DREAM Chapter 2: Zora

“I’m dreaming, I’m dreaming; it’s just a dream,” Michael told himself, looking into the dark, dreadful eyes of his long-haired saviour. “Dream boy, follow me!” the lad called out to him in urgency. The heartrending sound of rushing horses approaching made Michael freeze in fear. “Dream boy! Come now!” the lad called, annoyance in his tone. Michael, realizing that in whatever was going on, the black haired boy was on his side, ran toward him. “Follow!” the swordsman commanded. Panting and stumbling, Michael tried to keep up. He knew there was no time for questions. He just darted behind the black-haired boy. The sound of whipped, chasing horses grew louder and more frightening by the second.

In a short while, Michael and his leader reached a more open area. Before them were five horses and two girls, two marvellously gorgeous girls, probably the prettiest girls the confused boy had ever seen. “Secret, where’s Royo and Abel?” the black-haired boy questioned. Realizing that these beauties were friends of the black haired boy, Michael ran up to them. “Dream boy!” one of the girls greeted, her face bright with pretty, shining eyes and perfect smile. Though still very confused, Michael couldn’t help his blushing as the girl grabbed him and squeezed him tightly like he was a long lost brother. He became sure that in whatever the hell was going on, he was someone very important – he must have been important, as men were risking their lives to kill him, and others to save him. The girl that hugged him, as if she had just realized what she was doing, pushed him off in a playful, forceful manner. She wore on her back a well-loaded quiver and a huge, varnished bow.

The other girl was much more serious-looking. She too was pretty, but seemed far less jovial. She hadn’t the slightest look of excitement or happiness on her face. Her expression much resembled that of the black eyed boy. She had long blonde hair that was made into a tight ponytail. Thin black chords enforced it tightly, making a neat diamond pattern. In each of her tightened grips was a deadly-looking dagger. Michael glanced at the brown belt she wore. There were several small pockets in it, and most of them accommodated a dagger like the ones she held, their handles jutting out. She certainly didn’t look like a novice at combat. She seemed to Michael to be expert at callously stabbing into the hearts of her enemies.

“Master Royo!” the girl that grabbed Michael yelled, looking in the direction from whence Michael and the black-eyed boy came. Michael looked back. He saw another lad and a blood covered man that looked to be in his forties emerge from the dark cluster of massive trees. The black-eyed boy clenched his sword more tightly. Michael had just noticed the long black chains the boy wore over his black overcoat. They stretched diagonally across his left shoulder and right hip. They were not very conspicuous, as he was clothed in full black. Had it not been for the light from the strange stone Michael held caught the chains, so wouldn’t have noticed them. “Go! Go!” the incoming man commanded, “Get him on a horse! Quickly!” The lad cased his sword as he and the man reached near the others. Then, with speed and agility Michael didn’t see coming, the man and the boy jumped on one of the horses. Then, in a jiffy, the two girls and Michael’s black-eyed saviour jumped on the four remaining horses.

Bursting the shadows among the trees was an army of at least a dozen horsemen, charging with swords and loaded bows in their hands. Certain that these men weren’t here to play a friendly game of chess, Michael turned to his new found friends. A soft, friendly hand stretched down from a beautiful, white stallion. Michael grabbed it, and found his way upon the horse, sitting behind the girl he admired so much, the same one with the amazing smile that had embraced him excitedly. Michael grabbed on to the horse to keep his balance, too shy to hold on to the girl’s waist instead. “Go! Go! GO!” their leader commanded, and with enough kicking, the five horses sped off.

The purple-haired girl on Michael’s horse made a quick, skilful movement, positioning herself to face Michael in under a second. Michael’s heart jumped at this, no doubt. The girl grabbed Michael’s head and forced it downwards, then drew for an arrow and loaded her bow. Michael strained his neck in its awkward position to see behind him. “Secret! Glow! Eliminate the enemy archers!” a command rang out. Michael made the quick count of four enemy horsemen that were armed with bows and arrows. The others carried swords, and so were not the immediate problem. *ZOOM!* Michael shifted his head slightly as an enemy arrow zoomed past his face, trimming tiny hairs off his nose. The archer on Michael’s horse released the arrow she drew. Michael watched and gasped as the arrow was launched into the Adam’s apple of an enemy archer. The man keeled over instantly. “Oh, by the way, my name’s Glow!” the beauty finally introduced. Michael, though, was too overwhelmed by everything to speak. He gasped and panicked as he watched an enemy archer look and aim straight at him. *ZAM!* Another of Glow’s perfectly aimed arrows sped towards and blasted its target. It sunk into the forehead of the man that aimed to kill Michael. As the man fell from the horse, the arrow he had readied was released into the air.

Michael glanced up into the sky, and froze in absolute fright. As he gazed up into the sky with a wide mouth and tearing eyes, he saw what had frightened him the most since the beginning of his absurd experience. There were two moons in the sky. They seemed to be equally sized, and seemed to be the same size as Luna. The boy was certainly rendered speechless by this strange sight. One of the moons had the similar silver-bluish colour he of the moon he knew to be in the night sky; the other moon had more of a purple hue.

Glow grabbed Michael’s head again, and brought him from the strange daze the sky had put him in. He glimpsed the group’s commander make a jump and turn around on his horse, drawing his sword. The enemy horsemen were meters away from him, but the man swung with great force, as if the enemies were right upon him. Then, Michael saw something he had reason to think impossible. The effect the long blade had sliced off perfectly the heads of two incoming foes, as if distance was non-existent. Michael cast his eyes over to the blonde-haired girl. He watched her grab two daggers from her belt, and quickly send them at the enemies. Michael witnessed the knives plunge into the chests of two of the men. Blood spewing from them, they helplessly fell from their horses. Still, there were more enemy archers volleying the fast-moving group. The arrows were useless though, as the commander of the group easily destroyed them before they could deal any damage.

More blood gushed, and more hearts were pierced, and more men fell from their horses. By now, only one enemy archer remained. The once dreadful-looking cluster of enemies was now a sparsely numbered set of frightened, confused men. “Retreat!” the most well dressed of the men yelled, apparently their leader. With that, the few remaining chasers turned their horses around and fled back into the darkness. Glow uttered a heavy sigh. Her fine-looking, purple hair that almost seemed to glow pounced as the horse galloped quickly. Then, she looked at the still dumbfounded Michael and smiled at him, then made another quick, skilful move, reverting to her original position on the horse. Michael, slightly losing his balance, grabbed on to the girl’s waist with his left arm, and pulled himself closer to her. He looked down once again at the strange, glowing stone in his right hand, wondering, almost assuming that all these strange happenings were over the stone.

“Master Royo! Your wound!” the pretty girl Michael sat behind bellowed, grave concern evident in her voice. With this, the five horses were slowed until they stopped moving altogether. Michael rushed his eyes over to the man, just getting a good look at his face. He wasn’t as young as Michael perceived him to be when he was running and jumping and swinging. Michael realized that this man could’ve been around his grandpa’s age. Glow jumped down from her horse quickly. She and the lad with short, brown hair, resembling Michael’s, helped the obviously injured man down from his horse. They were still surrounded by trees, but they weren’t nearly as densely present as before. Also, the air was still chilly, but not with the numbing coldness Michael was feeling earlier, and the layer of snow on the ground was much thinner. The two children aided the man in sitting and resting his back against the bark of a massive tree. The leaves of the tree stretched and covered all of them, including the horses. Michael, like the other teens, was now on his feet. He clutched tightly to the warm stone.

The brown-haired boy quickly took off the old man’s shirt. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. Michael stared at the man’s chest, and the terrible, deadly-looking wound. Though this man was up in his years, his body was quite muscular, and was full of vague scars. Royo struggled to speak. “Stab wound…” he groaned as the pain gripped him, “good sized knife too… ahhh… Damn…” He eased himself up against the rough, chilly bark of the broad-leaved tree. Michael observed the looks of worry on the faces of the teens, except for the black-eyed boy; a calm, apathetic look remained on his face throughout everything. “Heh heh heh…” the old man laughed a little, then wheezed, worrying his assistants even more, “don’t worry now… I’ll make it through a while longer; the town’s just few miles ahead. I’ll be fine once we get there, but let’s rest here a short while.” The elderly man started intently at Michael, smiling at him. Michael just looked back at the man, confused as to what to say or do. He slowly stretched his right hand out, apparently for the stone Michael held. Michael took a step toward him, and stretched out his right hand, offering the stone to the man. The old man slowly put his hand on the stone, holding on to it, and to Michael’s hand, as the brown-haired boy wrapped his shirt tightly around the bad wound, stopping the bleeding.

The man, instead of taking the stone from Michael, tugged gently at him and the stone. Michael walked up to the man slowly, anxiously. Michael wondered about the look in this man’s eyes: the look in his eyes spelt that of discovery, great achievement. “What is your name, lad?” the old man asked him. Michael stared at the man.
“Uh… Michael… Michael Volt… Sir…” the boy answered nervously. Royo smiled, and laughed a little more, further confusing Michael. “Michael Volt… Michael Volt…” the man repeated, like the name had some kind of great value attached to it. “Please… Sir… What’s going on?” the confused boy finally asked, “I know I’m dreaming and all… but it feels so real… Who… Who are you?” the boy questioned, perplexity obvious in his tone. The old man laughed again, sitting up more comfortably. “You ask who I am…” the man said, “If you only knew… who you are…”
“Master Royo,” the black-eyed boy said in a brisk, almost commanding tone, “I advise we leave the greetings for later and head into the town with dispatch. Your wound--”
“Enough, Lex!” the man snapped, annoyance, even embarrassment in his tone. “Now, all of you,” he said in a more pleasant tone, “Be polite. Tell Michael your names.”

“I’m Abel!” the brown-haired boy firsted. He was about Michael’s height, and had bright brown eyes. He smiled brightly, and had a friendly, kiddish look on his face. He stretched his right hand out to Michael. Michael noticed that he too carried a sword. Michael grabbed his hand, smiling a bit, and the shook it. “Secret,” the long-haired knife wielder greeted, shaking Michael’s hand. “And as you already know, my name’s Glow!”the girl with purple hair reintroduced, pleasant excitement in her voice. Michael stared straight into the girl’s hazel-green eyes. They were the pretties things he had ever seen – no competition or doubt in his mind. On realizing that he was staring, he turned his eyes from the girl quickly. “Lex,” the black-eyed boy introduced. Michael stared into Lex’s eyes; they were darker, blacker than the densest kind of darkness. He felt like they were pulling him in, and felt a ghastly chill though his entire body. “Good, and I am Royo,” the old man established. “Names! Good!” the no less confused boy continued, feeling just slightly more at ease around these strangers. “Now back to the part where… first, Lex and… ya’ll… I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I believed you saved my life. Yeah, I got that part clear as crystal!” the boy raved, “but why were those men after me? Or were they after this stone? They were after the stone, weren’t they?!” he asked, handing the gem to the old man, “What is this thing?! What the hell?! What is this place?! Where is here?! What?! Swords?! What time is this?! Oh my God, oh God…” Michael held his forehead as a headache began. He slowly lowered himself to sit on the ground, exhausted from the running he did earlier and from all the excitement.

“Alright, don’t hurt yourself,” Royo said calmly, pushing the gem he held in his palm back to him. “Glow, give him the Zora Link.” Confusion wrinkled Michael’s face even more. The purple-haired girl brandished her left ring finger; Michael just noticed the two rings there – they seemed to identical, certainly a matching pair. They were golden, and had on them minute inscriptions that were definitely impossible to decipher with the naked eye. Glow took one of the rings off her finger. “Give me your hand,” she told him, with a flirty smile. Confused and intrigued, Michael put forth his right hand before Glow. Like she was proposing to marry him, she took the ring and slid it on the boy’s ring finger. “Wh—What’s this for?” the wondering boy asked, hoping the girl was being given to him to marry or something of the sort. Then, he shook his head quickly. “Here! Here’s your bloody stone!” he yielded, and threw it to the old man. The man caught the stone quickly, making an obviously deliberate effort to not have it fall, like it was made of glass. “No! Take it!” the man demanded, stretching forth his hand to Michael, straining to get up. The boy stared at the worried-looking old man with wide eyes. The black-eyed boy stood slowly. Michael looked over at him. Lex went over to Royo and took the glowing gem from him, then moved toward Michael. Michael stared into the boy’s eerie eyes, paralyzed by a dark fear he couldn’t understand. Lex grabbed Michael’s right hand and gently placed the stone into it. The shaking boy watched the long-haired boy step back to where he was sitting before. I have this strange feeling that I really don’t wanna irritate that boy, Michael thought.

“Michael!” Royo said sternly, as he was about to start his raving again. “We haven’t much time. You must talk less and listen more! The confusion and fear will wear off in time. Trust me. That stone you’re holding… you mustn’t lose it. It is imperative that you remember that. Guard it with your life. Do not allow it to leave your hands.”
“But--”
“Until you understand, obey me by faith, Michael,” the man beseeched, “You have done well thus far in staying alive and protecting the Dream Stone--”
“The what? What’re you talking about? What the hell is a Dream Stone?”
“Listen, Michael!” the man interrupted, now sounding annoyed, “I’m not sure how much time we have with you right now. Remember this – whenever you sleep, you must sleep with the Dream Stone”
“But Wh--”
“Do you understand?!” the old man blasted
“… Y-yessir,” the nervous boy answered.
“Good. Now listen closely. Close your eyes and see with me.” Michael did as told, hoping the old man would finally enlighten him on what was going on.

“… In the beginning, the ‘Supreme One’ cared for, provided for his people, the dwellers of Zora. There was no toil, no strife; life was perfect. The Supreme one would communicate with his people on a holy mount, mount Issuh, the highest point on all of Zora. He selected, from his people, seven who were wiser than all the rest, and called them ‘The Elect’ – his holy council. Each millennium, they would search the land for an arbitrator. The arbitrators were the only ones who were allowed to ascend mount Issuh, and be the link between the supreme one and his people. The supreme one granted his people with dominion over all nature, over all the natural elements. They were perfect beings, made in the image of the supreme one. There was no night, no darkness… The powers the people possessed made life full of pleasure. There was no labour, no sweat, no blood, no tears, no war. There was perfect peace.
Now, one of the arbitrators, on his ascent to mount Issuh, on his visit to the supreme one, asked about his staff. The supreme one was always clothed in bright light, that made him blinding to look at, but his glistening, silver staff was always visible. The supreme one told Rayden, the arbitrator, that his staff was the Lightning Rod, and that he used it to control an element forbidden to his people, lightning of course. Rayden questioned the supreme one as to why his people hadn’t gotten the power to control the element lightning, as they did the others. ‘Lightning is no good for you,’ the supreme one told him, ‘it would only trigger strife and destruction and corruption if placed in your hands. You must not know these things. They are not of this world. I alone can purely use this element.’ Before this meeting, Rayden had never before heard of lightning, let alone know its purpose or nature. ‘What is this element? Why do you forbid it unto us? And what are these things you speak of?’ the curious Rayden questioned the supreme one in wonder.
‘Lightning, my child, is an element of war. I use it not in this world, but in fallen worlds.’ Rayden was seen as one of the wisest men in all of Zora, but he still could not grasp the concept of imperfection, corruption. Lightning and its purpose still puzzled him. ‘Destruction? Corruption? Strife? Fallen worlds… Forbidden element?’ Rayden pondered greatly upon these things.
‘Do not be concerned with this element,’ the supreme one told this inquisitive arbitrator, ‘I have given each of my children the power to control one of the natural elements. You are all perfect in my sight. You, Rayden, are my favourite of the arbitrators… You have a most unusual mind… Your mind has somehow surpassed the others, and has led you to ask these questions. Your mind has opened itself to a new realm of ideology… But I do not want you to stray from the ways which I have taught you. Promise me, Rayden, that you will always trust me, and live in my precepts.’
‘Most certainly, Supreme One!’ the man answered quickly.
‘Very good. Now I will set you above the others, and give you control over all the elements… all except the one forbidden unto you.’
With this, Rayden became easily the most powerful man in the world. But even then, he was not satisfied. He still felt he needed one more thing… He wanted, at all costs, the lightning rod. He felt the need to wield the power of the forbidden element, the power he knew only the supreme one to have. He thought if he had this power, only then could he be truly perfect, only then would he be complete… and equal with the supreme one. Before long, Rayden ascended the holy mountain again. ‘Rayden,’ the supreme one greeted, the light from around him seeming even brighter to the arbitrator than ever. ‘Give me the lightning rod! Only then will I be perfect!’ the man demanded hastily. ‘But I have made you perfect, Rayden,’ the supreme one said, and began to weep, ‘Not only perfect, but great, greater than the others… What is this that has come upon my perfect world?! What is this that has come upon me?’ In a covetous, desirous threat, Rayden folded his fists. They rustled mightily with the power of the elements – all the elements he knew except for lightning. ‘What have you done, Rayden? Have your brought strife into my perfect world?!’ There was rue and anger in his voice. Rayden had never heard the supreme one speak with such a tone, so it must have frightened him. ‘You have cursed even this very mountain, from which I dwell among you! You have cursed this entire world with your corrupt ideals! I must now leave this place which I have created with my holy hands, lest my light destroy it, and burn it to a stubble!’
‘Then I will be Supreme One!’ Rayden blasted. The supreme one uttered a rueful, heavy sigh.
‘You have become imperfect. The power of immortality, and the power of the elements must leave you.’
‘What?!’
‘In seven days, I will speak to my people one final time’. With that, Rayden covered his eyes, as the supreme one vanished in a burst of light.
Rayden descended Issuh, and his corrupt ideals spread through the world like wild fire. As the supreme one had promised, seven days later, he addressed his people. There was a massive earthquake, and lightning tore across the sky! The people had never seen such things, and they were frightened. Some of them ran and hid, feeling fear for the first time. Then, a loud voice descended from the skies unto the people, ‘Your perfect hearts have been corrupted! Strife has entered this world, and I can no longer dwell among you! Nor will the gift of eternal life or the power of the elements longer be yours! Nevertheless, the power of the elements will be bound to this world, and cast into the depths of it, hidden in creations of your future, creations of strife and war, and death.’ The frightened people wonder about these strange things that the Supreme One spoke of. Usually, they would gather at the foot of Issuh to commune with their creator, but this time, they were scattered about Zora, yet each heard his voice. ‘… And the very elite, who shall capture these elements, will be rulers unto you, whether they be just or unjust, good or evil. And out of your imperfection, there will rise another Supreme One, one who will gather the elements, and receive the respect of the Lightning Rod. If this Supreme one rises from among you, or from among your seed, further, and worse destruction shall surely come upon you, for you are all corrupt. Zora… Oh how have you fallen?!’
And that was the last of the great voice. It was since then that strife entered this once perfect world. This world, like many others, has become fallen. No-one could command the elements of nature. There was pain, and sweat, and toil, and tears, and alas, bloodshed. As centuries passed, conflicts developed, and even nature itself turned against mankind. Beats became furious. Plants spiked thorns, Wars and death and sickness plagued Zora. The age of perfection had become history.”

The teens just sat there, all spaced out, mesmerized by Royo’s storytelling skills. They saw plainly, even Michael, all that the old man was saying. “Wow… All that… Happened here? Zora?” Michael asked, the story sounding to him far too fantastical to be true. “That’s right, Michael.”
“But—I still don’t understand! Why am I here?! What does all this have to do with me?! … Who am I?” the confused boy asked, considering that question for the first time since he found himself in this strange place. “Finally,” Royo said, a smile of relief on his face, “The right question… Now listen some more… Your question will be answered in time… I am Royo Gashi. I have made it my passion and duty to study the history and prophecy of this fallen world. Millennia have passed since the close of the age of perfection. People have forgotten about the elements, all but a few, who still pursue them. . . The Elemental Age officially began the instant you set foot in Zora”
“Huh?! But how?! Why me?! How the hell did I get here?!”
“Just listen… Ohh….” The pain from the nasty wound gripped the old man another time.
“Master Royo!” Glow panicked.
“Wait!” the stubborn man snapped, sounding annoyed. He struggled, with clenched teeth, to make himself a bit more comfortable. “Now… The prophecy… which is never wrong, told me that on this very night you would--”
“Old man! This is crazy! This is all a dream, and I know it!” Michael blasted, sounding frustrated.
“Yes, Michael, this is a dream, so what harm could it do to hear me out?” Michael thought of what the man said, seeing sense in his argument.

“You must understand as much as you can before you wake,” the man asserted, sounding quite serious, like he was warning the boy, “Now, prophetic literature tells me, as the supreme one had foretold, that the elemental powers have hidden themselves in various manmade items. They can be captured and used by anyone.”
“Yeah, like the Ice Sword and the Sky Staff.”
“That’s right, Abel,” Royo resumed, “These elements can give even the weakest of us powers beyond your wildest dreams!”
“You mean there’re dreams wilder that these?!” Michael joked.
“Focus, Michael!” the man snapped in a less than jovial tone, “In this age, kings, armies, societies, clans, individuals will rise up more zealously than ever, and seek out the elements. If these elements all fall into the wrong pair of hands, Zora will forever be doomed!” Royo clenched his teeth and groaned in pain, further worrying his students. “Remember, all it takes for one to wield the power of the lightning rod is for them to capture all the other elements.”
“So what’s so special about this forbidden element, anyway?” the boy asked, “I mean, lightning is cool and destructive and all, but so are fire and ice!”
“The lightning rod is unique – It isn’t merely a tool with which lightning can be manipulated,” Royo began explaining, “It is far more than an elemental weapon; it is the very symbol of supremacy. The lightning rod grants the user the powers of ultimate supremacy, the powers the supreme one of old had himself. Whoever wields the lightning rod will have everlasting life, and the power to control nature in its entirety – the power to do all things! Whoever wields this rod--”
“Will become the supreme one,” Michael finished the old man’s sentence.

“But what if someone like… just found the Lightning Rod before finding the other elements?” Michael asked.
“In such case, the Lightning Rod will be a mere metal stick. Only when--”
“Oh, I see, I see, I see,” the boy cut Royo, “But I still don’t get how I come into all this!” he admitted, wondering if he missed something the old man said. “This is how,” the old man finally began. “The supreme one himself clearly stated that no Zoran could wield the power of the Lightning Rod without being corrupted by it…”
“So I, then…”
“That’s right,” Royo said, smiling slightly at the startled boy. Michael pondered this idea for a few seconds, then burst out into wild and sudden laughter. “Dammit, kid! Master Royo’s not joking around!” Abel blasted, sounding angry and even gravely insulted. Michael looked around at the youngsters. The black eyed boy had that same chilly look on his face, and the girls were too beautiful to be real, especially the one with the purple hair – Michael had seen nothing comparable to her in his own reality. “Relax, now, Abel; he is still very confused,” Royo said in a pacifying tone.

Michael sighed. “I get what you’re saying, old man, at least sort of, but what I don’t get is why I was the one who was sent here from earth! And I can imagine, if the Zora does exists, many other worlds might be out there, so why earth?! You might not know this, mister, but earth is a fallen world as well, very fallen!”
“Nothing in the prophecies told that the supreme one must be perfect--”
“He just shouldn’t be from your world,” Michael said.
“By the way, no perfect being can come to Zora’s rescue, as there are no portals that link fallen and perfect worlds.”
“I see…”

“You have heard about the elements,” Royo said, “you must also hear about Star Gems. Again, listen carefully… There are a few special stones scattered throughout Zora--”
“Called Star Gems,” Michael completed.
“Right. The origins of these stones are uncertain, but most believe they were created in the age of perfection, probably at the beginning of this world’s existence. Some believe the stones were created by the supreme one after Rayden had become corrupt, which is the more logical belief. I won’t have time to explain the details of the gems right now, but I must tell you about the one you hold in your hand, the most important of the gems, the Dream Stone. Michael looked down at the warm, glowing gem. He had almost forgotten that he was clutching it. He was quite eager to finally learn about the strange thing. “Rare prophetic literature tells me that two Dream Stones appeared in your world the moment Zora fell. These same writings justify this by saying that earth is the closest fallen world to Zora.”
“I see, but why two Dream Stones? Won’t there be only one supreme one?”
“It’s a mystery why as there are two. Don’t worry about the other, though – it might never be found for all we know. Prophecy tells of a Dreamer at the age of fourteen who would appear in this very forest on this very night. Knowing this, I came here with my elite team, the chosen of all my children. Their sole duty is to help you to gather the elements and activate the Lightning Rod before anyone else does.” Michael’s eyes widened, as again, he looked at the teens, seeing them in a different light than before. “We arrived here from daybreak, and spread out through the forest, so we would find and secure you. As Royo said that, Michael’s mind flashed back to the first man he saw on entering this strange world, the huge, militant looking man that yelled ‘found him!’

“But it seems you weren’t the only ones looking for me,” Michael added.
“You’re pretty smart, kid,” Royo complemented. “Zin, a well-leant man who studies history and prophecy almost as well as I do believes that no one person, even from outside of Zora, should wield the power of supremacy. Zin created and heads a clan of elite warriors… I’m surprised my students outdid them so easily.” Abel made a snicker. Glow grinned, proud that even she took down some enemies. “It seems Zin has more accurate and detailed prophetic knowledge than I thought. He too knew that the Dreamer would be portalled to this forest at the very hour you came here. He and his men thinned out through the area and waited for you.”
“To kill me.”
“Right… It’s a good thing you made that scream.” Glow laughed a bit, just knowing that it was a scream that had them find Michael. The boy’s face grew pink in embarrassment. “We couldn’t afford to let them kill you – the fate of Zora would have been left to the mercy of corrupt hearts. My decades of research would have all been for nothing…” Michael’s heart raced as again the pondered on how important he was in this whole situation. It is not by chance that you, Michael Volt, found the Dream Stone and fulfilled prophecy tonight. This is your destiny, and the sole purpose of your existence. The Dream Stones are the only portals that link our worlds, and they exist solely so you could enter Zora, and be its saviour.”

In an extended moment of silence, Michael tried to comprehend and accept all that this old man was saying. “So… I am dreaming right now?” the boy asked, “Will I wake up?”
“Yes, and yes, but while you are here, you must keep the stone in your hands at all times. Should you wake without it, it will be left here, and you might never be able to return to Zora.”
“Oh… I get it now,” Michael said, somewhat understanding why he was compelled to keep the Dream Stone, and understanding why he had the urge to protect it. Well, the second Dream Stone must be there in case I mess up with this one then, he thought.

“Good. Also, you must sleep with the stone in order to be portalled here in your dreams.” Michael nodded. Though he wasn’t convinced that all this was reality, he understood more clearly what was going on. “You must know, Michael, that the Dream Stone’s power will not last very long. It will soon be exhausted, and turned to coal while here in Zora. Then, you will be forced with the most critical decision of your life… a decision that will forge the path of Zora. If you choose to sleep with the stone when it becomes coal, you will be portalled to Zora one final time, with the last of the stone’s power. Then, the stone will become as ash, and there will be no way to return to the world from whence you came… Zora would have been your choice… This world would have become your new reality.”

Michael pondered on all this with wide eyes. He had never before thought of leaving earth forever to live in some other world. He thought of Emily, and Kyle, and his other friends, his father, and for the first time, he truly contemplated all the wealth he had back home. “And what if I don’t choose Zora?” the boy asked, his voice shaky with nervousness.
“The coal will still turn to ash, and you may never return to Zora…”
“And Zora will be doomed,” Michael muttered, nearly under his breath. He felt the heavy burden of responsibility bearing down on him. He had, like every other kid, dreamt of being a superhero, but he had never even imagined himself being responsible for the fate of an entire world, and though he was only dreaming, the strong emotions felt more real than ever. His heart raced, and sweat washed his face. There was tension in his mind, and the silence made the very air tense. “I have faith, Michael, that when that time comes, you’ll make the right decision… We all believe in you…” Michael held is head down, unable to look up.

The poor boy’s mind was jammed with thought. He tried to imagine leaving behind his home, his family, his whole world. He also thought of destroying this world’s hope and making all the sacrifices and hard work of this old man and his students be for nothing. Thoughts of wielding great powers of lightning and ice and fire and sand crowded his mind, and he grinned without noticing. He imagined how exciting this world he found himself in could be, and he thought of the excitement and pride in being a hero, the saviour of a world. His head was pounded with pain again, as his mind strained to process his thoughts. His heart raced in nervousness, and he felt himself shaking.

Michael looked to his left sharply and made a quick jerk, frightened by Glow’s gentle touch. She grabbed the hand she had put the strange ring on. Michael looked down on their hands, seeing the two identical rings again. “These rings are called the Zora Link,” the girl said, “a unique pair of rings that exist solely for the prophecy of the Dreamer. If you keep this on, you will appear close by me when you enter Zora.” Michael’s heart reached its top speed as he felt the girl’s perfectly smooth hands gently hold his. “Heh…” he smiled, “So no more appearing in snow with angry men chasing me,” he said. Abel and Glow laughed a bit. Even Secret snickered a little. “Come, master,” Lex said, his voice piercing through Michael’s excited mood. There was no sign of excitement, even interest in his voice or behaviour. “It’s time we got you to a healer. They boy’s heard enough for one night.” There was a tone of insistence, almost command in the black eyed boy’s voice, that made Michael wonder even more about him. “Right!” Royo agreed, sounding like he’d just remembered about his horrid wound. “Need a bit more time – can’t die just yet! Life is just getting exciting!” the old man said, and laughed, hiding the pain he felt as he tried to rise on his own. Abel and Glow rushed to him and helped him up. Michael looked on. “Listen,” he said, “…Somehow… I might be starting to believe all this—(he quickly stopped himself from saying ‘nonsense’)—unreal stuff… I dunno… but even of all these is real, and not just a randomly strange dream that I’ll forget the second I wake, I’m no hero… I’m just… I’m only a chess player,” he said, looking to the ground. Lex looked over at Michael, at least slightly interested in what he was saying. “What’s a chess player?” Glow asked, curiosity in her voice. Michael sighed heavily. “You’re no hero just yet, Michael,” Royo said, “but if you have enough faith…” the man looked around at the youngsters about him. “You, and Abel, and Glow, and Secret, and Lex… will be the great heroes our world needs…”

“Our world?!” Michael suddenly blasted, doubt, and anxiety flooding his mind again, “This is your world, not mine! I’m no bloody hero, okay?! I can’t do this!” he pulled himself away from Glow, and turned his head away, as his eyes moistened, “This is just a stupid dream anyway!” he told himself.
“I know you don’t believe that,” Royo said quickly and calmly, “Try as you may… you won’t believe that… Michael Volt… Look at me!” the man blasted with sudden sternness. The crying boy slowly raised his head up the barely standing man. “You are destined to save our world… Yes… our world… You are the boy of prophecy…the child destined for supremacy. This world became a part of you, and you, a part of it, the moment you found the Dream Stone…” Michael looked down at the glowing stone. He no longer pondered what it was, but what it meant.

The teens and their master stared at Michael with wide eyes as a faint glow enveloped him. Glow and Abel stepped back from him slowly, frightened by this unnatural-looking occurrence. “Michael,” Glow whispered. Lex just looked on, understanding.
“He’s drifting away… He’s waking…” Royo said. Michael’s mind became hazy, and his vision became a blur of black and green and blue. He faded until he was complete gone.