[Scene 1 – A Rest by the Shelter]
The brawlers continue their journey along Path 8, tired from their adventures and eager to rest. As the sun sets, they find a quiet spot near a small shelter by the side of the road, perfect for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Kouchu (yawning):
“This place looks perfect for a good night’s rest. We’ve been traveling all day, so we deserve this.”
Shauna (smiling):
“Agreed. We’ll need all our energy for tomorrow.”
Sakuro, ever the prankster, decides to make things interesting before bed.
Sakuro (grinning):
“Alright, everyone. How about a scary story before we sleep?”
Kouchu, Shauna, and the Crystal Monsters exchange uneasy looks. They weren’t sure if this was a good idea, but they were too tired to argue.
Shauna (hesitant):
“Scary stories? I don’t know, Sakuro… it’s been a long day.”
Sakuro (smirking):
“Come on, it’ll be fun! What’s the worst that could happen?”
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[Scene 2 – The Scary Story]
Sakuro leans forward, his eyes glinting mischievously as he begins his tale.
Sakuro (low, eerie voice):
“On a dark, stormy night, deep in the Crystal World, there’s a creature that prowls the shadows. It’s said to appear whenever a Crystal Monster lets its guard down, lurking in the night, waiting for its chance to strike…”
As Sakuro spins the tale, the brawlers listen nervously, the wind howling outside the shelter adding to the atmosphere. The Crystal Monsters, Roaracryst especially, seem increasingly uneasy.
Kouchu (laughing nervously):
“Alright, Sakuro, that’s enough. I think we’ve had enough scary stories for one night.”
But it’s too late—Roaracryst looks visibly shaken, its eyes wide, as if the tale has taken root in its mind.
Roaracryst (whispering):
“That… sounds so real…”
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[Scene 3 – Roaracryst’s Nightmare]
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That night, as the brawlers sleep soundly, Roaracryst lies awake in its corner of the shelter, eyes wide open, its thoughts consumed by the frightening images from Sakuro’s story. Roaracryst’s mind races, and the nightmare begins.
Nightmare Sequence:
In the dream, the creature from Sakuro’s story materializes in the darkness. Roaracryst tries to escape, but it’s trapped in an endless void, the creature always one step behind. Its heart races in fear, the shadows closing in around it.
Roaracryst awakens with a start, gasping for breath, but the nightmare doesn’t end. Every time it closes its eyes, the creature returns. The nightmare is relentless, repeating over and over again, a never-ending cycle of fear.
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[Scene 4 – Somnus to the Rescue]
In the midst of Roaracryst’s torment, something changes. The nightmare pauses, and a soft, calming presence fills the air. Somnus, the Crystal Monster of dreams, appears in the dreamscape.
Somnus (gentle voice):
“Roaracryst… this nightmare has no hold over you. You are strong, and your fear is only a shadow.”
Somnus raises its hand, and the nightmare begins to fade, the dark creature vanishing into nothingness. The soothing light of Somnus envelops Roaracryst, and for the first time that night, Roaracryst feels calm.
Roaracryst (relieved):
“Thank you, Somnus… I… I thought I would never escape.”
Somnus smiles gently.
Somnus:
“Nightmares are powerful, but so are you. Don’t let them control you.”
With that, Somnus fades into the night, leaving Roaracryst to rest peacefully for the first time that evening.
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[Scene 5 – Roaracryst Wakes Up]
Roaracryst wakes up the next morning, the sun shining brightly through the shelter’s window. It blinks, disoriented, and looks around.
The brawlers are still asleep, the peaceful morning contrasting the turmoil of the night before. Roaracryst stretches and lets out a small sigh of relief, grateful that the nightmares are gone.
Roaracryst (whispering to itself):
“Thank you, Somnus.”
But as Roaracryst looks around, it sees Kouchu sleeping peacefully beside it, his arm draped casually over the Crystal Monster’s back. Apparently, in its exhaustion, Roaracryst had unconsciously crawled into Kouchu’s bedroll during the night, seeking comfort after the ordeal.
Roaracryst (quietly):
“How… did I end up here?”
Roaracryst shakes its head and carefully slips away, trying not to wake Kouchu. It quietly looks around at the other brawlers, who are still fast asleep.
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[Scene 6 – Morning Light]
As the day breaks, Kouchu stirs and wakes up, blinking at the bright light streaming into the shelter. He groggily turns to see Roaracryst beside him.
Kouchu (yawning):
“Hey, Roaracryst… you sleep okay?”
Roaracryst looks up at Kouchu, still slightly embarrassed by what happened.
Roaracryst (nervously):
“Yeah, I… I think I just had a bad dream last night. But it’s okay now. Somnus helped me.”
Kouchu smiles sleepily and pats Roaracryst’s head.
Kouchu:
“Good to hear. You know, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Roaracryst gives a small, relieved smile as the rest of the group begins to wake up.
Shauna (stretching):
“Good morning, everyone. Ready to continue our journey?”
Sakuro (grinning):
“Ready as ever! And no more scary stories, right?”
Kouchu (laughing):
“Yeah, I think we’ve had enough of those for a while.”
The brawlers pack up their things and prepare to leave the shelter. Roaracryst feels stronger now, ready to face whatever lies ahead.
Roaracryst (to itself, with a newfound resolve):
“Nightmares can’t hold me back. I’m ready for anything.”
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TO BE CONTINUED…
