My first multi-chapter Mystwalker story~ I hope you guys enjoy this, and I'm sorry if the chapters are short. I don't own Fairy Tail.
Once there was a girl who longed to be a knight to serve her beloved home country. However, she was raised with strict traditions. She was never to pick up a sword. She was meant to be a perfect, obedient wife; this was her destiny deemed by her family. But no matter how much her father had forced her to learn dance, etiquette, and other skills benefiting a wife, she could not stray away from the sword. She learned her skills by herself, without the help of her elder brother or other family members. If they found out, they would only imprison her further into a mask that did not belong to her.
There was something addicting to swordplay, to fighting, to the thrill of being able to protect that she could not free herself from. Perhaps it was the fact that she could prove her strength. Perhaps it was because a knight had suited her much more than the title of a simple noblewoman. Perhaps it was because she felt truly like herself when she held those weapons in her hands.
It was a shame, her movements were as graceful as a dancer's and yet as strong as a man. It was a shame that she had to hide such talent away from the world. If her family were to see her like this, would they envy her for her skills? Or would they be filled with shame? After all, her late mother's dearest wish was for her only daughter to have a loving husband of a high status so that she may live in leisure for the rest of her life with children to carry their blood. A strong willed girl who wields weapons is not proper for a wife. So all she can do is be their proper child. Well, to an extent.
"Erza! What have you done to your suitor this time?" an angry man asked as he slammed the door open to his daughter's quarters.
"Father, if you continue to yell like that your health will be in danger," the girl reminded him coldly as though she's done nothing wrong. Technically, she hasn't done anything wrong, by her standards.
"Don't speak to me like that young lady! What have you done to Count Neville's son?"
"Oh, that pathetic excuse for a male? He asked me what my favorite activities were and I properly answered him like how I was taught father," she told him as she had a smug smirk with what had recently happened. It was so enjoyable to see the man squirm as she told him about her love for violence and horror novels. Seeing him blanch in fear was amusing. He was far too weak for her tastes.
"Erza, you are meant to bring respect to the Knightwalker name, meaning that you do not frighten your suitors! Do you understand?"
"He was utterly pathetic, Father. Not worth to be called the fearsome General Knightwalker's son-in-law. Wouldn't having him, even if he is of noble blood, be further embarrassment to your name?" Though her words are rather cruel, she does prove a point. Erza is to find the best man suited for the Knightwalker family, that is what she decided a long time ago. That is how she will show her respect to her family despite the fact that they oppress her freedom. "Besides, the son of an only recently added noble is also an insult to our bloodline, no?"
The man sighed in defeat. "I suppose you do prove a point... Go to your studies, I expect you to improve your penmanship by dinner."
"Yes, Father." Everyday it's like this. Erza wakes up and dresses with an uncomfortable corset, a stuffy dress, and an itchy wig (because her scarlet colored hair was not 'proper' despite the fact that it was her mother's hair color) to go to her morning tutors. She meets a suitor after lunch. She somehow gets them to go away after an hour or so, then she is chewed out by her father or one of her governesses. And now, she is to continue to improve on 'lady-like' skills until dinner. The same as her boring everyday routine.
It is at times like this that she looks out her window and in the distance she can see the town and castle where her elder brother was. Simon Knightwalker was often at the castle along with her father for training the militia. He rarely came home, that is why she envied her brother so much. He could do as he pleased because he possessed the freedom and the right to do so. She was just a caged bird meant to breed, never to leave the nest. Anyone could replace her and that was what upset her so much. She wanted to be more than a wife and a mother.
But there's not one person who would allow her to pursue such fate.
Erza sighed. It was at times like this where she enjoyed going into the forest in order to train her body. Erza jumped down from the window, after dismissing the outer, most uncomfortable layer of her dress and shedding the black wig from her head. 'Much better...' she thought in relief. There was one place in the forest where she could be herself and it is where she was able to show her power without any restraints. Her hunting grounds. After all, there are many interesting animals lurking around.
Her weapon is an old spear which her Father abandoned, even though it was a wonderful weapon, the Ten Commandments. Absolutely wonderful to pierce through the hearts of the creatures she hunted down with such grace. As a rather large salamander fell to the ground, she smiled in satisfaction. It felt wonderful to get some exercise! However that smile soon disappeared when her ears heard a rustling within the brush.
"Who's there?" she demanded. When hearing no reply, she threw the bloody spear and heard something or someone moving. Erza quickly ran towards where her spear landed. Nothing was in sight. The girl grew irritated, from not being able to feel the presence, but soon became worried with returning home. It was beginning to be late and she didn't feel like having her ear chewed out by her father again.
At the dinner table, her Father had told her, "Erza, tomorrow you will visit court." Erza raised a fine eyebrow in questioning. She steers clear from that place for several reasons."The Prince seems to be arriving tomorrow. As a member of this family, I believe you should greet him with respect while your brother and I are in the mist of training."
"I have no interest in the Prince, Father," Erza stated, knowing what the general was implying. A good friendship further ensures the position for the family and a marriage will bring glory to their name. "Besides, brother dearest can spare time from his schedule."
"Erza, that is not the point. Tomorrow there will be several young ladies in court who possess an example that I should see you following. Think of it as a mission to improve your skills as a noblewoman."
Though it had sounded like a suggestion, Erza knew that it was a command. Perhaps the elder Knightwalker was tried of having to find a new marriage partner for his... unique daughter. The easiest way would be for her to change herself, it seems. "But of course, Father. I will do my best to not cause shame towards the Knightwalker name." And that was that.
Please review, I would like to hear your opinions on this. Oh and a head's up, this story should be around 8-10-ish chapters probably, so not that long but not that short either.