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     The wolf that now stood before the two was... odd. It seemed dead, as if it's corpse was reanimated and brought back to life. A marking of some kind was plastered onto it's temple, most likely it's weak spot. 'Wait' Stardust began to think 'Isn't that the same wolf that was dead back-' His thoughts were inerupted, as the creature began to step toward them, clumsily making is way forward. Nightmare's hackles began to rise, the pupil in his left eye suddenly began to turn white. "Why are you here?" Nightmare questioned the thing. Strange hissing noises began coming from the being, only understood by Nightmare, "SiGma wAnts YoU BaCk, NiGhTmAre.... hE wAntS yOu To reTurN WhaT BelOnGs to HIM. You KnOw vEry wElL WHy I'm hEre." Nightmare began to return the hiss. All of it was making Stardust feel light-headed. At one point, he heard strange voices ~... should listen to you!... hAvE nO rIgHt eScaPiNg fRoM Us...PuNisHed foR ruNninG...HIM...because... was nothing but a... corrupt being!~ The voices began piecing together, becoming even clearer to him. ~hOw dAre yOu iNsUlt yoUr cReaTor! YOU aRe a tRuE fOol nIghTmare! wHen I reTurN YoU, thE MasTer wIlL hAve yOUr toNguE riPpeD frOm yOur mOutH! hE'lL mOst lIkeLy dO iT hImsElf oNce he fiNds oUt aBoUt hOw yOu jOined wITh a WoLf!~ At that point, Nightmare had come to Stardust's side and whispered, "Place a paw on the medallion." Stardust was confused, "What?" "Put your paw on the medallion, and say these words...Verosicus falmor." Stardust obeyed, not even thinking twice, and the meddalion began to glow even brighter, releasing a flash of light that blinded. When he could see again, the first thing Stardust noticed was that Nightmare was gone. 'He abandoned me...' These words struck his mind with much force, but were ignored when another voice entered his head, 'I have not abandoned you! I've joined with your body, we are now one beig with two minds, I have given you my strength to fight this foe.' Silence for a moment, 'Look at yourself now.' Stardust looked down and noticed that now he had large claws jutting from his paws, sharper than the thorns on a rose. He also realized that horns had poked out of his head, facing forward. Spikes came out of his back, running down his spine, one on each shoulder as well. His tail had a spiked ball on the end, useful to fight off someone attacking from behind. Once more he was iteruppted, 'Now come on, go fight that menace already!' The corpse let out a high pitched shriek, causing Stardust's paws to shoot to his ears. Taking up the opportunity, it tackled him, knocking the air out of him. But Stardust was quick, his tail shot out and hit the beast square in the chest, causing it to backpeddle. He leaped on it's back and bit it in the shoulder, another terrible shriek escaping it's mouth.  It caused Stardust to let go, to his mistake, as the corpse suddenly grew tentacles out of it's back and lashed him. This only enraged him, and soon Stardust came charging at the being, ready to finish this. But things immidietly got turned around, a tentacle had wrapped around his leg, making him trip and fall. He was lifted face to face with the creature, who began to hiss once more, but it came out comepletely different this time, ~ yOu reAllY ThInk tHat yOu caN dEfEat ME! yoU Are nOthiNg mOrE ThAn A pEst... i'M JuSt gOinG tO fIniSh YoU HeRE aNd nOw So tHe mASteR WoN't HaVe to dEal wIth you....~ It began to whisper a strange chant, causing Stardust to become weaker. 'Not...this...agai...' He was out cold, Nightmare decided it was his turn, 'You've completely forgoten about me!" The wolf's eyes changed from blue to red as Nightmare took charge of Stardust's body. With a sweep of his tail, the thing was knocked down, again releasing it's grip. Without hesitating, Nightmare struck the mark that was on the beast's head, causing it to go limb, "You'll be of no use to your master now...." Eventually, Nightmare layed down, splitting from Stardust's body. He looked at the unconsious wolf, his face expressing sorrow, " Sigh... I wish I didn't drag him into this." Nightmare looked over at the motionless thing, a bit paranoid that it would only get back up and attempt to attack again, "So Sigma finds this medallion to be valuable... Huh, I thought it was just a mere gem that he was attatched to.... Well, at least it's no longer in his possesion." For a while, Nightmare sat by Stardust's side, waiting for him to open his eyes again.

     In a dark room, a strange orb viewed the scene that had just unfolded, showing everything that had gone on. A growl was coming from somewhere in the dark, and a large, scaly tail shot out, breaking the orb and shattering the image. A voice filled with rage and hatred soon yelled out, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! HE'S DEFEATED ANOTHER ONE! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" The enraged being turned around and faced another figure, one who was smaller and more relaxed, "Calm down already... your giving me headaches with that booming voice of yours." It lifted it's paw, a glowing light forming within. The orb seemed to begin to go back in time, rewinding itself and once more returning to it's original form. The smaller figure came into it's light, revealing the face of a fox, wise with age and knoledge, yet seeming so young at the same time; He was a spell caster. He waved his paw in front of the orb that once more showed the collapsed wolf and the monster standing beside him, " Besides, I don't see what I d-" The scaled tail wrapped around his neck, lifing him up to the face of a reptile that had a scowl on his face, " YOU ALLOWED NIGHTMARETO ESCAPE FROM HIS CELL! ALL BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO TAKE A NAP!" The reptile tossed the fox to the ground, knocking his head against the floor and leaving a bump, " YOU ARE TO BE FULLY BLAMED FOR THIS! I SHOULD HAVE YOU EXECUTED!" The figure seemed to calm down a little, letting out a sigh. The fox sat up, rubbing the back of his head and mumbling, "Well I wasn't the one who kept myself up all night working on that gonfounded elixer you needed... But if you want, I can summon more Shadedeans for you, Sigma..." He shook his head, scrunching up his face, "That won't be neccecary... We're just going to go visit an old friend about this situation, and you, Articus, are coming with me since you failed your duties that I had given you." Sigma began to reach for a door, Articus's head following him. His voice spoke out in quicking fear, "W-wait! You don't mean we're going to visit h-him do you!?" Sigma paused, looking back at the fearful animal with a sly smirk on his face, "I'm sure you'll have no problem with Corruption this time, surely he's put it behind him by now?" He moved his cape out of the way to reveal a sharpened blade, ready to be sent through his heart. "Y-yes, I suppose you're r-right. M-maybe he has," the fox gulped. He really wasn't in any possision to question the reptile's requests, more like threats and commands. With shaking paws he got up and followed Sigma out, looking back at the orb before leaving, 'If only I wasn't so exsauhsted, I'd probably be back in my study working on that skeleton of a dragon,' he thought to himself, finaly closing the door behind him. Articus wasn't exactly good aquintences with Corruption, the last time they met, he nearly had his head bit off by the twisted monster. Corruption wasn't Sigma's creation, he was actually a friend that taught Sigma how to control the Shadedeans and make them do as he was told. Nightmare was also a friend, but soon turned on Sigma when he realized the wrongs he was trying to commit, but was stopped and locked up for his attempt of betrayal. Somehow, the monster discovered Sigma's source of power, the medallion that allowed him to summon Shadedeans as well. Soon Nightmare got out of the cell, stole the medallion and ran off. Articus sighed at this, still filling his head with worry and fear that they were heading to Corruption's cave.

     Nightmare was laying down on his back, batting at a butterfly that had begun fluttering around him. He'd been doing so for a long time, trying to find ways to entertain himself while he waited for Stardust to get up again. Speaking of which, he gazed over at the grey wolf, still unconsious, seemingly unharmed. Nightmare groaned, " That curse must've been stroger than I thought. Can't believe that he's still out." With that, he left the butterfly to flutter away, and headed over to the creek that was nearby. Nightmare looked down at the water, seeing his reflection was both calmig and hurtful. In truth, he did't like beig a monster, because of how evil he looked; he wasn't exactly bad, just misunderstood, but that didn't dtop others from either running from him, or charging at him with some weapon. On the other hand, it was better because he could live for the rest of this world's existence, maybe even past that. 'I still wonder how I had come into exsistence' he began to think. 'I don't remember having a mother, a father, a brother or sister, or anyone else. Seems as though I just magicaly appeared here in Valcryan.' His reflection rippled as a fish swam by, makingNightmare realize how hungry he was, his stomach finally speaking up. '...Might as well catch some fish for him and myself, there's o point in moving away with an empty stomach.' WIth that, Nightmare leaped into the creak, landing on top of a fish. He smiled down at it and bit hard on it's back, not loosening his grip until the fish stopped jerking. 'This must be my lucky day, getting into two fights in one day, having a stranger come by who was willing to take the medallion and save me, and a quick me for my starving belly!' He sat down beside Stardust, still unconsious, and looked him over one more time. Suddenly, an idea popped into Nightmare's head; he lifted up his fish, and with one swing, slapped Stardust in the face. The now consious wolf was up with a start, getting on his paws immidietly and shouting. "Wh-WHere! Who!? What!?" His gaze fell on Nightmare, who snorting with a bite of fish in his mouth. He could barely hold back his laughter as he lifted his food up and waved it in front of Stardust and explaining, " Thought I'd give you a little wake up call! Pfffff-hahaha! You should've seen the look on your face when it met my fish! HAHAHAHA!" Nightmare fell on his back, rolling back and for while finally releasing all his laughter. Stardust looked slightly anoyed at this, "Alright! Alright! Jeez, can you please tell me why you did that?" Stardust questioned. The monster merely exclaimed, "I thought y-you had gotten enough... sleep!" Still snickering, he handed over the fish, saying it was dinner. "We've gotta move out of here soon, I'm afraid that more of those Shadedeans will come to attack us... you can eat while we move on." With that said, the two began moving on, unaware that they were nearing a city that held some trouble up ahead.

     Articus just stood at the entrance of the cave, still recalling his last visit here, and was practically shaking like a leaf in the fall winds. 'I thought I'd never come back here...this place gives me creeps!' The fox started to grimace, and this caught Sigma's attention. He turned to him, with the same evil smile as before spread across his face, "Well then, shall we enter?" The reptile stepped foreward, half expecting the fox to follow. But the spell caster's feet were stuck to the ground, unable to move from their place. Though he could use magic, most of the spells did nothing to Corruption, he wasn't ready to deal with all the taunts and bites the beast would deliver. "Well?" Sigma's stern growl startled Articus, making him scurry to the larger one's side, as they began to move down the darker parts of the cave. There were several bones littering the floors of the cave, belonging to wild cats, wolves, tortises, rabbits, lizards, squirrels, and even foxes that had probably either become prisoners in this place, or the monster's last meal. His eyes darted from side to side, staring into the dark parts of the cave that weren't reached by the natural light coming from the mushrooms that grew on the walls and near the ground.

Description
     The wolf that now stood before the two was... odd. It seemed dead, as if it's corpse was reanimated and brought back to life. A marking of some kind was plastered onto it's temple, most likely it's weak spot. 'Wait' Stardust began to think 'Isn't that the same wolf that was dead back-' His thoughts were inerupted, as the creature began to step toward them, clumsily making is way forward. Nightmare's hackles began to rise, the pupil in his left eye suddenly began to turn white. "Why are you here?" Nightmare questioned the thing. Strange hissing noises began coming from the being, only understood by Nightmare, "SiGma wAnts YoU BaCk, NiGhTmAre.... hE wAntS yOu To reTurN WhaT BelOnGs to HIM. You KnOw vEry wElL WHy I'm hEre." Nightmare began to return the hiss. All of it was making Stardust feel light-headed. At one point, he heard strange voices ~... should listen to you!... hAvE nO rIgHt eScaPiNg fRoM Us...PuNisHed foR ruNninG...HIM...because... was nothing but a... corrupt being!~ The voices began piecing together, becoming even clearer to him. ~hOw dAre yOu iNsUlt yoUr cReaTor! YOU aRe a tRuE fOol nIghTmare! wHen I reTurN YoU, thE MasTer wIlL hAve yOUr toNguE riPpeD frOm yOur mOutH! hE'lL mOst lIkeLy dO iT hImsElf oNce he fiNds oUt aBoUt hOw yOu jOined wITh a WoLf!~ At that point, Nightmare had come to Stardust's side and whispered, "Place a paw on the medallion." Stardust was confused, "What?" "Put your paw on the medallion, and say these words...Verosicus falmor." Stardust obeyed, not even thinking twice, and the meddalion began to glow even brighter, releasing a flash of light that blinded. When he could see again, the first thing Stardust noticed was that Nightmare was gone. 'He abandoned me...' These words struck his mind with much force, but were ignored when another voice entered his head, 'I have not abandoned you! I've joined with your body, we are now one beig with two minds, I have given you my strength to fight this foe.' Silence for a moment, 'Look at yourself now.' Stardust looked down and noticed that now he had large claws jutting from his paws, sharper than the thorns on a rose. He also realized that horns had poked out of his head, facing forward. Spikes came out of his back, running down his spine, one on each shoulder as well. His tail had a spiked ball on the end, useful to fight off someone attacking from behind. Once more he was iteruppted, 'Now come on, go fight that menace already!' The corpse let out a high pitched shriek, causing Stardust's paws to shoot to his ears. Taking up the opportunity, it tackled him, knocking the air out of him. But Stardust was quick, his tail shot out and hit the beast square in the chest, causing it to backpeddle. He leaped on it's back and bit it in the shoulder, another terrible shriek escaping it's mouth.  It caused Stardust to let go, to his mistake, as the corpse suddenly grew tentacles out of it's back and lashed him. This only enraged him, and soon Stardust came charging at the being, ready to finish this. But things immidietly got turned around, a tentacle had wrapped around his leg, making him trip and fall. He was lifted face to face with the creature, who began to hiss once more, but it came out comepletely different this time, ~ yOu reAllY ThInk tHat yOu caN dEfEat ME! yoU Are nOthiNg mOrE ThAn A pEst... i'M JuSt gOinG tO fIniSh YoU HeRE aNd nOw So tHe mASteR WoN't HaVe to dEal wIth you....~ It began to whisper a strange chant, causing Stardust to become weaker. 'Not...this...agai...' He was out cold, Nightmare decided it was his turn, 'You've completely forgoten about me!" The wolf's eyes changed from blue to red as Nightmare took charge of Stardust's body. With a sweep of his tail, the thing was knocked down, again releasing it's grip. Without hesitating, Nightmare struck the mark that was on the beast's head, causing it to go limb, "You'll be of no use to your master now...." Eventually, Nightmare layed down, splitting from Stardust's body. He looked at the unconsious wolf, his face expressing sorrow, " Sigh... I wish I didn't drag him into this." Nightmare looked over at the motionless thing, a bit paranoid that it would only get back up and attempt to attack again, "So Sigma finds this medallion to be valuable... Huh, I thought it was just a mere gem that he was attatched to.... Well, at least it's no longer in his possesion." For a while, Nightmare sat by Stardust's side, waiting for him to open his eyes again.

     In a dark room, a strange orb viewed the scene that had just unfolded, showing everything that had gone on. A growl was coming from somewhere in the dark, and a large, scaly tail shot out, breaking the orb and shattering the image. A voice filled with rage and hatred soon yelled out, "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! HE'S DEFEATED ANOTHER ONE! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" The enraged being turned around and faced another figure, one who was smaller and more relaxed, "Calm down already... your giving me headaches with that booming voice of yours." It lifted it's paw, a glowing light forming within. The orb seemed to begin to go back in time, rewinding itself and once more returning to it's original form. The smaller figure came into it's light, revealing the face of a fox, wise with age and knoledge, yet seeming so young at the same time; He was a spell caster. He waved his paw in front of the orb that once more showed the collapsed wolf and the monster standing beside him, " Besides, I don't see what I d-" The scaled tail wrapped around his neck, lifing him up to the face of a reptile that had a scowl on his face, " YOU ALLOWED NIGHTMARETO ESCAPE FROM HIS CELL! ALL BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO TAKE A NAP!" The reptile tossed the fox to the ground, knocking his head against the floor and leaving a bump, " YOU ARE TO BE FULLY BLAMED FOR THIS! I SHOULD HAVE YOU EXECUTED!" The figure seemed to calm down a little, letting out a sigh. The fox sat up, rubbing the back of his head and mumbling, "Well I wasn't the one who kept myself up all night working on that gonfounded elixer you needed... But if you want, I can summon more Shadedeans for you, Sigma..." He shook his head, scrunching up his face, "That won't be neccecary... We're just going to go visit an old friend about this situation, and you, Articus, are coming with me since you failed your duties that I had given you." Sigma began to reach for a door, Articus's head following him. His voice spoke out in quicking fear, "W-wait! You don't mean we're going to visit h-him do you!?" Sigma paused, looking back at the fearful animal with a sly smirk on his face, "I'm sure you'll have no problem with Corruption this time, surely he's put it behind him by now?" He moved his cape out of the way to reveal a sharpened blade, ready to be sent through his heart. "Y-yes, I suppose you're r-right. M-maybe he has," the fox gulped. He really wasn't in any possision to question the reptile's requests, more like threats and commands. With shaking paws he got up and followed Sigma out, looking back at the orb before leaving, 'If only I wasn't so exsauhsted, I'd probably be back in my study working on that skeleton of a dragon,' he thought to himself, finaly closing the door behind him. Articus wasn't exactly good aquintences with Corruption, the last time they met, he nearly had his head bit off by the twisted monster. Corruption wasn't Sigma's creation, he was actually a friend that taught Sigma how to control the Shadedeans and make them do as he was told. Nightmare was also a friend, but soon turned on Sigma when he realized the wrongs he was trying to commit, but was stopped and locked up for his attempt of betrayal. Somehow, the monster discovered Sigma's source of power, the medallion that allowed him to summon Shadedeans as well. Soon Nightmare got out of the cell, stole the medallion and ran off. Articus sighed at this, still filling his head with worry and fear that they were heading to Corruption's cave.

     Nightmare was laying down on his back, batting at a butterfly that had begun fluttering around him. He'd been doing so for a long time, trying to find ways to entertain himself while he waited for Stardust to get up again. Speaking of which, he gazed over at the grey wolf, still unconsious, seemingly unharmed. Nightmare groaned, " That curse must've been stroger than I thought. Can't believe that he's still out." With that, he left the butterfly to flutter away, and headed over to the creek that was nearby. Nightmare looked down at the water, seeing his reflection was both calmig and hurtful. In truth, he did't like beig a monster, because of how evil he looked; he wasn't exactly bad, just misunderstood, but that didn't dtop others from either running from him, or charging at him with some weapon. On the other hand, it was better because he could live for the rest of this world's existence, maybe even past that. 'I still wonder how I had come into exsistence' he began to think. 'I don't remember having a mother, a father, a brother or sister, or anyone else. Seems as though I just magicaly appeared here in Valcryan.' His reflection rippled as a fish swam by, makingNightmare realize how hungry he was, his stomach finally speaking up. '...Might as well catch some fish for him and myself, there's o point in moving away with an empty stomach.' WIth that, Nightmare leaped into the creak, landing on top of a fish. He smiled down at it and bit hard on it's back, not loosening his grip until the fish stopped jerking. 'This must be my lucky day, getting into two fights in one day, having a stranger come by who was willing to take the medallion and save me, and a quick me for my starving belly!' He sat down beside Stardust, still unconsious, and looked him over one more time. Suddenly, an idea popped into Nightmare's head; he lifted up his fish, and with one swing, slapped Stardust in the face. The now consious wolf was up with a start, getting on his paws immidietly and shouting. "Wh-WHere! Who!? What!?" His gaze fell on Nightmare, who snorting with a bite of fish in his mouth. He could barely hold back his laughter as he lifted his food up and waved it in front of Stardust and explaining, " Thought I'd give you a little wake up call! Pfffff-hahaha! You should've seen the look on your face when it met my fish! HAHAHAHA!" Nightmare fell on his back, rolling back and for while finally releasing all his laughter. Stardust looked slightly anoyed at this, "Alright! Alright! Jeez, can you please tell me why you did that?" Stardust questioned. The monster merely exclaimed, "I thought y-you had gotten enough... sleep!" Still snickering, he handed over the fish, saying it was dinner. "We've gotta move out of here soon, I'm afraid that more of those Shadedeans will come to attack us... you can eat while we move on." With that said, the two began moving on, unaware that they were nearing a city that held some trouble up ahead.

     Articus just stood at the entrance of the cave, still recalling his last visit here, and was practically shaking like a leaf in the fall winds. 'I thought I'd never come back here...this place gives me creeps!' The fox started to grimace, and this caught Sigma's attention. He turned to him, with the same evil smile as before spread across his face, "Well then, shall we enter?" The reptile stepped foreward, half expecting the fox to follow. But the spell caster's feet were stuck to the ground, unable to move from their place. Though he could use magic, most of the spells did nothing to Corruption, he wasn't ready to deal with all the taunts and bites the beast would deliver. "Well?" Sigma's stern growl startled Articus, making him scurry to the larger one's side, as they began to move down the darker parts of the cave. There were several bones littering the floors of the cave, belonging to wild cats, wolves, tortises, rabbits, lizards, squirrels, and even foxes that had probably either become prisoners in this place, or the monster's last meal. His eyes darted from side to side, staring into the dark parts of the cave that weren't reached by the natural light coming from the mushrooms that grew on the walls and near the ground.