Across The Border {Logicality, Dukeceit, Prinxiety}

~3~

Remus tossed and turned in his bed, his legs getting tangled in his sheets while his arms flail around in annoyance as he sadly couldn't find himself falling asleep any time soon.

Almost as if something (or someone) was purposely keeping him awake...

Groaning quietly, he trudges out of his room to check on his best (and only) friend. He finds the lying trait sleeping soundly with his tongue slightly out.

Adorable. Remus cooed in his mind, deciding not to disturb his snake-faced friend from his slumber.

So instead, he exits the Dark Mindscape to take a short stroll out into the Imagination. He secretly loves sitting by the river he and his brother used to play in. The mere memory made his heart ache, but what else could he do other than dwell on old memories?

"AAHHHH!!!"

A terrified scream snaps Remus out of his thoughts. The familiarity of the voice made his heart race as he began running towards the sudden commotion.

What he finds makes him both overjoyed and panicked all at once.

The darker Side of creativity watches in fear as his brother gets pinned to the ground by the snarling creature above him.

Roman tries blocking the beast's mouth with his sword, but it only leaves him defenseless as his weapon gets thrown to the side. The young creative trait gulps as he closes his eyes in defeat, waiting for the beast's sharp teeth to puncture into his skin.

But it never comes.

He feels the weight on top of him get pushed off harshly as a voice angrily shouts, "GET OFF OF MY BROTHER, YOU FOUL BEAST!"

Opening his eyes once more, relief floods his face as he finds Remus standing over him protectively, his brother glaring at the monster with a fire in his eyes.

"You want a piece of him? Well, you're going to have to get through ME first."

The creature lets out a roar and charges forward, Remus doing the same while summoning his morning star. The darker trait attacks the beast with no mercy, gaining a few scratches in the process, but is clearly the one winning the fight.

Roman quickly retrieves his sword from where it got knocked out of his grasp and joins his brother.

Together with their respective weapons, the Creativitwins attacked with one last jab and hit towards the beast's chest before watching it poof out of existence, leaving behind a trail of smoke that slowly disappeared, too.

Silence fell upon both boys.

Then they broke into relieved laughter.

Which then was replaced by tears of joy as they dropped their weapons to engulf the other in a warm, long-awaited embrace.

"Remus, you saved my life!"

"Us brothers gotta have each other's backs, remember?" The darker trait reminds fondly, feeling all sorts of emotions that made him quite lightheaded.

"Oh, I never thought I'd see you again! I even planned to cross the border just to- " Roman cuts himself off when he finally notices, "Wait... You crossed the border!"

"I couldn't let you die, br-...brother." Remus chuckles, but it comes off weak and quiet.

Before Roman could ask if he was okay, Remus suddenly collapses in his hold, the other barely able to hold up their body.

"Wha-? Remus?! Remus! What's wrong?!" The young light Side asks hastily, concern and worry evident in his face. He lowers himself to his knees so he could lay Remus down on the grass, not having any idea what was happening to his brother.

"Brother, please! Tell me what's wrong so I can help!" Roman was sobbing at this point.

The other tried to speak, but found that he physically couldn't. He felt like his life was being drained out of him, making it impossible for him to even open his eyes.

Roman was left to watch as the tips of Remus' hair began to turn white, "No, no, no, no, no, no! What's happening?! Why- "

"ROMAN!/REMUS!" Three different voices shout at the same time.

It was Patton and Logan! But he didn't recognize the other voice that came from up ahead.

The fatherly trait immediately tackles him in a tight hug while Logan places two fingers on the side of his brother's neck.

"He's fading..." The logical Side claims sadly.

Patton gasps as tears sprout from his eyes, "How can we stop it?"

Wracking his brain, Logan glances towards the bridge where a worried Deceit can still be seen standing within the dark realm, "Maybe..."

Lifting up the young dark Side, Logan carries him all the way to where the border separates each of their realms, carefully handing Remus to Janus, who takes the barely conscious Side into his own arms.

Patton and Roman join the logical trait, their eyes not leaving Remus.

An agonizingly long minute passed, but finally, FINALLY, Remus began to stir in the lying trait's hold.

Logan breathes out in relief, as Patton and Roman cries out Remus' name happily. Janus hugs his best friend close, glad that he was okay.

"I hope you both learned your lesson after this... Incident." Logan speaks up, his eyes landing on the white streak that was now permanently on the young dark Side's hair.

"I just wanted to see my brother again..."

Patton sighs tiredly, "We know, Roman. I would've done the same if I was separated from my own sibling." He places a gentle hand on the younger trait's shoulder, "But I wouldn't risk both of our lives if it meant never seeing the other again for good... And now that we know what happens if we cross, it's far too dangerous to allow you or Remus to see each other anymore."

"No, please!" Remus struggles in his friend's grasp, trying to get to his brother.

"Dad, no!" Roman pleads, equally as distressed as his twin at the thought of never seeing the other again.

"It's for the best." Logan backs up, "You two must remember that this is for both of your safeties. You may say your farewells now, but after tonight, you must promise to never cross the border again. Is that clear?"

Patton and Janus hesitantly let go of the twin they were holding, watching as the two met the other at the very middle of the border, bringing themselves in for one last hug.

"I'll miss you, brother."

"I'll miss you just as much, brother."

After that, Sides were strictly prohibited to even go near the border.

It became clear that Light Sides and Dark Sides were never meant to mix with the other.

Well, until a certain Side pops up and changes Thomas' point of view.