It was pitch black out with not a soul in sight as the morning sun began to rise Brien started to wake up only to find himself on the ground somewhere in the woods. Getting back on his feet he tries to recall how he ended up there only for his mind to come to a complete blank.
Brien:W-where am I? Who am I?
Rubbing the back of his head thoughtfully he trances over the back of his left ear feeling some type of strange mark behind it, curious he touches it again causing him to wince in pain but also shows him the events which bought him here but where exactly was here he thought trying to look around in the heavy fog but as he tries to do so he starts to feel a weird force pulling him more into the mysterious fog as if something or someone was calling out to him, a minute or two goes by before he spots someone passed out on the ground infront of him cautiously looking around he walks up to the boy instantly realizing it was Kaz Bane. Not knowing what was going on he kneels down to the ground checking to see if he was okay.
Brien: hey kid. Wake up! Where the hell are we? Kaz!
???: That's not going to work.
Startled Brien jumps up instinctively scanning the area only to be met with nothing but silence.
Brien: who's there? Show yourself.
As if on command a body in the distance appears out of nowhere facing towards Brien much too his discomfort. Making his way to brien his eyes started to glow a strange dark blue energy causing brien to step back clearly creeped out.
Falcone: My name is Falcone and as for where you are your trespassing on sacred land. Leave now or face my wrath intruder.
Brien: wait a second i was jus--
Before Brien could say another word he's suddenly sent flying into the air via Falcone's blue laser eyes beams knocking him out cold. For a moment he lays there still unconscious only to sudden rise back up in panick, taking a quick scan of the area he allows his upperbody to fall back to ground having realized his attacker was long gone by now.
Brien: what on earth was that about?
Villager: uh are you alright son?
Shifting his eyes at the random bald man he stares at him suspiciously before deciding to take another look around slowly coming to the conclusion he was moved to a large village booming with people he never seen before instead of the secluded Forest he had met the mysterious stranger in. Shocked by this he gets up turning to the man his eyes stilled filled with disbelief.
Brien: where am I exactly?
Villager: The proud village of Newsham. Of course. Are you sure your doing alright lad?
Zoning out the man once more Brien starts to feel this odd tingling sensation run down his spine similar to what he felt back before the weird falcone character attacked him. Following this feeling in his gut he finds himself pushing multiple people out the way as he rushes down the stone street getting closer to his unknown destination. Stopping in his tracks he sees him in the distance over by the bakery laughing, the one person who could make sense of everything. The person who could maybe even clear this situation up....Kaz Bane.
Wasting no time he runs to him as kaz waves good bye to the baker feeling both relieved and anxious.
Brien: Thank God i finally found you man.
Kaz: yeah you found me?
Brien: Listen i don't know what exactly is going on but we have to get out of here.... well where ever here is. So what's the game plan man how are we leaving this place?
Kaz: I--I'm sorry who are you exactly?
Brien: uh.. It's me the guy you and your friend saved from the dungeon like literally yesterday. The name's Brien.
Extending his right hand to kaz, kaz just stares at him in utter confusion not knowing what was going on or who this boy was.
Kaz: uh Bryce--
Brien: Brien
Kaz: Right. Listen i think you might have me confused for someone else you might know so I'm just gonna goo. But it was nice meeting you.
Before Brien could get a chance to follow after Kaz a familiar cold sounding voice speaks up.
Falcone: I wouldn't do that if i were you.
Brien: why is that?
Turning back to face the baker who now seemed possessed having an dark blue energy in his eyes Brien notices that everyone around him had stopped moving as if they were set on pause.
Falcone: He's sleeping as are all the people you see around us. My job as guardian of this realm is to protect it from any and all threats that are harmful.
Brien: Realm? Where are we?
Falcone: Dark Meadows. The realm where you and your friend originated from would be Sunny Sudan.
Brien: Not that I'm complaining but who exactly chose out that name. You know what never mind moving on. Trust me when i say you don't have to worry about my friend bringing any sort of harm to your realm or Forest or whatever. We just wish to leave.
Falcone: I was talking about you. The reason why your friend is still here is for an entirely different reason, you see when a person sets foot in this realm he or she is instantly rendered unconscious depending on two key factors, number one being their intent towards coming here and the second their mental state of mind.
Brien: meaning?
Falcone: meaning since your friend went through some traumatic events growing up that makes him a candidate for residency here at dark meadows. and since that's the case he's living the life that he wished he always had as a result.
Brien: so all these people...
Falcone: yes all of them were either trying to exploit dark meadows for their own greedy purposes or much too broken like your friend.
Brien: your holding all these people prisoner..this is wrong.
Falcone: yeah because living in your own personal Heaven is such a hell. Right?
Brien: Enough!
Suddenly out of nowhere fire erupts from the palm of brien's hand shooting right towards falcone at an amazing speed much to his surprise, showing a hint of annoyance on his face Falcone makes it disappear with a snap of his fingers before it could touch him.
Brien: How did I--
Falcone: Then there's the problem that is you.
Meanwhile somehere else in the town.
Kaz was shown making his usual rounds across the town dropping off baked goodies from Mr.Smith's bakery door to door like he always did but as he walked down the road he felt as if for the first time in his life something was off as he thought about this he knocked on the door of his next delivery. After a minute or two of waiting for the door to open he takes a step back checking if he was at the right place only for him to realize he was at an abandoned worn down house, studying it a bit more he realizes the house itself had what looked like burn marks as if someone had tried to set fire to it long ago.
???: Are you alright?
Turning around he sees old man luther owner of the oldest cafe in town and a girl young enough to be his daughter with long black hair standing there, the two of them seemed to be staring at him in both shock and surprise.
Kaz: oh Mr. luther i didn't see you guys there. I was just delivering some desserts across town for mr. smith.
Scratching his head in confusion luther looks at Kaz suspiciously almost as if what he said seemed out the ordinary.
Luther: But it's the middle of the night and you do realize we're close. Right?
Kaz: Mr.luther i think your mistaken it's the middle of the--
Taking another look at the house in front of them he stops, staring in complete shock that the setting around them has changed, Instead of the burned abandoned house he was indeed standing in front of the cafe in the middle of the night still holding the wooden basket filled with the now ice cold goodies from earlier.
Kaz: But that was just-- how could that have.
Luther: you were just standing here for hours mumbling to yourself about something.
Kaz: uh do you know what that could have been?
Luther: " I need to go get her" whatever that means.
Kaz: ... I see. Thank you Mr. Luther sorry for the bother have a good night.
Turning away from the elderly man before he could say a word quentin rushes back home his mind still on what happened. Never in his life has anything like this has ever happened but as he think back to the abandoned house he remembers it being all too real, the sight, the smell of ash but who would believe him, up until now that was the one time he seen anything out of place in Newsham so surely he must have been hallucinating the ordeal after all some of the shortcuts he took did take him to some hem shops in town so maybe he breathe something in.
Arriving back to his home that was more secluded in the woods than in the village he makes his way through the front door and up the stairs passing his mom who had been clearly waiting for him down stairs on the couch but had fallen asleep. Finally reaching his room he gently closes the door sighing in relief.
Brien: Don't scream.
Kaz: ahhhhhhhh--
Running over to Kaz he cover his mouth with his hand opening up the door to see if Kaz's mother was still asleep. Taking this chance Kaz knees him in the stomach jumping onto his bed to grab the knife he kept under his pillow now facing it right towards brien as he nervously tapped his foot on the floor repeatedly.
Brien: Now hold on.
Kaz: who are you and why in hades are you stalking me let alone in my house?
Brien: keep it down. He might be watching us.
Kaz: He who? Wait no don't tell me tell me why your here.
Brien: okay here's the deal we're trapped in your dream by a guy who goes by the name of Falcone in a land called dark meadows and the only way we can get out is if you wake up.
Kaz: ... Huh well and i thought you were crazy before but that doesn't explain how you got into my--
Before he could finish he sees the broken glass on the floor, turning back he's met by brien's shameless smile.
Kaz: ... pretty sure i left the window unlocked. But even if what your saying is true like you said earlier we only met yesterday so how did you find out where i be?
Thinking for a minute he slowly turns around showing Kaz the greyish wolf shaped mark on the back of his left ear.
Kaz: Nice tat?
Brien: No this mark is what led me to you to you and I'm guessing it's also the reason why i know so much about you like for example, when you were eight you and your mom came up with this secret foot taps for if you ever found yourself in trouble.
Shocked by what he just said he realized why Kaz's mom didn't wake up when he screamed but before he could react he's suddenly pinned to the ground by the town's sheriff in a swift motion.
Kaz: Look whoever you are i hope you get the help you ne--
Brien: your making a big mistake the longer you stay here the more you forget about who you are and the more you want to stay here.
Kaz: Is he going to be alright?
Sheriff: He'll be just fine.
Slapping some cuffs on Brien hands, Brien headbutts the man and slightly touches Kaz's arm causing him to suddenly see a boy in a cloak hiding his face in an midnight blue fabric and his left arm covered with something that looked a lot like blue scales but as fast as this image infront of him comes as fast as it goes now only seeing the sheriff once more. Grabbing Brien the sheriff storms out the room not saying another word. Seeing this Kaz's mom walks into the room with a worried look on her face.
Disa: Are you alright honey?
Kaz: yeah..I'm just fine.
The next morning
Everything was back to the way it should have been no weird hallucinations and no crazies and yet Kaz could sense something was off almost like he was forgetting something important no someone important but as much as he wanted to ignore it he couldn't so he decided to go back to the cafe to clear his mind and maybe get a answer or two from mr. Luther to see if he knew anything else.
But as he sat there at one of the tables he waited for what seemed like hours and eventually came to the conclusion that mr. Luther was either sick or just not coming in today, getting up to leave he's met by the girl who was with the old man that night but this time something was different about her which he picked up as she smiled at him with her blue eyes.
Girl: well if it isn't the guy who had one heck of a trip the other day.
Kaz: i wasn't on anything i swear i was just...well i don't know.
Girl: (laughs) well that certainly sounds like something someone who was strung out would say. Here on the house.
Handing him a strawberry smoothie she takes off her green apron sitting down in a seat across from him.
Kaz: shouldn't you be working?
Girl: Nah today was my last day or at least for awhile.
Kaz: You going out of town or something?
Girl: something like that. Besides as much as i like how simple things are in Newsham I rather get out there and see what the world has to offer.
Kaz: and your not worried? About the unknown i mean.
Thinking for a second she shakes her head before answering his question.
Girl: Nope. After all the unknown is just a room we never entered before so how can you tell if what's in it good or bad until we open it up?
Kaz: hmm fair point. I'm sorry i didn't get your name.
Teodora: My name's Teodora but my friends call me T for short.
Kaz: Well Teodora thank you for the free drink.
Teodora: i hope you like it i made it myself.
Downing the drink in one gulp he sets it back on the table on with a look of disgust on his face.
Kaz: ugh.what you put in this--this taste kinda funny.
Looking across the table teodora suddenly disappears in a blink of an eye much too Kaz's surprise, getting up from his chair screams start to fill his head as memories of his true life are restored; the fire that destroyed Newsham, his mom pushing him and Arian over the cliff, and finally his first in counter with brien hosier, finding all of this to be too much he drops to the ground clenching his head with both of his hands as fire surounds him destroying the town as he first remembered it.
Meanwhile in dark meadows
As Kaz laid there still asleep Brien was shown being thrown back into the ground by one of Falcone's energy blast as he tries to get back up he starts to sink into the floor below him.
Brien: let me go!
Falcone: I will not. Your presence here means trouble for dark meadows.
Brien: Then let me out!
Falcone: Not an option.
Allowing his eyes to glow once more he charges up his attack and fires his energy beams at Brien but before it could touch him Kaz comes out of nowhere kicking Falcone in the back of the head making him miss his target. Annoyed by this Falcone quickly grabs him by the leg and throws him over by Brien.
Brien: Kaz?
Kaz: Sup.
Falcone: I'm ending this now and puting you back to sleep.
Charging his attack once more both Kaz and brien just sit there in horror not knowing what else to do.
Brien: what are you waiting for beat this guy up.
Kaz: me? What about you?! You're the one who sent us here can't you do anything?
Brien: I don't know how to control it!
Kaz: Then helping you escape king brown dungeon was pointless!!
Falcone: king brown? King Brown!!!!
Making the earth shake under his feet he uses his power to create a giant stone hand using it to pick up and crush the two boys.
Falcone: How do you know that name? Do work for him? Did he sent you here?!
Kaz: No. Noo you got it all wrong we hate the guy. Right bh?
Brien: yeah he lock me in a dungeon for years.
Kaz: And he burned down my village when i was a kid so i hate him more than this guy right here.
Brien: Not possible.
Seeing the expression on their faces he sets both of them down reluctantly.
Falcone: Even if that's true i still can't let the blonde one leave this realm alive.
Kaz: you know what i think that's a sacrifice we're both willing to make.
Brien: Dude.
Kaz: Fine. Falcone there has to be something we can do for you that you want right?
Falcone: Nothing you have interest me.
Thinking for a second Kaz looks at Falcone's disfigured blue-ish left arm and gets an idea.
Kaz: king brown--did he by any chance do that to you?
Falcone: That's none of your concern.
Kaz: But what if i told you the two of us could kill him for you.
Brien: wait what? What are you--
Quickly cup checking brien he effectively shutting him up as he continues with his point.
Falcone: I'd say your lying and trying my patience.
Kaz: All we would need is three moons and just like that brown's head will be yours. But you know what nah just put me back sleep and kill my friend here if you truly find it easier.
Thinking for a minute falcone takes off his hood showing the disfigurement of his face to both Kaz and Brien making both of them go slient and then puts it back over his his brown hair as if he was testing something.
Brien: oh my god.
Kaz: just what did he do to you?
Falcone: Two moons. You two have until two moons to kill king brown or i kill the two of you. Do you accept the terms of our agreement?
Brien: well..
Kaz: we do.
Falcone: Then your both free to go for now.
Waving his hand he forms a large blue portal in front of them. Not wasting a second Kaz grabs brien and they jump in leaving the mysterious world and Falcone behind.
Woods. Early Morning.
Walking on the road to Charlie's tavern Brien puches Kaz on the shoulder.
Kaz: Uh ow. What was that for?
Brien: For getting us killed. Just how are we suppose to kill king brown?
Kaz: Hey I did what I could to get us out of there. All we need to do is bust Arian out of jail and we'll figure out something I'm sure of it.
Brien: It's nice to know your being calm about this whole situation.
Kaz: hey stick around me kid and you pick up a few things.
Seeing Charlie coming out of the tavern still half asleep he opens his door and Kaz runs up happy to see his friend.
Kaz: Charlie! Am i glad to see you!
Charlie: Kaz? Where have you been?
Kaz: what are you talking about? We saw each other yesterday night around midnight.
Charlie: Kaz...that was a month ago. I haven't seen you or Arian since then.
Kaz: oh crap.
Back in dark meadows
Falcone just sat there on the shore of a vast foggy lake thinking to himself as he threw a couple of rocks in the lake using his powers. Feeling another presence getting close to him he gets back up on his feet still looking at the lake as Teodora joins him.
Falcone: You interfered why now?
Teodora: Those boys weren't yours to keep.
Falcone: This mean you leaving here for good?
Teodora: Not necessarily I'll visit time from time but i do have to see this thorough.
Falcone: And if they find you?
Getting closer she removes his hood cuping the scalely blue left side of his face while staring in his mixed blue and brown colored eyes.
Teodora: It's a risk i just have take. If I'm right about this then he just might be able to help me. Help us before it's too late.