Now that the day of destiny has come, Nikolay, Shen, and four Dream Catchers are gathered here as a collective, trying to defeat several demons. Though they’re still far off from becoming formidable veterans who can eclipse most threats, they have potential and bravery that make up for their lack of experience and might.
Bell, though weak and rather young, is the fastest among them. Due to her small stature and incredible speed, she’s fast and nimble. She’s perfect for scouting ahead but too weak to fight. Her ability to fly and make anything she enchants float turns her into an incredible support.
Schmidt, however, is physically the strongest and likely capable of defeating any of the demons they’re about to encounter just with his fists. Crafting impressive weaponry and armor only adds to his existing superstrength. As such, he and Bell are to be paired together to compensate for his lack of speed and agility while acting as her protector. They spent the last few days before this battle figuring out how to work together.
Mirage, though not that great at taking hits, can defend herself far better when alone. As such, she’s supposed to scout ahead and confirm that the demons haven’t evolved since their initial appearance. They're supposed to battle together as soon as Calypso is ready for offensive maneuvers.
Calypso’s role is that of a protector. While Shen deals with Sandman, Calypso is supposed to lure and distract any nearby threats while setting up defensive barriers. The moment Shen finishes his task, he’s supposed to aid in defeating the remaining demons.
As the perfect all-rounder, Nikolay is responsible for observing and detecting threats. Though he’s allowed to take out minions, his focus lies on being a true scout. He is only allowed to be on the offensive within the final phase.
“Are you sure? You’re bound to get yourself killed!”
Schmidt can’t help but worry about Shen. His way of worrying for others almost feels fatherly.
“Someone has to. I’d rather avoid partaking in this battle, but I cannot stress just how important it is to Nikolay and I. We’re also getting a hefty reward from this battle, and we can’t allow ourselves to hesitate and falter here.”
“Right!” Nikolay interjects. “If we can’t deal with this Fusion, then we may as well give up on my dream!”
“My dream?” Shen sheepishly asks.
“Our dream!”
Calypso, though as reserved as ever, seems to enjoy this hopeful charade. Though his hands are still as shaky as ever, just one headpat by Schmidt and a pat on the back by Mirage are enough to calm his nerves.
“Just in case things were to go south, I have a friend available just half an hour after the start of our little siege. You only have to survive for that long, Shen.”
Mirage makes her attempt at adding some hope to this battle.
“But that’s like planking for half a minute. May seem short but feels like an eternity…” Nikolay adds.
“We still can’t give up! We can do it!” shouts little Bell. Her adorable attempt at invoking belief in their victory lifts their spirits.
They finally embark on their mission. It’s time for their hour of grandeur and their day of fate. Should they succeed, Shen’s path to becoming a man of freedom who can enjoy the beauty of his own ego and appreciate the egos of others. Calypso and Shen are positioned on the outskirts of a wondrous space. With a radius of 100km, it is by far the largest space Nikolay and Shen have ever had the pleasure of exploring.
Though their location is far from the center of this space, they can still enjoy the massive white spire breaching the cloud layer while revealing clear blue skies. A massive moon and a sun just as brilliant as the one atop the Alps. With little amounts of snowfall yet temperatures well above 0°C, they get to gaze at this beautiful space without outright freezing. The strange topography has created a valley that likely ends right before someone can peek beyond it. The rivers and remaining greenery are rather awe-striking. But this beauty is interrupted by a sudden downpour.
“You’re okay, right?” Calypso asks.
“I’m fine. These ‘gadgets’ are rather handy. Shouldn’t I be worried about you?”
“No…”
He doesn’t seem to be all that talkative.
“Then I guess I’ll drift off to sleep… Keep me safe, okay?”
“Ok.”
“I thought I was bad with strangers…” Shen thinks before Calypso's fingers glow green. Placing them on Shen’s head, he attracts Sandman's gaze.
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Scene 1: Take 1
Deep within the deepest depths of his mind, Shen is walking along an empty corridor. His right knee aches as blood is soaking up a bandaid. He can feel some kind of terror pulsing through his body as if some kind of horrid evil is stepping closer and closer. His memory is hazy, as is his vision. His body trembles while tears run down his face. Shen’s terrified.
“Where am I?” he asks himself. His voice cracks and quivers like that of a 13-year-old terrified boy who has just started puberty.
“No! I have to go! I have to do something!” His voice is beginning to sound older. Even the steps feel shorter as his legs grow longer.
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Shen knows there’s a horror he has to face. Past this corridor are two more right turns he’ll have to take. But with his first right comes his first trial. Before he could even turn to face his path, a decisive blow knocks him off his feet. A tooth of his is dislodged and catapulted to the ground along with him. His vision is as blurred as the intensity of headaches from this sudden assault. Before he could even adjust to the scene, another blow almost knocks him out.
Along with these blows follow distant words begging for an end to Shen’s abuse. His mother is crying and screaming at his father while barely lifting a finger. She could call the police, but she’d never do that because of her duty to her husband. Locking his loving father away for character flaws anyone can possess would be too cruel.
“Hey! He’s had enough! He’s not going to do it again!” she yells over and over.
Shen, though initially helpless due to being too small to fight back and having his hands pinned over his head, begins to muster up the strength needed to fight back. The blood flowing from his gums shoots out into his father like a bullet. Several familiar shadowy figures surround him, remaining on stand-by as he fights for his life.
“So that’s what these nightmares do. Trapping me in a world of perpetual nightmares consisting of my worst fears… It’s evil!”
As he crawls away, one of the figures drags him back into the fray. Before he could defend himself again, he’s knocked out cold.
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Scene 1: Take 5
Deep within the deepest depth of his mind, Shen is walking along an empty corridor. His right knee aches as blood is soaking up a bandaid. He can feel some kind of terror pulsing through his body as if some kind of horrid evil is stepping closer and closer. His memory is hazy, as is his vision. His body trembles while tears run down his face. Shen’s terrified.
“What is this place?” he asks. Howling wind and frigid air respond to his cry for answers.
“Haven’t I been here before? Don’t I have to do something?” His voice is full of uncertainty.
“Yes… I have to do something!” his mind responds with passion.
He begins to pick up in pace, knowingly approaching the horrors he has yet to face. Past this corridor are two more right turns he’ll have to take. But with his first right comes his first trial. Just as he turns to face his path, a powerful blow knocks him off his feet. Though his arms had taken most of the brunt, there’s still bleeding. His teeth grazed his forearm, leaving behind a trail of pain. His vision is blurred due to the intensity of the incoming blows.
As he adjusts to the scene, he can hear just one lone voice screaming and crying for help. His mother is begging for his father to stop beating Shen. As always, she refuses to call for help, borderline encouraging his father to continue mistreating him.
“Stop!” she yells over and over again with less and less intensity. His mother has gotten tired of yelling. She’s barely trying to keep her partner off Shen.
Several figures surround him, silently judging him for being as misfortunate as he is. His kindergarten teacher, his English teacher from 3rd and 4th grade, his German teacher for 5th to 7th grade, his pediatrician, and a few friends whose faces he cannot discern… None wish to help him, and they’re all eager to push him back into battle.
Blood shoots out from his arm and blows his father just a few meters away. This opportunity allows him to manifest a knife that would be lodged into the throat of the person he once considered his best friend. The figures fade, yet one hand manages to grab his leg. He trips and looks back in fear as he realizes that his mother has sabotaged his escape. Before he could shake her off, he’s knocked out cold.
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Scene 1: Take 17
Deep within the deepest depths of his mind, Shen is walking along an empty corridor. His right knee aches as blood is soaking up a bandaid. He can feel some kind of terror pulsing through his body as if some kind of horrid evil is stepping closer and closer. His memory is hazy as is his vision. His body trembles while tears run down his face. Shen’s terrified.
“I’ve been here before…” he stammers, defeated and distraught.
“Can I even do anything?” His voice is growing as weak as the flames of his willpower.
He continues dragging himself down this dark, empty corridor of unpleasant realities. Shen knows there’s some sort of horror he has to face, dreading its approach with every step of his. He can’t tell why he keeps pushing to fight a seemingly endless battle. He begins to pick up in pace trying to just have it all over with. Past this corridor are two more right turns he’ll have to take. With each right comes a trial. Just as he turns to face his first trial, he’s knocked off his feet by a powerful blow. His teeth are dislodged, broken, and shattered as his vision blurs.
“What are you doing?!” his mother yells as shadowy figures surround them. His father relentlessly beats him to smithereens till the lights finally go out.
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Scene 1: Take 29
Deep within the deepest depths of his mind…
“What am I doing here?”
“I have to leave!”
“Please don’t do this!”
Before he could act, he’s knocked out cold.
…
……
………
Growing up, his nightmares consisted of having to fight for his life only to be told that he’s wrong for doing so. People expected Shen to ‘just deal with it’ so they could go on with their rosy lives while entrapped in their perfect little bubbles of normalcy. He’s tired of having to justify why he should be allowed to love, be safe, and be happy. Having joyful people all around you telling you about their normal lives as they forbid you from achieving your own… all just because they’re his parents… they disgust him.
Nikolay, the only person who loves Shen for being just Shen, is the reason why he can persist against these horrible nightmares crafted by a demon. That lone light emboldens him to confront this trial just one last time.
Steadfast and uncaring, he simply steps past the first trial. His fear of being unheard, shamed, and mistreated for something entirely out of his control are things he can brush off as long as Nikolay is by his side.
…
The second trial is rather easy. His last anchor to the past is tied to his first trial. If he had ever confessed his love for men, his classmates and friends likely would have torn him apart. But their opinions are void as he’d never possibly end up in these nightmarish scenarios. They can judge him for love, but as an adult, freedom of choice is another aspect of life his friend has shown him. He can make the choice to simply ditch all those who disapprove of his personhood.
Yet, despite his newfound confidence, Sandman’s nightmares persist.