The Beast
Chapter one
First contact
'Most experts believe that viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people who are infected cough, sneeze, bleed or leave behind body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, etc,) come into contact with another person. These droplets infect people who are nearby and spread the virus
The sound of the muscles contracting as his prey ran through the jungle caused his pulse to quicken. After all, the island had been bare for sometime now. As he jumped from branch to branch he saw the beta's chasing the creature through the forest. Their howls and screams sending the creature into overdrive. But like everything else, it could not outrun them, the thrill of the hunt allowed them to never tire, or perhaps it was the promise of a meal. The promise of the sweet taste that melted in your mouth as your prey below you screamed in agony as you continue to eat would cause any beta, or himself for that mater, go into a frenzy. As a wall of stone was quickly approaching he jumped from the branches and landed in front of the betas as he kicked himself off as he chased his prey. With a roar he charged forwards as the four legged beast of burden had met the cliff before it desperately tried to find away around. Not waiting for the chance, a Beta jumped and dug it's claws into the beast's back. With it's powerful hind legs the creature kicked the beta off causing it to slow, giving several betas the chance to attack. As the creature was pulled down to the ground the small pack of betas began to tear into the creature as it screamed out. The scream itself was cut short as a beta ripped into it's vocal cords. He watched as the betas feasted on the creature...horse it was a horse.
Grabbing his head slightly he shook his head of that dreaded thought as he moved in. placing a foot on the horse's side he grabbed it's leg and began to pull. As the hollow sound of joints popping and flesh tearing filled with the hisses and grunts from the other betas he successfully detached the leg. He must have been one hell of a human to have this much strength, the alpha always said she loved that about him, His eyes looked back at the bloody mess. Grabbing a beta by the back of the neck he threw it backwards to make room as he knelt beside the horse and morphing his hand to his berserk stage. Looking at the extended gray arm he dropped the leg and ran a hand over the tiny woven strands of black strings that made him indestructible. Shaking his head once more he placed his hand on the horse's chest and with one quick motion pierced the soft flesh. As his hand went to looking for her gift, he looked to the beta beside him. Unlike most betas this one had kept the majority of his hair. But the thing that struck him most was the beta's eye. Unlike the other adults this one had one soft green eye, he imagined that if the other eye was there it would be the same. Still this beta caught his attention, biting his hand with his unusually sharp teeth, according to the alpha, and smeared the black blood across the beta's forehead. Now that the beta had caught his interest he could find this one again and observe it if he wanted to. Beta's weren't much for company, only his alpha could do that for him, maybe a human if he could resist eating it. Finding what he wanted he retracted his hand and held the heart of his pray. Using his free hand he grabbed the leg he began to make his way through the dense Jungle. Hearing the beta he marked behind him he turned slightly to see it keeping a steady pace behind him.
"You remember anything before?" He asked as he stepped over a fallen log. He knew he wouldn't get an answer, he never did. But it didn't hurt to try. As the jungle began to recede he could see the stone wall that was suppose to protect his home from intruders. Once he reached the wall he began walking alongside it before he reached a large hole. Stepping over the rubble his bare feet made contact with cold stone. Ignoring the horribly disfigured Betas that were trapped under the larger pieces of rubble. Must have been standing to close to the wall when it came down.
As he walked down the almost empty streets he slowed as he came to a rather large building. He looked at the sign that hung above the door and frowned. The written Language on the sign long forgotten by him, he began walking up the stairs when he stopped at the door. Looking into the window beside it he could see several glowing white eyes watching him before they ducked out of sight. Opening the door he was greeted with a darkness that only was stopped by the fading moonlight. Turning to the door on his left he slowly opened the door to find several small betas looking up at him. Most were missing bits and pieces all over, the venom could easy spread to all parts of their small bodies. Dropping the leg he carried the young-lings looked up at him watching and waiting, some even twitched out of restraint.
"Dig in." He said as he watched the small group dig in to the severed appendage. He walked and slid down the wall next to a mostly decayed corpse. Looking at the corpse he sighed. It would appear that she was trying to save the young-lings before they turned into this. Feeling a small poke on his arm he turned to see one of the smaller young-lings holding a peace of flesh out in it's hand, offering it to him. Holding out his hand he received the gift before taking it into his mouth and chewing. Slowly rising from the floor he stepped out of the house and ran outside before he lost what was in his mouth and most of everything else in his stomach, which sadly wasn't much. It seemed he was cursed. Out of all of them , hell even the alpha could eat just about anything living while he was restricted to human. And he hated it. He had only ever done it twice, the first when we was in a blind rage when he first turned. And the second was when he was starving to death making him eat a rotten corpse. Both times made him sick to the core. He didn't know why, hell he didn't even remember who he was besides his name but still it made him feel ashamed. Recovered from his sickness he stood and began walking back to his home.
There in the center of the town was a the largest of the buildings. As he approached the building he could find most of the betas crowded around it. Moving to the steps he bent down slightly before jumping making a small crater in the ground. Landing gracefully on the balcony he slowly opened the doors to find his alpha sleeping, a young-ling turned by herself wrapped in her arms. The small one was already asleep in her arms. Sighing, he placed the heart down on the small table beside the bed and went back to the balcony. As he watched the betas stumble out from the base of the building to shelter from the approaching light from the sea. Soon the bright light was upon him as he felt the breeze run through his hair. Closing his eyes he enjoyed the moment. Even if he couldn't remember his past, or the face of the scarlet haired woman that visited his dreams, he could always remember enjoying the sunshine.
'Ready to go?'
eight weeks earlier
"Ready to go?" Natsu slowly opened his eyes to see happy smiling down at him.
"Yeah buddy, today's the day we go on our fist mission back!" Natsu said jumping from his hammock. After celebrating their victory in Crocus the guild was barraged by quests asking for specific members. But yesterday was the last one and now team Natsu was free to go on a group quest together like the old days. Racing to the guild with Happy flying beside him he quickly slowed when he was met his team halfway to the guild. A look of slight annoyance on their faces.
"Natsu do you know what time it is?" Erza asked with a somewhat malaise tone.
"Nope." Natsu smiled before he felt a iron gauntlet come down on his head. "Ow what was that for Erza?" Natsu asked rubbing the bump on his head.
"I told you to be at the guild two hours ago!" Erza roared. Natsu dropped to his knees.
"Please forgive me!" He yelped. Sighing Erza and the group walked past him towards the train station. "Uh the guild's this way." Natsu said pointing down the street.
"We already picked a job, now lets go." Erza said as Natsu grudgingly followed them towards the train station. Once the group was on the train Natsu sat beside Erza across from Gray and Lucy.
"So what's the job about? Do we get to fight anyone?!" Natsu asked.
"We're going to Stryzeth to investigate a series of abductions." Lucy chipped in.
"So how long till the train gets there?" Natsu asked hoping it wouldn't take to long.
"Sorry flame-brain it's on a island." Gray snickered as he saw his rival pale before he shook a fist at Gray.
"Oi what's that suppose to mean you stri-urph." Natsu slumped back in the seat as the train began to move. "Erza-ugmh please." Natsu begged as he felt a sharp pain in his stomach and began to fall foreword when his head was placed gently on her lap. Soon the pain from the punch left his system and he found himself falling asleep.
When Natsu awoke he felt a slight nudge on his arm. Opening his eyes he looked up to see Erza looking down at him. "Time to leave Natsu." Natsu stood up and stretched.
"Thanks Erza, you're lap was really comfy-" Natsu was cut short when a iron fist hit him square in the face.
"D-don't say such indecent things." Erza said with a slight pick shade on her cheeks. Looking back at Natsu she noticed that she knocked him conciseness. When Natsu awoke again he found himself laying down on a poorly made bed. As Natsu tried to stand he felt the sway of the waves and regretted that decision. Falling back on the bed. Slowly rising he clung on the wall as he staggered down the small hallway. As he tried to claim the stairs it somehow turned into crawling. Once he reached the deck He found his team looking over the railing.
"He-lp me." He wheezed out. Happy who saw him flew over towards his side.
"Natsu you can see it!" Picking up Natsu by the back of his caller he flew Natsu beside the group. With Natsu hovering just above the deck he looked out over the sea to see a town built on the small cliff overlooking the ocean. The island behind it sprawled out in a dense jungle that loomed over the town. As the dock came into view Happy flew Natsu over where the duo waited for the ship. Once the ship docked Erza talked to the captain into staying for a few days for them to finish their mission.
"This sucks." Natsu said as the group was let in through the massive wooden doors to the town.
"Well Natsu if you would have been on time you could have picked the mission." Erza said as they walked towards town hall, the largest building in town. As they walked onward a small group of kids charged them and asked them a barrage of questions.
"Are you wizards?"
"Did you come to find those people?"
"Why is your hair so girly?"
the last one made Natsu cringe as he tightened his fist while Gray laughed.
"Come along children." A woman in her late thirties said as she rounded the kids back into the building they came from. As Natsu looked up at the sign his mood darkened a bit. 'An orphanage eh?'
"Oi kids!" Natsu yelled causing the small group to turn around. "We're mages from Fairy tail!" Natsu said giving them a smile and a thumbs up. Looking down he found a small girl wearing a white dress. She held onto his vest.
"Could you please bring back my brother?" she asked timidly. Natsu patted her head.
"Yeah we'll find em." Natsu smiled before turning to his teammates to find Lucy grinning, Gray smirking and even Erza had a small smile on her face. As the group continued they finally reached the town hall and met with the mayor. The Mayor himself was a rather young man with calm grey eyes and his hair slickly combed to one side.
"I take it your the mages from Fairy tail? First let me thank you for accepting our call for help." The mayor said shaking Erza's hand.
"It's our honor to help. What can you tell us about the abductions?" Erza asked cutting to the point. The man's mood turned slightly dark before he walked to the large window that faced the sea.
"It started a few weeks ago. A local hunter went missing after he went into the jungle, three days from that a search party of twelve never returned. I ordered the gate to the jungle sealed and had guards posted along the northern wall. I thought if I could stop people from going into the jungle we would be safe, but after I sent a request to the guilds for help I released something. What ever is taking my people was able to bypass the wall, guards and every wandering eye for at least six city blocks, plucking people from their homes. The last reported abduction came from the orphanage. A young man was taken in the dead of night. Please I beg you, find what ever it is doing this and stop it!" The mayor said as a stray tear fell from his right eye.
"I promise you this, we will find what's responsible for these attacks and put a end to it. Natsu!" Erza said catching the dragon slayer of guard. "Go back to the orphanage and see if you can find anything that will help our search. Gray, check with the other families and find out if they had anyone to be afraid of." This catching the mayor's attention.
"Are you suspecting a human was responsible for all this?"
"We don't have all the facts yet, but yes I suspect someone has orchestrated all this. Lucy you're with me, we'll being inpecting the area around the northern wall. Meet back at the northern gate in no less then two hours. Understood?!"
"Yes ma'am!" The rest of the team shouted as they left the mayor alone. Walking back to his desk he sat in the chair and hovered his hand slightly over the desk. Several screens showing the town, Jungle, and the Fairy tail wizards popped up in front of him. The screens switched every so often.
'Fairy tail...The strongest guild huh? Should be a good test for our experiment.' "Cube, Contact Mard Geer. Tell him the final test subjects have arrived. My full report will reach you in the following days." The mayor smiled wickedly before he centered the screens on the Fairy tail mages.
Looking out over the dense Jungle Erza felt something was off. Whether it was the way the people disappeared or how the situation was handled, something felt off. "Nothing in common, Just that they woke up one day and they were gone." Gray reported back as the three waited for for Happy and Natsu to return. Soon enough the duo came back, the slayer holding a small stuffed bear. Taking a deep whiff his nose twitched before he came to the wall. The guards opened the gates and quickly closed them after they group had passed. As they pasted the small clearing the approached the wall of green that rose above them like a wave. Natsu continued walking as the group followed. As the daylight dwindled away the group continued onward.
"Erza do you think we should turn back? It's getting pretty dark." Gray said as he tripped over a log for the forth time.
"Yeah Erza this place is giving me the creeps." Lucy said rubbing her bare arms. Erza looked ahead to see Natsu keeping his pace.
"Natsu we should make camp for the-" Erza was cut off when Natsu came into contact with a invisible wall knocking him down.
"What tha?" Natsu said hopping back to his feet as air in front of them began to distort as a dome like shield began to dissolve to show a small bunker. Natsu quickly ran towards the large Iron door and frantically looked for a way to open.
"Natsu slow down we need to think this through-"
"There's someone on the other side of this!" Natsu interrupted Erza causing the group to become silent. "Alright step back! Get as far away as you can!" Natsu screamed at the door. Pulling back his fist he prepared his spell. "Fire dragon's iron fis-" Just before he made contact the sound of gears moving made him stop. Slowly the iron door slide down to reveal a small boy with a very bloody shirt stumble out before he was caught by Natsu.
"The monsters are coming..." The boy weakly said as his head fell back.
"hey...HEY WAKE UP!" Natsu said shaking the boy.
"Natsu we need to get him back to tow-" Erza was cut off by a long piercing scream scream that came from the elevator shaft. Handing the boy to Lucy he looked at Happy.
"Carry her back to town." Happy nodded and flew off with Lucy. As the three waited the area became silent. Not a single sound was heard, It seemed the wildlife had lost their voice as they waited for the unknown emerge. A explosion caused the fairy tail mages to jump back as blur crashed into Erza sending her flying back into the jungle. The blur charged Gray before he could cast anything and threw him into a tree. Natsu looking at the creature as it paused before it looked over at him. The creature stood somewhere between seven to eight feet tall. It's black skin made it noticeable even in twilight. It's arms were long and narrow, it's arm span must have been at lest nine feet. Its face was a smooth patch of skin that ended in a mess of black tentacles that buzzed around. The creature rushed Natsu in such a speed that even he couldn't dodge as he was lifted up from the ground. The smooth skin teared as it's lower jaw pulled down. The mouth had three rows of razor sharp teeth. Natsu struggled against the creature as he tried to free himself.
"Natsu!" Erza yelled as she swung down and severed the creature's arms making howl in pain. Natsu recovered and pushed himself off the ground hitting the creature with a flaming fist.
"Ice make: Lance!" Several ice spears pierced the creature as it went limp. "What the hell is that?" Gray asked as he moved to stand beside Erza and Natsu.
"I have no clue but what ever it was, it was strong." Natsu said rolling his arm before he stopped looking at the now demolished bunker. "You've got to be kidding me." Natsu said making the other two look at him before the creature snapped the ice. The holes made by the Gray's attack long gone. It held out the stub left from Erza's attack as several black tentacles shot out before winding together to form a new arm.
"This time were ready-"
"Erza we got company!" Natsu yelled as the rubble from the explosion was forced away as several beings began to craw out.
"What the hell?" Gray asked as the new arrivals began to pour out of the hole in the ground and ran towards them. "It's the missing townspeople!" Gray shouted. As the nearest one shot out at Natsu he hit the man away as he slammed into the ground. He had a large wound around the base of his neck and hollow pale eyes. As the three fought off the horde of monsters the first one sprang back into action as It engaged Erza in combat.
"Erza!" Natsu yelled as he shot a torrent of flames at a large group.
"I'm fine! Hold the rest off!" She yelled back as she tried to land a hit on the creature. As Natsu and Gray continued to face the endless horde Gray noticed something. Only half of the humans were fighting them, the rest were...heading towards town!
"ERZA THEY'RE LEAVING!" Gray shouted as he slashed a human clear in half. Natsu heard Gray and looked for Erza only to find her thrown further into the Jungle with the creature following.
"ERZA!" They both yelled as they chased after her. The sight they saw was Erza back to her normal armor pined against a bolder. Erza looked up at the creature as black drool leaked from it's mouth. Leaning back it's head ready to take a bit out of her. Closing her eyes she waited for the pain but instead heard a scream and Gray's spell. Opening her eyes she saw Gray with a hammer made of ice and Natsu gripping his shoulder as his shirt and vest were quickly staining in a dark color.
"Natsu?! Why would you do that?" Erza yelled as she tried to stand but winced at the pain. Natsu giving her support gave her a smile. "You'd do the same for me." He said as he smiled. "We need to get back to town now." Gray said as he blasted a path through the horde. Erza tried to walk by gasped as Natsu caught her. "I think my leg is broken." Erza said as Natsu scooped her up and began to run beside Gray. As the they ran through the jungle Natsu began to feel dizzy. Slowing down he fell to his knees and began violently coughing sending Erza tumbling down. "Natsu are you alright?" Erza asked as she crawed beside him.
"Guys we need to move!" Gray shouted as several creatures began to close in on them.
"Erza...you...you..." Natsu whispered out as he stopped twitching and slowly looked up at her. Erza gasped and fell backwards as she looked at him. His eyes turned completely black with the pupils glowing red. "You smell delicious." Natsu said as he jumped for Erza. Erza quickly rolled out of the way. As Natsu landed he turned and charged Erza once again.
"Natsu snap out of it! This isn't you!" Erza yelled as she dodged him once more before he was contained in a cage made of ice.
"JUST A BITE!" Natsu shouted out as he reached for her.
"Erza we have to go!" Gray yelled picking her up and ran away.
"Gray put me down this instant! We can't just leave him back th-"
"That wasn't Natsu! He tried to eat you!" Gray yelled as he busted through wall of green as he set his eyes on the town. From where he was he could hear the screams and see the fire that was consuming the town. While Gray was distracted, Erza pushed off his chest and fell to the ground as she tried to stand to run back for Natsu when a flaming figure flew out of the jungle and landed twenty feet in front of them. There in front of them was Natsu. The gray skin showing in places and his cheeks had been tore open to allow the jaws to have more room. His chest was swollen and black spikes stuck out from his back, the largest at the top and decreasing in size as they went down his back. His left arm was extremely swollen and had several black spikes sticking out.
"Natsu." Erza said as she put a hand over her mouth. As Natsu watched them several more infected began to pour out as the formed a giant circle around them.
"Grey! Erza! Don't let them bite you!" They heard a voice as Gray looked up to see Happy flew down beside them. "Lucy's evacuating the town to the ship...where's...Natsu?" Happy slowed his speech as he saw his pink haired friend. "Natsu? Is that you?" Happy said as he slowly flew closer to him.
"Happy don't go near him! He's not well!" Gray shouted as he took a step towards Happy only to be stopped when the closest infected launched itself at him. Gray using a sword made of ice quickly cut down when he looked for Happy again. Happy was now right in front of Natsu and he was talking to him. "You're not like those guys right Natsu? Come on lets go back home, We-" A flash of light was all that was seen as Erza screamed and Gray's eyes widened.
'What the hell just happened?' Out of the smoke a small figure was shot out and Gray just barely caught it before it flew into the infected behind him. Looking down in his arms he saw Happy with a large burn on the side of his body. The exceed was knocked unconscious.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH" The scream made Gray look up to see Natsu gripping his head in pain. His scream made the other infected roar as they charged the town forgetting the trio. "Gray...get them...out of here..." Natsu's voice was heard as he dragged his hands down his face, leaving bright red streaks.
"Natsu! You most pull yourself together at once!" Erza pleaded with the dragon slayer. The pain in her mid section made her take in a sharp breath in pain. "Natsu listen to me-"
"JUST GO! I CAN'T HOLD IT MUCH LONGER!" Natsu roared as his left arm began to bulge and bubble. Grabbing a hand full of dirt as the spines on his back grew even longer and the bones in his arms detached and extend. His once tan skin began to tear away to reveal pitch black skin all over him. Gray cursing under his breath picked up Erza and Happy and ran full speed into town. He had just reached the gates when a explosion alerted him that Natsu was finished changing, and that he would be there soon. As he ran through the streets he saw infected biting and tearing at the corpses that laid beneath them. As he turned a corner he was met with a large horde as he quickly turned down a narrow path as he heard the screams and roars form the infected behind him. Coming back out on a street he could see the harbor gates. Giving it his all he bolted for the gates. As he ran he saw several other citizens trying to make it to the gates. The woman in front of him had a small daughter and as he was running a figure dropped down on the mother and removed a chunk form her neck. The girl screamed as the infected set it's sight on her. As it jumped at the girl a sword flew into its side and pushed it out of the way.
"RUN!" Erza yelled at the small girl. The girl ran towards her mother pulling at her hand as the others ran past her. Erza watched in horror as the mother's hand clenched around the girl's hand before it pulled her down, the girl's cry was cut short as Erza turned her head away from the gruesome seen. Finally making it to the gate he could see several townspeople trying to board the ship as several infected charged down the slope. As they neared Gray watched as several of them fell into holes. Once he reached the docks he saw Lucy giving orders as she met his eyes. Her eyes widened before Gray spun around to see a infected was behind him. As Gray tried to dodge the incoming attack a arrow shot past him and pierced it's head as it slumped down beside Gray. Standing on one of the rails was Sagittarius firing at will at the horde. After he deposed of the rest of infected, Gray hopping over the rail he placed Erza down and finally got to look her over. Her leg was twisted in a awkward angle and had a deep bruise on her side. Looking at her face he found the look of what he could only call pure fear. She clung to Happy as though he was a life line.
"More are coming!" He heard the look out scream.
"Sorry Las, we can't wait any longer!" The Caption yelled as he ordered his men to separate from the dock.
"Gray! Erza!" Lucy said as she spotted her friends. Lucy was covered in small scarps and cuts but over all she looked better off then the other two. "Where's Natsu?" She asked. Erza crushed her eyes together as she shook her head back and forth, tears falling down her cheeks. Lucy shot her hand up to her mouth as she began to visibly shake. Gray looked back at the town to see a small orange speck climbing the town hall.
Hunger. He must feed. That's all that mattered, or so he thought when he blew a hole in the wall. Those parasites had stuffed their mouths with his food. But as he hunted for food he had found something else, something stronger. Yes, this was a worthy pray. As he climbed the side of the building he finally reached the top to see his pray. It's long slender arm held a flesh-ling. The human was rather calm for being caught by such a creature. "Sayla I command you to stop this at once-" The human was cut off as the creature ripped him in half before throwing his top half in Natsu's direction. Natsu looked down at the lifeless gray eyes before stepping on the body crushing it under his weight. He rose lifting his arms off the ground as he used his legs to completely hold him up. The creature noticed him as it turned to him. As he thought, it only came up to his chest. Roaring at it Natsu jumped to it as it quickly dodged before taking a slice out of his side. Natsu roared in pain as he used his stronger, bigger, arm to crush the creature before it quickly grabbed onto his arm and it's arms transformed into several black tentacles and began jabbing the arm. Natsu roared in pain as he used his free arm to swipe it off. As his left arm began regenerating he opened his mouth and shot out a torrent of fire. The creature launched itself at Natsu as it sent him tumbling over the edge. Natsu hit the ground as the creature landed on top of him and using it's arms repeatedly stabbed at Natsu's shoulders until he couldn't move them. In a last ditch effort his neck began to expand as he prepared to fire only to have the creature smash his windpipe. As he struggled to breath he felt a sharp pain as the creature began to eat the right side of his neck. As Natsu's Vision became blurry he heard a deep throaty voice.
"Mine."
Natsu slowly opened his eyes as he slowly rubbed his eyes. He groaned as he remembered his nightmare from last night. Turning he pulled the source of warmth closer. 'Last time I drink against Cana' He thought as he tired to calm down his hangover. As he felt something else on the bed stir he stopped his thoughts. Wait...he didn't own a bed.. His eyes shot open to see a pair of blood red eyes staring back at him.
"Good morning, my wonderful mate."
AU: So here it is. Man I had a lot of fun coming up with this with Natsu is Awesome. Thanks a lot man, I couldn't have done it without you.
As always, have a good one.
-Justaguy35