Note: I'm going to take this as a chance to say that this fanfic wont' be very long. It'll probably only be several more and it'll be done. We've got less than a week before we find out what happens, and if we get a better sense of what happened to the others, I might edit this story slightly, but I'm not sure.
Melted Snow
Things weren't going well for Gray, but not necessarily for the reasons some might think. He suspected he'd be able to deal with the yokai without much trouble if he tried, but he knew that these yokai were truly his friends, just in twisted forms. Gray couldn't be too hard, lest he actually hurt them. Of course, the yokai didn't have the same scruples.
"Ice Make: Shield!" Gray said, as he created a defense against the white suiko's paw, which left him open to attack from the other one, though Gray didn't have much trouble dodging it; fortunately he seemed slower since being turned into a monster.
"Ice Make: Chains!" Gray said, as he manifested several chains, wrapping them around the two massive cats, but then he felt a presence behind him. He looked over just in time to see the bakeneko bring down her foot on him. The Ice-Mage was sent tumbling away, crashing itnoa. rock.
"Damn it!" Gray said, as he looked up to see the girl nuzzling the blue cat.
"You're doing such a wonderful job," she said, before turning to nuzzle the white one, "Both of you. Nya!" She then turned her slitted-eye gaze to Gray.
"But I think it's time we finish this for now," she said, "Get him!" With a roar, both suiko pounced at Gray.
"Ah crap!" Gray said out-loud as he rose to his feet. Fortunately, it turned out he had just enough luck left in the day.
Glowing white chains suddenly lashed out of nowhere, binding all the yokai, subduing them in the process. Gray was confused at first, but then he saw a brilliant white glow from behind him, and turned to see a battalion of woman dressed in white and armed with naginatas. Several of them were carrying staff with white lights coming out of them.
"What the hell?" Gray asked out loud, as he looked at the women glaring at him.
"Are you Gray Fullbuster?" One of the women asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"So, this is one of the Earthland mages?" An authoritative voice asked. The warriors then parted to reveal a taller woman. She had long, white hair, done in a similar hime-cut to the others, only she had an elaborate, golden headless atop her head, and the white robes she was wearing were lined with red.
"Who the heck are you?" Gray demanded. A number of the women looked angry at his words, but the apparent leader just held up her hand to silence them.
"All you need to know is I'm the Great White Priestess," she answered, narrowing her light red eyes, "I am the leader of the Whiteout Priestesses."
"So you're the one who sent Faris to Earthland?" Gray asked, glaring at the priestess.
"Wait!" Faris said, as she emerge out of the group, "Just hear us out!"
"Mr. Gray!" Touka said, as she ran out as well.
"What the…," Gray asked, surprised to see them again, "Where did you two run off too?"
"I thought the Priestess could help," Faris explained.
"Well it's a little late for that," Gray said, glaring.
"Where's Happy?" Touka asked, looking around. Gray was silent, as he just looked over at the blue suiko. Touka followed his gaze, as a look of utter dread and terror came over her face.
"Happy?" she asked the monster. The yokai just growled unintelligibly at her, as Touka felt tears gathering in her eyes at the sight.
"Enough of this!" The priestess said, stepping forward, with a glare "We came here because I sensed a dark power simmering in this tunnel. And now that I'm here, it's practically smothering! Just what the hell is going on?" Gray winced, as he rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"Wait a minute… where's Natsu?" Faris asked, looking around and noticing they were short a Dragon Slayer, "And Lucy?" Gray was silent again, as he just took a deep breath.
"Is… Natsu the source of the power?" Touka asked shakily.
"How is this possible?" The Priestess asked, her glare hardening. Gray paused for a while, not sure whether or not to tell them. On the one hand, this probably should've been Natsu's story to tell, but on the other, they'd probably find out soon anyway; perhaps it was better to not look like they had something to hide.
"It's a really long story," Gray said, "But the short version is Natsu's an Etherious."
"An Etherious?" Faris gasped. She'd heard about those in her brief time in Earthland, but only knew that they were supposed to be powerful.
"I am not familiar with the term," the Priestess said, narrowing her eyes.
"Earthland demons," Gray, "Created by the Black Mage Zeref."
"That boy's a demon?" The Priestess hissed.
"I've got a good idea about what set him off," Gray said slowly, as he glanced at his transformed friends, who were still struggling in his ice. He supposed it was a small blessing that Selene apparently stripped them of their magic when she transformed them.
"What... what do we do now?" Touka asked shakily, trying to talk through her tears.
"The last time Natsu slipped into this state, Erza was able to talk him down, and then Lucy came to finally calm his nerves," Gray answered, before jerking his thumb over to the yokai, "Of course that certainly isn't an option now." He then glanced at the Priestess.
"Can you turn them back to normal?" He asked. The Priestess was silent as she stepped forward, looking over the yokai.
"I don't know," she eventually answered, narrowing her eyes, "But one way or another, I won't be able to do it here. First we find this Etherious and deal with him, and then concern ourselves with the yokai."
"These 'yokai' may be the only way to snap Natsu out of whatever rage he's in," Gray said, "We gotta move quickly if we want to stop him! He won't stop until he's brought down Selene…."
(|)
"…and it won't matter to him if he has to burn the whole mountain down to get it done!"
Natsu continued his steady advance through the cave, as he felt the burning sensation continue to course through his body. Most of the yokai were avoiding him now, but those stupid enough to try and attack him didn't get close before seeming to spontaneously combust. For his own, Natsu just kept his gaze right in front of him, not even paying this small monsters the slightest heed.
Suddenly, though, he stopped, as he sensed something. It was a familiar sensation, an all too familiar one. He growled slightly, as his gaze shifted up, to see Hakune standing before him, carrying a confident look.
"You…," Natsu growled. Even as the power gnawed started to gnaw at his mind, he recognized one those who were responsible for all this.
"Greetings," Hakune said darkly, "I'll say I was looking forward to seeing you fight the yokai down here, but I suppose this isn't all bad." Natsu didn't answer, as he just growled, his hands, or rather at this point claws curling into fists.
"I'll admit that I was disappointed I wasn't able to kill you back there," Hakune continued, as her smile turned somehow crueler, "Thankfully, Lady Selene is allowing me this boon." She then held up her hand.
"Now I'd rather get this done quickly," she said, "I want to head back to the party." Natsu just growled again, before he launched himself at Hakune with a roar. The snow woman just sneered, as she flicked her wrist, sending a wave of ice Natsu's way. However, Natsu punched out, vaporizing the ice in an instant. That surprised Hakune, but she recovered quickly, as she leapt out of the way.
"Snow Javelin!" Hakune said, as she manifested a massive spear of ice, and hurled it at Natsu, who easily avoided the attack. He then inhaled, and released a cloud of fire, to which Hakune manifested a shield of ice. However, that didn't work as well as Hakune expected, as the ice quickly gave way, and Hakune was again forced to dodge. It was then that Hakune knew it was time to bring out the "big guns". She then shifted into her battle form, as she held up her hands.
"Diamond Effect!" she declared. In an instant, the whole cave was frozen, including Natsu himself, frozen in a battle position. The snow woman panted, as she lowered her hands.
"Tch," Hakune growled, rubbing the corner of her mouth, "That was harder than it should've been." With that, she turned to go, until she felt something that she shouldn't been feeling: warmth. Slowly, Hakune looked back, as her eyes widened in horror at what she was seeing: the ice was melting.
He's melting the ice! Hakune thought That's impossible! That was all the time she had to react, as Natsu exploded out of the ice with a roar, as his glowing red eyes glared at Hakune. The black markings had spread further, now coming all the way up to his shoulders.
"You monster!" She then shouted, as she manifested several ice-spears, and launched them at Natsu. However, the moment they got close enough, they evaporated into nothing. Not even missing a beat, with another roar, Natsu launched at her yet again, his fist cloaked in fire. Hakune created another ice shield, but this one lasted even less time than the previous one.
Hakune didn't even have time to cry out, as she disappeared in a massive burst of fire. Soon the fires faded away, revealing Hakune still standing, but severely charred, and with a look of numb shock on her face. With that, the snow woman collapsed to the ground, face first, utterly defeated.
Natsu lowered his fist, as he continued walking on, as if nothing had even happened.
(|)
Natsu was standing a fiery void, which he recognized as his inner world. It seemed broadly the same, but it was smokier than normal.
"I can't go to sleep for a year before you screwing it all up, eh?" Natsu looked behind him, basically seeing another him standing in the fire. The only difference was this version of him had dark eyes.
"Piss off," Natsu said, somehow recognizing this person, turning away.
"You wont' be able to do anything without me," the other Natsu said, folding his arms, "You think you can save her on your own?"
"Are you going to actually say something?" Natsu asked, "Or are you just yapping to yap?"
"Give me control," the other Natsu said, offering a hand, "I'll deal with them quicker, and better than you ever could."
"Screw you!" Natsu said, glaring at him, "I don't need you help!"
"Of course you don't," the other said, shrugging slightly, "Of course, I'm not sure it was really you who just crushed that snow woman." Natsu clenched his fists again, along with his teeth.
"Piss off," Natsu said, again, narrowing his eyes. The other Natsu just shrugged slightly, before disappearing in the smoke.
(|)
The young man just hissed, as he winced again, feeling the black marks spreading over his shoulders.
(|)
Needless to say, the whole of Selene's court was in a state of horror at what they just saw.
"That… that can't be!" Mimi said. Youko wasn't as vocal about her shock, rather she just covered her mouth in horror at the sight. The rest of the court was murmuring about itself on how one of the Moonlit Beauty Goddesses was so easily defeated.
*CRACK
Everyone's attention was attracted to the head of the room. Selene had broken her cup with her hand, a look of utter rage on her face, that made everyone in the room shrink back. That is save for one…
"Hahaha!" Irene laughed, rubbing her eyes slightly, "If that isn't delightfully ironic?"
"Youko! Mimi!" Selene snapped. The two remaining Moonlit Beauty Goddesses stood at attention.
"Destroy that thing!" the Moon Dragon ordered, standing up as well, pointing, "I don't care how you do it, just do it! He gets no farther in those tunnels!"
"Oh yes, I'm sure those two will have much better fortune than the snow girl did," Irene sneered, as she manifested a cup for herself (obviously she couldn't actually drink out of it, but it "enhanced" the process in Irene's eyes).
"Be silent!" Selene snapped, to which the projection only laughed further. Selene then flicked her fist, transporting her other two aides down to the caverns.
"I wonder how long they'll last," Irene said, "After all, one of those women did transform his precious person. I'm sure END will be thrilled to see her."
Note: There's another chapter. As you can probably tell, this story is pretty fast-paced. It's not intended to be particularly complicated or dynamic; rather it's meant to be relatively simple.
At any rate, Hakune did about as well as people could guess against Natsu; he's not actually END yet, but he's getting there.
Please leave a comment. As a sidebar, I've been giving a lot of thought as to how the arc will go from here. I don't have the space to list my full prediction (see my DA account for my full prediction), but I have been wondering (probably too much) about how long Lucy's going to be stuck in this form, and is forced to do Selene's bidding. If there's anything I want to come from this whole experience, it's a chance for some real development for Natsu and Lucy's relationship, since this is a prime opportunity.
