Questioning Reality [M-D] [Hallow Event]

Spoiler:

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Continued from here

In the days that followed the strange shift where dreams had become intertwined with reality, chaos reigned in the village. As the children started having wild imaginations, the situation escalated to a point where public services were forced to make an announcement. The village leaders urged everyone to remain calm and not indulge in vivid dreams until a solution to the ongoing problem could be found.

The situation became all the more pressing when a particular child, a six-year-old boy named Hiro, dreamt himself into a bizarre fortress of his creation. He declared himself the "Dream King" and refused to leave his dream world, believing it to be superior to the real one. Hiro's parents were distraught and reached out to Moka, hoping she could help bring their son back to reality.

Moka, Takeshi, and Kenta gathered at Hiro's home, where his parents explained the situation with concern and exasperation. Hiro had always been an imaginative child, and his ability to manifest his dreams into reality had surprised everyone.

Inside the dream fortress, Hiro had transformed into a regal figure, sitting on a throne made of candy, with candy cane guards by his side. The fortress was constructed of ever-shifting elements, from jellybean walls to a moat of swirling chocolate. Hiro had even conjured up an army of living toys and wild creatures that obeyed his every command.

His parents escorted Moka to Hiro's room, where he was in deep slumber, wearing a makeshift crown fashioned from construction paper. As they approached the sleeping child, Moka felt a sense of both compassion and determination. She knew that this was a unique and delicate situation.

Gently, she reached out and placed a hand on Hiro's shoulder. "Hiro," she whispered, "it's time to wake up. You need to come back to the real world."

Hiro stirred in his sleep, but his eyes remained closed. "I don't want to," he mumbled, "I'm the Dream King here. I can do anything I want."

Moka exchanged a worried glance with Hiro's parents. His imagination had taken a tight hold on his young mind. She had to tread carefully.

"Hiro," Moka continued, "your parents miss you. They love you very much, and they're worried. The real world needs you; growing up, you can be a powerful shinobi. But for now, you must return and help us solve this dream problem together."

Hiro's brows furrowed as he wrestled with the idea. He had created this fantastical world, but the idea of being a shinobi one day held immense appeal for him. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and they met Moka's with a mix of curiosity and reluctance.

Moka smiled gently. "That's it, Hiro. You're my friend. You promised you would shape the future with your imagination. You promised you'd become the Hokage! But you can do that in the real world, not just in your dreams."

With that, Hiro made a reluctant decision. He allowed Moka to guide him from his dream fortress and back into the real world. As he opened his eyes, his dream fortress's candy walls and chocolate moat faded away, leaving him in his room, a little dizzy but now back to reality.

His parents rushed to embrace him, relieved and overjoyed to have their son back. Hiro, for his part, seemed to have a newfound understanding of the power of his dreams and imagination, now eager to explore the potential in both the waking world and the one that had merged with dreams.

The village was still grappling with the mysterious shift in reality, but they embraced the power of dreams, turning it into a force that would help them overcome any obstacle that came their way. They found that the wild, untamed dreams of children could lead to remarkable discoveries, new inventions, and brilliant solutions to age-old problems.

Hiro had become a symbol of hope and inspiration for the other children in the village. Hiro's journey from the Dream King to a young shinobi prodigy captivated the village's imagination and instilled a deep sense of potential in the young dreamers.

The incident spread throughout the land of fire, attracting curious travelers and scholars who sought to understand the unique phenomenon that had transformed Konohagakure. Among those intrigued by the village's approach was a group of masked figures known as ANBU Root, who seemed to have their hands in every pie.

The ANBU Root, shrouded in secrecy, sought to harness the power of dreams for their purposes. They believed the dream phenomenon was the key to unlocking hidden abilities and secrets. They watched Hiro and the other young dreamers closely, their masked faces hidden.

Moka sensed a presence nearby. She turned to find a figure wearing a hawk mask, one of the ANBU Root members, standing before her. As they addressed her, the hawk-masked figure's voice was veiled beneath layers of secrecy.

"The power of dreams is a gift and a mystery. But it must be wielded carefully, for it can shape and destroy the world."

Moka regarded the ANBU Root member with a mix of curiosity and caution. "Who are you, and what do you want with Hiro? Leave him alone!"

The hawk-masked figure merely responded, "We are the guardians of secrets and seekers of truths. Your friend has become a crucible of the unknown, and we watch with great interest."

As the hawk-masked Root ANBU member disappeared into the shadows, Moka was left in a state of intrigue and unease. She couldn't ignore a faint but unmistakable scent that lingered in the air – a scent she had encountered before, which carried an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Her mind raced as she pondered the smell. She had encountered it during a previous mission, but the memory remained elusive, buried deep within her subconscious. The scent had left an impression on her, but the connection eluded her grasp.

Moka knew something significant about the scent that linked the hawk-masked ANBU Root member to a moment in her past. But for now, the mystery persisted.

[EXIT]
[WC: 1006]

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Claims:
Mission Completed: Questioning Reality
Wordcount Requirement: 1006/1000
Rewards: 2,500 Ryo / 12 AP  /  10 Dream Tokens

1000 words to 40 AP