-The Legend of Zelda: Island of Dreams-

Pi'illo Castle- Collection Room

Everyone had gathered around the bed of the now-awake Zelda. Link explained what Tingle had told them within Zelda's dream, and they all agreed Link and Zelda were the best choice to search for the kidnapped king.

Link: "So, let me get this straight. You guys, who consist of two trained warlords, a master tactitian, one of the most powerful wizards of his kind, and an amazing beast trainer, want me and the princess to search for the Slumbering Realm?"

Magis: "Aganhim just refuses to help Harkinian. And the rest of us don't know the Dream World like you do."

Zelda: "WONDERFUL."

Vaati: "Link, Zelda, I know you can do this. I have complete faith in you."

Link: "Thanks, Vaati, but faith ain't gonna do us much good if we have no clue where to start."

Zelda: "I think I do, Link. Check this out."

The princess pulled out the small pillow rock they had found in the castle catacombs. When Zelda touched it, it began glowing and hovering above the ground.

Zelda: "I have no idea why, but I think this rock is trying to show us something."

Link: "That... seems a bit dumb, but I see no other option, so FOLLOW DAT ROCK!"

The duo chased the floating stone down the castle's many hallways and corridors. It eventually floated out of the castle and out into a small archway in the courtyard. When they approached, the stone plopped down on a small seat apparently made just for it.

Zelda: "Well, I guess all we can do now is try to enter the Dream World... but I'm not tired at all."

Link: "Well, maybe this'll help!" He quickly pulled out the small vial Tingle had given him.

You got the Tingle Dust- except not really 'cuz you already had it. This magic dust can put anything to sleep instantly. Use it to help Zelda access the Dream World at any time!

Link: "Now, try not to sneeze."

Zelda: "Wait, don't!"

It was a few seconds too late, as Link had opened the bottle and let the fine mist put the princess to sleep. The mysterious portal reopened above her head when she was set back down on the rock. Knowing what to do, Link hopped in. The familiar distorted Pi'illo Castle emerged- along with Zelda's angry spirit.

Zelda: "LINK!"

Link: "Look, we had to get to the Dream World one way or another. Why are you mad?"

Zelda: "I'm not mad, I'm telling you to look behind you!"

Link did just that- and saw a horde of bizzare fiery things behind him. They resembled torches, which bore the wings of the Hyrulean Royal Crest, but they also had large piercing black eyes. The pair decided to run as fast as possible away from them.

Link: "What are those things?!"

Zelda: "Evil torches- let's call them Torchurs!"

Link: "Oh, great name, but this is no time for puns! Either we keep running, or we fight them!"

Zelda: "Well, you have the Helix Sword. You fight them."

By this point, the two were completely surrounded by the flaming Torchurs. The situation was getting desperate.

Link: "Then what're you going to do?"

Zelda thought for a moment, then began flying upwards.

Link: "Why would you chicken out at a time like this?!"

Zelda's spirit stopped going up at a height nearly 100 feet off of the ground. To Link's complete surprise, she then came straight back down at the speed of a small meteor- aiming directly for him.

Zelda: "Who said I was chickening out?"

Link: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

As Link braced himself, Zelda crashed directly into him. However, instead of knocking him down, Zelda's spirit was absorbed into Link's body. He felt a surge of strengh and energy flow through him. On top of that, the Helix Sword began glowing bright green.

Zelda: "Maybe a fusion of my power and your combat skills will work?"

Link: "You- made me absorb your soul? Weird, but I see no other option. Let's get 'em!"

With the fusion of the princess and the soldier, the flaming Torchurs were easily demolished. Link sliced throught them like a hurricane made of swords, and he felt like time slowed to a crawl as he cut the beasts in two. The swarm was slaughtered with in a matter of seconds. As Link caught his breath, Zelda exited his body.

Link: "That... was... amazing."

Zelda: "True. But I feel kind of worn out after that." She seemed to look more worn out as well- she wasn't glowing was brightly, and her appearence was shifting slightly back to how she looked in the real world.

Link: "You look worn out, too. Let's try not to use that power unless it's an emergency."

Zelda: "Thanks, Link."

You got access to Awakening Mode! This fusion of Link's body and Zelda's spirit multiplies the abilities of both tenfold. As long as Awakening mode is active, you will slowly lose MP (Magic Points), but Link's Power, Defense, Speed and Efficiency all double. Use this wake-up call wisely!

The pair began walking (or in Zelda's case, floating) down the only path they could find. It was a typical hallway at first, but soon, small purple crystals began to appear on the walls, and the warm air became cold and forboding. Even Zelda's spirit seemed to distort slightly.

Link: "Zelda, whatever's down here, I have a feeling it's related to that monster."

Zelda: "I honestly just hope it isn't the monster. Urghh... I'm getting scared just thinking of him."

The infamous monster was nowhere to be seen in the room they arrived in. However, a giant glowing purple crystal floated in the center of the room- and it seemed to help something organic inside it. And that something still seemed to be slightly alive.

Zelda: "Whatever that poor thing is, it's still alive. And in major pain. Link, we have to help!"

Link: "Alright, when all else fails, smash stuff with a rock! Or a sword!"

He stabbed the crystal with his Helix Sword, and a large crack split the crystal in two. As the dark gem shattered, the now clearly-visible being fell to the floor.

It was rather small only about half Link or Zelda's height. It wore a blue robe with indigo designs on it, which was connected to a pillow-like hood that covered his whole head, sans face. The face was human-like, but had no nose, and small eyes. Most interesting was the fact that he wore a small golden medallion that seemed to have the Sheikah eye on it, the symbol of the Sheikah tribe, but this eye was closed instead of open. The being slowly woke up.

?: "Lu- Lucidia..."

Link: "Are you... OK?"

?: "Child, I am busy. My partner and friend has been sealed inside a shard of pure nightmare, and one of the greatest threats to our kingdom is on a rampage. Now, if you'll excuse me..."

Zelda: "Sir, you were in that crystal for a really long time. Like 300 years or so."

?: "Are you saying that... I've been imprisoned for... Well, he must've won, otherwise Frank would've helped me out! Dear Arceus, no..."

Zelda: "Well, at least according to Hyrulean historic records, the Pi'illo species defeated its most hated adversary, but at the cost of their life. Apparently they were just petrified."

Link: "Wait- Zelda, do you think this "adversary" could be the monster that stole your father?"

This seemed to pick up the small man's interest. "Wait, monster? Gray, bat-like covered in armor? That one?"

Zelda: "You know that thing?"

The small being slowly stood up. "Antasma... returned... This is bad."

Link: "Who's Antasma?"

Remus: "We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Remus, head Pi'illo priest and Dreamcatcher extraordinare. And if what you're saying is true, than we have a lot worse coming than stolen parents."

Pi'illo Castle Courtyard

The portal above the sleeping princess's head reappeared as Link jumped out. Zelda slowly woke herself up as the rock beneath her transmuted into Remus. The three hid in a nearby alcove where nobody would hear them.

Link: "First off, Remus, we never introduced ourselves I'm Link, captain of the Hyrulean Royal Guard. And this here is Princess Zelda of New Hyrule."

Remus: "Zelda? Wait a second, I knew this girl's anscestor!"

Zelda: "Really?"

Remus: "Yes! She was the very one who began the Dream Sage tradition! When the Hylians arrived here, she married the reigning king, King Dreambert, and their son became the first Dream Sage of the line. Oh, you should've seen the wedding. Everyone was celebrating, and some guy called Linebeck got drunk..."

Zelda: "Wait, how old are you? Wouldn't that be about..."

Remus: "6 or 700 years ago? Tell true, most Pi'illos don't live that long, but the Dreamcatcher enchantments let you live for over 2000 years without aging."

Link: "Next thing- what is a Dreamcatcher?"

Remus: "Well, the Pi'illo kingdom has been attacked several times. Sometimes it's real world invading armies, but mostly the threats are nightmares, emerging from the deepest parts of the Dream World. That's where the Dreamcatchers come in. We fight in the Dream World, where all of us are at our peak strengh, and seal back up the nightmares. Lucidia and I were two of the best in the whole kingdom."

Zelda: "Third and final question. Who is Antasma?"

Remus: "This'll be a longer one. The Great Sea has many alternate dimensions- the Ocean King's realm, the Twilight Realm, Termina, Lorule, the Dark Sea, the Dream World, the Silent Realm, Plasmia... the list goes on. I'm sure you'll see these worlds in due time, children."

Link: "The Dark Sea sounds creepy- but Zelda here knows what the Twilight Realm is, doesn't she?"

Zelda: "Yes. The Twilight Realm was a dimension created by the goddesses to imprison those who would misuse the Triforce, the old Hyrulean symbol of power."

Remus: "Well, the Dream World has its own Twilight Realm, the Slumbering Realm. It isn't just a prison, it's where nightmares come from in the first place. And through some divine prank, both the Twilight and Slumbering Realms connected for a split second. That was enough to create Antasma. The.. beast that trapped our entire race in nightmare crystals. The one that slaughtered any Dream Sage it could find. And apparently it's still alive."

Link: "Do you know how to get to the Slumbering Realm, Remus?"

Remus: "No. There's only one Pi'illo who knew of the way to access that dimension. One of our elders, a geezer named Eldream."

Zelda: "Then it's settled. We look for Eldream, enter the Slumbering Realm, and beat Antasma once and for all!"

==What's up, readers?

First off, Remus. The name is derived from REM sleep (rapid eye movement), which is the period of sleep in which you have vivid dreams. He and Lucidia are the redesigned versions of Dreambert and Starlow, though mostly Dreambert, both being Pi'illos.

Secondly, Awakening Mode (named after Link's Awakening). In most video games, there's a rage meter (like Sonic Unleashed). Awakening Mode is like that, but in Awakening Mode, on top of being activatable at any time, allows infinite magic use- using it just drains the bar a little. This is based off of Dream World battling in Dream team, where Luigi would enter Mario and increase all his stats.

Thirdly, review if you want the next part, please!