The Beast

Chapter four,

Broken Quarantine

a state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed. Under no circumstances should healthy personal enter the quarantine zone.


Knock knock

Yukino's eyes fluttered open to the sound of someone gently knocking at the door to the cabin. Rising from her bed, she walked to the door and grasped the handle.

"Hello?" She asked as she opened the door to find an empty corridor. Poking her head out from her room she looked both left and right but still couldn't find anyone. It was then she felt a pulling at the bottom of her leggings. There on the ground was Frosch looking up at her. "Frosch? What are you doing outside of the room?" She asked the small exceed.

"Rogue asked Frosch if you could help him." the exceed said smiling up at the woman.

"What happened to Rogue?" Yukino asked as she followed the small creature as they walked down the corridor of the ship. While the ship wasn't large, it certainly wasn't small. Luckily the captain gave them a cabin just below the deck and not deeper into the ship.

"He said he needed some air so he tried going to the top and couldn't make it up there." Frosch simply said as they turned a corner to find Rogue sprawled out at the bottom of the stairs leading to the deck.

"Rogue!" Yukino shouted rushing to his side. The slayer groaned in response and lifted his head slightly to see Yukino checking him for injuries. "Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" She asked as she looked the dragon slayer over. Besides his normal case of bed hair, he seemed to be fine.

"I'm fine...thank...you." Rogue said as Yukino helped him up and slung an arm under his and helped him up the stairs. Once they reached the deck they were greeted with the crew running around and the captain's second in command yelling orders. Looking out over the ocean she saw a mass of black moving towards the ship. The Captain could be seen watching the clouds as his men readied the vessel. Slightly turning to face the mages he spoke.

"There's a storm coming, I'd suggest you'd return to yer cabin lass." The captain yelled at the sabers before returning to the crew. They watched for a moment as lighting shot from the black mass and heard the load crack of thunder shortly after. Seeing as they had no choice, Yukino turned the two around going back down the stairs. began walking down the steps again.

"Just...throw me...over." Rogue groaned out causing Yukino to giggle at the slayer's words.

"Then who would keep Sting out of trouble?" She asked the slayer. Rogue rolled his eyes at the comment and retorted.

"That's...your job." He wheezed.

"It's our job as teammates. And besides, If we didn't watch over him he would get himself into so much trouble." She countered as they opened the door to their cabin. The cabin was as she left it, aside from Frosch who was sleeping on the edge of Rogue's bed and Sting had began turning in his sleep. Crossing the room, she lowered the immobile dragon slayer to his bed before backing away slightly. "Try to get some sleep will you?" She asking giving him a bright smile. Not bothering to give her response he simply watched the rise and fall of Frosch's back. Hearing foot steps he turned his gaze to Yukino with his half-lidded eyes as she turned her back and went to the door.

"Where...are you goin-"

"Just exploring the ship some more." She smiled as she opened the door and left before closing it again. Rogue's gaze lingered on the door for a moment before he turned his head to his partner. Tearing it away from his partner, he looked up at the sealing and released a sigh. Feeling unconsciousness take hold of him again.

'I'm not sure I can back down from this, Sting...Forgive me.'


"Get them out of here!" Rogue's eyes shot open and flared his magic as he ripped his arm away from his would be attacker.

"Wait! Rogue it's ok! Their here to help!" Yukino said pushing past the crewmen who went to Sting and slung his body over his shoulder. Rogue felt his motion sickness take hold of him and began to fall forward only to be caught by Yukino. "We made it to Stryzeth but the storm is getting so bad that we have to leave the ship." Yukino explained as they followed the other crewmen.

"Brace!"

They heard a man yell form the upper decks before the bot shook violently sending everyone to the floor. The sailors quickly recovered and continued down the corridor. Yukino began to pick herself up when she felt Rogue pull her up before losing his footing again.

"I gotcha." Yukino said as the two walked down the corridor that now had water poring from up ahead. Once they reached the corner they turned to see a flash of light causing them to shield their eyes. Once they reached the deck she felt the boat rock again as another wave crashed against it. She felt a hand clasp on her shoulder and turned to see the captain as he slung Rogue's other arm under his and led them to a dinghy and tossed them into the arms of the waiting crewmen.

"Alright! Lower the-"

"Brace!"

Rogue heard a man yell as the ship slammed into the dinghy causing the crewmen to let lose the rope sending the dinghy plummeting to the ocean below causing it to slam into the water. The crewmen quickly recovered and began rowing away from the ship. As the rain continued it's relentless assault upon them Yukino turned her head back to look into the darkness just in time to see a a gigantic cliff looming over them.

"Good god." She heard a sailor threw the rain and wind and thunder. Turning her head she saw the lights of the ship glowing into the darkness. Another flash was made just in time to see the ship had turned and was moving towards the cliff side. She could only just barely here the screams coming from the ship threw the rain and thunder before she felt an arm tighten around her waste.

"ROGUE?!"

"DON'T LET GO OF ME!" He yelled as lighting flashed once more just in time for Yukino to see rest of the ocean had been blocked by the wall of water just before it came crashing down on them.


Thump thump thump.

Was she dreaming?

Thump thump thump.

The pounding in her chest was soon replaced with something pressing to her lips.

Suddenly her eyes shot open and she sat up and began coughing terribly when she felt two arms wrap around her and felt the person shake. She stiffened into the hold as the rain continued to pour down. "I...I thought I lost you." A hushed voice spoke through gritted teeth. Yukino watched as the mess of black hair removed itself from her shoulder before he sat back on his rear and looked at her. His eyes clearly showed relief before he looked over the celestial wizard. She was soaked from head to toe, but she was breathing and that's all that mattered. Rising to his feet he looked around the beach they were on for any form of shelter. Further down the beach, where the massive cliffs rose from the water front. A ball of white light shot from the other side of the cliff and exploded before it slowly started to descend. Quickly, he scooped Yukino up in his arms and took off through the jungle towards the ball of light.

"R-Rogue what are you doing?!" Yukino yelled as lighting flashed again.

"We have to make it to Sting fast, it's faster this way. Just hold on tight." Rogue spoke as he closed his eyes and opened them again letting a his magic guide him through the dark jungle.


Keyes watched the cameras and gripped his staff so tight one could see cracks forming around his hand. Holding up the lacrima close to his mouth he spoke.

"Torafuzar...When I said make sure the ship couldn't leave the island, I expected you to wait after the slayers were dropped off!" Keyes yelled into the lacrima.

"The mission was to intercept the ship heading towards the island. I have done as I was commanded, and I have done my part for these tests of yours Keyes." Torafuzar's voice spoke threw the lacrima.

"Stand by for orders." Keyes spoke with irritation clear in his voice as he placed the lacrima back on the desk. As he watched the group of humans pull themselves up away from the shore and took refuge in the dock house. Switching his gaze to another screen he watched the group of sailors collapse on the floor while others went back out side to pull in any other survivors. Keyes continued to watch them bring in sailor after sailor until a human with an eye patch could be seen dragging the blonde haired slayer.

"Lamy, has the other sailor washed up somewhere else?" Keyes asked to the female on the other side of the room who was running back and forth along the wall of screens.

"No,no,no,-YES!" She yelled in triumph. "Number seventy two!" She added. Keyes rose his hand and the screen in front of him switched to see the other slayer dragging the other mage who appeared unconscious.

"Good he's alive, now the real question is," He then switched the view again to see a balcony with a flash of light. "Has the last slayer taken notice-"

"WHERE IS SHE!" Keyes mentally sighed as he turned to see Kyouka storming towards him. Grabbing hold oh the skeleton, she asked again.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER!?" Keyes swatted her hands away and growled out.

"She volunteered for a project of mine and as experiments go, bumps come as well." He spoke in a sicking voice. "And before you ask, I don't know when or even if I can change her back. I'm sure you can find another play thing." He said as he returned to the mutable screens.

"You...you...Mard will not stand for this!" She yelled. Keyes looked over his shoulder and gave a chuckle.

"Oh my dear, Mard was the one who gave me this task."


As the lightning crashed his cool red eyes watched the small girl flinch in her sleep. This light... it was truly a problem. Even through the storm, he could feel the day had long ended, but with the constant light flashes was messing with his strength. As the thunder crashed he watched the little one dig into the side of the woman he had forgiven. That woman...It was so strange. Even after he told himself he had forgiven her, he could still feel it. At the very back of his mind was hatred for the woman. He supposed it was for forgetting his past. What ever it was, he knew that there was something he cherished greatly. But at the same time He couldn't find a way to stay mad at the woman. She tried so hard for him to accept her. And even if those thoughts always lingered at the very edge of his mind he would ignore them, he really didn't have a choice. She and Ki were the only things keeping him...him. Without them, he would be just like those...things.

"Natsu." his eyes scanned her features and felt his mouth form into a frown.

'She hasn't eaten in weeks. She's to fragile like this.' picking up her hand and placing it into his own, he rested his head on the joined hands. "Don't worry, I'll look out for you. For both of you" He whispered. As he removed his head a blinding light from the balcony caused Natsu to jump from his place at the side of the bed. Stepping out onto the balcony he saw a white orb slowly falling from the sky over the ocean.

"Nat-su?" He heard Sayla call his name as he turned to see Sayla's dull red eyes watching him. He could tell she was struggling, even if she tried to hid it. Her hands which held her against the wall somewhat trembling. Even her heartbeat was off. "Where...are...you...going?" She whispered out before she started to fall only to be caught by Natsu. Carefully, as though she might break if handled wrong, picked her up and gently returned her to the bed.

"You should rest, you don't have the strength to stand."

"But-" Sayla was cut off by the gentle pressure on her lips. She watched his face as he pulled away from her and met her gaze, his red eyes flashed crimson in the darkness.

"Stay here, I'll bring you back something. Just sit tight alright?" He asked. Accepting the node she gave him, he returned to balcony to see another light shoot up from the beach, only to explode and fall slowly back to the ground. Looking back into the darkness of their bedroom, he tossed his legs over the rail and jumped to the streets below.

Once he landed the betas that crowded the town hall created space between themselves and Natsu. He began to run towards the light when he noticed that some of the betas matched his pace and followed him. "That's...new." Natsu muttered to himself. As they ran down the semi empty streets the rain began to dwindle until the only thing that was there was the thunder in the distance. Just before he hit the gates a breeze blew barely past them causing Natsu to slow his pace and come to a complete stop. The grunts and hisses increased tenfold as dozens of betas shot past him and zoomed towards the beach.

Thump

the beat of drums swelled in his ears,

thump thump

he felt his stomach churn,

thump thump thump

A shiver ran down his spine.

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump

His dull eyes burst into a crimson glow, he could smell it. He could smell...food. As he took his first step, he felt his legs change shape. As he took another, he felt the another change, and another, and another. As he began running towards the docks, his vision began to blur as a red haze settled in. The beast had awoken...and it was hungry.


"Rogue! Yukino! Are you out there?!" Sting yelled out over the vast ocean. The storm had calmed significantly to where the rain was a slight drizzle and a light breeze could be felt coming from the ocean. "Yukino! Rogue! Can you hear me! Damn it!" Sting yelled before he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning around he saw the captain Morlerk, the man who usually helped Sabertooth when they transport. Rogue and himself had come to know the captain semi-well.

"Yer friends should be fine, Rogue's jumped ship before and come out fi-"

"I'm not worried about him! I know he can handle himself!" Sting yelled back as he returned his gaze the ocean who's waves were still as violent despite the retreating storm. "Yukino! Rogue! Come to the sound of my voic-"

"AHHHHHHHHHH!"

Sting and Morlerk shot around to see several figures storming the boat house the surviving crewmen were held up. They both burst into a full sprint as they raced towards the boat house.

"Light dragon's holy ray!" Sting yelled out sending a beam of light out from his hand and pierced the person threw the chest causing them to fall to the ground. The other figures gave unnerving noises and hisses and retreated from the boat house. The captain entered the ripped off door while Sting inspected the body but found himself short on light. "Flare!" He yelled sending another ball of light shooting into the air before it exploded. "What the hell?" Sting uttered as he keeled down at the mangled corpse. It looked like a person, but it looked like he had been dead for weeks. The man's skin was ghostly pale, his clothes were ripped and just barely held onto him. His eyes lost any and all color they had, leaving a chilling white in it's place. The place where his attack had left a much larger hole then it should have. The skin around the wound was black as though it had burned him. Covering his hand in light, he lowered it to the corpse's skin and watched as it bubbled before disintegrating. "what in the hell is this thing?"

"That's what I'd like to know!" Morlerk's voice yelled laced with rage. Sting turned around to only be grabbed by the captain and lifted off his feet, feeling the captain's cutlass pressed against his throat. "You better start talking boy, less you want to be gutted like my men were!" He yelled. Sting kicked the captain away and landed softly before rising.

"I don't know anything about this! It was suppose to be an easy mission!" the captain had regained his footing and rose before pointing his cutlass at the dragon slayer.

"I don't care who you are, I'll make ye pay for-" Morlerk was cut short when the light from the flare dwindled behind the town's walls making a titanic silhouette looking at both of them. Both Sting and Morlerk watched the glowing crimson eyes as it watched them. Sting slowly rose his hand into the air before shouting "Flare!"

As the light went up he could make out the creature's appearance. The creature was massive, at least eight feet tall. It's shoulders and back sported several long, black spikes. It's left arm was noticeably bigger and bulkier then it's right counterpart. Its head was rounded and had thick plates around it. The head was connected to the back of the head adding to the creature's nightmarish features. It's neck had several scale-like armor plating overlapping that resembled gills. It's lower jaw unhitched into two mandibles and a slender gray tongue slightly slipped out of its mouth. Around the creature were several of the other creatures. The walking corpses rocked back and forth waiting for something.

"Boy if we live through this, I'll kill you." Morlerk said as he faced the horde of creatures. Sting watched the captain as he took a step in the horde's direction. "Any of you who can still fight come out side, we've got a fight to win." The captain said in a slightly louder tone. Sting watched the few crewmen walk from the boat house and stood behind Morlerk. it seemed like there were at least six of them. "Boy." Morlerk's voice brought Sting from his trance and looked at the captain. "I'll think about going easy on you if you take down the big one." Sting smirked at the challenge.

"I can't let that chance go by can I?" Sting said coating his entire body in light. The humanoids staggered back away from the show but the creature released it's roar as it closed this distance between it and Sting. Sting met it's challenge and charged it back. The humanoids screamed as they charged Morlerk and his men. As Sting got closer to the creature he used his size and slide on the ground before giving a devastating punch to the creature. The creature screamed in pain as it swung it's hand down at Sting who dodged it with ease.

"Help me!" Sting looked back to from the creature to see one of the sailors had been tackled to the ground. As Sting moved to help the man the humanoid on top of him bit into the side of his neck causing him to scream out in pain before more and more swarmed him.

"watch your own fight boy!" Sting heard Morlerk yell making his eyes widen before a gigantic fist slammed into him sending him across the field and into several humanoids. As they took hold of them Sting yelled out

"White Drive!" causing his entire body to be consumed in light. The creatures that held him hissed at the light and removed themselves from Sting who shot out rays of light that caused several humanoids to howl out in pain before crumbling to the ground.

"Now lets get started!" Sting yelled sending several light coated punches at the titan. The creature roared in pain before it charged Sting who went to slide under it again when the creature grabbed him and slammed him into the ground. Sting pulled back his head.

"Light dragon's roar!" he yelled sending a beam of light that pierced the beast's shoulder causing it to scream out in pain and release him. "Light dragon's iron fist!" He yelled hitting the creature in the chest before it exploding in a flash of light. Once the light faded the creature collapsed, a massive hole in it's chest. Sting smirked before turning to see Morlerk remove his cutlass from the last of the humanoids. Sting looked around for the others but found that he and Morlerk were they only two who survived the onslaught. Sting lowered his head and felt his fist tighten. He should have been able to help them.

"Boy!" The captain yelled bringing the slayer out of his thoughts. The captain was covered in a black liquid all from head to toe, his sword had been stained black after the ordeal. He gripped his shoulder tightly and used his cutlass as a support.

"Damn, these things have quite the bit." he grimaced at the pain in his shoulder.

"Morlerk...I'm sorr-"

"Sting!" Sting turned to see Yukino land on him nearly causing him to fall over.

"Nice fighting Sting!" Lector called out from the air floating a few feet above the two. Off to the side he saw Frosch drop Rogue before flying over to his fellow exceed.

"What happened to you two?" Sting asked.

"Rogue helped me get to shore and when we saw your signal we ran as fast as we could, we met Lector and Frosch along the way and we flew here." Yukino said as held onto Sting. Sting looked at his partner who was examining one of the fallen humanoids. A loft thud could be heard and the group looked back to see Morlerk collapsed onto the ground and began to shake. Yukino and Rogue rushed to his side and Sting looked over the other two's shoulder.

"Captain? Captain Morlerk can you hear me?" Rogue called out to the man. Putting a hand underneath his chin, Rogue shook his head before standing. "What happened to him?" Rogue asked as he looked around the battleground.

"He said he got bitten." Sting said before the three of them felt a massive power spike shoot up form behind them. As they three turned around the behemoth's body exploded in a black mess before a crouched figure slowly rose from the bloody mess.

"Come back for another round eh-GAH-"

"AHHHHHHH!" Yukino screamed as the world seemed to slow down for the three mages. In a blur of movement, the figure shot at sting and shot a hand through Sting's chest. Sting was pulled close by the creature and was slightly pulled up of his feet. It now was much shorter then before, and less bulky. It's head seemed to be covered in the scale platting with the only exception being the mutable orange dots that spotted it's face. The area below the dots made a grinding sound as the plates broke revealing dozens of jagged- glass like teeth. With a sinister snarl, it lunged forward and bit down on the slayer's shoulder. Sting screamed out in pain before being tossed like a rag doll away from the creature.

"You'll pay for that!" Rogue yelled charging the brought it's arms around itself before releasing a wave of fire that blew both Rogue and Yukino backwards. Rogue stood to face the creature but staggered as felt his magic began to drain at a rapid pace. Sting looked down at Yukino to see her legs had been severally burned. Rogue cursed himself and began to pull his magic. "Shadow dragon's roar!" The attack shot out and raced towards the creature with the monster simply stand before it exploded in a black smoke letting the roar shoot threw the smoke before fire shot out again to reveal the creature in front of Rogue. "Why...can't I...move?" Rogue thought before falling to his knees. He looked back to see Yukino had fallen as well. The closer the creature got the more it felt like he was being sucked dry. The creature grabbed Rogue by the hair and in doing so dug into Rogue's scalp with it's claws.

"Light dragon's secret art: HOLY NOVA!"

The creature was blasted away from Rogue and was sent tumbling back. The creature tried to stand only for the magic to over power it causing it to scream out in pain. "Frosch, Lector! Get them out of here now!" Sting yelled as he felt his magic depleting. 'what ever this thing is, it's draining us fast.'

"I'm not leaving you!" Lector yelled with teary eyes.

"Damn it Lector just do as I say! I'll be ok. Just get them out of here!" Sting yelled as he brought his other hand up to stabilize the beam. With a heavy heart, Lector flew down to Yukino who could barely move, repetitively shook her head trying to beg Sting to rethink his decision. Frosch did the same and grabbed Rogue as the two began to fly away Rogue tried to muster the strength to fight back.

"Let me go Frosch! Let me go! Damn it Sting you can't do this on your own! It's to strong!" He yelled out.

"I don't know how, but it's draining us. I know you can feel it. And it's draining us fast. If I can by you guys time to go I'll find away to leave. See ya soon." Sting yelled out as the beam of light flickered before it stopped completely. The two mages watched as an explosion covered the entire field with black smoke. "STING!" Rogue yelled as another explosion went off all around in the smoke.


As the two exceeds flew away from the island their two passengers were deftly quiet. they had been flying for little over an hour and their magic reserve was near completely used.

"Lector, I can't keep this up." Frosch said before he began to close his eyes. "There! look Lector! ships!" Lector looked up from his gloomy state as he began to zoom down at the small fleet.

"Hurry up Froch! the sooner we drop them off we can go back and get Sting!" He yelled making the other exceed match his speed. as they approached the ship they could make out the council's insignia on the sails.

"Thank god." Rogue said to himself. 'Just hold on Sting, help's coming.' Once they landed on the ship several rune knights swarmed around them. Yukino, despite her burns, rose to her feet to ask the knights.

"Please, we came from Stryzeth and had to leave a friend behind and we have to go back for him-" Yukino was cut short when one of the higher ranked Rune knights pointed his spear towards her and fired a bolt of electricity knocking the celestial mage unconscious. "What the hell are you-" Rogue felt electricity coarse through him as he fell on his side and felt his vision go into a haze as he heard a rune knight speak.

"We have a confirmed breach, I repeat, the quarantined zone has been breached."


"When I agreed to be apart of this experiment I didn't realize it would effect it that much." Tempester said as he watched the replay of the infected dragon slayer change. Keyes had his notes sprawled out around the desk as his hand wrote down as much as it could during the fight as well was Lamy who was doing the same.

"To think, the virus was able to use your blood to recreate magical barrier particles and then reconstruct at such a fast rate. If it mutates to the rest of the genes we used to create the virus, there's no telling what the host could do-"

"I don't believe this was part of the deal Keyes."

A calm voice spoke causing Keyes to slowly lower then pen and turned around to see Mard Geer and Kyouka standing in the door.

"I've decided we will no longer be investing resources in this little project."

"But Mard I'm so close! You wanted a virus that would wipe out the humans and I made one! I've created a perfect puppet! All we have to do is-"

"There's no telling what it could do? From the reports you've sent me this plague is harmful to demons. In fact it has taken down two of our demons correct? You disappointed me Keyes. Tempester," Mard paused to look at the other demon gate.

"Go and fetch Jackal, I have a mission for him."


So i decided I wanted to try to do this from a none infected person's pov, man was it a bore. lol

Which brings up an important question, We're nearing the end of our time on Stryzeth. So when our time is up there do you guys want to see the story from different people or keep up with or twisted, love-struck, cannibalistic, fire breathing, dragon slayer ? (Best group of adjectives ever, lol) I would personally like it from Natsu's pov, but be warned, Natsu's pov will get pretty gruesome as the chapters go on.

any way, it's up to you guys.

And as always, have a good one!

-Justaguy35