I don't own Di-Gata Defenders or the Di-Gata Defender characters. I did however, come up with Aquinae, Deirdre, the Drevac Clan and Shantra and her sisters(except Karmi).

Chapter Twelve: Seth's Dream

"So, is Seth okay?" asked Adam as he brought a full pail of water into the campsite. He and the others had been worried about Seth since he stumbled into the campsite while mumbling incomprehensible words.

"Yeah" said Erik, "we can understand the words he's saying now but we still don't have a clue what he's saying."

"Huh?"

"You'll understand when you see him."

Adam nodded and carried the bucket over to where Seth, Kara and Mel were. A concerned Kara stood to the side while Mel was kneeling over a babbling Seth. When they noticed that Adam was approaching, Mel took out a cloth from her pocket. Adam placed down the bucket and Mel dipped the cloth in before laying it on Seth's forehead.

"Everything will be fine, Mel" said Seth. "The unicorn will come and banish the ogre from the kingdom of fire."

"How long was he been doing this?" asked Adam as he heard Erik approach. He looked around the campsite and saw Rion was keeping watch, in case whatever did this was still here, and Shantra was staring at the fire while occasionally glancing at Seth.

"Beware the angel of mercy, she only knows the mercy of the man in the white hat."

"Since he started speaking actual words" said Erik. "I just don't understand what's going on. His brainwaves are registering fine, except they seem a bit slow…."

So his brainwaves are just fine thought Adam.

"We must turn to the fairy queen to show us the path of redemption."

"…But my sensors said that his head is way colder than normal. Maybe we should have boiled that water first."

"Wait" said Adam, "you said that his head seemed colder?" His eyes turned to Shantra as a suspicious feeling came over him. Nah… she wouldn't do anything like this.

"Ah, youth is so old and time does not exist."

"I wish he wouldn't say such nonsense" said Erik. "It's creepy and confusing."

"Darkness falls and the light shatters."

"Darkness falls? And the light shatters? That doesn't make any sense" said Erik. "If darkness falls then the darkness should be what shatters, not the light."

"Nothing he has said lately makes any sense" said Kara. "Not unless of course you think we need to find the fairy queen or that a unicorn can take on an ogre."

"A thousand times I have died and a thousand times I have lived."

"Okay" said Adam, "you have to admit, that one did make some sense."

"No it didn't" said Erik. "You only live and die once. Why did he say die first? Shouldn't he have said live first?"

"This isn't funny guys" growled Mel. "There's something seriously wrong with Seth."

"When the great oak speaks, only the deaf are willing to listen."

"We know Mel" said Adam. "And we're sorry if we seem insensitive but Seth is a tough guy. Whatever this is, he'll get by it like it's a snap. He'll be back to his old self in no time. I know it."

"Thanks Adam" said Mel. "I needed to hear that."

"Look!" cried at Kara. "He's fallen asleep." They all looked at him to see that he had indeed fallen asleep.

"I think we should head to sleep as well" said Adam. "Only Seth knows what's going on in that head of his and only he can tell us the answer. Hopefully, he'll be able to tomorrow." Kara and Erik nodded and headed towards their sleeping bags. Adam took one last look at Seth and said "I envy him."

"Hmmm. Why is that Adam?" asked Mel as she looked at him carefully.

"He has such a peaceful look on his face. I betcha when I sleep that it's not the least bit peaceful. I guess I better prepare to face the nightmare again." He slipped into his sleeping bag nearby and said "don't worry about him Mel. I was serious when I said he'll be alright. He's strong; this thing isn't going to get to him. He'll be alright tomorrow."

"You know what, Adam? I think you're right. Also, I have this feeling that whatever did this to him won't attack us. I'm going to tell Rion to get some sleep too." She walked over to where Rion was and started talking to him.

Adam took one last worry glance at the sleeping Seth. I know I'm right about you Seth. Get better really soon, for all of us. Especially for Mel. He closed his eyes and the shadow hand and ball of light nightmare began again.

"Whoa" said Seth as a ferocious blizzard blinded him. "Where am I? How did I get here?"

Seth walked through deep snow as he tried to push against the howling and icy winds. He didn't have any proper protection on and ice was already starting to form on him. He noticed what looked like a faint outline of a house in front of him and was attempting to get there.

When he got close enough, he saw that it was indeed a house. What a dump. It was a black two-story house with boarded up windows, rotten wood everywhere, it was slanted to the left, and the roof was in disarray. Oh, well. Beggars can't be choosers he thought as he walked up to the door.

He was about to knock on the door when he startled by a loud thud behind him. He turned around and saw that a portion of the roof had fallen and had just barely missed him. Lovely, a near death experience is great for the heart. He knocked on the door and waited; nothing. He knocked again and shouted "Hello! Is there anybody home?!" Still nothing. He growled and decided to knock harder but his fist barely touched the door when it fell off its hinges and landed inside the house sending dust flying everywhere.

"Umm" said Seth as he entered the house. Snow also entered the house and began spreading itself unto the untouched terrain. "Anyone home? I need some shelter from this storm. Hello? Answer me, you little creeps." I guess no one is here. Which means that no one will mind if I take shelter here.

He took a look around the room and was not impressed by what he saw. The outside of the house looked better. The floors were covered in dust as well as everything else, and the only furniture in sight were either moldy, very dusty, or fallen apart. The wallpaper was peeling off and there were some parts of the walls that were actually bare. There was some sort of dark liquid dripping from the ceiling. There were stairs leading up that looked about as safe as sticking one's head into a Dakowolf's mouth and a door in the corner of the room. The only source of light appeared to be from the door but the room was not very dark; only slightly.

Seth's eyes rested on a corner that had a bookshelf full of old books and a large table covered in old junk. He walked over and looked out the yellowed books on the bookshelf. He turned to the table and saw that there was a large opened book on the table. He peered at it and blew the dust off the pages. He was surprised to notice that the pages were talking about bloodlines in Rados and attempting to turn the page. However, the whole book turned to dust as he pulled it, only leaving behind the single page he was holding. He let the page slip out of his hand as noticed a globe sitting in the corner of the desk. When he walked up to it, he noticed that there were several destroyed ones on the floor. A close look at the intact globe revealed that it was a globe of Rados and that everything was clearly marked. Even all of the dojos are marked on here he thought as he touched where the one he was raised in was marked. His finger punctured through and the globe fell apart. Oops. Bang! Seth turned around to see that a shelf on the bookshelf had fallen and that all of the books on and below it had turned to dust. Oh yeah, this place is in perfect condition he thought as he noticed he was covered in the dust that had flew from the collapsed shelf.

He dusted himself off as he stared at the stairs. Why not? Down here isn't exactly safe. Plus, I might find a nearly deaf old woman up there. He walked up to the stairs but paused for a moment before taking his first step. He slowly walked up the creaky staircase, hoping that it would hold his weight until he reached the top.

When he reached the top; he couldn't believe his eyes. This might actually be worst than downstairs. It's at least creepier. The walls were covered in some sort of disgusting mold, the floors had some sort of dark ice with a few pools of liquids in it, there were five doorways in the hallway of which the doors were either hanging from their hinges or gone, and there were giant icicles in the hallway with dark liquid running down them. It was a little darker up here then it was downstairs so Seth turned on his visor so he could see better. Unbelievable, just unbelievable. Who upon their right mind would live here? Seth squeezed pass the icicles, shivering at the cold that surrounded them, as he made his way down the hall.

"Hello? Anyone home? I hope you don't mind the intrusion but it was cold and the door… opened on its own. Hello?" He cringed as the cold liquid seeped though his shoes and froze his toes.

He peeked into the first room and saw that it was in a mess. There were toys everywhere covered in a thick layer of dust, a collapsed bed sat in the corner, and there were frayed curtains hanging at the boarded up windows. He spied a dusty doll on the floor that gave him the creeps. It looks almost like Adam and it seems to be staring at me. The two stared each other down and the temperature seemed to drop several degrees. Seth gave up on the staring contest between him and the doll and walked over to the next room. He missed the smug look that appeared on the doll as well as the flowing curtains.

The other room was completely dark; he couldn't see the walls or the floor except where the single hanging light was. Finally some light around here he thought as he stepped into the room. Suddenly, the light bulb on the wire began to sway slowly which gave Seth the creeps. He adjusted his visor for better night vision and saw that the room was completely empty except for a mat and some blankets on the far corner. What kind of bed is that? This person needs a life. Seth walked right underneath the light bulb and looked up at the string hanging from it. He hesitated for a moment before he reached out to pull on it. Before he reached the string, however, he heard a strange creaking noise and paused. Is that coming from underneath me? Oh no. As soon as he was finished that thought, the floor gave up underneath him and he plunged into the darkness below.

Seth smashed through the wooden floor and landed on a hard floor. "Ow" he muttered as he looked up at the broken floor. He could see that there were two broken floors and was grateful that he had failed to turn off the light. Why did I try to turn it off anyway? Well, I guess I may as well check out the basement while I'm here. He looked around and saw that he was completely surrounded by impregnable darkness that not even his visor could see through. It's a very good thing I failed to turn off the light. But I'm going to have to find my way out.

Seth walked into the darkness and saw that his visor only allowed him to see as far as his hands could stretch and he couldn't see the floor. Perfect, just perfect. Slowly and carefully he picked his way through the basement, hoping to find the door he remembered seeing on the first floor. This place is as empty as that other room he thought with annoyance. Suddenly, Seth tripped over some sort of metal object and crashed to the floor. Okay, maybe not. He moved his right hand slightly and felt something cut it. "Ow" he cried as he looked at his bleeding hand; there was a piece of glass in it. He pulled it out and peered at the floor around him closely. He was surrounded by broken glass and at his feet was some sort of metal frame. He got up and began walking again, only to walk right into something made of wood. At closer inspection he realized it was a full-length mirror that was missing al of its glass. I guess that explains all the glass on the floor. I wonder why it's down here and how all of the glass fall off?

Seth sighed and then turned away from the mirror and once again began moving slowly through the basement. He once again tripped but this time he recognized the object that he fell on as stairs. Finally! I was beginning to think I would never get out. Seth carefully climbed up the stairs which squeaked with every step he took. Seth was relieved when he finally reached the door and turned the doorknob; nothing happened. I don't believe it! The door is stuck. He pounded against the door and even kicked it as hard as he could, but it wouldn't budge. Seth leaned against the door with his forehead touching the cold wood as he closed his eyes in frustration.

"This place has seen better days, hasn't it?" said a raspy voice from somewhere in the basement

Seth opened his eyes in disbelief and went down a few steps to scan the basement. It was useless; he could still see nothing. "Who are you? What are you doing here? Were you here in the basement the whole time or were you following me?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? I've been here for as long as I can remember. As for who am I, I don't remember. But that is not important. What is important is what you see before you."

"I see nothing."

"Exactly; this room was once so bright that there were no shadows here. Everything was fine until… it happened."

"It happened? What happened?"

"I'm afraid I cannot tell you; not that it matters since I do not want to. This very scene pains me like a thousand swords in one's back. I've lost my purpose, my treasures and my friends. I lost so much but you've lost much more."

"I've lost more? What makes you…"

"Just know this, defender. I know more than you and I know how the balance works. This place holds more value than you would think and affects you in more ways than you know. So beware, defender, beware of the lies that will be told. Beware of the truths that will be ignored. This tragedy will never happen, I will never let it. I will sever all contacts and leave worlds to burn before this happens. Go back to your vile Rados and leave this place as it should be. Never forget the balance boy; never forget it."

Seth stared at the darkness in confusion until he noticed that the ceiling was starting to come closer to him. In a panic, he ran back to the door and desperately tried to open it until the ceiling became too low for it to open. He jumped down to the floor and began searching for a way out. He once again came across the mirror shards but this time he noticed that they were glowing faintly. He also noticed that there was some sort of faint screams coming from the pieces. He looked up and saw that the ceiling was only a few feet away; it came closer and closer and closer until……

Seth suddenly shot up from his sleeping bag in fear and confusion. He quickly looked around him, only to notice that he was not inside the weird house. Thank goodness. It was only a dream he thought in relief. He closed his eyes and fell back to sleep with a content look on his face.

Shantra, who was sleeping nearby, suddenly shot up. Something had woken her but she wasn't sure what. She could almost swear though that she had heard an unfamiliar voice in her head: I've returned him to his senses. There is no need to worry. Lazily she nodded her head and then went right back to sleep. What a sweet child.