PROLOGUE
Orihime couldn't comprehend what had happened after when Muramasa fired his cero towards her. Was she dead? Is she in the afterlife back at the Soul Society? If so, how come she could still remember what had happened to her? She thought souls couldn't remember their past lives… The sudden thoughts coming so suddenly were so fast that it made her head ache. She woke up to find herself in a dark void.
What?
The moment she stood up, it felt as if her legs were made of jelly and she stumbled to regain her balance. When she finally managed to regain her bearings and balance she began to look around the dark void. Then again, why did she even bother? There was not much to look anyway except for the limitless darkness and it seems she is the only source of light all around.
"Onna… Orihime Inoue." A chilling voice whispered.
She couldn't help it, and a scream managed to break out from her vocal cords. She was truly afraid and helpless, without Kurosaki-kun to protect her, what could she do to protect herself? Her hand suddenly flew and smacked the face of whoever approached her.
SMACK!
Ow… Her hand really, really hurt. Whatever it was she hit, was definitely hard.
"I allowed you to strike me the first time, but this time, I am honestly surprised that slapping me is your first resort when you confront me once again."
That voice… No. It can't be.
She looked back at the person she slapped.
Ulquiorra Cifer.
"You look retarded." Was the cuatro Espada's first sentence when they made eye contact for the first time since the battle at the top of Las Noches.
It was her. Orihime couldn't help but feel immense sorrow from the sudden memory of the female arrancar dissipating into nothing but dust at the top. The only espada who kept on protecting her, the one who always accompanied her despite the huge feeling of tension whenever she was around and the one who was always patient with her, no matter how stubborn the ginger-head was.
Ulquiorra always called off the other espada who would dare hurt her then later on claiming it was her 'duty' since it was given by Aizen. The raven head would make sure she eats her meal (even threatened to strap her down and insert an IV) every day and made sure she stayed sane.
On instinct Orihime leap up and wrapped her arms around the espada. "Ulquiorra-kun is a-alive." She hiccupped as tears started to swell up in her eyes. "Onna, what had I said about that insignificant honorific." Ulquiorra said in her usual monotone voice but the ginger-head can sense the tiny amount of exasperation in the cuatro's tone as Ulquiorra let out a small unnoticeable sigh.
"Also, I am not 'alive' I have been here since the moment of my death stuck in an endless limbo in which I cannot escape from." Ulquiorra corrected her. Orihime couldn't help but feel more sorrow for the raven-head.
This was all her fault. If she could've just healed Ulquiorra while she was slowly turning to dust then maybe she didn't have to suffer being in such a maddening labyrinth of darkness. "It's my fault Ulquiorra is stuck here." She said solemnly. "I could've helped you back there."
"No, you could not for if you do, you would be identified as a traitor and furthermore the death of your Kurosaki Ichigo would've been in vain, do not mistake me for being miserable, I enjoyed my stay here in the darkness." Ulquiorra said to her.
"Why?" Orihime asked her.
"Nihilism." Ulquiorra simply stated. "This means having nothing and loosing nothing. I've searched for something which resembles the limitless nothingness. Now, I have found it, I am in a void which drives humans insane but for me, it is peaceful. I just exist in this vast void and I have no value therefore, I can finally rest."
The cuatro gave Orihime, her usual frowning stare. "I only found you through your warmth and light, Onna."
Orihime looked down a simple 'Oh' left her lips.
Until, a calloused hand came upon the ginger-head's shoulder. "You're that soul reaper's friend! The one who healed my arm…" A raspy male voice growled.
Before Orihime could scream Ulquiorra held the hand tightly before flipping over the unfortunate owner and straddled them, her other hand raised slightly up in the position whenever she was going to stab someone. The raven-head's teel orbs met icy blue ones. "Grimmjow Jeagerjaques." Ulquiorra simply stated, her surprise was masked well behind her emotionless eyes and everlasting frown.
"Well, if it isn't the cuatro espada!" Grimmjow mocked. "The top dog's personal bitch!" he finished with venom lacing his tone. "Your mouth is still as vulgar as ever." Ulquiorra said before Grimmjow raised his leg and arm to kick the female arrancar off of him but before he could hit her, Ulquiorra used sonido and disappeared, only appearing a fair distance away from him.
"What are you two nuisances doing here?" Grimmjow demanded.
She froze the moment his icy blue eyes landed on. "I knew you'd end up here sooner or later. Now, come on girl, help us out of here! I could smell your live soul all around at this dump."
"I'M AFRAID; I CAN'T ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT!" An echo-ey female voice resonated through the never ending darkness. There was a bright flash of swirling light,that surrounded them. The trio was astounded by the stunning display of lights until it gathered up in the center and exploded into a big mass of fireworks, confetti and glitter.
Ulquiorra and Grimmjow's fascination then soon turned into disgust at the sudden explosion of such flashing and festive items. Amidst all the lightshow was a very short… child? With vibrant pink hair that had purple tips, dark skin, a bunny hoodie (Usami from Danganronpa) and stars painted on her cheeks. "HELLO! LOOK AT YOU GUYS! I WOULD NEVER EXPECT BEING ABLE TO PERSONALLY MEET YOU! WHICH REMINDS ME…" The strange girl dugs her hands into the pocket of her hoodie.
She pulled out a lot of bazaar things such as a dead baby whale, an anchor and a flat screen TV before finally pulling out a phone followed attached to a selfie stick. "SAY 'CHEESE'!" The girl exclaimed taking a picture of her and three bewildered people at her back. The picture was very amusing to the very least, Grimmjow with an enraged yet confused look, Orihime with a rather forced smile and with Ulquiorra having her same emotionless look.
"THAT'S A KEEPER!" The girl laughed before stuffing the camera into her pocket once again. "Is this some kind of joke to you?!" Grimmjow yelled, completely eluded with a kid acting so casually around him, the king! The bluenette tried to grab the girl but the said girl merely snapped her fingers and a white circle appeared underneath his feet.
He looked down, it seemed to be soli—until he fell down in a rather comical way into the white hole. Another white hole appeared just above the spot beside Orihime and the sexta fell down through it, landing flat on his rear end. He stood up, confused as ever before. "What the actual fuck?" was all he could muster.
"I'M NOT FINISH YET, GRIMMJOW JEAGERJAQUES THE SEXTA ESPADA."
She knew his name?
"Who are you?" Ulquiorra coldly demanded. "WHAT DO YOU GET IF LIFE AND DEATH MIX AND HAVE A HAPPY GO LUCKY, CHILD?!" She asked the three.
"A seriously fucked up mutant baby?" Grimmjow guessed which caused him to get hit in the head by a big hammer that the strange girl managed to conjure. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" Grimmjow demanded, completely enraged by the floating child.
"I DUNNO MAYBE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT YOU BLANTLY INSULTED ME! STILL CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CHARACTERS!" The child cried in a chibi-like form. How was she able to do these different kinds of expressions? Ulquiorra wondered.
"TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ULQUI-CHAN –"
Ulqui-chan? The cuatro could hear Grimmjow and Orihime snicker at such a childish nickname but both were cut-off by a simple gaze.
"WHEN LIFE AND DEATH MIX TOGETHER IT IS EQUAL TO… REALITY! WHAT'S UP PEOPLE?! THE NAME'S REALITY!" Reality announced as the sound of people cheering suddenly started to appear around them. "AND I AM HERE TO GIVE ULQUIORRA CIFER AND GRIMMJOW JEAGERJAQUES A SECOND CHANCE!"
The two arrancars froze, not really expecting such a big offer to be given to them by the embodiment of reality herself.
"Pardon?/What?!" Both of them said at the same time. "YOU HEARD ME." Reality said wiggling a finger at them. "I WANNA GIVE YOU TWO A SECOND CHANCE IN ANOTHER WORLD!"
"As if I'd go to another world! See this scar?! I have this as a promise to kill that soul reaper, Kurosaki Ichigo! If I were to be given a second chance, let me go back to my original world!" Grimmjow declared, there was no way he would go to another world when there were still many left undone at his old one! He never even got to accomplish his goal at the very end till his death came. He was a man of his word and he intends to complete it no matter what obstacle would approach him!
Ulquiorra said nothing on the particular matter that was suddenly brought upon her. Does she want this second chance? She quite enjoyed the darkness around her and found herself at peace. What more could she ask? She didn't want anything. She doesn't need this second chance so why should she jump at this opportunity?
"YOU TWO MAYBE VERY LOVABLE CHARACTERS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SIMPLE HUMANE STUFF, YOU GUYS ARE DUNDERHEADS!" Reality deadpanned. "CAN YOU GUYS NOT SEE WHY I AM DOING THIS?! IT IS BECAUSE YOU GUYS LACK SOMETHING! ULQUIORRA CIFER, YOU LACK 'HEART! YOU LACK FEELINGS AND IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK OF FEELINGS GOT YOU KILLED BY THE HOLLOW KUROSAKI ICHIGO IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
Ulquiorra's eyes slightly widen up in surprise. It was true. She only understood it just at the moment of her death and lost it all once again because of her feeling of contention at finding the place that truly represents true nothingness.
"GRIMMJOW JEAGERJAQUES, YOU LACK RESOLVE! NO MATTER HOW STRONG YOU ARE WITH YOUR RELEASED FORM OR YOUR REGULAR FORM IF YOUR OPPONENT HAS A STRONGER RESOLVE THEN THEY WILL ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE STRONGER THAN YOU!"
Grimmjow gritted his teeth and clenched his fists in fury. Why did that damn brat had to be so right? "IF BOTH OF YOU WANT TO COME BACK OR COMPLETELY REST IN PEACE FOREVER, ISN'T IT BETTER TO DO IT WITH YOUR CONSCIOUS CLEARED? TO MAKE A DRASTIC IMPROVEMENT?" Reality asked the two arrancars with a hopeful tone.
The two gave it a long hard thought.
"I think both of you should do it." Orihime said catching the cuatro and the sexta's attention. "In this new world there may be strong opponents and new people for both of you to meet. Not everybody could have this opportunity so I think both of you should not let it go to waste."
"I agree with your terms, Reality, and I agree with your reasons, Onna." Ulquiorra sighed, finally accepting the reality-bending entity's offer. Reality shouted out a hooray with fireworks and confetti appearing once again.
Grimmjow scowled, he had too much pride to accept Reality's offer. He doesn't need her pity, let him rot in this void for all he cares! "THIS IS NOT BECAUSE I PITY YOU GRIMMJOW, IT IS BECAUSE OF MY ADORATION FOR YOU THAT I AM OFFERING A SECOND CHANCE." Reality stated with honesty clear in her voice. Finally, the sexta gave a grunt of acceptance.
"YAHOOO!" Reality screamed in pure joy, glitching against the matrix of the void. Finally, with a snap of her fingers a small pink pill and a bracelet appeared on each of the espada's hand. "EAT THE PILL AND WEAR THE BRACELETS."
They did as instructed. "What the hell was the pill for?" Grimmjow scowled. "WELL, SINCE YOU ARE GOING TO A DIMENSION WHERE COMEDY IS NOT UNCOMMON, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT NEED THIS FOR THE FEW LAUGHS THE AUDIENCE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE. SO, ARE YOU GUY STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE 'FUNNY'?"
Something tells Ulquiorra that Reality's pun held a much greater meaning behind it. "IT IS ALSO SOMETHING TO HELP YOUR BODY ADJUST TO THE NEW ENERGY IN THE ATMOSPHERE THERE. AS YOU CAN SEE, INSTEAD OF USING REISHI AND WHATNOT THEY USE SOMETHING ELSE. SO THE PILL HELPS CONVERT THIS NEW ENERGY TO REIATSU TO REPLENISH YOU TWO." Reality explained to the two of them. "And the bracelet? What is the purpose?" Ulquiorra asked her.
"THE BRACELET, WELL, IT ACTS AS A SEAL TO HOLD IN YOUR POWER. YOU CAN'T GO INTO YOUR RELEASE FORMS UNTIL YOU HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE OTHER OR THEY ALREADY TRUST YOU." Reality smirked. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN A SEAL?! I DID NOT FUCKING SIGN UP FOR THIS 'SECOND CHANCE' TO LET MY POWER HELD BACK! THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL WE WOULD EVER GET ALONG!" Grimmjow shouted.
"CAN'T REALLY BLAME ME, THE DIMENSION I'M GONNA SEND YOU IS GONNA SHOCK YOU. TRUST AND BONDS ARE GONNA BE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES FROM NOW ON." Reality shrugged, unfazed by the bluenette's anger. "E-Excuse me, Reality-san." Orihime called out causing the entity to look at the ginger-head. "W-What about me? What did you brought me here for?"
"WELL SEEING AS YOU CAN UNDO AND REJECT THE VERY ESSENCE OF ME. I BROUGHT YOU HERE NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE DEAD BUT TO HELP ME SEND THESE TWO TO THE NEW WORLD." Reality stated.
Orihime wasn't dead? That was a big relief as if a huge weight was lifted off her chest. "I'M GONNA SEND YOU BACK TO YOUR WORLD AFTER THIS, I NEED YOU TO REJECT ULQUIORA AND GRIMJOW FROM THIS VERY WORLD, THEIR SOULS WILL GO ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I WILL JUST REDIRECT IT TO THE DIMENSION I HAVE IN MIND."
Orihime nodded and headed over to the two Espadas. "Soten Kishun,"
"Hey, what about a clue?" Grimmjow asked. "You can't just send us over someplace new without a little hint in where we're going?"
"I ONLY HAVE TWO WORDS FOR YOUR 'CLUE' WHICH IS: FAIRY TAIL." Reality answered the sexta's questions. "Fairy Tail? You better not send me to a sappy world filled with overdramatic assholes!" Grimmjow shouted but was soon cut off by Orihime.
"I reject…"
"BY THE WAY ULQUI-CHAN I REALLY, REALLY LOVE YOUR SECOND RESURECCTION FORM!" Reality complimented.
Second?
Grimmjow looked at Ulquiorra as rage started to fill him up. How did she manage to get a second resurrection form? She really was looking down at him! The King of all hollows! "DAMN STUCK-UP BITCH! YOU REALLY WERE LOOKING DOWN ON ME—"
"ENJOY YOUR NEW WORLD!" Reality cheered cutting off Grimmjow.
The last thing both Ulquiorra and Grimmjow saw was a bright flash of orange light.
"Will they be alright?" Orihime asked Reality concerned for the fate of the arrancars whose personalities tend to always clash. She wasn't sure if pairing Grimmjow and Ulquiorra would be good. "YES. THEY WILL BE AND IN THAT WORLD, THEY WILL SEEK OUT WHAT THEY WILL FIND AND SHALL HAVE IT." Reality stated with a strange certainty in her voice.
In Magnolia…
Makarov woke up with a startling gasp. A thin layer of cold sweat covering his entire body as shivers began to travel down his spine. Something was coming. There was a message stated in his dream. A message in the stars is what the voice in his dreams said. He looked out his window and he was absolutely certain with what he saw. A message, a prophecy was written in those stars.
"As you look upon your home
A message in the stars you are reading this very night;
A man and a woman will appear both never known
Holes and masks in their bodies, both clad in white;
The panther king comes with his own problem to fix
The true embodiment of destruction, showing the number six;
He came here now to fix his resolve
So he may grow in strength and will to finally evolve;
The midnight bat comes with no heart
Eyes emotionless as ever, confused with her part;
The true embodiment of emptiness, showing the number four
Filled with nothing to her very core;
Both must come to a decision all on their own
Exposed to emotions never shown;
To spare or to destroy is their choice
So scream out and they might hear your voice"
The world of magic is going to encounter beings with power not found anywhere. He hoped that this tale would come and turn out for the better.