A/N: For those of you wondering why I took so long to update, I'll direct you to the new story I've started.
It's called "A Song of Ice, Fire and Lightning", and it's about Harry (from this very story at the end of Chapter 31) being flung in the world of Westeros. It's in the Harry Potter / Game of Thrones crossover section— I know many of you have already started reading it, and are enjoying the way things are progressing. I've posted 9 chapters already. Will work on the tenth the day after posting this. Writing 4000 words per chapter is a tiring affair, especially spellchecking and grammar checking and all that.
At any rate, enjoy the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any other fandom I manage to squeeze in this story.
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Lightning Dragon's Roar
A Harry Potter Fanfiction
By Zero Rewind
© 2016
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Chapter 68: Gaia Pit (4)
I might have been young, but I had seen so many things in my many travels. I'll admit, the first ten years of my life were quite miserable. I grew up as a sheltered young boy who was neglected by his parental figures and it did me no favors whatsoever.
But still, it was an ordinary life.
Then the extraordinary happened when a gigantic man broke down the door in that shitshow of a shack my Uncle had rented to escape the onslaught of letters— another extraordinary event which had no explanations. After that, it was magical umbrellas, a trip to a wizard market filled with the craziest of things, ranging from parchment, paper's ancestor and quills, a pen's ancestor, to flying stylish looking brooms.
Cauldrons, potions, apothecaries, books on Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts.
A magic wand, of all things. A wand I still held to this very day.
I'd seen the castle of Hogwarts and many, many of its halls, corridors, chambers, secret routes and shortcuts. I'd seen ghosts, moving staircases, talking paintings, a ceiling reflecting the sky, a Chamber of Secrets, a tree which destroyed anything that got close, a room that literally became whatever you required it to be, and many other things.
It wasn't all fun and games, of course.
I learned that my parent's killer was still out there. I even fought him several times during the past few years, until he came back and I acquired even more power.
Power over the dragons themselves. Perhaps it was a coincidence, or maybe a twist of fate that I had called my new magic that of the Lightning Dragonslayer's.
It didn't matter to me.
I gained the power I seeked and used it to destroy my enemy, Voldemort.
I had fought against Demons and their stinking Tower of Temen Ni Gru. I had sucker punched their Emperor, the frightening Mundus; possibly the only being in the universe which I thought could beat with me no effort whatsoever.
I've faced off against dragons— twice. Once, using a broom to outfly it. The second, I engaged in combat and killed with the magic meant to hurt it.
I had even been sent to other planets, killed a member of a race of parasitic creatures which took humans and… other humanoids as hosts, enslaving them to their will before dominating entire cultures using the very same host body.
Truly, I have been many places, seen many things.
But, this…
It roared.
I stared in dumb shock.
It lumbered towards me.
I kept on staring. Words failed me. Even my own thoughts failed me, at this very moment.
It was almost on me, opening its massive jaw, revealing its serrated teeth meant to shred my body. My fight or flight instincts kicked in, as I leapt backwards before driving a Breakdown Fist into its jaw, which had snapped shut a split second after I had escaped its range, the teeth narrowly missing my body.
There was an audible crack as the great lizard practically wailed in agony as it backed away, unsteady on its taloned feet, before its eyes rolled into the back of its head, and it smashed into the ground, the creature's sheer weight shaking the earth.
I stared at it, back at my fist, then at it again. Then back at my fist. Then at it once more.
"I... just punched out a Tyrannosaurus Rex." I said in sheer disbelief.
§Yep. You sure did.§ Balthazar confirmed, his tone matching mine.
"I just punched out a T-Rex!" I repeated.
Did Balthazar not understand the importance of my statement.
§Yes.§ Balthazar repeated.
"I just punched out a T-fucking-Rex!" I was practically hysterical with glee at that point, but I mastered myself, in time for a pack of fucking Velociraptors of all things to emerge from the woodwork, snarling at me as they waved their claws threateningly, and grouping around the T-Rex for what they likely assumed to be an easy meal.
What is this, Jurassic Park?
I was having none of it.
Lightning answered my call as I smacked the one that was about to take a bite out of the vulnerable T-Rex, sending it flying into one of its comrades, knocking them both unconscious from the blow.
The other three began to circle me.
§Take it from behind. I will keep this strange creature's attention.§ One of the raptors ordered its kin.
I shook my head in amusement; figures that Parseltongue would serve me well, once more. I sighed and mastered myself once more. It wouldn't do to fight veloci-fucking-raptors while being all giddy and happy. I would need to concentrate.
§Give up.§ I said arrogantly, swatting one of the raptors in the face. §You are neither strong enough, nor fast enough, nor numerous enough to pose a true challenge to me.§
§The pinkskin! It speaks!§ One of the raptors said, backing off. §The strange creature speaks! Did you hear that?§
§So, what?§ The second one hissed back. §I've seen little four legged kin, also speak. What of it?§
§Should we not leave the creature alone? If it speaks our language, it is deserving of respect. Is it not?§ The first one replied, in awe of me for some reason.
It was nice to be appreciated, I thought to myself.
§I'll make you respect my piss when it's going down your throat later.§ The third one smacked the first one with its tail. §I'm hungry so I'm going to eat it.§
§You said you'd never do that to me, again!§
§Be quiet or I'll come over there right now and—§
'Good, they're arguing.' I thought as I sent three Lightning Bolts, one for each raptor; each strong enough to bring down creatures twice their size. Needless to say, the raptors shrieked in surprise, before toppling over, completely unconscious, smoke coming off their bodies.
I shook my head in faint amusement mixed with disgust at their conversation, before moving to the T-Rex, examining its injuries, before pulling out my wand and casting "Brackium Emendo!"
The creature seemed to visibly relax as I pressed my hand against its jaw line its jaw line. It still felt cracked, but the damage seemed to have been mitigated. I cast the spell a few more times for good measure, until the tyrannical lizard was acceptably healed.
Then, after backing away, I waved my wand once more.
"Rennervate!" A flash of brilliant, red light filled the darkness around us, before colliding with the T-rex. A few seconds later, its eyes opened, and it stood back up on its feet, checking its surroundings with a critical gaze, before its eyes landed on me, and the five unconscious raptors I had dispatched earlier.
For a long moment, it said nothing.
§My thanks.§ The great creature nodded, before turning to leave.
§No problem.§ I replied, and the T-Rex turned in surprise.
§You speak the tongue of reptiles.§ The T-Rex stared at me curiously, tilting its head slightly. §You are not a reptile. How have you come by this skill, small pink skin?§
I twitch at being called pink skin.
§I was born with this language.§ I replied calmly, before straightening up and addressing the T-Rex once more. §I would have your allegiance, oh mighty tyrant.§
§Hmph! Why should I give my allegiance to you, pink skin?§ The T-Rex replied with a bit of arrogance.
Maybe I was a little too nice.
§Oh, I don't know...§ I trailed off with a smirk, raising my fist slightly.
It took a step back, not wanting a repeat of what had happened, not five minutes past.
§Maybe because I can beat you into submission?§ I grinned ferociously. §Or maybe because I took the time to save you from those raptors? They would have torn you to shreds, and you know it.§
A long moment passed, and the T-Rex dipped its head in defeat.
§You are correct; you could have simply left me as a feast for the little ones.§ The T-Rex acknowledged. §Very well, small creature. I shall aid you.§
§Harry. My name is Harry.§ I corrected.
§Harry.§ It hissed, moving to stand by my side, kneeling slightly. §I have no name, Harry.§
Suppressing a whoop of joy, I jumped on the T-Rex's back, patting its back slightly.
§You think you can take me to the other side of the forest?§ I asked hopefully, getting a short nod in return.
§Of course, though there are dangerous creatures in this land, far more powerful than I.§ The T-Rex replied. §Small, but powerful, like you, though they do not resemble you in the least; aberrations of nature, I would call them.§
That didn't sound good.
§I'm sure I can handle anything that gets in our way.§ I assured the great beast.
It began to move, through the dense woods, the small creatures around us scurrying away in terror at the sight of the massive reptile.
§So, where did you all come from?§ I asked curiously. §Your kind has not existed on this earth for a very long time.§
§The Lord Orochi,§ I stiffened at the mention of the Eight Headed Serpent, but let the T-Rex continue. §Saved a few of our ancestors from the Doom, hiding us away in this forest so that our legacy would not be lost forever. Lord Orochi has also made sure that we would always be able to propagate our species, though, as of late, he has not been aiding us. Those small, powerful creatures come for us sometimes, to kill or cause us pain; Lord Orochi has done nothing to stop it.§
I frowned in consternation.
§He just left you to fend for yourselves?§ I asked unnecessarily.
§Yes.§ The T-Rex dipped its head mournfully, and hatefully. §My mate and her eggs were destroyed by them. I have loathed their kind ever since.§
§I see.§ I hissed, not really knowing to say.
No wonder the T-Rex attacked me. It— no, he— saw a small, powerful creature, and immediately linked me to the Demons which had slaughtered his family with no remorse.
I patted its back.
§You are a fighter.§ I hissed out. §You came at me, head on, and with no regard to your own safety, all in the name of avenging your mate and unborn children. Your story saddens me, and hardens my resolve. I will likely encounter the Demons that killed your family on my way to the Shimmer, so, chances are that I will avenge them for you.§
The T-Rex was silent as he waded through the thick forest for a few more moments.
§You would have my eternal thanks.§ The T-Rex said, as a loud shriek was heard in the distance.
§Was that—§
§One of THEM.§ The T-Rex confirmed, charging in the direction of the noise. §You said you would help me.§
§A promise I intend to keep.§ I shot back, holding onto to the T-Rex's neck so I wouldn't fall and get trampled by the great big beast. §Looks like it will be sooner.§
We finally reached a clearing, and took the sight in. Many freakish looking, humanoid demons lay broken and strewn across the clearing, staining the dirt red, blue and green.
In the center of this carnage, Ranma stood, looking down at the Demons, Akane by his side, her foot stomping on writing Demon's chest, caving it in with a crack and loud squish.
§Don't attack those two.§ I instructed, getting off the great beast. §They're my allies. You can kill the rest.§
§With pleasure!§ The T-Rex hissed before roaring at the remaining Demons, tearing through them like a lawnmower through weeds.
"Harry!" I heard Ranma say incredulously, as I leaped into the fray, the three of us slaughtering Demons left and right. "You're alive! And that's a—"
I laughed at the fellow teen's incredulous voice as I grabbed an offending Demon's clawed hand, before smashing it against the Demon's face, its own claws ripping great chunks of flesh, blue blood spraying my face for a bit before dying down.
I activated my Poison Mail and raised my right arm to shield me as I wiped at my face with my left hand. I felt a small pressure on my right arm, followed by a loud, sizzling noise and a shriek as another offending Demon felt the effects of one of my newest skills.
Should teach it to attack me— wait, no. It wouldn't be learning anything, since it just died.
"Yes." I confirmed after the noise died down. "That's a T-Rex. And, yes, I became friends with it. Well, sort of; I'd say we're more allies of convenience than anything, really."
"How— Oh, whatever. This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder." Ranma shook his head as we watched the T-Rex crush the last remaining Demon with a massive close of its mighty jaw.
Then, he pissed on its remains, hopping slightly in what could only be glee.
§Well, that's not disturbing in the least.§ Balthazar piped up.
"Okay, then." I rubbed the bridge of my nose and turned to the boy in question, and the girl at his side. "Glad to see you're all right. And you even found Akane. Hello, there."
I got a nod of greeting in response.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" Ranma asked, checking himself over, fingering a cut on the right side of his arm.
"No. Just some stupid obstacle course room that tried to kill me." I replied with a sigh.
"You too?" Ranma grinned. "I crossed mine and was chased by some kind of water monster. All it did was roar and rage."
"Lucky." I said, the memory of the sheer heat coming from the lava coming to the forefront of my mind for a few moments. "Mine was some lava defense. Hot as... well, hell, for lack of better words."
"What happened, afterwards?" I asked.
And so, Ranma spoke of what happened after we had split up. He had faced a similar obstacle course, and succeeded, though the defense mechanism still sicc-ed the water creature onto him, just as the other room had done with the lava creature.
Then, his long trek through the tunnels had led him to a bedroom, of all things. In the center of it, Akane stood over the corpse of a Demon— apparently, it was trying to seduce her, and underestimated her sheer physical strength, paying for it dearly when she caved its face in with the hardest punch she could manage.
That's how he had found her. Staring down at the still twitching Demon, her fist covered in blood and brain matter. I assumed they had a tearful reunion, before making their way forward— considering the way back only led to the water creature.
Then, their story pretty much sounded like mine: they made their way through the tunnels before reaching the same forest I'd met them in— except they stayed away from the dinosaurs, and were ambushed by Demons when they took a moment to rest their fatigued selves.
Even now, I could tell that both of them were at their limits.
"We'll camp here for the night— whatever time it is, anyway. Is it night time?" I asked curiously.
"Probably." Akane spoke for the first time, looking around the bloody clearing dubiously. "You think it's safe to rest here? Or even clean?"
"Hmm." I looked around as well, taking in all of my surroundings, the smells and feeble sounds of the surviving Demons as the T-Rex ended their pitiful existence— or whatever passed for existence in their sorry, broken state.
Just then, my brain finally began to register the carrion reek that I had been breathing in for the past few minutes— I had set it aside to kill Demons and speak to my friends whom I had just reunited with— and I had to stop myself from retching.
I gave my wand a few, quick waves, before the corpses of the Demons disappeared, followed by the blood and... other fluids.
If it weren't for the many broken trees and damage to the earth itself, I would not have suspected a battle would have occurred, here.
"Do you believe it, now, Akane?" I heard Ranma tell her not-so-quietly as the girl in question looked on in pure astonishment. "I told you, he's magic, and he took away the curse. I'm a full man, now."
I pulled out my tent bundle from my mokeskin pouch, and placed it at my feet.
"Guild Hall." I spoke clearly.
Immediately, the tent assembled itself, the sticks burying themselves into the ground and tying themselves to each other to give the tent's basic structure before it was covered with the sturdy material.
Ranma whistled at the sight.
"What I would have given to have something like this in my training trip." Ranma said, shaking his head. "It would have saved on a lot of time better spent training."
"Heh." I smiled. "I'll get you one, at some point, if you like. Give me a second though."
I made my way to the T-Rex, who was eying the tent, a little intrigued at the sight.
§What is that?§ He ended up asking.
§Oh, just a temporary home for my friends, and I.§ I hissed back, to the surprise of my two friends. §They look dead on their feet, I'm sure you've taken notice.§
§Indeed.§ The great tyrant lizard agreed, looking worn and battered as well. §I, myself, do not feel fully rejuvenated as I should be, either. Crushing those worms does take much out of you. Perhaps a rest is truly in order.§
I nodded, letting the dinosaur believe that this was his idea all along. §Very good. I shall tend to the others in the tent. Stay safe.§
§Of course.§ And, with a final nod, the T-Rex lumbered over to the tent before laying down at its side, falling into a deep sleep almost immediately.
A quick whisper and I ensured the large beast would have a long, uninterrupted sleep. A Notice-Me-Not field around both the tent and the T-Rex, followed by disillusionment and silencing charms would ensure that there would be no outside interruptions, either.
"Come." I said, and, without any fanfare or preamble, I entered in to the, now invisible, tent, keeping the entrance way open for them so they'd be able to see where they were going.
I pulled out a few mats, resizing them to fit each of my... guests' sizes.
"Is this place bigger on the inside than the outside?" Akane asked, looking around in wonder, after she had entered.
"Yeah." Ranma said simply. "Feels like a variant of Mousse's technique."
"Indeed?" I asked curiously, looking at the boy expectantly.
He ended up explaining.
"Yeah, see." Ranma began. "It's all part of his Hidden Weapons Technique."
I conjured up a few chairs, and sat down, sighing in slight relief at the break, however small it might be. Ranma and Akane stared at the new chairs for a few moments, before shrugging mentally and sitting down, as well.
I figured, after all that's happened to them and all that they had been through in their lives— not including this particular ordeal I had gotten them sucked into, now— even things like magic would not be truly world shattering to them, aside from the practical aspects of it all.
"So, Hidden Weapons?" I asked lightly.
Honestly, the two seemed happy to want to talk about anything, at the moment.
"I used to think that he just kept them in his robes." Ranma smiled. "But how could anyone fit an endless array of weapons in fragile clothing?"
I nodded, not necessarily agreeing but seeing where he was coming from. A non-magical would definitely have trouble with that, but as a wizard, applying an Unbreakable Charm usually seemed to help things along quite well.
It wasn't a foolproof solution, as magical items could still shred materials, but it was good enough for swords and the like.
Mousse, on the other hand, apparently had a different idea altogether, it seemed.
"Makes sense." I agreed, remembering the short bout I'd had with the optically challenged youth. He'd thought I was Ranma and attacked me— I had taught that boy the value of caution and respect by shocking him hard enough to leave burns all over his body, as well as some inside of his body.
At least, I hoped he learned a lesson.
If not... Well, there was more where that came from.
"Yeah." Ranma nodded. "Turns out he knew a technique to fold space and create a.. pocket with infinite space that only he could access."
I considered his words, the complexity of the act dawning on me as I widened my eyes.
"An Undetectable Extension Charm on a pocket of air, with infinite space? Without a wand or any teaching in the magical arts?" I blurted out.
God damn, Mousse might be the next Dumbledore if he actually did bother to learn.
Someone with that much talent didn't deserve to waste away like that, pining after a woman who scorned him at every turn and treated like shit by the woman's great grandmother. To be fair, Cologne had taught me Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken and told me where the Gaia Pit was located, but it wasn't out of kindness.
It was because I helped her by challenging Ranma to a fight to teach him that he wasn't the top dog in the world; that there were stronger, fiercing, crueler things out there than me or him.
I scratched her back. She scratched mine. End of story.
Mousse, on the other hand... Sure, he was very passionate about his feelings to Ranma and his "darling Shampoo", but I could tell from his demeanor that he was a defeated man, still trying his hardest to make the best out of a bad situation.
If anything, he got my respect from it— especially if he mastered the art of folding space with his willpower alone. It was unheard of, a feat befitting that of the most powerful mages and wizards since the dawn of magic.
"Yeah." Ranma said, fully understanding of the importance of what he could do. "I tried to do it, too. I couldn't."
He seemed ashamed of it, almost.
"So, what if he can do it?" Akane said. "I can't do it, either."
"Yeah, but you're..." He said, but stopped himself.
"What?" She almost yelled. "Say it! I'm weak? Is that it?"
Ranma looked resigned.
"It's not a matter of physical strength or weakness." I cut in, a little harsher than I'd intended, though it caught her attention. "It's an issue of mental strength. Not just that, but an understanding of the basic laws of physics, and how to circumvent them with your power without destabilizing said laws. To do otherwise would result in... Catastrophe. Don't mistake Ranma's admonishment for any personal attack on you— you don't have the necessary skills for it, and neither do I, for that matter."
"So, I wouldn't go ahead and dismiss Mousse like that." I said, at the end. "He's a strong fighter, a powerful mage— if he can fold space like that— and so deserves your notice, and even acknowledgement as your peer."
If not your superior; I left that part out. It seemed Akane had some weakness issues, so bad that simply saying someone else was more skilled than her enraged her to a level I had not thought possible.
"I wouldn't lash out at the people around me for it, either." I added as harshly as I could manage. "They're your friends and family. Respect as you would respect yourself, because they are all you have on this Earth."
I closed my eyes and saw what I was here for. Leanansidhe, my father. A dagger stained with blood. Promises made to that foul creature of the cold. Promises I wasn't sure I could keep, all things considered.
I needed to get this damn mirror, already.
I sighed, and reopened my eyes. Ranma looked a mix of angry and grateful at what I had told, while Akane was looking down in shame.
"I'm going to rest, now." I said tiredly, before lying down on one of the mats. "I'll explain everything after I wake back up."
That night, I would dream of an endless hallway of mirrors. I would dream of Voldemort. I would dream of mother, father, Sirius and Remus. I would dream of the past, and the future.
Shimmer had to be in this god forsaken place.
It had to be.