Disclaimer

I own nothing but what I write. All intellectual properties belong to their respective owners, that is Noburo Yamaguchi owns Zero no Tsukaima aka Familiar of Zero.

ooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo

Please read & review as I appreciate any comments made

ooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo

Prologue

Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere had never cast a spell correctly in her life. Today would be her final chance to prove herself a mage and a true noble by successfully summoning a familiar in today's sacred second year summoning ritual. If she failed today she would be sent home and knowing her family she would be wed off early to save face by at least getting a political marriage out of Louise.

So it was with a lot of nervous energy that she put on her uniform for what could be the last time and trudged down the stairs towards the field where the summoning would be held, the summoning circle already pre-drawn for all to use. Her pink hair ruffled in the chill morning breeze causing her to pull her black second-year cape tighter around her white blouse and over her black pleated skirt.

"Ho! Ho!" the voice of one red-headed Germanian teased Louise, "I hope we get something other than an explosion in today's summoning!"

"You wait and see Kirche," Louise retorted, "I'm going to summon the most wonderful and amazing familiar ever!"

"Really… That I have to see for myself." Kirche replied.

When all the second-year students finally gathered around the field in front of the prepared summoning circle, under the watchful gaze of one Professor Colbert, a tall balding middle-aged man with glasses, the students began summoning their familiars one after another in alphabetical order by surname. Louise being a Valliere would be going at the end of the line. As each student successfully summoned a familiar, Louise was starting to get anxious and she regretted boasting to Kirche. Left with no other way out she did the only thing she could, she prayed. "O Founder Brimir, please, please, please let me summon something wonderful! If you could I would forever be in your debt!"

There were many different familiars summoned that day, from the mundane like frogs and dogs to the rare like bugbears, fire salamanders, and even a dragon. Louise was shaking like a leaf by the time it got to her turn. So much so that she didn't hear the professor call her name twice. "Why bother with her, she's Louise the Zero," came the callous remark from Guiche de Gramont, a pretty boy lothario with blonde curly locks, "She's just going to make another explosion."

Angrily Louise stepped forward and standing at the edge of the summoning circle she made a final prayer before beginning her incantation. "My wonderful, powerful, and beautiful familiar, somewhere out there, I beg of you, answer my call, and come forth!"

With the aria completed and the wand in her hand pointing forward, she poured forth all the will power she could as she felt the stirrings of her magic working inside her and then the biggest explosion she has ever created spread a cloud of smoke and dust so wide that all were engulfed in it.

ooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo

Chapter 1 – An Act of Humility

A green glowing portal appeared before Louise in her room. By now she was used to this kind of thing. Writing a quick message on a notepad saying goodbye to her friends she wiped away a tear and began changing into her old school uniform, barely squeezing into it. Her cape helping to disguise her large single-edged sword, Derfinker. "Are you sure you wish to leave them?" The sword asked politely in a soft, sweet female voice.

"I'm sure," Louise replied. "If I don't go through the portal it will continue to follow me and may take in someone or something that the summoner never wanted."She put on her belt and grabbed spare solar batteries for it, hiding it all away in her blouse. Extra wands were hidden away in her sleeves and skirt. "At least if it's me I know I can handle whatever it is on the other side… I hope."

She had everything she needed and knew the green glowing portal wouldn't leave her alone, so with a deep breath she leapt into it. She recognized the feeling of being suspended in a void or of falling eternally so she just waited till she saw bright light fast approaching her. Closing one eye so she could preserve her vision when she reached the bright light, she recognized the feeling of falling as gravity took hold of her once more.

All she caught was a glimpse of a familiar countryside and the quickest view of stone walls and maybe even a person before she was engulfed in a massive dust cloud. When she finally hit the ground she crouched into a low battle stance, hands on the hilt of her hidden sword the other hand out in front of her in a classic martial arts stance. Just in case she let out a burst of blood lust and her fear aura to let all those around her know not to mess with her. Even that was difficult because yet again, her body was changing, growing smaller and weaker, back to her 16 year old body.

All the gathered teens in the second year of Tristain Magic Academy were about to hurl abuse at Louise for yet again another explosion when they felt dread as if a wild animal had them cornered and their lives had just become forfeit. They stopped and found it difficult to breathe or move. Most of the familiars ran away some stayed to guard their masters, others just because they couldn't do anything or were too afraid to move.

A short, glasses-wearing blue-haired girl by the name of Tabitha De Nautiful pointed her large, crooked shepherd staff at the smoke and summoned up a wind to blow the smoke away. A tall skinny looking middle-aged man in glasses and an early balding head looked on in surprise. With the amount of bloodlust felt he was afraid for Louise but was even more surprised because firstly, there was nothing around Louise to cause the bloodlust and secondly, Louise herself was poised in a really low combat stance and if he registered correctly, that thick miasmic killing intent, that hot, hot bloodlust had come from Louise.

Once Louise recognized where she was she dropped the bloodlust straight away. There was a collective sigh of relief as those pinned to the ground or immobilized by the bloodlust found they could breathe again. Louise took the opportunity to start speaking, "I'm sorry Professor Colbert. I guess I failed the summoning."

Snapped out of his reverie, he pushed up his glasses and eyed Louise cautiously. It had been many years since he felt bloodlust like he did just then. It seemed to come from Louise yet no one that young could have the battle experience to have such a strong killing intent. "You may try again if you wish. Not everyone gets it on their first go." Although that was true Professor Colbert had yet to see anyone fail on their first try in all his years of teaching.

"No it's ok," Louise almost sighed the statement, "I know I'm a zero and I know that I have failed the summoning spell." Louise sounded almost resigned.

"You have the right to try again Louise. Otherwise, if I fail you you'll be kicked out of this academy." Professor Colbert almost begged.

"No. I'm sure of it. I would simply cause more problems with further explosions."

"Bullshit!" Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt Zerbst, the fiery busty redhead screamed at Louise. "What's with you today. You shouldn't give up so easily after coming all this way. This is not the Louise I know!"

"Aww, that's so sweet of you to care Kirche," Louise teased, "Regardless. I have come to peace with the fact that I am a Zero and I have failed every spell I have ever cast here."

"I can't stand to watch this loser any further!" Kirche turned around and promptly left the group unable or not willing to watch any further.

"Are you sure Louise?" Professor Colbert was genuinely concerned because he had never before been forced to discharge a student because they failed to summon.

"Yes I'm sure." With that Louise left the summoning circle and headed back to her room. Louise was careful while moving to ensure no one would notice the bulge of her sword on her back. Turning around once more to hide it she called out, "I'll see Headmaster Osmond later." Quickly she shifted the sword lower and spun back around to head for her quarters.

ooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo

That night, Louise having skipped dinner was rather hungry and she realized she needed to wash her laundry. "Why don't you get a maid to do it?" Derfinker, her sword asked from the corner of the room she was propped up on. "You're still technically a student and a noble till you leave this academy."

"I'm used to it by now. I see things differently from before now that I have had my eyes opened to the marvels of the multiverse." With that mission in mind she gathered the basket and opened her door to leave. "Please watch my room for me and remember… no speaking ok?"

"Yes m'lady."

She closed the door quietly behind her and years of practice and habit had Louise moving silently and stealthily down the stairways, completely unobserved until she got to the exit. There on the other side of the exit was Guiche, obviously chatting up a first-year student by the colour of her cloak. "Why, I would be delighted to try your soufflé. If it tastes half as good as you look, I would be dining in heaven." Guiche cooed at her leaning into her closer while trying to capture her lips.

The two slowly leaned in towards each other and closed their eyes as their lips touched. Louise aside from wanting to gag over his rehearsed pick up line, took the opportunity to slip quietly by them in a quick roll and back into more shadows.

She headed for the kitchen and even though the Alviss Hall, the school's dining hall, was closed at the moment, she was going to try her luck with the kitchen staff directly. As she got there, the back door was open for the servants to use so she entered to find Marteau, the rotund chef, scratching away at his beard as he joked with some of the other staff. "Excuse me?" Louise implored in the most polite voice she could muster, "Could I be so rude as to intrude upon you for some dinner please?"

Marteau turned around and stared at Louise with a frown. "The kitchens closed and we don't have time to cook up anything fancy for you noble."

"I understand," Louise calmly replied, "I am no noble so even leftovers would be fine."

Marteau watched Louise like a hawk trying to detect any hint of a lie or some sort of ulterior motive. Having come up with nothing he grunted to a large stew pot behind him. "Bread's on the table." He gruffly responded pointing at the bread.

"Thank you chef." Louise meant it as she began to shovel mountains of stew into her bowl before seating herself a the table. "Ittadakimasu" she exclaimed before clapping once almost like in prayer and began wolfing down her food.

Marteau was curious about her so he asked, seeing that the rumours of her had already been around for a long time, "So are you that Louise they call the Zero"

"Yes I am," she managed between spoonfuls, "why?"

"So is it true you can't cast magic and you're getting kicked out of the academy?" He was really offensively blunt.

"Yes, I'm getting discharged."

"So what are your plans then?"

"I don't know yet." She paused to ladle more stew into her bowl. "This is really good chef! I'd say it's magic what you do with food."

"Why, thank you. Eat up hearty!" The chef beamed at her. "I didn't get hired here cos of my looks!" He was proud of his prowess in a kitchen.

"Whatever I decide to do," Louise posed thoughtfully, "I will do it as a commoner. I'll never rely on my noble title again."

"That's some spirit you go there kiddo!" Marteau laughed heartily. "I think I like you. Ever consider working for the academy here with us lowly servants?"

"You flatter me kind sir, but I think I might do some traveling."

"Travelling? Won't your family want you married off for political gain then? At least if you're working here you could say you were learning marital skills so you're not ready yet."

"They may try!" Louise laughed, "But I have a feeling it's not going to be easy."

They chatted like this for almost an hour as Louise devoured her weight in stew. Marteau ever appreciative of someone who liked his cooking took to Louise. If only all nobles would be this way Marteau wouldn't have as much trouble with them.

As they sat chatting after all was eaten, a busty, black-haired maid walked in with a laundry basket and she almost dropped her basket when she saw Louise chatting amicably with Marteau. Louise turned around and with a big smile, she said, "Hello there. I'm Louise Francoise Le Blanc de la Valliere. Who might you be?"

Caught flat-footed, the maid stuttered "M…my… name.. is Si.. Sie… Siesta."

"Just Siesta, no family name?" Louise asked politely.

"Umm… Siesta Hiraga, but just Siesta is fine."

"Well then Siesta, just call me Louise."

"No, no m'lady. I could never address a noble by their name." Siesta nervously replied.

"It's ok. I'm not a noble. I'm just a lowly commoner just like you" Louise tried to soothe her anxiety around herself.

"Could you perhaps be the Louise… they call the… Zero?" Siesta looked down in case she said something wrong. "You don't have to answer if you don't want."

"It's ok. By now the whole school would have known that I, Louise Francoise Le Blanc de la Valliere, failed to cast a summons, so with no proof of magic I am to be discharged." Louise was actually quite calm with her declaration and didn't even seem like she cared too much. "As of now I don't know what's going to happen to me or what my status is, but I dare say I'm going to have an adventure!"

Siesta smiled softly at Louise, maybe even pitying her a little. But Siesta was here for a reason so she gathered up all the tea towels and put them in her basket. Louise seeing this gathers up her own basket and asks out loud, "Could you show me where we do our washing because I guess I'm going to have to learn now."

"Oh no, m'lady… umm… Louise, just leave it there I can do it for you." Siesta spoke over a mountain of tea towels.

"It's ok. I want to learn anyway, and besides you have a mountain of your own to wash. I'll just follow you and you can show me where to do it and how. Ok?"

Siesta could only smile in surprise at Louise's determination to do the laundry. So she nodded and the two set off to the main washing fountain found within the servant quarters chatting back and forth like old friends.

When they finally reached the Lions head fountain spitting forth a warm water jet into the semi-circular basin, Louise watched as Siesta expertly began to wash her load. Louise wasn't an amateur at this either as she began to her own. "So tell me Siesta, how many generations do the Hiraga's go back?"

This was not an unusual question because most nobles kept track of all their genealogy as far back as possible to prove firstly, how fantastically 'noble' their famies are, secondly to prevent too much inbreeding as nobles wanted to keep the magic gene between nobles only. Siesta thought a little before she replied, "I think great grandfather was the first Hiraga, but grandfather always said he was a bit weird always saying he flew here on a metal bird and that he was not of this world." Siesta sighed, "If only that were true, my life would be different today"

Louise laughed. Siesta became embarrassed. "Not that I don't like my life today or don't like working here," Siest hastened to explain, "but you know, sometimes I just imagine the romance of a grand adventure and think why not me. But in the end it's just a romantic fairy tale. But I'm allowed to dream aren't I?"

"Of course you are!" Louise laughed, "who knows, your dream may come true one day. Don't lose hope ok"

Like this, the night passed away under the light of a red and a blue moon. Louise learnt that Siesta's great grandfather was a founder of her hometown of Tarbes, having had the strength and the skill to fight off the orcish horde that lived in the surrounding woods and mountainsides. Nowadays her family take to culling the orcish numbers now and then with the help of the other residences. The two chatted like this, like old friends before they had to depart to get some rest for the day to come. Louise hugged Siesta, which surprised her before returning to her bedroom. She knew what she had to do now and how.

ooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo

Now review please =P