'Eugh... My head...'
'What happened? Did I die again?'
I looked around and saw I was in the same hole I had carved out of that log last night.
Light peeked from the entrance, illuminating the space. I tried moving my body, but it wouldn't listen to me. I tried harder, but nothing happened.
'Am I paralysed?! Is it because of that red orb I ate yesterday?! Am I doomed to stay here forever?!'
?: Would you stop panicking already? We're fine.
'Ahhhh! Now I'm hearing a voice other than mine! I've finally lost it!'
?: If you're crazy, then that means all of us would be crazy, and I refuse to be associated with insanity. It is beneath me.
'Another one?! I'm getting crazier by the minute!'
?: ...I told you this was a terrible idea.
?: Maybe we should just block them out, until they calm down at least.
?: You do remember that we need them to operate our body properly, right? Ignoring them will only further their confusion and create a larger rift between us.
?: It was just a suggestion! Jeez, get off my back!
?: An extremely idiotic suggestion!
?: Then what's your idea? Because their screaming is getting really annoying.
?: I don't know! This situation is new to all of us!
?: Wow! Brainiac over here doesn't know what to do. Ain't that a first.
?: What the hell do you want me to do? We have never encountered a situation like this before! And your little 'paralysis' stunt did not work to help it!
?: Aren't you the voice of reason? You were supposed to stop me!
?: I tried, multiple times I might add! But of course, the living embodiment of bull-headedness charged straight in without so much as a second thought!
?: See, this is why I'm in charge of the body. You can't live your life constantly second-guessing yourself. You'll never discover anything new that way.
?: If you keep acting upon your foolish impulses, we will end up dead!
?: Please, you're being overdramatic!
?: You are underestimating the situation!
'Both of you, shut up!'
'I don't know what's going on, but I do know that you two are insufferable to be around. So be quiet, or so help me!'
The two annoying voices finally shut up, giving me space to finally calm down.
'Okay, I'm calm. So, can you two please explain who you are and what you're doing in my head?'
Alter: "Well, to answer your first question, I'm Alter, and the other one is Ego, and you are Blank. We are three separate personalities tied to the same mind, body, and soul."
Ego: "And to answer your second question, we don't really know."
'Wait, personalities!? Did I somehow develop D.I.D. in my sleep or something!'
Alter: "Can you please stop shouting? You're not the only one in your mind anymore. And no, you did not develop D.I.D. This happened because of that request you made."
'What request?'
Ego: "Remember when you were unconscious and making friends with the void?"
'Ugh... kind of? It's a bit blurry, but I think I remember doing something like that.'
Alter: "Well, after you blacked out again, we suddenly appeared out of nowhere."
'So you don't know how you came into existence?'
Ego: "Nope. We just have your memories, so if you don't know, we don't know."
'I guess that makes sense.'
'So I guess I wished you guys into existence. Wow, who would have guessed the power of words was actually real.'
Alter: "Realistically speaking, it probably happened due to an unintended magical phenomenon caused by your deep longing for companionship."
'That makes me sound... lonely. So, how about we just say no to that hypothesis.'
Ego: "Well, you have us now. But between you and me, I'm the only one you need."
Alter: "You do know I can hear you, right?"
Ego: "Yes, and?"
Alter: "Why, you—"
'Okay! Enough of that, thank you very much. I'd rather we focus on something important, like living a life.'
Alter: "Finally, something I can agree with."
'You said you need my help with moving, right? How does that work exactly?'
Alter: "Well, from what I have seen, we each control an aspect of this body. I, Alter, control the mental aspect, which would be all things related to understanding, information, and analysis."
'That makes sense. I did want you to be the voice of reason, so having you as the brains would be a good idea.'
Alter: "Naturally. At least someone values my work."
Ego: "Don't stroke her pride; she has enough of that already!"
'That's ironic coming from the personality whose name is literally Ego.'
Ego: "You named me, genius."
'Let's not argue about things that may or may not have happened.'
Alter: "Next is Ego. He is in charge of the physical body, which includes perception, the five senses, physical activity, and movement."
Ego: "To put it lightly, I'm in charge of what the body does."
'The impulsive one as the body sounds kinda irresponsible.'
Alter: "I second that notion."
Ego: "Hey! Don't say that! I'm great at what I do! Plus, I'm not boring like old Alter here. She's a real stick in the mud."
Alter: "If 'boring' is how you view exercising caution and being responsible, then yes, I'm boring."
'Hello! Can we continue with what we were doing here? Thank you!'
Alter: "Ahem! Yes, as I was saying. You, Blank, are the link between both of us. You represent the ultimate part of life: the soul. We may hold control of our domains, but without you, we are nothing."
'So you need me so that we can properly function together?'
Ego: "That's about it!"
'Then what's with the paralysis?'
Alter: "Him!"
Ego: "It was just a harmless prank. It was just supposed to spook you a bit. I didn't know you'd have a total meltdown over it."
Alter: "I warned him that this exact situation would occur if he did."
Ego: "Meh. Listening ain't my strong suit."
'I've noticed...'
'Can you like, stop being paralysed then? I kind of had a whole 'exploring the ominous, creepy, dark forest' arc that the equally ominous and creepy wind forced me to go on.'
'Even though every fibre of my being is telling me I shouldn't, my curiosity still wins this war.'
Ego: "And that's why you're my favourite! Fear tells you to avoid, and you look straight into fear's eyes and do what you want. Spoken like a true adventurer!"
Alter: "Oh, brother..."
Ego: "Well then, onward towards the dark forest we go!"
Alter: "If we die, I'm suing you both for murder."
'Relax, Alter. The three of us are the dream team. There's nothing that can stop us if we put our heads... head together.'
Alter: "We share the same mind. We are all connected to one another through the same origin, yet we are different alternatives of that origin."
'Okay...? I think I get it?'
Ego: "Think of us as oranges. While you are the original orange-coloured orange, me and Alter—"
Alter: "It's 'Alter and I'."
Ego: "Same difference!"
Alter: "That doesn't even—!"
Ego: "We are clones of the same orange, just with a few edits. Think of me as a golden, shining orange, and Alter's definitely a beige or some kind of bland brown."
Alter: "Your analogy displeases me."
'Can you two stop fighting and focus! Now I wish I was alone in my own head again.'
Ego: "It's her fault!"
Alter: "Haaa... You'll never change."
'Peaceful days, come back to me! Please, I beg of you, don't leave me with these two!'