"Do you think it's going to be a problem?"

Four turned to face X, smiling slightly. "Hm?" He asked, unsure of what he meant. X glanced at the mirror, waving his hand faintly. An image reflected back, lighting up the room.

A familiar leaf was walking through the woods, a neutral expression on her face. X was staring at her in worry. "Should we try to find her, and add her to a team?"

Four blinked in confusion. "What are you so worried about?" He asked, stepping closer to X. With a wave of his own hand, the mirror flickered, changing the image.

Once again, the leaf was there, but this time, being glared down by the contestants. Four frowned. "If we bring her here...you know what might happen..."

The mirror flickered again, and several images passed by. "You've seen it happen before. And because of our limitations, it isn't worth it to try and be like the others."

              Among the images displayed, X could only notice small details such as visible lava and ice. They were all shifting too quickly to truly find all the details.

"She's safer away from the competition then on a team." Four said, as the mirror flickered back to normal. X still had a nervous expression on his face.

Four sighed quietly. "She's going to be okay...I promise..." He reassured him, or, made an attempt, at least. X still wasn't convinced. "What about him? What about the mansion?"

Placing a gentle hand on X's head, Four gave him a small smile. "It's been years after that situation." He told him. "The council has already assured me that someone has hidden it away where he can't hurt anyone."

X stared up at him. "It's unlikely they would have hidden it here. Too many people here." X sighed slightly. "...Okay." He finally said, glancing to the side.

It was cold, and dark. He didn't know how long he had been floating here, in this prison, but he felt hopeless. The days seemed to melt together now.

Unsure of how many had actually passed, he lost count. The mansion was quiet, no point to even attempt exploring it. It would only waste his energy.

The noises that did occasionally reach him meant nothing. For all he could know, it was his own, cruel imagination at work, giving him false hope.

The hope that someone, anyone would walk through those doors.

Opening his eyes slightly, he stared out the only window available to him...which had him staring straight at a wall. The emerald green wall paper and dark wood paneling hadn't changed the last time he saw it.

"I-I'm sorry t-to bother you, b-but-"

                 A sudden sharp breath startled him, before he realized it was his own. He shook his head slightly. Did he hear that correctly? He leaned against the window.

                 "H-Hello?" A meek, cute voice echoed in the house. A smile slowly spread on his face, and his heart nearly beat out of his chest. Someone was here.

                   His arms shook, as he stood there in disbelief. Someone had actually came into the mansion! And he was desperate to see who it was!

Pushing against the window, it wouldn't budge. He tsked, frowning slightly. Suddenly, he had an idea. The mansion. Maybe he could control part of it.

Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the front door, wanting to lock the stranger in, until he could find a way to physically be with them.

However, his mind was cluttered, other thoughts preventing him from focusing. A click echoed through the house, and his face paled slightly.

He hadn't closed the front door...

He had just opened the doll room.

He panicked, trying to close the door again, when the clock suddenly chimed. Pausing for a moment, he listened closely. The stranger was leaving...

Sliding down the window, he held his head down. His chance was gone. There was nothing he could do to change this.

"Maybe I'll come back tomorrow..."

               Upon hearing those words, he lifted his head up slightly, turning towards the window. They were coming back again? Tears threatened to spill, as his smile returned.

Another chance...

              Standing proud, he quickly went through a mental checklist. The first step was to lock the door. Once it was locked, he would have more time to prepare.

             The second step was to get into the stranger's dream. Once there, he would be able to find out who to shapeshift into. He needed to gain their trust as much as possible.

              The third step was to eventually convince them to stay with him til the end of time. Problem solved! Ever since he heard their voice, he couldn't help but imagine them.

                They sounded sweet, and quiet...like they were in need of protection from the cruel, harsh world. He smiled slightly, imagining that they were small enough to fit perfectly in his arms.

                However, in order to do that, he would have to find a way to escape this cell, first. The door clicked open, and he froze. As soon as they stepped in, he frantically tried to lock the door again.

Once again, he opened the door to the doll room. Tensing, he let out a frustrated sigh, before closing his eyes and focusing on the front door.

Click!

The sound echoed, and he smiled triumphantly. "Finally!" Now that it was out of the way, he turned his focus back on the window.

He kicked it a few times, to no avail. Suddenly, he shivered, as an odd stinging sensation traveled up his arm. "W-What do I do?!" The stranger's voice echoed.

Gasping in realization, he stared at the stinging arm. The stranger had touched the doorknob of the front door...

He could feel everything through the mansion.

Or at least, the walls, floors, and doors, at the moment. It was an odd discovery to be sure, but perhaps a useful one. When he noticed an odd energy radiating just moments later, he realized the stranger was asleep.

Smiling to himself, he reached for the energy. He was going to find out who they were. Stepping into their dream, he quickly looked for them.

When he noticed a small leaf laying on a couch, his smile grew wider. She was adorable! From the state of the dream, it was clear she wasn't fully asleep yet.

Now that he could see her, he quickly used that to his advantage. Using his levitation, he attempted to pull a blanket out of the closet. When he was able to find one, he used his powers to drape it over her body.

He knelt down beside her, leaning against his hand. If it wasn't just a projection, he would have held her in his arms while she slept.

Standing up, he glanced around the dream, as a few more things started to appear. Once a bookcase popped up, he walked over to it.

He skimmed the titles, before landing on memories. Picking it up, he flipped through the pages quickly. He stopped, noticing an interesting figure.

A flame, named "Firey" in the pages, seemed to be having fun with her. They played Tic Tac Toe, flew through space, talked... He closed the book, grinning.

Exiting the dream, he focused his powers, this time intentionally, on the doll room. He rummaged through a few of the boxes, before he found the one he was looking for.

Closing his eyes, he focused on becoming the doll. He could feel his limbs changing, and his body shift. When he opened them again, he saw the doll room.

He quietly cheered. "It worked!" He covered his mouth slightly. "Right...my accent." He coughed. "Leafy. Leafy! Leafy?" He said, as his voice changed.

"Good. Now she won't be too scared!" He smiled, walking towards the door. "I need to get her to a bed." He said, walking down the stairs.

"I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees me again!" He walked through the parlor, spying her body from across the room.

Gently, he lifted her up, surprised by how light she was. He carried her to the grand staircase, and up the stairs. He already knew which room was gonna be hers.

Nothing less but the best for his friend, so it was obviously the master. Of course, it did look like something out of a fairy tale.

Despite that, he thought it was fitting. He just hoped Leafy wouldn't find it too childish. He smiled, looking down at Leafy's peaceful face.

When the got to the bedroom, he laid her under the bed, covering her with a blanket, and left. He knew it would take a while for her to wake up, but of the last decades were anything to go by...

He was patient.

He started to explore the rest of the mansion, curious about what there was. Along one of the halls, he managed to find a mirror. Smiling, he looked at himself.

Staring up and down, he stayed there for a while. It had been forever since he had a physical body. He waved at his reflection. "Hi!" He said, excitement in his voice.

"My name is Firey...I am Firey..."