Chapter 8:In Which Riley Views her Dreams

The emotions made their way to the sitting area, all huddling together on the lilac couch. Fear went to start up the control panel, turning the undercarriage out a little to find a button or lever or switch to pull. Joy was the most enthusiastic out of all of them, practically bounding over, sitting in between Disgust and Anger and shoving both of them in to catch her in a sandwich, much to their displeasure.

Riley had curiously followed, watching Fear with every step, who seemed half confident, half confused to what he was trying to do. She propped herself on the further end of the couch, watching as a fuming Anger and a scornful Disgust tried to avoid touching each other as Joy pulled both of them tighter together, their crimson and peppermint cheeks crushing her own. She felt the arm rest of her seat for no other reason in particular other than to really wake herself up, to feel the soft furry texture beneath her fingertips and remind herself of her surroundings. The sound of slippers on a squeaky floor prompted her to glance upwards. The little blue creature known as Sadness had sat herself beside the girl, her sweater stained wet with tears, dark circles under her blue eyes. She looked at Riley and gave a brief smile which returned to mellow in a mere second. Riley reached out momentarily and took her tiny blue hand. She didn't know why, but she felt this creature was one that needed constant comfort. Although the blue lump flinched considerably, but she didn't move it away.

"Are ya excited Riley?" beamed Joy, finally releasing her captors.

"I...guess." Riley shrugged back, "What exactly are we waiting for?"

"We're going to watch your dreams, silly!" Joy replied, reclining and nearly clocking her released prisoners in the face, "Every night one of us is on Dream Duty, we've seen all your greatest stories! The daring epics!"

"Boring," muttered Anger, "we usually just get a pants-off in public dream, those are always on repeat!"

"Well, yeah okay the reoccurring dreams can get a little...but anyway! The gorgeous romantics!"

"Cliche," Disgust huffed, "how many times have we got to watch Riley kiss her favourite singer?"

"Me personally though, I love The Adventures of Rainbow Unicorn," Joy continued, "You know I've met her, no big deal, but! When Sadness and I visited the one and only Dream Productions, we met her and spoke to her!"

"She ignored us," Sadness sighed.

"Sadness! She's a busy actress! Well, okay she didn't exactly talk back, it was mostly me that did all the talking, but still! Anyway, the dreams with her in them are my favourite, when did Part 1 come out again?"

"2002," Sadness offered, "When Riley was just born. Rainbow Unicorn was a lot nicer back then."

"Uh, so Dream Productions?" questioned Riley.

"Well, it's the studio to the deeper part of your mind, just outside subconscious. Most idolize it for creativity but others critcize it for it's corruption history and lack of diversity-"

"Oh, so like Universal Studios!"

"Yeah! Well, maybe Dream Productions are a little bit less successful and have a couple more complaints-"

"Which is perfectly justified!" interjected Anger, "I mean really! How many times have we got to see the same darn "we came to School in our PJs story?"

"Or have you fall off a cliff thousands of times," said Sadness, "it just gets sooooo tedious!"

"Well, okay aside from the slower years!" continued Joy, "It's a pretty great thing once you're on the set, which we were, not to brag! Sadness don't you remember we were in a dog costume?"

"Oh yeah," sniffed Sadness, "I was the tail."

"Aww, come on! You were a good tail!" laughed Joy, "Anyway, Riley while you're here, we thought you might like to see one of your many adventures on the big screen-if Fear can get it started up that is."

"Alllmost got it," came the voice of Fear as he pulled ba so yet another odd looking lever. "I think it just needs some power. Joy? Could you give me a hand?"

"Yeah sure! But, why are you so afraid of doing it yourself?"

"Joy if I pressed the panel now, Riley would be stuck watching one of her horrific nightmares," he quivered, "and goodness knows I'm done with the terrifying creatures she reads about on the Internet forums."

Joy placed a starfish hand on a panel, sounding a bell. Instantly, the entire panel was alight with gold. The controls began to vibrate and the screen came to life in a wave of static. Riley watched in amazement as all her emotions cheered as a picture began to flicker across the screen.

It was a baby, blonde hair in pigtails, wearing a rose pink frock and carrying around a brown teddy bear with black button eyes. As she walked, she found herself lost in the sky, thin air, the wind blowing her pigtails away and letting her hair fall to her cheeks. Rain poured from her eyes and her dress billowed behind her like a wounded flamingo.

"Do you know who she is?" Joy whispered to Riley.

Riley was sitting with her knees to her chest, her mouth and eyes open in a complete state of wonder.

"That-That's me!" she breathed, "I remember this dream! I do, I remember! I was so young!"

"Here's my favourite part!" gasped Joy pointing to the screen.

As the small child continued to cry, a glimmer from the corner of her vision drew her closer to a powder white cloud, etched with blue to where a shape had begun to form. It was equine, the mane clearly visible, front legs reared and hooves exposed. Then from beneath the soft sheet, emerged a beautiful snow white mare, a mane of scarlet, persimmon, saffron, emerald, cornflower blue and bright magenta. A horn poked from the rainbow strands, gleaming ivory and on her rump the embalm of two elfin creatures holding a butterfly on a flower.

"Rainbow Unicorn?" said Riley laughing in surprise.

"The one and only!" said Joy, also laughing.

"Wow..." Riley had very early memories of dreams in which she rode on horses, but a distinct night time vision showed her with a unicorn of true heart and soul, whose tail turned into a beam of light behind her, leaving a vapor trail. She had enjoyed these dreams, an escape from the every day toddler woes of play group and being force fed strange food mixtures; to a fantasy land where a queen ruled by a powerful king in a land of pixies and trolls.

On screen, the unicorn lowered her back, allowing Riley to mount her. The two then took off, through the air, which was now tinged orange from the glow of a sunset, flames of rainbow fire coming from her tail. Tinted titles appeared on the screen: Fairy Dream Adventure Part 1. The small child was shrieking delightedly and throwing her arms in the air, touching the pearl pink clouds with her tiny fingers. Each time her new friend galloped higher, she felt herself begin to soar as well, until she was floating in the air. When she faltered, Rainbow Unicorn guided her with her hooves through the atmosphere and away into the horizon. They preformed acrobatics, leaps, jumped fences made from clouds, stiles made from old airplane engines and hurdled giant brass gates with thousands of birds of paradise flying alongside them.

"This is gorgeous." Riley said, a genuine smile appearing for the first time on her face.

"I think so too!" remarked Joy, "I love it because of all the pretty colours and the imagery and symbolism...but mostly because you created it Riley."

"I did?!"

"Sure," said Anger, "all those buffoons down at Dream Production did was take notes from Imaginationland and develop it into a predictable script."

"Oh hush Anger!" laughed Joy, "It's a lovely story! It's better than some of the other rubbish they've made!"

"They make good and bad dreams," agreed Fear, "I usually just do a crossword while I wait for something interesting to happen."

"I like the old dreams," sighed Sadness, "now they're just all the same old boring stories and they aren't as long and happy...just recycled dreams from a machine."

"Well, sometimes, recycled dreams can be a good thing," shrugged Joy, "it allows for a new perspective on one's thoughts and they can look back and see where they went wrong, how to do better next time-"

"You guys shut up!" hushed Disgust, "they're about to enter the castle!"

As Baby Riley and her noble steed trotted through a forest of stars, they came to a marble archway with words in a strange languages engraved.

Rainbow Unicorn brayed and a voice sounded through a large speaker.

"Miss Rainbow Unicorn! You have returned from your travels! Lower the Drawbridge!"

A bridge came down for the two to cross, leading into a spectacular courtyard, with every flower imaginable, brightly coloured dyes, baskets, jewels and herbs hanging from stalls, and a grand feast at a large buffet table. To Riley that wasn't the surprising part-there were small people having a festival, dressed in festive clothes and dancing in rings. They were faeries! Real life faeries, or as real as a dream would allow them to be. Glistening transparent wings protruded from their backs and each wore a wreath of thorns and leaves around their heads. They all turned however when they saw the steed. The musicians on the band stand stopped playing their instruments.

From the far end of the courtyard, was a a pedestal with two large thrones. In one a King dressed in clothes and a Queen dressed in silver.

"Ah, Rainbow Unicorn, you have returned! I trust your journey was successful?"

The horse stamped her foot, clopping and dragging her shoe across the earth.

"What?! You have not found the crown of Easter?"

Clip clip.

"But you have found a guest?"

Clip clip.

"Her name is Riley?"

Clip clip, drag clip clop.

"Stop repeating everything I say...oh. Apologies Miss Unicorn."

"Ugh," groaned Anger, "Cheap joke. Who writes this stuff?"

"Ssh!"snapped Disgust.

"Well, since we have our little guest," the king knelt to Riley's level, "Riley, how would you like to be a fairy for the day?"

Riley clapped her hands. "Wonderful! My daughters shall see to your every need!"

The emotions and the girl from the dream grown older watched as seven faerie women in dusky pastel skirts rushed from a dance ring and carried their tiny visitor to the palace. In a turret they dressed her in many fine silk and blew dust in her face to give her the ability of temporary flight.

Riley watched as her younger self flew with the princesses from the tower down into the courtyard, where they danced and played and preformed magic. The King of the Faeries called for his servers to give "the new princess," a strawberry milkshake, to which a small troll dressed in butler attire came holding a silver fish with milkshakes of every flavour for the royal daughters.

Riley wanted to reach out and touch the food and drink displayed in front of her. She knew it was all an illusion, but she had never felt so famished in her life. Not that it would make any difference in her state whether she ate or not.

"Now my dearest Riley, you must return to your human parents," said the King.

"However," said the Queen of the Faeries, "you may come back and visit the Fairy Kingdom whenever you like," She took what looked like a medal from around her neck, "this crest will guarantee your entry. Rainbow Unicorn shall escort you home. Farewell Riley of Minnesota, we hope to see you again soon."

As the faeries waved goodbye, Riley laughed, as her unicorn galloped higher leaving more multi coloured trails of light, as the credits began to roll on screen.

"Thank the heavens that's done," grimaced Anger.

"Aww, but don't you like girly girly princess adventures?" teased Joy.

"No!" said Anger, not exactly blowing his top but firm enough to get her to stop.

"Well, I for one enjoyed it," announced Fear.

"Of course you would," said Disgust, "any dream that doesn't involve a giant scary monster is right up your route."

"Say what you want!" sighed Anger leaning back, "I just prefer Part 4 where she fights an evil sorceress. Now that's an adventure!"

"Oh, what about Part 2 where they throw a huge party for her?" exclaimed Joy.

"Nah. I like Part 5," said Sadness. "Where she is sad because she can't cross the lemonade river, so she cries and her tears become a bridge and that's how she gets to the other side."

"I love Part 4 the best," declared Disgust, "in that one, she sews clothes for the ugly trolls with no sense of fashion, and succeeded! And I'm telling ya, those poor things were beyond the point of help!"

"What did you think Riley?" said Joy, dropping from the couch to the floor and landing on her elbows.

"It certainly was a little...short," Riley admitted, "I remember my fairy dreams being a lot longer."

"Well, that's because the guys down at Dream Productions-did I mention I've been down there-?"

"YES!" came the irritated voice of Anger. "Several times actually!"

"Well, there are moniters that tell whenever you're awake or asleep, and throughout that time, their preparing for broadcast. So, they have clocks to time each dream so that it goes by within the five to seven minute mark, so when they slow it down through the moniters, it goes by twice as slow!" Joy explained proudly, "You only feel it's going on for longer."

"Wow! That's incredible! But what if I have a nightmare."

"Easy! Fear wakes you up if things get too intense!"

"You can thank me later!" said Fear, adjusting his antennae.

"Can we go to sleep now?" moaned Sadness.

"Not yet," pleaded Joy, "let's see what else is on!"

"Else?"

"Hmm? Oh, well Riley, when you're in full sleep mode, the programmes down at the studio are on full time! Depending on how many hours you're napping that is. But up here in headquarters we get all the great channels! If they're working right now that is," she added, toying with the remote. a button, another picture came into view. Graphics of blocks and words and video clips all swimming inside a logo of Riley's head.

"Oh! The news is on!" said Joy the remote flying from her hand.

"I have...news?"

"Course ya do! And it's all about you!"

"Welcome to RHNews on Channel 100." Sitting at a high table were two mind workers, one a round and blue male, the other a female, tall and purple.

"Good Evening, I'm Hip O'Kampus."

"And I'm Cera Tonin."

"Our top story tonight, Riley Anderson, beloved 12 year old writing, history, math and sports prodigy has been thrown into a coma, from which she may never wake. Viewers are warned some of the images in this report may be upsetting."

The anchors cut to a hospital with sickly looking children being wheeled around on stretchers, wearing masks and attached to drips. Men and women in turquoise gowns were yelling orders frantically and pushing them through dozens of doors. A woman in a striped top and a man in a brown jacket were the focus. The woman, her head in her hands; the man rubbing her back and resting his head softly on her shoulder.

Riley's eyes grew wider, "Mom? Dad?!"

Joy stood as still as a statue, I'm moving, unblinking. Anger looked up in shock from his paper, Disgust stopped checking her nails and paid attention too. Fear let out an audible gasp and even Sadness sat up.

"The mother and father of Riley are distraught and have so far been unable to speak to other family members about the incident, although Mr Anderson has in a statement said that he will start to make phone calls to Riley's relatives back in Minnesota to deliver the tragic news." He turned to his female co host. "Cera, your thoughts?"

"I think it's a hard thing to take in. We do have a Mr Cyril Bellum, an expert in lost memories and the unconscious minds and a Professor at Storm University. Dr Bellum, what are your thoughts on this issue?"

"Uh, well Cera I think this is a very serious matter, and should be treated with great care and a large amount of sympathy. Uh, my thoughts are with our girl's family first of all. But I think really think that we should do all we can to wake her up, and follow the manuals, revise our textbooks, just try anything to awaken her senses."

"Dr Bellum, if I may ask, and touch wood here, if Riley were not to wake, what would the consequences be?"

"Dire Hip, very serious. For one, she may never be able to play hockey again..."

"Grr! Is that all he's worried about?! Her hockey career!" yelled Anger. "What happened to the days when people just did their job and anchored the news professionally? Instead of getting an opinion from some whacked out scientist."

"He's been doing a lot more to help then you have in the time you've been here," said Disgust, "when was the last time you benefited Riley in any way?"

"Oh, what like deciding on a good dress for the Junior Dance is going to help her survive out there?"

"Hey! She is going to need a proper outfit the day she finds her soulmate!"

"Whatever! I help her release stress! All he's done is flick through a bunch of useless books!"

"I think we need to use what we have learnt from the manuals and take this time to figure out every possible way to bring her out of this."

Joy's ears pricked up. "Turn it up! He said something!"

"right now the only hope is the-"

All heads turned as the moniter became black. Anger held the remote, an indignant look on his face.

"That's enough of that," he muttered flatly.

"Anger!" said a horrified Joy, "Turn it back on!"

"The poor kid doesn't want to listen to what these morons have to say about her. The news is always dismal and dim Joy, even you know that!"

"He's right." agreed Sadness.

"I don't care! Anger, hand me the remote!"

Anger held it higher, "Joy, I cannot allow you to-"

"ANGER! Give me the remote, NOW!" she ordered again.

Anger's look didn't change, but his body language did. It wasn't like Joy to get mad, but when she did, she could be very scary!

Anger sighed glancing at Riley who's gaze locked with his own. "Please...?"

Reluctantly, Anger finally gave up the battle, a process which would usually take up to an hour at most. "Fine! But don't blame me when the kid can't sleep tonight!"

"-and now on with the cell forecast with Mike Flu-"

"Oh, Anger! We missed it!" whined Joy. "That's not fair, we could have heard-"

"Why are you so worked up about it?" he shrugged.

"It could've been important information! Now we'll never hear whether it could help Riley or not!"

"It's okay, really!"

"But Riley," Joy replied, "he turned it over at the exact point that the doctor was, well about to make his own point!"

"It's okay, I'm fine, No worries. I feel better now, after all the weirdness earlier." She yawned. "I'm just a little sleepy, is all."

Fear glanced at the large white clock in the corner. Before the crash it had run on energy supplied from Riley during the day. It would depend on her own clocks, how late she stayed up, and how tired she was. If she slept into the afternoon, the clock would read early. If she was awake past midnight, the clock would be nowhere near the twelve mark. At the moment the clock read quarter past one. Fear guessed it had now been nearly ten hours since shutdown. In the real world, Riley's world it was probably a lot later.

"Well," he said, "I'm getting a little pooped too. I propose we all go to bed and deal with it in the morning."

"Yeah," said Sadness, "sleep sounds nice."

"Same here! I need my beauty sleep, it's not easy to look this gorgeous you know."

"I might need some rest too-save up on fuel to burn off raging tomorrow."

"Right, sleep-Woah! Woah, woah woah!" Joy stopped. "Aren't you guys forgetting someone?"

The four emotions were at the foot of the ramp before the noticed Riley, still sitting in a ball on the floor.

"That's right!" said Fear, "We never thought where Riley's going to sleep!"

"It wasn't as if we knew she was coming," said Anger glaring at him.

"At least she's already in her PJs!" laughed Joy, "Mom and Dad must have dressed us in them after the operation."

"Let's let her choose!" said Disgust rushing over to the girl. "Bunk with me, Riley! I'll do your hair for you, we could make great roommates!"

"You don't want to go with her kid, she'll never shut up! My room is much quieter."

"You can come in with me, I don't mind-well. I have to warn you I do have frequent night terrors."

Riley stared from one eager face to the next. "Uh..."

"Woah guys, don't overwhelm her! I would volunteer my room, but it has far too many memories crammed into it at the moment, she'll never be able to sleep. Besides I forgot I still have dream duty. Since Riley's in a constant sleep for the time being we may have to take double shifts. Uh, Sadness?"

The blue lump looked up from hiding behind the other three emotions. "Y-Yeah?"

"Would you be willing to let Riley share your room?"

Sadness faltered. "Uh, I don't know Joy, my room's really messy too. But I don't mind, I mean I-"

"Great! Riley, you're with Sadness!"

"Okay."

"Sadness, have you still got your beanbag bed?"

"Yes?"

"Well, Riley how do you feel about sleeping in it?"

Riley beamed. "Sure. I love beanbags, it shouldn't be a problem. I'll sleep anywhere I'm like a cat. I slept in a cardboard box once."

Joy giggled. "I remember that! You were so little and Mom draped a blanket over you, I remember I watched everything from the screen and was on break while you napped-"

"Less talkie, more sleepy!" said Anger gruffly.

"Alright, Alright. I'll just sit here," said Joy, tiptoeing back to the chair at the panel, and planting herself down, yellow dress opening at the edges like a flower.

"You sure you'll be alright?" Fear asked earning more stares from Disgust and Anger.

"You all go on up," she said stretching, "I'll get plenty of rest if it's a dream I've already seen."

"Well, alright."

As the other emotions headed up the ramp, each standing close to Riley to make sure she didn't trip, Riley stared back over her shoulder at the golden girl sitting on her own, quite possibly for the whole night. Sadness who had been holding onto her hand turned and stopped too.

"Goodnight Joy."

Joy sat up, "Hm? Oh! Goodnight Riley!"

As Riley was lead into a dimly lit room, with navy walls and curtains pulled shut on the windows that overlooked the dump, the purple rug littered with crumpled tissues and old books and a quaint bed with ultramarine sheets, she couldn't help but feel strangely safe, excited even. Despite the ever present ache within her chest. Sadness was a quiet soul, never really asking many questions, though Riley was relieved, not wanting to share a long conversation after the day she had experienced.

"My beanbag bed is here," she said softly, pointing to a dark maroon pile under a mountain of sweaters.

"Oh. Okay." Riley cleared them away and lay back into it, instantly enjoying the feel of being sucked into the floor in a fine of mild quicksand. Sadness threw herself onto her own bed and instantly began weeping into the pillows. Riley sat up. "Are you okay?! What's the matter?!"

Hearing the girl's concern she looked up, her glasses fogged with the condensation of her own pity. She offered a calm smile. "It's alright. Crying just helps me to cope and slow down and obsess over the weight of life's problems."

Riley nodded and turned over, letting the light from the headlamps lit by late night mind workers filter through her retinas. If she still had them. She knew there was no point in trying to fight back with denial anymore. She was a ghost of a girl, a figment inside her own mind.

It was a good job she had decided to sleep next to Sadness. For she would understand if she were to see the warm tears trickling down the young girl's nose.

This was s very long chapter and very hard to write. Sorry it took so long, have been tangled up lately. Please Review and follow if you liked. Thank you!