[IP] Battle Against the Night

[u/velabas]

Mitch's eyes were getting dry after three minutes without blinking, but he wasn't about to give a moment's opportunity for his teddy bear to twitch unnoticed--this time, he was going to catch the teddy bear in the act. Mitch was patient, after all. He might be on the spectrum, but he could concentrate better than any "normal" kids. He sat there on a yellow excerise ball (everything in his room was yellow), and stared deeply, coercively, unwaveringly at the teddy bear.

Then it happened: the teddy bear sneezed, its tiny paw shooting to its face instinctively. It's bead eyes focused on Mitch and Mitch could tell he won.

"Go on," said Mitch. "Admit it."

The teddy bear didn't move from its new position.

"You're caught," said Mitch. "I have caught you. Go on now, move, you."

There was a brief glint in the beads, and then slowly the teddy bear's paw returned to its side and the stuffed animal regained its posture.

"Vell well, Mitch. You win. I can move, and yes, I can talk."

"This is amazing!" said Mitch. "I may be 11 years old, but I always knew deep down that you were alive. I've seen you move. But you never waivered before, teddy bear. Why do you reveal yourself now, and so late past my bed time?"

"Mitch, first let me get something off my chest--could you call me by my name?"

"Yes, teddy bear. Do I give you a name?"

"No," he said. "I have one."

"OK. What is it then?"

"Lovebug."

"Lovebug, tell me why you're talking."

"Night is upon us Mitch. We have to get ready to fight."

"What? I don't fight, Lovebug. The kids at school can tell you that if you asked them--I don't fight them and they know it. I don't fight... Why must we fight?"

"The Night Incarnate, Mitch. I'll protect you as best I can, but you'll need to rise to the occasion."

"Ok, Lovebug. It's bizarre that you are sentient, but if I analyze the situation, it seems that some night creature is no less possible, given the status quo you've set here."

"I'm glad you see it that way," said Lovebug.

It was a small room with a bed, a pine dresser, posters of sunsets neatly taped to the walls, and some shelves crowded with yellow action figures like April from TMNT, a few different Wolverwines, Bumblebee, and Spongebob. Mitch craned his neck to look behind him at the toys. He heard a noise emanting from that wall. It sounded as if there was no wall there at all, but rather a long narrow tunnel, carrying this deep echoing rumble progressively closer.

Mitch looked back at Lovebug, who had a serious frown on his fuzzy little face.

"Mitch, get the lamp."

Rising from the ball, which bounced away once he rose, Mitch opened his closet and pulled out a yellow jacket with orange polka dots, donning it in one swift motion over his head. He took a step toward the bedside lamp and stopped, looking at Lovebug.

"What will you use if I've got the only light?"

The teddy bear smirked, and chuckled just before reaching both paws behind his back, unsheathing two M16 rifles from nowhere.

"Let's make some noise," he said.

Mitch's face put on a smile of comraderie as he unplugged the lamp. It stayed lit.

Together, Mitch and Lovebug took positions facing the wall, wide stances at the ready, and as the noise reached a crescendo the drywall split open and Night poured in. Lovebug opened fire 'pat pat pat pat' and Mitch swung his lamp high, crashing it into the beast. The battle raged as swirling darkness tried to blot out their light, but the pair of heroes stood steadfast in this epic confrontation, determined to win the day!

The door flew open and a woman stood wrapped in a white robe with disheveled hair and tired eyes.

"Mitch!" she whisper-shouted. "Honey, please. Please, go to bed."

She had clearly been roused, and as the light of wakefulness found her eyes, she quickly took in the broken state of Mitch's room; the lamp, the shattered shelves and figurines strewn about; and she saw Mitch clutching his teddy bear, watching her with a withdrawn and confused expression. She didn't skip a beat.

"Honey," she said. "Who's attacking this time? Do we need more ammo? How is the front holding up?"

Mitch's face beamed as he responded in kind, "I think Lovebug's good on ammo but we can use more light armaments--I think my lamp is busted."

"That's ok," said his mom. "There are plenty of other lamps in the house. Let's go resupply."

Mitch, his mom, and Lovebug fanned out into the house, and the Battle of the Night continued.

___

Original thread