A/N (or however it is you put it!): This is indeed, my first fanfic. I thought about doing it for a while, so I just thought, the hell with it, let's do it.

Blazblue, and anything in it, or associated with it, is owned by Ark System Works. I don't own a thing.

Prologue

Late was the night in the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi. Most have gone to their homes, for the next day would be like the last: long and tiresome. Even the residents of the Kaka Clan would be fast asleep, dreaming their pleasant dreams.

A man walked down the streets of Orient Town. He looked like the sort of man on a mission, one who doesn't screw around.

This man, was Relius Clover.

He should have been working on his next project, but he had received a rather strange message, explaining that he wished to talk. Of course, this could have been done with a simple note, rather than sending the mangled, gnarled mess that was once one of the man's workers, but it did get the point across.

Besides, why else would the famed "Puppeteer" be walking around the lower levels of the city in the dead of night?

Relius, even though being a highly skilled alchemist, still was not sure where to go. The little note that came with his deceased worker only read, "Come. Tonight. Orient Town." Whoever he was dealing with was either rather intelligent, or really stupid. Clover was hoping for his first thought.

Suddenly, the masked man felt a chill in the air, and stopped. The street lamps began to flicker, signaling something out of the ordinary. Or poor lighting. Relius couldn't care less even if he tried.

He felt the strange phenomena coming from an alley way up ahead. As he advanced through the path, his head began to ping. Relius shut his eyes tight, the pain growing from an annoying tick, to an excruciating headache.

Something is wrong. He thought to himself. That much I know.

Relius opened his eyes, and he found himself standing in a dark void. Mist crept out of nowhere and surrounded "The Puppeteer." He didn't show it, but Relius was slightly amused by this. He looked around, seeing if he could find anything, He was able to make out a shape in the distance. Relius approached it, and as it came into view, his eyes widened.

Sitting there on his knees, was his son, Carl Clover. The young child was bent over something, but Relius could tell he was upset. Carl whimpered as he looked up at his father.

"W-why couldn't you save her?" Tears fell down his cheeks as he asked.

As Carl sat up, Relius could see what his child was holding: the shattered remnants that resembled….Nirvana. Relius took a step back, and felt something under his foot crack. He looked down and gasped. The other parts of the Nox Nyctores were scattered around, as if the ground was a scrapheap.

Just then, another figure appeared from the shadows, right behind Carl. Relius could only watch as the hulking figure stabbed the young vigilante before he could even turn around, let alone know it was there. As he bled, Carl uttered one last thing.

"Why…couldn't you save…me?"

Relius awoke, sweat pouring down his face. He found himself sitting in a chair, still within the alley way. A street lamp barely illuminated the dank walkway where he sat.

"W-what was that?" Relius studdered.

He noticed the presence of another in the darkness right in front of him. Someone dark, menacing, and…disturbingly smart.

A voice spoke from the shadows. "I am quite impressed with your resilience, Mr. Clover. Or would you prefer "Puppeteer?"

Shaken, Relius spoke. "So, are you the person responsible for my mangled employee?"

The figure in the dark chuckled, "Person…would be pushing it, but yes, I am the one you are looking for."

Relius could not make out what he was looking at, but what he did know was the figure was humanoid in shape, much like one of the Murokumo Units. He was not certain if he should trust this….thing, or not.

"Well, you sent a message, and I came. You have my attention. Speak." Relius spoke clearly and to the point.

From the darkness, the "Puppeteer" saw what looked like two eyes opening, but they were a neon green, and came out in wisps, as though they burned like a vicious fire.

"For a while now, I have observed the residents here in this grand city. I have seen those who would be a threat to your "little operation" you and your green haired buddy are up to. I have asked for you audience because I believe I can….help you," The figure in the dark chuckled as he paused.

Relius know this all to well. The so-called "Grim Reaper" would most likely stumble upon their plan sooner or later, and others would know about it as well, if not already.

"But how do we know we can trust you?" Relius regretfully asked.

The figure, shrouded in the black of night, stood up from where he was sitting and advanced closer to where Relius sat. As it….he walked closer, Relius could hear the clang of metal on the ground. As the figure finally moved into view under the dim street lamp, Relius's eyes grew wide in bewilderment. The figure had the shape of a man - arms, legs, torso, head - but wasn't. His body was made of pure steel, but looked worn and corroded. What looks like burlap stitched together made for a vague representation of a shirt, and rope from a noose was worn like a belt around his waist. Clawed hands dangled from his gangly arms, and chains dangled from his….shirt, thing. On his belt, twin revolvers rested in their master's holsters.

Relius could not believe his eyes. The being bent down to meet his eye level, his large brim hat, also stitched up, covered his face.

"Now come on," He lifted the great hat that blocked his face, revealing his neon green eyes once more, and also revealing a skull-like mask. "Why wouldn't you trust me. And please, call me Ghaunt."

Relius watched in stunned horror as Ghaunt holstered one of his revolvers, and aimed directly at his head, chuckling as he did so.

"Nighty night."

"GUH!"

Again, Relius awoke, still in the alleyway, amazed he was still alive. It was now day, and he could here people outside the alley.

"Damn…it was all an illusion…." He grumbled to himself. Then he noticed a note on the ground next to his boot. Already knowing who it was from, he picked it up. It read:

The Grim Reaper of Kagutsuchi is next.