Blaze woke up to an eerie feeling in the air as he shakily got up from the floor.
Wait, floor? When did he fall asleep on the floor? Wasn't he just on his bed?
"Welcome, Sunstone Wielder,"
"Zhan Tiri." Blaze hissed, raiding his sword and turning to the she-demon in her 'innocent form'. "What do you want from me?"
"Nothing," Zhan Tiri grinned nonchalantly as she spoke. "Quite a surprise that you would ask me why I am here rather than the fact that you have such a bloody sword in your tire,"
"Wh-What…?"
Blaze stared down at the sword he held before stiffening at the blood dripping down on the floor. He gasped and immediately let go of it, causing it to fall on the floor with a clang.
"Wh-Who's blood is this?!"
"You tell me, child…" Zhan Tiri smirked, pointing over to a body laying on the floor.
"What— oh no," Blaze stared down at the familiar body laying on the floor. "No, no, no, no—!
"Oh yes!" Zhan Tiri cackled. "Did you enjoy your little dream? Where HE would get a happy ending with the rest of your family? How pitiful,"
"NO!" Blaze shook his head as he drove away from the body. "This… This isn't real! THIS CAN'T BE REAL!"
"Is it?" Zhan Tiri chuckled, hovering over the body. "Smell the blood in the air, young Blaze. Death has come, and YOU are the one to blame. It seems your inner heroism had broken it's limits,"
"No, no, no, no, NO!"
X
Blaze gasped as he woke up, his body glowing as much as the black rocks around him.
Was it… all a dream…?
He hopped out of bed and drove out of his room as fast as he could. He zoomed over to his brother's room, and his stomach dropped the moment he found the room empty.
Shoot.
Was everything they've been through really just a dream?
"Blaze?"
Blaze spun to found himself face to face with Crusher, ALIVE AND BREATHING as he stared at him with confusion. Despite the look, he let out a sigh of relief before embracing his brother.
"Thank goodness you're alive…"
"Uh… thanks…?" Crusher glanced over at his brother with curiosity. "Blaze, are you okay…?"
"Yes," Blaze let out a sigh and glanced up at him with tears eyes. "Just… a nightmare,"
"Really?" Crusher's eyes widened in surprise. "I… I also had a nightmare, but I didn't want to disturb you, so… I left to get a drink…"
"Really?" Blaze looked surprised. "What's it about?"
"I… the dark incantation," Crusher looked down in shame. "It… It reaches everyone… and I… I was the one to blame…"
"Crusher…" Blaze frowned. "You know that you aren't,"
"I… I know…" Crusher glanced up at him worriedly. "but… what if it actually worked? What if I actually succeeded on killing everyone?" He shuddered at the thought. "I… What if…"
"Okay, that's enough of that," Blaze wiped the other's tears. "You know that I don't like it when you cry, bro,"
"Y-Yeah, s-sorry," Crusher sniffled his tires and gave a smile. "So… what was your nightmare about?"
"Oh…" Blaze hitched his breath before letting out a shaky sigh. "The battle at the tower. In my nightmare, I… I…"
Crusher frowned as his brother suddenly began to tremble and struggle to keep in his tears. He placed his tires on the other's shoulders gently.
"What did you do…?"
Blaze tensed, his breath hitching in hesitation as he spoke shakily.
"I… killed you,"
Crusher's eyes widened but, they softened just as quick before embracing the other.
"If you did… you know that I'd understand, right?"
"That's just it!" Blaze began to cry as he hugged his brother tightly. "I KNOW that you'd understand, but I also DON'T want to do it! I never wanted to!"
"Shh, brother, it's okay," Crusher smiled and slowly pulled away. "I know that you'd father give up your life than kill me… you've tried to do it already. I have no doubt that you'd do it again,"
"Without hesitation," Blaze added with a chuckle. "And without a second thought,"
"How about we head out for some fresh air, to get our minds off the nightmares?" Crusher suggested.
"Good idea," Blaze smiled and nodded. "Let's go,"
As they left the house, however, they failed to notice a pair of eyes spying on them with a smirk and a chuckle before disappearing into darkness…