Pink and Pink

Disclaimer: Familiar of Zero/Zero no Tsukaima belongs to Noboru Yamaguchi. Tales of Vesperia belongs to Namco Bandai Games.

Terca Lumireis- Central Peyoccia Plains

She watched as the sun began to sink behind the distant mountains, her gaze following the last few rays of light as they streamed through a lonely pass to paint the fields of normally white flowers in brilliant shades of orange before finally coming to rest on her friend, giving the impression that the genius mage was being lit by the magical flames she was so fond of. The girl couldn't help but smile. For most, the coming of night was a time to seek shelter behind the walls of a city, even with the aer levels finally beginning to subside, but she didn't worry. The monsters in this region hadn't been a threat to her or her companion since their adventures three years ago.

"You know, I think I've finally cracked it." the other girl proclaimed as she stared across the field, towards the massive tree that once shielded the city of Halure.

"O' my servant who exists within this unknowable universe"

The pink haired girl started at the unexpected interruption, but her friend continued unperturbed.

"With just a little more work I should be able to make mana-cores."

"You who art divine, who art beautiful, who art powerful"

What? Divine? Are they talking to me? She wondered as she began to look around for the source of the voice.

"Now I just need to figure out if I should go through with it..." her friend's tone dropped at that.

"As I plead from the depths of my soul"

Can she not hear that?

"I'm just worried they'll end up causing the same problems as the blastia."

"Rit—"

"Heed my call and appear before me."

"Hm? What is it?" Rita Mordio asked as she turned to her friend, only to find an empty field. The sole proof that she hadn't been talking to her self was a carelessly discarded basket of wild flowers, laying on its side in the grass.

"Estelle?"

Halkeginia- Tristain- The Tristain Academy of Magic.

Louise had studied countless tomes on familiars. Her grades, in the theory based classes, were the highest in the school, she already knew more about the familiar summoning ritual than any other student and, probably, some of the staff, but for the past few weeks she had thrown her self at her studies with an, almost, religious zeal.

She read the new books.

She read the old books.

She read the standard books.

She read the esoteric books.

She even read a few forbidden books.

She poured over every book on summoning or non-elemental magic that she could lay hands on. All for the sake of successfully summoning her familiar.

This was not normal, not by any stretch of the imagination. Then again, Louise was not an ordinary mage. Her peers would breeze through the ceremony, their success assured. For them, the only question was how powerful a familiar they would get. Only Louise, who had never successfully cast a spell, needed to worry.

They taunted her. That wasn't new, they always taunted her. They called her a failure. A menace. A Zero. Last night Kirche von Zerbst had gone so far as to suggest that she should just give up. That she shouldn't even bother attending the ceremony. If she failed she'd prove them right. Worse than that she'd be no better than a commoner pretending at nobility. A Disgrace to her family.

NO!

She couldn't bear to think of what awaited her should she fail. So, naturally, it had invaded her dreams.

For the last week she'd had nothing but nightmares filled with parents who disowned her and a Henrietta who wanted nothing to do with her. The only reprieve had come last night, when that dam von Zerbst's insults had incensed her to the point of swearing she would summon a spectacular familiar. More graceful and amazing than anyone else's. She had carried her rage with her to bed and dreamed of vengeance.

Of course, under the harsh light of day Tabitha had quickly put an end to her thoughts of righteous retribution by summoning a dragon, of all things. Even the Germanian hussy had managed to summon a salamander; it was probably male, curse those stupidly large boobs. By the time it came to her turn she was feeling sick to her stomach and willing to settle for anything, even if it was just a mouse or a frog. Anything would do, just so long as she summoned something.

She had not expected this 'something' to be an explosion. In retrospect she probably should have.

Now, as she waited for the dust cloud to clear, Louise was left to ponder whether failing out-right or succeeding but killing her familiar in the proses would be worse. Fortunately she didn't have to worry for very long. As the dust began to dissipate she caught sight of a silhouette on the ground, only for her breath to catch when she noticed the figures hair. It was a light pink, the same shade as her own. Commoners did not have hair that color.

Oh no! If I've somehow summoned a noble—

Her train of thought cut off abruptly as the rest of the figure's body became visible. She was wearing a red vest over a white blouse, with ruffled cuffs, and black slacks.

There's no way a noble would where those cloths, no matter how well made they were. They look like something a servant would wear... Wait. If she's not a noble, that means I summoned a —

"Well done Louise! Oh, this makes everything you said last night worth it! Too think you'd summon a commoner, it's certainly a spectacle" A smiling Kirche shouted, preempting the stunned pinkette's own thoughts.

Snapping out of her daze she retorted "Sh-Shut Up you stupid von Zerbst!"

While this was happening her familiar had pushed herself up into a siting position, with her legs forming a W underneath her. Rubbing her head she said "Itai. Nani ga okotta no ka?"

What?

"Ha, that's amazing! Not only did the Zero summon a commoner, she summoned a foreign one! It's fitting that the girl who can't cast a single spell should summon a completely useless familiar!" Another student shouted.

"SHUT UP!" Louise screamed.

The teacher decided to intervene before Louise could continue or an another student could insult her. Coughing to get the student's attention, the balding man said, "Miss Vallière, I'm afraid there's another class coming after us. You need to hurry and finish your contract." Despite his stern expression, his eyes were devoid of the scorn clearly displayed by most of the students; if anything, he looked relieved.;

Turning at this pronouncement Louise protested "Hold on, no ones ever heard of a human familiar. This must be a mistake. Please let me try again."

Running a hand back through his balding hair he sighed "I'm sorry miss Vallière, but I cannot allow that. The familiar summoning ritual is a sacred rite, it would be sacrilege to discard its results simply because they are inconvenient."

Seeing no alternative Louise huffed and walked over to her, now standing, familiar, grumbling the whole way.

"I, Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière, call upon you. Pentagon of the Five Elemental Powers grant your blessing to this humble creäture so she might serve as my totem."

Once she finished the incantation Louise tapped her, soon-to-be, familiar's forehead with her wand and then, blushing furiously, she proceeded to kiss the other girl on the lips. Immediately Estelle's face turned a shade of red normally reserved for fruit and her eye's grew wide as she stumbled backwards to land on her rear. She managed to stutter out "W-w-what are you doing?"

Turning away from Estelle to hide her, rapidly darkening, blush Louise crossed her arms and replied "It was just for the ritual. Don't start... Wait a minute. I under stood that!"

"Oh! And I understood you t—" Estelle replied before clutching her left hand to her chest and hissing in pain as a series of runes carved themselves into her flesh. Hearing this Louise turned back towards her familiar, her embarrassment momentarily forgotten. A look of concern briefly flashed across her face before she remembered to mask it with the aloof detachment nobility and the Rule of Steel required.

Before she could think do anything else, Colbert called out "All right everyone, that's all for today. You're free to leave."

As the student's began to levitate back to the castle that served as their school, he walked over to Estelle. Crouching down next to her, he asked "Excuse me miss, but would you please allow me to take a look at your hand?"

Nodding, still unsure of what was going on, she cautiously extended her hand to the smiling teacher.

"Thank you." he said as he took her hand and proceeded to carefully transcribe the runes into a small notepad. Narrowing his eyes in thought he stood up and dismissed them "All right,that's all I needed." But before turning to go he smiled and added "I imagine today has been rather stressful for you two. You should head back to miss Vallière's dorm and get some rest. I'll send a maid up with dinner for the both of you." Having said everything he needed to Professor Colbert joined the rest of the class in levitating back to the castle.

Shaking off her momentary stupor Louise began her trudge back towards the main gate. When she didn't hear her familiar start to move after a few paces she called back, "Well, what are you waiting for? We're going."

It's not like it's my fault that I can't fly.

"Hm? Oh, right. Coming." Estelle looked away from where she had been staring at the Professor's rapidly retreating form and pushed her self to her feet. Dusting off her dress before quickly catching up with Louise she shot a few more glances at where the other students were flying. "Um, excuse me, but I still have no idea what's going on."

Glaring at her familiar Louise huffed "I summoned you at The Springtime Familiar Summoning. That makes you my familiar. What else is there to understand."

"I see...", as she said this Estelle's brow furrowed in thought. "I guess we should introduce ourselves then... My name is Estellise Sidos Heurassein. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Humph, I am Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière..."

"Est-el-ease, that's a strange name."

"Is it? Most of my friends just call me Estelle, why don't you use that."

Estelle... That is easier. Wait. I she Pitying me?

"Don't don't treat me like one of your plebeian friends, Familiar. I'm your master and I won't allow you to address me as anything else."

Louise's sudden outburst caused Estelle to take a step back and raise a hand to her mouth. Despite this she quickly rebounded, "But if we're going to work together wouldn't things be so much easier if we were friends." Reaching out and taking both of Louise's hands in her own Estelle quirked her head to the side and unleashed a beatific smile before continuing, "Don't you want to be friends, Louise?"

Cattleya?

Blushing, Louise tried to recoil from the sudden attack, only to find her hands trapped in the older girls grip. She valiantly tried to resist, but the little mage never stood a chance; Estelle's pink hair and saintly visage reminded her to much of her beloved elder sister for Louise to deny the request. All she could manage was to stammer a quick "O-OK."

Jumping back Estelle clapped her hands and let out a happy "Yay!" before turning to skip towards the gate.

A very flustered Louise soon followed in her wake, steam slowly rising from her head.

Oh god. She's like an energetic Cattleya.