Nightmare Conflict, or MIND and Soul

The following is an alternate universe (AU) short story, depicting an event where Camo Vance, one of my original characters, experiences a profound nightmare. This is no ordinary nightmare, though, as two opposing facets of his identity struggle for ultimate control of his body and, more importantly, of his future.

This work was inspired while listening to "Open Your Heart ~I'll Face Myself Battle RE:Incarnation REMIX~ (YouTube link). For an optimal experience, I recommend listening along as you read. As the story nears completion, I'll post time checks to help guide readers along the journey from start to finish...

Please let me know what you think of this story as it comes along. I welcome and encourage any and all feedback, including constructive criticism.

Introduction: Ultimatum
One night, Camo Vance had a nightmare.

It was an experience unlike any other he’d ever encountered in any dream.

For one, he was quite aware of his situation. He could feel every movement of his inner persona as though he was awake and fully mobile, and yet he knew that his body felt too light and quick for this to be anything but a mental simulation.

For another, he was surrounded by the jungles of Mistral, a background he had not seen in many months. His education at the Hunter academy of Beacon, situated in the heart of the kingdom of Vale, had kept him far too occupied to return to his homeland.

Most importantly, however, was the focus of his dream, and it was this facet of the scene which affirmed his suspicions.

Camo Vance was staring face-to-face with an almost-perfectly-black simulacrum of himself: a humanoid with dark, smooth skin and radiant green eyes. Although it lacked any other clearly-defined features, Vance could tell that it was a mockery of his own image that stood before him.

(WELCOME HOME,) the being greeted him in a deep, warped voice that only slightly resembled his own.

(This is not my home,) Vance replied.

(OF COURSE IT IS,) argued the mimic. (WE WERE BORN AND RAISED IN MISTRAL.)

(But this is just a dream. I’m still asleep in my dorm room, with the rest of my team, in Beacon.)

(AND YET, HERE WE ARE. OUR BODY LIES IN VALE, BUT OUR SOUL REMAINS HERE, WHERE WE BELONG.)

(What would you know about “where I belong”?)

(I KNOW MORE THAN YOU ASSUME. AFTER ALL, YOU AND I ARE THE SAME.)

(We’re nothing alike.)

A sharp laugh issued from the simulacrum’s throat (if it even possessed such a thing), and the scenery seemed to warp slightly, briefly bending back under the wave of the sound.

(WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, REFUSING ME THE RIGHT TO ASSUME? WHO’S TO SAY THAT I’M NOT OUR TRUE SELF, THAT YOU’RE THE ONE IMITATING US?)

Vance had no clear answer to this challenge. He only grunted his irritation shortly and furrowed his brow.

(EXACTLY. NOW YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I’M HERE, DON’T YOU?)

(...A human cannot exist with two souls.)

--- ((Song time: 0:00 - 0:24)) ---

(I’VE COMPROMISED WITH YOUR EXISTENCE FOR FAR TOO LONG. TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT WE DECIDE WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE ON.)

Vance reached to his back, hoping to find his trusted bow, but was surprised to find it missing. All he could find was the sheath of his grandfather’s sword, slung over his shoulder. Understanding the symbolism, he shut his eyes and breathed a long sigh before drawing the sword and holding it in front of him, gripping it tightly with both hands while sinking into a combat-ready stance.

(The weakling who lived his life in denial...)

The shadowy figure blinked once, and its mouth snarled, revealing jagged, yellowing teeth. Its arms swelled with disproportionate musculature, and all ten fingers stretched and contorted into long, sharp claws. A mane of jet-black hair erupted from its back and stretched down to his waist, where a winding tail grew, barbed with a single hooked spike. The beast blinked once, and its eyes lit up like twin emerald fires, glaring intensely with spite for its polar-opposite.

(...OR THE MONSTER HE UNWITTINGLY RAISED IN HIS OWN IMAGE.)

Phase 1: Conception
Coming soon...