I've been considering doing this miniseries if only because my mind gets weird. I also have the odd habit of having completely weird ideas and yet somehow making them work, though tbh, I barely post them.
But yeah, this is basically a series of characters if they became Vader'd.
And it will be some…interesting ideas for characters.
Angelica shuddered, swallowing as she tried to maintain control.
It seemed that none would stand with her…now she and her family would pay with Julius and his friends standing as Marie's champions.
She would have no choice, she would need to involve her father-
"It appears that your allies need to be reminded as to the meaning of loyalty, Lady Redgrave."
Angelica gasps and turns, the crowd splitting with murmurs and whispers as the dark figure comes through.
"Lord Vader…"
The man was an…imposing figure.
An adventurer who had left his home and made his own path at the cost of severe damage to his body, only saved thanks to the Lost Items he'd discovered.
Adorned in black armor, Baron Vader walked up to her, his…unsettling breathing echoing around the room.
She idly noticed from the corner of her eye the little harlot going white in fear, shaking from his fearsome visage.
Good.
Though privately, although she too had once feared the imposing man, she'd found his friendship to be…soothing.
"Lady Redgrave, I hereby pledge myself as your champion."
"...I accept."
Before
Leon could say that this wasn't anywhere near his original plan, but Luxion had tried his best, and recovery was…possible.
But nowhere near in time for him to find a wife in the academy.
Damn that rogue AI, he'd been hoping to find another ally only to be…cursed to this existence.
Luxion had taken great pleasure in eradicating every single line of code from the rogue.
But the damage was still there.
As it was, he was in a precarious political position, and for that reason he'd chosen to…disassociate from his family.
He hated to hear Colin and Finley cry over him, let alone his weeping mother, but this was…necessary to protect them.
"Lord Vader…why did you come here?" Balcus asked with tears in his eyes.
"Your son's sacrifice has placed me in his debt. A debt I can never fully repay, however, I will fulfill his last wish of ensuring the protection of his family," Vader said as he placed his hand on his father's shoulder.
"Your debts have been cleared, your son Colin is safe. And your territory will be aided by those under my command," Leon said as he held onto his father for the last time. "By Honor and by Blood, no harm shall come to the Bartfort family."
Balcus shakily met his gaze.
"Thank you, Lord Vader."
"Master, scans indicate that Marie has progressed in seducing all five of the heirs."
"Then her foolishness will plunge this kingdom into desolation. Prepare my ship and alert the 501st to be on guard."
"As you command, Master." Luxion replied before Vader was stopped by the sound of crying.
He walked around a corner calmly, lowering the noise from the breathing apparatus.
He found the Protagonist, Olivia, sobbing wretchedly, the ruins of an invitation around her.
He should do nothing. If he got involved, she would be at risk.
He was not a kind man, he could not be a kind man.
So why did he extend his hand for her?
"Would you care for assistance, Miss Olivia?"
The girl eeped and flushed but surprisingly enough…
"Lord Vader! I…I apologize!"
She did not look at him in fear. All the other students had but she merely looked at him with…something he couldn't quite tell.
"There is nothing to apologize for, Miss Olivia. Unfortunately, I know all too well the cruelties of noble women."
He then kneeled so that he was right next to her.
He didn't know why he was doing this, but…
Perhaps the simplest answer was that he didn't want to be fully a machine, to fully lose his humanity.
The thumb of his glove gently wiped away her tears, Olivia remained quiet as Vader gently helped her up.
"W-why?" she hesitantly asked.
Vader remained silent for a moment.
"Because you needed it."
Olivia nervously presented her gift to Lady Redgrave, her followers' whispers grating against her ears.
"What manner of gift is this?" Angelica asked in confusion as she inspected the cylinder.
Olivia cringed as she saw her point the hole end towards her face, catching her attention.
"You have something to say?"
"It is…a replica of a lost item, a weapon of fire, perfect for slaying are…currently pointing the weapon at yourself, my lady."
Angelica's eyes glinted in interest, even as her followers scoffed in derision.
Expected of a commoner.
"Perfect for slaying monsters you say, then how does it work?"
Olivia breathed a sigh of relief, she could do this.
"Like so," she said as she grabbed the cylinder strapped to her own waist and ignited it, a cool blue erupting from the 'lightsaber', as Lord Vader called it.
The various girls in the room gasped in shock, many taking steps back.
Angelica observed the light curiously but felt no heat and reached out to poke it.
"Please don't," Olivia said as she moved it away from her.
"My lady," she added with an embarrassed cough.
Looking around for something inexpensive, she sighed before using her magic to create a small and very weak light shield.
The lightsaber cut through it neatly.
"A most interesting weapon," Angelica observed before, and taking proper precaution to point the hole away from her, igniting her own.
It was amber, like fire, and crackled furiously like an inferno.
The grin on her face had become slightly bloodthirsty.
"You've become quite the interesting girl now, Olivia."
Olivia gulped.
The two girls panted in unison, while Vader stood steadfast.
All three had their blades out.
Angelica had asked to join Vader's party in the dungeon, he'd agreed on the condition that they train together with the sabers.
"Most impressive."
Olivia flushed in gratitude but Angelica was pleased.
This, this is what she truly lived for.
Now to really test their skills.
Angelica was quickly feeling her fury rise.
That child was so easy to see through, yet her fiance remained so blind to it all.
It was almost comedic, perhaps this was the tragedy of fate.
Fine then.
She turned away towards the dark figure that had quickly become her close friend and the commoner girl who'd surprisingly become one of her closest confidants.
"Lord Vader, it seems that our fates meet once more, might I join your party?"
Vader turned.
"We would be honored if you would join us."
Marie froze.
This was impossible.
What was going on? Was this some weird crossover that was added into the game after she died?
What the hell was Darth Vader doing here?
Worse of all, why was he staring at her?
She was barely paying attention to her boys making light of him but his response.
"I find your lack of faith disturbing."
She shivered.
Was this Vader? Or…could it be…
"Do you have nothing else to say, your Highness?" Angelica asked.
Julius remained silent as she grabbed his hand.
Angelica's eyes narrowed before she stalked away in fury.
Marie swallowed as she considered something terrifying, especially once she caught sight of the lightsaber on her waist.
"Lady Redgrave, you do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me, and I will complete your training,"
The crowd was surprisingly silent, witnessing something that unknown to them, would drastically change the future.
"I am ready to go, Lord Vader," she said as she took his hand and Marie gulped in fear as she saw not only Angelica was going but also the Protagonist!
What the hell is going on!?
She squeaked as she saw Vader stare back at her.
She shuddered in fear.
Vader, if he was him or someone pretending to be him, had stared right into her soul.
He was another reincarnator.
And he was turning the Villainess into a Sith Lady!
Julius admitted to himself that for the first time in his life, he actually feared his fiance.
Angelica was like a demon, wreathed in flame.
Her…light sword cut through her enemies as she bathed in their blood, her fury was palpable in the air.
He could feel Marie shaking next to him and desperately tried to calm her.
But how could he?
When he could not calm himself?
After all, her magic was practically permeating through the air, he could feel all of it.
Fear.
Anger.
Hatred.
Suffering.
It was practically choking them.
"Rise above this, Lady Redgrave." He hears Vader speak from the side, truthfully, they weren't meant to be here.
But she doesn't respond, wildly attacking everything in her sight.
He hears Vader give off a sigh before he suddenly moves and attacks, easily parrying her own blade with his own.
"You are letting your emotions control you. You must regain control. You rule your magic, your magic does not rule you."
Angelica seethed and panted as she fought her own emotions and Julius gasped as he saw what appeared to be sparks trailing across her fingers.
"Dominate your emotions, control your power. Only you are in control."
Angelica roared as she extended her hand towards an ogre that was approaching her and lightning erupted from her fingertips.
The creature bellowed in agony before the lightning petered out, turning back into fire that washed it away to ash.
"Most impressive."
The scholarship student, who'd been worrying over Angelica the entire time, then went up to her and looked her over.
"Are you alright, Miss Angelica?"
"I'm fine, Olivia…in fact, I feel better than ever…I've never felt that kind of pure…power…"
"It is a seductive power, one that you must constantly remain in control of, lest it destroy you from the inside out."
Angelica sighed and Julius could see her amber eyes return to their usual blood red.
What was Vader teaching her?
And why did he fear it so much?
Dammit…
Everything was going out of wack!
She'd managed to get everything to work just fine but now some Darth Vader cosplayer had taken the plot off track by taking both the Villainess and the Protagonist as his apprentices.
"You are a foolish one."
She eeped and jerked back in surprise.
"What the hell, where did you come from!?"
Where was the creepy breathing!?
He remained silent.
And of course, the breathing returned.
She shivered and backed away. She'd made a mistake, she should have made sure one of her boys was still with her.
"W-what do you want?"
He remained silent still before asking her a question.
"Do you even realize the extent of your folly?"
"W-what are you talking about?" Marie asked as she tried to back away but found herself trapped against the wall.
"You know exactly what I am speaking of, child."
Marie huffed.
"S-so what!? I took the place of the protagonist, but I've got it handled! The boys love me and I'm taking care of them!" she tried to defend herself as Vader loomed over her.
"Have you not even considered the consequences to the political landscape of this kingdom. You have usurped the position of the future Saintess, rapidly progressed through the major events within the span of half a year instead of the required three and are at risk of destabilizing the entire kingdom."
"You're the one putting everything at risk!" Marie finally bit out. "I've followed the storyline perfectly, but you're throwing everything out of wack by seducing the protagonist and the villainess you two bit cosplayer!" she yelled, assured at the fact that this was a reincarnator who chose to dress up as Vader and not the actual guy himself.
"You dare-"
"I've heard all about you, and if you were unlucky enough to actually become like Vader then you'll need all the help you can get to find a wife that will handle your looks, tell me, do they even know what you look like under that mas-urk!"
Marie choked on nothing, clutching her throat as she fell to her knees in a panic.
She messed up!
"Be careful not to choke on your aspirations, Miss Lafan."
Marie took a deep breath as the pressure was finally relieved before she looked up at him in fear.
"What do you want?" she managed to stutter out.
"It is obvious that you will not listen," Vader ground out. "In that case, I will no longer interfere."
'Outside of my own interests, at least.'
"Lord Vader, I beg of you, recall yourself from the challenge, I must face this on my own."
"You are powerful, Lady Angelica, but your position is precarious. It is because of the fact that your own fiance has chosen to fight that you require a champion yourself."
Angelica was confused…and slightly hurt.
"Make no mistake…I would have been your champion otherwise, but I also am confident in your skills."
"Then…why?" she asked, assured but still hesitant.
"Because as you well know, endangering the life of the Crown Prince is a dangerous endeavor…and I…I have nothing to lose."
Angelica frowned deeply as she grabbed his arm.
"Lord Vader…"
"I am a new noble to the kingdom, with no family associated with me barring the Bartfort's who I have taken under my protection. I have no fiance, nor prospects of gaining one due to my appearance and status."
Angelica remained quiet as she tried to hold in her grief.
"Should the worst come to happen, then it is fitting that I be the one to take the fall."
"It's not fair!" Angelica suddenly shouted, surprising him.
"You're one of the best men, no, the best man that I've ever met! Why must you think it necessary to throw your life away from me! You've already done so much by training me, helping me harness my true power, I have true friends now…all of it thanks to you…why must I lose it now?" Angelica whispered as she started to break down.
…
"...Leon…"
"What?"
"My name…my original name…is Leon…"
Angelica remained silent as Leon began to share his story.
When it was done, she could only weep.
How cruel was life, to tear this outstanding man from his family thanks to the machinations of the corrupt nobility.
"Angelica," he said, using solely her name for the first time. "Should the worst come to pass, I only ask that you protect my family, and Livia."
She trembled but nodded.
"I give you my word, Leon."
"Thank you, My Lady."
Despite how afraid she was, she couldn't help but feel…pleased.
Leon was a monster.
But he was her monster.
Every student barring a few bet against him and when he'd shown up without armor they mockingly scorned him, yet here he was, manhandling the heirs with nothing but his magic and sheer power.
Brad's drills were deflected as Leon scorned him, advising that he should have used his magical skills and played to his strengths instead. He'd then usurped control over the drills through sheer force and inflicted them on their wielder.
Greg had attacked first in his shoddy armor, laughing all the way as he went to kick Leon, only for him to stop it without even touching it.
With brutal efficiency he then lifted the armor and tore it to pieces, stretching them to their very finite limits.
With perceived arrogance, he then demolished Greg's views about using inferior equipment, only saying that by doing so, he would be signing his own death warrant once he finally met an enemy his skills would not be able to overcome.
Chris was next, and he was…thoroughly defeated as Leon's lightsaber cut through his blade after the man blitzed under with his magic.
Chris had been hapless as he began to berate him for his own shortcomings, further demoralizing him until with a great push, his armor was sent flying across the arena and smashing against the wall.
Jilk had been the next one and Leon had been very disparaging of him once she'd introduced him to Clarice and he'd been privy to her story.
Fortunately he'd been able to dissuade her of making any…purchases.
Jilk had tried to shoot him but he'd deflected the shots away, even as large as they were compared to his body.
He even tried using some kind of bomb magic on him, blowing up the arena so that rubble would rise up and fall on him.
Everything was silent and fear gripped her heart as she stared at the Marmoria heir hatefully.
Lightning splayed across her fingers as her eyes turned gold.
Livia's hand gently took her own, her own magic canceling out her rage.
"It's going to be okay, Angie…look."
She looked again and saw the rubble rising up into the sky and with a grin she witnessed Leon rise from the rubble with nary a scratch.
Jilk was barely able to cry out in surprise before he was pelted by the rocks and his armor destroyed.
And now it all came to a head.
Julius stalked forward, shield and sword in hand as Leon gazed dispassionately at him.
"You've come along far enough, Vader," Julius spat.
"On the contrary, your highness," he replies with mockery. "I have yet to begin."
"I will not make the same mistake as my brothers. You are clearly skilled. But the amount of magic you've used has made you tired."
Vader tilted his head and Julius continued.
"You will not stand in my way, Vader."
"Then you are more of a fool than I gave you credit for."
Julius roared and launched forward with his blade, Leon dodging to the side and pushing away with his magic, launching himself backwards and out of reach.
Leon was…slightly concerned.
It was true, he had expended a large amount of his magic, and the augments that Luxion had done to his armor/body could only do so much.
And that armor was certainly advanced, much faster (and likely stronger) than the others.
But there was a reason that he did not reveal the Executor, Devastator, or his personal armor,
For that matter, his personal armor, the Hass.
"Tell me, your highness. Have you no consideration for what you will lose?"
Julius activated a gun attached to his shield and opened fire, Vader deflecting the blasts with his lightsaber.
"No thought or care for the lives of the kingdom that are at stake? About your reputation? Your duties? Your fiance?"
Julius scoffed.
"None of that matters, I'd sacrifice it all in a heartbeat for even a single moment with Marie! From here on forward, this battle only ends until one of us is dead! For if I can't live without Marie, THEN I CAN'T LIVE AT ALL!"
Julius then charged and slammed his sword down on Vader, the dust kicking up and hiding him from view.
At that moment however, Angelica's heart fully broke.
No matter what would happen after this duel, Julius would never leave the girl behind.
She had lost.
For a moment, she'd let herself delve deep into her fury, she thought about diving fully into her dark side and unleashing all of her pain onto that harlot.
The mere thought of her writhing as she burned under lightning and fire made her shiver.
A hand grasped hers and she then felt Light.
"It's going to be okay, Angie…everything's going to be okay…" Livia said as she hugged the other girl and comforted her.
Angelica shuddered and grieved.
For all the time lost, all the pain and suffering she'd gone through just for it all to mean nothing in the end.
But she would rise above this.
Leon was counting on her.
Julius meanwhile grunted as he felt the sword move of its own accord and growled in denial as he saw Vader standing in a crater.
"What are you?" he snarled as he saw Vader's damaged state.
The helmet had been slightly cracked, but most of the damage was to the armor itself or to the strange fabric that covered him revealing that his left arm was completely metallic.
Angie and Livia gasped together in horror.
They'd…felt how hard his arms were underneath the fabric…but for them to be completely metal?
Just what had happened to him?
"I…am what this kingdom has made me, and if you are so foolish as to throw it away then perhaps it is best that you do not serve on the throne."
"You dare threaten me!?" Julius snarled.
"I merely show you the truth of your words...after all, you said it yourself."
With an extended hand, he forced the mech to its knees before clenching his fist and crushing it slowly making Julius panic.
"W-what are you doing!?
"Delivering your wish."
Julius screamed in fear as the armor was crushed into a ball before everything went silent.
The misshapen ball landed onto the ground and just about everyone stared in horror.
Then the ball collapsed into pieces, the Prince perfectly alive and safe, if not severely traumatized.
"W-why…why didn't you kill me?" Julius whispered as he tried to shakily get to his hands and knees.
"I did not find you worthy of death."
With those last disparaging words, Julius bowed his head and passed out.
The crowd roared in disbelief but Vader stalked away with a flourish of his half torn cape.
But Livia was worried.
"We need to go," she said. "He's hurt."
"Right."
Angelica and Olivia made their way down to the arena and quickly found him supporting himself against a wall.
"Lord Vader/Leon!"
His breathing was strained and they helped him down to the ground.
"You…did not need…to come…hahhh…"
Livia immediately applied her healing magic…but
"Why isn't it working?" she whispered.
"My ailment…is not due to my body but rather, the technology that keeps me alive…Luxion…show yourself…"
"As you command, Master."
The two gasped upon seeing the strange orb appear in front of them, moreso when an odd beam appeared from its eye and began to work on Vader's armor.
"Fear not, I shall fix the Master in due time."
"Luxion will be able to help me," Leon said as his breathing was already being restored. "You need not worry, Angie…go…end this."
Angie sighed softly before nodding, before she left however, she pressed her forehead to his helmet.
"Thank you, Leon."
She walked away, ready to end this once and for all.
They remained silent for a bit before he spoke up, sensing Olivia's discomfort.
"Leon…is my original name, however, for political reasons, I must keep it hidden in order to protect my family…however, when we are alone, I would not mind you speaking it, Olivia."
'She has such a nice smile.'
"Have you come to gloat?" Julius asked despondent.
"...No," Angelica said after a moment of silence. "I think I'm just finally seeing you as the waste of time that you are."
"What?"
"All those years, learning, serving, trying to become the perfect little duchess to become the perfect little queen…all of it was such a waste of my time for someone completely unworthy of it."
Julius grimaced but didn't speak, to be honest, he didn't know where she was going with this.
Angelica sighed.
"I'm changing the terms of the duel, Julius," he noted how it was the first time she'd ever said his name yet it was full of hatred. "I won't pry you away from your precious whore."
He bristled.
"How dare-"
"SILENCE."
His mouth clamped shut as he stared at her golden eyes.
"But in turn, you will help me with another endeavor."
Julius grimaced…but it seemed to be his only choice.
"What do you want?"
He shivered at the grin that grew across her face.
Leon was…pleased…he honestly didn't think that Angie would help him in such a manner, but thanks to her the Forest of Ladies had been…eviscerated.
And he had his family back.
As he sat on the couch with Colin and Finley sleeping against him on one side and his mother on the other…
He hoped that one day, he'd be able to be fully healed and see them again too.
Leon's breathing was raspy, his machinery damaged from the lightning magic he'd taken to save her life.
"Leon! LEON!" Livia cried as she tried to help him up but his weight was dragging her down.
She could still hear Angie's roars of fury as the ship shook under her wrath.
She tried to support him at least, taking a bit to regain some strength.
Where was Luxion!?
"Livia…help me take…this mask off…" Leon rasped out.
"But…you'll die…" she whispered in response, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Nothing…can stop that now…" he replied heavily. "Just for once, let me…look on you with my own eyes."
Livia was breaking down but she tearily nodded and helped him remove the helmet and mask.
The first thing she could see was pale skin, then scars but more than that…
His eyes.
Pleading at her with acceptance.
She smiled softly at him, despite his appearance.
He was still her Leon.
Seeing the acceptance in her eyes, he smiled back.
He could die in peace.
Luxion would protect them, that he knew.
"Now go…Livia…leave me…"
Livia frowned deeply as a heavy look appeared in her eyes.
"No. I won't leave you. I'm going to save you, Leon."
She began to glow with healing magic.
"Just like you saved me."
And yeah, that's the end of that. Tell me what you think? I have another example of this with my other story Darth Kyofu, but this will be a series of oneshots with different characters.
Don't expect frequent updates.
Also want to make a Megatron miniseries (aka, what if different anime characters acted like/had backstories similar to Aligned!Megatron.
For an example, check out my Megatron!Izuku oneshots in The Manifold.
Thanks for reading!