Chapter 1: Cruel World
I woke up sweating vigorously, my heart pounding, my brain overflowing with thoughts.
What was that? What did that mean? I kept asking myself those questions over and over again, that dream was so vivid and yet, it felt like I have already seen it before.
I decide to dismiss the dream as just a nightmare, even though it felt so real...
I get out bed and go check on my sister Dot. A couple days ago she got very ill so Wakko (my younger brother) and I have to take care of her.
I walk over to Dot's room and knocked on the door,
"Dot," I asked, " may I come in?"
She coughed a couple of times, "yes you may," she responded in her typical cute voice.
I walk in and I see Wakko standing over top of her, holding her hand tightly.
Every time I see Dot I get more worried, she always looks worse than she did before.
"How's she holding up?" I ask Wakko as I walk over to the bed.
"Fine for the most part," said Wakko, squeezing Dot's hand tighter than before.
"Don't worry guys," she coughed," I will be fine," Dot said in a weak voice.
"I sure hope so," I said on the verge of tears.
We all just stood there in silence, embracing the fact that we are all to together, as one big happy family.
Wakko and I decided to let Dot rest. We both walked out of the room.
"I just want to let you know..." Wakko said as he began to blush, "that I love you."
All I could do is smile, even in hard times my brother can make me happy.
"I love you too," I said while hugging him tight.
I let go and look into his eyes, I'm grateful to have a happy and loving family. I walk into my room shortly after and lay down on my bed, I fall into a deep sleep without a care in the world...
Yakko's Dream
I woke up to the familiar and cold touch of stone on my back, I was confused at first but then realized it must be a dream.
I slowly but surely get to my feet, my muscles ache for some reason. When I stood up, I was greeted with the gapping mouth of a cave.
"Hello?" I called out hesitantly
"Is anyone there?"
I wasn't surprised when I got no response, it is my dream after all...
I had to muster up some courage before I walked into the cave. It was pitch black at first but my eyes began adjusting to the dark. I walked on a for a little bit until I saw something out of the corner of my eye, it was a painting but instead of having a beautiful landscape or portrait on it... it had a photo of me, Dot and Wakko all playing cards together. This made me happy and sad at the same time.
It made me happy because it reminds me of all good times we've had together but it makes me sad because the new memories I'll make won't include Dot, it won't be the same.
I press on through the cave only to be greeted with more paintings on the walls, each of them a different memory we all share.
I got to the end of the cave and was greeted with something a little bit different, there was a huge painting on the wall with no one in it, not a living soul.
"What the hell..." I thought, " what does this mean?"
There was a chest underneath the painting, the lid was partially open.
I opened the chest up and saw a small piece of white paper at the bottom, I pick it up and see a short sentence , in a bold font, that reads;
"Acceptance is the final obstacle."
I think I understood what it meant, it meant that I have to accept the fact that Dot is going to die and I have to make new memories with out her.
I flipped over the piece of paper and saw one letter followed by three smudge marks:
"This _ _ _."
I shrugged of that one word thinking nothing of it.
I turned and walked out of the cave, bringing myself back to the real world...
Back in the real world
As I gained consciousness, it finally hit me, Dot is going to die... I'll never see her again. I couldn't bare to let that happen, even though I have no control over it what so ever.
I got out of bed and decided to go check on Dot, even though I was reluctant to do so...
When I entered the room I almost started sobbing right then and there, but I managed to hold it back. Dot was lying in her bed with her eyes closed, she was breathing very slowly.
"Hey Dot," I said softly, " how are you feeling?"
I was on the verge of tears, I was desperately tying not to cry.
"I know I'm going die," she said weakly, "but before I do, please tell me the story."
I heard the door open and saw Wakko standing there, he too looked like he was on the verge of tears.
"Anything for you Dot," I replied, "once upon a time, a brave knight married a beautiful princess," I could feel myself starting to give in but I held on tight, " and they had two sons."
"But they wanted a daughter too," Dot interrupted in a weak voice.
I could hear Wakko whimpering, his face deepened with sorrow as the story went on.
"So they planted a g..garden," I had to swallow the knot forming in my throat, " and out of th..the prettiest flower came...?"
"Me," Dot said as she grabbed a hold of Wakko's and my hand.
I was going to cry soon, my eyes were glistening with tears, I was becoming weak.
"So mom and dad took you home and every night at bedtime, they'd come in and say.." I gulped back my tears and looked at Wakko for a second, he was crying silently,"who's the cutest girl..?" My voice was becoming much lower in volume.
"I am..." Dot said trying to sound happy
"And they'd ask," Wakko continued, practically choking out the words, "how'd you ever get so cute...?" Wakko rubbed his nose against Dot's," and you'd say?"
"I was born that way," Dot said with a tear running down her cheek.
"And they'd s..say" I wrapped my arm around Dot in a hug, "tell us your name," Wakko and I were practically fighting to death with tears, " you'd say...?"
"Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fana Bobesca The Third," she said as her voice lowered in volume, "but you can call me Dot."
The tears were starting to win.
"And they'd ask.. 'can we call you Dottie...? And you'd say...?"
They pooled into my eyes as I fought to release them
"No... just Dot," she said barley louder than a whisper, " call me Dottie... and... you... die..." she said as her last breath escaped her chest and her eyes closed shut, for the last time.
"No, Dot don't leave us," Wakko choked out
I could hear her voice in my head, I could see the memories we've made together. I realized I would never see Dot again, I would never hear her voice again.
I finally let the tears win and I started sobbing alongside Wakko.
I choked on my sobs but managed to stutter out one more thing that only Wakko could hear:
"And you'd fall asleep," I sobbed, "with a. Great. Big. Smile in your heart."
We were sobbing for hours before we decide to go to bed, but all I could think about was Dot. Until I was transported into the exact same dream I had last night.
Yakko's Dream
I woke up in the same place again, but I wasn't scared this time. I wasted no time and walked into the cave.
Everything was the same, until I reached the end. The giant painting and chest were there again except on the painting, instead of their being nothing, Dot was standing in the middle looking happier than ever. The sight of that made me tear up but I was happy for her, she has moved on and is in a better place.
I open up the chest and see the same piece of paper but instead of there being three smudges, I saw two. One word has been uncovered, it now read:
"This is _ _."
I was confused yet again, but the pieces were just beginning to lay themselves out to me. Little did I know that an event that would change my life forever would take place in the next couple months.
