FAN FICTION: Nightmares and Dreams
SERIES:Bubblegum Crisis
STORY1:Sylia's Choice
Part 1
by
David Lindquist
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Disclaimer:Bubble Gum Crisis and all characters thereof are
the copyright of AIC. All AD&D Oriental adventures characters
and setting copyright of TSR inc.All rights reserved.
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FORWARD: This is the first of my second fanfiction. It is also the
hardest thing I have ever wrote. It took me 2 months just to write
the opening paragraph and to tell you the truth I STILL don't know
how it will end.(I have two differant ending in mind. I'll probably flip
a coin) :) I would like to thank everyone who helped answer my
questions. I don't know when part 2 will be out but it will be written.
Thanks and enjoy!!
This story takes place one week after BGC video no.6(Red Eyes).
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Sylia's Choice part1
As she slipt into her warm bath, Sylia realized just how
weary her body felt. * I hope this helps,* she thought. *If is
doesn't I don't know how much more of these nightmares I can
take.* Sylia's troubles began the the first chance she had to
sleep after their battle with Largo. She awoke an hour later barely
barely stifling a scream. Ever since then Sylia could sleep without
having an nightmare. The ones she could remember all ended about
the same, her leading the Knight Sabres the their demise. Because
of these bad dreams she wasn't getting any rest. She tried swimming
in her private pool in order to remove the tension that she felt was
causing her troubles. Sylia quickly realized that it wasn't working.
In desperation, she decided to try one of her mother's stress
relief techniques.Taking long, hot baths had been her mother's
second favorite way of relieving stress. Her mother insisted on a
large bathtub when Sylia's parents moved to Megatokyo. In order
to get the tub, Sylia's father paid for it from his own pocket. Those
baths were also one of the few memories she had of her mother. *I
loved it when mother and I took those baths together,* she
thought, slowly twirling a finger in the water. "Beep.......Beep!"
Her enjoyment of those memories was interrupted by the ringing
of the video phone. Sighing, she retrieved the waterproof remote
control from its place and pointed it towards the one way audio-
visual-phone entertainment center that was embedded in the far
bathtub wall. Pressing the caller id button the screen immediatly
identified the caller. *Mackies calling from Raven's garage? I
hope he isn't overworking himself.* Sylia pressed the accept
button. The screen instantly changed showing the image of a
greased stained, sweaty, concerned looking Mackie.
"Sis? Are you okay? I'm not getting a visual on you," Mackie
said.
"I'm fine," Sylia said."I am just taking a bath."
Sylia watched as her brother's eyes glazed over and an silly grin
formed on his face.
"You're ...ah completely nude then" he stammered out.
" As I recall, that is how a bath is normally taken," Sylia said,
just barely keeping the irratation out of her voice. * I wonder if he
is ever going to grow out if that,* she thought as she watched her
brother try to compose himself. *I'd better find out what he called for
before he says something I will make him REALLY regret.*
"What did you want to talk about, Mackie?"
"Well....um... I got the..ah...old equipment fixed except for the ......
fourth item. Ah..... That'll have to be totally.... err... replaced, but
if we need the others we'll have them," he nerviously said.
*At least he hasn't totally lost his senses.* Sylia thought.
After their final battle with Largo, Sylia decided to upgrade the
security systems at all the Knight-Sabres facilities. Until they were
set up she had instructed the other members not to say anything about
their work unless it was face-to-face.
"Anything else?" she asked.
"Uh....I wanted to remind you that Priss will be getting
out of the hospital tomorrow afternoon. From what I've heard, the
hospital will be glad when she's gone.
Sylia smiled at that remark. *Priss must be getting back to normal
then,* she thought.
" Oh...almost forgot..," Mackie said, bring Sylia's attention
back to the view screen," I'm going to be spending the night here.
It's okay with Doctor Raven. There's a project I want to finish up.
Unless....ah..... you need me?"
"No. That is alright," Sylia said." Just don't overdo it."
*I'd better check the changing room for hidden cameras
tommorow,* she mentally noted. She then said,"If that is it then
good night Mackie."
" Pleasant dreams, sis." he said before he closed the
connection.
" That's what I'm hoping for Mackie,"Sylia whispered as
she pressed the disconnect button, closing the connection at
her end. She layed in the tub for a few minutes then she pressed
the button that set the timer alarm .* I'd better set the alarm, just
in case,* she thought, After she put the controller back Sylia
retrieved the wet, folded washcloth she had prepared beforehand.
* Maybe after this I will be able to get at least get some rest
tonight.* Sylia thought as she laid back, put the wash cloth over
her eyes, and relaxed................
*Wha....?*
*Where am I...?*
*How did I get here?....*
*Who was that?.....WHO AM I?!*
"Sensei? Are you okay?"
Lifting her arm from her eyes, Sylia slowly sat up from her futon
and looked at her student.
"Yes Nene-chan, I'm fine. Just a nightmare," she said.
"A nightmare before this important a battle?" Nene said, with
a worried look on her face. "That is a bad omen. A very bad omen."
"Is it almost dawn?" Sylia asked irritably.
"Hai, sensai," Nene replied.
"Go awaken the others. After you all have eaten, prepare the
horses. I wish to leave as soon as possible. I will eat in here."
" Hai sensai," Her orders recieved Nene stood up, gave her teacher
a low bow and left the small chamber.
Sylia watched Nene leave with a slightly guilty look on her face. *I'll
have to apoligize to her later,* Sylia thought as she watched Nene close
the sliding door. A slight rumbling in her stomach broke her train of
thought. *I had better get something to eat.* After shifting to a kneeling
position, Sylia placed both her middle fingers down to her palms then she
brought her hands together. Bowwing her head slightly she spoke.
" O' GREAT COTTAGE, " Sylia said "PLEASE GRANT THIS UNWORTHY
PERSON SOME NOURISHMENT SO I MAY FACE THE DAY!"
As she finished her incantation a globe of white light slowly glided
down to the floor. The instant the globe touched the ground it transformed
into a bamboo serving tray with a bowl of rice, some fish, a teacup, some
utensils and a kettle of tea, all ready to use.
" My thanks," Sylia said moving towards the food. *Adding the ability to
produce meals to the origami cottage definetly proved to be the best use
of that limited wish,* she thought as she poured the steaming tea into her
cup. Putting the kettle back and beginning to eat her meal, Sylia's mind
began to review what had sent them on what could be their greatest
battle. It had all started four days ago. The Knight Sabers were in the
western most part of the Shou Lung empire. They had just destroyed
a group of Bakemono bandits that were raiding villages in the area. Settling
at a inn on the outskirts of one of the villages, they were sitting in a corner
of the main tavern splitting up the spoils from the battle.
"This will bring some good coinage from a jeweler," Linna said,
examining a gold and diamond bracelet.
"Is that all you can think of Linna? " Nene asked a slightly
irritated look on her face. "Money."
"It's better than dreaming about some hansome samurai to
come along and sweep you off your feet!" Linna responded.
"Let's not go into that conversation again, okay?" Priss interupted,
the pain of her hurt ribs showing on her face. "Damn, who would have
thought that the runts could hit so hard."
"Your ribs still bothering you?" Sylia remebered saying.
"Yes," Priss replied "Very much."
Sylia reached into her small pouch and pulled out a small blue vial. Leaning
over the table they all were sitting at she handed the vial to Priss.
"Here," she said " Drink this."
Priss carefully took the vial from Sylia and drank it. After a few moments
the tension in her body seemed to relax and a relieved look cross her face.
"What was that stuff Sylia? I feel great!" Priss said.
"A healing potion, " Sylia replied. "I picked it up at Chi lun."
As the others continued to talk Sylia looked around the the room. She
was the first to notice the five men entering through the outer door. Four of
them wore full O-yorio armor but each one carried a differant weapon. The
first one carried a pair of katanas similar to her own strapped in an X
formation on his back. The second carried two kamas hanging from his
belt. The third carried a large battle axe while the fourth had a chu-ko-nu
and a pair of sias. She reconized their demeaner instantly. * Samurai
bodygaurds,* she thought, *but I can't make out who they are gaurding.*
Her attention turned to the fifth member of their group. He was dressed
in a black hooded robe that covered the figure from head to toe. *Why
do you look so.....familiar?* she thought. Just then one of the samurai
turned towards their table. *Now I can find out what clan has their
loyalty.* Sylia got a good look at his helmet insignia. Her anger flared
at the sight of the golden letter G that was on the helmet.
"Sylia? What is it?" Priss asked.
"Genom Guard," Sylia replied. Her attention never leaving the five
men as they walked towards the barkeep.
"Here!?" Linna said her and Nene's conversation silenced at
the mention of their greatest enemy.
"Prepare yourselves," Sylia said "but don't draw your weapons
unless I say so. Understood Priss?"
"I thought he was going for his sword!" Priss said defensively,
releasing the catch that held her ninja-to in it's scabbard.
Linna readied her razor chain, smiling slightly at Priss's outburst. Nene
ignored the conversation as she gathered some spell component for quick
access. Her eyes never left the five men as Sylia undid the holding cord
that kept her katanas in their scabbards. She watched as the man in the
black robe pulled a small pouch out and handed it to the katana wielding
samurai. The samurai walked to the barkeep and leaned over the bar. As
he talked to the barkeep Sylia noticed that the barkeep's face went
white and he began to sweat. The samurai finished talking, handed
him the pouch and walked back to the robed man. The barkeep looked at
the pouch for a few second, grabbed his coat that was hanging behind him
and half walked/half ran out the door. After the barkeep left the robed man
began to walk towards their table. He stopped when one of the other samurai
started to walk with him. He turned and said to the samurai ;
"It is allright, Mutako, they will not harm me."
Sylia recognition of his voice was instantainious. *Lord Quincy?*she thought
*Why would our worst enemy come to us alone and be so sure we will not kill
him?* As Sylia's mind pondered her own question, she watched Lord Quincy
walk up to their table.
"Greeting, Sylia-san" he said he then reach up and pulled his
hood back. The other three Knight-Sabres were momentarily shocked at sight
of Lord Quincy. They quickly recovered and each of their faces showed the
hatred the Knight-Sabres felt for him.
"What do you want?" Sylia said "I know you didn't come
all this way just to give us your salutations."
"True," he replied. "On behalf of the emperor, I wish to hire
you."
"When hell freezes over!" Priss barked out. Sylia turned and
stared at Priss. They looked at each other for a few moments then with a
disgusted expression on her face, Priss broke eye contact, folded her arms
across her chest, and slouched slightly in her chair. Smiling, Sylia turned
her attention back to Lord Quincy.
"Though I wouldn't had put it quite that way," Sylia said, her
smile fading." My opinion is the same as hers."
"Even if it means the final destruction of Mason?" he replied.
Sylia couldn't hide the surprise at the mention of his name. Maison had been their
most persistant enemy, attempting to kill them on more than one occasion. The
final straw came when one of his attempts missed them and killed friends of
Linna and Priss. They tracked him to Hibiki Castle with the intent of avenging
them and settling their fued once and for all. The battle was the most intense and
bloody the Knight-Sabres had ever participated in only ending when Sylia drove
Kotetu, one of her katanas, through Maison's chest. Then as a warning to others,
Sylia cast a spell that collapsed the castle on top of his corpse. Her mind refused
to accept the possibility that he lived.
"Impossible," she said matter of factly, "Mason is dead."
" I thought so too," Quincy quietly spoke then he gestured with
his left hand towards the table set next to them. "Please, can we talk privately and
let me present my suspicions to you. I am willing to pay you for the time."
Sylia thought for a few seconds then rose from her chair and walked to the other
table followed by Lord Quincy. Sylia sat down at the side of the table with her back
towards the other Knight Sabres. Quincy sat at the table's head, his back to his own
samurai. Sylia reached into the same pouch she kept her spell conponents in and
pulled out a small timeglass. She set the timeglass on top of the table with the sand
in the top.
"You have until this," she spoke, pointing towards the timeglass,
"runs out to convince me."
Quincy's face showed no emotion as Sylia watched for a reaction to her words,
but his betrayed his anger at his treatment. He sat there, glared at the timeglass
for a few seconds then he turned and looked at Sylia.
"Very well," he said as his face beginning to return to normal. " Two
weeks ago the village of To Lon was destroyed by what we thought was a bandit
raid. We sent the 5th Genom Light calvary battalion to deal with the problem. The
village was leveled to the ground and the heads of the village leaders were impaled
on pikes."
"What happened to the other villagers?" Sylia asked.
"Butchered," Lord Quincy replied emotionlessly "The commander sent
a scouting party to backtrack and find the attackers point of origin."
" Let me guess," Sylia interupted. "The trail led to Hibiki castle."
"Yes," he said. "Apparently something blasted its way out of the rubble
and started destroying whatever crossed its path."
"What makes you think it was Mason?" Sylia asked.
Lord Quincy reached into his robes and pulled out a small pouch. He untied the
drawstring then flipped it upside down spilling out a golden ring onto the table. Picking
up the ring, he handed it to Sylia for her to inspect.
"That," he said pointing at the ring, "is my biggest reason."
Sylia examined the ring closely. It had small diamonds arranged in a circle around the
setting. The setting was a medium sized ruby . Sylia examined the ruby and saw the
letter G embedded in the top.* It's his ring,* Sylia confirmed mentally.
"It was found near the temple ruins at Satome." Quincy said drawing
her attention back to him. " We believe that he is there."
"That only proves that someone might have done some graverobbing,"
Sylia quietly contested, the doubt forming in her eyes. Quincy drew in a long breath
and let it out slowly. He gazed straight ahead almost as if Sylia wasn't even there.
"Madigan disappeared the night we recieved word of the massacre."
It was then that Sylia began to believe him. *Madigan and Mason were lovers up to
his death,* She thought. *She also didn't take the news of the emperor's refusal to
grant the Genom clan the right of vengeance against us very well either. If anything
would make her leave her lord, his return would be it* Sylia then noticed that the sand
in the timeglass had almost run out. *His evidence is weak but my instincts says to
believe him,* she continued ,*In any case it is worth investigating.* Sylia reached out
to the timeglass and took it from the table. She returned it to her pouch.
"I want one million Ch'len as payment," she said gazing directly at
Quincy. "You can keep the money for this talk. It proved ....interesting."
Lord Quincy raised an eyebrow at her words then reached into the folds of his robe
and retrieved a small bag and scroll.
"You will need the scroll to pass the battalion surrounding the
temple and here is your fee." He said as he placed the two item on the table. "Here
is 100,000 Ch'len as a down payment. The rest will be waiting for you at the battalion's
basecamp," He then stood up. "I will send an messager to tell them to expect you
within the week. Good luck." He bowed to her then turned around and left the building,
his guards trailed behind him. Sylia didn't watch them leave, her thoughts were
entwined with the the ring she held in her hands. *How could he have survived?* she
thought, her face developing a weary expression. * Why can't this struggle end?*
"Sylia? Are you okay?" Linna asked quietly.
Sylia turned, slightly startled at the voice she heard. * I was so self absorbed I
didn't hear the others walk over.* Sylia stood up and looked at the other Knight Sabres.
" I want everything prepared for us to leave hear early in the morming."
she commanded, ignoring Linna's question.
"So we're going to take this job, huh?" Priss said, a slight sarcastic
edge in her voice.
"Yes," Sylia replied as she reached over and took the scroll and pouch.
"I sure hope you know what your doing Sylia," Priss stated plainly.
Sylia's response to Priss's words echoed in her mind as her thoughts returned to
the half-eaten meal before her.
"So do I Priss," she whispered.
"So do I."
END OF PART 1
PART 2: The Knight Sabres prepare for war and they discover just how evil and powerful
their enemy has become. To find out keep an eye out for Sylia's choice Part 2.(Unless
noone reads this then I'll probably won't write it.)
APPENDIX
ORIGAMI COTTAGE= The ORIGAMI COTTAGE is a mystical object of some power. They
appear as a small origami sculpture of a cottage or home. Upon reciting the activating phrase
the sculpture grows to the size of an oriental home complete with stable. They are very rare
and valluabe.
BAKENOMO BANDITS= Creatures of various shapes , sizes and colors. They often form
bandit hordes under the command of an Ogre magi or an oni and raid different cities.
SHOU LONG EMPIRE= Main nation in KARA_TUR . Wages war on the nation of Wa.
RAZOR CHAIN= The chain, in the hands of a kensai(weapon master) makes it an extremely
deadly weapon . It can decapatate a person in no time.
