Outsider Chronicles: Mask of the Dreamer
I had no idea what to expect when I died, but I certainly wasn't expecting to find myself in what could either be a dream...or a nightmare. Fortunately, I make a good Hunter.
Well, this is certainly one of my more twisted ideas. Its also not quite what it appears. At the risk of revealing to much and giving myself away, lets get started. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting when I died. Fluffy clouds? Golden Gates? Perhaps a tall fellow in a black cloak with a scythe? As it happened, I got none of the above. What I got instead was and old man with bandaged over eyes looming over me.
"Oh, yes... Paleblood…" he said, making me grimous at the stench of his breath, "Well, you've come to the right place. Yharnam is the home of blood ministration. You need only unravel its mystery. But, where's an outsider like yourself to begin? Easy, with a bit of Yharnam blood of your own... But first, you'll need a contract…"
I felt myself paling and I tried to get up and run away before he could do anything, but unfortunately, I was strapped to the table. I winced as I felt a prick in my arm and felt even more blood drain from my face as the old man straightened with a bit of paper covered in archaic scrawl and a drop of blood on the line meant for a signature.
"Good, all signed and sealed," said the Blood Minister, "Now let's begin the transfusion. Oh, don't you worry. Whatever happens... You may think it all a mere bad dream…"
I opened my mouth to yell, but before I could, the sensation of boiling lead entered my vain and I passed out.
One terrifying dream of the Bath Messengers and a burning Beast later and I awoke in Iosefka's Clinic. Needless to say, the first thing I did was curl up and nearly start crying in terror. I had no idea how I got to Yharnam or what in the world possessed me to even entertain the idea of coming anywhere near the Cursed City. Actually, that wasn't completely surprising as I couldn't even remember my own name. After a few moments of cursing whatever life choices had led me to this point, I eventually got of the table and stumbled over to a nearby cabinet. Maybe seeing my reflection would help me remember something. It didn't.
Looking back at me was an unfamiliar face with unremarkable brown eyes and short, brown hair, clad in the foreign armour set with the only difference being that the trousers were baggier than I remember from the game and the lack of a red waistcoat..
"Well, thats unhelpful," I muttered, "Well, I guess I can't stay here all night. Guess I ought to get going and find out what in the hell is going on."
I turned to the staircase that led to the outside and gulped.
"I can do this," I muttered.
I squared my shoulders and walked down the stairs, only to freeze at the sight and sound of the Beast eating the poor sod.
"Nope, can't do this," I muttered.
Unfortunately, that mutter seemed to have attracted the Beasts attention as it looked up and saw me.
"Crap."
With a horrible howl that was half way between a Human scream and a wolfs howl, the Beast lunged at me, claws leading the way. I yelped and dove out of the way, avoiding the filthy claws by inches. The Beast landed and immediately pounced at me again, only to meet a foot to the face as I instinctively lashed out. Much to my surprise, the Beast went flying, smashing through the tables and into a cabinet that collapsed onto it. I hesitantly walked over to the shattered pile of wood and glass to find the Beast laying still, blood leaking from between its teeth.
"Huh...maybe this won't be so bad…" I muttered.
Then, the Beasts eyes snapped open and its claws flashed.
"Well, that'll teach me not to get cocky," I grumbled as I stumbled to my feet, rubbing my throat that had just been torn out by the Beast, "Now then...whoa!"
I was in the Hunters Dream, a place I'd always thought was cool as hell, but being here...whoa. It was truly a beautiful, peaceful place. Here, I felt like I was free of the Nightmares of Yharnam below. I slowly made my way up the steps, pausing as a group of Bath Messengers appeared baring gifts. I hesitated as I eyed the three Trick Weapons. For some reason, none of them seemed...right, almost like I was expecting something different. Still, I needed something, so I took the one that seemed the least foreign to me, the Cane. For the gun, I took the Blunderbuss and I accepted the notebook, before giving the locked doors an experimental tug. It didn't work, but I wasn't really expecting it to.
Instead, I turned back to the gravestones and took a deep breath.
"Well, back to the Hunt," I muttered.
"SHIT!"
Roll under a wild swing from a crazed Hunter and cave its head in with my Cane.
"BALLS!"
Sidestep the cleaver of another one, shoot it in the side and then crush its ribcage with a sharp jab.
"I can't take this!" I gasped as I reappeared in the Hunters Dream, "Two foes killed and I'm already out of breath! Shit, I'm gonna die! Repeatedly!"
"Stand strong."
I jumped at the sudden, breathy voice and spun around. No one was there, no one other than the Doll and she wouldn't be moving for a bit. I frowned. Something...wasn't right here. I shook off my misgivings and walked up the stairs to the Workshop. Might as well meet Gehrman. As I entered, the old man looked up and gave a weak smile.
"H-hah, you must be the new hunter," he said, "Welcome to the Hunter's Dream. This will be your home, for now. I am... Gehrman, friend to you hunters. You're sure to be in a fine haze about now, but don't think too hard about all of this. Just go out and kill a few beasts. It's for your own good. You know, it's just what hunters do! You'll get used to it..."
He turned his head to look out of the window at the Dream.
"This was once a safe haven for hunters," he whispered, "A workshop where hunters used blood to enhance their weapons and flesh. We don't have as many tools as we once did, but... You're welcome to use whatever you find. ...Even the doll, should it please you..."
I shuddered. Somehow, the idea of doing that just seemed...wrong and not for the ick factor.
"No thanks," I said, "So, any idea how long I'll be here?"
Gehrman looked up and gave a smile that sent a shiver up my spine.
"For as long as you need to be," he said.
Needless to say, I bugged out after that.
CRASH!
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT THING?!" I screamed as I desperately jumped out of the way of the Cleric Beasts swings.
The stupid thing was even worse than I was expecting.
"Please Sir, could you find my Mommy?"
I winced. I really didn't want to be responsible for this little girls death...stupid grimmdark stories…
"Beasts all over the shop…"
BANG!
"Shut up Old Man, I'm not interested!" I yelled as I shot Gascoigne in the face with my Blunderbuss.
He went down like a sack of potatoes.
"Huh, that was easier than I thought…"
"RAGGGGHHHH!"
"HOLY FUCKING SHIT!"
SPLAT!
"Ewwww, gross!"
"ROWWWWWW!"
"AHHHH, FUCKING MUTTS!"
"I….Hate….This….Place!" I snarled as I wrenched my Cane out of the blooded remains of the Blood Starved Beast.
CRUNCH!
"FUCK THOSE GIANTS!"
"Fucking...hell...how...much...more?!" I gasped as I tried to regain my breath.
I was currently on the edge of the Forests outside of Yharnam after taking out Amilia after what felt like an entire month of dying and reviving. I had long given up on trying to figure out a way out and had become uncomfortably used to dieing in various horrible ways at the hands of mutated monstrosities. Fortunately, I had found that I was oddly talented at fighting with a cane, although I wielded it in a way that made me think I had some training in swordplay. I definitely had some training in hand to hand combat, as proven by my fight with Djura, which had devolved into a fistfight and I had ended up snapping his neck in an impressive move that I'd instinctively pulled off and was in no way an accident. I had no idea where the skills were coming from, but I didn't really care, so long as they kept me alive. I took a deep breath and shook off my musings.
"Right, onwards!" I said and marched through the gates.
"SHIT!"
BANG!
"BUGGER!"
CRUNCH!
"PISS OFF!"
WHAM!
"HISSSSSS!"
"IEEEE!"
"ROWAR!"
"FUCK OF YOU FUCKING SHADOW FUCKS!"
"And I thought my walk to school was hard," I groaned as I lay against a tree, resting my aching muscles from the long journey through the forest to Byrgenwerth.
"I HATE SPIDERS!"
And so it continued.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity of fighting one cosmic monstrosity after another, I finally managed to reach Mergo's Wet Nurse and put my Cane through its none existent face. By this point, I had given up on giving a fuck and was just ready to have this Nightmare be over. As such, it was with heavy, exhausted feet that I stumbled up the hill towards Gehrman, ready to accept a chance to wake up and get away from the horrors of the Hunt. As I approached the old man under the massive tree, he looked up and smiled.
"Good Hunter, you have done well," he said, "The night is near its end. However, you are not quite done yet."
I twitched.
"What?" I said flatly.
Gehrman's smile widened as he shifted and slowly started to get to his feet.
"Come, Good Hunter, show me that you have the strength to wield this power," he said as he pulled out the Burial Blade.
"Aww shit," I muttered and threw myself back to avoid his opening slash.
Well, this was certainly unexpected. I honestly wasn't expecting Gehrman to attack me right off the back and something about that opening line set off alarm bells in my head. What did he mean 'this power'? It sounded like he was keeping something for me, but what in the hell could that be? I quickly shook my head as I deflected another slash. I could think of that later, for now, I needed to defend myself! I surged forwards and swung at Gehrman, who deflected it with a flick of his wrist.
As we fought, I couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. I shouldn't be fighting against the Burial Blade, I should be using it. Where that thought came from, I have no idea why considering I'd never even laid hands on the weapon, but I quickly shrugged it off. I didn't need to be distracted in this fight or Geherman would kill me. Normally, that wouldn't bother me since I could just respawn and try again, but something told me that something very bad would happen if I died here.
"Your open!" shouted Geherman as he suddenly surged forwards and slashed me across the chest.
My eyes widened as blood sprayed...before I suddenly appeared behind Geherman and slashed him across the back with my Cane, leaving my shredded coat behind. Geherman stumbled forwards, but didn't fall. He glanced over his shoulder and gave a smirk.
"Heh, not bad," he said, "It looks like your starting to realize the truth."
He vanished. I narrowed my eyes and spun around, catching his blade with my Cane.
"I...can see your movements," I said.
Geherman smirked.
"Good."
We vanished and the fight continued at speeds beyond that of Human senses, although that didn't stop the flowers and tree from taking a beating from missed strikes and deflected force.
"This is going nowhere," I thought as I deflected another swing and responded with a stab that was dodged, "I need to get him to hold still somehow…"
Then, the perfect method hit me and, without thinking, I pointed at Geherman as he appeared above me.
"Carriage of Thunder, bridge of the spinning wheel, with this, divided into six!" I said, "Bakudo 61, Rikujokoro!"
There was a flash of light and, before Geherman could react, six bars of golden light appeared out of thin air and slammed into his midsection.
"WHAT?!" he roared, struggling against his prison.
"I have you now!" I snarled as I appeared above him.
I drove my Cane down in a stab that somehow passed right through Gehrmans body and out the other side. As it did, the Cane seemed to shatter in my hands and was replaced by a Katana with a red wrapped hilt and crescent shaped guard. Gehrman coughed up blood as he stared down at the sword sticking out of his stomach in shock. Then, he smiled.
"Excellent work, my Master," he said.
However, his voice was no longer that of an old man, but instead that of a young woman with an eastern european accent. I smiled back as I stepped back, the sword desoliving as I did. Geherman got to his feet, his form rippling and shifting as he did into a young woman with silver hair, clad in a black leather coat and tricorn hat.
At the same time, the world rippled and reformed, the burning Workshop and gravestones around the area vanishing as it transformed into a field of flowers surrounded by trees.
"You know, that was incredibly mean," I said, "Bloodborne, really? Come on Yumemiruhito, I know this trainings supposed to be tough, but did you have to put me through all that? And sealing away my memories at that!"
I looked around.
"Actually, how did you do all that? I thought Bankai training was supposed to be done in the real world, not the inner world?"
Yumemiruhito smiled.
"My powers work within Dreams," she said, "Do you really think I couldn't create a world where we could train for Bankai without tipping your hand?"
I blinked.
"So wait, all of that was…"
"A dream, yes," said my Zanpakuto, "However, it works the same as if we were doing it in the Waking world."
"Huh, thats handy," I said.
"Indeed," said Yumimiruhito, "Now, we can talk more later. For now, you should wake up. It is morning and I think the Captain wants to talk to you."
I sighed.
"Deep joy," I muttered and closed my eyes.
"GOOOD MORNING YUMEJI!"
My eyes snapped open and I flipped out of bed, just in time to avoid taking a double foot kick to the gut as my Captain slammed into my Futon.
"GOD DAMN IT CAPTAIN SHIBA, WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT?!" I roared as I punted my idiot Capitain out the window.
Hehehe, well, that was fun. I originally intended to just leave it with a reveal that he was in fact training in Bankai, but decided that that would only really work while its in the Vault and kept going for a bit longer. Frankly, considering the fact I was skipping through the events of Bloodborne, it should have been a massive clue that I was planning something.
For those interested, Yumimiruhito translates as the Dreamer and she looks like Lady Maria from the Old Hunters DLC.
As for Yumeji, he's the current Lieutenant of Squad 10 under Isshin Shiba...and apparently going through much the same thing as Ichigo. Yes, I know that Rangiku was his Lieutenant, but you'll see what I have in mind. Actually, you can probably guess from the title.
And that'll do. The next chapter will be the standard 'heres what happened till now' chapter. For now though, please leave a review!