Conscious, Conscientious

The flickering lightning barrier around the trees continued to cast a rhythmic shadow over everything around, its harshness matching the erupting tension Lammy sensed.

His eyes bounced between Raznizu, Najinzu, and Fewpar in a frenzy. He thought maybe he misheard Raznizu’s words.

“You’re…you’re defending us?” Zayza uttered, putting that theory to rest.

The knife-wielding brothers faced each other with tightened grips, and bloody intent in their stances.

“I’m afraid there’s no time to explain,” Raznizu responded without looking back. “This is precisely what I needed to avoid. Had I not smelled their presence when we first found you, perhaps you’d understand by now.”

Lammy thought back to the first dragon chase in Fantasy Country. So that’s why he retreated, he realized. Then we were way off: they’re not working together…they’re enemies?

“It seems the only way to complete the mission now,” said Raznizu evenly, “is to eliminate my old friends.”

“Ha. Fool,” Fewpar scoffed, still scratching at his scarred neck.

“So you’re a traitor, brother,” spat Najinzu. “You protect a cold-blooded murderer.”

Within their frustration, Lammy could see the plain confusion on their faces. Whatever role they once believed Raznizu filled, clearly, was a front. Fewpar was wrong: they’d been made the fools.

But…why?

“I’ve chosen to keep my promises,” argued Raznizu. “Not to become a thug serving a false ruler.”

“I’ll ask you one more time, then,” Najinzu started slowly. “Where do your allegiances lie?”

Lammy and Zayza awaited a response just as curiously.

Raznizu swung his knife in the air, so rapidly Lammy didn’t see his arm move.

“In a force that will bring your downfall,” he swore.

Again, Fewpar cackled. Whatever composed persona he carried before seemed to have perished completely after Lammy and Zayza’s previous escape.

“Well, if a fight is upon us…” he sneered, his eyes falling to Zayza with a deadly craving. “Najinzu, a dart for the girl.”

“Spare it.”

Lammy turned to find Zayza’s hardened gaze, her green eyes knowing and unafraid. She’d spoken with authority.

“I’ll enter willingly. I accept of my own accord,” Zayza finalized.

She lowered to the ground, sitting up straight in a proper position. Gracefully, she folded her hands on her lap.

“Zayza…?” Lammy checked.

“I must face him, Lammy,” she said.

Fewpar’s eyebrows lifted, his bloodthirst practically bursting from his ruffled body.

“Ah. A proper duel it is, then, my fallen princess.”

Before Lammy could protest, or even keep up, Fewpar crouched to the ground behind Najinzu, mirroring Zayza’s position. He closed his eyes and released a sigh.

Still staring unwaveringly at Raznizu, Najinzu raised a knife and spun it between his fingers effortlessly.

The situation was slipping out of Lammy’s hands fast. Violence was inevitable, from all angles and in two realms, and everyone but him was more than ready for it.

“It’ll be okay, Lammy,” Zayza promised.

He didn’t think she’d have anything more to say to him, but the meaning of her words sprung to life, surrounding him with protective intent. He watched on, hands shaking, as Zayza closed her eyes and swiftly entered the Dream World.

What…what do I do…? Lammy’s mind raced.

Raznizu and Najinzu crouched forward into identical stances, knives high in the flickering light.

“You won’t get past me,” stressed Raznizu. “Not once will you touch Zayza or the boy. If you proceed, this is your end.”

“You know I’m the stronger fighter,” Najinzu growled as a final warning. “Just know: I’ll take no pleasure in killing—”

Sparks suddenly shot out in front of him, a metallic clank accompanying them.

Raznizu stood just before him now, knives pressing a fingernail’s length from severing Najinzu’s head. Najinzu’s own knives were the only barriers keeping him alive.

Najinzu twirled and vanished, reappearing just before the entranced Fewpar.

“And my Sense-Enhancing is more powerful now,” he added. “All of your tricks will be clear as day.”

“But I see you haven’t yet learned humility.”

Somewhere in the middle of Lammy’s blink, Najinzu darted back at Raznizu and attempted a stab. But Raznizu—seemingly defying all sense of time and space—shifted appropriately for the block.

Awe and helpless fear weighed onto Lammy. This was a different language of fighting entirely—one that, without the Sense-Enhancer type, he knew he wouldn’t be able to process.

The onset of the battle shocked Lammy’s mind back into action. They couldn’t run this time: they had to defeat Fewpar and Najinzu to survive. It was time to be brave again—now more than ever before.

His knees shook, but his eyes grew warm.

He needed to join the fight.

He turned to the only strength he knew to lean on: strategy and analysis. The battle had begun on two fronts—Zayza versus Fewpar, and Raznizu verses Najinzu. He could only join one, but in doing so, he could help overwhelm one of their enemies.

But which one?

Looking on as Raznizu and Najinzu parried each other’s sparking blows with seemingly no reaction time, Lammy knew it was a fight he’d only worsen. The answer was obvious: he’d already assisted Zayza in the Dream World, and without a body there, Fewpar wouldn’t be able to target him.

But this meant leaving his and Zayza’s physical bodies vulnerable, in the care of a knife-throwing man he only recently found out hadn’t been trying to kill them.

No option felt particularly appealing.

But I have no choice, Lammy thought. If I’m gonna help at all, it needs to be in there.

He backed closer to Zayza and kneeled beside her, the hair on his arms standing up as he hardly followed the clanking knives. One successful move past Raznizu, and Najinzu’s knives would meet his and Zayza’s flesh.

There was no better time than now for Lammy to tap into his powers: they fed off of stress, and at the moment, their meal was infinite. His eyes continued glowing orange, brighter than before as he focused on bringing them forth.

Lammy placed a hand on Zayza’s shoulder and closed his eyes. Hundreds of times more seamlessly than normal, he sunk straight in.

~

The battle in the Dream World was already well underway.

Lammy’s vision faded in, and he found himself above hills and plains of grass, equal parts green and blue—it was an identical landscape to the first time Zayza and Fewpar faced off.

But the sky was black, and for the first time he’d seen, cloudless.

Green and blue blasts of light burst against the hills all over. It would have been a beautiful display, if not for the reason. Eventually, Lammy spotted Zayza in her dress far below. She fired a green beam, and then vanished again, reappearing many hills away.

Then, he pinpointed Fewpar. Both Dreamers were shooting blasts, teleporting, and shooting again repeatedly. It was almost dancelike.

“THIS IS THE DAY!!” Fewpar screamed, his voice bouncing all over the field as he moved. “THIS IS THE DAY I DEFEAT THE REVERED ZAYZA!!”

Neither was gaining the upper hand, but then, Lammy noticed Fewpar appearing closer and closer behind wherever Zayza warped.

He’s figuring out her pattern! Lammy observed. It’s only a matter of time—I need to attack!

Zayza blinked up to the highest slope, and Fewpar flashed just behind her, hand raised. A blue energy blast exploded from his palm.

Lammy raced to imagine an ambush, but he knew he was too late.

Then Zayza waved her arms rapidly, and a green field of light encompassed her. The blue blast exploded off of it, leaving Zayza untouched as she reemerged.

Next came Lammy’s attack: a gigantic fist, which rammed into Fewpar’s blind spot full-force. He barreled through the air and slammed against the next highest hill.

Uh…hi, Lammy sent Zayza.

He felt a warm sense of relief from her.

Welcome, she sent. Will you be joining us?

Lammy smiled mentally. Let’s take this bully down this time.

Zayza sent a nod. Together.

Yeah. Together.

Watching down on her from an invisible above, he felt a surge of reassurance from their confidence. The Zayza standing atop the hill had the commanding stature of a princess, and the bravery she’d earned in their long journey. Even he—scared as he was—felt more ready for this than ever.

Their suffering made them stronger. This time, it would go down differently.

“BOY!!!!!!!”

Fewpar’s voice rang across seemingly all of the Dream World, its echo rising in pitch each time. He’d stood by now, searching the sky frantically.

“HOW?! WHY?! This is a proper duel! GET OUT!!!”

He began firing light beams into the sky at random. Guarded by a lack of a body, Lammy simply cringed as he watched the tantrum unfold. One of the blasts came straight towards his vision, but passed through harmlessly.

Zayza winced, just as disturbed by Fewpar’s outrage. But then she focused decidedly, and flashed away in a green flicker.

She reappeared just in front of Fewpar.

“Enough.”

A green light began glowing in front of her dress around the legs, and she forced her knee into her adversary.

Once more, Fewpar shot into the sky, but he caught himself midair and floated above her.

Now Lammy could see his face better: even in the Dream World, where his clothes were tidy again and his scars nonexistent, there were dark rings under his hateful eyes.

“I don’t play by an abuser’s rules,” Zayza shot.

An ugly grin formed on Fewpar’s face. “‘An abuser.’ I’m the abuser, am I? Is that so? This is rich…” he muttered, his chin shaking.

Zayza suddenly stepped back, triggering alarm in Lammy; she’d sensed something coming.

In the air around Fewpar, stars began manifesting and twinkling lightly like snowflakes. They increased with every second. All the while, a blue glow intensified around his body.

“Zayza, calling me an abuser. Calling anyone else an abuser. Sure, sure…” Fewpar rambled. His empty eyes locked onto hers. “You know, I already miss last time, when you were scared, innocent, and confused. It made torturing you feel so…cathartic.”

“I…still don’t know what I did,” Zayza revealed carefully.

Fewpar puffed a laugh. “Oh, my apologies. Let me help: it was probably something like…THIS!”

The sky all around him lit up blue, and his stars now appeared black against it. He raised his fingers at Zayza, and once he did, they all began raining down—like a storm from a nightmare.

Run! Lammy pleaded.

Zayza warped far backwards, but their range was too widespread: the stars shot straight for her, even faster than the dark memory shards. She teleported again, but there they were, with more falling from the sky.

Zayza dove out of the way as a black explosion decimated the ground beside her. Even in this peril, she moved elegantly, twirling just out of reach of each attack.

Do I make her the shield? Lammy thought. Wait, no—they’re getting too close. Which means…

He brought his focus to Fewpar, who was gritting his teeth so hard they were likely cracking as he commanded his strike.

Lammy imagined the biggest tree on the outskirts of Tailpiece, and launched it spinning straight for Fewpar’s back.

But as it neared the light surrounding Fewpar, it slowed to a midair stop.

What?!

Lammy tried forcing it forward with all of his mind’s might, but it didn’t budge. Its leaves touching Fewpar’s energy caught fire, and soon the whole tree was burning blue.

By now, Fewpar had noticed the attempt as he kept his own attack coming for Zayza. He smiled menacingly. “It’s no use. Not when pitted against this sheer amount of energy,” he taunted.

Lammy watched in panic as his imagined tree disintegrated into ash. He returned his attention to Zayza.

I can’t hold him back! Get away! he warned frantically.

It’s alright, stressed Zayza.

But immediately, the opposite seemed true: at last, several of the black stars successfully reached her and pressed into her stomach, before exploding just as violently as the others.

ZAYZA!!!

“YES! FEEL IT!” Fewpar roared. “FEEL ALL OF IT!!”

Zayza smacked brutally against the hill and tumbled all the way down, arms and legs flailing. She fell just out of Lammy’s view.

“Now, then,” Fewpar said, his composedness returning for just a moment.

Under his command, all of the remaining stars showered down to where she’d fallen.

Zayza…no…please…Lammy tried, not expecting a response from his battered friend.

Now, Lammy! came her voice, just as confidently as before.

H—huh?

A brilliant green glow emitted from behind the hill where Zayza crashed, and as soon as the black stars reached it, they combusted in the air.

He can’t maintain this magnitude of energy for long! Dreamers have limits. It’s time to counter! Zayza declared.

Several green beams ascended straight for Fewpar, who had clearly assumed his onslaught succeeded. They exploded against their unsuspecting target, pushing him back in the sky as he tried and failed to deflect them.

Zayza rose into the air in a brilliant display of green radiance, still firing beams, as energetic as she was at the onset of the battle.

Lammy couldn’t help but pause in wonderment.

She’s…

Now!! Zayza stressed, her counterstrike continuing tenaciously. If we can overwhelm and weaken him enough, I can keep him pinned in here and we can force their surrender!

“Right—sorry!” Lammy stammered. He quickly grasped her plan: once Zayza had Fewpar captured, Lammy could return to the real world and threaten Najinzu to stop, or else.

It was a dark technique, but at a time like this, darkness was necessary.

He hurried to start imagining more giant objects to lunge at their enemy. Thinking off the top of his head, they came as a blend of more Tailpiece trees, and tools and appliances from their work at Gloat Center. The random items faded into view high in the sky, and swooped down at Fewpar relentlessly.

All the while, Zayza’s beams and blasts kept plowing into him. Fewpar roared from both pain and frustration.

In the midst of their offensive, Lammy kept glancing at the determined, focused Zayza.

If Dreamer energy has its limits, she doesn’t seem to be anywhere close to reaching hers, he noticed. And when Dreamers get hurt enough, they can get forced out of the Dream World…but she seems fine, even after taking that huge hit. She’s…

She’s way stronger than I thought. She’s incredible.

After a cartoonish version of the grill from the Phoenix whacked Fewpar from behind, a green beam shot down from above and forced his downward spiral to the ground. Dust shot up everywhere as he crashed with a thud, creating a small crater in the ground.

They waited as Fewpar lie twisted in the dirt.

That…was kind of brutal, Lammy admitted. But given the torment they’d received from this man, he couldn’t bring himself to feel guilt.

Now then, said Zayza. She stepped forward, and then warped closer to Fewpar. Carefully, she hovered down and stood just before him.

Lammy, once I restrain him, go tell Najinzu we have his comrade at our mercy, she instructed.

O—okay…Lammy would have swallowed hard if he could. While Zayza’s assertiveness was comforting, it was a bit scary how poised she was. It had to be her returning memories.

But the instant Zayza inched closer to Fewpar, blue energy burst around him. He pounced up and rammed himself into her with a chilling cackle.

Zayza tumbled backwards against the ground, but swiftly regained her footing and stood in defense.

Fewpar’s jarring laughter continued. “I’d expect nothing less from the former Azvaylen Princess…spectacular…” he growled. “But that won’t be enough anymore, you see.”

Zayza’s eyes narrowed inquiringly, her green dress blowing in the wind from Fewpar’s rising energy.

“I’ve never stopped training since our last little get-together,” Fewpar revealed. “But more than that: no matter how badly you damage me, you won’t be able to kick me out of the Dream World, or even weaken me.”

He raised his hands out to the side, as if giving an elaborate speech.

“Did you not see my beautiful new scars all over my real-world body?! Thanks to Najinzu, I’ve increased my Pain Tolerance to a level so high, there’s nothing you’ll be able to do to overpower me!” he announced, bursting into more laughter. His eyes shot wide open and his head shook. “He tried to deter me, saying if he went too far, I’d lose my sanity! The IDIOT!! I demanded him to keep going, as far as he possibly could!! And he was wrong: I’ve never felt better in my LIFE!!”

His cackles filled the air, seemingly distorted through his blinding blue energy.

Disgusting, Lammy heard Zayza think. He couldn’t tell if she meant for him to hear it. But he knew her next thought was intended for him: This isn’t good.

“Don’t you understand, Zayza?!” Fewpar continued, practically screaming. “I will stop at NOTHING to destroy you! To humiliate you! To torment you! I’ll give everything within my authority to bring upon you, until we drag your worthless body to your overdo death! Because that is my heart’s deepest longing. I will stand for Vayva!!”

Zayza…now what? Lammy asked anxiously.

Unfortunately, Lammy, I was about to ask you, she admitted. We’ll have to—

“Ow!”

It took Lammy a delayed moment to notice she’d let out a cry in her physical voice. He hurriedly checked Fewpar, but he hadn’t continued the fight just yet. In fact, Fewpar seemed just as surprised.

Zayza raised a hand to her shoulder, and brought it to her eyes to find a streak of blood.

Then, Lammy felt a sharp pain swipe across part of his non-existent arm.

What’s that?! he asked.

The real world! Zayza urged quickly. Something’s happened! Come on, we have to get out of here…

She rushed to begin her stance to exit the Dream World—but it was short-lived.

With a flash, Fewpar teleported right in front of her, his blue energy erupting into a personal storm around them.

“What a development…it seems your friend is failing,” Fewpar said. “Don’t think I’ll let you get out of here, Zayza. Our fight continues.”

Lammy, I’m stuck, Zayza urged. Please, go.

But—

PLEASE!

Lammy hesitated. He couldn’t just leave her behind.

And yet, by leaving, perhaps he could do the opposite.

I’ll protect your body! he swore. And I’ll come back!

He couldn’t waste any more time. Lammy let his Dream World vision blacken, and he felt himself begin to sink away. It started slow, and then reality pulled rapidly at his mind.

~

Lammy opened his eyes, and his very first view was Najinzu’s deadly black knife swinging right at him.