We need to talk part 1

Charles dunked a piece of cloth into a bucket of water. He placed it on Violet's forehead. Moments later, she opened her eyes.

"How you feeling?" he said softly.

"Tired," she said with little strength to her voice. Her eyes took a moment to recognize the background. It was her bedroom. “What happened?”

“You seem to have caught a fever. Though don’t worry, the doctor said all you need is bedrest. In the next couple of days, you should be back to your old self again.”

“That’s good. But, why do I have this on my head?”

“It's supposed to help with your fever. Do you like it?”

“Yeah. The cloth…feels nice.”

Charles smiled and sat at a nearby chair. “Good. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

The room remained quiet for a moment. Violet’s eyes drooped as she stared at the ceiling.

“Charles?”

“Yes?”

“Something weird has been happening to me.”

“How so?”

“Like, um,” she thought for a moment. “Something that looks like lightning, but smaller, keeps appearing on my body. It hurts. I felt dizzy, and like I wanted to break, a-and-”

“Who are you?” said a voice.

“Who said that? I-Is someone there!?”

Charles folded his arms across his chest. “Maybe you should get some sleep.”

Violet fought against her body’s wishes. But in the end, her body lost and drifted into a deep sleep. Charles leaned back and tilted his head down. He exhaled and rubbed his face.

***

“You’re under arrest!” said one of the knights.

Josie froze where she stood, careful to not make any sudden movements. The knights had their weapons drawn and at the ready.

“I don’t think so!” announced Ryan. He stood tall and looked at the knight from the train car roof.

“Prince Ryan! Y-Your highness,” the knight sheathed his sword. “Our most humble apologies. We thought you were invaders and acted accordingly.”

“No need to apologize. I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes. Anyways, with that matter out of the way, could you all please distribute the supplies inside this train?”

“Yes sir! We’ll do it as soon as possible.”

“Make sure it gets to the right people.” he added before approaching the ladder.

Josie walked towards Ryan while the knights barked orders. Alice appeared beside Ryan moments later. They moved out of the way. Ryan, Josie, and Alice used potions.

“Where’s Lucy?” asked Josie.

“She left the cab, but I never saw her anywhere,” Alice glanced at one of the knights and lowered her voice. “Did the knights arrest her?”

“It's possible. We can split up and look around,” Ryan waited for a knight to pass. “Wherever she is, be careful.”

Josie and Alice nodded and began searching. Alice went north and checked every street and alley she could. Josie traveled south and searched from above. She tried questioning passersby if they saw the Knights take anyone. Ryan stayed within the vicinity of the train yard. After a thorough amount of time searching, they returned and met with Ryan.

“Any idea where she is?” inquired Ryan.

Alice and Josie shook their heads.

Ryan brushed a hand through his hair. “Not good. I should have never let Lucy come with us,” he stared at the ground. “Her life's in danger and it's all my fault.”

“Hey, we will find her eventually. Maybe we should try somewhere else.” suggested Josie.

Wendy walked behind them. “What are y’all doing? I keep seeing Ryan moving like a dog finding its tail.”

“Lucy is missing.” said Ryan.

“Missing?”

“Yeah, we haven’t found her anywhere. Do you know where she might be?” said Josie.

“She jumped before the knights came, I reckon. No clue where she went though.”

A knight rushed towards Ryan. “Prince Ryan! Your father wants to see you.”

“Alright, thank you.”

The knight left.

“Can Alice and I come with you? We need to talk to the king.” said Josie.

“Sure. Just be prepared for a not so warm welcome,” he moved a few paces and stopped. “By the way, welcome to Dawn city. “Defenders of the people” is the saying around here.”

“Dawn!? Did I hear that correctly?”

“Yeah. Is something wrong?”

“No, i-it's not that important.”

Ryan looked puzzled. He abandoned the feeling a moment later and kept walking. “The castle is this way, come on.”

Josie and Alice followed closely behind.

“Uh, I’ll stay here and keep my eyes peeled!” shouted Wendy.

***

Josie observed her surroundings. Beneath their feet was cobblestone, which seemed to dot everywhere she looked. The individual stones were packed together in different shapes and sizes. Buildings crowded together as well, only some lucky few gained a space all to themselves or had a gap between. Watchtowers stood by and silently watched the comings and goings of certain areas.

Ryan finally led them to the castle. It looked very old. Yet the structure itself expressed an unwavering strength despite this. They opened the massive doors. Down the long and open room, they stopped close to the throne. Ryan kneeled. Alice and Josie quickly kneeled. Light streamed from the stained glass windows above.

“You may rise.” said the king.

Ryan, Josie, and Alice returned to standing position.

“Welcome home, son.” he said without any signs of joy or relief.

“Thank you father.”

“Was the patrol near the mountain successful?”

“Yes, but-”

“Who are these people here?”

Ryan paused for a moment. “This is Josie and Alice,” he turned his head right and left and waved his hands in their direction. “They saved my life and helped me return home.”

The king stroked his beard. His eyes darted between them a couple times. After a moment of silence, he let out a single laugh.

“Your companions don’t look like capable fighters. Are you sure you’re not pulling my leg?”

“Father, I am serious. They defeated countless Nightmares before my eyes. I would say they are as good as the royal guard.”

“Enough. Knights, take them to the Dungeon.”

The knights pointed their weapons toward Josie and Alice.

“Father!”

“You should know better than to bring outsiders.”

Alice and Josie were forcefully directed towards one of the doorways.

“Wait,” Josie shouted. She pushed through only to be grabbed by the arms. “Wait! W-We need to get to the Nightmare Kingdom!”

The king raised a bushy eyebrow. A number of Knights were hounding Josie to restrain her.

“Stop! Release them at once.”

The knights did as the King ordered.

“Explain yourself.”

“Alice and I were killed by someone with a magic knife. If we can’t get inside the Nightmare Kingdom, the Dream World and Earth could be in danger.”

“How do you plan to achieve this?”

“With an army, your majesty. The Dream Kingdom’s army.”

The king stared down Josie. He was quiet. His face displayed no hint of what he thought during that moment. Suddenly, the doors creaked open. Someone in a brown cloak entered. The doors shut behind them. They walked forward, each individual step cut through the silence. Knights swarmed the stranger. There was nowhere for them to go.

“Who are you?” asked the king.

The stranger slowly raised their hands and gripped their hood. A gasp escaped the king.

“Lucy!?”

“It's been a long time, William. We need to talk.”

“Talk,” he scoffed, “there is nothing to talk about.”

“Oh really? Then ask your son.”

William blinked a couple times.

“W-What is the meaning of this!? Have you been manipulating him behind my back?”

“No,” said Ryan. “Lucy and I have been working together for months-”

“Then you are conspiring against our kingdom!?”

“Let me finish!” he shouted. After a pause, he continued. “For months, Lucy and I have been working together to help our people. I use the mountain patrols to take much needed supplies from Illusha and distribute them to the needy. Like farmers, the poor, and families of our men and women in arms! All people you have abandoned.”

“Their sacrifice serves a greater purpose: to end the war against the Nightmare Kingdom once and for all.”

“And you're willing to drown the Dream Kingdom in blood? Is that just!?” said Lucy.

“As if you can understand what’s just. Your family whisked away our citizens to create your kingdom! A bunch of filthy traitors.”

“The only traitor here is you!”

King William trembled with anger.

“Father! Deep down you must know what we’re saying is right. This pointless war has been going on for far too long. And because of that, we have forgotten what matters most. The people. It's what our founders wanted us to protect!”

William shook his head.

“Please. Do the right thing! You still have time to make things right.” said Lucy.

He slammed his hands against the throne. “Enough lies! You probably killed King Fredrick. And you convinced the Water Kingdom to assist. Traitors, all of you,” he shouted. William stood up and walked down the steps. He took out his greatsword, rested it on his shoulder and walked towards Lucy. “Pin her down.”

Josie and Alice pushed through the knights but met heavy resistance. Ryan sped forward but the knights held him back.

“Father, no! Don’t do it!”

He placed his foot on Lucy’s head. “The cycle of traitors ends here!”

William turned his sword upside down. He was about to stab her when all of a sudden…

“Lock the doors! Lock the doors!” yelled a knight who bursted into the castle. He ran to the king, panting as the knights did what he asked.

William removed his foot from Lucy and rested his sword on his shoulder. “What’s going on?”

“Your majesty…it's chaos. Pure chaos! The wall’s been breached…and the knights. They are-!”

The knight stopped talking. Fear controlled his lips.

“Out with it, young man. What happened to them?”

“We have to get out of here! He’s coming this wa-”

Ba-ba! Umph!

Everyone turned their focus to the entrance.

Ba-ba! Umph!

Ba-ba! Pang!

The doors popped open and slammed hard off their hinges. A gust of cold wind blew past. A hammer twirled and rested on the unknown figure’s shoulder.

“Knock knock. Is anyone home?”

The Nightmare giant stepped inside and smiled.