I do not own Fairy Tail, all of it's characters and settings are property of Hiro Mashima and his publishers.
The universe is home to infinite possibilities. Images distorted and twisted in a looking glass. Sometimes for good. Sometimes for ill. A person makes a choice in one reality and in another universe they make the exact opposite choice. Such instances also happen on a global scale, a crack in one world's history can splinter to create a new reality. Across these planes of existence exist a numerous number of Earthlands, a numerous number of Fiores, a numerous number of Magnolias, and a numerous number of Fairy Tails. Each of these deviations have their own histories, events, locations, and people.
This is the tale of one such universe where Fiore's strongest guild is the same but at the same time radically different.
The land of Fiore, a mostly desolate wasteland filled with sand, heat, frightening creatures, and even more frightening outlaws. In the drifters town of Magnolia stands the "Fairy Tail Company" a work for hire organization run by retired bounty hunter "Master" Makarov Dreyar. The company specializes in odd jobs that range from package delivery, to bounty hunting, to even assassinations. The company does any job for the right price, meaning their income could come from a sweet old lady delivering a package to her son, or a group of law breakers looking to create political upheaval. As long as the price is right, no questions are asked. That's just how things go.
Under the employ of the company are "She Devil" Mirajane Strauss, the company's drop dead gorgeous secretary and a hunter in her own right, her younger brother "Beast Man" Elfman, their younger sister and barmaid Lisanna, fortuneteller and resident drunk Cana Alberona, and the company's most valuable assets, the famous "twin demons": "Titania" Erza Scarlet & Kagura "The Mermaid" Mikazuchi. In a land where money and power rules over all, The Fairy Tail Company manages to keep afloat by surfacing just above the rough waters, but that doesn't mean they don't get into any trouble every now and again.
…
It was hot day in the Fairy Tail saloon as the sun shined high in the sky over Magnolia. It was always hot in the town, but something about today's heat made it almost unbearable. Mirajane sat at the bar, trying to cool herself off with the electrical fan, but it was barely doing anything to lower her slowly rising body temperature.
"My it's hot today." She said as she held her head in front of the fan, her silver curls flowing in the air.
"It's probably because you have so many clothes on, sis." Elfman commented about his sister's red dress. The corset showing on the outside. It was shoulder less but had thin sleeves on the arms, and dragged across the floor when she walked. Elfman then turned around and continued playing cards with Cana. It was sort of a routine they fell into when they were bored.
"Full house." He yelled, placing his hand on the table.
The fortuneteller smirked and slammed her cards on the table "Royal Flush 'Beast Man'. Looks like I win again." Cana laughed as she took the money they were betting off of the table.
"Aw, dammit!" Elfman yelled in frustration as he watched his money slip out of his hands. "I was going to buy a colt with that."
Cana sat back in her chair and took another sip of her beer. "Better luck next time, big guy." she grinned.
"Isn't a bit early to be drinking, Cana?" Lisanna asked as she cleaned out the glasses behind the bar.
"Hey, it's 5 o'clock somewhere." The brunette answered as she took another sip.
No it's not. Lisanna thought to herself with an uncomfortable smile. She then turned to her sister. "Where's the master?" she asked Mirajane with a quizzical look on her face.
"He went to mayor's office to pay the monthly tax." Mira answered as she continued to sit in front of the fan. "Can I have a glass of water, please?"
"Sure thing." Lisanna pulled out a small glass and filled it with cold water from the tap, she then placed it in front of her dehydrated sister. "It seems kind of wrong that we have to pay the sheriff AND the mayor every month." Lisanna said with slight worry in her voice.
"It's just something that has to be done. We don't want neither the mayor nor the sheriff on our backs when we work. It's the price we pay to operate here." A voice called from the stairs.
"Oh, Erza, I didn't know you were awake." Mirajane said smiling, "How are you feeling from the job yesterday?"
Erza reached the end of the stairs before walking towards the bar. "I'm still a bit sore, but I'll survive."
"How's Kagura?" Lisanna asked as she handed Erza a glass of water.
"Thank you." Erza said graciously before taking a sip. "Kagura is still sleeping. She did most of the work yesterday so she deserves some rest. Who knew that Bora guy would be such a handful, that glove he used to make purple flames was quite impressive." She sipped her water again and looked around the saloon.
"How was the show last night?"
"Not very good." Mirajane sighed dejectedly. "Not many people came. It's getting harder to keep the day business running ever since the army began tightening their patrols."
"Don't worry-"Erza reassured her silver haired friend. "You'll think of something."
"I hope so, otherwise we'll have to start looking for more employees to do odd jobs."
As if hearing Mirajane's plea, the phone rang from behind the bar.
Erza smirked as she took another sip of water. "Speak of the devil."
"Lisanna could you hand me the phone." Mira asked politely as her sister grabbed it from under the bar.
"Here you go, big sister."
"Thank you." Mirajane cleared her throat as she placed the receiver to her ear. "Fairy Tail Company, this is Mirajane how can we help you?" The rest of the employees sat quietly as Mirajane spoke into the phone. "Uh huh. Uh huh. Ok, where? How much? Ok, I'll send our two best people. Yes, that's right. Half up front, and the rest when the job is completed. Ok, you're welcome, bye." She hung up the phone and turned towards Erza.
"A job?" Erza asked facetiously, already knowing the answer.
"Yes in Shirotsume. Could you wake Kagura, please?"
"Alright." Erza rose from the bar and walked up the stairs towards her partner's room. "Kagura wake up, we have a job." Erza banged on the wooden door, stirring the black haired swordswoman from her slumber.
Kagura wiped the sleep from her eyes as she rose from her bed. She stood up and stretched as she walked towards the door. She opened it to see Erza standing a small distance away from it. "Good Morning, Erza. We have a job?"
"Yes we do. Hurry and get ready, we'll be leaving in a couple of hours."
"Ok." Kagura answered groggily as she closed the door, Erza heading back down the stairs towards the bar.
About an hour later Kagura came down the stairs dressed for work her sword Archenemy at her side, never leaving its scabbard. With her signature white headband on top of her head, she wore her purple hakama, black socks and white sandals. Her top was an open one that stopped just below her breasts which were wrapped by a sarashi.
"Can't you dress more appropriate for work?" Cana asked curtly as she looked at the black haired woman.
"You're one to talk, Cana. I've never heard of a Fortuneteller giving readings in only a bra and pants." She replied smirking.
"Shut up, it's for comfort. It's hot out there." Cana said before she asked Lisanna for another beer. "Besides I don't wear this when I'm working."
Erza on the other hand wore more traditional clothing for the time. Brown pants with suspenders and black boots. She wore a white long sleeve shirt, but due to the heat she rolled the sleeves up. She had googles on her forehead as her scarlet hair was tied in a long ponytail. Although Erza had many more outfits than this one, her ability to change into any outfit quickly astounded her fellow hunters.
"Let's go, Kagura." Erza said as she walked towards the door, Kagura following behind her.
"Good luck you two." Lisanna called from behind the bar.
Once they reached outside, Erza placed her hand over her eyes to shield them from the blazing sun. "It really is hot today." Erza said. "Are you ok, Kagura?"
"I'm fine." Kagura replied quickly. Her face was sweating.
Erza smiled at her, "You always were a hard one to read. Let's go, the job is in Shirotsume. We have to go on foot now, or night will fall on us."
Kagura nodded as the two of them began to make way to their way out of town.
"Where's Master Dreyar?" Kagura asked slightly confused.
"He went to pay the monthly tax, he should be back by the time we return." Erza answered. After passing by the mayor's building Kagura spoke up again.
"What is this job anyway?"
"We've been hired to steal a book from a man named Duke Everlue."
"A book? Whose the client?" Kagura asked still trying to understand as the pair arrived on the outskirts of town.
"His name is Kaby Melon." Erza replied. "The pay was originally 500,000 but was recently increased to 2 million jewel."
Kagura's eyes widened. "2 million?!"
"Yes. Apparently this Duke Everlue is quite a fearsome man. Everyone else who has tried to get the book has been killed, so the client called us and increased the pay." Erza explained as she looked out towards the horizon
Kagura looked down at her feet and sighed as her expression returned to normal. "Well this job doesn't seem too hard."
A few minutes of silence passed between the pair as they continued along the desert. Kagura began to speak seriously as she continued staring at the near barren scenery. "I had the nightmare again." Erza looked at Kagura for a split second but otherwise had no reaction as her companion continued speaking. "They're getting less frequent but that doesn't make them any less real. I can still feel the scars they left on us. That HE left on us." She grabbed her sword as she continued to walk, fire in her eyes as she spoke with ice in her tone.
"Next time we meet, I will kill him, Erza."
Erza looked at the black haired swordswoman for a quick second before staring out in front of her once more. "I know, Kagura. I know."
…
2 hours later the pair arrived in the town of Shirotsume. As they took in their surroundings they could tell that the small town was certainly greener than their home of Magnolia, it was also much less deserted. Not many people were on the streets, and those that were walked around with an unusual sense of urgency.
"What is going on with the people here?" Kagura asked Erza as they walked towards their destination.
"I heard that Duke Everlue basically runs this town. No one here makes a move without his say so, and those that try to defy him wish for an early death." Erza explained calmly as she looked around. She saw a man being dragged away from his wife and daughter by a very muscular man.
"No, please!" the man pleaded as his wife's eyes began to mist. "Please don't take me away from my family, I'll have Mr. Everlue's money in a couple days. Please!" His cries fell on deaf ears as the thug dragged him kicking and screaming.
"No can do, Eric." The thug said almost as if he was happy to be torturing the man. "Mr. Everlue doesn't do rain checks."
Erza and Kagura watched the scene unfold and Erza quickly placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, but just as suddenly, Kagura placed her hand on top of it.
"Erza." Kagura said with a low tone, "I know you want to help that man, I do too, but that's not the job we're being paid for. We can't afford to attract too much attention to ourselves while we're he-"Kagura was cut off when Erza forcibly removed her hand from her blade.
"Let's hurry to the client's house, it's just beyond this hill." Erza said abruptly as she began to walk ahead of Kagura. Even though her face was calm, Kagura could sense that Erza could feel the people's pain, she did as well; but saving the town was not their job. As they continued to walk they could still hear the man screams fade into the distance.
"No! Please, someone help me!"
…
This is the start of a brand new story I thought of. It's AU (obviously lol) took some influences from Black Lagoon. I decided to write off the beaten path and try something new, forgive me if the characters are a bit OOC. I won't be as regular with this though. have alot more storeis to touch uo so i can only work on this one when I have time so bear with me lol. Let me know what you guys think. :)