Mountains of monster corpses lay about a barren wasteland as a masculine man with long dark brown hair that's braided and has blood red eyes wearing the uniform of a Warrior Priest, black combat boots built for all terrain, black pants that are loose yet tight, a sleeveless black turtleneck, a loose-fitting red robe with gold trim, black gloves, and an earring signifying his oath to the law, stood looking at his blood-stained oversized claymore. He wore a very annoyed expression as he turned and began to walk toward the west.
"Not strong… not strong at all… is there truly no limit to my growth?" he grumbled to himself.
He heard giggles and looked into the air seeing Lady Purple Heart flying overhead. A grin came to his face as he saw her fly. An idea came to him…
"Of course… the goddesses of the continents are supposed to be the most powerful beings around, given they have enough shares… I just might be able to satiate this void in my heart if I fight her… yes… then maybe I can finally rest…" he grinned ecstatically.
So he wrote the Basilicom a formal Letter of Challenge, and had it delivered via courier pigeon, as is typical of Warrior Priests. At the Basilicom Nepgear had just returned from shopping when the pigeon arrived delivering the letter to her.
"A letter for sis? Wonder what it is this time." Nepgear pondered taking it inside.
Nepgear asked Neptune to kindly clean her room up a little bit while she was gone. It was very obvious that she had not moved an inch from her bed, and was out cold. Angrily, Nepgear shook her awake.
"Sis! Wake up! You've got mail." Nepgear called to her.
"Huh? Wuzzat?" Neptune spoke groggily.
"Mail." Nepgear again told her handing the letter to her.
"Betcha it's from that Lolita Fan Club again. I don't do frilly cosplay." Neptune complained opening the letter and reading it.
The letter read thus, "Dear Goddess Neptune, I hereby challenge you to a one-on-one duel. We will be alone, and will be allowed one weapon of choice and no more. You will pick the witness. I will be waiting in the wastes of the east." and brought a grin to Neptune's face.
"A duel, huh? Not often I'm challenged to one of those. Odd, there's no signature or anything though." Neptune observed.
"It came by courier pigeon." Nepgear explained.
"Well, best not to keep them waiting. Bet it's Noire wanting a rematch." Neptune joked walking to the front where Histoire was waiting.
"Neptune, you're actually going outside? Of your free will?" Histoire spoke shocked.
"Histy, perfect, I need you to be the witness to my duel." Neptune replied.
"Witness? You're accepting another duel?!" Histoire spoke shocked.
"Come on, Histy, it's obviously some shmuck who thinks anyone can swing a blade and win. What're the odds of me losing?" Neptune chuckled.
"Fine… but if you go and accept… you're agreeing to their terms this time." she grumbled.
"Ah, it'll be fine." Neptune assured her, and off they went.
In the wastes the man was leaning on the only tree for miles. As Neptune and Histoire arrived he opened his eyes to look at them and stood up. Histoire became nervous the minute she saw him.
"You are the one who challenged Neptune?" Histoire spoke shakily.
"It's a dude. Rare that happens in this universe." Neptune joked.
"I am Weiss Winters… am I to understand this is Lady Purple Heart?" he asked.
"You bet I am." Neptune replied transforming into Purple Heart, to which Weiss grinned sending chills up Histoire's spine.
"How interesting. Well, do you accept my challenge?" Weiss asked.
"Indeed. Name your terms for this duel." Purple Heart maturely stated.
"We'll be using the standard rules for a duel. One on one, one weapon allotted, and the victor decides the fate of their opponent. Including the right to kill them. As per protocol of those rules, we take thirty paces and begin." Weiss replied with a cold stare.
"I accept." Purple Heart replied with a smile, but Histoire was terribly nervous. She'd begun to piece together who Weiss was.
The two began their paces and Histoire began to panic seeing Weiss's blade, which is unique in that the model he uses is no longer manufactured on any of the continents. Once the two reached their last pace, they turned and ran at each other drawing their weapons to clash sending shockwaves across the area. Weiss kept up with Purple Heart with ease blocking and countering her blade showing great footwork and skill despite his blade's size. Even Purple Heart realized that he was no ordinary opponent and began to take it seriously.
Weiss's eyes were cold and unforgiving as they analyzed Purple Heart at every second of the fight. He was waiting for her to make a mistake, and she eventually did in an attempt to break the deadlock. He purposely dodged a thrust at a narrow margin risking taking a bad injury if he slipped up. He then twirled around her and kicked her back sending her forward. Purple Heart grew angry making her blade glow with energy.
"Cross Slash!" Purple Heart cried as she unleashed her attack, and Weiss dodged as close to the attack as he could get making his blade glow red.
"Crushing Strike." Weiss spoke as he swung.
Purple Heart blocked, but his blade then sent a heavy pulse of kinetic force through it making it crack up where his blade connected as it sent her flying. She was legitimately afraid of him now. Not even Plutia had the physical strength to crack her weapon. She had little time to think, as Weiss was already upon her and ready to strike. This forced her on the defensive being wary of her damaged weapon. The compensation made her blocks sloppy as she took cuts and nicks here and there. She wasn't prepared for a competitor like this. Was this the skill of a Warrior Priest?
"Crushing Blow!" Weiss roared swinging again slicing through Purple Heart's blade making a large bloody wound on her torso as it sent her flying. She crashed into a boulder exploding it as the top half of her blade stabbed into the ground. Histoire was biting her fingernails now. She knew that it was over after that, and that he intended completely to kill Neptune.
Histoire had to think fast, how could she save Neptune? Weiss wouldn't spare her because she asked, and he isn't a god so he couldn't be offered the position to dissuade him from killing her. Then a wildcard idea came to her head. Marriage! If there's a clause stating that if a goddess is defeated by an eligible suitor, someone of legal marrying age in other words, in one on one combat they must wed, then Neptune would be saved! In a panic she flew over to Neptune writing in her book feverishly to get the clause in there so she couldn't be caught in her excuse. In a matter of minutes Weiss would be upon them.
"What are you doing?" Weiss asked narrowing his gaze.
"Y-You won, right? I'm just helping you claim your prize!" Histoire exclaimed trying not to be intimidated.
"Oh? Then move aside." Weiss ordered.
"Wait! You can't kill your bride!" Histoire blurted, and Weiss was genuinely dumbfounded.
"Bride?" he asked confused.
"Yes. Bride. You didn't know? If you duel a goddess, it's essentially asking for her hand in marriage. S-So I look forward to planning the wedding with you." Histoire spoke through her teeth. Weiss took a step back trying to register what he's just been told.
"So you're telling me… the ultimate test of my strength… has resulted in me being engaged?" Weiss asked, and Histoire feverishly nodded with a sheepish smile.
"That's right! You'll get married, Lady Purple Heart's last name will change to yours, and you may or may not have kids. The having kids part is up to you and her. Whatever you decide, you have to get married." Histoire spoke breaking a cold sweat.
"Very well. There's no point in refuting a law of the land." Weiss sighed sheathing his blade, much to Histoire's relief.
Histoire had Weiss carry the unconscious and wounded Neptune back to the Basilicom. Many people in Planeptune City were absolutely baffled by the sight of a mysterious man carrying their wounded goddess through town.
When Weiss entered the Basilicom with Histoire, Nepgear ran to the doorway excited… but her expression turned to horror seeing the looming six-foot Weiss carrying Neptune. He took her to the bathroom where he began addressing Neptune's injuries with great care. Nepgear was so afraid she could only watch as he dressed her sisters' injuries and carried her to the bedroom where he changed her into pajamas before tucking her in. Weiss then turned to Nepgear, prompting her to go pale.
"You. Keep an eye on her. I don't want her agitating those injuries." Weiss ordered, and Nepgear could only nod as he walked out of the bedroom. Histoire was close behind him.
"If I know Neptune, she'll want something to eat as soon as she wakes up. So why make something for her to… uh… put differences aside after the duel?" Histoire suggest, and Weiss walked to the kitchen. He removed his robe exposing the skin-tight black sleeveless turtleneck beneath it, then took off his gloves to wash his hands since he planned to cook.
"What do you plan to make?" Histoire asked.
"I'm going to make her a traditional Warrior Priest free day meal. A Dragon's Wish Pizza. At least, it's what I usually have on my free days." Weiss replied while drying his hands, and then began to get out flour and eggs.
"I'm sorry… free day?" Histoire asked confused.
"Warrior Priests must have a disciplined diet. For six days of the week we eat naught but healthy dishes that satisfy each of the food groups. On the seventh day before a new cycle, we are allowed to eat meals as unhealthy as we like. We refer to this day as the 'Rejuvenation Day', or otherwise known as a free day." Weiss explained mixing water into the bowl of flour and eggs. He then used various spices while mixing the batter into a dough.
"Oh. I wasn't aware that Warrior Priests were THAT disciplined. As far as I knew you took training and caring for yourself very seriously." Histoire replied amused.
Weiss then pulled the dough onto a cutting board he'd dusted with flour in advance, and began to knead it with his hands and elbows. Histoire could smell the spices in the dough alone and it made her salivate a little. Weiss then began tossing it pizzeria style as Nepgear peered in smelling the dough.
"Histoire… what's going on…?" Nepgear nervously asked.
"Oh, right. Nepgear, this is Neptune's fiancé." Histoire explained.
"Fiancé?!" Nepgear exclaimed.
"Neptune's sleeping. Try to keep it down. Neptune lost the duel, so she's now engaged. His name is Weiss Winters." Histoire replied trying to calm Nepgear down.
"Weiss…" she spoke seeing him begin to carefully mold the crust of the dough into a dragon shape.
"I'll explain more later, but for now keep an eye on Neptune." Histoire told Nepgear, and she nodded returning to Neptune's room to find her groaning in her sleep. She could only stare at the number of bandages on her sister. Nepgear has never seen Neptune in such a condition before.
Nepgear became conflicted as she watched her sister. Weiss was the one who caused these injuries, yet he seemed gentle enough when she saw him in the kitchen. Would he care for Neptune? Would he make sure she's taking care of herself, at least more assertively than when Nepgear tries? More importantly, would she be forgotten about entirely now that Neptune will soon have a spouse?
Just then Neptune came to in bed. She tried to sit up, but immediately stopped when her body rejected the movement with painful feelings.
"How's it going, Nep Jr.? Judging by the room I'm in, and the amount of pain I'm in right now, I'm gonna go out of a limb and say my duel didn't end well." Neptune spoke.
"I'm just happy that you're alive." Nepgear replied.
"Hey yeah… I'd have thought that dude would either have his way with my unconscious, and heavily bleeding, body after winning and or killing me." Neptune pondered. Then a heavenly scent reached their noses.
"W-What is this…?" Nepgear asked salivating a little.
"I dunno… but damn does it smell good… Nep Jr., carry me!" Neptune demanded, and Nepgear sighed lifting her up and carrying her to the kitchen where Weiss was reading a book waiting on the oven to finish cooking the now very big and perfectly dragon-shaped crust pizza.
"Hubba, hubba… not too much but not too little… you could grind meat on those abs…" Neptune spoke gazing at Weiss's chiseled torso.
"You're awake. It will be ready in five minutes. Nepgear, please take her back to her bed. I want her resting while her injuries heal." Weiss ordered.
"Dinner in bed? Romantic…" Neptune spoke as Nepgear carried her off.
A small time later Weiss entered the room with a plate of three steaming slices of pizza. Neptune let them cool a bit and then took a bite. The storm of flavors in her mouth made her crave more. Within five minutes the three slices were devoured.
"That was better than even Compa's cooking…" Neptune spoke rubbing her stomach.
"I'm glad you liked it. I use an extra ingredient that most find odd." Weiss smiled.
"What is it?" Neptune asked.
"Eggplant." Weiss replied and absolute horror came to her face… she'd eaten what she despised.
Neptune couldn't fathom what has just happened. She, the spokesperson and leader of the Anti-Eggplant Foundation, has eaten a dish with eggplant in it and LOVED it. She can no longer call herself an eggplant hater because of this. A storm of emotions spread over her face as Weiss simply stared confused by her changing face.
"Weiss… it's totally okay to still hate eggplant and eat eggplant dishes, right?" she hastily asked.
"Sounds hypocritical to me." he replied as Histoire entered the room.
"Weiss, your things have arrived. We're ready to move them in… but Nepgear has decided to only carry the non-sharp objects. She's already cut seven of her fingers." Histoire announced, and Weiss stood exiting the room.
"You know, Histy, maybe marrying Weiss won't be so bad. He's a great cook, he knows how to bandage someone up without making it feel like bondage, and on top of it he's actually pretty smoking if you get past the fact he did fully intend to kill me." Neptune smiled.
"Well, the people might just ask for signs that their goddess is fertile. Are you prepared to have children?" Histoire teased.
"Hey, we just met, Histy. That's seriously taking how shotgun this is and changing it into a cannon." Neptune replied.
"Speaking of shotgun weddings… I already took the liberty of sending the invitations and reserving the church. All that's left is getting your transformed self's measurements. The marriage clause that actually exists states the goddess must be in their HDD state." Histoire explained with a smile.
"Wait, we seriously have one of those?" Neptune asked.
"Yes. There are three, actually, but they merely dictate behavior that should be upheld during the ceremony, both practice and the real deal. You must be in HDD, your surname will become the groom's, no ifs ands or buts, and divorce must be put through our temple committees. We don't have temple committees, so I guess it'd be decided by the both of you." Histoire replied reading her book.
"Doesn't your BS law void the divorce thing?" Neptune asked.
"Well it's a good thing only I read the book now isn't it?" Histoire retorted puffing her cheeks.
A little later Weiss set up his weapon racks, stacked top to bottom with deadly-looking weapons of different variety. Some of them you can't even get anymore without paying a massive amount of credits. Weiss didn't own any clothing other than Warrior Priest uniforms it seemed as he had two boxes dedicated to them. He also owned some books detailing the Lastation Civil War a few years ago that saw the crushing defeat of the rebels who claimed Noire was unfit to rule Lastation. The temple of Warrior Priests that aided in slaying the rebel ring leaders talked about in the books is the same one Weiss received his certification from. The document he owned stating it was very worn out and had tears here and there though. Histoire laminated it and put it in a frame so that time could no longer cause it harm. Oddly enough, he also had a Black Heart Medal – a prestigious honor given to those specifically recognized by Noire as defenders of Lastation's wellbeing. Perhaps Noire knew Weiss in some way.
That night was awkward for Neptune, as she wasn't used to sharing a bed with someone far taller than her. Neptune barely comes up to Weiss's ribs, if you truly need a comparison, and her HDD form barely reaches his chest. In the end, she ended up laying on top of me to avoid accidentally getting crushed on the off chance he's a mover. Lucky her, he's a rock and doesn't move from his position once he dozes off.
The following day was busy with making plans and preparing for the wedding. Many of the shops were happy to get them wedding clothes without cost. The idea of their goddess marrying put a certain jump in their step. The prestige of a Warrior Priest was enough to make them see just how much of a "power couple" they'd be in battle. Warrior Priests are trained in every form of weaponry short of nuclear and ones only goddesses can use. Weiss would have Neptune's back in every combat situation possible. He's also among very few who can literally use a 2-handed sword single-handedly. Weiss swings with one arm, and guards with the other allowing maneuverability since he isn't weighed down by a shield. It requires years of training to pull off a style like that, because it usually requires a very high level of physical strength to use 2-handed swords in the first place.
That evening Weiss was ordered by Histoire to visit the temple and purify himself before the wedding. As he walked up the steps, he could sense someone following him. He ignored it until he reached the shrine grounds. Upon turning around he found IF there with a serious expression.
"So you're the groom that everyone is going nuts over. Weiss, the Nightmare of Planeptune." IF growled. Her blades were at the ready.
"So you're the one whose been snooping about me." Weiss replied.
"You're a hard man to find information on, you know that? Going to try and wash the blood of hundreds off your hands before the big day, huh?" IF asked disapprovingly.
"Those kills are in legal bounds, mind you. I formally challenged them to duels, they chose their witness, and I won fair and square. The Law of Duels protects me from all legal action." Weiss replied and IF seemed to become more agitated than she already is.
"That's the only reason my blades aren't at your throat… you've killed too many of my friends at the Guild… but Nep asked me not to do anything I'll regret… if you make Nep cry… I will kill you myself." IF growled through her teeth.
"Neptune is pure compared to me. I wouldn't dare stain her in the blood I've spilled." Weiss replied.
End Chapter 01