The Dreamland

We can, We will, We must

"T-Test of co-courage?"

"Yes. Pretty much this cave will try to kill you using everything you are afraid of." Puff replied

In the middle of the room, an altar revealed itself from the ground. On the altar, there was a crystal that glowed in bright yellow. It was a beautiful crystal that no one can resist to touch. No one, except Dog. She is afraid that is might be a trap.

"'Behold the Gem of Courage. He who shall acquire this gem would be proven as courageous not because they do not fear anything but they are afraid of everything.'"

Dog knew there was no other choices. That is the only way to free everybody. She knew it's risky; no one knows what will happen next. She doesn't want anything happening to her, nor to her friends. She must go for it.

"*Gulp*"

Inch by inch, she reached for the gem. As she touched it, time goes to a halt.

She found herself in a room, sitting on a chair. There was another chair in front of her, and a shadow sitting on it.

She can't move.

Who is he?

What should I do?

What happened to the others?

Are they okay?

There's so many questions bugging Dog's mind that she can't think straight. She doesn't know which safety will she prioritize first.

"Hello Dog." The shadow greeted

She knew she didn't hear it, instead it spoke into her mind.

What are you?

Who are you?

Where am I?

Such questions Dog wants to ask. She can't. She's nervous.

"Your answers shall come in time about my identity. Now I want you to answer my questions first."

He can read minds?

"Yes. This conversation will only exist between you and me. Time has stopped in the real world."

What should I do?

"Tell me, what are you afraid of?"

Everything

"That's not an answer."

I don't know

"That's not an answer, too."

She can't think straight. She doesn't know what should she answer. Her friends are at stake of her answering correctly the shadows question.

"You are getting confused lately"

It is right. I am confused.

I don't know which path I'm going to take, which ones I'm going to stop.

They want to save everyone, and I want to save them.

I don't want them getting hurt.

"Who are they?"

My friends

"Do you love them?"

She imagined Puff immediately.

"Do you love him?"

Yes

"You do not want to lose him?"

Yes

"Do you know him very well?"

She remembered that night,

she had a talk with him,

and he cried because he's afraid of something she doesn't know yet.

No

"What can you do?"

I want to protect them, to protect him.

"At what stake?"

She finally spoke

"My own life. For them, for him, if I must, then I can, and I will risk my own life. I'd rather make sure that they lose me than I lose them."

Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

After that, she felt that the shadow was happy for her answers. She shifted back to reality. She tried to open her eyes.

She saw...

...a mask...

...staring at her...

...as she lied down her head to his laps...

...she heard his voice once again. A voice that she missed...

"You did it. Look at your staff"

She lifted her staff and she saw it transformed into a gold one, with the crystal bound at the top. She felt an energy that rushed in her veins. She tried to stand up.

"Dog, are you okay? What happened?" Cat asked

"Nothing. I just spoke to some avatar of fear and courage. What happened to me?"

"As you touched the gem, you passed out. The cave reverted back to normal as the gem fused itself to your weapon." Panda reported

"I think we must defeat the monster using that wand of yours. What can it do?" Snowbear asked

"I dunno yet."

"We'll figure that out later. We have some hunting to do." Snowbear said