Previously:
In the middle of the unstoppable fidget, a hand jabbed its fingers in her arm and pulled her with brutality. Her heart stopped. She shot her head backwards and didn't even have time to feel relieved when she saw Natsu, for the guy threw a fist in her stomach and left her struggle with pain before she lost consciousness.
Natsu dropped her body to the ground, his cold eyes watching carefully if anybody had seen his action.
But a few meters away, a shocked Westminster looked at the scene and couldn't understand what had just happened.
Natsu ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He looked around once more and then raised Lucy's body from the ground. He threw her over his shoulder using one hand. The air thickened with the mixture of feelings of panic and confusion. Weak rays of light were still able to reach the naked ground painted with the red color of rage. But dark clouds gathered on the surface of the once clear blue sky and above the shaking earth, above the fluster of the dust and above the noise of the fighters' trample and yelling, the heaven groaned its own wrath with thunders shuddering one's being.
A little creature hurried through the bodies, doing his best to jump through the blades, arrows and thrusts, moving his little feet so fast that you could see he was desperate. His eyes like two black balls of granite looked with confusion at the young man with pink hair taking the Queen, the so-called lover of his, away. The researcher dwarf –Westminster- uselessly tried to calm his panting.
He watched as Natsu turned around and, after raising another body from the ground, was getting away.
As much as he wanted to reach him, his little legs could not bare the effort of gaining such speed. He jumped over a trunk and filled his lungs with the heavy oxygen.
''Mister Ustan!'' he called out. ''Mister Ustan! Please wait! Mister!''
But his voice could not actually get to Natsu's ears. The sight of pink hair was lost in the crowd and the following thing that happened was such confusion that Westminster got dizzy and fell to his knees. Grasping his head between his arms, he could feel how everything around him was much too agitated. He was being pushed from every direction, yells of horror, pain and asking for help were deafening him and scaring him to the extent that he began trembling. He cowered under his own protective hands and the figure of him turned so small that anyone could confuse him with a rock. Inside his mind, all the events from that day were gathering, mixing, turning upside down, all aching and puzzling him too much. He remained still in the middle of the franticness.
The Minster was trying half-heartedly to concentrate on the troubling work he had to do regarding the soldiers, but the noise of the battling between giants and dwarfs against humans was much too disturbing. He eyed a high-ranked knight and yelled:
''Aren't you done with those repulsing creatures already?!''
''Sir'' the knight laughed ''It's not that easy overcoming an army of giants.'' He prepared to add something else, but the Minister glared at him and he shut his mouth.
''Where is Gungeon Bother?'' he asked coldly.
''Right here, Minister.'' The man himself answered from a few meters away. As he approached them, he smiled with boredom. ''How may I serve your highness?''
''Why aren't the dwarfs and giants wiped out by now?''
''With all due respect, sir, our enemies are not to take so lightly.'' He answered with seriousness. But he smiled out of the blue ''Even so, it is currently not the situation to be saying that. I, as well, am quite surprised as to why they aren't completely gone. I had thought that our surprise attack will have immediate results.''
''Well you were wrong, Mister Bother.'' The Minister said through his teeth. ''As you can see, my word, the Kingdom's work is in the condition of being finished too late due to the chaos we are facing at the moment. I was expecting your plan to be useful. Right now, I want an answer that I shall like; if not, I am afraid I will have to be angry on someone specifically.''
Gungeon looked at the Minister and his face lost a little of its color.
''Well?''
''Sir,'' Bother spoke ''I am not in charge of the attack. I only coordinate the making of the plan, not the carry into effect of it.''
''And who, may I ask,'' the Minister yelled angrily losing his patience ''is in charge of the carry into effect of the plan?''
Gungeon Bother hesitated.
''Jonathan Howl, Sir. He is the man who left to get the Queen.''
The Minister froze. He turned his head carefully and asked Bother to repeat what he had just said.
''He left to fetch the Queen, Minister. All this time, Her Majesty was out of the capital, in the middle of a giant gathering.''
The other man stared at him surprised. His green eyes sparkled.
''The Queen!''
''He is supposed to bring her here any minute now.''
''Is it certain it's her? Why didn't I hear about any of these any earlier?''
Bother smiled.
''My apologies.''
''The Queen!'' the minister repeated amazed. ''And here I had thought she was dead as well.''
''Well isn't that troublesome.'' Bothersome whispered.
''So where is this Jonathan you are talking about?''
''We…'' he looked away. ''…don't know, sir.''
''The gates are opening!'' a peasant yelled. A couple of soldiers only just noticed him. Since nobody was allowed around the castle, they immediately took him away.
The Minister and Bother looked at the gate. The knights guarding it gathered around a man.
''Ah, talk about the devil!'' the Minister smiled. The then looked at the surprised Gungeon. ''Right?''
''Y-Yes.'' The lord answered after the other man already left in towards the new objective. Could it be Jonathan Howl, the leader soldier who had left to fetch the Queen? It would've been good news, but wasn't it a little weird?
He followed and by the time he reached the gate and the crowd of soldiers, he could only be confused as to why everybody was frozen in front of the man that was supposed to be Jonathan.
The Minister himself stopped his walk when his dull green eyes met the sight of an unexpected person. They widened, surprise overwhelming him whole.
The pores of his neck opened and perspiration came to surface. A strange nervousness bothered him for an unknown reason.
In front of him, a tall young man covered in dirt and blood was looking so fiercely at him that he couldn't keep a shiver of fear travel in his body. The pink hair of his was ruffled, stuck on his sticky face, his tanned skin and ripped shirt were spreading such a wild atmosphere and his muscular body along with his handsome expressions were so exotic, that even Gungeon Bother was amazed of this appearance. What surprised them most, though, was the fact that all the soldiers were backing up. Why?
He was carrying a body and dragging another behind him.
The Minister's face turned pale.
''Gungeon Bother. Is this Jonathan Howl?''
Said man understood how the Minister referred to the body being held like a sack on the ground.
''Y-Yes, Minister. And also… Could that be the Queen?''
''Indeed, you're right.''
''I see.''
''Yes.''
They looked at each other cautiously and then back at Natsu.
A long pause of silence fell in. The wind was blowing wildly. Another thunder shook the ground and the air, spreading such a fearsome feeling that nobody except Natsu seemed to be able to resist it. All the soldiers were looking at their leaders, waiting for a reaction. The two men in power were patiently scanning the situation. It was almost obvious what it had turned into. Almost.
''And…'' the Minister spoke first. ''Who is it that we have the honor of meeting here?''
The wind blew the hair off of Natsu's eyes. They were looking so straight, so piercingly, so hatefully, that it was shaking the fear out of the men. And he was so quiet, so still, so cold. The sky began to drip. It started with a few particles of water crushing to the ground and on the face of the mysterious pink-haired man. It then continued with a thick curtain of rain falling, smashing the earth with not enough strength to do any damage. It was just water facing rock. It was just liquid facing solid. It was just the men facing Natsu.
A thin blanket of fog slowly rose up from the wet earth and slipped slowly over its surface. It looked like a gathering of ghosts moving between their feet, passing through their bodies, exiting and dragging along the souls of their courage. The frightening air was heavy, hard to inhale, weighting down their hearts and getting into their skin.
''Stop the war.''
Even if they couldn't see his white lips moving, they didn't doubt the pink haired man had been the one who spoke.
''Excuse me?'' the Minister asked surprised and visibly trembling.
Natsu didn't reply. Instead, he moved forward. Everyone watched amazed as he stepped up to the wall, reaching the stairs made of rock that lead to the top. Nobody moved a muscle, less tried to stop him. It only took Natsu two seconds to climb them up.
''I will try to make myself clear.''
He dropped Jonathan's body to the ground. The beaten-up man was unconscious. He stepped forward, on the edge of the wall, between two of the rectangular blocks of rock. They could all easily see him - standing above their heads, looking so mighty and fearsome under the pouring rain, you could've confused him with the King.
The sky lightened up and another thunder shattered the air.
When the light returned to normal, they all watched in shock what followed: Natsu's arm holding their Queen and his other hand lifting her chin with the use of a knife. The blade pressed on the girl's beautiful skin whiter than the snow. A drop of blood rolled down on her long neck only to be absorbed in the other drops of water.
''Stop the war.''
The Minister was shaken by a strong shiver.
All the people present turned to stone. Their eyes were glued to the scene. The feelings shattering their awareness of what was happening were extreme. Only one man dared to draw half of his sword out of the scabbard bending his body forth and shifting his right foot backwards. The Minister stopped his with one thrust of his arm. Those dull green eyes of his were shaking with hate. The soldier flinched surprised and backed up, placing the weapon back in its shelter.
''I don't think I understand what you mean, dear visitor. With what authority do you dare to touch the Queen and threaten the Minister?'' said man spoke.
Natsu looked at him and remained quiet. After a huge pause, he replied:
''I thought I already made myself clear with what my intentions are.''
''Do you intend to kill the Queen?''
Natsu didn't react. His expression remained the same.
''If necessary, I do.'' he exclaimed in a low, deep tone.
''Is…'' Gungeon started ''…Her Majesty still alive?''
''She is.'' Natsu replied shortly.
After a long hesitation, the same soldier who had drawn his sword spoke:
''Who the heck are you?! Why is the Queen in this situation?''
Natsu directed his attention to that soldier and the man felt how his entire courage was slowly fading away at the pain of being pierced by that pair of onyx eyes. Behind them, an unreasonable tranquility and at the same time agitation was hiding.
''I am the Mysterious Prince.''
The Minister frowned confused. Gungeon Bother, on the other hand, immediately understood what he was talking about. Rumors about the Mysterious Prince had reached the Kingdom of Frozen Roses. In the following moments, the pouring rain was the only sound that could be heard.
''What do you seek?''
''That is none of your business. I will only repeat myself once more.'' Natsu said silently, but the words came out of his throat as a roar. ''Stop the war.''
''Why is the Queen in this situation?''
''I will count to five.''
The Minister clinched his fists and gritted his teeth.
''Why is the Queen like that?!'' he repeated the question in a scream.
''One.'' Natsu ignored him.
The soldiers moved agitated.
''Two.''
The pink haired man gripped the knife tighter, detail which didn't fail to reach the other's eyes. The knights looked agitatedly at the Minister, waiting for the orders.
''Three.''
Adrenaline along with panic spread through their bodies. Their wide eyes watched as their leader was doing nothing.
''Minister!'' one of them yelled staring at the undecided man. The Minister was glaring at Natsu acting like he couldn't even hear his subordinates' calls.
''A war cannot be stopped that easily, and you should know that!'' Gungeon yelled scared.
''Four.'' Natsu continued returning the glare to the Minister.
''Sir! Please! The Queen's life is in the game!''
''Minister!'' they all started shouting.
The following lightning blinded them all and the thunder could be heard in each corner of the Kingdom. The storm that was approaching began to let them know it was close.
Lucy's head was spinning. She opened her eyes slowly, but was forced to close them back when powerful light blinded her sight. She started being able to feel her cold body. She looked dizzily at her surroundings and found herself being a few inches away from falling over a wall. Fortunately, two strong arms were holding her well. A bunch of people were staring at her horrified. What was happening?
Even Natsu hesitated, surprised as to not receive any response. He only frowned a little, just a little, before saying it.
''Five.''
In the glimpse on an eye, three things happened at once. Firstly, Natsu's knife pressed against Lucy's neck. Secondly, the girl whimpered with pain as blood started rushing out of the little wound. And thirdly, the Minister, as soon as he saw the quick move, stepped forward, thrust his hand in the air and yelled:
''STOOP!''
The pink haired man's hand stopped just in time before making any serious injury. A deep pause fell in. The Minister swore and spat. Lucy had her eyes shut. She was still not able to understand anything but the information of pain.
''Stop.'' The Minister repeated slowly retrieving his hand.
''Stop the war.'' Was all that Natsu said with an incredible calm.
''Why do you want to stop the war?''
''I already told you to mind your own business.'' Natsu gritted his teeth.
Peasants and soldiers had started to get interested in the commotion and ignored the storm, gathering around the scene and watching with shock the Queen being threatened, obviously not being able to do a thing.
''It's too late to stop the war!'' Gungeon Bother screamed over the noise of the rain. ''We already won!''
''I don't think you understand.'' Natsu straightened his back.
They all looked at him attentively and scared. He exchanged short glares between them and let out a short, hateful laugh. He kicked Jonathan's body on the ground and the man whimpered and moved. The eyes of the audience only then remembered about him being in danger as well. Even so, it was too late for him. Natsu grabbed his collar and without hesitation, he threw him away, in the emptiness and darkness towards the ground. The voices rose up in screams of surprise and worry.
''Just like this,'' he began, watching as the panicked people gathered around the body laying lifelessly on the poodles of dirty water.
And then, something inside him snapped. His face disfigured in a hateful grin, wide, desperate eyes throwing thunders sharper than knives. He yelled:
''Just like this, I'll crush anyone who stands in my way!''
''Natsu…'' Lucy whispered shocked as to realize a little of what was happening. Natsu flinched and tried not to show his surprise as to have her awake. ''What's going on?'' she asked scared and in pain.
''Think twice, you bunch of wild animals…'' he continued. ''Think twice before you try to mess with me again. I'm sick of you all…''
The crowd's attention was fully directed to him, but many of them were too scared to look into his mad eyes.
''I swear, I'll never forgive you for what you've done…''
He looked in the eyes of each one of them.
''I've never seen so much cruelty in my life. I will never. Never…Forgive you.''
The partly confused Lucy was distracted by his words that made her think of the dwarfs out there who had sacrificed their lives for them. She closed again her teary eyes and felt how her heart was squeezing with bitterness.
Natsu inhaled deeply and calmed down what had seemed to be an unshakeable peace. The rain continued to pour down heavily and only then he pink haired man could feel the faint smell of blood.
''Stop the war.''
What had just happened, Natsu's foot that had slipped a second, the small diverge from the initial path… had been fully taken in consideration by the Minister. That tiny mistake turned out now to have been a terrible mistake. His eyes looked at Natsu deeply, carefully and suspiciously.
''Don't you hear me, you fool?!'' the younger man yelled and sent another bunch of shivers through the crowd. ''Stop the damn war!''
He shook Lucy in his arms as a threat.
The Minister nailed his sharp stare into Natsu's and surprisingly, he didn't seem to be trembling anymore. He kept silent, not reacting. He didn't seem to be impressed anymore by this fake act.
That's right. Act.
That was what he seemed to be telling Natsu and, for a moment, it seemed like the threatening man could actually read through it and guess the news.
''Are you trying to threaten us with the death of our queen, Mysterious Prince?'' he spoke calmly.
This time, Natsu was the one to keep silent. This was more than just a question with an obvious answer; this was a test.
''I am trying to stop the war with all the means possible.''
''Then do it.''
Stillness and confusion spread through the persons present there. They look at each other and then at the Minister. The eye contact between him and Natsu had the weight of titanium, a wire of contact between the unstoppable feelings arising inside both of them. The rain poured down heavily, the fog clutched the feet of the grass, the thunders, even though weakened, still raged in the dark skies, beside the grey clouds.
''Pardon me?'' was a twitch of Natsu's voice breaking the silence of the confusion. He wasn't sure he had understood well.
''I told you to do it. Just do it. Kill Her Majesty.''
This definitely doesn't end here, but it would've been much too long if I were to continue this chapter.
Now, to cover myself from your tomatoes, today I will use an umbrella. To hide from your punches and kicks, I will use hire Iron Man and maybe I'll even be forgiven when you'll get his autographs. To shelter from your insults, I will 'plug in' my headphones (in my ears) and listen to music until you feel like you've gotten all your frustration out. Because… (I'm brave, and I'll say it)
I'm LATE!(don't kill me)
I haven't updated in AGES and maybe I even lost a few readers so! I'm horrible…NO! My memory is horrible. You see, I had had this idea that made everything flow perfectly, but then I forgot to write it down and eventually forgot IT! It took me (how much has it been? One month? More?) ONE MONTH OR MAYBE MORE to realize that it's been lost forever and I'll never get it back. I had to change my plans a little bit.
In other words, I've had a little writer's block. Well, alright, a bigger one.
See you next time, I try to write it as fast as possible.
Byebye! Love you all!(that still doesn't wash me from my sins, does it?)