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Paternal Horn
By TheBlackFox
"Dawn is a feeling, a beautiful ceiling. The smell of grass just makes you pass into a dream."
-The Moody Blues
The emotion emptied her soul until there was nothing left, yet the melody filled her until she felt she'd burst. Her lungs were starting to ache, but she couldn't stop, the song had her, and it was pulling her swiftly along. It was music from the heart, and even the trees were enticed to sway along as the wind danced in their branches.
A scattering of papers was on the ground, strewn carelessly in a puddle of gold. Twin Dreams musical, auditions on Sep. 29th at Twin Seeds Tower they proclaimed.
Though the year was finally turning to autumn, the sun was still warm. It was a Sunday, and there was another hour before she had to be at the auditions.
Yet.
...
All too soon.
...
The stage lights were on her.
She stepped out lightly onto the platform with a confidence she no longer felt.
The director was snoring, apparently out of boredom. The producer sniffed once and gave her a severe look. The writer was the worst of them all, he tapped his fingers aggressively on the table they were seated at, script in hand; he looked ready to beat her with it in rage.
They haven't even heard me yet and they're already judging me...
Her legs burned with the overwhelming desire to run-- as far away as possible. She clenched her fists instead, steeling her nerves to do her very best. She waited a long time for this chance, and she knew it would not come again.
She took a deep breath, her lips parted, but she never got any further...
They laughed before the first note even came out. Cruel laughter that knew beyond any doubt that she would never make her dreams come true.
As the laughter mounted to a roar, they morphed into horrible black creatures with eyes that hungered for the taste of young blood.
Claris didn't think, she ran. Fast.
This can't be real. This can't be real. This can't be real...
The hallway she found herself in kept changing, swirling sickeningly in psychedelic colors, and it had no end in sight. The monsters were getting closer all the time and she begged her legs to go faster.
One of the nightmarish fiends swooped up on shadowy wings and made a dive for her. She screamed like a frightened child. Tears shed glittering from her eyes.
Through a miracle alone she managed to form a single word.
...
Help.
...
Something or someone must have heard her desperate plea, for the passageway did change now. There was a soft green spark of light in the dark rainbow, and it kept getting brighter as she neared it.
The dark creatures seemed to fall back, or at least their cries were fainter, and they had a baffled and angry tone that wasn't there before. She didn't look back. The healing glow was around her now, soft, warm, like her grandmother's quilt. She went on, whatever the light may be or bring, she was full of wonder and curiosity now, not fear.
The light took her into its arms, and she drifted away where it willed.
Warmth, comfortable and pleasant. There was something soft under her. And a smell of spring green and flowers cleansed by gentle rain. Or maybe an air freshener on steroids. A music, barely heard, played on the fragrant air.
Claris opened her eyes slowly. The nightmare monsters were nowhere to be seen. Only rolling valleys of emerald. Rainbow sparks of fire danced in the gemstone hue... then she realized they were only flowers.
Very intensely colored flowers.
Had someone been painting the blossoms in Twin Seeds park?
She laughed softly to herself then, amused by her own sleepy mind's crazy notions.
Now, Claris, just close your eyes, give them a good rub to get the sleep out, and have another look...
No change.
...
One more try.
...
I don't think we're in Twin Seeds anymore...
She rolled over onto her front, intending to stand from an easier position.
For a moment she stopped in the motion and marveled at how her hands sunk into the thick green. She ran her fingers through it, surprised again by the feel of it. It was more like stroking a very large kitten, she half expected it to purr now. Soft, so very soft... with a hint of a minty scent she realized, as she buried her face in it.
It made her suddenly curious what other things may be different about this place. Relinquishing the green kitten of the earth, she stood up.
Nothing seemed overtly strange, other than the fact colors were very bright here, and there were a few balloons floating off into the distance... or maybe they were clouds... bit of an odd shape for balloons.
It was then that a soft creaking sound made her turn.
Trees. Rocks. Grass. Flowers. More grass. Windmills, that must have been the creaking sound. Nothing odd there... "Wait a second...! They're not attached to anything and they're floating with the wind!"
Claris might have reminded herself at this point that she was a straight A student, never so much as considered anything more hallucinogenic than a poppyseed muffin, and there wasn't a recorded case of insanity in her family, though she questioned her Mother's sanity from time to time...
But...
She wouldn't have bought it.
And there was a small building not too far away. Maybe she could get an outsider's opinion that she wasn't crazy or on mushrooms?
As she walked, creatures descended upon her. They didn't attack her, not exactly, but they... stole something... She didn't know what those glittery light orbs were, but they were hers. She knew it instinctively. And now the lights were gone, save one. The creatures had either missed it, didn't want it, or couldn't take it for some reason.
It was oddly assuring.
The orb of light was the color of raspberries, deep, rich red, and about the size of a volleyball... if volleyballs were glassy with a spark of a bright white light in the middle anyway. She reached out for it, finding it to be slightly warm to the touch.
"Here..."
"Wha... who said...?"
"Here..."
I'm dreaming she suddenly realized. Had to be. There was no other explanation for the scene that lay before her.
Slender, graceful, vaguely humanoid in shape. He looked a little like a jester, garbed dominantly in purple. And the eyes...! The eyes were what really captured her attention. Lavender, catlike, but entirely too large to be feline. The cool purple hue was warmed with a gentle look of kindness, yet, Claris could tell there was keen intelligence behind that gaze... and pain well masked.
"No time," he said hoarsely. His voice sounded unused and dry... pathetic.
"What do you mean by--"
"They will come back. They know you are here."
A chill touched her spine as the meaning of his words sank in.
"W-who are they?" And for that matter... who are you?
She saw fear flash very clearly across his eyes, she followed his gaze.
It was... it was... it was...
A floating egg with an alarm clock...?
"What new evil is this...?" she heard him mutter, then, desperately, "give me your hand."
"I..."
"I will not harm you. Give me your hand."
That was... unexpected.
He had planned on just pulling the girl child into the Ideya Palace with him. She, being human, would not be bound by its magic.
He got more than he bargained for he realized, as they fell through the barrier as one.
Literally.
Very unexpected.
Claris gasped as she felt herself fall, only to be brought up short by the air itself.
She was floating.
Or rather, the strange creature was.
"I think I've officially gone off the deep end," she moaned.
Deep... end..? she felt him ask.
"Um... to go mental. You know. Insane?"
...We should be moving. Before anything else comes.
"Where?"
To get your Ideya back.
When he said, perhaps more like thought, the word "Ideya" she saw those orbs of light in her mind's eye.
Fly that way, I saw the White. Do not ask, just fly.
"Yes sir," she muttered, annoyed that he sensed her question and cut her off before she could ask it. Though how he expected her to simply do what he asked was a little beyond her.
After all.
Humans can't fly.
Something had happened to gravity, or, perhaps, the creature had command of it. As Claris learned to control the new ability she found herself with, she realized just how restrained humans really are.
Her senses were heightened, too. It wasn't something noticeable when trying to sort through two separate minds in your head, but... when the "talk" had stopped, she had the chance to take in the sights.
To see out of his eyes was to see for the first time. She had been blind her entire life until this moment; there was no other explanation for the feeling of wonder. Everything was bright, sharp, and clear.
She drew in a deep breath and felt a laugh threatening to escape. The sky smelled of blueberry waffles. And why not? Anything can happen in a dream.
She was starting to have fun at it, she flew around small, yellow creatures that reminded her of rams, giggling as they made a sound of surprise.
Shleep, he said, unconcerned. They will not attack while you are with me.
She sensed some amusement on his part as another Shleep bleated at them in protest.
There was little time to enjoy it however, for they soon met their first real opposition.
It looked like little more than a huge cybernetic box-jellyfish, floating in the air. But, her companion seemed concerned over the contraption. Upon closer inspection, she understood why.
There was a single glittering orb of light locked up inside...
Ideya Capture, he explained. Need to break it open. Looking about them, he found what they needed. Those blue spheres. If we collect enough, the Ideya Capture will break from having too much dream energy inside.
"Those blue... chip things...?" Or at least she thought they looked rather like poker chips.
Blue Chips... I suppose you could call them that, if it's easier. They're left over bits of dream energy that hasn't been absorbed by the Dream Realm yet.
Claris subtly noted he was starting to come across a bit clearer through their conversation, as if he had been merely out of practice and, perhaps, a bit behind the times. She wondered how long it had been since he spoke to another living being...
As they collected the Blue Chips, her mind kept going back to her companion... or perhaps guardian would have been a better choice of word. He had saved her from the egg creature, and, she sensed, he was also keeping things besides Shleep at bay. And she didn't even know his name...
"I'm Claris, by the way. Claris Sinclair. What's your name?"
It was a long moment before he answered, is if the memory of something pained him.
...NiGHTS, he said, finally.
"NiGHTS...? That's a nice name. So, can I ask why yo--" Her breath caught as he dodged something she barely even registered coming at them. "...saved... me..." she finished lamely, suddenly feeling like she had not even touched on the abilities that NiGHTS possessed.
The thing that had attacked them was gone just as quickly as it came. She barely caught a glimpse of its gaudy pink and blue coloring.
She sensed something like anger in him now, though not directed at her, it seemed directed inward...
That was a Hollow. They like to throw things at intruders. I... apologize... My abilities are... not what they once were.
"Um... you know... I think maybe you should take over the controls here. I mean... that thing would have hit us if..."
You trust me?
There was a twinge of a feeling in the chest, and Claris suspected it was not her own heart's doing.
"Yes," full of conviction. "You've protected me, and you're helping me get my Ideya back."
That feeling turned into a warmth that spread throughout the whole body and manifested as a gentle and watery sting in the eyes. NiGHTS himself smiled now. Thank you.
With NiGHTS at the helm, things went very smoothly and soon she had her White Ideya back. He was fast, and anything that dared to oppose was quickly met and dispatched in a swirl of sparkling stars. Banishing the scary things in dreams.
...
Scary things.
...
Shadow monsters.
...
"You saved me from my nightmare, didn't you? Before I came here, I was having a nightmare... Some shadowy things attacked me, it was horrible."
I knew you were frightened. But, you have more courage than you realize. It drew me to you, and you in turn to Nightopia.
She was quite for a while, thinking it over. Drew her to...? Something told her there was a bit more to it than that. Something more important. "Just why were you imprisoned in that place anyway? If you're the good guy, some bad guy must have seriously wanted you out of the way."
I do not recall stating an alignment.
"But, you are good." It was right. Claris knew it. Either from the bond they shared now, or from her own gut instinct, she knew this NiGHTS creature was nothing but benevolent. And when the good guy is in trouble, there's always a bad guy behind it. She'd seen enough movies to know that much.
Do you think this place is beautiful, Claris Sinclair?
Before she could answer, he swooped higher into the air, giving a view of the land that even an eagle would envy. His eyes were far more keen than any bird of prey.
The emerald green looked like it went on forever, broken only by the floating windmills, the dark and chiseled rock formations, and ribbons of satin blue that must have been rivers. And above... the same azure sky she had admired before. The clouds looked fluffier than cotton candy. The blueberry waffle scent became more intense with the altitude.
It was beautiful. What she thought was surely an unspoiled beauty. Perhaps what the earth looked like when it was still young...
"Yes. It's beautiful. But, that doesn't answer my question."
It was more beautiful than this once, a very long time ago. I sought to protect it. To save this world and yours, his voice was far away, lost in some memory.
His fists clenched, she felt the sting as his short fingernails dug into his palms. He was trembling.
I failed, Claris. I was imprisoned by the very one that tainted this world. And yours is next.
"Is that why my nightmare felt so... real? This is real, isn't it? It's not just as simple as dreams and waking anymore..."
Yes... Wizeman's power has grown greatly while I was in the Ideya Palace. Soon those nightmares will be real for you, just as real you are to me, if not more so. And worse than that will come of it.
Claris' heart sank.
For a little while he was silent.... he had pulled away from her, into the recesses of his own mind. Then a breath of fresh air- she sensed him shake off the dark mood, and turn his thoughts toward her again. We have recovered the first of your Ideya... that act may draw unwelcome attention...
"I don't like the sound of that..." she said softly, fear coloring her tone. There was something else as well, she wasn't hearing him quite as clearly as she had before, like he wasn't so much speaking in her mind, but perhaps rather from further away.
And I feel our bond is starting to weaken, he added, putting a name to what she felt.
"Can't we just rebond or merge...or... or whatever it is that we did?" Claris was desperate-- lovely valley of green or no, she did not want to be left alone and friendless now that she knew someone meant her harm. Who knew what would happen if NiGHTS wasn't there?
I do not know... and it would seem your Red Ideya was left at the Ideya Palace.
"So, wait, if that was left the first time, putting another Ideya in might be like putting another coin in the jukebox. Maybe another Ideya would give us more time. Right?"
He smiled slightly, following her train of thought. That may well be the case.
"To the Ideya Palace!"
They found that was the case exactly. The White Ideya caught in one of the pillars of the Ideya Palace, and they felt their bond renew. Though it made them wonder what exactly that meant for him in the end.
For now, though, the race was on for the next Ideya Capture and the Green Ideya... not to mention she was also getting a grand tour.
This dream is named Spring Valley, for the mild weather it enjoys most of the time, also for the actual water springs. There's a very beautiful waterfall not far from here, much bigger than that one we just flew around.
Suddenly, a spark of mischief. Had Claris been able to see it, his eyes positively sparkled as the idea came to him. Spring Valley also enjoys a bit of snow year round...
"Ohhhh, snow!" She squealed, delighted. "It feels like forever since I've even seen any. I've always loved it, ever since I was a kid."
He smiled at that, a soft, thoughtful smile, but he said nothing.
"Let's hurry and get that next Ideya. I can't wait to see more of this place."
As you wish...With a laugh he burst into a faster pace, spinning in a wild spiral of stars.
Claris shouted in glee, she had never felt such a rush, not even from the amusement park rides she went on with her Father. This was more fun, and involved less Mom worrying.
Everything was a wonder. From the waterfalls that sparkled like liquid diamonds, to the rock formations that towered above it all. Spring Valley was more beautiful the more she saw of it, like a rose coming into full bloom. In her heart, she hoped she'd be able to help him save this world. Dream or not, it was worth fighting for.
It didn't take too long for them to gather the Ideya, and after pelting Shleep with snowballs, and a rough patch to reclaim the Yellow Ideya, they were on their way to the Blue.
"Red. White. Green. Yellow," she counted as they left the Ideya Palace for the fourth time. "And next is Blue. Five then. NiGHTS, tell me more about these Ideya things. I knew they were mine and somehow important but... I'm not sure how, or what they really are."
Ideya are dream energy, in the purest form. They're the embodiment of the emotions or attributes that make up a mortal, and thus also their dreams. Most people don't have more than three or four.
"Do the colors mean anything? And why only three or four? I seem to have five of them."
White represents purity, Green maturity, Yellow is hope, and Blue is for wisdom. Young children tend to be strongly White Ideya dreamers, their dreams are innocent. They get the occasional nightmare, as every mortal does. But their dreams aside from that tend to be about sweets and games with their friends. Later on they may gain a Blue, or a Green, most people do, but the White won't be as strong then, some people lose that entirely, and the dreams are no longer so innocent. Same with Yellow, many people have it, then lose it in dispair.
"And the Red one? Is it... something bad...?"
The Red Ideya represents bravery, or courage. True bravery is a rare thing. That's your fifth Ideya. And I have never met anyone with one until this day. He sighed, a small and tired sound. I thought it might well be a legend until now. That's why the Minions couldn't take your Red Ideya though, you can take away hope, innocence, all the others, but... you can't take away bravery, not entirely, unless the person allows it.
She shivered, thinking of the shadow monsters again. Spring Valley suddenly felt cold. She certainly didn't feel very brave, and more like a frightened child at the moment. "I'm not brave, NiGHTS. There must be a mistake."
No, you have the Red Ideya, that cannot be mistaken, and you are the first mortal to ever enter Nightopia itself. You who walk between worlds, you are all Wizeman needs to break the last bond. If he does, neither world will survive. Don't give up, don't surrender your courage, don't let Wizeman win. If he gains a Red, both worlds are doomed. I will do all I can to protect you.
"Thanks," she managed at last, though she was not filled with confidence on her part.
The last fifth trip to the Ideya Palace was a long and quiet one. Their bond had nearly broken before the end.
"Now what?" Claris questioned as they stepped in the blue construction. Her enthusiasm seemed depleted
There was a sound. His heart thundered in his chest. He was afraid now, Claris felt it, sharp as a double edged sword.
We fight. There's no time to run...
There was a world rending scream.
Spring Valley went dark.
