I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
"Issei…."
They were calling his name. They had been attached to Ddraig once, and now they were his burden as well. So he opened his eyes and saw their eyeless faces around him.
They were like chains attached to him, and their memories weren't something he could escape, but he had learned to accept them. Their fights, struggles, pains, and burdens were now his to face.
"Issei…. Home…."
"I know we're close to returning to my old home—the home where everything began for me and all of you. The house where I smiled, cried and feared the unknown, and the place where I died once. I don't know if we'll find a house or just an empty lot. I don't know if Irina still lives there, but I need to know. I need to see it with my own eyes."
The husks went silent, and they began to disappear one by one. So Issei was left all alone within the darkness of the void, or that's what we would initially think.
"Issei is time for us to wake up." The form of Ddraig arises from within the endless void as the only light source.
"I know." Issei follows Ddraig out of this land of emptiness that his dreams had become.
Back into the real world, Gremory Residence.
Issei awoke in an unknown bed, but he quickly remembered the events that had transpired yesterday. This place was the home of the Gremory family, and they had offered him a room for the night before he departed for the human world.
Sirzechs claimed he was capable of helping him to find his parents' tomb and maybe even reclaim his old home, so his expectations were as high as they could be.
He quickly got up and began to walk towards the bathroom. He was so tired the day before that he passed out after dinner. Tiamat had left with Ajuka, but she said she would come back to meet him as soon as she took care of some business.
As he got close to the mirror on top of the sink, he finally saw his reflection, not Ddraig sleeping. It was the first time in years that he ever got to see his face, but he could not imagine his past self. His body had changed so much, and he had endured insane amounts of pain during that fire. His skin turned black, and most of his organs began to fail; if Ddraig hadn't interfered when he did, that day would have meant his death.
"But I did die. Issei Hyoudou, the human child, died that day. I died in that fire alongside everything I ever loved. I might still call myself Issei, but I have lost my humanity. I'm not human, nor will I ever return to that life. These green eyes, these tattoos, this hair that is turning green, and these sharp teeth are the proofs that affirm my current self. I'm..." Issei was deep in thought until Ddraig ended the sentence.
"The Welsh Dragon, and now we hold the title of the Two-Headed Red Dragon of Chaos. What has been altered can't be changed back, but you can still find happiness. The void that exists in your heart is also mine now, and we'll find a way to fill it out." Ddraig said.
They were going to become one entity in the future, but even now, they still shared more than any other two beings could ever convey. They weren't just a host and resident soul; they were the Welsh Dragon, and that was the only truth.
Sometime after, the dining room.
Rias didn't know how to act or even approach him, but she couldn't ignore his presence. "His name is Issei, but dad calls him Ddraig, and brother Sirzechs calls him the Welsh Dragon. Is he the Red Dragon Emperor? But he is so young. I have never heard about a sacred gear wielder activating their gear so young." She lifts her head just in a bid to watch him, and she just blushes after meeting his eyes. "Why is he even here? Could he be planning to live here? Is he an ally of our family?"
Rias continued forming more questions in her mind as the mysteries behind the child across from her seemed to increase. But even with all the blushing, Rias still saw the sadness on his face.
His light green eyes were beautiful, but Rias could tell he was dealing with so much pain. She wanted to know why he was so sad, but she couldn't cross that line.
There were boundaries, and someone like her knew that she couldn't just ask someone their life story unless there was a connection first. He had only appeared at her house yesterday, and they only had one conversation that her dad quickly shot down.
"Rias, he is Ddraig. You can't approach him like all other children. Please stay away unless he allows you to get close to him. He is someone dangerous." Her dad said to her the night before as she went to sleep.
Her mother and even Grayfia told her against the idea of getting too close to him. But like any child, the more they tried to shoot her intentions down, the more she desired to get to know him.
He was the prohibited fruit hanging from the tree of the garden of Eden, and she wanted to bite it even if the price was a heavy one.
While Rias continued her blushing and imagination, Issei silently ate the breakfast set before him. The memories of the husks told him everything he needed to know regarding table manners which made it easy for him not to embarrass himself in front of the rest of the Gremory family.
Rias's parents were surprised by his collected nature, but they still somewhat feared him.
"Ddraig, how are you finding breakfast?" Asked Venelana trying to alleviate the tension.
"Good. Just like yesterday's dinner, I enjoyed the different flavors and spices. I might say that this is one of the best breakfasts I have ever eaten in all of my years. Please give my thanks to the chef and the staff." Ddraig said as he took control which took Rias by surprise.
"What? Why did your voice change?" Rias asked after hearing such a drastic change. His eyes also surprise her.
"Rias, please mind your manners, dear. Please excuse her." Zeoticus said.
"Don't worry about it. My dear child, I'm Ddraig, and the one you met yesterday is Issei. We are two different souls sharing one body, but one day we will fuse into one. I'm sorry if I scared you, but I can assure you that he and I are practically the same. We're practically one being, although we have different voices. What he knows, I know, and what I said are his words." Ddraig says with a smile.
Rias felt a completely different vibe from him now. While Issei was an interesting child that she wanted to approach, Ddraig felt like an older man that she slightly feared but could still be approached. His smile was sincere, but she couldn't make her fear of him disappear that quickly. "Sir."
"You don't need to use those honorifics with me. Call me Ddraig or Issei if that is more comfortable for you." Ddraig replied.
"Issei, how old are you?" Rias asks.
Ddraig smiles before letting Issei take over. "Eight years, miss Gremory."
"You don't need to use those with me either," Rias says before she smiles. "Thank you, Ddraig." She enjoyed this voice far more than the other one. "Issei, are you the Red Dragon Emperor?"
"I could be called that, but that title has lost meaning to Ddraig and me. The Welsh Dragon is something that we prefer to use, or you can also use our other title, the Two-Headed Red Dragon of Chaos." Issei replies.
"Two-Headed? It seems pretty adequate after hearing your other voice. So, are you a human? Based on what I read, Red Dragon Emperors are the possessors of the Booster Gear, and only humans can inherit it." Rias continues.
"I was at one time, but I'm no longer human. There are certain circumstances behind this and my current state, but I don't think we should discuss them while having breakfast." His sad smile shows itself once more.
Rias quickly understands that it is a touchy subject. "Forgive me if I offended you. I can see that this is not a subject you wish to discuss. Once again, I apologized."
"You didn't offend me. It is a hard subject, but you were just curious, and I need to get used to it. So, don't apologize. A lady like you is not a fault in this case. Now, excuse me, I need to get some air." Issei said before getting up and leaving the room.
Rias stays in her chair. "What have I done?"
Her parents quickly respond.
"Is okay, dear. Issei's life has been hard, and he said you didn't do anything. He just needs time to heal. His wounds are deep, and the best we can do is give him some space." Venelana says.
Zeoticus continues after her. "He is a survivor; one day, he will overcome that traumatic experience. He is Ddraig, The Welsh Dragon, and he knows he can't cry about it forever. His life will not be easy, and his enemies can use any weaknesses against him. Nonetheless, I ask you to be careful about how you approach him. One day he may even become an ally to us, so do your best to create an amicable relationship with him. He might even offer his aid to you if you play your cards well, so treasure and protect your connection to him."
Rias reflects on her father's words. "I will, father. I'll make sure to become his friend and ally. Maybe he can become a part of my peerage?"
"I'll doubt that, my dear child. He is far too strong for any evil piece to work on him, so I advised you against it. So even if you used all of your pieces, you would never make him part of your peerage. After hearing what he did to the boosted gear, I can't imagine what effects he might have on the evil pieces if someone was dumb enough to use them on him." Zeoticus says after thinking about it.
Rias stays quiet and thinks about it for a moment. An idea was forming in her mind, and it might be the innocent mind of a child not thinking about the consequences, but she made a choice that would affect her whole future. "The forbidden fruit is too tempting."
Meanwhile, Sirzechs and Grayfia.
The current leader of the four satans alliance and his wife walked through the halls of their home looking for their guest. The maids on the house had told them about the little event that had transpired during the breakfast, and Sirzechs cursed himself for not being there to prevent it from happening.
"I should have prevented Rias from talking to him. That's a subject that nobody should mention in front of him." Sirzechs says as he looks for Issei.
"Master, please don't blame yourself. You shouldn't judge the younger miss harshly because of her actions. She is a child, and curiosity is common in children." Grayfia says.
"I know. I hope our child is not as curious as she is." Sirzechs says. This comment causes him to receive a pinch on his face from his queen.
"A master shouldn't discuss private affairs openly. The walls have ears in this house." Grayfia says.
"Sorry, dear." Calling her dear makes him gain another pinch.
"A master shouldn't openly talk about his feelings for his maid." Grayfia continued.
Sirzechs sights. "Why did I allow this to become the norm between us? I want to scream that I love you, and you're my dearest love, no matter the day of the week. So why should I care that you're working at the moment?" His deep personal thoughts gained him another pinch.
"Thinking weird things about your maid is also not allowed." A small smile formed on her face. She loved it, but she wouldn't openly admit it.
This little interaction continues the whole time they search for Issei until they find him close to the gardens behind the house.
He was sitting down under a tree with his eyes closed.
"Sirzechs, Grayfia, do you have good news for us?" Ddraig asks. His eyes opened, and they focused on the married couple.
"We do, but first, I want to apologize for my sister's questions," Sirzechs says.
"Relax, Issei says it's fine. He enjoyed the conversation with the girl, and I find her interesting for a Gremory. Rias seems more normal and approachable than many of the members of your family that I met in the past. She is also far more innocent than what one could expect from a devil. Are they going to name her the heir of your family since you're a satan now?" Ddraig asked. He knew a lot about the underworld and its traditions. Knowing that Sirzechs fought in a civil war and even became a satan was something he didn't expect, but he approved. He despised the old satans and had fought some of them more than once.
"That is a possible result. Unless my parents choose to have another child and ignore my sister, once it becomes official, she will explode in rage." Sirzechs admits.
"Marriage?" Ddraig asks.
"Marriage. Once Rias becomes the heir of a family, marriage proposals are bound to appear. The members of the royal faction will also push Rias to get married to a pure devil from another family. I saved myself from my previous arranged marriage thanks to the war." Sirzechs says.
"What happened to your ex?" Ddraig continues as the curiosity arises.
"She had a catastrophic accident with an ice attack." Grayfia interferes.
A shiver runs through both males' backs after hearing her saying that.
Sirzechs could still hear the cries of his previous soon-to-be-wife. He never thought he could ever fear a woman until he met Grayfia.
Ddraig decides to change the subject. "Let's move on then. So, tell me about what you discovered about the Hyoudou family."
"I found the location of their tombs, and regarding the house, there's only an empty lot. Nobody has bought it since the accident." Sirzechs says.
"Thank-" But before Ddraig could say something else, Sirzechs interrupted him.
"We also found something else. As you might know, that city is under our control and based on the information I collected I found out that the fire wasn't normal. The reports say the team found residual power during the investigation two years ago. Also, black feathers were found close to the area. That accident wasn't a normal fire." Sirzechs says.
As soon as those words were said, something went off inside him.
* Dark Souls III by Yuka Kitamura*
Sirzechs and Grayfia felt a shiver run down their whole body.
"Please move away from us." A collective voice of Issei and Ddraig said. The anger was noticeable in their tone.
The air around the boy began to turn much hotter, and the married couple wasted no time backing away from the proximate area to the boy.
The sky turned cloudy, his eye pupils disappeared, and only pure burning rage could be seen. A fire vortex formed around the boy as the total power of the Welsh dragon began to show itself. Crimson flames started to make their way into the sky.
Sirzechs and Grayfia shivered in fear after feeling the might of his power. Both of them had fought many fights before. They were veterans of a civil war. Yet this was the first time they had ever felt such an insane amount of power.
Lighting began to fall from the clouds, and the boy's shape began to levitate into the sky. The dragon was angry and distraught after hearing those words.
"It wasn't an accident. Someone did it. Someone tried to kill us. Someone killed our parents! A fallen angel had the guts to attack our home and destroy our lives!" Their minds were unified, and they wanted blood.
The boy transformed into the form of a dragon. Its massive size made it possible for everyone to see it from miles away, and the residents of Lilith screamed in fear after seeing it. His power was too much for many to endure. Thousands of devils began to fall to their knees after feeling its might even if they weren't in the city or its immediate vicinity.
Back on the surface, Sirzechs POV.
Sirzechs couldn't believe what he was seeing. He had heard the legends and read the records, but none could compare to what he saw.
"This is not the Ddraig of those legends. He is a completely different behemoth. Great Red, Ophis, what were you thinking when you gave him a part of your power?" Sirzechs asked as he saw the dragon flapping its wings.
"Sirzechs! What is-" His father was holding his sister as he approached them until he stopped in his tracks after seeing the behemoth.
His mother was as shocked as him.
Rias slowly turned her eyes toward the sky, and her heart beat even faster. "Issei, is this you?" She wasn't afraid of what she saw because she noticed the sadness in his eyes. Those eyes full of anger were also filled with sorrow.
Before anyone could move a muscle, a certain pale blue-haired girl flew right into the face of the behemoth.
Tiamat POV.
She felt something had gone wrong. Maybe it was due to her connection to her mate or just her instincts, but as soon as she saw the cloudy skies, she knew what to do.
She flew as fast as she could and arrived at the most crucial moment.
"Ddraig? Issei? Tell me what happened. Why are you this angry? Who was the one that hurt you?" She hugged the nose of the dragon.
"Fallen angels, the fire, their deaths." Their anger was far too strong to let them talk. He was about to go mad with rage.
"Are you sure about this? Who told you that?" Tiamat asks as she continues to hug her mate.
"Sirzechs." The dragon replied.
"Understood; please wait for a second and don't move. I'm going to be right back." Tiamat descends and approaches the Gremory family. "Sirzechs, is it true?"
"Yes. I wouldn't lie, especially not to the Welsh dragon." Sirzechs says.
"Good, you and Grayfia are coming with me. We have a visit to make." Tiamat says as she cracks her knuckles.
Meanwhile, within the base of Grigori.
When the residents of Grigory woke up that morning, nobody expected to feel armageddon approaching.
The sky had turned cloudy, and lighting started to strike every corner of the underworld.
Although they lived far away from any devil territory, the members of Grigory could still feel the immense power that somebody within the devil's region possessed.
Fallen angels moved back and forth within the base, trying to figure out what all of this meant, and Azazel, as was to be expected, was under heavy stress. Kokabiel and his followers were still missing after a continuous search for them, and now he had to deal with a presence that even he feared.
"This can't be right. There is nothing with such presence in all of heaven, the underworld, and even earth. Only Great Red or Ophis could have such presence, and I'm sure that is not Great Red." Azazel thought as he planned what to do.
His office door was forcefully open as one light silver-haired girl entered.
* Aldritch, Devourer of Gods by Motoi Sakuraba*
"Azazel! What is this? Albion is screaming in anger within my mind. He keeps mentioning Ddraig for some reason." The girl said as she grabbed Azazel's hands.
"Albion? What does? What does?..." It clicked for him. The name of the second heavenly dragon. The fact that Kokabiel had disappeared. All of it made sense to him.
He didn't recognize Ddraig's presence at first because it was far too different than before. He could never forget the insane task it took to kill him.
Another person entered the office.
"Azazel! Come and look outside. You need to see this." Shemhazai said.
The three got out of the office and ran to the closest balcony.
"This can't be true. How can this be possible?" Azazel told himself as his eyes saw it. His eyes couldn't believe what they were seeing. The girl who was also watching the behemoth almost fell to her knees.
All the other fallen angels stopped what they were doing and just watched the behemoth that was getting closer to them.
"Azazel, what should we do?" Shemhazai asks his leader.
Azazel grows quiet for a moment. "I'm going to have to take the fall." He then spreads his wings before looking at the child next to him. "Vali, no matter what happens, just know I love you like a daughter, so please don't forget me." Azazel then jumps from the balcony and flies toward the behemoth.
"Azazel!" She cared about him too much. She didn't want to see him die because he was her father figure. She had lost her mother, and losing him would be too much for her. "I need to stop him."
"You can't, Vali. Azazel needs to do this." Shemhazai stops her and prevents her from chasing after him.
While this was happening, inside Vali, the other heavenly dragon was still angrily screaming. "Bastard, how did you do it? It shouldn't be possible!" Albion raged on as he realized his rival was free from his chains.
Tiamat POV.
Tiamat saw the leader of the fallen angels approaching them. "Stop! Someone is coming our way." Her group members stopped in their tracks.
Azazel stopped just a few meters away from them.
"Tiamat, Sirzechs, Grayfia and Ddraig. Why have all of you come to visit our base?" Azazel asks. His tone was cold and respectful instead of cheerful or carefree.
"Two years ago, someone attacked a human home in Kuoh Town. A fire destroyed the house and killed two humans inside it." Sirzechs says.
"And what does that have to do with us?" Azazel asks.
"That fire almost killed a certain boy. A boy who was the wielder of specific sacred gear. That boy was the host of the boosted gear, and we have information that tells us a fallen angel was responsible for the fire." Tiamat says.
Sirzechs produces a folder with the information and gives it to Azazel.
Azazel reads the information and begins to laugh to himself. "Kokabiel you imbecile!" He knew that the information was accurate. Azazel had seen the home before. He had even investigated the host of the gear back then and only planned to keep the two emperors apart, but fate had other plans in store. "Before I say anything, I ask for one thing. Please do not attack the base or its occupants. I will tell you everything, but please don't attack my people."
Tiamat and the devils look at each other before she turns her sight toward her mate. "Ddraig, can you hold it in; Azazel seems open to talking."
The behemoth stays silent for a second before looking at the floating fortress not too far away. A large number of fallen angels were watching the exchange in fear. Ddraig could easily deny the request and open fire, but he chooses not to. "I accept."
"Good. Azazel, talk now." Tiamat says.
Azazel takes a deep breath before he starts. "Almost four years ago, a girl was found in our territory. She is a hybrid between a devil and a human. She is the current host of the dividing gear. Her name is Lunafreya 'Vali' Lucifer, and she has been living under my care since then. As you might expect, I know what fate awaits Vali. So I decided to keep her away from her rival for as long as possible. I had started to develop an artifact many years ago, but with the arrival of Vali, I decided to finish the prototype much quicker than I initially planned. That artifact allowed me to track the location of most sacred gears."
Tiamat's group seems to follow what he's saying.
"I used it to track down the booster gear, and after finding the host's home, I decided to put the artifact in my private vault. I just needed to know where the next Red Dragon Emperor was and nothing more, but someone else seemed to have other plans for that artifact. Back then, my fourth in command was Kokabiel until two years ago. Then, somehow, he found his way into my vault, and I'm sure he was the one who attacked your home." Azazel admits.
Tiamat clenches her fists as she hears this. She turns to her mate and sees him slightly baring his fangs at the fallen angel.
"I have been looking for him and his followers with no results. I can assure you that I didn't order the attack, nor did any of the residents inside the base. I had no desire for war and would never attack an innocent child because I feared what he could do in the future. I took Vali in, and she is the host of Albion. All I ever did was to protect Vali. So please don't attack my people, but I'm willing to pay the price if you're still angry." Azazel lowers his head and awaits his judgment.
"Infinity!" A deep voice comes from within the jewel in the center of Ddraig's chest.
A massive magical circle appears on Ddraig's back with the symbol of infinity in the center. Ddraig roars in anger and begins to charge an attack on both of his mouths. Two massive red spheres of raw power get created within seconds.
The area begins to shake, and multiple rifts in space appear around.
Everyone shivers in fear, and Tiamat, Sirzechs, and Grayfia get forced to back away, but Azazel is left alone with Ddraig pointing his attack against him.
Vali's screams grow in volume from within the base, but those around her prevent her from leaving.
Azazel doesn't move or try to escape. Instead, he is ready to face the consequences for the sake of his people.
The attack is then fully charged, and then Ddraig shoots it.
A blinding light illuminates the area for many moments, and the massive shock waves caused by the attack are felt throughout the whole underworld and even beyond it.
Everything goes quiet for several moments except for the cries of Vali.
"Azazel!" She screams with all her strength. But then her eyes opened, and see a miracle.
Azazel was still alive right in front of Ddraig.
The fallen angel leader lifts his head and looks at the sky on top of him. A massive rift in space was opened due to the attack, and it was slowly closing down; he then looks at the dragon, which changes shape and goes back into a child.
"I forgive you, but I won't forgive Kokabiel or anyone who follows him. If you ever hide him from me, I will come back for your head, and all of Grigori will face my wrath. Do you understand?" Ddraig asks.
"I do. I will offer all of my resources for your vengeance in exchange for a treaty of no aggression with each other. Are you willing to accept this for the sake of putting this behind us?" Azazel quickly asks after understanding what Ddraig wants. He couldn't save Kokabiel, and he wasn't going to try, but he needed a way to prevent any possible events like this from ever happening to him again.
Ddraig stays quiet for a moment while he thinks about what to do. "I accept on the condition that I always have contact with you for any information."
"I can make it work; give me a second." Azazel flies back into the base.
Tiamat and the others come back.
"That was… what do we call that attack?" Tiamat asks as she checks the damage that the attack caused. After seeing it for a few moments, she closes the distance between her and Ddraig and hugs him. "Are you two ok?"
"We are still angry, but we saw that he meant what he said. He didn't move at all, and that girl was screaming his name non-stop. He was willing to die for them and didn't lift his hand against us. We can't kill someone like him. Kokabiel is our target, and as long as Azazel supports us, we're willing to work with him." Ddraig continues.
Sirzechs and Grayfia didn't say a word. They didn't know what to say after seeing the immense power displayed by the Welsh Dragon. Now they didn't want him as an enemy even more than before.
After a few more moments, Azazel returns, with someone else following him closely behind. "Ddraig, meet Raynare, one of my lab assistants. She is going to follow you wherever you go and is going to serve as my contact with you. Consider her as a maid or attendant."
The group looks closely at the fallen angel. She has a pair of glasses, wears a lab coat, and keeps an angry smile on her face. "My name is Raynare. It would be my pleasure to serve you, master Ddraig." One of her veins was about to explode after being forced into this task by her boss.
"You're joking, right?" Tiamat asks.
"No, I'm not joking. Raynare is one of my lab's assistants and pretty much a bookworm. She spends most of her time in the lab or the library, so having her follow you would be the best for her, you, and me. She knows what she has to do and if you ever feel she might betray you, just kill her." Azazel says with a smile.
"Azazel-sama, you son of a whore! What in hell are you saying, you alcoholic piece of shit? Are you saying that I'm a traitor? After all of the experiments, I had to endure for your research? I hope Vali uses the dividing gear on your balls!" Raynare explodes.
Everyone goes silent after that rant. Raynare appearance made the lady seem angelic and decent, but that whole rant had destroyed any semblance of innocence she might have.
"So, she has a bad mouth?" Tiamat asks.
"Yes," Azazel says.
"Explosive temper?" Sirzechs continues.
"Yes, again." Azazel continues.
"Does she know how to take care of a house?" Grayfia interferes.
"She might need some training," Azazel admits.
"We take her," Ddraig says.
"What? Are you insane?" Raynare asks, but Grayfia quickly knocks her out.
A smile appears as she grabs the fallen angel on her shoulder.
"Azazel, since you also have a treaty of no aggression with Ddraig, do you want to form a peaceful relationship with the four satans alliance?" Sirzechs approaches the fallen angel.
"I like the idea. I never thought that Ddraig, of all beings, would be the one that was going to bring us into negotiations. Ddraig, are we ok with this?" Azazel asks in a cheerful tone feeling relieved that the tension has disappeared.
"We are, at least for now. We'll keep in touch." Issei says after taking control.
"Are you feeling better after we got a maid?" Tiamat asks while hugging him.
"Just a bit. Now I want to go to the human world. I need to visit my parent's tombs." But before they depart, he looks at Azazel one last time. "Tell that child and her partner to stay away from us. We don't care about our rivalry anymore. Albion can forget about fighting us and just sleep for the rest of eternity."
Azazel nods. "Got it, but we should discuss all this at some point. Sirzechs, I will send you some documents in the next few days. Take care of Raynare."
"We will," Tiamat says as the rest of the group departs.
With that, an unexpected alliance began to take shape, and the hunt for Kokabiel became more intense.
Extra: Maid training.
Deep within the house of the Gremorys, Grayfia dragged the unconscious body of her new student into a cell. She loved being a maid for her husband and the rest of her family, but she loved teaching new maids how to become the perfect maid a bit more.
"My dear Raynare. I will ensure you serve him well, just like I do with my dear husband. I will make you into a perfect weapon for home care. Just wait." Grayfia said before she began to laugh diabolically.
Raynare was going to curse Azazel even more after the training began.
*Author's notes: This is real and not just a joke. Also, this is the Raynare of the story. Please tell me you like her! I need approval. *