Taco stood up, holding Leafy in her arms. "We need to go." She said, after the moment passed. The doppelgänger was going to come back.

            Walking over to Pin, they started to exit the woods. "Wha- Hold on a moment!" Leafy protested, attempting to stand up. Taco shook her head slightly.

             "We don't have time to explain, he's going to be coming back any moment now!" She told her, continuing to walk at a quick speed.

              Leafy shifted slightly. "Who?" She asked, confused. Taco stared down at her, a concerned expression on her face. "...It's Firey." She said, looking away.

               "He's not the same Firey, he's a doppelgänger." Leafy tilted her head slightly. "Oh? You mean doll Firey?" She said, surprising both Taco and Pin.

                "I knew he wasn't really Firey...or, at least...a copy of him." Once Taco heard this, she stopped dead in her tracks. "Wait. You knew all along?" She asked her.

                 Leafy nodded. "It was pretty obvious...I just never brought it up because it seemed like he thought he was the only one." She admit.

Smiling slightly, she chuckled. "In fact...I pretty much pointed it out the first time we met...that he was a doll, I mean." Taco couldn't believe it.

Why was Leafy talking about him like he didn't just try to make her forget everyone she ever loved? Or maybe...she didn't even know...

"Leafy...don't you remember anything that happened?" Taco asked, as Leafy gave her a blank stare. "Well...I certainly don't remember falling asleep in the woods."

She glanced around, noticing Pin, and tensed. "...P-Pin...?" She questioned, causing Pin to look away slightly. "Hey..." She said back, unsure of what to say.

As Leafy attempted to process what was happening, Taco chimed in with another question. "What was the last thing you remember before falling asleep?"

                 Silence rang through the forest for a moment, as Leafy tried to remember. "Well, Firey asked about you. He had found out I had been sneaking out."

                  Taco stared at her in surprise. Leafy continued on. "He said you were a lovely girl, and congratulated us on our relationship..." Leafy smiled, remembering the last detail.

               "And he gave me cake and tea to celebrate!" She said, as Taco thought for a moment. "That is...not exactly what I was expecting..."

Pin stared at her, then at Leafy. "What kind of tea?" She asked. Leafy stared back at her, hesitation in her eyes. "I'm not sure, honestly...but after I drank it..."

Leafy looked down in confusion, remembering an odd detail. "He did quickly change the subject after I took a few sips..." Pin nodded slightly.

                   "There had to have been something  in that drink." She told her. Taco looked at Pin, snapping her fingers slightly. "The amnesiac!" She blurted out, causing Pin to flinch slightly.

"The what?" Pin asked, confused. "You weren't there, but Four told us she was under a very powerful amnesiac." Taco explained, as Leafy shook her head.

                 "But...Firey wouldn't do something like that..." She muttered, frowning a bit. "This isn't Firey!" Taco stressed, as Leafy wiggled out of her arms.

Leafy glanced at the deep forest behind her. "I'm sure if I just ask, we'll find out what's wrong." Taco shook her head, grabbing her girlfriend's hand.

"Leafy, please." She started. "You don't understand, Firey-" Leafy turned to look at her. "He's my friend, Taco." She pulled away from her.

Taco stepped closer, nervously looking around the forest. "He's not going to listen to reason!" Leafy gave her a light glare. "We don't know that until we try!"

She stood her ground, feeling uneasy. "This has to be just one big misunderstanding." Taco groaned in frustration, clutching her head.

"I'm not letting you go back, it's too dangerous!" She raised her voice, with hesitation. Leafy looked away, frowning. "Then I guess you'll just have to chase me."

She took off, dashing through the trees. Taco gasped, running after her. "LEAFY!" She cried out, trying to keep up. Pin nervously watched them.

This situation seemed to be spiraling out of control. Making a decision, Pin turned back, running towards the field where the show was being held.

She was going to need help.

Firey paced back and forth nervously, within the prison that was the painting. He knew Leafy was going to be okay, but he felt like he was running out of time.

                Placing a hand on the window, he hit it lightly. It wasn't going anywhere. Panic rushed through his veins, as he hit the window again, causing it to ripple.

                He sighed, trying to ease his nerves. "Okay..." He said to himself. "There doesn't seem to be a way out...and...well, she is going to find out eventually."

                 Sitting down, Firey glanced through the window. For a moment...he had an idea. "Maybe...I've been going about this all wrong." He admit.

                 "When she gets here, I'll show her my true form, and we'll talk..." He smiled slightly. "I mean...maybe I can finally be released..." His hopes were high.

                    It had been years since the incident, and the council was nowhere in sight, so maybe Four would let him..."Be free?" A familiar voice answered.

                   Firey's eyes widened slightly, as the plush stood in front of the window. "Do you honestly think that?" He asked, crossing his arms.

                 Pressing his hands up against the window, he stared at the plush of himself, confused. "How are you...?" The plush stared back at him, unimpressed.

              "Do you really think you can handle more than one friend?" He scoffed. "You could barely keep her here! And look where she is now!"

The plush stepped closer, passing through the barrier, causing Firey to take a few steps back. His hands trembled slightly. "Leafy is the only one who will understand you."

The dark void lit up, showing the clearing where he left Leafy. Taco and Pin were standing there, talking to her. "He's not going to listen to reason!"

Firey felt his stomach churn slightly. "We don't know until we try!" Leafy stressed, as Firey stared at her.

She was standing up for him?

                   "You see?" The plush approached him. "She is different than the rest, than the council, even!" He glanced at the plush, who walked back through the barrier.

                    "That's why we have to protect her. They are going to find away to tear her away from your side." He glanced back at Firey. "There is no need to show her this form."

                     Firey frowned slightly. "But-" The plush interrupted him. "Do you want to lose her trust?" He said. "Do you want her to be afraid of us?"

                       They were both quiet for a moment. "I...She's going to find out eventually..." The plush glared back at him. "Not unless you want her to stay!"

                   Light flickered in the black void, as two figures appeared. Four and X. "You already have enough on your plate already! The last thing we need is another reason for her to run."

                   Silence fell over the two, and Firey turned back around, facing away from the plush. "You're right." He sighed, rubbing his eyes slightly in frustration.

                   "I don't want to scare her off...I'll have to keep using the doll." He quickly turned around. "Er, I mean that in the most... positive..." Trailing off, Firey had a look of disbelief on his face.

The plush doll was lying limply on the ground where he had last left it.