(AN: Longer chapter. I'm sorry. Also, BIG group number in this chapter! I love this song! XD)

Jacq couldn't even sleep that night. The voices in his head were getting too loud. He couldn't sleep, he couldn't even hear his own thinking anymore. He was getting confused, starting to forget what he even wanted. He was losing sight of what he wanted.

Like every morning, a D-Man walked in to ask him what he knew. But this morning, he felt, something different. He quietly stared out of the prison cell as the D-Man approached.

D-Man: "Got anything you wanna say now?"

Jacq sat and thought about it, a serious expression on his face. He help his hand out in front of him, then began to clench and unclench his fist.

Jacq: "....How much force does it take to snap someone's neck?"

The D-Man froze up.

D-Man: "Um... what?"

Jacq lightly chuckled, then stood up and approached the cell bars keeping him from escaping. He grabbed ahold of them and leaned against them, looking straight into the D-Man's eyes.

Jacq: "Oh, Dear. Was that an awkward question that you don't have the answer to? I'm sorry. Now, let me guess, you're going to ask me an awkward question that I don't have the answer to."

He began to softly laugh, when he realized what he was saying and covered his mouth, a disgusted, almost horrified expression on his face.

No, no no! These are bad bad thoughts!

Jacq: ".... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I-I don't know what's wrong with me."

D-Man: "Umm, okay. Well... you're time's almost up. We're getting impatient with you. You either tell us, or we toss you in the river, and you cycle through, and most likely become a shayde."

Jacq froze up, before softly laughing again.

Jacq: "Well.... yesterday that IS what I wanted. It seemed preferable to this... but, before I go, I was kinda wondering what it would feel like to rip someone's spine out."

He suddenly charged at the cell door and reached his hand through the bars, causing the D-Man to jump back and hold up his spear.

Jacq's eyes were wide with a small little glint of insanity in them that he's never felt before. Honestly, it felt kinda... nice.

Jacq: "Care to enlighten me?"

He had a smile of pure insanity on his face, when he saw the look of fear in the D-Man's face and stopped. He stepped back and grabbed his head.

Jacq: "No. No no no! What's happening to me?? What did you do to me?! Please, stop yelling. Stop yelling at me!!!!"

The D-Man gave him a confused look, as he slowly lowered the spear.

D-Man: "I'm not yelling."

Jacq: "TELL THEM TO STOP YELLING AT ME! THEY WON'T LET ME THINK! THEY'RE SO LOUD! CAN YOU TELL THEM TO BE QUIET PLEASE?!"

The D-Man didn't respond to the screaming prisoner. He just pulled out a small walkie.

D-Man: "Yeah... the prisoner is clearly losing it. He's not gonna talk. I think we should just put him out of his misery before he gets worse."

Jacq suddenly calmed down and cocked his head to the side, a feeling of relief washing over him.

Jacq: "Put me out of my misery?! You're going to fix me??"

D-Man: "Uh... yes, we're going to... fix you."

The D-Man slowly opened the cell door and cuffed Jacq's hands together. Jacq's hopeful smile melted into a frown, as he looked down at the cuffs. Like a sad puppy, not wanting to be taken to the vet.

Jacq: "W-wait, you aren't going to hurt me, are you? I don't wanna be a shayde."

The D-Man felt slightly uneasy.

D-Man: "We're gonna.... send you to a better place. We're helping get those voices out of your head. You'll be... in the happy home soon."

Jacq's eyes went wide.

Jacq: "The happy home? Sounds WONDERFUL!"

D-Man: "It is. Just follow me this way."

He brought him back out to the river, once he got the okay from the Queen, and stood above it.

Jacq: "Huh. What are we doing here? Where's the happy home?"

D-Man: "It's.... down there buddy."

Jacq looked into the murky water. That couldn't be right... this was the River of Twygz. There was nothing happy about it.

Jacq: "No, no. That isn't right. That's where.... wait a minute."

He turned to face the D-Man, anger and betrayal clouding his mind all the sudden.

Jacq: "YOU LIED TO ME! W-WHAT DO YOU TAKE ME FOR?! AN IDIOT?!"

The D- Man help up his spear, as more D-men trickled in, cornering the young boy.

D-Man: "I'm sorry. I promise, it won't be so bad."

Jacq: "LIARS! YOU'RE ALL LIARS! YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA FIX ME!"

He frantically looked around, as they moved in, pushing him closer to the water, tears streaming down his face.

Jacq: "Y-you said you'd stop the voices. So... so why are they screaming louder now?"

He began to shake. He squeezed his eyes shut and held his cuffed hands out in front of him.

Jacq: "I'm.... I'm gonna listen to them! I'm gonna listen to them if you don't back off!"

D-Man: "Listen, we're sorry. This is just how it has to be-"

Jacq: "I'M GONNA LISTEN TO THEM! THEY'RE YELLING AT ME! THEY WONT STOP YELLING!"

He felt himself suddenly tackled to the ground by the D-Men, then lifted into the air. They were gonna throw him in. He should have cried. Should have called for help. That's what the old him would have done.

But he couldn't help but.... laugh.

Jacq: "Remember when I didn't want to hurt anyone? Funny times. Funny, funny, funny times!"

He chuckled, tears falling faster.

Jacq: "Remember when all I wanted was a little love. All I wanted was someone to take care of me?? Aha..."

They angled him towards the river.

Jacq: "Remember when the one person who loved me LEFT?! HE LEFT, AND NEVER CAME BACK FOR ME! HE WAS TAKEN AWAY! FUNNY, ISN'T IT?!"

He was laughing hysterically now.

Jacq: "But I'm not alone. No, no no no no no no no no no. I'm not alone. Not anymore. SHADOO!"

Shadoo heard the sweet sound of her name, and immediately perked up.

Shadoo: "Ah, well that was fast."

Jacq: "SHADOO!"

She appeared at the scene, behind the group of D-Men.

She knew he wouldn't be difficult to break, considering he was already so fragile. She didn't even have to do anything.

Shadoo: "All you gotta do is say it one more time, and we're partners."

Jacq hesitated, then smiled an insane smile. 

Jacq: "SHADOO!"

She beamed, and almost as if an invisible contract was signed, she was allowed inside of him. With his body, she could walk around the surface almost unnoticed, could get her heart, and get her revenge on the ancients. She entered through his eyes, slithering in and taking control. The D-Men saw the darkness, and suddenly dropped the boy on the ground, as he screamed in pain, squirming around, clawing at his perfect green eyes.

Jacq: "W-what are you doing to me??"

Shadoo: "Helping you. Just relax."

He squirmed in pain as she began to take control over his movements, standing him up and moving him like a little puppet.

Then, she forced his arms apart, the cuffs shattering.

Invisible strings seemed to be controlling him like a marionette.  She waved his hand and summoned a large shadow spear, mimicking the ones the D-Men had.

Shadoo: "Let's get this party started."

She controlled Jacq, swiftly stabbing a D-Man, then taking off before they could even realize what was happening.

Shadoo: "SO LONG, FOOLS!"

She got to the door, before Jacq forced his body to stop.

Jacq: "W-wait! What are we doing?!"

Shadoo: "Escaping, obviously."

He was breathing heavily, when he hugged himself. He couldn't go back out there. Not like this. He had nowhere to go.

Jacq: "But, what will we do out there??"

Shadoo: "Why, find your silly brother, of course! Then you can be happy."

Jacq looked down at his hands, a small feeling of regret forming,

Jacq: "But, we-"

Shadoo: "You worry too much. It's time to let me help you. Let me care for you. You aren't invisible anymore."

He sighed, unsure. This whole thing seemed, wrong.

Shadoo: "Just listen to me, and everything will work out, friend."

Friend.... she was his friend. He had a friend. Someone who wanted him to keep walking! Someone to take care of him and help him! He slowly laughed, a smile creeping onto his face.

Jacq: "Aha.... ah ha ha ha.... ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ah"

He broke into more laugher.

Shadoo: "Are you okay?"

He slowly calmed down, and wiped a tear away, smiling.

Jacq: "I'm just... so glad I'm not alone anymore."

He pushed open the large door.

Jacq: "I'm gonna keep walking for him."

_____

Timpani basically forced Dimentio to pack all his things as soon as possible, and while she refused to tell him why, he complied because he assumed something was wrong. He could see that she was nervous.

Dimentio: "So, Timpani? Where am I going exactly? And for how long?"

Timpani: "We're gonna find a place where you don't have to hide! That way you can just be you! Doesn't that sound fun?"

Dimentio: "Uhh... I guess..."

It honestly didn't matter to him anymore. He just wanted to be here, with the people he loved. This was obviously something bigger than that.

Mr. L walked in, yawning from having just woken up, when he nearly tripped over a suitcase. Dimentio snapped his fingers, magically catching L before he landed flat on his face, then standing him back up.

Dimentio: "Watch your step, L."

L smiled and chuckled to himself looked, muttering a thank you, then looked around at all the bags, slightly confused. Was Dimentio packing? Why? 

Mr. L: ".... going somewhere?"

Timpani: "Ah! Mr. L, hello! Yes, me and Dimmy are just gonna go on a little trip!"

He crossed his arms, suspicious.

Mr. L: "You didn't tell any of us about a trip...."

Timpani: "Yep. It was pretty last minute."

Mr. L looked at Dimentio, who just shrugged.

Dimentio: "Don't ask me. She's being as secretive as a spy on a mission."

Timpani: "There's no secrets! Nothing's wrong! Nothing's bad! Everything's great!"

Mr. L raised an eyebrow, slowly walking around the room, holding his hands behind his back.

Mr. L: "Well, if that is so, then surely you wouldn't mind if I joined you on this little trip of yours."

Dimentio's face lit up, at the mention of L coming. Timpani's, not so much. She didn't want to get anyone involved who didn't need to be. Plus, she wanted plenty of people here to take care of Dio while she was out.

Timpani: "What? You want to come? Are you sure? I mean... it's gonna be pretty boring. And I need someone to stay here and help Blumiere take care of Dio."

Mr. L: "Nastasia can help him. She always helps with the important stuff."

Timpani looked around, unable to come up with a better response to make him stay, while L sheepishly smiled.

Mr. L: "Yeah, I'm coming! I'll pack my things."

______

Shadoo: "We need to find a way to prevent them from leaving."

They walked around the bottom of the tower. It was beginning to get late.

Almost no one noticed Jacq. They just disregarded him, since he just looked like a normal person. Perks to being normal, you can go places unnoticed.

Since Jacq and Shadoo were operating as a team now, there were a few thing they quickly found interesting. They could both take control of this body, but they were both always aware. Jacq had more control over it, or at least that's what Shadoo told him, but if he wished, he could let Shadoo take over. For now, he remained in control.

Jacq: "Why would they be leaving?"

Shadoo: "Uh..... Because, that Mr. L guy doesn't want you to have Dimentio. He's gonna try to take him away from you."

A low growling noise came from Jacq, when he shook his head. 

No bad thoughts. No bad thoughts.

Jacq: ".... well how do we stop them?"

They looked at the tower, to see a small room with a sign marked 'Stay out. Power supply. That means you Mimi. - L'

Shadoo: "Hmm.... well everything here is run on electricity. The doors are automatic, the elevators, the lights, it's all connected!

Jacq cocked his head to the side.

Jacq: "So...."

Shadoo: "I'm trying to say.... we take out the power, then they'll be locked inside the tower."

He softly giggled at that

Shadoo: "What? Why are you laughing?"

Jacq: "Power, Tower. You rhymed!"

Shadoo rolled her eyes, then summoned him a large black shadow sword, which immediately weighed Jacq's arm down.

His giggles immediately stopped as he adjusted to the sudden weight added.

Jacq: "Ow."

Shadoo: "If you don't want to carry it, you could let me take over."

Jacq: "No, no. I'm good. Just..... give me a minute."

He dragged the sword on the ground, unable to even lift it, taking it to that control room.

Then he kicked the door open, and stepped inside. There were a bunch of wires and circuits all hooked up to one large generator. How convenient. There was also a ton of machinery around the room, a small book on robotics, and....

Jacq slowly set the sword down and picked up the broken purple and yellow jesters cap his brother wore to that school dance all those years ago.

Dimentio's hat?? What's this doing here??

He looked at the desk it was set on. It was clearly a mess. There were scattered notes everywhere talking about electricity and ways to save power.

Gross. This guy can't even keep a room clean.

Shadoo interrupted his thoughts, trying to stay on task and not waste time.

Shadoo: "Just take out this machine, and the city will blackout."

He nodded, attention brought back to the task at hand, and set the hat back down, before using all his strength to lift the sword, then slam it down on the machine. Sparks suddenly flew around, then the lights all cut out, leaving them in pitch black darkness.

_____

~ A Few Minutes Earlier ~

Dimentio: "Timpani, can I talk to you outside real quick?"

Before she could answer he grabbed her arm and teleported them both just outside the tower, leaving L alone inside. He needed to know why she was acting so weird all the sudden. There had to be a reason. She wasn't telling him something.

Dimentio: "Timpani, what's this really about? Is this about how everyone sees me, because I really don't care anymore."

Timpani: "Dimmy, please. Just trust me, I'm doing this for your own safety. I just don't wanna freak you out."

Dimentio: "Seriously. Come on, you can tell me anything. Are you-"

He swallowed the lump in his throat.

Dimentio: "Are you trying to send me away?"

Her eyes went wide. Is that what he thought this was?? That couldn't be further from the truth!

Timpani: "What?! No, of course not! Dimmy, I-"

Dimentio: "Then why are you forcing me to pack my things. You didn't even tell anyone else where we're going! Timpani, I-"

Suddenly, the power cut out.

Everything went nearly pitch black.

The crowd began to murmur, confused as to what just happened? This has never happened here before. 

Then, a women's scream could be heard, and they all began to freak out, running through the streets, right through where Timpani and Dimentio were standing, causing them to get separated.

Timpani: "Wait! Dimmy! Where'd you go??"

Mimi and O'Chunks were outside, working at their firework business, when all power cut out.

Nastasia was taking care of Dio, trying to get him to fall asleep. But he refused to. He said that he could sense something bad was going to happen, and that he was scared. 

Luigi was in the tower, peacefully looking out a window. 

A panic began to arise in them all. 

- Music Start -

Mr. L's was sitting, packing when the lights cut out, immediately snapping his attention to to power.. How did this happen?? His generator wouldn't just cut out like this! Blumiere ran into the room, a slight panic in his voice, as this has never happened before.

Blumiere: "Hey qu'est-ce qui s'est passé?"

Mr. L: "Blackout! Blackout!"

Luigi ran into the room.

Luigi: "Il blackout è arrivato, oh Grambi!"

Blumiere: "Hey qu'est-ce qui s'est passé?"

All Three: "Blackout! Blackout!"

Luigi: "Il blackout è arrivato, oh Grambi!"

Nastasia held Dio and lit a candle, trying to comfort the kid..

Nastasia: "We are powerless, we are powerless....
We are powerless, we are powerless...."

Mr. L and Blumiere began desperately trying to open the door and get outside. But it was locked.

Nastasia: "We are powerless."
Mr. L and Blumiere: "Somebody better open these goddamn doors

Nastasia: "We are powerless."
Mr. L and Blumiere: "Somebody better open these goddamn doors!"

Nastasia and Dio: "We are powerless, we are powerless...."
Mr. L and Blumiere: "Somebody better open these goddamn doors"

Jacq: "I HAVE TO FIND DIMENTIO!"

Dimentio: "Timpani? Timpani? Timpani?"
Blumiere: "Timpani, where'd you go? Timpani, where'd you go? Timpani, Where'd You Go?? I can't find you!"
Timpani: "Has anyone seen Dimmy? Dimmy?"

Jacq: "Dimentio...."

Mimi and O'Chunks pulled out their fireworks.

O'Chunks: "Iz gettin' hotter in da street, everybody is nervous,"

Mimi: "Hey, yo, we gotta be down on the street, lights out of service
Because we're powerless, our hour is at hand."

O'Chunks: "It's you an' me."

Mimi: "You know what we gotta do."

O'Chunks: "Illuminate da community!"

Mimi: "When this box ignite, we gon' light up the night!"

O'Chunks: "Bottle rockets don't go locus everybody let's focus!"

Mimi: "Gather round, these are free, grab your ammo and stack up!"

O'Chunks: "Gimme a light till the power comes back up, back up! Back up!"

Mimi took a match and lit off the explosives, giving light to the flipside citizens, watching the fireworks fly up and burst in the air.

Crowd: "Look at the fireworks, look at the fireworks, fly....
Light up the night sky, Light up the night sky....

Look at the fireworks, look at the fireworks, fly....
Light up the night sky, Light up the night sky...."

Timpani frantically walked through the crowd, as everyone continued panicking.

Timpani: "Oh, God, So much panic!
The crowd was manic!
With everybody screaming and shoving and shouting and slapping and everyone's frantic!
Where are you Dimmy?!"

Dimentio found himself alone behind the back of the tower in the dark when he heard a familiar voice.

Jacq: "Dimentio."

He whirled around.

Dimentio: "What? ....Jacques?"

Jacq: "You abandoned me."

Dimentio: "Wait, what are you doing here??"

Jacq wiped a tear away, feeling strangely.... mad.

Jacq: "Dimentio, that night, you chose him over me."

Dimentio: "Don't be like that, I was with you that night. You said so yourself, you said you'd be alright."

Jacq: "Yeah right."

Dimentio: "You said you were alright with me leaving."

Jacq: "What?"

Dimentio: "Please, give me another chance."

Jacq: "I'm leaving!"

Dimentio: "Jacques...."

His brother began to walk away, utterly heartbroken.

Jacq: "I gotta go..."

Dimentio: "What are you doing here tonight?"

Jacq: "I just wanted to see you here tonight.
You.... were my true home,"

Dimentio: "Then don't run away from home,"

Jacq: "I walked for you!
I walked for you...."

He suddenly took the large sword and sliced right across Dimentio's stomach.

His eyes went wide as he dropped the shadow sword and Dimentio fell to the ground. He had no idea why he did that.

Crowd: "Look at the fireworks!"

Dio: "Nastasia, are you alright?"

Crowd: "Light up the night sky!!!"

Nastasia let out a sad sigh and looked out the window.

Nastasia: "Something's wrong tonight...."

Crowd: "Look at the fireworks!"

Dio grabbed her hand.

Dio: "You're not alone tonight."

Crowd: "Light up the night sky!!!"

She picked him up.

Nastasia and Dio: "We're not alone tonight...."

Timpani continued desperately searching the crowd for Dimentio, but it was like he just vanished. 

Mr. L rested his head against the door. It wasn't budging. Blumiere placed a hand on his shoulder, as he assured him that Dimentio and Timpani were okay.

But Mr. L had a deep gut feeling that they weren't. He suddenly felt an urge of strength. He took a few steps, before ramming into the door, causing the hinges to come loose. He smiled a victorious smile.

Mr. L: "Blumiere! Come on, let's find them!"

Crowd: "Look at the fireworks, look at the fireworks!
Look at the fireworks, look at the fireworks!
Light up the night sky, light up the night sky.....
In Flipside!

Look at the fireworks!
Look at the fireworks!
Light up the night sky....."

Dimentio collapsed to the ground, holding his stomach tightly, as his vision began to fade. He could make out the silhouette of his brother sprinting away in the other direction.

Dimentio: "Jacq....."

He felt himself slowly sob. Did he really abandon him? He told him it would be okay.

He thought things were finally okay.

But in reality, nothing was. He should have known getting a happy ending wouldn't be so simple.

He could barely speak. He slowly rest his head on the ground, shutting his eyes. He wasn't unconscious, but close. He was still hugging his stomach where the wound was.

Dimentio: " I'm....sorry."