Chapter 1: Trial of the Noise.
I felt like I was falling down, down, down into the endless abyss, I felt like I was drowning in a deep ocean, I couldn't breath, I couldn't see and my body felt like it was at the mercy of the flow before after an undetermined time my body eventually flips over before landing on something solid.
"Where am I?" I muttered to myself as my eyes adjust to the new light clearing up the slight fog in my vision and I could see clearly that I was standing on a tall circular platform standing along in an endless dark abyss with a stain glass design on the surface..
"This is…A Dive to the Heart." I said recognizing the place I was in very well, "But how can I be here, It this a dream?" I mutter to myself as I looked down on the design of the platform the large image was of a sleeping girl with short brown hair with yellow headphone like objects over her ears and two white prong like things on her head, wearing a skin tight light brown body suit that showed her belly button with a black tank top and shorts for lack of a better term and a white jacket over top and yellow skirt with yellow trim, a pair of white socks that went up to her thighs and a pair of black and yellow boots with a white scarf around her neck.
I sat down on the platform cross legged about near the image of the girl on the platform crossing my arms and frowning in thought. "But what's going on here this is a place from a fantasy game, Is this a dream…" I trail off and bitch slap myself across the face…
"Oww…." I moan at the pain from the strike, "Nope definitely not a dream that hurt waaay to much, hmm maybe if I think about the past few hours." I mutter to myself laying down on the platform using my hands as a pillow.
"Lets see, I walked to the local mall, went inside to the Game Stop and picked up my preordered copy of The World Ends With You Final Remix, getting the Player Pin replica Pre Order Bonus, Preordered Kingdom Hearts III, Bought myself a toy Keyblade before I left." I paused at the thought and looked around noticing it wasn't with me.
"Darn it." I mutter to myself before recollecting my thoughts, "Then I went to the food court and got some lunch, I sat down with my food and got out my phone to start reading the Symphogear Manga i had recently found out about and had downloaded it onto my phone to give a read as something to pass the time while I was out, having meant to try and see if there was an anime of it upon returning home, when…" I frowned hard as I recall something, an angry shout, a loud band, terrified screams and a second of sharp pain in the back of my neck before it went blank.
I opened my eyes, "So that's what happened if Im remembering right, I got shot by a robbery gone wrong question is am I dead, in a coma and dreaming, or something else.
"Welp I ain't gonna find answers sitting around here." I mutter flipping up onto my feet looking down at the platform, "Still I have to wonder who this girl is, if the dive is supposed to represent my own heart shouldn't it show my or someone important to me…. Or could she become one in the future." I say trying to place the image of the girl
Suddenly a small mirror like window appeared in the center, I went up to it and took a look at it. In the reflection instead of what I was wearing now it had on a white sleeveless vest with orange on the sides and white trim on the bottom and edge of the sleeves with an orange trimmed high collar that went up to the base of my skull with a checkered yellow and black wrist band around my right wrist. A pair of black shorts with bulky pockets that took up the entire side of the shorts on each side, with a brown belt with a silver buckle and a pair of black shoes with a purple stripe down the middle, around my neck was a thick black scarf. I also saw my reflections hair was a moonlight silver color and the eyes were Amethyst Purple.
I reached out to touch the mirror, my hand going slightly through the mirror before there was a bright flash and I fell forward
When the light died down I was now physically wearing what I had seen in my reflection, I reached up and grabbed a strand of hair and saw it was silver now, I turned around and saw my old image in the mirror before it vanished.
I also noticed the image on the pillar had changed as well now the image on this pillar was of a sleeping teenage girl with long blue hair that went to her shoulder with a side ponytail, a blue skin tight shirt with a black low cut one over top of it with a white vest with blue trim and the bottom, black fingerless gloves and white arm guards with blue shoulder guards above that, white knee length armor and blue heels.
Suddenly, countless mirrors appeared surrounding the platform each showing various moments of my life, I looked upwards and noticed the mirrors seemed to go on and on upwards, probably endlessly.
"What?!" I say in shock looking at the countless mirrors showing various memories from my life
Suddenly three of the images flew out from the circle, each displaying a key moment in my life that I felt shaped the person I have become today.
"What." I comment looking at the three mirrors that stood out from the rest.
'What do you desired?.' A voice stated
"Woah who said that?!" I demanded only to be met with silence.
I first decided to go up to the left most mirror and took a look at it.
'Wisdom… A sharp mind that will grand you mastery of wondrous power. Is this what you desire?' The Voice Asks.
Feeling it wanted an answer I replied, "No." in a firm tone wanting to check the other two options first and going to examine the mirror in the middle.
When I got close to the middle one the voice spoke up again, 'Vitality… A rugged body that will endure even the toughest of challenges. Is this what you desire?'
"No." I repeated again, honestly I was leaning towards this pick but I wanted to examine the last option first so I headed to examine the third mirror.
'Balance… A body and mind of equal merit and equal potential. Is this what you desire?" The voice asked.
"No." I said before walking away a bit, I looked over the Mirrors and thought long and hard over it before deciding I was more of an action guy so I went for Vitality.
"Yes." I replied to the voice after it asked me again if Vitality was what I desired.
The Vitality Mirror turned into light and went into my chest
"What?" I mutter placing my hand over where the light went, I felt stronger somehow.
The mirrors representing Balance and Wisdom disappeared, then three more mirrors came out of the circle, this time showing images that while made me who I am today instead of the positive images in the last set these ones were the negative events.
'What power do you seek?' The Voice says.
"So are you gonna talk to me or answer any of my questions?" I ask rhetorically.
Silence was my answer.
"Sigh, I figured." I mutter actually saying the word Sigh before going up to examine the new set of mirrors starting with the leftmost one.
'The power of the guardian… Kindness to aid friends. Is this the power you seek?' The voice asked.
Something about those words seemed really familiar but I wanted to check the other mirrors first, "No." I replied walking away from the mirror and towards the second one.
'The power of the warrior… Invincible courage. Is this the power you seek?' The Voice asked again.
"No." I said quickly going towards the third mirror to see my final option.
'The power of the mystic… Inner strength. Is this the power you seek?' The voice asks.
"No." I say more firmly and quickly this time the last one holding no interest for me, I walked to the middle of the pillar and say down on the platform and looked between the Warrior and Guardian mirrors trying to decide which one would be best.
"Well they say the best defense is a good offense, but I do want to me able to protect my friends… hmm." I say after a few minutes making up my mind and hopping up going to the Warrior Mirror.
'Is this the Power you seek?' The Voice asks again.
"Yes." I reply with resolve.
The Warrior Mirror breaks into light and goes into my chest again like the Vitality Mirror and I felt something inside me strengthen as the Guardian and Mystic mirrors disappear.
'Is this who you are?' The voice asked.
"Yes." I say with a nod.
All the Mirrors light up before floating up and making a pathway leading off into the distance before they turned into solid stain glass rainbow looking stairs.
I looked around not seeing any other option, "Forward then I guess." I say beginning the trek up the pathway, it took me a good half minute to reach the next platform when I stepped onto the platform the entire realm shook violently almost knocking me down, when it stopped I looked behind me and saw the previous platform and the pathway was now gone.
"Looks like no going back for me." I muttered looking down at the image on the pillar this time it was the image was of a girl with short silver hair with a few strands that were longer going down to her knees, with a pink skin tight bodysuit and a dark red armor over her chest that exposed her midriff a white vest over top with a red gem on her neck, a pair of guards over her arms and wing like things attached to her hip.
Suddenly a heavy weight appeared in my right hand, I turned and my eyes widened in shock.
"This is….." I gape in shock as the new weapon I was now holding a blade in my hand that looked like a hybrid of a sword and a giant key. Its design was predominantly black, the teeth were shaped like the Skull shown on the Player Pin in Twewy game with the blade being composed of two black metal pieces elongating from the skull design at the base of the hilt. Between the two pieces was a thin purple line that quivered like a sound wave. This hilt was made up of two metal pieces protruding from a circular piece that was red inside which held the aforementioned Skull. The Guards surrounding the handle were shaped like a pair of headphones with the handle being black-gold, at the base of the weapon was a red lanyard connecting the weapon to a small toy cat charm
I was holding a Keyblade, more specifically the Skull Noise Keyblade.
"A Keyblade." I finish in awe looking at the famous signature weapon from Twewy's sister game series, it felt metal and real in my hand, unlike the toy prop of this exact keyblade I had bought before I found myself here in the Dive Stations.
I gave it a few experimental swings holding it in a reverse grip like Ventus does, the blade felt perfect in my hand like I was meant to hold it. I was really happy right now that I had decided to sit in on those swordplay classes they offered at the renaissance fair I went to last summer.
Suddenly a bunch of graffiti like markings appeared around me and out from them came several frogs with green bodies and yellow eyes, with blue tattoos for its hind legs.
"DIXIEFROGS?!" I yelled out in shock seeing familiar creatures known as Noise, "But why Noise and not Heartless?" I ask myself as usually in this place you found Shadow Heartless or Dusk Nobodies, Suddenly one of the Dixiefrogs leaps at me delivering a kick with its hind leg.
"Raugh." I grunt in pain as the attack actually hurt a lot, another one made for an attack but I was ready this time and I swing Skull Noise knocking it back. "So this is like my Psych to fight the Noise something tells me I need to defeat these guys, that losing to them wouldn't end with me waking up.
I gave Skull Noise a little twirl in my hand before rushing forward ducking under as one of the Dixiefrogs jumps at me, before quickly spinning around and striking the airborne frog noise with a quick three strike combo which causes it to disintegrate into static.
"One Down." I mutter to myself.
Feeling the hairs on the back of my neck sticking up, I spun around to see one of the Noise leaping at me, I held the Keyblade in a defensive position knocking the frog down, quickly delivering the vanquishing blow to it.
"Whew." I panted after defeating all the Dixiefrogs, being bruised slightly from all the kicks I took and feeling a little wobbly, I noticed my feet were feeling soaked and looked down to see the platform was covered with...
"Water." I muttered confused, taking a step back, I could barely see the image on the station, I saw a small portal in the distance, "Guess that's the way forwards." I say taking a step.
Suddenly the ground shook and the water began to recede quickly forming a giant wave.
"Shit a Tsunami." I curse out running towards the Portal, "Come on Reach!" I plead with myself reaching out my hand before I'm ensnared by the wave and thrown around violently, once I get my baring I see a light shining down from the surface so I swim upwards. Once I break the surface I take a breath and shake the water out of my hair.
"What?!" I stutter seeing im now standing in an open sky above the clouds, I tapped my foot a few times, the ground felt solid even though it rippled like I was standing in water. Suddenly I heard a rushing noise.
I frowned staining my ears, the noise was getting closer and closer at an alarming speed, "WOAH!" I yell out jumping to the side at the last minute as a shark fin streams by me before breaching the ground.
"A Swing Shark!" I say recognizing the Boss Noise that Erases Rhyme, This was going to be a tough fight, suddenly five light blue frog like noises with blue tattoo legs each surrounded by four tadpole like creatures appeared surrounding the Shark.
"Crap I had to jinx myself." I berate myself gripping Skull Noise tightly, I knew the frogs were most dangerous especially with their bubble attack so I had to focus on them while avoiding the Boss.
I rushed forward barely avoiding a rush attack by the Swing Shark, as I throw the Skull Noise in a Strike Raid, the momentum slightly stunning one of the Bigbanfrog's and destroying several of the bigbansprogs. I saw one of the Bigbanfrog's throat sacs inclating.
"Not Good." I say rushing to attack it but I was too late and it released the bubble attack, pelting me face first with countless bubble, "GAH!" I yell out as the attack plastered my face burning like crazy before suddenly the Swing Shark breaches from the surface and takes a bite out of my side.
"Guruh!" I groan out my body seering in agony, despite not having taken any physical damage form the bubbles and the bite I could feel as if my soul was damaged incredibly, I knew I had to be careful and not rush like before or else I would be finished.
I took a deep breath and let it out, "All right new strategy." I mutter to myself twirling Skull Noise behind my back.
I saw the Swing Shark swimming past again, this time when it went by I swing my Keyblade at it a few times to chip away it's health, before running towards the Bigbanfrog's again.
The Bigbanfrog's launched there bubble attacks but since I could see them I threw Skull Noise the blade popping the bubbles harmlessly and destroying one of the Noises, I quickly rolled out of the way to avoid a bite attack from the big Noise before summoning Skull Noise into my hand and slashing at it's exposed face before it dove back down again.
I winced with a slight hiss as a stray Bubble hits my back but I push through the pain, no wonder Partners were so important for the Reaper's Game when fighting these Noise I was severely struggling alone.
One of the Bigbansprong's leapt at me but I swept it aside with a slash of my sword, before quickly following it up with three quick strikes to its nearby frog companion, destroying the second one, before quickly spinning around and throwing Skull Noise once more destroying the third and fourth Bigbanfrogs.
I rushed forward summoning Skull Noise wincing as I took some damage from some bubbles before slashing the weapon destroying the last frog.
"Just the big fish." I say panting heavily my face matted with sweat, I could feel the damage my Soul had accumulated, I was on my last legs, it was literally him or me.
"Bring it." I say eyes narrowing gripping Skull Noise in anticipation and Swing Shark and eye stare into each others eyes a silent breeze fluttered by before I ran at the Noise gripping Skull Noise tightly as it rushes towards me, it's fin rushing through the ground like a hot knife through butter.
My lets tensed as I put slight pressure on my feet as Swing Shark's fin vanishes under the ground, "HAAH!" I yell out leaping forward as the Boss Noise breached the surface, we sailed by each other I slashes my Keyblade right as I passed it as it makes a bite attack before we cross fully both landing on the ground.
I fell onto my knees no longer having the strength to stand up, having to use my Keyblade as support to keep from falling down, I was literally hanging by a thread, behind me I heard a loud crackle of static before my vision became staticy and the world looked like someone was rewinding an old VHS Tape, I let myself breathe a sigh of relief knowing that meant I had defeated the Boss Noise and I felt my stamina return.
"This is a surreal experience." I say standing up looking around at the beautiful horizon, "So what now?" I question myself before seeing something out of the corner of my eye, I turned to look and immediately my whole body turned crimson red at the sight.
What I saw was a girl with long red hair and dark red eyes who looked to be about a young adult, late teen by the looks of it wearing her Birthday Suit.
"Hu Ah Bu…" I mutter intelligently my jaw on the floor.
The girl just gives me an interested and analytical look before smirking and I heard a loud shattering sound and I fell through the clouds, Skull Noise vanishing from my hand.
-IASGL-
Despite the long fall from the clouds I landed gracefully with a light tap against the ground inside some sort of city.
"Where am I?" I mutter to myself looking around, before feeling something cold in my hand, I opened my hand to see a small circular white pin with a Skull and crossbones image on it, "My replica player pin?" I say wondering how it got there giving it a flip, the trinket fliped over and over before landing in my hand.
When it did I was bombarded by noises, like countless radio stations turned on at once
'Ooh I'm so nervous I want to propose but my nerves keep getting in the way.'
'I heard that Tsubasa might be quitting Zwei Wing'
'I just wish a Noise would attack my boss, would show that bastard for skiving my promotion.'
'Hello Readers of this Fanfic!'
I dropped the pin in shock, "Th-That was real!" I say looking at the pin wide eyed, why would the Player Pin for the Reaper's Game suddenly work like I was a Player in the Reaper's Game, to even be in the game, you'd have to be Dea….. "Oh." I mutter thinking about how I got shot in the brain, question was if I was a Player what was my Entry Fee.
Suddenly I heard a chirp from my pocket, I reached in and pulled out a flip Phone, which had a Purple Base and an Orange Cover, Noticing it had a message I flipped it open and read it.
'Defeat the Noise with the Broken Relic. You Have 150. Fail and Face Erasure.'
As soon as I read the message I felt a searing pain in my left hand, looking there I saw what I had feared. A blood red timer that was slowly counting down second by second from 150.00.
"Crap, my life really is on a timer here, but what is this relic the Mission means?" I ask myself aloud before my phone gave another chirp, I looked at it and saw a new message.
'Meme Received: Balwisyall Nescelel Gungnir Tron'
I frowned reading the Meme, "Balwick Nescal Gungnir Tron?" I ask myself crossing my arms no doubt badly butchering the Meme's pronunciation, "Well no use standing around, trying to figure out what the Meme is for that would literally waste time." I comment before taking a few steps forward to look for any sort of clue about the Misson when...
WHAM!
"Guh." "Eek" A Girl's Voice calls out along with my own as we fall on our butts.
"Sorry I say looking up at who I knocked down and froze, I saw a teenage girl wearing what must of been a school uniform with light orange hair and dark orange eyes.
"Beautiful." I mutter in awe unable to catch myself.
"Hmm you say something?" She asks looking at me.
I turn my face a bit to hide my blush in my scarf, I clear my throat, "Sorry I wasn't watching were I was going." I say standing up and holding out my hand.
"It's Okay, I was in a hurry myself and wasn't really paying attention." She says taking my hand as I helped her up, her hands felt so smooth and warm.
"Well I'm glad you didn't get hurt." I tell her kindly.
"Umm… Can I have my hand back?" She asks me looking at our still intertwined hands.
I jerked my hand back as if I was shocked, "Sorry." I say hiding in my scarf.
She lets out an amused laugh at my antics that sounded melodious to me, "Ahh I'm gonna be late, Sorry about running into you!" She says about to rush off.
I was a bit curious about her attitude, "Where are you going, if you don't mind me asking.
She pauses and looks at me considering it a bit before seeming to not see any harm in it, "I'm going to get Tsubasa-San's new CD Release that came out today, since its a first release it will have Bonus materials." She tells me.
"Tsubasa?" I asked curious.
I get a surprised look, "Tsubasa, from Zwei Wing?" she asks me.
I shake my head, "Sorry she's a new name to me, I just came on a trip from overseas so I don't know to much of the Music from this area." I half lie as the seas I just came over was the dimensional seas, "But she must be a good singer if you like her, mind if I tag along with you, I do enjoy listening to Music so I might end up buying a few CDs"
"Sure, it would be fun to introduce someone to music, oh I'm Hibiki, Tachibana Hibiki." Hibiki introduces herself.
I smiled at her, "Nice to meet you Tachibana-Ya." I tell her.
"Ya?" Hibiki questions at the suffix.
I shrugged, "It's just something a Surgeon I liked back in my home town said so I picked it up." I tell her before I go to introduce myself and pause my eyes mentally widening, I couldn't recall my name at all, not even a trace of it.
'Do I have Amnesia?' I mentally ask myself going over various memories but finding perfect recollection of my own past, 'No not Amnesia then why cant I recall my ...oh' I realized what my Entry Fee was, my Identity. My most important thing back home had been to be my own person and not be known for my family name, guess I had to think of a new name fast, but what could I call myself a Player in a deadly game on a different planet then his own then inspiration struck and I gave the biggest mental shit eating grin as I thought of my favorite British Sci-Fi Show.
Not even a second in real time, I slip my hands coolly into my pockets, my face a calm stoic gaze, my scarf fluttering lightly in the gentle breeze that had just blown by, "I'm The Player."