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The lavender stalks stood tall and bright, lacing around the freshly cultivated fields. Their presence a stark contrast against the bleakness of the environment that laced the outer rings of the city. The flowers gently bent to the winds strength but never snapped, standing strong and healthy to encourage insects to come.
Bee's flying over the healthy flowers, landing amongst the purple haze to drink of the flowers nectar and pollen before buzzing towards the next flower. As pollen spread from their busy bodies hard at work, Horror couldn't help but marvel at the tiny creatures.
He had learnt a fair few tips on how to successfully grow produce from an old friend. An old friend he hadn't seen or heard from since their last place was raided and set alight to burn to ashes with the rest of the world. There was no place that he could turn to besides the corrupted mess in this hellish kingdom. He had nothing but the clothes on his back; no money, nothing to barter.
He had lost everything that day, everything that brightened his life was stripped from his being; he lost his best friend, his home, his family, his husband. All of it was cursed to be burned at the will of vicious criminals. Criminals that were likely in the same situation of which he stood in today. Famine and sickness plagued the lands of the Glistening Grove; and yet through all of the darkness and smog, he was still alive.
The purple flowers that laced around the perimeter of his small farmland was the last thing he had to remember his late husband by; lavenders were always his favourite. The colour, the scent, Dust loved the flower with all of his soul. It was the only reminder Horror had to the bright days that had now passed him by.
To turn back the clock was a dream he dreamt of every night. A peaceful narrative that helped Horror to sleep at night and yet it was always too much, waking up after such a wonderful dream to face the horrors that await him when the sun rose was unbearable. His soul tugged and ached for the times he took for granted, all the memories and laughter only cut through his soul now, with the sharpest knife in all the lands that Horror wished would dust him away.
But he kept going, his soul still beating inside his chest to a song of his youth. He had lots of things to do, he couldn't just idly sit by and wait for death to offer his hand. There were countless people around that went to bed hungry every night, the people in this kingdom were not well. Everyone was frail and sickly, their bodies almost mocking those of the skeleton monster race.
If there was one good quality to this kingdom now, it would be unity. Every one of the towns people could stand united under the principle of endless suffering and pain. No one had it better off than the next person, they were all suffering together.
Horror had tried to use his skills to provide for the people, even if he never got a payment for his efforts he was content with seeing how people's faces lit up at his kind gesture; something that seemed beneath the man. Horror stood tall and large, his presence screaming danger; he was a soldier once upon a time, serving the crown of a different kingdom.
He had grown up with the mannerisms of a battered warrior, his presence loomed over everyone as barely a smile licked across his face; his one good eye always scanning over anyone who approached the man. And yet, he showed a gentleness that was unlike how he looked. Crouching down low to offer children handfuls of fruit, smiling after the shrills of laughter that came from their tiny beings.
When left by himself, Horror emanated with an unapproachable aura; he kept inside his own mind as he carried about his days work. But if someone was to approach the larger skeleton, he wouldn't hesitate to flash them a toothy smile; one that was full of a warmth from his early years.
He was always happy to make a new friend, although he knew that people only ever approached him for what he had to offer them. But that was the norm around here, everyone had a family to feed, a family they were trying to keep alive. Horror wasn't going to complain, he would have done the same thing if he still had his family to protect and look after.
Horror went about his usual day, tending to his crops; trying to make do with what he had. He had helped the town out by crafting a sort of water mill. Getting a stream to start running again to offer some sort of reprieve for the towns people and to help his crops grow healthily.
Considering the fact that high societal members, those that lived closest to the crown were getting axed down, everyone in the town kept their heads low and tried to survive.
Rumour has it that the new King had gone completely mad, he was going to ensure this whole place died at his own hands. No one was safe from his fury: nobles, advisors and those in high positions in court were getting slaughtered left, right and centre. The King had no regard for the people closest to him, what did that mean for the people who couldn't offer the King the riches that he demanded? He was notorious for his ruthlessness, an anger that ran deeper than his predecessor.
Seeing the royal guards march their way through the town was a sight that made everyone freeze in fear, death looming over their heads as the insignia of the crown shined against the armour and flags the guards were branded with.
Horror knew that his own death would arrive sooner rather than later but he would have preferred to go in his sleep, thinking of his past instead of staring into the royal guard's eyes as he was met with the sharp side of their swords.
The sight of the guard, and in such a large number, had stilled the towns people. No one daring to speak or look at the powerful men that strolled down the cobbled paths of the town. Their presence this far away from the castle only meant that darkness was sure to consume the whole place; everyone was prepared to see this place covered in their own blood.
The guards all took their position as the Ruler of these lands stepped out of the huddled mess of armour. The King's gaze looked over the citizens of this town, his eyes calculating and stern as his cold expression never faltered from his face.
Horror was stopped in his track from the fear that coursed through his bones, his anxiety looming heavily above his shoulders as the King looked in his direction. What eased his mind was the fact that the King seemingly stared over the large skeleton, his eye light glancing further into the distance.
King Nightmare continued to walk his was down the aisle of knights that laced the sides of their path, his eye lights scanning over the architecture and dying fields in the distance. Seemingly ignoring the towns people as he continued in his long strides. His own armour shimmered in the light of the sun, making the man glow in a warriors light that could send anyone into a panic.
"Follow this source" the Kings voice boomed over the dead silent crowd, his finger pointing towards a sludge ridden river. It barely showed a current to indicate what was up or down stream. The sludge was an awful, colourful swirl of browns and green; and it smelt worse than it looked.
A handful of the guards were quick to follow the King's words as they leapt off into the direction the King spoke was upstream. The towns people couldn't help the slight confusion that swelled in the air, they were sure the king would have ordered them all onto the their hands and knees to grovel at his shiny boots... but they weren't overly shiny were they? They were scuffed and had taken a fair beating in their time. Even the armour on the King's back was slightly dented here and there from his laborious battles he had effortlessly fought.
"You lot, hand them out" the King's voice cut through the silence as he turned on his heel as the first lot of guards had left the vicinity. The guards that were still in the town almost scrambled under the King's orders; as if they were scared of what would happen if they took too long to fulfil his commands. Pages were slowly handed out to the towns people, the guards scrambling around the town to hand the papers out.
Horror was hesitant to grab the page that was passed to him from a guard that stood shorter than he was. The page was clean and was laced with paragraphs that were easy to understand; written in the every day dialect rather than that of the royal court.
Questions upon questions ran down the page with considerable blank lines for an answer to be written into. The bold letters across the top reading 'Census.'
Horror glared at the page in confusion, what was the meaning of a census now? Everyone was barely making ends meet and half of the citizens in this kingdom were on death's door. His gaze was snapped from his page as the King's loud, demanding voice cut through the air.
"I wish for these forms to be filled out in haste..." The King started as his eyes wandered over the crowd, trying to gather the general mood from all of the people. He could tell that they were all terrified in the spots where they stood. He knew they feared his very presence in the town, especially with the guards that followed his every movement and word.
The Census was Killer's idea, those closest to the crown have proven themselves useless. They were living in a life of luxury and getting fat without having to even lift a finger. They wouldn't know what a hard days work is, even if it slapped them right across the face.
A fair amount of Nightmare's court was filled with liars, every action Nightmare had taken to try and secure somewhat of a future for his people, the nobles had swept in and stole the goods under his very nose. They were swift and sneaky enough to intercept the King's letters and products, but not nearly smart enough to get away with it.
These members of his court were nothing but useless, they wanted to see the civilians of the Glistening Grove suffer for their own enjoyment.
Nightmare had taken it upon himself to wipe the slate clean, going through the towns and gathering a general feel of these places so he could see with his own eyes just how poorly these people were. The advisors and messengers for these places were nothing but decoys to lead Nightmare into a sense of false security. They told Nightmare that the people were happy and content, but seeing these places with his own eyes was enough to rebuttal their arguments.
If Nightmare had any chance of flipping this Kingdom back into its glory days, he had to get to the bottom of all of this. Who were with him and who were only sitting in a fancy chair feeding their own gluttony and greed.
The towns people were dying as the lands slowly decayed around them, he had to find a solution- and quick! He would not rest until he has found a way to revert the kingdom back into its glorious haven it had once been. Even if that meant to kill undeserving people of the court and stripping them of the titles they didn't gain in honour.
The Census was to see what the townspeople were qualified for, if they had any qualifications or skills that could lend a helping hand to the kingdom. Nightmare was determined to give these people a job with the prospect of a proper wage, something that the townspeople have almost forgotten about.
The Census would not only allow the King to create new jobs but also help fill in the now empty seats of his court. He needed true diplomats and surveyors that would report back to him without the lies and deceit.
"Deliver your Census to your mayor once you have completed the questions, if you need assistance with filling out your reports, don't hesitate to ask the guards you see before you" Nightmare added as he nodded to the guardsman who would obey his every order.
As he visited each town in his Kingdom, he had left a handful of guards for the protection of the people. They also served the purpose of addressing the King on everything the old messengers failed to do and ensure the census' papers were not being destroyed or altered. These men were the same ones Nightmare had fought beside on the front lines. Troops that he had high morale with that wouldn't dare to disobey his orders due to the camaraderie they had formed in the eye of war.
As nightmare's eyes glanced over his people, his line of sight was captured by the purple hue of flowers that starkly contrasted against the crumbling, dusty town. Nightmare couldn't help the small grin that slowly tweaked at the corners of his mouth when his eyes landed on the strong wilful flowers that were growing despite the horrendous conditions that the Kingdom was plagued with.
He slowly strode towards the lavender bushes, his eye surveying the lands that these flowers seemingly tried to protect. They were bright and full of hope and life, everything that the kingdom seemingly was not.
"Whose work is this?" Nightmare asked aloud, as he turned his head to face the crowds, he was shocked to see how quickly the townspeople were to single out their own. Everyone pointed towards a large towering skeleton who looked as if he had seen better days. His skull was shattered on the top and his clothes were ragged, small squares of fabric loosely covered obvious rips that were mended together with poor needle work.
While the skeleton loomed large and ominously, fear was quick to cover his face and threatened his whole build to shatter right then and there.
"Horror?" Killer questioned as he stepped out amongst from the guards that lined the street. The tall skeleton snapped his head towards the voice of the King's right hand man.
"Killer?" Horror spoke as his eyes squinted at the man in confusion, scared that his eyes were deceiving him.
"You're alive?" Killer rhetorically spoke before a grin graced his face. Spreading the joy towards the large skeleton, both of their eyes sparked alight.
Killer quickly jumped towards Horror with an energy that was reminiscent of a child on Gyftmas morning. Killer wrapped his arms around the larger skeleton as he rattled off a million questions without giving Horror the chance to respond to any of them.
The one question that seemed to shatter the joyous reunion was the words that mentioned Horror's greatest nightmare that continued to linger over his being.
"How's Dust?"
"He... didn't make it out..." Horror mumbled as the cheer in his face and eyes slowly disintegrated. The words he spoke seemed to stab Killer right in his soul, stilling the man from his insistent string of questions.
Killer pulled away slightly to examine Horror's face for the words he struggled to say. Trying to get a reading on what had taken place for Dust to have fallen to his namesake.
Dust was strong and powerful, his magic use and ability was unlike anything Killer had ever seen. For Dust to have fallen from the world must of meant something beyond his wildest nightmares had taken place.
Nightmare took this as his cue to step into the conversation, leaving the townspeople to gawk at what was unfolding before their eyes. The King's right hand man embracing but a lowly member of society who wasn't even born of this kingdom.
"You two know each other?" The King asked, his voice chilling Horror to the bone and making his soul leap out of his chest in fear that was sure to crumble the man under the King's gaze.
"You had to be there!" Killer started with his infamous grin across his face.
"We grew up together, we have gone on so many adventures that I'm surprised we are still alive today—" Killer continued to rattle off as Horror stared at the King wide-eyed.
Horror was sure his whole body was about to double over in the sheer fright that weighed over his bones, darkness loomed over his gaze as the King stood there with the aura of otherworldly strength and anger.
"Y-your maj-majesty..." Horror's voice cracked as he was feeling the effects from the intense gaze of the King looming over his body. How he wished he never woke up with the morning sun...
"You were the one who did this?" Nightmare spoke, jutting into Killer's spiel of how he had known Horror in a roundabout sort of way. Nightmare directed his arm to point at the small paddock that looked to of been in good health.
"Yes, your M-Majesty" Horror was sure his words were never going to be able to come out in a clear manner, every fear on his shoulder was having such a fun time chopping all of his words up before the tall skeleton could even think of uttering them.
Nightmare was shocked to say the least, the small field that started at the end of the main street was growing life. He hasn't seen anything like it in the whole kingdom, except for the land that was closets to the castle.
There were a few places in different towns where the townspeople had a few pots that were growing viable food, but a field? It was almost completely unheard of. Nightmare's thin smile grew as he glanced back over to the scruffy skeleton that stood taller than himself, a glint of hope softly sparking in his eye light.
"How would you like a job?" Nightmare spoke with little consideration in the matter, he was ready to hire the man straight off the streets with Killer being Horror's only reference.
"A job?" Horror asked back with a slight quiver in his voice, this was surely a loaded question; one that he could see himself being killed for answering the question wrongly.
—
In the hellscape Nightmare had explored over the few months at the beginning of his reign, he could tell just how poorly everything was. There was only the smallest slither of hope found across his lands— anyone else in the world would have given up due to the largeness of the corruption that reaped through his lands. The people were in dire need of basic survival instruments: food, water, shelter and remedies for their declining health.
Four small things that the previous nobles stole, without even glancing through the castle windows to the see how the kingdom was already two feet in the grave and just waiting to be buried.
There were so many problems and one too many hurdles Nightmare had to jump through for the chance of reviving this wretched place. Thanks to his father, there were no allies, no treaties and certainly no people willing to send aid for their kingdom. The Glisten Grove was left to its own devices, just waiting for the day everything would surely fall.
With the few viable lands that the kingdom owned, a steady line of produce was slowly being rolled out for the townspeople. With Horror being by Nightmare's side, his little helpful notebook held in his hands, slow progress was slowly creeping into the decrepit lands of Nightmare's rule.
Horror's tattered notebook was filled with all sorts of knowledge on how to tend to a farm. Nightmare wasn't dumb, he knew the fundamentals of farming, but this small notebook held so many secretive guides to turn even the worst of places into the most fertile and fruitful farmlands that could have graced the earth. The passages in amongst the torn pages of Horror's notebook explained how to reinvigorate the soils health; how to fill the dirt with essential nutrients and water retention to allow for a bountiful harvest.
The problem with all of this was the water supply that the towns lacked. The Glistening Groves were once known for their shimmering lakes and rivers that ran around the towns of, what used to be, this great kingdom. Before they could think too far into redeveloping their lands into arable farmlands, they needed to fix the water. The dark, algae ridden sludge was far from anything anyone could consume.
There was maybe one or two lakes in the whole kingdom where the water was passable, water that could be consumed safely without the concern of disease. Nightmare could only thank the spirits that Killer had been friends with such a skeleton like Horror. He had an insight on the depths of farming, his own knowledge and his book constantly stated the fact of nurturing microorganisms and preserving ecosystems within the water and soil.
So that is what they did, with all of the books in the palace library, they were able to devise a plan to help curate and improve the lands. The books spoke about certain plants used to improve water quality by reducing algae and filtering out pollutants as well as providing oxygen. There were also certain flowers that could help encourage crops to grow.
Through their endless research Nightmare could see where his father had faltered; especially in the use of pesticides. After Nightmare had uttered the word 'pesticide', Horror had gone off on a tangent about the matter in length. His words ultimately summarising into the fact that pesticides will do more harm than good.
The redevelopment of the farm lands would not only provide food for the people, it would also provide the livestock with much needed feed. The beauty of this all was that fact that Nightmare was essentially killing two birds with one stone. He was able to give the townspeople a job that would provide a stream of income; something that the people were not used to.
He's made hundreds of jobs for his people, farmers and farm hands, cultivators, builders, bakers— any job that would help this rotten hellhole see through to the next day.
With the basic needs covered, food, water and income, the townspeople were able to dive back into old hobbies and could sleep easier of a night.
The farmers provided the town with wool and cotton, allowing for tailors and crafter to resume their work. The reliable source of food and water enabled miners to go back to work and provide the kingdom with raw materials that were then sold off to the smith workers. With all of the plants blooming, the townspeople were able to collect their oils and mix it in with wood ashes and clean water to provide soap; flowers being used to make perfumes and scented oils.
Within time, the town slowly transformed for a decrepit wasteland into a okay-ish town where the people were finally able to relax and not fear for when they would eat their next meal. There was a sense of normality creeping back into the lives of everyone that resided in the Glistening Grove. Their darkest days behind them and they could only thank the corrupted King that stood with them; not above.
There was something about the King being amongst the townspeople on a daily basis and actually listening to their voice that calmed the nation. Nightmare never walked around flaunting jewels and silks that the people knew they could never afford, the King was out helping all the people without being afraid to get a bit of dirt on his fingers.
After all, what was a Kingdom without the people. Nightmare knew his title didn't matter or change the course of what was to come unless he put action to his words and actually help the townspeople. In turn, the townspeople learnt to trust this man, even through the horrors that rumoured their way around the town. After all, Nightmare had their best interests in mind, did he not?
He never dared to abuse or attack the townspeople, he was only ever violent to those who tried to stop the progress he was trying to create— and if you were to ask a low ranking citizen for their thoughts about the nobility, there wouldn't be a nice word that left their mouth. They knew that those so close to the crown were living in a haven of their own whilst everyone in the towns were struggling to stay alive. They really didn't mind if a few of them lost their life considering they were living off the riches they didn't deserve and never carried any guilt for the crimes they have committed to the general public.
—
It was a story all of the the children in the kingdom knew, it was told as a bedtime story every night. The only difference now is that it got a new ending. An ending that made the whole tale have a new eerie feel.
A tree was planted in the middle of a dense and dark forest, a new haven announced by the spirits themselves. The spirits planted the tree to allow for a healthy and fruitful harvest to all of the people who were in need. Two apples grew proudly from the tree limbs, the pair of them glowing and sparkling in pure and healing intent. The golden apples were the ones that would heal the sick and nurture them back to health.
The purple apples were the ones that kept control of the people so they wouldn't be greedy. These apples provided the people with the ability to understand why they were struggling in such a way and bring the information they needed to be able to turn a new leaf.
The tree was a beacon of hope for the lost people who stumbled their way near, providing them with care and the knowledge to continue forth. The townspeople cared and provided for the tree just as much as the tree and its fruit did for the people. The spirits themselves weaved their magic through every piece of bark and leaf on the tree and formed a kingdom; a kingdom that would know how to survive through the good and the bad. A kingdom that would walk with the spirits in mind, knowing when to stop and when to go.
The tree taught the people the value of a community and how to perceive one's own emotions to better enlighten themselves and others. It taught the people how to listen and understand their emotions, how to act on such a feeling and use their emotions to better those around themselves.
There was power in negative emotions and healing in the positive ones, but when working together, peace would consume their soul.
The townspeople celebrated around the tree as new events rolled through their life, the spirits would bless the newlywed couples under the tree and spread peace and calmness to the babies that were brought forth.
It was everything the Kingdom used to stand for: unity, peace and spirituality. But now?
All that was left to the former great tree was nothing but a stump that laid in the soil with building lingering all around, shadowing the very tree that once brought light into the kingdom. A story that used to help children sleep of a night now brought fear to all those who looked in the stumps direction.
All that it stood for and gave could be axed down in the face of madness and sin without a care in the world.
Nightmare couldn't help but mourn for his youngest days where he did get to see the tree in all of its pure magical glory. The stump laid in the centre of the kingdom for all to bear witness to what had been done.
The surface of the stump was haphazardly chopped into and uneven; cuts, bumps and splinters lacing the surface and giving the stump a new look, one that warned of danger and uncertainty.
When the tree was cut down, it was a sign to all of the people that this place was no longer a safe haven for weary traveler's and those that lived within the kingdom.
So with Nightmares last spark of hope, he was determined to fix the obvious eye sore. Not only for the peaceful memories from his youth but for the townspeople to see that where they stood would become the glorious grove this place had once been.
As the lands slowly redeveloped over the few years that has passed, Nightmare had asked Horror for a special favour. A favour that would fulfil this wish of his.
When Nightmare and the late prince were younger, they grabbed an apple from the spirit tree and kept it in their personal belongings so they would never forget the wondrous day at their first and only festival they had attended, whilst being supervised by their mother and the guards.
With the apples that the twins took, they hid them beneath the floorboards in the nursery of which they shared at the time. Whilst the two apples didn't shine or sparkle as they once were, and were nothing but dust, the apple seeds remained.
With Horror's handiness, and the hope that swirled through Nightmare's soul, they were determined to germinate these seed to replant the very tree that had been lost from this world. Washing the slate clean and to mark a new era in this kingdom. To go back to their old roots and provide and heal those in the town. It's what Dream would have wanted.
How nightmare hoped and prayed that these few seed would grow, it was all he had left of his brother. It was the only hope of keeping this kingdom alive.
It had to work.
It had to...
Please let it work...