Hi guys Azza here!
So firstly, the second half of this Chapter is going to probably throw all of you for a loop but I promise its plot relevant for later. In fact, most of the seemingly random scenes are plot relevant and some might be able to pick out the subtle hints of what's to come.
But regarding the second half of the Chapter, this is something I've been waiting to do for a long while. I had always envisioned this going down and finally getting to reveal this character and I know what she is going to do will be shocking.
So, enjoy that haha!
Anyway, on with the Chapter!
I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.
The War Concludes
/Marineford – Decimated Half – Several Minutes Prior/
As the area was shaken to its core, the attacks of two Grand Servants smashing together to create earthquakes at mere glancing blows, the forces of the World Government were at a loss on what to do.
Their initial target of Whitebeard was dead, but their next target of Natsu was now beyond their reach. Not only that, two Grand Class Servants were practically blocking their ability to aid the rest of the forces who had engaged the retreating forces of Eden and the Whitebeard Pirates.
This left Sengoku and Erich with but one remaining target, or group of targets.
"Zehahahahaha … So that's how it is then, eh? Can't say I'm surprised considering what I've done," Blackbeard chuckled as the rest of his crew came to his side. "I'd planned on using this to make my getaway since I got everything I wanted but hey, you wanna fight me Sengoku then I'll gladly oblige!"
"Letting any of you Pirates escape is a failure on our part, let alone you, Teach," Sengoku replied as Blackbeard coated himself with Darkness. "If you are allowed to escape Marineford, countless innocents will suffer needlessly!"
"HAH! Since when have you lot ever cared about the innocent and weak," Blackbeard scoffed in response. "You lot cozy up to the Celestial Dragons more than you help the rest of us! But that's neither here nor there, is it? Fact is, you're all frightened of my potential and power … I'd say rightfully so, ZEHAHAHAHAHA!"
"All the more reason to ensure you fall here, Teach!"
Blackbeard smirked as Sengoku entered his Buddha form, towering over all except San Juan Wolf who was still quadruple his height. Even as the Fleet Admiral began charging a shockwave with his right palm and cocking his arm back, the man continued to grin away.
"Think you can match me, just try it," Blackbeard shouted as he gleefully clenched his right fist, Quake Quake Fruit activating which sent tremors throughout the section of the island they were on. "Just try to stop me!"
Blackbeard cocked back as Sengoku moved in to strike, smashing the air before him moments later as Sengoku fired the shockwave directly at Blackbeard. The man laughed even harder, Sengoku gritting his teeth as he struggled to even match the power of the Quake Quake Fruit.
"ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU CAN'T DO IT, CAN YOU SENGOKU," Blackbeard roared as he felt the resistance against his attack quickly beginning to wane. "YOU'RE TOO OLD AND WASHED UP TO STOP ME!"
"We'll … see about that!"
A blinding light erupted at the epicentre of the attack followed by a sizeable explosion that sent both Sengoku and Blackbeard skidding backward. No one could tell what had set off the explosion however it quickly became apparent that neither combatant had done so themselves.
As the smoke cleared, a powerful pressure slammed into both parties with the smirk being wiped right off of Blackbeard's face. The man was now sweating as he took several shaky steps backward, Sengoku doing the same.
"N-no way," Blackbeard stuttered out as a black coat became visible through the smoke. "Wh-why are you here!?"
"Why am I here," a familiar voice repeated as footsteps could be heard through the smoke. "There's only one reason I've come."
As the smoke cleared, both the forces of the World Government and the Blackbeard Pirates froze. Standing there, a deep frown on his face and hand on the hilt of his still sheathed blade, was Red Hair Shanks.
"Red Hair," Sengoku muttered with wide eyes. "What …?"
"Listen up, all of you," Shanks' voice boomed across the battlefield as the sounds of combat across both sections of the ruined island ceased. "I've come … to end this war!"
The silence was deafening as all sides processed what Shanks had just said, neither willing to accept that he had come to aid the other. To the horror of all however, that silence was broken as Natsu appeared at the man's side.
"About time you got here," the Dragon Slayer huffed as he punched the man in the shoulder enough to send the man skidding slightly. "Do you have any idea how chaotic this war has been!?"
"My apologies for taking so long to get here, Natsu, but I had something crop up that stopped me from getting here sooner," Shanks sighed as he dusted off his coat before taking in the half-destroyed appearance of his friend. "Are you alright?"
"Do I LOOK alright!?"
"Heh, fair point."
"For real though, glad you finally showed up," Natsu sighed as both Seilah and Mordred appeared next to him. "Things here have been … pretty bad."
Shanks simply dipped his head slightly in response, his eyes widening slightly as he saw Mordred before shifting his gaze over the gathered forces around him. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and sighed before beginning to speak.
"Forces of Justice … Blackbeard Pirates … Forces of Eden … Whitebeard Pirates, and any other forces gathered here today … I ask that you lend me your ears!"
Everyone across Marineford winced, Natsu included, at the booming voice of Shanks. His request not delivered through merely an enhanced voice, but with Authority gifted to him via his station as Devil Representative of their world.
His words were ones that demanded they be heeded.
Words of the world itself, one might argue.
"This war, initially brought about by the desire to see Portgas D Ace saved from execution, must end here and now," Shanks said firmly as many on all sides looked between one another in varying degrees of shock. "Countless tens of thousands of souls have been claimed here on this battlefield, the world itself has been shaken to its foundations as some of the strongest displayed their power!"
Walking at a sedate pace toward the body of Whitebeard which still stood tall despite all the chaos that had gone on around Marineford since he'd died, Shanks sighed again before continuing to speak.
"For good or ill, the actions of many here today have changed the future of our world. We stand on the cusp of a new era, one that beckons all of you!"
"What the hell is he talking about," one Marine muttered as another gasped and pointed toward Mihawk who had sheathed his blade and begun walking off in another direction.
"Oi, Hawk Eye! Where are you going," the Marine shouted as the World's Strongest Swordsman stopped and looked over his shoulder at the man.
"I agreed to participate in the war against Whitebeard and his allies," the man replied before continuing to walk away. "Fighting Red Hair was not part of that agreement."
"What!?"
"It's time to quit whilst you are all ahead," Mihawk muttered without sparing the forces of Justice another glance as all eyes slowly turned back toward Shanks.
"If you all continue desiring more and more bloodshed, both sides will simply sustain further losses needlessly," Shanks continued as he turned around and faced the assembled forces before him. "However, if there are those that still want to fight …"
Across the battlefield, the pressure that had settled had become almost constricting as Shanks eyes began to glow Crimson Red, the man activating his Devil's Aura as he slowly drew his blade and faced down everyone at Marineford.
"Bring it on! I'll gladly fight every last one of you myself!"
Almost nobody moved, frozen still by the sheer intimidating presence of the man before them. Almost everyone, save for one crew.
Standing directly across from where Shanks was, Blackbeard and his crew stood before him in open defiance, their Captain smirking at Shanks who merely narrowed his eyes in turn.
"Zehahahahaha … You're looking as handsome as ever, Red Hair," Blackbeard laughed cruelly as he pointed toward the man. "That scar across your face suits you well, doesn't it?"
"Is that your response to me, Teach? Or, should I say, Blackbeard!?"
"Zehahahahaha … ZEHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Across Marineford, everyone waited with baited breath as Shanks and Blackbeard stared each other down, neither man so much as blinking. Even Natsu was shocked at how commanding Shanks was, not having actually seen a Devil exercising their Authority in their own world before to resolve a problem.
"Heh … I guess we'll stop it here then," Blackbeard replied with most downright shocked at the madman choosing to back down. "In the end, I already got what I wanted and we're not ready to deal with a monster like you, Red Hair."
Shanks watched as Blackbeard laughed at his boast with little more than an impassive gaze, knowing full well that to acknowledge the man would only further bloat his ego. With a mere narrow of the eyes, he watched as Blackbeard turned and began leaving with his crew in tow before moving his gaze over toward Sengoku.
Their eyes locked for a brief moment, a flash of grudging understanding momentarily visible on Sengoku's face before his entire form was engulfed in a golden light and he deactivated his Devil Fruit and returned to his base form.
Giving the Fleet Admiral a slight nod, Shanks finally had the chance to fully survey the carnage around him and couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt inside. The body of Ace and Whitebeard's form being the major standouts for him as he steeled himself to continue addressing those before him.
"Everyone," Shanks' voice boomed as he looked toward each group to make sure they were standing down. "For now, you must all put aside your differences and listen to me!"
A dull murmuring of confusion and disbelief ran through those present at Shanks' words, unsure if they should heed them or not. One look to their superiors however silenced them as the leaders of all sides focused directly on the man.
"Whitebeard and Ace … I would ask that you let my crew and I handle their burial," Shanks said as he turned to face Sengoku who merely crossed his arms in response. "This war was broadcast to the entire world, their deaths displayed publicly for all to see. I won't let anyone dishonour their deaths by parading them around any longer!"
"That's ridiculous," one Marine Vice Admiral shouted back in disbelief. "We raise a shout of victory by displaying their dead bodies to the public!"
"The Vice Admiral is right!"
"Are you trying to dishonour our victory by refusing us this right," an Army Captain agreed as many others began openly voicing their protests only to be suddenly silenced by an unexpected source.
"I agree."
Silence reigned once again as all eyes turned toward the Fleet Admiral who didn't look particularly pleased, yet resolved all the same.
"Only because its you Red Hair will I allow it, due to what you represent," Sengoku continued with many scratching their heads in confusion at the Fleet Admiral's words.
"But Fleet Admiral-!?"
"I shall take the blame upon myself should anyone higher up protest this decision," the man sighed before meeting Shanks' gaze.
"Thank you, Sengoku," Shanks replied softly only for the Fleet Admiral to ignore him in favour of addressing the assembled World Government Forces.
"Medic Teams, begin treating all the wounded you can," Sengoku cried as many of the World Government Forces gaped in shock. "This war is … OVER!"
/A Market Somewhere In The South Blue/
The streets were filled with cheers and merriment as hundreds celebrated the end of the worst war in recent memory. The Marineford War had shaken many in the town, everyone having taken the day off to watch and wait with baited breath and the ultimate outcome.
One business savvy owner had opened his bar that day, expecting a rather sizeable turnout thanks to the war. Undoubtedly, those who hadn't were now cursing their luck.
"SEE! I TOLD YOU WHITEBEARD WASN'T GONNA WIN," one man cheered as he downed another glass. "WE DID IT!"
"I wouldn't be celebrating that hard, it was pretty close," another chimed in with many around him nodding in agreement.
"That guy, Natsu Dragneel, he nearly brought the war into Whitebeard's favour what with himself and all the allies he brought with him."
"Keh! That Dragneel guy wasn't gonna make a difference," another man scoffed loudly. "He got messed up by several people there!"
"Still, it wasn't a cakewalk for the World Government …"
"Who cares because WE WON BABY! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!"
The sounds of celebration would take some time to cease in the market, a savvy business owner having become incredibly rich as a result.
/A Farm Somewhere In The East Blue/
The mood in the town hall was a sombre one as many struggled to look at the screen at the front for more than a few seconds.
The sheer power on display and the casual killing of thousands with less than a flick of a wrist had condemned the entire small town to a depressed state of mind.
One man cried softly, watching live as his nineteen-year-old Son was ripped apart by a beast parading as a man. He refused to call the one who killed his Son Human, not after how easily he watched his Son be torn in half.
Surrounding the man were his friends from work, many having also seen their own children slain live, all in varying states of shock and horror as they struggled to comprehend what had happened to their loved ones.
They watched as Natsu Dragneel wiped away entire armies with a wave of his hand, as Whitebeard turned men into paste through the power of the Quake Quake Fruit. As the Servants butchered countless men in a ruthless fashion.
These beasts were not normal. No living being could seriously do what they did, could they? Surely it wasn't possible for such callous disregard for life be ingrained into so many, could it?
Either way, the population of the small town had shrunk by over half as a result of the Marineford War.
And her people certainly wouldn't forget it.
/A Bar Somewhere In The North Blue/
The dull hum of a dodgy wire globe was all that could be heard in the room of the abandoned bar, closed by its owner who refused to serve drinks to the community in favour of shutting himself away should the end of days come to pass from this war.
Across the counter, a pool of whiskey lay, slowly running off of the counter and onto the floor. A ways up, brown whiskey slowly became redder and redder until it reached the hunched over form of the bar owner.
Flintock pistol positioned at the roof of his mouth …
A gaping hole in the top of his head.
The man had seen the horrors and atrocities of the war, the power of those like Whitebeard, Dragneel and Mordred. In his drunken state, the man foolishly predicted their victory and thus, ended his own life on his own terms rather than face a darker age of piracy.
The man was twenty years old, only rejected by the military due to his bum knee being a hinderance on the battlefield.
The more he drank, the more delusional he became until he deduced that he would be next on the firing line and thus, chose to end it all on his terms.
He would not be discovered for over a week.
/A Casino In The West Blue/
The entire Casino was dead quiet. Blood coated the entire interior of the building as one man sat amidst it all, smoking a cigar with a mournful look on his face as he gazed up at a frozen image of the dead Whitebeard.
"How could you go and die like that, Newgate," the man sniffed as he flicked some of his blonde locks out of his face. "It was supposed to be your era, the Era Of Whitebeard! Whatever happened to our dream, Newgate? Did you really want to join our Captain and our friends like this!?"
"Seems like you heard the news then," a rather goofy voice cut in as a strange looking man that appeared like a clown strolled on in, his shoes making strange noises as he went. "A real shame."
"Yeah … I can hardly believe he died," the man sighed as he took another drag of his cigar. "With his death, a new age is coming. Whatever that age might bring, it'll be nothing compared to the one I'm creating."
"Of course not," the other man replied cheerily as he stood before the depressed man. "Tell me though, does this affect our plans?"
"No, not in the slightest," the man replied as he finally looked at the clown-like man. "Unless you have something else to report, Doctor Indigo?"
"Nope, everything is on schedule! I was just worried about you is all!"
"Thanks, but I'm fine," the man sighed with a shake of his head as he floated out of his chair and toward the exit with the clown-like man trailing behind. "With Whitebeard now gone, its more important than ever to show these new wannabe Pirates the true terror of the seas!"
The man laughed as the two left the bloodied casino, all the valuables having been pocketed well in advance.
/The Kingdom Of Totto Land – Whole Cake Island, The New World/
The skies were stormy above Whole Cake Island, an island made entirely out of cake, much as the name implies.
At the heart of the land lay a Chateau, within its own heart lay one of the Four Emperors of the Sea.
"KEHAHA! MAMAMAMAMA! To think that old fool Whitebeard finally died, eh!? Only took half the World Government to do it to him too," a massive hulking woman laughed cruelly as she looked at the body of Whitebeard. "Still, that other one … Dragneel, he's unique!"
"Oh yes Mama," a calm voice agreed as the massive woman adjusted her position in her seat to look at a woman who entered who possessed ridiculously long legs and a massive sword. "From what we have learnt, Dragneel is a man the World Government compare to one such as yourself."
"Is he now … KEHAHAHA! I want him for my collection," the woman snapped as she pointed toward the long legged one."
"Easier said than done, Mama," the shorter woman replied as the old one looked down at her Daughter speculatively. "His power and those around him are rather sizeable blocks to such a goal."
"Come now, surely you aren't suggesting that I'd fail in getting what I want are you, Smoothie!?"
One Of The Four Sweet Commanders
Member Of The Big Mom Pirates
Minister Of Juice
Wring-Wring Fruit User
Charlotte Smoothie
Bounty – 932,000,000 Berries
"Not at all, Mama," Smoothie replied calmly even as her Mother bored down upon her with a glare that would shatter the will of even the most fearsome of foes. "All I am implying is that our usual methods won't work, not that ALL of them will fail."
"You sure of that Smoothie? I wonder what he'd say if I offered him your hand in marriage," the much larger woman replied with a smirk as Smoothie tensed ever so slightly. "Kehaha! Don't think I missed that just now Smoothie!"
"I-I don't know what you mean Mama!?"
"Come now dear, no need to be embarrassed," the larger woman cooed as she placed a massive hand over Smoothie's head, gently petting her like a doll. "I know that the way he butchered that trash of the World Government got you going! Such savagery is fitting of a Charlotte!"
"…"
"Not once did you turn away when he was on screen, don't think I didn't notice that either," the woman continued as Smoothie averted her gaze. "Every time he tore a man in half with his bare hands, I saw your reaction!"
"I suppose nothing gets past you, does it," Smoothie sighed as the older woman smirked down at her knowingly. "But you must admit that it is hard to find a man with such power willing to do such things so how could I not be interested?"
"I doubt trying to get Dragneel to join us through marriage would work anyway," a new voice muttered as both Smoothie and the older woman turned their attention to the doorway. "He's with the Straw Hats and clearly has ties to one of our mortal enemies, Red Hair. He's more likely to fight us than to ally with us, Perorin!"
"KEHAHA! MAMAMAMAMAA! It doesn't matter if it works or not," the larger woman grinned as she rose from her chair, the entire room shaking violently as she stepped over toward a massive glass mural depicting a small house with various people seated around its perimeter. "He joins us … or he will die!"
/The Land Of The Samurai – Wano Country, Flower Capital/
"You've grown stronger," a deep yet feminine voice muttered as a tall, armoured woman reached through the projection to touch Natsu's form, her hand grasping naught but air as Crimson Red eyes refused to so much as blink. "You aren't ready for this place though, not yet. But someday you'll come with those who HE fears."
The woman moved toward a nearby window, eyes locking onto the massive horned settlement in the distance. Scowling slightly, she gripped the windowsill tight enough to shatter it, eyes glowing ominously in the dimly lit room as she eyed the one location she'd come to loathe more than any other.
"They say he's invincible … but you'll kill him," the woman hissed through grit teeth as she felt a grip tighten over her very being. "Kill him … and free this land!"
/Somewhere In The Open Seas – The New World/
"Seems like it's over then," Kaido huffed as he slung his Kanabo over his shoulder, glaring down at the two men before him. "You'll pay for holding me up, Servants."
"Fuhahahahaha! Did you hear that!? The beast believes he can kill us Ozy!"
"Kehahahahahaha! Though your power is respectable, it palls to ours," Ozymandias laughed in response as Kaido reactivated his Devil's Aura.
"Worororororo … I remember how many of you King Class Servants said that right before I smashed their skulls into paste," Kaido replied darkly as a foul Aura began to envelop his Devil's Aura that had both Gilgamesh and Ozymandias momentarily meeting each other's gazes. "I wonder, just how long can the two of you last against an Apocalypse!?"
"So, its as we suspected," Gilgamesh hummed as hundreds of golden portals began to manifest behind him. "You are … influenced."
"He might not be ours to slay, but he can certainly learn his place," Ozymandias added as a massive sphinx manifested behind him, sections of its body forged from stars as Kaido smirked in their direction.
"Good … I don't want either of you to hold back," the man growled as his skin began to harden, a bluish tinge beginning to manifest across his body with it slowly bulking up. "Fight, even if it kills me!"
/Chaldea Command Room – Current Time/
"Well … that ended in a rather interesting fashion, didn't it," Da Vinci laughed, though clearly, she was unnerved by what she'd seen.
"What the hell is that world," one of the Command Staff added as many began to discuss what had occurred only for Romani to look back toward Natsu who was leaning back in the Director's chair, seemingly in thought.
"You alright?"
"Yeah."
"You seem troubled even though the war ended?"
"I wouldn't say that I'm 'troubled' but rather I'm waiting for the loose ends to wrap up."
"Loose ends," Romani asked, cocking his head to the side innocently as Da Vinci turned back around to face the monitors.
"What are you talking about Natsu, the war is over isn't it? What loose ends could there possibly-?"
Da Vinci froze right as Natsu smirked, knowing full well her genius mind would spot it well before all the others. Romani looked between the two several times before his eyes widened in shock.
"How could we forget," the man muttered only for Natsu to shake his head.
"I didn't, unlike everyone else," came the amused response as an entire section of the Red Line lit up Aqua Blue indicating a catastrophic amount of Anti had emerged. "The rest of you might have forgotten, but I have a plan."
/Somewhere In The Ocean – Near The Red Line/
The Red Line. The massive towering red mountain that encompasses the entire world, a singular line that, at its heart, houses the Holy Land of Mariejois.
Atop an abandoned section, a massive explosion erupted, shaking the entire area to its core as a lone figure emerged from the rock with deafening laughter. The figure landed, giggled, then spun around on his heel before taking a deep breath.
"This power … this overwhelming POWER!"
Standing atop the Red Line, power spewing forth that shook the world over, Demon God Tiberius instantly sighted his prey. Leaping from the Red Line, he fell over ten thousand metres before shooting off like a rocket just as he grazed the surface of the ocean.
His speed sliced the sea in two, the seafloor exposed and gashed as he blitzed past. Cackling like a lunatic, Tiberius continued to flare his power until a fist collided with his face, turning his entire being into paste.
Naturally, he reformed almost instantly, but was very angry about having been not only caught off guard, but outright stopped in his tracks.
"WHO THE HELL DID THAT!? SHOW YOURSELF!"
"How adorable, you think you can order me about," an amused voice giggled as a tall, well-built woman stepped out if thin air to stand a decent distance away from the enraged Demon God.
"Y-Y-YOU!?"
"Hi!"
"Damn it, of ALL the beings in existence he had to send YOU!?"
"Well, honestly, I don't know what you really expect," the woman replied with a shrug as Pitch Black and Pure White Armor manifested around her form, the marks of a Crescent Moon and Red Sun emblazoned on her bracers. "Who else was he gonna send to take you on?"
"You'd better watch that bratty mouth of yours around me now that I've got this power," Tiberius snarled as he flared more of his power to try and intimidate the woman who merely raised a delicate silver eyebrow in response.
"Is that supposed to scare me Tiberius," the woman scoffed as the Demon God activated his Anti in full, eyes glowing Aqua Blue.
"I'm gonna kill you …"
"You're going to kill me," the woman repeated with barely disguised amusement. "You couldn't even kill my boredom, you retarded squid."
"THAT'S IT-!"
The woman vanished before Tiberius could move, delivering a brutal blow to his chest that sent the Demon God flying from their current position all the way back into the Red Line itself where he promptly smashed right through fifty kilometres of solid mountain and kept going.
The woman's eyes shifted to Balanced Silver, her hair becoming a wavy substance that mimicked hair, one that merged perfectly into her Aura as she rose to her full height just in time to catch a punch from the Demon God who had closed the distance between them in seconds.
"Nice try, but I'm not here to play."
Both vanished and appeared atop the Red Line, skidding backward from a near instantaneous clash where the woman brought both her hands together to create a sphere of silver light.
"At the request of my Dad, I'm gonna fold the absolute shit out of you Tiberius!"
One Of The Founders Of New Equilibrius
Princess Of Tyranny, Nightmares And Eclipse
The Second Lady High Arbiter
Third True Hybrid
Cynthia Lucretia Dragneel (Arbitrator)
"You damn bitch," Tiberius hissed as he dug in his heels and coated himself in Anti. "Just piss off wherever you came from and let me have this!"
"Let you kill my Father in the past," Cynthia scoffed as a massive single horn emerged from the centre of her forehead. "I don't think so! Now, let's see how you like being manhandled by my Eclipse form!?"
The horn sparkled with Tiberius finding himself becoming weightless. He had little time to ponder what she had done however, his eyes locked onto the massive silver sphere between her hands as she traversed the space between the pair in less than the blink of an eye.
"Arch Hybrid's Aura: Rayon étoilé!"
A monstrous blast of power erupted from the sphere, engulfing Tiberius instantly who screamed in agony. The attack itself glittered like the stars themselves, small sparkles falling like droplets to the earth below that promptly faded away upon impact with something.
The actual attack itself on the other hand, was anything but pleasant when on the receiving end.
The attack was a ray of raw starlight condensed down into the form of energy. By condensing and storing the energy for a time, it creates a chain reaction upon release equivalent to that of a collapsing star.
And Tiberius was now at the centre of that.
Cynthia was about to celebrate getting off the opening shot when her attack, and by extension Tiberius, smashed into one of the many moons orbiting the planet. She could only wince as her attack engulfed that as well, wiping it from existence along with all the beings living there.
"Sorry …"
"A rather foolish move, wasn't it Cynthia?"
"Are you really gonna do this now Nocty!?"
"I must concur with my Sister, that was rather foolish."
"Nova!? Damn it, you guys are both being mean to me! I'm trying my best!"
"Perhaps try aiming a bit better then," the voice known as Nocty sniffed with Nova giggled in response.
"I hate you both," Cynthia grumbled, rolling her eyes at the kissing noises going on in her head before looking up at the space the now vaporized moon once was. "Suppose I could have thought that out a bit better though …"
"You're damn right about that!"
Cynthia's body instantly shifted to the right to avoid Tiberius' punch, the Demon God only slightly damaged from her attack as he spun on his heel and tried to deliver a series of kicks faster than light.
Her body moved like it was on autopilot however, naturally evading the attacks and blocking when it was impossible to dodge. In her right hand, Cynthia charged up another miniature form of her attack only for Tiberius to suddenly take notice.
"Oh no you don't," the Demon God roared as he flexed his Anti so much that local space started to crack, the air being replaced by a black void which immediately had Cynthia on edge.
"He's trying to shatter reality in this area with the power of Anti," Cynthia said sharply as she felt Tiberius' power skyrocket even more.
"It is safe to say that Natsu's hunch on there being a true mastermind in this world is right on the money, no," Nocty replied as they felt something begin to try and suck them toward Tiberius.
"Anti-Gravity Field," Nova said with Cynthia immediately sliding her left leg right back and bringing both arms out to her side. "You know what to do!"
Cynthia nodded as her horn began to sparkle, two wings erupting from her back. One was white feathered with a tinge of orange at the tips of its feathers and the other a black leathery one that had several holes in it, clearly from battle damage.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'M GONNA SQUASH YOU LIKE THE BUG YOU ARE CYNTHIA!"
"We'll see about that," the Hybrid huffed as a miniature sun formed at the tip of her horn and rapidly began to grow in size.
As soon as it reached the size of a house, the affects were immediate as the ocean around them began to evaporate and the mountain near them was set ablaze. All that remained around Cynthia was a charred black environment and Tiberius who was protected within his pocket space of Anti he'd created.
"Let's see how you like this Tiberius! Arch Hybrid's Aura: Le sourire de Célestia!"
Tiberius laughed as the Sun smashed into the space between the Void and regular reality. As a Sun, conceived in regular reality, it was wholly unfit to enter the Void between Existence and the Antiverse.
Gritting her teeth, Cynthia vanished and appeared several kilometres away as she crossed her arms out before her, horn lengthening even more until it stood at a good sixty centimetres. As the horn sparkled, a glowing white mass appeared in her left hand, glowing orange ball of flame in her right as the Hybrid's eyes became obscured by her flowing miasma-like hair.
"What's the matter, giving up already!? Can't say I'm surprised considering its YOU we're talking about," Tiberius taunted only for Cynthia's head to jerk violently to the side, a single lifeless silver iris staring unblinkingly at him.
The wide smile on Cynthia's face struck fear into the Demon God, her almost chaotic laughter that followed had the being take another step back into the void. Wide eyes and a brimming smile should be happy … but hers spoke only of unbidden horrors and endless chaos.
"Hear my words … and obey."
The words were, contrary to her now freaky and terrifying face, completely full of life. It was almost a mockery of life, the Demon God thought, but it ultimately made sense, given just WHO he was facing.
Opening her arms wide, the Sun went out, casting the entire planet into darkness. Yet, before any save for those in the world who could perceive higher powers could so much as blink, another Sun took its place.
So raynd crehac mega dra Cih, nyteyhd yht vnaa
So pmuut pinch, venac uv adanhedo
Lryuc cmispanc pahaydr dra pippmehk vnyoc
Sycdanmacc bnao
"Neutral Arts," Tiberius muttered as Cynthia uttered the first verse of a familiar hymn, at least to him. "The power to harness the Sun …"
So cuim kmessanc mega dra vimm Suuh, kahdma yht vyen
So cgeh lnyfmc, so ihnacd samuto
Ed fnedrac yd so paracd
Rayndmacc vamuho
"To think that Natsu would allow her this much freedom," Tiberius mused as a massive black moon appeared, a strange white figure shining across its surface though of what none could tell. "The power to harness the Moon …"
So puto ahtinac mega dra cdync, pinhehk asbdemo
So daync clyn sa, nyehtnub ahaso
Y buum uv sythacc cdnaysc
Mevamuhk ehcyhedo
Tiberius watched as Cynthia crossed her arms again, psychotically laughing as she did so, her eyes as wide as they could go even as the cursed words spewed forth from her mouth.
"Her command over Eclipse," Tiberius muttered as the Sun moved behind the Moon and the strange white blotch on the surface of the Moon began to wriggle and writhe, its form seemingly ignited by the Sun as it darted about the surface ablaze.
So seht vnyldinac mega dra puhac, puhac uv so vnahaseac
So lryehc nyddma dnia, tyngacd tacdeho
Adanhym bcolrucec bancecdc ehceta, maalrehk vunajan
Dnykato Dnykuatey
"And there it is," Tiberius said as the ablaze blotch froze in place, the orange fading away to reveal the entire surface of the Moon now being the same pitch-black colour.
What only those who knew to look like Tiberius would realize, however, was that there was now something far worse on that Moon. Looking back to Cynthia, she was grinning at him murderously, horn sparkling and eyes brimming with Hybrid's Aura.
"Just as I maintain the Balance, so too can I take it away," Cynthia crowed as she lurched backward as if struck, her arms now skyward as some life finally returned to her eyes. "Arch Hybrid's Aura: Tragedy Tragoedia!"
"So that's how its gonna be," Tiberius muttered softly as he looked directly into Cynthia's eyes, not backing down even at the insane gleam shot his way that only her equally as insane Father could love. "Fine then!"
Looking upward sharply just in time, Tiberius was able to witness as a massive hulking entity sat up on top of the eldritch Moon. The entity seemed to turn to face the planet, a glowing orange eye at the center of its neck opened up and locked right onto Tiberius who made no move to attack.
"The power of Disharmony is something not even you can run from Tiberius," Cynthia said darkly as the entity on the Moon raised an arm and reached down to their location, the sheer proportions of the entity now unfathomable even as it plucked Tiberius right out of the Void and began taking him up to the Moon. "I've spent almost five hundred years mastering Harmony and Disharmony and, although my lines may not resonate at first, they aren't meant to."
"I'll be back," Tiberius replied bluntly as the eldritch being dragged him further and further away. "I'll always keep coming back."
"Perhaps. But, this time, you're staying gone for a good while," Cynthia replied with a sadistic smirk as the two beings within her cackled with glee.
"Masterfully executed Cynthia!"
"A Song Of Disharmony will certainly do the trick in binding that bastard down for a good long while!"
"Thanks, Nocty, Nova," Cynthia replied as her form regained its composure and she returned to normal, all signs of insanity gone right as the eldritch entity slammed Tiberius into the Moon, causing it to explode where it seemed to send out splotches of black ink that stuck to the skies.
As the ink melted away, all that was left was the same old Sun that had been shining down on the planet from earlier, no trace of the terrifying things Cynthia had conjured. Sighing, she looked over toward the tear in Reality and shook her head, knowing full well that she would have to fix it before she could go and do whatever she wanted.
"I wonder if the younger version of Natsu even comprehended what happened," Nocty mused with Cynthia merely shrugging in response.
"I'd wager he felt it at the very least, along with all other Aura users on the planet and those observing it," Nova chimed in. "After all, not only were we using the Neutral Arts, we also wielded Authority and not just any old power."
"Fair point Sister. Still, I wonder how much trouble Cynthia will get in for obliterating one of the Moons?"
"SHUT UP NOCTY!"
Nocty proceeded to do the exact opposite.
So, I know that the last section was rather different but its something I've had in the pipeline for a long while now. If anyone can guess who the two entities within Cynthia are then they'll likely have an understanding of what the Songs Of Harmony and Disharmony are.
That being said, here's the one Cynthia sang above in English.
I want to note that this is not the only one I have written. Some are Songs Of Harmony, others Songs Of Disharmony and there are ones that are far longer than this which is four short verses.
If anyone wants a more detailed explanation of how it works I'll gladly give one at the beginning of the next Chapter!
Anyway, hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!
Cynthia's Song
Song Of Disharmony #1
Eclipse Tragoedia
First Verse
My heart shines like the Sun, radiant and free
My blood burns, fires of eternity
Chaos slumbers beneath the bubbling frays
Masterless prey
Second Verse
My soul glimmers like the full Moon, gentle and fair
My skin crawls, my unrest melody
It writhes at my behest
Heartless felony
Third Verse
My body endures like the stars, burning emptily
My tears scar me, raindrop enemy
A pool of madness streams
Lifelong insanity
Fourth Verse
My mind fractures like the bones, bones of my frenemies
My chains rattle true, darkest destiny
Eternal psychosis persists inside, leeching forever
Tragedy Tragoedia