Man, I am on a roll recently! What might happen today?
Let's find out!
Ben hit the ground hard, having been dropped onto it unceremoniously. He looked up quickly, but was unable to identify where Hades had taken them. He had other things to worry about though.
"Zoe!" He cried out, rushing to his sisters side. He rolled her over on her back, and saw that her wounds from Drake had closed and she was sleeping soundly.
"Let's not get into another situation like that again, Ben," Hades said. Ben looked up at him to see his leader staring down at him coldly. "I used up a lot of power travelling to you two, not to mention saving your sisters life."
"Thank you Hades," Ben said with a smile," You saved us from them."
"Well, I couldn't let them have you two," Hades replied. "That wouldn't work out for us."
"Why not?" Ben asked. Hades frowned and pocketed his hands, walking away.
"Because Fairy Tail wouldn't let you complete your job," Hades replied as he gestured forward. "You have a job to do, remember Ben?" Ben looked forward, and his stomach dropped. He remembered where he was now.
Thump Thump.
"I can't let them get a hold of you because it would mean the chains stay on," Hades explained as he walked up to the massive door ahead of them. The door was chained, twelve massive locks visible over it. They were all sealed tight, but sometimes the doors bulged outwards rhythmically.
Like a heartbeat.
Thump Thump.
It's almost time," Hades said as he pressed a hand to the door. "Soon, Fairy Tail will clash with the Demon Lords. When that time comes, All remaining hosts must be alive. I miscalculated with Zeus. I did not think he would kill Shuichi. I was almost forced to use those children from the devil experiments..." Ben watched as Hades hummed to himself, tapping the door with his finger.
"Hades," he said slowly, standing up again. "How do we open the gate?" Hades looked back at him.
"The Aspects must return," Hades said, his voice trance-like. "Once the Twelve Aspects return to their origin, the gate will unlock, and night will reign once more."
"The King," Ben translated, "Zomrus." Hades grinned and nodded.
"Indeed," he said as he turned back to the door, "Lying just beyond this door is the God of Death, Zomrus. Anhkseram sealed him away so many years ago. But to open it, we need our keys. And we still wait on eleven." With this, Hades raised a hand, and a skeletal key formed in his hands. The key was tiny compared to the lock, but something in Ben told him it would unlock it anyway.
"The key of the Puppetmaster," Hades said to himself, watching it, "I almost didn't move fast enough to obtain it when Zeus killed Shuichi. I was foolish to allow him to kill a Demon Lord takeover wizard. It was almost lost." Ben nodded quietly, still listening.
"Will it be worth it?" Ben asked, making Hades look over as the key disappeared. "Will things change?" Hades smiled at him. An actual one, with warmth behind it.
"Yes," Hades said. "The world will change when Zomrus awakens. Humanity will know it's path. This, I promise you." Ben smiled.
"Good," he said, "I would hate to leave this world in a worse state then before."
Steph thought that something was wrong.
Ben had said that Nashi would wake up after a day or so, but they'd managed to get all the way back to the guild without her waking up. No one voiced their concern, but it was there in all of them. She was currently resting back at home after a check-up from Wendy, who said that she was physically fine. She also noted that Drake was being more distant that usual, opting to sit by himself on the train ride home. He'd turned her down gently when she asked if he'd wanted company, so she knew something was bothering him. And she intended on finding out what.
With this in mind, she knocked on his door quietly.
"Uh, coming," his voice came from inside. She waited patiently until he opened the door, eyeing her suspiciously. What was up with him? Why did his eyes look so...different?
"Hi," she greeted," Can I come in?"
"Uh," Drake replied, checking behind him. Did he have company already? "Yeah, sure." He moved past to allow her entry, and Steph walked in and took her hat off. She turned to look at Drake to see him wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and sweatpants. He had his hands in his pockets, and he stood awkward and rigid near the door.
"What's up?" He asked, trying to sound casual.
"Are you feeling okay?" She asked him, crossing her arms. "You've been acting weird since we fought those kids."
"I'm fine," Drake answered all too quickly. Steph raised an eyebrow. "Really, it's nothing." Steph watched him quietly at this, taking a deep breath.
"Whatever it is, you can confide with me," she said. "I confided in you, remember?" Drake frowned.
"That's different," he said.
"How?" Steph asked.
"Do you think the others will reject you because of who you are?" He asked. Steph flinched.
"I don't know," she said, "but this isn't about me. Something's bothering you. What is it?" Drake neglected to answer her, pushing past her. Steph noted he kept his hands in his pockets the whole way.
"Nothing's wrong, I'm just tired," he excused again. Steph glared long and hard into the back of his head, thinking hard.
"Is it because your Shade was the one that gutted her?" Steph asked. Drake looked back at her.
"Huh?" He asked.
"Your Shade," Steph replied. "It was the one that, well, killed Nashi back in that cave. Is that what's upsetting you?" Drake watched her quietly for a moment before he turned away with a sigh. she thought so. "That had nothing to do with you."
"I didn't confirm that it died," Drake replied, "So it is on me."
"Haven't we learned anything from Nashi and Luna?" Steph asked, putting her hands on her hips. "They had minds of their own, so did your Shade. Not to mention they probably used their powers to corrupt it and make it evil. We all know you'd never do that, Drake."
"...Right," Drake replied. Steph could sense he was being stubborn again. It was his worst quality.
"Drake," she said, "it wasn't your fault. You need to know that."
"...I know that," Drake said after a while, avoiding her eyes. "I just wish things could've gone differently. I wish I'd checked. I wish, I wish, I wish, you know?"
"Yeah," Steph agreed. "I know." Their was a silence between the two for a moment, Drake just standing around.
"Do you want to join me at the guild?" She asked him, gesturing for the door. "I'm sure getting out will make you feel better." Drake shrugged.
"Sorry Steph," he said, "but I honestly just want to be alone right now, okay? I...I just need to think." Steph frowned at this. He was still bothered, and he wasn't telling.
"You'll tell me if something's bothering you, right?" She asked him. Drake nodded quietly.
"I will," he said. Steph nodded, knowing this was all she was going to get. She sighed and turned on her heel to leave, making for the door.
"I'll be at the guild if you need me," she said. "Don't be stubborn, Drake."
"Hm," he replied. She opened the door, ready to leave. "Steph," Drake said, making her turn around.
"Yeah?" She asked. Drake gave her a crooked smile.
"The others won't care," he said. "Just tell them. No one will think any different." Steph frowned at him.
"I'll tell when you do," she said. Drake clammed up at this, making her irritated. "I thought so. But, thanks anyway. Really." She closed the door on him, taking a few deep breaths in order to not get angry. She wished he would talk to her, but if he wanted to be left alone, then that was all there was too it. She made for the guild in the cold air, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She got there easily enough, entering and being hit with a blast of warm air. She scanned the room for the others, and she quickly found them.
And someone else.
Nashi was sitting with the others at their table, a small smile on her face as Elise punched her in the shoulder. Everyone looked really happy, so this made Steph excited. Had it worked.
"Nashi!" She called, running up to the table. The pinkette looked up at her, giving her a tired smile.
"Steph," she greeted. "How are you?" Steph watched her with wide, expectant eyes.
"Did, um...Did it work?" She asked suddenly. "Do...Do you remember?" Nashi's smile widened at this.
"It's all back up here," she said, tapping her finger against her temple. "I remember who I am now. It worked." Steph grinned ear to ear at this, engulfing the girl in a hug that made her gasp for air. "Steph, can't breath! Can't breath!" She laughed and released her, backing up for her friends comfort.
"Sorry," she said as she wiped at her eyes, "I just...Maybe things can go back to normal soon."
"Doubt it," Damien said gruffly. Only he seemed irritated. "We're not done yet." This sent the mood down significantly, making everyone look anywhere but at each other.
"Ah come on, guys!" Nashi insisted as she grabbed her mug. "Tomorrow can wait, today is for celebrating! I feel more whole now than I have in a long, long time. I plan on using that to it's fullest potential by getting as drunk as possible!" Steph suppressed a smile at this, watching Nashi yell for a round of booze. Even though she should be the most concerned, she didn't show it. Even so, she was right. You had to enjoy the day while you had it.
If you didn't, it was possible you'd die with regrets.
It was silent in Drake's apartment except for the ticking of a clock. Drake was acutely aware of every second that passed, focusing on the sound of the hand moving in order to structure his thoughts. He needed to do that. He had to. He was out of time, and as far as he could tell, out of options. There needed to be a way out, but he couldn't find it.
Slowly but surely, Drake leaned down in his seat and rested his elbows on his legs, wrapping his lands together tightly. His stomach turned violently, threatening to reject the meager offerings he'd given it earlier. He should be at the guild right now, or at Nashi's side. Instead, he was hiding. Stowing away his secret.
Yes, his secret.
Drake had been carrying this secret since the battle against The Olympians. It had been small then, so small he didn't even bother worrying about it. After all, he had more important things to worry about. But now, for at least a second, that had passed. And now he had to focus on himself for once.
This secret of his wasn't just something he could ignore anymore. It had gotten worse over the search for Tartarus, and then after the battle there it got even worse. And now, in what should have the the height of their success in over a year, it had gotten even worse. It was worse than it had ever been before, and now it was making him sick. He couldn't even bear to look at it, to acknowledge that it even existed. Even so, he forced himself too, unwrapping his hands from themselves and staring at the back of his right hand.
Bright purple scales had replaced his skin.
He'd tried to pick them off like scabs, but when he managed to get a fingernail underneath it hurt like hell. There was no skin, it was scale. It was transformed.
He was transforming. Into a dragon.
It wasn't something he'd ever allowed to worry him, but he knew he should have. In order to prevent becoming a dragon, Dragon Slayers needed to have certain antibodies in their body. Only the five natural Dragon Slayers from the past had these, created by their dragons. And when they had kids, these antibodies were inside their children innately. Neither Nashi or Elise had ever gone as far down the road of transformation as he had. Their Dragon Force remained more of an enhanced state, whereas Drake's, in the previous battle with Ben and Zoe, had completely transformed his arms into a dragons front legs. It was no longer and 'if' it would happen, it was a when.
Drake had figured, back in simpler times, that because he'd learned his magic from his Dad, an 'unnatural' Dragon Slayer, that he'd never have to worry. His Dad had never had this problem, so why should he, right? Surely that made sense. Except now it didn't. Drake ran his fingers across the scales on his hand, knowing similar blotches existed on his stomach and his back. He'd kept these spots concealed from everyone, obviously, but it was going to get harder and harder.
He needed to say something.
Drake growled and got up from his chair, going to his bedroom. He plopped down on his bed and stared at the roof, trying to figure out what he was supposed to do. The only thing he could come up with was confess his problems to the guild.
Not now. Later.
Drake knew this was foolish, but he wanted to make sure that Nashi's memories were back in place before he said anything, Having two problems at once was foolish. He rolled on his side and closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep.
"Child of Poison, I have waited too long."
Drake sat bolt-right up in his bed, his ears twitching. Where had that voice come from? It didn't sound like his neighbours. He didn't usually just pick up random voices, though. He could tune them out.
"Hello?" He asked, hoping no one replied. When no one did, it sadly didn't make him feel better. He laid back down with a frown on his face. Something else going wrong? Even worse.
"I break many of our laws sending out this message. Listen well if you hear me, child. No one can save you but you. I will arrive nearby soon. I will contact you when I do. Make your peace, and then come to me."
Drake sat up again, poison coming to his hands as he combed the room with his eyes. He still couldn't find the source of the voice. Activating his magic, he scanned the entire block, and then the city. No one was talking to him.
"Who's there?" Drake demanded. "What do you mean?"
"I mean to save you. Hear me, child; I will prevent your transformation into a dragon. But I will need your help. Wait for me, I will contact you."
The day had faded and the moon had risen over Magnolia, and yet Nashi felt no more peaceful now that before.
She sat on a hill overlooking the valley nearby Magnolia, a spot she recalled from her memories.
Ah yes, if I recall, this is where Elise and I made up that one time.
She could recall now. She'd run away here after her father had returned home. Elise had trailed her here and offered her forgiveness for the bullying she'd done. She had accepted the apology, and they had become friends. Nashi ran through her memories of the Iron Dragon, and then her other friends. The memories were so vivid, so real, and it made her stomach turn happily. Finally, finally she remembered them! Having her two halves come back as one made her feel whole again. It felt so good to be whole again.
At least, as whole as she could be.
Her gaze fell at this, staring at the ground. She grabbed a handful of snow it her hand, listening it hiss as it melted. Right, she had the other half of her power back too, and she remembered how to use it. She'd need to reign herself in better.
There was a slight problem with the recombination of her halves. Nashi had regained her powers, her memories, and overall, her mental health. She felt better than she had in a long time.
Except they weren't her memories.
She had not shared this with anyone. Not her friends, her parents, or anyone else. No one knew it had been a problem, and that afternoon no one even figured anything was wrong with her. Sadly, there was.
Luna finally allowed her facade to drop, gritting her teeth. It wasn't hard so far to go by Nashi, as it was a name she associated with, but it was a bit alien. Not like she wasn't accustomed to switching names now.
Luna may have had Nashi's memories, but they didn't feel like her memories. She felt like she was watching a movie or play, watching the events happen from a third-person perspective. Not only that, but she remembered everything. Everything. Normal people forgot some experiences and events in their life, depending on how consequential they were. Luna did not, and could not. Every event from Nashi's life had been logged in her head, and she could recall any of them at any time. From the most mundane to the most important. She saw it all.
And she wasn't telling a soul.
Nashi regained control of the facade, but her thoughts continued. She would take this secret to her grave if she could. She would live as Nashi Dragneel and, maybe in time, the memories would feel like her own. But she couldn't let anyone in the guild know. They had sacrificed so much for her. If they found out they had failed to combine them wholly, it would be horrible.
"I promised you," Nashi murmured to herself. "I promised to take care of them. To be there for our family. And I will. I swear, I'll live enough for the both of us, sister...I swear on my grave, I will."
She allowed a single tear to escape her eye.
I love you, sister." She croaked.
Aren't I the worst? I think I am. Now, I've been planning this character arc for Nashi for a while now, but I've always been apprehensive about it, I've tried to figure out if it's good or not, but a second opinion is always needed. So let me know what you think so far! I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!