Here is my second story, a Spirited Away/ Nausicaä: Of the Valley of the Wind fiction. I hope you like it! Also, I haven't seen Spirited Away in such a long time, so I forgot the area where they were staying was called, so I'm calling it Zephyr City. Also, I've only watched the movies. Sorry, all you manga-lovers out there. Slight Warning: First chapter is full o' fluff!
The titles are in Chihiro's POV, but the story isn't. Just to let you know. Well, most of them are, anyways, Just to let you know, this has NOTHING to do with War of the Worlds. I didn't even see that movie, so if the plot is copying, I'm SO sorry!
Disclaimer: I don't anything, besides the plot.
War on My World
Chapter 1: Finding My Place
"How was school today, honey?" Chihiro's mother asked. It was 3 weeks after school, and Chihiro wanted to see Haku again, and she knew he would come back.
"Terrible." Chihiro said, flopping down on the couch and turning on the T.V.
"The strange phenomena that has been surrounding Zephyr City is still continuing...the once in a lifetime solar eclipse has been shadowing the whole world..." She heard the T.V news-reporter say. Ever since Chihiro started school, the sun had been eclipsed and lasted too long. It was three weeks later, and the object blocking the sun still hadn't moved, though it was still as bright as day outside.
"...And mysterious appearances of a dragon are filling the people with wonder..." Continued the T.V reporter. Chihiro immediately sat up, and stared at the T.V as they showed a picture of a dragon-shaped shadow in the sky.
"Haku! That has to be him!" Chihiro said, and ran out of the house.
"Chihiro! Wait! Where are you going?" Her mother asked, and then sighed. "Sometimes I just don't understand that girl..."
The first thing Chihiro did was look up into the sky. Yes, she saw it! She saw the shape of Haku in his dragon form! He was heading toward the eclipse, and Chihiro didn't know why.
"HAKU!" She yelled, running after his shadow. "HAKU! COME BACK!"Chihiro yelled. There was no way he'd ever hear her. Chihiro would have to get his attention...but how? She looked around, and had an idea. She grabbed a garbage pail and held it up to the eclipse. She heard that the eclipse was strong enough to blind someone, so...
It worked. The light reflected, causing a stream of concentrated sunlight at the pail, causing it to melt. Chihiro dropped the pail,((shaking her hands since they were slightly singed)) and saw Haku looking down at her.
"HAKU! IT'S ME, CHIHIRO!" Chihiro yelled at the top of her lungs. She looked around, no one was around and she saw Haku come towards her. 'Yes! It's working! I have so much to tell you, Haku!' Chihiro thought. Within a few minutes, Haku had landed in front of her, and before he could transform back into his human form, Chihiro hugged his head. "Haku! I've missed you so much! How come you haven't come to see me?' She asked, as she let go and let Haku transform into his human form.
"Chihiro, it's a very long story. The spirit world, and the human world you live in is in danger. Not just the Bathhouse, but all over." Haku said.
"What do you mean? In danger how?" Chihiro asked.
"See that eclipse up there?" Haku pointed at the eclipse and Chihiro nodded. "That's not an eclipse. It's a portal to another world, where my cousin, Princess Nausicaä lives. It will take some time explaining. Are you needed at home?" He asked. Chihiro thought for a moment, then thought of how people made fun of her at school, and eagerly shook her head.
"Good. My father's sister married Nausicaä's mother's brother. My Aunt was a very adventurous spirit, and, lucky for her, an eclipse of Venus occurred. Whenever there is an eclipse, a portal opens from her world to ours, so my Aunt stepped through the portal, found Nausicaä's Uncle, and married. That's how we're related, like cousin-in-laws." Haku said. Chihiro nodded.
"But why is the eclipse lasting so long? It should've been over, right?" Chihiro asked, and Haku nodded.
"In Nausicaä's world, there's this power-hungry country, Toulmakia that found out that there were three worlds. The world they're living in, this world, and the World of Spirits. They're trying to take over my cousin's world and come here, and then rule all these worlds. I'm going over there now to see how the Bathhouse can help." Haku said.
"Can I come?" Chihiro asked.
"It's going to be dangerous, and I'll never forgive myself if you get hurt." Haku said.
"Please, Haku! After all you've done for me, it's my turn to help you and your cousin!" Chihiro said, determined. Haku smiled.
"Alright, Chihiro. Only if you promise to hide yourself if danger comes, ok?" Haku said. Chihiro nodded eagerly. Another world, the portal only available on eclipses! Who would've thought? "Oh, before we go, you'll need this poison mask. Their world is being consumed by a poisonous forest they call the 'Toxic Jungle'. The poisons there could kill you in an instant. I think that's also why the portal is staying open." Haku said, handing her a poison mask.
"What about you, Haku! What if the poisons get to you?" Chihiro asked, and cocked her head slightly.
"Since I'm a water spirit, the air around me is always pure. If I go into the Toxic Jungle and stay there for an hour, I won't die. But, you're mortal, Chihiro. You're as vulnerable to the poisons as Nausicaä is." Haku said. Chihiro nodded, she didn't understand fully, but she knew that Haku wouldn't get himself hurt on purpose.
"So, are you ready, Chihiro?" Haku asked once Chihiro had on her mask.
"Of course I am!" Chihiro said, nodding as Haku transformed into a dragon. Hesitantly, Chihiro scrambled on Haku's back as he took flight. "You know, Haku, I've missed you! There was so much I wanted to talk about to you, like school. Ugh, school's been terrible! All of the kids were making fun of me when I said I believed in dragons! I think my teacher is failing me on purpose! He keeps on glaring at me like I did something to him or something." Chihiro said. She knew Haku wouldn't respond, but she knew he heard, because he was nodding his head. Chihiro continued. It soothed her to talk to Haku, and she didn't know why.
"I'm so glad I can finally talk to you! You've probably been very busy in the Bathhouse, so I understand. I don't know why, Haku, but I feel like I can talk to you about anything and you won't laugh. I mean, like something really silly, or embarrassing. I feel like you won't say 'That's so stupid!' like the people at school will, or just zone out and not listen. You're unlike all those people, Haku. You're so nice...and caring..." Chihiro sighed, rather dreamily, her head tilting to a side. A bright light sidetracked her from her thoughts, and she used her arm to cover her eyes and squinted.
They were nearing the eclipse, and the portal. Being close she saw that the black eclipse was actually a rainbow swirl of colors, with the rim and black swirling with it. From far, far away, no wonder it looked like just a black circle. Chihiro closed her eyes, and got ready to go into a new world.
She could only wonder, as they got closer, 'I keep on getting dragged into other worlds. I wonder, is my world really not where I belong?'