Zero stood on top of the main tower, and gazed out at the world. He wondered how long it would be before someone broke the silence that he had come up here for. The others had given reasons that he had to accept as to why he couldn't just charge off to Gallia. But even still, he hated this. He wanted to take action. To do something. What use was power if he couldn't use it to protect the people he believed in? That girl had been willing to sacrifice her life to protect her mother. If Zero had dodged, that attack would have impaled her instead. He could still remember the pain as the shards of ice pierced him. That was most powerful spell she had cast that night. Even with the amount of damage his armor absorbed, it still did damage to him. If it had hit an unprotected human, there was no way she would have survived. Zero's hands clenched into fists as he damned his own helplessness.
"Zero?" came a soft voice. As Zero turned he saw Tiffania standing there.
"Hmm?" He looked at her.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Just thinking." Zero replied, facing away from Tiffania again.
"I'm sorry that your friend got taken..." Tiffania said sadly.
"I'll get her back. Once I know where to strike, we'll get her back." Zero replied resolutely.
"Of course you will," Tiffania replied with a smile.
As Zero sat there, he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever be able to leave his past behind...
***break***
"Did you see it yesterday? I know you saw it...Really, what should we do?" Siesta said.
"What are you talking about?"
"Her Majesty The Queen! Those eyes! Miss Vallière saw it as well right? Aah, if the opponent is Miss Vallière, then at least…"
"At least what? At least what? At least what?" Louise kept poking Siesta around with her wand. "Ouch!" Siesta fell onto the bed, but obstinately Louise still continued poking her.
"Hey maid. You're sneering right? You think you can compare to a noble?"
"Excuse me! I'm not sneering! Well… Miss Vallière is charming enough, but… if you think about it calmly, the opponent is Her Majesty The Queen. It's no point dreaming or hoping anymore!"
"Whhhhhyyyy?" Louise demanded.
"Can't she do what she want! Ah, surely, the free times he served as a knight are not enough. Sooner or later she will order him to go to the castle for duties… And then, night after night…"
"Night after night what!"
Siesta said, her voice deeper than usual,"I'm Zero. Today, I was called by Her Majesty The Queen to her room. What on earth does she want to do? Oh well, it's the Princess! Are there any orders?"
After that, Siesta's voice became softer as she got into her 'next' character, the queen. "Aah! My beautiful knight! I have always been yearning for you!"
"Princess! No you can't! I have already decided, my heart belongs to Siesta!"
"It's all right! After all, isn't she just a maid! Because I'm the queen, and gentle, and beautiful you will love me, won't you?" Siesta said plaintively.
Louise knocked Siesta's head, to which she cried, "It hurts!"
"You went too far. And I can't remember ever seeing such cheap drama." Louise complained angrily. She gaped at the maid as she started rummaging around through a small satchel she had brought with her. Finally Siesta took a book out of the space between her things. "What is this?"
"A book which is very fashionable in Tristania right now." Siesta commented, as she held it out to the smaller girl.
Louise stared hard at the title of the book.
"Countess Butterfly's graceful day?" Louise flipped through the pages of the book, and her face turned crimson red suddenly. "Wh-! What is this! Why is it so indecent?" As if it was filthy, she dropped the book onto the bed quickly.
"Not interested?" Siesta asked slyly.
"Why would I be! If I read such book, my RETRIBUTION would be decided! Founder Brimir would not forgive me!"
Mysteriously, Siesta whispered at Louise's ears. "The second chapter is great."
"I didn't hear that! I didn't hear that!" While she was saying that, Louise stole glances at the book which she threw away some time ago.
"In any way you wish, attend to me. Saying that, Madam Butterfly let the knight attend to her! That is...! Yikes, yikes! Don't say it! Eek, eek, eek!"
Blushing deeply, Siesta hit Louise on her shoulder. After that, she snatched the book away, and started again.
In front of Louise's eyes, Siesta flipped a few pages of the book. Louise's face which was crimson red, colored all the more every time a page was turned over, as if she was boiling. Whilst trembling, Louise could not enunciate her words properly. The content inside the book was way beyond the height of even the clouds of Louise's poor knowledge. Although she could not even understand a tenth of the incidents which occurred in the book, in any case, the dreadful contents plunged into Louise's head.
"The queen surely has done the things written in this book, with Zero. Definitely. For the nobles, speaking of which, they are surely sexually perverse, I think. That... don't the nobles pay close attention to their conducts? As a result, the cravings which they could not speak out accumulated, and then with but a word... It would happen..."
"That's not true!"
Siesta just looked at Louise, a sorrowful look on her face.
"The Princess wouldn't do such things!" Louise snatched the book away, and threw it onto the bed. "Su-Such things! Such filthy things! Although it's him, he would not do such a thing to the Princess! Even if it was a command, but..."
"To a knight, a command is absolute! Can you deny it? Even if Zero doesn't want to do it, if he were commanded by Her Majesty The Queen, he could not disobey at all! Can he say anything at all? The worst thing is the court services..."
"B-But... Zero doesn't let anyone near him! When you try and get close he just pulls away! He can't even say simple things like,"I Like you"! He won't do it that easily even if it was a command, will he? He won't...He defies commands that he doesn't want to follow!"
Siesta gazed icily at Louise who put on airs and combed her hair backwards. "Zero always says these things, but he has kissed the princess on more than one occasion..."
"W-what?"
"For us, he has never shown such gentleness. He has always only come to save us. But that's all he does. Is it because he's a familiar? Or because he's Zero? Either way, does it really matter, if he doesn't see us in such a way?"
"But! But but! Even when Zero's runes disappeared and he wasn't a familiar, he chose to be my familiar again! If he doesn't like me, why did he do that?"
"There is a possibility that it is his sense of responsibility." Siesta told Louise.
"Sense of responsibility?"
"Yeah. As far as I can tell, Zero is a strong, responsible person. That's why he strove hard to be the rear guard when the allies were being pursued by the army; that's why he carried the responsibility of being the Commanding Officer of the Knight Corps. Isn't that true? Becoming Miss Vallière's familiar, to help you... Because he felt that he had not accomplished his task yet, he chose the fate of becoming Miss Vallière's familiar once again..."
Feebly, Louise collapsed to her knees. Panicking, Siesta caught hold of her shoulder.
"D-Don't be so depressed, please! In the end it's just a possibility! Just a possibility! Although it may exist..." Siesta's words could no longer reach Louise. What if that's the case? This premonition of hers started expanding rapidly. Of course, it might have been what Siesta had said.
The favor Zero held towards her... it could just be a deceiving feeling because of his contract as a familiar? Inside Louise's heart, an unrecognizable dark cloud started expanding. "What should I do?" Louise murmured.
"Scheming again?" Zero asked casually as he stood there.
"Ah! How much did you hear?" Siesta asked in a panic.
"Oh ho! Apparently other people don't like people listening in on their conversations. Funny huh? Well to answer your question, I heard a great deal of things. Chapter two is great, hmm? And here I thought the other book was your friends. Or do you simply trade them? I mean, those types of books must be expensive... Or do you just like discussing them with all your friends? That must be it." Zero replied with a smirk causing Siesta's face to turn red. He turned to look at Louise,"Don't worry. It isn't like your rune didn't do some things to me, but I changed after it. It can't effect me anymore. I protect you because I want to. It's as simple as that. It's the same for everyone."
Louise looked at Zero, a relieved smile gracing her face.
***Break***
That night...
Zero walked among the various nobles who were doing seemingly meaningless tasks. Being coached and trained by the various commoners of the academy, they were learning such simple things as table arrangements, the correct way to was clothing, how to brew tea, how to serve. All these and many other menial tasks were being run through on Zero's order. This was the first half of training, and a time the knights in training had learned to love. Because it was always a prelude to...
"Alright everyone, finish up!" Zero called out. "Grab your blades and lets get started!"
Somewhat reluctantly, everyone halted their tasks, thanked their 'teachers', and moved to the weapon racks to grab the wooden swords. Zero walked the lines of the Koga with Agnes walking beside him, a smirk on her face. When she had heard about all the humiliating things he was doing to the noble brats, she couldn't help herself. She had to come and help. She loved the rotation he had going. Training with the mind and skills, followed by training with the body. She had to admit, the nobles who had stayed were getting better, but she wouldn't ever tell them that.
"Guiche, I know I taught you how to hold a sword correctly!" Zero called out to his second in command, who quickly adjusted his stance and grip.
As Zero and Agnes made their rounds correcting, insulting and complimenting the efforts of the people who had stayed. After an hour of this, Zero called out,"Alright, you're done with training for tonight, minus one additional thing." A few groans could be heard from the gathered people, but they quickly stifled them. They'd come this far, they weren't going to give up just because of one more thing. "Everyone, Line up!" Zero called out. As everyone lined up, Zero nodded to Guiche who came to stand behind him. "I'm sure you are all aware of what I told you the first day. That at most four of you would make the cut. Well, today is the cut." Zero said as he walked up and down the row of nine people. "You've all fought hard to be here." Zero said as he stopped in front of Malicorne, who had lost a little bit of his pudge. "Some of you more than others." He continued on, not speaking. He walked the line a few times, having to keep himself from smiling at the unease that they were displaying. "Don't think I've not noticed your little games. Montmorency, I know you've used water magic to mend a broken bone when you thought I wasn't looking. Katie, I know you were purposely trying to distract me." Both of the girls looked down in shame. "Malicorne, I know you were trying to hide the fact that your wrist was broken. Reynold don't think I didn't see your silly attempt to assist Malicorne by partially levatating him when I was making you all climb." Malicorne and Reynold both lowered their heads as well. "Each and every one of you have broken the rules I have set in place." Zero said harshly. "So what, do you think I feel when you do things like that?"
"Angry?" Montmorency asked hesitantly.
When Zero didn't respond, Malicorne hazarded,"Disappointed?"
Zero laughed at that and said,"No. I'm proud." When everyone, including Guiche and Agnes just stared at him, he continued,"I'm a bit of a rule breaker myself if you hadn't noticed. Breaking the rules can be forgiven, if there is reason. If you're breaking the rules because you wish to, that's where it's wrong." A purple helmeted Reploid came to mind as Zero said this,"Just breaking a rule doesn't mean anything. Objectives change. Targets change. The mission, or even life can change. You need to adapt. If you are held in place by a single thing, what are you to do? I've asked the impossible from you all at times, and I've gotten it. If I wasn't able to feel magic, I would have had no clue you had cheated. That's the heart of what I'm trying to teach you. In the Shinobi Corps, that is our job. We do what needs to be done. But we never sacrifice what is right. If the people above you would have you do something you know is wrong... You have to take them out. Even if it's me, if I go out of control I expect you all to put me down before you let me harm anyone else or die trying. That is the meaning of the Shinobi corps. We do what we must so that others do not need to. Do I make myself clear?" Zero demanded. Those who were lined up cried out in an affirmative. "Congratulations. You've all made the cut." Zero finished, not hiding his smile.
"I honestly didn't think this many would last," Agnes admitted.
"You and me both." Zero replied with a smirk.
"I'm surprised both my dear Montmorency and the lovely Katie both stayed. Such work is hard upon women." Guiche said smoothly.
"Yeah, considering Neige could put your ass in the ground, not to mention Montmorency, Louise, or Agnes here... I wouldn't say that." Zero replied with a smirk. "And they're all humans."
"Neige?" Guiche asked, trying to shift the topic as Agnes glared at him. When Zero didn't respond, but simply smiled at him while Agnes gave him her own evil smile he prayed to the founder,'Please oh Founder Brimir, save me!'
The next moment something landed on top of Malicorne causing him to yell. He let out a moan, slipping into unconsciousness a few moments later.
At that unbelievable turn of events, the students around him stared in disbelief . The one who had landed was somehow... a long, blue-haired, pretty girl. Her age was approximately 20? The new knights opened their eyes wide in fixation.
That girl was stark naked. The snow-white skin was exposed completely. After restlessly surveying her surrounding with a blank face, she tried standing up whilst tottering unsteadily... but fell down clumsily. "Kyui..."
Just like a fawn which was just being born, the blue-haired girl managed to stand up with great difficulty. However, she did not try to conceal her bare skin at all. The female students who had been watching their lovers train quickly moved to cover the eyes of their respective lovers. Louise was the only one who didn't move.
"Ouch! Kyui kyui!" She cried out.
Apparently, Zero was the girl's objective, as she leaped into him gently. He wished had had a brain so he could have an aneurism, but apparently that was too much of a mercy for him. Instead, all Zero could do was stammer out,"Wh-What!" Being embraced by a naked girl so suddenly had fried his logic again.
"We finally meet. Yay! Kyui kyui!" Whilst making "Kyui kyui" sounds, the blue-haired girl hugged Zero tightly and jumped around excitedly. Louise's face turned white, and subsequently red; her eyebrows lifted sky-high, and the hair on her head stood.
"So this is really a dog or should I say beast or should I say unbelievably finding one after another from anywhere! Grrrr... SHAMELESS~~~! Anyway, you go to hell!"
Anyhow, whilst shouting angrily, from behind, her right foot struck Zero repeatedly. Seeing this the blue-haired girl pushed Louise away.
"What are you doing? This is bad! This is bad! This is bad!"
"What is bad? What the hell is going on?" Zero asked, finally finding his voice as he adapted to yet another unforeseeable situation.
"Anyway, just put this on!" Montmorency tried to hand her the shawl she was wearing.
"Please save my sister! Kyui kyui!" The blue-haired girl cried out many times.
Zero looked at the girl and his eyes seemed to glaze over. Louise growled but he ignored it. "Ah... I see...Sylphid"
As if she was troubled, the blue-haired girl inclined her head. "Um, um... No, no, I'm Irukukuu! I'm my big sister's younger sister. Ah, big sister is a person over here called Tabitha!"
"Tabitha's younger sister?" Everyone present bulged their eyes at the blue-haired girl's statement.
"Younger sister... you don't look like her." As Zero folded his arms and said this, Irukukuu cried out. Zero shook his head and said, "I can see right through you. Literally. So this is what she didn't want me to ask about when we were in Albion? We'll leave that for now. What's going on?"
With great difficulty, Irukukuu started explaining as best she could with her simple words. The consequence of Tabitha's betrayal, which were the deprivation of Tabitha's position as a Chevalier by the Gallian government, and also the edict to seize her mother. To rescue her mother, Tabitha faced Gallia on her own. However, at that place, she was captured by an elf who boasted of an overwhelming magic.
"Okay, well at least we know where to go now to rescue her. Simple enough." Zero said that,
"Kyui!" Irukukuu nodded.
With a suspicious look, Guiche stared at Irukukuu. "...This girl, is she one of the subordinates of Gallia which had attacked you and Louise?" Guiche who had heard about the attack on Louise, started displaying a doubtful look. "Tabitha was imprisoned, and we have to save her, you said, but that sounds somewhat suspicious. Or could this be a trap?"
Montmorency threw a skeptical look at Irukukuu as well. Irukukuu looked deeply troubled, "Kyui!"... and was disheartened.
"This is suspicious! You! No matter how I look at you, you don't appear to be either Tabitha's sister, or Sylphid at all!" Louise said hotly.
"I don't believe it either." Montmorency agreed.
"Well... Zero said something about seeing through her..." Guiche said that, which caused Louise to glare at him. "See through her! Not look at her! He obviously saw something with that magic seeing thing he's been doing!"
Wanting to stop the argument Sylphid cried out,"I'll show you the proof! Kyui!"
"Don't bother. I already know you're telling me the truth." Zero said. "I already said I can see. I don't know how you do it, but it doesn't matter."
"So you believe me? Kyu?"
"Yeah, I believe you. But seriously, that whole Kyu thing makes it even easier to figure out even if I couldn't see the magic."
She was in a profuse cold sweat. At that expression, Zero understood this lady. Tabitha's dutiful younger sister...
"Figure what out?" Louise asked
"This girl is Sylphid. Somehow she has the ability to assume both forms.
Irukukuu became nervous and at a loss of what to do, and without warning, she opened her arms, hugged his head and turned round and round."Kyui kyui. Big sister is going to be angry! She said not to let anyone know who I am! Kyui Kyui!" She started to sob and shake.
"Ah...I still can't see it..." Louise said doubtfully.
"Believe it or not, but how often have I been wrong when it's come to... Anything?" Zero asked as he looked at Louise. When she didn't answer Zero looked up to the night sky and asked,"Why did you go alone... You stupid kid, you promised to explain what was going on!"
Guiche and the other knights to be knitted their eyebrows, and were thinking about it.
Zero was going to smack the girl upside the head when he got a chance. What she did was suicidal and stupid. That was his territory, and she had no right stepping in on it."You did good in informing us Sylphid. Just relax, we'll save her now that we know." Zero said that, and half of those present nodded.
"Of course! As a knight, we cannot let this pass!" Guiche cried out.
"No matter what happened, taking a girl into captivity is unforgivable! I'll do it!" Clenching his fist tightly, Malicorne shouted. Apparently the thought of helping a beautiful girl had been enough to rouse him from the coma he had been placed in.
However, having brought forth such a brave idea, there was hesitation as well.
"But... if we were to think rationally, those guys are still impossible." The one who said that was Reynal who shouldered the responsibility of managing the external business of the Koga Corps. While everyone was training, he was sitting in a corner, quietly sipping his alcohol going through the ledgers for the knights... but now that trouble had turned up, he stepped forward as if it was his turn.
Zero turned to look at him,"You have something to say?"
Zero drew closer, and Reynal said calmly. "I am not afraid. The only point I must make is that we are already the queen's knights right? We cannot do as we like, isn't that so?"
"Yeah, that's true," a male student agreed.
The Koga students' opinions were split directly in half. "If we don't go and save our classmate, what kind of knights are we?" This group which was with Zero.
"The enemy is outside the country. We cannot poke our head into their affairs." The other group which was with Reynal.
A noisy quarrel ensued, after which they turned to the Guiche in unison.
"Hey Guiche. You are the assistant commander right? What do you say?"
Caught in between the two factions in such a way, Guiche became flustered. "I-I decide?"
"Isn't that obvious? you're from a family that deals with royal courts and ambassadors as well as international politics!" Malicorne stated hotly.
"A-Ah I see... whatever it is, this, that! The opinions are quite good. The girl, or the duty of the knight corps..."
"Don't 'quite good' about, decide now!" Irritated, Montmorency urged Guiche.
Guiche swallowed hard. After that, he hugged his head again, and started agonizing.
Agnes just laughed at the children who were bickering, having forgot about her in the excitement. "You should know that you won't be able to go after her. It doesn't make any sense to send people after a traitor, especially a whole company of knights."
"It's fine. If it comes down to it, I can go myself." Zero replied coldly. "It is only one kingdom after all. It would be overkill for more than just me to go anyhow."
"Geez! Why are you always trying to do everything yourself?" Louise cried.
Zero shrugged. "Because I can." as he started walking away.
Nevertheless, Louise frowned all the more."Wait right there. We can't go without a proper plan!"
"Plan?" Zero asked.
"That's right. To properly inform the princess, to ask for help or cooperation, and then to embark on the journey to Gallia. We're not going against some band of thieves or some monster over there. Our opponent is the Kingdom of Gallia!"
"Band of thieves or kingdom of Gallia. It's really not that much of a difference. Well, except maybe on how long it will take to deal with them..." Zero replied coldly.
"Yes, it is Zero. You're not the only person like yourself. They have more support than you and could overwhelm you."
With a shrug Zero said,"Fine. But if we tell the princess and I have to destroy half the palace to leave its on your head."
Louise gulped as she realized that Zero wasn't joking. "Of course not. The princess wouldn't stop us!"
"Uh huh." Zero said.
Louise glared at Zero.
"Alright! Let's go to the palace now. Then I can break out of the palace and go save the girl!" Zero said while grinning at Louise.
Louise thought Zero who had always helped her in that way... He'd always protected her. What were his real feelings? What if it was as Siesta had said? What if they were just echos of the first time she had marked him? As if denying the indescribable anxiety, Louise shook her head, and went after Zero.
***Break***
Zero had retrieved Kirche before headed to the palace with his group of 'knights'. Having explained the situation to the princess as best as he could, he stared up at her on her throne waiting for her response. After she had heard what Zero and the others said, Henrietta became silent for a while.
After that, she lifted her face and spoke cautiously,"I cannot permit all of you to go directly."
Thinking that they would acquire the help of being issued with the passage permission document to Gallia, and above that, being granted escorts to the country border, the group was splashed with cold water. Zero smirked knowingly.
"I will summon the ambassador and conduct a full inquiry into this incident. Together with the incident of Louise's attack, I will strongly protest it."
Guiche spoke up suddenly,"No way. Well then, what should we do? You would order us to watch quietly?"
Henrietta became troubled. After that, she gazed at Zero, "Once you get there, what would happen next?"
"I would destroy any and all who got in my way." Zero replied coldly.
"Isn't this the first time Tabitha made herself known as part of the conspirators who attacked you and Louise? Why do all of you go to such lengths so save such a person? How can you be sure that it is not a trap?" Henrietta asked.
"Her mother was held hostage, the only family she had was held hostage by the man who killed her father. And even then she assisted us in recovering Louise." Zero looked at Henrietta as he said this.
"Well then, though unwilling, I would declare Tabitha as our lifesaver. However, Tabitha is Gallia's Chevalier. At best, whatever was done to her, isn't it Gallia's right? If we meddle in this, wouldn't it become an interference in their domestic affairs?"
"The ones going are us. It is not Tristain's secret messengers or army. This is what the Shinobi Corps was always about." Zero replied.
"All of you are now my household troops. Whatever your intentions may be, you would be perceived as "the actions of the Kingdom of Tristain". If you go over there and save someone who committed a crime, it would cause serious opposition from them. It would probably turn into a war. You wish to go despite that?"
"What Your Majesty said is true." Guiche said reluctantly as he considered it. While Tabitha was his classmate, she was also a single life. How many people would die in a war? He hated thinking that way, but it was the harsh reality.
"It would be terrible if a war occurred." Louise added.
With Reynal as their head, they started dissuading Zero together.
Zero just stared back defiantly. He said,"You guys go back to the academy first."
"Zero. We have said many times, it is not because we're afraid..." Reynal directed his eyes at Zero, in persuasion.
"I know. I don't think of you guys as cowards. What Her Majesty said is true in it's own way. I just have a little bit more to say."
A relieved atmosphere flowed through room with the calm assurances of Zero. Most of the Koga retreated to Her Majesty's office. The ones left behind were only Kirche, Montmorency, Guiche, Malicorne, Zero and Louise.
"Can you please give this up?" As if appealing, being gazed at by Henrietta's eyes, his feelings wavered at once.
When their eyes met in such a manner... it was not the grim and stern queen's expression, but the defenseless one, just like when they exchanged kisses previously. Not as a queen... but as someone intimate, wanting him not to stay. That was what her expression told Zero. He sighed as he looked at her knowing that what came next would probably hurt her a great deal. Regretfully, he said,"That's fine. As your Knight Commander I officially give up my title and all rank associated with it. I will make the expedition on my own. Declare me a traitor as you see fit."
With a shocked look, Henrietta stared at Zero.
"I told you once Henrietta. I do things my way." Zero said with a smile. "This is why I never stayed in command. I do what needs to be done. I don't care what others think. There are only four people who I'll listen to. And one of them is on my shit list at the moment. The others are dead. So all I can do is judge my actions on what they would have said. And not one of them would have told me to leave that girl to her death."
"Y-You..." Henrietta trembled all over.
"With this, there won't be any trouble for Tristain." Zero said gently, some regret in his voice.
Henrietta trembled for a moment, and in a small, tearful voice"Idiot..." she muttered. The young queen rang the bell that was attached to a length of fabric near her throne.
"Is there anything you need Majesty?" The commander of the Manticore corpse asked as the bodyguard group rushed in.
"Disarm these people of their weapons, and arrest them."
Zero's eyes flashed with determination as he said,"I"m going to Gallia."
"You can not. This is an internal matter, and we can not deal with such a conflict right now. You will submit in this...You can not go. I will restrain you with force if need be. Do not make me."
Zero smirked. "And here I thought princesses were well educated. Can not? You know that's the wrong use of the word. Should not, may not. Those are proper usage of language. Can not means that I can't walk out of here no matter what you or anyone does. I'm going to save her. When she 'attacked' us, she wasn't using any of the skills I've seen her use. She was using her attacks on me, not where I would be. She has seen me fight enough that she would know that she would need to hit where I'm going as well as where I am to force movement. She was half assed about it, and with what I found out about her mother, she had no choice. The only attack that she used that did any damage to me was one that she meant for herself. She attempted to end her own life so that her mother would live, and so she wouldn't have to fight us! You think I'm simply going to let that go?"
"Be that as it may Zero, I can not allow you as my knight to do so."
"I already told you. I'm giving up my title. I'm the same person now as I always have been. Just Zero, and I'll use my power how I see fit."
"Zero... Please reconsider, I will have to have you imprisoned."
"You know you can not. Oh and by the way, that IS in fact the proper usage of that. Even if you don't want to admit it, there is nothing you can do to stop me." Zero replied, his hard glare causing the girl to wither. Zero steeled himself, knowing that with every second that this took he'd probably hate himself more. "There is a difference between right and wrong. I will not let her down, I will save her. She has been risking her life and the life of her mother for us. Her own home, her own family have betrayed her, this world has betrayed her. I won't let it happen."
Henrietta looked at Zero, her heart both swelling and aching. Here he was, ready to leave her forever over someone else, yet at the same time... He was doing it because it was right, it was just. This was the same thing that made him face an army for her people. That made him try so hard to save a sinful queen like her. "I see..."
"I'm going to! I don't care if I have to give up my noble station! I will stand by my commander no matter what!" Guiche shouted suddenly.
"Don't bother Guiche." Zero said, much to everyone's surprise. Guiche looked hurt at Zero's dismissal. "No need to ruin your life now that you are finally are starting to understand. Take over the Koga. Use the lessons you've learned to help others. You'll do more good that way. You'll do me proud that way."
Guiche looked at Zero, unshed tears in his eyes. He nodded curtly and then took a step back.
"Zero..." Siesta said, tears in her eyes. Was he really going to abandon Tristian? If she had to, she would leave as well, but this was her home.
"No, that is not needed." Henrietta said finally. "I suppose as always you're correct on this... But I must ask a favor of you Zero..."
"What?"
"Any who volunteer to go with you... I wish for them to leave their cloaks in my care. If something were to happen to you all, it could cause a full scale war, there is no denying this. While I wish I could support you... I do not think I can without putting my people in danger."
"So in other words, we're traitors until we make it back safely, to prevent an international incident." Zero replied.
Henrietta nodded hesitantly.
"Well, I suppose that's better than me having to blow up half the castle in my escape. Which is what it would have come down to." Zero replied with a smirk and a wink.
Her face pale, Henrietta looked at Zero and asked,"So... You really would have fought if I tried to have you imprisoned?"
Zero shrugged and turned away. "We'll never know now that you've made the right decision, now will we?"
"I suppose. But know Zero, that in order to cut your ties with us completely... I will have to put a price upon your head. A thousand new gold for each person accompanying you. And should things go badly..."
Zero looked at her and laughed. "Oh wow, I'm worth that much? I'm flattered. And don't worry. I understand. Just by going on this mission we're 'dead'."
"You're worth more than that..." Henrietta replied, her eyes watering as she hoped that Zero would back down. She wanted to say more, but somehow, she couldn't bring herself to say the words she wanted to. She didn't know if it was fear of rejection, or if she honestly didn't want to say them right now...
"If I didn't go, I wouldn't be worth a damned thing." Zero said as he started walking. Malicorn, Louise, Guiche, Montmorency and Kirche followed him quickly, with only Louise halting for a moment to look back at the princess apologetically.
***Author's notes***
First things first, to go along with my jokes, Yes, I have the story written up through the end in some form or another. Some things that are supposed to be full chapters are about 200 words bullet point, with such things as this written, (Zero fights so and so. this happens. Make it sound not retarded. Seriously.) But since we're drawing close to the ending... I have three story idea's that are floating about in my head.
One is a Tenchi Muyo X FoZ crossover that uses the original Tenchi, none of the Galaxy or In Tokyo. It DOES include Ryo-oki since it was supposed to be what came after the original series. Needless to say, with the ability to track the Jurian power, and Little Washu added into the mix... Yeah. Stuff would be different from... everything. I mean, he's for all intents and purposes a prince... Of the majority of the galaxy. Louise WOULD get to see earth at some point as well as Jurai and for once it would be turned around... SHE would be the one to get culture shock, because Tenchi has already been there and been shocked to hell. Something about being the chosen person of three goddesses and having his own crazy harem. Yeah. He's already adapted to the bullshit that is the protagonist's life. It's Louise's turn this way.
Another is a Tenchi Muyo Rosario + vampire crossover involving Tenchi taking Tsukune's place since his grandfather seems to be the type to make friends with unusual people. He even made friends with Ryoko... When she wasn't berserk. He also doesn't believe in the various separations that he sees by race and class(I do mean race as in ya know. human, Jurian, etc. Ya know. Human / not human.). I think the headmaster would strike a cord with him since he's trying to bring the two worlds together in a somewhat safe way. And since his Grandfather is kinda a jerk(see excessively a jerk) I could see Tenchi getting roped into it.
The final one is another FoZ cross over with Fulle from Scrapped princess. He's a laid back young assassin who retired because he didn't like doing it. He's also dealt with a tsundere trait girl before and knows how to dodge, unlike Saito. Also, he's not Leo. Her void would also manifest in a more Providence breaker like set of abilities, turning her purely defensive like Pacifica was power wise. She'll be able to do some normal magic later probably, but other than that she would become incapable of normal void magic but would be able to mimic what Pacifica can do(Miles wide dispel magic and crap).
Please let me know in reviews what one you are most interested in.
I think i mentioned in the A/N's about Mathilda maybe being queen. At this point it's unlikely unless something happens(and who would know that) because she's well... a former criminal.
On another note, am I only person who thinks of the Cannonball remix that was used in ZvOZ to be the soundtrack of Zero being PURE AWESOME, compared to it being Omega Zero's soundtrack? Just wondering, cause I view Omega Zero's sound track to be that stupid music that plays whenever he came up before that, like when you first encountered him on the opening stage.
And for everyone else. Stop giving Zero ideas damn it! He's gonna try and get me killed!
Zero: Who cares about that! I won! I finally one one over on the girls! I managed to sneak up on them, and totally mess with them the way they do to me!
Or... That? I give up trying to understand him.
Zero: You can't understand me because you're not Zero.