Getting a Grip of Reality

[Atecom]

Heres a story about Shinsei (Shadowpelts first fan character). I will bring to attention that this is set some time before Shinsei met Drake.


Summary:
Shensei awakens in a dark alleyway in LA, and sees an unconcious boy she has never seen before, yet something about him strikes Familiarity... The problem is, neither Shinsei or this mysterious boy can recall anything that happened before they woke. Both Shinsei and this mysterious new person must go around LA peicing together their previous life as well as the events which happened the night before. But as their relationship grows, so do their problems...

[shadowpelt]

Must read *drools*

[Atecom]

Chapter 1- An unconventional Awakening

Shinsei felt really bad waking up. she opened her eyes to the site of glaring light. She shut them again. She was lying on something hard, nothing like the bed. She moved her hand and felt around on it. It felt like pavement. Her head was spinning and she had a headache. She opened her eyes again, using her hand to shield the intense sunlight which seemed to want to blind her. She sat up and I felt dizzy, but she could make out her surroundings even though her vision was blurred. She could tell she was in an alleyway somewhere. The problem being was that She didn’t have any clue where She was or who she was. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the dizzy feeling. It didn’t work. She attempted to stand up but just stumbled over and landed hard on the ground again. Her back hurt a fair bit from lying on the ground and her neck was extremely stiff. She managed to crawl over to the wall, and use it to help her stand up. She continued to lean against the wall cause she was unsure of how stable she was.

She looked down the Alleyway. There was a kid there. He seemed a little younger then her, maybe a year at the most. He had black hair with blonde tips. She managed to stabilise herself without the aid of the wall. She still wasn’t sure footed though, so she stumbled over to this kid. Something looked familiar about him but she couldn’t recognise him. She didn’t even know who she was let alone someone else. She bent down to see if he was alright. She couldn’t remember how to check for vital signs so she just waved her hands in front of his face. She got a huge shock when he suddenly mumbled something then he began to move. She pulled her hand away. The boy opened his eyes and blinked.

“Damn that’s bright” He mumbled.

His eyes shot open when he realised that he was someplace strange. He sat up and began looking around the alley. He looked a little tipsy though. He then focused his eyes on Shinsei.

“Wh… Who are you?” He asked her.

“I uh… I… don’t know” she replied. “Who are you?”

“I… I don’t know” he murmured back with a confused look.

[shadowpelt]

Great so far. Want more.

[kashi]

Great story so far, I hope to see the next chapter soon ^_^

[Atecom]

Author Note: I chose LA for setting this cause Ive been there a few years ago and I stayed there for a week and a half, so many of the places I mention here are places ive been to.

Chapter 2- Location Conundrum

Both Shinsei and the boy stumbled out of the alleyway onto a busy street. It was clear that it was daytime and the street was busy with cars and people who were moving about in a rush in an attempt to get where they were going in as little time as possible. ‘They were possibly either going to work, or returning home from work’ Shinsei thought, which meant that it was either mid morning or mid afternoon.

“Where are we?” Shinsei asked the other kid. Her head was still a little dizzy from waking up.

“I … Was hoping you would know that” The kid sighed.

Shinsei looked down one end of the street, it was a long narrow road with many shops and along the side. It looked familiar, but she still couldn’t work out where she was. Then something on the pavement caught her eye. There seemed to be tiles. With pictures of stars on them. In these stars there seemed to be peoples names.

“I know this place… It looks familiar” Shinsei eventually muttered.

“So do I” Replied the kid.

Shinsei then looked at the surrounding hills and noticed a sign on them but where she was standing the letters on them were too small to be read. She squinted, but still couldn’t make out what it said.

“I wonder what happened last night.” Shinsei groaned as she focused her thoughts on trying to remember what happened the previous night.

The out his hand on his forehead, it was still aching.

“I don’t know” he replied “But it feels like I lost a game of chicken with a train”

Shinsei began walked down the street towards the sign to get a better look at it. The kid followed her.

“Hey can you see that sign?” She asked the kid and pointed up onto the hill.

“Uh… Yeah” The kid replied squinting.

“Can you see what it says?”

“Uh… Hamburger?... Uh I really can’t see.”

With that Shinsei began walking towards the sign again. The kid followed. Shinsei stopped when she got to a crossroad, it was also quite busy, luckily she remembered how to cross at traffic lights. She pressed the button and waited. Then a sign caught her interest. It pointed sown the street and it read ‘Hollywood Bvde.’

“I know that name” Shinsei thought to herself. Then she turned her attention back to the sign on the hill.

“Hollywood” She yelled excitedly. “I remember Hollywood.”
“What?” Replied the kid.

“We are in Hollywood” Shinsei replied.

“So… How does that help us?” The kid asked.

“Well… I don’t know” Shinsei replied. “I can’t even remember where hollywood is.”
She put her hands in her pockets and felt something. It seemed to be a bus ticket of some sort, but all that was written on it was ‘El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula.’

“What the hell does that mean?” She asked out loud.

“What is it?” The kid asked.

She gave him the ticket. He took one look at it and quickly gave it back.

“No strange words now. Please… My head hurts too much. Where did you find it?”

“In my pocked” Shinsei replied.

That gave the kid an idea. He began to search through his pockets as well. He felt a piece of paper and nothing else. He pulled it out. It was mostly blank, except for a few words scribbled on it.

“1000 Oaks, Ventura county” He read out loud.

“Wheres that?” Shinsei asked?

“I… I don’t know… but it sounds familiar” He replied.

Shinsei stopped a man who was walking by.

“Excuse me sir, but do you know where 1000 Oaks Ventura county is?”

The man stopped and thought for a minute.

“I don’t know where 1000 Oaks is exactly, but Ventura county is all the way in the hills. This is the valley. You’re a long way away”

Shinsei knew that finding this place may be the key to unlocking the events of the previous night and remembering her life.

“How do we get there?” She asked.

“I couldn’t say exactly but 3 shops down are maps of Los Angeles, they also have information. Try there”

Shinsei repeated “Los Angeles?” she recognised it from the bus ticket.

“Yeah, you know, the city and outer metropolitan regions as well as the Hills.”

“Ok then thanks sir” She replied.

He turned as if to go, then asked “Is everything alright?”

“Yes, Fine” Shinsei Replied.

“Ok then” The man said, then walked off.

“Alright” Shinsei said to the kid. “We are going to 1000 Oaks”

“Awesome” The kid replied then followed Shinsei into the information store.

[shadowpelt]

Very good. Can't wait until the next chapter!

[Atecom]

Chapter 3- The Foreboding Maison

They stepped into the store, a small bell rang as entered. The person behind the desk looked at them briefly then continued reading a newspaper. Shinsei walked over to the section marked maps. Some of the names she recognised, such as California, Orange County and Ventura county. Looking through the maps, she finally found on of the entire L.A area, including Ventura county. She picked up the map and took it to the counter, her new companion was elsewhere looking at magazines. The man behinf the counter continued to read his newspaper. Shinsei cleared her throat and after a few more moments, the man looked up.

“Just the map?” He asked.

“Yes” Shinsei replied.

“$2.00” He replied.

Shinsei felt her pockets. They were empty. She called over to the boy who was looking at the magazines.

“You wouldn’t happen to have any money would you?”

He looked at her as if thinking, then he felt his pockets.

“Nothing” He replied.

“Damn” Shinsei whispered and searched through her pockets a second time.

“Wait a second” The other kid suddenly replied. Shinsei looked in his direction and noticed that he had his hands in his jacket pockets now. He pulled out his hand, and Shinsei looked in amazement at what she saw. He was holding a huge wad of cash, at least $10000 worth in $50 Bills.

“How did you get all that?” Shinsei asked in amazement.

“I… I Don’t remember” he replied. “Man, we must have done something big last night.”

He walked over to the counter and put a 50 on the counter. The man took it, and returned $48 change.

Shinsei was about to she, when suddenly she remembered to ask about buses.

“Excuse me, but do you know of any buses that go from near here to 1000 Oaks, Ventura county?” she asked the man behind the desk.

“Ventura County eh?” He replied in a questioning tone. “Hmmm, that’s a fair way away, I don’t think any buses go directly there, you may have to hail a taxi cab. I don’t think the fare should be a problem with that find you just made. I wish I could make a huge pile of money appear in my pockets.” With that, he turned back to his newspaper.

Shinsei headed out the door. Right on the outside, she was confronted with a man handing out flyers.

“Come shop at bargain mart, 20% off to all customers who redeem this coupon” He said as he handed her the flyer. She waited till he had gone down the road a bit, then scrunched up the flyer and threw it away.

A taxi was waiting nearby, the driver standing outside smoking. Shinsei approached the driver.

“Can you take us to 1000 Oaks, Ventura County?” she asked the taxi driver.

“Ohh, that is a long way” he replied slowly squinting.

“Well we have a lot of cash to blow and we are in a tipping mood” Piped in the other kid as he pulled out his wad of cash. The taxi driver took one look at the pile of cash then his eyes widened. “

1000 Oaks Ventura County? Right away.”

Just over an hour later, they were driving through the streets of 1000 Oaks. They had not yet given the taxi driver any indication of where to stop the problem being they didn’t really know themselves.

After another 5 minutes, the kid suddenly yelled out “Stop” and the Taxi driver immediately complied.

“I recognise this place” He told Shinsei. “I think I know where I am.”

He and Shinsei got out, and paid their expensive cab fare and tip and watched as the cab drove off.

“I remember” The kid said. “Let me think, I think I remember a place around here, lets try this way.” The kid began running and Shinsei followed. She noticed that the kid could run very fast and struggled to keep up. He came to a halt at some crossroads, then stood there thinking only just giving Shinsei enough time to catch up. Then as quick as lighting, he yelled this way, and ran down that road.

“Hey wait up” Shinsei yelled but the kid took no notice. Suddenly the kid slowed down. He seemed to be looking with great interest at his surroundings, as if he remembered them. Then he stopped completely and turned to look at a house. It took a few seconds for Shinsei to catch up, then she looked at the house as well. Something about it gave her the chills. It was a black mansion with Gargoyles, the front yard was overrun with weeds and shrubbery, some of which looked like it was grown on purpose in order to block the view of the house from the street. In fact it looked like your stereotypical haunted mansion.

“I… I remember this place” the kid said, carefully looking at the mansion. “I know I came here often.”

Shinsei suddenly got a really bad feeling about the place. She felt like someone was watching her and the feeling that she should leave this place began growing.

“Yes, I remember this place” the kid said again. “Im going to check it out.”

He walked up to the gate, it wasn’t overly huge and he seemed to scale it easily, especially for someone who earlier on was acting tipsy. Shinsei sighed, although the place gave her the chills, she wanted to find out about it and it would hopefully help in them retaining their memory. She walked up to the gate and pulled herself over. Then followed her new friend up to the door of the mansion. He also seemed to get a little nervous as he approached, it certainly did have a spooky ambience. He even stopped at the bottom of the stairs for a second in hesitation, but he pressed on, up the stairs and to the front door then h waited for Shinsei to joi him.

“Well there is only one way to find out what lies behind this door” He said out loud. He lifted his hand up in order to knock on the large wooden door. He took a deep breath and poised his fist ready. Then he suddenly exhaled and dropped his fist.

“I.. I just can’t do this, this place… is just too creepy.” He sighed.

Shinsei had partly hoped that he would say this. But another part of her wanted to see what was inside this mansion so they could solve the mystery to their identities.

Shinsei’s friend got ready to turn to leave when suddenly she grabbed his arm.

“Wait” She started “Even though this place gives me the creeps I also have the feeling that we should check it out. It might hold a vital bit of information.”

Her friend thought for a second. “Ok lets do this”

As he raised his hand for the second time, to ring the doorbell, he noticed that his feeling of being watched was growing. He held his hand there. He either pressed the doorbell now, or he didn’t. After a moments thought he went for it. He reached over to the doorbell. A noise distracted Shinsei. It sounded like a high pitched voice. She quickly scanned the area but found nothing. Her friend resumed in pressing the doorbell, only to be stopped again by this tiny shrill voice. It seemed to be screaming “STOP.” When Shinsei mentioned this, it was more then enough motivation to stop.

Shinsei looked around. She could tell Her friend had heard it as well because he was looking around as well. She took a step away from the mansion. Something caught her eye. She stepped closer for a closer look. She gasped. It looked like a little fairy or a pixie sprite. She took a step back. She looked at her hands. ‘I must be hallucinating’ She thought. She looked back at her friend, but his eyes were fixed on the very same thing. She couldn’t have been imagining it. She began stepping backwards but the pixie was every bit as real as she was.

[shadowpelt]

Wow. This is so much like LA. And I need more *drools*

[Atecom]

*Gets drool bucket* Well heres more... The buckets on the house

Chapter 4- Danger

“Shinsei?” The pixie asked in a small voice.

“Wh… What are you?” Shinsei asked, she seemed to tremble at the site.

“Uh… Shinsei? Are you ok?” Replied the pixie.

“Shinsei… Shinsei…” Shinsei whispered to herself “Oh my god, that’s my name, I remember now”

“Uh…Ok, you forgot your name?”

“How do you know my name anyway?” Shinsei asked the pixie.

“Uh… I don’t know, I’ve only known you for like 2 years” she responded sounding pretty hurt.

“Well do you know who he is?” Shinsei asked pointing at her friend.

“How am I supposed to know? Ive never seen him before.” The pixie shot back.

“Look Im sorry, I can’t seem to remember my life before this morning” Shinsei pleaded. “Neither can he.”

“Damn things are even worst then” The pixie muttered.

“What are you talking about?” Shinsei asked.

“Come on follow me” The Pixie beckoned towards her. “Theres not enough time to explain right now”

“I don’t know what that is, but I don’t like it” Shinsei’s friend commented walking up behind her. “I don’t think we should follow it.”

“I don’t know” Shinsei replied softly. “It does seem strange, but this pixie could be the key which tells us about our lives.”

“Are you going to come or not?” The Pixie asked impatiently.

“What if it’s a trap, or a common figment of our imagination?” He asked.

“Look.” The pixie Yelled. “You are both in terrible danger… Well I don’t know about you” She pointed to Shinsei’s friend. ”But you Shinsei must follow me and return home at once. This caould be a matter of life and death. I will explain more on the way, but we have to get moving”

“Ok Ok” Replied Shinsei. “Im coming.”

She turned to her friend. “You gonna come?”

“Uhhh… I dunno” He replied.

“Well I’m leaving now” She replied, and turned to face the pixie. At this the pixie started flying and Shinsei followed.

“Last chance to find out about yourself” She called.

“Uhh I uh… OK Im coming” He yelled, then ran after them. He hoped that it wasn’t a big mistake.

[shadowpelt]

Good good good! Must have more *drools in bucket*

[kashi]

That was very good ^_^

I know I havn't posted on this for a few chapters. I love the small details that you put into the story such as the guy handing out the flyers, it just adds a little something to the story ^_^

I can't wait for an update! It's just great so far!

[Atecom]

Thanks Kashi and SP. This does get more exciting later on, I promise, Im not known as the action fic writer for nothing ^_^

Chapter 4- Dragon Reality

They kept off the main road in order to avoid being spotted by the traffic. The Pixie was already annoyed that she had let a common human see her and felt there was no point in hiding anything from him. They would just have to give him a memory potion later on. They walked through some long fields, Shinsei hoped that they weren’t private property.

“Well, We need to get to Orange County” the Pixie said staring at Shinsei.

“Orange County? Asked Shinsei. She then pulled out her map. She stopped for a second to unfold it and look at it. She found Ventura County, then she found Hollywood. After a while of searching, she found Orange county.

“Oh My gosh” she exclaimed. “That’s… a very long way away.”

“And only you can get us there” The pixie continued.

“Uh I can?” Asked Shinsei.

“Indeed” the pixie replied bored.

“What I’m about to tell you may be shocking, especially to you” she said to Shinsei’s friend.

“Shinsei, Since you were young what did you always want to be… What mythical creature did you fancy the most?”

“Oh.. Ummm, I think I remember” Shinsei began trying to remember.

“Oh.. Uhh… OH I GOT IT” She yelled out in excitement. “A Unicorn!!!”

“Uhh right whatever” The pixie replied. “The correct answer however is a Dragon”

“What?” Replied Shensei.

“That is what you are.”

“Im a dragon?”

“That’s what I just said”

“I told you we should ditch this pixie hallucination” Shinsei’s friend whispered. “You don’t like a Dragon to me anyway. I think you look very nice” He added.

“Quiet you” The pixie commanded.

“Shinsei. Im going to need you to think. Close your eyes and think about Dragons. Feel yourself turn into a dragon.”

“But… But” Shinsei protested.

“But What Huh? Just do it.”

“Ok but I think you have the wrong person.”

Shinsei did as she was told. She thought. Out of nowhere, a furry dragon came into her mind. Then she felt herself as the dragon.

“See, Nothings happening” Her friend said obnoxiously.

Suddenly Shinsei was enveloped in fire. Her Friend Shrieked and Jumped back at least 3 feet. She started to change, she started to grow. Her friend watched in horror as she slowly changed into a Dragon. He fell over backwards and began crawling back till he was hard up against a tree. As suddenly as the fire started it finished, showing Shinsei in her full dragon form.

Shinsei looked around a bit. She looked at the pixie. She Smiled. “MY dragon Brain” She shouted. I remember. I remember. I remember my life, I remember everything. She looked at her new friend and smiled. He was over cowering under the tree trembling. “Don’t be afraid” she said in a calm voice. “I will not hurt you.” She took a step towards him. He tried to go back further, but couldn’t. “I remember everything” She continued smiling, but then stopped. “Everything except you and what happened last night.”

[shadowpelt]

Wow. Must have more. I'm a dragon again! w00t!

[Atecom]

Chapter 5- Getting Aquainted with Reality.

“It’s a monster” The kid kept repeating.

“Im a dragon, your local friendly dragon” Shinsei replied.

“Don’t hurt me” The kid continued.
“I said before, I’m not going to hurt you” Shinsei continued to smile and she took a step closer to him.

“Don’t kill me” He continued in Hysterics. “I have my rights, Please don’t kill me.”

Shinsei took another step further. “Im not going to hurt you.”

“Stay back” He yelled getting up. With that he bent down to pick up a rock and threw it. It hit Shinsei in the side of the head with a surprising amount of force knocking her over. It suddenly seemed to hit him, what he had just done.

“Oh my god” He said running over to her. “Are… are you alright?”

He expected her to retaliate badly and he braced himself for it, but instead she just looked at him and smiled. “Sure Don’t worry about it” she replied getting up. “Good to see you’ve overcome your fears.”

Her friend looked at the ground. “Not exactly” He began, “but I am sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I guess it snapped some common sense into me though”

“Its ok” she reassured him. “Man that was a good throw, I don’t think I’ve ever felt someone throw like that before.”

“I feel as though ive seen you before” The kid replied. “I don’t know where, but for some reason, Just the site of you sends shivers down my spine.”

“Can We hurry Up?” The pixie demanded.

“Shore” replied Shinsei. “How would you like to ride on a dragons back?” She asked her friend.

“Doesn’t every kid dream of that?” He asked in amazement.

“Well for you it is about to happen. Hold on tight, we are going to Anaheim Orange County, Disnelyand”

“Disneyland?”

“Yes Disneyland, fun for the whole family where else would Disney based characters reside?” Shensei Replied.

“Uh… What?” He asked

“Nevermind, just come on for the ride of your life.”