It had barely been a day since Subaru arrived to this new world. Bored of his old life and thrown into a new one. Nothing more excited him than the present.
Then, he met her.
A kind hearted half-elf whose silver hair fluttered beautifully when she walked.
To him, it was perhaps love at first sight, in which later turned to devotion.
For hours he had been trying to assist her in finding an important insignia which previously has been stolen by a nimble pickpocketer. She did not at first understand why the young man with such strange attire and jet black hair wanted to help at first, but nonetheless accepted his help as she felt he was genuine.
…
Subaru reminiscenced the last few hours of his life as he was lying in a pool of his own blood and guts with her by his side dying as well. His vision was fading… he tried to reach for her hands but couldn't find the strength as the last bit of blood left his body. 'I promise.. I will save you…'
"Such wonderful colors… your guts have…", the sadistic woman known as Elsa, the bowel hunter, said obviously getting off from this.
…
'If I weren't so weak…' Subaru cursed himself as made his final thought before fading into darkness.
...
'Open up your heart to me, and power you shall receive...' a mysterious voice spoke as Subaru faded away into darkness, not caring for the new voice.
...
'Fine...'
Subaru suddenly opened his eyes.
He found himself standing on some sort of large Pillar with an intricately designed picture as the floor he stood on. The graceful sleeping form of the half-elf girl, plastered on the floor's image.
Instinctively, he checked his body and found no wounds. In fact, he remembered specifically that he died a gruesome death by disembowelment and not a single fatal injury was present.
"Wh-where am I?" Subaru said to no one in particular.
'Your heart.'
"Who said that? Who are you? What's going on?!" Subaru said beginning to panic.
'So much to do, so little time… Take your time.. Don't be afraid..'
Subaru calmed himself but was still a bit on edge. Was he perhaps given a second chance?
'Now, Step forward'
Subaru listened, as he hesitantly but slowly began to step forward to the center of the pillar.
Small stone pedestals began to appear in a flash of light.
'Power sleeps within you… if you give it form… it will give you strength'.
The stone pedestals presented three objects to Subaru. A sword, a staff like wand, and a shield.
'Choose well'.
Snapping from his stupor, Subaru decided to scope out his options. He started with the sword.
'The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction'.
Subaru moved onto the shield.
'The power of the guardian. Kindness to aid friends. A shield to repel all.'
Subaru moved onto the last object.
'The power of the mystic. Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin'.
…
Subaru thought hard on this as he compared this situation to an JRPG from back home. A rather most unorthodox method to decide things on.
…
He wished he was strong enough to protect the ones he cared of most, as his thoughts drifted to Emilia.
Subaru picked the sword. It disappeared in a flash of light.
'Your path is set. Now, what will you give up in exchange?'
Subaru was quick on this decision as his answers pertained to protecting the ones he cared for. He would give up the power of the mystic, as the staff disappeared from view.
'Is this the form you choose?'
Subaru confidently nodded.
The ground shook as the pedestals collapsed and disappeared. The floor began to crumble away as Subaru was stuck dead center of all of it.
He felt his body go weightless as he began to fall into the dark abyss. However, another pedestal began to appear from the distances as he began to slowly start floating down to it, negating his fall.
His feet finally met with the new floor as he finally settled down for whatever is coming next.
The sword reappeared in his hands.
'You have gained the power to fight. Use this power to protect yourself and others.'
Subaru stared at the blade. It looks rather plain in his opinion but he didn't complain.
'There will be times you have to fight. Keep your light burning strong'.
Dark matter began to spring from the ground, as if they were shadows coming to life. Subaru readied himself.
The dark figures resembled ants that grew claws and legs. They hardly looked that menacing but nonetheless, Subaru did not want to become careless again.
Subaru charged at the strange small monsters. He began with lunges and slashes killing each one of the with a few hits on each.
Having never picked up a sword in his life, Subaru thought he was doing pretty well. These movements felt familiar as his body was able to execute them perfectly for some odd reason.
The final threat disappeared at Subaru landed the finish blow on it, satisfied with his work.
The ground shook again. But this time a pool of darkness began to swallow him.
Subaru felt helpless as he sunk into the murky cold dark pit as he struggled with all his might to get out to no avail.
As quick as it came, it dissipated as Subaru found himself flailing around on a new floor, but this time with the picture of half-elf girl again, or so he thought. This time she wore a dress made of all black.
He got onto his feet and saw a huge door. 'A way out?' he thought approaching it.
He stopped in front of it, admiring its huge size. It opened.
Light began to shine through as if it was looking at the sun.
Slowly Subaru began to walk into the light, seeing no other place to go.
Subaru winced as his vision reverted to normal and realized he was on another pillar. But this time, it had a cracked picture of a young man with silver hair, tanned skin, a lean body, and menacing yellow eyes wearing a robe of darkness.
'You are prideful. You wish to bring happiness to yourself and others. You are scared of failure.'
Subaru was shocked to hear this perfect description of himself.
'Your journey is set'.
The world began to crumble once more.
'Remember: The closer you come to light, the stronger your shadow gets. But do not be afraid. For you wield the mightiest weapon of them all.'
Subaru felt lightness in his body as he began to fall again, but not before catching sight of a familiar cloaked figure in black with silver ornamental strings along its hood.
'Do not forget. You are her beloved.'
Everything turned black once more.
…
"Hey boy, are you gonna buy something or what?"
Subaru snapped into reality as if he just woke up from a daze.
He was back at the appa stand, plastic bag of groceries in hand.
...
Subaru slapped himself in the face twice. He felt a stinging pain.
...
He was alive again.
'How is this possible?' he thought. 'Am I still dreaming?'
Subaru normally would be slow to respond to such a shock but after that strange dream, he oddly felt more level headed and wiser. This wasn't like him.
Subaru responded. "Have we.. met before?"
"Never seen ya in my life buddy. Now ya gonna buy something? If not, stop actin' weird and get outta my sight", the large man waved his hand as if he was shooing away Subaru.
Subaru obliged and left the stand. Moments later a flash of yellow whizzed by him as he felt the bags from his hands get snatched while he was caught off guard.
"Stop! Thief!" A familiar voice filled his ears. It was half-elf girl, alive and well.
Subaru stopped and thought hard. 'Did I somehow resurrect myself and come back into the past?'
Subaru shook himself out of his stupor. He saw her heading towards his direction.
If Subaru was going to have a do over on all the events that had happened, he decided to make a good first impression. Very uncharacteristic of him at first thought. This was a second chance he did not want to waste.
The girl walked down the street, troubled and seeming rather focused as she apparently lost her target. Subaru remembered her mentioning something important of hers was stolen. Her insignia he believed.
"Yo", greeted Subaru as he approached the half-elf.
"Hm? Do… I know you? She asked.
Subaru shook his head. "N-no. It's just that I happened to catch a glimpse of the thief who snatched whatever from you", he said. "We can perhaps work together to find this culprit".
Emilia waved her hands in protest. "Oh no no.. you don't have to do that for me", she said.
"Well coincidentally, it happens so that the thief in question also took something of mine and I too would like to get it back", said Subaru smoothly.
"Hmmm…" Emilia paused to think. A small cat appeared from out her hair.
"I think he's trustworthy Lia", the talking magical feline known as Puck said feeling no ill intent from Subaru. "If not, you haven't a thing to worry about since I got your back", the cat reassured.
Emilia sighed. "Alright fine, since you say so Puck. We can work together to get back what was stolen from us".
Subaru smiled. He tried his best to emulate the last timeline. "The name's Subaru. Natsuki Subaru", he said, introducing himself.
"I'm simply known as Emilia", she said, introducing herself as well.
'So that's her name…' Subaru smiled as they began their search for the culprit once more.
However, something was tugging at his brain to initially begin to search.
His thoughts pulled towards the slums where he last died in the previous loop…
Though he grimaced at the thought of going there again, he just couldn't shake the feeling.
This was something he would've never thought about in such short amount of time.
"I think I may have a lead to where our culprit is", announced Subaru as Emilia stood at attention.
"Really?" she asked.
Subaru nodded. "I don't want to be stereotypical but I believe we should search the slums first since we all know that is the hangout of all criminals and bad activity alike. And if I were to hide from someone, it'd be the slums".
Puck was the first to speak up. "I guess he does have a point there Lia".
Emilia nodded in agreement. "Very well. Let's go there together then," as the pair made their way to the slum areas.
About thirty minutes of walking later was when they finally reached their intended destination.
In their view was the previous location of both their deaths. Subaru felt nervous but shrugged away any fears. He had to do this.
"Remember, be on your guard you two… anything can happen here," Subaru said as Emilia nodded.
The pair approached the door of the building and gave a knock.
Heavy footsteps could be heard from the other side.
The door opened to reveal a giant man in a green vest and tattered pants, eating something.
"Whaddya want?" he asked mouthful of food.
Emilia was quick to speak up before Subaru.
"We wanted to know if you've seen a short girl with blonde hair and a long red scarf," she said rather quickly.
'Poor Emilia', Subaru thought. 'Scum usually tend to stick with other scum unless there was incentive involved. They won't easily rat out their own'.
"Nope. Now get outta here," the Giant went back inside and slammed the door in pair's faces.
Subaru stared at the door while the now confused Emilia was still processing what happened.
"She's in there," he proclaimed.
"How do you know?" Emilia asked.
"I can smell the snacks I bought earlier from his breath," Subaru smugly said while Puck appeared and applauded him for his critical observation.
"Puck was it? Can you blow open this door?" asked Subaru.
"Easy," the cat said as it created a heavy Ice shard that crashed through the door, effectively blow it off its hinges.
"What the-!?" the giant reeled in surprise. "Looks like they found out, Felt".
Subaru took note of the culprit's name and was surprised it was a little girl.
The pair walked in to see snacks strewn across the table and the thief in question sitting across from the giant.
"You!" Emilia exclaimed, pointing at the culprit. "Please! I need what you stole from me back! It's very important to me!"
"No way! I stole it fair and square!" she retorted, defending her own actions immaturely.
An argument broke out between the two as Subaru chuckled. He tried to negotiate instead.
"Ahh geez. And to think we were going to even pay a hefty price for the return of that specific item", he said making the two stop fighting to listen.
"Tough break pal! I already have a customer coming over to offer a price," the little girl said. "You're just gonna have to wait until she gets here so you both can negotiate."
"Oh my we are having quite the get together in here I see", a new voice entered the room. A woman clad in a purple and black dress with a small overcoat.
Subaru's eyes widen. 'It was her?!' he thought. They were all in danger.
Elsa, the bowel hunter, has entered the scene, smiling devilishly.
She caught sight of Emilia. Her eyes narrowed as she smiled.
"Sorry to say but, you'll all be dying today…" she said pulling out her infamous blade.
However, ice shards began to rain down on her as he side swept and dodged them all.
She looked up and saw Puck, floating in the air with more ice shards behind him.
"Ah.. you must be a spirit user then…" Elsa said now being wary of the spirit.
"Compared to me, you are just a novice", Puck proclaimed as he rain down more icicles down to Elsa as it eventually encased her entirely but exploded outwards as Elsa remained untouched. Though she was now missing her overcoat.
"RARRRGHH!" The giant roared as he brought out his giant wooden club, swinging wildly at Elsa. "You have some nerve lady!"
Despite his strength and tenacity, Elsa dodged and weaved through every attack with elegance and grace as she delivered a fatal counter strike with her blade to the giant's artery.
The giant fell as the weight of his collapse reverberated through the building.
"Old man Rom!" Felt screamed, watching one of the few people she cared about fall, dead silent.
She was going to fight as well until a pair of hands gripped onto her shoulders and turned her around. It was Subaru.
"Felt… When you find an opening, I want you to run away from here as fast as you can and get help! Do you understand me?" Subaru said shaking the girl to her senses.
She nodded hesitantly as she readied herself as she saw Elsa busy avoiding more ice shards. She had to do this for Old man Rom.
'Now!' She thought as she activated her Divine wind blessing, increasing her speed ten fold. She darted towards the door.
"Leaving so soon?" Elsa said as she weaved towards felt with great speed. Felt wasn't going to make it at this rate… Until…
!
Elsa saw as Subaru blocked her strike, intended for the small girl with the giant wooden club the fallen giant used.
Felt had made it out through the door, exiting the present danger.
"Oh darn… missed one", Elsa said. "I guess I should wrap things up here before reinforcements arrive, assuming the little girl didn't abandon you," Elsa smiled once more.
It was already sunset.
Puck yawned as he began to feel tired. "Sorry Lia, I'm at my limit here," he said discontinuing his barrage of icicles at the Bowel hunter. "You rest now Puck..." Emilia said to her spirit ally. "Yes. Yes. Just remember, if anything happens to you, I will proceed with our contract," the spirit finally disappeared into Emilia's Gem.
Subaru stood side to side with Emilia. He didn't know if both him and Emilia could take her on without Puck. He readed the wooden club once more as he charged Elsa, swinging the heavy weapon wildly. She kicked him to the side, sending him crashing into the wall.
"I admit you have spirit and courage but your technique is rather rigid and lacking," Elsa said as she now charged at Emilia who then made an Ice shield. She could only defend as Elsa continued her flurry of strikes, slowly chipping away at the ice shield.
'You have the power to fight'.
"That voice…" Subaru whispered to himself… It wasn't a crazy dream after all.
'You wield the mightiest weapon of them all,' it said.
Subaru remembered his vows from his previous death. He would protect her.
'Keyblade.'
Elsa finally shattered the ice shield Emilia conjured watched helplessly as the dark blade of the bowel hunter come down on her.
!
Emilia saw a figure jump in between her and Elsa. It was Subaru.
Strange voices filled Subaru's head, as if telling him what to do, what to feel.
"Reflect."
A flash of light engulfed the small area the three were in. Elsa felt her blade come to a halt against a hard object. She jumped back a good distance.
"Ohh wow. I had no idea you could do that boy. I guess I underestimated you slightly", the bowel hunter admitted as a magical clear barrier surrounded both Subaru and Emilia, only to disappear a few seconds later.
In his hand, a white silver object appeared. It was odd but strangely beautiful to look at as the intricate design on the weapon accentuated its beauty. He could not help but marvel at the weapon at hand as well.
'Oathkeeper'.
The strange voice said in his head. He assumed it was the weapons name. How fitting for the situation he thought.
Elsa cracked her neck. "Entertain me some more please," she said, licking her lips.
She darted towards them once more.
Subaru casts reflect once more as she struck the barrier with her blades.
"Shatter!" Subaru commanded his barrier as its individual panels exploded outward, repelling their attacker. Glass like shrapnel embedded themselves into Elsa as she covered her vitals.
"My, My… So full of surprises today.." Elsa commented, with some blood running down her arms. More Ice shards rained down as Elsa swatted some aside with her blade.
"I-I'm still here you know!"said Emilia who was ready to go on the offensive again. "Thank you for the assist," she said appreciatively Subaru.
Subaru nodded in acknowledgement as he turned his focus to face Elsa once more. He knew he couldn't depend entirely on Felt to return with help. He needed to think on how to win against a monster like her.
'Impossible,' a familiar male sounding voice spoke in his head. 'You are still a novice compared to her.'
Subaru wasn't surprised by any new voices at this rate but grimaced knowing the voice was right. The gap in skill between him and Elsa was way too much. Maybe with Emilia by his side, he stood only at a smaller chance of winning this outcome.
"I'm going to get serious now…" Elsa licked her lips once more. "Get ready, resist all you can… it only makes it more pleasurable for me".
Immediately Subaru darted towards her with Oathkeeper raised high to begin to strike her. Familiar movements and maneuvers ran through his mind as he tried to execute them. He swung his keyblade against Elsa's Northern style blades as he maneuvered from her strikes, barely avoiding them. His body however couldn't move the way he wanted to as the new techniques that entered his mind were lessened to a degree.
He was getting tired. Using magic for the first time in his life and initiating in hand to hand combat was perhaps not a good combo for a novice like him.
Subaru felt a kick delivered to his gut by Elsa easily overwhelmed him as he slammed into the wall behind him, the keyblade was knocked out of hand as it flung itself into the air only to be caught by Elsa.
"Shit…." Subaru cursed as he tried to stand back up but failed due to the pain.
The voice in his head spoke once more. It beckoned him to do as it wanted.
"Heal…" Subaru grunted as a light green aura was casted on himself. The pain subsided, but he felt drained.
Elsa examined the keyblade. "What a strange and marvelous weapon…" she complimented, never seeing anything like it. "Guess I'll kill you and keep it for myself," as she brought up the keyblade, ready to strike Subaru. A sudden flash of light engulfed the keyblade as it disappeared from Elsa's grasps and reappeared in Subaru's.
'It seems keyblades are picky of their owners…' Subaru thought as he finally regained enough energy and willpower to stand and swung at Elsa. She was caught off guard but Subaru was still too slow in his attack as she simply moved aside and dodged it as Subaru tripped and fell.
"That should be enough of that…" A new voice entered the scene.
A red haired royal knight, who looked slightly older than Subaru, stood nearby.
Elsa seemed to have completely dismiss Subaru as a major threat and was fixated on the knight as she smiled.
"Oh my… to think I would have the honor to clash blades with the famous sword saint lineage. Reinhard Van Astrea." Elsa said readying herself. She charged.
Subaru sighed in relief. "I think we're saved…" as he witnessed every attack made by Elsa was repelled easily by the red haired sword saint. Subaru made it to the sidelines with Emilia who was already trying to heal a bleeding Rom.
"Careful. She's quite a monster.." Subaru warned the knight.
Reinhard smiled. "Not to worry, it just so happens that monsters are my specialty," as he wielded a random sword from the floor and clashed with Elsa who failed to even get the upper hand on him.
Subaru knelt down next to Emilia as he watched her healing the giant.
"Why would you help the person who was part of the gang who stole your insignia?" he asked.
"So that I can know the reason why obviously. He can't lie to the person who saved his life can he?" she replied. The wound finally closed up. "Please tell Reinhard he can finish this now".
Subaru was a little confused but obliged anyways. "Hey Reinhard, you can kick her ass now!"
Reinhard smiled as he finally raised his sword high, all the mana in the air siphoning towards him. He was going to unleash something big.
Reinhard swung his blade down as a blinding blue light engulfed the area resulting in a loud explosion.
...
The damage was massive and Elsa was nowhere to be seen. Rubble still falling from the sky.
'Talk about collateral damage,' Subaru thought as he prospected Reinhard's work. He was crazy strong he thought as he dusted off his jacket.
Just the group began to settle, a figure bursts from the rubble towards Emilia.
It was Elsa, albeit slightly roughed up and blood running down her face. She was determined to get the last strike on her target before Reinhard can do anything about it.
Her brows quickly furrowed as she clicked her tongue as she saw Subaru once again jumping in between them as he blocked her final strike his keyblade.
Subaru raised his weapon and pointed it in her general direction. More familiar feelings surged through his mind.
'Fire!' Subaru thought as he casted multiple fireballs and launched them towards Elsa, once again catching her off guard but not enough to kill her. Elsa swatted away the flames with her blade resulting in some minor burns to her right arm. She jumped back onto a tall pile of rubble leading to the roof.
"Unfortunately I have to go now. But know this, I will come back to finish the job one day," she warned before disappearing into the now night sky.
Subaru found it odd that the knight had no intention in catching her but dismissed those thoughts as he turned his attention back to Emilia who was now approaching him.
"Subaru, I can't thank you enough for your kindness today," she said with gratitude towards the young man.
Subaru smiled as he simply gave a thumbs up. He felt a bit woozy to be honest.
Reinhard approached the two with Felt following behind him. "Well I'm glad things worked out for the better here," he said.
"Yeah! Subaru Nii-chan was so awesome!" Felt exclaimed, surprised by the young man. "For a simple and weak nobody, you actually held off a renowned killer," she praised Subaru.
Subaru scratched his head. "Well I suppose I did okay, that was the first time in my life I ever had to fight someone seriously," he admitted.
Reinhard eyed the weapon at Subaru's side, admiring its oddity and beauty.
"That's quite an interesting weapon you got there Subaru, mind if I can take a look at it?" Reinhard asked as Subaru shrugged and obliged, handing over the keyblade to the red-haired knight.
Reinhard quickly studied it and found the weapon surprisingly well balanced as it resembled more like a key than an actual sword. He felt great power from the weapon. Its power similar to his famed blade, Dragon Raid. He was genuinely surprised, having never known a weapon that can possibly rival his own. However, the examination soon came to an end as the blade disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared in Subaru's hands.
Reinhard laughed in surprise. "I suppose there's more than meets the eye when it comes to you Subaru, was it? To think there existed a weapon other than mine that chooses its wielder."
Felt approached Emilia. "I suppose I should give this back to you since you saved Old man Rom," she said, taking out the Insignia which glowed in her hand.
Reinhard's eyes widened. There was no mistaking it he thought, as he examined her prominent features and the glowing insignia. She was one of them.
"I'm sorry young lady but you must come with me," he said as he knocked out Felt before she could protest and threw her over his shoulder.
Subaru was about to intervene but quickly stumbled and fell to the floor. He was suddenly and completely exhausted. His mind started to drift into the darkness as the last thing he saw was Emilia rushing to his side.
...
Reinhard stood over Subaru. "If you would like, I can possibly-"
Emilia interrupted him. "No No. He helped me a lot today so it is only right that I should repay my debt to him," Emilia said looking at the boy who made a huge difference today.
Natsuki Subaru: Abilties:
Cure- Basic level healing spell.
Fire- Basic level fire spell.
Barrier- A spell that conjures a strong and durable magical shield dome.
Basic H2H- Basic hand to hand combat skills.
