Joy and Fear: An Unexpected Connection

JOY'S POV

It was pitch black inside the wide tunnel, and we were halfway before brights lights switched on. Disfigured blocks began to float around.

"What's going on?" I asked Bing-Bong. "I don't know! This has never happened before!" Fear yelped. "We're in Abstract Thought!"

Suddenly, all 3 of us collapsed into deformed blocks. "This is the first stage!" Fear screamed. I yelled as our bodies rolled over into blocks. "This is the second stage!"

"We have to get out of here!" I yelled, gathering myself and making a run for the exit, Fear and Bing-Bong close behind. A second later, we all flipped to 2-D! "OH NO!!! WE'RE GOING TO DIE!!!" Fear cried. I grabbed his hand and forced him up on the ledge. "Hurry!" Bing-Bong tried to slip through the door, but didn't fit. The final stage hit and we all became different 2-D shapes.

Fear tripped over me and fell onto his stomach, becoming a thin line. "Fall on your face!" he cried, and Bing-Bong and I obeyed. All 3 of us slipped out the door just in time!

Gradually, we returned to our former selves, but we had missed the Train of Thought. "No! We were so close!" I gritted my teeth and hugged the bag full of core memories. Fear set a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, Joy. We'll get back soon." he said. I shook my head and nudged his hand off. "No, I need to get back now!" Fear shut his mouth, as if he was going to say something but changed his mind. Bing-Bong, then, chimed in saying there was another train station through Imagination Land. Fear, of course, was hesitant, but I urged him to follow us.

Immediately after entering Imagination Land, we saw the craziest things only imagination can invent. Fear kept ruining my fun. "Wow! French Fry Forest!"

"Careful, Joy! Don't eat that!"

"House of Cards!"

"Joy! What are you doing? You'll knock it down!"

"Ooo...Cloud Town! So Soft!"

"Um...Joy, heights that high can kill if you fall!"

Finally, I gave up. "Fear! Just calm down! Nothing here is dangerous!" That shut him up.

Bing-Bong led us through Pre-school World. "Look, the train!" Fear shouted and pointed. "Yay! We made it!" I cheered, and Fear helped me on the train, Bing-Bong followed. The train lurched forward and we were off!

"Yes! We are on our way back!" I pumped my fists. Fear cheered along with me and I uncontrollaby threw my arms around his neck, swinging him around.

When he got his footing back, we had a laugh and fell into silence as we stared into each other's eyes, smiling.

A few moments later, Bing-Bong broke us up to point at the view. Afterwards, the train began to slow down. I ran to the edge of the cart as the train came to a stop. "What's happening?" I pondered. Then, I called to the workers who were unloading from the engine. "Riley's fallen asleep, we're done the day."

"But-" I started, and sighed. Fear sighed, too. Then, he slumped down against the cargo boxes. "I guess we just wait until morning."

My shoulders slumped. "But we can't wait. We have to get back to Headquarters." Fear's face lightened up unexpectedly. I cocked my head. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Fear smiled shyly. "No, it's just that..." he paused. "that was the first time that you included me in going back home."

"That's not tr-" Then I stopped, realizing it WAS true. I sighed and sat down next to my fellow emotion. "I'm sorry, Fear."

"No, I'm sorry, Joy."