Parody

The darkness surrounding the title screen bled into colour. A dimly lit room appeared. 

A handsome man with dark circles under his eyes was seen studying a large map.

On the carpet of the room, a small girl with white hair lay on the ground. Swinging her legs behind her as she watched the man.

From the tired man's position, he could see his supposed daughter reach for a shattered sword that was placed on a short table by the back wall. 

"That is not a toy, Nephis!"

The man spoke, telling the girl off. 

With a jolt, the young girl named Nephis dropped the handle after hearing her father.

"But Dad! Why is your sword broken?"

Nephis asked with a look of curiosity and confusion. 

"So what if it is broken? It is still as sharp as any other sword."

The man responded in an educating tone. 

"One day you too will raise a sword. But do remember, we Awakened only fight for the cause of humanity. So long as you do not lose hope, no matter how dire the situation, there will be hope. Just like this sword, humanity cannot be broken so easily."

"That doesn't even make sense."

Sunny commented in the viewing area, breaking the small immersion that the film had developed. 

"But he sounds so cool!"

Kai commented. 

He had a large amount of respect for the man. Having been taught all about him growing up during school.

Broken Sword was a man of legends. The first to ever conquer the third nightmare. A member of the Immortal Flame Clan. And father to the now martyred Changing Star. 

However, it seemed that there were no lucky stars shining down on this defunct clan. 

Exiting the flashback scene of Nephis' childhood, the movie showed her entering the Academy. From placing first in the leaderboard to defeating every sleeper aside from Caster of the Han Li clan. 

The two began to train together, building a barrier around them as they were in their own league. Slowly preparing for their first venture into the dream realm. 

It was here that an obvious romantic development began. 

Two attractive late teens all alone, training together. It only made sense to those that watched it.

From their shared bond of being legacies, the movie had hinted that they even knew each other before the Academy. 

However, it seemed that some people were not happy to see it. 

"HAHA! As if! What a fantasy."

Sunny remarked. 

Beside him, Effie snorted at his reaction. 

Not even deeming him with a response, she looked at him with a face that looked as if it was about to burst into a fit of laughter. 

As if divining her reaction, Sunny didn't care to look at the sound of the snort. 

Entering the Forgotten Shore, the crowd finally had a visual representation to imagine the elusive area of the dream realm. 

From the dark tides crashing against a blood-red coral labyrinth to the dark sea retreating when the sun appeared. 

The audience was simply fascinated. Most renditions of the dream realm focused on the major citadels like Bastion and Ravenheart and their surrounding landscape. What they were watching presented the feral nature of the dream realm. In its natural and chaotic state.

Like a true fantasy film, Nephis gained companions in the form of Cassie and Sunny. Both portrayed by small and feeble actors. A contrast that emphasised Nephis' capabilities and strengths. 

Something that the real Sunny did not appreciate. 

Trudging through the coral labyrinth, the trio had found their way to the Dark City. From meeting Effie, reuniting with Caster in the Bright Castle, and leaving their short stay in the castle to live in the outer settlement. 

Aldric had a sudden thought come to his mind.

'Has Cassie been using her awakened ability this entire time to watch the film?'

From what she had told him, Cassie gained the ability to see the world a few seconds into the future. Allowing her to work around her blindness in a patchwork sort of way. 

This made him think about how draining it could be on her reserves.

Aldric did not care so much for the film. Having already seen and experienced everything that was being portrayed, he could only appreciate the cinematography and the soundtrack. As well as the uncanny nature of watching complete strangers role-play as his friends. 

Until it was his turn. 

With Nephis gaining control of the outer settlement with the intent to wage a war against Gunalug to protect Effie, the amazoness told the young woman that her chances of victory would increase if she got the elusive Dark Hunter on her side. 

Shrouded in mystery, the Dark Hunter was seen as the best hunter in the entire settlement. The only sleeper to have ever defeated a Fallen creature alone. Details surrounding his age and abilities were hidden and made into rumours. 

Luckily for Nephis, Effie had just so happened to be the only person that knew where he lived. 

Taking her to meet him, Nephis was met with a handsome, darker-toned-skinned male that had curly black hair. While he was not as attractive as Caster, he had a pair of sharp, bold black eyes with specks of white that acted as his dominant feature. Raising his attractiveness. 

He was portrayed a few shades darker than his actual appearance, but he had guessed that it was due to the directors wanting to make an obvious contrast between Caster and himself.

"I mean, I'm not upset."

Aldric commented, with Cassie giggling in response. 

The movie portrayed the hunter as a sort of anti-hero, a person that would not get swept up in Nephis' influence. A challenge for her. 

From then on, the movie progressed with a short montage of hunts in the Dark City.

An interesting plot had developed between the elusive Dark Hunter, now named Aldric, Nephis, and Caster.

The fabled love triangle. 

It seemed that Nephis had begun to slowly bond with the Dark Hunter with her attempts at getting him on her side. Subconsciously being drawn to the strong sleeper with no apparent ties to a legacy clan. His ruggedness contrasted against the perfectly designed life that she had lived before. With the movie making strange connections between Aldric and her father. 

Even the duality of their abilities showcased their weird relationship. 

Aldric was now confused on who the darkness part of the title was regarding. Was it Aldric with his darkness aspect, or was it Caster with his initial relation with Nephis?

'Am I just a third player to challenge their relationship?'

He thought with sarcastic self-deprecation.

Their closeness had irked Caster, with him struggling to hide his dislike for the new addition. 

This dislike being returned with the hunter not liking the stuck-up young scion.

A petty rivalry had formed. The obvious contention being a certain star.

His loyalty was completely won in a short duel where the winner would get to set any demand upon the loser. With Nephis winning the short bout.

It seemed that the audience had mixed emotions surrounding Aldric. With some seeing him as an intruder on an already solidified love story, others seemed to like the trope of the challenger in a romantic relationship. Especially the women.

"Is this how people view my relationship with Nephis?"

Aldric asked. Casually throwing the question to the group.

"Obviously not! Why would you even think that?"

Sunny responded indignantly. An agenda beginning to form.

Kai and Effie had locked eyes together at Sunny's reaction. A look of understanding forming on both of their faces. 

It seemed that Sunny was not the only one that was not happy.

"Why on earth are they portraying Nephis like this?! Like a love-struck teenager stuck choosing between two guys."

Cassie was fuming. Seeing her saviour be portrayed as a shallow girl blown away by the budding romance between teenagers. 

It was an insult to everything that Nephis had stood for and achieved.

'Who the hell greenlit this abomination?'

Her eyes focused on the man beside her.

'And of all people?!'

She thought with a sharp face of anger. Not enjoying who they used as collateral. 

With it all culminating in the final showdown between the Bright Lord and Changing Star. 

Taking a softer approach, Nephis had defeated Gunlaug in a showing of elegant swordsmanship. Unlike the brutal deathmatch everyone else had witnessed.

Ending the battle in a thematic sequence where everyone had surrendered to her leadership.

From there, the final act of the movie was a whirlwind of death, battle, and war. Showcasing the strength of humanity when they are together, as they sieged the spire. 

It was here that the Dark Hunter built his support and respect from the audience. Leading the first division with Effie, showcasing his domineering strength as a sleeper. Acting as the spear, Effie was the shield.

Caster and Nephis were fighting back to back in the horde of nightmare creatures.

The music did well to portray the true amount of death and horror within the scene, but there also was a theme of triumph. Showcasing the never-ending strength of humanity. 

The movie was clearly littered with a large subtext of propaganda. All so that those watching would see themselves as the protected class and not as those being left behind in the next stage of humanity's development. 

The movie reached a tipping point when the battle seemed lost. Everyone beginning to succumb to exhaustion against the never-ending waves of nightmare creatures. Added with the dark tide rising beneath their feet. 

When all hope seemed lost, the blistering sun was unleashed. 

Banishing the dark tide and dropping the remaining hordes to the ground dead. 

The sound of a bell could be heard from the top of the Crimson Spire. The camera panning to focus on Sunny, motioning them to enter the spire. 

The turnaround had everyone in the audience shout in glee and relief. 

A feeling that everyone in the group also felt within them. 

Especially Sunny. Seeing the retelling of his act in a much more dramatic and theatrical way made him feel like he was on top of the world.

A grin sparked on his face, as if daring anyone to comment. 

With everyone retreating into the spire, they finally had a moment to breathe. With them about to start traversing up the spire, it seemed that something had followed them in. 

A pitch-dark entity made of the dark sea with flowing tendrils sneaked through the gap of the closed gates. 

To those watching, it was clear: the dark sea's final stand. 

"You guys go ahead. I'll take care of it."

In a dramatic scene, the Dark Hunter chose to fight the abomination alone after seeing his injured allies and knowing that there was a Fallen Terror or worse waiting at the top of the spire. 

A heartfelt scene between Nephis and Aldric as they shared a hug. With her not wanting the moment to end.

With a nod of understanding from Aldric, Caster led the despondent Nephis and group away from the entrance.

Aldric was left behind as they climbed the tower.

His selfless act brought tears to many of those present.

Cassie seemed to be watching the scene with tense limbs. Clearly annoyed.

"Damn. I was unconscious during this part. What was going through your mind?"

Effie asked the real Aldric. Watching the moment for the first time.

Everyone focused on the young man, awaiting his response. 

While a choice like this was something they would expect from Nephis due to her strength and character as their leader, it was different to see from Aldric.

Cassie was especially focused on what he was about to say. To see if it could answer some of her questions. 

"I had more in the tank than everyone besides Nephis. With you guys needing her for the Terror up the spire, this was the only rational choice. Besides, if you guys stayed to support me, the collateral would have killed the injured and unconscious. And from what I heard, Nephis did the same thing."

Aldric responded. 

What he said was mostly true, only omitting some of his thoughts and intentions. 

"Spoken like a true leader. Not bad."

Effie responded. 

He could still feel the scrutinising gaze of Cassie. 

Sunny had a conflicted look on his face. 

'Couldn't Caster have joined him? Did he know?'

While his mind wanted to agree with what he just heard, his intuition told him that something was amiss. Something that he could not put his finger on. 

Like Aldric said, the next scene was Nephis leaving the group to go battle the Terror, with Caster disappearing to join her. 

It was up to Sunny to lead the army to the gateway, with them succeeding and sending people back to the waking world. 

The final battle shown was Caster and Nephis standing side by side battling the Crimson Terror. 

The monster was depicted in disgusting detail. Something that Aldric was glad to see as he had seen a real depiction of the Crimson Terror. 

In a moment befitting a Shakespearean tragedy, Caster sacrificed himself to save Nephis from an errant killing blow, taking the brunt of the vile creature's attack. The sacrifice giving Nephis a moment to deal a decisive blow. 

With the spire collapsing around her, Nephis walked outside with a broken sword. Saying a line that encapsulated the core of the film. 

"As long as we don't give up... there is hope."

Walking outside onto the bloody but empty battlefield. 

Before the final scene cut to black, a hoarse voice could be heard breathing through apparent injuries. Their identity unknown.

----------

The group had now sat in the private booth of a luxury restaurant. 

There were many things to talk about.

The film had left many questions unanswered, like the fate of Nephis, the status of Aldric, and whether Caster was still alive. Even who Nephis truly loved between the two. 

While Aldric did not care about being used as a third to pull off a love triangle, he guessed that the only reason this had happened was because of his apparent strength that was obviously just below or equal to Nephis. With him being shown to not be subservient to Nephis, a relationship of equality could form between the two of them. A romantic one, given their opposing genders. 

Something that Sunny had yet to put into words.

It would be laughable to show the version of Sunny in the movie to be in a love triangle against the perfectly portrayed Caster.

They had already discussed their thoughts on the movie on their way to the restaurant. 

From Effie and Aldric's amusement to Sunny and Cassie's anger. 

Kai seemed to be the only one to truly appreciate the effort behind the film.

"Forget all that nonsense; I've told everyone but you, Aldric."

Sunny spoke to the curly-haired man. 

"I've found a nightmare seed for the second nightmare. Will you join us in conquering it before the end of the year?"

***********

Thanks for reading. 

Had to drop a big one. 2.5K

Had a review about other works. To be honest, I don't know. What kind of fanfics are you guys reading?

That's all from me. Till next time.