Author's Note: Please pardon again the lack of updates. Once more, I've been having computer trouble, this time in the form of a burnt out hard drive. It will be back tomorrow, so I promise a large update on Friday night. I know that this story mightseem a little strange. The setting it based on a world I made for another book, andis honestly founded off of mymany childhood imaginary friends. Ihonestly felt a little strangedropping Orko intothis new world, but even if itoutwardly is a little odd, I can say that it will be crucial in an upcoming fic. (don't you just love teasers?)And now, a review response:

Lori: I'm glad you're liking it, and no worries on the delays in the reviews. I'm patient. And I'm glad I could give you a nostalgic (I think that's how it's spelled) moment. I know that writing this one made me remember my own happy times watching He-Man.

Lastly, enjoy the story.

Chapter 7: From Nightmare into Dreams

Star wasn’t kidding when he said he could run faster than Orko could fly! Although Orko wasn’t sure he’d call the half leaping, half galloping movement running, the dark, dead woods flew by so fast that it was only a gray blur. And the branches that had given Orko and Sylwin so much trouble seemed to almost part before Star, as if wanting nothing to do with the unicorn.

Suddenly, after one graceful leap, they left the woods entirely. Here Star paused to let Orko take a look around. And when he did, he gasped at the difference. Gone was the dark woods and brittle, withered grass, replaced by beautiful rolling hills covered in soft, bright green grass and colorful flowers, clear blue skies with white puffy clouds, and gorgeous sunshine pouring down to warn them all over. It was like an entirely different world! Orko had to look behind them to make sure that the nightmarish woods had even existed at all… it had.

Here nothing will harm you, assured Star. In fact, once they realize what you are, you will be treated with the utmost respect and kindness.

“What I am?” echoed Orko. Star looked over his shoulder at the Trollan.

You are what’s known here as a Dreamer, a being from the world outside of this plane. This place goes by many names in many languages and worlds, but I believe the most common is Imagiland, a world where what’s imagined by Dreamers such as yourself, is reality, lives.

“Lives? You mean like characters from fiction stories?”

Yes, although the most common beings here are those created by lonely children to be their friends. Only a rare few story characters are so taken to heart by their creator to be born here. You see, it isn’t enough just to be made-up. A Creature must be truly loved by their creator, to a point that they feel each other’s emotion, known each other’s thoughts.

“Then how am I here?” Star snorted softly and began to run again.

Someone expended a lot of energy to send you here. And I say ‘send’ rather than ‘brought’ because only one here has that kind of power. Although I don’t know why you were sent here, Orko, I would call your arrival fortunate, for you saved many lives.

“But not Sylwin’s,” replied Orko sadly.

Sylwin will live again.

“Trolly-Molly?”

I told you that the gem you wear was his soul. I am taking you to Cassandra Lionspaw, the Dream Dreamer. She was a Dreamer, a human, but was pulled here by fate, and here she has elected to stay.
And as a Dreamer, she still has the power to create new beings, ones that will never Fade.

“And she can re-create Sylwin from this gem? As he was before?”

Exactly. Now something said earlier made sense to Orko.

“Mellissa… she was a Dreamer, wasn’t she?”

Yes. She originally made Sylwin, but now will no longer remember him. Star sighed softly. She is growing up, besides. Many, many times, when a Dreamer grows up, they forget about their friends here, and those friends Fade, that is, die, and pass into the Land of Forgotten Dreams. Once there, they were forever lost. Star sounded so sad about this, as if it was his children being lost, that Orko felt compelled to pat his neck.

“But if Cassandra re-created Sylwin, he’ll never Fade, right? That’s what you said. Star smiled.

Yes. Since her arrival here, less Fade than in earlier times. Sylwin will live again.

“Then lets hurry.”

Very well. Star increased his pace, traveling northeast towards a wooded area.