Episode: 6.19

--- Sporis ---

Walking once more through a corridor of darkness, he snapped his fingers the sound echoing all around them as glow-shrooms burst into light while bouncing to the (beautiful) beat that faintly echoed throughout his entire domain.

In front of them was a red carpet, exclusive to himself and his VIP (Very Important Prosperity!) and her… guests, of course.

He would (very) happily admit to feeling a surge of (satisfaction) as Wormy glared at him, from the arm Prosperity didn’t have wrapped around his own.

As they walked the red caret various lights began flashing from the walls as the denizens of his domain took the latest photos of the wonderland’s biggest celebrities (and Wormy.)

He smiled and waved as he caught sight of a crowd fungoids and ghouls who wanted to get their pictures in person rather than through the dream-net, an action that elicited a (gorgeous) giggle from the (glorious) girl on his arm.

“I see your fans are as loyal as ever.” Prosperity whispered to him.

“But of course, darling, I mean look at the fabulous us!” He waved a hand over the two of them.

Prosperity rolled her eyes, once more doubting the sheer star power she had whether she be in the land of the waking or the land of the dreaming. (Which just won’t do…)

As they neared the bypass between his tunnels and Ness’s undercity, he pushed his will a bit, twisting the reality of the Wonderland in a way only a true boss dream could and setting one of his numerous show sets in their way.

“What did you just do?” Wormy asked with narrow eyes, his fellow boss dream easily sensing the distortion of reality.

“Oh, just a little… detour.” He explained, when Prosperity sent him a similar questioning look.

“I thought you were helping us get to Undercity?” His insectoid rival accused.

“Oh, of course dearie, of course!” He definitely wanted to help Prosperity, (and I fully intend to!) “But I also said I had a show to put on, and who better to guest star, than our dearest Prosperity?” After all the best way for him to help was to voice the questions she was reluctant to ask, (and that the others won’t,) while ensuring her self-confidence.

Unaware of this motive Wormy just glared at him, while Prosperity gave him an amused huff and an eye roll.

“Fine, I’ve still got a bit of time before I’m supposed to be meeting him anyway.”

“Wonderful!” He clapped as they neared a door with a star carved into it, the entrance to his latest set. “I promise you’ll make your date with time to spare.”

“It’s not a date!” Prosperity cried with an adorable blush.

He couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Of course, it isn’t darling!”

With that thought in mind he dragged them backstage, and to make-up, where a number of his Dead-beats were floating around with their little make-up instruments of beauty and fashion.

“Alright, boys and girls, places, places!” He clapped his hands together getting the attention of every dream in the room. “Make-up crew you know what to do!”

He couldn’t help but smile as his Dead-beats dragged their party off, completely unfazed by the various protests of his three companions as they got the final pieces of today’s show in order, a fact he was quite proud of them for.

It was a little-known secret, that the Dead-beats were a bit of a failure on Prosperity’s part. (Not that I’d ever tell the little darlings that!)

Originally Prosperity had been trying to make an undead dream, unfortunately she’d never been able to properly understand what [Concept] could create life from death. And while she never truly abandoned them, giving the poor faction more TLC than the rest, she couldn’t quite give them a purpose either.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

(And a dream without a purpose, will just fade away…) A grim thought, but unfortunately a very true one.

Eventually though his (wonderful) minions, being the closest faction at the time, decided to… (explore) the graveyard, having been drawn to the area’s natural mist and fog.

At first the fungi-people had no idea what to do with the living-dead dreams, the less intelligent dreams not having realized they were invading the domain of a dead dream, but him being (the most fabulous) him, took one look at the little dreams, and adopted them into his faction giving them purpose as his personal musical entourage.

(And based on that into music, they are fulfilling that purpose gloriously!)

Straightening out his suit, he began making his way to the stage pausing for just a moment on the edge of his stage as the band queued up his entrance theme, an upbeat piece with just a touch of spooky undertones.

As the song hit its mid-note he stepped through the curtain with a flourish and a pose, “Good evening, ladies and dreams!” He greeted as the applause and cheers of the dreams across the Wonderland sounded throughout the stage. “Thank you, thank you, my beautiful darlings!”

He gave a bow of appreciation to his glorious fans, earning himself even more cheers and whistles.

“This evening I have a special surprise for all you delightful denizens of the dream!” He told his audience once they finally began to quite down. “First of all, we have the fabulous me, of course!” He struck a provocative pose across his stage desk

“But on top of our main attraction, tonight we’ve also got some of the most glorious of guest stars!” He waved towards the side of the stage where three seats had the lights above them dimmed just enough that no one could see who was who of the who’s who!

“For starters, we have,” He pointed towards the first seat as the light flashed on to reveal a glowering Wormy. “the reclusive king of the hive.”

He turned and gave a grandiose gesture to the next seat, easily sidestepping a flurry of poisoned needles, as the lights flickered on to reveal Ness… or rather the seat where Ness had been five seconds prior, something he realized only after revealing said seat void of occupant.

“And of course, there’s the infamous shadow of the wonderland, Ness…” With a put-upon sigh he shook his head. “Still can’t catch him on film.” He tutted to his audience getting a few laughs from his more dedicated fans, who knew full well how long he’d been trying to catch the illusive imp.

(I really don’t get why he doesn’t like cameras… he can be such a drama queen sometimes.)

Not letting the little imp’s disappearing act upstage his show, he spun with a flourish as he turned to the final dimmed light where the night’s VIP was hidden.

“But most importantly, tonight we have the illustrious, the beautiful, the intellectual, Prosperity Jones!” The final light flickered on and revealed Prosperity in all her glory, as she bashfully waved at the crowd who were cheering even louder than they had for him. (As it should be.)

“So, let’s start this evening off right, dearies!” The crowd cheered as he took a seat behind his desk, before turning towards Prosperity with utmost seriousness. “Prosperity, word down the mushroom vine is…” He glanced to each side, before revealing that, “Ariel is back!”

The audience gasped in shock!

“How does that make you feel?” It was an important question, one that all of the wonderland would want to know once they heard the news.

Prosperity blinked, as if she wasn’t expecting that question. “Um… happy?”

“Oh, of course, of course,” He nodded. “What prince or princess wouldn’t be when their hunky knight comes back to town? Am I right folks?!”

The audience cheered and he heard a number of whistles from the little dreams.

He waited for the crowd to quiet down before continuing. “But that doesn’t mean that’s all you’re feeling.”

Wormy shot him a suspicious look.

Prosperity shifted in her seat as her face scrunched up in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Well, darling, we’re talking about the guy who left you, to protect you I’m sure,” He admitted before she could get angry, since this was a delicate conversation, “but you can’t tell me after two years without him, you’re nothing but happy. Especially, given all you’ve been through in those two years.”

He snapped his fingers and a screen flickered on, revealing a picture of Jack and Prosperity laughing while wearing white scrubs.

“There was your time at the hospital.”

The screen changed to a picture of an innocent a more innocent Wormy being held up by Prosperity in a field of roses.

“The creation of your first true Dreams.”

Next was a picture of Wormy and Fox eyes curled in the lap and arms of Prosperity’s mother while Prosperity sat next to them on a couch in their living room, a soft smile on her face, one she was mirroring at that very moment.

“You came out as a Mask to your mother.”

The screen flickered one last time to a far less innocent memory, one of a red-headed woman with blood-red eyes and an axe in hand standing on top of a dozen figures and surrounded by destruction.

“Then there was the fight with the War-maker…”

He let the screen fade to black, figuring those memories were more than powerful enough to make his point.

“You’ve been through so much over these last couple of years, and you’ve changed so much more…” With a sigh he turned back to Prosperity, his beloved best friend, someone he refused to see with a broken heart and with a heavy heart asked the question he knew she was too scared to ask herself.

“Are you sure Ariel hasn’t done the same?”