Disclaimer: I own nothing
'Thinking'
"Speaking"
SPELL/ABILITY
(********) = Scene/Location/Time Change
Chapter 9: Replaced by the Demon Gizmo
"It's smaller than you said it would be." Leon complained to his friend.
"I guess it hasn't recovered much since I blasted it to smithereens." Saito replied,
"Am I right Fouquet?"
"Insolent boy," a green haired mage shouted as she revealed herself on a nearby rooftop, "I'll teach you to respect your superiors soon enough."
Sienna sat there in a daze. The air was filled with dust from the commotion, but she could still tell it was her two childhood friends. The young girl was awestruck to say the least. She watched on as the fighting commenced.
"Leon," Saito called to his friend, "Do you think you could handle this guy long enough for me to get Sienna out?"
"I can't promise it'll be in one piece when you rejoin the fight." The boy replied with a smirk.
"Children shouldn't over estimate their abilities." Fouquet shouted as she sent the golem towards the boy.
"Old people should stay out of the fight." The boy replied defiantly as he jumped into the air and forced all of his energy into kicking the beast back.
(********)
Saito saw his chance and made a dash for his friend. When he arrived she was still too stunned for words.
"It's ok." Saito said with a smile, "Leon can handle himself."
"Daaaaaaaarrrrrllllling!" a voice called from above.
Saito looked up and spoke, "Anyway you guys could get her up there?"
"Sure." A bluenette girl replied raising her staff.
Suddenly, Sienna found herself floating up towards the group. As she drew closer to the group she realized they were riding a dragon. She landed safely and looked around to see the faces of her classmates.
"We were never properly introduced." A red haired girl said, "My name is Kirche."
"My name is Tabitha." The bluenette girl said emotionlessly.
"I am the spectacular Guiche!" declared a freckled blonde.
"You sound like an idiot when you say that," added a blonde girl, "I am Montmorency."
Sienna came to her senses and replied, "Nice to meet you all I'm Sienna and this is…" The girl looked around but she couldn't find her familiar.
"The fox girl is fighting the golem with the boys." Tabitha informed the girl, "She appears to have some form of super human strength."
Sienna looked out over the edge of the dragon to see the battle. Aria and Leon were currently beating the golem back towards a wall while Saito fought Fouquet head. The boy deflected the stoned she threw at him flawlessly. She noticed a small dog sneaking up on the woman.
"It looks like their plan is working." Guiche stated.
"Plan?" Sienna replied stunned, "Leon and Saito have a plan?"
Tabitha nodded and explained, "Leon was to distract the golem with his speed while Saito distracted Fouquet. Meanwhile, the wolf pup, Vandal, would sneak up behind the mage and attack. Her spell would fall apart and they wouldn't need to exhaust themselves in a full scale battle."
"This isn't a full scale battle?" Sienna questioned looking upon the battle
(********)
"You're pretty good," Leon shouted to the girl assisting him with the golem, "but what's with that costume of yours?"
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." The girl replied.
"The fox girl outfit." Leon said simply as deflected a blow from the giant mass of stone.
"Oh this isn't an outfit," the girl said kicking the golem hard enough to knock him back towards a wall, "I'm a fox-spirit familiar to your friend Sienna, and my name is Aria."
"Damn," Leon said with a smirk, "I used to joke her about being foxy, but this takes it to a whole new level."
"Very funny." Aria replied with a laugh.
(********)
"Don't scowl at me so much or you'll get more wrinkles." Saito said to his opponent as he effortlessly deflected her attacks.
"I don't have wrinkles!" Fouquet shouted at him as she hurled another stone towards him, "I'm only 23!"
"Really?" Saito said still aiming to distract her, "Could've fooled me."
Infuriated the green haired mage conjured a large boulder and threw at the boy full force. Saito narrowly dodged the attack. He sweat dropped realizing he had probably taken his joke too far. The woman in front of him fumed at the boy's constant joke at her age.
"Why are you doing this?" Saito asked the woman trying to buy time for Vandal to find a better opening.
"So I can get my nobility back." Fouquet replied still throwing rocks at the boy.
"Back?" Saito asked quickly dodging the stones.
"My family lost its nobility," Fouquet said, "but that doesn't matter, Reconquista will give it back when we take power."
"That's sad." Saito said noticing Vandal in position, "There are other ways."
"What would you know?" Fouquet said angrily hurling a wall of stones at him.
Saito jumped towards the woman at top speed. He spun the sword around his body deflecting various bits of stone before landing and charging towards the wizard. Vandal attacked the woman's leg breaking her concentration. As Vandal bore his teeth into the woman's leg Saito slammed into her at full force knocking her off her feet. Vandal released the woman's leg and as she slowly began to slide helplessly off the rooftop Saito grabbed her arm and pulled her to a level section of roof above a window.
"Why did you save me?" Fouquet asked the boy, if she had fallen from atop the roof she likely would've died.
"Because," Saito said not making eye-contact with the woman, "I know somehow that you aren't all bad, and I want to prove to you that there are other ways to regain nobility."
"You're a commoner," Fouquet said with a heavy dose of venom in her words, "I'd hardly call it 'regaining' nobility."
"Are you sure?" Saito said with a slight smirk, "I suppose my family's massacre was kept a secret, but I figured someone would put two and two together when they saw a magic-less blades-man fight."
Fouquet's eyes grew in disbelief; she had heard of the incident from her father long ago, but this boy couldn't be a survivor. Wardes was in trouble if the boy wasn't lying. She laughed to herself looking up at the stars as she thought of how humiliated the over-confident man would be.
"I can get you help if you tell us where they're headed." Saito said to the woman sincerely.
"Help?" Fouquet asked the boy.
"If you swear not to betray Tristain," Saito added, "and help us out now, we could make sure you don't spend life in prison. I can't promise you nobility, but I can give you a job that pays enough."
"Why would you do so much for someone who just tried to kill you?" Fouquet asked genuinely confused by this boy.
"Because," Saito said seriously, "I know that nobility isn't the only reason you joined Reconquista."
Fouquet's eyes widened as she thought of Tiffania. 'How could this boy know so much about her? Had he had royal spies research her? No, that couldn't be…´
"We all have someone we're fighting for." Saito said answering her thoughts as Leon and Aria approached, "Will you help us?"
"What's the job you promised…?" Fouquet answered making the boy smile.
(********)
"Wardes?" a small pinkette girl asked a tall silver-haired man.
"What is it my darling?" the man responded as they boarded the airship.
"Where are Sienna and Aria?" Louise questioned, "Aren't they supposed to be accompanying us?"
"They had other business to attend to back at school." Wardes answered with a smile.
The two proceeded to board the ship in silence. They made their way to the room Wardes had requested and entered to see a romantic dinner already prepared. The two sat down and began to eat.
"Louise," Wardes said watching his fiancé eat, "I think we should get married soon."
"Where's this c-coming from?" Louise asked nervously, almost spitting out her food.
"Well," Wardes explained, "Your hand has already been promised to me in marriage by your father, and I see no reason to wait."
"I suppose…" the teen responded absently.
"I know it's a big decision." Wardes said smiling, "I shall give you time to think it over."
The man stood and left the room. Louise sat at the table alone and starred at her food. She saw no reason not to get married. The man had always been nice to her despite her inability to use basic magic, but this was seemed very sudden and she had no idea how to react.
'I wonder what they would think?' Louise thought about the four people who had been closest to her, 'Henrietta… Sienna… Aria… Saito… what should I do?'
She thought about the dance with Saito and the events that followed. He probably wanted nothing to do with her and wouldn't care. The pinkette recalled Henrietta's busy life as future queen. She probably doesn't have the time. Louise then moved to thoughts of her new friends, but they had left her for school work. The people closest to her had reasons not to care. The pinkette made her decision.
"Wardes!" Louise called; the man entered a few moments later, "I'd like to get married by none other than Wales himself once this mission is done."
"What a lovely idea." Wardes said with a broad grin.
(********)
The two exited the ship and proceeded to the chapel where they were supposed to meet the prince. Upon arrival they were greeted and held at sword point. The two were escorted into the chapel and interrogated by the head guard.
"What is your business here?" the man asked.
"I'm here to get a letter for Henrietta from Wales." Louise explained, "She asked me to herself I am her friend Louise de Valliere."
"Louise?" the man said perplexed, "I suppose it is I didn't recognize you."
The man took off his helmet to reveal a head of blonde hair and two blue eyes. He shook his head and smiled at the girl.
"Wales?" Louise almost shouted from surprise at the boy's disguise.
"Yes," The blonde boy replied, "I apologize for not recognizing you sooner; it's so hard to see in these helmets."
"It was quite the disguise." Wardes said, "May we speak in another room?"
"Of course!" Wales responded ushering them into a side room.
"It's good to see you Wales." Louise said.
"I wish it was under better circumstances." Wales replied sadly, "You said you're on official business?"
"That is correct." Wardes replied, "We are to retrieve a confidential letter from the Princess to you."
"I understand." Wales said, "I know which one you speak of."
"Thank you for your help." Louise responded, "Could I ask a favor of you?"
"What is it?" Wales asked as he retrieved the letter from a drawer.
"Would you marry Wardes and me?" Louise questioned beaming.
"It would be an honor," Wales said with a sad smile, "but I ask in return that you don't read the letter."
"Of course!" Wardes told the man, "We would never invade your privacy."
"Thank you." Wales replied, "Now you two should go prepare for your wedding. You shall be married before the sun sets tonight."
Wales handed the letter to Louise and congratulated the couple on their decision.
"Louise?" Wardes turned to the girl after they had left the room.
"What is it?" the girl asked.
"May I hold on to the envelope?" the man asked.
After thinking for a moment the young pinkette responded, "After we are married, consider it my gift to you."
The man smiled to her, but on the inside found himself extremely aggravated with her newfound confidence towards him. He had hoped she would have obliged then he could have sent the letter with his superior and focused on getting her to join Reconquista. He accepted begrudgingly and the two left to be prepared.
(********)
The sun had sunk in the sky as the event began. Louise hadn't had time to pick out a dress, so she had chosen to wear her school clothes instead. She was standing outside preparing to enter when a tall blonde man approached her.
"Who are you?" the girl asked as the man drew closer.
"Don't worry about that just look here." As he said this he raised his hand to show the girl a stunning purple ring.
Louise found herself suddenly entranced by the ring. She lost herself into the seemingly endless layers of the dark ring's gem. Soon she was engulfed by sleep. When she awoke she no longer had control of her body. She tried to turn her head to look around, but found herself incapable of moving her body.
"Very good." The man said, "Now when you go in there you will marry Wardes and he shall kill the prince. You are not to raise a finger, understood?"
Her body nodded its head in affirmation. Louise found herself mortified at the words the man had just said. Wardes was going to kill Wales and she was unable to stop it. She found herself bawling mentally as she entered the church and walked down the aisle.
"Ah there's the lucky lady." Wales said smiling.
"I'm the lucky one." Wardes replied with a smile.
'Wardes don't do it!' Louise screamed internally.
"Shall we get started?" Wales asked the two.
"Certainly," Wardes said reaching for his sword, "but just one thing first."
Suddenly, the doors to the church exploded inwards sending debris flying everywhere. When the dust settled the shadows of four figures appeared. Two male and two female walked slowly into the room. Behind them in the distance could be seen the massive figure of a dragon.
"Yeah," the boy in the middle said, "just one thing to say to the girl."
The pinkette instantly recognized the voice as that of Saito. As the figures drew closer down the aisle she recognized the girls as Aria and Sienna, but she still didn't recognize the boy.
"I still say we should've waited for the whole 'speak now or forever hold your peace'." The black haired boy joked as he drew his sword from his back and a wolf jumped from his hood.
"Quit acting like a child Leon." Sienna chided, "We don't have time for that kind of irony."
"No I agree with the boy." Aria added supporting the idea, "there's always time for irony."
Saito drew his sword and pointed it at Louise before speaking, "You aren't my master anymore, so I couldn't care less who you married, but I won't tolerate it being a traitorous, middle-aged, pervert. That would bring my name down, for once having been your servant, and it would hurt Henrietta."
"What's going on here?" Wales asked dumbfounded at the boy's accusation and mention of his cousin.
"Well you see your highness," Leon explained, "the gray haired guy is here to kill you and overthrow Albion."
At those words Wales jumped back and grabbed a sword from a guard. Louise felt herself start to be able to move her body again, but before she could do anything Wardes grabbed her and took the letter from her pocket.
"Wardes!" she shouted, "What's the meaning of this?"
"Stupid brat." The man muttered, "I have the letter, there's nothing you can do."
"I knew you were a creep," Sienna stated inserting her opinion on the situation, "but I never thought you were stupid until now."
"What was that?" Wardes asked furious.
"I'm a blade master." Saito said with a smile, as he raised his sword the mark of the Gandalfr began to shatter a float upwards to nothingness.
"Impossible!" Wardes said, "We made sure to rid the world of you."
"So you had something to do with it." Leon said now fuming with rage.
Saito motioned his friend to calm down and spoke to the man, "Then it looks like you missed a spot."
With that the man lunged at Saito who, having heard of the man's battle style from Sienna, easily parried the shot and struck the man with the side of his sword. Louise found herself too stunned to move, but as she saw the two fighting she decided to stop the quarrel before someone died, probably Wardes by the looks of things.
"Oh please fated guardian," Louise chanted, "Assist me in my time of need and stand by my side. Stop this fight and join me as my familiar."
The room shook as a black portal emerged in front of Louise. This drew the attention of the swordsmen and onlookers. A massive black shadow moved from the portal, but as it entered this realm its shape drastically changed. From the portal emerged a small furry creature, slightly smaller than vandal, it had two large ears and two saucer like eyes.
Saito sweat dropped as he looked at his replacement and spoke, "My replacement is Gremlin Gizmo?"
"That's hilarious." Leon said with a smirk as Sienna tried to stifle a laugh.
Wardes and Saito resumed their fight as Louise glared at her new familiar. The small creature looked at her innocently as it jumped up and gave her a kiss. This action sealed the contract and almost forced the young mage to tears.
Saito dodged each of Wardes's strikes effortlessly. Wardes, on the other hand, was being battered and bruised as the young blade master found his rhythm in battle. The one-sided fight continued until Wardes eventually collapsed.
"I'll get you back for this boy." Wardes swore as his blonde haired accomplice set off a smoke bomb and the two disappeared.
"Damn," Leon muttered, "he got away and I didn't even get a battle highlight in this chapter."
"Not everything is about you." Sienna scolded the boy.
"I do admit though," Aria spoke up, "That was rather anti-climactic."
"I wouldn't say so." Saito said looking off into space, "We have our first target."
"Target?" Leon asked his friend.
"We're going find him," Saito explained, "and bring the people who killed our families to justice."
(…)
Bummer. I could've done a lot with this, but I decided not to for the purpose of delaying the end of the beginning. I still hope you guys are enjoying the story. If you have suggestions please share them. I can tell you now that despite Saito's words I am going to try and make this story more amusing (more Gizmo of course) and I also intend to bring more romance into this.
If you think my buff up of Saito in his fight with Wardes was a bit too much I apologize. My logic was that a quite infuriated Wardes would be no match for calm and resolved Saito. Anger in a fight can be a great buff, but too much makes you sloppy. Also, Saito already had information on Wardes from Aria and Sienna. This put him at a great advantage and justifies the buff.
With that said and done. I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Leave me some feedback and I'll be sure to get back to you on it. - Lion