Danmachi: Old Friends

Chapter 3: A Nightmare?

*Loki's Office, After Dinner*

Finn: "You wanted to see us?." Finn, Riveria, and Gareth have all gathered in Loki's office because she wanted to talk to them about something, but all three of them knew what she wanted to talk about.

Loki: "Yes!, I have gathered you here to talk about the boy and his relation to Ais." Of course everyone was interested in the boy because of Ais, She had never shown emotion and now she is acting like a little kid and is smiling like there's no tomorrow. Now Loki had planned to tell the 3 captains about Bell.

As Loki began everyone's face was full of shock. The boy had been a childhood friend of Ais and she thought she had lost him when the Black Dragon attacked them.

Riveria: "I can understand why Ais is so attached to the boy now, But the question still remains, Why did Bell arrive later than Ais if the same thing happened at the same time?." Although Riveria asked there was still no response since nobody knows.

Loki: "That we don't know but there is something else I want you to see." Loki then pulled out his status sheet and placed it on the desk so the captains could see, the look on their faces was that of shock. They didn't know what to say, he had three skills, one was extremely rare and unheard of the other was useful, but the last one they had no clue what it was, the final thing that caught their attention was the curse.

Riveria: "That can't be good." She said while looking at the sheet. This had surprised her quite a bit.

After Finn was done looking at his skills he regained his composure and asked his patron Goddess a question that all three of them were wondering.

Finn: "Did you tell Bell about this yet." Loki pondered on the question, then after a few tense seconds she responded.

Loki: "No, and I do plan to tell him tomorrow." Loki had exclaimed and made clear to everyone in the room.

Riveria: "Speaking of the curse do we know what it does?." It had been another question that was on everyone's minds.

Loki: "No, I don't know what it does or how to activate it, but that is something I want to find out, The curse might activate in the future and could cause problems if we don't know what it does, that's is your duty tomorrow Riveria." Riveria nodded in understanding because she was also curious about the curse. Gareth then spoke up.

Gareth: "To say I'm surprised is an understatement, other than the curse the boy has a lot of potential." Gareth praised the boy.

Finn: "I agree he has a lot of potential in him, and I think we need to train him properly…. Hmmm."

Loki: "What are you thinking Finn?." Finn had a look on his face that was all too familiar; it is a face when he is deep in thought.

Finn: "What if we had Ais train him." Everyone turned their head to him like he was crazy.

Riveria: "Are you sure Finn, she doesn't really know how to contain her strength and might accidently kill the boy." Although she didn't think she would kill him she just stated a possibility.

Finn: "I think she can handle it, she is very close with him and I believe she would also be happy to train him, plus if she succeeds in fully training him, it could prove useful to use her to train newer recruits in the future."

Loki: "That seems reasonable, so let's do that and see how it turns out, and I think we should still keep an eye on Bell just in case."

Finn: "I agree, and we need to keep it from Ais." Everyone nodded, that was the sign the meeting was over and the three captains walked out.

As the captains walked out Loki was still at her desk looking at the status sheet. 'Things are gonna get complicated moving forward' Loki prophesied.

*Dream Realm, Bell Pov"

I was sitting against a tree in the middle of a field, enjoying the cool breeze of the wind, feeling the warmth of the sun as I stroke beautiful golden hair, and there laying on my lap was Ais in a slick white gown, also enjoying the view, we were listening to the singing birds and the laughter of children in the distance, I could see two beautiful children play with each other while we had smiles on our faces.

The children in the distance saw us awake and yelled out to us.

Children: "Mama, Papa." Both of them said in unison running up to us while we embrace them. I had embraced my daughter who had snowy white hair and golden eyes while Ais embraced our son who had short golden hair and red eyes, the children had been twins born at the same time.

Bell: "Dawn and Albert do you want to stay and play some more or do you want to go home." I could see the two children look at each other and smile.

Dawn and Albert: "We want to stay." They said in unison.

Bell: "okay." I then released Dawn and Ais released Albert and they began running into the field.

Ais and I sat back down and we had leaned in against each other, we had enjoyed each other's company for about 10 minutes, until the clouds had gotten pitch black and I looked at Ais and we both had a pale face, because we know what it had meant.

Bell: "Dawn and Albert come back." I yelled for them to come back because I was afraid of what was coming and the children could see it.

They started to run our direction, and in the distance you could see a black shadow above Dawn and Albert and in that instant a black flame had swallowed them whole, we could hear them scream in pain and horror.

Bell and Ais: "NOOOOOOO." Anger, Grief, and sadness hit us all at once; because we had seen our children die in a sea of black flame, and the worst of it was when we heard them scream fro help.

Ais had broken down and was on her knees with tears coming out of her eyes, while saying Dawn's and Albert's name.

I was standing there angry at what had happened while tears were coming out, the dragon had landed and had the same smile on his face I had seen when I was younger, and in that instant I had snapped, I grabbed my sword and charged the beast, I was angry, I was full of rage and in that instant I could hear Ais yell out my name, I could hear the pain and sorrow in her voice, and in that instant I knew I had messed up, I knew I would die here and in that instant I turned around to look at Ais and I said my final words.

Bell: "I'm sorry Ais, I love you." And in that instant a black sea of flames swallowed me up and I had heard Ais scream in horror.

*Dream Realm, Ais Pov*

I was in a field lying down on someone's lap and when I looked up I saw Bell, older and had clearly grown more. As I was lying there I let nature carry my mind away in bliss while Bell was caressing my hair, it was something I had always enjoyed.

In the distance I could hear two children playing and yelling, they were enjoying each other's company, and I was enjoying Bell's company.

The wind carried the beautiful voices of the birds and nature. I had finally decided to get up and as soon as I did I could hear both children yell.

Dawn and Albert: "Mama, Papa." They ran up to us and I embraced Albert as he was giggling, and Bell lifted up Dawn, she had a big smile on her face as she enjoyed Bell company, Then I heard Bell speak.

Bell: "Dawn and Albert do you want to stay and play some more or do you want to go home." As soon as Bell was done speaking I saw the two children look at each other, I giggled a little because I knew what they were going to say.

Dawn and Albert: "We want to stay." They said in unison.

Bell: "Okay." I let go of Albert and Bell let go of Dawn, I smiled as I saw them run around in the field, 'They are so beautiful.' I thought, I was proud to be there mother.

I lie back down onto Bell's lap and enjoy the scenery, he stroked my hair for about 10 minutes and then I felt the air change and the sky got dark. As it got pitch black, I looked at Bell who was pale also.

'Nonono this can't be happening' was all I could think.

Bell: "Dawn and Albert come back." I heard Bell yell. Dawn and Albert were scared and once they heard Bell they started running in his direction, but in that instant a Black shadow was above them.

'No nonono' was all I thought.

Black flames shot from the shadow and swallowed up my beautiful children and all I could do was watch as I heard their screams for help.

Bell and Ais: "NOOOOOOO." Bell and I screamed.

I broke down, I was on my knees crying and all I could say were their names over and over again like a broken record, it was heart wrenching to watch your children die.

The next moment I saw a blur run past me and I saw Bell charge the dragon with his sword, 'Bell.'

Ais: "BEEEEELLLLLL." I watched in horror as I see him trying to reach the dragon, after I had screamed his name I saw him stop and turn around and when he did I saw a look of sorry in his eyes because he knew he made a mistake.

I started to shake my head in denial as Bell said a few words that broke my heart.

Bell: "I'm sorry Ais, I love you." Then a current of black flames swallowed him up, and in the sea of flames I saw Bell's face one last time with a smile on it.

Ais: "NOOOOO." And that was it I had lost everything and everyone I was sitting the lifeless, and there I could see the dragon smiling as it was getting ready to kill me.

Ais: YOU WILL PAY." Was the last thing I screamed while the Black flames came towards me.

*Morning*

It was early in the morning and all was quiet until everyone who was asleep heard two blood curdling screams, that had alarmed everyone and everyone had gotten ready for combat and headed to the source of the screams.

They had stopped in front of the newbies door and entered and when they did they saw Bell and Ais with tears in there, It had looked like they had gone through hell and came back, Ais almost looked like an empty shell and Bell was no different.

Riveria and Finn made their way through the crowd and had seen Ais and Bell embracing each other with tears pouring out of their eyes, they had also been responding to the screams, it had them worried and when they saw Ais and Bell embracing each other they knew something had happened and started to clear the crowd, and when they did they entered the room and closed the door behind them and locked it.

A/N: And here's another chapter, while writing this chapter I had actually teared up a bit it was quite saddening writing this.

Now, what did you think of this chapter? , I asked because the dream sequence wasn't planned, and I added it because I deemed it necessary for them to have more motives for the future.

That was this chapter and now I'm signing off.