Hi everyone. Sorry for the lack of updates for this story, but I've been very busy, and I promise to get more updates in as I go along. I also have other stories here that need my attention. So, let's get on with it.
The Legend of Sparda
Dante was walking through the town's busy streets. People would pass by, some would say hi and wave, he'd wave back. He still had a content smile on his face, but despite his smile, he was in deep thought about the coming storm of demons. He was certain he could take them all, but he just hopped everyone would be safe and not get in his way. He'd hate for anyone to get killed while he worked, unless they we're responsible for something like this, then he'd kill them without thinking twice. But these people we're good, not like the kind of people you see in Dark Guilds. As the red-coat wearing demon-hunter continued walking, he heard people talking…
"Come on Natsu, we got off the train ten minutes ago, and you're still sick?" A male voice complained.
Dante turned and saw a group of people. A teenage boy with pink hair and a white scarf, who looked like he was ready to blow his guts out. Another teenage boy with black hair, but no shirt. Seriously? Where was it?
"Geez! Will you put your shirt back on already?!" Said an attractive blond teenage girl.
"It's a habit okay!" the shirt-less black haired teen replied.
"That's enough!" Exclaimed a woman just about Dante's age. Her hair was just as red as his jacket, with an armored top. The black-haired guy and blonde replied instantly, almost looking scared
"Uh, I don't mean to interrupt or anything, but shouldn't we get to the park?" A young girl with blue hair asked shyly.
"I agree, we are scheduled to meet our client there." A flying white female cat added as well.
"Of course, your right, we should get going." The red-haired woman replied
"Come on Natsu, let's go." A flying blue cat urged as he helped the recovering pink-haired teen walk.
"Ugh… I really hate…. Trains" the teen apparently called Natsu grudgingly replied. The group continued along they're path.
Dante found this group to be interesting, for a number of things. He was quite surprised to see two flying, talking cats. At first he thought they might have been demons, but dismissed that as he didn't feel any demonic presence around them. It was a talent he was born with, he could sense demonic energy and be able to tell if something was a demon, even if disguised. Another thing that caught his attention was they all sported the same mark, it looked familiar. Perhaps they we're wizards from a famous guild. He could have sworn he'd seen that symbol before from an issue of Sorcerer Weekly. Why would guild wizards be here? Perhaps someone found out about the demons coming and asked them for help. Dante almost felt a bit relieved. Nice to know that someone else besides him could help protect the people. Dante smirked a bit as he kept walking, this party is getting more interesting than he thought.
The Fairy Tail wizards came to the park where they we're supposed to meet there client to discuss what is to come. Gray, Natsu, Erza, and Lucy sat down on a nearby bench.
"So we just wait here then?" Gray asked
"Yes, we wait." Erza replied
"Aw come on, I want to fight some demons!" Natsu complained, causing both Erza and Gray's sweat to drop
"Well I don't!" Lucy exclaimed "Am I the only one here who isn't completely terrified!?"
"They why did you come with us?" Gray asked "If you we're really so scared you should have stayed back in Magnolia"
"It's because Lucy's broke and needs to get her greedy little hand on some jewels." Happy joked
"SHUT IT CAT!" Lucy exclaimed with a vein threatening to pop, causing both Natsu and Happy to snicker
"You want some advice?" Carla offered to Lucy "Ignore him. He keeps teasing you because you always get a reaction."
"Easy for you to say. You don't get dragged on every single mission with him." Lucy argued.
"I'm right here you know." Happy said with a sweat-drop on his head.
Natsu smirked, but his smirk vanished when he noticed someone was no longer with them. "Hey, where's Wendy?"
At that everyone looked around. "She just here a minute ago." Gray said
"Where could she have gone?" Erza wondered
The wizards then looked around, Happy was the first to spot her. "Hey there she is?" he pointed to the middle of the park, where they saw Wendy in front of a large statue.
Wendy was looking at this interesting statue. There was a large white marble base below it, as for the statue itself, it was all black. There was a large horse, but what really caught Wendy's attention was the being riding the horse. This being was all black. He was humanoid. This being had a pair of large ram-like horns on his head facing downward, clawed hands, a scaly hide, chiropteran wings on its back with beetle-like wings underneath, hove-like feet, and pupil-less eyes. The being rode appeared to be riding atop the horse, his right hand holding it's reigns, and in its left hand was a massive sword that it held up high.
This kind of being would normally scare someone as young as Wendy. However, for some reason, being around this statue, she felt a great sense of both relief and security. As if this being was some sort of great holy being that would protect any and all against evil forces. Around this stature, seeing this being, she felt safe. A small smile formed on her face.
Natsu came up to her. "Hey Wendy, what are you looking at?" he asked. He soon found himself looking at the statue. "Whoa." That was all he could say
"I know." Wendy agreed
The others came up to the two dragon slayers and found themselves looking up at the statue.
"Who's that?" Gray asked
"I think a more accurate question is, what is that?" Lucy corrected "Because I don't think that's human."
"No I don't think so either." Erza agreed "Yet for some reason, I can't help feel this sense of security around it." A smile formed on her face to.
"It's weird." Happy began "That guy looks scary, but at the same time he almost feels like someone great, almost like when I see the master in action."
Carla looked at the statue as well, getting a similar feeling. However, one close look at the face, and she looked as though she had seen it before. Is that…?
"Sparda." Natsu said, getting all they're attention. "That's what it says right here." The fire dragon slayer pointed to a small engraving at the base of the statue "The Legendary Dark Knight Sparda."
"Sparda?" Lucy questioned "Haven't I heard that name somewhere before?" She asked tapping her mouth with her finger.
"Wait, you know this guy?" Gray asked
"Well, not really." The celestial wizard tried to explain "I remember my mom reading me a story where I heard the name Sparda, but that was years ago, I really don't remember much."
"I do." Carla said, surprising everyone there "I heard of him. The legendary warrior who saved mankind from destruction."
"Saved mankind?" Erza repeated "Could you care to explain it to us? How you know of this man?"
"Not a man, but a demon." Carla corrected. That was a real shock
"A demon?!" Lucy exclaimed
"Why in the hell would there be a statue like this of a demon!?" Gray exclaimed as well
"Why are you guys surprised?" Natsu asked "I mean that thing certainly looks like a demon."
"The legend tells of the demon Sparda, who actually fought for the side of humans." Carla began to explain
"A demon who fights for humans?" Erza questioned
"Indeed." The white cat continued "I don't know much of the warrior himself, but he stood his ground against the demon world and protected mankind for many ages against his own kin."
"Sparda sounds really amazing." Wendy said in wonder and excitement "How do you know so much about him Carla?"
"During our time in Cait Shelter, the elder had many scrolls of human history, I just happened to stumble across one that told of Sparda. Unfortunately though, the scroll was damaged so I did not learn much of him. In fact, what I just told you is all I know about him"
"Not surprising." A voice came from behind. They all turned to the bench they were just sitting at. There was a middle-aged man. He had short dark blonde hair, a dark blonde mustache, a grey trench coat and a hat. "Considering few people in the world actually knew about him personally."
"Who are you?" Natsu questioned
"Name's Morrison" the man named Morrison replied "You're those Fairy Tail wizards I asked for right?" He asked as he got up from the bench
"You're our client?" Erza asked
"That's right." Morrison answered "If you want to know more about Sparda and the job I requested, let's talk in my office."
The group was now in a small, almost stuffy office-room. Morrison sat behind a desk, while each of the wizards we're sitting in individual chairs, save for Carla sitting on Wendy's lap, and Happy on Natsu's lap.
"Mr. Morrison, if I may." Erza began "Why did you ask Fairy Tail for help on this?"
"I'll get to that in just a bit." Morrison replied as he lit a cigar. "But first, I think it's best you hear the whole story about Sparda."
"By all means." Erza urged
"Alright. Thousands of years ago Sparda served as the general for the demon world, and the right-hand of the demon king. He was the most skilled of nearly every demon; he was stronger, faster, and a master of virtually every weapon, his personal favorite where swords. He was highly looked upon by the demon world as a hero and a legend. However, his loyalty to the demon world shifted, when he came across our world. Many demons looked upon humans as inferior beings and saw them as weak insects, Sparda was different. He saw something in humanity that every other demon couldn't see. And after spending many years here on our world, he had found himself growing compassion for them, so much so that he stood against the demon populace. As you can imagine, that didn't sit well with the demons. They all called him a traitor and attempted to invade the human world, Sparda would not allow that, so he took up his sword and stood his ground against the demon army, alone."
"HUH!?" Lucy exclaimed "Are you for real!? He took on an entire army of demons by himself?!"
"Yep." Morrison nodded
"So he sacrificed himself to stop the demons?" Gray guessed
"Oh to the contrary, he won that battle." Morrison corrected
A silence fell on the group. Ten seconds later… "WhaaaaAAAAAT!?" They all exclaimed
"That's right."
"Incredible." Erza stated in surprise and astonishment "To defeat an entire army of demons, his skills must have been truly incredible."
"He sounds awesome." Natsu said with a large grin on his face "I'm really starting to like him."
"Yeah, that guy's got major guts." Gray added with a smile of his own.
"But he didn't stop there." Morrison kept going "He took that battle all-the-way back to his home turf, all the way to his former master, the demon king Mundus. When those two collided, it felt as if worlds could shake, the battle went on for who-knows-how long, and could have gone on for even longer. But despite his skill, not even Sparda could completely defeat Mundus, so instead of losing the fight. He cast a spell, one that would not only trap Mundus in the deepest, darkest pit; but also forever separate the demon world from ours. That was 2000 years ago, Sparda saved us all, the legendary Dark Knight. He found himself trapped in our world and would live amongst us, where he would find peace and happiness."
All the Fairy Tail wizards looked in wonder and amazement.
"Truly incredible." Erza spoke
"This guy is AWESOME!" Natsu exclaimed
"Aye!" Happy added
"What I wouldn't give to meet someone like him." Gray said
"Sparda is a real hero." Wendy said with stars in her eyes
"No joke." Lucy replied "Someone who can take on an entire army to save people is okay in my book."
"Who would have fought a demon would save mankind, I still find it difficult to believe, but we all should be very thankful for Sparda." Carla agreed
Morrison nodded "Sparda lived in peace with humans for many centuries, however he died a few decades ago."
That last part made the wizard's happy expressions drop a bit.
"Man that sucks." Natsu said
"Aye." Happy added, a little dejected this time.
Erza was the next to speak up "I agree that it is unfortunate, but I must digress. I know you did not call Fairy Tail to merely tell us a story, granted a truly amazing one, but still…"
"You're quite right." Morrison replied "Let's get down to business. As the flyer stated, there's going to be an attack on this town from demons. If Fairy Tail is really the strongest guild, it shouldn't be too hard."
"One thing doesn't quite make sense." Gray spoke "You said Sparda casted a barrier to forever separate the human and demon worlds."
"That's right" Lucy recalled "How could demons even get here?"
"I was wondering when you we're going to ask that." Morrison admitted "Think of the barrier like a massive wall. When the wall is initially built, it is quite strong and remains strong for some time. However, as time passes, the wall begins to gradually weaken and a few cracks form."
"Wait, are you saying the barrier Sparda cast will fall?" Erza asked
"I sure hope not." Wendy hopped
"Same here." Lucy added, both of them shaking
"No, this wall still has a long way to go." Morrison assured, earning a sigh of relief from the celestial wizard and the young sky dragon slayer. "But a few cracks have formed on the wall, and some demons manage to slip through. Though most of them are small-fry and don't pose a threat that could spell the end of the world. But there is one crack that will form over this town soon."
"You mean a portal?" Erza asked
"Yes." Morrison confirmed "A portal is going to open up, this one is large enough that almost a small army could get through."
"So you need us to help fight off these demons so that the towns-people don't get killed." Gray surmised
"That's right." Morrison confirmed
"All-righty!" The ever-optimistic-and-excited Natsu said, with a flame-in-hand "So when does this little party take place?"
Morrison smiled, this young man reminded him very much of another young warrior he is too familiar with. "Tomorrow night. There is going to be a lunar eclipse. When the moon turns blood red, the portal will open."
"Very well then." Erza said "We will see to it this town is safe."
"Thank you."
"Just so we're clear, we are getting paid right?" Lucy asked with a sincere smile.
"Yep, 10,000,000 Jewels." Morrison confirmed
"Bet your really happy about this huh Lucy?" Happy teased "You're usually only concerned for money."
"Don't judge me cat!"
The Fairy Tail wizards got up and set out to leave.
"Oh one last thing." Morrison spoke, getting they're attention "This town is also home to a very skilled Devil Hunter."
"A Devil Hunter you say?" Erza asked
Morrison nodded "He's very skilled in that profession, and you might run into him during this little fiasco."
"Hold on." Carla interrupted "If there's a devil hunter in town, then why did you request our aid?" Carla hopped this could help get Wendy out of this
"Just thought he could use some help if this proved too much for him" Morrison answered
"Doesn't hurt to over-prepare" Gray said
"Exactly" Morrison replied
"How will we know this devil hunter?" Erza questioned
"Oh trust me." Morrison smirked "You'll know him when you see him"
Done. Again, sorry for the lack of updates. I promise to have more up soon. Thank you all so much for your patience. I know this chapter seems pretty boring, but I need to set this up. Action WILL come, make no mistake here.
See you all later.
Jackpot.