Chapter 8: Lullaby
It took them quite a while to reach Clover on foot. When they got there the sun had already set below the distant horizon. They crouched low behind some bushes, a good distance away from Kageyama and Master Makarov. Naruto and the others were told to keep quiet and observe by the guild masters. They told them to let Master Makarov handle the situation.
At first when Erza had pointed out that the tiny old man standing in front of Kageyama was the guild master of Fairytail, he felt kind of disappointed. To hold such an honorable title as guild master, he expected someone that was at least regular height. The old man in front of Kageyama was no taller than his thigh and wore silly elf clothes (though Naruto had to admit, he liked the amount of orange). In fact, the other guild masters didn't look impressive either.
Naruto noted that the guild master Bob was dressed like a girl and the fact that he kept getting too close for Naruto's comfort. He also did the same with Natsu and Gray. Naruto had to resist the urge to run as far away from the guy (Yes, guild master Bob was a man) as much as possible.
Although he was disappointed with the guild masters' first impression they made on him, he decided to think better of it. They may not look like much, but they were called guild masters for a reason. Just by looking at Makarov's small figure made Naruto realize that he might be more powerful than he gave Makarov credit for. Underestimating people, whether friend or foe, is a grave mistake he couldn't afford to commit.
Naruto tensed as he saw Kageyama put the flute to his lips, ready to unleash Lullaby's melody. He rose from crouched position when a pair of hands stopped him. It was Erza and Natsu. They shook their heads and gestured for him to remain silent. He didn't know why they were willing to let Kageyama murder them all with one note from Lullaby. Sighing mentally, he crouched next to the others.
Kageyama had the flute to his lips now, but he hesitated. He could kill the tiny old man in front of him right now. He would be welcomed back to the guild as a hero. He would bring his guild the honor they deserve. So why was he having second thoughts now?
Kageyama remembered the dragonslayer's words as he was stabbed from behind by his guild mate. He could feel the passion and sincerity in his voice. Even when they were enemies, they still treated his wounds and had not abandoned them. Was this what he truly wanted?
Makarov saw him hesitate. "Well? Aren't you going to play a melody for me? I don't have all night."
Kageyama didn't respond. he couldn't meet the master's eyes. Makarov sighed. "You know, it doesn't have to be this way. I've seen many things and lived a very long life. I can tell when a young man has lost his way."
Makarov turned away from Kageyama and continued. "As a guild master, it is my job to help the bright and capable youths that will one day surpass me. That is why we are elected to be the masters of the guild. We teach the young ones what we know and set them on the proper path whenever we can. It is a hard and long road for them though. Not everything is easy but with a little guidance, I know they will reach their destination. All I have to do is to believe in my young brats as they choose their own path to follow. Choose your own path and don't let that flute get in the way."
Kageyama lowered Lullaby and dropped to his knees. He couldn't do it. "I surrender."
Makarov turned to look back at the kneeling young man who hung his head in defeat. Makarov sighed. These youngsters had a longer way to go.
Meanwhile, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief as he witnessed what had just transpired. He stood and joined the Fairytail mages as they approached their guild master. The other guild masters were there as well.
The master was surprised to have Erza, Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Happy running to approach him. They congratulated him and commented on how he handled the situation quite nicely. Naruto held back as he watched the chemistry between Fairytail. It made him feel strangely lonely. Naruto couldn't help but feel as if he had something that they had before. They were more than just mages and guild masters. Fairytail was a family.
Naruto felt a strange sensation all of a sudden. He couldn't explain it, but he felt a sudden change in the atmosphere. He could sense rage, malevolence, and most of all, hunger emanating from somewhere towards his right. He realized that Lullaby had begun to radiate powerful magical energy.
They heard an evil voice that stunned them. "Fools! I grow tired of you worthless wizards and your antics!"
A gigantic magic circle appeared in the sky. It gave of bolts of dark energy. The mages could just stand and watch as a gigantic, monstrous, wooden humanoid appeared out of nowhere. Naruto gaped at the creature's size. It was as tall as the low lying mountains that surrounded Clover. It had a skeletal form and three empty eye sockets. He knew that this was Lullaby's true form.
"It's huge!" Lucy shrieked.
Lullaby turned toward the mages, "I shall devour your souls myself!"
They all just stood there in the presence of the gigantic demon. In the distance he heard a massive military force marching toward them. Lullaby blasted the next mountain into pieces. The military's retreat could be heard a few moments later. 'Pathetic,' Naruto thought. While he understood the demon's power was indeed frightening, if the military were going to run away when things got tough, then what was the point of being a solider?
"Pitiful humans, I prefer the taste of a wizard's soul!" Lullaby mocked.
"Oh yeah?! Well, I'd like to see you try!" Natsu shouted up at the demon.
Once the civilians were at a safe distance, Naruto noticed the guild masters were also at a relatively safe distance. Meaning they're probably going to sit this one out. How noble of them.
Lullaby unleashed a furious roar that made Naruto's ears scream in protest. He covered his ears as he tried to block out the sound. When the roar ended, Naruto noticed Erza, Natsu and Gray begin to launch an attack against the demon. They charged and began their assault on the demon. Erza had requiped into her knight's armor and began slicing the demon.
Lullaby stumbled as Erza to bombard it with sword slices. Gray stood of to one side and brought his hands together. A thick layer of cool mist surrounded him as he shouted: "Ice make: Lance!" A dozen spears made of ice launched themselves at the demon. It staggered backwards, but quickly recovered only to be punched by Natsu's flaming fists.
Naruto couldn't just stand here, he had to help. He saw that the relentless attack on the demon was slowly driving toward a certain mountain at the south of Clover. He didn't know why, but the image of Erigor's wind barrier suddenly came to his mind. He felt like his mind had been struck by lightning! He now knew how to even the odds.
He dashed off toward the mountain with all of his speed. He could see that Erza had changed her armor again and Gray launch a spinning ice disk at the demon. Natsu was raining fire down at Lullaby. But he couldn't afford to get distracted now.
'Hang on guys,' Naruto thought. 'Don't let up.'
Erza slashed wildly as the Lullaby swiped at her. Their attacks on Lullaby seemed to only enrage the demon even more, but not doing any lasting damage. They needed to end this soon.
"Pathetic wizards, I've had enough!" Lullaby roared. "I shall end this now."
Lullaby gave off an earsplitting shriek. It sucked in a huge breath and Erza's eyes widened. She covered her ears and hoped that the others had the sense to do so too. Lullaby released its pent up energy and…wheezed. For a moment nobody moved. Lullaby looked crestfallen as its melody failed. Erza noticed small holes and destroyed sections. No wonder, Lullaby had been punched so full of holes from their assault that the air was just simply leaking out of the woodwind instrument-based demon.
Lullaby roared in outrage. It smashed up and shot blasts of energy at random as the monster threw a temper tantrum like a little kid. Unfortunately, one of the blasts was directed at the place where all of the civilians were. Luckily Gray created an ice shield just in the nick of time before the blast hit. Erza was prepared to attack again, but stopped when she noticed a lone figure standing on the small mountain top behind Lullaby.
"OI, UGLY!" A voice shouted.
There was a huge puff of smoke and when it cleared, Erza saw hundreds of Naruto's clones fill the mountain area. Lullaby turned to face its new opponent.
"What's this, a new soul to devour?" Lullaby asked curiously.
Erza could see the movement among the mass of Naruto's clones. They formed glowing balls of energy on their hands. Within moments each clone held a glowing blue sphere of energy in their hands. One of the Narutos stepped forward.
"I hope you've enjoyed your ten minutes of rebirth monster, because I'm going to end it now!" Naruto shouted. All of the clones raised their hands with the glowing sphere. They were so many of them that they looked like they were holding blue stars in their palms. Lullaby roared. With a massive leap, all of the clones launched themselves at the demon, their hands ablaze with the strange power.
"Rasengan Barrage!"
The mass of clones slammed their orbs onto the demon. Erza heard a massive explosion and the sound of Lullaby wailing in agony. A bright blue light flared and illuminated the evening sky. Erza and the others felt the shockwave that followed as Lullaby was destroyed. When the light faded, Lullaby was no more. The mages quickly dashed off to find Naruto.
They found him standing in a huge smoking crater. He saw them approaching and started to walk toward them. Erza could not help but feel little awe struck. Naruto had defeated Lullaby in one powerful move. When he reached them they stood staring at him for a little while.
"Hey guys, man I'm hungry. Can we get something to eat?" Naruto said casually. Naturally, they jumped on him the moment the got to him. Natsu could barely contain his excitement.
"That was awesome Naruto! The way you defeated that monster and how you made so many copies of you and that glowing orb thing!" Natsu chattered away excitedly. Lucy was mostly relieved that everyone was safe. Happy flew around in circles. Gray patted Naruto on the back. Naruto blushed slightly at all of the praise he was receiving. He scratched his head nervously.
Meanwhile, Makarov was watching the young blonde as Erza congratulated him. He could sense enormous reserves of power inside of him. Makarov stood next to guild masters Bob and Goldmine, who were also watching the blonde in interest.
"The boy's powerful." Goldmine commented. "He destroyed Lullaby in one stroke."
"Not to mention handsome," Bob said. He turned to look down at Makarov. "Is he one of your wizards?"
Makarov shook his head. His eyes never left Naruto. "I've never seen him before today. Although he looks like he came with my children here."
Naruto started to make a joke about Lullaby and the others laughed. Makarov frowned at the mysterious young blonde as he heard Bob saying. "Well, no doubt your wizards will convince him to join your guild. It's too bad. I would've wanted him on Blue Pegasus, but the poor boy's afraid of me." Bob sighed.
Makarov chuckled slightly. "What makes you think I want him in my guild?"
Goldmine snorted. "Please, you never turn away a lost soul as you had so calmly proclaimed earlier. Just look at him, he seems plenty lost."
Makarov nodded. He could see the blonde now stomping around, impersonating the monster, Erza and the others burst out laughing. Underneath this cheery demeanor though, Makarov could see the sadness in the boy. He was confused and unsure.
Makarov sighed. "You know me too well."
After the battle, they made camp in the forest surrounding Clover. The town was in a wreck and Makarov thought it best to have his destructive charges away from any piece of civilization that would only get destroyed. Natsu and Happy were devouring their food. Gray lay on a fallen log making small ice sculptures out of boredom. Lucy was telling Natsu to slow down and save some food for the others.
Erza and Naruto came to approach the master.
"Master, this is Naruto Uzumaki." Erza introduced. "He has something he would like to discuss with you."
Naruto nodded. "Nice to meet you, old man."
Makarov looked him up and down. He wore a genuine smile and stood confidently. Makarov could place him about Erza's age. Underneath this though, Makarov could see hardness in him. He had a firm resolve. Makarov noticed that his stance may look laid back, but he knew Naruto was ready to move at a moments notice. He had seen that before but never in someone so young. Instincts told him that Naruto had experienced more than his fair share of combat. He didn't know if that was good or bad.
"Walk with me Naruto." Makarov requested.
Naruto fell into step beside Makarov. It wasn't easy though because he had to take even smaller steps than usual. They had made it a good distance from the campsite when Makarov spoke. "You're not going to ask me to listen to you play a melody, are you?"
Naruto smiled at the grim humor. "No, I just wanted to know if you could help me with a little problem. Erza said that you might provide some help." He began to explain his side of the story.
Makarov pondered at this. "You have no memory at all?"
Naruto shook his head. "I get these glimpses though. I see them every night. I still don't know what to make of them."
They continued in silence for a while, the light of the campfire slowly fading behind them. Naruto could hear the sound of insects providing an eerie echo to the whole forest.
Makarov turned to look up at him. "I shall consider this. I never turn down a man who needs assistance. In the meantime I have an offer in mind for you."
"What offer?" Naruto asked curiously.