AN: Ah, finally got this chapter ready, couldn't upload last work because of shit at work and I was afraid this month was too going to run out. But I finally sat myself this weekend and worked on this chapter until I got it ready. Thank goodness because I was feeling as if it was dragging up due to delays.
Anyway, after this I'm going to upload a chapter for one of my other stories I've left in the freezer for too long before returning to this one before repeating the pattern. I know I shouldn't swap my attention between my stories during each uploads but I need to update some of my stories due to the fucking plot bunnies.
Man those ball-breaking bunnies really can't leave me alone, can't even read the stories of other authors because I start getting ideas!
In any case let's start already…
Disclaimer: The Fate franchise is a Type-Moon IP that belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Takashi Takeuchi. The Elder Scrolls belongs to Microsoft. Everything else belongs to their respective creators.
This chapter was uploaded on the 18/04/2021
World 1
BLEACH
Chapter 4
The third Knight
As Starrk did nothing but stare at Artoria intently, the Lion King proceeded to return the gesture and lock eyes with the natural born Arrancar. "Indeed, that was me… Do you need something…?" She simply stated, displaying all of her royal dignity in that single statement and obviously causing an impression upon the Hollow gunslinger.
Starrk, having been unprepared to face such charisma was left momentarily unsteadied by the question, but promptly recomposed himself well enough. But just as he opened his mount and was about to speak, a distant wailing could be heard coming from the deep desert.
"STAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRKK!"
Another trail of dust could be seen fast approaching on the horizon, a small figure slowly becoming visible at the front. It was a short lime-haired pre-teen girl dressed in rags and sporting the top half of a horned skull over her head like a skull, an empty eye socket covering her left eye.
"Who's that? It looks as if a tiny screeching cactus is making its way towards us…?" Sun-sung asked with her usual derision.
Coyote Starrk just sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead. "That's Lilynette…"
'Ah? I had totally forgotten about the existence of Lilynette…' Annatar couldn't help but comment.
"What do you mean you forgot!?" Apacci demanded as she spoke under her breath to avoid catching Starrk's attention. "Annatar! Do you know who that horned midget is!?"
'Lilynette Gingerbuck… Literally the second half of Coyote's soul as the Adjuchas that evolved into Coyote split its soul into two, also giving birth to Lilynette, making both of them to represent the two sides of a single coin. She's the only registered case that I know off about what could be considered, for all intents and purposes, a living Zanpakuto as she holds the key to Starrk's Resurreción that can only happen when she fuses her soul back with him. She's pretty much useless in combat as her fighting capabilities are rather lackluster and serves more the role of Starrk's annoying younger sibling to foil his inherent laziness.'
That explanation caused the girls from Harribel's Fracción to deadpan and lift their gazes to the night sky as if demanding an answer out from providence, neither the Lion King nor Harribel herself seemed particularly pleased either. "And didn't even occurred to you to make mention of such relevant information…" Mila-rose snarked
'To be fair… I wasn't even sure she had even been born yet since I ignore the precise date of her creation, I only know that at some point Starrk's soul is split in two and she is born, and therefore since I lacked the precise accurate knowledge I considered the entire thing irrelevant. I might know a lot of things about a great many deal of subjects, but even I don't know everything there is throughout the multiverse.'
"That is understandable Annatar…" Artoria suddenly spoke out. "But next time, let the task to decide what information is relevant or not to my royal self…" She commanded.
'You are displeased then…? Very well, next time I will give you all information I know about any given subject no matter how trivial or banal it might be. But know that even with that measure there is still the risk of being sidelined as my knowledge is not all encompassing.'
"Duly noted, Annatar…" It was all that the Lion King said.
By this point Starrk had already taken notice of the strange behavior of the female Hollows he had just encountered, but before he could voice a question, Lylinette finally reached the group and made quite the introduction by dropkicking Starrk in the back of his head with her two feet.
"YOU BASTARD! DON'T TRY TO ABANDON ME BY BUZZING OFF TO WHO KNOWS WHERE WHILE I'M ANSWERING NATURE'S CALL!" The Lime-haired girl declared as she toppled the much taller Starrk by applying the entire weight of her body behind his neck.
"AAARGH!" Coyote exclaimed as he slammed face first into the sand, seemingly out cold and with swirls on his eyes.
Lillynette, who had landed on a sitting position on Starrk's back just stared up at the group of female Hollows and Goddess witnessing her antics. "Who are you people…? And how is it that Starrk's aura hasn't killed any of you yet?"
Harribel let out a sigh. "This is going to require some explanations…"
!
So, that's exactly what they did. After waiting for Starrk to woke up, something that at first seemed would take an eternity until Lillynette kicked him in the ribs, Harribel took her time to explain from her point of view, what the origin of that source of power that smothered Hueco Mundo was and why none of them had died under Starrk's spiritual pressure, which all of them could sense was almost unbelievable potent to the point that Harribel and Her Fraccion had to release their own Reiatsus in order to withstand the strain.
"You know my first instinct is to call you a liar since I cannot believe anything of what you've just told me, but the fact none of you have died after that long explanation makes me start to consider if you actually are telling the truth!" Lillynette said with a plain face, but then her expression became stunned as if she was just now realizing something. "Which means… We might no longer be alone…" She said as her demeanor turned sorrowful, her gaze lowering as a sniff escaped from her nose and tears began to well at the corner of her eyes. Harribel's Fracción suddenly began to feel pretty awkward.
"Hey… Are you crying…? It's not that surprising, is it? C'mon stop that!" Apacci said, not knowing how to react to someone openly weeping.
"You too will be crying if you were cursed to never be able to approach anyone else for fear of accidentally killing them with just your spiritual pressure alone! To be forced to never speak with another person because they all die before they were able to say a word!" Lillynette exclaimed in response, understandably upset before she began to rub her eyes to wipe off the tears.
That caused Apacci to clam up and drop the matter altogether, Starrk too seemed rather somber at Lillynette's words. They waited a couple of minutes for the small Arrancar to recompose herself, all of them standing there on their spots like wooden posts.
Lillynette suddenly addressed the group of newly-minted group of knights again. "Prove it to us! Prove it to us that what you're saying is true and that none of you will die on us the moment we turn our backs!" She pleaded with a strange mixture of hope and desperation laced in her voice.
Artoria looked down at the lime-haired Hollow and spoke for the first time since Starrk's arrival. "You wish to behold the radiance of a goddess with your own two eyes, very well… I will allow you to take a glimpse of my power. But beware, for it might turn out that it is you who Is not strong enough to withstand such magnificence…"
And with such grandiose announcement having been declared, the Lion King simply released the tight grip she had upon her aura and illuminated the entire desert with the glow of her divinity alone. It was as if a star was blazing brightly in the middle of the sands, shoving the endless night of Hueco Mundo back, forcing the darkness to give way into day for the first time in the history of this deserted wasteland.
A crushing pressure suddenly rammed into the sands, Starrk and Lillynette felt for the first time in their lives how most Hollows must feel when in their close proximities as they felt an unbearable weight unexpectedly press upon their backs and slowly begin to push them into their all fours.
Harribel and the others handled better to be standing so close to the fully unleashed aura of the Goddess after imbibing some of her blood and being granted a fragment of her own power. Nonetheless, even though they no longer felt as if they were about to be squashed like bugs, the sheer incomprehensible magnitude of so much raw Divinity coming from a single place was beyond the capacity of their minds to either comprehend or understand.
A shiver began to run down their spine and take hold of their beings, and slowly but surely, each and every one of them started to feel the need to bow in submission at such otherworldly power. Feeling as if they were all unworthy to stare so openly into the face of Divinity; and thus, that's exactly what they did. One by one, they bent the knee to their new king in obeisance and bowed their heads low in fealty, readily accepting the new hierarchy and showing once and for all were their new loyalties lied.
The Lion King seemed pleased at their deference and with a look of consideration she once more reined her divinity into a trickle. Snuffing out the light of her inner sun and sinking the desert into darkness once more. However, even if the display had been brief, such grand show of power had inevitably drawn attention.
!
Neliel stood atop the dunes of the desert that was now experiencing its first dawn, staring at the distance towards the glow of the distant fallen star and turned to look back and address her companions.
"C'mon Dondochakka, Pesche. It's over there!" She exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the clear bright horizon. Never in her entire afterlife had she witnessed such occurrence happening in Hueco Mundo like the one taking place now. Just how great one's power must be to banish the eternal night and bring forth the dawn.
"Oof Poof, just a moment Nel. I need to catch my breath…" A rather bizarre looking Hollow with an abnormally large head in comparison with the rest of his body complained, but in reality, it was just an act to avoid getting near the glowing distant sun. The sheer level of spiritual power that could be felt simply boggled the mind, which understandably caused Dondochakka to not want to approach whatever, or whoever, was behind such miraculous feat.
Only the strongest Vasto Lordes, the crème de la crème of the upper crust in the Hollows ranks felt attracted towards such great power, as if drawn to it. Most other regular Hollows instead felt just too intimated to do nothing else but flee in abject terror away from the light. It was only Neliel's adamant nudging that kept Dondochakka and Pesche trailing after her.
Neliel Tu refrained from rolling her eyes at her Fracción, it would be unseemly of her, no matter how much she really wanted to… "Enough! We are almost there! Just make sure Pesche doesn't fall behind and keep Bawabawa from wandering off..." She commanded, before setting off further towards the bright dawn.
Dondochakka turned distraught by that order. "Oh what a pain! You've been awfully bossy as of late Nel… Well, at the very least you are no longer carrying that heavy sorrowful gaze you used to have all the time. This is the first time I've seen you so excited about something, so I guess this reckless enterprise is at least good for one thing. I just hope we don't end up getting into trouble far above our league…" The big-headed Hollow mumbled under his breath as he glanced towards his mistress.
"You said something, Dondochakka?" Neliel inquired turning her to glance backwards with a curious stare.
"I said we are coming, just wait up for a moment!" The harried Hollow replied, disguising his true opinion.
!
From were Barragan's army was mustering, the strange occurrence of the night sky clearing way for the dawn was also plain to be seen.
"My king!" A big muscular man with a rather effeminate face said towards the old, scarred, thick-moustached old man wearing a bone crown over his head that was Barragan's new form after ascending to an Arrancar.
"I know, Charlotte… I still have one good eye, don't I?" Barragan said, glancing up at the clear blue sky. "This is evidently the work of that spiritual power that is making act of presence for a second time… ! … Start sending our scouts to find the source of it and have my army ready to depart at once!" He commanded with all the ruthlessness he could muster.
"The men seem to be unnerved a little over this reiatsu, it is hard to keep them in line, let alone to make them maintain any cohesion during a march." The musclebound metrosexual commented.
"I don't care! They could be pissing their pants while on their feet and still I wouldn't even deign myself to glance in their general direction! Tell them to be ready to depart as soon as I give the order or I will start making examples out of them… That will give them an actual reason to be afraid!" Barragan stated with malevolence glinting in his only visible eye.
Charlotte simply nodded in acknowledgement. "Your will be done, my king…"
!
In other isolated parts of the desert, a blue eyed panther and a white bat made their way towards the distant dawn. Even when darkness took hold again of the night sky, both Hollows had already the correct direction burned in their minds.
!
"So… Was this enough of a sample for you?" The Lion King said towards the kneeling Lillynette. The green haired petite girl struggling to keep her face from slamming into the sands, a dumbfounded expression plastered all over it.
"You… You are strong… Much, much stronger than even Starrk. Which means…" Lillynette began to say, unsteadily raising back to her feet. "Which means we have finally found other people to be around us. We will no longer be alone!" She declared as she broke into tears again. Starrk himself having gotten back to his feet but carrying a rather grave air over him.
Artoria didn't had much experience about how to console a person who is crying, so the sight of Lillynette bawling brought her no small amount of discomfort. "Please, don't cry…" She requested on an unsure voice. She didn't begged, no sir, that was beneath her dignity.
"I am sorry, it's just that I am so happy right now…" Lillynette replied, unsuccessfully trying to wipe her tears as she continue to cry.
'Perhaps it will be best for you to have then drink from your blood at once so that I can address them directly…'
Artoria frowned a little at that suggestion. "Isn't that a little too soon to accept them fully into the ranks of my knights? Harribel and the others had to pass through a trial period in which we had to observe them in secret in order to determine whether they were worthy to become my knights or not."
'I didn't said anything about inducting them into the ranks of your knights, but since they are going to be following us wherever we might go from now on, I believe it will be more efficient to take them as part of your retinue. Inducting them as knights can come later and with approval of everyone else. But as I've said, anyone who decides to follow you for whatever reason will require some blessings from your part since it is quite the risky enterprise to travel through the timeline and traverse zero space.
Besides… Do you wish to deal with this little crybaby on you own, or would you wish for me to give you some assistance? One of these options will require for you to form a blood bond beforehand in order for it to be feasible…'
"Oh my god please! If you can make this girl stop crying please do so!?" Apacci said, interjecting in the conversation. "I don't care if you have them receiving blessings from Artoria-sama before us, just make her stop already!" She all but pleaded. Apparently Sung-Sun and Mila-Rose were of a similar opinion.
"…. …. Very well…" Artoria capitulated in the end.
!
Lilynette was giving the last touches to her new white coat as she fixed it into place. After drinking the blood of the Goddess and being introduced to her ghostly advisor besides Starrk, The Lion King inquired about the type of garments preferred by the new two members of her retinue.
Receiving a mental image about the rather skimpy outfit that was to Lilynette's tastes, Artoria immediately vetoed it since she found it to be beneath the dignity of a lady of good breeding. Instead she conjured a uniform for Lilynette that mirrored that of stark. The sleeveless high-neck white waistcoat and long-sleeved white gloves was fine, Artoria simply ensured that the garment did actually covered the parts that it was supposed to cover. For the lower parts she gave Lilynette a white Hakama for women like those being worn by Apacci and Sung-sung.
Lilynette didn't appreciated much the stifling clothes and called Artoria a prude boring old woman because of it and told her she would never find a man at this rate if she wasn't willing to put up the goods on display. The Lion King simply limited herself to ignore the remarks of the tiny Hollow. It would not do for a king to be unsettled by the comments of a child, so she certainly didn't smack Lilynette on the top of her head with the flat end of Excalibur, no sir…
Starrk on the other hand didn't seemed to care one way or another and was doing a very impressive spectacle of sleeping on his feet, complete closed off from the rest of the world. Lilynette didn't found this stunt particularly amusing and kicked Starrk in the stomach because of it.
"So, what now?" A rather frustrated Apacci inquired impatiently.
'Simple… We continue on our way… That last display of power from my liege has undoubtly drawn attention. It would be best to be far away from here before Barragan's minions come sniffing around. And before you ask… No, I have no fear regarding whatever that old sack of withered bones might do. My liege is more than able of dealing with him and his ilk. But it will be annoying to have every single one of our steps being hindered by an endless tide of weaklings. Not to mention annoying, and an unnecessary delay for our goals'
Apacci nodded at that. "Okay… I can agree with that. And you're right, it would be annoying having to fight weaklings every single step of the way."
"Bold words for someone who until recently was quite the weakling herself…" Sung-Sun commented under her sleeve.
Unsurprisingly, Appaci took offense at that. "The fuck! SAY THAT TO MY FACE BITCH!"
"You were just as weak if not weaker than those bootlickers that follow after Barragan. Not to mention a braggart and a nuisance…" The snake lady mercilessly remarked.
"Enough!" The Lion King exclaimed, commanding everyone to immediately become silent by virtue of her sheer presence alone. Even Starrk awoke from his slumber for a few moments to hear her speak. "Annatar is right, we have to move before we meet undesired company. We still have some other potential recruits to find before we can leave this dimension for good."
"And then…?" Harribel asked, wishing to know what their next move would be after their little recruitment drive.
'We will pop back briefly into the human world as there are some points of interest, I would like for us to investigate, after that we will brave the time-stream and depart from this dimension for good. To continue on with my liege's quest to rebuild her lost kingdom anew.'
"Okay, sounds like a plan…" Harribel acknowledged with a nod. After that everyone set off on their way under the direction of the goddess-king.
!
It only took a couple of minutes after resuming their journey for Apacci to address the ghostly advisor. "Annatar… I'm bored, play us another song!" She demanded.
'What am I? Your personal minstrel? A trained monkey instructed to jump around and start dancing at your beck and call? You should be more focused in keeping an eye on our surroundings. We are in potential hostile territory after all.'
"He is right you know… You would do well to pay more attention to where you are walking." Mila-Rose declared as she kept marching.
"Awwwww! C'MON! It is boring to simply walk around these dunes in silence! Nothing but sand as far as the eye can see… Besides, with our new level of power we can easily kick the ass of whoever is stupid enough to dare get in our way!" Apacci pouted before start showing her usual bravado.
'Hmmmph… There are things in the world that are capable of ending you in an instant no matter how strong you might get…'
The answer caught the deer-themed Hollow off-guard. "Ehhh?"
'But in any case… Say please… Remember to have some manners. You are a knight now and must show the proper etiquette. I am not averse to play songs to the lot of you when you feel in the mood for it. But you must show the appropriate decorum and courtesy if you wish for me to entertain the notion of going along with your desires…
So, out with it. And say please…'
Apacci became quiet for a moment, not looking being told off as if she were a little child.
"Please…" She muttered in a low voice.
'I can't hear you…'
"PLEASE!" She stated with a yell.
'Please what?'
Apacci gritted her teeth. "Please, can you play a song as to make our journey less boring…?"
"Annatar, I am surprised at the efficiency in which you are able to teach this troglodyte actual manners. It is nothing short of a miracle that you can, even if it is just for a moment, make this girl stop acting like the uncouth peasant that she is…" Sung-Sun said in a tone that was both awed and mocking in equal measures.
"You people sing songs to pass the time?" A confused Lilynette inquired but was ignored.
"I'm going to skin you and make a purse out of your scales, you entitled snake harlot!" It was the immediate reply that didn't surprised any of the people present.
'Enough the both of you; or there will be no music…'
That shut them up hard that the sound of their mouth clicking shut was clearly heard.
'Hmmmph… Very well… I will do as want asked Apacci, but only because you asked so nicely. And yes, Lilynette I am capable of playing songs from my memory to make the time pass faster.
With that thought in mind… You people are so stiff and tense. You should learn to unwound a little and enjoy the sights of Nature. Just look at this clear night sky… If I had a body of my own, I would feel the inexorable need of pulling out and wear my sunglasses.'
That non-sequitur leaved everybody puzzled.
Lilynette turned to glance at the back of Artoria's head as to having to focus somewhere in lieu of lacking an actual person to look at while speaking. "You are a weirdo… Who wears sunglasses at night?" She asked with a mind-boggled expression.
A certain impish amusement could be discerned in Annatar's voice.
'Fuh… Fuh… Fuh… Well…?"
That is when a rather intriguing electric sound started to beat.
!
I wear my sunglasses at night~
So I can, so I can~
Watch you weave then breathe your story lines~
And I wear my sunglasses at night~
So I can, so I can~
Keep track of the visions in my eyes~
l**p
While, she's deceiving me~
It cuts my security~
Has she got control of me?~
I turn to her and say~
l**p
("Oh? What is this? It sounds good, I like it!" Lilynette stated as she began to bob her head back and forth.)
l**p
Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh no~
Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh no~
I can't believe it~
'Cause you've got it made with the guy in shades, oh no~
l**p
I wear my sunglasses at night~
So I can, so I can~
Forget my name while you collect your claim~
And I wear my sunglasses at night~
So I can, so I can~
See the light that's right before my eyes~
l**p
While she's deceiving me~
She cuts my security~
Has she got control of me?~
I turn to her and say~
!
Sometime later after the group had departed, a certain green-haired Hollow was on her knees on the spot previously occupied by the goddess and her entourage inspecting a trail of footprints on the sand. Behind her, her fraccíon waited patiently for her to finish with her examinations.
"Someone was clearly here, a small group of Hollows and they went in that direction…" She said, turning in the direction of the trail that the prints formed into the distance.
"Whoever they are, they are either behind that impressive Reiatsu that was able to illuminate Hueco Mundo for a short time or know the true culprit behind such phenomenon." Nel stated as she rose to her full height again while wiping the sand off her hands. She pointed in the direction that the trail led and gave a single command. "Let's follow before the desert wipes out any trail…"
!
Even more time later, a panther and a bat Hollow each made their own personal inspections upon the same spot at specific different intervals before proceeding to follow the trail left behind by Neliel and her Fraccíon.
!
The Goddess and her retinue continued their march through the desert for several days before another situation cropped up to delay them in their efforts.
l**p
You see I've been through the desert~
On a horse with no name~
It felt good to be out of the rain~
In the desert, you can remember your name~
l**p
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain~
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
l**p
After nine days, I let the horse run free~
'Cause the desert had turned to sea~
There were plants and birds and rocks and things~
There was sand and hills and rings~
l**p
"Okay, enough of that Annatar. You were right, that song is pretty much on the nose…" Apacci commented in a less than impressed tone.
"Well it had a very relaxing tune, I liked it…" Sung-Sun said with her usual haughtiness.
"No one asked you for your opinion you cold-blooded wench!" The deer-themed Hollow spat back with hostility, before calming down the best she could and blowing out some air in irritation. "Ugh! I've had enough of traveling through this god-forsaken desert non-stop for the last week, I really don't need to hear a song that reminds me of the situation we are currently stuck in. For fuck's sake, when will this endless bore come to an end? Aren't we supposed to be looking for some new Hollows to join us?" She asked in exasperation.
'Oh? Does that mean you haven't picked up on it yet?'
"What are you talking about now Annatar?" Apacci inquired with some annoyance as she crossed her arms.
'We've had some Hollows following us for the last three days…"
"What!?"
Mila-Rose turned towards Apacci with a disappointed stare. "You mean you didn't even have the slightest idea…? I was able to pick on their presence on the first day…"
"Yeah… Me and Stark were the first to take notice and talk to Artoria-sama about it…" Lilynette stated with a sharp nod.
'The correct spelling is: Stark and I, not me and Stark.'
"I don't care…"
Apacci was rather mortified by such revelation that she was unable to give a reply, all she could was gape in shame.
"If you were to spend more time paying attention to your surroundings instead of running your mouth, you would at the very least not appear as dumb as you look…" Sung-Sun mercilessly said, not wasting an opportunity to rib her fellow Fracción companion in a bad way.
"SHUT UP!" The Deer themed Hollow declared, before turning to look into a random direction and screaming to the four winds. "HEY YOU COWARDS! STOP HIDING AND SHOW YOURSELF! WE KNOW YOU'RE THERE!"
'(Sigh) So much for the subtle approach…'
"FUCK SUBTLETY!"
Nothing happened after a few seconds, but then among some dunes across the distance four figures suddenly made act of presence. Thanks to their keen eyes, the Hollows of the group were able to identify these figures as other members of their species at first sight. A giant worm-Hollow, a giant face with stubby legs and arms, a gangly, thin hollow with the head of an insect; And Nelliel Tu… One of the prospective knights that the Lion King was interested in finding.
Or at least that's who they believe her to be, for the Hollow in question was still in her Vasto Lorde state with an appearance vastly different to the mental portraits shared by Annatar. However how many female ram centaurs with green hair can they exists in Hueco Mundo at any given time? Even if bone plates were covering her humanoid torso and a ram Hollow mask concealed her face from view, it was clear to Artoria's entourage who the person trailing after them was.
"Huh? It seems everybody is deciding to come out of the woodworks to meet us?" Mila Rose commented rather uncaringly.
They waited until Nelliel and her fracción had gotten close enough to speak distance before Artoria lifted her sword to motion them to stop. "That is close enough! Now… Who are you and why have you've been following us?" She demanded with all of her kingly authority, leaving Nel and her Fracción reeling for a moment on their feet at the sheer command in her voice.
Nelliel was able to compose herself quickly however and offered a polite bow before beginning introductions. "My name is Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and these are my Fracción: Dondochakka, Pesche, and the big guy is Bawabawa" She said, gesturing to each of her companions in turn.
"What a bunch of strange names…" Sung-sun commented, only to receive a look from Harribel that prompted to shut up.
Artoria continued to speak as if there had been no interruption. "My name is Artoria Pendragon and these are my companions: Tia Harribel, Emilou Apacci, Franceska Mila-Rose, Cyan Sug-Sun, Lilynette Gingerbuck and Coyote Starrk…"
"Charmed…" Mila-Rose said in the most deadpan tone she could muster.
"Whatever…" Apacci commented with a huff before raising her arms and locking her hands behind her head as she glanced away in dismissal.
"There's someone else, but he will remain in hiding until you have proven to hold no hostile intentions towards me and my entourage. Now with the introductions out of the way… Tell us, why you've been shadowing us for several days…?" Artoria pressed for answers.
"I've been trying to find whoever was responsible for the enormous display of Reiatsu that illuminated the sky for a short while a few days ago; yours were the only trail I was able to find at the place of origin..." Nelliel answered truthfully, seeing no reason to lie. "So, I wonder… is any of you perchance the culprit behind such impressive display of power?" She asked, glancing at all the Hollows subservient to the Lion King.
"You are speaking to him…" Artoria said, her helmet concealing her features.
Nelliel tilted her head to a side as she looked at Artoria strangely before murmuring something that sounded like 'How odd, she smells like a female' "I see…" It was all that Nel said in the end, taking a moment to ponder the answer before giving a nod in acknowledgement. "Your power is indeed a thing of respect, but it makes me curious. What do you do with all that power? Do you possess wisdom as well as strength? Do you show mercy to those weaker than you or do you simply crush them with an Iron fist without a care?"
"What do you mean…? What is it that you're trying to say?" Artoria asked in puzzlement. She took a moment to glance at Nelliel's companions, but they were pretty busy shaking in fright on their feet, teeth chattering. Evidently, they were quite discomforted at being in such close proximity to the Lion King. No answers would come from that angle it would seem.
"I know your power… But now I wish to know your mettle, therefore…?" Nelliel said, before jumping away from the Goddess to put some space between them and raising her lance to point straight at Artoria. "I'd like to challenge you to honorable duel…"
'She wishes to test whether you are capable of showing kindness to those beneath you or not. As it is with most things regarding Hollows, the only way she has to decide this is through combat.'
Anattar spoke through their mental link, the rest of the Arrancares too heard that statement but said nothing, understanding the meaning that the ghostly advisor was alluding to. Though Appaci muttered under her breath a complaint about who Nelliel believed herself to be to challenge the Goddess so brazenly.
The Lion King simply stared right back at Nelliel for a solid heartbeat, before dissipating all tension from her body and swaying her head in a negative. "As much as it pains me to say it… I'm afraid I will have to refuse your challenge."
Nelliel clearly hadn't expected such an answer and her semblance reflected this. "Oh? And why is that…?" She inquired with honest curiosity.
"Well…" Artoria hesitated, shifting her shoulders a little before giving an answer. "It embarrasses me to admit this, but… My own Lance is broken…" She declared, as the fragments of Rhongomyniad suddenly materialized with a glimmering light on the sand right in front of the Lion King, set in a way that clearly showed that this indeed was once a mighty Lance which now laid shattered.
Nelliel was surprised at seeing the broken fragments of the weapon appearing on a shower of shimmering motes of light, never having witnessed such a thing ever during her entire afterlife in Hueco Mundo.
"It will not be an honorable duel if one of us were to fight using a weapon with a shorter reach, that would give too much of an unfair advantage to a single party over their opponent and thus make the entire point moot. Don't you think so?" The Lion King simply said, making no outward movement.
For a moment nothing happened, time itself seemed as if it had come to a pause as Nelliel stared at Artoria, Lance pointing straight at the goddess. But then the arm of the centaur Hollow came down and her weapon with it. "You are correct… It is not honorable if both combatants do not fight on equal grounds…" She said before falling silent and tilting her head as she gave Artoria a considering look. "You are not what I expected…"
Artoria simply shrugged in response. "I'll consider that a compliment then…"
Nelliel lips tugged a little upwards in the beginning of a smile, she cast her eyes back over the broken lance to give the fragments a second look. "It is indeed a beautiful weapon; I can feel great power coming from it even as it lays shattered in pieces… What happened to it?" She asked with a curious expression.
"It was broken when a dear friend stopped me from doing something incredibly foolish. A mistake that would have brought great and serious consequences as result…" The Lion King replied, before the pieces of Rhongomyniad disappeared from view with a second glimmer of light. "If that is all, then it was a pleasure to meet you, but I'm afraid me and my knights must continue with our journey…"
The Goddess then turned her mount around, preparing to go on her way. Nelliel seemed as if she had something she wished to say but ultimately decided to keep quiet. However, Artoria turned her head to give one last look at Nelliel over her shoulder. "With that said… Would you and your Fracción like to join us on our travels, or would you prefer for our entourages to part ways in here?" She proposed to the green-haired woman.
Nelliel visibly perked up at the offer, pleasantly surprised at this turn of events and gave a nod in confirmation. "Yes… I must say you have me intrigued and I would wish to know more about you. So I will accompany you in your travels if it is all right with you…?"
"If that is your wish…" It was all that Artoria said before nudging her mount forwards, signaling everyone else to follow.
Apacci moaned in distress. "Again we must wander through the desert aimlessly…!? Tell me again why we have to travel among the dunes without having a specific direction in mind…?" She questioned with a visible lack of enthusiasm.
'Because my liege wishes to recruit certain Hollows into her knightly order, and as the saying goes, if you wish to find something you need to look for it first. And thus we are looking for those worthy to serve under the aegis of our goddess, through her divine insight, fate itself will acquiesce to her desire and manipulate events into her favor to see her goals come into fruition.'
"Okay… And what does that mean…?" Lilynette asked not having truly understood Annatar explanation
'It means all we have to do is trust in our liege's instinct and it will lead us to our objective…'
"Now that you mentioned it…" Artoria began to say as she suddenly tugged on the reins of her horse to make it come to a complete stop and turned the upper part of her body to glance backwards. "I have the feeling we must retrace our steps, return in the direction from whence we came…" She stated decisively.
"What…!? Why!?" A less than enthused Appaci complained.
'You do know what the most probable explanation for this sudden development is, right…?'
Harribel was the one to answer the question of the ghostly advisor with a nod of her head. "This means someone is most likely following after our footsteps just the same as Nelliel did…" She said as she too turned to glance in the direction where the trail of their footsteps faded into the distance.
"You are aware that if we go back we run the risk of stumbling upon Barragan's minions, right?" Sung-sun spoke out loud. "If even a single Hollow slips from us and runs to snitch our location to him, we will have to delay our plans in order to deal with him."
"So… I'm not scared of him…" Apacci scoffed in derision. Sung-Sun didn't deign herself to reply to that.
However, Artoria nodded at the snake-themed woman affirmation. "Then it is best if we make camp in here and wait for any enemy right on this location to give them battle on our own terms…" The Goddess counseled.
"I am one hundred percent behind that decision…" Coyote Starrk began to say before plopping himself upon the sand and automatically falling asleep. Lilynette was not amused.
"Goddammit Starrk, don't you just simply fall asleep the moment we stop you jerk!" The girl exclaimed.
"No… He has the right to it. We must all save our strength for an inevitable confrontation…" Artoria interjected, stopping the pre-teen from walloping upon the lazy Arrancar.
"Oh please, don't you enable him!" Lilynette wailed in despair. From the way his shoulders shrugged, one could tell that Starrk found it funny how the Goddess agreed with him.
"You guys, are a very peculiar lot aren't you…?" Nelliel commented with a small smile that told how she found the entire situation to her amusement.
"Yeah… That's one way to put it…" Mila-Rose stated.
As everybody went to pick up a preferred spot to wait for any undesirable tracker after their trail, a sudden silence began make act of presence among the gathered Arrancares and the Goddess they served. It appeared as if no one was keen of socializing or making small talk at this moment.
That is until Apacci spoke.
"Annatar! Play us a song!"
'(Long suffering sigh) Now I know how Alexia and Ciri must feel… Should have never introduced music to the lot of you… Okay that's a lie… But I still don't like you treating me like your personal jukebox… I thought I had taught you to say please first…?'
"Whoops!"
"You are speaking with someone I cannot see, yes…?" Nelliel asked turning towards the single-horned woman.
That's it for this ocassion, as always, leave a review and tell me what you think. Recommend this story to your friends, and visit my Pa- t. re-on if you feel like tossing a coin my way and I'll read you all next time…
I must now go to update other stories that are starting to feel lonely, and also to see if I can buy a shotgun to kill me some bunnies for dinner!
l**p
ADDENDUM: Stupid ass site that puts me a lot of shit when I want to place a space between lines and I have to resort into writing strange symbology in order to have breaks between song verses. Fuck this shit.