They were all arguing. Pitifully of course.

They didn't know what to do.

None of them understood the gravity of the situation.

Darkiplier, the strongest of the Iplier egos had just been kidnapped by the man Anti had been working with this entire time. 

Actor.

Anti didn't completely understand Actor's motives but now it was clear all Actor wanted was a rival. A grand show to shock everyone with, proving how much he is 'needed'. As a hero . . . and he'd take his enemy (Dark) out to gain all the attention.

How petty.

Anti had to admit he was far worse than Jackie. A hero wouldn't do what he was doing, right?

And yet as Anti watched the crystal ball with everyone else, he grew angrier and angrier with DARK.

Why wasn't he fighting back?! Did he WANT Actor to kill him!?!

He didn't understand it. He'd die if he didn't start fighting back soon.

"I CAN'T JUST STAND HERE AND DO NOTHING!" Mark shouted, "Magician! Get me there NOW! I'll settle this once and for all myself!"

Marvin shook his head, "I'm sorry but I can't. I don't even know where this is. I don't think my powers can do anything against .  . .  wherever they are. I'm . . . I'm afraid we can't help him"

"Oh bullocks!" Wilford slapped his own leg, "Well I'll just go and get Darky myself then!"

Suddenly Wilford was gone only to pop back up in another room, "WELL HE'S NOT IN HERE!"

"Goddammit" Mark growled under his breathe. He was glad at least neither Amy not Ethan had to see any of this.

"The void . . . it's in my head. It's where everything was . .. created. Doesn't that knowledge make things easier?"

Marvin looked even more upset, "That makes it even worse. . . . You can't go somewhere within yourself. And a Septic can't go either." he vaguely looked over at Anti but didn't say anything, "Dark's just gonna have to find the way out himself. There's nothing we ca-"

"DON'T SAY THAT!" everyone was shocked to hear Eric yell. The shy boy shuddered, tears streaked down his face. He could barely take seeing Dark like this, "We can't just give up! There's gotta be something we can do!"

"Yeah!" Yandere agreed, "SOMETHING"

The other Ipliers didn't seem as positive, though. They were too brought down by what was happening.

Sean put his hand on Mark's shoulder but he was anything but comforted. 

Mark glared over at Anti, "This is all your fault"

Anti chuckled and stuck out his tongue, "You wish! I actually had nothing to do with THIS!"

"Shut up or I'll take my hat back" Chase threatened.

Anti growled and pouted, "No. It's mine now. Fuck off"

"You little fucking asshole-"

Anti just snickered like a hyena but on the inside, he was just as confused and angry as all of them.

Dark wobbled onto his back and groaned as Actor stood over him with his foot on his chest, "DO IT! SNAP ALREADY, DAMMIT! FUCKING FIGHT ME!"

Dark smiled just slightly, "No. . . .I w-won't." 

Like a spoiled  toddler, Actor kicked his 'toy', "You WILL! Even if I have to beat you down to an inch of your life, you WILL eventually! It won't let you die and we BOTH know that!"

Dark heard something pop in his body and he grunted in pain. Actor smirked down at him, "Just give in . . . . It'll just be better for the both of us. I'll be the hero of this story and everyone will love me again. That's how it was always meant to be . . . . And you . . . won't have to ever worry about if anyone cares about you again. Because you know the answer deep inside. Where are they? No one would help the villain. . . ."

Dark was in pain, bleeding, probably had a couple broken bones but if he was anything, it was tough.

Actor stepped back a little as Dark slowly stood back up on his feet, holding his waist and wiping away the bit of blood on his mouth.

Anti's hackles rose when he heard what Dark said next.

"You're no hero . . . . o-otherwise you'd actually c-care about your fellow egos. You'll n-never mean anything to anyone as long as you p-push everyone away."

Why did that . . . strike something in him?

It angered Anti. He wrinkled his nose at the prospect of what that meant.

He'll never mean anything . . . . as long as he. . . .

The glitch growled, glitching slightly at the thought.

'How fucking pathetic . . .  to be compared to such a child like him' he knew Dark wasn't directly comparing Actor with Anti but it sure FELT like he was.

But still he watched Dark stand tall.

Unafraid.

Why did that stir something in him?

"Please Actor. . . . s-stop this. I know about Celine and Damien. . . M-mark told me"

Actor suddenly laughed, "HA! You think I care!?"

Dark's brow furrowed, "Well . . y-yes . . you're the one that TOLD me to find out"

"I was HOPING it would stir something in you. Make you accept Celine's damning choice. Relish the Damien in you."

Dark shook his head, "Sorry  . . . but Celine and Damien aren't a part of me. You miscalculated in that"

"It doesn't matter."

Dark kept holding his side. He was sure Actor had cracked a rib, "C-celine . . . Damien manipulated her . . .She loved you. I k-know she did. THAT .. . I know"

"Oh really? And HOW do you know that if they're not a part of you!? Huh?" Actor snickered, "You really think you can buy time with your silly words. Talking won't get you anywhere!"

He went to attack Dark again but he dodged out of the way. Just because he wouldn't fight didn't mean he couldn't evade him completely. He had been taken by surprise at first.

"I KNOW she cared! B-but she wasn't the only one! What about Dark Chica! I know she still cares about you, too!"

"It's pronounced 'Sheek-a', you uncultured imbecile!"

He attacked again but Dark once again dodged him, "Okay, okay! But yes! H-her! She always loved you. . . ."

"And she'll be mine again when YOU'RE DEAD!" He lunged once more.

Jackie glanced down at Anti. He didn't know what was going through his head right now but judging by his sick angry grin, it wasn't anything good.

Then again . . . . he was glitching, too. Was he . . . frustrated? About what? Getting caught? He couldn't possibly be getting frustrated with Dark, right?

No, that was absurd.

Was it?

Anti knew Dark's attempts were futile. And he was sure Dark knew it, too.

Why was he just dodging? 

'Fight, dammit! This is so stupid! Do something! I just want out of here already! I want this whole stupid plan to come to fruition already! Fucking Actor!'

Dark's words to Actor prickled at his brain again.

He remembered how Dark always was when Anti acted like Chase. 

So nice and calm. 

Friendly . . . 

And Dark had just tried to defend him a little while ago, too . . . . 

But Anti didn't have any friends! He didn't WANT any! Friends and family were stupid! Everyone else who thought otherwise were weak! And he would bring his plan to completion in killing them all just as soon as Actor killed Dark!

Just as soon as Dark snapped.

But Anti knew Dark wouldn't do that. Not now. He didn't want to hurt anyone again.

Didn't want to be that person.

'Damn idiot . . . . You'll die either way'

It all made more sense to Dr. Iplier now. It wasn't all that hard to put it together. Dark's nightmares . . . they weren't because of his own doing . . . it was Actor's!

But then again, Mark knew all about this, didn't he?

Why did he keep all this information from them? From Dark specifically?

From what Dark and Actor were saying in the void, Damien had caused Celine to make a decision that affected Actor, turning him into what he was now. With a little help.

Dr. Iplier could tell though that Mark regretted his actions.

"The reason you hid all this away. . .." he spoke out loud.

Mark glanced at the doctor, knowing what he was talking about.

"Was because he was afraid of what Darkiplier would become" Google finished.

"Host nodded. Markiplier was in worry that if Darkiplier knew the truth, a part of Celine and Damien would invoke wrath upon him and kill him. Markiplier was-"

"I was worried Darkiplier would snap then and see me as Actor and kill me . . ." he finished, "Yes. . . . I fucked up. I know that. And I'm paying for it now. Dark is paying for my mistake. I should have told him in the very beginning, okay?! I KNOW!"

"As long as you get it, dude" Bing snorted.

Anti snickered but it fell on deaf ears. It was a humorless action, though. Here Actor was supposed to help HIM but where was he? Playing games with Dark, not getting his way and throwing a temper tantrum.

Why did it remind him  so much of himself?

Anti felt his hackles rise. No . . ..  he wasn't anything like Actor. . . . . 

Dark dodged another attack from Actor.

He felt angry, yes but not for the reason Actor wanted him to be.

Dark retained no memories from Celine or Damien's lives. He didn't know Actor personally.

But he did feel his pain.

He felt sorry for him.

To be controlled by his anger so much that it consumed him completely. . . . and now without even realizing it, he was wanting Dark to do the exact same thing.

It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. And Dark wasn't going to be a part of it.

"I. . . .  I'm done, Actor"

Actor halted. He was breathing heavily and stopped all movements. He was surprised at first at the sudden words. No, it wasn't sudden. But it was troubling at how calm Dark suddenly was. It seemed he had given up in all the arguing and attempts at compromise.

"No, you're not . . . not until I get what I want" Actor edged closer to him, "And I always get what I want, Dark .  . . . even if I have to put those memories in you and FORCE you to become the very thing you don't want to be!"

Actor's fingertips burned in a black aura, "My perfect villain" his hand almost touched Dark's forehead.

*Fffwweeeeeeeeeeoooooooo* a sharp whistle halted him.

Dark and Actor turned. Someone else just so happened to appear. But how? 

THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THERE!

Jackie turned sharply to see Anti was gone, having left the cuffs, rope AND Chase's hat behind.

"GODDAMMIT! Marvin, I thought those were your spelled cuffs!"

"They were! I don't understand! He wasn't even supposed to be able to get there to begin with!"

"Unless" Mark thought of something, "Actor took him there before . . . ."

"Anti?" Dark was surprised to see him even if still unsure as to why he was there.

"Fucking pest" Actor growled, "Get out of here! I don't need your fucking help!"

"Really?" Anti giggled, twirling around his knife in his hand with sass, "Because it seems like you're having a setback . .  with this AND our deal. Tell me . . . were you ever going to follow through on your end?"