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

Current location, the path toward Grigori.

Ddraig was flying by himself as he approaches the base of the fallen angels. Only a day had passed since the incident with the nekomatas took place and now he had to deal with an even more troublesome event.

"Ddraig. I know I have no right to ask you for anything but I need your help. As the parental figure of Vali, I need you to meet her for the sake of her mental health. Albion hasn't taken your message too well and its constant rants are becoming unbearable for Vali to handle. Please come and meet her so that we might figure out a way to improve this situation. I await your arrival." A letter from Azazel had arrived at Sirzechs office with one of the representatives of Grigori.

Peaceful negotiations were going well between the sides based on Sirzechs comments but the process was far from being done. The Four Great Satans were hoping for peace as well as Azazel and those close to him such as Baraqiel but there was a certain amount of opposition on both sides. The old devil families still hold grudges from past conflicts and the oldest fallen angels besides Azazel were the same.

But even with the oppositions on both sides, nobody had the guts to interfere due to the obvious elephant in the room. These negotiations had begun due to Ddraig and his presence had become a major factor that was pushing them along. Even the gods of the underworld decided not to interfere and leave the negotiations alone.

Hades had sent a letter that pretty much read "Do whatever you want but keep that monster away from my realm."

The memories of Ddraig and Albion's past fights were still present on the mind of those that watched the destruction with their own eyes. By this point, everyone and their mother knew that Ddraig was free and that he had the power to destroy any who had the guts to face him.

Sirzechs couldn't deny that he and the other members of the Four Great Satans were pleased with this development. But Ddraig was more concerned with the task at hand.

"Albion…" He couldn't deny that he felt some responsibility for the current situation that the girl was enduring so he wasted no time before he departed for Grigori.

After flying for some time, he had almost arrived at the place. The floating base was like an upside-down castle. There were many undeveloped areas around it which meant the faction could do something with the area at some point in the future.

As he got closer to the base, he began to see some of its denizens who after seeing and feeling his power decided to stay as far away from him.

But one specific figure stood up amongst all of them. Shemhazai who was Azazel's closest attendant began to approach him.

"We were expecting you, Mr. Welsh. My name is Shemhazai and I'm Azazel's right hand." Shemhazai said after he met with him. "Please follow me. Azazel-sama and Vali are waiting for you."

Ddraig nodded before he began to follow the fallen angel. As they entered the castle, he began to notice that the outside was just a cover-up for the real base. The inner castle was bigger and more complex than he had imagined. It was a city hidden with many technological advances and obvious elements such as casinos that clearly showed the difference between the values of angels and the fallen ones. Human desires and impurities as they were defined by the concepts of Heaven were accepted by the fallen angels. They had chosen freedom and the concept of free will over their attachments to their creator.

To Azazel and his fellow fallen angels' the concepts of sin, good, and evil weren't that simple. They saw and learned more through their ability to think freely than those that still lived in heaven.

"Mr. Welsh, may I ask a question?" Shemhazai asked.

"You don't have to be so formal but go ahead," Ddraig said.

"If that's what you want. How is the bookworm doing?" Shemhazai asked. His formal tone was lost within seconds.

"Grayfia is still training her. I have heard her screams but Grayfia hasn't let me see how she is doing. She says that her training is doing well but her bad mouth might not disappear in the end. I have no worries about the result based on what Grayfia had said. I even preferred that she keeps that bad mouth of hers. I'm not too into formalities or blind followers. I like loyalty but I also like someone that can say what they think without holding back." Ddraig admits.

"I understand and appreciate your answer. We have been trying to get her to get out and see what's outside but she is too attached to reading books. That bad mouth of hers and explosive attitude were also major problems for us although we can't deny that we enjoy it from time to time. Please take care of her but if she ever betrays your trust, you're free to eliminate her on the spot. We are still dealing with the aftermath of Kokabiel's betrayal and if another one of us decides to do the same we might not be as forgiving as before. So, keep that in mind and once again I apologize for the actions that were taken against your family. Azazel is tired of conflicts and he doesn't want any wars unless is to protect his people. As his right hand, I can assure you that child-killing is not among his actions." Shemhazai says.

Ddraig looks at him but finds no sign of lies. "I have forgiven him already so you can relax. As long as the treaty between us is held by both sides we can put this issue behind us. He didn't pull the trigger but Kokabiel did so you can expect no mercy for him or his followers once I find them."

Shemhazai nods. "I expect none for them. You can do as you please with all of them but if you do capture one of them alive please do keep into consideration that we provide methods of punishment that last for eternity." A creepy smile forms on his face. "Death is too good for some of them."

"Note taken. Trust me, Kokabiel is going to wish he had never touched that artifact that night."

Both began to laugh sinisterly after their minds began to run wild with ideas of possible punishments for Kokabiel. It was a weird way of forming a friendship but it worked for them.

A few minutes later.

"We have arrived," Shemhazai said as he opened the door for them. They entered a room with was adorned with many paintings, flowers, and even a small fireplace.

"Thank you for coming to meet us this soon Ddraig," Azazel said from his seat within a table with some food. Vali was also there and her eyes were solely focused on him.

Shemhazai bows and leaves the room to offer them some privacy.

"Please take a seat with us," Azazel says.

Ddraig approaches the table and takes a seat on the opposite side of Vali. "I see that you're his current host. I'm Ddraig is a pleasure to meet you Vali." Ddraig offers his left hand.

Vali doubts for a second before she accepts it. "Your voice seems different than during that day."

Ddraig smiles before he switches with Issei. "That's because unlike your case we are sharing one body although we are going to fuse into one being at some point. My name is Issei Welsh. I'm the original owner of this body and former wielder of the booster gear."

Vali and Azazel are surprised by the change. "Can you explain to us how did all of this happened? I can't believe that the booster gear wasn't able to stop you from escaping." Azazel says.

Issei switches back with Ddraig. "Albion, are you there?"

Vali's right arm transforms into the dividing gear. "You came." The voice of Albion is heard. His tone is somber.

"Good. Do you remember our last fight?"

"Yes, it was almost 100 years ago. We where fighting during a storm."

"We were. Do you remember the name of your former partner?"

"Cassius was his name."

"Mine was Mikhail. Do you remember what happened during the fight?"

"Every detail. Like all our other fights before. Where are you trying to get at?"

"What happened to both of our previous partners?"

Albion stays quiet for a moment before he answers. "They lost themselves, went mad. They were so absorbed into our rivalry that they forgot themselves even without the use of the Juggernaut Drive."

"Yes, exactly that. Mikhail had a pregnant lover waiting for him but he went mad during that fight and forgot even his own name. He was not longer able to return to her or that child. So, I made a choice during that fight. I gave up and stopped boosting him. I allowed you and Cassius to finish us with that attack. It wasn't my plan but that attack caused enough damage to the gear which allowed me to escape my seal two years ago during the fire that was about to kill my current partner. You are the cause behind my freedom and I thank you for that but I can't continue with this rivalry."

"Why? Because of that previous host? This is not the first time that a host goes mad due to the sacred gears."

"And that's the problem. It doesn't end. Can you remember all of those hosts that had been trapped in this endless cycle? I do and I'm still dragging their empty husks with me. Have thought about all the lives that we have destroyed with this rivalry? How many families have been damaged? How many deaths we have caused? It started when we were still back in our old bodies but it hasn't stopped. I can't continue like this. I can't continue the cycle with more hosts being dragged to a toxic rivalry that continues to create so much damage. I'm not a saint but I can't continue like this. I don't want more innocents to die or be hurt because of us. I don't want more fights that always end the same way. I know that the previous host you had died shortly after the fight ended. All that blood, all that damaged, it was too late for him to go back. Can you say that this rivalry has something positive?"

"We have become stronger."

"At the cost of a large number of deaths. I'm no longer that young dragon that wanted to prove his strength or fight with any being that looked at me the wrong way. I'm too old for any of this and I have to move on or this will never stop. I cannot continue with this rivalry or being the same Ddraig that started all of this. That's why I decided to fuse my soul with my current host. I'm going to force myself to start a new page in this story. I need Issei to create a new me. A new Ddraig that holds the memories and experiences from the past but one that can cut my connection to you and one that can move farther than my past self. No more Red Dragon Emperor, no more cycle of husks. I destroyed the booster gear and now I'm going to fully change the present me. I need to be a better Welsh Dragon and eliminated the Red Dragon Emperor that continues to face the White Dragon Emperor. You're my equal but I'm choosing to move on without you." Ddraig said.

"You can't do this to me. You're my rival. The only one that was immune to my poison is you. The only one that was able to match me is you. You're the one that approached me and started our rivalry. When I was alone due to my poison you brought light into my existence. You can't leave me behind." Albion says but then he feels the last nail in the coffin.

Crimson flames that can even kill gods. A power that was sealed away when the rivalry began. "I already did Albion. I understand what our rivalry means to you because we are equals but I can't do this anymore. I started this and I'm the one ending it. The day that Issei Hyoudou died, it was the same day that the red dragon emperor did as well. You need to reflect; on us, our past, our sins, and begin to move on toward a future without our rivalry. Your current host is a blank slate that lacks any attachment to this rivalry so alongside her find a new path for yourself. If you ever need my advice you can always find me but as of this moment, we are no longer rivals. This is the end of the cycle for us."

The blue jewel on Vali's vanishing gear went dark. She couldn't hear Albion anymore. "Is this ok? Is he going to be fine?" Vali asks. She felt worried about her partner.

"I trust that he will. He needs time to reflect and as my equal, he will find a way to move on just like I did. If either of you needs help or someone to talk to, you can always look for me. I don't consider you as my enemy and I hope that you never become my enemy. Azazel knows very well that what I said is true. He has been alive for a long time and has seen this rivalry since its beginning. So please think twice before choosing a path similar to the previous hosts. The power of the gear is dangerous and the Juggernaut Drive is a power you shouldn't use. You can become strong but don't let yourself be consumed by the power of the gear. There is no Red Dragon Emperor left so I pray that this can allow the husks trapped within the vanishing gear some type of releasement." Ddraig says.

Azazel who was hearing all of this doesn't know what to say. After hearing all of this from Ddraig he didn't know how to react. He had changed so much that he was almost a whole complete entity from what he remembered as Ddraig. But he still had some questions for him "So what are your plans now? This freedom gives you the ability to do what you want."

"Traveling. I hid my treasure in different parts of the human world before the rivalry began and I need to retrieve it. I began a relationship with Tiamat and she wants a child so you can imagine that I'm going to have to settle down with her. There is a debt to Great Red that I need to pay and he needs me to become stronger so I still have to that. Finally, I need to pay some respects to my previous partners. I owe them some kind of tribute especially those that are trapped with me. I also have curiosity about Mikhail's family since he was my previous partner so I have some research to do." Ddraig said before he remembered a certain nekomata and redhead girl. "I might also need to keep my eyes on the Rias Gremory due to a promise I made to her and there's a nekomata that is currently under my care so I have my hands full for the moment."

"Wow, that's a lot of things," Vali said after hearing all the things Ddraig had to do.

"Seems like a big list to me. What about the boy? Does he also have a plan?" Azazel asks.

"It's the same for both of us but what he wants the most is to settle down with Tiamat at the moment. He has no other family left and Tiamat is the closest connection that we have at the moment." Ddraig admits.

Azazel smiles. "So, the big dragon Ddraig has a mate now. One of the oldest virgins is finally going to become a man." A soon as Azazel finishes saying that Shemhazai appeared out of nowhere and slapped the shit out of him with a harisen.

"You don't have the right to call him that or joke about those things in front of Vali. Miss Vali, please cover your ears." Shemhazai says.

Vali looks confused but does as told by the fallen angel.

"How dare you? How can you call the dragon that almost killed you a virgin? Do you wanna die?"

"He is. I can sense his virginity."

"You have no right to offend the being that can destroy our whole base."

"But he is a massive virgin. Although now that he has found a mate, I'm sure that he is going to get a harem in no time."

Ddraig watches in silence how Shemhazai continues to hit Azazel with the harisen. He wasn't feeling offended so he calmly took some tea and biscuits while he watched the comedic scene taking place in front of him. "These tastes good."

Vali on the other hand couldn't understand what these adults were talking about. "Mate? Virgin?" Shemhazai had made sure that she stays pure when it came to sex, relationships, and all matters related to the world of adults. It was a surprising fact that she had stayed so innocent after living for almost three whole years with the fallen angels.

She turns her eyes towards Ddraig and thinks about the person in front of her. Azazel had taught her about the rivalry of the hosts of both heavenly dragons and he had always advised her against meeting the other host but things had changed in such a short time that she didn't know what to do now. But one thing was sure, she wanted to know more about this person in the years to come.

After the meeting at Grigori, night time.

Ddraig had returned to the Gremory house. They had three days left until Grayfia finish the training regime that she had imposed on Raynare. After that, they were free to leave and start their travels through the human world.

As he walked through the gardens, he felt her arrival.

"Sirzechs told me about the nekomata incident. So, I'm getting one or two more rivals?" Tiamat said as she descended next to him.

"It was a mistake. I just wanted to help them and Kuroka was the one that kissed me. Shirone didn't do anything like that." Ddraig admits.

Tiamat smiles before she talks once more. "I told you before. Females will come and get close to you even if that's not your intention but let's talk about something else. How's Albion?"

Stay Alive by Takahashi Rie*

"Depressed, confuse, broken; he is going through many feelings right now but that's the way it has to be. As my equal, he is going to overcome it. It took me many centuries to realize what was needed to be done but I know that he will do it in less time than me. He has a blank slate as a partner and no rival to chase after so he will find a path for himself at some point. He is not alone anymore." Ddraig says.

"Are you sure? Can he really overcome all of this?" Tiamat continues.

"Yes. Albion is equal. A reflection of me who was suffering the same situation. I was born from an egg all alone in the depths of the ocean close to Wales. Since my youth I was strong and these flames keep pushing everyone away from me except for you. You can be hurt by them like many others but Albion is different. Only him besides Great Red and Ophis is immune to these flames like I'm immune to his poison. If I was able to change, he can also do it and be even better than me at it. I see him as the superior version of myself." Ddraig admits as he looks at his burning hand.

Tiamat puts her arms around him. "I have never been afraid of these flames. Since I met that young and stupid red dragon I have been chasing after his light. Your life is mine and I won't let go no matter how much you change. If you truly believe that he can change I'm going to believe it." She grabs his head and gives him a kiss. "You're not alone either."

"I know." His draconic eyes were focused on her ignoring the rest of the world just for a few seconds.

Meanwhile, Grigori.

Vali looks at her sacred gear as she sat down on a window. She was Albion's host but she lacked any true connection to him at the moment. "Albion, I don't know what you might be feeling at the moment. I don't know the whole story but I wish that one day we can truly become friends. I will be here if you ever want to talk so don't feel lonely. I'm here for you so please confide in me when you feel ready."

As a child that only knew the hate of her dad, Lunafreya had instead learned and absorbed the values of her mother. One of those being compassion and care for others.

But even her words of support couldn't heal the deep sorrow that Albion was feeling at the moment. For him, the light of his life had disappeared and now he found himself all alone with the husks of his past hosts as his only companions.

It was going to take some time before he ever got out of the darkness that surrounded him. Now, after hitting rock bottom he couldn't deny that he was deeply hurt by Ddraig's choice. He was trapped inside of the Dividing gear and there wasn't a way for him to reach Ddraig. He was left without any choices.

Notes of the author: It might sound weird but this is the state of the story between these two dragons. Is not only a rivalry but the connection between them. Opposites that can't kill each other. Immune to each other's powers they found their equals in each other but Ddraig realizes that is for the best if he cuts the rivalry and kills the things that maintain the cycle of endless dead hosts. The booster gear is gone, the old Ddraig has mature and now by fussing his souls he will completely kill the Red Dragon Emperor. It sounds weird but it's the path that he has chosen for the sake of himself, the hosts, and Albion as well. *