Hello everybody and welcome to my first Mario Fanfiction! Well, the first one I ever brought myself to publish. So this has been one my head for a very long time since I beat Dream Team (which I'm gushing over how beautiful it is). And I kept wondering...what happened to Dreambert after he went after Antasma himself? Hence, this story was created! :D So yeah...some constructive criticism is always welcome, just don't make it too harsh now, Mmkay? By the way, this Prologue takes place right after Bowser betrays TasTas in the game, in case you don't recognize the dialog! :3
Disclaimer: I own nothing! It all goes to Alpha Dream and Nintendo for creating another magnificent installment to the M&L series! Enjoy!
Prologue:
Antasma glared at the heroes before him. His eyes glowed with malice and anger, mostly due to the betrayal of Bowser. And what's worse, the pesky dreamy prince was challenging him! After a short bash, the bat king growled and returned to the platform, facing the Pi'illo prince. "Is that all?!" Dreambert challenged, "Come on!"
It was that moment when the bat king realized that his game was already over. He knew that, without that Dream Stone, he did not stand a chance anymore. He was completely powerless against the plumbers.
But he was not completely powerless against Dreambert. And he'll be damned if he was going down alone.
Indeed, his game was over, but so was Dreambert's. Antasma then smiled, a perfect plan blooming in his maddened mind.
Indeed, Dreambert. I VILL take you...
Keeping his toothy grin, Antasma flew off a little, switched forms, raised his arms above him, and opened a dream portal. Unlike any other portal, his was dark and a thick fragrance of evil wafted around it. It was polluted by his nightmare energy. The bat king looked down at the prince, satisfied with the shock and fear that his sharp nose detected.
"SCREEYEE" he let out a loud screech, though it was intended to be a laugh. Something he could never control, though at this point it did not matter. He turned back towards Dreambert, who clenched his teeth in disbelief. Antasma could almost hear the question going through his head: How...?
So he answered the unasked question.
"I can open dream portals vhenever I vish now...for that is vut I vished from the Dream Stone..."
He grinned even wider. Perhaps he should give a fair warning...though he knew it would be ignored as soon as he spoke it. It would just add to the pleasure of executing his final move, because Dreambert would be too hard-headed to listen.
"In the dream vorld, I vill be at full strength..." Antasma hesitated just slightly before adding, "...I haff changed, Dreambert. You haff been varned..."
And with that, the bat king faded into the portal, ready to destroy his enemy once and for all.
Dreambert rushed to the entrance of the portal. "No! Stop!" He yelled. Before the brothers could catch him, the prince leapt into the portal after him.
Right into a trap he will never forget.
"Dreambert!"
Starlow's voice yelling his name was the last thing he heard before emerging into Antasma's evil void. Dreambert whipped around in circles, searching for the dark figure of Antasma. This dream world was much more haunting and it sent chills down his spine. It was dark, and the thick smell of evil nightmare energy nearly made him gag. Still, it lacked the one being who created it...and that was what frightened him the most.
"Antasma!" He yelled out. "Come out and face me, you coward! I'll-"
He cut off when he felt a dark presence behind him, but before he could do anything, two big clawed hands grabbed him from behind. One grabbed the back of his head while the other clamped around his torso. He yelped and writhed in Antasma's grasp, but was unable to get out of it as the evil bat pulled him close and held him against his chest, which was for more massive than he remembered.
Antasma spun them around to face the portal, forcing Dreambert's head up to look at it. His eyes widened as he watched it shrink into nothing. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized that he was trapped in this foul nightmare world. He thrashed around harder in Antasma's arms, "NO! The portal!"
"SCREEEHEEHEEHEE!" Antasma laughed, his unholy screeching making Dreambert cringe as it was right next to his ear. The bat king lowered his great head and rested it upon the prince's shoulder. Antasma's grin widened as he felt him shiver in fear and purposely breathed on the small Pi'illo's neck to make him feel more intimidated. It worked as Dreambert swallowed and refused to make eye contact with him, his breathing becoming more shaky and ragged
"I haff varned you, Dreambert...und you still fall right into my trap..." He released the prince's head and made a strange rotation movement with his wrist. Dreambert noticed how huge it was and realized that Antasma must have an even bigger form to battle with. It would also explain why his head was almost as big as his body, why his gleaming teeth were nearly as long as his arms.
He watched as three nightmare orbs appeared from the ground on front of them. With another flick of his wrist, the orbs burst into one big cloud of nightmare matter. It was surprisingly intriguing to Dreambert. But that interest instantly turned into intense fear as Antasma balled his hand into a fist, and in response, the dark matter condensed into a single sharp nightmare shard. Only did the rest of the matter clear away did Dreambert realize that it was not a shard, but a light purple dagger.
The prince yelped in fear and again started thrashing as hard as he could. He yelled in pain as Antasma's massive hand only tightened around his petite body, and his claws dug into Dreambert's back. He summoned the dagger into his hand and positioned it directly at the Pi'illo's tiny heart, its point glistened and reflected the dark colors of the evil world around it. Antasma shifted his hand lower on the prince to avoid cutting it.
"A-Antasma..." Dreambert pleaded, "Please don't do this-s-s..."
"Too late for that, dreamboy." He growled. "Much too late for that. Pleading vill get you novhere."
"I know you're better than this." Dreambert said, his voice surprisingly calm, "I know there is still good in you, Antasma. Don't you remember when we were children? Don't you remember the happy times we once had?"
Antasma paused.
Dreambert noticed this and quickly went on, "I know you do, Antasma. Don't you miss that? Don't you want that back?" His voice lowered almost into a whisper as he brought himself to crane his neck and look up at the evil being who was once his best friend."...Because I do..."
This time, it was Antasma who was too afraid to make eye contact. He lifted his large head off of the prince's sore shoulder. Dreambert saw his piercing yellow eyes lose that bloodthirsty glow. He saw them deprive of any readable emotion and become clouded, distant. The prince was sure that old memories came flooding back into the bat king's mind. Then, he saw something he never ever expected to see.
A single tear fell from Antasma's eye.
They stayed like that for what felt like hours, when in reality it was only a brief moment. Dreambert did not try to escape Antasma, even as his grip had loosened for him to easily do so. Instead, he simply continued to stare at the great bat as he closed his eyes, trying to hold back emotions. Just as Dreambert opened his mouth to speak, Antasma's eyes snapped open again, glowing once again in but with a different emotion in them. Dreambert had no idea what it was, as evil last was the only emotion he ever saw in them, and that was what scared him. His heart began to pound again and he was sure that Antasma went back into his evil senses, that he was going to disperse everything he just said with some clever line, that he would drive the dagger into his chest while laughing his screechy laugh and make sure it was the last thing he heard before making his death as painful as possible.
But he didn't. Instead, Antasma lowered his head back down and brought his mouth close to Dreambert's ear. "I am sorry." He whispered, "Goodbye, best friend..."
Dreambert gasped as Antasma raised the dagger. He threw his arms out and yelled, "ANTASMA! NO-"
With that, Antasma closed his eyes tightly and pierced the ancient Pi'illo Prince's heart. The jagged nightmare weapon shattered and turned into particles of nightmare energy. With the impact creating a great wound, the nightmare shards swirled around and then drove into the wound, straight into the pure heart of the royal Pi'illo. Like a dream corrupted by a nightmare, the nightmare energy corrupted Prince Dreambert's body. It spread through its host like poison, thriving within him, exploring him. Then it settled into his heart and slept within him, and so the curse had begun. The Nightmare Curse.
But even after the dagger was driven, the echo of a bloodcurdling cry of pain could still be heard deep within the nightmare world.
Dreambert collapsed to the floor, Antasma no longer bearing to touch him. The prince clutched himself and shook uncontrollably from the shock. He gasped and hacked, struggling to breathe. Once he managed to calm down, he felt himself losing consciousness. Suddenly, something formed above him. He looked up, barely able to make out a dream portal in his fuzzy, unfocused vision.
He tried to stand up, but intense pain suddenly burst in his chest and he fell back down. He looked up and reached a hand out to the portal, "P...please...help...me..."
Then he was picked up. Still out of it, Dreambert looked up dizzily at a pair golden eyes. Realizing that it was Antasma, he noticed that the bat king was back to his normal form. Antasma gripped his shoulders tightly, his face emotionless. Then, with seemingly no effort, he shoved Dreambert into the dream portal.
Mario, Luigi and Starlow stepped back in surprise as the dream portal reappeared after about ten minutes. They gasped as the familiar red figure of Dreambert appeared and fell backwards out of the portal, awkwardly falling onto his back onto the cold castle floor. The prince coughed and clutched his throbbing chest. He quickly pulled the fabric of his clothes and placed it over the horrid purple wound. The three immediately rushed to him and hovered above him in worry, unsure how to help. They did not notice the concealment of his wound, Dreambert was thankful for that.
"Dreambert! Hold on!" Starlow cried. Mario knelt down next to him while Luigi panicked.
What was he to tell them? He couldnt just say he had been just stabbed in the heart by a knife made of nightmare! No, not while he had no idea why it did not kill him or what it will do to him in the future. He remained silent for a moment, think up a way to play it off. Dreambert took a few deep breaths and gained enough energy to speak. A small groan escaped his lips, "Argh...He has...grown stronger..."
His voice was tight with pain, and not just because of his chest. It pained him to finally realize what must be done. There was no way to contain Antasma any longer. There was no way he would change back into the good soul he once was. The nightmares he ate turned him into a monstrosity, and no matter how hard it hurt, Dreambert finally realized it was time to let Antasma go.
"Mario...Luigi...I beg of you...Please save the island...and the Dream Stone..."
Mario then stood up, his face determined. He turned towards the dream portal and dove into it without hesitation. Dreambert did not worry, for he knew that Mario and Dreamy Luigi will surely put an end to Antasma.
Wait...Dreamy Luigi!
Dreambert sat up abruptly, groaning slightly, but turned towards Luigi who eventually calmed down. Starlow gasped, "No, Dreambert! You need to rest a bit and regain your strength! Mario and Luigi will take Antasma down for sure!"
"I cannot!" Dreambert said, "Luigi, you must sleep upon me! With you awake, Dreamy Luigi is not there to help Mario!"
"Oh right!" Starlow exclaimed, "Just be careful on him Luigi. He's hurt."
Luigi nodded and helped the prince get underneath the dark portal and change into a pillow. Luigi sat down and gently laid down on him instead of plopping down. Just before he fell asleep, Starlow gave a confident smile, "Good luck you guys! I know you can do it!"
Dreambert appeared back into the nightmare world just as Mario faced off against Antasma, who was back in his battle form. He struggled to stay alfoat, as even though his pillow form consisted of no body, his head still throbbed and he had difficulty thinking straight. Nevertheless, he shook it off as best he could, "I will help as well...Dreamy Luigi! Come on!"
Though he did not even try to help fight, the weakened prince hovered over the battle, sneaking in a quick heal whenever possible. Gradually, he watched Antasma grow weaker and weaker with each blow he recieved. He knew that Antasma knew that he was not going to win this fight, but still he would not go down without giving the brothers a few good scars to remember. He already gave Dreambert's, and so he took no interest in the Pi'illo.
But as the brothers gave the final blow, Antasma collapsed to the floor and looked up at Dreambert. The fallen villain frowned and his eyes clouded in pain. Dreambert gave no emotion, but it was hard to stay that way as Antasma's devastated look told him one thing over and over again: I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry...Goodbye...dear friend...
Antasma clutched his chest and hunched over as bright light emitted from his body and then destroyed him once and for all. Nightmare remnants flew everywhere and then dissolved into nothing. Dreambert exhaled shakily, closing his eyes and bowing his head, giving a silent prayer to his ancestors for giving them the strength to finally put his friend out of his suffering. But deep down inside something kept telling him that this wasn't the end.
This is not over. He will come back someday. You will never escape him. He will come back.
And as they withdrew from the nightmare world, Dreambert looked back just briefly before leaving. Placing a hand on his aching heart, he could have sworn he heard a voice somewhere deep within the void:
"I vill come back for you, Dreambert. You haff never lost me. I vill always be your best friend..."
End of Chapter
...So yeah. That's that...
Let me know what you thought! Reviews make me happy! Until next time, Ciao!
(If you got that reference, you are amazing)