Little Dreams and Hollow Nightmares

Ph2 Ch8: First Evolution

As Seven crawled back to the stag station, exhausted, nothing but fear moved through his head. Fear for himself, fear of death, fear for the Grimmchild. They were so scared back in the barbershop, and he could hardly do anything to help them. If it hadn't been for that girl, he would've never found the Grimmchild in time. And that was another question. Who was the girl who helped him? Seven was terribly confused, to the point where it felt like he couldn't take much more of this. But he couldn't stop. Not now.

He arrived at the station, and he and the Grimmchild rode back to Dirtmouth, feeling safe from any sort of danger there. The Grimmchild stayed curled up around him the entire time. Once they got off, Seven turned towards the Grimmchild, staring at them right into their empty eyes.

"Listen, I will never let you die," he said to them. "I promise, I will do everything I can to keep you safe, and let you live a life free of danger."

But as he said that, he didn't know if he could keep that promise. A life free of danger was something everyone wanted where he was from. But so many dangers lurked everywhere in that place. Even here, danger seemed to be lurking everywhere. But even if he couldn't keep his promise, the Grimmchild nodded, feeling the fear in its bearer's eyes.

As Seven thought about his past, he began to think further, to when he first wound up here. When he first woke up in the cliffs. How did he get there? And more importantly what happened to him? His memory was foggy, he could only remember a few parts, and unfortunately they were the painful ones. He remembered his body being crushed, and morphed into a Nome, and then standing in front of a girl who was wearing a yellow raincoat, offering her a sausage. The girl walked closer, and closer, and grabbed onto him, and Seven woke back to reality before the terror.

He remembered what he was doing, and walked over to Grimm's tent at the edge of Dirtmouth. He walked inside, and was almost instantly greeted by Brumm.

"Ah, the child burns with flame," he said, still playing on his accordion. "Speak to master," he followed.

Seven gave a silent nod, and walked towards the center of the tent. He approached the center of the ring, and in a flash of brilliant scarlet flame, Grimm appeared before him.

" I can feel it," he said. "The warmth of the flame you've gathered together." He turned his head to Seven, and nodded. "A masterful opening act. The air hums with excitement." He turned his head, and looked into the eyes of the Grimmchild. "Dear child, you've done so well. Let your fire burn even brighter!" He said.

With the simple snap of his fingers, a mass of red flames surrounded the Grimmchild, and flew into it. Seven turned, concerned and confused on what was happening. Once the dust settled, he looked at the evolved Grimmchild. Its singular horn was now grown into two horns, and it had more tendrils coming from its body, stretching further than before.

"Beautiful, yes," Grimm said. "The child has grown from ilde youth to deadly companion. About these dangerous lands, its aid will no doubt be welcome."

I sure hope so. Seven thought to himself. He remembered how scared he was during the encounter with the Barber, and how helpless the Grimmchild was. He didn't want to be in a situation like that again. He wanted someone to help. Someone to stay by his side. And with the evolution of the Grimmchild, it seemed like he got his wish.

"Just don't neglect our dance, for it too continues!" Grimm said, turning towards Seven. "Keep hunting that scattered, scarlet essence. When the child id filled with flame once more, return to the stage and the performance will begin."

And with that, Grimm twirled into a burst of scarlet flame, and vanished from sight. I wonder what he's talking about. Seven thought. What dance? What performance? Was this some kind of show? Or something else? The call of the Grimmchild snapped him out of his questions, and drew him back to the task at hand.

He walked out of the tent, and pulled out the compass, looking around for the flames. He spotted one close by in the king's pass. He looked back to the cliffs surrounding Dirtmouth. I always have to come back to those cliffs don't I? He thought to himself. He signed, and began the long climb. Once he got to the main gate, he wandered around the caves, looking for the next Grimmkin.

He searched the caves, looking at every corner, making sure to defeat any enemy that came in his way. He stumbled through the floor all of a sudden, and found himself right in front of the torch of the Grimmkin. In a flash of red flames, the Grimmkin master revealed himself, and zoomed towards Seven. Seven barely had any time to dodge. He jumped out of the way, landing face first on the hard gravel. He struggled to stand up as the Grimmkin warped behind him.

Seven finally got to his feet to defend himself, but to his shock, the the Grimmchild was protecting him. It shot out small fireballs from its mouth, hitting the Grimmkin, and throwing it off. Seven leapt at the distracted Grimmkin, and struck it to the ground with his nail. Angered, the Grimmkin warped away, and unleashed a spinning wheel of fireballs. Seven managed to avoid them, and the Grimmchild continued attacking.

Seven jumped forward, just as the Grimmkin zoomed towards him, and slammed him into the floor. With that done, Seven charged up a cyclone slash, and unleashed it onto the Grimmkin, dealing several blows. The Grimmchild spat out the final hit, and the Grimmkin vanished into flames. The flames crowded around the Grimmchild as it absorbed them, consuming the first of three more flames.

Seven looked back at the Grimmchild. It had grown a great deal. From the helpless child in the Barbershop into his trusty companion that was not afraid to fight back for him. Seven smiled, and the Grimmchild smiled back. Grimm was right. Its aid was no doubt welcome to him.

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HOLY SHIZ! I am terribly sorry this chapter is so late! I feel like I am letting you all down by posting chapters this late.

This week has been busy, but not because of productive stuff,

because I got jsab recently and have been playing it non-stop. I wish I could do something better in my life.

Anyway, enough talk, see you next chapter!