Author's note: This will be a large, long fanfic, because, ambitiously, I decided I want to rewrite everything starting at the beginning of the werewolf Invasion. The characters deserve growth, development, depth, closure, and I am going to give them just that. Some chapters will be darker than others, and will contain content warnings at the beginning.

Addendum: edit: be prepared for about 50-80 chapters. This is going to take a while because the authors really did a sloppy job with canon tbh. The plot is fully outlined, the current chapter number of 65 is a rough estimate based on progress so far

Crossposted from Ao3
Tags used on Ao3: Alternate Universe, Character Development, worldbuilding, close, implied/referenced noncon, canon-typical violence, dark, eventual happy ending, I promise frankenstein is going to be okay, additional warnings in author's notes, weekly updates

Frankenstein I – Werewolf Island, 24th October 2012, 22:13

This fight was not theirs – if the Lord of werewolves lost his head and turned to genocide, then so be it. After what felt like an eternity of separation, Frankenstein had no compassion to spare for the woes of others if it put his Master's life at risk. Yet while he could turn a blind eye on the plight of strangers... he could not let them have someone close to him. For violence they called, violence they would get. Now that Dark Spear has tasted blood, it screamed for more and it had found its next target. He would know no peace until his dark mistress drank the soul of the little wretch that hoped to run from him.

The rabbit may be fast, but the eagle was faster. Charging forward, he leapt up and cut off the snake's escape route. Ignes recoiled and the terror in her eyes fueled his desire to see her bleeding out, impaled on the Dark Spear.

"Where do you think you're going? Our playtime just started -"

"Frankenstein, listen -" Defensively, she raised her remaining hand and took a step back to the side. He did the same. "... Wait!"
"You don't really think you can talk your way out of this, do you?!"
"... just... let me go... and no one will ever see me again. I'll disappear. Never to be heard of again. Never to do anything. And... you can have all my data. Too. You hear that?"
His eyelid twitched. Dark Spear was screaming in hunger, an enraged animal. Like the cat that cornered the mouse, he found a sick delight in seeing her dangling on a last thread.
"You heard right. Centuries worth of data and research. Of the Union. The werewolves. Mine. You can have it all. Just let me go and forget about me -"

The nerve, to think he would ever accept the foul deal of a snake! The nerve to think that the werewolves' data meant anything to him! "You fucking bitch. Now I just want to kill you even more – die, Ignes. Dark Spear screams for your soul."

With a roar, he charged forward, the spear at the ready – yet the darkness did not sink into flesh, but instead, the blow was deflected by a powerful blow that had enough energy to knock him back. Frankenstein staggered back in surprise as the dust and dirt he'd swirled up settled. This man... his energy... This must be the current Lord of the Werewolves. The Lord shoved Ignes back behind him roughly, knocking her over into the dirt a few feet behind them. Out of Dark Spear's reach. This sudden turn of events grounded him almost immediately, lifted the fog of bloodthirsty violence enough to appraise the situation. The Lord had not come to defend his little pet alone – accompanied by two female werewolves.

"Did you really let a filthy human almost defeat you, Ignes?", the Lord spat with a furious scoff while the bitch got back on her feet.
"How about you step aside and let me finish what we started, Lord?" This bastard... He was the reason they were here. It was his people who took M-21 and thus forced him and Master into this ugly mess. Well, if Muzaka did not manage to find the wannabe-kingslayer by now, he would have to do the job himself.

"How dare you talk to the Lord like that!", the green-haired werewolf snapped at him.
"Mirai. Urne. Take care of him. We are on a tight schedule."
"Yes, Lord."

Those... insolent... He would kill them all. Dark Spear would have a royal feast tonight. As the two women charged at him, he noticed Ignes from the corner of his eyes, fingers against the Lord's arm to stop him from leaving. I want to watch him die. He could hear her from here – and the Lord granted her this request.

That bitch – but while he was being attacked by the two female werewolves, and while was still right next to the Lord, he had no way of getting to her. Then he must get past them first and make sure none of them managed to reach his Master. Dark Spear, my love, help me. Destroy my foes, drink their blood, savour their souls, grow. He thought of Raizel's face, and the worry in his eyes when he had turned to pursue Ignes. Titan was enough of a problem. He could not let these werewolves reach him, too. This thought alone fueled his rage, his holy rage that kept both warriors on edge – they might be fast, but so was he.

Die. A flash of black. Before Dark Spear could taste the lifeblood of the green haired warrior, the Kravei's whip almost blocked his attack in entirety. Both he and the werewolf recoiled from the sudden attack. Ignes, her arm almost fully restored by now, had joined the fight.

"Do you really think I am going to let you have this much fun?", Ignes growled between grit teeth. Before Frankenstein could answer in snark, he was hit from behind and he stumbled forward, half turning to see the claws of the blue-haired werewolf read to strike at him. Channeling the spear, he blocked the attack, though it sent him stumbling bad. No break to catch himself, though – while the green haired woman stumbled back, Ignes came at him with force.
"You bitches!" He jumped back, not even trying to deflect the black thorns. Dark Spear was gnawing at him – and inch by inch, he gave up on his control. "You don't even dare facing me alone!"

"Why, are you rejecting us?", the green-haired woman jested, emboldened by their superiority in number. The fight against the chimera was still ongoing – he must wrap this up fast and return to his Master's side. After making sure that these four would not get an opportunity to get to him. If he could at least take down the three women -

"I will kill you anyway." Dark Spear ate at him and he let himself sink into the holy madness of blood and ecstasy.

Ignes first. She was the greatest threat at the moment - "Won't you beg for your life again?", he taunted, dodging the lash of her whip to get up close and personal. "Show me how well you can beg!" She grit her teeth, losing countenance just as expected. Pathetic.
He struck – and what could have been a fatal blow was deflected again. Fabric ripped as Dark Spear tore through the Lord's sleeve and parts of his forearm and the discharge of Maduke's aura sent Frankenstein reeling back in surprise. The Lord was protecting her.

He landed on his feet, swirling up dirt and dust. The Lord, two warriors and Ignes Kravei. In any situation, he would have chosen a strategic retreat – yet with the massive explosions and bursts of energy coming from the direction of his Master, he could not back off. Even if this would cost his life, he must make sure that his enemies would not reach Raizel and tip the scales in their favour. His life has been long – if there was one thing in this rotten world that must be worth his life, it must be his Master.

"Fine. Then I will just kill all four of you." He gave in and let go. Dark Spear, take me, and take them – he let himself sink into his lover's embrace as the forces of thousands of tormented souls took over with only one goal: Annihilate the enemies of the Noblesse.

Muzaka I - Werewolf Island, 24th October 2012, 21:50

The glass shattered and liquid sploshed out from the large tank. Deftly, Muzaka caught the unconscious body of his old companion. So Kentas was right... Garda... Seized by cold anger, Muzaka grit his teeth. Maduke would pay for this. For centuries, this woman had suffered at his hands. That treacherous bastard would pay for everything he'd inflicted on his people.

Angrily, he tore all needles and tubes from Garda's body. Poor Garda... What horrors did she suffer? What horrors did his people suffer in these centuries? He would pay... Gritting his teeth, he headed for the exit of the laboratory. Nothing in this world could excuse the actions of that madman. This murderous liar – he should have snuffed out that spark before it could turn into this fire that threatened to consume them all. What he had missed to do back then... he would make sure to do now.

The evening air was cold and carried the scent of blood and destruction. Keeping the unconscious Garda safe in his arms, he glanced in the direction of the Thronehill and the smoking ruins that came from its direction. This must be where he would find Maduke.

The burst of power to the west made him doubt that judgement. West... had Rai not gone there? Hold on, old friend... Muzaka swallowed and turned back north. First, he must settle his own scores, and let Raizel settle his.

His lonely walk through the woods was interrupted by Garda stirring in his arms – at once, the grey-haired wolf stopped, clutching her tight.

"Garda!" She was moving! Her eyelids fluttered – a sharp pain pierced his ribcage. With a strangled noise, he released his grip on his old companion and she landed on the ground with a thud. One of her hands was coated in his own blood.

"Garda!", he repeated, breathless. Though the wound was closing slowly, the shock sat deeper. She must have -
"Don't call me by my name, you traitor!" Set ablaze by a rage he failed to understand, Garda bared her teeth at him.
Muzaka found himself unable to respond at first – yet when she charged at him, claws out, he evaded to the side. She barely missed him.
"I never betrayed our people, Garda!"
"Lies!", she spat to his feet. Dust was whirled up by her coming to a halt. Her chest heaved under the weight of her anger. "You betrayed us! Me! You abandoned us! Every single one who supported you! You never came." Her voice trembled, shaken by a violent emotion that drove tears to her eyes. "... their screams... their blood... all for you... who never came..."

"Garda..." He took a step back, shaken by the weight of her accusations. Just what in the name of the Moonmother had happened here?

"... You... will pay... for all that we suffered... for you."

She left him no choice but to fight in his life had Muzaka felt more anguished by a fight that was forced upon him. The wounds she struck on him refused to heal – and he saw both tears and murder in her eyes. She would not relent, would not listen to his pleas.

"I am sorry..." Heaving, he knelt next to Grada's unconscious body. Her wounds would heal fast, and she would be back on her legs in no time... Slowly, Muzaka turned his head to glance in the direction of the main battle. Raizel... against moonmother knows what. Maduke could wait until he made sure that his oldest friend was holding up against whatever this hellish place threw at him.

M-21 I - Werewolf Island, 24th October 2012, 21:50

Almost. M-21 remembered reading that 'almost' was one of the saddest words. He almost got away together with M-24. He almost got away with Kentas. He almost could have saved him. They almost could have won. Despite all the training... despite all he has been through... he was still weak. Dragged away in chains as his friend was being killed by the warriors... The cruelty...If only he had been stronger... He was knocked back by the force of the warrior's punch. All Lunark could do was delay the inevitable. This island ate its weak.

"Come on, let me have a go!", the blank-eyed warrior who'd been fighting Kentas with such vitriolic hatred demanded.
"You're only going to kill him, Gayare," the blue haired warrior stated bluntly as he approached M-21. "His power is almost on par with ours. We can have use for whatever -"
"If that noble bitch is too dumb to retain one prisoner, that's her fault, not mine!"

Did Lunark make it? Ignes Kravei was no joke – but neither was Lunark. A warrior who could hold herself against Frankenstein... He could only hope. Kentas already died for him. Let not even more lives be lost for his sake. Not today. Not ever. Coughing up blood, M-21 got back to his feet. He would not let them kill him like a beaten dog, and he would not let them take him alive. To die on your feet, to die fighting, was something too many people were denied.

"Bring it on, you bastards!", he growled through grit teeth. The blue-haired warrior stopped in surprise.
"You still have power left to try and fight us, you fool?"
"None of you is going to take me alive."

"No one is going to take you. Full stop." A female voice ripped through the tension before the warriors could spit more venom. Careless in his relief, M-21 swirled around to catch a glimpse of Lunark – and he was promptly punished for his lack of mindfulness. The warrior's outstretched hand almost pierced his ribcage and made him stumble forward with a sharp cry of pain.
"You fucking disgrace dare turning your back on us?!", the warrior growled.
"Shut up and pick on someone your size, Gayare!", Lunark spat, transforming into her battle form once more.

They could make it. Together, they could make it. They must. He thought of Tao and Takeo. They still did not spend the last paycheck on something to treat themselves for a change. He dodged the warrior's attack. He thought of Raizel who had given him a new chance at life. A couple of feet away, Lunark cried out in pain. He thought of M-24 and the promise they had made to each other. He thought of all the lives lost. He would not allow for him to become just one of them.

Could they have defeated the modified warriors? He, a bloody mess, and Lunark worn from a duel against the clan leader? Maybe. Maybe almost. They all stopped when a massive blast of energy almost knocked the breath out of their lungs. What on earth could possibly cause such a kind of explosion?!
The warriors recovered from their shock faster – and once more, on this black day of unforeseen twists and turns, the tides turned against him. Hit in the back with bonecrushing might, he sank to the ground and watched Lunark fall to a blow to the chest as darkness ate away at the fringes of his consciousness.

Almost really was the saddest word.

Raizel I - Werewolf Island, 24th October 2012, 22:26

Nobles. Humans. Werewolves. Family. Friends. Strangers. Could you ever draw the line? Could you assign a specific value to a life and weigh one innocent soul against another? What was the price of your own life against that of another? Most people around him made up their mind long ago, and their judgement has been callous. Once again, he bled for those who did not even know his name. Those who would never thank him – but it was not gratitude he needed. Only the certainty that his life was not in vain.

The ground trembled beneath their feet, shaken by the explosion that tore through the Lord's barrier. Once more, but this time, he was no longer alone. Just a little more... He and Raskreia will destroy the monster Ignes Kravei created. Frankenstein will prevent her from causing more harm once and for all. Muzaka will save Garda and dethrone the mad Lord. He will leave this island with Frankenstein and M-21. His family. Gathering his strength, he prepared himself for the decisive strike. Raskreia would cover him. He knew she would.
The sun will rise over a land free of this mad tyranny.

The world froze. The battle roar of the chimera was static noise in his ear. He could see the titan's claws moving towards him. Inch by inch, they came closer to his stalled heart. Somewhere in the distance, Raskreia called out his name in warning.
None of this was real. This could not be real. The void... A bright, red-hot flashing pain violently tore him out of the cloudy haze of bewilderment. His body hit the ground, breathless, lifeless, weightless. Five seconds ago, everything was about to be alright again.

Five seconds ago, he still could feel Frankenstein's presence within his heart, their ancient bond of blood and love strong as ever. Could Frankenstein possibly have been defeated? In distress, he reached out into the void where their bond had lingered and he felt nothing. Ignes Kravei could never be powerful enough to overwhelm someone like Frankenstein. Had Dark Spear overwhelmed him, after the many intense fights on this island? Had it finally demanded the ultimate tribute? Raizel only knew that when he called out for Frankenstein, silence answered.

Five seconds ago, he has been fearless. Now, he was another kind of fearless. Emptier. As the Lord battled the Titan on her own, desperate to keep him at bay and away from his injured body, he stared into the night sky and the stars above stared back at him Slowly, he reached out to clutch at his chest. His fingers dug into the fabric of his clothes. Was this what defeat truly felt like? The end of all hope?

"Frankenstein..." With tears in his eyes, he stared into the uncaring void of the universe. Once more, his soul's cry was left unanswered.