Chapter one – The Color of the Unforgiving Earth
The turf beneath my feet shot out in clumps. Tumbling to the ground my head snaps against the white line sprayed into the gray soccer field. Black dots spot in my vision, but I don't have time to pay attention to that. Pushing off of raw hands covered in Band-Aids I stumble towards the chain link fence. In the corner of my vision something black flickers. Twisting to the side I stumble back as a black tendril shoots by.
Moving so fast that it blurs it explodes into the fence. Wires and dirt fire into the air with a loud screech. A strangled yell escapes my mouth and I fall backwards to the ground for the second time today. The long black tendril retracts overhead and a strangled scream shakes the ground. My legs shake too much to stand. My heart rams in my chest and even though I'm gasping for air I feel as if I'm not getting any. My head slowly turns to see doom incarnate walking towards me.
Its main body is crudely drawn and looks like it's been outlined in crayon. Arms, too long, dangle at its sides gouging long symmetrical lines into the soccer field. Its feet are pointed outward as shambling steps brings it closer and closer to me. The legs are just lines drawn in the same crude crayon. Dragging my gaze upward the head, no head is too kind of a description, swivels in every direction. Black holes where the eyes should be give no sign of intelligence and continue to gaze at everything. In kindergarten when you're asked to draw someone and in your little kid hands you take a crayon and try your best to draw but the results looking like crude caricatures of the real thing. That's what this was. A large scaled picture of someone's mom or sister or aunt or teacher come to life. I have no time to think about it anymore and debate what exactly it was or how it came to life and why was it here and- the thing is getting closer.
Why was this happening? What being did I piss off that wanted me dead? I mean, today was like every other day wasn't it?
Peeking out of the door of my dorm I survey the hallway. No chattering of girls and no flocks of people blocking the stairs. Ducking back into the small one bed room I grab my backpack and hoist it over my shoulder. It was heavier than usual carrying more than my multiple journals and textbooks. Creeping out of the room and into the cream hallway I grasp the bronze knob and close the door with a quiet click. Clenching my teeth at how loud it sounded, as everything sounds louder in a quiet room, I creep further into the middle of the hall.
Walking toes first I slink towards the stairs every two seconds looking behind me. Brushing brown hair out of my eyes I peek one last time over my shoulder to the unnaturally quiet hall and head down the stairs. The wood shines beneath my worn sneakers looking new compared to the worn wallpaper on the wall. Sylvia must have been shining them again. Turning the corner and heading down the next flight of stairs my grip tightens on the worn railing. Going out before breakfast was prohibited unless you had permission. I did not have permission and was sneaking out anyways. Stopping short at the mouth of the stairs I peer around the corner. The stairs open to the main hallway which in turn leads to pathway to school if you go left, if you go right you end up at the shops.
The main doors reveal the hazy dawn that's beginning to show. Fog covers the ground and obscures the main school buildings. Usually the dorm master Sylvia would be standing at the double glass doors and would be on guard for anyone. Today she wasn't there meaning I was in the clear-
"-to do whatever you want don't you." A yell lodges in my throat. Spinning and slamming my back to the wall I lock gazes with the Master herself. Bags are beneath her bright brown eyes standing stark against her pale skin. Her thin mouth is upturned in a frown. "Well, answer me Merle." She snaps her hands shooting to her sides. For a girl that looks like a strong breeze could blow her over she can be very intimidating. In her left fist is lodged a yellow card. I barely suppress a groan.
She stamps her tiny foot impatiently on the carpet the action not making a sound. Raising a thin curved eyebrow she repeats the question. I choose to stay quiet and let the grip on my bag go slack. Gradually letting the bag fall to the ground and slip out of my grasp I give a sigh. "I believe the rule is dumb." I finally answer pointedly looking away. She gives a sigh and stops the stupid action of stamping her foot on the ground like a child.
"Merle… the rule is there for a reason." She puts her shaking head in her hand. Dragging her hand across her face she lets out a groan. "This is what, the third time this month?" Aggression seeps into her words. If I was her I would be tired, it was around five a.m, but she didn't sound tired at all.
"Yeah," I find the wallpaper infinitely more fascinating than having to look at Sylvia who is going to bite my head off.
"What is so important that you have to sneak off of grounds? That you can't do in the afternoon?" The fact that this school is too small and has too many people to do what I want. I choose to take the silent route again. A sharp clap makes me jump against the wall. Again. "Look at me when I am talking to you." It's not a request. Running a hand through my thick brown hair I give a sigh. "Students are not allowed out before breakfast unless they have permission." She takes a large gulp of air pushing her tiny chest out "and the way you keep slinking around proves to me that you do not have permission and thus get another yellow card." She holds the piss yellow paper towards me. Without a sound I pull it out of her grasp and shove into my pants pocket.
"And since you have now four yellow cards that means you either have to take one tutorial or detention to get a new blank slate." I don't suppress the next groan and give her a sharp glare. She is unfazed. Her lips form a thin line and her brown eyes narrow. "Perhaps if you would follow the rules you wouldn't have to take precious time from whatever you're doing to go to detention." Bending over I pick up my bag and turn away from Sylvia. Climbing back up the stairs my nails dig into the wood railing. My jaw clenches till my teeth hurt. The rules were stupid and meant to prevent something that hadn't happened in years.
Turning the sharp corner I climb up the stairs and march towards my room. Swinging the door open with a satisfying crack I throw my bag to the floor. The door swings back clicking shut with a small click. Freezing for a second, I sigh through my nose and clutch at my head with bandaged fingers. Rubbing at my temples I let the aggression seep out of my body and into this cursed dorm. It wasn't my fault that this school had outdated rules that inhibited me and certainty wasn't Sylvia's fault that she had to play the devil in the dorm.
My body goes slack. Hands dropping to my sides I fall forward onto my bed. It gives a nice thump. 'Exude love and understanding and you will draw it in Merle.' My mother would always chant running her hands through my hair and give a small hum. I smile at the other dorm members what more could I give? Pushing myself up from the bed and my pity party I kick off my shoes. Sliding underneath the kitten covered covers and drawing them up to my nose I give another sigh. Two hours and then school starts, might as well get some sleep.
The chittering of school girls is annoying. Sinking lower into my seat I jab at my breakfast with a ferocity that shouldn't be used on unoffending pancakes. Running the food through syrup I gaze out the large windows of the room. The fog from earlier had dissipated, as it always does, and the school grounds are now clear. Girls run across the campus holding sports equipment each in matching red uniforms. The soccer team? Not sure. The large rectangle building that is the main school building sits further away the windows shining iridescently reflecting the early morning light.
My stomach grumbles drawing my attention back to my food. No skipping breakfast- that was a rule, but one of my own. Shoving the gooey pancakes in my mouth the chattering envelops me. Out of the corner of my eye I see some girls grinning and swaying together on another table. They're happy and laughing. One of them looks my way her blue eyes glittering. A smile stretches on her face and I smile back. I can feel syrup dripping from my lips and quickly turn back to looking at my plate. The smile is stuck on my face, but it doesn't feel real.
Finishing up breakfast quickly I get up from my table and place the plate in the trash. At the beginning of the year we were told to bring our own cutlery that we'd be in charge of, but I found that too much of a hassle and bought a bunch of plastic ware. Stepping out of the cafeteria I sling my backpack over my shoulder and head towards the main building. My bag thumps against my thighs considerably lighter than it was this morning. My sneakers squeak against the stone pathway. Each stone looks as if someone randomly stuck them down and hoped for the best. The pathway stretches across all of campus ending at the main building.
Many other girls pass me looking ready for the day. I too looked ready for the day, two hours ago. Now I felt drained and wanted to skip class and go sleep somewhere. It was an impossible dream, but one that I frequently dreamt. Finally making into the building I cut across the main hall and towards the stairs. Most of my classes were upstairs today the last one on the bottom floor. Today was a b day meaning I had Spanish, Calculus, Psychology, and Robotics. A blissful grin slips on my face and I enter my first class of the day. The day will move on quickly, I repeat the mantra in my head. Sliding into a seat in the back I reach into my backpack and pull out one of many journals. Flipping to the last page I shift the journal to the edge of my desk and wait patiently for the class to begin.
The day had passed in a blur of notes and answering questions. Despite sitting in the back of all my classes I was always asked to answer a question at least once a class. Shuffling without energy back to the dorm I feel something grasp me. My body tenses as the hand tightens on my shoulder. I hold back a scream as I'm spun around. Stumbling back I look down to meet the burning eyes of Sylvia. She's got her tiny pale hand clasped around my shoulder. With a sly grin she pulls me down. If I ever had an opposite it was Sylvia. Where she was tiny I wasn't, where she was short I was tall, where she was pale I was dark skinned, where she could follow the rules I couldn't. "Hey Merle, where are you going? You have four yellow cards."
What was sad was that Sylvia was the only student I had ever talked to. Through my rule breaking we would have our quips and short conversations, but that was the extent of any one I'd talked to. I clear my throat and avoid looking at her directly. "Rules say I have all week to do it," I remember that little tidbit from one of our many arguments.
She purses her lips and let's go of my shoulder. I stand straighter and fix my vest with a small tug. She gives a small cough into her hand and looks away. "An-Anyways…" A faint blush rises onto her pale face. "Make sure to go to tutorials or detention to get rid of the cards." I give a nod and turn away from her. Feeling drained even more I somehow find the energy to make it back to my dorm. Trudging up the stairs I pass another gaggle of girls who are in matching uniforms. They run down the stairs clutching pompoms to their chests. The red and white skirt bounces over their thighs revealing a nice portion of skin. Averting my gaze I make it up to my dorm.
Everyone had so much energy. How did they have so much energy? Pulling open my door I close it softly behind me. Crossing the small rugged room I set my bag down by the bed frame. Next I pick up what I've been working on for the past weeks. It's a robot. It looks almost like that robot from the Disney movie, can't remember which one, and has a boxy shape. Its arms ended in three pronged claws to pick things up with and had wheels for legs. Smiling softly I reach down and put it in my bag. Today was a Thursday meaning the soccer fields were open game for anyone. Of course this meant that there would be other clubs there, but they couldn't argue me being there.
The soccer fields like every other field at this school was cut uniformly and always looked green. There were no holes or bumps in the field showing that it was maintained regularly. Perhaps someone was looking out for me because there was no one at the field. Usually at least three other clubs would be competing for space and arguing, but no one was here today. Looking at the time on my watch I breathe a sigh of relief. It wasn't dinner time either meaning I was having a lucky break. After the whole fiasco this morning I could use some good luck. Having to converse and answer questions in class had also taken a number out of me. I couldn't talk well, I don't know why. I wanted to say one thing but something else would come out.
Pulling out balls and building blocks from my bag I begin to strategically place them down on the field. Placing my robot, Mark II the Beautiful, down I pull out another device. A remote controller. Grinning I fall to the ground cross legged. "Mark II the Beautiful, are you ready for this?" Of course the robot wouldn't' respond, not yet, and I pressed the switch to turn it on. If the programming was good it should pick up the blocks and balls and put it in the designated baskets.
"Ready? G-" The Earth trembled beneath me. Dropping the controller with a loud clack I look across the field. The bleachers shacked and then stilled. Standing I survey the area. Nothing seemed out of place so wha- another tremble makes me wobble. An ear splitting screech cuts through the air. My spine shivers and my ears ring. Clutching at my ears I try to blot out the resounding noise. My chest heaves for air as I scramble to look for the source.
A loud boom snaps my head to the far side of the field. Something red is flying through the air. With a loud whistle the thing slams into the ground and rolls across the field. The ground tears through the air clump after clump as whatever it is slams over and over into it until it comes to a stop. It's a person. They struggle to pull themselves out of the large hole they've made and once they're out sway on their feet.
"He-Hey." I can't help but call out to them. Their head swivels slowly revealing a bloodied face. A red eyed gaze meets mine making my heart stop. That… was unnatural. Bright cherry red hair flows behind them in an unwinding braid. An impossibly large braid. It hangs to the edge of their red ruffled skirt. They turn fully eyes wide. Taking a staggering step forward with a gloved hand they wave me away. The glove is black and ends with an overly large ruffle. A golden belt of golden rings swings over their thin hips.
"Get out of here!" They scream. They swivel their head back and then looks back to me. Emblazed across their chest is a black triangle right between their breasts. Their shirt looks like a thick undershirt with a ruffle ending over the shoulders. Resting over the black triangle is a red stone. They're screaming something else but I can't hear over the earsplitting screech that sends me to my knees. I clutch at my ears. They're ringing and roaring and- I can't focus on it too much. Gasping for air I feel a surge of energy over take me. I was never a fast runner, always skipping out of P.E activities but I feel like I'm flying over the field. I don't have time to grab my bag or my robot, who will be missed rip, and make my way towards the exit.
The usually green grass is gray. The color seeps out of it slowly turning it into a light shade of gray. It doesn't make sense, but I have no time to dwell over it. Whoever they were was urging me to run away so run away I shall.
That brings me to now.
The cosplaying person is the only thing that stands between the monster and me. They takes a fighting position sliding one leg back and clenching their fists. There was no way they could beat it. They were already bloody and stumbling so how could they get up again? I still can't bring myself to stand. All the adrenaline from earlier was gone. Whoever they are runs faster than a bullet and leaps into the air. It's inhuman the way they launch 20 feet in the air. They twist their body and swipe their leg across the monster's face. It connects with a dull crack and the monster tumbles backwards. Its long arms kick up more large clusters of gray mud and dirt and whatever else and the person uses them to jump back down to the ground. Landing in a roll they stand back up and rush forward again.
The monster barely hits the ground before they're attacking again. They leap into the air again and spiral downwards. They land another crunching kick on the monster. The ground beneath it cracks and a cloud of dust explodes outward. The person explodes out of the cloud with a loud crack. They spin out of control and crash into the earth again. A scream lodges in my throat. Superhuman or not that must have hurt. They tumble towards me stopping short a few feet.
The monster lets out its high pitched screech and struggles to pull itself up. Tears, or something resembling tears, dribble out from its 'eyes' and it sits up. There was no mouth so how was it screaming so loud? My body trembles and I reach a shaking hand towards the person. Torn gloves push them up, but their shaking as much as I am. Curled bangs obscure their gaze, but blood drips from their nose. "Please run, I don't know if I can hold it off." They beg looking my way. That red gaze. Their eyes were brimming with too many emotions- anger, sadness, defeat. I had never been able to connect or even read other people, but I could see it all in their gaze.
"Let's run together." The shaky words leave my lips. I can't stop looking at their eyes. They grit their teeth look towards the monster.
"No more running. I have to defeat the Dead-Color." Dead-Color, is that what that was? They struggle to their knees and then their feet. The braid is completely undone now. Red locks cascade down their back reaching the soles of their boots. It had to be incredibly heavy. I had to help them. I find myself standing too. They take a runners position and clutch at their heart.
"The pigment that blazes within the heart! Pretty Cure!" They throw their hand to the side and grasp what looks like a paint brush. To their side they draw a circle in the air a thick red painting coating nothing. With a flick of their wrist the paint ring spins around the paintbrush "Vermillion Spiral!" They fling the ring towards the monster. The red ring spins rapidly cutting through the air getting bigger and bigger as it gets closer and closer. Splattering against the ground around the Dead-Color the paint begins to bubble.
Ribbons of thick red paint unfold from the splattered circle rising lazily into the air. The Dead-Color brings one overly large arm up and folds its crayon hand into a fist. Before it can bring it down the ribbons spiral up and begin to cling towards its limbs. Restricting its movement the Dead-Color struggles against the thick red paint holding it down. The cosplayer, no cosplayers have real magic so I need a name, falls to their knees. The paint brush drops from their hand and clangs against the floor.
The spell is broken. With a loud shriek the Dead-Color breaks out of Vermillion Spiral. The red fades into a gray and sinks into the torn up ground. It's pissed off even more. "I… can't do… anymore." The person (Pretty Cure?) rasps out. The monster beings to march towards us again, the black eyes downturned and looking angry.
Fight, I need to fight it. No running we had to stop it here. Leaning down I pick up the paintbrush. This causes the Pretty Cure to snap their head up. "What ar-"
"Tell me how to fight it." I interrupt them. My hand shakes as I clutch the brush. My knees buckle beneath me. Why was I doing this? What was I doing?
"You can't! You're not a Pretty Cure!" They rasp out. I was right on the name. Steeling my nerves and taking a shaky step forward I look down to them.
"I can't follow rules! What makes you think I'll follow this one!" The words come out wrong. Incredibly not cool. Their mouth goes slack and they give an unbelieving stare. "Tell me how to fight it!" I shout the words. My heart was ramming against my chest. It felt as if was going to burst out of my ribcage and kill me.
The person rummages for something in their skirt pocket. A blue light fills the area around us. I feel a thrum of something other than my heart beat within me. In a torn glove they offer the glowing blue pendant towards me. It pulsates brightly as my bandaged fingers grasps it. An electrifying feeling overtakes me. My skin tingles and a cool feeling bubbles inside me. Pulling the necklace over my head I grasp it with my free hand.
"It's resonating." They whisper "The Blue Pigments resonating." Somethings whispering what to do in my head. Dropping the brush I hold the necklace between my palms.
"Pretty Cure! Primer and Gloss!" I let go of the pendant and extend my hands forward. The feeling of water cascading envelops my body. My clothes seem to wash away with the water leaving only glowing blue under clothes. Pressing my hands, which are free of Band-Aids, against my chest clothing bursts out. A light blue crop top with the same triangle pattern as the other Pretty Cure is emblazed along it. With a shake of my hips a darker blue skirt unveils falling just short of my knees. It bounces and ruffles against my thighs. Clicking my heels together two short boots pop into existence. Next I clap my hands once… twice… and two long gloves pop onto my arms. They extend far back reaching towards my elbows. A crisscross line pattern decorates the gloves and finally I reach for my hair. Running my gloved fingers through my hair I flip my hair. The brown melts to blue and methodically folds itself over and over to become a braided wreath along the bottom of my head. The feeling of weightlessness fades and I land lightly on the ground.
"The color of the unforgiving earth." The words tumble from my mouth. Striking a pose I point a finger to the sky and bring it down till I'm pointing at the Dead-Color. "Cure Aero!"
I still for a moment. Looking down at my gloved hands I clench and unclench my fists. This was me all right. Something in my brain isn't registering it however. I turn my hands over and then back to palms facing me.
"You… you're my partner?" The other Cure stands. Giving an unsure nod they give a smile. There's something wrong with it, but I can't put my finger on it. "I'm Cure Vermillion."
"Cure… Vermillion." I mummer the words. With a renewed vigor Vermillion sharply turns towards the Dead-Color.
"Let's end this quick. I'll ensnare it and you destroy it." The paintbrush from before rises from the ground and flies into their awaiting hand. I open my mouth to protest. What was happening again? I seemed so sure before, but this was too much! It was too late to protest as Vermillion was already chanting their spell. A flick of their wrist and the Vermillion Spiral was already being sent towards the Dead-Color.
"Ho-How… What am I…?" My words come out garbled. Vermillion sways on their feet and turns towards me. Their red eyes meet mine, what color were mine now, and something clicks within me. Reaching towards the necklace I grasp it with one hand.
"The pigment that tranquilizes the heart!" I snap my arm to the side. A comfortable weight rests in my palm. It's not a paintbrush like Vermillion, but instead a large pencil. No time to debate about it I point it at the monster. "Pretty Cure Aero Recode!" My arm moves on its own drawing numbers. They shine blue in the air and with a spin on my heel I jab the pencil forward. The code shoots towards the Dead-Color growing longer. It slams against the Dead-Color wrapping around it. A piercing shriek shakes the ground, but it doesn't break free.
Color begins to seep into the monster, the gray triangle dress turning purple and the skin turning orange. Finally it gives a cooing noise and its eyes shut. With a burst paint splatters everywhere over the field. The Dead-Color is gone. The torn up turf and dirt are gone and the holes where Cure Vermillion was thrown around are filled. Looking behind me the metal gates are now standing upright.
With a poof the uniform explodes off into shining blue light. My body aches and I fall to my knees. A bright red light draws my gaze to Vermilion. They sway on their feet then fall onto their butt. With a loud sigh they fall back even more and land on their back. Turning their head my way I'm met with stunning gray eyes. A small smile graces their sharp tan face. Extending their hand towards me they give a laugh. It didn't sound forced or even bitter.
"I'm Clancy and good to finally meet you."
Afterword: Heeyy what's up, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. I haven't really planned anything for this fanseries and don't know how long it's going to be so don't expect a second chapter so soon. I'll try to update biweekly but I'm a bit of a procrastinator so we'll see. Anyways thanks for reading and leave a comment.