Once again a big thanks for all the support. As always if you like it and love it, I'd recommend you leave a review and fav and follow.
Kiana stared at her big sister Void as she performed what would later be known as the Herrscher's greatest crimes against humanity. For the most part, it started normal enough, she had seen Mom do it before. Then things went different, she saw all sorts of different colors appearing, many of which she never saw with Mom. Void didn't seem to mind though as she kept at it.
Void would then summon her various pointy sticks and use them to commit unspeakable horrors in front of the child. Kiana saw as Void's lance splashed red on the walls of the room. Her big sister soon lit her victim on fire as their skin burned to black ash. Finally, the older girl would swirl countless amounts of foam on it before placing a cherry on top.
"There…that's how you make breakfast," Void said as she looked at the abomination…I mean masterpiece. Kiana had heard that Herrscher's like Void and Thunder were supposed to be terrifying but for once Kiana actually understood what her parents' warnings meant. "Wanna try?" Void asked Kiana in her nice voice.
"I'm not hungry," Kiana answered. She wondered how Void was surviving with the smell. The little one just assumed it was cause Void was awesome she could withstand the yucky aroma.
"Alright suit yourself, but don't complain if your tummy aches later," Void told the little one as she once against begun her crimes against nature. However, before she could resume desecrating the kitchen, the Herrscher froze much to the young child's surprise.
"Big sis," Kiana said quietly trying to get her sister's attention. Without saying a word, Void quickly grabbed the toddler by the nape of her neck before she used her cool powers to bring them by Momma. Immediately upon seeing Mom, Kiana was sent hovering into her mother's arm. When the world stopped spinning Kiana could only watch as Void disappeared with the dragon-like girl in tow.
"Are you okay, Dr. Einstein?" Cecilia asked. It had been unexpected, one moment Einstein had been checking up on Sirin and the next, the dragon girl had woken up. The Dragoness had screamed in shock at seeing Einstein examine Sirin before lunging for him. It was the only cause of Void that no one had been hurt.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Einstein answered as they looked themselves over. Apart from the mild shock, things were peachy as ever. "We tell none of this to Tesla, she'd most likely freak out," Einstein informed.
"I can imagine," Cecilia answered. "Hopefully Void will handle the issue," She tried to reassure as she looked over Kiana. The little girl didn't seem to bother by what was going on.
"Aren't you getting a little too comfortable with these Herrschers?" Einstein noted. She had seen the way Cecilia was acting and the scientist was starting to worry she was becoming too trusting. "And before you say anything, yes, I am aware of how hypocritical that sounds because of Welt," Einstein added.
"Right now, a small part of me wants to chalk this up to being a dream at best and at worse a hallucination caused by medication," Cecilia answered. "But the rest of me honestly feels like none of them mean any actual harm," She explained. "I can't describe it, but it feels like this is all an act like they are all talk," She noted as she let Kiana wander around. Unsurprisingly the girl went to check on her father and aunty before going for her other Big sister.
Einstein pondered her words, noticing the truth in them. While the Herrschers had done some questionable things, the intentions behind them were noble. They didn't mistreat them, and apart from the treats they didn't even do anything to them. It could still be a ploy, but the evidence of malicious intent was low. The Doctor's own theory about HOV also painted her in a more positive light as well if it were proven true.
"I can't say you're wrong. They haven't done anything to warrant distrust other than their secrecy." Einstein commented. "Perhaps we should just wait it out and see,"
"Perhaps," Cecilia repeated. She was curious to learn the truth Void had promised them. She desired to introduce Sirin to her new sister…or sisters. She sincerely hoped it would be far more pleasant than this. The Valk just hoped Void could handle Sirin's dragon.
"I mean, their competency is becoming questionably," Einstein noted. "You fight till one of you is unconscious and then while they are recovering you leave your captives to go fight in an imaginary space." The Doctor noted. "I am absolutely positive that at this point we can walk out the base and neither of them would be the wiser."
"I must admit that idea is very appealing," Cecilia noted as she saw Kiana begin tugging at the Herrscher of Thunder's hair. "But I still have questions or them, especially with regards to Sirin," Cecilia noted. Void and Thunder were Herrschers themselves having a lot of control over their powers, when Sirin recovered, she would have hoped they would help the girl control hers.
"That's an understandable assumption." Einstein mused. "I remember the original Welt was apprehensive at first about his powers and his very nature," One could only wonder how Sirin would respond upon waking.
"I hope she's okay though," Cecilia murmured. "I want to be here when she wakes."
"I can imagine she feels the same," Einstein added. "I'll go and grab us something to eat. I heard Void was cooking and if she's as good Thunder then I bet it will be delicious," Einstein foolishly said as she walked to the crime scene.
Meanwhile within the imaginary space, Void gazed at the dragon who was hovering in front of her. She could feel the tears streaming down her face as she saw Bella before her. "It's you, it's really you," Void choked as she wept happily. She held her arms open as she approached the Honkai beast for a hug…but Bella had other plans.
"IMPOSTOR!" Bella roared as she swiped her claws at Void. The Herrscher didn't expect it and was struck send her into a nearby floating rock. "RETURN MY QUEEN'S CORE," The dragon screamed.
Void stared at up the roaring dragon from her crater, a broken expression on her face. "Bella," She whispered weakly. "Don't you recognize me?" Void's voice broke.
"DO NOT PLAY ME FOR A FOOL, WORM!" Benares screamed as she fired a ball of electricity at Void. Void just stared at the ball as it engulfed her. The explosion destroyed the rock and left her floating. Her dress was now burnt, and her body was covered in lightning burns. The core within started to heal her body but her heart remained in pieces.
"Please, Bella." Void whispered as she reached out once more. The dragon charged at her once more, knocking her into another rock formation. "Please, you have to know it's me," Void crooked.
"SILENCE!" Bella screeched as she charged once more. This time though she transformed into her human form as she landed atop the Herrscher. "YOU AREN'T MY MISTRESS." She screamed in Void's face, before slashing at her.
Void screamed in pain as Bella's claws dug into her skin. It didn't stop after a single slash as Bella continue her assault on the Herrscher. However, the Dragon soon noticed that with each strike, the flesh and bone would soon begin knitting back together as if nothing happened, nevertheless, she kept at it.
"TAKE ME BACK TO HER! TAKE ME BACK TO HER!" She screamed. "I NEED TO KEEP HER COMPANY! I NEED TO BE THERE FOR HER," Bella screamed as she kept attacking the woman beneath her. Void didn't resist, taking the brunt of the dragon's attack.
"You always were loyal, my friend," Void whispered in between breaths. Bella pressed her claws against Void's throat before digging them in. Void choked on her own blood before the injuries began healing and restoring her body. "I'm sorry, I failed. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to protect you." She continued.
"I SAID SILENCE!" Bella growled. "STOP PRETENDING TO MY MASTER! YOU'RE NOT HER, YOU'RE NOT SIRIN!" Bella continued as she tore into the Herrscher more. The dragon had sensed it, Sirin's core, but Sirin had been sleeping and the core was in this individual that was clearly not Sirin.
"No, I'm not," Void admitted as she caught one of Bella's clawed hands. The dragon tried to use her next arm to strike but the Herrscher caught it as well. "I'm not your master, I'm not the purple-haired girl sleeping in the bed," Void muttered.
Bella watched as the fake moved pulled the dragon's hands lower, right over her heart. "But I am the Herrscher of the Void," The golden-eyed, white hair lady cried. "And…I do have her core," She whispered.
Void released the dragon's clawed hand which immediately, lunged at the core in her chest, before ripping it from its place. Void screamed in horror as the very focal point of her being was torn from her body. What remained of her Herrscher form began to glitch out of existence leaving her in her Moonbeam battle suit. Her eyes had lost their golden glow, returning to a lifeless blue.
"MY QUEEN!" Bella cheered as she held the core…no cores close to her heart. The dragon knew it wasn't her master but having it in its possession made it feel like Sirin was with her. She was going to be so pleased when Bella returned the cores to her.
Bella turned to the impostor, thinking nothing of her as she stared coldly at the half-dead girl. She had tried to deceive her, pretending to be her master, however, Bella had known better. Turning her attention back to the cores, she looked closely to the Void core.
"Forgive me, Master," She thought as she place it into her chest. She would need the powers of the Void to flee this realm. Hopefully, she could beg for her Master's forgiveness for tainting her core after reuniting with her. The Core seemed to accept Bella as its temporary host as it merged into her body. "Alright…now to return to Master," Bella thought as she readied to open a portal back.
She didn't get a chance, as she froze. The memories sealed within the core start to be released into Bella's body. "What is this?" She realized as she saw the events play out. She saw everything up until Sirin's death…and beyond.
Mei woke up with one splitting headache. Rubbing her temples she could make out very faint voices as she regained consciousness. "What happened?" She voiced as she opened her eyes. A familiar blue mop head stood over her with a light flashing in her face.
"Glad to see you're alive, Thunder," Einstein remarked. "I was beginning to worry our main cook would have died on us," She informed. Mei just rolled her eyes at the obvious joke Einstein was making before noticing the stoic expression on her face. "No, I'm serious, Void tried cooking and I swear she was trying to poison us," Einstein deadpanned.
"It wasn't that bad," Cecilia tried to laugh off. "It actually reminds me of my husband's cooking," She noted.
"That's not exactly reassuring," Einstein answered. Siegfied's cooking was registered as a potential weapon in Anti-Entropy's database for good reason. It was always a miracle how Cecilia could eat it, but Einstein chalked it up to her holy blood.
"Nah, that's pretty standard for Void," Mei chuckled. "I swear, she doesn't need her Herrscher powers, just her cooking alone could end the world."
"I don't doubt it," Einstein added. "I'm more terrified of it now, than all the other threats you two made."
"Sorry, Dr Einstein. I'll see about making it up to you," Mei apologized. She was about to get off the bed when she noticed her changed outfit. "Huh," She brought her hands up to her face before glancing at her body.
"Void informed us you had taken weaker forms due to exhausting yourself," Cecilia noted as she fed Kiana some breakfast she had made herself. Void had also been more open in said weaker form than when she was her normal self, and the Valk wondered if the same would be true for Thunder.
"Of course, she did," Mei muttered. "Only she would call our human forms weaker," Mei noted.
"Interesting," Einstein pondered. "Welt never had any clear distinction between being a Herrscher and being human,"
"Welt never had as high a Honkai compatibility as me and Void," Mei corrected. "He could access the power of a Herrscher, but that didn't mean it wouldn't strain him," She pointed out.
"I supposed you have me there," Einstein admitted. "Still, I am surprised you can change forms at will," The Doctor noted.
"Believe me, it wasn't always the case," Mei answered. "I can only do it now because I truly accept my Herrscher side. Before I had always felt it was more a curse if I'm being honest."
"When I had awakened I had zombified an entire city," Mei grimaced as she recalled the memories. "So many people had all just died because of me," She told them. "When I had gotten control of myself, I was so horrified by what I'd done that I attempted to kill myself," She explained. "I mean what was I supposed to do?"
"The Herrscher was still there, it was screaming for me to continue, to free it to finish the job." She whispered.
"Thunder," Cecilia said in pity.
"I would have died as well," Mei frowned. "But she wouldn't let me," Mei smiled as she remembers the white-haired girl who had always stood by her side.
"The Herrscher?" Einstein wondered.
"No, not the Herrscher," Mei answered. "My…um…my best friend," Mei admitted. "Void's human side," She added.
"Huh, I must admit, I didn't expect that considering you know," Dr Einstein noted. They had always been at each other's throats so much that it didn't register they would be friends.
"Hehe, surprising isn't it," Mei replied. "We can barely stand each other so it must be surprising to hear we're friends,"
"Well friends don't act the way you two do," Cecilia interjected.
"Void's human side is my best friend. Void isn't." Mei clarified. "I care about the human, not the Herrscher." She informed. "Regardless of our relationship, it only got more troubling from there."
"Whenever I got too angry, it became easy for the Herrscher to take over. My own emotions were now weapons against me." Mei explained. "It had gotten so bad, that as a safety precaution…a bomb had been planted right above my heart."
Cecilia winced at the thought. To be treated like that must have been awful for the poor girl.
"If the Herrscher of Thunder ever came out, all it would take would be a button push and I'd be dead," Mei explained. "My very existence had been reduced to nothing more than a walking time bomb. I was able to curb it, I could channel minute amounts of the Herrscher powers to become a Valk, but I always held back so the Herrscher wouldn't take over."
"How did you get over it?" Cecilia questioned. Thunder seemed more comfortable with her powers now, so what changed?
"Everything started to fall apart," Mei answered. "Bad things happened to my friends, Void showed up and good people close to me died….and I was too weak to do anything."
"I was always so scared and afraid of what I was…I held back. I always had the power to save them, but I never used it. When I finally accepted it, I was at the point of no return. I couldn't lose anymore." Mei then started to chuckle. "The Herrscher was surprised for my decision but she as it turns out…she herself had also changed. She grew to see the good of this world and was willing to be absorbed into me. From that day forward I became the Herrscher of Thunder" Mei voiced. "And the Herrscher of Thunder became me, not two different individuals but one being,"
"That's quite a story," Cecilia noted. Sirin had been similar. She had felt weak when she became a Herrscher, her friends had been dying and her mistreatment at the lab.
"It is what is," Mei answered. "Of course, that's the short version," Mei smiled. "And that was just my experience,"
"Not all Herrschers are the same, Welt and Void have their own experiences that may also help her," Mei noted. "At the very least we can help Sirin find her own path."
"Void said she planned to remove Sirin's core and inject her with a Honkai neutralizing serum," Cecilia explained. "She says that will break Sirin's connection to Honkai."
"And you believe her," Mei said in disbelief. "Void's been injected with more of that serum than anyone else on the planet and Void herself as ripped out my core. Nothing changed for either of us except we were weakened for a while. You're welcome to try but once a Herrscher is always a Herrscher, you just need to help her deal with it," Mei finished.
"I'll take my leave now and go make lunch," she told them as she bowed before leaving.
The room was silent except for the noise of the medical machines beeping and a little white-haired toddler who had fallen asleep during the story. "Are you still sure about adopting three Herrschers as your daughters?" Einstein questioned.
"Admittedly I'm having second thoughts," Cecilia admitted. "But you heard her. That kind of life, it's not easy."
"I concur. Welt may have had its issues but compared to these three," Einstein noted. "I honestly think they need more therapy than anything else."
"Would a loving family suffice till they are ready for that?" Cecilia asked.
"I would give it a 50 50 chance," Einstein noted. "Still…somethings just don't add up," The scientist pointed out. "All these details about a city being destroyed or being Valk. I can't find any valid proof that these events happen."
"I know what you mean. Their histories don't match what we know. Void claims she almost destroyed the world but we never heard of it. Thunder claims she leveled a city but outside of Sirin and Welt we have no records of that." Cecilia explained. "They speak with such conviction and emotion as if what they say is true."
"I'd argue it is. If they wanted to lie, why go with tales so easily disprove?" Einstein noted. "The bigger question becomes….why don't we know it?"
"Perhaps they'll finally explain it once Siegfied and the others wake up," Cecilia noted.
"Let's hope so,"
A.N. Hehe Bella wakes up but the reunion is...not pleasant. Mei shares a bit of backstory but well I'm sure it's too vague and the duo continues to speculate. Next chapter we find out what happens with Void and Bella and perhaps we wake up some more people.