Overcoming Destiny

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Wireless communications"

Ch 5

In another reality, not too far removed from our own, a group of students stood in a rough semi-circle around an inscribed circle with a five pointed star that had various runes inscribed making up the lines of the star. This is the Magical academy standing at the geographical center of the country of Tristain on the continent of Halkeginia. Normally this ritual would be accompanied by light hearted banter and friendly ribbing about what familiar was summoned by their peers. That festive atmosphere was absent at this years familiar summoning because of the absence of one student that was felt by all. They might have thought that their 'teasing' was harmless but they knew that six months ago Louise Vallière was driven to commit suicide based upon the evidence left. There were no signs of such an act having been carried out though so they held onto the hope that she was still alive. It had been decided by Old Osmond the headmaster that, after the familiars were summoned, Princess Henrieta would be the one to call Louise back seeing as she was closer to Louise than every other healthy mage in the kingdom including her family.

Professor Colbert, the overseer for the students this year, was amazed at the wide variety of animals that had been summoned this year. Montmeroncy for example summoned not one but three dog like creatures that were clearly magical in nature. One controlled water the second controlled fire and the male of the trio appeared to control lightning bringing into question just what the girls element was seeing as everyone present thought she was a water mage. Another surprise was when Tabitha summoned a young dragon this one though unlike others appeared to have fur on it and wouldn't allow Tabitha to bind it, but was content to stay with her and Colbert allowed it not sensing any hostile intent, that and after Tabitha explained it was fine for now.

Now came the summoning attempt that everyone was dreading. Princess Henrieta stepped up to the circle all mages line class or above staying in close proximity because it was well documented at how draining a human summoning was.

Looking over her subjects Henrieta noted the looks on their faces. Old Osmond, regal and stoic for once. Karen of the heavy wind stood off to the side, dark circles under her eyes showing the inability to sleep from worry. And finally Professor Colbert who wore the same face as the rest of staff that of hope that the ritual would work and fear of what would happen if it didn't. With the expectations of everyone present resting on her shoulders Henrieta began to chant. "Power of the Pentagram bestowed upon us by the founder. Heed my calling and answer my prayer, please bring my friend, my confidant, my equal Louise Françoise Le Blanc De Vallière back to me."

In another realm outside of reality a weaver chose thousands of new threads as he began to weave them into the grand tapestry before him. Altering events that had to occur, adding new ones, and eradicating others. "It's time." The weaver stated in a whisper that was heard by a certain individual that was training within a game in another reality.

For a moment after the chant ended a magical discharge was felt that just kept drawing more and more magical energy, draining everyone that was supplying the ritual almost dry. As suddenly as it started it stopped, everyone present thought it was a failure, then the circle began to glow shifting through colors like a kaleidoscope. The star within the circle also altered changing to that of a seven pointed star made up of solid lines, no runes within it. The ground began rumbling as the star shrank to a pinpoint before violently exploding outward. If anyone could have been watching from space they would have seen the star rune covering the entire country, before a bright light erupted across the country accompanied by a high pitched keening shriek that faded as quickly as it began.

This would have been lost on Henrieta at the moment because of the ground shaking violently, as if someone was reshaping the land itself. When the shaking stopped everyone stood back up from where they had fallen looking in awe because standing before them was the largest tree they had ever seen. It stood at least a few kilometers in the air with a trunk that somewhat resembled a corkscrew whose base had to cover a couple square kilometers in itself. Looking further up the spread of the branches was enough that they almost would cover the entirety of the city of Tristainia. Their gaping at the tree that wasn't too far in the distance was cut short by a few of the students crying out in pain as they grabbed the right side of their necks and collapsed passing out. Henrieta herself felt consciousness leaving her as she and all those that had supplied her with willpower passed out.

OOooOO

Up in the branches of the tree a group of people began to come to from their recent bout of unconsciousness.

"Can somebody get me the number on that truck." Klein mumbled out as he untangled himself from Louise.

"That would be a negative." Kirito said as he to sat up and looked around. "Louise what did you do?"

"I was insistent on you activating your latent bloodline within Alfhiem for a reason." Louise said sitting up after separating from her husband. "Welcome to Halkeginia where we and all of Alfhiem have materialized IRL within the borders of Tristain, my home dimension."

OOooOO

Everyone at this point had already woken and Lady Sakuya had already determined that yes the writing that had literally inscribed itself on the message board in her office was indeed fact. Turning to the two way radio set that was in the corner Sakuya powered it up, glad that Titania put it in since other means of communication were as yet untried. When it finished booting up she heard static at first before a familiar voice called out. "This is Titania, all Faction leaders seeto your people's wellbeing and report in."

With that Sakuya turned a second set of dials to tune another part of the radio to allow her to communicate with her followers.

"This is Lady Sakuya, if any of you can hear me report in." Sakuya said keying the mike. For the next half hour she got various reports and even had to have some people check on others who couldn't seem to get their gear to work.

OOooOO

In the Gnome capital of Nissengrof at the northern end of Alfhiem and consequently the northernmost part of Tristain as the Geography had been altered in both countries to accommodate the other. George, as he was known in Alfhiem or his given name Kisuke Sarutobi. Irregardless what you called him, he looked out from the mountain top capital, glad that Titania had gotten all of the faction leaders logged on and in place before the transition. He really wished he could have a mental breakdown at the moment but knew that people had voted him into this post for a reason so he hoped that he could do their expectations justice. He was chosen to be a leader then he'd be the best leader that he could. He'd have his breakdown in the coming days after everything calmed down and the full weight of what happened hit him.

OOooOO

Thinker sat on the docks that were on the western edge of Venian as the local water spirit informed them they had materialized in the middle of a Lake making getting on good terms with the locals a top priority. "So we just have to track down a ring? This could take a while." The newly elected leader mumbled to himself as he looked toward the horizon where he could just make out Yggdrasil. "At least I have Yulier with me I can't say that others have been as lucky."

OOooOO

Louise just got off the radio with the last of the Faction leaders. "That's done, we'll be able to present ourselves in a positive light to the people of Tristain."

"So what now?" Asuna asked as the Undine girl looked around at the control room.

"We will be headed to the Academy, that's a short distance from the base of Yggdrasil." Louise declared as she left the room. "Now the question is, do we take the kids with us, or not?"

"I can watch the three of them." Silica offered. "It'll make it more obvious that we're being peaceful."

The rest of the group nodded their consent.

"Oh, and Kirito, please for me if I say change, please go dragon, no questions." Louise said with a pleading look.

"Ok." Kirito answered as Louise went to retrieve the twins.

"Yuki, how's my little girl?" Louise asked cooing as she handed the silver haired infant to Klein who had made an improvised sling from a large triangle of cloth that was there for that purpose, the other baby in the crib started fussing. "And don't think I've forgotten you my little Spriggan." Louise said cheerily as she put together a second sling. "Yes Saito, mama's here." Louise said calming her son down. "Let's be off then." Louise said as Yui was being carried on Lisbeth's back.

It was about a half hour later that the twelve emissaries of the fae along with about 30 other fae that represented the nine fairy races landed just outside of the walls of the Tristainian academy of magic where they wouldn't be seen to soon.

OOooOO

Tabitha was a mere slip of a girl with pale blue hair whom, per habit, was sitting with her face buried in a book. What was unusual in this scene was the furred dragon that was laying right behind her; the dragon had fur that was a few shades darker blue than the girls. Through telepathy the dragon was able to tell her who he was and why he couldn't make a magical contract with her just yet. She didn't understand why his parents showing up had anything to do with it but Nagisa assured her it would make sense before the day was done. She was brought out of her silent musing when Nagisa's head snapped towards the front gates of the academy. Then a few things occurred at precisely the same time. Nagisa took off in a sprint towards the gate calling Daddy. The convoy of twelve fairies with their ears covered by bandannas had left the thirty other fae just in the trees so as not to cause a ruckus. At the same moment as Nagisa's mad dash started Louise yelled Change to Kirito who changed into his dragon form in bright flash of light that blinded the people that saw it though most were bowled over by the shock-wave of air his transformation caused. Right as he did that Asuna looked ready to defend herself as the blue dragon leapt in youthful exuberance only to be grabbed by the nape of his neck by a much larger dragon instantly causing all movement to stop leaving Nagisa hanging limp like a ragdoll.

All of the students stood shakily as they looked over toward the source of blast that knocked them over, blinking away the spots in their vision to see. Wait was that cloaked girl by the gate Louise? They didn't move because they were scared out of their minds by the large dragon before them because they had never seen or heard of a dragon that had as massive proportions as this one. Its shoulder was visible over the walls of the academy and its head was longer than the body of the dragon it was holding in its mouth.

"Daddy you showed up like you and my other self always said you would." Nagisa called excitedly unable to do much but wag his tail not unlike a dog. "And where's Mom and Yui? I can't smell them." He stopped a minute and sniffed. "Wait Yui's here, but where's Mom?"

"Well we can all agree that you're excited by reuniting with your father now calm down and he can answer." Louise said forcefully yet calmly hoping to quell the young dragon's exuberance. "But before he does, how old are you?"

Nagisa sat and thought a minute and for the first time the students realized his forepaws had opposable thumbs. "I'm this old." He said holding up eight clawed fingers.

"Good now calm down so your father can answer, because it's kind of hard for him to at the moment." Louise stated calmly as Kirito lowered the other dragon to the ground. When Kirito let go he began shrinking, to the students shock, revealing a boy that was about their age if they had to guess. "It appears that your wife will be unable to wait after she changes till she retakes her human form." Louise observed causing Lisbeth to turn a deep shade of red. Turning Louise ignored the happenings behind her as she looked toward an old classmate. "Hey Tabitha is Old Osmond available?" Louise asked the blunette that had forgone her book to look with interest at what was in front of her.

"Passed out. Willpower exhaustion." Tabitha answered not that Louise expected anything more.

"I see." Louise said contemplating something as she looked over the present students. "Is my room still available?"

Tabitha gave a slight nod that would have been missed if you weren't looking for it. "Then you're coming with us. Come on guys we can rest for a little bit till the people we came here for wake up.

The students didn't know what to think but it wasn't like they could stop their guests because they were with the Zero.

Louise found her old room easily even having been gone for over two years. She knew just who had been the focus for summoning them so she wished to visit her but she had to make sure a few things were explained to Tabitha.

Tabitha for her part was confused by all that occurred but was waiting because she knew an explanation was coming.

"Ok Tabitha I'm assuming that you're ready for a few explanations?" Louise asked as she covered herself so she could feed Yuki after trading children with Klein causing Tabitha's eyes to widen in surprise.

'Was this why Louise disappeared?' Tabitha asked herself before voicing her first question. "Husband?"

This caused a beaming smile to spread across Louise's face. "Yep this is my Husband Ryoutarou Tsuboi or more commonly known as Klein."

Tabitha nodded acknowledging Klein before returning her attention to Louise. "Nagisa not Familiar?"

Louise broke out laughing at what appeared to be a private joke that only she got for a few minutes before calming down enough to speak. "Tabitha I present to you your husband." This made Tabitha's eyes widen impossibly wide at that as Louise continued. "Because of the way the summoning ritual works from my research if a human or other sentient being like a human is summoned that is the person best suited for you. It even uses a different binding ritual that are essentially your marriage vows. Though it happens so rarely that it's not widely known."

"So you're saying that my son, who's not even conceived yet already, has a bride?" Kirito asked indignantly.

"Yes. He was pulled from the future in this case at least ten years if my guess isn't too far off." Louise answered the furious spriggan. "At least this way you know it's coming and you are able to prepare him for it, because from what I've seen you've done that. You can think of this as the more ideal summoning, because I don't think he was pulled from somewhere that was a life and death situation where him being there could make or break the outcome. Besides with the lifespan that the Dragon Kin have, a decade or two difference in age ultimately won't matter."

He may not have liked it but Kirito calmed down about it because he could see the sense in it. It wasn't like they could do anything for a few years anyway.

"Children?" Tabitha asked after the last questions drama calmed.

Thinking for a minute Louise decided what she possibly was asking about. "I've been on another world for almost two and a half years, and married for half that."

Tabitha nodded in answer because that was close enough to what she was looking for. Inadvertently she now knew that Louise was two years older than she was. Tabitha thought she must be imagining things but Louise now had the air of royalty about her that had been absent six months ago but she was sure she'd get to the bottom of that soon enough. But for now she'd acquire the proper contract ritual and what it entailed.

OOooOO

Henrieta was slowly drifting back to consciousness after her bout of willpower exhaustion. "Was it a success?" She mumbled to what she thought was the healer in her blurry eyed daze.

"Yes it was Henrieta." A voice that was vaguely familiar to her answered causing her to blink her eyes to clear them.

"Louise Francoise?" Henrieta asked sitting up slowly not believing it worked.

"Yes I'm here. You're not dreaming." Louise answered as Henrieta squealed in delight and threw herself at her friend, enveloping her in a hug knocking off the bandanna in the process revealing Louise's ears.

Seeing the elongated ears not unlike an elf's Henrieta started in fear and held Louise at arms-length getting a good look at her. Louise was wearing a white shirt and light pink leggings with some type of light leather boots on her feet that reached mid-calf this was all covered by a white trench coat with dark pink trim and had the hilt of a sword peaking over her right shoulder, leather strips appearing to hold the sheath held by silver buttons at about the level of her collarbone. "If you're really Louise Francoise what was our favorite activity when we were younger?"

"We loved to give our caretakers fits by hiding from them in the gardens even though it tore our clothes." Louise answered with a smirk reminiscing. "And please just Louise."

"No I can't do that that would be improper." Henrieta shot back. "And what happened to you? Did the elves capture you?"

"No the elves didn't get a hold of me." Louise answered sighing before shifting her posture and demeanor to one in command prompting Henrieta to do the same as Louise stepped back two paces unfurling her six gossamer wings. "If you won't be informal with my name as a friend, then please do so for a summoned dignitary from another nation that now resides within your borders." With a level look Louise's authoritative tone ramped up another notch. "Henrieta De Tristain 'Crown Princess of Tristain'. My full name and title is now Louise Françoise Tsuboi 'Queen Titania ,Dragon Kin ,of Alfhiem'."

OOooOOooOO