We lose a lot of things in our life. Precious items, homes, loved ones and friends. But what would happen if what you lost...was everything? This is the story of a girl who's world was destroyed before her very eyes, and seeks vengeance against her oppressor.
Titania
Island Prison, Inner Cell Block
In the halls of the vast prison, Connor walked through and combed each cell.
"Not here either. That must mean the prisoner is deeper underground." Connor said to himself.
"Who exactly are you looking for again?" David asked over the comm.
"I told you, it's someone who's got a deep connection to the events in this timeline, I've seen her before here." Connor said.
"A girl? How can one girl be the center of this?" Hope asked.
"Because that girl became the Lord of Calamity." Connor said.
"Should we really be doing this?" Hope asked.
"It doesn't matter now. If we turn back now, I'll likely be spotted by the exorcists and executed on the spot." Connor said. "That goes double for David and Sectonia with the Tapu Guardians. They'll be taken in for questioning on the grounds of unauthorized malak tethering."
"This is a bad idea, im calling it right now." Usopp said.
"Don't be scared, Usopp. It's just a prison." Luffy said grinning.
"A prison where escape is near impossible." Usopp replied.
"Impel Down was said to be the most fortified and inescapable prison for the Navy, and yet Luffy escaped it." Nami said.
"See? Nothing to worry about, take it from me." Luffy said.
"These aren't your average outlaws, Luffy. There are daemons down here too. They prefer maximum security to keep them from running wild." Connor said. "It was risky enough to get myself in. Getting myself out with the Lord of Calamity in tow will be harder."
"Not if the exorcists are distracted by something." David said.
"What are you suggesting?" Connor said.
"If there happened to be a mass riot in there, the exorcists will leave the exits undermanned, and you'll be able to slip out among the chaos." David said.
"I gotta get her out first…" Connor said walking deeper in.
"Connor, heads up. Two exorcist guards coming your way." Vera said.
"Crap… course they'd have patrols." Connor said.
"Hey! Who are you?" one of them said.
"Guess I got no choice but to fight." he said drawing his guns. "Sorry boys, but I'm here to see someone."
As the two attacked, connor parried and fired back.
"What...what strange weapons." one of them said.
"Pretty common in my time." Connor said firing at both their legs making them fall. He then approached a door headed for the basement only to see it open as walking out was a girl with long black hair and rags as well as a woman with long orange hair wearing a mask. "Uh...guys. Looks like I won't have to go down and get her after all. She just came to me."
"Who are you?" the black haired girl asked.
"Me? I'm just a… well a Bounty Hunter. I'm not here to collect yours though. I'm here to free you actually." Connor said. "But you seem to have freed yourself. So I'll just cause the riot and…" Connor began before the other woman broke the seals on the cells. "Or you could do that."
"We must hurry." the woman said.
"Agreed." Connor said. "We need to make it to the docks."
"You would lead us? We don't even know your name." the black haired girl said.
"I'm Connor. Connor Trav." Connor said.
"Velvet. The one with the mask is Seres." the girl introduced.
"C'mon, we better get your gear outta the armory." Connor said. "Wouldn't wanna escape this place looking like that."
"You make a good point." Velvet said. "Just so we're clear, I'm not asking you to follow me. You came here to find me? That's fine, but know this, all that matters to me is revenge for my brother. I can care less what happens to you or anyone you might've brought."
"That's fine with me. I just came to get you out." Connor said.
They came to the armory where Velvet found the gear she needed.
"Looks like they keep the prisoners' weapons and effects from the upper levels in here." Connor said as he eyed a long katana in a purple sheath. "Whoa. Now this is a blade any samurai would kill to keep." he said grabbing it.
"That blade… Stormhowl! What is it doing here?" Seres asked.
"Eh...not really my thing though. More of a marksman." Connor said tossing it aside.
"If none of us can use it, then there's no point in taking it then." Velvet said. She was now dressed in red and black clothing with the left leg having an armor piece and the leggings torn up. The top of her outfit consisted of a torn red shirt exposing her stomach, but was secured with a flowing black cape.
"Agreed. Now we better not stay here much longer." Connor said as they headed out of the storage. As soon as they were leaving though…
"Not even a word of apology?" a voice asked. They looked around as standing behind Velvet was a girl dressed in strange clothing. As Velvet tried to slice her, she ducked out of the way. "Humph! What is wrong with you people? There i was, sleeping like a babe, when suddenly...From paradise down to hell! Worse, a grimy prison cell! You see why I'm not feeling well."
"O-Kay…" Connor siad. "And you are who exactly?"
(Cue-Tales of Berseria: Theme of Magilou)
"Hehe! I'm so glad you asked! I'm thrilled to introduce to you the sorceress who has travelled across the eleven seas, who scoffs at the might of dragons...None other than the acclaimed, the illustrius Mazhigigika Miludin do Din Nolurun Dou! Magilou for short!" she said.
"Wow. Your parents must have hated you to name ya that." Connor said tried to hide his snickering.
"Magi-lou?" Velvet asked.
"No! Magilou like doggy doo or soggy shoe or call me anything else and I'll turn you into a froggy stew!" Magilou said. "Suppose you'll never understand. Hey...like I care." she said walking out.
Connor sighed. "Why do I always get the nutjobs?"
"You may need to be careful around her though. Comedic as she was, I sensed crazy amounts of Magic Power." Lucy said.
"Hmm. She must have been a witch. Well...not my problem." Connor said before they saw a couple of guards being beaten by a man in japanese style clothing while also having darkness covering part of his face. "A Daemon!"
"More?" he asked turning.
"You're right… be ready!" Seres said.
(Shift- Tales of Berseria: Theme of Rokurou)
The man dashed towards the three, daggers in hand as Velvet met him with her hidden blade, clashing in the middle.
"You're not human." The man said. "Man, these exorcist blades are starting to crumble already? I need Stormhowl back."
"Stromhowl? That overgrown paring knife we found?" Connor asked.
"You've seen it? Do you know where it is?!" the man asked.
"It's in the storage room down below." Velvet said.
"Down below? You have my thanks." he said running past them.
"Huh. Mention that sword and all anger and focus goes right out the door. Least he's happy." Connor said.
"Let's hurry on." Seres said going ahead.
"Getting out of here comes first." Velvet said walking too.
"Wait, hold on a second there." Connor said. "You did have a ship ready, right?"
"Yes, so we should be going to the rear of the prison." Seres said.
"You're an untethered Malak, right? They might have caught you by now, so they found your shirt. So, why not go to the front entrance, where there's a ship but no guards there?" Connor said.
"You make some sense. There should be at least one ready." Seres said as they hurried down to the front before being stopped by two Malak and a man with short blond hair. "Oscar. I wasn't expecting an exorcist praetor to be here."
"You surprise me Seres. Aiding criminals now are you? Did Lord Artorious order this?" Oscar asked.
"No. I'm acting on my own." Seres said.
"A Malak with free will? And yet...I sense someone's strings guiding you." Oscar said. "The other is a Daemon yet still a lady so I shall make this honorable. I am Oscar Dragonia, Praetor of the Abbey of the Holy Midland Empire. Who might you be?'
Velvet refused to respond.
"All right. Graceless Daemon it is then." Oscar said attacking with his Malak's.
Connor reached for his revolvers.
"What are you doing? A praetor is no orderly." Seres said.
"I got no backup here, miss. And even if I call for it, it'll take too long what with the storm brewing outside. So I gotta do what I can on my own." Connor said.
The blue clothed malak attacked with magical attacks.
"Vera, what am i dealing with here besides the guy in the robes?" Connor asked.
"Oscar is flanked by two malakhim. From the looks of it, one water and one wind." Vera said.
"That so huh? Then I better take care of the water one first." Connor said loading a revolver with yellow bullets. He fired one at the water Malak where it was jolted with several volts of electricity. "Like em? It's a hot item where I come from. Elements in a bullet. Fire them at your target and watch as they cause elemental damage to them." Connor said smiling.
"On your right!" Vera said as Connor evaded the Wind Malak's mace strike.
"Who said you could join this party, huh?" Connor said drawing his shot gun and firing at the wind malak with an added burst of earth and sand. "Too bad you got mud in yer mouth." he said.
"This is no ordinary man and daemon." Oscar said. "Looks like… I'll have to expend a malak or two."
Signaling them both, the wind malak wiped the sand from his helmet and charged, dropping his weapon and grappling with velvet. All the while, the Water Malak charged up a spell.
"He's gonna go for an attack and sacrifice one of his own guys?!" Connor asked.
Velvet then tossed the malak into the attack as they screamed in pain.
"Damn it! Malakhim were the name Seraphim went by back in these days. That means infest it with malevolence and…" Connor said as the Malak stood as a large dragon. "You get a dragon."
"A Malak that's been corrupted by daemonblight?!" Velvet asked.
"Yeah, and they're not particularly fond of friend and foe…" Connor said as the drake looked at them. "Ah crap!"
The drake flapped its wings and ushered a cyclone that blasted Oscar and his remaining Malak into a wall. Turning its attention to velvet afterwards, it charged right at her.
"Velvet!" Seres said and got between the drake and Velvet at the last second, the claw slicing her instead. She fired a fireball back, knocking it back
"Seres!" Connor said. "Its okay, we got medics where I came from, you're gonna be…"
"I won't make it. Please… let Velvet consume me." Seres said.
"What? But...we can…" Connor said.
"Let this happen." Brandish said over the comm. "If this is her wish...we let her have it."
Velvet reluctantly grabbed Seres. Her right arm bulged before the bandages ripped open, revealing a large black and red claw. As she paused before giving a scream, she crushed Seres head and absorbed her, gaining back power, as only a ring remained.
(Cue- RWBY- Red Like Roses Part 2)
Connor tipped his hat up and looked back at the dragon. "You cost us a comrade. So...you're gonna pay with your life!" Connor said.
"Move. and if you don't...I'll eat you!" Velvet said.
The dragon charged as both dodged as Connor fired his guns into the skin. "Damn it. Too thick to pierce." he said. "Gonna have to do this the old fashioned way."
He deployed a blade on the back of his rifle and stabbed the drake in the side, slashing through it. Velvet charged in and struck with presion before invoking her right arm again.
"Devour!" Velvet said slashing the drake critically, continuing the assault before engaging in another devastating stroke.
Connor then came up from behind and stabbed the dragon again, blasting rounds into it from the rear end of the gun as he brought it then switched to his Klondike. The dragon roared again but Connor stuck the gun in its mouth, fully charged.
"Adios." connor said blasting into its throat. A wind attack barreled into Velvet, knocking her down.
"Sorry, but I can't let your daemon friend run freely, can I?" Oscar asked.
"Her name is Velvet, you idiot. Not graceless daemon." Connor said as velvet got up and started devouring the Dragon with her right arm.
"My name is Velvet Crowe. And I will devour daemon, malak and exorcist alike." Velvet siad. "I am a monster… I am a THERION!" she shouted firing a fireball at Oscar dead on, burning him all over. His Malak then regained consciousness and warped away itself and Oscar.
"Oho! Finally, someplace that's not a death trap." a familiar voice called as the man and witch from earlier appeared.
"You two?" Connor asked "Magilou, I think… and you… I didn't get your name before you ran of to get that sword of yours."
"Rokurou Rangetsu, at your service." the man said.
"Wait… Rangetsu?" David asked. "I feel like I heard that name somewhere before…"
"That might come from the fact that you're Japanese." Hope said.
"Yeah, I guess." David said.
"Thanks to you, Stormhowl is back in my care. This blade is my life. I owe you a great debt, one I vow to repay."
"Yeah yeah! Can we get a move on? I think they're almost done massacring the rioters." Magilou said.
"The boat's up ahead. Help me." Velvet said as the four headed off.
"You're gonna need some extra hands to navigate that kind of stormy sea." Connor said.
"He's right. We aren't exactly a proper crew." Magilou said.
"We'll just keep sailing till we reach somewhere." Velvet said as they got onboard and set sail.
"Right…" Connor said. "You guys will be following us right?" he asked the group silently.
"It's either rot in a jail cell, or rot in a fish-tummy. Welp, guess today's your lucky day, fishies!" Magilou said.
"No one asked for your opinion." Connor said as he boarded.
"I'm coming for you...Artorious." Velvet said to herself as the ship set sail.
