Hey, guys. Maybe you can tell by my lack of enthusiasm, but I have something to address. I'm a tad disappointed, honestly. There is over one hundred of you guys, and we can't get five reviews?
It's five reviews, guys. I'm not asking for thirty, forty, or even ten.
Five.
FIVE.
I'm incredibly grateful for the few people who've been reviewing constantly, and I hope you guys never stop, because that'd be bad for my self esteem. If you guys have seen my SAO fic, I'm not even asking for a response like that. Just five reviews. If we can't get at least five this time, I'm going to have to put in a minimum amount until we get a new chapter.
This may seem rude or excessive, but it's 5 out of 116, that's 4% of the readers. Come on guys, you can do it!
Enjoy!
Nashi wasn't sure of what to do, but she was sure that she was upset. She knew that this was a test, the writing she'd read had more than told her that. But, as she stood here, facing opposite her father, Nashi wasn't sure of what to do. Her father chuckled.
"You haven't come up with a plan yet, have you?" He asked.
"Maybe," Nashi replied, doing her best to smile. "Maybe not. How about you just leave?"
"And miss out on my daughter falling on her face or maybe, if I'm lucky, dying down here? Not a chance." Nashi didn't want to feel so upset at the insult, but she did nonetheless. Maybe that was the point, embodying her worst fear in order to obstruct her. "I can see why Rocky made a point to make fun of you, not surprised Elise joined in for a while either." Nashi flinched as various memories swam in her conscious. She did her best to ignore them, but she couldn't.
Nashi landed hard on her back as Rocky laughed. Nashi did her best not to cry as rain pelted her, soaking her to the bone. She felt the hot tears streaming down her face a Rocky kicked her in the back and laughed even harder.
"Is this what a Dragneel is made of?" He demanded as Nashi cowered. "Maybe when your scumbag dad comes home I'll kick his ass too...or if he comes home."
"S-shut up..." Nashi managed, rubbing at her eyes viciously as she sat up, glaring at the young tan boy. he laughed as he ran his hair through his brown hair.
"Oh, are you going to make me?" He asked as he flicked the hand carrying his umbrella, and rocks clamped around Nashi's ankles. "Let's see how long you last out in this rain, or will you summon up some fire to warm yourself up?" Nashi pulled desperately at the rocks, doing her best to free herself, but to no avail. "I'll come back in a few hours, see if you're sick or dead. Bye."
"Get b-back here!" Nashi shouted angrily, pulling at her ankles, trying her absolute hardest. Of course, given her age and strength, wasn't all that hard. "Rocky! Rocky! Ro-achoo!" Nashi watched as his retreating figure disappeared into the rain. She sniffled. "I hate you...I HATE YOU!"
"Same here, Dragneel, same here." Rocky called back and Nashi growled as she fell back onto her back ,entering a sneezing fit.
...
"Hurry up Simon, she's almost free!" Nashi opened her eyes slightly and saw two mops of hair, one red and the other black.
"W-who..." Nashi managed, and Ultear's face appeared in her blurry vision.
"Nashi! Are you okay?" She asked worriedly. Nashi sneezed in response as she sat up, almost headbutting Simon. Erza's son was currently hacking away at the rocks with a blade, doing his best to free her.
"You good, Nashi?" Simon asked as h freed her left ankle, and Nashi instantly rubbed it to regain a little feeling in it.
"Y-yeah..." Nashi mumbled as Simon freed her other foot. "Thanks for helping me..." Ultear glowered.
"I'm going to kill that guy" Ultear hissed. "C'mon Simon, you're going to help me."
"What'll that solve?" Simon demanded, turning to Ultear with an equally as angry look on his face. "We can't guard Nashi every minute of every day, that's not going to solve anything!"
"So you're going to sit around and do nothing? Not me! I'm going over there right now and..."
"No!" Both of Nashi's friends topped arguing and turned to her as she stood unsteadily, "Neither of you are going to do that."
"Nashi..." Ultear began.
"No!" Nashi shouted again, letting her hair fall over her eyes as she hung her head. "Me not fighting my own battles will just make it worse. Please, just stop"
"...Alright." Simon said, pocketing his hands and sighing. Ul stared at him incredulously.
"You've got to be kidding, Simon!" She shouted. "Rocky's out to kill her! We can't just..."
"Ul!" Nashi heard Simon shout her name, and she quieted down. "Nashi wants to fight her own battles, we'll let her."
"Thank you, Simon." Nashi said with a sigh, rubbing her arms as the rain continued to pour downwards. "For understanding." Simon nodded. He requipped an umbrella and gestured towards her as he opened it.
"Come here, Nashi." he said. "You'll get sick." Nashi nodded as she stepped next to her friend under the umbrella as Ul wrapped an arm around her shoulders to keep her warm. Nashi almost laughed at the irony of how an ice/water wizard was trying to heat him up because she was wet.
"This is all your fault, Dad..." Nashi whispered under her breath as Ul and Simon walked her home.
Nashi snapped out of her flashback as her father launched a fireball at her, and she allowed it to hit her. The fire had to heat or taste, it wasn't actually fire. It didn't fill her up much, either.
"Good, you can eat my fire." He laughed. "You're of some use."
"Surprise surprise." Nashi replied. "My Dad's fire tastes like shit."
"Keep blabbing kid, I'm sure someone is listening." Nashi mind drifted to her sound mage friend, but he was no where to be found. Even so, this was her battle, with her inner demons. Nashi's life sure revolved around those demons, everything seemed to be linked to them in some way. She dodged another fireball and did her best to stand, her legs matching her heart's nervousness.
"Riddle me something, father." Nashi said weakly, brushing her legs off. "Why was it you left for so long? You know, the reason I'm such a...how did you put it? Oh right, a disappointment" Her father laughed as he scratched his arm.
"I forgot to tell you, didn't I?" He said with a dark smile, and Nashi nodded. Maybe this thing would tell her. Then again, this thing could lie to her. "Let me tell you a story. One day a little girl was born to the most beautiful woman in the world. That little shit, er...girl was given the name Nashi, Nashi Dragneel."
"I don't need a story of my life." Nashi hissed, rolling her eyes. "That wasn't even what I asked you."
"I was getting to that you impatient...ugh. Anyway, this little girl was born with a darkness inside of her, one that, cultivated properly, could destroy her. The same darkness as her father. That was the reason I left, to seal away my own darkness, while unknowingly leaving you with yours." Nashi felt like she was going to be sick. Darkness? What darkness was that. He may be lying to distract me, don't fall for it.
"You don't have to lie to me to make me feel better, just tell me." Her father laughed at the response, clearly in amused him.
"Lie to make you feel better?" he demanded. "Please, I told the truth in hopes you'd break down and cry. Now that you know that, riddle me something, oh daughter of mine."
"What?" Nashi watched as her father thought it over, wondering what it was he wanted her to answer.
"With the knowledge that you were depressed, tell me if you ever get, mmmm...murderous intentions."
"Huh?"
"Murderous intentions." He replied. "You know, like you want to kill every and all things in the immediate area."
"Not really."
"Oh, alright." Nashi didn't want to ask why that was a question, did that relate to that darkness inside of her? She didn't know, she'd ask her real father when she got back. Right now, she had the fake one to deal with.
Simon sighed as the apparition of his father disappeared, leaving him along in the hall. Simon didn't really know what had just happened, but he hoped it meant he could either leave or find whatever it was he was supposed to be finding. He turned and began to walk down the way he'd been going before he was rudely interrupted by his father. Simon walked down it for a little bit before he heard a sound, what sounded like crying.
"What the hell is that?" Simon asked aloud, following the sound to it's source. He was more than a bit surprised to find Ultear curled up against the wall, crying loudly. "Ul?" Simon asked softly, and she looked up at him. She growled as she struggled to stand.
"Another test?" She hissed. "Was Zindo and Keiko not enough?" Simon didn't know what she was talking about, but whatever had happened had clearly shaken her up.
"Ul, it's me." Simon tried. "Simon, your friend."
"Yeah, and?" Ul tried angrily, clenching her fists. "What's your shtick?"
"My what?" Simon asked weakly. "Ul, are you okay?"
"What's the game this time? Maybe you'll be flirty Simon again, like that charm spell. Or are you scumbag Simon?" Simon didn't get a chance to reply, as Ul flew at him and punched him in the. face, and Simon grabbed her wrist in an attempt to avoid another punch
"Ul, stop it!" Simon shouted angrily. "It's me! Simon!" Ul's eyes widened as she stared at him, her struggling died down.
"Simon?" She asked quietly. Simon nodded, and Ul collapsed into his arms, sobbing.
"Ul, what happened?" Simon asked as he rubbed a circle on her back, but the girl didn't reply, she just cried even harder. "Mavis Ul, get a hold of yourself."
Drake was struck again and he flew across the hallway, and Nashi growled.
"Damn, my leg..." She hissed, and Drake saw er rubbing her gash. "See what you did? This is all your fault."
"I'm...I'm sorry" Drake said, but his voice failed him and he went silent.
"That doesn't matter, not anymore." Nashi growled as she lit herself on fire again. "I'm going to rip you to pieces, one limb for every lost friend. How does that sound?"
"Nashi..."
"No! Not anymore of your lies! Die!" Nashi launched herself at him again, and Drake allowed her to hit him. Every punch brought up another memory.
"Nashi?" Drake asked quietly as the pinkette stiffened. "Are you okay?"
"Fine!" Nashi said, turning with a huge fake smile plastered on her face. Her bangs had obscured her left eye, and that make Drake curious. "How are you?"
"What's up with your eye?"
"Huh?" Before Nashi could stop him, Drake brushed her bangs out of her face, revealing the huge shiner she had. Drake swelled up with anger as she sat still, covering her eye again.
"Rocky?" Drake hissed, and Nashi nodded. "I'm going to kill him."
"Mavis, you're as bad as Ul"
"Ul saw it too?"
"No, but a few days ago he trapped me in the rain and..." Nashi trailed off as Drake stormed away. "Drake, no!"
"Why not?" He asked angrily. "I cannot stand this!"
"Please, don't do this!" Nashi replied. "I can handle it on my own!"
"How, you can't even use magic!" Drake yelled in response, causing Nashi to shudder.
"I know, but..." She sighed. "Just drop it, Drake. Please?" Drake groaned as he fell into the seat next to her and glared at the table, his anger boiling around in his chest.
"I'm still mad." Drake informed her.
"I know." She replied. "Just leave him be."
"Why do you defend him when he does this to you?"
"Because if you defend me he'll just do it worse next time." Drake sighed.
"One day I'm not going to listen to you. Drake warned. "Then I'll just go and kick his butt."
"I'm sure you will." Nashi replied with a small smile. "There for me, like always."
"Yeah."
Drake reacted without thinking. Nashi got far to close, and Drake grabbed her, punched her in the stomach, and poison exploded around them. Drake stared down at her as she collapsed, Drake's attack having been clearly all she could take. Drake cradled her as she spat up blood, and laughed.
"You're such a fucking liar, Drake." She whispered. "There for my my ass..."
"I'm sorry..." Drake whispered as his best friend died in his arms. "I didn't...I couldn't..." Drake felt tears stinging his eyes as Nashi coughed.
"Shut...shut the fuck up Drake..." Nashi stopped moving, and Drake let out a sob. She was gone. How was he going to explain this? Luckily, he didn't have too. Why?
Because Nashi dissipated like a ghost.
"The fuck...?" Drake asked as he fell back, staring at his hands. All sign of combat had disappeared, as with Nashi's body. "Was that...Was that even Nashi, or just some apparition...?" Drake didn't have time t dwell on it, he needed to find the others. If that Nash wasn't real, then maybe he could still find them.
"I made a promise Nashi. I don't intend to break it."
Remember guys, five reviews you can do it. Hope you enjoyed!