Sorcerer Hunters Fan Fiction ❯ Perchance to Dream ❯ DREAM WORLD ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Perchance To Dream

Written By: Teno Hikari
email: teno_hikari@yahoo.com / tenohikari@cs.com
Beta-Read By: Sarryn

Disclaimer: I own nothing but this computer and you can't have it!!!

Summary: To permanently seal the Hakaishin, Big Mamma attempts to kill Carrot by putting him into a deep sleep. However, her plans get interrupted and Carrot awakes physically the same; but mentally, a completely different person.

Warning: Spoilers for both the TV series and manga. Violence, adult situations (a lemon here and there), and yaoi / shounen ai - you've been warned.

Pairings: Carrot/Zaha, some Marron/Gateau, and some others I'll add in later.

-----------------------

"All stories are true, some just never happened."
The Sandman - by Neil Gaiman

-----------------------


['Carrot, what sort of dream would you like to have?']

['Dream?']


He could remember the day they met as if it were yesterday. She came into his life like sunshine dispelling the darkness he lived in. He began to lover from a distanced, unable to tell her of his feelings. It was the day she was taken from him, did he realize how much he had lost.

Then they came, the secret workers of Stellar Church, the Sorcerer Hunters. Despite that he was a Sorcerer himself, did not stop him from begging for his aid to save his beloved, a parsoner in fact. When she was rescued, he proclaimed his love for her and she accepted it.

They spent their lives together as husband and wife, and were even blessed with a child. It was when he heard of the tragedy that struck upon his Sorcerer Hunter friends, did he and his wife came rushing to their aid. A secret ally of the Church, he later renounced his title as a Sorcerer and later became a teacher. His most favored and beloved student, never ceased to make him proud.

"It's getting late, dear," his wife informed him as she stepped into the study. "Should I tell Ciel that he won't be coming?"

He looked up at the clock once more and shook his head. "No, he'll be here. He's late, but he'll definitely be here."

"But, dear," she protested. "You know how busy he is...I know how important his visits are to our daughter, but..."

"They're important to me as well," spoke the new voice from the doorway. He bowed politely to the startled couple before removing the hood that covered his head. "Sorry to intrude, Lord and Lady Shurein."

Sorcerer Qui Shurein, sword ally of Stellar Church, just chuckled as he rose to his feet and walked over to the young man. Bowing his head in a polite manner before reaching out to hug their late visitor. The smaller man in his arms stiffened in surprise before returning the hug.

"It's good to see you again, Qui," Zanahoria said finally after stepping away from the older man. His young umber eyes then spotted the Sorcerer's wife and nodded. "...Audrey."

"I'm glad you could come." She embraced him and chuckled as the sound of scuffle of small footsteps could be heard from the second floor. The hug was brief before Audrey stood beside her husband.

"I'm just sorry I don't have the time to visit often," he explained. The Haz Knight opened his mouth to say something else before he was interrupted. Something small slammed into him from behind, causing the young man to stagger forward.

"UNCLE ZAN!"

Zanahoria turned his eyes down to see small arms wrapped around his middle. A head poked out between his waist and his arm and gave him a large mischievous smile. The small girl giggled as she dangled off the ground.

Ciel Shurein, a young sorceress in training, looked up at Zanahoria and frowned. "You're late," she accused while hugging tighter around his waist.

"Sorry," he apologized. Plucking the girl from his waist and sat her on his shoulders. "I was really busy... but I'm here aren't I?"

She nodded before wrapping her small arms around his neck. "But you're still late! I can tell time you know!"

"I know, I know. Well, how do you want me to make it up to you?" he asked. "Two bedtime stories?"

"Hmmm." The girl tapped her fingers against her chin in thought, imitating her father. "Better make it four... since I'm not sleepy now."

"Four?" whined Zanahoria. "How about three?"

"Okay," Ciel nodded. "But they have to be about you, Uncle Zan. I want to hear a story about you because you're a Knight... and you could save a princess..."

"Save a princess, hmmm?" he grinned. "A princess named Ciel?"

Ciel beamed and nodded excitedly, urging her Uncle Zan to start the story telling now. The two parents smiled warmly as they watched the display between the two as they all sat down on a sofa facing the fireplace. Qui murmured a spell, letting a nice warm fire illuminate the room as Audrey served steaming mugs of warm cocoa.

True to his word, he told his teacher's daughter three stories. One of them, being about a princess being rescued by a Knight from an evil Sorcerer. Of course the story had its storybook happy ending where everyone lived happily ever after...



['When you have fallen asleep, I can let you dream the dream you want.']

['I think I'd rather dream something that's like when I'm awake. Because even if you had a good dream, when you wake up, it's sad. But then again, I don't want to have a bad dream. So, a dream that's like when I'm awake. Marron's there, Gateau's there, and also, Tira and Chocolate would be there. They're so arrogant and noisy, but it would be a little strange if they weren't around. We're all together in the dream, and when I wake up, it's together with them again, all the time.']



Seventeen years later...


Zanahoria had seen the violet fire seconds before he leaped out of the way. Landing in a crouch, he quickly cast his own barrier up and meets his attacker's gaze. Standing up slowly, he followed the approaching figure's movements carefully.

"Haz Knight," the Sorceress purred as she stopped a yard away. "How long do you plan to keep dodging me?"

He kept his features neutral; although it felt like her voice hit him harder than magic ever could. The Haz Knight kept his eyes on her, and only on her, and not the towering form of his mortal enemy. Zaha Torte's face was expressionless; but deep down Zanahoria knew the bastard was enjoying all of this.

"Ciel," he whispered as he took in her new look. She was petite like her mother, but wearing scantly red armor with traces of white cloth, edged in gold. Complete with headdress and cloak, he couldn't help but see the little girl he once knew and cared for ... still cared for. "Ciel, don't you remember me?!"

She raised an eyebrow in confusion before lifting a hand, her palm facing him. "My name is Polaris, Haz Knight. Learn it well."

His eyes widened at the wild energy shooting at him and felt his bones crack and break being slammed into a wall. His body bruised and bleeding, he slumped forward to the ground. Blood ran down his forehead, almost blinding him as he watched her smirk in triumph.


['Is that so? It seems like a wonderful dream.']


... It wasn't.

-----------------------


Chapter Five - DREAM WORLD


-----------------------



Milphey found Carrot kneeling at his mother's grave. Paying his respects in a devoted manner the Haz Knight had never seen the boy use. The young man was on bended knee, his head bowed in prayer - how long, Milphey could only guess.

Slowly, Carrot rose to his feet and glanced passed his shoulder, not at all surprised to see the Haz Knight standing there. "Has everyone gathered together?"

"Yes," Milphey nodded as Carrot walked alongside him towards Grandpa's house. "Also, Dotta has come here as you requested. May I ask why?"

"All in good time." The Sorcerer Hunter suddenly smirked at the cross dresser when he added, "For someone passed his hundreds, you sure are impatient."

The Haz Knight blinked, a little surprise but shook it off and gave the boy a large smile. "You make me sound like I'm old. Come on, the others are waiting."

Nodding, Carrot took a deep breath before entering the room packed with several familiar faces. Big Mama and Grandpa, the two who already knew his situation. His teammates, along with Milphey, were both eager and curious about what he had to say. Then there was his father, the look on Onion's face, it was certain that he wasn't sure if he wanted to be there.

His eyes watched the Knight sit down besides his father and now all eyes were on him. The attention made Carrot feel as if he was about to be interrogated. Taking another deep breath, he prepared himself by sitting down, trying to look calm.

"Tell me," he began, breaking the awkward silence. "Do you dream of the future?"

Other than Mama and Grandpa, everyone else looked stunned by the question. Carrot shifted slightly and merely smiled gently at Mama who appeared very upset with herself. Looking back to the crowd, he sighed and met each of their gazes.

He looked into his brother's eyes. "Marron, I know you dream of seeing me settle down and being happy with the right person. I know you wish the same for yourself."

"Gateau..." Carrot began as the older looking hunter stared at him. "You wish to confront your sister again. Also, to get revenge on the Sorcerer who kidnapped her and killed your parents..." he frowned slightly as he saw the determined look in Gateau's blue eyes. He knew who that Sorcerer was now. Carrot just hoped his teammate wouldn't break his brother's heart by doing something stupid. Mainly, getting himself killed.

His gaze then fell upon the Misu sisters and softened. "Your dreams are very identical. You dream about how your parents died... and..." Carrot paused when he didn't feel like saying the rest. 'Who's heart I'm going to break…'

"Brother," Marron said calmly, looking confused. "What is this all about?"

'Okay, I think I've stalled long enough...' Carrot swallowed hard as he decided to just let it out. "When I met with Mother at the church, she deceived and placed me under a hibernating sleep spell."

"Carrot, I'm so sorry..." Big Mama whispered, her hands trembling in her lap.

"'Hibernating sleep spell'?" Gateau wondered. "What's that?"

Carrot hesitated for a moment before he answered, "It's a spell to put me to sleep for the rest of my life. Mother had summoned us to the Church to kill me in order to save this world. Slumbering inside me is deity who's soul purpose is to destroy whole worlds."

"The Hakaishin," nodded Marron. "Milphey informed us when we found him. It's because of the God of Destruction, Zaha is after you."

'That and another thing,' Carrot thought bitterly. "Yes. However, Mother knew that he was coming to save my life and enslave me. Using me as a tool to destroy this world and build it anew. So... she had no choice but to end my life, no matter the consequences. Sacrifice one for the good of all."

"The hibernating spell was sped up, slowly turning back time on my body until I would be reduced to nothing."

Chocolate and Tira were visibly shaking with anger while Marron scowled, forcing himself not to glare at Mama. Gateau placed a comforting hand on his boyfriend's shoulder. Onion tensed slightly, the muscles in his jaw moved, as he wanted to say something but didn't.

"If it hadn't been for Zaha, I wouldn't be here talking to you now. This world's future would have been saved."

"Darling, don't say that!" Chocolate gasped angrily. "The world's not going to be destroyed just because you're alive!"

He smiled slightly until Onion cleared his throat.

"Is that why you kissed him back?"

All eyes were on the former Haz Knight while his son shook his head slowly. Zaha kissing him was another story all together. A completely twisted story that had no hope for a happy ending.

Grandpa took pity on the boy and spoke up. "Please continue. You were put under the hibernating sleep spell, tell them your dream of the future."

"Possible future," Carrot corrected, and through a thankful glance in the direction of the elder. "My dream was based on the real world and all it's aspects. A world that could have been... one I believed was my own for such a long time..."

Tira swallowed hard, already dreading the answer as she asked, "How long?"

The young looking man took closed his eyes. "Nearly sixteen hundred years."


-----------------------


"I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed."


The captain of the Haz Knights swayed to his feet, willing himself not to black out as he faced Polaris. His face showed no emotions as he began to predict her next move. Knowing she would attack head on, believing the injuries he had sustained had weakened him greatly.

'Ciel.' Zanahoria couldn't bring himself to look into her eyes, knowing he had failed her parents miserably. It wasn't supposed to be this way. The Knight was supposed to save the princess from the evil sorcerer in the story. How could there be a 'happily ever after' for this one?

She smirked and raised her hand to summon more of her powers, her enemy remained where he was. To injured to move as he weighed his options. As much as tried to avoid "Kill or be killed" situations, he couldn't see any other way out.

His eyes swept over to Zaha who continued to watch, almost begging him to stop this. The Sorcerer Doctor raised an eyebrow, his lips curved up a little in a devious smile. He would offer no mercy to the young knight whatsoever.

The magic unleashed by her hand, engulfed his being like fire, melting him into something else. He swallowed a scream as his body shivered and ached when he staggered to his knees. The agonizing sensation of being pulverized and incinerated had come, leaving him dazed and breathless.

'Too much... to fast... not enough time...'

Fortunately, it hadn't last long, and he struggled to hold onto his mind like a man washed out to sea during a storm. Cruel currents of negative energy sucked him down into that sea. Feeling numb all over, one by one his senses were switched off. He sank beneath the violent waves, completely submerged in the murky waters of his consciousness.

'No... can't go under... have to keep my head up...'

It was useless, soon enough, touch, taste, and smell; had already been turned off. All he could do now was stare from beneath the surface while trying to keep himself from drowning further. His vision was a white blur of figures... he couldn't even see what form he had transformed into.

He could still hear but the sounds were faint, all except for his pulse that drummed in his ears. A scream made his heart stop beating altogether and he could taste blood in his mouth. No. No, it couldn't... it couldn't be!

'Ciel,' he sobbed mentally and just let himself drown.


-----------------------



Cramped in the small living room of the Elder's house, the silence as thick as a blanket had fallen upon them. It was like the very walls had somehow absorbed all the sounds like snow. The only noise that could be heard by human ears was the faint breathing that indicated life.

Keeping his eyes on a nearby clock, Carrot counted the seconds. He had expected such a reaction from them. Expected, anticipated, dreaded, and even hoped. With Mama here to admit his words, they had to believe he wasn't crazy.

The seconds passed and he thought of the other world he had lived in. Spending nearly sixteen hundred years in a seventeen year old body... how did he manage to not lose his mind? Two minutes ticked by and Carrot wondered how long that would have been in his dream. Two years? Decades? Centuries? To long...

"It can't be."

Marron's voice pierced though stillness as he stood up and stared disbelieving at his elder brother. The older boy locked on to those amber eyes, silently pleading with them. He had loss Marron in his dream, fear stabbed into him at the thought of losing him because of it.

"It can't be," Marron repeated firmly.

"Yeah!" Chocolate tuned in. "Besides, it wasn't even real! You're still the same, darling!"

Carrot shook his head sadly before crossing his arms across his chest. He had to explain it to them gently, as if explaining to a child why their pet had died. It was going to be difficult, and if he weren't careful, he'd end up hurting them.

"I'm sorry," he said gently. "But I'm not the Carrot Glace I was to you a few days ago. I'm sure Mother, and my behavior alone can prove that. Over the millennia, Spooner Continent has changed... ravaged by time and war. I've seen and felt to much of it... the pain and the loss, it's changed me."

"But it was just a dream!" Tira insisted, her voice shaking as she spoke. "You were only asleep for fifteen minutes!"

"My dream world was as real to me as this moment," said Carrot. "A spell placed me into that world based on our own, but my memories are real. It's like reading a book; time can be described merely with only a few sentences. Like now... each second in the waking world could be an hour within a dream. Or a day, a year, an eternity."

The last word seemed to echo as he could still hear Mama's voice whispering in his subconscious: 'Dream forever.'

"I didn't dream of a the future, but an alternate one." He glanced at Mama who was looking confused like the others. "She had offered to give me a dream. Any dream I desired... so naturally I chose women."

He let out a low chuckle and shook his head, remembering his carefree days clearly now. "But I changed my mind. Mother to place me in a world that was similar to the one I'm in when I was awake. It was perfectly real and when I woke in the dream. It was as if nothing had changed from the moment I closed my eyes."

Milphey, who had gotten over his surprise, leaned forward in his seat. "So how did you live in this dream world for over a thousand years? Wouldn't the spell... have killed you sooner?"

A small smile appeared on Carrot's face as he nodded, "Yes it would have, had it not been for two factors. One, of course, is the Hakaishin; I learned it was because of this being, I've managed to live up to this point in my life. Its will to survive and exist is strong by turning me into a catalyst. Basically giving me the 'good luck' in surviving all the dangerous assignments we've been on..."

"Well, that kind of makes sense," Gateau muttered. "Any other moron would have bit the dust a long time ago."

"Exactly," Marron's brother replied not looking offended at all. "The destroyer has been several forms in the past. It always chose to take the appearance of a powerful beast, before it was sealed in human form. Being a Sorcerer Hunter was a benefit to the Hakaishin. It's a bloodhound to magic - needing it to free itself from my body."

Gateau was stunned again, his jaw nearly hanging open. "So you're saying the Destruction God is free when you transform?"

"No," Grandpa answered him. "It's soul has been secured, sealed away tightly and can only be unleashed by strong attack magic."

"Mainly Platina," Carrot added. "Which is the pure magic only Zaha Torte can wield. I've spent centuries building a resistance to it... but it's difficult to counter, especially more than once."

Mama's eyes widened, "How could you manage to build a resistance to pure magic?"

Taking a deep breath, he tried his best to explain to the one person who had taught it to him in the dream world. "When I'm hit by magic, there's two effects: the mental and the physical."

"Everyone can see the physical part - with me using aranju to absorb magic and then zoanthrophy to change into one of the Hakaishin's forms. The mental part is a bit different. Attack magic also consists of negative energy, negative emotions. That's why I can absorb healing magic and not have any shape-changing effect on me..."

"When I used to be hit by magic, I'm normally scared out of my mind or pissed off. So, when I absorb the negative energy, it makes those feelings a hundred times stronger. As a result, I go berserk."

"Now, I've learned how to channel my emotions... control my transformations without losing my mind. It's difficult and painful as hell... like nose-diving in a meat grinder. But I'd rather suffer pain than the consequences of my actions because I was to weak."

"When you fought with Zaha at the Church," Mama began. "He didn't directly hit you with any magic. How did you change and change back?"

Grandpa's elven ears perked up and glanced at the boy with a surprised and yet amused look. "Oh? You can change back without being whipped now?"

Carrot fidget a little as the two dominatrix-sisters stared at him. "Well my aranju powers are pretty sensitive after being under a hibernating sleep spell for fifteen minutes. I absorbed Mother's magic and when Zaha used it to knock me down, I took his as well.

"That's how I recovered so quickly, by channeling the energy to transform. Changing back isn't a big problem as it was before. But it does take a lot of energy out of me."

"So the Hakaishin is one factor," Milphey noted, getting back on track. "What's the other?"

From where he sat, Grandpa was chuckling to himself, his eyes sparking. Onion stared at him from the corner of the eye, knowing the old geezer knew something about this from the start. His son told him everything already while he - Carrot's only parent alive - was left in the dark. Never mind that he stalked off and practically disowned the boy.

"The other part is... I was Captain of the Haz Knights, Zanahoria, for over a millennium," Carrot paused and waited for them to begin laughing. Most of the people in the room cracked smiled, waiting for him to shout out "gotcha!" He couldn't blame them either, not with his history as a Sorcerer Hunter.

"You're kidding right?" Onion said after holding his stomach to stop his laughter at the idea. "You?! You're dream world couldn't have been based on this reality."

He didn't show how much his father's incredulous tone had hurt him, but Carrot had stopped himself from telling the man to shut the hell up. After all, no one would ever believe his father was a Haz Knight himself. Straightening himself up, he glanced at Milphey who was staring at him win an unreadable expression.

Looking at his father again, the Sorcerer Hunter turned to Big Mama who immediately met his gaze. "Mother, I ask you to let me prove myself."

Gasping in disbelief, the Saintly woman's eyes grew large, as she understood what he wanted instantly. "Carrot...?"

"I will use my own powers, resources, and skills," he cut in. "To take the test and become one of your Knights."

Once again the room was quiet. Big Mama wanted to persuade him, wanted him to consider; but he held a strong determined look on his youthful face. Umber eyes, wise beyond their years, both demanded and pleaded for this chance. The dream world was her doing after all. Even with her deceit and betrayal, he had still trusted her. What right did she have to deny him anything?

"Very well," she replied softly. "You may take the trials to resume Knightship, Carr... Zanahoria."

"MAMA!" Onion shouted as he stood up abruptly from his chair, knocking it down in the process. "It was a damn dream for crying out loud! A fake world and a fake past! He doesn't know what he's doing and end up killing himself and us all!"

She swung her other Knight a cold look, "Onion, that is enough. He has asked to prove himself, and I will allow it."

"But...!"

Carrot's father stilled when Marron placed a hand on his arm. "If brother wants to do this, let him."

"Not to worry!" Milphey piped up suddenly as he appeared behind Carrot. "I'll make sure he doesn't have such a near-death experience like you did."

Onion twitched as Mama nodded in approval before catching Carrot's eye, "What kind of 'test' did you have in mind?"


"Not much... just stopping Zaha Torte from destroying the world."

Despite the few shocked and disbelieving looks he was receiving, he smiled. He now had another chance to make things right, for that he would always be loyal to Big Mama. She showed him another world, another reality, of how things could have been or still could be. Now he could stop the chain of events and make the dream world, just a bad dream.


-----------------------

End of Chapter Five


Okay, sorry for the short and late chapter. I'm writing in a hurry - if I don't do it while I have the time, it'll never get written. To many plot-bunnies are being born... and it's really hard for me to have plot-bunny abortion ^^;