Joy and Fear: An Unexpected Connection

JOY'S POV

Ok, I told myself. Don't panic; just think of a solution for the problem. As I pondered it over, I could hear Fear crying and panicking. I turn to find him curled up in a ball on the ground. I groaned.

"Come on, Fear." I hooked an arm under his and forced him to his feet. "Look at the bright side." I smiled. "At least the core memories are safe." Fear brushed himself off and straighten his red bowtie. "Yeah, thank goodness for that." he sighed. "But if you haven't notice yet, they're not in Headquarters! WE'RE not in Headquarters!"

"Don't worry; all we have to do is find a stable path back." I gazed around and spotted the pipe that connected from HQ to Goofball Island. I eyeballed Fear, who caught on quickly.

"No! It's too risky and dangerous!" He pulled on my arm, loosening my grip on the memories. "Stop it!" I wrenched my arm away. "This is the only way back so we can return Riley's memories." Then, I took my first step on the pipe.

Immediately, it shuddered under my feet. "See, Fear, it's perfectly safe." I took a few more steps and once again the pipe creaked. "Yep, perfectly safe."

"JOY!!" Fear snatches me off the pipe just as it breaks underneath. I open my eyes amd find myself pressed against Fear's trembling chest. His arms were locked around me. One of the core memories rolled by me and I pushed Fear aside to gather them up.

"Oh thank goodness, all 5 are ok." I turned to Fear. "Alright, new plan." I stared into Long-Term Memory. "That's it! We'll just go through Long-Term!" I began to walk towards the maze, but Fear again pulled my arm.

"No, Joy! You can't! You'll get lost and never find your way!"

"We have to get back to HQ for Riley. Just think positive!"

"Ok, I'm positive you'll get lost!"

I jerked around and marched over to the whining emotion. I hooked an arm through his and began dragging him into the maze. "It's just like an adventure!"

"Come on, Joy! Don't make me do this!"

"Do what?"

Fear tightened his lips. My nose twitched. "You know something, don't you?" Fear avoided eye contact. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Fear." I urged him to spill. Fear's bottom lip quiver. I grinned.

"Imemorizedthewaythroughthemaze." he blurted out in one breath. I yipped with glee. "Yay! You can show me the way and get us back to HQ!"

Fear shyly smiled. "I-i guess I can." I continued to drag him. "Alright! Which way is first? Left?"

"Right."

"Ok, then."

"No, I meant right as in yes, go left. Watch out for the sharp corner!"

"Oh boy."

It was going to be a long walk.