Chapter 1: Back-up Plan
In the deepest depths of an underground prison in the Soul Society, Sosuke Aizen sat in a chair in Muken. Due to his inability to be killed, he had a twenty thousand year sentence to serve. He was securely bound to the chair with no reasonable means of escape. No matter. He wasn't planning on escaping anyway.
It's quite unfortunate that I have been imprisoned here. Aizen thought. Ichigo Kurosaki's final attack was quite troublesome, I did not expect that. I did, however, devise a plan in case I was defeated. And because I have no way of stopping this plan, the Soul Society will be demolished. It's too bad, really. I wanted to see the look on Yamamoto's face when he draws in his final breath. A crooked smile slithered onto his face.
A significant time before, Harribel rose to her feet. She had went blow for blow with the Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya. He had the elemental advantage over her, however, she still held her own. Then Aizen decided that she wasn't useful anymore and cut her down. Damn him. However, now that he was gone and Baraggan was dead, she could take her rightful place as ruler of Hueco Mundo.
She walked over to her Fraccion, who were defeated by Yamamoto. He had stated that he spared their lives, only because they fought with much honor. They even tried to use their combined ability known as Quimera Parca to summon a beast Appachi refers to as Ayon. However, the Head Captain effortlessly defeated them.
They each scarified their right arm to summon Ayon, which was a mistake. Because they only had one arm each, Yamamoto defeated them a significant deal easier than he would have if they each had both their arms.
Cyan Sung-Sun was the first to rise, although she could only manage to get on her hands and knees. "I'm sorry we failed you... Lady Harribel... We lost."
"It is alright." Harribel told her. "You're all alive. And that's all that matters."
"Thank you, Lady Harribel." Said Franceska Mila Rose, who was still lying in a heap. "You are very kind to us."
"Very kind indeed. If Baraggan found one of us Fraccion alive after a defeat... I'm sure he would kill them." Emilou Appachi agreed. "I'm glad he's dead. He was an asshole."
"Do not speak ill of the dead." Harribel said. "Come. We must return to Hueco Mundo."
"Is everyone else dead?" Appachi asked.
"All the Arrancar here are. I don't know about in Hueco Mundo." She opened a Garaganta and took them to Las Noches, a massive castle that Aizen had the Arrancar build.
Unbeknownst to them, spirit energy began to gather through-out the Fake Karakura Town that the Soul Society built as a way of trying to stall Aizen.
As the group returned to Hueco Mundo, they were immediately greeted by a small hollow-dog. Yammy's pet. Harribel looked up to see Yammy lying on the ground. His spirit energy flat-lied.
"He died fighting with all of his power." Harribel said. "He died fighting a good fight."
Mila Rose knelt down and lifted the small dog into her arms.
Harribel used her Pesquisa and sensed for other Arrancar. "The most powerful I feel is Grimmjow. Then several lower leveled Arrancar. Damn it. Not much to work with."
"It's alright, Lady Harribel. The smaller the forces, the easier it'll be to take over, right?" Appachi asked.
"I don't want to make a hostile take over." She paused. "I didn't notice it before, but Szayelaporro Granz is still alive, however is spirit energy is quite low. We will find them and make sure everyone is alright."
They found Grimmjow, first. He was heavily wounded, but he would survive. "Do you want us to take you back to Hueco Mundo?" Appachi asked him.
"I can walk fine." He growled.
"What happened to you?"
"I fought Kurosaki. I was just about to finish him off when that damned Nnoitra cut me from behind. Then a Soul Reaper Captain cut him down. Watching him die was enough for me, but I would've preferred to kick his ass myself. After Aizen got defeated, a Soul Reaper told me. I asked him if he planed on killing everyone who survived. His response was that they couldn't, because the amount of dead souls is already unbalanced and any more killing after that might be disastrous."
"Good." Harribel said. "It's good to know that they won't come back to finish us off. You may return to Hueco Mundo. I'm going to try to find Szayelaporro."
Grimmjow nodded. Despite not liking to be given orders, he didn't mind when Harribel did it. There was something about her that didn't piss him off when someone else would have. He'd have to figure it out later, it didn't really matter.
Harribel eventually found Granz, who was standing still, wide eyed, as if he was starring at someone.
"Szayelaporro." Harribel said. He didn't respond. "Szayelaporro." She repeated. "Can you even hear me?"
He didn't respond.
"He's as good as dead, Lady Harribel." Apacchi said. "He probably got beat so bad that he's in shock. We should probably take him back to Hueco Mundo."
In reality, he fought Mayuri Kurotsuchi. The Captain had used a serum to slow everything down for Szayelaporro, preventing him from knowing what's currently happening. In his mind, he was still watching Mayuri walk away from him. The serum might not ever wear off. Being as he was immortal, there was no way he could die.
Harribel eventually found Nel and her two adoptive brothers.
"Do you know who I am?" She asked the young girl.
"You're... the Tercera Espada! Tier Harribel!" Nel said. "I am Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. I am the former Tercera."
"Hmm. Your mask matches the description, as does your hair and eye color. But Nelliel was not a child when she was killed."
"I don't know why... but I can transform back into my adult form. I did it earlier to protect Ichigo. I don't know how long it will be before I can do it again."
"Can you try to transform back into your adult form?" The Espada asked.
Nel concentrated for a long while. The Fracciones began to doubt it was her. Then she transformed into her adult form. She almost immediately transformed back.
"Why did you protect the human?"
"Uh... well... he was really nice to me. At first, I didn't know he was a Soul Reaper. Then it was already too late to leave. Dordoni tried to attack me but he risked his life to save me. Wouldn't you do the same thing? He protected me, so I protected him. Isn't that what friends do?"
Harribel was momentarily silenced.
"Are you really going to believe her?" Asked Sung-Sun. "She is but a child Arrancar. It could simply be an illusion of some kind. I don't think this is the former Espada Nelliel."
"She is." Pesche said.
"Yeah." Dondochaka agreed. "We were her Fracciones."
"Pesche and Dondochakka." Harribel realized. "This can't be coincidence. They must be telling the truth. Come with us to Las Noches."
As the crew walked into the giant castle, a pair of young female Arrancar meet them at the door.
"Loly and Menoly." Appachi said. "It's a surprise to see you two idiots alive after what you did to that human girl. Grimmjow should have ripped you to shreds."
"That human girl is the one who saved us." Loly said.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I was surprised too. She healed us... even after we attacked her. What a weird chick."
Back in Hueco Mundo, the Arrancar all sat at the Espada table. "So far, there are only two current Espada able to work." Harribel said. "One former Espada, and five Fracciones. Eight of us. This doesn't fair well for us, if the Soul Society decides to declare war."
"No, they won't." Grimmjow said.
"Can you clarify, Grimmjow?" Harribel asked.
"The Soul Reapers are too honorable. They won't go back on their word, unless provoked. We should be fine."
"We'll need a leader." Apacchi suggested. "I vote for Harribel."
"I don't care." Grimmjow said. "It makes little difference to me who rules."
"Don't you want to be King of Hueco Mundo?" Mila Rose asked him.
He thought for a moment. "I want to earn it. I don't want to be given it like this." He looked over to Harribel. "That means one day I will surpass you."
She nodded. "Go ahead and try. I can't lead forever, you know." He's more noble than I expected. She thought. I didn't expect him to so easily concede to my rule. She cleared her throat. "As a former Espada, you and your Fraccion should have a say as well, Nelliel. Who do you think would the best leader?"
She thought for a moment. "Pesche!"
Everyone sat in silence for a minute.
"Yeah, Nel's right. I'd make a great leader!" Pesche declared. "You can call me Lord Pesche!"
"No." Grimmjow said. "If you end up leading this place while I'm here... I'll kill you."
"Then are you opposed to Pesche's leading?" Harribel asked Grimmjow.
"Yeah."
"Is anyone opposed to me leading?" She asked.
No one said anything.
"Pesche, if you indeed want to lead we can hold a vote." Harribel told him.
"No... I would just lose that anyway. I'll graciously give you the ability to lead Las Noches." I also don't want to get killed by Grimmjow... He thought. He's really scary.
"Then I am the Queen of Hueco Mundo?" She asked.
"You are." Mila Rose said. "What will our duties be?"
"Your standard duties. I will occasionally give you three extra jobs to do, due to the fact that we're so short handed." She turned to Pesche and Dondochakka. "Can you two repair any parts of Las Noches that were destroyed in the battle?"
"Yeah!" Pesche said.
"I dunno... we did a lot of damage to Mister Granz' chamber. That will be a lot of work. I don't know if we will be able to do that."
"Do what you're told!" Appachi yelled. "If Lady Harribel tell you to do something you do it!"
"I didn't tell them to do anything. I was merely asking if they were willing." Harribel pointed out.
Suddenly, everyone felt a powerful spirit energy coming closer to them. Everyone drew their Zanpakuto, aside from Nel, and prepared for an attack.
"Yo!" Called a feminine voice.
Coyote Starrk walked through the door, with Lilynette standing next to him. She was the one who shouted to them before they walked through the door.
"What the hell...?" Harribel asked. "How the hell are you two here? You died. I watched you die." Despite that fact, she knew Starrk was standing there, starring back at her.
Notes: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of War for Hueco Mundo. This is a co-story with my new acquaintance Fire Lord 626. I hope you guys check him out and give him lots of love. Feel free to leave a review down below, even negative feedback helps, and if you enjoyed it please follow and favorite. Peace.