What's up, everyone! This is GKC here bringing you the next chapter of Zero's Origin. A big thanks to Titanic X for the assist last chapter. Go on, say a few words to the crowd, X.
Titanic X: Sure. :) Last chapter was about Origin and his first duel with a jackass noble named Guiche, as well as more moments between him and Siesta. :3 But this chapter is gonna be rather interesting, right, GKC?
You got that right, love. In fact, I'm sure most of you will remember this part. Little fanservice too~! ;3
Oh, and a quick shout out to a reviewer who asked this: "How the hell do you seduce a robot?"
Allow me to explain. You see, in the world of Halkegenia, they have no idea what technology is. For all they know, Origin is a human with magic armor or a golem with a man's soul. So you'll have to understand that these primitives… are pretty freaking stupid. So I understand your concern.
Now for the disclaimer: We do not own, except our OCs, Familiar of Zero or Gundam. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Now let's get this party started… BEGIN!
Zero's Origin
Chapter 3: Nightly Desires
Tristain Magical Academy [1st POV]
There was hardly ever a day that I wished would end soon. However, wishes were nothing more than mere comfort words to ease the soul.
My victory over Guiche left quite an impact on the nobles and commoners within the academy. Students looked at me in fear or anger. Faculty regarded me with caution. Servants and maids gazed upon me in awe.
It wouldn't really be the first time people avoided something they didn't understand. In fact, that's why I didn't blame them if they avoided me. They were afraid. Afraid of what I could do.
"Kyuu?"
Well, except for my dragon friend.
"Sorry, Sylphid," I said softly, giving the blue dragon a little scratch behind her ears. "I've had a lot on my mind." Mostly if I was going psychotic in this place.
"Kyuu!" Sylphid nuzzled her head against my arm, prompting me to chuckle at how adorable she acted.
"Alright, alright, I get it." If I could, I'd be rolling my eyes. Still, I gave her a good pat on the head for being my constant companion during the few short days I've been in this primitive hellhole.
Right now, I needed to get out of these stables. Otherwise, I'll lose whatever sanity I have left and possibly go on a murderous rampage.
I stood up to my full height and stretched. Even though my frame had no need for it, it was still a force of habit. "Well, time to try and fly again."
I beckoned for Sylphid to stand back as I got myself into a launching position. The dragon watched me curiously as I focused on my thrusters.
"Okay," Inhale and exhale. Inhale and exhale. What the hell am I talking about? I can't even breathe. "Fly!" I jumped, expecting my verniers to kick in.
Only to meet failure once more.
This time I landed on my back. I tried moving but I was a lot heavier than I thought. You ever see a turtle trying to get back up when it's on its shell? Yeah, picture that.
Not my finest hour...
"Kyuu!" I heard Sylphid cry out as she sat next to me and started licking my mask.
"I'm fine. I just… hurt my pride a bit." I reached up to pat her head. She purred then nuzzled my head being mindful of my V-fin antenna to avoid poking her eye out.
"Sir Origin?"
Ah, there be the only human girl that I can call a friend right now. Siesta, the commoner maid that would never leave my side after I saved her life from Guiche's idiocy.
"Siesta," I greeted with a nod.
"Why are you on your back?" She asked me innocently.
"Uh…" My mask turned a nice shade of red. "I tried to fly."
"Fly?" Siesta tilted her head cutely. "But that should be impossible unless you're part bird."
"Well, it is possible for something like me. You see these..." I gestured to my vernier thrusters. "...propel me through the air because of gas propellant. When it ignites, I'm able to propel into the air and fly like a bird. Though since I have hardly any idea on how to activate my verniers, I'm permanently grounded."
Siesta gave me this confused look that I realized instantly. I'm talking to a girl that's been living in a caste system for all her life with no form of technology and only magic and nobles being the dominating power.
I fucking hate this backwater planet...
I needed to explain it to her in terms she could understand.
"I use fire magic to propel myself in the air and wind magic to help me glide." I simplified it as best as I could.
"Oh." The girl nodded in understanding. "But why didn't you just say so?"
I mentally groaned to myself at this. "I did, but sorry if it came out confusing."
Siesta giggled, "It's okay. Speaking with you makes it all the more worth it."
"I feel the same way," Inclining my head, I looked down at my servo. "Though I still wish I could eat."
"Huh? Has Ms. Valliere not been feeding you!?" The maid exclaimed indignantly.
I realized that she had no idea...
"Listen. It's not that I-" I never got a chance to finish because Siesta, for some unrealistic reason, managed to grab my hand and pulled with strength I thought she never had.
"Unacceptable! I'm taking you to the kitchen to get a proper meal!" She shouted, looking especially mad right now. Though when she narrowed her eyes and puffed her cheeks, it only made her seem more adorable.
Curse you magical world for denying me another bounty!
Kitchen
Here I sat at a table. A bowl filled with a delicious, mouth-watering stew that I'd dive in at a heartbeat if it meant tasting some form of edible sustenance. The only difference being that Siesta was with me, along with the rest of the kitchen staff.
"Please eat your fill, our Knight." The head chef, Marteau said, roughly slapping me on the back. Good thing I didn't feel it or I would've gotten a bruise.
If I had eyebrows, one of them would be inclined. Our Knight? Seriously? I don't look anything like a… Oh...
Right...
"What's with the title?" I asked, gingerly using the offered spoon to play with the stew.
"Well, Siesta told us you beat that noble in no time flat with weapons and magic no one has seen before." He gave me an inquisitive stare. "You're not a noble, are you?"
"No," I answered swiftly.
Marteau glanced at my uneaten bowl of stew. "Why do you not eat, our Knight?"
"Well, you see-" I tried to explain, but Siesta interjected.
"Are you feeling unwell?" The girl asked with concern.
"No, I'm-"
Once again, I was interrupted, but by the head chef this time. "Does my food not satisfy you?" He seemed to take offense to my lack of consumption.
Okay, this has gone on far enough.
"I can't eat because I'm not human, dammit!" I shouted in irritation.
The two froze. Looking at me as if they'd heard possibly the most insane thing possible. Which isn't further from the truth...
"You're… not human?" Marteau looked at me in shock.
"Of course I am," I replied then looked down at my servos. "I just… don't have my human body anymore."
"H...How can that be?" Siesta asked.
"You can thank my 'master' for that," I growled in response. The bitterness of my lost humanity made my optics flare red with anger. "Her little summoning ritual took me from my home and merged my body with that of the form you currently see before you."
They looked at me with sympathy. I had no need for it.
"I'm so sorry," Siesta apologized. "I hadn't thought about your predicament."
"There's no need for apologies, Siesta," I replied. "You didn't know and were only trying to help. You've been nothing, but a great friend to me and I thank you for that."
She blushed a bit at that. "T-Thank you…" she squeaked.
Once again, curse you magical world for denying me this beautiful girl!
Regardless, now that I managed to let them know about my circumstances, it made me feel a bit better.
"I should leave. I've troubled you long enough." I said briskly.
"Please, you've been-" Marteau tried to retort, but I wouldn't have it.
"It is my decision. I need to be alone for a while." My response seemed to have a less than the desired effect.
"If that is what you wish then…" Siesta looked ready to cry.
A sigh escaped my nonexistent lips. "Siesta, I promise to come to you if I ever feel the need to talk about my problems. I just need some time to myself is all."
The maid didn't seem to brighten up, but she accepted it all the same. "Alright. I hope you'll be alright, Sir Origin."
Marteau patted my shoulder. "I hope you have a chance to try my food at one point, my friend."
"I'll be sure to do that, old man," I replied respectfully.
Although I was still a Gundam… dammit!
Night
The day came and passed faster than I realized.
I spent that time experimenting with my MARS system as well as my other weapons. So far, I seemed to have a basic understanding of how to properly fight with my beam sabers, materialized combat knives, and even a beam staff.
Though it did little to take my mind off Siesta. My outburst hurt her feelings and it tore me up inside.
How could I do that? Keep my friend at arm's length when she's been nothing, but kind to me?
This world is bringing out the worst in me. Before all this, I was a passive man and only believed in the use of violence if only for self-defense or helping those in need. But here? I felt the need to fight every second of every day. If I had blood, it would be boiling with anticipation, yet I didn't know why I felt this way.
It's like my inner demons… are waiting to get out.
So far, if all this pent-up aggression drives me insane then I might as well use it to focus on another point with my new body.
Can't exactly use it on humans. Too messy, for one.
Trees and rocks were all I had for practice dummies.
Right now, I had a longsword composed of the same material as the GN bladed weapons from Gundam 00 and used it to cleave and slice my way through a collection of trees in the forest.
Branches fell and trees tumbled to the ground as I swung my blade. Just using a sword felt right in my servo. Well, if I could still feel, at least.
That's when my radar picked up an anomaly approaching my position. Instinct took over and I swung the blade back when the approaching threat came to me… only to stop my attack when I stared into the reptilian eyes of that salamander that followed Kirche. Flame, if I remember correctly.
"Uh…" was all I could say as I quickly dismissed my sword back into its data form. The salamander continued to stare up at me, which was kinda freaking me out. "Do you… want something?"
Flame bit my right leg and seemed to be trying to tug it.
"You want me to follow you?" I inquired, unsure of how to proceed.
The lizard backs up and looked at me before releasing a garbled cry. He turned around and trolled a few paces before looking back at me.
"I guess I am following you…" I muttered.
My curiosity got the better of me anyway. Following the red salamander was easy since his color made him stand out brighter than a bloody Christmas light. He led me into the academy's dorms, crawling along the floor like… a lizard. Not a good description, but you get the idea.
Eventually, he stopped in front of a door then gestured towards it.
"So, you want me to go in there?" I asked, apprehensively.
Flame moved behind me and nudged my legs with his body. Geez, he's one pushy lizard...
Regardless, I opened the door and entered the dorm room. I hope to God that I'm not about to see something that I'll regret.
When I entered, the room was dimly lit by small candles and burning incense that created a smoky atmosphere. The decor of the place was better lavished than Louise's own room, that's for sure.
Truth be told it kinda reminded me of a brothel.
"Welcome," A dark, sultry, yet familiar voice whispered in my audio receiver. "to my suite, Origin."
Oh dear God. Please be clothed. Please be clothed. Please be-
I slowly turned to face Kirche. The redheaded noble wore a figure-hugging set of purple negligee that left very little to my imagination. Her breasts seemed to be pushing the material to the point it would break.
FUCK! Damn you again, you fucking magical world for denying me this!
"I am Kirche the Ardent. I tend to burn up in the fires of passion!" Kirche continued, moving towards me since I was still stunned stiff.
Okay, so here's what I can glean so far… Kirche sent Flame to get me while she dresses up like one of those skimpy sluts you'd see in Game of Thrones and apparently, wants to fuck my brains out.
Again… Damn you, magical world! Why must you punish me so with this walking tin can of a body!?
"Uh, is there something you want?" I asked the young woman with a bit of hesitance.
"You don't understand, do you?" She crooned. "I am a woman in love. And the one I love," Kirche gestured at me. "Is you!"
...Well, shit. Drop a bomb like that on a guy.
"You looked so handsome when you beat Guiche in your duel!" She added, pressing herself against my frame.
Curse my inability to feel anything! I wanna feel those melons on my chassis, but dammit all! Why can't a good thing happen to me…?
"And that dominating presence of yours," Kirche licked her lips as she leaned up close to my mask. "I just… love it." Then she kissed me… and I still couldn't feel it.
"Kirche!" A voice called out, prompting the two of us to turn to the source… at the window with a boy looking rather agast like he'd seen one of his parents commit adultery.
"Styx!" The redhead gasped. "You startled me! I-"
"I came by here because you didn't show up at the time we set-" Styx was cut off when Kirche retrieved her wand from within the bowels of her cleavage and sent one of the candles to smash into his face, causing the poor boy to plummet to the ground below.
"Ouch," I winced. "He's gonna feel that in the morning."
"Don't worry," The Germanian replied, "He's just an old friend."
I bet he is. I wanted to sarcastically remark, but I kept that comment to myself.
"Now where were we?" Kirche slyly remarked as she leaned up to steal another kiss.
"Kirche!" Another voice called out, revealing himself to be another man, but he didn't get to stay long when Kirche waved her want yet again, casting him away.
"Another old friend of yours?" I inquired with a hint of sarcasm. However, she tackled me onto the bed. And to my amazement, it held my weight… along with hers, I guess. "Whoa, slow down!"
"Sorry, but I can't hold it in any longer," Kirche purred. The sound of her husky breathing and fervent caressing of my chassis was enough to send a mental shiver down my nonexistent spine.
"Kirche!" This time, a trio of boys called out at the window, much to Kirche's annoyance.
"I said, I'll meet you later!" She shouted back.
"You told me you had no lover but me!" They cried in unison until Flame moved towards them and unleashed a burst of fire from his mouth, sending the students falling down to the ground.
Time to go!
Quick as a flash, I pushed Kirche to the side until she landed on one part of the bed, giving me ample time to jump off and run to the door to open it… only to find out that it was locked.
"Shit!" I swore. Time to knock this wooden bitch down. I prepared to kick the door down, but an unusually strong hand pulled me by the collar of my armor and threw me back on the bed.
Goddamn, are all women in this world freakishly strong!?
Before I knew it, Kirche had straddled me and gave me a lustful look, "That was a pretty clever trick. Using the other boys as cover to escape from my grasp, but you can't leave. Otherwise, Flame would've prevented you from trying to escape." She leaned down to look right into my optics. "You see, this is why I love you so much!"
"Oh, really? Then please explain why you love me." I shot back.
Let it be known in the words of a certain aqua-colored soldier from my favorite web series… Don't stick your dick in crazy.
"Ah, well…" Kirche began, looking away nervously until a violent knock reverberated from the door behind her.
"KIRCHE!"
That voice. That pompous, loud, ignorant voice!
A second later, the door exploded off its hinges and spread across the ground to reveal the glowing red face of my pink-haired tsundere tormentor.
Oh, thank Christ! Never before have I ever been more thankful for a loli to come to my rescue!
"Of all people, why my familiar!" Louise bellowed.
Kirche gave the short mage a saucy grin. "Because he's just so desirable… and he'll have more fun with me than with a small girl like you."
Oh, shit… she should not have said that...
Louise's face burned a bright red to the point it could sear a hole through a mobile suit's armor. "ZEBRST!" She screamed, taking her wand out in a show of force.
"Louise, wait!" I exclaimed, hoping to stop the girl.
"Quiet, you dog! You deserve this as well for wagging your tail to this hussy!" The pinkette growled.
The redhead stood up with a look of outrage, "A hussy, am I?"
This is it… I'm going to die here, caught in the crossfire between these two… What a cruel way to go...
"If I'm such a hussy then that would make you nothing more than a little brat!" Kirche shot back.
"Shut your mouth!" Louise retorted.
"Just because you have Origin as a familiar, doesn't mean that you'll be any less of a Zero! Zero magic, zero friends, and zero breasts!" Kirche continued, only making Louise angrier and angrier with each taunt. "I bet your own familiar doesn't even listen to you!"
"Kirche, that's enough!" I intervened, trying to stop the conflict between these two but that only seemed to make things worse...
"Fine!" Louise glared at me with unshed tears, like it was all my fault. "If you want to be with the Zebrst so bad then you can stay here for all I care!"
"Louise, I-" She never gave me the chance to finish because the pinkette had already run away, probably to her room to cry.
"Hmph, now that the pest is gone, we can get back to-" Whatever Kirche tried to say didn't make it to her lips when I rounded on her with an angered expression.
"Why the hell did you say that!?" I demanded.
The redhead seemed confused, and a little afraid, "But that's what she is… a Zero."
"You think she likes being called that name?!" I shouted. "Before I met her, she was a brat, but over the past few days, I began to learn that she was miserable. I could see it clear as crystal. Other kids would mock her size, her attitude, her lack of magic, and even me. All this time, you think she was just taking a mental beating when all you've been doing was pushing her to the brink of despair!"
Kirche actually seemed guilty right now, "I… I didn't mean for that…"
"Of course you didn't, but then again," My optics flared as I stared into her own eyes. "Why would a bully care? After all, it's all a harmless little joke to you." I sarcastically remarked.
She didn't give me a reply. I took that as my sign to leave.
Flame didn't bother to stop me. He just watched me leave his mistress's chambers without so much as a warble.
I decided to return to Louise's room, maybe to comfort her since I figured she'd be crying her eyes out right now. She may not show it to her familiar, but when it comes to me… I understand the signs of a victim all too well.
The walk back to my master's chambers didn't take long. Turns out Kirche's room wasn't far from Louise's.
I raised a servo to knock on the door but stopped myself when I didn't hear any sobbing or sniffling. Usually, that would mean-
I quickly opened the door to stop Louise from doing anything drastic… but my fears were laid to rest when I noticed that the girl was only just sleeping. Her back was turned to me and her breathing was also steady.
I guess I had nothing to worry about...
Taking the initiative, my legs moved of their own accord and prompted my frame to gently sit on the girl's bed as I watched her snooze. I don't even know why I'm doing this. Maybe it's because of my older sibling instincts.
My left servo reached out to strum through the little mage's hair… but I stopped myself. The hand that I would use to calm down a crying child or a terrified animal was no longer of flesh and blood, but cold metal.
I had no right to comfort her. I wasn't human anymore. I'm a killing machine.
The battle with Guiche proved that...
I didn't hesitate to fight. I tore those golems to pieces without so much as a thought. It… honestly scared the hell out of me.
Then again, I only had the soul of a human, but the brain of a supercomputer. I was like Heero Yuy or Setsuna F. Seiei at that moment. All I cared about was defeating the enemy, nothing else.
I had truly become the White Devil, at that very moment.
If I could then I'd be grimacing with disgust at myself. I stood up to leave the room and give Louise her privacy… but a small hand grasped my servo, stopping me.
"Don't leave…" A soft whimper came from the girl resting in her bed.
I looked down at her but noticed that she wasn't even awake. Her expression seemed troubled, but she remained asleep. She must've felt my presence to seek comfort.
"Please… don't leave…" Louise pleaded in her sleep.
Hearing how much pain was in her voice moved my soul. I sat back down and, with a careful yet gentle hand, brought the girl close to my frame. Her little hand keeping a soft, yet firm grasp on my servo.
For all her anger and stuck-up attitude, Louise was just a child hoping for a friend...
...
And I will be that friend. I will keep her safe and protect her till I can go back home with my flesh-and-blood human body.
I will be her guardian. Her comrade. Her friend...
...her White Devil.
Tristain - Royal Chambers (3rd POV)
A few guards stood outside of a large, grandiose oak door lined with gold and silver. Each of these knights guarded one of the most valuable individuals in all of Halkegenia, the Crown Princess of Tristain, Henrietta.
She was a beauty in every sense of the word. Curves in all the right places, a generous bust, a face like an angel, eyes blue as the sky itself, and plum-colored hair that reached her delicate neck.
And right now, she was positively bored.
Her whole life had been nothing but rules and studies. The only time she ever had a bit of fun was with her childhood friend, Louise Valliere.
Then there was her cousin, Prince Wales of Albion. She always looked up to him like an older brother but her feelings grew with age and they eventually led to love.
Over the years, she would send letters to her beloved cousin and he would reply back. It was the only way they could ever communicate with each other… and express their feelings to one another.
Henrietta sighed as she looked out the window to watch the commoners below rustle about while she stood there alone and without a friend. She wished to be down there. To mingle with the crowd and discover new and wondrous things, but she couldn't...
She was a princess and no amount of praying to the Founder will ever change that.
Suddenly, she noticed a speck of light trailing through the sky. The princess squinted to see what the flying object could be, but her vision couldn't make out what it was.
The light flew over the castle and gave Henrietta a better look at it.
She gasped in surprise when it looked to be a flying man? Or some sort of demon with wings and a horn on its head. There were no visible eyes, but the princess felt as if… it was staring right back at her.
Dark blue armor made it hard to properly see it, but it was there nonetheless. And it stopped just briefly before flying off, a tattered cloak fluttering about its frame.
What had that… thing… been…?
Regardless, Henrietta now had a story to tell her dear friend when her visit to the magical academy came around.
Academy Dorms
When Louise awoke, she expected to see an empty space where her familiar would usually sit at to brood or stare blankly at the stone wall.
She also expected him to come back to the room with her rival's undergarments on his armor.
...She did not expect to wake up cuddling in the surprisingly warm metal arms of the Gundam known as Origin.
"Morning, sunshine." He said, jovially.
And her response was to push him away. "W-what are you doing!? How dare you touch me!"
"Uh, you were the one cuddling me." Green glowing eyes looked at her with amusement as he stood up from the bed and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
And like before, she acted like a major tsundere. "Th-that has nothing to do with this!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, of course, not," Origin replied with a hint of sarcasm. "It's not like you were cuddling me like I was a lifeline."
"S-shut up!" Louise huffed, looking away with a tinge of pink on her cheeks.
"Alright, alright, calm down. I'm only teasing." The Gundam remarked.
The pinkette gave her familiar a heated glare, but it did little to frighten the living mobile suit. "And I was feeling generous enough to go into town and buy you a sword."
Origin gave the girl a blank stare (something that's always on his face apparently), "You realize that I'm a walking armory, right?"
"W-well, I just feel generous, okay?" Louise shot back. "We're going into town and we're buying you a sword! A sword worthy for a familiar of the Valliere family!"
'Geez, egotistical much?' He thought in his head. "Fine, fine. We'll go into town and get a weapon."
"I knew you'd see things my way," The small girl smirked.
"Don't count on it." Origin shot back. Had he been able to, he would've rolled his eyes.
A/N: That's it for this chapter. Sorry for how short it is… and for taking so long. I've got college classes coming up so I'll be busy for a while.
In any case, big thanks to Titanic X for co-writing and beta-reading this chapter. She's been a big help so far in my fics.
Titanic X: Yep! :) As I said, I'm more than willing to assist a friend. :)
Well, you've been a big help and I value you as well as my readers and followers.
Forget the haters though. I don't care about them.
Review and comment on this chapter. Love it, hate it, but just know that you've read it.
Peace out, everyone!