Outsider Chronicles: Hollow Awakening
Usually Outsiders wake up as they are born. However, this one is a little different. He actually woke up in an afterlife. To bad its a shithole full of monsters. Maybe someone with a very different outlook can change the outcome?
And we're back. Before we begin, I think people misunderstood my explanation of the crater shape. Its not three wings, its six. Three pares of wings makes six. Anyway, with that clarification, enjoy!
Chapter 7
And I think I'm in trouble. It had been...well, in Hueco Mundo its hard to tell, but it had been a while since Nel had picked us up to lead us to Las Noches where we were greeted by an annoyed Barragan, a pissed off Nnoitra and a set of instructions to wait for Aizen to show. Apparently he hadn't left the Soul Society yet and instead was traveling between Hueco Mundo and the Soul Society regularly to make sure the preparations he was making were going well. There were actually very few fully mature Arrancar at the moment, just Barragan, Nel, Nnoitra and their Fracción, along with the three who would become the Privaron Espada but were currently just members of the Espada.
Fortunately, we weren't waiting very long before Aizen returned, apparently having received word of my arrival. Now we were stood before him and I reiterate my statement that I'm in trouble. Last time I met him, he was around other Soul Reapers, so his power was hidden, but now, among his followers, he wasn't hiding anything. His power was, simply put, massive and completely dwarfed every Hollows Spiritual Power in Las Nochas combined. Not only that, but there was something rather...odd about the feel of his Spiritual Pressure. I hadn't been around enough Soul Reapers to pick up on what it was, but I could clearly sense something in his Spiritual Pressure that was different from the few Soul Reapers I had met.
"So, you are the King in the North I've heard so much about," said Aizen and I immediately wanted to punch the smug bastard.
"Thats me," I said, "Isley Norte, at your service."
"And your friends?"
"Whats it ta you, you damn Soul Reaper?" snarled Loly.
"L-loly, it might not be the best idea to antagonize him," said Menoly.
"You should keep better control over your subordinates Isley," said Aizen, "Otherwise, they could get you in trouble."
"You try controlling her," I muttered, "Loly, enough."
I snagged one of her legs as she scuttled past me, aiming for Aizen.
"What? But Isley..!"
"This guy managed to get Barragan to dance to his tune," I said, "You don't do something like that by being a weakling. Stand down."
Loly growled, but did as she was told.
"So, what can I do you for?" I asked.
"Nelliel told me about you," said Aizen, "She said you wanted to build a better world for the Hollows. Is that true?"
"I guess," I said, "Why?"
Aizen gave that smug smile again.
"I can give you the power to make that a reality," he said, "If you will help me with my goals."
"And those would be?" I asked.
"Do you know who stands at the top?" asked Aizen, "No one. The Throne is empty and someone needs to fill it."
"You?"
"Why not?" asked Aizen, "I desire to stand at the top so I may right the wrongs in this world. The last one to occupy that place made so many mistakes and I wish to rectify them. But to do that, I need power and the help of people with power. What do you say? Will you help me?"
I stared at the Traitor Captain for a moment. Something about that sounded off, almost like this wasn't just a madman out for power. It sounded like it was personal, although how that could be the case I don't know.
"All right," I said, "I'll help you."
Aizen gave a smug smile.
"In that case, lets get started," he said, holding up his Hogyoku.
Heres a tip, if someone ever offers to use a barely understood mystical wish granting stone thingy to give you incredible power, say no and run away. Being exposed to the power of the Hogyoku was like standing in the middle of a hurricane during an explosion in slow motion. The amount of power flowing through my body made it feel like I'd been plugged directly into a Nuclear Reactor and the sensation of my body being slowly pulled apart and reformed was extremely disturbing, especially as it didn't hurt. I was really glad I couldn't see what was actually happening to me or I think I might have snapped. I have no idea how long I was under for, but it felt like forever and an instant at the same time. Then, the darkness around me seemed to crack and shatter, leaving me to fall to my bare knees and vomit up a pale purple liquid.
"Thats disgusting," I muttered, running my hand through my slimy hair.
As I did, I saw my hand wasn't the black claw I had become used to and was instead a normal, pale human hand. I flexed my fingers a few times, before my vision was obscured by a soft towel being draped over my head. I lifted it up and saw Nel stood next to me with a white bundle in her hands.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"Surprisingly good," I said, "Although I don't think I want to know what this stuff is."
I moved to stand up, but before I could, Nel pushed down on my shoulder.
"I wouldn't stand up just yet," she said.
I raised an eyebrow and looked down. Its a good thing she'd stopped me or I'd have given her an eyeful.
"Good plan," I said, wrapping the towel around my waist as I stood, "Anywhere I can…"
Nel pushed the bundle into my arms and pointed at a door off the the side.
"Thanks," I said.
I headed through the door and into the bathroom on the other side. I didn't know Las Noches had bathrooms, but whatever. I put the bundle of clothes on the side and stepped in front of the mirror to take a look at my new body. My black carapace had been replaced by pale skin and a slender, well toned body with a hole straight through my chest that was somehow a little disturbing to see on an apparently Human body. My hair reached my collarbone and maintained some of the blade-like spikiness it had in my Hollow Form, although it was now a very light platinum blond. Much to my annoyance, my features were rather feminine, giving me a pretty boy look I just knew was going to get me in trouble in the future. My eyes were a haunting shade of silver that looked really damn cool. My mask fragment was a small sliver on my cheek just under my eye and I had a large number 6 tattooed on my stomach.
"Huh, thats interesting," I said, "I'm an Espada? Am I really that strong?"
I turned away from the mirror and grabbed the bundle of clothes, quickly slipping them on. They were just a simple white shirt and hakama, as well as the black and white boots all Arrancar wore.
Once dressed, I headed outside to find Nel leaning against the wall next to a table with a stack of towels on it, watching the three pulsing cocoons that held my friends.
"Hows it going?" I asked.
"They'll be out soon," said Nel, glancing up at me, "Looking good."
"Thanks," I said, "Any particular reason that I'm ranked 6?"
"Lord Aizen obviously thought you were powerful enough to warrant it," said Nel, "Here."
She handed me a sheathed Katana. It was slightly longer than average, with a black sheath and a hilt wrapped in silver silk over red rayskin. The guard was shaped like a diamond. The moment I touched it, I felt a surge of power and a name popped into my head.
"Forastero," I muttered.
"Pardon?" asked Nel.
"The name of my Zanpakuto, its Forastero," I said.
"Outsider?" asked Nel, "Thats unusual."
I shrugged.
"Who knows how these things work?" I said, "So how long…?"
CRACK!
I turned to see a large crack appear in one of the Arrancar cocoons. A moment later, it shattered, revealing a young looking, black haired girl who fell forwards onto her face. She pushed herself to her hands and knees, coughing up the same nasty purple gunk I had. I slipped my sword into my belt, snagged a towel and walked over to her.
"You OK Loly?" I asked, kneeling down next to her and draping the towel over her.
"Y-yeah, I think so," she said, staring down at her hands, "But...this feels weird."
"Yeah, I know," I said, "But you'll get used to it."
Loly nodded and slowly started pushing herself to her feet. Before she could, I took a leaf out of Nel's book and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Before you get up, I suggest you make sure that towel is firmly in place," I said.
Loly blinked and looked down. She stared at her body for a moment, before looking back up at me, her cheeks pinking.
"Um, thanks," she said, tugging the towel tighter around her.
"No problem," I said, catching the bundle of clothes Nel tossed at me, "Here, go get dressed."
Loly took the bundle and hurried towards the bathroom, keeping the towel wrapped tightly around her.
"Hey, don't forget this," I said, tossing her Zanpakuto to her.
She caught it as she vanished through the door.
"So, wheres Aizen?" I asked, not sensing the Captains unique Spiritual Pressure anywhere within my range.
"Lord Aizen had to return to the Soul Society," said Nel, "He can't stay for long or he'll be missed. He did leave orders for you though."
"Oh?"
"Standing orders for all Espada," said Nel, "Hunt down the Vasto Lorde and convince them to join us."
"Fair enough," I said, "I'll get started once those two are done."
I leant against the wall next to Nel and settled in to wait. A short time later, Loly joined us wearing something similar to me. I guess it was kind of a default outfit for new Arrancar before they personalize their wardrobe.
It didn't take long for Menoly and Priscilla's cocoons to hatch. Menoly's form was what I was expecting. Priscilla on the other hand was not. I had been expecting her Arrancar form to resemble her Human form in Claymore. What I got was a ten year old girl with short, brown hair with a strand sticking up from the top, brown eyes and a permanent blush on her cheeks. Her hole wasn't visible, but her mask fragment took the form of a headband with a broken horn emerging from the middle. Her Zanpakuto was, well, it was a stuffed bear. With a big, pink ribbon wrapped around its neck. I couldn't help get the distinct impression that, despite its look, it was every bit as dangerous as my sword.
"Huh, that was unexpected," I said, staring at the little girl curiously, "I wonder why her Zanpakuto is a teddy?"
"Why is Nnoitra's a scythe...axe...thing?" asked Nel.
"Point taken," I said, walking over to Priscilla, "Hey kiddo, you O...OOF!"
As I approached, Priscilla had suddenly vanished and slammed into my stomach at high speed. I was really glad her horn was blunt and my Hierro was strong or I'd have been shiskababed. I caught her as she wrapped her arms around my waist. She looked up at me and smiled. I couldn't help but smile back and petted her hair.
"So, what now?" I asked.
Nel smiled and threw something at me. I caught it and found it was a key ring.
"Whats this for?" I asked.
"Your Quarters," said Nel,"There'll be enough room for you and those three. Since you came in with them, they'll be your direct subordinates."
"Fair enough," I said, "So where's my place?"
Nel handed me a map.
"Thanks. You coming Loly?"
"I'll be along with the others once they're dressed," said Loly.
"Right ho."
I headed out of the room and through the halls, following the map until I reached the door that was marked. It had a big number 6 on the door. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, only to immediately stop on the threshold.
"Er, this is unexpected," I said.
I don't quite know what I was expecting, but an apartment that wouldn't look out of place as the Penthouse of an upscale City building definitely wasn't it. The door opened into a massive sitting room with a depression in the floor surrounded by white leather sofas and a fireplace in the middle. There was also a massive TV, a large cabinet that looked like it was full of crystal decanters of amber liquids and glasses and a large kitchen separated from the rest of the room by a counter with a few tall stools arranged beside it. One wall was made up of windows that opened out onto a large balcony that overlooked the desert under the Dome. On the other side of the room was another corridor with a number of doors leading off and a pair of double doors at the end. A quick look through the doors revealed that they opened into bedrooms, with the double doors leading into a large, master bedroom with a massive, king size bed inside and a rack for my Zanpakuto.
"How the hell did he manage to get all this?" I asked as I started going through the kitchen cupboards and found they were fully stocked, "Bloody hell, this is practically my dream house!"
"Holy shit!"
I turned to see that my Fracción had just arrived and Menoly had just slapped Loly over the head for swearing in front of Priscilla. It seemed like more of a reflex than anything though as all three of them looked pretty poleaxed.
"My thoughts exactly," I said, "But hey, at least this is one good thing that came out of tagging along with Aizen, right?"
"Yeah, and the downside is we're now a Soul Reapers bitches," muttered Loly.
I gave a thin smile.
"Yeah, there is that," I said, "But we should make the most of it at least. For now, make yourselves at home."
Loly and Menoly did as they were told while Priscilla came over to me.
"Daddy, theres something I need to show you," she said, sounding oddly serious.
"Whats up Priscilla?" I asked, leaning against the counter.
"I found something at the crater," she said, "I wanted to give it to you earlier, but I thought it would be better to wait."
"Alright, lets see it," I said.
Priscilla nodded and pulled a bundle from...somewhere. I don't even know where she got the cloth. I decided not to question it and put it up to the Magic Bag, instead taking the parcel and placing it on the counter. I unwrapped it, revealing a perfect sword made of a silvery metal I didn't recognise. It wasn't a design I recognised either, with the blade being a three sided pyramid rather than bladed, clearly meant for stabbing. The handle was ridged and each side of the blade had a set of identical runes engraved in the metal.
"What the hell," I muttered, reaching out to touch the odd weapon.
The moment my fingers came in contact with the metal, I felt the insane amount of power held within it, along with a Spiritual Pressure that was identical to the one I had felt in the crater. That was before the sword suddenly lit up with a brilliant white light and I was bombarded with the sensation of being stabbed through the chest, something being torn out of me and then falling at incredible speed. I tore my hand away from the weapon and looked down at my hand. There was a burn there shaped like a five pointed flower.
"I repeat, what the hell?!"
And I'm done. Sorry for the wait, but things happened. Before I sign off a few points.
I find it hard to believe that so much happened in Hueco Mundo in the space of just a year. Nnoitra attacking Nel, the Privaron Espada being demoted and all that, so in this world, Aizen was able to use his Hogyoku to create Arrancar before that, but he needs the full one to achieve all his goals and is currently slowly gathering his forces while also setting the rest of his plans in motion.
Priscilla's Arrancar form is based on Last Order. What? Shes cute. As for her Zanpakuto being a teddy, if Nnoitra can have that axe thing and Aaroniero can have his hand...thing, she can have a teddy. Its a lot more dangerous than it looks though.
So, whats so strange about Aizens Spiritual Pressure? Does it have anything to do with the strange weapon Priscilla found? Will my fans be able to figure out what the other world is and what actually caused the impact? Maybe, lets see.
And with that, I'm signing off. Don't forget to leave a review!
