Disclaimer!: I don't own Zero no Tsukaima or Warhammer 40,000! Please don't sue!
Herald of the Void
By Nim Maj
A Necron Familiar Challenge Response Fic
Chapter 11: Kidnapped
"Thank you Old Osmond." said Henrietta as she accepted the Book of Invocation.
"I am glad to serve, your highness." Old Osmond said as he kneeled before the Princess as he presented her the book. The Book of Invocation was a family treasure of Tristain's Royal family. Herald's quest yielded interesting results. Unfortunately information on the Void was hard to come by, but he had painstakingly built quite the folder. Results showed that Herald's runes identified him as the Gandalfr, the legendary familiar of Brimir, the last known Void mage.
Hence the need for the Book of Invocation. Supposedly it once belonged to the Founder Brimir himself and was supposed to contain Void magic in its seemingly blank pages. She intended to give it to Louise so she could practice her element.
Yesterday, after the battle of Talbes Plains.
"Alright Herald, explain yourself" asked a grouchy Louise.
"Explain... what... Master?" Herald queried.
"Don't give me that! Explain what happened to the Albionese army! How did you defeat them? And how did you destroy the Lexington?"
Herald was summoned by Louise shortly after they returned to Tristain's capital. He was going to debrief the Princess and Louise on his actions that led to Albion's... massacre at Talbes. The Princess fortunately had the presence of mind to make it a private meeting while the people of Tristain rejoiced.
"Louise calm down. " soothed a worried Henrietta. Supposedly Familiars were obedient to their masters, but Herald had show amazing degree of independent action. Louise gulped when she realized that she was shouting at a familiar that had easily killed Wardes, a captain of the Griffon Knights and had beaten him easily at an earlier spar.
"Shall... I... show... her...master?" asked Herald.
Louise hesitated only a moment before allowing him. Once again, the Veil of Darkness entered its briefing mode.
First, he showed them the actions he took on the Plains of Talbes. Step by step, his mission parameters, objectives, and the phases of his plan. He also showed how he reacted to unexpected things like the Lexington's crash.
Next, he had to show them what was going on. This included explaining how Necrons are made. Powered by souls and Gauss energy, their bodies made of the best armor known in the galaxy, Necrodermis, the Necron's living metal shells. Louise had some foreknowledge about this but hearing about the fact that Necrons could boost their numbers by harvesting the souls of their enemies was a new one on her. Henrietta found it appalling. She felt more pity for what Louise had to go through as the leader of this... monstrosity.
Then, Herald briefed them on the various troop types available to him. Afterwards, he told them that he was able to obtain 1078 new souls for his army, down from the earlier 1239 due to the fact that the Gauss tubes simply held too many souls. Thanks to the Battle of Talbes, Herald had 800 warriors, 170 Immortals, and 108 Wraiths to add to his army. Some of the Immortals would be converted into Destroyers though. Henrietta and Louise paled at the thought of such an army being unleashed on Halkeginia.
Then he told them of the other invasions.
"WHAT!" Louise screeched.
Herald projected a map of the world and showed much more he had been able to discover. However he projected anything from a week to a month before results came in from the expeditions. Louise didn't have the heart to tell him not to do it. He was scary enough. The Princess found World Domination at her fingertips, and she had never dreamed of it! The only reasons she did not discourage him was because she was also curious of what lay beyond the known world and the Necrons were already on their way. Plus distracting the Necrons from Halkeginia could keep them busy.
Ah, to be young and naive.
At last Herald informed them of the results of his investigations including telling them of his budding information network. Halkeginia would soon forget how to respect privacy.
Morning, 2 days after the Battle of Talbes
It was early in the morning, 2 days after the battle at Talb that Louise had an unexpected visitor. Bursting into her room a breathless blonde woman with green eyes in a white cape, green uniform, and black pants came to a sudden stop at Louise's doorway. "Are you Louise Francoise de La Valliere?" she asked hurriedly.
"W-what? Y-yes why?" asked a confused Louise, noticing Herald materializing in front of her, partially blocking her from the new arrival, but allowing her to see the new arrival.
"I am Agnes Chevalier de Milan, Captain of the Musketeer Corps. I need your help! Princess Henrietta told me that if anything happened to her you could be told and that you would help."
"The Princess? What is it!"
"She's been kidnapped!"
"What? How?"
"We don't know. My Musketeers are already chasing them!"
"Herald!" Louise said turning to address him. "We need to act quickly!"
Herald nodded. Turning to Agnes he began to grill her on the situation. "Do... they... have... mages."
"We think so."
"Numbers...?"
"Very few." replied Agnes as she grew irritated at Herald's procrastination. Unfortunately she doubted her gun could pierce his metal.
"Wait... here. I... will... arrange... transport." He said before turning and addressing Louise. "Obtain... the aid... of... Guiche de Gramont,... Kirche von Zerbst,... Tabitha de Norfatul,... and Montmorency de Montmorency."
"What? Why?"
"Mage... support." Herald clarified.
"I see. Alright. And Herald, could you talk faster, you're slowing us down."
"Like this Master." Agnes and Louise shivered at the unnatural voice. "On second thought, stick with your original. It's less uncomfortable."
"As... you... wish... Master." Herald said before turning to Agnes. "Wait... here..." he said before teleporting to Sheol, what he had come to call the budding Tomb City. There he quickly reviewed the data from the Immortals he had stationed to guard Henrietta. Apparently she had ordered them to stand down, and they were to slow to catch up anyway. Grabbing the Orb of Resurrection, he used it to quickly activate 6 Destroyers. He then proceeded to a Tomb Spyder to get fitted with a Destroyer body. It was a pity that there were still no more available Destroyer Chassis bodies.
He was quickly building a picture of the situation granted him by his information network, but there were still holes. Also, it seemed that he had found Princess Henrietta if, the people on horseback chasing two people on horseback were the Musketeers chasing the Princess. Herald ordered all the nearby Scarabs to do a focused scan. Yup, that was likely them. It looks like they are headed to Lagdorian Lake.
With the conversion into a Lord Destroyer complete, Herald led the other Destroyers out of the caves and into the sky, quickly gaining altitude to speed up his return. Herald headed back to Tristain Academy at the head of his strike force.
Herald quickly picked up the group consisting of Guiche, Kirche, Tabitha, Montmorency and the ipatient Louise and Agnes. Agnes was surprised at the whole flying part but was grateful that they were now speeding along much faster than a horse could go. To reduce wind resistance each Destroyer only carried one person. In flight, Herald briefed them on the situation.
"What were your guards doing?" shouted Agnes when he informed them of his soldiers'reports.
"Princess... Henrietta... gave... orders. They... obeyed." It was not like he could keep tabs on every little thing she did. "They... were... unable... to keep... up... either... way." Herald explained.
"So why are we here?" asked Montmorency as she clung onto the back of a Destroyer. "I understand that the others could use magic to fight, but what about me?"
"Healing." was all he said.
"So who are we facing?" asked Agnes.
"Voice... recognition... pins... a 98%... match... to... Prince Wales Tudor." Herald replied.
"WHAT?" they all screeched except for Tabitha.
"But he's dead! We all saw him die! How could he be alive and kidnapping the Princess?"
"Unknown... Magic... is... assumed." Well duh.
"No known magic can do that!" they grumbled to uncaring ears. It's not like that kind of magic would be used often.
They quickly caught up with the two fleeing figures. They dropped down from the sky and proceeded two surround the two fugitives. Herald made sure that the Destroyers couldn't accidentally shoot each other in crossfire. Gauss Cannons aimed at the two figures. His Master Louise wanted the Princess alive. It was times like this Herald was grateful for a stun setting on the Staff of Light. Warscythes were better for battle but a Staff of Light had more uses.
"Princess!" Louise calls out.
"Louise Francoise? Agnes?"
"Cretin! You are surrounded and outnumbered! Hand over the Princess this instant!" Agnes called out to Wales.
"Princess, we've come to take you back! There's no way that can really be Prince Wales! We were there when he died and was buried!"
"Stay back! I am taking Henrietta back with me to Albion!" said the person who looked a lot like Wales as he moved to stand in front of Henrietta.
"You! I don't know how it is possible, but you won't get away with this! Are you an impostor, or some kind of animated body?"
"No Louise, Agnes, he really is Prince Wales! I know in my heart!"
"Herald?" Louise asked for help.
He did his best to scan the body in front of him. The results were surprising. "Scan... complete... Magical... signature... detected... 97%... match... Prince Wales Tudor."
"Hah! You see? I am Prince Wales!"
"Warning...! Magical... signature... detected... 100%... match... Cromwell's... ring... identified... Mind-control ring!"
"What? He could be alive but mind controlled?"
"Yes... Master!"
Henrietta's eyes shot up at that. This changed everything. If they could free him from Albion's control she could get him back!
"Princess! You heard Herald! Please step away from him so we can free him from Albion's control!"
Henrietta jumped away as far as she could, trusting in her friend to do what she must. "Louise!" she cried out.
"Herald, Now!" Louise commanded. Herald fired a low-powered stun bolt at the Prince. Unfortunately he raised a shield that protected him. Fortunately Tabitha sent a blast of wind to interrupt him, knocking him to the ground. Herald fired again this time connecting. The lightning surged up and down is body, causing him to go into spasms. Wales collapsed to the ground.
Herald turned to Guiche. "Guiche,... restrain... him."
"No wait!" said Henrietta recovering.
Herald just turned to her. "We... must... be... sure... Princess. Magic... is... strange." He turned back to Guiche and made sure he did as he was told.
Now fully rstrained, The Prince of Albion coughed. "Th-thank you familiar. Your lightning... disrupted... the spell." Herald did a quick scan and noticed Wales' vitals dropping. He also noted Wales' wound reappearing for no reason. The wound Wardes gave him. Blood began staining his coat.
"Quick... healing!" Herald commanded.
"Wales!" Henrietta cried out as she grabbed her scepter and began pouring healing magic into it. "Please don't die!" she begged him, trying desperately to save him. If it weren't for Herald she would have been too distraught to focus. Montmorency rushed over and placed her hands over the Princess' to help calm and focus her. The wound slowly but surely closed up, but the magic was still unravelling.
"It... is alright... Henrietta. Please... stop." he said quietly.
"Wales?" asked a teary-eyed Henrietta.
"Henrietta... please listen." Wales said.
"The artefact they used on me... the Necklace of Andvari... is a magical item... capable of granting... a false soul... to a body." He paused. "I... am truly dead."
"Wales..." cried Henrietta.
"I'm... sorry... I couldn't say...'I love you'... that time at... Lagdorian Lake. I... was still too much of... a coward."
"Wales..." Henrietta moaned as grief overcame her.
"Familiar!" Wales cried out. Herald moved closer. "I ... remember... your offer. I accept."
"I... told... you..." reminded Herald, "Once... you... accept,... you... will... be changed. You... will... be... loyal."
Wales nodded."I accept. If Reconquista... will not respect... even the dead... Then I... will deny them even that." Wales turned his head to look straight at Herald of the Storm and gathered his remaining strength. "I swear it, by this Lagdorian Lake, Louise Francoise le Blanc de La Valliere has my eternal loyalty, and Henrietta de Tristain my eternal love."
"Wales?" asked Henrietta, tears still streaking down her face.
"It... may fail." said Herald as he moved closer to the fallen Prince, clearing away the bystanders with his bulk.
Wales smiled, humourlessly. "Then destroy my body."
Herald nodded. He raised the Resurrection Orb, an item he brought along just in case he needed it for the Destroyers, charged it with Gauss energy, and plunged the Staff of Light into Wales' body before following it up with the Orb as it poured its energies into Wales body. Necrodermis also dissolved from the Staff's blades, spreading out, helping it into stasis as Gauss energy filled the body, Gauss energy necessary for holding in the souls of its victims, and laced with Louise's magic. All traces of Andvari's power dissolved, but the false soul remained, gaining strength from the bodies memories, a deep love for Henrietta, and held in place by the Gauss energy which was boosted by Louise's ambient magic, imparted by the Gandalfr contract... binding the humble being to its purpose.
Back at the palace, Agnes was curious. "Your highness, I must ask, who are they?"
"Agnes?"
"Herald of the Storm and those... Destroyers, what are they?"
Henrietta gave her a sad smile. "Please keep their existence a secret for as long as possible Agnes." requested Henrietta.
"If it is your wish, your highness, I swear not to say a word." Agnes replied in all sincerity.
"They are those whom I can count on to do what must be done. Like you, they are my bodyguards, but where you can protect me in the open, they guard me in the shadows. They are..." Henrietta paused as she realized how she could, Louise forgive her, use them.
"The Knights of Death."
OMAKE by Nim Maj
Herald stood guard over his sleeping Little Master. She had fallen asleep at a desk in the library while studying, fully clothed. Noticing how she shivered a bit he unclasped his ragged-looking cape, and draped it around her. Gauss and Void energy lingering in the cloak left it warm. In the night, the Sigil of the C'tan glowed faintly.
He would smile if he could.
'Silly Master, you can't escape your fate. You are destined to ascend to divinity and lead us to greater heights than your predecessors. For that I thank you, and that is why I serve.'
Author's Notes:
This was kind of difficult to write, but the story also seems to write itself. I'm actually a bit glad of that, what with my trying to remain within the logic of canon. Don't worry though, things will start departing after the invasion of Albion... or did I say this already.
Anyway, I am sick and I intend to see the doctor tomorrow... again. I'm glad that I had the free time to bring you this.
Let's see, before I go, I must ask what you think about Wales and Herald? Is what I did reasonable? Did you like it. I find myself really hoping it is possible and that you like it. To me it sounds logical. And then... well, magic! And I really wanted to find some way to continue Wales although that might be pushing it. I have no qualms about killing people if there is no real way to dodge it.
As for the whole disruption thing, I really think lightning was the only other way to dispel the power of the Ring of Andvari, or after Sheffield fixed it, the Necklace of Andvari. Not quite the same rimg to the name but simpler to use if it's out in the open as an innocuous piece of jewellery. This way Sheffield doesn't have to raise her hand to use it, just focus her will.
I hope you enjoyed!
