Familiar From the Stars
It's been a while, but I think I'm ready to continue. This story will be mainly based off of the Zero no Tsukaima/Familiar of Zero anime, with a few alterations to the storyline to accommodate for the crossover.
This chapter was inspired by Blade of the Void.
Now, let's begin.
Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Death, yet the Force.
Louise frowned as she looked over the text in the datapad that Z had given her to study. It was very contradictory and confusing, but he told her that it was important for her understanding the teachings he would give her. She sighed and put down the datapad, her thoughts drifting to the upcoming Familiar Exhibition.
"Is something wrong?" asked Z from where he was meditating in the corner.
"I was just thinking," said Louise.
"Care to share?" asked Z.
"Well," said Louise, "there's an event coming up: The Familiar Exhibition, and I was hoping that you could perform in it."
"What exactly do you want me to do?" asked Z.
"Well," said Louise, "you could do some cool tricks with the Force…"
"No," said Z.
"What?" exclaimed Louise, "Why not?"
"The Force is not some toy to demonstrate and boast about," said Z sternly, "it is not to be used in any form of exhibition."
"Oh," said Louise dejectedly.
"However," said Z with a small smile, "I think using my other talents could put on quite a show."
"Really?" said Louise hopefully.
"Do not worry," said Z, "I'll put on a show that will take their breath away. Now back to training young Padawan."
"Padawan?" asked Louise.
"As I have officially taken you as my apprentice," said Z, "you are now my Padawan learner. You are a youngling no longer."
Louise smiled and went back to contemplating the datapad.
xXsceneXx
Later that day, while Louise was in class, Z took some time to help Siesta and the staff with their chores.
"You really don't have to help me," said Siesta as they cleaned the dining hall.
"Don't worry," said Z, "I don't mind a little hard work. It gives me something to do."
Siesta laughed a bit before she gained a far off look, "May I ask you a question, Z?"
"Go ahead," said Z as he wrung out a rag he used to wipe a chair.
"How did you become so strong?" asked Siesta, "I mean you fought a noble and won so easily and you have that strange power you showed us the other day?"
"How I became strong, huh?" said Z with a nostalgic tone, "That wasn't easy. It took centuries of work and discipline. But it's you people that impress me."
"Why is that?" asked Siesta.
"Because of all that you've done and accomplished," said Z, "you build stable lives for yourselves through hard work and effort. You don't have magic or fancy technology to make life easier for you, though I wouldn't mind remedying that second one, yet you are able to do so much."
"You really think that?" asked Siesta.
"I do," said Z as he continued to wipe down the table, "as long as you have the courage to try, humans can do anything and overcome any obstacle."
"I see," said Siesta, "thank you."
"You are very welcome," said Z.
xXsceneXx
After classes ended, Z trained with Louise more, working her to improve her Lightsaber forms by having her dodge or cut pebbles that he levitated her while she was wearing a blindfold. Louise did try, but she ended up with more than a few bruises from the flying rocks.
"You're getting better," said Z as Louise took off her blindfold.
"Isn't there another way to do all this?" asked Louise.
"Normally a student would use a device that floated around and shot stinging bolts of energy at them, but as I do not have one of those handy, we have to make do," said Z, "you are improving though."
"Will I ever be as good as you?" asked Louise.
"You shouldn't compare yourself with me," said Z as he walked up to the tired pinkette, "I've had centuries of training to get to the level I'm at now. However, most normal Force users at your age and rank wouldn't be as good as you are now."
Louise smiled and bowed like he had showed her, "Thank you master."
"Anytime, Padawan," said Z, "now shall we get to meditation?"
Louise nodded and sat on the ground, entering her meditative state.
xXsceneXx
That night, after dinner, Z headed down to the kitchen to get a bite to eat, as he was still looked at strangely when if he sat at the nobles' table. Walking through the door he was greeted with an enthusiastic welcome from the staff.
"Well," said Marteau with a huge smile as he threw an arm over Z's shoulders, "if it isn't our beast of victory, the great and mighty Z! What brings you to the kitchens today?"
"Just wondering if I could get something to eat," said Z, "the nobles look at me funny if I sit at the table and I don't want to cause Louise any trouble."
"Alright," said Marteau, "I think we still have some of the leftovers from the nobles' dinner. Let me whip something up."
Z sat down on a chair as the cooks bustled about and gave him a plate with meat and vegetables in a savory sauce with a roll on the side. Z smiled as he began to eat, enjoying all of the delicious flavors. Looking around he noticed something was missing from the cheery bustle of the room.
"Hey," said Z as he put down his spoon, "where is Siesta? Is she still working right now?"
Instantly, the mood in the kitchen became somber, causing Z to look around warily, "What happened?"
"Siesta doesn't work here anymore," said Marteau sadly, "earlier, a noble, Count Mott, came and personally requested her services."
"And that's a bad thing?" asked Z.
"When a noble like the Count personally requests a maid, it's usually for certain…services, if you know what I mean," said Marteau sadly.
"Why didn't she refuse?" asked Z angrily.
"Siesta has a family to support," said Marteau, "that's why she works here. Working for the Count, she can get a higher pay to support her family."
"I see," said Z as he got up, "thank you for the meal. I must be going."
Z walked out of the kitchen and looked at the twin moons, thinking. He wondered whom he could ask for directions to Count Mott's estate. Luckily, his answer came in the form of a familiar buxom redhead.
"Oh? What are you doing out this late?" asked Kirche, "Did your student kick you out?"
"Miss Zerbst," said Z, "do you know the location of the manor of Count Mott?"
"Yes," said Kirche, a bit surprised at the request, "if you leave the academy, just head due north along the road and you'll get there."
"Thank you," said Z.
"Why are you looking for the Count?" asked Kirche.
"I have business with him," said Z before transforming into a creature that resembled a pterodactyl and flying off in the direction Kirche indicated.
"Kirche!" said Louise as she ran up, "Was that Z? Where is he going?"
"I'm not certain," said Kirche, "he was asking about Count Mott's manor."
"Count Mott?" said Louise, "Why would he ask about him?"
"The Count?" said a new voice, "I may know the answer."
The two girls turned and saw Guiche walking up.
"What do you mean Guiche?" asked Louise.
"The Count came by and left with one of the maids," said Guiche, "I believe your familiar was friendly with the staff."
"You don't think," said Louise as she paled.
"That he went to rescue the maid from the count?" said Kirche, "We're going to need Sylphid and Tabitha."
"We'd better hurry before things get out of hand," said Louise, forming a temporary truce with her rival in order to keep things from getting out of hand.
The two girls ran off, leaving behind a confused Guiche.
"What just happened?" the blond fop asked nobody in particular.
xXsceneXx
After a long flight, Z saw the large manor in the distance and touched down, changing back to his humanoid form with Mandalorian Neo-Crusader armor over his body and a hood over his face.
"Who goes there?" said a guard as Z walked up.
"You will take me to Count Mott," said Z as he waved his hand in front of the guard and used the Force to influence the man's mind.
"I will take you to Count Mott," said the guard in a calm voice.
"Thank you," said Z, "I have important business with him. You will be rewarded for your service."
"I will be rewarded for my service," said the guard.
"Let's go," said Z.
"Let's go," said the guard as he led the shapeshifter through the halls.
Z raised an eyebrow as he looked at the lavish decorations and wondered how much money was spent just to decorate the place when it could be used to help the commoners that needed money. Soon the guard opened a large door leading to a large atrium where a pompously dressed man was standing.
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded the Count.
"I am here to make a request of you," said Z, "Release Siesta into my care and turn yourself into the authorities for your crimes."
"Who do you think you are to give me, a messenger for the palace, orders, commoner filth!" growled Mott.
"Interesting," said Z, "you have a strong mind. Nevertheless, I want you to release Siesta from your care."
"And if I don't?" sneered the Count.
In a blur of motion, Z whipped out two lightsabers and ignited them extending a green blade from one and a blue one from the other.
"Then I'll make you," said Z.
"HA!" laughed the count, "By drawing a weapon here, commoner, you have sealed your fate. I am Mott the Flood, a triangle level water mage."
"So you have a fancy title," said Z as he deactivated his sabers and put them away, "won't save you."
"Oh? Have you decided to yield?" asked Mott.
"No," said Z, "I don't think I'll need my blades here."
"Fool," said Mott, "you will die here."
The Count raised his wand and a torrent of water rose out of the vases in the room and shot at Z. Z simply dodged out of the way and rolled to his feet, allowing the water the smash into the wall behind him. The count waved his wand, sending tendrils of water shooting at Z like spears. Using the Force, Z leapt up and out of the way, before stretching out his hand and pulling Mott's own wand into his hand.
"It seems you can't do any magic without this stick," said Z as he snapped the wand like the twig it was, "that's really too bad."
"Guards!" yelled Mott, "Kill this intruder!"
The guards raised their weapons and charged at Z, but he released a blast of Force energy, sending them flying into the walls hard enough to knock them out cold. Z gripped Mott with a Force Grip and lifted the man off of the ground.
"Now," said Z dangerously, "I'll say it one more time. Let. Siesta. Go."
"You swine," growled the Count, "I am a noble!"
"Wrong answer," said Z as he began to make a fist.
Count Mott began to sputter and choke as Z's Force Grip began to close his windpipe, cutting off his breathing.
"I will take her back once your heart stops beating," said Z.
"Z stop!" yelled Louise as she and Kirche burst in, "You don't have to kill him?"
"Oh?" said Z, "And if I refuse to listen to you? Will you go against me as well?"
"We can solve this without needless death," said Louise.
"She's right," said Kirche, "we can end this."
"This worm is scum," said Z, "he will be a message to those like him."
"Siesta wouldn't want this!" said Louise.
"Are you willing to stand against me, Padawan?" said Z.
"I am," said Louise firmly, "I can't let you do this, whatever the reason."
Z sighed and lowered the Count to the ground, releasing the Force Choke. Before anything could be said, Kirche walked up to the Count.
"Sir Mott," said Kirche, "I am Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst, daughter of the Zerbst family, and I would like to offer this in exchange for the maid this man has requested."
Kirche tossed a small book down in front of the Count, causing him to gasp.
"This is the sacred tome of the Zerbst family," said the Count as he picked it up and leafed through the pages, "I have longed for this for years."
"Then we have an agreement?" asked Kirche.
"Yes," said the Count as he sent for his attendants to fetch Siesta.
"Miss Vallière, Miss Zerbst, Z," said Siesta as she walked in, "what are you doing here?"
"You've been released into our care," said Z, "don't worry about your family, I have a plan that will help me get more than enough currency to keep them happy. Let's just get you back to the castle."
xXsceneXx
After the group had flown back on Tabitha's dragon familiar, Louise and Z returned to the former's room. Louise had to get something off of her chest, so she turned to her familiar to talk.
"Z," said Louise, "would you really have killed him?"
"Yes," said Z.
"Why?" asked Louise, "How can you take murder so easily?"
"Louise," said Z solemnly, "I may teach you a version of the Jedi ways, but I don't walk completely in the light. I have done things in the past. I have fought and I have killed. What that man was doing though, is something that even I find disgusting. I couldn't allow him to continue."
"Then why not alert the authorities?" asked Louise.
"He couldn't have gotten to the position he was at without considerable influence," said Z, "he would have probably gotten a minor fine and then gone back to business as usual."
"But…" protested Louise.
"Louise," said Z, "I was born into a time of war, so I know how to fight and kill, but regardless of what I do, I will not become the monsters that would do such things. Now you should get some rest. We can plan for the Familiar Exhibition tomorrow."
"Z," said Louise, "what you did tonight, would you do the same if it was me and not the maid?"
"No," said Z, "if it had been you, the Count would be buried in the ruins of his manor."
"Alright," said Louise, "good night."