Disclaimer… I do not own HunterXHunter or any of its characters.

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In the midst of the sprawling forest floor a slumbering form rested. The body was both broken and abused and his mind was imprisoned within its own hell. He didn't understand what was happening, or why it had happened. All he knew was that he could not seem to wake himself up.

It's so dark in here, he thought. If I could just open my eyes, maybe I could understand what's happening. Though he commanded his eyes to open and his frail damaged limbs to move, his brain wasn't sending the proper signals to his muscles and so he continued to lie there, defeated.

Time passed slowly, and though he wasn't certain exactly how long it had been, it felt like an eternity. To him, he could have been stuck within his own body for decades and he still wouldn't have been able to differentiate the difference from how long it actually had been. Nonetheless, on one day which felt no different from any other, he felt his big toe twitch so slightly he could barely perceive the movement.

Over the course of the next few hours, though to him it felt like days, he slowly regained his ability to move his appendages one by one. Eventually, he was able to activate his facial muscles which meant the moment he had been waiting for had arrived. With determination and reliance, the lost boy peeled his eyes open, finally regaining his ability to see the world around him.

He was disappointed to find his vision was blurred and unfocused. His eyes had not been used in so long and they would require time to relearn how to focus and adjust. He waited impatiently for his eyes to focus, while stiffly forcing his body into a seated position. His body was frail and weak and even his clothing felt cumbersome on his thin form. He blinked a few times as his eyes regained their focus.

The boy lounged back slightly, placing his palms behind him and feeling the soft, mossy earth beneath his fingers. He examined his surroundings deliberately, trying to take everything in while hopeful something might look familiar. It appeared he was positioned within a clearing inside of a forest. He saw trees of all shapes and sizes while easily catching notes of cedar and oak as he took in the scent of the air. He inhaled deeply and noted the enticing smells of damp earth, wildflowers, and fallen leaves.

Streaks of sunlight invaded his earthly haven as the rays shot past the scattered branches above the clearing. A twig snapped to his left, startling him. His eyes darted to the source of the disturbance while his head slowly, painfully tried to keep up. He was just able to make out the retreating form of a sika deer, clearly frightened by his unexpected presence.

Oh god. There is nothing familiar about any of this. Where the heck am I? How did I even get here? And for the love of god, why do I feel like I was run over by a truck?

The boy peered up to the sky once more. With glassy eyes he watched the waning sun and the slowly creeping shadows of the forest. Realizing it must be getting late and taking into account the poor state of his body, he opted to stay put and rest until morning.

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As the confused teen drifted into a deep slumber, the dark recesses of his mind awoke, invading his dreams with unrelenting intensity…

Fleeting images and clips raced through his mind, depicting events that felt so foreign yet also familiar. He saw a young boy dressed in little green shorts, a green jacket, and green boots. He had sun kissed skin and chocolate brown eyes. The spikey black hair atop his head proudly showed off his green highlights. He held a fishing rod while excitedly looking on at his catch. The creature was massive! Before him was an enormous blue and green fish, writhing on solid ground waiting for its impending death. The beast had sharp teeth and its dorsal and caudal fins were a deep purple. What was most unusual, however was its eight legs which were comparable to that of a shrimp. Standing close by was a young woman with short orange hair. Her pretty face was marred with concern.

Suddenly, the green clad boy was running. There was no end in sight as he continued to run with no hint of fatigue nor concern for his unexpected journey. There was another boy running alongside him, he appeared to be about the same age. His hair was ghostly white, to match his pale complexion. His eyes, a piercing blue and full of mischief, appeared joyous as he raced against his friend.

The next image caught him by surprise. The boy was in the prone position, seemingly unable to move. Above him stood a man with crimson red hair. His pale face was marked with a pink star under his right eye and a teal tear under his left. He was dressed peculiarly, in a strange white and pink outfit with purple suits across his chest. This man who felt so familiar, was terrifying. His aura radiated malicious intent, while his golden eyes and smug smirk screamed danger.

During his vivid dream he saw many more images flash by, nothing more than simple moments but with hidden meaning that he couldn't quite grasp. As the cool skin on his face rapidly began to warm, he slowly opened his eyes vaguely recalling the last image. It was of the boy and another man perched atop an enormous tree branch, lazily gazing into the evening's twilight sky.

The boy stretched, releasing a noisy yawn as he blinked under the bright sun's warm rays. He sat up noting how his body no longer hurt. It was as if the suffocating strain on his body had lifted without so much as a lingering trace of its previous hold it held over him. He quickly popped up onto his feet, relieved to find his buoyant body complying quickly.

He swiftly scanned his surroundings, fascinated by all the details his now sharp vision could process. The morning dew glistened amongst its green backdrop, entirely coating every leaf and blade of grass. He felt his clothing damply clinging to his body while his backside was adorned with bits of moss and dirt from the earth. He slowly brushed himself off while continuing to take in the serene environment around him.

To his right he could faintly hear the quiet trickle of a nearby stream filling him with the urgent desire to placate his parched tongue. He followed the sound, amazed at how quickly, yet gracefully his feet traversed the soft ground. Soon, the stream came into view and he eagerly approached it imagining the cool rush of water that was about to greet his craving mouth. He knelt down and gently cupped a small pool of the cool water and eagerly brought it to his dry lips.

OH… MY…. GOD! I feel like I haven't drunk in days. How long was I lying there anyway? Obviously longer then I should have been. Hmm… I probably smell awful. Better take advantage of this while I can.

The boy began to remove his shirt, finally noticing his apparel for the first time. His eyes were met with green. Green shorts, green top, green boots all covered his small body. His eyes widened as he vaguely recalled the boy from his dreams. His curiosity overwhelmed him and he hesitantly leaned over the stream of water once more, taking in his reflection. He gasped, immediately recognizing the astonished face peering back at him.