Daylight slowly began his approach towards the door, his heart pounding within his chest. He grasped the door knocker within his hand and pulled it back. With a thunderous boom, the knocker clashed against the door. Again and again. It rang throughout the dream realm, even attracting some attention from dreamers as they visited the realm.

After knocking four times, the author took a step back and waited. He looked to the bottom on the door and seen the all too familiar smoke emanating from the cracks underneath the large iron door. As he gazed back up to the handle, he could see the door slowly begin to creak open. With the door opening, the smoke began to spill out and laced the ground with its dark smoke and small cracks of lightning. Then, out of the darkness behind the shadows of the door came a voice. The voice of the one Daylight had been seeking.

“Why is it you disturb my slumber, mortal?” Asked Death.

Daylight pulled his hood down and tried to focus on the tall figure shrouded in shadows. “My Name is Daylight’s Break. And I’ve come here to ask you something.”

“Ah, I remember you. Though we have not had the pleasure of meeting... at least, not yet. Your true name is John Dixon, from earth. Not the earth of this realm, but the next. Here, you are known as the creator, though your power is only small.” The door began to fully open and Death revealed himself at his full stature. “So I ask you this, John. Why is it that you seek my audience?” He gazed down towards the author and awaited an answer.

Daylight gazed upon the imposing figure and felt a twinge of fear, but he needed to be brave and began to speak,“I need to return to the realm of the waken, it is solely my own fault for not taking the time to sleep but I had good reason not to.”

“Then tell me, why is that?”

“I was being hunted by many and sleep would have been foolish, though it wasn’t the true reason as to why I hadn’t slept in nearly two weeks.” Daylight turned away from Death and looked to Shadow. “It was because of Shadow Kin and Lady Luna, they had made it their goal to end me as I slept, though I understand their reasons behind it. I too would have been furious if I were to be deceived by others into believing my brother had been murdered.”

Death turned his attention from Daylight and glared down at Shadow,“Does John speak the truth?” Shadow nodded his head and Death began to growl,“You know far better than to take action without learning the facts. Have you not learned any of the lessons I have taught you over these countless years? Leave us. I will deal with you later.” As the shadowy figure turned away and faded into the distance, Death turned to Daylight and spoke. “Tell me John, or do you wish to go by your other name? Why are you in these lands?” He asked.

“I’d like for you to call me ‘Daylight’, and as for how I got here.. it’s a pretty long story.”

“I have the time, but do you have the words?” Death’s curiosity convinced Daylight to explain his side of the story. How he arrived, and everything he’d been through, leading up to the very point they stood.

“...And I collapsed in the field, just outside Manehatten and woke up here.”

Death retreated into his mind for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. Once he finished, he spoke,“Daylight, your carelessness actions has lead you into my realm, but you were wise and sought me out on your own accord. As for sending you back into the waking world, I will. But you must promise me this, you’ll keep yourself healthy. Should you return to the realm of dreamers with the aura you bear, I cannot and will not send you back. Do you understand?” He asked as he stood to his feet.

With a silent nod, Daylight gave a small smile and a look of determination. “I promise, I will not fail you.”

“Good.” Death held out his hand and lifted his skeletal index finger and pointed it towards Daylight’s forehead. He gave a small chuckle as he reflected on the past,“Just like Darkmoon, aren’t you.” Daylight gave a small smirk and a shrug as he waited. “Return, and farewell... for now.”

As Death sat his finger against Daylight’s forehead, an overpowering flash of white light came over Daylight’s vision. Once the pain of the light faded, Daylight opened his eyes and found himself in the middle of a dark, calm and quiet field. As he gazed back, he found the city of Manehatten in the background with the light of the moon lingering just over heard. The author pulled himself up off of the ground and dusted himself off. A lone cart, drug by magic, could be heard coming from behind and Daylight turned to meet with a mysterious hooded figure riding the cart. He seemed to be an elderly man, around the age of fifty.

The figure called out from the magical cart,“Would you like a ride?” He motioned for Daylight to hop aboard the cart and scootched himself over to the right.

“I.. I think I’m ok.” Daylight stated as he tried to walk away but stumbled from still being weak.

The figure hopped off his cart and made his way over to the fumbling author,“I don’t think it’d be wise to leave you here all alone. Come on, I’ll take you anywhere you need to go.”

With a small sigh, Daylight pulled himself off the ground and followed the hooded figure towards the cart. As they both sat down onto the cart, the figure began channeling magic and the cart roared and pressed on its way. “So, where you are heading?” he asked.

Daylight pulled the hood off his head and ran his hands over his face,“I’ve been trying to get to the Mystic Mountains for the past few weeks now, but I’m pretty sure you don’t know where that is, much like everyone else.”

The figure gazed upon the face of the wandering author and began to laugh,“You remind me of myself when I was your age, impatient. Good things come to those who wait, but the bull headed, like us, just rush into things without thinking things through. As for the Mystic Mountains, I’ve been trying to head there myself for the past few weeks as well, but there’s some kind of force field keeping me away. I can take you there, but I’m doubting that you’ll be able to enter.”

Daylight’s eyes shot open,“You don’t know how happy I am that I’m finally meeting someone that knows where it is, other than Dusk that is.”

“Dusk? What’s her last name?”

“Her name is Dusk’s Shadow, she’s been living in Manehatten for the past while and she’s the daughter of..”

“Moon’s Shadow.” Daylight was cut off as the hooded figure spoke up.

“Yeah, wait.. how did you know this?”

The figure turned his head and looked ahead towards the path before them,“Just a hunch, anyways, I’ll take you to the mountains but getting past isn’t going to be an easy thing, with the barrier in place that is.”

“Alright, thanks. Say, since we’re going to be traveling together for the next little while, I should get your name. So, what is it?”

“Well, I’m not great at introductions. So, once I have yours, I’ll tell you mine.”

“Alright, my name’s Daylight’s Break, back on my home planet, earth, I’m known as John Dixon.” Daylight gave his head a little scratch and turned to the hooded figure. “Now that you have my name, I should be getting yours.” He stated with a light smile.

“I’d be glad to, but there’s a flaw in this introduction.”

“Why is that?” Daylight asked.

“Well, the point of an introduction implies the two parties haven’t met yet.”

“I haven’t met you before, have I?”

The figure turned to Daylight and removed his hood, as Daylight gazed upon his face for the first time, his jaw dropped in awe. The author continuously thought to himself in silence, trying to find the right questions to ask him but could only mumble. “Hello John, my name’s Darkmoon’s Crescent, but you may also call me John, if you wish.”

The rest of the cart ride would be a quiet one, but it would be a life changing experience for the both of them. What would you do, if you met with your past self? Would you try to guide yourself in the right direction? Or would you end your own existence for the acts you’ve done to others? Only Time... would tell.

Author's Notes:

Well, hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I leave you for now.

The next chapter for both of my stories will be a little... distant. Due to me having another "One-Shot" story idea. Either way, here's a clue as to what it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6gkFHCZyl0

He has such an amazing voice.

Keep it cool, Condemned.