Here we are with the next chapter. I promise that I'll get at least the new SE chapter up today. I'm still kinda busy today, so I apologize if nothing goes as planned. The funny thing is, I received two pairs of twins, and I thought that was sort of funny. There isn't anything else left to say, so let's get this chapter started. Enjoy.
Athena and Justin had joined Fairy Tail. There, they met a mage named Mitsu who told the two mages that he had seen someone coming out of a burning field. Athena and Justin had witnessed the slaughter of an entire dark guild, and they believed that the two strange events could possibly be connected.
Meanwhile, Team Natsu was on an important mission. Erza had returned from her mission with the other S-Class mages, and the team left the guild to do an important mission. They were told to investigate ruins for powerful bandits. However, upon reaching the ruins, they found no bandits. As the legendary Team Natsu investigated further, they discovered a tunnel system. Where did these tunnels lead?
?
Erza led the way through the dark tunnels, carrying a torch. The famous team had been told to investigate some ruins, but they didn't find much. Lucy and Natsu followed close behind Erza with Gray at the very back, watching for anything that could attack from behind. Their footsteps echoed through the tunnels as they walked through the bare stone tunnels, the air chilly in the deep tunnels.
"Just how far do these tunnels go? I mean, why would anyone bother to build a system of tunnels like this?" Lucy asked as they continued on the way, footsteps echoing through the empty tunnels.
Natsu shrugged. To be honest, the fire dragon slayer didn't really care. He was looking forward to fighting some strong opponents, but he had been disappointed when no bandits appeared in the ruins.
"I really don't know, but I'm looking forward to some strong opponents at the end of the tunnel!" Natsu said, Gray snorting.
"Cool it, tabasco idiot. If there are people down here, they probably already know we're coming because of all the noise you're making." said Gray as Natsu glared at him.
"What was that, popsicle? Want to fight about this?" challenged Natsu as Gray glared back at him.
The two were so busy shouting insults at each other that they didn't notice that Erza had come over. Natsu and Gray were in the middle of a shouting match when Gray noticed the torch that was right next to him. Natsu quickly noticed and the two instantly jumped away from each other, laughing nervously. Erza's stare was enough for the two mages to be quiet for the entire way through the tunnel, only Lucy and Wendy having permission to talk.
The tunnels seemed to extend forever, but they finally reached the end, coming to a large stone chamber, built almost like a throne room. There was a hole in the stone ceiling, allowing light to filter through, and Lucy stepped into the center of the light, looking around the chamber in amazement. It was incredible! The group of Fairy Tail mages explored the chamber for a while, looking at the nine thrones carved from stone at the back of the chamber, and Erza noticed something strange.
The chamber looked almost like a courtroom. The thrones carved from stone were elevated over the floor, and a tenth throne sat at the very center of the nine, overlooking the floor. Almost all the thrones were completely demolished and the floor cracked, but something about the chamber reminded Erza of a courtroom. The Fairy Tail mages were about to leave when Wendy noticed something carved into the wall of the chamber.
The sky dragon slayer looked at the faded carving and tried to make out what it said, reading it carefully. Natsu and Gray noticed what Wendy had found and went over to see what it was. Lucy and Erza followed, the whole team observing the carvings in the wall. Wendy read it out loud, and it seemed that it was some sort of poem?
The first is fueled by the taking of lives, adding them to his collection of souls.
The second is born from the burning fields, relishing in the burning flames.
The third is flexible, bending and twisting like the wind.
The fourth is wrathful, destroying those who dare cross him.
The fifth is watchful, watching the others.
The si h s mourn l, await ng d e th.
The seventh is ven eful, wanting jus ce.
He eig th i h is p ous, pr y tomorr w.
The ninth is mute, unable to express.
Three lines of the poem were largely unreadable, but the entire poem was a complete mystery to Wendy and the others. The Fairy Tail mages stored the poem in their minds, and turned to leave the chamber and head back to Fairy Tail. They needed to report the poem to Makarov.
?
The screams of a teenage boy echoed through the forest, the trees and plants dying around the boy as he ran. He was wearing a blue dark blue sleeveless vest with a white shirt underneath it, his cropped jeans were torn in minor places, and his silver shoes were caked in mud. His amber eyes were wide with fear as he ran, hurrying towards the light that he saw at the end of the dark forest.
"Help me! Somebody help me!" he screamed as he ran, the forest dying around him.
The ground turned black, trees started to fall down, the bushes dried up, and the flowers withered as the darkness behind the boy grew and grew.
"Run as fast as you can, child." cackled an elderly voice as the boy suddenly let out a cry of fear as the earth broke apart and vines erupted from the ground, blocking the way.
The boy trembled in fear as an old man stepped out of the darkness. The old man's eyes were closed, and he had a smile on his face, making him appear to be friendly. He held a gnarled walking stick in his left hand and he wore a simple white medieval tunic with a three cornered hat. He looked at the boy, and smiled.
"Your name is Kory, and you are headed towards Fairy Tail in order to meet someone very important, perhaps a family member…a brother, perhaps?" the man asked as Kory shivered in fear and tried to get through the barrier of vines.
"How do you know who I am and where I'm going!" screamed Kory as the old man stepped closer, smiling.
"I may be blind, but I have other ways of seeing. I am on very good terms with someone that can provide me with another way to see. You see, the earth never lies." explained the old man as the vines suddenly disappeared, Kory running away from the man, not looking back.
The forest continued to die around the old man as he waved at Kory's back, still smiling.
"You can run, but you can never hide." said the old man cheerfully as he slowly disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind a dead forest.
A few miles out of Bermin
"Garret, are you alright?"
The red spikey haired Tsubasa rubbed his head and nodded his head as he stood up, dusting himself off. His sister, Karis looked at him, worried that he might have been hurt. They didn't look like it, but the two of them were twins. Garret was the one wearing a yellow tunic, blue pants, and black boots. He had a reputation for being hotheaded, not at all like his sister. Karis was the more stable one of the two, with knee length red hair, pale, and fiery crimson eyes. She was usually seen wearing a black, zip up sleeveless shirt with ask colored shorts and black boots. She was wearing her trench coat, but it had been left open.
The two had been travelling from Bermin when the sudden windstorm knocked Garret back, Karis seeing if he was ok. He seemed fine and looked around as he shielded his face with his arm, trying to see through the windstorm. Karis did the same, knowing what to do because of the frequent windstorms around Bermin.
"What's with all these windstorms? They never got this bad!" Garret complained as the two made their way through the wind, Karis nodding her head.
"I think it has to do with something with nature. I can't explain everything, but it could be the rising temperatures. The sun's been overly hot as well." agreed Karis as the two trudged through the windstorm, heading towards Magnolia.
Their journey was to Ennersville, but they decided that Magnolia was a perfect spot to stop and rest. They were actually on their way to visit Kory, one of their childhood friends. He was a member of the Ryuusaga family, and their families kept in touch very often. Garret looked at his sister, and laughed.
"Hey, sis, do you think Kory will be in Magnolia as well?" he asked as Karis shrugged.
"Well, we have to get there first!"
Arcana, Imperial Gardens
After a while of speaking to his son, Paco managed to get his son to sit down and listen to what the story entailed. Paco knew that with every second, the situation was getting worse, but without knowledge of the story, nobody could stop it. Paco and Darius faced each other and the king started to speak about the story.
"The story told of nine men, all from distinguished families. In the old days, the goddesses walked the earth, ruling in person. However, there was a problem after one goddess was kidnapped. After that, all the goddesses returned to their domain." said Paco, Darius nodding.
"The goddesses appointed the nine men to rule the world in their name. The goddesses gave orders to the nine men, and they carried it out," Darius said as Paco nodded.
"That's right. Each of them was promised eternal life, and they received it. However, power tends to corrupt, and eventually, the court descended into insanity. The members of the court started to fight amongst themselves, and eventually, four of the nine were devoured, only five remaining. The goddesses grew angry at the court's failure, and disbanded the court forever." finished Paco as Darius's eyes widened.
"Y-you don't mean that the remaining five have returned? They were brought back by the goddesses to cleanse the world?" Darius asked, fear growing in his voice.
Paco thought for a second about what Darius had said. The gardens were quiet and the calm helped the king to think. His son had a point. Why would the court return when they were disbanded by the goddesses? The king sighed and looked at Darius.
"I do not know the answer to that question. What I do know, is that the members of the Court of Nine, were banished to different parts of the world. They most likely believe that their court is still in existence, their anger building within them. They plan on punishing us, and that can only mean a a complete purge of this world," Paco said darkly as Darius clenched his fist and shivered.
"But, how can we stop them? There must be a way!" said Darius as Paco nodded, Darius breathing in relief.
"There is one way to stop the purge. We must resurrect the members of the court who have been killed, or 'devoured'. However, as you know, Necromancy is strictly forbidden in the world of magic. It would come at a great cost," Paco sad gravely as Darius nodded his head.
"W-what would the cost be? I-I am willing to sacrifice my life if need be!" shouted Darius as Paco looked at him, a serious look on his face.
"Nobody cheats the Goddess of Death, nobody. The incredible price that would have to be paid would leave half of the world uninhabitable, forcing half of the world…to die."
…
And there's the chapter folks! I also introduced the other OCs this chapter, and I hope it was ok. I liked this chapter, and I will be working on the other chapters soon as well. This chapter had a lot of foreshadowing. Anyways, I hope the chapter was enjoyable, and I will see you all later! FF