An Alternate Track

[Changeling Hive]

Jason stared out the window at the numerous changelings flying through the air going about their evening. In his arms he held his daughter Susie. The little changeling looked up to her father and babbled cutely as their gazes met. It felt like only yesterday his wife laid an egg and a day later it hatched. She was a faster birth than any drone, especially given her human half. Jason kissed the baby's forehead, being mindful of her horn as he placed her in her crib.

“Goodnight, Susie,” he said as he spun a mobile that had a couple tiny birds and airplanes on it. That had been a small Hearths Warming gift from his new friend Stacy.

He walked out and met Chrysalis who was in her human form, wearing a nightgown, and waiting outside their bedroom. The queen gave her husband a grin. “Ready?”

“Just put our sweetheart to bed,” he said before kissing her lips.

“Good…” Chrysalis said.

They both went in and got in bed. However as Jason got in he wore an expression that seemed like a mixture of worry and uncertainty. “Something wrong?” the queen asked.

“I don’t know,” he began warily, “but I have a feeling that something isn’t right.”

“What do you mean?” Chrysalis leaned on her elbow as she lay on the bed and looked at him. “Howard’s locked away, the other humans are on a road to redemption, our hive is nearly rebuilt fully, and we have a steady stream of goods going in and out thanks to that railway connection. What else could be wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Jason sighed as he looked out of the window. “Maybe I’m thinking about it too hard.” He paused, then turned to look at her. “Maybe we should visit them again.”

“Haven City? We just got back from a big party and already you want to go back?” Chrysalis teased before nuzzling him. “Fine, but as long as we get to tease the newlyweds and the soon to be wedded.”

“You don’t tease anymore,” Jason grinned. “You just eat whatever love comes from them.”

“Guilty as charged. Goodnight.”

The two kissed deeply, then lay in bed. Jason closed his eyes and felt the weariness of the day overwhelm him. Soon, he was asleep.

Or thought he was. When Jason opened his eyes again, he was no longer in his bed with his wife. He sat up quickly, feeling warm fresh air on his face and exposed skin. “What the…where am I?”

He looked around. He was currently outside sitting on some grass. He got up and then heard a noise behind him. He looked back and gasped.

Haven City was on fire. The sounds of the roaring flames and the screams of civilians filled his ears. He got up and ran towards the city in a panic. He saw a small group of civilians racing out of the city gates. They didn’t stop or even acknowledge him. “Hurry up! He’s killing everycreature!”

Jason looked back to the city and ran through the gates. Amongst the burning buildings he also saw unconscious bodies on the ground. A deep dreaded feeling started crawling up his spine. He then heard a scream and ran towards the source. He found himself at the town square where he stopped and stared with his mouth agape. There was a silhouette of a human holding a pony by the neck. The figure then threw the pony down on the ground mercilessly. Jason’s eyes slowly adjusted to see that the human figure was himself and the pony his counterpart threw was Applejack. “Why?” Applejack wheezed in a broken voice as she looked up to Jason’s counterpart.

“Because I can,” the copy said with the malevolent tone that Jason knew from his time being possessed by the Windigos. “You should be happy. After all, you’ll be free from the aches forever.” He then lifted his foot and stomped on the earth pony’s head with a sickening crunch.

Another figure appeared, flying down with a pair of icy blue wings which dissipated the moment they landed. It was Gregory, and he looked like he'd been through hell. There were scars all over his body and he was cradling one of his arms which was encased in a thin sheen of ice. It had been bent at an unnatural angle. “Stop!” he pleaded. “Think about what you’re doing! This is what the other humans thought you were! Don’t prove them right!”

“That’s just it,” Jason’s copy said with contempt, “I’ll always hate the ponies, I will always hate the community they spawned and by extension, I hate you!” A pair of guns materialized in his hands and he blasted them repeatedly at Gregory who put up an ice shield to stop the hail of bullets. More guns appeared on multiple sides until a bullet caught Gregory in his good arm, then his bad shoulder, and finally right in the face which made it explode in a shower of red mist. The body went limp and collapsed lifelessly onto the streets. The evil Jason spread what looked like changeling wings and took off.

Jason stood there in disbelief. “No,” he muttered in denial, “this isn't me. I don’t hate them anymore! I don’t!” He ran away and headed for the school only to see it in a similar state, on fire but with creatures running around either hiding or trying to put out the fire.

“What is going on!?” he shouted as he tried to get someone’s attention. It wasn’t until someone charged right through him that he realized he was practically a ghost to them.

He saw one of Stacy’s tanks charging in out of nowhere and heading straight into the school. He wasn’t an expert on earth military gear so he had no idea what it was. “Everyone get to cover!” the tank shouted, “he’s coming!”

The many creatures ran inside the school, but soon Stacy walked out wearing what looked like a suit of armor with guns attached. To Jason it reminded him of the Master Chief suit from Halo. “He’ll stop at nothing. I’ll take him on myself! For everyone! For Flash!” A tear fell down her face as she put the helmet on.

Jason could only turn and watch his counterpart slowly approach the school. “Stacy…step aside,” his counterpart said with a menacing look. “And I’ll give you mercy.”

“Like you gave Andrew, Luna, Celestia, and everyone else? Fat chance!” she yelled as she started running towards him with guns aimed at him. A few tanks charged out from behind her and started firing at the counterpart. Jason could only watch in horror as his evil self either tore apart tanks like they were plastic toys or traded blows with Stacy as she either shot, punched, or kicked him.

Jason shook his head and he placed his hands on his head. “No, No, NO!” he shouted as he clenched his eyes shut and tried to drown out the noise. He fell to his knees and banged his fist on the ground only to hear the sound of a blade piercing something.

He slowly opened his eyes and the first thing he noticed was a dagger in one of his fists. The dagger itself was stabbed into the armored chest of a human. Even more terror shot through him as the situation sank in. He’d somehow stabbed Stacy. The girl looked up to him with tears in her eyes which also held a look of defiance. “Hope it was worth it. Your grudge never ends.”

With the last of her strength, she pressed a button on her shoulder and her stomach plate opened to reveal several red sticks and a timer. Jason immediately knew what it was. A bomb with TNT. Stacy grinned as she waved a hand. “See you in hell.”

A bright flash blinded Jason-

-as he shot out of a bed breathing heavily. He looked around and saw he was back in the hive. He then looked to see Chrysalis sleeping soundly. Jason then petted her head before laying back down to sleep but it was easier said than done.

Gregory was standing in a pool full of warm water. Aside from the water moving around him, everything else was silent. He looked around, trying to determine just what was going on. He moved around and the sound of water echoing made him realize he was in a pool.

The Poolrooms…? he thought to himself as he moved around, the water washing around his clothes, which he quickly registered were the same mage clothes he’d worn when he’d seen the first level of the Backrooms. Oh, I’m dreaming again, he thought as he looked down at his right hand. An old camcorder from the 1980s and 90s was in his hand and he held it up. The fuck…?

He continued wandering around the Poolrooms, trying to figure out why he was dreaming about the Backrooms all of the sudden. As he walked deeper into a darker area, the temperature of the water began to plummet. Bits of ice began to form in the water, so he quickly vacated the pool. Strangely, a miniature of the Titanic was floating next to a piece of ice. It struck and sank into the now icy water before the entire pool he had now quickly vacated froze over. The miniature Titanic froze halfway down as the pool froze completely through. Not only that, but the ice began to glow a deep crimson.

Okay, this is seriously weird, he thought as he turned on the camcorder’s light before turning back to the direction where he’d come, only to see that the entrance to this section of the Poolrooms was now frozen over. Sighing, he turned and began heading deeper into the darkness until he saw a spiraling staircase with snow falling from it along with a light coming down from the level above. He used his limited ability to lucid dream to morph his boots into ice skates, which he used to cross the frozen pool to the staircase. Once he reached the staircase, the boots reverted and he began to walk up, holding the camcorder up to record everything.

He came up outside onto a pair of hills which were both covered in a thick layer of snow. Between said hills was a train track. He began running down the hill as fast as he could before spreading his ice wings and flying down. As he was flying, he heard a whistle sounding from a distance. Turning to the sound, he saw Connie fast approaching with only two passenger cars, the second one looking like it was half covered in ice. Curious, he followed it, wondering what in the world this dream was doing or saying. With him knowing that this was an actual dream and being able to lucid dream, he felt some confidence in changing it if things went south.

As he followed Connie, he noticed that he was making his way towards Haven City. As the train entered the station, he saw a human shaped statue that was tipped over. Landing in front of it, he looked at the metal plaque which had the words FALSE GOD inscribed on it. Walking over to the statue, he saw that the figure was actually a depiction of him. He then noticed a nearby building that had a light inside. He went towards it and knocked on the door. A moment later the mail slot opened showing a pair of eyes. The moment he locked eyes with the figure, they screamed and shut the slot. He then heard the sounds of furniture moving to barricade the door.

Fearful of a human, huh? He sighed as he decided to press onward. As he made his way to the town square, he heard someone running towards him and decided to duck into a nearby alley. It was then he saw Twilight, Ember, and Andrew running through the square. When they reached it they looked around frantically. “I told you girls this was a bad idea,” Andrew said to them.

“I knew he was stubborn, but not this stubborn. Now we have no bell!” Ember snarled.

Behind them, a figure was flying behind them and catching up fast. “You dare take my power!? I will show you all I AM IN CONTROL!”

Gregory looked behind them and saw himself in the same robes. He groaned inwardly, calming the inner panic that was rising from within him. Typical cliché dumbass dream, he thought to himself as he watched what was going on. Unlike the dream before, he knew this was just a silly nightmare.

Twilight stood defiantly, spreading her wings as she faced the faux Gregory as he landed. “Gregory, stop this!” she begged, “come back to us!”

Fauxgory, as Gregory was going to start calling him, merely scoffed. “I never left, my little princess,” he said in a sickeningly sweet tone.

God, I sound so stupid like that, Gregory thought as he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes in derision. What am I, a Disney villain?

“No… merely something else,” said Fauxgory. Just then time stopped and it was only him moving.

Gregory stood up wide eyed. Freezing is a big part of my powers, he thought, but freezing time? That’s a new one.

“Oh it is, and so is reading thoughts like a Simpsons character from the future,” Faux said as he grinned.

Gregory came out from his hiding place and shrugged. “I never saw the show,” he said with a nonchalant tone. “Now then, what the fuck are you trying to tell me here, huh? You’re a part of my subconscious, huh?”

“Ding Ding Ding! Give myself a prize,” Fauxgory said as he pumped his fist.

“So cliché,” Gregory rolled his eyes in derision.

“Oh how I remember having that reaction,” Fauxgory said before looking at Ember. “Oh yeah, you're definitely going to miss cuddling with her.”

“Wrong, monkey brain,” Gregory scoffed. “I’ll be waking up from this lameass dream eventually. I know it’s a dream, so what do I have to worry about?”

“Dream? Oh no, this may be a dream, but as Mudbriar would put it, ‘Technically is more like a premonition.’”

Gregory laughed. “Bitch, please,” he said with a dismissive wave, “I can’t get those kinds of dreams. That’s not how the Windigo powers work.”

“Yeah, well Windigos were never capable of detecting pregnancies,” he said.

“I detected the emotional response of the unborn foal inside Rainbow, you dumb dumb,” Gregory scoffed.

“Still, an unborn is very hard to detect, even at just a few days old,” Fauxgory argued. “Your, or rather our, power is growing. What will you do when it becomes too much for us?”

“It won’t,” Gregory said as he projected confidence towards his fake self, although deep down he was still unsure. “And even if it does, I have backup plans to help with that.”

“Oh? Would those plans involve treating Grogar’s Bell like a puke bucket?” Fauxgory asked.

Gregory raised an eyebrow. “Nah, nothing as predictable as that,” he said. “And if you’re really me, you’ll know those plans. So go ahead, tell me what those plans of mine are, huh?”

Fauxgory just continued to grin as he reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll and unrolled it. “Are these the plans? Trust me, they are merely small temporary solutions.”

Gregory reached out his hand, and using his lucid dream abilities, snatched the scroll. He read through the little bits of plans that were there. Only, he knew something was off, since some of these so-called plans were something he’d never considered. Not only that, but the plan he was discussing with himself wasn’t even there. He held out the scroll, which burst into flames. “Okay, you bastard, who are you really?”

“Haven’t you pieced it together? I’m sure our lie detecting abilities would help you enough. I’m you.”

“Nah, bitch,” Gregory smirked, “you ain’t me. So who the fuck are you, huh?”

Fauxgory just laughed at him. He laughed so hard he hugged his sides. “I really am you. Search your feelings, you know it to be true,” he said in a perfect Darth Vader impression.

“Uh huh,” Gregory replied as he rolled his eyes. “Look, I don’t have all damned day here, so do whatever you were gonna do with these false images of those I care about, huh?”

“Very well,” Fauxgory sighed, almost in a disappointed tone. “Just so you know, this is your future. You may not believe it now but trust me, you will soon.”

Time then resumed and Fauxgory raised his staff attempting to freeze Andrew and the girls only for him to suddenly be shoved aside by a hulking figure. The centaur with strange features looked down on them. “RUN!”

Andrew and the girls ran off as Robbie wrestled with Fauxgory. Suddenly, there was a thunderous boom in the sky and just like that, Robbie and Fauxgory vanished. Gregory looked up and saw Princess Luna descending from the sky above. Unsure if this was the real Luna or a creation of his dream, he took a step forward as the lunar princess landed in the snowy remains of Haven City. “Welcome to Hell Frozen Over Town, population, me apparently.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get into your dream sooner,” Luna apologized. “Something was blocking my entry. It was like someone barricaded the door to your mind.”

“I knew it,” Gregory said as he gave a wry smile. “I fucking knew it! In your face, Fauxgory!” He flipped off the overturned statue nearby.

Luna raised a brow. “Fauxgory?”

“Oh yeah, you missed a lot,” Gregory said. “Let me show you the highlight reel.” He held up the camcorder. “Let’s just rewind to the beginning here…damned old tech.”

Luna watched over the footage. “This mysterious being claims to be a future you?”

“Oh yeah, and he was cartoonishly evil,” Gregory said with a chuckle. “Besides, I’ve been working on some mental defenses of my own to keep certain areas of my memory more secure.”

Luna was silent for a bit. It was like something was lingering in the back of her mind. “I haven’t seen anything like this in a very long time,” she said, frowning.

“A dream invasion?” Gregory asked. “I mean, you had that tantabus before, so I didn’t think it would be impossible.”

“No, not like that,” Luna corrected. “The last time anyone was visited by a specter of one’s future self was over a thousand years ago and you want to know why and how I know?”

“Because it was you? Or because you were alive that long ago and saw it happen?”

“The first one. I was visited by a mare who claimed to be me only to find out it was my own demon that eventually took over.”

Gregory frowned. “Well, I seriously doubt that whoever is trying to gaslight me into thinking my future self is out to show me my ‘future’,” and here he made air quotes, “is stupid. Of course they’re gonna prey on my fears. My magical power is growing and it terrifies me, but I’m also not going to give up without exploring every possibility on how to keep things from becoming like this ‘nightmare’.” He made air quotes again.

Luna placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Just don’t push yourself. You may have gained experience but you are still new,” she said as her horn glowed and looked around.

He nodded. “I have Twilight with me, and Ember is good emotional support and my wife. I won’t push myself hard.”

“Good,” she said as her horn stopped glowing.

“I’d go check on Andrew, though,” Gregory said, “he said he had nightmares too, remember? He’s newer to magic than me, and he strikes me as someone who lets fear get to him more often.”

“That’s what I’m also here for. Would you like to join me? It’s been a while since I had company on my dream walks.”

Gregory cracked his knuckles and neck. “Let’s go kick some nightmare ass.”

Luna and Gregory stepped through a door that led to what looked like a bridge from Earth. Like Gregory’s dream, they had a bit of trouble getting through but they made it. On the bridge were a few police cars and an ambulance. As they two walked onto the bridge they started to notice how the officers and paramedics had no faces. Luna stopped and looked at one of them. “Is this normal?”

“No,” Gregory said. “This is something that led to the creation of a well known internet monster.”

To Gregory, they reminded him of both the Slenderman and the SCP IKEA workers. He looked over and saw a dozen more of them on a series of train tracks. One track had a sleek high speed train that was slowly backing up. “Target spotted,” Gregory said as he pointed.

They looked and saw Andrew on his knees staring at the train as it rolled slowly by. Some parts of the train had splotches of blood on it. As the two tried to make their way down, they suddenly felt themselves being grabbed by the faceless people. Gregory then felt a pair of handcuffs on both his wrists. “What the- hey, let go!” Gregory snapped but despite trying to use his powers the faceless humans kept a very tight grip on them. They then saw the lead locomotive back into view and stopped right in front of Andrew.

Suddenly the front windshield of the train smashed open revealing a head on a long neck. It’s face carrying a menacing grin. “Who's to blame?” it asked.

Andrew was silent as he looked up at the head. “This death could only be at the fault of someone,” the head said as the neck stretched out and brought itself to Andrew’s ear. “There could only be someone to blame and seek justice to. You, the friend who could’ve done more, or the man who started this chain reaction.”

The face then changed to look like Jason’s as it continued talking. “Admit it, he still has to pay for what he caused on our planet. If he knew, he would’ve insisted on removing the punishments. Then again, does he really know?”

Andrew was silent for a solid minute before uttering his answer. “He doesn’t know. He doesn’t have to know.”

“Yes he does!” the head snapped. “Maybe then you will decide who’s really to blame. Him?” The head then turned into a replica of Andrew’s head. “…or you?”

The head then reverted back into the cab of the locomotive as the train reversed away. The faceless humans then released Gregory and Luna.

“Jesus Christ…he’s an idiot,” Gregory said as he walked up, grabbed Andrew, and hoisted him to his feet. “Hey, dumbass! Grow a pair!” He reached up and gave Andrew a firm slap.

Luna looked stunned, then she galloped up to them. However, Gregory had regained his control over dreams and he placed an impenetrable shield around him and his distraught human companion. “Stay out of this, Luna,” he ordered, “this is a human thing. I need to help him on my own.”

Andrew rubbed his cheek and looked up. “Ow! The hell took you so long? And why’d you hit me?”

“Gregory! Was that really necessary?” Luna asked with a stern voice.

“I said stay out of it!” Gregory snapped. He then turned back to Andrew. “Our dreams are being invaded by some outer source. And before you ask how I know, Luna has had a tough time seeing our dreams so I know something was keeping her out.”

“Invading? Wait…” Andrew then looked at Luna. “You said you didn’t detect any nightmares from Haven City for the past few nights right?”

Luna nodded before her eyes went wide. “I don’t think it’s just you two.” She then used her magic and a door appeared right by them. “I have to go!” She exclaimed as she flew right through it leaving the two alone.

Gregory watched her leave, then looked at Andrew. “Welp, we know this is a dream, now, so now that Luna’s pulled our asses out of the fire…” he snapped and the scene shifted. The sun vanished, and the two found themselves on a futuristic looking corridor. Both were now wearing white armor with a very familiar looking helmet and blaster in both of their hands. “...it’s time to save the princess.” He slipped the helmet on. “Huh, I really can’t see a thing in this helmet,” he chuckled.

“What the- where did this come from?” Andrew asked, looking at his armor.

Before Gregory could answer they heard the sound of a door rattling and banging followed by another. They saw Luna frantically flying from door to door trying to open them. “This isn’t possible. None of them can open now. It’s like they have all been replaced by walls.”

“Let me try,” Gregory said as he approached one of the doors and tried to use his powers to open only for him to not feel the door open at all. “Oh yeah, it’s stuck alright.”

“Do you have any access at all?” Andrew asked Luna.

“Only the dreams of whoever is within Equestrian borders. You two seem to be the only exception.”

“Except you managed to barely get in,” Andrew added.

“Listen you two,” Luna said. “I think it’s best you get back to your own dreams. Morning is coming and I believe it is best you both seek help from your friends. Besides, we should be relieved to know despite not entering their dreams I can’t sense any dark nightmares in the doors I can’t access. Oh and Gregory?”

“Yeah?”

“We need to talk before you leave.”

“Okay, I’m here,” Gregory said some hours later after he and everyone else had woken up. Despite him being able to detect the lies in his dreams, he was still exhausted. He stood in the throne room a couple of hours before he and everyone else were going to head back north to Haven City. “Whatcha wanna talk with me about, Princess?”

“Your attitude last night,” Luna explained. “Right before you went to sleep I received a letter from your family talking about how you’ve been acting since the new year and given how you acted towards Andrew I’m beginning to think they’re right to worry.”

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “You’ll get no argument from me there,” he said. “I acted like a complete asshole, regardless of the cause. I apologized to Andrew earlier and asked him to slap some sense into me if I do anything like that again. I also plan on increasing my magic meditation sessions and taking something that suppresses dreams until things are settled.”

“Gregory, you need more than that. You’re going to need to talk to someone like your counselor Trixie or at least some professional.”

Gregory nodded again. “Oh believe me, the first thing Gregory is going to do is take himself over to the Great and Powerful Trixie’s office and set up an emergency appointment. Not only that, but I’m going to train with Twilight and maybe Starlight on how to control these growing powers.” He held up his hand and a globe of water formed above his hand. Not ice. Water. And it was steaming. “This? This is new. Luna, I come from a planet with absolutely no magic. This is one small step for a man and one giant leap for mankind. I don’t know if I got magic first or if Jason did, but we were the first two. Jason has help because his magic is changeling magic. Andrew, Stacy and Robbie are getting tutored by Discord. I’m alone here. There aren’t any Windigos I can talk with about these powers.” He took in a shaky breath and exhaled. “Last night, I got lucky when I realized I was in a dream. The first dream I lost control of my magic and could have hurt someone. What happens next time? They could keep me asleep.”

“That is one of the most important things you will have to learn,” Luna said gently. “There’s this old saying me and my sister heard from Star Swirl: ‘Absolute power corrupts absolutely.’”

“Funny, humans have the exact same saying,” Gregory muttered, “but I will fight to keep my sanity and those I love safe.”

“I should hope so. For now I wish you luck. And do wish Andrew and Connie safe travels back home.”

“Will do,” Gregory said. He bowed, then turned and headed out of the throne room.

A couple hours later, the group was boarding one of the two coach cars that had been personally created for Connie. Gregory looked at the names of said cars on the side, then looked at Andrew with a smirk. “Annie? Clarabel? And they call me a nerd.”

“Wasn’t my first idea. I wanted to name them after two US Presidents, but for some reason these are actually the names of two famous jennies who were the first female rail workers in Equestria. Ironic isn’t it?”

“You kidding? I love it!” He climbed into Clarabel along with the rest of the group heading home. “I loved Thomas as a kid. Nobody could beat the OG narrator.”

“On that note we can agree, but there is something else I feel I should tell you,” Andrew said, frowning a bit.

“What is it?” Gregory asked as he took a seat, his smile fading when he felt and saw the seriousness coming from Andrew.

“The investigators found that the signal was working and the control center made sure it was red but for some reason they found that someone put green paint on the bulb.”

Gregory’s eyebrows shot up in alarm. “A deliberate attack…” he muttered. “That’s not good.”

“Yes,” Andrew continued, “and they also found evidence that the switch track was tampered with. That’s why the signal was supposed to be red.”

“Perhaps it would be prudent to have a griffin or a pegasus fly ahead at every signal to make sure things are kosher,” Gregory suggested.

“That’s another thing,” Andrew said. “We hired dragons to patrol the tracks and melt any ice on frozen tracks, but the dragons who were on that freight train claimed they did melt the ice on that switch right before passing it.”

Gregory leaned back and considered this for a bit. “Hmm…okay, so we have deliberate sabotage on the same day you and I start having these invasive nightmares. Something’s telling me this isn’t a coincidence.”

“Golden Spike says he’ll be hiring more security for both the EGR and the international railways,” Andrew explained. “I have a feeling things might get more complex. But Golden is telling me I should take some time off.”

“Yeah, you really should,” Gregory said, “and I know just how we’re gonna spend it.”

“How? Please tell me it involves Ember, Rainbow, and Twilight.”

Gregory chuckled. “You are very much not going to like part of it,” he said. “You are finally going to sit down and I am going to teach you magic meditation.”

Andrew looked back in the direction Connie was and shrugged. “Eh, I trust her enough to stop on her own. Go on, teach me some meditation.”

[Unknown Location - That Same Time]

Two figures watched the scene of two men and a princess in a crystal ball. A ram and a humanoid demonic figure. “I don’t understand the logic of this strategy,” Howard said. “Gregory’s already cracking the code of this. Have you forgotten his own new abilities?”

“I’ve studied everything about the Windigos,” Grogar said, “and I would know everything about them. I know he’s a lie detector but the more our inside men and women continue to interact the stronger they will be immune to his powers. By tomorrow, Gregory will be believing in his own demon. We can thank your friend Clark for a fine performance. Speaking of which, how are Jamie and Benson holding up?”

“We just saw Benson do his work on my traitor. He was always a fan of Yōkai demons and from what I heard from Jamie, she did quite a number on Jason already. I think it won’t be long until they both start to crack.”

“Good,” Grogar grinned. “For now we wait for their nightmares to continue to tear them down and when one of them starts losing control that’s when we’ll make our move.”

Howard nodded in agreement. “For now we continue to stir things up.”