I was six when my life was ripped from me. I remember screams in the mansion, my father's bellow of rage and grief, crimson stains slicking the walls, and the marble floor sliding beneath my feet as the last person I held dear desperately tried to lead us to escape. In the end, it was all for naught - blood on my face, on my hands, in my mouth, and the body of the last person I loved at my feet.
The Empire took me. They told me of the ugliness corrupting their perfect world, the ugliness that had taken my family from me. And finally, they offered me a choice.
I could stand amongst the elites of the Empire and exact justice upon the scum that had stolen my happiness, or I could die alongside my family, for if I were released, what else would await me? And so, at the tender age of six, I chose life and vengeance.
Today has marked eleven years since the theft of everything I loved. And for my service, for my rise through the ranks of our units and my deadly precision, I have finally been given a target. I may finally shed the blood of those responsible for my grief.
I do not speak my thoughts as I kneel before Lord Zeref, awaiting my instructions. To be an assassin, especially one as highly ranked as I, is to lock all emotion and vulnerability away. Any opening for an enemy to exploit could lead to death. It is a grim existence, but it is all I have left, and I cannot hate that which has given me life.
"Lucy Heartfilia. You have grown so. Your successes have reached the ears of many." The Emperor's voice is cold as ice, flat and devoid of emotion. He is what we aspire to become - for once, he had been as low as we, only rising to bring justice and order to a chaotic world. We are his loyal tools, weapons to maintain the perfect order he has fought for so long to establish.
"Summon your Familiars, assassin. I wish to see if the reports of your exponential growth are factual." I bow my head, closing my eyes and calling out silently to the spirits that have aided me thus far. My energy drops, and three of my most faithful Familiars stand behind me.
"Impressive. I recognize these - they are the most powerful in your possession, yes?" I nod, daring to lift my eyes. Lord Zeref is studying the ethereal beings behind me. Aquarius dons her irritated face, not summoned near any water but the sweat of my brow. She lacks respectful posture, but I know that the affairs of mortals are beneath her, and I do not scold her. Leo is sophisticated elegance, his sharp eyes assessing the Emperor coldly. He, too, lacks my humble demeanor, though his eyes lower briefly when Zeref appraises him. Virgo is the only of the three to adopt a submissive attitude, though that is less of respect for my Lord and more her view of me as her Master.
"My Lord, are you pleased? Have I truly grown in your eyes?" His dark eyes flick to mine for an instant, and I tense, fearing I have overstepped my bounds. My energy is depleting the longer these powerful allies remain in the mortal world, though, and I do not wish to fall unconscious before my leader.
"You have." He makes a dismissive gesture towards my Familiars, and though I can feel their affront at such treatment, they vanish to their own plane with no commentary. Aquarius lashes her tail as she vanishes, her rage palpable in my spirit, and I know she will have words with me later. "I am impressed with your dedication and your progress. You have truly come to deserve the title of assassin." I feel my face glow under his praise, for it is rarely given. "In light of your service to our great Empire, I have a mission I believe you will be most pleased to take."
"We have found one of the lesser beings responsible for the horrors you endured prior to joining with us. You are to assassinate him publicly, making an example of what end awaits those that defy our great nation." My breath catches in my throat. A chance for vengeance. A chance to exact absolute justice, and to spread awareness of the pain I have been forced to endure. My heart leaps in my chest, burning with passion and rage. "Your target is the son of Igneel, the individual that has been causing the most unrest against our perfect world. It is my belief that by executing his heir, he will come to understand what he has done by making an enemy of me."
Zeref's voice is cold as ice as he gives me the name, and I ignore the brief stutter of my heart, unknown and uncared for. "Your target is Natsu Dragneel."
A/N - It is October. It is the month where suddenly, ongoing projects nonwithstanding, I am flooded with ideas and am (pretty much) forced to put them on paper and share them with all of you lovelies. This is my first time writing Fairy Tail in awhile, especially after taking Warmth from my other account and putting it under revision. There's a lot of work to do on that one. I hope that this is acceptable. I would love to hear thoughts on it. Thank you, as always, for staying with me through the long waits and for generally being wonderful. I appreciate you all.
AT