That night, Percy couldn't sleep as he kept tossing and turning. No matter how hard he tried he just couldn't seem to fall asleep.

"Damn it!" Percy said to himself in anger as he sat up in the bed. "I just want this night to be over with."

"Lord Percival Fredrickson Von Musel Kowalski De Rolo the third." A mysterious male voice suddenly said catching Percy of guard. "I am your god! Long shall I reign!"

"What the? Who are you?" Percy asked as he got up and looked around the room. "Show yourself stranger!"

"Oh, I am no stranger. In fact, if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't exist." The voice said before finally revealing himself as some kind of hybrid as he looked like a human but with demon horns that curl to the side, long pink hair, and was wearing a black and red leather jacket and pants. "I am the one who created you and many other characters. I gave you your tragic past, the Briarwoods, your design, personality, and even your voice."

"So, you're a god? Or something?" Percy asked, now a little confused before realizing one tiny detail. "Wait, YOU created the Briarwoods too? So it's your fault my family is gone!"

"Woah, slow down I made you more interesting didn't I?" The man asked. "As for the first question, I guess you could technically call me a god."

"No, I'm not buying this 'god' crap." Percy said, now feeling suspicious of the stranger. "Who are you really? And why are you here?"

"I go by many names, Mollymuk Tealeaf, Caduceus Clay, Ashton, and even. . . Percival De Rolo."  The man explained as he switched from character to character. "But you may call me, T.J."

"T.J.? Really?" Percy said as the name sounded a little silly to him.

"Well, I don't want to use my real name." T.J. explained. "Considering I'm a real person being placed in a fictional story, I just use my initials."

"Good point." Percy said with a nod. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm here to give you a warning." T.J. said honestly. "So you must listen to me."

"A warning?" Percy asked. "What kind of warning?"

"Tonight, you will be visited by 3 spirits who will come to you as people you may know." T.J. explained. "The spirit of the Gathering Past, The spirit of the Gathering Present, and the spirit of the Gathering yet to come."

"And why are these spirits coming to visit me?" Percy asked confused.

"To show you why this Dark Isle holiday is so important." T.J. said. "And to hopefully get you in the holiday spirit."

"Why don't you do it? You created me." Percy said rolling his eyes. "And apparently you even control what I say. So just make me be in the holiday spirit already!"

"How about I just make you go along with what I'm telling you." T.J. sighed in annoyance. "That way we can get this story rolling."

"Okay, fine." Percy said annoyed. "3 spirits are going to show me the true meaning of the Gathering, or whatever."

"That works, I guess." T.J. said as he started to disappear. "But remember, you need to actually pay attention and learn from the spirits. Otherwise this would've all been a waste of time."

And just like that, T.J. fully vanished leaving Percy still confused, but relieved. "Glad that's over." He said as he did his best to go back to sleep.

Special appearance Taliesin Jaffe (Voice of Percy)

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