The girls were standing on the hill where Zero had fought the next morning, looking down at the wide meadow below. The sun rose from the other side of the mountain range, and light cracked through a crevice between the mountains, and would have made the sight beautiful... If not for the torn up landscape, the burned grass, and the scars that had been left on the earth by the battle that Zero had fought. Although no matter how ugly it was, the view before them was like medicine for their souls. This was proof that Zero had stood up for them, proof that he fought... And that there had been no body. If there had been a body someone would have come forward, but no... The mysterious warrior remained a legend...
"…Zero attacked an uncountable army here... He was my shield and took my place...What was he thinking? How could he fight so hard?" Louise asked, as her knees became weak at looking at the evidence that Zero truly had fought for them... With everything he had.
"That he loved us. You heard Axl. He knows him best. That's the only reasoning that makes sense." Roll replied as she gazed at the valley. She couldn't imagine facing an enemy force that large. Even if she had far more power than they did, all it would take would be a few lucky hits... and with that number, a few lucky hits would be all too easy too land... And yet Zero didn't seem to care. Was this what Axl had meant? Roll couldn't help but shake her head at the thought that Zero might just be looking for a fight to end the fighting...
The wide forest line could be seen off to the side. After explaining the issue to the headmaster, Louise had been able to borrow a map of Albion from the Academy of Magic, made by the Tristain Academy of Geography.
Louise cleared her throat and folded the map. "I wonder if there is a village nearby…"
Siesta looked into the distance and pointed at the corner of the forest."There is a path there."
"It leads into the forest." Kirche commented.
"It's easy to miss, but it doesn't disappear within the forest." Siesta disagreed.
Though the path was not wide enough for a carriage to pass, it was wide enough for a person, and it seemed it was tread down rather firmly.
"Someone lives in there." Siesta said.
"Are you certain?" Roll asked curiously
"Of course, it is regularly trampled, and unlike game trails it is far too straight. Animals, unlike humans will wind their trails, they don't like to go in perfectly straight lines. And if it was not regularly used you would not have such a solid, if small path. So someone has to live there."
***Break***
In the forest of Westwood Village, Agnes and Zero set their wooden swords.
Though Agnes said that technique was not important in war, she was shown just how wrong she was by Zero. Techniques for rolling, disarming, and even in breaking swords. She was getting a crash course in every style of sword based combat from earth that Zero knew. And he sure seemed to know a very large number of them. Although, now had come a time of truth... Zero told her it was examination time and that she should use all the tricks and techniques she was taught in this match.
Agnes nodded and smiled,"Don't worry, this time I'll hit you. What are the rules?"
"We're going to imitate real combat, naturally."Zero said calmly.
Agnes smirked as she took an odd stance. She dragged the tip of her sword across the ground sending a large amount of loose soil toward Zero's face.
"What? This stance... Never seen this before,"Zero said with a smile as he narrowly dodged a hit from the woman as she tried to capitalize on her surprise attack.
But Agnes didn't answer, she ran at Zero making feint after feint, trying to draw him out of his perfect defensive stance, and failing time and time again. Suddenly Zero stopped, changing his stance and swung hard. Agnes barely dodged the attack, although she felt the displaced air.
"Nice work with the distraction and the surprise attack. I was sure you'd figure out that real combat could start with or without consent." Zero complimented as he stood his ground.
"Don't treat me like an amateur." Agnes growled.
"Oh, I'd never dream of it. You'd make a good sparing partner for Axl. Provided he hasn't gotten any better." Zero replied flippantly, and blocking and parrying the attacks with his sword easily. The feud continued for over half an hour. "Well, that's long enough. I guess its my turn. Lets see what you're really made of," Zero commented lazily and prepared to lunge at the woman.
Agnes narrowed her eyes and readied her trump card. As Zero dove in to attack her she cut the buttons on her shirt with her belt knife, giving Zero a very full view of just what she was made of. Zero stopped for a moment then turned around sputtering in protest.
"What the hell, why would you even do that?" Zero demanded, his face red. He was surprised when he heard a dull thunk as the sword made contact with his helmet."Really? That was the plan? You flash me and then hit me with your sword..."
"It worked, didn't it?" Agnes said calmly as she smiled at his back. "Its alright to turn around, I pinned my shirt closed."
"Jeez, you're that willing to win? You just flashed me!" Zero said as he turned around, and found that Agnes had in fact not pinned her shirt closed. "What the hell is up with you people and not caring about if people see you naked?" he cried out then stopped. "Wait, what other people?" Zero shook his head as a wave of dizziness struck him, followed by a torrent of information that seemed to slip through his mind before it could truly catch. He fell heavily to his knee, with his hands grabbing his helmet. A shroud of white light surrounded him for a moment before dissipating.
"Zero?" Agnes cried as she rushed to his side,"I didn't hit you that hard, did I?"
Zero groaned then shook his head,"No... Just memories. I think, but nothing stuck. I'm fine."
Agnes grinned,as she brought her chest into Zero's view again,"And here I thought I was fine, if your reactions were any indication,"
Zero turned again, muttering under his breath, as Agnes laughed. "Stupid women, don't play fair."
"In real combat, you use every advantage you have. You're stronger, faster and more experienced than me. I have breasts. Apparently we see which is the greater power," Agnes said dryly, as she finally pinned the front of her shirt closed.
"No shame at all... But it worked, congratulations." Zero said with a forced smile. "I doubt many humans could fight you in a one on one situation with a sword, and I doubt any male could fight you one on one in any way... And if you knew their preferences beforehand, some females would fall because of that as well."
***Break***
Leaning against a tree Zero and Agnes were having some rest.
Zero began to talk."You beat me, and since you passed I'm going to give you some advice... Use your sword to defend, use it to prevent people from getting hurt. Do not become a force of anger or destruction... You'll lose everything... And I do mean everything, life, love, happiness...Humanity..."
"You sound like an old man," Agnes commented with a chuckle.
Zero just sighed and said in a tired voice,"You have no idea. Just keep what I said in mind... there are only three people I've ever hated in my entire life... And honestly, hate has only ever brought me troubles, only brought the world troubles...Do your best to find something worth protecting, someone worth protecting...It will give your blade meaning..."
Agnes gazed at Zero curiously. As she looked into his eyes, she couldn't help but be struck by the raw emotion there. Agnes sighed shaking her head. Here was an amazing swordman, but for some reason she couldn't see anything but a broken warrior... The kind who had fought too many battles, who only fought so that they could die... And with Zero's power, Agnes couldn't help but think he'd be fighting forever.
"We should go wash up... Tiffania will yell at me again if we don't." Zero commented as he stood up. As he looked at Agnes again, he smiled and spoke as he turned to leave."I mean it. You did very good. Even if it was unorthodox, you handled the situation exceptionally well."
***Break***
As Zero was washing up, he heard Tiffania call out to him. Turning to see her run up to him, her chest heaving from the exertion, cocked an eyebrow and asked,"What's wrong?"
"A group of women have been looking for you, one of them fits the description of your former master. She's short and has long pink hair!" Tiffania said between gasps.
Zero's right hand came up in a fist, as he looked at Tiffania."What? Damn it... Did they come looking for me?"
"While picking mushrooms, Emma saw a number of people, she came back here immediately and told me. She seems to be heading straight here! What are we to do?"
"Damn it, damn it. Let me think," Zero said and sighed. Suddenly an idea hit him, and he blurred into his black armor. "Hopefully this works, but we'll need to hurry." Zero said as he started to explain his plan.
***Break***
Louise led the vanguard to Westwood village, they wandered half of the day following the footpath in the forest because Tabitha's Sylphid refused to fly into the forest for some reason. Fortunately, they found a girl who was gathering mushrooms. But when they asked the five-year old girl "Have you seen a boy?" while describing Zero's features, she ran away surprised. They had hoped that they could find adults in the village who might be more helpful...
It was a tiny village, of only ten houses, hid well in a small glade within the forest
"Is it a pioneer village? Yet, there doesn't seem to be too much left after it was made,"Siesta shared her impression.
"Let's ask around." Louise said, looking for an adult to talk to.
"Hello, can I help you?" asked a gentle voice. They turned to find a beautiful girl with blond hair cascading down from under her wide-rimmed hat, carrying a basked filled with vegetables.
"Can I ask you something?" Louise asked quietly
"Have you seen a handsome young man, with long blond hair? His name is Zero, and he's a beautiful and caring swordsman with no peer!" Kirche popped in before the girl could answer Louise's question. This was promptly followed by a thwack to the head by Tabitha's staff.
The girl took a step back, then looked at them, her eyes tearing up...
"It's all right. We are not anyone suspicious. We're just looking for a friend,"Roll assured her.
Siesta impatiently asked."Please tell us if you've seen him? He looks about seventeen years old..."
The girl with the blond hair, turned her face sadly down. After a pause, she simply said, "Come." leading the group back to the forest, in the opposite direction from which they had come.
"When I found him It was already too late." The girl with blond hair, who introduced herself as Teifutenia said sadly, her voice catching. She led them to the old oak tree she had found Zero at. A big stone was placed there, decorated with blooming forest flowers.
And on it... Zero's black helmet was placed. While it was somewhat different from what the others had seen, the placement and general shape of it was too easily recognized.
Stupefied, Siesta collapsed.
"He had injuries from magic and the bullets all over his body. His body was worn and destroyed...It was hard to look at it. It wasn't a pleasant sight. The strongest Water spells would not have healed him."
Siesta began to cry and tightly embraced the grave. She screamed,"Why, why did you die? Why didn't you run? Why did you die for the selfish nobles?"
"How could he die? That's not possible. He's a hero, he can't be beaten, he's Zero!" Kirche denied loudly, but she recognized that helmet. She had seen it when he had faced off against the mercenaries.
Tabitha looked at the stone, a tear slipped down her cheek."No heroes..."
Roll stared at the marker with eyes wide. This wasn't possible. He couldn't be dead. He...He wouldn't die. He couldn't die. Even if he was dead, she would repair him!
Seeing Siesta acting like this, Tiffania continued to talk painfully"In the end... He said...that he had something to say, in case anyone came looking for him..."
"What did he say?" Louise asked in distant voice.
"He said it was better this way... That he could rest now... That he could go to her now... That he deserves this."
"That's all?" Louise asked, her voice dead.
Tiffania nodded, then knelt down to hold Siesta's shoulder as she sobbed. "It's getting cold... please, at least, come to my house. Spend a night there." Siesta, unthinkingly stood up as the gentle girl nudged her.
"What about us though Zero?" Roll asked the gravemarker. "You told me...You told me I didn't have to be alone here. What about us? Why is this better?" When she got no answer, she wished that she could cry like the other girls. "Why, why can't I even cry? You could! Why not me!" She demanded as she glared at the stone. She knew this was stupid. She was angry at the person who had gone off to face an army so that they would be saved. He had done more than anyone could ask of him, and here she was, angry at him when he couldn't even reply to her. "I'm sorry Zero, I'm so sorry. If only I wasn't so useless..."
"That is enough for now, Miss...All of you, come... It is getting cold, and I couldn't let you all stay out here on a chill night like tonight." Though she said this, Louise did not answer. She just quietly stared at Zero's helmet. Tiffania shook her head and said to Louise. "Well, we'll wait in the house"
Left alone at the tombstone, Louise lifted Zero's helmet up. Then she gently pressed her lips against the cool metal. "Zero can you hear me? First of all, I'd like to thank you. All right?"
Of course there was no answer.
"When I was about to be crushed by Fouquet's golem... and when I was about to be killed by Wardes... you always saved me. When the Albion fleet attacked Tristain. When the Princess was reckless, when I was ordered to stop Albion's army from advancing, you always stood in front of me. Even when I was selfish, demanding and bossy you always protected me without fail until the very end. Even though I complained, you saved me."Louise continued to pour her heart out in words."You said you believed in me. Do you know how happy that made me? You said "I believe in you" to someone like me who's own family can not accept them... Without you, I would never have found myself... I am not pretty and I am not a girl whom one truly cares about... only, somehow, you did." Louise closed her eyes."To you, I wanted to say these words. But in the end, because of my pride, I couldn't say... these important words. Not in the right way...Not in a way that could make you understand, to reach your heart..."
Louise held the helmet tightly, pressing it to her heart.
"But, I won't say them here. I will say them once we meet again. Until then, I will never give up. Even if everyone says you're dead even if the spells show you are dead even if your grave stands before my eyes, I won't believe it. I haven't seen your body yet...I'll wait for you for the rest of my life. But, even that won't repay the things that you did for me. I will call you back to life. Even if I'll be called stupid, I will wait for you. With all my being, I will deny your death."Louise lifted the helmet and settled it on her head. It was loose, and tilted forward, obscuring her vision slightly."I am a mage. I have the power to turn words into reality. Therefore, I say this, I won't admit your death." Louise softly gazed at Zero's tombstone and said."We will meet sometime. We will meet for sure. I believe in you, so I won't stop searching. I will never stop searching for you Zero."
Squatting down on the back side of an oak, Zero heard the footsteps of Louise leaving. Next to him there, was Agnes, who helped to make the grave.
"Are you sure?" Agnes placed her hand on Zero's shoulder.
Zero nodded with no hesitation."I am sure."
"I see... They didn't sound like people who wanted to enslave you... They sounded like they truly cared for you. Possibly even loved you." Agnes said simply.
Zero looked at her and in a dead voice replied,"I'm a weapon with more blood on my hand than you can imagine. Here, I can be a secret from the world... I can't join the world again, or it could very well end once more. I just wish she hadn't stolen my helmet..."
Agnes looked at Zero and shrugged. She had tried, for as much good as it did...
***break***
That night, they stayed over at Tiffania's house while.
Louise slept in the room where Zero had stayed before, when he had been found originally. Louise had placed the helmet next to the bed, happy to at least have something to touch that connected her directly with Zero. Siesta and Kirche slept in Tiffania's room. Tiffania moved to sleep to the living room with Tabitha and Roll, after Roll had insisted that she not be run out of her home.
Louise laid in the bed, quietly staring at the ceiling, her hand never leaving the helmet. She silently drew the blanket up and held it tightly. She felt as if she was going crazy. She tried to think about something to steady herself. But, the voice of regret and blame, brought back the images of Zero over and over again no matter what Louise did. It was hard, it was painful. It hurt so much in various ways. She couldn't bear it much longer. It seemed like another restless night without a wink of sleep awaited her
The door opened.
"Siesta?" Louise asked hesitantly.
It was indeed Siesta. She didn't say anything though, as she slipped into the room.
"What's wrong? You couldn't fall asleep as well?"
Siesta shook her head. Her body was trembling.
"Wha-what happened to you?"
"Zero..."
Louise sprang to her feet from the bed. "What about Zero? Hey!"
"In the forest..." Siesta pointed out the window of the room.
"Forest!"Louise jumped out of the window, taking only enough time to grab Zero's helmet, not willing to let it out of her sight. If Zero was alive after all, there would be hell for him to pay! She'd never let him leave again! These was the only thought she had. She wasn't alerted by Siesta's unusual tone. "Which way?"
"T-that way."
Louise started to run after Siesta.
The light of the two moons falling through the openings between the trees was their only signpost.
Their feet were almost completely covered with darkness.
Louise fell down many times. However, Siesta, as one would expect from a peasant girl, accustomed to the forest, went fast ahead.
"W-wait"
By that time, Siesta's silhouette was swallowed by the forest darkness.
"I'm here!"
Only her voice could be heard in the dark.
Desperately, Louise ran after that voice.
Meanwhile, the moon came out and illuminated the opening. Everything shone under the silver light. Even the mushrooms looked like they were glowing.
Siesta stood up and looked at something."Hey, Zero is there"
"Where?"
Though her eyes were searching frantically, she could not see Zero anywhere. Was she unable to see because of the darkness? Impatiently, she tried to recite 'light' spell, but then Siesta gripped the leash of the bag on her shoulder with Founder's Prayer Book in it.
"Hey! What are you doing?"Louise cried out.
However, Siesta didn't change her expression. With a strange smile on her lips she continued to pull it forcefully.
"You... are you being controlled?" Seeing an odd sparkling in her eyes, Louise kicked Siesta away. If so, she could not afford to hold back at a time like this. Siesta fell to the ground. Louise promptly pulled out the wand that was attached to her thigh. Quickly, she started to chant 'Dispel Magic'. Because the spell cast time was relatively short, the range was very narrow as well. Yet, it was enough to put Siesta under Dispel. Siesta's entire body became covered with light. And faded away. "What? Not a control spell? What in the Founder's name?" Louise wondered as she blankly stared at the empty space where Siesta was a moment ago. Then she saw a small doll lying there."Alviss..." It was a downsized version of a gargoyle, moving on its own will due to the influence of magic. So why was it here? Hearing footsteps echoing behind her, Louise turned around. "Who?"
It was a black shadow, covered with a very loose black robe. The shape was vaguely one of a woman. "What are you trying to do? Who are you?" Louise demanded, and at the same time brought her wand around to bare on the newcomer. "Identify yourself."
"Well, what do you think my name is? We can make a game of it, if you wish..." the new person said, her voice light, sounding as if on the verge of laughter.
"Stop joking." Louise demanded as she glared at them, then silently started chanting her void spell.
"You don't know me, so I shall introduce myself I suppose. You may call me Leviathan. Yet, it is not the name I have been given by my master."
Louise finished her spell and called out,"Explode!" The spell was unleashed at once. The explosion launched towards the woman in black robe.
However, after the spell hit the robe, she was not there anymore. When she came closer she saw another small doll lying there. Apparently, Alviss, with the help of magic, could become human-sized.
"That's cheating! Show yourself!"
Then...From the dark, many women clothed in black robes showed up.
She couldn't tell which of them were Alviss' and which was the real one.
All of the black robed women opened their mouths at once."Nice to meet you, Miss Vallière. User of the great Void."
"She knew that I am Void's user, just who is this woman?" Louise muttered."…Gargoyle user?"
"I can use more than gargoyles." the woman replied with a smirk.
Louise tried to chant the spell that she thought would best handle this situation. She was going to finish Dispel Magic in a flash.
"You really should stop. Your spell is useless against my dolls."
Suddenly the women clothed in black robes turned into many semi-humanoid figures. Each one held a form of weapon.
Surrounded by dozens of gargoyles, the woman, who called herself Leviathan muttered."Shall I teach you about some of my power?" When Louise didn't respond Leviathan spoke again,"God's left hand, your Gandalfr, he could use all weapons. Right?"
Louise did nothing, but silently glared at Leviathan. Just how did that woman know that?
"I am god's mind, Myoznitnirn. I can use all magical items."
Myoznitnirn? Though not a mage, she can use all magical items? Are the gargoyles moving because of that ability? Unlike Golems, which required constant control after creation, gargoyles move by their own will. Therefore, the corresponding spell needed far more willpower to use. Using a great number of gargoyles at the same time was impossible even for the greatest of mages. How did this woman have so much magical power?
The woman in a black robe, abruptly took off her hood.
Characters were shining on her forehead below an unusual blue helmet. Ancient runes. It had been some time since Louise saw runes imprinted on Zero's left hand...
"Do these ancient runes look familiar?
Louise's face turned pale."You are..."
"Indeed, I am a familiar of Void." Leviathan said as she smirked at the young girl.
***Author's notes***
Hey, new chapter.
Okay, something got cut off in the end of the last chapter, going to post it here, because I dunno if anyone will see it if I post it last chapter.
1- where it ends they're not really, it should say robots. Although Zero and X aren't technically Reploids (robots based on X's schematics, "replicated androids"), as they are original androids from the past (technically making them "Robot Masters"). Reploids is just the catch all when it comes to talking about humanoid artificial intelligence systems with human like capabilities. Only was saying this because people still want to nit-pick about it.
Someone also asked me how Zero could get information if he didn't have some sort of easily used physical interface(involving the books) since it never really shows them just casually hooking into things like in other shows/games. Considering that Omega and X could both control people without interfacing, I'm pretty certain they have a form of advanced and probably semi-secured Wifi included with them, otherwise if they were truly self contained systems half the stuff in the series wouldn't ever happen. Such as the Maverick Virus being transferred from Zero to Sigma. So the answer is, they don't necessarily need a hard connection. And for those that do, stuff like the operator chairs/visors can fulfill that.
On the democratic movement, Zero would likely be VERY unlikely to join unless it was proven that it was a GOOD democratic movement. No peasants, no special laws, nothing like that. Considering they were a republic, which isn't democratic, this would have been a very very hard thing to push. Also add in that These people would probably push for democracy with nobles voting, I don't see any movements actually taking off with Zero's assistance. At least in Tristian there is a well meaning monarch. Crowns aren't necessarily good, nor are they necessarily bad. Look at the republic that we have now in the USA. There is a large amount of stupid things, from the federal reserve to stupid laws and meaningless paperwork that simply costs money and takes away rights of everyday citizens so that others can make money off those stripped freedoms that others have fought/died for. Nothing is absolutely good or evil. Both "free" societies and other less "free" societies can have the same types of problems. Revolutions happen at times, and sometimes they're needed. But a revolution led by a group of well meaning people can just as easily fail as a group leading a revolution that is not well meaning, and just wishes for power themselves(Albion's new government in this story).