Hi everyone! I am so sorry for taking so long to update this. I've been really busy as of late, and I hope you're all not too mad at me. In my defense, I'm in my last year of high school, so my time is very limited. I honestly can't wait until the year is over. I want out of that school more than anything!

But anyway, I'm not here to rant about my sucky life. Here's the new chapter of Nightmare, hope you all enjoy!

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Chapter 7 – Merging Rainbow

"Johan, I have come for your answer…" I opened my eyes, blinking as I was met by the familiar sight of the blue-greyness of my dreamscape. Before me, floating a few metres off, was the same draconic creature from my earlier dream. "Do you want the power?"

"What is it you'd want in return?" I asked, narrowing my eyes in suspicion. "And how do I know that I can trust you?"

"You don't." It answered, examining its claws with disinterest. "As for what I want, you will know… in time. Don't worry, it's that you will be unwilling to do."

"…" I thought about what the creature said, running my options through my head and weighing up the consequences. If I declined, then I'd never get the power of Rainbow Dragon. I'd would never get the power to protect my friends and family. If I accepted, my loved ones would be safe, I'd have Rainbow dragon, I'd have his power…

Thoughts of my family and friends filled my mind; my father and mother, Ragnar and Arla. My brother and sister, Jesse and Rhanya. My dog, Kemi. The Gem beasts. Jim, Asuka, Manjoume, Sho, O'brien, Fubuki, Kenzan, Edo, Judai. Judai…

I have to protect Judai…

I looked back up at the creature, who was waiting expectantly for my answer. "I will accept your offer."

The creature nodded, floating forward until it was right in front of me. It reached forward until one of its talons rested on my forehead.

"However," I murmured, the creature freezing as I spoke. "I want to clarify some things first."

The dragon-human sighed, drawing back. "Very well… I suppose there's time…"

"Who are you?"

"I can't answer that just yet."

"But, why?" I stepped back, looking at the creature suspiciously.

"Because you are not ready to know." It… no, she said, her voice echoing mysteriously. "The time has not yet approached."

"Just what is it that you will want me to do?"

"At a later date, I will have you do something for me. You will know what it is when the time comes." She blinked and nodded her head. "You will not be forced into doing anything against your will."

I was silent, thinking the offer over. "You will not ask me to do anything that I don't agree to?"

"No. Trust me, you will agree completely." She smirked, a self-satisfied expression that I couldn't understand the reasoning for. "Now, is there anything else?"

"No… I understand the terms. But I can't help but wonder…" I stared straight into her eyes. "Why did you choose me?"

"Because there is someone that we both whish to protect, no matter what." She looked down at me thoughtfully, her dichromatic eyes staring unblinking at me. "I've answered you're questions, so calm down and I will give you the power, no more stalling… understood?"

I nodded and stepped forward, her talon reaching out to touching my forehead once again. I felt the area around the claw grow hot, the heat spreading through my veins until my whole body was burning. I gasped, fighting to keep from screaming as agony swamped me. The creature's mismatched eyes glowed as the last of the energy entered my body, the heat slowly fading as the stream of power was cut, leaving me feeling empty and shivering violently.

"The power I have given you is one that you need to learn to use yourself, Johan Anderson." She said, pulling away. "Rainbow dragon is not the only creature that you can become. I trust that you can figure it out. Be patient and, for now, protect my precious one…"

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"Judai! Judai wake up!" I heard a voice calling to me as I drifted out of sleep. I gasped and groaned as light shone into my eyes, making my vision go white. I blinked, attempting to adjust to the brightness and sat up. Johan was kneeling beside me, looking tired and exceedingly nervous. I stared at him, waiting for an explanation as to what happened.

"Johan, what's wrong?" I finally asked, getting tired of waiting. Johan pointed to something behind me, his eyes wide and dilated with shock. I turned around, surprise and wonder filling me at the view before me. In the distance, rising majestically from the far-away hills stood a huge castle. Its walls shone white-yellow in colour with glittering spires reaching towards the clear blue sky. Johan and I just stared, transfixed by the sight.

"Johan… where are we?" I said, my voice quiet with awe.

"I don't know…" Johan murmured, his eyes never leaving the shining structure before us. "But, it doesn't feel like it's bad or anything…"

I tore my eyes away from the castle, turning to look at Johan instead. "Yeah… it feels… like I'm at home or something…" Thoughts of my family filled my head; the sight of their once happy faces smiling down at me as I reach for my giggling mother…

I shook my head, trying to clear it of the images, fighting back the tears that started forming in my eyes. I tried to wipe them away, biting my lip angrily as the sobs threatened to start.

"Judai… are you okay? Are you crying?" Johan had stopped looking at the castle, staring at me with concern in his eyes. I smiled weakly at him, trying to tell him that I was okay.

"I'm fine, Johan. I just recalled some… painful memories." I sniffed and wiped my eyes on my sleeve. "I'm fine now…"

Johan grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms. "I don't like it when you look so sad, precious Judai." He murmured in my ear, making me flush red with embarrassment and something else. I smiled and returned the embrace, clinging tightly to my friend.

"Thanks… Johan…" I pulled away and got to my feet, holding my hand out to him. "Now, wanna look around a bit?"

He grinned and took my hand. "Sure, let's go see just where we are."

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When Judai and I started moving away from the castle, I got this nagging feeling that I just had to go back. Even though I'd never been there before, something inside was calling me back. It was a dizzying experience, as if I was both falling and not falling at the same time.

"Judai, I think we should go back to the castle." I whispered, pulling him back. He turned, staring incredulously at me.

"But Johan, we don't know who lives there! It could be dange-"

"It's safe…" I interrupted, turning back towards the castle. "Someone there is calling me…"

"Calling you? Who?" Judai asked, stepping up next to me.

"I don't know. But whoever they are, they mean us no harm." I started walking, heading back the way we'd come. To the one calling for me.

From where we first woke, the castle seemed large, but not overly so, like one of the old forts I'd seen on various holidays. As we got closer to it, I realised by how much I'd underestimated its size. The castle towered high over our heads, the entire structure made of white marble with white-painted timbre doors and windows. It was surrounded by a high wall, its dark grey stone contrasting with the pristine palace.

We were met at the door by two very familiar figures, both with their fur fluffed up in excitement. I'd never seen Ruby look so much like a fluff ball before. Hane Kuriboh looked the same as normal, if not a bit puffier.

"Master Johan!" Ruby squeaked, her voice sounding very much like that of a young child. "You're here! I mean… you're here! We felt you disappear and we were all worried, but I never thought you'd end up here!"

"Ruby?" I was too shocked by the fact that she was talking to truly process what she'd said. "You can speak?"

"Only here in the Light Realm." It was Kuriboh who answered. "We aren't really sure why we can't speak like this on Earth. Hello, Master Judai!"

"Hey Kuriboh." Judai just stared, dumbstruck.

"Come inside." Ruby said, gesturing to the large doors with her tail. "We have something to show you, since you're here."

"So it wasn't you who was calling me?" I asked, following Ruby into the castle.

"No." The carbuncle shook her head. "But I think I know who it was."

The two light Duel Monsters lead us deep into the castle, passing room after room until we reached a set of large double doors.

"Master Johan, Master Judai, please go in here. The Lord of this Realm is through here. He's been asleep for so long… maybe you can wake him up?" Ruby and Kuriboh both disappeared as the doors began to open, revealing the vast chamber beyond.

Everything was pearly white, the walls shot through with veins of colour to make the room seem like it was sparkling. There was no furniture to be seen, leaving instead an empty space with a raised alter at the far end of the room. Atop the alter was a figure, coiled up tight with great white wings hiding its body from view. I could just see the serpentine shape from where I stood at the door, a long slender body with a row of gemstones down its sides.

"Rainbow Dragon."

As soon as I recognised him, my mind went blank. Black crawled across my vision and I was vaguely aware of Judai calling my name before I remembered no more.

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Johan's eyes glazed over as he saw the dragon, his whole body suddenly relaxing to the point where I thought he'd fall over. I stared with wide eyes as he began to walk, moving with slow, stumbling steps to the alter.

"Johan!" I called, trying to get his attention. I moved to follow, but something held me back, preventing me from moving even a step. "Johan!" I watched, terrified, as my friend reached the dragon's side, disappearing under its wings.

There was a sudden flash of piercing light and I couldn't stop the flinch as I was momentarily blinded. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my eyes before looking franticlly for Johan.

All around me was a swirling expanse that shone with every imaginable colo9ur, not unlike my Neospace field card. Not far from me stood Johan, the dragon floating above him with its wings spread wide. Johan waited with his eyes closed, his head tilted back and his arms spread as if mimicking the creature above him.

I gaped, dumbstruck as the dragon started to dissintigrate, dissolving into sparkling golden particles that came together in a shimmering spiral before into Johan's body. He seemed to sigh as the golden particles disappeared into his back, his form glowing as he was filled with the dragon's very existence. The particles froze for the barest of moments, spreading from his back to resemble a pair of wings, translucent and ghostly in the multi-coloured light before they faded into him.

The rainbow expanse slowly started to fade with the dragon's disappearance, fading into the white of the palace once again. Johan collapsed, falling to his hands and knees with his head hanging limp and panting for breath. I ran to his side as soon as I felt the paralysis release its hold on me, kneeling by his side with my hands on his heaving shoulders.

"Johan." I leaned down, trying to see his face. "Are you okay?" he raised his head, staring at me with blank, confused eyes.

"Judai…" he slurred, slumping into my lap as limply as a rag doll; or a marionette with its strings cut. "I'm so tired… so tired…" Johan's eyes slid closed and I carefully set him down as he passed out cold.

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