If I may so date this chapter in time, Merry Christmas to all my fans out there! As always, there will be no shortage of new chapters during this time of giving, so of course I will start off with the next arc of A Certain Scientific Familiar. We'll see if this arc turns out how you all expect it to be, or if I'm able to throw a surprise or two at you this time. At the very least, events will not go as exactly as originally told, much more so than the first part. For now, I'll leave you at that; our story starts off not too far from where it paused…I hope you enjoy. As always, feel free to comment on what was done well or not, or typos and errors, or anything for that matter. You're all a great fanbase, and I'm so thankful to have such a dedicated following!
- Ketchum Kid
Chapter 9: A Friend Request and A Friend's Request
Above the main dining hall of the Academy was a great ballroom. As big as the dining hall itself, the space was made even more grand by the absence of any tables in the center, with all food and drink being served near the rear wall. Entrance was granted by way of a massive door, which was at least twenty-five feet tall. A grand chandelier hung in the center, providing a sophisticated, low illumination to the room. This was where the Ball of Frigg was being held. The students and teachers were dressed grandly, adorned in exquisite dresses. Large helpings of rich food were piled high on the buffet tables. The nobles chatted about all things nobles would, including the recent events involving the Staff of Destruction and the Familiar's Exhibition.
Away from all of this, looking at the stars, was Mikoto Misaka. Standing out against the elegant dresses with her rather plain-looking Tokiwadai uniform, she was out and away on the balcony, taking in the light of the twin moons of Halkeginia. The past events of the day before were still fresh on the Railgun's mind.
'The mysteries of this world just keep getting deeper and deeper…' she mused, taking a sip out of the wine glass in her hand. 'Turns out I'm not the first person from earth that arrived in this country. But he's dead, and like myself, nobody knows how he got there. On top of that, one of the Sisters somehow wound up here as well. I don't know how she got here, but I'll need to find her as well. I don't know if she's been readjusted or is of original build, or if she even is still alive…' She took a sip of the wine glass. "Although, considering that she has outdated information, it's clear she's different from the 20,000 main-production Sisters…"
"Hey Partner, haven't you had a bit too much to drink?" inquired Derflinger. "You may be in the presence of nobility, but you certainly don't seem to be old enough for two glasses." Misaka had brought the sword to the party, as she felt bad for having him sit out the fight with Fouquet.
"I'm thirsty, and they aren't serving water for one reason or another," Misaka sighed. "Besides, there's been a lot going on over the last few days, and they do say that you can drink one's sorrows away…not that I intend to." She chuckled at the last part.
"Just because you've hit a roadblock here doesn't mean the way's gone for good!" the sword encouraged. "There's still a whole, wide world here for you to explore! You can trust that from a sword that's been around for centuries on end, right?"
"I'm not completely giving up, just so you know," the brunette stated. "But it's still a downer, even if I am now a little more comfortable living here…" She looked back into the dining hall. Kirche, who was dressed in a beautiful evening gown, was in the center of a group of young males, laughing and conversing with them. Tabitha, who was in a black gown, was currently feasting on the food. As for Louise…
"The daughter of Duke of La Vallière, Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière arrives!"
…she was fashionably late. Misaka had to admit that Louise did look stunning in the white evening gown she was wearing. The girl's long, pink hair was tied into a ponytail, and her hands were covered by white gloves, all of which helped to accentuate her visual appeal. On her head was a golden crown, which was from the grand-prize victory Louise and Misaka had achieved earlier that day. Several male students approached the noble, asking for a dance with her. All of these advances were turned down.
"Those are some of the people who were making fun of Louise," Misaka noted. "Now they're talking to her as if she was the queen of the school."
"Men can be won by beauty, even if they don't like the person," suggested Derflinger. "Clothes can really make the woman, after all."
"Oh, I know that much," the brunette groaned, her mind wavering towards a certain person in mind.
"It also helps that the Vallière family is one of the most well-known noble families in Tristain," said Guiche, who had walked up towards them. "As much as we make fun of her for having no magical talent, her family is high up there in terms of political power, perhaps second only to the Royal Family themselves."
"I didn't know that Louise had much fame behind her name," Misaka stated, surprised by this statement. Guiche shrugged.
"Well, all that nobility cannot silence the fact that she can only make explosions," the blonde surmised. "If she was even a basic mage, we wouldn't call her 'Louise the Zero.'
"I can see that you're enjoying yourself in the gossip of others, Guiche," a sharp, irritated voice stated. While Misaka had been focused on Guiche, Louise had headed towards the two, and now was a few feet away from them, hands on hips.
"Ah…w-we were discussing somebody from…Misaka's home," the male noble stuttered, caught in his own words.
"Considering how strange her name is, I doubt she would know someone with my name from her home," the pinkette stated, causing Guiche to slouch in defeat. Louise then turned to Misaka. "You seem to be content with a drink and the night sky."
"I'm just reflecting on a few things…" the brunette replied. "This is the first time in a while that I've been able to relax and think about what's happened. Besides, my clothing isn't exactly as fancy as your dress."
"Haha, clothes really do make the man," joked Derflinger.
"Shut up, sword," Louise grumbled. She then faced Misaka. "You know, I'm still not forgiving you for making a mess of that stage," Louise stated. Misaka toyed with her glass of wine.
"Your headmaster did approve it," she pointed out. "And those three were more than eager to take up the fight."
"I still wished you would have let us go a little longer at it, though," lamented Guiche. "I know we were overmatched, but a minute wasn't that satisfying for me to face you. Truly, you were fully deserving of Lady Henrietta's grand prize."
"You could have filled me in on the details last night," the pinkette stated. "Misaka, I know you were in Tabitha's room for a good while after we got back because she was talking to you, and we both went to sleep shortly after you returned, but that's no excuse for leaving me in the dark." Misaka smiled.
"For a second there, I thought you were going to say that it's my duty as a Familiar to inform its master of my actions," she told her. Louise looked bashfully away from the brunette.
"W-Well, you are still my Familiar," she assured her. "But…" The words were difficult for the pinkette to say. "…You're more than just a beast that acts on impulses and emotions. You look out for others, even if they're not deserving of such praise…you're human, and that's what makes you more than a Familiar."
"Wow," Guiche whistled. "Wouldn't think that I'd here Louise talk in such a humbling tone like that…" Louise stomped on his foot. "OW!"
"Shut up, Guiche!" she stated with ferocity. "I can be nice as well, you two-timing player!"
"T-That hurts even more…" he groaned. Misaka sweatdropped, amazed at the change in attitude that occurred at the drop of a hat. Louise turned to Misaka again, and extended her hand towards her.
"Well here's a surprise," sniggered Derflinger. Louise blushed.
"D-Don't get the wrong idea," Louise said. "It's just that you can only have so much fun staring at the moons when there's more to be done."
"Didn't a lot of people just ask you for a dance, though?" the brunette stated.
"I told you, you aren't one that cares about who a person is by name or ability," the pinkette reminded her. "I'd much rather dance with someone who is akin to that mindset…even if you happen to be a commoner…and a girl…" The girl blushed, embarrassed at the situation she put herself in. "…J-Just, think of it as a reward for capturing Fouquet, okay?!" Misaka sighed, then smiled.
"Well, as long as it's simply that, if you insist," she replied. Watching Louise be flustered and humble was quite amusing to the brunette. She took Louise's hand, and the two headed to the dance floor. The musicians started a moderate waltz, and the two danced back and forth in a one-two-three motion, with Misaka leading, and Louise following.
"You're pretty good at dancing, for a commoner…" noted Louise.
"Tokiwadai Middle School is the most prestigious middle school in Academy City," Misaka stated. "I'd imagine that I was taught a lot of things that you would know from being in a noble family." The idea was novel to Louise.
"Of all the things…" she scoffed. "Teaching commoners to act like nobles? It wouldn't work here." The two danced for a few moments before she continued. "May I ask you something?"
"Yes?" the brunette replied.
"That Staff of Destruction...was that what you were thinking about just now? How it came from your world to here?" Louise asked.
"Well, it was one of a few things," the Esper admitted. "There weren't any leads as to why it came here, so it kinda went dead."
"Then, you're still bent on returning to your home," surmised Louise. Misaka paused.
"…Yes, I do," she confirmed. "I have a life that I was pulled away from, friends and experiences that I can't have here. However, there's no way for me to get back right now, so for the time, I'll get used to living here.
"You're right," muttered Louise to herself. She then spoke up. "And I should be angry at that, because it means that I would lose my Familiar, the one creature I would be able to partner with for my life. I would lose one of the key aspects of a noble mage." She paused for a second. "However, that's selfish of me. You're more than a Familiar; you showed me that against Fouquet. I have no right to really call you by that name, now that I am indebted to you for saving us all against the thief."
"P-Please, don't mention it," the brunette stated. "I was only doing what was right there. Anyone would have done the same in my position."
"But nobody could really do anything about it aside from you," the pinkette said. "You're the human with the terrifying lightning magic, what you call 'Electromaster' and 'Railgun,' that exceeds even the best Square-Class mages. Fouquet didn't stand a chance against you. I, on the other hand…" She looked away.
"I don't think that you're as much a Zero as they think you are," Misaka said to Louise. "You had the courage to at least go back and try to help me, even if you could physically do little to the golem. Without the RPG, it would have taken longer for us to defeat the golem, maybe giving Fouquet time to escape or even take a hostage. You certainly earned you new title of Chevy…Chevruo-something-a-gummy."
"It's Chevalier," Louise corrected. "And you didn't even get a title, Misaka. You did all the hard work, and yet nothing was gained out of it." At this, Misaka let out a small chuckle. "What's funny?"
"It's true that I didn't gain anything out of the Tristain royalty, like you three did," the brunette agreed. "But I got some other things out of the adventure. Mainly, I think I got an understanding with you now, about how we can help each other. We're not at each other's throats like we've been the past few days, so that's something gained."
"Well, that is true…" Louise stated.
"So for the time being, as long as I'm here in this world of yours, trying to find a way back to my world, can you show me the way around here, as a friend of mine?" Misaka proposed. "I know we tried this before, and it fell apart quickly, but I'd like to make this time a keeper. What do you say to that?" Louise stared at Misaka, her mouth slightly open. Then, she closed it, forming a smile.
"Sure," she replied. "I think that's possible."
"Thank you," Misaka said. "As long we back each other up, there's nothing we can't do." Watching from a distance from the balcony, Guiche sighed.
"I should have asked Misaka when I had my chance…" he groaned.
"She would have probably just zapped you and called you to remain chaste with that girl of yours," commented Derflinger.
"That's probably what would have happened anyway," the blonde sighed.
"Still, I'm amazed at Partner!" the sword stated. "To think, a Familiar dancing with her Master? I've never heard of such a thing!"
"If it would be anyone, it would be those two," Guiche said. "The noble with the least amount of power, and the Familiar with the most power in the world…"
"I'd agree with you on that," the sword agreed.
"Say, can I ask you something?"
"Yes?"
"Why am I spending this ball talking with a sword when I could be dancing with beautiful ladies?"
"Hehe, that's your problem!" Derflinger said. "I'm just a talking sword leaning on a balcony railing. You're the one with the legs." Guiche simply sighed in defeat.
That night, Louise and Misaka had returned straight to their room. Louise had already changed into her night gown, while Misaka was pulling the Gekota shirt over her head. Her alternate outfit, for the time being, was being pressed in as sleepwear, until the two could go out again for more clothing. After putting the shirt on, and without taking her skirt off, the brunette flopped onto her bed.
"Ahh…" she sighed. "It's so much more comfortable on here than that straw bed." Louise looked at her Familiar with a slight pain of irritation.
"I know we said that we're going to be friends and all now, but that doesn't mean that I still approve of you having an actual bed to your own here, especially when it takes up the rest of the room," she grumbled. Indeed, with the extra dresser and bed for Misaka, it was rather difficult to walk around the room, with a small area near the door.
"Again, your headmaster provided it all," reminded Misaka. "And you should be lucky that this is your only complaint."
"What do you mean?" the pinkette asked.
"You all get a lot of freedom in your dorm areas," the brunette said. "You can go out, join in others in the night life, or just stretch your legs. Back in Tokiwadai, we have a curfew, strictly enforced by a dorm manager." Louise could not help but smirk at this mention.
"A dorm manager? Seriously?" she scoffed. "I would think that a school with people of your power would be practically running the place." Misaka shuddered.
"Not with our Dorm Supervisor," she said fearfully. "Some say she was on the front lines of the Third World War. Others say that she spends her free time wrestling with tigers in the Indian rainforests with one hand tied behind her back. All we know is…she's someone you don't want to cross. I really hope Kuroko is keeping her at bay in my absence." The brunette was sweating at the thought.
"Um, earth to Misaka?" Louise asked, woefully confused at the explanation. At that moment, there was a series of orderly knocks at the door: two long, three short. "Huh? A visitor at this hour?"
"I'll get it," Misaka stated, swinging off her bed. "One moment please!" She took a few steps to the door, and opened the door.
Just as she opened it, a girl in a black cloak forced her way into the room, taking Misaka by surprise. The figure quickly pushed the door behind her, and took a moment to rest on the door frame. Louise took out her wand, and Misaka took a defensive stance, her hands sparking with electricity.
"Who are you?" Louise asked, pointing her wand at the person.
"Honestly, can't you two see who it is you're drawing swords against?" scoffed Derflinger. Misaka looked at the sword.
"What are you talking about?" she inquired.
"Do you think someone that would harm Miss Vallière would be wearing such ornate clothing underneath that cloak?" it proposed. The two girls looked at the cloak. There was a part at the bottom that had parted, revealing a puffy white dress underneath. Misaka relaxed her stance.
"Derf's right," she stated. The cloaked figure giggled.
"First a commoner Familiar, and now a talking sword," she stated brightly. "Certainly, you've surrounded yourself with an interesting cast of characters, Louise." Louise froze. Her outstretched arm fell to her side, her face in shock.
"Y-You are…!" she realized. The cloaked figure placed a finger on her mouth, motioning her to speak no further. She then took out a small wand from her cape, and chanted a short spell. A soft light filled the room, and all sound from the outside stopped.
"A silencing spell," noted Misaka, having experienced this particular spell once before.
"In my lineage, you never know who might be placing an extra ear or eye wherever I go," the cloaked figure explained. She then pulled down her veil, revealing her true identity. "It's been awhile, although you did meet me after that performance earlier today."
"P-Princess Henrietta!" Louise frantically stated. She quickly went down on one knee in reverence. Henrietta, however, rushed towards the pinkette, and embraced the kneeling girl in a hug.
"Oh, Louise!" Henrietta said warmly. "My dear Louise, it's been too long!"
"T-This won't do, your highness!" Louise stated ceremoniously, grabbing the princess's shoulders. "Coming to a humble place like this, I am not worthy of this appearance." Her objection was short-lived, as Henrietta quickly embraced the girl again.
"Oh, Louise Françoise, please stop acting so formally!" she asked. "You and I are friends! We are friend, are we not?"
"I-I am not worthy of such kind words, your highness…" the pinkette stated with a strained but steeled voice.
"Stop that, please!" Henrietta asked again. "Neither my mother, the Cardnial, or the court aristocrats who put on a friendly face for favors are here! Oh, don't I have any friends who will open up to me?"
"Can someone please catch me up on things?" Misaka asked. The sudden appearance of the princess had left the brunette in a surprised bewilderment, and she had simply stood at the door, watching the scene in front of her. "So Louise, you're friends with one of the most powerful figures in your entire country? And you're treating her like any person who meets nobility would?" The two nobles looked at the brunette.
"At least your Familiar isn't hesitant in the presence of the Royal Family," Henrietta stated.
"M-Misaka?!" Louise stated in shock and anger. "That's not how you address the Crown Princess of Tristain! Show some respect!"
"It's alright," Henrietta stated. "She's the reason that I've come here anyway, so it's fair that she gets some answers."
"What do you mean?" Misaka asked. However, the princess ignored this question for the time being.
"Back when we were little, the two of us were playmates," Henrietta explained. "Louise's mother was formerly the commander of the Manticore Knights, so she was around the palace a lot as an advisor, usually with her daughters in tow. Myself and Louise were around the same age, so we bonded together the most. We used to chase butterflies in the palace courtyard…and get all muddy in the process." The last part was accompanied by a small giggle.
"…and Miss La Porte always told us off for getting our clothing," added Louise, reluctantly confirming what Henrietta had said.
"That's right, Louise!" the princess cheered. "And we also argued over those puffy cream cakes, and got into one of our famous fights! I would always louse, though; you would simply grab my hair, and I would start crying.
"T-That's not true…" Louise corrected bashfully. "The Princess achieved victory on at least one occasion."
"Ah, so you remembered!" the royalty stated excitedly. "Looking at the two of us, one could call that the Siege of Amiens!" Misaka tilted her head in confusion. "Ah, the two of us were fighting over a dress in my bedroom one day in order to decide who would play princess in our 'Make-Believe Royal Court.' In the middle of our fight, when Louise was reaching for my hair, it was an accidental elbow to her stomach that decided everything." Louise clutched her stomach in embarrassment.
"I-I fanted in the presense of the Princess…" the pinkette admitted. The two nobles exchanged glances, before breaking out in laughter.
Misaka, both amazed and amused, stared blankly at the two.
"I would have thought that the Princess of Tristain would have been more like Kongou or Misaki, but she's actually a lot more like me," she mused aloud.
"H-How dare you compare yourself to the Princess!" Louise objected, overhearing the brunette's remark. "There's no way that you can compare to the Princess!"
"She may very well be right," Henrietta stated, walking towards Misaka. "After all, somebody of this girl's abilities may very well be called a 'Lightning Princess' of sorts by her standards."
"Close," Misaka admitted. "I am called the 'Electric Shock Princess of Tokiwadai,' but I'm not really much into being treated above everyone else. Even nobles, at one point, were at the level of everyone else, and worked hard to get to where they are now. At least that's how I see it…" Henrietta was impressed by the girl's rational.
"My thoughts exactly," the purplette said. "Now, what was your name again?"
"Mikoto Misaka?" the brunette answered.
"Thank you, Mikoto, for being a good friend to Louise since your arrival in Tristain," Henrietta stated, taking Misaka's hands into her own. "Louise is a dear friend of mind, and I would wish that all of her friends be very kind to her, just as I would to her." Misaka blushed a little.
"W-Well, I'm not sure about being a really good friend after a week and change…" she admitted.
"P-Princess, you need not bow down to my Familiar like that!" interjected Louise. "After all, she is bound by contract to be by my side."
"Pull out more of that contract bull and I'll show you how exactly I can void such a contract!" Misaka threatened.
"Louise, you should be happy that you have a friend that is by your side," said Henrietta, turning to Louise. "Back when we were young and saw each other often, everything was fun. All the worries of the world were not on our shoulders…" The princess sighed, sitting down on Louise's bed. "How I envy you, Louise Françoise. Freedom is such a wonderful thing."
"What are you saying?" Louise asked. "You are the Royal Princess of Tristain, are you not?"
"A princess born in her kingdom is like a bird being raised in a cage," the princess sighed. "You go here and there on your master's every whim, and your only friends are those who are asking for favors. You must know the same, Mikoto, am I right?" The brunette nodded.
"I was always pulled aside to go places on demonstration, and everyone always looked to me as being the highest moral standard of Tokiwadai," she stated. "Some people were even jealous of my standing and tried to bring me down to size, as it were."
"So it's the same everywhere…" mused Henrietta. She stared out the window, towards the two moons of the night sky. "I…I'm getting married soon…" Misaka and Louise took a double take.
"M-M-Married?!" Misaka spurted out. "B-But you're about Louise's age! You have your whole life ahead of you to-OW!" Louise stomped the brunette's foot.
"It may be different in your world, but in Halkeginia, it's common for nobles to be wedded off at even younger ages!" she told the girl. "Many of the nobles at this Academy are perhaps already betrothed…to a noble of older age…"
"Yes, but you didn't have to hurt me to prove your point!" the brunette objected. She stopped when she saw Louise's face, which had suddenly gone somber, as if lost in thought. "Louise?"
"…You have my congratulations, Princess," the pinkette congratulated softly, ignoring her Familiar.
"It's to strengthen our alliances with other nations, specifically with Germania…" Henrietta continued.
"G-Germania?!" Louise exclaimed. "Those barbaric upstarts?!"
"The same," the princess confirmed. "There is a military alliance with them if I marry the Emperor. In this climate, we need as much strength as we can."
"Care to let in the person who knows nothing about your world into this conversation?" asked Misaka.
"Ah, you do have little knowledge of Halkeginia, Mikoto," the purplette realized. "And I do not think that Louise knows the extent of the situation either, so I will explain. There are five countries in Halkeginia at the moment: Tristain, Germaina, Gallia, Romalia, and Albion. Of these, Albion is currently in the middle of a great uprising against its ruling nobility. Their numbers are strong, and it appears that the Royal Family will fall very soon. If that happens, their next course of action would be to invade Tristain. We were desperately looking for a country to ally with. However, Romalia is not interested in throwing themselves into a war that they are well-shielded against, and Gallia has been acting very erratic as of late, which left just Germania…"
"You don't sound that happy about all this," Misaka noted.
"It's alright," Henrietta stated. "I have long since abandoned the notion of marrying the one whom I love." The princess put on a brave face, but both Misaka and Louise could see the bitter regret hidden behind it. "However, those two-faced Albion nobles do not want Tristain and Germania to become allies. Two arrows are broken easier when they are not bound together. Therefore, they have been searching frantically for anything that would interfere with the marriage. Unfortunately, they've found something…"
"Oh Founder…" Louise gasped, her face turning pale.
"So this is about whatever might get in the way of your wedding?" inquired Misaka. "What could possibly interfere with a wedding?" Henrietta buried her face into her two hands.
"…It's a letter I had written some time ago…" she replied. "…A letter to one of the Albion nobles…"
"A letter?" Louise answered quizzically. "What kind of letter could ruin a marriage?" Henrietta looked up, but did not directly look at her friend.
"I do not wish to say…" she admitted. "But if the rebel nobles acquire the letter, they would probably forward it on to the Germanian Imperial Family with all speed…Germania would never forgive me if they were to read the letter. The marriage would fall through, and with it the alliance. Then we would stand alone against the strength of Albion." Louise gasped, and seized Henrietta's hands.
"Where would that letter be?! That letter would bring crisis to Tristain!" stated Louise with urgency. Henrietta sighed.
"It is not with us," the purplette answered. "The truth is that the letter has already gone to Albion."
"Albion?!" the pinkette gasped. "But…then…does the enemy already have it?!"
"I wouldn't think so," Misaka surmised. "She said if the rebel nobles acquire the letter, not when…I'm guessing it's with one of the nobles struggling to hold the line, correct?"
"You are right, Mikoto," Henrietta stated with a nod. "Before the tide turned wholly in favor to the rebels, the letter was safely delivered to Prince Wales of the Royal Albion family…" Henrietta bent back, laying down completely on Louise's bed. "Oh, this is a disaster! It's only a matter of weeks or even days before Prince Wales falls captive to the rebels! And when that happens, and the letter comes to light, Tristain will be ruined! We will have to take on Albion by ourselves!" The princess was on the verge of crying. Louise and Misaka held their breaths.
"Then, Princess…" Louise began after several seconds, "…you are asking me to…"
"Not just you, Louise…" Henrietta stated, holding back a sniffle. "I couldn't ask you alone to do such a dangerous thing as to go to Albion alone while this conflict between nobles and royalists is nearing its climax." She sat up, and looked at Misaka.
"Me?" the brunette asked.
"You were undoubtedly the strongest Familiar, no, the strongest person I have ever witnessed seeing, Mikoto," the princess stated. "Even when clearly holding back against three of Louise's peers, you were able to easily overpower them. On top of that, Headmaster Osmond credited you with being the principal force in the capture of Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt." Henrietta got up off of the bed, and took Misaka's hands. "I have the upmost confidence that you would be able to go and safely retrieve the letter! Please, I understand you have very few ties to our kingdom, but I ask of you to assist me in our country's darkest hour!" Misaka stood there, befuddled by this all. Louise, meanwhile, was aghast that the princess was prostrating to her familiar, someone who was not even a noble of any country.
"So, all I'll have to do is go to this Albion country, retrieve that letter, and beat up anybody that gets in my way?" the Railgun surmised. A second later, she grinned. "It sounds interesting. I might even get the chance to test my skills against the more experienced magic users of your world." Louise stepped forward, standing next to Misaka.
"I-I will go as well!" Louise stated. "Be it the kettles of hell, or the jaws of a dragon, if it is for the Princess, I'll go to the ends of the world! Please leave this matter to me, the one who captured Fouquet Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt!" Misaka bopped the pinkette on the head with a light karate chop. "Hey!"
"Didn't the Princess say that your headmaster credited me as the person who did that?" she corrected.
"We may be starting as friends, but you still are my Familiar," reminded Louise with authority. "A Familiar's achievement is its Master's achievement."
"And a Familiar's mistake?" the brunette asked.
"That would be your mistake, wouldn't it?" the pinkette stated.
"Figures…What kind of twisted logic is that?" Misaka complained. Henrietta giggled, breaking the two's argument.
"I knew I could feel confident in you two," she stated. "As the ones who had both caught Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt, you two should be able to complete this mission that I am asking of you to take."
"How urgent is this task?" Louise asked.
"I've heard that the Royalists have been pushed to the southernmost point of Albion," Henrietta informed the two. "It's only a matter of days or weeks before they succumb to the rebel nobles." Louise bowed to the princess, a serious look on her face.
"Then we shall depart tomorrow," the pinkette stated. After a second, she turned to Misaka, who had watched the girl's curtsy bow. She proceeded to yank the brunette's shirt down, forcing the girl to bow as well.
"Ack!" Misaka yelped.
"Show some respect to the Princess for once!" she hissed. Misaka simply rolled her eyes.
"Thank you, Louise," Henrietta stated, smiling. She then turned to Misaka, who was readjusting her shirt. "Dependable Mikoto, please continue to take care of my most precious friend." The princess presented her right hand to Misaka. The brunette's initial reaction was to extend her hand as well, until she saw the back of Henrietta's outstretched hand turned upwards.
"P-Princess?!" Louise exclaimed in astonishment. "T-That won't do! To offer your hand to a Familiar…!"
"It's alright, Louise," Henrietta assured her. "Mikoto will be acting for my sake just as you would, and without a reward, I won't have her loyalty."
"Not that this is the type of reward I was expecting…" Misaka stated, a slight blush on her face. "A kiss on the hand isn't something I do everyday." Louise placed her hands on her hips.
"What, don't tell me that it has some other meaning where you come from," the pinkette huffed. The blush on Misaka's face went redder.
"T-That's none of your concern!" the brunette protested. She quickly took Henrietta's hand, bowed her head down, and kissed it lightly. "Honestly, of all the things to be a reward…oh, right!" The girl recomposed herself. "If I may be so inclined, there is something that I would like to ask you, Henrietta."
"Oh?" the princess asked. "What would it be?"
"It has to do with something that Fouquet stated when we captured her," Misaka stated. She paused, carefully choosing her words. "She told me that there was someone…who looked exactly like me. Right down to my hair and clothes, right in this country. It's…a little unsettling for me to hear…so, if it wouldn't be too much to ask, could I ask if you could look into if that girl is still in this country while we are away in Albion?"
"A girl that looks just like you?" Henrietta said, puzzled. "I cannot say the odds are high that this is possible, since you were summoned as a Familiar. Still, you are embarking on a perilous journey for me, so conducting a search for a person in my own Tristain should not be too much trouble. I'll send some of my guards to keep an eye out for anyone matching your description."
"Ah, thank you very much!" Misaka stated. "That's a big load off my shoulders for now…" She was about to say more, when she suddenly tensed up. The brunette turned around, staring at the door.
"Mikoto?" Henrietta asked in confusion. Misaka waved her right hand behind her, motioning the princess to silence. She then raised her left leg off the ground, then slammed it into the floor. Accompanying the slam was a strong pulse of electricity, which sparked underneath the door, and through the other side. "Hie!"
"M-Misaka?!" Louise asked, still showing displeasure at Misaka. "Not only was that uncalled for, but you could have hurt someone outside! A Spell of Silence only repels noise, not magic!" Misaka turned the door handle.
"Tell that to the eavesdropper that was outside," she stated. The brunette opened the door. Collapsing through the open doorway was a familiar male noble, his blonde hair standing on ends from electric shock.
"G-Guiche?!" Louise exclaimed. She and Misaka were surprised.
"Owowow…." Guiche groaned. His imitation rose wand slid from his hand. "B-But how…?" Misaka grabbed the noble's shirt collar tightly.
"So tell me, Guiche, what brings you stumbling into this room at this hour of night?" she asked. "And it better be a good one, since you may or may not have heard something I'd rather not talk about."
"Guiche, were you eavesdropping on us?" Louise gasped. "Did you hear our conversation now?!" The blonde did not immediately answer, dazed from the voltage that had just coursed through his body.
"F-For my hunt of the rose-like, lovely princess…I followed her to this place…and then, hearing Misaka's mention of a doppelganger, I eased closer….only to have my heart stop for the wrong reasons…"
"Well, be glad that that I didn't know your intentions earlier," the brunette said, pulling Guiche closer to her angry face. "Then, maybe that electromagnetic pulse to your organs would have done more than stun you out of your romantic doldrums! Or maybe you want me to do that now?"
"Augh…" the blonde groaned. The last thing he wanted was to be on the receiving end of a Railgun for the third time in a week.
"How did you know he was there, Mikoto?," Henrietta interrupted. "I could not sense any tampering to the Spell of Silence I had cast."
"I'm able to create a larger field of vision using the electromagnetic waves I generate," Misaka replied. "Where there's a lot of conductive material, I can basically have no blind spots in my vision. Here, since there's very little magnetic forces that I can use as markers, it's not perfect; but I can tell whether there's a person standing suspiciously in front of a door with a metal handle and keyhole." Guiche sweatdropped.
"P-Please, Your Highness!" he pleaded. "By all means, please appoint me, Guiche de Gramont, to this difficult mission!" The princess was taken slightly aback.
"Oh? You?" she stated.
"You go to sleep, you punk!" Misaka ordered, and let go of the blonde. With nothing supporting him, Guiche simply fell face-first onto the floor.
"Ow!" he exclaimed. "P-Please let me join your group!"
"Why?" Louise asked, raising an eyebrow. Guiche's face reddened.
"I-I wish to be of use to H-Her Highness…" As he said this, he looked Henrietta squarely in the eyes. His face quickly reddened.
"Oh, now I see," stated Misaka. "You're smitten with Henrietta, aren't you?" Guiche averted his gaze from the brunette's.
"D-Do not state the Princess's first name lightly!" he stated. "And don't state such rude things either. I just absolutely have a desire to be of use to Her Highness."
"Your face is saying something completely different, blondie," the brunette informed him. "And besides, don't you have a girlfriend? Momormon-something-or-other, was it?"
"It's Montmorency," he bitterly corrected.
"From that tone, it sounds like you two broke up yet again," Louise surmised. Misaka and Henrietta looked at the pinkette. "It happens a lot to this two-timer Gramont. Like father, like son, or so I've heard."
"Like father?" Henrietta said. The princess turned to Guiche. "Then, you are the son of General Gramont?"
"I am his son, Your Highness," Guiche confirmed, standing up to kneel in front of the princess.
"It is not easy to pierce through a Spell of Silence for anyone, let alone a young man of your age," the purplette commented. "You seem to have inherited your father's potential in magic."
"I am honored, Your Highness," answered Guiche. "I would like to say that I honed my skill while trying to listen to my father's closed-door meetings at our manor, so that I could learn from his tactics."
"Like hell you were!" hissed Louise. "Odds are you were trying to eavesdrop a conversation for one of your female targets!" Guiche sweatdropped at this, but otherwise retained his composure.
"Regardless of that, I still would like to become a part of this mission to retrieve Her Highness's important letter," he stated. "It would be an unexpected blessing for me to aid in this most noble quest." Henrietta smiled at Guiche's enthusiastic expression.
"I see that your father's bravery also runs through your blood, Sir Guiche," she commended. "Then would you please help this unfortunate princess in her time of need?" At this, Guiche's eyes lit up in excitement.
"H-Her Highness has called my name!" he exclaimed. "Her Highness, Tristain's lovely flower, has sent her rosy smile at me!" The blonde then fell onto his back, having fainted.
"I-Is he alright?" Henrietta asked. The sudden outburst, and subusquent fainting, had surprised the princess.
"Hard to tell if he's passed out from my shock or yours," Misaka quipped.
"I guess then we will all leave tomorrow morning for Albion," Louise stated. "But where exactly are we headed?"
"We have heard that Prince Wales' forces are camped around Newcastle," Henrietta explained. Louise nodded.
"I've travelled through Albion with my sisters before, so I'm familiar with the geography," the pinkette stated. Henrietta walked towards the desk set up near Louise's bed. She sat down, and pulled herself towards it.
"It will be a perilous journey for the three of you," she stated. "If the renegade nobles discover your mission, they will do everything in their power to dispose of you. I believe Mikoto can handle herself nicely, but Louise and now Sir Guiche are different matters entirely. I shall send one of my guards to assist and protect you all." Taking one of Louise's feather quills and a parchment, Henrietta began to write a letter.
"Princess?" Louise called out, confused at the letter writing. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing, Louise," she stated, finishing the letter. For a minute, she stared at the letter, before shaking her head, and adding another line to the article. "Oh, Founder Brimir, please forgive this selfish princess. Even though my country is in distress, I cannot help but write this one sentence…I cannot lie about my own feelings…" Misaka noted that Henrietta looked almost melancholic, staring at the new ending to the letter. Finally, the princess rolled up the letter, and waved her wand, making wax form on the parchment along with a seal. The now-sealed letter was handed to Louise. "I presume Mikoto will be doing most of the fighting, so I entrust this letter to you, Louise. Please pass it on to Crown Prince Wales as soon as you find him. He should then return the letter in question immediately." Henrietta then took off a ring on her right hand, and gave it to the pinkette. This is a Water Ruby that my mother had passed down to me. It should work as a good-luck charm. If you have any trouble with money, please sell this for travel funds."
"That should not be necessary," Louise stated, bowing her head in silence. "I shall trust this ring with my life."
"This mission is for the future of Tristain," Henrietta instructed. "For that, my mother's ring will protect you from the harsh winds blowing in Albion." The princess bowed her head. "I must return to the Capitol now; my guard is probably getting anxious as to my whereabouts. Until we meet again…" Henrietta departed from the room, pulling her cloak's hood above her head. It was several seconds after she left before more words were spoken.
"You could have shown Her Highness a little more respect there," Louise grumbled. Misaka looked quizzically at the pinkette.
"You're expecting me to know how to act around a class that's as good as a stranger to me?" the brunette replied. "And you seemed a little aggressive whenever I was talking to her, anyway. What's the deal with that?"
"How else would I act in the presence of Lady Henrietta?" the pinkette replied. "Not only were we close growing up, but she's the highest head of the Royal Family right now…" Louise trailed off. "And now she's entrusted me with delivering a message to her cousin, Prince Wales of Albion…"
"So they're not only good friends, but relatives as well," Misaka noted. "So that should make things a little easier, even though we are heading to a war zone."
"That's another thing," Louise continued. "We're heading into an area where there's going to be fighting; we can wish that we'll avoid it all, but that's wishful thinking. Both Wales and Henrietta are capable of magic, while I have not much more than a damn ounce of it. Yet I'm the one going through the fray and back for this letter….I'm nervous. Can I really take Her Highness's task to full potential?" She stared nervously into space, biting her thumb.
"You can't get anything done worrying over it," Misaka said to Louise, gaining her attention. "What you have to do is put action in, and all the worries will sort themselves out. Besides, you've got me and Derf to back you up."
"As well as the blonde here," the sword stated, referring to the still-unconscious Guiche.
"Well, we're not sure about his reliability, but you're right," the brunette agreed. "We're all behind you, so don't worry about a thing. Whatever may be keeping you down, it's nothing we can't handle." Louise looked away from her Familiar.
"Nothing you can't handle, huh…" she echoed. "Just don't get too cocky; not everything can be solved by just zapping them senseless. Matters of the heart, for instance…"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Misaka replied.
"N-Nothing, just a bad dream I had the other night," Louise stated, heading back to her bed. "Anyway, you better take Guiche back to his room now. It's an early start tomorrow, for sure." The pinkette headed into her bed, and pulled the covers over her petite body.
"A bad dream, huh…" Misaka mused. 'Must be a heck of a dream, then.' She placed a hand on Guiche's head. "Now, then…" A light spark flicked from her hair. Guiche's body jumped slightly.
"G-Gack?!" Guiche spluttered, jumping upright. He looked around, before sighing at the sight of the brunette. "Hah….isn't there a better way to wake a man up from his dreams?"
"Well, if you were awake, you would have heard Louise," she stated. "We need a lot of rest for the task at hand, so get out so we can get asleep."
"Fine, fine," he stated. "You best be ready tomorrow, then. For tomorrow, we ride to Albion!" Rather grandly, he left the room.
"Ride…" Misaka thought. Suddenly, a dreadful thought encroached her mind. "Oh, great…"
To Be Continued…