Difference between revisions of "Dangerous Dreams"

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Flashes...

Flashes...

Flashes of friends. Flashes of the past. Flashes which reveal our very soul.

Flashes of friends. Flashes of the past. Flashes which reveal our very soul.

Dream Realm when we sleep. Yet even this mere glimmer can prove to be

Dream Realm when we sleep. Yet even this mere glimmer can prove to be

treacherous, as was exhibited to many in 465 AF.

treacherous, as was exhibited to many in 465 AF.

My mother's twinkling eyes watching over me with a smile. The Flame of

My mother's twinkling eyes watching over me with a smile. The Flame of

Yggdrasil beckoning me closer. Darting through the water as a silver fish.

Yggdrasil beckoning me closer. Darting through the water as a silver fish.

Being caught on a fishing hook.

Being caught on a fishing hook.

I open my eyes and stretch languidly. Juliet was right - sleeping recharged my

I open my eyes and stretch languidly. Juliet was right - sleeping recharged my

before me, I reach over and scratch behind the ears of

before me, I reach over and scratch behind the ears of

my faithful fox, sleeping soundly beside me.

my faithful fox, sleeping soundly beside me.

"Yeah, you've got the right idea," I say, yawning, "Just a few more hours..."

"Yeah, you've got the right idea," I say, yawning, "Just a few more hours..."

Blinking blearily, I rest my head once more on the mossy forest floor, and

Blinking blearily, I rest my head once more on the mossy forest floor, and

succumb to sleep's warm embrace.

succumb to sleep's warm embrace.

Swords clash and screams echo across the lands, as I realise I am in the midst

Swords clash and screams echo across the lands, as I realise I am in the midst

of a great battle. I see one of my allies fall to the ground, a disgusting mass

of a great battle. I see one of my allies fall to the ground, a disgusting mass

of blood and broken bones. Shocked, I look up, and find

of blood and broken bones. Shocked, I look up, and find

myself staring into the eyes of a dark knight. Cold and unfeeling, his eyes

myself staring into the eyes of a dark knight. Cold and unfeeling, his eyes

show no compassion for my slaughtered friend.

show no compassion for my slaughtered friend.

I jerk upright in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. Convincing my mind to accept

I jerk upright in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. Convincing my mind to accept

that is was just a dream, and that my friend was not just ruthlessly cut down, I

that is was just a dream, and that my friend was not just ruthlessly cut down, I

lift my head. In a gut wrenching sense of deja

lift my head. In a gut wrenching sense of deja

vu, I once again find myself staring into the cold eyes of a dark knight.

vu, I once again find myself staring into the cold eyes of a dark knight.

Adorned in sleek black plate armour, the eight foot behemoth slowly draws his

Adorned in sleek black plate armour, the eight foot behemoth slowly draws his

rapidly flows through my veins. In an instant I am wracked with shivers, and

rapidly flows through my veins. In an instant I am wracked with shivers, and

can only watch helplessly as the

can only watch helplessly as the

knight prepares to finish me off. Closing my eyes and anticipating the cold

knight prepares to finish me off. Closing my eyes and anticipating the cold

blade once more, I instead hear the roar of thunder. I open my eyes in time to

blade once more, I instead hear the roar of thunder. I open my eyes in time to

through the trees with surprising grace, while I am left speechless on the

through the trees with surprising grace, while I am left speechless on the

ground.

ground.

For what seemed like days, I sat shivering on the lush forest floor,

For what seemed like days, I sat shivering on the lush forest floor,

shivering. One application of caloric salve later I stand up and set off for

shivering. One application of caloric salve later I stand up and set off for

Thera, in the hope that I would hear word of what was transpiring.

Thera, in the hope that I would hear word of what was transpiring.

Surprisingly, my thirst for information was sated as I passed by Lake

Surprisingly, my thirst for information was sated as I passed by Lake

shuffle over to the couch and sit with my arms wrapped around my legs, willing

shuffle over to the couch and sit with my arms wrapped around my legs, willing

myself to stay awake.

myself to stay awake.

Time ticks away slowly, as my eyelids get steadily lower. My head feels like

Time ticks away slowly, as my eyelids get steadily lower. My head feels like

lead on my shoulders and every time it nods down to my chest, it takes more and

lead on my shoulders and every time it nods down to my chest, it takes more and

more effort to raise it again. My chin touches my chest,

more effort to raise it again. My chin touches my chest,

but as I lift my head up this time, I see a girl standing before me. She looks

but as I lift my head up this time, I see a girl standing before me. She looks

hungry.

hungry.

"Hello little one, are you lost?" I ask kindly.

"Hello little one, are you lost?" I ask kindly.

She says nothing, but stares at the food stand with hunger etched on her dirt

She says nothing, but stares at the food stand with hunger etched on her dirt

stained face. The anomaly doesn't register. She lifts a bony arm, feebly

stained face. The anomaly doesn't register. She lifts a bony arm, feebly

pointing at the stand as she gazes intently at me.

pointing at the stand as she gazes intently at me.

"Oh you poor girl, when was the last time you ate?" I ask as I take her hand,

"Oh you poor girl, when was the last time you ate?" I ask as I take her hand,

preparing to lead her to some nourishment.

preparing to lead her to some nourishment.

The sovereign drops as my hand passes right through hers. As I turn, I see not

The sovereign drops as my hand passes right through hers. As I turn, I see not

the Ring of Portals, but a bustling marketplace. I was dreaming!

the Ring of Portals, but a bustling marketplace. I was dreaming!

The girl turns to face me, and sadly says, "Won't you buy me some food? I'm

The girl turns to face me, and sadly says, "Won't you buy me some food? I'm

ever so hungry..."

ever so hungry..."

I step back, unable to pull my gaze from her eerie glowing eyes. With force

I step back, unable to pull my gaze from her eerie glowing eyes. With force

horror as the dreams make short work of the young hero. I try to run, but I am

horror as the dreams make short work of the young hero. I try to run, but I am

rooted to the spot in fear.

rooted to the spot in fear.

"Gods save us!" I yell, as I scurry to cower behind the couch.

"Gods save us!" I yell, as I scurry to cower behind the couch.

Before I make it howver, a man clad in plain brown robes suddenly pops into

Before I make it howver, a man clad in plain brown robes suddenly pops into

existence next to me. With a quick and complex movement of his hands, the two

existence next to me. With a quick and complex movement of his hands, the two

dreams freeze in place, shimmer for a second, then

dreams freeze in place, shimmer for a second, then

dissolve into nothingness, just as the knight did. I gape in awe at this

dissolve into nothingness, just as the knight did. I gape in awe at this

figure, but he snaps his fingers and disappears once more. For a moment, I

figure, but he snaps his fingers and disappears once more. For a moment, I

off to the North without a word. Heaving a sigh, I prepared to set off too,

off to the North without a word. Heaving a sigh, I prepared to set off too,

before a booming voice resounded from on high.

before a booming voice resounded from on high.

"No longer shall the lands of Minia, Lodi and Loom Island play host to the

"No longer shall the lands of Minia, Lodi and Loom Island play host to the

dream horrors. The young adventurers of Achaea shall now sleep in safety."

dream horrors. The young adventurers of Achaea shall now sleep in safety."

echoed the nameless voice.

echoed the nameless voice.

Relief flooded through me, as the words reached my ears. The chains of fear

Relief flooded through me, as the words reached my ears. The chains of fear

were broken. As if on cue, there was a flash of light as the Romeo the Guide

were broken. As if on cue, there was a flash of light as the Romeo the Guide

appears.

appears.

He turns to me with a grin and says, "Greetings young one! How are you today?"

He turns to me with a grin and says, "Greetings young one! How are you today?"

I blink at him for a moment, then smiling wryly, I respond with, "Great, but

I blink at him for a moment, then smiling wryly, I respond with, "Great, but

right now, I need sleep..."

right now, I need sleep..."

Answering my body's call, I drift once more into the loving embrace of my

Answering my body's call, I drift once more into the loving embrace of my

dreams, resting well in the promise of the mysterious old man.

dreams, resting well in the promise of the mysterious old man.