Deep Dream Arcadia - Berry

  Berry after a long session of decorating for the Hootenanny, deciding it was a good time for a quick power nap. Just enough sleep to have the energy for tonight’s festivities. It was her first Hootenanny after all. As Berry drifted off, she swore she heard a faint, static like voice. Berry couldn’t wait for all the fun games she’d get to play after her nap, maybe all the hype was getting to her, she was bursting with excitement. 

  Berry felt restless, jumping up from her spot, only to be greeted by a large, pink, electric being. “HELLO! SMALL BEING, WELCOME! WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN ME IN A GAME?” A voice unfamiliar, speaking to her. Berry wips around, standing before her, a giant, pink glowing….creature? 

  “Who are you? Where am I?” Berry spoke softly, shielding her eye from the bright glow. Berry sees old world objects, machines whirring, strange music playing from them. “What game are you talking about?”

  “I’M ARCADIA, YOU’RE IN MY GAME ROOM.” Arcadia leaning down closer to Berry. “YOU SEEMED TO WANT TO PLAY, SO HERE YOU ARE.” electricity crackling as Arcadia leaned down. Arcadia picks Berry up, showing the many different games, role playing, fighting, shooters, farming, and more. Berry’s eyes lit up at all the bright colors and sounds that hit her. Maybe this was the games from the old world, what the inhabitants used to play. 

  Getting excited, Berry latches onto a role playing game. “This one, I want to try this one!” Berry beamed, seeing a strange little character wearing some interesting clothing. Arcadia sat Berry down, showing how the magical game box worked. Pointing out the buttons and their functions, along with the games rules. 

  The game started out with simply talking to other characters, picking choices in dialogue, and fighting off monsters. This kind of felt like playing as one of the Graveskeepers. Arcadia joined as a companion in the game, seeming to help gather materials and fight bad guys. Berry went full hyper mode, digging into the joystick and smashing buttons. This was so much fun, Berry wanted to try another game. Running to another cabinet with characters fighting each other.

  Arcadia following right behind, joining into it. “NOW NOW, LET’S NOT GET TOO CARRIED AWAY.” Arcadia giggled at Berry’s enthusiasm, wanting to try another game so quickly. Berry pressed into the buttons, throwing combos with the strange characters she picked. Trying her hardest to win against Arcadia, but continuously getting her tail handed to her. 

  Berry pressed on, determined to get a win over Arcadia, though not doing so well. She would hit the green button, the character would punch, the blue button they would kick, the red button they would block, and the yellow button would do a middle punch. Smashing them in different sequences would cause multiple different fighting moves to be played. She kept picking different characters to try, until Berry finally settled on a pink haired character. 

  The character was fast, moved quickly, would jump high, and avoid Arcadias character’s kicks and punches. Berry kept going, hitting the combo moves, moving as fast as she could, getting so close to beating Arcadia, but always missing the timing on the blocking. Getting Berry’s character pinned into corner and unable to free them from the onslaught of combo moves. Finally Berry saw an opening, hitting a combo that grabbed Arcadia’s character, flinging them across the battle map.

  “Yes!” Berry grew excited, bouncing up and down from finally learning the timing of the moves. “I got you!”

  “NOT SO FAST, YOU HAVEN’T BEATEN ME YET!” Arcadia, squinting as if smiling. “LITTLE SPARK, I’VE PLAYED THIS MANY OF TIMES, IT’S ONLY YOUR FIRST.” she laughed as she began to pin down Berry’s character once more. Berry sweating nervously as she sees her efforts beginning to falter, smashes on the buttons once more, trying her hardest to get that win.

  “I won’t let you beat me again! I got this!” Berry called out confidently, throwing as many combos as her character could, blocking every hit, kick, and punch her character could do. Jumping out of the way, dodging as much as possible in the map. Just as both characters enter the last battle, Berry’s heart racing, one hit, two, jump, slide, kick, uppercut, slide, punch, throw, and jumping one last time. 

  Arcadia, despite being on one health, manages to over take until Berry’s character was hanging on barely. As both characters stand up, Berry’s running and throwing a punch combo, right as Arcadia’s character throws one…and then a feeling of whoozyness. “LOOK LIKE TIMES UP. TIME FOR YOU TO WAKE. NO WORRIES ON THE UNFINISHED GAME, YOU’LL BE SEEING ME AGAIN SOON!”

  Berry stirs, looking around, seeing her friends finishing the decorating, remembering where she was, feeling a bit of headache. That was some dream.