A warrior's spirit

Authors note: Ok this is my first zero no tsukaima fanfic but just to let you know this is an AU with similar yet different settings yet all in the same world, it'll mainly a slight scenery and geographical change but there will be similarities in both magic system and social status. There will be romance as well as adventure for the gang, also all of it will be in 3rd person. I won't spoil you some of the things in here however I will explain certain thing here. Without further ado let's dive into the story.

"speech"

'thoughts'

(interruption and explanation)

Flashbacks

Chapter 1

On a grassy hill looking over the mountains a young man was meditating in the evening sun setting near dusk. His mind was in deep concentration; however he started seeing a battle in his vision, 4 warriors fighting 1 demon, each warrior carries a flag on their backs while the demon has a symbol on his shield, he recognized the symbol on one of the warriors flags as his own, a tiger behind a lotus leaf, the other 3 he doesn't recognize. As he opened his eyes he couldn't get his vision out of his head.

'I've been having the same vision every time I meditate, but what does it mean?' he wondered. Behind him an armored warrior came up, the warrior looked concerned for the young man because he has been a bit distracted as of lately. All he could do now is making sure that the young man is focused on his duties.

"Hiraga sama it's nearly time!" the warrior said. The young man also known as Hiraga Saito turned to the warrior and gave him a nod.

"Fogive me Oda san." Saito apologized as he stood up. "There's been allot on my mind lately." The warrior known a Oda nodded back, understanding what's on his mind.

"The vision?" Oda asked rhetorically.

"I don't know I keep having it. But I do understand this, war is coming and it's going to be old school, and in these years of peace, I can't help but wondering how it would all come to pass." Saito wondered.

"Right now is not the time to worry about the future, you must focus on your current duties." Oda lectured calmly. "we go, preperations must be done." With that Saito followed Oda back to the nearby village. As the two walked Saito fingered a small blue flower pendant giving a faint glow while hanging on a chain around his neck, it was a small token from his childhood. He hoped that someday he would meet the person who gave him this pendant. Little did he know is that he would meet her someday.

Far over the mountains across the open plains and dense forest lies the kingdom of Tristania. And at the palace of the royal family a young pink haired mage looked on to the horizon of the balcony. Her name is Louise De La Valliere, she was the court mage and one of the most powerful ones in the kingdom. There was a dinner party going on in the palace, normally she would be proud of being at the party but she couldn't seem to enjoy it. She twiddled around with her pink flower pendant which also gave a faint glow. Her hind was on the passed as she was thinking about the blue one she gave years prior as she starts to remember.

Flashback

"Here!" a young Louise said placing a blue flower pendant in the hands of a black haired boy. the two children were standing near a flowing creek as they were playing in the flowers. They were bout 4-5 years old at the time when all this was going on.

"what's this?" the boy asked curiously.

"A way to remember me silly!" Louise smiled.

"OK… when we meet again I'll be your warrior!" the boy declared with pride.

"That's a promise." Louise giggle raising her pinky. The boy happily took it and made the vow.

"we'll always be friends." The boy said.

"eh heh! Thank you!" Louise giggled happily.

end of flashback

"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself." A voice called out to Louise. As Louise turned to look at the owner she found her friend and queen standing behind her. Queen Henrietta is Louise oldest friend, they have known each other since childhood, and also they've known each other through their mothers. Both girls are wearing poofy ball gowns, Louise sports a pink colored gown while Henrietta sports a purple colored gown matching her short purple hair.

"I was just enjoying the sunset." Louise said trying to hide her thought while looking disinterested.

"You know I can tell when you're lying right?" Henrietta countered. With that Louise just gave up and sighed in defeat.

"Alright… it's about a boy." Louise said blush.

"Oh! Are you thinking of marriage now?" Henrietta teased.

"It's not like that!" Louise yelled. She took a deep breath to calm herself down.

"I'm just wondering if he still remembers me that's all." Louise answered with a little more honesty.

"You're hoping that he's not married or anything?" Henrietta asked.

"It's not my business!" Louise said dismissingly. "But I hope he didn't." she continued softly with a blush.

"Louise I know how that you are having a tough time with your peers, but someday you will out do them all." Henrietta said trying to comfort Louise. Louise has the most magical power out of all her fellow mages however she has trouble with spells. This causes her to be looked down on by other mages, however those that knew her true potential.

"Any way you have an assignment with Jean Colbert right?" Henrietta asked trying to change the subject. Colbert is one of the courts most valuable mages, he is well known for vast collection of knowledge. Though his passion for experimenting, studying, and creating new technology can sure be a pain for some of the mages around the kingdom.

"Yes. And apparently we are going to study something at the snowy mountains. I don't know what it is he wants to study but I have a bad feeling about it." Louise answered. The snowy mountains are a mountain range that is well known for its snow covered peaks, however there have been rumors coming from the base of the mountains. Some say that there are humanoid monster roaming around while others say that there may be another race hiding at the base. Louise in not keen on going there however that mountain range was where she met the boy. She couldn't help but wonder if he's alright, and because of that she starts to think about him subconsciously.

flashback

"Waaaaaaaaahhhh! Where is every one!? MAMA! PAPA! WHERE ARE YOU!?" a crying young Louise shouted, she was being a bit naughty and got into the forest alone. It was one of her father's hunting trips and she tagged along just to be with him, little did she know that she got herself in this she cried and stood there she started to hear some rustling.

"Who's there?" She shouted in fright. The bush continued to rustle and it gets more intense scarring poor Louise.

"Don't eat me please!" Louise continued getting more frightened by the second. About a second after her outburst a deer popped out of the bushes, Louise yelped in surprise to see the animal just popped out like that. As it turned its head to Louise it ran away from louise. As the deer disappeared into the woods Louise cried out in both fear and anger as she couldn't deal with this any longer.

"I can't take it anymore. Someone please help!" Louise cried. Her crying continued till she heard a voice coming from the same direction the deer appeared.

"Who's crying?" the voice called. Louise was too scared to reply, but the owner soon walked out of the bushes. Louise had no time to assess the boy so she just whimpered in fear.

"Are you ok?" the boy asked.

"I'm lost." Louise answered in a soft yet frightened voice.

"Don't worry you'll be alright. I'll help you find your family." The boy proclaimed. As he help louise up she saw that the boy has jet black hair and dark black colored eyes. His cloths were simple and were a navy blue color all held together by some sort of sash around his waist his eyes were gentle yet goofy at the same time, for some reason she wants to smile with him. With that the two went to find her family.

end of flashback

"The mountain was where I met him." Louise Said to herself.

"You certainly are hoping he would be there huh?" Henrietta asked.

"I don't know. It's been 12 years since I've last seen him. I wonder what he's like nowadays, is he a hunter or something?" Louise wondered.

"well enough worrying for the future so let us enjoy the party Louise, besides a girls got to eat right?" Henrietta told Louise. Louise knew that Henrietta was right so she went back inside to enjoy the beautiful food along with Henrietta and her half elf cousin Tiffania. The 3 girls enjoyed their time together and the company of each other. The food was top notch as always since the chefs were considered some of the best in the kingdom. The music and the food as well as the company were more than enough to distract Louise from thinking too much. One thing she couldn't stand was that some of the nobles were far too arrogant for their taste if they would ever to meet a potential suitor which is highly unlikely around here at the party. Tiffania and Henrietta also share the distaste in those arrogant nobles as well though they did joke on Louise pride which she hold it in the highest regard.

"You're one to talk louise, you've got a pride that even surpasses these nobles." Tiffania teased.

"Shut up, I'm only saying what's on my mind." With that the 3 girls laughed. The party went on for quite a while till midnight, as Louise rode in her family carriage along with her elder sister Cattleya. Out of her two elder sister Cattleya is the more carring of the two, the eldest Eleonore is more strict with Louise. Cattleya cares for Louise happiness and hopes that someday Louise will find that, and if possible she would be there to help her.

"Are you excited for the trip louise?" Cattleya asked.

"To be honest I hope that it won't borring." Louise answered.

"Atleast you have 3 days to prepare, and if possible you might see something nice up in those mountains." Cattleya said with joy.

"I just don't understand why we have to pack light? I mean sure professor Colbert does this to improve effectiveness but to only go with a few essentials is pretty aggravating." Louise is not used to traveling without an entourage. She's used to staying in high quality expensive inns and eating in expensive restaurants, but never camping and staying outside at night. She remembered on her last journey was not the best experience, but she has to admit that it wasn't bad either.

"Sis." Louise called in a soft tone.

"What is it Louise?" Cattleya asked.

"do you think that he is still out there on the mountains somewhere?" Louise asked. Cattleya was the only person besides Henrietta who knew about the boy Louise met in those mountains. Since she's the one Louise could trust with this information, the two sometimes discus and theorize on who the boy actually was. While they had many suggestions and theories, some of them were outrageous. The first one was that the boy was some sort of spirit, like a lost ghost helping others to not get lost while another one was that he changes form for whoever was lost and helps them out. The most realistic view of their theories was that he probably was child of a pioneer, hunter, or a lumber jack who lives in the mountains yet lives a nomadic life style. Their conversations end as soon as they arrived at the manor. As Louise prepares herself for bed she saw the moons out of her balcony window. It was the same set of moons on the day the two separated.

Flashback

Louise and the boy were walking through the woods one night, for over a week they were in the woods surviving on the ration balls which the boy called Hyorogan and of course the wild vegetable and game around them. they bonded thorugh their will to survive, there were time when Louise just wanted to give up but the boy helped her allot. Just recently she gave him a blue flower pendant which gave a faint glow as a sign of their friendship. They continued their walk till they hear a faint shouting.

"LOUISE!" a voice called.

"That's my father! We're saved" Louise said with glee. The boy looked at Louise with a smile, happy to have helped her find her family.

"Come on we'll be free!" Louise said as she ran trying to pull the boy with her. The boy however didn't move and his hand slid from Louise. Louise went only a few feet till she noticed he's not moving. She looked at her friend in confusion.

"Why aren't you coming?" Louise asked

"I'm afraid I have to stay here for now." The boy answered.

"Why?" Louise asked surprised.

"My family will pick me up at a location not far from here, it's all part of training taking part of." The boy answered.

"You mean you won't come? But I want to be with you more, I don't want to forget you!" Louise said with a hint of sadness. The boy walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

"Don't worry, I won't forget you." The boy said holding his pendant. "with this we'll always be together."

"You silly!" Louise cried, she's happy to hear that but she was sad to say goodbye. As the two departed Louise ran to the voice of her father. As soon as they both saw each other they ran towards each other and hugged like there was no tomorrow. Louise cried as she was happy to be back in her father's arms, but she was also sad to have said good bye to her new friend. And because of that every night she would look at the moon wondering is the boy was safe.

End of flashback

Louise continued to stare at that same set of moons which were at the same shape and position since she and the boy went their separate ways. She couldn't help but wonder allot of thing.

'it's been 12 years since we've met.' Louise thought.

"It has been so long." Louise looked down on her sheets.

"what if he has forgotten about me?" Louise wondered out loud. But she has no time to think about that. She lay back in her bed and tried to fall asleep, but even now and then she would wake up wondering about the boy. Meanwhile at the same time across the mountain Saito was laying on his futon clutching the same blue flower pendant that he wore for 12 years, he has never taken it off apart from taking baths. He has been wondering about his vision. But was also thinking about the girl who gave him the pendant he is wearing right now. He still remembered the long pink hair and that crying face as well. His mind however was more focused on his vision.

'Whatever it meant, I'm sure I'll find out sooner or later' with that shut his eyes and went to sleep. Three days later in the early morning Saito was on his knees as he was on his knees checking his gear. He was wearing an armored jacked called a kusari katabira along with gauntlets and vambraces, and greaves to protect his legs. He also sprots a haori and a kabuki mask. As he was arming himself shuriken, knives, a bow with arrows, some bombs of various types, and of course his katana Derffinger. He acquired this magic blade from a few bandits he fought a while ago and they formed a strong bond. It took a while for him to wield Derffingers power but he got the hang of it as soon as he started to understand it's power.

"You ready for this partner?" Derfflinger asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Saito answered.

"You know even though my conscious came from over the mountains I was surprised that you've accepted me for my personality." Derfflinger said.

"Well to be honest I like your sense of sarcasm, and you give some good tips for battle." Saito explained as he placed a few Shuriken in his pouches.

"Still are you sure that it is wise to do some patrols on the other side of the mountain range? I mean it's a different world out there." Derfflinger wondered in concern.

"war is brewing Derfflinger and we must be ready for it, don't get me wrong, I'd like to avoid war as much as we can but if it arrives on our border, then we have no choice but to fight." Saito explained in a grim tone.

tle"Can't argue with that, let's just hope that your gut is wrong partner." Derfflinger added.

"I hope so for all our sakes, then again I hope I'm not jinxing it." Saito told his partner unconvinced with that he went outside to see his squad. All are wearing a type of Kabuki mask and brown uniforms with similar armor and armed to the teeth with bows, blades, and much more. Once the squad went on their way they headed straight for the mountain pass to do some patrol duty.

Meanwhile on the other side of the mountain Louise was grabbing her stuff as she was preparing for the upcoming journey. She was both excited yet annoyed since she knew who will be coming on this trip. The playboy guiche who is the commander of the ondine knights along with his lover Montmorency and some of the other knight mainly Malincorn, Reynald and gimli, there was also Kirche who was well known for her seductive personality, her most recent target was professor Colbert and he was a bit more worried about their age difference being a bit of a problem. Tabitha is Kirche friend, while she is more of a quiet type and sticks to books she seems to understand other people's feeling and is willing to help. Also siesta one of the castle maids volunteered to come with them as she and Colbert are on good terms, not only that she has a taste for adventure and she wasn't to see more of the world. As Louise stepped out of the manor her father duke centurion came up to her.

"Are you sure you want to do this? You know what happened last time." Centurion said with concern.

"I'll be fine father." Louise answered.

"Be sure to come back early, winter is coming and our divinations told us that it will be a bad one this year." Centurion explained.

"We'll be back before you know it." With that Louise went to her carriage and went on her way. Looking out from the window Louise mother Karin and her two eldest daughters Cattleya and Eleonore watched as they see their youngest leave for research journey. Eleonore was the most unconvinced out all the 3.

"That girl is quite foolish, if it weren't for the queen she should have found an elegable husband by now." Eleonore said in frustration. Despite her strict demeanor she only wants her youngest sister to succeed, but she has her doubts.

"Don't be like that Eleonore, she will be fine." Cattleya said confidently. Eleonore wasn't convinced, her younger sister. She knew that Cattleya spoils Louise a bit much to the point she sometimes baby her.

"Now now girls don't be like that. She's in good hands and I trust Professor Colbert. Though I do think that he's a bit odd but he does has her safty in mind." Karin told her two eldest daughter. Little the family know that this trip will be life changing for not just Louise, but for all of them, including the kingdom. Louise looked out of her carriage window as she anticipated for the journey ahead. Meanwhile Saito and his squad are riding up to the mountain pass, ready a long patrol. He couldn't shake the feeling of war coming be his gut was telling him that something big is yet to come. Little did both Saito and Louise know was that fate may play a part and that their paths will intertwine with one another. As they both ride out to their destinations. There was one thing that they both know, that this journey that they are taking will be one like no other.

At the base of the mountain a small village sat there living a peaceful life; however despite their peaceful life style the atmosphere was tense. Everyone are on edge as they often wonder what was over the mountains, many have theories but they all agree on one thing. Over the mountains lies the home of a terror that even they wish not to disturb. One lumber jack went out searching for a sturdy oak tree to make furniture out of. He was walking with caution, looking, smelling, and listening all around. He was on guard because he knows what is out there for he has seen what lies within the forest. He walked up to a large oak and inspected it, he took out his axe and looked around to ensure that he was alone. One he realized that he was he started his work. A he swung his axe her heard a faint booming sound coming from the mountains. He knew what that sound was, and he hoped that he wouldn't be the one to fall prey to what's about to come.

"So the samurai are coming huh? I hope that we won't be their latest victims." He said with fear.

Authors note: Ok I know that I may have been hinting on something but that for you readers to speculate. And yes I have ended this with a cliffhanger but ya'll will find out later.