AN: Hello everyone. So, I have officially gotten to Shadowbringers ( ). The problem, completely different character. So I decided, if I was going to start working on this to any extent beyond the plotbunny, I'd have to restart. So here's a redone first chapter. This is not a promise of anything more, just had to write. And yes, I used ZnT part of the original here til the WoL shows up.

Many times during his adventures, he's felt helpless and weak. Even if he could run for the title of 'strongest'. Well, there was always someone or something stronger, he wasn't going to delude himself with that claim. Still, with most of the Scions 'Called' somewhere else, with him unable to do anything about it, he felt that helplessness again. Worse, was he was practically banned from heading to the Crystal Tower after the 'Beacon' and was suppose to wait around and recover from the latest bout of Calling.

He hated waiting.

Hell, ever since he was a young kit, he was always one to want to wander and explore. Why he became an adventurer in the first place. Travelling to Ul'dah and becoming a gladiator. Then dealing with the Sultansworn as a Paladin. Things were great, except for the random visions and headaches. A dry chuckle escaped him at that. The Echo. Hearing Hydaelyn calling and being given power by the Mothercrystal. Fighting Garleans, Ascians and Primals. All for what? Then Midgardsormr broke the connection and he had to fight using his own power once again... or did he ever do that before then?

He shook his head, it was a back and forth argument with himself ever since it happened. Still, it might have been being bereft of the Crystal's blessing that let him make contact with Fray. And that lead to so much since then. He still wondered why people couldn't just talk and try to come to an understanding... well, that was tried wi- he cut himself off, waving a hand to dispel the memory. It wasn't really of use to get drawn back into them. He reached up and grasped the handle of his greatsword, feeling the flow of the Abyssal power through it. Light and Dark, what did it matter? The 'Warriors of Darkness' from the First had said Light had destroyed their world, a flood of it wiping away everything. And the Abyss of Darkness had apparently taken the 13th and made it 'The Void'.

Too much thinking, too much sitting and waiting. He wasn't even relaxing in his home with a book, or working on some new glamour (he was partial to his Sky Pirate fending gear and glasses look, really). Or any number of things he would do to rest and relax, because of everything that happened. He growled out and just gave a frustrated sigh before heading to the main area of the Rising Stones. Some tea and cookies would help, or maybe he could pop over to Limsa for some Bismark Finger sandwiches. After all if they were good enoug for Jacke to filch one...

He stopped his thoughts there. No, he'd go down to the tower and help search. Tataru could chew him out for it some other time. With a resolute nod, he left the Stones and called his Dark Lanner, hopping on and flying out to the tower. It'd take some time, the base was enormous, but from the back of the bird he would have a different view than most of those on the ground.

The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and overall it was a perfect day. For everyone but Louise de la Valliere, that is. Louise was a petite girl of short stature with pink hair that fell to her waist. It was a day she wished would never come. The Springtime Familiar Summoning Ritual, a day for all second year students at the Tristain Academy of Magic would summon their familiars. A day that was Louise's last chance. For a reason no one knew, the poor girl would only cause explosions when she cast a spell. As such, if she failed to summon a familiar, she would be cast out of the Academy and fully deemed a lost cause, even more so for those that already thought her such. This was why she was dreading this day.

Still, she knew she had studied for it the best she could. She had practiced the chant, the wand movements, everything she could without actually trying to cast the spells. After all, this was a Sacred Ritual, handed down from the Founder, Brimir, himself. So, getting dressed, she proceeded with her day as normal.

That afternoon, everyone from the second year was gathered outside in one of the large courtyards of the Academy. Louise watched as her classmates walked up to a spell circle inscribed in the ground and summoned their familiars. They ranged from simple things like a frog or giant mole, to the more outlandish, such as a giant floating eye-creature named a Bugbear. Two even summoned a downright jealousy inducing Salamander and Dragon, that being Kirche, a tall buxom redheaded Germanian whom she despised, and Tabitha, a petite bluenette from Gallia, respectively.

Coughing lightly to gather the group's attention after that last one, the teacher, Jean Colbert, looked at the group. "Well then, I believe that's everyone, correct?" Louise stayed silent, hoping she could be ignored and maybe lost in the crowd for awhile longer.

Kirche spoke up, voice full of teasing. "Professor, we have one left who hasn't gone. Louise still needs to summon her familiar."

'I hate you Zerbst!' Louise glared at the taller girl, while slowly moving forward, knowing it was inevitable that she had to try now.

Colbert nodded, though he was sweating lightly at this information. "Ah, yes. If you would, Miss Valliere? Just relax and follow the instructions and all should go well." As he spoke, he carefully stepped around Louise before backing up like the rest of the class had done.

Drawing in a breath and raising her wand, Louise began to speak, her wand following the right motions. "I, Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, in the name of the great Five Pentagon Powers, following my fate, summon a familiar." Closing her eyes at the end, she waited for the usual explosion, even as she prayed for it not to come.

To those that were watching, the Circle began to glow and an ethereal version of it raised up, spinning about. This was not normal and all there took a few more steps back as it shined brighter and brighter.

He landed near the tower, looking about an area that no one else was around at the moment. His ears twitched as a breeze blew through. Rock, rubble, crystal. Everything looked so normal. Perhaps he could get out his pickaxe and start prying through thin- his thoughts cut off as he heard a voice. If not for the lack of soul-rending headache, he would have thought it was the person Calling to him again. But then he listened closer. A young voice, female. But where was it coming from?

He moved, searching. He couldn't pinpoint it. It was almost like when he heard Midgardsormr or Hydaelyn, or a voice of the Echo. Was this another like them? He almost called to the fragment of Midgarsormr that was connected to him to ask when he saw it. A green floating oval. Wait, was this the 'Beacon' the Caller spoke of? But then he expected another Call. Still, it was odd and as he approached to look at it, he could hear the voice of the girl again, begging for something. He couldn't leave such a heartfelt plea, could he? It certainly was better than the Caller had been doing to ask him.

Shaking his head, he tapped his Link-pearl, waiting a moment til Tataru picked up. The conversation was short, with a lot of yelling at him and some crying. But if this was the Beacon, or if someone was really in trouble, he couldn't wait. Promises to find the others or return were all given as he touched the portal, sending his Aether into it to try to feel it's connection. But he couldn't, it felt only like a Void, yet not. Filled with some odd power. And then it began dragging him in, catching him off-guard enough that he fell forward through it and it vanished, his Lanner giving a cry from nearby.

Through the portal, it was a headache inducing Void for the most part. He kept thinking he saw things, but they flashed by. Was he flying or falling? Was he coming or going? No up, no down, certainly no left or right. Everything was confusing and nothing. And then a flash of green and everything snapped. Colors, wind, feeling. And as disorienting as anything, he slowly came to his senses. Looking about, nothing was familiar, except for the fact that he was falling. He'd done that enough. Worse was he had no idea where he was looking at from up here. That and it was rapidly approaching. He whistled, but felt no call to his Lanner, nor any connection to any of his mounts. And he wasn't a dragoon. Almost out of ideas, he felt something. Midgardsormr's fragment was still with him. Well, he certainly hoped whoever was in that castle below didn't mind a dragon showing up.

With a displacement of air, he asked for Sormr's help. Appearing beneath him, the form of the dragon formed and caught him, slowing his descent. The dragon was upset, it's connection to it's greater self was tenuous at best and felt it could snap. He frowned, seeing something glowing beneath where they were at... until it all exploded into a cloud of smoke and dust. He felt Sormr land, waving a hand in front of his face. With a beat of his wings, the dragon blew the dust away and revealed an interesting sight.

Some girl with a small wand, disheveled clothing and long pink hair. A bald man with a crooked staff. Further afield, some more children, teens perhaps, in the same clothing as the girl. Some with various wands and staves. Thaumaturges or Conjurers? None had the look of being of mind of Red or Blue. Evidentally, they didn't see him, as most were staring in awe and the girl had turned to them, yelling about having 'summoned a dragon' or something. His ears were still ringing. Still, best to get this over with.

Dropping off Sormr and dismissing him, the gaggle of uniformed children, students of some sort perhaps, were pointing in his direction.

Louise was feeling great, a dragon! Sure it was a little odd looking and smaller, so maybe young, but still! Take that Zerbst! She was a great mage, surely with this evidence! And wh-

"Miss Valliere!"

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Professor Colbert, then noticed most of the others had fallen silent. "Yes Professor?"

"I am uncertain what you just summoned." The Professor's stare was very concerned, his staff raised and seemingly ready to cast. She blinked, confused. She summoned a dragon, what was uncertain about that. Turning to look at it again, she stopped as she instead saw what looked to be a man. Though, certainly it couldn't be. Sure, he was dressed in black leathers and cloth, with bronze and golden armoring. On his face was a pair of sharp glasses. But the eyes were red and slit like a cat, which followed with the grey-silver hair, cat ears, and tail just continued to emphasize the fact that the person wasn't. But more importantly, there was no sign of the dragon.

She was confused, slightly scared, but mostly angry. How dare, whatever this person? was do something to HER dragon! Ignoring the calls from the professor, she stomped closer to the man who just looked down at her. "You! What did you do with MY dragon?!" She pointed her wand threateningly at the man.

"Miss Valliere!" Suddenly she was pulled away from the man who just blinked, an ear twitching, before shifting his gaze up towards Professor Colbert, who moved in front of her slightly. "He was riding the dragon. It disappeared as he dismounted. Meaning you summoned him and he has some form of magic."

Magic? Some barbarian demi-human or whatever with a stupidly big sword? Even if that armor was very fancy and looked nice. And the sword was highly decorated. And... oh no what would this even mean for her. But this wasn't a human, so... and if she didn't have a familiar. With panic racing through her, she dashed forward, cutting off whatever this beast was going to say as it opened it's mouth, getting close enough as she raised her wand -

He was amused, a bit, at the child. Then confused at the older man's words. Didn't know what he was? Had they never seen a Miqo'te before? Then again, they were all Hyur, though there was a dragon and other odd creatures among them. One looked like a Floating Eye voidsent, if not for the lack of limbs and mouth. Just a giant eyeball. Looking back towards the girl and the man, he decided to speak up, only to cut himself off as the girl ran forward, wand gripped tightly in her hand. He prepared himself for a spell of Fire, Blizzard, even Thunder or Stone. Instead, she started speaking, lifting her wand -

"My name is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière! Pentagon of the five elemental powers; bless this humble being, and make him my familiar!"

The girl brought her wand down, smacking him with it. The armored knight just started at this Louise. There was no strike of any elements, just hitting him with a stick while yelling something. Seriously, that was just sa-

He felt a burning sensation inside him, it reminded him of all that time ago when Ifrit attempted to Temper him. Suddenly he was much more cautious even as the Echo rejected the attempt. The girl's wand exploded, tossing her back and he stepped forward, grabbing his sword and drawing it to hold at his side. The girl was obviously dazed, and he focused on her. An Ascian that somehow attempted to Temper him? No, they would know it's uselessness. A hidden Primal? She didn't feel like it. Some mage trying to bind him similarly then. Still, very dangerous and- He was cut off as a blast of fire splashed against him, drawing his attention to the man with the staff that had put himself between him and the girl.

He felt his dark power flaring off him as he glared towards the man, his sword glowing.

The man spoke up. "You will not harm my students so long as I stand."

He continued glaring, finally speaking up, his voice steady despite the flaring power. "You Call me here, she makes demands of me, then attacks me with some attempt to Temper me? Gods have tried, and been found wanting." He takes another step, slapping aside another blast of fire. "And you think I should leave someone who attempts something like that alone? Or did you and yours teach her that? To Temper others?"

"Temper? I don't know what you mean by that." The man looked determined, though still had a hint of confusion. The girl was looking scared and the others had all stepped back, a few fleeing, though some tall, busty redhead had drawn her wand and taken a step forward, along with a petite girl with blue hair and a staff, looking ready to interfere.

He looked back at the girl then the man, before flipping his blade up and over his shoulders, slowly letting his aura calm. "Temper. What the Primals do? Make people worship them and control them?" He looked between them, both looking the same still. "Do you not know what you attempted then? Or do you call it something else?"

The man lowered his staff slightly. "While she shouldn't have rushed forward towards an unknown person, that spell was meant to bind a mage to their familiar." He raised his staff defensively at another flicker of power at the description. "It's not mind control, no more than a pet would be from someone who tamed it and only really a more 'calm it down to get to know the summoner' from my understanding. Though the summoning has never had a recorded incident of a, ah, human for a familiar, or demi-human or anything of the like."

The warrior looked at him, frowning. Human? It was close to Hyur, so he guessed that's what they called them here. Speaking of, "It had the same feeling, so forgive me for being upset that someone would try." He looks down at the girl, then the man.

Colbert took a small gulp then spoke up again. "Look, this is new to us, so perhaps we should take this to the Headmaster of the Academy to talk things through? Ah, I am Professor Colbert and you are?"

First confusion on what, now who? Definitely feeling like he wasn't home anymore. "My name is Nolza, Dark Knight of the Swirling Abyss." He didn't normally put on airs and titles, but a bit of bragging might help. "Lead then, mage. There may be much we shall need to speak of."

AN: And that's chapter 1. Again, I have no idea if I will go beyond it, but after playing a lot of XIV, it got niggling to do this.