A/N: Okay, so I'm very well aware that last chapter kind of ended on a mixed note, but it was more sad to see Lisanna get offed than seeing the rest of Team Natsu/Salamander make it to Alagaesia. In regards to my previous statement about Natsu, Lisanna and Wendy being the only wizards from Fiore to make in this story, umm... I lied.
Hehe, sorry guys, but it's a writer's job to throw his audience out of their comfort zone every one in a while.
In any case, I have always liked the tradition that some families allow one present to be open on the day before Christmas, which explains the early release of today's chapter, which you'll note is more than twice the length of my usual chapters in this story. Longer chapter means more things happening, so I'll just step back and let you enjoy!
A Dragon Rider's Legacy
"Ice make-!" Gray started to shout, but Erza yanked on his arm to pull him out of the line of fire.
"It's no use trying ice magic against him right now!" she shouted as Happy and Carla zoomed over to grab Lucy and get her a safe distance from the fireball that the enraged Natsu had thrown. The resulting explosion nearly got them all anyway, but only Erza was a bit singed by the attack.
"What's with him?!" Gray asked as the Fire Dragon Slayer unleashed a breath attack that set fire to a full acre of the forest. "The hell's a Ra'zac?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it seems to have upset him enough to unleash his Flames of Emotion," Erza said tightly, her body glowing as she triggered her requip magic to outfit herself with the Black Wing armor.
"Do you think maybe he's under some kind of hallucination spell?" Lucy asked.
"It's possible, but regardless, we can't let him continue to destroy the forest," Erza declared. "Lucy, you and Gray try to put out the fires with Carla and Happy's help."
"What're you gonna do?" Gray asked.
"I'm going to beat some sense into our Salamander so that he remembers why trying to fight me is a bad idea!" she growled as she shot into the sky, right at Natsu.
"I hope she's okay…" Lucy grimaced.
"Relax, it's Erza we're talkin' about," Gray grinned. "If anyone around here can put him in his place, it's her."
"I'LL BURN THEM TO ASH!" the fire dragon slayer screamed.
"Natsu!" A strong, commanding- and frighteningly familiar voice finally reached his ears. "What has come over you?!"
"Erza?" he gaped, turning around to see his comrade floating not twenty feet in front of him. "Is that really…?"
"You had better have a good reason for all of this destruction, Natsu," she glowered. "Or else- Wait…" Her angry words suddenly stopped as she saw that despite the intense heat that Natsu was putting out, tears were falling from his eyes, even as his clenched jaw quivered, and he made a strange choking sound as he tried to speak. "Natsu…?" she asked, suddenly afraid. "What happened to you?"
"They…" he sniffled, the flames in his hands dying, though the pillar beneath his feet remained strong. "They gotta pay… I can't take it anymore… Erza…"
"Who needs to pay?" Erza asked him as gently as the circumstances would allow. "Who hurt you? Was it that Ra'zac thing you were screaming about?"
"They…" he whimpered. "They killed her… They took her… forever this time."
"Who?!" Erza prompted a little more firmly.
Natsu told her.
"How is he?" Eragon asked worriedly as he clutched at his ribs. Apparently in the process of being knocked out, the Ra'zac had broken one or two of his bones. He had declined Wendy's offer to heal him, insisting that she focus on Brom, who was definitely in a sorrier state from the knife that had possibly grazed his heart. Saphira was still unconscious, courtesy of the drug that the Ra'zac had used on them, though her life was not in danger according to Wendy.
The little girl shook her head even as tears leaked from her eyes. "I… My sky magic isn't working as well as it usually does," she sniffled. "He said that wounds made the Ra'zac take time to mend, but…" She looked over at the still body of her guild mate, the despair threatening to overwhelm her. Lisanna didn't deserve this… she thought bleakly.
"Hello?!" a familiar female voice called out, though it seemed out of place to the sky dragon slayer. "Hey, Wendy?! Are you here?!"
"Answer me, child!" another voice, this one even more familiar than the first. "Can you hear us?! Please tell us if you're here!"
"Lucy?" she gasped. "Carla?"
"Who would be foolish enough to come out here at a time like this?" Albriech grunted as he stood up beside his brother. Both of them were a little unsteady on their feet from the effects of the poison, but they could still fight.
"Wait!" Wendy said as four figures came into the firelight. "I know them!"
"You do?" Baldor asked over his shoulder.
"Hey, looks like we found some people!" one of the figures said as they came into the clearing. "Have you guys seen a-?" Happy's voice was cut off as he laid eyes on Wendy, who put her hands to her mouth in shock.
"Wendy!" Carla exclaimed happily as she shot across the small area to hug the crying girl. "Thank the heavens that you're all right!"
"Carla!" Wendy sobbed as she buried her face in the white exceed's fur.
Albriech and Baldor hardly noticed. They were too busy being taken aback by Lucy's exposed legs, Gray's exposed torso, and Happy's glowing wings. "I think that poison dart is still interfering with my senses," Baldor finally said after a moment. "The flying cat is bad enough, but no real lady has legs that shapely."
"Watch it, jerk!" Lucy shouted as she ran up and slapped him across the face. "My eyes are up here!"
"I take it back, she's real," Baldor muttered as he rubbed his jaw. "That was real pain…"
"I wonder if that's good or bad?" his brother wondered aloud.
"Who are you people?" Eragon grunted as he struggled to stand, thoroughly confused by what was happening. "Can you help us?"
"Aye, sir!" Happy grinned.
"You don't even know what they need help with," Gray sighed heavily. "Geez, even for a furball, you-" His eyes went wide and his jaw slack.
"What's the matter?" Happy snickered. "Cat got your tongue?"
"Happy," Gray's voice was flat, emotionless, immediately killing the silly mood of the blue exceed. "Look." He pointed with a shaking finger as he said, "Isn't that…?"
"Huh?" Happy asked as he followed Gray's gaze. When he did, he immediately froze in place at the horrible sight before him. "No…" he whispered, disbelief written across his face. "That's not… it can't be…"
"Unfortunately, it is," Erza said as she strode into camp, Natsu trudging behind her, his face hidden by his hair as he hung his head wordlessly.
"But… how…?" Lucy asked as she too, saw the body.
"That's something we'll have to worry about later," Erza said, her face set like flint. "For now, we have one goal that shall take priority above all others."
"And what is that?" Albriech asked. "Who are you people?"
Erza levelled her steely gaze at him, causing him to shiver in fear. "We are from Natsu's team at the Fairy Tail guild," she said. "As for what our goal is…" She glowed briefly before her body was revealed to be clothed in her Purgatory armor. "Fairy Tail's family has been wounded. And we will have our revenge."
Albriech and Baldor's gazes flicked over to Lisanna's body, to each other, then back to the black-armored woman with red hair. "We understand," Albriech said seriously.
"Do you now?" Gray challenged.
"More than you might think," Baldor replied without flinching as he bared his shoulder that held the mark of the guild on his clothing. "Natsu made us honorary members, which my brother and I take seriously. If you're going out for revenge, it's personal for us, too."
"You're wizards?" Lucy asked.
"We are the White and Shadow Dragon Slayers," Albriech said firmly. He ignored the newcomers' surprise as he added, "Lisanna was our friend, too. If you are all from the original Fairy Tail, then let us come with you to destroy the ones that did this."
"B-But…" Wendy whimpered. "Who's gonna stay with Eragon and mister Brom?"
"I will," a new voice said as its owner stepped out from behind a tree, a bow in his hands.
"Who are you?" Albriech asked hotly.
"I'm the one that shot the Ra'zac earlier," the stranger answered as he stepped into the light, revealing a handsome face partially hidden by black hair that framed his dark eyes. "I swear to you, I am no friend to the Empire."
"Why should we just take your word for it, especially after you've been hiding this whole time?" Baldor asked in calmer manner than his brother.
"Because if you don't go now, you may never have another shot at the Ra'zac before the king himself comes after you," the man replied shortly. "Besides, after seeing your power firsthand, I know that trying to harm any of you would be suicide. You have nothing to fear from me."
"What is your name?" Erza asked him in a commanding tone.
"Murtagh," he replied, his voice tight.
"Very well, Murtagh, we place our wounded in your care," Erza said firmly. "Wendy, Happy, and Carla will remain here to continue helping our comrades. You know what will happen if you deceive us?"
A wry smile twisted the stranger's lips. "I can imagine," he said dryly.
"You sure about this?" Gray asked the girl.
"Yes," Erza said as she turned around and walked into the forest, Natsu close beside her. "He knows that he won't live to regret a betrayal." And there wasn't really anything anyone could say to refute that.
"How do we find these monsters?" Albriech asked after a quiet moment. "The smoke is clouding my sense of smell."
"I've got that covered," Natsu said in a quiet, flat voice as he picked up Zar'roc. "I'll find 'em… And I'm holding nothing back this time."
"Sss…" One of the Ra'zac hissed. "We were nearly caught off-guard by those strange wizardsss…"
"There is nothing to be gained by dwelling on it," the larger one reprimanded its comrade. "We now know- never are we to underestimate their power, no matter what condition they are in."
"Damn straight," said a cold, flat voice that seemed to be accompanied by a freezing wave of air. The Ra'zac were surprised to see a tall, muscular teenager with a foreign emblem matching the one that the strange wizards wore stamped on his chest.
"Another…?" the smaller one growled.
"No matter," the larger hissed sharply. "They will be here soon. Perhaps thisss one will make a fine meal…"
"You truly are sickening creatures, aren't you?" a strong, female voice said from the opposite direction. The Ra'zac whirled around in surprise- they hadn't hear her coming, and it was rare that someone escaped their detection. Erza stood with her brutal mace resting easily on her shoulder, her expression betraying none of the rage lying just beneath the surface.
"You hurt Fairy Tail," said Lucy as she moved to stand beside her teammate, a golden key in hand.
"She looksss… tender," the larger laughed as they looked her up and down.
Lucy didn't even flinch. She simply raised her hand above her head and stated, "Open, Gate of the Lion: Leo." A golden light flashed before her, and out stepped the leader of the Zodiac spirits.
"Hey, gorgeous," he said easily. "What's the issue?"
"Those two killed Lisanna," she said sharply. "I called you because you're a member of Fairy Tail, so this makes it your business, too."
Leo, for once, dropped all pretenses of charm and grace as he glared at the two monsters, who were very confused about the sudden appearance of the spirit. "Right then," he said flatly as his fists began to glow. "Say the word, Lucy."
"Ssstrange magic or not, you cannot kill the likes of us," the larger Ra'zac hissed angrily. "Our kind were bred to ressssist magic of any sort."
"Watch us," Baldor said, his voice as dark as the shadows he commanded. "You killed Lisanna… hurt the old man…"
"You wounded people from Carvahall…" Albriech added as he stepped from the treeline to help encircle the Ra'zac, who were beginning to feel closed in, though they would never admit it.
"Worst of all…" Natsu's ragged voice said as the owner stepped out from the shadows, holding the red sword, Zar'roc in his right hand. "You took something precious… right in front of me." His onyx-colored eyes were then raised to look directly at the Ra'zac, who shifted in place as they saw his tears mixed with the burning fire of his soul. "That was your last mistake… Ra'zac. Cos now you've lit a fire that'll never go out…" Scales began to emerge under his skin around his face and arms, and the magic power that was building up could be felt even by the Ra'zac, who were not magic users themselves.
"What is thisss?" the smaller one asked.
No one answered them out loud. Inwardly, Erza thought, Natsu's magic can be affected by his emotions even more so than most wizards… He's been conjuring the Flames of Emotion, but he's been holding it all in, so now… She watched him carefully as he took a ready stance, fire beginning to ripple along his body. He's tapped into his Dragon Force.
"Last hit's mine, we clear?" Natsu asked, his sharpened teeth displayed as his lips curled into a snarl.
"Agreed," Erza said on behalf of everyone else.
There was an ugly pause before tone of the Ra'zac said, "Do you foolsss know what happens if you manage to defeat us? The consequencesss that will follow?"
"Doesn't matter to us," Leo snapped, his voice uncharacteristically harsh.
"If it's to protect or avenge our family…" Gray growled, the night air growing even colder.
"Be it the kingdom or the entire world," Lucy added.
"We would make an enemy of anyone," Erza declared.
"That's what it means…" Natsu said in conclusion, "To be Fairy Tail." Baldor and Albriech looked at their comrade and his friends in surprise, despite the present circumstances.
Truly, they would stand against the world on behalf of one another? Albriech thought. The looks on their faces in that moment gave him no doubt that they meant every word that they had just uttered.
"Ice-make: Prison Cell!" Gray shouted as he cast his spell. The next thing that the Ra'zac knew, they were in a cage made of pure cold. Fairy Tail's revenge had begun.
"Face my Purgatory Armor!" Erza roared as she shot forward, slashing through the ice like it was no stronger than ancient glass and gouging deep wounds into the monsters from a combination of her mace and the broken prison pieces. Blue-green blood splattered onto her armor, but she ignored it as she moved aside to make room for Leo to engage them.
"Die!" the smaller Ra'zac hissed as it swung at him with its sword, its speed not diminished despite its injuries.
"You first, creep," Leo deadpanned as he swiftly dodged the blow before he took a ready stance and shouted, "Now face the wrath of an awakened zodiac! Regulus Impact!" A light burst forward from his fist in the shape of a lion that lunged at its target and tore through the Ra'zac with savage strength.
"Sister!" the larger Ra'zac called out as it watched its companion going down.
"That's far enough!" Baldor snapped. "Shadow Dragon Snare." Shadows leapt up from the ground to bind the monster in place with a substance that could have been described as dark tendrils.
"White Dragon Roar!" Albriech bellowed, shredding through the shadowy bindings with his holy magic, and leaving the Ra'zac in a smoldering heap. In fact, both of them were completely spent, groaning and clicking on the floor in agony.
"All yours, Natsu," Gray said as he motioned for the others to get back.
"Then get out of here," he said with a growl in his throat. "This ain't gonna be like anything I've ever done before."
"What do you mean by that?" Lucy asked worriedly.
"Rrgh…" Natsu growled, his fists tightening.
"Come on, Lucy," Erza said in her commanding voice. "This is his fight. Let him finish it."
"But-"
"Let's go," Gray said as he firmly- not roughly- grabbed her arm and started pulling her along. "It's what he wants. Don't worry, he'll be fine."
"I hope so…" she finally said as she turned around to walk back towards the camp. In an even lower voice, she said, "Be safe, Natsu…"
"Even… like thisss…" one of the Ra'zac grunted as it got to its feet with its sibling. "We could kill you."
"No, you won't," Natsu said, his voice striking like a whip. "Cos I'm gonna be the one to kill you, right here, right now."
"Isss this what your little friend would have wanted?" the other Ra'zac laughed, right before letting out a faint squawking sound.
The sound came out because in the span of an eye blink, Natsu had shot forward, slammed his flaming hand through the Ra'zac's chest, and came out its back, still holding its beating heart. And in its dying moments, the Ra'zac could have sworn that it was not a boy, but a red dragon that was standing before it.
"Huh, weird," he said as the other Ra'zac looked at him with shock. "I wasn't sure you monsters had hearts." Then he yanked out his hand after burning the beating organ to a crisp, causing his hated enemy to finally fall to the ground, dead. "And her name was Lisanna."
"What are you?" the other Ra'zac asked him with fear.
"I told you," the boy snarled, gathering his magic power between his hands, his eyes glowing a deep red for just a moment. Shimmering like a mirage behind him, the form of a massive scarlet dragon took shape, causing the last Ra'zac to tremble with fear. "I'm Natsu Dragneel, Son of Igneel. And I am the end of anyone who would hurt Fairy Tail."
"Die, Natsu Dragneel!" the Ra'zac screamed.
"Alagaesian Dragon Slayer Secret Art!" Natsu bellowed in return as he raised Zar'roc high above his head. "Dragon Rider's EXPLODING FLAME BLADE!" A raging inferno billowed out from the ancient sword, lighting up the forest for miles. The sound was so loud, no one but Natsu heard the Ra'zac scream.
High above, in the dark of the night, two pairs of eyes watched. The sight filled them with cold fury, of course, but it was plain that even two such as they could not defeat the human boy. But then, he didn't seem quite human. Something about the way that he moved, something in the way that he smelled…
They spoke no words, but by the same consent, they flew away, ready to make their report to the one that needed to know what had become of his favored servants.
It was near dawn when Natsu trudged back into camp with hollow eyes, his Dragon Force depleted. Everyone but Brom looked up at him expectantly, some of them looking him over for any signs of major injuries. "It's done," he said wearily as he walked over to Lisanna's body, dropping Zar'roc on the ground as he did.
Gathering her limp body in his arms, he pressed his forehead to hers and began to cry, his tears glowing like embers in a dying fireplace. Happy clutched onto the dead girl's shoulder and cried bitterly alongside his partner. Wendy and Lucy held onto one another in tears even as Carla tried to comfort her Dragon Slayer while Gray just looked away, his face unreadable. Erza was sitting against a log, her legs curled up against her chest as she rocked back and forth while murmuring something quietly to herself.
Albriech and Baldor were both kneeling in prayer to the gods, begging her safe passage to the afterlife while the stranger, Murtagh, grimly observed the proceedings with Eragon, whose heart ached for his friends, feeling powerless to do anything to help them.
And so the reunited team and new friends alike mourned the passing of Lisanna, Fairy Tail takeover mage, foster mother of Happy, and the first love of Natsu Dragneel.
"We need to move," Gray finally said after about an hour of relative silence. When most of the others looked at him with questions in their eyes, he added, "Eragon here filled me in on what's been happening while Natsu was dealing with those things… If what he said is true, it won't be long before people from this Dras-Leona place come looking for us. We need to get as far away from them as possible."
"We're not leaving Lisanna here like this," Natsu snapped, still not looking up from her body. "I gotta bury her, man."
"We can't do that here," Erza said as she stood up and wiped her eyes. "We need to get moving. Once we've put some distance between us and them, we can take care of her."
"We don't enough horses for all of us," Baldor shook his head. "Not even if we ride double."
"I can carry the old one, since he is no condition to ride one of those deer-things," Saphira offered as she indicated Brom, who was still out of commission from the wound he had received at the hands of the Ra'zac. "If you make a litter to lay him on, I can carry him that way."
"What about Lisanna?" Natsu asked insistently.
"Give her to me, Natsu," Erza said as she flexed the wings of her Black Wing Armor. "I'll fly above with the dragon and keep an eye out for danger."
"Will you be able to sustain yourself for that long?" Lucy asked worriedly.
"I can if I must," Erza said firmly. "I won't leave her behind- she deserves a proper resting place."
"… Kay," Natsu said reluctantly. "Happy, you up for a flight?"
"I… I don't wanna move…" the little blue cat sniffled as he stood up so that Natsu could hand their friend over to Erza. "But… she would, if she was here. So I'll do my best."
"Thanks, l'il buddy," Natsu said appreciatively. After a moment of quiet, he added, "I'm really glad to see you guys again."
"We are too, man," Gray said with a faint smile, though the circumstances forbade him from doing anything more. "But let's save the story-telling for later, okay?"
"Yeah," Natsu nodded thickly.
"I will carry Wendy as long as I can," Carla declared. "And by my count, you have five horses, no? That should be plenty enough now."
"Five?" Wendy asked hoarsely.
"I took the liberty of picketing my horse next to yours," Murtagh said as he indicated white-gray horse. "That's Tornac, my faithful steed."
"Good," Erza nodded. "Eragon, was it? Can you ride?"
"Aye, though likely not very fast," he said as he stood with Baldor's help.
"No matter, we'll make do with what we can," Erza said.
After making a litter for Brom, Murtagh helped Eragon into his saddle, while Baldor and Albriech finished packing their things into the bags before getting onto their own horse. Lucy took to riding Snowfire while the Ice-make wizard hopped onto the gray horse that Natsu had been riding.
"What's this guy's name?" he asked his pink-haired guild mate.
"Gray," Natsu answered.
"What?" Gray asked.
"That's the horse's name," Wendy said as Carla grabbed onto her back in preparation of flight. "Natsu named it after you."
"Whoa," Gray said with wide eyes, deeply touched. "I didn't know you cared, man."
"I didn't name him that cos I missed ya," Natsu snorted. "I did it cos I hate vehicles."
"You punk!" Gray shouted angrily.
"Boys, focus!" Erza snapped. After they had both settled down, she snapped, "It's imperative that we get away from here, so act your age and get those horses moving!"
Baldor and Albriech were both astounded at the site of Natsu being bossed around so easily. Their next thought was that this Erza lady was likely more frightening than the Salamander in some way, so they had best behave themselves if they wanted to remain on her good side.
"Now let's go," Murtagh said. "We're wasting time here."
They weren't able to make it very far that day on account of Eragon's ribs, but Saphira managed to find good shelter in a series of uninhabited sandstone caves. The group managed to make it in just as the sun began to set on the land again. Erza was already on top of the rise that crested the cave network, keeping a lookout for any enemy activity.
Fortunately, there was none to be seen that day, and so she was able to help the others make camp while Wendy continued trying to heal Brom, but with little success. After a few minutes of trying to get the wound to seal up, Wendy leaned back, tired from the exercise.
"Are you all right, Child?" Carla asked her partner.
"Yeah, I just need a few minutes to rest," she nodded as she wiped sweat from her brow.
"Here," Gray said as he knelt next to her and clapped his hands together to generate a small block of ice that she could use to cool down. "Use this."
"Thanks, Gray," the little girl smiled up at him.
He returned the expression before turning back to talk to Lucy, Erza, Albriech, and Baldor. None of them were smiling, he noticed. "Hey," he said as he joined their circle. "Where's Natsu?"
Before anyone could answer, they heard a loud banging sound come from atop the hill. Once the noise had stopped, Erza said, "Natsu is burying Lisanna… Happy went up with him, and they asked that they remain undisturbed until they come down."
"Got it," he nodded. Then a thought struck him and he frowned as he asked, "Wait… Isn't it just sandstone up there?"
"Natsu is resourceful," Baldor said quietly. "And stubborn. He'll dig her a grave with his bare hands if he must."
"Sounds like you guys know him well enough," Lucy said, her voice also quiet in the grim atmosphere of the afternoon. "How long have they been here? Wendy and Natsu, I mean."
"A few months," Albriech answered. "They befriended Eragon and my father took them in since they had no place to go."
"So it appears that time moves at about the same pace in this world as it does ours," Erza said. Then she smiled a bit at the two men and said, "It was most kind of your father to take them in. I hope that circumstances allow us to meet him someday."
"Speaking of which…" Baldor frowned. "What are we to do now, Brother?"
"What do you mean?" Albriech asked.
"We did what we set out to do, and slew the Ra'zac," the shadowy wizard said. "What should we do now?"
"Hmm…" Albriech frowned. "I had not thought about that…"
"And what are we gonna do, Erza?" Gray asked the expedition leader. "I mean, we can use our magic no problem, but I don't think we've got anyone here that can cast the anima spell."
"No, but that does not mean that we won't be able to eventually," Erza replied. "For now, we must address some of the matters at hand."
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.
"First and foremost, it seems that we have landed ourselves in another land where a dark king terrorizes the innocent," Erza scowled. "Normally, I would say that it's none of our business, but I'll assume that Natsu already involved himself in everything?" She directed the question to Albriech, who nodded immediately.
"He went after the Ra'zac because they hurt Lisanna once before," he nodded. "My brother and I had no intention of getting involved ourselves, but then…" He held up an open palm that glowed with a brilliant light. "It seems that Wendy accidentally unlocked magical abilities for the both of us, and her dragon slayer magic influenced how it developed."
"And then we asked to join Fairy Tail," Baldor added. "We know we're not real members, but Natsu agreed to treat us as though we were."
"So do you intend to come to our world when the opportunity arises?" Era asked them.
Both young men shook their heads immediately. "We have family here, in our world," Albriech said. "We couldn't just leave them and run the risk never see them again. My brother and I just wanted to show our commitment to helping the ones that helped us when we were scared of ourselves."
"Your magic frightened you?" Erza inquired.
"From what I understand, magic isn't exactly common in this world," Gray informed her. "And Eragon says that the way they use it is pretty different to ours, too. Makes sense that these guys would be scared of suddenly having magic, especially magic as destructive as a dragon slayer's."
"Our sentiments exactly," Baldor nodded. "Just a few weeks ago, my brother became so angry that he destroyed an entire ship's harbor on his own."
"Impressive that you have mastered such power in such a short time," Erza said respectfully.
"Well, 'mastered' might be putting it a little strongly," Albriech said quickly. "I didn't mean to destroy the entire harbor, but the power was there, and the moment called for it…" He shrugged. "It was a frightening experience, but I have learned from it."
"Well," Erza smiled slightly. "It's a shame that you don't consider yourselves real Fairy Tail wizards. I think that you two would make wonderful additions to our guild."
"It's not working, is it?" Eragon asked heavily as he watched Wendy still trying to heal Brom's wound.
"No…" she sniffled as she put her hands down. "The knife went too deep, as he's bleeding on the inside."
"Why not seal up the wound on the surface?" the boy asked as she leaned back, exhausted. "It must be better to do that than have him bleed out with an open wound."
"Foolish boy, Wendy knows exactly what she's doing!" Carla snapped at him, causing the young rider to flinch at her harsh tone. Saphira issued a warning growl from where she was resting, but the white exceed ignored her. "If she could have healed the old man, she would have!"
"Perhaps it has something to do with the order in which she's trying to heal him," Murtagh suggested.
"What do you mean?" Eragon asked him.
"From what I understand, Wendy here has been trying to heal the wound from the inside," Murtagh said with a thoughtful face. "But maybe if she tried it the other way around?"
"I would if I could, but I've used up too much energy," Wendy shook her head. "If I keep trying anything, I could end up sick from magic power depletion."
"Then I'll take up the slack," Eragon declared, surprising everyone there.
"What?" Carla asked, confused. "Wendy, I thought that only you know how to heal people!"
"It works different here, Carla," Wendy said as she watched Eragon move painfully to sit beside the old man. "Eragon knows some healing, and his power works different than mine. Maybe he'll be able to do what I can't…"
They all fell silent as Eragon moved to remove Brom's bandages to assess the damage done to his body. He recoiled slightly when the wound began to weep freely again, but he recovered. Putting his hand with the mark of the Riders over Brom's wound, he took a deep breath and declared, "Weise, heil!" A blue light shone form his palm and the wound sealed as though it had never been. He slumped backwards, exhausted.
"That was amazing!" Wendy said encouragingly as the young rider tried to catch his breath. "You did it!"
"I mended… the surface," he shook his head. "But whatever lies beneath, he will have to battle on his own. We've done all we can."
"Are you all right?" Murtagh asked him.
"I just… need a moment," Eragon replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "Though some food would be appreciated as well."
"I'll get some," Wendy said as she moved towards the saddlebags, leaving Carla with the two men and the dragon.
The little cat raised an eyebrow at Eragon as she said, "Now that I think about it, you don't seem too surprised to see a talking cat."
"After everything that's happened to us these last few days, a talking cat is not high on my list of surprises," the dragon rider shrugged. "Besides, you wouldn't be the first. The wings are new, but I suppose Natsu had told us about that a while back."
"Wait, there are others of my kind here?" Carla asked in shock, her mind flashing back to the events that had taken place in Extalia.
"Not exactly," Eragon answered. "In this world, our talking cats are called werecats, and they speak with telepathy magic, not by moving their mouths like you and Happy. Also, no wings."
"Hmm… Interesting," Carla muttered as Wendy returned with some bread for Eragon. He said a word of thanks to the azure-haired child before wolfing the bread down ravenously. Seeing this, the white exceed muttered, "I see whom he's been breaking bread with lately- so to speak." The speed and eagerness with which he tore through his food reminded her of a certain dragon slayer.
It was night again by the time Natsu was done. He had torn up the stone ground with his bare knuckles and laid Lisanna's body underneath the rubble that he used to carefully construct her grave. Using his fire magic, he burned these words into a slab that would serve as her tombstone:
Here lies Lisanna
Friend to animals
Loved by many
A Proud Fairy Tail Wizard
When he was done, Natsu stood at the grave, silent as the tomb that he stood upon. Happy floated beside him, his own heartache making it nearly impossible to keep himself airborne. Looking at his partner, who looked like all emotion had left him, he asked in a somber voice, "When she died… What were you two?"
Natsu didn't answer immediately, instead choosing to look up at the sky before he said, "Lisanna… She was my closest friend here, Happy… And I loved her."
"For real?" the little blue cat asked.
"Yeah," he nodded. "I know I promised that I'd find her if she went away ever again… But even though we found her in Edolas… I don't think I can find her this time… And I'm gonna miss her…" He feel to his knees, still looking up at the dark sky, where the stars were beginning to shine.
"Me too," Happy sniffled as he landed beside his partner. "I just wish… we had gotten here, sooner… Maybe then…"
"No," Natsu shook his head as he gathered his exceed in his arms. "Don't think like that, Happy. It's not what she would have wanted." The salmon-haired dragon slayer paused before he continued on to say, "I… When I built that grave for her outside of Magnolia, where we used to go every afternoon… Elfman came with me to visit one time. And I told him that he shouldn't cry, because it would have hurt her. I said…" He choked and almost stopped, but he managed to get out, "I said… Lisanna was always smiling… And that she would tell him that when he felt sad was when he needed to smile the most…"
"Aye, sir…" Happy sniffed again. "But… I don't think I can manage right now…"
"I know, little buddy," Natsu nodded, his body shivering. "I know."
And there was silence atop the hill.
Unfortunately, it seemed that fate was not done carving wounds in their hearts that night.
Gray surprised the two wizards when he vaulted over the edge of the hill, the grim expression on his face clear in the moonlight. "You guys gotta get down there," he said.
"We'll be down in a minute," Natsu said thickly.
"No, as in right now," Gray said, his voice a little harder. "That old geezer that you've been travelling with isn't looking so good. Wendy doesn't like his chances."
"What?!" Natsu exclaimed, shooting to his feet.
"Help us hold him down!" Murtagh grunted as he tried to keep the old man from flailing around. It seemed that Brom had been seized by a series of fits, and now he was thrashing around the cave violently. "He's going to hurt himself!"
"Geez, for an old-timer on death's bed, this guy has a lot of fire in him!" Gray grunted as he pinned down Brom's other arm. "What's he made of?!"
"What's going on…?" Carla mumbled as she sat up slowly and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
"Mister Brom is taking a turn for the worse!" Wendy exclaimed as she felt his forehead. "He's burning up!"
"No!" Eragon grunted, his ribs restricting his movement and making loud speech painful. "This… can't happen! Not after what we've just endured!"
"I'm sorry, but I've seen too many people fall in battle to tell you otherwise," Erza shook her head as she gazed at the struggling man. "He hasn't much time."
Suddenly, Brom stopped thrashing and opened his eyes, casting them about wildly, seemingly unable to fix his gaze on anything. That is, until his eyes landed on Eragon. He reached out with surprising strength and grabbed the boy's arm like it was a lifeline as he grunted, "You… boy. Bring me wine…"
"Wine?!" Lucy shrieked. "Are you crazy?! You're on the verge of being a goner and you want to get hammered?!"
"I don't have time to argue…" the old man growled. "Bring me wine, dammit!"
Eragon looked at the others, at a loss for what to do. Murtagh saw this and reached for his saddlebag, saying, "Here. Take mine."
"All right," Eragon said as he proffered the drink to his mentor, who then shook his head in a negative motion, further confusing the young rider. "What now?"
"Wash my right hand with it," he ordered. "And for once in your life, don't question me, Eragon." The fact that he used his name and not the word 'boy' was enough to make Eragon forget any questions he might have had. He grabbed Brom's right hand and poured wine on his palm before scrubbing it with his sleeve. After a moment, he was intrigued to notice that there was some kind of brown dye stained into the skin on his teacher's hand.
Seeing this, Brom nodded and croaked, "Keep going. More wine." Eragon obliged him, continuing the task until he saw what Brom had been getting at, and his jaw dropped.
There, he finally saw Brom's Gedwey Insignia. "You're… You're a Rider?" he gasped.
"Haha…" Brom laughed, though it was clear that the action caused him pain. "Once that was true… but no more." Turning his feverish gaze upon Natsu and Wendy, he said, "I release you from your vows. Speak freely of my past, and be bound by your oaths no more."
"Wait, they knew?!" Eragon exclaimed as he looked up at the dragon slayers. "You knew?!"
"We did, but we couldn't tell you, or anyone really," Wendy said, her eyes downcast. "Mister Brom had us swear in the Ancient Language never to tell unless he said we could. Sorry…"
"But why…?" Eragon looked to his teacher for an explanation.
"Because… I failed," Brom replied as a tear seeped from his eye. "Natsu knew because I still bear the scent of a dragon… my dragon… My beloved Saphira…" Eragon let out a start of shock at the mention of his dragon's name, but did not interrupt the dying man. "When I was young, Eragon, younger than you are now… I was chosen to join the riders. But we were betrayed by Galbatorix, Morzan and the other Forsworn… I fought in that terrible war, all those years ago, and in doing so, I lost my Saphira…" More tears spilled from his eyes as he recalled the day that his soul had been torn in two. Even Natsu was silent, the severity of the moment rendering him speechless.
Brom fixed his eyes on his protégé, saying, "I am old, Eragon… so very old… You don't know what it's like, living so long that you look back on your life, only to realize that you don't remember most of it… Without your dragon, life is hardly worth living… Even after all this time, I grieve for my Saphira… And I still hate the king for what he took from me…"
Eragon was paralyzed by the revelations he was receiving. Yet he could not bring himself to demand answers now, not with the way that things were happening.
"Eragon…" Brom gasped, wracked by pain. "I have naught to give you but my blessing… Before this wound claims me, will you take it?"
"No, don't talk like that," Eragon tried to protest, but Brom shook his head.
"Eragon, please…" he said weakly.
The young rider hesitated for a moment, then said, "If that is your will."
"Then take my blessing, and know that you travel with the inheritance of Brom, whatever that may be worth to you," the old man smiled.
"It means the world to me, Brom," Eragon replied, tears beginning to fall from his own eyes.
"Hmm…" the old man smiled. Then he pulled Eragon close and whispered seven words in the Ancient Language to him. "Use them only in the time of your greatest need."
"Let's give them some room," Erza said, sensing that Brom was nearing his end.
"Not yet," he said firmly, surprising them all. "I have something to say to Natsu."
The boy hesitated, but he complied, moving to sit beside the old man while the others moved away. "What's up?" he asked.
"When I first met you, and even up until recently, I thought you would bring nothing but trouble to Eragon," Brom said, causing Natsu to flinch angrily. Before the boy could say anything, though, Brom said, "But now I know… You'll look after him. Won't you?"
"Yeah, of course," Natsu nodded. "I look after my friends." The words felt hollow coming out of his mouth after Lisanna's death, but they were all that he had to offer.
"Then swear it," Brom grunted.
"Huh?" Natsu asked.
"You heard me," the old rider frowned. "Swear that you will protect him, no matter what happens. Swear that you will see Galbatorix dethroned and Eragon safe from his reach."
"What should I swear on?" Natsu asked him seriously.
"What matters most to you?" Brom asked.
Natsu thought for a moment before he came up with his answer. "All right… Brom," he said as gravely as he could. "I swear to you on the name of Fairy Tail, King Galbatorix is going down, and Eragon will leave to see it happen."
Brom's eyes widened with surprise for a moment before he smiled and visibly relaxed. "Then I can die a happy man," he said. Leaning his head back, he whispered, "And now for the greatest adventure of all…"
"Not so fast," Natsu said as he got to his feet. "You don't get to go out lying on the floor like that. Not after Eragon knows what you really were."
"What?" Brom asked as the others noticed Natsu getting up.
"What's goin' on, man?" Gray asked.
Looking at Eragon, Natsu said, "We're gonna need to borrow Saphira for a bit."
"Excuse me?!" Eragon nearly shouted.
"I am not a plaything to be passed amongst children!" Saphira snarled in their heads, but Natsu didn't even flinch.
"Shut it, Dragon," he snapped. Turning back to Eragon, he said, "You just found out he's a Rider, yeah?"
"What am I to do about it?" Eragon demanded.
"Let him die as one," Natsu shot back. Pointing at the saddle on Saphira's back, he said, "Let Brom die as a Dragon Rider." The boy's gaze shot back and forth between Natsu, Saphira, and Brom several times before he understood what the Prince of the Fire Dragons was ordering.
That night, Brom flew one final time. The moon was clear above the clouds that had settled over the land, granting them not only cover from enemy sight, but the peace of isolation that one could only have so high up. "You'll… take care of him…?" he mumbled both with his mouth and mind.
"I will," Saphira answered. "Go now, old one. Be with the one that is my namesake."
"Thank you… Saphira," he sighed, finally at peace.
Thus did Eragon's mentor pass from the world.
Brom was buried with his staff next to Lisanna the next morning. Eragon went about the funeral a little more differently than Natsu had, though. Using his magic- with Saphira's support- he shifted the sandstone to form a seamless dome that covered Brom's body, completely cutting his body off from the outside. It would perfectly preserve his body throughout the ages to come, so long as the tomb was never exposed to air. Like Natsu, however, Eragon used his magic to carve runes into the rock to commemorate his master's passing. They read:
Here lies Brom
Who was a Dragon Rider and like a father to me
May his name live in glory
When he was done, Eragon stepped back and said, "Thank you for everything you taught me."
After a quiet moment, Natsu stepped up to be beside him and said, "I know we never really got along, but… You were a good man, Brom. And I'll keep my promise, don't you worry. Rest easy knowing that the king is as good as gone."
"Promise?" Eragon asked as he turned to face his friend.
"What's this, Natsu?" Erza added as she stood to make a triangle.
The boy looked them both dead in the eye and said, "I made a promise to the old man on Fairy Tail's sacred name- that I'm gonna help Eragon beat this dark king of theirs, and I'm gonna make sure he's alive at the end of it all."
"You swore this on Fairy Tail?" Erza asked, taken aback.
"Yeah," Natsu nodded, his determination unwavering. "He took us under his protection- gave his life so that Eragon would be safe, and we'd have a shot at getting the Ra'zac. I owe him."
Erza seemed to wrestle with something inside herself for a moment before she said, "Then so do the rest of us."
"Wait, what?" Eragon asked.
"What's happening, Erza?" Lucy asked.
"There's been a slight change in plans," the red-haired wizard announced to her comrades. "We're staying here in Alagaesia longer than we originally thought."
"We are?" Carla asked. "Why?"
"Because a request has been made of the Fairy Tail guild," Erza declared. "We're going to help Eragon in his quest to dethrone the mad king of this land. And we aren't leaving until we've succeeded."
"You'll really help me?" Eragon asked, feeling conflicting feelings build up inside him. "But… What about your people back home?"
"They'll understand when we return," Erza answered. "When we make a promise- as a Fairy Tail wizard- we honor it, or die trying. That is how our guild has operated since the day it was founded, and how it will continue to do so if I have any say in it."
"Aye, sir!" Happy saluted her.
Turning to Baldor and Albriech, Erza smiled slightly and said, "I see that you have some makeshift guild marks there."
"Y-Yes, ma'am," Baldor nodded nervously, wondering what she was getting at.
"Seems like we're going to be sticking around for a while," she continued, reaching behind her as she spoke. "So why not make it official?" She pulled out what looked like a blank stamp pad.
"Erm…?" Albriech wondered aloud.
"Wait, you have a magic stamp?" Wendy asked with surprise.
"Of course," Erza nodded. "As an S-class wizard of Fairy Tail, I have the authority to declare someone a member of the guild. The only one able to countermand the order is Master, but I don't really think he'd have a problem with these two.
"Three," Eragon said, surprising them. When everyone stared at him, he said, "Natsu made a promise that I should have made to Brom while he was alive. This is my world, and I'm the last free Rider, so this should be my responsibility if anyone's. And if you're going to help me, then I want to be a full part of this."
"Are you certain of this, little one?" Saphira asked. "They take this to the point that they consider their members family. This will be something that you will be part of until you die, should you go through with it…"
"I've lost enough family for one lifetime," Eragon replied as he held out his fist for Erza to stamp. "I'd be glad to have a new one. Even if worlds separate us one day, I will forever be indebted to Natsu and Wendy, and the people that raised them. If this is a way that I can show my gratitude to them, then I gladly accept the mark of the Fairy Tail guild."
Erza's grin, already present, grew into a full smile. "Spoken like a true Fairy Tail wizard," she said as she placed the stamp over his hand. "You'll do well with us." The stamp flared to life for a brief moment before she lifted it, leaving a guild mark the same color as Saphira's scales on the Dragon Rider's hand, effectively placing it on top of his Dragon Rider's mark.
Clenching his fist on reflex, Eragon looked over at his childhood companions expectantly. They looked at one another before nodding simultaneously and stepping forward with their own hands raised.
"Eragon is right in saying that we owe Natsu and Wendy a great deal," Albriech said as he was given a white mark on his right hand.
"And that this is our world, which makes this fight our problem," Baldor added as he was given a black mark on his left hand. "And if Fairy Tail wants to make it their fight…"
"Then we'd better do the same alongside them," Albriech finished.
"Heh," Gray grinned. "Well said, guys."
The time came when the bags were packed, and the group was ready to move out. "Anything else you guys want to say before we leave?" Lucy asked Happy, Natsu, and Eragon as they stared forlornly at the graves.
Eragon shook his head and Happy just turned around and walked away. But Natsu had one last thing to say. "I'll be back, Lisanna. I promise to see you… at least… one more time."
Saphira looked back and forth between the two men for a moment before she said, "I may not have been able to save them, but… I can make sure that they have a proper resting place."
Before anyone could ask what she meant, she bent forward and touched her nose to Brom's grave, and the magic-wielders gasped at the surge of energy they sensed from within her. Light flared across the old man's grave before spreading to Lisanna's.
When it faded, the group was astounded to see that each one not only had the mark of the Fairy Tail guild been added to the graves at the spot above the departed people's hearts, but the sandstone itself had been completely smoothed out and transformed into pure diamond that would allow them to see the bodies of their friends.
Brom lay still, a look of peace on his old face, as if he were finally enjoying the rest that he had so long deserved. Lisanna lay delicate and beautiful like a snowflake, her expression too, one of peace.
"Now they can truly rest in peace, for not even time can ravage them," Saphira said as she backed away.
"Saphira," Natsu said, his voice husky.
"Yes, Salamander?" she asked.
He turned to her before hugging her foreleg, tears running down his face as he sobbed, "Thank you… Thank you… Thank you…" Happy joined him in hugging the blue dragon, who looked unsure of what to do, until she found herself gazing at the red-haired wizard from Natsu's world, who bowed in a mark of gratitude to the mighty fire-breather-to-be.
"Erza, is it?" she asked.
"That is my name," the requip wizard nodded solemnly.
"Do you… have room for one more dragon in Fairy Tail?"
Fairy Tail: Merry Christmas everyone!
Levy: Be sure to check out the debut of the Legacy of Korra on January 1st, 2017!