I was there again. The terrifying dimension that was Giygas, the embodiment of evil. The several red, contorted faces burned through my soul and striked at my weaknesses, like it had to my now dead friends that littered the floor. I tried to concentrate and was able to muster up the courage and willpower. But I was still  unable. Unable.
I awoke from my sleep, confused. I took a few seconds to think about whether or not the events that I just saw were real or not. I sighed heavily, thankful that it was just a nightmare, but I was still troubled; I'd never had that dream before. And to see my friends lifeless bodies sprawled on the floor hurt and frightened me deeply.
I realized I had been sweating pretty badly; my pajama pants were clinging onto my legs in uncomfortable knots. My heart was beating out of my chest. It had been nearly two months since my friends and I had destroyed Giygas, and since then, I hadn't felt fear this strong.
The clock above my bed read 6:46. I brought my hands in front of my face and prepared to use Hypnosis, but stopped at once when I realized I wouldn't want to deal with another horrible nightmare.
"Well, crap..." I said out loud. I don't know why I said it... it just helps.
"Bro? Are you awake?" I heard Tracy's voice just outside my room.
"Yeah, why are you?"
She opened my door and stepped through, sporting some stylish excersise wear and new shoes. She was stretching her calves while talking.
"You know I bumped up a spot at Escargo Express! I'll be running all over the world, just like you and your girlfriend and those other two guys!"
I sighed. "Paula, Jeff, and Poo."
She scoffed. "Right, Poo... huh... well, see ya later bro!" And she was gone.
Just bringing those names up brought back wonderful memories and seemed to drive out the fear I was feeling. How I wish we could spend time with eachother again. And by "we", well... I sorta meant just Paula. I mean, the other guys are great. No, awesome!
I brought myself back to the time I rescued Paula from the horrible Happy Happy cult, or when Jeff rescued us in our desperate time of need. A wonderful feeling crept over me when I felt that evil, at least in its manifested form, was no more.
I felt slightly more comfortable falling asleep with these new thoughts. I brought my hands in front of my face and produced several soothing blue rings. I dreamt of my most favorite color; black.
=========================================================================================

A few more hours later and I was up and eating breakfast. Mom had left for her book reading club at the Onett library, so it was just me and King. I was watching local news segments while slowly chipping away at my cereal. Nothing seemed really interesting.
"And Daniel Dale, age 13, is said to be among Onett's brightest of children. He is seen here accepting an award for fixing an unknown virus in Mayor Pirkle's computer. I gotta tell you, Marvin and Gene, I've never seen a kid smarter than this chap right here. It's remarkable!" The local newcaster gushed. It seemed to me he just liked hearing himself talk.
I reached for the clicker, but was stopped instantly by the news channels signature breaking news warning.
"Mmm, this oughta be interesting." I sat back and shoved another mouthful of cereal into my mouth.
"We apologize for interrupting your daily news schedule," a frazzled newsanchor said. "Our affiliates in Twoson have shared that at approximately 8:45 AM this morning..."
The newslady was cut off by knocking and screaming at my door. It startled me a bit and I choked on my milk, but managed to run to see what was the matter. I opened the door to see a clearly distressed Paula. Despite her tattered appearance, which seemed to have been caused by a lot of running, and her red, teary face, it was a lovely sight for sore eyes.
She ran in for a hug and embraced me tightly, stumbling on all of her words in the process.
"Wh-wh...Paula, what's the matter!?" I yelled, trying my best to sound comforting. I don't think it came across.
"The children... the children... I don't... NESS." After choking to get these words out, she went on an incoherent babble. She was crying too hard.
I turned around just in time to see footage of the Polestar preschool. One of the windows was bashed in.
"Anyone in the area of Twoson that knows anything of the kidnap are urged to call..." The newslady started.
I turned back around to face Paula. I felt tears welling up, and my throat felt like a spike had been driven through it.
"Kidnap!?" I yelled.
She nodded before burying her face in my chest, still crying.
My mind was racing furiously. I knew we had to do something about it, I just didn't know where to start.
"We will get through this..." I said as reassurance. 
"Ness, how? We honestly have no leads! How are we...?" She sobbed some more, but began to collect her emotions after.
"We'll find a way! I'm gonna get my stuff." I ran to the base of my steps before asking Paula one last thing. "We need the others in on this. Contact Poo and tell him to get Jeff and teleport back here." I got my backpack, still stuffed with essentials from my previous adventure, and my trophy bat that I had hung on the wall. Merely grabbing it reminded me of the power I possess.
I ran back down the steps, tripping on several in my rush to get back to Paula. Her face was clear, and her eyes closed. She can be very collected when needed.
"Okay, I think he got the message. Lets hope they're on their way."
 No sooner than Paula finished her sentence, a quaking, black portal appeared in my front yard. Out came Poo and a very flustered Jeff. He was holding onto a bunch of papers.
"Hey guys! It's great to see you..." I started, only to be interrupted by Jeff.
"Poo!!" Jeff was frantically waving his papers in one hand and a pencil in the other. He was holding it in the same fashion as a murderer with a knife. "Do you understand how hard it will be to explain this to my PROFESSOR!? A portal being created out of thin air is enough, but to be pulled through it by you of all people!"
Poo's facial expression stayed the same. "I am sorry Jeff, but Paula called us in for an emergency."
Jeff's face became twisted with annoyance. "I was in the middle of a quiz on cyclical defecits and the fiscal gap! How do you think I am to survive in the world of economy if I can't learn these simple basic facts!? You better hope for your sake that I'll be able to make it up!" He finished by tearing up his papers. He took one deep breath before turning to me and Paula. "Paula. Ness. How've you been?"
"We've been terrible. The children at my preschool have been kidnapped. I don't know WHY. But we have to do something." Paula quickly stated.
Jeff readjusted his glasses. "Have we any clues?"
"No, but we're the ones who single-handedly defeated evil itself. If we are unable to find out who did this, there is something wrong with us." It seemed Paula was getting a bit angry.
Silence. A hint of awkward was slowly creeping its way in.
Jeff readjusted his glasses once more. "'Kinda want a popsicle..." He said.
"Okay... Ness! Lets go to Twoson. We might find something... we have to find something..."
I walked out in front of my lawn, the others followed close behind. This truly was like old times...
=========================================================================================
"Crap... the police were here first." Paula whispered. There was a single, overweight policeman standing in front of the crime-taped preschool.
We had gathered behind Orange Kid's house in order to get a good view of the preschool.
Jeff was pacing back and forth. "Paula, where were you when this all happened?"
"I was having a sleep over at my friends house. It was my only night off." She answered.
Jeff pondered a bit more. "And what of your parents? Surely they had to be there."
"Yes, just my mom. My dad was out of town. She was knocked unconscious and was taken to the hospital in Threed. She doesn't remember anything of the attacker."
"Hm... that is curious. And no witnesses. The perfect crime..." He rubbed his eyes. I could tell he was thinking really hard about this situation.
"Well, I got nothing. Why don't we try our luck on the crime scene?"
"But the policeman..." Poo started.
"Psh. That's Blaggart, the most inept policeman of them all." Paula started. "He'd slit his mama's throat for a donut."
"But we need to be quiet about this..." I said.
"Hm. I'll do it." Jeff said and started walking out of our concealed spot. Before we could say any words against him, he was already across the street and in front of the policeman.
"May I help you, funny-looking child?" Blaggart prodded.
Jeff stared back at him, his mind going possibly a thousand miles an hour to think of a witty comeback. Paula appeared behind him.
"This is my house. Would it be alright if I just grabbed a few things? I'm living at my friends house for the moment, but I don't have any..."
"Negative." The police officer cut in. "This whole place is to be watched until forensics get here. Up until that point, I'm not allowed to let little boogers like yourselves in."
"Boogers! I...  you..." Jeff stuttered. "You... you... you... you stink of DUNG." The policeman was clearly not insulted. He simply laughed.
"Don't hurt yourself. For a kid that looks smart, you sure are stupid." He picked at once again.
I couldnt help but feel sorry for Jeff. He was so socially maladjusted to where he couldn't even think of a decent insult. I mean, the guy's a fat, rude, and smelly police officer. So much to work with and still...
"Now I want you four to run along. There's been enough trouble in this town as it is." The policeman said threateningly.
Jeff's face was still puffed up in anger. "No. We have real business to conduct. We'll probably do a much better job than those forens..."
"Buddy." The police officer slightly pushed Jeff in the chest. "Get lost. Who are you to order a policeman of my standing around? I'm sure my achievements tower that of yours. What... have you saved world or something?"
"Yes." Jeff said, completely void of emotion.
"Right. And I've discovered happiness upon a pretty, pink cloud!" The policeman said whilst doing a ballerina twirl.
"We've done that, too. We've also destroyed a sentient barf monster. Do you have anything else?" Jeff said, now with a smug look on his face.
The policemans face turned red. "Insulting a police officer, eh? Never thought you young'uns could give me such trouble!" He took out his taser and pointed it at us. "Now you've dunnit! You got me angry!"
"Wh-what? We'll leave! We're leaving!" Paula said. "You can't use that unless the situation calls!"
"Well, this situation is SCREAMIN'. You leave now, or I WILL use force. This stunner is crying out to be used!"
Jeff pulled his out as well. "So is MINE." The policemans muscled tightened up, and he was on the floor within seconds. Jeff turned around, adjusted his glasses, and waited for approval.
"How was that? Was that good? I felt that was good." He asked.
My stomach tightened. I didn't want to risk getting caught. But... it was pretty cool. Like something from a movie, or something.
"That was beautiful. Keep up that spunk, Jeff." Paula complimented, apparently not as worried as I.
Poo picked up the officer with his impressive strength and placed him in the house while we looked around. I was looking in practical places, as well as Paula and Poo. Jeff was glued to the ground with a magnifying glass. He was a child Sherlock Holmes.
"Interesting." He noted. "It is somewhat hard to tell, but you can see boot marks of dirt." We all gathered around after not finding anything ourselves.
"Is that it?" Paula said. "We can't find someone based on their boot mark."
"Quite," Jeff agreed. "However, upon further inspection..." He took out a green highligher and traced some shapes within the mark. "We see this."
After seeing it, the person's name fell straight into my head. Pokey.
"What is it? It's just two ovals in a..." Paula said.
"It's a pigs nose." I said. "And I think Pokey is behind this all."
The looks on their faces changed quickly. "It could be. We haven't seen him in a while." Poo said.
"But what of the pigs nose?" Jeff asked.
"When we were in Aloysious Minch's office, I noticed the same insignia on some of the manila folders he was holding. I didn't think anything of it, but I remember it." I said.
A terrible thought creeped into my head. Is Pokey Minch raising an army?
"Pokey is raising in army!" Jeff said before I had any time to explain.
"No... oh no..." Paula wrapped her arms around her stomach, as if she were going to puke.
"That would explain the boots..." Jeff began to pace. "And judging from his sick, child-like mind... I can only deduce but one factoid. These children were stolen to be raised in Pokey's army."
"We have to leave now! When I find Pokey... I'm gonna..." Paula trailed off. She looked back at us when she realized her mumbling. "We have a lead. We need to stop this though before it happens."
"Where do you think we can find him? That's the most important part." I asked. It is literally narrowed down to the entire world. Even though we have teleportation powers, this could take forever. Not to mention, he could have very well taken them to another time-period.
"I'll try to see where he is..." Paula said nervously, as if she were to dive into a pile of muck. In a way, she is. Mind muck.
Minutes passed, and Paula twitched numerous times. She opened her eyes and took a deep breath, emerging from the trance.
"We have to get to Stonehenge!" She yelled.
"There!? Why? What is it?" Jeff stammered.
"I managed to communicate with Pokey. I kept asking, Where are you right now, where are you, Pokey? I honestly don't know how I did it, but I managed to also connect to his mind. He's planning on napping Andonuts."
Jeff whimpered and started to breathe quickly, "N-n..."
"LET'S GO KILL THINGS!" Poo withdrew his sword and ran out the door. By the time the rest of us had gotten out of the house, the only thing left was the quivering, black portal.
"Let's go save Dr. Andad." Jeff said quietly.
"What?" Paula said.
"Let's save DAD!" Jeff screamed.
"DAD!!" Paula and I joined in. We all ran screaming into the portal, amongst the looks of worried passerby's. We were greeted by the worlds most bone-chilling arctic blast.
It was snowing really hard in Stonehenge. About three feet of snow hindered our walking, and it was even a challenge to walk the fifty meters to the lab. Poo, however, managed to perch himself stealthily at the top of the nearest pine tree. Among the snow falling from the sky, it was nearly impossible to see him.
"How does he even do that?" I questioned.
"Let's go see if Dad's there." Jeff said, as he began to walk in the frosty mess.
To our utter relief, Dr. Andonuts was in the building, busily walking about among his experimentation equipment. He didn't notice us as we walked in.
"Let's see... it seems I have done it. YES!" He jumped up and down, his labcoat swaying in the air. He turned around, and his smile faded to nothing  but an open mouth.
"Son." He said. His appearance was a bit off. He was barefoot, unshaven, and sleep rings were evident around his eyes.
"Hey Dad." Jeff said, smiling.
"You and your... oh, don't trouble yourself. Do any of you want some hot chocolate?" He said while hurrying away.
"Doctor... (crap), Dad? If you don't mind me asking, what have you done?" Jeff asked.
He looked at Jeff. "Done?"
"Yeah. You said you've done it?"
"OH. Right, right, right, right, right..." He walked over to his worktable and picked up a thin, metal sheet.
"This right here... this is why I am on this earth. This is my destiny. It is a metal that is completely indestructible. Absolutely nothing on this earth can penetrate it. NOTHING I say." He was beaming.
This was terrible. I finally connected all the pieces.
Before we could say anything, we heard a loud, unsettling boom.
The Doctor looked around. "Strange. I wonder if a new scientist moved in nearby."
My stomach fell. I was just beginning to experience the fear I had from my dream. Except it's real. The ceiling shook a couple times and before I knew it... CRASH. The entire thing exploded.
We all ran for cover, except Paula, who just screamed. Metal wires descended from the hole in the ceiling and stuck themselves into the ground. Paula seethed, and I noticed her hands began to turn red and fiery. Men dressed completely in black slid down the rope, only to be burned to a crisp by the largest fire wave I've seen Paula produce. I'd thought she'd used all of her power for that one blast, but as more and more men came down, so too did the fire waves, even more bigger and brilliant.
The rest of us joined the fray shortly after as well. The men had weapons, but we've dealed with them before. They were not a problem. After taking on three or four myself, I noticed Poo, fighting faster than the wind, throwing PSI in every direction, and Jeff taking on several with his large arsenal.
They either fled, or lay unconscious on the floor, but eventually, the waves stopped. 
"That felt amazing." Paula said, admiring her hands still glowing with energy.
We all stepped under the hole in the ceiling and noticed that the ropes had descended from a large airship, obviously Pokey's. It had Pokey's obnoxious face literally painted all over it.
"Lets go..." Paula said in her deepest, scariest voice, one that I've never heard before.
"Shall I..." We hardly noticed a quivering Dr. Andonuts in the corner.
"No Dad. Stay here." Jeff said.
"Right, right, right, right..." He mumbled.
We all were able to climb the rope with ease. We reached the deck where the men launched themselves, and walked through until we saw the door.
"Pigs nose." Poo noted. Indeed, a pink pigs nose was marked on the door, as well as the other several doors we passed while walking down the hall.  There were paintings and trophies, all glorifying Pokey. Even the wallpaper was plastered up and down with his piggish face.
"I can't wait to shove that chubby kid's body in the ground where it belongs..." Paula was rubbing her fists, as if she was getting ready to punch someone. We were all pretty anxious to bring pain upon Pokey. 
We passed a padlocked door, but Paula looked at it for a few seconds.
"What?" I asked.
"Why is this one locked?" She asked.
"Children!?" Poo marked.
Jeff didn't hesitate one bit to withdraw the handy dandy Bad Key Machine. In a few seconds, the lock was off and the door crept open. A whole rush of relief passed through my body.
"Ungh..." One of six of the children looked up at their rescuers. "Pauly?" He said, and a smile replaced the frown.
The rest of the kids were all asleep, but they were instantly up the second the word 'Pauly' was sounded.
"PAULY! PAULY! PAULY! PAULY! PAULY!" Half of them chanted as the other half crowded her with hugs and tearful thank-you's.
"Shhh!! Guys, be quiet!" Paula whispered as she stroke the hair of one of the crying girls.
"Pauly, where are we?" One of the little girls asked.
"We think--"
"I'll answer that one, lovely" A childish, psychotic voice answered. We all turned around to see Pokey, dressed in a stylish black suit with a green-plaid ascot. His skin was now a sickly purplish color, a sign that he hasn't really let up on the time travel.
"Wow... so it IS you guys! I was really expecting a whole police force!"
"I took on the entire Onett police force. We're much worse, I promise." I said through gritted teeth. I didn't hesitate one bit. I charged my bat with the most psychic energy possible and ran toward him, screaming. My friends did the same. His smile faded and was replaced by worry.
"No, don't hurt me! I'm a poor innocent boy!" He seemed to show genuine fear.
After striking as hard as I could, all of the force reflected back into me, crushing my entire body. I fell to the ground, gasping for air.
Pokey burst out into a maniacal fit of laughter. "WAHHHHHAHAHA! You, Ness, are a fool!! A fool! That must make Giygas a fool! An evil, stupid, FOOL!" He doubled over laughing. At this point, the children were crying uncontrollably.
Paula quickly healed me up, as well as Jeff and Poo. She concentrated once more and placed psychic shields on all of us and the children.
"Pokey... please..." Paula asked with a hint of compassion. "These are children."
"Quite perceptive, ain'tcha!?" He laughed some more. "The fact that they are children are all the more better! Their minds are so easily molded!" He brought a finger up to his head and tapped it a couple of times.
I got up from the ground and looked him straight in his horrid face. "Like how you were easily molded by Giygas?"
His laughter stopped, and he was only smiling. Soon after, that smile turned into a frown. "You ruin everything, Ness. Don't you. You're no fun." He pouted like a child.
"You need to stop this. Why do you need an army, anyway? Are you planning a war?" Jeff asked.
Pokey resumed his evil smile. "Well, a brainless army to have at your disposal!? Doesn't that sound fun!?" He laughed. It looked as if he were jogging in place, like he needed to go to the bathroom. He was just really excited, I guess.
"Everything about you is twisted, even your defenition of fun." Poo said.
He laughed at this comment. "You've obviously never had someone brainless wait on you hand and foot!! Look, its easy!" He produced a gun and shot it at one of the children.
"NO!" Paula screamed. The beam hit one of the girls. It didn't seem to have any outward affect, but what Pokey said was true. Her brain was completely wiped. Paula ran over to her, crying. The girl began to drool.
Jeff quivered and withdrew a device of his own, the Shield Killer.
"That's not going to do anything, brain boy!" Pokey said.
"Let us see, then!" Jeff said, and with a quick motion, he destroyed Pokey's shield with one device and shot him in the chest with the other.
"Owie! Owie!! OUCH!" Pokey stumbled backward and flat on his butt. "You can't do that, that isn't fair!" He said with the ever mature stuck out tongue.
We were all perplexed. A straight shot right through the heart, and the boy still stood.  Pokey got up, clearly irritated.
"That's it. I don't want to play with you guys anymore." Pokey stuck his tongue out once more.
We didn't listen. Instead, we threw every bit of power we had at him. I even took my Bag of Dragonite and Yo-Yo out. Still, the child stood, albeit torn to shreds.
"Are you done? BAHAHAHA!" Pokey laughed.
I was about to cry. I hate this feeling. I hate feeling unable. I think that was the scariest part of my dream, was being unable to protect my friends. And now, I am unable to stop this monster, unable to stop what he might do to us.
"Stop right there!" Dr. Andonuts took on a more manly voice. 
"Are you here to..." Pokey looked at Andonuts and started laughing. "Well, I figured I'd have to find you, but if you're just gonna walk right up to me! All the more easier!" He busted out laughing once more.
Andonuts looked very timid, even when confronting a child. On the other hand... that child is Pokey.
"Dad, I told you to..." Jeff started.
"I know son. But I'm here to propose something to this monster." He said.
"I don't make deals, you silly, ugly, man! I take whatever I want. And I'm gonna take you!"
Andonuts looked back at him calmly. "You can take me. But if you take me that way, I won't talk."
Pokey's smile once again faded. "Then I'll hurt you until you talk. You'll tell me everything. You will make my army strong with your idea... MY IDEAS!"
"I will not talk. Consider this a compromise. I'll go with you willingly, if you set my son, his friends, and these children free. You must also promise to never come back to this time period again." Andonuts stated.
Jeff choked up. "Dad.. what are..."
"I DON'T COMPROMISE, I TAKE THINGS! I'LL TAKE ALL OF YOU, AND YOU'LL BE MINE!" Pokey threw a tantrum and withdrew his gun. He shot at all of us, but grew more and more irate when the bullets bounced off of our shields. Tears streamed down his face.
Pokey threw his gun to the ground, shattering it. "FINE. I HATE YOU ALL." He looked around the room at all the children and finally to the ground. He picked up my yo-yo and sneered at me through tears.
"Come on, ugly." Pokey yelled. "Say goodbye to these losers. You're mine now. And you're much better than them. I can get others for my army... but YOU are rare. I am happy with my decision." He seemed to return to his horrible, giddy self. He was jumping up and down, pounds of blubber wiggling in the process.
"Dad... you can't. Dad. No. Don't." Jeff's voice was shaky.
"You all need to get out of here fast. Get these children back."
Jeff was still clearly in denial. He kept saying no. 
"I love you son. And I'll miss you..."
"Bye son! Yeah, yeah... bye dad!" Pokey mocked. "I have all day, but I don't care. Come! Hurry up now." Pokey guided a reluctant Andonuts to the terrible Spider-Mech. Andonuts turned around, smiled at the group of us, and winked. In a quick, jolting motion, the mech was gone, and so were the two of them.
Jeff stood there, staring at the spot where his disappeared father was. I think it was just barely sinking in. He didn't say anything. He just stared. I hate seeing him like this. I just wanted him to say something.
Jeff took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. "I guess..." He started, his voice much more stable than I would've guessed, "It's for the best. These children are safe now and so are we. It isn't like my father is dad... dead... he's just somewhere else. It's for the best."
He surprised me with his eloquence -- in a situation like this, he'd managed to keep his emotions under control and move on. He is indeed an admirable genius. Without him, as well as the rest of the group and their contributions, the battle with Giygas would not be over.
"Let's go back to Twoson." Jeff said, now with a smile.
Paula was still slightly teary eyed. "Jeff... I'm s--"
"No need to be, Paula. I'm proud. Were it not for him, Pokey surely would've done something worse to us. It was just a matter of time. Let's go back to Twoson."
We all left the horrid scene and back out into the freshness of the snowstorm. Paula was holding Victoria, the child's whose mind got erased while the rest of the children followed.
"I'll try my best to get Tori to remember... and if not, well... no harm in starting over. She has a wonderful family in us." Paula said bravely.
We got the portal ready using our ability, and for the kids, well... this was just a great big field trip. It isn't quite everyday a young one gets to experience teleportation.
"I ran faster than you!" All the children argued once back to Twoson. Immediately upon our arrival, we were bombarded with policemen.
At first, they were happy to see the children, but all of us could tell that in a single moment, all of their suspicion was immediately turned on us.
"Where were these children!?" The captain said with his club pointed threateningly at us.
"They were being held captive in an airship by one of our enemies." Paula said. "We wouldn't dream of taking them from their homes! You know me, officer! I run the preschool with my parents!"
Blaggart emerged from the group, his arm wrapped in bandage. He'd also had a black eye. "Wouldn't you!?" He yelled, attempting to get the other police officers attention. "You seemed pretty eager to beat me up and hide my body! I'll bet it was them all along!"
The tension began to build up. The policeman looked each and every one of us over.
"We didn't do what Blaggart makes it look like." I said, trying to push out the fact that after saving the lives of these children, we would  be punished.
"Did you harm him in any way?" One of them asked, to the complete delight of Blaggart.
Jeff stepped forward. "It was necessary. If we didn't incapacitate him, we would've been too late to stop..." 
"We've heard enough. Please make it easy on us and place your hands on your hea--" He started.
"Men! We have a much more pressing emergency!" said a mysterious voice amongst the crowd.
"Sir! I though you were away on a..." The policeman started.
"Well, I am BACK, mushbrain! All of your attention is needed elsewhere! Burglin Park is a mess right now! Riot after riot after..." The man was revealed to be their superior. He stopped talking when he realized they were looking at the park and saw no problem.
"But sir... there doesn't seem..."
"THOSE ARE MY ORDERS! TAKE IT OR LEAVE YOUR BADGE!" He yelled.
"Right away, sir!" They all said at the same time and ran off.  
Paula stepped up. "Who are you?"
The man looked at us through dark shades. He put his hands together, and in no time, the man turned back into Poo.
"I haven't used that ability in a while. It feels pretty good!" He smiled, a rather rare occasion.
With the weight lifted from us, I asked one more question: "Who want's to eat out? I'll buy!"
The children cheered, while Paula approached me closely with a smile. "You don't have to pay, Ness! Let's just eat at my place!"
I stared into her cute eyes. "Paula. I haven't checked my ATM account in about two months. I can tell you with complete certainty that I am probably a multi-millionaire."
Paula stared back. "Fair enough." And she sank in for another hug.
Needless to say, the rest of the day went along perfectly. For the months to follow, I was never plagued by another nightmare. I'm glad the universe has its own ways of eradicating my faults. I was able to destroy the evil in me through Magicant and now, I was able to get rid of the fear associated with my nightmares, Pokey, and losing my friends.
I can only hope for the moment that the people who have to deal with Pokey wherever he travels will be safe. Let's hope they are people as good as us...