The Grey Warden: forbidden warrior
Chapter 14: To the Fade
(:.:)
When they had reached to Alliance, they took Sasuke immediately captive. He didn't struggle, unlike Naruto. Sakura remained quiet, since she accepted the consequences of Sasukes actions. She casted her gaze low as Sasuke and the men who held him, passed her. Suigetsu and Juugo were being interrogated by some other shinobies and they were brought somewhere else.
Saber looked at him and Sasuke nodded in her direction. He was brought to some prison they built with jutsu. Saber watched him go until a disappeared.
Sakura went, on request of the Hokage, to rest.
"Will decide what will happen to him later," growled the Raikage.
He gestured to Saber to follow him. They walked into the meeting room. The man call Shikaku was still in the room. He greeted them with a nod.
"You seem to have a grudge against Sasuke, Raikage." Saber said to him. She sat on a chair.
"OF COURSE!" he roared. "That bastard first kidnapped my brother-"
"Who? Killer Bee?"
"Yeah! And look what he did to my arm!" he showed his left arm, well what would have been his left arm. His lower arm was missing. "My arm got infected by Amaterasu, the unstoppable black flames. I had to cut it before it infected the rest of my body… And he worked with Madara and attack all the countries. And as tip of the iceberg, he also killed Danzo!"
"I see…" she said. "But Raikage, you must understand that Sasuke was as much as a victim of Lyna and Madara as you people are."
"Perhaps, but we cannot let him go unpunished. What happened to him does not justify all the crimes he did!"
Saber frowned. "I am not saying he should be left free without any consequents, but please, have mercy on him. Besides, he did saved you, did he not?"
The Raikage frowned for a moment and then sighed. "Very well… a favor for a favor. But that brat…" the rest was mumbled in a curse.
The other Kages followed and Saber left the room, as they continued with making a new battle plan. Saber had her own plan. Naruto waited for her outside.
"And? What did he said?" asked Naruto.
"They shall have some mercy on him, but he is going to get punished."
Naruto sighed. "What a mess. I always believed that bringing him back would solute everything."
"Sasuke has to face this, no matter what. He has made bad decisions, and even if it wasn't completely his fault, he still must be trialed."
Naruto shook his head. "Of all the things… this definitely wasn't on my list…"
Saber knew what he mean and agreed with him. She held the book under her arm and Naruto gazed at it.
"What are you going to do with that?" he asked.
"I am giving it back, of course."
(:.:)
She went to Morrigan, who was still in the camp. They approached her and Morrigan looked at them amused.
"Full of questions now, are you?" said Morrigan with a laugh. Saber held the grimoire under her arm and gave it to her.
"Lyna gave this to me. She said it was yours."
Morrigan took the book. "It's good to have it back again." She stated as she flipped over the book.
"Much trouble for some old book." Comment Naruto drily.
"This book is full of powerful spells, boy. I don't think your little mind can completely understand that."
Naruto's clenched his jaw, and before he could reply, he was stopped by Saber.
"She also said something about Flemeth. Does that ring any bells?"
Morrigan chuckled. "Twas my mothe. This grimoire once belonged to her. You know, your mother was the one who retrieved it for me." Morrigan chuckled when she remembered the exhausted Lyna Mahariel, who gave her the grimoire.
Morrigan looked at her and gestured to the campfire. "Let's take a seat, shall we. You and I have a lot to discus."
Saber nodded and they followed Morrigan. They sat on the floor and Morrigan was still looking in the book. She flipped over a page.
"Ever heard of Flemeth, the Witch of the Wild?" she asked without looking at Saber or Naruto.
"Asha'belannar? Yes, my mother told me once and so did Leliana."
"Good, then you know the story."
Naruto looked at them with no idea what they were talking about. "Witch of the Wild? Asha'belannar?"
"Yeah, the woman of many years. It's some Chasind Legend about a powerful old hag. Nothing interesting about it." Saber explained shortly and received a glare from Morrigan.
"Don't underestimate those old hags, child."
Saber pouted at her command. "But she is old!"
Morrigan looked at her with a disapproving look and Saber laughed awkwardly.
"Is it true? A-about the Phoenix, I mean." Saber asked.
"It depends." Said Morrigan. "What do you know?"
Saber remembered the things Lyna said. "Lyna told me a lot of things when we were in Konoha. She told me about the Ten-tailed beast and about the Phoenix. In fact, she told me the whole plan."
"Oh? That is surprising." Morrigan raised an eyebrow.
" The Phoenix is the God of life and dead, right?"
Her yellow eyes narrowed in a amused way. "That girl, with the pink hair… she died, right?"
Saber nodded slowly. Naruto looked shocked. "WHAT! Sakura-chan died?"
"I… think I've used the Phoenix to bring her back."
Morrigan snatched her hands and pulled out her gloves. Saber was too surprisedto react at the sudden action.
"Look." Said Morrigan and gestured at her hands. Saber looked surprised. On her hands were strange markings now. They were black lines, who graceful decorated her hands.
"I… What in the Maker's name…" she said and held arm hands before her eyes.
"Wauw, I never had a clue you were also tattooed there." Said Naruto fascinated.
"I was never tattooed there!" exclaimed Saber.
"Every time you call for the Phoenix, it marks you with these markings. They are not dangerous or anything. They are just proof that you called it. You could call it like a signature."
Saber turned her hands to look at both sides and the light of the fire gave them a orange glow. "An old God uses my body for his signature? What a joke…"
"It looks like the seal I have against the Kyuubi." He pushed his shirt up and on his stomach there was a round black lined marking. "Is this Phoenix a Tailed Beast too?"
"I… don't know. I only knew recently I had that… thing inside me."
"But be careful. Just like any spirit it wishes to be free in this world and if you allow it to close to you, it will take you over and you'll become an abomination.." Said Morrigan and Naruto pulled his shirt down again.
Saber looked surprised at Morrigan. "And you'll become a dangerous one."
Saber felt fear streaming through her body. "Am… am I… possessed?"
Morrigan chuckled. "No, and that stays if you don't use the spirit too much. It shall seduce you to convert with you, but just like any demon, you have to resist that. But if it breaks free, the rage of the Phoenix will be freed and it shall destroy everything."
Saber nodded that she understood. "Not using Phoenix, got it."
"Do you know the story of the Phoenix?" Morrigan asked.
"I didn't even knew the existence of it!" Saber chuckled. "But I have to ask you to hold that story. I have other questions first."
Morrigan sighed and waited for her questions.
"First, why does Lyna wants the Phoenix? What will she gain?"
"Simple," replied Morrigan. "She'll gain power. And with power, the darkspawn becomes stronger."
Morrigan brought her attention to the book and spoke again. "The darkspawn, or Zetsu's" she said at Naruto. "They are partly connected with Lyna. If she becomes more powerful, then so do they."
"Great…" mumbled Saber. "And the Ten-tailed beast. Is it an Archdemon?"
Morrigan chuckled. "No. it will be if she taints it with the Darkspawn." Morrigan leaned over. "Tell me, what do you know?"
"Lyna told me, that that Madara guy is planning something called Moon eye operation…"
"Tsk" scowled Morrigan. "What a fancy name! I know that spell! It's right here!"
Morrigan showed the spell book to Naruto and Saber. They both frowned. The text was written in some kind of strange language. "Morrigan, for me this is just some scratching." Saber returned the book.
"It's a very old spell. The caster cast out the spell on the moon. And the lands will be trapped under the illusion of the caster. But it requires power. A lot of power. And that power comes from..?"
"The Tailed Beasts!" exclaimed Naruto. "So that's their plan and that's why they are capturing those beasts."
Morrigan nodded. "And once those beasts are weakened and are converted with the Ten tailed beast, Lyna will taint the Ten Tailed one and an new Archdemon is born."
"And with the power of an Archdemon, she'll probably try to kill me and take the Phoenix." Stated Saber. "Maker… then a true Blight begins!"
Saber looked at Morrigan. "How do you know all of this."
"Bah! Lyna is my daughter. A mother knows how her own child thinks! I was the one who taught her!"
"Right, very creepy…" Saber said. "Oh! Another thing. I believe some Kabuto guy used Blood Magic or something. it raises people from the death. Got any clue?"
Morrigan to another page in the grimoire. "A yes…" she mumbled softly. "Lyna must have told that man about it. A very dangerous spell. Even if you kill him, the spell remains."
"The Veil is extremely thin now. How do I break it? Mouse already suggested something about the Fade, but I first wanted your opinion." Saber asked.
"Ah, the spirit of Courage… in a mouse form." Laughed Morrigan. "Where is he now?"
" He wandered off somewhere. Don't worry, he'll always come back."
"Well, that spirit is right. Go to the Fade and defeat the demon who is holding those souls. If you defeat the demon, than the spell is broken, and the used dies."
"Good. Two flies in one. I love those tactics."
"So…" said Naruto interrupting. "The plan is..?"
"I'll enter the Fade, the world beyond this world, dream worlds, world of the death, call it what you want! I'll defeat that demon, free the souls and then after I'll have a nice warm supper and go to bed!"
Naruto shrugged. "Simple and easy. Kick their ass and let the rest follow."
"Don't underestimate this, Saber! A demon who is powerful enough to hold so many souls is very strong."
"I'll bring Mouse with me. Besides, there is no other way to break that spell."
"True, but that doesn't mean you'll have to be reckless."
"I know…" waved Saber off. She stood up and stretched herself out.
"But first, we have to inform the Kage's. I am certain they will be interested in this."
(:.:)
"This is… most disturbing…" said Gaara after hearing out this story. Killer Bee stood by his brother and for once, he looked lesser relaxed than usual.
"Indeed, Kazekage." Said Saber serious. She brought Morrigan with her.
"Are you certain?" asked the Mizukage.
Morrigan spoke this time. "What else could it be? It would be foolish to nothing because of doubt."
The Kages mumbled an agreement. Morrigan looked at them and spoke again. "Another thing. That boy, with the eyes? You should use his abilities."
"WHAT!" exclaimed the Raikage.
"He'll could put up some resistance against Madara." Said Saber. "We figured if Sasuke helped us with his sharingan, perhaps he buy some time."
"Even if we would agree, who's to say he won't betray us again?" Gaara replied.
"You still have some time to think about it." Said Saber calmly. "We also found a way to stop that Kabuto from summoning the death."
"Really now?" said the Tsuchikage.
"I'll enter the Fade. Normally it acquires a lot of lyrium but Morrigan here has some other way for me to enter it."
She turned and Morrigan followed her.
"Warden!" spoke the roaring voice of the Raikage. "Now you have to aid us! Your business is now embroiled with the ours!"
Saber stopped walking. In fact, this is now Wardens business, but what about her own plan? She still wanted to fail, and yet…
She continued without responding back and left the room.
Mouse waited for her outside and jumped on her shoulder.
"Hello Mouse," greeted Saber. "Where's Jimmy?"
"Probably doing something." said the spirit dryly and received a impatient look of Saber.
Morrigan looked at the small spirit. "I am curious." Said Morrigan. "Why is this spirit of Courage visible in this world, instead of being one with the host. And why a mouse?"
"Because I am." Answered Mouse. "And I like being a Mouse."
"Most interesting."
"I met Mouse in the Fade when I was asleep. When I woke, we were together and we never parted since."
"How romantic." Said Morrigan.
"Isn't it?" laughed Saber. "I already confessed my undying love for Mouse so many times, but he keeps rejecting me!"
"Saber, you know me love. Always playin hard to get."
The spirit and it's host were laughing at each other. Morrigan raised a eyebrow. "For a spirit you are quite… less-spirit. Most spirits I met were stoic and they felt nothing for the mortals."
"I'm special." Said Mouse. "I… think I lived too long outside the Fade, that I have forgotten how I was as the spirit of Courage. Now I am merely Mouse, which is fine by me."
"Are you a demon then? Desiring something else than being a spirit?"
"I am not a demon." He said offended. " I am who I am."
"Still, why are you visible here? Have you broke through the Veil?"
"I just woke up and I was a Mouse. I never wanted to leave the Fade. It just happened."
Morrigan looked fascinated at Mouse and Saber felt that he was feeling uncomfortable.
"Please Morrigan. Stop the questions already. You're making Mouse blush!"
Mouse scowled at Saber, who pouted at him. Morrigan let out a small laugh.
"I shall prepare the ritual. Now that I have Flemeths grimoire it will be easier." She said 'Flemeth' with a bitter tune.
Saber arched an eyebrow and then walked away.
When she walked through the camp, some people greeted her. They all assumed she was with them now.
"Hey you!"
Saber turned and saw the man she saved the other day.
"Yamato, right?"
"Yes," he nodded. His leg was in bandage, as was his neck. "I'm grateful you saved me from Madara and that woman. I believed I would be dead for sure."
"Don't thank me. It was merely coincidence."
"Still… Oh! And thank you for saving Haruno Sakura. Saving Sakura has meant a lot to Naruto."
" I have little credit in that. Sasuke and Naruto did most of the work."
Yamato chuckled. "Naruto and Sakura have been talking about you. With great respect if I may add."
Saber lowered her gaze a bit. "I-I really don't deserve that much credit. Really, I'm not-"
"Anyway, thank you for everything you did here. You helped a lot of people."
He bowed and then walked away.
She reminded that she could visit Sasuke. Naruto had ran off to the prison and she suspected that he was still there.
(:.:)
"Maybe we can get you out of here. If this is all over, all of us can go home."
Sasuke looked annoyed at his friend's ignorance. "Even they allow me to walk free, I can never return to Konoha."
Naruto crossed his arm and sighed impatiently. "And why not this time." He asked with a sigh.
"I don't know," replied Sasuke with sarcasm. "Perhaps they'll forget how I betrayed them for Orichimaru, or for Madara. I am certain they love the fact that I killed Danzou."
"Some do." Shrugged Naruto.
"Don't try to cheer me up." Muffled Sasuke and sat on the ground as he leaned against the wall of his cage. There was no sunlight since it was underground and very cold. They placed chakra suppressers around him, so he can't use any jutsu. "With some luck I'll be a prisoner for the rest of my life."
"But it wasn't your fault!" exclaimed Naruto. "Itachi and you were both manipulated. Surely that they'll understand that!"
Naruto snapped his fingers. "Hey! Maybe I can talk to Gaara and Granny Tsunade!"
"Yeah! Let's forget that I attacked Gaara and I allied myself with the enemy of Tsunade!" Said Sasuke with faked excitement.
"With that attitude you'll accomplish nothing, you ass."
"Well, maybe it helps if you also convince the Mizukage. She was pretty much into me…"
"Heh, at least your humor has improved a bit." Chuckled Naruto.
There were footsteps on the stairs. They both looked cautions. They saw a form and realized it was Saber who walked in.
"Saber!" waved Naruto. Saber walked towards them with the spirit on her shoulder.
"Aneth ara. I see they putted you away nice and warmly"
She pointed at Sasuke and shrugged. "I expected they would torture me first. Although, I saw that guard over there was looking very suspicious…"
"The kid with the weird red eyes. Yes I remember you." Said Mouse.
"The strange… thing from whatever it comes from. I remember you bigger."
Saber smirked. "Sasuke, did you change your attitude from grumpy to sarcastic? May I say it perfectly suits you."
"I am surprised your still here." Changed Sasuke the topic. "I was convinced you would leave this place shortly."
Saber arched an eyebrow. "Why would you think that?"
"You have accomplished your mission, right? You have gathered information and you can go home now."
"Not yet. I am not done here…" Saber brought her hand to her forehead at the idea. "Maker…"
"Which reminds me…" said Naruto. "Sister?"
Saber snapped up. "Uhm… yes…" she said awkwardly. "Half-sister actually."
Saber shifted her wait to one feet and crossed her arms. "It seems my father was whoring himself out!" she joked. "But I suppose he had his reasons. It was a sacrifice and I don't hold a grudge against him."
"What do you mean?" Sasuke said with an arched eyebrow.
Saber brought her hand to her forehead and frowned. "…it's complicated…"
She snapped up. "Anyway, I am going to the Fade. Your brothers spirit and the others are trapped there. If I can free them, than the spell will be broken."
By the mentioning of his brother, Sasuke flinched. He sighed frustrated. He brought his hand through his hair.
"Sasuke," said Saber. "Behave while I'm gone. The Kages might consider to give you the benefit of doubt. You'll be punished, but with a merciful hand."
Naruto laughed. "Ha! See Teme! Everything will be just fine!"
Sasuke snorted at the news. "Oh, I am grateful."
Saber frowned at him and sighed. "What is it this time?"
Sasuke glared at her. "Just because everything was a misunderstanding doesn't change the fact about my clan! Nothing will be fine!" outburst Sasuke.
He lowered his gaze and looked a bit ashamed. "Saber, I c-cannot do this! I cannot stop this hatred! I am carrying it for so long!" He looked at Saber and his gaze was filled with hurt and tiredness.
Saber nor Naruto said anything for a moment.
"Think about it, Sasuke. One day, we all must face our mistakes, and find inner peace." She finally said and turned away. She mumbled something about shems and there strange behavior.
Sasuke sighed and sat on the ground with his back to Naruto. "Leave Naruto… I don't feel like talking now."
Naruto made a sound of agreement and left him. He was alone again.
(:.:)
"Okay Saber. It is time to enter the Fade." Said Morrigan.
They were in a room. The Kages were there as well as Bee and Naruto and the rest of the former rookies.
On the floor were symbols, made out of blood and a bowl with steaming smoke.
"Is this Blood Magic?" asked Saber.
" You may call it like that. But this magic is older than all the Magic in the world. Not even Lyna knows this ritual." Morrigan added the last pieces.
"This kind of magic is indeed different from all the magic I've ever seen." Said Mouse.
"I used blood from an animal. For this ritual blood was necessary."
"What's in the bowl?" Saber pointed out.
"That is replacing the lyrium. It has many ingredients and it isn't easy to make it. You are lucky I had the right ingredients.
She pointed at the symbols. "The symbols on the ground are protecting us from you if you became an abomination."
Saber nodded that she understood. "I'm ready."
"The spirit shall follow you in the Fade once you're in the Fade. You can't return unless the slothdemon is slaughtered."
Saber took a deep breath and let it out.
"Be careful Saber!" said Sakura. Saber smiled and took place.
Morrigan passed her the bowl. "You have to drink all of it."
She pressed the bowl to her lips and let the liquid flowing in her mouth. It had the taste of iron and something she could not place. She swallowed it and found it a most disgusting drink she ever had.
"Maker! This is hor-" Saber could not finish her sentence. The chamber started to turn and her eyelids became heavy. She heard whispers of voices, and the sound of Mouses voice to follow.
She opened her eyes and found herself in the same chamber. Only now, in the Fade, the world of spirits.
She looked around and found Mouse, now in the original form of the spirit of courage.
"It has been awhile since I've been in the Fade." Mouse voice, normally high was now low and rumbled.
"Is it Mouse or Courage?" asked Saber as she stood up.
"It's still Mouse. Though, it feels different since the last time I was here."
Help us!
Saber looked around suspiciously. "Did you hear that?"
Mouse nodded. "But those are not the ones who we need to free. Watch your back Saber. Those are demons."
They walked through the Fade. They walked through the spirits of the death and the living, who sometimes spoke to them. Mouse always said to Saber to ignore them.
But one of them was very persistence.
"Please, Please! Help my sons!" Pleaded the voice.
Saber tried to ignore it. The woman's voice was high and clear.
"Please! Help them!"
They continued with walking. Saber sometimes looked hesitated at the voice, but Mouse snapped her out of it.
"Sasuke? Itachi? Where are you two?" A new voice spoke. It was a males voice, low and panicked.
Saber snapped up at the names. She turned and saw two formless spirits.
"You! Have you seen my boys? My sons?" said the man.
"Don't answer him," warned Mouse. "Those spirits are dead, and should be in peace a long time ago. We cannot linger here."
Saber remained silent. She couldn't agree nor disagree with Mouse. She turned and wanted to walk away.
"Itachi! Sasuke!" The woman's voice screamed panicked and a small sob was in it. Saber stopped with walking and sighed.
She turned before Mouse could change her mind and she rushed towards the spirits.
"You!" she spoke. "How do you know those two?"
The spirits took their original forms and they appeared as the humans they were in live. A woman with long black hair and a tall man with the same color hair. They both had black eyes.
She had no doubts now. The resemblance were too striking.
"My sons! We've lost them!" said the woman. "Please help us! We need to find them!"
"Do you both even know where you are?"
They didn't seem to pay attention at the statement of Saber. Mouse pulled at her shoulder, but before she allowed Mouse to drag her away from them she spoke to them one last time.
"I promise I will find your sons and take care of them!"
The woman smiled at this. "Thank you!"
Mouse dragged her away. "What were you thinking?" he said. "We don't have time for this!"
Saber pulled away from his grasp. "They may be dead, but they are still concerned about their sons."
Mouse scowled at this but didn't argue with her instead he sighed. "I have found the location of the demon. We can head towards that direction."
"Alright! Lead the way Mouse!"
(:.:)
Sasuke jumped up from his sleep. His heart pounded hard in his chest and he panted. Sweat was on his face and he felt it on his spine.
He looked around his prison, but he was alone. He sighed tiredly and fell back on his back. He putted his hand on his forehead as he felt the pain of the tension on it.
He dreamt about the night of the Uchiha massacre. It wasn't something new, but it was different this time.
The memories changed in his dream. Instead of itachi, he saw someone else. And he saw a pair of yellow eyes. When he slowly started to remember the true events, he pushed them quickly away in his mind. He rolled on his side and clenched his jaw.
(:.:)
Almost ending this story. Just a couple more chapters and then it is finally ending it.
But I am going to continue with a new story! With OCC Saber again and this time in Thedas, with the events of DA2! Naruto will appear in that story again, but lesser then normally. T_T sorry Naruto fans!
Next: Chapter 15: The Final Battle starts!