*yo yo, I did not die (yet) so I'm back here with a double chapter (4.5k words to make up for my missed day n stuff :)) so I hope you'll enjoy. We're making steady progress. Meanwhile, I shall try to stream a little. Link to Discord in bio, join if you wish -we randomly chat about whatever bullshit comes to mind, love to all my pookies there (and to my every reader too) and yeah....
Hope you'll enjoy. Peace out and Deus vult*
They followed after Firefly, using another pinball machine to move aside. Once again, Mark felt a ghost-like sense of vertigo thanks to the machine screwing with his senses. Being in a dream while doing all that in a hyper-realistic setting did him no good.
"Here we are," declared Firefly, and both Mark and Stelle were a bit confused, be it an act or genuine confusion.
"So, this is the place?" asked Stelle, looking around the place—a tiny cafe.
She shook her head, looking sideways.
"No, this isn't," she stated, looking to the side at a manhole cover. "This is."
Mark smiled, ready to jump right in.
"Cool. Time to meet some mutant ninja turtles," he chuckled, while Stelle crossed her arms with a 'hmph' and Firefly just regarded him with confusion.
"Mark, are you sure you're fine?"
He sighed, aware that no one would get his reference there. It was in those moments that he missed his friends just a touch more than before, with each touch piling up.
"Yeah, I just... never mind me. Come on, lead the way. We'll stick closely to you, so no worries."
She smiled and moved to the manhole. Mark lifted it with ease, fighting the urge to throw it at mach fuck like the one that humanity in his world had sent into space. It was a funny thought that always kept him imagining a planet being obliterated by it—even if he was pretty sure that it didn't hold that much power.
Firefly moved inside, followed by Stelle, and finally by Mark, who crawled behind them. He remained silent, focusing instead on the conversation in his mind—something between Aventurine and a girl whose name seemed to evade him at first but gave in when his head accepted the pain. It was Sparkle.
In just a few more minutes, the scene was done and dealt with, leaving a blank while they traveled to Firefly's secret spot. One question lingered on Mark's mind, however. What is it the Laugther wants? The Laughter was Aha of Elation, another Aeon. He wasn't fond of them, of neither Aeon, but he held no choice for now. What would it take to kill one of those fake gods is a question more suited for him.
...................................
Stelle had followed Firefly until they'd reached the top of a strange building, the distance traversed feeling a bit too much of a stretch. Mark was silent by their side, his eyes darting softly to the sides, be it left, right, or even behind. She had no clue what was wrong with him, but it had been a decent while since the subtle behavior developed.
With no choice but to silently observe, she's kept her silence, trying to figure him out. From the very start, she was aware of many things. He didn't shy away from revealing his hand in the beginning, weird as it was. The information held by him was something astonishing, especially since they first thought him from Jarilo-VI. That wasn't the case.
"We're almost here," declared Firefly, her steps filled with eagerness. The girl had lost more of that bitter feeling that seemed to fill her after those little white lies at the beginning. She wasn't mad about it, and seeing as Mark took no malice in those actions, she chose to follow his lead with a bit more trust.
The three of them came to a stop near a ledge on the building, staring off into the distance. There was no morning there, at least not one that would ever come directly. Time was halted in Penacony; that much was known by everyone. The night was eternal, but at least it wasn't dark. So, for a moment, the three of them took in the scenery.
"Look, this place is breathtaking, isn't it?" said Firefly, smiling softly. Mark nodded, staring with a hint of longing in his eyes. She had no clue why, but emotions seemed to sometimes write themselves on his face, while other times he didn't allow a thing to show.
"Guests aren't allowed, so we need to be careful not to get caught."
Stelle chuckled at the comment, looking around.
"Well, we simply need to stay put, right?"
Firefly nodded, going on with her information.
"Don't worry, this place isn't dangerous. Just think of this as the border to Golden Hour. The family is still building and remodeling the Dreamscape beyond here. My secret stronghold is in this area."
Mark chuckled from the side, shaking his head. The light from the surroundings reflected in his eyes, making him feel more alive. It all went out the second his head turned to face them, bringing back the reality of his state of mind that she had no idea of beyond the simple 'he's troubled' layer.
"Quite the place you found for a secret stronghold, gotta admit. Truth be told, I like the idea—a bit of danger mixed with some thrill of being caught unless you're careful."
She nodded, motioning for them to follow her. Back down the stairs and off to the side, only to be stopped by some people who were clearly members of the Bloodhound family.
"Excuse me, there's a construction site ahead. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed in."
Firefly pouted a bit, whispering.
"Drat... we're caught right away."
Mark smiled to the side, glancing at Stelle.
"How about a tiny emotional tweaking, Stelle? I'm sure that some joyous guy would allow us access."
Stelle nodded, feeling a little disturbed at how he seemed to understand her powers better than her, even if they were new. Sure, she had grown used to it. Mark had, after all, managed to understand and use the power of a few Stellarons that were inside of him. She held no clue as to how he had done it, since she wasn't able to recreate that with hers. The first time something similar was about to happen, Welt had to step in at the Space Station and stop her before something worse would happen.
With a bit of focus, she shifted the man's emotions, making him as joyous as a toddler in the hands of their parents on a Christmas morning. He jumped around, being all jolly, but when they asked to pass through, he still denied. Seeing no other option, Stelle chose to turn him angry. It seemed like the only thing that would somehow grant them passage, by force or not.
Instantly, he flared up, sending the Sweet Dreams Troupe after them. Firefly shied away while Stelle grabbed her bat. Mark simply stepped into a stance, switching to using his left arm for the stronger punches since it was covered by the gauntlet.
The funny dream creatures—a few SoulGlad wolves with some weird TV-headed robots—stepped forward like out of hiding, trying to jump at them. It was easy work that they dealt with in a few moves. In just a couple blinks, the battle was over. The man muttered a name, that of Mia, stating something that got Stelle's attention.
"If I'd had that power back then, would we have ended up differently, Mia?"
She thought the name to be random and didn't care all that much, but Mark sighed and stepped closer, looking down at the man with compassion.
"Man, I got no clue who she is, but if you still have the chance... go after her, man. I know it sucks, but if you still care about her, make it known. At the very least, you'll get an answer, be it something that hurts or not."
He looked up at Mark, taking in his words.
"I... I'll try. Thank you..."
Mark nodded, and they walked right by, continuing their journey. Stelle couldn't help it but ask, curiosity in her expression.
"Do you always feel the need to drop advice left and right?"
He met her gaze and shrugged, feigning an odd sense of ignorance that was faked to the core.
"Who knows? Sometimes we do what we wish others had done for us. Anyway, let's keep going. So, where to now, Firefly?"
She walked ahead, and more of the funky dream creatures jumped in their path. Right as Stelle prepared her bat, Mark just kicked them off the building, sending them flying into the distance. Firefly and her both followed the arch drawn by the motion, smiling.
"We'll have to keep going ahead. We need to borrow the Dreamweaver's tools," she said, staring at the odd bird-like statue of an intense purple with blue undertones on the inside of the wings. "What happens next might blow your minds," she chuckled.
The bird took to the skies, and their vision was similar to that of a bird from above. Mark sighed, annoyance clear on his face. It was like he hated those things, and from what Stelle knew, there was no way he had seen them before.
"This sure is interesting," affirmed Stelle, walking around slowly to not trip and fall.
"It is. Now we can go to the other side. This is how the Nightingale Family repairs the Dreamscape. Fascinating, isn't it?"
Mark scoffed, annoyed as he stepped. Stelle saw him from above, just like Firefly.
"Why so mad, Mark? Don't you like this?" asked Stelle, trying to better understand him.
"Not at all. I want my sight back to how it was, please," he said, just as Firefly touched the empty spot for the bird statue on the other side. It came flying down, and their vision returned.
"Phew, thank you, Firefly. From now on, I'll say pass and just jump across," he muttered, while Firefly looked at him with a smile.
"Jump across? What if you don't make it?"
He smirked, crossing his arms.
"I'll make it, no worries. If not, it's not like I can die in the dream. I'll just climb back up."
Stelle chuckled, shaking her head. However, she knew that he was crazy enough to try. After all, he had thrown himself at Cocolia when the Stellaron's power within her was about to implode.
The rest of the way, he held true to his word. Rather than bothering with the strange machinery, he took to the skies, hands in his pocket, as he leapt high in the sky, his figure contoured by the night sky. They both watched him go, chuckling at his stunts. He loves showing off sometimes, be it intentional or not.
After the two of them struggled with more weird dream tools and Mark pulled off a few more leaps of faith, the group had arrived at a pretty nice spot.
"Look, that's the Penacony Grand Theater over there," smiled Firefly, joyous. Stelle's eyes went that way, looking for a moment at the large floating structure. It stood there, imposing itself as an important part of the Dreamscape. "It radiates dazzling light perpetually, just like this glamorous dream."
Mark's expression winced a little as he stared at it, the tiny gesture not lost to Stelle. It was a tiny habit that she formed for herself, just checking for his reaction to things shown. If she caught sight of a wince or something akin to him feeling pain, she knew that the place was of significance. Firefly kept speaking, her voice soft.
"I suppose everyone who likes to bask in the light will be drawn to that kind of warmth..." she turned at them, her expression serene. "...like countless fireflies chasing the fire."
Mark smiled a bit, his palm ending again on Firefly's head. Stelle watched the interaction with a soft smile on her lips. Something about the way he always tried to make contact with others in that manner was somewhat pleasant, even if a little invasive on their personal space. He meant no malice whatsoever, so she didn't say much.
"I see... that's why you chase the warmth too, right, 'Firefly'?" he chuckled, putting the accent on her name, the same as the insects she talked about. She pouted slightly, but she didn't pull away.
"Hmph. Let's just keep walking. We still have half the journey ahead."
Mark simply let out a sigh, smiling as he crossed his arms. Something was on his mind, a strange idea of his, and Stelle didn't exactly like his outlandish thoughts.
"You know what? Let's not bother with the puzzles. I had this cool idea for a while now, and I need to see how it plays out. Come closer, both of you."
With a raised brow, Firefly got closer, no hesitation in her eyes. She didn't know about the things Mark could come up with, but Stelle did. After all, he was crazy enough to spend 100 years in the Simulated Universe and allow Herta to delete parts of his memory on the go. Stelle took a hesitant step forward.
"Just what are you planning this time?" she asked, clearly not too into his ideas. He smirked, motioning for her to just come closer.
"Don't worry, I got this," he reassured. With a sigh, she put a hand on her bat, warning him that something too crazy would earn him a good beating.
"Sure, sure. Now," he said, wrapping his arms around both of them, holding them by the middle. A pillar of ice grew beneath them, lifting them high in the air quickly, the increased pressure pushing down on them. He stood upright, looking down below.
"So, Firefly, point to where we should go," he smiled, but Firefly was too busy holding on to him, scared by the height.
"We're so high up! Mark, just what do you want to do?"
He sighed, chuckling softly.
"No fear, I got you both. So, go on, point to the place."
Stelle scoffed, but she still held on to him. She had taken a dive face-first into the ground already, and despite it not having hurt, she didn't want it to happen again. Firefly pointed quickly to an open platform, and Mark took note of it. Suddenly, the pillar's top seemed to tilt at an angle, sending them sliding to the edge. Right as they were about to fall off, the ice extended, creating a platform beneath them, letting them slide across the buildings, racking up speed on the go.
"Woohooo!" shouted Mark, grinning from ear to ear as the path grew more tilted beneath their feet, letting them slide off with no issue, He held them both in place, just so they'd do nothing stupid, and his feet planted themselves firmly in the ice, his knees bent slightly.
"Mark, you're such a big dummy!" shouted Firefly, clinging to him more as they sped up down the path. Stelle simply nodded, already imagining what kind of smack she'd give him. Still, he had the time of his life, laughing with joy as the buildings passed quickly. Before touching the ground, he made sure to make the path lead up into the air so they'd lose speed and simply leapt off to the required place.
"Here we are. Nice song I'm hearing," he said, letting go of them both. Firefly's face was flushed, her heart rapidly thumping in her chest at the stunt. Stelle just yanked out her bat and smacked him over the head.
"Hey!" he said, rubbing his head despite it not hurting. She smacked again and again, not stopping.
"This is for being such a stupid idiot!"
He finally relented, chuckling as she kept smacking. The lack of pain was most welcomed by him in those moments.
"I think that's enough, Stelle," said Firefly, looking at Mark, who was on the floor, looking all fine.
"I guess you're right. Not like it hurts him at all," replied Stelle, putting the bat away. The two went on ahead, and Mark scuttled up to his feet, walking right behind.
"Someone's singing. Where is the sound coming from?"
The three of them were on top of a building, the place so far from the main area of the Golden Hour that the sun was seen over the horizon.
"Have you heard of the song? It's called 'If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking', by Robin. Her songs are played in the dreamland from time to time as the Charmony Festival is drawing close."
Stelle nodded, listening to the song, a mix between a gentle tune and a hint of sadness. She looked over to Mark, who looked, for the briefest of seconds, like he had seen a ghost. His eyes shook slightly, but he kept on a strong front, despite how much they seemed to wish to wander around. She said nothing of it, simply taking note. It's like the song itself triggered something in him.
Their eyes went up to the sky as all three of them stayed on the edge of the platform, staring at the sky. Blue falling stars drew lines over the sky.
"This spot is the closest spot to the sky in the Dreamscape. It's far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and free from the bickering among the dreamers. You can feel the moment—the scenery, the people, and the dreams—without being disturbed by anyone..."
Stelle simply listened, feeling no need to speak up. She expected Mark to say something, but he simply looked over to Firefly, the expression on his face a confusing mix of different feelings. He looked both sad and joyous, guilty in a sort of twisted way, but also hoped to comfort with his gaze.
"How beautiful... Time is frozen at this golden hour, this golden dream shared by the Fool from the Tavern and the Memokeeper from the Garden of Recollection, the wandering Ranger and the IPC ambassador, the Astral Express Nameless... and me."
Mark said nothing, and Stelle simply watched. The factions mentioned, so Firefly did know more than she let on. It was time for an explanation, at least a partial one, whatever she could share. Stelle's gaze met Mark's, who lacked any hint of surprise. She felt frustration flare up inside of her, something that had become usual. Just how much did he know? How did he know?
"Everyone falls asleep here equally, regardless of our different agendas..."
She looked at them both, taking a step back to witness both their gazes.
"I'm sorry... I really am a stowaway."
Mark smiled a little, nodding, urging her to go on without issue. Stelle didn't speak up either, choosing to listen first.
"My hometown was destroyed a long time ago. It was probably the doing of the Legion or the Swarm... I'm an interstellar refugee, just like many of the Penacony locals."
She looked down, stepping forward, her back turned to them.
"The Harmony accepts everyone, including wanderers from afar. The Family takes them in, but they... don't belong here."
Stelle glanced at Mark, whose fore was a bit wrinkled, something he did unwillingly as a result of internal conflict. Another one of his tiny hints.
"In this splendid metropolis, some have a dream called Penacony, but some have dreams... that are no different from reality, even though everyone who comes here harbors the same motive in the beginning."
She crossed a hand over her chest, speaking with bitterness in her voice.
"And it's likewise for me. I have a wish I want to achieve in the real world, but I can't. So, I want to give it a shot here..."
Stelle felt the hidden tinge of pain in Firefly's voice, and she could see the veins on Mark's palm inflate slightly as he clenched his fist. He looked like he tried to hold back something—maybe tears, maybe pain. She had no clue.
"Entropy Loss Syndrome... Have you heard of this term?"
She looked back at them both, smiling softly. It was a bitter smile. Mark simply nodded, clenching his jaw. Stelle wasn't aware of it.
"It's a strange condition. Those suffering from it will experience an irreversible chronic dissociation of their physical structure. This means they will slowly fade away, and the process is barely noticeable by others..."
Stelle's eyes dropped, her lips turning down. She looked at Mark, thinking of the time he healed somebody on the Xianzhou. Silently, her eyes pleaded with him to try, but the small hint of despair in his gaze betrayed the pitiful attempts from before. Of course he had tried already.
"You can still run, jump, and talk as usual. Everything seems normal, but then you'll start doing everything slightly slower than others... and then even slower than that, until the lines between your body and the entire world become blurry. You won't be able to tell reality apart from dreams because they have all been shattered."
The bitterness in her voice was growing bit by bit, mixed with sadness, like she was silently pleading with the world itself.
"So, how could I possibly resist it... I mean, can you imagine it? I can actually free myself from the icy medical cabin in this dream..."
She turns around, speaking with a smile on her face.
"I can forget all about the doctor's advice. I can listen, and see, and touch, and think, and understand whatever I want with my body. So, although this world isn't real, this experience is priceless..."
Her smile widened a bit as she looked at them both.
"...just like this moment..."
The music playing in the background seemed to not help their case a lot. While Stelle knew she held on well, Mark's eyes were on the brink of tears, holding back by a thread. Sometimes she felt like he had too much compassion, while other times it was as if he had known them for years.
"I'm sorry. For certain reasons, there are things I can't reveal to you yet. But there are also things you should know. I am, in fact, after the Watchmaker's Legacy, but that doesn't mean we have to go our separate ways and be enemies. But at least... I hope things won't turn out that way."
Stelle smiled back, speaking softly.
"I hope so too," she whispered in a gentle tone.
They both looked at Mark, who was struggling so hard to keep up the serious facade, but it was clear that he was close to tears. He was a big softie deep down, and Stelle had full confirmation thanks to the current scene. He took a small breath, shaky as it was, and stepped forward. Without any warning, he pulled Firefly into a tight embrace, holding her firmly, as if scared she'd simply vanish.
Her cheeks turned red, but she returned the embrace. He spoke softly, letting a tear fall down his cheek.
"I can understand your words, Firefly... we'll find a cure, one way or another... there has to be one, alright? As for what I'm doing right now... I just guessed you needed one. Sometimes what we need is a warm embrace and some encouragement, no matter what we're going through..."
Stelle listened as well from the side, watching as Firefly's face melted against his chest while his words gave a tiny look into his own soul.
"...'we do what we wish others would have done for us'..." she mumbled softly, recalling his words that he had spoken not too long ago.
"So that's why he was gentle for no reason so often... he simply wished to do what he himself had yearned for."
The moment stretched on for a bit, but he slowly let go of Firefly, who smiled at him with a soft blush on her cheeks. She reached up to wipe what remained of his tears with a soft touch, smiling gently.
"Don't worry, Mark. I trust that you will find a cure for my condition. Until then, I'll make sure to stay strong, alright?"
He nodded, smiling softly in turn. Thus, she turned to look over the city once more, speaking softly.
"In my dream, I saw a scorched earth, and a new sapling emerging from it. It bloomed against the morning sun and whispered to me."
She looked over her shoulder at them.
"I still remember the question on the invitation letter—Why does life slumber? You see, everything is possible in this land of dreams. The nightmarish past will disperse and fade away like bubbles in the water, and the future you don't want to face will never come."
Stelle sighed softly, understanding her point. It made sense in a way, and the issue seemed strangely familiar to her.
"Why do people choose to sleep? I think... it's because they're afraid to wake up from the dream."
Mark sighed as well, the weight of the words pressing more on him. Firefly, noticing the gloomy atmosphere, chose to cheer up a little.
"I'm sorry things are getting all bleak and serious... Let me see what I can do to lighten the mood. I mean, don't you guys have a lot of friends on the Astral Express? What would you guys do if something like this happened?"
Stelle and Mark both smiled, thinking of it. It was Stelle who spoke up.
"March would ask us all to take a selfie with her."
Firefly pondered.
"Selfie...Selfie...you're right. I've been here so many times. Why didn't I think of taking a photo?"
Mark chuckled softly to the side, letting Firefly prepare her phone.
"I feel a little awkward taking it by myself. Would you like to join me? Let's commemorate this moment."
"Sure," answered both of them at once, not even hesitating. In a flash, they were by Firefly's side, ready for the picture.
"I can feel a little camera shy. Just don't laugh at me. Here, Stelle, you hold the camera."
Stelle prepares for the selfie, staring at the screen as they all appear in the frame. While the two of them were relaxed, Mark was too busy goofying around, striking a pose where he flexed his biceps.
"Say cheese!" chuckled Firefly, and they all said it at once. Stelle snapped the photo—a beautiful memory for them all. Stelle and Firefly were doing the peace sign, while Mark was busy trying to show off in the background, smiling a little at the camera.
"Heh, good. Here, Firefly, add me up and send me the photo, please. I want to keep the memory too," said Mark, handing her his phone. As she took care of that, Stelle noticed that they had some messages from the rest of the group. It was Himeko and March talking, with the former asking if the others were having fun. Still, the conversation soon took a turn to serious business, and Himeko said they should meet in reality.
Meanwhile, Mark got the picture from Firefly, thanking her. Still, his smile dropped when he saw the message about meeting in reality. In a moment, he gulped, trying to play it cool, but Stelle could only assume that he was done for.
"You have to leave already? Time sure flies by. Come on, let's say goodbye at Golden Hour."
The group walked off, but Mark simply looked like he was about to write his will.
"He's done for," whispered Stelle, and Firefly chuckled softly.