Mushroom Boy

Act III

George had had this dream before. He always seemed to get it on stressful days, and it always cheered him up. He was in a familiar wood, the same one every time, just him and Sapnap and Dream. Sometimes they talked as they hunted, gathered, and traveled together. Sometimes no words were needed. The paths through the wood seemed to grow more well-trodden every night he spent there, even though he knew it was only in his head. It sent his mind back to a simpler time, before wars, before nations, before imprisonment.

That night, George and his friends sat on a large, flat rock overlooking the pond. The air was cool and golden, a slight breeze blowing the spring sunshine off of their faces. It was always springtime here, no matter the weather in the real world. George inhaled, the comforting scent of birch mingling with the sweet fragrance of the flower field nearby. The water below him rippled hypnotically, reflecting the sky's evening hues.

".........."

He looked up with a start. Dream? He asked, looking at his masked friend. Did you say something?

Dream looked up.

".................... "

Dream? Why can't I hear you? George began to panic, the wind around him picking up. Talk to me!

Dream sat completely still, his unforgettable voice echoing and distorting as the forest faded around him. "This is your fault."

George woke up with a start. Where am I? What's happening? He looked around, breathing heavily, a little surprised by how much effort the simple action took. He closed his eyes and pressed his hands to his temples. Why do I have such a horrible headache?

"You planned this, didn't you?" another shout, still in Dream's voice, echoed through the house. The house. That's where he was! George sighed, glad that he was somewhere familiar. He opened his eyes slowly and got out of bed, walking over to the shouts in the other room.

"Planned it? What do you mean, planned it? I'm as surprised as you are!" Shouted a voice that was unmistakably Sapnap.

"You had something on your mind the whole time we were talking! Were you the one who sent him to that ravine?" Said Dream's voice.

George walked in to the room. Sapnap was almost backed into a corner, hand on the hilt of his sword, as he desperately argued with...

"DreamXD?" George grimaced, his headache flaring up again. "The ravine..." He muttered, trying to remember what had happened the night before. "The dungeon... The skeletons... I... died? I died!" He stared in shock at DreamXD, who looked up. "You - you-"

Sapnap used DreamXD's moment of distraction to escape from the corner. He rushed over to George, sword in hand.

"Sapnap?" George asked. "What's going on? Why-"

Sapnap cut him off, sword pointing at George's heart. "Who are you?" Sapnap demanded. "WHAT are you? HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME?"

George was taken aback. He raised his hands in surrender... but they weren't his hands. He stepped back, staring at the fingers so covered in mushrooms that he couldn't see the skin underneath. His breathing quickened, and he rushed forward to look at his reflection in the window, forgetting the sword Sapnap was still holding to his heart. George didn't even notice the blade ripping through his shirt, only to break before reaching his skin. He didn't blame Sapnap for not recognizing him, because he didn't recognize himself.

His arms, his face, his neck- covered in mushrooms. He looked like some strange beast just sprouted from the mycelium. Bits of Sapnap's shattered sword sparkled on the mushrooms visible through the tear in his shirt.