AN: ARC seven has now started. On another note, I am in the process of moving, so I may, or may not be able to upload in the next few days or week...but rest assured, I will continue working on this...OR DIE TRYING.

AN Fun Fact: Soul'd Out won the song title. Stars and shit seem to be a thing in Re:Zero right?

ENJOY!

ARC Seven: Quest of Sand and Memories

Chapter Fifty Two: Starlight Destiny

Petra was neatly organizing some brand new towels she bought with Frederica. As she ordered them each by who would given them...her mind wandered off.

"...Hm."

She couldn't keep her mind off the letter they received a few days before, it was the usual practice of the staff that a letter of great importance would be read aloud by Frederica so that everyone would understand it's contents easily.

She remembered how Frederica was hesitant to read it aloud...she seemed to even regret in some way of acquiring the letter.

But she took a breath and decided to read it:

To the residents of the Roswaal Estate,

If you are reading this, then we are currently on route back to the mansion.

As you may have been aware of, or not, there was a battle in the city of Priestella.

We are all alive, but Emilia's knight, Natsuki Subaru, sustained substantial injuries.

Garfiel and Otto are to stay in the city until their own conditions improve, which fortunately are not life threatening.

We are all well, but you will see the extent of Subaru's body changes in due time.

We are currently with Anastasia Hoshin, her supposed knight Julius Juukulis, and a representative of the Crusch Faction, Pamela Isley.

We ask for supplies and tools to be ready for a trip.

We are in actuality, staying there for only several days, before we embark on an odyssey towards the Pleiades Watchtower.

We know this is asking for much, but we would be thankful for the assistance.

Until we meet.

-Emilia Faction

"Batman-sama obviously wrote this."

Frederica folded the letter up with a saddened look on her face. She turned to see Roswaal sitting in his chair as he twidled with his thumbs.

"Hmmmm...it would seeeeem that much has occurred since we returned from our Lords Meeting. I hoooope not too much has happened to them."

Frederica then noticed Petra's hands were shaking a bit, so she quickly walked over and gently held her shoulders. Petra glanced up as she saw Frederica smiled gently at her.

"This not something to be worried about Petra."

"...But the letter said-"

"I know it may sound bad. Though we must remember Subaru-sama is with Batman-sama and the others. They would never allow him to fall into terrible harm."

"...I do agree with you on that."

Frederica patted her on the head and stood tall once again. Ram soon stepped forward and interjected with her usually calm demeanor.

"Whatever the case may be, especially in Barusu's injuries, we should prepare for their arrival."

The two other maids agreed and both went to prepare for their arrival.

Ram was now alone with Roswaal in his parlor. She took a seat on an adjacent chair next to him as Roswaal played with a strand of his hair.

"Sooooo, tell me Ram. How far off are they?"

"...They are coming along the road, even as we speak."

"Ahhhhh, I see. You used your Clairvoyance, yeeees?"

"Of course, Roswaal-sama."

She nodded proudly to him, making the sorcerer giggle a bit.

"Sooooo Ram, could you tell me what is the extent of Subaru-kun's injuries? I hope he still has that unique hair of hiiiis."

"Hmph! I'm hoping Barusu did lose it, that way he'd look the way he acts. A buffoon."

"Hahaha. As harsh as ever."

Ram took a breath and used her Clairvoyance to search the area ahead of the mansion. Using the wavelengths of all the nearby animals and insects she eventually saw the dragon carriages coming into view.

"Strange."

"What is?"

"Batman-san's flying Metia, the Batwing...I don't see it anywhere."

"...Maybe the fiiiighting was more intense than we thought?"

"Indeed, and...I see Barusu-"

She suddenly stopped using her Clairvoyance and seemed to turn her head to look back at Roswaal.

"Ram, what is it?"

"...Roswaal-sama, I think it's best…"

Roswaal raised his brows as he noticed it...Ram was unnerved by something that she saw.

"...I think it's best if you personally see Barusu, when they get here."

Roswaal couldn't come up with anything to say as he turned his attention to Ram's concerned expression. Ram was watching the window, as she could now see the carriages getting closer to the mansion.

Petra was doing her absolute best preparing tea and snacks with Frederica. She wanted to welcome everyone with a plentiful meal. She then asked to be given a break, which Frederica agreed to. As she ran upstairs, she saw through a large window that the carriages were currently at the gates. She hurried as she made it to her room.

She was looking into her mirror and brushing her hair. She neatly patted away any wrinkles on her maid outfit, shined her little boots and fixed her trademark red ribbon.

She took a deep breath and practiced her smiles in the mirror. Each one was given more effort than the other.

"Petra! Hurry, they're here!"

"Ah! I'm coming!"

She then fixed herself one last time as she hurried out the door, down the hallways and to the entrance of the mansion.

She stood next to Frederica and Ram, as the other attendants of the mansion also arrived. Clind and Annerose also made it to see the group back. Then the doors were slowly opening up.

In the corner of her eye, Frederica noticed Ram was making an odd expression...as if she was not looking forward to what was coming.

The door finally opened as all of the servants politely bowed.

"Welcome everyone!"

As Petra and the others raised their heads...a slow, but surging feeling of dread overtook her eyes. Her eyes trembled, which soon followed her body. Her hands that held another, were staring to convulse. She could hear the murmurs and gasps of the other servants around her.

Clind and Annerose could only widen their eyes at what they were seeing.

Ram could't keep looking so she averted her gaze away.

Frederica was holding her breath as she simply put a hand over her mouth.

Petra was still in disbelief. She was simply not registering what exactly was going on.

"Petra...are you okay?"

Then, Subaru made it over to her and put his hand on her head. But this made Petra flinch, instead of the warm, soft hand she was used to...it was instead a cold, rough feeling that felt alien to her.

She soon grabbed his arm and removed his hand from her head, taking a good long look at the new limb he had. It was like nothing she had ever seen in her life, tears fell from eyes seeing it. She knew Subaru was injured from whatever it was they were doing. But, for her, this was too much.

Petra then felt his usual hand wipe the tears off her cheek as he squatted down to see her eye to eye. She once again flinched as she was looking at his left eye. The strange looking thing made Petra absolutely sad. She couldn't keep it together as she hugged on to his shirt.

"Subaru…!"

"...Petra, hey now. It's okay!"

"No! It's not okay!...Look at your eye! Your hand!"

She gripped his shirt even tighter as tears flooded out of her eyes. Subaru could only hold onto her tighter.

"None of this is okay...you must have been in so much pain!"

"...Yeah I was. But thanks to Batman-san and the others I survived. And I got these nifty new parts."

"...Well I don't like them!"

"Hahaha. A second critic huh?"

Petra looked up to see a happy grin on Subaru's face. It was this action that seemed to finally relax her. In the end, while she was upset at seeing how badly he was hurt and the strange replacements he was given, she was more than happy to see Subaru alive and well.

Frederica gave a quick pat on Petra's back with an understanding smile.

"Come then. Let's give them some space, alright Petra?"

"...Okay."

Petra was wiping away her tears as she nodded. Subaru nodded with her and gave her quick rub on the head, as Frederica walked away with her.

Subaru noticed how Frederica turned her head a bit and was looking at Batman. She then smiled at him affectionately as she continued to console Petra.

Subaru could only watch as the young girl was led away by the others. Subaru seemed to be quite distressed by Petra's reaction. His mind wandered and questioned if he could've done something different to ease her into his new look.

"Subaru."

Batman tapped Subaru on his shoulder and had the young man turn to face him.

"It's okay Subaru, she just needs time to process what's happened to you."

"Still...she seemed mortified by the looks of it."

Subaru couldn't help but lower his head as he said this.

"Listen, we all have to get used to it. We just need time with it. Time heals everything."

"...Does it?"

Batman trailed off his own collection of thoughts when he heard this. But he eventually relaxed as he looked back at him and then the rest of the group.

"...It does. Eventually…"

The group eventually made it to the parlor to meet with Roswaal. They entered the door behind Ram.

"Ohohooooo! Welcome back everyone! I hope the trip...wasn't...too…."

Roswaal's words faltered as he looked at Subaru. His eyes were moving erratically as if trying to analyze every single detail he was looking at. In all the countless years and dozens of lives he's lived in this world...he had never seen anything like it before.

"Subaru-kun, what happened to you?"

"Well, a lot fighting and stuff I guess?"

"...I mean, to your eye and hand. What happened to them?"

Subaru and Batman looked at each other for a second, then decided to have everyone take a seat.

Eventually, Frederica and Petra were able to enter the room as well. Petra seemed to have finally calmed down and relaxed when she saw Subaru turn his head and give a warm smile. Petra did the same.

Now that the returning group, the mansion residents and even Annerose were seated. Subaru and Batman told them everything that happened at Priestella.

The parlor was dead quiet, Subaru had finished the story up to the point of the decision making for the Watchtower Conquest.

Frederica was shaking a bit as she learned the ultimate fate of her mother. She was going to start crying, but Batman held her shoulder tenderly...helping to calm her down as she held his hand. She also felt pride that her brother helped defeat the villainous Scarecrow and aided in pushing back Grodd's forces.

Petra was proud of Subaru and his success in defeating Greed...but she was also distressed about hearing the injuries Subaru had sustained, and the scary "surgery" he underwent to give him his new body parts. She could only entwine her fingers as she stared at Subaru.

Annerose and Clind looked at everyone quietly as they were simply amazed at what they had accomplished. Killing three Sin Archbishops and stopping an actual invasion. It was too amazing for words.

Roswaal was twiddling his fingers as he looked over what these people were able to do. He was quite excited to see what Subaru and Batman would accomplish next.

Ram was more curious than anything, especially in regards to Batman. She was, in a way, also interested in what he would accomplish next. She saw that he along with Subaru were both now involved in some of the most important battles in Lugnica's history...or perhaps even the world's. And now, they intended to go to the Pleiades Watchtower and conquer it. She had many curious thoughts running through her head.

Deathstroke then got up from his seat and cracked his neck.

"Alright, we laid down the basics about what's been going on. So shouldn't we be getting ready?"

Subaru turned his attention to the others sitting around them, especially Julius.

"Honestly, it's been a long trip and I wish we could rest for a bit."

"We don't have to be in a hurry, but I think making preparations would be key at this moment."

"Yeah...I heard it's gonna take us almost a month to get there."

"Yes, there are not that many highways that can take us there, and there is only one town near the Watchtower...and even then it's not that close."

"Plus we no longer have the Batwing to scout ahead of us! We're going to be going into this place with no idea of what surprises might be ahead of us."

"Indeed, other than the Ma-Beasts and the Sage Shaula, we have little idea of what awaits us."

The two of them had their hands clutching their chins as they pondered how they would prepare.

Batman eventually got up from his seat and looked over the situation as well. Then he scratched the back of his head as he became a bit uneasy by the idea in his head.

"Well...in the case of Shaula, I'm hoping just me, Slade and Pamela will be enough to try and stop her... but in the case of the Ma-Beasts...I think we already have a person for that."

Subaru's eyes widened and Deathstroke glared over at Batman.

"She might not accept the request."

"...We'll need your help to convince her."

Deathstroke mumbled angrily as he began walking away. Then he raised his hand, waving the back of his palm, without even looking at them.

"I'll try my best, damn it."

Batman sighed at Deathsrtoke's usual nasty attitude.

Batman then turned his attention to Pamela who sitting there with her eyes closed the entire time.

"Pamela, is everything alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah just a little tired from the trip is all."

Pamela gave a bright smile, but she also got up, continuing to smile. She started making her way out of the parlor.

"I'm going to go walk around for a bit. Stretch out my legs and wake up, you know?"

She happily waved at them...but Annerose asked Clind to come with her as they followed her out. She quickly gave Emilia a hug, she was even anticipating to see Subaru being jealous...but she saw that he was almost staring off in the distance alongside Julius. She would usually only see that look on Batman's face. So she slightly pouted, before she left with Clind.

Emilia stood up and was noticing how Roswaal seemed compliant with everything he had heard.

"Are you sure, you're okay with this?"

"Oooooof course, Emilia-sama! You already explained it all in the letter, soooooo I am quite content with this decision. Not ooooonly that, but I would like to remind you alllll, that should this task be done, weeeeee will gain much more attetnion for the Royal Selection!"

"Oh, I never thought of that!"

Emilia seemed happy with the idea of her acquiring more attention in the Royal Selection. But it was Batman and Subaru, that didn't buy it. Something wasn't right.

Beatrice got up from Subaru's lap and assured him with a quick pat on his knee and a smile.

"Not to worry I will check on the actual intentions here, I suppose. You and Batman, go and take care of everything that needs to be."

"...Thanks Beako."

Subaru went over and hugged her excitedly, making Beatrice blush madly. Subaru and Batman both decided to work on recruiting their other member. The rest of the staff also left, leaving Beatrice alone with Roswaal.

Underneath the mansion was a specially made room, intended to house people who were caught robbing the place or even intruders. It was less a prison, and more of, one would say, a kind of lounge that also had a bed.

Deathstroke was inside speaking with someone as Batman, Subaru, Emilia, Julius and Anastasia had arrived.

"I know it's not a neat set up, but we really need you."

"I know you need me, but I just really don't feel like it."

They all noticed the uneasy feeling around the room, but it was less to due with something like the Witch's Miasma and possibly more with the blue haired girl in front of them speaking with Deathstroke.

They both noticed that the two of them seemed almost close...like a father would be with a daughter. Deathstroke had his helmet off and was fixing his eyepatch. He was sitting across from the girl, near them were an assortment of stuffed animals.

Subaru pointed to her dramatically.

"So yeah, this is the prisoner of this mansion. She will be listening to what we say as an adviser in relation to Ma-beasts."

"My, what a cute girl, isn't she? Beatrice-chan, Petra-chan…isn't this is a bit too showing of Natsuki-kun's tastes?"

"That's a ridiculous opinion of me. Mind saying something more fitting!? I thought to gather people, and not specifically lolis!"

There was suddenly some sense of reality in his "Little Girl User" nickname, so he wished she didn't say frightening things. Batman did not like the coined nickname Subaru was given by the public...but even he had to admit that the evidence was there, and people could put the pieces together. Not like a puzzle, but like lego pieces.

Subaru did his best to appease the young lady, seeing that though Mieli liked Deathstroke as family, she still wasn't in any mood to help. So it left him no choice.

"Look Meili. It's a present. Take it. It's a new stuffed toy Darepanda."

"...! Wow! It's cute!"

He showed the new work that had this and that to it, and Meili accepted it with eyes that shined.

"Cute! It's a new animal! Wonder what I should name it….okay, I've got it! I'll name this ooone Big Panda!"

"I see you've named it what it literally is."

"Also welcome back all of you. Slade-jii san told me about what happened in the faraway place you were all in."

"Yeaaaah, it was rough."

"Besides, onii-san has that super creepy eye now. It would be mean of me to be so bad to you now."

"Ugh, another critic."

Subaru then realized his visor focused on a tiny spider in the corner of his foot, so he gently picked it up and tossed it out of the room. Julius was the most surprised by this.

"You saw that small insect Subaru?"

"Yeah, the new eye seems to focus on anything in its plane of vision. Even small things like flies and spiders."

"Incredible. But is it not troubling to have it?"

"Hell yeah, on the way here it kept focusing on every bird that flew by! And outside of here, it was trying to focus on every damn butterfly and small gerbil it saw! Plus when it focuses too much on something, it gives me a nasty headache."

"It would seem that you do not have a full grasp on it's abilities."

"No, but I'll keep at it."

Subaru took a breath and turned his attention back to Mieli who was hugging her new toy tightly.

Subaru had to explain how Mieli and Deathstroke attacked the original Roswaal mansion over a year ago and the vicious battle that occurred because of it.

"Then doesn't this mean it occurred around the same time you all defeated the Sizable Hare, Natsuki-kun?"

"Yeah, that day used to be the most stressful day of my life. But now it's like, number two at this point."

"But still, if she was an enemy, why did you all not deal with her? I mean, she seems calm now...but if even Deathstroke-san was a villain, why did you let them live?"

Batman stepped forward to answer for Subaru.

"During the deal to get Deathstroke's employment, he had us promise to keep Mieli safe."

"Oh?"

"Apparently, their boss is upset with them for losing their partner Elsa and failing their mission. Going out there by themselves would be asking for too much conflict, so it was decided, keeping them close by would be their safest bet."

"Hmmmm...but would that mean you have a grudge against the two of them?"

"Would we?"

"They tried to kill you."

Subaru and Batman looked at each other and seemd to smirk at eachother. Even Deathstroke seemed to chuckle.

"It's all fine, me and Batman-san have been targeted so many times, we just get used to it."

He even playfully patted Batman on the back.

"This guy here has been targeted so many times by Slade-sensei soooo many times! He probably lost count."

"Not an accurate thing to say, but yes. I also do admit that her age is a cause of concern within myself, she's still young and she can learn to use her abilities for better purposes, just like this mission. And of course, my own code of 'no killing' would never let me allow anyone to harm this girl. It's just that. Nothing else. Plus, she is endearing to have around, it's worked wonders on Slade."

Deathstroke seemed to get annoyed by his last comment but continued to pat Mieli on the head as she sat patiently.

Anastasia and Julius could only look at him with eyes that simply didn't understand him. But he and Subaru were alright with this, they were from other worlds after all.

Eventually Mieli agreed to join the group...but…

"How should I put it…do you not know any way to avoid the Ma-beasts? Or on the contrary, ways to lure them?"

"Onii-san, if you run on by yourself, a looot of them will definitely come at you, you know?"

"I've already done that a few times and they were painful experiences."

"If Onii-san doesn't want to do it, then maybe you could prepare a lot of people for it. Alll of the Ma-beasts jump at living things over normal food, so maybe something like that."

Deathstroke struck his palms together as if he had an 'a-ha' moment. Emilia of course, frowned at this idea.

"That's definitely a no! I'm against it! I am against it!"

"You don't have to disagree so frantically like that. Nobody will be chosen, so it's fine."

With no final idea, it was decided that they would work out the final details later. Mieli walked out of her underground room and was now being given her own room in the mansion. She stretched out her arms and smiled at the open air.

"Finally good to walk around!"

"Meili come over here."

Deathstroke brought out his hand to her, confusing the young girl.

"What is it, Slade-jii san?"

"I need to teach you a few more moves for combat, we never finished your training."

"Wuhhhhh?! But-"

"-No buts. Come on, if we finish this early, I'll ask Petra and the fang-girl to make you something nice."

"...MMMMM. Okay."

She took his hand and they walked off hand in hand. Subaru and Emilia softly smiled seeing this. Julius looked over to Batman and whispered to him.

"So they are not related?"

"No, he has his own kids, but they're not here. Why?"

"...Those two look close. Like a family, a real one."

"...No kidding."

The group was now slowly returning to the mansion, having recruited their measure against the Ma-beasts.

Pamela was sitting near a tree as she overlooked a garden, then in the corner of her eye she saw two figures walk over to her. It was Annerose and her butler Clind.

"My, an ally of Emily's so despondent?"

"Oh, Annerose was it? Hi."

"Greetings. Tell me, are you the one...called Poison Ivy?"

Those words made Pamela shake a bit. But she took a breath and looked sadly at the ground.

"Apparently, that's what people used to call me."

"...From what I was told, you have lost your memories and have been living with the Crusch Party. You helped Emily and the others so you have my thanks."

Both her and Clind bowed respectfully to her. But Pamela looked at them still sad, making her eyes wander. She hugged her knees and tried to hid her face.

Clind decided to ask her…

"Is there something bothering you? Concern."

"...My memories. Is it right for me to get them back?"

"It's a bit odd to see you this way."

"Should I really try and be the old me? Someone I don't remember being? Or the actions that person, has done?"

"Poison Ivy?! You too became a hero? How laughable! You too are covered in sins just as myself, even in this world!

Pamela began to grip her skirt tightly as she became pained by the ideas in her head.

"I'm not sure I'll like what I will revert to. What if I hurt Otto, or Ferris, Wilhelm...or Crusch? I'd never forgive myself!"

"If I may say something."

Pamela had small trickles of tears leaking out of her eyes, as she looked up to see Clind offer her his hand. She was helped up from the ground and Clind looked into her eyes.

"I understand that you fear the prospect of reverting to your former ego of Poison Ivy...but Pamela-sama, I do not think it will be so bad. Theory."

"What?"

"If you were a different person in the past, then I can safely say that your new memories and experiences...may very well change you yet again."

"...!"

"I believe so. I do think that whatever happens, you will be just fine. Honesty."

"...Right, thank you."

Pamela wiped away her tears and smiled. She gave a polite bow to the two of them, who returned it back. Pamela looked at the garden again, this time with a determined face.

Subaru split off from Emilia and the others. Batman stated that since they were going to a place that was pretty much described as a desert, he was going to prepare some equipment for them. Emilia went to speak with Pamela, and Deathstroke and Mieli took Julius and Anastasia to the training grounds.

Subaru was going to a certain room….

"Hey there."

He walked over and sat next to a certain blue haired girl who was resting on her bed. Her body didn't move. Her eyes didn't open. She was just laying there...in an immovable slumber.

Subaru grabbed onto her hand and smiled at her, it was the kind of smile he would show no one except her and Emilia.

"Rem, I know I haven't seen you in awhile. A lot happened while we were gone. I-I know that if you were awake, you'd be surprised by my looks right now. Soooo, I know you'd be the next critic huh?"

.

.

.

.

"I want you to know that right now, we're heading to the Pleiades Watchtower. I...I know that I promised before...but when, Echidna, backed out that time...I had no idea what to do. Me and Batman-san looked over any book we could find. When he got the position of Light, he got access to those books, remember? But we didn't see anything, at all."

.

.

.

.

"But now...we might meet again Rem. Though I know this, Shaula person, may not be the sage she is stacked up to be. Or maybe even that the Watchtower may or may not be able to fulfill our wishes...but it's worth a shot right?"

.

.

.

.

"Rem, I promised you before. And damn it, I'll do it again. I'm going to save you. I'm going to bring you back!"

Subaru held her hand as tight as he could and closed his eyes, putting full meaning to his oath.

"-That hurts."

"...HUH?!"

Subaru looked over at Rem. Hearing something like that gave him a slimmer of hope. However she wasn't moving still. He sighed as he let go of her hand and turned his head to see Ram.

"Hey Ram."

"I was saying that the way you were holding her hand looked very painful, though I'm glad Barusu is being cooperative."

"...Yeah, sorry."

"...And what else is bothering you?"

"...I worry about her. I want her to wake up, to talk to her, to hold her hand and see her smile."

Ram walked over and looked down at Subaru, she saw something she never expected see in Natsuki Subaru's face….an emotionless glare.

"When Grodd was trying to kill me...I got scared Ram. Not of dying, but...of dying and being unable to save Rem or Emilia. Me losing my hand, and eye, was an acceptable loss, as long as I could save them."

"..."

"I know that there is a lot to worry about with this whole trip...and that even with Deathstroke-sensei and Batman-san with us, our chances are still pretty slim. But I...I want to win. I want to save Rem, no matter what, even if I go completely blind, or lose all my limbs. I NEED TO SAVE HER. I...I NEED TO."

"Why?"

Subaru finally got a confused expression on his face as he turned up to look at Ram.

"Why do you want to save her, Barusu?"

"...Because Ram."

"Because?"

"...Because I love her...just as much as I do Emilia."

Ram glared down at Subaru, but she noticed that his left eye was staring at her and moving oddly, meanwhile Subaru was rubbing the palm of his left steel hand.

"Barusu, I understand that you care for Rem...but what if she wakes up and doesn't remember you? What then?"

"Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We were good friends before, we can always do it again. I'm willing. Are you willing to be her sister when she wakes and you still don't remember her?"

"...Of course, it will be something we both work on."

Subaru nodded and carefully got up from the chair.

He smiled at Rem as he brushed her hair a little, before he began walking away, but he stopped right next to Ram.

"I'll conquer the sage's Watchtower and then definitely make Rem wake up. And then you two sisters will have your emotional reunion."

"What are you saying Barusu?"

"...?"

"Ram will also accompany you on this next journey, so putting it that way is pretty condescending. If it's going to be an emotional reunion, Ram will act on her own accord."

"...It's news to me, but I appreciate it. Please take care of her Ram, I...still need to do some things."

Subaru bowed his head, surprising Ram and he walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Ram took a small breath as she sat next to Rem, preparing to wash her body with a wet towel. But her concerned look could be easily seen as she continued looking down at her.

"To think he changed so much in a month...Barusu really does love you, doesn't he?"

Batman continued working on the equipment that was required for the desert trip. He was making schematics for Subaru and his sewing expertise to work on. However, he himself was working on trying to refurbish some boots he got a hold of and make them useful for the sand and also began making items for the rest of the group.

A utility belt for Subaru, along with protective padding to put over his tracksuit.

A hunting knife for Emilia.

A satchel for Beatrice to carry magic stones and a backpack for the staff she acquired from her victory over Kilroy.

And a backpack for Mieli.

As he continued into the long day ahead of him, he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in."

"Hello Batman-sama, I have brought you something to snack on."

Frederica entered the room and set up the snacks nearby on a small table. She was smiling as usual...but that smile faded as Batman removed his gauntlets and went over to grab a piece of meat pie. She could clearly see the brand new burn scars on his hands. She even noticed he had new scars on his face.

"I...I see that the battle was quite tumultuous for you as well."

"...To be honest, it was the biggest fight I've been in while in this country."

"Are your arms well? Do you need anything for them?"

"No Frederica, they healed well. Thank you for asking."

Batman began eating his meat pie as he looked over at Frederica, who seemed quite observant towards him.

"...Well, how did everything go with you guys?"

"Oh! It went well. Though there was this moment that...well.."

"That?"

"Petra was being hassled by one of the lords and-"

"-Did they do something to her?!"

Batman actually got up from the chair, with his usual fierce demeanor, as if he was ready to wage war on someone else. Frederica shook her head and playfully raised a finger.

"Oh no no no no. She actually, well, beat him up with a broom."

"...Huh?"

Even Batman couldn't help but be taken aback by it.

Frederica took a deep breath, but had an annoyed look.

"Apparently, she had been taking secret lessons with Deathstroke-sama."

"Hahhh, I guess we got an entire mansion of capable fighters now right?"

"Hehe. I assume so."

Batman sat back down and removed his mask, this time Frederica could see a small patch of white hair had now formed near Batman's right ear. She walked over and asked if she could help, Batman didn't need any...but…

"Frederica, you should know that it may be a long time until we come back."

"Yes, it is a long journey. And you will be able to-"

"-The thing is…"

Frederica's words were stopped as Batman held his hands together and stared out his window. He looked back at Frederica with a concerned look, making her anxious.

"If we succeed...I may not be coming back."

"W-Why?"

"My purpose in all of this is simple, I want to go home...and I won't be going alone. I-I may very well take Slade and Pamela with me."

"...Will you ever come back?"

Batman saw her trembling face...making him get up and walk over to her.

"I-I don't know Frederica."

"..."

"I know...that we eventually have to return again to bring Grodd back with us. Other than that, or if...Grodd is killed by then...then we won't have a reason at all."

Frederica was quiet…

Then she surprised Batman with a strong hug.

"F-Frederica?"

"Nonsense."

"Excuse me?"

"I know you too well Batman-sama. I know you'll come back, no matter how long it takes to do it. You wouldn't abandon us."

Bruce felt something from what she said...but at the same time he felt too comfortable with it and it ate him up inside.

Still, he decided to give her a half hug.

"Maybe."

"Hmm, and with Subaru-sama with you, I know that you two will definitely conquer the tower."

Batman and Frederica slowly let go of their hug, Batman then began to chuckle.

"Batman-sama?"

"Oh..sorry, it's just, thinking about the fact that a boy named Subaru is going to take on a tower named after Pleiades...it's almost like a starlight destiny."

"Hmmm?"

"Sorry, it's nothing...Say, Frederica want to help?"

Frederica nodded happily.

Later, Batman met with Beatrice in the hallways as he was letting Frederica rest as well.

"Batman."

"Beatrice...what was Roswaal talking about with you?"

"Nothing of importance, just going over the facts of the trip with him-"

"-He still wants to bring back Echidna right?"

Beatrice held her breath as she heard this, but her face calmed as she looked up at him.

"Listened in on our conversation?"

"Nope. I just know him, and I know that out of everyone here, he would ask you to request this."

"..."

"I know I don't have a right to speak against this...but are you willing to ask the tower how to revive the dead?"

"...If it doesn't harm Subaru, I suppose."

Batman nodded and walked side by side with Beatrice as they went to go see the others.

"...Can I say something?"

"Hmmm? If it is not something insulting to my intelligence, go right ahead, I suppose."

"You two should not be playing with the dead...it can lead to nothing good."

"Why do say that? You talk as if something-"

Beatrice noticed his face faltered a bit when she said this. It piqued her interest a tad, but she decided to not press any further.

Batman just calmly walked side by side with the spirit.

"Heey, Petra. Sorry for leaving you alone. I'll make you feel better."

"Don't worry~. I'm not angry. It's fine. Subaru-sama can go to as many faraway, dangerous places as he wants, just like he always has, right?"

"I know that leaving you behind with Roswaal at the mansion would stress you so much that it would make it hard for you to breathe, but if you were to just reason that it was just another job and did your best to…gooeh!"

Subaru was hit with a head-butt to his stomach. Petra looked up at him with large teardrops form in the corner of her eyes, especially in seeing Subaru laugh off the hit.

"Subaru-sama are you some sort of person who likes pain?! Ram-sama told me those kind of people are dangerous!"

"I hope my name wasn't in her list there. Hehe."

"This isn't funny! Subaru-sama is always like this; ever since you first came to the mansion, and ever since I met you at the village. You're gonna go take diligent action all over the place again, even when it seems so dangerous!"

"Well, I know that's the thing with me, but I can take it as my road in becoming a hero. I mean, I've already gone through-"

"-Listen please! It was rough with the Ma-beasts; it was rough with the witch cult; it was rough with the cicada invasion; it was rough with the training; it was rough at the Elior forest; and it was rough cleaning the graves too. Why can't someone other than Subaru-sama do it? Someone...another person…..you should just leave it up to someone stronger or something like that, like Master, since he has the time."

"I…I understand. I understand just how much frustration you've had piled up because of how Roswaal wastes his time so often. Stop trying to add things on in attempts to drive Roswaal off to his death. It creates an intense amount of tension in the camp."

Petra was obviously worried for her Subaru. The moment she saw him with his artificial limbs, she panicked and had begun to dread the day that he would have to leave on another mission. And while she trusted Batman and Deathstroke to take care of everyone, she saw that even with them there, he still got this injured.

"I worried for you for a whole month! Then you come back with that cold hand and that scary eye! If Batman-sama didn't give those to you, you'd be far worse right now!"

"True. But this something I have to do Petra..mainly because-

"-What reason then?"

"...I want to be the first person she sees when she wakes up."

Petra was quiet, she understood exactly who he was referring to.

"I know I'm not the strongest or the most capable...but I have to do this. No one else. Me and the others are going to do our damndest to complete this. Petra."

"Huh?"

"Thanks for worrying about me."

Subaru gave her a surprise pat on the head with his normal hand.

"Ey!"

"Another head-butt!?"

Subaru was once again hit in the stomach by a sudden head-butt by the small maid.

She then closed one of her eyes and stuck out her tongue at him.

"Subaru-sama you idiot! You're selfish! Why don't you just go do whatever you want!"

"Ughu, uo….."

"Because when 2 months pass and you return, I'll surprise you by becoming a really beautiful girl. Feel free to regret not being able to see that growth up close by!"

"There really is something unfortunate about that."

It's not normal for a kid to change during their growth period so suddenly. But Petra was also a glamorous 13 year old. After 2 months passed, she just might have a completely different impression.

"Anywayss! What you should do is: go ahead and travel towards dangerous places like you want-worrying everyone and troubling everyone-and after that, come back like you always do.'

"It sounds like I'm a pretty big nuisance to others when you say that….."

The way she described him surprisingly didn't sound wrong. With this, Subaru pushed out both of his hands as well, and then he matched Petra's fist with his own.

"It's always troubling for Petra, but I'll carelessly head towards dangerous places like I always do, and you just wait for me to return like normal after I'm done with doing various things—one after another. It is Petra's own special right to welcome us back once we return from our journey."

"…You won't let Frederica nee-sama or Ram nee-sama say it before me, right?"

" Yeah. I promise."

"Including Master?"

"Even if you don't worry about that, I'd get hit by Roswaal if he were to be the first one to appear when we come back."

" …..Mm, I understand. Alright, that convinces me."

She pulled back her fist that was matched with Subaru's, and then triumphant spirits started to flow into the sighing Petra. The flow was substantial, and should have looked like a big form of forgiveness.

"Jeez, Subaru-sama can't be helped….."

She gave a small chuckle, relaxing the both of them.

The direction towards the Augria Sand Dunes, which was a place that was located far off in the world and was a place that was far away from their group...resembled a straight line that pointed towards due east from the eastern Roswaal mansion.

However, this journey had a path that was longer than the path one would be required to take to head towards the watergate city Priestella; it would take close to 20 days for just a one-way trip.

In other words, this journey would take a total of 40 days just to go there and back.

They would safely arrive at the watchtower, and if they thought about staying there for a couple of days, the length of this large expedition could very well turn into something like 2 months instead.

The day ended. Everyone rested the night away...except Batman and Subaru who kept working on the tools they needed for the journey.

In the morning, preparations were complete and Batman and Subaru met with the rest of the party.

Julius Juukulius

Anastasia Hoshin (Echidna Possessed)

Ram

Pamela Isley

Deathstroke

Mieli Portroute

Patrasche

Rem

Emilia

"Everyone take one of each and keep them close."

Everyone grabbed their equipment with Deastroke nodding when he looked inside the bags.

"Oho. Cloaks, goggles, desert boots and a goddamn gas mask? You two thought this through huh?"

"Batman-san mentioned it to me on the way here. We were lucky he bought the materials we needed before we left Priestella."

Batman nodded in agreement, even while he noticed Emilia was playing around with her goggles and Julius was examining the gas mask.

"Everyone, I'll teach you all how to use those things soon enough, they were designed to help combat the environment, as well as preventing too much ingestion of the Witch's Miasma. Remember, her sealing shrine is there as well."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Soon, they were taught the specifics about their items and they began to move out.

The carriages were being supplied and everyone was working on getting the journey started.

"Worried about something, Subaru?"

He tilts his head, and when he was imagining the distant future, he saw Emilia pop up in his vision. Subaru clears his throat with a "Hm" at the girl wearing a lightweight dress for traveling afar and says

"When I think about the place we're going to, I can't stop being nervous. When I stop thinking about it…..I feel afraid about going to a dangerous place with a large group of people, since it's hard to help everyone when there's that many people."

"You may be right. Rem and Ram are coming along too. Subaru will have to be protected by Meili and Anastasia."

"What the!? I'm already being treated as someone who won't fight!?"

"Come on, Subaru. Obviously it's just a joke. You're going to take this seriously, after all."

Subaru smiled a bit even as he watched Batman tie on the carriage two large metallic boxes onto the carriage. Deathstroke was another one and seemed to practicing his aiming with semi-automatic rifle. It helped eased Subaru in thinking that these two would help.

Pamela was using her large vines to help put heavier things into the carriages.

Meili appeared next as...she now sported a navy blue outfit, similar to the one she wore when she attacked them all. With it, was an orange scarf and a baton on her small back.

She playfully winked at Subaru and ran off to join Deathstroke, carrying her panda toy.

"Looks like you're having trouble Natsuki-kun, since you're always trying to please girls."

"…If you think so, then it'd make me happy if you could stop taking up my time."

Anastasia called out to him with a teasing tone. Anastasia...even though she was called this, inside she was the white fox Echidna.

On the remaining 20 days from Priestella to the mansion, most of the differences were buried. Even if she would do Anastasia's job like this, it seemed like it would eventually become hard to tell them apart.

"I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't doubt me like that. Didn't I tell you that I have no motive? Hence, I've volunteered to be your guys' guide for a dangerous path."

"Including that point too, my stance is that there's a possibility of you having various plans, considering your creator. I've said this many times too, so remember it. It's not like I don't want want to believe you. It would make me feel a lot more at ease if I could believe you."

"It's not amusing being at a disadvantage like this by not remembering someone. It seems like my creator made me not have memory in order to displease you."

"That's why you shouldn't get so angry. Geez, it's scary."

When he glared at Eridna, who went back to herself midway, she went back to disguising herself as Anastasia and pouted with her lips. With that, she passed by Subaru and stepped into the dragon carriage.

Ram later appeared with Rem. She was in clothes suitable for the trip, and was now being carried by Petra's wheelchair, she was on something Subaru reproduced from his original world through his memory.

A model of the wheelchair had already existed in this world, but it had quite the amount of work put into the remodeling; it had a caster like front wheel that wouldn't be a hindrance when changing directions, along with a scaffold and a seat. Of course, a seat belt and a cushion to protect her head were implemented as well.

It was a one of a kind wheelchair that Subaru insisted on making to Roswaal, and he made it with his own money.

"I'm worried about the maintenance when we get far, but….."

"Subaru-sama is a little handy, and the materials are what they are, so I think it could handle being used for two months. Of course, please don't do anything unreasonable."

Frederica glanced over at Batman, he was walking towards them having finished setting up the carriages. She gave him a quick smile and the two maids bowed to them.

"Please be safe everyone."

"We'll be awaiting your return."

Subaru and Batman nodded as they made their way back to the carriages. Subaru stayed behind a bit as he moved around his left hand. His left eye continued to examine it...moving about as it did. Then, a small hand gently grabbed his right hand from the side.

"Oh, it's Beako."

"You don't have to make a pathetic look like that. It's not like your feelings for that girl are weaker than the feelings her sister has, so you don't have to worry, I suppose. Just be yourself, and do what you can do, I suppose."

"That's not quite….or well, that's how it is?"

Subaru touches his cheek with the hand that wasn't occupied, pulls on it, and pinches it. Then, this time his hand was taken by a different white hand.

" Yeah yeah, I'll take that hand. A little cold, but it's still Subaru."

"Ohfu, Emilia-tan…"

Beatrice looked up at Subaru with one of her eyebrows raised.

"After that girl wakes up, it'll be easy for both of your hands to get occupied. I'm interested in seeing what Subaru will do about that."

"Ah, I might be interested in that too."

Subaru gets caught in between Emilia and Beatrice, and he gives a troubled look. However, he was only returned with a serious look and an anticipating look.

To make matters worse, Petra's look was piercing him from behind, and Ram was even throwing him a cold, scornful look in front of the dragon carriage as she turned around.

He was being unbelievably surrounded on all sides...then, Julius let's out a "Hmm", as he saw that and gave a nod. In response to that desiring reaction, Subaru gave a grand smile.

What is it? If you want to say something, say it. Alright, go ahead!"

"Really? Alright then, I'll just say one thing. You really could not be more blessed, being surrounded by beautiful girls like that. I can't help feeling a lot of doubt about whether or not you're satisfying all of those flowers with your hands."

"What is this? I'm starting to get blamed!? Did I do something wrong!?"

Julius shrugged his shoulders with a shocked face. The pathetic shout Subaru gave him went up into the sky.

The loud shout became the horn of commencement. They set out for the Augria Sand Dunes.

Roswaal watched as they left and began walking back…

"I wonder how Subaru-kun will dooooo...now that he has four of them. Huhuhuhuhu, I am quite excited."

He mumbled this to himself as he continued to the mansion with the maids behind him.

In Priestella, the candidates that remained and their now fully healed members, were watching as the destroyed Batwing was being excavated from the building it crashed into to. Priscilla was waving her fan around, getting bored and began to turn around.

"How dull, it's time that-"

Then a sudden speck of white light appeared in front of her.

The other candidates saw this, making their warriors take defensive positions. Then, a voice emanated out of it.

"...co...min….t...st…"

"What is this?"

"B...ng...t…."



Felt peeked over from behind Reinhard...she could've sworn she was looking at a figure looking back at them.

"Oh shit...Is...IS SOMETHING IN THERE?!"

"...e...are…."

Then the speck of light formed the figure of a person, as it reached out it's hand.

"Be...ware…"

"Huh?"

"...Beware…"

Crusch, Priscilla and Felt were staring at the figure, as it began to dissipate in and out of vision…

"Beware...it's coming...need to... stop...it."

The figure and light vanished, leaving nothing behind.

On the vast lands of the Augira Sand Dunes a figure was walking through the sands, their footsteps sending specks of sand into the air as two dark green eyes looked at the vast horizon.

"Is...he finally coming back?"

The rest had ended. A mission to conquer the Watchtower in a sea of sand more dangerous than any other, was out there on the horizon. All in order to conquer fate and revive the lost.