Hello, welcome to part one of the Re:Zero part of the story. I want to keep the story going similar to my original plans, though there may be some changes.
The main purpose of theis section is a simple request.
If any name (Be it Song, Album, or Artist) is already in use and I end up using it for a different stand/character. Just tell me, JoJo has been going since the seventies and it can be rather difficult to keep track of the names attributed to everything in Araki's work.
Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter.
Subaru had to resist the urge to sigh as he ran his hands over his face. He was alone in an alleyway, his bag of convience store goodies and the clothes on his back being rhe only things he had to his name.
Just a little bit earlier, or Far earlier than one may believe, he had been a normal teenager in Japan. Spending his days in isolation, now he found himself in another world.
His hope had been high, all those manga and light novels he had read told of what amazing things happen to people who get isekaied.
It was most crushing when he found out he was not to be one of those people.
He had a few blunders, talked with some people, and he even got to meet a beautiful elf girl.
Then he died.
Only to find himself living once more.
He was trapped in a cycle. He couldn't get that beautiful elf girl out of his head. Satella she told him, until she scorned him for calling her that in another loop He tried what he could to help her, but it was no use. Help her search for her missing trinket, he had his guts sliced open. Act as a third party and he dies anyway. Try to get her attention without needing to be rescued by her, and she hates him.
He can't even walk away, he just can't ignore this now that he knows what will happen to her.
He couldn't let her die, nor could he ignore the others who will be killed as well.
'Should I try to barter without talking to her?' Subaru pondered. "No, it might not work, the only thing of proper value I have is..." he trailed off as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. It was rather plain, but with no wifi or internet most of its functions were completely useless. He could still take pictures and record videos, but that was about it.
It was another lone piece of his old life, a bridge to what he may never see again.
Still, he may not have a choice.
'Still; Satella, or what ever her name is, will be arriving here soon. I just have to wait for the three stooges to arrive and let her rescue me. Then we can team up and make our way for the loothouse, though if I point her right at it then she'll be suspicious.' Subaru paused before letting out a huff. "Go right for it and I come off as suspicious, wait too long and people die." he surmised with a whisper. He ran a hand through his black locks and leaned back. "I hate time travel nonsense." Subaru said before he heard something clatter against the ground.
Looking over the alleyway Subaru's eyes scanned his surroundings for the source of the noise. Then he noticed it, half buried in the stone of the ground with the light reflecting off it rather brightly, was a piece of metal. He couldn't recall seeing it in any of his previous loops in the alleyway, not with how the light shined off the metal.
Cautiously Subaru stepped forward and reached out to pick up the metal piece. It felt strange as he grasped the metal between his fingers. As he held the piece of scrap up to inspect it, it felt as though it was moving.
Then it slipped from his grasp, stabbing into his palm.
Subaru fell to his knees as a strange feeling overwhelmed his senses. He looked to his now bleeding palm, his eyes widening in shock as the metal shard was burying itself deeper into the flesh of his hand. Had it not been for the pain now wrecking through his body he would have used his free hand to tear the metal out of the palm. The world seemed to shift as Subaru fell to his back with a horrid thump.
He could hear people arriving, but he couldn't do anything. He shifted his gaze to see the three stooges slowly approaching him, caution written on their faces.
Then the pain stopped.
Subaru sucked in a deep breath and brought himself back to his feet. The trio of muggers just looked at him with curiosity before getting closer. He could barely react before one of them had their knife aimed for his gut and a hard look on their face. "Alright kid, empty your pockets and no one gets hurt." The tall one threatened. "I... I don't have any money." Subaru replied with a tired expression as he tried to recover from the bizarre experience.
This was the wrong answer as the taller one growled and stomped on his foot. Subaru let out a shout as the tall thug dug his heel into his foot. The thin one and the short one both huffed before each grabbing one of his arms. "Well, since you're wasting our time, might as well blow off some steam." The tall one said before punching Subaru in the gut.
Spit flew from his mouth before Subaru felt his eyes harden. He glared at the three of them just as something blurred past them. He could see that it was the young girl, the theif who stole the elf girl's possession. That meant that the white haired maiden wasn't far behind. As the theif dissapeared with a shout of "Live Strong." Subaru tried to bite back against the growing pain in his gut.
Especially as he heard another set of footsteps enter the alleyway.
Emilia was not in a good mood right now. She had hoped to enjoy a brief walk through the capitol, maybe have a talk with some of the knights. Ignore the hateful whispers and glared daggers that people would sent to her behind her back.
Perfectly normal things for anyone who just so happened to have the misfortune of looking like the being who almost destroyed the world four hundred years ago.
Now she and Puck were stuck chasing a theif through the streets. Said theif had taken her only key to changing the world for the better, the Dragon insignia that represents her viability for the throne. Puck had tracked the theif to an alleyway, only for them to stumble upon another robbery in progress.
Two thugs held a lone boy upright as a third beat him with his bare hands.
She may be in a hurry, but she couldn't just stand by and let such a thing happen.
"Hold it right there!" She shouted. Puck was by her side immediately, two chunks of ice floating near him as she looked at the three crooks. They let out sounds of shock and backed away, letting the boy fall to the ground. He let out a quiet mutter that she couldn't hear, though Puck seemed to huff at him for some reason.
"Have any of you seen a theif running extremely fast?" She asked, wanting some information since the theif had gone through this alley. "She... She just passed us, went over the roofs." The short one said. "I see, well, I'll be off." She said, watching as the crooks breathed a sigh of relief. "But First." She said as the ice trippled in quantity. The crooks didn't need to be told twice, running out of the alley as fast as their legs could carry them.
She turned to the boy, he was on his hands and knees dry heaving. She approached him, ready to heal him. "Thank you." he muttered quietly while forcing himself upwards. He was still on his knees, but she could now look him in his rather nasty orange eyes. "A beautiful angel came to my rescue." The boy said, making her raise her brow.
That was new.
The boy seemed to notice her reaction and his eyes widened. "Ah, I said that out loud" he said while running a hand along the back of his neck in embarrassment. Emilia had to cover her mouth to prevent her chuckling from escaping. Puck just seemed to narrow his eyes at the boy before floating close to her. "This boy feels weird Lia, there's something strange about him, especially his hand." Puck whispered to her. Emilia just looked him over as he rested his hands on his knees.
She ran a hand over his back and let Puck's magic start healing him. The boy just seemed to grit his teeth in pain as his left hand began to craddle his right hand. She looked closer at his hand and found a piece of metal embedded in the palm. "Did they do that?" She asked carefully. "No, it happened earlier." The boy replied as he straightened his stance. "Here, let me help." She said while reaching for the shard. "Wait." The boy said just as she touched the shard.
It was only for a moment, but it cut into her fingers as she grabbed it. For that split second she could feel the world twist and her head spin. Then all was back too normal as though nothing had happened. Both Puck and the Boy seemed to notice the bleeding, the former growing concerned while the latter became apologetic. The shard remained in his hand as she inspected her bleeding fingers.
"Ah... are you ok?" he asked, mirroring her own question. "Its nothing serious." She waved him off as the bleeding ceased. The boy's gaze returned to the shard in his hand then back to her. They both stood in silence for a moment as Puck began healing her hand.
The boy cleared his throat and took a step back. "Sorry about that, but thank you for helping me. My name is Natsuki Subaru, I am completely broke and absolutely lost. How can I aid you." he proclaimed with a proud smile. She let a snort escape her throat as she looked at him. "Ah.. It's no issue, but I must be going." She turned him down. "Then let me help you, you helped me so its only fair. You're following a theif right?" Subaru inquired. "Yes." Emilia replied. "Well, two people searching is better than one." Subaru said.
"I do believe so, if you wish to help then come on, the theif ran through this alleyway right?" she asked. "Yep, ran over top the roofs that a way." Subaru said while pointing towards another part of town. She looked to Puck, raising her brow as she saw him silently glaring at the shard in Subaru's hand. "Puck, what do you think?" She asked. He seemed to shake himself straight before he looked over Subaru. "I think he is trustworthy, but be careful." Puck said before his eyes returned to the shard.
As they left the alleyway, Subaru offering some directions to where the theif most likely was, she felt some strange lingering feeling in her heart.
'Damn it, all this hard work, only to have to start again.' Subaru lamented as he stood next to the elf girl. Across from them stood Elsa. Ice was everywhere, Rom was on the ground bleeding, and Felt had fled with a bit of prodding. Puck was still present, but with all the attacks they've had to use he wasn't sure how long he'd remain.
'Damn it, all this hard work, only to have to start again.' Subaru lamented as he stood next to the elf girl. Across from them stood Elsa. Ice was everywhere, Rom was on the ground bleeding, and Felt had fled with a bit of prodding. Puck was still present, but with all the attacks they've had to use he wasn't sure how long he'd remain.
Yet, as the fight progressed he could feel something in his soul. Not like the grasp around his heart, rather it was something that tried to surface through his will.
Puck created yet another wall of ice as he and the elf girl fell back to Rom's still bleeding form. Sweat ran down his brow as he grasped a piece of rubble in his left hand. "I think... that we need to rethink this." Subaru said. The elf girl nodded as Puck glared at the wall. "Ok, you got your insignia right?" he asked. The elf girl shook her head; "No, that Felt girl took it with her." She replied. Subaru huffed as he heard the ice cracking.
"I'll grab her attention, you keep pressure on her. With any hope Felt will get some help." Subaru said. The elf girl nodded before summoning more icicles. He held the piece of rubble, most likely part of a broken chair, in his one good hand and carefully clenched his other fist.
Elsa charged through the ice, both blades aimed for a killing blow. In that split second before the blades hit him, he knew he was going to die again.
Then he heard it.
The sound of something heavy hitting the ground followed by a large dial bring turned.
Now he stood where he had been moments before. The elf girl just behind him, Elsa letting out a sound of annoyance at his sudden movement. 'What the?' he pondered for only a moment as Elsa came in fot another strike. Without thinking he grabbed onto the elf girl's hand and he heard a dial being turned once more, yet differently.
In an instant they in the spot he had intially been standing. "Subaru how?!" She shouted as Elsa turned back, her expression growing far more annoyed. "I... I don't know." he said before he noticed something nearby. It had not been there before, not to mention the odd feeling that eminated from it.
The it in question resembled some sort of casque, lined with strange bits of art split be layers. Each piece of art with joined with Japanese Kanji, the most noticable being an outcrop at the "Front" of the Casque, a plaque with a mash up of letters that made no proper word.
Then Elsa attempted to strike again and Subaru felt his self preservation and his desire to protect the elf girl flare up. 'Come on, this thing is moving us around. Maybe, if I just think of it...' he trailed off. Then he heard a dial being turned, or rather one of the layers on the casque shifted leftwards. He could hear Elsa charge forwards, but he was now next to Rom's bleeding form and she was met with a face full of ice.
'Just think, think harder. You're jumping from spot to spot, but only specific spots.' Subaru pondered as he put a hand on Rom. "Lets see if this works?" he mused as the sound of a dial shifting hit his ears again. He and Rom's unconscious form now stood in front of the elf girl. He held out his arm to her with a smile on his face. "If I'm right then we're getting out of here." he said as the elf girl grabbed onto his arm. He concentrated as the sound of dial moving echoed throughout.
Now they stood in front of the loothouse, just as someone had apparently burst a hole through the side of it. "THE HELL!!!" Someone shouted from their side. Subaru and the elf girl turned to see that it was Felt, her mouth hanging wide open at their sudden appearance. No one said anything as Felt just rushed to Rom's side to check on him.
They could hear the sounds of the unknown figure battling Elsa from within the Loothouse. Yet all the elf girl and her cat spirit did was look at him with deep curiosity. "Subaru, how did you do that? or summon that?" She asked in while pointing to the Casque that had travelled with them. "I..." he tried to explain, only for the words to be trapped in his throat. "I don't know how, just that it let me... teleport?" he guessed while looking back at the large Casque.
"Oi, the fuck you two looking at?!" Felt shouted from behind them. "You don't see it?" The elf girl asked. "See what, all I see is a ruined house and a lost job." Felt admonished as the Loothouse exploded with a bright light. He and the elf girl grabbed a hold of one another as the shockwave pushed everything back.
As the dusted cleared and a glare from Puck made Subaru back away. Felt had used Rom's unconscious form as a shield as they saw one man walk out of the crater that had once been the Loothouse. The red haired knight Subaru had encountered in a few prior loops, Reinhardt. He took a look around before approaching them.
"My apologies for the mess, I hadn't sensed anyone in the house and feared for the worst." Reinhardt apologized. "Is she dead?" Subaru asked cautiously. Reinhardt took a look back at the crater before shaking his head. "It appears that she's escaped, I'm sorry that I could not apprehend her." Reinhardt said as he approached them.
As he looked them over Subaru could see The Elf Girl walked over to Felt and give her a stern look. "Would you be so kind as to return what you had stolen?" she requested. Felt just looked at her, then to Reinhardt, then to Subaru, then down at Rom's unconscious form. With a huff she put a hand into her bag and withdrew the glowing dragon insignia.
Just as she held it out Reinhardt was next to her. Felt jumped back in shock as The elf Girl's eyes widened. "Miss Emilia, is that what I think it is?" Reinhardt inquired. The now named Emilia nodded as Reinhardt grabbed Felt's arm. "HEY, LET ME GO!!" Felt shouted as Reinhardt looked at the glowing insignia before passing it back to Emilia. The glow snuffing out in his hand, only to start again as Emilia held it. "I must bring you with me, it is of the utmost importance." Reinhardt stated rather bluntly.
"Oh hell no, not without Rom." Felt argued. "That is acceptable." Reinhardt said before Subaru heard something strange from his hand. Felt seemed to pass out as Reinhardt hoisted her over his shoulder. Subaru and Emilia just watched as Reinhardt hoisted Rom over his other shoulder, completely unburdened by the sheer size and weight of the giant. "I wish you luck in the upcoming election Emilia, try to keep a closer eye on your insignia." Reinhardt said before he left.
The two stood in silence as Reinhardt turned into a blur.
"So... your name is Emilia?" Subaru asked, breaking the silence. Emilia seemed embarrassed as she nodded, then her eyes widened. "Subaru, you're bleeding." She proclaimed. Subaru looked down as she pointed at a large bloodstain on his tracksuit. In a panic he ran his left hand over the blood stain on his gut. Then he paused as he felt no wound, only a sutured scar.
And a small figure now held between his fingers. As he brought it up, Emilia also brought her face closer so they could both see it. It was small and pure white in color, its body shape reminded Subaru of a chibi. It had two bright blue eyes on its face and faint nubs on its arms. All in all it was rather adorable.
"Emilia, is this a spirit?" Subaru asked. "Not one that I've ever seen." Emilia replied as the small doll like being turned to her. It made a noise as Emila looked over herself. Subadu could see more of them appearing over her shoulders and in her hands. "Huh?" She exclaimed as the first one jumped from Subaru's hands and onto her shoulders. "Are they... Are these mine?" Emilia asked as they seemed stared up at her.
Subaru just watched as Emilia began to smile at them. 'I was struck by a piece of metal, I felt something weird then I get some strange thing that I can summon. Then Emilia gets cut on the metal, then she gets some sort of summon as well.' Subaru pondered. 'Metal?... Summoning?... Stand?...' Subaru paused as something clicked in his mind. "These are Stands." he whispered in shock.
Emilia gave him a curious look as the little dolls began to dissapear. "Stands????" She inquired. "Ah, well..." Subaru pondered how best to explain suddenly gaining the powers found in a fictional series in his world. "There are these tales where I'm from, of manifested fighting spirit and willpower, These are called Stands. What a Stand can do is never truly understood, only that they Stand by you, hence the name." Subaru tried his best to explain. "Did a dunderhead make such a joke?" Emilia asked. "Who even says dunderhead anymore?" Subaru countered. Emilia just huffed before she looked back at her arms.
"Wait, before anything else, there are some rules they have." Subaru said. "What are they?" Emilia inquired. "First is that Stand Users will attract other stand users." Subaru said as Emilia blushed. "Not... that kind of attraction, not always." Subaru corrected. "Next is that only stand users can see Stands." Subaru said as Emilia frowned. "Though, thinking about it, most of the other rules are kind of vague and filled with exceptions." Subaru said.
"Oi, where have you been Miss Emilia?!" They heard someone shout. The pair turned to see a Pink haired maid approach them. "Ah, Ram, I'm sorry for disappearing like that." Emilia apologized. Ram just huffed before she turned to Subaru. "And who is this piece of refuse you are walking with?" Ram inquired with little mercy. "This is Subaru, thanks to him I retrieved what I needed." Emilia introduced him as he waved at Ram.
Ram huffed in annoyance as Emilia took his hand. "Subaru, I must insist one you joining us." Emilia stated. "Uh, well, I don't have anywhere else to go so ok." Subaru said. "O-Kay?" Emilia inquired. "It means alright or I'm fine with this." Subaru quickly explained as Emilia dragged him along.
Ram just huffed before she opened the door to a carriage he hadn't noticed before. As Emilia brought him to a seat he finally felt the day's events hit him. As Ram closed the door he leaned back and his eyes grew heavy. "I think I'll rest my eyes for a second." he said in a slurred tone before he fell asleep.
He had finally made it through the day, no more deaths and a power that he had a long time to understand. Things were truly looking up.
