Natsu leaps off the pile of bodies, Azazel uses his magic to send all of the fallen angels back to prison. Natsu takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
Natsu: Alright here we go. Brynhildr.
She turns her eyes to look at him, as do the rest of the students.
Natsu: You're the strongest valkyrie right?
Brynhildr doesn't say a word to him. It's well known to Rias and Gabriel that Brynhildr dislikes Natsu for killing Odín. Even after time and time again of the two of them explaining why he did it, Brynhildr doesn't care. To her Natsu is a murderer, a criminal who hasn't been brought to justice. Brynhildr's biggest failure.
Natsu: I don't think we had the chance to fight during the war. If my memory serves me right one of my friends kicked your ass.
He puts his hand underneath his chin thinking back to a year ago. Brynhildr begins to get irritated by this. Natsu smiles knowing his provocation is working.
Natsu: Okay class for today's lesson we will learn how to properly protect your king. Think of this as a Rating game. If the king falls the game is over. Isn't that right Rias?
Rias: I don't know what your doing but...
Natsu: isn't that right Rias?
He says again in a demanding voice not allowing Rias to finish. She reluctantly answers
Rias: Yes.
Natsu: It is well known that one of your classmates in attendance today didn't do a good job at protecting her master. As a matter a fact she hates me because of it.
The students are confused as to what Natsu is referring to. Meanwhile Brynhildr is trying her hardest not to attack Natsu. She clenches her fist so hard she begins to bleed, Gabriel notices this.
Natsu: She blames me for her killing her master. She blames me for her failures. Even after time and time again of her friends telling her what her master did she doesn't care. So I'm giving you the chance right here and now Brynhildr. Want to avenge Odin's death?
Natsu spreads his arms wide open exposing himself.
Natsu: Go right ahead. Strike me down. Kill me like I killed Odín.
Brynhildr: Bastard!!
Brynhildr launches her self at full speed going to attack Natsu.
Rias: Brynhildr!
As she extends her fist to punch Natsu, he moves two steps to his left completely dodging her punch. He puts his hands in his pockets, while Brynhildr in anger lashes out at Natsu again, she barrages him with a fury of punches. Natsu dodging them all.
On her last punch Natsu dodges it and kicks her in the gut pushing her all the back towards the group of students. The students catch her as she falls to her knees and vomits out blood. He then walks closer to the group.
Natsu: You were to predictable Brynhildr.
Brynhildr: shut...up...!
She says groaning in pain from just one kick by Natsu.
Natsu: I was led to think that you were strong.
Natsu disappears and appears again in front of Brynhildr. The other students are freaked out by his speed making them all take a step back. Natsu cocks his right leg back and kicks Brynhildr across the face sending her crashing the a near by trees.
Natsu: You know. I have a clan member who told me she looks up to you. She thinks of you as a sister. As a matter of fact she was the one who told me you were strong.
Brynhildr begins to get her self up from the rubble, bleeding from the mouth. She spits out some more blood and gets into a fighting stance.
Natsu: Let's try this again.
With a calm demeanor Natsu stands still with his hands still in his pockets. Brynhildr sees this and gets angry.
Brynhildr: don't mock me Natsu!
She aims a magic blast near the ground by Natsu's feet forcing a small explosion which causes dirt and smoke to be picked up. Natsu is forced to close his eyes to not get dirt in his eyes. Brynhildr uses this diversion to launch a sneak attack on him. But Natsu sees right through this. He tilts his head slightly to the right hearing Brynhildr behind him. She goes to kick his legs from underneath, Natsu jumps and once again lands on her stomach. All of the students await to see what the end result was. Suddenly a gust of wind forces the all the smoke to disappear. The students along with Rias and Gabriel are amazed to see Brynhildr underneath Natsu's feet. Natsu opens his eyes looking at the rest of the class. He looks down seeing the valkyrie laying flat on her back. He gets off of her and kicks her again sending her towards the direction of the group. She bounces off the ground and slides to a stop near Rias's feet.
Natsu: Looks like a year hasn't made much of a difference. Back then if we would have fought you would have been dead in an instant.
Gabriel goes to Brynhildr and begins to heal her.
Gabriel: I'll help you just stay still.
Natsu: Your own anger blinds you. Your hatred for me clouds your mind, making your moves sluggish and predictable.
Brynhildr with the help of Gabriel begins to get up slowly. Natsu takes his hands out of his pockets. Lightning begins to spark around, in a split second he appears in front of Brynhildr. Gabriel is forced to back away. Natsu simply looks down at the valkyrie.
Natsu: Are you giving up?
Brynhildr: I'm...not..
She says exhausted and injured still.
Natsu summons lightning hitting Brynhildr. She yells out in pain as she's getting electrified.
Rias: Natsu stop this!
As she's about to approach him another lightning strikes near her, this forces her to stop.
Natsu: Anyone who interfieres will face harsher penalties than Brynhildr.
All the students look at Brynhildr who's on her knees. Tired and exhausted, lightning sparking all over her body from his attack. Natsu extends his hand and begins to heal her. Brynhildr looks up at him, she slaps his hand away.
Brynhildr: I don't need your pity.
She struggles to get back up on her feet but manages to stand.
Natsu: Then I suggest you start taking this serious.
Brynhildr closes her eyes surrounding her self in a violet aura. Her gym clothes begin to change into a dress with metal plating on her stomach. Metallic armor plates are summoned on both her arms and legs looking similar to wings, her hair loosens having it tied into a pony tail before with a pin on her hair representing wings, and a spear as her choice of weapon.
Brynhildr: You wanted me serious. Then here it is. Hope you're prepared to finally die.
Natsu chuckles.
Natsu: Acting cocky now aren't we?
Brynhildr twirls her spear around pointing at him in the end.
Natsu: I'm all fired up.
Both dragon and valkyrie stare each other down for a few minutes as the two of them walk towards the center of the training arena. Once close to each the two of them disappear. They appear on the other side of the training grounds leaving an explosion. They disappear again this time appearing near the group as Natsu had punched Brynhildr making her hit the ground. She gets up flying towards him slashing at him with her spear. He dodges it summoning lighting from his hand and aiming towards Brynhildr. She uses her spear to bat the attack back towards the sky. As it was going upward a loud thunder is heard as the lightning spread across the sky. The students are left amazed seeing the power these two individuals hold. Natsu lands across from Brynhildr, lightning sparking all around him. Brynhildr just looks at Natsu. She runs at him at super speed, she charges her spear with a magic attack. She thrusts it at Natsu but he just dodged it grabbing the spear and throwing Brynhildr and the spear away like a ball. She lands on her feet with spear on hand. Natsu takes this chance to attack his first punch missed hitting the ground, she barely managed to escape his initial attack. She hears a cracking noise she looks up seeing lightning come down at her, again she barely managed to escape, just as she thinks she has some room to breath in the air Natsu appears behind her punching with a full covered lightning punch. She crashes towards the ground the impact causing an explosion.
Natsu: Do you still think you could have taken me on during the war?
Brynhildr: Shut up...
She begins to get up using her spear as support.
Brynhildr: Shut up...
Natsu: You still have some fight left in you? Woah! Amazing! They don't call you the strongest valkyrie for nothing!
Brynhildr: I said shut up!!
Brynhildr screams to the top of her lungs, she continues to scream as her aura flares up uncontrollably. Everyone even Natsu is amazed by this. Strong winds force everyone to cover there eyes even Natsu is forced to do this. Brynhildr just continues to yell as her power is rising. Natsu lowers his arms a bit seeing Brynhildr grow wings pure white like an angels. But he senses something else that isn't normal. A magic circle appears above Brynhildr, and then another, and another, and another until at least a hundred magic circles covered the entire area above her. Natsu has seen this before from Rossewiesse during the rating game against Sairaorg. But Brynhildr's is different, Natsu realizes this as he looked again at her wings noticing some of the feathers are beginning to turn black. He also notices that her pupils have gone to the back of her head meaning she isn't in control of her powers at the moment. Rias and the others as well as Azazel were all worried. Natsu extended his hand out in front of him. A small black portal was summoned from the ground a blade wrapped in cloth began to elevate from the portal into Natsu's hand. Once the blade was in Natsu's hand the cloth began to burn in flames used by Natsu. Once the cloth completely burned away it showed a pitch black blade surrounded by shadows, and a hilt made out of dragon scales. Rias instantly knew what this sword was.
Rias: He brought it out?!
Gabriel: you know what that sword is?
Azazel: Oh! I haven't seen that blade in forever!
Mira: Is he seriously going to kill her?
Irene doesn't say anything she just looks over at Rossewiesse who had a small look of worry on her face.
Natsu: Iron Shadow Dragons Demon Blade!
Brynhildr just kept on powering up beyond her limits, so much that blood began to pour out of her eyes and a bit from her mouth. Her once pure white feathers where beginning to fall off and be tainted with pitch black ones. Brynhildr raised her arms up and all of the magic circles she summoned began to fire towards Natsu. He just closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. Smoke began to come out of his mouth as his eyes changed to dragon slits. As the attacks inched closer to him, in a split second he disappears dodging everything. Due to Brynhildr's power she was able to sense where Natsu was as she aimed it at him again Natsu dodged. She followed him everywhere he went forcing Natsu to throw a small fire ball near her feet distracting her a bit and then..
Natsu: Iron Shadow Dragon Zeno...
Next thing Brynhildr knew Natsu had the blade to her throat. She was frozen not knowing what to do, instead she was forced to open her mouth as a black mist like shadow began to come out of her. Everyone had there mouths opened not knowing what had just occurred. After the black mist had existed her body her hands fall to her side, her wings began to turn white again and her eyes returned to normal.
Natsu: Thunder Palace!
Multiple lightning strikes hit the the two of them simultaneously.
Irene: what the hell is he doing!?!
Brynhildr falls to the ground unconscious. Natsu drops his blade breathing heavily. He looks at his right arm seeing his scales appear and his dragon mark glowing. His eyes where wide open
Natsu: What...what was that..?
Rias and Gabriel are the first to run to aid there friend. Azazel, Rossewiesse, Irene and Mira also go to help out.
Irene: Natsu! What the hell are you doing?
She says looking at the valkyrie who was unconscious. Natsu looks at her not knowing what was going on, both Irene and Mira look at Natsu.
Rossewiesse: quickly take her to the infirmary!
Other staff members appear with a stretcher lifting her onto it and immediately taking her to the infirmary with Rias and Gabriel following behind. Azazel leans into Irene whispering something into her ear.
Azazel: Take him to the infirmary as well.
Irene looks at Azazel who motions to look down. She looks down seeing Natsu's mark glow and his scales. She tells Mira and the two of them begin to take him to the infirmary as well.
Azazel: Alright everyone you all have study hall for the remainder of the class. Get to it chop chop!
Karameel: Wendy? Wendy?!
Karameel cause out to the young dragon but she can't find her.
Brandish comes out of the bathroom seeing Karameel looking around.
Brandish: what are you looking?
Karameel: looking for Wendy, she asked me to make her a sandwich and now I can't find her.
Brandish: Mhmm really? Oi, lazy butt have you seen Wendy?
DiMaria: Have your senses dulled that much? She's right over there.
The two of them look to there left seeing Wendy standing by the window looking out of it. Karameel approaches her.
Karameel: Wendy, your snack is ready.
She doesn't get a response at first so she says it again, this time reaching out to tap her on her shoulder gently.
Karameel: Wendy? Hey..is everything okay?
Again she doesn't get a response from her. She hears a crack noise making her look at the window seeing a huge mark on it.
Karameel: Wendy...?
Wendy's hair begins to softly rise up, and begins to slowly flare her aura.
Karameel: Wendy, I don't think it's a good idea to stand next to a broken window. I'll call someone to come replace it okay? Just get away from there it's dangerous.
As she goes to gently move her Wendy lashes out at Karameel scratching her arm. Karameel lets out a yelp falling back on the ground. Brandish and DiMaria heard this, instantly Brandish appears behind Karameel grabbing her in a protective manner. She looks at Wendy confused as to why she would lash out at Karameel for not reason. Not wanting to hurt her masters little sister she's forced to use her self as a shield to cover Karameel. Wendy's hair had changed to pink and scales began to appear on her. In a second DiMaria appears behind Wendy chopping her behind her neck knocking her out cold.
Brandish: Are you alright?
Karameel: Yeah...it's just a small cut is all.
Brandish looks at her arm seeing the big cut on her. She looks behind seeing DiMaria looking at Wendy.
DiMaria: Randi look...
She looks down at Wendy who had white scales covering most of her body. They look at each other not knowing what just happened.
Back in the university Natsu was sitting on a medical bed as one of the nurses looked over him putting bandages around his small wounds.
Mira: thank you nurse
Nurse: don't mention it. I'll leave you guys alone so you can talk.
Both women look at Natsu who was looking down at his right arm. His scales still manifesting themselves.
Irene: Are you okay?
She puts her arm on his shoulder, he looks up at her.
Natsu: Yeah...
Mira: what happened to you?
Natsu: I...I don't know.
Irene: you had already won the fight why did you use your Thunder palace on her?
Natsu: I...I'm not sure why I did it..
He looks at his arm again.
Natsu: why aren't these going away?
The two of them look at his arm as well.
Mira: Just relax maybe it was in the heat of battle I'm sure they'll go away.
Irene: Yeah, she's right. Most importantly where you able to get what you wanted out Brynhildr?
Natsu: No actually, I wanted to ask her something but one thing led to another. Let's go to her room and ask.
The three of them go to Brynhildr's room. They knock on the door hearing Rias saying to come in. Once inside they see Rias peeling some apples while Gabriel fed them Brynhildr who was all bandaged up. On her head, her stomach, one on her thigh and a small bandaid on her cheek.
Natsu: hey...
Gabriel: Natsu sama..hey
Rias: hey guys
Brynhildr: why are you here?! Come to rub it in my face that you beat me.
Natsu: no I didn't.
Rias: relax Brynhildr, Natsu isn't like that.
Natsu: actually I came to ask you a couple of questions and I'll be out of here.
Brynhildr: what do you want?
Natsu: well my first question is. What was that power back there?
Mira: I'm curious about that as well.
Brynhildr looks down at the small piece of apple she had in her hand.
Brynhildr: it's nothing.
Gabriel: Brynhildr please...
Brynhildr: it's nothing okay!...that's what I want to say but...
Rossewiesse: it's a power that valkyries are forbidden to use.
Everyone looks behind them seeing Rossewiesse arrive with Azazel.
Irene: Forbidden?
Rossewiesse: Yeah...from a very small age we as valkyries are taught to never use hatred or anger as a source of power.
Brynhildr: we are taught to use our own strength, and if we get to emotionally involved in a fight we are taught to be the light never the dark.
Rias: why must you follow such strict teachings?
Rossewiesse: because if we don't then incidents like today can happen. Luckily for Brynhildr, Natsu realized this. Even though he went a bit overboard towards the end.
Gabriel: would you guys turn to devils if you give into that power?
Brynhildr: No nothing like that, we loose our status as valkyries as the books says "once you've given into hatred the god of death has already taken over your soul." Which is why my wings turned black.
Rossewiesse: if stopped early enough we can go back to normal but if not then we are forced to leave Asgard and live here in earth as dark valkyries. We're branded as such, while still being able to use our amazing new strength but every time we use it our life force is diminished every time we use it.
Irene: In other words you've gained strength but for every time you use it your life is shorten.
Rossewiesse nods her head. Everyone stays quite not knowing what to say.
Natsu: how close have you guys gotten to this?
Rossewiesse: I've never had honestly
Brynhildr: this is the closest I've gotten...
Rias: What?! You've used this power before?
Brynhildr looks at Rias surprised that she yelled at her.
Brynhildr: Yeah...once when I was training with Lady Frigg.
Rias: don't ever use that power again you hear me!?
Brynhildr: I won't...why are you yelling at me?
Gabriel: because you had us worried you big dummy!
Brynhildr: you too?!
Natsu walks up to Rossewiesse giving her a hug. She's surprised by this, she wraps her arms around him digging her face into his chest.
Natsu: promise me you'll never use that power
Rossewiesse: I promise I won't..
Brynhildr looks at her former comrade hugging Natsu. She looks away in disgust.
Natsu: my last question
Brynhildr: how many more are you going to ask?
Natsu: who's Lady Frigg?
Rossewiesse: I can answer that for you
Brynhildr: Rossewiesse don't!
Rossewiesse looks at Brynhildr and ignores her.
Rossewiesse: she's Odín's wife, the current ruler of Asgard.
Natsu: so that's who told the magic council.
Brynhildr: what are mumbling to yourself about idiot?
Natsu: Brynhildr, did you tell your queen about my where abouts?
Brynhildr: huh?!
Rias: No, she didn't!
Gabriel: yeah that's true she told us today that she didn't tell.
Irene: they're telling the truth.
Irene says to Natsu whispering into his ear. Natsu thinks for a second as a light bulb pops up above his head.
Natsu: take me to meet your queen. I will like to ask her myself.
Rossewiesse: what?!
Brynhildr: are you out of your mind?! Even if I can't turn you in, as soon as you step foot in Asgard you'll be arrested and executed!
Irene: it will a sunny day in hell if we ever allow that.
Mira: She has a point. Did you forget who we are?
Gabriel laughs nervously
Gabriel: she has a point
Brynhildr: Fine go right ahead. But I'm not taking you Rossewiesse you do it.
Rossewiesse: umm about that...you see when Odín left me behind and I joined Natsu I kinda might have lost the watch that I use to get back to Asgard.
Brynhildr: are you....ugh!
She facepalms.
Rias: come on Brynhildr I've never been to Asgard.
Gabriel: should I pack?
Brynhildr: not you guys too...ugh! Fine! We'll go. Rossewiesse you're coming along too.
Rossewiesse: I can't I have duties here at the school.
Azazel: I can take care of things here while you go visit your home.
Rossewiesse: But I...
She looks at Natsu, Irene, and Mira as they're smiling at her happy that she'll go with them to visit Asgard.
Rossewiesse: alright fine, let's go to Asgard, back home..