Holy Moly an update! I am really sorry that y'all had to wait for so long. Hyperfixations goes hard on my mind. While that really isn't an excuse, it's a reason for the long pause. Thank you for your patients!

"Ok little batty, I need you to stay in here!"

"Chirr…"

"I know it's small but I promise you I'll make it better! I'll get you blankets and cushions and toys!"

"Cheep cheep… Okay…"

"Yay! Wait here!"

Golden eyes watched the little pi'llo dashing out of the room. The door closed and then there was silence. Muzzling the blanket on the floor, he waited patiently for his friend.

[Anstama]

With a screech, Anstama cursed to himself. He can feel the presence of a certain brotherly pair plus a group of Pi'illos growing. Somehow, they are tracking him down! Grinding his teeth together, the Dreamy Bat weighed his options. On one hand he could continue to run, hoping that eventually the group will grow tired then stop the pursuit. As much as he liked to avoid everyone, Antasma frowned at the glaring problem of this choice. They will just rest and continue, leading to an endless catch within the Dream World. He didn't want to be hunted forever! The very thought is very undignifying, being chased and hiding like a prey animal…

However the other option made his stomach roll, confronting the group. Sure he had the power to put up a great battle, he is in his element, and powered up by the Dream Stone! He can render the brothers asunder then devour the Pi'llos once and for all! Yet… He did not want to… Anstama didn't want to hurt them in any form, physically or mentally. He had tormented them for so long. The thought of them getting hurt brought pain to his newly compassioned heart…. Yet he needs to make a choice Now. Continue to run or engage in a fight.

Antsama grunted, slowly down then glanced over his shoulder at the fast approaching presence. The King made up his mind and decided that he'll face them, battle them even. The King of Bats can and will ignore the pain in his chest, he will be able to defeat those brothers and the prince! He does not have to kill them per say, just beat them up a little. At least, that's what Antsama told himself. With a snarl, the King turned fully to face the oncoming group, his body shimmering then collapsing into a mist. Dark purple clouds swirled together, expanding as Antasama changed forms. Rarely does he need to, usually relying on trickery and bad dreams to do the job, transforming is a costly thing. However, right now, Antsama needed to be in his battle form. He needs to fight! He needs… He hopes… he could just, scare them away. Please…

Mario was the first thing he saw once his transformation was finished. Golden eyes narrowed at the man in red, teeth bared in fury. In his battle form, Antasma towered over the human. He stared down the human, secretly hoping to intimidate him. Alas this human is fearless, responding by forming a battle stance.

"Antasma!" Came a shout. Dreambert floated next to his companion. "Cease your running and face us! It's time to pay for all the suffering you caused!"

This human… That Pi'llo… These fragile beings have caused so much trouble! If they just stayed out of the way, Antsama could have fulfilled his goals! Rage overtook his guilt for a moment, allowing Antsama to shriek out in fury, rattling the clouds surrounding them. Mario and the Pi'llos flinched at the sound, some even clasped their hands to their ears.

[Noone's Pov]

Flinching Dreambert clapped his hands over his ears. His bravado faltered, fear flashing in his eyes. For a moment, the prince was back in time, facing the mutated Dreamy Bat first turned into the monster he is now. Then he blinked, back in the present. Mario was the first to recover, launching himself forward with his hammer raised. The green aura flaring to live , Luigi sending his strength to aid in his brother's battle. Leaping into the air, Mario lifted up his hammer ready to strike down onto Antasma's head.

"Charge!" Commanded Dreambert, his own body pulsing with magic. While he's not as physically strong as the brothers, his talent in Dream manipulation is next to none. Well apart from Antasma…

Dark purple magic flared in his hands, Antasma lashed out with all of his might. As soon as his claws clashed with Mario's hammer, a great BANG rang through the Dreamy World, shaking it. The force pushed everyone apart. Both Mario and Antasma were flung back, laying on their sides. The pi'llos were tossed about in the air, all yelping in surprise. Antasma was the first to recover, leaping up and began to charge up another attack. Purple spark flashed across his body then the King of Bats exploded into a cloud of smoke. Clumps of smoke formed into mini versions of his Bat Form. Each bat launched itself at the nearest person, attacking Mario and the pi'llos. While the human easily dodged each attack, the pi'llos had some trouble. Each bat nipped and tackled everyone in sight. The pi'llos only had their magic to protect them, since there was no time in creating dream armor. Each one hastily made a shield, blocking any more bites from the bats. The pi'llos pushed back against the bat hoard, slashing out with beams of magic. What seemed like forever, the bats abandoned their furious attacks and began to cluster together. In a flash of purple mist, Antasma returned to form. He grimaced at the sigh of everyone's newly formed wounds, taking no pleasure in their pain.

In the moment of calm, Mario launched forward as his body glowed green. In a burst of green light, Luigi popped into the dreamy world in a mass clone army. They surrounded Antasma who screeched out in confusion. A single Luigi plopped down in front of Mario, hammer out and he began to spin. He spun so fast, Luigi began a blurr. Mario, with his own hammer, slammed it across Luigi and sent him flying towards Antasma. Thanks to his momentum, Luigi's hammer crashed against Antasma's side, causing pain to shoot across his body. Stumbling Antasma shrieked in pain, holding his side. However he didn't have time to recover. Thanks to the wall of clones, Luigi bounced back and hurdled towards Antasma. This time the hammer slammed into Antasma's hip, causing the beast to fall to his side. Again and again did Mario knocked Luigi into Antasma, driving a mighty blow to the King. Pain shot across his body yet he had no time to recover and counter the attack. After the sixth strike, the wall of Luigi surged together into a huge tower. Antasma looked up in time to watch the pillar tumble down and onto himself. For a moment, Antasma only knew white hot pain. He never knew pain like this before. Such powerful and raw magic like this could only be summoned by the most protective and mighty of hearts. Finally Antasma returned to the dreamy plain, his body aching and his breathing labored. Despite the pain, this battle was far from over. The king quickly summoned an Antasmunchie, grabbing the orb as soon as it appeared and shoving it into his mouth. Pure dream energy ran down his throat and soothed his bruises. So long as he can summon these delightful treats, Antasma could fight forever! However, that idea soured the sweet taste of dreams.

[Antasma]

As the battle raged on, the King of Bats suffered. With every cry of pain and each look of fear felt like a stab to his chest. So much pain is caused by him and only him. All of this is his fault, their cuts, the bite wounds, each bruise were all created by him. Antasama's rage began to dwindle, replaced with guilt. This fight is not worth it. Antasma just wanted to be left alone in this realm… Alone with his thoughts and regrets. He would have stayed in his self imposed prison until there were no more dreams left. Only then Antasma would willingly disappear alongside the last dreamer… Yet here he was, fighting for his life. All because he got greedy, all because he wanted power. Long long ago he tasted true power in the form of nightmares. A delicious addiction power. Power to control, to rule! Antasma remembers eating and eating nightmare after nightmare. He became drunk on ambition and climbed high to reach his goals. Oh how he fell long and hard. Had he simply stayed in his comfortable cage like he was told too. Maybe, just maybe he could have lived a happy humble life?

Emotion crashed into his mind, causing his whole body to tremble. He didn't want this… Blast Peach and her wish! Blast his new found compassionate heart. Above all else, Antasma cursed at himself. The guilt, the resentment, the regret swirled in his mind and Antasma felt sick. He wanted this to stop! Please stop this pain! Closing his eyes, Antasma felt himself opening his mouth.

"I'm sorry!" Bleated Antasma, the words tumbling out of his maw. He couldn't stop himself, and in a strange way, he didn't want to.

[Dreambert]

As soon as the words were spoken everything froze, everyone stopped in their tracks. Mario glanced over the tall body of Antasma, eyes narrow and his thoughts running. Luidi's aura swirled protectively over his brother yet made no attempt in forming Luiginary Attacks. The human risked looking over his shoulder at the prince.

"Wh… What did you say?" Asked Dreambert, his eyes hard and filled with disbelief. The prince could not believe him, he didn't Want to believe him!

"I'm… Chirrr… Sorry…" Repeated the King of Bat, head lowered and a tremor in his voice. He wasn't sure what was compelling him, only that it felt right. "F-for everything."

Dreambert could see his whole frame shaking, especially his hands. Turning his head, the prince studied the mutated Dreamy Bat. This has to be a new trick of his! To lower everyone's guard for an easy attack chance. After all that he did, there is no mercy in that pitch black heart of his! Antasma lacks guilt, he lacks mercy, he lacks compassion…! Compassion…The memory of Princess Peach's wish crashed into his mind, her voice echoing.

"I wish you have compassion!"

Suddenly, everything made sense. His behavior, his lack of aggression, his activity or lack thereof. With this revelation in mind, Dreambert slowly looked over Antasma. While Dreambert milled over his words, licking his dried out lips. Antasma had grabbed his tie and begun to twisted in anxiestly. Only then did Dreambert only then did he notice a new detail on his body. Behind his tie, there is a white spot on Antasma's chest. It was easy to miss it in the chaos, everyone was focused on his claws or his face rather than his chest. The marking glittered like an opal, reflecting different color lights. The pattern looked very similar to the Dream Stone. Both a spiritual and physical mark of Peach's wish.

Pi'llo guards glanced over to their prince, all shifting in anxiety and awaiting orders. Mario's expression was unreadable to Dreambert, eyes hard and fixed onto Antasma. The human watched every movement, searching for deception and ready for any attacks. The green aura dimmed slightly and a whisper can just be heard. Mario hummed and mumbled something back to his brother in that strange lagangue of theirs. Antasma had not moved since his declaration, head lowered and body hunched over. The king's breathing was labored and there were… tears? yes tears in his golden eyes. The king looked so tired. This is real. Then the prince realized everyone was waiting for his call and a great weight settled onto his shoulders. He could choose to declare Antasma is lying and continue the battle or accept his words and let him live. Somehow, he didn't like these options…

However, The prince needs to make his choice. Spare him or slay him.