Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero or the Fire Emblem Series. This is merely a work of fan fiction - for fun only! All characters belong to their respective owners!
"How are you feeling Guiche?"
Robin asks Guiche, who was still rubbing his bruised back, an injury he received earlier from the duel as he was knocked back.
They were sitting outside of the headmaster's office to discuss the duel that took place earlier.
Right after the duel and after the crowd dispersed, Professor Colbert asked Kennard, Dean, Franco, Guiche, Robin and Louise to come with him.
They sat opposite each other, Professor Colbert sat next to Guiche and Louise sat next to Robin, her head resting on Robin's shoulder, apparently half asleep.
Kennard and his two lackeys were inside the headmaster's room, being given a lecture and a punishment by the headmaster. Guiche would also be subjected to it soon enough.
Robin and Louise were asked to come by Professor Colbert, as he had something he wished to discuss with the two and the headmaster. It was already morning but Louise still needed sleep, so the Professor would just let her take the day off.
Upon hearing Robin's words, Guiche seemingly ignores the pain and walks over to Robin.
"Do not worry about me lady Robin, In me runs a soldier's blood. More importantly, your form and skill was nothing short of magnificent, as was your brilliant strategy! I am the son of General Gramont of Tristain if you didn't know!"
Guiche puffs out his chest proudly, still holding Robin's hand.
"Maybe I can offer you a lofty position in the army? A square class mage of your caliber would be suitably qualified for a general's position. Maybe in the future when I become an officer, maybe we could fight side by side! Maybe something might even blossom."
Guiche pauses, his eyes meeting Robin's blue eyes.
"...perhaps something more that camaraderie and friendship?..."
Robin sweatdropped.
'This boy...just hit on me...he has decent looks and is surprisingly brave...but what in the divine dragon am I thinking, I'm a married woman!'
Thinking of a way to politely turn him away from her, she suddenly remembers Montmorency.
"Uhm... Errr... What about Monmon? I thought you said you loved her?"
Swishing his hair in dramatic fashion, Guiche boldly replies:
"I believe my love cannot be sated by loving only one woman!"
"Ooookayy now, this is awkward. Guiche. Sadly I have to turn you down."
In unison, Robin, the Professor and the half asleep Louise replies:
"I'm married"
"She's married, Mr Grammont"
"She's married, Guiche"
Guiche froze, rubbing his back again, he slowly gets up and goes back to his seat, slumping down as if in defeat. Colbert raising an eyebrow, Robin lets out a sigh and Louise gives a snort, all directed at Guiche, who has now fallen silent.
The door to the headmaster's office creaks open, the three young men with empty eyes coming out.
The three stop in front of Robin, bowing their heads and apologising in unison.
"We are sorry for threatening you Madame! From the bottom of our hearts we apologise, and plead with you to spare our lives. We're merely foolish young boys, please spare us!"
'Hmph, they only apologise because they know I'm a noble. They didn't bat an eyelash when they though I was a commoner. They even threatened to kill me!'
Robin wanted to take advantage of this situation and make them regret their actions for the rest of their lives.
"Very well, I shall forgive your transgressions now. However, if I ever hear you bully anyone, noble OR commoner, I will hear of it. I will hear of it and you will share the same fate as your puny golem!"
Robin pauses and takes a deep breath...
"DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR YOU ROTTEN LITTLE WHELPS?!"
Robin's sudden outburst of threatening anger catches Colbert, Louise and Guiche off guard, and terrifies the three bullies.
"y...y...yes ma'm! Crystal clear!"
All three of them reply, as they hurry down the hallway, tails between their legs.
Robin crosses her arms, and starts giggling.
"Well that'll teach them!"
Robin nods in satisfaction. Her three companions found themselves speechless.
'Oh dear...what was that saying again? Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned?'
'Shes exactly like mother when she's angry!'
'...I think I may have dodged an arrow on this...'
Colbert, Louise and Guiche's thoughts respectively as they sat up straight.
Colbert clears his throat and stands up.
"Shall we go in?"
Colbert asks the boy and the two girls. The three nod and head straight in, Colbert coming in last and closing the door.
What met them was a familiar sight. Old Osmond and his Secretary were waiting for them.
"Please, have a seat."
Osmond offers the four a seat, as he takes a big puff out of his pipe. Afterwards, he places it on his desk, facing Guiche with a serious look.
Louise however was still deep in thought, even as she sat down in front of the headmaster.
"Chrom...I think I've heard that name before...I can't remember.."
Louise asked herself, as she tries to remember where she had heard the name of the blue haired noble in her dreams. Robin though Louise was just feeling a bit light headed from lacking sleep so she decided to just let her be.
"Mister Grammont, you know that duels are forbidden in this academy. Unfortunately, the 3 boys earlier are now expelled."
"Bwah?!"
Guiche gasped, they got expelled?! Is he going to suffer the same fate?!
"B..b..but headmaster I can explain! You see they started it first and...please don't expel me! My family would disown me!"
Guiche got on his knees and pleaded to the headmaster. Hearing the word "expelled", Louise snapped out of her thoughts and defended Guiche. She thought those three deserved it, but even if Guiche was annoying, he didn't deserve to be expelled!
"Headmaster! Pardon me, but Guiche doesn't deserve to be expelled! Those bullies probably forced him to a duel!"
Louise tries to defend the blonde, he was one of those people who thought of her as Louise rather than the zero.
"Yes headmaster, it is highly probable that they forced him! I saw those three harass him and Montmorency earlier!"
Robin adds, sharing the same sentiments as Louise.
"...no...I asked Sir Kennard to a duel.."
Guiche sadly admits while looking down pitifully.
"...Ohohohoho! What a brave lad you are! Well...boys will be boys! You are free to go young Grammont! See that you are not late for class, THAT is your punishment!"
The headmaster cheerfully replies to Guiche. The blonde puts on a blank, confused expression, as does Louise and Robin, while Colbert and Longueville both raise an eyebrow to his decision.
"Truly headmaster?! But why?! You expelled those three and not me?!"
Guiche was happy but confounded. He was the one who initiated the duel, shouldn't he have a harsher punishment?
'Ah, looks like I'm going to have to explain my decision...'
The headmaster stands up and brushes his beard and closes his eyes.
"Ah young Grammont, I've seen it time and time again, no matter how many times we forbid you students, you'll always have your childish duels...I did not expel those three because of that, their expulsion came from the fact that they threatened to harm our guest, miss Robin. THAT was an offence worthy of a severe punishment, happy that I am she was unharmed! Well, hurry up to your class mister Grammont, and enjoy your day, I still need to speak with these three."
The headmaster replies to Guiche, as he faces Colbert, Robin and Louise.
Still confused at what happened, Guiche just heads out the door, planning on having a change of clothes, then on to class.
"Well...now that's settled, what did you want to talk about Jean?"
The headmaster asks the professor, rather curious himself.
Colbert, adjusts his glasses and takes out a book hidden in his robe.
"I did some research on miss Robin's runes and found...absolutely nothing! Nothing on spells, enchantments, even elven magic!"
Colbert paused, as Louise, Robin, Osmond and even miss Longueville's gave him their full attention.
"So...you've found nothing professor? Not even foreign magic?"
Longueville asks the professor, wanting to know more of his findings. It's not everyday you see something completely unknown in this day and age.
"These runes are unfamiliar to even myself professor. They don't seem familiar to me, and I can't find any connection of these runes to my world. However I've noticed, when I pick up a weapon, they start glowing, and I suddenly feel I'm an expert on that weapon. When I cast my magic, it felt like it somehow amplified it, like what happened earlier."
Robin shares to the discussion what she found out. These runes were not of her world, but the people in this world don't recognise it either.
"Ahhh! Fascinating! Then it IS true! miss Robin, you are a familiar of legend, the Gandalfr! And that makes miss Vallière a void mage! I was merely looking at the wrong place. When I shifted my focus from technical and modern magic to ancient folklore and history, I suddenly found the answers I was looking for!"
Colbert gleefully announces his findings, strengthened by Robin's experience with the runes. He presents the book he brought as a historical book about Ghe founder, Brimir. Louise, Osmond ad Longueville were speechless. Robin however found out that the professor's answers just gave her more questions.
"What exactly is a Gandalfr and a void mage professor?"
"Oh pardon me miss Robin, I forgot you were not of this world. Do you know of the elements and that there are actually 5 of them instead of 4?"
"Yes, professor. Louise explained it to me last night, how people who can use the void element are extremely rare."
"Ah good, then I'll explain the Gandalfr to you. Void mages hold great power, but their spells, powerful they may be, require time to cast. That is where legendary familiars come in. Void mages employ powerful humanoid familiars, one of them, the Gandalfr, I believe is you. The familiar with the power to wield and master any weapon."
Robin was unsure of what to make of this. Although she was a skilled swordswoman, she never felt truly one with her sword as Lon'qu, an old friend, described to her once. When the runes glowed however, she felt like she could spar even against the most skilled swirdmasters. However, this didn't explain anything about her surge of magic power.
"Professor, when the runes glowed as I cast a spell, I felt a surge of magic coming from within me. Is it also an effect of being a Gandalfr?"
"Hmmm...among the books I have read pertaining to void mage's familiars, the Gandalfr was only mentioned as a master of weapons, not a user of magic...however...powers of strengthening a void mage's power belongs to the Lifdrasir, and not the familiar itself. Perhaps the knowledge I possess is still inefficient...
Oh but one more criteria to verify miss Vallière as a void mage and miss Robin as a legendary familiar. Miss Vallière, have you felt a certain link with your familiar? Maybe in your dreams?"
Louise remembers the extremely vivid dream she had last night, about the one with the blue-haired warrior.
"It might be just coincidence professor..but last night, I had a very vivid dream. About humanoid monsters attacking a village. I was about to be killed by one of them, then someone saved me. I think his name was...Chris...no...Crowley...nono..."
Louise was getting frustrated, she remembers his face but forgot his name.
"He had a muscular physique. He was a warrior, but he had an air of nobility about him. He also had...striking blue hair..."
Robin's eyes widened. She HAS told them of him, but not what he looks like.
"...and he had a mark on his right shoulder, didn't he?..."
Louise looked at Robin, surprised at how she knew.
"Y..yes! I think I remember seeing it!"
Robin smiled warmly at Louise. The pinkette though stopped and thought why. Then it came back to her, the man who she met in her dreams and Robin's husband had the same name!
'It can't be...can it?! It's too much of a coincidence!'
Louise put one and one together and couldn't believe it.
"Robin... Your husband's name was Chrom wasn't it?"
Robin nods at Louise. Through some kind of magic, a mental bridge was formed between Louise and her world.
Colbert was completely fascinated by this phenomena however, and was taking notes.
"Oh...ah yes pardon me, I need to write this information lest I forget even the tiniest detail."
Louise though, even with all the pieces fitting perfectly, was still in disbelief.
"But professor, me a void mage?! I..i..it's impossible! I've never casted a correct spell in all my life! They all just exploded in my face!"
Robin puts aside her memories of Chrom for a second to understand Louise's predicament.
"Louise, you told me that void mages were extremely rare right? Well how many mages are exactly like you? I mean, a mage who only summons explosions?"
Louise stopped to think about Robin's words. It's true...but maybe...
"...but maybe I'm just the anti-thesis to one...a rare example of a failure..."
Robin looks at the pinkette, who was slouching on her seat, depressed. However she knew for a fact that Louise definitely was NOT a failure!
"Look Louise, before you summoned me, I disappeared from my world...you could say...I died...I died and forever left my loved ones behind. Through some miracle, someone brought me back from nothingness. Even though I wasn't summoned back into my world, there is hope yet for me returning to them. YOU gave me that hope by summoning me Louise."
Robin smiles at Louise. The pinkette looks up to Robin's eyes and starts tearing up. Louise just remembered that Robin was parted from her husband. She imagined herself losing family, losing either her mother or her father, or one of her sisters, never to be seen or heard from again. Then somehow a glimmer of hope shows itself and assures her that someday they will be reunited once again.
Louise falls into Robin's arms sobbing. Robin gives her a warm, motherly hug as she lets out her tears. Colbert couldn't help but stop writing and smile. The same also went from Osmond, while miss Longueville wipes her eyes at the sight.
"Are you fine now Louise?"
Robin asks the pinkette as she stops sobbing and wipes her eyes.
"Yes..I'm sorry for that..."
Louise once again composes herself and faces the headmaster.
"Going back to the topic at hand..."
Osmond in all his long years has never seen anything like this. But he believed that announcing that a student was a void mage would lead to unwanted attention, maybe even endanger Louise.
"For now, we must keep this a secret between all of us in this room. Until I've spoken to the Pope and the Princess about this, no one is to mention this to anyone, else miss Vallière's life might be put into danger understood?"
Everyone nods, acknowledging the headmaster's wise decision.
"If that is all, then you are free to leave. Have a safe and productive day. Miss Vallière, if you still need sleep then you may take the day off and rest"
The headmaster concludes, gives a smile, then turns his chair around to face the window behind him.
"I'll notify you once I've found more information. Stay safe miss Robin, miss Vallière."
Colbert adds as he goes outside, getting ready for his own class.
Longueville nods towards Robin and Louise, heading back to her desk outside.
Finally Robin and Louise head out, leaving the headmaster once again alone in his large office.
Osmonds's mouse familiar Chuchu crawls up to his master's hand.
"What do we have today Chuchu?
Ah! Miss Longueville's wearing black today I see, such a seductive one that woman is!
I see..miss Vallière really likes pink ones, so young and innocent!
How about our new friend miss Robin? A beauty like her must wear something lacy and white again no doubt!"
Instead, the mouse-familiar produces a small folded note, apparently nervous.
Osmond opens the note, and to his surprise, shook his very soul...
Dear Headmaster
It has come to my attention that, whenever me and Louise visit your office, you command your mouse to spy on our underwear. Since we're tired and I have a lot in my mind, I've decided to ignore it just once. HOWEVER when we come back and you attempt this one more time, IWILL shove your mouse DOWN YOUR THROAT and SET YOU ON FIRE. Do I make myself clear you OLD PERVERTED BASTARD?
Love~
Robin
P.s. Look at your door
Still shaking, Osmond saw an eye looking through his slightly ajar door, filled with malice and murderous intent. His door then slammed shut, releasing an icy breeze.
Chuchu hid inside his master's beard as Osmond hid under his desk.
"Chuchu...I think we should rethink our strategy..."
The mouse squeaks, as if to acknowledge his master.
'Well...I he's learnt his lesson...damn pervert'
Robin closes the headmaster's door, her scary face returning to normal. She turns around and faces Louise.
"Do you feel fine Louise? Will you take the day off or will you go to class?"
Louise's drowsiness wore off after their discussion in the headmaster's office. She wanted to take a break and reflect on all that's happened, but she was a Vallière, and it was her duty to attention class like a good student.
"I think I'm ready for class. I need to freshen up and get changed first. If I hurry up I might be able to reach miss Chevreuse's class on time."
"I'll think I'll go with you this time Louise, if it doesn't bother you that is. I want to learn more of this world's magic"
Louise didn't mind at all. She wanted to help her new friend in any way she can.
"Sure, I don't mind Robin. There are unused seats at the back of her classroom. Oh but first I need to change! Let's go back to my room!"
Robin followed the pinkette back to her room. Louise freshened up and had a change of clothes.
Colbert advised Robin to wear her robe when going around the school, so students dare not mistake her as a commoner again. She was actually more comfortable wearing it though, she just felt like it was a second skin to her.
Finishing up, both women headed for the classroom...
"We have earth magic class with miss Chevreuse Huh? I wish we had more fire classes with Professor Colbert, at least they were more interesting..."
Kirche said to Tabitha as she shares her preference to fire magic lessons. Her main element though was fire, so it was understandable.
"Earth...important"
Was all Tabitha would say to her friend, earning her a sigh.
Kirche was about to speak again when Montmorency arrives and sits near them.
"Hi, good morning Kirche, good morning Tabitha!"
"Good morning"
Tabitha was a woman of few words, but was quite friendly to everyone, as she returns the greeting.
"Oh Monmon! Good morning! You feel alright? What about Guiche?"
Kirche greeted her friend. She was also worried about her from last night, she was her friend so it was her duty to be there for her.
"Oh I'm fine, thanks Kirche. Well Guiche..."
She assures her friend she's fine, however she gets cut off..
"Oh my dear Monmon! Have I ever told you how your eyes sparkle like stars under the moonlit sky?"
Guiche comes popping out unexpectedly, making Kirche and Montmorency roll their eyes in annoyance. Tabitha however, just ignored him and kept reading her book.
"Yes Guiche... for the 35th time you said that to me this week.."
She was fond of him she admits to herself, however there were times she would just want to punch him in the face.
"Congratulations last night by the way Guiche, that was quite impressive"
Kirche remembered his bravery last night. Though he was an annoying playboy, he stepped up when he needed to.
"Oh you are too kind milady! But actually I cannot receive all the credit. I couldn't have won without miss Robin's brilliant strategy!"
Guiche became rather fond of Robin. He was disappointed he could not court her, but instead he decided to treat her like a respectable older sister.
"Speaking of which..."
Kirche pointed at the door as Louise and Robin comes in and takes the table beside Kirche's, while Robin goes to the back to watch.
"Good morning Louise the Zero! You just made it with ZERO minutes to spare! Ahaha!"
Kirche enjoyed teasing Louise, heck she considered it her past time. She genuinely thought of Louise as a friend however and took care not to go too far.
Conpetition between the von Zerbsts and the de la Vallieres go way back, so that was how they met in the first place.
"Oh you shut up you red headed hussy! Go smolder yourself in a corner or something."
Louise counters the insult thrown at her.
Robin was watching at the back as the two girls made fun of each other, as if they were sisters teasing each other, much like Vaike and Chrom were, trying to best each other.
Robin was thankful that Guiche was seated four tables away from her, else she'd start growing white hair from the stress.
The two girls' teasing stopped however, as a stout lady came in through the door, carrying books. She looked rather haughty Robin thought.
"Good morning class, I hope you've done all your homework!"
"Good morning miss Chevreuse"
The class returns the greeting in chorus as they all stand up. Robin stood up as well out if respect. The teacher's name was Chevreuse, runic name - Chevreuse of Red Clay - a triangle class earth mage.
"Ah! And you must be Lady Robin! The headmaster informed me of your presence in the academy. I'm honoured to have you here in my class! A noble of such skill at such a young age!"
The lady greets Robin politely
Robin was kind of flattered actually. It seems nobility and rank play an important role in this world.
"Good morning miss Chevreuse, the pleasure is all mine really! I look forward to your class!"
Robin replies politely as Chevreuse smiles and gets her books out.
"You may take your seats students! Today we will be learning transmutation of earth to metals!"
The students take their seats, readying their wands. Robin was eager to see their magic in practical applications, while Louise wanted to impress Robin.
With a flick of the wrist, Chevreuse pointed her wand at the rock she placed on the table. After slightly glowing, it turned into a different shape and colour. She turned a rock into Quartz.
"To mold earth to do your bidding, you must first concentrate your magical energy to your wand and let it flow. Let the energy flow through to your wand and distribute it evenly into the earth. Once you have done that, you may mold the earth into any shape or form, or even change it's composition altogether! Of course, the more skilled a mage you are, the better the results. Square class mages may even turn rock into gold if they wished!"
Robin definitely wanted to try this. Turning rocks into gold? She'd fully equip every soldier in Ylisse with the best armour and weapons in the world - with her pocket money! Heck it would make Anna, her red headed merchant friend from back home, green with envy!
"Pardon me miss Chevreuse, from where I come from, earth magic was erm...rare and I am eager to learn. May I try it?"
Robin asks, wanting to experiment on using earth magic. Chevreuse was amazed though, where she came from rarely had earth magic?
"Feel free milady. I am curious to see what you are capable of myself!"
Standing up, Robin heads to the front. Robin had never used a wand to perform magic. She used magical tomes, and when she'd learn it fully, could cast the tome's powers without the time itself. Taking Chevreuse's instructions to heart, she channels magic into her hands, onto the quartz crystal. A bright flash engulfs it once more and the mineral changes into something even more valuable.
Chevreuse adjusts her glasses and inspects the metal carefully...
"This is...pure gold! Milady, you just transmuted a mineral into a massive nugget of gold!"
The teacher was in awe. Only square class mages are able to create gold in small quantities. The young woman however, casually created the largest gold nugget she has ever seen!
The students weren't as surprised though. Seeing her powers last night, they has already concluded she was a square class mage easily.
Robin was amazed herself. She got it right in the first try. She just can't wait to show this to Anna! She's never used earth magic before, maybe because of these strange runes she is able to.
Louise was really impressed. To get it on the first try and surpass even her teacher? She really wanted to prove to Robin that she was a worthy master to her amazing familiar.
"May I try it next miss Chevreuse?"
Chevreuse composed herself and nodded at Louise. Robin went back to her seat at the back, anxious to see what Louise could do. Chevreuse decided to keep the big chunk of gold, and replaced it with another common looking rock.
'I have to do this right! I need to show Robin I'm worthy enough to be called her master. To prove I'm not a failure!'
"Uh-oh, not again...word of advice miss Robin, take cover!"
Kirche advises Robin, who was watching Louise intently. She couldn't understand however, she knew Louise made explosions but it couldn't be THAT bad could it?
Tabitha closed her book and headed out the door while Kirche, Montmorency, Guiche and the entire class his behind their tables or took cover elsewhere.
Suddenly Robin felt rather...uneasy.
'I can do this! I can do this! I can do this! Just concentrate Louise!'
With a flick of the wrist, Louise swished her wand and concentrated her magical energy. Like Robin and miss Chevreuse, the rock shined.
'Yes! Yes! Just a bit more! Don't you dare explode!'
Louise however was about to be disappointed. The shining rock begins to form cracks and much to her dismay...exploded. With a large booming sound of an equally large explosion, the room was filled with smoke and dust, with tiny shards of the stone flew everywhere.
"You did it again you Zero! You made another explosion!"
A random voice could be heard from one of the students. Louise once again failed a spell and caused an explosion.
Miss Chevreuse was not amused at all as she dusted herself off and opened a window to clear away the smoke.
"Well class...THAT is what happens when you fail the spell. It either does nothing or THIS happens. Is everyone alright?"
Miss Chevreuse says in an irritated tone.
Louise could do nothing but hang her head down in shame and disappointment as her classmates come out of their cover and survey the damage.
"Huh? Where'd miss Robin go? I didn't see her leave the room."
Kirche could be heard, asking the class.
Louise looked around and called her friend.
"Robin? Where are you?"
With a gasp, someone in the class pointed at the ground. Everyone looked at that direction and was shocked.
Robin was on the ground lying unconscious!
Louise runs to her friend's side. Looking at her, she had a small trickle of blood and a bump from the side of her head.
Louise was horrified! She tried to show her new friend that she wasn't a failure, instead she got hurt putting her trust in her!
"Call the nurse quickly!"
Miss Chevreuse could be heard, commanding someone to get the nurse.
It seems the explosion launched pieces of the rock around the room, one unfortunately finding its way to the side of the young woman's head, knocking her out.
"Oh Zero you've done it now! Once a zero always a zero!"
A random voice could be heard from the crowd.
Kirche decided not to tease Louise further, this scene was more than painful enough to her already. Guiche and Montmorency come up and try to wake up the young woman.
'I did this? My stupid prideful self deluded me into thinking I could do it, only for me to not only fail, but to hurt my friend who believed in me?!'
Louise bolted out of the classroom in tears, and ran straight towards her room, locking herself in. She covers her face with her pillow and cries her heart out...
A couple of days earlier...
Within a thick forest somewhere, a ritual took place...
"Araaa? Nothing happened...well that person did say something might or might not happen. He was nice enough to give me enough gold for food to last everyone a month at least."
A well endowed blonde with pointy ears had attempted to summon a familiar, only for nothing to come out. She was rather disappointed that nothing happened, but was grateful to the person who gave her gold just to try and attempt it.
She walks back towards the orphanage within the woods were she lived.
The woman didn't notice it but she was being watched by a shadowy figure in the woods.
"So...it is true. You are here too...ah ahaha!"
The shadowy figure cackles in the darkness. Hijacking the woman's summoning spell, the strange person managed to locate a specific person...
Author's notes
Well, lengthy dialogue scenes, random events and some Louise+Robin moments. Just finished a fight after all, might just slow down the story a bit.
Poor Louise though, I felt sorry for doing that to her, but I did kinda want to be original...
Also don't piss Robin off.
We'll see you guys next time! Review and comment please! If you have any advice for me, feel free to share, this is my first fanfic.