Disclaimer!: I don't own Zero no Tsukaima or Warhammer 40,000! Please don't sue!

Void Tyrant

By Nim Maj

A Necron Familiar Challenge Response Fic Alternate Universe

Chapter 3: Familiar Show

Louise wandered around the forest just outside of the Academy. "Mou, where is Rex?" she said to herself. Behind her floated 3 Zoanthropes, dutifully keeping her safe. Looking at each other, the middle one then floated forward and nudged Louise with its head.

"Huh?" asked Louise in confusion before she felt a slight mental pressure as the Zoanthrope communicated to her psychically.

"…"

"That's far!" She whined, as she realized that Rex was guarding the hive which was located deeper into the forest. It was at such a distance that horseback riding was needed just to go there and come back in a timely manner.

"Well you better tell Rex to be here for the Familiar Exhibition. I'm showing everyone just how amazing my familiar is!"

The Zoanthropes reluctantly agreed. They wanted to show off too!

That night, Louise was trying to figure out just how to best show off Rex's abilities. It was big and strong and could slash things it seemed. Maybe she could set up a suit of armor to be destroyed? That would entail getting help setting it up though. Maybe Rex was intimidating enough on its own to carry the competition just standing there looking scary?

A knock on the Door drew her out of her daydreams of victory. Xenon, one of her replacement familiars, a Zoanthrope, perked up at the intrusion and got ready. Outside, Zeta and Yeta, the other Zoanthropes hovered just beyond her window, having been awakened from their slumber by Xenon. They tensed for action, but detected no apparent hostility.

"W-who's there?" asked Louise.

A figure entered the room and closed the door quickly. The intruder was clothed in a cloak that obscured their eyes and most of the face in the dim candlelight.

"It's been a while..." the figure rushed to Louise and wrapped their arms around her as the hood fell off. "Louise Francoise!" said Princess Henrietta, for it was her visiting Louise.

"Louise, Louise, good old Louise." Said the princess as she continued to hug her old friend.

Louise jerked out of the Princess' embrace. "You should not Princess!" Louise kneeled before the Princess. "To come to such a humble abode by yourself!"

"Stop those formalities Louise Francoise. We are friends are we not?"

"Princess, those words are too much for me..."

"You have been a childhood friend." She said, hands clasped together as she remembered happier, more carefree days, her voice filled with emotion. "Oh, I've wanted to see you all this time."

"Princess..."

Henrietta wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes. "Ever since father passed away, I haven't had anyone to open my heart to."

Louise took her hands in her own. "Princess, I was surprised when I received a letter from you."

"Yes, I had hoped that by coming personally I could meet you again. And now I can also meet your familiar!" she said as she turned to inspect Xenon.

Quirking and eyebrow, she noted, "Oh my, Louise, what a unique familiar. I don't think I've seen its kind before." Turning back to her friend, she noticed the two familiar creatures hovering just outside the window. "Uhm… Louise…" she began hesitantly, "How come those creatures look like your familiar?"

"Ehehe," Louise chuckled in embarrassment. "The truth is your highness, they're kind of… all my familiars."

"Truly? How is this possible?" Henrietta asked with her head tilted in confusion.

"I… don't quite know." She admitted. "The familiar I summoned is somewhere in the forest nearby, These… creatures look like a smaller version of what I summoned, and bear the same contract runes on their left claws."

Henrietta hummed in consideration. "I see. Will I get to see your familiar in action tomorrow?" she asked.

Louise grinned. "Look forward to it Princess!"

"Lords and ladies, May I present to you, my familiar spirit!" Louise said in triumph. From behind the stage footsteps could be heard, clueing everyone in on a large creature moving out from behind the stage, the Hive Tyrant stretched out to its full impressive height of 6 meters, towering over the stage.

"I give you, Rex!"

The Hive Tyrant ROARed, causing several of the princess' guards to flinch and reach for their wands. The crowd was gaping at the sight of four curved blades for arms, each taller than a man, its massive and powerfully muscled frame, and at the Tyrant's razor sharp teeth and blades. THe Hive Tyrant seemed to exude. power and threat.

"Louise..." whispered a shocked Henrietta.

Needless to say, the Hive Tyrant was larger and more impressive than Tabitha's dragon, though it was more useful with its flight capabilities. Louise's victory was assured.

Unfortunately, it was as she was basking in the glory of her victory that Fouquet's attempted robbery occurred. Too far away to help, Fouquet got away, but without stealing anything, not having managed to break into the vault.

"Hohoho! As you can see, your highness, we are fully capable of protecting the treasures stored here."

"We are glad that every precaution was taken to prevent the theft." Replied Henrietta.

"Bah, even the barest minimum of defences was capable of turning away a thief of Fouquet's calibre. Rest assured highness, the treasures and artifacts stored here are under the best protections. You need not worry about them."

"Thank you for your time. Your support for Tristain is very much appreciated."

"We live to serve your highness." said Old Osmond with a deep bow.

La Rochelle, crown of Tristain's airship ports, a key trading city for the human nations gleamed in the night. As an important trading post, it saw many visitors from all over the continent, with trading vessels from all the four nations docking there.

And when the Genestealers arrived, they would be able to infiltrate all the nations of Halkeginia.

A.N.

This chapter was deeply unsatisfying to me. It feels horribly forced. I couldn't quite get it right. In fact, I don't think I could have come out with it if I hadn't promised iron elsar. You can thank him for even getting this chapter. I would have probably left it to rot for another few months as I procrastinated and made excuses to myself.

Unfortunately, I've lost a lot of motivation for writing. I have interesting games to play (Starcraft 2 and it-never-gets-old Sid Meier's Civilization 5)

I lost quite a lot of information since I just recently had to replace my Hard Drive around December 29 or 30. Before that, the old one was whacking out causing me to lose all the information I have, including a lot of downloaded anime files. I even lost my files for the codexes so I had to find them again.

There's also the fact that I have little time to write with my school picking up: Practice Teaching.

That said, I guess this fic is declared by me to be ON HIATUS.

I'll see if working on the Herald of the Void sequel will reignite my passion for writing. And if it doesn't… well, let's just say that you might see a new one-shot series in the Familiar of Zero archives.

Finally, Here's a rough sneak peek on what I can see will happen.

"Hurry children, we must leave." TIffania Westwood said to the orphans under her care. THe Spirits were screaming. Something Unnatural had arrived on Albion. All of nature felt it... and it heralded doom. The death of life, and the birth of something... twisted... new... and terrifying. As she hurried to pack her things and get ready to move out with the children, she couldn't even consider where would be safe. All she new was that she had a bad feeling. SOmething had recently arrived on Albion that heralded the death of all that she knew. Albion was not safe, even in the forest.

Because the forest was weeping at the coming destruction.