Familiars Never Cry

by zaberfang

Another Familiar of Zero Crossover, wherein Louise wishes to summon the most awesome familiar yet. Would you believe? Her wish gets granted, in the form of Dante, the Son of Sparda. This Party's Getting Crazy! Let's Rock! There's a reason why this turned to rated M. Consider yourselves warned...season one ends, plus extra chapter...XD

11. Mission 11 : Suspicion

Authors' rant:

I need a better job so as to be able to post more often of this; I really want to do so but …

… X D

Fleshing out a tale here…

Quite boring actually…

For now,

Lets begin…

Mission 11: Suspicion

／人◕ .◕人＼

Fantasy Pic: Dante lays on a bed with Henrietta on top of him on all fours, wearing nothing but his red twintailed longcoat exposing a bit of her "curves"so to speak.

／人◕ .◕人＼

Second day, Dante woke up to someone knocking on his door. Since Guiche was still sleeping soundly on the bed next to him, without another choice the devil hunter could only climb out of the bed to answer.

There is no ship today, I wanted to spend the day sleeping, geez.' Dante thought angrily, scratching his head lazily as he opened the door.

Wardes with fully dressed, his usual hat looked down at Dante, though he is about the same height as the knight. Clearly he's testing the devil hunter's tolerance.

"Good morning, familiar."

With Louise's fiancé calling him like this made the devil hunter a little annoyed.

Dante replied, "Morning, but the departure date is tomorrow right? Do you have anything important to say this morning? I've been riding all day yesterday, I still want to sleep."

Wardes only smiled faintly.

"Are you the Familiar of the legend?"

"What?"

Dante stared at Wardes looking stoic as he did.

Wardes was trying to clear something, and bent his head and said, "That case with Fouquet, I hold a great interest in you. I asked Louise earlier, I heard you are from another world and I also heard you are the legendary Windalfr."

"Is that so?"

'Who talked about Windalfr anyway? Old Osman shouldn't have talked about this.'

"I find history and warfare extremely interesting. When Fouquet was captured, I became very interested in you. Then I did some research in the Imperial Library. The result of that research is my discovery that you are the legendary familiar Windalfr."

"Oh, is that so. You are really a scholar."

'Yeah, and I'm Freddie Mercury.' Dante thought.

He really disliked this man.

At least that's the only thing he knows is the name of the Familar.

"I want to know how strong is the person who captured Fouquet; can you show it to me?"

"Show you, huh?" Dante deadpans, with his morning already broken.

Wardes pulled out his wand from his belt, "Let me put it this way."

"A duel." Dante replied with an icy grin.

"Exactly."

Wardes and Dante smiled together. Taking one look at the still sleeping Guiche, the devil hunter thought,

'I am not sure just how strong this Wardes is. Although he is the Captain of the Magic Knights, and looks like he has some abilities too. He should prove a more interesting match that Guiche or the Golem.'

'Wanna play? Let's play then.' Dante thought.

"Where do you want to duel?"

"This hotel used to be a castle designed for repelling Albion invasions, there is a parade ground in the center of it."

The two then left for the parade ground for nobles together. The ancient practice ground was now a place for debris and refuse with empty beer barrels and crates scattered all over the place. It was hard to believe that a long time before that royal flags with staffs cut from stone were decorating this wasteland.

"Before, maybe you don't know, under the reign of Philip III, this often used to be a place to host duels between nobility."

Dante yawned, as he took out Derflinger from his shoulder and put it across his shoulders.

"In a time long ago, the king still had the power to duel, Nobles from the king's time… a time when Nobles were noble. Who risked life for fame and honor, we nobles fought with magic. But it is usually fought over boring issues, right, as if the two were fighting for a lover."

Dante remained stoic as he listened to the lecture,

"So, are we gonna stand around and have a history lesson, or are we going to fight?" Dante asked,

Wardes stopped him from talking further with his left hand.

"What?"

"There are certain rules regarding duelling, we don't have a witness here."

"Witness, huh?"

"One is coming" Wardes replied, and Louise appeared from nearby. She was dumbfounded as she saw the two.

"Wardes, you called me over and I came, what are you two preparing to do?"

"I want to test his abilities a little."

"Really, let's stop this nonsense. Now is not the time for these kind of stupidities."

"It is true, but this guy wants a duel, he wants to find out if I am strong or weak. So, I obliged."

Knowing that the devil hunter will not listen anyway, Louise stared at her guardian being and tried to placate the situation one last time,

"Stop now, that is an order."

Dante did not reply, only stared at Wardes. And said,

"Well?"

"Since the witness is here, let us begin."

Wardes pulled out his wand from his belt again, entered a combat stance, with his wand pointing at Dante.

Dante responded, "I'm not that reliable, so I don't know how to go hard or light."

Wardes responded with a light laughter, "No problem, hit me with everything."

'If I actually did that, you'll end up as a smear on the wall.' He thought,

Dante pulled out Derflinger and leapt forward with a slash. The magic knight parried the attack with his wand, and the two weapons rang solidly as steel clashed steel, sending sparks in all directions. While Wardes' weapon was merely a small wand, he was able to block Dante's long sword without a sweat.

'Nice. Good form there.' The devil hunter grinned to himself.

He can't put his finger on it but there's something off about the whole thing, such as this duel.

One would have expected Wardes to retreat backward, but no one expected the hurricane-like wind that was caused when the two clashed, and Wardes' increased speed as he charged toward Dante. The devil hunter responded with a chopping strike that broke Wardes' advance, with the black cape of the Magic Knights flipping in the wind. The captain in response leapt a few steps back, and then reversed back to his stance.

'Why isn't this guy using his magic?' Dante thought.

Derflinger mumbled in response, "He is looking down on you, as someone not worth casting spells on."

'Oho, is that so. Let's turn this up a notch then.' Dante thought,

With only one exchange, the devil hunter could tell the difference between Guiche and Wardes.

"A Magic Knight isn't someone who only chants magic." Wardes answered with a tip of his hat.

"The way we chant is fully specialized for battle, the way we hold our wands, the motion we use to charge… the way we use our wands as swords, complete with spellcraft. This is the basic of the basics for soldiers."

"Thanks for the lecture. Shall we continue?" Dante taunts

Dante lowered his body slightly, and began to spin his blade like a windmill, a simple Prop Shredder and Dante lunges the spinning sword. Wardes apparently already saw through Dante's attack style, and parried the next attack without even taking a breath.

"You are really fast; no one can mistake you for a commoner, truly the familiar of the legends." Blocking Dante's follow-up blow, Wardes used his wand and swung at the back of Dante's head, but Dante twists out of the way and gives a swift kick to the knight's midsection, sending the knight five feet through the air.

"I always thought, Nobles are pansies, but looks like I'm wrong." Dante comments as Wardes stood up from the kick as if it was only a slight annoyance.

Dante leapt forward like a bullet and released a brand new assault. He attacked using the powered down, running version of the Stinger. A powerful lunge with the sword positioned for a direct stab towards the center of the target's body.

But, with one step aside and a jump, Wardes barely dodges Dante's attack with the speed of the wind.

"If this is all you can do, you are unable to protect Louise." For the first time, Wardes entered combat stance, with a speed impossible for a normal person to track, launched an attack on Dante. Just as the devil hunter realized what was going on, he took the full attack head on.

"Dell yill soll la windy." With one hand waving the sparking wand, Wardes chanted with a low voice.

Dante realized Wardes' movement and attack all followed a pattern.

"Partner! Bad news! Magic is coming!" Derflinger screamed, when he realized the whisper chant was magic…

Bam, suddenly the winds rushed together, creating an invisible force that slammed into Dante with the strength of a hammer, knocking him a good 10 meters away and into a pile of beer barrels, smashing all of them as he crashed down.

What a waste of beer.

In the instant Dante landed on the beer barrels he dropped his sword. As he tried to retrieve the weapon, Wardes stepped on it, and then struck Dante with the wind magic charged wand. Derflinger screamed "Get your foot of me!", but Wardes paid it no heed and spoke, "Did you find out who is the winner and loser?"

Dante looked unconscious as he lay on the ground.

Louise fearfully came over.

"Do you understand Louise? He cannot protect you." Wardes told her calmly.

"Because... because aren't you the commander of the Magic Knights? The secret group that was assigned to protect the queen? Isn't it natural to be strong?"

"True, but aren't you going to Albion and might do battle? When you are surrounded by strong enemies, you also plan to say 'we are weak, please put away your wands?'"

Louise became silent, and then looked at Dante with worry. From his head came more fresh blood and the little girl drew out her handkerchief in a panic, but was stopped by Wardes.

"Leave him, Louise."

Wardes grabbed on to Louise's hands.

"But…"

"Let's leave him there for a bit."

Louise hesitantly bit her lips for a moment and, with another tug from Wardes, was forced to follow him.

But before they could completely leave, a voice caused the two to look back.

"Are you done?" Dante boredly asks, causing Wardes to be on his guard.

Wardes is flabbergasted as the devil hunter simply standing up from where he fell, dusted his clothes, looking no worse than he woke up earlier.

'Wasn't he bleeding profusely just now?' Wardes thought,

'Just who is this man Louise had summoned?'

Without a word, Dante picks up Derflinger, replaces it on the scabbard, and proceeds to leave the court.

He stops, looks back at the silenced two, and said as he smirked, "For the record, I just let you win."

And as the devil hunter stated his side, it seemed like Dante's image for an instant flickered and appeared beside Wardes tapping his shoulder, while sporting a grim visage.

All in a split second, that Wardes actually dismissed it as Dante's intimidation affecting his nerves, which is so unlikely.

But in Louise's vision, Dante didn't move at all.

"I am quite capable of protecting her as much as you do." Dante smirked, holding up one of his coat buttons.

Wardes looks at his apparel, and indeed found one of his shirt buttons missing.

Dante then tosses the button back to him without a word.

The devil hunter then turns and walks off back into the hotel, like a boss.

／人◕ .◕人＼

Derflinger quipped, "That was awesome!"

Dante didn't respond. There's definitely something wrong with this arrangement.

"But why didn't you go all out at him anyway? I mean you could easily mangle him up if you wish."

Yet, even if this was true, Dante said nothing.

"Hey, I remember something, what was it? It happened a long time ago… Oh that! Wait!"

Dante put Derflinger back to his sheath, silencing it in the process. Dusting off his pants one more, the devil hunter steps forward.

He needs some more shuteye.

／人◕ .◕人＼

That night, Dante stared at the moon from his balcony window. Guiche and company were drinking in the bar on the first floor. Tomorrow they were heading for Albion, so everyone was partying below. Kirche came with an invitation, but he refused. Our hero had little heart for drinking now. Currently, he is nursing a glass of strawberry sundae which he stored within his infinity armory,

"Ah, at least I have you." He said to the dessert, taking a spoonful of the confectionary.

Apparently, the group could leave with the two moon eclipses; it was the day in which Albion was closest to the world.

Dante looked up to the starlit night sky, in the sea of stars, the pink moon hid behind the white moon, and thus became one moon sparking with a peach color. That moon reminded him of the one of his homeland, the moon of Earth.

As he stared at the moons, he heard something behind him.

"Hey."

Turning around, he saw Louise standing behind him with her arms crossed.

"Good eve, princess." Dante gives a brief wave.

"That's not right."

"What is not right?"

"Staying up here all alone."

"I've always worked alone before this."

Louise lowered her head.

"…I know, it is my fault."

"Nah, Don't sweat it. Actually I am grateful, I got to travel somewhere strange."

"Don't call my world strange. Besides you're uncharacteristically thoughtful tonight."

"Well besides that, why do you always act so high and mighty, especially in front of the others?

"There is nothing I can do about it, I am a member of the nobility, and if I don't do it there would be rumors."

Silence

"…What, you know you are very troublesome for me too. To have a magical partner that is not following orders."

"If you say so, then are you planning on sending me back to my world?" Dante playfully quipped back.

He's referring to the human world.

"…When this mission is over, I will do my best to find you a way home."

"You go do that, but I'm not holding my breath."

Louise put her arms around her belt, nodding her head in a cute expression.

"I am a member of the nobility, I will not lie."

"But what happens if I cannot find a way back?"

Her face reddened a little, Louise hardened her heart and replied, "…If that happens, I will ask you to continue to serve me."

"Even if you are married?"

"This has nothing to do with marriage."

Louise stared at Dante.

Dante commented with a little sarcastic humor, "Ok ok, a person like you, with such an awful personality and there is a person who is willing to marry you, that noble is really a miracle. You are really lucky."

Louise raised her arms with a tint of anger, "What? Didn't Kirche fall in love with you? That idiot can fall in love with you. Forget it, no matter what can be said, both of you are morons and would make a lovely pair."

The two turned away from each other. Louise closed her eyes, calmed herself and spoke, "In summary, during the time you are in Halkeginia, you are my guardian being. So regardless of the fact I get married or not, it is your duty to protect me and help me out in other duties."

The devil hunter turned around to face Louise.

Under that peach colored hair, Louise's tea-green eyes sparked with fury. Her normally pale face was also tinted with color of anger, which made her puckered lips extremely cute.

Dante smiled at the pinkette.

Louise held her hands together.

The red faced Louise.

The Louise who summoned him.

The Louise who confronted Fouquet's golem despite being a zero. The self-ashamed Louise that cries secretly when being called zero...'

Occasionally, Louise shows up as a real girl that combines courage, kindness and beauty in her person.

Dante thought really deeply, "Then why is it really this way?"

He finally understood, why he had been staring at the moon every night until tonight, yet never thinking devil hunting as of late.

Besides the fact that his mission is over in that place, at least he's planning to treat himself to live out as a way of rewarding himself once he returns to earth.

But for some strange reason, he's currently not interested.

But, he really hated wanting to admit this reason.

This really sucks!

Why would I…Dante could not stop the line of thought.

Spontaneously, Dante asked, "Why don't you just let Wardes protect you?"

"…." Louise is tongue tied,

Dante remained silent.

"You are MY GUARDIAN BEING right? Next time just beat him thoroughly already, whether he's my fiancé or not. A defeat is a defeat. That defeat would sully the la Vallière name."

Dante remained silent.

Louise then said angrily, "Ok, I understand. Do what you like, I will let Wardes protect me."

"Ok, be like that." Dante countered in deadpan voice, and this line made Louise even angrier.

"That person is really reliable. He won't make me worry. I don't have to tell a guardian being like you, but I will tell you now. Now I have decided, I will marry Wardes."

Louise looked at Dante, but Dante remained silent, not caring.

'What?' Louise thought.

"I am going to marry Wardes."

Louise repeated herself again, but Dante remained silent and didn't say anything. With his head staring up the moons,

At first she expected Dante to say something to stop her, but he didn't even say a single word.

"I heard it the first time. If you're asking for my opinion, just do what you think is right; if you like the guy then go ahead, if not then don't'. Other than that I don't have any other ideas about marrying since I have never been married before." Dante replied uninterestedly, waving her off as he continued to stare at the moon.

Well, that's a rather confusing opinion.

"A person like you should spend the rest of your life staring at the moon!" Louise howled as she dashed away.

Just at this moment…

"Crap." Dante groaned. Louise turned her head around, and to her surprise, something appeared that swallowed the moon, and it was nowhere to be seen.

Beneath the moon's shadow, there appeared to be a giant. If we looked at it closely, the huge shadow turned out to be a golem made of stone. The person controlling the golem turned out to be…

"Fouquet!" Dante and Louise said in unison. The figure above them sat on the golem's shoulder, cheerfully answered, "Oh, it is such an honor to be remembered!"

The sword on Dante's shoulder asked, "Shouldn't you be rotting in jail?"

Fouquet shouted back, "Somebody had a kind heart, a beauty like myself should be contriving to the welfare of the world, so they let me escape."

It was dark so not many people could see it, but there was a figure in the black cape of nobility standing next to the woman. Was that guy the person who helped her escape? The noble supported Fouquet's actions, but remained silent. Because the figure wore a mask, no one could see anything clear, but it appeared to be a man.

"…So you are someone who can't mind her own business, what are you doing here?" Dante brandished his sword with his left hand.

"I am here to thank you for the long vacation you gave me, I am here to send you my appreciation!"

Fouquet howled in laughter, as the huge golem pulverized the fence on the balcony with one hit. The fence was carved right out of solid stone, so it appeared the power of the golem had increased significantly.

"Calm down, it's just a little upgrade, no biggie." Dante quips,

"No one is trying to be calm here!"

Dante grabbed Louise, carried her like a bag of potatoes and ran away, escaping the room, and leaped down the stairs.

／人◕ .◕人＼

Meanwhile, the room below became a pandemonium.

Suddenly a group of soldiers came to assault Wardes and company who were drinking.

Guiche, Kirche, Tabitha and Wardes were using magic to defend themselves. However, there were too many people. It appeared every soldier from La Rochelle came attacking.

It seemed like they were losing.

Kirche broke one of the table's legs, and decided to use the table as a shield against the coming foes. The attacking soldiers were used to fighting magic-using foes already. While they were fighting, they observed Kirche and her allies range and style. Then moved out the magic's range to attack with bows. The soldiers hidden from the dark had the advantage of the field, leaving those inside the room a bitter battle.

If anyone stood up to chant magic, they were answered with a torrential volley of arrows.

Dante lowered his body, charged to Kirche's shield-table wall, letting her know Fouquet was above them and attacking, but the giant's huge feet were already visible, so there was no need to tell them.

The other nobles and guests were hiding under the counter and shaking in fear. The fat innkeeper called out to the soldiers, "What are you doing to my establishment?" But one arrow slammed into his shoulder, leaving him slumped on the ground.

"This is really troublesome." Listening to Wardes' words, Kirche nodded.

"It appears this band is not only just interested in a simple little robbery."

"Maybe Fouquet and Albion's nobles are behind this?"

Kirche raised her wand, and mumbled, "…Those guys are planning for us to use our magic, exhaust ourselves then come in with a charge, what can we do?"

"My Valkyries will protect us."

"Guiche, your Valkyries are only a small squad, these are seasoned mercenaries."

"If we don't try we will never know."

"But Guiche, if it comes to warfare I am a far better expert than you are."

"But I am the son of General de Gramont, how could I lose to this band of idiot soldiers?"

"This is intolerable, the nobles of Tristain are only tough with their words, but their actual combat capabilities are pretty weak."

Guiche stood up, preparing to chant his magic. But Wardes stopped him by grabbing on to the young noble's shirt.

"Everyone listen carefully." Wardes whispered. Dante quirked his eyebrow at the statement but along with the others, became silent to listen.

"This mission counts as complete if one half of the group arrives safely at the destination."

At this moment the cute Tabitha also closed her book and looked at Wardes' direction. The girl used her staff and pointed at herself, Kirche and Guiche and uttered one word, "Bait."

Then Tabitha continued and pointed at Dante, Wardes, and Louise, then uttered another word, "Go to the harbor."

"The time?" Wardes asked the young girl.

"We will carry it out right now."

"Just liked we planned a while ago, go from the backdoor."

"Ah? AH!" Louise shouted out in surprise.

"They are responsible for holding the situation; we should be able to confuse their sight. Using this time we should be able to escape toward the harbor, just like that."

"But…But…"

Dante looked at Kirche, and the girl ran her hand through her red hair. And puckered her lips then added, "Bah, can't help it anyway, we really didn't want to go to Albion with you anyway."

Guiche sniffed at his rose, "Heh, I might die here. What would happen then? If I die then I won't be able to meet Princess Henrietta again."

Tabitha nodded at Dante. "Go."

"Screw that, I'm staying," Dante said as he pulled himself to full height.

Kirche began to push Dante, "No, time for you to go. When you come back…I will let you ravage me."

"Nice promise, but I won't go either way, not with you kids in trouble." Dante said, as a dangerous aura emanated from the devil hunter causing the younger nobles to flinch.

"Wardes," Dante turned to the noble with the feather cap. "Keep them safe while I clean house, I'll catch up with you guys soon."

Wardes was awed for the first time as Dante begins to show why he should not be considered as any mere push-over.

／人◕ .◕人＼

The group fled from the bar into the kitchen and toward the other exit, and then there was a huge explosion behind them.

"…Looks like it has begun." Louise mouthed.

Wardes crouched close to the door, then listened at the situation outside.

"There doesn't appear to be anyone."

Opening the door, the party leapt into the night streets of La Rochelle.

"The docks are this way."

Wardes was in the lead, Louise followed behind. The rest came in the back.

Under the moonlight, the group's shadows extended, and followed closely behind.

／人◕ .◕人＼

After making sure Wardes and company were running, Dante strides towards the ambushers.

"Dear stupid mercenaries, although I have no idea why you're attacking us," Dante smiled and bowed in the rain of arrows, "please let me, Dante, odd jobs man, kick your asses!"

Then suddenly a huge cluster of arrows were fired at him at the same time.

'"Then we will fight in the shade."' Dante quoted in his mind.

Even though arrows were totally aimed at the devil hunter, he just calmly swats them off using his Royalguard techniques.

The steel arrowheads never had a chance to hurt the devil hunter as he blocked each and every shot they made. With his bare hands, a feat that looked scary for the bandits. Dante laughed, as he closed in to the first group of bandits, who are now shaking with fright.

"What the hell are you?" one of them managed to squeak out.

"Your worst nightmare," Dante declares ominously as he allowed his eyes to glow red and his aura radiates darkness, cracked his knuckles. He's now wearing one of his first Devil Arms, The Beowulf, a set of light powered gauntlets and greaves.

And they're hungry for someone to beat up.

Sounds of explosive thrashings and girly screams echoed across the town. Dante will not let these guys sleep soundly after this.

Let it not be said that Dante didn't show any mercy on the poor bastards.

After all, they're still alive enough afterwards to change their hearts as well as their career paths.

If it was Vergil on the other hand...

／人◕ .◕人＼

Meanwhile,

Sitting on her enormous earth golem's shoulder, Fouquet bit her lip in annoyance. The group she just ordered to attack instantly came back in confusion after being apparently thrown out. She turned to the hooded masked noble sitting beside her. "Geez, making a fuss just because of this ... hired hands just aren't dependable."

"That's enough anyway."

"But you can't beat them like this!"

"It's alright even if they can't. All they have to do is separate them."

"Even if you say so, I won't let this go on. I took so much humiliation because of them."

The hooded man did not answer, instead standing up as if he heard nothing, and talking to Fouquet, "Alright, I'm going after the Vallière girl."

"Then what am I going to do?" Fouquet answered in shock.

"Whatever you like. Burn or cook the rest, whatever. We'll meet up at the usual restaurant." He casually jumped off the golem's shoulder, disappearing into the darkness like the midnight wind, soft and chilling.

"Geez...what a laidback guy. Can't tell me anything he's thinking about." Fouquet spoke silently in disgust.

Moans came from the men below. Man after man flew right out of the inn as Dante like an ogre on the loose, punched and kicked them with a force unnatural to humans or mages. Even the archers hiding in the darkness felt the impact and are now trembling in fright.

A familiar voice echoed from within, "Hey, Hey, why are you all running? Is it your first time that someone actually beating the shit out of you? Don't worry I'll be gentle."

Fouquet yelled below her, "Dammit, that's enough! You're all useless! Get out of my way!"

The golem rose with a thundering noise, and moved towards the entrance, pulling punches as it advanced.

／人◕ .◕人＼

After seeing Dante soundly thrashed the bandits and archers within and sent them flying out, the group of archers outside fled, screaming like frightened schoolgirls, leaving their bows behind.

In a loud, thunderous noise, the entrance and beyond disappeared.

"Well now, I guess its time to meet an old friend." Dante said to himself, as he calmly surveyed the destroyed area, as well as the culprit, well, one of the culprits to the calamity.

A huge rock golem emerged from the flying dust, and easily kicked away the remains of the wall.

"Round two, lady." Dante shouted, giving the thief the flipped bird.

"Don't be too arrogant, fool! This time, you without the Staff of Destruction, is nothing more than a gnat. I'll finish you off for good!" Fouquet yelled in anger, standing on her golem's shoulder.

"Come and get it." Dante called out, as he dramatically draws one of his pistols, Ebony. He checked the chamber, cocked it, and finally aimed the gun at the rock golem.

On the golem's shoulder, Fouquet, seeing Dante aiming the black pistol at her creation, annoyingly complained, "What's this? Do you think that that puny gun will destroy my best golem yet?"

The golem raised a fist, and smashed the wall next to Dante in one blow.

"The next blow will flatten you." Fouquet threatened, mentally commanding her creation to crush the devil hunter, once and for all.

"As much as I want to have a nice foreplay with you, I need to catch up with my friends. So sorry if I want to end this real quick."

At that moment, Dante charged his pistol with great amount of magic to the point that the Ebony glowed with the reddish dark energy.

"Say Cheese." He smirked as he lets the charged bullet rip out of Ebony.

She was too late to realize that something was wrong. Dante's magical ammo which looked like a great fireball is already flying towards her golem.

In an instant the bullet hits the construct in the middle of the chest, the huge golem was covered in fire. Unable to withstand the heat and flames, the golem fell on its knees. Then a terrific explosion once again rocked the vicinity as the golem gets vaporized.

Seeing their employer in a losing position, the mercenaries fled like spiders. Dante blows the smoking holes of his gun, twirled and holstered them in a flash.

"SSSMOKIN…" he whispered the quip, he surveyed his handiwork.

A hideous Fouquet stood up in front of her burned golem. "H... how dare you... beat me, Fouquet, twice, with those abominable things..."

She looked pitiful. With much of her long, beautiful hair burned away, her robes singed with holes everywhere, and but at least her face was mercifully saved.

But not by much.

"I've heard of smoking hot women. But you my dear, took the term into another direction. "Dante said, walking towards the singed woman,

"You know, lady, that sour expression doesn't suit you! I mean... you look pretty old when you do that!" As Dante finished,

Fouquet this time didn't try any spells anymore, and simply moved straight at him.

"Call me old? You idiot, I'm only 23!" Fouquet tightened her fists, and tries to punch Dante, who easily caught the thrown fist.

"I think you need to cool off." Dante said as he plants a deep kiss to the thief, who at first struggled, then acquiesced at the advance, and finally faints in the pleasure.

"Yessirree. Even my lips are deadly wepons…" Dante said to no one in particular, and summons a rich golden white cloak from out of nowhere and cover the now damaged and unconscious lady. And as he removed the cloth, there is no trace of the thief whatsoever.

Meet one of the souvenirs he acquired from hell, the legendary Golden Fleece.

'Time to follow the rest.'

While Dante goes off to find the group's whereabouts, Wardes and company ran towards the harbor, their road illuminated by the bright moon. Wardes ran towards a certain building's long stairs, and began walking up them.

Dante suddenly appeared and joined them as they ran through the streets, much to their surprise.

And it seems like Kirche, Guiche and Tabitha were separated in the commotion.

After Dante managing to utterly annihilate the brigands, he could safely say they are safe.

His foresight could tell.

"Aren't we heading towards some 'harbor'? Why are we climbing a hill?" asked Dante.

Wardes did not answer.

After climbing a long flight of stairs, they arrived on top of a small hill. Seeing everything in front of him, Dante was pleasantly surprised.

It was a huge tree, branching out in every direction. It had the size of a mountain. How tall was it? The night covered its top, but it had considerable height. Dante looked at the tree as if it was the Eiffel Tower.

And then... taking a closer look between the branches, the tree seemed to be holding something even larger. A huge fruit? He was wrong. It was a ship. It looked like a lead colored zeppelin, stuck between the trees.

''Lead' Zeppelin?' Dante grins at the thought,

"This is the 'harbor'? And... that's the 'ship'?" Dante deadpans.

Louise replied in surprise. "Yeah... isn't your world like that?"

"Harbors and ships all stay on water in my world."

"If there are ships that sail on water, there are ships that sail in the air." Louise said matter-of-factly.

'Not in physics they don't.' Dante thought,

Wardes led the group as they ran to the tree's roots, which were as big and spacious as a skyscraper's lobby. They probably dug the middle out of a dead tree to make this.

It was night, so they couldn't see anyone. Between each flight of stairs were metal panels, with writing of some sort on them. Maybe station signs or something, the devil hunter thought.

Wardes began climbing the stairs in front of him.

One flight of wooden stairs was connected to another. There were scaffolding and supports on them, but they still looked worryingly dangerous. One could see La Rochelle's lights in the spaces between each flight of stairs.

In a rest stop midway, Dante heard footsteps behind them. He turned around, and a shadow jumped, flying over him and landed behind Louise.

It was the white-masked man on Fouquet's golem.

Dante pulled out his sword and cried, "LOUISE!"

Louise turned around. The man picked her up the next instant.

"Ahhhh-!" Louise screamed. Dante points his sword.

'But if I just slash it like that, I'll hit Louise. And besides that…'

The man carried Louise and jumped much like a acrobat would, his body moving wherever he wished.

Dante stood still. Beside him, Wardes waved his staff. The masked man, like Dante a while ago, was blown away, hit by Wardes' air hammer, and let Louise go. He held on to a support, but Louise fell towards the ground.

In an instant, Wardes jumped off from the platform, and dove towards Louise like a grebe. He caught up with her and floated in the air while carrying her.

Dante just strides to the side and carefully watched the man rescue his ward.

The masked man bent around, jumped on the platform, and faced Dante. His build was not too different from Wardes'. He pulled out a staff from his waist. It was a black staff.

After making sure Louise was safe, Dante went on guard, remembering his battle against Wardes. Swinging the sword around is outright dangerous, but he couldn't foresee what magic his opponent would use against him.

He draws Ivory and aims at the man.

The man waved his staff. The air above him began to cool. Freezing air irritated Dante's skin. What is he doing?

He could smell ozone. 'Crap.'

He continued to chant a spell. Dante raised his sword, but Derflinger yelled, "Get on guard, partner!"

As Dante got on guard, the air shook. There was a crack. Lightning emanated from the man and hit the devil hunter directly, most especially the arms.

"Fuck, its 'Lightning Cloud'!" Derflinger cried, recognising the spell. A strong current went through Dante's body but remained standing.

This is nothing compared to the hits he took before.

"Dante!" Louise cried, watching her get hit. Wardes bit his lip, turned to the masked man, and waved his staff. It was the air hammer. The air around him solidified into invisible blocks, striking the masked man. He fell off the platform and towards the ground.

Louise struggled out of Wardes' grip and ran to Dante, who just stared at Wardes in clear suspicion. Luckily, neither Wardes nor Louise noticed.

"Derf what the heck just hit me?"

Derflinger spoke in concern, "That was 'Lightning Cloud'. Very strong wind magic. That guy looks like an expert to me."

"Is that so."

Wardes looked to Dante's condition. "But he was lucky to survive. This spell usually kills. Hmm... looks like your sword neutralized some of the current, but I'm not sure why. Isn't the sword made of metal?"

Dante shrugged.

"No idea. I forgot." Derflinger replied.

"An intelligent sword, huh. Rare stuff."

Dante remained silent as he sheathed Derflinger to his back.

"Let's go. I-it doesn't matter now." Louise urged the two.

Behind the last flight of stairs was a branch. On that branch, a ship... just docked there. It was shaped more like a yacht, perhaps to let it fly. There were wings on the sides. From the ship dangled who-knows-how-many ropes, all tied onto the branches. The branch they were standing on extended all the way to the ship's deck.

They stepped on board, and a sailor sleeping on the deck climbed up. "Hey you! What are you doing?"

"Where's the captain?"

"He's sleeping. Come back in the morning." The man replied frostily and drunkenly, and drank from his rum bottle.

Wardes did not answer, and pulled his staff out. "You want a noble to repeat what he just said? I said get the captain!"

"A n-noble!" The sailor stood up immediately and ran for the captain's quarters.

After a while, he brought back a sleepy, fifty-something old man with a hat on. He seemed to be the captain. "What do you want?" He looked at Wardes suspiciously.

"Leader of Her Majesty's Mage Guard, Captain Wardes."

The captain's eyes bulged, and he switched to more formal words after learning his identity as a noble of high caliber. "Oh, uh... then, what services may this ship perform for you..."

"Take us to Albion. Depart now."

"This is Madness!"

'Madness? This is Spardaaa!' Dante silently laughed at his inner joke at his father's expense.

"This is upon Her Majesty's orders. Are you going against the Royal Court?"

"I don't know what you're going to Albion for, but we can't depart until morning!"

"Why?"

"Albion's the closest to Tristainia in the morning! We don't have enough wind stones to get there from here right now."

"Wind stones?" asked the devil hunter.

The captain gave him a 'you-don't-know-what-a-wind-stone-is? look and answered, "Stones that store wind magic. This ship can't fly without them." He then turned to Wardes. "Your Excellency, this ship only has enough wind stones in store to travel the shortest distance to Albion. If we have more, we could have gone earlier. But for now, we cannot depart. We'll drop out of the sky while halfway there."

"I'll make up for however much you lack in wind stones. I'm a square wind mage."

The captain and his sailors looked at each other. The captain then turned to Wardes and nodded. "Then that's fine. You will have to pay, though."

"What's the cargo?"

"Sulfur. Right now, it's worth its weight in gold. The nobles have increased the price in desperation for security. To have that, gunpowder and fire elements are a must."

"Sell all of that to me at that price."

The captain nodded, perhaps with a devious smile. With the deal done, the captain made one order after another. "Leave port! Untie anchors! Set sail!"

The sailors followed orders, all the while complaining under their breath, expertly removing the ropes from the branches, climbing to the securing ropes on both sides, and released the sails.

Without the ties, the ship suddenly sank, and then floated again with the power of the wind stones.

"When can we reach Albion?" Wardes asked.

"We'll arrive at Scarborough Port tomorrow at noon." The captain replied.

Dante looked at the ground from the port side. The "harbor" could be seen between the huge tree's branches. La Rochelle's lights soon faded into darkness. They seemed to be traveling rather fast.

Louise approached her summoned being, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?" She worriedly looked at him.

"It's nothing." He pushed her hand away. Louise's face reddened.

"What? And I was worried about you!" Louise went mad, seeing as Dante wouldn't even look at her. "And I got all worried about you... what's with that attitude?" She thought.

Dante is currently trying to piece the facts about what occurred. But remained silent at what he found out. But she has to know the truth, but first Dante needs strong evidence.

Wardes approached them. "From what I heard from the captain, the Albion Royal Army near Newcastle was completely surrounded and is fighting an uphill battle."

Louise, clearly scared, asked, "What about Prince Wales?"

Wardes shook his head. "I'm not sure. He seems to be alive..."

"Wait... isn't the harbor completely taken over by the rebels?"

"Yeah."

"Then how can we contact the Royal Family?"

"We'll just have to fight our way out. It takes only a day on horseback from Scarborough to Newcastle."

"Fighting out of the rebels?"

"Right. That's the only choice we have. They can't really openly attack the Tristainian nobility, I think. We'll have to find a chance to break out of their circle and run straight for Newcastle. All we have to think about then is riding in the dark."

Louise anxiously nodded, and asked, "Speaking of which, Wardes, where's your griffin?"

Wardes smiled. He leaned out portside, and whistled. From right under the ship came the sound of the griffin's wings. It landed onto the deck, scaring some of the sailors.

"Can't we just get to Albion on the griffin instead of the ship?" asked Dante with voice dripping with sarcasm.

"It's not a dragon. It can't fly that far." Louise answered, not catching the point.

Dante sat near the mast and closed his eyes.

'Looks like we'll be in danger again soon. Oh well... I'll just go to sleep.' he thought. With the talk between Louise and Wardes like a lullaby, he fell asleep.

Dante woke up to the sailors' noises and blinding light, and a bright, blue sky in front of him. Looking down the ship, he could see floating clouds. The ship sailed right above them.

"Albion in sight!" the lookout bellowed.

Dante yawned, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and looked down again. All there was were clouds. Ground was nowhere to be seen.

Louise, who seemed to have been sleeping beside him, stood up.

"I can't see ground anywhere." Dante commented.

"There?" She pointed up towards the sky.

"Huh?" He followed where she pointed.

A huge... well, nothing but huge sight greeted his eyes.

From between the clouds he could see dark land. It continued to expand under them. Mountains carved the landscape, and rivers flowed down them.

From between the clouds he could see dark land.

"That doesn't surprise you or anything?" Louise asked him.

"Not really." Dante yawned. He had seen types of place like this before,

"So, what is this place called again?"

"Albion, the floating island. It floats in the air, just like that, usually over oceans. However, it passes by over the Halkeginian continent a few times every month. It's about the size of Tristainia, and it's nicknamed 'The White Country'."

"Why 'The White Country'?"

Louise pointed towards the island. "The water from the rivers flow off the island into the air, and while doing so become white fog, covering the bottom part of the island. The fog turn into clouds, which give Halkeginia its rainfall," Louise explained.

The lookout yelled again, "Ship approaching starboard side!"

Dante looked towards that direction. A ship was, as he said, approaching, and it was many measures larger than the one they're on. Cannons jutted out of holes on its portside.

"Oooh, Pirates... they even have cannons." Dante spoke his thoughts.

Louise frowned.

Shit seems about to hit the fan, so to speak.

／人◕ .◕人＼

Author's note:

The heck, I wrote another one again…

Please review?