No words can say how relieved I was to see that one yellow guy, Sunstreaker, come back into his cell. Then I saw the expression on his face. He was crying, and nearly threw himself against the wall between himself and his brother, calling his name. Something had happened.

“Where's Raist?” I shouted to him as the others also hurried in, all calling their siblings and seeming upset, but he wasn't listening. Much to my relief, Raistlin stepped back into his cell a moment later.

I saw it on his face. That intense, dark look that said he was very upset. Something had happened. He was leaning heavily on his Staff, so I knew he'd had an attack again. The Abyss take whoever was doing this: I hadn't been there! I just knew he'd need me. Rather dimly I heard Sideswipe say something about his brother being hurt, but as it always was, and would be (as far as I was concerned) my focus was on Raistlin, my twin.

“Raist?” Finally he looked up at me, and I saw his eyes flash. He was beyond angry,he was furious,but he looked unhurt. For that, I would have to remember to thank the other three. Then, I heard Zantar finally explain what had happened, why they were so upset.

“He made us believe you all were dead!”

I gasped. Raist had thought I was dead? Briefly I wondered which had made him angry, my being dead or that the Voice had tricked him into believing it. But then I shoved it out, and started to say something to make him feel better.

Raist flashed me a look that clearly said 'Shut up, my dear brother,” so I didn't say anything. He'd always been able to read me like his spellbook. I watched as he grumpily sat down with his back to the wall, tucking his hands into his sleeves and just scowling at nothing in particular. Then, the Voice spoke again.

“Well done, Zantar, Sunstreaker, Proto, and Raistlin. I had no doubt that the basilisk would prove to be no trouble for you. Now, it is your brothers' turn.” Behind me and those next to me doors appeared and opened. I frowned.

“I'm not going anywhere!” I shouted. “Raist needs me here. He needs his drink, and I'm the only one who can make it. And if you do know anything about us, then you know it's true!”

“Your brother will be fine. As he was so astute to point out, I do have the power to render aid, should it be needed. And if he needs your help specifically while you are gone, I vow I will instantly transport you to his side.”

“Go on,Caramon!” Raist ordered. “I'd like to get home sometime soon.”

“Okay, Raist. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” As always, I obeyed my brother. I know some people think I'm a little dumb, slow, and I'll admit, in some things, like twice-times, I am. But what I know, I know. My brother is smart, and if he feels strong enough for me to go, then I'll go. I trust his judgment. But the Voice will have abyss to pay if anything does happen while I'm gone. I gave a smile and headed on through.

It's dark, very dark. The door closed behind me, and I carefully felt forward with my feet. I didn't want to fall. A noise came from my right, so I looked, turning and bringing up my sword between me and whatever it is.

“Who's there?” A softer voice answered me.

“Zentarou. Is that you, Caramon?”

“Yeah.” I moved my sword to the side – I didn't want to hurt him; he's on my side, after all – and tried to see him through the black. “Where are you? I can't see a thing.” Suddenly, there was an orb of light in front of me, nearly blinding me as I was looking right at it. I backed up as he stepped into the circle, drawing the orb back to float by his shoulder.

“Sorry about that.” He reached up to adjust the circlet he wore, frowning as if it bothered him greatly.

“Who's over there?” came Sideswipe's voice from elsewhere. I shouted back to let him know who we were, and soon we were joined by Mega and the red golem.

“Nice trick,” Mega praised Zentarou of the light sphere. He smiled.

“Magic comes in handy at times.” I had to smile. Even though he wore purple, rather than red, black, white, or even gray, I had a feeling he was a wizard. That made Zantar the warrior, like me.

“Magic?” echoed Sideswipe, seeming unconvinced. But Zentarou only smiled.

“Some worlds don't have magic, so I don't blame you if you don't believe me.” Suddenly, the entire room lit up so bright it nearly blinded us.

“Zentarou?” Mega asked, wondering if he'd done it. He said he hadn't. When we could see again, we saw a maze down below us. I groaned. Mazes were more Raist's thing than mine.

“Long drop,” Mega commented, looking over the edge of the platform we were on.

“I guess we just have to go through the maze,” Zentarou said. “That sounds simple enough. Just follow one wall.”

“Lead on, then,” Sideswipe said. I felt a small flash of alarm, at that. Zentarou was a spell caster like Raist. He couldn't go first.

“I'll take the lead.” The words were out of my mouth before I even realized I was saying them. Zentarou nodded, and I began walking.

Just follow one wall, I told myself. Easy enough. I could feel the others behind me, following me. I stole a quick glance back, to see Mega had taken up the next position, Zentarou behind him, and Sideswipe bringing up the rear. I randomly picked the right wall – Raist is right-handed – and followed it.

We walked for what seemed like hours. I constantly was worried about Raist, hoping he was all right back there. I told myself that he would be okay. I know that my protectiveness bothers him sometimes... okay, a lot, but I can't help it. He's my twin, and I don't know what I'd do without him. And I don't mean the twice-times either. I mean just being there. If I had to go it alone... I don't know. It might just kill me.

I was so lost in thought that I almost didn't register the scent rising to greet us until Zentarou gave a small moan.

“What in the name of the Lioness is that?” I snapped out of my thinking and realized there was an awful odor coming from around the corner. Peering in, I saw a hacked and burned reptile with six legs.

“It's a dead basilisk,” I said to the others. Then I felt myself smile. “It must be the one our brothers fought. Remember, the Voice said he thought the basilisk wouldn't give them any trouble.”

“Lets hurry on,” Zentarou pleaded, covering his nose with his hand. “It's awful!” We hurried by, the dead beast showing the damage the others had inflicted. I took this to mean we were on the right path. If they had made it through, then so would we.

After several more twists and turns, we came to the apparent end. Before us were four doors.

“Hah!” Sideswipe grinned. “That wasn't so hard. Didn't even have to fight anything.”

“Could be we simply avoided them,” Zentarou reasoned, “or that there was one basilisk, and it was a random chance which group, if any, would encounter it.”

“Either way,” Mega said, “I just want to get this over.” We went into the corresponding doors as we had been in before, and once more stepped into blackness.

It was even darker than before, and I took a few hesitant steps in.

“Raist?” I called, and abruptly I could see. My eyes shot wide in horror. I was back in that damn Tower, the one where Raist had nearly died. The stone floor under my feet, the cold walls, the dim torchlight....

“Aw, hell no!” I clutched my sword tighter. This was not what I wanted to see at all. Anywhere but this place! That's when I slowly realized that this was familiar, but not a part of the Tower I had ever actually stood it.

It was what I saw through Par-Salian's scrying spell when Raist took his test. The final part of it, the part that Raist made me swear to never speak to him about. Dreading to look, but knowing I had to, I scanned the room and saw Raist as he had been, broken from his battle, weak, dying. A dark elf's body lay next to him, the sword between them. The blade had a darkish hue to it; poison.

This can't be real, this can't be real. I tried to tell myself that, but then I saw the dark man. Oh, I remembered him. I hated him, worse than anyone else. I saw again Raistlin look up at him with agony and hatred on his face, not wanting to die but unable to fight back. He was afraid, I could see it. The dark man raised his arm, to shove into my brother's chest. Now I knew this wasn't real – all this had already happened, I couldn't change it, my brother was back in the holding cell,waiting for me – but still I moved. I charged, shouting at the top of my lungs at the monster, this thing that haunted my brother's unremembered nightmares and that by his own word I wasn't allowed to speak of out loud. I swung as hard as I could, determined to cut it in two...

And then, somehow, he had moved faster than I know was possible. He already had his hand inside my brother, only he had spun, putting Raistlin between me and him... and I had my sword hilt deep into Raistlin's back.

Gaping in horror, I withdrew the blade and dropped it, as the dark man dropped my twin. Or would have, if I hadn't caught him, gently turning him over in my arms. I was sobbing, unable to think. I had just killed my twin.

“Raist! Raist! I'm so sorry! I – I didn't mean to! I was aiming for the dark man!” He looked up at me, surprisingly strong for being so wounded, and his face was full of hate.

“You lie,” he hissed back. “You wanted to kill me.”

“No!”

“Yes! You never cared about me. I always held you back. Remember Miranda?” He paused to cough up blood, bright red, thick blood. “Did you know I loved her? That is, before I caught you rutting her.” I was stunned to silence. I had no idea. “She probably would've married you, if you haven't had a wizard for a brother. Always stuck caring for me. Admit it, you hated me.”

“Never!” “Well...” What he said next was beyond belief. “I hate you.”

For a long moment I couldn't move. I realized those three words had been his last. I hate you. Sure, I know people tend to like me more, find me more friendly and approachable. But that's just because they don't know Raist. I've seen him care for the sick with the highest gentleness, I've felt that care turned on me. I've seen his rare smile, heard the rarer laugh. He was my brother, my twin, and no matter what, I loved him.

Even if he hated me.

I bowed my head, feeling tired and drained and honestly ready to die, to walk with my twin brother down that final road. Suddenly, all of it just vanished. It took me a moment, but then I remembered where I was, what I was doing. The Voice had tricked me good. Now I knew what had caused Raist's expression. I hated the Voice now too.

“I am sorry for this,” the Voice said. “But I needed to see your greatest fear, how you would handle it without your brother with you.” His tone shifted to something of awe. “I just had no idea your brother would be involved.”

“Of course he it. He's my brother.” I stood, wiping my face dry as the door opened and I went back into my cell across from Raist.