still haven't taken the time to pick a name for ___(steve)
Also wondering if I should name the other characters in act 3-3.5 to better keep track of them.
I have made a few adjustments to the wording. Added/Removed/Adjusted dialogue. Adjusted actions & dialogue for continuity. Removed extraneous lines and sneaky typos.
I'll be posting Act 4 & 5 separately when I revisit them. I'll post on wattpad once I've revisited all 5 acts and proof-read all 5 again. Again, questions, comments, concerns, ideas, thoughts, w/e are appreciated.
################################################
Dreams can take us to far away places,
they are not always planned or expected,
the important thing is to keep your eyes open
...
Ever had a dream you could not finish or wished would continue?
_____The air was still and quiet. There were no sounds from the trees, birds or insects; only silence. The sun was warm to the face and where Klonoa lay was soft to the touch. He lay in his dozing state content not to leave the peace and comfort of his resting place. But slowly he felt the warmth slip away across his face. Something small and cold made contact with his forehead and again on his arm and neck.
_____Klonoa awoke to see the sun slowly being eclipsed by the partially cloudy sky. He shifted and sat up to view a landscape of open farmland held by boundaries of dense groves of trees. Sitting atop a haystack he could see other piles were strewn across the open space in almost perfect pattern as far as the eye could see. Klonoa sat puzzled unsure if the scenery was familiar or unknown. As he pondered his whereabouts drops of rain began to hasten in frequency.
_____Realizing the impending rainfall Klonoa ceased wondering where he was and stood up. "I need to get out of this rain..." He spun around searching for adequate shelter to spot a somewhat large thatch-roofed building behind a well traveled road. Lights loomed from the windows and a small amount of smoke trailed from the chimney. As Klonoa climbed down from the haystack, the silence beyond the pattering of rain suddenly became eerie.
_____Klonoa hastily traversed the field towards the homey structure as the rain was coming down oddly fast for a partially cloudy sky. He reached the the doorstep of the building and let himself in half drenched. He was greeted by a large dining hall with nearly every chair occupied by patrons. The room was well lit and filled with low chatter. There was however a lack a certain energy one would expect to feel in an largely occupied dining area.
_____"Welcome to the Barely Inn" said a voice from across the room.
_____Klonoa turned to see a robust man behind a kitchen counter that was counter covered in empty mugs and recently used dining plates. Klonoa, now certain he had stepped into another dream slowly maneuvered his way to the counter.
_____"The name's ____, bar and inn keeper. What's your name son? Judging from your appearance I'd say you're more than just new to these parts."
_____"My name is Klonoa. I am from Breezegale. I do not know whe-"
_____"Oh do not worry about where you are Klonoa; life is a journey that is sometimes best traveled without the reins."
_____"Yes but I -"
_____"Here have a drink." ___ passed Klonoa a small cup filled with a strange brown liquid. "Now you know you are about two weeks late."
_____"Late? W-where am I?"
_____With a small chuckle, "Well my oh my that something I did not expect from a dream traveler."
_____Klonoa mumbled in confusion, "Errr, how did...", then slightly annoyed asked, "Where am I and...what do you mean late."
_____"Well my friend you are in ________; currently half a day's walk from the Seers. And by late, well, you should ask the Seers that one. Not sure how kindly people would take hearing the answer these days."
_____"Uhhh, okay. Thank you. And uhh, do you have any food I can have? I'm starving."
_________ responded energetically "Certainly, anything for the traveler," as he sorted the dishes from the mugs on the counter. "Anything you had in mind?"
_____"Some warm soup would be good."
_____"Certainly make yourself at home," ___ said while fumbling with some silverware. "Also in the mean time I suggest getting acquainted with the Seers as soon as you can. One of them has been sitting in that corner for a few days now, probably waiting for you." ___ gave a small nod to the corner then turned away to tend to the cooking pots.
_____Klonoa glancing across the room spotted the lone individual ___ nodded towards moments ago. Klonoa began walking through the dining hall now nearly silent. He could hardly ignore the strange sense if disdain coming from the room. The fireplace was down to embers though the woodpile was well supplied. Klonoa glanced back to the kitchen area to see ____ had gone, used plates and mugs still cluttering the counter-top. The gloomy sensations from the room were beginning to pry at Klonoa's nerves.
_____Klonoa approached the table where the Seer was seated. The Seer was covered in a maroon cloak and the hood concealed most of his face.
_____A low toned voice came from the cloaked man, "So it takes more than a little bit of hope to bring a dream traveler to _____." Pulling his hood back and in a long-winded manner he said, "Let's hope we're not too late. My name is ____(steve) and am one of the last who still look to the future. We must leave immediately."
_____"Okay, uh, hello. My name is Klonoa"
_____"Yes, it's good to meet your acquaintance but we must go."
_____"But I got some food coming and I'm starving."
_____"You must not know how important it is that we leave immediately. We will tend to your needs soon enough." ____(steve) began to glow yellow and became more radiant by the second. He reached out his arm and grabbed for Klonoa's shoulder.
_____Klonoa flinched and tried to evade but the Seer caught his hand. The glow had now become so vibrant the room had faded away along with the sound of chatter and the smell of smoke from the fireplace. "Manyaaaaa."
ACT 2
_____The bright light began to fade. Slowly the sound of birds grew louder and the smell of flowers and trees greeted Klonoa's senses. Color began to reemerge and tall cylinder objects materialized into existence. Klonoa found himself at the edge of a dense green forest with ferns, flowers and trees flourishing and brandishing the most vibrant of color. Birds were chirping merrily and a cool wind flowed through the brush.
_____"Wha...Where am I?" Klonoa asked in confusion.
_________(steve), relinquishing his grip, "I have transported us to the first ____ of our journey. There is something here that we need."
_____Klonoa looking around curiously at his new surroundings winced at the comprehension of the term 'we'. "We?"
_____"Yes, you are the dream traveler aren't you? This world needs to help of a dream traveler."
_____"Okay but this place seems pretty peaceful." said Klonoa taking in the scenery with amazement. Noticing ____(steve)'s posture of moderate disbelief Klonoa took a deep breath and stood up strait, "Okay so what are we doing here? I have to gather some artifacts to save the phantomile from an ancient evil again."
_____"Precisely. It is good to hear that you have saved other phantomiles before."
_____Klonoa confidently replied, "Yes I have been to a few other places but they have been a bit more helpful and accommodating."
_____"Don't worry about that, it will all make sense soon enough. Now we've already lingered here long enough, let's get going."
_____"Well what are we doing in the woods then?"
_____"The area ahead has some kind of protection that prevents people from teleporting closer. What we are here for is at the bottom of a waterfall. My magic does not work within the ___ but I can help you wield that ring in the meantime." ____(steve) quickly became engulfed in a blue glow and disappeared into the gem faceted in Klonoa's ring. "Please walk to the clearing to the left."
_____Klonoa sighed and began walking towards the clearing. As he approached the clearing he had a sense something was amiss. The wind seemed to be slowing down and the sound of birds was becoming fewer in frequency. Entering the clearing Klonoa saw a large flow of water coming from the adjacent tree line and then dropping as a waterfall into a large naturally circular pit that was as deep as the trees surrounding him were tall. The walls of the hole were lined with foliage, moss and flowers. At the bottom there was a pebbled floor with large pond at the center full of fish and a cave in which the water continued to flow into an underground cavern.
_____Klonoa stood at the edge of the pit absorbing the natural spectacle. His eyes trailed down the waterfall to the fish. Suddenly he realized nothing was moving.
_____"Manya! What is going on! Nothing is moving."
_____"Oh they are moving; just very slowly. The power that resides here controls time. We must gather the source of power quickly. The things living here were not always slowed in time. Eventually we too will be slowed unless we remove the power from its resting place; we must act quickly."
_____Hastily Klonoa responded, "Then we haven't much time," as he began making his descent into the pit.
_____The air was cool and humid and the smells were very fresh and strong. Roots from the forest above provided many strong hand and footholds. Halfway down the roots became fewer and the rocks and small bushes were the only objects available for holding. Nearing the bottom Klonoa could sense the sound of the waterfall was becoming louder. Klonoa turned to see the flow of water was slightly faster than he remembered.
_____Placing his feet on the bottom floor Klonoa glanced around looking for signs pointing towards the artifact. Not seeing any obvious markings he asked, "So where is it?"
_____"There it is!" said ____(steve).
_____A glimmer from the water caught Klonoa's eye. Stepping closer to the glimmer he could see the shining object was submerged. Klonoa peered into the water in dismay. "How about I wait at the water's edge."
_____"I can not touch the artifact."
_____Klonoa looked down at his ring in apprehension.
_____"My studies have stated only Dream Travelers can properly handle the artifact. Any other handling could cause the power to become even more unstable."
_____Klonoa, slouching his head and shoulders, "Of course..." Unable to see another way to reach the artifact Klonoa slowly approached the water's edge. He reached out with his shoe to test the water but the water felt as hard as the forest floor. "Wha-? What is going on? How do we get through the water?"
_____"Hmm, very interesting. You're the Dream Traveler, think of something before we are stuck here longer than we can afford."
_____Klonoa in a panic looked around for anything that could penetrate the water's surface. He ran out to the center of the pond, directly above the artifact. He looked around again but could not see any sticks long enough to reach the bottom or any clues as to how to enter the water. In dismay he looked down at the water again and noticed his shoe prints were still in the water. He jumped and with a thud the water beneath moved but the splash quickly slowed to a near stop.
_____"I got it!" Klonoa ran to the edge of the water and turned to face the artifact. Pointing his ring he let out a wind-bullet and chunk of water was pushed away. The water like last time quickly halted to a crawl. Klonoa unleashed more wind-bullets creating a tunnel leading to the artifact at the bottom of the pond.
_____Klonoa entered the tunnel of water and continued firing wind-bullets. As he walked through the tunnel he admired the sunlight that drifted through the water and the pebbles that were as soft as sand to his step. Klonoa looked up to see a kaleidoscope of color refracting from the flowers above along with some surprised fish recently exposed by the excavation.
_____Reaching the bottom center of the pond Klonoa was standing within arm's reach of the artifact. The artifact, a dark blue sphere, was atop a mantle of rocks covered in algae. Klonoa pressed his hand into the remaining wall of water. The water was cold and felt like sludge. He reached up to his shoulder and grabbed the artifact. Upon touching the artifact it vanished and a swirl of blue traveled up Klonoa's arm and faded away.
_____Klonoa, a bit confused, struggled to pull his arm out of the wall of sludge-like water. "Okay, I got the artifact."
_____"Excellent. Now let's get back to the forest so we can transport home."
_____Finally prying his hand from the wall of water Klonoa felt a cold draft. Peering back down the tunnel it was clear the tunnel was colapsing at an increasing rate. "Myna! Time is speeding back up!" Klonoa frantically sprinted towards the tunnel entrance, pushing fish and globs of water out of the way. Dropping to a crawl Klonoa squeezed his way out of the small hole that remained.
_____
Splash!_____Standing at the gurgling water's edge Klonoa could hear the waterfall come to full speed and the sound of water pouring into the chasm nearby.
_____In a determined voice ____(steve) said, "We must make our assent. Who knows how much time we've spent here."
_____"Wahoo." Klonoa climbed out of the pit with relative ease and walked back into the forest.
_________(steve) reemerged from Klonoa's ring with a bit of a smile. "Looks like we can do this after all."
_____Klonoa responded with a smile.
_____"Now let us go back to town, I need to gather some things to continue our journey and I'm sure some food, rest and an explanation is in order." ____(steve) began to glow the bright yellow again. Putting out his hand Klonoa took hold thens the colors from the forest and all the sounds faded into nothing.
Act 3
_____Color and shapes reemerged as the blinding yellow glow dissipated. Narrow pillars holding up a patchy surface overhead materialized. As the glow continued to fade curving and swirling lines coiled around the pillars and invaded most of the gaps scattered about the overhang. Warmth of the sun and the sound of wind passing through the garden of vines and brush grew to a peaceful tranquility. Finally the glow was gone but the expectation of vibrant color was met with a disparaged garden onlooking a1 frozen mountain-scape. The vines that created the overhang and the bushes and flowers that acted as divides between footpaths were faded and lapsing to an unseen turmoil.
_________(steve) turned to Klonoa with a conflicted facade, "Welcome to the center of my home and my world."
_____A long pause followed as Klonoa and ____(steve) absorbed the placid subsiding surroundings.
_____"What has happened to this place?" Klonoa asked with concern. "Does this garden not have a caretaker?"
_____"This garden reflects the hopes and dreams of the people who live in this phantomile. Every leaf represents a person with a dream, hope, desire; no amount of gardening care can keep these plants from withering away." ____(steve) walked to a nearby footpath. "Come, we must build energy for tomorrow. Do you have a favorite dish?"
_____Klonoa perked up attentively to the mention of food, "Do you have any curry?"
_____"What is curry?" ____(steve) asked puzzled.
_____"Oh, nevermind, whatever is available is fine," Klonoa said in disappointment.
_____Klonoa accompanied ____(steve) down the footpath through the withering garden. Almost all of the leaves were shriveled and some had all but turned full brown. At the end of the footpath was an old structure roughly the size of a normal house. Vines ran up the walls and ferns lined the exterior. ____(steve) opened the solid wooden door with ease as the hinges gave a small creaking noise.
_____The dining hall was sparse of materialistic things. Tables and chairs were situated in an unorganized yet accommodating pattern. Piles of books littered one of the tables in the corner; an adjacent table perhaps overbearing from a stack of books. The smell of a newly burning fire permeated through the hall while the sun provided the last moments of daylight. ____(steve) motioned Klonoa to a table where three other seers had seated themselves.
_____Klonoa drifted towards the occupied table and apprehensively seated himself. Waved a greeting towards his companions and continued into the kitchen. Silence filled the dining area and enveloped the occupants of the table. The occupants were all wearing a maroon robe and appeared to have similar stature to ____(steve). A few low toned clangs from the kitchen broke the silence.
_____A seer at the table looked towards Klonoa, "So Dream Traveler, I am glad to finally see you have made it safely. We were worried the first element would taken up too much time. Brings a bit of hope to see you two back so soon."
_____The adjacent seer chimed in energetically as if unable to retain his excitement, "The legend of the last Dream Traveler here said travelers have special powers? I- I saw you have a fancy looking ring. Can, may I- I see it please?"
_____The first seer quickly placed his hand on the shoulder of his excited friend, "Hold on there, our friend here doesn't need to explain himself."
_____Klonoa raised the ring into view, pondering the seer's intentions, then placed the ring on the table.
_____The excited seer quickly stood up and snatched the ring, "Wow, it's so weightless!" He examined it quizzically and with utmost scrutiny. He paused, "But I sense a lack something about it...How does it work?" as he pressed the gem of the ring close to his eye.
_____The first seer calmly impeded the interrogation, "Alright alright that's enough, don't want to hurt yourself with whatever the ring can do."
_____The seer gave a quick glare to his friend then reluctantly placed the ring on the table. He nonchalantly sat back down back, elbow on the table and head in hand, repressing his innate fascination.
_____After a pause another seer turned towards Klonoa, "I too am glad the element of time was gathered quickly however compared to our last visitor, you are late."
_____Klonoa uncomfortably surprised, "What does everyone mean by late? I do not fully understand."
_____The first seer replied, "This is not the first time our world has fallen victim to this ancient evil...Long ago the same symptoms arose; irregular weather, strange lapses of time and a diminishing sense of better tomorrows. Many days passed with the symptoms worsening. A mysterious outsider appeared. Most towns greeted her with distrust; some people believed this new face was the cause for the troubles. She was very vocal about her need to visit specific places of our world; perhaps a good reason for people to distrust her in the first place. Over time she made some friends and listened to our children stories, riddles and rhymes. An inn-keeper later found a note stating that she had departed for a short time. Our world slowly progressed into further turmoil - she did not return for weeks. Upon her return she employed haste in her movements and uncovered ancient knowledge our world had changed from truth to legend and myth. Legend says she defeated the evil moments before the end of our world."
_____The third seer retorted in slight aggravation, "And while it took her nearly 47 to undo the evil here you are just days before our end. Anyone with hope is either a saint or delirious."
_____Klonoa uneasily slumped in his chair.
_____Continuing his bantering, "The dream traveler still needs to acquire two more elements of our world before he can fix anything."
_________(steve) reentered the room with the tray of dinner. He placed bowls of stew on the table. "Now you know my haste Klonoa. We had waited for the day a dream traveler would return but no dream traveler appeared. Every day we waited more people fell into despair...but even in the greatest senses of doubt there is still hope. Klonoa, with a heavy heart my world needs your help. Will you help us?"
_____Klonoa re-righting himself in the chair answered confidently, "Of course I'll help; we've made it this far."
_____"Nobody really knows what will happen if the evil succeeds as it nearly did long ago. I can say for certain that the evil will consume my world and everything in it, including you."
_____"There are only two more elements; we can gather them in no time just like the first."
_____With a smile, "Yes, we can. First we must prepare for tomorrow. Eat and get some rest."
_____Everyone ate their fill of dinner in silence as the sun slipped into hiding behind the mountainside. Chirping of crickets occupied the dining hall as the candles gradually extinguished themselves. One by one the occupants of the dining hall retired for the night and Klonoa, finding his own quarters recalled a familiar setting; lying on a soft surface staring up at the stars...
Act 3.5
_____Klonoa awoke as light from the day began to illuminate the room. Taking a deep breath the smell of freshly baked bread filled his nose. Stomach grumbling in anticipation Klonoa clambered out of bed. Leaving his room, adjusting his hair and putting on his hat he could hear idle chatter from the dining hall. Entering the hall ____(steve) and two of the other three seers from last night were at the same table.
_____The excited seer from last night perked up in excitement as Klonoa entered the room, "Ah Dream Traveler you are awake. Come please sit; you've got quite the adventure today."
_____Breakfast came from the kitchen being carried by the disgruntled seer from the conversation last night. The platter was filled with what looked like bread and warm beverages. After placing the platter on the table he turned towards Klonoa, "Good day Dream Traveler and good luck. I must attend to other matters; good luck and farewell." The seer exited the hall with a bit of swiftness towards the garden outside.
_____Klonoa sat at the table with delight.
_________(steve) turned to Klonoa and with an upbeat tone, "Well Klonoa, we have a lot of things to do today. Please have your fill and we will depart; and grab all your things, we will not be returning."
_____Surprised, Klonoa queried as he grabbed a piece of food, "Not returning? There are two other places to go. Will we be staying somewhere else tonight?"
_________(steve) responded heavily, "No. Please, we must finish everything today."
_____"Oh, okay no problem. We can do it!"
_____"I know we can."
_____Klonoa, ____(steve) and the other two seers ate through most of the food in silence until the younger seer spoke.
_____"Dream Traveler, do you know where you're going next? I have not been there yet but I hear it changes people...n-...not in a physical sense but how the world is perceived."
_____Klonoa with his mouth full was unable to speak.
_________(steve) interjected, "That is indeed correct. When I first became a seer I too questioned how such a place could change me. I did not believe I was going to change. I already knew from my studies what lay at the ____ but seeing it with my own eyes and my mind; it really does make changes."
_____Finally swallowing the mouthful of food Klonoa asked, "How can a place change someone like that?"
_____"The world has many wonders to show on the surface but it what we find underneath that makes us truly understand and change. Even when we do not want to change, life has a way of making change."
_____The third seer spoke with a chuckle, "Oh ____(steve), don't go all metaphorical on him. The dream traveler will find these things out on his own in time. I'm sure both of you will come out of this in one piece. Just recall what you can and persevere. Now if you'll excuse me, I must attend to my affairs. Farewell and good luck."
_____The two seers stood up and with a nod excused themselves from the hall leaving Klonoa and ____(steve) in peace. Moments later Klonoa finished the last pieces of food on the table with pleasure.
_________(steve) stood and motioned his hand towards the garden outside, "Shall we depart?"
_____Klonoa followed ____(steve) to the door. ____(steve) opened the door and a large gust of cold humid wind burst inward. It was raining quite heavily outside; one of the strongest storms Klonoa had experienced in awhile.
_____In dismay Klonoa said, "The sun was shining this morning wasn't it?"
_____"Yes it was," ____(steve) said with confidence. "The next ___ will probably have the answer."
_________(steve) stepped out into the cold harsh wind. The vine covered overhang shielded the pathways from most of the rain. Klonoa, following ____(steve), meticulously observed and avoided all the puddles and streams of falling water on the way. Eventually standing in the spot they had appeared from yesterday ____(steve) reached out his hand and began to glow. Klonoa quickly grabbed with a firm chilled grip as a gust of wind almost blew his hat away. The glow increased and the gusting wind slowly faded away along with the cold, color and smell of rain...and for a moment Klonoa felt he would have rather stayed.
