THE DARKEST TALES: DreamLight Rising CHAPER 1 Light
…A solitary guardian protected by light and dreams shall protect the mistress of the dream realm…
Teddy awoke from his sleepened state, looking around as he rubbed his head. He looks up at the moon; its light creeping into Alicia’s room.
“ “A solitary guardian protected by light and dreams…”? Who could it be? And… who was it that I saw in my dreams?”
Once upon a time, there was a bear who protected his mistress from Lighty, a fairy who wanted to control Alicia’s dreams.
She almost succeeded, until Teddy defeated Lighty.
Now, darkness has risen again within the dream world. And a new guardian must awaken to protect the dream realm.
Alicia holds her mother’s hand as they walk through the mall. She looked over at a toy store and saw a stuffed animal that looked like a husky; its eyes a beautiful shade of light blue; her collor a royal red.
“Mommy, Look. A husky.”, Alicia said, holding her mother’s hand with two of her own. Her mother looks over at the toy store window and sees the toy husky. She smiles; turning to her young child and asks, “Do you want that toy?”
“Really?”
“It is your birthday.” Alicia smiles from ear to hear and says, “Yes!” Alicia waited in anticipation for her gift. As she was handed the little husky, she looked at its eyes like they were gems. She hugs her new companion and says with gratitude, “Thank you, Mommy!”
The door to Alicia’s room opened ever so slightly as Alicia peeked in. She cheekily smiles and says to herself, “Time for my master plan…!” She entered her room like a ninja and placed her toy on the colorful carpet. Before she could go around her room, her mother called her from downstairs. As she was about to leave her room, she turned back and said to her toys, “I have to go, so be nice to our new friend.” Alicia closed the door to her room and ran downstairs. As the little husky toy sat in the darkness of the room, a black cat appeared from above. She flew down and looked at the little husky. She rubbed the top of their head softly. She placed her missile on the husky’s forehead and said, “Wake up, my child. It’s time to awaken from your slumber.”
Darkness. That’s all that could be seen. It was like a blanket. Little by little, the little husky opened her eyes. She blinked a few times and looked around; confused and alone.
“Wh-Where am I? What is this place?”, the husky wondered.
“Hello there!” The husky jumped. She looked around in fear and confusion.
“W-Who’s there? Who are you?”
“Us!” The husky looked around in quick confusion. Looking around her. She looked back to see a glass doll smiling at her. She yelped and jumped back. She arched her back in fear and asked, “Who are you?!”
“Well, what do we have here?”, a blond boy in green clothes asked. “A new girl?” The husky looked back; her back still arched.
“About time.” A doll clothed in a dark purple cloak jumped down from the bed and walked over to the blond haired boy. “I thought we would never get a new guardian.”
“I like little friend.”, a stuffed doll said, easily towering over the other toys.
“She’s a bit small.”, a brown stuffed bear said from behind.
“You shouldn’t be talking, Teddy.”, another stuffed doll said.
“Who are you?! What are you?! Where am I?”, the little husky asked in fear. She could feel fear rising within herself. As she was backing up to the bed, a strong yet gentle voice said, “Don’t fear, my child. You are safe with us.” The little husky felt a chill rise from the felt within her. She looked back to see a silhouette of a cat covered in mist; her eyes a glowing blue. The husky felt herself shrink in fear and confusion.
“W-What are you?!”, the husky asked in fear.
“It’s okay. We’re not going to hurt you.” The shadowed cat reached out to the little husky before she yelled, “No! Stay back!” The little husky swatted the shadowed cat's paw away and ran in the other direction. In her haste, she didn’t see where she was going and ran through Alicia’s mirror. The eight guardians stood in shocked stunned silence.
“Did she just…”, the glass doll trailed off.
“Run through the mirror?”, the stuffed doll finished. “She did.”
“This is bad!”
A blue portal opened in on the outskirts of a village and the little husky fell through; landing on the dirt ground.
“Ow…” The husky lifted herself up from the ground and looked around to find herself near a town and a forest. “What is this place? Where am I?” The husky looks back at the opened portal. “They didn’t follow me? Why?” She shook her head and looked back at the forest. “I better find a way out of here before they find me.” The husky ran down the path as she entered the forest; the light from the trail dimming from behind.
“Where did that little husky go?” The eight guardians walked down the path as they looked around the area; the husky nowhere in sight.
“Do you think she went near the town?”, the young princess worried.
“No. She wouldn’t go somewhere that’s so crowded.”, the shadowed cat answered. “And I doubt she would have made her way to one of the eight realms.”
“We shouldn’t have scared her like that.”, the blond boy said.
“She wasn’t scared of you per say. Just confused.” As the shadowed cat spoke, reckoning howls came from the dark forest; echoing through the trees.
“What was that?” The red hooded girl ran near the edge of the forest; cupping her left ear and leaning forward.
“What do you hear?”, the sorcerer asked. Before the girl could answer; her expression turned grim with worry.
“She’s in the forest!”
The little husky walked lightly through the dark forest; the sounds of a snapping twig making her jump.
“What was that?! H-Hello…?” As the little husky looked around at the area, she could feel a dark and dangerous presence behind her. She looked back to see several large wolves looking at her; each step in a stalking motion. The huskies heart began to race with fear and dread; her back arched.
“P-Please… don’t hurt me…!” The middle wolf lunged at the husky; only for her to run deeper into the forest. The wolves chased after the husky barking like wild dogs for its prey. The little husky ran with all her strength, fearing for her life.
“I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna die!”, the husky thought. She tripped over a raised root from the tree and fell to the ground with a thud. She tried to lift herself up, only to be met with the wolves towering over her. Shaking with fear, the little husky was able to whisper, “Please… I don’t want to die…!” The middle wolf raised its paw to strike at the husky, swiftly covering her head in fear. Nothing came. Two slash-like sounds came from above; followed by heavy paws running in a different direction.
“Are you okay?” The little husky uncovered her head to see the red hooded girl and the teddy bear standing over her. She jumped back in fear; her body arching. The floating mermaid used her tail to stop the husky and said, “Hey, It’s okay. You're safe now.” The husky ran over to a tree and said in fear, “How do I know you don’t want to hurt me?”
“Dear child, if we wanted to hurt you, we would have done it by now.”, the shadowed cat said, her voice soft and reassuring. The little husky was hesitant, not knowing if what the cat said was truth or lie. But looking into her eyes, the little husky could feel a sense of familiar warmth; a motherly precinct. Little by little, she walked up to the shadowed cat; bolting over in fear. The husky hid in the cat's fur; feeling her warmth become her own. The shadowed cat held the little husky close. As the husky became calm, the eight guardians brought her back to the real world; explaining the situation.
“Dream guardian…? What’s a dream guardian?”
“A dream guardian protects Alicia’s dreams from being corrupted.", the shadowed cat explained. “Those wolves that attacked you were nightmares.”
“Why were they after me?”
“They knew you were one of us. They must have thought you were able to fight, but they made a mistake.”
“Good thing we found you when we did. You would have been torn to pieces.”, the glass doll said, causing the small husky to shake in fear.
“Red, Don’t say that!”, the princess yelled. “You're scaring her!”
“Oops, Um, sorry kid.”
“Real smooth, Red.”, the teddy bear added.
“At least I said sorry!”
“Can we get back on topic, please?”, the shadowed cat beckoned. “Little one, Alicia chose you to be her guardian.”
“She did? Why me?”, the little husky asked.
“Like all of them, she and you have a special connection. That makes you a dream guardian.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh yeah. How do you think Teddy became a guardian?”, the blond doll joked; the teddy bear gave him death glairs.
“We didn’t mean to scare you, little one. For that we apologize.”, the cloaked doll said. “We just got a bit over excited.”
“Yeah, We’re really sorry.”, The mermaid doll said.
“Aren’t you all forgetting something?”, the shadowed cat mentioned. The mermaid doll looked at the cat for a moment; confused and unsure of what she meant. That was when it clicked; the husky didn’t know they’re names.
“Oh! We haven’t introduced ourselves! I’m the little mermaid, but everyone calls me Song. Sorry for scaring you before.”
“I am Dragoll; the sorcerer. It is an honor to meet you, young one.”
“I’m little red riding hood.”, the porcelain doll said. “But my friends call me Red. Nice to meet you, cousin.” Red rubbed the top of the little husky’s head.
“I am Giantess. Nice to meet you, little husky.”
“I’m Peter Pan”, the blond doll said, pointing at himself. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Sleeping Beauty.” The glass doll walked up and shook the little husky’s paw. “You can call me Beauty.” Beauty looked back to see the wooden doll keeping a distance from the stuffed husky. “Pokki, why are you all the way back there?”
“Um, No reason…?”
“Come here and say hello.” The wooden doll took a few steps forward but stopped a few feet away.
“My name is Pinocchio. It’s nice to meet you.”
“And this grumpy bear is Teddy.”, Red pointed. “The one who saved you.”
“I can introduce myself, Red.”, Teddy remarked. He walked up to the little husky and said, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Do you have a name, Little one?”, the Witcher cat asked. The little husky looked at the witcher cat for a moment, then looked down.
“I’m not sure.”, the little husk said.
“What about your collar? It should have a name on it if Alicia gave you one.”, Song said. “Look at the tag.”
“The tag?” The little husky held the gold heart tag in her felt paws, looking at the small engraved letters. “ “Everest”. My name is Everest?”
“It appears so, Guardian Everest.”, the Witcher cat said.
“So… does Alicia know you're all… alive?”, Everest asked.
“No. And it’s better that it stays that way. Them as guardians are shaped by Alicia’s imagination. If she were to know that we were all alive, that would…. Complicate things.”
“Oh..”
“Hey, since we’re on the topic of rules and guardians, how about we show you around the dream realm?”, Red suggested. “We still have some time before Alicia comes home from dance class.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea.”, Beauty said in a delighted voice. She knelled down to Everest level. “Is that okay with you?” Everest thought for a moment before agreeing to go. “Great! Don’t worry, we’ll be by your side so don’t worry.” Everest held Beauty’s hand as they walked out of the portal. Everest looked around and her eyes landed on a village from below. She had been in such a rush to run she hadn’t even noticed it.
“Pretty…”
“So where should we go first?”, Red asked. “The forest, or the village?” Everest shook and she hugged Beauty’s gown in fear.
“Please no…!”
“Red!”
“Right, sorry, sorry. Let’s go check out the village.”
“Is it safe?”, Everest asked in a small voice.
“Don’t worry. The village is completely safe.”, Beauty said. She kneeled down and rubbed Everest’s back.
“There’s a bunch of nice people who live there. So you don’t have to worry.”, Song added. “Follow me!” Song led the others down the hill while Teddy stood behind. The Witcher Cat stood beside him.
“Are you sure she’s one of us?”, Teddy asked.
“I felt an instant connection to her when I brought her to life. She’s a dream guardian like the rest of us.”
“It’s just… she’s timid.”
“May I remind you how you acted the first time you came to life, Teddy?” Teddy appalled for a moment before feeling his face become red with embarrassment and annoyance.
“I thought I told you never to bring that up again…”
“You brought it up first, Teddy. Let’s catch up with the others.” Teddy began to walk down the hill. Witcher Cat was about to follow him when she stopped. She looked back to the forest; the light almost nonexistent. She narrowed her eyes defensively before looking away and walking down the hill.
Everest walked close to Beauty and Song.
“This village is where Alicia’s dreams gather.”, Dragoll explained.
“It’s beautiful…”
“Coming through!” A boy in arabian clothes passed by the guardians on a flying rug.
“Wait a second… I know him! That’s prince Aladdin!”, Everest explained.
“How do you know?”, Red asked.
“Alicia was reading a book about fairy tales and Aladdin was in there! He’s really in her dreams?”
“Yup.”
“Objects and stories can become real in the dream realm. It all depends on Alicia’s imagination. It’s why we look so different from our real selves in the real world.” Everest looked at herself from a mirror a few feet away.
“Is that why I look different too…?” Everest looked away from the mirror as her eyes had landed on a ditch. “What’s over there?” Everest ran to the edge of the ditch and looked down. A man ran to a carving and said, “Open Sesimie!” A door in the dirt wall opened and the man ran in. As the door closed behind him, forty men ran past in naivety.
“I know this one! It’s Ali Baba and the forty thieves!”, Everest exclaimed.
“Looks like we have an expert in our mits.”, Pinocchio said.
“What cha say, Dragoll? Want her as your apprentice?”, Red joked.
“I wanna try!” Everest ran down the hill at full speed.
“Everest, be careful!”, Song yelled. Everest tripped over a rock and began to tumble down the dirt ditch.
“Help!”
“Everest! Hold on, I’m coming to save you!” Song flew down the ditch at full speed. As she got closer and closer, a cat ran past her and grabbed Everest by her back.
“Are you okay, little one?” Everest looked at the cat before her. She looked down and saw a pair of boots on his paws.
“Hang on. Your Puss in Boots. Thank you for saving me.”
“Everest! Thank goodness you're safe!” Song picked up Everest and held her close. “Thank you, Puss.”
“Glad I could help, Ms. Song. Take care now!” Song flew back up to the guardians and said, “Let's take Everest to my realm!”
“You have a realm?”, Everest asked.
“Yup. We all do. Though I argue that my realm can't be beat~”
“Still not true~”, Red whispered.
“Come on!” Song opened a portal beside her.
“Can't we go the old way?”, Teddy asked.
“Too long! We take the short cut!”
“Is it safe?”, Everest asked.
“Don't worry. You'll be fine. Hold on!” The guardians passed through the portal. On the other side, Everest saw a castle illuminated by the sun's rays. She looked in amazement and wonder. Her heart raced in excitement.
“It's beautiful…”
“Come on. I'll show you around!” Song carried Everest as she swam to the castle.
“Hey, wait for us!”, Red yelled.
“You all go on ahead. I'll catch up in a bit.”, Witcher cat said. The rest of the guardians followed Song to the castle as Witcher Cat looked back at the abyss of the ocean. Song led Everest to a shelf in her throne room.
“What are these?”, Everest asked.
“Treasures. I love adventuring the ocean floor and finding new things from the surface.”
“She's tried to take our stuff a handful of times though.”, Dragoll said.
“But they're shiny! That reminds me, Witcher Cat wanted me to give you something.” Song swam upward to another shelf. She looked around until her eyes landed on a gold necklace with a pink crystal heart. She reached for it and swam back down to Everest. “This is for you!”
“It’s beautiful…”
“This necklace acts as a protection beacon. If you ever need help from any one of us, this necklace will let us know.”
“Protection… Thank you, Song. By the way, does every guardian have a realm?”
“Sure do. My realm is right next to Song’s.”, Peter said. “Wanna see?”
“Really?!” Everest’s tail wagged in excitement.
“Might as well. We’re showing you the whole dream realm! Will you like to take my hand, little lady?”
“Okay.” Everest took Peter’s hand as he led the others to the ocean surface. Dragoll, however, stood behind as Witcher Cat appeared behind him.
“I was wondering where you ran off to. You had me worried.”
“I apologize. I wanted to check something in Song’s realm.”
“And that would be… what exactly?” Witcher Cat looked to the ocean surface, her face a look of uneasiness. “Is it… her?”
“No, it’s not her. But something has been moving through the shadow lands. I don’t want to tell the other guardians, especially Teddy, until I know for sure what it is. Can you keep this between us for now, Dragoll?”
“Of course, Witcher.”
“Thank you. Now, If you don’t mind me asking, where did everyone go?”
“They should be in Peter’s realm now.”
Witcher Cat and Dragoll surfaced from the ocean and looked around.
“Where are they?”, Witcher Cat wondered. Dragoll looked over as saw the guardians resting on the head of Monstro.
“They’re over there.”
“Hey guys!”, Red shouted.
“Wait, where’s Everest and Peter?” Everest and Peter flew past from above and shot up towards the clouds.
“This is amazing!”, Everest shouted.
“How in the world did Everest learn to fly?”, Witcher Cat wondered.
“Peter used pixie dust on Everest.”, Teddy answered. “She may not come down for a while.” Everest and Peter flew above the clouds. Everest felt happy. Free.
“So, what do ya think?”, Peter asked.
“I love this. I can’t believe there’s so many clouds up here.”, Everest said.
“There’s more than that!” Peter led Everest back down to the guardians. “Giantess, wanna show Everest your home?”
“Yes! I will take her! Little pup, sit in my hand.”, Giantness said.
“Are you sure?”, Everest asked.
“Do not worry. I will be fine. Just watch.” Everest walked onto Giantess' hand. She looked back to see the others not following her.
“Why aren't you guys coming?”
“I think it’s better if you see for yourself.”, Red said. “You might want to hang on.” Everest looked confused before Giantess started to grow taller and taller. She held on to her fingers as they ascended into the clouds. The wind that once violently rushed past stopped.
“We are here little pup.” Everest looked around for a moment, seeing the clouds in a pure white. She looked behind herself and got up in shock and saw a castle in the sky.
“Amazing… it’s like another world!”
“Little pup likes?”
“I love it. Thank you, Giantess.”
“Welcome home, little pup.”
Alicia slept soundly in her bed with Everest close by her side. Everest, still awake, looked at her sleeping mistress. Peaceful and at ease.
“Can I really protect her…? Her hopes and dreams…?”
“Still can’t sleep?” Everest looked up to see Teddy awake.
“No… I’m scared…”, Everest whispered. “What if I can’t protect her? Her hopes and dreams…?” Teddy looks at Everest, seeing a familiar expression of doubt. He himself had doubts about protecting Alicia when he first became a guardian. He looked to the crescent moon outside; it’s light creating rays through the window. Teddy closed his eyes and smiled. He looked back at Everest and said with a soft somber voice, “You will, Everest. You're more powerful than you think you are. Get some sleep. You’ll need it.” As Teddy closed his eyes, Everest smiled. With her mind at ease, she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. From the shadows of Alicia’s room, a small blue light peeks from behind her dresser. Its eyes land on Everest and narrow; a grin spreading across their face.
“My, my, what do we have here? A new guardian? This could work in my favor."
Okay, if you guys know @elmushterri you might know about the knights handbook. In a nutshell, the knights handbook is a "story" of where if you die, you are reborn as a knight with a mortal wound. But in order for this to work, you have to sacrifice yourself for someone else.
And me being me, I thought of one other character that sacrificed himself to save his little sister. Yes, I drew Jack Frost as a knight! Sue me! Lol. I didn’t want to change too much about him because I wanted him to look recognizable. I added hints of gold because I didn't want to add too much blue. Now, before you ask me why I have him longer hair, I tried to draw him with short hair, but I didn't like how it was looking, so I gave him long hair.
Now for his mortal would... since he froze and drowned his mortal wound, it would be located on his upper body. But you can't see it because of the suit he's wearing.
Do i plan on making the rest of the guardians? Yes, i do. And I plan on making a video on it, too.
