Mental's Past

New Beginnings

Mental awoke in a black space, it looked like the Void, but it felt different. He floated around, attempting to figure a way out. He called to his friends, or to anyone who could be close by, but no one answered him. He was very confused and thought back to what he last remembered. He remembered fighting Dread, he remembered that he had lost, but then... he vaguely remembered hearing Balance shouting, then nothing. That's when he realized Balance must have taken out Dread Steve! And since he was still in Dread he died as well. He thought he would end up in the world beyond if he ever died, not wherever this was. As he looked around, trying to figure things out, a low rumbling chuckle sounded out from the dark abyss. It was Dread.

"Well, well, well... What a shock to see you here. Mental Balance was it?" He spoke in slight shock, but also condescendingly.

"Yeah that's my name... and what do you mean? Where is here?" Mental asked in confusion.

'"Welcome to my limbo... this is where I end up to recharge my power before re-entering the living world." He explained proudly for some reason.

"So... we're dead... but we can go back?" Mental questions, after all this didn't make any sense.

"Exactly... but no one has ever accompanied me in here... it's odd... hmmm" He seemed to ponder something before a wicked smile spread on his lips.

"Ok what's with that look?" Mental asked defensively, not liking this at all.

"My if you're here... then you're more like me than I originally gave you credit... if you joined me, we'd be unstoppable" He said maniacally.

"No thanks, I'd rather shrivel up and die alone than join you, you sick twisted psycho!" Mental responded strongly, shooting his offer down without giving him or his offer a second thought. Mental then tried to look for a way out, not wanting to spend another second with Dread.

"Sorry, but there is no escape, you only leave once your power is fully recharged. Of course... you could always stay longer..." Dread explained, although he said the last part mockingly.

"Yeah no, first chance I get I am out of here..." Mental retorted.

The two Steve's drifted around the dark abyss, Dread attempting to entertain himself by teasing and taunting Mental. Mental counted the seconds with agonizing desperation for freedom. And after waiting what felt like a short eternity a bright light filled Mental's vision as he was pulled out of Limbo and found himself back in the Void.

After a bit of searching he found Void, the celestial in control of the actual Void space. He briefly explained why he was still there, leaving out the details of Dread's limbo of course. Void sent Mental back to the Overworld, and after asking around he eventually found the Balancer village. Some of the other Balancer's helped him settle down and get a house built. He couldn't help but think back to what Dread had shown him while they were fighting. Mental then decided that he would help his fellow Balancer's with their mental strife. Mental was determined to not end up like Dread, and he focused on using his mind powers to heal instead of hurt. And so Mental joined the village and prepared to learn all about his new abilities. His old life as a Pink Steve from a different dimension was over, this had marked his new life as the Mental Balance.