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Sarox felt the hard, solid ground beneath his body and sand under his face as he regained consciousness. His nose smelled something singe. He searched through his body until he found his eyes and opened them.
The sand under one side of his face and the ground were oddly covered in purple. He drove energy through his body and lifted to see his surroundings. The first thing he found was Max lying unconscious in front of him. He turned his head to the other side, and lost his breath at the new view. It took a long minute before he began breathing again.
They were under a sky of colorful lights with stars spread over the horizon, purple clouds and florescent flowing all over. He could see several big planets above the sky, flowing, but not falling down to the planet. He shifted his sight lower down to see a wasteland in purple sand and high hills, but the temperature didn't feel as burning to his skin as it should have been. When he looked to the other side, a scenery caught his absolute attention: a bright landscape several hundred miles away. A combination of fluorescent lights and fireworks that surrounded a single humongous hill pointing up toward the sky, with what looked like roller coaster tracks wrapped around it in spin. He could then see a lively amusement park under it. All machines moved actively. It looked as if there was no rest for anyone. There were other strange hills behind it. Not wrapped in coaster tracks, but in different colors. Rather than purple, there were orange, and in the far, far abyss, a strange tower in white that looked like ice.
That they were no longer in Radiant Garden was a certain case; the scenery of was too mesmerizing and unfamiliar.
"I don't think we're in Radiant Garden anymore," he muttered after a long minute.
He looked around the area for his friends, but saw none other than Max. He hoped that they were alright. Most of all, he wished that Marlene was alright and safe.
Max moaned as he came to.
"Are you alright, Max?" Sarox asked.
He nodded, and then took in the new view. "What is this place?" he asked without looking at Sarox.
"I don't know."
Max looked to the hills and was immediately captured by its beautiful view. It took a moment before he felt nostalgic by it.
"Odd. It looks... familiar somehow."
Sarox eyed him in surprise. "You've been here before?"
He tried to remember, but no memory appealed to him. Yes, his heart felt very familiar with the place, but he just couldn't remember. He shook his head slowly in response to Sarox's question.
"Not really. I feel like I should, but I just don't."
The memory blind spot was like a 10 pounds ton that burdened his heart. He knew he recognized the scenery, but not a single memory recalled.
Sarox looked at the large hill with him.
The admiration interrupted by a sound of loud thunder exploding behind them. They turned to see a thick black, thundering cloud heading straight in their direction. Sarox could sense a deep, malicious power emanating from it. This became his alarm to protect Max. From the dark depths, a group of Shadow Heartless suddenly emerged about ten feet away from them. Sarox immediately drew out his Keyblade and formed a protective stance in front of Max.
"It's those monsters!" Max said in fear.
"Max, run!" he warned.
Max did as instructed, but a group of three Soldier Heartless emerged, blocking his escape. Sarox rushed to Max's side and shielded him with his arm.
"Max, stay close beside me."
They stepped backward while the monsters approached. Max took a look behind them, then tagged on Sarox's back, prompting him to turn his head around. Max pointed to the back with his thumb. With a quick eye shift, he could see the edge they were approaching. Sarox refocused on the approaching monsters, thinking quickly through his options that could lead them away from the cliff. He found none.
The Heartless were ready to attack, and Sarox won't be able to fight back with Max by his side.
An unexpected mass of burning lava suddenly dropped from the air. One quarter of the Heartless perished in the lava; which prompted the rest to retreat before it could melt them as well. Sarox and Max looked up. There was no volcano nearby that could trigger the lava. Then, they caught sight of a set of blowing pink hair, a girl covered in pink and burning burgundy rocks attached to her arms, legs and suit. She wasn't alone. A black spiky haired boy stood beside her. He wore a dark gray suit with matching gloves and boots. The chest was engraved with what looked like sharp teeth and triangle mouth.
They jumped down from the hill together and landed gracefully on the ground, only fifteen feet away from the distressing boys. Max recognized their appearances immediately, and muttered their identities in shock. "Sharkboy... Lavagirl..."
Sarox looked over his shoulder to him in surprise.
Those were characters of Max's dreams, created in different ways, existing only in his dreams. How can they be so real? So close?
The boy glared at the Heartless for a moment, his glance promised violence, and then charged at the monsters. Three of them charged at him. With one punch, he managed to impact the three Heartless and send them flying through the air. He then flipped into the air and landed amongst the Heartless and a violent fight began.
Sarox and Max stared in amazement and shock. Until Lavagirl approached.
"Follow me, quick," she said while waving an arm at them. "We have to get away from the Darkness."
She pointed to the thunder clouds. Sarox and Max did as instructed and ran down a path leading downward. Sharkboy followed quickly. Lightning wasn't far away, and after they escaped, the place they were at was completely shrouded by darkness.
Max, Sarox, Sharkboy and Lavagirl ran until they reached a safe peak near the large amusement park.
Sharkboy concentrated as he listened.
"We should be safe here for a while," he confirmed.
"Are you okay? What's your name?" Lavagirl asked Sarox.
"I'm Sarox," he answered, and then asked his own question. "Who are you?"
She glowed in a smile. "I'm Lavagirl. And that's Sharkboy - we're both creations from Max's dreams."
Sarox turned to Max who stared at his imaginary characters in disbelief and astonishment.
"Are you guys... real?" he muttered.
Sharkboy and Lavagirl turned to him now. Lavagirl answered, "As real as we can be."
"And we're in some realtrouble," Sharkboy interjected. "That's why we brought you here, Max. We need help from your powers."
Max and Sarox froze at the new information.
"I have powers?" he asked.
"More than any of us," Lavagirl answered. "Don't you know that? Everything that is or was began with a dream. And you dreamt us, Max. Us and Planet Drool."
Max refocused on the scenery up ahead. "This is Planet Drool?"
This is Planet Drool? The world that I dreamt up? But it's so real, he thought while trying to make out what was going on.
"Oh, that's it," he said out loud with a wide smile across his face.
"What?" Sarox added.
"I'm dreaming. This is all just a dream. Those monsters, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, even you, Sarox."
That last statement froze Sarox. Lavagirl's smile fell into a frown. He hadn't thought that he could be a dream. Or maybe he was the one dreaming.
Max shut his eyes tight. "And when I open my eyes, you'll all be gone."
Sharkboy and Lavagirl shared confused looks. He opened his eyes again, blinking once. Nothing happened. He was still standing on the ground of Planet Drool.
"We're still here, Max," Lavagirl stated.
He was beyond fright now. Sarox put his hand on Max's shoulder.
"Max, I think there's something connected to this whole matter."
Max turned to him. "What are you talking about?"
He hesitated for a moment.
"I was asked to find you, Max. Merlin the wizard sensed that someone was trying to ruin your dreams, so he asked me to look after you. He said your dreams are very special and that you needed my help."
"My dreams are special?" he repeated the words.
He nodded.
"And I'll bet this someone is doing a very good job at it. That's why Planet Drool is so messed up," Sharkboy interjected. "And that's why we need you to save it before the Darkness destroys it."
Max looks over the landscape again, this time a bit distraught.
"But how?" he asked.
Lavagirl pointed forward.
"The Dream Lair is on the other side of the planet. That's where your dreams are being destroyed. We have to go there and reverse it. Unfortunately, it's quite a long way to go. We have to travel through the Passage of Time, catch the Train of Thought, swim down the Stream of Consciousness, and skate across the Sea of Confusion, now covered in ice."
Sharkboy glared aggressively at Max. "Why'd you do it, Max?" he asked. "Why'd you freeze the ocean?"
His glancing promised violence. As he began to lean forward, Sarox leaped forth to pull Max away and Lavagirl restrained Sharkboy, but accidentally sent a burning hand on his arm. Shakboy yelled out in pain.
"Max didn't mean to do it," she assured. "He is a good boy, otherwise you and I would be evil, and we're evil."
She hesitated at the statement and turned to Max for support.
"I'm not evil, am I, Max?"
Everyone glanced at him with different expressions, Sarox was curious, Sharkboy and Lavagirl hesitant.
"I don't, I don't think so," he answered hesitantly. "But I didn't make you evil."
Lavagirl relieved, and then continued. "That's why we brought you here. To put things back in order. We just have to think positive."
Everyone went silent for a moment, until a sudden burst of thunder broke in.
"The Darkness, it's coming. We have to run before it gets us!" he said, and then sprang toward the opposite direction of the malicious clouds. "Come on!"
The other three followed quickly until they reached a wide cliff facing the lively amusement park six miles away. The bottom was at least as high as a ten-level building. The Darkness was getting closer by the second. Sarox and Lavagirl looked around the area for an open pathway that could lead them down to the bottom of the mountain.
Sarox found a pathway one half mile away from the ravine. "There!"
The others looked to the path; it was closer to the moving Darkness than they. If they ran to it, the Darkness would reach them faster. And there was no guarantee that they would be fast enough to escape it.
"It's too close to the Darkness," Lavagirl confirmed. "We'll have to find another way."
They tried to look for an alternate road again. There was none.
That only left one option. Sharkboy glared on the cliff down for any open edges, rock, or trees with his keen sight. It did not take long before he found a large rock that pointed out from the cliff, about ten feet underneath, and a smaller rock about seven feet lower. But he did not have to time look for more.
"We have to climb down to the bottom. Come on," he urged the others, and then jumped down from the edge and reached the first rock.
"Follow us," Lavagirl said before she jumped down the cliff.
Max observed the cliff. It was too high, too impossible for him to climb down. The bottom was several levels under. He did not have the same reflexes as Sharkboy and Lavagirl. His feet began to drag him backwards. "I, I, I can't, I can't do that."
Sarox looked down the two kids and the bottom of the cliff. The height piqued a small portion of fear inside him, but he snapped out of it with a deep breath. It's now or never, he thought.
He held out his hand and summoned his Keyblade. Then, with a burst of magical energy, his clothes were turned into crimson colors with black hinges. A small red fleu-de-lis symbol covered each sleeve of his T-shirt, while larger ones appeared on his pants. His hand that was free a moment ago was now holding a second Keyblade, with purple and white colors, and engulfed by yellow stars and a crescent moon on its teeth. His body released a frightening red aura and red electricity ran between his Keyblade and arms. Max stared at him in amazement and shock at the new glowing appearance. Sarox turned to him with a confident smile.
"Hold on to me, Max," he said. "I'll take you down the cliff."
He offered his hand, but Max just stood in his spot, frozen by fear. Sarox looked to the thundering clouds again.
"We don't have to time to hesitate, Max," he urged. "If we stay here, we'll get caught. Hurry!"
Max doubted for another second, and then reluctantly took Sarox's hand, who quickly pulled him onto his back with his new strength. The Keyblade on his left hand disappeared into thin air. Sarox used his free hand to grab hold of Max's leg, and then jumped off the edge. He struck his other Keyblade into the cliff edge and started to skid down toward the bottom with his feet leading the way. Wind blew up as they skidded at almost the immense speed that could kill them the moment they hit the bottom, but the Keyblade slowed them down and clung them to the side. Max stared down the cliff with wide eyes, expressing overwhelming fear. It did not take long before they saw Lavagirl and Sharkboy climbing half-way. Sharkboy, hearing the skidding noise from above, looked up.
The moment Lavagirl looked up, they skidded past them like wind.