Nightmare Zone

"Granny!" called Gallows, "I've got an idea! We're invited to Beatrice's Dream Castle, and I think I know how to get into that dimension! Finally, I've thought of something that'll make you realize I'm not as stupid as you think I am!" He was quite giddy, thinking of how the team could arrive at the place of the fight all the way back to Baskar. Virginia and Jet were quite amazed, they never thought he would think like that in his life. This was worth it, to hear what he'd come up with. So they gathered in the Caradine residence.

"It's so simple, I'll channel the energy of the dimensions from a Guardian Shrine, and use it with the key she gave us to enter her dream world. So, how about that one, Granny?" asked Gallows. Halle looked at him for a second, then bopped him on the head with her cane. Gallows rubbed the place where she'd hit him, and complained, "Ouch, what'd you do that one for Granny? I didn't say anything stupid this time."

Halle glared at her incompetent grandson. "No, but you said something blatantly obvious. But I do not think you should be the one to transport the team, you'll be left behind if you do that. Shane! You and I will follow them and control the dimensions. We're going to the Sacrificial Altar, there's a shrine on the roof that's used for such ceremonies." With that, the six of them walked out of the town, heading for Lombardia.

. . .

When they arrived, they went to the room on the roof of the shrine. There, Shane produced one of the legendary Exodus Orbs for the team, just in case of an emergency. Then, Halle began to chant in order to send them into the dream dimension. Shane kept a lifeline ready, so he could reel them in the second they finished their business. White light was all the four could see for some time, until a castle took shape right in front of them. It certainly looked grand, just the way Beatrice had made her Dream Castle sound.

"Welcome," Beatrice stated, "To my Nightmare Castle. Here, you will battle against not only me, but a plethora of my minions. First, the test. Can you stand up to the might of the Disasters of the Six Elements, and the Disaster of Luck? If you can solve the puzzles, you can defeat them. But if not, you will be stranded in this dimension for all eternity." Her wicked laugh began to echo throughout the whole world.

"Well, I guess we shouldn't keep her waiting, let's go. The future of Filgaia depends on our victory. So we should look for these Disasters, and get rid of them quickly. Then, we'll deal with Beatrice. This is surely a party to her, watching us have to fight all this time," Virginia told the others, her ARMs held out.

They went inside. In a room not to far down the line, they saw puzzles that locked many hidden doors. Upon solving each, and the ones behind the doors, they were met with one of the Disasters of the Elements. Fire was the first they stumbled onto, followed by Water, Wind, Earth, Dark, and Light. When they were all dead, Virginia realized they were out of doors to try. Except for the one that was already open, the one she believed would lead them strait to Beatrice. This Luck Disaster must be guarding its master.

And she was right. For not long after going through the open door, they ran into Luck. He was a lot tougher than the others, for when he was hurt, he transformed into Tiamatt, a Dragon monster. But they did have some good fortune, for by defeating the other Elements, they were unable to fuse with Tiamatt as well. So the Demon was much weaker than it could have been. When it was dead, the four continued onwards.

. . .

Soon, they found a door with a keyhole on it. Virginia inserted the Dream Key, and it opened. Just as they expected, Beatrice was sitting inside the room they'd just entered. She smiled, and said, "I see you defeated the Disasters. Well done, I knew you could do it. But it was all a cleaver distraction, just to buy myself some more time. For I must harness lots of energy to create my planet. The Surge of Gaia was my first choice, but now that the boy was informed of my true intentions, I am unable to use it. So how about blowing up Nightmare Castle. And you will all be inside. Then, it's off to the Ark of Destiny, where I have hidden Yggdrasil's generator. That fool Lamium, he has outlived his usefulness as well. I might as well give him a reward for all his help, since I am the Saint he so believes in. But first, you all will die now."

She morphed into her Demon form, now as tall as the four humans. Because they were in her own dimension, she could hurt them. But they could also hurt her. Jet and Virginia started the battle by flying up into the air, using the Airget-Beam. Then, Gallows attacked with his Petrify spell, while Clive just shot so he could power up his Gatling. Beatrice cast Dark Matter, but the Dark Guards everyone had on kept them from being hurt. Virginia flew down closer to the Demon, letting her wing graze against Beatrice's cheek.

The Power of Filgaia contained in her wings began to take effect, Beatrice felt a small jolt of pain in her touch. She looked towards the girl, a little panicked. "Get that wretched thing away from me! You freak of nature, you don't even touch me. Feel my fury, Nightmare!" Her sleep spell was also blocked by guards.

"You will never get away with this," Virginia began, "Dist Dims, Sacred Staff..." But she didn't get to finish her chant to call the Airget-Canon. For just then, Beatrice began to fade out, teleporting into the real world by use of her vessel, Lamium. Before she went, however, she told them of her little surprise.

"Nightmare Castle is about to blow up. Do you seriously think you can get out in time? I've only given you ten seconds, ten more seconds until you die. But don't despair, you will be able to see your father and mother soon, little freak. The countdown begins now," Beatrice told them. Just then, the sound of a clock, and stereotypical time bomb sound, was heard throughout the castle. Virginia panicked, but then remembered Shane's gift. Using the Exodus Orb, they escaped, just as the Nighmare Castle blew up.

. . .

On the ground was Halle and Shane, both barely conscious, and neither remembering exactly what they were doing there. Clive deduced that they'd both lost some of their memory, perhaps a result of what Beatrice had done to her castle. Gallows was mad, no one hurt his little brother if he had any say in it. And his grandmother too, no matter how much he tried to hide the fact that he cared about the old bat woman.

Virginia stated, "We must go to the Ark of Destiny right away. If Beatrice continues with her plans, all of Filgaia will lose the most important thing in the world. Besides, innocent lives are in danger with her presence in that place, there's a lot of people working there. Let's get on Lombardia right away and go."

With that, they took to their Dragon and took to the skies. The team flew all the way to the Ark of Destiny, landing not too far away. After getting off, they ran inside, ready to fight to save their world.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Yes, I'm lazy. But I'd probably bore everyone to tears if I wrote out all six Disasters and then the fight with Disaster Luck/Tiamatt. So it was better for all our sanityOnly a little longer. This is like the second longest story I've ever written. I don't want to know what I'll do when I finally write those Slayers Parody Fics. The Grandia one will be loooooooooooooong, the Vandal Hearts one will be semi long.