A/N: Finally! I decided to do this! Hey reader person. Makuta52 here, and I will be your humble author for the evening. Or morning. Or afternoon. (My attempts for a laugh are pathetic, are they not?)

ZnT has quickly become one of my favorite animes ever. Its humor is great, its plot is great, and its characters are as likeable as ever. So, as I begin watching the new season, I will begin this fanfic for you dear readers. Enjoy, and I'll see you at the bottom!

ZnT belongs to Noboru Yamaguchi and J.C. Staff. I don't own a thing…yet.

Chapter 1: Arrival

Tristain Academy of Magic.

Summer came once again, the breezes cool and the sun bright. It was that time of year again. Students gathered around, ready to perform their summoning spells. To find their familiar, their devoted and loving servant.

And as usual, it was up to Mr. Colbert, the fire mage of the school, to watch over the students as they did so. He didn't mind at all, actually. Rather, he enjoyed the whole process. Seeing the familiars that were summoned was actually fun to watch, wondering wherever these creatures were from before that one life changing chant. Thinking about it in that context, however, makes it seem like a terrible concept.

Colbert looked around. "Has everyone completed the ritual?"

The group of students looked around as well, trying to single out the one student who hadn't performed the year round ritual. And, unfortunately, they succeeded, finding the one without a familiar. The group collectively stared at the strawberry-blonde, who increasingly became more and more red with every person watching her. She slowly stepped up, passing the mob of eyes watching over her. When she made it up her teacher, she had already heard the whispers among her fellow students.

"Oh boy. It's the Zero."

"Better back up. There's bound to be an explosion when she's done."

Colbert looked at the girl that stood in front of him. "Louise, are you ready?"

The pinkette looked up with her large equally pink eyes, a look of confidence on her face. She nodded as she whipped out her wand. Others around her backed up, knowing the girl's reputation for…'interesting' spell results. Even Colbert stiffened, wondering what was to happen next.

Proudly, Louise shot her wand up into the air and began her chant for the summoning rights.

"My slave, who lives somewhere in the universe! Oh sacred, beautiful and strong spirit! I desire and here plead from my heart! Answer to my guidance!"

Before the others around her could begin to tease her on her version of the summoning chant, Louise flicked her wrist and cast the spell. What came of it was…to be expected. With a bright flash and a big bang, an explosion detonated, spreading a cloud of dust everywhere. Some of the students fell over from the sheer power of the blast, others coughed from the debris that came from it. Colbert wiped the dust from his brow and squinted, trying to find the one closest to the explosion - Louise. It took a while, but the dust soon settled, revealing the pink haired girl and…something else, sprawled out by her feet.

Everyone looked at the new arrival with confusion and awe. It was…something, they couldn't quite describe it. It was mechanical, but had a humanistic form to it. Rusted armor covered its body, giving off a weird mixture of new and old at the same time. Its legs were long, with triangular feet supporting it, if it was standing, of course. Its arms were also long, with five fingered metal hands protruding out of them. But what was most mystifying about the creature was its head. Four large eyes on a round head, with sharp edges resembling a small helmet on top.

The other students grew closer, wanting to see the thing up close. Even Louise leaned over it, wondering if it was alive or not. She nervously gulped as she slowly moved her shaking hand over the summoned machine's head. As if on cue, the massive thing moved, spreading its arms out to help itself get up. As it rose, the gathered group could see how tall it was. Even Colbert was taken aback at the size of the machine. It moved its four bright eyed head, scanning the area and seeing all the locals. Where…was he?

He looked around confused. This wasn't where he was at first. He looked at the ground. Grass. Vegetation consisting of short plants with narrow leaves. Not concrete. Then he looked back up, his shiny white eyes looking directly at someone. Smaller than him. Much smaller. He cocked his head. Her hair…was pink? What an odd choice. Was she born with it? He really wanted to know. The machine kneeled down, now eye level with the female, ignoring the other life forms he sensed around him.

"Who are you?" The machine asked in a monotone voice. The girl just stared back at him. Could she understand him? Was he in a foreign land? The girl turned to face a much older man behind her. Her lips moved, but he could not understand her either. Even with the ability to read lips, the dialect was hard to translate. It sounded familiar, but garbled.

"Umm…Mr. Colbert?" She called back to her superior.

"Yes Louise? What is it?" The older man responded.

"Is…is this right?" She turned back at the metal thing, staring at him with worried confusion. The machine calculated that something was amiss. Was it his presence that brought forth such befuddlement?

He heard voices through his sensors. Snickering and whispers. Coming from the group behind, watching from afar. Words jumbled together incoherently. They sounded mockingly, though. They must have been making fun of her or something of that sort.

The bald man nodded his head. "Yes Louise. You must finish the ceremony. It's the rule. You know this."

Standing in silence, the pink haired child continued to stare into his eyes. White meeting pink, pink meeting white. The machine heard the girl sigh, a very saddening sigh it was. Then, she begin to speak.

"I am Louise Francoise Lu Blanc de la Valliere. Pentagon that governs the five powers, give this…person your blessing and make it my familiar spirit."

She paused for a moment, then leaned in towards the creature's head. He did not back away, mostly because he had no idea what was going on. But then…then he felt a something warm on his cold, metal armor. It was her. He felt her as she…kissed him. The creatures eyes were set in place, but if they could, they would have grown much, much larger. He had never felt such affection before. He could sense the heat coming from her body, even though he himself had no body heat. The kiss seemed to last an eternity. But the machine didn't care.

Eventually, however, the girl - who the metal thing calculated her name being Louise, that much he was certain - reclined away from him, taking her warm embrace with her. She backed up, letting her teacher come and stand by her. The machine heard something come from the former's mouth, only able to make out the word, 'runes.' Before he could contemplate what that meant, he felt pain on his right hand. If he was human, he would have winced. It was a burning pain, as if someone was etching something into his metal skin. He looked down when the pain began to subside, finding something was indeed encoded onto his hand. They looked like nothing more than simple lines. Maybe it was a language? A code?

He would find out later. When he looked up again, the crowd had begun to disperse, obviously uninterested in his presence anymore. Rising up from his kneeling position, the machine found the strawberry-blonde Louise impatiently staring at him, her hands on her hips and her foot tapping the ground.

"Familiar! Come on!" She seemed to beckon for him. He complied, knowing nowhere else to go.

As he followed the pink haired child, the machine had begun scanning everything he could possibly learn about this place he was in. It looked like a school, having passed a courtyard, a kitchen, a dining hall, and a few rooms he assumed were dorms. Everything here was made of stone, no machinery in sight. The closest he found to a metal companion were some aluminum pots and pans. Not really the most intelligent of objects to start a conversation with.

Soon, the girl named Louise stopped in front of a room after the two climbed a long spiral staircase. She pulled out a key from her pocket and unlocked the door, then entered the room. The machine - who was a good seven to eight feet - wondered if he should enter as well. Deciding the task beneficial, he bent down so he could pass through the door. Thankfully, it was both wide and tall enough for him to fit through. He scanned the room, finding nothing out of the ordinary, except for how regal it looked. The bed, table, and dresser looked very extravagant, and probably cost a lot. Best no sit on any of them.

"Hey! Familiar!"

The machine turned to face Louise, who's arms were folded and her foot still taping. He cocked his head. She obviously still didn't understand that he couldn't… well… understand. She continued her shouts.

"Familiar!" She kept repeating. Familiar. Well known for long or close association. The two only met each other an hour ago. Why does she continue to repeat that word?

The machine decided to try something. He pointed at her, then back at him and shook his head, hoping she would be able to interpret the miming. Louise stared at him for a minute, then nodded.

"You can't understand me, can you?" The machine nodded.

Sighing, the girl whipped out her wand, and pointed it at the robotic newcomer. He, naturally, did not understand the chant she made, only able to make out the words 'let,' 'creature,' 'native,' and 'tongue.' An explosion was the end conclusion, filling the room with dust and smoke. The machine toppled over, the force of such a controlled blast too much even for his durability. He could not see, wiping his lenses of anything blocking them. It took another minute before the dirty air soon lifted, and he was able to find Louise coughing and somehow still standing. She must be very durable. Or really lucky.

To the robot's relief, she spoke. "D-did it work?"

Happily, but unable to show it, he nodded his round head. "Yes."

She was happy as well. He could sense it. But she too did not show it. "G-good! Now you can understand your master."

He cocked his mechanical head. "Master?"

Louise sighed. "Right… let's start with something easy. What's your name?"

"My name?" The robot processed the easy question, answering it in a monotone voice. "Cronoz. My name is Cronoz."

The pinkette cocked an eyebrow. "Cro…nos?" Obviously, the name was new to her.

The rusty mech shook its head. "Cronoz." He corrected.

"Whatever. At any rate, you are still my familiar and I your master," Louise turned away and opened her dresser. "You must still perform the tasks I assign you."

As she began to undress, Cronoz tried to look away. He was programmed by his real master that such activities, like staring at a young women, were vulgar and wrong. But, there was something about this girl. She was indeed pretty, but there was something that he sensed within her. Even though he was a machine, Cronoz knew untapped potential when he could sense it. And this oddly haired colored child was no exception.

Of course, like most girls, she didn't like having anyone watching her change. Especially someone with four eyes.

"H-hey! Look away!" Louise shouted. Cronoz complied.

"Query." The mechanical creature said.

Louise, who finally draped her nightgown over her head, turned around. "What?"

"Familiar," Cronoz started. "What is a familiar?"

"Well…" The young mage frowned. No one had asked that question before. "A familiar is a spirit that comes when a mage summons them. You, in that sense, are my familiar."

"Summoned?" Cronoz repeated. "So, familiar is a synonym for slave?"

"Slave? No, no…more like a servant."

"…So a slave."

Louise stood in silence. Cronoz thought for a minute that she had lost power. Maybe she needed a recharge. Before he could find out, she flew her clothes at him, to which he clumsily caught them. Again, if he was human, his face would have gone red. In his metal palms he held not only her soft black cloak, but also her shirt, skirt and…panties. He looked back up at Louise.

"Wash these." She commanded. She sat down on her bed, and got under the covers, her bright pink hair sprawling about. Cronoz thought she looked kinda cute.

"Query."

Louise placed a hand on her head and rolled around to stare at him. "What is it now?" She asked, annoyed.

"You do not have a washing machine?" Cronoz asked politely. The stare he received as a response was what he expected.

"A washing what?" The mage sat up, and folded her arms. "Just have them done by the morning."

"But-" Cronoz began. Louise interrupted by getting out of bed and attempted to shoo him out of the room. Of course, it was fruitless. How could a sixteen year old frail girl force a one ton robot out of her room with her bare hands? Sighing a mechanical sigh, Cronoz decided to obey, and walked out, unknowingly letting Louise trip and almost smack her head on the ground. He knelt down when exiting the room, and closed the door on his own accord. If this girl was indeed her new master, might as well start with something trivial to start a relationship. As he walked down the stairs, he could here the door CLICK behind him. He ignored it.

As he walked down the halls of the school again, Cronoz sighed. He had been walking for twenty minutes, trying to find someone who could help him. Never in his life was he asked to wash clothes. He wore no clothes, so obviously there was no need for him to do it. Also, he was not designed to do such a task, or any tasks like it. He was a seeker, programmed to search and learn, gain as much knowledge as he possibly could. At least this new experience - the new world, not the laundry - would give something for him something to report when he returned home.

If he returned home.

"Where is home?" He mumbled to himself. He rounded a corner, still holding the laundry in a neat, tidy pile. In the hallway he entered Cronoz saw two life forms. Both human. One was a blonde male, with a fluffy white undershirt under his black cape. The rusty 'familiar' - he was beginning to hate that word more and more - remembered seeing the boy in the group that watched his forthcoming. The other shorter one was a black haired female, wearing a brown cape, indicating she was a first year student - another concept Cronoz figured out on his own.

"Oh Katie, I've always had a thing for you and your cooking. But mostly you."

"Oh Guiche, really?~"

Humans and their emotions. The robot snorted silently. Not wanting to be spotted and raise a ruckus, Cronoz decided to turn around and find help somewhere else. Lucky for him, that help came around the corner as soon he turned around. A black haired girl in a maid outfit. Perfect. She has to know how to do laundry.

"Hello." Cronoz started, alerting the girl of his presence. She turned and yelped in surprise, not suspecting to find a towering robotic creature waving its hand at her. She back up, stuttering.

"P-p-p-please d-don't hurt m-me!" The maid lifted up the tray she was holding up to her face.

Cronoz shook his head and hands. "No. I'm not going to hurt you," He knelt down beside her. "I just need your help."

The maid looked up from behind her frail defense. "H-help?"

Ten minutes later.

"OK, I think I understand now," Siesta - the maid's name - confirmed. "You're Cranaas, and you're a second year student's familiar."

"Cronoz." The creature corrected.

Siesta went red in the face. "S-sorry. It's just such a weird name…"

The mech held up a hand. "I understand."

He was glad he was able to find help, especially in the form of someone capable like Siesta. Apparently she's been working at the school as a maid for sometime now. The two sat in the moonlight near a well. It sure would have been a strange sight for anyone who saw them: A regular commoner next to a giant rusty golem-like creature. It took a while, but Cronoz evidently was able to add a new file to his memory: Washing Laundry.

As he hung up his master's clothing on the clothesline, the machine turned his head to meet the maid's.

"Thank you, Siesta."

"Oh," Siesta blushed. She probably wasn't expecting a 'thank you' from such a creature. "You're welcome."

"Query."

"Huh?"

Cronoz knelt down beside Siesta again, resting his hand on the grass covered ground. "You…are not a mage?"

Siesta nodded. "That is true. I am no noble, as you can plainly tell." She motioned to her black and white maid uniform.

"But you are so pretty." The robot complimented in the hopes that she would find that sweet, rather than awkward and creepy.

Lucky for him, she picked the former, turning redder in the cheeks. "Well…thank you," She looked at the ground, embarrassed. "I'd better be going. I'm sure there is a student that needs me."

Siesta made a small wave as she turned and ran back into the building, leaving a confused Cronoz staring at her. "Bye." He quietly whispered as he turned to inspect how the laundry was doing. When he did, something caught his. Not the laundry, but something in the sky. With his four white eyes, he focused on the two massive planet-like objects that seemingly hung in the sky. He quickly could tell they were moons. But they were like nothing he had ever seen before. The larger one was blue, where as the smaller one was a bright pink. It was both beautiful and strange at the same time. And yet…it was also depressing.

"Where…is home?" The lost mech repeated his question from earlier.

A/N: Phew! Good to go. So, here's the first chapter! How is it? I like it, even though most beginnings to a story are usually really cruddy. I went through a lot of ideas before coming with this one about Louise getting a robot as a partner. I felt it would make an interesting story. Of course, Cronoz belongs to me. No takey takey.

Please tell me if there's anything I can approve on. But don't be a jerk about it, k? Good. I'll come after you.

Thanks for reading, review if you want, and have an explosionrific day!