Theme music: Ivan Torrent- Glimmer of Hope
Chapter 7: Parabellum: The False Queen
King's Landing
"Damn those bastards!" Orys slammed on the desk. The veteran councilmen were unmoved by the outburst, namely Edmyn Tully and Crispian Celtigar, the Master of Coins. The death toll has risen to three thousand and the Dornish kept crawling out of the trees.
"Milord, it would be best if we send our troops after we get clear cut information." Stannous Barrington, the Commander of the Army suggested.
This however was a foolish move as it further angered the King's Hand. "What the hell do you think happens to our spies?" It was true, each person who defected or were sent to Dorne never came back in one piece. Their lack of progress could only be explained by two factors. One, the Dornish were fiercely loyal to their country and two, the Iron Throne had spies among it's ranks. Already they have been ridiculed by the actions of Wyl of Wyl in Old Oak. Lord Oakheart was dead, his daughter gang raped and sold to Myrish slavers. This has gone beyond the point of talking and once again, Orys saw himself about to wear his armour.
"When can we expect his Grace's return?" Edmyn asked. Aegon has flown back to Dragonstone for some reason and with Visenya rallying forces in the north, it was left to Rhaenys and Orys to man the capital. But with the Queen locked inside the library deep in research, it fell more to the General to do politics, which he was relatively not as good as his Queens.
"He should be back by nightfall." Orys hoped he would because he was itching to get back into the field. The discussions went on with new strategies and prospects for fresh fundings. The Thunder of the wing beats echoed the palace halls of Aegon's Hill and interrupted the council. Orys with a broad smile stood up to leave. "It is about damn time."
The King was already on his way in when Orys met him halfway through. "Orys! How are things coming along?" The two men embraced tightly before walking back in.
"Not good. Dorne is still fucking us sideways." Orys replied. "And Rhaenys hasn't eaten anything for a day and has not come out from the library."
Near the office of the Grand Maester, the library of the King was locked from inside and it had remained locked for three days. A maid would come by three times to place food at the door but after the second day, not even the food was accepted. Inside the library, Rhaenys sat on the floor. Around her were parchments that were from books and some written by her. Dark baggy eyes and pale skin, her hair was a mess and her clothes stank. The Queen looked like a beggar now.
The sound of two pairs of footsteps made the once elegant Targaryen Queen to whip her head and crouch like an animal. "Rhaenys. It is I, your beloved Aegon. Open the door please." Aegon knocked on the door. He and Orys were the only ones.
Outside, the two men waited for a reply. "Hehehe..." The sounds of slow dark chuckles sent shivers down their spine. The voice definitely belonged to Rhaenys but at the same time there was another, laced around it.
"Rhaenys? Are you ok? Open the door." Orys tried. A dreadful feeling blooming in the pits of their stomachs.
The reply triggered their panic. "Who are you vermins to command me?" The two men looked at eachother and nodded in a silent agreement before rushing to the door and slamming it open with their shoulders and falling on the paper littered floor. The guards stationed nearby quickly rushed into see the sight of their King and Lord fallen on the ground but when they looked above them, their blood froze. Rhaenys was standing, but her feet were not touching the floor. Levitating three feet off the ground, her eyes were white and a cruel smile plastered on her face that stretched her lips to the ends of her beautiful face.
"AAAHHHH!"
Two ear splitting screams made their head turn to the entrance where the two guards have rushed in. They were being burnt alive by flames that were as black as Balerion's. The result was instant as not even ash was left behind. The proof of their existing now being the char on the floor they stood.
The cold double voiced laughter once again began with the Queen throwing her head back. "You will all die!" The walls quickly caught fire and spread to the bookshelves. A random fume grazed the Targaryen King's palm and he immediately pulled it away. It burned. The fire had burnt him. The one thing that was never supposed to happen. Too shocked was he to notice the ball of black flames thrown at him.
"Aegon!" The call caught his attention as he felt a boulder crash into him and wrap it's arms around him.
He got up dazed. "What...?" Next to him Orys laid clenching his shoulder where the fireball had hit him partially and have burned his flesh severely. "Orys?!" He kneeled down to help his friend who caught his wrist.
He pointed at Rhaenys with the index finger of his good arm. "Aegon! The book! We need to get that book out of her reach!"
"But your arm?"
"Forget it my King! You need to save her!" The Hand of the King ordered the latter who charged towards the floating woman. Dodging and crawling to get through her attacks. Once close enough, he jumped to grab her and the book. And he did catch the book. Only thing was that it didn't come off easy. He hung on grabbing the book while hanging three feet away from the ground.
He looked into the cold lifeless face of who was once his wife. "Aegon Targaryen. I shall feast on your soul." She licked her lips. It was offsetting, especially with only her eyeballs staring at him. He felt something invisible being pulled out of him and he stayed there, unable to break free from the grip. He kicked his feet against her but it was no good as she was now far stronger than a hundred men. He was slowly losing his vision on her face when something miraculous happened in the form of a titanic roar.
ROAR!
CRASH!
A giant claw ripped through the stone walls and knocked the two away.. Orys looked on as Balerion made a sizeable hole and knocked away his master and his master. What possessed the Dragon to do that would be question for another time but right now their lives what was of matter. Because this was the opportunity they needed. "Aegon! Now! Do it now!" The possessed Rhaenys was getting her footing back and had raised both arms towards the Dragon in response to his intrusion. This left the book wide open.
He didn't need to be told twice as he took out his dagger made of Valyrian steel and made the single most precision shot in his life. Inches beneath her wrist, the dagger struck the book and punctured it before taking it off and sticking it up on a wall. Rhaenys lost her demonic flow almost immediately and fell unconsciously to the burning floor.
Aegon crawled up to her and pulled her up. His General struggled his way to him and pushed against the King's shoulder to make him move out through the hole Balerion made. He wasn't a fan of Dragons but boy was he glad to have seen Balerion's mug today. They stumbled their way out and away from the fire which Balerion blocked with his massive body.
Still cradling his beloved wife who was whimpering obscenities in her subconscious, Aegon looked at his General who himself lay flat on the mud. "Orys, get that book destroyed."
Natsu
He did not know which city he stood in, it was never in his interest to care for naming or renaming or remembering places, but one thing he knew was that he freed the people and gave them hope for a better future. Now the city he raised from the ashes was burning back to ashes and the people who believed in his idea lay dead or dying. He walked through the chaos, his eyes held terror as he watched the bodies of children being piled up. The sounds of a few mothers weeping and men screaming in pain. His breath was filled with the scent of burnt flesh and fresh ash that floated all around the area.
PLUSH!
He looked down to see a teddy bear made of old rags. He kneeled and picked it up, and looked. He wanted to cry. But his tears weren't coming out, he felt a numbness course through his body and his heart beat like the day he saw his father fall, the day he saw his country being invaded. "They attacked the city in broad daylight light. They say a woman with red hair lead the attack." His Master of Whispers, Rayesa said. Her face was pale from the sight and her voice shaky.
"Your Grace...what should we do?"
He tightened the grip on the toy. "Call all our people to lend us their help by whatever they can give. Find those that can walk and help the injured." Natsu said, his voice shaking but he held his calm. Even though they weren't his family, they trusted him to keep them safe and he failed. But who would attack a city with over ten thousand Dothrakis and four thousand infantry men.
"Your Grace, help has already arrived from the North under Ko Mogo. Ten thousand Dothrakis with medicines and food are running all over the city." Rayesa spoke, but Natsu wasn't hearing. A child was on the ground. She had short brown hair and a round baby face, maybe three or four years of age, she had the side of her face pressed against the blood soaked ground and her tiny hand clenching the mud near her head. There were hoof mark on her body. She was run over without a second thought.
Natsu kneeled down next to the child's body. His eyes immediately found the hand that clenched the soil even in death. On top of her palm was a roughly drawn symbol. His Guild mark Some one has drawn first blood. His people's blood. They have come knocking on the Devil's Door and now the devil was about to answer.
"I can take buildings being turned to rubble...but I will not let harm come to those who believe in me without taking revenge!" His voice turned dark and his council who stood close, stumbled back as a feeling of imminent destruction waved off the Dragon Slayer.
"...we will mobilise all our troops to the south-" The heavy sound hooves hitting the ground interrupted Rayesa. Like the wind, the black stallion let out a neigh as he lifted himself on his hind legs. They watched Natsu climb up and looked towards the west.
"You know where I want to go Marty." With a second neigh, Marty was enveloped in a whirlwind of fire as he took his master to the war. His council stumbled back by the force of the magically enhanced horse but quickly went about conveying the message of war.
As he rode through the broken city walls, a green vine from a decorative plant caught his left forearm and snapped itself from the main plant before wrapping around his wrist as a bracelet. "Natsu! Please you have to listen to me!" A small face morphed into the green vine.
"What?!" The Dragon Slayer furiously lashed out without stopping his charge.
In an attempt he knew would be in vain, the ex-Fairy spoke. "You can't fight the Scarlet Despair!"
Natsu let out a growl and didn't bother looking down to his wrist. "You know my answer old man. That woman killed my people!"
"You are about to invade a city!" It was futile like he thought. There was so many lines crossed when the Scarlet Despair wiped out that city.
"I don't give a fuck! And you know that as well! Once a Fairy Tail Wizard gives his word, he keeps it till the fucking end! She had a chance! And now I am going to do the sacred duty of our Guild!" Warrod helplessly tried to dissuade the man but his cries were ignored as the green simply remained on his forearms.
Back in Ifeqevron, Warrod opened his eyes and looked at the ancient Tree-folk grimly. "I am afraid he has made his choice." There were instances in his long and eventful life where he knew peace formed from walking on a rope will never last.
Leaf took a step forward, horror striking her eyes. "Have you spoken to him?" She asked in desperation.
The Forrest God gave a small nod. "Yes."
Each passing moment made Leaf fearful of the future. "Have you tried explaining-"
Worrod's face was enough for the ancient being to stop. "He won't listen even if you tie him up. His mind is fixed on one thing and one thing alone, the duty of every Fairy Tail Wizard." He softly explained.
"What is that?" Leaf asked confusedly.
Without a moment's delay the Tree replied. "Eradicate evil."
"But the fate of the world!" She tried.
"This has gone beyond any of our control. We can only hope this solves down by itself." He made it clear there was no going back from a war. "Leaf, you have lived far longer than I and you must have took in the fact that we cannot always prevent every bad thing. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith."
Leaf looked to the side, in thought. Her hands folded with her palm holding her elbow. She wanted to argue but it ultimately would change nothing. The Children of the Forest thought they could stop the First Men and failed. They thought they could return to a peaceful life after the Long Night but failed in that too. She followed prophesies of her ancestors but has it become to the point she has accepted everything a prophesy say to be the fate?
The Forest God decided to bring her thoughts to a halt at that moment. "I must take my leave. I have to prepare for war and you have to prepare for the future." With that Warrod's face disappeared from tree. Leaving the Forest entity to her own miserable thoughts.
Irene
It was dusk, the sun was no where in sight and Irene stood at the top of the pyramid in her usual luxurious grab. She stared out into the dark thundering clouds above her city. It was the perfect mood setter. "To think you would cross the sea for me makes my heart warm." She smiled as she slowly turned around. The lightning illuminated the silhouette of a man with red eyes standing on the raised guard. "Maybe I'll keep you around afterall." There was no reply as he stood there taking in the sight of the source of his despair. "Hm? Nothing to say? I heard you are quite the chatty one."
Natsu gritted his teeth and jumped down. He stalked forward. "You think running back home will keep you away from me?! I'll cross any sea! Climb any mountain and fuck up any wall that gets in my way!" He roared as he cocked back his fist, enveloping it in red flames before shooting his body at the woman. "You killed thousands of innocents..."
"Not exactly." She snorted before pausing. "Oh not the number, it is probably over fifty thousand." She smiled dazzlingly at the man who had steam rising around him. "I was talking about their innocence, god knows what some of them had done in their lives..." She muttered with a snort. Irene smiled as she raised her staff and blocked the fist, cancelling the flames and stopping the attack effectively but the force blew away a huge portion of her large fort behind her. "Come on now, you can do better. After all..." She spun her staff to block the next punch followed by flaming leg swing. "...you are his majesty's brother."
"Fire Dragon King's Roar!" Irene's eyes widened as Natsu unleashed a heavy torrent of red flames. But what caught her eye was the image of the Dragon that stood behind him.
"Hm, so Igneel's will still follows you..." She mused as a magic circle came in front of her to contain the flames in her pocket dimension and launched it back at him. Natsu didn't move and took his own flames head on. "You know, we are all fated to find eachother...the Emperor, Igneel, me and finally you." She smirked as he shot out of the inferno and engaged her in hand to hand. "We are all Masters and the world we live in are our slaves."
"Shut up! You don't know anything about me! You don't know anything about Igneel!" Natsu roared as he clapped his hands, causing fire to erupt in a sphere like fashion before exploding. Irene jumped on to the pyramid to avoid the attack. Before the blink of an eye, he was on her once again.
"Oh I agree. I didn't know about you much till I saw you take on the Emperor himself. You were nothing to me till then. Then I learned you were my daughter's most trusted man. That you broke the most powerful curse in history to not harm her. Too bad she didn't give you any favours if you know what I mean." She giggled while enchanting the boulders beneath her to explode around him.
Natsu ran on the walls of the building as he dodged the boulders that exploded on contact. "Don't you say another word about Erza or any of my friends!" Natsu ripped off the spear from a statue and threw it at her.
Irene slashed her staff in front of her that redirected the spear and went straight back at Natsu who moved inches from getting hit on the head but there was more to the attack than a simple throw. "Oh but I am her mother, I am her only blood!" Before the bottom end of the spear passed by him, it flexed towards his neck like a rope and caught him by the neck in a vice.
"Blood ties don't matter to us in Fairy Tail!" He shouted as he struck her on the abdomen with a flaming knee. "And just because you are her mother doesn't give you any right over her life!" Irene gasped in pain as she crashed through her city.
"Foolish demon! I have right over everything! I am the Queen!" She spun her staff just in time to strike the Dragon Slayer on the side of his head just before he could slam into her. She didn't let him gain his footing and continued to attack. "Once I destroy you and obtain that magic embedded in you, there will be no one to oppose me!"
"I like to see you tryRraaaggg!" Natsu jumped back a distance, all the while parrying off attacks from the woman. "I am not just powered by magic! It comes from my friends and those who placed their trust in me!"
"And where are they now?!" Irene slammed her clawed hand into his abdomen, ripping into it. "Your friends aren't near you and the ones who thought you would save them were slaughtered by me!"
"You are wrong! They are always with me! Even if we are Worlds away, I can still feel their hope in me!" He slammed a Fire Dragon King's fist into her face, creating a shockwave around them. "And I'll make sure there will be no one like you who will hurt my people again!" His belly bloated up and he let out a roar.
Irene charged into the inferno with madness in her eyes. "Hope and love is what made the most powerful demon in the world weak! It's what made him fight battles for the weak!" She cut through the flames even though it burned her skin.
He closed in the distance and reigned down fists covered by fire in the hundreds. "Shut up you bastard! You'll never know what it's like to have a family behind you even if they aren't mages or dragons! You don't know the feeling of having people place their trust in you!"
All of them were expertly blocked by using her staff. Each punch has their destructive force absorbed into the magical weapon. "I am so glad to hear that!" Irene laughed with madness in her eyes. "Because in a few seconds, my army of Berserkers will rise. They will ravage anything infront of them! They won't just kill your people! But the whole of this wretched continent!" With a swing of her weapon, she unleashed all of the magic he attacked her with back to him.
Natau crossed his forearms to block the powerful magic that came at him like a giant arrow. "Gah!" He slid through the ground, crashing into a fountain with a Dragon's head that crumbled and fell over him.
Irene landed softly on the city square and stared at the destroyed fountain. Little bit of the rubble rolled down, other than that there was no movement. "Come on now, I know that did nothing to you." The debris moved slightly before it was pushed to the sides and the Dragon Slayer stood up, completely unharmed except for the bruises on his forearm and a cut on the side of his forehead.
"Your own people will be harmed." Natsu said with his eyes observing the relaxed witch who walked to the side while spinning her staff like a toy.
She giggled like a girl and stabbed the staff into the ground, making the whole city shake. The Dragon Slayer quickly fell into a fighting stance while looking around with caution. Irene gave a wicked smile. "There are no people in this city. They are the first legion of my own Etherious demons." Her smile widened at the shock Natsu displayed on his face. "Yesss...that is right. His majesty's little secret. I figured it out. Actually now that you think, it wasn't a secret, what with Tartarus flaunting that ability all over the globe." She placed a finger on her chin in a cute thinking pose.
The ground beneath Natsu moved before a clawed hand shot out next to his feet and caught his ankle in a vice. "What the-" Purple scaly arms shot out. A realisation quickly dawned on him. Something that should have been obvious but yet somehow escaped his vision.
The city was empty and even with the ruckus they created, he heard no screams, he heard no heartbeats and he saw no one. The answer came from beneath him. The tiles, the mud, the water. They came clawing out from it. Humanoid in appearance but vastly mutated to the point humans have more similar appearance to a monkey than these abominations.
He quickly overcame his shock and plucked the first demon that attacked him and threw him away. "What have you done to them?!"
"Marvelous are they not?" She walked over to demon that stood with white eyes that was devoid of any emotions. Steam came off it's mouth and the claw like protrusions on it's elbows grew. "I know you can fight off all of my demons but..." She gave a pause to smile. "Their job is to get out off the city and spread like a plague collecting the souls of men and turning them into my slaves!" She laughed in mania.
He was clenching his fist so tightly that his knuckles were pale. This wasn't a grudge match. Whatever this was, it went beyond an individual attack. "Why do you hate these people?" She was planning to destroy a world, it wasn't even remotely close to how Tartarus did but he would be a fool if he forgot about her alliance with his dead brother.
"Hate is a strong word. I find them rather very useful, including you. With enough of my wonderful creations I can create a singularity in this world. And I will be the centre of that singularity and I will invoke the will of Ankhseram once again-" The city rumbled once again and this time even Irene was confused. The reason was soon revealed as massive roots began to shoot out around the city, encasing it in a dome of green within a few seconds.
Natsu's chuckles caught the woman's attention. "I told you, didn't I? I am not alone." From the vegetative ceiling above the city, large balls of vines dropped in the hundreds. One crashed behind him and it opened into a carpet, letting the war cries out as Dothrakis rushed out to stand behind him. But it didn't end there as the vines and roots that brought them here turned itself back to a ball before reshaping into a humanoid form with green glowing eyes and an open mouth. "Get'em!" All hell broke free as the Dothraki near him rushed. Their warcries resounding through different parts of the city. The Unsullied were close behind along with several other divisions of the largest multiracial army in the World.
"Natsu, I have enforced our people with my magic to fight these monsters." A Tree Gollum spoke as it passed by him into an onslaught of demons. "You go get her." He said looking into the fighting where Irene stood without moving. It was as if no one saw her or didn't bother to engage as there was a two metre radius around her.
Irene gritted her teeth before letting out yet another cynical smile. Between the inner antlers of her staff a spark formed and she brought it forward. "I have been very judicious on how I use those souls I ripped away from my harvest of your city." A blue ball began to form between those antlers as she pointed it towards him. "But I suppose eliminating you right now would be the best course of action." Time stilled in Natsu's eyes as the ball was launched at him in a speed he couldn't comprehend.
It hit him. Natsu stood there unmoving and unresponsive to Warrod's shouts. There was no injury. No blood or shouts of pain.
THUD!
That was all that happened. Natsu Dragneel fell face first on the stone tiled battlefield and there was no longer a beating heart in his body.
XxxX
Thanks for the support, the reviews, the wait! Can't thank you enough my beautiful reviewers! Keep on feeding me those public scripts that everyone can see on my story! Aka reviews!
