Something was making me very, very uneasy, and I wasn't sure what it was or why it was making me so paranoid. Perhaps it was the fact that Jeriah and Spark were going to yell at us when we returned from the trip, or maybe Dianite's death was still haunting me. Either way, I was going nuts.

Everything started off smoothly. We woke up early in the morning, and Mot put the sign outside the castle like he said we would. I was exhausted, but I helped gather up last-minute items that we might need, and loaded them onto the mules. Once we made sure, for the millionth time, that we had gotten everything we needed for the trip, we jumped on our horses.

"You ready, Alyssa?" Mot asked, looking like an excited little kid going to an amusement park. His non-blackened eye was shining with delight.

"Ready!" I said, holding onto Daisy with one hand and the mules' leashes with the other.

"Follow close behind me, and call out if you need anything, okay?" I nodded, and Mot took off across the land. I sped after him, keeping only a small distance between us, just in case.

The ride was long and dull, but I tried to make the most of it. We passed dozens of biomes, and some had incredible views. I even sang songs to entertain myself, although I didn't know that many. Music wasn't of the utmost importance here.

Finally, after what seemed like centuries, Mot turned around and called to me. "We're going to be stopping here, Alyssa! Make sure you have a good grip on Daisy and the mules, so we can tether them to fence posts before they can run off."

"Got it," I replied, thrilled that we were arriving. We were in a plains biome, but there was a jungle right next to us. Perfect. I slowed Daisy down and held onto her as I climbed off. Mot lay down a bunch of fence posts, and I tethered the mules.

"It's nearly noon," he observed, checking the sun. "We should start setting up in the shade over here. Could you help bring some of the supplies over?"

I nodded, and we both unpacked the chests together. About an hour later, we had set everything up, and we were free to relax. I was already loving life in the wilderness: the only sounds were from the trees rustling and the animals peacefully grazing around us.

"Hey, I see a patch of flowers over there," I piped up. Mot squinted to see where I was pointing, and nodded eagerly.

"Nice!" He gave me a sly look. "I'll race you there."

We still were children, in our hearts. Shaking with laughter, the two of us bolted toward the colorful spots in the grass. He let me win, but it was fun to beat him all the same.

"I haven't made a flower crown in forever," I remarked, sitting down and beginning to pick the most colorful ones. "But I think I remember how to make them."

He grinned. "I'm sure you remember. It can't have been that long ago. I think I still have some of your old ones laying around somewhere." He began to pick flowers too.

"How about we make ones for each other?" I asked. "I'll make you one with white, purple, and red flowers."

"Sounds great," Mot laughed. "I'll make you a rainbow one, for your crazy and bright personality."

I was already having the time of my life. How long had it been since I'd had this much fun? It was well into the afternoon when we had each made a flower crown we were proud of.

"Here you go," I said, leaning over and placing the crown on his head. "It looks beautiful!"

Mot placed the rainbow one on my head and smiled. "I almost forgot what you look like in a flower crown, it's been so long. You really should wear one more often!"

"Maybe I will." There was a lake nearby, so I walked over to look at my reflection. It hadn't occurred to me how long it had been since I had seen what I looked like. I barely recognized myself. I still had the same wide, red eyes, but my face looked much thinner and more tired. My hair hung in very loose brown curls, and flowed in the gentle breeze. The flower crown perfectly framed my face, and I decided that I never wanted to take it off.

As it grew later and later, I set up a campfire for the two of us, and Mot cooked an actual meal for the both of us. We had only eaten apples and carrots earlier, and I was starving.

"How about we share stories now?" Mot asked as we were huddled around the fire. The sky was dark, and his face was mostly illuminated by the flickering flames. "We have all the privacy we could possibly want. Now might be the best time to talk to me about anything you hadn't said earlier."

I nervously bit into a slice of bread. "I... I don't know. Something I didn't tell you earlier?" I paused to think. "I guess I didn't really go into how lonely I actually am. I remember, a while ago, telling you about how Andor would listen to me when nobody else would. I guess what I was trying to tell you is that while you're a great father, what I really need is someone my age who I can truly call my friend. And... I know that's not something anyone can get for me." I couldn't meet his eyes. "I guess I also just want to grow up. I'm tired of being treated like nothing just because of my age. Fall in love, maybe. It would be amazing to have someone by my side always, supporting me no matter what."

"I can understand that," he said quietly, watching the fire. "But being an adult isn't all fun and games, Alyssa. You aren't always treated with respect, and love... is a lot more difficult to find. Life isn't a fairytale."

I looked up at him. "Mot, did you ever love anyone?"

There was a long silence, in which Mot buried his face in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. "I guess I have, Alyssa. Not... not that the person I loved felt the same way about me."

Everything suddenly clicked. "You're talking about Dianite, aren't you? Old Dianite, that is. Back in Ruxomar."

"Yes, Alyssa. I am."

It was very late, so we laid out our beds and went to sleep. I was able to drift off very easily, which was surprising. I guess that's because I usually spend so much time crying before I sleep.

My dream was much more vivid than normal, and it felt extremely real. I was walking along a dock, and there was a girl about my age beside me.

"You're Alyssa, right?" the girl asked. I turned to face her, and saw that she had long blond hair and sparkling blue eyes.

"Yeah, I am. Who are you?" My voice sounded like an echo.

"My name's Bella. I used to live here in the Realm of Mianite, long before you or your alternates lived here. I lived in a very small village, but I was happy. We're arriving at my house right now. Do you recognize it?"

The dream-me lifted her head, and saw a familiar town. "We're in Ianarea, where the gods grew up."

"Indeed." Bella nodded her head. "I was born long after the gods had moved out, and Ianite was ruling it. There was a sweet family across the street. A girl named Capsize that I used to play with, and her little brother named Redbeard. Their names may sound funny, but it's because they were training to be pirates."

"I know them," Dream-me replied. "I know Redbeard, at least."

"But Ianarea isn't as lovely a place now as it used to be. Do you know what it looks like now?" The smile on Bella's face was completely gone.

"I think some parts of it were blown up." My memory was bad enough already, but everything seemed fuzzy while I was dreaming.

"Correct. And do you know who blew it up?" she didn't wait for my answer this time. "Dianite. The dark lord himself. Because of his jealousy of Ianite, he blew up the place. I died instantly, Alyssa. I am no more. I died at the age of thirteen, in this very spot. Want to know the worst part?"

"No," I answered honestly, but Bella ignored me.

"I was told that Dianite was gone for good. That he could never attack Ianarea. I was lied to." There was fear burning in her eyes now. "Gods don't just leave, Alyssa."

"We destroyed the nether portal," I protested. "He can't attack again."

"He can't get to you physically, no," Bella said. "But who's to say he can't get to you in other ways? How about dreams, Alyssa?"

"But aren't you just a dream?" This kind of thinking required too much effort for someone who's asleep.

"I guess I am." Suddenly, Bella's eyes lit on fire. Her mouth unhinged to reveal a long, snake-like tongue. Her skin burned scarlet, and her hair rose into horns.

"Are you Dianite?" I whispered, terror seizing me.

"I'm Dianite," the figure replied. "Bella is not. She is just a victim that I am now able to control using dreams. She was an innocent girl who didn't believe in me. The same can, and will, happen to everyone you love."

I screamed, and everything went black. Dianite's voice echoed over and over in my ears as I began to fade back into reality. "Everyone you love."