Darkness. All I saw was darkness – nothing more, nothing else.
I was falling into the darkness. Falling into endless oblivion – where was I going to be taken?
I tried to move my body, but to no avail – I didn't budge. At least I could move my eyes…
At first, I wonder if this is one of Hana or Isamu's usual pranks – those siblings were quite a pair of troublemakers.
But the more I was falling, the more I realized that this wasn't a prank. Was this real?
Aren't I asleep back in Twilight Town? If I'm asleep that means… I'm in the dream world.
Looking down, I saw a vast blue ocean. Oh, no! I'm gonna fall into the water and drown! Someone help me! I can't swim!
To my surprise, when I reached the ocean – I managed to land on it. And you know what the weird part is? I'm still able to breathe! Strange…
Looking down at the vast ocean, I saw my own reflection and the clothes that I was wearing – a purple midriff top underneath a black sleeveless vest, a pair of fingerless gloves adorned my hands, lavender shorts and black boots with laces on them. I whipped away my long brown hair in order to examine my emerald green eyes and tan skin.
As I looked around the area in which I landed, a mysterious voice came into the fray and startled me: "So much to do, so little time. Don't be afraid, however…"
Where did that mysterious voice come from? How did it get here… and why do I find it familiar?
"Who's there?" I asked, as I looked around some more.
"Take your time, my child. No need to fear me…" The voice reassured me, yet I didn't know what I should do.
Just then, a light came down from the black dark sky. "Step forward, my child. Can you do it?" The voice asked me with a hint of kindness in her tone.
Despite my conscience telling me otherwise… I felt like I could trust the voice. So, I did as it asked of me and stepped forward into the center where the light was.
Just then, three pillars arose from the ocean. "Power sleeps within you, child. If you give it form, it will give you strength."
Three weapons appeared on the pillars – a sword with black hilt and yellow handle along with a pommel, a shield with red trims and black front cover and a staff with a green handle and yellow end.
"Choose well." The voice told me.
Hmm… let me see – what kind of weapon should I choose? Looking at the sword, I decided that it wasn't the thing I would most definitely wield. Yet, I wonder…
Walking up to the sword, I picked it up and the voice spoke up. "The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction." The voice explained whilst I examined the sword. "Is this the power you seek?"
Nope. Definitely not that weapon that should choose. I didn't want a sword that had terrible destruction or invincible courage. Hmm… what about the shield?
Upon reaching and picking up the shield, the voice once again spoke. "The power of the guardian. Kindness to aid friends. A shield to repel all." Mysterious voice explained to me whilst I looked at the shield more carefully. "Is this the power you seek?"
The power of the guardian… interesting. Plus, the shield has the ability to repel all – does that mean… I can use it to defeat the forces of darkness? I don't know to be honest. The shield is an interesting choice… but I wanna check on the staff first.
Putting down the shield, I walked over to the staff and picked it up. Guess who came back to explain things? That's right – the mysterious voice! "The power of the mystic. Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin. Is this the power you seek?" Mystery voice finished explaining.
Hmmm… while the wonder part did seem intriguing, I was against the whole having inner strength and committing ruin. I don't think the staff is for me…
So, that just leaves only one option – the shield. I'm also protective of my friends… even though they are only two. My decision has been made.
Picking up the shield once more, I heard the voice explain once again the power of the guardian. At the end when it asked me if this was the power I chose, I gave a nod. "Yes, I choose this power."
Almost immediately after I said that, the shield disappeared from my hands! Creepy! "Your path is set. What shall you give up in exchange?" The voice asked.
So, I had to choose and give up a weapon? What a strange dream this is…
I spent a couple of minutes thinking on what weapon I should give up and… I've decided on sacrificing the sword. I didn't want to wield a weapon that spelled trouble or had invincible courage.
Picking up the sword, the voice explained to me once more the power of the warrior and once it was finished, it asked me. "You give up this power?" I nodded in return. Just like with the shield, the sword disappeared. What kind of dream is this?
"You've chosen the power of the guardian and have given up the power of the warrior. Is this the form you choose?" The voice asked me and I nodded.
"Yep. This is the power I choose – am I done with this dream now?" I asked, but immediately regret opening my big mouth.
The pillars sank back into the ground and soon only I was left on top of the blue ocean, which almost immediately split into two… Wait, what!?
Soon, I found myself falling through darkness yet again! Oh, boy – great job, screwing this up Asuka!
I continued falling through the darkness until I saw a new ocean, which was colored dark blue.
Landing on it gently, I took a good hard look around and I saw nothing but darkness…
Just then, in my hands – the shield that I had chosen appeared. Weird…
"You have gained the power to fight." Fight? Who am I supposed to fight exactly?
Just then, to my shock – small black creatures with yellow eyes and broken antennas started crawling out of the ground.
"What the hell are those things!?" I asked, but the voice only replied with the following words. "Keep your light burning strong."
Seriously? That's all of the advice that the mysterious voice is going to give me? Goddamn it!
Just then, the creatures started charging at me and I swatted a couple of them away with my shield. Turns out, it acted just like a baseball bat – luckily me.
Soon, they disappeared and thank god for that! I was about to relax when…
"Behind you!" The voice warned me.
I turned around and noticed that a shadow was about to lunge at me. Luckily, I swatted him away and gave a sigh.
Suddenly, a dark void appeared under my feet to which I began to get sucked in. I struggled in the hopes of getting out in time, but it wasn't working! I'm screwed! Eventually, I was sucked in and everything became black.
Soon, I awoke and found myself on a new ocean. This one was surprisingly colored pink – why? I have no idea…
Looking around the area, I noticed that there was a door sitting in the middle of the pink ocean. Why was it there? What was the door's purpose? So many questions… yet no answers.
Walking up to the door, I tried to open it… but to no avail. It stayed shut like a locked chest…
"It won't budge. Strange…" I whispered to myself.
As I turned around, I was stunned by the appearance of a treasure chest that came from out of nowhere. Now I'm more confused. How on earth did a treasure chest get here? Where did it come from? More importantly, how am I going to open it?
Walking up to the chest, I examined it and what do you know! It was unlocked! Lucky me! Inside I found a Potion – what a coincidence! I didn't drink it of course.
Those small black creatures didn't hurt or gave me scratches… why waste a perfectly good Potion? I might as well keep it – just in case I run into extra trouble.
Well… what now? I opened the chest… yet what I am supposed to do now? Hmmm… I guess I could try opening the door again. I don't have any other choice – there's nothing much to do here.
Walking up to the door, I twisted the handle and to my surprise – the door was opening.
Blinded by light but not stuck, I stepped forward. I wonder where I'm going to end up…
Soon, the light died down and I found myself standing in the courtyard of the Twilight Town Station Plaza where the Clock Tower was.
How did I even get here? Did the light bring me here? And if so… why? Was this because I opened that door that appeared on the pink ocean?
Looking around, I was surprised when I saw three of my very good friends – Hayner, Pence and Olette. What in the hell were they doing here?
"Hold on – the door won't open just yet. First, tell me more about yourself." Mysterious Voice returned and explained the rules of this test or whatever it was.
So, mystery voice wants to learn more about myself? Very well, then…
The first person whom I spoke to was Hayner – a 15-year old boy with spiky blond hair, light skin and brown eyes.
"What's most important to you?" He asked.
That was an easy question. "Friendship – it's one of the most important things in my life." I finished explained.
"Hmph! Is friendship such a big deal to you?" I gave him a look of annoyance due to his attitude personality. Seriously, why does he gotta act like an ass sometimes?
I turned to speak with a friendlier person in my opinion – Pence. Another 15-year old with black hair and brown eyes.
"What do you want outta life?" He asked me.
I crossed my arms and started thinking of a good answer to this question – what is my goal actually? Hmm…
After a few minutes of thinking, I gave my answer in a nervous tone. "I guess… going on different adventures with Hana and Isamu."
"Going on adventures, huh?" Pence asked.
There was one more person that waited to ask me a question – someone I admired and was also a very close friend of mine. Her name was Olette.
As soon as I approached her, she asked me the following question. "What are you afraid of?"
Hmmm… a trick question. Let me think…
For a moment or two, I was quiet. And then I came up with an answer to Olette's question. "Losing a person whom is close to me – even if it's a friend or family member…"
"Losing someone close to you…" Olette was pondering. "Is it really hard to lose a person that is close to you?" Yes, Dream Olette – if I lose someone that is close to me… I don't know what I'll be able to do.
"You want friendship. You want to go on adventures with your close friends. You are afraid of losing someone that is close to you. Very well… your journey begins at midday. If you keep a steady pace, you'll do fine." Mysterious Voice explained and I gave a nod.
"Alright, sounds like a plan." I replied. Like the voice said, if I keep a steady pace on this… journey I'm going – I'll do fine. I can only hope…
Soon, another bright light blinded me and then I found myself in the pitch black darkness once again standing on another ocean, which was colored red.
Okay… so, what do I do now?
"The closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes." Mysterious Voice explained these words to me.
The closer I get to the light, the greater my shadow becomes? What the hell does that mean? What does my shadow have to do with any of this?
Wait… oh, no! Please don't tell…
I turned around and to my shock – my shadow was becoming alive and it was growing into a giant monster! What the hell is going on?
Stumbling onto the ground, I started to shiver in fear. How am I supposed to even defeat my shadow when it was growing into a giant monster?
"But don't be afraid, my child. And don't forget…"
Once my shadow finished transforming into a giant monster I took a closer look at it – it had small wings on its back, an open heart-shaped hole, glowing yellow eyes and was taller than of the shadows that I had seen in my dream.
Getting up quickly, I turned around and started thinking of a way to get out of this dream. But I realized that I was standing on an ocean with no way out… Fuck!
I have no choice, but to fight! The shield reappeared and I charged forward. Turns out, the fists were the only weakest parts of the monster, so I immediately started hitting them. It was working for now… A few attacks from my shield later, my Shadow charged one of his fists and slammed a dark ball of energy into the ground. A dark pool was formed and from it came out the smaller creatures. I wasted no time and immediately defeated.
Turning my attention back to the big Shadow, I charged forward and started hitting the left fist yet again. Soon, I jumped back in order to take a deep sigh and prepare for another fight.
Unfortunately, karma has to be a bitch right now since my shield suddenly disappeared from my hands. What the hell!? I was so busy with wondering how my shield disappeared that I didn't pay attention to the incoming fist. Luckily, I managed to jump back just in time before it managed to hit me. Unfortunately, I fell to the floor as a dark void opened up beneath me.
"But don't be afraid…" Mystery Voice assured me.
Darkness began to engulf my boots and legs.
"You hold the mightiest weapon." As the voice told me this, I tried to shake the darkness away, but it was no use. I was being engulfed very fast…
"So don't forget…" The darkness engulfed me completely and my vision turned to black. I couldn't see or move at all…
In the deep black darkness, I heard the mysterious voice telling me these final words: "You are the one who will restore order and bring forth the light that will vanquish the darkness. Remember your destiny… Asuka."
(Outside the Dream World – the Noir Residence.)
I sat up on the bed gasping for air, as sweat came down from my face. Taking a good hard look around, I sighed in relief when I noticed that I was back in my bedroom in my adoptive home. Thank God…
What was that dream? So bizarre, yet so real…
Just then, a knock on the door came. I wonder if it's Mom or Hana…
"Come in! The door's open!" I stated and inside my bedroom came a 14-year old girl with short black hair, green eyes, a black long-sleeved shirt with thick purple lines, white skinny jeans and sneakers. This is Hana Noir – Isamu's little sister and… surprise, surprise! My adopted sister.
Hana gave a snicker. "Really, Suk? Still sleeping?" She asked.
"Come on, Hana. Give me a break – it's only…" I paused as I took a look at the clock. To my surprise, it was – "HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! IT'S 8:30 IN THE MORNING!" I yelled and Hana started laughing – hard.
"Hana, this is no laughing matter! Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked and Hana calmed down as she stopped laughing.
"Well – one, you sleep like a bear or log and two – that's what you get for staying way past midnight. I'd figured me and Sammy didn't want to wake you up… so, we just left you to sleep while the two of us got some breakfast. Mom's angry at you again for staying up late last night, by the way." Hana explained.
I gave a sigh as I laid back onto the bed and the pillow. "Why, merciful god… Why do I always stay up so late?" I asked myself with a groan.
"Quite frankly, sis… I have no idea. And also, no offense but I've been wanting to get you out of bed for quite a while now. We need to meet up with Isamu at the Sandlot. Says that he has something big to tell us… plus, this is my chance!" Hana replied with an evil grin on her face.
Her chance? For what exactly? "Umm, Hana… what's with the grin on your face and what chance are you talking about?" I asked.
Hana turned to look at me. "My chance to catch Seifer off guard and defeat him in a game of Struggle! He'll regret the day he messed with Hana Blake Noir! Oh, yes!" I immediately regretted asking that question.
Seriously, what does Hana have against Seifer? Granted, he is a total jerk and an unfair disciplinary… but he isn't that bad. Okay, he is an asshole – but my adoptive siblings and I have never had anything against Seifer… well, except for Hana – yet I don't know why she would act like this. Maybe it's to protect her pride? I have no idea…
Hana looked at me. "Suk, get up quickly! You need to go and get breakfast and then we're off! We can't let this opportunity pass! Please, sis! I beg you!" She pleaded and I gave a sigh.
Aw, screw it. Might as well go and see how Hana will attempt to defeat Seifer…
"Okay, okay… give me a few minutes to get set and changed into my normal clothing." I replied. I was wearing my pajamas and I need to change. Immediately.
"Good girl, sis! I'll be waiting downstairs! Don't waste time for too long!" Hana stated with a smile as she left the room.
Ugh, Hana – I swear to God. One of these days, you'll really regret it…
Getting up, I stretched my arms and made my way towards the wardrobe in order to fetch my casual outfit…