slid into place with a click in his brain. The Duke had more than one purpose. Deceit stared open mouth at where the Duke once sat. He was still learning about his own job the jobs of the others. The Duke liked acting spontaneously. Spoke without thought. He blunt to a fault. Why though?

The answer didn’t come to him this time.

Maybe he needed to try and interact with the others again and see what happened when he did so. The information always seemed to just come to him when he was around them. He felt the need to check on the others anyway. A sense of want and need mixed together, to the point that Deceit had concluded that maybe that was part of his own job. To keep watch of the others. He finished his breakfast and made sure to grab Sir Slithers and fit him in his pocket for travel. He found he didn’t lose his plushie friend as easily if it was safe in his pocket. He closed his eyes and focused on the others, just like how the Duke had showed him.

When he opened his eyes next he found himself in a place that was similar to the home he just left. However it seemed brighter. He hadn’t thought his home was dark, but compared to this place it seemed like the sun liked it better. “Whoa….” He mumbled, spinning around in a circle to look around the room. It was identical.

He sniffed the air and licked his lips at the smell of…..Pancakes! The word clicked in his brain. Pancakes. He hummed at the word. It even sounded delicious. Following his nose Deceit found a plate of pancakes some half eaten while other plates were empty but the signs of a big breakfast was evident. The plate that had the half eaten pancakes looked nibbled on with a book sitting beside. Looking around Deceit picked up the fork, and cut himself a slice from the one of the untouched pancakes on the plate.

He hummed happily at the flavor. It was so good! He scooted himself up onto the seat and finished the plate. He wanted to know how to make these! As soon as he was done he was in the kitchen. He got excited when he found a box that read Pancake mix on it.

“Logic! I need your opinion!” Deceit jumped at the voice and ducked behind the counter. That was Creativity! “Logic?”

Deceit thought, cover his mouth to make sure he was super quiet.

“Oh, he finished breakfast.” Creativity hummed from the other side of the counter. “Logic!” Creativity shouted again.

“What Creativity?” There was Logic’s voice. “I was in the library part of the – never mind. What do you need?”

“Oh, I need you to inspect this new creation. Doesn’t it match what was in the book you read us?…...Uh, Logic?” Creativity called.

“Someone ate my breakfast.” Logic said.

“Maybe it was my brother. He moved his door and I haven’t seen him lately. Maybe he got tired of eating literal garbage.” Creativity was saying. The shrug of his shoulder could be heard in his voice.

Deceit quietly opened up a bottom cabinet and just as quietly crawled in to hide. He didn’t want to be caught doing something bad again.

“You didn’t eat it?” Creativity asked.

“I nibbled. I was to busy reading my book and was going to come back. After all, Thomas is suppose to be going to a corn maze and wants to be be prepared for the haunted house there.” Logic said.

Deceit lifted his head slightly at that from his hiding place. “Thomas was going to a corn maze and haunted house?

“Don’t worry so much Logic. Thomas will show that he is strong and brave!” Creativity said enthusiastically.

“Oh, have you shared that insight with Morality?” Logic asked.

“Well….No. But there is nothing to fear!” Creativity insisted.

“We will see. If Morality continues to show resistance to the idea, odds are Thomas will not go.” Logic said, voice getting further away.

“But he wants to go!” Creativity insisted leaving with Logic.

Deceit crawled out of his hiding spot. Morality was going to stop Thomas from going to something he wanted to go to. As sneakily as he could, he climbed up the stairs. He wasn’t too surprise to see it look identical to his own home. The only difference was there were more doors that he guess was the rooms of Logic, Creativity, and Morality.

He guessed Logic and Creativity had went elsewhere since he didn’t hear them up hear.

Deceit walked straight to the door that he just knew belonged to Morality and knocked.

“Go away! I don’t want to be scared!” Morality cried from the other side.

Deceit actually moved away from the door. He hadn’t expected that. But then he had heard Morality wasn’t hyped about tonight. “Morality-” He stopped, his coming to his mouth again. That hadn’t been his voice. That was Logic’s that had left him. But why?

“Logic, please don’t make me. I don’t like being scared. Thomas doesn’t need to go…..Right?” Morality’s crying voice said.

Deceit felt the answer as to why he sounded different click into his brain. Morality didn’t want to go, but Thomas did. The others wanted to go. “That’s alright Morality. You don’t have to go. You can stay safe in your room and let this night pass you by. Fear is a natural response.” He said in Logic’s voice. He looked down at himself and watched his form change. He was back to looking like Morality.

“Really?” Morality asked.

Sir Slither in his pocket shift and it had him looking down to see his plushie friend change into a key that he had to did out of his pocket. As if he knew all along what it was meant for he looked at Morality’s door handle. “Yes. It is only logical. This way you will not be scared.” He said, sticking the key into the keyhole and turned it.

“Yeah, that’s true. Nothing bad can get me here.” Morality sniffed. “Do you think Creativity will be upset with me?”

Deceit left the key in the keyhole. Morality wasn’t to stay locked away, he would need to be released after this night. Deceit licked his lips worriedly. He kind of felt bad about this, but something was telling him this was what he was suppose to do. Thomas wanted to go. Morality was stopping the others from letting him go. Would stop them from letting Thomas doing what he wanted.

Deceit found that what Thomas wanted. He, himself wanted. If Morality couldn’t handle it. Then he would take Morality’s place…..Just for the night. “I will talk to Creativity. He will see reason.” He said, in Logic’s voice.

“Thanks Logic. I was worried you and Creativity were angry with me.” Morality sniffled from the other side of his locked door.

Deceit decided this was the right thing to do. This is what he was suppose to do. And so let a smile slip on his face. He wasn’t hurting anything or anyone by doing this. Everyone would get what they want in the end. “Anytime Morality.” He said sincerely in Logic’s voice and walked away.

He would have to meet up with the other if ‘Morality’ was going to agree to go to the Corn Maze and Haunted House, after all.

TBC

A/N: Updates may be slow. 

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“I am so glad that you changed your mind Morality.” Creativity cheered.

“I must say that I too am surprised.” Logic agreed.

Deceit smiled. “Well, what can I say. I couldn’t stop you all from having fun.” He said, trying to sound as happy as Morality seemed to be.

“If you get too scared just remember I will protect us!” Creativity said, puffing his chest out, trying to make himself look brave.

Deceit nodded as he trailed along with the two. Neither seemed to suspect a thing as they went to the Imagination. He couldn’t help but stare amazed at the changes the Imagination had gone through. It looked liked a Halloween Town. “You have truly out done yourself, Creativity.” Logic complimented.

Deceit nodded his agreement.

“I know!” Creativity beamed, proudly. “But try and stay on the path I have marked. My brothers side of the Imagination is highly active tonight. You do not! Want to wander into his territory on this night.” Creativity warned, pointed to the a bright red ribbon that marked the way. “Its anyone’s guess what he might have roaming tonight.”

Deceit tensed at the mention of the Duke. He had forgotten! The Duke had wanted to show him something today! Oops!

He bit at his nails. He hoped the other Creativity wouldn’t be too upset. He looked past the red ribbon the mark the path. Would the others notice if Ha as Morality vanished and went to find the Duke?

“Morality, keep up! We’re starting!” Creativity called.

Deceit whipped his head to see the Creativity and Logic already walking. “Wa – Wait for me!” He called, jogging to catch up with the two.

Creativity conjuring three pumpkin buckets for them “We get candy on for each haunt we conquer!” He said proudly.

Deceit held his pumpkin bucket with both hands nervously. Now that he thought about it. He had never celebrated this Holiday personally. He know Thomas and the others enjoyed the Holiday, but this was his first. Despite his own nervousness, he had to do this. It was something Thomas wanted. He was to make sure Thomas got what he wanted. He stuck close to Logic and Creativity, trying to stay more behind them, so not to draw attention to himself. He didn’t want them to know he wasn’t Morality.

He had to admit that the attraction Creativity had made were amazing and they did get candy with each stop. This seemed to be a whole day to night adventure too. Creativity wanted to show them everything.

Deceit was very grateful for the hayride. He had never been on one and it was quite relaxing he found. It gave him time to really listen to Logic and Creativity talk and learn more about them. Logic seemed to be more than just knowledge. He seemed to like staying on schedule and had mapped out how long they should spend at each attraction and seemed to reign in Creativity when the Side would start to get overexcited.

“Morality, you’ve been quiet. Are you okay?” Logic asked.

Deceit snapped out of his thoughts, putting on a big smile. “I’m fine!” He answered. “I don’t know what I was so scared of. This has been fun!”

“That’s fantastic to hear. And now that its getting dark the really fun can start!” Creativity said, sounding very pleased. The wagon of hay they had been riding in coming to a halt in front of a bunch of corn that had been planted. “Welcome to the Corn Maze!” Creativity hyped.

Deceit climbed from the wagon to stand next to Logic. The two of them watching the sun in the Imagination sinking away in the horizon and the moon rising. “Creativity -” Logic began.

“I know! And don’t worry I can get us out if we truly get lost. The scares and surprises in the maze can’t touch us, or chase us. I did that for you Morality.” Creativity explained, before Logic could say another word.

“Oh. Well, then if Morality is still up for it, I have no qualms with continuing our Halloween Night.” Logic said.

The two of them looking at Deceit. “Sure! Sound amazing!” Deceit smiled.

“Then onward! To more candy!” Creativity cheered, running ahead.

“Creativity! We should stay in a group!” Logic called, running after.

Not wanting to be left behind Deceit followed. The corn seemed to grow taller once they were in the maze. The red ribbon that was present through their whole Halloween adventure stayed ever present in the corn maze too. Deceit kept his hand on it as he went into the maze. Creativity and Logic both bickering with each other up ahead. Though it didn’t seemed to be too important. Though it did distract all of them that when a scary scarecrow popped from the corn all three of them screamed and ran deeper into the maze.

As they ran more and more creatures would pop out and scare them. Though like Creativity had said, none chases. The three of them panted tired from their running. “I think we’re in the middle. Half way there!” Creativity panted out happily. Pointing to a big black cauldron that was filled tot he brim with candy.

“I must say I’m surprised at you Morality. You’ve taken the jump scares rather well.” Logic complimented. As Creativity ran for the candy.

Deceit had to stop himself from fiddling with his pumpkin bucket. “Well, Creativity said nothing was going to touch us so…..” He shrugged.

“Ew! Yuck! What is this?!” Creativity shouted spitting out the ones he ate.

Logic and Deceit peeked into the cauldron of candy. It looked liked candy. The hidden snakling noted, watching as Logic picked one up and squished it. “Its slime.” He said, fixing his glasses.

“Its not suppose to be slime! Its suppose to be candy! And where is my red ribbon!?!” Creativity complained.

Deceit and Logic both looked around finding the red ribbon that marked this Creativity’s side of the Imagination was indeed gone. Deceit didn’t even realized he had let go of the ribbon.

A loud roaring sound made the three of them jump. “Creativity, I didn’t expect you to put a chainsaw manic in the maze.” Logic said, clearing his throat, that Deceit just knew was to cover up his unease.

“I didn’t!” Creativity shook his head.

A large and masked man burst through the corn and ran right at them. All three boys screamed running away. “You! You said! You they wouldn’t chase us!” Deceit panted.

“He’s not mine!” Creativity shouted.

Logic grabbing the two of them in time to miss a clown holding knife that had made a grab for them. Creativity then being the one to grab Logic and Deceit to push them out of the way of skeleton hands that were clawing out from the ground.

“Run!” Creativity shouted, urging Logic and Deceit onward. “This is my brothers doing! I just know it!”

Deceit felt inclined to agree, but decided it was better to save his breath and focus on running, because the chainsaw man and clown were still chasing them. And he did not plan on being caught. Never was he getting caught. He pushed his way past Logic and Creativity out of shear want of not finding out what would happen if he was caught. At some point the corn maze faded away to a graveyard. Or that by him running ahead of the other two that they got separated.

He only noticed when he tripped over a gravestone and came face to face with a half rotted body that was digging itself from the ground. He backpedaled quickly away from it, and looked around for the others. He wanted to call out for them but found he couldn’t make his voice come out, because in his head a self preservation instinct told him not to. He had lost the scary clown and chainsaw man that he supposed was still chasing the other two.

He told himself that if he just found a path then maybe he could find Logic and Creativity. He moved quickly and as quietly as possible. Not trying to draw attention to himself. Maybe he could sneak away.

A could shiver ran down his spine and them another and another. Like something was running icy cold fingers down his back. He peaked over his shoulder after another shiver ran through him and felt himself go pale. It was a creature that was transparent and floating.

Ghost! His brain supplied through his panic.

The phantom moaned and groaned at him and reach its hand at him. Deceit backed away quickly from it, not looking where he was stepping and yelped when he fell into a hole in the ground. A deep hole in the ground. He hissed and shrieked in panic when more of the transparent creatures emerged from the ground around him, sending scary chills through him. He didn’t like it! Bone of skeletons cawed for the dirt walls around him grabbing at him. Something above ground kicked dirt on top of him.

A scared whimper left him as his tried to manuever himself in the small hole to avoid the ghost coming from the ground and right at him, and the hands reaching from the dirt. Hissing and yelping in fright when one would grab him. He yanked away hard, and fell to the ground feeling very trapped and there was no escape. No where to go. The creature were trying to get him!

“I’m not scared!” He stammered out. He didn’t know who he was talking to. Maybe himself. Maybe to the creatures around him, that were trying to get him. Maybe to Thomas, maybe it was something Thomas needed him to say and make it so. “I’m not scare! I’m fine! Nothing is scary!” He whimpered and chanted to himself squeezing his eyes shut.

His self reassurance mantra breaking off into a terrified scream when a skeletal hand burst from the ground and grabbed on of his ankles and started to pull him closer. It was going to pull him deeper into the ground! He realized. Squeezing his eyes shut again and covering his face with his hands when a particularly scary ghost flew at his face. All the while he tried to pull his leg free. He was finding it very hard to breath, his lungs were working but not taking in enough air.

“Hey, hey, hey! What are you lot doing all the way over here? The nerd group on the other side of the maze. Making my brothers maze better. Not over here.”

He heard a voice, but was too busy feeling relieved when his leg was release and curled himself into a tight ball, still keeping his eyes closed.

“What? Did you all find Morality? That scaredycat must have been so scared he got lost on my side. Hey, Happy Feet, you forget where – eh?”

Deceit looked up, peaking through the gaps of his fingers to see the Other Creativity looking down at him. He took a few deep panicked breaths, remembering he was still Morality. He had to still play Morality.

The little Duke stared at him silent for a moment. “You okay?” He finally asked.

Deceit didn’t mean to nod his head, but he did. “I’m fine!” He said, knowing his face streaked with tears. He hadn’t realized he had been crying until now. “I-I wasn’t scared!” He added, trying to say something he thought Morality would say, but the lie slipped out instead.

“Here. Give your hand I’ll pull you up.” The Duke insisted reaching and leaning forward to reach for him.

Deceit went to reach for him, but jumped back when a stray ghost rose up from the ground, scaring another startled yelp from him. His back hitting the other side of the dirt wall that enclosed around him. The little Duke watched with narrowed eyes, looking to Deceit to the ghost, before snapping his fingers and the ghost vanished. “Are you afraid of ghost?” He asked.

“No!” Deceit snapped. That lie was meant to come out. He didn’t want to admit he was scared. He hadn’t. It was all an act! Yeah that what it was! The crying too! It was all meant!

The little Duke chuckled like he said something amusing. “Okay, well come on and let’s get you out of there.” He offered his hand again.

Deceit took it and tried to help by using his feet to try and find purchase as he was being pulled out. Crawling away from the hole in the ground with the Duke coming to sit next to him. “Sooooo, what did you do with Morality?” He asked out of the blue, after there was moment of silence and Deceit had cleaned his face.

Deceit whipped his head around to look at the Duke, glancing quickly down at himself to se that yes, he was still Morality. “I am Morality.” He defended.

The other boy leaned into Deceits space where their noses almost touched. Looking Deceit in the eyes with squinted eyes, staying like that for a full minute before sitting back. “Nah! I would know you anywhere Snakey.” He said, with finality and confidence.

Deceit felt his disguise drop. “How?” He demanded.

The little Duke shrugged. “I don’t know. I just do. Just like when you start talking funny.” The Duke smiled. “So when were you going to tell me you could shapeshift? Wait. First what happened to Morality? If you accidently killed him, I can help you hide the body. Its very easy and they would suspect a thing. Also. Sorry for scaring you. I was just trying to make my brothers boring maze more entertaining. I didn’t know you were there. I would have yoinked you first before I let everything loose. Well, maybe not. A little blood pumping is good for you. Though, you falling in the hole could have been bad. Gosh! I glad you lived. That would have been your grave!” The little Duke rambled jumping to his feet, pulling Deceit with him.

Deceit realized that the Duke was pulling him toward the a scary building further in the grave yard and was quick to pull his hand out of the other boys grip. “I’m not going in there.” He said, with a huff. He had enough scares for the day.

“Why not? I found something cool! Your going to want to see it! Come on Snakey. I won’t scare you anymore. Your my friend and I take care of my friends.” The Duke said.

Deceit didn’t want to, but he just knew the other boy was telling the truth and not lying. “Fine.” He relented, following the Duke deeper into the graveyard and into the scary building.

It looked just as creepy inside as it did outside, but immediately began to fix itself around them at the snap of the Dukes fingers again. “You know. I just realized something.” The other boy mused as he led them through the now, not too scary house. “You never told me your name. Or what you do. I mean you know I’m Creativity. That’s part of my job! But I don’t know anything about you. Friends should know things like that about each other. So?” He smiled at Deceit, leading him up the stairs.

“You never asked before.” Deceit huffed.

“Yeah. But we’ve been friend for a few days now. I’ll go first. My actual name if Remus! There! See! Not so hard!” He said. “Now you.”

Deceit thought about it. “I’m Deceit.” He said. That was all he had. He didn’t have another name to give yet. “I think I’m more than that though.” He admitted.

“Cool! That explains your double talk sometimes!” Remus cheered. “I knew your job was something cool! I’m still gonna call you Snakey though.” He added.

“I don’t like it.” The fib slipped out. He didn’t mind Remus calling him Snakey. He personally liked snakes and well, he did have scales and a serpents eye. It seemed like an appropriate nickname until he found his own name.

“I’m glad you don’t mind.” Remus smiled the two of them stopping in front of a large door that he had led to Deceit to, revealing a room full of candy.

“Whoa!” Deceit gaped.

“Yeah!” Remus said, bouncing on his toes. “Roman had candy everywhere so I collected and replaced it all with slime candy and stored it here for me and you!” He ran to the nearest pile and jumped into it.

Deceit, picked up a piece that was a sugar straw deciding that maybe today wasn’t so bad.

“Oh, yeah! You never said, what you did to Morality. Do we need to worry about a body?” Remus asked, mouth full.

Deceit shook his head. He’d eat some of the candy first and then go and let Morality out. He wanted to eat some of the candy first. He wanted to find all the good ones before Remus got to them.

TBC

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The day after Halloween, Deceit was feeling pretty good. He actually did have fun, despite all the scares. The candy room with Remus had been his favorite part. Though he felt like he was forgetting something. There was something tugging at him too. He didn’t understand what it was. He felt like it he relaxed it would take him somewhere, but he didn’t want go anywhere today. Remus had let him picked what they would do today and Deceit had wanted to visit the library. A place that held memories, information, and so much more. He wanted to go there and see if it would help him with his job, and for him to figure out what else he was suppose to do.

Lying and being sneaky seemed to be part of it.

But he felt like he was more.

He could feel what Thomas wanted and wanted it too. Anything to get it.

“This is boring.” Remus whined, grabbing at one of the many books that were floating or either flying around up there with him. Throwing the book once he caught it.

Deceit looked up to the ceiling where the Creative Side was walking, tracking dirt and mud on it. Deceit wondered if because Remus was Creativity he could do what he and the others; he guessed could not do? Did that mean Remus’s brother could do almost the exact same thing that Remus could since they looked alike?

“It’s not boring. Information is very important. I need to know more about everyone and Thomas. I need to be able to do my job correctly. I think there is something very important that I’m suppose to do.” He said, going back to his book. Rubbing at the back of his neck as he felt that funny tugging feeling again.

“Uh-huh. So you didn’t wake up just knowing? I did. So did everyone else.” Remus commented.

Deceit shrugged, but kept reading. “I did, sort of. I knew I needed to know all of you. I immediately knew Thomas. But I wasn’t actually sleeping. I felt all of you. I knew when all of you woke up. I just wasn’t suppose to wake up.” Deceit tried to explain. “Everything else is sort of just coming to me.”

“So what I’m hearing is that, you already know everything, but don’t know you know everything. Maybe you’re a keeper of Thomas?” The Creative Side suggested. “Yup! That sounds right! Let’s go do something fun!”

“You said, I got to choose. I want to be here in the library and memories.” Deceit reminded.

“Fine.” Remus huffed, dropping him to sit cross legged still on the ceiling.

Deceit looked when a wrapper of leftover candy fell beside him, watching Remus shove a few in his mouth. The Creative chewing loudly as he did so. Deceit shook his head, rubbing at his neck again and shifting into a more comfortable position, as that tugging feeling came back .

“Are you okay? You’ve been wiggling and moving like you got ants crawling all over you.” Remus commented, with his mouth full.

“I’m fine.” Deceit answered trying to focus on what he was reading.

“So, what’s wrong?” Remus insisted, breezing past the lie.

“I feel like someone’s tugging on me.” The Snakling sighed, closing his book and letting to float away.

“Oh! Someone trying to summon you!” Remus answered excitedly, dropping from the ceiling and letting himself land on a pillow-fort he had made earlier. “Want me to come with?” He asked.

“Summoning me? One of the others wants to see me?” Deceit asked.

“Mhmm. Lucky! No one ever summons me.” Remus smiled. “If you relax, you let the tug take you where you’re wanted.” The Creative Side said. “Maybe they realized how cool you are and want you to be friends. If so, you tell them I beat them. I’m your friend first. I give you full permission to laugh in my brothers face for me.” Remus rambled.

Deceit hummed, feeling the tug again. He was suppose to let the tug take him. He did as Remus suggested and relaxed, and the tug took him immediately. Popping him in a new place, rather violently. He stumbled a bit, throwing his hands out to balance himself and looked around to find himself in the home of the others.

Creativity was standing in front of him with a foam sword in his hands. Logic was sitting on the couch next to Morality. Morality refused to look up at him.

Deceit could practically feel the tension in the room. He didn’t like it. He looked around to see what could be causing it but didn’t see anything.

“Um, hi.” He said, deciding to break the uncomfortable silence.

“You? You’re not a creation?” Creativity demanded, looking surprised.

“Yes.” Deceit answered biting his lip. He hadn’t meant for that to come out. He noticed the more nervous he was the more a lie would slip from his lips uncontrollably and with the tension in the room and the looks the other three were giving him were definitely making him nervous. He wondered if maybe this Creativity would understand his double speak like Remus?

“Yes, you are a creation? Or no, you not a creation?” Creativity asked, looking frustrated.

Well, that answered that question. “Yes.” Deceit answered hurriedly, noticing the frustrated look on the other Creativity’s face.

The other three boys all looked at each other. “Moving on.” Logic said.

“What?! But he-”

“Obviously, does not wish to answer that question.” Logic said, cutting off the Prince of Creativity. “Anyway, I’m guessing this belongs to you?” Logic said, addressing Deceit, holding up Sir Slithers.

Deceit nodded.

“There was a key stuck in Morality’s door last night when we returned from the Imagination, without him. It seems he had been stuck in there the whole night. It wasn’t until one of pulled the key out that it changed into this.” Logic said, getting up and handing the snake plush to Deceit. “We would appreciate it if you refrained from posing as one of us.” The other boy said, fixing his glasses as he looked at Deceit, with a neutral look

“How did you do that anyway? You have scales and snakes eye! There’s no way you could pose as Morality. Morality isn’t a liar and you dare pretend to be him, not once, but twice!” Creativity demanded. “Did Remus make you to do that? Who even are you?”

“Roman calm down.” Morality from the couch mumbled.

Deceit bit his lip, holding back what he knew would be a string of lies that he would not be able to stop. Had he known he was just going to be yelled at, he would have stayed in the library with Remus. He was debating on just leaving, when he spotted the little Dukes head poke up from behind the couch. Mischievous angry brown eyes locking onto the Prince of Creativity. A wooden baseball bat poking up beside him.

“No!” Deceit started, mostly talking to Remus, but didn’t want the other to see the Duke. “I mean-” He tried to re-corrected himself and make it believable. “Why should he listen to you?” He asked instead, eyes going to Morality. “It’s not like you’re in charge here.” Thomas was in charge Deceits brain supplied, just then. Deceit was to expedite who, what, when and if it was safe. Remus had been right. He was the keeper. He was for the Self. He was Deceit and Selfishness. A coach…..He would do what the others could not, or would not. He would orchestrate it if he had to, in the name of Thomas.

“What?” The Moral Side looked caught off guard.

“Why wouldn’t I listen to Morality. He’s in charge of all that is good with Thomas, including his emotions.” Creativity, or Roman, now that Deceit had a name, asked.

“All that is good?” Deceit repeated. “So that means you perceive me as something bad.” He said. That had hurt to say, but that was what they were saying.

“Well, you’re certainly not good.” Creativity huffed.

Deceit saw Remus roll his eyes and start creeping around the sofa.

“I don’t think we should go that far.” Morality spoke up. “I mean I didn’t want to go last night, and he must have really wanted to celebrate Halloween, so there really no harm done.”

Deceit found he didn’t like that. Didn’t like that Morality was trying to butt in on how someone else was feeling. That’s when another piece of information clicked in his brain. He was to make sure that both Creativity’s could speak freely around him. The two Sides of Thomas that needed more freedom to say and do anything they wanted than any other Side.

“That’s not the point! Patt- Morality! He’s a liar. A- A- an actually snake!” Roman shouted pointing at Deceit.

Deceit wished he knew why those words actually hurt to hear.

“If he can turn into you. That means he can turn into any of us. We don’t know what he’s capable of. He could be evil for all we know.” Roman continued.

Deceit had been hugging Sir Slithers up to this point for comfort, but after Creativity’s comment, something else clicked. Roman wanted to be a hero. That was why he was acting like this and in his eyes Deceit fitted the villain role in his eyes. It was like the Dragonwitch had said, they were all made with a purpose. Sometimes that purpose meant being the villain. Deceit was meant to be about wants.

“Take it back!” Remus shouted, jumping from his hiding place and swinging his baseball bat at his brother.

Roman luckily rolled away. “Remus! What are you doing here?”

“Protecting my friend! You take it back! Snakey isn’t evil!” He shouted. “If you want evil, I’ll show you evil!” Remus declared, swinging his bat, not caring what it hit, what it broke, as his twin dodged and ran from his attack.

Morality and Logic, both running from the room and hiding behind the tv instead.

Deceit was pushed out of the way as the two Creative Sides, ran around the room, fighting.

“I’ll shove you face in my shoe and make you smell it! I’ll make you drink the toilet water! I’ll turn the floor into real lava in you bedroom! You hurt Snakey’s feeling and I don’t forgive that!” Remus was shouting.

“Remus! Stop this! You vowed never to return here! What has this creature offered you to threaten me! Your crazy! Stop!” Roman was shouting back.

It was hard to really tell what the other was saying.

Deceit was tracking the two. Something in him telling him to stop them. They shouldn't hurt each other. “Stop it.” He said, in a normal tone. His voice overshadowed by the two Creativity’s shouting at each other.

Morality could be heard crying from being overwhelmed, and Logic was trying to sooth, but failing at it.

Everyone needed to stop and take a breath.

“Stop it now.” Deceit said a little louder squeezing Sir Slithers a little tighter, when again he wasn’t heard.

Deceit eyes widened, as his heart began to speed up in a weird way, like it had another shadowing it. Another hidden heartbeat and he just knew it was because of Thomas. All this was causing becoming too much and leaking out to Thomas. Too many strong emotions from all the Sides, could spill out and Thomas wouldn’t know what to do except cause a scene. Thomas didn’t want to cause a scene. Deceit squeezed his eyes shut at the feeling. He didn’t know if the others felt it or if it was just him. He suspected that was why Morality was crying. Everything was beginning to be too much.

“I said. STOP IT!” Deceit shouted, opening his eyes. Watching shocked as a hands that weren’t connected to him, flew from him and to Morality, Logic, Roman, and Remus, and with one touched made each one vanish. Including himself. Appearing in his room, with in a blink. He would be concerned if the immediate answer to where everyone had been taken went hadn’t come to him.

Their rooms. He had sent the to their rooms. He hadn’t know he could do that until now. But he had, needed to do it. Everyone needed a timeout. Including himself.

His room seemed to help calm him. And he was able to feeling the shadowed heartbeat slowly go away. He didn’t feel overwhelmed anymore.

He took a breath and got on his bed and laid on it, hugging Sir Slithers close. He hadn’t meant to do that, but at the same time was glad he was able to do it. Another part of his job he guessed. He hoped Remus wasn’t upset with him.

He went ahead and decided the other three would not like that he had done that.

A knock sounded on his door. “Snakey? Hey!” Remus’s voice called from the other side.

Deceit didn’t say anything, waiting for the anger.

“Hey, if you’re worried about the extra hands, I already knew you had them. Their cool. You can come out.” Remus called.

Deceit turned on his side facing the door. Remus wasn’t angry.

“We can play two time more games with extra limbs.” Remus said.

“I’m tired, Remus.” Deceit said, instead. He wasn’t really tired, more so he just want to be alone and digest that once again he had made a bad impression on the others.

There was silence on the other side of the door for a moment. “Okay. Call for me when you feel like playing okay? Or if you want snacks, but until then, I’m going to go make something! Nothing too dangerous or anything. Just a cannon to aim at my brothers castle. I might make twenty or a hundred and see how fast his castle collapses. Don’t listen to what he says Snakey, he doesn’t know what he’s saying.” Remus said, rambling away as his voice got further and further away.

“Okay. Do not have fun.” Deceit mumbled, rubbing his face into Sir Slithers and concentrating on the feel of the soft plushy in his arms. He wasn’t upset. Not really. Just disappointed. He just needed a minute to think about what he had learned today.

And he had learned things today. Important things. About the others, and about himself. He was starting to see what he was meant to do. But if he couldn’t get the others to listen to him or at the least tolerate him, what was he suppose to do?

TBC

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Deceit stared at the new item in his room. He had woken up to find a big wardrobe in his room, that had a key sticking out of the lock. It was metal and didn’t match the rest of his room. He had been sitting on his bed for a while now just looking at it. Petting Sir Slithers, running his hand over the plastic eyes and twisting them in thought. He was suppose to go take the key. He knew that. It was his. In his room. Whatever was in there was his responsibility. Remus had already been by knocking on his door, wanting to know what Deceit would be out. Leaving when the Snake Side had said “Soon.” Seeming to accept that Deceit would come out when ready.

Deceit still hadn’t allowed the Duke in his room.

Today he was glad for that. He thought everything that was his had been in his room when he woken, but that wardrobe seemed to prove different.

“I got to go see what’s in there, don’t I?” He said, looking at Sir Slithers in his lap.

The toy snakes head tilting to the side when he moved to adjust his seating a bit.

“Yeah, I thought so.” He sighed, sliding from the bed and walking to the new addition to his room. He reached up and twisted the key, Taking a steady breath he opened the door just a crack and peeked in. It was pitch black. Nothing was in it.

He poked his head in a bit more, trying to see if he could spot anything in the dark. Squinting his eyes hoping to make out something.

Nothing.

Nothing but whispering.

A lot of whispering.

‘No one can know…….I must keep this a secret…...They don’t notice, do they?…..Did they believe the lie?…..If I hide it, it didn’t happen…..Just don’t say anything, and no one will know it was you…..’

Something looked back at the little snakling from the darkness, with glowing eyes the louder the whispering got and blended together. Deceit gasped and closed the door. Twisting the key and backing away from the wardrobe. He knew what those were.

Secrets.

Lies.

He couldn’t let those get out. He looked at the key in his hand and looked around his room to hide it. He didn’t want to carry it around.

He looked to Sir Slithers on the bed. His eyes going to the pillows that were propping the snake toy up. The little snakling shoved the key under them. It would be safe there until he found a better place for it. “Guard it Sir slithers. I’ll be back.” He told the snake plush before leaving the room, with one last looked to metal wardrobe. His eardrums humming with all the whispers that he had heard. There had been so many.

“Snakey!” Remus barreled right into him as soon as he finished climbing from the stairs. The Duke pushing them both to the ground, that it took a moment for Deceit to realize that the Creative Side had taken them to the Imagination.

“Remus!” He said, a little irritated.

“I know, I know! But you took too long! I want to show you something! I been practicing and its so cool! Roman wishes he thought of it! Ha! Also Want to see his castle I tore it down! It went BOOM! And the SMASH! To the ground. The village next to it didn't survive! It was great! So much chaos! And Screams! So many screams!” The Duke rambled. Pulling Deceit along. “Also what took you so long! I was waiting for ages! That’s okay though I kept myself busy. Don’t go in the kitchen when we get back!”

“What did you do to the kitchen?!” Deceit asked, pulling on his arm and digging his heels into the ground.

Remus paused and looked back at him with an unapologetic smile. “An experiment! Don’t worry about it. It won’t hurt you. Probably. I honestly don’t know."

He went to pull Deceit again, but paused again. “But you won’t like what happened to it. So if you don’t go in there you can’t be mad.” Remus reasoned.

“What?!” Deceit pulled against the Dukes hold that was not letting him go, and the Creative Side was literally pulling him along, despite Deceit still digging his heels into the ground.

“Yell at me later! Fun time now! Look! There’s my brothers castle!” Remus pointed, as he walked dragging Deceit.

The little snakling stopped trying to break free to see. Mouth gaping open like a fish, seeing fire, and a large pile of rocks that use to be Roman’s castle. And the village looked like someone had dug up the earth not bothering to be mindful where. There was something slimy and big still causing chaos over there too. Big boulders could be seen sitting in on top pf what use to be homes and buildings. “Oh, Creativity will love that.” Deceit mumbled.

“I know right! I hope he wants revenge! I’ll be waiting!” Remus laughed, continuing to pull Deceit along. “I wish were here when I did it! It was so fun! Hey! I know next time I’ll make you general of my army!” Remus rambled, as they walked.

“What army?!” Deceit asked, trying to keep up now that he knew the Duke was not going to let go of his hand.

“The army I’m gonna make to conquer my brother when he seeks revenge! Ooooo! Its going to be fun! You’ll love being a general! You get to tell people what to do! Who to kill! What traps to set! We’ll be the bestest warlords of the Imagination!” Remus whooped, with an evil cackled that he stopped mid laugh. “Hmm, going to have to work on the laugh.” He smiled back at Deceit, minutely.

Deceit stumbled a bit when Remus jumped a log, trying to keep up with the Duke and not land on his face. The Duke was leading him to a very large mountain. “Are we climbing that?” Deceit asked.

“Nah. Hold on!” Remus shook his head snapping his fingers. The ground beneath their feet springing up from the ground and tossing both he and a laughing Remus in the air.

Deceit shrieked, when they started falling again, but quickly found himself squished in Remus’s arms as the other boy let his tentacles out that reached out to grab hold of something. Deceit didn’t see, he had closed his eyes. He felt Remus take the brunt of their fall. The Duke tried to land on his feet but hugging onto Deceit had thrown his balance and ended up falling into a roll. Deceit, safe in his arms, barely felt anything. “Are you crazy?!” Deceit asked, wiggling free. Looking the other boy over.

Remus was laughing and rolling on the ground though. Tentacles vanishing like they were never there. “That was fun!” He laughed.

Deceit looked the other up and down and found that not only was he himself fine, but Remus wasn’t hurt either. They had landed on a particularly soft bed of moss.

“The Imagination will not let me or Roman get hurt. Or hurt each other. Trust me. I’ve tried.” Remus said, jumping to his feet.

“You didn’t have to tell me that at all!” Deceit snapped, the lie slipping out with his agitation for being scared for no reason.

“Yeah, I guess I could have told you. But you are still figuring out what you know and don’t know. Can’t learn that if I tell you before hand. Besides your face was hilarious! Admit it you thought we were going to die.” Remus laughed, skipping ahead.

Deceit opened his mouth to say something else, his words halting in his throat. His eyes watching n shock as faster than he could blink watched Remus get snapped up in the large jaws of the Dragonwitch. The large dragon looking pleased with herself, until her eyes caught the Snaklings. “Hatchling?” She said her mouth full, wings drooping at the sight of him. Deceit could see the remnants of Remus in her mouth.

A bubble of anger filled him settling beside the fear. “Spit him out!” He ordered with a hiss.

The Dragonwitch doing so immediately, head turning to the side to spit the Duke out onto the mossy ground, that Deceit was sure had been rock a second ago. “I was not expecting to see you again, little one. How are your scales?” She cooed, head lowering and releasing warm embers and smoke onto him.

Deceit loved it. The heat tickled his scales so nicely, but he was more worried about Remus. Waving away the comforting heat from the Dragonwitch to run to Remus. The other boy still smiling big dripping in drool and spit, as if he had not just about been eaten. “That was fun! But why didn’t you eat me? You know I’ll be fine.” The Duke said, brushing off Deceits worrying hands.

“What?” Deceit asked.

The Dragonwitch huffed, eyeing the two boys. “You gave me a stomachache the last time I ate you.” She said, her large eyes staring at the Duke.

“My brother says I’m rotten!” Remus said, proudly hands on his hips and chest puffed up proudly.

“He’s right.” The Dragonwitch grumbled, positioning herself in a laying position so her head was closer to the ground.

Deceit discreetly as he could sniffed at the other boy as Remus threw his arms up in celebration at the comment. The Snakling made a face. “She doesn’t have a point. You smell like a pile of roses.” He grumbled.

Remus looked at him. “That bad?” He asked, before sniffing at his own armpit. “Oh! Wow, that’s getting strong. Wonder if I’ll become radioactive if I continue to not take a bath?”

“Let’s find out.” Deceit shook his head.

“Aww, really? I hate taking baths though!” Remus frowned.

“No.” Deceit answered with a firm nod, not worrying about Remus misunderstanding him. He was still flicking his eyes to the Dragonwitch, watching in case she snapped the other boy up again. “Do you get eaten often?” He asked.

“She ate me one time!” Remus smiled running over and jumping to sit on the Dragonwitches nose. She let him with a roll of her eyes.

“And regretted it. I’ve now learned to just chew and spit.” She said.

Deceit gasped. “Doesn’t that hurt?” He asked.

“Yeah, but I like it!” Remus smiled. “Don’t worry Snakey, I only fought her a few times. Roman is the one that like to really have a go at her.” The little Duke reassured.

“Is that why you brought me up here? To watch you get eaten?” Deceit asked, deciding he would be mad if that was the reason.

“No! She found something and I knew you needed to see.” Remus said, “Hey! Where is it anyway?” He asked, the creation.

“Your brother came by earlier. I no longer have it.” The Dragonwitch said, shaking her head and causing the little Duke to fall off her face.

“I’ma go find it again. Stay here Snakey.” Remus said, running off.

Deceit frowned and watched him go. He didn’t know when, but he seemed to have grown used to having Remus by his side. He hadn’t even been awake for a more that three weeks yet.

“Hatlching, let’s go to my cave and warm you up.” The Dragonwitch offered. Blowing warm sparks over his scales. Nudging him further up the mountain they were on and into a rather large cave that fit her large size. “You are so quiet. Is something the matter?” She asked, when they settled.

“I’m fine.” Deceit answer, the little lie slipping out. “I- I can’t -” He took a breath and made the right words come out. “I think the others hate me.” He said, slowly, making sure the right words come out. “I lie sometimes, but I can’t help it. I’m suppose to….I think.” He admitted.

“Oh, so you are still figuring out you purpose.” She said.

“I know my purpose.” Deceit said. Those words coming out as truth easier. “I’ve met almost everyone. But they hate me.” He said. It was hard to make the words come out of truth. In fact he found the longer he forced himself not to let a lie out, the more his throat began to hurt.

The Dragonwitch bathed him again in warm spark aim for his scale side. “It’s okay little one. Sometimes its hard to be accepted.”

“But they need me. I need to be heard.” He said. “I represent Thomas.” He swallowed drying to get the dryness out of his throat.

“Well, how do you know they hate you. Hatchling?” The Dragonwitch asked.

“I wasn’t called evil.” He sighed. Hoping he wouldn’t confuse her. Based on her reaction, the Dragonwitch seemed to understand.

“I see….Little one, do you remember when we first met? I told you I was made to be a villain. Sometimes, we are labeled as such in life, because that is what is needed. The Imagination and the two little rulers needed something to fight from time to time. So I was created. Maybe embracing what they fear you to be, is what is needed?” She said.

Deceit shrugged. He guessed she had a point. Him trying to come off as friendly hasn’t worked yet. “So I should be their villain?….” He said.

“That’s not for me to say, but for you to decide.” The Dragonwitch said.

Deceit nodded his understanding. “I’m going to go back home. I didn’t really want to play today.” He said, looking up at her.

She nodded. “I’ll tell the Duke when he gets back.” She said, before he left.

Deceit closed his eyes thinking of his room. Only opening his eyes back up when he was sure he was back. He made sure his door was locked still, before, going for the key he had hidden under his pillow. He had a feeling that he was suppose to go in the wardrobe and he guessed now was the perfect time with Remus distracted in the Imagination. Taking a deep breath he twisted the key and stepped into the wardrobe. Letting the many hushed whispers wash over him.

TBC

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Deceit looked around the darkness, listening to the whispers and lies that were echoing about. Walking slowly from the door. The yellow eyes were back looking at him from the darkness. Not moving or anything just looking.

“Hello?” He called, softly.

‘Hello…. I’m not scared…..You’re scared….’

Deceit paused and looked around at he darkness again. That had been his voice, but he hadn’t said that out loud. His voice just joined in with Thomas’s voice that seemed to reign in this space. But he could hear the other’s voices too. They whispered all their secrets and lies.

‘Hi! I’m Morality! But you can call me Patton!’

Deceit turned in a full circle. That had been Morality’s voice. But Morality wasn’t there. “Is someone here?….With me….?” He asked. There was a flash of yellow in the distance again. Eyes that blinked at him then disappeared.

‘No one is here.’’ Deceit gasped at the new voice, and jumped away from a light touch he had felt on his ankle. He was wasn’t expecting to be touched. He didn’t like it.

‘I’m not scared!’

The little snakling cover his mouth at the sound of his own voice echoing back at him., when he hadn’t even spoken. “Stop that!” He hissed, trying to not show how scared he was. Exactly what the lie had said.

‘I want them to think I’m brave.’

‘I can’t be nothing but happy. I have to make sure that Thomas and the others stay happy.’

‘I can’t not be anything but Logic.’

‘I hope they like my ideas! I worked really hard.’

‘I really like whimsical and comfy things.’

‘I just want a friend…..’

‘Patton’s the name and Morality is my game! Hahaha!’

‘I can’t tell them I broke it.’

‘My name is Logan, but call me Logic.’

‘No one can know it was me that ate all the sweets.’

‘I can’t let anyone know I’m here…..’

Deceit screamed in frustration at all the whispered secrets and lies that bombarded his ears. Before he realized he just heard a voice he hadn’t heard before. Both eyes blinking open to try and hear the voice again but found it lost with the other. The whispers had stopped at his command. The yellow eyes in the darkness, staring at him.

“Who are you?” He demanded, feeling braver since the eyes haven’t moved. This place was located in his room, so whatever was in here belonged to him too. He was sure of it. Even if it wasn’t so, it was how he seen it. His room his stuff.

The yellow eyes didn’t answer. Just stared.

Deceit hissed impatiently. It should be listening and answering him if it was his. “Why is it so dark in here? Turn the light on!” He demanded.

The darkness flicked away bathing the snakling in light, showing off space that looked similarly like the library where conscious memories were located. Only, the books in here were all locked behind glass doors, that had padlocks and chains to keep them closed. The yellow eyes that were staring at him through the darkness, turned out to be a snake statue curled on top of the only furniture in the room. A desk with one chair. Fixed to look forward, with yellow lights for eyes that blinked on and off. The statue hissed when mist was released from its opened mouth.

Deceit picked at the sleeves of his shirt in embarrassment. Glad that no one saw him scared over nothing.

‘Glad no one was here. I don’t want the others to no I got scared of nothing.’

His voice echoed to him. Again without him opening his mouth. His eyes watching as a pen on the desk lifted and began to write on a piece of paper. The paper drifting up into the air, and flying to one of the locked bookshelf's and slipping in to settle itself into a book.

Deceit had followed it curious, hands pressed on the glass door in fascination as the paper was fitting into a book with his name on it. There was other books that had the other Sides name on them too. One for each.

“Creativity, (Roman). Morality, (Patton). Logic (Logan). Deceit (?). Anxiety, (Virgil)?…..” Deceit tilted his head at the name. He hadn’t met a Side with that name. So that meant Anxiety was the one he hadn’t met yet. He wondered where he was? Why wasn’t he with the others? Did he get lost in the Imagination like Deceit had?

His eyes drifted back to the book with his own name. His eyes locked on the question mark. Everyone else had two names? Why not him? Did he have to give himself a name to have two names, maybe? He didn’t even know what kind of name he’d give himself.

He looked at the last book. “Intrusive Thoughts, (Remus).” He finished reading.

Remus wasn’t straight up creativity, but Intrusive Thoughts. Another part of Creativity that was more spontaneous and random. Most of the time barely acted on. Deceit guessed that the job did fit the with Remus, he decided as the knowledge slipped into place in his head.

He backed up from the bookshelf and glanced at the other bookshelves that had signs above them.

Lies to mom.

Lies to dad.

Lies to brother.

Lie to friends.

Lies to teachers.

Lies to aunts.

Lies to uncles.

Lies to grandparents.

Lies to strangers.

Back up Lies for Lies.

The bookshelves full of books seem to go on forever and ever. It was endless it seemed.

He stopped only to circle back to the desk to start at the on the other side of the room, to the ones labeled Secrets. The first bookshelf had the same books with all the Sides names on them including one for him.

And similar to the Lies side of the room, so went the side about Secrets.

He wasn’t sure what he was suppose to do with this space.

He finally found the end and found a book sitting by its lonesome. Thomas’s name was written in it and the sign above it read Diary. Those were Thomas’s ultimate secrets. The thought clicked into place for Deceit and suddenly he knew what he was suppose to do with this space.

He was to keep it under lock and key. To make sure no one spilled Thomas’s secrets.

He reached for the padlock on that kept the book out of reach and watch fascinated as a key manifested in his hand for him to open the door. He was in charge of all of this. All this knowledge, forgotten memories, secrets, and lies. Not just for Thomas, but for the others too. He picked the book up and hugged it close to him. Feeling closer to Thomas this way. This book pacifically was special because Thomas would have a copy of his own, and so would Deceit. “Hi, Thomas.” Deceit said, smiling down at the book. “I’m going to take good care of you.” He promised. Letting his fingers tighten around the cover. “That’s my job after all.” He held the book out to look at the name on it again, feeling very proud and important. Thomas was his to take care of. It was like everything he was trying to figure out about himself clicked into place.

He was Thomas’s Self. He was the opposite of Morality. He was to make sure Thomas took care of himself. That he got what he wanted. To take care of Thomas at all costs. He sighed happily, now content, as he placed the book back and watched as it was once again locked away from the outside.

His content smile soon fading remembering Roman’s words, about him being not good.

Deceit wasn’t sure if that meant he was good or bad. It felt right to make sure Thomas was taken care of and got what he wanted. He would do anything to make sure Thomas was happy and got what he wanted.

But he didn’t feel like that made him bad.

He walked around the space more. He still wasn’t sure what exactly he was suppose to do with the space, beside making sure that the books within stayed hidden. He felt there was more he was suppose to do. In the end he soon left the space. Locking the wardrobe back. He felt relieved that it was now locked back up.

He stretched and yawned, exhaustion slamming into him. He hadn’t thought he had been in there that long, just a few minutes. Maybe an hour at most. Not really wanting to go to bed now, even though he felt like he should. He didn’t want to disappoint Remus. Hiding the key to the wardrobe, the little snakling hurriedly left this room.

Deceit didn’t get far in the hallway. He barely made it past the Dukes door before he was grabbed by the back of his shirt and yanked backwards and into the Dukes room and onto the floor. Finding himself pinned by the other boy. “You left.” Remus stated, tone sounding dark.

“Uh,…” Deceit barely got a word out before Remus went from pinning the snakling to hugging him.

“Don’t do that again! I said to wait! You missed some cool stuff yesterday! I looked everywhere for you. Even tried to summon you! You didn’t answer! I even disemboweled creatures on my side and Roman’s to make sure nothing ate you!” The little Duke said, squeezing the Snake boy close and tightly.

“Remus….Can’t Breathe!” Deceit gasped, tapping the other boy on the shoulder to get his attention.

Remus’s grip did not loosen. “You’ve been gone the whole day! I am never letting you go! I refuse! You’re going to be my hostage! I’m going to make it where we’re stuck together forever, and ever, and ever!”

Deceit felt like his ribs were going to snap, under the Dukes grip.

“Up! Up!” He said.

“No! This is timeout for you!” Remus declared. Though he did loosen his arms allowing Deceit to take a much needed breath, despite being pinned by him.

Deceit relax now that he could breath and tilted his head back on the floor to look around the room. He hadn’t seem his room. Refusing to go in like he had refused to let Remus in his room. Remus kept his room messy it seemed. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t the mess that greeted him in Remus’s room. There was also a smell that had him scrunching his nose. His eyes tracked over the room, to the bed, spotting something moving. At first he thought it was his imagination and then a large rat actually scampered out from under the bed, with big teeth and red beady eyes.

Deceit hissed, and actually managed to push the Duke away and roll to his feet. Jumping to stand on the nearest thing which was a chair that had been sitting nearby.

“What? What’s wrong?” Remus asked looking around like a large rat hadn’t actually bared its teeth and ran across the floor.

“You don’t have to clean your room.” Deceit said pointing at the rat that appeared again. “Its not infested.”

Remus actually bent over and scoop the creature up. “Sculky keeps the stuff under the bed at bay. He’s the alpha predator under there when I accidentally create in my sleep.” Remus smiled. Holding the creature up for Deceit to see better.

Deceit shook his head. Looking away and watching some bugs crawl over a pile of trash. “You don’t have bug!” He pointed.

“They’re his army! Sometimes I hunt them down when they get to be too many. Its survival of the fittest in here. But don’t worry! I won’t let them bother you.” Remus said, seeming proud of himself.

Deceit shook his head. He couldn’t do it. His scales and skin were already starting to itch at the though of the creepy crawlies crawling on him. “Nuh-uh. This is okay. It is healthy. You will not get sick.” He said, pointing to all the trash in the room.

“You know happy Pappy and Lo said the same thing, but I just thought they were blowing smoke, you know. Plus, it was funny to see their faces go all funny. Kept them out of my room too. One time I even had mold on a sandwich. I think I still have it in here somewhere.”

Deceit pulled a face.

“Yes! That’s the face they would make!” Remus cheered, pointing up at Deceit.

Deceit began looking for the sandwich that was mentioned. He hadn’t known that Remus was living like this. Did the others truly give up so quickly? “I don’t like things more neater.” He said, a hand coming up to scratch lightly at his scales that now felt like he had bugs crawling on them.

“Oooooh!” Remus popping wide open. “Snakey? If I clean my room AND take a bath. Can we have a sleep over? I know you very secretive about your room and don’t want to show it to me. Which is understandable. You’re probably still figuring out your job and stuff.” He said, like a light bulb went off in his head.

Deceit found himself nodding. Anything to get rid of the bugs and the rat. “Sure! Sleepover, yes.” He said, quickly.

Remus jumped cheering. “Yes! Score for the Duke! First Sleep OVER!” He grabbed Deceit and pulled him from the chair he had been standing in. “Out you go! I gotta get ready! Make snacks or something! I’ll eat anything! And I mean ANYTHING!” Remus said, shoving Deceit back out of the door and into the hallway and slammed it shut.

Leaving the snakling blinking owlishly in the hallway as his brain tried to catch up and absorb what just happened and how?

TBC

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Deceit stood in front of Remus’s door, with a bowl of popcorn in his hands. The bag of chips he had brought was dangling at the tip of his fingers and the bowl. He had also brought two juice boxes with him, sitting at the edge of the bowl. There was a trail of popcorn that had spilled from the bowl when he had climbed the stairs up. He had waited a few hours till he had prepped for the sleepover, trying to give the Little Duke time to get his room ready. Though Deceit didn’t really believe two hours were enough time to really get that room clean. He could hear a lot of movement on the other side of the door, loud noises that to Deceit didn’t sound like cleaning in his opinion. He looked back at his own mess. The trail of popcorn taunting him. Then back to Remus’s door. He slowly sat the bowl of popcorn down on the full trying not to spill anymore of it and the bag of chips.

All sound stopped in Remus’s room and Deceit only had enough time to stand back up quickly, before being pulled inside, making him spill even more popcorn. “Snakey! Great timing!” Remus said, loudly. “Look!” He said gesturing to his room.

Deceit took in the large mounds of pillows and blankets. There was even a big punch-like bowl with purple punch in it. The snakling definitely didn’t feel embarrassed about the small little juice boxes he brought. “Are those marshmellows? And chocolate?” He asked, pointing to what looked like a fort build from larger versions of the treats. The marshmellows looked like giant pillows and were white yellow and green in color.

“Yeah! We can play and eat them!” Remus nodded, before stopping and looking at the fort made of sweets. “Uh...Don’t eat the green ones…..Or the yellow ones…...I think the chocolate might be safe though.” He said, quickly after, before launching himself at the bowl of popcorn in Deceits hands.

Deceit nodded his understanding, and easily gave up the treats he had brought, following more slowly behind the Duke as Remus ran to add the bowl of popcorn to the marshmellow and chocolate fort.

The other boy seemed to have really cleaned his room for this. It looked like a completely different room. There were even fairylights strung up on the walls. His attention went back to the Duke when he noticed the other boys standing next to a cannon. How had he missed a cannon? And that it was facing him? And that Remus had lit the fuse?!

“To our first SLEEPOVER!” Remus shouted happily.

Deceit only had time to cover his face with his hands when the loud boom went off. He didn’t know what he expected to happen really. He suppose maybe he expected to be hit with something that would really hurt or something. Instead, music started playing and something large and wet landing in front of him, while he was being hit with tiny objects. That once he open his eyes again and lowered his hands found that a three tier cake was sitting a few feet from him and sprinkles, streamers, silly string, and confetti were raining down on him, the cake, and Remus running up scooping a handful of the unbaked cake to shove right into the Snaklings mouth!

Deceit choked at first not expecting it. But soon found himself impressed with the taste.

“Yeah, its a little under cooked but who cares as long as it tastes good right?!” Remus smiled shoving cake batter into his own mouth before it melted into a puddle on the floor. Deceit wiped at the cake batter still on his face as the other boy went to town on the sweet cake batter. He found himself licking his fingers clean as he did so.

“I am so glad I grabbed the right cannon. Can you imagine if I had grabbed one with a cannon ball in it!” Remus cheered.

“What?” Deceit asked, the horror of the thought settling in his brain. He could have been squashed into a million pieces!

“On with the sleepover!” Remus cheered dancing around, and grabbed Deceit’s hand and pulled him along in his dance. Which revolved around jumping around, lots of spinning, and wiggles. “Shake it D!” Remus encouraged.

Deceit attempted to imitate Remus’s seemingly made up dance moves.

“Loosen up, Snakey. Feel the music. Here’s like this. Let the music move ya!” Remus encouraged, and suddenly his movements seemed to turn even more random. His limbs moving like they had no bone in them.

Deceit tried to replicate the movement, and found himself failing. He was too stiff.

“Here let me help. Trust me, okay.” Remus said, running up and behind Deceit.

Deceit turned his head to see what Remus was up to, but soon found a something covering his eyes and Remus tying it from behind him.

“Wait!” Deceit said, definitely not feeling skeptical about what the other boy was up to.

“Trust me. Now. Start dancing!” Remus said, his voice now in front of Deceit. "Dancing is suppose to make you feel good and express yourself. Dance like you and less like me." Remus encouraged. 

Deceit bit his lip, but started dancing. He couldn’t see how Remus was dancing, but tried to remember the dance move the little Duke was doing before. He guessed it was working. He did find that he was listening to the music more than before and he didn’t feel as stiff when he moved.

“That’s it Snakey!” Remus cheered.

Deceit lifted the blindfold to see Remus jumping and cartwheeling around the place. The snakling found himself smiling and laughing with Remus, whenever he did something particularly funny. At some point Remus put the blindfold on and had tried to chase Deceit around the room with a water gun. Deceit had to keep moving and stay quiet which was hard to do, when having fun, to avoid being hit with the water. Remus had actually tripped and landed with his face in the purple punch during that game.

They crawled and climbed through the marshmellow and chocolate fort, in a mock game of tag that ended with them both just taking big bites from the large sweets. Deceit had actually forgot Remus’s warning for the green and yellow ones. He now knew why Remus had said to not eat them. They tasted horrible! Remus of course had found this funny. Deceit had thrown the bowl of popcorn at the other boy in revenge that just started a whole new game between the two. They stayed up for a long time and played different games almost the whole night until they finally began to settle down. The two of them yawning. Or well, Deceit yawning. Remus seemed to have an infinity amount of energy to him.

“I should go to bed now.” Deceit yawned, looking to the door, but before he could move for it, was steered toward Remus’s bed.

“Sleepovers mean you sleep here, Snakey.” The Duke reminded, happily, pushing Deceit face first on the bed.

Deceit propped himself up and noticed that the blankets and sheets from before were no longer there. Remus had actually swapped his bedding for fresh just for the sleepover. They even felt softer.

“Goodnight Tackle!” Remus shouted, landing very roughly into Deceits back. Arms and legs wrapped tightly around the other boy as he landed on top of him. “Goodnight Snakey!” Remus said loudly in his ear, snuggling close.

“Let go.” Deceit said, trying to wiggle free.

“Nope. I don’t want to wake finding out you broke the sleepover rules. This way, you can’t get up and leave.” Remus said. Deceit could hear his smile.

Deceit grumbled, but stopped trying to get away. Accepting his fate and let himself relax. The lights in the room shutting off, except for the fairy lights…...and the red eyes that weren’t there when the lights were on. The snakling hissed, in warning, instinctively clawing his way backwards in Remus’s grip.

The lights came back on. “What wrong?” The little Duke asked, lifting his head to look around his room.

Deceit gaped confused, eyes bouncing around the room, no longer seeing the red eyes. “But-…. There were-….I saw!” He pointed to where he seen the red eyes.

The lights went off again, this time Remus was watching. “Oh! That’s the monster that hides in the dark. He can’t get you as long as you stay in bed and under the covers. Isn’t that right, Mr. snuffles!” The little Duke said, waving hello to the red eyes.

“You named it?!” Deceit asked. He couldn’t take his eyes off it. He didn’t want to admit he’d think it would still move and yanking him from the bed.

“He lives in my room. You just can’t see him when the lights on.” Remus said. “Why are you scared?”

“No. I’m not scared.” Deceit denied. Cringing when he remember Remus could see through his lies, intentional or not.

Remus was silent for a moment. An arm coming from behind along with the octopus tentacles to wrap around the snakling pulling him even more closer to Remus’s chest. Not as constricting like usual. The closeness and the feeling of being comforted, actually worked to sooth any worry Deceit had about the red eyes staring at them. “Mr. Snuffles. Go spend time with Roman tonight.” Remus said, shooing the red eyes away.

Deceit watched fascinated as the red eyes melted away. Just like that. “Is that okay to do?” Deceit asked.

“Yeah. Roman will be fine. Mr. Snuffles likes playing with my brother and his friends anyway.” Remus said, with a mischievous smile.

“He’s going to cause nightmares, isn’t he?” Deceit said.

“Yup!” Remus said, sounding pleased. “Now, Shuuuuush. Its sleep time!” The little Duke said, snuggling even closer into Deceits back.

“REMUS!!!!!” Roman’s shout, echoed throughout the place, before Deceit properly fell into slumber. Not that Remus moved an inched besides a giddy cackle, and mushing even closer into the Snaklings back. Funnily enough, Deceit found himself, silently smiling too. Still coming down from the excitement of his first sleepover with Remus.

The next day Deceit woke in much the same position he went to sleep in. Wrapped in Remus’s arms, legs, and tentacles. He was nice and warm too. Remus ran at a high temperature that it made sleeping in his room possible and as much as Deceit would like to stay in bed where he was comfortable, he needed to get up. He needed to find the last of the others to meet. It was important to meet everyone. Only then will he fully understand his job.

It was a struggle to wake the little Duke up enough to get him to let go. Ending with Deceit literally dragging the other boy along as he tried to make his way to the stairs and down them for breakfast. Remus and his tentacles hanging on tightly even half asleep. Deceit couldn’t use his stool to reach his cereal because of the other boy. So much so that he finally got tired of struggling to detach himself from Remus, Deceit used him as a replacement stool instead. That seemed to wake Remus up, though he didn’t complain about the snakling standing on him. Deceit made breakfast for the two of them, while he was standing on him. And only when it was time to sit at the table did Remus let him go.

Well, not let him go entirely. There was still a stray tentacle wrapped around Deceits ankle, while Remus hummed randomly while kicking the table underneath. Munching loudly, mouth open and all, taking very large bites. His bowl was way bigger than Deceits upon requests and the Snakling mildly wondered how the other boy could eat so much and gain nothing. Deceit finished before Remus and gently kicked away the tentacle attached to his ankle, before hopping from his chair to clean up the popcorn he left on the night before.

The broom and dustpan were bigger than him, but he made it work. Cleaning up the leftover treat and tossing going to toss them away. “Oh! Oh! Me! Let me eat them!” Remus called waving his spoon in Deceit direction excitedly.

That gave Deceit pause on the inside, though he suppose he should be use to the other boy eating the most ridiculous of things, with variety of flavor and such. But still, Deceit liked things clean. A clean space, meant healthy Sides, meant a healthy Thomas. Deceit looked to the trash can and then to Remus. The two of them staring at each other down. Deceit felt a smile slip on his face.

Remus’s smile deepened. “I’ll beat you to it.” He stated, in challenge.

Deceit huffed, he would take that challenge. Without saying word he made a run for the trash can. Remus leaping from his seat and racing after very quickly. Deceit waited for the Duke to get close, before using one of his extra hands to trip the other and quickly throw away the popcorn. “I win!” He cheered, jumping a but in triumph.

“You tripped me.” Remus said, picking himself up from the floor. His face shocked.

“No, I didn’t. I won fair and square.” Deceit said still celebrating and laughing, sticking his tongue out.

The little Dukes face split into another smile, and cackled with him. “Oh, you play dirty! I like it! Best friend ever!” He said loudly, throwing himself backwards to starfish on the floor. He quickly sat back up though. The two of them calming down from their laughter. “Since I can’t taste the popcorn, then I claim your scales!” He said, and began to run at Deceit on all four.

A laughing shriek left Deceit as he raced away and up the stairs. He barely made it to his room door, tagging the yellow painted wood and holding onto the handle tightly. “Base!” He laughed.

Remus slowed a bit to stand himself upright. “Who said, tagging the door meant you were safe, Snakey?” He teased cackling.

That was Deceit’s only warning to get in his room, and slamming the door shut, laughing.

Remus laughed on the other side. “See you in the Imagination! We got so much to do today!” Remus said on the other side.

“Okay! I don’t have something to do first. I’ll be right there! I won’t meet you at the castle.” He said. Going to pick out his clothes for the day.

“Okay! Race you to finish our chores!” Remus called voice fading with the sound of another door shutting, meaning Remus was now in his room.

Deceit was quick to get dressed and found himself wanting to go open the wardrobe again. He didn’t try and fight the need, as soon as the key unlocked it, the doors opened and a piece of paper flew out and into his face. The doors closing quickly, with the key falling to the floor. Deceit looked at the paper, reading what was one it, before folding it up and stuffing it in his pocket. He now knew exactly what he was suppose to do today.

TBC

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Deceit poked his head around the tree. He had made his way over to Roman’s side of the Imagination. Watching as the three other boys played in a very large playground that seemed to on for miles and miles. Roman and Morality; Patton were chasing each other, while Logic; Logan was sitting on a swing with a book in his hand. Seeming to be ignoring the other two. Deceit decided that Roman and Patton were far enough away to speak with Logan. He stepped out from behind the tree, and with a confidence, he really didn’t feel, walked over to Logan and sat in the swing next to him.

“Good morning.” He greeted.

“Hello.” Logan answered, not looking up from his book.

Deceit rocked slightly in the seat of the swing to make it sway a bit.

Logan, however was not swinging in the swing, just using it as a seat. “Roman will chase you out, once he notices.” Logan said, turning a page in his book.

Deceit look back over at the to the still distract Roman and Patton. The two running in and out of a really big jungle gym. He didn’t understand why? Well, he did understand why? He had read through the book with Roman’s thoughts in it. Well, not exactly reading. He had just touched the book and he knew everything in it instantly. He had done it for all of them. He knew their deepest thoughts. Secrets, Lies. Plans. Jobs. Chores. Everything.

He now knew why Roman and Remus were twins. He knew why Remus wasn’t not just Creativity, but Intrusive Thoughts, the forbidden thoughts and the id. Both twins were more that just rulers of the imagination.

He also knew Roman and Remus both were pride and ego, the id. He was suppose to work in harmony with them, but that seemed to be only true for Remus. Remus was also the only one that could understand him. Deceit understood it to be Remus’s job as a Side, allowed him to think so far outside of the box and so the Duke had no trouble understanding the Snakling speech pattern easily. Remus was the same yet the complete opposite of his twin. Yet both were his responsibility to keep in high spirits. However, Deceit knew the role he was going to have to play when it came to Roman. To the others. Didn’t mean he had to stop trying to get along with them.

“We don’t have to let them know I’m here.” Deceit said. Out of the three, Logan was the more neutral of the three. “I just have a question.”

“What do you want?” Logan asked, looking up from his book. Curiosity clear in his eyes.

“You all awoke at the same time almost. A few days apart.” Deceit said. Getting a nod from Logan. “How many of you are there?” Deceit asked. He already knew the answer, but he hadn’t met the last one. From the books of the others there had been five; Anxiety; Virgil. It seemed they were unaware of this Side. But Deceit wanted to make extra sure.

“Four of us. Five counting you.” Logan answered. “Is that the question you really felt the need to ask, in risk of upsetting Morality and Creativity?” The Logical Side shook his head, clearly thinking Deceit’s question a waste of time.

“You’re clearly the smartest of the three. It would be foolish to not utilize logic. No matter how small the question.” Deceit said, stroking Logan’s own ego. The right words just coming out, more easily now that he had found his workspace. Now that he knew what he was meant for. A smile on his face with Logan’s answer.

“Well….” A pleased smile slipping on the Logical Sides face. “Yes. Yes, I am. About time someone notices.” He said, going back to reading.

Deceit made a sound of agreement, before leaving. Happy to have his answer, confirmed. Now the question was, where was the Side he had not met yet? Where could he be hiding?

Deceit thought back to how he would have been stuck traveling the Imagination if Remus hadn’t found him first. Maybe the same happened to the missing Side.

The problem with that was Deceit didn’t know where to look first. He suppose he could just pick a direction and start searching. But then what he got lost again. He didn’t want that to happen. A shadow passed over him in the sky, revealing the Dragonwitch flying above. Deceit ran to follow her. His little legs moving as fast as he could make them. The Dragonwitch flew for a few more extra minutes before landing near a large lake, where she was taking a drink.

She was quick to notice Deceit, smiling and showing off her many teeth at him. “Hello, little hatchling.” She greeted.

Deceit nodded his head in greeting. “Can I ride on your back? I have to find something.” He said.

She tilted her head as if considering. “I don’t think that would be wise, little one. I don’t want you to fall should the winds become too strong. Maybe when your older.” She shook her head. “What is it you are trying to find?”

“Something.” He answered vaguely.

“Hmm, sounds very important. Have you tried asking the little Duke to help you?” She asked.

“Yes.” He shook his head, to convey the opposite of what he said.

“Perhaps you should ask. The Prince and Duke know where everything is in the Imagination. It is theirs to rule after all.” The Dragonwitch advice, breathing warm sparks over the snakling, the little spark tickling and warming Deceit at the same time, pulling a giggle from him.

“I think I should find it myself.” He said. “But thanks anyway.” He waved, running off. He stayed on the edge of the two Imaginations. Trying to think where a lost Side would end up. He was thinking about Blanket Mountain would be a good place to hide. He was almost there when, a tug on his neck had him pulled away and popped in front of Remus in his castle.

The little Duke smiling and tackling Deceit in a hug immediately. “There you are Snakey! I found that surprise I wanted to show you. Roman had it locked up in his dungeon!” He said excitedly. Pulling Deceit along and into the big spacious room that the Snakling learned was suppose to be the throne room of the Dukes castle. And in the middle of the room a person held down by a very large squid made of slime.

Just looking at the new person, the piece clicked into place in Deceits brain like he’s always had it. The boy dressed in a deep purple hoodie and struggling and panicking in the dukes creation was. “Anxiety.” Deceit said out-loud. Meeting wide panicked eyes when the new boy heard Deceit speak.

TBC

Notes:

Let me know what you think by Leaving Kudos, Bookmarking, Subscribing, and/or Commenting (I love reading the reveiws and hearing your theories)
:D
>>>>>>>>
If you like my work, and want updates, you can follow me on
Tumblr: https://wolfsbane54.tumblr.com/
DeviantArt: https://www.deviantart.com/wolfsbane54
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfs_bane54/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WBane54
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@Wolfs_Bane54

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of I'm Awake Now