EricFreak: As much as i like the concept, and it being written well, I feel that Louise is very OC. The original Louise was far more stubborn, far less naive, and generally she feels like a fool. Sure original Louise was not very likeable, and her character rivals the likes of Akane of the anime Ranma 1/2 "for being unlikable", but making her in awe of, and subservient to all the things he says without any doubts?

Now you could probably get away with this if you said he was subtly manipulating her through the use of the force, like you did with the headmaster. Or even say that she was acting in this way out of fear, but in that case, some inner dialogue for Louise would really help to explain that. Instead she trusts everything he says at face value without any doubts, this is my biggest contention with her character right now.

Also the sith lord's power doesn't feel rightfully earned, either that or he's a very wishy washy character. He goes with the flow because "the force"... Despite being a sith lord. Then in battle rather than it being beneath him he decides to show off and not in the way of ending it immediately, but instead going for fists before starting with the force? He just comes off as indecisive and weirdly motivated with little justification other than "because the force wills it."

Now Sith lords come in all kinds, god the sw cannon universe is ripe with oddball siths. No the issue i have is with his consistency and his reasons for doing things. Also he assumes a lot of 4th wall breaking info without any explanation to the reader how he came to certain conclusion such as being stranded in a another galaxy other then "the force", when the force is used like this, it reeks of a lazy MacGuffin.

Anyways I'll stick around and see if things improve in following chapters.

Answer: Thanks for the follow, favorite, and constructive review.

Here is something to think about.

Just try to understand where Louise comes from. She is a member of a very prominent and influential family of nobility. However, no one respects her because she does not have magic, and in Halkeginia, magic is a sign of being a noble. As a result, people around her have a negative view and reaction to her, to the point that she has the nickname "The Zero". And even when she does attempt to use magic, she does so in such a way that she is the subject of ridicule by the people around her. Today, however, Louise is determined to prove herself. She must successfully summon an impressively powerful magical familiar. If she succeeds, no one will call her "The Zero" anymore. This summoning is her chance to show everyone just what it is that she is capable of.

It is the chance for her to prove that she isn't truly "The Zero". What she has wished for is a familiar that is powerful and majestic. After all, a familiar is a reflection of the summoner. And what was given to her? An unassuming familiar that was summoned sleeping. A familiar that her schoolmates laughed at and mocked, calling it a commoner. It's not just a commoner, it's a commoner who doesn't have any basic knowledge of how Halkeginian society works, and at first tries to escape. And not only that, he is also a commoner who does not respect her at all. For example, He sings about how Louise's magic ability is zero, or when he calls Louise's breasts flat. What about the time when he proposes about how good he got washing her panties for a demonstration at the exhibition. Saito kept making really stupid decisions that just continually aggravated Louise.

In the end, the only thing she ever really wanted was something that would affirm her worth and make others stop calling her "The Zero". Although, I had taken some of your criticism and used it to rewrite parts of chapter 2.

As for how he fights, remember how Darth Maul didn't kill Obi-Wan Kenobi outright in The Phantom Menace, even though he had every opportunity to do so, like simply pushing him down the shaft by using Force Push? Not every Sith had a pragmatic mentality.

Finally, the way I write Star Wars was inspired by some of my favorite fan fiction written by halokid40. They are good reads, highly recommended.

Anyways, now to the story.


While his young summoner attended her lessons, Darth Bellicosus spent the hours meditating on the Force. He sat quietly on the floor of Louise's bedroom. He sank into a trance of reflection and focus. Through the expansion of his senses, the Sith Lord sought a greater understanding of the manifestation of the Force in this realm.

He was interrupted by the arrival of Louise. She entered the room with a heavy sense of despair. With a deep, melancholy sigh, she threw herself lazily onto the bed. Through the Force, Bellicosus was able to sense the churning emotions of worthlessness and resignation that were swirling within the girl.

The Sith Lord broke from his contemplation. His head tilted as he looked at his miserable apprentice. "What is it that troubles you so much?" he inquired of Louise.

Stewing in her melancholy, Louise remained silent at first. But the thoughtful question made her reluctance melt away. "It's just... I've failed," she confessed bitterly. "A no-talent mage who can't cast any magic properly. I'll never be anything."

She buried her face in her pillow, miserable. "I was hoping that I would finally prove my worth by summoning an incredible familiar like you. But it has changed nothing! No matter what I do, everyone still mocks me. To them, I'll always be Louise the Zero."

The girl fell into a somber silence. She choked back tears.

Bellicosus then said to her, "Your self-doubt and the words of others have wounded you deeply. But in reality, you do in fact have the power.."

Louise scoffed derisively. "What power? Explosions don't count as magic. I can't even turn a pebble into bronze!"

Bellicosus took her heated words in stride with a calm and collected response. "Magic, or as we, the Sith, call it, the Force, has different manifestations depending on the user."

He stood up to his full height. "Back where I am from, there are many people who have different forms of how they express the Force. For example, the Nightsister Dathomirians have what they call Shadow Magic, they can easily transform themselves into animals, something the Sith can't easily do. There are also the Fallanassi with their White Current. They can only create illusions and can't do anything with moving objects like I can with the Force."

He resumed.

"Even among the Sith Order there are those who can't do a wide range of Force abilities, but have a very specialized Force ability. The same can be said of you as well. You simply have a different way of manifesting your magic."

Surprised by his insight, Louise sat up on the bed. "Really? There are really so many different ways to express your magic?" She asked hesitantly.

The Sith Lord nodded. "Indeed. They all have different abilities, but if you look at the most fundamental level. They all tap into the same source."

He looked at Louise intently. "So tell me, how would you express your magic?"

Louise looked pensive. "Well... when I do magic, it always explodes. But blowing things up can't be very useful."

"On the contrary, the channeling of such destruction has a profound potential." Bellicosus countered. "With training, one could learn to wield such an explosive force with great precision. I remember a Sith who used the Force ability Combustion, or what we call Flamusfracta, to explode on very different scales, as small as a tiny insect or as large as an entire building. They also have such precision that instead of doing it on a single uncontrolled area, they can do it on specific weak points of a particular structure to make it collapse, as a way to use their powers efficiently while reducing fatigue."

Louise's eyes lit up. She jumped to her feet. "Do you really think that I could master my explosions?" Bellicosus nodded solemnly. She clasped her hands excitedly. Though shadows still lingered in Louise's heart, the clouds of despair had parted to reveal that she wasn't really Zero after all.


"You must destroy two cubes. This would help you hone the potency of your explosion." Darth Bellicosus pointed to the two cubes that were lying on the grassy ground. He had constructed it to test Louise's capabilities. He had personally constructed the twenty-inch cubes with his palm-sized device, the technology of which was derived from construction droids.

Louise quickly took note of what he had said. She made sure her wand was pointed directly at the target, which was the first cube. It was a summoning of her willpower that was the power behind her magic. An explosion erupted after only a few seconds of casting.

Moments later, when the dust from the explosion had cleared, the cube remained intact. There was not even a dent in its surface, let alone a superficial mark on it. Despite Louise's attempt to magically shatter the block, it remained in one piece. There was no sign of damage at all

Louise's expression was one of surprise. She had been under the impression that the destruction of the cube would be a simple matter, but apparently it was not.

"Again!" Bellicosus ordered harshly.

With her face hardened in determination, Louise unleashed a second blast of explosives, then a third in quick succession. The first cube was stoic as it withstood the punishing blows. In spite of the third explosion, there was not even a trace of damage.

"Is that the extent of your power, then?" Bellicosus taunted her sternly. "It seems that I have overestimated your abilities."

Stung by the blunt assessment, Louise gritted her teeth. She practically shook with effort as she produced explosion after explosion. The cube, however, is still impervious to her attacks. She continued her chain of explosions. She even counted more than two dozen explosions. It was until she had enough, and she looked very tired, her willpower completely drained.

Louise collapsed onto the grass, completely exhausted from the effort she had made. Her chest heaved with every ragged breath she took as she tried to get her strength back. She had never been in such a state of exertion before, and it was clearly a drain on her both physically and magically.

His face inscrutable behind the ominous mask, Darth Bellicosus looked down at her. For several moments he said nothing. He allowed Louise to slowly recover, while she wondered about his impending judgment. At last, he spoke, though his tone was as stern and uncompromising as ever.

"While, I might commend that you can continuously manifest your power in such a rapid manner. That's not the objective of this training. You have failed."

Louise struggled to stand, leaning on her wand to support her. "Bellicosus, I am not able to do what you ask. It is impossible, even for me, to destroy those cubes."

Darth Bellicosus stared down at her. His voice was sharp with displeasure. "Your feeble excuses carry no weight with me. Such feeble objects pose no challenge to the power of the Force. It is within you, as it is within all things, and is ready for use. But you have not yet scratched the surface of your potential."

Stretching out a hand, he pointed to the first cube. "Behold what can be accomplished by the true mastery of the Force." With a twisted gesture, the cube was torn into the air and shook violently as unseen energies coursed through the cube. Louise watched in astonishment as cracks began to form, widening under the fraying onslaught until finally, with a thunderous boom, the cube shattered. It exploded, shattering to smithereens.

"Impossible?" Bellicosus laughed. "No, with the Force everything is possible. Its power is eternal, and is woven into the very fabric of reality itself. No object, no matter how strong, can have any hope of defying its will."

Louise stared at the wreckage. Confusion and awe fought within her. "Then... instruct me. Show me how I can unleash that power."

"Emotion is one of the many keys that unlock the power of the Force." Pointing to the remaining cube, Bellicosus gestured. "Draw on every ounce of emotion that is within you. Let it flow through you until there is nothing left but pure, raw intensity. Only then will you be able to transcend what once bound you."

"Emotions…" Louise questioned. "Does that mean to get angry?"

Bellicosus shook his head. "Not necessarily, it could mean any emotion. Seek what you find love. Seek what you find hate. You must use your emotions holistically."

Louise nodded slowly and turned around to face the impassive cube once more. Digging deep within herself, she closed her eyes. Memories and emotions surfaced, childhood humiliations, the loneliness of being an outcast, sharp words that cut her to the bone. But also fleeting moments of warmth, the affection of a pet fox, the pride of a perfect test score, the rare smile of her sister, her childhood friend Princess Henrietta. Louise embraced them all. She allowed the currents to swell and build within her.

A blinding flash obliterated the scene. It was followed by grinding crashes as chunks of alloy rained down. Where the second cube had once stood, there was now nothing but a smoking crater. Louise panted. She was exhausted, yet exhilarated by what she had done. Behind his mask, Bellicosus' lips curled into a thin smile. "A job well done. You have been on your first steps towards the unleashing of your potential."

Louise looked up at Bellicosus. Her eyes glowed with renewed determination.

While training her, Bellicosus made a startling discovery. As Louise tried to summon her Force abilities. As he reached out to the Force, he realized that Louise's own presence within the Force was anomalous and distinct. Of all the countless beings Bellicosus had encountered, each possessed a Force essence that reflected their place in the grand hierarchy of existence. Individuals, families, tribes, ethnic collectives, entire races and species. Each has a unique yet distinct yet related presence with the Force. As can be witnessed through the Force, there is a clear, organized, hierarchical categorization for all of these things.

Though outwardly human in form, Bellicosus could sense Louise's inner essence within the Force. It differed from the standard human substance. While her blood and genetic code bore no obvious markers of non-human heritage, on a fundamental level, Louise's being was attuned to an entirely different vitality than that of humanity.

This is something that is happening at the core of her being, at the core of her Force essence. It wasn't clearly human at all. It was something of a primordial nature. Honestly, he wasn't sure what to call it. Although he might have been very knowledgeable. He didn't have the same knowledge as the Sith who held the position of Supreme Councilor of the Sphere of Sith Doctrine. Unfortunately, he had no access to the archives that would be of use in his search for Louise's true nature.

For now, he would be content to train Louise in the use of her abilities while he searched for a way back home. He might have an additional goal in mind, the subjugation of this entire world for the Sith Imperium and its inclusion in the war effort against their worst enemies.


While he had been on his way through the corridors. He had noticed a presence, and a passionate one at that. Not the kind of passion the Sith pride themselves on, but something else.

"I sense your presence," he stated, turning to face the intruder. A redheaded girl with tan stood behind him, evidently caught off guard by his detection skills, though she quickly regained composure.

"Why do you follow me?" Bellicosus demanded.

The girl answered in a sugary tone, "I'm most curious about Louise's familiar. Plus, such a handsome man as yourself..."

She sidled up to loop her arms around his, but he disentangled swiftly. "If flirtation is your aim, seek it elsewhere. I've no time for such frivolities," he stated sternly.

Undeterred, the girl pressed, "Oh, I would be worth your time. Also, I have heard that you would train Louise in magic. Is this true?"

Bellicosus gave her a straight look. "It is. Is that a problem?"

"It is a problem," Kirche asked clearly. "Sure, she might be determined. But as for magic, the only spell she cast was an explosion. She's just not worth bothering with, you know?"

"If you are of the opinion that she is of no worth. Then you are gravely mistaken. She has potential that you and the others don't see. Now get out of my sight." His words strike at Kirche like venom. Bellicosus had no need for her presence whatsoever. With that, he walks in the direction of Louise.


He was standing in front of the school's stables when Louise came out on her horse. "Get on. We have a lot of ground to cover," she said as she approached him.

He looked at her and replied, "I don't need a horse to cover that distance. I can run faster than that horse." His tone was as blunt and confident as it always was.

At first Louise had a look of doubt in her eyes. Then she remembered, Bellicosus was not one to lie or exaggerate about his abilities. There would be little point in an argument with him.

Louise tightened her grip on the reins of the horse. She snapped the reins. The horse began to gallop at a fast pace across the open field. Bellicosus followed beside her. He effortlessly kept up with the horse's speed, moving to the right of the horse.

Louise could not help but be impressed. Bellicosus easily kept pace with her galloping horse. His quick strides quickly ate up the distance, his powerful legs carrying him swiftly without any visible effort. His body, augmented by the power of the Force, moved with a tireless ease that would be beyond the capabilities of any ordinary man.

As they traveled, Louise periodically spurred her mount on. She tested the limits of Bellicosus' speed. But no matter how hard she pushed the horse, the Sith matched her stride for stride. He was unfazed by the accelerated pace. His breathing was steady and even. He never struggled, even as the landscape passed before his eyes.

For mile after mile, he moved along effortlessly, showing no more effort than if he had been out for a casual stroll. Louise could hardly believe it. The fastest people she knew tired at such distances. But this man ran with the inexhaustibility of a machine. His endurance was nothing short of transcendent.

They traveled like this for a while. Louise periodically urged her horse to go a little faster to test Bellicosus. But no matter how fast she spurred him on, Bellicosus had no trouble keeping up with how she kept going. His breath never got heavy, nor did his stride ever falter.


Louise and Bellicosus arrived at their destination, a sprawling marketplace. Crowds of people crowded the bustling streets. Vendors lined the streets, loudly hawking their wares. As they walked, Bellicosus could sense a growing concentration of Force energy swirling around the various merchants who were offering magical trinkets and charms for sale.

Though he was intrigued, the study of such relics would have to wait for another time. Finding a replacement for the lightsaber he lost in his last battle was his priority right now. He could fight with his fists. But a Sith like him needed a weapon, despite his mastery of the Force.

His gaze swept over the chaotic stalls. He searched for anything resembling a swordsmith that could provide an acceptable blade. Eventually, when he had access to the proper technology and resources, he would construct a new lightsaber. But for the time being, even a simple weapon made of metal would be enough in this primitive land.

Louise led the way. They headed straight for the area where weapons were sold. It took them only a few minutes to reach a modest shop. Above the door there was a sign with a drawing of a lot of different types of melee weapons. With that, both Louise and Bellicosus entered the shop.

Entering the cramped armory, Louise and Bellicosus were greeted by the sight of weapons and armor of countless varieties. Every available surface was crowded. Blades of all sizes hung from the walls and ceiling, while cases and barrels were overflowing with polearms, maces, shields, and other implements of war.

At the counter, the owner of the shop looked up. He was tall and slender, with a thinning head of reddish hair that poked out from under a well-worn leather cap. An elaborate mustache adorned his upper lip. He spoke to them in a reedy but friendly voice.

"Welcome! How can I be of service to you today?"

Louise gave a nod of greeting. "I am in search of a new blade for my companion here," she said, gesturing to Bellicosus. "His usual weapon seems to be gone. He needs a replacement."

The shopkeeper gave Bellicosus an appraising look as he assessed him. With his unusual clothing and his towering stature, he cut an intimidating figure.

"Let's see what we have that might suit you." He replied in a friendly tone. "What kind of weapon are you in search of? A sword, an ax, a spear?" He led them over to the inspection of his wares.

"What I am in need of is a sword." Bellicosus in response.

The shopkeeper nodded respectfully. "Yes, of course, sir. Please, take a look at everything I have on display. I am sure that my shop will have something that will suit your needs."

As Bellicosus examined the wares of the shopkeeper, he suddenly felt a strange ripple in the Force. It was faint, but unmistakable. It was a flicker of life and sentience, unlike the rest of the inanimate inventory. Reaching out with his senses, the Sith Lord traced the anomalous signature to its source. It was an ancient looking sword tucked away in a far corner.

Louise's expression was one of confusion as Bellicosus retrieved the nondescript, dusty blade. "This old thing? Why such a plain sword?" Louise inquired incredulously.

Before Bellicosus had a chance to answer, a tinny voice came out of the rusty sword. "Old? Plain? Why, you flat-chested little-"

"It talks!" Jumping back in shock, Louise yelped. She glared at the sword with a sentient voice. "How dare you speak to a noble lady like that!"

"I will speak as I please!" In its metallic voice, the sword shot back.

As the sword and Louise continued their bickering, Bellicosus quickly intervened. "Enough of this," he rumbled, his voice cracking through the shop like a whip. "I have not come here to listen to the pointless bickering of you two."

While Louise crossed her arms and smoldered silently, the sword muttered a grudging sentence. Satisfied that the two would remain silent, Bellicosus turned to the blade. "You are a sentient being. What's your name?"

"I am called Derflinger, partner!" The sword announced with pride.

Bellicosus remained silent, though he raised an eyebrow at being called "partner" Turning to the shopkeeper, he said, "I will take this sword along with a matching scabbard." After purchasing the items, Bellicosus attached Derflinger to his back before leaving with Louise. With that, they set off for the Academy.


As Bellicosus roamed the halls of the Academy in search of the maid Siesta, he found himself passing through the busy kitchens. The shouts of the harried cooking staff mingled with the clattering of dishes and the sizzling of food. A tall man with a toque on his head took notice of the ominous visitor. He stood in the doorway.

He wiped his hands. The chef approached with a broad grin. "You must be the mysterious person who put that brat Guiche in his place for his harassment of Siesta! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Marteau, head chef of this academy."

In a cordial greeting, he extended his hand. Bellicosus took it in a polite manner. "My name is Darth Bellicosus. There is no need for your gratitude."

Marteau gave a hearty laugh. "There is no need for modesty! We are all grateful to you for defending the honor of one of our own. Any friend of Siesta is a friend of the kitchen staff." He leaned forward in a friendly manner. "Actually, feel free to stop by anytime you get hungry and get something to eat. I'll prepare our best delicacies for you!"

Though the offer had little appeal to one who was sustained by the Force, Bellicosus gave a gracious nod. "You are a most generous man. But, I am now in search of Siesta, but have no sense that she is in the vicinity. Where might I find her?"

At that, Marteau began to look sour. "I'm afraid not. Siesta was called away by Count Mott this morning to work as one of his maids. A terrible thing to happen."

"I appreciate your bringing this development to my attention," Bellicosus said. He turned abruptly. His dark robes swirled behind him as he walked purposefully toward the exit.

"Glad to be of assistance!" Marteau called after the departing Sith Lord.

The cook returned to his work. Before she was taken away for questionable reasons, she had been one of their most compassionate. He murmured a quick prayer to the Founder. That she would return to them safely.


Though the disappearance of the academy maid was of little consequence, the potential loss of the Phase III Darktrooper was deeply troubling. It mattered greatly. He still didn't know where the living Darktrooper was, and Siesta was the only one who could lead him to it. The Darktrooper represented the elite of the Sith Imperium's military assets. It was a nearly unstoppable fusion of cutting-edge technology and the finest materials. Each suit of armor was forged from Phrik alloy, known throughout the galaxy for its extreme resilience. Quantum crystalline armor plating was applied to each piece. This formidable protection was powered by a miniaturized hypermatter reactor. This was technology normally reserved for starships, but here it was condensed small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. The tiny reactor provided the incredible amount of power needed to maintain the defensive tensor energy fields and shielding of the Darktrooper. It also fueled the subatomic furnaces built directly into the armor. This allowed for the continuous replenishment of ammunition for the array of built-in weapons.

In short, a Phase III Darktrooper represented a massive investment of resources and technology, an extremely lethal force on the battlefield. In the ongoing war against the enemies of the Sith Imperium, Even a single unit could make a difference. The servant girl, Siesta, was the only lead he had to track down the Dark Trooper. Her life was of no consequence, but she must be recovered alive by all means. To think that such an elite military instrument of the Sith Imperium was wasting away in a backwater planet was intolerable.

Bellicosus strode purposefully toward Mott's mansion. He was determined to free Siesta from the man's clutches. Within minutes, he reached the high wall that surrounded the estate. The gate marked the entrance just ahead.

As he approached it, a guard appeared, a spear in his hand. "State your name and purpose here," the guard demanded gruffly. Others gathered behind him in defense of the estate.

Bellicosus remained silent as the guards questioned him. His stoic silence spoke volumes. The Sith Lord began to move down the corridor with ominous purpose. His robes of deepest black billowed around him like unfurling wings of night. The tense guards braced for a confrontation. Their hands moved to their primitive weapons. But before they could make a move to impede the dark figure's steady pace, Bellicosus lazily raised his right hand. Gloved fingers spread wide.

Without warning, his outstretched fingertips erupted in chaotic arcs of sizzling blue lightning. The very air seemed to tremble. Tangible tendrils of lightning crackled into existence, writhing with deadly intent. With an almost casual flick of his wrist, Bellicosus directed the crackling bolts of energy to scatter into the ranks of the guards that lined both sides of the gate. The guards barely had time to widen their eyes in surprise before the unleashed force slammed into them. The lightning's tremendous voltage completely overloaded the guards' bodies on a subatomic level. Matter was shattered and vaporized in an instant. Within moments of contact, flesh, bone, equipment, everything was reduced to nothingness. Only swirling particles of superheated gas marked where orderly ranks of armed defenders had stood seconds before.

Bellicosus lowered his hand in a calm manner. There was no trace left of the destroyed guards, not even dust, as the ionized air began to cool. His path now unobstructed, the Sith Lord continued his steady, inexorable advance. Bellicosus did not even spare a glance at his effortless destruction. He strode unhindered through the gateway.


Count Mott was in the midst of undressing his newly acquired maid, Siesta. His lustful desires were aroused. Little did he know that an unexpected interruption would soon shatter the intimate atmosphere that had been in the making.

A lone guard burst into the room. His hurried footsteps echoed throughout the opulent chamber. Count Mott glared at the guard and unleashed his fury, his face contorted with rage, "What are you doing here! I have told all of you that you are not to disturb me!"

The guard, aware of the gravity of the situation that was unfolding outside, tried to explain himself in the midst of the chaos. "Forgive me, Count. But there is a lone intruder. He is decimating us all!"

Screams could be heard from outside the Count's private chambers as he finished these words. Mott stood up in a rage, he looked at Siesta and pointed at her, "You stay right here!" Siesta, frightened by the Count's lecherous attempt, did not move. With that, Count Mott quickly walked out of the room and closed the doors of his private chambers behind him.


"Who dares to attack? Who dares to attack the Royal Messenger!" Mott demanded of the invading assailant. Said invading assailant had already finished killing any remaining guards who dared to attack him. The Sith Lord didn't answer and stared at the Count.

The count's anger grew as Bellicosus remained silent. He refused to answer his question. Mott sneered and drew his wand. He shot a jagged spike of ice through the air, aiming it at his attacker. Before it could make contact with him, however, the Sith reached out with his hand. A surge of invisible energy erupted. It effortlessly dissipated the encroaching spell.

In a single swift motion, Bellicosus struck back. His fingertips crackled with raging arcs of lightning. The unleashed power crashed into his body, Count Mott had no time to react. The guard next to him suffered the same fate as well. They both screamed in agony. The blistering energy attacked them on a subatomic level. Within moments, their very molecular structures were violently torn apart. Not even ashes remained in the wake of Bellicosus' wrath.

With the last obstacle removed, Bellicosus' journey through the mansion was now unimpeded. Siesta's rescue was at hand.


Darth Bellicosus stepped silently into the lavish bedchamber. He found the distraught maid, Siesta, huddled and partially clothed on the large canopy bed. With a subtle wave of his hand, he quickly sent her into a deep slumber of the Force. With another deft gesture, he had her discarded clothes to be put with her body. Her modesty was preserved. With the Force scooping up the sleeping girl, the Sith Lord turned to leave the room. But he paused, for he had a sense through the Force that there were still more revelations to be had in the palatial mansion.

Bellicosus continued to explore the opulent halls. He soon discovered Count Mott's private study. Extensive records of the petty noble's far-reaching criminal enterprises and corruption were revealed when the contents were examined. Sifting through the damning documents, one parchment in particular caught the Sith Lord's eye. It bore the unmistakable sigil of a notorious criminal organization that he remembered reading about during his time in the Academy library. He had quickly scanned the parchment. The text was definitive proof that Mott was in cahoots with a criminal organization. He memorized the distinctive emblem. Bellicosus folded the parchment neatly and tucked it into his belt for further examination.

His investigative goals accomplished, Darth Bellicosus collected the unconscious Siesta and quickly departed the estate, returning to the Academy in haste. He put the slumbering girl in one of the rooms meant for maids like her within the Academy, where she would rest in safety. With his task accomplished, Bellicosus made his way directly to the office of Headmaster Osmond.

"What brings you here at this late hour?" Osmond inquired, looking up from his paperwork as the Sith Lord burst into the candlelit office unannounced.

In response, Bellicosus silently offered an official notice. It was that Siesta's abrupt transfer was to be rescinded, effective immediately.

Osmond gasped. His bushy white eyebrows shot up in obvious surprise. "Revoked? But it was Count Mott who was most insistent on acquiring the girl for his staff. That's most irregular..."

"It seems," Bellicosus interjected crisply and manipulated his mind once more to not let the headmaster question him, "that upon closer inspection the Count found her services... unsuitable. She'll be back here."

Osmond was puzzled by the abrupt reversal of the situation. But he only shrugged his shoulders in agreement. "Very well, if that is the count's wish. Far be it from me to argue."

And so the Sith Lord took leave. No one would ever know the true sequence of events that had taken place that night.


As the morning light streamed in through the window, Louise opened her eyes and sat up. She sat up and spotted an envelope and a folded piece of paper on the table.

Looking at the letter, she realized that the Princess, the friend she had known since growing up, was going to go to the Academy to attend the exhibition. It was an exhibition where the familiars of the second year students would be presented. She gets up and goes to her closet and puts on her clothes.

As Louise was in the midst of her preparations for the day, Darth Bellicosus entered her chamber. She turned towards him.

"Are you ready for our next training session?" Bellicosus inquired. There was a strict regimen of instruction that Bellicosus had devised, carefully balancing the hours of her training with the hours of both her skills and her academic performance.

While this left Louise with little free time, and she sometimes complained about it, it was clear that the schedule was demanding. Ultimately, she knew that its purpose was to help her hone her magical skills.

After all, she didn't want to be known as "Louise the Zero." Though the heavy workload sometimes tested even her resolve, Louise persevered. She was no longer going to be held back by those trying to discourage her.

Louise knew that today was reserved for the familiar exhibition, even though she was eager for more lessons. "I'm afraid I cannot train today, Bellicosus," she replied.

Bellicosus raised an eyebrow in question at her refusal. "What do you mean, you can't?"

Louise explained immediately. "The annual Familiar Exhibition is scheduled to take place that day. Every second year student attends. They demonstrate the abilities of their summoned familiars."

His questioning continued. "What could be the purpose of such a spectacle for me?"

"Well, you see... the princess will also be in attendance," Louise admitted.

Bellicosus' interest had been piqued. "Is that so, then?"

Louise's tone softened as a nostalgic memory came to mind. "The princess and I are childhood friends. It has been many years since the last time we met in person. I was overjoyed at the chance to see my dear friend again when I learned that she would be visiting the Academy this year."

There was a slight drop in her expression. "However, I soon realized that while I would like to prove my worth as her loyal servant, I have no accomplishments to show for myself, other than summoning you, of course."

"I see," Bellicosus murmured thoughtfully. He considered the potential opportunity that was presented to him. Tristain might be a small nation in this world. But, it wouldn't hurt to get the native inhabitants to view the Sith Imperium favorably. In time, if he could find a gateway between galaxies, a populace that viewed favorably of the Sith might make the integration of this world to the Sith Imperium.

Louise watched him ponder. Anticipation was written all over her face. At long last, he spoke. "Very well, we can participate in this exhibition."

His answer made her face light up with joy and excitement.


While both Louise and Bellicosus were in discussion. There was someone knocking on her door. This confused Louise. She wondered who it was that was knocking on her door tonight. As far as Bellicosus was concerned, he had reached out through the Force and tried to sense the person who had knocked on the door. He could sense that this person had no malicious intentions. Instead, it was a desire to meet her best friend.

After confirmation, he moved to the door and opened it, allowing a hooded figure to enter, quickly closing the door behind it.

"It's been a while..." The figure rushed up to Louise and wrapped her arms around her as the hood fell off. "Louise Françoise!" said Princess Henrietta, for it was she who was Louise's visitor. "Louise, Louise, dear Louise." Said the Princess. She continued to embrace her childhood friend.

As Princess Henrietta pulled her into an embrace, Louise jerked back. "Your Highness, please!" Louise fell to her knees in front of the princess. "It is not proper for a person of your stature to visit my humble abode without an escort."

"Stop being so formal, Louise Françoise. We have been friends since childhood." Henrietta said, clasping her hands as memories of happier days past filled her mind. She was overcome with emotion as she spoke. "I have always yearned to see you again."

"Princess..."

Henrietta wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes. "Ever since my father left this world, I have had no one to whom I have been able to confide my innermost feelings."

Louise took the hands of the princess on her own. "Your Highness, I was taken by surprise when I received your letter."

Henrietta turned to the ominous figure in the corner. She spoke to him in a polite manner. "And you must be the familiar Louise who was summoned."

Bellicosus nodded, "That I am, call me Darth Bellicosus, Lord of the Sith. I have something for you." Bellicosus quickly took out a parchment. He handed it to the princess in front of him. "This contains very revealing information about your royal envoy, Count Mott. I also recommend you check his private study, which is very enlightening."

Louise was puzzled by Bellicosus' encounter with Count Mott as Princess Henrietta read the parchment intently. "What were you doing at Count Mott's?" asked Louise.

"The Count had taken the maid, Siesta," Bellicosus spoke to her calmly. "So I eliminated him and set her free."

Louise's breath was in horror. "What have you done?!" she exclaimed. She was grateful that one of her friends had been saved. But she knew that the royal messengers were a highly-esteemed position and protected by Tristain royal protection.

Wringing her hands in despair, Louise hurried to the princess's side. She finished the letter. "Your Highness, I must beg you to show mercy. Please do not punish me for this."

With a ponderous look, Henrietta lowered the parchment. But then her solemn face broke into a bright smile and she looked back at the Sith. "Thank you for your efforts, Bellicosus." This only confused Louise.

Louise blinked in surprise. "You are not upset, Princess?"

Henrietta shook her head hard at Louise and gave her a big, bright smile. "No, I'm not. I'm glad you've summoned such a splendid familiar, Louise."

"It is time that Count Mott, has received his just due," Henrietta went on resolutely. "Despite my best efforts to rid his vile presence, he has evaded true punishment for too long. I will finally sweep the corruption from this palace with the evidence Bellicosus has gathered."

Louise let out a huge sigh of relief at that.


"We now present our last exhibitor, Miss Louise de la Vallière!" shouted Professor Jean Colbert to the assembled crowd.

There was a meager applause from the crowd, which faded into an anticipatory silence much sooner than the applause that had followed previous performances. Miss Vallière may have come from a respected noble lineage. But her own magical talents had yet to inspire much praise or confidence among her peers. Past failures had cemented her reputation as a "zero".

Louise walked to the center of the stage with Darth Bellicosus following her behind.

"Allow me to introduce my familiar." Louise speaks loud and clear, "His name is Darth Bellicosus, and his type is..." Her voice trailed off. She tried to think of a category in which something like him would fit. She glanced over and saw the princess who was staring at her with a serene expression on her face.

"Sith," Bellicosus affirmed in a powerful tone of voice that carried through the entire audience.

"Step back, Louise," he commanded. The young mage promptly stepped off the stage as instructed. Bellicosus drew the ancient Derflinger blade from his back in one swift motion.

"What is he going to demonstrate?" the crowd muttered to each other. Their questions were soon answered. Bellicosus launched into a dazzling display the likes of which no one had ever seen before. With eerie grace, he wove the illuminated sword through the intricate sequences of multiple lightsaber forms. From his fingertips, he channeled azure lightning that arced along the shining steel. The air seemed alive with crackling energy. A stunning electric choreography unfolded before the eyes of the onlookers.

For perhaps ten seconds, the spectacle held them in a mesmerized state, they were truly transfixed. Then, with exemplary control, Bellicosus brought the demonstration to a climax. He stopped the whirling blade, bringing it to a stop.

Derflinger said to him, still giddy with exhilaration, "Wow, partner! That was absolutely invigorating. I want some more of that!"

"Some other time, perhaps," Darth Bellicosus said to the sword.

With that, he had Derflinger back in the scabbard. His work had been accomplished. It was clear to see who had won the exhibition.


After the familiars were exhibited, Louise sat among her classmates and waited for the results. Guiche and Montmorency on one side, and Kirche and Tabitha on the other.

Henrietta was pleased to be able to weigh in on the final results. Between Tabitha's Sylphid and Louise's Darth Bellicosus, it had indeed been a close race. In the end, Louise had prevailed.

Louise was now on her knees before Princess Henrietta. Henrietta had decided to place a simple gold crown on her head.

"Louise, you really do have an amazing familiar, don't you?" Henrietta looked down as she finished placing the simple gold crown. This made Louise a little bit happier than she had been before.

After the utterance of these words. A thunderous sound was made and the ground itself shook. It was as if there had been an earthquake.

Tabitha, who had been flying on her Rhyme Dragon, had quickly made her way to the source. Darth Bellicosus quickly leapt off the stage and made his way to the source as well. Louise quickly followed her familiar.

Princess Henrietta was very concerned about what was going on. She took off without hesitation. As any loyal friend would do for a companion in potential danger.

"Princess! Wait!" one of the guards shouted as they followed her.

"There is something wrong! Follow me!" she shouted back.

The other students were confused by the frightening noise, but they were still curious about what was going on. Some of them followed the royal party in a crowd. Among them were Guiche, Kirche, Montmorency, and so on and so forth.


Fouquet the sculptor, had long gazed at the Staff of Destruction with longing eyes. It was extremely galling to know that it was locked away in the very building where she was employed under her alias, Miss Longueville. However, her opportunity seemed to have come at last. The guards, which were usually in place around the vault, had been brought in for the purpose of extra protection for the princess in attendance.

In the past, the precious relic had always eluded her. The guards who had relentlessly guarded its location. But now their attention has been redirected. They were to protect the royal guest. Without their presence as a hindrance to her plan, perhaps her scheme could finally be brought to fruition. The time was ripe for an attempt to seize the powerful scepter. The security had been weakened. The protection of this particular part of the academy had been weakened, opening a window of opportunity for Fouquet to fulfill her long-held desire to get her hands on the Staff of Destruction.

But now, it seems that her plan has gone awry. Now, she needs to contend with these fools who are trying to stop her. She recognized that it was Louise's familiar and it was causing her golem actual damage, she had decided to smash him with one of the Golem's legs. This had stopped the Force Lightning attack and Bellicosus used the Force to make a shield. She had the Golem's leg kept stomping on Bellicosus to make sure that he didn't do anything.

She realized that there's no way to get the staff of destruction as she had yet to make a serious dent into the academy walls. It is time to leave. But before she could leave. She had noticed that the princess was there within the vicinity who was catching up to Louise. She knew that in the master plan, getting rid of the princess would only make things easier later on. The opportunity was too good to pass up. She gave the golem a command.

The Golem had its arms raised over the area where Louise had recently stopped to see what was happening, preparing to crush the princess who was only a few feet away from Louise. The enormous size of the golem's arms would make up for the distance of a few feet. Besides, it was clear to Fouquet that Henrietta was too busy trying to catch up with her friend, and she knew that Louise didn't have any magic that could do anything to her golem. With that, she had the golem's arm to smash them down.


"Louise! Louise!" Henrietta called out to her childhood friend who was standing close to the Golem, who had just come to a halt a few moments before. She stopped several centimeters behind her. Suddenly, the sun itself seemed to darken. Something was blocking it out above her. She looked up in surprise. The sight before her caused her to scream. It was the arm of the golem that was coming down on them.

But before it could make contact with the two of them. Louise was now guided by the Force. She had pointed her wand at the incoming blow from the golem's massive arm. All she had to say was one word, "EXPLOSION!"

There was an explosion. The giant arm of the Stone Golem stopped where it was going, and a large gap appeared in its arm. As this happened, Henrietta shouted to Louise, "We have to leave now!" Louise was quick to take note of what the princess had just said. The two of them quickly walked away from the golem, taking advantage of the brief opportunity to live to see another day.

This was not what Fouquet had in mind. She hadn't expected that 'Louise the Zero' would have this kind of magic in her. While she was in a state of rage over the fact that she had not been able to remove the princess from the picture. That's when she noticed that the golem started to crack, more and more cracks appeared. The cracked pieces of the golem were moving in one direction, as if they were all going into the center of a circle. She had been trying to use her magic to reform the form of the golem. It was here that all of her plans had come to nothing.

With that, she had jumped down from the golem that was in a state of decaying. With a little bit of wind magic, she had made a graceful landing on the ground. There was no way that she was going to be able to do anything at all in her current state. The best thing that she could do was to be on the run right now. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't able to move her feet at all, as they had suddenly been covered by a block of ice.

Fouquet looked up to see that a massive blue dragon was descending in front of her, and that a small, petite, blue-haired mage was stepping out of the dragon's saddle. Her recognition of the student was immediate.

"T-Tabitha!?" the thief shouted.

"Hm? So you know me. You must have worked in the school then," Tabitha answered without much emotion.

Fouquet tried to cast a spell, but the moment her mouth opened, the hand of her wand froze. It was then that she was quickly surrounded by guards, and it was clear that she had no means of escape.