"speaking"
"Thinking"
On with the story
Natsu stood upon a small ship as it was sailing out to the open ocean, its crew only consisting of him, Barta, Ranta, and somehow Dimaria who had joined in on their little adventure
"my king, where to?" Ranta asked, holding the ship's helm to navigate it
"north west of our location, just go straight forward" Natsu replied as he just watched the open sea water before glancing at Dimaria who sat on a barrel while polishing her sword, and her eyes staring at Natsu "what?"
"nothing, it's just that you don't really look like Hael-san's son when I look at you more closer" Dimaria said as she lifted her sword up and sees it shine "Hael-san was graceful, elegant, merciless, and by my word, powerful. I don't see how you can actually be related to her once the Pope told me about you being her son"
"and what? Is that supposed to bother me?" Natsu stated with his eyes keening at the Valkyrie
"I am just saying that you may be born as her son, but you don't show anything that resembles Hael-san at all" Dimaria said with a nonchalant smile while holding her hands up a bit "Hael-san had beautiful blood red eyes, jet black hair, beautiful snow white skin, and her aura had a magnificent yet terrifying presence. You don't possess any of those traits from her. I'm starting to wonder if you're really her child"
Natsu looks at Dimaria before he looks away
A few hours ago, the group encountered with Dimaria who offered a proposal to them. In exchange for not taking their lives, Dimaria wanted Natsu to take down the Pope of the Brunnhilde Kingdom, and marry her. Both proposals that he finds very strange. But nevertheless, Natsu accepted it if it was to prevent any conflict Ranta and Barta had to get dragged in because of him
"why do you want the Pope of your kingdom dead?" Natsu said as Dimaria looks at him "isn't he like the King in your kingdom?"
"King? Please, he's just an old fart who I never liked in the first place" Dimaria said "I just want to see him dead, that's all"
Natsu then turns to look at her as he had a sceptic look on his face
"you're lying" Natsu said before walking away to the front of the ship were his eyes sees the giant mist wall of Dragnof. He turns to look at Ranta who nodded before he turns the helm right and the ship sails pass the fog mist
Dimaria looks at Natsu as a smirk soon formed on her lips
At the battlefield, Gajeel and the remaining forces were spread out in the land, all digging holes to make traps for enemy berserkers
"how's it going over there?!" Gajeel shouted out to Droy and some soldiers, the Dorome filling up holes with mud like substance in it
"almost done here!" Droy replied with a thumbs up
"how about there!?" Gajeel shouted as soldiers carried and placed down small circular objects that looks to be made from ice. Gray and Lyon were creating Ice Mines with their powers as the soldiers takes the already created Ice mines and place them into dug up trap holes
"shut it! we're making them as fast as we can!" Gray snapped angrily
Gajeel growls before he looks to the sky and sees the sun still above them
"the damn sun is still out" Gajeel said before he turns and sees Laxus flying down "what?"
"some of those Valkyries ships are coming this way" Laxus said "and their numbers are 10 but I can tell that there will be more of their crew in each one of them!"
"damnit all!" Gajeel exclaimed as they were still preparing and were in no condition to be fighting anytime soon "all of you! Prepare for battle! Leave what you are doing and arm yourselves up!"
"roger!" the soldiers exclaimed
"hey! Gajeel! We're still preparing here!" Ever exclaimed while flapping her Fairy Wings as fast as she can, Bickslow and Freed still preparing bombs with her Fairy Dust "we've only been able to make 10 bombs, you know!"
"I don't care! just use what we can use!" Gajeel shouted before they heard a loud horn coming from the sky
All looks to the sky and sees the Valkyries coming with their Legend Beasts and army
"prepare for battle!" Gajeel shouted as all the soldiers armed themselves
With Natsu, the ship sailed and anchored to an island as it was the island of where Natsu grew up and where his parents' graves lies within
Getting off the ship, Natsu jumped down as Ranta, Barta, and Dimaria followed
"so this is where Hael-san's resting place is, huh?" Dimaria said looking around the island "nice and peaceful. So like her to choose a place like this"
"my king, is it really wise to bring her here? To your parent's graves?" Barta asked Natsu who looks back at him and then to Dimaria who was checking the place around
"does it look like we have any other choice?" Natsu replied "for now, keep a close eye on her. This might be a plan by the Valkyries"
"understood" Barta replied
They ventured into the forest as Natsu leads in front, Dimaria in the middle, while Barta and Ranta were behind, keeping an eye on Dimaria
Dimaria looks around the trees as there were endless of them. The Valkyrie soon sees the old log cabin from a far as she deduced that it must've been Hael and Igneel's home before Natsu joined them
"fine place to grow up" Dimaria said "far, small, and secluded. The perfect place for your mother and father to hide, then give birth to you"
Natsu didn't say a word as his eyes were focused to the front
"but it must've been frustrating and confusing, wasn't it? your father was a half breed of a Dragon and a human. Your mother who was once a Valkyrie turned into a Fallen angel of the Demon Kingdom. They had so many secrets of their pasts, but they never told you about it. I don't know anything about parenting but that's just damn sad, isn't it?"
"this woman is mocking our king" Barta said reaching his hand back for a Kunai but Ranta stopped him
"no, do not act rashly" Ranta told his son while lowing his hand that was holding a kunai "act only when she is hostile"
"telling you of a fake name, keeping so many secrets from you, getting into trouble with a kingdom because you're her son. Hael-san just loves to give you so much trouble, didn't she?" Dimaria said smirking to Natsu who stopped walking "what's wrong? feeling angry?"
Natsu turns his head back to look at Dimaria before he faces forward
"I don't care what you say about the lies my mother did to me in the past, but it doesn't matter to me at all. she told me many lies, but she'll always and forever be my beloved mother" Natsu stated "and nothing can change that"
Natsu started walking again as Dimaria looks at him with a big of surprise
"interesting" Dimaria said smirking before she continued to follow Natsu as Ranta and Barta followed behind
After a few more minutes of walking, the group finds themselves in front of a cave
"this is it" Natsu said looking at the cave "this is where she was pointing at that time"
Natsu walks within the cave as the others stayed behind
Dimaria looks at the cave before she grabs a hold of her sword and slowly draws it
"don't even think about it, Valkyrie" Barta said as he and Ranta were behind her while having their weapons pointed at her neck and back "we know that you were making a plan all along, just to take our King's life"
"back away" Ranta stated "slowly"
"please, if I wanted to take his life, I would've done it the moment I found you guys" Dimaria said smirking as she draws out her sword even with weapons pointed to her vitals "I am drawing my sword because we will be having company soon"
This got Ranta and Barta to look at her confused before a heavy gust of wind blew out from above
"what?!" Ranta exclaimed as Freyja, and Speko appeared "they've followed us?!"
"so this is where you are, Dimaria" Speko stated hovering in the air "I had thought you were up to no good, but you've went and tracked down Lizardius for us"
"seems that you weren't as bad as we thought you were" Freyja added in while drawing out her spear "now, take those Dark Elves' souls and then Lizardius'. I am sure that the Pope will reward us all finely"
"see, about that part, Freyja. I am not tracking them down. I'm with them" Dimaria said tapping her sword to her shoulder a few time "I'm not it for the glory, I'm in it to keep an old promise"
"promise?" Ranta muttered out
"what are you talking about, Dimaria?" Freyja said before she tilted her head to the side, dodging an air blast from Dimaria who had swing her sword "you!"
"you see, I don't like the Pope and how he does things the moment I joined the Valkyries" Dimaria said "and I'm sure as hell never liked any of you guys except for Hael-san!"
"you…you're betraying us?!" Freyja exclaimed in fury
"betraying you? I was never one of you!" Dimaria shouted as she swings her sword up and a thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere "Heaven's! Smite!"
A powerful bolt of lightning strikes down from the dark sky and upon Freyja and Speko
"Dimaria! You traitor!" Speko exclaimed as she had defended against the attack with her shield before deflecting it "you dare attack us?!"
"you two! Get into the cave!" Dimaria exclaimed as she spread her wings "I'm going to take care of these two!"
"you!? Why!?" Barta exclaimed in surprise to all the action that had been going on
"just get in or I'll kick you in!" Dimaria exclaimed flying towards Freyja slamming her sword against her spear
"let's go, Barta!" Ranta stated as Barta looks at Dimaria then to his father before the two went into the cave
Dimaria swings her sword at Freyja who blocked it with her spear before Speko rams her shield at the Black Valkyrie from behind
"damn, I forgot how hard your shield is, Speko" Dimaria said as she flaps her wings a few times to stay airborne
"move aside, Dimaria. And I might allow you to live with your life" Freyja said pointing the blade of her spear at the Black Valkyrie
"sorry, but I ain't letting that happen" Dimaria said as she swings her sword around before positioning its blade by her side "Hael-san wouldn't heed any enemy's threat, would she?"
"if you follow Hael's way, so be it" Freyja said as she spins her spear around before getting into a battle stance with Speko "remember, you have been warned"
Dimaria smirks before she flies towards Freyja and Speko who readied their weapons at her
Natsu was within the cave as he reached to the end where there was the locked and chained stone door
Looking at it, Natsu slowly reached a hand and placed it on the surface of the stone door. The chains glowed black before they dispersed into black sparkles.
The stone door rumbles as it slides open and revealed a chamber with torches lit the inside, making it visible for Natsu so see Hael's Valkyrie armor and her chained scythe
Entering in, Natsu sees that there was nothing else in the chamber besides his mother's armor and weapon.
Going towards the armor, Natsu place a hand and feels the cold surface of the armor upon touch
"this is…Mom's armor….." Natsu muttered out, somehow feeling a sense of nostalgia to the armor
He then turns his attention to his mother's weapon, the black Scythe that was chained to the ground beside her armor
Natsu looks at it and sees how it was emanating in power unlike anything hat he has ever seen
Reaching a hand out, Natsu was about to grab hold of the scythe when something stopped his hand
"Hael…..Hael…..where are you…" the whispering echo was heard again as Natsu feels that his body was frozen by some unknown force "Hael…..where are you…Hael"
The torches in the room was blown out as a dark and black shadow looms around the room before a giant golden eye appeared, looking at Natsu
"you are not..Hael…..you…who possess her blood…..is not worthy….to wield her power….nor mine" the whispering echo stated as Natsu sees black snake shaped markings appearing all over the skin of his hand and up to his neck "you are a fake….you are not Hael…..you are not worthy"
"w-who!? Who are you?! Why do you know my mother?!" Natsu grunted out
"…I am….the serpent of Chaos…..the serpent who has swallowed countless souls…I am…." The whispering voice echoed out in the room before from the shadows appeared the head of a large black snake with golden glowing eyes, black spikes like horns and a large mouth filled with thousands of fangs coated in venom "….Apophis, the Black Snake of Death…."
"A-Apophis?! That legendary snake of death that gods fear?" Natsu said while still frozen in his place, the snake markings spreading around his body faster "why are you here?!"
"centuries ago…..those vile Valkyries captured me and several other Animal Gods….forcing us as their servants…." Apophis stated as his head slithers around while looking at Natsu "…they use us as pets, servants to ride in their foolish battle...i despise them all...but Hael…she was different….she was unlike them…she treated myself and the other Animal Gods as who we are….."
Apophis slithers around and then looks at Natsu who is still frozen
"Hael once freed me of my enslavement….she did so of her own free will…not by the command of those Valkyries and their weak god….for that…..i vowed to serve under her….as her aid in battle" Apophis stated before going near Natsu "….but now….her soul has left this realm….and what remains of her legacy….is you….half breed..how dare you come and take her weapon!?...i shall not allow such a pathetic half breed like you to possess her power!"
"I am not a half breed! I am her son!" Natsu exclaimed "I am Hael's son! And she told me to come here!"
"lies!..." Apophis exclaimed while letting out an angered hiss at Natsu "...Hael's blood may run through your veins….but her power shall never be yours!...you mortal relied on your father's power! Never hers! For that! You shall never be worthy of her power!"
"I don't care what you say! I need her strength! My people are fighting for my sake while risking their own lives!" Natsu shouted out "i am not going to let them happen! I need her strength to protect them all!"
"Silence!" Apophis exclaimed while hissing angrily at Natsu "…you mortals are all the same!...greed, lust, envy, pride, wrath, sloth, Gluttony!...you possess the seven sins just like the rest!...i've witness many mortals having such selfish ideals for themselves!...none are worthy to be alive! None!...if mortals lose their lives then so be it!"
"then ask this yourself! Do you think my mother! Hael would just stand aside and let others fight her battle!?" Natsu shouted as Apophis looks at him "you were her friend, weren't you?! You fought alongside her! You should know that my mother would not just stand by and let others die in vain! You should know that!"
Apophis looks at Natsu as he sees his eyes glowing red
"Hael…" Apophis muttered out as he sees a transparent figure of Hael standing beside Natsu, the Valkyrie having her eyes glowing red just like her son
Flashback
Apophis was flying in the sky as Hael rides upon the God Snake's head
"Apophis, thank you. For aiding me in battle in the last few centuries" Hael told the God Snake who slithers in the sky while his eyes look at Hael "you are truly a great friend"
"friend?...what is that word?" Apophis asked, the God Snake being unfamiliar with the word
"a friend is what mortals call other comrades who are very close to them" Hael explained before smiling "just like you and me, Apophis"
"myself…and…you?" Apophis said as Hael nodded
"perhaps one day, when I have a child you can aid him/her" Hael stated "and be great comrades and friends"
Flashback
"…if that is your wish before your death…" Apophis said as the black snake markings slowly disappeared from Natsu's skin, fading away and freeing him "I will abide to it…"
Natsu looks at Apophis as the God Snake leans away from him
"if you are truly her child…if you are truly Hael's son….if you are truly worthy…" Apophis stated while leaning his head up, his golden eyes look at Natsu before to the chained scythe "..her scythe..the Soul Cleaver, Grim…will respond to your command….and bestow upon you her powers"
Natsu looks at Apophis as he was confused on why the God Snake did was letting him take his mother's weapon
"why are you letting me take it?" Natsu asked as Apophis looks at him
"it is because…you remind me of her…of Hael….my friend" Apophis replied as Natsu looks at him before to the scythe
Natsu reaches his hand out as it slowly got near the Scythe before it shines black
The chamber soon rumbles as it an earthquake shakes through the land
"my king! The Valkyries are here!" Ranta and Barta came running in before they stopped, they saw Apophis with Natsu "what the hell is that?!"
The chains break apart before the scythe floats up and flies into Natsu's hands
The scythe glowed black before it slowly turned crimson and ignites in flames
Natsu wielded the scythe as it now had Dragon marks around its blade
"the Soul Cleaver, Grim has responded to your presence…it has been reborn as your weapon now…" Apophis said as Hael's armor shines brightly before Natsu's armor appeared beside it in flames
The two armors shine in correspondence with each other before they purge apart and combined to form a single armor in the shape of Dragon with a warrior maiden riding its back.
Everyone looks at the combined armor as it shines crimson before purging itself and equipped on Natsu's body (saint seiya like)
The helmet equipped upon Natsu who had his eyes closed before he opens them and the faceplate slides closed, his eyes glowing black and red behind the visor
Flames rages around Natsu before they flied to his back, forming a crimson black cape that spreads while rustling from the wind
The scythe shines crimson as so did Apophis
The god Snake let out a loud roaring hiss as the cave rumbles and shakes
Apophis' black scales shine and turns crimson red. The god Snake black horns reformed into long golden horns like that of a Dragon. his eyes turning crimson red.
"in correspondence to the new wielder of Grim…my loyalty to Hael has now been changed to you…Lizardius Natsu Dragneel" Apophis stated as the black god snake turns into a crimson red snake "what is your command?"
Natsu looks at Apophis before he sees Dimaria battling Freyja and Speko outside, and she wasn't winning the battle
"let's go, Apophis" Natsu said as he jumped up and landed on Apophis' head "we have a battle awaiting us"
"understood" Apophis replied as black crimson wings appeared on his body
Outside, Dimaria was sent flying as the black Valkyrie crashed to the ground; heavily injured
"damn.." Dimaria said slowly getting up before spitting out some blood "..i thought for sure I could win…"
Freyja and Speko floated down as they were unharmed by their battle against Dimaria
"I guess this is what happens when I haven't done any training for 2 decades or so" Dimaria said with a smirk as she got back up while holding her sword at her side "oh well. I lived for a long time and have no regrets of whatsoever"
"accept your judgement, Dimaria" Freyja said as she holds her spear near her side and was about to throw it when a loud hissing roar was heard and surprised everyone "what in the name of god!?"
"it's coming from within the island!?" Speko exclaimed before a part of the ground near them exploded and Apophis came flying out of it while letting out a loud roar
"took them long enough," Dimaria said spitting out a saliva mixed with blood and smiled "your son is really one of a kind, Hael-san"
Natsu rides on top of Apophis head as Barta and Ranta hangs on to the God Snake's scales
"Apophis! You snake! So you were hiding here all these centuries!?" Freyja exclaimed holding her spear in a piercing stance "and you are sided with Lizardius Natsu Dragneel as well! How typical of Hael's blood to have her servant"
"I am no servant" Apophis stated "I am Hael's comrade….and as well as her son's!"
Natsu lifted up his scythe to the sky as a powerful thunderstorm appeared
"Heaven's smite!? No this is something far more powerful than that!" Speko stated as lightning strikes everywhere
"this is my Mother and Father's island. You are not welcomed here!" Natsu exclaimed, the thunderstorm becoming more powerful before a powerful lightning bolt flies down and strikes at the scythe, the blade charging in power "leave!"
Natsu swings the scythe to the side as a powerful electrical shockwave flies towards Freyja and Speko
Speko uses her shield to defend as a golden magical barrier appeared and clashed with Natsu's attack
"it is futile! Even if you have her techniques! Your power pales to that of Hael!" Speko exclaimed before seeing the barrier having cracks "what?!"
"I am not my mother and i may not be able to be like her. But know this" Natsu stated as he holds the scythe with both hands and the blade shines crimson "my mother's strength comes from her love for me and my father! And that power can't ever be stopped!"
Speko's barrier started to crack even more as the shield was cracking as well
"impossible! My shield is bestowed by our god and his blesssings! How can the power of a mere mortal!?" Speko exclaimed as her powerful defence barrier was getting cracked before it shattered into pieces with her shield "impossible!"
"face this!" Natsu shouted as he jumped off Apophis and flies above. The scythe blazes into flames as Natsu came flying down at the two Valkyries "Enryuo no!"
"move!" Freyja exclaimed as she pushed Speko away before readying her spear that shines in a bright golden color "pierce through the heavens! Gungnir!"
"Zangeki!" Natsu swings the scythe as its attack clashed with Freyja's spear
The two attacks collided in power before a small crack appeared upon the tip of the spear, causing Freyja to look surprised
"Raaaahhh!" Natsu roared out as he puts more pressure to his attack that causes more cracks to appear all around Freyja's spear
"that's not possible!" Freyja exclaimed before her spear shattered into pieces
Natsu spins the scythe around before he dashed pass Freyja and Speko, his back turned towards them
"aaahhh!" the two Valkyries shouted out in pain as their armor shattered into pieces with feathers of their wings flying everywhere
Freyja and Speko soon falls to the ground, defeated in battle
Natsu spins the scythe around before he leans it against his shoulder
Dimaria looks at Natsu as she sees Hael beside him, the two having the same stance
"you are now truly her son" Dimaria said with a smile before she slowly falls, drained of her energy
Natsu glanced down at where Dimaria was as the Black Valkyrie was out of the fight for now
He then looks at the direction of Ishgar as his eyes glowed black and red
"to the next battle" Natsu stated
That's a wrap!
Bey bye