#not even gonna lie this not-fic was just an excuse to write six million meet cutes

[sp0o0kylights]

Steve And Robin Are Stuck in A Timeloop AU 

Steve's lost track of which time loop this is.

Had lost track pretty much instantly, because it turns out when people die repeatedly in front of you, it kinda takes precedence in your memory. 

Besides, Robin has a list in her head, memorized via some kind of musical code, alongside all the dates and times they wake up in. 

(Steve doesn't see what difference it makes if they wake up at 7:15 am the day of the Championship or 8:25 am, but Robin's insistent that even the slightest variations could mean something.) 

He’ll have to ask his soulmate when he finds her though, because presently Steve has determined they're having one of their weirder loops.

Typically, when the two of them get kicked back in time, they wake up the day of the Championship game. Occasionally it will be the day right before or the day after, but sometimes? 

Sometimes they’re sent back someplace, some time, that isn’t related to 1986 at all. 

Thus far, the Starcourt loop had been the worst. 

("If it happens a third time I'm killing myself." Steve had told Robin after they’d failed that one. 

Robin didn’t even look at him, the two of them huddled up together in Steve’s bed. "No you're not Dingus, not without shooting me first."

"How come I have to shoot you!? Is it because I'm a man? That's not very feminist of you."

"No its because you've seen me shoot, I would miss!") 

Steve had even woken up in an odd place. Not his bed or the couch, but the driver's seat of the Beamer, seated in the high school parking lot.  

It made him immediately uneasy. 

The chair is reclined all the way back, the mass of cars indicating it was a school day. Steve struggled to recall when he's ever taken a nap in his car as he got out of it, trying to decide how he wanted to go about things. 

Felt his pocket and was surprised to find it full of a packet of smokes. 

The sheer implication of that had him pulling out a cig and lighting it before the knowledge that he'd officially quit buying his own cigarettes in 1985 sank in.

Panicked and chainsmokes three, before deciding his best course of action was his usual one. 

Find Robin. 

Which of course means that he found Eddie instead. 

xxx

He’d started his first lap, walking out if the parking lot and round to the more shaded, empty parts of the building when a voice he knew yelled. 

The kind of yell he’d grown intimately familiar with, the one Eddie used when he was terrified and using anger to hide it. 

Steve turns automatically, following the taunts and loud, pained breathing until he finds a handful of jocks encircling the metalhead. He's down on one knee, snarling like a wildcat caught in a trap while some guy Steve barely recognizes holds him by the hair, laughing. 

Red coats his vision instantly, and any thoughts Steve had about being stuck in time (sort of) vanish from his mind entirely. 

The world shrinks down, to that white knuckled grip on Eddie's hair, the way it’s pulling the older boy’s face up so that Steve can see the straining muscles in his throat. 

The protective creature that lives in his chest and likes to punch it’s way out of problems awakens, and a thrum goes through Steve as he feels its demand for blood. 

"Hey fellas " Steve calls joyfully, striding directly into the crowd. "What’re we doing?" 

Two part before him like fish seeing a shark,and a faraway inner voice identifies them as members of the swim team. 

Which likely meant the other two were football players, and for all the tackling they did they were surprisingly easy to scare, if you knew how to play it right. 

Steve absolutely knew how to play it right. 

"Fuck off Harrington. This isn't your business." The one holding Eddie's hair spits. 

"Well that would be where you're wrong." Steve was still keeping things conversational as he positioned himself, arms nice and loose at his sides. He lets the thing that lives inside him, who made him turn right back around all those years ago and charge back into the Byers house, out a little more. Feels the need to protect, to save, to destroy the things that are his, fuel him.  "Seeing as all of Eddie's business is my business."

Eddie stares up at him, wide eyed at the declaration. 

Feeling entirely out of control of his body, Steve sends him a wink. 

"Since when!?" The other football player asks. 

"Since now." Steve declares cheerfully--and then smiles. 

It isn’t a nice smile. 

Thoroughly unnerved, his swim team members shrink back. He’ll have words for them later if he has time--Steve can't ever recall the swim team members being dicks but who fucking knows. 

His memory wasn't the best before he and Robin got stuck in time. 

"You fucking into drugs now or wha--" Their ringleader, still holding onto Eddie by the hair, doesn't get to finish his sentence.

Mostly because his mouth is too busy catching Steve's fist. 

Fighting, he knows, is something he does best when it's too the death and he's armed with something. 

Bonus points if his opponent is a horrific monster from another dimension. 

He has gotten better though, and here the rapid pace he sets feels almost too easy. 

The first guy goes down on the ground before the rest pick up on it, giving Eddie time to lurch backwards as Steve turns and torpedoes into the next jock. 

This one gets in a good shot--Steve staggers with a blow to his side but it's not enough to wind him. He keeps to his feet and advances, delivering one more punch before the swim team guys are trying to call him off. 

"Come on man, you're gonna kill them!" 

Steve almost laughs-- he hasn't come close to killing either idiot-- but backs away, keeping himself between them and Eddie. 

They wave their hands, getting ahold of their bloodied friends as they slowly ease between them and Steve. Make apologizes and promises that it was a poor joke, Munson just got to them, hot heads you know? 

Steve snarls at them to fuck off, and glares until they're gone. 

"What the hell just happened?" Eddie asks him, and Steve turns to find him on his feet, leaning heavily against the brick wall of the school. 

As far as he can get away from Steve. 

"Our football quarterback can't hit for shit." Steve informs him, having finally placed an least one of the guys. "It's probably why we always lose." 

Eddie gives him such a freaked out face it almost makes him laugh a second time.

The effect isn't helped by the fact that Eddie's normally long mane is hovering just over his shoulders, the curls somehow poofier than normal. Clearly he’s still trying to grow it out, but it just makes him look like one of those frazzled dogs. 

Adorable. 

On instinct Steve reaches out to playfully pull a few strands, then freezes when Eddie flinches from him. 

"Sorry." He keeps his hands up, as he takes in Munson's face. "Shit dude, he got your nose good." 

There's blood smeared under it, and given the look of the skin surrounding it? 

Eddie's gonna have an impressive bruise soon enough. 

Steve gets a glare sent his way. "Why do you care?" Eddie spits, back very much still up, and-- right. 

Right. 

Time travel. 

"I'm really bad at explaining it." Steve warns, running a hand through his hair. He did this part plenty without Robin (meeting Eddie that was--Robs usually tackled Nancy.) But he also typically did in it 1986, and with at least three of the kids, not whenever they currently were. 

"We usually start with facts only you'd know, but I don't actually know when I am right now." He finishes, and realizes immediately that it doesn’t make a lick of sense. 

"When you are?" Eddie asks, because of course he clocks that part immediately. 

"Ye--eah." Steve says, dragging out the word. 

He looks at Eddie desperately, like the metalhead will tell him the exact information he needs. 

Eddie just stares back. 

"Look, it sounds really stupid when you say it out loud." Steve says finally, because fuck, it does!

"Comparable to all the other times you talk out loud?" Eddie snips, voice full of venom. 

"Shut up.” Steve replies automatically, but his tone holds no heat. He’s too used to trading banter with Eddie that is friendly.  “I'm gonna preface this by saying I can prove it."

"Oh wow preface. Such a big word for you! Did Nancy Wheeler teach you that one?"

"Robin actually." Then, "Nancy?"

The look Eddie gives him could melt steel beams. "Yeah man. Nancy Wheeler. Your girlfriend." 

"Oh--oh god." Steve says, because that means they're way back. Possibly to the beginning. 

Or worse, before he and Nancy had broken up.

"I can’t handle that breakup a second time." He says wide eyed, the panic gripping him for a second. “I could-no, no I could get Robin to tell her!” 

Because that sure would work. 

Steve can just imagine it now. Robin, sauntering up to Nancy and going ‘Hey, we really haven’t met yet but you’re gonna dump Steve, if you haven’t already and to cut through all the drama, I’m here to just tell you on his behalf that it’s over. What was that? A coward? Why yes, he is one!’

You know, provided she didn’t just laugh in his face and then cuff him over the head when she realized he was being serious. 

“Dude.” Eddie says, sinking a world’s worth of judgment into the single syllable. 

“Yeah, you’re right, bad call.” Steve says, and whatever Eddie was expecting it clearly wasn’t that. 

“Are you on drugs right now?” Eddie finally asks when Steve reverts back to looking to him as if he’s going to help. A bad habit, and one Steve knows he needs to stop doing. 

Even if Eddie, in the original timeline and every one after they got him on board, eventually becomes someone Steve can rely on like that. 

“You can tell me if you are, man, you know I won’t judge.” The hateful air around him is fading into something more confused, and then into something else entirely. The persona Eddie pulls when he’s hurt and trying to hide it with jokes and rants. “Unless you and your buddies bought from someone that wasn’t me, in which case I get exclusive rights to judge.” 

He’s shifting as he finally stands up off the wall, and Steve doesn’t miss how he hugs one hand to a rib. 

Shit. 

He needs to get Eddie up to speed and he needs to do it fast.

Steve sighs and just starts listing Eddie Munson Facts like an unprepared kid who was called on in class. 

"Okay, so your uncle collects mugs, right? And--fuck I don't know when you get all the tattoos,” Steve makes a vague gesture around his chest, “but you have bats on your arm and you gave them all names." 

Eddie's eyes pop wide again, jaw slacking as Steve volleys off a few more Munson Facts. 

"You have this weird fear about red ribbon necklaces because of a book you read in third grade, your first guitar has this giant ugly--sorry dude, but you cannot write legibly to save your life, 'This machine slays dragons' quote across it and--oh!"

 He was so fucking stupid. The answer was literally staring at him in the face, dangling around Eddie's neck. 

Steve snapped his fingers excitedly. "The guitar pick on your neck is your moms!"

Eddie’s mouth open and closes like a fish, long enough that the smile slowly slides off of Steve’s face.  

"How the fuck do you know all that?" He manages after a long, tortuous moment, looking like he’d been sucker punched. 

Again. 

With the most pained look his face can manage, Steve finally answers. "Time travel."

Eddie blinks.

Then blinks again. 

 "Time travel." He echoes faintly. 

"Yeah. I'm from 1986, where things kinda got really fucked up."

"No kidding?" Eddie says, right before he erupts into giggles. 

"Did they get you in the head?" Steve asks, abruptly concerned, as Eddie collapses back against the wall in a growing fit of laughter.  

Concussed Eddie was not a road he wanted to go down but Steve knew better than anyone what happens if you ignore such things. 

"I think my weed just hit." Eddie explains as he wipes away a tear, and Steve wants to shake him, but knows it won't get him anywhere. 

"That's great. That's just great."  He grumbles, hands going onto his hips. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"To get you a bandage. And then find Robin.” 

Robin, Steve decided, could handle a high, concussed Eddie.

[miguel-manbemel]

Aspects & Fanfics Ep. 21: Whatever Happened to Honesty and Logan?

The release date for this episode is coincidental. Today, it’s the fifth anniversary of the first introduction of the Teacher Guy on Vine, and this episode of the fic is partially focused on Logan. So, it serves to celebrate the anniversary too. Happy birthday to Logan.

For new readers, it also features an original character that I introduced in the fic, a representation of Thomas’ Honesty, still without a name, because I want to wait until Deceit gets his name to give a name to Honesty. The description of this character appears on the second episode of the fic, “The Trouble with Honesty”. Basically it’s a classic British gentleman wearing a gray suit with a yellow bowtie and a yellow umbrella clinging from his arm. He also wears a bowler hat, and speaks with a posh, old-fashioned RP British accent. When introduced, he was the orange Side, so the umbrella and bowtie were orange, but I changed it a few episodes ago. The quirk of this character is that he shares the same body with Deceit, so they use it in turns. Sometimes Deceit comes out, other times Honesty comes out. They both can speak from the same body in a Gollum fashion. Lately, the Side that is out can project a “holographic” image of the Side that is in, who can speak as if he was out, but he can’t touch anything. I hope this little summary can be of help.

And now, I leave you with the episode. If you want to read previous entries, you can find them right here. And as always, thank you to anyone following, liking, reblogging, or simply reading. You’re appreciated. Until next time.

SYNOPSIS: Honesty has been hiding something to the other Sides. Due to the fusion that happened when fighting the Dark Master long ago, Honesty is disappearing into Deceit and soon he will cease to exist. Logan has the idea of getting from the Dark Master the knowledge to revert the fusion so that he can teach it to Thomas. However, when Logan tries to steal these memories from the Dark Master, he overloads, and that makes him lose his memories of the last 20 years of his life. Thomas must find a way to restore these memories before he goes to sleep, as then it will be irreversible.

WARNINGS: There is a scene of Logan being apparently electrified, some moments of mild angst and brief moments of prinxiety. The end card is pure platonic logicality.

EPISODE INDEX

[Thomas is checking his agenda, while he also has his laptop over his legs]

THOMAS: Okay, so I have to finish writing this for today, then tomorrow I have to take that photo-shoot in the morning… then the day after tomorrow… oh, yes, I have that meeting in NYC, I almost forgot! So tomorrow evening is flight time. Ugh, I hate flying at night. And also, in the evening after the New York meeting, I have to go to see that Broadway show where my friend appears in. He invited me and I can’t miss that. And next Monday, when I’m back to Gainesville… yes, it is the first day of filming what I must finish writing today, and in the evening, I have a recording session for a new song… [sighs] You know what? In weeks like this I wish I was like Deceit. No, I don’t mean a good liar to invent the excuse that I’m sick to stay in bed all week. I mean that I’d wish to have six arms like him to do all these things at the same time… although the thing about being sick is an idea too…

[intro sequence]

THOMAS: What is up, everybody? Yes, it is a very busy week for me. But apart from all of that, I must also dedicate all the free moments I have to spend time with my Sides, trying to find a way to turn Roman back into a Light Side. I mean, we love him in any form he has, but since he turned into a Dark Side, that has affected my creativity. It’s getting increasingly difficult to create things, as if Roman had more difficulty as a Dark Side to let himself get carried away in the creative process. And it also doesn’t help how much he misses Virgil, that distracts him so much. And Virgil isn’t having a good time either. Not only because of the stress I’m feeling in the past few days with so many things to do at the same time. He also misses Roman, and that heightens him, and therefore makes me feel anxious like in the times when Virgil was a Dark Side. [sighs] I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to make it through it all.

PATTON: [rising up] Of course you will, kiddo. You just have to believe in yourself, and in your own capacities. You can do this!

THOMAS: Thanks for the encouragement, Patton, I really appreciate it, but… this is getting really hard.

ROMAN: [rising up] Thomas, nobody said that the road to fame and glory would be swift and easy. Remember that line from that movie? “You want fame? Well fame costs, and here is where you start paying, in sweat.”

THOMAS: I never wanted fame for the sake of fame, Roman. I’m contented with just living off my acting and singing and making people happy, that’s all.

VIRGIL: [rising up] In fact, I think the idea of getting more and more famous is one of the things that heightens me most. You don’t even want to consider yourself famous at all, as if denying the fact that your fan base is scattered all around the globe and could fill several dozens of soccer stadiums. I mean, you have millions of fans all over the world, all ready to see anything you come out with as soon as you release it, and you don’t consider that “fame”?

THOMAS: [nervous giggle and anxious face] Thanks for getting me more stressed, Virge. I’m glad to see that, despite the circumstances, your skills are still on point.

VIRGIL: Sorry, Thomas.

LOGAN: [rising up] Thomas, the key to avoid getting too stressed over a huge load of work is carefully planning your activities. We’ve talked about this several times already, remember?

THOMAS: Yes, I know, but… when you have so many things in your head at the same time, it gets so difficult to plan everything. Especially when you add your “Master” responsibilities. Ugh, I still don’t like using that word to refer to myself.

HONESTY: [rising up] You should not do that, however. Remember that the first step in getting to know your powers is accepting them as part of who you are, and that includes embracing your nature as the Light Master of your Mind Palace.

THOMAS: Yes, I know, Honesty, but I… [suddenly realizing Honesty’s out] Oh, hello, Honesty. How are you doing? It’s been ages.

HONESTY: Why does everyone tell me that every time I show up?

THOMAS: You don’t show up much often lately, and the other Sides don’t see you either. Even Deceit is starting to worry, cause you stay out of reach even for him now.

HONESTY: Well, I do also have a right to disappear every once in a while, don’t I?

VIRGIL: Disappear every once in a while? More like appear every once in a while.

ROMAN: But why do you want to disappear, though? Have we done something wrong or…?

HONESTY: No, no, no! Of course not! There’s nothing wrong between us! However, you’re asking it as if I was leaving you behind for good. Guys, I’m still here, I’m fine and I still love you all. Stop worrying so much about me.

THOMAS: Okay, okay, as you wish. You’re your own Side… well, not completely now, but we still appreciate you the same. I hope you remember that.

HONESTY: Of course I do, and, like I said, I do appreciate all of you too. But seriously, don’t overact on this. I’m fine, and I’ll keep on being fine.

PATTON: As for me, I miss our afternoons of tea and cookies. It’s been ages since we had the last one.

HONESTY: I miss them too, Patton. I promise that soon we’ll have another one… [suddenly concerned] but now, if you excuse me, I gotta go.

THOMAS: What? So soon?

HONESTY: Yeah, sorry, I have… something to do.

THOMAS: But…

HONESTY: Bye, gentlemen!

[there’s a yellow flash around Honesty and when it disappears, Deceit is in his place, he shows a face of utter confusion]

DECEIT: How… how did I get here?

THOMAS: What? You don’t know?

DECEIT: [sarcastic] If I knew, I would certainly ask, don’t you think?

PATTON: Well, basically Honesty was here. Then, he said he had to go, and then you appeared in his place.

DECEIT: What? Honesty came out?

ROMAN: That line would sound so stupid out of context, bearing in my mind we all have been out for so long…

DECEIT: Why didn’t I sense him?

LOGAN: You don’t remember anything of what Honesty has done?

DECEIT: No, nothing at all. I was in my room, and then, the next moment, I was here with you.

LOGAN: This is disconcerting. Something doesn’t seem to be right with you two, even though Honesty tries to deny it.

DECEIT: Wait, wait. We’re talking about the same Honesty, right? I am the liar of the group. Honesty would never tell a lie, at least not without a good reason, would he?

LOGAN: Well, that’s how it should be, but, too many things have happened lately with you two and we still don’t know the effects they had on you two in the long term. Maybe something’s happening with Honesty and he doesn’t want to tell us.

THOMAS: Great, as if I didn’t have enough things to worry about, now this.

DECEIT: Do you think Honesty is endangered somehow because he had to get fused back with me? That would kill me. It’s my fault that he had to renounce to his body after all.

LOGAN: My advice is that you bring him out, Deceit, so he can tell us what’s going on.

DECEIT: Okay, I’ll try, but as I told you, I don’t sense him, so I don’t know if it’s going to work.

[Deceit points at the empty space where Honesty usually appears. Nothing happens]

DECEIT: I’ll try again.

[Deceit points again, and still nothing happens]

THOMAS: How can this be? He was talking to us just a minute ago, and now he’s out of reach? Could he be in autopilot?

DECEIT: No, that cannot be. We can’t get in autopilot if one of us doesn’t want to be, and I’m not in autopilot.

THOMAS: You’re right, Honesty told me long ago. Then, I don’t know. If only we could go to find him in the Mind Palace like we use to do with other Sides… but he’s inside of you, there’s literally nowhere we can go to to find him… because I cannot get inside Deceit’s “Mind Palace”, can I?

LOGAN: No, Thomas, I’m afraid not. We’re not complex human beings, we’re more simple aspects. We’re not developed enough to hold a Mind Palace inside each of ourselves.

VIRGIL: Also, you’re not a Russian doll to have spaces inside of spaces inside of spaces.

LOGAN: Of course he’s not a Russian doll. He’s a human being, and he’s American. Inside of him there are only his organs.

VIRGIL: [sighs, then frustrated] Will there ever come a time when I, among all Sides, can say a metaphor of any kind and you don’t take it literally, Logan?

PATTON: But wouldn’t he look cute as a doll, Russian or otherwise?

DECEIT: Logan, I think I have an idea. Could you get a grasp of my memories like you did long ago? When you did the opposite, showing Honesty your memories, you unlocked the block between us. Maybe it could work again.

LOGAN: I don’t know if it’s a good idea, Deceit. Remember that the last time, we almost lost you.

DECEIT: But that was because I was a Dark Side and I was corrupting Honesty. Now, we’re both Light Sides and therefore there’s no chance for corruption. What could go wrong?

VIRGIL: Usually, when someone asks that question is the exact moment when things start going wrong…

THOMAS: Dee, this could be risky.

DECEIT: I know, Thomas, but even so, I wanna take the risk. Please, Logan. Check my memories. If nothing is unlocked, at least you could find out something useful.

LOGAN: [sighs] Okay, if you’re sure… [approaches Deceit and puts his hand on Deceit’s chest] Here we go.

[Logan starts shaking as if he was being electrified while Deceit looks at him expectantly. After a few moments, Logan takes his hand off and returns to his spot]

LOGAN: [concerned] Oh, my goodness…

DECEIT: [scared] What? What did you see?

LOGAN: I didn’t expect to see that.

DECEIT: [anxious] What? What?

LOGAN: I saw Deceit’s and Honesty’s memories of the last months and I saw everything about the issue. It all started with the fusion of Honesty into you. When he blew up his own body to get into you and overthrow the Dark Master that was possessing you… something happened to him. I’m positive that you know how his key color changed from orange to yellow.

DECEIT: Yes.

LOGAN: That was not the only thing that changed. Honesty has literally fused partially with you. Now it’s not that there are two aspects in the same body. Now these aspects are stuck and mixed together, sharing functions, as if you were Siamese brothers. And the worst is…

DECEIT: [very anxious] Finish already!

PATTON: Easy, Deecey, don’t jump into the… highway to Hell just yet!

DECEIT: It’s not a moment for jokes now, Patton! Logan, come on!

LOGAN: The worst is… like the more time goes on, the more you two are fusing into one single aspect at all. Soon, there will be only one of you at all.

DECEIT: But I thought, being Light Sides, we couldn’t corrupt each other!

LOGAN: This is not corruption. It’s not like the other time when one Side was destroying the other. What is happening now is that all the essence of one Side is joining the other Side. Have you recently felt a change in your behavior of some kind?

DECEIT: I don’t know…

THOMAS: I do, though. The other day, when Virgil and I went looking for you into your room, when we were leaving you said “after you, gentlemen”, just like Honesty usually speaks, even with the British accent.

PATTON: And now I remember another time, when you said you had to go to your room to do “something”, in a cryptic way. What was that something, Deceit, and why didn’t you want to tell us?

DECEIT: Well, it was nothing special. It’s just that I wanted to make some tea and I was ashamed of saying it, because I’m not good at it and I didn’t want you to try it before I could practice, so… [sudden face of concern] Wait. I never liked tea! Unless it was served with Patton’s cookies… those were the only times I could enjoy it, because I liked the taste of his cookies mixed with the tea. And now I was making tea to drink it alone on my own? What is going on?

THOMAS: Then Logan is right. It’s happening. Those are traits that belonged to Honesty, and now you’re acquiring them as your own.

DECEIT: What’s gonna happen if this process continues?

LOGAN: You already know what’s gonna happen. When the process is completed, Honesty’s consciousness will cease to exist and you will take his place in everything he used to do as a Side. Basically, Honesty will be no more.

DECEIT: [horrified] Oh, no…

LOGAN: And I’ve seen Honesty knows. He has raised a barrier around himself, like a hermetic egg that separates him from the rest of you, trying to stop the process. It works partially. The process is going really slow when he’s inside that barrier, but not completely so the fusion is still eventually going to happen. He only comes out from time to time, because sometimes the barrier gets weak and he needs to get out to recharge it from the outside. When the barrier is fully charged and he closes it around him, it is completely hermetic and he can’t sense anything from us when he’s inside. If it gets weak, he starts feeling us and that’s the signal he uses to get out and recharge. When he has to get out, he takes advantage of the memory lock mechanism that you two had in the old days when you didn’t know that each other was inside of you and forgot what the other did while he was out. That mechanism was still there in you. Back then it was just triggered when you changed places without control, but now Honesty has decided to use it on purpose so that you didn’t know what he was doing when he was charging the barrier. And as I’ve seen in his memories, he’s been hiding everything from us because he doesn’t want to worry us or be a burden, especially now that we have the problem with Roman. He doesn’t want to distract us from fixing Roman’s problem.

DECEIT: My goodness… and this is all my fault. If only I had been smarter and didn’t let the Dark Master trick me, Honesty wouldn’t have had to fuse with me to fix my mistakes.

THOMAS: It’s not your fault, it’s the Dark Master’s fault. We didn’t blame Roman when he tricked him. Why would we blame you?

ROMAN: I know the feeling, Deceit. Don’t get carried away by it. Trust me, it will only hurt you and you would get nothing in return other than pain and sorrow. However, Honesty shouldn’t have hidden this from us. My problem is nothing compared to his. Light or Dark, I’ll be okay, but he… he could… We gotta do something to help him! Now I feel guilty too, because he’s hiding this because of me!

DECEIT: Yes, but what can we do? Perhaps if I change places with him? No, I’ve tried and his block doesn’t let me do it.

LOGAN: Yes, and he placed the block without saying a word to you precisely to stop you from doing that, because if you changed places, the process would take the opposite way. Honesty would absorb you and you would cease to exist, and he doesn’t want that. I’ve seen in his memories that he prefers to disappear himself rather than seeing you disappear, because he feels a deep fraternal love for you. He considers you his brother and is willing to sacrifice himself to save you from his destiny.

DECEIT: [emotional] I… I do love him too as if he was my brother. In a way, I think we really are brothers, both physically and emotionally. No one knows him better than me and no one knows me better than him, for obvious reasons. He’s the only one in this world I could never ever tell a lie, not only because I could never deceive him, as he knows all my memories, but also because I couldn’t find it in my heart to deceive him… And yet he’s taken me aside of his problems when he needed me most. Gosh, he’s going through so much and he’s going through it all alone… I must do anything it takes to save him. Isn’t there any way to revert the process?

LOGAN: The only thing that comes to my mind is Thomas.

THOMAS: Me? What can I do?

LOGAN: The Dark Master managed to create a full body of his own for Deceit when he was about to fade away. Maybe you can do it too if you learn how to do it.

THOMAS: So much pressure… I feel like such a failure for not knowing how to do what you say that I can do.

LOGAN: Not knowing something is not a failure, Thomas. Neither it is not being able to learn that something on the first, second, third or whatever number of tries. The failure would be not being willing to try, and if there’s one thing you’re always willing to do is trying to learn.

THOMAS: You’re right on that, Logan. I love learning new things and I always do my best on that. I won’t do any different this time. I’m ready when you’re ready, Logan.

LOGAN: I knew you would say that and I’m proud of you, Thomas. Then, it’s time for you to learn how to be the Light Master. The problem is… that none of us know how to teach you at all or who could teach you.

THOMAS: Then we’re right back to where we started. How am I supposed to start learning if I don’t even know what and how should I learn?

DECEIT: [frustrated] Dang it! We’re on a dead end. And it’s all because of the Dark Master! That… father of a virgin! For him it was so easy to use these abilities. I wish we could grab him, steal all of his knowledge and transmit it to Thomas.

LOGAN: Hey! That is an excellent idea, Deceit.

DECEIT: What? I was only venting… Can we do that?

LOGAN: Yes, I think we can, thanks to Roman.

ROMAN: Me? How?

LOGAN: At this moment, the Dark Master is trapped in Sandersia as a fragment of his former self that has taken the shape of a Sandersian to keep on existing. He has some power, but not enough to be a danger, especially now that Remus’ black cauldron is safe again behind the barrier in his room and you are alert of his existence. If we could get to the Dark Master, you could use your Creativity powers to hold him still while I get all of his memories, like I just did with Deceit. Then, with that knowledge at my disposal, I could assume my role as teacher and properly teach Thomas how to use his Master powers.

ROMAN: That… could work. But couldn’t it be dangerous? We’re talking about absorbing the knowledge of an entity that is pure evil, even if now he’s incapacitated. Couldn’t that have some sort of secondary effects on you?

LOGAN: You have a point, certainly. He’s neither an ordinary Side nor an ordinary Sandersian, and therefore we don’t know if there could be any secondary effects on me… But if we don’t do something soon, we could lose Honesty. And I don’t wanna lose anyone of you. Not again. It was painful enough when we lost Ira. Maybe I didn’t show it, because I struggle with showing my feelings, but it was the worst pain I ever felt in my life. I don’t wanna feel that pain again, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure I don’t lose again any of my… that is a strong word but I can’t think of anything else to describe it… of my loved ones. I have the intention of saving Honesty, then help you and Virgil get reunited permanently and then carry on with our lives as it should be. I don’t care what happens to me.

[Roman tears up, then approaches Logan and hugs him. Logan shows a face of shock and starts blushing. He’s so stunned that he doesn’t hug Roman back]

ROMAN: You’re already teaching me a lesson, Logan. A lesson of bravery, loyalty and friendship. You would make such a great prince indeed… I never realized how much I admire and love you despite how different we are.

LOGAN: [nervous] This is a little overwhelming… I’m not accustomed to this kind of signs of affection…

ROMAN: [making a gesture of stepping back] Oh, I’m sor…

LOGAN: [hugging Roman back] However, I think I could get accustomed to this quickly.

[Roman smiles and squeezes Logan a little bit in the hug. Then Deceit, Virgil and Patton join in a group hug]

THOMAS: I’m so proud of you, Logan. But we don’t want anything bad happening to you. Are you sure you want to go through this?

LOGAN: [heartwarming smile] Yes. Whatever it takes so that we can repeat these group hugs more often… [suddenly nervous] Uh… for scientific reasons, of course.

THOMAS: [smirk] Of course.

[everyone returns to their own spot]

ROMAN: Okay, if you’ve made up your mind, let’s get down to business… to def…

LOGAN: Roman, please, not again.

ROMAN: You’re right, sorry. It’s not the time for Mulan lyrics right now. What’s the plan?

LOGAN: When you were fused, Romulus said that no one could escape from him while they were in Sandersia. I presume the same happens with you, Roman.

ROMAN: Yes, that’s right. I never meddle in any Sandersian’s life, but if I wanted, I could find them no matter where they were and bring them to my presence.

LOGAN: That means you could find the Dark Master anywhere he was and bring him wherever you want.

ROMAN: Yes.

LOGAN: And then you could trap him and stop him from running away.

ROMAN: I mean, you said it yourself, we’re talking about the Dark Master. I don’t know how much power I could have over him. But if he was subjected to the rules of Sandersia as any other Sandersian, I could.

LOGAN: That’s exactly the plan. We go somewhere in Sandersia, you force the Dark Master to show up, then trap him so that he can’t move and I get his memories.

ROMAN: And then, what do we do with him?

LOGAN: Well, I’d be happy to get rid of him for all eternity, but unfortunately, we need him inside the Mind Palace, you know why.

ROMAN: Yes, I think I’ll never forget why.

LOGAN: After we’re done, you expel him as far away as you can and we return home and start training Thomas.

ROMAN: Sounds like a plan. Are you sure you’re ready to do this?

LOGAN: As sure as I’ll ever be, Roman.

DECEIT: Well, then what are we waiting for? Let’s do it. Off to Sandersia!

[Thomas and the Sanders Sides sink down into Roman’s room, then they enter into Sandersia. They walk a couple of miles away from the door until they stop]

ROMAN: Well, this place looks as good as any to start working. Are you guys ready? Especially you, Logan. As I told you, I don’t know if this will work and if it does I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hold him. Be ready to do your thing as soon as I get him.

LOGAN: I’m ready when you’re ready, Roman.

THOMAS: Be careful, guys.

ROMAN: Okay. Let’s go.

[Roman rises both hands. At first, nothing seems to happen, but after a couple of minutes, the Dark Master falls down from the sky, crashing in the middle of them]

PATTON: Wow… that was a hard fall… It still is, it’s November…

DARK MASTER: [rises up] Ow! That hurts! What? You? What are you doing?

[Roman points at the Dark Master without saying a word. The Dark Master tries to move, but he can’t no matter how much he struggles]

DARK MASTER: I can’t move! What is this all about? How dare you do this to me! Let me go!

LOGAN: [approaching the Dark Master] Don’t worry, we’ll let you go, as soon as I get what I need from you.

DARK MASTER: What?

[Logan sighs, and after a second of doubt, he puts his hand on the Dark Master’s chest. Then, he starts shaking. At first nothing seems to be different to what happened with Deceit, but after a moment, he starts groaning as if he was in pain]

THOMAS: Logan! Are you okay?

DARK MASTER: [face of understanding] Oh, so this is what you’re doing. [evil smirk] Let’s see if your little nerd can handle so much knowledge.

THOMAS: Something’s going wrong! Logan, step back!

LOGAN: No! Not yet! I’m not done yet! [in pain] Aw!

THOMAS: Logan, please! This isn’t normal!

[The Dark Master starts giggling with an evil face]

DARK MASTER: Leave him alone, Thomas! He wants knowledge and he’s ready to pay the cost of that knowledge!

THOMAS: The cost…? What cost?

LOGAN: I’m… almost done… but I… I don’t know if I can hold on.

THOMAS: Please, Logan, don’t overdo yourself. I don’t want you to put your life on risk!

[suddenly, Deceit transforms into Honesty]

HONESTY: Logan! What are you doing!? I felt a huge force that crossed my barrier! What is going on!?

LOGAN: Honesty? I’m doing this for you! I’m getting the knowledge to save you from disappearing!

HONESTY: Then you know… But I don’t want you to be endangered because of me!

LOGAN: [struggling voice] Just… a little… more…

[suddenly, lightning sparks are seen all around Logan’s body]

LOGAN: I’m… overloading… I must let go… [tries to get his hand off] I can’t… My hand is stuck!

HONESTY: [scared] Logan!

[The Dark Master shows an ominous smile]

LOGAN: [with a voice of pain] Help me…

THOMAS: [running to Logan] I’m going, Logan!

[Thomas approaches Logan and tries to hold him, but as soon as he touches him, there’s a huge spark and he pulls his hands back in pain]

THOMAS: Ow! I got shocked! I can’t touch him!

HONESTY: Deceit can get him with his gloves! I’ll send him to you!

[Honesty changes to Deceit]

DECEIT: What’s happening!?

THOMAS: Quickly, Deceit, get Logan off the Dark Master! You’ll be protected thanks to your gloves!

DECEIT: Okay!

[Deceit grabs Logan. The gloves protect him, but he can’t move Logan]

LOGAN: [weak voice] Please… help me…

[Logan faints, and the Dark Master laughs evilly]

DECEIT: [scared] Logan! [struggling and yelling while he pulls with all his might] Nnnngggghhhaaaaaaaa!!!!

[finally he manages to unstick Logan off the Dark Master, and they both fall to the ground. The sparks surround Logan for a couple of seconds more until they fade away]

DARK MASTER: [with an evil smirk] Well, that surely was an electrifying experience! Does anyone else want to feel it?

ROMAN: [angry] Just shut up, you monster!

[Roman moves his arm and the Dark Master is propelled away until he gets lost in the distance, then Thomas and the Sides go to check on Logan]

THOMAS: Logan? Logan, say something, please.

LOGAN: [unconscious] Nnggghh…

PATTON: Logan… please, wake up…

[Logan opens his eyes]

LOGAN: Where… where am I?

DECEIT: [hugging Logan] Thank goodness, Logan! Are you okay?

LOGAN: [confused and uncomfortable] Do… do I know you from somewhere? And how do you know my name?

DECEIT: [stops hugging him] What? What do you mean?

THOMAS: Logan, what are you saying? Don’t you remember us?

LOGAN: I… I’m confused. Is that you, Thomas? I do remember you, but… you’re so old now… I also remember Princey, although I had never seen him with that outfit before, and certainly not so tall. [pointing at Patton, Virgil and Deceit] Who are these other people, though?

PATTON: Logan, don’t you remember me? It’s me, Patton!

LOGAN: I’m sorry, but I’ve never seen you in my life.

PATTON: Guys, this is not good.

THOMAS: Wait a second, guys, let’s not panic. What is the last thing you remember, Logan?

LOGAN: [rising up] Well, you were studying for your Math test. You know, the one with algebraic fractions. Don’t tell me you didn’t pass it. We worked so hard on it.

THOMAS: That… that was when I was in school, Logan. I’m 30 years old now. It’s been nearly two decades since then, I’ve even graduated as a chemical engineer in college. Have you forgotten the last 20 years of our life?

LOGAN: That can’t be, Thomas. That doesn’t follow logically. You, a chemical engineer? You were always headed towards dramatic arts and music.

THOMAS: And I work in that now, but I did graduate with a bachelor degree of science. Besides, how would you explain logically that I’m suddenly a grown up adult? No wonder you only remember Roman. Back then, he and you were the only Sides that had appeared before me, not counting Virgil, because he only appeared sporadically at that time and I think you didn’t get to meet him up until later. But I did mention him to you. Remember Anxiety?

LOGAN: Oh, so that is Anxiety? Nice to meet you at last, Anxiety. I’m Logic. Thomas has mentioned you so much.

VIRGIL: [confused] Yeah… sure… Nice to… meet you… too, I guess.

LOGAN: Is he always so eloquent, Thomas?

THOMAS: Forgive him, he’s… shy.

VIRGIL: What?

[Thomas makes a gesture to Virgil asking him to play along]

VIRGIL: Oh, uh… yes… I am, sorry.

LOGAN: It’s okay, nobody’s perfect, as Princey can attest.

[Roman emits some offended Princey noises]

THOMAS: Patton appeared later on, that’s why you don’t know him at all. And Deceit, back then, was a Dark Side that hadn’t shown up yet. Not anymore, though.

LOGAN: I see… And you’re saying that I know all these people and I have forgotten them? But, how could this happen?

THOMAS: It’s a long story, really long if it covers 20 years… How are we going to restore your memories back?

ROMAN: I knew there were going to be secondary effects, but I didn’t expect this.

LOGAN: Well, if you say that there’s 20 years of my life that I don’t remember, obviously you don’t have time to tell me all of that, unless you can live without working and therefore without food and health care, not to mention sleep, rent, et cetera, for the next two decades.

ROMAN: Yes, Teach, we had figured that out already.

LOGAN: Luckily for you, and for me, I guess… there’s a way to restore my memories.

THOMAS: How?

LOGAN: I’m your acquired knowledge, Thomas. If my memories were truly gone, they would be gone from you as well. As you seem to remember everything that I don’t, that means that my memories are still inside of me somewhere, only that, for one reason or another, they’re blocked from me and I can’t reach them. If you find a way to break the block, these memories would return to me.

THOMAS: Sweet. And how do we break that block.

LOGAN: Well, I need a memory that is strong enough to break the block, but you mustn’t tell me. I have to make the effort to find it out for myself with some clues you give me. For instance, take me to places I used to know, or give me things that you think they could help. Things like these.

THOMAS: I think I get it. Stimulating your memory can make these lost memories return to your mind naturally. Well, then I think we have no time to waste. Let’s return to Roman’s room.

LOGAN: Okay… by the way, what is this place?

ROMAN: This is…

PATTON: Don’t tell him, Roman. Give him clues so that he can remember by himself.

ROMAN: Oh, right. [choosing his words carefully] Well, it’s a place… um… where we have been several times already. It is connected to my room and it’s populated with, uh… characters created by Thomas and me.

[Logan looks at Roman with a blank stare]

THOMAS: Anything, Logan?

LOGAN: Nope, sorry, I got nothing at all.

ROMAN: Well, here is where Virgil… I mean, Anxiety, and I… lived the most important day in our lives. And you were there to witness it.

LOGAN: The most important day in your lives? Like what?

ROMAN: Another clue… that day I wore a royal outfit with seven gems on my chest representing the seven colors of the rainbow, which also represented each one of you close to my heart.

LOGAN: Each one of us? Seven gems? But there are only four people here other than Thomas and me. Who are the other two? I don’t remember them at all.

ROMAN: [sighs] It’s pointless. Our wedding and Sandersia clearly are not gonna help him regain his memories. We need something stronger.

LOGAN: Wedding? So you and Anxiety got married? My congratulations to you. I would have liked to see it.

VIRGIL: You saw it, Logan. You saw it. [sighs] Let’s go back home and look for something else.

DECEIT: But we better hurry. I don’t know if we’ve got much time.

THOMAS: Why are you saying that?

DECEIT: Guys, now I’m feeling Honesty. And that means that his barrier has got broken, perhaps by the energy unleashed while Logan… you know. And that means… the clock is counting for Honesty.

THOMAS: Why, you should have told us sooner!

LOGAN: I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I was going to tell you that, indeed, we haven’t got much time.

THOMAS: I’m afraid to ask. Why are you saying that?

LOGAN: Well, Thomas, you must restore my memories before you go to bed tonight.

THOMAS: And why is that?

LOGAN: Because if by that time my memories are not accessible, they will be deleted when the memory reorganization process happens while you sleep. And that means that you will forget everything that I have forgotten, and all the other Sides too. And it will be irreversible.

THOMAS: Then I mustn’t sleep, by any means. No sleep tonight. Jeez… Fanders would kill me if they heard me saying this.

LOGAN: Well, that would buy you some time, but it’s not realistic to think that you will resist much time without sleep. You could get an extra day, two at most, but the more time you spend with sleep deprivation, the worst we will work and the lesser the chances that I get my memories back. And eventually you will fall asleep anyway, whether you like it or not, and everything will be lost.

THOMAS: I’m sure it’s not so bad. I can resist sleep for as long as I want.

LOGAN: [calm] Falsehood.

DECEIT: Well, glad to see that that part of him remains okay.

VIRGIL: The one time that I’m in a safe distance from him when he says “falsehood”, and he decides not to screech it. I wonder if he likes the idea of me getting deaf on that ear, or something.

THOMAS: Okay. Then there’s no time to waste. Let’s go back home already.

LOGAN: Lead the way, then. I have no idea where to go.

THOMAS: Just follow us, Logan.

LOGAN: And as I said before, how do you know my real name?

THOMAS: It’s a long story.

[Thomas and the Sides start walking to the door to Roman’s room. Midway, Honesty appears]

HONESTY: Don’t stop walking, I will follow you.

DECEIT: Honesty. Why did you hide your problem from us?

HONESTY: I didn’t want to be a nuisance. You were busy enough already trying to help Roman.

ROMAN: Don’t put me as an excuse, Honesty. Your trouble started before I turned into a Dark Side, and even if it didn’t, you are in more danger than me. I can perfectly wait until you’re safe and sound.

HONESTY: Okay, fair enough. It’s just that…

DECEIT: What is it?

HONESTY: You went through so much, Deceit. I didn’t want you to fall apart again because of me. It was so hard to get you out of the pit you had fallen into. I didn’t want you to suffer again because of me.

DECEIT: And you pushed me aside, just like that. How am I supposed to take that, Hon? Do I have to infer that you consider me weak and worthless? That you don’t trust in me having any strength of my own to cope with issues? Because that offends me. I may have had a time of weakness, but I’m here now, that should say something. And what does that say about you? You’re Honesty, you’re not supposed to lie. Lies are my job. Even white lies are in my department.

HONESTY: You know it would never be my intention to belittle you, Dee.

DECEIT: [angry] Then don’t belittle me! If you had been honest from the beginning, maybe we would have been able to help you sooner. And maybe you wouldn’t be on risk of disappearing now. [switching to a sad, but still angry voice] Like I said earlier. No one knows me better than you and no one knows you better than me. But this is the first time since we became friends that I have felt like I don’t know you, and I don’t like it. You were the only person in this world I could never tell a lie. You still are. And yet you lied to me, because a lie of omission is a lie too. And it hurts, because I love you and I don’t want to lose you.

HONESTY: I’m so sorry, Dee. It’s just that… I didn’t know how to react when I felt what was happening to me. I only knew I didn’t want you going through any kind of pain. And I obviously made the wrong choice because I have hurt you. I’m terribly sorry. It’s a shame that one of us always has to stay in hologram form now, because I really need a make up hug right now, and I can’t touch you. Please forgive me.

DECEIT: [sighs] I’m not mad at you, I’m just scared for your safety. Just promise me that you will never do something like this again, and we’ll be even. If something ever bothers you again, even in the slightest, I wanna be the first in line to know. Promised?

HONESTY: Promised. From now on, I will never leave you out of my problems. That’s what friends are for, and we are friends. Because we’re still friends, right?

[Deceit stops walking and Honesty does the same. Deceit looks at Honesty right in the eye]

DECEIT: Even more than that.

HONESTY: What?

DECEIT: I do consider you my brother too, Hon. That’s why I’ll do everything I can to save you.

HONESTY: [emotional] Thank you… dear brother.

ROMAN: [calling them from a distance] Guys, are you coming with us?

DECEIT: [starts walking again] Sorry, Roman. We were just bonding as brothers.

HONESTY: True, true.

ROMAN: Glad to hear that, but we gotta go.

[The gang keeps on walking. Soon they reach Roman’s room]

ROMAN: Does this place look familiar to you, Logan?

LOGAN: No, sorry. Nothing looks familiar to me.

ROMAN: Didn’t think so. I didn’t let you into my room until much later than what you remember.

HONESTY: Maybe if we go to Logan’s room, something there could inspire his memory?

VIRGIL: It’s worth a shot.

[Everybody sinks down, then they rise up in Logan’s room]

DECEIT: Well, Logan?

LOGAN: Who did redecorate my room?

THOMAS: What?

LOGAN: I mean, I used to have a student desk chair in my spot, where I could sit to listen to the teacher.

THOMAS: Logan… you are the teacher now. So, I guess it was you who redecorated everything.

LOGAN: Oh, that makes sense. I couldn’t keep being a student for 20 years, could I?

THOMAS: But what do you eventually think about your room, Logan?

LOGAN: Well, despite my initial reaction, I think it is… adequate.

THOMAS: And did any new memory come to you at all?

LOGAN: Sorry, Thomas.

THOMAS: Okay… Let’s try something else…

PATTON: Maybe if I show him this… [takes his cat hoodie off and shows it to Logan] What do you think about this, Logan? I never take it off because I really love it.

LOGAN: Um… good for you, I guess. I’m glad that you like felines.

PATTON: It’s not just that I like cats. It’s just that this hoodie makes me feel warm.

LOGAN: Well, that’s the purpose of any outerwear, or any garment in general, to protect you from the harness of the elements, specifically cold temperatures in this case.

PATTON: It’s not that the hoodie is soft and warm, which it is, by the way. It makes me feel warm because it was given to me by someone very dear to me, someone that I hold deep in my heart. Someone I look up to and respect very much, for his wittiness and his kindness.

LOGAN: [unsettled] Please… Patton, it was? I’d thank you if you stop. If there’s one thing I don’t like at all is feelings. I don’t have them, so I don’t understand them, and things that I don’t understand don’t have a place in me at all. It’s good that you know someone so nice, whoever it is, but I’d prefer if you keep their description to yourself, or at least avoid talking about feelings in front of me.

PATTON: [with a face of sadness and sorrow] O… okay, sorry Logan. I didn’t mean to bother you. Guys, this won’t work either, I’m sorry…

VIRGIL: [a little mad at Logan] How can you not remember that hoodie? It was given to Patton by…

PATTON: [interrupting Virgil] It’s okay, son, don’t tell him. It’s not his fault that he can’t remember and I don’t want to make him feel bad about it, it would be useless.

VIRGIL: As you wish, dad.

LOGAN: [confused and slightly worried face] I’m… I’m confused. If I have offended you somehow, Patton, I apologize.

PATTON: [with an over the top smile] Don’t worry, Logan. Let’s just focus on finding something else.

VIRGIL: [knowing very well what that over the top smile means, looking at Patton with a slightly worried and emotional face] Yeah, let’s.

DECEIT: Maybe if we take the route to the things he likes, we could click on something.

THOMAS: Good idea. Maybe… that course that I couldn’t take yet, because I’ve been busy as heck. But I promised I would take it for you, and I will.

LOGAN: Good. I love that you are willing to learn something, Thomas.

THOMAS: Do you have any clue of what course I am talking about? It’s about something you really enjoy.

[Roman starts humming the tune of the song “Stars” from “Les Miserables” trying to give Logan an extra clue]

LOGAN: Please, Roman, do not interrupt us with sing-songy-make-believe music. You know I hate theater.

ROMAN: Look, one thing you remembered!

LOGAN: Sorry to disappoint, but me hating theater is one of the memories that I didn’t lose, I have always hated theater since childhood. I just don’t get it.

THOMAS: Stay with me, Logan.

LOGAN: I didn’t move from here, Thomas.

THOMAS: It was an expression… Whatever. Do you remember anything about the course I was talking about?

LOGAN: [a little frustrated] I… I’m sorry, Thomas, I’m afraid this won’t work either. I don’t know what you are talking about.

THOMAS: [sighs] We’re wasting time. Nothing seems to work at all.

PATTON: Maybe we should take a break, to lift our spirits up and refresh ourselves to keep on looking. I could bring some cookies if you want.

THOMAS: No, it will be better if we all stay here, in Logan’s corner. If we can’t bring his memories back here, I don’t think we’ll have any better luck anywhere else. But we certainly need a break, because we are totally blocked.

LOGAN: I’m terribly sorry, guys. For some reason I can sense that there’s an urgent need to bring my memories back, but there’s nothing I can do.

THOMAS: It’s okay, Logan. It’s not your fault.

LOGAN: Maybe if we take some soft drinks or a snack, as Patton suggested, we could feel refreshed and ready to start over again. I’ll go check what’s on the fridge.

THOMAS: Okay, Logan, it’s your room. Do as you want.

[Logan goes to the fridge and opens it. After a few moments of checking its contents, something calls his attention]

LOGAN: What’s this?

THOMAS: What?

LOGAN: [returning to his spot] It’s a jar of what looks like some kind of berry marmalade. Its label reads… “Crofter’s Organic”. Is this my face drawn on it? What’s this? I had never seen this thing in my life.

ROMAN: Logan must be really out of it if he can’t even remember Crofter’s.

THOMAS: [his face lightens up as if having an idea] Why don’t you try it, Logan? See if you like it.

LOGAN: I don’t think so, jelly is disgusting for me.

[every Side in the room shows a face of utter shock and disbelief upon hearing these words, Roman even gasps loudly]

THOMAS: Just for scientific reasons, as you like to say. Maybe you could be surprised.

LOGAN: Okay, if you insist, but I don’t see how this could be of help at all.

[Logan invokes a spoon, takes a spoonful of Crofter’s and gets it into his mouth. Suddenly, he shows a face of shock]

LOGAN: It… it’s delicious… this Crofter’s…

THOMAS: Do you like it?

LOGAN: Like it? LIKE IT!? I LOVE THIS!

[Logan starts devouring the whole jar as he usually does. Suddenly, he stops and his body starts shaking. Some sparks appear around him, until there’s a huge flash, then he stops shaking]

THOMAS: Logan… are you okay?

LOGAN: [unconcerned] I’ll always be okay if I have my Crofter’s with me, Thomas, why are you asking?

THOMAS: So… you do remember?

LOGAN: I do? [suddenly realizing] Yes, I do! My memories are back!

[Patton shows a face of happiness, the other Sides smile]

THOMAS: Yes! I knew Crofter’s would work!

LOGAN: I’m so sorry, guys. This detour has been my fault, I should have retreated earlier when I sensed something was failing.

THOMAS: It’s okay, Logan. The important thing is… was it worthy? Did it work?

LOGAN: Yes… Unfortunately I didn’t get all of the Dark Master’s memories, but I did get enough to teach you what we need. Soon, if you follow my instructions, Honesty and Roman will be safe and sound.

DECEIT: Cool!

ROMAN: Awesome!

THOMAS: Then I guess we should start working. How do we do this?

LOGAN: It’s late now, Thomas. We’re starting tomorrow, after you finish your morning commitments and before you jump on that plane.

THOMAS: [sighs] Dee, can I borrow one of your extra arms, please?

DECEIT: No, but I wouldn’t mind the being sick excuse to gain some extra time.

THOMAS: I was just kidding back then… But Honesty, will you be okay if we wait until tomorrow? I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and find out that it’s too late.

HONESTY: Don’t worry, Thomas. I think I’ll be fine until tomorrow, the process will take a lot more time to be completed, so we have plenty of time.

THOMAS: Then, it’s settled. Tomorrow I start training. I hope I can do it.

PATTON: You can do anything you set your eyes on. And we’ll be rooting for you all the time.

[all the Sides nod in agreement with a smile]

THOMAS: Thanks, guys.

ROMAN: Well, guys, I’ll better be going. I’ve been too much time with you now and I don’t want to corrupt you.

VIRGIL: Hopefully this will be one of the last times you have to say this. I miss you so much, even if we see each other everyday for some time, each hour we’re apart hurts.

ROMAN: I miss you too, but Honesty has the priority now. When he’s safe, we’ll start thinking about me. Bye, guys. [blowing a kiss to Virgil] Bye, Virgil, I love you.

VIRGIL: Love you back, Roman. Good night.

ROMAN: It will never be a good night completely without you, Virge. [sinking down] Goodbye, my love.

VIRGIL: [sinking down] See ya tomorrow, guys.

LOGAN: Patton, don’t go just yet, I need to talk to you later, alone.

PATTON: Okay, Logan.

DECEIT: We’ll go get some rest for tomorrow, then. I can’t wait to be two separate Sides again so that I can give you that make up hug, brother.

HONESTY: Me neither. [disappearing] Bye, guys.

DECEIT: [sinking down] See you tomorrow, guys.

THOMAS: See ya, guys. I’m going too as I need to rest for tomorrow, so, until next time, take it easy, guys, gals and non binary pals. Peace out!

[end card]

[Thomas has just left. Now Logan and Patton are alone in the room]

LOGAN: Patton, I just wanted to say…

PATTON: Yes, Logan?

LOGAN: … I wanted to apologize to you again. Now I remember everything and I know exactly why I hurt you so much. I belittled your words of affection towards me and I’ve made you feel bad. So, I’m sorry.

PATTON: It’s okay, Logan. You weren’t yourself earlier. Now everything’s fine again, and that’s what matters.

LOGAN: I’m also glad to be myself again. There’s so much I had forgotten that I don’t want to forget ever again.

PATTON: Like Crofter’s. I don’t know how to take that we showed you all kinds of things related to us, and it was a jar of Crofter’s what brought your memories back. Do you care more about Crofter’s than you care about us? [faking offended voice] I’m kinda… jelly about it.

LOGAN: That’s not completely accurate, Patton. Do you want to know the reason why Crofter’s worked?

PATTON: I’m intrigued, Logan. Why?

LOGAN: You know how much I love Crofter’s. It’s because of its taste and quality, but it’s also because it’s one of the few passions in my life that I can share with all of you, guys, without exception. We all like Crofter’s, and I have so many heartwarming memories of me eating Crofter’s with you, guys. That is what unlocked my memories, the memory of me sharing Crofter’s with my friends.

PATTON: [squealing] Awww!

LOGAN: But, please, don’t tell the others. It is a little overwhelming for me to share my feelings, as you know and I… I don’t know how to do it. It makes me feel awkward and I just don’t want to make a fool of myself.

PATTON: But Logan, you mustn’t be afraid of sharing your feelings. It’s part of who you are. And we love you just the way you are. And trust me, sharing your feelings with us would never make us see you as a fool. On the contrary, we know how much you struggle with expressing your feelings, and we would appreciate you even more. Don’t ever be afraid of being yourself, cause you being yourself is the reason why we love you.

LOGAN: I’ll try. Do you know what has been the best thing coming out from this mess?

PATTON: What is it?

LOGAN: That I got to experiment again the honest feeling of trying Crofter’s for the first time.

PATTON: Good for you, Logan. Do you want me to bring some Maria biscuits so we can spread some Crofter’s on them?

LOGAN: That would be a satisfactory experience, Patton.