Unwilling Stay of Change
Seige awoke to the sound of frying meat. It wasn't the smell he was used to... well, not for a while that is. He was in a bed, something that travel rarely afforded him. The sheets smelled of pine, a distinct smell compared to that of Fiore. He confused himself for a moment. Fiore? He hadn't heard of that before. What was a Fiore? He shook it off. It was probably something from his dream.
He pulled the covers off of himself and to the side of the bed. The smell of pine grew stronger. It seemed perfect. His short height perfectly plopping onto the ground, he stumbled to the door. He was still groggy from waking up. He opened the door, and colors seemed to shift. Instead of the calm orange light that filtered through the windows, the lights shifted purple. He was suddenly entering the kitchen. He had no clue why. He couldn't smell anything.
He looked up from his groggy state, rubbing his eyes from the blurry blobs he was suddenly seeing. He wasn't in pajamas but dirty clothes... Yeah... he was playing outside... that was it. He finally cleared his sight to see his mother, a Lizardwoman along with a man. The man had black hair... it was long, and perfect in its composition. It posed a striking dichotomy to his mother's crimson. His mother's tail whipped side to side showing her agitation with the man. They argued a bit, but that blurred for Seige. He only caught one thing.
"-so you finally bore him? I'm glad to see that things are going so well. I hope we can still go through with the deal?" The man said smoothly but with a slight echo that signed a sense of authority beyond any Seige had ever seen
"Yes, he's doing amazingly. I just hope to raise him a bit further." She requested nervously
"I see..." The man said standing before turning to Seige, "Ah, this must be him..."
The man picked up the confused Seige and tapped over the boy's heart. He put the boy down before staring at his mother.
"You have Five years. After that, I will claim you both. I rule over your fate... and do remember that."
In a wisp of black magic, the man disappeared. His mother fell and burst into tears.
Seige had no clue what happened, so he comforted his mother.
Seige awoke from the dreamed memory. He frowned as he tore the bandages that covered his head. That was a weird dream... he rarely dreamed of his mother and father... and it left an odd taste in his mouth. Last he remembered was getting hit by that Natsu guy.
Tough Customer...
Now, where is he?
It was wooden and frankly rather comforting looking, but he'd been fooled by a comfy bed before. It had taken several potions to recover from that one. He involuntarily shuddered. Not the time to think about that. Seige heard a few voices arriving at the door and ran for the window. He made it about three inches from it before he was caught by a massive hand.
"So, you must be the bounty hunter I heard about." The old man behind the hand said calmly
"Are you gonna let me go? I'm kinda trying to make my daring escape. I'd rather not resort to violence."
"Good. Neither would I." The man said, flashing a good portion of his power to Seige
Seige's eyes widened. He examined the man to finally notice the Wizard Saint's emblem embroidered onto his jacket.
"You're a Wizard Saint." Seige said in disbelief
The man released Seige.
"You haven't run yet."
"I wouldn't get thirty feet before I was dead."
"I wouldn't kill you. Unlike some of the other Saints, I am not quite the fighter anymore... now I teach the next generation." The man stated
"You're the Fairy Tail Guild Master. Makarov."
"That I am. What will you do with that information?"
"I can't run. Sure as hell can't hide." Seige pointed out
"You could join Fairy Tail." Makarov offered
"I don't use magic." Seige stated blankly
"You have Ethernano in your body. I can sense it. I know of your heritage. Porlyusica recognized your 'unique' situation instantly. Your race can use magic. Only one type, but one nonetheless."
"I'm not a mage. I don't use magic." Seige insisted with fire
He was not going to use anything of the sort with magic.
"Regardless... with your skill, strength, and pedigree... I'd like to say you'd easily fit the strength of an A-Class mage."
"I'm not joining." Seige said firmly
"Oh? I better run you off to the Council then... you were committing a crime after all, but the paperwork! I guess I can manage if I put such a serious criminal behind bars." Makarov acted out poorly, turning to the door
"Fine." Seige growled out
"I'm sorry?" The Master smirked
"I join your stupid mages guild."
"Good. Let's get you a mark then..." Makarov smiled out in victory
Seige grit his teeth. Makarov was right. Seige was at that man's mercy whether he wanted it or not. He shook his head. Now wasn't the time to dwell on the negative. It was time for him to plan. Phantom Lord was coming. He didn't know when... but he knew they wouldn't stand until they destroyed Fairy Tail.
Just which side should he choose? Fairy Tail or Phantom Lord?
Seige looked at his green guild mark with distaste. He was tolerant of the lacrima on his hat, and now he had magically bound to his arm permanently. Makarov had insisted that he receive it, and to Seige's surprise, he noticed a nearly imperceivable jump to his magical power. There was more to the mark than appeared. It was strange. What source of power could it be? It turned out to not be the most pertinent question to ask, so he filed it away for later. He sat in the infirmary, bones long healed. It didn't take that long for him after all. Back to Phantom Lord, he wondered.
"Why does Phantom want Lucy? Why, specifically, was I hired?" he mused to himself
They were important questions and ones without answers. He had no way of asking why Phantom wanted her due to his new membership to Fairy Tail. He would be liable to be dragged back and imprisoned if he renounced the guild, so he was in a bind. How would he possibly answer those questions?
"Maybe I should ask Lucy?" He suggested to himself
That might work, but he doubted his relations to her were the best. It was worth a try though. He got up from the infirmary bed and headed down through the destroyed guild hall. It was surprising just how intact the infirmary actually was considering the state of the first floor. By some miracle, the Infirmary and its supports were left untouched... almost as if done on purpose. He'd have to look into that if Phantom came down on top.
Seige entered the ragged basement floor of the guild to notice the same cheer as before was present. Something felt off though. He finally noticed the artificiality of it. It was a surprise, to say the least. How had he not noticed this before? He shook his head and put the next of his many piling questions in storage for later. He glanced around the hall for the blonde. Her notably shining hair was instantly picked up on. He approached her before a slow twinge spread through his spine. He recognized it as nervousness. Well... this was going to be an issue.
"Lucy?" He called out in question, causing the celestial mage to turn at her name
"Oh. It's you." She said plainly and with obvious distaste
"I'd like to ask you a few things. This may help you too." He stated, hoping that she would give him the chance
"How?" She raised an eyebrow, appearing to humor him after a few moments of consideration
"Well, I was hired by Phantom Lord and out of all the people they would want me to bring in... they chose you. I was wondering why because it could help prevent that happening again."
"Well... Celestial Mages are pretty rare... aren't they?" She tried
"Not as rare as Dragonslayers." Seige shot down
"I don't know then I guess." She said defensively
It had to be something, but he couldn't remember what. He briefly thought for a moment before having an epiphany. He pulled out the picture he was given as reference. This should provide some clues.
"Would this help?" Seige asked, holding up the Lacrama Photo from earlier
Seige immediately noticed a myriad of emotions flash across the blonde's face. First was confusion, then sadness, then anger, then disbelief, and finally realization.
"Father. You wouldn't." She mumbled to herself firmly
"Your Father?" Seige inquired
"Just ignore that. I'd rather not get into that, but if this is a threat to Fairy Tail..." She said, connecting Phantom to something that Seige honestly make out, "I have to tell Master."
Before Seige could do anything, the blonde had run off. Maybe she wasn't as incompetent as he thought? He quickly checked his waist for the sword he always carried. He smiled as he found it there. At least Makarov hadn't taken his sword earlier. He doubted that Phantom would understand his circumstance when they did eventually attack Fairy Tail, and by proxy him. His only chance was to side with Fairy Tail. He sighed.
"Damned mages." Siege mumbled out
"Ay! Scaley guy!" The flame-haired Dragonslayer called out
"Huh?" Seige lifted his head to look at the slayer
"I heard you are part of the guild now. Let's fight! I want to see how powerful you are!"
"I'd rather no-" Seige tried as he dodged a flame covered fist, "Not falling to that again." he reminded himself
The slayer was carried into the wall by his momentum. Wood splintered on his entrance and spewed out upon his exit. It was odd to see as Seige had always idolized Dragonslayers to some degree. They were his superhero. With his mother being a Lizard Woman, Seige had always seen dragons at the top of the food chain... the apex predator of sorts. For a lowly human to challenge a dragon and win? That was the ultimate underdog story. He smiled as he dodged another fist by a few inches.
"Will you hold still or hit me back?!" Natsu cried in frustration
"Alright then..." Seige said slowly
Seige drew his sword and landed several blows. They did minimal damage at best, but it proved his point just fine. The slayer just smiled at the nicks in his skin. Damn... that slayer hide is thick as hell...
Seige switched to a new tactic upon noticing his frank lack of damage. He looked Natsu straight in the eyes and asked a question.
"Wanna see something cool?"
The slayer was confused for a second before cheering Seige on. That was all Seige needed.
"Good."
Scales built quickly on his skin. His heritage taking over and covering his human skin in a several inch thick layer of scales. They and a silver green gleam to them and seemed to sparkle in the warm light of the guild hall. Seige's hat flew off as the scales created a helmet of sorts over his head and spread into a jaw piece. The jaw piece jutted up over his mouth and scales spread under his eyes and over his nose. Siege pulled off his coat and shirt and haphazardly tossed them in an unoccupied chair.
"Try hitting me now." Seige taunted
The slayer did so, well more than excited. It was as if Natsu was fighting another slayer. Of course, that wasn't the case, but he could dream, right? What surprised Natsu was that Seige didn't dodge this time. He didn't even block. Seige just tanked the hit, not even flinching. Natsu was so shocked that he didn't even notice the comparatively slow hand reach for his fist and throw it out. By the time he did, a powerful single blow was sent to Natsu's chest. It echoed with a sonic boom, sending Natsu flying through the hole he created earlier and straight out of the guild hall. Natsu, of course, didn't know this as he was completely off guard when the blow landed. All Natsu knew was that he was traveling several times the speed limit of a magic mobile out of the hall and had no air at all in his lungs.
Surprise was a powerful weapon after all...
After a few minutes, a completely drained Dragonslayer entered through said hole to see a comfortable Seige with a glass of whiskey in his hands.
"Scaley! What was that?!" Natsu asked in awe
"Same thing you have."
"What do ya mean? I- wait... Lucy? Do I have scales? Am I as ugly as him?!" Natsu cried in fear
"HEY!" Seige dropped his glass as Lucy facepalmed
"Natsu. You have Dragonscales because you are a dragonslayer..." She pointed out slowly
"I DO?" Natsu seemed horrified
"They are much stronger than mine at base, but they are clear for now." Seige started, releasing his scales
They both looked moderately spooked at the natural appearance. For the most part, he looked human. That was for sure. Where he differed was the fact that he seemed to have small scales and plates that spread across his vital areas and trailed down the underside of his arm. It wasn't invasive enough to detract from his... not far beyond average appearance, and just enough to stop a weak blade or two.
"These aren't even a fraction the strength of yours." Seige stated gesturing to his stomach while redressing
"Damn... I'm sure glad I don't have to do that to take a hit!" Natsu cheered
Seige smiled at the gesture. He wasn't used to seeing such a positive reaction to his scales. Most scorned him assuming they were magic in nature, so it was a nice relief to see someone had gotten the correct impression.
Maybe his stay wouldn't be as bad as he thought.
Later that night.
Dusk was settling quite nicely on his second day in Magnolia. He was glad to notice the warmer temperature than last time. It was strange. It was as if his Lacrama was constantly on. Strange. Seige shrugged it off though. No need to look a gift horse in the mouth after all.
Currently, Seige was walking through the Magnolia streets. In his time here, the people had brightened up significantly. It was strange, to say the least. He, in all his travels, has never seen such a prosperous town. It was as if Fairy Tail's positive attitude was running through their veins. He tilted his hat down as a breeze came in on instinct, obscuring his vision for a few seconds as every bit of fabric he wore was sent flapping behind himself. This lasted a few seconds, chilling Seige to the bone. He flicked his lacrama, or at least attempted to before he was ran into. The man, from what Seige could tell, was of average height. His long black hair hung down low to his mid-back and spiked outward wildly. Seige recognized that hair anywhere.
"Gajeel." Seige stated, matter of fact
"If it ain't you lizard boy. Got any bugs to eat?"
"Got any dragons to slay?"
In an instant, the Slayer threw a sharp haymaker that was easily deflected by Seige. Seige smiled with a cocky grin as he grabbed the deflected wrist in an attempt to break it. This was stopped by the clever application of Iron Scales. Seige gave up immediately and landed a devastating palm strike to Gajeel's chest, sending him flying.
No real damage was done, but it did create some distance between the two. They stood still, Gajeel in stance while Seige had his hands in his pockets. Both stared off for a moment before Seige spoke up.
"Done cooling off?"
"Just warming up." The slayer responded quickly
"You call that a warmup?" Seige taunted
"Well, not everybody can grow scales as thick as yours."
"Jelious?"
"Nah, I prefer mine being made out of iron."
"So we're cool?"
"Sad to say, but I'm not here ta be nice, and either way I've got a bone to pick with your ass." Gajeel not so subtly hinted
"Ah, so you're supposed to provoke Fairy Tail?" Seige figured
"Yeah, so? You ain't siding with those Fairies, are ya? I have a bone to pick with ya after all..."
"Caught red-handed..."Seige said with a sigh, holding his hands up
"Oh, Jose never said who I had to rough out. I think I'm gonna go with you..." The slayer grinned out
"You can try." Seige said with a smile before taking off his coat and hat, leaving his blade at his belt
Scales grew on his arms and covered his body with an assortment of greens. They covered everything in a thick hide that even a Dragonslayer would have trouble breaking. He smiled at the transformation, as it brought him closer to his mother... and farther from his father.
"You got thicker scales." Gajeel stated blandly
"You don't have any scales. Never could master a full set could you?" Seige stated
Gajeel bent down and tensed his muscles. While initially looking down at his feet, he looked up with a cocky grin. Scales of a different nature covered Gajeel. These ones not made from his body, but of his magic. Seige gasped as he took a step back. This wasn't going to be so easy.
"You ain't the the only one with full body scales now lizard boy."
"And we used to be friends..." Seige said dryly before preparing for combat
Gajeel took the initiative and dashed forward, much faster than Seige. Seige barely had time to counter and deflect Gajeel's blows. A left, a right, a palm strike, in that order Seige dodged. It wasn't easy, but he did. Mid-dodge, Seige released his scales and quickly regained his speed. Now, it was easy to dodge Gajeel's attacks, but if they hit he was screwed. As if on cue, a blow clipped his shoulder. It hurt and felt as if a train had hit it, but was functional-For how long he didn't know. Seige focused on dodging until he could throw Gajeel, which he did. It did no damage of course, but it gave Seige a break. He sighed. There was no way to win this one. His sword would be shattered against Gajeel's scales. It was infuriating. Gajeel got up and with a grin and torn up clothes.
"I didn't even feel that." The slayer taunted, "Oh, weren't you going on about how good your scales were?"
"Well, you know I'm weak to dragon slaying magic." Seige stated, "Being technically cousin species with them and all..."
"So, you still think you are stronger than me?"
"I've been holding back." Seige grinned out
"Now, that's bullshit." Gajeel argued back
They stood at an impasse for a few moments before they were interrupted by a petite voice
"Seige is that you?" A blue-haired girl called out from down the street
No…
Not right now!
I can't use that method if I have to focus on saving the girl too. If she doesn't get out of the way fast enough, I may be forced to result to that...
"RUN! GET MAKAROV!" Seige yelled at the now frightened girl
Gajeel took a step forward, ready to end the girl. Seige's anger rose to impossible levels. This is how far he'd fallen. Resorting to killing innocents? Seige dashed faster than the slayer and grabbed his arm, incantation wisping on his cold breath.
The very air responded to his chant.
A/N
So, this is Chapter 2.
Ah... I wish I wasn't going to do this so soon, but eh. I'm going to make sure that I don't really go into detail on stuff like this for now because I want to mostly keep his secret.