The Zone: ALT.
I recently read the -man pilot manga chapter named 'The Zone' and thougth how cool it might have been for the story if it had continued like in the pilot. So, I decided to try and write what I think happened brfore and after the events in the pilot chapter. I'm keeping most of the 2006's anime characters and concepts, BUT there will be a few OCs and also the Robin from the pilot chapter will be the MC, so no Allen Walker will exist here 'cause Robin=Allen!
"speech"
'thoughts'
(ANs and comments)
s-s
Chapter 0: Prologue
'Tears are falling down my cheeks...why?! Why did this have to happen?!...'
BOOOOM! Tatatatatataaaa... (the best impression of shooting I can make)
===Flashback===
"Nee-chan, nee-chan! Look what I drew today in school! It's us!"
A small white haired boy around 6 years old came in the room running. In his left hand he held a drawing of a square house, giant flowers, smiling sun and 4 stick figures in different clothes. He came next to the sofa in front of a girl. The girl was 8 years older with beautiful blond locks and storm gray eyes, just like the boy's.
"Oh, let me see!" - she took the drawing and smiled warmly.
"Look! This is papa!" he pointed at the tallest figure with mustache "And this is mama!" the next tallest figure with blonde hair "And this is you nee-chan!" the other blonde figure.
"So, that tiny little thing is you? You sure will become a great artist!"
"Hey! I'm not tiny! But thanks nee-chan!"
They hugged and she kissed him on the forehead.
"Let's go and find a good place to hang it! I'm sure they will be surprised when they return from the city and see what wonderfull picture you made! Go and find a string, so we can hang it more easyly!"
He jumped in joy and ran somewhere to search for the prettiest string he could. She brought a big needle and when he returned, she made two holes, tied the string and they hung it on the wall. After that they waited for their parents to return as they did their chores. It soon became dark but their parents didn't return. They got worried and were wondering if they should go out and search when someone knocked on the door.
"Stay here!" she told her brother and went to see who was outside.
"Yes, who is it?"
"Hello. Are Julia and Robin Gray in here?" - a man asked.
"Yes, do you need something?" - she wasn't stupid enough to open the door right away.
"I'm a police officer. My name is James Thornberry. I came to lead you to the village's hospital. Your parents have been robbed while coming back. Their carriage was left on the side of the road, all valuables and two horses stolen." her horror grew the more she heard "Your father was found dead on the spot while we brought you mother here, the town was too far and she couldn't have survived the road."
She carefully peered out and saw the police officer. He was quite youn and wore an expression of true sadness and pity towards her.
"Ok. We'll come. Robin! Come here! A policeman wans to lead us somewhere.''
What followed next was not pleasent for anyone. The siblings hugged eachother and cried the whole night after seeing their mother's bad condition. They refused to allow them to see their father's body, for obvious reasons. They refused to leave their mother so the doctor but a bed up for them to sleep. The next morning, their mother had stopped breathing. In two days their funreal came. They were buried right next to eachother. The siblings were quietly crying the whole time. After the ceremonies were finished and everyone left Julia knelt and hugged her brother.
"Robin, look at me." he did so with tear and snot stained face " Your big sis will take care of you, so don't worry! Also, mama and papa won't be happy if you always cry! Remember what papa always said?" she stood up and made the best impression of a man's voice she could " 'A real man ne'er cries! Ya hear me?! Man up!' ptuey" she tried to spit like her dad always did but couldn't do it. All she achieved was getting some saliva on her chin.
"hehe...nee-chan. You are funny! Papa never spits like that!"
She wiped herself with her sleeve and smiled at him.
"I know but I made you laugh, didn't I? Now, let's go home!"
"Kay!"
They headed home, holding hands, tear staining their cheeks but smiling brightly, because they were together
===End flashback===
A city, somewhere in the UK. Night calm and quiet untill...
Booom!
A building's wall exploded and two figures flew out of it. Many explosions and a lot of destruction following them.
'It hurts! It hurts so much! I don't want this! Please...I don't want this... Why did you have to do this?! Why did you fall for it...?'
Tears formed and leaked from a pair of storm gray eyes.Tears fillled with all the sorrow the heart felt. The full moon decided to show its face from behind the dark clouds for the first time that night. It's gentle and yet extremely cold light illuminated the town. Two streams of tears shone like gems under that light, just like the eyes they had come from.
"What the...?!"
===Flashback 2===
A few years had passed. Robin was becoming 10 that spring. She had already become 18 last week. Outside was snowing gently, the village was covered in white and kids played out in the freshly fallen snow. Even her little brother had gone out to play with the other kids. Julia smiled gently at the thought of her brother's smiling face.
'He's been studying really hard to become a doctor ever since mama and papa died. It's good for him to go out and play like that.'
The fireplace was crackling and filled the small house with warmth.
'I better get up and prepare some food. He's going to return soon and will be hungry.'
And truly he came an hour later, his white hair was full of snow clumps and his cheeks were rose red from the cold. A pot of warm stew was waiting for him. His sister waiting for them to eat together.
"It's super good nee-chan! You have surpassed yourself! Are you shure you study for a teacher? I bet you actually study for a master cheff!"
"Oh my! You flatter me too much! With such a sweet tongue, you'll be a real ladies' man in the future!" - she acted like an embarrased schoolgirl.
"D-don't say such things!" - he blushed like a tomato.
"I'm just joking! Calm down or you'll choke!"
"Fine."
"Robin, you know next week the exams are held in town, right?"
"Yes, I know. What of it?"
"With the weather like this, I won't be able to go by train. They don't pass through here because of the snow, so offered me to drive me to school in his sled, so I won't be back untill late. I'll leave some food and will warn Mrs. Giled you'll be staying there because there won't be anyone to keep the fire burning."
"But I can keep it burning!"
"Yes, but you're too little to deal with fire on your own! What if something happens to you?! This is final, no objections! You will be fine, I know it! So, all I ask of you to be good and wait for me. OK?"
"OK nee-chan. I promise."
"Good boy! Now, lets wash the dishes."
"I'm drying them!"
"Hey! No fair! Your nee-chan wanted to dry them!" - she pouted.
"Hehe! First come, first served!" - he laughed from the kitchen.
===End flashback===
Clang! Clang! Booom!
Tatatatatatatatataaaa!
Sparks and derbis flew all around the town as the two figures engaged in battle. Both of them trying to end eachother.
===Flashback 3===
"Are you ready Julia? We're leaving!" ( )
"I'm coming!" - she came out with a big bag and hurriedly boarded the sled.
then took the reins and drove the sled towards the city. As the siblings said their goodbyes an uneasiness formed deep in their hearts.
(And like any other character, they would ignore their istincts untill it's too late.)
Robin did what his sister asked him to do. Although he didn't like , because she always made him sit with her while she told him about her pet dogs and he wasn't a dog person, unlike his sister, he liked cats a LOT. He wanted one but back then his parents said no because they were too small. Later he asked his sister about one but she also refused a cat because they were not only running on a tight budget every month but also his sister hated cats. He even heard her calling them names like 'flea carriers' , 'filthy rat munchers' and 'damn scratching devils'. He settled down on 's dog fur covered couch and prepared to listen to the exact same story he did for the last 20 times he had to stay with her.
It was evening and his sister had yet to return. was missing too.
'What if they had been attacked by bandits? What if sis is also injured like mama?!'
He ran out and went around the village to ask for help but they couldn't do anything. Aparently an avalanche had blocked the road and they were unable to go anywhere untill the next worning when they will go and help with the removing of the snow. He didn't want to listen to them but they didn't let him go out and held him in, no matter how much he protested and tried to escape.
Like that came the morning. Robin was the first one to wake up and dragged everyone with him to clean the avalanche. They had promised him they'll help to make him go to sleep, so they obliged. As they reached the place, they saw people from other villages and the city coming to help. They cleaned the snow by noon.
" !" - Robin saw him coming in his sled.
"Oh! Robin, what are you doing here?"
"I'm helping! Most importantly, where's nee-chan?!"
"Eh? She's not with you?"
"What do you mean? She was supposed to be with you!"
"Yes, she was but when I went to the place we agreed to pick her up from, she wasn't there! I asked around and learned she had left in a hurry a few hours before I came. I waited some more but she didn't come. In the end I left but then, then I was about to hit the road, I was stopped and told an avalanche had blocked the road and they won't be able to clean it untill morning, so I stayed in an inn for the night. As soon as the sun rose, I woke up and came here to help."
"Then, where could she be?! She didn't return!" - Robin was getting even more scared with every moment.
"HEY! Boy, calm down!"
Grrr...BarkbarkBark!
A ranger was trying to hold his rescue dog down but it escaped and jumped down from the road. It landed in a big pile of snow and started digging. People watched in horror as the snow started to turn red the place the dog was digging.
"Oh, no! Prepare! There may be an injured survivor!"
The ranger shouted as he also jumped down. A bit more digging and they reached the person. With horror Robin realised it was his sister. The ranger took her pulse and sadly shook his head.
"She's dead." - with these words Robin's world fell apart.
He fell down and started to cry. His sister, the only one he had left, was also gone. The villagers took him and his sister's body back. They buried her the next day. Many peple cried for the young girl but Robin just stood there, unmoving. His tears had all dried up already. The next few days were a blur to him. He didn't even bother to go out or someplace warm. He just laid in his bed, hugging the medallion with the picture of him and his sister. One night, however, a man appeared before him. He was purple, had a permanent toothy smile, elf ears and was dressed like a gentleman. He introduced himself as the Millenium Earl.
"So, Robin, do you want to bring your sister back?"
"..." - he didn't say anything but the Earl could see the hope in his eyes.
'How naïve.' - he leered in his mind.
"I can bring her back for you." he pulled out one of his creepy skeletons "You just have to wish really strong for her to return and call her name. Then poof! She'll be back with you." - he explained.
Being the most easy to trick of the siblings, Robin fell in the Earl's trap. Julia was always the more cautious one. If she was there she would have instantly stopped her brother and said something like "Don't make deals with such shady-looking man!" but she was gone, so no one stopped him as he stood up and walked in front of the skeleton.
"Julia!" - he called in desperation.
A star and her name appeared on the skeleton. It then started to tremble.
"Ro-bin?"
Julia's distorted voice came out of its mouth. Before he could be truly happy his sis came a dark voice sounded from behind him.
"Kill him!"
"AAAAAAA!" - she screamed as she stabbed her brother's heart.
"Happy birthday!" - the Earl laughed as he left.
Now Robin was dead and Julia, no the new Akuma with her soul in, stood there, wearing her dead brother's skin. With the blank stare every level 1 Akuma had, he (I'll refer to the Akuma as he from now on, because of the skin being a genuine boy's.) headed out to kill people, however two rivers of tears had began leaking as soon as he stepped out. The only thing the soul could do now was to struggle, suffer and cry. He cried not only for killing Robin but also for the beople that were going to be killed.
"Ro...bin...wh...y..."
That night the whole village was gone.
===End flashback===
In the town square the two figures finally stopped their dance of life and death. There stood a red-haired man with half a mask, glasses, cigarette and an exorcist coat. In his hand he held his gun, 'Judgement'. The other figure was an Akuma. A verry human-like one. Cross Marian was confused. The Akuma was obviously still a level 1, however it had a human form that was wven more human-like than a level 3 and was crazy strong! It had managed to hold out for whole 20 min.
'What the hell is this guy?!' - he thought as he watched the Akuma.
It was quite beaten up and looked like it will be down any moment now, so he was calmer and could observe it more carefully. At first he thought he was against a level 3, which was strange because they usually never left Japan, not to mention coming all the way to england. Because the moon came out, he could see it clearly and realised that not only did it look almost identical to a human, excluding coloring an other additions. Te other thing was its strenght. It was ridiculous how a level 1 could escape most of his attacks but also took a few hits and didn't instantly die, instead it lasted for 20 minutes!
'What the hell are ya? Some sort of mutant or a new type the Earl made? Nah! He's not going to change his design, he has never done so. Thank God I am alone, otherwise the Chief would have surely told me to bring it back for study. Man, I hate the guy. He's suuch an asshole and a prick! I heard he even kidnapped a girl and holds her imprisoned because she didn't want to leave her home and brother! I would never do such a thing to a lady!'
He got ready to shoot when suddenly one of the houses lit up and a girl, aroung 8-9 years, came out. She knew they told them to hide and not come out but she got curious and decided to check.
'Oh, crap!' - Cross cursed.
The Akuma zeroed on the girl when a woman came out. She saw the monster and jumped to protect her daughter. She hugged the girl protectively and turned her back towards the monster, ready to take the hit. The Akuma raised it's transformed gun-like arm towards them and shot.
'Damn it! I won't reach em in time!' - Cross cursed.
The unexpected thing happened next. The bullet missed them by more than a metre. When he turned around, he saw the Akuma's other hand holding the gun-like one away from the pair.
"Rrun! Get...AWAY!" - the Akuma shouted at the mother and daughter.
They did so and ran away, disappearing after the corner. Cross couldn't wrap his mind around what just happened. A level 1 Akuma, that's supposed to be just a mindless beast had told the two to run away. It even saved them from itself! Just now he really looked in the Akuma's teary eyes. At first he thought it was nothing but now, he could see the sorrow and paint they radiated, he felt pity.
'Heh! What would the other exorcists think? Me, feeling pity towards an Akuma.'
The Akuma trembled and with great effort fell to its knees. It looked towards him with teary eyes.
"P...lease. Kkill...me..." - as it transformed back to a white-haired boy.
This was the first time an Akuma had asked him to kill it and also the first he didn't really want to. As he looked down toward it, he also noticed a medallion with a cross on it.
"Ah, the irony!" (Cross)
He pointed Judgement at the Akuma's forehead and was about to shoot when a green light shone from his inner pocket. An Innocence shot out and slowly floated right into the Akuma's lap.
'WHAT! How in hell did an Innocence choose an AKUMA as an accomodator?! Isn't it supposed to kill them?!'
Both of them looked at the piece. The Akuma touched it with his hand and didn't get burned or shocked, like it usually happened.
'How could an Innocence choose me? I'm a monster! But...this...
this light for some reason gives me hope. I don't want to kill any more people! I...WANT TO SAVE ALL THE AKUMAS' SOULS!'
Suddenly the Acuma cried out and clutched its forehead. He could see the pentagram appear and start to move towards the left side, it settled right apove the left eye.
"gaaaaH!"
A crcle appeared atround the pentagram and the skin below it split all the way to the chin, underneath you vould see the akuma's blackened skin only if you really looked for it. The Akuma was panting, covered in sweat.
'What just happened?'
"Can I...really sve them?" the Akuma spoke to Cross "With this Innocence, can I save the other Akumas' souls."
Cross smirked and answered.
"A runt like you? I'm not too shure but there's a small chance."
The white-haired boy gently smiled and fainted. Cross bent down, still wary of an Akuma attack. He touched the place where the pentacle had moved and used his magic to probe it. (If you had forgotten there WAS magic! And Cross also chanted and used spells, albeit I saw him only 2-3 times.)
'Oh, this is curious. There's a seal that keeps the Akuma's program and Earl's commands away, so it won't be forced to obey as long as the seal stays. Heh, I like this kid!'
He then picked the Innocence and the fainted Akuma and carried them towards the inn he stayed at.