Kessie's Short Stories

[KHUX][EphemerxOC] Once Upon a Dream

Originally published 3/14/2020

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?"

Ephemer unintentionally flinched; had he been staring at her for too long? He hadn't meant to. To hide it, the boy put on a wide smile and asked, "Like what?"

His friend, the soft-spoken and generally reserved Anora scrunched her face into a look of confusion.

"I don't know." she admitted. "But it's starting to worry me."

"Sorry," came the sincerely apologetic answer as Ephemer sheepishly scratched the back of his head. Anora did not seem as convinced- she arched an eyebrow at him but didn't say much else about it. When she looked away again, Ephemer continued to stare at her.

He wasn't going to tell her about it anytime soon, but he did have a reason on why he couldn't look away. In what seemed like such a long time ago, Ephemer had made Anora a promise. It had became a promise he didn't keep, and it lay way to having to watch Anora die. To say he felt guilty the entire time would have been a stretch, but he was definitely trying to make up for lost time now.

If only he wasn't a Union leader and she didn't have to partake in daily missions.

"I need to get going." Anora decided as she started to get up. "My party is going to notice that I haven't collected any lux today."

"Don't go, not yet!" Ephemer told her, getting up with her and almost blocking her from leaving. "How about we get some ice cream?"

Anora recoiled at him. "I have to go." she asserted before gently pushing past him. But Ephemer couldn't let it end there; biting his lip, he quickly tried to think of something to get her to stay. Or, maybe, arrange a future meet up.

"Let's meet up again later!" he quickly tried to tell her. Anora did not stop walking away- instead, she turned around and started to carefully walk backwards. Ephemer couldn't hold back his laughter; always a surprise, that Anora.

"When?" she mused.

"Tonight, in our dreams!"

Anora smirked. "Right, and then we'll steal pixie dust and fly to the Never Never Land."

"It's a date!" Ephemer agreed with a wide grin.

Anora rolled her eyes as she let out a laugh of her own, turning around to walk properly before going into a light sprint. Ephemer only smiled as he watched his friend leave. If only his Chirithy was as amused.

"Why would you tell her that?!" it asked him as he was getting ready for bed.

"Dunno." he admitted. "But it can happen, right?"

"Rarely!" Chirithy pointed out. "The only time you meet someone in a dream is if you're destined to be with them- like a princess dreaming of her prince charming."

"Prince charming, huh?" Ephemer mused to himself as he got more comfortable. "Does being a Union leader technically make you royalty in some way? You definitely have that level of responsibility, huh?"

"Ephemer!" his Chirithy cried in astonishment. But the headstrong boy didn't reply, instead he laid his head down on his pillow and instantly fell asleep.

. . .

He knew he was dreaming because he never would have worn such a ridiculous suit in public. Also, no one had a face. His rational mind figured it was because this was all a dream anyway, or perhaps he was only seeing their hearts. His dreaming mind didn't even notice, it was hazily trying to remember why he was wearing a dress suit in the very crowded Fountain Square.