I Can See the Light

Well…this is a change of pace.

Tatl was glad that neither her brother nor Skull Kid were present. While she loved them both (well, her brother at least), they were never able to stand still. They'd travelled from Termina into that strange parallel world, and already Skull Kid was looking for something new. So when she'd done some travelling of her own, when she'd gone through that strange Hall of Doors and found herself here, she didn't miss them. Not when she had some peace and quiet. Not when she could behold this glade, as if in a dream. Not when-

"Help…help…"

What?

"Help…help…"

"Help." Tatl understood the word. Through her antics with Skull Kid and Tael, she'd left many people crying out for it. But always with actual fervour. Not this strange, pathetic plea, as if the individual had given up all help of actually receiving said help.

"Help…help…"

Alright, alright, the fairy thought. Geez, don't get your mask in a mess. Don't let me enjoy some quiet time. Don't-

"Help…help…"

Oh shut up!

Soon, the fairy had arrived at the source of the sound. A cage, hanging above a stream that ran through a rock face. A cage with something bright within it, like a fairy, but she couldn't make it out.

"Help…help…"

Yeah, sure, Tatl reflected. I'll help you…just gotta find out how first and-

The cage exploded.

Or just wait for that to happen.

Something flew out of the wreckage. Something yellow, something that shouted "yay," and something that just hovered there.

A fairy? Tatl wondered. Someone imprisoned a fairy?

She supposed she shouldn't be surprised – adventurers imprisoned fairies in bottles all the time for their regenerative abilities, putting one in a cage seemed like the next horrific step. But there was something…off, about this fairy she noticed. Like a fairy, it looked like a ball of yellow light. But staring at it, Tatl wondered if that was all it indeed was.

Well, maybe…um…

And that thought was pushed aside as she saw two newcomers enter the fray. One, a small green flying creature that looked like a frog with wings, and a smile that she knew would haunt her nightmares. The second was an even more bizarre creature – purple shirt, hands stemming from invisible arms, feet stemming from invisible legs, and a blank stare that reminded her of Skull Kid after he put that mask on.

Well, come on Tatl, she told herself as the flying frog said things to his companion, none of which she could understand. You've seen worse. You-

The frog flew off. The freak of nature looked at the flying ball. He jumped at it. And grabbed it.

"Aieeee!"

Tatl screamed. The creature looked at her. Stared at her with his unblinking eyes. Talked with his mouth, part of a head attached to his body with an invisible neck. Seemed to keep saying "lum," but apart from that, his speech seemed random.

"Get away," Tatl whispered. "Get away…"

The creature advanced. The flying frog returned.

"Get away," she whimpered.

The frog said something. The walking nightmare grinned. He leapt up at her.

"Noooooo!"

Tatl flew away. Away from the flying frog. Away from the walking abomination. Away from their alien language, this world, this Glade of Dreams-turned nightmare.

She didn't look back.