How Dream got his mask and other stories

Passing on the Legacy

TW for character death

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Niki sauntered through the forest. The smell of flowers and rotting leaves enveloped her as she snapped twigs off trees and collected apples that fell from above.

Pushing past a thicket, Niki came across a clearing with nothing but a giant rock and a clear view to the now setting sun. On that rock sat a girl, dressed in a blue sailor's outfit, slowly braiding her long pink hair.

"Hey." Niki called to her. She seemed not to hear.

"Hey!" She called again. Still, she made no effort to turn in her direction.

Walking up to her, she sat down on the rock beside the pink girl.

"The sunset's beautiful." She said as Niki sat down.

She nodded. A million questions blew through her head. Who is she? Why is she here? And why does she trust her?

"Pink suits you." The strange girl said before looking her in the eyes. "Take care of the kids for me, alright?"

Niki nodded. The pink girl smiled as a strong gust of wind blew through the clearing.

The pink girl looked at her hand. The fingers crumbled to dust before her, although it wasn't painful. This was her sunset.

Niki looked at her, awestruck. Her face fell away, turning from a beautiful pink to a dull grey.

"My name's Lizzie, by the way." She said as disintegrated into a small pile of ash, then swept away by the wind from the rock the two once sat on.