Chapter 50...
Another icy, cold morning at the foot of Goleer's mountain. And beginning their ascent up the mountain, were the lost dragon slayers. Consisting of Natsu, Treya, and Callan. The snow was already above their ankles, but it didn't slow these conditioned mages one bit. Callan was in the lead, sporting his usual outfit. A blue tank top, navy blue cargo shorts, black boots, and a brown utility belt. His spiked messy hair, ruffling in the wind. He narrowed his green eyes as they hiked to the top. Natsu was behind him, and Treya bringing up the rear.
"Keep your eyes open. These monkeys love to ambush from the snow." Callan forewarned as he kept an ever watchful gaze.
"They use the snow as cover?" Natsu raised his brow.
"Yeah. Watch the ground around us." Frostbite nodded while they traveled in single file.
"I didn't realize that mere vulcan's would result to ambush tactics. Normally they do not cooperate with each other. Has it been this way for a while?" Treya asked Callan curiously.
"Yeah. Those smug bastards seem to know where our villagers hunt." Callan replied. "I lost some decent folk out here, Dranigon. Hopefully we can put these fuckers on real ice, before they attack again." Callan sounded serious.
"...for sure. " Natsu placed his hand on his chin while admiring the view of the country below the mountain.
Later...
The climb up the mountain was a stretch and a half. The three had been hiking, climbing, and trudging their way through the snow with Callan leading the way. They stopped at a small cave that shielded them from the stinging white flakes that were blowing through the area. Natsu lit a fire that was all ready to go before they even got there. Evidence of the spot being used by others that came before them.
"I made lil' spots like this in case anyone ever made it this far up, or down. If the cold don't kill ya' the creatures hiding out here will." Callan explained as they sat on their respective rock chairs. Treya stuck close to the flames to warm her hands. Her face didn't show it, but she was a little cold. Natsu then gave her his jacket to wear so she could warm herself faster.
"Thank you." She gratefully accepted.
"If you're cold just say the word. I'll warm you up in a jiffy." Natsu smiled partially.
"Is that an invitation?"
"Concern for your well being, nothing more." Natsu sighed at her response.
"..." Treya stared, and then looked away from him.
"I get the mine and all, but really, what's the point of making a living out here?" Natsu asked Callan, shooting him a curious look.
"This place was where I met Gromell. And the last place where he disappeared." Callan sighed while tossing a pebble in the fire pit. "See, I met him when I was out with my pops. Scared the living daylights outta me the first time. I got lost up here when me and my dad were hunting. I fell off a wagon and rolled quite the distance down the mountain. Then when I came to, this big eye that was blue and lizard like, was watching me like a hawk. I was too afraid to move, but then I slowly realized this big motherfucking lizard was covering me to make sure I didn't freeze to death...teh, he saved my life that day. And ever since then, I'd been taking trips up the mountain to see him. He taught me a lot of things, some lost language, navigating, and magic. And kickin' ass." Callan flicked his finger forward, and a spike of ice fired from his finger tips, and lodged itself into the wall of the cave. "Then one day, me and pops had a fight, course it was over some dumb shit...pops didn't come home. So I went out to find him...and I found him, but...you ever seen a person die from freezing, Dranigon?" Callan blinked, and his eyes were halfway open.
"...no." Natsu could see where this was heading. He frowned at Callan's response. Treya's grey eyes just kept on the flame as Callan's tale unfolded.
"I can't help but wonder, what would have happened, if I just tried harder. Gromell taught me how to get through a blizzard. And I could have gotten to him faster, if I didn't spend so much time cursing his name, and blaming him for not being home enough to take care of ma'." Frostbite sighed once more, and brushed his navy blue hair back. "But, it is what it is I guess." He made sad smile.
"That's rough." Natsu sympathized.
"Well, it was years ago. No point in getting down now." He slapped the top of his knee and stood to stretch. "Hope you're ready." He said as he suddenly smirked and faced the entrance of the cave. He then suddenly whipped his hand forward, and a bright glowing chain fired from his hand, and out into the white of the blizzard. It then had tension, indicating it snagged something on the other end. He then jerked his hand back, and suddenly a silhouette, in the shape of a giant humanoid was seen flying towards them. Callan pumped his other fist back, and it suddenly became encased in ice. "Blizzard Dragon's Cold Pike!" The white figure revealed to be one of the Vulcans that seemed to be surprised that it was spotted so easily. Callan's ice encased fist with a spiked pole on it, punched toward the vulcan that was mere feet away from him, and a spear of solid ice impaled the vulcan, killing it instantly. Suddenly, the vulcan's eyes went hollow, and it's whole body became enveloped in ice, from the large icicle that was lodged in it's chest. Callan then ripped the chain out of it's body, and the whole vulcan shattered into into frozen, chunks, and pieces. "That's one." He uttered.
"Interesting combination." Treya stood up along with Natsu, casually standing next to him.
"Heh, I can take out anything on this mountain!" Callan smirked.
"As expected of an Ice Dragon Slayer. I don't know how you were able to see through that..." Treya then suddenly motioned her hands in a spiral, and wall of solid blue crystal formed in front of them, blocking a giant chunk of frozen earth that was thrown at them. She then snapped her fingers to her sides, shattering the crystal. Two more large vulcans were running towards their cave. Treya dashed forth and spun her body around, and a circular saw blade of crystal formed and she zipped past them , shredding the vulcans into pieces. "Crystal Dragon's Spinning Edge." She chanted while reducing the giant apes to bloody pieces. "But make sure to get them all." Treya casually stood up in the reddened snow around her.
"I-! I was gonna! I was just waitin' till the other two showed themselves!" Frostbite said in annoyance at her remark.
"Focus up, we got two more comin'." Natsu pointed past them. And sure enough, two more vulcans were stomping towards the three. "Guess it's my turn." Natsu said as he summoned his sword. He then drew it, then a ring of azure flames sprouted around him. He then spun his sword above his head to collect the flames into his sword. He stopped after his sword was a solid, white, hot color. The vulcan's froze in their tracks at the sudden sight of flames. He then slashed at a horizontal angle, took another step forward, then turned around and then slashed vertically at the second vulcan's direction. Two flaming blades of energy were jetting at vulcan's so fast, they couldn't react. The moment it made contact with their large bodies, the were completely sliced in half, and suddenly they burst into blue flames that engulfed them in an instant.
"MMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAA-!" The large apes bellowed in a short lived agony as they were reduced to ash. Natsu exhaled and sheathed his sword in a calm fashion.
"You gotta sword, Dranigon?" Callan was surprised that he wielded one.
"This baby is Dorruga. It's a Dragon Arms." Natsu explained briefly.
"Dragon Sword? Yeah, I know about those things, but I never actually seen one in person." Frostbite came over to look. Behind him was another vulcan that erupted from the snow to grab him from behind. As Callan's foot hit the ground in a casual manner, a large pillar came out of the ground below the vulcan, and smashed it into the ceiling of the cave. Callan flicked his fingers, and the ice pillar shattered, and the vulcan hit the ground.
"...that was almost instantaneous. Is creating ice easier since it's cold up here..? No, he is a lost dragon slayer. A ice dragon could form ice with no effort. It wouldn't be strange to see a slayer of it's element to not be able to do the same." Treya analyzed the attack Frostbite used.
"Wait, you-?" Natsu was surprised he got the language right. But then he remembered something else. "You were taught Gavil?" He made sure as Callan approached him.
"Is that what it was? Yeah, now that I think about it, Gromell called it that." He nodded after crossing his arms.
"..." Natsu placed a hand on his chin. "So if I know it, you know it, and Treya knows it...that can't be a coincidence." Natsu began to realize that maybe their upbringing as Lost Dragon Slayers was more part of a much grander design. "If we find Ang, or whatever his name is, and Mero Serene, and they speak the same language-"
"The fact the three of us speak the tongue of the dragon worshiping race, would imply that our understanding of their speech is required for something." Treya pointed out as she reentered the cave.
"Now this is starting to get interesting. Finally, something other than our names that brought us together." Frostbite smirked a toothy grin of glee. "Lets finish off these apes and find Mero Serene!" Callan declared.
"Right, how many was that?" Natsu asked curiously.
"Five." Treya deadpanned.
"Huh? Don't you mean six? I crushed that furry shit hea-?" Frostbite knew for a fact that they each killed two of the vulcans.
"The other one scurried off." Treya pointed out of the cave to the massive foot prints that were trailing away from their location.
"Oh, fuck me." Callan scowled. "Well, even if he escaped, it's injured. Can't have gotten far." Callan began to go finish what he started.
"Maybe this works in our favor." Natsu said to him.
"You think it will lead us to the rest?" Treya could more or less guess what Natsu was thinking.
"Worth a shot. They aren't geniuses, but even a wounded animal will retreat back to wherever it feels safest." Natsu shrugged.
"Let's go then. Blizzard's gonna mask it's tracks." Callan nodded and they hurriedly went out of the cave.
Alakitasia, Alvarez Empire...
A great distance from Goleer's icy slopes, particularly in the western part of Earth Land, thrived another country. This land was neighbored to Ishgar, separated only by a massive ocean. The trip to this land would take a little under a couple weeks by ship, granted no complications arose. This part of the world was thriving, but had little to no contact with it's neighboring country Ishgar, due to uneasiness between the two's relation. Mostly a militaristic country, the citizens still yet loved their ruler, due to the fact he single handedly built the country from the ground up, even going so far as to bring every guild under his control. All united under one banner, the people became one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful country on Earth-Land.
It was known as the Alvarez Empire.
It was midday here, and it was like any other day for the country. Except the fact that the king himself, was making his way through the forest to meet someone. The king had not been present on his throne for quite sometime, but the country functioned well even in his absence. The king was none other than the master of the Dark Arts himself.
Zeref Dragneel.
The most evil wizard to ever walk the earth was there in a magic manifestation of his self. Even as a mere thought projection, it was like the real deal was there. After a few moments he arrived at a wide open area. The entire area was about the size of a of a five acre field, but it was charred black from something that seemed to have repeatedly been striking around it.
Zeref looked around as if expecting to see someone there. His eyes then fell upon an unknown individual that he recognized. This young man had his back to him, and had spiky black hair, wearing grey cargo pants, with a brown belt hanging off to his side. A olive green shirt, and a dark yellow vest with a black jagged pattern he wore over it. He also wore black sandals. He was muscular and had a few scars on his fore arms from previous untold battles. Zeref smiled and proceeded over to them.
"I had a feeling you'd be out here." Zeref greeted.
"..." The person remained silent.
"Hard to believe the battle that took place here would go untold. Given the magnitude of the magical power that was emitted back then." Zeref was now a mere ten paces from the young man. He seemed to be describing the burned location before them. It looked like the entire area was was hit with a massive blast of fire.
"..."
"It's about Natsu."
"...?" This seemed to make the stranger turn his head slightly.
"He's still alive. Turns out the storm dragon didn't kill him."
"...I know. I can feel it." The young man replied.
"You can sense him even from here?" Zeref had to admit he was impressed.
"I always knew he was there." He turned back to facing the ground. "Vallith wasn't heartless. True, letting loose ends go untouched was not his style, but he owed Venigon that much." He replied with a sigh.
"How does that make you feel?"
"...he did what had to be done, I'm over it." He scratched his raven hair and swiftly answered.
"Yet you sit here now. Stewing in guilt-"
"I am not stewing, I was enjoying the peace and quite till you showed up." He groaned in annoyance at Zeref. "What the hell is Natsu doing now?"
"Interesting enough, he joined Fairy Tail."
"Well that's a hell of a coincidence. You didn't have anything to-?"
"I had nothing to do with it. He found them on his own."
"Uh huh. Well, good for him." The stranger leaned back.
"He's already proved his power to be at least on the same level as Makarov."
"I thought you said that old fart was a measly wizard saint?" The young man turned to Zeref with a strange look.
"He didn't use full power. In fact, he holds back quite a bit."
"Heh, that's because he's saving it for a dragon." He chuckled and scoffed in amusement. "You honestly think he'd go all out on a mere human? That would be an insult to the dragon he was trained by. He'd only let loose on Vallith."
"He'll never find him though." Zeref spoke.
"Well, doesn't matter. Maybe he'll get bored, find a mate or two, and just kick back and watch the world burn." The individual stood up and stretched. "That's what I'd do anyway, but I get the feeling he's not gonna stop looking for Vallith."
"You talk as if you understand him."
"I told you...I can feel it." He clenched his hand. "He's angry...very fucking angry...and sad. But I don't know if it's at Vallith,or.."
"..."
"Himself." He finished saying.
"There's more. I guess Venigon gave him the Forbidden Dragon Spell."
"..!?" The black haired person whipped his head at Zeref. "What..?!"
"Mm. Turns out he is going to become an Archon." Zeref uttered as the wind picked up.
"Huh!? I thought Venigon died before he could become an Archon?"
"I assumed Venigon put the knowledge in his head before he died. His reaction proved it when I showed myself."
"You're telling me this know, four years later!? But why would-?!" The black haired male was confused greatly.
"It's anyone's guess. But even Venigon wouldn't have given him the knowledge unless he left some form of instruction to complete his training. But I have not noticed any such individual that knew Venigon, let alone a dragon slayer that could know about the Dragon Archon approach him."
"...hmmm." The person was trying to think on it. "Well...it doesn't matter."
"You're not going to him?" Zeref folded his arms.
"Don't have to. He's not gonna bump into us anytime soon. And if he does, well, I'll tell him what happened." He shrugged.
"What if he isn't so understanding, and turns on you? Will you fight him?" Zeref shifted his eyes to him.
"I welcome anyone's hatred." He turned and he had crimson eyes, and a face that was identical to Natsu. "It reveals the person's true nature." He smirked and chuckled.
"I guess we'll see what fate presents for both us then, E.N.D." Zeref smiled.
"Only one fate, Zeref." E.N.D then pointed his finger at Zeref. "And that's where I kill you." E.N.D turned away and put his hands in his pockets. "I'm heading back to the cube. Later, Zeref." He waved.
"...is this really how it's going to be?" Zeref asked once more.
"I don't need him. He's a hair too soft. I can kill you. It's what you made me for...isn't it?" E.N.D suddenly snapped his fingers.
"It's what I made you 'both' for." Zeref said as a streak of lighting struck the ground, and E.N.D vanished. Zeref then looked out to the horizon as a storm was approaching.
"Will just one of you be enough though?"
Goleer Mountain...
We return to our dragon slayer trio in the midst of a storm. Natsu decided he had enough of trudging through the snow, and began emitting a heat wave with his magic. He held a flame in front of them that melted everything in it's path. The earth even became scorched from the intensity of the blue flame in his hand.
"That is stupidly convenient." Frostbite shook his head.
"I think of it as taking the path of least resistance." Natsu answered back, while focusing on walking in a straight line.
"I'm all for it. The snow was getting about three feet high." Treya was with Natsu on this one.
"Yeah, holy cow, it's getting worse. At least we'll be able to backtrack." Natsu responded as he furrowed his eye to get a better look at where they were going. "Where are we going again?" Natsu shouted back to Frostbite.
"The top! There's a summit where the blizzard doesn't hit as hard!" Callan responded and held his forearm up to keep the blizzard out of his face. "That's the only place these vulcan's could have made a nest!"
"With any luck, that's where they are. Fuck, I can't even see beyond us!" Natsu said as they continued walking. The blizzard was indeed getting worse. Natsu's flame melted away the snow on the ground, but it was a total white out. No one could see.
"What the hell!? The it's like trying to steer us away!" Callan noted the intensity of the wind. "Hold up guys, let me take the lead!" Callan said as Natsu let him in front. Callan then suddenly began inhaling the snow around them. "Blizzard Dragons..." He arched back and then shouted. "ROOOOOOAR!" His voice echoed, and the winds that were knocking them back were forcefully blown back by the power of the roar. In fact, the winds started dying down, after the tornado of ice he emitted, fought back the force of the wind. He exhaled and frost left his mouth. It suddenly calmed down almost to the point they could see again.
"Did you just...settle the storm?" Natsu asked curiously.
"Uh...I guess so. Normally my roar can dissipate winds like that in a flash, but not this much." Callan felt a drop of sweat roll down his cheek. He to was surprised of what he did.
"Look, there's a trail leading to the top." Treya pointed to a path that revealed itself. "Is that the summit?"
"I think so. C'mon, lets get up there before it gets nuts again!" Callan urged. They sprinted towards the top that as in sight.
"Whoo, that was a doozy!" Natsu bent over and caught his breath. He wasn't quite used to running uphill a whole lot, but they didn't want to spend a second longer in that snow storm.
"This is it." Callan said and the three stepped foot on the flat, dirt ground. They were wide eyed. The entire area was a field of earth with patches of grass, and some weeds that were poking out of the ground. But that was nothing compared to the view that they saw. The could see everything from up there. Natsu walked close to the ledge and peered out toward what looked like Magnolia in the distance.
"...incredible." Was all Treya could say as she stood beside him.
"I haven't seen a view like this since Venigon let me ride him this high in the sky." He shook his head in awe.
"Hey guys?" Callan suddenly called out to them."What is that?" The two slayers turned, and what they saw next truly puzzled them. It was a massive white tree that was devoid of leaves. It was encased in frost. It towered over them at a whopping twenty stories. It was planted in front of them in front of a stone wall that was carved around it.
"A frozen tree." Treya spoke first.
"That is probably the most unnatural thing I have ever seen." Natsu said with a confused expression.
"This is weird. There was a place like this on the mountain?" Frostbite smiled slightly. "I wonder why nobody noticed this?" Callan shook his head.
"Probably the same reason that we were held back." Treya voiced. Callan turned to her for an answer. "The storm." She concluded.
"...hm." Callan turned back to the tree. "Well, lets take a closer look." He figured standing around wouldn't get them anywhere.
"Wait." Treya suddenly said. "I'm sensing a magic build up over there." Treya suddenly entered a state of focus. Natsu narrowed his eye. He saw five white magic circles appear suddenly at the same time in front of the tree.
"Humans. Please do not proceed. Only death awaits you, should you venture further."
"A woman?" Treya recognized the sound.
"Sorry girly, but I don't respond well to threats. You wanna tell us why this tree is up here?" Callan didn't back down and answered back.
"Oh boy, this can't be good." Natsu sighed, sensing a fight coming.
"You have trespassed on sacred ground. I cannot allow you to disrupt the cold of my peak."
"What?" Callan made confused expression. "The hell you talking about lady!? Show yourself!" He barked.
"Who are you?" Natsu called out. "We didn't come here to pick a fight, we're exterminating monsters known as vulcans. They've been attacking the villagers down the mountain." Natsu tried to explain.
"Those creatures were what were keeping them away from my tree. No one should be even able to get past the barrier I had set in the storm."She responded in disappointment.
"I knew that storm felt like it was getting worse." Natsu suddenly realized. "Every time someone makes it as far as we did, that storm focuses on the target. But when Callan hit it with his roar, it canceled out the effect." He deduced.
"Reveal yourself, woman. Or your tree is going to be the next thing I chuck in my fire place tonight!" Frostbite yelled out.
"Oh my go-would you shut up?! We have no idea what we're dealing with here!" Natsu angrily told Callan.
"This is my territory! If that woman has something to do with the villagers gettin' killed, we're gonna stop her!" Callan responded.
"I agree." Treya responded in monotone as Natsu turned to her in surprise. "This woman is probably the one controlling the vulcans. That would explain their behavior and numbers. If we just leave this as is, more people will become victim to her. We kill the source, no more attacks on the villagers." Treya explained.
"Every thing always has to end with killing someone with you, doesn't it?" Natsu deadpanned.
"I'm very good at it." Treya gave a thumbs up with a twinkle.
"Well so am I, but I'd rather not waste time figh-"
"I'm gonna knock that infernal tree over, if you don't come out in the next five seconds!" Callan warned.
"Errrrgh." Natsu facepalmed.
"You leave me no choice then."
Suddenly the white magic circles began dispensing frost in the air, and it swirled around the ground in a isolated fashion. As the wind whipped around, it slowly revealed from the bottom up. First it was bare feet, then it was a leg, then a pure white dress that had a slit up to her hip, the top of her chest with loose sleeves going out to her wrists, then a beautiful, mature face that had yellow eyes. The top of her dress barely covered her large bust, and she had a red beaded bracelet. Her hair was down to her hips, which had a black ribbon on the bottom. The pure white, woman suddenly held her hand out, and a double bladed staff of ice formed. She twirled it with elegant skill and assumed a fighting stance. "I am an ice woman, and the master of this peak, Winter. It will be the last name you'll remember, when I freeze you into slabs."
"An ice woman? Is she the same kind of mage as Juvia, except ice?" Natsu got the same feeling when he compared her. "Guys, I think she's a mage." Natsu informed them. However the two fellow slayers we're preoccupied by Winter's physical appearence.
"(Whistles), her cans are bigger than yours, Treya." Frostbite chuckled at the size of the snow woman's breast size.
"They are adequate. Mine are perfect sized." Treya responded in her usual emotionless tone.
"She's hot too. Maybe more than you. Just look at her curves." Callan nodded in approval.
"I see hundreds of figures like that. Her hips are too big, they're like the snout end of a hippo." Treya talked back as her and Callan exchanged.
"The skin seems smooth."
"Mine is much more brighter."
"She's got white hair."
"Green hair is more rare."
"Excuse... me..?" Suddenly the bellowing voice Winter was emitting, began to turn back to normal.
"Her legs don't even look plump. I bet she works out."
"Muscle is little good in charm, flexibility is more erotic."
"She got yellow eyes, that's kinda creepy though."
"Pink is feminine."
"Those tits though..."
"They'll sag without proper support. Mine will retain shape while they grow."
"Even if they're bigger?"
"Indeed."
"What...?" Suddenly a giant ellipses appeared above winter.
"My money is on twenty-no, thirty, maybe? She looks old enough to be my mother."
"Late 40's for sure. Her taste in single colors is showing. "
"But the dress does work on 'er."
"It's not about how much skin she shows, it's the amount of layers she has. If I had to guess, she looks like she had it designed that way for ease of arm movement."
"How is having your boobs sag out, make for ease of movement?"
"It's a female thing. Imagine having a backpack strapped to your chest."
"Yeah, I guess you gotta point there."
"Ho-how rude! How VULGAR! You mere trash dare to judge my physique~! And I still am in my prime you insensitive brute!" Winter stamped the ground with a red tick mark, upset at their rude remarks.
"I ain't trashing you're bod'. My friend here just thinks you're a hag." Callan pointed to Treya.
"I didn't say that, I just said my figure was better than her older one." Treya shrugged.
"HOW IS THAT ANY LESS INSULTING?!" Winter's teeth were spiked as she yelled at them in annoyance.
Natsu was just innocently by standing, watching the strange debate take place. Callan and Treya oddly enough seemed right in synch with each other's thinking on the subject. He wasn't sure if there was going to be danger, or just a rant-off.
"...(sigh)...never a dull moment." Natsu had a bead of sweat slide down his head while scratching it.
I must say, I am quite satisfied with how far I've come in this story. We at the half point here. Or, close to the, "E.N.D"!...
...too soon?
I don't know, lol! BUT, I will be able to start tying up the story I had for this together, the Lost Dragon Slayers, the origins of Natsu, and the endgame for this story. I tried stretching it out for the purpose of a build up to a reveal. But you all are pretty smart and have theories of how this could end. But 50 chapters, HOLY COW. Keep reviewing, and throw out those opinions! People critique a story because they like a story, and want it to be better! Positives reveals strengths, and negatives show weakness in the overall story. It tells me if I'm going in the right direction.
OH yeah, for the fifth thousandth time, TREYA IS AN OC, NOT A ANIME/MANGA CHARACTER!
Sorry, I've been bombarded with PM's asking what series is she from. I am happy you like her though!
Read/Review/Rate!
Laters!
