A/N: It's time for the next chapter, hopefully no one now will whine and bitch about the changes I'm making to this. Notably, the eclipse will happen, but since Oz is contracted to Louise, he is not going to return anywhere. I promise to include Alice more in this plot as it goes on. And no, Oz does not need to possess the sword, he has a fucking scythe, and second, FOZ's "lore" is total crap and I don't need to adhere to canon for it to be a good fanfic. So please, if you have nothing positive to say about my story, fuck off.

Around Chapter 10 we will have the eclipse, fighting and shit, and then Chapter 11 should get more into the plot of season 2, minus the harems, and again more focus on platonic, cute stuff.

This chapter focuses a lot on canon, though it will differ around chapter 10-less fanservice and no, Oz and Louise are becoming platonic friends now, and then lovers later. Still, what should I call it? OzLou? LouOz? OzOuise? LouiOz?

I hope to get some nice reviews this time around, so do please hit the review button. It keeps the story going.

""I will forgive, but I will never trust again the person whom I considered a friend but unexpectedly push me down to misery."

Bradley B. Dalina

Chapter 9 The downfall of Wardes


Louise couldn't believe this. She was really going to marry Wardes like she had dreamed of for so long. It was no longer a fantasy or a dream like she had dreamed about, in her room. She would finally get to have some goddamned respect. She would finally get to be with the man of her dreams, the man who had respected her for so long and who used to be so close to her.

She failed to really notice Oz's concerned looks or how he was noticing her odd behavior. Oz felt that there was something off about this Wardes man. He didn't like him or trust him very much. A chain was better at noticing people's true intentions than humans were, they went by smell.

For example, Guiche smelled of strong smells and women, while the blond girl he was with smelled of water.

The book-reading girl smelled of leather like the books she read, while the red-haired girl smelled way too strongly of perfume. The headmaster smelled of magic and of other things Oz did not know very much about, being a chain and all.

The maid, Siesta, smelled of cleaning supplies, but also of food. The head cook, Marteau, smelled of food as well.

Wardes smelled like evil. So he didn't trust him and kept a distance. Wardes seemed to distance himself from Oz as well, an odd thing for a future master of a chain to do. But he supposed if he was going to be his future master, then he might as well do what he wanted him to do. A small voice whispered that he only needed to follow what Louise wanted, and she what he wanted as well. That was the part of a chain. That, and the runes on his hand had been hurting him now and again. Although it didn't seem to bother him too much, being amnesiac, it wasn't like he really had too many memories to confine him to anywhere else but Louise.

She hadn't been that bad to him, although in the beginning, it had been a bit rough. He just hoped Cheshire didn't come back, he didn't like that chain at all. That chain was always hostile and mean to him for a reason he didn't understand. He couldn't stand being in the Abyss because sometimes that darned chain would appear just to taunt him about things he did not recall and did not care to. How could he be so cruel to Oz?

Oz didn't get too many things, but he did like both Alice and Louise. They were both good people with their own interesting qualities. He liked seeing Alice smile for some reason. But Louise's smile was just as precious, too. He supposed she was becoming more like his friend, whatever that was. Was that a person you liked being around?

For some reason, seeing Wardes close to her made him mad. He didn't understand quite why that was.

"I think you like her." Guiche said as a way of taunting the chain that he didn't like very much.

Oz glared at him in response, at which Guiche retreated to go find a friendlier face.

Good riddance, the blond kid annoyed the hell out of him. He didn't like blond hair for some reason-it gave him bad memories.

'Kill them all.' The voice drifted through his mind and made him shudder.

Who did that voice belong to?

Why did it creep him out so much?

Why?


"Oz?" Louise asked, startling her chain out of his thoughts as he looked at her, "Are you okay?"

Oz looked at her, staring into her pink orbs before answering. "I'm all right...just thinking."

"Same here." She said with a sigh, placing her head in her hands. Everything was just changing too fast for her liking.

Nevertheless, it was part of her destiny to marry Wardes and please her family. Everything was going just as it should, and yet...she was dissatisfied for some reason. Why? Wardes was a perfectly good man. There was no reason for her to stress or fret. She wondered if something was troubling him, he had been distant from her today. Perhaps she would ask him later.

Wardes approached the two of them, taking Louise's hands in his. "Louise, it's time. Will you say yes to marrying me?"

Darn, he was persistent. Louise felt her cheeks heat up as she looked away.

"Time for us to get married?" She asked.

"Yes, it's about time to fulfill our contract."

Louise noticed how Oz was staring at them strangely. But either way, he would still be loyal to her. Why was that a problem?

Guiche stood behind them, looking a bit disgusted.

"You seem really out of it." He remarked to Oz, who blinked, confused at the man's sudden friendliness to him.

"Yeah, maybe," He remarked, "Since when did you start caring about me?"

Guiche froze, and paused. "Well, you don't seem like you're that bad of a familiar. You are scary, insane and terrifying, but you seem oddly human. And you were right, I made up with Montmorency and our relationship is going well. So, I apologize." He said, extending his hand out to Oz. "Let's start again, I'm Guiche Da Gramont, and you're Oz, right?"

"Yes." He said, and the two of them shook hands.

"In any case, that sure is an odd couple, hm? Louise has a thing for older men." He remarked flippantly.

Oz's cheeks turned red. "I don't trust him." He remarked.

"Really?" Guiche looked surprised, "He's an old, honorable knight. He would never harm the Valiere family."

After that, they fell into an awkward silence, not really knowing what to say.

Wardes suddenly decided to take Louise away from the others.

The perfect distraction came in the form of his helper, Fouquet, who attacked the others with her golems.

"Is that that thief from before?" Guiche cried in alarm.

Oz's eyes narrowed at the sight of the familiar face, one that he had seen not that long ago.

Before Wardes could take Louise away, there was a flash of light as she released Oz's powers and the huge black rabbit towered over Fouquet again, who blinked in astonishment before recognizing him.

She couldn't not recognize such an extraordinary creature. She wasn't sure what he was, exactly, but he was a thorn in the side.

"I always forget how huge that rabbit is!" Guiche cried from below them, using his own golems to fight Fouquet as well.

"Indeed, he is strong, isn't he?" Kirke purred, popping up beside him, startling Guiche.

"Don't tell me you're-" He began.

"Of course not." She said in annoyance. "Just merely admiring his strength."

"Love and admiration are the same thing." He muttered.

Kirke merely ignored him and used her wand and fire magic to help stop Fouquet.

"Oh my, we meet again." Fouquet said, nonchalant despite the giant scythe and chains aimed near her.

"Why are you here?" Oz growled in his demonic voice.

She laughed. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because a friend of mine invited me here."

"A friend?" Oz said, looking confused before aiming his chains at one of the golems, turning it to dust like before.

"That's right, there's a friend of mine here who helped me to get here. Did you know that?" She said.

Meanwhile, Wardes decided to take Louise away.

As that happened, Oz turned back into his regular form as a result of her leaving his side and fell through the air.

Louise gasped, almost ready to scream his name, before a blue blur dove by them.

It was Sylphid, who caught Oz on her wings, who scrambled to his feet.

"Thanks for saving me." He cried.

"When did you two get here?" Guiche cried, suddenly noticing the two new people.

"Something bad going on." Was all Tabitha said.

"The two of them are working together for some reason, but I can't put my finger on why." Oz said in annoyance.

It was at that instant that Oz heard the sound of a ringing bell.

"I get the feeling someone else is here to help us, too." He said, smiling wryly as the sound of the bells grew louder.

"What is that?" Guiche cried.

"I don't know." Kirke said.

"Coming closer." Tabitha said, as she and Sylphid battled with Fouquet while Oz held on for dear life.

Meanwhile, elsewhere,

Louise and Wardes had boarded the ship and were now in front of the Prince of Wales.

"You must be Louise." He said cordially.

Louise handed him Henrietta's letter.

Then, he gave her a letter in return.

As he read over the letter, his face paled. "Reconquista?" He stammered, "This is absurd, we must alert the public!"

"Our mission is complete, now Louise, let us go get married." Wardes said, grabbing Louise's arm.

"No!" Louise snapped. "I don't really want to."

"You really have no other choice." He said, smirking, "For you see, I am a member of the Reconquista and a threat to Henrietta's precious Wales."

"No!" Louise screamed, trying to run but then finding herself face to face with Cromwell.

He had a very familiar ring around his fingers. It was the one the spirit of the water had described losing.

"Here." He cried, "She's going to be wanting this, all right. You'll have to consent to this marriage."

He chanted a strange spell, and Louise's consciousness wavered.

"Okay." She said, "I'll agree."

"Very good." Wardes said, taking her hand and leaving with Wales and Louise in tow for the marriage.

"Do you consent to marry this girl, Louise De Valiere?"

"I do," Wardes said. He turned to his soon to be wife, who was looking at him with a blank gaze. "What about you, Louise?"

'What am I doing? What's happening?' Louise told herself.

"Say the words, Louise." He urged.

'I'm getting married to him. This is my dream come true.'

But then she remembered who he really was and tears came down her face. 'I can't do this. I can't, I can't. I can't.'

Then, she heard a sound; the sound of a bell ringing in her ears. It snapped her out of her trance.

Wales and Wardes turned, looking curious.

"Did anyone bring a clock?" Wales asked, confused.


Cromwell fell backwards, as several claw marks appeared on his stomach. Blood covered the floor as he flailed on the ground before his invisible attacker struck again, slashing his head off, which flew off and rolled to a stop in front of a horrified Wales, who covered his mouth.

Then, a huge figure loomed over them.

"O-" She began, but stopped. It was a monster she did not recognize.

"How dare you!" It growled. "How dare you try to hurt the B-rabbit! That's her precious! Because of that, Cheshire will kill you!"

Wardes blinked, too shocked to speak but Derf started laughing.

"It's another one of those chains! Let me kill it!"

"I won't let you kill Louise!" A new voice interjected, as Oz in his normal form came in and shook Louise, "Cheshire."

"There are more of these things, hm?" Wardes said, "But first, we should get rid of the hypotenuse."

He grabbed Derf and stabbed Wales to death with him.

Wales choked on his own blood, falling back as Louise let out a cry of terror.

She fell back in Oz's arms, sobbing.

How could this have happened?

This had to be some sort of nightmare.

Then he took Wales' letter from her arms and suddenly had his hands around Oz's throat.

"I'll kill you, you stupid little beast! You ruined everything!" He growled, holding Derf close to him.

However, the Cheshire Cat shifted forms, becoming his smaller, more lithe form and charged at Wardes.

A giant claw slashed at the sword.

"Cheshire? So you're to be my enemy?" Wardes said, sneering at the name.

"I'm the enemy of anyone who attempts to harm those that Alice cares for!" He hissed.

"Hm, I don't know what kind of creature you think you are, but you're going to die here." Wardes said confidently.

"I'm going to spill the kitty's blood!" Derf laughed.

Cheshire smirked insanely. "Cheshire will be the first to kill you foolish humans."

Cheshire fought him off, reducing him down to tiredness.


Before Wardes could even fully kill Cheshire, Cheshire disappeared, the sound of ringing bells all that could be heard.

"Now, Louise, let's continue where we left off." He said, turning toward her.

Louise was too petrified to do much of anything.

"Let's not!" Oz cried, transforming into himself again, but the incuse suddenly burst with pain, causing Louise to fall to the ground and scream in pain as the incuse went down a single hand, onto the second mark. Oz winced as well.

'I've been overusing my powers.' He thought darkly, 'Oh, well, if it's to take him down, who cares?'

And then, he grabbed his scythe and suddenly the church started to vaporize, before turning into a huge pile of sand, as B-rabbit's power did its work, eating away at the foundation. Terrified, Wardes grabbed Derf and tried to run.

"I cannot lose!" He cried.

But Oz was faster, grabbing his scythe, he slashed at Wardes, causing him to turn into dust and fade away as the sword clattered to the ground.

Louise only stared blankly, unable to comprehend what was happening. Had Wardes just died?

It was all her fault for trusting in him.

Louise grabbed the sword, really without thinking.

"Hey, what happened to me?" The sword said, suddenly acting different. "That evil guy is gone and suddenly I feel much better!"

"Come on, Louise!" Oz cried.

She almost didn't take his hand.

Everything was falling away before their eyes.

She still couldn't believe everything.

"We can't think about Wardes now." Oz assured.

Thus, the two of them were falling through the air-then Sylphid swooped down and saved them again.

"You saved me again." Oz said to the dragon, who merely made a sound that sounded to him like chuckling.

"That was quite a battle." Kirke remarked.

"Black rabbit not dangerous." Tabitha said, casting a small smile in Oz's direction.

"You trust him now?" Guiche cried. "What was that cat thing?"

"That was Cheshire, another chain. Unfortunately, he chickened out at the last second, like always." Oz muttered.

"He was strong." Louise muttered.

Oz found her hand and gave it a strong squeeze.

Louise flushed a bit at the close contact.

Tears came down her face.

"You're never going to leave me, Oz?" She said.

"Not as long as our contract needs to be fulfilled."

"Contract? Isn't he just her familiar?" Guiche asked.

Both of them winced. Well, that secret was now out of the bag.

"As he is my familiar, he is my chain also. He forged a contract with me and I with him." Louise said, "There's a mark on my chest of our contract together."

"Can I see-" Guiche began, but Kirke slapped him.

"That day in the bathroom." Tabitha said seriously.

"Yes, the incuse moved. It seems to have moved to the second hand, Oz." She said.

Oz nodded. "Too much use of my powers, it seems."

"But what if-" Louise began, still afraid that Oz would shatter into dust like Wardes had.

"Nothing can nullify our contract." Oz reassured, "Nothing that can separate us now."

"I can smell love in the air." Guiche said.

"What are you talking about? That would be bestiality." Kirke said scornfully.

"Friends." Tabitha said with a smile on her face.

Then Louise reached out and kissed Oz on the cheek.

"Did you try to bite me?" He asked, ruining the moment.

"I did not try to bite you, it was a thank you!" The pinkette shouted.

"It was a kiss, wasn't it?" Kirke said suggestively.

"What's a kiss?" Oz asked.

Louise nearly fell over but sighed. "You know, I think you and Alice get extra helpings of meat today. You saved my life. Alice has guarded my stuff well, of course. Oz saved my life."

"Sylphid did that." Tabitha cut in.

"Well, of course, but tell that cat Oz, that the next time he shows up, we're going to thank him and then punch him in the face for leaving us."

"That's how Cheshire is. He always leaves when there's trouble." He said flatly.

"At least he showed up." Louise said.

"Sorry about all the problems earlier! My name is Derf!" The sword suddenly cut in, startling all of them.

"THE SWORD TALKED!" Guiche exclaimed.

"Interesting." Tabitha said.

"Apologies for all the trouble I caused you. That Wardes guy controlled me." It explained. "But man, you're a giant rabbit!"

"Yeah." Oz said.

"So, how would you like to wield me?" It said to Louise, who blinked.

"Me?" She asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, sure, why not?" It said.

Oz felt a bit embarrassed at the fact that the Intention had deemed him unworthy of protecting Louise by himself.

Even so, he wondered how Alice was doing.


"These are too many dishes!" The cooks cried at the academy of magic.

"Give me more meat!" Alice cried.

"They've given you enough, Miss Alice." Siesta said, "Now please go to bed."

"Don't wanna. I wanna see Oz, and that weird cat thing that showed up earlier."

Alice wanted to go home as soon as possible. Everyone treated her like she was some kind of annoyance.

She wondered about Oz and what he was doing.