"Shit" he exclaimed as he accidentally walked on a rock making it crack the ice below. He hoped that the enemy didn't heard him. He used some mirror magic to look pas the rock he was currently hiding. It was night time and the enemy composed by a group of 5 mages was currently eating near a fire camp. They were heavily dressed for this kind of cold climate. It was called the ice desert. He had followed them for two weeks now and had found some serious information about what they were doing. It disturbed him a little bit. What was an easy mission had became a serious matter.
"Kain, I told you the fish is still raw for fuck sake. Make it cook again." Kain which was a slim guy with half of his head shaven and half hanging from the right side got up and took the fish from the guy.
"Liz how much till we arrive at the altar?" asked a young blonde haired guy that had a bowl cut and round glasses. From the information he had, he was a rich boy having inherited his grandfather fortune and most likely was the financiator of this whole thing. He was the most mysterious one of all of them as for the others were just some mercenary from a dark guild he guessed.
"Two more days and we will be there for sure" answered a short haired girl with a patch in her right eye.
"I see, when we are closer I'll use this locator to pinpoint the center of the room. We must do the preparation, the dark moon phase will come only in two weeks." Said the blonde boy showing a strange gadget with an antenna.
"Not to be in the negative here, but from what we read about the altar isn't it connected to the past beasts, extinct more than 10 thousand years ago. It is said that whoever release them again will bring Earthland to chaos for years to come." Said the original guy who was complaining about the fish earlier. He had a green tattoo of a snake across his face and was entirely bald. Most likely the captain of the mercenary group.
"Oh you don't need to worry about some ancient legends of course sir Nagi, we are doing this solely for research, remember." Said the blonde boy again smirking.
"Well if it was only for research like you claim why would we had to kill the guards at the museum, where we stole the fragments?" asked Nagi in return.
"Well you see, it will be troubling to connect my name with a mere crime at the museum for stealing important assets for this mission, and the guys recognized me, so of course no witnesses are allowed. I'm doing humanity a big favor, by unlocking some of the mystery of the dark era of course."
"You talk about it like you wont have any personal profit by this whole thing." Retorted Nagi grunting a bit.
"Well, of course alongside the fame for finding such an important information will come money as well, making our company the exclusive one to this project."
"From what I heard there are 5 altars around Earthland, why did you chose this one?" asked again Nagi. To this the blonde boy laughed hard.
"You sir Nagi are really something. Now, now I wouldn't tell you all of my secrets or else you'll sell it to the highest bidder as soon as this job is finished, am I correct?" he asked yet again smirking. Naggi smirked as well taking his katana in his hand and starting to polish it.
"Well you have a point Mr. Van Darn" he said and then silence followed. The gray haired boy which was spying behind the rock finally released both of the mirror and his enhancement sound magic. He sighed feeling the cold of the night. Using his internal ethernano he raised his body temperature just a bit. Feeling the warmth made a face with pink hair and brown eyes appear in his mind. He unconsciously touched his now totally black left hand with his right, not feeling anything at all. He looked at the stars above him which were really visible now being away from any city and a question popped in his mind.
What was she doing right now?
…
"Cheers!" they said in unison as different glasses clicked together. They were around a big table. In total 7 persons and three exceeds.
"It's so good to eat in company" Said Nashi taking a fork of salad.
"Of course and better yet than eating your cooking sis" said a half orange half pink haired boy earning a smack from his older sister.
"My cooking isn't that bad" said Nashi defensively.
"Ha tell it to the poor guys you fed this Thursday at the guild!" he retorted. Nashi became livid now and would have punched him if her older brother wasn't in the middle stopping her.
"Enough! Would you two calm down please. We have visitors." Luke said indicating the blue and pink haired woman in front of him which were laughing at the Dragneels antics, with their little boy beside them who was currently playing with Tom and Rose, the two little exceeds.
"Oh don't worry, we really enjoy our time here. It feels so warming to have such a lively family" said Chelia before sipping from her wine glass.
"Heh and to think that Lucy asked for another child just a month ago!" said Natsu casually. This made the three of his child to spit their drink. Luke composed himself cleaning himself with the white cloth while the other two had opposite reaction.
"Another brat" said Ares not so enthusiastically.
"Oh my god, another child!" said Nashi with hearts in her eyes. Natsu who was seated in the front of the table just sighed.
"Hey we haven't decided yet and of course it's your mother's and mine to make so you don't have a say." Stated Natsu.
"Oh it would be amazing having such numerous family isn't it?" asked Wendy more to himself than to the others. Natsu smiled slightly at the longing in his 'sister' eyes.
"Then why don't have another child?" he asked yet again making the others sweat drop. Wendy turned to look at Chelia and the others saw the uneasiness in her eyes. "I mean why don't you adopt another child, I know how good you two are with babies. You helped us so much raising our monsters beside Luke" Said Natsu earning a hey by both the exotic haired duo, while Luke laughed. Wendy smiled as well and took Chelia's hand on her own.
"It's not that we don't want one, but with our current job and the need to travel around the country, it will be very difficult to raise a child. And of course, sometime soon we need to settle down. As you know Ben cant use magic so he needs to go to school soon and as for now we have a lot in our mind but maybe soon…" said Wendy hopefully and finally Chelia smiled in her direction.
"To be honest children grow so fast. I remember like yesterday when Nashi would wait for me crying after a long job and look at her now. Would you believe she want to go into this new club Magda, Marda or whatever is called, instead of partying with her father and winning against the Fullbusters." Natsu said with crocodile tears resembling Gildarts when Cana would give him the cold shoulder. Nashi rolled her eyes while the three little ones giggled at Natsu's antics. Wendy and Chelia smiled as well.
"Dad I already told you that I want to party with the girls and Esmeralda wants it the most so we cant say no. And there wont be any contest with the Fullbusters seeing as both Storm and Yuki will come to the club as well."
"Would you believe the old man's face when I told him that Yuki will come with us" laughed Ares which made his father irritate slightly.
"I want to know better what was on your mind, thinking you could bring Yuki with you instead?" asked Natsu at his younger son.
"Oh come on pops, don't be like that you know, I will never let something happen to Yuki, she after all is my best friend and partner" he said cockily which was what Natsu didn't liked. His younger son was overconfident and sometime would be an obstacle for him.
"Yet she is 16 year old, is she even allowed to this club?" he asked and Ares shrugged. "That's my point idiot, you don't even know. This girl is younger than you and she sees you with admiration like no other, you need to be responsible for her but clearly you aren't thinking about that." Said Natsu now a bit more irritated.
"I am, what do you think I'm doing? I protect her in all of our jobs and I help her with training and other stuff. I'm always there for her, but what do you know about that? Where was the last time you actually went on a job with your son?" he asked irritated as well. To this Natsu flamed. Nashi gave a concerned look to Luke which in return shook his head.
"You protect her yes, but you always put her in dangerous situation. And to think that you would go so far to make father and daughter to argue for your selfish desire. What made you think you have to make decision for her? Gray was livid and he was right." Natsu said raising his voice. To this Ares punched the table making the plate bounce and earning a yelp from the small exceeds and Ben. He pushed his chair and stood making his way upstairs to his room. The table was silent until Ben started crying. Chelia took him in her lap and started shushing him motherly. Natsu sighed, not happy about the situation.
"Dad give him some slack, he is trying. I know that he wanted Yuki to see the club and he didn't demanded her to do so." Said Nashi a bit more calmly. Wendy touched Natsu's hand comfortingly and he relaxed just a bit saying sorry silently to which she smiled.
"I know Nash, but shouldn't he encourage her to not come and be safer, I mean she is only 16" he said.
"Did you ever talked to mommy to be safer and not take her to dangerous situations?" she asked him which made him sigh. She had a point.
"Yeah but that was different." He said.
"How so?" asked Nashi not really understanding. Natsu struggled to find an answer and not finding it, Wendy spoke for him.
"It is not different at all Natsu-san. It's just that you now see the importance of responsibility being a parent. You are in master Makarov place now and feel what he felt but I don't understand why you feel so strong for Ares." She said.
"You know why." He said suggestively and Wendy's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh come on, you cant treat him like a delicate flower. He is his own persona and understand well enough his situation. He is a strong boy trying to prove everyone that he is strong. Do you believe in him?" asked Wendy. His eyes grew incredously.
"Is that even a question? Of course I believe in him. He is my son and even if I don't like it he is the one that resembles me the most." He said.
"Show him them. Show that, and you'll see he come around" said Wendy. Natsu grinned at her. He stood up and kissed her cheek, making her and the others smile.
"Thanks Wen, you are the best!" he said and they continued to eat. Nashi stood up suddenly and got her brother's plate and headed upstairs.
"I'll bring him his food, after all he loves aunt's food" said Nashi and saw her father mouthing a sorry. She just smiled. And so the dinner went on with normal cheers and warm conversations.
Nashi knocked on her brothers rooms door and soon he opened it.
"What do you want?" he asked grudgingly which made Nashi's vein tick.
"I brought your food or you'll complain tomorrow that nothing was left" she said making a humph noise at the end. He smiled at his considerate older sister. They were always bickering but he knew how much she cared for him. He took the plate from her.
"Thanks sis!" he said smiling.
"No problem!" she said smiling as well with her hands behind her back. "Are you alright?" she asked to him. He made a face but sighed.
"Yeah, no need to worry." He dismissed her worries.
"Ares, it's just worried about you and don't want you to make a mistake, it's just that sometimes he cant control his emotions when it comes to you!" she said gently. He knew exactly what she meant.
"Yeah I know sis, its just that he never gives me a chance to prove myself. I have lived for 17 years and nothing major have happened yet." He said. She looked at him with saddened eyes. "Don't give me that look!" he said mockingly and she changed her expression furrowing her eyebrows.
"What look?" she asked feigning ignorance.
"The worried look, nothing will happen so don't worry! He said grinning and it was in those moments that she really saw her father in her younger brother. She smiled and hugged him.
"I know idiot we are Dragneels after all. Nothing can bring us down!" she said backing away.
"Don't forget half Heartfilian." He said. "The most stubborn families in Earthland" to this they both laughed.
"Want to come back down?" asked Nashi hopefully.
"Hmm actually no. I'll go a little bit for a walk you know." He said and she smiled sugestivey.
"A walk yes…" she said in a mock tone. Closing the door she added. "Don't get caught by uncle or he'll have your head." She said and head him laugh. With that she went downstairs with the others.
Ares finished quickly his dinner and jumped from his window directing with a fast pace in the direction of a small house by a lake. As soon as he neared the house, used his stealth magic to lower his presence. After all he was half demon and in the house in front of him was one of the stronger demon slayers in the world. As he walked by the familiar window of the second floor he bumped in to someone and thought the worst, but to his fortune it was only the bigger Fullbuster sibling.
"Hey Storm, didn't see ya there!" he quickly said softly which earned rolling eyes from the blak haire boy in front of him.
"I was just thinking to train a little bit before sleeping, wanna join?" asked Storm already knowing why the younger Dragneel was here.
"Actually I have something to talk about with Yuki, is she home?" he asked even though he had confirmed her presence by sniffling her scent. Storm feigned ignorance as well.
"Yeah but be careful she had a pretty heavy argument with dad this afternoon." Said Storm and saw Ares tense a little bit. He knew how much the younger Dragneel cared about his sister but it never stopped him from putting her in dangerous situation. He touched his shoulder and gave him a comforting squeeze. "Don't worry she isn't mad at you, and dad accepted her request but she got mad when he started insulting you and well now it's sulking in her room. Just be careful because if dad find you here at this hour well lets say we need to decide who will take your little fortune you gathered in your last gambling." To this Ares eyes widened which made Storm laugh.
"How did you…" Storm just looked in his sister's room direction and Ares already knew.
"Yuki, I thought she wouldn't tell anyone" he said sulking.
"Well me and sis don't have secrets lets say but don't worry I wont tell anything to uncle and aunty, just don't be reckless next time" said Storm leaving and heard a sigh of relief from Ares.
"Dad told me you mastered the ice breathing roar of wing spiraling." Said Ares grinning. Storm smirked and nodded. "Well I want to try and see if you can beat me now" he said excitedly. Storm just rolled his eyes.
"You cant beat your sister, what makes you think you can beat me?" he asked mockingly.
"I never use my full power!" said Ares angrily agitating his fist in the air.
"Okay, okay we'll see about that." Said Storm while moving away. Ares was like his younger brother to him and he had never been on a serious fight with him because let's say, he really wasn't his level yet, but he always tried harder than anyone. His real rival was none other than Nashi. He respected greatly her strength and it was her who motivated him to become a dragon slayer. He now was known as the ice Ishim or the Ice angel. His dream was to become as strong as Salamander one day and even surpassing him. He knew that his dad was as strong as the fire dragon slayer, but something in Natsu's eyes told him that Natsu possessed an inner will like no other and it was that, that he was chasing after. What he really didn't know was why would Nashi be following his dad when she had her father. At the start he assumed it was because he had chosen Natsu and out of jealousy, she had chosen his father. After some time he grasped a little bit of their relationship. His father was always cool and contained, the opposite to Nashi's fiery nature. Using that coolness, he had seen how much she had grown through self control and fire make magic. She was mastering the fire make and was outstanding. They were both equal but he felt bad in his pride because he was older than her. He sighed and prepared for his training.
On the other side, Ares had climbed on the window and was looking inside for the water mage. As soon as Yuki's eyes found his, they widened and she mouthed a 'What are you doing here', but moved on opening the window nonetheless. He grinned at her and saw her cheeks turn a little pink.
"Why are you here Ares?" she whisper shouted at him as hi was resting on the window frame now. His eyes became full of guilt and he answered.
"I'm sorry. I heard that you had an argument with your dad from my old man" he said scratching the back of his neck. Her deep blue eyes softened and she touched his cheek softly.
"Don't worry it wasn't your fault. I wanted to come tomorrow so there's nothing to worry about." Her answer made him feel more guilty. She was always so soft to him even when he deserved a little bit of punishing and it made him even worse. Why did she chose a hotheaded guy like him when she was like the softest flower?
"But it was-"
"It wasn't and we'll finish this here." She said smiling warmly at him, breaking all of his defenses. She had this strange power that affected only him strangely enough. He sighed.
"Fine but in exchange, I have to make it up for you. I'll do anything for you!" he said grinning and her breath hitched a little bit. Her imagination started spinning like her mothers but then she stopped and smiled giggling. Yup she loved this boy because he made her feel like no other in the world.
"Then how about a … dat…" she couldn't do it. She was fuming now red and Ares was looking at her strangely. He touched her forehead with his and she almost fainted.
"Are you okay Yu, you are really hot!" he said concerned for only to get it the wrong way. She had to finish this or her heart would break apart.
"I'll chose next mission" she said backing away and clutching her worried heart. He saw her strangely.
"Just that?" he asked surprised. He grinned again. "I thought you wanted a date or something." He said casually. " Well then is decided, next mission is yours. Again I'm sorry and have a good night Yu!" he said before jumping from her window and running off. Yuki on the other hand was astonished. Did he say d-d-date? Did he wanted her to ask for a date like she initially wanted. He face was as red as it could be, but a small smile was spreading there. She plopped on her bed happily and with a happy sigh said.
"Ares…" A young blue haired women outside the door, sighed happily as well.
"Oh young love!"
"Did you say something honey?" asked Gray from the bathroom, washing his teeth.
"No no my beloved, just how sexy is your butt from here." She said.
"Juv!" he whined. "The guys are home" she smiled at her husband. She hoped that her daughter's love battle would be as good as hers. She watched again Gray and sighed a bit. It would take a lot of effort for her husband to accept the little Dragneel boy.
…
Some kilometers away in the capital of Fiore, Crocus,two young women were still working on some ancient papyrus.
"This is really disturbing Lev." Said a blonde haired woman to her companion. Levy nodded concerned.
"Make sure to copy the original message and we need to modify it. If the council ever find the content, it will be chaos." Said the bluenette and Lucy was already at work.
"Even if we modify the original, it wont be long enough until they found out and then Fairy Tail will be in danger again." Said concerned Lucy.
"I know but we need to hold them as much as possible and deliver the message to Erza. Maybe we can stop this whole thing before something disastrous happen. We also need to talk to Makarov and Jellal to see if they have some information concerning this issue." Said Levy and Lucy nodded.
"I wanted to go on a vacation after I returned home this time, but I know our lives have just become more problematic. I sense something dark coming our way Levy and it's something bigger than our past times." Levy touched her shoulder and squeezed comfortingly.
"Don't worry Lu-chan, we are Fairy Tail, we are stronger then ever before. We wont let nothing bad happen even more so when we have our children to protect now." She said determined and Lucy nodded.
"I hope so Levy, I hope so" said Lucy. As she continued on copying the transcript and by the end of the message there were clear words of 'the last Dark Angel'.
To be continued…
/
Well another chapter done. I hope I'm not going really slow with these, but it needs time to warm up with a lot of changes and new characters. As a warning there will be some death in this fic but not to the principal characters. Angst and some hurt-comfort but in hope to progress some characters. Review about the pace, if you want it a bit more faster. Thanks and see you next time.