Blood on the Sand

Chapter 1: Bone Dust

The crescent moon looked down upon Hueco Mundo. Her light shone on the Crystalline Trees that jutted through the bone dust sands from the Menos Forest far below. A wind blew across the sandy floor of the Las Noches Basin. The large palace of Las Noches gleamed like a pearl in the middle of the sea of bone dust.

The remains of Corridor 22 formed a basin in the sand. Stone protruded from the various points like the ruins of some ancient city buried beneath the sands. Among them, a figure laid. However, this was not the same figure he once was. He now looked human and his mask, which once covered three-fourths of his face was now reduced to a crest along the right-side of his head.

At first thought, one would think he was dead, but then he moved slightly. He moaned and opened his ice-blue eyes.

"Why am I still alive?" he asked aloud.

He tried to move, but his body refused to obey. However, he could move his eyes and he turned them enough to see the Zanpakuto lying next to him and knew what it meant. When he had Aizen turn him into an Arrancar and always in his Resurrección, Aizen told him that if he ever proved to be ineffective against intruders, then he would live but he would lose any chance of re-entering Resurrección again. The Zanpakuto next to him meant that he lost all of the power he wanted except for the basic Arrancar powers of sonído and cero. The power of Aisslinger's Resurrección was forever sealed in the Zanpakuto next to him.

Las Noches

What was this new experience?

He didn't know. All that he could think of was a flurry of words he heard that could be joined with the sensation travelling through his body. Should he call it "pain"? Should he call it "ache"? Should he call it "stiff"? Should he call it "smooth"? He supposed that the words "ache" and "stiff" could apply to the sensation.

As an Arrancar he could not feel or think or speak or do anything other than to fight. He had been made for a single purpose: to counter Yamamoto's Ryujin Jakka. However, a part of him was aware. A part of him knew what was about to occur and wished to stop it, but it was unable to take control. The only one who had been able to at least understand some of what that part was trying to say was…

"Tosen," he moaned. "Where's Tosen? I…I must try to tell him…" he moaned and then he opened his purple eyes as he sat up.

He looked around him. He found that he was truly able to look around at Las Noches. He saw that parts of it were in ruins and he watched as Soul Reapers dragged out equipment from Szayel Aporro's lab. He didn't know the strange-looking man who was directing them as he leaned against Szayel-Aporro's body, which still stood where he died. He saw a Garganta opened and Soul Reapers were dragging things through it back to the Seireitei.

So, it's over, he thought and bowed his head. I should never have let Aizen take away my abilities like that. We were all fools for listening to him.

He knew that he looked very much as he did as an Arrancar the first time around. He didn't know how he ended up back in Las Noches, alive. However, he knew that something was brewing and he needed to find someone who would listen. He grabbed the claymore that lied next to him and found that the weight was just right.

"I better…uh…what's that word? Oh yes, hide before they see me," he whispered and he glanced over at the Soul Reapers who were even now ransacking Las Noches.

Tosen, I'm sorry that you couldn't really understand what I was trying to tell you. If you did, then maybe things would have turned out differently.

If the former Espada could see him they would have a hard time believing that this was the same Wonderweiss they had known. His eyes, which had been dull and empty the first time around were now filled with a fire that had been resurrected with him.

Seireitei

"Captain Unohana, we've found the three that Captain Kyoraku told us about," a Soul Reaper said.

"Bring me to them," Unohana said as she got up from her desk. "Isane, got tell Captains Ukitake and Kyoraku that the ones they've been waiting for have arrived."

"Yes ma'am," Isane said and immediately ran out of the office. "Lead the way," Unohana said to the Soul Reaper.

As they ran, Unohana had one of the teams follow her. They ran to the cluster of trees where another Soul Reaper was kneeling next to one of the three, a man with shoulder-length brown hair and a faded goatee.

"Hush, don't worry," he said. "You're in the Soul Society now."

"Harribel?" Starrk whispered.

"She's here too," Unohana said. "Now, get some rest."

"My…brother…he…he doesn't know," Starrk whispered.

"You have a brother?" Unohana asked surprised. "Is he in Las Noches?"

"No…he's in Lobo De Plata in the Northern Lands."

"What's he talking about?" Hanataro asked.

"I don't know," Unohana said. "But take them to the Squad 4 Barracks immediately. I'll see to them personally."

As the team got the stretchers made and carried Starrk, Harribel, and Lilynette back to the Squad 4 Barracks, Unohana frowned slightly. She had never heard of Lobo De Plata before or the Northern Lands. However, she assumed that they must be in Hueco Mundo and if that was the case then there was more to Hollows and Arrancars than they knew.

However, Unohana knew that this wasn't the time to be thinking of such things. Now was the time for healing.

Lobo De Plata, Northern Lands

"NOW IS THE TIME TO STRIKE!" Guerra Gordav said and slammed his fist on the table.

Lupos Starrk looked at his Third Colmillos. Guerra Gordav was broad-shouldered and heavily-muscled. The twin claymores on his back sealed his Resurrección. His Hollow mask remnant took the shape of a collar with two boar tusks protruding from either side of the neck.

"I would have to agree," Harietta Olmson, his Second Colmillos said. She was a lovely woman whose Hollow mask remnant took the form of an elegant band that wrapped around her head and came down in a V with a single green gem embedded in it just above the nose. Her hand rested on the hilt of the dagger that served as her Zanpakuto. "However, we must also know who we'll be up against. We can't afford to rush into battle without knowing anything about who we'll be fighting."

"However, if we wait too long, someone else could gain the Throne and Crown," Guerra said and ran a hand through his thick black beard.

"What do you think, Aidalla?" Lupos asked his wife and First Colmillos.

"I think that we should wait," she said. "We still have to battle two other factions in our lands before we can focus our attention on Las Noches. The last thing we need is to gain Las Noches at the expense of our own territory. That will show the other factions that we are not as united as we would want them to think and they will attack us before attacking each other."

"So you're suggesting that we look to our own borders first?" Guerra asked.

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Aidalla said. "That way, we'll be stronger than any other faction since we'll have more solidarity."

"It's a good assessment," Harietta said. "However, we should still send scouts to spy out our competition. The most likely one to be a threat to us is Tyanna Luna in the Eastern Mountains."

"Then let's face the bitch head on," Guerra said.

"No," Lupos said.

"My Lord?" Guerra said, somewhat confused.

"Guerra, I admire your willingness to charge straight into a dangerous situation. However, now is not the time for that," Lupos said. "In time, we will focus our attention on Las Noches, but right now we need to focus on the two factions who are threatening my right to the claim of High Lord. However, I do agree that we should spy out potential competition. Harietta, I want you to organize the spy network. We need to have eyes and ears in the major points of power. I also want you to send a team of Fliers to the Western Wastes."

"Why the Western Wastes?" Harietta asked.

"In case you've forgotten, Baraggan Luisenbarn had a younger brother. After Aizen took over, his brother attempted a rebellion, but failed. Ever since then he's been in exile in the Western Wastes. Most of the other factions will not consider him a threat since the Wastes don't have a functioning city and is made up of Exiles. But that's exactly why he should be considered a threat," Lupos said.

"He can build an army in secret," Aidalla said and nodded. "Well done, husband."

"Aidalla, you don't have to sound so surprised," Lupos said but smiled.

Las Noches

"Damn them," Skullak said.

"What?" Cirucci asked from beside him as they watched the Soul Reapers continue their search of Hueco Mundo.

Skullak didn't reply. Instead he looked out at the Soul Reapers and felt rage boil up inside of him. He was reluctant in agreeing to permit the Seireitei access to Las Noches, but knew that one way or another the Soul Reapers would take whatever they were ordered to take. The only reason he agreed to let them search Las Noches was because he wouldn't have to see any more Arrancars die. Too much blood had been spilled and his honor dictated that the victors take whatever they wished.

"Damn vultures," he hissed as he watched Soul Reapers going through the Espada's former apartments. "Damn them all."

"Dear, what's wrong?" Cirucci asked.

"They…they have no respect," he said. He could feel the tears threaten to pour out from his eyes. "They have no respect for the dead. How could they ever consider themselves right when they do things like this?"

"It's the way things have been done ever since a being picked up a stick and hit another on the top of the head," Cirucci said. "To the victor go the spoils."

"I know," Skullak said. "But that doesn't give the victor the right to just rub their victory in the faces of those defeated. Don't they ever think of what they're doing? Don't they think of how the other side feels? Don't they respect the mourning of those who lost loved ones to Aizen's war?

"They don't. They lump us all together with Aizen and they call us 'evil'. Were any of them really evil? Was Baraggan really evil? Was Harribel really evil? Was Starrk really evil? No, none of them were really evil and yet they're…they're gone," Skullak said and he began to weep.

"That's the way of war," Cirucci said. "War doesn't dictate who's right. It only dictates who is left standing and you're left standing. If you want revenge, then do it with all of Hueco Mundo behind you. So stop sulking and get your ass in gear to make it happen."

Skullak looked at her and nodded.

"Then…in order to do that…I must become King of Hueco Mundo, and there's only one way to do that. I must be the last one standing to lay claim to the Throne."

Ángel Caído, NorthernLands

The mountains in the far north were one of the few places he loved to be. It was more peaceful in the fortress of Ángel Caído than it was back in Lobo De Plata where his father was trying to maintain order in the Northern Lands.

Edmonn Starrk watched as the squad of Volante Riders made a circling maneuver and then dive into the valley below. He knew that the Riders would pull the Volante out of their dive a mere ten feet from the ground and go into a practice maneuver where the Riders would glide along the canyon floor. However, the sight always left him in a state of awe at their abilities.

"Ah, I see that you're doing your daily ritual, Edmonn," someone said.

Edmonn turned and smiled when he saw his brother, Edvarrd, and his Soul Wolf, Vulfolaic, walking towards him. Edmonn remembered how when Edvarrd went into the Crystalline Grove to become a full Arrancar their father was surprised that instead of coming out with a Zanpakuto of some kind, Edvarrd came out with Vulfolaic trotting right by him. Even now he didn't understand how the relationship between Edvarrd and Vulfolaic worked although his Uncle Coyote Starrk could have explained it to him.

"Edvarrd, it's good to see you," Edmonn said and embraced his brother. "You didn't use sonído all the way here?"

"How else could I get here so fast?"

"Good point," Edmonn said and chuckled as he got to his knees. "Hello, Vulfolaic, have you been a good girl and keep this idiot from doing anything too stupid?" he asked as he rubbed the Soul Wolf's soft silvery fur. The Wolf gave out a single bark and panted. "I'll take that as a 'yes.'"

"Come on, everyone knows I'm the responsible one," Edvarrd said and shook his head.

"Nope, you're the one who everyone has to keep an eye on," Edmonn said. "Otherwise you'll get in trouble."

"Whatever," Edvarrd said as he leaned against the stone railing. "So, you're watching the Fliers again. Do you want to become one, or are you looking for one of them in particular?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Ah…so, what's she like?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"The girl you've been coming up here to see practically every morning."

"Wait…who told you?"

"You did, just now," Edvarrd said and smiled. "I hope she can keep up with you."

"No, I hope I can keep up with her."

"Good point. Anyways, I better let father and mother know that you're here. That way he won't be too worried about you."

"I'm sure they know that I can take care of myself."

"Oh they know, but you know how a Wolf can be about their pups."

The two brothers laughed and then turned their attention to the Fliers. They saw that the Fliers were about ready to end their practice session. One of them broke away from the rest of the group and flew towards them. The brothers stepped back from the railing just as the Volante came in for a landing.

The Volante had a hawk-like head with its Hollow hole located in the neck. It stretched out its long wings and the brothers could see the sharp claws on its fingers. It let out a small roar before looking at the brothers with its golden eyes. On its back, it wore a saddle designed to fit its lizard-like body and a figure sat on top.

The figure on top was a small thin girl with closely cropped blackish-blue hair. Her Hollow mask remnant was a thin collar around her neck that came up in two points just under her chin. She wore the traditional Flier uniform of a pair of riding pants made from Volante skin tucked into a pair of boots. She wore a vest made from Volante skin with fur lining at the arms and collar. Her Zanpakuto was tucked beneath a sash made from interwoven scarlet and silver cords with a thin gold chain over it.

"Well look who's here," she said, smirking. One blue eye and one green eye flashed with humor. "And why would two of the Starrk brothers honor us with their presence?"

"Uh…I…uh…" Edmonn muttered.

"We came to see how the Fliers are doing," Edvarrd said and slapped his brother on the back. "How are ya holding up, Ciel?"

"I'm doing fine," Ciel said as she dismounted. "Go join the others, Noelani," she said to the Volante and stroked its hawk-like beak.

Noelani gave out a small cry as it nudged her hand and Ciel smiled.

"It doesn't look like she wants to leave just yet," Edmonn said as he held out his own hand.

Noelani looked at him and gave a loud scream as it showed off its fangs and hissed.

"I don't think she likes you," Edvarrd said and laughed.

"I guess not."

"I think she's trying to protect me from something," Ciel said and gave Edmonn a mischievous look. "Isn't that right, Noelani?" she asked and rubbed the Volante's neck.

Vulfolaic let out a bark. Ciel smiled and knelt to stroke the Soul Wolf's soft fur. The Soul Wolf licked her face and Ciel laughed. Noelani bent its head down to Vulfolaic and sniffed at it before giving her a lick on the muzzle.

"Well, it seems that they're at least getting along," Edmonn said.

"How did you get the idea for Noelani?" Edvarrd asked. "Noelani is more of a Southern name, right?"

"I named her after the sister of one of my sister's friends," she said. "She's the Queen of the Amazon Tribes. I met her once and Noelani reminds me a little bit of her."

"I see," Edvarrd said and felt something nudge against him. He looked down and saw Noelani nudging at him and he lifted his arm enough for Noelani to snuggle her head against him. "Huh…she seems to like me."

"I'll say," Ciel said and laughed. "It's because she doesn't view you as a threat. Hey, maybe her namesake won't view you as a threat either."

"WHAT?" Edvarrd shouted and looked at her. "Are you joking?"

"No, I'm being serious," Ciel said. "I know. Maybe I should drag you down to the Southern Plains the next time I pay them a visit."

"I would rather stay in the North."

"What about you, Edmonn? Would you like to visit the South sometime?"

"Oh…uh…maybe…I guess," Edmonn said as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Well, how about we just go for a ride?" Ciel asked and then looked at Edvarrd. "I'm gonna borrow your brother for a bit. I hope you don't mind."

"Oh no, I don't mind at all," Edvarrd said and grinned. "As far as mom and dad are concerned, he's going to be here for a while."

"I'm swearing you to secrecy."

"I'm sworn to secrecy," Edvarrd said and grinned.

"Thanks," Ciel said and grabbed Edmonn's arm. "I'm sure that my sister would have been pleased to know that I've decided to court a Starrk."

"I'm sure she would have," Edvarrd said and grinned. "Have fun, Edmonn."

"Oh, I'm sure we will," Ciel Apacci said and grinned as Edmonn began to sweat.

Las Noches

Wonderweiss didn't know how long he had been walking. All that he knew was that the sun from the false sky above was shining down, but he could make out the crescent moon in one of the large gaps in the roof. It was a strange effect seeing the light blue "sky" give way to the eternal night sky outside.

He looked around and didn't see anyone. He sighed and rubbed at his head. His head felt as though a dam had burst and now all of the thoughts that had built up behind it were filling his mind. It was a new sensation, but it felt liberating to be fully in control. Yet, he was not accustomed to it and he found himself falling to the sand from time-to-time as he lost his balance. However, with each step he took, he became more accustomed to maintaining balance.

"Damn it," he muttered as he tripped over his feet, but it was only the third time in the past thirty minutes. "I hate falling," he muttered as he got up and wiped the sand off the remnants of his old Arrancar uniform.

"LOOK OUT!" someone shouted.

Wonderweiss didn't have time to react when someone ran into him. He yelled as he found himself flying and tumbling with the Arrancar who struck him. He saw a young female Arrancar wearing a white dress with a black belt from which hung a dagger and a white jerkin with a small black frilled collar. She had shortly-cropped blonde hair with her mask remnant taking the form of a wavy hair decoration on the left side of her hair from which a braid of longer black hair hung, clashing with the closely cropped blonde hair.

"You're rather uh…clumsy?"

"Exacta," she moaned. "Damn it, I wish that Skullak was teaching me how to do sonído instead of Gantenbainne. Maybe then I would know how to stop."

"Uh…who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Friia Carias," she said.

"Carias?" Wonderweiss asked. He didn't know why, but there was something familiar about the name.

"Exacta, my brother was Findor Carias, most loyal servant to Lord Baraggan Luisenbarn. And who are you?"

"Wonderweiss."

"Oh...I remember you. Funny, the last time I saw you, you could only make weird noises."

"I know," Wonderweiss said and growled a little.

"Well, it's nice to know that you can actually talk."

"I could always talk. It's just that…whatever Aizen did to me…. I don't know."

"Exacta, very few of the Arrancars in Las Noches were not turned into Arrancars by Aizen," Friia said. "So, how did you survive?"

"Huh?"

"Come on. None of the others who went to fight alongside Aizen came back."

"I…I don't think I survived," Wonderweiss said. "I can't remember anything after going into Resurrección."

"Interesting," Friia said. "Well, I'm sure you don't want to be walking forever. Can you do sonído?"

"I think so," Wonderweiss said. "But, aren't you worried about having trouble stopping?"

"Exacta," Friia sighed. "I guess we better get going," she said and the two began to walk.

Ruins of Corridor 22

Aisslinger did not know how long he lied in the sand before he was able to get some ability to move again. He only knew that he ached and the pain that shot up his back was excruciating. However, he was moving and for him that was important. With each tiny motion he made in his legs and arms and hands and feet and fingers and toes, the pain was becoming less. His body was re-accustoming itself to using arms and legs.

"Damn this weak body," he said through gritted teeth. "No wonder I told Aizen to put me in permanent Resurrección."

He tried to get on his stomach to crawl, but the effort was taxing him. He felt a wave of nausea overcome him and he could see black blossoms.

No, I won't pass out. I must keep…

The last thing he saw before everything became black were two pairs of Arrancar boots appear before him.

The Western Wastes

Mordrath Luisenbarn sat on his throne as he watched the battle from the top of the plateau. Below him, the valley burned as the remnants of the last cero blasts cleared. His forces of Gillians led by the Adjuchas were making their way forward while his army of Arrancars followed. The tribes who stood against him were scattering.

"My lord," the Arrancar kneeling before him said, "we have captured one of the Chiefs."

"Oh…and is it Maullarn?"

"Unfortunately, Chief Maullarn got away along with most of the Crimson Fist Clan."

"Then don't waste my time with whatever piece of shit you caught. Just kill the cabrón who thought he could stand against me."

"Yes sir," the Arrancar said. "I'll pass the order to the Commander."

The Arrancar left and Mordrath sat back. He was slowly making progress, but with the Western Wastes divided into clusters of tribal lands, it was slow going. It seemed as though for every chief he got to side with him, another three would stand against him. However, if he could crush Maullarn, the most powerful of the tribal chiefs…

He got up and stood on the edge of the plateau. His eyes narrowed as he watched his army crush the pathetic offense that Maullarn and his cluster of allies gathered. Mordrath knew that there would be other attempts to stop him, but all of them would fail. He bent forward and picked up a handful of sand and looked at it. There was only one language that the Exiled could understand: fear and blood.

"I will crush all of those who stand against me. I will show them fear in a handful of dust," he whispered and tossed the sand into the wind.

He watched as the sand was blown in whatever direction the wind took it. It reminded him of bone dust and he wondered if his older brother looked like that when he died.

He hoped he did.

End of Chapter 1

A.N.: When I started writing this chapter, I pretty much knew that I wanted it to take place when the Soul Reapers were scouring Las Noches under the command of Mayuri Kurotsuchi. The image of him leaning on Szayel-Aporro's body just added a touch of the bizarre to the scene and also kind of showed him gloating over their victory. For those curious, Chapter 1 of this story takes place at the same time as the Prologue for "Tamashi no Kiri".

The scene that really came as a surprise while I was writing this was the scene with Edvarrd and Edmonn Starrk (yes, that is how they spell their names). I found that I really enjoyed writing them. However, the thing that surprised me the most was that in a way Edvarrd having a Spirit Wolf instead of a Zanpakuto is the same as what happened with Coyote Starrk and Lilynette. I knew that at least one of the Starrk children would have a Spirit Wolf, but how that was to come about didn't occur to me until I was writing the chapter. The way I figured is that Coyote Starrk became an Arrancar when he and Lilynette divided and so since the Crystalline Groves (think of the cluster of crystal trees in Ulquiorra's backstory) are considered one of the natural ways to become an Arrancar, I figured that it would happen then.

Well, that's all I have for now. I better get started writing the next chapter.

Thank you for reading, and please review.