Chapter 20! Hope you guys enjoy!
Day before the trials. December 14th, X784. Early morning.
Kiryu packs a few necessities into a rucksack. Wearing the hood he had gotten in Edolas, he sheathed his sword onto his back. Volk walks over to him, wanting to be scratched behind the ears before the young dragon slayer left. Kiryu responds to his request and gives him a few scratches.
"Don't worry bud, I'll be back soon. Don't cause any trouble, got it?"
Volk barks and licks Kiryus face.
"Okay buddy, I've got to go. I'll see you later."
After letting Volk outside, he takes one last look at the white wolf, remembering the day he found him during the Nirvana incident. He let's out a smile.
I'll see you later.
Kiryu walks down the road towards Hargeon. And within an hour or so, he was half way.
Let's see… the teams are, Natsu and Happy, Gray and Loke, Elfman and Evergreen, that Mest guy and Wendy, Freed and Bixlow, Cana and Lucy, and Juvia and Lisanna.
He looks over the hills and sees the port of Hargeon.
Natsu and Grays teams have some pretty good potential, but Natsu will be outnumbered if he fights another team due to Happy not being much of a fighter. Gray might be a different story.
Walking into the town, people have begun leaving home and doing their daily routines. The men going to work, the women and children getting ready for Christmas. It still felt new to Kiryu, for he hadn't celebrated Christmas since he left. Taking a corner, a ship was waiting, along with a few members of the guild. Natsu was talking to Gildarts and Erza, and Mira was talking to Lisanna and Elfman.
"We'll see you when we get there." Says Elfman.
"Alright. Good luck." Responds Mira.
Lisanna looks over her shoulders, and notices Kiryu. "Hey Kiryu!"
He stops right next to Mira. "Hey guys."
"Since I'm also taking part in the trials, if me and Juvia have to face you, don't hold back." Lisanna says confidently.
"Same goes for me! I haven't had a good match against you since we were kids!" Says Elfman.
Kiryu nods. "I can't wait."
The ship was ready to leave, and the S class wizards boarded. Lisanna, Natsu, and Elfman wave to them as they depart. Kiryu and the others respond, and he goes down into the ship. Inside there was some cargo and a few chairs. Finding a seat, he sits down and props his legs onto a barrel.
She was so cute.
His mind went to when Lisanna greated him. She had worn the same thing she had when she went to the guildhall the day after she got back. Even though he had seen it before, it still didn't fail to surprise him. Kiryu shakes his head.
What am I thinking? Her and I are only friends.
Trying to take his mind off of it, he decides to take a nap.
If it weren't for that training, I'm pretty sure I'd be throwing up my guts on this ship.
He felt every motion of the wave. The ship rocked with every beat. It made him sleepy, then he was out.
Kiryu woke up. He rubs the back of his head. Looking around, he noticed that he was on a rocky shore.
"Where the hell am I?" He asks.Standing up he turns to see a large tree.
"What am I doing here? We just left Hargeon."
A loud roar makes him jump. Turning around, a black dragon was standing before him. Frozen with fear, Kiryu dared not move.
"Come on! We have to stop him!"
He turns to see Natsu and the other participants using their magic to attack the dragon. It was useless. The dragon roared again. The force was so powerful it sent all of them back. Kiryu was able to stay standing. Once the shockwave was completed, he turned to look at everyone. They were all on the ground, looking helpless at the dragon. The monster rested his head back.
"Oh no. Run you idiots!" Kiryu shouts to the wizards.A bright light began to form in the dragons mouth. Kiryu began to charge towards the behemoth, hoping to stop it from attacking.
"Star dragon Cosmic Fist!"
The attack passes through the dragon almost like he swung at air. Kiryu falls to the ground now behind it. The dragon blasts the area with the Fairy Tail members, blowing it up in a massive explosion. Kiryu stands back up, horror in his eyes. The dragon spread its wings and flew into the air.
"No!"
Kiryu runs towards the large crater the dragon had created. When he steps towards, shock and fear took over. Scattered around the crater, were the skeletons of his fallen friends. He couldn't move. The shock had started to rise when Kiryu saw one of the skeletons with the necklace he gave to Lisanna.
"You see?" A voice asks.Looking on the other side of the crater, Dragunov stood above the skeletons.
"If you don't help me, if you don't let me fulfill my destiny, this will happen. And there will be nothing you can do about it."
Kiryu throws a blast at him, barely scraping his head.
"I'm sorry then."
Dragunov charges his magic into his right index finger and points to him.
"You have brought this on yourself."
Kiryu flinched, and a magic blast shot towards him. Everything goes white.
Finally waking up, Kiryus head shoots up and his feet that were propped up hit the deck with a loud thud. After a long pause, he scans the room he was in. He was still aboard the ship. Kiryu sighs.
Should've known. It was just a dream.
Kiryu stands up and Mira walks into the room.
"We're here." She says.
Kiryu says nothing and continues to look around the room. Noticing the sweat on Kiryus face, Mira gets a concerned feeling.
"Are you doing okay?"
He finally looks at her. "Its nothing, just a dream."
Mira nods, still concerned about her friend.
Kiryu, Mira, Erza, and Gildarts arrive to the paths that the participants would take in the trial. It was late afternoon.
"Well guys, I guess we should camp here for the night and then move to our positions tomorrow morning." Gildarts says. The others agree. Setting up a temporary camp, the others settle in and Kiryu sits on a boulder facing the ocean. Erza notices this and stands next to him.
"Is everything alright?" She asks.
"Yeah. Everything is okay." Kiryu responds.
After a small silence Erza notices what is wrong. "You have been talking to him more, haven't you?" She questions.
Kiryu flinches. "How did you-?"
"Ever since Nirvana. You told me you talked to him. You usually don't act like this, especially after how well things have been going for you lately. But, I didn't think you would talk to him more though."
He looks back towards the ocean, thinking of a response.
"I'm sorry, I haven't told you guys lately because I didn't want you guys to worry." He finally responds.
Erza snickers and places a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. If there is something wrong, you can tell us. I think the last thing that will happen is us worry, depending on the situation."
Turning around, she looks back at him.
"You going to join us."
"Not yet. I normally don't get a view like this. I'm gonna stay a little longer." He smiles.
"Alright, not too long. You need to save your strength for the trials." Erza replies walking away.
Kiryu looks at the waves as they crash to the rocky shore.
I hope that dream doesn't happen. I won't let it.
He pulls out his harmonica, takes a breath, and begins playing a quiet melody.
The next morning, the S Class Wizards took their positions and Kiryu waited at the exits, waiting for Makarov to arrive. After a few hours, Makarov finally arrived.
"Ah Kiryu! I was thinking you would be at the first masters grave by now." The third master says happily.
"Yes sir, sorry about that. But I need to talk to you about something."
Makarov eyes the boy. "What is it?"
Kiryu sits in the grass.
"Lately I've been talking to Dragunov, the other me."
Makarov stands next to him. "Talking to him you say?"
"Yes sir. Ever since I left two years ago."
"I see. About what, may I ask?"
"Until recently, he would always taunt me when we talked. But lately he has been talking about his 'destiny'."
"Destiny?"
Kiryu looks up at the sky. "He doesn't tell me much, for some reason. But from what he has told me, he has to kill someone. And the only time he can is if that person is close."
The old master looks at him. "Do you think said person was around when Lisanna was attacked by Dragunov?"
Kiryu nods in agreement.
"Interesting."
"Do you have any idea how I can avoid this destiny he is talking about?"
Makarov looks at him, seriousness in his eyes.
"Destiny is a hard thing to avoid. The only way to do something about it, is wait for it to happen."
Kiryu processed the masters words. He knew that Makarov was right. The only way to avoid it was to wait. He stands up and looks down at the older man.
"Thanks Gramps. You always know the answer to everything."
Makarov chuckled. "Not everything, but I'm happy you think so." He smiles. "I'm glad to have helped."
The two stand for awhile, when they suddenly feel the ground shake. They look across the island and see a large light.
"Seems Gildarts is finishing up. Looks like I need to get going." Kiryu says, picking up his rucksack.
"You remember the way?"
"Of course, you showed me the place when I first became S Class."
Makarov smiles. "That's my boy!"
"See ya Gramps." Kiryu says as he runs towards the location of the grave. Makarov looks at the light again.
You better be ready, destiny is hard to change.
Not far from Tenrou Island, the airship of the dark guild, Grimoire Heart, approaches the island. On board, the master of Grimoire Heart, Hades, gathered his troops and his most powerful wizards.
"This is a momentous day indeed. If all goes well, we will see the return of Zeref, the Black Wizard. The ambitions of Grimoire Heart will no longer be a fantasy. Now that we have the necessary keys, we will now awaken what is within Zeref." He says calmly yet full with pride.
"Master, you're overlooking the opposition. Our plans can very well start crashing should Fairy Tail intervene." Says Jellals old attendant, Ultear. "They did defeat one of the Barum Alliances' most powerful guild, the Oracion Seis. The strongest of them have gathered on Tenrou Island. Awakening Zeref will not be a simple task." She continues.
"Oh dont be worried about those weaklings. I have more power in this finger." Says the fire god slayer Zancrow, releasing some of his black fire. "When I'm done with them, they'll be ash under my boot!" He laughs.
"Beware of overconfidence, Zancrow." Ultear says.
"Never underestimate ones' foe. Even so, I have faith that we will win this battle." Says the celestial spirit, Capricorn.
"I cant agree more." Says Rustyrose.
"I uh, yeah." Agrees Kain Hikaru
"At last, we shall unleash our ultimate desires. Our drums beat against their cages and cry for violence. We shall dance to their rhythm." Rustyrose continues.
"Before we go any further, master Hades, what shall we do about that other dragon slayer?"
Hades clasps his hands and places his elbows on his knees. "You mean the Star Dragon Slayer, Kiryu was it?"
"Yes master. He is the one who defeated Hanz, the leader of Black Serpent, another one of the Barum Alliances power houses."
"I believe I can achieve victory over him." Says a young sounding voice from Hades right.
Out from the shadows, a child, no older than twelve with blonde hair and green eyes, steps into the light, wearing what appears to be a white tuxedo.
"This is the son of Hanz, Reiner Schmidt. He is now in control of Black Serpent." Hades introduced.
Reiner places his palm on his chest and bows to Hades. "Thank you for allowing me to accompany you, master Hades." The young boy says.
"Tell me, why have you joined us exactly?" Asks another one of Grimoire Hearts wizards, Meldy. Reiners eyes narrow and he clenches his fists.
"That bastard dragon slayer weakened our guild and killed my father. He has to pay!"
He says angrily.
"And you have the tools to finish him off?" Asks Hades.
Reiner smiles. "Nothing but the finest."
As if on command, three figures dressed in black with some armor appear out of thin air behind him.
"These are Black Serpents special team, the Serpents Fist, and there are twenty of us. Also…" Reiner forms an Ice blade over his hands. "What else to defeat a Dragon Slayer, than another."
Hades smiles amusingly. "Our goals shall be achieved, no one can stop us! Not even Fairy Tail!"
Kiryu continued to hike through the woods.
"Alright, it should be just over there."
Coming to a clearing, he looks over to a rock face towards the center of the island. Cut into the cliff lies the grave of Mavis Vermillion, the first guild master of Fairy Tail. Sitting criss cross, Kiryu waited for Makarov to arrive.
It will be a little while before Makarov to get here. But what's taking so long? He should have finished briefing the others.
He decides to pass the time by meditating. It was a way for him to calm his mind when he was thinking about everything. Closing his eyes, Kiryu began his meditation. Listening to the wind through the trees, the animals go about their business, and distant waves crashing on the islands shores. It was truly peaceful on that island, a feat that Kiryu wanted to master. He continued on, letting his mind ease. Kiryu opens his eyes. And, for some reason, silence. The wind stopped, and the animals were quiet. Silence. Kiryu eyes narrow as he stands up.
Something is wrong.
He let's his magic radiate from his arms.
We have company.
Chapter 20! Review!
