{Henry}
I didn't realize that I was dreaming until I woke up. But before I woke up my dream started out with me chasing after a butterfly. I was laughing as I was running after it. When I finally caught up to it, I held out my hand and it landed on my finger. The butterfly flapped its wings as it sat on my finger.
I laughed, "Well hey there little one, you could land anywhere you wanted but you chose to land on my finger."
The butterfly flapped its wings again and flew off. I started to chase after it but stopped when it disappeared. I looked to see Tiger Stripes laughing at me.
"Why are you laughing at me, Tiger Stripes?" I asked.
"I'm laughing," said Tiger Stripes, "because God Derek and I were able to combine our powers to help you have a good dream finally. Just look at yourself sleeping peacefully."
Tiger Stripes showed me what I look like sleeping. I actually looked like I was sleeping soundly. Derek was watching me with a grin on his face. He had put a pillow underneath my head and covered me up with a blanket. He wasn't doing anything else, he was just sitting there watching over me and that was it.
Tiger Stripes laughed, "Finally, we were able to help you see what Heaven looks like."
"Huh," I said with a small smile. "I was chasing a butterfly earlier and that was it."
"It's not much but it's a start." Tiger Stripes said. "God Derek and I are trying to trigger your brain for more happy dreams in the future. It might take a while for that to happen on its own. We suspect that your good dreams will be few and far in between. But I do have a feeling once Lab 14 is destroyed and Cora is killed, then you just might have more happy dreams."
I agreed, "Yeah you're probably right on that, I just might not rest easy until that witch is dead."
Tiger Stripes bobbed his head up and down and laughed, "We figured as much, it's time for you to wake up now."
"How do you know I'm getting ready to wake up?" I asked.
"I can just tell," said Tiger Stripes, "see you in the real world."
Tiger Stripes faded away and that's when I woke up.
* * *
I opened my eyes and looked over to see Derek smiling at me.
"It's about time you slept peacefully!" Derek said. "Sleeping soundly is one thing but sleeping peacefully, that's even better. Keeping you asleep is a full time job on its own. But I don't mind doing it either way. It is fun doing things to you but giving you a good dream is much better for a change."
I smiled, "Uh-huh." Then I teased, "Too I don't dream about us having sex all the time like you do. Or that wouldn't have to happen."
I laughed at Derek's reaction because he blushed and looked away. He looked back at me. "So what were you dreaming about?"
"I was just chasing a butterfly and it landed on my finger." I answered. "It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I never saw anything like that growing up at Lab 14."
"Oh I see," Derek said.
"May I make a request Master God Henry?" Tiger Stripes asked.
"What is it?" I responded.
"Can you and God Derek figure out another pet name for Cora instead of Serpenta?" Tiger Stripes asked.
I titled my head, "Why?"
"It's offensive to every snake alive that's not evil," Tiger Stripes said.
I snorted, "Sure okay."
Derek perked up. "I have an idea."
"What?" I said.
"Have you ever seen spiders before?" Derek asked.
I gulped when Derek said that because Cora found it very entertaining torture me was to put a spider underneath my pillow sometimes and she would laugh when I woke up screaming after getting bit by it.
Derek gave me a look of concern. "What's wrong Henry?"
"I've seen spiders before alright," I growled, "especially the big ugly hairy ones! Cora would place a spider underneath my pillow sometimes and then she would laugh when I woke up screaming when it bit me."
Derek snarled, "Why that evil little-" He paused. "That's it!"
"What's it?" I said.
"How about we call her Spider Witch?" Derek said.
I laughed, "That's a good pet name for her. Although that might be offensive to the spider's that are alive that aren't evil too. Actually, naming Cora after any animal would probably be offensive anyway."
Me, Derek and Tiger Stripes had a good laugh at that thought.
* * *
{Derek}
As I watched Henry sleep, I couldn't help but feel angry about everything Cora put him through while he was growing up at Lab 14. Henry is so traumatized by that woman that he can't even have a good dream. If he's not having a memory then it's a nightmare. The very fact that Henry had never seen a real life butterfly before just fueled my anger.
No one deserves to go through the crap Henry went through growing up. I wouldn't wish what Henry went through on my worst enemy. I take that back, I would wish for that to happen with Cora.
I frowned when I saw that Henry was starting to have another nightmare. Every time Henry starts having a nightmare there's nothing I can do to stop it. All I could do was let the dream run its course.
Henry started screaming, "Let him go Cora! I did what you wanted me to do! Stop! Please stop!"
All I could think to do was hold Henry in my arms and hope the screaming would stop soon. After a minute or two which felt like forever Henry's screaming finally stopped. I used my magic to make sure that the nightmare wouldn't start up again and I would do this to make sure that Henry got his two hours of sleep needed for the day. So far Henry had only been asleep for a half hour. Even though I was happy to help Henry stay asleep, it was a job on its own.
While Henry was dreading the day he would have to face Cora again, I was looking forward to it. True, I would get knocked out of my body by getting shot in the head. It scared Henry because of that. I would think that Henry would be comforted by the fact that you can't kill god. But unfortunately even knowing this didn't bring him any comfort. It comforted me though because I knew there would finally come a day that Cora would die.
* * *
{Cora}
I smiled when I woke up to start another day as Head of Lab 14. I got out of bed and got undressed and took a shower. Then I got dressed in my work clothes and the thing I was most proud of about my work clothes was my scientist white robe that said Lab 14 on the right side of it. Above the words Lab 14 was Head Cora.
I stood looking at myself in the mirror and gave the same sinister smile that I would give my experiments before I started torturing them.
"Well hello there Cora!" I snickered at my reflection. "You're looking as evil as ever! Ready to do some damage today?"
I heard a moan that didn't come from me and was puzzled because there was no one else in the bathroom with me. I jumped when I looked at the mirror and didn't see my reflection. Instead of seeing my black hair with blonde highlights and grey eyes, I saw someone else staring back at me. The woman had brown hair and blue eyes.
"Hello there Cora!" The woman said.
I blinked. "Why am I seeing another woman in my mirror? I know I didn't have that much to drink the other day!"
The woman laughed a laugh that sent chills down my spine. I wasn't sure why I was so scared of the woman in my mirror but I know evil when I see it. This woman was even more evil than I was.
"I figured since I'm the one making your heart so evil," said the woman, "I should finally introduce myself. My name is Venom. And I'm a god's daughter and I'm from an evil place called the Underneath."
"Why would I need someone to help me be so evil?" I snapped. "No one's looked out for me growing up. So I only look out for myself. No one's free from harm when I'm around!"
Venom laughed, "You deny the fact that your heart does have some kindness in it. Why do you think you drink everyday? It's to deal with the pain you put your experiments under. Especially the one who you view has your son Experiment Henry? And why won't you acknowledge that Experiment Henry is a god now?"
"That's because he's an experiment!" I growled. "There's no way I'm calling a lab rat a god!"
Venom laughed a dark cold-blooded laugh, "Oh? You are in complete denial Cora. It's laughable really it is! Your drinking has intensified lately especially once Experiment Henry was announced as God Henry didn't it?"
I racked my brain only to realize that what Venom just said was true.
Venom gave me a sinister smile that topped mine. Not only was her laugh sinister, her stare was blank and lifeless. "Deep down inside you want to call Experiment Henry, God Henry and you know it! But I won't let you. Do you want to know why?"
Even though I was curious, I wasn't sure if I wanted to know what Venom was going to say next.
"Because you made a deal with me before you came to Lab 14," explained Venom, "your soul told me that I could stay in your body and in return I will keep your heart dark. It's been working like a charm so far. It's been a little bit difficult lately but not by much. I've been helping you control your emotions. I won't let you call Experiment Henry, God Henry as long as I'm alive and living inside of you. Got it?"
I was never afraid of anything before and now I've found something or in this case, someone to be afraid of. Venom was probably the most terrifying person I've ever come across. All I could do at the moment was nod my head in response.
"Good," said Venom, "now do me a favor and go do some damage for me today hmm? I'll be watching you and I will see if you're becoming kind and I will get rid of your kindness. Time for you to go raise some hell for me, goodbye for now."
When Venom's reflection disappeared and mine reappeared, I had half a mind to call off work today. But I knew I couldn't do that because I knew I had things that were very important. I also knew that because Venom was inside of me, I couldn't stop being evil even if I didn't want to.
* * *
{The Lord God Supreme}
I was sitting in my chambers using my crystal to watch God Henry and God Derek like I normally would do on my days off. It made me curious because I wanted to see how well the job of destroying Lab 14 was coming along. Ever since God Henry and God Derek came on the scene I've been fascinated with them. God Henry and God Derek are the two most unique gods I have ever seen!
I got a knock on the door and it was God One standing there and he looked frantic.
I frowned. "God One, what's the problem?"
"There's been a messenger sent from the Underneath! The Dark and his wife Minnie want to confirm their decision on what they want to do with their daughter Venom." God One replied. "Their decision also has to do with Cora, the person Venom is living in now."
"Okay then," I said, "tell the messenger I'll be right out. That dark creature will not be allowed in my chambers!"
"Yes, Your Highness." God One said. He gave a short bow, turned around and left.
* * *
I left my chambers and greeted the messenger from the Underneath. I let her stop bowing and she stood up and looked at me. I could tell by the horrified look on her face that she was afraid of me.
"I hear The Dark and Minnie have reached a decision about Venom?" I asked.
"Y-yes, your highness," the messenger stammered, "my L-Lord…"
The messenger couldn't look me in the eye as she handed me a scroll with the message in it. I opened the message and smiled when I read it. I took a quill and signed the scroll, and put my stamp of approval on it. "Well then, I agree with their decision, there is a right that needs to be done in order to correct a wrong."
When I handed the messenger back the scroll that the message was on, the messenger left the room.
* * *
{Princess Twilight}
"Is there anything we can do mom?" Martin said.
I know a look of concern when I see it and I could see it in Martin, Milton and Jane's faces. They were probably worried because I was pacing back and forth trying to figure out if I covered everything on my checklist. That's because of what I was planning for God Henry and God Derek. I had thrown homecoming parties for Milton, Jane, Martin, Sarah and Aria once they were returned home to Equestria. I've been wanting to do this party for God Henry and God Derek forever, ever since I heard they got announced as the rulers of the In Between.
This has got to be perfect, this has got to be perfect. I kept thinking and there was no way I was going to allow any screw ups. Nope, no screw ups! Not one, even down to the very last piece of confetti from Pinkie Pie's party cannon was going to be screwed up, not on my watch!
"Let's see here," said Spike, "finish parade floats one, two and three, check!"
I smiled and nodded, "Good!"
I looked over to see Milton, Martin and Jane's worried looks turn into smiles. I could tell they were ready to burst into laughter because of my obsession with checklists. They knew exactly what Spike was going to say next. "Okay, double check the checklist after completing the checklist. Check!"
I smiled as Milton, Martin and Jane burst into laughter just like I thought they would.
"Okay, okay you guys," I laughed, "yes I know I have an obsession with checklists. Even though it is pretty funny, I just want to make sure everything is perfect!"
Milton chuckled, "I'm sure everything will be fine mom."
I returned Milton's smile but I wasn't about to let anything slip through the cracks. I wanted everything to be perfect. It would be perfect if I had something to say about it and I did.