Chapter 29

Awaken, Ifrit

Harrenhal

Samwell Tarly smiles nervously as he rides ahead with the wolves at his side. Clive was right, these great beasts of his were all the protection he would need. Everyone he passed looked to him, scrutinizing him as he was escorted by a Direwolf and a wolf from a land he had never been to. Ghost was massive, nearly the size of his horse while Torgal was much smaller but just as fierce. The two canines lead him on to the castle at Harrenhal, past knights and smallfolk alike, past lords who could not fathom why he was so important all the way up to a familiar face he had thought would be the one to rescue him.

"Cid!" he shouts, earning a laugh from the man "You…you were right!"

"Of course, I was right," Cid calls back "Can't always be wrong, or the missus would be right too often for my liking."

Sam shakes his head "no…the Maesters…the journals…it was all there in the library, within he archives too."

"Everything?" Cid asks, helping the younger man off his horse "You have it all on you?"

Sam nods his head frantically, showing him the satchel "Right here…everything I could find. But Cid…the things I found…it's much more than you think."

"Not out here lad, get inside, and stay close to Rex here. He'll keep you safe like you were a royal prince." Sam follows Rex within the keep. Cid's pleasant expression dropping as he gets serious, turning to face the second horse carrying an awake and alert Clive and a sleeping Jill. "So…what exactly happened down in Oldtown? Because the rumors all say that a great battle was fought between a frozen woman and a flaming beast. Care to share?"

"There was…a complication." Clive hesitates, finding the right word.

"How complicated?"

Within the walls of the keep Robb Stark and his father Eddard Stark sat towards the head of the table. All the lords they could afford to bring to Harrenhal were present for this meeting. A meeting called by Cid no less. Roose Bolton and Rickard Karstark flanked the Stark men at the table while one side was taken up by the she-bears of Bear Island and their she-wolf charge, leaving the other side for Clive and his party. Joshua and Jote were seated when they entered, a nervous Samwell Tarly being escorted by Rex while Ghost and Torgal stood by the entrance awaiting their master's arrival.

"Bloody big beast that one is," Rickard mutters, not low enough to be kept from Robb's ear as the young lordling smirks.

"Well, looks like we are all here now," Cid says in his grandiose tone.

"Are you finally going to explain why you called for us all to be here?" Roose grumbles "Or are we to entertain more of your plans?"

"Funny," Cid says slowly "This actually is a plan of mine…though one with a lot more support than you might think Lord Bolton. Sam, if you'd be so kind as to share with us all what you found?"

"R-right!" Sam steps forward, fumbling with his satchel "My Lords and Ladies, I am Samwell Tarly…formerly of House Tarly…I was a Maester in training in Oldtown when it was…when it was attacked."

"Oldtown?" Eddard's eyes flash with something as he leans forward "You were there to see it? The attack…what happened?"

"It was Ironborn my lord."

There was a loud grumbling from the Northern lords. A call for Theon Greyjoy's head as his name was denounced by the men and women gathered. Ned slams his fist down on the table, silencing them all "Samwell, please, continue."

"Ironborn attacked Oldtown," he continues "It…it wasn't a provoked attack I assure you. But it was handled swiftly, my lord. What…what Cid brought me here to discuss with you all isn't the attacks by the Ironborn."

Roose scoffs "If it isn't the Ironborn raiding our shores again, then what was so important that he needed us all here, and now?"

Sam pulls out a rolled-up parchment and a small stack of letters "These are the main reason…what I have here is proof of the rightful King of Westeros, as well as something darker for all of Westeros."

Ned holds out his hand. Rex steps forward, gingerly taking the parchment and walking it over to Ned. "This…I hadn't thought I would see this document in my lifetime. How accurate is this?"

"Very, my lord," Sam gulps "All documentation within the archive at the Citadel is verified before being added. It was witnessed by the High Septon as well as Ser Arthur Dayne himself, listed as one of the witnesses."

"Arthur Dayne?" A northern lord asks, "What could be so important that the Sword of the Morning is a witness to it?"

Ned and Clive share a look. With a slow nod of his head Clive gives permission. "My Lords…I fear that I must apologize to you all."

"Apologize?"

"What's he talking about?"

"I…have not been honest with you all for many years now I think," Ned licks his lips as he feels a familiar weight settle within him, one he had not felt since a promise made long ago "I shall confess it now, here before you all…I have no bastard son. The boy I raised, the boy I…the boy I failed, Jon Snow…is not a Snow, nor was he named by his parents to be Jon."

"Ned what…what are you saying?" Rickard looks shocked. Robb glances around the room and sees each Lord is shocked. The only one to be composed is Maege Mormont, the old She-Bear of the Island. "How could the boy not be yours?"

"Because he was not born a bastard," Ned continues "As this document shows, he was born of a union between the crown prince Rhaegar Targaryen and his second wife…Princess Lyanna Stark."

"He raped her!" Clive winces, the consensus being…much of what he had come to expect from them all. "And you…you protected his spawn!?"

"I did no such thing!" Ned roars, daring any to question his decision "I fought his kingsguard, I fought in that rebellion all because of the love I had for my sister, my father and my brother! I did not fight just so I could spirit away his child as if it were my own. I had no idea the boy even existed until I got to the Tower of Joy and heard my sister's sweet words to a once crying babe. I…I would never condemn the child for the crimes of his parents, but I will not tarnish my sisters name any further by claiming her son was a bastard."

Ned hands the first document to Rex. The Rosarian knight looks to his liege for guidance, receiving a subtle nod and a pleading look from the other half of his sworn charges. "This document…as viewed by the High Septon and Ser Arthur Dayne, does hereby state the lawful union under the eyes of the Seven between Rhaegar of House Targaryen and Lyanna of House Stark…a willing union."

"The other document…is the annulment of the marriage between Rhaegar and Elia Martell." Ned sighs "We fought that rebellion to reclaim my sister from the man who kidnapped her…stole her away from her betrothed…and it was, all of it, a lie."

"A lie," Maege scoffs "We fought no battles for a lie. We all fought those battles because we all loved Lyanna. We loved your father and your brother, the rogue that he was, and we loved you, Ned. The Quiet Wolf of House Stark, but the Honorable Wolf of the North. So, the boy wasn't your bastard son…your honor is intact, but her child is long dead. You cannot ask us to forgive you for that, only your sister can forgive you."

"Then perhaps it is a good thing that he needs no forgiveness then," Clive says from his seat.

Jill gives him a light smack to the shoulder for his trouble. Maege Mormont's eyes narrowing on his broad-shouldered figure "And just what do you have to say on Northern affairs?"

"He has everything to say on them…my nephew, Jon Snow, is not as dead as you all might think." Ned continues carefully, eyeing each of his lords for even the slightest sign of treachery "Jon Snow was taken by the Ironborn raiders, he was brought to Valisthea, and it is there that he has lived all these years."

"So, the Rosarians surely know where he is then?"

"They do…in fact, he's been here the entire time we've been fighting this war." Ned motions for Clive to stand.

"No…you…you're joking!" Roose denies it even as Clive stands proudly before them "Him? He…He's the rightful king of Westeros!? He's a foreigner! An outsider!"

"He is of the North, Lord Bolton," Ned's cold tone freezes Roose in place "You would do well to remember that, as well as to who you are referring."

Dragonstone

Davos Seaworth ascended the stone steps of Dragonstone with a furrow to his brow. The men behind him, his men, were nervous as they kept their eyes up towards the stormy sky above. The voyage back had been a somber one. Not a word was spoken regarding what they had witnessed with their own eyes. No talk of frozen giants or flaming beasts from the very pits of the seven hells. They all agreed, all swore themselves to silence while at sea until their captain had made his own choice on the matter.

Davos Seaworth was a practical man. A realist. Blunt. True. He was a man of the seas, a man who would forsake his own honor and virtue if it meant doing what was right. A good man.

But even Good Men must bow to a higher power, and what Davos had seen in Oldtown was far greater than anything an old Septon could spout of the Seven. Where the words of scripture and prayer would be recited until their meaning was lost to time, what he saw would never be so easy to forget the power of. That rush of heat so intense that he could feel it even from atop the deck of his ship out at sea. So potent that he could still feel it on his skin miles away.

"Ser Davos," one of the guards speaks, breaking the man from his mental remembrance "King Stannis awaits you in the courtyard ser, but if you require time to rest our liege did bid us to accommodate you for a time. Not for too long, the red woman has prepared for her ritual…she will not be kept waiting long."

"Aye…it has been a long journey but…" Davos runs a hand down his face, resolve setting in "Lead the way lad, our king would want to hear what we have to say."

Davos followed the guardsmen, an eager young lad of seventeen summers. More and more he could see younger lads taking up their posts as guards of Dragonstone. No doubt being forced into service as their fathers wanted no son of theirs to die in battle so young. Through stony halls, past statues and carvings of great beasts Davos walked. His men at his back, eyes flicking to the imagery they no longer could swear was little more than fanciful stories told by the older generation to frighten the youth into obedience. As they entered the courtyard, Davos was surprised by the number of people that were waiting on them all.

"Ser Davos!" Stannis calls over the crowd. He stood before a large pile of kindling, the red woman beside him "We've been expecting you, what news do you bring from Oldtown?"

Davos felt his mouth dry up as he made his approach. His men, a source of comfort and strength for him following that calamity in Oldtown, scurried off to their own private places amongst the crowd. Leaving their captain alone for the first time since their voyage began. "I…I am unsure how to explain it your grace."

"Tell me true Davos, what did you see, what has you so anxious?"

"I…I…" he swallows hard "I'm sorry you grace but I…I was wrong."

"Wrong?"

Davos gestures towards Melisandre "She was right…about all of it."

"Truly?" Stannis casts a glance at the woman then his eyes move back to Davos "Tell me everything."

"We arrived at Oldtown as you ordered…but when we arrived there was hardly anything left of the city." Davos explained "Ironborn raiders had fallen upon it, but they did not destroy Oldtown. It…I saw a hound of ice and a woman too, like she had seen in the flames. But there was another! A…a beast of fire; it…we didn't see all that happened, but it drove them off. Alone."

"The beast lives…you did well to bring this to my attention Davos." Stannis turns to the priestess "It is as you said…we should begin at once."

"Of course, your grace," she bows her head "And will Ser Davos be joining us in this? It would be good if the others saw one as devoted as him partaking."

"If it means your plan succeeds and that beast will put a stop to those…those monsters sooner? Aye…I will join you."

Melisandre smiles as the two men move to their positions amongst the people. Having Stannis' permission to proceed was important enough but having Davos Seaworth, a man who so vehemently was against her Red God and his ways, on her side was a boon she would not waste. She turns to the kindling pile, guards arranging the last of the stone around it. Raising her arms she begins the chant, centuries of preparations finally coming through as the words of her predecessors leave her lips. The people in the courtyard kneel, reciting what she had passed around to them, ancient words muttered in unison by those devoted to R'hllor and his cause.

Davos Seaworth still felt some trepidation as he kneeled, the words he spoke not so enthusiastic as the rest. Even if he agreed with what needed to be done, not every fiber of his old spirit was in alignment with his peers.

Harrenhal

"If we can force the Lannister's into a surrender, then we can hopefully broker a peace treaty with the Tyrell's and make Robert submit to our combined forces." Cody sighs "A siege, if necessary, could force his hand as well as give us the capital without putting up much of a fight."

"Good plan but that doesn't account for the other Dominants," Cid points out "What then? Do we just hide in a cave and hope to avoid a fight with them?"

"Could we not try reasoning with them first?" Ned asks, "Not all of them can be enemies of ours, could they?"

"No telling if they are or not," rex interjects "Dominants are a complicated, stubborn lot of danger. No offense, my lady."

Cid rolls his eyes while Joshua puts on a false look of hurt from the good captain's words. For her part, Jill pays him no mind as her eyes are on Clive. Following his big reveal, he had been distant and quiet…and as time went by, she could see that something was very, very wrong with him. His eyebrows twitched, scrunching up somewhat at intervals. He didn't show any discomfort, but he looked frightened…even if to anyone else he looked ever the picture of calm, she knew deep down Clive wanted to flee.

While the lords in the room tried to add in their own 'wisdom' Clive felt his head beginning to throb. He slowly rose to his feet, covering up a wince as he quickly turned his back to the others and began to make his escape slowly. He could feel the heat within him, burning up inside, while Ifrit roared in his ear. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

"Clive?" Not even her call could stop him as he pushed the doors of the hall open and made his way outside into the cooler air.

"Huh…wonder what that was all about?" Cid muses "Jill, any ideas?"

"I…I am unsure what could be wrong with Clive." She admits with a frown "But he doesn't look well."

"He almost looked like he was in pain…you don't think…" Joshua's eyes widen "We have to go!"

Before he could grab the lad by the shoulder, Rex was pushed back and out of the way by Cid as the older man followed his apprentice out of the hall with Jill hot on their heels. "Cody!"

"On it!"

"What is going on!? Rex!" Ned's shout stops the captain short, Cody running out with Torgal and Ghost after the Dominants "What is happening, what is wrong with Clive?"

"I…I do not know exactly Lord Stark, but if the others are rushing after him then it can only be one thing. And if it is that…then we need to get everyone within the walls, now."

Roose huffs "I am guessing his Eikon is a danger then? Should have him locked up then, that way he cannot hurt anyone."

There was a sharp metallic sound as a sword was drawn. Roose found himself with a cold metal against his throat, his eyes looking up defiantly at the angered face of Rex. Thorn had his blade ready as he approached the captain. "Rex! Don't do it…drop the axe, now!"

"One word," he whispers "One more word out of you Lord Bolton. One excuse for me to do it, and I will not stop until you are little more than chow for the dogs. Understand me?"

"That's enough!" Ned commands "Roose spoke out of turn. Lay down your arms Captain, we have more important things to worry about."

Rex reluctantly pulls his axe back. "I…apologize, my lords and ladies…Lord Stark is right however, we have a job to do. And not a lot of time to do it. Thorn, with me."

As Rex made his way out into the yard, Clive put everything he had into his run from civilization. The flames were growing, flickering to life around his arms and legs as he ran. Out of Harrenhal, into the town, out of the town, and south along the God's Eye. He could see the Isle of Faces in the distance, smack dab in the middle of the lake, and out in front of him nothing but rolling hills and small woods dotting the landscape. He needed to flee. He needed to escape.

"Gah!" he cries out, tripping as a headache brings him to the ground "Why…why now!?" Clive clutches at his head, flames scorching the ground beneath him as he staggers to his feet. He had to keep moving. Had to keep running. Couldn't stop now…not with them so close. "Leave me…leave me alone!"

Jill gasps as she stops atop a hill, a sudden burst of heat washing over her. Cid winces as he feels it same as her, even Joshua tugged at his collar as the heat began to rise.

"Well, if that wasn't you lad…we might just be in trouble." Cid says with a chuckle "Any ideas Jill?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"You saw him prime before, you are the only one of us here who knows what to expect from him now," Cid shrugs "Course, there's no telling just what he can really do anyway."

"Fire, obviously…but before he was just instinct and raw power. No control to speak of." Jill frowns, hand clutched to her chest as she watches Clive off in the distance struggling to become nothing more than a speck at the edge of her vision "Clive…"

"We need a plan," Joshua steps forward, making his way down the hill "I'll go first, keep an eye on him until Ifrit takes the field."

"Good lad," Cid nods his head, a few steps ahead of Jill "I'll join you when things start to get…warmer."

Joshua rolls his eyes, smiling at the banter before his face sets into a stern look. Eyes now on his brother, he takes a deep, calming breath before he lets his own flames overtake him. In a brilliant flash of light and heat, fire engulfs the boy's body as human man; flesh and bone, is replaced by fire and feathers. Phoenix takes to the skies, its cry echoing across the field as it soars above.

"Jill…we need you for this. I know that you care about Clive, I do too…in a much different way than you I hope, but we can't let him prime and go on a rampage." Cid frowns as the heat keeps building "If he loses control, we need to knock him out so that he reverts. But I need to know that we can count on you, that you won't hold back and be a liability. Can you do that Jill? If not for us, then for Clive?"

Jill's gaze stays on the speck she knows is Clive. She knew Cid was right. She knew what she had to do…but could she do it? Cerberus could have killed her with ease if not for Ifrit and Clive…but likewise, she would be dead if she were to face him alone. "Cid I…I can do it," she says, resolute as she steps away from the man "We can do this. Together."

"Together then," Cid chuckles "To think I'm starting to enjoy this little team of ours. Come on then, let's go save Clive so I can make sure he never lives this down. He'll just hate being saved by me."

Dragonstone

Davos felt his resolve wavering at first, his heart still not fully into the ritual as the red woman kept going. His eyes focused, locked onto the flaming torch in a guards hands, watching as the fire was brought to life and the world around him dissolved into a cacophony of chanting and enthusiasm. The vigor of the crowd was contagious. Davos slowly felt himself joining with more passion.

Clive clutches his head; the pain was becoming too much as his screams filled the air. "Stop it! Stop it!" Head grasped firmly between his hands, hunched over in the dirt as his body burned hotter than it ever had in the past the roars of Ifrit filled his ears "I said…stop it!"

Melisandre smiles as she sees the image in the flames. She could see it clear as day, her Lords chosen beast. Body of rock and magma, hair of fire, and above all a burning flame that would help to bring the promised dawn. The perfect beast to serve the promised prince. To serve Azor Ahai. She could feel the power of the ritual, feel the conviction of those loyal to her god and his will. She almost had control, just a final push was needed, and she would bring it to heel to Stannis' commands. Just one final string.

Phoenix Gate

Deep within the Apodytery, within his dark lonely prison, R'hllor stirred to life. Flaming body forming as he felt something tugging at him. His essence, he could feel his very being on the verge of losing. The God of Light shut his eyes, focusing on that feeling…his brow furrows in thought. Someone was meddling in his affairs. Someone was severing control…no.

"No, no, no…where…where are you? Who are you?" he mutters, focusing on every flame he can, on every follower he can feel "You must stop. Stop all rituals at once! Cease before you doom us all!"

His calls, unanswered for millennia by those who could hear it, were finally heard by his devoted. Across Essos his words were heard, his followers ceased their rituals, yet the ritual continued. R'hllor tried another tactic, images could be seen and while intent was hardly ever correctly interpreted, he could make them see this time…he had to. Red priests gathered round the flames as their lord showed them images of a great beast and a man. They knew not what they were being shown but they knew enough that something involving this man was happening, that their god wanted him but why?

R'hllor could feel the strain as he projected his presence to Essos and attempted to maintain the connection that ritual was working to undo. This had to work. For all their sakes it had to succeed. A final image, a crown and the man. The Lord of Light had to sever his efforts now, his power had not returned enough for this…and the connection…it was lost.

"I…I have failed them."

Harrenhal

"I won't…I…refuse…I…I…graaAAHHH!"

In a burst of heat a column of fire rises into the sky. A pillar of flame that catches the Phoenix off guard as it hovers in the air, blue eyes transfixed by the sheer power and heat behind this transformation. As the pillar took shape, Jill and Cid shared a look. The two Dominants surrendered their bodies to their Eikons. In a bolt of lightning, Ramuh with his weathered face and mighty staff took to the air, floating above the land.

"That's more like it, and not a single creaky bone to be felt in Westeros."

"You wont be saying that if he gets angry," Shiva responds with a cool tone "Ifrit is not an Eikon to be taken lightly."

"Noted," Ramuh turns his attention to the pillar of flame "Bloody showoff…guess it makes sense this is how he primes."

As the pillar fades, Ifrits body takes the field. The hulking beast letting out a roar as it embraces its newfound freedom. Yellow eyes flicker across the green landscape, taking it all in as the familiar sound of wingbeats reaches its ears. The Infernal Eikon's head snaps up to the right, snarling as it glares up at the flaming bird that was the Phoenix.

"Clive…what have you become?"

Ifrit roars in warning, left claw coming up to its head.

"Joshua!" Cid calls as he and Jill approach, the pair of Eikons floating alongside the Phoenix "So…that's Ifrit? And it looks like he isn't in control of his Eikon just yet."

"We need to stop this before he can get any momentum," Jill says, stern gaze on Ifrit "The moment it gets going, Ifrit will tear us apart."

"Three of us should do the trick." Jill loved Joshua's positive outlook, she truly did, but this was not the time for it.

"Suggestions?"

Jill's eyes widen "Move!"

The three Eikons narrowly avoid a leaping Ifrit as the infernal beast swipes at them. Jill knew Clive wouldn't do this to them, wouldn't attempt this…but Ifrit would. But just how far would it go?

'There she is,' Ifrit shakes its head as the voice speaks 'The Ice Queen. Strike her down, your Lord commands it!'

"What is he doing?" Joshua asks, watching as Ifrit shakes its head, clawing at its rocky skull "It's almost as if his headache…like it is still causing him pain."

"Well, whatever it is, it can wait," Cid says, raising his staff "One strike ought to do it."

Ifrit didn't see it coming. Its head barely snapped up to look at the sky as the bolt came down. The strike was precise, came right down on his head and if you asked Cid, it was the finest bit of lightning he had ever used. As the smoke cleared, dust settling, Jill felt her body freeze up as a pair of burning red eyes glared up at them. More specifically, at her.

"Well…that didn't work like I hoped it would. Any ideas?"

"Jill…" Her eyes didn't flicker, not once as Joshua spoke and not as Ifrit glared right up at her. "Run!"

Phoenix shrieks, wings raised as fireballs rain down upon Ifrit. The Infernal Eikon leaps to the side, running and rolling out of the way as the land is pelted with fire. Ifrit tossed a fireball of its own, narrowly missing the Eikon of Ice quite literally frozen in place above.

"Snap out of it, Jill!" Cid shouts, blasting lightning at the beast "Dodgy one, isn't he? Let's see how you fancy this!"

Bolts of lightning, weaker than the one that first struck Ifrit, rain down on the Infernal Eikon. The bolts charge its body, residual energy flickering across the molten rock. Ifrit snarls, molten lava dripping from its maw as it crouches down and takes one powerful leap into the air. Jill felt his name on her lips as Ifrit leaped for her. Jaws open, rocky teeth black and cold illuminated by the bright orange glow of lava as those jaws came ever closer to her.

"Move!" Cid shouts, knocking Jill out of the way and being brought to the ground himself. Ifrit roars in his face, angered by the loss of his quarry "Hello to you too!" The infernal Eikon is blasted with concentrated lightning up close, knocked away from Cid as he rises to his feet "And goodbye."

Ifrit's body twitches as the lightning dances across it. 'The Father wishes to defend this abomination? No matter…the Seven have no place in this world. Kill the Ice Queen, and if the Seven interfere…kill them all.'

Ifrit roars, clutching at its skull, red eyes lit aflame. If the voice wanted blood, if he was commanded to do it…he would do it. The beast charges, running faster than most Eikons would be expected to, faster than it did at Oldtown. Ifrit roars as it approaches the downed Shiva.

"Jill!" Joshua schouts from above.

She stares, frozen as the flaming beast comes at her with a single-minded drive. She knew she couldn't do this, not as she was…not while those were his eyes…she shields herself, a wall of ice forming between the pair. Just as Ifrit is near enough to throw a punch and shatter the wall like she knew it could, it leaps into the air. Foot pushing off the top of the wall for an added boost the Infernal Eikon grabs onto the Phoenix and drags the flaming bird to the ground.

"Joshua!" she screams, turning as she hears the Phoenix screech "No…"

Ifrit roars, molten fists slamming into he Phoenix's chest as it screeches in pain. It pummeled the flaming bird, bringing its fists together, raising them up high over its head ready to slam them down and silence the Phoenix once and for all.

A cold blast of ice hits him from behind, Ifrit sent tumbling forward off the Phoenix long enough for the flaming bird to rise back into the air. Shiva stood tall, glaring at the beast as she got its attention back on her. "Leave him alone!"

Ifrit roars defiantly, claws at the ready as it slowly lumbers forward. With a snarl it lunges, running towards her, and swipes. The claw misses her body, but the heat of Ifrit leaves her feeling weak. A single blast of her power freezes it in place "Joshua, Cid! Together!"

As the ice begins to crack, Shiva and Ramuh take to the air joined by Phoenix. The three Eikons prepare their own attacks just as Ifrit breaks free. The Infernal Eikon roars, hands clasping together as a small ball of fire forms.

"Not this again," Joshua groans "Now or never…we finish this!"

"Right!"

Ifrit's red eyes narrow, then they widen as a storm of fire, ice, and lightning rains down upon it. Body engulfed in so much Aether, battered and beaten, left in a crater but still very much in tact. Jill winces as she gazes upon Ifrit's downed form. Joshua is panting somewhat as he struggles to stay airborn after expending so much energy and after the beating he took, who could blame him?

"So…that's that then." Cid says with a sigh "I say that this calls for a celebration."

"I…I could agree to that," Joshua chuckles "But let's go easy on the ale this time Cid."

"What? And let it all go to waste in a barrel?"

Jill tuned them both out, choosing to focus on her beloved…and why he had yet to revert to just Clive. "Something is wrong."

"What? What could be wrong now?"

"I don't know…but he hasn't turned back yet."

"Oh bugger…he's not still awake, is he?"

Melisandre frowns as she loses the image for a moment. They hadn't defeated the beast, had they? No…that couldn't be it. It just wasn't possible. The flames flickered, bursting with renewed life as she saw the Ice Queen. "Strike her down, now is the time, finish her!" she whispers to the flames.

"Should we try one more time? A light attack perhaps," Joshua suggests, moving to the right.

"Aye…one more should do the trick," Cid agrees as he moves to the left "Jill?"

"One more…then we can go back to the others," she brings her hands up, ice forming in the air "Just hold on Clive…soon, you'll be back to normal aahhh!"

"Jill!"

"What happened!?" Cid shouts, Ramuh's blue eyes widening "Oh bugger…lad…is that what I think it is?"

"No…it can't be…but why would it…"

Shiva groans, laying in the dirt just on the edge of the crater. Hand outstretched towards the prone form of Ifrit. "Clive…I…" her hand falls.

"This…just got a lot more complicated lad." Ramuh raises his staff "Keep him busy for me lad, I'm going to give this everything I've got left to give!"

"Right!" Phoenix screeches, raining down fire upon its old foe, blue eye glaring fiercely at the approaching threat.

The threat in question roared a challenge. The familiar visage of molten rock, magma, and fire stood atop a hill. Tail dragging across the ground, sparking new fires to life, as it welcomed its old foe the Phoenix. Joshua for his part knew the difference between this beast and his brother. This was the same monster that nearly killed him at Phoenix Gate all those years ago. This was R'hllor's beast. The copy.

This was Ifrit.

"I'll stop you this time," he vows "You won't hurt Clive, you wont hurt Jill…I won't let you!"

Ifrit roars, dodging fireballs and throwing its own back in kind. The Infernal Eikon with its red eyes would not rest until it had finished the job set before it. As the Phoenix came by to make a pass, Ifrit lashed out in an attempt to dig its claws into the bird's chest. With every pass and every failure, it got closer and closer to the soft underbelly it was after. When it finally knew where to go it swung its arm forward and promptly was thrown for its efforts. Joshua grabbed Ifrit by the arm and quickly swung his body upward, catapulting the beast into the air and right where Cid needed him.

"Let's see you survive this!" Ramuh blasts Ifrit with his Judgment Bolt, the attack hammering the Infernal Eikon's body and sending it crashing back into the earth below. "See…that is how you properly handle an Eikon."

"Cid…it's not over."

"What?" The heat in the area increased. Bursting from the smoke cloud, engulfed in flames, was Ifrit. "Oh bugger."

The Eikon of Fire slammed into Ramuh, burning the old man's body and driving him further from his comrades. When the attack ceased, Ramuh crashed into the earth. Ifrit roars as the Eikon of Lightning stays down, head turning as it glares at the Phoenix. Slowly the infernal beast lumbers off, eyes still on the bird, towards its true target. Joshua watches from above as Ifrit stalks towards Jill and Clive…he couldn't let this happen…not to them. Not again.

"Never again…" Ifrit snarls, body turning as Phoenix swoops in and slams into it. The two flaming Eikons clash, Phoenix digging its talons into Ifrits body while the beast swipes at the bird to dislodge it. Phoenix lifts it up into the air, higher and higher before throwing it to the earth below. As Ifrit tumbles Phoenix follows right behind, ready to follow up with another slam just in case it wasn't out from this. "I won't let you hurt them!"

Ifrit roars right up until it hits the ground. The resulting thud kicking up dirt and debris as Phoenix divebombs its foe. There's a surprised screech before the dust settles, Ifrit holding onto Phoenix by the ankles. The beast roars, throwing Phoenix to the side, the mighty bird hitting the ground hard before the weight of its foe is on its back. Ifrit grabs the bird by the head and slams it down repeatedly into the dirt.

A cold blast of ice hits Ifrit from the right. The beast slowly turns its gaze upon a tired Shiva, hands still up, ice forming around her body. "Put…him…down!"

Ifrit rumbles, relinquishing its hold of Phoenix as it stands to its full height and roars. Two Eikons were nothing. A third Eikon that could barely stand would be no trouble whatsoever. 'Yes, good, kill her and be done with it. Finish her!'

Shiva winces, dropping to one knee. She could barely keep herself conscious like this. Too much energy was used fighting Clive…and now this one was here without a scratch. "Clive…I…I need you."

Ifrit roars, body engulfed in flames, as it charges forward. Shiva closes her eyes, prepared for the inevitable. The heat grew to an unbearable degree. She thought that she would melt before the beast would crash into her…but it never came.

"I said…stop it!"

Shiva's eyes open, slowly looking up as Ifrit struggles to push forward and get to her. Holding it back just barely was a sight she almost couldn't believe she was seeing. "C…Clive?"

"Jill…" Clive roars, pushing his doppelganger back "Away with you! Jill, are you alright?"

"Better now that you are here."

"I'm sorry…I could see it all, but I just couldn't stop it."

Shiva rose to her feet, gathering what frost she can around her arms "What happened? What set you off?"

"Voices…" Clive seemed to wince "I can still hear them, faintly, but for right now it seems that I am in control."

"Can you defeat him?"

"I'll certainly try," he says as he takes point just between her and Ifrit "So, I guess you are the copy R'hllor made of me, which means you aren't in control of yourself either. Unfortunately for you, I don't like sharing my identity with a mindless beast."

Ifrit roars in defiance. Clive roars back. Twin Infernal Eikons charge, one engulfed in flames, the other just figuring out how this all works. Just as Ifrit reaches him, Clive rolls to the right and grabs it by the tail.

"How's this!?" He shouts, slamming his copy into the earth "Not so fun now is it!?"

Ifrit roars as it is dragged back and slammed into the earth again. The beast snarls, digging its claws into the dirt and pulling itself forward.

"Oh no…" Clive mutters as Ifrit takes him for a ride, dragging him after it. "Damn it!"

Ifrit stops short, body turning to deliver a punch to Clive's head that sends him into the dirt. The beast roars, head raised in triumph. "Not so fast!" Clive grabs Ifrit by the lower jaw, keeping its head up as he brings his right arm in and stabs the beast in the chest. Ifrit grabs Clive by the arms and throws him. It barely even flinches as his hand comes loose from its chest.

The beast forms a ball of fire, raising it into the air above its head as Clive gets back to his feet. "Fuck…" he mutters as the ball grows "Now what do you plan to do with that I wonder?"

Ifrit leaps into the air, arms spreading wide as the ball grows to massive proportions. Clive watches as the ball of fire comes hurtling towards him. Bending his knees he leaps, right hand pulled back and then lashing out to punch the offending ball of fire and heat.

"Come on…this…is not over!" Clive roars, Eikonic body forcing the attack back at its creator "Take that!"

Hellfire engulfs Ifrit's body, the explosion sending Clive hurtling back towards the ground. His back hits the ground, the resulting uplift being enough for him to flip over back onto his feet. Clive watches as Ifrit hits the ground. The Infernal Eikon, the copy rather, slowly rising to its feet and glaring right at him. But rather than retaliate, its body seems to freeze up, stiffening in place as it tunes out the world around it.

'Return to us.'

Clive watches Ifrit move, watches the beast slowly turn away and break out into a run to the east. It could still fight him, no doubt it could win against him too. So then why was it retreating? Why flee from a foe that you could so easily vanquish? "Now…how do I turn back?"

Dragonstone

As the flames died down Melisandre can only smile at what she had seen. What that beast could do…what it managed to do all on its own was incredible. Truly her lord had granted his champion a perfect beast to command. Once it returned, she would transfer control to Stannis, and he would finally have what was required to end the Long Night and defeat the Great Other. Nothing would stop him. Not the Seven. Not the peoples of Westeros. And not any false King.

"Is it done?" Stannis asks as he approaches "Did it work?"

"Yes…and very soon, the beast shall return to your side, your grace."

AN: ….would it make it better if I said Happy Holidays now, or at the end? So, there you have it. Our official first 'episode' of Season 2 of this madhouse story. To catch y'all up to where I am as of this moment…awaiting the acquisition of the DLC and or a solid playthrough to watch of it so I know what is in and what is not. I am also being forced to confess that I had plans for Final Fantasy monsters going forward, as well as introduction; I say this because my age-old nemesis is back…and someone decided it needed both a bigger weapon and a growth spurt -_- I hope you people responsible will always have a pebble in your shoe and step on every Lego for the rest of your lives. Yes, I am THAT petty about this Tonberry tomfoolery. So now we have introduced, properly this time, our doppelganger Clive. Yes, this was a thing since Phoenix Gate, no I did not just come up with it because I ran out of villains…seriously, I haven't even properly introduced most of our villains or fully introduced them yet. This will hopefully be posted after I finish this authors note, but if not it was done December 8th 2023. Most likely wont be updating this for a while after, again: DLC, but other than that reason y'all can blame my buddy getting me back into Pokémon with Scarlet and Violet DLC dropping in a week, DBZ BT4 being on my wish list whenever that drops, and a bunch of Jurassic Park stuff dropping…so yeah, probably going to be continuing that story at some point. Oh…and Gundam…couple of ideas floating around, don't worry about it. Maybe it'll be a poll, maybe it will be a question. Who knows? I sure as hell don't.

Without further ado…Follow, Favorite, leave a Review and of the love of all that is good, someone stop Jebest from predicting anything else. I'm gonna copy and paste that for future use, but now…the reviews…

Jebest4781: He did make the most sense at the time…though after seeing that trailer at the Game Awards I am curious as to what is going to happen. Partly why I am pausing this until then is so I have time to plot out more and also see what, if any, abilities Leviathan might grant. Sure beats having to come up with something and it not make sense.

Goonies117: Seeing as the DLC was just announced last night at the Game Awards, they didn't 'get' the Leviathan. More of a kidnapping Theon in his sleep, tossing him overboard and he awakens as the Dominant of Leviathan. If anything changes in the future, that is 100% Future Shobu's problem, as Present Shobu sees nothing wrong….yet.