(New Chapter)
I do not own Fairy Tail Hiro Mashima does.
Demigods And Decisions
***POTD***
Elise smashed through several ruined buildings, flipping midair, as she blocked a downward sword strike from Dimaria. The Spriggan smirked, the force from the clash sending Elise flying down the ruined street, the ground behind her cracking from the force of the blow.
"Well now, aren't you full of surprises," Dimaria smirked, flicking her blade out to her right. "It's been a long time since I've encountered a foe outside the Spriggan or Leichart Twelve that can even move within my Age Seal, let alone fight me in it!?"
Elise managed to find her footing, skidding to a stop as she lightly crouched, the ground cracking around her. The War God Slayer narrowed her eyes, fully aware that this was an opponent unlike any other Team Natsu had encountered before.
"Maybe you're just not as tough as you think you are?"
"Hah! Nice joke, but I know my worth," the Spriggan laughed in response. "To be a part of the Spriggan Twelve means I'm already a cut above the rest of the chaff, and the Emperor knows my value. Any old Mage can be strong, but they don't have what I have!"
"My mistake," Elise replied, cracking her neck to relieve some pressure. "You're not just overconfident, but you're arrogant too."
"You're amusing," Dimaria smirked, as she began leaking more of her Magical Power. "What is it about you that makes me want to tear you in half with my bare hands…?"
Elise sniffed in response, not deigning to offer any verbal retort to that. Inwardly though, she felt exactly the same. Looking at Dimaria, she couldn't help but feel like the Spriggan was similar to her in some way, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Time to kick this up a notch," Dimaria continued, bringing Elise's focus back to the present, as the Spriggan's leather coat faded away, leaving her upper body clad only in her dark red sports bra, exposing her shredded upper body and the numerous scars she'd accumulated over the years.
In response, Elise flared her own power, eliciting a raised eyebrow and sadistic grin from the Spriggan, as the entire area began to rumble violently.
"Huh? Guess this really is gonna be a great fight," the Spriggan smirked, crouching down slightly as she readied her blade. "Try not to die too quickly, I want to actually have some fun with this…"
Dimaria Yesta (Base Form, Suppressed) – 3.3 Million MPI
Elise Faulkner (PTS, Base Form, Slightly Suppressed) – 3.3 Million MPI
The two Mages vanished, reappearing high in the air as their blades clashed, instantly forming a crater beneath their position. Dimaria again seemed surprised, but excited, as they pushed against one another.
"Now THIS is what I've been waiting for," Dimaria grinned savagely, as they both started their descent to the ground, their blades pushing off one another.
Both Mages spun around, performing equally powered roundhouse kicks, clashing again as they hit the ground.
The exact moment the pair touched down, they were immediately trading blows, the sound of clashing steel echoing across the area, as large chunks of the earth were torn open from every narrowly avoided strike.
Dimaria cackled with glee as they constantly vanished and reappeared across the area, blades moving at speeds far beyond what any regular Human could ever hope to reach. Eventually, Dimaria managed to strike the hilt of Elise's blade, disarming her.
"Hah! I've got you-OOF!"
As Dimaria swung her blade in using her left hand, striking the hilt of Elise's sword, she had thrown a considerable amount of momentum behind the swing, lurching her body forward and slightly toward the right.
Due to this, it meant that there was a minuscule opportunity that had opened up for Elise, as she willingly allowed the sword to fall from her right hand. In the exact moment she let the blade go, she had instinctively performed an upward kick, striking Dimaria directly in the chin, snapping her mouth shut and knocking her upward.
In mere moments, she had already spun around, her leg coated in a blackish coating, teeth clenched as she struck Dimaria in the ribs.
"War God's Armageddon Kick!"
Dimaria's eyes widened as she was blown away, smashing through dozens of buildings before managing to recover from her shock. Punching the ground as she hit it, she propelled herself into the air, performing several flips before landing on top of a collapsed tower.
"That power you just used… I don't believe it!"
Watching as Elise slowly approached, Dimaria tossed her sword aside, the blade having been snapped clean in two, before cracking her knuckles.
"You're a God Slayer!?"
"I am," Elise replied calmly, dismissing her own blade. "I am a War God Slayer."
"Tch! Now your ability to move within my Age Seal makes sense. Having the mimicked abilities of a God would render you immune to Time Manipulation…"
"Mimicked abilities? That's where you're wrong," Elise replied with a firm shake of her head. "My power is the real deal, taught to me by the current War God."
"What!?"
"I was trained by her personally since I was young, and my power is all my own," Elise continued, as Dimaria's shocked expression morphed into a scowl.
"I refuse to believe that," Dimaria hissed. "There's no way in Hell you were trained by a God!?"
"Believe whatever you want," Elise replied, as she entered an offensive stance. "I know where the power I wield came from, and that I earned it."
"You think yourself to be so special," the Spriggan growled. "You think that you're the only one who can lay claim to the power of a God!?"
"Wait, what-?"
"If you really are chosen by a War God, then face me at my full power," Dimaria roared, as her form became coated in a bright golden light. "Take Over: God Soul – Chronos!"
"What did you just say," Elise gasped, as she felt Dimaria's power explode, the golden light now spewing out all manner of strange symbols, though Elise knew they were numbers in various forms.
"This is… I don't believe it," the War God Slayer murmured, as the light suddenly collapsed in on itself, retracting into Dimaria's new form.
Standing now equal to Elise's ten-foot height, Dimaria's form had shifted greatly. Her skin had paled considerably around her face, with the rest of her body shrouded by a strange black and yellow colored bodysuit, the yellow in particular forming what appeared to be the insignia for the Time Class. Her hair had lengthened considerably, having gone a shimmering gold colour as it flowed behind her, numbers occasionally fluttering from the strands of her hair.
But what really had Elise worried, was her eyes, and the Galaxy Blue hue within them.
"The Time God Chronos…"
"Do you still dare to claim that you are trained by a God," Dimaria asked, her voice possessing an echo to it that made her ears ring slightly. "Behold the power of Time itself!"
"You used Take Over Magic," Elise muttered in response, as she finally managed to regain her bearings. "You've actually got the Time God Chronos sealed within you!?"
"That's right. My people have contained the Soul of the Time God Chronos for generations using a special form of Magic taught to my people long ago! My people have the backing of a God, a REAL God," Dimaria's voice boomed, as she slowly floated higher, pointing down at Elise. "You dare claim that you are trained by a real God!? PROVE IT!"
"Elise, I need you to listen to me very carefully…"
"Mother!? Mother, are you seeing this!?"
"All of Terminus is seeing it, and believe me, they are NOT pleased," Eliza's voice replied firmly within her mind. "The Council wishes to see the former Lord Time, Chronos, rescued from his cruel Fate. You must battle and defeat Dimaria Yesta, and save Lord Chronos!"
"But Mother, the kind of power at her disposal is insane!?"
"Perhaps. However, you've forgotten that you grew stronger over the seven years of slumber, remember? You are not a fledgling with Aura anymore Elise, remember? You are a true Demigod now, one capable of pushing back against a foe like this!"
"But Mother," Elise whispered, doubting her ability to face a foe like Dimaria.
"Have faith Elise… Have faith in your power. Have faith in your God's Aura. But most importantly… Have faith in yourself! I'm here with you, and will support you all the way, so make me proud, Elise, and show Dimaria the power of WAR!
Elise nodded shakily, gritting her teeth as she activated her own God's Aura, the Galaxy Blue Aura bursting to life around her, as Dimaria floated backward in shock.
"I-IMPOSSIBLE!?"
Elise's Armor shifted, as an ebony bodysuit lined with the durable metal manifested around her, the symbol of the War Class etched into the right of the breastplate, glowing the same Galaxy Blue as her Aura.
"I am Elise Faulkner, Daughter of Eliza Faulkner, the current Goddess of War," Elise declared proudly, as Dimaria clenched her fists, visibly shaking with rage. "I won't lose to someone who achieved Godhood by stealing the power of an Elder God! Dimaria… I will defeat you!"
Elise roared as she continued to power up, prompting Dimaria to do the same, as the entire capital shook under the weight of their power.
Elise Faulkner (God's Aura, Full Power) – 52.5 Million MPI
Dimaria Yesta (God's Aura, Lord Chronos Take Over, Full Power) – 60 Million MPI
Elise could scarcely believe the power running through her, feeling her base form at its maximum amplified fifteen times over. Her control over God's Aura had definitely improved by leaps and bounds since her fight with Zancrow.
"This feels… This is unreal!?"
"Focus Elise! Do not let your guard down for a single moment," Eliza's voice cut in sharply. "Dimaria is still stronger, but you know how to work around a slight disadvantage, don't you?"
"Y-Yes Mother!"
"Do me proud Elise. And remember … The Gods of Terminus are watching your battle…"
"No pressure," Elise muttered, as both she and Dimaria hit their peak. "Fine, let's do this then!"
"So, a battle between Gods, is it," Dimaria said aloud, only for Elise to shake her head.
"Demigods. As we are now, we are still nowhere near being considered full Gods," Elise replied, eliciting a scowl from the Spriggan.
"Speak for yourself! Your imitation might not be considered to be the power of a God, but I AM a God!"
"You're wrong, Dimaria," Elise replied firmly. "You're just wielding stolen power, forcing the soul of Lord Chronos to work when it should be resting in peace! I won't allow you to abuse his power any longer!"
"Who are you to judge me, to judge the ways of my people," Dimaria snapped in response. "My ancestors captured his soul fairly long ago, and it is OURS to use as we see fit!"
"I beg to differ," Elise snarled, as Dimaria roared, vanishing on the spot.
"I'll show you who the REAL God is," Dimaria shouted, as Elise sensed her attack.
Spinning around on the spot, Elise's eyes immediately saw Dimaria's fist approaching, as she tapped it slightly off course at the last possible moment, the fist narrowly gliding past her cheek.
Fatal Battle
Spriggan Twelve Eleventh Shield, Alvarez Empire
Dimaria Yesta
Dimaria immediately slid backward, avoiding an upward kick to the head, as the two Demigods vanished on the spot, reappearing nearby as they exchanged a flurry of punches and kicks at light speed.
Elise found it surprisingly easy to dodge Dimaria's attacks, but harder to land one herself. Eventually, the pair both spun around, performing roundhouse kicks in perfect unison, crossing legs as the ground below cracked open.
"Tch! How are you keeping up," Dimaria growled, as they began exchanging a barrage of kicks between one another, that always ended up resulting in a tie. "Damn it!"
Elise quickly began to realize that Dimaria was in fact rusty when it came to hand to hand combat. She easily obliterated her foes, however that often involved abusing Time Magic to keep them stationary. As a result, an opponent like her was one the Spriggan was ill suited against, as Elise was well versed in hand to hand, and was far from rusty.
After another furious exchange of blows, Elise landed first blood, faking out a blow to Dimaria's stomach with her right fist, before suddenly landing a swift jab to the Spriggan's face with her left.
Dimaria stumbled backward, not harmed, but surprised, but this didn't last, as Elise slugged her across the right side of the face, knocking her into one of the countless crumbling buildings around them.
Almost immediately, Dimaria shot out of the rubble, both arms glowing a bright golden color, and a scowl on her face. Elise immediately leapt backward, as the Spriggan began firing a barrage of golden lasers at her.
"God's Aura: Time God's Looping Salvo!"
As she leapt out of the way of the initial barrage, Elise watched as they struck the crumbling structures. Anything that the attack came into contact with appeared to age rapidly, as the structures aged into dust.
"Definitely not getting hit by that," Elise huffed, avoiding the second barrage as she took flight, weaving around the attack before shooting back down toward the ruins below.
"You can't run Faulkner," Dimaria roared, as she increased her rate of fire on the attack, scowling as Elise tore through the damaged city in order to evade her attack. "Stay … STILL!"
Dimaria winced, ceasing fire, as she clutched her head, clearly in pain. Elise ceased her evasion strategy, quickly moving to close in, though analyzing the Spriggan as she went.
"Damn it… What's-!?"
"I don't believe it," Eliza chimed in, almost in shock. "Lord Cronos is fighting back!"
"What do you mean?"
"He can sense you, sense that you wield the power of a God. He must know that this is his chance to be free of Dimaria and her people, the people who have held him captive for over a millennium!"
Dimaria Yesta (God's Aura, Lord Chronos Take Over Resisting) – 51.12 Million MPI
Elise's resolve hardened, watching as Dimaria seemed to be struggling to recover from whatever Chronos was doing within her. Closing the distance, she cocked back her right fist, coating it with a blackish hue mixed with Galaxy Blue Aura.
"God's Aura: War God's Armageddon Fist!"
Smashing Dimaria in the face, the Spriggan could only cry out in pain as she was smashed through several crumbling towers. Elise vanished, reappearing several meters ahead of her, her leg charged up with another Armageddon Kick, belting the Spriggan directly into the earth, folding in the entire area.
The moment her form impacted the earth, an entire hectare was immediately uprooted, earth being flung high into the air as Elise dashed directly into the chaos. Buildings, vehicles, and all sorts of debris was falling around her, but the War Goddess had a single target.
"This… This cannot be," Dimaria snarled. "HOW CAN YOU RESIST AFTER ALL THIS TIME!?"
"Pin her down Elise, quickly!"
Elise didn't verbally respond, but did as Eliza commanded. She knew that Lord Chronos wouldn't be able to resist for long, and should Dimaria be allowed to return to full strength, she would have a real fight on her hands.
Grabbing Dimaria's face as she fell, Elise slammed her into the earth, shaking the entire Ichor Capital in the process. Dimaria nearly fainted, experiencing pain from both Chronos and Elise simultaneously. Before she could do anything to try and shake off Elise, the War God Slayer pinned her down.
"Ngh-! Get off!"
"No," Elise growled in response, slamming her head into the ground again, eliciting a pained snarl from the Spriggan.
"Damn it… How dare you disobey my commands, Chronos," Dimaria snarled, blood seeping through her teeth as she accidentally bit her own tongue. "This… I won't allow it to end like this-!"
"You have no choice," Elise muttered darkly, as a portal opened up behind her. "Quickly, she's regaining strength!"
Behind her was Eliza, along with another individual that the War God Slayer had yet to meet. The woman was extremely powerful, that much Elise knew, but it took her several moments to put two and two together.
"You're…!?"
"I am a member of the Time Class, yes," the woman replied gently, eyes glowing a bright gold before swapping into the Galaxy Blue hue she was used to. "Keep her still, Elise Faulkner…"
Elise did as the member of the Time Class requested, keeping the still struggling Dimaria pinned, as the God placed a hand on Dimaria's chest and forehead.
And then… the screaming began.
Dimaria's mouth flew open, as a surge of God's Aura flooded the crater they were in, the member of the Time Class wincing as if being physically struck by some sort of unseen force. Elise held her body in place, even as the thrashing continued to get worse by the second.
The reason for Dimaria's pain became evident after several minutes of violent struggling, as Lord Chronos' soul began to emerge through Dimaria's chest, her form returning to normal as Eliza quickly pulled her back.
"Its over," Eliza murmured, as the member of the Time Class fully tore Lord Chronos' soul from Dimaria, the Spriggan releasing one final cry before seemingly falling unconscious.
The golden soul of Lord Chronos swelled rapidly, as yellow sparks quickly began to shoot out in all directions, along with strange archaic symbols and runes that found themselves carved into the earth around them.
The War Class member quickly shoved his soul into a strange looking container, capping the lid before sighing tiredly.
"M-Mission accomplished, Lady Eliza," the Time Class member panted, shooting her a shaky thumbs up. "Here…"
Eliza took the jar with one hand, catching the Time Class member with the other, shaking her head with a sigh.
"Well, that at least went better than I'd expected."
Elise powered down, immediately turning off to the right and vomiting, an instant wave of extreme dizziness and an upset stomach hitting her instantly.
"Ah, my apologies Elise. I did forget to mention that your body wasn't exactly used to wielding that much Aura in one go."
"You … fucking THINK," Elise groaned, before releasing another load of vomit. "Eugh…"
"I'll be back in a moment, just hold tight for me Elise," Eliza sighed, storing the jar away and hoisting the Time Class member over her shoulder, vanishing back through the portal.
"Yeah sure, because I'm just gonna be going somewhere," Elise moaned, vomiting again as she dropped to her knees. "Eww…"
***POTD***
A short distance away, Natsu was laying down on a rock alongside Brandish, the pair stargazing as if the entire city hadn't just been getting torn apart.
"See that one? Did you know that it's shaped like a Dragon because of the God of the Dragons," Natsu asked, as Brandish shook her head.
"I didn't know that," the Spriggan replied. "Why is it like that?"
"Because the God of Dragons demands a constellation in every reality that has Dragons in it, that's why."
"…"
"I'm telling the truth you know?"
"…"
"What?"
"Sorry, my mind was elsewhere," the Spriggan muttered in response, before tilting her head to look at the Dragon Slayer. "You know, I'm glad that we don't have to fight?"
"I kind of figured that."
"Fighting is troublesome, and I'd rather let other people deal with it all," the Spriggan sighed tiredly. "They call me the Country Demolisher, but really, most of the Spriggan or Leichart Twelve could have that title."
"What are you getting at," Natsu asked, rotating himself so he laid on his side, facing her.
"I'm just trying to figure something out, I suppose? I'm trying to figure out why you fight for Scarlione?"
"Why I fight for Scarlione? Well, I suppose its because I have very close friends here. Scarlione, it's a place from my past, an important one," Natsu replied thoughtfully. "This country made me who I am today…"
"Natsu… You do understand that Scarlione is going to fall eventually, right?"
"Natsu sighed, rolling onto his back as he crossed his arms, eyes narrowed in deep thought.
"Its obvious that Dimaria has been defeated by Elise Faulkner," Brandish continued. "Once word of Dimaria's defeat reaches our base, Irene Belserion will be dispatched to investigate, just like last time-."
"I know."
"Natsu," Brandish muttered, rising into a sitting position as she looked down upon him with her usual cold visage, though, he could see the warmth buried deep within her frigid exterior. "You should take your friends and leave Scarlione, while you still have the chance?"
"What about August? Will he be dispatched as well?"
"It is quite likely. He seeks to fight and crush the strongest of foes, and any who defy the will of Emperor Spriggan. Should word reach him that one of the Spriggan were defeated in Scarlione, he may very well come here…"
"That's definitely not good," Natsu muttered, cursing his luck. "I've definitely grown stronger, but I'm nowhere close to the likes of Irene or August. And then there's the fact that Erza, Elise and Wendy are here too. Though, it seems Elise may have just unlocked something incredibly powerful…"
"You know, there is an alternative," Brandish suggested slowly, drawing the Dragon Slayer's attention. "You could always just leave and grow stronger? From what I understand, the Emperor just wants the secret to Queen Illyandra's Magic, and how she is tied to the land. So, he is unlikely to proceed beyond the Scarlione borders for the time being, I assume?"
"They would come for Fiore eventually though, wouldn't they," Natsu sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There are many strong Mages in Fiore, but there are also people who possess little to no Magic at all. If Alvarez were to invade Fiore as it is now…"
"For what its worth, I am sorry that I even need to suggest you do this," Brandish continued. "I know you try not to flee from foes that threaten those you care about, but I don't want to see someone I actually care about be slaughtered…"
"Brandish…"
"You don't have to do this for me, but at least consider it for the well-being of your friends," the Spriggan sighed. "I won't fight you, but the rest of the Spriggan and Leichart won't have any qualms about doing so."
"I understand Brandish, and I'm also sorry that I can't just tell you yes," Natsu replied gently. "I'll see if I can convince my friends to leave Scarlione, but if they won't, then I will remain here."
"I see… I hope that you are successful in convincing them then," Brandish replied with a curt nod, right as a portal opened up. "What is-?"
Elise walked out of the portal, Dimaria's unconscious form slung over her shoulder, before she suddenly dropped the Spriggan at Brandish's feet.
"She's alive, but I'm not sure how much longer that'll be the case," Elise said, glancing between the Spriggan and Natsu curiously. "I'd probably seek medical help for her and do what you lot can?"
"Then it seems that this is where I shall take my leave," Brandish sighed, slowly getting to her feet as she effortlessly picked up Dimaria. "I hope you make the right choice in the end…"
"I'll do what I must," Natsu replied calmly, yet firmly, eliciting one final nod from the Spriggan, before she vanished in a burst of speed.
"Do I even want to know?"
"I'll explain it to you later," Natsu sighed, shaking his head. "For now, let's get back to The Ichor Throne. You should be good to grab Shrikke, and I'll deal with Illyandra's vaults."
"Fair enough. Just don't make me run too fast, okay?"
"Why?"
"I'm feeling a bit queasy…"
"Uh, okay," Natsu chuckled awkwardly. "Fair enough. We are on a schedule though, remember?"
"I know," the God Slayer huffed, as the duo began walking toward The Ichor Throne. "So, since we're walking all the way back, how about you fill me in on you and that Spriggan girl?"
"Heh. Well, it all started a few years ago…"
***POTD***
Seven hours following the battle in the Ichor City, Brandish arrived at Alvarez High Command, dropping Dimaria off at the medical ward, before heading directly to the communications wing.
With a mere glance, she cleared the entire room out, with everyone knowing full well she was about to speak about some sort of classified information.
Fiddling around with a large Projection Lacrima situated at the back of the room, the Spriggan then pressed several buttons, until the projection of a robed young man manifested several meters ahead of her position.
"Brandish Myu," the figure smiled gently. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Lord Zeref," Brandish muttered, dropping to one knee before the projection. "My Lord, I've spoken to … him."
"And? How did it go?"
"Despite the growth you predicted within him, he seemed genuinely passive, at least toward me," Brandish replied curtly. "Based on the few moments he's actually had to flare his power; he's grown leagues stronger than the Natsu Dragneel you provided data on from Tenrou Island."
"How strong do you believe him to be at this current moment, Brandish," Zeref asked curiously. "Where do you think he scales?"
"My apologies Lord Zeref, but its simply too hard to accurately scale his power," Brandish replied with a sigh. "I suppose he would be someone considered for Spriggan or Leichart status, were he part of the Empire, if that helps?"
"Every scrap of information helps me greatly Brandish, you know this," Zeref replied calmly. "Did you happen to detect anything… different, coming from Natsu?"
"None of the signs you asked me to look for, no my Lord."
"I see. So, he requires more time before he is complete," Zeref murmured to himself, before shaking his head. "Sending August to Scarlione will only hinder my plans further, so I shall dispatch Irene alone."
"My Lord, there is something else you should know…"
"What is it Brandish?"
"Natsu is being accompanied by a girl, a God Slayer by the name of Elise Faulkner," Brandish began. "This girl, she not only defeated Dimaria, but somehow, she has stripped away the soul of the Time God Chronos, returning it to Terminus."
At the mention of this news, Zeref frowned, seemingly pondering something for a moment, before suddenly looking up, as if recalling something from his past.
"Ah yes, the Daughter of the current standing War Goddess, Eliza Faulkner," Zeref hummed in understanding. "It seems that she must have gained a significant boost since the Tenrou Island incident. As a Demigod, she wouldn't have been affected by the Time Magic woven into Fairy Sphere. In addition to that, she would have been due a drastic increase in her base power from her fight with Zancrow…"
"You are aware of her?"
"I am aware of all those Natsu Dragneel associates with, even if its for his detriment. Regardless, I do not consider Faulkner a threat, at least not to myself or those high in the Spriggan and Leichart Twelve."
"I see…"
"Now, tell me Brandish, is Dimaria dead?"
"No Lord Zeref, she's still alive, though in a coma due to the loss of Chronos' soul."
"I see. Then it appears I must act quickly," Zeref sighed, before walking forward, surprising Brandish as he physically emerged from the projection, one eye glowing Crimson Red, the other Galaxy Blue. "Take me to her."
"Y-Yes Lord Zeref," Brandish replied shakily, shocked that the Black Mage had decided to physically come to assist Dimaria. "Right this way!"
Brandish led Zeref to the medical ward, with Zeref rendering himself invisible to all but Brandish herself, in order to navigate the headquarters better. Once they arrived at the medical ward, they immediately were at Dimaria's bedside.
"Lord Zeref, what do you plan on doing?"
"Many consider me evil, Brandish. They speak the name of the Black Wizard Zeref, associating me with the creation of chaos and despair within our world… Perhaps I am evil? Perhaps I'm not? Either way, years of unwavering loyal service doesn't go unrewarded, even if she failed me in the end."
Holding his right hand out, palm upright, a black book manifested itself in a puff of black smoke. The book had no title on either the cover or spine, and when Zeref opened it, the text was blank.
"Dimaria Yesta, Warrior Queen of the Scarlione Empire, I still have a great need of your service," Zeref proclaimed, as the book slowly started to levitate, the blank first page now facing Dimaria's position.
Black tendrils shot out of the book, impaling themselves into Dimaria's comatose form. Almost immediately, her body began to shake violently, as her skin turned a sickly black color, before her very body composition seemed to break down, crumbling away.
As this happened, the tendrils appeared to be absorbing something from her, as something thick appeared to be traveling through the tendrils and into the book, fading into the pages as they flicked through at a rapid rate.
And then, the tendrils retracted back into the book, with the cover slamming shut. Dimaria was gone, and all that remained was the book in Zeref's palm that now bore text across both its front cover, and the spine.
Dimaria Yesta
Book Of The Tears Of Time Vol I
The Tale Of A Fallen God
"Now she will continue to serve just as effectively as before, only now augmented by a power far greater than what she possessed before," Zeref smiled, as he opened a silver portal next to himself. "Oh, and I'll have Irene come to set her loose soon. I have some matters to discuss with her."
"Understood. But Lord Zeref, what do you plan on having us do about the Scarlione forces?"
"They are a non-issue. Have all remaining Alvarez Commanders halt operations immediately, retaining a defensive stratagem. Any who disobey are to be noted and will be sentenced to Vistarion Minar upon their subsequent return to Alvarez."
"Understood. I take it that this means you plan on ending the war now?"
"Indeed."
"And, I assume that means the capture order on Illyandra Scarlione VII is now rescinded?"
"Indeed it is. Having now lost a member of both the Spriggan and Leichart Twelve to the Scarlione Empire, we must now take immediate action to end the war, lest the public back home catch wind of it. Half the battle is maintaining a positive public image so that we may continue to receive loyal soldiers."
"Of course, Lord Zeref, I understand. I'll send out the order immediately, and inform them that none aside from Irene may alter it."
"Excellent. Oh, and by the way, I will not be pleased if I find out Natsu and his friends have been killed during all of this," Zeref replied, almost as if it were an afterthought. "I have plans that require their… involvement."
"Understood my Lord."
With one final nod, Zeref departed, leaving Brandish alone in the room with only the book that now contained Dimaria within it. Looking down at the book, the Spriggan couldn't help but feel sorry for her ally.
"Well, at least you aren't dead, huh Dimaria," Brandish sighed. "I just wonder what you'll be like when you come out of there…?
Walking out of the room, she left the book sitting on the bed, her mind reviewing just what she'd actually seen. Because, as far as Brandish knew, only Irene, August, and two others had ever seen the process she'd just born witness to.
The creation… of a Demon of Etherious.
***POTD***
The next day, Natsu and Elise arrived back at the base within the Kaarth Mountains, where Shrikke was immediately hauled off toward the medical ward.
As for Natsu and Elise, the duo was immediately led toward the Queen's war room, where everyone else was waiting for them. Looking around, he was glad to see Erza and Gildarts were alright, but raised an eyebrow at the fact the latter was missing his prosthetic arm.
"Seems like you guys succeeded in your mission," Gildarts grinned. "I'm glad to see Shrikke was alive."
"Yeah. Unfortunately, we had to get past two of the Spriggan Twelve to get to him," Natsu replied, as everyone in the room showed signs of shock.
"Which ones did you encounter Natsu," Illyandra asked as calmly as she could, clearly concerned.
"Dimaria Yesta and Brandish Myu."
"I see," Illyandra sighed, shaking her head. "And I take it that you've either managed to avoid them, or defeated them outright?"
"Elise defeated Dimaria by taking away her powers," Natsu explained. "Brandish and I didn't fight, but I negotiated Shrikke's release."
"And what about-?"
"I have everything," Natsu replied with a stiff nod. "All of it."
"I see… Then, it appears everything went off as best as it could have," Illyandra sighed, a tired smile on her face. "With your success, and the success of Erza and Gildarts in their mission, we have made significant progress over the last few days."
"So, what's the plan now?"
"Now, all of you will have some much-needed rest," Illyandra smiled. "You've all fought hard, and faced terrifying foes. It would not be fair to have you immediately go back out into the fray once more. Therefore, I've made arrangements for some quarters to be given to all of you for tonight, as we figure out our next move."
The conversation quickly drifted off into other topics, such as reports from other bases, and the halt in all Alvarez attacks which was now obviously due to Dimaria's defeat. And then, once the meeting was adjourned, the group found themselves being shown to their own quarters.
"Hey Gildarts?"
"What?"
"I need to talk to you about something," Natsu whispered to the Crash Mage, as Elise and Erza spoke with a rather excited looking Wendy. "It's important."
Gildarts simply nodded in response, motioning for him to follow him as they went just outside the base. The pair sat down on some smooth rocks near the entrance to the base, as Natsu recounted his conversation with Brandish.
"What exactly are you getting at Natsu," Gildarts asked, leaning forward with a hard gaze. "Are you suggesting…?"
"Gildarts, we can't save Scarlione," Natsu whispered, feeling his heart clench as he admitted what they all knew. "I think Illy realizes this as well, which is why she had me take everything from her vaults… She knows the end is coming for this country, and now that Dimaria has been defeated, Irene will be coming."
"Right…"
"Just think about it logically Gildarts? Just for me to get to the capital, you had to take down a bunch of forts, losing your prosthetic arm in the process," Natsu continued. "I have to be honest, Erza and Wendy will surely die if we stay here. Elise seems to have grown absurdly strong thanks to her seven years of growth and her better adapting to the use of God's Aura, but not even she can fight monsters like Irene or August."
"You're right kid," Gildarts sighed, looking away as he steadied his breathing. "The thing is though; we've got unfinished business here in Scarlione."
"Felix…"
"That's right. I don't think either of us will be able to live with ourselves if we abandoned him to whatever Fate is destined to fall on this country," Gildarts nodded in response.
"I know Gildarts, believe me, I know. Which is why on the way back from The Ichor City, I was talking to Elise about how the two of us will be going to find him."
"And? What's the plan for when we do find him," the Crash Mage asked in response, as Natsu's gaze shifted to his feet for the briefest moment. "You know as well as I do that he's probably going to be beyond saving at this point, right? He's been out there for at least seven years, there's no way he'll be sane again after all that?"
"Unless he managed to save himself?"
"Come on Natsu…"
"It is possible," Natsu countered evenly. "Look, we'll cross the bridge on what to do with Felix when we do eventually find him. Right now, what we need is Felix's location, which I'm fairly certain Illy should be able to locate."
"Fair enough," the older man sighed. "You do realize I've only got one arm though, right?"
"And? You don't even use that arm to use your Magic anyway, just for hitting stuff," Natsu replied with a shake of his head. "You'll have me there to back you up too, right?"
"Fair enough. But, if we're seriously going to do this, then I want you to do something for me?"
"What is it," Natsu asked curiously, as the older man placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Spend a bit of time with Erza, just the two of you," the Crash Mage replied with a small smile. "I think she'd really appreciate you doing that for her?"
"Is she alright?"
"For the most part, yeah. I think she's just feeling a bit down about everything that's happened since Tenrou, among other things."
"I'll go spend the rest of the day with her then, while you talk with Illy about what we're going to do," Natsu replied, feeling rather bad about not being there for Erza. "I'm always neglecting Erza it seems… Though, to be fair, circumstances often play a large part in that. But I still should have tried harder to be there for her…"
"Don't beat yourself up over it Natsu, we all know how it's been for you since you first returned to the Guild. She knows it too. Just don't stress about it and go spend some time with her, okay?"
"Okay," Natsu replied, releasing a tired sigh. "Thanks Gildarts."
"No problem Natsu," the older man smiled. "Now go on, daylights wasting!"
Natsu snorted in response, getting up from his spot and making his way back into the base, leaving Gildarts alone to ponder the days to come.
***POTD***
Returning to their shared accommodations, Natsu found Erza still speaking with Elise and Wendy. As soon as he approached, Wendy practically bounded over to him, hugging his midsection as she beamed up at him.
"Natsu! Mister Solomon has been teaching me so much about how to control my Magic and how to make better use of my Healing abilities! He's so wise and smart, and he even said he was the one who helped you figure out how to unlock the Dragon Force!"
"Heh. Yeah, he was," Natsu smiled, petting her head affectionately, finding himself glad that she was showing genuine signs of happiness. "Its still a lot of hard work to achieve the form though, so don't think he can give you any shortcuts there?"
"Oh, I know that much. Mister Solomon is just making sure I've got an understanding of how to get the most out of my Magic, kind of like what you were teaching me when we went on that trip with Lykyria."
"Listen to everything Solomon tells you Wendy, I promise you that it'll only benefit you," Natsu replied, as he looked over to Erza. "Hey Erza?"
"What is it Natsu?"
"I need to talk to you for a bit… Only if I'm not interrupting anything though!?"
"Its fine. Elise and I have been speaking with Wendy about her training with Solomon, so I can chat with you if you want?"
"Sure," Natsu grinned, as Elise gave him an amused glance.
"Hey Wendy, let's go find Solomon," Elise suggested, as the young Dragon Slayer let go of Natsu. "I want to see if he has any good tips for me too!?"
"I'm sure he will Elise, he seems to know an awful lot!"
Wendy darted out of the room, with Elise lazily trailing behind her, before looking over her shoulder.
"Have fun~"
Natsu chuckled as Elise closed the door, leaving Natsu and Erza alone, the room all to themselves.
"So, what's going on Natsu?"
"Well… Erza look, we haven't really spent much time together in a fair while, you know? And I'm not talking about sex or anything, I mean just me and you, alone…"
"Oh," Erza replied, her cheeks gaining a faint rosy tinge to them as she fiddled with a lock of hair. "You want to spend time with me…"
"Yes Erza, just the two of us."
Erza smiled, as Natsu felt himself somewhat flustered at how adorably shy she had suddenly become, as she look up at him with a hint of vulnerability.
"D-Does this mean we're going to act like a c-c-couple!?"
Natsu couldn't help but chuckle, as she squeaked out the last word, her face now entirely beet red. Slowly, he stepped toward her, taking both her hands into his, as the Requip Mage panted heavily.
"Would you like that? Would you like to act like we're an official couple Erza…?"
"HeheheIdefinitelywantthatehehehe…"
"None of what just came out of your mouth made any sense to me, but I know you meant yes," Natsu smiled, pressing his index finger to her nose. "This isn't easy for me either, what with you acting so damn cute right now. Let's dial it back a bit, then we can-MPFF-!"
Natsu was silenced as Erza captured his lips in a rough kiss. He couldn't help but chuckle into the kiss as he felt Erza's right hand run through the back of his hair, as he pulled her body closer to his, wrapping an arm around her back as his other hand cupped her left cheek.
"Fuck you Natsu Dragneel," Erza panted, pulling back as she gazed up into his amused eyes. "How do you do this to me!?"
"Do what?"
"Don't play dumb," Erza huffed, shaking her head at his knowing grin. "I should be making you work for me, but a few nice words and an admittance of wanting to act like a couple, and I'm ready to drop my panties right now…"
"I'm happy to work for it, if you'd like?"
"Tch-! What in the world are you to me," Erza sighed, resting her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "What is it that draws me to you like this…?"
"I can't answer that question for you Erza," Natsu replied quietly, as they held each other gently. "But I can tell you what draws me to you, if you'd like?"
"Oh? Do tell~"
"Well. I like how strong you are, both physically and mentally. A strong mind, strong body, and a strong heart."
"I know you like strong women," Erza giggled in response, looking up at him from her place in his arms. "What else?"
"I like how dominant you are," he whispered. "I love it when you use your strength to put people in their place… Seeing you showcase your dominance and authority always drives me wild..."
"You know, Mira and I actually discussed this, and there is a particular route we can take that," Erza replied teasingly. "What else do you like about me?"
"I like how confident you are," Natsu said, feeling Erza still in his arms for a moment, knowing he'd found one of the problems Erza was facing. "You're always willing to stand by your friends and do everything in your power to help them, even knowing that you might not be able to contribute as much as others can, never wavering and always certain of victory."
"Do you really think that," Erza whispered, feeling Natsu nod in response. "Natsu…"
"The title of Titania could belong to no one else Erza," Natsu smiled, as he kissed the top of her head. "You are the Queen of the Fairies…"
"I'm… I'm Queen," Erza mumbled, as she felt her doubts slowly beginning to recede. "I am, aren't I?"
"That's right," Natsu nodded in response, as Erza laughed gently in response.
"You know, its actually kind of fitting, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"Your new title," Erza whispered, as Natsu chuckled lightly in response. "Its true! No one else could have a title like yours in Fiore, or anywhere else for that matter either!"
"Maybe you're right," Natsu smiled, as the pair gazed into each other's eyes once again, before sharing another chaste kiss. "Erza?"
"Hmm?"
"This might seem sudden, but … I think its time we make things official."
"W-What do you mean," Erza asked, eyes widening as she took a step back from him. "Are you talking about-!?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm talking about," Natsu replied firmly, as Erza's right hand covered her mouth, as she stifled a girlish scream. "Excited, huh?"
"Natsu?"
"Yeah?"
"Just shut up and say the damn things," Erza snapped, bouncing up and down on the spot, as the Dragon Slayer chuckled at her antics.
"Erza Scarlett… I want to make what we've got official," Natsu smiled, as Erza's body visibly shook with anticipation. "I want you, Erza. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Instead of a verbal response, Natsu instead found himself spear tackled into the bed by the now squealing redhead. Even as he felt the air being torn from his lungs thanks to her grip on him, he couldn't help but grin like an idiot, as a weight he didn't even know he'd had over him was lifted.
For the next several minutes, Erza peppered his face with kisses, along with her own tears, as he held the completely out of character girl in his arms. It was a nice feeling though, he had to admit, knowing that he actually meant this much to someone.
His heart felt better than it had in a long time.
Eventually though, Erza finally did manage to settle down, as she rolled off of him, as the pair laid next to one another on the bed, holding hands.
"Natsu Dragneel… my boyfriend," Erza whispered, sniffling as she snuggled closer. "Its funny, I had this whole plan where I was going to make you take me out on a lavish date and everything in order to ask that?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. But somehow, I don't know, this feels better…"
"Asking you to be my girl in a war zone is better," Natsu asked in response, earning him an amused giggle in response.
"Maybe that's just how we are? At the end of the day, we're warriors, not civilians, and the battlefield is where we belong."
"Tensions always run high-."
"-and emotions run hot-."
"-leading to moments of extreme passion," the pair said in unison, before blinking and giggling like a pair of kids.
"I forget that you actually read," Erza smirked, booping him on the nose with her finger.
"The War Of The Black Diamond by Delilah Brantworth," Natsu replied, as they shared another small bout of giggles. "You should have seen Mira the first time she figured out I read?"
"Oh, she told me all about it," Erza smiled, her expression dimming somewhat. "We should probably talk about that, shouldn't we? You know, seeing as we're going to be official from this point and all?"
"I'll lay out my view on it," Natsu replied, his tone now much more serious than before. "If you want me exclusively to yourself, then that is how it'll be. If you want to include Mira, or any other girl you approve of, then that's fine by me too. And if-."
"You're the only man I want," Erza cut in, surprising Natsu as she pressed her forehead to his. "I just don't find myself interested in any other man aside from you, Natsu. Granted, that doesn't mean I'm not attracted to anyone else at all, since Mira and I would frequently have sex over the years, but still…"
"So, what do you want to do?"
"I think, at least for now, I'm fine with keeping our sex life as it is," Erza replied slowly. "Mira isn't out to steal you from me, and I don't have any issues continuing to push for Elise to be involved… So, I guess what I'm saying is for you to let me decide if I'm comfortable with you being involved with other girls, okay?"
"Okay Erza, I'm perfectly fine to go with whatever you're comfortable with," Natsu replied with a small smile. "I suppose we can work out the specifics of how that'll work later, since it's a pretty delicate topic?"
"Yeah. I know it sounds strange, depriving myself of other men, but allowing other women into the relationship… But I know you, I know Mira, and I know Elise, should that ever happen. All of us are close, and I don't believe for a second that any of you would do anything without my consent."
"I won't betray your trust Erza," Natsu replied firmly, as he took her right hand with both of his own. "I swear it to you!"
"I know, you don't break promises," Erza smiled in response, as she brought her hand to his chest. "You're an honorable Dragon."
"Then… I guess that's all there is to talk about on that for now," Natsu replied softly, with Erza silently nodding in agreement. "This is a bit off topic, but you should know that I finally know the truth about Elise now, and why you want to include her in some of our fun with Mira."
"You know? Wait, you mean about-?"
"The Lahar thing, yes. Elise told me herself, though it was a somewhat abridged version, since we were on mission."
"I'm glad she opened up to you about it," Erza smiled sadly. "I want her to at least experience the positives of an intimate relationship, which I know you can provide."
"Knowing what I do now, I agree. But its important to let Elise take that step into engaging with us, not pressuring her into doing something she isn't comfortable with."
"I know, but that's a conversation for another time," Erza replied, as she reached out and began lightly stroking Natsu's cheek with her thumb. "All this excitement has worn me down quite a bit…"
"I'm not surprised," Natsu smiled in response, as he dismissed his clothing into his Requip Space. "Let's get some sleep. Together."
"As a couple," Erza yawned, sending all her clothing to her Requip Space, leaving the pair naked, as Erza rolled over, allowing Natsu to embrace her from behind. "Its been a long time since we've slept in the same bed, and now I'm realizing just how much I'm the little spoon."
"You're the sexiest little spoon I've ever had in my grasp," Natsu whispered into her ear, before kissing the back of her head as she pressed herself more into his embrace.
"If I wasn't so tired, I'd probably let you rearrange my guts tonight," Erza yawned casually, an amused yet tired smirk etching its way onto her face as she felt his breathing tense, before quickening. "Don't worry, you'll be getting rewarded for tonight, don't you worry about that."
"I look forward to it," Natsu replied with a husky growl, nipping the back of her neck as he inhaled her scent. "Night Erza…"
"Goodnight Natsu," Erza mumbled, as she found herself succumbing to the heavenly heat being generated by Natsu's body.
As for Natsu himself, once Erza was asleep, he found his gentle grip over her tightening somewhat, as he pondered the future.
They were together now, which was good. However, his track record was poor when it came to keeping out of troublesome situations. And, something within his heart, mind, soul, or something else, seemed to be indicating that his life was about to change in a drastic way.
Little did he know, just how real this feeling within him truly was. Little did he know, that it was another party pushing it toward him…