Author's Note: Don't expect this to update regularly. While the Legend of the Dream Keeper series means a lot to me, there's a fair bit to it that I don't like. I mean, I wrote it when I was freaking fourteen after all. With my past experiences behind me, I think I'd like to take another crack at this sucker.

The Legend of the Dream Keeper

Part I: The Dream Keeper

Book 1: The First Dream

Prologue: Wheels Set in Motion

Enter Merlin:

There's a certain beauty that lives within the human mind, isn't there? Within each person, no matter who they are or where they come from, their mind has the power to create a universe full of stories. If you were to write down in a book the story that lies within each person's mind, you'd be able to fill the greatest library known in history to maximum capacity. It'd likely be a space library, maybe one that orbits the moon.

I want a space library now.

My name is Merlin. My very name alone should be proof of my statement. Even now, you're pulling forth ideas from stories you've heard associated with my name. Swords in stones, Knights in Armor, Ladies in Lakes and even a very pretty young man for those of you who remember that show. Each of those interpretations stemmed from an idea, and each idea came from a Dream.

That's where I live, now. After I had shed my mortal coil, my essence traveled into the Realm of Dreams. It is like an ocean here, with islands of Dreams as far as the eye can see. Each Dream holds an idea. Each idea, a whole world to experience. Even when you wake up, your Dream doesn't fade away. Rather, the stage had been set and the actors are all in their places… but there is no audience for them. So they continue to perform even in your absence, fleshing out the stage until it evolves into a full world.

I am not the only one who lives in this Realm between the Dreams, however. There is a whole race of beings made from pure Light devoted to cultivating and living from the ideas harvested from Dreams. They call themselves the Dreamers, likely because they're not very good at naming things. I kid of course… mostly. These people see me as a figurehead of sorts, a great sage in life and a powerful Dreamer in death. Even now, those few remaining Dreamers see my presence as a safe-haven from their greatest enemies:

Nightmares.

While a good many Dreams cultivate ideas and inspire action, there are those out there that inspire action in a different sense. When a Dream is filled with Darkness and portrays emotion rather than ideas… that is the work of the Nightmares. Beings made of pure Darkness, they harvest the emotion of the darker distaff to the Dreams the Dreamers harvest ideas from.

For as long as anyone in this realm can remember, the Dreamers and the Nightmares have been at war with one another. Darkness corrupts Light, the Dreamers argue, and Light burns away Darkness. This has been the foundation of their feud for as long as either race has recorded history. The sky is blue, humans breathe air to live, and the Dreamers and Nightmares are destined to fight one another.

The war has led both sides to doing… questionable things that I will not divulge into right now. Needless to say, both sides deserve to feel ashamed for what they've done in the past in their ceaseless struggle to kill the other. The balance of power has been constantly shifting, with both the Dreamers and the Nightmares doing their damnedest to make that invisible pendulum shift to their own advantage. For the Dreamers, this has led to atrocities such as the Keyblade Wars.

And for the Nightmares… what we're dealing with right now.

The foundation for the Dreamer Army has all but fallen. Nearly every soldier who had devoted their lives to fighting the Nightmares have either been slain or turned into Nightmares themselves. The Dreamer race still lives, but scattered in pockets here and there. We've been struggling to find them, but it's dangerous to gather too many in a single spot. As it stands, we who remain from the main organization are running from Dream to Dream in search of asylum.

There are only three of us left: Myself, the scholar Nozan, and the poor assistant Tom. Before everything went to hell, Nozan was a running politician and heading to become the leader of the Dreamers. Tom was interning to finish his thesis so he could join the higher ranks himself. We three weren't the only ones who escaped from the Dreamer's base when the Nightmare Invasion hit, but we soon realized either we were the only ones who survived the aftermath or no one else could receive our transmissions.

It's been a year since that fateful day. At the time of writing, we're hiding within the Dream of the Mushroom Kingdom Storybook World. The Guardians of this Dream, the Star Spirits, are understandably wary of our presence, but Nozan's diplomacy has been helping our case in warming their hearts to us (and I'd like to think my cake's been helping, I have darned good recipe!).

That said… things aren't looking so good for us right now. I'm writing this partially as a message to any who may see this in the future, and partially to get these thoughts off my chest. While I keep a façade of cheer and goodwill around the others to keep morale high, deep down I'm… tired. I'm so, so tired…

We need a miracle to turn things around.

We need a Dream Keeper.

I took a breath as I folded the paper up, slipping it into the inner pocket of my cloak. Leaning the chair I'd been sitting in back on its hind legs and balancing my feet on the table ahead of me, I looked out through the window of the little hut I'd been calling my home to see the castle of Princess Peach. I smiled a little to myself, remembering how kind the princess was to provide this hut for us. The Star Spirits were wary to trust us, their fears based on past experiences with Dreamers, but the Princess saw us not as refugees from a war but as three homeless people that simply needed a place to stay.

The hut itself wasn't that bad. It was certainly old – apparently it was built back when the Mushroom Kingdom had a great Sage to advice the royalty – but cozy as well. It needed a LOT of dusting and a fresh coat of paint, but that wasn't a problem for the dustbins and paint cans I had animated with my magic. The civilians of the town were apparently so impressed by my display that I've made it into a sideshow performance. This, combined with my fortunetelling (read: people-reading) abilities have convinced the people we weren't just there to take up space and eat their food. I offered to pay back the Princess for her kindness, but being the absolute sweetheart that she was, she simply said the smiles on her people's faces were enough payment for her.

As precious as she is, I'm starting to get the idea why she's kidnapped so frequently – she doesn't have the heart to increase security to enough of a level that would deter her abductors. Well, abductor if what I've heard is anything to go by.

SLAM!

"Nozan, how many times must I tell you that it's not necessary to-" I started, not even turning around to face the Dreamer as I set the chair back fully on the floor.

"Sir, Tom's hurt!"

I jumped out of the chair and turned around. Nozan's blue robes were torn at places and singed at the tips, but Tom was completely covered in soot and was huddled over in pain.

"Set him down on the cot," I said, pulling my wand out from my robe and beginning to trace a curative incantation in the air as I hurried over to Tom's side. "What happened?"

"We had an appointment with the Star Spirits," Nozan explained as I got to work patching Tom up. "Finally making a breakthrough with them, got them to accept the Nightmares as a real threat based on the evidence I've brought forward to them, this meeting was to cement the Dreamer's position in using their help to-"

"Nozan, son, you're rambling again," I said calmly as my magic was already clearing away the burns on Tom's face.

"Right, sorry sir. By the time we arrived in their domain, Bowser's troops had already deployed. It was chaos in their realm sir, so Tom and I made a beeline to the Star Spirits' chamber. The Spirits were already weakened by Kammy Koopa's magic, and Bowser was closing in on the Star Rod. I, uh, I tried to talk Bowser down from it…"

I smirked despite myself. "You tried diplomacy with a card-carrying villain?"

"My focus in school was on politics, NOT combat magic!" Nozan defended. I shook my head at this.

"As thankful as I am that you got out of that situation in one piece," I said, putting my wand away as the last of Tom's burns healed away, "how did Tom get hit worse than you?"

"While I was talking with Bowser-"

"Which devolved into him bragging how he was the greatest villain ever once you gave him audience, no doubt?"

"…well, yes, but my point stands! Tom here decided to play hero and made a dive for the Star Rod. He froze like a deer in headlights, then shut his eyes and made some kind of wish on the Rod. Whatever it was, it wasn't to push back Bowser or protect himself since the next thing we knew, Bowser torched the kid with his flame breath and took the Star Rod back."

"So you grabbed Tom and made your way out of there before Kammy or Bowser could stop you?" I assumed. Nozan nodded in return.

"I'm certain Bowser did something to the Star Spirits while we were leaving to keep them more permanently indisposed," Nozan reasoned. "And he'll likely strike against the Mushroom Kingdom soon enough."

"I agree," I nodded, stepping away from the now stirring Tom. "I'd suggest setting up wards around the castle, but… well, he has the Star Rod. That'd be like building a wall of paper to defend against a rocket launcher."

I paused, mulling it over to myself. "Well then again, if it were enchanted paper… how enchanted would it have to be to… well, maybe an elasticity charm would-"

Nozan snapped his fingers. "Sir."

I shook my head. "Right, my deepest apologies."

"You've no reason to apologize to me, sir." Nozan bowed his head in respect to me. I've told Nozan countless times that we're equals in our current situation, but if he insisted on the formalities, who was I to argue? Still, one of these days I'm going to put something on his head when he bows to me just to see what he'll do.

"Sir," Nozan continued, "it's of my opinion that we should bunker down and stay out of Bowser's way until after his attack on the castle. Once we're in the clear, we can begin work on recovery and counter-measures."

"We should at least warn the Princess," I argued.

"But sir, Bowser has the Star Rod. If he sees any of us-"

"That's a risk I'm willing to take," I interrupted, my voice a touch more firm. "Princess Peach has been far too kind to simply abandon her to the whim of the Koopa King. We may not be able to help her, but we can warn her."

"I…" Nozan looked away. "…I understand, sir. I disagree, but I understand."

"Bowser only saw you two, not me," I told him, patting his shoulder. "Stay here with Tom, I'll go to the castle."

"Yes sir," Nozan nodded. As I moved to leave the hut, Tom's voice croaked out something that sounded like "wait." I turned around and hurried back to his side.

"Easy there son," I said gently, pressing my hand against his forehead. "The curative charms have patched you up physically, but you're still going to be out of energy for a while longer."

"Merlin…" Tom said, straining to get the words out. "My… my wish…"

Nozan stepped forward. "Why in the world didn't you wish for a protective ward around yourself, or – or for Bowser and his armies to back off or-"

I held up my hand to silence Nozan without taking my eyes off Tom. Nozan's mouth immediately shut tight.

"What did you wish for, Tom?" I asked the young man. He looked at me and used the last of his energy to pass onto Nozan and me what it was he was willing to risk his life to wish for before passing out:

"I wished for… the Dream Keeper… to save us…"

Enter Alex:

"C'mon c'mon c'mon…" I muttered, palms gripped against the Wii-Mote as I guided Mario in his bubble through the mine field in space. "Almost, almost, almo – DANGIT!"

"Whoooooa!" Mario cried out as he was sucked into a conveniently placed black hole.

My name's Alex, and as you can clearly see, I'm not winning any awards for "Best Super Mario Galaxy player of 2009" anytime soon. I'm fourteen years old, Class of 2014, and ADD as heck. Well, not really. I mean, maybe I am? My mind jumps all over the darned place pretty much every second from when I wake up to when I fall asleep at night, so I'm not sure what you'd call that. Hyper? Hyper's kind of a physical thing I think, so… Wow, not even five paragraphs in and I'm already derailing the story. Nice job, Alex.

Anywho, I moved to turn off the Wii when I heard knocking on the wall. I turned my head to see my Mom peeking into the living room from the doorway to her own room.

"Just came in to tell you to start wrapping it up," she said. "School night and everything."

"Perfect timing, I was just about to rage quit," I said cheerfully, shutting the Wii off and unstrapping the Wii-Mote from my wrist. "I'd just pick another level if it weren't for the fact that it's a personal challenge at this point."

"Believe me, I understand," Mom smirked. "Got any breakfast requests in the morning?"

I knelt down to set the Wii-Mote next to the console. "We still have black beans?"

"All out, sorry."

"Darn. Fried eggs then, if you wanna."

"I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't want to."

"Oh really?" I grinned. "In that case, steak and eggs for breakfast!"

"Great idea!" Mom nodded. "You go buy the steak."

I laughed. "Night, Mom."

"Night Alex." Mom closed the door behind her. I peeked in through the window to the room that used to be an indoor porch that we converted into a room for my ten year old brother, Joshua. He sat in bed, reading a book about dragons or something.

"Night Joshua."

"Night." Joshua didn't take his eyes off his book. After doing the usual pre-bed prep stuffs, I started up my CD player to keep some background noise going and tucked myself into bed. My buzzing mind kept playing back that Galaxy level over and over until, bit by bit, the buzzing in my brain slowed down and allowed me to drift off to sleep.

I didn't really become "aware" of what I was dreaming until I saw myself following behind Mario and Luigi through Toad Town. Everything seemed a lot more cartoon-y than in the games. Well, not that the games don't look like cartoons, but this looked more like… like it was physically drawn on paper, really. If that makes any sense. That's all I can properly describe how I saw what was before me, anyway.

Mario and Luigi were making their way towards Peach's Castle, myself following behind them. I wasn't sure if I was actually walking with them or if I was just, like, invisible and following them without them realizing. Anyway, as they entered the courtyard and walked towards the front gates, the gates opened to allow an elderly man with a rather long grey beard and dressed in blue robes to step outside. He walked on the path back to Toad Town, but paused when he saw us. He held out his hands to stop the Mario brothers.

"Luigi, Mario, fancy seeing you here," the man in blue robes said in a voice that just sounded like the man must've laughed all the time. "Here for the party, I assume?"

"Sure are, Merlin!" Luigi said enthusiastically as Mario just nodded. "Just got the invitation and we didn't want to be late."

"Don't worry, I warmed them up for you," Merlin joked to Luigi. "Enjoy the party."

"You're not staying?" Luigi asked.

"I have work to do, sad to say," Merlin shrugged. "Maybe next time!"

He stepped beside Mario and placed a hand on his shoulder. The second his hand made contact with Mario's shoulder, I felt a jolt run through my body. It felt like how you feel yourself kick when you snap awake, only I had the sensation while still remaining deep in the dream.

"You two have enough fun for me, alright?" he asked in good cheer, taking his hand off Mario's shoulder. The brothers nodded to Merlin and headed to the castle gates. Before heading away, Merlin made eye contact with me and winked.

The castle had a very low-key party atmosphere going on in it. There were many people from all over the Mushroom Kingdom – Toads, Koopas, Penguins, Mice… things – and they were all clearly excited to be there and chatting up with people from different places to get a sense of their different cultures, but everything felt relaxed like a family gathering rather than a straight-up party. Luigi stayed behind to mingle with the guests while Mario headed upstairs through the castle to see Princess Peach. I ended up following Mario as he made his way up the staircase.

The hustle and bustle of the party faded bit by bit until the sounds of the people attending were barely audible. We were in a long hallway, with massive windows lining the wall and letting light in while still providing the sort of angled light that lets you see dust particles drifting about in the air. Princess Peach was looking over the great view these windows provided before she heard Mario enter. Face lighting up, she approached Mario and started making small talk with him. Well, to be more accurate, she talked to him while Mario kind of nodded in response. I don't think Mario talked.

Soon after Princess Peach invited Mario to join her on the balcony, the entire castle started to shake violently. From outside of the windows, I could see the castle slowly start to rise into the air. While Mario hurried over to the window to see what the heck was going on, Princess Peach wasted no time and hurried over to some hanging drapes, pushing them out of the way to reveal an intercom system. She switched it on and began issuing evacuation orders. Soon after, I could see from outside the castle some of the people inside jumping out to the ground while it was still close enough and, once high enough for that to hurt them, those on ground started unrolling tarps and blowing up air bags to help the remaining people inside of the castle to jump out to safety.

The castle safely evacuated, Princess Peach replaced the drapes and looked over to Mario. He, in turn, looked to her in grave worry, nodding to the window. Princess Peach approached and looked down to see that the two of them were now floating in orbit far above the clouds of the Mushroom Kingdom. No amount of air bags could save them if they decided to jump out then. Princess Peach placed a hand on Mario's arm in worry. Mario replied in kind by taking her hand in his own and giving it a gentle squeeze.

Mario turned his gaze back to the window. His eyes widened at the approach of Bowser in his Koopa Car and Kammy flying right behind him. Throwing his arms around Peach's waist, he dived out of the way of the window in time for it to crash inward. Broken glass shards scattered all over the floor as Bowser flew in, jumping out of his Koopa Car and landing flat on his feet in the halls of Peach's castle. With a glare, Mario got up from the ground, standing in front of Peach and holding a single arm out, as if silently saying "You're not laying a hand on her."

The two started fighting right there in the middle of the hallway, Peach pushing herself back to her feet and myself just standing there, watching while unnoticed by anyone else in the dream. When a break showed itself in the battle, Bowser took advantage by pulling out a magical rod with a star on the tip and waving it over himself. The rod glowed, and soon Bowser himself was brimming with some kind of potent magical energy. Mario hurried to jump on Bowser's head again, but the Koopa King didn't even flinch. Laughing, Bowser proceeded to beat the ever loving crap out of Mario, his speed and strength seeming to have been enhanced by the rod. It didn't take long for the plumber to succumb to his wounds and, while fighting for every second to stay awake and fight, he fell first to his knees, then flat on his face. He was out cold.

Princess Peach was horrified. She ran over to Mario's side and shook him, begging for him to get up. Bowser laughed, saying that so long as he has the Star Rod in his possession, all of his wishes will come true and no one will be able to stop him. With the wave of the rod, Mario was suddenly ripped right out of Peach's grasp and thrown out of the broken window. I found myself flying out the window and after Mario as he was falling… falling… falling through the starry sky, back towards the clouds that covered the Mushroom Kingdom. I felt a buzzing running through my head, and smaller "kicks" kept happening through my body, building in intensity. I kept swearing that at some point I was going to jolt awake.

Mario passed through the clouds. I followed behind him.

I felt a sudden POWERFUL jolt run through me and my mind snapped awake.

I felt the water particles of the clouds running across my face and the intense wind rushing by my ears as I fell out from the bottom of the clouds. I could feel the adrenalin rushing through every inch of my body as I saw the ground below approach me, faster and faster.

I was there. I was ACTUALLY there, falling through the air and towards the ground without a parachute or anything to protect me.

So, I did what I think any other fourteen year old in my shoes would have done:

First, I screamed.

Then, I passed out.