AN: ENJOY.

ARC Eight: Sins of the Past

Chapter Sixty One: Aldebaran

Batman raised himself and looked over the situation.

"How did this happen...no, better yet, who did this?"

So many theories ran across his mind as he tried to figure out who took Subaru. However he had little time to dwell on these theories, time was being wasted and that meant more issues would arise if they didn't find him quickly.

"Emilia, stay with Sarah! I'm going to see if I can find Subaru! If not, we can at least get a general idea of what to do next! For now, go and wait by the carriage, just in case we need to leave!"

"B-But-!"

Batman fired a grappling hook and ran up alongside the wall. As he flew off, he turned his head one last time to look at Sarah, his eyes narrowed at the girl.

As he disappeared from view Sarah looked down disappointingly. She could tell he was mad at her for letting Subaru out of her sights.

"Yes, Emilia-sama, we should follow his advice and head to the carriage!"

"...S-Sure!"

As the two of them made a mad dash to the carriage, an unseen figure was on the roof watching them. He pulled out a small conversing mirror from his pocket.

"It's me...something's going on with the Emilia Faction."

"Keep on your guard. Watch them for anything suspicious."

"Roger that."

Batman used his optic vision to view the city from atop a rooftop, he could see that whoever took Subaru moved around erratically and-

"There!"

A carriage was racing by that had the footprints inside that matched the assailant. He jumped off the roof and fired his grappling gun, dashing through the air. As he was now over the carriage, he spun in the air and aimed his foot down.

He stomped the back of the carriage and forced it to roll over and crash into a light post. He rushed over to see the contents of the carriage.

"No!"

There was nothing inside.

He was set up.

He ran over to the side and pulled the unassuming driver out, who was holding his head from damage he had received from the crash.

Batman slammed him on the ground.

"Who are you?!"

"J-Just a driver!"

"Why did you lead me on a wild goose chase?! ANSWER ME!"

Batman gripped the man's collar and raised him high into the air, the driver had genuine fear plastered on his face.

"Look! I didn't know I was messing with the Batman! I swear! I was just doing it for the money-"

"-WHO!? Who paid you to distract me?!"

"S-S-S-Some guy with a helmet and a weird outfit! He told me to drive around the capital! He had some unconscious kid with him!"

"Al?….WHERE DID THEY GO?!"

"L-L-Look! I don't know! He just said he wanted some guys that were tailing him to be distracted! I don't know where they went-"

Before he could finish Batman tossed him aside and ran off to meet with the others.

After going to the stable where he told them to wait, he barged in, making Emilia and Sarah get up and race over to him.

"W-What happened?!"

"It's Al! Priscilla's knight! He took Subaru!"

"But why?! We never really had problems with that Faction?! She has been mean to me at least, but we got along just fine a year ago! So why?"

"I don't know Emilia, but if we want answers, we'll need to go to the source!"

"Source?"

Emilia looked confused, but quickly realized what he was talking about. Sarah nodded in agreement and she stood in front of him.

"Yes, we must move now!"

"Right. We're going to the mansion where Priscilla resides in."

"Yes? Is it here in the capital?"

"Oh yeah, and we're paying it a visit…"

Two guards yawned as they stood firm at the gates of Priscilla's estate...only to be kicked unconscious by Emilia and Batman. He then tackled down the gates and rushed over to the main door. Several more guards with battleaxes rushed to the scene, only to be taken down by Sarah who almost danced through them with her forearm blades. She finished the dance of battle with a low bow. A guard raised his axe over Sarah, only to be knocked out with a powerful hook by Batman.

The three of them ran through the halls. As more guards came out, Batman and Sarah took care of them with kicks and punches. Emilia froze the other guards feet to the floor as they made it to the main room. Batman kicked down the doors.

"...Oh shit."

But there was nobody there. Even as they literally ransacked the entire building, neither Priscilla nor Al were anywhere to be seen.

"Those bastards!"

"Yes, we have searched the entirety of this establishment, none of the parties in question are anywhere to be seen."

"...Then."

"Yes, they did not bring Subaru-sama here."

Batman punched the ground and grabbed a nearby guard who's face had a black eye.

"Where are they?!"

"...They left."

"What?!"

"A f-few hours ago. It seems they left to their villa...one Priscilla-sama has had since her previous marriage-"

"-WHERE IS IT?!"

Batman shook the man and angrily slammed his body to the ground.

"I-It's at the southern border with Vollachia. It'll take you two days to get there."

"FUCK!"

Batman threw the guard aside as he punched the ground again. He looked over and saw a trembling Emilia hugging her shoulders, looking at the ground with a pained expression.

"Why?"

"...?"

"Why is this happening? Subaru...hasn't done anything wrong, so why did they take him?"

"Emilia…?"

"...We need to find him. We need to make sure he is okay...and if...if they hurt him…"

Suddenly ice formed around the ground where she was standing. Sarah backed away slowly, her calm demeanor slightly faltering as she watched Emilia lose sight of what she was doing. But Batman braved through it and hugged Emilia...the ice dissipated and her eyes teared up.

"It's okay Emilia. We're getting Subaru back to us! But we need to stay calm and think this through, okay?"

"Okay."

Emilia dried her tears as Batman let go of her. He turned his attention to Sarah who was watching the whole ordeal.

"We're going back to the mansion immediately. We need to inform everyone on what's going on and hopefully form a task force that could better handle this situation."

"Yes, then let us make haste."

The three of them ran out of the ransacked estate.

Rem was wiping the windows to Subaru's room, smiling as she did.

"I hope Subaru-kun likes the pasta Rem has made!"

The maid was excited about tonights dinner...especially since she cooked it with her beloved's favorite condiment, mayonnaise. Then she glanced over and saw that a tear in space opened outside, out came the carriage that was being pulled by Patrashce.

"Oh! They're early!"

Rem quickly finished her work and raced off to greet them. As she ran down the halls, she could see Petra also rushing down the hall. She puffed her cheeks and her eyes shined, Petra looked back and her eyes shined as well.

The two maids literally raced each other to see who would greet them first. Rem of course won.

Rem made it over to the front door, a wheezing Petra stumbled behind Rem. The blue haired maid puffed her chest out and made a proud smile. Petra pouted, but relaxed as the door opened.

"Welcome back everyone!"

"Welcome back all of you!"

But they saw Batman and the others rush in with serious expressions.

"Gather everyone now! We have an emergency!"

"B-Batman-san?"

"Now Rem! Time is of the essence!"

That's when Rem noticed it.

"Batman-san, where is Subaru-kun?"

Batman hung his head low, but still looked at the two maids, his eyes not faltering for even a second.

"That is the emergency."

Everyone was now gathered in the main hall and were quickly informed of the dire situation they were in. Everyone held their breaths as they found out the predicament.

"Subaru-sama...has been kidnapped?!"

"That's right Frederica, we need to assemble a specialized team to help find Subaru-"

Just then, Batman swore he heard a frightening murmuring.

"-your fault."

"...?"

"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"

Batman quickly turned around to see Rem literally choking Sarah into a wall.

"YO! Rem STOP!"

Garfiel ran over to try and pull Rem off of her, Otto and Petra tried to do the same. Sarah was gasping for air as Rem's grip tightened around her neck.

"You had one job! To protect Subaru-kun from harm! How could you let this happen?!"

"...UGH!"

"Rem didn't go because she thought you could handle this! Rem was mistaken! You couldn't protect him! We don't need someone like you-"

"-Agh!"

Rem was practically ready to break the girls neck, but her arms were grabbed by Batman.

"Stop it Rem! This isn't going to solve anything!"

"...!"

"We need to look for Subaru."

Rem came back to her senses and let Sarah go. The bodyguard coughed loudly as she held her own throat. Rem clenched her fists as leered down at her. But she shook her head and turned her attention back to Batman.

Everyone let go of Rem, but they were still a little frightened by her attempt at killing Sarah.

"What is your plan?"

"Right...in this case, we need three individuals for this task."

"...?"

"Rem, Garfiel and Beatrice. You three need to come with me."

The three announced names looked at each other, while they weren't against being the search party...they wondered why he selected them.

"Bat-aniki, why us three?"

"...We need individuals that can track Subaru...and you know how."

"...! Right."

The witch's scent.

The three of them had their eyes widened realizing that Batman knew that they were the only individuals who could sniff it out. They couldn't believe he would use that is a basis to finding Subaru. Luckily, they could differentiate his scent compared to others, like the Witch's Cult.

"Rem understands. But do we know where this villa he was taken to is?"

"Near the border of Vollachia...the closest I've been to that border was about, fifty miles of it. So I can teleport us at that point, we can use that as a starting line and go from there."

"Understood!"

Rem nodded eagerly. Emilia felt left out of the loop and she kicked at the floor sadly.

"As for everyone else, we need you all to stay put and keep this place on lockdown. No one comes in, no one leaves."

"You think someone else would try something?"

"Hopefully not, but we're really dividing up our forces, so we need to stay firm."

Ram nodded in agreement.

"Then as you four venture out to find Barusu, we shall remain here and protect the mansion."

"Right. Counting on you."

Garfiel slammed his fists together.

"Yosh! We ar' goin' to show those assholes a thing or two abou' fucking with us!"

"Now hold on, let's not try and escalate things further."

"Th' fuck?! They took th' Boss and lead us aroun' biting our own tails! Thi' be like a declaration of war in my opinion."

Rem and Beatrice agreed with his view on the situation. For bringing harm to Subaru, they were essentially ready to annihilate the Priscilla Camp. But luckily Batman deescalated the fury and even brought up the fact that while they would easily defeat them, it would look bad on Emilia's part.

So they decided to limit the battle to a simple rescue mission.

"Now that we've cleared that up. Otto take this comm link and keep it with you."

Batman handed Otto the comm link, the merchant placed it into his ear, remembering how to use it.

"We'll keep in contact should anything happen."

"R-Right!"

He turned his attention to Sarah who seemed to be displeased about everything going on.

"Sarah. I'm leaving the others in your care, I trust you, so please."

"...Yes, I will do my utmost and make up for this failure of mine. Rest assured, I will protect them."

"Thank you."

Batman patted her shoulder. He then went over and gave a quick goodbye kiss to Frederica who prayed for their safe return.

Batman focused as he faced his palm out in front of himself.

"Al Ermac."

The tear in space opened and the team consisting of Rem, Garfiel, Beatrice and Batman raced off to begin searching for Subaru.

The tear closed behind them as they were now in the forest. Batman looked around as his team began their desperate search. Garfiel took big sniffs of the air around them...then Rem did so and pointed east of them.

"That way!"

"Rem are ya sure?"

"No doubt about it, Rem knows Subaru's smell anywhere! It's faint, but it's there!"

"...Boss must be very far away...still, thi' will be a step in th' right direction!"

Beatrice started power walking towards the direction before quickly turning her head.

"Hurry! We must make haste and get to Subaru, I suppose!"

"Beatrice is right. We need to hurry."

The four of them nodded and followed Rem who led them to where they needed to go.

...On a hill overlooking the forest near the mansion where the others decided to stay in,i t seemed as though the trees were being mowed down by something. More and more destruction was left in it's wake as animals and even Ma-Beast were running away from it. Mixed in with the sounds of trees timbering and the very earth caving in under it's weight…

...was a disgusting hissing noise.

Subaru was carried away by Aldebaran as he was still tied up.

"Ngh! Damn it! Don't think you guys are going to get away with this!"

"Relax kyoudai, my lady just wants to see you today. All you got to do is entertain her for a bit and then tada! You can go home tomorrow."

"Fuck! Don't spoil the girl, she'll become a truly twisted individual when she gets even older!"

"Ha! Funny."

Al then stopped as he heard a voice reach them from a balcony looking over the gate.

"And what is so amusing to you, Al?"

"Nah, nothing important I guess."

Looking down at them was Priscilla who was in her usual crimson red dress, she waved her fan around before pointing it down at them.

"Ah! I see you have brought me tonight's entertainment!...But where is the other I asked for?"

"Yeah, about that. It seemed he couldn't be bothered to come at all."

"Hmph. What a shame."

Priscilla removed herself from the balcony and called out to Al.

"Just bring him in and toss him into the dining room! We shall eat very soon."

"Got it!"

Al continued carrying Subaru inside the very large estate, Subaru contemplated using Invisible Providence to get himself out of his situation. However he decided to not commit to this idea as he feared that it would escalate things. Not to mention, if something serious happened to him, the others in his camp would want payback and things could easily spiral into a war between factions.

"Just gotta play it cool."

Now inside, Subaru was sat down on his chair and had his restraints cut off. Subaru now had free reign of his limbs and glanced around at the large dining room they were now in.

Al playfully waved his finger.

"Now remember kyoudai, no funny business alright?"

"As if I even have a choice in the matter?"

"Ha Ha, guess not."

Al stood next to the seat that Priscilla was obviously going to sit in. Arriving no later, was Priscilla herself next to a young man Subaru recalled seeing in Priestella, Schult.

The Royal Candidate sat down and gazed at Subaru.

"Now then, I welcome you to this estate of mine. Be honored that you have been invited."

"You call kidnapping being invited? I'd hate to see what would happen if you didn't want me around!"

"Humorous. Still, I've been meaning to see you entertain me."

"Entertain you?"

She snapped her fan shut and placed her hand on her cheek.

"You are the boy right? Natsuki Subaru."

"...Now you suddenly remember my name?"

"Of course. I remember how you made a fool of yourself at the capital all those years ago. How you were severely beaten by the Knight of Knights and given no respect."

"Hearing the mistakes of my past isn't fun you know?"

Subaru grimaced hearing something he'd rather just skim over. Then he was surprised when Priscilla put on a serious expression.

"...Then less than a few days after, you subjugated the White Whale and killed Sloth. Then it was the Sizable Hare and Greed. Not to mention I heard reports you also fought off Grodd."

"Not so much fought off more than survive by the skin of my teeth. Or did you forget?"

Subaru pointed at his left eye, reminding anyone what Grodd did to him.

Priscilla laughed a bit.

"Yes indeed, I wouldn't forget."

"So again...why am I here?"

"It as simple as can be. You will entertain me tonight, and I hope you do a good job."

"...What does that mean?"

"...If you fail to make me entertained...I may just get rid of you."

Subaru swallowed his breath.

"You should know that if something happens to me...Batman-san and the others wouldn't sit back and let you get away with it."

"..."

"Think of it this way...you…"

Subaru didn't know why, but he got really angry and started glaring at Priscilla.

"Priscilla, in all honesty. I don't like you."

"..."

"You're just some megalomaniacal girl who's been spoiled too much by everyone around you. and it's really warped your mind. You think everything is made for you? That the world revolves around you? DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH. In the big picture, you're as insignificant as me or some random ass hobo. Nothing you do matters."

"...How dare you say this."

Subaru got up from his chair and turned his attention to Al.

"Because this isn't it is it? This isn't the only world out there."

"...YOU."

Al began muttering as he stared at Subaru.

"What you all didn't know then?"

"What?"

"That there is more worlds out there. Where I'm from. Where Batman-san is from. Countless worlds where all of our decisions have created different realities. A multiverse as Batman-san calls it."

"Mulit-verse?"

"Some where some people were born different, raised different or even never existed to begin with. So tell me, what does a girl who does almost nothing with her powers mean to the grand scheme of things? NOTHING. I bet there is like one singular world where you did something worthwhile!"

Subaru was at this point fuming with rage and began yelling at Priscilla.

"I haven't seen you do one thing worthwhile at all in this Royal Selection except save your own ass! I bet there isn't a single reality where you do anything fucking different! Not one! And even if there was, you probably did some sort dirty, underhanded fucking tactic to get-"

Subaru felt himself get tossed down and the side of his face was now hitting the floor.

"Ugh!"

Subaru looked up and saw Al pushing him down on the ground.

"Hey kyoudai...YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO SHUT UP."

"...Fuck off."

Subaru looked over and saw Priscilla was glaring down at him. He was sure she was going to order him to be executed. And if she did, he'd remember to not use that outburst against her. He did worry though that this would essentially mean the two factions would go to-

"-Enough, I have lost my appetite."

Priscilla got up from her seat and made her way to the hallways. She turned her head one last time and looked at Subaru.

"Al, put that man in a room and make sure he learns some humility. Once he is done, bring him to my quarters."

"Sure thing."

Al picked up Subaru and they made their way to the opposite of the dining room. Priscilla took Schult's hand and they walked away. The young boy turned his head to look at Al forcing Subaru away...then snickered a bit.

Al tossed Subaru on a bed and closed the door behind him.

"Geez, some rough treatment for a guest huh?"

"Knock it off kyoudai, you pulled off some crap with the princess right now."

"Oh knock it off, I just gave her an earful is all. She needs it."

"Probably, but couldn't you have done it a bit better?"

"Sure, be nice to the lady who had me kidnapped? Yeah, like that'll happen."

Al scratched his helmet and tilted his head at him.

"Still, I'm surprised that you even talked about the fact you're from another world."

"After the Watchtower ordeal, I ain't afraid to talk about it….maybe you should tell Priscilla about it. I'm sure she might even be excited to hear it."

"Nah, I just don't feel comfortable with it."

Subaru chuckled it off, but soon it stopped as Al made his way out.

"Alright well, stay here and cool off and I'll come to get you to see Priscilla. Hope you come up with a good apology."

"Apology?"

"...It may not seem like it, but I think what you said to her...might have actually hurt her."

"No way! That girl is like made of stone!"

"She's still human."

Subaru looked at the ground now starting to feel some guilt about what he said to her.

"Guess I did go overboard."

"Well, as long as you recognize your mistake."

Al grabbed the door handle...but something in Al's mind stopped him from moving any further...curiosity forced him stop.

"Hey kyoudai."

"Yeah?"

"D-Did you find out why we were brought here?"

"...According the Sage there, someone used a powerful amount of magic to force us here. Now we have to-"

"-FUCK OFF."

Subaru trembled when he heard a vicious voice ahead of him. He looked over and saw Al with his body half turned….his hazel eye staring at him, a deadly glint in it shined.

"What do you mean...someone brought us here?!"

"...Like I said, some person just-"

"-It's the witch isn't it?"

Subaru's world came to a halt as he glanced up at Al...who slowly removed his helmet.

Batman and the others were making their way through the forest. Beatrice was now exhausted so Batman let her get carried by him. She was lucky she received her mana intake from Subaru earlier that day. Otherwise she would be in serious trouble.

"How much further, I suppose?"

"I'm hoping not much longer. We should be getting close to the border. Look."

He pointed and they could see a great wall in the distance, meaning they should be close to the villa at some point.

"Good, Betty cannot wait to teach these people some manners!"

"Please don't cause a scene."

"..."

"Once we get Subaru, then we'll decide on what to do."

"Hmph!"

Beatrice pouted, but silently agreed with Bruce.

Then Batman quickly turned around and swore he noticed something.

"Yo, Bat-aniki...what's up?"

"...N-Nothing, just thought I felt something."

They continued down the forest trail…

Emilia was sitting on a desk looking over some papers made in preparation for Puck's return. Frederica and Sarah entered the room as well.

"Emilia-sama, shouldn't you be resting?"

"No, I really am worried about what's going on right now."

"Batman-san and the others are on the case, they should be fine."

Sarah humphed at the sentence.

"Yes, everyone is so mesmerized by that man. I simply don't see what is so special about him."

"That's because you simply don't understand what he is capable of."

"Incorrect, I saw everything I needed to at the capital, he is quite good...but nothing more."

Frederica frowned hearing her say this...but took a deep breath and continued.

"One day, Sarah-sama will see how truly amazing he is and I'll be there to gloat!"

"Yes, I wouldn't hold my breath."

Emilia sort of laughed at this.

Deathstroke was now outside the mansion...he looked to his left and then his right...emerging from the darkness of the forest were people who one could say were dressed as Ninjas.

"..."

"So you the guys from Kararagi?"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"..."

Deathstroke opened the door behind him and did a slight bow.

"What are you waiting for? Come on in…"

The ninjas quickly trickled in the mansion, silent as the wind…

Trees broke down and two large green eyes could be seen in the dust and debris.

"Just a little more now."

Emerging from the destroyed forest as well...was a platinum haired girl. One too beautiful for words to describe.

Al had his helmet tossed to the ground and glared at Subaru. He was an older Japanese man with a traditional ponytail haircut. He had horrible scars littering his face, pieces of his lips were also torn off.

"Man...I'm sure Ferris could help you out with that you know?"

"..."

"Um, would you please say something?"

"...Fucking cut the act already."

"Huh?"

Al stepped closer, making Subaru try and get up, but Al shoved him deeper into the bed.

"Ow! Get off!"

"JUST CUT IT OUT ALREADY! HOW MUCH LONGER ARE YOU GOING TO PRETEND?!"

"What are you talking about?!"

Al's hazel eyes sharpened as they stared down deep into Subaru's eyes.

"After all this time...you show up here and think I wouldn't notice? Cut the shit! RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!"

"...I don't…"

Al screamed at him. He screamed something that made the entirety of the world screech to a halt for Natsuki Subaru.

It couldn't be true.

It was a lie.

He was wrong.

Where did he hear this from?

Shaula?

She said something similar.

No.

No it wasn't true.

How could it be?

"Stop

Pretending,

Stop

Acting,

No

More!

Tell

The

Truth

And

Tell

Me

What's

Going

On

.

.

.

.

FLUGEL!"

Subaru started to cry. He was confused. He didn't know why he was crying.

"NO…."

Then it happened.

400 years worth of memories suddenly flooded Subaru's mind.

Memories that were not his own...they were that of the Great Sage, Flugel.

Approaching disasters now reside outside of Subaru's mind as the tragedies four hundred years in the making, were now to be revealed.