AN: Here we are again! The title this time, comes from the Metallica song (also a band I love), "For Whom the Bell Tolls"! It has to deal with impending doom, so...yeah...wink, wink! Now, please, ENJOY!
Arc Two: A Dangerous Meeting
Chapter Six: For Whom the Bell Tolls
Garfiel tapped his foot, so much so, that it left a piece of the wall chipping off. He stood on that wall, anxious about why Subaru had been gone for so long. In some ways he did have his hopes up.
"Did he give up?"
But a quick clicking of his tongue, reminded him, things were not so simple.
He scratched his hair, peering out into the vast landscape ahead, he saw the vast quiet ambiance of it, preferring to see that, then the sight of a carriage coming to them. Unless it was Ram, her sister Rem, or even the smug Roswaal; he would no longer allow strangers to pass through. He would protect his home, he had already made the mistake of allowing Natsuki Subaru in and he came to the conclusion that odd boy was most likely up to no good. His stench proved it, his nasty attitude was evident of it...and no normal person would be having blood float out of his mouth, it was proof. Proof.
Proof, that Garfiel was right about Subaru, that Ram was being deceived, and he had to protect her, his granny and the others inside the walls.
"Bu' where th' hell is this-"
Then he looked down from the rooftop, and saw a little girl walking through the streets. He was shocked to see such an extravagantly dressed child, let alone one he did not even notice until now.
Garfiel leaped down in front of her, making the little girl stop her movement, as she played with one her long hair drills.
"Yo! Hold it! Who th' heck are ya? Ya los' or something?!"
"Hmph, I was told you were brash one, but to not even introduce yourself when speaking to a noble being like Betty, I suppose? How presumptuous!"
"Um, don' know wha' tha' las' word mean' bu, ahem! Name's Garfiel Tinsel, the Strongest Shield! Now answer me kid, where're you from?!"
"Well now, a pompous one aren't you? I am Beatrice, a Great Spirit, I suppose. Betty has returned to this Sanctuary to help out a friend."
"Friend? Ya know someone who lives here?"
She shook her head, seeming to look ahead of Garfiel, as if straight through him.
"Betty did once, but no, I came to help her contracted partner."
"Partner? Um, Roswaal?"
"No...you should know him well, his name is Natsuki Subaru, I suppose."
Garfiel instantly became furious hearing that name, but internally he panicked. He was now dreading the idea that Subaru was having his allies infiltrate the Sanctuary for whatever it was he was planning, he had to act quickly. Even if the person in front of him was a child, if he had to do the heinous act of killing her...it was for the Sanctuary-
"BARK!"
"WUH!?"
Garfiel was tackled away by something shrouded in red light, and slammed through two houses, before sliding across the dirt ground, like a meteor crash landing to the earth. Beatrice patted away some dust off her dress, as said being floated down next to her.
"Took you long enough, I suppose."
"Sssssorry, I was hungry. Ate some, deer."
"You glutton! This isn't the time to be stuffing your face, I suppose!"
Beatrice puffed her cheeks, and raised her arms up in frustration, all the while Genau was licking his face, which still had some blood on it. But as their tomfoolery continued, a loud crashing sound could be heard, getting both of their attentions. Turning their heads, they saw Garfiel charging through the holes made in those houses, his eyes shining bright green.
"That boy seems to be harder to deal with than Betty had concluded, I suppose."
"Enough talk. Ssssister Beatrice, let us continue the plan."
"Look at you, giving Betty orders…"
Beatrice and Genau got ready, all the while Garfiel hopped off the ground and leaped to them.
Beatrice created a bright blue barrier around them, but a powerful right hook from the young man broke it apart. Still, he used both arms to block a shield construct from Genau, dragging his feet across the ground to match against the attack.
Beatrice floated around and waved her palm in front of herself, shooting out a shockwave that helped push Garfiel into the side of a house, breaking windows and stone.
Many of the villagers ran out of their homes to see what was going on, only to quickly begin running for their lives, especially out of fear from the sight of a Wolgarm.
As the panicked villagers ran off, Garfiel stomped his way to his two adversaries, only for both of them to float away. Garfiel gave chase, running atop several rooftops, before he saw they made a stop in front of the main church. As Garfiel jumped into the air and was ready to strike down his opponent...he seemed to notice it, that they were neither in offensive or defensive positions.
"Steady Genau."
"Right."
Garfiel bared his fangs to them. His made his hands form claws and his fangs grew larger.
"Don' know wha' ya two are up ta! Bu' if tha' punk ass bitch is involved, ain' gonna be good!"
Beatrice used he magic to slow down his descent, while Genau wrapped him up in vine constructs.
"Do not insult Betty's partner, I suppose."
"Hold your tongue, none will, ridicule Brother SSSSSSubaru."
The young man broke out of the spell and vines, just as he was about to punch down his fist at the two intruders...he finally realized it; it was a trap.
The space around him bended and light began to bend in his vision, the last thing he saw was Beatrice making a smug smile and Genau panting, much like a dog would, blood floating out of his mouth.
"Ya fu-"
Garfiel was teleported out of the Sanctuary.
Garfiel broke through a window and crashed through a table desk. Shaking his head, he got up and browsed around, not recognizing the place he found himself in. He ran out of the room and found himself in a long dazzling hallway-
"Garf?"
"...No…"
Turning his head slowly, he was facing a shocked Rem. Seeing the sister of the woman he loves, did not bring him joy whatsoever. No, it instead horrified him, to the point that he made a face indicative of man who was slowly losing his sanity. A shadow covered his face, leaving only two reflective lights where his eyes were, putting Rem in a fearful position.
"Garf...why are you here?"
Even Garfiel knew where he was, even if he had never been outside the Sanctury grounds, he knew about Roswaal's mansion, so he knew it all too well. Even if he never stepped foot within this place, he knew it was the place. Garfiel, growled loudly as he looked out the window.
"I'ma kill em."
"Huh?"
"I said it Rem...I'ma kill em!"
Garfiel smiled insanely as he looked out at the evening sky, outside the mansion...and so, he viciously jumped out the window, taking a whiff of the air.
"Got ya. Hang on, my amazin' self is gonna murder all three of ya!"
"Garfiel, wait!"
Rem tried chasing after him, but he leaped ahead of her, dashing between the trees, making Rem lose sight of him. She had some idea of finding through her sense of smell...but that would leave the mansion unguarded, and she had to stay to protect it while everyone else was away, not to mention...Emilia was still there.
"Garf."
She was praying. Praying that whatever was happening in the Sanctuary was not serious, that everything would work out. Yet, Subaru was there, her hero. Rem believed with all of her heart that he would find a way...he always did. She trusted him...trusted him...but...
Unknown to all of them, there was odd movement, beginning to get more fierce, in the remaining forests surrounding the Roswaal Mansion.
Garfiel was leaping through the woods as he began to sweat, pant and howl, madly.
"All three of ya are dead! Th' mutt, th' brat, and you!"
Long ago, Garfiel promised himself he would never venture out into the outside world, that he would keep the Sanctuary away from the cruel, unforgiving place called the 'outside'. He did this for his Grandmother, for his people and the place he called home. He would not allow the world outside to take something from him again.
But now, the 'outside' was invading. In the form of a young man, he was leading a group to possibly destroy that which he loves and cherishes, for what end goal? He didn't care. All he knew, was that his own word had been trampled over, all because of not only Natsuki Subaru, but because of Roswaal's selfish actions in bringing them there.
He would stop this. He had to.
For he…
"I'm th' Strongest Shield! My amazin' self is saving eveyone!"
He kicked off a tree, breaking it into pieces.
"YER ALL DEAD!"
Ram handed Roswaal a coat as they were venturing outside...when they heard the commotion goign on outside.
"Ram, check what it was."
"Yes, Roswaal-sama."
Using her Clairvoyance, she was able to see, through red colored images of the outside of their cabin, just what it was that was making such a ruckus.
"Impossible."
"What?"
"B-B…"
"Go on, tell me."
Roswaal, was a little concerned, but nothing that would-
"Roswaal-sama! It's Beatrice-sama! She's here!"
"No...That must be a mistake! Check again!"
"I did, over and over again. It's her! And...she's with a-a, a Wogarm! One with the same, outfit, as him…"
"Him?"
Ram finally opened her eyes wide, with absolute dread inflicting her pretty face.
"The same as Barusu! It's a Red Lantern!"
"A-Another one? There's two of them?!"
Roswaal held his head in deep thought, now he had what seemed to be three obstacles in his grand plans...he smiled.
"Ram, we are escalating the plans."
"The plans, are going through then?"
"Yes, weeeee shall now head to the forest. Come my dear, it's time to put everything into fruition."
He held out his hand, and while Ram did hesitate, she closed her eyes and took it gently with her own.
"Let us go, my master."
"Goooood."
So the two made it outside, and made their way deep into the forest, beginning to fufill the prophecy.
Subaru floated over to the Tomb, landing just in front of it. He sighed as blood floated out, per usual. He looked at the rising cloud of rubble in the middle of the town, but smiled as he heard no more commotion.
"Okay, they got Garfiel out of here, now's my chance."
He waited for just a few minutes, with that patience, it became night and the torch outside the Tomb lit up.
"Let's go."
Subaru ran forward, and as the torches lit up around him in the halls...he felt water splashing under his feet. He looked down…
"FACE THE IMPENDING DISASTER."
His own voice once again welcomed him, as he fell into the water. Yet, he found himself being able to breath underwater, he looked up and saw only a single source of light above the surface of the water. He looked down, and saw orbs of light, slowly rising to him, like bubbles in the lake.
"Probably have to take a look at those."
Subaru swam deeper into the waters, putting on a calmer frown on his face. Then, he got to the first orb, he slowly took it into his hands, preparing to view what sort of vision could be seen by-
-POP!-
"WHU?!"
The orb popped in his hands, before he could he even hear or see anything. He reached out for another one, only for it to break as well.
-POP!-
"The fuck?!"
Another one, floated over...but once again, it occured.
-POP!-
Subaru floated down, more and more, as it kept happening again and again.
-POP!-
-POP!-
Natsuki Subaru was in utter disbelief as he continued to watch the spectacle around him, even ignoring a sudden appearance by Echidna behind him. Even this Witch of pure knowledge, could not comprehend what exactly was happening.
Whispering.
"Just...what is this?"
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
A symphony it was. Subaru could only see the dying forms of time, as they broke with an orchestra of destruction. And he could only be staring at it, eyes wide to discontent.
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
-POP!-
And with that, there was but a single orb of light...which slowly spun, revealing silver hair. That silver hair twirled ever so slightly, taking the form of a dark dressed woman, who was so beautiful, it almost made Subaru lose his breath.
Then she faced him, it was...Emilia, but it also wasn't.
It was…
"Satella."
Satella put out her hands, as if affectionately reaching out to Subaru, as tears of blood trickled down her cheeks. Then Subaru looked up, and was left stupefied and even fearful of something rising behind her. Finally, it stopped as it peered down at Subaru, with even Echidna holding her breath.
A giant. Though most of its armored body was shrouded in the shadows, what could be seen...was tubing coming to connect with it's odd oval shaped helmet. And that it's eyes, those large shining yellow eyes, were as bright as the sun itself. But when it slowly opened its mouth...a mass of light and darkness was seen, as if peering into the vastness of a hidden corner of space.
Then Subaru felt something, turning his head, he watched as people ran, or flew by him. People he did not recognize, and some he did, some from the Royal Selection, some from neighboring countries...and himself, without a ring. The people he came to trust and love...as well as what appeared to be...a hero? He was not sure. But he continued watching as they charged ahead, facing off against Satella and this strange armored giant. Only for a large, bright white tree to appear behind all of them, making Echidna tremble in fear.
"No...that's the-"
"Oh, wow."
The tree shattered. Like a cheap glass ornament, it's pieces fell below, causing a massive tidal wave, washing away the giant, then the heroes...and lastly…
"Please...love me…"
"Ah."
Satella once again reached out to him, her eyes drenched in blood as she screamed out to him.
"FLUGEL PLEASE-"
The wave took her as well, Subaru created a barrier construct around him, only for the wave to still swallow him whole.
When he came to, Subaru shook his head and saw that waters were gone and he was alone. Alone in a white room, with a single orb of light next to his legs. He picked it up and peered inside of it.
He saw himself, seemingly a bit older. He was walking, holding hands with a little girl he did not recognize. He seemed happy, and so did the reddish brown hair colored girl. She was saying something to him, but he could not hear it, he saw himself smile at her, and ahead of him, waving to him, was-
-POP!-
The orb was gone. As Subaru got up and looked around, he could only say one thing.
"Whether I know what is going to happen or not, it doesn't matter. I'll face the future."
He held his chest tight.
"I ACCEPT."
With those two words, Subaru found himself in that crisp blue skyed field of grass. And behind him was Echidna, sitting on her small coffee table, staring at him, in both fascination but also caution.
"What did I see?"
"...From what I can tell, the connection to the Algol Tree, for the Tomb at least, was severed."
"Algol Tree?"
"It is the tree that controls time and space on a fundamental level, it is also where Authorities, or Witch Genes, are derived from."
"...Right now, that is not my concern-"
"-It should be!"
Echidna rose from he seat as she seemed awfully riled up.
"This means, at some point, something happens to it. This could be a disaster in the making!"
"And if it does happen in the future, I'll deal with it, but for now...it's got nothing to do with me, right now."
"...I hope you don't regret this lax decision of yours."
She then walked over and put her hands on his cheeks, but even she seemed disappointed that he wasn't flustered in the slightest.
"Hmm...well, regardless, you have succeeded in the completion of the Trials."
"Yeah, what now?"
"Come with me."
With that said, Echidna lead him to a portal out of the dimension they were in and found himself once again, in the main hall. Following her they made it to a door, opening it, he found a glass coffin.
Inside was an older Echidna. Not old like an elderly, just more mature. He sneaked a peek at the Echidna smiling at him and leaned over to get a better look at the woman who appeared to be merely sleeping.
Not that he cared.
"Alright, what now?"
"Focus the magic around this coffin, it's the source of the magical barrier within this town."
"Really now?"
"Of course, trust me."
Her words, unintentionally were the sealing of her own fate.
Beatrice and Genau ran with all their might, to their assigned mission...just as they turned a corner...they came face to face with Lewes Meyer and a small army of her clones.
"Lewes?"
"Beatrice."
The two old acquaintances gazed each other in the eyes. There was joy, sadness, regret and comfort in the light of their eyes. But the situation was indeed no heartwarming reunion. Instead, it was a bitter moment before the storm.
"You are not….you are not Lewes, I suppose. I saw her sacrifice herself."
"Correc', I am merely a copy of th' original Lewes. No' th' same as th' one you knew."
"...Then, as a comforting gesture for my dear old friend, I ask that you move out of the way...please."
Lewes shut her eyes tightly, as if Beatrice's words were breaking her heart. Still, she took a deep breath.
"I canno' do tha'."
"I'm sorry to hear that, I suppose."
Beatrice looked over at Genau, who perked up his ears.
"Genau...the one with the staff, don't kill her, I suppose."
"...You owe me."
Lewes was shocked hearing the Wolgarm talk, but quickly snapped out of it as Beatrice fired bright purple spears of magic at them, all the while Genau flew forward with spider leg constructs protruding from his back.
Lewes fired out a shockwave from her staff, while the clones also charged forward. Two tried to surround Genau, only to impaled by his spider leg constructs. One more dashed behind him, only for him to flip in the air, spitting a heavy stream of his napalm like blood out at the clone. All three turned to specks of light.
"Tsssssk! Can't even eat them? Ugh."
Seeing more charge at him, he created a giant paw construct and roared out in defiance.
Beatrice channeled mana around herself and fired a plethora of spears out at her former ally.
"MINYA!"
Lewes created a barrier around herself, but it eventually broke apart, giving Beatrice a chance to float above her and create a yellow ball of energy in her hands.
She hesitated for a moment, seeing the hurt expression stuck on her face; but Beatrice tossed at her anyways, but just feet away from her. Lewes flew across the ground before being stomped on the chest by Genau, knocking her out.
Another clone tried to attack Genau from behind, but was pierced by another purple spear, it also burst into specks of light.
Half of the clones were dead, while the others were knocked out completely. Moving next to the cabin they were assigned to, they stayed just outside the door; promising Subaru they would do the task at hand.
Beatrice set up magical symbols around herself and Genau had his ring create root constructs that dug into the floor below Beatrice and more behind himself. These moved under the ground, and moved away from the cabin to…
Subaru closed his eyes and took deep, long breaths as Echidna twiddled her fingers.
"Now, if you are unsure of what to do, I'm sure that I can help. I mean, if we can make a deal...I'm a very persuasive type."
"...Hu…"
"Well? How about it Subaru? Would you care to-"
"-Hu...Hu...Hu..Heh…"
"Subaru?"
Walking over to see his face, Echidna Witch of Greed...was terrified. She was looking on as Subaru covered his mouth, holding back a frightening laughing fit.
Taking another breath again, he smirked at her.
"You know? Wanna know? I gain skills and knowledge from drinking blood. So think long and hard about that new info?"
"...AH!"
"YEAH! You think none of those Witch Cultist bastards wouldn't know how to manipulate mana?! HAHAHA! I don't need your help, Echidna! In fact, I got everything I needed from you."
Immediately, she saw the red roots coming out of his ring, that traversed down...around the glass coffin and through the floor behind them.
"What are you doing?"
"...Just like you, Echidna...I'm trying to attain information."
"Huh?!"
"Where did this ring come from? Who made it? How can I refuel it? I need to know! And there is only one way to do it!"
Subaru focused as his red ring began to glow, then the space around him shifted, as Echidna grabbed Subaru.
"Stop this!"
"NO! This is the only way to do so!"
The coffin started to shine, and with it, the vines collected the light and had it travel through it. Echidna tried to stop it, but she was ensnared by chain constructs.
"Sit back and watch."
Genau howled into the night sky as the energy streamed through and became a space distortion around Beatrice.
"Betty hopes this can work, I suppose!"
"That or we die."
"Quit talking about that kind of stuff, I suppose! Just...believe in Subaru!"
She focused with all the mana in her body, all the strength in her heart and every shred of her resilience.
Speaking a canto, her eyes turned white and she stared at the Red Ring in Genau's possession, and she had light envelop it.
And soon, a crack in the air, appeared in front of her.
Subaru watched as his Red Ring also began being enveloped in light.
"This thing can make wormholes, so combining it with a 'super charged' spell of space distortion magic from Beatrice should do the trick!"
Echidna watched as the world around her began to crack, light shining through them.
"Subaru! Natsuki Subaru! Please stop! You don't know what you're doing!"
"I do! This for the good of the world!"
"But I! I'LL DIE! Do you realize that!? You do this, you'll be killing me!"
But as she yelled this, Subaru turned his head, showing a displeased expression.
"You were already dead. So go to where you need to go already, and stay there."
"But...all my work."
"...IT'S ALL MINE NOW."
Echidna felt something horrid creep through her body. She looked down and saw it; her arm was disintegrating. She panicked as she tried to focus harshly on her arm, but it was no use and soon her shoulders were following suit. Echidna could only began to weeze and heave in fear of what was happening. It was the end. Her life was ending, again. And the only person who could've saved her, was also her doom.
"You…"
Subaru turned his face to the fading witch.
He winked at her and smiled.
"Bye."
Now, her entire body was evaporating.
"NATSUKI SUUUUUBARUUUUUUU!"
And like that, with the sound of a bell-like noise, she was gone. All that was left of her, was no more.
Behind that dust was a group of women he did not recognize whatsoever.
The magenta haired one, sighed loudly as she turned to dust. And the bell struck again.
The short green haired one, cried as she evaporated. The bell sounded again.
The pink haired one...weeped as she chuckled madly, but faded away into ashes. The bell graced them again with sound.
The grey haired one, in her coffin...had her coffin crumble into dust, but before she could hit the ground...she bursted into dust. And the bell sound, returned.
Then, the gorgeous yellow haired one, looked at Subaru with a mocking expression.
"Was it, all worth it?"
"In the end, I'm sure it will be."
"I hope your righ-"
She turned to dust and faded away into nothing, the bell-like sound, this time echoed throughout the Tomb. He didn't know who those women were, but he did know that they had become sacrifices to create a better world. Still, he saw it as the most necessary sacrifice he could muster.
Then the lights faded away from him...and then, he felt an earthquake.
Garfiel jumped through the woods, actually smashing through some birds, leaving bloody chunks behind. He then kicked off the ground leaving a giant crater behind. As he soared through the air and saw the Sanctuary just a few miles away...and then what he saw, in essence, ruined his life forever.
Roswaal and Ram were walking through the woods, as Roswaal seemed to hum a cheerful tune to himself.
He was excited for the grand spectacle that was to come, getting himself ready to make it snow.
"All things will becooooome clear in the end."
"Yes, Roswaal-sama."
Then it happened, they heard loud commotions coming from the village, turning to see it. They saw sparks of light and clouds of debris rise up...then a dome of light was created...followed by a small earthquake.
Then...they saw it as well. A huge pillar of red light shot up from the ground, into the now dark night sky, practically destroying the ground beneath the Sanctuary.
Beatrice and Genau coughed as the dust around them was settling. In front of them was still the pillar of red light.
"Did it work, Ssssister Beatrice?"
"Cough! Betty doesn't know yet. Let's wait and see the results, I suppose."
Just as she said that, both of them could sense it. In front of them, in that clearing cloud of debris...someone was there.
"Tell me."
The voice they heard was deep and monstrous. It made both of these brave individuals tense up.
They got in defensive positions, ready for something to happen, but then they saw movement in the dust. And when it got closer, they both raised their brows in utter shock. Beatrice had mana cover her body, and Genau growled wildly at the approaching figure. Still, for some reason, both of them felt like they may, in some way, be no match for this new arrival.
"Tell me now, why did force me here? Tell me, lest…"
"Who are you, I suppose?"
What came through that dust, was a monster. A tall, imposing being with shining yellow eyes, hideous sharp teeth, his face was like that of a fairy tale beast. His massive size, accentuated his shoulder pads and neck armor...and the symbol on his chest, one that both Beatrice and Genau were shocked in witnessing.
He was, red skinned, much like his uniform. And that was because, he was-
"Lest we kill you for the information."
He stood there; and over his shoulder, a blue haired cat floated over and hissed at them...it too, wore a certain red uniform.
A dangerous meeting, was set to transpire.
To Be Continued...