Black and White

Prologue - Goodbye

Disclaimer: I own neither Nier nor Black Clover they belong to Square Enix and Yuki Tabata respectively.

It had been difficult to make the decision, difficult to decide to continue living or forgo his existence.

After all the pains, all the hardships, all the sacrifices he had finally found Yonah, his beloved sister. Now he could take her back to return to their house, so they would live together like they had always been. He would take care of her and with her sickness cured he would maybe sometimes take her to see the outside world; days would repeats, and repeats, until the cycle will eventually be broken by time. That was what he wanted.

But at the same time, he couldn't let Kaine died like that. She might have accepted that this would be her end, but not him. Because it would be too sad and unbearably cruel, she didn't deserve the fate that had befell on her. Kaine who had not been by his side for long, but she had always been there to protect him, to fight with him and for him, to give him strength when he needed it and to defeat the enemies that he could not. Kaine was a cherish companion of his, and in a bitter sense of realization he realized that he had indeed felt in love with her.

The choice given to him was no choice at all. In the end, there had only been one choice. There had never been any reason to question it.

And perhaps… perhaps it was better this way. A punishment befitting for him, for everything he had done, for the sins he had committed. The truth had been a bitter pill to swallow. He fought alongside his comrades for what he thought was right. He gained new allies and friends, strengthening his resolve to what seemed to be right. He had journeyed through the unknown, fighting monsters that he thought were the enemy. Chasing an objective that he always thought was noble. He fought and killed the ones he thought were the cause of an unknown phenomenon. He had experiences the feeling of losing a friend. He had experienced the feeling of betrayal. And felt the pressure of being alive.

He was so tired. So tired to carry on.

At the very least, he could finally save someone.

Tyrann warned him about him of the outcome of his choice. He said nothing, merely stand silently and listen. The shade finished saying his piece and asked if this what he wanted one last time, he nodded in confirmation. He knew the fate that awaited him – Nothingness.

Slowly, the things he owned, the memories of him starting to disappear, his body faded away with each second passed. In contrast, the body of Kaine slowly became more and more human.

Knowing he didn't have much time left, he approached Kaine and kneeled down beside her. Tentatively, he reached out to her, cradling her body into him. Kaine's eyes blinked open slowly like she'd been awaken from a long dream. The first thing in her vision was him; first was surprise, then came realization, and finally anger.

That's just like her.

He offered a few words to comfort her. It made her more angry like she was about to stab him actually, but didn't have the strength to do so. Without a moment of hesitation and a sense of confidence he didn't knew he had, he leaned down and captured her lips with his.

It was something very special.

The kiss lasted only for a fraction of a moment – no more than a handful of seconds – but enough to convey his feelings better than words, it was both blissful and sorrowful. And then it was over and he pulled away, Kaine's eyes were widen as saucers. He smiled and his lips moved.

"Thank you for everything. Please take care of Yonah for me."

And Brother Nier ceased to exist.

Was this what it's like to fade away?

Emptiness.

In the endless void that he stood, that one word had become his entire being. Time had no meaning in this blank white space of nothingness that stretched to nowhere.

Nier closed his eyes. He hated this feeling; this disgusting feeling of helplessness bubbled inside of him, driving him to madness. Yet he could not bring himself to regret, because it would rendered his final choice meaningless.

Suddenly, he heard a distorted growl behind him.

He turned sharply around. On the flat surface that he knew had been empty before stood the Shadowlord. The Shade stood opposite of him, watching. He didn't know if his mind was playing trick with him or if he had been struck with an illusion spell, but to him the Shade seemed… sad.

Nier let out a mirthless laugh and said. "You're here too then. Can't say I didn't see this coming. It makes sense that I'm condemned to spend the rest of my afterlife with myself."

The Shade stayed silent.

"So what are you waiting for? You're here for revenge, aren't you? After all I'm the one that fucked everything up right," Kaine might have had more influence on him than he thought. "C'mon then, hit me, stab me, chokes me. You're free to do whatever you want."

The Shadowlord – no his soul merely stayed still, without making any action nor moving. But gradually, it approached him.

Nier closed his eyes, his mind and body were completely at ease with the situation. He felt relieved, a strange calmness and clarity of the mind. It was as if his body had accepted the truth and the oncoming judgment. No pain came, but rather he felt a pair of arms wrapped around him. Instead of delivering judgment, his other self engulfed him in a hug.

The Shade growled out. For some strange reason, Nier understood what his soul was trying to say.

"W-why are you apologizing?" he said weakly. Stop it. The Shade tighten the hold around his body. Please stop it… it wasn't you.

His other self's feelings slowly bled into him. With a still hesitant movement he found himself returned the hug. For a long moment, his heart caught in his throat and he couldn't think of anything to say. I'm sorry I didn't know sorry it was my fault sorry sorry. His voice clogged up.

When Nier opened his eyes again, his Shade was no more, he was alone again in this white void. Yet the feelings remained; the sorrow from a wish that never comes, the loneliness of a millennia of waiting, the anguish of, the pain of a meaningless life.

Nier sucked in a harsh breath and felt to his knees. Droplets of tear started to fall. His hands began to shake. He felt like there was a hole where his heart once been. It hurt. It hurt so badly that being pierced by Noir wasn't nearly as bad.

Suddenly, in this realm, where there shouldn't have been anything else, there was silver light directly in front of him. Nier reached out his hand, as if reaching out for a life saver. He grasped the energy like a drowning man would clutch to a raft. And in the midst of the white, he could see a blurry figure – one that his mind barely recognized.

"We…iss…"

The second time Nier awoke. He wasn't fully cognizant of everything immediately around him. It was not unlike being in a dream, actually. It kind of nice though, and the reason was probably because of the chirping of birds, and the clean air of trees and leaves. Nier shifted a little and felt the catch of his armor rub against his skin, but refused to open his eyes. Maybe he could enjoy the pleasantness a bit more.

If not for something like a brick slammed on his forehead.

"Oi, wake up!"

He knew that voice. That was -

Nier's eyes snapped open, instantly assaulted by abright light that nearly blinded him, forcing him to blink his eyes in pain. As his pupils slowly adjusted to the brightness, vision becoming clearer, the young man tilted his head toward the source of the voice. 'But that voice… it can't be…' yet he dared hope.

"I see you're awake now," Grimoire Weiss flew down near him. "Good grief. There're better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know."

But Nier didn't pay attention to what Weiss said. Before the book could react, his arms shot out, hooking around Weiss and hugging him close. "Weiss! It is really you! Thank god you're okay!"

Weiss, as expected, not too plus about being in this kind of physical contact, or any kind of physical contact for that matter. "Unhand me at once! I refused to be manhandled like this!" the book shouted in indignant. Weiss flew up, effectively breaking his hold and hit him square in the jaw, making him fell back.

Nier used one hand to keep balance and the other the rubbed his sore jaw.

"Oh the nerves of – I am The Great Grimoire Weiss!" Weiss said, flying aggressively at him. "I deserved the utmost respect, dammit!"

Yup, it's Weiss alright.

Nier chuckled sheepishly. "Ah, sorry Weiss, I'm just so happy to see I wasn't thinking. Please forgive me." he replied apologetically.

"Hmph." Weiss turned away.

Nier got up, dusting off the grasses and dirt on the pant. That was when he noticed that there was a lunar tear attached to his body armor. Taking it off, Nier brought the white flower closer, gazing it. How strange, it showed no sign of being crushed and bloomed so brightly; its beauty only amplified in the sunlight. Maybe I could keep this as a good luck charm. Nier took out his satchel and carefully put the lunar tear inside.

Then he started looking around, he found that he was in an unknown clearing, surrounded by miles of forest. His clothes were the same as before. He also noticed that Beastlord lying on the ground nearby, which he picked up and sheathed it behind his back. He glanced up, looking around once more.

'I am… alive?' he thought with wonder. He known and felt that he had crease to exist. It's impossible. But he was not dreaming, the pain from when Weiss hit him still linger and everything around him were real.

"What's going on…?" Nier wondered aloud. It was not the forest of myth for starter since the air didn't seemed gloomy, and tree trunks weren't covered in moss. He don't think he's on any landmark or on his homeland anymore.

"I do not know," Weiss said, thinking he was asking him. "I was waiting for you to wake up. I thought you might have some insight about the situation at hand. But it seems that it is pointless now, seeing you're just as confused as I."

Suddenly, Nier felt pain flashed through his brain, as the memories ebbed back into his mind. After accepted the bargain and traded his existence for Kaine, he had gone to limbo and met the Shadowlord – his Shade - himself. Something had happened between them, because the hatred and resentment he felt now replaced with sadness, sorrow and pity. They were just the same – trying so desperately only to fail in the end.

"Hey brat! Don't you even think about collapsing on me," Weiss's voice sounding as if it came from a long distance. "Oi, snap out of it, Nier!"

Awakened from his trance, he realized Weiss hovering worriedly over his head. There was a tear ran on his cheek from his left eye.

Nier brought his arm up to wipe it away. "Ah, sorry Weiss, it's... it's nothing. I'm okay." It was a terrible lie, hell he couldn't even keep his voice straight.

If Weiss have had eyebrows, it would have been furrowed. Something heard and solid collided with Nier's skull. Stars and Lunar Tears danced across Nier's vision after Weiss used his spine to hit him for the third time today.

"You idiot, don't give me that rubbish, brat!" Weiss admonished, but his gentle tone was at odds with his words and actions. "I am not blind."

Nier flinched, blinking stupidly at Weiss.

"I'm still not exactly know what's going on, but I can see the pain written clearly on your face, boy. I've been around long enough, this is not the first time you have that look on your face."

Nier stayed looking at Weiss dumbly. He felt like a little boy again, being chide and lecture by his mother.

"Have you forgotten? We are comrade, are we not?" Weiss continued, there were a touch of fondness when he said it. "Tell me what happened, Nier."

Nier looked down in shame. Weiss was a much cherished and treasured friend of his. Nier felt that he should have more trust and faith in his friend more. A strange sense of comfort washed over him, knowing that at least Weiss was by his side.

Looking back up at Weiss, "Ah, I'm sorry Weiss. Your right, I was being stupid again. I will tell you what happened." Nier said, a small smile on his lips.

"Hmph, good. And Stop apologizing so much."

Nier gestured towards a rock, he's tired of standing.

"Well, after you disappeared…"

He told Weiss everything.

Told him the aftermath of the battle with the Shadowlord. Told him of Kaine relapsing and him of the options Tyrann offered him. Told him of his choice. Told him of the subsequence meeting. Told him of what had transpired. And then finally his puzzling awakening.

"That is quite the tale," murmured Weiss when he finished, "too bad I couldn't have stick around to see it."

Nier sighed deeply, he leaned back using both hands to support his body. Hah… he felt so tired and weary.

"And the hussy was very angry, I bet?" Weiss spoke up with a joking tone.

Nier smiled sadly. "She was," he replied, remembering Kaine's face of that moment. "But I hope she understand."

Weiss snorted at that.

Both then stayed silent for a while. Weiss digesting the information. And Nier thought about Yonah, Kaine, Emil, Devola and Popola, as well as the friends he have met over the course of his journey. He missed them dearly and thought that maybe since he was alive now, he could return to see everyone again.

"But it still doesn't make sense," Weiss piped up, "it just couldn't be possible, could it? I know I had died. How could I have been brought back to life, if that is what happened. And if what you said about being not existed anymore, then how am I still remember you. Better yet, how are you here, alive just as I am?"

Nier's eyebrows furrowed. He was just as confused as Weiss. How on earth did he ended up where he was. The more important is the why. Whatever higher being or deity pulled this off, there must have been some kind of reasoning behind it. It just hurt his brain trying to think about it.

He was about to ask Weiss what should they do now. But someone spoke up before he could.

"Perhaps I could offer an explanation."

Both Nier and Weiss were started by the male voice, they immediately turned to the direction it came from. Nier felt into a combat stance, his hand on the hilt of Beastlord; Weiss hovered next to the young man's side, ready for his power to be call upon.

From behind a tree near them, the person that had spoken came out. Who made Nier's eyes widen as soon as he appeared.

"No, it can't be." Wiess uttered in shock.

"Hello again, milord and Grimoire Weiss." Grimoire Noir said, flying slowly towards them.

They weren't the only ones that was somehow still alive it seems.

A/N:

Never thought I'd be dabbling in the Black Cloverdom, and to mix NieR Replicant in of all thing. This is a product of me wanting to write a crossover. Plus, the idea of this story has been stuck in my head for a while now, don't remember where it came from though - probably because of grimoire, I think.

To be honest, I don't really think much about BC. It has a fascinating setting and interesting plots; but not so much about its characters though, even less so when including the cliches. Overall, I think it was a good read, and will keep following the story in the future. Hopefully, it won't be degrading like FT (Mashima should consider becoming a hentai artist, it's his true calling). As for Nier, it has been over 5 years or so since I last played it. Added with the fact that back then my Engrish is terrible, so I played mostly for the game not for the story. Fortunately, with the release NieR: Automata, the series have become popularized. So it's easier to explore the story of Nier though wiki and youtube. Yoko Taro truly knows how to write a tragic story... well, he can only write tragic stories.

About the story: As you can see I've chosen to use the Replicant version, rather than the Gestalt version. Meaning Brother Nier is the protagonist, not Father Nier. I know most people argue that FN is a better character - which I completely agree with - but the reason I chose BN is pretty much just because of the young shounen protagonist cliche, duh (Cool old guys in shounen existed to be killed off in da future). But therein also lie a problem, I never did played Replicant, and I'm sure hell can't speak Japanese. Therefore, Nier might come off as OOC. Anyone knows what BN is like, how different is him to FN please tell me, I imagine it's something like mah nakama en shiet, I bet.

Thank you for reading and your opinions are really appreciated.