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!" Her opponent laughed, behind his black mask. "Oh, is that so? Well then, 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!" "I can defeat anyone!" Pretty Dream Fighter Kyoko exclaimed. 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 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..." 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... "...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. ===== Nightmare Fighter Yumeko Chapter 1: Waking ===== Yumeko opened her eyes. 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. 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. "...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. "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 clouds filling the sky. "Rain," she said aloud. She liked rain, for some reason. "Kobayashi!" 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." 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. "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. 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." "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!" 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?" 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?" "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. ===== "So did she go for it?" Takuya asked. Keiji sighed. "Look, we're just friends, okay, Takuya?" "Shot down again, eh?" Takuya looked sympathetic. 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. "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. "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?" "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. ===== "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. 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." "...Are you making fun of me, Kobayashi?!?" "Sir, no, sir." 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. ===== 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." "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. "...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," 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. ===== 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. 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." "...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." 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." 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." "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!" "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. "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. "...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." 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. ===== 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. "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. 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. 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!" "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. "I could get used to this." And Hiro could only stare. "Something...something is very, very wrong..." ===== "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?" "Of course, Shigin-sama." Seiji bowed his head. ===== 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..." ===== To be continued... ===== Author's Note I have two things to say to anyone who might want to continue this story. 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?') Thank you. John Evans, jevans@alum.mit.edu 11/11/99 Beware the Radish http://www.chaoseed.com/btr/