All rights to the Anime Familiar Of Zero are not mine

Louise let out a yawn before rubbing her eyes a bit before looking back down at the book in front of her about Magic theorem. After the little incident with Guiche and how he was basically mind controlled by what most would call a doll, Louise had asked questions as to what happens when Hurmy used his Overshadow Technique.

It was apparently a very advance technique that Puppeteers, or some special Puppets like himself, could do, at the price of letting there bodies go limp and be fore all intents and purposes, a sitting duck. In exchange, the caster could control the victims movements, speech and have some input into there minds. And once they were done and left the body, the victim was none the wiser to being controlled.

The thought actually scared her a bit to know that a little Puppet could control someone for his own ends, and would be difficult to find. But that did get her thinking and made her ask if she could learn it any time soon. Her answer was that she wasn't ready at all, and if she attempted it a few things could go south.

One example was that she would be trapped in the 'Victims' mind.

Another was she would be stuck outside her body.

Then there was, what he called the infamous Mental Shredding, which was basically a persons mind being shattered to the point they cant be considered living anymore. It was apparently the most common thing to happen to armatures that attempted the technique way too early.

Though she was slightly disappointed (but all the same relived knowing in advance of the risks) of not learning it, he did give her a reason to look towards tomorrow, as he planed on teaching her how to use him to his full potential. This also opened up some new possibilities for her as well, as she would be the first Puppeteer of her kind in her kingdom. Or, more better, the first Mage Puppeteer, as Magic was an almost unknown thing from where Hurmy was from, so this would be a first!

It was one of the reasons she had this particular book, as it was on Enchantments and binding sentient power to objects. But from what she could read, she was no were near skilled or ready for trying this. She only prayed that what the Puppet had in mind would work and not blowup in her face.

Speaking of the sack-boy, Hurmy was on her table with a pile of leftover cloth that they got from the servants around the school, as well as some string and sowing tools.

Hurmy was enjoying himself as he cut the cloth into the shapes they needed to be before stitching together and shaping it. He didn't tell Louise what he was making just yet, as he was planning on make around twenty or so by the time daybreak, as well as five more for some of her Puppeteer training.

Hearing a rather long yawn, the small Puppet couldn't stop but look back to where Louise was slightly slumped over and reading that book she got from the library.

Taking initiative, Hurmy put down his work and took some steps back before breaking into a full run. Right as he reached the edge did he jump onto one of the heads of the chairs near the table and leaped from there to her desk. He almost made the leap, only to yelp as he slip on the edge of the desk and slid down it till he was only hanging by his fingertips.

Luckily he was spared a rather embarrassing fall to the floor by the tiered pinkette who took notice of him and lifted him up and onto the desk.

Before she could ask why he had did his little stunt, he said "Louise, you need to get some sleep. It's late, and if I remember right you have class tomorrow."

Letting out a sigh she said "Not yet Hurmy. I'm almost done with this page." Yawning again she went back to reading the last page before turning it and starting again. This was intercepted by the Puppet however, who gave her a scolding like glare.

"Nu-uh." He shook his little head with fists on his waist line "You are going to change and get to bed. You can read more latter." She opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off again "I'm a Puppet, I don't need sleep. Your Human, you need it. Now go get some sleep.

From there he took the bookmark that was on the desk and shoved it into the book before closing it.

"But Hurmy-"

"No buts! As your Puppet, it is my job to make sure you are in top condition." He said crossed arms before pouting behind her saying "Bed. Now."

Grudgingly Louise got up and grumbled about being ordered by a little midget of a doll, when it was her that should be doing the ordering. Though Hurmy didn't hear most of what she was saying, he did narrow his eyes at her, very sure the word "Doll" was in there somewhere.

-(Early morning)-

Putting down the needle in his had, Hurmy could only proudly look down at his handiwork that was done over the night. Truthfully he only got thirteen of them done, but it was a good job none the less. Boy was his Master going to be surprised! The very thought made him swell with pride again.

But right now was not the time for that, but to get them up and moving. Reaching over and grabbing each of his creations that resembled empty cloth bodies and put them on there backs before him. Raising both hands with finger dangling before him and focus on the soon-to-be Puppets before him.

"Animo Pupus Servus!" He all but shouted while flexing his cloths hands.

With that, all thirteen cloth bodies jolted and twitched before shadow like wisps began to flow into the open hoods of each one, filling them as if being stuffed by cotton. After three full minutes of twitching bodies and careful focusing on the bodies, did Hurmy stop. As soon as his influence was cut off, the bodies all slumped back down. He waited a few moments, watching with anticipation.

In the corner of his eye did he catch some movement and turn his attention to the now slowly rising Puppet. Slowly and carefully, the new Puppet sat itself up and stared its blank shadowy face at its lap. In a suddenly swift motion did its head snap up, letting two white orbs glow in the ever so dark hood, showing it was a successful animation.

It's body was just like the others. One simple hood attached to a simple raged jacket. The body itself was very basic and about the same height as him. Though, latter on Hurmy knew they would start developing slight personality traits that would change there eye color and cause them to make alterations to themselves a bit.

It wasn't long before others began to fallow the first and 'wake up' for the first time in there new lives.

-(Dream World)-

Have you ever have a dream that you never wanted to wake from? One that was so good and detailed that you wish it never ended? Well, Louise was having an experience in her dream. And she wanted out.

At first, it started out rather nice, with her as a younger child in a simple yellow dress, out playing with her sibling Cattleya that was younger too, in there garden. It was one where she wasn't ill like she was now and could run with her from dawn to dusk.

It was her turn to chase her older sister, and she did so, running around the corners of the bushes and looking behind the statues. But no matter how much she looked for her sister she couldn't find her. Further more, it was getting dark out.

"Cattleya! Where are you?" Her younger self cried out around herself. As she turned about looking for her sister, she barely noticed the green bushes lose there colorful leave that turned brown, leavening dead branches in there wake. "Cattleya!"

Slowly did the sky darken into night and chilling winds began whistle with the dancing dead leave. Soon she began to run thru there dyeing guardian. As she ran looking for her sister, Louise's younger self began to pass trees, drawing more panicked breaths as she ran over the crouching leaves under her feet.

She wasn't in there guardian anymore, she realized. Only dead leaves that crunched underfoot, tell dead trees that had lost all life, and her now current sixteen year old self that was still running.

Why was she still running?

She couldn't remember why, all she felt was fear. But why was she so scared? She couldn't remember, but she had to run away from something! Or was it too something?

She could only shake her head in frustration while tears welled in her eyes.

"Louise…"

The young Mage stopped in her tracks at the whisper of the voice.

"Louise…"

Whipping around she found herself face to face to Cattleya in her older form to, smiling softly. "Cattleya!" Louise said with relief washing over her and that fear slowly washing away.

Her older sister continued to smile as she said "Louise, it's time to go home." and held out her hand. Louise smiled and was going to take the offered hand before stopping in her tracks again. Going thru the back of her sisters hand and out the front was an iron nail. She could see the blood trickling down the pointed edged that was pointing out where she was going to take her sisters hand.

From there things began to reveal themselves slowly. The head of the nail that went thru her hand had some sort of…thin line going straight up into the sky. Her eyes began to fallow the line-

"Is everything alright Louise?" He sister asked, bringing Louise to look back to her sisters face.

When she was going to reply, that was when she noticed the next thing. Here sisters eyes were glazed over with pain with cheeks stained with tears, and not the shining orbs of comfort she knew.

She took a step back and saw slight trails of blood from where her neck was, showing the same line wrapped around it and cutting the skin lightly.

"Louise, it's alright, come home with me." Her 'supposed' sister said sweetly moving forwards while lifting up her other arm and showing another hand ran thru with it's own Iron nail and line reaching for the sky.

Snapping her head up and fallowing them to there origin and feeling her eyes widen in fear. There was someone, taller then the trees themselves with a outstretched hand with each line tied to a different finger. She could see those cold blue lights-for-eyes looking at her and a glowing blue mouth open and close while her sister said at the same moment "Louise, please come here, it's time to head home."

Looking back down she could see her sisters eyes still in pain and letting out more tears. It was then it came to Louise, and thru the fear she was feeling, she yelled up to the shadowed thing "What did you do to my sister!"

It did not answer, only push its hand forwards, in turn, sending her sister at her and grabbing her in the outstretched arms. She could feel the iron nails dig into her back and feel the hot tears running freely from her sisters face while she screamed in pain.

She struggled, trying to get free from her sister bound by strings of some creature that had there control over them like some…

-(Reality)-

Louise's eyes snapped open and screamed "NO!" And sent a bunch of little Puppets flying off both her and the bed, crashing onto the floor. She was currently trying to calm herself down and didn't even notice them at all. She could feel herself in sweat and fast beating heart. 'What was that?' She asked herself, still trying to bring her breathing under control.

"Louise?"

"ACK!" The girl couldn't stop herself as she jumped away from the voice and to the other side of the bed, where she proceeded to fall onto the stone floor with a thump.

Rubbing her sore head, she glared up at the edge of the bed from where she fell and spotted a head now poking over it with concern in its eyes.

"Are you alright?" Hurmy asked his Puppeteer that only increased her glare only further at him. With some nervousness he said "I-I'll just get your cloths ready Ma'am." And was gone from sight by ducking his head behind the edge.

Letting out a sigh, Louise pulled herself up and rubbed some of the sand out of her eyes before looking at her bed tiredly to find her cloths and her Puppets setting them out for…

'Hurmy's the only Puppet I have.' She thought as she stared at the small task force before her. She blinked. Then repeated the process a few times.

"Hurmy?" She said, catching the attention of said Puppet who was helping the other Puppets with there work. "Yes Louise?" He tillted his head while pulling with two others to bring up her Cloak onto the bed.

"Where did…they come from?" She pointed as 'they' being the Puppets, went on with there work without taking notice of the conversation.

Giving a bright eye smile he said "You know that sowing I was doing last night?" At her nod he continued "Well, seeing as I'm only one little Puppet and you have no experience with Puppeteering, I decided to add a few more Puppets to your party so I might start teaching you some tricks."

For a moment she just stood there processing the information before saying "Tricks as in…" And dragged off still not really sure what he was implying.

With one last yank, he and the other Puppets got the Cloak onto the bed, letting him walk up to Louise "As in, I'm going to teach you how to use Ancient words and the first steps of Puppet Manipulation. I was thinking last night about you being a Mage, so I want to try something."

Louise nodded at him as she begin to undress out of her night gown and into her uniform clothing. As she changed though, she couldn't help but think back to that nightmare she had. Seeing her sister in such a stated, it made her both angry, yet terrified. Mentally shaking that thought out of her mind, she turned to Hurmy and put out her hand.

Seeing the offered hand, Hurmy jumped on and rode it till it reached her shoulder where he jumped onto and sat down.

-(Dining hall)-

Inside the Dinning hall was a buzzing with life as students converse with one another and savants setting out more food or cleaning out empty plates. There were murmurs of gossip, rumors and the occasional fact that ran thru the student body as they ate while enjoying one encounters company to some level.

For Louise it was the same irritating morning filled with nonsense of things like gossip.

Then again, she didn't really have any friends here, so she didn't have anyone to gossip with anyways. The only Friend she had (or the closest thing she had) was Hurmy who stayed on his perch. Beneath her Cloak were the other thirteen Puppet, who refused to stay put in her room and wanted to serve Hurmy who made them, and in turn, serve her.

She was starting to wonder what her little Puppet could completely do. First he can move on his own, then shows a good level of intelligent, after that he showed he could control a person, and now he can make Puppets that would fallow his every whim!

Oh, and he was going to teach her how to do all that and more, using his own observations, knowledge and experience.

Who knew such a little guy like him could be so…useful. True he was a surprise at first, and she thought him to be slightly useless due to his size, but he is proving to be more useful then most Familiars already.

Shrugging that thought aside, she sat down at the nearest table and started to pile what she wanted onto her plate before taking her fork and eat.

After she was done with that did she get up and make her way to her first class, very much hoping it would pass by quickly. She was eager to learn something new from Hurmy.

After she was done with her classes though, did she speed out of the Academy with thirteen now visible Puppets fallowing after her. This actually got a few heads to turn at the sight of her leading a small bad of Dolls about and leavening them in utter confusion. Though, some did start to run some new rumors about it soon after.

Fallowing Hurmys instructions, Louise got one of the stables horses to use and road to the nearest forest. He said that some Puppeteering Spells (He decided to label it instead of Technique, as she was a Mage) can have different results if failed. That and the fact he didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to her just yet.

"So what will I learn first?" Louise asked while tying the horse to one of the surrounding trees while she practice. The Puppets that were in one of the pouches on the horse, all jumped out and lined up behind her, waiting for there first order.

"Well, what I'm first going to teach you is how to know your inner power and how to use it." He said jumping off her shoulder and whistling real quick to get the Puppets to make a line before the two.

Looking back at her, he eye smiled and said "Now, lets begin."