5. Ancient Horrors

Author's Notes: Thought I would do a little bit of mimicry of the source material with an Introduction at the start of the chapter. Let me know what you guys think.

Introduction:

With the destruction of the Borgos Bandits, Eirika's group once more set their sights on the border town of Serafew. Thanks to Naruto's clones once more running patrols ahead of them, they were able to travel quickly without worry of running into any Grado soldiers, though the fact that said clones never ran into any patrols in the path of their route made both Naruto and Seth wary. Was Grado just not interested in land already taken over? Or was there something that they knew about that their group didn't? And if it was the second, then just what awaited them in the ancient forest of Za'ha that they were now making their way through? Unfortunately, they didn't have long to find out.

Chapter Start:

As Eirika was becoming rapidly familiar with, Naruto's stance suddenly went from casually dangerous to full on Shinobi mode. Seth caught his tensing as well and asked "What is it?"

"Scouting patrol just spotted a bunch of weird creatures two hundred yards ahead, and they seem to be heading towards a small village in the area."

"That doesn't sound good." Ross said with a frown on his face.

"Indeed. Naruto, what did these creatures look like?" Eirika asked even as she and the others began increasing their speed a little. Naruto's clones would keep the village safe if need be before they got there but it still made sense to pick up their pace given the fact that there were civilians in the danger zone.

Naruto made four shadow clones which turned into a floating eyeball with tentacles, some kind of zombie like figure, a second figure similar to the first only bigger with green skin and larger claws, and finally a skeleton holding a sword. The sight made Eirika gasp as she said "Fiends?! But those are supposed to only be legends!"

"Not anymore apparently." Seth said and they increased their pace again to a quick trot as the threat level seemed to rise and he said "Naruto, how many?"

Dismissing his transformed clones, Naruto said "Eight of those eyeball things, twenty of those zombie things, three of the mega zombies, and four of the skeletons. So thirty five total." After a moment, he said "Make that thirty one, one of my clones just got the four skeletons with an Area of Effect jutsu."

"Right, everyone be careful, these Fiends were said to have poison in their claws!" Eirika said and everyone shouted their acknowledgement as they rushed through the woods. A minute later, they came upon the battle area, Naruto's clones playing sniper up in the trees as they took potshots while traveling toward the village that was across a small river. They got eight of the zombies as they moved away before the rest of the battle group slammed into the enemy.

Naruto picked up the slack of his clones momentarily leaving by launching a Gale Palm jutsu catching most of the monsters flat footed. Seth, Franz, and Vanessa charged into their staggered ranks while Neimi sniped them from afar. Barely twenty seconds later the slower members of the fighters reached the battle group and added in as well, Naruto once more sticking close to Eirika as she battled against the enemy, once more taking it upon herself to go after the seeming leaders of this group, the three Mega Zombies which were moving as a single group. Naruto shot a Mini Wind Dragon jutsu at an eyeball monster when it tried to intercept them and it popped in a grisly mess, the two humans treading over its remains without hesitation.

The lead mega zombie roared at their approach raised its claws high as it shuffled at a slightly impressive jogging pace. That move left it wide open for Naruto's Wind Senbon that shredded its corpse body and it staggered back a step before Eirika got a stab into its chest causing it to fall down. The other two mega zombies both let out roars and came after them together so while Eirika dealt with one Naruto got the other, using an expanded Rasengan to shred its torso to pieces before blasting it into a tree trunk where it did NOT get back up. They both dealt with another 'normal' zombie each before there was suddenly a barrage of light and heat, Lightning and Fire spells slamming into the outer ranks of the monsters.

When Naruto and Eirika turned their sights there, they saw that two of his clones had returned with a red haired Monk and a purple haired Mage. The addition of Holy and burning magic made the eradication of the rest of the Fiends go much quicker and within only a minute all of the abominations were dead, or rather, deader.

As everyone regrouped, Eirika approached the two new comers, she gave a slight bow of her head and said "My thanks for your aid, you two."

The Monk nodded and said "You are quite welcome madam, though I would like to say that I was just doing what I must. The temple had assigned me the task of cleansing the forest of those…things. This had actually been the last group we had known about so it is actually me who should be thanking you for your aid." The Monk then slightly widened his eyes as he said "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Artur, with me is my companion Lute."

The purple haired Mage gave the group a nod of her own before she locked her gaze on Naruto and said "So you are the one capable of creating independent copies and capable of superhuman feats of jumping large distances. Fascinating."

"Er, thanks?" Naruto more asked than stated, somehow feeling like a bug under a microscope with the way Lute was looking at him.

"Lute, you are being rude again." Artur lightly chastised his companion and said Mage blinked once before wordlessly going back to observing everyone around her.

Shaking his head, Seth said "We'd best burn the bones and other remains to ensure these monsters don't return."

Eirika shook her head and said "I still can't believe what we just fought."

Seth frowned and said "Agreed, but what really worries me is that those revenants are said to be the least of the dark creatures that had been under the Demon King's reign. And yet the weakest of them could outmatch any normal man. We cannot take this new enemy lightly."

Lute reentered the conversation there as she said "Oh, yes. There are much worse then those revenants and the entombed... Let's see, there's the bonewalkers, mauthe doogs, gargoyles, baels… Why, I'll bet you just about any creature of lore could be walking again. Yes, we're in for some trouble. Even my fabulous power may not be enough."

Artur gave Lute an exasperated look at her last sentence before he cocked his head and said "But I do find it strange that we only dealt with what amounts to the lower ranks of these beings. Yes, there was a large group of them in this forest, but none of the other creatures made an appearance as we were clearing out these woods."

"Mayhaps only the lower ranked enemies appearing is merely an omen of dark times coming." Lute theorized.

"That's one hell of an omen." Colm said even as Neimi bit her lip with worry and wrapped an arm around his own arm.

"Indeed." Naruto said, but before he could say anything else, one of his clones who had gone back up into the trees called down "Head's up, we've got company coming fast!"

"More Revenants?" Artur asked in alarm though he relaxed when the clone shook his head and said "Nah, these guys are human, don't look like they're Grado soldiers either."

Everyone turned towards where the clone indicated and soon enough, a green haired woman riding a horse while flanked by two men, one a rather large black haired fellow wielding an equally large axe while the other was a much more normal looking brown haired fellow that moved in a manner similar to Colm rapidly approached.

They stopped about fifteen feet away and the woman loudly proclaimed "Aha! Foul creatures, beware! I, L'Arachel, bestow upon you the honor at banishment at my blessed hands!" Everyone, even Lute stared at the young adult wondering if there was something wrong with her eyes. After a moment of silence, L'Arachel blinked a couple of times before she looked around and asked "Oh…Where are the monsters?"

"Well, we just finished a few minutes ago…" Eirika said a little awkwardly.

L'Arachel grinned and said ""Ah, glad tidings indeed! The heavens must be rejoicing! I am.. a tad disappointed however. After all, I did rush all the way here to show you the splendor of my might."

The big guy with the axe let out a bellowing laugh as he said "Gwah ha ha! It's a real shame, innit, Lady L'Arachel?!"

The other man grumbled to himself before he said ""What's shameful is the way you drag us around the countryside."

Eirika and Seth traded looks before Eirika said "Pardon me, but…who are you?"

The girl drew herself up with hand on bosom as she dramatically said "Me? Since you ask, please allow me to introduce myself. It is I, the true light and glory of the sacred realm of Rausten…"

Her introduction was interrupted by the big guy as he said "Stop! Lady L'Arachel, you mustn't continue! You cannot reveal your true identity here!"

L'Arachel looked a bit taken aback as she said "Oh, yes, you're right. Oh, I get so careless sometimes! Now, I must ride off in anonymity. Oh, how beautifully romantic!"

"Uh…Right." Eirika said getting more than a little confused as were the rest of her group sans Naruto. Said blonde merely glanced upwards in an abbreviated eye roll and thought to himself 'True light and glory of a sacred realm and riding with what looks like two bodyguards? Calling it now, High Priestess or Princess.' It would NOT be the first time Naruto dealt with royalty or others of high station hiding their identities, though admittedly THOSE people were a lot better at not giving themselves away.

L'Arachel meanwhile had regained her pomp as she pointed at a seemingly random direction as she said "Fare thee well, strangers. Perhaps our paths will cross again. Come, Dozla! Rennac! We ride!"

The big guy, Dozla apparently said with another boisterous laugh. "Gwah ha ha! Let's go, Rennac!"

The other one, Rennac grumbled "All right,, all right." He wearily treaded after the other two grumbling under his breath.

After a moment of silence, Eirika tilted her head in confusion and asked "….What was that about?"

"Don't think about it too much Eirika, you'll keep your sanity longer." Naruto advised before turning to the two magic users and said "Thank you again for your help you two. Unfortunately, our group must continue onwards."

"Of course, of course, just one question." Artur said with an understanding smile, when he received permission to continue, he turned towards Eirika and said "Your highness, may I request my companion and I join you on your adventure? I believe that our magic will be a great asset."

Eirika's eyes widened as she stuttered out "Wh-what did you call me?!" Everyone else also stiffened at her identity as royalty being known by these two strangers.

Artur waved a hand reassuringly as he said "Fear not, your secret is safe with us."

"I would still greatly like to know how you know said secret if you don't mind." Seth said dangerously.

Artur smiled and said "I remember her visit to the temple ten years ago, she has the exact same shade of hair as she did back then, not to mention the same style." Turning back to Eirika with a smile, he continued "And may I say that you have grown into a beautiful young lady Your Highness."

Eirika out and out blushed crimson as she said "M-many thanks."

Naruto snickered at that before he turned serious and said "We'll have to put you and Seth under disguise henges when we get closer to the border."

Eirika nodded, and Seth gave a firm nod as well before Eirika looked back towards Artur and Lute and smiled as she said "We'd be happy to have you two with us."

"Indeed, you will see just how fortunate you are to have me with you." Lute said and Artur let out a light groan as he said in exasperation "Lute, tone down the superiority complex please."

"A superiority complex implies that I am not superior." Lute said and Naruto couldn't help but snicker again at the matter of fact tone in her voice even as Artur groaned again and the group began heading South.

END

Author's Notes: Schedule Update and Poll are on Profile, please take a moment to see if poll has changed recently.

The ability to scout ahead sure is useful isn't it? Unfortunately next chapter that's not going to help much. Anyway, please let me know if you guys liked the introduction or if I should stop doing them.