Peony

Euden: ...A sleeping sickness?
Elisanne: Yes, in a border village. It is normally a lively place with thriving agriculture, but...
Luca: But when we popped by on our way back from slayin' some fiends, we realized we couldn't hear a peep from anybody.
Luca: Thought that was weird, so we decided to sniff around and see what's what.
Cleo: The villagers were all accounted for, but none could be stirred from slumber.
Cleo: We tried calling out to them and even shaking them, but all was to no avail.
Cleo: They slept on into the night and through the following day.
Notte: But they're still ALIVE, yeah?
Elisanne: Yes. However, they all appear to be tormented by some horrific nightmare.
Cleo: I tried every healing spell known to me, but none of them had an effect.
 ???: Hmm. This all sounds...familiar.

Notte: You know something about this, Odetta?
Odetta: In my travels, I've heard tales of a fiend which curses people to sleep, haunts their dreams, and devours their souls.
Euden: Well, THAT doesn't sound good.
Odetta: Indeed. And once the fiend consumes their souls, the victims never wake again.
Odetta: We should deal with this problem quickly.
Euden: Sounds like it. Let's get to the village.
Notte: Huh?
Euden: They're all awake.
Elisanne: And yet yesterday they were in the throes of deepest slumber. What could it mean?
Boy: Oh, look who's here! Hey guys!
Euden: Excuse me, can I ask you something?
Girl: Sure thing.
Euden: We came here because we heard everyone had been asleep for a very long time. Do you know if that's true?
Boy: Oh yeah! They all conked out at once.
Girl: And then they had the same dream!
Boy: It was a dream where this weird faerie that was really big saved us all from a scary fiend!
Notte: A big faerie? I know who THAT is!
Euden: It's got to be her!
Peony: Morning, everyone!

Peony: Where were you out so late last night?
Euden: We went to a small border village some distance from here.
Euden: But listen, I need to ask you a question.
Peony: What is it?
Euden: Apparently, some kind of fiend caused everyone in the village to fall asleep.
Euden: And then it tormented them with terrible nightmares.
Euden: But then we talked to a couple of kids who said a "big faerie" saved everyone.
Euden: Were they talking about you?
Peony: Oh, but I love the purity of children! They don't doubt the existence of ljósálfar, or their ability to dream. I'm happy they remembered me...
Peony: Yes, it was me. I knew they were suffering from nightmares, and I wanted to help.
Euden: So what happened to the fiend?
Peony: My apologies, but it escaped.
Euden: Which means it could still cause this same sleeping sickness in others.
Peony: If that happens, I'll just free them again. I won't stand for anyone threatening the happy dreams of humans.
Euden: And I won't stand by if ANY part of humanity is under attack.
Euden: Peony, I'd like you help us deal with this fiend once and for all.
Euden: We can't really remember clearly what happens inside of dreams, but you can.
Euden: We may need to fight this fiend in a dream state, and I think having you with us would be a huge help. Would that be all right?
Peony: Of course! I want to deal with this fiend as much as you do, after all, so let's get out there and combine our strength!
Euden: Then it's time to protect some dreams!

Euden: Well, I guess we'll see each other in the dream.
Peony: Yep! Sleep tight!
Euden: Ngh... Wh-where am I...?
Peony: Morning!
Euden: Good morning, Peony. So is this what the inside of a dream is like?
Peony: It certainly is. Oh, and look! All of your friends managed to make it here.
Luca: Heeey, Euden!
Peony: Welcome to the world of dreams!
Elisanne: Oh, this is all so romantic...
Luca: Uh, it is? I thought we came here to kill some fiend.
Cleo: Do try to expand your horizons a little, Luca. It would be good for you.
Ranzal: Thanks for playin' tour guide, Peony. Yer the best!
Peony: My thanks. Now then, we should begin restoring people's sweet dreams.
Peony: First, we'll need to release the curse and wake everyone up.
Peony: If we clear up their nightmare and make them realize they're dreaming, I believe that should do the trick.
Euden: Yes, but like Luca said, we also need to deal with the fiend itself.
Cleo: This fiend invades dreams in order to devour souls, does it not?
Cleo: In that case, perhaps IT will come to US.
Ranzal: And then we give it the ol' one-two!
Peony: Stay on your guards, then!

Luca: So...worn out...
Ranzal: Yeah, well, ain't none of us gettin' what ya'd call a restful night's sleep lately.
Luca: I can't even remember what we've been doing after I wake up. Everything is all fuzzy and... Well, like a dream, I guess.
Luca: But my body sure remembers how tired it is, I tell you what...
Peony: ......
Notte: What's up, girl?
Peony: Oh. Hello, Notte.
Notte: Luca and Ranzal slackin' off again, eh? Want me to break out the cattle prod? I keep one here for just such occasions.
Peony: The opposite, in fact—I fear their constant work in the dream world is leaving them utterly exhausted in the real one.
Notte: Oh man, tell me about it. We work like dogs all day, then work like bigger, work-ier dogs after we go to sleep!
Peony: Dreams are a source of peace for people. Dreams are their hope. So to think something like this is happening...
Notte: Hey, don't go blaming yourself for this! It's all that dumb fiend's fault.
Peony: ...I just want everyone to have happy dreams.
Notte: Happy dreams, huh? But you said adults can't make their dreams be whatever they want...
Peony: Hmm. If we combine my power with the wishes of children...
Notte: Ooo, I LIKE this train of thought! So then if we... *whisper whisper*
Peony: Yes, it's perfect! Let's hurry!

Notte: Lemme tell ya, I just flew in today, and BOY are my wings tired! ...That joke was way better in my head.
Boy: Hey, it's the prince's faerie! And...
Peony: Hello. I am Peony, a ljósálfar from Ljósálfheimr, a land of wonderful dreams.
Boy: You're the one we saw in our dreams! I KNEW it was you!
Girl: She saved us!
Boy: Yeah, she swooped in and saved us from all the scary nightmares!
Girl: Yaaaay! I'm so glad you're back, giant faerie lady!
Peony: Heh. And I as well. But I have come with a request for all of you little ones. Will you hear me out?
Boy: What is it?
Peony: The thing that gave you all bad dreams was a naughty fiend.
Peony: Right now, the prince and his friends are doing their very best to find it.
Peony: But as a result, their own dreams have become very sad.
Girl: Aw, boo!
Peony: I'd like to make sure they can start having happy dreams again, but I'm going to need your help.
Girl: Sure! They help us all the time, so we'd love to help them.
Boy: But what can we do?
Peony: Since you are pure-hearted children, you have some measure of control over the nature of dreams.
Peony: So I want you to wish with all your might that the prince and his friends can have happy dreams once more.
Boy: Okay! I'll do it! We'll ALL do it!
Notte: Adults can't control their dreams, but with pure-hearted kids wishing for it...!
Peony: Yes. When one becomes an adult, reality intrudes on our world, and the thought of controlling dreams becomes more and more an impossible one.
Peony: But if those children wish as hard as they can and I use my power...
Peony: Dreams are rest and hope for people. May their dreams be happy ones.

Luca: Hey, get this, Euden! I had an AWESOME dream last night!
Luca: I can't remember it super well, but I know I played SO many pranks!
Ranzal: I had me a great dream too! I was in a banquet hall at the ol' Hotel Ranzal, and there was food EVERYWHERE!
Luca: How about you, Euden? You sleep okay?
Euden: I...I think I saw Zethia.
Luca: Hey, that's great! And if we all had good dreams, maybe that means...
Euden: It's Peony. I know it is. She's trying to help us.
Euden: ...Thank you, Peony.

Notte: Nnngh... Is it morning?
Peony: Good morning!
Notte: Hey, Peony...
Peony: Oh, the weather is just lovely today.
Notte: Uh, Peony?
Peony: What's is it, Notte?
Notte: I can't remember what happened in my dream last night.
Notte: SOMETHING happened, right?
Peony: It certainly did! We saved the children from their nightmares and then played with them for hours.
Peony: We played hide-and-go-seek... We looked for secret treasure... Oh, but it was wonderful!
Notte: Okay, yeah. I thiiink it's starting to come back to me...
Peony: Don't worry about it overmuch. Dreams are slippery things; that's just a fact of life.
Peony: Now up you go, and make certain to wash your face before breakfast!
Notte: Wooo! Brekkie!
Peony: Just a fact of life... Right?
Euden: Hey, Notte. Have you seen Peony?
Notte: Not since she woke me. What's up?
Euden: I need to ask her a question about that fiend we're looking for.
Notte: Well, I'm done eating, so lemme help you look.
Notte: (Hey, there's Peony. Oh, and Pipple!)
Notte: (...But why does she look so sad?)
Pipple: Pii pii?
Peony: ...Likewise, I, too, know that it is simply a fact of life.
Peony: Even when a person is sad, a nice dream can set them right back to normal.
Peony: Happy dreams allow people to do their best in the waking world—that is what dreams are all about.
Peony: It matters not if they forget the content upon waking, so long as the joy remains. I know this, and yet...
Peony: Well, every day when I wish people good morning, it makes me so very lonely.
Notte: !
Pipple: Piii...
Peony: It's all right. Thank you for listening.
Peony: I can't talk about these sorts of things with anyone except a nice little flower like you.
Peony: Let's keep it between us though, all right?
Pipple: Pipple pip!
Peony: Heh. My thanks.
Notte: ......
Notte: (I had no idea that's how she felt...)
Notte: What can I do?
Euden: Hey, Notte, have you seen Peo...
Euden: Notte, what's wrong?!
Notte: I didn't know how she felt...
Notte: She knows everything about what happens in the dream world. She remembers it all.
Notte: But when the rest of us wake up, we only have hazy recollections.
Notte: Each morning is a wave of loneliness for her, but she still greets us with a brave face and a smile.
Notte: I can't believe I've made her lonely all this time... Dude, I am the WORST!
Euden: Peony is lonely?
Notte: That's what she told Pipple, yeah. Said she couldn't talk about it to anyone except a big dumb flower like him.
Notte: So she's kept it all bottled up.
Notte: I gotta help her, man. I just gotta. But HOW?
Euden: Notte...
Notte: ......

Peony: Good morning!
Notte: ......
Peony: Notte? Are you awake?
Notte: ......
Peony: Notte? ...Notte!
Peony: She won't wake up! Does she have the sleeping sickness?!
Notte: Nnngh...
Peony: (She's clearly in the throes of a nightmare...)
Peony: (If I don't do something about this, that fiend could end up with her soul!)
Peony: I'll NEVER let that happen!
Peony: Hang on, Notte! I'll save you!
Peony: ...Is this Notte's dream? Why is it so dark and cold?
Notte: I'm sorry... I'm sorry...
Peony: Notte!
Notte: I'm so sorry, Peony!
Peony: I work so hard to make sure everyone has happy dreams, but you forget anyway.
Peony: You forget it all! You forget ME!
Notte: But we're still friends, right?
Peony: You are no friend of mine...
Peony: YOU ARE NO FRIEND OF MINE!
Notte: Peony...
Peony: Notte!
Notte: Oh man, I'm seein' double!
Peony: This is a dream, Notte! The fiend is giving you a nightmare!
Peony: Don't listen to that false me!
Peony: And to think I was THIS close to devouring a faerie's soul. How unfortunate.
Notte: What the heck is THAT?!
Peony: It's the fiend we've been chasing! The one who devours souls inside of dreams!
Peony: You've been making people have terrible nightmares! You hurt my friend Notte! And I will not stand for it!
Peony: Time for you to see what naughty little fiends get!
Peony: Haaaah!
Peony: Huh?!
Notte: Peony!
Peony: Urgh...
Peony: (Get up... GET UP... You have to save Notte...)
Peony: (She's still your dear friend, even if she is going to forget all of this...)
Peony: (But I won't forget it... I'll remember it always!)
Notte: Peony, no!

Notte: Peony!
Peony: Notte!
 ???: Haaah!
Euden: Looks like we made it in time! Are you two okay?!
Notte: Guys! You're here!
Peony: But how?
Euden: We'll save the explanations for later. First, we're gonna defeat the cause of all these nightmares!
Peony: And save everyone's sweet dreams!
Peony: Haaaah!
Peony: Defeated at last. Everyone's dreams should be peaceful once more.
Notte: Sorry for worrying all of you.
Euden: I'm just glad you're both all right.
Peony: But how did you all get here? You are adults—you shouldn't have the power to dream freely.
Euden: We had a little help from the kids— just like the two of you did.
Euden: They all wished for Notte to be okay, which is how we were able to help.
Notte: You all did that for little ol' me?
Luca: I'm glad you're in one piece, Peony, but runnin' off alone like that is a good way to get yourself hurt.
Luca: If we hadn't gotten here when we did...
Peony: I'm sorry. When I thought Notte was in danger, I just couldn't sit still.
Euden: I guess that's proof of how much you care for her.
Notte: Aw, thanks, Peony. But still, I...
Peony: Notte? What's wrong?
Peony: The fiend is defeated, and yet your dream remains dark. Is there something you are still worried about?
Notte: ...I'm mad that I made you feel lonely.
Peony: !
Notte: I'm sorry! I totally wasn't trying to be a big snoopypants, but I heard what you said to Pipple about being lonely.
Notte: And about how we forget our dreams and all the time we spend with you there.
Notte: And yet, you're always so bright and cheery whenever we wake up. I can't imagine how hard that must be.
Notte: You're my FRIEND, man, and I hurt you every single night. I just...I don't even know how to begin dealing with that.
Peony: Notte, I'm fine.
Notte: But...
Peony: Dreams simply are what they are— don't hold their nature against them. Don't let bad dreams like this one make you unhappy.
Peony: To me, that would be the saddest and loneliest thing of all—your sweet dreams are all I require.
Notte: So you don't MIND if we forget you so long as we have good dreams?
Peony: The dreams of mortals are what give life to us ljósálfar.
Peony: We want everyone to dream— happy ones, if possible.
Peony: That is our greatest wish.
Peony: And yes, I know you will forget most of what happens in the world of dreams...
Peony: But that doesn't mean we aren't still friends when you wake up.
Notte: Hey, yeah!
Peony: That friendship makes me very happy; it is more than enough.
Notte: Aw, thanks, Peony...
Euden: Oh, look!
Peony: Ah, now THIS is the kind of dream I like. It's so bright and warm and...happy.
Peony: And with that, I think it is time for us to wake. Let's all go nighty-night!