~Antasma~

"I wish you have compassion!"

For a brief second, time stood still. Everyone was staring at Peach, surprised and a little confused. Antasma seemed the most confused, mouth slightly open and his head tilted to one side. Then, before anyone could question on Peach's sudden outburst, an explosion of color briefly blinded everyone.

The Dream Stone, rapidly changing to every color imaginable, shined like the rising sun. The light collected itself at the very top of the magical stone, forming a small baseball size orb,then it rocketed upwards into the magically blacken sky. All eyes were on the light, shining like a star in a cloudy night sky before it then arced downwards, shooting itself towards the King of Bats.

Antasma only had enough time to screech of surprise before the light hit him squarely in the chest. The impact was rather anticlimactic, being just light there was no force to behold. However, Antasma did staggered backwards, gasping for breath. He dropped Peach to the ground, happening forgotten she was even in his grip.

There was a burning sensation that heated his soul. Antasma desperately clawed at his chest, in a vain hope to rip out the light that fazed through him. It. Hurts! This… HURTS! The King of Bats, let out a cry so loud everyone cringed, and closed his eyes tightly, hunching over. Never in his life as he felt this kind of pain, he could not understand it.

Then the burning sensation started to spread. It travelled up and down his body, seeping into his arms and head. It felt as if someone set him on fire! Antasma silently beg to whoever was listen to please stop this pain!

After what felt like eternity, the fire died down, leaving him cold… There Antasma stood, shaking and breathing hard. Slowly he opened his eyes to squint at the stone floor.

"Erm… What just happened?" Ask Bowser, unsure what to do.

Antasma panted, a whirlwind of emotions swirled in his mind. He felt angry, confused, relief, and… something else… A new emotion he is unsure of. It was the first time he felt this, Antasma didn't know the name of it… Surprised by this sudden new emotion, Antasma straighten a little, his clawed hands still over his chest and his fanged maw hanging open, gulping air greedily.

The first thing that he saw was the princess. Hatred filled his mind and eyes, how dare she! How dare she used the dream stone! After a thousand years of forced slumber and careful planning, how dare she casually use the power to wish!

He let loose a primal snarled and lurched towards her. Peach flinched, a small cry of fear escaped from her throat. Antasma stopped in mid launch, the strange emotion grew until he felt his insides twisted. The nightmare bat clamped his mouth shut and his face twisted in confusion…

'Vhat… Vhat's goin-'

Before he can finish his thoughts, a large fist grabbed Antasma by the back of his cloak and violently yanked back.

'AHCK-' Antasma choked against his cloak and was suddenly thrown back. He was flinged into the air and tumbled a bit before correcting himself. He hissed at the giant Koopa, his former teammate now turned foe.

"I do not know what just happened," Barked Bowser, smoke and steam escaping from his mouth, "but you were going to hurt Peach and that's a good enough reason to clabber you!"

Antasma hissed at Bowser and was about to shoot back a retort when he heard behind him. He whipped around and glared daggers to odd group. He has completely forgotten bout the two meddling human brothers, that annoying star sprite, and above all else, that wretched pi'llo prince. Antasma snarled at the group, rage building in his chest. They were the ones that cause his perfect plan to fall apart like a house of cards.

The brothers responded by changing their tired stance into a combat ready, raising their fist and their eyes filled with determination. The star spirit bared her teeth, matching the King of Bat's glare with her own. The prince changed his stance to combat ready himself, bowing his head a little and stared into Antasma's gleaming eyes. Antasma can see the same determination in his eyes, the same one he held against him for so long, and… something else. Antasma's lips drooped down from a snarl to a small frown.

He never really stopped to give Dreambert a real good look, he was too busy with his plan. The prince looked… tired. Tired and a little scared. Antasma can easily guess why, 1,000 years of neverending nightmares can take a lot out of you. On top of that, the rpince is once more trying to stop him from taking the world for himself. Not once he was able to rest, to recover from such torment, not a single chance to stop and relearn the world around him, not once is he able to just stop to help his people whom he loved with all of his heart, all of his attention and what little strength he possess is on him, Antasm. And That made him feel… made him feel… feel...

Antasma felt that same something in his chest, it twisted and churned, like something was about to break. Rubbing his aching chest, Antasma gritted his teeth then flung his free hand into the air, summoning a dreamy portal. Antasma watched Dreambert face changed to confusion then into shock. When the portal was safe enough to enter, Antasma changed into his flight form and flew into the portal. The King of Bat didn't bother to wait for the prince to say a word nor waited for the brothers to react. He heard Dreambert yell out his name and the rapid footsteps that followed him. Fools they are… by the time they could reach the distance to jump in, the portal will be closing.

With a single thought, the portal collapsed and effectively cutting off the connection from Reality to Dreams… Antasma flew through the dream world, he needs a safe place to rest and think. He allowed his mind to wonder as he flew, not caring where he will go, he just needed to fly into the depths of the Dream World.

So much as happened in those short moments. Standing on the rooftop of the Neo Bowser Castle, ready to fight the Mario Brothers with Bowser at his side… Antasma growled through his teeth when the thought of Bowser, still hurt and angry at the Koopa King. Truly he thought that perhaps they could rule the world together, or the every else for a while.

Then his mind wandered to the Princess, that caused the King of Bats to let out a terrible hiss. Keeping her nearby was a terrible idea, how in the world did he allow himself to be convinced by Bowser to have her there when it would be much easier and safe just to lock her up somewhere. That mistake cost him dearly, and in a way he did not excepted. He sincerely thought she would have fainted from the amount of energy the machine stole from her and yet her will was stronger.

Antasma spat in disgust and rage, he would just love to send her into a night terror and watch her squirm. The mental image brought an evil grin to his lips. To see her pretty little face contorted in fear would be a treat, to ruin those pretty innocent eyes forever. Unfortunately, his brief moment of sadistic pleasure was brought to a stop when a pang in his chest. Antasma groaned a little and slowed down to a stroll, taking deep breaths… This strange feeling, Peach's wish… The Bat King gritted his teeth and shivered. He hated this new feeling. It gave him the desire to simple cry out in distress, bury his face in his clawed hands, and… and…

Antasma almost ran into a wall face first when the realization struck him. This feeling, it was regret. Regret… In his chest, he felt regret for scaring Peach, regret for causing so much hurt to her, and to the Pi'llos. To see the suffering he cause made him to feel grief, all the suffering… He did this…

Antasma morphed into his true form, he collapsed onto his knees and clutched his aching chest. He get it now, her wish… Her terrible, terribly wish. That's the cause! The reason it.. Hurts so much! His body started to shiver as something he never in his wildest thoughts could possibly happen. Hunching over himself, Antasma opened his mouth and wailed.

Antasma, King of Bats, Bringer of Nightmares, Terror of the Night… is crying with regret.