I dunno why, but I feel like my writing's been very... off since I posted 21. You guys feel that way? I've been fighting with this chapter for a while now and it's not nearly how I wanted it to be... but I need to move on for now. I'll probably come back and edit this later, but for now.... *shrugs*

HERE YA GO LOVELIES ENJOY

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Point of View: Virgil, First Person
Timeline: Flashback (cont.)

A loud knock came to my door and I ignored it, not intending from leaving my position on the couch.  I had just tossed all my blankets in the dryer and was now sitting in a big pile of warm blankets, to help me fall asleep with my racing thoughts.

Why would Roman kiss me?

I shoved my face in the blankets, trying hard not to over think it. He wanted something from me, but what? What did he want from me so badly that he would stoop as low as threatening to break my heart?

I knew he didn't know about my slight crush on him. Surely Roman wasn't observant enough to figure it out - he too self-centered for that - so what did he want from me? What he did want me to do for him so badly that he would do that?

The knocking at my door become more and more insistent and I sighed, waving a hand at the door, which unlocked with a simple click.

And Roman came bursting it.

I had to admit I was surprised, not at seeing him, but the state at which he was in.  A bead of sweat ran down his face, and half of his uniform had been blackened with - with soot?  Prince could hardly bear to get a mineral of dirt of his beloved uniform - what could've happened to result in this?

"Please, Anx - I need your help and we don't have much time," Roman pleaded, eyes wide and earnest.

I shoved aside the sheets, concerned - slipping right into my boots instantly.  "What's going on?" I asked, my heart rising to my throat? What had happened? Was he hurt?!

"The Sides in the Imagination are under attack, please we have to go NOW," Roman said hurriedly, pulling out a small, stick like object out of pocket, no larger than a tube of lipstick.  He raced over to the wall closest to him and draw a large lopsided rectangle (he really wasn't good at art).  The lopsided rectangle glowed when all the lines connected and the glow trailed inward, revealing a portal to the Imagination.

Honestly, I haven't been there often. 

Actually, let me rephrase that.

I've never been to the Imagination.

But something told me that the old-fashioned-right-out-of-a-traditional-fairy-tale like city wasn't usually on fire and under attack by a... large... 

Dog? 

"A Hell-hound - a demon from the dark part of the Imagination," Roman explained, answering my unasked question.  "Please, Anx, I need you're help. Please, please come.  I have to save them and I can't do it without you," Roman pleaded.

Well my answer was simple.

"I need a weapon," I said, setting my jaw. I couldn't leave those innocent people to burn.

"Here," Roman said handing me a thin, 2 foot, black, circular tube.

I held it in my hand limply, staring at him in confusion.  I had kinda expected... ya know, some sort of a weapon to work with - not a... what was this anyway?

Roman took it back from me, looking slightly exasperated at my confusion, but quickly explaining what he had given me.

"Wrap both hands around it and pull out," he explained, doing as he said. The tube snapped and it was suddenly a nun-chuck.

My lips parted in surprise, but Roman didn't acknowledge it. 

We didn't have time for that. 

They didn't have time for that.

"There's a small latch on the outer left side which makes it flip back to the tube - watch your fingers it happens fast," Roman explained hurriedly. "For long range weapon form, just flick it outwards," Roman snapped it out like a whip for demonstration.

When Roman brought it it back in front of him, he was know holding a staff, the perfect height for us.  A ribbon of purple lights pulsed on the inside.

"Used to make it stronger," Roman explained quickly.  "Tap all the bands quickly to change back to the tube, but we have to go now," Roman said, not bothering to see if I followed.

But of course I did.

The smell was what hit me first, the smell of smoke was nearly enough to make me burst into coughs.

And Roman was already halfway down the hill he had landed us on.

I rushed and struggled to keep up with him.  I could tell he was slowing down for me and I immediately felt guilty, but there was no time for it to last long.

"Have you ever fought one of these things before?" I asked, tentatively, once we started getting close to the giant, terrifying dog.

"I took care of all the sides that live here earlier," Roman said. "But this... I needed your help for something so big."

I nodded. That made sense as to why there was so many fires.

I noticed that he didn't actually answer my question. 

I guess I'll take that as a no... 

"So what's the plan?" I asked, gripping my staff tightly.

"I'll go on the left. You come from the right. I'm thinking inside it's mouth would be a vulnerable spot to finish him."

 I raised my eyebrow in response.  "You realize that you are going to have dodge that big mouth of teeth right?"

Roman merely grinning in response. "Are you doubting my ability, my Dark Prince?"

I scrunched up my nose disapprovingly at the name. "I'm no prince," I defended weakly.

Roman brightened at the statement.  "But you didn't say you weren't mine," he grinned and was gone before I could even begin to argue otherwise.

I scanned the battle field for Roman, which was quiet difficult between all the smoke and debris.  I silently prayed that everyone was safe.

And then I saw Roman attack.

I had been so busy looking for him, that I had totally forgotten my role - Roman was depending on me to attack from the right side - and I was still a hundred or so feet ahead of the beast, leaving Roman fighting alone.

Well.

I guess we're gonna have to improvise a bit.

I'll distract the beast head on, which will hopefully give Roman the time to climb up and -

Oh, maybe I should actually act on this because while I'm thinking of this absurdly dangerous plan Roman is out there all on this own -

Geez Anx just mOVE!

And I realized what was happening.

I was having a STUPID ANXIETY ATTACK RIGHT N O W

MOTHE-

I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself down.  E-Everything was happening so fast, I just needed one second to-

I didn't have a second.

"ANX!" Roman yelled, rolling out of the way of a giant,hell-hound paw that could have easily crushed him.  He had a big smear of soot on his cheek that I could see even from here. "I could REALLY USE SOME HELP OUT HERE!!"  Roman yelled even louder, jumping up in the air, wings out wide.

My breath hitched. I hadn't seen Roman fly before, beyond that one time in the kitchen.

But here he was... really flying.

He looked incredible - soaring fast above the beast, like some sort of avenging angel.  Deadly and the most beautiful thing that I've ever seen.

The creature's head snapped where Roman's body had been only moments before, beady red eyes searching for him hungrily as Roman flew behind the creatures head.

I stared - absolutely horrified - as Roman dropped down onto the creatures head, barely managing to stay on.  The creature swung his paw over the top of his head, trying to knock Roman off, but somehow Roman found a way to hold on.  I waited for Roman to go flying, but he held his ground.

Finally, Roman brought his sword down through the top of the creature's head, aiming for what must've been a soft spot.

Or.

At least he tried to.

Who knew that hell-hounds possessed invulnerability, making it impossible to kill with conventional weapons?

Not me.

Not Roman either.

Roman's sword shattered the moment it came in contact with beast's skull.

And when I say shattered, I mean it SHATTERED.

And then Roman was falling.

Falling from over 20 feet off this massive hell-hound.

And I panicked, my anxiety attack hitting me harder than ever, and I released all the pressure that I hadn't even realized I was gathering, unintentionally triggering my power.

I let out a loudest, most powerful scream that I've ever uttered - which twisted into a bright burst of purple light, not unlike a supernova.

My power - it's something that I've only used once before, and I had never intended on using again.

Panic.

The hell-hound's tail dropped quickly between it's legs, frightened as it was hit with a solid wave of my panic and it disappeared with a sudden poof - leaving behind the smell of smoke and a crumpled Roman on the ground.

I dropped to my knees as a wave of dizziness hit me and I promptly emptied my stomach at my feet.  Feeling lightheaded, I stayed there momentarily unable to hear anything at all as my senses slowly came back to me.

Dizzily, I made my way to my feet, stumbling over to Roman, who was still lying in a crumpled heap on the floor.

Getting to my feet proved to be a poor choice, and I instantly was forced to my knees, struck with another wave of dizziness and finally fainted.

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I bet y'all had forgot about the powers, didn't ya?  So:  Roman has Creation, Patton has Empathy, and Virgil has Panic (I hope that wasn't too confusing).  I'm sure y'all got some question and hopefully I can answer them... inthenextchapterhaha.

Voters:
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Commenter: AnAverageGayFangirl
Comment: If there is a happy ending and you don't plan on tearing my heart to shreds in the sequel, yes. If there is a sad ending and you plan on fixing my shattered heart with the sequel, yes. If there is a sad ending and you continue to crush my soul with the sequel, yes.

Me: X3

And I won't be posting tomorrow - I wanna spread that next couple of updates out a least a little so I don't drive myself up the wall. SO next updates should (let's cross our fingers) be on Thursday and then Saturday as usual to make up for me being MIA last week :)

- Max :)