As Sarah slept, a figure stood over her, just hours before she would wake up. The figure was a short man, wearing a black long coat, black gloves, black pants, black boots, sunglasses and a black cap. He had long brown hair, tied back in a ponytail, and a black beard.

He stared down at Sarah’s sleeping form silently, watching with sadness as she twisted and turned in her sleep, a look of discomfort on her face. He knew what was happening to her, he came to fix it.

He bent down and placed his head next to her’s, whispering to her as if she would hear, “Sarah.... I’m sorry about this, but it needs to be done.” He pressed one of his fingers against the back of her neck, leaving behind a small, glowing blue microchip, “This will stop the voices, it will stop those four from ever existing again.... But you will have to deal with them for an hour, it will create the illusion that they have taken over your body. I’m sorry, but if what is to happen happens, then Michael needs to know the extent of your damage, it is crucial to the future.”

He stood, casting one last look down at her before his body began to fade away into nothing, leaving behind an empty space. After this was done, Sarah began to stir in her sleep, only there was an abrupt change. In a flash almost like static, her hair turned blood red, her clothes were replaced with a red tank top and red jeans, and an image of a right arm faded into place over her skeletal one.

[Ira’s POV]

God fucking dammit why am I waking up again? We just got done talking to the damn bitch, why am I.... Oh shit fucking hell dammit what the fuck!? Why in the godfuckinghell am I in control!? How in the godfuckinghell am I in control!? For fucks sake....

I groaned as I sat up, brushing Sarah’s previously white but now blood red hair out of my eyes. I looked down and, sure fucking enough, her clothes had been swapped out with my red tank top and jeans. HOW THE FUCK DOES THAT EVEN WORK.

I stood up and stretched, then blinked as I realized I had an actual fucking right arm, not that bitch’s Wraith weapon thing. How the Hell does that fucking work!? HOW DOES ANYTHING WORK!?

I heard.... What was that fuckers name, Michael? Yeah, him. I heard him groan, “I wish I was still sleeping.”

That one bitch that was with him, Gwen or something, chuckled, “Well you’re not the only one.”

I grumbled to myself and walked into their sight, cracking some of my joints as I said tiredly, “God fucking dammit all to Hell, I am too fucking tired right now to even break anything....” I yawned and nodded to the two, “Mornin’ fucksticks.”

Michael sighed, “Morning.” Wow has this shit not even realized I’m not Sarah yet? Holy fuck he’s either blind or retarded.

I cracked my neck and said flatly, “Not going to question the completely different person who took Sarah’s place overnight? That’s fuckin’ solid friendship and care right there.”

“What?” He stood up and looked at me, then took a step back, “The fuck!?”

I rolled my eye, “Finally fuckin’ noticed dipshit? For fucks sake it’s only been a good solid few minutes of conversation and me standing here. Are you that fucking dense?”

“What a charming little bucket of fun you are. And to answer your question, I’m too fucking tired to deal with this.”

I grunted, “I am too. Short fuckin’ version.... Me and the rest of Sarah’s split personalities are back now that Mary’s soul was knocked out of the fuckin’ picture. I’m Ira, her rage and anger. Nice to meet your fucking undead ass.”

“Oh great... Anger and rage? I’m having fun already.”

I glared at him and snarled, “Don’t fuckin’ tempt me. Almost all of my being may be focused on Sarah herself, but I’m not fuckin’ against kicking your sorry ass if you piss me off. I’ve had a lot of anger building up inside me with no release thanks to that hungry bitch taking control, and I’d just fucking hate to let it out right here, on you.” I finished with as much sarcasm as I could muster right now.

He raised his hands, “Sorry. Sarah’s normally angry and I don’t exactly want to deal with a being representing all of her anger before having coffee.” He sighed. “Anyways... How long do you think it will be until Sarah gets back in control?”

I shrugged, “I’m actually leaving right now, I’m too fucking tired to deal with anything right now. Don’t think Sarah’s coming back just yet though. The other three want a bit of time outside, so they’ll be meeting you first before Sarah.”

I think he said, “Okay... And they represent?” But I was already too far out to answer. I slumped forward, and before I lost control I saw my hair flash blonde and my clothes be swapped with a yellow dress, sort of like T.V. static.

[Cordia’s POV]

I shook my head vigorously and looked around. So much dreary architecture, and the outside forest just looks dreadful!

I stopped looking around and stared at Michael with a smile, “Hi! I’m Cordia!” I waved.

He nodded, “A pleasure.” Ooh, he’s nice!

I said sheepishly, “I saw you had Ira to deal with first.... She can be kind of mean, I know....” I then smiled again, “But don’t worry, because I’m the opposite! I represent Sarah’s.... Whatever remaining kindness she shows anymore!” I hope she isn’t mad at me for saying that, but it’s true!

“Oh. It’s nice to know she’s not always angry.” He waved his hands, “No offence to her of course.”

I nodded, “Yeah, she’s mean a lot.... But that’s not really on purpose, she just doesn’t know how to act with kindness on a regular basis, thanks to her upbringing. We’re trying to help with that though, so don’t worry about it!”

“Ah... Well I take it that you’re going to fade soon so could you tell me who the others are?”

I perked up, “Oh, sure! There’s-” I froze and slumped over, briefly seeing my hair turn brunette and become braided in a few spots, while my dress was replaced by dark brown dress shoes, pants, and a shirt.

[Tia’s POV]

        I straightened myself out and removed my glasses from my shirt pocket and placed them on, then looked at Sarah’s friend Michael and nodded, “Good to meet you, Michael Fritz. I am Tia, Sarah’s knowledge.”

“A pleasure.”

I hummed to myself and said, “I will be honest with you, I do not care much for staying out too long. I do not derive as much enjoyment as the others, and I suspect your last visitor will not either.”

He sighed, “Understandable... Well, not really. It’s technically impossible for me to imagine being a separate personality on account that most believe they’re the real one. Leading to problems arising if one were to emerge.... No offence.”

I shook my head, “None taken. And I assure you, we know Sarah is the real and original being, we are all far too into our set personalities to be a whole being.” I paused and tensed up, “Speaking of which, our impromptu leader of us four personalities wishes to speak now. I will let her take over.”

I slumped over, and briefly say my hair turn solid black and tie itself in a ponytail, while my clothes were replaced with an all black suit and black dress shirt underneath.

[Tristi’s POV]

        I stood up straight and straightened out my tie, nodding to Michael, speaking in a tired and lower voice, “I would say “good day”, but I find nothing particularly good about it. I am Sarah’s most powerful personality.”

He nodded, “Nice to meet you. I must admit, you’re colleagues are rather interesting. And you would happen to represent?”

“I am Tristi, Sarah’s sadness and depression, and the emotion she displays more than any other.”

He sighed, “Huh... She seems fine most of the time. But then again, I don’t exactly know what she’s doing all of the time.”

I nodded, “Yes, she may appear fine, but she just hides her true feelings. And I would advise you not to spread the nature of her true feelings around, nor should you question her about them. She will come to terms with them in time.”

He nodded, “I won’t say a word.”

“Thank you.” I tensed up, “I will be returning control to Sarah in a minute, have a.... Bad day, Michael Fritz.”

I slumped forward, and briefly saw myself switch back to Sarah.

[Sarah’s POV]

I shook my head and stumbled back a bit, “Jesus Christ, warn me next time people....”

I heard Michael say, “Welcome back.... Um... Deal with them commonly?”

“No, not for the past... Almost ten years, I think...”

“Oh.... So... they’re, interesting I must admit.”

I grumbled, “One’s too cheerful, one’s an asshole, one’s a smartass, and the other tells me to kill myself on a regular basis.... Really interesting, yeah....”

“That’s what I mean. They’re basically so different from you that it makes it rather strange when I see you act cheerful.”

I stared at him blankly, “Do I really come off as such a downer that acting cheerful is strange to you? Well fuck.....”

He shook his head, “No. It’s strange seeing you not use dark humor every five minutes or yelling at people for what A.N.G.E.L. did.”

I sighed, “I don’t yell at people for what they did, I just use that as a reason for why I act the way I do. There’s a difference.”

He rolled his eyes, “Eh true, but whenever you use it as a reason you yell it out.”

“Well excuse me for getting heated an emotional over that shit. Do you expect me not to? That’s like shooting someone in the leg and telling them not to scream about it.”

He sighed, “Trust me I don’t judge you for getting emotional. Just... Do you have to yell every time? I understand that A.N.G.E.L. basically destroyed your life, but... Actually I’m not going to finish that, otherwise I’m going to piss you off.”

I gave him a level stare, “Exactly.” I then shrugged, “Besides, swearing and yelling are the only ways I can express myself without breaking and or killing things, so which would you rather have?”

“I would rather have you swear and yell then kill and maim everyone.”

“Same here, unless everyone deserved it.” I sighed and reached up to scrape out some dirt that collected in my eye socket while I slept, “Anyway, we should probably head back to town, I don’t really feel like staying in this shit hole anymore.”

He nodded slowly, “Yeah.... Let’s get the others up.”

While he went off to wake up the people he came with, I just went over to Sira, Jav, and Mary and picked all of them up, albeit a little stressfuly, then started to leave, “I’m heading back on my own, I feel like getting out of this place as soon as possible.” Seriously I’m getting a really fucking weird feeling from this place....

I heard Michael say from behind me, “Alright, see ya!”

I nodded and left through the door, then realized I didn’t know where the fuck I was going. I looked around blankly, then shrugged and jumped up through a hole in the roof, landing on the roof of the castle. I looked around at the surrounding area, got a good judge on which way I came from, then took off in that direction.

Okay, so I didn’t know where to go right away and had to wake Sira up midway so that she could help. Fuck you I know I have bad direction.

Anyway, landing back in town was kind of funny, because Mary had woken up halfway there and was clinging onto my for dear life, even though she’s dead already.... You know what I mean.

I sent Jav and Sira home, because they didn’t feel like accompanying me into town, while Mary just didn’t want to leave my side at all. I guess it was those nightmares again or something, she always gets a bit more clingy when she has them. I’m not complaining though, I like spending time with her, she is my sister after all.

Thinking back to those personalities of mine... maybe I should see if anyone could help me with those. I mean yeah, I don’t hate having them, even if two of them absolutely hate me, but I really don’t need them fucking with my head all the time. I think I’ll head to the library, maybe I can look up some psychology stuff there.

I nodded once to myself and motioned for Mary to follow, and the two of us made our way to the library. On the way there though, something weird happened. I felt a short spark on the back of my neck, followed by the strangest feeling ever. My mind just sort of... stopped. Not stopped working, just... stopped. Or at least the personalities stopped. I couldn’t feel anything of those four.

I mean, yeah I hadn’t seen those four personalities in years, but I still felt them in there, sleeping in my head. I just, I don’t know, I didn’t feel them anymore. They were just gone. Poof, disappeared. I can’t say I miss them, they were really mean to me a lot, and they made my head hurt a lot too, but now that I can’t feel them... I don’t know, I honestly don’t know at all. I mean... fuck, what the Hell is going on?

I don’t get it.

I don’t....

I mumbled, “I just.... I... that it’s.... I.... I.... Uh.... It....”

“Sarah... are you alright?” Mary’s voice snapped me out of... whatever that was. I shook my head and saw that she was looking at me with concern. I was about to answer, just tell a little bit of a lie and say “yes”, but.... I couldn’t say anything.

I just stared back at her with wide, terrified eyes, then started looking around the town at all of the ponies. All of them... so many of them... too many of them, everywhere, just... staring at me. Why? Why are they looking at me... why? Why? Why!?

I stumbled back, grabbing the sides of my head and staring at the ground in fear.

What’s going on, where am I?

What am I doing here, where is everyone?

Why is it so quiet in my head?

Where did the voices go?

I began to cry as I unknowingly started to ask the questions out loud, for everyone to hear.

Where are they, did they leave?

Was it because I ignored them for so long, is that it?

Where.... Where are they!?

“Where are they!?”

[Mary’s POV]

I stared at Sarah in worry as she shouted out a final question, then slumped over, unconscious. She was still mumbling in her state, but ultimately calmed down. I was worried though, as I’d never seen her do that before. Sure she’s had her breakdowns, but nothing on that level.

I stopped staring at her and looked around when I heard a few of the ponies whispering to each other, and it got me worried even more. I had no way of carrying her, heavy as she was, but I couldn’t just leave her there, so I was at a complete loss as to what I should do.

“Alright, everyone move along, nothing to see here!” I suddenly heard Jav shout from behind me, and I turned around to see him stepping over and around ponies to get to me, brushing them away as he did so.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him curiously, “Didn’t you stay behind at the house?”

“I’ll explain when we get back,” he said tiredly, “right now, let’s just get her home.” He pointed his hand at Sarah and said, “Suspension.” She was surrounded in a gray glow, and lifted off the ground. Jav started back towards the house, Sarah floating along beside him as he said to me, “Come along then, sooner we get back the sooner I can tell you. It’s rather important after all....”

I took one last look back at the gathered ponies, then sprinted to catch up with Jav and Sarah, slowing down to match their pace as we walked back. I wonder just what it is that was so important? I know it has to do with him being there to get Sarah, but it couldn’t have been that big... could it?

Next Chapter: Arc I-II, Intermission VI: Beginning to change Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 14 Minutes