Author Notes: Sorry Jason and Chelsea, but your mamodos won't appear till a few chapters later. But eventually, they'll have their action scenes as well.
Disclaimer: I do not own My Sanctuary by Utada Hikaru.
Tiko Moloaki and Shami Moloaki are property of Jason Kent.
Ember Flame and Blizzar Flame are property of The Flurry of Dancing Flames.
Kage Kimura is property of Duskmon Kimura.
Fonce Ying is property of Rabukurafuto.
Chapter 2: Nightmare... Or Vision.
Zero's eyes opened, to find himself in one of his dreams. It was the same dream he's been having every night. It looked like he was in space, but somehow he could breathe. Everywhere around him was water. In the starry space around him above was covered all over with aurora boriallisses. The scenery of the entire dream was beautiful.
A shooting star passed by as Zero walked down never ending miles of water; it was leading him nowhere. After about an hour of walking, Zero sat down and brought his knees up to his chest. The unknown air was getting cold, and being on water isn't making it better. The cold was getting to Zero, making him feel tired. His eyes closed and was drifted into deep sleep in his dream. Strange, huh? Everything went dark afterwards.
Zero's eyes shot wide open when everything in his dream went dark. He was breathing heavily, checking his surroundings. He was sleeping in Arisha's home, in the guess bedroom. Since he was still in the Ever Night Forest, most of the rooms in every house was dark, but not that dark. Just normal dark like when you turn the lights off in a room. On a nearby table was a little lamp that was on, emitting a blue glow.
He looked up to see Arisha's above him sleeping. The Hybrid Mamodo look at his surroundings, finding out that he was sleeping on Arisha's lap for some reason. He sat upright in the vampire mamodo's lap, and wiped away some sweat from his forehead that he got from dreaming the same dream again. Arisha heard him wake up, so she woke up as well.
"Morning," she greeted her boyfriend.
"How did I woke up on your lap?" Zero asked.
"I heard you whimpering. I went to check on you, and I saw you shivering. I check your temperature and you were very cold. I watched over you through the whole night."
'Just like in my dream,' the hybrid said in his thoughts as he rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand, but found a fresh pair of bite marks on his neck. He looked down at Arisha's stomach, which was now a bulge. He placed his hand on her gut, to feel his blood sloshing around inside. He looked up and gave the vampire mamodo a suspicious look.
"You were snacking on me again, were you."
"I can't help it."
Zero sighed as he got off Arisha's lap and walked out of the room, feeling a bit dizzy from the amount of blood he lost during the night thanks to his girlfriend. The hybrid walked into the bathroom, and washed his face in water. He held his head in his hands, feeling the stress from the dreams. "Get out of there." he hissed at the dreams he has every night about that unknown world... or dimension, he doesn't know exactly what it is.
Somewhere Else.
"That back-stabbing son of a-" Kage cursed, but grunted before he could finish.
"Take it easy, Kage." Kolulu, Kage's girlfriend was wrapping bandages and placing a cast on his right arm. They were in Kolulu's house. "Who attacked you anyway?"
"What do you expect? It's Zero, the mamodo who you hate as much as he hates you. He snuck up behind me and attacked me. Then next, he took some of my blood and place in a small vial. And last, he left me bleeding on the ground like that." Kage answered with so much anger in his voice. He was able to leave the Ever Night Forest by flight and get to Kolulu's house for help. Kolulu's parents helped out mending his wounds and Kolulu was now doing the finishing touches.
"Kage. I told you that he will do something like this, but you wouldn't believe me. He's a monster and he'll always will be a monster. Just like what he did to me back in the war,"
"What? Why didn't you tell me? What did he do to you?" the ghost mamodo was getting angrier by the minute.
"Before I met my partner, he attacked me, and said he did it for revenge,"
"Well, did you do anything to him?" Kage's question left Kolulu speechless for a few seconds. "Well?"
"Oh, be quiet. I didn't do anything to him, now hold still so I finish this," the pink-haired mamodo lied, knowing that she was the one who started the whole hatred thing between her and Zero.
'I know dissolved my hate for Zero for what he has done to my people in the past, but now he has crossed the line,' Kage thought to himself. 'I can change my mind if I want, I'm gonna make Zero pay for this.'
At The King's Castle.
Zero flew to Zatch's castle and landed in front of the main entrance, his wings sinking back into his body. The front gates opened, and two guards came up to him.
"The king's waiting for you. Please follow us." spoke one of the guards.
"No need to," responded the hybrid. "I can find my way to the king myself." Zero walked pass the two guards and into the castle. Since Zero was in the castle before, he sure knows his away around it, especially where he can find the king. By the time he entered the throne room, Zatch was already there to greet him.
"Hi, Zero. What's up?" the king greeted the hybrid.
"Not much, except for the lack of sleep from the dreams I've been having."
"What dreams,"
"Remember that one time last year when I asked you if we could go back to Earth to meet our book owners. Well, after we got back here, I've been having the same dream every night ever since."
"Oh. Well you can take rest here if you want. It'll be my honor. And Zero, the reason I called you here was that I have an offer for you."
"What kind of offer?" the Hybrid Mamodo asked.
"Since you're gonna be the next king in a few years, I thought it would be best... if you would like to become the captain of my guardsmen."
"I..." Zero was surprised. Next to being king, captain of the king's guardsmen is like the second highest rank of superiority in the entire Makai. "I don't know what to say."
"It's okay. Take your time. Like I said before, take a nap and you'll feel better." Zatch suggested.
"Zatch!" Tia ran straight into the room bearing ill news. "There's a crisis going on and we need you!"
"Okay I'll be there, Tia. Zero, just rest a bit, okay?" said the king. Zero sighed first, and then nodded. As Zatch left, the Hybrid Mamodo walked over to a nearby sofa and laid there on his back. He stared almost endlessly at the ceiling. Boredom took over, and soon later he fell asleep.
Back at the Ever Night Forest.
Arisha, along with several children from different species of the creatures of the night were wandering a bit away from the capital town. They were having fun playing around in one of the purple grass area. Purple grass areas are several areas in the Ever Night Forest where the grass was all lavender-colored. The lavender-colored grass was a lot softer than normal green grass. It makes you feel like you were sleeping on the softest cushion in the entire universe.
Arisha looked at the other children. There was a young male gargoyle mamodo playing tag with a male raven mamodo. Raven mamodos by the way, are part of the nocturnal mamodos. She turned to see a mutant mamodo climbing a couple of trees. Arisha really had nothing serious to do, so she laid on her back on the very soft purple grass. She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. She has been like that for several minutes, unaware that someone was watching her every move. A pale hand touched the side of her cheek and brushed it through her hair. It caused the vampire mamodo to wake up.
"Aw, did I wake you?" a cold female voice asked. Arisha jumped to her feet, realizing that the other creature of the night children were gone. She turned to see a doll-like mamodo girl a bit shorter than she was, with short black hair and big purple eyes. There lines on her joints. She was wearing a black Victorian-style dress. And last but not least, she has a cold look on her face.
"It's been a while... Arisha." the doll-like mamodo spoke with ghostly like high pitch voice.
Arisha took a step back with an angry expression on her face, narrowing her eyes at the other. "Fonce Ying." she hissed in pure anger at the other. "What are you doing here?"
"I was just walking along, until I saw you sleeping on the ground. Don't worry about the others, though. They took off running at the very sight of me." Fonce answered, and then giggled sinisterly. "Oh, and where's your boyfriend?" this made Arisha let out a small growl.
"What do you want with him? If you even dare think about taking him away from me again-" Arisha asked, realizing that the other mamodo was starting to mess with her.
"I can't help it, he's such a cutie." Fonce chuckled evilly, enjoying the sight of the vampire mamodo getting angrier.
"What are you up to now, Ying?"
"None of your business." Fonce continued to mess with Arisha, knowing what she did during the battle was a total mystery to Arisha. And even if she was hitting on Zero or flirting with him, he wouldn't fall for it. "You should see the look on your face. It's absolutely priceless."
Arisha ran up to the doll-like mamodo, grabbed her by the collar of her black dress and pinned her against a nearby tree. "Stop messing with me. You're just as bad as Kolulu. Stay away from Zero. Ever since what happened between us, even thinking about you sickens me."
"Aw, but that was a long time ago. Why can't you let go of the past?" Fonce said slyly, giving an evil smirk.
"Because I know you better than anyone."
"Even more than Zero?"
"How dare you say that!"
"Seeing you getting angry is so much fun, that I want to do this forever." Fonce laughed so coldly and evilly, she sounds like a banshee mamodo that is laughing after making a kill. Arisha growled angrily that she threw the other mamodo at another tree. However, Fonce flipped over and landed safely on her feet.
"Okay, I guess my fun here is done. Until next time... girlfriend of Zero." Fonce laughed maniacally as she disappeared into the shadows.
"Don't you ever come back here, Fonce Ying! You dare come near Zero again... I'll kill you myself!" Arisha ran away from the area, face soaked in tears of someone as cold as Fonce Ying messing her so much. Especially what happened between them years ago before Arisha met Zero.
With Zatch and Tia.
Tia led Zatch to the a large courtyard on the very roof of the castle. On the far end, there was a gateway that leads to Earth. "What could be the problem?" Zatch asked one of his guards.
"My King, the gateway has been activated, and someone has entered it."
"But how? I sealed this gateway so that no more mamodo can escape to Earth! How can it be opened?" Zatch freaked out, with Tia trying to keep him calmed.
"We're still investigating, milord." the guard answered.
"Oh man, what's going on here?" Zatch asked himself.
Back with Zero.
Zero was having trouble sleeping again. The dreams were coming back to him. However they were different this time.
In his dream it showed him at a beach, his feet in the shallow water, and his face soaked in tears. But what for?
I need more affection than you know (Reversed)
Zero continued to cry on the beach, but then wiped his tears away with his hand. He looked up at the setting sun with a determined look on his face. He suddenly leaped out of the water, with his wings spreading out of his back and everything went white.
In you and I there's a new land
He found himself now at the very top of King Zatch's castle. He was fighting and running passed the guards of the castle, until he ran up a few steps up to the roof of the castle, to find the main gateway that leads to Earth. He also saw Arisha lying unconscious on the ground. He screamed out her name, and tried to awake her, but it was no use.
Angels in flight
I need more affection than you know (Reversed)
Zero turned to face the gateway. Standing in front of it was an evil mamodo, carrying Zatch over his shoulder. The mysterious mamodo turned to look at Zero. The evil mamodo held out his hand to Zero, hoping that he will take it.
My Sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah
Where fears and lies melt away
Music will tie
Zero, filled with pure anger and rage charge straight at the other mamodo and pulled out his Raker Soradon spell. He was about to strike his enemy, but the other mamodo pulled out an axe of energy and parried Zero's sword. Zero swung his sword again, but the enemy mamodo jumped over it and landed in front of the portal. The mamodo smiled evilly as it turned and ran into the portal.
I need more affection than you know (Reversed)
What's left of me, what's left me now
Zero was crying again as he hugged Arisha, who was still unconscious. Then he released her and ran into the portal after the mamodo. Then the scene changed to Arisha with a look of pure sorrow on her face. She was looking out at the horizon, sitting on the highest branch on one of the tallest trees in the Ever Night Forest.
I watch you fast asleep
All I fear means nothing
Then everything went from day to night as it showed Arisha in a different scene, walking alone across a plain of grass towards the king's castle. She still believed that Zero was right there beside her.
In you and I there's a new land
Angels in flight
I need more affection than you know (Reversed)
My sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah
Where fears and lies melt away
Music will tie
I need more affection than you know (Reversed)
The scene changed again, with Arisha, Tiko, Ember, Blizzar, and Kage at the castle. Tia ran up to them, carrying a note in her hands. She gave to Arisha. All the mamodos began to read the note; it was a message from Zero, telling them where he is and what he must do. Everyone decided to go find him. On the message was a small drawing of a stairs. The camera view zoomed straight into the stairs as the scene quickly changed.
So many ups and downs (Reversed)
It showed a never ending staircase in a very dark area. Running up the never ending stairs was Zero and his partner Rahkshi, both running at great hastes up the stairs.
My heart's a battle ground
I need two emotions (Reversed)
But
Rahkshi cast a spell that made Zero's Raker Soradon sword spell appear in his hands. Zero and Rahkshi looked up to see the evil enemy mamodo and his lackeys, as the scene changed again. Zero found himself in a large hallway. On the other end of the hallway were evil mamodos that looked exactly like his friends.
I need more affection than you know (Reversed)
I need two emotions (Reversed)
Zero charged at the other mamodos and began battling each at a time. Zero used some of his other spells to blast most of the enemy mamodos away from him and then threw is sword at the last enemy mamodo standing. The scene changes again back to Zero and Rahkshi still running up the never ending stairs.
You show me how to see
The scene changed once again to a white room, where it showed the enemy mamodo that Zero was after. He looked exactly like Zero. The enemy mamodo turned around just as Zero came through a nearby door, with his partner behind him.
That nothing whole and nothing is broken
The enemy mamodo smirked as the doors slammed shut, leaving Rahkshi outside and Zero trapped inside. Zero prepared for battle, but then he caught in an unknown trap. The trap was beginning to suck the life out of him.
In you and I there's a new land
Angels in flight
I need more affection that you know (Reversed)
Zero looked at his lookalike. The lookalike smirked evilly as he said the 'angels in flight' part without audio. Zero lost conscious as a tear of hopelessness escaped his eye.
My Sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah
Where fears and lies melt away
Music will tie
It showed Arisha, Tiko, Kage, Ember, and Blizzar going their own different paths up the never ending stairs, fighting their own lookalikes on the way up. The Zero lookalike was watching the whole. He began to laugh maniacally with no audio, knowing that it's hopeless.
I need more affection than you know (Reversed)
What's left of me, what's left me now
The scene changed one last time as it showed Zero in the same place he described in his previous dreams. He saw his lookalike awaiting him for battle. Both transformed into medieval dragons, one of black and light colors, and the other gold and silver colors.
My fears, my lies
The two dragons were mercilessly attacking each other, fighting forever in a never ending battle. A battle that will go on forever... and ever... for the rest of eternity.
Melt away
I...
I need more affection than you know (Reversed)
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Zero's eyes shot open as he got up, screaming in complete fear of the dream. His head was covered in both tears and sweat. He was breathing heavily and was shivering in fear. He got up from the sofa and walked onto the balcony of the room outside. It was suddenly night with a crescent moon out as well as a starry sky.
Zero hugged himself, not from the cold, but from his loneliness. He misses Tiko, Ember, and Blizzar so much now. He'll do anything to have Arisha by his side again. He even wish to have some company with Kage.
"Was that a nightmare... or... a vision?"
To Be Continued...
