That's when.

That's when it all comes back. The people I've been seeing with Leo. They're his family. My red power, it's the element of love. Love like one feels for their brother or sister. For Leo's family is who I represent. I used to represent K, but then, when this very book was being written, Leo learned about K's mask. It all makes sense now. I still represent K, I think, but K also has their own character in, well, K. So, maybe not, if only for that reason. Now K, his closest sibling, is the last mask.

I turn to look at Leo. I can see Wolf talking to Armored, which means he's probably gonna hijack this scene right about-

*"I really am sorry mom," I explain, "I just heard what you did and I freaked. I didn't bother to think you had a reason. I'm so sorry."

*"Hey hey," Armored hugs me, "it's OK. We all make mistakes. What's important is that we learn. It's alright Wolf. Just, don't jump the gun like that in the future, OK?"

*"I won't," I hug her back, "I promise. Now, guys, get ready. We have a bit of a fight ahead of us..."

"Alone!?!" I exclaim.

"Yeah," Leo replies, "I'm doing this alone. I've had to many aniexty attacks preparing my case. I'm not going to let you throw that away with a brute force attack. I have to do this alone."

"We can't allow that!" Hope exclaims, "first of all, you haven't fixed Fando's soul. Second, you'll get destroyed! Third of all, you can't face this alone! What about us? What about your freinds?"

Leo surrounds me with magic, fixing my soul as everyone else catches wind of what's going on.

"You're not real," he glares, "I am. K is. You represent real people. I'm actually a real person, and until I make myself a character at the end of this series you're all gonna back off."

"Leo this is suicide," I plead.

"They will crush you!" Sour exclaims.

"Dude let me help," Wolf pleads, "they have a mask. I say we attack."

"I outta kill you for that," Leo hisses.

"Leo," Abby asks, "what if you fail? What if you lose?"

"Take it from the weakest one here," Armored pleads, "you're in over your head."

"We're in my head," Leo chuckles, "and I have to try. Fando, you understand, right? You understand why I have to do this alone."

"I do," I sigh, "you really don't want to, do you?"

"No," Leo sighs, "I don't. I've avoided it for so long, but I have to now. Thanksgiving approaches fast as I'm writing this and after my research..."

"That would be a holiday where parents let kids drink," I admit, "OK guys, let him go."

"Over my dead body," Wolf growls.

"You can't be serious!" Hope exclaims.

"I've already made my mind up on many things," I explain, holding my masks, "and this is one of them. Fando, if you please."

Fando summons a massive wall of red, magical energy, separating me from the others.

"Leo!" Abby pleads.

I turn around and block them out as they all watch in tense anticipation for what comes next.

"Dear sibling," I greet.

"Leo," K returns in kind.

"It didn't have to be this way," I plead, "I don't wanna write this."

"Then stop here," K smirks, "and things can go back to how they used to be."

"You know damn well I can't do that yet," I sigh, "not until this book ends. Look at the world, tell me the status quo is OK."

"It is," K glares, "kids drinking a little is fine. I saw a kid with heart issues who got a doctor prescription. If not for wine, he'd be dead!"

"That's different!" I exclaim, "if it's a medical thing, that's diffrent! The doctor prescribed it, and that was probably a last resort! That was also years ago and it was recently discovered that grape juice does the same shit for the heart! Then there's the countless risks! Yes, there are very rare medical cases, I'll give you that, but that's a last resort! You can't generalise a rule based on an exception! Hell, based on what I've recently found, I'm tempted to call bullshit on that doctor! I'm trying to help you K! It's very important you listen to me! That instance was a last resort, at best. At worst, it was a really really bad doctor or a call based on outdated research! K, please, listen to me! I have statistics and science to back me up for days! Just-"

"That's enough outta you! Dammit, there's only one way this is gonna end huh?" K sighs.

"I'm afraid so," I sigh.

A battle starts. A somber, lingering tune begins to play. Some part of the piano based tune makes me remember happier times. When my life was a blissful lie. When I wasn't in constant fear for everyone I care about from various types of abuse. What K is doing is a form of neglect, at best. Still, I don't wanna do this. I'm almost certain K doesn't want to either, and the sad, almost haunting melody shows this. Neither of us wanted this day to come, but we both knew. It was fun, pretending it wouldn't come, but here it is. The day where I'll lose K again has come. Cause I know, no matter how strong my evidence or how strong my case, it won't matter.

...

Leo is despairing.

Leo Writes With Hopelessness.

Inky energy surrounds K, sapping them of their strength.

K's stats decreased.

K begins to charge an attack in their hands.

K is charging!

Leo is despairing!

Dammit I die from despair next turn! What do I-

Ugh. I hate I have to admit I have this thing.

I unzip my jacket, and stored between it and my shirt, is a teal teddy bear. One I've been using to cope with things for a long time. It doesn't betray me. It doesn't hurt me. It's just an object. It's fake, just like Wonderland. The only issue is the bear doesn't help with the fact that I feel like I'm regressing. I feel like I'm not growing up, if anything, I feel as though I'm going back to a child like state. That's why I have it. Wonderland however, wouldn't have these drawbacks...

Leo cuddles his teddy bear.

Leo is no longer in despair.

K is charging.

It's clear K doesn't have much longer charging that attack. I have three turns, tops.

Leo Writes With Truth.

I feel the overwhelming weight of the harsh reality crushing me as I channel my power. However, it gives my attacks more oomph. A fair trade off if you ask me.

Leo's agility decreased.

Leo's attack drastically increased.

I change facades as K continues to charge.

Edgar Writes With Obsession.

Rather than attacking, Edgar casts another buff to our attack, inky energy surrounds us and...

Edgar's attack increased.

Edgar's defense increased.

K is about to attack. I put Gen on, taking Edgar off. The entire time remaing two faced, having my own mask on the whole time.

I prepare to attack...

No.

I won't do it. I won't. I have only one other choice. I remove Gen.

Leo guards.

K attacks with a beam of ink. Everything seems to stop before me. All time freezes as I see my final failure.

I've played this out so many times in my head it's like an echo of a memory. I knew I was to weak to save them. I expected this outcome fully. Now K's going to stop me.

How many? Of the many why my sibling?

My end is coming. I could strike, change my mask, or let them stop me.

Is this really my ending?

K, my best friend. My closest sibling. You are the one who showed me.

It appears my failure is my legacy.

I change masks to Edgar.

Legacy? What legacy? All we did was write a story no one will ever get to see.

You wrote this shit to tell a story. To spread a message unseen.

This world is one of impurity!

Tick tock! Tick tock!

I change masks to Gen.

We're running out of time!

How many more tonight?

Tick tock!

Our quest is futile. That 50% thing is true. That is proof we lose!

I change masks back to Leo.

I catch a glimpse of Wonderland.

I having loving parents in Wonderland.

K is safe in Wonderland.

There is no pain in Wonderland.

I change back to Gen, then Edgar, then Leo, switching between them unsure who to use.

Tick tock!

Tick tock!

Tick tock!

Dear sibling!

I hug K. I wouldn't do that in the real world, but it's only for dramatic effect in the story. Yes I am well aware this allows the beam to rupture my gut, but I've accepted my fate. I'll present my case in due time in the real world, hopefully not anytime soon, and end this book. I'll tell you, readers, how long that takes me. Hopefully, I never will. Then, I shall return to Wonderland...

"I failed you my dear sibling," I hold back tears, "but this world is beyond repair anyways."

"And thus my story is over."

"Leo wait!" K exclaims.

Leo took 9999 mortal damage...