Chasing a Dream
Getting booted into another reality after burning to death is really not my idea of a good time. Neither is finding myself in a world of my own, infested by gangster cats. On the other hand, being kind of the world is kinda fun. I could have done without getting stuck in an angsty brats head though.
Lets go for round two!. Enjoy!
Chapter 2
It didn't take long for Amy to put the odd dream out of her mind. Sure, it had been rather scary and she could remember it unusually clearly, but she wasn't about to bother Carol with a dream of all things. Plus, it was probably just because she was working so hard. Maybe she should take the Directors offer of time off after all…
Her day was mostly pretty normal for a sunday, with the only unusual thing being called in to heal LUNG of all people from an eclectic mix of poisons and toxins from all kinds of nasty bugs that reacted very poorly to the large amount of sedative in his system, resulting in his healing shutting down and his body undergoing necrosis. No matter how much she tried (which wasn't hard) Amy couldn't really bring herself to care and took more than a little pleasure from the fact she'd had to regenerate his manhood. Vicky certainly got a kick out of it when she told her sister the story on the way home.
Unfortunately, the levity quickly faded over dinner, which consisted of Carol ignoring Amy, Vicky talking like a machine gun and her Dad idly picking at his food. Somehow, dinner was always more exhausting than working.
"Urrg, finally," groaned Amy as she once more fell into bed.
Hopefully she wouldn't dream about cats again tonight…
DING...DONG...DONG…DING!
"Wha...oh god!" said Amy as she opened her eyes and found herself in the same place as her last dream.
"My apologies, but I do need to speak with you," said John's voice from behind her.
"What do you want?" she said, "And how are you doing this?! Some kind of Telepathy...?"
She turned around and trailed off when she saw the masked man. He was sat in the same chair as yesterday, but today he was joined by a disgruntled looking tabby she thought was called Jericho and a pair of cat girls in rather revealing clothes, a large collar with a bell on it and a mask like his attached to the side of the heads sitting at his feet. Great, so a nutcase and a pervert.
"Like I said yesterday, this is a Dream," said John, "I am not a Cape, I'm not even Human."
Amy frowned. Despite how crazy the claim sounded, there was a part of her that was finding it harder and harder to disbelieve Johns story. If a Master/Shaker did want her for something, why go about it in such a roundabout way? It was clear that the man was powerful (if he was a Cape at least), so he should have no problem with grabbing her while she was out and about. True, Vicky would be a deterrent, but she wasn't around all the time. Besides, if he did want to get her alone, there were far easier ways than to do so in her own bed.
"Say I believe you," said Amy slowly, "What do you want from me?"
John seemed pleased by the question as he sat back and steepled his fingers.
"My world is boring," he said, "The closest thing to entertainment is the occasional Human coming through with some odd dreams. I came to your world looking for something interesting to do, but if I want to remain here for any length of time, I require a Host.."
Amy frowned again. She really didn't like the sound of that. Most things that needed hosts weren't good for said host in the long run.
"And if I agree," she said slowly, "What happens to me?"
John shrugged.
"You gain a voice in your head and an army of cats in your dreams," he said, "Oh, I could simply take your body, but that a massive dick move and it honestly doesn't interest me. Plus, trying to get by in a female body sounds like more of a headache than I care to deal with."
Amy blinked. She just couldn't get a bead on John at all! Half the time he sounded like a refined gentleman, then he randomly came out with a comment that sounded like a teenager and casually admitted that he could just kick her out of the own body!
"I...what?" she asked numbly.
John tilted his head on one side and Amy got the distinct impression he was smirking under his mask. Mainly because the cats around the area were all snickering. Getting laughed at by cats? That was certainly a new experience. Amy shook her head and got her thoughts back on track.
"What happens if I say no?" she asked.
John shrugged.
"I move on and see if I can find a new Vessel," he said, "There are countless minds out there that are compatible and I'm sure one of them will be open to a roommate. Or maybe I'll end up squashing an idiot on principle and end up with a body that way. Either way, you probably won't ever see me again."
Amy let that stew in her mind for a moment. She didn't like the idea of John taking a body for his own, although she got the distinct impression that it would require a certain type of person for the cat man to take that route. Most likely the type who ended up in the ER with stab wounds from a gang fight. However, thats not what was really bothering her.
"Why me?" she asked.
"Hmm?"
"You just said that there were a huge number of possible...vessels for you to use," said Amy, "So why me?"
John was silent for a moment, before he lent forwards in his seat and took off his mask. Amy was rather surprised to see that, under the mask, he looked surprisingly Human. Oh, his eyes were slanted and catlike and his nose and mouth were also rather feline, complete with fangs, and what looked like red face paint marking out three whiskers on each cheek, but other than that, she probably wouldn't look twice at him in the street. Well, other than his bright yellow eyes with white, paw print shaped pupils. Well, that was certainly not something you see every day.
"Because I could sense your loneliness from the Dream World," said the catman.
Amy blinked.
"I'm not lonely," she said.
John gave her a flat look.
"How many friends do you have at school?" he asked.
Amy blinked.
"I have plenty of friends," she said.
"Mmhmm, and how many of those friends are actually your sisters?"
Amy opened her mouth, but immediately realized he had a point. Somehow.
"How do you know about that?" she asked.
"I'm a Dream Demon," said John, "The Human mind is an open book to me, especially when I'm actually living in said mind apparently."
Amy genuinely had no idea how to respond to that.
"Oh, and I've also got a good sense of your mental state," he continued, "Your stressed, on the verge of clinical depression and your minds getting very close to cracking. You CANNOT keep going like you are without having a Bad Day that will turn you into Bonesaw MK.2, now with extra Nilbog."
He lent forwards and met her gaze.
"Amy, you need a break, friends and someone to talk to about all your problems. I can give you that and possibly more."
Amy frowned.
"More?"
"I am the Chaser," said John, "That means I chase down the truth. I know a great many things, about you, those around you and this world. Things you could scarcely believe, things past, things present and things future."
Amys eyes widened.
"Your a Precog?!" she spluttered.
"Not in the way that you'd understand it," said John, "Its more than I can see possibilities. I don't know if some things will come about or not because there are a thousand and one things that can change the future at any given time. Hell, simply by contacting you, I probably caused the timeline to twist and change, making some of what I know useless. Still, I can and will help you, if you'll allow me."
Amy looked down at her hands. She still wasn't entirely sure if she could trust the Dream Demon, but...he was right. Despite wanting to deny it, she had enough experience at the hospital to know that he was 100% correct about everything he said. She'd treated people for stress related illnesses and seen a few Doctors burn out because of working to hard. She was also well aware of the fact that, if she did snap, she could easily become exactly what John had described. She...didn't want that. Amy took a deep breath and looked up at John, who had replaced his mask and hood.
"Alright, I'll do it," she said, "I'll be your Vessel."
The reaction was immediate and the gathered cats started cheering and jumping around.
"You have my thanks Amy," said John, "I promise you won't regret it."
Amy opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a pair of arms wrapped around her neck and she found herself being dragged into a pair of soft breasts.
"YAY, NEW FRIEND!" squealed her captor, apparently bouncing up and down as she hugged Amy, which really didn't help the disorientation, "Ohh, We can paint our nails, and try on clothes, and talk about cute boys!"
"What do you know about cute boys?" asked a second voice, "All the males here are Palico and the Master isn't exactly what I'd call cute…"
"Oh phewy, your no fun Blakey!" said the first voice.
"DON'T CALL ME BLAKEY!"
By this point, Amy had managed to wriggle free of the tight grip and managed to get a look at her 'attacker'. It was one of the cat-girls, a busty beauty with short, violet hair that curled up on either side of her head, yellow eyes and a cute pout. Like the rest of the feline females, she was wearing a revealing outfit that almost resembled a swimsuit...sort of. It consisted of a pair of panties with a cross on the front that looked like Johns belt and a strap across the chest with the same cross, connected by white fur. Her arms and legs were covered in shoulder length gloves and thigh high boots respectively, the same colour as her hair and edged with more white fur. A copy of Johns mask was attached to the side of her head.
The other cat girl was wearing an identical outfit, but her gloves and boots were the same black as her hair and tail. Her eyes were yellow and surrounded by a hint of mascara that only made her look more catlike (as if the ears didn't already do that) and she wasn't quite as busty as the purple haired girl. She also looked younger, closer to Amy's age. Thanks to the fact she was growling at the first girl and showing her teeth, Amy could see that she had fangs, although they weren't massive.
Amy was cut off from her embarussed examination of the two scantily clad girls by the arrival of a frankly massive cat with a scar over one eye and a chef's outfit stomping up and knocking the bickering cat-girls heads together.
"Quit ya yammering you two!" he growled.
"Sorry Chef," said the two girls in unison, rubbing their now smarting heads.
The grizzled old cat snorted and turned to a rather confused Amy.
"Don't mind these two, they're just boisterous little kittens," he growled, ignoring the yowl of protest from said kittens, "Names Chef, I'm the one who keeps the Kittens in line and stops them from making to much trouble for the Boss. As for the Kittens, they're Blake and Blair."
"Um, nice to meet you?" said Amy.
She was rather off balance by this utterly bizarre turn of events, not helped in the least by the fact the cats seemed to have started a party, complete with a buffet that had appeared out of thin air and consisted of fish, canned cat food, some kind of fowl and what looked suspiciously like roasted rodent. There were also cats playing with balls of wool and getting high on catnip, including one of the cat-girls, who was laid out flat, giggling to herself and batting at the cat toy another cat was waving in front of her. And she'd agreed to allow this lot to set up shop in her head?
"Hey, quit spacing out and lets have some fun!" said Blair, cutting through Amy's thoughts as she grabbed her wrist and dragged the protesting healer into the heaving mass of adorable puff balls.
For what might be the first time ever, Amy was glad to wake up to the sound of her alarm. John's Little Chasers were a friendly and excitable bunch, some of them rivalling Vicky for sheer energy and they had managed to keep up the party all night and hasn't let her escape once. Not that she really could considering the Garden was in her own head. Still, she'd had a lot of fun and couldn't stop the smile that was permanently fixed on her face. She'd even managed to make a couple of friends in Blair and Blake, despite the formers rather sensual nature.
Feeling content and rested for the first time since she'd gained her powers, Amy rolled out of bed and stretched, rolling her shoulders and flicking her tail as she headed for the bathroom to wash up before breakfast.
"Morning all!" she said as she walked into the kitchen ten minutes later.
"Morning Am…" said Vicky, only to trail off as she looked up at the Healer, her eyes widened in shock.
"Your in a good mood this morning," said Carol as Amy dropped into her seat and started on the plate of scrambled egg that had already been put there, her tail waving happily.
"I had a good dream last night," she said.
"Oh, well, thats go...AMY?!" said Carol as she turned around, only to let out a startled yelp as she saw her adopted daughter.
Amy's ears twitched as she looked up and saw the looks she was getting from her sister and mother.
"What?" she asked.
"What do you mean what?!" spluttered Vicky, "You have a TAIL! And cat ears! What the hell?!"
Amy blinked.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
Vicky gave her an incredulous look, before reaching behind her and…
"MEYOWW!" yelped Amy as Vicky grabbed her tail and pulled, "HEY, WHAT WAS THAT...for…?"
She trailed off as her mind finally connected the dots and she looked behind her. Sure enough, there was indeed a long, cat-like tail the same colour of her hair sticking out of the seat of her pants. Her hands jumped to her head and, sure enough, there she felt a pair of fluffy ears in place of her normal, Human ones.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" she shrieked.
You know, I actually considered leaving it at the moment Amy left her bedroom, just to see the WTF comments I got, but this was a lot more fun. I'm just sorry I didn't get chance to have her say 'Nya' before she realized shes now part cat.
I DID say that I'd be changing how a Dream Demon taking up residence affects the host, if said host is a Parahuman. Normally, the changes wouldn't be so obvious, but Amy's power made it so she gained the new additions as soon as John got settled.
Yes, those two catgirls are based on Blair from Soul Eater and Black from RWBY, with their outfits changed to match the ones John's Little Chasers wear. No joke, look it up. They'll be back in no time. Oh, and Chef's obviously the Palico Chef from MHW.
I designed John's face from the ground up. He's not really based on anyone as far as I know, but I didn't want him to be stuck in his mask for the entire time.
I think its probably obvious, but this chapter is set just after Taylor's encounter with Lung.
Hmm, I wonder how Tattletale's power would react to a Dream Demon? What do you lot think?
Anyway, I'm done. I'll leave you with the image of a cat-girl Panacea while I go to sleep and dream up more ideas. Until next time, don't forget to leave a review!