Amber - AU EXE WIP

[Roll Soul]

I was listening to the song "Journey to the Past" from the movie Anastasia when it inspired a picture, which I drew. I said in the description of it that I wasn't going to do a fic based off of it, but it continued to bug me and bug me...

So I wound up writing it anyway. What you see below is the beginnings of my efforts; the upcoming chapters will probably follow along slowly, but they will follow. I intend on finishing it, because I wanna get all of the surprises I have in store for it out~ Including a few Navi-related ones later on...


Anyway, as far as most of the terms and locations go, it follows the dub version to an extent. If I get locations or other specifics wrong, sorry, my memory's a bit fuzzy there ^^; And a big thanks to all of my beta readers, who helped me get it ready for posting ^^ Oh yes, and although not specifically part of the fic, I stuck a couple lyrics from the song that started this whole thing at the end, because I felt it fit. Anyway, enough of my jabbering XD Enjoy ^^



Amber


-Prologue-
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hikari." The policeman laid a comforting hand on the shoulder of the crying woman, and gave her a soft look. "We'll do everything we can to return your daughter to you. I know how stressful the kidnapping must have been."

"How long do you think it will take?" asked a bespectacled man standing next to the woman, who held a small child in her arms. The cop sighed deeply, and folded his arms.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Hi--"

"Doctor."

"I'm sorry; Dr. Hikari. Unfortunately, it could take anywhere from three months to 3 years. Although we were able to get your son back soon after the crime took place, your daughter..." He gave them both a sympathetic look. "We'll do everything we can to get her back as soon as possible."

"Thank you, sir." Dr. Hikari squeezed his wife lovingly, kissing her temple. "Don't worry, sweetie. We'll have our dear Hub back someday. I know it..."


-Chapter 1-
A small piece of torn cloth was turned between two fingers, its owner sighing softly as she looked at the blue fabric, with its piece of a red circle separated by a black line. She sat back on the window seat and closed her eyes partway.

"Charlotte? Char!"

"Coming!" Snapping up, the girl pocketed the cloth and ran across the landing, coming to a stop at the top of the steps. A few stairs down from her, a young braided girl was looking up.

"There you are!" The girl smiled, then became more serious as she pointed behind her. "Mrs. Henderson has been looking for you."

"Really?" Charlotte glanced off to one side, then smiled and carefully jogged down the steps. "Alright, thanks Emily!"

"No problem." The young girl watched the brunette pass before heading up the stairs herself.

A 40-something woman stood near the front door of the Gedi Foster Home, watching children of varying ages mill about. Hearing skipping footsteps she glanced up, then smiled as Charlotte hopped down the last three stairs and came over. "Just the young girl I was looking for."

"Good morning, Mrs. Henderson." Charlotte smiled and bowed slightly, then blinked. "What do you need?"

"Charlotte, I need you to make a quick trip to the store for me." Mrs. Henderson reached into a pocket and pulled out a slip of paper, handing it to her waiting charge. "I went myself yesterday, but I forgot a few things. I'd like you to pick them up."

Charlotte looked at the paper, then glanced up with a surprised blink. "Really?"

"You're 16, I think you can handle it." The woman chuckled and smiled, then gave her a light push towards the door. "Now go, I need them by noon."

"Yes, Mrs. Henderson." The young teen grabbed her jacket and pulled it on, one hand travelling up afterwards in an almost reflexive manner to push back some of the bangs that framed her face. Folding the list and tucking it away, she waved and headed out.

---

A soft little tune drifted up from the girl walking down the sidewalk. Charlotte smiled as she hummed to herself, her hands tucked in the pockets of her jacket, her eyes glancing around absently as she walked. She blinked and paused for a moment, pulling out the list and giving it a skim.

"I don't see why this stuff was so vital that she needed it today," she said with a soft sigh. It was returned to her pocket and she started off again. "But if she needs it, she needs it..." A sudden voice nearby drew her attention and she looked over in a mild curiosity, stopping to watch a businessman stare at a news report projected on a holographic screen above the PET he held in one hand.

"And in international news today, SciLab has released an upgrade to their most recent PET," the newscaster said with an easy, authorative air. "In this bundle is an expansion pack, designed to enable un-customized Net Navis to store more passwords and other important information, with increased security." The image of the reporter switched to file footage of scientists working. A shot of one in particular caused the watching girl to pay more attention.

"Although many more Navis are becoming personalized, the head of SciLab, Dr. Yuuichirou Hikari, has promised not to leave the more standard ones out of the loop. Further updates for all Navis are expected later this week." As the report ended, the man flicked the news stream off and stood up, tucking his PET away. Elsewhere on the sidewalk, a short shopping list fluttered to the ground abandoned, its previous holder long gone.

Mrs. Henderson picked up a book off of a table, adding it to the small stack balanced in the crook of her arm. As she headed towards the bookcase, her head turned slightly at the front door opening and quickly slamming shut. She only had time to put the first book away before someone called her name and she turned. "Charlotte! Back already?" She gave the girl a puzzled look as she ran up.

"Mrs. Henderson!" The teen skidded to a stop and leaned one hand against the wall, panting slightly. "Who... who is Dr. Hikari?"

"Dr. Hikari? He helps further the PET, and runs SciLab in Electopia, the foremost Net Navi research institute." The middle-aged caregiver gave her a questioning look. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I...I...." Charlotte looked off in one direction, then closed her eyes and gave the woman a pleading look. "Please, let me go to Electopia!"

"Charlotte! This is rather sudden," Mrs. Henderson said. She put the books aside and folded her now-free arms. "And I'm sorry, but I cannot let you go."

"What! Why!?"

"Because you're only 16, for starters!" She gave her a thin look and sighed sharply. "You are much too young to be traveling all that way by yourself, and I don't have the time to take you there. I have a foster home to run, you know." Her voice became more stern the more she spoke. "Secondly, I don't know what your reasons are for wanting to go see Dr. Hikari, but he's a very busy man and cannot be bothered for anything but the most important matters."

"But this IS importa--"

"Charlotte. If you want to get a PET, do it the old-fashioned way."

"That's not it, I SWEAR!" Charlotte gave the older woman an almost teary look. "Please, I have to go to SciLab!"

"I'm sorry, I really am." Mrs. Henderson sighed, then scooped the books back up and turned back towards the case. "But I have made my decision. Now, run off and find Jake. I'll have him go to the store for me."

Charlotte blinked several times, then flashed a glare at the woman's back and whipped about, storming off. Left alone, the woman sighed, then busied herself putting the books away.

---

"So...wait. Why do you wanna go to Electopia again?"

"To get into SciLab." Charlotte leaned back on the bed she was occupying, her cloth fragment in her hands, one finger tracing the yellow border around the edge of the red color. A blonde boy was sitting at the edge of the bed, giving her a strange look.

"But why? They don't let people your age be scientists."

"That's not it, Evan," Charlotte said with a sigh. She placed her hands against the covered mattress and scooted back, sitting up completely. "Look, you promise not to tell anyone, okay?"

"I promise," Evan nodded, smiling. His friend sighed, then looked at him with an expression that made one of his eyebrows go up.

"I...I think this Dr. Hikari guy is my father." In the silence that reigned, Charlotte found herself looking off uncomfortably, blushing some. She only glanced back when the younger child spoke.

"That's nuts, you know that?" He stood up from the bed and turned, throwing his hands up in the air. "You're insane! What makes you think Dr. Hikari is your dad??"

"Well..." She glanced away uneasily, then looked down at the cloth and held it out some. "I..I saw this news report, and Dr. Hikari had a symbol on his jacket that looked kinda like this." Evan walked to her and leaned over to examine it. "If I'm not related to him, then where did I get it?"

"I'unno Char, there's not much of that weirdo design here to think it was that." The boy stood up straighter, looking at her. "Besides, it's all over the place. Maybe you stole it offa shirt or something."

"I did NOT steal it!" The glower that followed the statement effectively made him back up a couple paces. Charlotte sighed sharply and flopped back on the pillows. "Forget it. I just have a feeling, okay?"

"Well, how are you going to go? You said Mrs. Henderson wouldn't let you."

"I know," she muttered. She rested an arm over her eyes and sighed again. "I don't really know what I'm going to do."

"I still think it's nuts." Evan gave her a look as he sat on his own bed, his eyelids lowering to flatten his expression. "And you're nuts."

"Thanks for you support," Charlotte remarked sarcastically. She huffed slightly, before turning her head at the sound of footsteps rising up from below.

"Lights out." Following the announcement over a speaker system setup through the house, other children rushed upstairs and started filling the beds. Charlotte remained still until long after the lights had been turned off, and only then she sighed, once.

I don't know what I'm going to do... She removed her arm, staring up at the ceiling. I know this guy has to be my father, or my uncle, or something. I mean, nobody knows what family I came from, right? Because I was just....brought here one day. The covers shifted slightly as she turned over onto her side, curling up some. Who's to say I'm not from his? But how can I--.... Her eyes snapped open and she turned, sitting bolt upright in her bed. A slow smile grew on her face, before she looked around and carefully slipped out of bed, tiptoeing across the floor to a closet nearby.

A half an hour later saw a single figure slipping quietly, carefully out the front of the house. Charlotte tiptoed away from it, then began to jog the further away she got. Stopping about a quarter of a block down from the foster home, she sighed and turned around, looking back at the dark house.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Henderson. She turned back and started off again, picking up into a run the more distance she covered. But this is something I have to do... The girl turned a corner, and was gone.


-*-*-


One step at a time
One hope, then another
Who knows where this road may go?
Back to who I was
On to find my future
Things my heart still needs to know...


Courage, see me through
Heart, I'm trusting you
On this journey to the past...
_________________



| DeviantArt | LiveJournal |

[Midnight]

It's nice to see this fic posted, Roll. As a beta for this fic, you already know what I have to say about it, but I might as well reiterate what I said.

This fic definitely has quite a bit of potential going for it, Roll. The lyrics at the end of the chapter prove to be quite effective, as they do a good job of accentuating the themes set forth in the chapter.

All in all, this is a strong start, and I hope to see more from you soon.
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3

[Mugen.exe]

As an additional beta I agree this fic shows a lot of possibility, and has a great start. I can really identify with the main character's emotions, and her desire to find out where she belongs- I felt you got this message through well. Can't wait to read some more.
Great work!
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False Swipe is a great finishing move!
Witty robots, spunky orphans, and invincible pilots, this link's for you! A Gundam RP

[Stars_Are_Projectors]

Great first chapter! I liked how you characterized Charlotte, and can identify with her wanting to find herself, and her parents. I can't wait to read the next chapter!
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The stars are projectors, man. Projecting our lives down to this planet Earth.

[BenOniSaito]

Very well written! Definitely one of the best fics I've read, hands down. I wish I could give you some kind of advice on how to improve the style, but I honestly cannot pin point any weaknesses in your prose form.
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Battle doesn't need a purpose; the battle is its own purpose. You don't ask why a plague spreads or a field burns. Don't ask why I fight.

[Roll Soul]

Well, this is extremely belated, isn't it? XD; I actually finished the second chapter some time ago, but have only just now finished tweaking it. So...I upload it. I apologize for the severe lag in getting it out, but it's here now... And on that note, I hope you enjoy it. (A huge thanks go to my beta readers for helping me make some decisions on this one ^^ )




-Chapter 2-

"Okay....good going, Charlotte." A tired sigh followed the grumble as Charlotte stared ahead flatly...talking to herself. "Leaving your home without a map. Sheer brilliance." She groaned and stopped in the middle of the filling train platform, hanging her head. "I don't even know where Electopia is in relation to Creamland." Grabbing the straps of her backpack she sighed deeply and trudged off again. "I hate geography..."

A steward was ushering people through the door of a brick red train car, when he heard a throat being cleared beside him. He turned his head with a blink, finding a young brunette girl in a blue jacket staring up at him with green eyes. "Yes..?"

"Hi." The girl blushed slightly, tightening her hold on the straps of her bag. "I was wondering if you knew what train I should take to get to Electopia?"

"Electopia?" The steward looked up in thought, then gave her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry young lady, but we don't have any trains running there. Your best bet would be to go to the airport."

"The airport." The young teenager put on a smile and chimed a "Thank you" before she walked away, slumping slightly. The attendant gave her back a sympathetic look, before he returned to gesturing people through the door.

Charlotte stopped at an unoccupied bench, releasing her bag on it with a thump, then plopping down herself. She rested her elbow on her thigh and placed her cheek in her hand, staring ahead. "I can't believe I went to the wrong location. Now how am I going to get there? I'm not looking forward to hiking to the airport, much less getting the stupid ticket."

"You're in school, right?"

Charlotte jumped at the sudden voice and glanced around, then looked up at a boy around her age standing beside the bench. "...Excuse me?"

The rather tan teen smiled at her from under the hood of his navy blue coat. "Are you in school?"

"More or less, why?" At that answer, the teen gave a chuckle and closed his eyes.

"All this month the airline is running a special. Show them your ID and you get a free ticket." He grinned, jutting a finger at himself. "It's how I got here."

"Really??" Charlotte stood up sharply, blinking at the stranger as he nodded. She grinned and balled her fists, throwing them up in the air. "YES!" Snatching her bag, she quickly shouldered it and took off running, waving over her shoulder. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome!" He waved a hand high, smiling as she vanished around the corner.

---

Charlotte sighed softly, leaning against a light post. She looked off the way she had come, then turned her head and glanced the way she was going. At the rather obviously orange-tinted sky in the westerly direction she was heading, she sighed again and leaned more of her weight back against the post.

"I've been walking all day. And still haven't gotten to the stupid airport..." She sank down, landing on the hard ground with a bouncy thump, and a momentary wince. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the scrap of blue cloth and turned it over in her hands, eyes closing partway. "Maybe I should just give up now..." No sooner were those words out of her mouth than a breeze kicked up, making her bangs brush across her face. She raised her hand and brushed them back, then squeaked when the cloth fell loose from her hands and skittered away on the soft breeze. "No!" Moving to her hands and knees she grabbed for it, only to have it jerk away on a renewed breeze, twisting and turning in midair. Charlotte stepped up and reached for it again, a short noise escaping her throat as she snatched it from the air and sighed softly, holding it close.

It was then she noticed she was about three steps further down the western path. The breeze whorled up again, giving her a gentle push at the back like some unseen hand. She turned her head slightly, then looked ahead with a blink.

"The...wind wants me to go down that way?..." A light wind brushed against her back, and she and smiled softly to herself. "All right then... " She took a small step, then another, tenderly holding the fabric corner as she walked. "Just let this be a sign, and not some sort of delusion..." A small giggle escaped her, as she smiled distantly. "But, it's gotta be a sign... Somewhere down this road, I know I'll find someone waiting for me... Someone who can tell me about my past..." The little blue cloth was held out again, as she gave it a soft look. "I hope, anyway...." Pressing it against her chest, she looked up as her steps picked up a bit of speed. "But there's only one way to find out. I'll get there, one step at a time, and I'll find out..." She inhaled deeply and let it out, sighing. "...everything I want to know." Charlotte stopped again to pocket the cloth before she balled her fists and started to run, heading into the reddening wash of the sunset.

---

"Next in line, please."

Taking in a breath, Charlotte stepped up to the counter and looked up at the person behind it. "I'd...like a ticket to Electopia.. please?"

"Okay, sure." The man there gave her a smile, and started typing on a console. "How will you be paying for this?"

"Oh, I'm a student." Digging into her pockets, Charlotte slid her ID across the counter, and watched as the man picked it up, waiting expectantly. When the man gave her a somewhat regretful expression, her heart sank.

"I'm sorry. But our program doesn't extend to your school." He handed the card back, then looked up above her. "Next in line, please."

Charlotte looked up with wide eyes, clutching her ID in both hands. "But--!!"

"Next in line, please."

Sighing deeply, she turned and trudged out of line as a woman behind her moved up.

"I can't believe it..." She sighed shakily, as somewhere over her head an intercom announced the gate for Flight 978 to Electopia. Glancing up sadly, she sighed again as she walked through the airport's lobby. "That could've been my flight..." She stopped as a large group passed her by, bustling for the gates. Blinking, Charlotte's ears picked up when she heard the flight number spoken in the crowd. As an idea struck, she looked from side to side, then started running after the people.

"We're now boarding for Flight 978." A woman in a uniform stood beside a podium, smiling as she began checking tickets from passing people. As a rather large man passed through the check, the woman, busy looking at other tickets, never noticed a young girl sneaking by, using the man as a shield.

Unfortunately, someone else did notice. A few feet away, a security guard narrowed his eyes slightly, then turned and spoke into a walkie-talkie he was carrying.

"We have a free ride on the flight to Electopia..." A moment later, a voice crackled through from the other side.

"Alert the flight attendants and get a description. I'll radio ahead to Electopia; they'll be taken care of there."

"Roger that..."

---

Following the impromptu all-night flight into the city, Charlotte walked out of the airport, looking around the rather unfamiliar cityscape of Electopia. She stopped and turned, holding out her hand slightly to grab the attention of someone walking past. "Excuse me?" Unfortunately the effort failed and she turned with a sharp sigh, then stepped after another person. "Sir?" Again, her voice went ignored. She let out a grunt and clenched her fists. "I just want someone to tell me how to get to SciLab!"

"SciLab?" Charlotte turned suddenly, looking over at a man dressed in the uniform of an airport worker. He raised a hand and pointed off down one street. "It's in that direction, you can't miss it. Just keep heading that way."

"Thank you," the girl said with a tired smile. She grabbed the straps of her backpack and sighed deeply, then trudged off, never noticing the man turn to speak into a walkie-talkie. "More walking. I'm only tired as h--" It was here she stopped, blinking up at a poster pasted to the side of the airport.

N-1 Grand Prix!

Come and watch the top Navis perform in a struggle to see who's best of the best!

Tickets on sale now!

"N-1 Grand Prix..." Charlotte repeated to herself. She lightly touched a hand to the poster, looking at the design of a pink and red, female Navi squaring off against a lengthy, animalistic green one. She smiled slightly as she left the ad behind and started off down the sidewalk again. "If nothing else, I can always watch that..."

---

A soft, awed sound left the throat of the teenager as she stood in front of a closed-in complex, staring at the sprawling setup of buildings through the metal bars of the front gate. Stuck in her reverie, Charlotte let out a considerable jump when a tinny voice spoke beside her.

"Good morning, welcome to SciLab. May I help you?"

She looked around with a confused blink, before spying the intercom beside the gate. Swallowing slightly, she leaned forward and pressed the button, clearing her throat. "...Y-yes. I'd like to..see Dr. Hikari?..."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but..."

"Then you cannot be admitted."

Charlotte blinked, glancing off for a moment before pressing the button to reply to the unseen receptionist. "Please, I must get in! It's important!"

"I'm sorry, but Dr. Hikari is a very busy man. You cannot get in without an appointment."

"You don't understand! I think I'm his daughter!" A long pause stretched out after that, before a somewhat tired sigh preceded the next few words through the intercom.

"Do you know how many people claim to be related to Dr. Hikari? He's famous the world over, and everybody wants a piece of the pie. I'm sorry--"

"But--!"

"--but I cannot let you in. Good day."

The last words ringing in her ears, Charlotte stumbled a half step back, her eyes wide and staring at the gate. "...No. No!!" She balled her fists and banged them on the gate, leaning against it. "I came so far!" Tear drops left wet spots on the cement, as she slid down, landing hard on her knees.

"No..."

---

"...e..."

Charlotte grunted lightly, shifting a little at a voice piercing her consciousness.

"...ey, w...."

Lifting her head, she looked up at a slightly blurry figure leaning over her, and she turned away for a moment to rub her eyes. "What?..."

"I said, 'Hey, what're you doing here?'"

"I..." Charlotte turned her head, looking to either side and sighing softly. "I must've fallen asleep, I guess." Realizing she was leaning against SciLab's outer wall, she jumped in surprise, her eyes widening. "Oh my god, I shouldn't be here, I--" Her voice caught in her throat as she looked up at the person leaning over her.

"You...what?" The brunette boy stood up, giving her an odd look as one hand absently brushed away a spike of his hair.

"I....uhh...." Charlotte blinked a few times, her eyes stuck on the bandana he was wearing. "Who...are you?..."

"I'm Lan Hikari," the boy said with a grin. He either didn't notice, or ignored, the girl's eyes grow larger while he smiled at her. "And who're you?"

"I....don't know...."


-*-*-
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[Midnight]

Impressive.

It's certainly gotten better than the draft that you sent me not so long ago. The whole windfall was quite lessened now with the introduction of the security guard--it makes for some interesting situations that can potentially arise further down the line. Other than that, it remained fairly untouched, and I'm glad that it did--most of it was quite good.

And take your time with this. I still have a fic in suspension--but I'm at a loss for ideas and even more for time. Don't worry so much about updating, but don't forget it entirely too!
_________________
Today, these three players are after Big Bucks! But they'll have to avoid the Whammy, as they play the most exciting game of their lives! From Television City in Hollywood! It's time to 'Press Your Luck!'--Rod Roddy

The Kingdom of Loathing: An Adventurer is You! // I ♣ Seals

Avatar by Spork. I very much appreciate it! <3