A figure stood chained in the center of a stone dais. His soulless eyes glared into the floor. His brown hair concealed his features. Seated above him, several figures muttered in hushed tones. They all were seated on imposing stone chairs. Aside from their different expressions, all of their faces were the same.

Maniac stood up and grinned humorlessly. "Allow me to take control. I can do the most good. Not just for this body, but for the world."

"Oh really?" Arrogance drawled, standing as well. "What makes you so great?"

Knowledge cocked an eyebrow. Now this was odd. Arrogance usually sided with Maniac, as did Narcissism, Hubris, and Superiority. Was this issue so important that their old alliances were being broken?

Wisdom glanced at Knowledge and smiled. "This is getting interesting, isn't it?" He chuckled. "Think we should make a bid?"

Knowledge shook his head. "I see your logic, but no. We don't have the support necessary. But we can't let the body fall to Maniac."

Wisdom sighed. "You're right. Who should we endorse, then?"

Knowledge stared around the room. "I don't know yet. There's insufficient information. Though I do think that it would be beneficial to vote for a Virtue, not a Vice. We will hold more sway there."

Wisdom nodded, and glanced across the dais at a cluster of three thrones. There sat Fear, Doubt and Paranoia. They seemed smaller than everyone else. Years ago, they had been crushed and broken by the others, reduced to mere shadows. Only Paranoia's vote still carried any weight, and he always gave his vote to Maniac.

Cheer, Compassion, Suave, Ambition, Temperance and Patience were also deep in conversation. "Maniac can't win!" Ambition snarled. "I'll take him down!"

"Easy, friend," Temperance cautioned. "We must consider all of our options."

"Take time, gauge, and then speak," Patience added.

Cheer smiled at Ambition. "I'd vote for you!"

Suave yawned elegantly. Ambition realized he'd been asleep, or pretending to be. "I'll support the majority here. We figure out who we're votin' for yet or what?"

Compassion smiled wanly. "Ambition seems our most likely candidate."

Knowledge leaned over into their group. "Compassion, please, consider Wisdom."

Temperance gazed levelly at Knowledge. "I usually respect your opinion, and that of Wisdom. But did you not just recommend that he not put himself forth?"

"Only because I did not want him to try anything on his own accord. I need to win him support."

Patience stared at his fingernails. "Ambition won't like this, not at all."

Knowledge smirked. "Wisdom can't do this alone. He'll need you. Me. Ambition. Compassion. All of you. We can make him strong."

Suave leaned in. "Sounds good, my friend. Plus, with that, we could be a serious threat to Maniac." He stretched. "I like this already."

Knowledge looked grim. "Maniac has the support of most of the Vices, and the Ego."

Temperance glanced across the Chamber at where Greed, Sloth, Wrath and Envy were squabbling over who would be the representative from their group. Greed wanted the power, Wrath wanted the ability to move freely, and Envy wanted what the others had. Sloth had conceded, because thinking for himself have proven to be too much effort.

Maniac clapped his hands together. "I tire of this nonsense!" Superiority's brows came together, and Knowledge knew why. Maniac had just taken control of the floor, putting him in a position of power.

Narcissism was gazing into an ornate hand mirror. He grinned at himself. "Shall we… vote?" He kissed his reflection and put the mirror down. "I'm sure things will turn out… mm, favorable?"

Maniac's face shifted between a scowl, a grin of triumph, and then back again. "Yes. We shall. Who wishes to control this body?" He gestured towards the chained man. "I nominate myself. Obviously."

Ambition raised a hand. "I nominate my-" Suave elbowed him discreetly. "My associate… Wisdom."

Wisdom blinked. He had not anticipated this. Maniac looked angered. This was not part of the plan. Ambition was supposed to seize power for himself, not confer it onto another! But no matter. Things could still proceed as planned.

Wrath raised his hand. "I nominate myself."

Superiority cracked his knuckles. "Having the body means having power. I want that power."

"Anyone else?" Maniac asked in a soothing voice. No one spoke. "Good. Now, for the vote. Who votes for me?"

Several hands went up. Several members of the Ego faction, Greed, Envy, and Paranoia were among them. Maniac smiled thinly. Already it looked like he would have the majority. His mind flickered through the plans he had made for this new body.

"Now, for Wrath." Only the Vice's own hand went up, followed a short time later by Sloth. "Pity," Maniac said softly, but loud enough to carry. Greed snarled.

"Votes for Superiority?" Arrogance, Doubt, and the remainder of the Ego raised their hands. Not enough. Not nearly enough.

"Finally, Wisdom." All of the Virtues and Knowledge raised their hands. Several members not associated with any factions voted for Wisdom. Then, to Knowledge's surprise, Fear's hand went up.

Maniac howled with rage. A tie! The exact same amount of votes for him and that insignificant fool, Wisdom! How could this have happened?

The howl seemed to stir the man chained in the center. "Who-Who are you?" he hissed. "Where am I? What's going on?"

Maniac looked down from his throne. "Ah, the body awakens. Welcome to your own mind. Do you not like what you see?" He reached out for the young man.

"Don't touch me!" he cried, jerking away.

Maniac recoiled. This was not anticipated. In the far corner, Fear whimpered and curled up on his chair. Doubt trembled, and Paranoia searched desperately for an exit.

Compassion looked down on the young man, barely more than a boy, and felt great sympathy for him. If only he had nominated himself! He could have prevented this from happening!

Wisdom called out, and locked eyes with the body. "You have no need to fear us. You conquered your fears long ago. Do not let them rise again. We have shaped your destiny here today. The results of our vote show that you are destined for great things. But know that you are awake, I think it only fitting that you be the one to choose your path."

The young man glared at them all, craning his neck to see behind him. "I am nothing without you. You are nothing without me. I am today because you all made me into this. But I have formed you also. To choose only one of you would be foolish. But you Wisdom, you hold the most promise. Were I to pick, I would choose you."

"You fool!" Maniac hollered. "I made you what you are! I can make you greater! Give you power! Wealth! Anything beyond your wildest dreams!"

"You are called Maniac, are you not?" the young man asked. "But that is not your true name, your full name. No, I recognize you. You are Megalomania. Don't think that I don't appreciate all you've done for me. But you cannot be in control. I will not allow it."

Maniac shuddered, and howled again. His form glowed with light, and he disappeared. The light he created flowed into the young man, and a new light gleamed in his eyes. "Who's next?"

All around the room, figures glowed and disappeared into his body. Finally, all that was left was Knowledge and Wisdom. Knowledge smiled. "Know, young man, that I go to you willingly. I wish to learn more of this power you hold. We thought we were in control, but how wrong we were. We are a part of you, just as much as you are a part of us. I hope that one day, you may come to forgive us from the grievous sins we have committed this day."

He glowed briefly, and disappeared.

Wisdom also began to glow. "You know, I never thought I'd be able to control. Never. You are too complex for me. But I will use my brethren to help, and will attempt to keep the other factions under control. I only have one question.

"Just who are you?"

He vanished, and his light was absorbed into the man's body. The young man shook his wrists, and the shackles broke and dropped away. He roared, and the walls of the chamber shook and disappeared, revealing the black oblivion beyond. He rose up and shot off into the blackness, arising from his deep slumber as a new person.

"I am Connor."

A/N: Yes, my real name is Connor, not Cole. But to be honest, I respond to both. So yeah, this was a story I wrote to address the possibility I'm schizophrenic. I whipped it up pretty quickly, but I'm happy with it.