Author's Note: Okay, here is how it's going to work

This story was voted, by you guys, to be the story that appears after "Runaway Reptile." I just want you all to know that those who voted for the other choices don't have to be disappointed. I am going to do all the stories at some point. So, after I write "Power Surge" I'm gonna do "Through Her Eyes," and after that one I am going to do "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow." I have other story ideas that I am going to do after that, and I'll still be updating "One Shot Wonders" and "Wilted" while I work on this story.

Anyway, enough talk; let's get to the story!

Chapter 1 Reoccurring Nightmare

Cold. It was very cold, freezing in fact. It was also very dark, despite the fact that it was supposed to be the middle of the day. A wind blew across Ludwig's face, stabbing him like a dagger. The blue haired special pulled his blue cloak tighter around his body in a desperate attempt to maintain his internal temperature. He also pulled up the hood in order to keep the biting, ferocious wind out of his face.

To his relief, the wind died. This gave Ludwig an opportunity to take off his hood and look around. As mentioned, it was eerily dark, but if he squinted Ludwig could make out the outlines of crumbled buildings. Their remains lay on the ground like corpses. Ludwig sniffed the air and got dust caught in his lungs. He coughed and sputtered, fear starting to take over.

He knew this place. He knew it well.

"I can't believe you."

Ludwig turned around as he felt the frigid fingerprint of a shadow graze his back. He saw that it was Kamek, the Koopa King's advisor, who had spoken. There was a fury on his face that was somehow colder than their surroundings.

"You are supposed to be a special," Kamek said. "You were blessed with amazing powers, powers that haven't been seen in almost a century and a half. And this is what you choose to do with them?"

Ludwig heard footsteps behind him. He turned around, and his mouth hung open in shock. There were a variety of dragon koopas, humans, koopa troopas, and goombas. Two people stepped forward, people who Ludwig knew just as well as their location. He couldn't bring himself to say their names though. The shame had turned his tongue into stone.

"Why did you do it, Ludwig?" the people asked. "Why?"

…

With a scream and a bolt upright, Ludwig awoke from the dream. He looked around the room that he and Lemmy shared. He saw his compositions neatly stacked on his nightstand. He saw the toys that were scattered all over the room. He saw Lemmy, still sleeping soundly despite the ruckus that he had made.

Ludwig sighed, pulled his knees up to his face, and hugged his legs. That city...those people.

"Frostwall," Ludwig whispered to the room, which was dark except for the moonlight filtering in through the window. No memory hurt so much to think about. No memory made him feel so...guilty. As a tear streamed down the face of the oldest Koopaling, he heard a knock at the door. He got up and opened it, only to find Iggy on the other side.

"I heard you scream," said the crazed inventor. "Is everything alright?"

Ludwig let out a weary sigh.

"I'm fine," he said. "I just had a bit of a nightmare."

Iggy looked concerned.

"Is this the first night you've had one?" he asked.

"Why would you think that it wasn't?" asked Ludwig.

"Our siblings have come to me and reported the signs of fatigue on your face, almost as if you had just gotten a new scar," Iggy said.

Ludwig stifled back a laugh. In a house that was full of Ludwig and his six siblings, it would be expected that some secrets would be spilled.

"Nothing gets past them," Ludwig said out loud. He let out a small breath. "I suppose there is no harm in telling you. I haven't been able to get decent sleep over the past two months."

"How much sleep did you get last week?"

Ludwig put his hand through his hair.

"I don't know...maybe twelve hours?"

Iggy gawked.

"Over the course of a week?" he asked. "Ludwig, you should have come to me as soon as you started experiencing these problems. Do you know how detrimental sleep deprivation can be to your mental health?"

Ludwig let out an annoyed sigh. While Iggy meant well, he would often lecture people about things like this. Ludwig hoped to avoid that as best he could.

"Yes, I am aware," Ludwig said. "I just…"

"Has your erratic sleep cycle interrupted Lemmy's circadian rhythms?"

Ludwig laughed.

"Are you kidding me? That guy sleeps like a brick," he said. Iggy sighed in relief.

"Oh good," he said. Then he put on a stern expression. "I suggest that you find somebody to talk to about your nightmares. I think perhaps Kamek would be the best choice."

Ludwig stiffened up.

"Kamek?" he asked nervously.

"Yes," Iggy said. "He is much more experienced in the science of oneirology than I am. He also can interpret a dream's meaning better than I ever could. Perhaps he can help you learn why you are experiencing these night terrors?"

Ludwig didn't like the sound of that. He knew exactly why he was having the nightmare. It has been the same nightmare over the past two months, and even when it began the dream wasn't unfamiliar to Ludwig. The memory of what happened to Frostwall has haunted his sleep ever since he was a little kid.

"That won't be necessary," Ludwig said. "I can handle this on my own."

"But…"

"Iggy," Ludwig said. "I'm fine."

Iggy looked at Ludwig with concern and a hint of frustration, but didn't question him any further.

"If you say so," he said. He turned and started heading back to his bedroom. "Make an attempt to get some more sleep, alright?"

Ludwig nodded as he closed the door. He pulled up the covers of his bed, even though he knew it was pointless. He had never been able to successfully go back to sleep after a nightmare.

Especially not this one.