Soul Eater/Elemnetal Gelade fantasy AU. Depending on the overall reactions i may or may not continue
Becoming Knights
The Kingdom of Valera. A prospering country defended by it's many magically inclined knights and their partners. The magical Knights of this kingdom come from all walks of life, as anyone, even those not noble born are capable of selfless acts of courage and heroism. The only real requirement to become a Knight is to find yourself a partner.
An Implement.
Hundreds of years ago a great darkness nearly enveloped the world. Even the greatest wizards and knights of the day were powerless to stop it. Even their combined magical knowledge and combat prowess proved futile until one day they found a way to take combine their efforts and take their power to the next level.
Thus a magician of great power used his knowledge to shed his physical form and transform himself into a magical weapon of great power. The first Implement. With his magic manifested in a physical form and in the hands of the powerful knight they led the way for others to follow. With the combined powers of the wizards and knights they defeated the darkness.
And since that day knights and wizards have continued to work together, pairing up to become newer generations of magical knights. And in the Kingdom of Valera there's a special place where these knights are trained.
And that very place is where the heroes of this tale will unite to defend the world.
For unbeknownst to all but a few...a new darkness is coming.
On the wide grassy fields of Valera there was a dirt road. And walking this road were two girls. One had a mane of fiery red curls, sporting a green dress with a skirt that fell down just past her knees, and dark boots. The other girl had long blonde hair with a short pink dress with pink flats. One their backs were their packs, and they'd been travelling a long time.
The red head led the way, like she always did, while the blonde followed behind with a smile. The pair were friends, and partners. They'd been travelling together by themselves for some time. The redhead was a run away, where she was from only the blonde knew. And the blonde had lived her whole life in a tower until her friend had come along and found her, and since that day they'd been inseparable, traveling together before settling on a goal of becoming knights.
The blonde was an Implement, a person with high a high level of magic capable of taking on the form of a magical weapon. And the redhead was her partner and wielder.
"Och, I hate walking," the red head said out of the blue to break the monotony of the trip.
The blonde chuckled behind her. "Well at least we're almost there right?" she said to try and cheer her up.
"By almost there do you mean miles away?" the redhead said sarcastically as she stared at the distant city ahead of them that was slowly getting larger the closer they got.
"Oh c'mon Merida. Just enjoy this beautiful day," the blonde said cheerfully as she spun in a circle. She looked up at the sky with grass green eyes and a smile. She'd never get tired of walking, of being free to go anywhere she chose, to explore the wide open world with no walls to hold her back.
"We can't all be glass half full types Rapunzel," Merida said with a frown.
Rapunzel only giggled before taking a breath. "Just smell the grass, the dirt, just like I'd dreamed they'd be-"
"Not a damn song!" Merida interrupted as she scowled.
"Just feel that summer breeze, the way it's calling me-"
"Stop it," Merida said sourly. The blonde did not comply as she kept singing her joy, twirling and spinning behind the red head merrily as she just enjoyed the simple things life had to offer. Merida held her frown before glancing over her shoulder at her friend, she couldn't help but smile as the blonde's sunny disposition made her bad mood dissipate.
She just rolled her eyes and kept her eyes ahead, to their future.
Merida and Rapunzel gaped, turning their head to and fro as they took in the large city. They were in the capital, the home of the magical Knight academy. And of all the cities they'd traveled through on their way there this city was by far the biggest. People came and went about their business, there were shops all around. Food vendors, performers, clothing stores with pretty dresses. Rapunzel smiled wide and hopped in excitement as she looked around for something to do first.
But before she could go off her arm was firmly grabbed. She looked to see Merida staring sternly at her.
"Oh no you don't lass. Business first," Merida reminded her. Rapunzel pouted and made puppy dog eyes at her, something that usually worked, but not this time. "I promise we'll see the city after...ok?" Merida offered. With a sigh Rapunzel nodded, following Merida as they headed toward the academy just on the outskirts of the city.
They followed a long road through a forest, their goal finally in sight. Eventually they made it to the gates, only to be halted by knights and their partners. They asked what business they had there, but Merida quickly pulled out her secret weapon.
A letter she'd received by one of the staff of the academy. She and Rapunzel had run into her during their travels and she'd seen what they could do and recommended they join the academy. She'd even written them up a letter of recommendation so they'd be allowed in.
The guards let them past, allowing them to finally step foot in what they hoped would be their future homes for the next few years. They walked the halls, passing students who gave them curious looks as they went.
"Hey Mer?" Rapunzel asked. Merida glanced back. "Where are we going?"
"To see the headmaster of course," Merida answered.
"And where exactly do we go to see him?"
"Well that's simple we go," Merida paused mid sentence, just now realizing she had no idea where the head master's office would be. "Uh..." she began to flush in embarrassment as Rapunzel stared at her, blinking as she awaited her answer. Her awkward pause was ended as something suddenly landed on her head.
"Bloody-" Merida cursed as she nearly toppled over. "What's on my head?" she asked her partner.
Rapunzel's jaw was hanging low as she took in the small black creature with wings nestling on Merida's head. "It's a dragon," she said in astonishment. "And it's so cute," Rapunzel cooed. The dragon stared at her with green eyes and seemed to even offer her a smile in greeting.
"Get off of me ya wee devil," Merida shouted as she shook her head and swiped at it with her hands. The dragon hovered in mid air before flying toward Rapunzel. It gave Merida a hiss as it settled on her shoulder like some kind of scaly cat.
"Aww. He's adorable," Rapunzel crooned as she gave it a scratch under the chin. The tiny dragon purred as he nuzzled against her cheek. Merida shook her head, but was admittedly amazed by the small thing. Dragons were a rare sight, and they weren't supposed to be native to this region.
"What's he doing this far south. They're supposed to live far up north aren't they?" she asked aloud.
"He's being a pest," someone answered for her. Rapunzel and Merida turned their attention as a boy approached. He looked to be about their age and was quite tall. He had shaggy auburn hair, with several strands tied into braids at the back. He wore a black blazer that they assumed meant he was a student/
"Come here Toothless, stop bothering people. We got class," the man said. The dragon warbled at him before leaping off Rapunzel and flying over to perch on his shoulder. The man smiled as he rubbed it's head before he looked to the girls. "Huh? Don't think I've seen you two before. And you're not wearing the uniform. New students?"
"Yeah. And we're kind of lost," Rapunzel admitted sheepishly.
"We are not lost," Merida said defiantly as she placed her hands on her hips. They were. But her pride wouldn't let her blatantly admit it to a stranger.
"Well ok then. Headmaster's office is that way. But you already knew that so-" he trailed off with a shrug. "Bye," he said as he turned on his heel and walked away.
The girls stared after him curiously, having never caught his name.
"He has a dragon. Interesting," Merida hummed.
"I heard some creatures can be Implements too. Maybe that's his partner?" Rapunzel suggested. Merida pursed her lips in thought and shrugged. Together they followed the man's directions and eventually found themselves in the headmaster's office.
The headmaster, North he called himself, greeted them with a hearty laugh and friendly smile. He welcomed them to the academy, having been expecting their arrival for some time.
"You girls have travelled a long way, yes. Perhaps a day to rest would be for the best," he said in a thick foreign accent.
"If it's all the same with you headmaster. We'd prefer to just jump right in. Right Punz?" Merida said to the blonde. Rapunzel nodded in agreement.
North laughed, belly shaking as he slapped a hand down on the table. "I like you two already. Ok. But take the rest of the day to get settled. I'll have someone show you to your rooms," he said. He stared at them, eyes twinkling as he assessed them.
"I've heard good things about you two. I'm sure you'll be quite the wonder to see," he said lowly. They flushed awkwardly as a new student arrived. A strawberry blonde girl greeted them, introducing herself as Anna. She ushered them along to the girl's dormitory and to their rooms. She waited as they set down their things before leading them to the mess hall so they could eat.
The cafeteria was large, students bustled about, sitting at various table in their little groups, talking, laughing, and chatting away about various things.
After collecting their food Anna led them to a table and sat with them. She asked about them, and the girls gave her a pre rehearsed tale of their lives and how they'd met. Anna didn't seem to catch their lies as she accepted them with a nod. She introduced herself, stating she was a second year of the Knight's program. She stated that she, like Rapunzel, was an Implement.
The girls perked up, curious as to what her weapon form was and where her partner was. Anna seemed to want to keep it a secret for now, so they didn't push her for answers.
After their meal Anna gave them a brief tour of the academy, showing them the most important locations for them and some of the places meant for leisure. She explained how class worked, and how they students were judged on their skills.
Eventually she led them back to their room, where they found their class schedules under their door alongside uniforms resting on their beds. Rapunzel smiled while Merida frowned as she took in the skirt she was going to have to wear. She hated skirts.
They got in a wash and then went to bed, all nerves and fluttering hearts. They were finally here.
"Oh you guys look great," Anna said with a smile a she clapped at the sight of them. Rapunzel beamed and did a twirl while Merida fidgeted and blushed. She really didn't like skirts. She had a black blazer with a white undershirt with a red knee length skirt. She sighed and shrugged. There was nothing she could do about.
Anna led them to class, she told them how they were taught things like politics, math, language, history and mythology, along with courses more suited to making them knights like magic studies and combat.
The day went about in relative peace and quiet. Which to Merida and Rapunzel meant it was a tad boring. They were used to traveling, wandering the kingdom as they fought evil creature and saved the day. But they endured. As they were in class Merida glanced around, taking in the sight of her classmates before her eyes landed on the boy they'd met the other day. The dragon was curled up on the table top before him, napping as his master dutifully took notes.
She looked around some more, finding more dragons with several of her classmates. After class she asked Anna about them. She stated that the people with dragons were from far north, and that their dragons were their Implements.
"Be careful with them. They're all pretty tough. All of them are B-rank and above," Anna told them.
"B-rank huh?" Merida said curiously. That meant they were pretty tough.
The students were judged and ranked according to their skills in magic and combat. The ranks were from E, the lowest, to A, the highest. As she thought about this Merida couldn't help but be curious as to what her and Rapunzel's ranks were. She asked Anna.
"You have your Speculum right?"
Merida and Rapunzel nodded as they pulled out their Speculums. Tiny magical mirrors that allowed them to communicate with each other and other students and provided them with info on each other. Merida thought of herself as she stared at the mirror, prompting it to pull up information on herself.
She found it. And she was not happy.
"D-rank!" Merida cried indignantly. She looked to Anna, grabbing the girl's shoulders in outrage. "How the heck am I a D-rank!?"
"Well you're new, so they don't have much on you. The more they know about you the more accurately they'll be able to judge and rank you according to your skills," Anna explained quickly.
"So they need to see what we can do huh?" Merida muttered. She smirked, mind forming a plan. Ever more curious her eyes flicked to the man with the black dragon, she held him in her mind. The mirror pulled up his profile. "Rank E."
Anna leaned over. "Oh yeah. That's Hiccup, the only E-rank in the entire school," Anna explained.
"Is he that bad?"
"Academically speaking, no. He scores the highest in the entire school. But the problem is he always forfeits every time he gets challenged. No one has ever seen him fight at all."
Merida hummed in thought before dismissing the man as a coward. Finally combat and gym class arrived. The girls and boys were led outside to a large open courtyard where they could exercise and practise their magic and combat skills. The instructor before them was a tall man with dark hair and swirling tattoos. He called himself Aster, and as an instructor he was a full fledged Knight of Valera.
He scanned the students over, taking role before he stopped on Merida and Rapunzel.
"Ah. New students I see. Welcome to the Academy girls,"he greeted. The girls nodded and smiled at him and greeting. "Hmm. How about we see you two in action huh?" He gestured them over to a large empty square so they could show use their powers.
The girls took a few breaths and stretched to loosen up. They stood side by side, Merida glanced at her partner, noting her nervous posture.
"Nervous?" she asked her.
Rapunzel swallowed and nodded, glancing over at their classmates. "Stage fright," she whispered.
"Whenever you sheilas are ready!" Aster called out.
"Just a sec," Merida called back. She placed a hand on Rapunzel's. "It alright Punz. Just focus on me, aye?" Rapunzel nodded and smiled at her encouragement. She took a breath and closed her eyes.
She reached within herself, feeling the magic within her. She tapped into it, letting it flow through her body. Like always there was an all around pain as her magic began to convert her physical form into an ethereal, matterless one. Her body glowed, blinding everyone in the courtyard with a golden light.
Everyone covered their eyes and gasped as a pillar of light shot into the air before arching downward. Merida remained on the spot as the beam of light descended on her. At the last second she raised a hand up. The light collided with her palm before, glowing and emitting light as it began to retake a new solid shape.
Finally the glow receded, revealing a smiling Merida holding a bow that looked to be made of pure gold. Merida looked to Aster to see what he thought.
The Knight nodded, impressed before clapping in approval. Some of the other student joined in, clapping in wonder.
"A bow. Rare sight among Knights," Aster commented as he examined it.
"I've always been more of a bow lass myself. So it must have been fate that Rapunzel and I found each other," Merida said fondly as she eyed her partner.
'Aw. I'm happy I found you too Mer,' Merida heard her partner say in her mind. When in their weapon form Knight and Implement communicated telepathically.
"So do you have a name for it...her?" Aster asked. Most Knight and Implements named their weapon forms.
"Apollo," Merida said with a smile. Fitting in her opinion.
"Lame!"
Merida turned her sharp eyes to the group of students. Her eyes landed on a short stocky boy with brown hair. His face was blank and he was rolling his eyes.
"A bow? Long range weapons are for cowards," he said haughtily. A small red and orange dragon crawled up onto his shoulders. "Real Knight use swords, hammers, or maces. How like a gir-" he was cut off as a flash of gold flew by the side of his face. He was frozen on the spot, eyes shifting over to see a few strands of hair falling to the ground, the ends singed.
"Wanna test us then lad? You and your scaly friend?" Merida challenged. The other students all murmured to themselves in anxiousness. Was there about to be a duel?
"Well Snotlout? You going to accept the challenge?" Aster asked the teen.
The teen, Snotlout, narrowed his eyes as he pushed his way to the front.
"I will. And I'll wipe the floor with her too!" he declared.
Merida smiled in excitement while Rapunzel sighed in her mind.
'I'm not sure about this Mer. Anna said he'd a B-rank,' she heard Rapunzel say nervously.
"C'mon Punz. We can do this. It's time to show these people what we can do," Merida said confidently. "Besides," Merida added as she looked up to the sky, she saw the sun, nearing its apex. Time is on our side.
It was time to make their debut, and this cocky Snotface was going to be the first stepping stone as they aimed for the top.
new story. Depending on the overal first impressions and reviews I may continue or delete it.