This chapter's song is Wonda by Caravan Palace.
The others who fought by my side are cleaning up the messes, while Synapsicodia is taking a walk with Invel, teaching him our beliefs and rules. Morrigan is taking care of Orion at a hospital, as are the rest of the Family here today.
I heave a sigh of relief at being alone, and sit on the ground, my back against the wall outlining the courtyard. The prospect of never having to get up again is…. beautiful.
From my eyes fall tears, barely held in from the hallucination. Weakness is not an option for me. I close my eyes and clutch my head with my hands, my knees apart with my feet flat on the ground. Every scene I relive as I blink, so I might as well watch it all….
My torture is interrupted by the arrival of someone that I didn't expect to see. His boots reveal his presence with the noise he makes, walking on the rubble from the tower. I open my eyes to look at him, and watch as he stops in the center of the dead courtyard, huffing and looking up at the stars, darkness falling after the clean up and battle.
He catches my movement, stalling for a moment before regarding me in my position, away from the spotlight and the center of the room, away from what has always been mine though I have never wanted it.
"What's up, buttercup?"
I send him a strange look, too tired to really question him. My magic is drained, as am I, emotionally and physically. The only part of me not defeated is my health, perfectly fine, no blood oozing out of my body. So that's good.
"How did the battle go? You guys win?" he asks, tongue lolling out. Old habits die hard.
"Obviously." I murmur, my head falling back to rest against the wall I'm sitting against. My eyelids follow suit, shielding my eyes from looking out at the world.
He studies me for a moment, I believe, before he walks over and slides down the wall, joining me sitting on the ground.
"On a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst, what's your pain level now?"
"Physical or mental?" I question, not opening my eyes.
"Both."
"Zero and ten." I reply, sighing, rubbing my forehead with my closed fist, bringing my head forward from its resting position against the wall.
"Why?"
"August…. he knew much about the ways of magic. Including how to break down a person's mind and barriers. He… he made a hallucination specific to me."
"You're a toughie. I refuse to believe that it touched you." Bickslow jokes.
I open my eyes and turn to him, all barriers down. His eyes meet mine through his visor, and his expression changes to shock.
"He did, though." my voice breaks, and I turn away, setting my chin on my knee, huffing a sigh. "It was horrible… Rivers of blood, a path lined with skulls, the ground swallowing up your corpse, you dying by Nightshade's hands, Family members piled high, every one of them dead by my hands, this… this storm, brewed selectively, bred, by me. All of it because I…. because I allowed it to happen. Because I'm alive."
My hands grip my shins, pulling them in closer to my torso, my entire body crumpling inward into a ball because I felt safer this way, not as safe as if I was surrounded by the Greybeards or by Paarthurnax, Odahviing, or Durnehviir, but, still, safer.
However, Bickslow slinks his arm around my shoulder and links his other arm around as well, hugging me to his self. "It wasn't real. You're safe now, you won against Serena and August, not to mention Dimaria, and saved Orion's life."
"The point is that I could cause it all…. I could cause it. I might have already." I breath deeply, trying to calm myself. "But I have to go on."
"You don't have to be so strong." I hear Bickslow mumble, and it relaxes me.
That's what happened, okay? Nothing about how much more calming it was to sit in his arms, knowing that if anyone dared to break this moment they would probably die, and just be in the other's presence.
No comments shall be made about how warm he is. Even if I felt better than I had in weeks…..
I repeat. Nothing. Is. Happening.
We stay like this for five minutes, maybe, before both of us are on the verge of falling asleep, and only a bird squawking alerts us to the world again. Thank Sithis.
I walk away with a light blush on my face and a target in my mind.
Say your goodbyes to the world, Zeref.
"So, where are we going now, Listener?" Bickslow asks, surveying the landscape of the recent battlefield. Invel stands slightly apart from the two of us, next to Synapsicodia. He looks up at the crumbling tower, everyone evacuated, thanks to Bickslow's efforts, and considers it.
"It is clear to me now that Zeref was -is- a false god. He is in the northern most region of this land mass, saying something about wanting to find a weakness for you." the Winter General states, his eyes not leaving the smoldering ruins.
"He is in Keizaal?" I question, wanting to be sure before going on a wild goose hunt.
"I believe he is, yes. I suggest you pursue, but hurry. Intelligence from spies in Fiore have spoken of movements of mages towards us; probably due to your presence here."
"Thank you, Invel. Mneme, would you kindly escort our Brother to the nearest Sanctuary and help him understand our way of life." I request, and Mneme touches her collarbone briefly with her right hand, taking it away after a second. It's enough to feel the small spark of feeling, her will bowing to mine absolutely. (218)
The pair walk away, silent and deadly, to the nearest Sanctuary. I believe there is one in Haven, one of the only cities that kept the old Tamrielic name it had. Currently, we are in the old city of Greenheart, where the Spriggan Twelve were posted most of the time, mainly in case of an attack by, or to, Fiore. They aren't exactly the calmest of neighbors.
A trip to Keizaal would take quite a while by walking, less by horse, but the least if we flew without stopping. Unfortunately, I doubt that some people would like not stopping for breaks, food, sleep, et cetera. Mortals and their need to do things.
It would be better to go by myself.
I look to the north, and my wings come to life, the urgency of this taking priority over the exhaustion I'm feeling, or anything I will encounter in a little while. Up in the clouds, you don't think there are dangers. I learned a great lesson my first time flying, not on the back of a dragon.
Bickslow stands at the top of the wall, looking out on the town. A perfect time for me to disappear.
I spread my wings and take off, almost effortlessly soaring up to cloud levels. With the wind on my back, speeding me along, I should be there in no time at all.
The journey is exhausting, and I am only two thirds the way there. Seventeen different calls have been tried on my Communications Lacrima, all leaving a message. I can't afford to be distracted, or hover for a single moment. I press on, the cold wind above the clouds waking me up and focussing my mind on my goal once more.
Zeref… you must by cleansed.
By the Hand of Sithis.
By a Unliving Goddess.
By the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood.
You will be destroyed.
The winds of my childhood home blow fiercely, the only way to make myself stay awake. I land, rather ungracefully, on the mountain's top, Paarthurnax already watching me curiously.
"What is it, Dovahkiin?" he asks, his voice a comforting rumble to me.
"I am searching for a false god by the name of Zeref. He uses Death Magic; can you feel his presence?" I question, my exhaustion seeping into my voice. I am too tired to strain my mental capacities to be polite, even to the second born of Akatosh.
"Ah, yes. He is outside of the Hofkahsejun." Odahviing lands and speaks. "Where you trapped me in the Old Age."
I give a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Odahviing, Paarthurnax. Would you mind trying to keep anyone away? His magic is uncontrollable at times."
"As is yours. You have no need to worry, Qahnaarin. The realm surrounding that Raan is dead for miles around." Durnehviir lands as well, his gaze settling in the distance towards it.
"Are you sure this is wise, Dovahkiin?" Paarthurnax questions, concerned. "He may not have the power of the Thu'um, but he is a dangerous opponent."
"He needs to die, and I must do that. Mortals cannot survive his wrath." I sigh, and spread my wings once more. "Wish me luck."
The field that Odahviing and Durnehviir described is the decimated wasteland of the plains of Whiterun. Nothing is moving, no water is around, the roads, worn into the ground, completely obliterated by Zeref's power.
I land, somewhat unsteadily, on the outskirts of the dead area. The weariness I feel vanishes as I look around, marvelling at the contrast between the black, bleak landscape before me, where my opponent lies, and the bright, lively world around. No corpses, animal or otherwise, are on the ground here. The only thing one can see is the dead landscape here.
In the middle of it all is Zeref. The breeze, unkillable, softly stirs his black hair and his clothing. Probably the only friends he's had in all these years have been inanimate objects or things. I halt my approach at that thought, just for a second, but continue. He must be killed.
"You know, Listener, I want to say that we're not so different. But we are." He speaks, opening his eyes and turning to face me. I'm about fifty feet away from him, but I can hear him clearly.
"How so?"
"You are a cold blooded murderer, while I try not to sully my soul with such stains. On you, though, they reek to high heaven." he states, his expression cool.
"I do not kill without reason."
"You're an assassin. You kill for gold."
"I kill to serve the Will of Sithis, as well as in self defense, or pre-emptive self defense. Have you not seen the possible wars I have stopped before they've begun? With the entire continent now united under one rule, my own, no more frivolous wars here. The world will fear us and love us as we will slowly, one by one, conquer the world and show it the proper way of life."
"You mean under a totalitarian dictatorship."
"No. I mean the proper way will be democracy, having a say in the government, rights for all, equality. Are those bad things, Zeref? If they are, why did some of them exist in your own empire, even if you were under a different name?" I question, moving forward towards my opponent.
"You would enslave the world." he shakes where he stands, normally calm and sturdy as a mountain.
"We're both here to stop the other, aren't we?" I sigh, looking up at the sky. "It is a lovely day to die."
Zeref looks as well, appreciating the natural beauty of the world for the last time.
When he returns his gaze to me, he is shocked. "You haven't struck me?"
"This is a fight to the death. It should be honorable in some form of the word." I state, and only then draw my weapon out, Dawnbreaker practically singing with joy. Spellbreaker rests on my other arm, and a crossbow is ready at my side.
Zeref sighs, and casts Death Predation, the effect spiralling out around him.
I survey him for a second more, then sigh, pulling out a spell of my own, summoning a Wrathman and a Mistman, both undead. They're from the Soul Cairn, thus impervious to Zeref's magic.
His eyes widen as the pair are unaffected by his energy output, and I consider him. How to kill him?
I move forward steadily, when Zeref manages to down one of the skeletons, I summon another. They rush into battle, unfeeling and unrelenting. He has cuts and scratches all over, and finally, he shoves them away with his magic at last, saying, "Enough. Let us finish this now!"
"Agreed." I speak, and stab him with Dawnbreaker. The flames leap onto him, burning his undead skin thoroughly. I rip the sword upwards, through his chest cavity, and withdraw it, only to spin around and sever his head from his body.
The resulting explosion of magical power sends me flying into the ground, easily two hundred feet away.
I groan, trying to get up and get back to reality, but cannot. My head hits the ground as my consciousness leaves me.
I'm awakened by the sound of a spell of enormous power.
I fully regain my consciousness by the time it hits me, which forces me back even further. I attempt to stand, pushing against the impressive force of the spell.
A final part of the spell forces me to my knees, my arms the only thing holding back the spell from myself. Suddenly, they're forced to my sides, dropping any block I might have held from the magic.
It strikes me, but not just me, my soul, and a scream that's loud enough to shake the Earth tears from my lips, as the pain from the spell torments me mercilessly. The last effect of the spell, though, happens as the magic fades.
The fragment of Alduin's soul is clawing it's way out of me, taking on his form, ethereal and wispy yet. His emergence from my essence is excruciating, him feeding on my own magic to aid him in his struggle to emerge in the world again.
He finally is relinquished from my soul, which had a death grip on him. His wings, now fully formed, beat the air around him so he hovers over my body and the battleground.
"FOOLISH JOORE." he pronounces, and growls out a few words, something that in this state I can't recognize, but it starts to rain meteors, like it did when I first encountered him.
I slowly get up, groaning painfully, and look up at the hovering dragon in horror. Turning to the additional people who were not here when I lost consciousness (219), I understand some more.
The Fioran Mages look up in abject horror at the dragon, shocked that this occurred.
"What- did- you- do?" I seeth, looking at the leader, Laxus, who still had his hands up as if he was just performing a difficult spell.
"We used Lumen Histoire on you." Sting speaks up, and looks at me steadily. "We thought it would do something…. better than this." he whispers the last part, his gaze dropping to the ground.
"You… absolute… idiots." I pant, trying to recover my breath. The effects of Alduin returning strain my body; it will take some time to recover anything so I can help defeat him again.
"Should we attack it?" Wendy wonders, looking at the black dragon in the sky.
"What do you think? You started this fight, go end it." I reply, irritated more than I had ever thought I could be.
Dragon Slayers. Idiots.
Those still here exchange glances, and then leap up, using their secret attacks on Alduin, screaming bloody murder.
I find a rock, sitting down on it and sighing in relief. I am still very tired from the flight, not to mention the fight and the Lumen Histoire.
Hissing, I use a Restoration spell to heal my injuries, but my magic cuts out about halfway through. This is not how this is supposed to go!
Wendy runs up to me, concerned, as the other Dragon Slayers fly into battle. Her hands come up as she takes a knee, and she starts to prepare a spell to heal me.
My own hand shoots up and grasps hers. "Save it for the others. I don't need it."
The blue haired woman looks at me in surprise, eying my visible injuries. Before she can speak, however, I call out, "MUL QAH DIIV!"
Armor forms around me, translucent and glowing. Aiming at the black Dragon, my mortal enemy, I Shout out, "JOOR ZAH FRUL!"
The Thu'um hits the worst being Akatosh ever created, and he hisses in response, but searches for a place to land. The others look at me with baffled expressions, but I brush it off. "He has to land. Be ready, and don't waste Magicka."
They nod, some part of their faces clearly confused, but power up Dragon Force and Secret Spells. It won't do any good, of course, but it should buy some time. He might go to Skuldafn, but I doubt it. The monster has been feeding off my energy for thousands of years- in no way will he be going down easily.
Alduin is stronger than ever, and I take cover behind a rock as he breathes fire at where I was just standing.
The temperature around me is boiling, and I desperately clutch at the bow in my hands, my fingers clumsy with fatigue and my breath unable to recover itself. The presence of my weakness, fire, isn't helping things either.
I pant as I wait for the fire breath to subside, the duration of it much more intense and longer lasting than anything I can conjure up. Only a Flame Atronach could survive this, or something of higher power than the spawn of a god.
It lets up, though, and I immediately nock an arrow to the bowstring, and fire it into the closing mouth of Alduin.
He roars at the pain, the arrow flying directly down his throat and lodging in the back of it. With any luck, the residual heat from his Shout should make the metal melt, and poison him. Or something, I don't know. I'm trying not to panic right now.
The rock I'm hiding behind has completely melted now, and I spring out of the way, rushing away from the giant beast.
Instead of the entirety of the Dragon Slayers with us, it's merely Wendy Marvell, Laxus Dreyar, Sting Eucliffe, Gajeel Redfox and myself. Rogue Cheney is not present, but the remaining Dragon Slayer who could be helping to bring down the World Eater is not.
Natsu Dragneel evacuated the area with his Mate, Lisanna Strauss, and left with them.
They left us to die.
I honestly expected to fight this battle alone, like so many others, even the first time I faced Alduin in battle. However, as this threatens the entirety of the world, once those that are fighting with me volunteered, I thought they would all help.
Curse my optimism. I should have known that only bad things come out of it.
Alduin's beginning to figure out our tactics, and noticed early on that we had no one that was entirely resistant to Fire, thanks to Natsu abandoning us. Now his Shouts are all about Fire, the meteors raining down on us with startling accuracy and setting us alight.
I dodge another one, but Sting isn't as lucky, getting hit square on and flying into the ground.
This is getting more dangerous by the second. I take shelter again, and reach out with my magic to Sting's body, levitating him out of the line of fire. They might not be my Family, but they are fighting just as well.
Laxus and Wendy appear out of nowhere, Laxus using a Secret Attack and Wendy doing a Sky Dragon's Roar.
Alduin falters at this, but recovers quickly, Shouting, "ZIIL GRO DOVAH ULSE!"
Laxus manages to avoid it, but, sadly, Wendy is taken in by the Shout. Her eyes glaze over, and she turns to us, powering up her ultimate attack, Shattering Light: Sky Drill.
All the Dragon Slayers look shocked at the sudden turn of their former friend and comrade.
I rush in the middle of the target area of the spell, and bring up Spell Breaker whilst Shouting, "MUL QAH DIIV!"
The armor forms up around me while I cast Ebonyflesh on myself, and, as a precaution, I have the words for Become Ethereal on my tongue. Finally, I bring out Auriel's Shield, rust gathering on it's previously golden shine. I've not used it in a very long time.
The tunnel of wind closes around me, and I grit my teeth, the Ward on Spell Breaker breaking several times but coming back up each time. Thank Peryite.
Several flying object hit me, cuts forming through the magical armor as well as my actual armor. Konahrik has not healed me yet- I take that as a good sign.
Once it starts to die down, I move towards her, slipping Spell Breaker on my back and transferring Auriel's Shield, the rust loosened with the impact of the spell, and draw out Mehrunes' Razor. Charging at her, the air clears, and the shield on my arm is practically vibrating from the energy stored in it. In a smooth motion, I reach Wendy, whose darkened eyes widen at my ability to withstand her ultimate attack, and I bash her with the shield.
The energy releases, sending her flying back directly into Alduin, who then goes into the mountain nearby.
"Huh. That was a lot more powerful than I thought it was." I remark, as the Dragon Slayers in hiding move out into the light, regarding me with a new respect. (220)
"Unfortunately, Wendy is… lost to us. Her soul has been dominated and taken over by Alduin. We have no choice but to kill her."
"Can't we defeat Alduin?" Sting asks, leaning heavily on Laxus and trying to fix his bent arm.
"That would take too long. Her will is being overridden as we speak- there is no return from this."
Laxus grumbles. "How about sending Romeo in?"
"We can try. But one of us has to be with him, to do the deed if he cannot." I have not turned from watching the smoldering ruins of where they impacted.
Laxus grunts, and pulls out a lacrima with some difficulty. Wendy and him had been holding up the best against the attacks due to their connections with their Mates, but enhanced strength only holds up for so long. His right arm is a bit mangled from the attack when Alduin landed- Laxus blocked it with his arm, although it was covered with scales at the time. It's still bleeding, with sparks falling down with the dripping blood.
Gajeel's iron skin is damaged, although his magic is reforming it quickly, and Sting's Dragon Force is still in effect, although it's turning back slowly as his magic power dwindles.
Laxus finally manages to contact Romeo, who immediately hurries over, his body turning back from the flame he used to travel here as quickly as he could.
A roar announces that we're almost out of time, as Alduin is recovering. Wendy leaps down the mountain and slams into the earth, standing up as the dust settles. Romeo immediately runs towards her, and I look at the other Slayers. Exhausted and barely standing, they'd be no match for Wendy if she decides to kill Romeo.
Sighing, I follow him as he rushes to his Mate. I'll be there should she need to die.
Romeo approaches his love somewhat timidly, not sure what the situation really is.
"Wendy?" he asks, and the woman turns to him, her eyes almost completely black.
She opens her mouth to speak, perhaps, cry out, but then her eyes go fully black, consumed by Alduin's will. I curse and tackle Romeo out of the way, not particularly caring about his wellbeing, but knowing it'd be better in the event of a firefight between Alduin and us. Particularly now that Wendy's down.
"She's gone." I say to him, as Wendy's Sky Dragon Roar passes mostly harmlessly above us. From the first time I fought her, she's gotten much stronger.
"She…. can't be…" Romeo says, his voice breaking.
I heave a sigh, and look him straight in the eye. "You can kill her, end this misery and release her soul before it becomes permanently bound to Alduin's. Or I can do it."
I offer him the Razor of Mehrunes Dagon, and his eyes flicker to it, before he shakes his head.
"I can't do it. You…. you do it. She deserves an afterlife."
"That she does." I agree, and grasp it firmly with one hand. "It'll be as easy as I can make it. She won't suffer." (221)
Romeo nods, and turns away as I look out to spy Wendy's back turned against us, her focused on attacking the Dragon Slayers and defending Alduin.
My blood boils, not because of the sun. I hate all he can do. At least my goals are somewhat more noble.
Somewhat.
I vault over the rock sheltering us, and sprint at her as fast as I can. She doesn't sense my presence until I am right behind her, already reaching around her to find her throat and slashing it through to the jugular. Her blood spurts out of her neck, and she gurgles as the magic accumulating in her hands and her throat dies.
Almost immediately, her magic releases, most of it going to the Dragon Slayers in the field. Even I can feel it, the rejuvenating effects taking hold and healing some small injuries. Sting's jubilated shouts reveal his arm is fine once more, and Laxus and Gajeel do a combination attack on the Black Dragon, who seems startled at the rejuvenated people before him.
Their combined attack drives him into the ground, and I smile, before looking at the body at my feet. We're fighting harder, for the loss of a comrade.
We can't let it go to waste.
218- It would anyway, no matter what I ask her to do. But some people might not approve of my methods for silencing opposition.
219- I refuse to say I fainted. I do not faint.
220- Maybe. I think it's more akin to fear rather than respect.
221- Much. But that's not really going to help him ease the guilt, now, is it?