"What... is this?

The words left Elan's mouth, but they never reached his ears. For the second time, he found himself gazing an infinite expanse of nothing. He'd experienced this before. What happened this time? Did he pass away in his sleep? No, it couldn't be. He was perfectly healthy, as far as he knew. People his age didn't just drop dead like that. It different from last time. Back then, he'd felt some kind of presence. Something had been sharing the void with him, holding him, comforting him. This time, he was alone, lost in an uncaring abyss. Never before had Elan Winston felt so small.

This loneliness would not last forever, but he almost wished it did. Voices - half a dozen of them - filled the void, calling out to Elan, speaking to him.
No... Not speaking...

Screaming.

"Come back!"
"They're offering us a better life..."
"Momma, please!"
"I changed my mind! I don't want this! STOP!"
"They lied to me... I gave them everything and they lied to me!"

Elan tried to cover his ears, but there was nothing to cover. He was a ghost in the darkness, forced to listen as the voices kept on coming, screaming in his mind, over and over again!

Worse, they sounded vaguely familiar. A woman, assuring her child that all would be well. A young boy, begging for mercy he'd never receive. And lastly, himself. His own voice, screaming bloody murder into his ears.

"Are these... my memories?"

He clutched at a head that wasn't there, screaming silently into the endless nothing, begging for the noise to stop.

His wish was soon granted, but what followed was even worse.

A vision. Flashes of a memory once lost to him. His body, bound to an operating table. Four blonde women, looming over him in the cold, dim light. An electrical device, strapped to his head. A switch being flicked, and then, pain.

Elan writhed on the table as hundreds of volts filled his head, in short bursts, to reduce the risk of death. The boy was in agony, as the electrodes ate away at his mind, slowly erasing his memory. "P-please..." He begged, as those she-devils stared down at him, "I'll do anything, just make the pain STOP!"

STOP!

Stop

stop...

His voice echoed around him, as he found himself back in the abyss. He may have shed a tear, but he couldn't say for sure. At least the pain was over.

"Shhhhhhh~"

Again, he heard someone call out to him. But this voice wasn't cold and harsh. It was gentle and soothing.

And then, the embrace. That warm, wonderful embrace. The fear and confusion - it all faded away, in an instant. "It's alright." Said the voice, "It's over now. Don't think on it, just let me hold you." Elan knew this presence. It was the same one that comforted him, the night of his death. He tried to identify them, but their voice gave no clues to even their age, or gender. "You are welcome to stay here, for as long as you like."

"Thank you..." Elan said, as he let himself go, "But, who are you?"

"It doesn't matter who I am." Said the presence, "What matters is I'm here for you."

And so, Elan let himself go, drifting peacefully in a sea of anti-life. How long did he stay like this? Hours? Days? Weeks? Time seemed to have no meaning here. However long is was, Elan soon forgot his anxieties, the dozen questions nagging in his head, and enjoyed this peace for as long as he could.

And then, he woke up.

Elan opened his eyes, and he was back in his room, spread out on his bed. It was morning, but the bedroom light had been left on, nearly blinding him, and he could hear music coming from his mini tv. Must have fainted, he guessed. What on earth was he doing last night?

He looked up at the tv, and saw a young boy and girl, dancing together in a ballroom.

"Hiro, I know too much about you. Are you still gonna kill me?"

"Yeah..."

Oh. That's right. He spent the last couple nights catching up on Gundam lore. The DVD collection didn't tell him much about his situation, but it made for a decent viewing experience. He'd seen the original Mobile Suit Gundam, along with Zeta and G, and he was just getting started on Wing. No wonder he passed out, after all that.

He thankfully didn't need such extreme measures to catch up on his new life. Memories of his past were slowly coming back to him. His old home, by the Welsh coast, building his first custom Gunpla (and cutting his thumb with a hobby knife), and tearfully watching his friend, Suletta, leave for Japan. There were still huge gaps in his memory, but hopefully they would be filled in time. Dealing with interdimensional culture shock was kind of a hassle, but he was getting used to it. Plus, he'd made a list to help him keep up with all these changes.

Suletta Mercury: Now Suletta Megumi. Slightly more confident, but mostly the same.
Chuatury Panlunch: Named Charlotte in this world. Otherwise, no major changes.
Nika Nanaura: Friendly but surprisingly morbid. Possibly a sadist.
Guel Jeturk et. al: Obnoxious as ever. No notes.
Miorine Rembran: Unkown. More information needed.
Asticassia: Now a Japanese High School. More information needed.

Asticassia. He felt like there was something he'd forgotten. Oh, that was it. He was supposed to be starting today. 9AM, if he remembered right.

And then he checked his alarm clock.

08:35

Oh...

He heard footsteps. There was only one person that could be. If Ms Winston found out he'd been up watching anime on a school night...

Elan sprung into action, shutting off the tv and killing the lights, all in an instant. Staying up late, hiding things from his guardian. He was almost a normal teenager. With that taken care of, he burst through his bedroom door, and damn near crashed into Belmaria. The woman let out a bloodcurdling scream as her son barely avoided her, turning on a dime and ducking into the bathroom. He got ready faster than he ever had in his life. It surprised him how much he could do in only five minutes. After that, he pulled his uniform on in a rush, with little regard to how it looked, and bolted out the door.

What Dreams Are Made Of

A Witch From Mercury Story

Chapter 2

A Beautiful New Day

As Elan charged down the city streets, he tried to imagine what his new school would be like. His time at Asticassia School of Technology was about as close to happy as he ever got, until he met Suletta. He still had to live up to the expectations of four, heartless old women, but at least he could be himself, just a little. He could choose his elective classes, or spend his free time reading whatever he wanted. It may seem like a trivial thing to most people but, for Elan, these brief moments were the only self-expression he was allowed.

He had so many questions. Would this school be anything like the luxurious academy? Would he enjoy it less, now that he had more personal freedom?

At least this time, he knew where he was going. And as he rounded the corner, he saw it. A gorgeous, crystalline dome, surrounded by four circular buildings. A digital sign encircled the dome, displaying the name in an endless loop.

Ascticassia Combined Education Centre
Also known as A-SEC

The building he arrived at said Elementary. Not even close. After that came Junior High, and then, High School. Students milled into the building, with the girls wearing black-and-white blazers and skirts, while the boys were all in green-and-black suits. This was it, alright. Not as fancy as the Institute, but definitely up there. Could Ms Winston really afford something like this?

And there they were, Suletta Megumi and her friends, completely unaware of his presence as they walked inside. He rushed after them, only to lose the girls among the crowd. Oh well. Perhaps they'd share the same class. He made his way upstairs, doing his best not to get in anyone's way, until he came to a yellow door. '3-B' it read. Perfect. Now to meet his new classmates. He'd gladly take anyone, as long as they weren't...

Guel Jeturk.

The boorish meathead was practically the first thing he saw as he stepped into Class 3-B. His hair was missing that ridiculous pink stripe, but it was him. Of all the rotten luck... Luckily, he and his fangirls paid him no mind. They seemed to have bigger problems as his half-brother, Lauda, stared a hole through the bacl of his head. As for the rest Elan thought he saw some familiar faces, but it was hard to tell with their backs to him.

Well, those were his classmates. How about his teacher?

The door creaked open, and an old woman's voice echoed above the chatter. It was a voice he'd heard before, back at Peil HQ

"Good morning, class..." She said, as she stepped into the room, clad in a navy-blue suit.

Oh no...

The short, blonde hair, her blue visor replaced by a pair of shades. The resemblance was uncanny.

"My name is Ms Nevola, and I'll be your Homeroom Teacher this year.

Oh no...

"Today," Said the Peil CEO, "We're bringing a new addition to the the school. Please welcome, from the United Kingdom, Elan Winston."

Elan refused to budge. The look on his face was the kind usually seen on those with shell shock.

"Now, don't be shy." The woman said, warmly, "Come introduce yourself!"

"Shy" was a word not strong enough for this situation. In fact, "mildly terrified" seemed the most appropriate. It didn't matter who she was in this life. He could only see her as the woman who ordered his death. Nevertheless, his classmates were looking at him, and he'd only make things more awkward just standing there. So, slowly, painfully, he stepped up to the desk, and took a bow. "My name is Elan Winston." He said, "Nice to meet you." They probably expected a bit more than this, but his... teacher, seemed more understanding than her Ad Stella counterpart. "Take a seat Elan-kun."

He helped himself to a desk at the back, away from her.

The rest of the day was much better. Homeroom, of course, was extremely uncomfortable, with his otherworld executioner sat across from him, but the other classes were almost fun. Going to school in a new world was an experience like no other. The only way he could describe it was like starting education over, but skipping Elementary and Junior High. Oh, things like Math and English were more or less the same, but classes like History and Geography were almost completely different. Things like the Warring States, or the Meiji Restoration, once a footnote in history, were now brought to life in vivid detail, by a teacher who had a real passion for his job.

Lunch break though, was a bit of a pain.

His class was very diverse, for a school in this country, but the vast majority of students were still ethnically Japanese. Thus, when a student came from overseas, it was something of an event. And Elan's case was no exception. Endless questions, bombarding him with such speed that he barely had time to chew.

"What's it like living in London?" One girl asked.

"I don't know." He told her, "I'm from Wales."

"Oh! That's still in England, right?"

"Which is better?" Another voice chimed in, "British food, or Japanese?"

Elan stared at his bento box, still practically untouched, "I have no idea."

"Ladies, go easy on him!" Said a friendly voice, as a young man with blonde hair and olive skin stepped onto the scene, "It's his first day! Besides, did you all just forget about me?"

"Oh no, Shaddi!" The girls squealed, as they practically mobbed the Zenelli boy, "We'd never forget you!"

Elan watched them, just a little bit amused, as he took a bite of his prawn katsu. Some things never changed.

The last part of the day was homeroom again. It was a little better than morning, mostly because it was shorter. But at least he'd be out of here soon.

Unfortunately, Nevola insisted on speaking to him.

"Winston-kun." She said, "I understand that your first day at a new school can be a bit much. I want you to know that if anything troubles you, you can always speak to me." Elan could hear the sincerity in her voice, and it didn't help at all. The dim sunlight shone directly onto the woman, casting a long, dark shadow that spread all the way to the end of the room. She looked like the grim reaper...

'It's not the same person', said the rational part of his mind. He knew it very well, but the other side of his mind was much louder:

'RUN'

"Thank you..." Said Elan, smiling politely, "But, umm, I need to go now. My friends will be waiting for me..."

The boy nearly sprinted out the building, into the amber sunlight. By the time he was out, he was sucking up air like a man half-drowned. Not the most dignified exit.

"What's wrong with him?" One girl asked, "He sounds like he's dying..." That voice. It sounded familiar.

He looked up, and he saw just the person he needed to see.

"Suletta..." He said, trying to look natural, despite still gasping like a fish. "Oh, I'm doing great, thank you." All things considered, it had been a pretty good day. Having Nevola for homeroom was a significant minus, but the rest of the day had been pretty good.

The girl beside her, he recognized instantly. Her white hair lacked that feathery crest, but it was definitely her. "Oh! Said Suletta, "This is my friend, Mion!"

"I specifically told you not to call me that..." The Rembran girl sighed, "My name is Miyuki. Nice to meet you." She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're doing alright? You look like you're having panic attack."

"I'm fine." He assured her, "Just been a big day, that's all."

"Awww, you need to blow off some steam?" The redhead asked, "Why don't you come to the mall with us? We're gonna hang out in GBN again!"

Elan turned to her friend. He expected Miyuki would want to be alone with her. "Is that alright with you?

The girl just shrugged her shoulders. Standoffish as ever...

"What the hell is that avatar!?"

Miyuki froze in horror as she gazed at Elan's online form. The pale complexion, the wild, unkempt hair, and that gaunt, dehydrated face. It was like something out of a horror movie!

"If you had to be a ghost," Chuchu said, "Couldn't you have picked a cute one? I feel like I'm gonna be cursed, just looking at you..."

"I... I don't remember picking this..." He said. Though, it seemed unlikely he'd get such a unique avatar at random.

"Well, that's no excuse to keep using it!" Miyuki told him, "I don't want to risk a heart attack, every time we log on!"

He did look pretty disturbing, that much was true, and he still felt like he'd gotten this avatar as some sort of cosmic prank. "I guess I could do with a new look."

They took him to a changing room, at the other end of the lobby. Since he had no experience changing his avatar, Suletta insisted on helping him. It was beyond embarrassing, to have her in the booth with him, but at least he didn't have to take anything off to change. Still, he couldn't help but feel like a pervert, even if it was her idea.

They cycled through countless outfits. They tried anthropomorphic animals, or just ears and tails. They went through elven attire, and fantasy costumes, and even miniature Zaku styles. But, none of them worked. Either they weren't quite his style, or they made him feel silly, or they were simply too expensive.

"Maybe we should try that Elf Sorcerer outfit." Miyuki suggested, "That one looked alright."

"We're not spending 7000 yen for something that just looks alright!" Said Charlotte, "You could get two Master Grades with that kind of money!" 7,000 for a made up costume. Elan would never understand microtransactions. They thought it over for a while, before an evil smile crossed Chuchu's face, and the wheels in her head turned in a very unsavoury direction. "Hey..." She said, "I know a look that's just perfect for him."

She and her friends whispered among themselves, leaving Elan out of the conversation. Oh no. What were they planning? The four girls turned on the boy, wearing devious smiles on their faces, as the mousey one backed him into the changing booth. Elan felt like he was about to be kidnapped. "Wh- what's going on?" He asked, with a good helping of dread, "What are you planning?"

A couple minutes later, he stepped out of the booth, and the girl's faces lit up.

"Tadaaaa~!" Said Chuchu, presenting the boy like he was a fashion model.

"Oh wow!" Said Nika, "You look great, Elan!"

He was dressed in a lavender poncho, long and flowing and fixed around the waist, like a skirt. Under that, he wore a sleeveless black unitard, with matching wristbands. And for shoes: a pair of black flats over purple leg warmers.

"Well, what do you think?" Suletta asked, beaming as she looked him over.

"I think..." Elan looked back at the mirror, his face as red as his friend's hair. "I mean, I'm pretty sure these are women's clothes."

"Hey," Chuchu shrugged, "You said you liked Four Murasame."

"Yeah," He said, "But not that I wanted to be her..." He turned to Suletta, pleading for help, with his eyes.

"You look really cute!"

So much for that.

"It's definitely you, Erin-chan." Miyuki repressed a giggle.

Elan looked in the mirror. The outfit did look good on him, yes. That was part of the problem. "It's just, we're in a public space." He said, "People are gonna see me like this."

Nika was the next to speak up. "Hmmm, he's got a point. We don't want to destroy his reputation..."

Oh god, thank you Nika, he thought. Perhaps she wasn't a sadist after all.

"He needs some makeup, to blend in!"

Nevermind. The girl was pure evil.

"And a wig." Miyuki added.

He needed to get some guy friends, and fast.

"He does look good." Said a voice he didn't recognise. "You certainly have the body for it..."

The girls almost jumped out of their skin. A man, in his late 20s, stood behind them, having apparently showed up out of nowhere. His silky, purple hair was tied in a pony tail, and he had painted a star on his cheek. A red jacket sat over his black and white bodysuit; a bodysuit which showed off his chest and had, of all things, high heels!

"I thought I told you not to sneak up on us, Magee!" Said, Miyuki, acting as if her scream hadn't cracked the decibel meter, "People are going to think you're a stalker!"

"Magee?" Elan asked. Did they know this guy?

"He's a high ranking player." Suletta explained, "And he's the leader of Adam's Apple. He's kind of a celebrity around here."

"I'm touched you remember me!" He said, "I also act as a tutor for new players." He smiled at Elan, taking in the look the girls had forced on him. "You should be proud of the gift life gave you. Not every guy can rock that outfit like you can."

"I'm not sure I want to rock it though." Said Elan, "And I really don't want people seeing me like this..."

"We could always dress you like Loran Cehack." Chuchu suggested.

"From Turn A Gundam?" Elan considered it. Maybe he could pull that off.

"Sorry," The girl added, "I meant to say Laura Rolla."

The second they launched, Elan was taking pot-shots at her.

"I think..." Magee said, squeezing Chuchu's ear, "That perhaps we should let him make his own choice, don't you?" He turned his attention back to Elan, "As for you dear, let me give you some friendly advice: beauty is an ideal that transcends all barriers - age, body type, and yes, even gender. Just wear whatever feels best for you, and don't be afraid of how others will see you." He placed a hand on his heart. "Discover your own beauty, and show it to the world with pride!"

"Discover my own beauty?"

"Of course!" Said Magee, "Everyone has their own style, their own look. All you have to do is be true to yourself."

Be true to himself? "I'm not even sure who I am..."

The man just chuckled, "You're you, of course, who else? I know it sounds clichéd, but it's true. Just see what works for you. You'll find out who you are." The boy still looked unconvinced. "Here..." He said, summoning his virtual tablet, "Why don't I give you something to help inspire you?"

He tapped a few buttons, and Elan felt something come to rest atop his head. The boy checked himself in the mirror. His hair was now vermillion green, and a wing-shaped fringe obscured his left eye. "What's this?" He asked, giving it a little tug. It felt like real hair.

"A little gift, from big sister!" Magee told him, "You don't have to use it, of course, but I thought it might suit you."

"It does match your eyes." Suletta added, as her friend admired his hair in the mirror.

"Well, I best be heading off now." Said Magee, "My Force will be waiting for me. You all take care now~!"

"Discover my own beauty..." Elan looked himself over one more time. This outfit. He still wasn't comfortable wearing it, but there were elements that suited him. Maybe he could do something with this. "Give me a moment, please." He said, stepping back into the booth. He cycled through over a dozen options - coats, jackets, undershirts, pants, shorts, all different styles. After a while, he felt like he'd picked a suitable outfit. It just needed a little something to make it complete. Perhaps a crest of some kind. He flicked through the Emblems tag, stopping at last when he spotted the image of a majestic bird. How very fitting.

Elan stepped out a moment later, and the girls' eyes went wide. He was dressed mostly in black. A loose tank top and leggings. Even his nails were painted black. But there was one touch of colour, beside his hair: A purple fencing cape, draped over his left side. And on that cape was his emblem, a black phoenix, spreading its wings with pride.

"Wow!" Said Suletta, "You look great!"

"A bit edgy, don't you think?" Miyuki said, casually.

"Well, I like it!" Said Nika, "I think it makes a statement."

"Thanks." Elan said, unused to being complimented like this.

"You still look like a girl." Charlotte teased.

Elan shrugged her off. "What else is new?" He turned back, taking one more look at himself. This was him. His old look? That could still belong to Elan Ceres, but this was something he chose himself.

"You've been looking in that mirror for a while now. See anything you like?" He whipped around. The voice came from a dark-skinned girl with silver hair, wearing a green jacket over her white top and short-shorts.

"Oh, hello Secilia." Said Elan, with a small hint of dread.

For the first time in his life, the teen saw a look of surprise on her face. "Have we met?" She asked.

"Can't have been a very happy meeting." Said another teen, his kimono left open, exposing his golden chest.

"Shaddiq Zenelli." Said Elan. "I figured I'd see you here."

"Shaddi," The boy corrected him, "But I'm glad you remember me, Elly. Perhaps I have a new admirer."

"Please don't call me that." Elan groaned as, right on cue, Lauda Neill and Rouji Chante made their presence known. "What are you guys doing here?"

Suletta elbowed her friend in the gut. "Elan, those guys are the A-SEC Angels!" She whispered, "They're the highest ranked players in our school!"

"I'm glad you've heard of us!" Said Shaddi. "But I'm afraid this isn't a casual visit. We're here because..." He didn't get to finish, as Lauda shoved him out of the way. "Ok, do it your way..."

"Suletta Megumi!" The boy said, "We challenge you to a Force Battle!"

His challenge echoed across the room, capturing the attention of every player who passed their way.

"A Force Battle?" Elan asked.

"What's a Force Battle?"

To Be Continued...

I thought you might like to know that while I don't have a strict release schedule for this story, I do plan to release each chapter at around 20:00- 21:00PM GMT/15:00-16:00PM EST, with a gap no bigger than seven days between chapters.

Trivia Time:

-Elan's first day at school was supposed to be part of Chapter One, but there was already enough going on in that chapter, so I decided to move it down here and flesh it out a bit more.
-Speaking of Chapter One, originally I intended for Elan's birthday present to be a Psycho Gundam kit. But I felt it would be a bit much to reference Four twice in as many chapters, plus the Phantom Gundam like a better choice, given what's to come in future chapters.