The Last Khal
When he opened his eyes, Aerion Targaryen found himself laying on a bed with the very same feathered harp in his arms. While to anyone else, it would be just a harp with some coloured feather's on them... to Aerion, it was the dear memory of his sister.
Along with the harp came a chest piece that had replaced his old one. Just like his World Sovereign's Boots, Soul King's Gauntlets and Crown of Necromancy... this chest piece had its own magic abilities.
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Chaos Harbinger's Armour:
With this piece, you may draw magical power from all the dead around you to further yourself. Provides massive magic and physical resistance, protecting the whole body when combined with the Soul King's Gauntlets, World Sovereign's Boots and Crown Of Necromancy. Also, if any pieces are damaged, they can be restored through magic vitality. All actions regarding Necromancy are halved in magic vitality cost.
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"Where am I?" He sat up, keeping the harp in his hand.
"The Gods know how kind I am to you. When you fell into a daze, the women snatched you up like hungry wolves presented with free meat. Fortunately, I took possession of the entire temple and made them take you to this sweet-smelling bedroom."
"Did you intend to have me for yourself?" Aerion jested, seeing all the red decorations that would bring out the feeling for lovemaking.
"Your blood, perhaps... but not the thing between your legs."
"My blood?" Aerion thought, suddenly thinking of something. "How vast is the difference between my blood and that of an ordinary person?"
"Extremely vast, like the ocean... would you blame me if I took a few samples in your sleep?" The spirit asked rather cheekily. "In truth, your blood has qualities that the blood of ordinary mortals simply does not."
"Like...?"
"Well, naturally, High Valyrians have traces of magic within their blood. In your case, however, your entire body is overflowing with the purest form of magic. So... if I had a good supply of it, this Tome's seal would eventually break and I would be free. You'd be a little scared if that were to happen, wouldn't you?"
"The real question is if you'd be an ally or enemy," Aerion replied, raising an eyebrow. "Which would it be, my trusty book?"
"I would be your closest ally if you'd let me...~"
"Hmph..." Aerion healed his cut, put his gauntlet back on and stood up. "I have several plans as to how to 'clear' the Summer Isles. Firstly, to use my undead to force people to move out temporarily. Secondly, use your blood possession at a greater scale, possessing everyone. Thirdly..."
"Just kill them all and save yourself the trouble. Your navy is the vastest in all of the world yet an act of transporting EVERY person in the Summer Isles would still greatly cost you in many ways, including time, food and all the like. Think about it... do you wish to see the birth of your children or not? Do you want them to be his hostages too, whereby he would make more 'trade offers'?"
"..." Aerion suddenly stopped. "I hate him... and everything about him. If he was a true King, he'd stand his ground and face me instead of hiding behind those I love."
"Didn't you keep Princess Jocelyn for yourself after defeating Robert? Now you're simply on the receiving end..."
"..."
Knowing it to be true, he didn't say anymore.
"Get your servants to carry my belongings."
Drawing Ambition, Aerion stormed out of the bedroom and let its white blade sing shortly after... dying it red with a heavy heart.
~
After a month of slaughter, every last Summer Islander had been slain by a tall black-armoured menace and his growing army of the dead. Not a single person had managed to get off the Summer Islands in that time. Skeletons and blood-possessed men searched every last corner while a new wave of Soul Knights and soul dragons completely obliterated large hordes of Summer Islanders.
When the search and slaughter had finally ended, Aerion sat alone atop a tower overlooking one of the islands with his helmet laying on the ground. In his hands was the harp that Rhaenys had given him, which he began to instinctively play.
It had started to rain and his vision was blurred by the drops of rain, so was his silver hair growing wet. But, compared to the pain that he had caused to others... this was nothing.
'Am I mad for wanting to protect those I love...?'
'If I set my heart aside, none of these people would be dead...'
"I sense your conflict... but don't hold the deaths of these people all to yourself. You know who it was that forced your hand. Use that anger, let it consume you and make it your greatest strength. Only then will you be able to crush the Night King."
Hearing the spirit's advice, Aerion sighed.
"I fear becoming the very same thing that I would hate..."
...
Sparing no time, Aerion left the dead to live their lives in the Summer Islands. However, while only a small majority were given the right to be Soul Knights, he had taken every last one of their souls into himself... intending to resurrect each one with relative free will when he could.
~
As Aerion descended onto the Dothraki Sea, he searched through his Soul Knights using the Crown of Necromancy. Once he did that, he became aware of where the Night King was staying... which made his cunning mind think of ways he could snatch them from under the Night King's nose.
'Hmmm...'
However, something distracted his thoughts as Ashara Dayne appeared before him. Just as she was about to fall onto the ground, he leapt like lighting and grabbed hold of her. He raised his queen up and held her across both of his arms.
Her purple eyes slowly opened, much to his joy.
"You've gotten heavier, Ashara." Aerion couldn't hide his smile as he observed the bump on her stomach.
"I didn't think that my strong Emperor was growing weaker..." Ashara returned his jest. "Well, little dragons are heavy... especially the rowdy one inside me."
"I hope he doesn't give you too much trouble, my dear."
"I think... I'll manage."
Aerion created a soul dragon and held her tight to his side as he mounted it. He kissed her cheek affectionately and spoke in a soothing, reassuring tone when she spoke of the Night King.
"Let all your worries wilt in my arms. I'll bring you home shortly."
~
After letting down Ashara Dayne in Starfall, Aerion brought his strongest warriors to King's Landing which included Robert Baratheon. He thought of ways around the Night King constantly, although there was always one problem.
He was simply a batch of wildfire waiting to be set alight. The moment he was aware that Aerion was up to something, it would be over... unless he drew him out of Lys or kept him distracted.
Once he called upon his Royal Fleet, he ferried all of his undead onto the Stepstones and kept them there. He used the Tome of Hematomancy to further increase his magic vitality, rising up from the high 100s to 240 thanks to his ventures in the Summer Isles.
"Do you think I can defeat him now?" Aerion asked the spirit, who had been advising him well as of recent.
"If you sparsely use his blessing to shield yourself, you can make his ice magic become almost useless. And if you allow it to take hold of you, you'll possibly transcend into Kingship... a King of Fire And Ice. Doesn't that have a nice sound to it?"
"I don't want to be an Other."
"There's always a way with magic to fulfil your desires. If you can drag souls from the underworld, is it too far fetched to say you can restore your flesh?"
"... Since you're the blood magic expert, do you know a way?" Aerion inquired.
"Feed me enough blood and I will show you."
~
"The most important war is far from finished..." Aerion had reunited with Vermithor, comforting his three-headed dragon in one of King's Landing's largest courtyards meant for landing dragons. "I heard you've been burning through a couple of the Others."
Vermithor seemingly nodded with all three of its heads.
"Good child... I'll need you to burn through a couple more for me. Be careful, though. Don't get yourself killed for me."
Vermithor lowered its heads as it saw his left hand turn blue.
"This is... nothing." Aerion's eyes remained determined as he suppressed the Night King's blessing.
"I told him my way and I'm going to stand by it until the very end."
"The most important war..."
Aerion turned to a familiar voice and saw Jocelyn Baratheon, who had been eavesdropping on him. She had her hands behind her back, seemingly hiding something. The Night King's blessing made a perfect time to erupt, growing over the left side of his face. Seeing Jocelyn step back with a worried expression, Aerion chuckled.
"Does this frighten you, Jocelyn?" He touched the ice on his face, burning it away. "This is the cost of victory... besides, now my outside appearance matches my heart. I'm much like them, the Others..."
Jocelyn walked forward and placed down the thing that she had been holding into his hands. "You're not like them... I know you're not."
"If I looked exactly like one of the Others, would you still stay by my side?" Aerion wondered, stepping forward. "I'd be a scary, cold and ugly man... I'd become a monster."
"Then... if it's so bad, I'd find a way to become one as well." Jocelyn Baratheon stated with determination. "You wouldn't have to be alone."
"You foolish girl..." Aerion sighed. "I'd never let that happen to you."
"I... still remember that silly story you told me." She embraced him, landing her head onto his chest. "Even though you took me, your enemy's daughter away, you still didn't spare the effort to comfort me."
"Oh... that." Aerion chuckled. "I'm surprised you still do remember it."
"I will never forget it... the kind dragon that was forced to feast on the world and the deerling who kept him company. You told me that I would always have you and you would take care of everything for me as best as you could..."
"I meant what I said." Aerion nodded, patting her head.
"Even if I'm still a little girl, I promise to become someone that you can rely on as well. I'll never leave your side, Other or not... I'll always be with you."
"You..." Aerion couldn't believe that he was becoming tearful. "Then I'll never leave you either, no matter how willful you may be..."
"What are you talking about? I'm the sweetest girl around." Jocelyn Baratheon chuckled, retreating from him. "Could you... bend the knee?"
"It seems that I've been raising the second Usurper." Aerion chuckled playfully.
"No... not like that. You're just too tall sometimes."
"Alright..." Aerion nodded, kneeling slightly until they were head level. "Why would you-"
"Win the war... and come back alive, one way or the other. That's all that matters."
She held his face and pecked him on the left blue cheek, leading to Aerion's eyes widening in surprise.
"It's... the Maiden's blessing. She will be with you, her greatest Warrior."
Jocelyn Baratheon became embarrassed as she realised what she had done, turning around and making a swift retreat.
"Jocelyn..." Aerion stood up, touching the part of his face that had been kissed. All of a sudden, that part of his body didn't feel so cold. "Your faith in me gives a man strength."
He glanced to the side and looked at the thing that Jocelyn had dropped... a folded banner. Aerion grabbed and unfolded it.
"How cute... she actually completed it."
~
Aerion's Soul Knights spread across the Dothraki Sea, covering it in blood. With his vast amounts of magic vitality, he began to rise horses from the dead too... creating the most terrifying cavalry unit known to man. Entire fields were dyed red and not a single one was spared where the banner of House Targaryen flew.
This was true for every khalasar except for the ones that wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to his strength - including his original khalasar, the one that had split off from Khal Drogo's. He recalled leading those fearless men into battle against the Free Cities... and found it hard to cut them down.
'One day, they will ride with me across the skies in a conquest for the world... but they will live inside of me until then.'
In the end, he decided to finish what he had started and grew his army of Soul Knights to the thousands. He led them through the rest of the Dothraki Sea, stopping before the world wonder known as the Bone Mountains at its most northern point. This section of land had completely separated the western and eastern sides of Essos like a giant natural wall.
When he used the Crown of Necromancy to see what was happening around the Known World, he found out that the Night King had sailed from Lys with his family.
'Sailing for the Golden Empire of Yi Ti, no doubt...' Aerion suddenly had a thought.
~
"So, what will we do to get past these mountains?" Robert Baratheon asked, seeing just how tall the mountains were.
"The sea is to our left," Aerion remarked, his left blue eye glowing. "Beyond it, lies the plans of Jogos Nhai, a people who fight just as much as the Dothraki but never against themselves. A people that would've been tamed by me... one way or the other. We will cross the sea and carve a path through them all the way to the Golden Empire of Yi Ti."
"The Dragon Emperor who never ceases to wage wars. This is the side of you that I admire most." Robert Baratheon admitted. "You are a conqueror."
"... My sword is stained by the blood of innocent people." Aerion countered, drawing his shimmering blade. "What is there to be proud of? As the Dragon Emperor, I should prioritise my people and not hold the few over the many."
"The Dothraki are not your people, Your Grace." Robert Baratheon replied. "You fight for the freedom of your family, something that should never be frowned upon."
'Slaughter for strength...' Aerion sighed. 'Perhaps, the world would have been better off without my blessing.'
~
The sea to the left of the Bone Mountains had been fully frozen, allowing Aerion's army of Soul Knights to cross around and into the plains of Jogos Nhai. During that time, he had Doran Martell (who teleported mysteriously) and Ashara Dayne returned to Sunspear through soul dragons. This time, they were diligently guarded by Ser Arthur and his army of undead.
Instead of taking his time, Aerion created dragons of flame that lit the entire region on fire, day by day. It was a quick and painless death without worry as everyone turned to ash. He gathered the souls of willing warriors while releasing the souls of the innocent, giving them peace from the world.
From a distance, it looked like an apocalypse had begun in the Known World. These fires could be seen far and wide... and they were the most terrifying fires the world had ever seen. Once the fires ended, an army of undead crossed through the Golden Empire of Yi Ti.
It was met with some challenges as the Empire's many warlords and princes feared the end of the world... but Aerion crushed them all, seizing control of the Golden Empire. Aerion came to know that these lands were ruled by a so-called God-Emperor... who, amusingly enough, had little power outside of his capital. The entire land was writhe with chaos and wars, for that matter.
The God-Emperor himself was challenged by two others, a sorcerer lord and an imperial general both of whom claim to be God-Emperors themselves.
It was then that the Dragon Emperor crushed all of his obstacles, taking the Golden Empire's capital port city of Yin under him. Bu Gai, seventeenth of the azure emperors, and the current God-Emperor of the Golden Empire stayed defiant until the very end... sitting on his throne as if he were above the sky itself.
"So it is you, the radiant Dragon Emperor of New Valyria... the destroyer of people, the bringer of chaos, the Lord of the Dead, the greater sorcerer of flames and the Stormcaller. But a mortal man still."
Aerion glanced around the golden and jewelled throne room, seeing the stark contrast to the Great Hall in King's Landing. All of his Kingsguard except for Ser Arthur were behind him along with Helia, knowing full well that the 'God-Emperor' running his mouth wouldn't be alive for long.
'I don't know his tongue... what is he trying to say to me?' Aerion wondered, observing the God-Emperor's expression. 'For his sake, I'm hoping he's saying 'I surrender and you can have everything you want, just spare my life'.'
'But that can't be... he's looking down on me.'
Aerion frowned, dragging the God-Emperor off his throne with Aeromancy and into the blade of Ambition.
"Curse you... and your entire bloodline, Dragon Em-"
Aerion drove his blade deeper, silencing Bu Gai.
"They say that these lands were once ruled by 'the God-on-Earth' who reigned for ten thousand years." Aerion shoved the azure emperor to the side, turning him into a Soul Knight. He continued his ascension forward, eventually sitting down on the God-Emperor's golden throne.
"He had a hundred queens, all wives of his... it all sounds quite absurd, don't you think, Jaime?"
"He must have been a busy man." Jaime Lannister replied, watching Aerion's radiance from the throne.
From atop the golden throne... Aerion looked divine.
"We've outpaced the Night King. While he still travels the sea... we wait for his arrival." Aerion looked down at his Kingsguard.
"Above all else, Arianne is the priority..."
~
The First Day of 298 AC.
The Night King's ship reached the port of Yin, welcomed by a garrison of ten thousand Soul Knights. He still seemed as pleased with himself as ever, throwing down Elia and Arianne Martell off his ship. Aerion's men descended into the waters, grabbing both ladies and bringing them to Aerion, who stood frowning with his black crown.
"Arianne..." Aerion embraced the love of his life, seeing her weakened expression. "What happened?"
"Our child... our daughter... he took her."
Noticing that she was weak from childbirth, Aerion used his healing magic on her. Then, he gazed at the Night King who had taken a child and held her in his arms.
"Pretty little thing. Purple eyes like her father."
"You..." Aerion grit his teeth, his violet eyes almost turning red with fury. "Sailed so bloody slow... so this is why..."
"One last proposal, Dragon Emperor." The Night King smirked, holding Aerion's daughter especially close so that he couldn't do anything against him.
"Become an Other... embrace my blessing fully and I will return her to you safely. If not, your daughter will pay the price and become one in your stead!"
"So what will it be, Dragon Emperor... you or your blood?"