>NFY #1 Exposed! by John Evans, jevans@alum.mit.edu >Beware the Radish >http://www.chaoseed.com/btr/ >This story was written for the very first ImproFanfic Starter Sweepstakes, >along with such other notable impros as FAQing Hostile, High Stakes, To Hell >and Back, Scarlett Marquee, Reverse (which became Senshi Muyo), Final Fantasy >Legacy, Slayers Glorious and Dark Times. (Amazing, isn't it?) >The starters for this sweepstakes had to have a "One Paragraph Pitch" at the >beginning. Here's the one for NFY: >===== >One Paragraph Pitch >This is a magical girl story. But...not an ordinary one. It's about a girl >fighting evil, true. It's about romance, and valor. It's even about magic. >But most of all...it's about nightmares. >===== >This isn't included in the Beware the Radish version of NFY, but I thought >I'd preserve it here for posterity. >Now, the whole point of this story is that it starts out sounding like a >"traditional" (read: "stereotyped") magical girl story, but then something >goes wrong. Come to think of it, it's the same technique MGH #1 used... The girl twirled her scepter expertly, and posed. "Your days of attempting to conquer the Dream Realm are over, monster!" she proclaimed. "No longer shall the innocent citizens have their hopes and thoughts stolen by your evil magics!" >Notice how in these couple of lines I've imagined a Dream Realm which has >something to do with thoughts, and thus dreams, and is also a battleground >for the magical conflicts in the story. Her opponent laughed, behind his black mask. "Oh, is that so? Well then, >Most magical girl shows (most classically Sailor Moon) have a sort of "three- >tier" bad guy structure. There's the ultimate evil force at the top, then the >henchmen/generals below that, and finally the "monsters of the day" that >appear as foot soldiers. This masked guy is one of the "henchman" tier. take this!" He lashed out with a line of shadow, that blasted a hole in the street where she had been standing a moment ago. The magical girl rolled to her feet gracefully and pointed her weapon at the being. "Is that the best you can do?" she taunted. "Careful, Pretty Dream Fighter!" her magical bird called. "His power is strong!" >See, the bird is the magical girl's advisor/spirit guide. "I can defeat anyone!" Pretty Dream Fighter Kyoko exclaimed. >Fairly stereotypical magical girl title. ^_^; The opponent snorted. "Don't make me laugh. Try THIS on for size!" A ripple of blackness surged toward the Dream Fighter, and she staggered. "You...cannot defeat me...like that," she gasped. "Are you...sure?" Pretty Dream Fighter Kyoko's expression faltered. The dark warrior folded his arms and floated towards her. "You don't >Ooh, spooky! really belong here. You know that. Haven't you noticed how we treat you?" Pretty Dream Fighter Kyoko took a step backward. "...No..." "Pretty Dream Fighter!" the bird yelled. "Don't give up!" "Even your guide can tell," the warrior intoned. "You're just not up to the level of the past Dream Fighters." Blackness surged from his form, enveloping her. "You cannot win..." >His magical power is manipulating her mind, making her more depressed; thus >allowing his words to affect her mind. Or is it the other way around? >Probably some of both; the words and the magic have a synergistic effect. The magical girl clutched her head. "No...I...I..." "...Pretty Dream Fighter!" the bird called desperately. "Wake up! Fight him!" "You're not suited to fighting," the warrior hissed, as she fell to one knee. "Just...give up." Tears ran down her cheeks, and she trembled...and dropped her scepter. "...P...Pretty Dream Fighter?" the bird yelled. "No! STOP!" "You don't deserve to be a Dream Fighter," the warrior murmured. "I shall send you to Hel...and end your misery." He put his hand on her forehead, and the light vanished... >Astute readers and students of mythology will realize that "Hel" is the >traditional spelling for the Norse underworld. The "ordinary" underworld, as >opposed to Valhalla, the heroic underworld. Hel is ruled by Hela, daughter of >Loki, legendary for being half beautiful woman and half rotted flesh. (Which >half was which seems disputed...) "...Pretty...Pretty Dream Fighter! Kyoko! Kyoko, say something! Say--" The bird was cut off by a soundless shockwave. He flapped mightily to right himself, and caught a horrible glimpse of Pretty Dream Fighter Kyoko's pale face...twisting away to nothing. "...Pretty...Kyoko?...Kyoko?" The masked warrior laughed. Long, and hard. The bird stared for several long moments...and fled. >Whoops! That's not how the stereotypical script goes! >Note that we're in the bird's viewpoint for this opening scene. ===== Nightmare Fighter Yumeko Chapter 1: Waking ===== Yumeko opened her eyes. >Now we're in Yumeko's viewpoint, and we'll stay in it for most of the >chapter. >I know I didn't really describe Yumeko; I tend to gloss over that a lot when >writing. ^_^; She mostly looks like Sailor Mars, she definitely has Rei's >hair. Though its highlights are more very-dark-blue than purple. Her eyes are >different...from Rei's, somehow. I can't really describe it. She definitely >looks a bit older than Rei. If I could draw, I would...^_^; She stared at her ceiling...breathing slowly. In, and out...until her heart slowed to normal. She turned to look at the clock. After a moment, she threw back the covers, levered herself out of bed, and walked over to her desk. Opening a notebook, Yumeko found a blank page, and began to write: "Sensation of being trapped, darkness. Pain, but more despair and hopelessness. No speech or words...just feelings. Woke up agitated." She looked at what she had written. Then, putting down her pen, she flipped idly back through the pages...sometimes neat, sometimes nearly illegible, but all covered with writing. Closing the notebook, she sighed, and got up from her desk. >A dream journal, and a fairly well-used one. The implication is that Yumeko >suffers from recurring nightmares. After her morning ablutions, Yumeko walked downstairs to find her father already seated at the table. He made no indication of having seen her. She walked over to a counter, got some slices of bread, and stuck them in the toaster. More steps were heard on the stairs, and Yumeko stiffened. She turned to see her young brother, Shinichi, rubbing his eyes as he entered the dining room. "Good morning, neechan," he said, yawning. Yumeko glanced at her father, who still did not react. "Good morning, Shinichi," she said quietly. "...Would you like some breakfast?" "Hai!" He smiled at her. Yumeko looked at him for a moment, then sighed and bent down to give him a hug. "...can I have eggs?" he asked. "Of course. Now go sit down, and don't be noisy." She glanced at the toaster again, then walked to the refrigerator. >This section was inspired by a girl whom I was very close to at one point in >my life. See, her parents were divorced, and she had a younger brother who >suffered from some form of mental impairment. >But it was all just "inspiration". Other than the relationships, these >characters aren't anything like the people I knew. The father, for example, I >made up completely. ^_^; Also, Shinichi doesn't have a serious degree of >impairment; just a little bit. He also has a sort of "idiot savant" quality >that comes up in later chapters. "...Are we going to see mommy today?" Shinichi asked, getting into his seat at the table. Yumeko froze for a moment, then turned to look behind her. Her father folded his paper, got up from the table, and left the room. After a moment, she heard the front door open and close. Yumeko sighed. "No, Shinichi. Not until this weekend. You remember." "...I forgot," Shinichi said. >This quite succinctly gets across their parents being separated, and also >develops Shinichi a little more. (Okay, yes, I'm congratulating myself. ^_^;) "It's okay," she replied. "Now...eat your eggs." After seeing Shinichi safely to the care of his childishly happy little friends, Yumeko began to walk to her high school. She looked up at the gray >"little friends" is a fairly derisive term; Yumeko suffers from a certain >degree of misanthropy. ^_^; clouds filling the sky. "Rain," she said aloud. She liked rain, for some reason. >Mostly because *I* do. "Kobayashi!" >Okay, yes, I *was* thinking of the "Kobayashi Maru" ship/test/metaphor of >Star Trek fame, but it *is* a legitimate Japanese family name. ^_^; Yumeko stopped...and, after a moment, turned, knowing what she would see. Three girls stood, arms folded, grinning at her. "...Have we met?" she asked innocently. The lead girl flushed angrily. "Sakurobi Seiko! As if you didn't know!" "Oh, Seiko-chan," Yumeko said loftily. "How are you today?" Seiko stepped forward, eyes blazing. "I'm not going to forgive you for what happened last week." >Funny thing, but I never really figured out what happened to set off Seiko... Yumeko stood, and studied her for a moment. Then, she dropped her bag to the ground, and slid gently into a fighting stance. Her three opponents did the same. Seiko lunged forward which a punch, which Yumeko easily dodged, then followed with quick combination of palm strikes that Yumeko had to block. She grinned and attempted a high kick, but Yumeko ducked in a leg sweep, sending her sprawling awkwardly. An instant later Yumeko sprang to her left, elbow sinking into the gut of the girl attempting to outflank her. She sprang back and got all three in her sights again. >Whee, I love fight scenes! Yumeko is something of a martial arts genius, >she's so good... "I can't believe you wear blue panties," she commented. "That's so...so *feminine*." Seiko's face twisted in rage and she sprang up again with a wild swing, which connected...bouncing off Yumeko's stomach with a thump. The instant of surprise was all it took for Yumeko to wrap her arms around her opponent and start to squeeze. Seiko coughed. "Tatako!" she managed, and the third girl leaped forward, then suddenly staggered and hit the ground hard. Yumeko grinned at the girl with short blond hair who had hit Tatako, and she grinned back and gave a victory sign. Yumeko gave Seiko one last squeeze, and then tossed her to the ground...and she didn't get up. >Tatako is one of Seiko's girl flunkies. The other one never got named. Yumeko pushed her long black hair back from her face. "I hope you learn your lesson this time, bitch." Then she turned and smiled at the other girl. "Morning, Misako." "Morning, Yumeko-san!" Misako raised her hand, and the girls exchanged a high five. Misako beamed. "You were looking great today. I think you could have taken on all three without my help." >One of the big influences for this chapter was Kimagure Orange Road (KOR). >In the first few episodes, Madoka is this really outcast delinquent >troublemaker type. Hikaru is her childhood friend who kind of straddles the >social fence between helping Madoka fight and being a normal (somewhat >airheaded) socialized girl. Also, Madoka has black hair, and Hikari blond/ >light brown. >Misako, of course, is smarter than Hikaru. ^_^; >Actually, now that I think about it, the "high five" might have come from a >specific Sailor Moon scene where Usagi and Naru (Serena and Molly) meet in >front of school and high-five each other. (The "Princess Seminar" episode.) "You!" The girls looked back to see a high school guy helping Seiko to her feet. He looked hate at them. "I'm Sakurobi Seiji, and you'll pay for treating my sister like this!" >I got most of my names from watching the credits of anime. Poor Horibuchi >Seiji, I used his name for all my villains...(see also Dark Times) Yumeko stretched. "Anytime, pal. Anytime." She twisted her head, working a crick out of her neck. "Somehow, mornings like this always make me feel better," she said. She tossed one last glance at the siblings, then turned and walked toward the school. ===== Yumeko slid into her seat with a sigh, and rubbed her stomach with a wince. Misako, in the seat in front of her, looked at her with concern. "Yumeko-san? Are you okay?" "She had a pretty good punch," Yumeko replied. "No matter how hard your muscles are, that hurts." "...Yumeko? Are you all right?" Yumeko looked up. "Oh, Keiji. Yes, I'm fine." Keiji looked at her. He had short brown hair, and his dark eyes were worried. "You were in a fight again, weren't you?" Yumeko looked out the window. "So what if I was?" >And this guy is sort of almost Kyosuke (KOR). Without any psychic powers or >anything, of course. ^_^ >All three are childhood friends (unlike the three from KOR). Keiji sighed. "Well...it's dangerous. I keep feeling like someday you're going to get *really* hurt." Yumeko turned back...and smiled. "Oh, don't worry, Keiji. I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself." Keiji smiled back, a little. "Oh...I just remembered. Tomorrow there's going to be a showing of the End of Eva movie again, at the Shiroza Theater. Didn't you say you missed it the first time around?" >End of Evangelion, of course. I can't remember where I got the name "Shiroza" >from. It might actually be a real theater... "Oh...oh, yeah!" Yumeko said. "Sure, that'd be cool. You want to come along, Misako?" Misako's eyes flashed back and forth between Keiji and Yumeko, for just a moment. "Sure, it sounds like fun." "Okay." Yumeko smiled at Keiji. "Thanks." "No problem." Keiji smiled again, then bowed. "Well, it's almost time for class, so I will leave you ladies." He walked back to his seat. Yumeko laughed. Misako looked at her for a moment, a bit furtively. Then she smiled. "Ne...Yumeko-san. It sounded to me like he just asked you out." "...What? Nah, not Keiji. We're--" "I know, I know, childhood friends. You always say that." Misako giggled. "Well...it *happens* to be true." Yumeko frowned. "Oh, don't look so serious, Yumeko-san!" Misako smiled brightly. "I was only teasing you." "Yeah, whatever," Yumeko muttered. She looked over at Keiji for a moment...then shook her head, not noticing Misako watching her gaze. >Misako, of course, understands Keiji and Yumeko better than they themselves >do. She knows Keiji wanted to ask Yumeko out on a date. She also has her own >plans for Keiji. ===== >Actually, this scene is more like Takuya's viewpoint, but it's quite short. "So did she go for it?" Takuya asked. Keiji sighed. "Look, we're just friends, okay, Takuya?" "Shot down again, eh?" Takuya looked sympathetic. >Takuya's cool. He has sort of a resemblance to Takeshi from HHH, but is less >dorky. ^_^; Keiji stared at him. "Takuya...I'm getting tired of your little comments." "Okay, okay. Whatever you say." Takuya raised his hands, and Keiji turned back. [...poor guy,] he thought to himself. >The brackets to denote internal thoughts, like some stories use italics. Of >course, since this is plain text, we don't have a specific format for >italics... "Now, class...I have some news before we start," Horikawa-sensei said. The students quieted down. "It seems that miss Miyamae Kyoko has moved away, and will not be attending school here any more." Murmurs. "Unfortunately this was rather sudden, so we didn't get to say goodbye to her...but we hope for the best for her. Now, open your English textbooks." There was a general noise as books came out. >Now, Kyoko was the Pretty Dream Fighter Kyoko that got "vanished" in the >opening scene. "Keiji...didn't you go out with her once?" Takuya whispered. "Yeah, but only once," Keiji murmured back. "We didn't really hit it off. I told you about that. ...I think Hiro was dating her, wasn't he?" >Funny, but this plot point never came up again, the fact that Keiji and >Kyoko went out... "Yeah, that's what I heard." They turned to look at the white-haired student a couple rows ahead of them. He seemed to be staring straight ahead at the blackboard. >Hiro is the bird from the opening scene. But more on him later. ===== "All right, now wait until class is over to discuss your test grades," Horikawa-sensei said, passing back the exams. "Please! No talking!" Misako took her test and passed the rest back to Yumeko, giving her a grin and mouthing 'Thank you' as she did. Yumeko caught a glimpse of Misako's test and winked; her grade was an 85. [All that studying we did really helped her, I guess,] she thought. Yumeko took her test and quickly flipped it over, handing the rest behind her without looking. After the student took them from her, she peeked at the corner of her paper. 93. Yumeko sighed. [How can I be a delinquent with grades like this?] she thought sardonically. >Yumeko is very intelligent; it's one of the reasons she doesn't fit in. >Schoolwork is quite easy for her. Class ended, and students began to file out. And then Horikawa-sensei walked over to their desk. "Kobayashi-san," she said, eyes stern, "the principal would like a word with you." "...I'm not surprised," she muttered. ===== "How can you be a delinquent with grades like this?" Masuda, the principal, yelled. Yumeko had a not unjustified feeling of deja vu. "People keep picking on me," she said. The principal snorted. "All three of them went to the nurse's office before school started. And Horikawa-sensei said you 'held your stomach a little'. Who's picking on who?" "They attacked me first," she said flatly. "I don't beat people up without a reason." "But you seem to have so *many* reasons." Masuda glared at her, then sagged in his chair. "Look...Kobayashi. Yumeko." He rubbed his forehead. "You have so much potential. These exams prove it." He waved some papers. "But you're throwing it all away with this disciplinary report." He waved an overstuffed folder. "Family problems, sir," Yumeko said. "Personality problems. Inadequate recreational medication." >I used that line for my signature for a long time. Just because I liked its >rhythm. ^_^; "...Are you making fun of me, Kobayashi?!?" "Sir, no, sir." >Yumeko channels Full Metal Jacket for a moment. Masuda glared...then waved his hand. "Go." "...Sir?" "Go. Just...get out of here. I don't feel like talking to you anymore." Yumeko blinked...then gathered her things and rose uncertainly to her feet. "...Take care, sir." He just looked at her...so she left. ===== >And this scene is from Keiji's viewpoint... Keiji opened the door, and looked warily around the room. A few surly- looking patrons returned his glance without interest. Many more didn't even react. He walked slowly toward the bar...and the girl sitting on a stool. "...Do you know what it all means, Tsugi?" Yumeko said, her speech almost slurred. Tsugi wiped at a glass with a rag. He had long, scraggly brown hair, and a red eyepatch over his left eye. For some reason, he looked to Keiji to be too young to be a bartender. His one eye flicked to Keiji, then back to Yumeko. "Yes, I do." >"Tsugi" = "patch". More on him later. "What?" Yumeko took another sip from her drink. "It would take too long to explain." Yumeko laughed. "That's the wisest thing I've ever heard." She drained her glass. "Another." The bartender took her glass, and Keiji walked up to sit beside her. "Yumeko," he said softly. Yumeko focused on Keiji. "Oh...hi there. Keiji." She smiled. "Have you met...Tsugi? He's cool. Tsugi...this is Keiji. I guy I knew since I was... small." She giggled. "Keiji, this is Tsugi, Red Eye bartender, and fount of wisdom." Tsugi nodded at Keiji as he replaced his drink. >It's called Red Eye because Tsugi has only one eye, of course, and because >eyes become red after drinking or getting stoned, and...y'know, like that. "...Yumeko, you shouldn't be here," Keiji said, staring at Tsugi. "...Why not? Tsugi likes me." Tsugi nodded. "See?" She giggled again. "Because...it's not a healthy place." Keiji suddenly ducked reflexively as something flapped over his head, then stared as a black bird settled on Tsugi's right shoulder. "...and that's Shisaku. ...Or is it Kioku?" >"Shisaku" = "thought", "Kioku" = "memory". "Shisaku," Tsugi said. "I'll be damned if I know how you tell them apart, Tsugi." Yumeko smiled. "...But I may be damned already." Her expression turned oddly thoughtful. "Yumeko...come on." Keiji took her arm, but she pulled it away. "Don't wanna." "Yumeko..." "Don't make me get mad!" Yumeko snapped. She aimed a punch at Keiji, and fell off her bar stool. "...Yumeko?!?" Keiji helped Yumeko to her feet. Her face was pale. "...when I can't fight properly...it's time to quit," she said. "...That's it for tonight, Tsugi." "No problem," Tsugi said. "See you later, Yumeko." Yumeko smiled wobbily at him. "Yeah, see you later." Keiji gave him one last glare, and led Yumeko to the door. Tsugi watched them go, wiping a glass with a rag. >It's probably illegal for Yumeko to be drinking, of course, but Madoka did it >all the time. ===== >Now we fast forward to the end of End of Evangelion, the movie everyone was >going to see. >Back to Yumeko's viewpoint, basically. ^_^; Misako bounced out of the theater. "Wow! That was cool!" "...It was a bit...gory," Keiji said. "Nah, that fit with the story," Yumeko said. She looked up and smiled at the dark clouds. "Are you feeling better, Yumeko-san?" Misako asked. "Yeah. When I get hung over, it's always bright light that bothers me the most anyway," she said offhandedly. Keiji stumbled. "Uh...Yumeko..." Yumeko smiled innocently. "Was there something, Keiji-san?" Keiji sighed, and Misako giggled. Then her eyes lit up. "Hey! A manga store! I want to see if there's any new KOR stuff." She ran over. >This should be obvious by now. ^_^; Yumeko and Keiji followed at a more leisurely pace. "So...what did you think of it?" Keiji asked. Yumeko pushed back her hair from her face. "Well...I liked it. I love all that stuff about how people are never really connected with each other. You know, that's why the TV ending sucked, because it was all happy and accepting and stuff." >This is one possible interpretation of the Evangelion TV series and movie. >(To be honest, there are MANY possible interpretations. ^_^; ) Yumeko has a >fairly bleak outlook on social interaction. "...I...see," Keiji said. "So what did you think?" Yumeko asked. Keiji smiled weakly. "I never really got into the TV episodes. It was kinda...incomprehensible." Yumeko laughed. "I think it is, even if you *have* seen everything." "Kobayashi-san!" Yumeko blinked, and looked forward to see a boy with white hair standing in front of her. He had...an intense expression on his face. "...Takeda-san, wasn't it?" she asked. "Takeda Hiro?" "That's right. Please, I need to talk to you." Yumeko blinked again. "...Well, all right. Go ahead." Hiro looked around, in...a furtive manner. "Alone." Yumeko and Keiji exchanged bewildered looks. "Uh...about what?" she asked. "Not here!" he hissed. "Please! It's very important!" "Uh...Yumeko," Keiji began. "All right," Yumeko said. Keiji stared at her. She gave him a wink. "Hey, I can take care of myself, remember?" She folded her arms and looked at Hiro. "So...lead on." Hiro nodded, and walked off toward an alley. "...Yumeko!" Keiji called. "Don't worry, don't worry!" Yumeko grinned at him...then disappeared from view. Keiji looked after her for a moment...and then turned, shaking his head. ===== "All right, so what's the big deal?" Hiro led them to a spot where no people could be seen. He then looked around, checking each exit and hiding place for listeners. Yumeko couldn't decide whether to be amused or just bewildered. Finally, he seemed satisfied, and turned to face her. "You are the destined wielder of the Dream Powers, and guardian of the Dream Realm; you must protect it from the evil Loki Cult who would sap its strength to resurrect their dark master and rule the world through the power of evil dreams." >Loki is a contradictory figure in Norse myth, arguably the most contradictory >figure in all of mythology. Certainly in many stories he acts as a villain. >He's a cunning trickster who fools and manipulates people. >This is also a parody of various magical girl rationale speeches. ^_^; Yumeko blinked. Quite a few responses flitted through her mind, but she settled on a simple one. "What the HELL are you talking about?" "Please, you must listen!" Hiro cried. "All right, fine, I'm listening!" Yumeko yelled back. "Say something that makes sense!" "You're destined to become a magical girl and help defend the Dream Realm!" "A *magical girl*? Oh, come on, that's the most--" "Do you remember Kyoko?" he said flatly. Yumeko stared. "...uh...Miyamae Kyoko?" "Yes." "...uh...I didn't know her. Actually, I kind of thought she was too... how do I put this...cutesy? Wait, weren't you dating her before she moved away?" Hiro winced. "I was her spirit guide, as I am destined to be yours." "Hey, I don't need a boyfriend." "Will you SHUT UP!" Yumeko stared, mouth open. "Kyoko was sent to the realm of Hel!" Hiro choked out. "...you mean...she's dead?" Hiro was silent. "I...don't know. ...The only thing I know is that those who are sent to Hel never, ever come back." >This keeps it a gray area (literally) so, well, maybe she might come back >sometime... Yumeko was silent for a moment. "...so...you mean...she was the magical girl, and got...uh...defeated?" "Exactly." Yumeko eyed Hiro. "And so you need me?" "Yes." Yumeko frowned. "Well...assuming I believe you...why me?" "Because you're attuned to the realm of dreams." "Attuned? To the--" Yumeko broke off. Pages, in a notebook... "I can sense it," Hiro continued. "It's part of my power as the guide to the Dream Realm. You have the power..." "Wait," Yumeko said. "Now just...I don't think I'm the one you want." >Key point here: Yumeko is attuned to the realm of dreams, and this power >expresses itself through recurrent nightmares. (I guess that's really the >explanation I'm leaning toward rather than "Yumeko's recurrent nightmares >put her in tune with the Dream Realm". Oh, well.) >Yumeko, of course, knows how prone to nightmares she is, so she knows she >wouldn't be suitable as a magical girl. The irony is that the darkness in her >soul gives her an incredible power. "You're the only one I could find!" Hiro yelled. Yumeko was shocked at the look in his eyes. "You're the only one with the power, the gift!" >Hiro is nearing the end of his rope. Oddly enough, however, he finds another >magical girl by the end of the next chapter. But #2 has several problems with >it, in hindsight. ^_^; "But I--" There was a scream. Both looked toward the mouth of the alley. "...Oh, no," Hiro said. "Not yet..." "What..." "The Loki Cult." Hiro put his hands before him in what was probably a magical gesture, and a glow began to build. "Attacking to sap the dreams of humans for their master." The glow brightened and faded, and he was holding an ornate scepter. "Here! Take the Dream Scepter!" Yumeko stood stock still as it was forced into her hands. "But I--" "Please!" Yumeko heard another scream...a chill clenched her stomach. That had sounded like Misako. >Not much really came out of this plot point either. It was forgotten. ^_^; >Come to think of it, I don't really know what happened to cause these >screams... "But..." "Please! You're the only one..." Hiro looked like he was about to cry. "This is insane," Yumeko said. "I know...I know it seems that way. But I'll explain it all, I promise. When there's time. Just...now, you must transform." Yumeko looked at the scepter. It was made of a silvery metal, which was strangely light. On the more ornate end were set two gems...one milky white, the other opaque black. >I keep thinking of Xur's staff from The Last Starfighter...notice the duality >of the gems, of course; THEY know about the different sides to the dreams. "...transform?" she said weakly. "Yes." Hiro peered at her closely. "Can you sense the power? You should be able to..." "I--" And then she felt it. Tearing, violent...dark and angry... Hiro blinked. "...Yumeko?" Yumeko doubled over. "...I..." Hiro's eyes widened. "...No!" Hiro yelled. "That's the nightmare side of the Dream Realm!" Yumeko gasped at the sensation, and fell to her knees. ...And then someone--or something--entered the alley. Hiro fell back. An evil chuckle echoed. "Well, well. Find yourself another sacrificial virgin, Hiro?" Yumeko looked up at the being. It was humanoid, dressed in a loose- fitting black shirt and pants, and wore a demonic black mask. She felt a nightmarish feeling emanating from it. The demon laughed. "So weak, so pure, these girls you find. I shall enjoy this." He raised a hand, and darkness washed forward. Choking and constricting her. She was trapped, suffocating... Yumeko struggled...and realized that the dark feeling coming from the evil thing was different from the power radiating from the scepter. She focused, concentrating on the metal in her hand...and power surged up inside her. Power and feeling... She got to her feet...slowly. "At least let me transform," she said. "A fighting chance and all." >Yumeko is sort of playing on the villain's ego to buy time, because she knows >she's felt *something* and desperately wants some time to figure it out. The masked thing laughed. "How amusing! But I'm feeling generous. Go on, it shall make no difference." He folded his arms. Yumeko gripped the scepter tightly...then raised it to the air. The power flowed...surrounding her, filling her...and the words came through. "Let the dream begin...let the power commence! My power, by right and birth, the power of the Dream Realm!" The words echoed, and exploded. Darkness flared around Yumeko. She slipped into the comforting warm dark and it caressed her, soothed her, surrounded her...and energized her. Her eyes flew open. ===== >Now we switch from Yumeko's viewpoint to Hiro's, where this scene mirrors the >opening scene. Hiro gaped. Yumeko's casual clothes had disappeared. Which was not really surprising. What *was* surprising what had replaced them. A low-cut black gown clung to Yumeko's body, strapless, leaving her shoulders bare. The sparkling material flared out slightly at her thighs, the hem at her knees slowly moving in a soft breeze. Black high heels, black leather gloves and a silver crown with a black stone in the center completed the ensemble. >I don't quite know where I got this outfit from...the only real point is that >it's definitely more adult than a sailor suit. ^_^; "You may call me...Nightmare Fighter," Yumeko said. And she smiled. The masked demon drew back a step. Yumeko took a step forward, and it stepped back again, then resolutely held its ground. Yumeko raised her scepter...her smile sending chills down Hiro's spine. Almost involuntarily Hiro shifted to the form of a bird and alighted on a fire escape above the two. Neither took any notice. "...I can sense you," Yumeko said. "...What?" The demon sounded... "I can sense...your fear." She licked her lips. "...I fear nothing!" The demon stepped forward again. "Now...you shall feel the power of my nightmare!" A black wave flashed forward and surged over Yumeko, enveloping her. "...Dream Fighter!" Hiro started to call, but his heart hit his throat. >"Dream Fighter" is sort of a generic name for these girls Hiro finds. They >all sort of evolve a more individual name, like Pretty Dream Fighter Kyoko, >or Nightmare Fighter Yumeko... >...the whole point of which being that Yumkeko doesn't really *fight* >nightmares--well, she does, but the whole point of her name is that she >*uses* the power of nightmares as her *weapon*. She has also spent her entire >life being subjected to nightmares, which has toughened her, as we see in the >next paragraph. Yumeko became visible in the darkness...still smiling. "Is that all?" she asked. "I've had worse. Much worse." She waved her scepter and a tentacle of darkness flew through the air and impaled the being in the chest. >I have this thing about whips, I can't quite figure it out. Anything that >moves like that trips some sort of switch in my brain. Like Bionic Commando, >the old NES game. The main character had a bionic arm that he could use to >grab things, latch onto platforms and pull himself up, swing along like >Tarzan...it was absolutely incredible. I loved it. And I don't know why. ^_^; The masked thing fell to its knees, gasping. "I know you." Yumeko took a step forward. "A bully, like so many I've met. Your greatest fear is that you'll be defeated. That you'll learn you're not worth anything." She shifted her grip, and the tentacle slipped up to wrap around the thing's neck. "Am I right?" "No!" the thing choked. "Mmmmm...somehow, I don't believe you." Yumeko smiled one last time... then her eyes blazed. "Now, time for your nightmare to come true." The tentacle slashed upward, then down again, cracking against the demon's body. It jerked and cried, and she brought her scepter down again, lashing the thing with fear and darkness. Again and again she whipped it, until finally it sank to the ground, whimpering. Yumeko cocked her head, as if listening to something, and then looked back down. "And now...your power is gone." She held the scepter horizontal in front of her, and a dark aura built around her. "Power...power of the dream realm, close the pathways, deny the strength! Remove your favor from this unclean one!" >She's sort of listening to her intuition about her powers, or something. And >she's going to cut off the source of magical energy so the demon's powers >wither like an uprooted weed. "No!" The demon scrabbled backward. "Shigin-sama! Help me!" A doorway into blackness rent itself in space, and the thing hurtled through. As it closed, Yumeko exhaled. She lowered the scepter...and smiled. She twisted her head, and rubbed her neck. >Shigin, well, she's the head villainess; more on her in a moment. "I could get used to this." >Yumeko is enjoying her power; either that or finally being able to express >her darkest emotions in a productive (?) manner... And Hiro could only stare. "Something...something is very, very wrong..." >I might have had an issue of Marvel's "What If" comic here, where Ghost Rider >is corrupted by Mephisto (Marvel's "devil" figure)...long story... ===== "A new Dream Fighter, you say?" The figure bowed. "Y-yes...Shigin-sama. She...used the power of nightmares. Like we do. I...I could not..." Shigin waved her hand. "Silence." She tapped her chin. "In retrospect...you were not prepared for this confrontation. It is only understandable that you failed." She stood up from her throne, and gazed at the statue of the man and the snake. "For Loki-sama, we must learn to defeat this new enemy, and not fail next time." Her gaze fell once again on the figure in front of her. "So...if I give you another chance...will you be prepared?" >Now "Shigin" is actually "Sigyn", the wife of Loki. For his crimes, Loki was >bound beneath the earth, a snake set to drip poison onto him. Sigyn held a >bowl over him to catch the venom, but every now and then she had to empty the >bowl and the poison was let fall. At this point Loki would thrash and scream, >his motions causing the very earth to quake and shift. >Soooooo, all of this is maybe a metaphor, and there's some way for the cult >to free Loki and loose him upon the world. >This begs the question; Is Shigin really *that* Sigyn? I don't really know, >and perhaps it doesn't matter (at least not at this point in the story). >Oh, and the man-and-snake statue came from an episode of Key the Metal Idol. "Of course, Shigin-sama." Seiji bowed his head. >...and it turns out that Seiji is the one who attacked Yumeko; and, in fact, >disposed of Kyoko in the opening scene! ===== Tsugi put his last glass away, and wiped the counter. A bird flew down from the rafters and perched on his shoulder, cawing. He cocked his head. "Yes, perhaps, Shisaku," he said. "She might be the one." A second bird flew down to land on his other shoulder. It murmured. "A long time, indeed, Kioku," he said. "Too long, I would say. But necessary." The first bird croaked twice, and the second answered. "Yes, more suitable than any other we've seen in...a long time." Tsugi held up his glass and peered through it. "The world needs a new Dark Guardian..." >There is one more Norse god important here. Everyone knows Thor, but he's so >straightforward that I personally think he's kind of boring. ^_^; No, I'm >talking about Odin, father of Thor and blood brother of Loki, patriarch of >the gods. Odin is also a strange and contradictory god, known for trickery, >warmaking and dark secrets. He traded one of his eyes for a drink from the >legendary well of wisdom; he hung himself on Yggdrassil, the World Tree, >his body pierced by spears, for nine days; in a shamanistic vision quest. >(That was the same way sacrifices were offered to him, hung from a gallows >with their bodies speared. He sacrificed himself to himself!) At the end of >this ordeal he looked down and saw the twigs fallen from Yggdrassil forming >themselves into magical runes, which he studied and brought to the rest of >the world. He also had two ravens, Huginn and Muninn ("thought" and "memory") >that searched out secrets and brought them back to him. >Now...is Tsugi Odin? Wellllll...Subsequent chapters would seem to say "No", >but the final verdict is not in yet. I think it's safe to say, though, that >Tsugi wields whatever portion of Odin's power is still extant. >And the Dark Guardian? I think I'll hold off on explaining that for a while. >Suffice it to say that Tsugi is the current one, and is looking to retire... >(Unless, of course, a subsequent author wants to write the story a different >way, and comes up with a good alternate explanation...I can think of one >myself easily enough...^_^) ===== To be continued... ===== Author's Note I have two things to say to anyone who might want to continue this story. >Remember that this was written for a starter sweepstakes. It didn't win, but >oh well. ^_^; First: I tried to make the characters complex. Please try as best you can to keep the characterizations consistent. And second: If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. Especially if you had any problems with the Norse mythology stuff. (This definitely applies to anyone saying 'What Norse mythology stuff?') >I believe this should be clear by now. ^_- Thank you. John Evans, jevans@datablast.net 11/11/99 >Old email address, do not use. See the beginning of this file for updated >addresses. Beware the Radish http://btradish.tripod.com/ >Old web address, do not use. See the beginning of this file. ^_^; >That's it for that one, then. >12/3/03