Whooooa Nelly, I did not mean to just this fic like a hot potato. Hope y'all can forgive me!
Right… Let's jump into this!
'... But sir, He's very little! Momma said we should try and understand all the creatures of our land before we judge them!'
'Perhaps you are right, sire. Tis but a small bat, I do not think it'll cause much harm.'
'Oooh! Can I keep him! I promise to take good care of him and make sure he won't eat more nightmares!'
'Of course little prince, you may have it. Just make sure he never leaves this cage.'
'Yay! I won't!'
Pastel clouds swirled carelessly around him, forever in constant motion. For anyone else, this world would be a wonder to behold, nothing stayed the same for long. No shape, no color, not even the scent of place stayed longer than a moment then it changed into something brand new. An endless cycle of possibilities. However... to the King of Nightmares, the Dream World is his prison.
CRUNCH! Munch, munch…
Antasma's tail coiled around a cloudy pillar. He hung upside down and ignored how it shifted forms. The Dream World is always in a state of constant change and yet his attitude stayed the same… Indifferent. Same goes for this pillar like structure, it is simply something for him to anchor to. Antasma's half closed eyes drifted from one cloud to the next, bored. It all looks the same to him, upside down or right side up. When you spend a thousand years in this realm, the world loses its charm and everything will start to look the same. He let out a sigh, adjusting his grip on the pillar. The dreamy bat brought a deep purple orb close to his mouth then...
CRUNCH! Munch, munch…
Antasma chewed thoughtfully on his current meal, an Antasmunchie. Usually he feeds on the dreams of other living beings, sapping its energy and taking it for himself. However, there was a simple problem that prevented him from his usual feedings. The princess's delightful wish... Now he is unable to stomach the idea of another feasting on the dreams of living beings. The King of Bat paused his chewing to close his eyes, listening to the sweet nothing of the dream realm. Swallowing, Antasma opened his eyes and pulled out another orb.
CRUNCH! Munch, munch…
Luckily for him, these munchies are rather easy to make and Antasma could hoard them in his cloak. While they are not as delicious as dreams, he can live on these morsels for centuries. After all, there is plenty of residual dream energy floating on the surface of the Dreamy relm. Food is aplenty here, he need not invade anyone's mind. But if he could… He knows a few creatures he would just LOVE to invade.
CRUNCH! …?
Suddenly, Antasma stopped eating, holding the partially eaten orb in his claws. Twisting his hanging body around, the King of Bats looked around the brightly lit world. For a heart beat, Antasma thought he heard something. It sounded like a soft breeze, gently making its presence known before disappearing. The King of Nightmares knew that sound... Someone went into a deep sleep and their mind fell into dreams.
For a brief moment, Antasma was tempted to investigate the dream. Afterall, it should be mid day! The only people that could dream this deeply would be young children or elders, people who spend their energy fast and need a constant rechange. Lifting his whole body, Antasma looked around to see where the sound came from. His ears twitched and moved ever so slightly. A frown started to form as the mutated dreamy bat listened to the nearly silent world. This was no ordinary dream…
'No… They couldn't have…'
Antasma let out a predatory hiss of displeasure, dropping his munchies and freeing himself from the pillar. But of course He should have been looking for him! How foolish of him to think He would let him be free in the Dreamy world after his second attempt to capture the island. With a shriek of frustration, Antasma's body melted into smoke, Swirling and twisting, his mass shrank down then solidified into a bat. Once Antsama regained his bearings, he flew off deeper into the Dreamy World.
He rather flee like a scared pup than face all the people he has wronged. Mario, Luigi, the Pi'llos... Dreambert… Oh, especially Dreambert…
... His heart arched in his chest as he flew…
"This Way!" Dreambert hollered, his dreamy form zipping around the swirling pastel clouds. Close behind him where the two human brothers and his small army of guards. He can feel his heart beating against his chest. Thanks to the glasses he wore, Prince Dreambert kept his eyes glued on the darkened path made by his greatest enemy. It was now or never to finally defeat the mutated dreamy bat before he caused anymore harm! He had failed his people, his kingdom once, he will not lose again!
The prince reviewed his plan of attack over and over in his head, trying to find some comfort. Everything is at stake here, his kingdom, his island, perhaps even the world! He inwardly berates himself for not taking Antasma seriously as he should have. Honestly what was he thinking to allow Antasma to be alone for such a long period?! He should have formed a party much sooner! Antasma is a force to be taken seriously. With the ability to hop from one dreamer's mind to the next and feast on the rich energy dreams provide. That bat could fatten himself up and grow more powerful than anything or anyone in the awakened world! Nothing could stand against him. His boundless mercy will be his end one day...
Despite all of his fears and worries, a little voice whispered to Dreambert. It was noteworthy to the prince that the Bat King has been awfully quiet. For three weeks, the prince didn't hear any activity from Antasma. If he was really in a feeding frenzy, he would have been the first to know! And Dreambert knows Antasma! Or... at least knows how he thinks and how dark his mind can be. Antasma isn't one to idle around, no… No, Antasma is a cunning beast with very little patients. Afterall, he had successfully stolen the heavily guarded Nightmare Stone. The Pi'llos back then knew the dangers that stone possesses and took great care to seal it away. Alas… Despite their best efforts, they were in vain…
Dreambert grunted as he shook his head, now is not the time to think about the past. His people need him in the present. The trail has grown… He's nearby…