Ultimatum

(Jason's POV)

"E-Erion?" I said

She nodded, "Yes." She said, "Erion. Our Son." 

I didn't say anything, just stood there. I couldn't believe what was going on at all. I had no words whatsoever, it was completely surreal. For some reason, I felt it, I felt that it was true. The child she was holding was mine, it was my child. 

I took a step forward, "I-Irene..." I said

"Nurses." Irene said as she handed the baby over to one of them, "Get him cleaned up and his crib ready for the airship." 

"Yes, M'lady." One of them said as they wrapped him in a blanket

I watched as they walked out through another door, taking the baby with them. 

"What...?" I said, "Wait! Where are you taking him?" 

Irene looked at me with a smile, "Away." She said

Suddenly, I felt as thread-like bands wrapped around me, keeping me in place. 

"W-What?" I said as I looked behind at Heine, "Let me go." 

"No." She said

"Oh, my dear Jason." I heard Irene say

I turned to see her getting up from the bed, she was wearing a massive gown as she slowly walked over to me. 

"M'Lady!" Juliette ran up to her

Irene then gently rested against her as Juliette acted as support for her as she walked. 

"Irene.." I said, "That's my son." 

Irene reached me and patted my cheek, "Oh, he is..." She said while blushing, "You and I....we made that beautiful boy....." 

"Then why..." I started

"Because, my dear..." She said, "It must be done...." 

"What're you saying?" I asked 

"You cannot see him." She said seriously as she lowered her arm, "Erion, my son, you will not be allowed to see him." 

I narrowed my eyes, "No." I said, "You can't do that." 

She sighed, "Of course, I can, my dear." I said, "I can keep him from you, as long as I need to." 

"N-No!" I said, "You can't! He's my son!" 

"And if you want to see him, you must accept the terms, Jason." Irene said, "Become my husband, become the 12th Shield of Spriggan, and aid us in the invasion." 

"No." I said shaking my head, "I won't do that." 

She tilted her head, "I'm sorry then, dear." She said, "Then you won't be able to see our son...." 

I scowled, "Was this your whole plan, then?" I growled, "You seduced me and got me to impregnate you just so you can use my son as leverage to make me join your side?! Was that all you cared about?! What about all the things you were saying?!"

Irene frowned, "Oh, Jason..." She said, "Don't think so low of me....." 

She walked over to me closer as she patted both my cheeks, giving me a warm smile while blushing. 

"I hold you in such a high regard...." She continued, "You....You are my perfect match.....I wish nothing more than for you to become my husband.....I want you....." 

"But..." I said, "Why...?" 

"Because, my dear, it is my duty...." She said with a sad smile, "I cannot defy my Emperor...." 

"That bastard...." I said with a scowl, "All of this....for him?! For Zeref!?"

She shook her head, "No." She said, "Not for him, for us. I want us to get this invasion over with so you and I can go and live our lives far away, raising our son together.....think about it, Jason.....just think about it! Isn't that what you wanted? To raise a child? After what happened to Kag-"

"Shut up." I said coldly, "Don't bring her up...Just don't...." 

I couldn't help but shake in anger, emotions overcoming me. I just couldn't believe this was happening to me. My son was being used as leverage against me. It was making me so fucking angry. 

"Jason..." She said, "I'm sorry. I truly am. But His Majesty's orders are absolute. He allowed me to have this child, he will allow me to retire after this War. I owe it to him to see through that you are to stay here and join us." 

I looked down, "Irene.." I said, "Don't make me fight you for this...." 

"Do you really think you can fight me so easily?" Irene said, "I rather it not come to that, but even if I'm a bit spent after spending hours in labor, I am not so weak..." 

I looked at her, "I mean it." I said seriously, "I'm not going to join Alvarez and I will see my son...." 

She smiled, "Oh Jason....." She said, "I'm sorry.....but this is the way things will have to be...." 

I shook my head, "No." I said, "I'm not gonna allow this, Irene. I won't!!" 

I then released an aura, breaking off the bands and pushing Heine and Juliette away. Irene wasn't fazed by this as she merely stood there, looking at me. 

"M'Lady!" Heine exclaimed

"Easy, Jason." She said, "I'll let this action slide if you calm yourself. Let us talk in the airship where Erion will be taken. Even when we invade, I won't do much for the beginning....I have to rest a little...please reconsider..." 

I gave her a serious glare, "No." I said, "I won't reconsider shit. I'll get my son, one way or the other." 

"No." Irene said seriously, "I mean it. Become my husband or I'm afraid that'll make us enemies." 

She then gave me a serious glare, releasing her magic power. 

But before I could say anything else, I felt as the entire building began to shake violently. 

"What the..." I said as I looked around

The walls were cracking as the whole palace shook like crazy. I felt an incredibly massive and ominous magic power hit us. It was so.....dark.....and heavy.....I didn't feel anything like it, it was absolutely unsettling. 

"W-What?!" Irene said as the building shook

It felt the most devastating earthquake and I would've thought it was some sort of magic attack until I heard the roar. 

There was an extremely loud and deafening roar as the building began to shake even more. Alongside the roar, there was a loud crumbling sound as if the palace itself was collapsing. 

I then noticed Irene's face went completely pale, her eyes widening in complete fear. 

"N-No...." She said, "It can't be..." 

I looked at her, "What is it?!" I asked

"I made sure of it..." She said as she trembled, "N-No!" 

I saw as tears rolled down her cheeks as she covered her mouth. I then heard the loud and deafening roar again as I was hit with this massive wave of dark magic power. 

This time, I saw as the wall began to shatter and the ceiling crumbled, massive pieces of debris began to fall on top of us. 

I waved my hand, using Gravity to stop the debris and attempting to hold the area of this building stable. 

As I slowly set the debris down, I looked up and widened my eyes to the sudden and shocking sight I was beholding. 

Irene saw this too and collapsed to her knees, "N-NO!" She said, "I didn't want this! I thought I made sure to prevent it!!" 

I was frozen at the sight I was seeing in the sky, hovering above the palace as a large portion of it was collapsing. 

Looking down at us with dark blue eyes, there was a massive black dragon flapping its wings. It had four limbs that were covered in metallic spikes and a long tail that also had metallic spikes at the end of it. Large leathery bat-like wings on its spikes, as they flapped, I noticed they were covered with spikes as well. 

What was so familiar about it was its head, it had a demonic-like pitch-black face with two massive dark metallic horns that sprouted outwards and were slightly curved backward. I recognized this familiar appearance. I once fought it in a video game; It was awfully similar to Nergigante.....from Monster Hunter....

"What the hell...?" I said in awe

The Dragon then reared it's head back as it then let out a loud roar, releasing a massive dark aura that hit the palace. The force of the roar and the aura was hard enough to shake the entire palace we were on. 

"No..." Irene cried, "Erion..." 

I looked at her, "What?!" I said, "What did you say?!?"

She looked at me while she cried, "Jason..." She said, "I'm sorry...." 

"That's Erion...."