Memory Lane (Shadow and Holly)

"Sorry," Holly said, feeling she had spoken out of place.

"You're going to go and stay with Fear. Arias knows she's going to be in pieces." Shadow said.

"Fear, goddit," Holly said saluting her, "Ill do that..."

Shadow nodded and took Holly's arm, taking her out of her memory. They appeared in Fear's territory and sure enough, Hope, Kindness and friendship were trying to calm the trembling, sobbing Fear.

"Hey Fear," Holly said uncertainly.

Fear looked up through wet eyes to see Holly and squeaked, scared.

Shadow ran off to deal with her rogue emotion.

"Didnt mean to offend you!" Holly said, taking a hesitant step forward, "Dont cry ... nothing to be scared of ... cant someone pour some of themselves into her?"

The other emotions around Fear shook their heads.
"Each of us is what Shadow would be if she principally felt that emotion. There is no way to help Fear apart from comfort her." Hope said serenly.

"Then lets do that," Holly said, though it was obvious, "Dont panic Fear. Shall I tell you a story?"

Fear looked at Holly... fearfully, but Hope whispered something to her and she nodded slowly.

Holly smiled slightly, and sat down.
"Well once, there was this Elf right? And she was all ... Elfy.... and she was scared too. Scardy Elf they called her. I know, I didnt see that coming either. So anyway, one day Elf was in the middle of this forest right? And all her friends were there. One of them dared her to go into the Dragon part of the forest, the part with the Dragons of some old legend. You'd think Elf would just say "NO WAY!" and run home, but she didnt. She thought it was about time she threw her fears away and insted of running away ... she ran straight in. And she didnt stop until she was at the Dragon's Den. But there werent any dragons there at all. Insted there was a lamp. A little gold lamp, like you hear about in all the fairy tales you ever read. Being a fairy-tale lover herself, Elf lifted the lamp, and rubbed it. Sure enough, a genie popped out, just about the picture of what you're picturing now. He told her she had one wish. Elf thought and thought. "I wish I could be Fearless" she said after a while. The genie nodded and cast a spell. Nothing happened. "Thats odd," Elf said, "It didnt work." The genie smiled a huge smile and then said, "You cant wish for what was in you all along," ..."
Holly stopped.
"Thats it." she said lamely.

Most of the emotions looked unimpressed, but Happy was clapping and Hope was smiling; Fear had stopped trembling.

Holly smiled at Hope and Happy, happy herself. It was only after that she reminded herself they were probably very easy to please.
She looked at Fear.
"You ok?"

Fear nodded slowly before squeaking in fear agian, her eyes wide.
"Don't worry, it's Shadow. We're directly linked with her." Hope assured Holly. "Shadow's just feeling scared right now."

Holly nodded, unconvinced. She regretted having that fifth ice cream now.
"You're sure shes ... ok?"

Hope nodded, smiling at Holly.

Holly smiled back uneasily.
Maybe it was the six slushies she had followed the ice cream with, that was making her feel queasy.
Or perhaps the barrel of apples.
Or that Scots girl .....

Pain limped into the territory, obviously wounded.

Holly glanced backwards, and did a double take.
"Pain?" she guessed, "What the ... does this mean Shadow's in ... look Im confused, Hope will you explain whats going on please?"

"Shadow is, indeed, in pain. Worry not, she can't die in here." Hope said.

"Sometimes pain is worse," Holly murmured absently, looking the way Pain had come, "Look would somebody go help her? Or let me?"

Hope shook her head.
"Not much any of us can do. She's got the best fighters there. Brave, Rude, Sarcasm, Knowledge, Wisdom..."

"Doesnt she have 'Fight' there ... does she exist?" Holly asked miserably.

"Nope, just Brave." Pain said quietly.

"Can we do anything for you?" Holly asked Pain, feeling she was to help this one.