Do you dream of me in the next life?

Chapter 18: Trouble in paradise

Honoka focused her katana on Marie, her fierce stare pierced like a lion demanding her to submit. Marie looked unfazed by this. She stepped forward and retrieved a trident from her magic.

"The Water Kingdom is not yours to take!" said Marie.

"...So, you rather choose death? Do you realize how outnumbered you are? How different you and I are in comparison?" said Honoka.

"I do. I've heard about your accomplishments. And I can tell your Nightmare energy is no laughing matter. But even still! The Water Kingdom has never given up before. I don't intend for my people to give up now."

Honoka observed the people around Marie. She first looked at Alice and then Josie.

"Shizuko," she called her sister to attention, "fight the redhead over there. I'll handle the rest."

"Redhead? Oh. Right. She means me." Josie thought to herself.

Shizuko withdrew a staff from her magic. She pointed it and the Nightmare snake slithered toward that direction. She turned to Josie and waved her staff in the same direction again.

"You want me to follow you?"

Shizuko nodded. Josie was about to leave when a voice interrupted her stride.

"Josie! Please be careful." warned Alice.

She smiled. "I will! Don't worry about me."

"Easier said than done..." Alice thought to herself.

She took out her daggers and raised them in a fighting stance.

***

People were scrambling out of the way as the snake powered through the sand. Shizuko stuck close to the creature. Her staff held high like a marching band leader. Eventually the snake stopped, and Shizuko came to a halt as well. Nothing but the crashing waves could be heard for a moment. Josie was about to move closer when Shizuko jerked her staff toward the left side, blocking her.

"Wait."

"Um, ok. What are we waiting for?"

Shizuko didn't respond. She raised her staff once more and stood resolute. The puzzled Josie rubbed her hair. She surveyed the area to find out why they had to wait. Nothing, not even a tiny hint was present anywhere. Until suddenly...Boom! Nightmare energy popped like fireworks in the sky behind Josie.

"I'm a...Nightmare summoner. Time to fight."

Shizuko tapped her staff against the sand. The snake immediately snapped its attention towards Josie, then hissed at her. Josie grabbed Dragwind from her magic. When she attempted to unsheathe it, the snake discharged nightmare energy from their mouth. Josie jumped away and pulled her sword out.

The snake closed in and swung its tail. Josie pushed back as hard as she could with Dragwind. Then she attacked the snake with swift, extended sword attacks. But the creature tilted and maneuvered around them. Another burst of nightmare energy was sent flying by the snake.

Josie slashed it down. While she was preoccupied by the attack, Shizuko circled behind her and hit her with nightmare energy. The pained Josie staggered forward then got smacked by a tail. Like a pebble, her body skipped across the sand until she slowed to a skidding halt.

"Ow. That smar-"

As she got up, the snake rammed into her. It kept pushing beyond the beach and through two buildings. Jaws opened wide, the snake was struggling to eat her.

Josie punched it several times. "I'm. Not. On. The. Menu," she went for one more. "Fire punch!"

This smacked the snake right into the neighboring building. Josie broke free and flew to the ground. She grabbed Dragwind from her magic.