Chapter 37...
Natsu was walking through a dense brush in the middle of a lush forest in the middle of the evening. The forest itself was unique, the leaves were blue along with a red spotted pattern, and the bark of the trees was dark blue. He was currently heading to Mount Kaiyo in search of three of the Mermaid Heel mages. He had a lot going through his mind.
"I should try breaking em' out in the dark, after that we just have to get out of there quick. As for the mountain-"
((You really have been giving this rescue some thought ever since we left.)) Nevan suddenly spoke.
"Nevan?" He asked. "I thought you didn't care?"
((Do not mistake my intentions. Damage to my vessel's exterior will not be tolerated when I have free reign." She corrected him.
(I think that's her version of worrying about yur' well being partner.) Natsa suggested.
((Me? Worried? Do not twist my words into mere-))
"Well thanks Nevan. I never thought you would actually care about a lowly human such as I." Natsu teased.
((Wait, hold on-))
"I think I might actually cry. You're a very big hearted devil aren't you?" Natsu sarcastically said while pretending to cry.
((LISTEN TO ME!)) Nevan shouted annoyed.
"I am. What's on your mind?" Natsu asked.
((W-Well...)) She tried to think.
"...?"
((..I'm just bored.))
(...Uhhh?)
"..What?" Natsu and Natsa were dumbfounded of her answer.
((Normally I would be annihilating another devil and consuming their souls, and go to my castle to relive myself in the hot spring.)) She explained.
"..Sounds like being a devil is boring." Natsu said bluntly.
((Silence! It's not like I didn't do anything with the other devils! I just..(murmur)..))
(Huh?) Natsa couldn't quite hear her.
((They'd rather serve Zeref than socialize with someone such as I for fear of getting their souls devoured.)) She confessed.
"...Wow."
((I made the mistake of turning myself into a god of destruction that incurs fear in the very soul of devils and such.))
(Well what did you think was going to happen?) Natsa asked as if it were an obvious question.
((I expected them to serve me. But Lord Zeref was more powerful than me, so they sought his protection.))
"You're like an evil queen or something." Natsu admitted.
((I admit, I always thought of placing myself in a position of power above many, but a lot good that did.)) She sighed.
"Well I don't know about anything like that..." Natsu hopped over a fallen tree. "But that sounds like having people around you just to serve would be boring."
((If I was, I would kill one of them to pass the time.))
"That's really nice Nevan." Natsu said while standing on top of a log the was also knocked over. "Well, this is odd."
(Yeah, why the hell are these trees blown down?) Natsa was also curious.
((...Wait..)) Nevan narrowed her eyes, seeing the same thing that her 'vessel' was also seeing. ((This looks like a battle took place here.)) Around the area ahead of them, it was torn up like a small war was fought. There were blast marks that Natsu recognized were from beam type magics, there was several trees that looked like something crashed through them, and a massive odd shaped hole in the ground.
"Looks like someone fought here." Natsu agreed.
((Could it have been the soldiers the human princess spoke of?)) Nevan suggested.
(I don't know. I don't see anything that would indicate a group came through. If they did, they must have covered their tracks real good.) Natsa figured.
"Hm." Natsu hummed while looking around. He then came to a large dirt crater, like something hit the ground from the sky. "Holy crap.." He looked at the crater and up at the sky from where the trajectory would have led what he thought hit the ground. "I think someone hit the ground."
(Hole is about the same size.)
((A human? A fairly strong one from the looks of it.)) Nevan was a bit bewildered. There was no way a normal human would have survived an impact like that.
(Hey partner, get up higher.)
"Why?" Natsu asked curiously.
(Take a look at the weird hole we passed.) Natsu shrugged and hopped to the nearest branch and looked back down. He narrowed his eye suddenly.
((...Is that..?))
(Just like I thought.)
"A footprint." Natsu concluded. It was indeed from something with a large foot. "Looks similar to a dragon's but the imprints are too flat, like a machine." Natsu stated.
(What the hell was it then?) Natsa was confused.
"At a guess? Probably that thing we saw in the pictures."
(..Wait, that would mean...no way, th-that would mean-)
((Hmm, i'd say about thirty stories?)) Nevan estimated.
"That is pretty damn big. Like a dragon." He compared. "So that thing attacked someone here. Question is who...huh?" Natsu trailed off and suddenly stopped when he saw a glint of something catching his eye in the dirt. He walked over to it and began unearthing it. He pulled out a long sheathed nodachi sword. But it was all too familiar. He would recognize that sword the moment he saw it.
"Well...crap." He bluntly said.
(That's Kagura's sword!) Natsa exclaimed.
((So she fought with that machine?)) Nevan assumed.
"I don't think she was the only one." Natsu looked up and saw many broken blades and swords lying about. "Those are Erza's weapons. I'm sure those go to that Heavens Wheel set she's got." Natsu noted. "Looks like they fought here."
(Then taken.) Natsa figured.
"..Looks like they were taken thata' way, the brush looks like a group was combing through it. With any luck it should head straight back to their camp." He hoped. He looked at Kagura's sword and frowned.
"..."
(You okay partner?) Natsa asked worriedly.
"..We gotta move." Natsu hurried through the brush once he found a trail.
Mount Kaiyo...
"Man, this is the worst!" Mira complained while trying to break free from the chains.
"At least we still live. I don't understand why they still are using us. They have a mountain of magic lacrima sitting next to them." Kagura was confused.
"They took us by surprise. We're lucky they took us prisoner rather than finish us off." Erza said while remaining stoic.
"Man the second I get out of these chains, i'm going to go on a RAMPAGE!" She declared while trying to pull them apart.
"Just give it a rest Mira, save your strength for when we get an opportunity." Erza ordered.
"But-!"
"I know you're frustrated, but I don't think this is going to help if we struggle needlessly." Erza tried to reason.
"..Errrgh!" She kicked the wall.
"I don't recognize the soldiers. And they're much to sophisticated for some mere bandits."
"They're weaponry is of magical design. I've never seen an army outfitted like this." Kagura noted. "But where did they come from? It's as if they appeared out of thin air."
"..They seemed to be mainly operating around the mountain, so i'm guessing Mount Kaiyo is some sort of base of operations for them." Mira assumed while sitting down and crossing her arms over her chest.
"Perhaps they're like a hidden faction of Ishgar's populace." Erza wondered.
"You thinking a renegade military?"
"Well they certainty weren't happy to see us." Erza sarcastically said.
"But what doesn't make sense why you have an exact look-alike." Kagura mentioned.
"Just coincidence." Mira waved it off as nothing.
"No. Her build, voice, and hair are EXACTLY identical to Erza. Practically like a clone." Kagura narrowed her eyes.
"Something else is also strange." Erza interjected. "They seemed to be expecting us."
"You're saying they planned to capture us?" Mira asked confused.
"No, I mean they acted as if they were prepared to fight people like us. Wizards."
"Now that you mention it..." Mira recalled. Suddenly a door leading to them was opened with a click and a loud thud. In came Erza's look-alike.
"You, the one that looks like me. Get up." She ordered.
"..." Erza grunted in defeat and stood up. Her look-alike kept her spear at the ready.
"Don't try anything Earth-Land Wizard. If you so much as do something I don't like, i'll end you." She threatened.
"Big talk for someone who sucker punched us when we were fighting that colossal slag heap." Mira taunted.
"I see you're humor is still intact. Perhaps I didn't hit you hard enough." Erza's look alike seemed to be irritated while slamming the cell door shut.
"Move!" She nudged Erza away as she looked back at her two comrades. The door shut and was locked tight, leaving the two mermaids with only their sheet.
"What do they want with us?" Mira wondered.
"I don't know. But we have to get free soon. Because if we don't.." Kagura gripped her arm harder. "..We may not be alive much longer to find out."
Crocus, Royal Palace...
"...(Sigh)." Hisui sighed depressingly. She was standing on a balcony and leaning on a stone rail, gazing down at the city. Her mind was constantly wandering off, playing out many possible scenarios that would be the outcome of this unknown enemy.
"Your highness." A maid came and bowed.
"What is it?" She turned and asked.
"You have had someone demanding an audience with you since 3:30." She explained with a worried look.
"Tell them I am unavailable and to come back tomorrow. Now is not a good time for me." She ordered and went back to gazing down at her city.
"We tried, but they insisted."
"Have the guards drive them off then." She sighed in annoyance.
"HEY! WHAT ARE YOU-AGH!" A soldier suddenly shouted but dropped all of a sudden.
"What was that?!" Hisui quickly turned and was bewildered by the sudden cry.
"Stay here your highness! I will go che-"
"BWAGH!" A soldier suddenly was sent flying through a large door leading to the red carpeted throne room down stairs.
"What is the meaning of this!? Where are the guards?!" The maid asked the intruders.
"Dream Knock." A woman's voice said.
"What are you..?...Zzzz.." The maid was suddenly put to sleep. Hisui ran out and looked down from the viewing platform to see ten of her guards lying knocked out on the floor and their armor shredded.
"Who would do thi-Huh?!" She looked up and she saw a black haired woman wearing a blue kimono and a long hooded cloak with many orbs surrounding her, along with a silver haired woman in a blue, white winged dress, and another young woman with long pink hair and a loose kimono hiding a sword in her large sleeve.
"Hmm...oh? So this is where you were hiding." The black haired woman looked up and had an angered look.
"Who are you!? And what do you think you are doing?! Do you have any idea what your actions -!" Hisui began to protest.
"Oh I know little miss princess. I came here damn well knowing the ramifications of my actions."
"Then why..?!" Hisui asked.
"Ikaruga? Angel?" She turned to her bodyguards.
"Take your time master. You will not be disturbed." Angel smiled and turned to to watch the hallway.
"Our master requests an audience. An audience that will remain undisturbed." Ikaruga bowed.
"Thank you. I promise I won't take too long." Ultear thanked her. She then glared back up at the princess. "You have some explaining to do, Little Miss." She began walking up the stairs.
"Who are you?" Hisui asked while backing away from the threatening woman.
"I'm the master of the wizard guild Mermaid Heel, Ultear Milkovich. I came to have a 'polite' conversation with you, but your servants have kept turning me away for the past hour saying you were unavailable."
"N-now isn't really a good time for me." She backed herself into a corner and could not escape as Ultear came up the stairs and approached her with an ominous look.
"Well I suggest you MAKE time." She hissed while putting her arm on the wall behind Hisui and staring at her angrily, trapping her.
"W-wait! Did you say..Mermaid Heel?" She suddenly recognized the name.
"Yes. Now i'm only going to ask this once. Why were you withholding information on my wizards?" She asked coldly.
"That's what this is abou-?! Ack!" Ultear suddenly grabbed her collar and and pressed her against the wall.
"ANSWER. MY. QUESTION." She hissed coldly while staring her dead in the eyes.
"H-hold on! I understand! I'll explain to you the situation, just please..can we just sit down and talk?" She reasoned showing her a table and two chairs in the corner of the viewing platform. Ultear then released her and walked calmly over to one of the chairs. She sat down and crossed her legs.
"Now was that so difficult?" She said with a hint of sarcasm.
"I-(pant), apologize. I thought you were just another complaining merchant." She was recovering from the sudden attack while sitting down.
"THE PRINCESS IS IN DANGER!" A large group of guards suddenly came charging down the hall.
"Ara, how impatient." Ikaruga smiled and slightly pushed her sword out with her thumb.
"Can I call them off? It will be much more easier if we aren't fighting." Hisui reasoned.
"...Do it." Ultear flicked her hand at her and she got up and called down.
"This is a misunderstanding! Please, withdraw for now!"
"Eh?"
"Princess Fiore?!"
"Your Highness!?"
"It's alright, this is my fault. Please, just leave us for now!" She begged.
"...Erg! Pull back but watch her! She's stronger than she looks." A captain ordered while narrowing his eye at the smiling swordswoman.
"(Sigh), Good grief, it's never a dull moment here." Hisui sighed depressingly.
"Well? Out with it." Ultear demanded.
"Yes, yes of course." Hisui sat down again and faced the guild master.
"Where is the princess!? Let me through!" a short old man wearing black robes suddenly came through the guards. "What is this madness you fiends?!"
"Hold your tongue little man. Our master is conducting business at the moment." Ikaruga didn't like his tone.
"Who is that?" Ultear asked.
"That is Darton. He's the Minister of Defense here."
"Is he going to be a problem?" Ultear asked.
"No. He is just concerned about my security. If it is okay with you, can you please let him past?" She asked.
"..Let him through. Angel, come up here." She called down.
"Will you be alright?" Angel asked Ikaruga.
"Do not fret. I am not as frail a flower. Go to our master." Ikaruga assured her.
"Mm. Be careful." Angel let Darton through and followed him up the stairs.
"Are you alright your highness?" He asked with concern.
"Yes, this has just been a misunderstanding." She assured him.
"A misunderstanding!? They broke through the gate, and attacked the guards! This goes way beyond a simple-"
"Princess? Every moment that passes by, my guild mates are closer to losing their lives. So if you would be so kind.." Ultear was getting impatient.
"Right. Here's what I know so far." She began to explain. "A few weeks ago, we lost contact with our mining project out near Mount Kaiyo. We sent scouts to find out why, and they found these." She held her hand up, and a lacrima in the middle of the table shined and a holo-image appeared showing some of the same pictures that Natsu had shown her.
"An unknown army." Ultear noted.
"Hai. They just showed up out of nowhere a few weeks ago and have been growing in number around Mount Kaiyo. We have no idea where the troops are coming in from, but they have amassed an army around there after just a few days." She continued showing pictures until she came to the picture of why Ultear stormed the palace.
"That." She pointed. THAT is why i'm upset princess. Why was I not told?"
"We are not at liberty to be sharing information with mere guilds. Particularly with you of all people. It is not your business when a threat to the security of this kingdom-" Darton said.
"You made it my 'business' when my wizards and closest friends are involved." Ultear slowly glared at Darton.
"The situation is being handled Master Ultear." He assured.
"Yes, I know. Natsu is actually doing something about it instead of cowering behind the excuse of leaving Ishgar vulnerable to attack." She hissed.
"Wha-!? He told you?!" Darton couldn't believe it.
"Of course. He is after all a very close friend of Mermaid Heel, so it would make sense he would go after people he cared about, right?" She said which made Hisui sweat nervously.
"Master Ultear you have to understand, I didn't have any other way to deal with this. I cannot afford to send anymore of my soldiers into an unknown-"
"But Natsu is just expendable enough to send into something like that?" Angel crossed her arms.
"He went voluntarily." Darton assured them.
"Yeah, after realizing what was at stake!" Ultear slammed her fist on the table angrily. "He's just one man! No back up! Nothing to go on! What are you hoping to achieve sending him there!?"
"Well with any luck, he will deal a serious blow to the enemy enough for us to attack them while they are in a state of confusion. Plus we don't have to worry about losing any valuable asset to kingdom. He's hust a mage for hire, a thug. He's the most logical choice we have right now " Darton answered.
"A thug? Is that how you see him?" Angel didn't like the way he talked about Natsu. He was a lot of things to Mermaid Heel, but a thug wasn't one of them.
"Even if he's a mercenary, that doesn't make him fodder for whatever plan you people have for him." Ultear raised her hand to silence Angel.
"Natsu Dranigon was a Wizard Saint, and he is very experienced in this sort of area. If you you knew half the things he had been involved with, you would not be defending him."
"We know enough." Ultear said lowering her hand."And don't think I wouldn't know about the things the council put him through. They've done enough to him." She said in a firm tone.
"Have they? He's a loose cannon! He's interrupted multiple dealings we have with our clients, slowed us down considerably for various weapon projects, and taken out top wanted dark guilds that we have spent years trying to get information out of! Out of some notion of defending the unfortunate residence of small towns and villages! He's not some noble, good-hearted hero you are making him out to be! He is not but a menace, a murderer, and a threat to everything around him!I would highly doubt this world truly miss him if he were to just drop dea-MM?!" Darton was suddenly silenced by a long ice spike shooting out of the ground next to him. He looked back and Ultear was sporting a dark look and had an icy mist surrounding her.
"Don't even think about finishing that sentence, you shriveled bastard. That's my dear friend you're referring to." She said in a cold tone.
"Are you threatening me?!" Darton growled.
"Please Mister Darton." Hisui tried to settle them down. "Master Ultear, I apologize for not informing you about this, but I couldn't risk more lives being lost needlessly...I'm really sorry." She bowed her head.
"Hmph." Ultear scoffed and looked outside the view platform towards the city.
"..."
"..."
"..." The room was silent as the tension remained in the air.
"Master?" Angel asked her.
"...(SIGH) I suppose I can understand from your point of view from why you acted the way you did. In a way, yes, your hands are tied. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't know about the well being of my comrades." She leaned forward and furrowed her eyes at Hisui. "I hope I have made myself understood Princess."
"...You have." She matched Ultear's serious look and sat up straight.
"..That's all I wanted to say. We'll take our leave." Ultear stood up and began walking towards the stairs. "Lets go Sorano."
"Yes, master." She bowed and followed close behind.
"You think you can just up and leave after the damage you-?!" Darton began to protest and wanted have them put in chains after the incident.
"Damage?" Ultear stopped suddenly. "I did my best to not do ANYTHING while I was here. But if you would prefer, I could warp this castle so far ahead in time until its nothing but a mountain of dust." She turned back and smiled mischievously.
"What Did you say!?" Darton barked back.
"I'm only joking minister. Best wishes to you Princess Fiore. Thank you for your hospitality, we'll show ourselves out thank you very much." She said and began leaving.
"..." Hisui looked at the large pink ice spike shooting up from the stone floor. She saw her reflection in it and it suddenly cracked.
"You're not seriously going to let this incident slide are you?" Darton asked.
"Well to be fair, She was right. I clearly underestimated how much she cared for her comrades." She frowned. "..We have other pressing issues to attend too. This can wait." She re-focused. "Have we anymore updates on troop movement surrounding the mountain?" She asked.
"No. As far as we can tell, they're just consolidating around the mountain. They also seemed to have amassed quite a few more soldiers. And those machines? I received a report that two more had come through." He explained.
"..We're running out of time. They could be preparing to launch a full-scale attack on us when they are done. We must make preparations as well." She explained. "Contact the council. We are to begin preparation for an attack on Crocus or surrounding areas." She began walking down stairs.
"We should also have them send a few of their Saints here in case." He suggested.
"Do what you need to do Minister Darton, i'll leave this matter to you." She said and left leaving Darton alone in the room. He crossed his arms behind his back and looked out towards the city.
"How will this play out, your highness?"
Night Time...
Natsu was getting close to the mountain. He was sneaking through brush and had been following the trail of destruction back to the mountain base. He reached the edge of a rocky cliff that gave a full view of the base. It looked like it was under construction, there was beams of lights shooting up in the air, partially built metal walls along the perimeter. He also saw a large structure that looked like some type of massive makeshift warehouse. It had three slots as if they were housing something. There was various tents throughout the camp, but what caught his eye was a long row of round black, metal tanks filled with a bluish liquid, and inside one of them was someone he couldn't quite make out. He saw troops massing near a barracks. There must have been a hundred or two hundred from the sheer number.
"...I think this is going to be a little hard getting into the mountain. Shit, look at them all." He said to himself while shaking his head in disbelief. "This isn't just an army. It's an invasion force. Looks like they're prepping for one hell of a battle.." He noted while checking out the armaments. "I can't start attacking until I find out where they're keeping prisoners." He was not paying attention and ominous arms reached behind him and suddenly pulled him in through the brush. He struggled and was attempting to break free from who ever was holding him down.
"Shhhh.." A voice whispered. "Do not struggle my mate. It is only me." She assured him as his eye widened from recognition.
"Treya?..."
"Shh!" She said laying on top of him and remaining motionless. Suddenly they heard foot steps from humans that just walked past them.
"You find anything?"
"No."
"Keep a look out. The king is certain that regiment we took out will be missed by whoever sent it."
"Understood! Regroup with the rest at the portal and switch out."
"Roger that." The soldiers finished conversing and left.
"They're gone." Treya said slowly getting off him.
Natsu turned over and the moonlight shined on Treya's silhouette revealing her staring at Natsu dead in the eye.
"I am both pleased and relieved you are still among the living." She smiled warmly.
"I feel insulted that you of all people would be surprised. It's gonna take at least a dragon to snuff me out." He with an annoyed look.
"Well, regardless. It makes me filled with joyous feeling when I see you return." She said while still on top of him.
"...Well, if you're gonna be like that." He turned away and was a little pink. "But, beside that, what are you doing here?"
"I got hired to investigate some disappearances that have been happening around here. I'm assuming that whatever this military is, they have something to do with it." She looked towards the base in the distance. "I've been here for about a day observing. It is troubling somewhat that they arrive in great number every four hours. Though where they are coming from, I cannot say. I believe that they have some type of summoning ritual in there, or a some type of magic transport that connects to wherever these troops are coming from." She explained. "Why are you here my mate?" She looked back at him. "Wait, don't answer. First I must take advantage of this situation."
"What?!" Natsu asked. But he realized she was still pinning him to the ground. "...Oh don't you even think about it." Natsu narrowed his eye.
"It's your fault my mate. I am deprived of your scent for over a month. Such negligence on your part makes me want to jump you here and now." She said slowly moving her head towards his.
"RELEASE ME THIS INSTANT!" He used his hand hit her head but she caught it as steam sizzled out from her hand.
"Don't be difficult." She said and his face was getting hot all of a sudden. She slowly then kissed him while he struggled to get her off him. After about thirty seconds of Treya sticking her tongue in any place she could poke in his mouth, she eased off and was trying to catch her breath. Saliva dripped from her mouth as her blush covered her face. She then swallowed and wiped her mouth. "As always, your taste is the best." She smiled warmly.
"(PANT), Warn me...(pant)..if your going to do that!" Natsu was pink from embarrassment. Even after all his time knowing Treya, he was always caught off guard whenever she tried to kiss him.
"I'm sorry, were you not ready? Shall I do it again?" She asked about to have another serving of his saliva.
"There are lives that are at stake at this very moment Treya. I'm kind of on the clock here."
"Oh."
"Well as long as you understand." He sighed.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..." They just stared at each other.
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... ... . . . ... ...
. ... ... ... ... ...
"Please get off me."
"At once, my mate."
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