Re: Avenger Chapter 27, a re:zero fanfic

Chapter 27 – (Don't leave me) In the Dark

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

*FWOOOSH!*

*KKRRAAARK~!*

"Humm… These pests really do ignore their place, huh?" Puck commented with amusement as he brought a paw to his chin. With a swing of his tail, the Great Spirit froze a pack of rabbits leaping at him in mid-air, reinforcing a wall of ice around the Tomb.

"Woaaaaah!" The inhabitants of Sanctuary and the mercenaries gawked in marvel at the feat.

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

The rabbits outside of the thick wall of frost gnawed away with frustration at the obstacle standing between them and their meal.

"Puck… You came!" Emilia answered in awe as she gazed at the hovering cat with mixed emotions. On the one hand, she was happy her father figure had returned to save her. On the other, she wished to still reprimand him and maintain their distance.

"Puck… Dat da Spirit ya talked down ta, Cap'n? Da one dat wanted ta destroy da world or sumthin'?" Garfiel murmured to Subaru.

"Well, yeah-" The Avenger responded with

"I see you couldn't keep it under wraps, brat." Puck deadpanned at the two teenagers whispering behind his former contractor's back.

"…I see you are holding it together better than when last we met, Puck." Subaru waved awkwardly.

"Hmph! Can't exactly say the same about you. You are a bloody mess Subaru." The cat crossed his paws and huffed with an annoyed tone as he examined Subaru's wounds. "I had to be here anyways. How do you expect me to trust Lia's safety to someone who cannot even protect himself?"

"This is neither the time nor place for such a discussion, Puck." Emilia bellowed at him, her voice and expression stern towards the Great Spirit.

"Lia…" Puck frowned slightly at the tone of her former contractor.

"A Great Spirit…!" Tivey's eyes grew fascinated by the notion. "And such power…"

"A whole group of the rabbits perished with one motion…" Otto nodded in response, agreeing to the feline's statement.

"We-We are saved!" One of the villagers celebrated prematurely.

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"YES!"

"Oh, thank the Od-!"

"…" Hetaro stood in silence as he stared at the Spirit with doubt. "…Are we really?"

"Huh? What's that, Hetaro?" Mimi turned to look at her brother, confused by his words.

"You heard them talk just now, right? That Spirit wanted to destroy the world…" Hetaro stared intensely at Subaru and Puck. "But Boss-bro talked him down? Could he actually be here to…?"

"…" Subaru unmasked as he gazed around, noticing that even though Puck had technically helped them, he wasn't doing much else beyond conversing. "Hey, Puck."

"What is it?" The Great Spirit asked indifferently.

"Are you really here to help us?" Without mincing his words, Subaru cut straight to the point. "Or are you here just to save Emilia?"

"Huh?" Garfiel alternated gazes quickly between Puck and Subaru, confused by the hero's words.

"…" Emilia bit her lip with frustration, knowing well that Subaru had a point.

"If you wanted, the entirety of the rabbits could have been frozen the moment you appeared." Subaru continued speaking; deepening on the reason behind his inquiry to ensure that everyone understood it was not born out of malice. "But all you really did was barricade us inside a dome of ice. If the rabbits were to pierce through-"

"Puck, answer." But Emilia, understanding the connotations of Subaru's doubts, cut off the hero and insisted on Puck's expedite answer to the original question.

"…If you are wondering who my priority is, of course it is Lia." Puck admitted with anger as the answer shed him in a bad light. "But you can rest assured that I came to help you too."

"Then freeze da rabbit already!" Garfiel stressed as he glared at the cat. "We ain't gonna last much longer!"

"…Is that what you really want, Subaru?" Puck acknowledged Garfiel's worries, but directed instead his question to Subaru.

"What?" Subaru, Emilia and Garfiel stared at the Great Spirit with confusion. "How wouldn't it be what I want?"

"I'm asking you, if that is really all you wished for." Puck inquired again, this time with a scowl.

"…" Subaru stared at the cat with slight shame, for he could not figure out his intentions right away.

My wish? My wish is to save everyone… To save them…

"*Sigh* You are disappointing me here, 'hero'." The Great Spirit shook his head. "Very well then, if a dead rabbit horde is what you want, I'll just kill it here and now. Afterwards, you won't have to see me again-"

"Wait!" Subaru and Emilia both stopped the feline as he began flying upwards.

"…Lia." Puck turned to look at Emilia with a focused and apologetic gaze.

"…" Emilia clenched her teeth as she pondered on her words.

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"

"Why are you sorry? Why are you crying?"

"Because… I left you alone…"

"Because you left me alone?"

"Because I couldn't find you… All this time…!"

"But… I'm right here."

"Puck…" Words exchanged between the pair of half-elf and Great Spirit when they first met drifted across her mind. "If we part… Won't you be sad?"

"…" The cat Spirit frowned, hating those words. "Of course I'll be."

"Because you'd be the only one alone?" Emilia continued. "Even though I'm right here… I don't want to be left alone."

"You are not alone anymore…" Puck looked away from her whilst pointing at Subaru and everyone else with his paw. "There's people for you here and now, right?"

"Am I not allowed to be there for you now?" Emilia pressed, surprising the Spirit.

"…" Puck trembled at those words. "…Do you forgive m-?"

"I never said I had suddenly forgiven you." Emilia shook her head, shutting down the Great Spirit's hope.

"Then-"

"But I don't want you to be alone, either." The half-elf confidently stated. "Are you trying to give up, just because forgiveness won't come easy?"

"…"

"It may be selfish, but you don't get to leave." Emilia shook her head as she spoke with confidence, almost ordering the feline. "I want you to stay by my side. Even if I do not forgive you right away, I want you around me Puck. Because at least then… At least then you can hope for a future in which we can return to how we were."

"Lia…!" Puck's eyes shone with wonder at her words.

"It'd take a lot of effort, not to mention that it could also take a rea~lly long time…" Emilia reformulated her words. "But my underived principle still stands! I won't run away, so don't you do so either! Because only then will I rea~lly not forgive you!"

"…Kh!" The Spirit had to dry his tears as he acknowledged Emilia's request. "Lia… Lia, I-!"

"Puck." Subaru, however, interrupted Puck's sentimentalism.

"…Grr…" Puck turned to look at Subaru now, growling in irritation by his carelessness towards the tender moment.

"Hey, hey. What's with that face? You are the one that wanted an answer!" Subaru protested, much to the Spirit's chagrin. "You don't get to savor the sweetness of Emilia-tan's kindness when you've yet to hear MY answer as well!"

"Subaru…" Emilia pouted at the pettiness of her black-haired companion.

"Hah… True." Puck shook his head in disappointment, regaining his composure. "Let's return to my original inquiry... What do you want Subaru? Truly?"

"…" Subaru's own memories then drifted to his answer, to what Puck was probably expecting.

"That's not fair… Betty gave up already… A long time ago…"

"I'm really sorry then, but... I still have to go…"

"Back then, I was an imbecile, magnanimously so!" As he spoke with frustration, Subaru clenched his fists so hard they began to bleed. "There's someone I have to save, apart from those here! Someone long overdue…!"

"…" Puck nodded in agreement whilst remaining silent.

"Subaru…" Emilia mumbled with a disturbed gaze as she noticed the boy's self-harm.

"He-Hey, Cap'n-!" Before Garfiel could point out to the bleeding wound, Subaru continued.

"Puck!" Subaru extended a reddened hand to the Spirit, ignoring their concerns as he unsightly begged for aid. "Help me save Beatrice!"

"…" Roswaal's ears perked up at the name, his gaze raising slightly to meet the back of the hero that bet him. "Beatrice…"

"…I'll just say that Betty could do way better than you." Puck insulted pettily with a haughty tone, enjoying the momentary superiority over the Avenger.

"…I know." Subaru closed his eyes as he admitted with guilt, expecting a rejection to his pleas.

"But the last decision falls on her, not me." The feline smiled as he extended his own paw, grabbing Subaru's hand.

"Huh?"

*Shake!*

"Take this as a vow between you and me Subaru Natsuki, Spider-Man!" Puck joyfully announced with a wink.

"What?!" Subaru's eyes lit up.

*Clap-Clap!*

"I'll help you defeat the Rabbit! In turn, you help me save Betty!" Puck clapped in the air cutely as he let go of Subaru's hand. "That is our vow!"

"You'll… You'll really help me?!" Subaru smiled with sincere hope. "Goddammit…! I never knew the day would come when I was actually grateful to you, you damn cat!"

"Oi, don't go around making me want to back down!" Puck pointed at the careless insults with irritation.

"…Is this your way of mending ba~d blood?" From behind Subaru asked Roswaal, the broken man with a hollow stare.

"Roswaal…" Subaru looked at the mage with pity. "You know this could be you I'd be shaking hands with if you hadn't been so stupid."

"Hmph…" Roswaal looked away from the obnoxious young man as he carefully patted the unconscious Ram's hair.

"…" Puck flew above the Margrave, approaching him slowly.

"…Are you here to impart punishment as we~ll?" The defeated nobleman asked of the imposing Spirit.

"…I hate him as much as you do, but Subaru is right." Puck spat without consideration. "You were willing to leave Betty to die. Although… I'm willing to bet you weren't willing to be there to see her cry."

"…And were you not willing to ki~ll everyone when you lost your reason to live?"

"…That accent, I never really liked it." Puck shook his head as he gazed at the pitiful clown. "It's such an unsightly attachment to the past."

"…All the good things were in the past."

"As well as the bad things, for which you use that accent to remember." The Spirit stressed whilst getting closer.

"…" Roswaal grumbled silently; yet another person mocked his existence after defeat.

"Isn't it time you admitted it?" Puck whispered with genuine concern for the man. "You may be the greatest mage I know of, and even act as though you can waltz into the darkness with a smile. But you'll never be like that devil."

"…" Roswaal shuddered at those words.

"Deep inside, you are still human." Puck concluded as he returned to Emilia's side.

"U-Umm…" Otto raised his hand, speaking up. "Great Spirit-sama…?"

"Hm? What is it, merchant?" Puck turned to look at Otto.

"Are-Are you here to save us?" One of the village women wondered.

"Please, help us!"

"We are sorry we insulted Emilia-sama!"

"Please!"

"Save us!"

"We beg you!"

"Ah, ah! Stop panicking!" Mimi groaned in annoyance.

"Great Spirit-sama!"

"Puck-sama!"

"Well, it seems everyone here is growing impatient." Puck raised an eyebrow, his smile unfaltering.

"Puck, what are you going to do?" Emilia asked then.

"Are ya gonna freeze all da rabbits now?" Garfiel wondered as well.

"…No." Puck shook his head once more.

"Huh?!" Garfiel glared in confusion. "Then how da fuck are ya gonna save us?! Cap'n! Bonk his head!"

"What are you planning, Puck?" Subaru inquired instead of attacking like Garfiel wanted.

"First things first, I'll dispel the dome!" Puck smirked maliciously as he flew ahead of the stairs, raising a glowing paw in the air.

*WHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!*

*KRASHINK~!*

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

"UWAAAAAAA?!"

"BY THE OD!"

"OH NO!"

"GYAAAAAH!"

The villagers panicked as the thick wall of corpses and ice was undone, allowing a myriad rabbits to rush directly toward Puck.

"DA FUCK?!" Garfiel cussed in genuine bafflement by the suicidal decision of the cat.

"PUCK!" Emilia screamed in terror as the rabbits swarmed the Great Spirit. "PUCK-!"

*GRAB!*

"Wait, Emilia!" Subaru stopped Emilia, grabbing her from the shoulder as she attempted to run towards the mass of mabeasts beneath them.

"BUT SUBARU! PUCK IS-!"

"It's fine!" Subaru reassured. "We both know this…"

*KRASHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINKKK~!*

"That Puck wouldn't die so easily!" Subaru smiled as all the rabbits surrounding Puck turned into ice.

*FWISHOOOOOOM!*

Subsequently, the frozen rabbits became a dense red mist; they were pulverized into dust by the force exuded from Puck's ascension to the sky.

*ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

As though a rocket he were, enveloped in a blue and green combination of lights, the Great Spirit of Fire flew high into the heavens, the trail of mana behind him so thick that it could be seen by the naked eye.

"The rabbit is attracted to sources of great mana, first and foremost!" Subaru stated with a cocky grin.

"So their sights are set by the greatest, nearest source available!" Puck exclaimed, finishing the sentence with a smug smirk. "Follow me, ugly things! I'm your meal!"

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

Simpleminded as they were, the rabbits stared upwards at the Great Spirit, infatuated by the rich mana raining down on them.

*ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOM!*

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

As Puck flew away into the night, the horde down below followed the trail of his mana outside of Sanctuary. Thus… Ignoring the villagers they had been terrorizing just moments ago and leaving the Forest of Kremaldy at last.

"…Did he-" Before Garfiel could say anything, the villagers exploded in cheers.

"WOOHOO!"

"WE ARE SAVEEEED!"

"THANK THE OD! THANK THE OD!"

"AH~!"

"Puck…" Amongst the cheers and hollering, Emilia murmured. "You really did meant it. Making it up to me…"

"…" Subaru stared at the traces of Puck's trail in the sky sternly, assured of the direction by Puck's vow to him. "It's not over yet."

"Huh?" Emilia looked at the hero with surprise. "Subaru? What are you talking about?"

"…Emilia." The Avenger looked back at the half-elf with a serious gaze. "Puck's trail heads west. Do you know where?"

"…!" Emilia's eyes grew wide with worry. "The Mansion!"

"That damn cat… What he really meant by helping me save Beako is that he'll become the incoming danger!" Subaru scratched his head profusely.

"Woah, whoa, hold on!" Otto yelled as he realized the direness of the situation. "Isn't Arlam that way as well?!"

"If my guess is correct…" Roswaal spoke as stood up, laying Ram down gently.

"Roswaal…" Garfiel growled his name as the nobleman approached Subaru and Emilia.

"Puck will keep the Great Rabbit contained, confined to the Mansion as long as possible by expending his mana and own Od alike, keeping Arlam safe." Dropping his accent, the mage explained indifferently in a monotonous voice. "However, he must have already used a sizeable amount of mana as he flew with such a dense streak… Being that he does not possess a formal contract with Emilia-sama anymore."

"His Od…" Emilia's fists shook with frustration and shame. "So again, someone sacrifices themselves to protect me?"

*Clap!*

"…Not necessarily." Subaru reassured with a confident smile as he held Emilia's hands.

"Subaru…" Emilia locked gazes with the mean-eyed hero.

"If we get there, then we can still save him. YOU can save him, Emilia."

"…" The girl's amethyst were on the verge of spilling tears, as she became the recipient of such words. Emilia held Subaru's hand back, exchanging heat properly in an attempt to regain her confidence. "You are right. I WILL save Puck. Him and Betty. We'll save them together, Subaru!"

*BOMF!*

"KUAAAAAA?!"

"Hohoho…" Mimi sat atop of a disgruntled Patrasche as she heard the boisterous claims of the half-elf. "Thus, Mimi's epic of slaying a second calamity continues! Sail forth! Towards the Mansion once mooooooooooooooooore!"

"KUAAAA! KUAAAA!" Patrasche attempted desperately to shake off the laughing midget riding her.

"…Get down from there, idiot." Tivey groaned at his sister's antics.

Pressed for time, knowing that the longer they stayed around the lesser were the possibilities of saving Puck and Beatrice from the rabbit, Otto and Subaru prepared the carriages for immediate departure.

"We are so sorry Garfiel…" A villager apologized whilst bowing.

"Even though you were doing so much for us…"

"We are so sorry!"

"Please, don't leave…"

"Ah, it's fine everyone." The half-beast boy chuckled as he reassured the villagers. "I'm not mad or anythin'. Really!"

"Must you really go?" One of the kids asked.

"My Cap'n needs me." Garfiel nodded in response. "We gotta stop dat rabbit once an' for all! Moreover…"

"Alright Patrasche, I'm tying the reins…"

"Kuaaa!"

"…We still have a fight after this." Garfiel said as he stared at Subaru intensely. "I may not know much… But I'll be back as soon as possible. I promise ya'll. An' then… We can leave this place behind together."

*GRAB!*

"Hunh?" Garfiel looked down, noticing that a white-cloaked Ryuzu was hugging him. "Granny…"

"…" The Ryuzu hugged him tightly in silence before speaking once more. "We shall return to the forest for the moment, Garfiel."

"Is there somethin' else ta do?" The blonde boy tilted his head to the side.

"About the barrier… So you can leave properly, we still have our duty." Shima looked back at Garfiel as she broke the hug. "…Safe travels, my grandson."

"…Yeah!" Oblivious to the weight of her words, Garfiel bid farewell to Shima with a toothy grin.

As Garfiel spoke to his village, another man approached the Avenger.

"Subaru-kun." The hoarse, injured Roswaal said.

"…Something you wish to say, Ros-chi?" Subaru grumbled as he tied Patrasche's reins.

"It's about Beatrice. About her… Our past. Sanctuary." The Margrave explained.

"You are acting awfully cooperative now." The teenager turned to look at him. "Did Puck tell you something for you to snap out of it? Somewhat late, don't you think? To try to fix your mess?"

"Is not as if I can do anything anymore." Roswaal shook his head weakly with defeat.

"It's that there is no point to it all, so you are just going to spill your guts without remorse?"

"…" The mage remained indifferent at the insult.

"If you have a sob story to tell, tell it so while we travel." Subaru ordered to the broken man. "If it helps me save Beako, I'll lend an ear."

Whilst everyone either celebrated or planned their next move, the white-cloaked Ryuzus all made their departure into the forest once more.

"Hmn?" Emilia looked at the retreating clones with confusion. "Huh? Ryuzu-err, Shima-san? Where are you going?"

"…" Shima turned around to look at the Avenger. "With the danger gone at last, we must leave now to perform our duty."

"…" The black-cloaks Alma, Bilma and Delma all looked on with sadness at the retreating Shima, knowing what awaited ahead.

"Don't look so sad… We knew what came after Emilia-sama performed the Trials." Shima's smile went hidden under her robe. "Garfiel made a good bet. Even going as far as fighting tooth and nail to achieve it… The liberation of Sanctuary."

"Shima… san?" Emilia approached the little one. "What do you mean?"

"You achieved the impossible by releasing the spell of the barrier, Emilia-sama." Shima bowed in gratitude. "Garfiel's efforts paid off thanks to you."

"If anything, I should be thanking him for not giving up. Him and Subaru." Emilia bashfully denied.

"However, even with the spell destroyed, the nucleus must also be dispelled." Shima continued, dismissing Emilia's preoccupations.

"The nucleus?" The half-elf looked troubled at the notion. "I have something else to-?"

"Worry not, this is our duty." Shima shook her head. "I… Even as he yearned for the outside, I am grateful for the past decade spent beside Young Gar."

"Shima…" Emilia frowned at the wording. "Why do you speak as if you-?"

*Grab*

"Emilia-sama." Shima grabbed Emilia's hands, holding them tightly as she stared into her amethyst eyes. "Please, take care of Young Gar. Take him and my sisters under your wing. It would be my joy to see him grow further… But they will do so in my stead. I can leave and do what I must in peace knowing he will be in good hands."

"…" Emilia wished she could inquire more, but knowing that perhaps it wasn't her place to ask or interfere, she refrained from doing so. Gazing at the clones staring at her, the half-elf nodded with resolve. "I will."

"We are sorry for imposing on you like this…" Ryuzu Shima spoke gently with grateful eyes as she let go of Emilia's hands. "And thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

*RUSTLE-RUSTLE!*

En masse, the white-cloaked Ryuzus all disappeared into the forest, heading for their origin, the source of the barrier… The original Ryuzu Meyer.

Half an hour later, after the two carriages had been prepared and readied properly…

"All right! Everything set here!" Subaru announced as he held Patrasche's reins. "Sorry it took so long, but we'll have to move at the best of the bests speeds from now on! EVERYONE ABOARD! POLAR EXPRESS LEAVING~!"

"KUAAAAAAAA!"

"GUAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Both Patrasche and Frufroo roared with impatience.

"GUAAGH-GUAAAAGH-GAHK! (Sorry for pressuring like this you two, but it's vital.)" Otto apologized on their language as he sat on his carriage's front driver's seat. "GAAAAGH! KUAAAAGH-GAAAGH! (I'm not particularly fond of it… But I promise to buy all the mice and beef you will ever want once we are done.)"

"Does he have to look like a weirdo at every turn?" Hetaro asked as he entered the carriage.

"More like, he IS a weirdo." Tivey answered as he boarded behind his brother.

"Ehehehehe! Ottotto, the weirdo the driver!" Mimi giggled as she jumped inside as well.

"…I can't act as if I didn't just hear that abuse…" Otto sobbed pitifully, unable to do anything against his berating passengers.

"Relax, Brotto!" Garfiel giggled. "We'll be fine! We'll pummel dat rabbit into nunthin' 'fore ya realize! My amazin' self will cook ya stew out of it! …Though, it'd be da worst stew ever made, I bet!"

"Garfiel…" Otto stared at the boy for a few moments. "That wasn't my worry at all! Or more like, my name is Otto! NOT OTTOTTO! NOT BROTTO! O-T-T-O!"

"…Brotto!" Garfiel contested with a smile.

"GAAAAAH!" The merchant cried in defeat.

"Welp, seems like things will go smoothly in Otto's carriage." Subaru smiled as he looked to the side. "The plan is for him to lead the way, being that Frufroo is better rested than Patrasche, she can rest a bit as we run behind."

"Are you sure you can drive, Subaru?" Emilia inquired as she boarded the second carriage, helmed by Subaru.

"Eh? Are you doubting I can drive us safely?" Subaru pouted at Emilia's doubts. "Just so you know, I was a STELLAR driver back on Earth! In addition, Rem taught me well how to drive a carriage… Well, at least she made the effort."

"I wasn't asking because I doubt your capabilities, Subaru. Even if they may seem dubious at best, with how careless you can be." Emilia blatantly spoke with a neutral face.

"…HGRK!" Subaru flinched at her sincerity, feeling as though she had stabbed him through the heart. Even if she was right in assume he has crashed a car before, it hurt to hear her suspect that. "Et tu, Emilia-tan…"

"I was talking about your injuries…" She looked over his burnt, cut and mauled suit, the splatter of blood and ash alarming her. "It's terrible all over…"

"Eh, nothing the healing factor won't-"

*Shooooooon~!*

"Hmngh…" Subaru held back a moan of pleasure as he felt water mana flow through his stab wounds. "You-You could at least tell me when you are about to use healing magic, Emilia-tan…"

"My apologies, but I simply must demand on healing you properly before we depart. At least the serious wounds." Emilia imposed herself on Subaru, insisting on his wellbeing.

"So-Sorr…Thank you, Emilia-tan." Subaru nodded with embarrassment. "…"

"…" Roswaal seated in silence, holding an unconscious Ram in his arms as he continued to pour his own mana into her forehead.

"…Ros-chi." Subaru called as he turned to gaze at Roswaal. "About that story…"

"Huh?" Emilia looked at Subaru and then at Roswaal. "Roswaal? What story?"

"You don't need to worry about anyone else hearing it, if it troubles you so much." Subaru explained. "Garfiel and the triplets will ride with Otto, so it's just Emilia, Ram and me here."

"…" Roswaal went silent for a few moments, looking at the pair with dead eyes before he could go on his tangent.

"Roswaal." Emilia gazed at the pitiful mage with brief worry before sternly declaring an order. "If it helps us help Beatrice, then I ask you tell us your story."

"It's…" Roswaal's eyes twitched at the memory as he ran his fingers through Ram's hair, seeking comfort. "A tale… From four centuries back…"

…

What an aggravating man, I suppose.

That was the thought crossing through Beatrice's mind as she stared at the man seating across her. The youngster in question, one Roswaal Altair Mathers.

"So Betty, what did you think of the story of how I met teacher?" Roswaal inquired with an interested and sincere smile.

"I wouldn't know, Betty wasn't paying any attention, in fact." Beatrice hastily slurred as she munched on some biscuits and tea. "Moreover, do you genuinely presume you know Mother better than Betty herself, I wonder?"

"I supposed it would be arrogant of me to say it so." Roswaal smirked with embarrassment at his words, remembering fondly the first kiss with Echidna that robbed his heart, the embrace that swept him off his feet like a storm. "But I'll just never forget the words given to me by her that day."

"Betty is just sure that day must have been terrible for her, in fact. Betty knows it was terrible for her." The Great Spirit insulted yet again as she chomped down on more sweet treats.

"Beatrice-sama, please don't say that." A pink-haired little girl requested politely. "I personally understand Roswaal-sama, being that I too was saved by Echidna-sama."

"Hmph!" Betty pouted with a mouthful of cookies still inside her mouth.

"We ought to be grateful to her, Ryuzu-kun." Roswaal nodded gladly at the defense.

"Yes." The girl, in turn, smiled back at him.

"Had I not met her that day…" Roswaal remembered with sadness those days, before Echidna entered his life. "I might have done the unthinkable under the pretense of my pain…"

"You get FAR too comfortable, Roswaal!" Beatrice pouted still with a haughty attitude. "Don't impose your gratitude on others!"

"But you are always telling me to be grateful to you, Beatrice-sama." Ryuzu tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"Whose side are you on?! Betty's or Roswaal's?!" The Great Spirit huffed with frustration as the tables turned on her. "...Now what are YOU looking at, I wonder?"

"…" Roswaal smirked in silence.

"I don't like that stare; it's disgusting. If you have something to tell Betty, out with it already!"

"I like you." Out of nowhere, the young nobleman whispered in a soft and tender tone.

"CEASE BEING SO DISGUSTING I SUPPOSE!"

It was a bittersweet memory in retrospect, considering that the original Ryuzu Meyer was alive to witness these exchanges between the young Roswaal and Beatrice… The days in which they could fool around so cheerfully seemed so distant in the present.

*Creak~!*

"I shall assume you didn't fight with each other, you three." Swinging the door open, as to suddenly shake them in surprise, the Witch of Greed pronounced while entering the room the trio was dinning in.

"Of course." Roswaal handsomely grinned, like the young man in love he was.

"Obviously." Beatrice, in turn, stated matter-of-factly.

"Teehehe!" And Ryuzu simply giggled in response.

"Hmm… Those reactions of yours tell me we might still have some work left to do." Echidna smirked at their answers with amusement.

It was the halcyon days for the Beatrice and Roswaal, indeed. When Echidna overlooked the studies of all three, when they would convene in Sanctuary's grounds to help the Witch, when they could tease and prank each other as a silly demonstration of their abilities. At that moment, they could not have known, but these would become rose-tinted memories of happier times.

Miserably, however, fate was not merciful in the slightest for the three students. As they frolicked about one day by the creek of Sanctuary's village, a most dreadful foe made his appearance…

"I've confirmed it!" Roswaal informed to his teacher and master. "It's that man!"

"I see…" Echidna mumbled in response, pondering on her options.

"We must make a move." Roswaal recommended as his teacher remained pensive. "Let's retreat at once! If he is allowed to interfere, the plan shall become ruined! Unable to be repaired!"

"…" Echidna, however did not respond, much to the worries of both Roswaal and Ryuzu.

"Teacher, there is no time for doubts! I may be useless still, but if a shield you need a shield I'll become! But first, we must take adequate measures!"

"We have options; the calculations are made for Sanctuary."

"?" Roswaal was left dumbfounded by Echidna's confusing answers.

"The theories are there, or rather, the only theory needed has been established."

"But then-!"

"However…" Echidna continued, disrupting Roswaal's panic. "The barrier's nucleus is still imperfect. It won't activate properly without it." The Witch affirmed.

"We were working on that… And Sanctuary was just on the verge of completion…!" Roswaal clenched his fists in anger at the notion, banging them against the table.

*SLAM!*

"…For the nucleus required-" Ryuzu raised a hand, catching the attention of the two. "Am I not useful for that role?"

In the moments between the foe's arrival, Echidna made the preparations to defend Kremaldy's forest alongside Roswaal, whilst the final establishment and activation of the barrier was a duty left behind for Beatrice and Ryuzu to perform…

"AL GOA!"

*FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

"…Sweating is so tedious… How anno~ying." A man dressed as a clown sighed tiredly as he dispelled Roswaal's fireballs with the flick of a wrist.

*CRASH!*

"GAAAAAGH!" Roswaal involuntarily cried as a sudden pressure pinned him to the ground, a pool of his own blood forming under him as his bones were crushed by an unseen gravitational pull. "You…! I have to… Stop you…!"

"Annoying."

*CRASH!*

"Fastidious."

*CRASH!*

*Obnoxious."

*CRASH!*

"Disgruntling."

*CRASH!*

"Disturbing."

*CRASH!*

"Melancholic…"

*CRASH!*

"GU-GHK?!" Roswaal was left on the verge of tears as the man continuously struck him down, rendering his efforts and limbs useless as he sunk in a crater of continuously increasing gravity. "Y-You…!"

"It so~ disheartening… To see you try time and again…" The mysterious, evil man shook his head whilst glaring tiredly at the man beneath him.

"Warlock of Melancholy… Hector…!"

Meanwhile, as Roswaal fought and struggled for his life and his teacher…

"Huh?" Mumbling in vexation at Ryuzu's actions within the crystal nucleus' room, Beatrice took a step back.

"Beatrice-sama, thank you for everything…" Drying fresh tears, Ryuzu smiled at the Great Spirit.

"What are you…" Beatrice narrowed her gaze, still not understanding. "What are you saying, I wonder…?"

"This is where I bid farewell." Ryuzu said I response.

"Farewell?"

"This place was created to fuel the barrier's effects." The pink-haired half-elf turned to look at the crystal. "With time, I was supposed to become the nucleus itself… But we've run out of time."

"To create the barrier… But it's all that man's fault!"

"We cannot defeat him in a fight." Ryuzu lamented. "That was the meaning of Sanctuary… What Roswaal-sama is fighting for; because he knows it is the only way left to help Echidna-sama."

"Don't speak foolishness!" Beatrice protested with anger. "What would someone that knows nothing of magic do for-!" As the little girl yelled, her thoughts finally caught up with her actions.

"…" Ryuzu looked at her and then back at the crystal, prompting Beatrice to do the same as well.

"Through the crystal… Your Od will become the barrier's nucleus?"

"Yes… That was Echidna-sama's idea." Ryuzu confirmed reluctantly.

Beatrice felt floored by the idea. To use one's Od meant to sacrifice their being, and for the activation of the barrier, Beatrice's friend would lose her not just herself but her life as well.

"…Let's run away." The Great Spirit proposed with alarm. "We can still use Betty's Door Crossing to fetch Mother and Roswaal! Afterwards, we can-!"

"Are just going to live our lives on the run, afraid then?" Ryuzu cut her off, nevertheless, saddened by her proposal.

"…" In response, Beatrice fell into silence.

"We built Sanctuary for that exact reason, so that we needn't live lives fleeing. How long would it take to make a new Sanctuary if we ran away?" Ryuzu admitted. "I have enjoyed the life I had lived already, Beatrice-sama."

"…"

"I loved this place, and all the memories attached to it. The smiles, the people, and you as well Beatrice-sama." Ryuzu cried with a smile as she approached the crystal.

"…This place wasn't created for you, you know?!" Beatrice insisted to no avail.

"Maybe so. We all knew already." Ryuzu nodded, understanding her words. "But even then, we loved this place and I loved all of you."

"R-Ryuzu…" Beatrice pitifully tried to reach for her friend as she walked to her demise.

*RUMBLE-RUMBLE!*

The building shook, indicating that Hector was soon to come if they didn't do something soon…

"I-I will always be grateful for your kindness, Beatrice-sama." Ryuzu spoke tenderly and lovingly one last time before touching the crystal. "Make sure you do not gorge on too many sweets, Beatrice-sama…"

*SHWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM!*

In a flash of light, Ryuzu became the energy behind the barrier, encased for centuries after in that crystal, never to laugh or cry or hold hands with Betty, forevermore…

In the coming days, months and decades, everything changed for Beatrice. Nothing was the same.

Her mother departed this world, entombed in the place that once was filled with happy memories. Roswaal, too, became distant as he turned into the Lord of his estate. A shell of his former self, his smile and cheer faded, replaced by a silent yet insatiable hunger for knowledge; a desire to see his teacher again that survived even his death as his descendants each carried his name and his accursed book in his stead. Even more disgusting to witness for the little one was that accent. The accent of that man, remaining as a vestige in all Mather's behaviors…

"Four centuries…" Puck said with sadness as he hovered above the little girl. "All this time, spent cooped up in here Betty… Cursing that Hector's existence twisted everything that day…"

"…" Sitting on her stool in silent contemplation of a life lived in reclusion, hugging an empty book tightly in search of answers that will not come; Beatrice raised a tired gaze to meet with Puck. "Bubby…"

"…I've come to accomplish your wish, Betty." The Fire Spirit explained with a bittersweet smile.

"So that is why… You've brought those monsters here." Beatrice gazed back at the door that exited the Forbidden Library, feeling beyond the rubble and halls of the building the horde of monsters convoked by her sibling.

"…"

"…Thank you, Bubby." With hollow eyes, Beatrice smirked at the notion.

At last… It ends.

Remembering four centuries of solitude, of strangers that sought her for their own convenience, of greedy rulers and opportunists that came to her seeking for power, to use and dispose of her… And remembering, too, the idiot that thought he could befriend her.

"Why do you thank me, Betty?" Puck frowned.

"If I'm thankful, it is to the fact that it was you who saw it fit to end Betty's misery, I suppose." The little girl closed her eyes, shedding a tear on top of her book. "That you are here… Is it not a result of Roswaal's actions?"

"It could be said like that…"

"Then…" Beatrice smiled with satisfaction as she embraced her book ever tighter. "Betty can face her demise knowing that the fool was wrong, that Mother did not forget her."

"…"

"Mother did not forget… Even if Betty failed, she was not forsaken. Mother… She saw it fit Betty's demise for the fruition of Roswaal's wish… She remembered Betty, and soon, Betty will…"

"Betty…" Puck smirked mischievously as he regained his composure. Even against the stygian and miserable wording of the Yin Spirit, Puck saw it in himself to be his usual joking self. "I never said that I came here to end you."

"…Huh?" Beatrice opened her eyes, raising her head in confusion as her brother spoke.

"True, I came here because of Roswaal… But that is because he lost." Puck rubbed his head sheepishly. "Subaru and Emilia have successfully dashed his hopes against the stones!"

"He-!" Her eyes grew wide in bafflement at the notion.

"Subaru won their little bout, and his book burnt to a smoldering cinder." Puck continued. "So I came here under a vow with him…"

"…You…!" Beatrice's hands trembled, her grip on the book weakening…

"I'm here to save you, Betty." Puck grinned with sincerity. "Well, more like set up the conditions for him to do it-"

"So even you-!" Beatrice stood up, indignation coursing through her as her knees wobbled and her frame shuddered. "NO! YOU AS WELL- YOU'VE COME TO SULLY BETTY'S WISH!"

"…" The outburst did not surprise Puck, but it saddened him nonetheless.

"Betty- There is no path to Betty's salvation! Why won't anyone get that?!" Beatrice growled with betrayal paining her chest. "You and that fool-! Why must you force yourselves like this on Betty?! WHY WON'T YOU LET ME DIE, IN FACT?!"

"*Sigh* Because there is no way I could believe death is the wish that will bring you happiness." The feline Spirit shook his head.

"HGHK…! THERE IS NO HAPPINESS FOR BETTY! WHY CAN NONE OF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?!" Beatrice denied vehemently. "I TOLD THAT STUPID, COSTUMED BUFFOON THAT CALLS HIMSELF A 'HERO'! THERE ARE THOSE THAT DO NOT WISH TO BE SAVED! I DON'T WISH TO BE SAVED! I CANNOT BE SAVED! IF HE COULD NOT BE BETTY'S ONE, IF THEY WEREN'T THEM… TH-THEN BETTY'S ONLY HOPE WAS TO DIE, IN FACT!"

"…"

"Mother's purpose for Betty was her Library! Without it…" Beatrice's tiny hands shuddered as the very thought of discarding her reason to be coursed through her mind. "Betty is…! Without the Forbidden Library, there is no purpose for Betty!"

"Beatrice…"

"DON'T TAKE BETTY'S WISH AWAY FROM HEEEEEEEEEER!" Beatrice sobbed uncontrollably as she fell to her knees, hugging the disgusting book still.

"…Did you know?" Puck flew a bit lower, meeting her depressed gaze again with hopeful eyes. "Contracts are meant to be accomplished by both parties."

"…" Beatrice bit her lip at the notion of what Puck was implying.

"If the party you were expecting, if 'they' never appeared…" The Great Spirit of Fire celebrated as he sensed yet another presence approaching the Mansion, following the trail of mana. "Maybe it's time to consider a new perspective, don't you think? I know I'm trying that now…"

"B-Bubby…" Beatrice mumbled pitifully.

"Wouldn't you say so too?" Puck implied as he stared at the door, speaking to a man not present yet. "Subaru?"

Simultaneous to this rendezvous of Great Spirits; during the early hours of the morning and within one of the houses back at Arlam village…

"Thank you for having received us for the night, Mr. and Mrs. Leyte." Frederica bowed before Petra's parents whilst forcing Meili to do the same. "Regretfully, the mansion is in less than stellar state now… It would have been hazard for Petra and Meili to remain the night there."

"Gh-! Hey! Stop tha~t!" The assassin little girl grumbled in discomfort as Frederica held her head down. "I'm serious!"

"No, it's our pleasure! Really!" Petra's father reassured. "After the Cult's attack, this was one of the only houses left standing…"

"We heard about the assassin that infiltrated the Mansion from Subaru-sama, Frederica-sama." Petra's mother explained. "If we could thank you in any way for saving our daughter's life, the least we could do is welcoming you into our humble abode!"

"Heh~…" Meili raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Even though I too am an assassin that attempted agai~nst your daughter's life?"

"…" Petra's parents both looked down at the braided girl with apprehension.

"Subaru-sama thought you have a chance at redemption." Petra intervened as she arrived with teacups and a kettle for an early breakfast. "I think so too as well."

"Petra-chan…" Frederica beamed in surprise as the little girl defended the assassin insulting her parents.

"Subaru-sama is a kind man!" Petra continued with a smile. "So I shall trust that and become friends with you! That way, you'll realize that killing is wrong!"

"Hmph…" Meili huffed in denial. "You say killing is wrong, but did Onii~san not kill the Archbishop to save everyone?"

"And therein lies the difference, Meili." Frederica wisely pointed out. "There's a distinction between killing for the sake of killing and killing to protect others."

"And Subaru-sama saved you too, if you were Elsa's objective as well." Petra affirmed with a nod.

"…" Meili looked away from them, frustrated by their naiveté and blind trust for Subaru.

"It looks like the lesson will take time…" Petra's father sighed with disappointment.

"But I'll make sure it happens, that lesson!" Petra puffed her chest with confidence. "Subaru-sama entrusted you to us, the maids of Mansion Mathers after all!"

"Daugh…" The blue-haired girl groaned in frustration with a disgruntled look in her eyes. "If I have to see another book that doesn't have pictures, I'm gonna lose it…"

"Ufufufu… She is right on that one, Meili." Frederica giggled at the expense of Meili's 'misery'.

"Ahahahaha!" Petra and her parents laughed as well in turn.

*ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

*KRA-SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINK!*

"?!" Frederica, as well as everyone present, jolted in surprise at the sudden sounds and descent of the temperature "What?!

"Wh-What's going on?!" Petra's father panicked as he scrambled for answers.

"Brrrr! So cold!" The mother, too, hugged herself as she felt the sudden chill in the air.

"What's that?!" From outside, one of the villagers exclaimed in awe.

"Mine Od!"

"A cloud?!"

"No, it's-!"

"Hey!" Petra signaled, catching her superior's attention. "Something is going on outside!"

"Outside…" Frederica frowned in response.

*SLAM!*

"Frederica-sama!" Petra's mother spoke in alarm the moment Frederica slammed the front door open.

"Look!" Another villager shouted as he pointed in the direction of Mansion Mathers, catching the head-maid's attention.

"Huh?!" Frederica's eyes followed the finger's direction, her expression turning sour at the visage.

*WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!*

"A blizzard?!" Frederica mumbled in confusion.

"Is it Emilia-sama's Great Spirit again?"

"Puck-sama?"

"Is another 'Snow Festival' coming?"

"…" As the other villagers conversed with one another, wracking their brains for answers, Frederica shook her head in silent denial.

Puck-sama… Emilia-sama's Great Spirit? Hadn't they parted ways? But… Sanctuary…

"Frederica-neesama?" Petra came out as well, seeking answers of her own. "That cloud… Is something bad happening back at the Mansion again?"

"…I don't know." Frederica grumbled with impotence. "But… Beatrice-sama is there still."

"Sh-She wouldn't come out after sending Subaru away…" Petra held the hem of her dress in frustration. "If she is in danger… We-!"

"Petra." Frederica smiled, attempting to ease her junior's tensions. "It's 'Subaru-sama' now. Just because he isn't here, it does not mean you should slouch on your vocabulary."

"…Ah! R-Right!" Petra nodded furiously, apologizing for her minor mistake.

"…For the moment, I'll go investigate." Frederica then surmised.

"Eh? Are you leaving? Frederica-neesama... Please, let me go with you!"

"Worry not, Petra." Frederica smirked again as she denied. "I need someone to watch over Meili, remember?"

"Uhm…" Petra looked back at the assassin girl standing beside her parents. "Err…"

"You promised, remember?" Frederica recalled to Petra's earlier words.

"Achaaaaa~…" Petra frowned as she face-palmed, deflating slightly.

"I promise as well then to you, Petra." The head-maid assured as she prepared to sprint. "I'll return with Beatrice-sama in tow!"

*DASH!*

"Ah!" Petra was left in wide-eyed amazement as Frederica ran towards the blizzard. "T-TAKE CARE!"

Dashing towards the thick of the blizzard, moving about on the snow-blocked road with difficulty due to the lack of visual, Frederica wondered with worry the implications of the sudden change in weather.

"It's not just Elsa. I came here to warn you, yes, but I have to return to Sanctuary afterwards. There's too much happening at once..."

"The Great Rabbit is coming to Sanctuary, so I have to return there, stop it, and then go to the Capital as soon as possible!"

"Did things go south in Sanctuary?" Frederica uttered with dread. "Please be safe… Garfiel!"

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

"What?!" In alarm, Frederica noticed the smell of bloodshed in the air, as well as five sinister presences quickly approaching her from the main road in the direction of the Mansion.

*WHIIIIISH!*

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

"Tsk!" Impaired by the lack of visibility, Frederica could not react on time as the five rabbits that had strayed from the pack ahead leapt towards her.

*SKREEEEEEE~T!*

*FWIIIIISH!*

"DORRRRYAAAAAAAH!" However, as they were about to pounce on her, a blonde teenager sprang into action by leaping above her from a stopping carriage a few meters behind Frederica.

*SMACCCCK!*

*SQUELCH!*

"Ah…" Frederica witnessed with surprise how a young man punched the stray beasts in the air, turning them into a bloody pulp in an instant.

"…Heh! 'Course Cap'n can't get all da glory for savin' maidens in trouble. Da hero's shield ain't no slouch either; it knocks ya out real good an' returns for sure no matter how ya throw it!" Garfiel proclaimed as he landed before the servant.

"Woohoo! Way to go, Garf!" Mimi cheered as she and her brothers reared their heads out of the stationed carriage's frontal opening.

"Eh… It wasn't that impressive." Tivey said monotonously.

"You are overplaying your part, Mimi. No wonder he doesn't notice y-" As Hetaro added to Tivey's comment, Mimi pulled on the pair's ears.

*STRETCH!*

"OWOWOWOWO-?!"

"LETGOLETGO-!"

"Oi! Garfiel!" Otto complained from the driver's seat as the little cats fought behind him. "What gives?! In this weather, you could have died from jumping out of nowhere from a moving carriage!"

"Ah, ah! Its fine, Brotto! Threat neutralized, like Cap'n would say!" Garfiel dismissed the worry nonchalantly.

"It's Otto dammit!"

"Gar…fiel?" Frederica mumbled in surprise her savior's name.

"Ahn?" Garfiel turned around, meeting face to face with the head-maid.

"Garf…"

"…Wait, are ya my sis?" Garfiel deadpanned as he inspected the girl's features. Blonde hair, green eyes, sharp teeth, feline claws, huge- "WOAH, YA ARE HUMONGOUS!"

*THWACK!*

"YOWWW?!" Garfiel rubbed his forehead furiously after his half-sibling punched him.

"Seriously Garf… The lack of tact is disappointing." The maid sighed in a disheartened tone. "Where were you even looking at, you brat…"

"E-Ergh… Didn't need ta sock me for dat one…" The boy grumbled.

"Frederica!" Emilia shouted as she arrived at last.

"Emilia-sama!" With relief, Frederica bowed before the half-elf. "You've… You've returned!"

"Hmm, I have." Emilia nodded with a smile before looking back at the Mansion. "Over there… Is this Puck's handiwork?"

"Puck…" Frederica turned to look at the Mansion as well.

"I managed to complete the Trials, releasing Sanctuary's barrier." Emilia affirmed to the surprised Frederica. "But… Afterwards, the Great Rabbit appeared."

"…Yes, Subaru-sama informed me as much of what would happen." Frederica gripped the snow below her in frustration as she continued bowing.

"Puck took care of making the Rabbit retreat… But now, the horde has condensed in the inner epicenter of the storm! All the way here!" The half-elf's gaze narrowed down on the storm cloud cycling over the building.

"We came here ta stop dat thing once an' for all, 'nee-chan'." Garfiel accompanied in a mocking tone. "Though, hearing how ya struggled with an assassin earlier, ya might wanna sit this one out."

"…Maybe my injuries from earlier have yet to recover, but I'm not so useless I'd need you to take care of me Garf." The maid quipped back with insult.

"Yeah!" Garfiel smirked at her, glad that his sister wished to assist. "Now dat's an answer with some chest hair!"

"That is not even remotely what I-!" Frederica shook her head with shame. "Augh, forget it… My priority coming here was to save Beatrice-sama anyways."

"Allow me to relieve you of that duty then, Frederica." Subaru spoke up as he descended from his carriage.

"Subaru-sama… You returned as well." Frederica raised an eyebrow, glad that the Avenger had returned. However, as she noticed the state of the boy, worry and dread washed over her face. "Your body… Injuries all over… Will you be alright for when Ult-"

"Frederica, let's focus on the moment." Emilia ordered. "Subaru will take care of Beatrice. In return, maybe you can help us with the horde surrounding the Mansion. As well as with…"

*Fwish!*

"Roswaal here." Emilia then asked as she revealed the still pitiful Roswaal hugging Ram.

"Roswaal-sama… Ram…" The maid was surprised by the disheveled and sorry looking appearances of both her coworker and master. "What happened…?"

"Roswaal got rowdy when his plans failed, so we got into a little scuffle." Subaru explained with indifference. "That's how Ram ended injured."

"Tsk! Beyond mumblin' ta himself or hug Ram, clown won't do much else." Garfiel huffed with disgust. "Can't even clean his own mess, proper bastard."

"…" knowing that this was the result of Roswaal attempting against everyone's lives, Frederica could not really feel sorry for the Margrave. However, she did felt guilty about having been a pawn to his scheme without even knowing. Had it not been for Subaru's timely advice earlier in the yesterday, the chances were high that she would not even be there to discuss her master's culpability.

"Frederica… Let me reformulate my earlier directive." Emilia spoke to the maid as she noticed the shame in her face. "Assist my extermination of the Great Rabbit."

"Emilia-sama…" The head-maid gazed at her new master with wonder, realizing with awe the newfound resolve and strength shining in her eyes. Bowing down again, the maid pleaded her allegiance. "It would be my honor."

Returning to the Forbidden Library…

"That brat…!" Beatrice shuddered as she felt Subaru's presence amidst the sea of monsters roaring at her gates. "More than anyone else, that fool… Why must he be this aggravating, I wonder?!"

"It took him long enough…" Puck mumbled as he began shining.

*SHWOOOOOOOOM!*

"Bubby!" Beatrice exclaimed with alarm as Puck started vanishing into particles. "You are… You are vanishing!"

"Sorry Betty…" Puck rubbed his head with an apologetic expression. "I really did expend a lot of myself just holding out as much as I did here… The wall surrounding the Mansion won't last much longer once I'm out…"

"The reason they haven't broken in yet…" Beatrice shook her little head as she took notice of Puck's preventive measures to protect her. "But… Where will you go?! Back to that half-elf?!"

"My contract with Lia is broken, and so was the previous crystal… Though, as it so happens, there's a Pyroxene awaiting for me amongst Subaru's things." Puck nodded with a troubled face. "Although… I don't think I'll be able to materialize for a while…"

"Bubby…" Beatrice mumbled Puck's pet name with sadness.

"Betty…" The Spirit looked back at the little girl with expectation. "You'll be the last person I can talk to for a very long time. Sorry for imposing, but can you pass on a message for me?"

"A-A message?"

"For Lia…"

"…" Beatrice's lips trembled in confusion. On one hand, she was mad at Puck for tasking something of her under the pretense of her surviving. On the other, she didn't wish to see him go.

"Subaru is a swell guy, but I don't like him! I REAAAAAAAAAALLY do not like him! He's a wolf in sheep's clothing, if I've ever seen one!" Puck shouted with frustration as the light surrounding his body peaked. "If he ever tells you he loves you, just know I love you a billion times more!"

*SHWOOOM!*

"That's my message." Puck announced as he vanished into nothing. "Take care Betty. Don't eat too much sugar before bed now, alright?"

"BUBBY!" Beatrice cried as the particles of mana scattered.

Meanwhile, outside the Mansion once again…

*ZOOOOOOOOM!*

"WOAH!" Subaru shouted as he barely dodged a missile of blue and green mana heading in his direction.

*SHWIOOOM!*

"KUAAAAAA?!" Patrasche panicked as the light crashed directly against the bag attached to her saddle, the interior shining spectacularly.

"Huh?!" Subaru turned to look at the interior of the bag with alarm. "This is… Frederica's crystal?"

"Subaru!" Emilia shouted as she approached the boy. "What was that?! Are you okay?!"

"Ye-Yeah, I'm fine…" Subaru mumbled as he held the crystal. "Huh…"

"Subaru-sama?" Frederica wondered as she approached the hero as well. "That's… My crystal…"

"I think this is Puck's now." Subaru commented as the blue Pyroxene intermittently shone.

"…" Emilia gazed at the stone for a brief moment.

*Grab!*

"…Let me keep it this time around, Subaru." Emilia asked with a resolved gaze. "I'm the one he promised to make up to, after all."

"…Well, crap! All yours!" Subaru nodded in agreement, sincere awe in his eyes at Emilia's behavior.

"Uuuuh- Guys?!" Otto interrupted the moment to point at the Mansion. "Not to ruin the party or anything, but-?!"

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

The Rabbits clicked their fangs in an ominous cacophony as they tried to rush into Roswaal's estate, hungry for the rich-mana being awaiting still inside.

*BASH!*

"Those fuckers… They are all gung-ho for Beako now, aren't they?!" Subaru glared at the horde; they were bashing their heads against the wall of ice created by Puck to protect Beatrice, killing themselves in a desperate attempt to devour the Great Spirit.

"…As a Spirit, Beatrice's body is dense in mana." Roswaal explained indifferently from his seat inside the carriage. "With Puck's retreat, she becomes the next target. Especially so with all the barriers of leftover mana left behind by Puck's wall and the storm cloud above us."

"So for explainin' ya have time, but not ta help?!" Garfiel bellowed yet again. "Dat's yer house! Yer friend is inside!"

"…" But Roswaal remained silent, having finalized his hasty explanation.

"Oi! I'm talkin' ta-!"

*Grab!*

"Leave it for later, Garfiel!" Otto grabbed Garfiel's shoulder, stopping him from running up to the mage and Ram. "We are not here for him, we are here for Beatrice-sama and the Rabbit."

"…Yer right." Garfiel recomposed himself thanks to the merchant. "Err… Thanks Otto."

"Well… Maybe Brotto is fine after all." Appreciating the sincerity of his gratitude, Otto relented in Garfiel's treatment of him.

"…Heh." Subaru chuckled in amusement as he looked at the pair of 'brothers' behind him.

"Subaru." Emilia called for the hero's attention.

"At your service, Emilia-tan." The Avenger responded loyally.

"I have a plan." The half-elf proposed with a smirk as she gazed at the crystal in her hand and then at Roswaal in the carriage. "O-Or at least the beginnings of one... We'll need Roswaal though."

"Ask away and we shall do!" Subaru imitated a knight's posture as he spoked. "Just so you know, I'll barge right in and fry the rabbits on my way to rescue the Princess Peach inside."

"Hmm, I know. Even if I didn't understand what you just said, I know." The girl lamented for some seconds as she stared at the distracted horde breaking apart Puck's protections. "I still rue and lament my own thoughts process for this… But I'll need you to act as bait, Subaru."

"Hoh~! You'd ask that of me? Emilia-tan sure is bold now!" Subaru's eyes lit up with surprise. "Now, that's interesting…"

"Do you remember when we exterminated the Wolgarms in the forest?" The half-elf described her proposal. "I'll create a dome like that time around the Mansion. I need you to stay inside as I do that and act as the decoy, so that the smallest number possible escapes."

"The strays will be then exterminated by myself and the others present here, while Emilia-sama concentrates on reinforcing the dome." Frederica added as Subaru looked at her. "Once you are inside, Subaru-sama…"

*CR-CRAAAA~CK!*

"I'll rush into the Mansion and rescue Beako." Subaru cracked his knuckles in anticipation as Puck's wall crumbled slowly. "Wait for me… Beatrice…"

"Everyone ready?!" Tivey asked as him and his siblings prepared.

"Say da word!" Garfiel affirmed.

"Alright…" Emilia concentrated, glaring at the horde as mana gathered within her palms.

*SWIIIOOOOOOOOOOOSH!*

The shine in her hands intensified, icicles and snow revolving around her as though she possessed the gravitational pull of a star.

"By the Od…!" Otto shook as he witnessed the feat of the half-elf.

"Amazing…" Frederica suspired in awe at her liege's unleashed prowess.

"Woah… Was she always this strong?!" Mimi noted with amazement as well.

"You haven't… Seen anything yet…!" Emilia smiled with confidence.

"…" In return, Roswaal just limited himself to staring at the disaster occurring in his manor with longing. Not for the building itself, but for who was inside.

"Roswaal…!" The half-elf princess shouted. "I'm counting on you for my plan later on… So you better get up if you wish to save Beatrice!"

"Beatrice…" Roswaal shook his head. "There is no point… It does not matter what you do… She too has a desire, so if anything this situation should accomplish-"

"Don't speak as though it were fine to give up!" Emilia bellowed in anger at the sitting mage. "After that story! After all you and her have gone through! Four centuries of longing… Do not mock your pain just because you lost or think you don't deserve pity! Don't condemn her just because you cannot bear to face her!"

"…"

"It is not over yet! Your story and Beatrice's cannot have such a sad ending! I refuse to accept that!" Emilia cried in righteous fury. "It is not over! For you, for me! For Ram, Rem, Garfiel and Subaru as well! It is only the beginning! So do not act as if it were all over yet! I faced my past, my present and my future too! I saw what I hated, what broke my heart and made me smile! I confronted it with trembling legs, but managed to stand up in triumph by the end! And now, I can walk my path unburdened at last! Do not tell me it doesn't matter anymore! Beatrice is alive! Right here and now! Don't leave her behind! Help her! I faced my fears… So I order you now, face yours as well!"

*SWIIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!*

*WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!*

"!" The rabbits all turned to look at Emilia as she reached her apex; the high concentration of cold and ice swirling around her was so absurd, even the circular movement of the storm cloud above ended disrupted and absorbed by it.

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

*DASH!*

The horde rushed towards the group, and in return, Subaru dashed forward to meet them.

*SMACK!*

*SWISH!*

*SQUELCH!*

"GO CAP'N!" Garfiel cheered on as he and Frederica cleared Subaru's path by killing the rabbits flanking him from his right.

"BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

The Pearlbatons accompanied too by projecting their supersonic waves at the left of the hero, decimating the mabeasts threatening to kill him.

"NOW! EMILIA!" Subaru commanded as he leapt into the air.

*FWISH!*

*KRA-SHIIINK!*

"EY!" Emilia summoned a moving, giant wall of ice following the hero's daring jump; the construct froze a plethora of the rabbits and the trees surrounding the Mansion as it moved along and encircled the building, with Subaru surfing on top of it.

*WHOOOOOOOOOSH!*

*KRA-SHIIIIIINK!*

The wall stopped as it finally surrounded the entirety of the Mansion, Subaru jumping off it and towards the pack of monsters down below.

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

*CRA-CRACKLE~!*

*FWIOOSH!*

"Alright, you ugly fucks!" Whilst electricity and Shamak enveloped his body, Subaru shouted in mockery at the beasts running at him, eagerly awaiting to devour the man trapped with them the moment he landed…

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

"COME GET SOME!"

…

"What an aggravating man, I suppose."

"Hey little girl, are you lost? You know, it's rather early in the morning, the sun has yet to show itself."

"Geez, even the gothic Lolita has it out against me…"

"Just because you've never heard them doesn't mean I made them up. Moreover, you do realize all words ARE made up, right?"

"Well, I'm glad you asked! As you know, I'm not from the kingdom. But then again, I'm not from any of 'your' kingdoms!"

"Soooo, if I can offer you knowledge from MY world… You could in return teach me! How about that?"

This has to be wrong…

"Mother-"

These feelings have to be wrong…

"Mother-"

There is no salvation for Betty…

"Mother-"

Why did he have to come, I wonder?

"Mother-"

You are supposed to go save the world or something, in fact.

"Mother-"

Why would you waste your time on Betty?

"Mother-"

You are just going to leave eventually…

"Mother-"

Back to your world…

"Mother-"

If that is the case…

"Mother-"

Why won't you let Betty die?

"Mother-"

No matter what…

"Mother-"

This monster…!

"Mother-"

Why won't you let me lose hope?

"Mother-" Beatrice cried as she flipped page after page of an empty grimoire, looking for an answer that would never come. "Is he the one?"

*Crea~k!*

"…I am not. Thought we discussed that already. Were you in denial?" Subaru denied as he entered the room. "Damn… Those rabbits nibbled me good… That's gonna hurt me all week…"

"Fool…" Beatrice almost felt like throwing the book at him from how annoyed she found herself to be. "You really were stupid enough to barge in here again…!"

"Of course I was." Subaru shook his head.

"I'm… Betty is tired already…" The little Great Spirit rambled. "If it's come to this… I'd rather…!"

"Don't." Subaru interrupted her sternly.

"…"

"I know what you want to say, so don't say it. You are here, right now, aren't you?" Spider-Man objected. "Don't say something that sad…"

"As if… You had the right to reprimand Betty…!"

"Huh?"

"Look at those injuries! All that blood!" Beatrice pointed to multiple tears on Subaru's body, many bleeding bites going along his biceps, shoulders and legs. Emilia's earlier healing arts had gone to waste after venturing across the horde.

"…Nah! 'Tis but a scratch, my Lady-!" As the Avenger was about to dismiss, Beatrice exploded.

"WON'T YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY ALREADY?!" Beatrice shouted in retort. "YOU ARE GOING TO DIE NOW! IN HERE! WITH BETTY!"

"…"

"Is that what you wished for, I suppose?! Did you not have some 'grandiose' purpose to fulfill, human?! To save the world?! To protect everyone?!" The Yin Spirit spat mercilessly with steady rivulets of tears rolling down her cheeks. "And yet here you are! Throwing your life away for a failure! A failure that WANTED to die! You are the one that ended the conversation! Denying Betty's future! So why must you barge in here, thinking you can amend that?!"

"…Not to look like a beggar or anything, but- I'm looking for my new 'guy in the chair'. Although, it'd be more accurate to say girl in your case." Subaru dismissed the cries with humor regardless, baffling the little girl into silence.

"…"

"I mean, nothing against Ned, he's my boy right there! But… We are kind-of a billion lightyears apart or something right now? So… The seat is unfortunately vacant. Fortunate for you though!"

"You…"

"I need you Beako." Subaru assured with a playful smirk. "When I said I wanted to save the world… Sorry, but I cannot do it alone; I'm no god. I need the help, and I need my moppet on a chair."

"You utter fool…!" Beatrice cried yet again. "Inside here, you WILL die!"

*FWHOOOOOOOOOSH!*

"Hey-HEY!" Subaru protested as he adhered himself to one of the bookshelves lining the library. Beatrice had shot a strong wind current at him in an attempt to expel him outside, not just to throw him out of the room, but also to expel him outside of the Mansion entirely.

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

"Keh-!" The rabbits were quickly flooding the building after Subaru broke through them and soon, there would be no viable escape for him alone. If he didn't leave right then and there, his fate would be sealed. "Oi! Beako!"

"Cease calling me that, human!" Beatrice screamed. "Just leave! You have a purpose to fulfill, don't you?! Unlike Betty, there is a place for you! So just go!"

"Yeah, but I-!"

*FWHOOOOOOOOOSH!*

"GO DO SO ALREADY!" The Yin Great Spirit wailed through the tears. "LEAVE BETTY ALONE TO DIE!"

"Don't…!" Subaru attempted to continue talking, but the augmented force of the relentless current swept him away. "WOOOOooooo-!"

*THWIIIIP!*

"Gagh!" The Avenger groaned as he fired his webs into the Library, refusing to leave. "Don't… TAKE ME SO LIGHTLY!"

*FWIP!*

*SLAM!*

"Hah!" Subaru loudly closed the door to the Forbidden Library behind him, sealing the exit as the rabbit horde inundated the hallways of the mansion, destroying all viable escapes.

"Ah…!" Beatrice fell to her knees at the moronic actions of the boy. "You idiot…!"

"Heh… If there's an idiot here, I know for sure it should in plural." Subaru chuckled.

"It's too late now…!" Beatrice cred. "To escape… All doors are…!"

"Well good! Now, you can listen to me properly." The boy proposed as he sat cross-legged before her.

"I'm tired already…" Beatrice shook her head, resigned to their fate. "Just… Why couldn't you…!"

"Oh, please!" Subaru protested at last. "Were you really tired, you would have whisked me away! Teleported me, right outside!"

"…!" Beatrice almost bit her tongue at the accusation.

"You can push me away all you want; it holds no weight with such trembling little hands, idiot!" The Avenger proclaimed as he pointed at the girl's shuddering limbs, holding the black book.

"…Why couldn't you be the 'one', then?!" Beatrice tearfully shouted again. "Why couldn't you just lie about it then?! Tell me you were, if you wished to save me so much?!"

"Beatrice…"

"Even If I had known it was a lie, Betty would have accepted! If you had done that…!"

"…I'm not that person." Subaru lamented. "Ask me for all eternity if you need, I'll answer the same every time. I am not that person, Beatrice. And I'll never be."

"…You are right then, in fact! Betty IS an idiot!" The girl continuously berated herself in front of the rejection. "An idiot that couldn't even maintain her promise! An idiot that couldn't forget said promise! I couldn't accomplish it, but I couldn't bear with abandoning it! Betty is and idiot, in fact-!"

"But even then, even if I have to leave one day, even if I rush into danger again and again… I want you to be there, Beako." The boy gleefully interrupted the toxic self-hatred of the Spirit. "I want to be with you, Beatrice. So you won't be alone."

*KRA-CRAAACK-!*

*KRA-SHIIINK-!*

*BASH!*

As Subaru spoke, the walls and bookshelves of the Library began to freeze, and likewise… The rabbits behind the doors were bashing it in.

"I know you don't need me to be there; you are knowledgeable, powerful, I'd even say self-sufficient enough that I look like a walking disaster by comparison." Subaru began describing. "Even if you lament it, no one would blame you for it, for clinging to the hope of 'someone' coming in here to relief you of your duty-"

"You are the one… That rejected Betty…!" Beatrice growled with a scowl. "How dare you say you know anything about Betty, in fact?!"

"I know enough." Subaru assured with a smug smile. "You may not show it on your attitude, but you are kind. You would go out of your way to save children in danger or heal and nurse an idiot like me back to health after being mauled alive. Not to mention, when you'd keep me company under the guise of wanting to learn about me and my world… You are a bad actor, begging me like that to know about my impromptu pyroxene circuitry!"

"You know nothing…!"

"I may not know nothing about anything important, but I know about you." Subaru continued assuring. "As well as I know about myself enough… That I can't save anyone. Not alone."

"You…!"

*BASH!*

The rabbits continued pushing behind them, on the verge of breaking through.

"I couldn't save my parents, leaving them to die. I couldn't give a purpose to my powers until my uncle died. And I couldn't become a hero before making a fool of myself before the man I respected the most in the world." Subaru reminisced in a bittersweet tone. "And I know I cannot save anyone from Ultron if I'm alone… I cannot even save myself, that's how pathetic I am."

"Why…?!"

"So please, Beatrice…" Subaru bowed, extending his hand forward. "Save me. Help me become a hero that can save anyone and save me."

"But you… You'll die!" Beatrice cried pitifully as her hold on the book weakened. "For a Spirit…*Hic!* A human's lifespan is but the blink of an eye…! You'll either *Hic!* die or leave Betty behind…!"

"I know… But even then, I wish for you to be there with me."

"That isn't fair…! To tell Betty that…!" Beatrice's right hand shakily let go of her book. "Y-You are not 'them'…! You rejected Betty already…! Even if I grabbed your hand… You'd die instantly…!"

"Maybe so, but I'll still be here tomorrow! And the day after tomorrow too!" Subaru assured. "And together, everyone will be here the days after as well!"

"…*Hic!*"

"I won't be here four centuries from now on… But I'll be here for you tomorrow, when it counts! So please…" Subaru looked back at the girl with his own tearful eyes. "Save me! Choose me!"

"B-But you are not 'them'…!"

"You are right! I'm not! I'm not the unknown bastard that left you alone to rot in here for eternity! I'm Subaru Natsuki, Spider-Man, New York's hero!"

"…!"

"Don't be afraid of saying good-bye one day…!" Subaru continued through his tears. "Just focus on the here and now! On all of us, that are together with you!"

"Ah…!"

"I may panic, a-and cry and complain and be petty-! But I'm aiming higher than anyone!" The Avenger affirmed confidently. "If you come with me, you'll be too busy to think about all the sad stuff, I promise you that! The future you fear will come one day… But even then, I want to be there with you, together! So choose me! Save me! Be MY hero, Beatrice!"

"But you…! But you…!"

"Stay with me! And in return, I'll make the four centuries behind you look like a blurry sepia filter!"

"But you wi-will-!"

"Didn't you wait in front of that damned door every day, expecting someone to whisk you away?!"

*CRASH!*

*CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK-CLICK!*

The rabbits finally broke through the gates, running full speed toward the boy.

"BE MY HERO, BEATRICE!"

*THUD!*

*ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

Meanwhile outside…

*CRA-CRASH-!*

"So he has failed…" Roswaal mumbled without much care, the sound of the inner walls of the Mansion collapsing roaring in the distance within the dome.

"Kuh…!" Emilia fell to her knees, her consciousness fading as she maintained the huge construct around the decaying Mansion.

"Dammit… Come on, Cap'n!" Garfiel gritted his teeth.

"Where are you?! Natsuki-san…!" Otto, too, clenched his fists in frustration.

"Boss-bro…" Mimi sorrowfully sighed in company to those laments.

"Please… Subaru…!" Hetaro and Tivey spectated with dread.

"Emilia-sama…" Frederica, fearing for the worst, simply reserved herself to look at Emilia instead. "It's time-"

"Subaru…!" Emilia cried, dreading the possibilities of her decision to send the boy in there.

*Shwiiim!*

"?!" However, as they all lost hope, the shine of a pink light dancing around on the inside of the dome rekindled their hearts. "That's-!"

"Impossible…!" Roswaal denied whilst shaking his head at the visage, his eyes growing wide in utter surprise and bafflement at the implication. "Beatrice… You… You wouldn't…!"

"NOW, ROSWAAL!" Emilia screamed with renewed hope as her palms trembled, her magic faltering as her body and soul grew exhausted.

"OI! CLOWN!" Cried Garfiel.

"Roswaal-sama!" Cried Frederica.

"Margrave!" Cried Otto and the triplets.

"Roswaal…sama..." And Ram cried too, as she awoke on his lap.

"…" In return, the mage did the unthinkable from his perspective… "Huma…"

*SHIWNG!*

"For what reason, I wonder…" Roswaal mumbled to himself with a dispirited voice, a single memory trapped in his mind as he continuously produced ice spears above the horde in the dome. "I just… remembered…"

"I like you."

"CEASE BEING SO DISGUSTING I SUPPOSE!"

"A time in which we smiled." The mage whispered to no one as he shed a single, lonely tear.

*CRAAAAAASH!*

The myriad spears rained down on the interior of the dome, destroying the mansion and crushing the rubble and the creatures within it into nothing but frozen chunks of debris. The Great Rabbit had been decimated by the might of Margrave Mathers and Candidate Emilia.

And as if on cue…

*ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

From the prison of ice, a streak of magenta and pink light crashed on the ground before the exhausted Emilia.

*WHOOOOOOOOSHH!*

*FWOOOOSH!*

As the shine died down and the storm vanished… Splayed in the snow, the figures inside the light became clear at last.

"Subaru!"

"Yep, that's my name. Don't spend it too much!"

"Subaru! Subaru!"

"Hmm, yeah! That's my name alright!"

"Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru!"

The little girl cried tearfully with a smile as she hugged the hero for dear life, and in return, he held her tight with a satisfied grin.

"About time you called me that… Beatrice."

AUTHOR'S NOTES

HOO BOY!

With that, most of Arc 4 events are DONE! (Minus, of course, Omega-Echidna). Next chapter, the preparations and the march to the Capital!

Honestly, even after what I promised, I didn't even know if I'd be able to write this chapter within this week. It has sucked ROYALLY… I'm sorry if it feels like a bit of a mess when reading it, I MIGHT change it later, but don't quote me on that.

As for why the week has sucked, well… My dog died, my grandma has COVID… I mostly sat down to write this week because I needed the distraction. That and Beako's smile.

If you noticed, I tried shortening Beatrice, Roswaal and Ryuzu's backstory as much as possible; do note that it is essentially the same as the anime instead of the novels, just abridged.

For anyone wondering, the namesake of the tittle is the song by Swae Lee and Jhené Aiko of the same name. It was even featured in Shang-Chi!

One last thing, I changed the name of Chapter 11 because I thought it didn't fit it that well in hindsight. So yeah, no Mandela effect here, just me being a nitpicky. Kang isn't in control yet… No TVA here. Nope, not at all. No~t at all.

Anyways, see you in the next chapter!