"I TAKE IT ALL BACK - I WANT TO STAY HERE FOREVER! I am going to find every Dream Piece I can, and I'm not stopping until I've amassed an army of the cutest, yet deadliest monsters in the entire universe! I'll lead them against my enemies, destroying them in the most embarrassing way possible! They will die in drowning humiliation!"
Ephemer looked sideways at Kairi, worried and alarmed. "Heeeyyyyy, are you okay...?"
Kairi hugged and squeezed at the Fin Fatale Dream Eater, who was floating in the air despite being a colorful huge piranha that was bigger than her torso and head combined - and about as long as she was tall! "Oh I am perfect, thank you! And so is Fin!"
"Fin, huh? Fin the Fin Fatale."
"Yes! Isn't she amazing?"
"She? Uh, sorry to break it to you, but Dream Eaters don't really have-"
"They do now. She does. Because I decided she does."
"Alright..." Ephemer raised his hands to her.
"Do you think I could ride her into battle, like a steed?"
"Uh. I'm not sure? I've never tried that before."
"Well, no time like the present, right?"
"Don't you think that's going to be really uncomfortable?" Ephemer said quickly. He gestured.
Kairi paused, frowning at Fin - and her dorsal fin separated and connected by sharp spikes running down her back. There was still the space at the front, between fin and giant horn, but...she really didn't want to risk sitting on that. She winced at just the thought of the stabbing mishaps that could occur there.
She sighed, sagging on the spot. "Fine...I'll settle for commanding her from the ground. It's probably better for us to fight side by side, anyways - to bond. Like you said."
Ephemer smiled, tilting his head. "Sure."
"I still want more Dream Pieces - and more Spirits. Fin needs friends, too!"
"Okay..." Ephemer agreed, amused.
They went to Fourth District - the largest, most open space in town. The best place to fight the Nightmares.
It was hopes and dreams - good dreams - that brought Nightmares, eager to devour them.
Kairi thought of her friends, of home, of dad and her sister, of Sora - of getting back to them all...
And the Nightmares popped up around the fountain plaza, one after another.
Kairi got to work, fighting alongside Ephemer, Pragma, and now, Fin! They battled fiercely, leaping and flying about, tag-teaming and smacking enemies between them - and Ephemer even used that strange power of his again, that he called "Reality Shift" (the ability to manifest or warp the dreaming world around you in limited ways).
Ephemer then started using a new power she'd never seen before. Enveloped in a pinkish aura, he dashed through the air toward a Kooma Panda, swirled around it, then seized it in his grasp and put his whole body into a great toss that sent it across the square, slamming into the tall, spray-painted, brick-stone wall. He looked toward Kairi, then leapt up into a flip that took him very high into the air. He spun and dashed forth through the air on seemingly nothing, then came straight down like a rocket, a cone of pink and orange energy spinning below him like a drill. He hit the ground hard, sending a shockwave of energy outward, which obliterated the last few Nightmares!
Ephemer flipped back upright with a single hand, a grin on his face as he dusted his gloves off in satisfaction.
Kairi lowered her Keyblade, staring at him. "What was that?!" she exclaimed with awe and excitement. "That was amazing!"
Ephemer walked over to her, putting his fist to his hip. "Aww, thanks. It wasn't anything too crazy - just Flowmotion."
"Flowmotion?"
Ephemer nodded. He paused, raising a hand to his chin. "Flowmotion is sort of like a Reality Shift, I guess, except it's more like an...inward state than an outward expression. You use the powers of dreams to empower your own body to do things that would be basically impossible in reality, without some serious magic and concentration. But with Flowmotion, you don't have to focus or use any magic at all. You just...go with the flow. It's sort of like a...zen state, I guess, if you know what that is?"
Kairi nodded. "I think I get it, yeah." She paused. "Do you think I could learn how to do that, too? It really was amazing."
Ephemer smiled. "I don't see why not. As long as your Heart and mind are open to it, I think anyone could do it here."
Kairi beamed. She brushed at her hair, turning her gaze to the Dream Pieces littering the ground nearby. "First things first, though..." She went over to pick the Pieces up, gathering them in her hands. She held them close, watching them glow, vibrate, and then start to float into the air. Kairi held her hands over her Heart, concentrating. The Dream Pieces melted together, and a light flashed. Blue and red and white lights swirled around a central point-
And then there was a brand new Dream Eater plopping down in front of her! A red fruit body with leaves for arms and a round yellow head with antennae sticking out and four red flower petals sticking out of the back of the head-
"Nice - a Wheeflower!" Ephemer remarked, grinning widely now. "Haven't seen one of those in a while."
"Oh my gosh I love her!"
"What are you going to name her?" Ephemer asked, crossing his arms.
"I don't know - help me brainstorm! Flower names. Come on."
"Okay. How about Daisy?" Ephemer said.
"Rose!" Kairi declared.
"Cherry?" Ephemer suggested.
"Chrysanthemum?"
Ephemer stared at her.
She stared back.
"No," they said simultaneously.
"Violet? Sunny?"
"Iris? Marigold? Dahlia?"
"Flow?"
Ephemer shrugged. "I'm all out of names."
Kairi sighed. She looked to her new Dream Eater, bending down to touch and play with her cute flappy leaf arms. "Let's just go with Cherry. I know you're actually more of a pinkish color than a red, but pink is close enough that no one will care."
"Okay - so you've got Fin and Cherry," Ephemer nodded, raising two fingers. "Please tell me you're going to stop there."
"Why would I? We're just getting started."
"Well, if you spread a bond too far, it could start to weaken. And having to split your focus between too many different things can be hard, too," Ephemer responded.
"My Heart has more than enough room, and time, for plenty of other people - and pets," Kairi stated firmly.
"If you say so."
"I do say so!"
"Okay, okay."
"So what do you want to do now?" Kairi said.
"I don't know," Ephemer said, thoughtful. "I don't usually stay here this long. There's more than one Sleeping World out there. Most of the Dandelions are spread out pretty far, across them all. I've had to travel a lot to find as much of them as I have. And they don't like to stay in one place. They like to wander off and get into trouble - which makes the task even harder."
"I am getting pretty sick of this place..." Kairi said slowly. "How do you get to another Sleeping World?"
"Well, for me, I usually just let my Heart go to sleep and sort of...just drift into one."
"Okay. I'll try that - but I've slept a lot here before, and nothing happened. I'm still here."
Ephemer frowned. "Huh. Why don't you try again. This time, try thinking about other worlds - places you've been to, and might want to see again."
"You're just guessing."
"Sorry - I'm not an expert. I just know a few things," Ephemer said, apologetic.
Kairi smiled at him. "It's okay. I'll give it a try. What can it hurt, right?"
"Right."
Kairi patted at Cherry, who did an adorable twirl in response. She smiled at Fin, stroking her face; the fish Spirit did a backflip in the air, a stream of little bubbles behind her. "Let's get back to the hotel, then. Come on!"
They journeyed back through the Districts - fighting off more randomly appearing Nightmares, too - but it was a lot easier with Fin and Cherry, now. They entered Second District at last, stepping out of the alley and into the open square (rectangle).
Kairi was headed for the stairs onto the upper walkway, when, suddenly, something started to appear in the square.
It was a collection of a dozen purple gemstones, circling around a big ball of purple mist. The crystals came together at the center, and shattered in a flash of light. Out of the light and miasma, a new Nightmare appeared. One larger and more dangerous-looking than anything Kairi had ever seen before.
It was gigantic, with a purple body, two arms and two legs, all ending in orange and yellow claws. It had on armored bracers, and a...a boxy chestplate over its torso with short striped sleeves. Its head was some kind of nightmarish, twisted, red-eyed monkey, or baboon. Its mouth opened wide, revealing sharp fangs and teeth.
Kairi summoned her Keyblade and leapt backwards, landing in her battle stance. She glanced at Ephemer. "What is this thing called?"
Ephemer looked back at her, his fist clenching at his side. "I don't know; I've never seen it before - nothing this big."
"Great..." Kairi muttered. "It's probably my fault; I'm just as much of a Nightmare magnet as I am a Heartless one, apparently."
Ephemer gave a look of confusion, then shook it off, returning his focus to the giant Nightmare.
The Nightmare dropped down to the ground with a world-shaking thud, raising its clawed limbs and roaring at them.
"Ready?" Ephemer spoke, his body glowing pink, as the Meow Wow known as Pragma popped up beside him.
Kairi nodded. "I'm ready."
They ran at the giant Nightmare together, with their Spirits at their side.
On the rooftops of Second District, a puff of purple smoke went unseen.
As did the small, purple and black-striped cat-like being, with glowing red eyes, a little cape, and a pouch on their chest.
The cat-like being stepped forward, peering down into the square.
Their eyes found the silver-haired boy. The boy known from across the bond of their wielder. "Oh, great, you're still around..." they said with a huff. They looked at the red-haired human girl, with her flowery golden Keyblade. A new wielder? One with such a strong light that it took no effort for the cat to feel it at all. To be blasted by it, blinded by it.
Could she be...one of the Seven Pure Lights?
That was interesting.
What was one of them doing inside the world of dreams? And with a Keyblade, to boot?
As the cat-like being watched the girl fight, they were struck by a feeling of familiarity. Similarity. Seeing this girl fighting so fiercely, side by side with Ephemer, of all the people...
The cat froze. They tilted their head, feeling a pulse in their chest.
They hadn't been able to figure out what it was that had suddenly woken them up again recently, but now...they thought they knew why.
If Ephemer was still around...and they could now feel the bond of their wielder again, connected by the darkness they'd been born from in their wielder's Heart...
Could she still be around, too?
The cat felt a flutter of joy in their Heart at the thought.
They'd promised to meet their wielder in another dream...and they were going to keep it.
Dark Chirithy turned away from the battle, vanishing in smoke again.
It was time to return to the real world at long last - and start giving people nightmares.