2022 (Before Anti Returns Home)

"You" Anti's body crackled and snapped with electricity, anger filling him, "You're lying"

The demon that stole his face smirked viscously, "Do you really think I care much for lying? When the truth can be just as painful if not MORE?" He cackled, "I'm a demon, my dear fool. I go for agonizing pain. More than you've ever made or known, kid." he twirled the blue crystal ball in his fingers.

Anti saw red. If he really was telling the truth . . . then he had to get that ball.

"Give her back"

"Oh so you DO believe me now?" he snickered, "But no . . . she's mine, now. And so . . is her power"

Anti snarled and shook his head, "Like HELL I'm gonna let you take her away from me!"

"AW, is the little snappy fool upse-"

Anti shot out a blast his way, making the demon have to counter. He held the ball in front of him and used Mira's power to go against Anti's.

It was far more effective than either of them thought it'd be.

Anti stared at the demon, dumbfounded. There was no question now. Mira WAS in that ball.

'I have to get her out of there'

But before he could even think of a plan, the demon appeared before him with an insidious grin, "It's been a long time since I've been out to play!"

Anti felt the air get sucked out of his lungs as the demon ripped out some of Mira's power from the ball and into his hand. 

He stuffed the crystal in his pocket and lunged for him.

Back at Anti's house

Sean was the first alongside Jameson to come running to him. 

Even the other egos looked stunned. None of them had ever seen Anti this hurt before. None of them had ever seen him faint, either.

"Henrik!" Sean shouted for him, "Get over here NOW!"

The doctor flinched out of his frozen state and rushed over to help. 

The Iplier egos just watched as Sean, Jameson and Henrik carried him over to his couch.

Actor groaned, "Ugh, I wonder how he's gonna feel when blood gets all over that thing"

"I doubt he'll care" Dark and Jackie both said at the same time before awkwardly looking away from each other.

Wilford suddenly popped back over to the couch and stared down at Anti, "Well why ain't he waking up!? Get up now, sleepy head!" he slapped Anti hard across the face.

"WILFORD!" Mark marched over and gently escorted him away from Anti who groaned softly from the slap.

Chase couldn't help but snort, trying to hide his smile, "You gotta admit, that was KINDA funny"

Marvin elbowed him, "This is serious, Brody. It's obvious that whatever Anti went up against, it was bad. And that means-"

"Little Mira's in big trouble" Illinois sighed, crossing his arms.

"Affirmative" Google agreed.

Jackie rolled his eyes, "Now how do you know MIRA isn't the one that did this to him?"

"Boy" Illinois huffed, "Because if you don't know by now, you're seriously just a big dumb monkey"

Jackie was actually kind of stunned for a moment, "What did you just call me?"

Actor shushed them all, "SHUT UP! I think he's waking" he continued to sip his tea, pinky out.

Dark stomped over by the couch, hovering to see that Actor was right. 

Anti groaned lightly and his eyes moved behind his eyelids before cracking open slightly.

Only to then to stare up at Dark staring back down at him.

Everyone watched, completely put off.

Anti grit his teeth as tears flowed from his eyes. He muttered out weakly, " . . . . I . . . . I'm so sorry"

Dark just stared down at him for a moment before closing his eyes, trying not to show any emotion. He stood up suddenly and turned away, clenching his fists.

Only Mark and Actor saw the tears coming down his own eyes.

Anti continued to cry, suddenly gripping on Sean's shirt, " . . . . . I . . . . I-"

Sean ran a hand through his hair, "Shhh . . . . just relax for now, Anti. We'll figure this out."

Jameson snapped his fingers and pulled out the piece of paper he had picked up earlier, giving it to Anti, 'Take it', he signed to him.

Anti weakly took the paper and unfolded it one-handed only to cry harder seeing the picture. He covered his eyes to try and prevent them from seeing him cry any more.

Dark had turned back around at this point and saw the picture.

It was of Anti and Mira together. Mira taking a selfie with him. They were both smiling. So happy.

Dark felt his anger rising again, "I TOLD you . . . to stay away from her. And now look what happened. . . . this is all your fault"

"Dark-" Mark tried to stop him.

"No, Mark" Anti grunted softly, , cradling the picture to his chest, ". . . . . . He's right. And I'm sorry, Dark . . . it's just . . . I've never felt so  . . . happy when I was around her. . . . She was . . . is my best friend. I couldn't just let that feeling go. This IS all my fault"

"Nah" Illinois snorted, "Sorry Anti but you're wrong. Wouldn't have made any difference if you stayed away. She'd just find another way to come to YOU. And you KNOW that."

"She was instead a stubborn one, wasn't she?!" Wilford laughed whole-heartedly, "Ah well! She'll be back! Just like Celine! Hahahah!"

Actor coughed but said nothing on the matter.

"So where is she, Anti?" Marvin came a bit closer, "You obviously found the  . . whatever it was that took her. Don't tell me she's-"

"She can't be" Dark stopped him, "Not her."

Anti shook his head and Henrik just finished bandaging and medicating him.

"He trapped her . . . while I went out to get groceries. . . . . where's my fooking laptop?"

"We already saw the footage, bro" Chase picked up the computer to show him, "Although, it DID glitch out when you walked in the house. We didn't get to see what happened after the . . . other you walked in"

Anti sat up on his couch, "I'm surprised you all aren't accusing me. Didn't know you guys knew-"

"That he could change into other people?" Actor looked pointedly at Dark, "You can thank me for that! No, seriously, I would LOVE to be thanked already"

"Fuck off" Anti scowled.

" . . . . I guess that's better than nothing" Actor sighed loudly.

Chase gave Anti his computer and he hit the keyboard, making it continue the video, "Sometimes it just needs some tough love with me"

The video continued and they all watched. 

Before Mira could attack the demon, it took out a blue crystal ball.

"I TOLD YOU!" Actor jumped up and down, "SEE!? SEE?!"

Dark grabbed Actor by his hair and threw him aside to watch the video better.

"HEY!"

Back on the video, it was obvious Mira was about to attack, her eyes and skin glowing. But then then the crystal ball emitted a strange dark glow. There was a flash of light and when the picture came back . . . she was gone.

Anti sighed, "I didn't know exactly what happened before. I was angry. She just disappeared. I thought maybe he either just kidnapped or killed her. Either way, I was gonna get revenge for her.  . . . he was right. I was foolish"

Jackie snorted, "Yeah, man, he really fucked you up. I'm impressed"

"Jackie, go outside" Sean ordered.

Jackie just stared at him, "What? Why?"

"You're on time-out. Go the fook outside. If you're gonna act like a child, I'll treat you like one"

Chase nodded, "Seems pretty fair, actually."

Jackie squinted but rolled his eyes, "Fine. I'll keep look-out, anyway while I'm out there. Don't know if that THING will return"

"So she's in that crystal ball?" Dark asked, "Am I understanding this correctly?"

Actor rolled his eyes, "Took you long enough"

Anti just nodded solemnly.

"Alright then. Google, Illinois, Wilford. Let's go get her back"

"You don't stand a chance, Dark" 

Dark turned back on Anti, "In case you've forgotten . . . . I'm stronger than you"

Anti stood up, albeit weakly, "And in case YOU'VE forgotten . . . . this demon bastard had her power on tap. Took it right out of the ball to use with his own hands and now keeps it in reserve in his OWN body. Mira . . . is stronger . . . than YOU"

Dark snarled for a second.

"However . . . he IS vulnerable now. Which is why we should . . . I know this is off-brand for me. . . but it's why we should think of a plan first before striking him head on"

"Scheisse , that really IS off brand for you" Henrik muttered.

Dark raised a brow at Anti, "Wait . . . why would the demon be VULNERABLE right now?"

"Dark" Anti smiled. He didn't smirk. He smiled, "You're about to like me a bit more for this"

Just then, Anti reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out a brightly glowing blue crystal ball.

Everyone stared stunned. How in the hell was he able to hide that in his pocket?!

Dark just stared. He couldn't even move, "I . . . you . . . what?"

Anti smiled and cradled the ball to his chest, "The bastard was kicking me in the dirt when I managed to snag it out of his own pocket. I got her, Dark."

"You . .  you got her?" Dark shuddered and reached forward to lightly touch the crystal ball. It glowed slightly brighter and Dark smiled, a new hope brimming in him, "Mira . . . "

"Marv" Anti motioned to the magician, "It's your job now to figure out how to free her. You do that and the rest of us figure out a plan to take the bastard out while he's . . . vulnerable"

Marvin grinned, "Anti, you sly son of a bitch!"

"Gotta say, I'm impressed" Chase pat Anti's back, "Good job, Anti"

Jackie had been watching the interaction, having not left for outside yet. Really, it was surprising. He actually didn't expect Anti to feel so much for this woman. Perhaps he really did feel for her.

Sean put a hand on Anti's shoulder, "I knew you wouldn't just leave her behind. I knew there had to be a reason you returned at all."

Anti nodded, "Of course." he shifted the ball closer to him again and smiled as it glowed, "I won't leave her again. . . I'll never leave her side"

Dark felt a twinge of jealousy rise inside of him. Not for the way the two felt about each other. No. But Mira always was so close with Anti. It caused Dark and Mira to drift apart. Their bond as siblings broke and he was soon replaced with Anti. She gave all her attention and affection to HIM. It BURNED Dark.

Yes, he was happy that Anti managed to swipe the ball away from the demon. But he was also angry with him, still. Anti held onto the ball so closely. It was as if he'd never let anyone else near it OR her.

'I don't know your feelings, Anti. . . . it's clear you care for her. But how far? Nevertheless, when this is all over, you'll never see her again. I'll make sure of it'

Actor saw just in time, the look in Dark's eyes and he sighed internally to himself, 'Oh boy . . . here we go again with Damien's unruly jealousy. And I thought I was bad'