I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*

M for mature topics. No children allowed. *

The Broken Boosted Gear

By Try Another Time

Hours had come and gone since he lost control of his body before falling deep within his subconsciousness. His body was floating on top of what seemed to be the waters of an endless ocean which was practically covered in darkness except for a few spheres of lights that were floating around. It was a place so quiet, peaceful, and lacking any form of pain but Issei couldn't sleep forever nor could he escaped from the cruel reality he had to face.

"Get up child. We have things to discuss." The voice of Ddraig called to him.

Issei reacted to the voice and opened his eyes. He began to sit up before looking in front of him. "What?" The boy screamed after he saw the form of Ddraig in front of him. He tries to move away from Ddraig, but he found his escape route block by several human bodies. He turns around and screams even more after seeing their faces.

Several eyeless humans, women, and men stood around forming a wall that prevented Issei from escaping away. Their faces didn't have eyes, but they still focus on him and all of his movements.

"This can't be real! This can't be real! This can't be real! Mom! Dad! Help me!" Issei says as he takes a fetal position trying to protect himself. He was about to have a complete mental breakdown.

Ddraig sees this and sights. "I should have expected this. You're still a child after all." Ddraig decides to change shape into something more approachable. It has been millennia since he took human form, so he decides to copy Issei's form at least for now. His body becomes an exact copy of Issei except for his eyes which were green.

After his body is transformed, he approaches the crying child. Issei is crying and his body is shaking in fear so. "He is not in the best state. I need to be careful with how I approach him." He extends one hand towards Issei's head before patting him. "Is okay if you need to cry so go ahead. We have all the time we need. Cry as much as you want, and I'll wait until you feel ready."

Ddraig says no more and just continues to pat his partner's head until he was able to relax.

Hours came and went as the crying continue until the tears stop. Ddraig watch as the child sat up in silence and focus his sight on him. "Are you ready to talk?"

Issei nods.

"Good. My name is Ddraig. What's yours?"

"Issei. Hyoudou Issei."

"Issei, good. I imagined you have questions, and I may have answers so just work with me. You're the first child that I get as a partner and our current state is something completely unexpected. Go ahead and ask anything."

"You're that dragon, right? The one that I saw in the mirror?"

Ddraig looks surprised after the question and figures that something else is going on. "Don't move I need to see something." He touches Issei's forehead and sees all of his memories in an instant. "So that's what was happening. This is truly a weird case. Yes, Issei I'm that dragon you kept seeing in the mirror."

Issei looks at him and gets angry. "Why was I seeing you? What's all of this? What are those things?" The child begins to ask but Ddraig stops him.

"One question at a time. I'm going to try to explain this as clear as possible so try to pay attention. I'm Ddraig, a heavenly dragon. I fought against gods, demons, and fallen angels a long time ago. They killed my original body and one of those gods decided to seal my soul inside of an object called the booster gear. Got it?"

Issei slowly nods.

"Ok. That same god started to put that object and many others inside of humans. These objects are called Sacred gears and they give humans superpowers."

"Like in the books I read?" Issei asks.

"Like in those books but much cooler." Ddraig slaps himself after realizing how dumb he sounds but decides to continue since it seems to be working. "Many people like you had gained the booster gear since birth and you're my latest partner but something went wrong this time."

"What went wrong?"

"All of those dreams you been having, my image in the mirror, all of the weird things that you been experiencing shouldn't have happened. Those dreams were memories of them and me." Ddraig points at the husks that surrounded them. "They are most of my previous partners."

Issei looks around in fear but recognizes a few of the faces although they lack eyes. "So those were their memories and yours? Why was I seeing them?"

"I don't have all the answers but I'm guessing it has something to do with the crack I saw within the booster gear." Ddraig focuses for a second and makes a replica of the booster gear arm appear in front of them. "This is what the booster gear usually looks like. I'm supposed to be trapped within this thing for the rest of eternity and you weren't supposed to see any of the things that you saw. It may be due to the damage that the gear received during my last fight against Albion who is my rival but my memories and theirs had been escaping into you since you were a baby. You were supposed to live a normal life until you awakened the booster gear around the age of 16 or 17. Heck maybe never even actually using it. Some people never awake the sacred gear throughout their whole lives. None of this should have happened so I'm sorry. I imagine that it wasn't fun seeing all of those things."

Issei sees how the Ddraig lowers his head as a sign of apology. "So, it wasn't your choice?"

"No. Kid I have done many things that I'm not proud of but I'm not a fanatic of making my partners have a traumatic childhood due to weird dreams. I'm not that kind of being. I don't even choose who becomes the next booster gear host. It's a random system and I don't think anyone controls it since the god of the bible died."

"Gods can die?"

"Yes, gods can be killed or die due to certain circumstances, but we have other things to discuss. Right now, you and I are sharing a body thanks to my soul escaping the booster gear. I know that you didn't ask for any of this, but I saved your life thanks to this. What's the last thing you remembered?"

Issei stood quiet for a second before his mind was filled with those moments during the fire. Tears began to appear as his memories repeated themselves. "Fire, flames, mom, and dad. They are still there. They need help. I need to call- "But Issei was stopped by Ddraig.

"Kid, I'm sorry that I have to say this, but your parents are possibly dead. Those flames were covering your body when we escaped the house and I doubt that any human can survive those flames. They are dead Issei." Ddraig watches as Issei starts to have a mental breakdown.

"No… no, no, no, no, no. They can't be dead. My parents can't be dead. We were going to be a happy family. I lied about my dreams. I kept them hidden. This can't be true." Issei begins to punch Ddraig. "Give them back. Give me my parents back!"

Ddraig extends his arms and catches him on a hug. "Go ahead. Let it all out. Blame me, scream at me, bite me and let all of those feelings run wild. I'm going to be right here until the end."

Thus, began many hours of emotional outburst. Issei did everything in the book but Ddraig didn't move an inch. At some time Issei pushes himself so hard that he went to sleep again after draining all of his energy thus leaving Ddraig by himself.

Ddraig saw his partner's body shivering within his sleep so he made the choice of going back into his dragon form and covering Issei with his body. His body heat offered the boy the support he needed at the time which led to the shivering stopping.

"This wasn't supposed to happen, but I can't go back. I need to do this if I truly want to free myself from that prison and the endless cycle of fights against Albion. I'm sorry Issei but I'm making this choice for both of our sakes. You're alone and your life will never return to normality but I'm going to make sure that you find happiness." Ddraig thought as he looks at the boy.

With Issei taken care of, for now, Ddraig refocuses his attention on the body he now shares with Issei. The damage the flames caused was extensive, but it was nothing he couldn't resolve. The major problem was the broken booster gear that still exists within the child's body. Ddraig feared that it might be used against him once more and he also saw the use that the item could have for him, so he made a choice.

While the body was being cured and mutated to accommodate all of his power, Ddraig was also dissolving the gear within the egg and fusing it to his new body. "I will never go back to that prison but I'm going to make sure that the booster gear still helps us to survive. So, become part of our body booster gear. Become a tool that is able to protect us."

Outside of the egg.

Tiamat continues to watch the egg patiently. This was the first time she had ever seeing another dragon outside of herself shedding their skin and Ddraig wasn't a normal case. "This body is that of a human. Can this even be possible? What about the nutrients he needs? How long is it going to take?" Tiamat had many questions, but she could only see and wait for the results.

A dragon usually sheds its skin after it gains a certain amount of power or after receiving serious injuries. A normal process usually takes months and dragons find hidden places to do it since the process leaves them open to attacks. Ddraig current's case was something never seeing before. He was forcing a human body into the process to make it into a viable vessel for his soul and power.

Tiamat didn't even know if it could be successful but Great Red had high hopes so she could only expect a successful shedding at the end. The question now became how long would it take? 6 months? A year? She had no clues and not sources to ask for help so she just waited.

"You better be ready to answer my questions when you come out Ddraig and now that you're free from the Booster Gear there is no excuse for your debt." She thought.

Meanwhile, Irina.

She didn't want to believe what she was seeing. She completely blocked her parent's voices as she watched the remains of what was once Issei's home.

Paramedics and firefighters walked back and for while searching the whole house for the bodies. The whole neighborhood was in distress after seeing the destruction that the flames had caused. Everyone saw how two bodies were brought in black bags from the remains and the tears just began to flow.

"I can't believe this."

"How can't such tragedy happen."

"They say they can't find the child's body."

"Were the flames so strong that they didn't leave any remains?"

"That poor child."

Irina felt how her whole world came crashing down. Her heartbeat decreased and her voice was nowhere to be found. The tears continue to flow as her mind tried to make sense of all of this. "We were together just yesterday. You were sleeping on my knees. Issei…" Her mind shut down after not being able to endure the shock.

Her parents were forced to grabbed her and walk away from the scene with her unconscious body, but her dad saw what others couldn't see. Right there in one of the trees closes to the house, a single black feather laid trapped within the leaves. He also saw the remains of magic within the area, and he knew that this incident wasn't normal.

Someone had done this, and he had an idea of who was responsible.

Meanwhile, Grigori.

Azazel had created many things throughout his whole life, but this specific tool was possibly the best yet. "A sacred gear seeker. This was supposed to be secured within my vault so why is it here?" Azazel asks himself as he looks at the artifact.

The tool was something he developed for the sake of finding certain candidates that could be useful as part of his faction, but he also developed it for the sake of knowing where the next red dragon emperor was going to appeared. Vali, the current white dragon empress was under his protection and he knew that keeping her away from her possible rival was the best option.

The fight could mean Vali's death or even worst, leading to her losing her sanity. Azazel wasn't willing to letting that happen, so he had found the current Red Dragon Emperor through the use of this artifact, and after finding his position he decided to put the artifact under key to prevent any problems with Vali. Now he had found the artifact on his lab table and he didn't know who could have taken it out or for what purpose.

"Azazel-sama!" Shemhazai approached him. "Kokabiel-sama and several other fallen angels have disappeared from the building."

"What? How and when?" Azazel turns around. "Wait! Kokabiel? Could he? No, damn it! Tell everyone to find Kokabiel and his group right away. Bring them back to me no matter what!"

Shemhazai nods and leaves the room right away.

Azazel was seeing red at the moment. "Kokabiel how could you? Did you actually kill that child? You insane bastard!" Azazel wasn't a saint, but he would never go as far as to kill a child that hasn't even awaken his powers. "Damnit!" He looks at the sacred gear seeker and destroys it in anger.

He was tired of fighting and he was looking to enter an era of peace with the other factions, but it seemed that Kokabiel had other plans in mind.

"When I get my hands on you Kokabiel you going to wish for a swift death!" Azazel said as he moved to check his lab. If Kokabiel took the sacred gear seeker he could also have taken other things as well.

Many hours later. Back with Ddraig and Issei.

The boy began to wake up once more after sleeping for many hours. He felt drained of tears and energy although those things didn't apply in this place. He was sad and really depressed after remembering what Ddraig had told him.

"Issei?" Ddraig decided to turn back into his human form.

Issei's eyes look at him but they lack life and any kind of desire. He seemed more dead than alive and Ddraig wasn't surprised. Issei was still a six-year-old child and he had lost his family not too long ago.

"Issei grab my hand. I know that everything seems meaningless right now, but I promised to help you fill that void. Nobody can't replace them, and I don't expect you to forget them but together we're going to get through this together. Just keep following me." Ddraig extended his hand towards Issei.

Issei looks at the hand for a moment before he slowly takes it. He didn't know what future awaits him but right now Ddraig seemed like one of only two lights left in his life. The second one was Irina and he doubted that he was going to see her anytime soon.

Outside of the egg.

Tiamat continued to protect the egg until a certain presence captured her attention.

"My oh my. Another being has decided to take residence within my 'Home.'" The steps of this figured resonated within the dimensional gap as she approached Tiamat and the egg. Her presence was undeniable, and her strength was comparable to that of Great Red.

Tiamat saw her and her scales shivered before her. Although she looked like a small petite girl, she was far from being just that. "Ophis."

"Would you look at that! My dear Tiamat. How many centuries had passed since we saw each other? 10? 15? I still remembered your wild past self. Afraid of nothing and ready to face any challenge until I smacked some sense into that little head of yours. What do you have there?" Ophis asks as she approaches the egg.

Tiamat quickly hides the egg and disregards her own security to protect it from Ophis. "Stay away. I don't care how strong you are. This egg is my mine to protect, and I prefer dying than facing Great Red's anger."

Ophis smiles at her reaction. "It seemed you have changed a lot. Look at you! Protecting that egg with your own life. Don't worry I don't need to touch it to know who that is. Ddraig? That is something I didn't expect to see. The old Welsh Dragon has finally escaped his prison and found a new vessel for himself. This is an event that needs to be celebrated! Tell me, how did he do it? Did you help him escaped?"

Tiamat stays quiet and continues to guard the egg. She didn't care about Ddraig, but he owes her a debt and Great Red had given her a task, so she was willing to put all in the line for this.

"Not feeling talkative? Are you worried that I might try to hurt him? My dear Tiamat, you can relax. I won't touch either of you. I'm happy for Ddraig. A dragon such as himself is going to prove beneficial to me so don't stress yourself out. To prove it to you I'm going to give him a gift." Ophis disappears from Tiamat's sight before reappearing next to the egg. "Ddraig my sweet Welsh dragon, this is my gift to you. Just a little drop of my power for you. Grow strong and may one day we meet each other again." Ophis kisses the egg and a snake pattern appears in the egg for a second before disappearing.

Tiamat is in shock and quickly opens fire against Ophis. Several energy attacks are shoot against Ophis, but she gracefully evades each one.

"Are you mad because I kissed your mate?" Ophis asks with a smile on her face.

Tiamat blushes before continuing her assault against Ophis with no positive results.

Before Ophis can continue to enjoy the fun for longer, a massive attack connects with her. She blocks most of the damage, but she still is injured by it. Her eyes turn and she finds him "Great Red. So, you finally show yourself."

"Leave!" He orders before charging a new attack against her.

Ophis smiles before disappearing. "Until we see each other Ddraig and friends."

Tiamat sights in anger before turning her attention back to the egg. She examines it with care.

"Did she do something to it?" Great Red approaches Tiamat.

"She said she gave him a gift. I don't really how but she gave him some of her power." Tiamat says.

Great Red stays quiet while he thinks. "That child will never learn and only causes problems for me no matter the place or time. Tiamat doesn't move." Great Red puts one of his claws on top of Tiamat and the egg before some of his energy is passed onto the pair. "I need you to protect that egg at all costs and I need Ddraig to be even stronger than before. I have given you two some of my power. Make sure that nobody gets close to Ddraig."

Tiamat feels the boost she has receive and nods. "I'll make sure he is safe even if my life is at risk."

"Good." Great Red says before going silent. He knew what was approaching and he was preparing everything to make sure that his fate didn't repeat itself in this reality as well. Ddraig was a blessing he didn't expect but he was willing to play his cards much better than his other-selves.

With that event out of the way, time kept moving on. Days became weeks. Weeks became months and months became two years until the awaited moment happened.

Tiamat was peacefully resting while paying close attention to her surroundings. The egg had turned much darker after some time and she wasn't able to see the inside anymore. Since that event with Ophis very few other beings had approached the dimensional gap. A few fallen angels got too close once and they paid a hefty price for it.

Rumors began to circulate around regarding her and the egg. Some devils had said that she had finally found the perfect mate for her and was now taking care of the egg. Some angels had tried to ask her about the egg, but she pushed them away with all of her power. But nobody except for her, Great Red and Ophis truly knew about the true identity of the egg.

She had even started to become a little attached to the egg. She had begun to imagine what new form Ddraig was going to have after he exited the egg and how much she was going to grind him into the dirt to make him pay his debt to her.

"I might even consider Great Red's recommendation. Taking ownership of your new life doesn't sound too bad. Making you into my slave sounds like a good idea." She thought but while she daydreamed about this, the egg began to crack.

"Eh?" The first cracking sound got her attention. "Is it really happening?" Tiamat moves the egg a little away from her and watches the process.

More cracks began to appear all around and within a few moments, the egg exploded into pieces. A bright light blinded her for a few moments before she saw him.

His body was much bigger now than his original one. He had two sets of wings instead of just one. One pair was made out of red feathers while the second one was similar to her draconic wings but much larger. His scales were mostly ruby-colored, but he also possesses several blacks and golden-colored ones as well. Several parts of his body appeared to be protected by some kind of armor and in his chest a bright green jewel shine brighter. His tail ended in the shape of a trident which was unusual for dragons. He had six limbs instead of just four and his head possess not two but six eyes. Finally, instead of one month, he had two now.

Tiamat was in shock after seeing his appearance and she even felt a little afraid, but she took the chance. "Ddraig? Is that really you?"

This new dragon turns his sight towards her. His six eyes watched her every movement and analyzed her from head to toe. "Thanks for protecting us, Tiamat." His voice was a mix between two very different beings. His body shines once more and his shape changes one again.

Instead of the massive dragon, Tiamat sees a small child with dark brown hair and a few strands of green hair. His eyes were green and his whole torso had red tattoos that only Ddraig could have. His legs and lower halve were covered by armor pants and shoes which seemed similar but also different to the previous armor that the booster gear offered its user.

Tiamat turns into a human and approaches the child. "Wait, are you really Ddraig? Who are you?"

"I'm Issei Welsh. A pleasure meeting you Tiamat-san." Tiamat hears the voice of a child, but his tone was a little somber and he didn't smile.

The child's eyes turn darker and more draconic before Tiamat hears a different voice. "Yes, I'm Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon in the flesh. Who elsewhere are you expecting Tiamat? Albion?" The voice was deeper and more adult-like.

Tiamat is in shock. "Great Red needs to see this with his own eyes." Says Tiamat as she touches him just to make sure she isn't dreaming.

Ddraig seems annoyed by this but says nothing.

Two years had gone by and the egg had finally opened. The story of Issei Welsh and Ddraig was just starting.