Chapter 2- The Pink Zero
I do not own Zero no Tsukaima or Girls und Panzer.
Louise PoV
We won…If only barely…
Our variety of tanks ranging from German to French to Japanese to American against some of the heaviest tanks….ever. From our nine tanks, only 5 were a match for our opponents in a strait on battle. If it was not for Miho's brilliance, who I believe should be the commander instead of me, and two findings we made 2 days before the battle, I am absolutely sure we would have lost.
2 days earlier
We were back on our ship-school.
The car club have apparently found a Porsche Tiger and brought it into a working order…well, it breaks every five minutes, but that gun would definitely come in handy against our opponents for the finals….the Kuromorimine, or Black Forest Peak girls High School, who's strategy rely on fielding a large number of heavy tanks in order to counter Pravda girls High School. As I was still looking at the tank, Miho's phone started ringing.
"Yes? Yes. Really?! That's awesome! Be there is a minute!" she ended the call and turned to me.
"Louise-san, remember those three kendo club girls that wanted to join, but we had not tank for them, and we told them that if they find a tank they, can pilot it." She said barely suppressing the growing smile on he face.
"Let me guess.. they found a tank. Where and which tank?" I asked, trying to remain calm and not start grinning like the girl in front of me. Another tank would definitely be a welcome addition, no matter which one it is.
"Well they couldn't say which tank, just that it was huge. As for the where-section 00." Section 00…I try to push down the feelings those digits bring to me. The digits that marked me for most of my life on my former world, and not in a good way.
I followed Miho-san down into the lower parts of the ship. Even if I put aside the meaning of the number of said section, I could not help but fail to see the logic. I though all counting started from 1 or in this case 01. I guess they just added the section in the last moment and were too lazy to rename all others. The sections was on the back of the ship, and the entire section was one room, or rather a hangar. I assumed that this place was some sort of junkyard if the many different machines scattered around is anything to go buy. Cars, fridges, TV's . All of them scattered along the edges of the room-hangar. We saw the kendo club girls at the base of a pile of junk in one the corners, and at the base of the pile a tank was sticking out. Not just any tank. A pitch-black, if a little rusty, Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B, more commonly known as Tiger II or King Tiger.
"Looks like you finally have your own tank, Louise-san. Congratulations!" spoke Miho, the grin on her face from upstairs still present on her face. She turned towards the three girls standing next to the tank. "You girls want to pilot this tank under Louise-san here?" she asked them while gesturing to me.
A chorus of 'Hai' followed and all three girls turned to smile at me. I could not help the smile from my face, even if there was a small blush present on my cheeks. My own tank and my own crew. Probably the best day of my life.
As we called the student council to arrange for the tank to be picked up from down here and started heading upstairs, Miho asked me what my emblem shall be.
"So, Louise-san, what shall be your emblem? It has to be something unique and connected to you or the tank. Perhaps the zeros of the section name?" oh how close she was to the zero been connected to me.
"But it has to be an animal and what animal can spell zero?" I asked trying to, indirectly, get her to drop the zero-themed emblem idea.
"Well, we could go with a serpent… NO, I got it! A chinese dragon!" a dragon…. another think to remind me of my homeland. Reluctantly I agreed, after all, even though I was the commander I still respected Miho-san greatly, even to the point at which I believe she should be the commander instead of me.
Two hours later, me and my new team were standing before our new tank. The tank was actually in perfect working order, excluding the broken right track and little rust it had on. In the time while the tank was brought up to the surface , I went with the kendo girls to do some 'team bonding'.
All of them were overly serious and appeared calm at first, but each of them was unique in their own way. Two of them constantly fought one another, while the third tried to stop them, but I could see it was more of a friendly squabble then anything serious.
The first girl had long black hair, tight in a ponytail which reaches her mid-back, and had dark brown, almost black eyes. Her name is Mayumi Asuma. She was the most serious of the three and was the best fencer in the club overall. She wanted the position of gunner.
The second one had golden blond wavy hair, which reached her waist, and had piercing blue eyes. She introduced herself as Chiyo Kagome. She was a calm person, always smiling, but beneath that is a rather fierce fighter. A bit like the double personality thingy . She took the position of driver.
And the final girl had short brown hair, barely reaching her shoulders, and honey-brown eyes. Nori Koboyashi was a very shy and timid girl, and very clumsy, if the three times she spilled her milkshake is anything to go buy. She was going to be the loader….I just hope she doesn't drop shells as much as she drops milkshakes.
With those positions taken I guess I will have to double as commander and radio operator.
By the end of the day we repaired the right track and repainted the whole tank in gray paint with black spots . Finally we put our new insignia on the side. A pinkish-red chinese dragon biting his own tail forming a zero. I was still not sure how I felt about that mark. I could only hope that in this world, the zero would bring me luck, unlike in some other worlds….
Present
Miho should be the commander… she was the one that helped when one of our teams got stuck in the river. She was the one that came up with the idea to bring down the Maus. She was the one that took out the enemy flag tank.
It was rather dramatic really. Sister versus sister, one on one in the yard of building. Maho Nishizumi ordered all of her tanks to pursue me while she went after her little sister. A move that eventually cost her the match. My tank been able to withstand the shelling led the enemy group away from Miho-san, with Leopon team driving behind me as a shield while Duck and Rabbit were moving alongside the enemy column, harassing them , going in between them. Rabbit team even led the Jaghtiger to a trench in which it overturned, breaking his cannon in the process. It was a good 'kill' but we lost another tank . While that was happening our tank destroyers, Hippo and Turtle teams moved in to assist Anglefish team against the enemy flag tank.
In the end both were taken out. While having powerfull guns they are not very good at urban warfare, the fact that they lack a turret not helping either. They should have picked a position and waited for the enemy to come into sight instead of chasing them, but what is done is done. While the enemy was busy taking turtle and hippo, Miho's tank moved behind her and fire at the lighter armor at the back of the tank, disabling the enemy flag tank and ending the battle.
In the end I did nothing but run, while it was Miho who made this victory possible.
Later , after we were given the victory banner, we were told that the next day we are to have a parade in the capital, with all school participating with all their tanks.
The capital… I was reluctant to go there. I heard from the news that a portal opened their connecting this world with another. Connecting this world with my former home. Even worse nobles from that land came here for negotiations to be held. With the portal connected to Tristain and all major nobles coming here I was sure there would be someone from my family and I had no wish to even come face to face with anyone from it. Mother, father and sister Eleonoire always looked down on me, as been nothing more than a failure which should be married of as soon as possible. And then there was sister Cattleya… she never looked down or me, she was the only one that was kind, understanding…loving. But even then I did not want to go back. Going back to her was going back to everything else, going back to been a zero.
Still the others were ecstatic of leading a parade and I could not let them down. I would do it for them, for my friends…for my comrades.
Karin PoV
I still could not believe it.
Even after it ended I just stood there staring at the television, not moving an inch, my mind trying to comprehend what was I seeing.
My little girl was in this world. I was known as Karin the Heavy Wind, with a cold mask on my face and a Rule of Steel in my mind. But that did not mean I did not care for my little girls. All of them are little girls for to- Eleonore, Cattleya and… Louise. my youngest daughter which disappeared two years ago during the spring-time familiar summoning.
I still remembers that day as if it was not two years but two weeks. I was sitting in the living room, expected a letter that stated that my daughter has finally done a spell right, summoning a familiar worthy of a la Vallerie. I received a letter indeed, but it's content was different. It said that during the summoning another of Louise's trademark explosions occurred, but it was a much more powerful then they usually were. Powerful enough for nothing to be left from her daughter. I could not believe it. My mind was going haywire, on one side my hearth was refusing to believe it, on the other my mind, still under the influence of The rule of steel, was telling me that no one would dare lie to the la Vallerie family. I remember sending away all the servants before letting my tears fall, for no one can see me weak. Not even me husband. I fell asleep that night right there, in the room where I received the letter, my eyes puffy and the now soaked letter still clutched in my hand.
And now here I was, her mind barely registering the fact that there was to be a victor's parade the very next day. When I finally comprehended the message I understood it's full meaning. My daughter was coming to the capital and she was going to be leading the parade. I was going to see my baby girl, even if it is from a distance.
I thanked the man that was showing me around the room before sending him away so that I may think over everything. When he left I sat on the bed and stared at the TV which was showing moments from the battle focusing multiple times on Louise's tank. What caught my attention was the pink zero on the side. I was well aware of the nickname which my dauther had at the academy and although not happy about it there was really nothing I could do to remedy it.
Thousand of thought swarm my head. Will I be able to talk to how? What do I say? Will she want to have any contact with anyone from Tristain at all. Considering the technology that this world has and how easily information is spread, I am sure Louise knows about the portal and some of Tristain's nobility coming here. If she wanted to return she would have made effort into contacting the authorities or simply going through the portal back. The fact that she didn't can only mean that Louise no longer sees Halkegenia as her home and has no desire to return there.
Perhaps I could request a meeting with her when I see Mr. Kurosaki tomorrow. But what do I use as an excuse… saying she is my daughter would not work as probably Louise never revealed she is from another world. I guess I will decide my course of action tomorrow when the ambassador comes here to pick us up in the morning.
And with heavy though running through her mind duchess Karin de la Vallerie fell into a restless sleep.
Louise PoV
I was not happy. Not. At. All.
Not only do I have to lead this parade, but the route passes right next to the hotel where the Tristainian nobility is staying. Even the though of running into one of them… but I will try to keep an open mind. They will most likely consider this below then and will not even watch it, been the snobs that they are, believing that anyone that cannot do magic is below them.
"Let's get into the tank, commander, it is almost time." Said a gentle voice behind me.
It was Chiyo-san, my driver. As we started moving towards the tank, we saw Mayumi-san and Nori-san just finishing attaching the red victory flag to the back of the turret. As I gazed upon the banner gently flowing in the morning breeze, I felt myself swarm with pride. It was our achievement. Something to which I contributed, something for which I fought. It was a symbol that I was not a complete failure. I wonder what mother would think if she saw me now…me been a commander, just like her…. but me wanting to please her is in the past. She would most likely scoff at me saying that I am a disgrace which can only command and operate a commoner's machines. I was actually surprised that she didn't disown me after my first year at the academy after I failed to perform even a single spell for the entire year, while everyone around me, even that damn germanian Von Zerbst displayed some form of magic.
But that is in the past.I am no longer Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, noble of Tristainia . I am, as the locals would say, Vallerie Louise, citizen of Japan, and commander of Ooarai Girls High School's Sensha-dou team.
As we finally got into the tank and I assumed my position on the top of the turret I turned around to see how the others were progressing with the formation. It was decided for all schools that instead of a single column the commander would be in the middle with the rest arranging themselves in two columns behind him.
We would go first, followed by Black Forest Peak, Pravda, Saunders and St. Gloriana. There were more teams into the competition but they refused for different reasons. Right behind me were Miho and Erwin's tanks, with them sticking out of the commander's hatch. With a quick nod to them, which they both returned, I turned forward and in the in the headset I gave a simple order, which this time, instead been carried only to my team was carried to all teams.
"Forward" and as one all tanks started moving.
We moved for a few minutes before we reached the actual area of the parade, and when we rounded the corner I was stunned.
So many people, all of them cheering us on. Even the teams that lost had their fans among the crowds that had gathered on both sides of the street. I felt proud unlike any time before. Back on Halkegenia people showed me respect because of my blood or of fear what would happen if they did not, but here… no one forced these people to come and yet here they are, cheering me and my comrades on, as if we are heroes returning from actual combat. I tried to keep a strait face but the emotions raging inside of me were too much. Before I know it I was both smiling and crying as I waved to the crowds.
The moment was so powerful that I did not realize that we have reached the intersection of the hotel where Tristainia's nobility is staying. On the second floor of it there was a ledge which served as a outdoor restaurant/cafe, and there I spotted the people I was hoping not to run into. While I only knew their children it was not that hard to deduce who is who. Gramond and Grand Pre were easy to distinguish with how much their sons resembled them. There are others, with bizarre hair colors and odd clothing that immediately pinned them as Halkegenians, but it was the two people sitting on the table closest to the edge that threw my emotions into chaos.
One was a woman in her early twenties with short purple hair and white dress. She appeared to be crying while holding a hand to her face in utter shock. 'Henrietta' The princess of Tristain and my childhood friend, but it was the person sitting next to her that left me speechless.
It was her…my mother … she sat there looking strait at me, but instead of the cold look I was so used from her , this time it was different. It help no expectation, no coldness. The look spoke of pride. Her eyes appeared to be glassy…as if she was restraining her tear 'don't be foolish. This is mother, she does not know how to cry'. She then mouthed the words 'I saw' and gave me a nod, but that was enough for me to understand.
She knew from yesterday that I was here. She saw the whole battle…. And she gave me a nod. To most it would be a simple gesture, but it meant the world to me. After years of failing she finally gave me some form of acknowledgment, even if was a simple nod.
I tried to put the best emotionless mask that I can and returned the nod sharply, before, with all my willpower, turning my head back forward towards the road outlined by the cheering crowds. I knew now that it was inevitable. I will have to meet with my mother and she will most likely try to drag me back. She probably will not give me a simple hug after been gone for 2 years. I fully expect her to say 'where have you been for these two years, disappearing like that, what a disgrace' , but that remains yet to be seen.
I will meet her, but I am not leaving this land, for it gave me more then Halkegenia ever did. It gave me friends, comrades. It gave me a future which I can choose for myself.
It gave me a home.
Aand another chapter done.
Thank you all for the reviews, favorites or even views in general.
While originaly i had the idea of Louise been the one in the Panzer IV, with Miho taking another tank, most people actually still wanted her to be in a Panzer IV and having 2 identical tanks kinda crashes with the style of there not been two identicle in Ooarai's team. So in the end i changed Louise's tank two the second most popular- the Tiger II.
I know...the way i added it was kinda lame and i created 3 OC...please don't kill me (begs)
Now about Pannthour's review. I understand where you are coming from about GuP been basiclly Miho's story, but this crossover is not about her. It is about Louise coming into our world and becoming a tank commander. Furthermore Halkegenia's timeline is not frozen. If you really think about it the events in the original Zero no Tsukaima timeline would have started even without Louise and Saito's interference. Their main purpose was to counter the events there, which now i might have Louise and her tank gang counter if i decide to return the story in the Zero no Tsukaima universe. And finally about Karin. While i might have made her a little two soft, especially in this chapter, if you have watched the final episode of the forth season you will see that during the wedding Karin is smiling, which kinda proves she is not heartless.