The already enormous valley yawned even wider as they approached the prairie. As the Az Ragni entered the plains, everything warmed with the heat radiating from the desert. GB exploded out of the water and onto the bank, huffing excitedly as he raced downstream, showing off his ability to sprout his skeletal wings and magical membrane between each bone. He launched himself into the sky, Saphira emerging straight from the water to follow. The pair circled each other as they climbed up into the sky, till only specks revealed their presence high above.

Nightmare observed the anxiety of the dwarves and his own teammates. The vast open sky was still a strange sight for the skeletons, and the dwarves yearned for the enclosing walls of the Beors. He hummed, turning his attentions to his brother's mind so far away. Dream was ecstatic, flying in sunlight that made him feel alive. It brought a smile to his face.
He leaned against the person beside him, barely registering that it was Arya.

…
They disembarked at a small cove. Dûthmér and Gáldnien began cooking dinner, this time Blue helping them. Horror went hunting, and strangely enough, Dust tore off most of his clothes and dove in the water. The reason behind it soon became apparent when he surfaced five minutes later, carrying a huge green stone smoothed by the currents. It looked as if it held glitter in it, green specks sparkling in it's mossy surface. Thorv had admired the stone, Dust offering it. The dwarf had to explain he couldn't take it with him, it was too large and heavy. Dust shrugged, and hefted it into his inventory.

Eragon cleared a space by his tent to practice with Zar'roc, not wanting to fall out of practice. Nightmare hummed to himself, quietly speaking to Dream as his other half happily recounted his day, fawning over his new wings and explaining how he'd learned to pull back the vines all over him, hiding them in a knotted mess in his ribcage where they felt warm.

Nightmare snapped out of his conversation when he felt Eragon double over in pain, his wound searing into his back like a corrosive branding iron. He caught the human in his arms before he hit the ground, dashing around the camp to reach him in time.
Eragon convulsed in his grip, frothing slightly at the mouth as Nightmare sensed Saphira's alarm. The best he could do was put Eragon to sleep for a while, muting the pain as the Rider slipped unconscious.
Arya was beside him, tracing her long, elegant fingers over the boy's cheek in worry. Nightmare only shook his skull and sighed, carrying Eragon to his tent to recover.

Arya took a seat beside him as they stared at Eragon together. She was beside herself.
"How will he fight if he is wounded like this?" She whispered fearfully, not taking her emerald eyes off of the Rider.
Nightmare didn't answer. He pondered her question, reluctantly explaining the situation to Dream, asking he at least keep it secret.
I feel.. he is meant to learn from this. He admitted quietly.
I think so, too.. I don't think it's going to remain. It's that Fate feeling, you know?
I do. I sense Wyrda around this, I sense the power of the one that dubbed me Alalëa coming.
The rainbow dragon?
Yes.
I've met it, too. It was the first to call me Islingr.
You are a bringer of light.
And you are a beautiful melancholy..
So you say.. Brother.
So it is, Brother.

He faced Arya, feeling his Soul pang at her distraught face. "I do not believe this condition shall last. It is a challenge by Fate. Not a unconquerable one, but difficult nonetheless. It is the world's way of teaching something, as harsh a teacher it is."
Saphira snaked her head into the tent, worry dancing in her eyes. And how long must he suffer this strange and abominable lesson?
His teeth ground against each other. "I do not know. But if there is anything I am to understand, is that Wyrda is acting for the inevitable greater good of all, and the individual destinies of all races in Alagaësia… including ourselves. Elves, dragons and monsters."
He stood up stiffly, teleporting outside by the river's edge, sitting cross-legged as he fell deep in thought.

GB spotted him, padding over and laying his skeletal bulk behind the Guardian of Negativity. He didn't say anything for awhile.
Do you think Eragon will be okay? He finally asked. Nightmare sighed heavily, eyelights flickering to blue.
"I worry that this aliment will break him instead of shape him. He is fragile, GB. He is delicate because the wound aggravates him so. I worry he will snap under the pain. There's no telling what will happen if he were to do so. You've seen us. We are all monsters who broke under our unique pressures. Blue is the only one not this way. I fear the same will befall Eragon if this does not change soon."

GB's left eyelight turned from the river to the lone Guardian.
"What will we do if he does break?" The words rolled from his jaws, hissing and staticy in the language. Dream silently repeated the question in his mind. Nightmare dropped his shoulders. "I don't know. That is what scares me. I don't know."
GB growled softly, a staccato clattering rumble. I don't know, man. Maybe we should just take it one day at a time. I feel terrified when I try to think ahead. There's so few of us, and only one me. Only one Saphira, except for the eggs and Shruikan. Do you have any idea how lonely that feels? For her.. and me? He asked, changing the subject.
"I know exactly how it feels, GB. I sense both yours and Saphira's melancholy. I cannot fix it, I can only tell you that one day our homes will come to us, and one day the eggs will hatch outside of Galbatorix's control."

GB sighed, a hollow, metallic sound as he turned his skull to gaze at Saphira, the dragon sticking her head into Eragon's tent. Nightmare felt his longing.
"She is of age." He whispered, standing. GB whipped his skull back around to stare at him incredulously.
Hell no! That's wrong! And I'm still a skeleton anyway, that wouldn't work!
Nightmare struggled to keep a straight face as he watched the blue blush spread on GB's face, the rush of feeling from the skeleblaster.
"I was just mentioning." He told him smoothly. GB snorted loudly, rearing his skull as he heaved himself to his feet, before lunging into the water with a magnificent splash. GB glared at him underwater before swimming off, his eyelights like dim headlamps as they cast the river's bottom in a dull blue glow.

Nightmare chuckled to himself, returning to the campfire.

…

The sun was rising, a massive ball of fire turning the sky around it vivid shades of orange, pink, and lilac, fading to violet at the west horizon. Nightmare gazed at it unblinkingly, joined by Saphira and then Arya. It was beautiful.
They were beautiful.
Arya was beautiful.
The sun began it's inexorable ascent into the heavens, infusing them with a sense of renewed vigor. Nightmare.. was alive. He wanted to bury his feet in the dirt and stand there forever.

Eragon joined them, smiling tremendously as he reveled in their presence. Nightmare felt his Soul thrum like a chord, humming with the profound sense of purpose vibrating throughout him.
He felt.. a little more at home.
Like he was falling into place.
He looked at Arya. He smiled.

Throughout the day he sat at the edge of the raft, staring lazily at the changing landscape as they floated down the river, listening to the water lap against the vessel, the birds singing in the trees, squirrels chattering in the bushes, ropes creaking and metal clinking as Eragon toyed with a small contraption.

Later that morning Nightmare sensed surprise from Saphira as she flew on high, glancing up to see her diving. She broke off near the ground, her eyes wide as she addressed them.
I was contacted!
Now he sat up, Eragon shooting to his feet as well while GB teleported ashore.
Who? The skeleblaster questioned.
I do not know, they sounded desperate and hopeful. I did not know what to say, except to follow me. This stranger, they called me a fellow dragon! They are a dragon!
Arya was bolt upright. How is that possible? You are the only one.
I do not know.

They moored the rafts as GB took off, following Saphira into the sky as the pair spotted multiple flying figures approaching. Soon enough the others learned what was happening. Everyone was abuzz with excitement, apprehension, and disbelief.
Arya approached Nightmare and Eragon.
"They should be careful. It is more than likely a trap." She spoke sternly.
"I am aware." Nightmare answered gravely, gazing after them.
He was suddenly hit with a wave of excitement from both Saphira and GB, souring slightly with disappointment as wonder still brightened their minds.
Draco! GB's voice called back to them mentally, both he and Saphira winging their way back, unfamiliar minds following them.
It is other skeletons. Saphira informed them. One with feathered wings and another like GB. But.. he's huge!
Draco and Bird! GB yelled ecstatically, coming into sight.

They spoke true, a small brown figure flapped beside GB's skull as Saphira shot into view, vast bone wings angling up behind her before pounding downward, forcing their owner into view. The wings were actually much bigger than necessary, the dragon himself was only a third larger than Saphira.
The female landed at the opposite beach, GB diving into the water as the other settled upon the ground, feet entering the river. The last one alighted at the water's edge, waving shyly.
"Hello." A single word rumbled out in Wingdings.
"Holy shit, why are you so big." Dust's voice rolled across the water.

The skeledragon glanced at him, yellow-blue eyelights shrinking in recognition as his maw opened, a bright light gathering within. Nightmare gasped when he realized what was about to happen, but Blue came to the rescue before him.
"WAIT!"
Silence as the dragon shut his jaws, GB looking mortified from the river.

Blueberry? Star Sanses Blueberry?
"Yes, that's me, please just call me Blue."
"Yeah, he hates being called Blueberry all the time." Dust put himself in front of the energetic skeleton, Horror standing on the other side, Cross stiff behind him.
"Guys, please. You're in danger, not me!" He complained, shoving his way back to the front. He called out to Draco once again.
"Please don't hurt them, they are my friends and have been very good since falling into Alagaësia!"
GB started backing up his friend, nodding along and adding a few words of his own.

"Look." Nightmare called out from the other raft, summoning a Blaster of his own to walk onto, letting it face backwards as a sign of friendship. He came up to Draco's height. "This isn't the Multiverse. Things have been collapsing there, it's clear if you are here. It's going to destroy itself, and send all monsters, all monsters, here. To Alagaësia. We cannot afford our conflicts here, not with everything currently at stake. I won't ask that you join us specifically, I see you harbor too much against us. But I ask you come with us to Ellesméra. Enough skeletons have fallen to Galbatorix's hands. Is that too much to ask?" He spoke calmly and respectfully.
"If it helps you whatsoever, then know that Dream and Life are residing in Ellesméra, which is where we are going."

"Who the hell are you even supposed to be?!" Bird suddenly launched himself into the air, hovering in front of Nightmare.
Thorv gasped in disbelief, Orik growling. "You just disrespected a King."
Nightmare sighed, turning to glance at the dwarves. "Peace, Thorv. Thank you, Orik, but you forget; we treat each other with respect when it is earned."
"EXACTLY- oh SHI-" Killer shouted while racing forward, but tripped and fell in the water. Nightmare facepalmed as everyone rushed to get him back on the raft.
Dust ended up using blue magic and raising him out of the river, Killer spluttering. "That's cold! Wait I DROPPED A KNIFE!"
"Are you actually serious right now." Dust deadpanned. Nightmare started chuckling, still with his hand on his face. Everyone stared at him.

"Damnit, Killer." He breathed, laughing softly as he looked up at the bewildered skeleton. "You are never going to calm down, are you?" Killer glanced at Dust, still hanging upside down on the other's magic. He looked back. "Nope Boss, don't think I will." He grinned, eyelights appearing briefly, the black tears having been washed off in the water. His Souls was in the shape of a heart, wavering.
"Can I get my knife back?"
You mean this knife? GB asked, rising out of the current with a blade balanced on his skull. "Thanks, GB!" He grabbed it, swinging slightly. "Dust, can ya put me down?"

"Sure." He dropped Killer on their raft with a heavy clunk. "OOOOWWWW!!" Killer glared as he smirked, then lunged, putting Dust in a headlock. "Shit!" They struggled in place. "Guuyyyss." Blue whined, crossing his arms and pouting.
Cross grinned, walking over and flicking Dust's hood off, which made him flinch as he and Killer collapsed. "Papyrus, avenge me!" The apparition materialized and flew at Cross, only for XChara to do the same and block him.

Nightmare sighed, ignoring the shenanigans and facing the newcomers again, who were still staring at the commotion.
"I am Nightmare, if you haven't made the connection yet. Do you agree to join us on our journey towards Ellesméra?"
Draco and Bird gawked at him.