Part 4.

As Ned is floating around next to the glowing sentry, America’s astral form floats into the Dream field, she approaches Ned who at that point had started flapping his hands in an effort to fly around.

Well, this is different- says America as she floats next to Ned.

This is so cool- says Ned as he closes his eyes and begins to start getting the hang of flying around.

No changes in shape, visual distortion, didn’t even change into any type of food, this place is just empty maybe it smells different, HEY NED! DO YOU SMELL ANYTTHING?!- yelled America to Ned who had floated pretty far at this point.

Hmm no, I don’t smell anything you know it feels like….Woah! you’re see through, am I see through? – asked Ned touching while simultaneously poking his own face.

Come down here, it’s not a good idea to float to far from this thing- she pointed at the puffed up sentry.

You are glowing, how are you glowing? – asked Ned as he came down to America’s level.

This is my astral form, this way my body stays outside holding the portal open and I can keep you company.

Like a force ghost? That is so cool – said Ned as he boiled it down in his head.

Oh look the mannequin joints are opening – noticed Ned and floated over to the wooden sentry. The mannequin that was barely emitting any glow when they were entering the portal was now radiating from its elbow and knee joints, the cracks all around its body were also radiating. But the most striking change was on the face, more accurately the spiral on the head. Instead of just emitting glow it was rotating clockwise with a very strong cyan color. The entire body was almost bloated from being in water for a long time and the connecting joints were opening up.

I better get to work then- said Ned and began fidgeting with the pieces.

America watched the many mirrors and thought about her parents, somewhere out there, originally when Strange told her of this place she considered trying to reach them by thinking about them, but Wong’s description of what was necessary held her back. She may think day and night about her parents but unless they can act on it they would never reach her. As far as she remembered they had no powers like she did. Still venturing here and thinking about them gave her comfort knowing that there was at least a small chance somehow somewhere they would feel her and know she was still looking for them. She flew around a couple of times and tried to touch some of the windows, but being intangible her hand just did not interact with them. So she landed next to Ned who was entranced in his work.

Sooo ….What’s a force ghost? – asked America.

You know, like Kenobi – said Ned, he glanced at America who just pursed her lips as she was looking at him.

Kenobi, Jedi you know, from Star Wars – this time Ned turned as he told her and America shrugged her shoulders.

How could you not know about Star Wars? – asked Ned as he let go of the mannequins arm.

Its not something that was happened in my dimension, so I have never heard of any war in stars- replied America.

No, no no its not a historic thing, well it is, but not what really happened its from a movie- explained Ned.

Oh, gotcha, Strange took me to see my first movie two weeks ago it was called “The lady in a van”, it was funny. Wong took me to see a movie called “witches” and then its original from ages ago. I almost opened a portal I got so scared - said America with a smile.

Star Wars was my first movie that my parents took me, it was a marathon actually, It was awesome, there were spaceship fights and the jedi, and big armies with robots. I was so excited I could hardly stay in my seat it was awesome – said Ned as he continued working with the mannequin.

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A full day of watching movies sounds nice, it can get boring watching stuff in my room on a small screen - said America.

Two days actually, We had to go back the next day because I got scared, I had nightmares for almost a month after that, but it was still so cool- Said Ned. As he was talking about the story neither he nor America noticed that the swirl that was on the sentry’s face shifted from spinning clockwise to counterclockwise and began to change the hew of the glow from cyan to a mix of purple and gold.

If it’s a movie for kids why would they put stuff that could scare kids! – said America clearly still disturbed by the original witches, not to mention the very real witch that chased her throughout the multiverse.

No, it was not scary, the characters were scary; especially the bad guys- said Ned as he continued to work on the mannequin.

We got time, tell me about them, maybe I will watch it when we get back- said America.

As they were talking inside the Dream Field, frozen body of America was still holding the portal open while Rintrah who had approached to release her astral projection was frozen in time right behind her on the edge of the platform. Wong at the entrance was starting to struggle with the time stone, but was holding firm and Weasel with Stephen were above them in the courtyard waiting for the outcome.

It's been almost twenty minutes they should be done by now – said Weasel as he is pacing back and forth.

Stephen however did not hear the young practitioner’s voice; he was concentrating on peering into the portal using his third eye. Not out of curiosity or because he did not trust Wong could not complete his plan, but because something was changing in the air. Whatever that change was, it was coming from the Sleepers Well and the change was only perceivable to his eye, it was like something was beginning to notice them. Something dark, something cold and vile. His other senses were completely unfazed by whatever was happening, but his third eye was moving rapidly from side to side all the while projecting itself into the stairwell, past Wong and the platform, it reached the portal and was blinded by purple gold light that shone through. The blinding light forced it back into its point of origin and shut it tight. And there it was, Stephen finally saw it within a split second between the third eye shutting tight and him opening his eyes. In the midst of the pitch black two gold red eyes staring back at him.

The eyes in the dark are replaced with Weasel’s who is staring down at him as his cape is holding Stephen just above the cobblestones.

Master are you all right? – Stephen hears Weasels unnerved voice.

What happened? – asks Stephen as he begins to rise to his feet.

You were meditating and all of a sudden started to shake uncontrollably I tried to wake you, but you were unresponsive save for your third eye – meekly added Weasel.

My eye what about it? – asked Stephen as he felt for his forehead, no eye just cold sweat and goosebumps.

It was open glowing and racing – explained Weasel.

How long was this going on? – asked Stephen.

Five six minutes maybe- guessed Weasel.

And what about Wong? have they finished it, did they give the signal? – asked Stephen with alarm in his voice.

No signal, they have been at it for over half an hour now- said Weasel.

Something must have gone wrong quickly move- with those words Stephen flew into the stairwell and in a few seconds landed next to Wong who at this point was barely holding on.

Stephen looked at Wong and then at the Sleepers well, with a flick of his fingers he conjured a crimson band from his hand and hurled it at Rintrah wrapping it around its abdomen and yanked the burly creature towards him. A second later Rintrah unfroze and landed gently next to the entrance.

Thank you Master! – said Rintrah.

Quickly you need to go inside and get them out now! – with those words Stephen placed a palm on Rintrah and released his astral projection. Rintrah flew into the portal and was momentarily blinded by the purple gold light unable to see them clearly Rintrah roared.

The roar inside the Dream Field startled Ned who immediately let the mannequin go and the blinding light coming off the mannequin dimmed.

Master Rintrah what are you doing here? – Asked America when she saw the minotaur.

Is the sentry fixed!?- asked Rintrah who approached them.

Almost- assured America.

I reattached the lower portion, but it took longer to work on torso because of this light, I have to do it my feel, so I need a few more minutes to attach its arms and we are done, its so blinding I cannot find the necessary pieces when I hold the torso and when I let go it takes time for my eyes to readjust – said Ned.

Rintrah allowed himself to look around and examine the space he was in now.

The constant shift is making me see red all the time now, so where was I yeah the so then Luke....- added Ned as he wiped his eyes.

You mean that red light was not part of the Dream Field when you entered? – interrupted Rintrah as he pointed to the space behind Ned and America.

Hearing that both swung their heads to see that one of the dormant mirrors was now glowing bright red with a yellow swirl in the middle, what was no less relevant was the fact that it had grown in size to be as big as Americas portal and a silhouette of a someone was standing right on the other side of it touching the mirror.

End of Part 4.