Nightmare (a Dream smp/ Passerine Fanfic)

Chapter 7

Wilbur had been excused from all of his activities for an indefinite time. Wilbur did nothing but awake from nightmares, choke down food, and meditate. Philza still had his duties as a king, but Wilbur would often see his father in the woods just next to the castle with eyes unfocused, still as a stone, with the only noise coming from him being breathing. Wilbur had found it to be more peaceful to meditate next to his father than alone. It calmed himself for longer, before the voices started screaming the reality. Today though, Wilbur found the usual meditating spot empty.

Wilbur sighed and sat with his back to a tree's trunk, his mind already starting to roll away. The woods were full of nothing but sounds of nature, the breeze scattering leaves on the ground to a faraway place, squirrels chittering away with their acorns, birds chirping happily as they flew. Wilbur recalled the latest nightmare, rockets being blown into the castle, the king's throne cracking and being melted into gold to sell. Wilbur now knew the enemy soldiers in his dreams to be the Manberg Empire, who were currently setting up camps a few hills away from Wilbur's home according to scouts. Wilbur didn't need more nightmares to be reminded of the fate that would be the destruction of the kingdom. His brain was already unconsciously imagining the next scene, unbreathable smoke, people dead everywhere, Tommy dead, Techno dead, Philza dead...

"Ow!" Wilbur snapped out of it as something small hit the side of his head. Wilbur picked up the thrown pebble and widely looked around. A branch in a tree shifted, and leaves suddenly fell to the ground. Wilbur watched in horror as light streaked across the shadows of the trees, something that was clearly a monster. It was walking closer, and Wilbur for once forgot about the nightmares. Wilbur could do nothing but sit there in a frozen shock, as he watched the monster start to finally emerge into visibilit-

Out came a girl. A normal, human girl, with very pink hair, and unusually blue eyes. She looked maybe three years younger than Wilbur, and she had a strange aura around her. Wilbur stopped shaking and stared in large confusion. "Er- hello." Wilbur continued to stare. The girl blinked in response.

"Hello." she finally replied.

"Uh- is this your place? I will leave if it is." Wilbur stood up, prepared to go.

"No. Well, I do live near here, but I don't mind." The girl looked curiously at Wilbur. "I've seen you here with the king a lot. Are you a prince?" Wilbur's eyes flashed back to the girl. He had never needed to introduce himself to anyone. Everyone who lived in the kingdom knew the royal family's names and appearances by heart. Yet, this girl knew his father, but didn't know who Wilbur was?

Wilbur at first only nodded. "I am Prince Will, I mean Wilbur, King Philza's second-born son." Wilbur studied her expression for a reaction but he couldn't see any change.

"Why do you come here all the time?" It would be a question for an owner of the land to ask, but the girl just seemed curious.

"I- I need peace. I need quiet. This is a good place for both of those..."

"Oh. Should I leave then?"

"N- no it's alright I need someo-" Wilbur quickly shut up. "Nevermind. You can stay- I mean, you can decide."

The girl was quite observant. "You need what?"

"Nothing, nothing." Wilbur put his hand over his head. He was such a terrible speaker these days. Then Wilbur remembered something the girl said. "How long have you been watching here?"

"Well, it's a bit difficult to not notice someone appearing on your front lawn." Wilbur laughed. It was the first time he had laughed in what seemed like ages, but in reality it was a few weeks.

"Wilbur! Prince Wilbur!" A voice of a servant called the other side of the woods. Both Wilbur and the girl jumped in surprise. Looking at the sky now, it was sunhigh. Time for lunch.

"I have to go." Wilbur apologetically bowed. Wilbur started to leave but turned back swiftly. "What's your name?"

The girl didn't respond, she looked dazed in- fear? The girl now switched back to normal. "Sorry, what did you say?"

"You haven't told me your name yet."

"Oh, yeah. It's Niki."

A day flew by with the birds. Wilbur had come back, every single day just as usual. Philza had stopped coming to meditate, for his lack of completing work had angered the generals who were often visiting the palace nowadays. But now, someone was always there- Niki had decided to wait for Wilbur.

Niki would always hum, and Wilbur would always pick up the song in mere seconds. Often now, Wilbur brought his guitar to strum along. When they weren't in musical harmony, they talked. And talked. And talked. They shared stories, experiences, but they each had their own secrets. Wilbur's voices tethered temporarily when near the calming presence of Niki.

Wilbur got uncomfortable when Niki talked about anything related to royal life. Niki got uncomfortable when Wilbur asked anything related to her family. They didn't need to know why. No one did.

Wilbur knew everyone other than his father was confused why he always looked so sad, and why he spent every moment of his free time in the woods. But they never asked. Rumors came and went over town, but Wilbur didn't care.

One thing Wilbur sensibly never asked was why Niki always looked so afraid when anybody other than Wilbur was near. One thing Niki sensibly never asked was why Wilbur didn't do anything but stay in the woods.

They were both secretive. Neither cared. It just made them share more bonds.