Last time it was revealed that an Incubus was responsible for Layla's condition. Elise Caplin, the smartest witch from Cloud Tower, (Whose sister was also the victim of an incubus) explained that Layla's only hope was for Bloom and the others to go inside Layla's dream and fight the incubus. On with the show!
Chapter 5: Going In
Fifteen minutes after Bloom made her call, Sky, Brandon, Riven, Timmy and Helia had arrived to help. "So let me get this straight," said Sky, "Layla has been targeted by an Incubus, and the only way to get rid of the demon is to enter Layla's dream." "Right in one," said Bloom.
"Why so many?" asked Brandon, "I don't mean to sound scared so something," "Too late," whispered Riven. "Moving right along," said Brandon, "But wouldn't it get crowded in there with all of us going in?" "The more the better," said Elise, "in the dream world, the demons' power is limited only by its imagination. We'll need all the firepower and muscle we can get if we're going to stop it."
"When you said 'we'," said Carmen, "You don't mean to say that you're going in as well, don't you." "That's exactly what I mean," said Elise, her voice filled with conviction, "I couldn't help my sister when an incubus killed her, but I can make a difference by stopping this one."
"In that case," said Carmen, "If you're going, then I'm going as well." "Not so sound spineless here," said Morgan, "But I'd rather stay in a world where the laws of reality are more stable." "No problem," said Carmen, "Someone should stay awake to make sure everything is alright; like an anchor to the real world."
Everything was ready within the hour. Twelve reclining chairs were placed around the still form of Layla. Professor Palanium had given each of our dream travelers a potion that will allow them to enter Layla's dream. "Now remember," said Faragonda as our heroes prepared to take the potion, "even though you'll be in a dream, what happens in a dream can affect the body in the real world. If you die in the dream, you will most assuredly die here."
"Then we'd better not die then," said Bloom, "Everyone ready?" There were eleven nods of yes, some eager, others slightly reluctant. "Okay then," said Bloom as she steadied herself to drink to potion, "Bottoms up!"
"Wait," said Stella, "I'll be right back." "You should have used the bathroom before now!" exclaimed Carmen, but Stella didn't leave to use the bathroom, she returned with a large box of Solarian Chocolates. "One for the road," said Stella as she passed the box around.
"Why not," said Flora, "After all, life is like a box of chocolates." "I've always thought life was like a roll of toilet paper," said Timmy, "It has to end sometime." "Ah," said Riven, "'Crunchy Frog', my favorite." "Any 'Anthrax Ripple'?" asked Helia. "There's that," said Stella, "Also 'Ram's Bladder Cut', Cockroach Cluster' and 'Spring Time Surprise'."
"I've been meaning to try one of those," said Carmen as she placed the candy in her mouth. She winced as if in pain, then smiled in pleasure. "What's the surprise?" asked Bloom. "Free tongue piercing," said Carmen as she stuck out her tongue, which had a fresh bolt stuck through it. "Why would you do that?" asked Bloom. "It's a sex thing," said Morgan as she showed off her pierced tongue. "I'll pass," said Bloom.
"Not that I wouldn't mind gorging myself on free Solarian chocolates," said Brandon, "But we have a dream to enter." "When you're right snookums," said Stella, "You're right. Bottoms up everyone!" "On the count of three then," said Bloom, "1, 2, 3!" With that, everyone drank their potion.
"Oh gross!" exclaimed Musa as she and everyone grimaced in disgust at the taste of the potion. "I've tasted worse," said Helia. "When?" asked Flora. "You don't what to know," answered Helia. A minute went by, then two, and then three with no visible reaction.
"How much longer is this going to take?" whined Stella. "I don't know," said Bloom, "Wait a second, I think I feel something in the back of my…" her voice trailed off as she and the others collapsed into sleep. "I thought you were going to tell them to sit down first before taking the potion," said Professor Wizgiz. "I was," said Professor Griselda rather smugly, "But changed my mind."
DREAM WORLD SEQUENCE
For an undetermined amount of time Bloom's vision was obscured by darkness. Then with a brilliant flash she saw herself in a large candlelit anti-chamber. Large oak doors stood in front of her which, she assumed, led to the ballroom of Layla's dreams. To Bloom's left was a wall-length mirror. Bloom saw herself in a red and orange ballroom dress with matching shoes and jewelry.
"You look absolutely gorgeous!" exclaimed Stella. Bloom saw that Stella was in a pink and gold dress. Musa was dressed in blue and green; Flora in green and orange; Tecna in blue and purple. Carmen was dress in back and orange, while Elise was in blue and red.
"How did we all get like this?" asked Musa as she admired herself in the mirror. "Well we all assumed that we were going to the ballroom of Layla's dreams," said Elise, "So our subconscious minds prepared our appearances for us." "I never knew my inner mind had such great fashion sense," said Carmen.
"You girls are lucky," said Sky, "I mean look at me, I look like a frigging penguin!" "We all do!" said Brandon. Indeed He, Sky, Helia, Timmy and Riven were dressed in matching tuxedoes. "I look like I'm getting married," said Brandon, "Again!" "I look like I'm giving you away!" said Riven. "I think you all look dashing," said Stella.
Just then the big oak doors opened. Bloom and the others saw a huge ballroom filled with dancing couples, though they couldn't make out any faces. Music was playing but nobody could here where it was coming from. "Now what?" asked Musa. "Now," said Bloom, "We find Layla; gentlemen, ladies, let's mingle."
It didn't take Bloom long to find Layla, for she was dancing in the middle of the room with the incubus. The demon had shaped itself to appear as a 6'2" tall male with shoulder length brown hair and hazel eyes.
"There she is!" exclaimed Stella. "Now what?" asked Flora. "We need to convince Layla that her 'perfect' man isn't a man at all," said Elise, "Once the demon's hold on Layla is broken, destroying it should be easy."
As they made their way closer to Layla and the demon, Elise froze in her tracks, a mixed look of shock and rage on her face. "What's wrong Elise?" asked Carmen. "That demon," said Elise, her voice quivering with hate, "That pig f#ck$ng, sh$t eating incubus has the same features as the one my sister Elsa described to me before she died!"
"How can you be sure it's the same one that killed your sister?" asked Brandon, "I mean, how many incubus's are there?" "Not many," said Carmen. "Look Elise," said Bloom in a reassuring voice, "even if this is the same demon that killed your sister, you can't go charging head first into this without support. Remember, if you die here, you die in the real world." "You're right," said Elise, "But I claim the right to deliver the killing strike to the creature." "Fair enough," said Sky.
They made their way towards the center of the ballroom. The music ended and Layla and her partner stopped dancing. She saw Bloom and the others. "Oh hi guys!" exclaimed Layla, "I'm so glad you could make it here!"
"We're happy to be here," said Bloom, "But we need to talk to you in private." "Oh Flora!" exclaimed Layla as she embraced Flora, "You're potion worked! I've found my soul mate!" "It didn't work," said Flora, "the recipe was messed up." "Yeah," said Musa, "I messed it up." "Who cares if the recipe was messed up," said Layla, "For the first time in a long time, I'm truly happy."
"I hate to bust up your happiness," said Stella, "And really I do hate to, but none of this is real. This is a dream, and your perfect man, isn't a man at all, he's a demon." "Way to be subtle," said Carmen sarcastically.
At Stella's statement Layla burst into laughter. "Very funny Stella," said Layla, "But I think you should leave the jokes to Morgan. Where is she anyway?" "Morgan stayed behind," said Tecna, "But that's not the point. What is, is that for the past week you've been on and off in a dream simulation spawned by a demon; a demon that preys on the loneliness of women."
"I'm not lonely," said Layla, "Not anymore." "Face it Layla!" exclaimed Riven, "That thing you've been dancing with is a demon that's been draining you of your energy." "Come on guys," said Layla, a look of worry growing on her face, "This isn't funny anymore." "We're telling the truth," said Carmen, "And I can prove it; what's your dance partner's name?"
"His name?" said Layla, "That's easy, his name is, um, his name is…" "Well?" asked Carmen, "What is it?" "I'm trying to remember," said Layla hastily, "Um, err, I don't remember." "That's because it never told you," said Elise as she glared at the demon, who was watching the whole thing unfold, "But I know; Demon! Thy name is Incubus!"
"No!" exclaimed Layla as she ran back to her dance partner, her eyes on the verge of tears, "Say it isn't so! Please say it's not true!" The demon looked down at her as Layla clung to its legs for emotional support. "It's true," said the demon as it looked at Bloom and the others, "I am what they say I am."
"NO!" exclaimed Layla. "Yes!" exclaimed the demon, "I am an incubus, and you've been my latest victim. It was all too easy, you were just overflowing with loneliness, it was too good to resist. And all the time we've been dancing, I've been taking your life energy," it glared at Bloom and the others, "And if your meddling friends hadn't intruded on our waltz, I would have taken enough of your life energy so that you would never have waken up again! But all is not lost, as soon as I've dealt with your pathetic friends, we can finish our dance, and your life will belong to me!"
"That's not going to happen!" exclaimed Elise. "I wanted to say that," said Bloom, "Me too," said Sky." "Oh?" said the demon, "And who are you to think that you can stop me?" "That's a good question," said Elise as her form was engulfed in a bright flash. When the light cleared, Bloom saw that Elise was dressed in a red and black leather jacket, with matching leather boots and blue jeans.
"How did you do that?" asked Flora. "It's all part of the dream world," said Elise, "Just think it and your appearance can change. Now demon, you may not know me, but I know you, so allow me to introduce myself: My name is Elise Caplin. You killed my sister Elsa, so prepare to die!"
The end of chapter 5. Next chapter, it is so on! See you next time!