Hello everyone! Sixsamchaos here! Recently, I have been reading a lot of FoZ fics lately and it inspired me to write my own fic.
I am hoping to entertain everyone with my story. Please review and send me your opinions if you want to.
Criticism is encouraged and I would like to get any advice so that the story is more appealing to you.
I would also like to ask if anyone is willing to allow me to use their OCs in this story as well.
P.S.: I would also like to know whether or not you want Saito to come in or not and whether or not there should be pairings.
If anyone has any questions about my story then please send me a message.
Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero in any way, shape, or form. I also don't own anything from other animes, books, or videogames as well. They belong to their respective owners.
Guardian of Zero
It was a beautiful day in the world of Halkeginia. The sun was shining brightly, the wind gliding across the lands, and the humans were going about their daily business. However, today was not an ordinary day for it was the Spring Time Familiar Summoning Ritual. Today was the day that the second year students of the Tristain Academy of Magic would summon their familiars.
It was an exciting day for all of the second year students, as many of them were quite curious about the familiars they would summon. Many of the familiars represented not only a mage's elemental power, but also represent the characteristics that best represent the mage itself. However, there was one student that was anxious about the summoning ritual. This student was none other than Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière or otherwise known as Louise the Zero. The little girl had the unfortunate reputation of failing to cast a single successful spell that didn't include an explosion to the face. It wasn't long until the summoning ritual began, as the young mage's class had moved to one of the vast fields near the school so that no damage could be done when a familiar was summoned by the student.
The second year class was led by Jean Colbert, one of the professors of the academy and superviser of the Spring Time Familiar Summoning Ritual. The man was tall and looked to be about 30 years of age. However, the most notable characteristic about the man was his balding head and small spectacles that adorned his face. Being the right hand of the school headmaster, Colbert had seen many young mages summon their first familiars was just as curious about this year's summonings as any other year. Once arriving at the designated area, the students were sent up one by one to cast their summoning spells.
So far most creatures were normal animals, although there were a few rare or strange summonings. This included the summoning of a creature that appeared to be a giant eye with batwings and a tail. Other creatures also included the large fire salamander summoned by a red haired, dark skinned beauty known as Kirche. However, Tabitha, a quiet, blue-haired girl with a staff larger than her body, had summoned a rhyme dragon, which was a very rare summoning, as dragons were one of the rarest familiars in the world.
Pretty soon, all of the students had summoned a creature of Halkeginia to be their chosen familiar spirit. All but one, as a certain Louise grew nervous about the ritual. What if she couldn't summon her familiar? She'd not only be a failure in being a mage but also be known as Louise the Zero for all eternity. The girl was shaken out of her worries when Professor Colbert addressed the class.
"Okay, has everyone had a chance to summon a familiar?"
Just as Louise was about to come up with a plan to secretly escape, one Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt Zerbstspoke out to the professor.
"Oh professor. Little Louise has yet to summon her familiar."
"Oh yes. Miss Vallière, please come up and summon your familiar."
Cursing silently at the big breasted beauty, Louise walked slowly through the crowd and began to head to where all the students were to summon their familiars. Along the way, the young mage heard the whispers of her fellow classmates to prepare for another explosion. Others were prepared to run or hit the deck, while the rest of the students were preparing to keep their familiars from running off. Kirche looked on amusingly at the young girl, while Tabitha stayed content with reading her large book.
When Louise finally reached the designated place, Colbert kindly asked her to begin the summoning ritual.
*Meanwhile*
Darkness.
Darkness was all that could be seen, could be felt.
There was nothing in the dark abyss save for one silhouette drifting in the void. However, the silhouette was neither an object nor a person. A more correct description was that the silhouette was both. If light had been present within the godforsaken void, one would have made the assumption that the shadowy figure was a statue. To be more specific, the statue was in the form of a man, yet instead of being an inanimate object the statue was actually very much alive.
This statue... no, this man was once someone of great significance. This man was once a Guardian.
Guardians. A term used in many forms. It is used as a title, a social status, and a name to those who defended countries, relics, and divine beings.
However, this man was different from those descriptions. The title of Guardian was something greater to this man. It wasn't until a distant echo reached out to the frozen being's ears.
"I beg of you…"
'Impossible. This is the void, the eternal darkness. Nothing exists here except me.'
Yet it wasn't impossible. The man heard the echo, as the disembodied voice grew louder, grew clearer. The frozen figure could hear the emotion, the conviction, and the desperation in the voice of what sounded to be a young girl.
"My slave who lives somewhere in the universe!"
'Slave? I am a slave to no one!'
It was then a green portal came into existence. The oval of green was large in size and had intricate symbols and runes that the frozen man had never seen before.
"Oh sacred, beautiful and strong familiar spirit!"
'Sacred? Ha! I have forfeited that belief long ago! Beautiful? What is so appealing about a monster? Strong? I am the strongest of my people, yet even the strongest fall no matter who they are or what they can do.'
"I desire and here I plead from my heart!"
'I have long accepted my fate. Why must I continue to suffer the return of life? I am no familiar. I am a failure. Why call out to me?'
It was then that the man noticed that he was drifting towards the portal. Being trapped in an imprisonment of stone, the man could do nothing but float towards the portal.
"Answer to my guidance!"
'Am I deserving to be given a second chance? Am I worthy to return from the dead?'
The man's thoughts had been interrupted, as he entered the portal, its green light bathing the statue with its power.
'I guess I don't have a choice. Very well, I accept your call. Perhaps I may find solace in this new path before me.'
*Back at the academy*
As Louise was casting her summoning spell, the other students were a bit bewildered by the unusual chant. However, many of them still expected an explosion and failure and were prepared to calm their familiars should the large noise scare them off. Actually, some of the students were voicing their opinions about the chant as well.
"I wonder what kind of chant is that," asked Montmorency, a young girl with blonde hair that was styled in Victorian ringlets kept together with a red hair bow at the back of her head.
"Well it certainly is different," voiced Guiche, a blonde haired boy with blue-gray eyes.
Finally, the young mage was finished with her chanting and closed her eyes in preparation for another explosion. However nothing happened, no fiery blast, no glowing portal, no familiar, no nothing. Opening her eyes, Louise looked in disbelief and sadness at yet another failure. Colbert looked to the young girl with sympathy, as he knew about the young mage and her reputation, while many of the students looked at her with pity. Walking up to the young girl, Colbert placed a hand on her shoulder and said.
"I am sorry Miss Vallière bu-"
The middle-aged professor did not have a chance in finishing his sentence for a large glowing seal began to appear. The portal shined brightly and bathed both mages and familiars in its soothing green light. Everyone was astonished by the sudden appearance, while Louise looked up in shock and hope that her summoning spell was successful.
Then it happened.
A large explosion took place and dust and dirt blew up everywhere. The blast knocked many of the students back and caused many of the familiars to either run off or cling tighter to their masters. The two reactions irritated the mages greatly and caused Louise to slightly shrink from their scornful gazes. Surprisingly, Kirche and Tabitha were still standing as a shield that the latter had created, all without taking her eyes off the book she was reading, protected them. Guiche and Montmorency on the other hand, had been knocked back like the rest of the class with the former helping his girlfriend back on her feet.
"Are you all right Montmorency?"
"Yes, I am fine Guiche. Thank you."
Slowly, the dust and dirt settled, as the students were able to gather their bearings and calm down their respective familiars. It was then that everyone looked to see what Louise had managed to summon despite the explosion. When the field was finally clear of the dust, Louise was horrified by what she had summoned.
Despite her best wishes, if somewhat childish, of summoning something grand such as a gryphon, a manticore, or even a dragon, the young mage had summoned something even worse than summoning perhaps a commoner. In front of the young girl and the professor stood a stone statue of a man. However, any other characteristics were hidden, as the statue included the resemblance of a cloak. The statue was also about five feet and nine inches tall. The sight of the statue caused two reactions. The first reaction was from the students especially from Kirche.
"This makes what you said last night worth it! I never would have guessed you would summon a statue, Louise!" The red-haired woman was laughing so hard that she almost collapsed with tears in her eyes.
Soon all of the other students were laughing and calling out to Louise, save for Tabitha who was still focused on her book.
"That's our Louise! No wonder she's called the Zero!" Comments like these were not new to the young mage but they still stung more than any wound or toxin that existed in Halkeginia. Anger rising, the young mage turned to Colbert and asked to try the summoning again, which caused the middle-aged man to explain the sanctity of the ritual.
However, the second reaction was from the creatures that were summoned to be familiars. Like any creature, the familiars had the inborn sense of detecting danger and negative energy from a direction or another being. This situation was no different, as many of the familiars seemed to be uncomfortable or terrified of the statue. They could feel something from this thing and they did not like it. However, none of the mages noticed this feeling save for Colbert and Tabitha. The other students were too busy humiliating Louise, while said girl was trying to get the professor to redo the summoning.
However, there was another being analyzing the situation and it was the statue itself! Although the man may not be able to move, he was able to sense, hear, and see what was going on. From his point of view, the man could see a balding middle-aged man talking to a young girl that was about five feet tall and had a bright pink mane that shined brightly from the sun's rays.
'Hmm. So this girl summoned me? I wonder what my fate will be like now?'
It was then that the frozen man felt the uneasiness of the other familiars.
'So they know that I am not to be trifled with, yet they do not know what it is that makes them uneasy.'
It was then that the man's thoughts were broken when the pink-haired girl walked up to him. Hearing the last bit of the conversation, the man figured that the little girl was going to finish the summoning ritual and confirmed that it was she who had called out to him. Reluctantly, Louise was now directly in front of the statue and was about to finish the ritual but not before uttering one thing.
"You should count yourself lucky. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone, even a statue. My name is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière. Pentagon of the Five Elemental Powers; grant your blessings upon this statue, and make him my familiar."
After finishing her chant, the pink-haired mage jumped and gave the statue and very brief and chaste kiss. No sooner had this happen, the statue began to crack and groan, startling Louise as well as everyone else. The statue cracked and groaned and shook, as the stone gave way to reveal as shining light underneath. The light gathered the attention of all the mages and their familiars, as even Tabitha stared at the glowing figure.
After a few tense minutes, the shining light began to recede and reveal something that greatly shocked the mages. The statue was no longer a statue but a man wearing a worn-looking brown cloak that hid his features. The man slowly turned his head and looked as if he was examining his surroundings. Some of the familiars themselves were uncomfortable by the unknown gaze.
Then the figure silently brought his left arm up and examined it. Almost immediately, his right arm came up to touch the left as if it was a priceless gem. The figure himself seemed to be in disbelief at his apparent freedom from his stony imprisonment. Flexing his hands, the newly freed man looked down at Louise and slowly walked over to her. The young girl looked up in shock, which was quite understandable, as not many statues could transform into living breathing beings.
Colbert on the other hand was conflicted. He gripped his staff tighter, as he sensed a presence that came off the newly summoned familiar. A presence that he had not felt since his time in the Tristain military under the command of Karin the Heavy Wind. Colbert knew what this feeling was. It may have been subtle but it was still there all the same.
Evil.
It was this feeling of dread and malice that the summoned being gave off that put the man on guard, as it was reminiscent to the kind of evil that horrible and dark creatures would release from their bodies. Being a square level fire mage, Colbert was ready to lay down his life to protect the students should this being become hostile towards them.
"Are you all right?" asked the man in a slightly deep voice. Startled, Louise nodded yes and grasped the hand the mysterious figure offered her. Pulling her up with ease, the man did the same with Colbert, however he knew that the professor was wary of him because of how tightly the mage grasped the man's hand.
It was tense, as the two men stood up and stared at each other for a few moments. Both were analyzing, examining, and judging the other. Once both men decided that the other was not a threat Colbert turned to the crowd and was about to dismiss them. However, before he could do so, light once again came off the statue turned man but this light came from his right hand, as runic lines drew upon the man's skin. Grunting in pain, the man stumbled forward and gripped onto his right hand until the pain subsided and the writing was complete. Turning around to face Louise, the young mage grew nervous, as he growled at her.
"That hurt."
Frowning, Colbert asked to inspect the man's hand and examined the runes for himself. It was true that some familiars were hurt by the binding spell that connects them to the mage as their familiar but none of them bore a mark or any runes. Inspecting the markings, Colbert knew that he had seen it before but did not remember where.
This called for research and by the look of the markings, a lot of it.
"Well this has been an interesting turn of events. You have some very interesting runes." He turned back to the crowd of students. "With Miss Vallière's summoning, the ritual is complete. You may all return to you dormitories." Holding onto his staff, Professor Colbert glanced at the mage and familiar once more before heading back to the Academy, while the students began to get acquainted with their new familiars.
With the students levitating themselves or riding on the backs of their familiars, everyone returned to the Academy leaving Louise and her familiar behind. An awkward silence passed before the pink haired mage sighed and walked back towards the Academy with her familiar following. As the two were walking, Louise decided to make some small talk so that she may not only connect with her familiar but also to get rid of the awkward silence.
"So familiar…"
"Xander."
"What?"
"My name is Xander Melee."
"Hmm. That is a very unusual name for a familiar. I am…"
"Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière."
"W-What? How did you know my name?"
"You believed that I was a mere statue but in reality, I was very aware to my surroundings."
This was shocking for the pink haired noble. At first, Louise believed that she summoned a statue and thought it would act like a golem, but in reality she had summoned a sentient being that was trapped in stone. Lost in her thoughts and weary from the day's events, the young mage just continued on to the castle-like school with Xander following.
*In Louise's bedroom*
It wasn't long for the two to return and with night approaching the weary Louise quickly changed into her nightgown, not caring that her familiar was in the room and swiftly blew out the light and went to sleep. This left Xander to be slightly irritated as she practically ignored his existence. Looking around the room, the man had to admit that it was embellished quite nicely and did look fit for a noble. The room contained Louise's queen sized bed, a large dresser, a vanity table with mirror, a door leading to the bathroom, and a large circular table with two chairs on opposite sides. That is, until he saw the small stack of hay near the girl's bed.
'She expects me to sleep in that? I may have slept on things that would disgust even slime but that does not mean that I don't like comfort.'
With that thought, Xander silently walk out and closed the door to his summonor's room. He had also left behind his cloak and now revealed his true appearance. The young man looked to be the age of 18 and appeared to be 5'9" in full height. His entire attire was black as he wore a cowboy hat, a long trench coat, a button-up shirt, jeans, and a pair of cowboy boots. This style contrasted greatly with the clothing of the mages but it allowed Xander to blend perfectly with the darkness around him.
Deciding to take a look around, Xander slowly walked through the hallways and admired the school's decorations. Indeed, the pillars and walls were decorated with paintings and vases of many styles, colors, and inscriptions. Not long after walking through the hallways, Xander came upon a very amusing sight. A young couple was in the hallway that Xander had just entered and the cowboy saw the same blond teen wooing a cute brunette girl.
The cowboy recognized this one to be that Guiche fellow back at the ritual summoning and smirked at young couple before silently moving away. 'Heh. This guy has more cliché lines than a poetry book and he's pretty stupid for two-timing.'
After leaving the couple, it wasn't long until Xander found his way to one of the courtyards. Knowing that it was night and no one would be up at this late hour, Xander looked around until he saw one of the five towers that formed the pentagon shaped castle wall of the school. Quickly gathering some of his energy, the cowboy suddenly disappeared from his place on the ground and reappeared on top of the tower.
'Well. At least I know that I can teleport again. I better not strain myself with my powers especially when I don't know what this runic symbol would do to me.'
With that thought complete, Xander turned his head and somewhat smiled at the vast view of the peaceful landscape. It was then that the cowboy looked up to see that this world had two moons. One moon was pink and smaller than the other, while the larger moon was blue. Both moons glistened beautifully in the night sky and were surrounding by thousands of shining stars.
'At least the scenery is beautiful. Much better than my last home but I cannot be nostalgic. I have been summoned for a reason, as my people only get involved in dire times. Hopefully, I am not truly needed.'
It was then a small breeze passed by, causing the cowboys jacket to sway slightly. It was then Xander gained a crazy if not suicidal idea. Being a Guardian, Xander had the ability to transform into a different form. Curious as to whether or not he could still perform the ability, Xander did something not even a suicidal person would do.
He jumped.
Falling quickly, Xander soon gained more momentum, as he closed his eyes and concentrated on his energy. He could feel the wind rushing past his face, he could feel his power shifting and expanding. Soon the cowboy's body began to glow and pale gold until he was covered entirely in the light. Right before his body crashed into the glowing orb of light broke apart to reveal something truly unexpected.
A jet. Xander had transformed into a jet, but not just any jet. Xander had transformed into a Cobra Night Raven S3P recon stealth jet (Think of the mini-con Terradive from Transformers Armada), however the cowboy knew that the energy needed to transform into a cybertronian was very taxing on his body and couldn't use it very often. Still that didn't stop him from transforming, as flying had always been able to relax him. The wind, the thrill, and the rush took the stress off and made the cowboy feel like something to great for him to describe.
The newly transformed cowboy quickly pulled up before he could hit the ground and was now soaring through the air around the Academy and its surrounding fields. After a few minutes of flying, Xander slowly initiated his transformation into robot mode just a few feet above the ground before reverting back into his original form. Landing softly, Xander let out a sigh of contentment. "Man that felt great. I haven't felt this good in years. Come to think of it, I was a statue for a pretty long time."
It wasn't long until Xander felt the effects of the transformation on his body. Wincing slightly from the pain and soreness, the cowboy walked slowly to and tree nearby and sat at its base. Yawning, the young man soon drifted off to sleep, as his body was adjusting to his new freedom of mobility. Being trapped in stone, Xander wasn't able to train his body, therefore it was not used to such movements. It was a miracle that the cowboy could walk at all.
'Well, today has certainly been an interesting day. Still, I wonder why I was summoned here. I had accepted my fate and gladly took it. Why bring me back when I am not needed?'
So... Love it, hate it? Please Review to let me know.
A/N: Just to let you guys know that more about Xander will be known as the story progresses.
Also please check out my other stories and send me your thoughts about them if you have the time.
Goodbye!