a ray of light shined. creating a literally TEAR in reality.
Eda Clawthorne, Olivier and Anne Boonchuy all looked to see a robed, humanoid Axolotl appear.
"who...is THAT!?" exclaimed Eda.
"an inter-dimensional Axolotl who oversees the Dream Realm." answered Anne, bluntly.
"his name is also "Bob." added Olivier.
Eda stared blankly. "Oh-kaaaay..."
(("Your time is nearly up, Olivier Clawthorne.")) spoke Bob, the Axolotl.
(("You and Anne Boonchuy must return to the Dream Realm, or awaken yourselves."))
"What!?" exclaimed Eda.
"Wait!, can't you give us more time!?" pleaded Olivier.
(("It isn't my call to make. Edalyn Clawthorne will awaken soon."))
Olivier looked down in defeat.
"olivier."
Olivier looked to see his mother approach him. He quickly hugged her tight (which Eda also did, both tearing up.)
"I don't want to leave you again..." cried Olivier.
"It will be okay, son...we have a way to reach each other, now." said Eda.
"I'll come back..." said Olivier. "I promise, I'll find a way to return home."
"take your time...things are pretty intense in the Boiling Isles." spoke Eda.
"and, if things take a turn for the worst. then perhaps it is better that you STAY in the human realm."
Olivier looked at mother, stunned. "wa-what?"
"I still want you home...but, I also want you safe." continued Eda,
who then looked at Anne. "anne...do you remember that promise you made me in the Frog Realm?"
Anne nodded. "yes...and, I will."
Eda nodded. "good girl...my Olivier made a wise choice with you."
Olivier looked at his mother again...and Eda too looked at him.
Knowing they would have to part again, Olivier spoke to his mother in a soft voice:
"I hear the wind call my name, a sound that leads me home again.
It sparks up a fire, a flame that still burns...To you, I will always return.
I still feel your breath on my skin, I hear your voice deep within.
The sound of your love, a Feeling so strong. It's with you, I'll always belong.
I know the road is long. But where you are is home.
Wherever you stay. I swear I'll find my way.
I'll run like the river, I'll follow the sun.
I'll fly like an eagle to where I belong.
I can't stand the distance. I can't dream alone.
I can't wait to see you, I promise I'm on my way home.
I know it's true. My every road leads to you.
And in the hour of darkness, Your light gets me through.
Wanna swim in your river, Be warmed by your sun.
Bathe in your waters, 'Cause you are the one
I can't stand the distance, I can't dream alone
I can't wait to see you, I swear I'm on my way home.
I know it's true. My every road leads to you.
And in the hour of darkness, Your light gets me through
You run like the river, You shine like the sun
You fly like an eagle. Yes, you are my mom.
And wherever I wander, the one thing I've learned:
It's to you. I will always, Always...RETURN."
Eda wiped a tear away, touched by her son's beautiful song.
She then embraced Olivier one more time, savoring the moment for as long as she could.
THEN...Eda's body began to fade in-and-out of existence.
Anne and Olivier also saw the world around then start to unravel.
(("she is waking up.")) spoke Bob. (("we must go...NOW."))
Olivier and Anne looked at Eda one last time.
"goodbye, mother...I love you." said Olivier.
Eda smiled warmly. "and I love you too...my beautiful boy."
Olivier teared up as Anne took him by the hand.
Both he, Anne and Bob the Axolotl the disappeared in a flash of night.
Eda the breathed out deeply, and closed her eyes.
"great titan...watch over my son, and his love."
prayed Eda.
"until the day...when he is finally back in my arms again."
And, with that...Eda's dream ended.
Edalyn Clawthorne awoke, finding herself in Olivier's old room.
She had apparently fallen asleep on his bed, tired from moving his stuff back in.
Eda exhaled as she sat up, and sat still for a moment.
She pondered whether or not what she saw was real...or just a Dream.
But she then smiled, and chortled. realizing it was both those things.
"Eda?"
Eda looked to see a short, dark furred creature with a horned skull for a head walk in.
"hi, King." said Eda, a smile on her face.
"you look...oddly pleasant." mused King.
"well, that's because I had a good dream...a wonderful dream."
"Cool!" said King. "What about?!"
Eda spread open her arms. "come 'ere, and I'll tell you."
King jumped into Eda's arms, and sat in her lap like a child would.
"My dream starts in the forest...near the tree where I found your brother."
[Meanwhile, back in the Dream Realm]
Bob the Axolotl appeared with Anne Boonchuy and Olivier Clawthorne.
Anne looked at Olivier, and noted the sad expression on his face.
"hey..." Anne touched Olivier's shoulder. "you okay, Ollie?"
Olivier shrugged. "I don't know...I should be happy. I mean...I got to see my mother again.
and yet...I feel like there just wasn't enough time. I didn't want to leave her."
Anne frowned, and then pulled her boyfriend into a comforting hug. "I know...I'm sorry."
Olivier shed a tear. "I wish there was a way to bring her back with us."
Anne couldn't think of anything to say. so she continued to hold Olivier in her embrace.
(("Unfortunately, that is beyond my power.")) spoke Bob, the Axolotl.
(("BUT you two still have time before you both awaken. If there is anything else I can do-"))
"yeah...there is." said Olivier, pulling away from Anne.
"But you and I both know what that is, and you probably won't like it."
Bob scowled at the auburn haired witch boy. (("yes...I am afraid I do."))
The Axolotl then snapped his fingers...materializing a Gold and Platinum colored castle nearby.
From Anne's perspective, it kinda resembled the Castle from Disneyland.
(("follow me, children.")) spoke Bob, as he walked off.
Olivier and Anne shrugged, and followed the robed Amphibian towards the castle.
[Later.]
In what appeared to be the castle Throne Room, Bob snapped his fingers yet again,
summoning a very foreboding floating door of rusted metal and strange glyphs upon it.
It gave both Anne and Olivier chills just looking at it.
"is that-"
(("yes. the Dream Realm's sole gateway into the Nightmare Realm.")) spoke Bob, his voice monotone.
(("I keep it closed so none of the monsters that dwell within can spread chaos into THIS Realm."))
"and, Sasha is in there somewhere..." mused Anne.
(("in a sense. Her subconscious is indeed within her personal nightmare world.")) explained Bob.
(("As the Nightmare Realm is a reflection of THIS realm, it follows similar rules."))
"Right, so it is an endless void with floating doors and windows that act as portals." thought Olivier, aloud.
(("Yes, but it IS a Nightmare Realm. You will be surrounded by danger with no allies to help you.
In fact, once you enter I *will* close the gateway behind you to prevent any unwanted breaches."))
Anne looked at the Axolotl. "Then how do we-"
(("By waking up. But, before you go there are some things you must know."))
Anne and Olivier faced the Axolotl. "We're Listening."
(("First, DO NOT trust anyone that you meet in the Nightmare Realm.")) began Bob.
(("They are all vile in nature, and feed on the fears of the dreamers that enter their realm."))
"So, they are like Groms back in my world." mused Olivier.
"Let me guess: They'll try and make us see illusions of what we fear the most."
(("Among other tricks."))
"wonderful." snarked Olivier, like his mother would. "Anything else?"
(("Yes: Be Careful. As you will be entering the Nightmare Realm as literal "Dream Walkers",
You CAN be hurt by the dangers that you face which your physical bodies will feel in the waking world."))
Anne widened her eyes in shock at this. "wait...so your saying this will be just like 'Nightmare on Birch Street!?',
That if we end up dying in a nightmare, then we'll die FOR REAL?!"
(("sadly, yes.")) said Bob. (("This is one major reason why Dreamwalking is dangerous.
Dreamers are safe in their own dream or nightmare worlds. but NOT when they walk in someone else's."))
"thanks for the warning." said Olivier. "but Me and Anne are survivors...I think we'll be okay."
Anne looked to Olivier. "are you sure?"
Olivier looked at Anne. "we've gotten this far together, haven't we?
And it's like you said: As long as we stay together, there is nothing we can't handle."
Anne smiled. "not sure if those were my exact word, but...yeah. I did say that."
Olivier took Anne's hand, squeezing it tight.
"come on." said Olivier. "let's go find Sasha, and talk to her."
Anne paused as she thought back to the last time she ever saw Sasha.
Back then, she was certain that whatever affection that she had for her was dead and gone.
That she was DONE with Sasha, and ready to set fire to anything that carried a memory of her back home.
and, yet...she was still worried about her. She had been angry with her,
but after thinking about it for awhile...Anne felt that's all that really was: Anger.
She didn't hate Sasha...she still cared about her. she still...'loved her.'
Enough that she wanted to save her from whatever nightmare she was having.
"yeah...let's go see Sash." said Anne, forcing a smile.
(("If you two are serious about doing this, then I suggest you take some time to prepare.")) said Bob.
The Axolotl then snapped his fingers, conjuring belts onto the two teens carrying grenades.
(("These are called "Bliss Bombs.")) explained Bob. (("each one releases compressed 'sweet dream' energy
powerful enough dispel lesser 'night terrors', though stronger entities can resist them."))
Anne looked at the Pastel colored grenades. "Cool! so their like "Explosive Happiness?"
(("pretty much, yes."))
Anne grinned wide. "Marcy would just LOVE these things."
(("Your supply is unlimited, so don't worry about conserving them.")) added Bob.
"in other words: Spam them like crazy." said Olivier. "Thanks. these will be useful."
(("I should warn you: I won't be able to help you in the Nightmare Realm.")) continued Bob.
(("So, I cannot send you to Sasha Waybright's nightmare door directly. YOU will have to find it yourselves."))
"Can't have things too easy, I guess." spoke Anne, mildly annoyed.
"There is one more thing we should do before leaving." spoke Olivier.
Anne turned to her boyfriend. "what?"
"Give me your hand." said Olivier.
Anne extended her hand to Olivier, who drew a spell ring with his finger
and then stuck his hand through the ring and pulled Anne's hand through it as well.
Their linked hands then glowed forming rings of light around their wrists like bracelets.
Olivier released Anne's hand, though Anne felt her wrist magnetically drawn to Olivier's.
"So we won't get separated." explained Olivier.
Anne smiled. "thanks. though, I intend to stick to you like glue while in there."
Olivier smiled. He and Anne then faced Bob the Axolotl one more time.
"Okay...we're ready."
Bob smirked. (("You are bold for ones so young and underpowered.
You two almost remind me of a pair of twins that I met once."))
"huh?"
(("nevermind...give me a moment."))
As Bob proceeded to open the portal, Anne squeezed Olivier's hand tight.
"anne?" spoke Olivier.
"oliver...there is something I need to tell you." spoke Anne, quietly.
"my bad dream from before. I...you died in my arms, defending me and my family."
Olivier was silent for a moment. "in my nightmare...I watched you die, too."
Anne stared at Olivier with wide eyes.
"I was restrained, and could only watch." continued Olivier.
"by the time I freed myself and got to you...there was nothing I could do."
Anne paused for a moment...and then half-smiled. "so, we share the same fear: losing each other."
"you are my whole world, Anne...I don't know what I'd do without you." Olivier then exhaled sharply.
"but...being half-witch, I will outlive you. so I will have to figure out a way when the time comes."
Anne held Olivier's hand. "you are MY whole world too, Ollie...and I hope you do outlive me.
I want to spend the rest of my life with you. until my very last breath."
Olivier frowned, feeling uneasy about Anne's choice of words.
But, he forced himself to smile and pulled Anne close. their foreheads touching.
"then I will treasure EVERY moment that I spend with you...for better, or worse."
Anne giggled. "interesting choice of-"
Olivier then opened his palm...revealing a transparent, translucent ring.
"oliver...what-"
Olivier knelt before Anne.
"Anne, for all things life's thrown at us, and may continue to. one thing is clear: I can't imagine life without us.
so by this promise, if you accept I will never leave you, or let anything come between us,
so I ask you, when we are old enough...will you become "Anne Avasa Clawthorne?"
Anne covered her mouth, her eyes welling up in tears.
It was just like all those romantic movies that she'd watch with her mother.
...and she already knew what to say.
"YES!" exclaimed Anne, taking the Illusion Ring. "yes...I will. Now, and ALWAYS."
Anne put on the ring.
Though she and Olivier both knew that it would disappear once they awoke, it didn't matter to them.
Their promise had been made...a Vow of Everlasting Love.
Their future was set, and NOTHING would tear them apart.
((*CLICK!, WHIRRRRL...*))
Olivier rose back up, and grasped Anne's hand at the door finally opened.
The pair looked through the portal, and caught a glimpse of the Nightmare Realm.
Anne squeezed Olivier hand...as did he hers. Both were feeling anxious, yet they didn't show any fear.
(("good luck, you two.")) said Bob, the Axolotl.
Anne and Olivier looked at one another for a moment.
They both nodded, reassuring each other without speaking a word.
Inhaling deeply...then jumped into the portal, which closed shut behind them.
Bob exhaled sharply. Already regretting what he had just allowed to happen.
[End of Part Thirty-Three]