Hi guys Azza here!
Reviews
Dragonborn2704 – Both girls are new to the story so far and for Fate/Grand Order players you'll probably begin to get an idea of how bleak the Thriller Bark Arc is going to be once you realize who one of them is.
And trust me Escanor still has a ways to go yet, a productive ways but still a ways to go before he humbles up. Also thanks for the praise I feel the same about reviews because it's fun reading what people are currently thinking, any potential theories and questions they might have!
Susano'o Chaos – You did question it once before but I'll answer it anyway. So far we've seen the positive side of the Council, current Gods and Devils however we've also seen their impact in each world we've been to. Even look at some of my Tales From The Tale Verse stories they also highlight the darker side to them and how easily they dismiss breaking worlds, case in point Aizen and Salem.
I've almost finished writing the Volume III.V single chapter promo for what's to follow this and within that and the subsequent stories what I've laid down will begin to be explored in full, the darker side of how these higher beings operate, the hatred those who have been discarded/abandoned by them and the fate of countless places left to rot. In addition it will explore something else that hasn't been addressed yet, the ability to manipulate Anti like the Chaos Goddess did and just what the Council utilizes this ability for themselves. All that and more is on the horizon ...
As for my lemon scene that's fine I'm not good with them either haha! Hence why I begged for feedback but hey you have plenty of other stuff to reply to so its fine.
And finally as for Aava she can be freed if Natsu either grows strong enough to resist the backlash ripping her out would have which would mean he'd have to be stronger than a member of the Council or as you said he'd have to die. As for her fate should that occur you'll find out however I will say this there are temporary exceptions to the rule that will come into play during the final fight. Anti is known for being unpredictable and the final fight is going to represent Natsu's journey coming full circle as the major trio of combatants from the past find themselves struggling against their new foe despite working together.
So in short a really fun final fight!
Anyway enough spoilers from me on with the story!
I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse
The Perilous Island Ardorton
/Zoro & Sanji's POV/
"Damn there's just no end to them," Sanji growled as he landed a kick to the side of a grey human's head. "Beat one and three come up from the ground to take its place!"
"Mister Sanji there's no use in trying to beat them all," the girl called out from her place on Zoro's shoulder. "They are nothing more than small fry, find the leader and you sever their connection to the Warlord!"
"Leader huh? Any idea where this leader is," Zoro asked as he sliced apart a zombie that had been going for the girl.
"I-I'm not sure ... I never really wanted to encounter it before."
"For now how about we focus on freeing her friend from that castle first eh Mosshead?"
"Tch, stupid perv cook," Zoro grumbled in response as the pair bolted away from an oncoming group of the grey skinned humanoids. "Hold on kid if you fall those things will nab you!"
"Don't worry Mister Zoro I'll hold on extra tight," the girl replied as her grip around Zoro's neck tightened.
"Come on Mosshead they're already gaining on us!"
"Damn it I'm running as fast as I damn can!"
The trio were now sprinting on an upward slope, a feat that would tire an ordinary human being however to the grey skinned humans it didn't affect them in the slightest. Seeing their end goal, the top of the slope, in sight the trio pushed on and narrowly avoided the clutches of the grey humanoids before swiftly spinning around and delivering powerful strikes to the leaders of the pack.
The group was sent tumbling back down the hill however this bought them little time as more began to claw their way up from the dirt, right in the path they still had to take to reach the castle.
"Damn it," Zoro panted as the girl got off of his shoulders. "I need to do more cardio training ..."
"Just how many people used to live here, that town couldn't have had more than a few hundred people in it yet we've surely seen like a thousand of these things by now," Sanji added as he kicked away another grey humanoid.
"I believe the Warlord dumped a lot of his reject stock off here ... not all originated from here though it seems."
"Yeah well, more trouble for us," Zoro replied as two more of the massive augmented grey humanoids burst forth from the ground. "This might be a bit tougher than we first thought."
"For now we protect the girl," Sanji said as he flicked away his cigarette.
Behind them another pair of the massive hulking beasts emerged as Zoro turned around to face them, the girl shielded between their backs looking between the pair in a mixture of fear and concern. As Zoro cracked his neck to relieve some built up pressure the pair began to advance toward the beasts as the smaller ones in the back began to screech loudly in order to attract even more of their brethren.
"Mister Sanji, Mister Zoro, you mustn't try to fight them all!"
"Normally I would agree with you young lady but we're kind of out of options at the moment," Sanji chuckled as he ceased advancing and raised his right leg, assuming a combat stance. "Just stay in between me and the Mosshead and you'll be fine alright."
"Listen to the cook," Zoro said as the girl turned to try and plead with Zoro finding nothing but pure resolve in his eyes as he took off a bandana that had been wrapped around his right arm and placed it on his forehead. "Me and him might not get along much but trust me when I say this, between the two of us is the safest place for you on this whole island. Stay put."
"But ..."
The girl was silenced by the deafening roar of the four beasts as they charged forward spurning the duo into action as they prepared their counterattacks.
Jumping out of the way from a punch that cracked the earth Zoro blocked a brutal swing from the other big one which sent him flying backward through the air until he stabbed one of his blades into the dirt and brought himself to a full stop before the girl. Grinning he shot off toward the two beasts and with said burst he spun through the air like a drill and landed a series of deep gashes to the stomach of one of the beasts, its guts spilling out all over the ground coating him in black blood.
"Piece of shit," he growled as the second one tried to crush him with its club hand only for the attack to be blocked by both his blades as he felt the shockwave pass through his body, shaking his organs and straining his muscles to their limits. "D-damn it-!"
As Zoro fought off his opponents Sanji found himself getting pushed back as his kicks appeared to have little to no effect on them whatsoever. Inwardly he cursed knowing that he would yet again have to rely on the Diable Jambe, a technique he had yet to perfect, against multiple foes at once.
Looking away for a brief moment he saw Zoro struggling to hold off the raw power behind one of the beasts and again cursed their luck. He knew they couldn't fail, they had to protect the girl, but things were looking more grim by the moment.
"Fine then, let's get this over with," he growled as he raised his right leg with it igniting into flames, the beasts pausing for a brief moment before letting loose loud roars and charging toward him.
As the pair fought against the beasts the young girl grew more and more worried by the second, watching as the pair found themselves being slowly pushed back and injured all in order to defend her.
"Mister Zoro ... Mister Sanji," the girl said softly as she clasped her hands together seemingly in prayer. "I'm sorry Mister Carter but I simply must act!"
Zoro and Sanji winced as even more of the beasts began to emerge from the ground whilst they were becoming more and more worn down. Eventually the pair were completely surrounded with no means of escape.
"Well this didn't end up the way I thought it would," Zoro ground out prompting Sanji to snort in agreement.
"Whoever this Warlord guy is he's a real piece of work, how many people has he turned into these things!?"
"I don't think that really matters right now ..."
"Shit-!"
"AWAY!"
The pair were shocked as multiple portals opened up around them with strange tentacles emerging from within, wrapping themselves around the beasts and dragging them back into what appeared to be an endless void.
"What the hell," Sanji gasped as his head snapped around the area. "Is Natsu here!?"
"No," Zoro replied softly as he nudged Sanji and drew his attention toward the girl they had been protecting.
"What ... the ...?"
The girl's dress appeared to have splintered into a vine like substance that barely managed to conceal her form; a single stocking of the same black colouring went up her right leg with an orange ribbon seemingly as sharp as diamond protruding from the back. She also seemed to have summoned a stereotypical witch's hat from somewhere, the hat decorated with the bows that adorned her regular outfit.
However it was her forehead that had the pairs true attention as a keyhole glowed ominously at its centre, a chilling and foreboding power seeping forth from its depths prompting the pair to take an unconscious step backward.
"I will kill them all ..."
"O-oi, are you alright," Sanji asked as the girl's eyes snapped toward him, her glowing eyes dimming as her form seemed to revert to that of an ordinary little girl once more.
"I ..."
Sanji moved forward and caught the girl as she stumbled forward, catching her before she had the chance to fall. Picking the girl up he noticed she appeared to be rather tired after what she had done and shook his head.
"I-I'm so sorry for that, I didn't want either of you to die so ... I sinned."
"Sinned," Zoro asked confused. "I mean I won't lie and say I wasn't a bit nervous for a moment there but I wouldn't call taking out those things that were trying to kill us a sin?"
"I must ... see Lord Natsu, he is the only one who can help against that man."
"The Warlord Of The Sea," Sanji asked earning a tired nod from the girl. "I mean Warlords are strong but surely-?"
"You don't understand," the girl replied shaking her head. "His powers are really really bad; he could do terrible things if he decides to apply them properly!"
"I think we should take her back to the ship now and get Natsu to help her friend," Zoro said after several moments. "Clearly whatever is going on here is something the two of us can't handle alone and it's likely the others are in the same boat."
"Getting the girl back to the ship is definitely for the best," Sanji agreed. "I just realized we still don't even know your name."
"My name? Well I suppose you all can call me ... Abby."
"Well then Miss Abby let's get you back to the ship and see if Natsu can't help you out eh," Sanji replied with a kind smile which brought a bright one to the girl's face. "You're right to keep the fodder off of us?"
"Of course," Zoro scoffed in response. "Those big ones are slow so we can easily outrun them anyway, the small ones shouldn't be much of an issue."
Sharing nods the pair took off in the direction of the ship unaware of the man observing them from the tree line who held a grim smile.
"I forgive you, Abby."
/Luffy & Franky's POV/
"Hold on so there's another one of those Warlord guys around here," Luffy asked as the head shook itself in Franky's hands.
"The Warlord butchered our homes, slaughtered us to the last and turned the majority of us into what you see here."
"How are you even alive right now, you're just a head?"
"The Warlord is powerful in his own right," Anton explained as the group continued to bolt toward the ship. "But he has allies aboard his own ship that possess equally as frightening powers."
"So he's got a full crew then," Franky mused as the Thousand Sunny came into view. "I wonder what kind of monsters this guy has in his crew?"
"Beings of dreadful power, some even capable of raising the dead and forcing them to gorge upon the living like what you have seen here today. However it appears that this island was nothing more than a mere pit stop for the Warlord's floating fortress of a ship."
"Sounds like this guy is a real bastard," Luffy growled as they ceased their sprint and he turned back to look at the town off in the distance. "To think this guy and his crew would go around killing off entire islands worth of people just to use their bodies like this ..."
"Indeed," Anton replied sadly as the group arrived at the ship finding no one on deck.
Luffy was the first to hop aboard and was surprised to see Natsu sitting out on the deck wearing nothing but a pair of regular red shorts gazing out across the island seemingly deep in thought.
"Oi Natsu what's going on?"
"Hm?"
"You look ... different," Luffy pointed out before noticing something more distinct on his friend, the countless bite marks littering his body. "Were you guys attacked while we were gone!?"
"Heh, no there wasn't any attack," Natsu replied as he looked toward the door. "Those two are gonna be out of commission for awhile though.
Luffy cocked his head to the side confused however Franky instantly realized what Natsu was talking about as his usual grin returned. Walking over to Natsu he slapped him across the back before giving him a thumbs up.
"To take those two down you must've done a SUPER good job!"
"Huh? Did you fight against Seilah and Robin and now they're too tired to do anything?"
"You'll figure it out when you get a bit older," Natsu chuckled before turning his attention toward the severed head in Franky's other hand. "And who are you?"
"I must say I am surprised one can be as nonchalant about seeing a severed head still animate," Anton replied. "However my name is Anton Vordeu and I was once the Mayor of Ardorton Town until that Warlord came and slaughtered us all, taking us away and converting us into what we have become ..."
"Undead soldiers," Natsu replied instantly as he used his Requip Magic to return to his usual clothing. "No matter how far I journey it seems every world is destined to possess them."
"OI!"
The group turned to look at the rapidly approaching forms of Zoro and Sanji, the latter of which was carrying a little girl in his arms as hundreds of the Undead charged toward their location.
"HOLY CRAP," Luffy cried out as he moved to help his friends.
"Wait," Natsu said as he pulled Luffy back. "I'll handle this."
Jumping from the deck he landed in front of Zoro and Sanji, shocking the pair as Sanji's grip on the girl loosened and she flew out of his arms and right into Natsu's chest. The girl groaned for a moment before looking up at Natsu's firm gaze which was still locked onto the charging horde, a fierce blush making its way onto her cheeks as softer eyes set their gaze onto her.
"Hello there, not the first time a girl has thrust themselves into my arms as an introduction but I'll admit you might just be the cutest."
"C-c-c-c-cutest!"
"I can tell you know me from somewhere but introductions will have to wait I'm afraid," Natsu said as he gently put the girl down and stood in front of her protectively. "One moment."
The girl watched in awe as Natsu formed a large sphere of flame in his right hand and fired it at the approaching horde, the attack setting the entire path ablaze as it went as the horde was quickly incinerated.
"Right then," Natsu said as he spun around with a grin on his face, closing his hand to dispel the destructive flames. "My name is Natsu and who are you little lady?"
"..."
"Um, are you alright," Natsu asked as he knelt down only for the girl to take both of his hands and jump up and down excitedly.
"WOW! I was always told you were strong but even at such a young age you're so powerful, I can't believe it!"
Natsu couldn't help but grin at her childlike enthusiasm as he watched her bounce up and down in excitement. It reminded him in a way of himself back when he was a weak little brat and Gildarts would show up acting every bit the mighty Mage he was.
"Well I have been told I'm pretty strong," Natsu grinned as he picked the girl up and jumped back onto the Sunny. "But I'd say you are the first to be so excited by my ability to destroy stuff."
"Really? Oh right you haven't been part of Chaldea yet," the girl replied with a sad nod. "Sorry I just remembered that, please forgive me."
"Hey its fine, maybe telling me your name will suffice?"
"O-oh I didn't tell you because I got so excited ..."
"Abigail!"
Abigail spun around and locked eyes with the severed head in a mixture of shock and disbelief, her head shaking slightly as she took several steps toward it.
"M-Mister Anton ..."
"Yes it is me Abigail; trust me when I say I know not how I ended up in this situation."
"But I saw you die!"
"I did die," Anton replied sadly as the girl began to sniffle in an effort to hold back her tears. "I know it might be hard to see me Abigail but I am the real Anton, changed by that ... mean Warlord, but Anton all the same."
"Mister Anton ..."
"Hold on, you two know each other," Sanji asked still confused by the talking head.
"Mister Anton took care of me while I lived here," Abigail explained quietly. "When the evil Warlord came Mister Anton made sure I was safe and hidden but got caught before he could save himself. I watched as these mean dogs missing skin pulled him apart ... his screams-!"
"It's alright Abby," Natsu said softly as he gave her a gentle pat on the head. "You don't need to go into detail about it, we understand."
"I felt so bad because I could have saved him if I wasn't so weak right now," Abigail frowned. "Ever since I got here I've been so tired all the time and not even my favourite pancakes lathered with syrup have been able to get me going!"
"You-you're a Servant Abigail, aren't you," Natsu asked as the rest of the crew looked at him sceptically.
"Oi what do you mean she's a Servant Natsu she's just a kid," Sanji shouted only for Abigail to shake her head.
"N-no Mister Sanji, Lord Natsu is correct," Abigail replied shocking everyone as she stood up as straight as she could.
The Cursed Witch Of Salem
Outcome Of The Witch Trials
Abigail Williams (Foreigner)
Bounty – 312,000,000 Berries
"Foreigner eh? Haven't seen many of your Servant Class around," Natsu mused as he again gave Abigail a gentle pat on the head which seemed to calm her down somewhat.
"When I first arrived in this strange world I immediately tried to find Master Fujimaru or you but found these horrible soldiers who tried to take me somewhere. They saw me using my powers and said I'd make a fine ... Maa rine?"
"Marines," Sanji snarled as Natsu sat down in front of her and met her gaze.
"You said you had a Bounty Abigail, how do you know?"
Silently she pulled out the Wanted Poster revealing a girl who almost didn't even look like her. This girl was basically naked, her dress almost gone save for a few vines that did nothing to cover her albino like skin. The gentle and kind girl before him was nothing like what was in this photo as a girl with razor sharp teeth, glowing purple eyes and countless tentacles all around her slaughtered a group of Marines with ease.
All the while she grinned away seemingly revelling in the death and chaos.
"Abigail?"
"It is me, part of me," Abigail sighed as she sat down before him. "I have a power no one else does and Mister Carter has done his best to help me control it but in this world I seem to be out of it."
"So when these Marines tried to take you, you used your powers and kind of lost yourself," Zoro asked prompting Abigail to nod.
"It only happened once before, far away in all our futures, but it wasn't good. I put all of Human History under threat because of it but you and Mister Fujimaru plus Mister Carter helped me to better control my power rather than outright kill me."
"Abigail ..."
"I-I want you to form a contract with me Lord Natsu," Abigail said suddenly, surprising the group as she crawled closer to him and took the hand with his command seals with both her smaller ones. "You can help me reign in my power Lord Natsu I just know it!"
"Are you sure I need to form a contract with you in order to do that though?"
"Well there is another reason ..."
"The whole 'getting tired' problem," Natsu finished for her as Abigail nodded. "On that note I do agree since whatever THIS is it clearly takes some power to use and Servants without Masters tend to use a lot more power."
"S-so will you forge a contract with me?"
"I ..."
An explosion had everyone's attention snapping back toward the island, more specifically the castle itself as an entire wing seemed to fly off from the main structure and toward the forest below. The loud bang from the impact brought everyone back to reality as Abigail shot up from her place in front of Natsu and sprinted toward the edge of the ship and with inhuman like abilities launched herself all the way out toward the forest.
"ABIGAIL," Natsu cried out garnering no response. "What the hell did she do that for!?"
"She's apparently got a friend locked up in that castle," Zoro said as he prepared himself to head out after her.
"She wanted us to help but we ended up being overwhelmed by a whole bunch of those massive Undead things," Sanji added as Natsu turned his gaze toward the inferno that was the castle.
"Do you know anything about this Anton?"
"I know the Warlord locked someone away in the castle some time ago but beyond that I haven't got a clue. I can only speculate that young Abigail has befriended whoever or whatever lies within that castle and is now frantically trying to save them."
"Damn it," Natsu growled as he grit his teeth. "Franky, you and the Mayor stay here and prep the Sunny! You three come with me!"
"We going to find Abby," Sanji asked prompting Natsu to shake his head.
"I'm going to find her; you three will go ahead to the castle and find Mordred, Chopper and Nami. Also by the way Usopp is out there somewhere too though I'm positive he's in the castle as well."
"The group nodded without complaint as Natsu placed his hands on Luffy and Zoro's shoulders, warping the trio out the front before vanishing without a trace.
"Alright Zoro, Sanji, we need to find the others quickly," Luffy said quickly picking up where Natsu left off. "Take out anything that gets in our way and don't split up or we'll probably get taken out!"
"Right," Zoro and Sanji said in unison as the trio charged through the broken down front entrance right as a familiar face darted past.
"Wait was that Usopp," Luffy asked confused as the trio turned to look at the massive lumbering beast charging in their direction. "Crap ..."
"We'll have to take this one down," Sanji said as the trio assumed their own offensive stances.
"URRGHHAAAARGH!"
"GO," Luffy roared as the trio jumped out of the beast's way, the floor shattering as its club based fist struck the stone ground.
"Two Sword Style: Great Demon Ox Horn!"
As the beast charged forward Zoro thrust both his blades in an upward motion, stabbing it through its arm and ripping off its club hand in a rather brutal manner as bits of gore flew across the room.
The beast roared as it moved to strike him while he was open as its other club like hand came down upon him however Sanji appeared next to it, leg ablaze as he struck the beast in the back of its own right leg.
"Black Leg Style: Diable Jambe – Mouton Shot!"
Sanji's attack hit the beast with enough force to blow away its foot as it dropped down to its knees, roaring in protest as it began smashing everything around it in its anger.
"This will end it," Luffy shouted as his entire body gained a reddish sheen to it, steam emanating from his body. "Gear Second!"
Both Zoro and Sanji took the opportunity to quickly get out of the way as Luffy charged toward the beast, his right arm stretched all the way down the hall as he prepared his attack.
"Gum Gum: Jet Rifle!"
Luffy's attack smashed into the beast's face, blowing its head clean off of its shoulders as it slammed into the far back wall, still roaring but now thankfully immobilized. The trio panted as they looked over at the frozen Usopp, a grin on Luffy's face as he gave Usopp a thumbs up.
"Dont worry Usopp, we got him!"
"Th-that was ..."
"Cool right!?"
"I'll say," Usopp replied shakily as another explosion went off. "Ah crap I don't have the time to be standing around here!"
"Whoa what's the rush Usopp," Sanji asked as the normally cowardly sniper moved to bolt back up the stairs.
"I need to find this key so I can free this weird girl I found upstairs," Usopp said quickly as he made his way upstairs. "If I don't help her these things might get to her!"
And just like that Usopp was out of sight leaving the trio both confused at his motivations yet proud that he was willing to go so far to help someone other than himself.
"Let's go find the others and then if Usopp needs our help we'll give him everything we've got," Luffy grinned as the trio ran upstairs intent on finding the others.
/Natsu's POV/
Flying above the forest Natsu searched for Abigail's presence and was surprised that he had to actually try to find it. For a Servant it should have been simple enough, especially for one that was in the same class as Madara Uchiha of all people, and yet he couldn't even find so much as a sliver of it.
"Just how much power is this girl running off of?"
His murmuring was disrupted when he felt it, a brief flash of the power he was looking for which faded just as quickly as it had come. Vanishing and reappearing at her side he couldn't help but feel sad as he saw the girl face down in a dirty puddle of water, mud staining her blonde hair and rather adorable clothes.
"Why ...? Why am I always far too weak to save anyone I care about," Abigail sniffed as she slowly dragged herself out of the puddle and into the slightly better wet grass. "I wish you were here to tell me how dumb I'm being Lavinia, you always knew how to put me back on track."
His ears picked up the sound of wet tapping as he looked up to see that it had begun to rain, a rather normal occurrence for the Grand Line to be sure but also one rather fitting for the depressing scene before him.
"My Father and Mother were taken from me, Miss Tibuta and Mister Sanson died without me being able to do anything, even Lavinia ... my dearest friend Lavinia."
Taking a step forward Natsu took off his coat and with ease scooped up the now surprised Abigail with it, pulling her close to him as his body released a gentle heat that shielded them from the rain.
"L-Lord Natsu I-!"
"Don't be ashamed Abigail, we all have our moments," Natsu said softly as he sat down on the patch of grass with her bundled up in his lap. "I can tell you've been through more than any kid has any right to bear."
"You were there," Abigail sniffed. "Or at least you will be one day ..."
"You hold yourself responsible for a lot of deaths Abby and although I'm not aware of the specifics I can tell that it may be part of what has dragged you so low."
"Y-you mean my power is like this because I'm not able to forgive myself?"
"The Human Psyche is a fragile thing Abby; the mind can punish us severely if it believes it is warranted. When you showed me that Wanted Poster with that other version of you on it I could instantly tell you hated it, hated what your other self was."
"In that form I am nothing more than a monster, a Devil that will slaughter all who come too close!"
"Do you truly believe that Abby? Would Fujimaru have allowed you into Chaldea if he believed such a thing, would I have allowed you to live if I believed it?"
"..."
"Abby listen, sometimes in life things don't go the way we want them to and as much as we might resent ourselves for the way life handed things to us doing so is a moot point. Instead of crying about why we couldn't do something instead what we should do is strive to achieve the level that will allow us to overcome it."
Abigail stared into Natsu's gentle eyes as a memory began to bubble to the surface in her mind, one from so very long ago yet a time all too recent...
/?/
"Now that you've buried Lavinia what are you going to do?"
"I can't stay in Salem can I?"
"The field around this version of Salem is collapsing, stay here and you'll be erased from existence."
"And ... you would just let me leave after what I have become?"
"Abigail I know you think you're the big bad in all of this but Raum was the one who forged you into what you've become, to me you're still sweet little Abigail Williams who wanted pancakes with extra maple syrup for breakfast, lunch and dinner."
"But what if I lose control again, what if I can't handle this power?"
"Then Ritsuka and I will be there to bring you back Abby."
"Why would you go so far for me when I almost killed you all?"
"Because Abby," the salmon haired figure said as he began to fade away into golden particles. "To us you're now part of our precious family, a person who can never be replaced in our minds and hearts."
"But ..."
"Take Carter's offer Abigail and explore all the wide Multiverse has to offer, there aren't many left alive who can offer you that kind of deal. And when it's all said and done and you feel like settling down ... we'll be there waiting for you, our precious friend Abigail."
/Natsu's POV/
"So this is what it's like," Abigail muttered as she slowly untangled herself from Natsu's coat and wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him in for a hug. "Thank you ..."
"You understand now?"
"I think so, but just in case ..."
Abigail extended her left hand outward toward Natsu's right as the Hybrid quickly realized what she was trying to do. Meeting her gaze instead of timidness and fear he saw determination and knew this was indeed her true decision.
"If it's what you really want Abigail then I'll do it," Natsu smiled as he took her hand into his own, pain shooting up his arm as blood began to leak from his Command Seals.
"The Contract ... is forged."
Tales From The Tale Verse
Pride Seeks The Ultimate Challenge IV
Punishments
Defeated. There is no other way for me to describe what had just occurred. I, Escanor, defeated in my strongest form without so much as a glance at my foe ... and yet all I feel is excitement?
Should I not feel a sense of shame, fear, trepidation? Am I incapable of feeling naught but Pride in myself and my abilities to the point of sheer absurdity?
Perhaps it is time I found out.
Escanor woke to the sound of light banter between two individuals that were within metres of his unconscious form. Opening his eyes slowly he was surprised to find himself seated at an ornate table along with his opponent, Feitan, and two other beings.
"What ... what is this?"
"So you have finally deigned to awaken," the one with Blood Red eyes grinned earning a light slap over the head from the one with Midnight Blue ones. "Sorry I used a bit too much force to subdue you so you've been out for quite some time."
"You act as if I am nothing but an insect to you."
"Well to be rather blunt that's exactly how the status quo is, not just for you but everyone else in Equilibrius," the one with Blood Red eyes grinned. "We're just better than everyone else here!"
"Please excuse my Brother he tends to have a habit of opening his mouth and spewing insults faster than light itself. My name is Michael and I am the strongest God, an Arch God I suppose."
"And I am Lucifer, Arch Devil!"
"I see," Escanor said as a grin took over his features. "So it appears that it took the strongest of the Gods and Devils themselves to defeat me-!"
"Unfortunately for you that is entirely inaccurate," Michael replied bluntly as Escanor's gaze snapped toward him. "We simply have decided to take a personal interest in your little quest since you trashed a good portion of the city our saviour owns."
"Saviour? Why would two beings as powerful as you need a saviour?"
"Because we were all foolish once," Lucifer sighed tiredly as he looked out toward the city which was already being repaired. "We were foolish and found ourselves sealed away into lives of servitude but were freed, not for any kind of reward mind you but just because he believed it was the right thing to do."
"The Council might believe themselves to be his superior however he is in essence what all higher beings should strive to be, the path we forgot once the Titans had been defeated," Michael added wistfully as the pair both seemed lost in their thoughts before Lucifer snapped back to attention.
"Anyway enough of that you and Feitan here broke the rules so naturally you both must be punished!"
"Punished? Surely you don't expect me to take any kind of punishment lying down do you?"
"Of course not," Lucifer smirked in response. "Your pride obviously wouldn't allow it right? Luckily for us your opinion doesn't matter."
"What-!"
Escanor found himself bound in place in the same manner he had been when he was moving to finish off Feitan and was forced to watch as Lucifer rose from his seat and opened up a portal.
"Michael and I have a bit of a problem you see. Through this portal lies a world in which a shard of our friend lays dormant however we cannot enter it because ... well we just can't alright. Suffice to say the two of you will be going in our stead!"
"However you will not be alone for the Devil of that world shall be accompanying you to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Think of this as another ... quest you must partake in," Michael added as both Escanor and Feitan were picked up from their seats and moved toward the portals.
"Now make sure not to cause too much damage," Lucifer said cheerfully as Feitan was chucked through. "And remember this is for our dear friend so if you even think about trying to destroy what we're sending you in there to get you'll spend eternity in the deepest pits of agony. BYE!"
And so Escanor was thrown through the portal to end up in another strange world.
Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!