Merry X-mas from Drew! Hope y'all are having a fun time during hard times. Here's a little side story I wanted to try out, but don't worry. I'll alternate between stories each week and I won't abandon this one. I'm pretty excited to finally do this one! Anyways, here's the intro!
In an empty field, was the darkest hours of midnight. The moon was its only source of light in an empty sky with no clouds or even stars that normally shines in this area, yet there still wasn't any light. Now it was completely shrouded in a thick dark fog. There was nowhere to go and barely distinguishable of anyone around him. All he can hear is explosion upon explosion directed towards this beast in the sky as it groans in intense pain from this onslaught of attack.
He puts an arm over his head to try and block out the fog, but it was no use. He heard the screams of anguish from fallen comrades disappearing from the beasts attacks. He is then pulled onto a ground dragon that passes by and on the lap of a maid. He was thankful for the assistance, but the mist still blinds his noble steed from any coordinated direction. Things were looking grim.
The mist taking each warrior one by one. It completely erases their entire existence from reality. No memory or any sort of evidence they ever lived. All that was left was the echoes of their last cries. It was tragic. A noble warrior stands within the mist and has had enough of its shameful assault.
?: Coward!
She readies her sword in her hand. The edge of the blade shines an emerald green up to its tip. She swipes her blade in the air.
?: HYYAAA!
A massive blade of wind slices upon the thick mist to separate it apart and clear a path to the beast. The fog disappears from sight and the commander of her army signals them to take fire. Each of the armies spellcasters line up and take aim of the beast. Spells of fire and wind launch at the beast's thick skin. It wails in pain from this onslaught of attacks. It launches a thick mist to one of the magical projectiles and erases anything that comes in contact with it. It roars at the oncoming battalion and they try to block the sound from entering their eardrums, but it's effects kick in. They instantly lose spirit to keep fighting. They gaze at the beast completely awestruck.
?: No way…
?: What the hell…
?: What do we do now?
Suddenly, the beast clones itself into three and soars into the sky. It felt almost impossible now that there were three of them. Each one completely lost any form of hope of ever winning against this overwhelming amount. Some fell to their knees while others were completely petrified.
The army was completely doomed until a noble warrior stood tall in front of them with her sword in one hand.
?: All of You! Do not lose faith just yet! Look upon this boy! Even if he knows he is not as strong or as smart, but yet, he still pushes on!
She points her trusted sword upon a boy with spike black hair riding atop his trusted steed with a blue haired maid holding the reins in the distance. Even if the odds have sunken lower, the two held on to great spirits in hope for victory in this battle.
?: Let this be a lesson of reason! You are not just fighting for yourself, but for those back at home and your brethren beside you!
They look upon the two. They evade every one of the creatures attacks countless times as they acted as the bait. Even if only a few warriors were at offense and done little damage, they still push themselves to their limits. Just the sight of them gave way to their spirits. Each of the men started to regain their courage.
?: Let this battle remain in history as a victory for not to us, but for those that have fallen to this beast! If you wish to achieve victory, then fight to your heart's content!
Every soldier cheers upon the gallant speech of their commander. With their weapons in the air, they roared and stormed into battle. More spellcasters fired upon the beasts with more power and vigor.
An elderly man sprints across the beast and slices upon its blubber. Every one of his attacks were coordinated with full precision of hitting the beast's vitals in every direction. Blood splatters from the beast upon the man and in the air. It tries to shrug him off, but he holds on to the creature until it can no longer fight.
This was his true calling to avenge the one dearest to him and those who have fallen from the massive creature. This was his promise in order to slay this beast. He gouged at the beast's eye and it shook him off instinctively from extreme pain. A nearby rider catches him midair.
The battle was getting too rough for anyone to keep up. If it were only one, it would almost have been over, but the beasts were still soaring into the skies and shot more of its fog into the ground.
The fight felt everlasting up to this point. The three beasts were still fighting strong while the army was losing its charisma bit by bit. If it pushes on any longer, they will surely lose. One of them was flying low while the other was tied down and shot upon, but one still soared high in the sky.
Suddenly, the boy had an idea as to the beast's sudden odd behavior. He huddled together with the commanding officer and the blue haired maid.
?: Alright! I think I know how we can win this battle!
She raises an eyebrow upon his sudden questionable request. It would be a big opportunity to take victory so instant so for this boy to propose an idea so suddenly was at first doubtful.
?: What do you propose is the problem?
He points his finger into the air upon one of the creatures in the air. This one was circling overhead the battlefield. The other two look at him questionably.
?: That one up there is the real one! If we take that one out, the others will disappear!
?: ...and what makes you believe so?
?: because this one hasn't come down to battle. It's protecting itself from incoming attacks.
The commander puts a finger on her lip in thought. It was definitely possible, but it still seems unlikely. There was no other proof or evidence, but in the most crucial part of battle, she had to go along with it.
?: Alright, what do you propose we do?
He explains his most elaborate plan to finally end the battle. It was very intricate, but risky. This could mean a possible certainty to finally end the battle if the plan were to be a success.
Nearby, was the infirmary tents for those who were terribly injured from battle. Healers push themselves to the limit to aid the oncoming wounded men including a knight of the commander. The glow emanating from his hands turns a light blue as he heals the arm of an injured soldier.
?: Thank you very much. I am at your full debt…
?: Nyo need to worry. Your efforts will be most notable.
Within this field of wounded soldiers, the knight heals each and everyone of them with appreciation from those who were still glow in his hands grew brighter as he pushed his best renowned healing factor to its limits upon every injured soldier that drops in.
Instinctively, he turned his head as he sensed large amounts of mana accumulating in a certain area beside him. It was a lone maid kneeling down on the grass. She was in complete focus with the wind accumulating around her. Slowly, she rises up to her feet with a single hand in the air. Droplets of water and air circulated within her palms and instantly formed into a giant shard of ice. She carefully aims it at the beast high in the air.
?: AL HUMA!
The ice shard shoots straight into the dark sky towards the beast. Unfortunately, it misses by a hair and continues to fly past it. Everyone who was watching this misfire was devastated, but they still had to fight on.
?: Wow, you sure are a sight now that I look at you up close…
Suddenly, from atop the beast's horn, was the black haired boy. The creature narrows its red and yellow eyes at its horn from shock of seeing this mere human upon its white pointed outgrowth.
?: …, but unfortunately, I'm going to need you to fall…
The dense minded boy leaps backwards off of the beast and falls straight down with his arms and legs to his sides. He clenched his hands and prepared himself for his next course of action.
?: ...I can...RETURN BY DEA-!
There was a sudden pain in his chest. The feeling of those grotesque hands latching onto his heart and readying its grasp to squeeze it.
He grips his jacket over his chest from this intense fear of this witch's warning. He knew full well of her power. To instantly take a life of someone dear to him so suddenly was a fear he couldn't handle. Her power over him was unstoppable.
He leaks a strong odor of the witch from his body. The scent instantly catches the beast's attention and it lunges downward to the boy to try and devour him. He kept falling closer and closer to the ground waiting for the next step of the plan to come into effect. He grew anxious.
?: NOBODY SNIFFS HIM, BUT ME!
?: AAAAHHH!
He felt a chain wrap around him and tighten around his waist. The beast kept charging at him, but it was too slow. The chain tightened around him and pulled him into its source.
?: AAAAHHH!-
He finally landed on something soft and it nearly suffocated him. He pushed away from it and stared into her blue eyes as she smiled back in appreciation.
?: Thanks! I owe you one!
?: No, thank you for the treat!
?: What did you say?
?: Nothing!
She smiles with a sudden blush on her face when she perceives the fact that he landed his face upon her cleavage. If this were to be anyone else beside her hero, she would've thrown them off in an instant.
The beast kept charging at him until it noticed it was too close to the ground. It tried to pull its heavy mass upwards, but it flew inches before crashing into the ground while it's horn dug up a huge chunk of the surface. The after shock of the beast hitting the ground left a huge tremor that caused everyone to tremble and fall towards the ground. Since it was close, the boy's noble steed loses balance from it and stumbles forward. The two riding it were completely thrown off it while the girl held onto her savior.
?: …?!
?: …?!
While they held onto each other, the seismic fault angled the slope of the land, which caused the girl to land crookedly on the grass. She fell forward and rolled across the grass until they finally stopped with her on her backside. She looks at him from the top of his head.
?: Are you alright?!
?: …?!
The boy's face was pressed up against her chest once again and she immediately let go of him. He gasps for air while they both blush intensely, but it soon went away when they heard the wailings of the beast. They looked up to see it was gaining momentum into the air once again.
?: OPEN FIRE!
The commander signals her troops to fire upon the massive tree at its base. Explosion upon explosion was heard along with the roars of the beast.
The tree topples down gradually to its side. It pushes itself past the fallen tree, but unfortunately, it's tail was crushed under the tree's massive weight.
The boy manages himself up, but the girl fails to stand because on further inspection, she had twisted her ankle. He catches her on her backside and kneels her over his arms. He looks at her foot and then to her face worriedly.
?: Rem, Are you alright?! You're hurt.
Rem: No need to be worried. I can heal myself. Go on ahead, Subaru-kun.
Subaru: It's alright. I will take you to Felix as soon as possible. Just hang on!
They stare into each other's eyes until they hear the roars of the beast. They gaze at the trapped creature in complete shock. His plan failed, but it wasn't over yet. It's tail was pinned under the huge weight of the tree as it tried to escape.
?: Hurry! Before it comes free!
?: Charge!
?: Nows our chance!
The army charges past the two and fires upon it as it helplessly tries its best to break free. When it's chances of escaping we're looking grim, it fires its fog at a section of the army and it erases anything it comes into contact with.
Shouts of hostility towards this beast became louder and louder as they threw ropes around it to try and secure it, but it loosened itself from its hold under the tree. Covered in its own blood, the whale charges over the ground, mowing across the large battalion towards its destined spot to the boy with the witch's miasma. His trusted steed from a distance noticed the beast and managed itself to its feet, then charged to its master.
?: Subaru-dono!
?: Natsuki Subaru!
The elderly man and his master also saw the huge creature and rushed to them.
The boy was completely shocked that his plan didn't work in time. He stood there frozen on his knees as the beast destroyed everything in its path until it fired another thick fog to the two.
Rem: Subaru-kun! Please allow Rem to- AH!
The blue haired maid tried to get up, but it was no use. Her ankle was too damaged for her to lift it. He snapped out of it when she kept struggling so he gripped his arms around her to stop her. She couldn't move anywhere in this condition. If she was able to move, she could easily dodge the attack with him in her arms, but even now, he wasn't fast enough. There was definitely no escape this time.
Subaru: It's ok, Rem. We don't have to fight anymore...Not this time.
He said that last part to himself. Subaru was disappointed that nothing worked after so many trials and errors, but this time for sure he won't fail. Once he returns, he will be successful because he will be the hero she saw him as.
They looked at each other one last time and embraced each other with a single tear running down the corners of their eyes.
Subaru: Next time, I promise...I will...save you…
This was his last words until his next loop when he returns. His promise to her and everyone he lost in all of those loops. In an instant, the fog devours them until there is nothing, but a dark void.
Nothing happened until his vision started returning. His ominous yellow eyes opened warily upon seeing a bright light. As his vision started to adjust to this light, he looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling.
He groans as he feels an intense feeling on his head. He puts a hand over his forehead to try and calm the pain, but it only grows stronger as his conscience returns. He sat up from the bed and opened his eyes wide when he heard the sound of people talking. He looked around the room, but no one was present. He darts his eyes to its source and notices this nostalgic device from the corner of the ceiling.
Subaru: What the…?
It was the news broadcast debating on current events on the television in the corner of the room. He watches it closely in complete confusion while it talks about a car crash off of the highway and some sightings of a mythical creature.
He felt the pain in his head as he remembers the last events of fighting the whale along with the blue haired girl.
Subaru: Rem…
Remembering her gentle smile and their last moments in his arms as the fog devours them. It scared him to think they were consumed by it, but out of all of his deaths, it was his most favorable since he didn't feel pain.
He looks down at himself to see the white covers over him and flips it over to reveal his legs. He was wearing nothing, but a thin hospital gown.
He scans the room. There was a chair beside him and another at the corner of the room with a table beside him. A blank dry erase board was hung on a wall and the door to the small bathroom was opened. There was a window nearby that let in all of the light from the outside. He came to a conclusion that he was in a hospital.
Subaru: No...it...can't...be…
His face started to twist in fear. This must be a dream. A terrible dream of returning to his world without anyone he fought dear for. To lose them so easily without returning was beyond just a fear. This must be some twisted nightmare.
A man possibly in his forties in a lab coat wearing glasses walks in the room with a clipboard in hand while lifting up pages of it. He looks up and notices Subaru staring at him.
?: Oh, so you're awake. Nurse, can you inform his parents immediately….
?: Will do, Ozaki-sama
?: Thank you...
He orders the nurse outside the doorway and returns his attention to Subaru. He walks at the foot of the bed and looks at Subaru with a smile.
?: So you are Natsuki Subaru. I'm Doctor Ozaki Itsuki. Pleased to meet you…
Subaru: …
Subaru just stared at the man. He was in awestruck that he couldn't wake up from this nightmare. The man looks back down at the clipboard again and flips over a page.
Ozaki: ..Ok so it says here you've suffered a minor head trauma. I'm going to have to prescribe some painkillers to help with the pain. You've been asleep for almost ten hours now….
Subaru: Wait, was I ...unconscious?
Ozaki: It seems so. A couple of police officers say they found you on the sidewalk in front of a convenience store. What a coincidence, right?
Subaru ignores the man's little joke and writes down on the paper. Probably a possible symptom.
Ozaki: ...Ok...Now, we aren't sure what might have caused this so we may need a couple more tests.-
Subaru: -Tests? What kind of...tests?
The man looked at him, then back down to the paper. He flips it over and reads from its contents.
Ozaki: We assume you might've fainted so we need to check your heart rate and from what your parents know, you're not a drinker or a smoker so that's a plus. We will discuss that when they get here.
Subaru: When they...get...here…?
Subaru was confused by all of this. If what this man was saying was true, then that means that everything he knew in that world was a lie. The girl he fought dearly for and the ones who supported him were all, but a dream. He dares to ask the critical question.
Subaru: ...Where...am I?
Ozaki: You're in the Hokkaido Medical Center, but no worries. You'll be home by today. Your parents are on their way right now. They have been so worried about you.
Subaru grits his teeth from complete fear of realizing he was back home in his original world. He immediately gets out of bed and looks out the window. He was in the third story of the building and saw cars driving in the streets below while people casually walked on the sidewalk. There were other taller buildings within the smaller ones with cable wires hanging loose overhead. That pain in his head started returning to him.
Subaru: Please...No….no...
He forms his hands into fists on the glass upon realizing this was no dream. From what this man was telling him, he concludes everything he learned from the other world was only a deceitful lie. Tears of frustration started to form in the corners of his eyes when he realized that the people dear to him had never existed, but only an illusion. This was a dark reality incomparable to anything he has ever witnessed.
Subaru: Take me back…
Ozaki: I'm sorry?
The man looked at him confused because he couldn't hear what Subaru was saying. Subaru shut his eyes so tight, it almost twisted his face. He was shaking in complete despair.
Subaru: PLEASE TAKE ME BACK!
He punched the glass in a bit of rage and ran out of the room past the man. The doctor had to call the nurses to try to stop and take hold of him. Subaru was struggling to run down the hall as nurses tried to capture him.
Subaru: Emilia!...Rem!...
He calls out their names as he tries to run from all of this. He almost trips on his feet as he runs around a corner and almost runs into some hospital workers coming around.
Subaru: ...Ram!...Beatrice!...Crusch-san!
Receptionists and patients stared at him as Subaru's vision was all over the place. It was all becoming blurry like as if he was going to pass out. Sweat starts to accumulate on his forehead from the intense running. The thought of seeing their faces again was now impossible.
Everything here was real. A nurse tackles and grabs hold of him as he sobs on the ground. A nurse held his arm while the other nurse held his other. They tried to calm him, but it was no use. His body was tense. Tears kept overflowing his face in reality of his nonexistent world.
Subaru: No...please no! Emilia!...REEEEEEMMMM!
He cries for the girl he resolved to save and the girl he promised to stay by his side.
Wow that ending was sad...I'll get to chapter two right away!
