Pesche looked around considering his options, as much as he wanted to join his siblings and play without a care in the world this was not the time to relax. He had very little information about the current situation, Lady Nelliel upon hearing that man's reaction didn't set her eyes on anything else, and her time as an adult came to an end too soon.
Summing up the little he could observe the interaction between the two Espada was as volatile as ever no matter how selflessly his Master offered her help, no surprise there. That man's wounds gave them some time to plan but it was impossible to know how much, a confrontation was bound to happen, and there was no guarantee that someone so crazy wouldn't come for them before even healing, they had to move.
"Nel, Dondochakka, we must continue our travels, this time as far as possible from Las Noches, until we lose sight of the palace," he proposed trying to sound enthusiastic.
"We can't do that," Nel replied without taking her eyes off her biggest brother's hand, they were playing, every time she tried to catch his hand he raised it higher, that giant was a cheater but she was going to win. Pesche started to speak in the way Nel understood best, and the least frightening.
"It's a new game! It's like infinite tag but this time the building is the one who captures," It wasn't a lie except for being a "new game", running away and hiding had been their life for twenty years. Nel knew very well the danger of staying close and Pesche didn't understand why she refused to leave.
"The game sounds fun but we'll leave it for later, we have to take him to Las Noches," she said pointing to the Fracción on the ground. Tesla didn't listen to anything they were talking about, his mind was still in turmoil trying to assimilate what was happening and enduring the pain that still did not leave his body, not even the best healing kido could fade damage of that magnitude in an instant, just the memory made him tremble, that reaper was a being straight out of a nightmare.
Even for someone like his Master recovering from something like this would be...no, he couldn't dare to doubt in the slightest, no one was stronger than him. The others' conversation finally reached his ears, which surprised him considering the noisy voices of everyone in that group.
"We don't have time Nel, he was healed by the Soul Reapers, he'll be fine," The girl's expression changed as soon as she heard him, a combination of anger and sadness, she was disappointed in her brother.
"He just got healed, he can't move, if he stays here someone could eat him," The Arrancar remained silent, he couldn't deny that was a possibility, but he didn't want to convince her by mentioning that man, that would make her curious about the subject, the last thing she needed was to think about him.
"Nel was helped by many, she can't leave someone hurt behind!" Pesche sighed resignedly as he saw his reflection in the girl's teary eyes, with that he knew there was nothing to discuss.
Pesche never saw Tesla up close but he recognized him, the Arrancar who started following Nnoitra years ago, if he is still here it can only mean he has become his Fracción, nothing good can be expected from someone who decides to swear his loyalty to a being like the Octavo, he didn't know to what extent he took part but the fact that he tried to harm Lady Nelliel before he and Dondochakka arrived was beyond doubt. But for now he had to leave all that in the past, the little girl in front of him was his Master, that would never change, and having a cloudy memory didn't change her heart, he knew better than anyone that she'd want to help without thinking about risks or if that person deserve it.
He wouldn't dare to look her in the eyes again if he didn't do the right thing, he'd just received a direct order "You win!" Pesche declared in defeat placing a hand to his forehead.
"Nel won!" She exclaimed hanging on to Dondochakka's hand, difficult to know which victory she was referring to but knowing her surely both.
"We just left him at the door, rang the bell and ran far away. Deal?" He asked with the "sternest" voice he was capable of allowing in front of Nel.
"Deal!" The girl answered by raising her palm in a sign of oath and that alone was enough to shatter his already fragile attempt of being "strict", it was simply impossible not to be infected by her optimism.
"Very well since everything is decided, you go upstairs," he said as he lifted her onto his shoulders. "Dondochakka, please carry our friend."
"I'm coming!" The largest of the group literally lunged at Tesla lifting him before he could react, for a few seconds he felt like he was being shaken but other than that he didn't feel any discomfort or bone out of place, perhaps the big Arrancar was more aware of his actions than it seemed.
"But Nel is no longer fainted, she is fine, she can walk."
"Fainted," Pesche had to bite his tongue to keep from repeating it out loud, she was smiling as if it were a simple anecdote and for her sake he should to react the same way, the only visible sign of the crisis in his mind was to remain motionless for a second, only the other two noticed. If this were someone else Dondochakka would cry and make a lot of questions and statements of being scared that unlike his partner wouldn't be acting, but he knew when to keep quiet. He couldn't help but squeeze the Arrancar in his arms with a little more force than necessary.
"Eh, eh, little miss, remember we already lost you once today," he was about to mention all the trouble they went through but he stopped in time, they can talk about it while being safe "and if that happens again we won't be able to give our companion his ride home."
"Okay," The girl didn't insist and decided to enjoy the trip, she felt energetic enough to walk but on second thought she still felt a little headache, a nap later wouldn't hurt. They began their path in silence, Tesla preferred it that way with them simply ignoring his presence, he didn't have the strength or will to speak, but that atmosphere didn't last long.
"Don't think we can't respond if you try something funny," those words caught Nel's attention.
"Are you challenging him to a comedy routine? That'd be awesome!"
"Indeed! But in his condition doing pirouettes isn't recommended, I would even bet that it goes against doctor's orders," it didn't take a face to know he was smiling but Nel immediately gave him a small punch in discontent.
"Why do you challenge him if he can't? Bad Pesche."
"Ouch! Sorry, I'm to blame it was dumb," he received his "punishment" and resumed the walk as if nothing had happened.
The small exchange put Tesla on alert, the former Tercera's servant honestly had a disturbing control over his voice, using his real tone at the right moment to emphasize key words letting Tesla get an idea of the rest, and with that same ease he just returned to play clown. The objective was obvious, to make it clear to him, an enemy, who was in control, in a way that went unnoticed by the little girl.
They'd just threatened him, simple as that, but while it was not something to take lightly it wasn't an immediate concern, a subordinate trying to protect his Master is capable of doing anything, but even without the warning he didn't plan to make a move, not before receiving an order, but he knew that was impossible. If he had recognized Nelliel in her child form he wouldn't have even dared to attack her, that woman is a boulder in the way, the kind of obstacle you should only destroy with your own hands, that prey only belongs to his Master.
"Too bad, I did want to see the comedy routine," Dondochakka added suddenly in a sad voice making Tesla reconsider his observations, the big Arrancar disturbed him even more, he can't imagine what is going through his head and he definitely wasn't going to try.
Accepting the enemy's help without resistance is humiliating, not to mention stupid, but if he wanted to live he had no alternative, his death would be of no use, use... Was he ever really useful? When his Master needed him most he couldn't do anything, the Reaper's attack left a huge scar that ran across the left side of his body, he deserved it, that would be a permanent reminder of his failure.
Most Arrancars in his position would defend their pride tooth and nail but Tesla knew his place very well. Pride comes hand in hand with power, he had neither. Suddenly he heard the girl's sweet voice addressing him again.
"You rest, Dondochakka is very comfy, Nel sleeps on top of him all the time," The impassive Tercera in such a fragile body was something bizarre to see up close, but the compassionate nature that was so repulsive to his Master was intact.
"Are you implying that he is more comfy than me?" Her other brother replied slightly offended.
"Of course... he is..." She said between yawns until she fell asleep, Pesche saw his partner with complicity. "I already knew that was going to happen."
"What a coincidence, me too!" Dondochakka whispered back and they laughed among themselves, until Pesche stopped to say in a monotone "But right now there is something important we need to discuss, it cannot wait..."
Tesla instinctively tightened his grip on Verruga "...it's unfair how Nel considers you more comfy than me, I should add more calories to my diet."
"But what are you saying? I am not fat! I am big boned," the other immediately defended himself with giant tears coming out of his mask, tears that fell on poor Tesla like rain.
"That's the most cliché excuse ever. Do you think Nel would want to sleep on a pile of bones?"
"Is that why she doesn't want to sleep with you?" Dondochakka asked innocently, his friend gave a sigh of indignation and they both started to "argue" without slowing down the pace.
The Quinto's Fracción couldn't believe how he even considered that pair a danger. Was it even real? Arrancar acting that way? It seemed more plausible that he had gone mad from the pain. He witnessed their eccentricities for longer than he wanted but after getting over the initial shock he just ignored the duo, it was easy because they did the same, eventually silence returned.
Halfway there the whole atmosphere around changed, a colossal presence made them paralyze. Nel moved a bit but luckily she didn't wake up.
"You know, I think the scenic route looks better," Pesche didn't need to explain the reasons.
The group began to walk kind of aimlessly but at a distance that allowed them to feel what was happening. They never felt anything like this before, the higher rank Espadas were not allowed to release their resurrección in Las Noches and yet they were capable of subduing lower hollows with just being there, but anything they could imagine didn't compare, even far away the weight of that power was capable of crushing.
Ulquiorra Cifer's Reiatsu was unmistakable but that far exceeded the limit of a Cuarto Espada, and before assimilating that something like this could exist a second entity appeared out of nowhere making the Espada look small in comparison, it was like a black hole that swallowed everything. Pesche was about to ask Tesla for explanations but his terrified face showed that it was also something unknown to him.
"On second thought, how about we camp for now? Las Noches is having a pretty loud party and we're definitely not on the list."
"Leave me here and go on your way," the Fracción addressed them for the first time, speaking with confidence even when it was evident that the effort was hurting him "The Ex Tercera is asleep, she doesn't have to know, just tell her that you left me in Las Noches and I'm sure she will believe you."
"Her name is Nel," Dondochakka corrected him matter-of-factly.
"And you better remember it!" Replied the other with a cartoonish angry voice, without a surprising change of tone, he didn't use it again that day "And about what you propose, don't even think about it, we gave our word, asking us to lie doesn't give us a very good first impression of you."
Tesla tried to respond but that damned pain attacked him again, his body and spirit were in pieces... and they were witnessing it all, probably laughing silently at the sight of him becoming less than dirt...
"...Please, don't try hard... you won't help anyone if you die," The Arrancar's response took him by surprise, somehow he was able to appease the self-hatred just for a moment, those simple words for some reason gave him a little comfort. They were almost a kinder echo of his own thoughts, a strange coincidence.
"I'm sorry we don't have any pillows" Dondochakka said as he gently placed Tesla on the sand, gave him his space and then lay down on his back. Pesche laid the girl on him who, still asleep, curled up on herself like a little animal.
"If you want, you can join" Dondochakka offered, he honestly didn't see why not. His partner didn't object to the idea, he just laid his head on his friend's side.
"I prefer to decline," he said, looking away.
That pair was definitely crazy. Why did they even offer him something like that? He was stupid for getting help but they were worse, having his Master's hatred was the same as having his own, their position as enemies did not change in the slightest. Worst of all, he once again reaffirmed how weak he was as an Arrancar, he couldn't help but feel something akin to gratitude.
The Fracción tried to walk on his own when he woke up, and was actually successful for a few minutes, even Tesla himself was surprised, but the moment he claimed victory the pain returned stronger than before, he didn't fall hit the ground thanks to the Arrancar who took the task of carrying him, he grabbed Tesla by his clothes and placed him back in his arms just like the day before, as easily as if he were holding a bag. That was followed by words of encouragement and concern from the girl along with lectures from Pesche about how that was a bad idea.
Definitely not, no matter how much he thought about it there was no possible way that his Master would let him live after this, in a way it took a weight off his shoulders, in his mind he was already resigned to being a dead man.
"We're here!" Nel ran towards the doors of the palace, since she woke up her energy had been at its peak.
"Wait Nel!" Pesche went after her and Dondochakka followed from behind shaking Tesla in the process, one way or another they didn't give him time to get depressed. The girl stopped just in front of the entrance.
The artificial blue sky disappeared giving way to a nostalgic darkness, the Reiatsu of the Cuarto and that of his nameless opponent had vanished long before that, the sun always felt alien in Hueco Mundo but the Fracciones weren't sure if they should take its absence as a good omen.
"You said we will knock on the door," She said pointing to the immense fortress. Nel had a very good memory but the older Arrancar was no longer so sure of following those exact words. Though after thinking a bit he decided to do it anyway, after all in such a colossal place it's almost impossible to hear a few insignificant knocks, not to mention that Aizen's plan was in motion and that should be top priority, there was nothing to worry about, it was just a formality so as not to look like a liar...
But he was not able to even take another step, he felt an unknown presence upon them.
Pesche took the girl and quickly returned to Dondochakka and Tesla. He instinctively stood in front of her even though he knew it wasn't the best shield "Stay behind me!"
"Looks like we have intruders!" a female voice shouted from above.
A huge palace, several entrances, an ongoing war, they didn't even knock on that door and they were still discovered, they had enough bad luck to give away. They were confronted by a black-haired Arrancar who wasted no time in introductions.
"Get out of here!" The Spiritual Pressure of the group seemed insignificant to her and she immediately dismissed them as a threat, for her they were just typical annoying Hollows, she was determined to scare them away but something caught her attention.
"Is that the Quinto's Fracción?"
"I am," Tesla answered, looking her straight in the eyes in a useless attempt to preserve some dignity. He hoped to be found by Número servants to appease the shame a little, he would have preferred to die in the desert rather than be seen like this by his peers, held as if he were some weak little child.
"Less than a day and there are already intruders?" Another Arrancar woman who looked even more imposing arrived at the scene.
"The work never ends," the last of the girls added calmly, this one had a much more serene voice, both also noticed the presence of the injured Fracción.
The Tres Bestias never interacted much with Tesla before, mostly glances of disdain the times that their Lady accidentally crossed paths with that Espada, to which he also responded with a look of indifference and haughtiness towards them. In the first meeting the Tercera appeased their desire to break both of their faces by simply raising her hand, and her orders are unquestionable. From that moment on, despite the indignation they felt, the Bestias stayed on the sidelines.
They were few times, childish provocations full of vulgarities to which Hallibel gave dry responses, she did not allow these exchanges to last long and he didn't insist, everyone went their own way afterwards. This shouldn't give them much to think about, Arrancar men always sucked, but for some reason the occasional arguments with Grimmjow didn't give them such a bad feeling. Their Master was wise to stop them before they made things worse, they would never back down from anyone but thinking with a cool head getting in the middle would've been stupid, for someone of lower rank having the attention of the Quinto is suicide.
"We are not intruders, ladies," Apacci and Mila Rose growled as they heard Pesche speak with what they thought was too much nonchalance, Sung-Sun didn't change her expression. Pesche sweatdropped at that but remained calm and cleared his throat, they didn't seem interested in conflict but it was better to watch his words.
"We only brought him to Las Noches since his injuries made it impossible for him to get here on his own, after this you will not hear from us again," He decided to get straight to the point, it was obvious that those ladies weren't in the mood for jokes.
"You have to take good care of him," Nel was already in front of him joining the conversation before he knew it. Pesche panicked and rushed to pick her up and cover her mouth just in case, he will apologize for that later.
"Is a part of the Pícaro on the loose?" Apacci asked referring to the Arrancar 102, apart from that particular exception seeing an Arrancar child was not something common at all, Pesche was quick to correct before having more problems.
"Of course not! She has nothing to do with them" The girl didn't insist on that topic but she asked him a question even more difficult to answer.
"Why are you helping him?" Pesche was the one who received all the questions, they made the poor guy regret having such a big mouth, he didn't even know what to say.
"Because he was injured and almost died, he couldn't get here alone," Nel answered in his place as if it were the most normal thing in the world, she just never ceased to surprise. Pesche backed her up right away.
"That's the truth, there is no other reason behind this," Sometimes the best answer was the most honest and simple "Please let us go, we would never dare to get in the way of Lord Aizen's plan."
Mila Rose was the one who intervened this time "There is no longer a Lord Aizen, that bastard betrayed us all, he was captured by the Soul Society and I hope he rots there. Lady Hallibel is the ruler now and you will show her the respect she deserves."
"Who?" He couldn't avoid the indiscretion of asking out loud, but Tesla clarified his doubts without giving the others time to get offended.
"The current Tercera," he said without further ado.
"That is the past, the Primera and Segunda are dead. Our Lady is the only one who has the right to rule!"
Normally Apacci would have joined Mila Rose's furious attempts to defend the honor of their Master, but something wasn't right, she knew those guys were hiding something. Arrancar don't help each other without getting any benefit, Tesla answered the question with too much familiarity, they didn't give the impression of being some random fools who he tricked to get there, in fact she was pretty sure the Quinto's Fracción would prefer the opposite... and that child, if she wasn't part of the Pícaro or a case like Lilynette's, her presence was even stranger. Why didn't the Quinto just kill them?
"The Quinto is also dead?" The sudden question left everyone in silence, the girl in her innocence was going to answer but Pesche slowly shook his head as a sign of no, she obeyed with a sad face, she also felt that heavy aura around her.
"Master Nnoitra is not dead," Tesla responded as he usually did, to the point, the small break in his voice was almost impossible to notice.
"So he aouch! What the hell is wrong with you!?" The Anaconda Arrancar acting a little out of character elbowed her partner who stared at her as if she had gone crazy, not because the blow had actually hurt. Sung-Sun, although she had no qualms about throwing words full of venom towards them, never joined the "game" of physical confrontation, not even a little because according to her it showed immaturity.
"Do you..." Her outburst was interrupted when Sung-Sun began to speak as if nothing had happened, making herself heard without needing to raise her voice an octave.
"Lady Hallibel made it very clear that all the Espadas and their subordinates are still owners of what belongs to them, nothing has changed. She will be upset if we don't let someone injured in immediately, and in any case it will be better to interrogate them in her presence, there is no point in hearing the same thing twice."
Sung-Sun was the most perceptive of the girls, she noticed this was a delicate situation and that her friend, as usual, was going to speak tactless, avoiding this was worth being childish for a few seconds, her opportune action left Apacci grunting and crossing her arms.
"Follow us! Either way you'd have to do it if you really want to help him, I'm not going to carry that guy. You think you're very smart, don't you?"
Sung-Sun didn't respond or show her face but you could see that she was enjoying the moment of superiority, she proceeded to address the group in front of her with great class.
"You are very lucky that Lady Hallibel is now in charge, knowing her is the best thing that could happen to you,"
Pesche tried to calm down a little with those words, he envied how his friend when he wanted to was able to disconnect from the world and remain calm as ice, even though the first meeting was a bit aggressive they didn't seem to be bad girls, if they wanted to get rid of them there would be no reason to prolong it. He never dreamed that they would enter Las Noches again as "guests", much less through the front door, he only prayed for the sake of the others this wasn't a mistake.
As a small clarification, Pícaro is a character from Bleach's novel "Spirits Are Forever With You". In case of novel references they will be explained at the end of the chapter, don't worry they won't be very relevant to the general story, just a small addition :)