Third Person
Cody sputtered in surprise. "You're my what?"

They laughed. "Your worst nightmare! Well, for the most part. I mean, there is some deeper fears I suppose I could have created, but they would have required a lot of effort and work- this was just easier, okay? Plus, it still scares you to the bone!"

Cody wasn't sure why he was right, but he definitely was. Just looking at him made him want to run away, but his legs didn't want to obey, staying in place and unable to even shake in fear. "I... Don't get it. You're my worst nightmare?"

They paused before clicking their tongue. "Wow, you do not catch on fast, huh? I guess I should start from the beginning. You see, and the beginning of the history of Atlantis there was this guy name Poseidon who-" When Cody began to frown, they started snickering. "I'm kidding! I won't go back thaaaat far! I'll just start out with simple introductions! My name is Clubs! No, not like the entertaining builds or the weapon, though I do like those! The flashing lights and blaring music seem cool, though I personally haven't been able to go to one."

They opened their mouth to go on, but then stopped themselves. "I'm getting off topic again, aren't I? I do that a lot, but I just like talking! It's my little way of expressing myself, though it's not like I have a lot of ways to express myself anyways. I can change my form a little but this was the best I could get. I mean, just look at my options!"

The reflection of Cody snapped their fingers and they morphed into a new one, taking on the form of Professor Pikalus, though the eyes stayed the same as before, which threw Cody off. "There's this guy, but he's really not my style. Plus, he's just human! He has the Hulk and stuff, but he's just human otherwise! And the Hulk barely says a word, so still not my style. Then there's the mermaids," He morphed again, going from Selena, to Sam, and back to Selena. "But they're both girls and don't have legs, and I'm not a girl. I think. Moving on!" They switched between KrakenKid and CannibalCrab. "Neither of them fit me well," Then Tanith. "This one was better but once again, girl and no legs! I like legs!" Another snap of the finger made them Baby Blooper. "And though this one was tempting," They just sighed. "Kinda small for my taste." Finally, they were back to appearing as Cody again. "So this one was the best. You get me?"

Cody blinked, having no idea what just happened. Clubs paused for a long time before frowning. "I did it again, didn't I? It just happens, okay? I like talking!"

Cody finally shook himself out of it and swallowed. "You're name is Clubs?" He asked, hoping to confirm it, making sure he was following the parts that were actually important.

Clubs perked up, grinning wildly. "Yeah! You like it?" He put his hands on his hips, eyes flashing with joy. "I came up with it myself! I figured me and D needed something other than whatever else you guys might want to call us, so I came up with them! Both of them in fact, though it was a little harder to chose his name, but I think I eventually I got it spot on! Plus, he seemed to like it!" Clubs looked back and forth before leaning in and whispering. "I know he's smart, but he's not exactly very creative with his names. Or very creative at all. It's one of his flaws, but I still love him all the same!"

Cody quickly cut in before he could go on again. He really doesn't stop talking, does he? "So, what exactly are you?"

"I already told you, your worst nightmare!" He crossed his arms. "Sheesh, do you not listen or something? That's kinda rude. I went through all this trouble and now you aren't paying attention to me." His head shook from side to side.

Cody gave him a look. "No, I mean what are you? And how come no one else can see you besides KrakenKid?"

Clubs blinked a couple times fast before it clicked in their mind. "Oh! Now I get it! Well, you see, it all started at the dawn of time when this guy named-"

"You already used that joke."

"So I can't use it again?" Clubs frowned. "Bummer, I love that one... Anyways, long story short, I manifested as one of your biggest fears at the moment and nobody else can see me because I'm inside of your mind." Cody tensed but Clubs just whined. "See? You just made me lose all of the dramatic build up I was going to do! Nice going, penguin!"

"I'm afraid of myself?" Cody blurted out.

Clubs looked even more board. "Not quite. Come on, really look at me! What's different? What makes me so scary to you?"

Cody looked them up and down, but one way, or another, he ended back up at his eyes. Those eyes... Eyes? As he squinted at him, Clubs began to slowly nod, making Cody widen them in surprise. "Eyes? Ace's eyes?"

Clubs jumped into the air, clapping his hands. "Ding ding! We have a winner folks!" A laugh emitted from him, but Cody's insides felt twisted when he heard it. "But the eyes are more... Eh, what's that word again? On the tip of my tongue! It means like, deeper meaning or something or other?"

"...Symbolic?"

"YES!" Clubs clapped his hands together, smirking. "Symbolic! The eyes are symbolic! Man, if D could see me now, he'd be so proud that I'm using smart, sophisticated people stuff for my attacks!"

Clubs spaced out for a moment before glancing back over. "Back on topic, those eyes represent one of your biggest fears. Do I even have to explain what it is, because I think deep down, you know what I'm talking about."

Cody's heart pounded. He was right. He was absolutely right, and he hated it with every bone in his body. Cody knew exactly what he was getting at, because it was all he was able to think about earlier that day, and especially now.

"Becoming like Ace..." Cody's words were breathless as Clubs smiled with an all knowing smile that Cody only wished to rip off of his face.

"Yes. You were just like him not too long ago, who's to say it's gone away? Who's to say, you've been like that deep down inside, and only now are you realizing it. The manipulation, the anger, the hate," Clubs giggled, throwing his hands in the air. "Believe me, I know what it's like to be inside of the guy!"

Cody's teeth gritted, then his head shot up to meet Clubs' eyes. He tried to speak, but he was soon cut off. "Enough chit chat, I've gone on for long enough." He brought his hands up to his chest and start to crack his knuckles, right in front of Cody. "It's time for a little action!"

A sharp pain exploded in Cody's head.

*******************************************

Chalk.

Chalk could have many uses, but it was often a toy for children. So they could draw on the ground and have it slowly disappear later so they didn't have to clean it up. Chalk was normally common, you could just pick it up in a store. Chalk could sometimes even be homemade. Chalk was so simple of something to get.

And yet, chalk was the one thing he couldn't find. Everything else on this list? A cakewalk. Most of it was in the hybrid's house to begin with, and though it should've been harder than chalk of all things, even pure magical essence extracted from a creature of creation was found before long.

But. Not. Chalk.

Chalk was the one thing standing in the way of Ace's desires and ambitions. A PIECE OF LIMESTONE USED FOR CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT WAS THE ONE THING HE COULDN'T FIND!

Ace groaned and shook his fists, refraining from punching the nearest wall. The universe hates me. He decided, once and for all. It's definitely taunted me in the past and punched me in the gut, but now? Now it's trying to destroy everything I've worked hard at.

He grasped the hair of the body he took control of, trying to wrap his head around it. Chalk just had to be sold out at the market, and all components too!

He quickly pulled out the large book he carried with him and flipped open to the bookmark he made by folding the corner. He scanned it a thousand times, and gritted his teeth together. "Seriously? The one thing that's absolutely vital to the spell is the one thing I can't find?" He puffed and started to get off the streets, wanting to be free to keeping his eyes ahead with worry of someone noticing his eyes.

He walked right up to the edge of the street and jumped off the small ledge, heading down to the lower level, free of civilization. Animals were the only thing to worry about, and Ace quickly learned their "You don't bother me, I don't bother you." Rule almost as soon as he learned of his possession abilities. A rough night, sure, but educational.

Not only this, but he preferred the more wild terrain of Atlantis. The hills always gave him new places to hide if he really needed it. Lately he learned that he might get away without getting attacked when he possessed people because they didn't want to hurt the host body. A dirty trick, but then again, they'd done worse.

A shock sparked in his mind, making him wince, but he understood why it happened. Can't think about it.

As Ace trekked through the hills, hoping to find limestone, though he had no idea where to look in the first place, he would soon stumble across a heart stopping scene. One that made him quickly rush for cover before taking a full look at it.

Two figures stood in the middle of nowhere, one was crouched down and the other, looming over them. Ace could only move forward to get a better look. Upon further inspection, they were very similar in form. No... Wait... Exactly the same?

Ace rubbed his eyes but it stayed nonetheless, confusing him further. There were two penguins. One was on the ground, holding his head, groaning and gasping for a breath. The other bounced on their feet, as if they didn't notice their pain at all, or rather, just didn't care.

Ace crept closer, questions flying through his mind and when he still didn't understand, it could only be solved by asking them out loud.

So that's exactly what he did.

"There's two of you?"

Though the question didn't change the one of the ground's position at all, it did make the other pause in place. They seemed more interested than surprised, and it wasn't long before they finally turned around.

Ace immediately noticed his eyes, and if that wasn't strange enough, they lit up at the sight of his eyes as well. That wasn't something that anyone ever acted towards him, so he shifted uncomfortably while standing.

The fake Cody brought his hands up to his face, his mouth turning upwards in almost a chilling way. "Well, well, well! This day just can't get any better, can it? Good old Spades! How are you doing?"

Ace continued to stare, his mind short circuiting. "I... That's not my... Have we met?"

They just giggled. "Not like this! I used to be much different. Remember what you did to everyone? Specifically, to the-what'd we call them? The kings?"

It took him longer than he was willing to admit, but finally it clicked in his head. "No..." His voice was barely a whisper, but he quickly sensed his own vulnerability and raised it. "You gained life?"

"Life?" They scoffed. "Please Spades, I gained so much more than that! I gained personality! I mean, just look at me!" They twirled around. "I'm alive! I've even got my own name now! It's Clubs by the way," Clubs winked, clicking his tongue. "Don't wear it out."

Ace wasn't sure if he had a heart, but something was strained inside of him. "You have life... I caused you to get life." He repeated sluggishly. His mind couldn't grasp it properly, spiralling out of control.

"You got it baby!" Clubs laughed. "I actually wasn't sure you would be able to see me, seeing as only the people me and D infected," Ace's head shot up at the mention of a second person. There's another one? Though Clubs didn't notice. "But I think it might be deeper than that. We're still trying to figure out the connection with the kraken, but us and the penguin? And you? It makes sense really. I mean, we all-"

"There's two of you? The one in the kraken gained life too?" Ace couldn't wait until he was finished talking to ask, he needed to know now.

"Yep." Clubs grinned brightly. "All thanks to you, Spades. I-"

"I'm sorry." Clubs stopped in shock, knitting his eyebrows together. Ace held genuine emotion in his eyes as he took in a small breath. "I didn't mean to curse you to this. I thought nothing would happen, and it really shouldn't have. It didn't with the others, why-"

"Sorry? Whatever for?" Clubs asked, bewildered. "I love having life! It's fantastic and I truly feel alive! All these emotions, even if we are dulled down, it's great!"

"It is now." Ace pressed, crossing his arms. "It won't be later. You see, life has this thing it does where it might seem okay, but sooner or later it'll sucker punch you and leave you for dead. It happens to everyone, and it'll happen to you. Don't you remember-"

But the other just rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Always the pessimist, huh Spades? Can't you accept that I'm actually succeeding while you probably would have failed? I know life isn't sunshine and rainbows, but that doesn't mean I'm going to get sucker punched. Our plan is going well."

Ace narrowed his eyes. "For now. I've been around longer than you, I know what I'm talking about."

"And I know what I'm doing!" Clubs argued back. "I'm fine! We're fine! You know what? D and I are going to change the world, and I think that scares you!" He shouted accusingly, storming up to him and pointing, pushing his finger up to his chest and applying heavy pressure until he stumbled back. "I think you're just jealous that we're doing what you couldn't. What you can't do! You might be unstable but we aren't! We're stronger than you will ever be!"

"I'm trying to help you! You don't get it! You're just-" Ace pushed him back but as he tried to step forward, the body faltered. The legs began to freeze up. He looked down, trying to move it but they barely could shake.

Clubs soon saw what was going on and shook his head. "How long have you been in that body? I thought you were getting better at moving around but forgetting to for-how long was it? Sixteen hours or so?"

Ace blinked, trying to flex his hands but they remained stiff as well. "It's only been three..."

Clubs blinked, then he started to chuckle, catching on. "My, my. Little Spades, did our plan succeed? Did you get more power?"

Ace didn't say a word, but he didn't have to as Clubs erupted with laughter. "You did! You really did it! Does that mean you're close to- well, you know!" Ace looked down but gave a nod. Clubs sighed enviously. "Oh, the things I'd do for that power. The shortened time limit must be a side effect, but worth it if it means getting it."

A long silence passed between them before Ace's eyes flickered to the one still on the ground. The real Cody, not the one he was talking to. "What did you do?" He asked, peeking over.

Clubs waved his hand, dismissing him. "Eh, not much. He can't hear you if that's what you're wondering, so don't sweat it. I just gave him a little mind shock, that's all." He turned back to him with a smirk. "He really is afraid of you, you know. Afraid of becoming like you."

Once again, something tightened in his chest but Ace pushed whatever it was away. "So you're-" He was cut off by himself, starting to choke up ok something he didn't even know. All he knew was that the body was beginning to hurt.

Clubs eyes shifted to him again. "You should probably leave that body. You've never been in a body for too long, but who knows what'll happen if you do. What if you fall apart from within? What if the body falls apart? What if you're forced to stay in that body forever because not only did the body get paralyzed, but you do too?"

Ace knew he was playing on his fears, but at this point, he could very well be right. He dug into his own pockets and pulled out the same book as before and chucked it into the coral to hide it. He'd come back for it later, for now, he just needed to get out.

And with that, he let his now much longer form to exit the body and shoot into the air. He could feel Clubs' eyes on him as he did so, and needless to say, he didn't like it one bit.

****************

KrakenKid's chest heaved as he gasped for breath but barely slowed down. He had honestly no idea where he was, or where the Conch Command was either, but he just needed a place to hide and he'd be complete.

He searched left and right before spotting a tall but thin structure. It had a circular base with little columns going in before revealing a domed roof at the top. It looked relatively abandoned and as he came closer, he noticed rumble near it, like structures used to accompany it. Seeing as there was algae and coral growing on said rumble, it meant it was like this for a while.

A perfect hiding place.

KrakenKid squeezed through the pillars and glanced up, finding in the dome, there were ledges. Most likely there for either animals or snipers, depending on whatever this used to be, but it was perfect.

KrakenKid swam up and perched on the ledge, getting as comfortable as he could be. The dome roof hid his body from sight, meaning he was safe... For now.

He groaned, finally taking out the scalpel lodged in his arm and fiddled with it. His arm burned, but there wasn't much he could do about it at the moment.

He sat in silence, trying to listen for anything before he let his eyes flutter shut.

"You should stay on your guard." The yellow eyes flung open and locked eyes with an all too familiar being across from him, perching on the other ledge. Though their body resembled someone close to his heart, the eyes betrayed the fact that it was him. "Wouldn't want to die so soon, would we?"

KrakenKid paused for a while to catch his breath as well as his words. "You're not Darrel." He said at last.

'Not Darrel' chuckled in amusement, flashing his glowing, blue eyes. "Indeed, I am not. This, however, was the most suitable form for me to take." He inspected himself, fluffing the wings out. "Someone who knows you better than you know yourself. Someone you care about. Someone who is intelligent and who can read you, but most of all," They smirked. "Someone who can give a bit of a lip. He were perfect for the role as soon as I saw him in your memories."

KrakenKid scanned him, half expecting something to happen before tilting his head, puzzled. "So... What are you? Or I guess, who are you? I don't remember ever meeting you, and Not Darrel isn't the best name to call someone."

They straightened up. "I have many things to be called, but recently, I've adapted a name, or rather, it was given to me. Diamond." He answered at last. "Though, I've also been called 'D' for some reason. Why give me a name if you're immediately going to shorten it? It really doesn't make sense, but no matter!"

Diamond locked eyes with the Tide Changer. "You have questions, yes?"

KrakenKid nodded, looking him up and down again. "Yeah, uh... Are you the one causing those illusions to attack me?" Diamond nodded. "How and why?"

Diamond took in a deep breath. "Well, you see, I'm inside of you. In your brain really, remember that drive that made you want to attack Atlantis? I was responsible. I created the illusions with what little power I had, and when you indulged in them, I grew stronger. Those things you're seeing are truly in your mind, which is why you're the only one who can see them."

"What about Cody?" He questioned.

"He could see them because he too had something in his head. Clubs and I are connected, and because you were affected, Cody saw them too, making you two connected... For now at least." A spark glinted in Diamond's eyes.

"As for the illusions, they're truly inside of your head. They're destroying you, you know. Killing you from the inside of your own mind. You did manage to get away from them for now by hiding in the corner of your mind, but, sooner or later, they'll find you." Diamond said nonchalantly, as if he wasn't talking about killing him.

KrakenKid's heart pounded. He felt like he was talking to a psychopath, or at least someone equally as messed up.

Diamond then clicked his tongue. "Now for the main event: Why? You're familiar with someone named Ace, or Spades as Clubs repeatedly calls him, correct?"

KrakenKid nodded firmed. You could say that. He thought sarcastically in his mind.

Diamond was about to go on when he narrowed his eyes at him. "You do realize I'm in your mind and can hear your thoughts, right? Drop the sass." He told him flatly before moving on. "Do you remember when Ace possessed you and your friends, but he mentioned being unable to stay in you and Cody for long because your body's kept trying to reject him?" Another nod.

"Well, when Ace did what he did, he left a small piece of him in all of you. The sole purpose of that piece was to infiltrate their minds until they're deep rooted in their darkest thoughts. There, it would wait until Ace gave the signal, normally touching the person and sending a small and unnoticeable trace of energy." Diamond smirked. "A perfect plan."

KrakenKid paused as Diamond sighed. "It would have gone exactly to plan, but the moment he tried to do it to you two, something happened. Clubs and I were weaker at first, and it took a long time to get in your heads but," A chuckle escaped him. "As soon as we did, we grew stronger. We were inside you so long, and something about your bodies triggered something we both gained life. Even better, we found out we were connected. So, we plotted."

Diamond crossed his arms, leaning back and still held up the same smile as before. "We came up with a plan to screw you both over at the same time, and we might have gotten stopped a little by that little-" He waved the form's wing in the air, twirling it. "Spell, but it didn't destroy us. We're like weeds you see: If you don't get rid of all the roots, we'll just grow back, and we'll grow back stronger."

Diamond rested for a second or two before going on. "So, back on track, why we're doing this. Well, as I told you, we both come from Ace's power, and we were given a job to take you both out of the game, one way, or another. You've probably noticed by now, but Ace doesn't like either of you. He really hates Cody, but you're still on his blacklist. So, when we grew into our own people, those feels still stayed, so we don't like you either. If we want to survive, we have to take you both out, preferably through death so you can't come back. And that's what we're doing."

KrakenKid gaped at him. "So that's why? We're a threat and because Ace's feelings were partially transferred to you two?"

Diamond's eyes flashed, sparking with power. "There are other motives as well: We're not too fond of your either, and that's not just coming from him, but also that if we do destroy you from the inside out, we get your body." KrakenKid's eyes winded. "And that's enough to kill a person over when you're like us. So, if you're going to kill a person, might as well have a little fun, hmm?"

KrakenKid really didn't want to know and began to gather his legs, keeping them close to his body. "Fun?" He echoed with uncertainty lacing his voice.

"Oh sure. Just a little psychoanalysis as you die." He put his hands behind his head, looking him up and down like he was prey. KrakenKid found this disquieting seeing as normally he was the predator of an attack but kept his mouth shut. "I chose those illusions for a reason. I dug deep into your fears and brought them out, and just look what it produced! You biggest fear of them all."

Diamond laughed before suddenly shooting forward, still grinning. "And it's your loved ones all trying to kill you. Let's start the analysis."

KrakenKid contemplated just dealing with the illusions and getting away from this guy, but he started before he could do anything. "Now, clearly everyone fears death, so that's no surprise, but this is specifically murder. Fear of getting murdered? Nope, you expect that to happen. Most likely an Atlantean, probably Cody but Professor is likely and you're not sure if either of the Sneaky Sisters have enough loyalty to you, so scratch that. This," He snickered. "This is more personal!"

Diamond gave him another look, carefully reading him. "It has to do with them... Oh. Ohhhhh..." Diamond's grin became even wider. "I get it. You're afraid of betrayal."

His accusation hit too close to home to deny as KrakenKid inched backwards.

"Because if your enemies kill you, that's expected, but your friends? Family? You trust them. Them betraying you would hurt more than any torture Atlantis can come up with. Your heart is stone to Atlantis, but it's so fragile to them."

Diamond sat back, relaxing now. "That's out of the way, meaning all that's left is to see how you deal with it when they catch up. Good luck with that."

KrakenKid gulped and listened for any movement outside, desperately hoping he would find none.

********************************************

Tanith glared at the visitor at her door, her tail flickering from side to side quickly. "I'm fine." She insisted. "I just need some alone time."

"You say "I'm fine" so much when you're really not, so I don't think I believe you."

"Can you please stop being a nosy neighbor and go bother someone else?" She groaned, leaning against the door frame. "I don't want to talk about it, Bartholomew."

Bartholomew adjusted his square glasses on his face and pulled down his sweater vest. "Once again, not sure I believe you. Are you positive a good venting wouldn't be beneficial to you? To my understanding, you need it a lot more often than you think, and with everything that's been going on, surely you've been affected by it."

Tanith stared him down for another half second before deciding. "You know what? I think I do want to scream at a certain know-it-all, nosy neighbor who doesn't have enough b-"

"Leave some for when I'm actually inside, why don't you?" Bartholomew chuckled and pushed himself inside. He hastily made his way over to his favorite chair, the one to the side of the couch, and plopped himself down. Tanith settled on the couch. His arms crossed and looked at her expectantly. "Well? Have at it, what's been eating you?"

Tanith took in a long breath before she started to scream. "Literally everything that could have gone wrong, did! Everything was falling apart and I don't even know how it got pulled back together but now I'm in constant fear that everything is going to go wrong again and my emotions are unhinged and I feel like everything I love can be destroyed in a swift swoop without me being able to do much of anything and I don't even understand what's going on and I just really want to punch someone!"

Tanith paused to take a breather as Bartholomew didn't even flinch, though his eyebrows did arc. "I heard about something going on, though the details are fuzzy. What exactly happened again?"

"Cody and KrakenKid declared war on each other because that thing that affected us last time was apparently still in them so they freaked out. They nearly killed each other too but the only reason they didn't is because of a calming spell that I didn't think I could even cast!" She exclaimed, tightly hugging her sides and letting all the built up stress start to spill out. How she managed to hold on until now was beyond her.

Bartholomew frowned. "Uh-huh... I'm going to assume that you had to pick sides, and knowing you, you freaked out over picking sides and didn't chose either but still stressed out more somehow over not picking either?" He inquired, straightening up to see the reaction Tanith had, trying to guess if he was right.

Tanith looked at him for a while then glared. "Yeah, that's exactly what happened. Everything's just so crystal clear to you, isn't it?"

He chuckled and crossed his legs, allowing himself to relax. "Annnnd here it comes. Let me have it, I deserve it from last time."

Tanith's blood boiled just thinking about last time and she clenched her teeth together. "Oh, I have a lot to say to you. First of all, why can't you just mind your own business? Why do you have to know everything about everyone and just accept that somethings are private!"

He paused, then sighed and once again, adjusted his glasses. "If you're referring to what I think you are, I will admit shame for that. I didn't know at the time, and had I, I would have backed out but the past is in the past. No more investigating people's mental state."

"You sent me into a re-experience! Do you know how much those screw with me? The answer is a lot! I hadn't had one in weeks until you just had to poke around!"

"Like I said, I didn't think twice. I get it, I'm nosy, we've established this. Should we move on, or are you incapable of doing so?"

"That's another thing, why must you keep doing that?" Tanith growled. "You deflect the blame onto someone else so they have to deal with it and forget about what you did! Can you actually stop that, or is it too far lodged into your instincts."

Bartholomew nodded. "That one's new." He commented, mouth twitching upward. "Getting more creative as we go. Our meetings are getting better with time, improving slowly, but all improvement is sufficient. I'm deflective and can't accept my problems and you can't let go of them. Polar opposites, is it not?"

"I can let go of things!" Tanith argued.

"I'll believe it when I see it. Next! I'm assuming something along the lines of me being a coward still needs to be brought up?" He tested, eyes glinting with knowledge.

Tanith huffed. "Well it's true, are you denying it? Or better yet, better question! Let's say me or someone else you know is in danger, and you can help. Answer honestly, would you? Would you actually come to my aid?"

Bartholomew went silent. "Unbelieveable..." Tanith murmured. "You really wouldn't come help me? Even if my life depended on it?"

"I'm not a fighter-" Bartholomew tried but Tanith cut in.

"I'm not supposed to be one either, but I fight for my values! For my home! If you have nothing you're willing to die for, why live at all? I'm not a great fighter, the best I can do is swing around some shields but it really takes a lot out of me, but if it comes to that, I will do it. I want to be able to defend what I stand for."

Bartholomew and Tanith both ceased talking, letting the room go dead quiet. The only sound was the scuttling of feet as Larry entered the room and jumped onto the couch before snuggling up to the hybrid. Tanith started to stroke his head before stifling a laugh.

"How come arguing with someone helps me calm down?" She laughed, meeting Bartholomew's hazel eyes. "You're always right... A little infuriating, but I think that's natural."

Bartholomew shrugged. "I suppose it is, given many people act that way." He trailed off, looking around but frowned when he met her bookcase. "Mind if I fix that? It's bothering me."

Tanith glanced where he was looking, but then stopped. "That's... That's not right."

To the side where Tanith had set up her bookcase, it was filled to the brim with books all in different rows, but one close to the bottom had a gap, making all of the books lean to one side. Tanith made her way to its side and began to look through at as Bartholomew followed. "Maybe you forgot to put it back?" He suggested lightly, but Tanith shooked her head.

"No... This is the magical books row, and on top of that, this is in the middle of the circle magic ones. I haven't used one of these in ages." She started to go through them, but sighed in relief. "It's not one of the original latin ones, thank goodness. I could careless about the translated ones, they have so many errors, but the originals are safe. Even so, that is really weird. Did someone steal it?"

As both of their eyes scanned it, he kept asking more questions. "Which one was it? What's circle magic again? It's seemed to have slipped my mind."

Tanith snapped out of it and quickly explained. "Circle magic is one of the most basic forms of magic. It's normally for people who don't have magic, or very powerful magic, so they can still do spells. Ancient sorcerers figured out there was a way to perform rituals using circles, ingredients and several other things, but something about it being within a circle was important. However these books I had were advanced! They could do some serious stuff!"

"Like?" Her neighbor prompted.

Tanith hesitated. "Let's just say last time I tried to use it, I was trying to perform some... Unnatural things. When someone saw me, they freaked out and stopped the ritual."

He let out a low whistle. "That bad?" Tanith nodded grimly. "What was in the missing one?"

Tanith began to go through her books again, trying to determine which one was missing before it clicked. "The one of creation." She answered at last. "For a reference, one of those spells was to bring people back from the dead. It doesn't really work so don't try it."

Bartholomew had to bite his tongue to refrain from asking why she knew that, knowing it probably wasn't something he should bring up. He diverted his eyes, trying to find something else to focus on, and finally noticed the bandage wrapped around her upper shoulder. "Why haven't you healed that yet?" He knitted eyes eyebrows together and looked up at her.

Tanith hesitated, reaching up to it self consciously. "My healing magic still hasn't come back yet..." She mumbled, holding her hand out and concentrating, but nothing happened. "Not even a spark..."

"Really? How long has it been?"

"Eight hours or so, it should have been back by now. Not even sparks, just nothing. Complete shut down."

"That's... That is very abnormal, I'll give you that." He admitted with a sigh. "What normally causes that?"

Tanith thought back. "A couple things, but I can definitely rule out a few..." She thought to herself, but still came up empty. "I can't think of anything at the moment but-"

Tanith! The voice shot through her head, making her perk up.

Tanith checked around just to be sure it wasn't anyone around her before checking. Cece? You're back? What happened? You went MIA on me for a while there!

I'm fine now, long story. You need to find Cody and KrakenKid, something's wrong.

Tanith nodded. On it. She turned to Bartholomew who was watching the whole time and already had an idea of what was happening. "Watch Larry for me, I need to do something. I'll be back as soon as I can!" She yelled and quickly left.

"Fine, but you owe me, T!" He shouted back.

As she ran through the streets of Atlantis, Professor sent an urgent text to half the people on her contacts list, telling them to gather at the Lab. Fortunately for her, that's exactly where she was planning on going before. Her pace only sped up.

By the time she got there, everyone else was already waiting. Besides Professor and the Sneaky Sisters, Blooper and CannibalCrab were there. It wasn't hard to tell that the scientists working there weren't pleased with the Tide Changers' presence.

However, they both ignored it. Tanith predicted they were probably used to the dirty looks by now.

Professor didn't have to explain much and instead just showed them a tape of a security camera.

It showed KrakenKid and Cody fighting... Something. Though nothing was really there, they were fighting like their lives depended on it, and from their brief conversations, they sure thought so. They got thrown around, pushed back, pinned and beaten to where a bruise threatened to form, but nothing appeared to be there.

"Like something straight out of a horror movie." Blooper grimaced.

"What's going on?" Selena asked, looking up with a puzzled look on her face.

Pikalus glanced back at the tape still playing and back again. "I have a theory. Does everyone still have those needles?"

Though the Tide Changers were confused, the girls all produced a needle they were carrying with them. "Perfect. Here's what I think: Remember how everyone needed to be injected with the antidote before they went back to normal from last time? We didn't do that to KrakenKid and Cody."

CannibalCrab blinked. "So you think it's still affecting them? They seemed normal when they woke up!"

"Doesn't mean they were." Professor pointed out. "Plus, I think maybe the calming spell helped a little. Not enough to take it out clearly, but enough to do something. Bring them back to sense. Everyone get that?" There was a collective nod. "Good, because I'm not even sure if I'm right but we need to find them and fast."

"But how?" Tanith finally said. "They could be anywhere."

Professor was about to respond when his phone buzzed. He checked his phone, seeing a text from PebbleTeen and froze. "I think I might have an idea where they are..."

************

Cody zigzagged throughout the crowd of people who were all questioning what he was running from. A laugh made a chill run down his spine.

"Did you not get it the first time?" Clubs called, from where, Cody wish he knew. "I'm inside your mind, Penguin! You can't run from me! In fact," Another electrifying shock in his brain made his whole body go into a temporary paralysis but he recovered as quickly as he could and kept moving. "That's just to show you that I can kill you right now! But hey! Where's the fun in that?"

Cody ducked into the market place and hid behind a bush of roses, hoping to catch his breath.

Another chuckle just told Cody how close Clubs was to him. "I know D would be a little sour at the thought of me just playing instead of finishing the job as quickly as possible, but he's not here right now! I'm going to take my time until I eventually kill you quickly, and painlessly. You should be thankful!" He called, his voice getting closer, making Cody's skin crawl. "If D was here, you'd be put through a much more painful death! You'd probably be scared to death too! D likes to play with the mind and push you to your mental limits. Me on the other hand,"

A hand snaked through the bushes and pulled Cody out of his hiding place. Soon, Cody found himself staring at a copy of himself with glowing eyes and a grin. "I play physically!"

He picked him up and tossed him hard on the ground, making him tumble and hit the curb of the sidewalk. Clubs delivered a swift kick in the gut three times before Cody finally was able to roll away and get to his feet.

Atlanteans all around him were staring and whispering. How'd he get those injuries? What just happened? They gossiped, but Cody ignored it. Instead, he focused on three figures tearing through the crowd to him, all holding needles.

Professor Pikalus, Sam and Selena and caught up. Selena grabbed his arm. "Don't worry!" She assured him. "I got you! We have a cure!" Selena began to fumble with the needle, hoping to get a clear shot at his wrist but Clubs shook his head.

"A cure? We certainly don't want that!" He rammed Cody into her, and without a firm grip on the needle, it flew out of her hands. Cody stumbled forward as Clubs smirked. "Oops! My bad!"

Clubs took ahold of his arms and drew his leg up before kicking him, then once Cody staggered a little distance away, he ran up and did it again, making him fall over this time.

Selena whipped around frantically. "Where'd it go?" She asked, searching for it but it wasn't in sight. Professor ran up to Cody, trying to see if he could feel whatever was attacking him but was having no luck. Sam gritted her teeth and pulled out her needle, and antidote bubbling within.

Cody got to his feet and bolted, only making Clubs laugh more. "This again? You really don't learn, do you?" He said and followed behind at a slower pace. Seeing as Cody was rushing off, the rest followed, though Selena hesitated in trying to find where her antidote went before giving up and following before she lost them.

The crowd murmured to themselves, but one in particular, who kept their eyes down and refused to meet them with any of them, waltzed over to the small garden in the middle of the market.

There, they bent down and plucked a needle off the ground, examining it with interest. Their blue eyes finally trailed up to where they all disappeared a while ago. Their hands fiddled with the needle, contemplating what to do with it.

****************

On their end, KrakenKid wasn't doing so great either.

He certainly tried to run, but once the illusions caught up, there was no way he could. So far, he earned a black eye, a couple snaps from a crab claw, several tackles from Blooper, and a boxing match, that he badly lost.

He could feel himself slowing down as they advanced, and since they weren't truly there, they weren't even slightly tired.

Diamond didn't lay a finger on him, instead observing the fight and every little move he made with a spark in his eye the KrakenKid certainly didn't like. As he backed up, his chest heaving, he finally spoke up.

"How interesting... They're illusions, just things in your mind and you know that, but you still refrain from attacking them harshly." Diamond stalked over to him, and with KrakenKid already surrounded, he could only accept it. "They'll kill you, you know. They won't feel anything while they do it either. Don't you know this?"

He didn't answer, making Diamond sigh. "I suppose they'll just beat you to death then... I wonder what Clubs would say if he could see me now. Proud maybe? I am taking a more direct approach." He sighed and strolled away from the kraken. "And heaven knows how direct Clubs is." A little laugh came from him.

KrakenKid raised an eyebrow. Is he really doing this while trying to kill me? Really?

Diamond's laughs subsided and he snapped his fingers. "That's enough. Get rid of him."

KrakenKid stiffened as they began to march closer but a couple of voices rang from behind him. "KK! HOLD ON!" One yelled as it came closer. KrakenKid paused and before he knew it, he felt something in his neck and something cold enter his veins briefly before it blended in.

Diamond tensed as his body glitched, fading in and out, but he never disappeared for good. The illusions did the same, and to his dismay, they still carried on catching up to him. It wasn't long before CannibalCrab, the one in the front, threw a left hook and his cheek was filled with pain.

"It didn't work?" CannibalCrab- the real one, KrakenKid could tell- came up behind and watched as he took another hit. KrakenKid stumbled back, shaking his head vigorously.

"What didn't work?" He called to them. "What's going on?"

"The needle was supposed to work!" Tanith cried out. "Was it enough? Cannibal! Give me yours!"

KrakenKid didn't see the exchange behind him, too busy on dodging swings from the illusions, but soon Tanith caught him and injected more into him. The result was the same, still barely a change other than Diamond started to breath heavily.

"Did it-" Before Blooper could ask, KrakenKid had to duck to avoid a swing, but still earned another one from Ena, who caught up. "I'll take that as a no. Why isn't it working?"

"It sorta is." KrakenKid puffed, maneuvering around the three people he cared about, and away from their more aggressive counterparts. "They're flickering but they're not leaving!"

"So it is working..." Tanith studied the ground intently, deep in thought. Her head shot up suddenly. "KK! Try just letting go!"

"What? Are you insane? They're trying to kill me!"

"Yes, but that's the same antidote you used on us! We already know it works, but you might be holding onto them which makes them still stable! They're latched onto you, just let them go!"

KrakenKid stopped in his tracks and let the crab rub up to him, his heart pounding, but he dodged at the last second. "I can't do it!" He screeched. "They're going to kill me!"

"KK! Just trust me!" Tanith cried desperately.

"It'll work!" Cannibal reassured him.

"Dad! Please!"

KrakenKid heard their pleas and glanced at the illusions before relaxing and closing his eyes. "O-okay. I trust you guys." Though his heart didn't slow, he forced himself to keep calm and his head clear.

All sounds stopped for a minute. Then, there was choking.

His eyes flew open, seeing that the illusions had vanished and Diamond was on the ground, gasping for air. He sputtered as his legs began to turn to dust, and he screamed in pain as soon, the rest of him joined it.

Then, he was gone.

The three of them hesitantly approached. "Is it over?" CannibalCrab asked.

KrakenKid let out a long sigh. "Yeah. I think it- oof!" He didn't get to finish. The three of them all instantly tackled him for a hug and pulled him in close. He coughed as he tried to laugh. "Thanks guys but you're squishing me!" His voice strained. They loosened up, but refused to let go.

Though, he didn't want them to.

**********

Cody made it back to the same clearing as before before he tripped on some rocks and tumbled to the ground. Clubs giggled at him as he did.

"Wow." He scoffed. "Pathetic. You can't run! I'm going to rip you apart whether you like it or not!"

Cody got to his knees before Clubs reached him and kneed him in the gut. "You almost done? Just give up! You'll either die yourself, or change into something worse. What's it going to be?"

Cody was too breathless to answer. Thankfully, his friends caught up so he didn't have to.

"I'm ending this." Sam tried to stick the needle in Cody, much to his discomfort. However, right as she found the right place to, it was plucked from her hands and smashed before her eyes.

To her, it was by some invisible force, but to Cody, he could see Clubs do it with a dark smile on his face. Sam was speechless. "There really is something there." She muttered and turned to Pikalus, who was holding Cody steadily. "Don't you have one?"

"Gave it to Cannibal." He told her, holding the penguin close as if he were afraid he'd disappear. "Starting to wish I didn't."

Clubs triumphantly held his head high, but his attitude changed very quickly. In seconds, his eyes nearly bulged out of his head and he breathed heavily. His hands grab the sides of his head. "No... No, no, NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

His wails were distressed and ear piercing. Cody's head was filled with pain as Clubs clutched his heart like someone just ripped it out. He turned to Cody, eyes in disbelief at first but then, full of a hatred and pain Cody had never seen, but had certainly felt before.

"You killed him! YOU KILLED HIM! HOW COULD YOU!" Clubs whole body flickered and Cody noticed the other three all did a double take.

"Where did he come from?" Professor mumbled. Something clicked in Cody's brain. Could they see him now?

Clubs trembled and rammed into the sisters, making them both stumble to the side. "I was going to do this quickly and quietly, you know! I was going to just kill you guys and move on with it! I was going to stay in the shadows, allow only Cody to see me, even though I had the power to manifest, but now? Now it's personal! You killed him! D was the only thing I really cared about, AND YOU RIPPED HIM AWAY FROM ME!"

Sam quickly shielded Selena with her body as Clubs threw a punch, and she took it head on, flinching. "Now I'm going to do it slowly! Painfully! And I'm going to kill just one of you, so you can know how I feel! So you can feel the pain of losing your other half, just like I did! YOU WILL FEEL TRUE PAIN, JUST LIKE-"

Cody heard Professor stagger and something plunge into his next. Clubs gasped and whipped around, angry at first, but then, betrayed.

"S-Spades?"

Cody blinked half heartedly and raised his head. The person he didn't recognize, but the eyes he sure did.

Clubs crumbled to the ground, still staring at him. "Why Spades? I-I thought-"

"I warned you." There was something in his voice that Cody had a hard time placing. Almost... Empathetic. He emerged from his side and stood in front of Clubs. Nobody dared to interrupt. "I told you this would happen. That you would feel unimaginable pain."

Clubs gaped at him before sniffling. "W-why does it hurt so much?"

Ace bent down to his level, putting his hands on his shoulders. "Because you're alive. It hurts because you can actually feel. Life will always do this, and I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to feel this. You weren't supposed to feel at all. I did this to you."

Ace dropped his hands to his sides. "Which is why it's fitting that because I brought you into this world, that I take you out. I'm so sorry, Clubs."

Ace watched with almost sad eyes as Clubs faded away. And before anyone could do more, he too, was gone.

Ace quickly switched into the nearest body he found. His eyes took a moment to adjust before he found himself staring at something.

It was a colorful flower drawn on the ground. Pretty badly drawn, but there was effort, anyone could see that.

The more he stared at it, the more something clicked in Ace's mind and he looked around before he spotted it.

A tub filled with chalk.

He finally found some.

**************
BOOYA!

It done!

Okay, lots of stuff!

First off, since they didn't fully get rid of the stuff in Cody and KrakenKid's minds with antidote, it came back to bite them. Also, here's a different side of Ace I haven't really shown! Oh boy, more of that next chapter! Have I mentioned that I'm SUPER EXCITED for next chapter? Because HUGE information and stuff happens then!

Anyways, each part of Cody and KrakenKid have names, Clubs and Diamond. Plus, Clubs calls Ace, "Spades" whenever he addresses him. Why do those go together? Hmmmmmm

Also, Ace is looking for chalk and one of Tanith's books are gone. Just a coincidence, right?

And... Lots of stuff happened! I'm not sure what else to say but here you go! This was roughly 8000 words making both of these parts combined 14000 words or so. Holy smokes... Hopefully the editing isn't too bad!

Anyways, I hope you guys liked this! Diane sure to comment what you think and such, and I bid thee farewell!

--JustAnAtlantisWriter