Fiore Academy
Chapter 31 - END's Spire
Authors' Note - Well this took me a couple weeks to write but I hope it was worth it, be sure to let me know what you guys think and I'll try to get the next chapter out in another week or two.
Enjoy.
Mirajane stared at the portal that appeared behind Commander Arias; a perfect rectangle of shimmering light, like the air within the space had turned into waves.
It stretched a hundred metres to her right and a hundred metres to her left, large enough for the entire army to march forward at once, without having to change into a single file line.
Mirajane looked around her to gauge the forces that were dedicated to this Rescue Operation. There were ten legions all told, each legion was made up of thirteen squadrons of twenty combat mages and four 'Healers' led by a lieutenant of the legion, or the Captain.
All counted, this meant that three thousand two hundred and fifty mages were lined up.
Then in front of her was Commander Arias, a man many said was equal to all the other Captains combined... and Igneel Dragneel, who is the only one powerful enough to fight the Demon King.
Mirajane smiled; the chances were slim this could be pulled off, but she knew that their current situation awarded them the best chance of success.
However, to the left of Commander Arias and Igneel Dragneel, was a subject of confusion for Mirajane; a group of hooded fgures, a dozen or so, all gathered behind a single woman... and Mirajane was surprised to see her outside of Fiore Academy, but she could understand why she was here.
"Ur Milkovic" Mirajane said under her breath, as she stared at the woman gazing upon the forces of the Knights of the Red Cross.
Virgo sidled up next to Mirajane to whisper in her ear, "No doubt she's here to lead the Spies; they'll likely scout ahead, gathering intel and using Ur-Sensei to relay all information gathered.
"So she'll march with us?" Mirajane asked Virgo, earning a nod from Virgo, "Meanwhile those shady people will scout ahead?" Again, Virgo nodded in response.
"They'll figure out the enemy's forces" Virgo furthered her answer, "Their numbers, their positons, things like that".
Mirajane nodded; perhaps even now she was only just now realising their situation; this was by all means a Rescue Operation... but it would likely be a major battle, signalling the beginning of the War.
They were at war... and the first campaign was to rescue Natsu and Ultear, preventing the Demon Race from obtaining the advantage.
Arias turned around and with Igneel at his side, the two began to move into the portal.
They were quickly followed by the Spy Corps, and at this point the Captains of all the legions began moving forward as well, their legions following behind them.
Zeref led the way for Mirajane and the others, all thirteen squadrons of the fourth legion ranking behind them.
Mirajane gulped the nervous spit that sprouted in her mouth; it was time... it was finally time for all of them to enter the Blight.
Mirajane reached the portal and did not hesitate to pass through it; it felt as though she was going through a calm waterfall, though she did not get wet and she did not feel cold.
The sensation sent tingles down her spine; it was a feeling she couldn't quite describe any better than she already had... but even then it was not an accurate description.
There were so many things she could think of that described this sensation; going through a waterfall, a thousand tiny insects crawling over her body, flames licking every square inch of her flesh... all of this would be appropriate... but none of them would be accurate.
Finally she passed through the portal, and unconsciously she had closed her eyes whilst going through the portal.
She could immediately feel she was no longer in her own world.
The air was stifling; it was hot, and the dampness felt more like she was inhaling steam rather than air. It felt dirty, like every single pore of her skin was ready to burst with sweat, sticking to her like an ugly fragrance.
She hadn't even been here for a second, yet she already hated how this world felt.
It smelled of sulphur and rotten earth; she wished she had some way to block her nose.
She could hear the wind, but it didn't sound sharp... it sounded dull, like it was a wind that just blew all the time.
She opened her eyes... and immediately wished she had lived her life never seeing what she was now seeing.
Before her, exapanding as far as the eye can see... was a valley with no bridge... she could not see the other side of this massive valley.
What she could see to her sides and behind her, were mountains and volcano's; the volcanos's were all erupting constantly, sending ash through the air, and the mountains steamed, sending moisture down below.
Everything seemed to have a reddish tinge to it... in one word, Mirajane could really only describe this world as 'Hell'.
Mirajane tenderly walked to the edge of the valley; before her was a wide stair case, as wide as the portal behind her... but she could not see the bottom... the bottom was nothing but darkness.
The fear on her face must have been evident, because Igneel to her left kicked a stone loose and into the massive expanse of the valley; Mirajane didn't hear it hit the ground.
"The Pits go down roughly a kilometre down into the earth" Igneel informed her, "It looks dark now, but your eyes will adjust as you go down... but yes it's dark... it's scary... and it's filled with rabid Demons far weaker than Hades and Acnologia... but much more cruel than the both of them combined".
"Are you trying to convince me to turn back?" Mirajane asked in a shaky voice; she would be lying if the prospect of going down there didn't terrify her.
But Igneel shook his head, "Even if you knew certain death was down there you wouldn't turn around; I'm simply telling you what you need to be prepared for... all of you need to be prepared" with those last words he turned to the rest of the girls behind Mirajane.
"I have to admit" Erza replied, also staring into the darkness, "This isn't what I expected".
"Regardless, we have no choice" Hisui added.
"If we are to rescue Natsu-nii" Kagura further added.
"We have to go down there, no matter how terrifying it may be" Virgo finished, earning them all a nod from Igneel.
Karen was unusually silent as she stared into the darkness.
"Karen my dear, what's the matter?" Katherine asked her daughter, holding her by the shoulders.
Then Karen began to shed a tear surprising all the girls; why was she crying? Was she that terrified?
"It's not that I'm scared" Karen replied, "But... when I look into this..." she turns a slightly angry glare at Igneel, "All I can think of is Natsu-nii... he was only thirteen..."
The girls all looked up at that, and realised... she was right.
They all looked into the dark abyss before them... and they all realised the reality; when Natsu was only thirteen... alone... he spent two months down in that darkness.
Igneel, Zeref and Katherine all looked at the girls solemnly; no doubt they were all thinking Natsu must have been terrified being alone... the girls were scared going in there for only a couple of days with an army... they couldn't imagine how Natsu must have felt being alone and only thirteen years old.
Igneel stepped up to the girls and let off a large sigh, "Listen to me girls" they all turned their attention to Igneel, "It's a long standing custom in our family to send our members into these pits when they're thirteen... and sixteen if they're not quite a full member" he said the last part glancing at Zeref and Karen, "There are different levels of the Pits you could say; the closer you are to here" Igneel said as he pointed to the ground, "The weaker and less demons there are" Igneel then turned to the vast horizon where the abyss never seemed to end, "But the closer you are to the Elysium Palace, the stronger the Demons are... and the more you are in the centre, the more Demons there are of varying strengths".
Igneel turned back to all of them, "This means the safest place for an individual is close to these stairs, and that's why we only position members of our family here... by all means we still typically lose multiple members of each generation; I had three older brothers and a younger sister after all".
"What happened to them?" Mirajane asked him.
"Two of my brothers died" Igneel answered, "One of my brothers refused to succeed the Dragneel Clan afterwards, and my sister was never found... she was likely eaten".
All of them stared wide-eyed; eaten?
Igneel nodded, "That's one of the more pleasant endings to be fair; you usually die immediately but there's no trace of a body afterwards" he closed his eyes and sighed, "If they torture you they usually leave you behind as a message".
He turned to them all once more, "Again, I do not tell you this so you will run away; I tell you this to prepare you all mentally".
"You're the priority as we cross" Zeref added in, "You would be the last ones to be attacked if anything happens".
"So in regards to crossing" Katherine added herself into the mix, "You're the safest you can possibly be".
The girls all nodded, then turned to Arias, silently standing at the edge of the abyss.
"I recommend we march until we reach END's Spire, what do you say Igneel?" Arias proposed, earning a nod from Igneel.
"Despite being in the middle of the Pits" Igneel added, "That is the safest place to set up camp, and is a decent halfway point".
Arias nodded and moved forward; that action was a silent command for the rest of the army to follow suit.
As Mirajane and the others continued to enter the Abyss before them, Mavis had a question.
"I do not recall a location known as END's Spire" Mavis ventured with Igneel in front of her, "In fact, I don't recall any landmarks near the centre of the Pits".
Igneel nodded, "Of course you wouldn't".
Mavis frowned, "So then why-"
"Because it's only been around for four years... if that" Arias replied himself in his booming voice.
Mavis and Mirajane were confused, but the rest of the girls began to happen upon a moment of realisation.
"When they found him though, he was sitting atop a pile of demon corpses and corpses of creatures... the reports came back that not a single demon or creature dared come within a league of that location even today... they avoid from fear".
"It was Natsu" Erza muttered, turning the heads of Mavis and Mirajane, "Natsu, he..."
"Indeed" Igneel acknowledged Erza's realisation, "It was Natsu that turned the location of END's Spire into a Safe Haven for Knights of the Red Cross crossing into the Pits".
"At that location" Arias continued, "He slaughtered not just dozens of Demons as is per norm for a member of the Dragneel Clan... not just hundreds like the more gifted members could do... and not just thousands like his father once did before him... he slaughtered tens of thousands of Demons and Blighted Creatures over the course of two months... never sleeping, never eating... it resulted in a pile of corpses so charred they basically became stone... and as months of harsh wind passed, the pile was turned into one solid mass... END's Spire... where Demons dare not tread".
"I thought you said Natsu was sealed" Mavis interrupted, "I fail to see how he could have achieved such a feat without his magic".
"He didn't use magic for the most part" Arias explained, "He used magic to make swords from flame, sure... but that was it".
"Natsu fought tooth and nail in hand to hand combat the entire time" Igneel continued, "Because of his seals he doesn't have a lot of magic to waste... so growing up he instead focused on the art of the sword, usually reserved for members with little magic in their veins".
At these words they finally reached the foot of the stairs; Igneel was right, their vision would adjust... somewhat... it was still dark, though they could make out some things in the darkness.
"Solar Lumen" Igneel muttered, casting a spell into the air that erupted into a large ball of fire, Illuminating their surroundings. As soon as he did, ugly creatures with long limbs and pale hairless skin began to scurry off to the edges of light.
"Lesser Demons do try to get the better of you as soon as you try to enter the Pits" Igneel informed them all, "But living their entire lives in the dark, some light is enough to scare these parasites off; from now on, any Demon or Creature you see will be one you need to be a bit more cautious of".
Finally the girls began to understand why these were called the pits; all around them, wherever they looked, were holes that went even deeper, dozens of feet across in diameter... pits containing who knew what within.
"Get into formation!" Arias called to the troops coming up behind him.
Immediately they all began to surround the fourth legion, the first legion taking the front whilst another legion took the rear; three legions covered each of their sides, whilst the last legion surrounded the entire ring of light that Igneel had created with his miniature sun, in a closed shield formation.
"Advance!" Arias called out, "We march until we reach END's Spire!"
...
Natsu awoke in Lilith's bed; he felt tired from oversleeping, but he knew if he got over it he would have more energy than usual.
At his side, cuddling up to his chest, was Lilith, sleeping soundly.
Natsu internally berated himself; he slept really well... in such a way as he had only felt with Mirajane and Erza... meaning only one thing...
"I guess she's not going to have to work very hard" Natsu muttered, staring at Lilith's sleeping form.
Forcing himself out bed and dodging Lilith's unconscious arm reaching for him, he adjusted the blankets and pillows so she could still sleep comfortably.
He reached for his clothes and slipped them back on, then went to the door and stuck his head out.
Looking to his left, he could see two people; a woman dressed as a maid and a man dressed in a black suit. To his right he saw two men, dressed in glinting red and black armor, holding spears of Blighted Iron on their shoulders.
Natsu turned to the servants, "I assume you guys are here to serve Lilith and I?"
At the sight of their silent nods, Natsu continued, "Bring a large breakfast... and something for hangovers... Lilith is bound to have one when she wakes up".
They both gave slight bows and turned to head to the kitchens; Natsu now looked at the two soldiers, "I assume you're here to make sure I don't run?"
The soliders stepped up and bowed their heads to him, "Indeed" said the one on the left, "If you wish to leave Lilith's chambers, we will have to escort you; orders by the Demon King".
Natsu nodded, "How long until they get back?"
"It'll be around an hour" the one on the right answered.
Again Natsu nodded; he needed to act meek, remembering the conditions of his release from his cell... but given his Uncle's reaction to the fact of his imprisonment, Natsu wasn't too sure he needed to worry about that anymore.
"Is there somewhere I can train?" Natsu asked, causing the soldiers to look askance at each other, hesitant to answer, "If I stay locked up here, I'm going to go insane... I need to find something to do".
The soldiers turned back to Natsu and simply nodded, turned around and began walking; taking the signal, Natsu began to follow them.
They led him down the labyrithine hallways of the palace; confusing and disconcerting if he tried to focus on where he turned and walked... it only took a couple minutes for Natsu to lose track of where he had previously walked.
But true to their word... or rather their nod... the two soldiers led Natsu to an outdoor courtyard, which was nothing but heavily compacted dirt.
"This is where the Demon Lords like to come to train themselves" one of the soldiers informed Natsu, "You may find wooden weapons on the left side.
Natsu looked to the left and noticed wooden swords, maces and axes as well as two handed variants.
"Thank you" Natsu sighed in relief, heading to the weapon racks.
Natsu slid his hand across the handles of all the wooden swords; when he was done, he went back and picked up a seemingly random wooden sword from the racks.
"A man who knows how to pick out a good sword?" a female voice spoke behind him, "Color me surprised".
Natsu turned around, sword in hand, but didn't have enough time to notice anything, before he was forced to parry a strike; splinters flew and Natsu stared into the face his attacker.
"Quick to defend himself too it seems" a gleeful looking woman with blonde hair smiled excitedly at him, putting her strength behind her wooden blade.
Natsu disenganged their blades, took a quick step back and a leap to the side, gaining distance from the woman, "And I barely had any time to react to your speed".
The woman smiled smugly at him, resting her sword on her shoulder; she then glanced at the soldiers standing by one of the four entrances, then looked over Natsu, "I guess you must be Natsu Dragneel then".
Natsu frowned, "You are?"
The woman stabbed her wooden blade into the ground and performed a bow that was borderline mocking, "I am Wrath, Demon Lord of Rage".
Natsu gritted his teeth, "Guess that means I only need to meet one more Demon Lord then huh..."
Wrath put her finger on her chin, "Let's see... you met and beat Hades... you met and lost to Acnologia... you met and likely fucked Lilith... and so..." Wrath clicked her fingers, "Since you're friends with his daughter I'm guessing you met Kronos".
Natsu nodded, "So who am I missing now?"
Wrath waved her hand side to side, "Who cares? All I want to know is one thing Natsu Dragneel" she pulled her sword out of the ground and pointed it at Natsu, "How strong are you?"
Natsu glanced over at the guards, "I can't use magic right now if that's what you're hoping for".
"I said nothing about magic" Wrath countered, "I myself don't use magic".
"Then how-" Natsu began to ask, but Wrath interrupted.
"How did I become a Demon Lord?" Wrath asked with her excited grin that bordered on madness, "Simple... I was the best with a blade is all".
Natsu took a deep breath, "I see... so now..."
Wrath deepened her grin, "Now I want to see what the Dragneel Scion is capable of".
Without another word, she flashed out of sight; Natsu had to admit her speed was incredible.
Natsu closed his eyes; likely she was keeping her distance, evaluating his stance, measuring her opponent for weaknesses.
He couldn't figure anything out about her even with his eyes open, so he tried to open up his other senses; how far away was she? Feeling the whiplash of her speedy form... using that, what are her patterns? Where would she be and when? When would she strike?
Natsu closed his mind off from all distractions, focusing on Wrath... his mind was still... calm... without any form of distraction whatsoever... all that mattered right now was the existence of Wrath... where she was... how she moved... how she would strike... he focused on himself... what were his weaknesses? Where would he strike if he were in her position?
To the eyes of the soldiers, they only saw Natsu, standing still in his ready stance, holding his wooden sword in the middle of the training field... eyes closed... they could not sense Wrath... for all they knew she was gone...
That was when Natsu sensed malice... he sensed her intent... he sensed she would strike... all he had to do now was judge where.
Natsu opened his eyes and arced his blade to his rear left... catching Wrath's own wooden sword. As soon as he did, Wrath seemed to have popped into existence, no longer moving as fast as she was before.
Natsu noticed her somewhat shocked expression before he struck forward with the sword, holding it to her neck, as though to cut it.
Wrath did not fight back; she was in shock... nobody... not a single one... had ever seen through her like that... not a single person...
She glanced at Natsu, staring into his seemingly uncarring eyes... she could sense that if it weren't for the fact these swords were wooden... she'd be dead right now.
Wrath laughed through her shock, "Well... that was surprising... I have to admit defeat here".
Natsu pulled back and nodded to her, "If I had a little less experience, I would not have had enough time to counter".
Wrath laughed, "Now all I need to know is how many people in the Mortal Plain are better than you".
"That wouldn't exactly be strategically beneficial" Natsu replied rather dryly.
Wrath assumed a serious expression, "Indeed; we mustn't forget that we're enemies" she walked up to Natsu's side so she could speak directly into Natsu's ear, "However I hear from Hades, that two of your girlfriend's are capable with a sword".
Natsu glanced at Wrath, notcing her eager smile; Natsu now understood who Wrath was as a Demon completely... he was surprised she wasn't rabid.
"They wouldn't be much sport for you" Natsu replied evenly, "Neither of them could beat you".
For a moment Wrath looked at Natsu in surprise... then her smile grew even more than before, "I see... you understand then?"
Natsu nodded, "If it comes to battle... you can seek me out instead".
Natsu understood Wrath completely; she didn't try to hold back her nature as a Demon... she was constantly trying to 'evolve'... in her case she would evolve by defeating opponents more powerful than herself... all she cared about was fighting; it made up her entire existence... without fighting she wouldn't be Wrath.
Wrath continued her smile and gave a slight cackle; she was definetely borderline rabid at the very least.
"Very well" Wrath said, walking away from Natsu, "If it comes down to it" before she left she turned back to Natsu, displaying the madness that played in her eyes, "Then I'll seek you out... and kill you Natsu Dragneel".
Natsu may have averted her from targeting Erza and Kagura... but now he knew he was now in the crosshairs of a Demon Lord.
"May the gods have mercy on me" Natsu sighed, putting his wooden training sword away, "I think that's enough for one session".
...
The entire day they marched; it didn't take long for Mirajane, Erza, Hisui, Virgo, Kagura, Karen and Katherine to begin losing their breath... the air was thick and difficult to breathe.
But they continued to march ever forward; their surroundings grew monotonous, all that there was to see was constant pits and dark grey soil lit by Igneels' miniature sun.
Occasionally a Demon or Creature would jump the defensive line around them, charging for the fourth legion, but before it could reach within a hundred feet of them, it would be struck down by a spell, usually from one of the hundred and twenty lieutenants gathered in this one location.
Everyone was growing increasingly tired; they didn't know if it was just building on top of everything, or if the air was getting thicker, but it was growing increasingly more difficult to breathe. They had long since forgotten what it was like to breathe air without any moisture in it.
It was when Karen began to teeter on the edge of unconsciousness that Igneel calmly called out to them, "We're here".
Everyone looked up; Igneel had raised the sun in a high position so as to provide as much light as possible over a wide area... and in the centre of the area it illuminated, was what seemed like a very tall pillar, reaching a hundred feet into the air.
It was as black as the darkness that stretched beyond the light... and if the girls looked carefully, they could make out certain features within the pillar; faces, limbs... it was clear this was not a pillar made from stone.
What troubled them now was, they now knew who had created this pillar.
"This place reeks of death" Arias exclaimed, scrunching up his nose, "And I'm pretty sure it's not dirt that filled in any nearby pits".
The girls looked around; in as large of an area as they were in, there should have been numerous pits based on what they had seen up to this point... though they did notice patches of earth that were slightly lighter than the rest.
"Most likely ash" Igneel replied to Arias, "I doubt all the bodies came away simply charred".
Arias nodded, "Yes... likely as not it's ash".
That's when it clicked in their minds; the holes were filled in with ash... but not just any kind of ash.
"No wonder it reeks" they heard a nearby soldier remark.
Arias turned to face them all, "Though it should be safe to camp here, we should still keep a lookout; I leave that responsibility with the first legion" Arias nodded to one of his lieutenants, "Set up camp, we rest here for twelve hours; Enchanters! See what you can do about the air!"
At this Irene from the Spriggan Twelve stepped forward, "I can take care of it on my own" she commented confidently, stamping her staff on the ground, causing a magic circle to appear on the ground... and spread to the edge of light.
As soon as it did, it disappeared... and immediately the air completely changed.
"The smell... it's gone" Kagura remarked in wonder.
"The air is easier to breathe too" Hisui added.
Erza meanwhile, glared at her mother; she didn't like the idea of breathing air produced by her mother... almost chidishly wanting nothing to do with her, she was willing to suffer discomfort.
But she had to think of everyone else, "So... we eat and sleep then?"
Zeref stepped up beside her, "Eat... Sleep... then we continue marching".
It only took the army ten minutes to fully set up camp; it was obvious how many times they had all needed to do this, a clear demonstration of how much of a gap in experience there was between the girls and the rest of the Knights of the Red Cross.
They were now all seated in the centre of the camp around a fire that was burning despite no fuel; another spell Igneel created for comfort.
They all sat around it; Mirajane, Erza, Hisui, Virgo, Kagura, Karen, Katherine, Mavis, Zeref, Igneel and even Commander Arias.
"So we'll be out of the pits in one more day?" Hisui asked Commander Arias.
Nodding, Arias replied, "We'll be out of here in one more day... but we'll need to rest the troops properly for the battle".
"So roughly two to three days from now" Igneel interceded, "Is when the battle will begin".
"What's the plan then?" Mirajane asked.
"I doubt Natsu is simply sitting idly by" Igneel commented, "Likely as not Natsu and Ultear are working together on forming a plan to escape... they just need a single distraction..."
"You'll be glad to know you're right about that" a familiar voice spoke to them.
Turning toward the voice, they saw Ur Milkovic approaching them. Taking a seat next to Arias by the fire, she remained silent as she took her shoes off, preparing to relax.
"What makes you say that Sensei?" Virgo asked her former teacher.
Ur glanced at Igneel and Arias, "I have someone I correspond with inside the Elysium Palace".
They both nodded, and Igneel ventured further, "Let me guess; Kronos?"
Ur nodded then stared into the fire, "Natsu and Ultear aren't alone in the Palace; they have a couple of allies working with them to get them out of there".
However Katherine picked up on the one name that was mentioned, "Kronos? What do you mean Kronos?"
Needless to say, Katherine looked absolutely shocked at hearing that name being spoken in such a way.
"What is it mother?" Karen asked her mother, suddenly not sure if she should be happy or concerned for her Onii-chan.
"Kronos..." Katherine muttered in reply, "Why... why is the Demon Lord of TIme on our side?"
"Not just the Demon Lord of Time" Ur replied, then turned toward Igneel, "But another Demon Lord as well apparently".
For a moment Igneel appeared slightly confused... then suddenly realisation dawned on him.
"I see... so she hasn't forgotten Elizabeth" Igneel said, smiling.
At this the girls all looked up at Igneel; what were they talking about?
"As I said previously" Igneel said to the girls, "Natsu isn't possessed by a Demon... he's a half Demon... and his mother Elizabeth was a full blooded Demon" the girls all knew this by now so it came as no shock, "However... Elizabeth wasn't just an ordinary Demon".
Based on the Demons the girls had seen briefly throughout the day, they could have surmised as much.
"In reality her name was Elizabeth Li Satan" Igneel announced, "Before she fled to the Mortal Plain for the sake of our love and our soon to be born son... she was known as the Demon Lord of Seduction, the Blighted Temptress" Igneel looked up at them with a dark glint to his onyx eyes, "Sister to the current Demon King".
The silence that followed this statement was palpable.
"Natsu... is Demon Royalty?" Mirajane asked in shock.
"Natsu-nii... is the Demon KIng's nephew" Kagura added in her own shock.
Mavis had assumed a dark expression; the Demon King was her century old enemy... and she had been within feet of his bloodline numerous times.
"No wonder they felt so similar" Mavis thought to herself, thinking back on her previous observations of Natsu Dragneel... how he always felt so strangely similar in power to the Demon King.
"In order to flee" Igneel continued, as though he didn't just drop a bombshell on those who did not know, "She had to enlist the help of her closest subordinate; she looked up to Elizabeth as an older sister figure" Igneel sighed, "So now I can only assume she is the other Demon Lord you spoke of Ur".
Ur nodded, "Kronos, Demon Lord of Time and Lilith, Demon Lord of Desire are both working together to help Natsu and Ultear escape".
"I understand why maybe this Lilith would be willing to help Natsu" Erza jumped, "But what of this Kronos?"
Ur looked down into the fire, ashamed, "Well... Kronos has always wanted peace between humans and demons for a start; his wish is to achieve a peaceful coexistence" Ur began, "But he has his own reasons and agenda for doing so".
"Those would be?" Katherine questioned, eyebrow raised; she had a suspicion already.
Ur looked up and gave them all a sad smile, "So that he could one day hold his own daughter in his arms".
It was a moment of silence and confusion, before all those not in the know realised what Ur was saying.
"Ultear" Mirajane whispered, "Ultear is Kronos' daughter isn't she?"
"No doubt that one fact alone" Ur replied with her sad smile, "Ought to answer the numerous questions you've previously had towards my past actions".
"So to put it simply" Igneel interrupted, not wanting anyone to get sidetracked, "Kronos is helping because he wants to protect Ultear, his daughter... and Lilith is helping because she wants to protect Natsu".
"I get that she was close to Elizabeth" Hisui spoke up, "But... she's never met Natsu..."
"Well about that" Igneel sighed, "This may be troubling for all of you to hear but... before she left the Blight Elizabeth made Lilith a promise".
"A promise?" Erza impatiently asked.
"Should our child be a boy" Igneel began, "Should he fall in love with Lilith... Lilith had our blessing to marry Natsu".
This set all the girls frozen on the spot.
"Ur said" Mirajane began, her voice borderline laughing at the insanity she was hearing, "That Lilith was the Demon Lord of... of..."
"Desire" Igneel finished Mirajane's sentence, "Yes, Lilith is the Demon Lord of Desire".
It was as though the girls had all practiced for this moment, because all at once the girlfriends and potential girlfriends of Natsu Dragneel muttered one word.
"Bitch".
...
Lilith let off a violent sneeze at the breakfast table.
Natsu, sitting opposite to her, with a sausage in his mouth, looked up at her, "Don't tell me you're catching cold".
Lilith smiled and laughed, "No no... I think somebody was talking about me; you know that old superstition?"
Natsu frowned, "Pretty sure the blankets should have covered you up properly last night... then again you were naked and drinking for a couple hours beforehand".
"I told you" Lilith said, reaching a hand out to clasp Natsu's free hand, "I'm fine... probably just some dust or something".
Natsu was silent for a moment before he nodded, "Fine then... so you're going to eat or what?"
Before them was as Natsu requested earlier; a large breakfast.
A platter piled with sausages, plates of scrambled eggs and toast as well as piles upon piles of pancakes and bowls filled with cereal. Pots full of coffee and jugs full of juice... Lilith even had a glass of a green juice that the servants said would aid her hangover, which she did indeed have when she awoke.
"Honestly I don't understand how anyone, human or demon, could possibly consume all of this food in one sitting" Lilith sighed, staring at all of the food.
"Well I guess you could argue I'm neither human nor demon" Natsu retorted in a mumble around his mouthful of pancake.
Lilith smiled sadly, "You are both human and demon Natsu... you belong in both worlds".
Natsu stopped eating and put his cutlery down; by no means did he consider this meal over... but he felt it was time for a serious conversation.
"Do I?" Natsu asked Lilith, eyebrow raised.
Lilith nodded, "Yes, you do, no matter what anyone may tell you".
Natsu sighed, "I think I understand why my father sealed away my demon side... I couldn't live in the mortal world otherwise".
Lilith nodded, "Indeed; likely as not you would have met the same fate as Lady Elizabeth, though maybe a few years later given that you're a half breed".
"So for Demons, being on the Mortal Plain results in a slow death" Natsu mumbled, "But for Humans in the Blight it's Insanity".
Lilith nodded, "So I guess as things stand... you don't have a place in either world if you're your complete self".
Natsu looked up at that, "Wait... as things stand?"
Lilith in return, looked down, "That's... not really a conversation for this time... later, when it becomes more relevant... perhaps..."
Natsu could tell she closed that possible path of conversation; nothing he said or did would convince her to tell him what she meant by that.
"Very well" Natsu said gruffly, slamming a mouthful of scrambled egg in his mouth to keep him going, "So that's why I would die if I unlocked the third gate of my Demon Seal".
"It would be a slow death, around five years I would say" Lilith replied, "I do believe Igneel would have been quite technical and never mentioned WHEN you would die".
Natsu nodded, "Removing the third seal... would mean unravelling the seal completely... meaning I'd have to go through a whole new ritual".
"However since you have grown in strength as you've grown older" Lilith continued, "It would be infinitely more difficult to do so".
"So if I undo the seal... I'll have five years left to live, unless I move to the Blight" Natsu confirmed.
"But after five years in the Blight" Lilith continued, "You would lose your sanity".
Natsu frowned, "Wait... couldn't I..."
Lilith cocked her head at Natsu, not sure where he was going with this.
"Couldn't I... just... switch every two years or so?" Natsu continued to frown in thought.
Lilith blinked at that, "I mean... I guess you could do that... not really sure if that would work or not..." she honestly had no clue whether the solution would be that simple.
Natsu laughed, "Granted this is only if the third seal ever comes undone".
Lilith smiled, "But if it does... I guess... we could be together for two years at a time".
Natsu looked up at that; back to this again?
"You really are persistent" Natsu sighed, leaning back in his chair, staring at the roof.
"Is there something wrong with me?" Lilith asked, seriously wondering why Natsu hadn't ravaged her a dozen times over; she was well aware she was an attractive woman, she was the Demon Lord of Desire for crying out loud.
"I'm not a man who simply looks at an attractive woman and wants to bang her" Natsu sighed, "By all means, you're totally bangable" Natsu sat up and looked straight at Lilith with intense onyx eyes, "But if I have sex with you, it's because I also love who you are inside... and I don't know if I can say I know you well enough to make that call".
Lilith closed her eyes, "You are aware... I could just forcibly seduce you right?"
"Then I guess I would be fucking you senseless the moment you do that" Natsu replied, "There's nothing I can do to stop it, not with this bracelet on" Natsu lifts up his right hand, showing off the Blighted Iron Bracelet he wore that prevented him from using magic.
"But I don't want to" Lilith muttered, bewildering herself.
"Why is that?" Natsu asked her, knowing the answer but wanting her to say it so she could see things from his point of view.
"Because when we finally do it" Lilith said, "I want you to love me as much as I love you" Lilith sighed, "I guess... I understand where you're coming from Natsu".
Natsu nodded, "You're free to seduce me the old fashioned way of course; love isn't usually something that happens on it's own anyway... but for now... I do not love you".
Lilith nodded, picking up a knife and fork, "Understood... but for now... shall we continue our feast?"
Natsu nodded, and for the next half an hour, Natsu and Lilith set themselves upon the immense amount of food before them.
...
Mirajane had finally laid her head down to go to sleep... and almost immedately a dream followed her to her rest.
At first, Mirajane didn't think she was dreaming; around her was nothing but the black abyss of the pits all around her, no light to be seen.
Then she realised she could not see the Spire of charred corpses, and she realised she wasn't at the Camp... and therefore she must be inside a vivid dream; so vivid that it felt real.
In the distance she could see light, a single ball of light, hovering and moving at a slow walking pace.
Mirajane immediately began to walk toward it and as she did, she noticed sounds of footsteps to her left and to her right.
They stopped when she too stopped to listen to those steps.
"Hello?" a familiar voice called to her right.
"Erza is that you?" Another familiar voice called to her left.
Suddenly a few more familiar voices began calling out to each other, and Mirajane began to recognise the owners of these voices.
Sure enough, after a minute of confusion, Erza and Karen came walking towards her from her right and Hisui, Kagura and Virgo came from her left.
"What is going on?" Mirajane wondered aloud, "Why does it seem like you guys are REALLY here?"
"Chances are that we all really are here" another voice said from behind them.
Turning around, the girls saw Mavis walking towards the group of girls.
"The Blight is basically one massive magic zone" Mavis continued, "A lot of strange things can occur from within".
"So what would you call this then?" Erza asked, "Becuase I'm assuming I'm not just dreaming all of you".
Mavis nodded her head, "This is what we call a Dreamscape; essentially we're dreaming of a powerful memory that resides in this area".
"A powerful memory?" Mirajane asked, "Like what?"
Mavis looked troubled, "It only happens when you are in close proximity to the location of the memory, meaning..." Mavis looked up darkly, "Likely as not... this is a memory of four years ago".
The girls all looked stunned; they understood the implications that Mavis was making.
If all that she said was true... chances were... they were about to witness the moment in history... that Natsu created END's Spire.
Authors' Note - I feel like that's a good place to leave a cliffhanger? I'm not sure... I feel like cliffhangers are meant to tease, but I don't know if this is too much... oh well.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, let me know what you guys thought about it in a review, and I'll see you guys as soon as possible with the next chapter. See ya.