Okay people, Chapter 16 is ENTIRELY Meryl's dream-thingy. Vash, Milly,
Wolfwood, and Jake are only going to make minor appearances in this
chapter. And to Wolfwood-fans, this isn't exactly a W/M fic, but I'll try
to include him as much as possible, since I like him ^^
And I also wanted to include Knives in this fic (he's really handsome if he doesn't have that insane look on his face ^o^) but since this is set before Vash and Knives fight, Knives isn't going to make an appearance in this fic, although I plan for Vash to have a flashback about Knives.
Also, the * marks means that the character is singing. Yep, it sucks because I can't use the italics on my computer. If any of you understand how to do it, please write it in the reviews!
Well then, enjoy the fic and please R+R!
Chapter 16
Meryl groaned as she woke up from her deep sleep. She had a slight headache, and whenever she tried to use her voice, there was a sharp pain running across her chest.
"Where am I?" she asked as she tried to get out of bed. As soon as her foot touched the cold floor of the mystical dream land, a soft, singing voice filled the whole place.
*So... On the first night, a pebble falls to the earth from somewhere*
Meryl whirled around to seek out any human presence, but there was no sign of any existing organisms.
*So... On the second night,
The pebble's children hold hands and sketch a waltz
Sound Life*
"Where are you hiding? Come out!" Meryl shouted as she stood in a fighting position. She then saw an image of her mother. Her mouth curved in a smile as she waved over to her mother.
"Mom!"
The image appeared to have said something, but Meryl couldn't hear anything. Her lips kept on moving, but Meryl couldn't hear a single sound.
"Mom, I can't hear you!"
The figure continued to say something, but again no sound was made.
"Louder Mom! Louder!"
The singing voice was back, and the image of her mother slowly faded away.
"MOM!"
*So... On the third night, The children of the waltz cause ripples on the face of the world*
An image of Milly suddenly appeared. Meryl again smiled widely as she rushed to greet her partner.
"Look Milly, I'm sorry about our fight today. You're the best partner I've ever...Milly?"
The image of Milly moved her mouth, and Meryl tried to listen what she was trying to say, but she couldn't hear anything.
"Milly? Speak louder...I can't hear you!" Meryl cried out after desperately trying to hear what she had to say.
As the image faded slowly, Meryl yelled frantically to try and stop the image from fading away.
"Milly! Milly! MILLY!"
Meryl reached out her pale hand to stop the image from fading, yet her hand went right through the image. Even with her efforts, the image faded away like the morning mist.
*So... On the fourth night, the children of the wave spray the shore
Sound life*
An image appeared again, only to take shape of Nicolas D. Wolfwood. Meryl waved over at him and closed her eyes to make out what he was trying to say. His lips moved, yet no sound came out.
"Mr. Wolfwood! Louder! I can't hear you!"
The image of Wolfwood faded as the singing voice came back on again.
*So... On the fifth night, those shards strike the face of the earth over and over*
Meryl angrily kicked the air in frustration as an image of blonde haired woman appeared before her. She too moved her lips to tell Meryl something, but Meryl couldn't hear anything. The only sound she heard was silence.
Trying to grab the image, Meryl suddenly realized that who the woman was.
"Elaine...? Is it...you?"
The image nodded as it faded away. Meryl, now genuinely confused, started walking around the land. There were no landscapes or objects, just miles and miles of a plain gray land.
The song came back on shortly after Meryl started walking forward. Afraid, Meryl started running, trying to get away from the voice. Yet the voice stuck onto her like glue, never letting go.
*So... On the sixth night, those signals bring travellers together
Sound life*
An image of Jake appeared, his lips moving as his twisted mask of fury turned back into his old smile. Meryl's smile widened as the image continued to smile at her.
"Jake...you're back..."
As Meryl reached over to hug him, she felt the image go right through her. When she turned around, she saw that Jake was saying something to her. Angry and confused, she shouted over and over for him to say it louder.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU JAKE!"
The image continued to move his lips, and despite all the shouting, Meryl was unable to hear a single note.
"Louder, Jake."
Meryl felt many tears roll down her face as the image disappeared into the thin air. It felt like all her friends were fading away. And she hated that.
'Oh god...I know I've been real mean to them all, but...do they all have to fade away?'
*So... On the seventh night, a weightless ship races to the sky*
Meryl heard the singing voice loud and clear, yet chose to ignore it as more tears fell from her gray eyes. She'd never felt this lost and lonely before, and it felt as though her whole world collapsed.
*So... On the eighth morning, a song from somewhere reaches my ears
Sound life*
Meryl sobbed, her back bent in a lonely position as she turned around from the world. All the bottled up feelings left hidden in her heart spilled out as tears, as Meryl continued to shed tears.
'The people I love...all gone...'
Her gray eyes opened wide as she realized that there was someone else she loved. The one man that understood how she felt, and the one man that saved her.
The one man that she loved.
"VASH!!"
*Well then... A song that has recorded everything echoes to the new sky*
A clear image of Vash appeared, smiling at her like he always did. The goofy, Vash-like smile that Meryl secretly loved. His lips moved as if to say something to Meryl, and Meryl heard it clearly as ever.
"Meryl...don't be afraid...you're the strongest and bravest woman I know...even though you might feel lost now, you'll always have a place in my heart..."
Meryl covered her mouth with her hand as more tears dropped from her eyes. "Oh Vash..." she whispered as the image started to fade slowly.
*Sound Life*
Vash smiled again as the last of his red coat vanished into the atmosphere.
*Sound Life*
Meryl smiled slightly as she remembered what Vash had just said to her. 'You'll always have a place in my heart'
'Thank you Vash...'
Meryl never felt this happier before. It felt like...she belonged somewhere. No one in her whole life made Meryl feel as if she belonged somewhere, not even her own mother. Meryl's mother had died when she was just five, and at the early age, Meryl couldn't develop a stronger relationship with her mother other than a mother-daughter relationship. And after many years, the work and leisure erased most of Meryl's memories with her mother, although the picture of her mother and her mother herself is forever embedded within her heart.
As Meryl was about to go explore the land more, there was a loud thumping noise behind her. Whirling around, she fell down onto the ground with fear as she saw an angel-like figure standing before her.
"W-who...are you?" she asked, rubbing her left knee where a bruise arose.
"Hello Ms. Meryl Stryfe. Sorry to give you such a startle, I'm Leisath, a messenger of the astral space. I've been given orders from the top to ask you whether you'd like to continue living your life or would rather die."
Meryl was confused, needless to say. The angel was certainly peculiar, with orange hair and a pale yellow tunic wrapped around his small body. Behind his back were two white wings, and in his right hand he carried a number of parchments, and in his left he held a large staff.
"Uhh...I'm confused here. What is the astral space and I need to choose between life and death? Is this a dream or something?"
Leisath chuckled as he zoomed around Meryl, much to her annoyance.
"Ahh, yes...I think I have some explaining to do. No, this is not a dream. You are in the astral space right now as your soul. Your actual body is back in the living world. About the astral space.the astral space is quite complicated, but...it is best explained as the land between the living world and the underworld. People who are an inch away from death come here, and are allowed to choose between life and death. However, we hold all information about you and all the beings in the planet, and if you're good, we will let you decide your own fate, and if you've committed crimes in the past, we must ask the elders to chose your fate for you.
"And in your case, Ms. Stryfe, the only crimes you've committed are lying to yourself, and being a workaholic. Other than that, you are our model human being and so the elders are allowing you to choose your own fate. So.what'll it be?"
Meryl was about to demand more explanations, confused by all the astral space matter, but an image of Vash appeared in her head. Remembering the words he had said to her a few minutes ago, Meryl quickly decided her fate.
"I'd like to live, Leisath."
"Very well then! Oh, it always makes me happy when people decide to live! And especially you, Ms. Stryfe! From your reports, it is recorded that you're very strong-willed. That must not go to waste at such a young age, m' dear. Now, go back into bed while I transfer you back into the living world."
It wasn't Leisath's English accent or his talkative personality that made Meryl queasy, but she decided to trust the angel and got back into bed. Taking one more look at the astral space, she smiled back at Leisath who was again zooming around her bed.
"Are you sure this isn't a dream?"
"Yes, Ms. Stryfe. This is reality. Now, let us take you back to the living world where you belong!"
Meryl afterwards fell into a deep sleep, forgetting all about the astral space, Leisath, and the images of her friends. Leisath chuckled as he teleported Meryl's soul back into her body in the living world.
"Take care Ms. Stryfe. And I assure you, that was not a dream."
And I also wanted to include Knives in this fic (he's really handsome if he doesn't have that insane look on his face ^o^) but since this is set before Vash and Knives fight, Knives isn't going to make an appearance in this fic, although I plan for Vash to have a flashback about Knives.
Also, the * marks means that the character is singing. Yep, it sucks because I can't use the italics on my computer. If any of you understand how to do it, please write it in the reviews!
Well then, enjoy the fic and please R+R!
Chapter 16
Meryl groaned as she woke up from her deep sleep. She had a slight headache, and whenever she tried to use her voice, there was a sharp pain running across her chest.
"Where am I?" she asked as she tried to get out of bed. As soon as her foot touched the cold floor of the mystical dream land, a soft, singing voice filled the whole place.
*So... On the first night, a pebble falls to the earth from somewhere*
Meryl whirled around to seek out any human presence, but there was no sign of any existing organisms.
*So... On the second night,
The pebble's children hold hands and sketch a waltz
Sound Life*
"Where are you hiding? Come out!" Meryl shouted as she stood in a fighting position. She then saw an image of her mother. Her mouth curved in a smile as she waved over to her mother.
"Mom!"
The image appeared to have said something, but Meryl couldn't hear anything. Her lips kept on moving, but Meryl couldn't hear a single sound.
"Mom, I can't hear you!"
The figure continued to say something, but again no sound was made.
"Louder Mom! Louder!"
The singing voice was back, and the image of her mother slowly faded away.
"MOM!"
*So... On the third night, The children of the waltz cause ripples on the face of the world*
An image of Milly suddenly appeared. Meryl again smiled widely as she rushed to greet her partner.
"Look Milly, I'm sorry about our fight today. You're the best partner I've ever...Milly?"
The image of Milly moved her mouth, and Meryl tried to listen what she was trying to say, but she couldn't hear anything.
"Milly? Speak louder...I can't hear you!" Meryl cried out after desperately trying to hear what she had to say.
As the image faded slowly, Meryl yelled frantically to try and stop the image from fading away.
"Milly! Milly! MILLY!"
Meryl reached out her pale hand to stop the image from fading, yet her hand went right through the image. Even with her efforts, the image faded away like the morning mist.
*So... On the fourth night, the children of the wave spray the shore
Sound life*
An image appeared again, only to take shape of Nicolas D. Wolfwood. Meryl waved over at him and closed her eyes to make out what he was trying to say. His lips moved, yet no sound came out.
"Mr. Wolfwood! Louder! I can't hear you!"
The image of Wolfwood faded as the singing voice came back on again.
*So... On the fifth night, those shards strike the face of the earth over and over*
Meryl angrily kicked the air in frustration as an image of blonde haired woman appeared before her. She too moved her lips to tell Meryl something, but Meryl couldn't hear anything. The only sound she heard was silence.
Trying to grab the image, Meryl suddenly realized that who the woman was.
"Elaine...? Is it...you?"
The image nodded as it faded away. Meryl, now genuinely confused, started walking around the land. There were no landscapes or objects, just miles and miles of a plain gray land.
The song came back on shortly after Meryl started walking forward. Afraid, Meryl started running, trying to get away from the voice. Yet the voice stuck onto her like glue, never letting go.
*So... On the sixth night, those signals bring travellers together
Sound life*
An image of Jake appeared, his lips moving as his twisted mask of fury turned back into his old smile. Meryl's smile widened as the image continued to smile at her.
"Jake...you're back..."
As Meryl reached over to hug him, she felt the image go right through her. When she turned around, she saw that Jake was saying something to her. Angry and confused, she shouted over and over for him to say it louder.
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU JAKE!"
The image continued to move his lips, and despite all the shouting, Meryl was unable to hear a single note.
"Louder, Jake."
Meryl felt many tears roll down her face as the image disappeared into the thin air. It felt like all her friends were fading away. And she hated that.
'Oh god...I know I've been real mean to them all, but...do they all have to fade away?'
*So... On the seventh night, a weightless ship races to the sky*
Meryl heard the singing voice loud and clear, yet chose to ignore it as more tears fell from her gray eyes. She'd never felt this lost and lonely before, and it felt as though her whole world collapsed.
*So... On the eighth morning, a song from somewhere reaches my ears
Sound life*
Meryl sobbed, her back bent in a lonely position as she turned around from the world. All the bottled up feelings left hidden in her heart spilled out as tears, as Meryl continued to shed tears.
'The people I love...all gone...'
Her gray eyes opened wide as she realized that there was someone else she loved. The one man that understood how she felt, and the one man that saved her.
The one man that she loved.
"VASH!!"
*Well then... A song that has recorded everything echoes to the new sky*
A clear image of Vash appeared, smiling at her like he always did. The goofy, Vash-like smile that Meryl secretly loved. His lips moved as if to say something to Meryl, and Meryl heard it clearly as ever.
"Meryl...don't be afraid...you're the strongest and bravest woman I know...even though you might feel lost now, you'll always have a place in my heart..."
Meryl covered her mouth with her hand as more tears dropped from her eyes. "Oh Vash..." she whispered as the image started to fade slowly.
*Sound Life*
Vash smiled again as the last of his red coat vanished into the atmosphere.
*Sound Life*
Meryl smiled slightly as she remembered what Vash had just said to her. 'You'll always have a place in my heart'
'Thank you Vash...'
Meryl never felt this happier before. It felt like...she belonged somewhere. No one in her whole life made Meryl feel as if she belonged somewhere, not even her own mother. Meryl's mother had died when she was just five, and at the early age, Meryl couldn't develop a stronger relationship with her mother other than a mother-daughter relationship. And after many years, the work and leisure erased most of Meryl's memories with her mother, although the picture of her mother and her mother herself is forever embedded within her heart.
As Meryl was about to go explore the land more, there was a loud thumping noise behind her. Whirling around, she fell down onto the ground with fear as she saw an angel-like figure standing before her.
"W-who...are you?" she asked, rubbing her left knee where a bruise arose.
"Hello Ms. Meryl Stryfe. Sorry to give you such a startle, I'm Leisath, a messenger of the astral space. I've been given orders from the top to ask you whether you'd like to continue living your life or would rather die."
Meryl was confused, needless to say. The angel was certainly peculiar, with orange hair and a pale yellow tunic wrapped around his small body. Behind his back were two white wings, and in his right hand he carried a number of parchments, and in his left he held a large staff.
"Uhh...I'm confused here. What is the astral space and I need to choose between life and death? Is this a dream or something?"
Leisath chuckled as he zoomed around Meryl, much to her annoyance.
"Ahh, yes...I think I have some explaining to do. No, this is not a dream. You are in the astral space right now as your soul. Your actual body is back in the living world. About the astral space.the astral space is quite complicated, but...it is best explained as the land between the living world and the underworld. People who are an inch away from death come here, and are allowed to choose between life and death. However, we hold all information about you and all the beings in the planet, and if you're good, we will let you decide your own fate, and if you've committed crimes in the past, we must ask the elders to chose your fate for you.
"And in your case, Ms. Stryfe, the only crimes you've committed are lying to yourself, and being a workaholic. Other than that, you are our model human being and so the elders are allowing you to choose your own fate. So.what'll it be?"
Meryl was about to demand more explanations, confused by all the astral space matter, but an image of Vash appeared in her head. Remembering the words he had said to her a few minutes ago, Meryl quickly decided her fate.
"I'd like to live, Leisath."
"Very well then! Oh, it always makes me happy when people decide to live! And especially you, Ms. Stryfe! From your reports, it is recorded that you're very strong-willed. That must not go to waste at such a young age, m' dear. Now, go back into bed while I transfer you back into the living world."
It wasn't Leisath's English accent or his talkative personality that made Meryl queasy, but she decided to trust the angel and got back into bed. Taking one more look at the astral space, she smiled back at Leisath who was again zooming around her bed.
"Are you sure this isn't a dream?"
"Yes, Ms. Stryfe. This is reality. Now, let us take you back to the living world where you belong!"
Meryl afterwards fell into a deep sleep, forgetting all about the astral space, Leisath, and the images of her friends. Leisath chuckled as he teleported Meryl's soul back into her body in the living world.
"Take care Ms. Stryfe. And I assure you, that was not a dream."