In a Royal Palace work room, Henrietta was waiting for the guest's arrival impatiently. All schedules for the afternoon were canceled today. That's why Mazarin, who usually complained about her working too hard every day, didn't scold her for her rare lapse of productivity.
It was an empty work room as, in addition to the riches, all the furniture was sold off. As might be expected, the desk that was used for the paper look-over was not present either. There was a worn-out desk, which was purchased in a second-hand articles shop instead.
There was also one old bookshelf standing lonesome in the corner of the room. If she were not wearing a crown, the visitor coming to the room would have never been able to guess that it was a queen's work room.
Once a guard appeared, she asked the same question, "Are they here yet?" Henrietta had repeated the same question many times, over and over again, during the last few finding out that Zero had uprooted the whole orphanage village, and that he would explain to her why when they arrived.
"Lady Agnes has not arrived yet."The guard said, giving the same answer again and again.
Henrietta bit her fingernails, a habit she picked up when she was but a child. Though she was criticized and eventually corrected the habit, it had revived again, during these times of stress.
But that time, after asking if they arrived yet the guard reported.
"Musketeer commander Lady Agnes has arrived!"
"Please invite her in at once." Henrietta stood up while saying that.
"We returned just now Your Majesty, we are sorry for the wait." Agnes said as she walked in to the room, bowing deeply.
Seeing Louise and Zero waiting behind the woman, a smile bloomed on Henrietta's lips. A sincere smile the likes of which hadn't graced her face in a long time.
"I found and brought back your errant Knight Commander." Agnes said with a smile, ignoring the glare that she got from Zero.
Louise bowed with a strained expression on her face. Zero simply nodded.
There was nothing in this deserted, lonely room. Louise looked around unsure.
"Ah, Louise... You did not know that I have sold all my furniture... Surprised?"Henrietta asked, feeling some amusement at her friend's reaction.
"Yes..."
"There was no other way. Because the treasury became empty due to the war, my war... I had to do something, even if it was so little to pay my part of it."Henrietta said as she took Louise's hands.
"Louise, first of all, I have to apologize to you..."
"Princess…"
"The general... Yes, I interrogated the general who had taken command of the Albion invasion army. He seemed to have made unreasonable demands of you, Louise... Above all, They ordered you to hold back the enemy army. I'm sorry. It's because of me. Your 'Void' was used under my command."With a painful expression on her face, Henrietta held Louise's hands. "I am sorry. I am a cruel woman. I am a helpless, sinful woman. I not only used your power for something I started myself, but I sent you away to that place to die."
Agnes corrected Henrietta's words."The ones that forced Miss Valliere to stay using your words were the generals and not Your Majesty herself. Her Majesty also, as far as I remember, never was for such duty."
Henrietta shook her head."No... it's my responsibility. It was me who decided that we needed to go to war. The possibility of such instructions being issued should have also been taken into consideration. Really, you are alive. I'm sorry Louise. What words I have to say can't apologize enough…"Feelings overtook Henrietta, and she began to weep. "Pardon me, no, these are not the words for me to say."
Seeing Henrietta like that, Louise instinctively became doleful as well."Princess, please do not worry. Louise Francoise dedicated herself to Her Majesty. It includes her death too. Therefore..."
"Talk about your death one more time and I will kick your ass..." Zero commented as he glared darkly at Louise, the crystal in his helmet flickering softly.
Louise looked at Zero, remembering his reaction at her actions and nodded feebly. She turned to look at the princess and said,"Princess, I have to tell an awful thing to you, just for your ears."
"Oh dear! On such a day, do we really need to deal with such things? Isn't it enough to be glad that you're both alright?" Henrietta asked, then with the bleak look on Louise's face she shook her head."No, I suppose I must hear it. I have to listen to everything. As the Queen I can not run anymore... Now, please tell me what it is that's so awful."
Louise told Henrietta about another familiar of Void that attacked them a reploid named Leviathan. And how they met another Void user...
"Besides you, there are other Void users?"Henrietta asked curiously.
Though Louise hesitated for a while, she also told Henrietta about Tiffania. That she was a half-elf. And that she could use the same magic as her, and that Zero was able to sense and identify magic.
"Such a thing. Maybe you should bring her here as fast as possible. It would be dangerous for her if someone found out about her and chooses to try and exploit her..."
Louise shook her head."She is already here. We placed her at the academy before coming here under the care of Headmaster Osmand. Zero would not leave the village without her. He wanted to ensure that she was safe. She took care of him after all, so he has afforded her his protection."
"Oh well, then do you suppose she would meet with me, so that I may express my gratitude?" Henrietta asked with a gentle smile.
"She probably would. But lets give them some time to get settled in," Zero said, "They just moved everyone. I need to speak with the old man about some of the things he's done with the money I obtained from Mott."
"Ah, I see. I had heard of that from him. He has some radical ideas, but they might be helpful to our people in such a time," Henrietta said with a smile. "Was there anything else of interest that happened while you were away? Not that all that has happened wouldn't be more than enough..."
Louise told Henrietta about the thing she learned from Derflinger."As for the Void users... assuming just from the number of royal family's treasures... there should be four people total."
"What? Four people bearing the Founder's power?" Henrietta asked in disbelief.
"Among them, obviously, there is a hostile one... But while we do not know who Axl's master is... We have Zero and him, and a new void mage who does not yet have a familiar... So if we but track down the final void user..." Louise trailed off, knowing it was not as easy as she made it sound. She also knew that with how keyed up Zero had been lately that it would be less than helpful to have him tearing the countryside apart for that same enemy...
Henrietta gazed at Louise."Don't worry Louise. I will personally make sure that no one lays a single finger on you... That's an absolute must."
Suddenly Zero made a connection and spoke suddenly,"Hey, if you have four royal families, four treasures, and four void users, you'd think that they'd all be royal blood right? I mean come on, why put all that stuff together if the identifying characteristics and abilities couldn't be easily found and used with the correct knowledge."
Louise looked doubtful, but had learned not to disagree with Zero when he got like this. He was more often than not right when he finally got around to analyzing things, but she didn't want to admit that.
"I don't quite get it, I'm ashamed to admit... There are only three royal families, so I'm unsure where this is going..." Henrietta said, deep in thought.
"Unless I miss my mark..." Zero said slowly as he turned to look at Louise,"Your family has royal blood in it, doesn't it? And I'm pretty certain the Romalians keep a strict trace on whoever was the original leader of that country if what I believe to be true IS true." He turned to look at his summoner as he said this.
Louise's eyes popped wide when he asked this. "W-what?"
Henrietta gasped then nodded in understanding,"Ah I see! It is true, Louise's family IS descended from the royal family. They are an older branch, but she has the same royal blood as myself!"
"That would mean Tiffania really is royalty, wouldn't it?" Zero asked curiously.
"I suppose..." Louise replied sullenly. That girl really did have her beat in everything...
"I see your point... That means..." Henrietta looked surprised for a moment,"That this Tiffania is the scion we have been looking for!"
Zero looked at Henrietta feeling somewhat suspicious. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you see Zero, after we destroyed the rebel government we've had a regent holding Albion's territories... We've been looking for someone of royal blood to replace the previous royal family..." Henrietta said, feeling nervous under the scrutiny.
Zero shook his head. There were too many reasons this wasn't a smart course of the least of which was the fact that she was an elf. Zero replied,"Out of the question. As long as she's a void user she will stay near me. We need to make sure that she's secure. With Leviathan's capabilities myself or Axl are the only ones in the world who can stop her."
"I see... So it is true, that Axl is a former ally of yours?" Henrietta asked
"Nothing former about it. We're still a team even if we work a little farther away from each other. He also is the one who managed to get Louise out of danger."
"Ah I see... I must thank him for his actions when I next see him. But things brings me to a point that I must address..." Henrietta said
"Must?"Zero asked,
"Zero. It was you, instead of Louise, who saved my retreating army."
"Yeah, and?"
"I heard it from the Albion general. He told me about everything."
"And?"
"Thank you. Those words are not enough to express the gratitude I feel now. Really, thank you." Henrietta's crowned head bowed many times.
"Come on, don't bow to me, seriously, stop. Come on, all I did was do something suicidally stupid. Normally I get yelled at for these things!"
"No...you are the hero. The hero who saved the mother country – Tristain. If not for you, my army would have been annihilated."Henrietta continued bowing.
Zero sighed as he watched the girl. Knowing that something annoying was coming he thought, 'And here it comes' as he closed his eyes.
"Though it is small, this is to show my gratitude. Please receive it." Henrietta said as she held out her hand.
Gratitude? What could it be? Some gold coins again? Or...Please no. Please, Please no. As Zero opened his eyes he looked at a single parchment. It had a Tristain royal family seal imprinted on the left corner. Zero's eyes blanked as he looked at it. He wondered if he should take the window, or just make his own hole in the wall. Making a new hole might just let them know his thoughts on this...
Louise leaned over to read it and gasped as she cried out,"It says you are to be consecrated as the commander of the Imperial Guards!"
"Damn it! I'm not royal guard material! And I'm especially not 'commander' material!"Zero cried out.
"I believe that you are. It started with your first battle in Albion and has continued sense. In the past, you have helped me and this country many times, in many ways that we could never repay you. The with drawl from Albion was a success because of you. Without your contribution our eventual victory would have been impossible. Your contributions to our country are one of a kind, and unparallelled throughout all of history. You will be remembered through the ages as a great Hero by our kingdom. Tell me how you are not Royal guard material, my Knight-Captain?" Being called a hero in this way by Henrietta made Zero glow. Literally. Still, Henrietta continued this attempt to persuade him. "A hero has to be given an honor that matches his exploits. That's what the general that confronted you said to me, and I think so as well. Thus I ask you – please lend me your power. You are important to me no, to all people of Tristain."
Zero's eyes widened at that sentence. A voice came to him, speaking gently, and full of regret. I'm sorry for forcing you to wake up, but please, lend me your power... His eyes teared up as he remembered that earnest plea, and of this girl's similar tone and desperation.
"But Princess, consecrating Zero, who is not a mage, as commander of the Imperial Guards? This cannot be allowed!"Louise said in haste, not noticing her familiar's change in manner.
"He is a mage, in his own way. Do you not recall the tornado of water that he stopped by turning it in to ice?"Henrietta countered.
"Well... uh..."Louise tried to grasp at straws, but nothing could be found to argue this. Especially with the new "trick" he had learned...
"Because he comes from another world? Because he is not human?"Henrietta continued, searching for any and all objections Louise might have.
"Why make him the commander of the imperial guards, isn't that a little much?"Louise asked again.
"Doesn't he have the qualifications of a noble, one who has shown that he cares more for our small kingdom than many of those with high station who have been born here? Has he not fought for us and with us without any stake or home? This is for Tristain's future, Louise, and for his. With this, he will truly be a part of our kingdom, this will become his home. That's how I feel."Henrietta said, matching her friend's eyes, unwilling to look away.
"But Zero is my familiar...I do not want to lose him again..."Louise said, near on tears.
"Yes. Of course, that doesn't change. In fact, it will be easier for him to help you. You disagree?"
"But, but, my Void should remain a secret..." Louise protested weakly as she looked away from her oldest friend.
"Of course, that secret will be kept. The fact that he is the familiar Gandalfr is known only by me, Agnes, Headmaster Osmand, and top management of the country. Currently, he is just a mage-knight, the first of his kind, with excellent behavior, tactical and weapon skills."
With Zero's thoughts settling, he shook his head again and said,"Excellent behavior... Are we sure we're talking about me? I mean seriously. I'm about as volatile as you can get."
"What do you say, my Knight Captain? Will you assist me one more time?"
"...Let me think about it for a moment."Zero said as he covered his face with his hands. She had asked of him, the same thing that Ciel had. For his power. She, just like Ciel, had been forced into a war that she did not start...
Louise watched Zero, her insecurity written on her face.
"If... And that's a big If..."Zero said slowly,"If I take command of anything, it's not going to be some run of the mill royal guard unit. I will take command in my own way."
"And what way is that?" Henrietta asked curiously.
"The only command that I ever felt at home in... Was the command of the Shinobi corps." Zero stated.
"Hmm?"
"A group of people who can infiltrate areas and kill targets, people who understand just how people might break our defenses, or target civilians. I don't know if any nobles or commoners here will accept the things I teach them. Nor do I know if I will accept them. This type of group would be more for active use than just as royal guards. And... In all honesty, I'll be introducing a concept that will crush this world's thoughts on honor and nobility... The Total War concept...As well as the restrictions placed upon it by the Law of Armed Conflict." Zero said warningly.
Henrietta smiled."I suppose, that we shall have to see then? I have faith in you my Knight Commander."
"A little too much, if you ask me." Zero commented, but was silenced by a glare from Louise.
"Ah, such a humble familiar." Agnes said with a smile. "I wonder, just how he has stayed so humble, in his own way..."
"Although..." Henrietta said with a smile as she retrieved a package from her desk,"As a recognizable noble, I ask that you reconsider your stance on wearing a cloak..."
Zero looked at it, then looked at the princess. His response was simple. "Nope. Sorry, I hate cloaks."
"Well, take it with you please, in case you find yourself willing to wear it. There are times when people will not identify you without it..." Henrietta plead.
Louise took the package then glared at her familiar. "Thank you princess. Although Zero is being unreasonable now, he'll understand what it means to be a noble, and wear this cloak with pride."
Zero just looked at his summoner and commented,"Um. Louise, do you have a fever? Or did you hang around Axl too long and catch a sudden case of stupid? I hate cloaks. And I have damned good reason to."
"What did you just say?" Louise screamed at Zero before looking at the princess, horrified at her outburst.
Zero couldn't help but laugh at this, then shrugged. "We should be going, unless you need anything. We have a large amount of things to deal with, and I want to be ready in case Leviathan shows up again. She's able to replicate a good deal of the weapons from my world. Including the Rainbow and Shadow demon... Even if it was just using water."
"Demon?" Henrietta asked, uneasy at the mention of that. Demons only showed up in legends and tales... Were they something from Zero's world?
"Not really demons, the word actually stands for something but I honestly never cared enough about it to find out. They were basically large machines that were made up of innumerable smaller machines that are smaller than the eye can see. Troublesome, but more a pain in my ass than anything else." Zero replied. "But I doubt that any group of non void mages I've seen could put it down without heavy losses. Which means I'm going to be needed to fight it should it come down to that.
"Ah... I see. As always, my Knight Commander, you are focused on what needs to be done. I believe I truly did choose well that day when I asked you to be my champion..." Henrietta said with a smile.
"You say that now, but wait till I do something you don't approve of. I'm entirely positive that I'm more of a headache than I'm worth." Zero replied as he walked out the door, with Louise following closely behind him, stopping only to bow quickly to the princess before she left.
After the two had left, Henrietta sighed as she dwelled on the two countries' problems... She ordered an investigation into Gallia's Void user, who tried to harm the two. As soon as something became clear, she would tell them both. She did not believe that the king of Gallia could be a void user with how incompetent he was, but it had been thousands of years since the royal families were established. Could a family with royal blood in it have produced a scion capable of using the void? She sighed as she thought of the tasks against her valiant knight, wishing she could be of more help.
For now, both Zero and Louise were released, in case another country decided to attack them. As usual they would be at the Academy of Magic. A nest of mages , where even the Void user and her partner would remain unnoticed while being kept close at hand.
***Break***
When the wind dragon brought them back to Tristain's school, Zero held the mantle that he had been given, wondering if anyone would notice if he lost his grip on it. Accidentally of course.
Agnes muttered as she leaned in closely,"Wear it."
"No." Zero replied
"Why not?"
"Sigma. Gate. No." Zero said darkly. He had to admit though, Gate had been the only person he'd met who had been able to rock a white cloak and not look completely retarded.
"It suits you well, doesn't it?" Agnes said.
"No. No cape." Zero replied again, not budging at all on the topic.
Louise, who was sitting next to Zero, turned her sullen face away, not looking at him as he continued rejecting the simple idea of wearing his rank.
Upon seeing the shapes of five towers in the distance, Zero felt relief as he saw the academy below him. This meant that the two would be unable to badger him anymore without him having a clear avenue of escape. Louise had similar feelings as well, but more for the sense of home she was feeling. With Zero back where he belonged, things could be what they were before... But better. Gradually, their eyes could see the whole Academy of Magic.
As the dragon landed, dozens of students ran up. As Zero started wondering about it, a boy with blond hair cried out slowly. "Zero! You are alive! I am glad!"
It was Guiche. Zero was surprised to have this reaction from the young man. "What?"
"Yesterday came a report to the school from the Royal Palace!"Next to Guiche, with a smile, stood the plump young man, Malicorne.
"From the Royal Palace? What did it say?"Zero asked suspiciously.
"Yes, yes. That you were alive, and that you would be in command of a new order of knights!"Guiche replied happily.
"Is it true what Guiche says,did you really stop 70,000 troops and the golems of the Albion army?" Malicorne, who had gotten excited, asked loudly. Apparently Henrietta gave out information about such an event. Zero would have to have a talk to that girl about holding at least some information in reserve... There was such a thing as being too honest.
"The ones that gathered here participated in the Albion campaign as student officers; our colleagues survived thanks to you." One student, with an expression of gratitude, said loudly to Zero,
"My corps was the last one to get on the ship. What would have happened to us if you hadn't stopped them!" Another shouted from behind the crowd.
"You are a person to whom I owe my life. To tell the truth, I thought it was the end."
Surrounded by dozens of noble students, Zero's discomfort worsened. Why the hell were they crowding him like this? He hated when people got like this.
Guiche looked resolute as he said,"Yet I... I believed. That you were still alive."
"Didn't you make the bronze statue while thinking about his death?" Montmorency came out from the mass of people and said." But you are all right. I am glad! When I heard that Louise had left to look for you, I had thought she had gone crazy."
Zero's face went blank as he heard the girl talking. A statue? "Excuse me, I believe I must have misheard. What was that about a statue?"
"Oh, it's wonderful! You have to come see!" Montmorency said, moving towards the vestri courtyard, with Zero and all of the people surrounding him following.
Zero saw the statue of himself. Then Zero saw the inscription at the base, and his eye twitched. "No..."
"What is wrong, Zero? I did not think that my rendition was that bad," Guiche said, as he noticed Zero's obvious ire.
"There is a statue of me calling me a hero...I'm going to fix this." Zero said as he looked at the statue. As he was about to pull his buster out he felt a hand clamp down on his.
"Pretty damned good job, don't ya think Zero?" Axl said with a smile, not showing the incredible strain it was to keep Zero's hand immobile. "I think he pegged you pretty well. What do you think, kid?"
Louise looked at the statue and nodded."I believe this fits my familiar perfectly."
"I do as well." came a gentle voice from the crowd. As Zero and Louise turned to look, they saw Cattelya and Eleanore moving through the crowd. "Hello gentle familiar, it is good to see that the reports of your demise were mistaken."
Zero looked at her and laughed. "Nope. I was dead. As a door nail. I didn't even have my Gandalfr mark anymore. Apparently you lose familiar markings when you die. Kinda wish I didn't get it back. It hurt like a bastard getting it again."
"That's stupid. How are you here now if you were dead?" Eleanore demanded.
"Oh, I got better." Zero smiled back at her.
"How?" Cattelya asked curiously, her mind kind of fuzzy with the shock that Zero was in fact alive, even if the summoning spell hadn't failed.
Zero shrugged. "Well, being dead is boring, so I decided that I didn't want to be dead. So then I wasn't." Zero laughed at the blank looks everyone gave him. This was the best part about coming back when people thought he was dead, no matter what anyone said.
"It's how he is ladies. I personally think he's too stupid to realize that when he's dead he's not supposed to just rest for a few days and then decide he's not dead anymore." Axl said seriously.
"Very funny Axl." Zero growled as he took a playful swing at his friend. "We both know I'm never that lazy. I was only out for like six hours or so."
Axl shook his head,"Yeah, well... I heard the stories about when you got yourself blown up before I came around. On multiple occasions."
"Yeah. It's funny how much harder it is to come back after being blown in half. Or worse." Zero admitted.
"Excuses, excuses." Axl replied with his hands behind his head.
Cattelya leaned over to Louise and asked,"They must surely be jesting...right?"
Louise shook her head as she stifled her own laugh,"No, after everything I've seen... I think they're serious..."
As the afternoon wore on, with a great many of the people on the campus talking to Zero and expressing gratitude and relief that he was back among them, Zero couldn't help but feel that he had come home.
***Break***
After the excitement died down, and night fell, Louise was in her bed. She found herself aimlessly tossing about on the sheets, her mind racing in thought. Zero had gone with Roll for the night, to run a diagnostic in the tube that Roll had slept in upon her instance that with a full system shutdown, whatever that was, that he needed to get a full check up. She remembered the small amount of time she had spent down there with her sister, and on that fateful night when the mercenaries had invaded the academy. It had seemed like a whole nother world, and had hit home just what differences there was between the two worlds... And even worse, she could tell that Roll liked Zero as well, even if he hadn't figured it out yet. She didn't want him spending time alone with her like that, but there was nothing she could do in this case but wait, and wonder just what was waiting for them tomorrow...
***Author's notes***
Well everyone, Dust off your Anime collections from the late 80's early 90's or at least your knowledge of it! Next update has a question that if it gets answered correctly in reviews... Gets a free update immediate update!
Another early update! See, I'm not a mean person. I haven't added anyone to Zero's growing Harem in like... a chapter or two. And I've kept a certain someone outta the chapters, even when he spiked my soda with a laxative. I'm not planning to destroy him or make him miserable. Not at all. ^^
Zero: um... That whole happy anime thing you just did scares me...
It's fine. Don't worry. Trust me. What's the worst that can happen? I know what I'm doing.
Zero: Uh... I uh... I think my grandmother just died. I need a leave of absence.
You don't have a grandmother.
Zero: Not now!
...
Zero:... It isn't working is it?
Nope.
On another note, that statue was lucky as hell Axl was there or else there would be no more statue. Also, this further proves my point that Zero gets himself killed not out of suicidal tendencies, but because he REALLY enjoys people's reactions when he just shows up at work again. Protocol Zero exists for a reason after all.