Chapter 3: A New Era
Natsu
A month went by and he could only accomplish so little. Well, according to him anyway. Already a major portion of the land was liberated but the constant threat of retaliation from the Slavers and Masters have caused a lot of non fighting casualties; farmers, masons, weavers etc. If he takes over a province in the morning, there will be attacks in the night. Sure, he can take out armies single-handedly, but with not many who have fighting skills under him, their chances of defence against these ambushing groups were nil.
"Sound the bells!" He heard someone shout from the edge of the village. Natsu got up from his seat in the food stall. Usually he wouldn't need the sound of the bell to know enemies were coming but as of recent, his mind wandered a lot more than usual, also it would be better to keep the people out of harm's way if someone managed to sneak past him.
He wiped his mouth and walked out where the men were arming themselves with Spears and shields stolen from previous attacks. He wasn't an infantry man or a knight, but he had seen enough battles to know when a guy don't know how to hold a weapon and that guy was most of the men here. Shaking his head, he quickly climbed the bell tower, which was the tallest structure in the village, standing at just twenty-five feet. Upon gazing at the open grass sea, he instantly recognised who the attackers were.
"These guys again..." He gave an exasperated sigh with his right eye twitching. Nearly a mile away, a horde of Dothraki. With a deep breath, he jumped up from the tower and summoned flames underneath his feet that blasted him in the approaching horde's direction. His flames were bright enough to be seen from such a distance even though it was in the middle of the afternoon. This was understood by the sudden halt in the movement of the Dothrakis. Natsu have a fly past and circled them.
BOOM!
He landed on his feet, creating a dome of fire that cratered the ground, leaving a sole pillar to for him to stand on as the flames cleared. The visibly shocked Dothrakis stopped their charge to look at the strange phenomenon. The Khal's strong shout was what brought the Dothrakis back to reality.
They once again screamed, attempting to continue the charge, but were unable to do so as their horses quickly lost nerve. The only animal not affected by instinctual sense of danger was the great stallion that quickly came and stood near the edge of the crater that his master created.
"Really? I just beat you a while ago? And I thought you guys cut your hair?" Natsu chastised the men who were still occupied with their scared horses. He watched as the Khal jumped off his horse and charged at him on foot with his Blood Riders closely following. With a mighty leap, the Horselord jumped over the crater and raised his Arakh over his head. A strike like that, if made contact, not even an Unsullied can avoid being cleaved in half vertically.
"Rarrghhh!" The Khal brought down his Arakh over Natsu's head with a grin.
"Dick move." Natsu muttered. The Khal's eyes widened as the obsidian eyes turned blood red without any pupils.
The days that followed saw bodies pile up like no other; Slavers, master's and soldiers alike. The South of the Dothraki Sea faced his full wrath. Many villages burned, nothing but ashes remained of huts, walls and weapons. Burned to be risen again. The day marked the Freeman Rebellion of the South done by a Demon summoned by the peasants.
Natsu sat on a tree log outside one of the villages he recently freed with the arakh drawn out and held down between his legs as he supported his weight on the handle. It has been well over half a year and the people of the South had already made a Legend out of him. The Fire Demon who wield a Dothraki Arakh who has a hundred eyes and a hundred arms on a spiders body. He scoffed at the accusations, he never once used the sword, not to mention didn't have any of the things they have spread in the rumours.
"You hear what they say about me man?" Marty let out a neigh before continuing to graze. "Yea... pretty load of shit." He said before giving the Arakh a twirl before putting it on the side and folding his hands. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Igneel used to say to close my eyes and let the world go and find that inner peaceOOOOOHHHHHH THEY ARE STILL CALLING IT PINK!" His attempt on meditation failed miserably as he jumped up and threw his hands up. "HOW MANY FUCKING TIMES! FOR THE LOVE OF-" His rant came to an end when someone called him from behind.
"Milord!"
"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me-oh it's you Reny! Wassup kid?" The young brunette teen who was previously malnourished and bruised now glowed of youth. She wore clean clothes and had her hair tied with small dagger hidden behind her hip. It was tiring, trying to make the girl and the other villagers call him by his name rather than this Mill-Lord. How did he even become the lord of a mill? If he was, what kinda mill was it? Textile? Paper? Wood? Or a wind mill? And where is it? Or was it Me-Lord? Does that mean they were referring themselves as Lord? It was far too confusing. At least the Dothrakis were pretty straight forward. Khal.
"There are a few waiting to see you Milord." He was cut of from his senseless musings by the girl who now had a grim face.
"Yea? Who?" He turned around and walked towards the village with Brenoris in tow.
"They didn't say." She replied. Essos was the continent he was on. It was wierd, Ishgar, the one his brother's country was on and now this Essos. What was the difference? These guys aren't united in a continent unlike how the states work in a country. It was just another 'too much to think's topic for him.
"Well, it better not be some dickhead slaver slash Master trying to honeypot me so that I would fight for them..." He grumbled. At the height of his conquest, he was approached by several wealthy men in money and knowledge, most with selfish reasons. Some Slavers offered a thousand virgins as sacrifice while a Maester in particular wanted to change everyone to be like him. It was just frustrating to either kick those assholes or to ask them to fuck off. But now with the Dothrakis doing his bidding, although with a few casualties, those morons were out of his soft but wild looking salamon hair. Salmon, not pink. "Big difference." Natsu spoke out loud and nodded his head.
Brenoris kept silent at the Dragon Slayer's antics. She was quite used to it now and apparently his stallion too who was always asked impossible questions. Their walk was short and when they arrived at the gates, two Dothrakis who stood guard moved aside and gave a bow. Of course they didn't have their braids and was in the process of growing a new one under "Khal Natsu's" Khalasar. It sounded stupid but Natsu couldn't be more excited. Well that was right after he made them pledge to change their ways.
The village was bristling with activities. Dothrakis and ordinary people were intermingling quite civilly. A suprise, considering how impossible it was to see a rider not taking what they want. Of course, no one expected the Dothrakis to be jolly people all of a sudden but they appreciate whatever civility they saw them express.
They moved quietly through the streets, but it was not completely absent of a bow or an offering of food, which was fine by him. Who was he to reject food? Putting all that aside, he was still waiting to cross the "Red Waste", neat name. It was Red, didn't have anything growing. "Yep. Pretty smart." He once again nodded to himself. He felt Brenoris stopping and focused back to reality to see that they were in front of the Town Hall, an idea of his to make meetings and other boring important stuff be discussed in one place. It wasn't fully constructed but the foundation and walls have been set. "And they say you didn't know any better." He spoke proudly, patting himself for proving his thoughtfulness. Then he looked at Brenoris questioningly. "You didn't drag me to a meeting did you?"
"No milord." She shook her head and lead him inside.
"Greetings. We have been waiting to see you for a long time., Natsu Dragneel, Liberator of Slaves, Protector and King of the South." Natsu looked to his right to see a group standing with red cloaks, oddly resembling a lot of people who he had ass kicked in the past.
'Tower of heaven, Oracion Seis, Grimore Heart, those clock guys, the bird(phoenix) guys, that Tartarus and Avatar. Was that it? Or was there someone I didn't count? Hmm maybe-' Natsu's thoughts were broken by Brenoris who called him softly. "Huh? Oh...uh...I don't think we took that long, yea we spent a few minutes in the Market, but I don't think it was more than 15 minutes."
"That's not what they meant..." Brenoris began but was cut off.
"That is alright child, we shall explain to him who we are and why we came." They politely spoke to the girl who gave an uncertain look towards Natsu who gave a nod. Still not confidant at the decision, Brenoris walked out, leaving him with the Red Ones.
"By the way, I am no King." Natsu caught their attention back to him.
The one who seemed to be incharge, one of the men in red stepped forward. He raised his hands and grabbed either side of the hood and pulled it off his head and let his hands rest on his sides once again; he had a shaven head with flame like markings all over his head and lacked any lips. His skin was pale and his dark eyes showed nothing about his personality, it gave off the feeling of a corpse staring at him. This was soon followed by the other red goonies pulling their hoods off too. As he sensed, there were only a few men and a dozen women, that too attractive.
"So..." The Dragon Slayer awkwardly glanced at the group. "Should I be surprised by you guys?" He asked obliviously. Were they expecting him to recognise them if they pulled their hoods off? "I don't know what you are selling, but make it fast!" He snapped as the Red ones continued to remain silent.
The "Corpse Guy" as he have named, spoke with what resembled a weird smile. "I am Benerro, High Priest of the Red Temple of Volantis and these are the Priests and Priestesses under me. We are here to give you assistance in fulfilling your destiny-" That was as far he was able to speak before a pleasant shout came from the Salmon haired man.
"Why didn't you say so? I was soooo searching for guys who knew how to cross the Red Waste. I mean I haven't been looking too hard, but you get the gist right?" There was a confused look on the Corpse Guy which he didn't need to hide as it was difficult to understand for normal people. He tried to speak again but was stopped as the Dragon Slayer walked over to him and dropped an arm over his shoulder. "Listen, bud, I fully appreciate you coming here but I am sort of not prepared. There are so many of those horse people and slavers and Masters blah blah blah to deal here first."
"But-" The Volantian tried to speak again and the effort was futile as he was dragged to a walk with the grip on his shoulders firm.
"And I don't think I'll need a big travel party either. We'll just load up the bags and start at night. But as I told you," He looked the Priest in the eye with a serious look. "I have a lot to deal here. Maybe make an army? After that, we'll set off!" He gave the other cloaked ones who were staring confusedly at them a wave and began to walk away.
"Oh Flaming One, you have mistaked our purpose here." The High Priest finally managed to get the Dragon Slayer's attention.
"So not to help me cross?" There was a hint of disappointment in his voice as he saw the Corpse Guy shake his head. "Well...why the heck are you here then?"
"We are here to help you in completing your Grand Destiny." The Corpse looking man said.
"Whoa whoa whoa. Let me stop you right there." Natau's eyes comically bulged and his hands were raised.
"But I haven't told you what it is." The High Priest confusedly pointed out.
"You haven't? Oh. Ok. Continue." Natsu scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"You are Azor Ahai, the Warrior of Light..." The Head Priest began. Natsu didn't interrupt him again and simply listened to the fabled tales that rolled of his tongue. It was all the typical 'darkness looms over the place, Hero arrives, need weapon' until is eyes widened slightly at the part where how this Razor Hai got his sword. "...this time, he called for his wife, Nissa Nissa, and asked her to bare her breast. He drove his sword into her living heart, her soul combining with the steel of the sword, creating Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes." His goofiness fell after that and listened till the battle with the one's beyond the wall who they referred as the Other's during the Long Night.
There was a moment of silence before Natsu turned around and began to leave. One of the Priests of R'hllor stepped forward to support the High Priest. "As the followers of the Light, we believe that life is warmth, and warmth is fire, and fire is God's and God's alone."
Another, this time a woman spoke in sync. "How can you explain why you are not being burned? That's how our Lord's power is, beyond reason."
"You are gifted, Natsu of Dragneel Clan. You are blessed by R'hllor to carry on the mission of the Azor Ahai." Benerro bowed along with the others.
The priests looked up upon hearing light chuckles from the Dragon Slayer who still had his back towards them. "My fire is a gift eh?" He looked at the flames in his hand. His eyes looked lost for a moment and the flames reflected off his pupils. 'Nothings ever a gift boy. You are not some lucky man who stumbled across magic. Everything you did to get here has a foundation of blood and sweat, tears and your arrogant will just like me. You are the Son of Igneel moreover, you are Natsu Dragneel and not some...how was it your blonde friend put it, Lucky Lucy?'
"I know it is difficult for you to understand, but if you would just come with us-" The priest began.
"This...fire, you see." He held his hands out as he turned around. "It's no gift. This wise old coot who i know once told me any power that surpasses reasons still come from reasons, that magic isn't some kind of miraculous power. It is a talent that only works when the flow of energy inside us and the natural world goes together. To perform magic, you need a strong mind and the ability to focus, to take over your being and come pouring out of your soul."
"Child, you do not understand, the will of the Lord of Light is-"
"To heck with the Lord of Light. I don't follow anyone but those I believe in. And I believe only in my family. The people who was with me, who shed blood and tears, who pushed me to overcome every fucking wall that came in front of me." His passion spilled freely through his voice. His memories that were sealed away for the past many days came pouring. "And from where I come from, we take the path we believe in! Cause that's what makes the Fairy Tail guild number one!" He passionately raised his right hand, holding the Fairy Tail symbol up.
"I suppose we cannot convince you...yet. But know that the night you sleep into is dark and full of terrors."
"I'll burn them." His reply was curt. Then a grin broke out. "I'll burn any terror that comes in my way or at the ones who depend on me." The heat in the room increased and the High priests sweated.
.
.
.
There was a short nap inside the town bar after a full good meal and he would have continued to nap if not for Brenoris once again interrupting him. With groggy eyes he looked up from his place on the counter. "What is it kid?"
"Milord, there's someone-" She was cut off.
"Again? Why me?" He complained as he got up. "Alright, who is it this time?"
"Orys Baratheon. He claims to be the Hand of the King to Aegon Targaryen." She replied, after censoring the long and extensive title of the King, the man added. She saw the Dragon Slayer suddenly squinting his eyes in thought.
"Tar-gary-en...where have I heard that name..." He mused before looking at the girl sharply. "Hey kid, did that guy give you a lotta things along with the king thing, it goes something like First of his name, Andals." He saw her nod. "Oh great..."
Acnologia
He did not find footwear or warm clothes necessary, not since he became what he is now. A few townsfolk took note of this, a knee length ripped trousers and a clock that exposed his dark chiseled chest and the rosary beads around his neck. None approached him, they knew he was bad news without even needing to know what he is. The snowy path turned muddy once he reached the market as horses and carts moved the winter rations. The growl of his stomach took him towards the place he smelled meat.
The butcher, a fat man with a drunken blush stayed inside the warmth of his smelly unhygienic slaughter house. The stench of dried blood and spewed guts invaded the nose of any who entered. It was the time to sharpen his knives, but he was going to have to do it later...as always. His young wife was busy with his three spawns and other chores of their crappy yet cosy residence attached to the smelly shop.
BAM!
He jolted up, well fell from his perch anyway and stumbled to his feet. The cold wind and the scent of horseshit mixed with mud came flooding in. Groggily he looked up to find the unwelcomed guest/customer, whichever suits the situation. It was a short, yet somehow imposing male with long dark blue..? hair and marking all over his body, which by the way was not even adequately covered for the weather of this town.
"Oi! I ain't selling nothin' tod-" The stranger vanished and appeared next to his dried lamb. "Hey what are you-" He witnessed Acnologia gobbling the good food without a care and by the looks of it, he was well aware of all the hidden goodies in his smelly shop and was making it his mission to find and consume them. "What are you...stop it! I'll call the guards!" He threatened trying to wrestle the much smaller individual with little success.
Acnologia stopped for a moment, giving the butcher a bit of relief. He gave a small sniff of the atmosphere and continued to munch. "Go on then, we both know how that will end." He added a moment later. There was a pause in the Butcher's antics at his monotonous words.
The sound of his lunch getting swallowed broke him out of the pause. "Hey! You can't eat that! That's my lunch! At least pay for it!" The man grabbed the fallen king's wrist.
Acnologia stopped to look at the surprisingly hard grip on his wrist. A scowl came over his visage and he lashed out. "Cease your mocking vermin!" He smacked the butcher across the stuffy room and into the garbage area.
"Alright you persistent brat, you caught me." The fat butcher stood up in a surprisingly agile and elegant movement. "The names Barbatos, a humble Demon King who wishes to live the remainder of his life in peace." There was a bright red glow covering the man's body before it reshaped into a more thinner, scrawny looking physique. The face of the fat butcher that had a drunken blush was morphed into a more boney darker skinned one with a bushy grey bearded one. His eyes were hollowed into his head like a malnourished man and his wild grey hair was tied into a bun. There was no reaction from the Dragon as he continued to finish his meal. This made the the Demon a bit annoyed. "Hey! At least show a little interest man-aacckk!" His words were choked as a grip like no other viced on his throat. He felt his legs dangling as the stranger kept him suspended in the air. That's when he noticed the bluish aura that leaked from him.
An image appeared in his head. One with dead white eyes and an arrow like head charging a breath attack over a city. It happened too fast. Everything burned. Blood of Dragons not the Dragons themselves were able to save themselves from the heat as it vanquished everything in it's path.
"Y-you... you're him!"
XxxxX
That's a wrap! Sorry for the long wait. Life...
I got a lotta and stuff and hope I answered all of them.
So about the chapter...
What's going to happen? Is Acnologia gonna turn the area to dust or will he get the help of this new demon who seems to know him? How does he know him to begin with? Certainly not through Tartarus.
Review!
