Note: I'm just going to say that this chapter is going to be very cruel to Natsu, but don't worry, he'll get his revenge. There's going to be a moment of sincerity at the end of the chapter here from me, so I'm going to hope that my readers are sincere as well. Fortunately this chapter was easy to amend from its previous version, and I was most of the way through it when Chapter 74 came out. Also, this going to easily be the longest chapter yet.
Despair Gives to Vengeance
(Flashback)
The nure-onna that was once Lucy Heartfilia slowly slithered through the stalagmites of the cave, her gaze zeroed in on a rat that was scurrying through the rocks. She narrowed her eyes and flicked her tongue, as she got ever closer to the rodent. However, just as she was about to pounce on it, the rat noticed the snake-woman, and scurried away.
"Damn it!" She hissed, as she slithered after it, but every time she got close, it slipped just out of her grasp. Finally, the rodent dove into crevice, where the nure-onna could reach it.
"Ah come on!" She moaned, waving her arms in exasperation, "I'm so hungry!" She had just been driven off from her preferred prey, and now she was resigned to eating rodents in the dark? What kind of yokai was she that she couldn't eat a person? What would the other yokai think?
"Uhhh!" She groaned, collapsing face down, "I'm a loser even as a yokai." At least she wouldn't have to worry about paying rent anymore, small blessings and all.
"Hungry are you?" The yokai looked up to see Youko standing there, holding the rat by the tail in her hand. The nure-onna instinctively licked her lips, as she crept forward.
"You want food?" she asked cruelly, dangling a mouse in her hand, "Well then, my pet, I'd say it's time you started earning your keep here."
(End Flashback)
Youko giggled cruelly, as she faced down the young man cloaked in fire.
"Don't get too assured of yourself," Mimi said sternly, "We both saw how easily he defeated Hakune."
"Don't worry," Youko answered, her smile not going away, "Lady Selene gave me a set of instructions. I have a feeling this plan will work quite well, and we'll maybe gleam some entertainment of our own out of this as well." That was all Natsu was willing to hear, as he launched forward, aiming specifically for Youko. Fortunately for her, Mimi was quick to react.
"Immovable Palm!" She said, thrusting her arm forward, releasing a powerful beam of energy. However, Natsu managed to avoid it, which impressed the Goddess slightly. He then inhaled, before releasing a cloud of fire at Mimi, who used her Spirit Art to generate an invisible shield for herself. However, the heat she felt off it was intense, when she shouldn't have been feeling anything at all.
"The sheer raw power," she muttered, narrowing her eyes, "I've only seen this from Lady Selene herself." She then quickly noticed Natsu bolting through the flames, bringing his fire-enhanced fist down on her. Mimi managed to catch his fist, but to her shock, she felt herself being pushed back, forcing her to use both hands. The force even caused the ground beneath her to buckle, and she winced.
"Impressive," she noted, "But like your friend, you lack disci…" She couldn't finish as Natsu brought down his leg, forcing Mimi to hold up her other arm to block, but the force still pushed her back. She grimaced as she skidded to a halt; it'd been a while since an opponent had put on the ropes like this. However, she knew it wouldn't matter, as she noticed Youko finish casting her Spiritual Art.
"I summon the yokai of the river!" Youko declared as she completed her hand signs, "Bakeneko! Suiko!" There was a then a massive cloud of smoke, but it soon cleared, revealing the two named yokai. However, it wasn't hard for Natsu to recognize them. In particular, he noted the knapsack and bow the suiko were each wearing.
"Happy?" Natsu asked weakly. The blue suiko just growled, as he unsheathed his claws. The bakeneko laughed excitedly at the sight.
"So now we get to play with Natsu?" she asked, looking at Natsu in a way that could only be described as catty, "This is going to be so much fun! Nya!"
"Aye!" The suiko said. Hearing that coming out of the monster's mouth made Natsu's stomach churn, as he felt himself get hotter.
"You're going to need me."
"Shut up!" He hissed. However, it turned out that Youko had another trick up her sleeve.
"And why stop there?" She cackled, as she made another hand-sign, "Jorogumo!" There was an explosion of smoke. However, before Natsu could see what was in it, a streak of silk shot out of it, hitting Natsu in the face. Blinded and caught off guard, Natsu couldn't react as a set of claws were raked across his torso, which knocked him back. When he was finally able to pull off his bandages, he looked down to see four large cuts on his chest.
"What…" That was when he looked up.
"Erza?" Natsu asked weakly. The jorogumo had a feminine shape, but her lower body was that of a spider, with massive legs and a gaping spider-maw. Her scarlet hair was tied up in a large bun, her hands were black, and her eyes were dark and cold.
"Not anymore," she said to Natsu, "I thought I was strong before, but only now do I realize the power that we had been denied in Earthland. The power of the Spiritual Arts." Natsu let out an angry roar, as he leapt forward, with a fire-cloaked fist. But then, there was another massive burst of smoke, as Youko smiled in satisfaction, and the smoke cleared.
"Natsu! Don't!" the nure-onna cried, holding up her hands with a look of vulnerability on her face as she appeared through the smoke. And with that, Natsu couldn't help but stop in mid punch. That was when the look turned into a grin that oozed cruelty.
"Got ya," the serpent then sneered. That was when the paw of the blue suiko came down on top of Natsu, pinning him to the ground. Natsu tried to get up, but found it harder than he thought, as if he didn't have the will to really push.
"Happy," he said weakly, as he looked up.
"I'm not your friend anymore," Happy declared firmly, "Now I'm strong! Stronger than you!" As the yokai gathered around Natsu to mock him, Youko laughed out loud, satisfied to see all this.
"Youko," Mimi said sternly, "We don't have time for this." But Youko couldn't help herself, as her sadism overcame her reason; this creature had maimed one of her comrades, he had to suffer for that.
"Look, creature!" Youko declared, as she laughed. She then held up her hand as Natsu looked up, as a projected image appeared before them:
It showed Lucy hanging from her wrists by a set of chains, barely conscious. Standing before her was Youko, where there two statues that resembled nure-onna.
"Lucy," Natsu called weakly.
Youko laughed as she looked Lucy up and down.
"I think you'll make a fantastic yokai," she said, "Trust me, you'll find your true calling down in the caves."
"Please!" Lucy cried, as she struggled against the chains, "Don't!"
"Don't worry, when we're finally done, you'll barely even remember you were even human," Youko said cruelly. With that, she held up her hands, bolts of magical energy came from the eyes of the statues, and struck Lucy. The blonde screamed in pain as the transformation began, her bones being rearranged, and her muscles reshaped, shaping her legs into a snake-tail. Her skin burned as it hardened, and turned to scales.
"Natsu!" Lucy cried, through her tears, "Help!"
Natsu cried out, as he tried to reach for her, only to get slammed back into the ground by the nekomata's paw again.
Soon, the transformation was complete, and the nure-onna was released, and dropped to the ground. She looked around in confusion, like an animal just dropped out of a cage, before looking up at Youko, who chortled malevolently.
"Beautiful," she said to herself.
"Beautiful indeed." Natsu looked up at nure-onna looming over him, tickling him with the tip of her tail.
"I can't believe we were ever those weak humans," she declared with a malicious smile.
"This is who we are," the jorogumo said sternly, "We're yokai; creatures that lurk in the darkness of Elentir."
"This is so much more fun than being a human!" the bakeneko added gleefully.
"Aye."
"You want to know the best part?" Youko then said, as she came over and started kicking Natsu's head, "The transformation? It's permanent! Nothing and no one can reverse it! They'll all be a yokai for the rest of their lives! Forever lurking in these caves like the lowly creatures they now are!"
"You don't have to put it like that," the nure-onna said with a slight sweat drop. Natsu had no visible reaction, as he was beaten, as he became literally lost in his thoughts…
(|)
Natsu fell to his knees in the void, which was now completely shrouded in smoke. He had a numb look on his face, of complete and utter despair, as the reality set in to him. Lucy was gone, all that was left was a nure-onna, a monster that lurked in the shadows and ate whatever it could catch.
"Well, I'd say there's nothing more you can do at this point," the other Natsu said, as he emerged out of the smoke.
"I failed," Natsu muttered, not looking at him, "I couldn't save her, I couldn't save any of them."
"Yeah, you did fail. You can't save them, you can't save her; there's nothing you can do to help any of them now, not even Lucy."
"Then what do I do?" Natsu asked, as he weakly looked at her, "What can I do?"
"Avenge them." Those words sat in the air like the smoke surrounding them, as Natsu stared at his dark-eyed double.
"What?" he asked slowly.
"Give control over to me, and I shall see Selene and her servants suffer for their crimes," the other Natsu said, as he offered a hand, "They will all burn for what they have done here." Natsu was silent for a time, as he stared silently at his counterpart.
"Don't do it!" another voice cried out. It was a familiar voice, but one Natsu couldn't exactly pinpoint, as if several voices were layered on top of each other. He then noticed a vaguely human shape trying to reach through the smoke.
"There's always a chance," the voice called, "You don't need to use power like this."
"That's a load of crap and you know it," the other Natsu retorted, "You can't do anything to help them now."
"You have to have hope!"
"That bitch took away hope from you the moment she turned Lucy into that thing. You can either do something now, or nothing ever." Natsu was silent for a time, considering everything. Lucy's scream continued to echo in his ears, as his fingers curled into fists, and he slowly rose to his feet, and turned towards the other Natsu.
"Natsu! No!" the voice cried.
"They took her away from me," Natsu said, as he approached the other him, "I can't turn her back. All I can do for her now, is this…" With that, he took the other Natsu's hand…
(|)
Natsu screamed in agony, causing the suiko to recoil back as the Dragon Slayer was forced to his feet. The black markings then rapidly started spreading across his body, far faster than before, and onto his face, as his eyes glowed a brilliant red color. Fortunately, Mimi was able to react quickly, as she was immediately on top of Natsu, and with a single strike, blasted him back into the cavern wall, which quickly collapsed on him.
"There it's done," Mimi said with a breath.
"It's a shame," Youko mused, "I could've seen him as some kind of yokai as well. I wonder which kind…"
"Ponder that on your own time," Mimi said, "Now come on, let's go find Hakune and get her some help." Youko nodded in agreement, before turning to the various yokai assembled before her.
"Alright, you've served your purpose," Youko said to them, waving her hand dismissively, "Back to your holes, all of you."
"But you promised food!" the nure-onna protested indignantly with a pout, "I wanted to eat him!"
"I wanted to play some more!" the bakeneko whined, jumping up and down. Youko just rolled her eyes as she reached into robe.
"Fine then," she said, "I guess you all deserve some kind of…". She was silenced as the rubble suddenly exploded, getting everyone and every thing's attention, as a steaming figured stood up and out of the rocks.
"Persistent tyke, isn't he," Mimi said, before putting a hand in front of Youko, "Stand back, one more strike should do…" However, she was silenced as the steam cleared, and they all saw just what Natsu had become…
(I)
"What in all the realms?" Selene said slowly, her eyes as wide as saucers at the sight, over the terrified cries and whimpers of her handmaidens.
"So this is it," Irene murmured, her eyes equally wide in a combination of thrill, shock, and even some trace amount of fear, "The true form..."
(I)
"…of Etherious Natsu Dragneel."
The demon's entire body was covered in black markings, along with red, glowing cracks, not unlike lava, running down his arms and legs, and fingers and toes that seemed to end in razor-like claws. In place of his head was an inhuman, black skull cloaked in fire, lined with sharp teeth. Finally, in the very center of his chest, was a perfect circle where there were no black markings, rather, there was a lit flame.
The air was still as END just stared the others down, the only sound being that of the fire crackling. The Moonlit Beauty Goddesses could only stare in shock at the creature before them, while the yokai could only do the same. That was when the demon then opened his mouth, and roared…
The roar shook the whole cave, as the Goddesses and the yokai all had to cover their ears at how loud it was. Now the former had both heard Selene roar before in her true form, but this was somehow completely different. It was wrathful and thunderous, like an ancient creature having been stirred from it's slumber, but that wasn't all there was to it. Rather, under the roar, was a scream, that seemed to be dripping with pain and anguish.
"Stand back!" Mimi said, putting a hand in front of Youko, once the demon finished roaring, "I'll handle this!" With that she sprung forward, punching down, only for END to just held up his own hand, catching Mimi's fist, not moving even in the slightest.
"What the…," Mimi began, but that was all she had time before the demon squeezed, easily breaking her hand. Mimi cried out in pain, as END then held up his own fist, and drove into the woman's gut, while not letting go of her hand. Mimi let out a weak gasp, as she fell to her knees, holding her stomach. She only had time to look up and see END's maw opening, and release a massive blast of fire, sending her hurtling back into a wall.
"Mimi!" Youko cried out. She then looked back at the demon, who then turned his gaze towards her…
"Go!" Youko shouted at the yokai desperately, pointing out, "Protect your master!" It took the yokai a moment, as they all looked at Youko.
"Did I stutter?!" Youko snapped frantically, "Fight for me!" Unfortunately still bound to her magic, the monsters all did as commanded, as they advanced with the nure-onna at the lead.
"What does it matter what you are now?"she said, as she gathered a ball of water in her hands, "We're much stronger than you'll ever be!"
"We have the power of the Spiritual Arts at our command now!" the jorogumo added, "There's nothing you can do that…"
They suddenly stopped dead in their tracks, as they were faced by the thing before them. The Etherious was silent and still, save for a slight growling, as he stared down the yokai. His very gaze seemed to burn their skin, as the water in the nure-onna's hands vaporized. Said snake-woman found herself shaking, as fearful tears began to well in her eyes. She'd seen this power before, but never on this level.
"I… I…," she said weakly; she wanted to slither away at speed, slip into a dark hole, curl into a ball, and cry, but she couldn't move a muscle. The rest of the yokai weren't in a much better place, as they all stood frozen in fear. The blue suiko, in particular, lowered himself to the ground, as he covered his face with his paws.
"What are you doing?" Youko demanded angrily of her servants, "I told you to…" She didn't finish, as the demon was immediately on top of her. For a split second, though it felt like an eternity, END just stared into Youko's eyes, as it settled in for the girl just what sort of monster she had just released upon Elentir. He then drove his fist into her stomach, sending her tumbling into a wall, defeated in one strike. It looked like END had won, before different rubble erupted.
"Dual Immovable Palm!" Mimi declared, thrusting out with both her palms (pushing through the pain of the broken hand), releasing a massive burst of energy. END just looked up briefly as he was consumed in the light. The yokai were knocked away by the force of the attack. As the attack faded, Mimi panted, allowing herself to hope she scored a blow. It proved a vain one.
The dust soon cleared, showing END hadn't even shifted his stance from the attack. He then turned his glowing gaze to Mimi. He then slowly approached the Goddess, who just took a breath, and lowered her head as the demon came up to her; she was worn out and beaten, there was no point in fighting back. As he stood in front of her, Mimi looked down into the demon's eyes. Despite being twice the creature's height, Mimi felt as if the thing was towering over her, as it brought its fist back.
"What have we done?" she pondered out loud, and with that, it all went black.
Note: It seems Natsu has finally surrendered to his despair, and now END has risen in full. After what he was forced to watch, I can't blame him. Full disclosure, this fanfic probably won't get much darker. This is mostly because I'm, in all honesty, not that good at writing dark scenes. I made an Erza spider-yokai instead of an oni for no particular reason, just I thought it'd be more interesting to see here.
When conceiving of Natsu's Etherious form, I deliberately decided to move away from the dragon-like design, because I wanted to highlight that this isn't Natsu anymore, this is END, to stress the "demon" rather than the "dragon". But I also didn't want it to be too flashy, since I think if a design is too extravagant, it causes it to lose its credibility. To that end, I kept END's appearance a bit more subdued, but hopefully still threatening and imposing. I will say that Natsu's rampage was inspired by the rampages of Naruto and Ichigo in their respective series after they gave into their despair and anger. I actually based END's roar on that of Hollow Ichigo.
Be sure to leave a comment. I really hope to see more stories tackling this kind of topic in the future, the storytelling potential is great.
Now, I'm going to sort of bear soul now, mostly because I think it'll help me get over this emotion better (this is all about fictional characters, so I guess it's really not that serious). I've been having a really hard time with the last couple chapters (including this one). When Chapter 73 came out, I was left depressed and disheartened; it wasn't Natsu's heart that was broken, it was mine. The best way to describe it, was this is my "Red Wedding". I know that's a weird comparison to make (it's not even that applicable since the characters will be coming back), but it's the only one I can think of. Even in this chapter, seeing Lucy and Wendy with those twisted looks in their inhuman eyes, it made my stomach literally twist. Lucy in particular, acting like such a sadistic predator, left me feeling really disquieted. I know some people like these sort of OOC moments, but I don't, not at all. If given the choice, I'd rather Lucy turn back soon, than have more drama from this. I know that sounds contradictory, but it's how I feel.
There's a trope called "Offscreen Inertia", which refers to the concept that if we leave off on a character in some state, or doing something, then they'll remain that way, or doing that thing, forever; change has to happen onscreen in order for it to have an effect. So seeing it end with Lucy transformed, with no apparent way to reverse the transformation gave me the subconscious impression (though I obviously knew otherwise) that she would remain that way. Now we got a better sense about how Lucy may turn back to normal, so it feels a bit better, but seeing that she's still like this, on top of Wendy, Carla, and even the loveably cute Happy as monsters, it still feels wrong.
Anyway, thanks for reading if you did read this. I'm sure plenty of people will think "Oh you're taking this too seriously" and I know I am, but everyone has that one series and characters they get really attached to, and well, this one is mine. If you're feeling s snarky about this, I'm going to hope you'll restrain yourself; I wrote this with the optimistic belief that my readers were respectful people, and I really don't want to be shown otherwise.
Oh and lastly, to "RespectfulGuest", that sort of "I told so" isn't helpful.
