As they rode toward the La Valliere estate, Louise couldn't help but look nervously at her mother who's breathing was still labored. She couldn't tell if it was because of the dented armor or whatever injury that Zero had given her, but she still couldn't help but be concerned. Zero sat with his eyes closed, looking unconcerned and altogether lazy, looking for all the world like he had not just been in a battle with one of the most dangerous square class mages the kingdom had to offer.
"So, familiar, where did you obtain power such as yours? I have never seen the likes of it." Karen asked Zero, and scowled when he didn't respond.
"Mother... He normally does not respond to being called familiar..." Louise said hesitantly.
The woman looked like she was going to say something then shook her head. "NO, i suppose that's fair, with his achievements and the things that he has accomplished for our Kingdom that he should be allowed this arrogance. Well then, Zero might I ask what the source of your power is?"
Zero cracked one eye to look at her and replied,"The source... You could say there are two."
"Oh?"
"I was created with my power... I continued to gain it so that I could protect those I believe in. That's all there is to it." Zero replied seriously.
"Created?" Karin pressed, never having heard someone speak such. Zero didn't offer anything else and the carriage ride was silent as they finished their trip.
***Break**
On her horse, Henrietta considered the curious creature that had seemed to have taken a liking to her. As the being sat on her shoulder she couldn't help but think of how unreal she looked. She was cute, excessively so. But at the same time, Henrietta felt a calmness from her that seemed to penetrate her very being.
"Do you really think that creature is safe to have around?" Agnes asked quietly.
"I... Can not say that I see this creature being a danger." Henrietta replied as the cyber elf lifted off her shoulder and moved to look into the scowling face of Agnes. When the cute face warped into an attempted match for the scowl Henrietta laughed. "She certainly seems playful though."
"I suppose she's alright." Agnes replied with a smile as Charity moved back to the wagon that contained Tabitha's mother. "But there is just... Something about her that disturbs me. She seems to act like that, but she's got the air of someone much older... She is like a fairy..."
"I know what you mean... While she seems so childish, when she is around, the world just seems a little brighter, happier if you will. As if the worries of the world are fading..." Henrietta sighed, as she smiled at the sunny day that she had the good fortune to be riding in.
***Break***
As the group sat in the rather large room, all eyes were upon Louise and Henrietta.
"My dear Louise, I'm so glad that you made it back." Henrietta said with a smile as she considered her friend.
"Of course. I had Zero with me." Louise replied with a proud smile.
"Didn't do much." was Zero's indifferent reply.
With a growl Louise glared at Zero. "You beat an elf, then you went and got yourself killed again! How is that not much?" She shouted at him.
"Excuse me, Louise... Did you say that Zero was killed? Again?" Karin asked despite herself.
"Ah... Yes." Louise said as she looked away from her mother.
Karin looked at Zero with a hard glare. "Explain how you can be here if you were killed. Some form of necromancy?"
"Not really. I just had things to do." Zero replied easily.
"He's just that stupid." Leviathan added in. "Also, he didn't die, he just came very close. Charity found us after we battled and healed him."
"You must take better care of yourself Zero." Henrietta admonished him. "That is twice now, twice that you have nearly met your end."
"I do what I have to." Zero said with a shrug.
"Promise me that you will take better care of yourself. We can sorely afford to lose your protection of Louise now." Henrietta stated.
"I'll try, but no promises." Zero replied.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. He'll be fine." Leviathan said with a smirk. "I've known him for a long time now, and have it on the best of authority by someone who's known him for far longer that he doesn't stay dead."
"I suppose that is as much an assurance that you will give my Knight-Commander?" Henrietta asked, to which Zero only nodded. "Well, then on to my court lady. Louise, I have faith in you. I believe in you. But what do you feel about me?"
Louise looked Henrietta in the eyes and stated with no hesitation,"My heart and mind are dedicated to you, Your Majesty."
"There's no need for such formality." Henrietta said as she motioned to Agnes.
Agnes nodded and opened the big leather bag at her side and took a black mantle out. Duke de La Valliere's eyes widened when he saw the crest shaped Lily on the purple lining.
"This is Royal family crest... young Marinanne, your late sister, used to wear this mantle!" Louise said in awe at the mantle that was being offered.
"Louise, you have succeeded in the mission that my Knight-Commander had laid before you." Henrietta said seriously,"Despite the many dangers that awaited you during it."
"Y-Yes!"
"Wear this, for me." Henrietta smiled as she spoke.
"B-But this..."
"Yes. Wearing this, you'll become my sister. In other words – you will be the second successor to the throne."
"G-G-G-Gracious. Or should I say too gracious..." Louise stammered out, at a loss for words.
"You, your power is too great. This is a huge responsibility for one's shoulders, and the obligation to help the country this way will be remembered twice as much. But between you and your familiar, I do not think that I shall find a better pair to succeed me when that happens."
Henrietta watched Louise with stern eyes. On wobbly legs, like a frog bitten by snake, Louise received it.
Duke de La Valliere's mouth opened wide to the unexpected promotion that had just been given to Louise. He closed his mouth, seemed to collect himself and then said,"Your Majesty, I wish to express my gratitude for such warm reception of my daughter. No, even the biggest gratitude, cannot compare to such warm reception. However, there is something I'd like to ask Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
"Does Your Majesty know what to do with this legendary power that my daughter has? Indeed, 'Void' is a legend. It was even able to cancel Karin's magic, so that power is considerably strong. Did you use it in a battle during the recent war campaign?"
"It was to be used against the Albion army in a defensive posture only if it was necessary. As it stands, the familiar of the void, Zero has made the use of the void more limited to the more personal and dangerous battles. Her power was instrumental in the battle of Tarbes, when she destroyed a fleet of airships with a single spell."
"My daughter is neither a cannon ball nor a flaming arrow. If you were to treat my daughter as a weapon, Your Majesty..."
"Then?" Henrietta asked curiously.
With a deep breath, the duke's face darkened and he replied,"Then, alas, I will throw away the history of serving the Royal family for years, and cross wands with you."
It was not the duke but the father sympathizing with his daughter. Seeing that, Zero smirked. "So apparently you do give a damn about her. Although, in my mind no matter what you say old man, Louise's decisions are her own. Neither Henrietta nor you can dictate what she does... At least not through force. Because she, like me has power that can kill a great many she chose to she could erase you and the princess from existence and take control of this country."
"You dare speak such in my own home? You believe my daughter would do such a thing!" The duke asked incredulously.
Zero just looked back at him flatly in response. "Are you stupid? I said she had the power. Power and intent are different. The girl's intent is to protect the people she can protect, the people like the commoners, the honest nobles, the people who need and deserve protecting. If she has to fight to do this then the people who she fights are the ones that will have brought it on themselves.
"As I said, I am dedicated to my princess..." Louise said reluctantly,"But I don't think that I am truly that dangerous. While my gifts are unusual, it is not like I'm responsible for very much."
With a small chuckle Zero shook his head,"Louise, you took care of an entire fleet of airships. Your kill count is probably higher than your fathers and your mother's combined counting crews and all aboard."
With wide eyes Louise looked at Zero. She had almost forgotten that battle over Tarbes, the true impact of it. She had chosen to kill those men on the ships when she destroyed them. She truly had killed a large number of people..."I...I didn't want to kill them, but they were attacking us..." Louise explained lamely.
"It doesn't matter if you wanted to. You did." Zero replied. "And in all reality, you needed to. Those people would have killed the princess you love, and invaded the country you love. Your family would likely have been pulled into the overarching conflict and they could have died as well. Killing isn't really wrong."
The duke took a long hard look at the 'familiar' of his daughter. "Such... Profound words. One has to wonder how many battlefields you have seen, boy."
"I'm three hundred and fifty years old, sir." Zero replied, for some reason being more irked than usual at being looked down on. "And due to the fact that my very life has been a battle field I'd say I've only been on one. I don't think I've ever really left it."
"I...See." The duke said reluctantly, as he looked into the dead eyes of the man. The level voice and the look in his eyes told the duke that he was speaking the truth, which unnerved the duke all the more.
Henrietta and Louise looked at Zero, both trying to cover their grief at such an announcement.
"Then, I myself, have a question for the duke. For you as an old-time noble and the protector of this country's pride and dignity." Henrietta said as she looked at the duke.
"Yes?"
"Why does war happen? We who are wise, who reign over the Lord's other creations, who are more outstanding than mythical beasts and demi-humans - for what do the same family members fight against each other?"
"..." Silence was the only response the duke could give.
"On countless occasions wars have occurred. With our own eyes we see people important to us become injured or die. I too, caused a war blinded by revenge. The result – not only important for my people, but many other people died... parents, children, brothers and friends were lost. I myself am carrying the guilt that can never be taken off my shoulders."
"...you are not responsible for that war, Your Majesty."The duke said stalwartly,"They attacked us first."
"No, under my name, everyone fought, got injured, died. If I myself don't shoulder the blame, who will?" Henrietta deeply lowered her head. "I want to use Louise's power... for something right. But how can I, when I can't even understand my current self yet? However, I do not intend to use it to fight. Please believe that, Duke."
"I fear Your Majesty, that even if there is no intention to use it to fight, sooner or later a time will come when it will be necessary to use it anyway. No, such strong power attracts people."
"It is as the duke says. Now, other countries are active behind the scenes too. I want a strong power for those who try to take us. I want to put it in a hand, because I want to defend Louise from such fellows."
"It's exactly why I feel uneasy. There are enemies who would want a strong power such as this. What if it is only Your Majesty's words? Now you say you are determined, but who can guarantee it won't change sometime? Is there something with which Your Majesty's determination can be proven?"
"She's drawn her wand on me when she felt that she needed to. Mainly when she thought I was going to kill your wife." Zero spoke, causing Karin to scowl,"That shows enough determination. She also internalizes all the problems of everyone. As the queen, she seems to think that everything negative is her fault. That it's all her responsibility as the queen to shoulder everything. It's just not in her character to abuse power like that. I have faith in her doubt. Her hesitation."
"How can her doubt and hesitation give you faith?" The duke asked involuntarily.
"Because, with that doubt and hesitation she will examine herself and others repeatedly. She will not just pick a trail and blaze it regardless of who it hurts. She, like someone else I know will make decisions, make mistakes... And she will do her best to correct them and not to repeat them. Unlike most nobles in this world who seem to think that nobility can not make mistakes, she is sensitive to not only her responsibility but to her mistakes. That is how her doubt and hesitation can allow me to believe in her."
Henrietta veiled her eyes embarrassed. She had never heard Zero speak of her like that. Her mind called back to the ball where she had been held in his arms. After that, Henrietta smiled. It is was not a worn, but a sincere smile that touched every person who saw it."I thank my Knight- Commander for his words, and all else he has given for a country not his own. I would also like to say that I would not want a friend whom I cannot completely trust nearside. I want a true friend who could point out my mistakes. A friend who, when seeing me straying from the path of virtue, would not hesitate to turn her wand against me...Which Louise has done, and rightly so."
The old duke watched Henrietta. For a while, after looking deep into her eyes, he returned the glance back to Louise. "Didn't you tell your sisters before, that 'My awoken element is fire' Was that a lie?"
Louise nodded in shame."It was something like that, father."
With a sigh the older man shook his head."It is alright Louise. But it should be the first and the last time you tell your father lies."
Then, the duke turned back to Henrietta, "I am an old aristocrat. An old-fashioned elderly person. Things were simple, to a degree, when I was young. Loyal with honor and pride, defending only that, and there was no worry to be scorned by anyone. However... the times are different now. Now, since the power of the legend revived - old justice, old sense of values... they all might lose their meaning."
The duke looked at Henrietta, like at his daughter.
"Your Majesty said before, that you 'cannot believe in yourself.' Such a doubting mind... I agree with your knight. Your heart is the best guide to enter the brighter future you search for."
"Father."Louise ran up and clung to her father.
"You are growing Louise. My Louise. I thought you would stay the same forever. However, you already started your own life, and I never noticed it..." The father gently patted his daughter's head. "Just remember my daughter, devotion is to point out mistakes. And... courage is to admit them. True courage. Louise, do not forget. My little Louise."
"...Father."
"Whenever you are in trouble, always return here. Because this place is your home. No matter what, you will be welcome here."The duke kissed Louise's forehead and quietly pushed her away. Then he deeply bowed to Zero. "Take care of this inexperienced daughter of mine. I pray for the Founder's divine protection for the road you walk."
For a while silence followed the words... then The Duchess Karin clapped hands.
"The long story seems to have ended. Though it is late, let's prepare for dinner. Though it's a poor way to entertain Your Majesty, who came all the way here, please attend. Louise, call your friends and come; Cattleya, Eleonore, please continue your favors as host."
Like a gracious soldier from the past, Karin briskly left the room. Following her, the two elder sisters left. Then Louise went to call Guiche and others...
When Zero also tried to go, he was stopped by Henrietta."...Princess."
Though Henrietta's face clouded for a moment, she still was able to force a smile. "I would like to apologize."
Zero looked down at her."For what?"
"For forcing you into a corner that time. For forcing you to choose between your honor..." Henrietta trailed off.
"It doesn't matter. I expected it to go like that. You were being responsible. I was doing what I wanted. No matter how you look at it, if anyone was in the wrong it was me. On second thought, i'm fairly certain I warned you something like this would happen if you gave me any sort of rank. So I called it. That makes it even, don't you think?" Zero said with a boyish grin.
"Courageous gentlemen are like wild falcons and stallions. They say 'I am going,' and they go without turning back." Henrietta received a mantle from Agnes and handed it to Zero. The Chevalier's crest was sewn up on it – it was a knight's mantle, with the golden braided knot of his rank placed upon it."Take it."
"Damn it! No capes!"Zero objected as he turned around, pouting.
Agnes stifled a laugh as she asked,"Is...Is the great knight commander Zero pouting over a cape?"
Zero grunted at that.
"This is not the chain that binds you. These are the wings for a falcon. It won't hurt you to wear it."Henrietta said, and was surprised when the little cyber elf sitting on her shoulders floated down and struggled to pick up the cloak, floating slowly to Zero.
"You really want me to wear that?" Zero asked as he looked at Charity. When she nodded enthusiastically Zero sighed. "I mean, come on. It's a cloak!" When she just stared back at him, seeming to struggle to keep the cloak aloft he finally sighed and took it. "Whatever... Why do I have to wear such a useless thing?"
Henrietta watched with tenderly smiling eyes as Zero put the mantle on, complaining the whole while.
The look in her eyes surprised Zero for moment.
The fever in her eyes that she used to show for Zero recently, was now gone. Instead, it was a pair of lonely... very lonely but determined eyes, and he understood that resolution. Zero blushed slightly as he turned away from her.
Henrietta drew her mouth to Zero's helmet and silently whispered.
"Calm down. It's not the face you should show to the queen."
Zero frowned then replied,"Look like what? Like I would care about you being queen. Didn't I tell you that in small meetings things like that don't matter?"
"I see, well then. I suppose I shall go and join the others." Then Henrietta gave a happy smile and left the room.
Like a shadow, Agnes followed her, pausing only to grin at the now cloaked Zero.
When Zero tried to leave as well, he was called to stop by Duke de La Valliere who stayed last. "Wait."
Zero thought, 'Here comes the overprotective father thing. Or is it the angry husband?"
"Incidentally, I have not had the ability to speak to you one on one. Nor have I heard your full name, as interesting a name as it may be."
"Zero. The only Zero." Was the cool reply
"It's our first meeting, and I find myself interested in the Knight-Commander who is so humbly named."
"Nothing very interesting about me. And my name wasn't meant to be humble. In fact, my name was meant to be anything but." Zero replied with a shrug. "I fight people, I kill people and I destroy things. That's all there is to know about me."
"Such a bleak outlook."
"Maybe."
"A warrior. I can certainly see that you are a warrior." The duke said finally,"Although, I have to wonder if some of the tales of late are not somewhat exaggerated.
"Who knows? I Don't listen to what people have to say about me." Zero replied with a shrug.
"Really? That makes you even more of a curiosity. A name like Zero, and such a unique view on the world. Is it because of such a name?"
"Again with my name? My name was given to me because of my purpose old man." Zero replied annoyed at the slights the seemingly older man was giving.
"Oh, and what was that?"
"My purpose was to be the greatest weapon of destruction ever created. I have more blood on my hands than you can imagine. I am Zero. In mathematics anything that encounters Zero is nullified... the beginning and end of everything. That is what I was created for. But..."
The duke looked at the young man confused,"But what?"
"But...I have chosen that is not to be my destiny. To me, my power exists to protect the people and friends I believe in and those things that they believe in. That is the difference between the Zero that was created and the Zero that I am now." Zero replied, his mind recalling for a brief moment the way he had brutally murdered the reploids who had awoken him.
"...I see. A very unusual person. Something about you just makes me want to believe these oddities you speak of. But it matters not, at least not for now, as long as you protect my daughter. However, how about a little practice before the dinner? So that your body remembers whose daughter you are trying to wolf away."
Zero just met the man's gaze as he stood there."I'm not trying to take anyone away. But whatever. Let's go." Zero replied as he followed the duke.
With Zero close behind him, the duke commented,"It is hard to believe with the way my daughter looks at you."
"I've told her and a number of other people that I'm not human, nor am I in a position that I can ever make up for all the damage I have caused. Maybe you can get her to listen. I'm not husband material." Zero replied.
With a short laugh, he replied,"She's like her mother. Once she decides on something that's the way it is. She'll get it, eventually." Zero just shook his head.
***Break***
Back at the academy, Mathilda was resting comfortably in the lab. The nice young "girl" that assisted her kept her occupied, although she had to smile at the antics of the child. Sometimes serious and studious, she would disappear into that locked room for hours, and come out talking about "homework", and others she would approach her for ideas on how she could cause some mischief for Zero and the others. She couldn't help but laugh when she had came back with the news that she had lased the headmaster's tobacco with sneezing powder that Mathilda had helped her create. "You're being awfully quiet today." She said to the girl who was sitting at a panel tapping away at the keys of the station she was working on.
"They should be back in a few days, and I want to surprise Roll with this. She had some ideas and did some research on it with the help of Zero... But while they're not here it's not beyond my capabilities to continue the work. I wish this to be ready within a few days of them being back." the girl replied seriously.
"Just what is it you're working on?" Mathilda replied, even more curious now.
"I'm not allowed to tell anyone. Roll and Zero said that, and that it was important." Rock replied as she paused to think for a moment. "Not that I think it needs to be kept a secret, but sometimes they're fun to have. Right?"
"You're doing this just to annoy me aren't you?" Mathilda asked in a dead pan.
With a small laugh Rock replied,"Maybe. I need something to occupy my time when the body has power."
"Yes... That. It's unusual that you must sleep in that tube like you do."
"Well, truth be told... This isn't me." Rock replied absently as she continued her work. "This is my sister's old body with a wireless relay and pseudo positronic brain."
"What?" Mathilda asked, her face blank, showing that she had no understanding at all of what the girl was talking about.
"Listen, my body was destroyed. I'm kind of like Zero in that I was created by someone. Just like Roll too." Rock said, not stopping her work at all.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I was created to be the lab assistant and son of Dr. Light." Rock said as she sighed."While that first part I'm still pretty darn good at, I have to say being the son of Dr. Light is no longer as easy as it once was." Rock replied with a theatrical sigh. "But I have to make due.
"So...You're, a boy?" Mathilda asked curiously.
"I guess. I mean, my body looked like a boy's. But inside I was the same as Roll. Well, except I was more heavily retooled towards combat. Thankfully Roll's body wasn't used for that anywhere near as much or else she would have been in the same situation as me. At least Doctor Light was able to make a new body for her."
"Why did he not make a new one for you as well?" Mathilda asked curiously.
"He did. He worked on it before he created Roll's." Rock said, still working diligently on the computer.
"Then, what happened to it?" Mathilda couldn't help herself from asking. This was the longest period of time the girl had stayed out in the main section of the lab and had kept such a serious attitude.
"I destroyed it." Was the simple reply.
"What? Why would you do that?" Mathilda demanded. To have the ability to survive, to have a new body? How reckless could you have been?
"Because. It was dangerous. At the time, my mind was damaged as well. My father was going to recklessly put me into a body that would have rivaled Zero's when my mind's stability was unknown. I assessed myself as a threat and took the needed steps to make sure everyone was safe while I was still stable and within certain limits." Rock replied.
"But... I don't understand. If you believed yourself to be that much of a threat, if you care that much about the safety of others... Wouldn't that have shown that you were not a threat?"
"You don't understand." Rock replied as she shook her head. "At the time, I was far less stable than I am now. Until I was fully uploaded into the computer I had blackouts and my personality would swing wildly. I wasn't even able to control my own power. In the end, my partner Rush ended up being damaged beyond repair during my last fight with my Rival Bass because of this. He was going through a good deal of similar problems as me, because he was based off my design..." Rock couldn't help but mourn for her fallen rival. While they had often fought, he had helped him on more than one occasion. While they had never really become friends, Rock had hoped that one day they wouldn't be enemies.
"Well, for what it's worth, I think turned out to be quite the cute daughter." Mathilda said with a smile as she placed a hand on the girl's head.
"That... Really doesn't help." Rock replied as she continued her work.
***Break***
Happy chatter about the day's events filled the dining room that evening. It was a rather unusual dinner, with one of the hereditary enemies of the house as a guest who seemed to be on good terms with the youngest daughter of the Valliere family. As a bonus to this positive turn of events, Henrietta did not say no granting protection to Leviathan, and allowed her to join the knight's under Zero's command and super vision. Zero had a smirk on his face that entire evening, as the duke shifted often to accommodate the massive bruising that he had been given during their 'friendly' practice. All of the members of the group chatted among themselves about the things that had taken place as they enjoyed a fine dinner with the knowledge that for now at least, they were out of danger.
***Break***
Lousie looked around her childhood room. Before she entered the Academy of Magic, this was the room where she spent the most time whlie she grew up. It was a large square room. A big bed with canopy was standing a little away from the window.
Moreover, it had a mountain of stuffed animals packed inside. A large number of picture books and a gorgeous sculpture of a vaulting horse. She said she wanted it and bought it herself some time ago...
While living in this room, she had been dying to get out of this residence as soon as possible. A severe education from her mother, who seemed to only think of how to marry her out. Her father, always associating with the neighboring nobility, and the only thing he seemed to be interested in was hunting. Those two people had told that she was a failure and could not learn magic. That such a girl could not even be married off properly, and that she should gain every skill that she could to make herself desireable. With each failure, she had this place had become more and more like a prison. However, her parents and this residence were not really a prison, they were the castle that protected her. Though love was not visible on the outside, deep inside she was defended and treasured, which was why she was sent to the Magic Academy, and had been allowed to stay while it had seemed she still had no talent at all when it came to magic. She looked at her bed. "...has it gotten smaller?"She wondered aloud. She looked at it closely. During her childhood, that bed felt very big, but now it looked so much smaller. No, Louise shook her head, I haven't grown up at all. I am still just a child who lashes out at the person I care for most.
While combing her hair with the brush... Louise was losing herself in deep thought.
Everyone... is worried about me. Mother and father, Henrietta...
And yet I am constantly only doing selfish things.
Louise let out a cute sigh, looking doubtfully into the mirror.
"Hey Louise. Louise the Zero. You being a 'legend' cannot be the true."That's what I was told. Louise placed her cheek against the dressing table and closed her eyes. "What... am I going to do in the future...?"
She remembered the words that she said to Henrietta before she left to Gallia.
To persist in the "reason" I believe... I am losing, but my spirit as a noble is somewhere here.
Louise was worried.
She did not care to pass the reason she believed. It was all fine. But, what if, as a result, many people were to suffer because of it? And that number would not be small. Because my "Void" power is too strong. The justice that I carry out may cause a lot of injuries to many people. Such a thing is possible.
If I were a simple user of one of the four elements, I would not need to worry this much...
"Really, what should I do...?"
Louise felt troubled.
Then Zero's face popped into her mind. Just when I'm worried this much, where has that fool gone to? Just where did he wander off to after dinner? When she asked her father, she got a short reply as he limped away, giving her no real answer.
Since their trip to Gallia, they were always accompanied by others and barely had the time to be just the two of them alone. That's why they could not talk about a lot of things the way they used to. However, as the situations continued to change bewilderingly, they always found themselves denied of such time alone.
"Why do you leave me alone?" Louise asked. Louise pouted. Then, someone knocked against the door."Who?" In an instant, the heart in her chest started to beat fast when she thought about Zero.
"It's me, Louise."came a soft feminine voice from the other side of the door.
"Princess?"
Henrietta's voice. Panicking, Louise ran up and opened the door. There stood Henrietta, who had changed to plain clothes, and smiled.
Louise made a profound reverence.
"Is something wrong, Louise?"
"No… sorry for the big trouble we caused..."
Henrietta sighed. "It's alright Louise. Alright. Though we had a conflict, everyone is safe. Therefore, it is alright. You just followed your reason. And I followed mine."
"...Princess."
"Friends again?"
Henrietta smiled. Without thinking, Louise hugged Henrietta.
***Break***
"Zero... Are you alright?" Cattelya inquired as she approached Zero, who was standing alone in one of the larger gardens outside the castle.
"I'm alright." Zero replied as he looked up into the night sky.
"I'm sure. Why do you choose to stay out here alone instead of finding rest at this hour?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Zero replied cautiously.
"I am here because I am concerned for a friend." Cattleya replied honestly. "That is the reason that I am here. So, what is your reason?"
Zero didn't answer.
"Thank you for taking care of Louise again. I do appreciate it."
"I said I would, didn't I?" Zero asked.
"Yes, you did. But all the same, I still must thank you. She is my precious sister, and that you guard her eases my heart." Cattleya gave a wonderful smile. The smile was indescribably filled with affection. Zero felt like his spirit was healing just by seeing he knew it, she had placed her arm in his and was guiding him inside. He twitched nervously when Cattleya pulled him towards her room.
A flying squirrel flew right at him, aiming for his face, but Zero caught the rodent in midair. As he turned around he came face to face with a small bear that was standing on a chair. Zero raised his eyebrow at such an unusual occurrence. As the bear tumbled forward onto Zero he tripped backwards on something. As he landed he saw that it was a giant turtle. Animals came near one after another, drawing closer to Zero.
"It appears that they like you."Cattelya commented as she giggled.
"Uh huh." Zero mumbled trying to dislodge what he thought was a tiger from his head.
"Enough games everyone, he is a guest." Cattelya called gently. After Cattleya's words, the animals, which crowded around Zero, parted slowly.
It was as if the room was a little zoo. Zero couldn't help but think of how many of these animals were extinct in his own world, only to be remade as recreations using reploid technology. "This is... pretty cool."
When he voiced out his impression, Cattleya laughed joyfully. "Were you surprised?"
"No, not at all." Zero replied rolling his eyes."Truth be told... This is kind of amazing. Back home, a lot of these animals... They don't exist anymore."
"I"m glad that you like them. They're really quite friendly." Cattleya said with a smile. "My mother and then my father were your opponents, and yet still you stand strong. I am really sorry that they troubled you so. They are not bad people. They are just sometimes stubborn..."
"Eh. I guess I'll take your word on it." Zero replied with a shrug then fell silent.
When Zero didn't speak, Cattelya asked"Hey, hey, can you tell me some stories about yourself?" Though she was older, Cattleya seemed to talk like an innocent girl. Without hesitation, she openly gazed at Zero's face.
"A-About what?"
"Since you left, various serious things must have happened. It must have been very dangerous in Albion. I was very worried, about you and Louise."
With a sigh Zero told Cattleya about events that followed his summoning to this world in detail. The war and what happened. A more descriptive version of his his near suicidal charge. As she heard the real numbers involved, Cattleya's eyes grew wide.
"So...you faced grave danger instead of Louise."
"It isn't that! I just took her place, because someone had to...And who better than someone who can't stay dead?"
"You are great. You did such a great feat without losing your modesty at all."
Being praised by Cattleya this much, Zero felt extremely awkward."No that's not it..."
"Really amazing. Louise must be happy. You are a real knight." Cattleya praised Zero without any ulterior motive. Being praised like this by such an earnest woman reminded him of the first time he had met Iris during the Erasure Crisis. She had been so impressed with him that it had been embarrassing.
Of course, Cattleya and Iris didn't look the slightest bit similar, But... this honest compliment was no different from hers.
"What's wrong?" Anxiously, Cattleya looked into Zero's face. Unbeknownst to himself, Zero started to cry.
"It's nothing."
"Though it is nothing, you are still crying. What's the matter? Go ahead and talk to me."
"No, really... really it's nothing." No way could he say that he was moved to tears because he remembered Iris. This was happening all too often, and becoming too much a trend. He had gone so long without thinking about her, but now for some reason he was haunted by her? He couldn't help but wonder why it hurt so much after so long. He knew he would have to get over her someday but... He just didn't think today was that day.
"You can tell me Zero. I will not tell anyone else."
"Sorry. I just recalled something."
Cattleya made a sorrowful face and gently hugged Zero's head. Her faint perfume scent mixed with gentle kindness, made Zero close his eyes.
Being held close against Cattleya's warm chest, settled his mind down. At the same time, he felt something very nostalgic. This was almost how it felt to be embraced back then. "...why, why did I recall it now? I remember her, but not this... Not this comfort... Since I came over here, I did not remember that feeling. No, since I woke up... So weird."
Hearing his absent-minded voice, Cattleya gently asked. "Who?"
"Someone important."
Cattleya did not ask anything else. She just made a slightly lonely face and murmured, "Sorry."
Though Zero did not understand the reason why Cattleya apologized... he did not think of it any further. He just kept his eyes closed, held by Cattelya. He knew she had no motive, that this was nothing more than comfort. To feel this way, to be this calm, the ache in his heart slowly receded.
***Break***
The conversation Henrietta and Louise shared was as if one of old.
Just like during childhood the two giggled and spoke of various things.
"With the coming of summer, I often spent my time in here."
Eyes reminiscing of the old days, Henrietta said.
"That's so, isn't it."
Louise suddenly felt the need to talk with Henrietta. "Princess, there is one thing I would like to consult you about."
"What is it?" Henrietta asked,
"When you can not see reason, and there is a possibility of wounding someone, what should you do then?"Louise asked suddenly.
Henrietta, who became silent, listened to Louise talk about her mistakes with Zero... her face turned slightly serious and she nodded to Louise."I, too, have thought about it as a queen."
"Really?"
"Yes. Though he is not of royal, or even noble blood I have found some solace in his presence. I have even used underhanded tactics to gain his attention..."
"..."
"But one can decrease the hurt a little. You know what I am saying? I can't endure seeing my important people getting hurt or leaving me. It is not just me. Everyone feels the same. Therefore, I try to... I try to do what would make everyone happiest..."
Louise slightly nodded."I want to help princess with that..."
"Thank you, after all, you are my best friend." Henrietta said with a smile.
"But do not think that I will give him up so easily. I wish to give him happiness. If he chooses princess it can't be helped, but that is how it is. But before that, I will try and make him choose me." Louise said, her face burning as she admitted her feelings.
"Do not worry about him. I am sorry Louise, for what I did. I was lonely and needed a person to depend on, and I did him a great disservice. What I did was... Unforgiveable."
"P-Princess, what..."
"He is your knight; not mine. But at least for a little while I wanted to be like 'Louise...' Though it all ended in a pain and now I feel uneasy thinking about it. I mean, what would he want with a selfish and pitiful queen like myself?" Henrietta asked with a sad smile.
"Eh? Eeh?" Even Louise's ears crimsoned. Suddenly Henrietta gave a mischievous smile.
"So, Louise... What have you tried to make Zero yours?" Henrietta asked, coyly.
"I... I..." Louise blushed heavily as she thought of her cat costume, of her antics while under the effect of the love potion. "I haven't done anything. No."
"Oh, are you lying to your dear childhood friend, Louise?" Henrietta teased.
"N-no."
"If you are playing dumb about it, lets ask Cattleya what she thinks you should do."
"...Cattleya?"
"Yep. That's right. In the past, from the window of this room, didn't we used to sneak into Cattleya's room?" Henrietta's face became one of a little girl's, reliving old times again.
"Indeed that's how it was. Because of princess' magic..."
"Yes. Back at that time I was using the 'Fly' spell."
Henrietta took Louise's hand with a cheerful expression.
"Well then, let's go."
"Eh? But..."
"When having love troubles, it is the best to ask a senior!"
Henrietta pulled Louise's hand, going to the window. A mild night spring wind danced outside.
Henrietta, set up the wand, clasped Louise's hand and stepped out to the gentle night sky.
***Break***
Zero was resting his cheek against Cattleya's lap. She had insisted he remove his armor, that he had no need for it here.
"Previously... When you praised my courage... To tell the truth I do not know if it could really be called courage."
"What do you mean?" Cattelya asked, slightly confused at Zero's statement. Nobody could call him a coward, or fault his courage with all he had done.
"I'm powerful, right? Aside from one time, none of the battles I've been in have really been dangerous to me. What's so brave about attacking people who have no chance against you? I'm not brave. I just do what needs to be done." Zero reasoned.
"Does that not mean that you have the courage to do what needs to be done? Just because you have the power does not mean anything. I am sure there are times when people who have power stand idly by and let things happen. Doesn't that show courage to act?" Cattleya asked gently, her hand running through Zero's hair once more.
"I do not know..."Zero admitted. He'd never really thought of it this way.
Cattleya patted Zero's head, running her hand through his long hair. It had a strangely smoothing effect on him, and the things that he kept hidden in the depths of his mind flowed easily out of his mouth.
"...such a mystery. Amazing."
"What?"
"Like this, I recall her... Though you don't look like her at all. However, it is warm somehow... And I do not feel pain..."
"...I see."
"It's really mysterious. After coming to this world, I did not usually remember the good things all that often."
"While you may be from another world, and you may not be human, your heart is as human as any I have met. You grieve and feel love. You feel guilt and remorse and take comfort from those who care."
"Maybe. But it still doesn't explain how I forgot about it for such a long time. So why do I remember these things now?"
"...maybe those feelings were suppressed."
"Suppressed?"
"Yes. When something painful happens, human hearts tend to lock the painful events away from the mind. It's not all that strange."
"..."
"Surely, when you were put to sleep, and awoken so suddenly, then brought to this world in such a way all in a short peroid of time, your mind was shocked. That's why it locked the memories of yourself and the people that you cared for. When you awoke, and knew that everyone you knew was gone, would you have been able to do what you needed to? When you came to this world, if you thought about everything you left behind, would you not have been immensely troubled? Yet, there are ways; ways to find keys to unlock the mind..."
"..." Zero stayed quiet through her explaination. though he sayed silent Zero thought deeply on the matter. Communication between Tabitha and her mother. Bonds between Louise and her parents... Maybe, seeing these kinds of things, the closeness of one who had no real agenda but to give him comfort... Did these things bring his memories to the front? Was the time he spent truly out of a battle field bringing these things together?
"Am I truly like her?" Cattleya whispered, a soft smile on her face.
"Ah, no... You are not Iris, you are different. And yet..."
Trying not to look weak, Zero tried to make a joke, but it became useless, when tears started overflowing. Cattleya tightly embraced Zero
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. When you want to cry, you should cry."
"But..."
Cattleya laughed gently,"What a sore loser you are. You don't like showing your weakness to others, right?"
"It's not that... I shouldn't be able to cry..." Zero said lamely.
"So stubborn. But once in a while I think it's also necessary to depend on others too. You can't keep it all pent inside, not relying on anyone. Even more so with a past like yours. When will you reach your limit?"
Zero sighed. He was surrounded by women who relied on him. Though he was staying strong in the events... the truth was that he wanted to depend on someone too. But that someone he depended on was gone, even if Axl had returned, his oldest and truest friend was dead.
"...it might be so."
"That different world... Is it possible to return there?"
"I don't know. But, besides me, there was a person who came to this world from there, so... I may be able to return and I may be not able to."
Cattleya looked straight at Zero. "You will be able to return. You will be able to return, surely. And you will be able to meet your friends once more."
"Cattelya... I do not know if any of my friends are even alive. All I have left in that world is Ciel and the resistance... And even then... Even then, the difference of time between here and there is staggering. I've not put it down to numbers yet, but I've been gone for... years, if not longer already."
"I don't understand." Cattleya said as she made a cute face.
"Something that happened here, twenty years ago was something that happened a hundred years ago. Something that happened here fifty years ago was over two hundred years ago. The plane that I've flown is seventy years old here, but is over four hundred years where I'm from. It's somewhat erratic so I can't even tell how long I've been gone for sure. All I do know for sure is that at minimum I've been gone for probably half a decade..."
"I'm sorry... I didn't know..." Cattleya replied in a subdued tone.
Something warm filled his mind. There is a chance that I will never meet anyone from his past again. However, he couldn't help but think that he had the start of a new family here, one that he could protect. He would do better this time. "There's no time for this. There is a someone who is aiming for Louise's 'Void' power. That person did unforgivable things to Tabitha and her mother. I will kill him." Zero said seriously. Though he had not met him, he wondered what type of man he was. Not that it mattered anyhow. He wouldn't let him lay a finger on anyone else. We'll return home to the Academy, and no matter what the bastard did Zero would react and crush whatever his next move was.
"Just don't overdo it, alright?" Cattleya hugged Zero again."I don't want anything else, just you and Louise to be safe."
That moment, a loud sound of breaking glass echoed.
"W-what?"Cattelya yelled as the room was showered with splinters of glass.
The ones that fell into the room, were none other than Louise and Henrietta. Then they both stood up while rubbing their hips in the pain, and then both stared with astonishment at Zero.
"Uh, Sir Zero?"Henrietta asked hesitantly.
"W-What are you doing in here?"Louise demanded angrily.
"That's my line! Why did you both jump in through the window? You're supposed to open them first idiot! Haven't I taught you anything?"Zero shouted back.
Louise's eyes narrowed."Y-You are going after my older sister now? Unbelievable!" Flushed faced Louise charged forwards. Louise's jump-kick cut the three meters distance in no time and hit Zero on the temple. When Zero fell down, Louise straddled his waist and started to strangle him.
"Of all things,my sweet older sister! Of all things, trusting older sister! I won't allow! I won't allow this!"
Then animals started to react to Louise's shouts, who was straddling on top of Zero. It was as if a lot of animals that began to lean on Zero were asking – "Can we play too?"
"Ya know, strangulation might do it for some humans, but I don't really need air to breathe so I really don't get that added benefit in this situation..."Zero managed to get out as Louise growled louder at his insinuation.
"Louise, Louise! You should not kick a gentleman like that!" As might be expected, Henrietta stepped in to end this.
Cattleya started to laugh out loud. "Stop Louise. I did not try to take away your sweetheart."
"He's not my sweetheart! It's different!"Crimsoned, Louise waved her hand."...I did not miss this guy's look. This fellow had absent mindedly implanted his face in your cleavage. F-f-face buried between your breasts! H-how dare he! Your breasts! B-b-b-b-breasts!" Louise's blood rushed to her head. And, because she lifted her leg for another kick, Henrietta had to step in again.
"Excuse me, Louise? Stop!" Henrietta shouted
"Stop, what for?"
"Yeah, it's not like she can really hurt me." Zero replied from the ground absently. Sometimes, it was just too comical to watch things play out when misunderstandings happened. He had more or less given up on her listening or anything so he might as well get a show out of it. It was almost a substitute for vids.
Henrietta looked over the place and voiced her opinion with a forced smile. "Zero, please do not speak like that at a time like this.
"Yeah, yeah. Just causes her temper to flare more." Zero replied as he stood up removing the pink haired girl from him. "Well, I guess I'll be leaving now. Thanks for the talk Cattelya. I know where I'm not wanted." Zero waved behind him as he let himself out.
***Break***
Later that night...The three noble girls slept in one bed after a long talk. Cattleya in the center, Louise on the left and Henrietta on the right.
"It has been such a long time since all three of us slept like this." Henrietta said in a cheerful voice.
"During the summers, Your Majesty used to visit our home a lot."
"Yes. During those days I was really happy. Because every day there wasn't a thing to worry about…"
Looking distant, Henrietta said. "We used to play a lot."
"Oh Louise. In any case, we came to Cattleya-dono for some questions."
The three girls were laughing and chatting happily for a while.
In the course of time, the conversation moved to Louise and Zero's relationship.
"Hey Louise, why are you always so violent towards Zero?"Cattelya asked gently
"N-not always."When asked by Cattleya Louise denied it, blushing hard.
"Always." Henrietta noted, making Louise even more perplexed.
"P-princess only witnesses the worst moments!"
Henrietta let out a loud sigh. "But it isn't like he's actively making attempts to woo anyone. Even I am guilty of pushing myself upon him."
"As an older sister I do not agree with your actions. Such usual nastiness may make him run away. For example, remember what happened to elder sister Eleonore?"
In Louise's mind, the image of her eldest sister, whose engagement was canceled, popped up.
"It is alright to allow gentlemen to act on their own once in a while. If you are angry at him just for speaking with other girls, he will end up disgusted sooner or later. It's not just me. I do not want to see Louise taking older sister's place in being disappointed with love."
"D-don't question such things! He is madly in love with me! He just... He just can't get over..." Louise said, breaking off without saying the one name that had caused so much pain for Zero, and so much trouble for his admirers.
Cattleya only shook her head to that. "There is no such thing as a person who could not change their mind. Give him breathing space from time to time. If you do so, he will still return to the person he loves the most in the end."
Louise became silent.
What Cattleya said was always correct. Henrietta and Cattleya continued to give Louise advices one after another. The chatter of three girls continued throughout the night.
***Author's notes***
And after a terribly long wait... Here is another terrible chapter! I have one more coming fairly soon, but the end of this arc is writing itself far more than the beginning so it will be some time after that I think. Who knows though, my writing isn't terribly consistent.
As Andrew said, reploid CHILDREN could not sing. In my opinion, the formative years for a reploid would be the exact opposite of a human. They would start out with base logic and programming and would have to move on from there, while human children think of the abstract and have active imaginations. As a reploid grows in intelligence and maturity one has to think that they would begin to learn things and their feelings would become deeper as they became more and more advanced as beings. This is my view on it, and how I'm translating it into the story. It makes sense to me at the very least.
On Zero's memory. Again. At the beginning of MMZ he didn't have any memories. As time goes on he gains them. At the end of MMZ he says "That's why we were always the best partners." Why would he say that if he couldn't remember anything? Think of Zero having slept for so long, in such a deep state. He was also heavily damaged. His system's priorities were likely "Get body running. Keep body from getting blown up. Defend Resistance. Fix memories." It wasn't high on the priorities list, and if you think of it like a booting computer(which even our brain is like one in some ways), all those memories would take up a lot of ram. Fresh out of being awakened he's almost like in safe mode. He works, everything is in order, but only the minimal programs are running while he's evaluating everything.
I've already covered the buster shot thing. If it can be charged before he got his saber, they already broke their own explanation.
To the person concerned about Leviathan. It appears that situation took care of itself pretty well... But what now?
Also... I totally got a bunch of you with that whole evil Miss Rock thing. hah.
No Omega state. Zero has no Omega state. Omega was the false personality in Zero's body. Awakened would be closer to what you're looking for but no. He was just pissed. Very, VERY pissed.
Also, I can't tell if that's sarcasm or not ZXEclipse. Are you for or against that being the W core?