A/N: HI READER
It's time for numero dos of Chalice. A lot of people really seemed to enjoy the first chap so why not make a second one, it's been a month so I might as well.
But anyway let's just get into it.
CHANGE!
Turn 2: Below Cold
The magic council, Era, the ones in charge of all Guilds had met up to discuss recent….incidents involving a certain trouble maker Guild.
"This time those Fairy-Tail idiots have gone and done it again!" An angry voice boomed and echoed through the Supreme Court of the Magical Council. "This time they destroyed a whole port!"
"What's the matter with them?!" Another Councilman facepalmed.
"I'm actually quite fond of those dimwits and their carefree attitude." A member said with azure coloured hair smirked.
"Hmm, they may behave like fools but we mustn't forget that they are very capable." A shorter member said.
"Yes they present quite the quandary." Another member piped up.
"I think we should let them be." The azure haired one said. "After all, if it wasn't for them imagine how dull this world would be." Even though the other Councilmen were still annoyed at this, but it seemed to cease the discussion. "If anything else, this black armoured figure is what intrigues me."
"His description matches that of the legend from years ago does it not?" A Councilwoman with long purple hair asked.
"It does," The azure haired one crossed his arms. "Something about a…Battle Royal was it?"
"Welcome to Fairy-Tail!" Happy announced as the four of them stood outside a large building with the Fairy-Tail logo on it. Natsu walked up to the door and threw them open.
"WE'RE HOME!" He yelled and was greeted joyfully by everyone inside.
"Heard you went and destroyed most of Hargeon!" A mage with buckteeth laughed. "Just had to go starting trou-!"
The mage was interrupted as Natsu jumped over and kicked him right in the jaw, leaving Shingo and Lucy surprised.
"Why did you do that?!" The two shrieked.
"That information about a Salamander was a lie, wasn't it Krov?!"
"How was I supposed to know?! It was just a rumour I heard!" Krov responded.
"What did you say?!"
"You wanna go?!"
Before Shingo or Lucy knew it, Natsu and Krov started to brawl in the middle of the Guild room.
"Are we sure we joined the right Guild?" Shingo asked as the chaos erupted around him.
"Wow, we're actually in the halls of Fairy-Tail!" Lucy smiled, seeming a bit oblivious to the ensuring battle. Shingo only rubbed his head confused.
"I wouldn't mind getting in on this action."
"Oh hush you barbarian."
"So Natsu's back huh?" A young man with black hair said. Funny thing about him, he was entirely naked except for a pair of boxers and a necklace. "It's time we finish this once and for all Natsu!"
"Gray your clothes!" A woman from the bar shouted. On one stool was a slightly tanned woman with brown hair. She wore a pair of capri pants and high heeled sandals as well as a blue bikini looking top.
"I don't have time for that!" Gray shouted as he joined in on the brawl. The woman sighed and looked at the two newcomers.
"Hmm, who are you two? Did Natsu drag in a pair of strangers again?" She asked and pulled out a huge keg full of wine before she started to drink it.
"It's not even noon and you boys are already at it like spoiled babies." A manly voice said. This one belonged to a large muscular man wearing something similar to a school uniform and a pair of wooden sandals. "I'm a real man and I'll show ya how to brawl!"
"Is he really encouraging them?!" Lucy gasped.
"Guy's a muscle brain…" Shingo commented.
"But out Elfman!" Natsu and Gray turned and punched Elfman right in the face, knocking him away.
"They knocked him out that easily?!" Lucy exclaimed as Shingo was just jaw dropped.
"Jeez it's noisy in here." A suave voice said. This voice came from a man with light brown hair and blue tinted sunglasses. He had a green jacket with a white fur collar over an orange shirt. Both his arms were around girls who seemed love struck by him. A glass mug suddenly fell from the sky and hit him on the head.
"Are you alright Loke?" One of the girls asked as Loke sprung back up, acting all cool.
"Fear not, now I must fight to protect you. Wish me luck ladies." He said and the two girls squealed.
"Good luck Loke!"
"Well he's definitely off the list." Lucy said as she crossed off a picture of Loke in a book she had. "Is there not a single serious mage here?"
"You're the one who wanted to join this place, you should've expected it to be weird." Shingo blatantly said as he looked at the brawl.
"Hello, are you two new here?" A new friendly voice said. The voice behind them belonged to a young beautiful woman with long white hair. She wore a red sleeveless dress as well as a necklace and bracelet. In her hands were a tray of drinks.
"It's Mirajane!" Lucy squealed. "In the flesh!" She regained her composure and pointed at all the chaos. "Um, don't you think we should stop this?"
"This is really the norm here, I just leave them alone." Mirajane said as she looked at the fight and then back at the two. "Besides…" She didn't finish as something slammed into the back if her head, the object thrown being none other than Elfman.
"It's kinda fun don't you think?" She weakly said before fainting.
"AH! Don't die Mirajane!" Lucy shouted as she shook the other girl to try wake her up. Deciding that this was enough, Shingo trenched his way through the battle and walked out the doors, shutting them behind him the process.
"Well…that was eventful." Shingo sighed. He suddenly heard a trotting noise and saw a brilliant black horse with red eyes walk from behind a wall. The horse seemed to look at Shingo interested as it walked up to him, it was then the teen noticed the red and gold armour and saddle on it.
"Wow….." Shingo reached out a hand to pet the horse, but as he did the horse reared back and neighed making him fall to his back as the horse set back down and growled. "I….I'm sorry!"
"Well, that's Shadow Chaser for you," A elderly voice said. Walking up to Shingo was a short old man with a white moustache, he wore an orange and blue jester hand and jacket with a white shirt underneath as well as brown shoes. "Calm down girl, he doesn't seem like a threat."
Shadow Chaser calmed down and walked away, casting another look at Shingo.
"Don't worry about her, she's an angry one." The old man said as he walked up to Shingo. "She's not very fond of people after her last master was killed."
"Oh…" Shingo watched the horse walk away behind the building.
"So I take it you're new here? Well welcome to Fairy-Tail." The old man greeted as he went to the door and heard the combat inside. "What is going on in there?"
"Um, well…..everyone's in the middle of a massive fight." Shingo answered and that seemed to make the old man growl.
"God dammit!" The old man suddenly grew into a giant black giant and kicked the door open. "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
The roar caused all Guild members stopped fighting, besides Natsu who seemed oblivious to the newcomer.
"What, you lot scared to fight me?" He laughed until the giant stomped on him, this cause Lucy and Shingo and squeak.
"Oh, you're back already Master?" Mirajane asked as she seemed to be barley damaged.
"Wait, Master?" Lucy gasped. The giant started to pour steam out of his nose before he turned back into the small elderly man.
"Ah, two new members, splendid." The old man said as Shingo stepped over the unconscious members. "My name is Mater Makarov."
"You're the Guild Master of Fairy-Tail?" Lucy asked.
"That is correct. I apologise for this children of mine, they can be a real handful sometimes." Makarov sighed as he jumped onto the bar. "You've gone and done it again! Look at this paperwork the Council just gave me!" Makarov pulled out a huge stack of papers. "All you fools do is make the Council angry at me!" He looked like he was gonna blow his top, and made the Guild members gain saddened expressions.
"However…" The papers soon caught on fire and he threw them into the air. "Screw the Council!" Everyone cheered. "Listen up! Magic is an unreasonable power but is born from reason! It is not some miraculous ability, it is the combination of the spirit that flows through us with the spirit that flows through nature itself, incarnated into a physical form!" He stated.
'Could that be what these cards are then?' Shingo wondered as he took the deck box out of his pocket. He took out the Change Mantis card and looked at it.
"It takes a strong mind and stronger focus!" Makarov continued. "In fact, magic is pouring out of one's entire soul! One cannot progress in the way of magic by being mindful of the watchful eye from above. Be not afraid of those fools on the Council and follow the path you believe in, that's what it means to be a Fairy-Tail Wizard!"
The Guild members cheered as Makarov jumped down and greeted the two newcomers.
"Sorry you had to hear all that, had to get through their thick skulls somehow." Makarov said. "Anyway what brings you two youngsters here?"
"I would like to join Fairy-Tail! It's been a dream of mine for so long!" Lucy beamed.
"Hmm I see. And what about you young man?" Makarov asked the auburn haired teen.
"Huh, oh well…" Shingo rubbed his neck. 'Honestly this Guild seems to be filled with a bunch of weirdos, but they seem to be like a real family. Okay, here goes.' He took a breath and said. "I would like to join as well, not like I could leave my friend with these wack jobs by herself. So count me in."
Makarov nodded. "Very well, Mirajane will help you with the rest." He was about to leave when he then noticed the card Shingo still had in his hand, making his eyes slightly widen before regaining composure.
"Are you okay Master Makarov?" Mirajane asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I'm fine Mirajane." Makarov reassured. "Just help them with the initiation." Mirajane nodded and led the two away. 'To think, those cards have returned. That must mean those monsters have returned, dark days are coming.'
Meanwhile with the three, Mirajane had just stamped the Fairy-Tail symbol in pink on her right hand.
"With this you're officially a member pf Fairy-Tail." Mirajane smiled.
"This is so cool, I'm finally a member of Fairy-Tail!" Lucy beamed.
"And where would you like yours, also what colour?" Mirajane asked as she turned to Shingo.
"Um, could I get like a dark gold on my right hand please." Mirajane smiled and stamped the symbol on his hand.
"Welcome to Fairy-Tail." Mirajane smiled.
"Thanks." Shingo looked at the symbol.
"You're welcome. Although, you are going to have to find your own place to stay. We don't have any available rooms, sorry." Mirajane informed.
"Hmm, kinda forgot about that." Shingo rubbed his neck.
"Hey Shingo, if you want you could stay in a place with me." Lucy offered. "I got some spare jewels and if we do some Guild Jobs we could share rent."
"Really? You'd wanna room with me, why?" He asked.
"Think of it as a way to say thanks for saving me from that Bora guy." Lucy smiled.
'Well this is a surprise.' He thought to himself, it'd be rude to decline he nodded and said. "That would be great, thanks Lucy."
After a few hours of searching, the duo finally came across a quaint little house with two rooms and not that far from the Guild itself.
"It's better than nothing, kinda cheap too." Shingo shrugged as Lucy went to open the door. They looked around and decided that this was the place to be.
"This place is amazing!" She said happily.
"You're right about that." Shingo hanged up his coat and plopped down on the sofa. "I need a good sleep, what about you?"
"I'm gonna go out and explore the town more, maybe see what kind of magic shops are here." She said as she left the building. Shingo snuggled up on the sofa and shut his eyes…only to snap them back open as he felt like he wasn't lying on the sofa anymore and instead a cold stone floor.
"What in the…" Shingo looked around and saw he was in what looked like a dungeon hallway. "Where am I?"
The teen stood up and started to walk through the hallway, many of the cells seemed empty. He looked inside each cell and noticed how they all had symbols with then all that looked like playing card symbols.
"This place is a prison of some sort?" Shingo questioned as he came upon a cell and heard growling coming from it. He walked close to it and suddenly a reptilian hand sprang out and grabbed his arm, pulling him closer to the bars. It was then he saw that inside the cell was the Lizard Undead, roaring at the teen.
"Lizard?!" Shingo tried to pull his arm from the Undead's grasp but to no avail. The Lizard Undead reared the arm with the big blade on it and was about to stab at Shingo, if not for a sudden blast of magic to knock the monster away back into the darkness of its cell.
Shingo stepped back from the cage and fell on his back, he then looked to where the blast came from. Standing in the hallway was a man in his late twenties with brown hair and beard wearing a white leather jacket over a red shirt and grey trousers, his hands had fingerless gloves and he wore black shoes. He also had a belt similar to the Lizard Undead.
"Damn Lizard, doesn't know when to stop." The man said as he walked over to Shingo and offered him a hand. "Hello there."
"Um, hi…" Shingo cautiously took the man's hand and stood up. "Quick question; who are you where am I what is going on and are you able to explain any of this?" The man only chuckled and turned around.
"Follow me." He said as the two began to walk through the dungeon together. "Where you are is simple, you're in your mind palace, a safe haven where you can come and relax with yourself."
"Mind palace? Okay."
"As for who I am, my name is Cain. Think of my as the nice voice in your head."
"Nice voice, what?"
"Finally, for what's going on, I think it'd be best if we both explain it you." He finished as they reached a door with a button on the side. He pushed the button and stood there waiting.
"Aren't you gonna open the door?" Shingo asked.
"It's an elevator. Wow you really remember nothing don't you?" The guy said which confused the auburn teen at first but then shocked him.
"Hold on, do you know who I am?" The elevator dinged and the two walked in and pushed one of the buttons. "Please, if you know can you tell me?"
The elevator dinged again and the two stepped out into what looked like a dining hall with a long table in the middle. At the very end of the table sat a figure who was eating a large chicken leg, at closer inspection Shingo realised that the figure in fact looked like his Chalice armour but without the belt, instead he had the same belt as the others.
"Sup." The thing said as the mouth plate on the helmet opened up and he ripped off some of the food. "So you managed to make it to the Mind Palace huh?"
"He did, but somehow managed to wake up in the dungeon and was nearly killed by Lizard." The guy said as he sat at the table. Saying that made the other one laugh and nearly choke on his food.
"You woke up in the dungeon?! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
"Okay, time out!" Shingo shouted. "Can one of you explain what the flying fuck is going on here?! Who are you two?"
The two looked at each other before the guy stood up and looked at Shingo.
"We're Undead, Creatures that've lived for millions of years. We can't be killed, we're basically immortal. I myself am the Human Undead, but others just call me as Cain." Cain introduced.
"And I'm the Mantis Undead, the strongest Undead by the way!" Mantis flexed his arm.
"That's what he tells himself. And he's still annoyed that I'm the one who beat him." Cain smirked.
"You got lucky!" Mantis snarled. "As for where you are right now, you're in your Mind Palace. A safe place within your mind where you can come communicate with us."
"Now for the one I bet you really wanna know, who you are." Cain sat back down and motioned Shingo to sit with him. "You're name's Shingo Yaiba you know that, but your past is something we cannot tell you yet. But you still have a big part to play, you're tasked with sealing away the remaining Undead that have been released into this world."
"I have to seal all of them? How many are there?" Shingo asked.
"Oh about fifty two, minus Lizard who you just caught as well as us two. So forty nine."
"There's forty nine of those things still out there?!" Shingo yelled.
"And some are more powerful than the others. That's why we need to properly train you while you sleep."
"Wait train? Why do I need to train, I handled Lizard pretty easily with the way I fought." Shingo said.
"Heh, if you can even call that fighting. You literally just swung the Chalice Arrow around like it was a baseball bat." Mantis huffed. "As much I don't want to, I agreed to teach you how to actually use my weapon."
"He lost an arm wrestling bet against me." Cain whispered.
"So why do I have to do this?" Shingo asked the two. "I just want to know who I am, I don't wanna fight these things."
"There's not really much of a choice, cause if any of the others win the Battle Royal than the world is screwed. See if any of the others beside Cain here wins then all the human species, and human related species, would cease to exist and the species of the winner would take over the world."
"That's a lighter way of putting it," Cain mumbled. "Shingo I know it's a lot to take upon your shoulders, but you need to do this in order for humans to continue living."
"They'd all cease to exist?" Shingo looked down at his hands and clenched them. "Alright, I'll do it."
Cain smiled and Mantis clapped with laughter.
"Splendid! We begin tomorrow!"
"Why not today?" Shingo questioned.
"Because you're about to wake up in three…..two…..and one." Shingo felt like a bright light was gleaming against his eye lids and he suddenly woke back up on the sofa in his living room. "Wakey, wakey."
"Gah…." Shingo groaned as he sat up.
"Well nice to see you're awake." He heard Lucy say and saw her standing at the edge of the sofa waiting.
"Oh, morning." He yawned and sat up. "Did you just get back?"
"Shingo it's eight in the morning, you slept through most of the afternoon yesterday." She crossed her arms.
"I…what?"
"Oh we forgot to mention, every minute in the mind palace is about an hour in the real world."
"Now come on, we need to get to the Guild so we can pick out some quests." Lucy said.
"Quests?"
"Yeah, it's how we'll get enough money to afford rent for this place. Now hurry up and get ready." She ordered.
"Yeah, yeah okay." He groaned as he sat up and walked to the bathroom. 'So you guys can talk to me through my mind?'
"Yep. This is our best way of communicating with ya just in case." Mantis said. "We can see and hear what you can."
"I don't really get much privacy then?"
"Not to worry, we can break the mental link whenever you want." Cain assured.
A few minutes later Shingo came out of his room, throwing his coat onto his shoulders and the two leaving to the Guild.
"So how exactly do we accept these jobs?" Shingo asked as they were about to reach the Guild building.
"You really don't know a lot about Guilds don't ya?" He only shook his head. "There's a notice board in the Guild that has a bunch of quests on it, they range from treasure hunts to monster slayings. Once the job is done we get paid."
"Seems simple enough."
"Though we can only get D to A ranked jobs. S rank is for the top members of the Guild." Lucy explained as they made it to the building. When they walked in they noticed Natsu standing at the Request Board looking at the quests. "Natsu check it, we joined Fairy-Tail!" Lucy said to him but he just kept looking at the board.
"You did? Eh good for you Luigi." He replied, still looking at the board.
"It's Lucy!" She shouted at him.
"Whatever," Natsu sighed. "Say, aren't there any good missions available? They all suck."
"Ooh, what about this one?" Happy pointed at one with a lot of zeros on it. Natsu looked at the poster and saw the reward money and his eyes turned to dollar signs.
"160,000 jewels for subduing some thieves?! I'll take it!" Natsu cheered until he and the other two teens heard a child's voice.
"When's my dad coming back?" The kid as Makarov who stood on the bar.
"You're starting to get really annoying Romeo." Makarov said as he sipped on his beer. "If you're the son of a Mage then you should believe in him and wait patiently at home."
"But he said he'd be back in three days and he's been gone for nearly a week!" Romeo retorted.
"You forget, he has to do these missions and they're very dangerous. It takes time for them to be completed, you should know that by now." Makarov said. "The job was at Mt. Hakobe."
"That's not that far, just send some people to look for him!" Romeo yelled impatiently.
"There isn't a mage in this Guild that can't take care of themselves, now go home!" Suddenly Romeo hit the master and ran out the door.
"I hate you old man!" He yelled as the doors slammed behind him.
"Aw man, poor kid." Shingo sympathised as Mirajane walked over to them.
"Yes, but Master is actually very worried." The white haired girl said. "That's Romeo, the son of one of our most prominent wizards. He comes here with his dad and he's been coming in everyday to see if his father's come back."
Suddenly a loud crash of a punch echoed through the Guild hall as the two saw that Natsu had punched a huge dent into the notice board.
"Hey! What the hell Natsu?!" One Guild Member said, but the salmon haired boy ignored him and walked out the hall with Happy following.
"What's wrong with Natsu, he seems really frustrated." Shingo asked Mirajane as she set down a tray on the bar.
"Well, Natsu just knows as Romeo feels right now." She said. "Natsu never had any parents because he was abandoned as a child. He was raised by Igneel the Fire Dragon."
"Wait, Natsu was actually raised by a dragon?" Lucy uttered.
"Igneel was like an adoptive father to Natsu." Mirajane said softly. "But one day, he just vanished. Natsu has been searching for him for years but has had no success."
"That's….actually very sad." Shingo empathetically said. "Do you think we should help him?" He asked Lucy.
"Yeah." She nodded with a smile. "Let's go get Natsu. But first, we're gonna need a carriage."
Later that same day, the three were on their way up Mt Hakobe. The sun shined through a cloudless sky as the team road up a trail in a carriage pulled along by a purple boar.
"Why'd you come with us?" Natsu groaned as the carriage bumped on the path.
"Why not, besides you can't handle transportation on your own." Lucy said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He said weakly.
"Oh nothing."
"And besides, we need to see a true Fairy-Tail member in action to truly understand how things work in this Guild." Shingo joked and Natsu only groaned more.
"I'm gonna hurl…"
"Not in here!" Lucy shrieked. Everyone suddenly jerked as the carriage came to a halt and the driver walked around the back and opened the door. "We arrived?"
"Yes, finally!" Natsu sprung up and darted out of the carriage.
"Sorry but I can take you no further." The driver said as the other two teens stepped out the carriage, not realising they stepped into a ragging snowstorm.
"What the hell, why's it so hectic here?!" Shingo gawked as he buttoned up his coat.
"Well what did you two expect? This is Mt Hakobe." Natsu remined, not caring about the cold it seemed as he began to walk up the mountain. Lucy and Shingo reluctantly following.
"It's freezing, there's no way it's normally this cold here! I mean it's summer!" Lucy whined.
"And this seems way too extreme for normal weather conditions!" Shingo chimed in as he hugged himself to stay warm whilst also massaging his head.
"That's what you guys get for wearing thin clothes." Natsu said.
"I am in a trench coat! How are you not cold?!" The auburn haired teen yelled at Natsu. "You are in a literal vest!"
"I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer." Natsu casually reminded. "How could you forget my magic Shiny?"
"It's Shingo…!" He shivered.
"Grr…..enough of this!" Lucy reached for her Celestial Keys and took off one with a clock on it. "Gate of the clock, I open thee! Horologium!" She announced before she swung her key, creating a magical circle that materialised into a grandfather clock with arms and a face.
"Ooh a clock." Natsu said as they saw Lucy inside with a blanket around her to keep her warm.
"'I'm not coming out until we get someplace warm!' She says." Horologium quoted, speaking for Lucy.
"Why'd you even tag along anyway?" Natsu huffed as they began to walk again.
"She wonders, 'what kind of nutcase job did Macao come here to do?'"
"He came here to deal with some Vulcans." Natsu informed with a frown.
"Vulcans?" Shingo asked.
"Magical creatures that are strong and dangerous." Natsu said as the storm seemed to get stronger. "The winds really seem to be getting wilder."
"She says, 'I want to go home!'" Horologium said.
"And say 'go right ahead!'" Natsu retorted.
"Aye!" Happy added.
"Macao, where are you?!" Natsu yelled as he Happy, and Horologium tracked on. Shingo stopped for a second and held his head as a minor headache occurred.
'Cain I gotta ask, what's with these headaches I keep having?'
"Oh that, it's a sort of feeling us Undead have. It's a way for us to find others, the harder the headache, the closer the Undead."
'Wait, there's one here?!'
"Yeah, I can feel it. Find it and kick its ass!"
'I can't, not yet anyway. I need to help them find Macao.' Shingo took some deep breathes which seemed to ease the headache.
"'Shingo, are you coming?' She inquires." Horologium asked.
"Yeah, yeah I'm coming." Shingo said as he jogged to catch up.
"MACAO!" Natsu shouted out, only to receive a rumble from the mountain.
"'W-what was that?' She trembly asked." The clock said.
"RAWR!" A sudden jet of snowy wind blasted before them and made a minor stalagmite on the mountain road.
Natsu and Shingo looked up to the ledge above them to see a humanoid bear shaped figure. The figure roared again and blasted more ice.
"She screams, 'that thing is a Vulcan?!'" Horologium quoted as it seemed Lucy was freaking out inside.
"No it's not!" Natsu responded as he and Shingo ran to cover as the creature blasted more ice. "Get over here Louie!"
"'It's Lucy!' She quivers." Horologium said as he tried to waddle over to the cover, if not to be cut off by a different roar as a large ape like creature busted out of nowhere. "'W-what is that thing?!' She asks in fear."
"Now that is a Vulcan!" Natsu said. The Vulcan growled, rushing at the two and batting away Natsu and Shingo. It huffed before sniffing and looking at Lucy with a grin, and then drooled.
"'W-why is it looking at me like that?' She inquires."
"A human woman!" The Vulcan cheered as it picked up Horologium.
"So it can talk," Natsu noted.
"'Who cares? Now rescue me!' She says." Horologium quoted as the Vulcan carried them away.
"After that overgrown gorilla!" Natsu declared as he and Happy chased after it.
Shingo was about to go as well, but not before looking up at the ledge where the other creature was and then followed when he saw nothing.
Inside an icy cave, the Vulcan was dancing around happily as Lucy was still in the clock, weeping.
"'Why'd this have to happen to me? And what's with this monkey? It's too hyper!' She cries." Horologium said as he covered his eyes.
"A woman!" The Vulcan cheered.
Lucy began to shake, and then fear struck as she noticed the Celestial spirit was fading.
"No, don't vanish on me Horologium!" Lucy pleaded as the spirit popped away.
"It is time. I bid thee farewell."
"I want an extension, AN EXTENSION!" She demanded as the Vulcan came in close.
"Hey ape face!" The Vulcan turned around to see Natsu and Shingo ran in, only for the salmon haired one to slip and fall face first.
"That had to hurt." Shingo winced.
"I blame the ice!" He argued and sprung back up. "Alright you gorilla, where's Macao?" He questioned, only for the Vulcan to seem confused. "Do you even understand me?! Macao, a human man!"
"Man?" The Vulcan repeated.
"Yeah! So where did you hide him?" Natsu asked again.
"No man! Me want woman!" The Vulcan growled.
"Natsu this ain't working." Shingo gulped. "This thing is just a big perverted monkey."
"Where is Macao!"
"No men! Get rid of men!" The Vulcan roared.
"Now it's angry." Shingo panicked.
"Who cares! I'll beat the answers out of it!" Natsu growled and ignited his fists.
Shingo sighed as the Chalice Rouzer materialised onto his waist. He reached into the deck box and took out the Change Mantis card.
"Henshin!"
CHANGE!
Black static engulphed Shingo as his shape changed more inhumane. The static faded and showed he was now in the Chalice armour.
"Weird bug man! Bug man go away!" The Vulcan cried, striking at the floor and sending a ripple of ice and snow to Natsu and Chalice.
"Woah!" The two stumbled from the attack and then dodged as the Vulcan came for a rushed attack.
"Use your bow thing!" Natsu shouted.
"Yeah, yeah I know!" Chalice shouted back and reached behind him to pull out the Chalice Arrow. He pulled back an imaginary bowstring and fire an energy arrow at the Vulcan.
The arrow struck the Vulcan hard enough to stun it as Natsu ran in and struck it with his fired up fists.
"Hold on, that thing's gonna pay for trying to take me!" Lucy added as she reached for her keyring. "Gate of the bull, I open thee! Taurus!"
Coming out from the gate came a humanoid muscular bull with a large axe in his hands.
"A cow…" Natsu, Chalice and the Vulcan tilted their head in confusion.
"No you idiot, a bull!" Lucy yelled out.
"You think he's a descendant of Magnet Buffalo?"
"It's certainly a possibility."
"Moo! It's good to be out and here! Also…." Taurus said as he looked at Lucy with the same love struck look as the Vulcan did. "It's nice to see yooooou Ms Lucy~~~!"
"Not now Taurus, just get the Vulcan!" She pointed at the creature.
The Vulcan though, looked at Taurus with a growl. "Woman mine, bull die!"
"Oh, them's fighting words partner!" Taurus glared and drew out his large axe.
"So uh, do we help the giant bull or…?" Chalice began to ask, only to be interrupted by Taurus.
"You Mooooooks back off too! He's mine!" Taurus declared. "No one touches Ms Lucy but me!" Taurus charged in and he and the Vulcan began to brawl.
"As if I'm not joining in on this!" Natsu declared as he ran straight into the fight. "I'm gonna show this thing who's boss and find Macao!" The Vulcan pushed back Taurus as Natsu came in with his flamed fists.
"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" Natsu shouted out, striking the Vulcan in the stomach. "You guys are up!"
"On it!" Chalice took a running start as the Vulcan came close. He stabbed the Chalice Arrow into the ground and raised up into double kick position. The kick landed on the Vulcan's back and sent him towards Lucy. "Your turn Lucy!"
"Taurus, smack it down!" Lucy ordered.
"As you command!" Taurus smirked and swung his axe into the Vulcan's back hard enough to send it into a wall.
"Yeah, that'll show you monkey!" Natsu cheered.
"Make up your mind, is it a monkey or gorilla?" Chalice questioned.
"Uh…."
"Oh hush already you two." Lucy spoke up. "Look." She pointed at the Vulcan as steam covered it and revealed a man in his early 30s with purple hair.
"That's Macao!" Natsu recognised.
"He was the Vulcan?" Chalice gawked.
"Wait, I think I remember something about Vulcans; while there are wild ones, Vulcans are also dark spirits that can posses people. If we didn't beat him by sundown we would have lost him forever." Lucy said.
"Geez, everything around here is weird." Chalice sighed as the headaches abruptly came back, getting worse and worse by the second. 'Oh no.'
"Aye?" Happy's ears twitched the air and turned to the cave entrance.
"What's wrong Happy?" Lucy asked.
"I hear something coming."
"More Vulcans?" Lucy quivered behind a rock.
"No, worse." Chalice whispered as the headaches began to thump harder. Images flashed in his mind, shards of ice and snow white fur.
Looking at the cave entrance, they saw the same figure from before standing there. The figure growled as it walked closer to the team, the light from Natsu's flame showed it to be a humanoid white furred bear creature with ice spurting from different parts of its body.
"What the heck is that?!" Lucy yelped.
"Polar Bear! I should've guessed this bastard was the one out here. Only he would be living out in the cold."
'Uh Cain, got any advice?'
"None, sorry I never fought Polar Bear. I don't remember who beat him actually, was it Plant or Armadillo?"
"No, no it was Locust right? Oh it's been a few millennia who cares!"
The Undead slowly approached with a snarl as it eyed the group of three, mostly Chalice though.
"It seems to like you the most Shingo." Happy chuckled.
"Not helping Happy!" Chalice yelped as Polar Bear picked up speed and swooped Chalice into its arms, who dropped the Arrow, before charging into the icy wall.
"Hey, hands off!" Natsu said before running in and punching the Undead with a fire fuelled fist. The Undead turned around and swatted the salmon haired teen.
"Leave them alone!" Chalice snarled and kneed Polar Bear's chest and socked it across the face.
"Get away!" Lucy yelled as she picked up the Chalice Arrow and stabbed it into Polar Bear's shoulder.
"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" Natsu lit both his fists and punched the Undead in the chest.
Polar Bear roared and suddenly fired a breath of ice at Natsu. The ice slowly coated Natsu's arm and he began to freak out and stopped his attack. The Undead then focused its eyes on Lucy, who backed away at the sight of the creature.
"Don't touch her!" Chalice ran break neck at Polar Bear and tackled him through a thin ice wall, shattering and sending the two down a snowy slop.
When they stopped rolling, Chalice grabbed the Chalice Arrow and ripped it our of the Undead's shoulder, spraying green blood onto the snow. Polar Bear got up and slashed its claw across Chalice's chest, knocking the Rider over.
The Undead breathed another ice blast. Chalice rolled out of the way and slashed Polar Bear's knee caps. It shook the attack off and stabbed one of its claws into the Rider's stomach.
Chalice tumbled down the slop as green blood leaked from his stomach wound.
"Oh, well that looks bad…." Chalice tried his best to stand back up as the wound healed at a quick rate. "I regenerate?"
"Kid, quickly! Take the Rouzer off the belt and attach it to the Arrow!"
Chalice did as so, clipping on the Rouzer to the Arrow and rolling away from another breath attack.
"Now, use the Slash Lizard card to end this fight."
Chalice opened his deck box and pulled out the 2 of Spades. As Polar Bear came running in for another attack, he slid the card through the gap of the Rouzer which made a beeping noise.
SLASH!
The blades on the Chalice Arrow began to shine a little and Chalice ran at the Undead as it came closer.
Polar Bear went for another claw attack but Chalice jumped over the monster. It turned around to attack again but Chalice spun on his heel quick enough to slash the Arrow across Polar Bear's throat.
The Undead gargled and held its throat before falling backwards with the buckle snapping open.
Chalice eased his breathing and reached into his deck box, pulling out and throwing a blank card at the Undead. The creature turned green and was absorbed into the card before it flew back to his hands. The card now showed a picture of a bear made of pure ice with bits of metal. The 6 of Clubs, Blizzard Polar.
"So I can use the cards as extra powers? That's helpful." He sighed and slipped the card into his deck box.
"Shingo! Are you alright?!" He heard yelling from the hole he fell from and saw Natsu sticking his head out. "Where'd that monster go?!"
SPIRIT!
"It's okay, I already dealt with it, it fell down the cliff!" The hazy layer passed over Shingo as the armour faded. "But uh, could you send Happy down to give me a life up!"
The little blue cat flew up with Shingo holding on by the tail. When they entered they saw Macao was awake with Natsu and Lucy tending to him.
"Man, I feel like I went toe to toe with Gildarts…" Macao groaned as he rubbed his neck. "Why'd you guys come here?"
"Your son was worried for you," Lucy explained. "Natsu was going to go alone but we decided to join him."
"Romeo huh? Guess I shouldn't have made him worry." Macao smiled softly.
"Come on, let's get you home." Natsu and Shingo help hold up Macao as they all started to leave the mountain.
Romeo sat on the steps if the Guild House, tears still streaming down his face.
"Hey Romeo!" He heard Natsu call out. Looking up from his saddened state and saw Natsu, Happy, Lucy and Shingo returning to the Guild. But in Natsu and Shingo's arm…was his father? Seeing this Romeo's tears turned from distress to joy.
"Dad!" Romeo rushed from the steps and tackled his father into a loving hug. "Dad I'm sorry!" He cried as his father patted his head.
"I'm sorry I made you worry." Macao replied as he hugged tighter.
"It's okay…..I'm the son of a mage after all." His dad only laughed in response.
"Your dad beat 19 Vulcans, can you believe it!" Natsu complimented.
"Natsu, Happy, thank you." Romeo thanked the two and looked at the others. "Same to you, thanks."
"It's alright, glad to help." Lucy smiled.
"Not a problem." Shingo added.
"Now let's head inside to celebrate!" Natsu cheered and kicked open the door. "Hey everyone, Macao's back, break open the good drinks!"
"YEAH!" Everyone inside cheered.
While everyone was dancing and drinking, Shingo went to one of the quieter tables and took his deck box out of his pocket. He set out the four cards in his collection.
"48 to go." He sighed. "How am I ever going to do this?"
"Cheer up kid." He heard as Master Makarov sat opposite of Shingo. "I bet you can capture them all."
"Wait, you know about these things, the Undead?" Shingo whispered.
"Of course I do." Makarov took a sip of his drink. "The story of these things have been around longer since I was a boy. Not many believe it though."
"M-master Makarov, I know you don't know me much but, do you honestly think I'd be able to fight them?" He asked as he looked at the Change Mantis.
"Kid, no one can do anything by themselves, it's best to do things with others." Makarov looked at Lucy and Natsu, the latter in a headlock from Macao. "You haven't told them yet have you?"
"Not yet no. Apparently this is my mission or something, I don't really wanna involve them." He piled up the cards and put them back in the box.
"Let me give you some advice Shingo, a lonely path is never the successful one. Only a journey where hearts are joined can lead to where you wish." Makarov said before getting off the chair and walking. Shingo just looked at the Master, wondering what his message truly means.
"What the fuck was that old guy talking about?!"
"You're a moron."
A/N: There we are, the next Chalice fic. As you could see I am doing my own designs for the Undead we never saw in the show. I also thought the Mind Palace was a cool idea, especially the dungeon to show all the captured Undead.
Now to reviews.
TheOkWriter: Yeah the whole Rider fan teleported is a bit overused so I decided to go with something different.
Guest DCDGojira: Build can wait, I wanna update other stuff.
So anyway I'll see you lot next time.
BYE, BYE.