The air beneath Pi'illo castle was cold and damp as Dreambert traveled to the place where his old enemy was being held. A Pi'illo master trailed close behind as they turned a corner in the dim, brick-paved cave. Dreambert could feel it; an almost suffocating feeling. He felt a sort of void grow in his chest. Nightmares... they weren't far off. The sense prickling at him only intensified as they finally came to their target. A limp form lay unconscious, chained to the wall. The chains reinforced with a spell to make them unbreakable. Him... even looking at his pathetic, sleeping form made his stomach writhe. Dreambert would have never thought this creature could have survived what had happened all those months ago, yet here it is, right in front of his eyes.

How had it happened...? Ah yes... a few days ago, he was found washed up on Driftwood Shore weak and without consciousness. He had been dragged to the underground caverns of the Pi'illo castle. As much as Dreambert hated the thought of him still living... all their problems... including this nightmare's, will be solved in time.

The first thing he felt was the chilling air. It was thick, and it almost weighed him down. He was weak, not even able to open his eyelids. He tried to snuggle further into his cape, but his fatigue overcame him and kept him paralyzed. He could vaguely feel something cold and hard constricting his wrists. Breaking through his exhaustion, he slowly and weakly opened his eyes. His vision blurred a bit as his head throbbed for a few moments. He looked down at his hands to see they were tightly restrained by two golden cuffs. He struggled to lift his trembling arms to take a closer look at his restraints; the two cuffs around his wrists were fastened together by a short chain, and, at the middle, branched off into a longer link that connected to the wall.

"Antasma."

He jerked his head up to see two figures in front of him. He recognized one immediately. Dreambert, and behind him, a Pi'illo master.

Rage swelled in him at the sight of his old rival. The one who sealed him in the Dream World, a place he hoped to never see again as long as he remained living. The one who also mocked him as Antasma was betrayed by the only thing he could consider a friend. The one who tried to kill him and nearly succeeded.

The one who he used to be best friends with in his younger years.

He felt no warm regard for this Pi'illo though. Only a seething hatred. Antasma tried to dash forwards to attack the young prince only to be harshly yanked back by the chains imprisoning him. He felt a sharp pain in his wrists as they were forced back behind him by the cuffs. He let out a quiet hiss as the Pi'illo master behind Dreambert spoke,

"Calm yourself, Antasma. We mean no harm to you, we merely want to speak," The master said in a quiet, calm voice. Antasma felt his rage almost burst.

"No harm!? After you haff spent so many years hunting me down und trying to kill me!?" Antasma yelled back angrily. The master gave him a concerned look and replied in the same serene, unworried voice,

"That very fact is why we have decided to come to a new solution, beneficial to both you and the Pi'illo race. A non-violent solution,"

"I just vant to be free... let me leave the island. I haff no vill to start anything at thee moment. I am much too veak,"

He relaxed himself a bit, releasing the strain on his wrists from the cuffs pulling him back towards the wall he was chained to. Dreambert, who had not spoken, looked at Antasma with a slightly sympathetic look, it made Antasma's blood boil just looking at him.

"Antasma, you will have the freedom you wish for. We mean no harm to you,"

Antasma's attention perked a little at that statement. Would it be possible? He found it hard to believe that the Pi'illos would just leave him alone like that. There had to be some kind of catch to it.

They must have seen his skeptical expression because the Pi'illo master assured him,

"Antasma, we will not harm you. Just come with us to Somnom Woods. We'll explain the conditions. We merely wish for this harsh rivalry to end."

He considered this for a minute. They just wanted to speak with him? But why in Somnom Woods...? He would go, but would have to keep his guard up.

"Very vell, I vill listen to your solution..."

The Pi'illo master smiled warmly at him before snapping his fingers. His hand lit up and a variety of symbols appeared around them. Antasma heard a sharp click before he felt the cold metal restraining his hands come loose and fall to the ground with a loud clang. He rubbed his slightly sore wrists and said,

"You are serious about this?"

Somnom Woods was a very silent, calming place, though at the same time could be considered eerie and unsettling all the same. It is the home of the Pi'illo masters. The outer reaches of Somnom were thick forests and poison swamps, meant to keep intruders out to preserve the inner region of the sacred place. Deep into the forest, the dense trees clear out and lead into a much stranger surrounding. Almost alien, this sacred area was filled with statues and temples built in dedication to the Zeekeeper, Pi'illo Island's guardian. Over time they have crumbled into almost nothing, though it only seemed to make the place seem more mystic. The core of Somnom Woods was supported by large conical platforms, jutting from a seemingly bottomless void. Many odd trees and plantlife were scattered around, some striped, some appeared as ginormous flowers, some were even bioluminescent. Light from above shone in-between the large platforms, illuminating the terrain in a very dramatic, almost dreamlike way.

Antasma followed lazily behind the prince and the master. In all honesty, he had never had quarrel with the Pi'illo masters. They never took sides, and had many years of experience and wisdom to offer to those who needed help. Even during his war with the Pi'illo race, they would allow him to take refuge in Somnom, albeit reluctantly.

He was led far into Somnom to where the Zeekeeper's dreampoint was located. The Ultibed that had been placed in the ruined temple was gone; probably moved to a more protected location. In the large clearing were several Pi'illo masters waiting; a few of them had their attention locked onto a small box they were fiddling with. The box didn't look like much, it had a few Pi'illo symbols carved into it; nothing more. Though, Antasma could sense almost a strange warmth coming from it. Strong emotions of every kind were emanating from the tiny case. He wasn't exactly sure why it was needed, but Antasma could feel a growing worry in the back of his mind.Something isn't right, he thought to himself.

"Vhat do you need to speak vith me about?" He asked. The master he had been following turned to him and gave him a friendly look,

"Don't look so worried, Antasma. We are just going to discuss a few things with you. There is no need to feel uneasy," He assured the bat.

He led Antasma a bit further into the clearing when he felt an energy surround him. He looked around to find that a forcefield had been set around the ruined temple; preventing any escape. The Pi'illo master in front of Antasma shot Dreambert a scornful look.Why would Dreambert feel the need to...?

"Your Highness... that is not necessary..." He said in a mildly irked tone.

"It is merely a cautionary method, master," Dreambert replied.

The Pi'illo master gave an inward sigh before turning to Antasma,

"Ah- Don't look so worried, Antasma,"

"Vorried!? You just sealed me in here vith you und you expect me to remaincalm!?"

"Ahhh... Please excuse that, it wasn't planned for that to occur."

He heard Dreambert make an annoyed huff from behind.

"Antasma," The Pi'illo master began, "You have been through many hardships in your life, correct?"

Antasma shifted uncomfortably,Get out of there! His mind screamed at him.

"Do you feel that if you had never turned against us, you would be happier still today?"

What is this, a guilt trip? He thought. Though, he couldn't help but wonder... would it? The Pi'illo was right that his past did weigh his emotions down immensely... had he not gone against the Pi'illos?I probably would have had a more laid back life... The idea of it was almost untouchable though.

"There is a way we can help you forget everything," The Pi'illo offered,

Oh no.

"We can give you a new memory. Free of the misfortune and betrayal you have come across,"

No no no!

"You will awaken feeling happier and relaxed-"

Enough.

"STOP!" Antasma yelled, "I'm not letting you rewrite my memories! I haff gone through too much just to give it all up now!"

"Antasma." Dreambert spoke in a commanding voice from behind, "We are not giving you a choice,"

The Pi'illo master shot him a worried look, "Y-your Highness...?"

We are not giving you a choice.

Antasma couldn't move. He had only felt fear like this two other times in his thousands of years of life. He didn't want this. He could vaguely hear Dreambert and the Pi'illo master arguing, though it sounded distant. He could only think to escape. Perhaps he could shatter the forcefield...? Not likely.

You have to try! His mind screamed back at him.

"You know very well he isn't going to willingly go through this!"

"Perhaps we can persuade him into-"

They were interrupted by Antasma suddenly dashing to the edge of the forcefield. He slammed himself into it, trying to break it? Impossible. The spell Dreambert had used was designed specifically to trap nightmares.

"Restrain him," Dreambert ordered. He couldn't have Antasma cause any more trouble.

"Prince...! Please consider what you're doing, forcing him will only-"

You don't understand.

"That is an order!"

I want my old friend back.

The Pi'illo gave Dreambert a pleading look before casting the binding spell. Antasma was suddenly surrounded and constricted by three glowing rings, letting out a loud screech in the process. He violently thrashed around, desperately trying to free himself. He was then forcefully pulled back to where they were previously speaking.

I don't hate Antasma.

The Pi'illo took the small case from the other master who had been holding it. The small lock on it clicked open, causing the lid to spring back to its open position. The inside of the box now lay fully exposed; a small, but powerfully radiating orb sat resting in a protective red padding. He flew up to Antasma's eye level.

I hate what the nightmares have turned him into.

"Forgive us, Antasma. You will feel much better soon,"

Antasma looked terrified. Dreambert had only seen this look only a few other times; when he was being sealed into the Dream World, and when he had nearly experienced death itself. He almost felt bad.

The Pi'illo master removed the orb and let go of the box, which remained suspended in midair.

"I don't vant to," Antasma said in a pleading voice.

"Do not worry. You will not remember any of this," The Pi'illo replied, trying to calm him.

The master reached out a hand and gently rested it on the bat king's forehead. After a moment he pulled it away, with a stream of white light following. Antasma's eyes widened and his mouth gaped open as he let out a quiet, shaky gasp before his frightened facial expression fell blank. Dreambert saw his muscles relax and his body slump forwards a bit.

The light that the Pi'illo had removed- Antasma's memories, formed into an orb identical to the one that had been protected in the case. He put the new orb into the box and closed the lid, handing it off to another Pi'illo master.

"Put that somewhere safe. Make sure nobody but us should find it," He commanded. The Pi'illo nodded and went off further into Somnom.

The orb that the Pi'illo master had been tightly holding held out his arm and opened his palm, causing the replacement orb to dissolve into the same stream that had been removed from the bat. It quickly entered Antasma's body, causing him to straighten up again. After his new memories were set in his mind, he remained still and wide-eyed for a few moments before his eyes rolled back into his skull as he lost consciousness.

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I've done any creative writing, (almost a year?) so if there's any errors in this please let me know! Feedback is also appreciated!