Natsu purposely made sure to break the door as he shut it behind him. He did it quietly and quickly, just in case. Lucy had good intentions, he supposed, but the Dullahan was far different from the mindless yaoguai that had attacked them or even the shadow people.
This was an intelligent creature who brought death with each step it took, and even the Demon King was wary of it. It was older than the gods – as old as the stars.
It appeared as a male, on this occurrence, seated comfortably atop the skeletal, decaying horse it had stolen. Natsu supposed the next time it was spotted, it would have a new one, stolen because the first had finally rotted away. A whip resembling the spine of a human was clasped within its hand and in the other it held its head, the color of rotten meat. It had turned the gruesomely smiling face, resembling the ghost they'd dealt with near Aquarius's lake, towards the massive white-scaled creature snarling at it.
When Natsu came out, however, it turned that head towards him. Natsu stared it down in turn, even as the eyes in the decapitated head rolled this way and that, endlessly seeking. "Back down," he told Sting quietly.
This was a creature to respect, whether they wanted to or not. One wrong word and the creature could down even END where he stood.
Sting faltered, caught by surprise. His massive head whipped around, jaws parting. "You've gotta be kidding me," he snarled, lips curling back from large, jagged teeth. "It-"
"Sting," Natsu said sharply, growling a bit. He knew better than to look away from the Dullahan, which waited for the dragon to do as he was told. It would be an insult to the Dullahan to do so. "Back down, and apologize."
Finally, grumbling, Sting shifted back into his humanoid form, retreating to stand beside Natsu. "Forgive me," he rumbled reluctantly, "for my hasty actions. My intentions were good, but it appears," he threw Natsu a glare, "I was wrong."
Natsu could practically hear Lucy teasing them for their formal language. But the dragons had raised them well, and it did them good in the situation before them. Sting kept his eyes on the Dullahan while bowing his head, waiting.
You are forgiven, child of light, purred the voice that flooded their heads. Natsu fought back a shudder at the way it seemed to creep into his mind. Lucy's worry swelled in a distracting manner and he shoved it back. I've come seeking the son of the Fire Dragon King.
Natsu stiffened, wary of that. The Dullahan so rarely made an appearance…in almost a thousand years, it had only shown itself once – to Igneel, after the Wars, to warn the king of dragons that it would continue to hold no alliance. "What," Natsu said slowly, "can I do for you, Dullahan?"
The Dullahan's horse shifted, cracked hooves scraping the ground. You carry something you did not when we last met, Demon King, it whispered, and Natsu was grateful when Sting didn't react. The Dullahan was only speaking to him, then. Even the Dullahan had seen it fit to keep his true identity hidden from the majority of those in Fiore. You are tied to a fallen star against the will of the Fates.
"Not a fallen star." He was careful in the way he corrected the Dullahan. "A possible descendant of a fallen star, we believe." He noted the bit about the Fates. That would be something to ask Igneel or the celestial spirits. Preferably the celestial spirits.
The Fates were just as bad as the Dullahan and even more difficult to find. The three had not been seen since the beginning of time itself. Natsu remembered hearing Mavis speak of them before her disappearance; she'd reported them to be surprisingly kind, but very intimidating – which was saying a lot for someone who'd been able to stare down the likes of Zeref.
…you do not know, whispered the Dullahan with fascination. Fascinating. The Demon King is not all-knowing.
"I never claimed to be," said Natsu with patience he didn't normally find himself possessing. His stomach churned with the desire to know what the Dullahan was talking about. But he didn't say anything, didn't demand answers. It would be rude.
Perhaps not. The goddess is favorable towards you, however. The Dullahan's horse shifted beneath it, uttering a groaning hiss. And you towards her.
Natsu spoke carefully now, very aware of the dragon listening beside him to Natsu's side of the conversation. "Yes. Mavis is a friend I've not seen in a very long time." Sting glanced at him, narrowing his eyes, but remained silent. He'd ask later, though. Natsu was sure of it.
It moved on to another matter, the one it had likely come to them for. I have stopped my ride to bring a warning to you, son of the Fire Dragon King. Death approaches in a manner that is worrisome even to the likes of me. The fault seems to lie with the Lost Star, the Dullahan murmured, and Sting jolted.
"The Lost Star's around here?" Sting demanded, taking a step forward. "Where?"
The Dullahan snarled. The sound was worse than anything that Igneel had ever been capable of creating, and Natsu flinched, heart skipping a beat. The world around them seemed to fall silent. Even the wind fell still. Sting, suddenly pale, stepped back, closing his mouth.
Silence reined for a moment, and Natsu spoke carefully after ensuring that the already insulted Dullahan wasn't insulted further. "May I ask," he said in a polite tone, fully aware that the Dullahan would likely not answer, "if you know how Death approaches?"
The Fire Dragon King taught you well, the Dullahan answer with what seemed to be a hint of approval in its hoarse and raspy voice. For your thoughtfulness, I will answer. It rides upon the wings of dragons and demons, rises with the stars who have seen the beginning of time. As I have told you once, the fault lies with the Lost Star, and perhaps with the Demon King as well. You will receive no more word from me on the matter.
Natsu winced when Sting seemed to vibrate, wanting to know the answers to so many questions that were bubbling up but not daring to speak after his last comment. Natsu kept his eyes on the head of the Dullahan as he bowed his body in respect. "Thank you," he murmured, "for the warning, Dullahan."
Something in him filled with worry. Lucy's anxiety, which had been constant for some time now, spiked, and Natsu fought the urge to make an odd expression. The woman was a mess of confused panic and it was really, really distracting.
A final warning, it said as the horse spun on its heels, rearing, before I continue my ride. You would do well to speak with the Fire Dragon King himself. He holds answers to questions that you do not yet have.
The horse lunged forward with a massive leap, snorting, and within seconds, the Dullahan was gone. Natsu and Sting let out matching groans of relief when they sensed it was gone. "Heavens above," Sting muttered, "I don't ever want to see that thing again."
"I didn't think I would see it again at all," Natsu agreed.
"Yeah, about that," Sting said, rounding on him. "The hell do you know about all of the stuff it was talking about? Mavis? The Lost Star? The Demon King?" A growl thundered in his chest. "And you just showed up with a celestial spirit…the hell's going on, Natsu?"
Natsu ignored his demands, only pissing him off as he went to the door of the cottage and pried the broken door open with as little effort as he could manage. He still broke the doorframe in the process, and he grimaced at it, realizing Yukino was standing right in front of him. "I broke your door," he said guiltily.
Yukino rolled her eyes. "I noticed that," she said drily before ducking past him. "What happened? Is someone going to die?"
"I don't know what the Dullahan is," said Lucy as she stepped up to the doorway. Natsu moved so she could get out easier than Yukino had. Natsu eyed her. She was still worried, enough so that her voice trembled a little. "Could someone explain to me what was so bad about it? And I know it was bad." She glanced to Natsu pointedly; if he'd been worried, there was a reason to be so as well.
"Was it not spoken of in your time?" Yukino asked, making herself slow down in wanting answers to make Lucy feel better. "It's one of the most famous mythics, almost as well-known as the Demon King." Sting bristled at the title, suspiciously glaring at Natsu. "When the Dullahan stops riding, death approaches, and if it speaks your name, you fall where you stand."
"It's older than Igneel," Natsu said quietly and Lucy blinked, understanding flashing over her face as Happy suddenly shifted, leaping for her. She winced when his claws dug into her skin, but shifted him until he rested quietly in her arms. It was older than him, too, then. And by what he'd felt during the encounter…Lucy had no doubt that the mythic was stronger than Natsu.
"What did it want?" she asked, and Sting made an irritable gesture to Natsu.
"To talk to him," said Sting. "He had a whole one-sided conversation with him and then dumped this warning about mass death-"
"He didn't say," Natsu interrupted, gaze darkening, "anything about mass death. He said that Death approaches."
"I don't see a difference there," Yukino said gently, her eyes warm as she smiled at him to show she wasn't trying to be rude, merely confused.
Natsu shifted, rocking back on his heels. "There are gods, like Gildarts, mythics who have become legends and stories, like the Demon King, and mythics like the Fates and the Dullahan." Sting's gaze sharpened on the mention of the Demon King; Lucy wondered what they would have thought if they'd known the truth of who was speaking to them. Undoubtedly, they would react like Gajeel and Levy.
"The gods and goddesses have been around for a long time. Before the Fire Dragon King. Don't know when they started, but they were there before the start of the New Age. They're fairly benevolent. Look at Mavis. She started a guild. Dragons are near the gods in strength, I guess. Except for Igneel." He waved that off, not at all worried about the gods. "We all know the stories of the Demon King and mythics like him. They're powerful, almost undefeatable, but they can be ultimately conquered. Igneel was able to kill the Demon King in the Demonic Wars."
"So why the hell is the Demon King being brought up now?" demanded Sting, but Sting was ignored as Natsu continued.
"The Fates and the Dullahan are to be respected. The dragons taught us that," he added sharply to Sting, glaring at him. Sting scowled back at him, mood dampened entirely. "They're as old as the stars." He'd thought of all of this while staring down the Dullahan, and found it was actually turning into a good lesson for Lucy. He was willing to bet that Makarov would approve. "They could kill us with a single word or look." He nodded at Yukino to show he meant what she'd said as an example.
"What does this have to do with mass death?" muttered Sting.
Natsu snapped his teeth at him, irritated with his responses. "Shut up and let me talk," he growled, bristling and Lucy patted his arm comfortingly. Yukino sent Sting a sharp look as well, to tell him to shut up, and the white dragon looked downright furious as he clamped his mouth shut.
"I told you," growled Natsu. "He said 'Death approaches,' not anything about mass death. Death and Life are unseen entities."
"Like a grim reaper?"
Natsu snorted at Lucy's suggestion, snickering. "S'a human form, I guess. It doesn't exist as one mythic, like the Dullahan. It's like…it's everywhere. They mix together, and mythics like the Dullahan work hand in hand with Death. It's kind of complicated," he admitted. "People used to think Zeref was the embodiment of Death. Everywhere at once."
Even wincing at the mention of Zeref by name, Yukino nodded slowly and then asked softly, "So what does what the Dullahan said mean?"
Lucy found herself grimacing when Natsu said, "Death's hunting for someone."
"The Lost Star?" asked Sting pointedly.
Lucy kept herself still and said nothing, though Natsu huffed softly, smoke rushing from his nostrils. "I think it's after a bunch of people. Particularly the dragons." He clenched his teeth at the thought. "And demons."
"Demons don't exist anymore," Sting denied. He folded his arms, puffing his cheeks out in thought. "Except for a few half-demons and descendants, I guess, like Gray."
Natsu's eyes narrowed into slits, a dark flash of fury racing through him. Gray had pissed him off time and time again, but he was still a member of Natsu's guild, and Natsu would draw upon the black magic he liked to keep away from in order to protect anyone in the guild. Lucy winced a little and he shoved those dark emotions back, not liking that she looked and felt worried again.
"We'll just make sure the dragons remain wary of anything that causes concern," Yukino said firmly, smiling reassuringly at everyone without a lick of worry displayed on her face. "Someone does need to get warning to Igneel, to warn the others though."
"You should do it," Sting said crankily to Natsu, who growled immediately, ready to just leave the annoying blond behind and go back to Magnolia. "Since you've got answers waiting for you with him or something like that."
"I'll go see Igneel," the hybrid said coldly, "when he can admit he was wrong and apologize to me." He quickly turned the conversation away from Igneel, scowling. He didn't give a damn if the king of dragons grew angry with him; he'd never forget the words that had spewed from Igneel's throat in his bitter rage.
He was caught unprepared when a warm hand gently brushed over his arm, snagging briefly on one of the armbands there. Lucy smiled gently at him, reassuring, though he didn't understand why she was being as much. She said to Yukino and Sting, "We can ask Wendy. I've heard she's less likely to earn the Fire Dragon King's ire?"
Yukino nodded. "Wendy and Grandeeney are both favorites of Igneel.
"Now," Yukino continued, whipping out her keys with sparkling dark eyes. "Why don't we get started with the celestial spirits?" Lucy agreed, relieved to get out of a conversation that was quickly riling up the two males. Natsu focused on this, grateful, and Sting just muttered under his breath, stepping back until he bumped into the fence surrounding Yukino's cottage. He knew better than to get too close.
The only thing he said about the matter was, "Don't do both at once. It'll kill you."
"I know that," Yukino said patiently and then slashed one of the golden keys she held through the air. "Open!" she commanded loudly, and even Lucy felt the shift in the air around them. "Gate of the Scales! Libra!"
Lucy winced when she was nearly blinded by the golden light that flooded the air. When it faded, a woman stood before them, her eyes flashing. She was dressed in a manner that made Lucy want to shiver with the cold, though clearly Libra didn't seem to feel it. A cloth displaying the symbol attributed to her was hooked to a piece in her hair, leaving only narrowed dark eyes visible. In each hand there was an odd dish-like piece that matched what Lucy had seen of ancient scales.
"Libra," Yukino said with a little bit of hurt. "It's good to see you."
Libra swiftly turned to face her, apologetic. "Forgive us, my lady. We were reluctant to make ourselves more known. The Eclipse Gate's magic…it is not something we wish to see again."
"It's alright. I do wish you'd not burned me though," Yukino added under her breath. Lucy smiled briefly though that smile vanished when Libra turned on her, stepping away from Yukino to focus upon she and Natsu.
Libra wasn't nearly as intimidating as Aquarius had been, and seemed to be of a much more pleasant attitude, in Lucy's opinion. She wasn't as nervous about facing her down. "You've piqued Leo's interest by passing Aquarius's test…do you not know what we test you for yet?"
Lucy shrugged. "To see if we deserve your support is what I got out of my conversations with Aquarius." Natsu squirmed beside her, and Lucy frowned at him. He was acting and feeling very suspicious…she'd question him about that later.
"Interesting," was Libra's response. Rather than explaining further as Yukino and Sting exchanged shocked looks, because they couldn't remember having to perform a test for anything except becoming the Keeper and Guardian that they were, she did an awkward curtsy-like motion. "It is a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Lady Lucy. Our Keeper was someone we cared for and still care for deeply. You do her justice in many ways."
Lucy lifted her brows, knowing precisely what Libra had meant. Yukino made a sound of confusion that Sting echoed, but Libra didn't explain. Instead, she straightened, saying, "It is for this reason that I hope you pass my test."
"Please don't make me dive to the bottom of a lake or something like that," Lucy pleaded, not at all worried that she sounded like a child who didn't want to do something. "I don't want to freeze again."
Natsu snorted, hoping just for the hell of it that Libra's test was precisely that, but Libra chuckled and reassured Lucy, "Pisces' test will be difficult enough for you, my lady. I expect that you will complete this test as well, sir?" Natsu nodded, making a face. "Sir," at least, wouldn't spill to the others what he was, but it caught the ever-noticeable Sting's attention. Natsu wisely stayed quiet about it when he saw Sting cock his head. "You are lucky that it is me, and not Leo or another, with Lady Yukino. I possess what might be the easiest exam to complete.
"I represent balance within humanity and every other mythic in this realm." She shifted gesturing to the others that were present. "Balance is necessary when you are contracted with the celestial spirits. Aquarius has told you that most of the time, we are to come first. But you should know to not always do so. Sometimes, in order to protect the keys that we protect, you have to protect others and then us. Sometimes, you have to pay more attention to yourself than to us. It is a game of balance, my lady."
She turned slightly to look at Sting and Yukino. "May I borrow you for this exam, my lady? Lord Sting? And the familiars as well?"
Sting looked rather proud that he'd gotten such a lovely title while Natsu had been referred to as merely "sir," and Yukino rolled her eyes, praying for sanity as she said, "Of course. But…I don't understand. I know you're trying to find Leo because he can give answers that Igneel could give, but…I've never heard of the celestial spirits giving exams for anything other than-"
Gently, Libra interrupted, and Natsu knew immediately that it would be best to keep the true goal of the spirits to himself. They didn't want Lucy to know, and though he felt like he should have told her, something he didn't truly understand, Natsu knew not to tell her before they wanted her to know.
"We can test whoever we wish, my lady, for whatever reason. If they want to speak with Leo, and they need our support, why should we not make them work for it? Why not have them prove that they are worthy of it? Celestial spirits live on the value of promises. It is merely that. An exchange of promises."
Lucy nodded, accepting that just as much as Yukino appeared to. Sting didn't look too inclined to agree either, distracted when Happy and Lector crouched beside one another.
"If you would summon Aquarius as well?" Libra asked politely.
Natsu groaned as Lucy ran to go and find some water. "Can we not?"
Libra chuckled and said, "You need not worry, sir, Aquarius will not be needed for Pisces' exam. You'll be safe from her wrath."
Natsu looked at her in horror and wondered just what the hell the exam Pisces was going to give them was.
Ey! Libra's showed up and the Dullahan had some important information! I'm still thinking of bringing it back...I rather liked the Dullahan.
Thanks to reviewers (Meow Orbit, stranger1999, nerdalertwarning, Morenoel, Anna-Mae1242, Forbidden-Hanyou, Samm, Lissuin, Inky-Paws, AnimusLunari777, Fidosa, LePengwen, Blood and Angst Lover, Lovetoreadff, and AlaskaHolmes90786!) as well as those who favorited and followed!
