Chapter 7: The Slayers Den
There is one place in Fiore that a select few have had the pleasure of gazing upon. This place is located at the highest peak in the mountain range that is in the middle of the continent, which happens to be right next to the Capital city of Crocus. On that peak is a sturdy little castle that could probably only hold about five hundred people tops, which would be extremely uncomfortable.
It was made out of black stone that was brought from who knows how far away, and really stuck out since everything else was white because of the constant snow falling from the sky. It also was unique because it was actually part of the mountain, since who ever built it removed a chunk of the peak in order to have level ground. It had a perimeter wall with a drawbridge at the front making this already heavily fortified Castle even stronger than most, just from its location alone. On both sides of the drawbridge as a dragon carved out of the black stone that had their mouths positioned to look like they we roaring at the bridge and anyone who crossed it.
Past the drawbridge was the castle's courtyard that was only about one hundred yards by fifty yards. This little courtyard had a stable that was rarely used by the residents and only really used when they got visitors which hadn't happened in the past ten years. There was also a training area that had an arena that was probably the most used thing in the whole castle. There was also a little blacksmith's workshop that was stocked with everything that you could ever need to fix or make a new weapon. This was also used seldom since only a select few of the residents actually knew how to use any of the tools.
Now the actual base of the castle was a hexagon that was three stories tall and at each corner there was a two story tower on top. But in the middle of all of these were two towers that looked identical in every way possible, that was raised an additional five stories making it eight stories tall. At the top story there was an enclosed bridge connecting the two of them. On top of all the towers, instead of having gargoyles they had dragons that gave off an ominous vibe as if they were about to come alive and attack you. At the front entrance of the castle next to each side of its massive doors stood two statues that were your stereotypical demon with the horns and tails. Overall the entire place was giving off quite the impression to anyone who was able to see her which wasn't many.
This castle that was almost impossible to find was none other than the guild hall of the Slayers. Their guild was located at the heart of Fiore which allowed them easy access to all other parts of the country. And thanks to the location as well as the weather there they were never disturbed by any other humans, which is what all of the members wanted. When most humans viewed you as monster you don't really want to hang around them that often. Right at this moment Natsu and Wendy were crossing the bridge that was almost always down.
"Man is it good to finally be back." said Natsu with a big grin.
"That doesn't surprise me since you usually are gone for months whenever you leave due to how all of missions you took or were assigned." replied Wendy with a smirk.
"Hey what can I say I love my work and it loves me." said Natsu with a big grin.
"I think all of the monster you kill wouldn't say that they love you Natsu." stated Wendy smiling at him.
"Thanks again for walking with me Wendy it really made that trip feel like it was a lot shorter." said Natsu as they came to the doors of the castle.
"I just wanted to catch up with you since I know that a certain someone is going to consume all of your time when you are actually at the guild." replied Wendy with a smile.
"Is that jealousy I hear Wendy?" asked Natsu with a big smirk as he opened the door for Wendy.
"Gross Natsu, you know that I would never look at you that way. You have always been my big older brother who has helped me though all of the hard times of my life." said Wendy as she went inside.
"Hey you're the one that jumped straight to that Wendy, there are different forms of jealousy." replied Natsu still with a big grin.
"You are never going to stop picking on me are you Natsu?" asked Wendy as she waited for him to close the huge door.
"You got that right Wendy, I will also make sure that any man who is interested in you is actually worthy." declared Natsu as they exited the entry way and went into the main hall.
The first thing that someone would notice that it was lavishly decked out meaning that the Slayers really didn't have any concerns about jewels. The next thing you would notice that there were trophies of monster's slayed hung all over the place and there were also paintings of all sorts of different mythical beasts. And this was the running motif all throughout the entire castle.
"Well if it isn't the Salamander, finally deciding to visit the Den." replied a man that was almost dressed identically to Natsu except for the only colors he had were black and grey. He also had a few scars like Natsu but nowhere near as many, but what really set him apart was his black hair and piercings that were all over his body.
"Hey Gajeel what have you been up to since I last saw your ugly mug?" asked Natsu with a smirk on his face.
"You know here and there, saving the helpless citizens of Fiore from the things that go bump in the night." replied Gajeel back to Natsu with his own smirk.
"Man it is really good to see you brother." said Natsu as he gave Gajeel a hug.
"Same to you Salamander, and are those a few new scars I see?" asked Gajeel after Natsu let go of him.
"Yea, you know how the job is. We all can't change our skin to steel like someone I know." replied Natsu with a sly smile.
"You do have a point there, but still, for something to actually land a hit on you it must have been some sort of demon." stated Gajeel wanting to know what did that to him.
"It was in fact a demon, Lullaby from the book of Zeref to be exact." replied Natsu nonchalantly.
"Holy shit, how did that thing get out, I thought the Council had that under lock and key?" asked Gajeel while now having a pissed off expression because of Zeref's name being mentioned.
"It was until a dark guild broke in and got it." stated Natsu.
"Did they even know what it actually was?" asked Gajeel.
"Nope and it was almost a really easy mission for Wendy and me, but unfortunately some old friends of mine from a guild got in my way." explained Natsu with a slight frown.
"Why in the hell would they do that?" asked Gajeel as he raised an eyebrow.
"Some bullshit about not letting a friend kill someone when there was no need to." replied Natsu.
"That is bullshit, didn't they know that is what we do and how did that cause your mission to go sideways?" asked Gajeel as they sat down at a table to continue their conversation.
"Yea they knew who I was, but that didn't matter they were actually going to try and stop us. And for how it went sideways a god dam shadow mage slipped away from us with the flute and ran into my friends and passed out or so they thought. So while I was trying to get them to stand down that little fucker stole their vehicle and headed to a city to unleash it on them." explained Natsu with a frown.
"Why didn't you kill those mages that were in your way, from what I heard there were no restrictions on that emergency request?" asked Gajeel.
"You are correct on that, but they were my friends and one of them was a Wizard Saint." stated Natsu with a frown.
"Why do you keep doing this to yourself Salamander, this country is never going to accept us any more than what we are to them right now? Which is a group of freaks that can clean up their mistakes when no one else can, so why do you keep trying to be friends with them? It always ends with them dying or becoming afraid of you." asked Gajeel who couldn't stand seeing Natsu keep doing this to himself over the years that they have known each other.
"Because I still believe that the time will eventually come when we are actually looked at like the heroes that we are. I mean look at how normal mages are being treated now in Fiore." stated Natsu.
"Yea they are no longer being burned in the cities squares, big whoop Salamander." replied Gajeel.
"It is Gajeel just two hundred years ago that was happening, besides how is it ever supposed to change if we don't try?" asked Natsu.
"It isn't Salamander and some of us are fine with that." responded Gajeel with a growl.
"Well I am not one of them, and this time I really thought it was going to be different." stated Natsu with a slight frown.
"Hey Natsu, it's okay they're still all alive thanks to you. Which means you can keep trying, because my little time with them made me think that they might be different too." said Wendy trying to encourage Natsu and make him see that it wasn't hopeless.
"Sorry Wendy but like Gajeel said they all probably think that I am a monster and are afraid of me now." said Natsu with a frown.
"Hey that's not right Natsu, they all came to try and help after their mistake and I also believe that they were going to apologize to you at the end there. But didn't because you wouldn't let them, which I don't blame you for." replied Wendy with a little smile.
"Maybe you're right Wendy." said Natsu as he got rid of his frown and had a small smile.
"So who are these friends of yours Salamander?" asked Gajeel.
"Just some wizards from Fairy Tail." replied Natsu.
"Them again, what is with you and that guild Salamander? It didn't work last time and it didn't even work the time before that for crying out loud and that time was definitely your best chance." asked Gajeel with a slight growl.
"You know why Gajeel, they will always have a special place in my heart." replied Natsu with a faint smile.
"You are just too nice Salamander but that is what makes you, you I guess. So back to how you got those new scars." said Gajeel while shaking his head.
"Well after that asshole took off with the flute I of course chased him down and burnt him to a crisp but before that he somehow activated the flute or maybe it activated itself. But long story short I had to protect a town while fighting that demon which is why I got these handsome new scars." replied Natsu with a grin.
"I think I know of someone who would disagree with you on that one Natsu." said Wendy with a big grin.
"Oh come on you know she loves them." said Natsu while still grinning.
"Yea Salamander, we both know that isn't true. She is always worried sick while you are gone and when you do come back she freaks out about every single scratch that you have." stated Gajeel with a grin.
"Nope, never going to admit to that." replied Natsu grinning like an idiot.
"That's because you just don't want that on your conscious." stated a man that had maroon hair that was incredibly spikey and was wearing an outfit just like the two male slayers except for his colors where maroon, black and grey. He also had a big purple snake with him that was resting on his shoulders.
"No one asked for your opinion Cobra." said Natsu while giving him a glare.
"You are so lucky Salamander that I can't hear your thoughts right now." stated Cobra.
"Well if you want I can tell you what I am thinking right now and it's that I really feel sorry for Cubelios having to be that close to your armpits." said Natsu with a big grin.
"You think you're so funny, don't you Salamander?" asked Cobra.
"Nope, I was just telling you what was on my mind since you wanted to know." replied Natsu with a big grin.
"How do you stop him from hearing your thoughts Salamander?" asked Gajeel wanting to know since it was annoying to have a member who always heard what you were thinking.
"Can't tell, it is an ancient family secret." replied Natsu with a stupid grin on his face.
"Has he told you how he does it Wendy?" asked Gajeel has he looked at the women.
"Nope, he just said the same stupid response to me when I asked him." stated Wendy with a smile.
"Oh come on Wendy he pretty much tells you everything." stated Gajeel not believing her.
"She told the truth Gajeel, and I am just as curious as to how he and the Master can stop me from reading their minds." said Cobra.
"Hey you promised me that you wouldn't listen to my thoughts anymore Cobra." shouted Wendy in a pissed off voice.
"Sorry it won't happen again Wendy, but I just had to be sure that you weren't lying to us." replied Cobra.
"So Gajeel you didn't really tell me what you were up to recently." said Natsu which effectively completely changed the subject.
"Oh yea, well for the past few months me and Lily have been werewolf hunting, so nothing special." replied Gajeel with a smirk.
"Yea maybe for someone who can change his skin to steel it wasn't special." stated Cobra.
"You're right Gajeel that isn't really too exciting or dangerous." stated Natsu with a bored expression.
"Shut up Salamander, you are even more of a monster than Gajeel." said Cobra angrily.
"Why thank you Cobra, I think that might be the nicest thing you have said to me in the last year." said Natsu with a huge grin.
"That's because you are never here Natsu." pointed out Wendy.
"Hey don't say that like I am the only one that is never here." refuted Natsu.
"You're right Natsu, but you are still definitely gone the most." replied Wendy.
"Well that is because the Master needs me to do all of those really hard quests for him." said Natsu with a smug grin on his face, just rubbing it in the faces of the other two males.
"About those duties that you do for him, weren't you supposed to have gone to that Master's meeting a few days ago?" asked Cobra.
"Yes I was, but decided to skip so that I wouldn't have to see one of the Masters there." replied Natsu with a frown now on his face.
"Which Master, I know that you never really liked Jose?" asked Cobra.
"It was Master Makarov, and I will just go ahead and tell you why since that was going to be your next question. Well on that emergency quest Wendy and I just did, he happened to get in my way and because of that a whole town was almost destroyed." explained Natsu still frowning at the memory of how close he cut it with that mission.
"That makes sense and I wouldn't want to look at him either." said Cobra while nodding his head.
"Yep, so what are you two up?" asked Natsu.
"Actually we are going on a mission together as soon as Lily is ready." replied Gajeel.
"It should be really easy, just getting rid of some pesky trolls. But there is a high chance that their might be demons involved if the intel is correct." said Cobra.
"Ah man that sounds like fun, do you mind if I come along?" asked Natsu.
"Sorry Natsu but you can't, the Master want's to speak with you as soon as possible about your last quest and also a new one that is supposedly really tough." said a black cat that looked just like Carla when she wasn't in her battle form but with tons of muscles.
"Thanks Lily, for telling me. Man I can't wait, if the Master says it's though then that means it's going to be so much fun." cheered Natsu as he took off for the stairs that lead to the top of the right inner tower.
"How is he so excited for a quest that could easily kill him?" asked Cobra looking at his fellow members.
"Because Salamander might actually be wishing for that to happen." replied Gajeel with a frown.
"You can't be serious?" asked Cobra.
"I wish we weren't but ever since Happy's death he's been constantly taking all of the really dangerous quests." said Wendy who was also frowning and really sad that she couldn't help him.
"Maybe he's just doing that so no one else dies on him." suggested Cobra.
"That could also be true, but we will never really know unless he tells us." replied Wendy.
"Well we have our own mission, and now that I am ready lets head out." said Lily as he headed towards the exit.
"Later Wendy." said both Gajeel and Cobra.
"Be safe guys." replied Wendy and got a wave from both of them meaning that they heard her.
At the Masters Office on the top floor of the tower:
"I was told that you wanted to see me Master." said Natsu as he let himself in.
"How many times have I told you that you don't need to call me that." replied the Master.
"Probably every time we have talked Master and every time I told you that I am not going to be treated any different than the other members." answered Natsu with a grin.
"You are even more stubborn than me Natsu, and that says something. Well might as well get on with it, so tell me everything about that emergency quest?" asked the Master.
"Well at the time I was visiting some friends at Fairy Tail when Wendy informed me of it." said Natsu as he then went on to tell him all about everything that happened. A few minutes later the Master let out a long whistle.
"Never would have guessed something like that would have happened." stated the Master as he shook his head.
"Me either Master, and I was barely able to fix their mistake." said Natsu with a frown.
"But you did Natsu, so there is no reason to think about what ifs. All I know is that I am really glad that I had Wendy swing by and bring you along. I don't think that she would have been able to handle that on her own." stated the Master.
"I am sure that she would have been fine Master. Also she wouldn't have had to deal with the demon getting out since Fairy Tail wouldn't have gotten in the way." stated Natsu while still frowning.
"You don't know that Natsu, but like I said before nothing bad happened so let's not think about what could have been. So does this mean you are done with this group of wizards like last time?" asked the Master with a concerned look.
"Nope, Wendy convinced me to give them a second chance since they tried to fix their mistake and also apologize to me." responded Natsu.
"Good to hear that Natsu, well let's get down to business on this new quest I need you to do." stated the Master with a serious expression.
"Okay, when do I need to leave and what am I supposed to do?" asked Natsu who also had a very serious expression.
"You will have to leave as soon as we are done here so that you can make it in time." replied the Master.
"Shit, she is going to be pissed that I had to leave right away." said Natsu with a frown on her face.
"Then just take her with you Natsu." suggested the Master.
"You know I would never want to bring her on a mission that even you said was dangerous." responded Natsu with a growl.
"I didn't mean for you to actually do the mission with her Natsu, just bring her along for the trip. And once the mission starts have her just sit it out, if you are the one telling her to do that then she will actually listen." explained the Master.
"I guess that would work and it would allow us to spend some actual time together." replied Natsu.
"She would also be extremely happy about it as well." pointed out the Master with a grin.
"Yea she would, so what do I need to do?" asked Natsu after deciding that he would take her along with him.
"Well according to our spy and what the council has told us, a war is about to start any second between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord. I am glad to hear that you are willing to give Fairy Tail another chance otherwise I would have to send someone else." explained the Master.
"Even if I wasn't I still would have wanted to do this one so that I could beat the shit out of Jose again. But this still doesn't explain why we are even being involved with this and why you said that it was dangerous." replied Natsu.
"The answers to both of those are the same. Once again thanks to intel that we have gathered we learned that Jose has been building a Jupiter Cannon while also doing something else that is supposed to be even stronger than that. But unfortunately we don't even know what that is, but if it is indeed stronger than the Jupiter Cannon that doesn't bode well for anyone that gets in the way of Jose. And you and me both know how quickly that man gets angry." explained the Master.
"But I thought that all of the Jupiter Cannons were destroyed a long time ago?" asked Natsu while scratching his chin.
"They were Natsu, thanks to your hard work but apparently Jose has been getting the pieces from them and now he will have a fully functional Jupiter Cannon that he can use on Fairy Tail in a few days." answered the Master.
"Shit and they have something that is even stronger than that dam Jupiter Cannon?" asked Natsu.
"Supposedly, which is why I am sending you with Wendy as support." said the Master.
"Okay so what are my limitations?" asked Natsu.
"Since they are still technically a legal guild and all of this is probably Jose's doing the council says that you can't kill anyone." answered the Master.
"What about Jose, does it apply to him as well since he is a Wizard Saint?" asked Natsu.
"The Council thinks that there Wizard Saints are our equals so they are allowing you to use lethal force on him if need be." said the Master with a smile.
"Great to hear Master and I plan on proving to them how wrong they are about that." said Natsu with an evil grin.
"Natsu please say that you are not going to kill him because of what happened a few years back?" asked the Master.
"Come on Master you know that I am not that petty, but if he leaves me no other option I won't hesitate to end that smug little prick." answered Natsu while still grinning.
"Good to hear Natsu, but as soon as you are done with that you need to return immediately, because if what I have heard is true. Then we are going to have a lot of work to do in not a lot of time." said the Master while pinching the bridge of his nose.
"What is this dealing with Master?" asked Natsu concerned because the Master only pinches his nose when it is really serious.
"I haven't confirmed it yet, but a dark guild might have breached the Council and is possibly a member of it." explained the Master.
"Wow that is serious, so who do you have getting intel on this?" asked Natsu.
"Sting and Rogue of course, they have never failed at any infiltration or intel gathering mission I've sent them on." answered the Master.
"Well when one of them can go into shadows while the other can move the speed of light for brief periods of course they haven't failed one of them yet." said Natsu with a proud grin at having such reliable members in their guild.
"You need to be leaving right now Natsu if you are going to stop Jose and whatever he plans to do with that stupid Jupiter Cannon of his. But I just realized that having you come back right after might be a bad idea since we don't know where we'll need you so take this communication lacrima with you and call me as soon as you are done." said the Master as he tossed Natsu the lacrima he was talking about.
"You know that I always seem to break these things while fighting Master." replied Natsu with a sheepish grin.
"That's why you will give it to Wendy so it will remain intact, now go already times is of the essence on this one." said the Master as he pushed him out of his office. So Natsu took off down the stairs and went into the main hall and looked for Wendy. He noticed that she was standing next to the door talking to someone that he knew very well, almost better than anyone else in the guild.
She was wearing an outfit that matched Wendy's exactly since they had similar magic at least that was the reason they gave for it. She had about the same figure as Wendy as well but the thing that made them different was their faces and mainly their hair. Wendy's hair was blue while this woman's hair was a slightly darker shade of Natsu's which a lot of the members said was the reason that Natsu and her were together.
"Chelia and Wendy what are you two up to?" asked Natsu as he came over and gave Chelia a quick kiss on the lips.
"Waiting for you silly." replied Chelia with a big smile.
"How did you two know when I just learned about it moments ago?" asked Natsu.
"That would be because of me Natsu; the Master filled me in while you and Wendy were still on your way here. So I informed Chelia knowing that she would want to go with you, and then told Wendy all about it while you talked with Master." explained Carla as she floated next to them.
"Well that saves some time then, well let's head to Magnolia now and see what's going on between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord." said Natsu with a big grin on his face as he led the group out.
End of Chapter
Author's Notes:
Thanks for reading and I hope that you all enjoyed it. I am also sorry that it has taken me this long to do another chapter for this story. But I have been really busy with my other stories, meaning I kept putting this one to the side. Well I hope you enjoyed what I am doing with this one. So as always feel free to leave a review.
Until the next Chapter
Digem Out!