Yes, here is part of of A Jammer's Dream, Book 3: Greatness is Earned! There may be a few mistakes, but ignore them. Enjoy this part, and make sure to read all the other before reading this!
A Jammer's Dream, Book 3: Greatness is Earned - Part 4
Nova and I continue walking silently through the moonlit clearing. We don’t speak at all in fear of awakening someone. That would be the last thing we want when we’re about to enter the Dream World itself.
In the dim moonlight, I spot the dirt path before Nova. She nods, and we both begin taking it. I stare into the bushes surrounding us making sure nobody is watching us.
“Umm… Cup? Did you hear that?” I hear Nova ask in such a quiet voice I can barely hear her.
I don’t respond. I grab her, and we both quickly dash behind the nearest bush.
Time flies. Nothing happens. The moonlight remains as bright as possible, and no sound can be heard. What kind of sound did Nova hear?
“Cup and Nova. Come out please,” Faber suddenly demands in a hoarse voice.
We both come out from behind the bush and spot Faber, standing in the moonlight. He looks extremely tired and worried. His eyelids are barely open and his eyes are pretty red.
“Please- do not enter the Dream World.”
“But Faber!” I begin begging for him to allow us to go there.
“Cup, it is dangerous. I was looking in my globe and saw you two in the Dream World. I cannot let that happen. Cup, you have to understand.”
“I have to find out answers. I am too confused. I just can’t live like this!” a small tear rolls down my cheek.
“Maybe you should listen, Cup. Maybe it actually is too dangerous…” Nova suddenly sounds like another animal. But she was going to go with me! What is making her change her mind?
“Nova! Please!” I beg.
“Cup… I’m sorry,” Nova suddenly brings her head to stare down. Then she trots silently back to the bush dens.
“She is right, Cup. I’m sorry about the truth,” Faber sighs.
I remain calm. I’m not going to let my anger take over now.
“Faber, train me. Train me now,” I become serious. If Nova doesn’t want to help me find answers, maybe I can find answers by myself. Maybe I can find answers by becoming the one to save Jamaa.
Faber brightens up, seemingly expecting this.
“We shall begin. I will teach you every move possible until you feel like dying,” Faber laughs.
I nod in understanding. This is exactly what I need. I need to train to get better- and maybe I can find all the answers in myself.
Faber takes me to the clearing, where the arena still lies.
“Faber- was I wrong to kill Jalar?” I silently whisper.
“It does prove you are improving. But it is wrong to kill another member, even if they are a jerk. I was going to punish you, but I decided I would just train you day and night from now on,” Faber smirks a little. I don’t respond. I just continue staring at the bare ground.
And then he begins teaching me more moves. We start off with an attacking move to strike first on your opponent. I don’t master it on my first try, but after several practices, I finally get the hang of it. I was always too shy to go to a battle training meeting in Jamaa. But now I am the new and improved Cup. The one to save Jamaa.
We continue trying out moves. I learn several more and master them easily. Now faber looks even more exhausted, but he doesn’t stop spitting out moves for me to try out. I continue, using all of my strength and courage for each one of them. I need to prove that I am strong. Not just physically, but also mentally.
As the night continues, the arena begins to brighten up. The moon is starting to disappear and Dawn swallows up the night sky. Light begins spreading across Zone Two, and I become more encouraged to train. Birds start chirping as I practice my next move: how to fight off someone faster than you. I learn that you must be aware of all the possible places around you that they could attack from. When you are ready for them in any area, you can catch them off guard by grabbing their claws with yours, and then flinging them through the air. Faber brings out Roland for me to practice this move on. Roland looks like he just woke up, so this has to be easy since he is also exhausted.
Roland is petty fast, I have to admit it. But I’m ready for him in every area. Each time he attempts to strike me, I catch him with my front claws and toss him a little ways away. I am finally building up my confidence.
“Great job, Cup,” Faber congratulates me.
“Just remember- don’t become too confident. There is always, always, always going to be someone that will be tougher than you,” guarantees Faber.
I nod. I know this is true. There’s no possible way I’m the toughest animal in the whole entire world.
We continue training, and each time the moves get harder. Morning finally arrives and many members of Zone Two are waking up. However, I still continue my battle training with Faber, even though I’ve now been awake for hours practicing.
Animals begin gathering around the arena to watch my training. Everyone seems fascinated by me, but I have no idea what is so great about myself.
Another move that Faber teaches me about is one of the best moves he knows about. When you’ve mastered many of the moves, there is always one move that works best: faking it. Yes, faking it. If you’re faking it by swiping a claw at an opponent’s face, they might try to block it, but in reality, you’re about to use your other claw to attack them. I try this with Roland, and it really, really helps. Roland didn’t hear about what I was planning to do because Faber sent him way for a moment. He doesn’t expect it when I carefully swipe him across the face with my opposite claw.
We finish up my training, and I am now beginning to feel weary. It’s afternoon and I’ve learned so many moves. However, I remember each and every one of them, and I will not forget any. What I have learned today is something I will remember forever.
The days continue. Nova and I start to become farther and farther apart again. I still don’t like the memory of when she betrayed me. She was going to come to the Dream World with me, but no… she didn’t even defend me that night. She is close to Rocky again now and they hang out every day and night. I still remember the Dream World, however. I will go there someday, but now isn’t the time. The weather is starting to get colder as Winter approaches. I get so much better at fighting with my training from Faber, however. I don’t really talk to anybody as the days go by, however. It’s almost as if I’m trapped in my own little world.
“Hey, Cup, it’s time for your final battle!” I can hear the joyful sound of Marr, who is getting pretty buff. I am much bigger and stronger than I used to be now. I grunt while getting up. I must’ve slept on the wrong side last night.
I prance out of the bush dens, leaving Rocky and Nova behind. My father is still gone, and I already know where he is. Maybe soon I’ll be able to confront Jalar and Brent myself with all of this training I’ve been doing.
Outside, a cold wind makes me shiver. The sky is gray and mostly everybody is inside. I head to where the arena is, and when I’m there, I can see Rapicik and Faber sitting side by side, ready to see how much I’ve improved.
“Cup, how come we haven’t spoken to each other in such a long time?” I can hear Rapicik wondering when I walk into the arena.
“I’ve just been busy,” I respond quickly.
“Okay then, but if there’s anything wrong, you can always tell me,” assures Rapicik in an understand voice.
“Alright, Cup. For your final battle, you will be taking on one of the toughest members in my Zone,” says faber, grunting.
Then a dark, shady figure comes out from behind the nearest bush. A large, black panther hops down into the arena.
“Remember, Ajing, do not kill,” Faber raises his eyebrows.
“Let the final battle begin!” Faber immediately shouts after the warning. I pounce onto Ajing the panther almost instantaneously. I am about to pin him down but he is super fast and gets out of my grip. He begins to dance around, ready to attack, but I know how to get out of this move. I make sure I’m aware of every area surrounding me. When he’s about to strike, I jump into the air and come crashing down onto him. He is surprised, and I can hear his gasp. He tosses me off with ease, but I fall onto my paws. As he rushes towards me, I fake a blow at his head, and he tries to block it. Right as he does this, I swipe my right claw against his face, making him stagger back. I then sprint at him and pin him down with ease. He can’t get up.
“Good job, young one,” Ajing manages to say as he struggles beneath my grasp.
I let him go, and turn to see the impressed faces of Faber and Rapicik.
“Good job, Cup!” I can hear Marr congratulating me.
“Do you know what this means, Cup?” Faber asks.
I don’t respond. I do know what it means, and I think he understands I do.
“You have completed training. You are the one to save Jamaa,” Faber dips his head in respect. Rapicik immediately follows, then Ajing, and finally Marr.
The one to save Jamaa. We had to find Faber because… because…
Jamaa needs his help!
“Oh, Faber, I just remembered! We need you back in Jamaa!” I gasp. Rapicik’s ears suddenly twitch, and he also remembers.
“You shall leave in the morning. There is a blizzard approaching, but it should be over by then,” Faber assures.
“But what about you?” I ask. Rapicik then stares at Faber.
“I shall come. So will all of Zone Two. We will stay until all of this danger in Jamaa ends,” Faber smiles widely. I grin, and Rapicik follows.
“What has made your sudden change of plans occur?” I can hear Rapicik ask Faber as I exit the arena.
“I went to the Dream World last night, and I could see something weird… something dangerous. It looked like animals coming towards Jamaa. And they’re coming soon. I know it’s not us because it’s, well, just not our shape,” Faber explains in a low voice. Rapicik nods, thinking about it.
The Dream World. I am finally free from Faber telling me not go there. Tonight I will, and there will be nobody to stop me.
I sneak out of the bush dens and out into the dark gray, winter night sky. There are no stars in sight but the moon shines bright. I go out in the learning and away from the bush dens. I look over my shoulder to see if I am being followed. Nope. I am good to go. I continue walking quietly through the clearing on top of the mountain. Far in the distance, I can see a large, beautiful lake on the mountaintop It’s frozen over, but I believe winter makes things more beautiful. The moonlight shines on the reflecting ice over it and I stop for a moment to observe it. I absolutely love winter.
After a few moments, I continue my quest to the Dream World. What answers do I really want to seek out?
Then, as I make it past the arena, I can hear some rustling in a bush den nearby. I freeze in my spot, but after a few minutes, I figure that nobody is awake in it. A light snow begins to fall as I find the dirt path that leads into the cliff. Inside of the cliff is the crystal cave, where I can visit the Dream World, and take a huge risk.
Finally, I make it inside of the crystal cave. I manage to squeeze through the narrow crack and into the opening, where the giant crystal glow. And to my surprise, Nova is standing on top of the tallest crystal. By her side is Rocky. How did I not notice they were gone?
Rocky jumps down from the top of the crystal, and walks right up and stares into my face. He snickers a little bit, but then Nova tells him to stop.
Rocky suddenly sits down in front of me and sucks in a lot of air.
“Cup, I’m sorry,” he finally says.
“I know that you’ve known Nova a lot longer, and you’re more deserving to have her as your friend. Of course, I’m a lion, and I don’t really fit in with you guys. But I tried to take you away from her. I tried to make you feel horrible. And I do realize it, now. Can we just all be friends?” Rocky now sounds more serious than ever.
“How do I know you’re not just being told by Nova to do this? Do you even mean it?” I get into his face, growling while baring my teeth.
“Yes, I really do,” Rocky says, not flinching.
I stare at him for what seems like a million years. Then I nod, accepting his apology.
“Now please, go away. I have to do something. But I’ll talk to you both later,” I promise.
“No, Cup! I am going to visit the Dream World with you,” Nova raises her head after listening to the conversation between Rocky and I.
“I guess I will too. I’ll help you both,” Rocky joins in.
“What is making you suddenly change your mind?” I question Nova.
“That night I wasn’t thinking. I was thinking about Rocky. But then I realized you could both be my friends, without suffering over your bickering. But I tried to act like I really meat it, so I didn’t want to admit I didn’t want to go to the Dream World because I was about to speak with Rocky. Cup, I am terribly sorry about it all. This isn’t who I am,” responds Nova, staring at me with a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Apology accepted. Let’s do this,” a grin creeps onto my face. Nova brightens up, and for the first time in forever, it seems as if all three of us can be friends. Nova must’ve had to do a lot of convincing with Rocky to do this.
“Now, Rocky, stay with us in the Dream World. It’s super dangerous. We have to-” I begin to say, but Nova instantly interrupts.
“I already explained to him everything. I’m sure he’ll be fine,” she says.
I nod. Then we all hop on to the top of the giant crystal, and begin to sleep.
A pitch black darkness appears as I remember how to enter the Dream World. Rocky and Nova both appear shortly after.
“Alright, Cup. This is all you. Are we visiting the past or the future?” asks Nova, squinting in the darkness.
“The future of Jamaa. Starting now!” I scream quite loudly. Rocky, Nova and I all whisk away into thin air.
“We’re home!” Rocky happily squeals when he spots the familiar sights of Jamaa Township.
“Not quite…” Nova says, looking astonished. I spot the passageway right in plain sight. It must be invisible to the figures of the future, but visible to us.
It’s a gray sky covering the land of Jamaa in the earliest future. We must be a second in the future. A few Jammers are outside swapping their items for other things. The cold, frosty air bites their fur like a wolf, so not many of them are outside. A light snow is falling, and the whole place seems gloomy.
“There’s not going to be anything here. We have to visit the forest surrounding Jamaa, where there are supposedly a group of animals racing towards the town,” I explain. Then I start thinking about the forest around Jamaa, while the others do, too. We appear in it, but it’s at the exact same time in the future as the other Jamaa Township. It reminds me of teleportation.
“We can’t stay here long, but we have to travel through many of these passageways to get farther into the future. I don’t see anything here,” I assure. Rocky nods. Nova continues staring at the white forest covered in snow. It’s a beautiful sight, but we can’t stay,
“There’s the passageway into the deeper future!” Nova points a small vortex floating in the air. The purple light of it creeps me out as we enter. Now we’re a few seconds farther into the future. I believe that each vortex goes a certain amount of time into the past or future, so if we’re lucky, we can get one that goes much further into it.
“Keep going through the vortexes until you see that group of animals! Do it as quick as possible!” I demand while racing through the tons of vortexes. If we don’t hurry, one will shut down and we will be stuck in the Dream World until our sleeping bodies die. The white forest begins to become greener as we travel through many more of the vortexes. Then spring arrives in the forests’ future, and we all have to stop for a few seconds to catch our breath.
“How many passageways have we already been through?” I pant.
“I don’t know, but our break time is up,” Nova says. I barely get any glimpses of the following periods of time since we’re going so fast through the passageways by each other. I know summer is now getting earby since no snow is on the ground and flowers are blooming everywhere. Colors swirl around me as race through the portals of the Dream World. And finally, in the middle of a summer night, I can spot at least a thousand animals racing through the night. Nova, Rocky and I stop dead in our tracks. The night is lit by many torches the animals are carrying. I can’t make out what the animals are, but I can see that they are big. There’s a mix between the sizes at the front of the line, however. There are no dead leaves that will crunch beneath my paws, so I move closer to get a better look at the animals. I try to spot them, but I still can’t. The night sky isn’t visible with all of the evergreen trees in this forest, and the green bushes around blocking the animals make it hard to see. All I can tell is that they are carrying torches, and heading towards… Jamaa Township? What has happened to it?
An opening is in the forest nearby, where no trees surround me and bushes are nowhere to be seen. Out in the opening, I can see Jamaa Township in the far away distance, but I can only see it because of the fire burning near it, lighting it up. It looks absolutely devastated from battle, with smoke rising from it, and broken scraps even visible from here. I gasp, staggering back. What has happened to Jamaa? And what are these mysterious animals going to do?
“Come on, Cup. We shouldn’t stay any longer It’s time to head back,” Nova warns. Rocky nods, scared about the thought of a passageway shutting down.
Then I make my way back to the passageway, and all three of us begin racing through the portals. We actually manage to make it back to the pitch black base are of the Dream World. We survived, and I got to see the ‘animals running towards Jamaa’ vision myself! I’ve proved Faber, Dawn, Mincero and Sinsar wrong. I traveled through the Dream World and I survived!
“Guys, if we survived that time, we could survive again. I want to see the future of Zone Two,” Rocky suddenly suggests after we all catch our breath from running through the passageways.
That’s a good point. Nova nods, agreeing. Then we all begin to think about Zone Two in the future. We are immediately taken to the future of Zone Two, where it is still night outside, but it is a few seconds in the future.
We look around. The clearing is in sight. The arena still lies in the same spot, and everyone is seeping in the bush dens. The dark winter sky is still there and the frozen pond lies a little ways away. But wait- what is that glowing thing by Faber’s bush den?
The passageway.
“Guys, I found the next passageway!” I announce. Rocky and Nova both turn my way, and I point at the portal leading farther into the future. The three of us sprint towards it, and begin going through each portal after another to view the future of Zone Two.
It doesn’t take long before something terrible happens. After going through maybe ten portals, it is tomorrow morning. Some of the portals must’ve skipped more time. After all, these portals have a mind of their own. But that’s not the point.
“Guys… what is that dark, gray cloud covering the sky? And why is it moving?” I point out. Nova stares at it immediately, and Rocky follows. The cloud is moving down towards Zone Two. It looks like it is made up many, many much smaller, living things. Black things. And then I spot an electricity bolt coming out of one of them. I squint my eyes, and to my surprise, I find out that the Phantoms are invading Zone Two tomorrow night.
“Guys! Zone Two is going to be invaded by Phantoms tomorrow morning!” I gasp. Then we turn back and sprint through the portals, ready to warn Faber of the news.
Back in the pitch black base, we catch our breath almost immediately. Then we begin speaking about the upcoming Phantom Invasion on Zone Two.
“We have to warn Faber. I can’t believe the Phantoms know about this place!” Nova is the first person to speak up.
“Let’s go right now. Come on, guys,” I respond.
And with that, we all think about waking up. That is exactly what happens. We find ourselves sitting on top of the tall crystal in the cave.
“Hurry! Let’s go!” I charge forward, exiting the Crystal Cave as fast as possible. We exit it and run outside to see Dawn covering the mountaintop. But that doesn't stop us to look. We race towards faber’s den, almost trip over each other entering it, and start shrieking his name.
“Faber! Faber!” I scream. Nova screams right after, and she is followed by Rocky.
Faber is sleeping next to Rapicik and Dawn. Everybody starts waking up in the den at the sound of our loud screams. Faber wakes up first, and rubs his eyes angrily.
“What is it?” Faber demands with agitation in his voice.
“We went to the Dream World, and-” I start to say. Oops. That may become the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.
“You what? After what I told you? All of you, now! Come with me!” faber orders, suddenly seeming fully awake. He dashes out of the bush dens and out into the dim dawn light. He doesn’t stop to wait for us as he beg him to listen. We follow him to a door that leads into a cave.
“You are punished, all of you! The Dream World is forbidden!” Faber punishes. Then he shoves us all like we’re just pieces of grass into the door. Inside, he locks us behind it, and doesn’t stop to listen when we start screaming for him to pay attention again.
“You may come out when we are all ready to return to Jamaa. For now, you must stay put! And I don’t want to hear any of your nonsense about the Dream World!” Faber screams with such authority in his voice we all fall silent. He slowly walks away from the door. Then I slowly pace to the back of the cave, which is complete darkness.
“Nova and Rocky, come here,” I whisper.
Rocky is holding back tears, knowing that something bad is about to happen. Morning is nearly here!
“We have to break out of here so we can warn them. They have to know. And we have to help them all when the Phantoms come. I’m sure we can’t leave if Phantoms are attacking this place,” I point.
“But how do we get out of this place?” Nova ponders.
“Let’s explore the whole cave. That means we’re going to travel farther into the darkness,” I suggest.
Nova nods. Rocky nods, too. Rocky still seems emotional. Is he really changing? Is he really going to be a friend, and not a foe?
“Then let’s go search for something to get out of here,” Nova says. And with those words, we all begin to journey farther back into the pitch black cave.
A sharp rock pierces my fur as I travel through the cave. I jump back in surprise.
“Is something wrong?” Nova asks, worried.
“No, I’m fine.”
Then we continue walking through the dark cave. Maybe, just maybe, there is an exit in here somewhere.
“It’s a dead end!” Rocky says out loud, slightly ahead of us. We catch up to him and find out that a wall now blocks out way. But then I realize that a very, very dim light is coming from up above. I look above and see a tunnel leading somewhere else, further into the wall. However, how in the word would be get up there? It’s nearly fifty feet above our heads. And we don’t have any ropes or vines to get up there.
“Guys, that tunnel up there leads to somewhere with light. Is there any possible way for us to get up there?” I ask, thinking really hard about the idea.
“Wait! Remember those rocks you were talking about? I wonder if they stick out of the walls… could we jump from one to another and get up there?” Rocky suggest first. I think about it, then I decide to give it a try. I tell the others that I would try this out first, and after convincing Nova that I can do it by myself, I finally find the jagged rock where I cut myself on. The dim light from the tunnel barely lights my path.
I hop on top of the rock. But then I immediately fall out when I realize it is sticking out of the roof. I get up, dust myself off, and then hop again, this time catching onto the stalactite. At least, that’s what the alphas call these type of rocks.
I begin forcing myself to go upward on the rock. Maybe I can find a cliff to jump onto once I’m far enough in the air. I can see Nova and Rocky watching me nervously from down below. Finally, I reach the very top of it, and scan the area. A cliff is nearby. By it is another cliff. And by the second cliff is a third one that leads directly to the tunnel of light! Rocky’s idea is working!
The hard part is about to happen, though. I take a deep breath. I’m fifty feet in the air and I’m about to jump from a giant stalactite. But I do it anyways, now that I have crazy as one of my traits. Nova and Rocky both gasp as I just barely land on the small cliff on a different wall. I nearly skid off the smooth surface, but I move onto the cliff just in time. My heart begins beating super fast, but now this should be easy. The next cliff is right by this one. I easily make the jump, and now I am right by the wall with the tunnel. I easily make the jump to it, too. Now I can escape from this place and- well, I don’t know where the tunnel leads to. But I’m sure Faber didn’t want us going through it and towards the mysterious light coming from it.
“Guys, do what I did, and you’ll both make it up here!” I shout down to them. They nod. Nova goes first, and Rocky follows closely behind her. They both eventually make it up here, and we all begin our journey down the tunnel.
“Where do you think this will lead to?” wonders Rocky.
“I honestly don’t know. But we’re getting close to the highest part of the mountain. Do you think it could lead to the top?” Nova wonders as we continue down the dimly lit tunnel.
I remain silent as we travel down it. Thoughts flow through my mind. We really have to hurry before the Phantoms invade Zone Two!
After reaching a certain point of the tunnel, we all discover that it is now slanting down. We are heading down. This might mean it could lead back into Zone Two!
A small bug jumps onto my fur. I hate them. Its tiny, squiggly legs tickle my fur. I flick it off as we continue down the cold, stone tunnel.
And when we reach the end of it, we’re on ground again. In front of us lies the Crystal Cave itself, but a bunch of crystals are blocking our view. So all this time there was a hidden passageway in the Crystal Cave, hidden behind some of the smaller crystals!
“Woah! We actually made it out! But how come there is a tunnel from here to that dungeon?” wonders Nova.
“Good question, but we don’t have time to answer it. We have to go and tell faber that the Phantoms are invading, without mentioning the Dream World,” I hurry. Then I am the first to sprint out of the cave and into the open, where Faber is talking to every member of Zone Two by the arena.
“And that’s why…” Faber begins to finish his sentence, but he stops dead in the middle of it when he spots us, walking through the arena towards him.
“How did…?” Faber wonders, confused.
“There’s not time for that. The…” I begin to say, but loud gasps stop me. Everyone turns around, and I can see the fear in their eyes. In the gray, morning sky, a black cloud of Phantoms catches everyone’s eye. And they are right above Zone Two, coming towards us as fast as possible.
“Phantoms are coming,” I finish my sentence while staring at the creatures slowly coming towards us.
