Recorded by Finnegan Lionhartt,
Of the events which took place on the 19th day of Radia, as morning passed to late morning, and everyone had been well-rested for the first time in two days; year of Pinnikle: 1,229.

To steward brightness is to assure glimmerings, when darkness is most abounding. That is why I became the care-taker of the lanterns.

 — Tiko said that.

The next morning, I was the last to wake. The sun's light had shown for some time past dawn, and it was at about mid-day's height. I heard laughter below, and I looked out, over the beauty of the land below. I took a quiet moment to thank great Luminary for the night before. Though I did sit atop a white cloud in the sky, I felt my heart soar much higher, still. I had never felt that way before. I did not know him (great Luminary), but only that those I loved had been given as gifts from him.

I peered down through the cloud, and there was Tiko. She laughed with everyone, as if she had been along for the journey so far. I suppose she had only missed a day... What began as three, was then 8: Leon, Sophie, myself, our two stars, Tiko, the Sandman, and the great wizard of Pinnikle. I felt we were unstoppable, though I would soon discover the road ahead would not be so easy...

I came down from my bed of clouds - Lofi's sky box - and walked down the arching staircase, over Tiko's threshold. Lofi had provided a table to seat us all, centered lengthwise in front of his strange well. On it: there was a feast to fill us all, those of us who ate, anyways. There were goblets of glinting well water before each at the table, and one goblet for me, in a vacant spot. My friends - or I supposed I'd call them family, from that time onward - had been there for some time, but had not eaten without me.

Lofi had arranged our seats in this way: At one end, Leon sat on a chair that looked like a small throne. He was the king, and deserved such a thing. His countenance was very bright, and I was almost brought to tears, seeing him in happiness. Along each side of the tabe, there were benches. On one bench: Lumin sat awkwardly at the end, beside Leon. Beside him, Tryn sat, in her elegance. Beside her there was Jack, smiling and bantering loudly as the Sandman, in his ornate clothing. On the other bench, Sophie sat beside Leon - her new father. I did shed a tear to see her so happy, as she should always be. Next to her, there was an empty space for me, and next to that: Tiko sat in radiant beauty. I still could not believe she was there. At the other end of the table: Lofi sat on a low stool - a humble seat for the master of the house.

I took my place with them and we ate, except for the stars and Jack - they only drank. Lofi had provided potatoes, rolls, and fish caught from the river. The food tasted better than anything I had ever put in my mouth, and the water was very refreshing and sweet.

We were not in a hurry to eat, and conversed about the story so far. Aside from Tiko, our journey had only begun the day before; but we all talked about our lives: the courses of them, which had led to that moment. When the food had been consumed, and all stories had been shared, Lofi stood, and took up his staff. He gave it a little tap on his floor, and all the dishes which had held the food were whipped into the air. He Made a sink to spring out from beside his well. The water for cleaning came from the well, in a copper pipe. It coiled 'round the chimney of his strange stove, and stretched its way back over the sink. There, it started pouring warm water. The sink's basin was very deep, and all the dishes fit inside. Somehow, the water bubbled with soap that had the smell of citrus and spices. With wiggles of his saff, Lofi sloshed the dishes around, and with an upward whip of it: He pulled dishes out of the water, using magic. They all floated about in a twirl while Lofi transformed the sink into a drying rack, draining clean water into his well.

"Smart furniture," The wizard said, and we laughed.

He sat down on his stool, and took on a new tone, one that was not so jovial.

"There is a matter to be discussed," Lofi said.

"Yes, yes," said the Sandman, "And it is of great importance."

Sophie, my lionhearted sister, asked: "The darkness... We're going to talk about defeating it. I'm ready."

Though it had been a fond morning and sunlight lit Lofi's open ceiling, we could not help ourselves to sit in silence for a moment, allowing Sophie's commitment (which we all shared) to impact us. They had not been many words, nor were the lofty. They were the naive words of a sixteen year old girl, but they were impactful coming from her: the youngest among us.

Through the silence, I remembered the dream that started this whole ordeal. I was child when I had the dream. In it: Tryn appeared in brilliance, until terror filled her eyes. She said, with distress: "Darkness is coming, and time himself shudders!".

Presently, I looked at Jack, who twiddled his thumbs. His rosy countenance had grown cold since we first met. It was true: he did shudder, because he did not know if such a darkness could be banished. He was scared, I suppose, that he would be left alone after we all fell. That is how Fear makes us feel: like we will be alone at the end, and cold. Fear must come to an end. The dragon of injustice may no-longer thieve, as it did from our friends. I would not allow it.

As my thoughts came to a close, Tryn broke the silence: "I'm ready, too."

They were simple words, and the star said them, looking deeply into my sisters eyes.

"As am I," Leon agreed.

"And me," Lumin bellowed.

"I'm in," I gave my piece.

"And I will go, as well," Tiko said, interlacing her hand in mine.

"And I will be with you, even if we may all fall," Lofi said in a heralding tone. "The future is worth whatever may come."

Our eyes all went to Jack. He became more anxious, and his eyes danced around to each of us; though it was a sad dance.

"I suppose I've only to give my piece, too," He said, forcing a hopeful tone. "Well then: Even if I am left alone in darkness, after every person, creature, and star may fall. Even though every human and nix may be gone forever from me: if we do not attempt a stand against Fear and his spine, we will never see his days end.

"I cannot foresee the future, though I can tell you: others have tried before, and all have failed. They were not met with favor, and their bravery did not withstand the darkness. That was very long ago, good friends. I personally removed the records of those events from the royal library, for safe-keeping, and they lie here among Lofi's collection. You remember those days, don't you wizard?"

The sandman's words told me that Lofi had lived through the first attempt. I did not know how long ago that must have been, and I could not fathom how ancient Lofi might have been. Suddenly, I felt very young, and very privileged to be in his presence.

"I do remember the days," Lofi replied to the sandman's question, with a sad glint in his eyes. "But these are different nix, in new times,". The wizard implied that we may be able to defeat Fear, though others had not succeeded.

"The age is still fallen, good wizard," said Jack. "But I suppose we may try again. You have my aid, until it is done; or until it is not. I am committed to you, whatever may come."

Jack fiddled a bit more with hands. He knocked twice on the table, before saying, "Well then! I suppose we must conceive a plan."

"And we will, good old fellow," said Lofi. "I think it would be best to have you along in the planning, in a way that only Time himself could help us."

"How do you mean?" said Jack. He did know what the wizard referred to, but was curious.

"Why don't you show us what you are capable of," said Lofi, dodging the question, as he always did.

"Very well, if that is the only way."

"It is not the only one, but it is the best way."

"Friends," Jack said, softly and elegantly. "Would you like to come with me, into the past?"

"Why yes, Mr. Sandman," said Tiko. "I have always wanted to visit the past!"

"It is... Not a fond memory," Jack replied.

"I'd like to go, if only to know it is possible," Tiko said, again.

Her attitude of curiosity came over us all. I felt my own anxiety leave, and moved onto the edge of my seat. I leaned in toward Jack, and asked, "How do we do it?"

"Go back, you mean?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, how's it work?" I added.

"Well, Finnegan Lionhartt, follow me and you will find out."

Jack stood up, and walked back to his special room. We all stood from our places, and Lumin was last. He was really quite crammed in his seat, even though he was on the edge. Awkwardly, he lifted the table to stand, then set it down. I nearly laughed, but I did not. We all followed Jack into his vast room that Lofi had made for him, and I was amazed at what I saw inside.

The space was dark, and seemed to stretch on forever. The floor itself was black. Everything was black, and the void spread out in every direction. The feeling of seeing an expanse of nothingness took me by surprise, and made my knees buckle. I had to look back into Lofi's main room to feel a sense of stability.

After a moment, I gained my composure and dared to look into the vastness of Jack's very special room. With my family at each side, I saw something wonderful. Though the room did stretch into darkness - into forever, I supposed - bright apparitions, like spirits, began to come and go, all about the place. Some of them were lovers, making eyes. Others were parents, watching their children run and play in fields: The children looked as though they could run forever; and the parents: as if they were lost in feelings of joy, watching their little ones. In one of the phantasms, I saw a girl smelling flowers for the first time. In another, I saw a nix hard at work, tinkering on some invention. They came and went, and popped up all throughout the room, into the forever.

"What are those... " Sophie asked, nearly breathless.

"What you see are good memories being made," Jack answered, "These things give me hope, and they are a product of the dreams I place in those you see."

"When do they happen?" Sophie asked about the apparitions.

"They happen as you see them," Jack said with a smile; and one appeared in our midst. "The phantasms are of nix, making good memories in real time. This darkness allows me to see the light that is brought forth, whenever anyone makes a good memory."

Cobble floor popped up under our feet, though I did not feel a difference from it. There was a little girl behind a counter, happily helping her mother to take orders in a bake shop. It must have been in the kingdom city of Lucidia - where they lived in homes, not huts. Customers bustled about the place, and voices could be heard, saying, "I'll have a buckleberry scone!", "And a mountain cherry pie for me!". The mother and daughter passed off their proud work, and the place they were in was filled with joy.

Through sounds of the apparition, Jack explained: "Ah, Mrs. Franny May's bake shop: always filled with things as sweet as their hearts, and delivering satisfaction; good as it comes. I see them often in this place."

The vision faded, and behind Jack there was one of Tiko. At first, it was only her, then I saw all of us, in bright spirit; like the opposite of a shadow.

"Tiko..." I called to her real body, and drew her attention to the sight.

I was amazed, looking at the apparition of all of us. I saw myself speak, and watched as she turned to see the ghosts. Sophie waved at herself, and the stars hovered happily about. Leon leaned in curiosity, and Lofi chuckled. All the while, Jack Stood, looking at himself, as he began to smile. It was a good memory that we were making: bravery, in the midst of darkness. It faded before long. Many more kept coming and going as others, out in Pinnikle, made fond memories.

"What you see is only possible because of Lofi," said Jack.

"Yes, good old friend," the wizard said warmly."And I made this room, because it gives you delight. When you are delighted, so is the world."

Sophie asked, "So... You brought us in here to show us the past?"and then added: "But these are things that are happening now."

"Yes, yes, and I have not forgotten to bring you to the past," said Jack. "I've only taken a moment to show you the things that bring me much hope."

"Good things," I said. "It's good and happy things that make you hopeful."

"Yes, yes. And from them, I gain ambition to create dreams, and keep the world hopeful. A good cycle."

"Wow..." Tiko whispered, then said aloud: "How do we get to the past?"

"With something very beautiful," Jack replied.

The sandman looked down and held out cupped hands. He began to glow, and sand began to whirl around him. He smiled brightly, and a wind, from his own power, blew his hair. A bright orb began to appear in his hands, until they were filled with a glimmering Sphere. The sands slowed as it was made complete, and they collected back to his body. His hair fell, as it had been before.

Jack held a memory, like one he had described from his threshold. It was just like we had heard about from mother and father. It glistened, like a golden diamond ball. I saw scenes playing inside, just as I had heard about.

"It cannot be..." Leon gaped. He peered into it and became lost in it.

"It is, good king," Jack said, lit by the glowing thing. "Inside of this memory lies the origin of something you call, 'the spectacle of lights,'. It was a tradition begun by the very first queen of Pinnikle for the purpose of passing her royalty to any one she deemed worthy. You will soon know why the tradition came to be, and what great things can happen when it is observed.