my dumping ground

Ideas, plot bunnys that won't let go, possible future stories. feel free to pick up the stories if you like them.

Yo, welcome to another instalment of my Vault. this chapter is a crossover of Harry Potter and Shakugan no Shana and will have some surprising twists.

Bladed wings

safe havens are always necessary. sometimes one needs a place where they feel safe, others they just need a place to shelter from a storm. for 6 year old Freak, it was both. the little boy had been stumbling around in the woods where his uncle had dropped him since dusk. as it was now approaching midnight, that was quite a long time. Freak was hungry, tired and his broken arm was aching from the cold and abuse it had suffered. The Child had found his current sanctuary just an hour ago. it was a church, so old and overgrown that it provided little protection from the pouring rain. The Child sat where the altar had once stood below a huge stone cross behind him, the top part broken off, the pieces long since lost to time and nature.

The Child knew he was dieing. he could feel his life force ebbing, like a candle in the breeze. he wasn't afraid though. soon he would be with his mother and father again. soon, he would be at peace.

however, while the Child was ready, the being that resided within the church was not. this being was old and very, very powerful. when the small human child had stumbled into its home, the being had been intrigued as to what such a small child was doing in the middle of the forest alone on a night like this, and so had dipped into the childs mind. what it found made it angry. angry that a child of six years old was ready to die, angry that his own family had left him to die. however, it was also intregued at how similer this boy was to the human it had met so many centuries ago. for the past thousand years it had been content to just watch the humans, but now it was ready to interfere once more. the being reached out and gently brushed over The Childs consciousness.

The Child suddenly found himself surrounded by darkness. this didn't really bother him as he was well used to this from his time at his relatives house. he sat up and looked around, taking in the endless darkness that surrounded him. was this heaven? or some sort of hell for freaks? before the young boy could dwell on it further his eyes fell on the only other being in the dark world he found himself in. the small boys eyes moved up and up and up and up some more until they finally landed on the face of the huge being before him.

it resembled a massive bird with bronze feathers that shimmered and flickered like fire and gave of a melodious sound as they rubbed together. it stood on black legs, tipped with bronze talons, each the size of the small boys body and looked sharp enough to cut through flesh and bone with ease. its huge, bronze wings stretched out into the distance, its wingspan easily enough to over the entirety of Privet Drive. its huge head was equipped with a massive serrated beak and a pair of sharp silver eyes that gazed down on the small boy with interest.

in spite of the huge and intimidating being before him, the child had no fear of this being before him. he was ready to die and if this monstrous bird was to be his end, then so be it.

"No one should ever be willing simply give up and die, Child of Magic," said a deep, resonating voice, "least of all a child who has barely begun his life. What is your name young one?"

"I dont have one," said the Child, "only normal people get names."

The bird shifted, lowering its head to look the child in the eye. as it did, the true size of the avian was revealed as its pupil was larger than Harry was tall.

"All things in this world possess names, young Magi," said the bird, "Everything from the rocks to the trees. if you do not have one, I suppose it falls to me to give you one. Hmm, you claim to be ready to die, but inside your heart is filled with the desire to fight. No, thats not right. your heart is filled with the desire to protect, to prevent others from feeling the pain you have felt. You hold the strength of heart to protect everything at the expense of your life if necessary. You remind me greatly of my last contracter, so I shall give you his name. You are now Salazar, named for the man who protected his comrades to his dying breath."

The now named Salazar gazed up in awe at the first being who had cared enough to give him a name, and one that clearly meant a lot to it.

"What is your name Mr. Bird?"

the bird like being looked down at the child it had just named with a glint in its eye.

"I suppose its only fair that you know my name," said the being, "My true name is the Wings of Bronze Blades, I am Samael, a Lord of the Crimson Realm."

"whats the Crimson Realm?" asked Salazar.

"It is the world that exists a step away from this one," said the massive being, "It is also known as the Neighbourhood where Humans cannot Tread, or the swirling temple. the beings of this world are referred to as Denizens and many consume the Power of Existence found in this world in order to sustain their existence and fuel their powers, leaving nothing but residue behind."

"You mean those people walking around with flames in their chests?" asked the young boy, earning a shocked look from Samael.

"So you can perceive the truth of the world?" questioned the Crimson Lord, "Hmm, I wonder... tell me child, how would you like to help keep this world safe?"

"What do you mean?" asked Salazar.

"There are some amongst the Crimson Denizens that do not believe in the consumption of Existence. you see, excessive feeding causes disruptions in the balance of the world that can result in catastrophic events. some of us create contracts with humans and hunt down those that threaten the balance. these are called Flame Hazes or, the less flattering, Tools of Destruction."

"You mean like that drunk lady with the stupid talking book?"

The massive avain seemed to stumble in surprise, if one can stumble when one is floating, before laughter filled the dark space.

"Ah, that is the perfect description for the Chanter of Elegies!" crowed the huge bird, "And an accurate one of Marcoshous! take that you stupid mutt!"

After a few minutes, Samael finally calmed down enough to stop laughing, although a few snickers still escaped from his beak.

"Yes, exactly like the 'Drunk and the Stupid talking book," said the Crimson Lord, snorting slightly at the descriptions, "Although I don't know how you came across those two as they usually avoid Britain..."

the bird trailed off, a distant look in his eye, before shaking his head and continuing.

"So what do you say? its a lonely and thankless life to be a Flame Haze, but you will be able to protect the world from the greatest threat to its safety."

Salazar was silent for a moment before he looked up at Samael with a determined glint in his eye.

"I'll do it," he said, "I don't care about being lonely, I've always been alone."

The Crimson Lord nodded and drew himself up.

"In that case, I, Samael, the Wings of Bronze Blades, accept you as my Contractor and Flame Haze. You shall fight in my name until your body is destroyed as the Jack of Blades."

Young Salazar stood tall and proud before his new contracter.

"As soon as you finish your training."

the boy deflated.

And this is the end of my latest addition to the Vault. Let me know what you think and if you want to take up any of the stories in here.