Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Slumberland / Story
Holding on to a dandelion, you and Liv made it across the bubbling swamp...
Making it through the grass maze was almost too easy with Liv's scanning radar...
Crossing the rushing river was a breeze, too, with a river crab carrying you on its back...
You and Liv came the entire way without breaking so much as a sweat...
The views around you seem to grow wilder still...
The further into the forest you and Liv travel.
P-please just stop...
With the views unfurling around both of you, Liv appears more embarrassed than nostalgic.
She covers her now blushing face—yet her equally red ears give her away.
When you and Liv reach an empty ground in the forest, you see a line of sheep lying on their side.
So furry that their bodies take the shape of a ball, they are, to your surprise, amazingly agile.
Right in the middle of the sheep is a saddle—and right when one of the sheep hops over the saddle...
Baa!
Then comes the next sheep...
Baa! Baa!
Then comes a third one...
Baa! Baa! Baa!
Eventually, all the baas turn into a light, rhythmic lullaby.
Y-yes, I did...
Liv slowly regains her composure as she looks nostalgically at the sheep.
I'd count them one at a time when I couldn't fall asleep.
Liv says with a smile as she recalls her childhood.
And sometimes I'd end up having even more trouble sleeping because I was so focused on counting them.
Have you ever experienced it?
As a kid, you never had to do anything to have a good night's sleep because you always slept quite well.
But as an adult, you now spend more time trying to not fall asleep than coming up with ways to help yourself sleep.
You actually did have to count to help yourself fall asleep as a kid, what with all the pent-up energy in you.
But as an adult, you now spend more time trying to not fall asleep than coming up with ways to help yourself sleep.
Everyone counts goats, no?
Because sheep are cute.
I... actually am a big fan of sheep, and we even had sheep back home when I was a kid.
You turn your gaze at the line of sheep—which stretches as far out as it possibly can along the horizon all the way from the west to the east.
You decide to keep these words to yourself so Liv wouldn't overheat from blushing.
You try to herd the sheep somewhere else—yet judging from the fact that none of them even bats an eye, you know your efforts are proving futile.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like you can move forward until you've figured out a different path.
Looking up, you see that the skies have gone from their previous white and blue to their current tangerine—a telltale sign that nightfall is fast approaching.
Should we find a place to rest for the day, Commandant?
While everything happening so far has taken place within the projection of a M.I.N.D. shard, you feel every bit as worn out as though you've been going through the day in the real world.
There is, in fact, another reason to your making this decision.
It listens, it chases, and it hunts…
It's the most feared predator in the dark forest, ready to prey on all souls alive.
Listen—as its drool burns through the ground, having fallen from a mouth so big that it takes up over half of the monster's body.
Look—it will never let you go once it has its murderous eyes upon you.
So run. Run as far as you can...
Until you've reached a place that can shelter you...
I'm going to eat every last kid that refuses to sleep. Owooooo...!
To your surprise, however, the "predator" isn't some terrifying monster—rather, it's an adorable plushie.
I'm not scary at all, but I still eat kids who refuse to go to sleep. Owoooo...!
Seeing the shark plushie leaving, you and Liv poke your heads out of the bushes.
Wait, did that happen to you, too?
Monsters that claim to eat you up if you don't go to sleep on time, huh...
Seems like it's an all-time classic.
The only difference is that a scary monster is what you usually get in these stories rather than an adorable plushie.
You approached it because it seemed harmless enough—except it put on a hostile front the moment it sensed your presence.
Are you talking about the plushie just now?
Nodding your head, you start telling Liv about all the tricks the grown-ups used to fool you with from when you were a kid.
Did you ever feel scared?
Right then, you hear a voice coming from behind you—a voice that you know.
There you are! Kids who refuse to go to sleep!
There is no point in turning around—because you know exactly where it is from its footsteps and shouts.
I think we should split up, Commandant...
Running away from the shark plushie, Liv once again makes the same suggestion.
And once again, you turn down her suggestion.
But I'm only dragging you down the way I am now.
And you know exactly what Liv is talking about—her wings, with the fluorescence, make it almost too easy for the plushie to spot them in the dark.
Right then, something lands on your shoulder with a squeak.
About to flick it off, you stop just in time. With the fluorescence coming off Liv's wings, you take a good look at the chipmunk.
And that's when you see yet another chipmunk on Liv's shoulder.
Hurry up and hide yourselves... Where are you trying to take us?
One of the chipmunks points its claw in a certain direction.
Nodding at each other, you and Liv run in the direction the chipmunk just pointed.
Gone... They're gone... Owoooo...!
Passing you by, the cry of the shark plushie disappears into the distance.
When you open the "door" of the shelter, Liv pokes her head out from the other side. You are now hiding with Liv inside two gigantic pea pods.
How did the chipmunks find us, though?
You point at the chipmunks, which are now chasing fireflies.
The fluorescence might be what's catching all the monsters' eyes in the dark, but it also stands as an inviting beacon to friends.
What would you have done, though, if they had never shown up?
...
Without saying anything, Liv changes the subject somewhat awkwardly.
This place seems perfect for rest.
Oh, I think I'll just...
You cut Liv off before she finishes speaking.
I can't just rest whenever I want to inside my M.I.N.D...
The opening on the pea pod that Liv is in faces that of yours. Lying down, she meets you in the eye.
But I'll still try to get some sleep, Commandant.
The moonlight is cold and anything but bright, but it shows you perfectly in Liv's eyes.
You don't want to look away—because you know that the moment you do, you lose this "game."
Besides, you and Liv are already used to being around each other, having been through all that you've been through together over the years.
Having a hard time falling asleep, Commandant?
But you fell asleep in the crater in that mission we went on together.
You actually don't usually get to sleep in your own bed because of all sorts of accidents.
Ruins that can only block off the wind, tight craters, and abandoned cars—these are the kind of places you usually find yourself sleeping at.
The pea pod you're in proves to be a lot more comfortable, except...
I haven't recalled a thing, but I find this place familiar and am very used to it.
Yup... So, what was your childhood like, Commandant?
Following the course of the subject, Liv asks you curiously.
Her eyes are as gentle as they've always been—yet at this very moment, you can feel a certain feeling bubbling up from deep within you.
Alright, then.
Apparently picking up on your uneasiness, Liv closes her eyes like a good kid. With her stare gone, all that's left around you is the quiet air.
Then, a few moments later, Liv asks you quietly.
Having a hard time falling asleep, Commandant?
The forest of a fairytale, huh... So, what was your childhood like, Commandant?
Liv's curious voice lingers by your ears.
You don't remember ever telling anyone about your childhood since you rarely ever even talk about your life before coming to Gray Raven. You decide to take advantage of this chance to have a good chat with Liv.
You can't be 100% sure whether all the things you believe are part of your childhood are really part of your childhood, so you decide to go with what you're more certain of.
You wouldn't really classify yourself as a well-behaved child... Wanting to maintain your image, you decide to make something up.
Liv listens quietly for the most part, but she would still raise questions every now and then—which, to your surprise, actually helps you recall a big chunk of your long-forgotten memory.
And with it, the conversation went from a monologue to a dialogue, with no end in sight.
Your surroundings fall quieter still as time passes. The cries of the insects—loud and clear until just moments ago—have all died down, too. The two of you grow sleepy as you carry on chitchatting in the dark.
Time goes by a mile a second as you laugh and chat away—and you know you both are feeling the right amount of sleepiness to sleep now.
I'd love to learn more about you, Commandant... but I guess it's time for bed.
Liv's voice grows distant as you grow drowsy.
The words coming out of your mouth are garbled up.
Me...? I barely remember anything, though, and the things I do still remember... probably aren't too interesting at all.
You need no further proof—because the place you're about to fall asleep at is none other than Liv's childhood itself.
I'll make sure to find it for you. Tell me more about yourself when I've found it.
You don't remember if you actually said these words before falling asleep.
What happened during the day seems to be spicing up your dream.
Following a group of migrating sheep, you arrive at a spire—that for which you set out on the journey in the first place.
Looking up and seeing the tip of the spire thoroughly drenched in scarlet, you feel drawn to it.
You take a step forward and over the mud on the grass.
Then, with a sharp pain across your forehead, the world as you see it turns blood-red.
The wool on the sheep tears away to reveal the Corrupted underneath, while the spire collapses into a crimson figure.
This is your memory from the last rescue mission.
You tried to make your way up through the sea of the Corrupted, but the crimson figure slashed right through you.
Before chaos tore you apart, the only thing you saw in the world that blurred away was a little white bird.
Reliving the memory, you notice something different.
You feel like you're missing something—something that lies just right beyond where your eyes and the light can reach...
When did the blood-soaked longsword leave your body?
Where did the crimson figure go?
Is there something behind you, behind the white bird?
Turning around, there is nothing but pitch darkness...
...
All the years of waking up naturally with your biological clock have made an alarm clock a dispensable item to you.
As you sit up and rub your temple, the blanket takes the course of gravity and falls off.
Wait, a blanket?
When you open up your eyes, it hits you that, instead of a pea pod, you're now in a cozy room.
The room is minimally decorated, and Liv is nowhere to be seen.
Taking not even a single moment to survey the room or think about how you got here in the first place, you open the door and start looking for Liv...
Hey... Good morning. Did you have some quality rest?
A woman you've never seen before stands in the hallway with a wooden tray. Initially caught by surprise, she quickly regains her gentle smile.
Your hunch is that she doesn't intend to hurt you—and hunches are often the most reliable in M.I.N.D.
Call me Cinderella.
The young lady, right? She's in the room right across.
Cinderella knocks on the door but receives no response.
Cinderella knocks on the door harder still but still gets no response.
Is she the type that struggles to wake up?
Seeing you shake your head, Cinderella hesitates for a moment before she opens the door.
The set-up of the room is basically the same as the one you woke up in. Liv lies in the bed with her back facing you, apparently still asleep.
Uhm...
You can't see her face, but you can tell from the groan that she's in pain.
You're no stranger to what's happening—this is a symptom of Liv's migraine. Out of habit, you want to take out your connecting cable for Deep M.I.N.D. connection, but it hits you that you already are in Liv's M.I.N.D.
Setting her tray on the table, Cinderella dashes up to Liv's bed.
She holds Liv's face with her hands as she presses her head against Liv's, all the while mumbling something unintelligible.
And with it, as a faint fluorescence envelopes them, Liv's face softens.
A few moments later, Cinderella puts Liv's head back on the pillow ever so gently.
She's fine now.
Cinderella stands up, looking slightly out of it.
I'm fine. I was just a bit out of it.
Cinderella quickly regains her composure. Then, you see Liv slowly sit up.
Commandant... Who's this?
Feel free to call me Cinderella, Liv.
Cinderella is now looking at you and Liv with her gentle eyes—eyes that now seem even more loving than they did before.
You quickly fill Liv in on what happened just now.
Thank you so much, Ms. Cinderella.
Don't mention it, and feel free to just call me Cinderella.
O-of course.
With a gentle, accepting smile, Cinderella turns this way.
You're both now safe, and I bet you must be hungry. How about a bowl of bean soup?
Pointing at the tray sitting on the table, she seems to be waiting for a favorable response.
The steaming creamy green soup has diced onions, carrots, and round peas floating on its surface.
The fresh veggies and the aroma of butter make for a temptation impossible to resist.
Given that she just helped stabilize Liv, you don't think there is anything to worry about the food she's prepared.
And from her eyes, you're sensing a very special quality...
That you'd probably describe as "motherliness."
Which is why you don't think it's a good idea to turn her down.
Right, you probably still have trouble eating on your own, right?
Let me feed you, then.
And with it, she approaches you with the bowl and spoon. She's still gentle and all, but it doesn't seem like she's going to take no for an answer.
To sum up what's going on, she just wants you fed because she thinks you need to be.
S-same here...
Each with a wooden spoon, you and Liv scoop up the soup and move it up to your mouths. With its aroma filling the air now, you can now smell the diced onions and black pepper in it.
Shoving the spoon into your mouth, you're instantly hit with a creamy explosion that takes place across your taste buds.
The freshness of the veggies is the first to hit, followed by the rich and fresh taste of butter that helps the onions stand out.
The hot soup makes its way down your food pipe with the black pepper in it, warming up your body through and through.
Much to your surprise, the soup comes with a minty taste, too.
Pretty good, right?
Propping her face with both her hands, Cinderella looks awash in happiness.
When you've finished the soup, it finally hits you that you're starving from consuming nothing at all for the entire day. Having been warmed up, your tummy is now protesting for more.
Whew...
The satisfied sigh coming from beside you cuts you short.
...
You look away. It seems as though Liv has the same thought as you.
Of course. You can have as many as you please.
Cinderella refills both your bowls with the bean soup.
I know you didn't ask for it, but you were about to, right?
T-thank you.
Of course. You can have as many as you please.
Cinderella refills both your bowls with the bean soup.
Glad to see you both enjoy the soup!
I picked these veggies early in the morning, and that's when I found both of you.
Oh, yeah!
And the soup has the pea pods you stayed in yesterday. How do you like them?
You stop dead in your tracks.
Pff.
Seeing both you and Liv freeze, Cinderella covers her mouth, trembling from laughing as her laughter comes out through her fingers.
My bad. You're both so cute and I just couldn't help but wanted to see you shocked.
Don't worry about the pea pods, though. They're safe and sound in my backyard.
Do you see the peas in the soup? They seem about the right size, right?
Rubbing the tears away from the corner of her eyes, Cinderella regains her composure.
Apologies. It's been such a long time since I last met anyone.
Welcome to Wonderland.
When you finish the fourth bowl, Cinderella, seemingly overly excited, once again stirs the apparently bottomless soup pot with her ladle.
Want some more?
Uhm... Are you sure?
Feeling fuller than ever, you say to her in your most appreciative tone.
And you, Liv...
No... Thank you so much, but I think I'm okay, too.
Having gone through just as many bowls as you, Liv waves her hand in a panic as she expresses her appreciation apologetically.
Nodding with a somewhat disappointed face, she taps the pot with her ladle—and with it, the soup inside goes poof.
I'm going to start cleaning up, then.
But you are my guests. I can't just...
But Liv has already put the tableware away and is picking the tray up.
No, we insist. This is the least we can do.
Relenting with a smile on her face, Cinderella says adoringly.
Alright, then. Let me get you guys some tea and snacks. There is a river in the back for you to do the dishes.
Watch out, though.
As you carefully watch your own steps to avoid another nasty fall…
Uhm... I have the same take as you, Commandant. She's unique, but I don't think she's the M.I.N.D. shard we're looking for.
And she's such a friendly soul. I think we just might be able to learn about this place from her.
Oh... by the way, are you over here, Commandant?
...
Guess we'll just have to wait for the bubbles to go away, then.
Looking at all the colorful bubbles, you feel completely lost in the kaleidoscopic views around you.
Out in the back, you see a shallow stream that seems knee-high at best.
The stream seems harmless enough.
But you're never going to forget what happens when you put the tableware into it...
Instead of splashes of water, the river spits up bubbles—in an amount that shrouds you completely.
You can't see anything and, feeling the ground slippery, you try taking a step forward...
You fall into the water with a thud, sending bubbles flying up in each and every way.
Liv wastes no time jumping in and starts looking for you, but neither of you can tell where the other person is with all the bubbles around.
There are several times when you sense Liv right around you—only to realize that it's all wishful thinking when you reach your hand out.
Commandant? Are you still there?
You say as you look at all the bubbles that are now slowly disappearing.
Then, you hear a sigh.
Let's just keep talking. It makes me a little nervous if we don't...
Well... I'm curious about why you decided to go to F.O.S.
It's a common choice among people from Babylonia, but it's never the only choice.
A dream, huh... That's exactly what I had in mind when I asked to be relocated...
You can barely hear Liv over all the bubbles.
O-oh, it's nothing!
That sounds like something President Hassen would say.
It's a very brave choice, though.
Oh, is that so?
Liv sounds surprised.
A dream, eh...
Embarrassed, you scratch your head.
But that's something you've always been holding on to, right?
...
Wait, what exactly...
A few moments of silence later, Liv's voice grows hurried—and right then, a gust of wind disperses all the bubbles.
My bad. I actually meant to ask you to keep an eye out for these bubbles when I said "watch out" back there.
...
Oops, am I being intrusive?
Cinderella asks as she looks at Liv and you.
Right, why don't I... bring the bubbles back for you guys, then?
Here, I've got some tea for you... So, how can I help?
With your clothes dry, you're back in the room from earlier.
Whatever the cost, you need to make it through all that stands in your way now.
The spire in the middle of the forest, you said?
Cinderella sounds shocked.
Looking back and forth between you and Liv, Cinderella finally returns her gaze to you with wide eyes and an open mouth.
What's the matter?
Oh, well, I was just trying to have something worked out in my head...
See, I thought you came from the spire—but I see that's where you're going now.
You're from outside the forest, aren't you?
Because the spire is off-limits to everything living in the forest.
Some animals wander off into the spire every now and then, and that would be the last anyone sees of them.
Which is why everyone and everything living here knows better than to get close to the spire.
Yes—we're indeed from outside the forest, as you said.
What's the world like outside the forest, though?
Cinderella is dripping with curiosity.
Well...
Liv seems to be measuring her words—there really is no easy way to tell Cinderella that they came from the real world, and that she herself is but a projection inside Liv's M.I.N.D. shard.
And there is no telling what's going to happen if Liv tells her all that.
Uhm... Must be a heck of a world for you to put in simple words, yeah?
Sorry...
It's fine. I'm sure it's something you'd rather not tell me to keep my sanity.
...
C'mon, I can just tell—your faces said it all.
Although I'd really love to get to know your world, too...
Stroking her teacup, Cinderella quickly regains her smile.
So, the spire, right?
You were camping out there in the forest last night because you'd been traveling through the forest during the day, right?
Yes, and there were... things that stood in our way.
Stammering, Liv is reminded of the line of sheep that ran the length of the horizon.
And we have no idea where we are now.
Would you happen to know how to get to the spire?
Uhm... Unfortunately, I don't.
Well, I guess I should say there doesn't exist a single path that can take you there.
Is it because there are places in between you just can't get across?
No, it's not that.
Here, let me show you something.
Cinderella stands up and proceeds to open the window.
You'll see why.
Beyond the window, you see the crowns of the trees in the forest.
Cinderella seems to be living up on a hill.
The spire, however, is nowhere to be seen.
It's about to start.
Following Cinderella's finger, you and Liv look outside the window at where she's pointing...
Are they moving?
Slowly but surely, the forest is moving in a random fashion—and so, too, is the ground in which they're rooted.
I didn't even know this was happening...
To those living in the forest, the very ground you stand on isn't what changes—but your location.
See, our location is changing as we speak.
Sitting back down, Cinderella says slowly.
Which is why it's impossible for you to get to the spire.
...
But you aren't just going to give up, right?
Yes, and it's because we can't.
And I don't suppose you're going to tell me why, yeah?
...
Hey, what's with the long face? I'm sure the forest brought you both to me for a reason. Who knows, right?
Now, since you're trying to get to the spire, let me tell you about how it came about...
And what it used to be.
Unable to find her way back, she's lost in the sea of trees.
Or—deep down inside, maybe she doesn't want to go back...
Where am I?
Lost and looking around, she can see a tower with a pointed tip standing in the distance, on this land she's never set foot on.
Upon reaching the tower, she gives the wooden door a gentle knock.
I don't recognize you, kid. How can I help you?
The door creaks open—but the voice that's speaking to her comes from behind her.
Ahh! I-I'm just lost... Who are you?
Me? I'm the master of this spire, a fairy that can make all dreams come true.
Dreams...?
Yes—dreams are wonderful, and people can't lavish enough praise on them.
Now, let me take you home.
Wait!
Oh, I see you don't want to go home just yet.
The fairy turns around and, with a gentle look, waits patiently for the girl to say her next word.
I-I want a lot of friends... My sister and brother just wouldn't hang out with me... Can you make that come true?
Like a deflating balloon, the little girl quickly loses the confidence she's just worked up.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy, but... are you ready to pay for it?
P-pay? With what?
She sounds a little scared.
With...
When the fairy reaches her hand this way, the girl shuts her eyes nervously.
The fairy puts her hand on the girl's head. Then, with a few strokes...
The fairy straightens the girl's hair—which was a complete mess from her traveling across the forest.
With that.
The fairy sounds pleased.
Wait, that's it?
Without answering the girl's question, the fairy produces a colorful scepter. She gives it a little tap in the air with a mumble.
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!
Swoosh—a flash of light swishes past, but she can't tell if anything actually happened.
Try clapping three times.
1... 2... 3. Are you... Oh, dear!
Surrounded by a bunch of chipmunks, the girl shrieks in surprise.
How do you like these adorable furballs? Oh, right, I wanted to give you something else, too.
With another tap of the fairy's scepter on the ground, a pumpkin carriage "grows out" of the soil.
Take this home so you won't get lost.
Becoming friends with the fairy, the girl keeps making wishes for the fairy to make happen in the forest.
Floating jellyfish that drives the darkness away, sheep you can never finish counting when you can't fall asleep, and peas so big that a single one can make you full...
As time goes by, the little girl grows up.
Something happens down the road that leaves her with no choice but to leave home.
...
It's been such a long time. How have you been?
Something happened and I have to leave.
...
The fairy slowly opens her mouth to speak.
The world out there is one far beyond my reach.
And you won't be able to leave with anything from the forest.
Are you sure about this?
Yes, I am.
Looking into the girl's eyes and seeing her determination, the fairy sees that there is no point in trying to make the girl stay.
Just remember... to drop by sometime...
With the heavy locks lifted, the door of the "shelter" opens up, allowing the girl to exit on her own.
With reality standing in her way, she has been looking away and giving up on her dreams too many times.
Because dreams are for the childish, and all she can do is steal glances at them every now and then.
What the girl never knows, though, is that her dreams are all kept safe and sound by the fairy.
Until that fateful day, that is...
The ground starts spitting out scarlet flames, tearing the world into pieces.
Hey, look at you all grown-up.
She says nostalgically.
Sorry...
No, don't say that. I'm very happy to see you again...
What's your wish this time?
I...
The girl says her wish—to which the fairy falls into what seems like an eternity of silence.
I guess that means a no?
It's a little difficult for me, but... are you ready to pay for it?
With?
With your freedom. You'd be trapped in a cage where you can't see the light of day...
The girl nods.
You'll have absolutely nothing by your side save for pain...
The girl nods.
And you'll be eaten away, until you're polluted all over and burned to ashes with the forest.
A few moments of silence later, the girl nods as she looks at the fairy's apologetic eyes.
What should I do?
The girl doesn't change her mind.
Her last dream—a pair of wings that can take her through the skies.
Wings that are meant to eventually crash and burn.
Giving in to the girl's request, Cinderella casts on her an old but still familiar spell. With a shower of green light, the girl transforms into a butterfly with vibrant colors.
Her wings are thin and appear almost feeble, but against the evil crimson, they stand strong.
Against the sea of the Corrupted, the white bird flies alongside humanity as it guides them forward, and the black butterfly keeps the evil behind the humans where they can't see it.
None of the miracles is a coincidence. She put her bargaining chips on the table even before it all began.
At last, she falls through the sky along with the red figures and crashes into the spire—which has now become a cage from which they can't escape.
Before the door to the spire closes, the fairy asks.
Do you have any other wishes?
Liv.
...
No, and thank you for everything, Cinderella.
It's only with their inevitable goodbye so imminent now that Cinderella now has what it takes to bid Liv farewell.
I see. Goodbye, then...
After that, I let all your dreams out and came up with this forest with them.
Cinderella holds up her teacup and patiently waits for you and Liv to digest everything you just heard.
With everything Cinderella just said, you've finally figured out how this M.I.N.D. shard came into being.
It's not a piece of item that carries Liv's imagination, nor is it something that holds her memory.
Everything you've seen along the way—so out of the realm of reality yet all came with a tinge of the real world...
All these... are the dreams I used to have.
Yes, everything here came from you.
Some of these are wishes you made when you were reading fairytales...
And there is one you made thinking about the sheep in the garden at night when everyone else was sleeping.
And this other one...
Apparently remembering something funny, Cinderella puts on a gentle laugh.
You made this other wish when you were scared soulless alone under the blanket...
With the hope that the monster that eats up kids that don't go to bed would be a little more adorable.
You never wanted to see it, though, and you wouldn't believe how sad that made it feel.
Cinderella returns her gentle gaze to Liv.
These are all the dreams you forgot.
I remembered everything the moment I saw you.
I thought you broke free of your confinement from the spire and were on your way to leave the forest...
But now I see that's where you're headed.
You're not the caged butterfly, Liv—but the white bird that soars with its wings.
I'd very much love to help you however I can like I did before...
But I wanted to hear you out, because I'm as much a part of this dream as everything else is here.
Actually, I...
You outgrew your dreams. Is that what you were going to say?
Apparently seeing right through Liv, Cinderella cuts her off. Shaking her head, she carries on.
But what about the dreams you had? If you've outgrown them, why are you still holding on to those dreams?
Do you still think those dreams are only for the childish?
Are you still going to give up on them and forget them the same way you did?
Is it how you'd like to keep growing as a person?
Said in a calm yet firm tone, Cinderella's questions don't sound intimidating in the slightest—they're, if anything, reassuring.
...
Yes, these dreams are childish...
I'd even call them far-fetched and unrealistic...
Apparently unaware of what she's doing, Liv touches her wings with the faint scars...
The very wings that, whilst unable to take her through the skies, shine through all the same in the dark.
But they're worth pursuing, so long as we still long for them.
Knowing what you do, are you still going to try to make them come true?
That's something I'll work toward.
It matters more that a dream is made true than when it's made true.
My dreams might be childish, and they were probably just what I came up with on a whim...
But I can take my time to make them come true, because they have and always will be part of me.
So you want to take your time, huh... That sounds like an excuse to me, though.
Says Cinderella with a smile that's ever so gentle on her face.
Liv shakes her head.
We're still pursuing them precisely because we haven't made them come true.
We're keeping it in the future precisely because we don't want to run away from it anymore or see it as a luxury.
People never get lost going after seemingly far-fetched dreams.
Because these dreams are like beacons on the shore or the stars in the skies—they guide you along the way.
Liv looks at you before she looks firmly into Cinderella's blue eyes.
A person can't possibly grow by throwing away what they have or forgetting who they are.
Holding on to what you have and never letting go is the only thing that will help you move forward.
...
I see there is nothing more I need to worry about.
Looking away from Liv, Cinderella turns to look at you with her gentle yet shrewd blue eyes.
Are you still willing to save "her," then?
Even if that means putting yourself in harm's way?
Even if that means putting yourself in harm's way is something Liv never wants to see?
You exchange a look with Liv—there are worries and fear in her eyes, but you see no objection whatsoever.
And taking the risk ourselves is probably the only choice that will ever make us feel okay.
We have each other's back—and it's only when we have each other's back that we'll be able to travel far down the path together.
Alone, we might struggle—but together, we are strong.
We should respect their choice all the same and soldier on with their torch in hand.
Very well. I'm trusting you with "her," then.
Cinderella stands up and proceeds to open the door.
Follow me. I'll show you how to get to the spire.
Parked around the edge of the forest is an enormous pumpkin carriage—with its decorations discolored, cobwebs dangling off its rusty wheels, bearings broken, and its horses gone.
It doesn't seem like it still works, though.
This is what's going to take you to the spire.
This pumpkin carriage will take you there even without a route.
But it doesn't seem like it's ever going to run again...
All you need is a little magic sometimes.
With a wink, Cinderella looks impish for the first time.
She picks up her now dusty scepter from beside the wheel.
bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!
With her spell, a rainbow shrouds the carriage.
The crystals and glasses are glistening again, the rust is removed, the cracks are patched, and the silver paintwork is gleaming in the sun.
Then, you hear gallops coming from the woods.
Baaaaa!
But it isn't white horses that show up—but a bunch of equally white but fluffy sheep.
Oops, I never said this carriage would be drawn by "horses," did I?
With the sheep saddled, the carriage's door opens to reveal its magnificent interior.
Cinderella passes her scepter to Liv.
Wait, what?
"She" is at the bottom of the spire and that's where your friend needs to go.
You, Liv, need to go to the tip—where the monster is kept locked up.
And given that you've run away from it once...
Cinderella turns around to look at you as she speaks in a serious tone.
I'm sure it'll do everything in its power to get you.
Someone needs to destroy it before it destroys the spire.
Which is why, Liv, you need this scepter more than I do.
And... see, I won't be needing it anymore.
Cinderella puts on a sad smile.
...Thanks again.
Cinderella carries on speaking as she helps Liv get inside the carriage.
This place is made of dreams and my power doesn't go beyond the forest...
Holding out her hand, Cinderella helps you get inside the carriage, too.
But you now have what it takes to press forward with your dreams and walk out of this shelter—not to mention that you have someone right next to you who's willing to go through it with you, too.
Closing the door, Cinderella takes a step back.
Baaaaa!
Bit by bit, Cinderella grows distant as the carriage pulls away.
She knows this is their last farewell as the carriage makes its way into the distance.
She thought she was ready for this day right when she first saw Liv at the spire...
She thought she'd be able to play it cool when the day finally came...
She thought she'd feel happy for Liv—for not having to count on her anymore...
And she thought...
She thought Liv would be able to stay around for just a little longer...
Liv...
Through the window, you can see Cinderella waving at you and Liv with a pained look on her face.
Don't ever stop chasing your dream and fear all the good things the world has to offer just because reality chooses to rough you up.
With the sunlight shining through the haze, she bids the fearless fledgling bird with her last word of advice.
So long as your memory still exists, so, too, will the magic with which you can make your dreams come true.
