I promise you guys, things will ease up when this chapter is over. The next chapter will slowly lead to the first DLC!

(Chapter Twelve: Dream of Dreams)

Zephyr placed his head back on and clapped his hands, he saw Julia lean to the side, that was his queue to come down. "Honestly, Little Diamond, after all this time and you still can't keep with yourself." Zephyr punched her, Julia was pushed back but she held her fists up. She noticed she had accidentally left her bat back on the ship when Melody toppled her over. "What were you doing all this time?"

Zephyr came and attempted to jab at her again, but Julia blocked with her arms. She leaned to the side and quickly took a swing at him, the Jester dodged. However, with the spin Julia had done to try and recover, she swung around lashed Zephyr's chest with her strings, ripping his clothing.

He cried out in shock, "Strings! Yes, Zephyr had forgotten you could use strings!" He growled, looking at her "you do not deserve the master's gift! How dare you use this kind of magic against us!"

As he was talking, Julia came in for a punch, knocking Zephyr down this time. The girl was about to lash out at him again while he was down, but he caught the strings and held on tightly to them. Julia roared at him, but he noticed that the child wasn't herself. He used this to his advantage.

"You're broken! Broke, broke!" He laughed at this, snapping her strings that weren't as strong as MoonJumper's "Just like the rest of us, just like we!" Zephyr got up punching her again, and again, and again "Do you understand? The pain? The suffering? No, you're too naive!" He kicked her down, and looked at her "Just because you've bested the master, doesn't mean you're indestructible!" There was a moment of silence as he watched her try and get up.

"Why the master chose you, we cannot say." He looked down at the weaker human, yes, just as weak "but surely, it was a mistake." He slammed his foot on her keeping her down, charging up another attack...

Julia was beating, bloodied, she looked up with one eye as the patch covered the other. How could a stuffed man beat her so terribly, why wasn't she ever strong enough to fight him back? Even with all this magic with her, she still can't fight back!

The tears didn't stop flowing from her face, One of her friends was incapacitated because she left him. She couldn't even avenge him for crying out loud!

Why?

Just why?

A shadow loomed over the two, Julia did her best to look up and she saw the crescent shape of a familiar head. Zephyr froze as he felt a menacing, strong aura from behind him. He turned around and faced MoonJumper's angry, fuming expression. Zephyr screamed out, backing away so Julia could see the full picture.

MoonJumper hated Zephyr, he hated this certain regret of a minion. Not only did he disobeyed orders in staying in his dreamscape, but he yet again finds him tormenting the person he holds dear.

"Do not. Lay. A single. hand more. On my daughter." He didn't yell, he didn't need to, Zephyr knew how strong he was, though he was unaware of MoonJumper's weakened state. However, he had finally regained enough, not very much, energy to at least take care of said regret.

"M-Master MoonJumper! Wha- what a pleasant- surprise!" Zephyr stuttered out, just nearly able to control the want to get out of there. "You- you are okay! Zephyr is pleased to see this!" He took a step back.

Julia sat up slightly with her arm, her head throbbed from the pain she felt. She watched just how scared Zephyr was of Moon, this was just like many years ago when she first met Zephyr.

Except for this time, she's going to whiteness something she'd never seen before.

MoonJumper unfurled a few strings from his hand, a look of pure malice towards the jester. In a blink of an eye, crimson red strings wrapped around every limb on Zephyr; Arms, Legs, Neck. Even his torsos to prevent him from twisting.

"It was about damn time I put an end to this," MoonJumper spoke. He was tired of Zephyr always trying to cause havoc. He doesn't need this anymore.

"M..Master..?" Zephyr squeaked out, and if it was just trick, Julia could have sworn she saw a.. tear.. coming from the jester as every piece of him fell apart with a snap. He was in so many pieces he couldn't pull himself together.

The jester was finally incapacitated.

"Julia!" Once MoonJumper turned away from the pile of limbs, he saw just how bad Julia had been beaten. "Julia, my sweet dear! I'm so sorry!" He rushed to gently hold her face. He inspected the damage, and immediately declared that she was going to need medical attention; How many health pons reside in the forest?

At that moment, as her father fretted over her, all she could say was:

"I'm sorry... I wasn't... strong enough.." the tears came again, she gripped into he sleeves. The pain in her eyes broke MoonJumper, his face twisted into remorse. He did this to her, he messed up this sweet innocent child. Even now she blames herself for not being able.

MoonJumper held onto her, "Don't say that.." he started to cry as well "do not apologize, I am the one who should.." he held on to her and didn't let go. He couldn't, he wouldn't, "I am sorry that this has happened, I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep you safe.." he kissed her forehead, the only thing left slightly untouched "you are more than enough, and I'll always love you."

Melody, Bonnie, and Snatcher had returned at the end of everything. The hatted child was carrying Julia's bat as they noticed the area. Piles of body parts, a halved Gabriele, MoonJumper holding onto a beaten Julia while both were crying.

"What the hell happened!?" Was all Snatcher could say.

Zephyr's remains were locked in a chest, magical chains strapped it down to prevent anyone or anything from opening it. As long as no one attempts to put him back together, he won't get back up.

Julia was hunched in on herself, head in her legs and wrapped around with a rather warm blanket curtesy of Melody. She was wrapped in Snatcher's chair as Bonnie and Melody stood on each side of the armrests and patted her head. Gabriele was leaning against a wall, patched back together, but he was still limp and unresponsive.

MoonJumper had checked what exactly Zephyr did to him, and it seemed he was in a state of shock with a little bit of illusion paralysis. In short, He's having a terrible dream. Nothing much they could do about it right now.

"Why weren't you with her!?" Moon shouted at his other half, an annoyed Snatcher glared back. "You said you'd be with Julia! I may not be the best father, but you let her go off alone!"

"Hey! I said I'd take her to Mafia Town, and I did!" He folded his arms "and in my defense, I got distracted." Was Snatcher's reply.

The two kept fighting, the yelling, it was too much for Julia. It was just like back then, the girl thought she had escaped the arguments, but it seems like she was always the start of them.

Bonnie and Melody had tilted down, thinking they heard Julia say something, and they did. You could hear faint, 'please, stop fighting.' And mumbles about being sorry. The two children looked at each other, worried. Melody knew Julia's story, so she tried to call the two off.

However, her voice was drowned out by the adult ghosts. Bonnie huffed and yelled out "Hey! Can you guys like, Stop?!" She had the two's attention and the room grew quiet. A soft chanting of 'sorry' over and over again could be heard from Julia now.

Kero and a couple of more minions came in at the time, rushing with all the heart pons they could find around the forest and the swamp. It was slow but effective. "Mama! Don't worry! You're gonna be okay!" Kero said, giving her a sad look. Julia slightly looked up at him, she held out her hand to hold his. She stayed like that for a while after finally retreating into the blanket again. Kero, with a determined look, huddled out of the tree with the other Minions in tow.

"Julia, I don't mean to upset you with our yelling.." MoonJumper cracked open a pon and held it to her, it was immediately absorbed. "We'll be quiet now.."

Julia had thought coming back here would have made her feel better, for while it did, but there will always be trouble. With a good side, there's always bad. She should know this. Life wasn't always perfect, you can't just expect situations like these to disappear.

"Hey.. uh... Kiddo.." Snatcher tried getting her attention, but Julia did even move "you know.. you can stake your claim somewhere and live here now.. if you want.." he scratched the back of his head. God, looking at her was depressing. He hated it. "Or I could pick a place if you want-.."

Still no word from the girl. Everyone was starting to worry, but Melody soon found out that it was just because Julia had fallen asleep. She had grown tired of crying and just nodded off.

"We should let her fully rest now.." MoonJumper said, looking at everyone "I'm honestly not too far behind... I wouldn't mind resting a bit."

"You were trapped in ice for four years, I'm not surprised.." Snatcher said back to him, "come on, kiddos. Let's let them rest."

Melody and Bonnie hopped off the chair, leaving MoonJumper to lift Julia and lay her on him in a hug. The two girls smiled as they walked off and out of the tree, probably back to the ship, or the little ghost village down the road.

For the first in forever, the rain had graced the Subcon forest. Moon looked out, remembering a time where Julia was scared of the lightning and thunder, how he stayed by her side till they both feel into slumber. MoonJumper never thought he'd get to sing to her again.

That soft melody without a name, always made her happy.

It was dark. Her dreamscape was always dark, but it started getting lighter with time. She didn't mind anymore. She just accepted the fact that this was her world. Julia hummed to herself as she wondered, but was stopped by a sudden wall.

The girl had run headfirst into an invisible wall, Julia figured this out after feeling around for a moment. Until her hand slid through an opening. The girl tilted her head in wonder, she had never seen this before...

Taking a step-through, the environment changed drastically. There were a night sky and a backdrop of burning buildings, Julia gasped as she watches in fear. A man was shouting, trying to figure out how to enter the surrounded area the was lit ablaze.

"Amalia!" He shouted, frantically trying to grab his courage to run through.

But he couldn't.

His voice was familiar, but his face was something Julia had never seen. However, with another look, she could confirm the clothing the man wore. It was Gabriele! The girl ran to him, a smile on her face.

"Gabriele!" Julia called out to him, making the man turn around. He had lightly tanned skin and black curly hair. His eyes were hazel and he sported a small chin goatee.

Was this.. what he looked like..?

"Who are you! What do you want?!" He panicked, looking at the girl dressed in a suit. It was odd seeing women wearing pants in this time frame.

"G..Gabriele it's me! Julia!" She was confused by the way Gabriele was asking, he knew her! Why was he saying this? She went to go grab his hand, but he slapped her away.

Julia was hurt by this, as Gabriele turned back around and attempt to go through the fire, but he pulled back "I have to get in there, Amalia is sick she needs my help!"

He thinks this is all real...

"Gabriele! None of this is really happening!" She tried to talk to him "it's just a dream!"

He didn't listen to her as the doctor jumped through finally. Julia walked in after him, she knew the fire wouldn't hurt her. When she entered, the scene changed and Gabriele was back to how Julia knew him as. The doctor was holding onto a beautiful brunette who looked sickly and weak. Her dress was singed and she held up a shaken hand to Gabriele's cheek.

"Amalia lets go, we can get out of here!" Julia could hear his voice cracking "and when we do, you'll get better.."

"Gabriele.. shes not real.." Julia quietly said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He finally seemed to snap out of it, looking up at her then back down. The realization was finally coming back to him, but he desperately kept holding onto the girl in his arms. He kept holding her until she vanished from him, the fire subsided, and if the doctor could cry. He would be.

Julia knelt next to him, unsure of what to say. She wanted to try and hug him, but Gabriele stood up suddenly with clenched fists. Julia looked up concerned and confused.

The doctor was angry, but he wasn't sure what he was angry at. The only person that was around him was Julia and he just... aimed it at her "I was slowly starting to forget about all of this! I was fine running away from this very moment!" He pointed at Julia "at of all the people I've met during my travels.. why was it that you remind me so much of her!"

Deep down he knew he could never forget Amalia, that girl he loved, the one who he promised to marry and have a wonderful life with. He could never forget the torment the fires had caused, smelling rotted diseased flesh burning as he tried to help everyone he could. He never once even thought something would hit this hard as it did.

"I was doing fine before I met you!" He snapped, making Julia move back from the hurt.

The girl was too tired to cry anymore. But this.. hurt. Why did it hurt so much? Was it because he declared he was a friend, and suddenly took a one-eighty? Or was it something else?

Was it the fact every time he looks at Julia, Gabriel didn't see.. her? But another instead?

Julia held a face, her hurt was clearly showing as Gabriele finally grabbed ahold of what he just said.

"Wait.. no- Julia.." He tried to take back his tantrum, but Julia stepped back again.

"A long time ago, you told me to move on." Julia whispered, looking at him with a serious face "maybe.. maybe I'm not the one who needs to move." She turned away, "but since you asked, I'll gladly leave you be."

The girl vanished as Gabriele tried to run after her. Leaving him alone in his world. He messed up.

Here we have it, drama, hurt, stuff that's going to need to be worked on with time. I'm taking a leap of faith when writing these kinds of situations and I hope I don't royally mess them up. I have good plots I swear! It's just how I attempt to execute it is the problem. Wish me some luck guys...