Jameson was enjoying his morning tea, enjoying the silence as the others went about their day. Henrik had to go back into work, Jackie was in the basement gym working out and Chase was absentmindedly doing little trick-shots in the living room to distract himself from everything.

Apparently Anti was in Marvin's room and they were reading together or something. Jameson didn't quite believe it but he trusted them. As he took a few more small sips, their newest guest, Dark, came in the kitchen and poured himself a mug of coffee. Jameson took a closer look at him to see his suit was a tad wet along with his hair. And he looked grumpy, so Jameson refrained from finding out from him what happened.

He knew Anti must have done something. He heard shouting from upstairs earlier and he recognized them to be Anti and Dark's voices. They must have had an argument. Jameson knew that Anti had been more testy lately. He wasn't stupid. Anti really was slowly remembering and gaining back his personality with it. He had always been stubborn and brash but hopefully regaining his memories didn't take away the love in his heart now.

Jameson was worried but he believed in Anti. He KNEW that Anti remembered sign language and how to talk to Jameson. He knew why he lied but he hoped nothing bad came from it.

Dark grumbled and sat at the table across from Jameson with the cup of steaming coffee in his hands.

He seemed. . . unusually melancholy this morning, not that he knew what he was like beforehand. Perhaps he regretted the argument he and Anti got in this morning?

"I know you're watching me." Dark interceded Jameson's thoughts, "I know you're trying to read me, mute, and it won't work." he narrowed his eyes and snarled at him.

But Jameson wasn't affected and signed to him, 'Did you and Anti get into a fight?'

Dark quirked his brow at him and Jameson rolled his eyes. He got out his trusty notepad and wrote down the question, showing it to him.

"Oh. . . .  It's none of your business"

Jameson wrote something more on the paper and showed it to him and Dark growled, "It's not like it matters! I didn't hurt him! He didn't need to throw his breakfast at me" he mumbled the last part, looking away.

Jameson silently chuckled and wrote something else. 

"Tch" Dark scoffed at him, "You don't know anything about our relationship. Apparently, neither does Anti. He needs to watch himself just like everyone else near me." he sighed, "He never really was good at that thought before, I guess. Oh why am I even talking to you? I don't have to explain anything to you!"

Jameson gave an exaggerated shrug and Dark stood up, stomping out of the room, "Damn Septics. Always causing trouble. Even worse than Wil" he nearly pouted.

Jameson just rolled his eyes. He knew Dark could be dramatic but perhaps he was being over the top. There was most likely a good reason Anti did what he did to him and Dark knew it. Why else would he be sulking?

He sighed to himself. Hopefully things could get back to normal eventually. He missed his peaceful mornings. Now his tea was getting cold.

"Are you sure about this?" Anti asked him.

Marvin rolled his eyes, "It's fine! It's perfectly safe!"

"Then why have you been staring at the same page for a half hour now? I'm not stupid, Marv. You're worried something will go wrong"

"Well yeah! Of course I am!" Marvin slammed the book shut and groaned, flopping back on his bed, "This is mind magic we're working with, here! If I mess up one thing, I could end up like you but worse!"

"Worse?"

"A vegetable"

Anti stared at him, eyes squinted, "Like . . . . a carrot or something?"

"No! Not an actual vegetable! Like. . .  I'll have my body but my mind will be lost forever! I can't mess this up or . . . . "

Anti understood and crossed his arms, "Oh so you're a coward?"

"Anti!" he was so offended.

"What? If we don't do this, then the puppeteer will kill us all. We're dead either way."

"I guess you're right. But do you have to say it so mean? Geez"

Anti shrugged, "Sorry. Let's get you your magic first though, hm? Might be helpful"

"Let me recite it one last time"

"Marv, stop! If you don't do it now, you never will!"

Marvin sighed, "Fine. I guess you're right. But if I die, it's your fault"

"Isn't it always?" he grinned and Marvin just scoffed at him, reaching his hand out to Anti.

The glitch took his hand and immediately, they could feel it. Something was leaving Anti and into Marvin and the magician shuddered at the feeling.

"It feels so amazing. I've missed this feeling so much" he smiled.

Anti smiled back a little and watched as Marvin pulled back, "I think that's enough for the moment." he opened the book back up again and turned to the right page.

His eyes glowed and the lights flickered in his room. Anti looked around in worry. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea? What if the Puppeteer felt it? What if he came to stop them and ended everything right there?

But this was his idea. 

They had to try. This was their only shot.

Marvin began to recite the spell.

Dark was outside on the porch, his arms crossed with his cane in hand, tapping the wood under his feet. He really did feel bad but he had to do it. It didn't just go one way last night either. With Dark's influence, he saw Anti's memories just the same as he did.

His heart ached for the glitch. He never asked for this. For any of this. He would have stayed hidden away in Sean's thoughts forever if it hadn't been for this mystery puppeteer. All the more reason he had to remember more. The problem was though, that now Anti will be less trusting of him and won't listen. But if he just remembered then maybe they could stand a chance. Dark felt the being's power in Anti's mind. He knew he was powerful and truthfully Dark was  . . . more or less on odd ends about fighting him now.

But he had to try for Anti because that's what he deserves. Dark may be cruel and manipulative but he did have a soul. He wasn't heartless. Celine made sure of that.

"Oh, what have we gotten ourselves into?" Damien said to himself, "I know, Celine, I know. I knew I sensed something odd that day but I never gave any other thought to it. I could have helped him but I-"

Suddenly he felt something.

Something powerful. Ethereal.

It was inside the house.

Dark took a sharp intake a breathe, "Fuck!" he rushed inside the house towards the power he felt.

Marvin was speaking some sort of language Anti didn't recognize. But it almost sounded beautiful. Like a song. Once he finished speaking, a layer of light surrounded him.

He looked like he was struggling with something and growled in frustration but Anti didn't say anything. He didn't want to bother him and make him mess something up.

The light swirled like fire towards Marvin's head. His eyes still glowed but it all stopped once the light sucked itself into him and Marvin blinked rapidly, his eyes going back to normal.

The lights stopped flickering and nothing was floating anymore.

Was it mentioned that everything in Marvin's room had been floating? No? Well it was.

Marvin panted heavily and Anti was about to say something when the door broke open.

"Ah!" Anti fell backwards onto pillows only to see Dark looking ready for a fight.

'Uh-oh. He must have sensed it' Anti gulped but glared at him, "The fuck are you doing in here!? Can't you knock!?'

Dark snarled ,his auras snapping wildly around him, "What happened in here? Where did that power come from!?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb, Anti!" Dark stomped his cane onto the floor and the two glared at each other for a few moments. Dark slowly recovered himself though and calmed, "I . . .. why don't you trust me? I'm only trying to help"

Anti swallowed, "Yeah well . . . I"

"Everything's fine, Dark." Marvin interrupted, "Anti was just showing off some glitching to me. That must have been what you were feeling. He's been practicing his teleporting"

Dark didn't buy it but let it go, taking a deep breathe, "Fine. Whatever" he left without a word, shutting the door behind him.

Anti let out a breathe and shot up to look outside to make sure Dark wasn't still stalking around or listening in. When he didn't see him there anymore, he shut the door again and went back in.

"So . . .  did it work?"

Marvin sighed, "A little. I remember . . . small things. Here and there. I know that I erased everyone's memories including mine but I don't know exactly why. The only ones I didn't wipe are you and  . . . well . . puppeteer. Simply because you were out of my grasp. Or maybe it was. . . Hm. I don't know"

"Do you need a nap?"

Marvin growled deep in his throat, "I want to think more on it but . . you're probably right."

"Yeah I mean what if your case now is like mine and you just have to give it time?"

"If you haven't noticed, we don't have a lot of time left"

"Yeah but . . . you got any other ideas?"

"No." Marvin smirked and shoved him, "Now get on out of here and let me take a nap. I'm tired anyways."

Anti giggled and let himself out, letting his friend rest. On the outside, he was happy that at least Marvin didn't get hurt but on the inside. . . . . he feared Puppeteer would come for him at any moment. And he threw milk and cereal at his body guard this morning . . . . 

He ran off to the living room in search of the others. He didn't want to be alone right now.

Dark slunk out of the shadows in the hallway, watching as Anti ran off. He had heard everything. He knew they were lying to him. He wasn't upset but confused.

'So he really is a magician. And he . . . made everyone forget something? Was it really that important?' Dark hummed to himself, 'The magician evidently made himself forget as well. What was so dire that he did that? He must have changed something with my memory as well as the other Ipliers. I would have known, otherwise.'

Dark stared at Marvin's door, 'What secret are you hiding, magician?'

Marvin drew in a deep breathe. He regretted lying to Anti but he couldn't know just yet. He lied about not remembering anything right away. He did remember something.

He just wished it wasn't this particular memory.

Flashback

"Please Anti, stop! I can help you!" Marvin cried out to the glitch as he stood over him.

Anti grinned down at him mercilessly, "And how will you do that? You're useless now! Master has all the power and you are nothing! Nothing!"

"Anti, please!"

Anti swiped his hand out and scratched him across the face, "You should be thanking me.  I could kill you right here and now. But I won't"

Marvin held a hand over his face as it bled. He whimpered and knew the reason why but Anti spelled it out for him anyways.

"You can live with your mistake. This is all your fault" Anti was turning to leave when Marvin rebuttled, saying something he knew he'd regret.

"No, this is YOUR fault. If you never existed, none of this would have happened."

End of Flashback

Marvin felt tears down his face. He should have never said that to Anti. Why, he didn't know. There were still missing pieces but Anti was right. 

Once he took a nap, things were surely to be better.

But Anti's words still echoed harshly and Marvin covered his face with a hand, feeling over the scars Anti left him with.

Anti didn't notice anyone in the living room or kitchen, so he figured everybody must be doing their own thing. He didn't feel safe on his own though at the moment, so he went to the only person who could.

They were still learning to get along properly but Anti didn't care. He trusted him more than Dark at the moment, at least.

He made his way down to the basement and could hear Jackie punching something. When he got down farther, he could see Jackie wailing on a punching bag with a face taped on it.

His face.

Anti would have been scared to interrupt him but knew better by now Jackie wouldn't actually hurt this version of him.

Feeling a spark of mischief, Anti watched as Jackie was about to lunged again when he suddenly yelled out.

"HEY, RED!!"

Jackie missed his target and stumbled, barely managing to stop himself from falling over.

Anti burst out in laughter until Jackie was hovering over him, "Oh you think that's funny, do ya!?" he ruffled his hair and tossed him towards the punching bag lightly. Anti was still laughing as Jackie shoved him and walked over to the weights.

"Why you down here? Shouldn't you be with Marvin, your recent favorite ego? Or Dark~?"

Anti blushed but scoffed at him, "Oh shut it. Marvin's napping and I'm mad at Dark. DON'T SAY IT"

"I told you so"

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO SAY IT!"

Jackie waved to brush it off, "Whatever. Why you mad at Dark?"

"I don't want to talk about it. Why's my face still taped to the punching bag?"

"No reason. Just keep forgetting to take it off. Been pretending it's puppeteer, actually. Helps to put a face to the guy I'll be beating, you know?"

"Yeah. Sure" Anti lightly punched the bag himself but it barely moved.

Jackie noticed and stopped lifting his arm weights, "Wrong form, glitch. But that's okay. You're better at other things. Use THOSE to your advantage"

"Use what? All I can do is teleport through tech and glitch around like a freak. And there was that weird thing with the TV back at my apartment. . . . "

"You . . . haven't tried anything else?"

"What would I try!? I don't remember what I could do, man!"

Jackie suddenly realized he was right. He had been so focused lately on protecting everyone, he didn't take in consideration what Anti could do to help. Granted, he was injured for a while beforehand and wouldn't have been able to but now . . . . . 

"Let me help. I know a few things you've used on me. Could be a big help in defending yourself."

Anti grinned, his eyes practically sparkling, "Really?!"

Jackie snorted, "Really. Now listen up"

The puppeteer looked through a window. He stared through his mask at a familiar face that didn't take notice of him, too invested in his paperwork.

He grinned to himself under the mask, 'Yes, he'll do just fine. I have just enough magic left for this spell and then I'll have to save the remainder to sneak into the house when he's alone. I don't have to take him. Didn't work out too well for me last time. But he won't notice if I take some in his sleep. I'll take what I can before that void bastard shows up.'

He grinned to himself, waving his finger in the air, watching as Henrik stopped what he was doing momentarily and shook his head as the spell worked its magic.

'And then the big plan will be set in place with or without Anti. But by then my sweet little puppet will have regained all of his memories and he'll beg for forgiveness.' He will. I'll make sure of it'