Chapter 14

"Done!" Dante exclaimed as he twisted the last wire into place.

It was about an hour later and Dante was wearing his "repair work" uniform to make the final repairs on the TARDIS. The girls had been looking around the library with Connor while Dante did the final work. And now that it was 'done', the TARDIS was now freed up to travel through time again. Not that he planned to use it. Yet.

Dante hauled the panel back into place and wiped his brow. He took another looked at the Ultramatrix and knew Azien would be calling a meeting in a moment.

And right on time, Dante heard Azien's voice rumble from the outside of the TARDIS.

"Hello my dear Espada. Please report to the throne room at once, as well as Dante Price. We have matters to discuss."

Dante snorted. He knew what matters Azien wanted to discuss and he wasn't looking forward to it. Dante quickly took off the apron and gloves, then set his goggles on top. He looked presentable, but he made a quick stop at the wardrobe to grab a new shirt. This one was a short sleeve t-shirt showing the words AC/DC in large silver lettering.

Feeling satisfied with his choice, he jogged to the library and managed to locate the group sitting quietly at a table reading various books. He cleared his throat and when he had their attention, he said, "Azien's called a meeting. Said that we have some matters to discuss."

"Are we invited?" Connor asked while closing his book and setting it on a small pile besides him.

Dante shook his head. " Just me."

Connor's eyes flashed, but he simply said, "Better get going then. You don't want to keep him waiting."

Tier stood up. "Would you mind putting these away for me?" She asked Connor.

Connor waved his hand. "It's fine, now get going!"

Dante quickly lead the way out of the TARDIS, then he and tier quickly ran to the throne room. Well, Dante ran, Tier simply used sonido. When they arrived, Dante opened the doors and saw that everyone had arrived, except Nntoria, his spot empty. Dante smirked when he noticed this. Seemed he had dealt a good blow if Nntoria couldn't attend. But then Dante also noticed that grimmjow seemed to be missing as well.

Then his musings were cut short as Azien said, "Ah, how nice of you to join us. Dante, Tier, please come closer."

Tier went to her normal spot while Dante stood before the thrown. Two people that he hadn't met yet were standing on either side of it. One was a man with silver hair cut in a bowl cut, closed eyes, and a wide smile on his face. He reminded Dante of a snake, or maybe a fox. He wore white robes that hide his arms and a short, dagger like sword in a sheath on his hip. The other man was African American, with long, braided hair that went down to his shoulder blades, and he had a white visor like object over his eyes. he wore robes that left his arms bare, and he had a longer sword on his hip, with some sort of circle connected to the guard.

"I don't believe you've been introduced. This is Gin Ichimaru…" Aizen indicated the snake face man to his right, "…and Kaname Tosen." He indicated the African American to his left.

Gin waved and said in a cheerful voice, "What's up? Been meaning to talk to you. You're an interesting guy."

"I try. It's nice to meet you… can I just call you Gin?" Dante asked.

"Sure."

Dante knew Gin's back story, and why he was doing what he did, but then Tosen spoke. "It's a pleasure to meet you Dante Price. I'm very glad to have someone like you and Connor join our cause."

Dante bowed his head. "The pleasure is mine."

"Now," Aizen spoke. "the reason I called this meeting is to address two things."

Dante interrupted by asking, "I'm sorry, but where's Grimmjow? Shouldn't we wait for him?"

Azien didn't show any annoyance at the interruption and continued. "Actually, he's one of the reasons this meeting was called. You see, Grimmjow decided to act against my orders and took his entire fraccion with him to Karakura town to try and eliminate Ichigo Kurosaki and the Shinigami that soul society had sent for reinforcements."

Dante narrowed his eyes "Idiot." He hissed.

"Indeed." Azien said in a light tone. "His fraccion was wiped out, and Grimmjow had been stripped of his rank as the 6th Espada."

Dante, acting confused, asked, "But then why am I here? I don't see the relevance that I would be required to be here."

Azien's smile widened. "For 1 reason. Recently you defeated Nntoria."

Dante pretended to look surprised as Azien continued. "Your battle with him did not go unnoticed Dante, everyone saw when you struck him down, and with electrical powers no less."

Dante shrugged. "He wanted to fight, so I gave him a fight."

Baraggan snarled quietly. He had been furious when he saw Dante strike down Nntoria with what looked like minimal effort. His fraccion had been terrified to go near him since then.

"I didn't call you here to punish you for your actions." Aizen said. "Nntoria initiated the fight, so you were well within your rights to defend yourself. No, I called you here to make you an offer."

'Here it comes.' Dante thought.

"I know that you aren't an Arrancar, or even a hollow, but would you be willing, Dante Price, to become the 6th Espada?"

To say people were shocked would be an understatement. Dante could taste the shock and could hear everyone's breathing with ease.

Then Baraggan decided to break the silence. Violently.

"Azien! You go too far!" Baraggan shouted. "It was bad enough that you let this shrimp and his vampire friend into our ranks, but now you offer him the position of Espada?! It's outrageous, I won't allow it…!"

"Oh but you will." Azien said in a cool tone. "I've decided that Dante has the potential to become an Espada, and the only person who had any say in it now is Dante himself."

Baraggan snarled in anger, but Azien released his spirit pressure on Baraggan just enough for him to feel heavy as Azien said, "Now return to your place Baraggan."

Baraggan did so grudgingly and Dante had to smirk at seeing Baraggan put down. Then he heard the door boom open and a familiar voice shout, "Azien, you can't be serious!"

Dante turned around and saw the only person that could make this worse. Luppi.

"Ah, Luppi, so glad to see you decided to join us."

"If I knew what you were planning to do I would have been here sooner!" Luppi replied. "How can you offer the position of 6th Espada to this human?!"

Azien smiled in his own odd way and said "I believe Dante's powers and experience put him far above a human, even more so considering he recently defeated Nntoria. I've decided that he has the potential to become an Espada."

"But I'm next in line for the 6th!" Luppi shouted. "And I'm not letting him take it from me!"

"Indeed, you were next in line for the 6th." Azien corrected. "But I believe that you recently fought Dante, and he walked away victorious."

"He was a coward!" Luppi shouted. "He just used tricks to knock me out and run away!"

Gin smiled widely. "That's not what I saw on the monitors. It seems to me you attacked Dante and his teammates, then when you took them hostage, he simply defeated you, using some form of powers to do so. If he wanted to kill you, he could have when he rendered you unconscious."

Dante was simply standing to the side with his arms crossed, letting Luppi try to argue he didn't deserve the position. Not that he planned to take it, he was just enjoying the show.

"Let me fight him again!" Luppi shouted. "I'll crush him this time!"

"I very much doubt that." Szayel stated. "The most recent powers Dante has shown are electrical based, and powerful enough to defeat Nntoria. You would stand no chance."

Luppi looked furious. Everyone was talking about this guy like he was unbeatable. She wanted to put him in his place.

Tier was watching the proceedings with a small hint of pride in her. She was proud that Dante had been offered the position, a position she thought he rightly deserved. She did think it was a bit of an insult to offer him 6th Espada when he had defeated Nntoria, who was 5th, but Grimmjow's demotion had made his opening the only one.

Dante was still enjoying the show, but he figured it was time to wrap this up.

"Hold up a minute!"

Everyone looked at him as he walked back to the center and continued. "This is pointless, since I've already decided I don't want the position. If it means so much to him, just give it to Luppi so he'll shut up."

Now everyone was looking at Dante with a mixture of shock, disbelief, or surprise. Most a combination of the three. Being an Espada was a great honor, and one that many would happily kill for to receive.

Azien was interested by Dante's actions and asked, "Are you sure Dante?"

Dante shrugged and said "I don't need a title to do what I do. Beside, I'm happy serving under Tier."

Tier found she was honestly touched. Dante was turning down on of the largest honors in los nochas simply because he was content serving under her. This was an act of humanity, which they had all lost long ago.

Tosen turned his head to Dante and asked, "Are you sure you don't want the rank Dante?"

Dante nodded. "Like I said, I'm satisfied serving under Tier. And being an Espada sounds like I would be getting more battles, which I could do without."

Tosen contemplated Dante's words. He didn't know much beside what others told him, but he could tell Dante was a pure soul, helping those in need while fighting only when he had no other choice. Tosen found himself rather liking the boy. He felt like Dante understood what he had gone through, and was a kindred spirit. He had a feeling they would be good friends.

"So he finally shows his true colors!" Luppi shouted as he pointed at Dante. "You're a coward that doesn't want to admit I can beat you!"

Dante didn't even look at him as he said, "I beat you before Luppi. I can easily do it again."

"You ran away before we could finish our fight!" Luppi shouted.

Dante looked at Luppi with cold hard eyes. "You were knocked out and rendered completely defenseless. I could have easily killed you.

"But you didn't. And that proves you're a coward!"

"Enough." Azien interrupted. "I'm sorry Dante, but it appears Luppi won't take no for an answer. You'll have to fight."

"Thank you Master Azien." Luppi said with a hasty bow of respect. "I'll put this human in his place."

"You sound like a broken record." Dante yawned.

Azien actually chuckled at this as he said, "Very well. You may begin when ready."

"I'm ready now!" Luppi shouted. "Strangle Trepadora!"

As Luppi underwent his transformation, Dante leapt back 20 feet, then quickly activated the Ultramatrix and selected his psiconic powers. He activated them as the smoke cleared to show Luppi in his released state.

"You're going down this time human!" Luppi snarled.

"Suuuurrrree." Dante said sarcastically. "But let's make this interesting shall we?" he then crossed his arms. "Since I'm feeling generous, for exactly…" he looked at the Ultramatrix. "…one minute, I won't use my arms in any way, shape, or form. Starting now."

Luppi shot his tentacles at Dante, who used enhance to improve his reflexes and speed. As the first approached, Dante leapt onto it and used it as a spring board to flip over the next one. He ran along the next one and kept dodging the others that tried to hit him, all with his arms crossed. When he got past then, he crouched and pushed off the tentacle he was on, flying straight towards Luppi. Luppi quickly crossed his arms in front of him to block as Dante kicked Luppi, sending him skidding back. Dante didn't let up and charged, delivering kick after kick, never uncrossing his arms. Then things turned.

Luppi brought his tentacles back in and wrapped them around Dante, effectively catching him in a tight grip.

Luppi grinned. "Game over human."

Then they heard a beeping, like an alarm coming from Dante and he smirked.

"Sorry, but I had an extra 1-up."

Dante started pressing with all of his considerable strength against Luppi's tentacles, which began to move away from him, despite Luppi's best attempt to keep them closed, and when he had room, leaped out and put distance between them again.

Luppi snarled and brought out his spikes. Then with a shout he sent them hurtling towards Dante. He quickly brought up both hands and held them palm out from him, but nothing happened. Luppi's tentacles were about to hit him!

Until they suddenly crumpled like they had collided with something solid, but nothing was there.

Luppi shocked stuttered, "What the…?"

Dante smirked at his look. "I have a good deal of powers in this form. While I use these powers, I'm able to compress the air to unparalleled density, harder than steel. It's a type of zone PSI that I like to call air blocks."

Dante made a shoving motion and the tentacles seemed to be pushed back, heading straight towards Luppi. He quickly used sonido to get out of the way as the wall collided with the one behind Luppi, making a perfect imprint in it.

Dante ducked forward as Luppi appeared behind him and tried to club him in the head. Then he pushed off with his hands, spun in midair, and kicked at Luppi, sending a shockwave of air at him. It dead on and sent Luppi crashing into the wall. Dante landed in a crouch and groaned when Luppi dug himself out of the wall.

'Does this guy ever give up?'

Luppi shook of the dust and looked at Dante with pure hate.

"You can't win human!"

"Guess not with these powers." He then stood up. "But you know what? I'm in the mood for some grilled fish."

Dante held his hands out to his side and the air started to grow hotter and sparks started to dance in the air around Dante, then they grew into flames that swirled through the air with no source of fuel, then they all rushed to Dante, then exploded in size, growing and growing into ball easily 3 times as large as Luppi's released state. Then the flames seemed to open eyes, which were slanted like a cats and glowing pure white, and roar, sounding like an explosion. It quickly grew stumpy legs and hands, all made of fire, with Dante in the middle of it, not looking the least bit harmed. He didn't even look uncomfortable from the heat.

He smirked at Luppi's dumbfounded face. "Say hello to Pyro king, salamander."

The beast sucked in a giant gust of air, then blew out an inferno at Luppi, too fast to dodge. Now normally his Hierro would block most of the damage from regular flames, but these flames weren't normal. They were too hot for him to handle and he cried out in pain as he felt his skin blister and blacken. Then just as quickly as it started, it stopped, leaving Luppi staggering and barely standing while his clothes were burned, and his tentacles fried before going back into his sealed state.

Dante let the flames disperse and fell to the ground, where he landed easily. Luppi looked at him with raw hatred, but Dante simply threw him the bird before saying, "You lost, deal with it."

They heard a light clapping and turned to see Azien looking impressed at Dante. "Well done Dante. Though that was a rather flashy way of finishing it."

Dante bowed like he was on stage. "I always had a weakness for dramatics."

"Still, you've earned your right to the position of 6th Espada. Are you sure you don' want it?"

Dante shook his head. "I get it's a great honor, but it just doesn't appeal to me. Give it to Luppi since it seems so damn important to him."

And that was how the meeting ended. They had discussed a few minor things before the meeting was dismissed. While Luppi had the position of 6th Espada, something he was quick to point out to everyone, and rubbing it in Grimjow's face, they all pointed out it was only because Dante let him become the 6th Espada. It was the only way Grimjow could get Luppi to shut up about it. Personally he wished Dante had taken the position. At least he wouldn't have annoyed him to death about losing his rank.

Meanwhile Dante had told the girls what had happened and they had all been dumbfounded when they found out Dante had been offered to the position of Espada. And he had turned it down!

"You idiot, why?! That's the best offer in Las Noches!" Appaci shouted in the TARDIS control room.

Dante was leaning against the railing with his arm around Sung-Sun. "And having to leave you guys? Not a chance! Plus power doesn't appeal to me."

Connor put his hand on Appaci's shoulder. "Leave it. It's his choice and he made it. There's no changing it now."

Dante looked at the time. "Connor, we got a meeting to get to."

"Who are you going to meet?" Tier asked.

Dante looking shocked (and feeling a bit stupid) said, "Oh man, I forgot to tell you guys! Connor and I met somebody when we were going for that run outside Las Noches. We found 3 Arrancar."

They were shocked to say the least. "Outside Las Noches? That makes no sense!" Mila Rose exclaimed.

Dante shrugged. "I know, but there you have it. One is a little girl called Nel and her brothers Pesche and Dondochakka."

Tier blinked at the odd names, but asked, "Are they any threat?"

Dante looked at her like she was nuts. "Not in the slightest. Nel acts like a child and her brothers act like goof balls. I told them Connor and I would meet them again today."

Tier looked at both of them, but she didn't see any signs they were lying and said, "Hhmm. Fine. But be back here in at least an hour, if not sooner."

"Done. So get out."

They all blinked. "What?"

"Since the TARDIS is fixed now, I thought that we might arrive in that. Something new to show them."

Tier feeling uneasy asked, "Can they tamper with the controls of the TARDIS at all? Based on what you said, if this Nel does act like a child, she will touch something."

Dante chuckled. "No problem. These controls are isomorphic, meaning that only me and my dad were able to use them and they would respond. Or rather, it would respond with what we wanted to do. If someone else tried, well, they would get a surprise."

Tier remembered Connor's warning that everything on the panels could kill her if she didn't know what she was doing, but she said, "Very well. Girls."

As they walked out, Tier stopped, and turned, then she said on a spur of the moment, "Dante."

He looked up from the controls and she kept going.

"If you want, I give you permission to bring Nel and her brothers into Las Noches."

Dante looked surprised, but he said, "Okay, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks."

The girls stepped out of the TARDIS and watched as it started to fade in and out, then vanish into nothing.

Outside Las Noches

Nel and her brothers were watching Las Noches. Or rather, Nel was sitting on a dune watching it, while a small distance away her brothers were talking in hushed tones to each other.

"But it doesn't make any sense. Why would Dante care about us like he does?" Pesche said in a hushed tone.

(A/N: We'll just call Dondochakka Don now)

"I don't know." Don replied. "But a bigger question is how he managed to convince Azien to let him and Connor into his army. And what his motivations are."

Pesche looked over to see Nel and said, "But he seems like he means well. Nel certainly likes him."

Don nodded. "That's true. But it looks like he might not show."

Pesche nodded and went over to Nel. Then he knelt and said gently, "Come on Nel, he's not showing."

"He said he would show." She said stubbornly. "He said he would play with me."

"Nel, he…"

VWOOORP VWOOOORP VROOOOORP

They all jumped as they heard that sound and looked in front of them to see the TARDIS started materializing in front of them.

VWOOORP VWOOOORP VROOOOORP

The TARDIS materialized completely and then the door opened to show…

"Hello!" Dante then stepped out. "Sorry for taking so long, but…"

He never got to finish as Nel tackled him around the waist and cried, "YOU CAME! YOU CAME!"

Dante coughed, amazed his didn't cough out his spleen, then said, "Of course I came. I promised, didn't I?"

He then stood up. "Sorry for taking so long tough, had things to take care of."

"Like what?" Pescheasked.

"Weelll, being offered the position of 6th Espada for one." Dante said scratching his head.

"WHAT!?" they all shouted at once.

Dante shrugged. "I turned it down."

"WHAT!?" they all shouted again.

"THAT'S THE BIGGEST OFFER IN LAS NOCHES!" Nel shouted.

"I'm not interested in personal power." Dante shrugged. "Besides, I'm not entirely happy on why he offered the position in the first place."

"Why?" Don asked.

He then gave them a meaningful look and said, "Because I defeated Nntoria."

They all froze as Pesche said, "You… defeated Nntoria?"

"The 5th Espada?" Dom said, in a unusually serious voice.

Dante nodded, then clapped his hands and said, "But, let's not dwell on that shall we? I have something I want to show you."

And for the next hour, he showed them around the TARDIS, which they were predictably awe struck at, but Nel was delighted when he showed them around. He showed them the library, which they spent a good amount of time in, then he showed them the kitchen and gave Nel a few sweets, which she wolfed down, then he showed them a special invention. A window that he and The Doctor had created that let them see anywhere in space and time, which was currently showing earth during the time of the dinosaurs.

Pesche tapped Dante on the shoulder at this point and asked, "Dante, can we talk to you?"

"Sure." He left Nel with Connor at the window while Pesche and Don walked a fair distance away.

"What's up?" Dante asked.

Pesche and Don looked at each other, nodded, then looked at Dante.

"Dante, it's clear that you're a good guy, and that Nel's found of you." Pesche said.

"Yes…" Dante said in a confused tone.

"And you said that you got permission to take us into Las Noches?"

"Yes."

Don sighed. "We only want you to take Nel with you."

Dante sighed, "It's because of Nntoria isn't it? What he did to her?"

They both looked at Dante shocked as he said, " Time traveler, remember? I know what happened to her, and to the two of you. But don't worry. I won't tell her. And I'll make sure she's safe. But in exchange, I want you to do me a favor."

The both looked at each other, then back at Dante suspiciously. "What?"

Dante put a hand in his hoodie and pulled out a small object the size of an orange, but it was glass, and filled with circuitry.

"Some time in the near future, you'll be meeting a boy, a boy with orange hair. He'll be against Azien and trying to get back his friend. I want you to give this to him when you meet him."

Pesche slowly took it and asked, "What is it?"

Dante smiled. "A hologram ball. It will give him a message, information he'll need to know if he wants to combat Azien when he arrives."

Dante looking at Nel said, "And I promise you, on my life, I will keep Nel safe."

Pesche and Don looked at each, then back at Dante and nodded and said "Very well. We'll trust you."

Dante smiled. "That's all that I ask."

And that's how it went. When it was time for Dante to take them to the TARDIS, Nel found out only she would be going. When she questioned her brothers why they were leaving her, they simply said they had to, for now, but they would see her again. When Nel cried a little as they hugged, Dante managed to cheer her up before launching the TARDIS back into Las Noches.