Needless Carnage - Strangers

[Gildarts]

News spread of a heinous miscreant wreaking endless havoc on the many islands of the 'Deep. This savagery was assigned to a nameless red-haired Prime and the assumed pirate was declared an enemy of the Empire.

It matched him perfectly. This was an unfortunate spin of events, better still, the same nasty trio of storm troopers that had trashed Martha's shop approached him as he sipped from a thick glass at a pub. He had finally caught his breath in this hellish place.

Gildarts recalled his obstructed entrance to the bar, after all, he was so unfamiliar with the tedious mechanism of doors. His hand had fixed on the handle and he ended up yanking it the wrong way. With his idling mind he smiled a bit, it was very amusing how at one moment he faced pitchforks and another he faced needless doorknobs. C’est la vie.

The three troopers spoke in unison as they interrupted his thoughts, "Stop Prime! You're coming with us!"

Gildarts didn't even turn to face them, after all, he still didn't know what a “Prime” was. In his experience, it seemed to be a nice piece of derogatory slang. He was unmistakable. Gildarts wore the same rugged black cloak that always donned his shoulders accompanied by his haughty, straight-forward gaze that humbly etched from his raging inclement eyes. His very motion conquered by a decisive demeanor and his distinguished silver appendages painted a defining picture of the ultimate Prime.

"It's him," another spoke, remembering the distasteful man from the flower shop they had trashed. Gildarts picked up on the subtly in their voices this once, because it flickered with the anger and rage of recognition rather than the iconic fear the villagers had displayed.

Gildarts shot a glance to the side, one that spoke more than any single word he could utter. It was of only death. But they had their orders, if they came upon the Prime, they were to pursue. The lead interrupted him mid-sip by tossing his beer to the side, the glass clattered making a splattering mess for the shivering bartender.

They reminded him as they picked a fight, "Remember us?"

Surprisingly, he did remember the trio of his enemies. The first thing he recalled was the distinct sound of defeat in their steps as they marched out of the flower shop.

"Today's just not my lucky day, is it?" he spoke in a laze as his shoulders finally squared to meet them. An elbow rested against the wooden bar and any danger they used to challenge him was matched by an unmasked display of his own. The armor-plated soldier who was closest took a stumble back, aghast at the sharpened edge in the Prime’s eyes that grated the air with his vehement gaze.

"Now, we have a warrant for your arrest. Isn't that just.." The soldier had started in an antagonizing tone but words failed him, his lips were chased by a chilling fear as his entire sentence was overcome.

More storm troopers entered the restaurant. "I don't want any trouble." Gildarts stated, but trouble sadly, had found him.

The same storm trooper spoke again, power and authority became reinforced by the amplified number of reinforcements that waited outside. Instigating his action was the willingness to prove himself in front of his cronies, "You're under arrest. You attacked an entire village under the Empire's rule."

"Huuh? I-" Gildarts began a defense, until his words were cut off by the coiling of a black fist and its immediate collision to his right cheek.

He swayed backward, off his chair and into a standing position against the pub's wooden floor. The familiar power choked in his throat and immediately he crippled the subversive surge by forming a white knuckled fist of restraint. No.

Dark eyes swept over the worried customers and their pricelessly innocent faces. Those who still sipped their ale and pecked at crumbs of food eyed the action with anticipation, this was not their first bar fight. Gildarts felt his heart sink in defeat, this was a battle that was destined never to begin. And he had let this unjust villain land a blow on him. The righteous man recoiled in utter distaste.

Restraining the anger uprising from within his chest had never been more of a challenge. He could decimate them all. He was powerless as he felt the immense grip of hatred grind against his will. The immortal was almost swallowed by the tide of rage before his senses came to him and he thought of the children in the city as well as the many innocent bystanders that would be harmed. Natsu's young face flashed behind his eyes. This, was the true Needless Carnage.

Yeah and you raided a flower shop, attacked a woman, and called it justice. Those were the tempting words Gildarts never voiced because it would only justify his own rage and motivate the extent of his anger too far; he could not allow himself to be pushed to a place where could not take it back. Too often he had seen the buildings around him fall when he let his guard down. Caution was something he could always taste when he dealt with the benighted.

The bartender cleaned the prickling crumbs of glass that had spattered against a wall and landed all the way across the shimmering panels of wood. A nasty spill. But even the bartender's eyes prompted defiance and retaliation in the Prime as he pleaded fight them, for my honor!

"There are too many innocents around." he informed the bartender. It seemed the only thing Gildarts could observe were those that he posed a threat to, even when he wasn't challenged by his enemies, the same thing he had done to the piled remains of the barstool would happen to the entire town. A sinking feeling swept within Gildarts as he sacrificed what was not his to give, and offered his wrists to his enemies. All or nothing. All the time. That was who he was always forced to be.

With this decision, the gates of Impel Down closed behind him and he was shrouded in water.