-Note Maybe be slightly more typos, spell checked glitched out on me will re-upload later if i didn't catch as many as I think i did-
Disclaimer: Still don't own Louise or Lightning
(Anyone notice i had two chapter 5's lol? This is chapter 8 not 7 as i had thought, Too lazy to go back and fix the two 'chapter 5' s so just know that this is 8)
Chapter 8: Albion: A song of Ice and Fire part 2
Siesta looked on in confusion as the noble dropped her staff on the ground as if it were completely unnecessary for the upcoming battle. Siesta's confusion, however, turned into one of apprehension as Tabitha ripped off her cloak revealing a new costume. Tabitha now wore a pair of black boots, a pair of black leather shorts that stopped above her knees, and a pair of matching black finger-less leather gloves with pieces of blue metal covering the knuckles.
Around the top half of her torso was a black leather vest that had blue metal plates built in to it and her shoulders were covered with light blue metallic pauldrons. On her back was a silk black-hooded cape that had sky blue fabric embroidered on its edges. But what was the thing that caught Siesta's attention the most?
On her shoulder was the strangest small white creature she had ever seen that had big red nose and bat-like wings.
"Change." Tabitha muttered and too Siesta's surprise the creature simply poofed out of existence and was replaced by one of the more dangerous looking blades she had ever seen which seemed to be incredibly light despite its size if the way Tabitha was holding it was any indication.
-Flashback-
Tabitha frowned as she checked the ground where Louise's familiar had appeared for any clues on the mysterious woman's existence. After their last encounter she knew that she couldn't fight her without a plan as she could feel the difference in their power. If the fight against Guiche had shown her anything it was that the woman had combined magic and physical combat flawlessly. Without completely disregarding any knowledge she had on conventional magic theory, Tabitha knew she would never be able to fight her.
It didn't help that the woman was now training Louise and had turned her in to an enemy. Louise was powerful, Tabitha knew that-anyone with sense did. She could only produce explosions but the damage they could cause were nothing to laugh at. Tabitha had been called the best of their year and a prodigy yet Louise had already caught up to her in mere days.
Then there was the maid who could destroy a high level golem with a single punch. The world's most powerful commoner. That-Tabitha supposed- was both a blessing and a curse. Sure the former maid had gotten incredible amounts of power but at the same time she was just that, a commoner. Her weakness was obvious, all Tabitha had to do was keep her distance to deal with her but still if she was forced to close quarters she realized that she'd need to gain some close combat skills as well.
Finally there was Matilda, She knew that the woman was Fouquet but found it unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Tabitha was stronger than her, that much she was certain of but the other three wildcards were going to make things difficult-if not impossible.
Which was probably why her uncle had ordered her to deal with them, honestly his spy network was far too deep within Tristan for them to even attempt to keep such powerful fugitives classified. He wanted Tabitha dead plain and simple, but like always she would show him that she was a survivor.
To make matters worse Kirche not only decided to take initiative but had fallen heads over heels for Louise. She could depend on Kirche to help against the familiar and the commoner but knew the red-head would prevent her from critically injuring their classmate.
Kirche was a liability waiting to happen but Tabitha supposed she could cross that bridge when she got to it. But now, back to the task at hand. Tabitha was honestly about to give up when she found something struggling in the ground, blinking, she knelt down and saw two white legs struggling to move. The bluenette easily picked the weird creature up by its legs and brought it to eye level. For a moment nothing happened as the two simply stared at each other before they both tilted their heads in confusion.
-Flashback: End-
-With Lightning-
"Son of a bitch Mog fell into the portal with me." Lightning realized as her eyes widened slightly. "Still…I wonder how this will affect things…this may be interesting."
-With Siesta and Tabitha-
"Shall we?" Tabitha questioned as she tightened her grip on her blade.
"Let's get this over with." Siesta said as Tabitha pulled up her hood. The two stared at each other for a moment before charging at each other. Time seemed to slow as Siesta released a vicious right punch which Tabitha barely managed to duck. Her eyes narrowed as she could feel the force of the punch. Tabitha quickly slashed up with the blade forcing Siesta to attempt to parry it with her left forearm but before the blade connected, Tabitha suddenly spun in the opposite direction. "Fast!"
*CLANG!*
Siesta gritted her teeth as she barely managed to black to blow with her left arm. However that was not the end of the assault as Tabitha began to rapidly slash at her, forcing her to counter the blows as fast as she could-one mistake would mean her death. Ducking under an overhead slash Siesta went to deliver a lethal haymaker only for the noble to lean back and point at her with her free hand.
"Windy Icicle." Tabitha muttered as dozens of bright blue needles surrounded Siesta instantly making the brunette curse and cross her arms before her.
"Steel Guard!" Siesta shouted as the needles rained down upon her. She managed to stop most of the damage but a few of the attacks had still reached her. Uncrossing her arms she glared forward at Tabitha whom had retreated to a safe distance and aimed her blade at Siesta.
"Ice Javelin." Tabitha said as a large frozen spike of ice formed behind her before blasting off towards Siesta at blinding speeds. Siesta's eyes narrowed as she caught the spell with her bare hands and buried her heels into the ground to prevent herself from sliding back. Tabitha remained silent as her sword suddenly mecha-shifted into a Bow which was held in her left hand. "Ice Arrow." Tabitha whispered as she created an arrow of ice in her right hand and loaded it into the bow.
"What!?" Siesta wondered in shock as she shattered the javelin in her hands before running forward.
*SCHLICK!*
Siesta barely had enough reaction time to tilt her head to the side as the frozen arrow shot passed her head, slicing her cheek in the process. The former maid trembled as she registered how cold the spells was. Tabitha said nothing as she suddenly shot an arrow high above the former maid which exploded into a light blue seal.
"Hail." Tabitha whispered quietly as hundreds of frozen arrows began to rain down upon Siesta.
-With Louise-
"Partner, get up!" Derflinger ordered Louise whom simply laid on her back lifelessly into the sky as if she were watching something he couldn't see. "The girly needs you! Get up! Don't lose yourself in my memories!"
-?-
Pain.
Pain was all that Louise could feel as she found herself reliving memories that simply weren't hers. Years upon years of isolation, war, famine and it just wouldn't stop. She knew she was simply reliving Derflinger's memories and that terrified her to no end because she knew for as long as he's been alive.
She hasn't even seen a fraction of what he has.
She hadn't even scratched the surface of his memories.
She was losing herself, drowning in a vast ocean of knowledge her mind simply couldn't hold. Tears fell down her face as she floated in an endless void of despair and wrapped her hands around her neck. She hoped they could forgive her for leaving them, but she simply couldn't take it anymore. For them it had been moments but for her it was decades.
"Ah, so you are my next vessel." A sinister voice whispered and she looked up to see none other than the maddened form of Brimir himself staring down upon her. His eyes were manic as his disheveled brown hair floated in the void. He looked the same as the day he died, covered with wounds that did not seem to deter him.
"Vessel?" Louise wondered in confusion but somehow he heard her and laughed.
"Yes child, vessel you see I have discovered the secret to immortality. That wench Sasha thought she could end my existence, that foolish elf forgot her place." Brimir said with obvious contempt. "Do you know why the world is the way it is?" The Founder questioned rhetorically. "Because of us."
"What!?"
"When I died my power moved into another host and when their will is lost the void creates a portal for my soul to return." Brimir chuckled as her eyes widened in horror. "When I died…when my will reached its highest point…the void granted my desperate wish for immortality. After realizing this I decided that I would split my power into three and they would continue to transfer between human hosts after they died to ensure my immortality."
"You're a monster!"
"Yet you worshiped me. You praised my name for a majority of your life." Brimir said with a sneer. "But luckily for you, you'll have the honor of being the body that finally grants me revenge."
"R-revenge?" Louise questioned in confusion.
"Somewhere on this planet there has been a child born with both elven blood and the power of the void. She is Sasha's reincarnation who used the fraction of my power that I had given her to recreate my immortality spell to track me down. I will use you to take her life and then no one will ever oppose me again as I take back the holy lands."
"How…how long have you been doing this!?"
"Over 6000 years girl. Sometimes Sasha's reincarnation and I will meet up and try to destroy the other, we've caused quite a few wars and countless bodies in the process. Unfortunately she always killed herself before I could absorb her power." Brimir said sounding extremely annoyed. "But thanks to our last encounter I've learned how to track her before she awakens and when I find her now…I will destroy her!"
"I won't let you do this!" Louise thought in anger as she ripped her hands free from her throat and tried to force herself from the endless despair. "You can't have my body!" Louise grunted in agony as she forced herself to her feet.
"And how will you stop me when every other host couldn't? What makes you think you are special? The only difference between you and them is that you are WEAKER you are NOTHING I have never, in all my years of doing this, have had the chance to take control this soon…you are weak, pathetic, trash…a zero." Brimir sneered. "I've seen your past, quit pretending to be something you're not. You claim you're going to destroy nobility, MY LEGACY!" Brimir boomed, forcing Louise to her knees.
Louise held her head in agony as memories filled with the deaths of the previous hosts flashed through her mind.
"Why? Why does Derflinger have these memories!? Was he there for every one of their deaths!?"
"Derflinger." Brimir said with contempt."I do not understand Sasha's fixation on that blade. She always had to find it before she would face me, why she simply never made a stronger blade is beyond me; perhaps elves are as foolish as I thought."
It was at this moment Louise noticed something about the memories. Every time Sasha would strike down a Void Mage that was controlled by Brimir she would whisper something to the blade before ending her own life.
It was the last memory that took Louise completely by surprise.
*FLASH*
"Derflinger…" A woman with long blonde hair and point ears said as she stood over the fallen Void Mage.
"Yes partner?" Derflinger said sadly as he knew that her suicide was soon approaching.
"You have been the most faithful companion I could ever hope for." The elven woman said sadly.
"Partner?"
"This will be our last goodbye." Sasha muttered as tears fell from her eyes. "I can't keep doing this, taking over these people's lives and killing them to stop a madman…I can't do it again! I won't!"
"Partner! What are you talking about!? You are the only one who can stop him! I know it's horrible but it's what you have to do! Why the sudden change of heart?"
"Because the next vessel will be my own granddaughter!" Sasha snapped angrily stunning the blade. "A lot of my 'I'll nevers have died in this secret war….but I refuse to kill my own descendants-call it selfish but I'm done."
"So what now partner? What the hell do we do now? Are you seriously going to let him win? He knows how to track your vessel he gloated about it, she'll die either way." Derflinger said in a tone that was colder than anything Louise had ever heard from the joyful sword.
"Listen to me Derflinger through trial and error I have finally figured out his power, the Void, created this mess then that means it can end it." Sasha said seriously. "The answer to this conflict lies in the future, the next transition will be the final one. Find one of his next vessels and make them your wielder. The Void likes to suck up anything that involves itself including memories…that is our key. Take over their body enough times and this vision will emerge."
"Good plan except you seal my memories every transition! How will I remember to take them over!?"
"That's the point they have to be willing to do so, it keeps you safe in case Brimir himself wields you. He would never let you take over his body and that will keep this information safe." Sasha explained as she raised the blade. "Now listen closely whoever is hearing this memory remember while his power is great, his Soul has no control over it until you give in. Fight his influence, ignore his words, he is not your future he is a ghost of the past and that power is yours!"
*SCHLICK!*
Louise gasped as the elven woman impaled herself on her faithful blade for the final time.
"I-I know the power is overwhelming and you find yourself e-easily following in his f-foot s-steps, but please…ignore the past and focus on the future, if you believe you can stop him you will!" Sasha begged as tears fell from her eyes while blood fell from her lips. "Remember…I must have told that bastard Brimir this countless times and he never listened…we don't become who we could be…"
-With Louise-
"We become who we're meant to be." Louise muttered just loud enough for Brimir to hear, making the mad mage pale.
"T-those words…impossible!" Brimir shouted in fear as he felt his grasp on the girl's power fade. "You are weak! Just like the others! Remember the pain that comes with fighting me!" Brimir roared as he sent visions of pain and agony into the young noble's minds. "You won't beat me…YOU CAN'T."
BGM: Before My Body is Dry- Kill La Kill OST
"It's not a matter of can or can't!" Louise shouted as she stood up with a glare. "Some things you just have to do and I don't know how-I don't care how- but I will get you out of my body!" Louise boomed as she was surrounded by painful memories. "So what if all of my predecessors failed!? Do you think that will make me quit? Have you not been paying attention!? I'm going to surpass you! I am meant to surpass you!"
"YOU! YOU… "Brimir shouted in fury as he aimed his hand at the pinkette. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!? EXPLOSION!"
*KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
Brimir grinned viciously as his spell landed only to pale as the light from the spell shattered like glass. He looked on in confusion as a slight taller version of the noble stood before him with her arm outstretched towards him. Her left eye was shut closed but her right eye was open and staring at him impassively with a bright pink iris. Her hair was a bright silky pink and she was garbed in a black version of lightning's crimson Bloom garb.
Louise could only look at her savior in awe, she knew without a doubt that spell was going to destroy her consciousness giving the madman free reign over her body.
"Lightning?" Louise questioned in confusion before shaking her head, the woman before her resembled her familiar but a few features were off. "Who are you?"
"Zero." The woman said simply as she suddenly disappeared in a black energy and reappeared behind Brimir and grabbed him by the back of his neck. She looked bored as she slung him away effortlessly. Louise looked at the woman in morbid fascination as realization began to set in.
"We become who we are meant to be." Louise whispered to herself as she stared at the woman.
"EXPLOSION!" Brimir roared at the newcomer whom simply back handed the attack.
"Dispel." Zero drawled as the spell shattered instantly. "This is not your body. Leave."
"NEVER!" Brimir shouted as he teleported behind her with both hands aimed at her back. "EXPLOSION!"
"Void Shield." Zero said without looking back which caused a black wall of magic to appear behind her and absorb the spell. Brimir shook his head in terror as he felt his power become added to hers. "Learn some new tricks…oh wait you can't because you have no real power here."
"I don't need my full power to defeat a poor imitation like you!" Brimir shouted making her quirk an eyebrow.
"Oh?" Zero drawled curiously as she snapped her fingers. "Void Lance." Zero drawled as eight large spiraling black lances floated around her in a circle. "Die." Zero muttered before the magical constructs blasted into Brimir in rapid succession.
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
Louise looked at the spell in complete shock, each one of the constructs had released more devastation than she ever had with any of her normal spells could at maximum power and the woman looked completely bored as she fought the completely one-sided battle.
"I…I won't give…up…this is my body." Brimir gasped out, his left arm and the lower half of his body were blown off but he still struggled to steal Louise's power.
"Really? Void Hand." Zero drawled as five large black demonic looking hands that appeared to be covered in red energy appeared from the ground around her. They grew in size before merging into a single colossal hand that grabbed Brimir tightly making him scream in agony. "This is it. There's a new player in this war, revolution will come to this world."
"Fool! Revolution!? You think you can turn my followers against me!? They worship me!"
"People tend to worship idols until-of course- they come in contact with gods." Zero said simply before the hand crushed the man into oblivion. Zero didn't even bat an eye as her spell faded away once the man's soul had finally been rejected by Louise' Void power.
BGM: END
"Void…just how long will it take me to reach your level?" Louise whispered in confusion as Zero approached her, she noticed that the entire fight the woman had kept her left eye closed which confused her greatly.
"Honestly I am barely a year older than you." Zero drawled making Louise pale, what the hell did she go through to change her this much. "You do not want to know." Zero said honestly making Louise pale even further.
"How are you even here?" Louise questioned in confusion.
"The Void grants us our deepest wishes. You knew you were too weak to face him now but knew you would be ready one day, you plucked my consciousness from my time-line to come aid you. This creates quite the paradox by the way, one day you're going to be in my position and will have to do what I just did for your younger self."
"…"
"Time travel is tricky business." Zero said simply at Louise's confused expression. "Get your questions out now while you can since I feel myself going back to my own timeline soon, do not be afraid I already know what you're going to ask."
"Uh well okay." Louise said as she blinked after all this was a once in a life-time opportunity. "Zero, that's the name I chose before I die…when exactly does that happen?"
"I won't go into specifics but it happens when you cast that spell for the first time. You lose your humanity, I can tell you this much because I know that even knowing this you'll still do it considering the circumstances." Zero answered simply making Louise shake her head in wonder.
"That spell is that dangerous!?'
"The only reason I did not use it was because you would have died as well, forcing me to inhabit your body which would destroy the space-time continuum." Zero deadpanned making Louise's jaw drop. She didn't know what a space-time continuum was but she had an idea.
"What the hell were Fouquet and I thinking when we made it? Next question then is the loss of humanity why you seem so…"
"Emotionless?" Zero questioned making Louise nod weakly. "It was a traumatizing experience Louise. I have emotions but it's extremely hard to show them at this point. All I can easily feel now is physical pain and pleasure." There was a weird glint in her visible eye that unnerved Louise.
"Why is your eye closed?" Louise questioned suddenly.
"I'm holding back my power. Every spell I used now was drawn from your circuits, can't afford to accidentally mix my magic up with yours." Louise felt there was more to it than that but ignored it.
"Thank you." Zero said already knowing that Louise wasn't going to ask any more on the subject.
"Do we ever beat Lightning one on one?"
"Don't want to ruin the surprise."
"Damn." Louise muttered to herself. Finally she blushed as she recalled some of the…visions…she was getting from time to time. "As you know the void has been giving me visions of the future and…uh…well-"
"You want to know why I was going around screwing all of our companions?" Zero questioned curiously making Louise's face flush. "To think I used to be this innocent."
"Why the hell am I a harlot in the future!?" Louise snapped angrily but Zero wasn't fazed in the slightest.
"Why not?" Zero said so seriously and without hesitation that Louise had to take a moment to figure out where the hell her morals went. "When the opportunities present themselves you will not complain, plus it feels good-"
"Please stop."
"Sure I want to try men every now and then but that's nothing a spell or two can't fix-"
"Stop."
"I have a stressful job, you know conquering and destroying society as we know it? I think I have earned the right to relieve some stress and your fingers will not solve every itch which you do not understand yet-"
"Stop!"
"Why? I am just warning you that you should not be surprised about the urges you get when you finally get some alone time and the first thing that comes to your mind is Siesta's chest-"
"STOP!"
The worst part about this? Zero was being completely monotone as she talked.
"It's okay to be a little curious…though I am pretty sure calling it curious is a stretch at this point, you should be happy I am giving you this info now and saving you time from worrying about the consequences."
"I'm not like that!" Louise roared in righteous fury, her face pinker than her hair, which made Zero raise a skeptical eye brow.
"So you don't stare at Lightning's ass when she switches to her guardian corps uniform." Zero drawled with a hint of sarcasm which made Louise sputter as she tried to explain herself. "You cannot lie to yourself."
"Now wait just a damn-"
"And your first kiss wasn't with a beautiful woman?" Zero deadpanned.
"That does not even count!"
"But the fact you secretly wished you savored that moment a bit more does hold some merit does it not?" Zero deadpanned making Louise flinch slightly. She was nowhere near mentally prepared to begin thinking about these things yet.
"Can we please move on?" Louise pleaded as she repressed the recently unearthed thoughts back into the dark recesses of her mind.
"That is not healthy by the way but fine we shall move on."
…
…
…
"…You're a submissive by the way." Zero spoke up making Louise blink in confusion.
"What's that?"
"Ask Siesta, she is the exact opposite she will know exactly how to help you out when destroying the world begins to stress you out. Just do not be caught off guard when you realize what I'm talking about." Zero said making Louise tilt her head. "Just know that it will help increase your pain endurance."
"It's nothing perverted is it?"
"Of course not. I cannot lie to myself remember?" Zero said while extremely glad for once that her younger self did not have the common sense to realize that the inability to lie to yourself only went one way in these situations. Zero knew deep down she was being a bit petty but she knew her younger self would thank her later…
…Though she did remember how pissed she was when she finally did bring up the subject to Siesta and the awkwardness that followed…
…which was followed by a very satisfying experience that would even make Lightning blush.
Good times.
"You're drooling…wow you can smile." Louise said making Zero blink as she wiped her mouth quickly.
So THAT's why her older self was drooling and giggling like a school girl when she was in Louise's position right now.
"Moving on, if my memory is correct you still feel sick about stealing that explosion spell from Brimir's dying lips correct?" Zero said suddenly making her look down. Zero simply walked forward and tilted her counterparts chin up with her right index finger. "I can rectify that."
"How-*MMPH!*" Louise blinked in shock as she found herself kissing…herself as something began to burn into her mind.
+1 Spell: Teleport
"There." Zero said as she wiped the corner of her mouth. "I used your magic to transfer my knowledge of the teleport spell, it will aid you greatly in combat." Zero said as she began to fade away as the link finally began to deteriorate. "Also death is not such a scary thing and do not hesitate to use explosion when needed, what better way to use it than to tear down Brimir's legacy? Now go knock some sense into Siesta before she dies." Zero drawled as she returned to her time.
-With Siesta-
"Why am I so weak?" Siesta wondered in exhaustion as she struggled to sit up, her body surrounded by debris. Her eyes widened slightly as she found herself staring at the end of a sword. "Is this the limit to my power?"
"You lack purpose." Tabitha said quietly as the blade shifted into a bow. She was a little banged up but was in a far better condition than Siesta. Loading a frozen arrow, Tabitha pulled back the bow-line and took aim preparing to give the commoner a swift and painless death-she had earned that much. Before Tabitha could release the arrow, however, Louise appeared in the air behind her from within a black flash of energy with Derflinger poised to kill. Sensing her presence, Tabitha quickly flew backwards with a wind spell just in time to avoid the ancient blade.
*Boooom!*
"Louise…" Siesta thought in awe as her friend stood in front of her, obviously exhausted. Siesta blinked in confusion as Louise released a glare at her and grabbed her by her collar, forcing her to stand up.
"The hell is wrong with you!?" Louise snapped angrily as she turned around to keep an eye on Tabitha.
"What-"
"Were you really about to just sit there and die without a fight? After getting this far?" Louise asked incredulously.
"She was too strong, she overwhelmed me what else could I have done!?" Siesta asked helplessly as Louise's face flushed with anger.
"Win!" Louise answered through gritted teeth. "Where the hell is your drive? What in the Void are you fighting for?"
You lack purpose
"I…I don't have anything to fight for…" Siesta said quietly making Louise's shoulders tense, for some reason this gave Lightning a sense of déjà vu as she watched them. Louise's fist clenched tightly as she spun around to face Siesta.
*BAM!*
Siesta was sent crashing down to her rear after Louise's fist found itself buried into her cheek. She looked up in surprise and held the side of her face as Louise bowed her head, her bangs shadowing her eyes.
"You're either a liar or an idiot if you think you have nothing to fight for." Louise said quietly but firmly as she turned back to Tabitha and raised her blade. "Stay down, the battlefield is no place for commoners-I thought you were different but I was wrong, you're weak just like the rest." Louise said coldly as she glared at Tabitha. Blue eyes met pink and as soon as Tabitha blinked, Louise had vanished. Tabitha instantly spun around with her blade when she felt source of magic appear behind her.
*CLANG!*
"Don't blink." Louise advised as she began to clash blades with Tabitha.
"Partner you haven't recovered-"
"Shut up and kill things, you and I are going to have a long talk later." Louise muttered silencing the blade as she fought Tabitha back.
"Fast." Tabitha thought with narrowed eyes as her former classmate teleported around her, she knew that she would be unable to create distance between them but luckily Louise was too wounded from her fight with Kirche to truly fight her, she was slower than usual and this made her random teleporting manageable to combat. Tabitha leapt back as Louise fell to a knee in exhaustion and stabbed Derflinger into the ground to support herself.
"Not yet…" Louise panted tiredly as sweat slid down her face making Tabitha frown.
"Exhausted." Tabitha muttered quietly to herself. "Give up."
"Never." Louise muttered as she forced herself to her feet and charged Tabitha who quickly dashed forward. The drop-out and the prodigy met each other quickly and began their assault with renewed vigor. Though she didn't show it, Tabitha was incredibly surprised that the mage everyone looked down on had this much power. To take out a trained Kirche and then challenge her was nothing short of astounding. As the fight continued, Siesta looked on at her friend incredulously, She knew Louise would be far more powerful than her one day, but currently they were around the same level so to see the noble put up a better fight than she did-especially being weakened- confused her to no end.
"I don't get it, what's giving her this strength?" Siesta wondered in confusion.
You lack purpose
"Is it because she has something to fight for?" Siesta wondered as the emblem on her jacket began sparking. She winced as she felt it burning into her back, it was obvious that the jacket had taken an incredible amount of damage. Tabitha had quickly deduced where the power was coming from and aimed at the emblem with prejudice when they fought.
BGM: Just be Friends- Vocaloid
Or
BGM: Just be Friends English Version by LeeandLie (on YouTube)
"Is this really my limit? It must be…I have nothing left to fight for." Siesta thought as her vision darkened. A tear fell from her right eyes as she felt herself fall forward.
*Flashback*
Siesta hummed to herself as she carried a bundle of blankets she had finished cleaning. She was taking her usual short-cut through the library when she stopped as she saw a small pink-headed girl slumped over one of the tables asleep with dozens of books surrounding her.
"[That must be the one the other nobles call a zero.]" Siesta thought to herself as she approached the noble. She wondered if she should wake the girl up but then she remembered rumors she heard about the last poor fool who tried to wake her.
He was in the infirmary for a week.
Siesta shuddered slightly before placing her bundle down and wrapping a blanket over the noble. She didn't know why she did it at the time, she didn't even really like the girl but she supposed the noble's stubbornness to prove her peers wrong was admiral at least. The pinkette was always alone so she figured no one would even be searching for her, the least she could do was make sure she didn't catch a cold Siesta mused before picking up her blankets and leaving.
Not once did she notice the pinkette wake up and stare at her retreating form in surprise.
*Flashback: End*
"Wait." Siesta thought suddenly as both her hands slammed into the ground to catch herself. "Why am I remembering that now?"
*Flashback*
Siesta honestly could not believe what was happening right now. The noble she was tasked with teaching how to do laundry had asked her how she got so good at doing this. The maid had simply told her she learned from her family and that led to a conversation about each other's lives somehow. She was surprised to see the other girl had been listening intently and even asked her questions. Somehow she, a lowly servant, was having an actual conversation with a noble from a family that was second only to the royal family in prestige.
Her co-workers would call her a traitor if they could see her now.
She was also surprised that she found herself actually feeling a little sad when she heard about the other noble's life. Her family may have been poor but at least they were a family. It almost seemed as though the noble was a prisoner in her life and to her horror she actually said that. The pinkette looked at her in shock and she cursed herself for her audacity, she had gotten too comfortable. Then to her shock, instead of getting mad like she was known for, the noble just nodded sadly with a forced smile and told her that was just how life was and that it was okay.
Siesta had the sudden urge to prove her wrong, but she could not figure out why.
*Flashback: End*
Siesta gritted her teeth as her arms trembled.
*Flashback*
Siesta could not believe it. The noble everyone thought was a failure mage, herself included, was the second coming of their god. The amount of power the pinkette apparently wielded made everyone else' pale in comparison. She found herself actually happy for the noble, glad that something went right in the pinkette's life for once. It's once she realized this, that she understood that she-despite her intense hate for nobility-considered the noble a…friend.
She wanted to help in any way she could, she'd gladly sell her contract to Louise if she could.
*Flashback: End*
Tears fell from Siesta's eyes as the pain in her back increased.
*Flashback*
It wasn't fair. Just when she was about to sell her contract her worst nightmare happened. The school sold her contract to Count Mott, they didn't even inform her until after the transaction-she was just property to them. She tried to run from the man but he had caught her, and now she was about be broken beyond repair. She shut her eyes in fear as tears slid down her cheeks while he just grinned sinisterly down at her.
It was then a miracle happened.
The front door of the mansion was blown down as non-other than the exhausted form of Louise stood angrily with her new blade held tightly in her hands. She looked like she had seen better days, but to Siesta at that moment she appeared to be a pink-haired angel. A noble of her power and prestige was risking her life for a mere commoner.
Siesta couldn't fathom it.
The maid couldn't look away as Louise took out the guards by herself before instantly challenging the vile Count Mott afterwards. Louise fought like a woman possessed as she forced him back. She threatened his very life and took Siesta back. She didn't demand, she didn't ask, she didn't even tell him she was taking the maid she just did as if she had known Siesta belonged with her the entire time. The fool, a sore loser as most nobles tended to be, decided to end the maid's life but instead found his life taken without hesitation.
The action hit Siesta greatly, it enraged her even.
She didn't care for the man at all but her friend had literally just given away her life just to help her out. Nobles were all supposed to be evil, they were supposed to use commoners, it was what Siesta was taught, what she was raised to be aware of. It gave her a reason to hate nobles like all commoners did, yet Louise shattered all of this with a simple action. Louise grabbed her by her collar and stole her heart in an instant. She didn't ask, she didn't even warn her, Louise simply took her heart and that was the end of that.
*Flashback: End*
"What was I thinking?" Siesta wondered as her eyes narrowed while she struggle to get up despite the increasing pain. "Of course I have something to fight for, after all…I…"
*Flashback*
Siesta and her companions found themselves in a shack to hide from the storm. Lightning had given her a strange box, saying she would know what it was for when the time came. Siesta was confused but took her word for it. Both Lightning and Louise had fallen asleep and Derflinger…did whatever swords do. She frown when she saw Louise shivering either from the temperature or a nightmare, she didn't know. Siesta wasted no time in grabbing the noble and holding her gently and firmly as she waited for her to calm down. She smile when the shaking stopped, a smile that was mirrored on Louise's face as she snuggled closer to the maid. Siesta yawned and had the best sleep she had in years.
*Flashback: End*
"..I…"
*Flashback*
Siesta held Louise tightly as they ran from Karin. The young noble was insane, it was official, Siesta had never thought Louise would attack her own mother just so she could have a chance to live. Louise tended to be quick to anger but now Siesta knew without a doubt that deep under that temperamental exterior was a kind if not slightly insecure woman that took her friendships very seriously.
So unlike her previous actions up to this point, Siesta didn't even question why she jumped in front of the Heavy Wind spell. She wasn't sacrificing her life for a noble.
She was doing it for Louise.
At the end of the day, that was all that mattered.
*Flashback: End*
"…I…" Siesta thought as she stood up firmly, despite the pain she was experience, and for the first time in her life she stood with a purpose. She winced slightly as she recalled the hurt expression she received when she told Louise she had no reason to fight. She rubbed her jaw as for some reason the pain from the punch she received stung more than the burning sensation on her back.
*Flashback*
Siesta's heart nearly shattered at the look of despair Louise had on her face after casting that powerful spell to counter Kirche's. She heard the stories of Brimir from Derflinger just as Louise had and could only guess at what was going through the noble's mind. It was then she was reminded that the Louise she was used to, the one that was so human,was slowly dying each and every day her power grew.
She had to savor the few moments she had left with "Louise".
*Flashback: End*
BGM: END
Louise collapsed in exhaustion as Tabitha leapt up and loaded a frozen arrow at the noble.
"Goodbye." Tabitha muttered as she released the arrow. Louise's eyes narrowed at the incoming projectile, her entire body hurt to the point she wasn't even sure if it could react fast enough, still if this was her end she was going to see it to the end. Louise refused to close her eyes as the arrow was mere inches from her face.
*Bam*
Louise blinked in surprise as the arrow was held tightly in a black-clad fist. She looked up to find Siesta standing before her as her jacket billowed in the wind. Siesta said nothing as she threw the arrow back into Tabitha.
*CRASH*
The blue-haired girl was so caught off guard she couldn't avoid her own projectile encasing her in ice. Louise looked at the frozen noble in shock before turning to Siesta with a glare.
"I love this girl." Siesta thought with a small smile as she stared at the pissed of pinkette.
"I thought I told you to stay down. The battlefield is no place for cowards." Louise bit out making Siesta wince slightly. Louise almost felt bad but for some reason she didn't understand she was angrier at Siesta than she realized.
"Okay, I'll admit I deserve that." Siesta said sheepishly before sighing. "I was an idiot, I definitely have something to fight for." Siesta said seriously as she helped Louise to her feet. The pinkette simply raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms.
"Oh really?" Louise asked sarcastically. "And what is it?"
"I think we both know." Siesta said as she turned back to the pillar of ice that encased Tabitha. "You've done enough, I've got this." Louise shook her head as she took a step forward before wincing as she had to use Derflinger for support.
"N-no, I can still f-fight." Louise grunted out even as she began to feel the full extent of her wounds.
"Louise you get stronger every day and so do your enemies, I'm not like you. One day I will be unable to do anything but watch from the side-lines but until that day comes, let me use this body to help you." Siesta said firmly. "Let me protect you for once."
"Siesta-"
"Will you two just kiss already?" Derflinger finally asked snapping the girls out of their moment. Louise began to sputter at the swords audacity even as her face reddened. "I'm not sure if even I can cut through this sexual tension with Lightning wielding me."
"W-why you, h-how dare you say-*MMPH!*" Louise's grip on the blade went limp as she found herself in a passionate lip-lock with Siesta who was holding her collar tightly with her right hand, her strength literally lifted Louise's feet off the ground. Her brain completely stopped working at that moment and she was sure her heart stopped, whatever had just jammed its way into her mouth definitely wasn't helping matters.
"Damn! I was joking!" Derflinger said incredulously. "When the hell did this develop!?"
-With Lightning & Cattleya-
"Oh my!" Cattleya gasped as she covered her mouth while Lightning looked on with wide-eyes. "I never knew little Louise had such a preference! I may have to speak with Siesta in private later." Lightning was afraid of nothing, but being an elder sister herself even she couldn't repress the shudder that went down her spine at Cattleya's tone. Lightning saw Louise as a little sister at this point but she felt the same way towards Siesta, she really had no idea how to feel about this.
It was with that thought that her eyes hardened into a glare so vile, Cattleya had to take a step back.
"Lightning?" Cattleya questioned cautiously as the woman's shoulder's shook.
"It's that damn coat! It's fucking cursed!" Lightning snapped as the image of her brother-in-law Snow grinning flashed through her mind. "First Serah, now Louise…no more siblings until it's destroyed. How did I miss this?"
"The fact that not only are they still going at it, but Louise is responding quite well -if unconsciously- has me wondering just what you have been teaching about her besides fighting." Cattleya mused making Lightning snort.
"Please, I am the last person to get romantic advice from." Lightning said simply as she crossed her arms. "I am a soldier, I don't date and I don't catch feelings for others." This information made Cattleya laugh suddenly as she held her sides.
"Oh my~ To think the fearsome Lightning was still so innocent, does that mean you are still a v-"
*Click*
"Finish that sentence and your brain goes on the pavement." Lightning muttered as she aimed the barrel of her gun-blade at Cattleya whom held her hands up in surrender as a bit of color drained from her face. Despite everything she's experienced, that subject was a sore topic for her. She was twenty-one physically but much older when she added all the time she spent fighting in Valhalla. Her innocence as Cattleya so eloquently put it was not something she liked to think about.
"When the fuck did this happen!?" Fouquet shouted in alarm as she finally awoke only to find Louise and Siesta still kissing. "How long was I out!?"
"Understood." Cattleya muttered as she ignored Fouquet and cautiously moved the barrel from her face. "At the risk of getting shot, however, I suggest you think about this kind of thing-even you have to settle down eventually." Lightning tensed knowing deep down in her soul that Cattleya was right. "You seem like the type that could benefit from someone that challenges you in ways you aren't used to, after all it gets boring being alone at the top."
"Whatever." Lightning muttered as she turned back to the scene and waited for the fighting to continue. "Like anyone can actually challenge me."
-Back in Lightning's world-
"Achoo!" Fang sneezed suddenly. "Hot damn, Vanille quit sucking face with Hope and spar with me!" Fang called out as she sat on the porch of Snow and Serah's house. "When is Light getting back, I am so bored at least I could tease her to pass the time." Fang complained as she fell to her back and watched the clouds.
-With Lightning-
The soldier suddenly shuddered with dread as if the cosmos were beginning to work together just to screw her over. Lightning felt as though she had accidently challenged fate to a grudge match and fate had decided to respond: Bring it on then bitch.
-With Louise-
Eventually Siesta pulled away and when she did both she and Louise felt a shift. It was if a small fragment of Louise's soul had embedded itself within the commoner and forged a link between them. Neither of them could explain it, but they both felt as though they had somehow gotten connected.
"I got this. Believe in me." Siesta whispered as the noble fell down on her rear, unable to even get her bearings as she watched Siesta rip her coat off and tossed it on her lap. "Watch that for me." Siesta said making Louise blink in confusion before her eyes widened in horror at Siesta's back. The emblem from the jacket had burned through the back of Siesta's tank top and actually seared itself into her back.
"Siesta-"Louise's voice stopped as she saw something on Siesta's right shoulder shift. Her magic shifted with her body and felt as though it were opening up to the link that forged between them. Siesta blinked in confusion just as Tabitha's frozen prison shattered and the commoner glanced at her shoulder only to find a black and greyish like tattoo on her skin. For some reason it seemed to be made of arrows that pointed upwards and downwards and she could feel a large amount of power in it.
But the most concerning part?
She knew exactly where the power was coming from, she could feel it resonating with Louise and realized that somehow, even by complete accident, Louise had just given her a small fraction of her strength.
"Uh Louise…what's going on…?" Siesta asked carefully as the tattoo began to glow. Louise simply shook her head in wonder as a crystal began to exit the mark.
-With Lightning-
"Impossible!" Lightning said incredulously instantly alerting the other two nobles as Lightning wasn't want to get caught off guard often.
"What's wrong?" Cattleya questioned cautiously as the soldier grabbed her blade.
"Louise just branded Siesta…but how, she's not a Fal'cie…" Lightning muttered in frustration. "…Is she? Damn it there's not enough information on the Void."
"Well legends say that everything that exists in the world and beyond had once come from a void. The power of that void is what manifested within the Founder." Fouquet said with a frown. "These are just legends of course, but there are bits of truth in each one. I wouldn't be surprised if Louise could unintentionally copy the magical abilities of these…Fal'cie? I'd need to know exactly what you are talking about."
"I'll go over them later, just know that Louise has just gotten a lot more dangerous." Lightning muttered still on edge.
"Great." Fouquet said sarcastically.
-With Siesta-
A six-inch gold crystal shaped like a chain shot from her arm before shattering. Beneath her feet a large golden seal appeared as the sky began to darken. Lightning flashed in the clouds and even Tabitha felt slight fear as she saw a large shadow moving within them. Siesta fell to a knee as she held her head in pain.
*FLASH*
This is your focus
Siesta blinked as she looked around her surroundings in confusion she appeared to be standing in an incredibly lavish bedroom. The voice echoed in her head as looked to the side to see a slightly older version of herself walking to a balcony that a woman with pink hair and a black dress was standing on with her back to both of the commoners. Something in her heart told her that there was no doubt she was staring at the woman Louise would become.
Stand by her until you breathe your final breath.
Siesta trembled as the booming voice echoed throughout the room. The vision began to shatter like glass and the last thing she saw was her counterpart wrap and arm around the pinkette's waist.
*CRASH*
Siesta blinked as the vision ended before the large shadow descended upon them and slammed into the ground between them. The shadow arose and everyone looked on in awe as a golden metallic dragon stood before Siesta. It had two large golden wings that had a multitude of spikes protruding from it. The wings did not connect to the dragons back, however, but rather floated behind it. Siesta didn't know how but she knew its name. Almost as if she had known her whole life.
"Bahamut…" Siesta trailed off with wide-eyes.
-With Lightning-
"…Fury." Lightning muttered as she gazed at the eidolon. She was at a complete loss, not only had Siesta been branded a l'cie she had summoned her eidolon within the same minute. What was her focus anyway? Just what the hell was Louise for that matter? All these questions rung through her head but there were no answers.
-With Siesta-
Siesta gritted her teeth in pain as a counter appeared on her right forearm that read 1800 and was decreasing by ten every second.
"Curaja!" Lightning shouted as she aimed her hand to the battlefield, bathing it in a holy light. Tabitha, Siesta, and Louise looked down in surprise as their wounds healed. "If that counter hits zero, you'll die. Take it down now!" The three girls glanced at each other before nodding silently, they had to deal with Bahamut first, their fight could come later.
Though she didn't say it, Tabitha was incredibly interested in the healing abilities Lightning possessed…perhaps the woman could help her out.
"You four finish it before it kills you all!" Lightning ordered making them nod before blinking in confusion.
Four?
"Spirit of Fire!" A familiar voice shouted making Louise look up in surprise as a vibrant stream of fire slammed into the dragon before Kirche landed next to them. The red-head stood up and winked at Louise.
"Good fight Louise, it's my loss. Allow me to help you all out, it's the least I can do for injuring you." Kirche said almost…kindly? Louise blinked in surprise before slowly nodding her head though she was still suspicious. Bahamut Fury roared again and all four girls narrowed their eyes as they turned to the golden dragon and got into their battle stances.
PARADIGMN SHIFT
Louise: Commando
Siesta: Sentinel
Kirche: Saboteur
Tabitha: Ravager
"Let's go." Louise ordered as she stepped forward and vanished in a black flash.
To be continued….
Next Chapter Albion: A song of Ice & Fire: Finale
Chapters left in Act One (Note this is subject to change)
Albion: A song of Ice & Fire: Finale
Albion: Civil War: The Fall of Louise
Albion: Civil War: The Rise of Zero de la Abîme
Albion: Finale: -Censored- (It's the name of Louise' Eidolon)
Reviews:
Seijinter: Lol thanks for the review, definitely one of the more unique ones I've had.
Yinko: Yeah he's not exactly the smartest person, I mean having total strangers enslaved to a student for life is pretty messed up when you think about it.
Knightowl 4183: I knew that and yeah I see your point, right now she's training to make up for that loss what happens next when they meet it is anyone's guess.
SixPerfections: I've had a LOT of training when it comes to fight scenes –glances at previous stories with a shudder- trial by fire my friend. The spider-man fic was over a half a million words of fight scenes so I hope I have them down by this point. Fun fact my first story on this sight was so terrible I keep it up as a reminder of what not to do lol.
Atsirk Enoh: heh heh, as you can tell from this chapter she grows up to be quite an…interesting person.
OOplimpOO: Good question to be honest I haven't really thought about it because after red's LIAG the later stories had their serious moments and some even dabbled into some pretty dark themes. But a dark AND Serious LIAG? Sure I can do a one-shot down the road to get some feedback. The Boss' LIAG is Dark but it's pretty funny too. Out of all the protagonists, Louise will probably be one of the darkest. You see all my fics are funny but have dark subtext which you may or may not have noticed. Some of the implications in the stories can really take people out there comfort zones.
For example, in this story just take a moment to think about this. In her SIXTEEN years of life, how many friends has Louise honestly had? She was a noble that couldn't do magic, that is worse than being a commoner at times especially with how high up her family is. She was extremely sheltered on top of that and has an abnormally strong bond with Siesta as a result of her extended solitude. Think about her goals in this story she wants to change the world but how she will do so is still vague to her. Her other goal, however, is to keep Siesta safe and we have seen how far she is willing to go for that. The fact she was willing to kill her own mother to safe a friend she's had for a few months speaks volumes of her upbringing and mental state at this point in the story. Trust me if she goes this far for Siesta, you do not want to know what she'll do for Lightning.
But you'll probably find out later.
Seeker213: Yeah those who challenge them…well let's just say it won't be pretty. And yeah screw cannon, if I followed canon this would probably just feel like a copy and paste of nearly every other crossover FoZ fic
Karthik9: Thanks for the review!
Abyssal Angel: Like I said the epicness will continue it's just unlike Naruto and Ichigo she actually has a bit of a challenge before she gets OP. Curb stomping can only go on for so long before it gets old and dry. Gotta have variety my friend.
Z2010Deadmeat: You should old friend, you should.
Drednaught: Got something bigger planned for her.
Reishin Amara: Theoretically I could LIAG anything but I do have the "seventh" and final hero of the main story figured out. This does not mean there won't be side-stories though.
Dark-Night-Prinny: Yo look I like your review and everything but we're going to talk about something more important. Dood. That name you picked? Fucking awesome.
Selias: Glad to hear it.
Dana9095: Will do!
Le Chasseur: Nope we're going all in no lube. As for Tabitha how about…Kuudere!Serah
Shunshinking: Well here's more
Ferpet: Well there's the possible Lightning love interest hinted in the story. We also can't forget the main antagonist who has yet to appear, afterall no one said the antagonist had to be from Louise's world though many of them will be.
Dragon Matt Blue: Thanks for reading bro!
Read and Review
~RebukeX7
