Danmachi: Old Friends

A/N: The beginning of this story came to me in a dream. To be honest I wasn't going to write about it but I decided that why not. Since Chapter one came to me in a dream, don't expect frequent updates on this one.

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

It was a day like any other. Ais was playing with her friend, her only friend at that, she was happy.

Aria: "Don't go too far you two"

Aria Waldstein, was happy for Ais. Aria and Albert had found a lost child wandering into their forest. At first they had assumed that any enemy was there. NO it was just a child, a little older than Ais, he was starving and looked pale. When they first saw him it saddened them a bit that someone would abandon their child in a forest that could potentially have monsters. His features intrigued Aria, white hair and red eyes; they had decided to take him in.

Months passed since then, and Ais and the boy would play with each other. More specifically Ais was fond of the boy, he was a friend her first one, she was happy she could play with someone else. When he wasn't playing with Ais he was training with Albert. Bell Cranel was his name, a kind boy who looked out for Ais.

That was about to end. The sky above them turned dark, and the air around them turned heavy. A black shadow over casted the sky and landed.

Albert: "BELL, GO AND GIVE THIS TO AIS". Albert passed him a necklace

Bell did as he was told and put it around Ais.

Bell: "Got it, she has it"

The look on Ais's face was that of pure terror, she was scared and all she could do was cling on to Bell, she was yelling for her mother and father.

Albert: "Good". Was all Albert Said

Albert said what Bell thought was a spell and the world around bell and Ais were turning white. The last thing Bell saw was the death of Albert and how Aria was taken by the Black dragon. The black dragon looked at Bell and Ais, and smiled at them, it was sinister.

Bell: "You will pay you bastard". That was the last thing Bell said as the world around them went white.

*1000 Years later*

Bell woke up; everything that happened was still fresh in his mind. When he got up he didn't see Ais anywhere and decided to look around for her. But she was nowhere to be seen. Bell started to cry, he had failed, and he had failed to protect Ais. Bell decided that it was time to get up and go. Bell had wandered for a while and collapsed. When Bell awoke he heard the crackling of the fire. When he opened his eyes he saw a bearded man sitting on a chair not far from where bell was located. The bearded man was wearing farming clothes. Bell was staring at the bearded man for a while. Bell almost felt something divine coming from the man. 'Perhaps the old man wants to stay hidden'. That's the only answer Bell came up with.

Bell: "He-hello" Bell called out to the old man.

Oldman: "ah…I see you have awoken. How are you feeling?"

Bell was a little cautious at first; Bell just continued to stare at the old man. Bell was done staring at the old man because he knew he posed no threat, all the Oldman had on his face was a bright smile.

Bell: "Good, I'm fine… Where am I?" Bell was confused, when he looked outside all he could see was a forest.

Oldman: "We're in a remote house by a remote village… The village is a 5 minute walk to the south."

For a moment Bell had forgotten what transpired, for what felt like moments ago. The memories all hit at once. Albert's death, Aria being taken by the black dragon, and now Ais was missing. Bell started to hyperventilate. Bell was worrying about Ais and Aria. When the old man saw this, he rushed up to Bell and gave him a hug.

Oldman: "Calm down boy it's alright". The old man began to hug Bell, to try and calm him down.

Oldman: "Do you want to tell what's going on with you". Bell was breathing heavily 'Maybe he might know about Aria or Ais'. Bell was thinking no he was hoping that the Oldman had information that might help track down Aria or Ais.

Bell: "Do you know of anyone by the name of Aria or Ais and if so do you know where I could find them". At the name of Aria, the man flinched, the Oldman knew the name.

Oldman: "Why do you want to know boy". The Oldman knew where Aria was but he wasn't going to tell this 10 year old boy.

Bell: "Aria took me in when I had nothing. It was her and Albert who gave me a home". Bell was choking on his words trying to hold back tears threatening to spill from his face.

Bell: "W-we were attacked by a Black Dragon that killed Albert. Then the world turned white and I woke up not far from here.

At this development the Oldman was shocked. The old man knew about Sword Oratoria. The famous story about hero Albert and his wife Aria, and how they had a daughter lost to time. The Oldman didn't know about Bell. Through the Oldman's knowledge of hero stories he knew them well and Sword Oratoria doesn't mention this boy.

The old man began to think for a moment 'What if I train this boy to fight instead, that would give him a chance to grow and fight the monster that had her'.

Oldman: "Alright boy, I might not know where Aria or Ais are. So how about I train you to fight". When Bell heard this he was conflicted because he wanted to go out and look for them but he knew that he didn't have a very good combat prowess. He needed all the training he could get.

Bell: "Okay"

The first day of training was like hell for Bell, Bell had the basics of Swordsmanship down thanks to Albert but he never had a full on match against somebody. Every time Bell sparred with the Oldman he would always end up on his back, Bell was being tossed around. 'This training is going to be rough'

*5 years later*

Bell was now a 15 year old boy and had been training almost nonstop since the 5 years he has been training. Though Bell didn't have a status, he fought like a Level 3. Through his years of training he was also taught strategy. As it was getting late it was time to eat.

Oldman: "Bell, I want you to listen to what I'm about to tell you". Bell had heard the serious tone in his voice and decided to listen up.

The Oldman had done his research and started looking around for Ais. 'Loki Familia eh'

Oldman: "If something happens to me I want you to go to Orario". Bell was surprised at what the Oldman had said.

Bell: "What do you mean if something happens to you". Bell was a little worried. He felt that if he lost someone he cared about again, he doesn't think he could move on again.

Oldman: "Just listen to me Bell…. Now when you get to Orario I want you to find the Loki familia. I also want you to give this to Loki, don't read it just give it….Understood".

All Bell could do was nod as a single tear trickled down his face.

Oldman: "good" Was all he could say

*1 Week later*

Villagers had come to the Oldman's house to deliver the bad news. Bell nodded to the villagers, as tears threatened to fall from his eyes.

Bell Knew what he must do. Bell began to pack up his things and left for Orario.

*3 Days later*

Bell could see the walls and giant tower in the distance. Now that bell could see Orario in the distance he decided to walk the rest of the way there. Bell had originally run from the village he stayed at to Orario. When Bell walked up he was stopped by guards and asked a few questions. Once he was let through, Bell decided to wander and look for the Loki familia. Bell had walked around until he saw a crowd of people by the tower. He went to investigate.

Bell: "What's going on". Bell asked a civilian.

Civilian: "You don't know?". Bell nodded

Civilian: "The Loki familia are coming back from the expedition"

At the name Bell understood. He decided to wait for the Loki familia instead of him wandering around looking for them.

Bell was standing around for a bit when he heard the cheers from the town's people. Bell took a look and saw the entirety of the Loki familia. But that's not what caught his attention. The thing that had caught his attention was the golden haired, golden eyed girl. The girl who looked like Aria. Bell knew instantly who that was. 'Ais', Bell was tempted just to run up to her then and there but he decided against it because half of Oraio was watching the Loki familia.

Bell decided to do something else and that was to follow them back to their home where he would call them out there.

As the Loki familia was about to enter they heard a voice and they all stopped in there tracks

Bell: "AIS, is that you". They all heard the voice and decided to turn their heads in the direction where it came from. The others thought it might have been a fan but to Ais it was so much more than that. It was something different.

'That voice'. She almost didn't place it until she decided to look. She saw a boy with white hair and red eyes. At first she had trouble placing him until everything hit her. The memories of Bell came rushing into her head. She was trembling at the sight of him, everybody noticed how she reacted. Although she wasn't trembling in fear it was more of happiness. Ais took one step forward and said one word

"Bell?"

A/N: This was a fun journey. I had fun writing this one because it came to me in a dream. If I get any more Ideas for this series I will post them. I didn't plan for this, I only planned for Danmachi: Spirit Binding. Since this is out there I will have to plan for this as well. If all is going well I can have a chapter out in a couple of weeks. Now I'm signing off.