This is the story of Lyon, who's head-over-heels for Juvia, who's pining after Gray, who's had a secret crush on Erza (basically since forever), but she's completely oblivious because she's totally in love with Jellal. Of Freed, who feels conflicted over his feelings for Mirajane who's ignoring him because she's not over Laxus who still misses what they used to have (even though he's mostly, completely over it). Of Loke who won't give up even though he knows that he has zero chance with Lucy, even though she's sick and tired of clueless, bone-headed Natsu who doesn't understand why there's a problem.
This is the Mazeverse series, a post-Tenrou AU with pairings galore. Gruvia, Lyvia, Grayza, Jerza, Nalu, Nali, Lolu, Graylu, Bixanna, Gale, ElfEver, Miraxus, Laxana, MiraFreed as well as a handful of crackships and rare-pairs as we try to pair the spares. This is the Mazeverse. No ship is safe ;)
Happy Friday! I appreciate the handful of you who are sharing your comments on my relationship rants that I've started including in my end-notes. I'm glad somebody is getting something out of them, lol! XD. It's easy to lose sight of reality when you deal in fluff and drama (like I do). And as much as Mazeverse is based on real people and events, some of it is dramatized. I find that talking through real-world stuff and hearing your comments helps keep things grounded.
This story is my take on the origin of Erza's archery skills.
It takes place over a couple of weeks, so in the Mazeverse timeline, it happens after Snowbound and in parallel with Protective. Both can be considered thematic companion-pieces to this one; neither of them is required reading to enjoy this fic. This is just like Protective but this time it's all in Erza's head (instead of Juvia's). Or you could say that this is Snowbound, but backwards (you'll understand what that means when you hit the last chapter XD).
darling spider: Thanks so much! I think women should be strong. We all have the propensity to be, but we have to choose it. Sometimes we forget that we're no less desirable to decent men when we take the high road and set standards. :)
guest: lol! I'm glad to hear you liked it. We didn't get to explore any of these themes in FT canon, so I worked really hard to try an give her a compelling growth arc. Thanks for the review!
- K. Chandler
Erza Scarlet was engaged in battle with members of a dark guild.
Literally.
Except for the occasional flash of lightning from her spear, there was barely enough light for Erza to see the hand in front of her face. Or, rather, the wizard she was dueling with.
But it was enough.
Erza turned, bringing her spear down with both hands and jabbing at another opponent. She kept him at bay, but just barely.
Normally, opponents like these should have been no problem for Fairy Tail's strongest female wizard. But today was different. Today, she wasn't trying.
Azure Wing had never been a very powerful guild, but recently Erza had started hearing rumors about a literal weapon of darkness. One of their wizards had figured out how to absorb light into a lacrima, as if it were a vacuum or some kind of black hole. On a much larger scale, the idea of absorbing all the light in the world was a very real possibility.
The very idea was enough to make Erza' s palms sweat. The dark was not something she handled well. She couldn't help but volunteer the team for the mission, much to Lucy's dismay.
After a two-day trek across the countryside, the team arrived at the clichéd dreary castle that Azure Wing called their guild hall. Without any source of light in the guild hall, it was impossible for the team to find a weapon, let alone disarm it.
Wit no other choice, Erza split the team up. Natsu's Fire magic made him a walking light-source, and with his keen nose and inhuman hearing, he was the ideal candidate to sniff-out the lacrima while avoiding detection.
This left her, along with Lucy and Gray, to act as a distraction. All they had to do was cause enough of a commotion to keep the attention on them, and not on Natsu. If they could manage to draw most of the dark wizards to them, that would leave the lacrima relatively unguarded for Natsu and Happy to retrieve it.
Erza tightened her grip on the shaft of her spear, sending an impressive-sounding crack of lightning across the room.
"What's taking him so long?" complained Gray, erecting another half-hearted ice shield. "I'm tired of holding back on these losers."
"No kidding," said Lucy. "Maybe Erza should have sent you instead of Natsu."
"Probably," said Gray. "I'd find that lacrima way faster than Ash-for-Brains ever could."
"Maybe." Lucy gave her Fleuve d'etoiles a lazy flourish.
"Hm?"
"Well, actually I was thinking that if Natsu were here instead of you, he'd blast a hole in the wall and then maybe we'd be able to see something."
"Well, I can destroy things too!" Gray sputtered. "Do you want me to tear that wall down?"
"Are you really bragging about that right now?" asked Lucy.
"Stick to the plan, Gray," Erza interrupted. "I'm sure Natsu is close."
And, sure enough, the Dragon Slayer sprinted into the hall just moments later, waving the lacrima over his head like a trophy. "Hey, guys! I got it!"
"Hey, he's got the lacrima!" one of the Azure Wing wizards shouted.
"Real subtle, Fire Breath!" snapped Gray.
"Shut up!" said Natsu. "Come on, Happy, let's take them down."
"Aye, Sir!" shouted Happy. The little Exceed latched onto Natsu's shoulders, starting to lift him up in the air.
"Let go of me, you freak!" Lucy's strident voice echoed off the walls, making Happy stop mid-flutter.
Across the room, Lucy struggled against her captor, her arms twisted back and pinned behind her.
Natsu's face twisted in horror. "Lucy!"
"Natsu!" shrieked Lucy.
"Quit your squirming, girly." Lucy's captor drew a silver dagger, holding it to her neck.
Fear clamped down like a cold vise, twisting Erza's stomach and forcing the air from her lungs.
Erza had chosen her Lightning Empress Armor because it created the most light, but now she needed the familiar weight of a sword in her hand. But her Requips were too flashy for a delicate situation like this one. What she really needed was a diversion.
Instinctively, Erza looked to Gray. His gaze met hers and he gave her a slight nod, relaying his understanding with his eyes. He shifted his stance slightly, the difference so subtle that Erza wouldn't even have noticed if she wasn't looking for it.
"Ice Make: Battle Axe!" Gray bellowed dramatically, deliberately drawing everyone's attention towards him.
Gray's diversion gave Erza the opportunity she needed to choose a more practical armor. Calling on her magic, Erza Requipped into Heaven's Wheel. With hundreds of swords at her disposal, she would have the upper hand.
"Don't even think about it," the dark wizard snarled, his venomous gaze on Gray. Then his eyes landed on Erza, his face twisting into a leer. "Weapons away, both of you."
Erza clenched her teeth, tightening her grip on her sword. The metal dug into her palm. There was no way she would be intimidated by someone like him.
A whimper from Lucy made Erza stop. Lucy's features pinched and her face was pale. Her brown eyes were wide with fear as her captor pressed the dagger insistently at her throat.
"Now! Put it down or the girl gets it!"
Gray and Erza exchanged glances. Shoulders drooping in defeat, Erza nodded at him before Requipping her swords away.
"Yeah, okay," said Gray, followed suit, his ice weapon dissipating. "It's gone. All right?" He raised his open hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Look," said Erza, fighting to keep her voice steady. She clenched her fist. Without her sword, Erza's hand was small and empty. "We've done as you've asked. Now—"
"First, give me the lacrima."
Lucy shook her head wildly. "Don't do it, Natsu," she breathed. "You can't let him have it." Her bravado was belied by the rapid rising and falling of her chest as she gulped for air. She was terrified.
"Quiet, girl."
"I'm the one with the lacrima!" snarled Natsu, his brows drawing in fury. "Your fight's with me."
Gray groaned. "What does he think he's doing?" he hissed.
"Hush," whispered Erza. She agreed with Gray's assessment wholeheartedly, but it wasn't like she had a better idea. She was unarmed and too far away to help.
Lucy's life was at stake and Natsu had their only bargaining chip. They just had to trust him.
"You're in no position to make demands," the dark wizard droned.
"Lucy's got nothing to do with this. Get your hands off her!" shouted Natsu.
"Not until I get the lacrima."
"This what you want?" jeered Natsu, lobbing the fragile sphere from one hand to the other. "All right, then."
"Idiot!" muttered Gray.
"Natsu, what are you doing?" Lucy cried desperately. "You can't!"
Natsu grinned broadly. "Catch!" he shouted, hurling the lacrima up into the air.
The dark wizard shoved Lucy aside as he surged forward, trying to catch the precious object before it shattered on the castle floor. Natsu lunged too, though it looked like he was heading for Lucy.
Natsu shouted something and so did Lucy. Their voices mingled with the enemy's in a unified cry.
Time seemed to slow.
Her muscles tightened to spring into action, but Erza couldn't move. She stood, frozen, her mind blank. Somebody needed to do something, but without her swords, she was useless. And she was too far away.
But there, in the darkness, was Gray, just when Erza thought all was lost. His steady baritone cut through her despair, filling her with warmth. "Ice-Make: Freezing Arrow!" A bow of ice appeared in his fist.
Illuminated by his magic, Erza could see the grace in Gray's movements. In a smooth motion, he notched an arrow and drew the string. Gliding from his fingers, the arrow flew straight and true.
Erza heard the crash as the lacrima shattered, showering the room with broken glass. The pulse of concentrated magic sent shockwaves through her chest. The light that broke free from the lacrima bathed the room in white and left Erza squinting. The Azure Wing wizards howled, the light agonizing to their sensitive eyes.
Erza blinked away the spots that flickered across her vision. As her vision cleared, she could see the downed wizards, maybe about twenty of them, rendered defenseless by their sensitive eyes.
Gray grinned, cocky as ever. "Told ya I was sick of holding back, didn't I?" he asked.
"Yeah…" mumbled Erza.
Erza had a feeling she was being irrational, but in that moment, she couldn't help it. Her head replayed the moment in slow motion. Gray, with his bow, like a hero of old. She hadn't noticed it earlier, but he had managed to lose his shirt at some point. The blue glow of his magic highlighted the perfect definition of his chiseled—
Erza stiffened, her shoulders hunching in embarrassment. What nonsense! She had never been physically attracted to Gray. She'd never been attracted to him in any other way, for that matter. Where was this foolishness coming from?
"Wow! That was, like, crazy," chirped Happy. He hovered worriedly. "Is everyone okay?"
"I'm good, little buddy," said Natsu, giving a thumbs-up.
"Me too," said Gray. "Erza? Hey, Erza?"
"What?" Erza blinked.
The corners of Gray's mouth pulled into a worried frown. "You all right there?"
"Huh…? Perfectly fine," she said, forcing her voice to steady itself. She needed to focus, not daydream. They still had a job to finish.
Natsu turned to Lucy. She was still cradled in his arms from when he caught her. "What about you, Luce?"
"Yeah. I'm okay too," she said. Then she scowled. "You can let go of me now, perv."
"Hey! I totally saved you! I'm like a hero," said Natsu, but he set Lucy down like she had asked.
"Uh, no you didn't. Gray saved me," said Lucy.
Natsu scoffed. "Did not!"
Lucy ignored him, turning her winning smile towards the Ice-Make mage. "Thank you, by the way."
"You're very welcome," said Gray with faux politeness.
"She likes him!" chortled Happy.
"I do not!" Lucy blushed, sneaking a look at Gray. But he wasn't paying attention.
Gray grinned, elbowing Natsu. "See that, Flame Brain. I'm the hero."
"What? No!" yelped Natsu.
"You heard her," said Gray, shoulders raised in a mocking shrug.
"Shut up, Popsicle Breath."
"Make me, Ash-for-Brains."
"Enough, both of you," interrupted Erza. "Let's round up these miscreants and collect our reward."
"Yes, ma'am," the boys chorused.
"Who knew these guys were afraid of a little light?" said Lucy. She gave the rope a vicious jerk, tightening it around the wizard who had been holding her hostage. "Not so tough now, are you?"
"I suppose that makes sense, given their whole plunge the world into darkness scheme," said Erza, securing a couple prisoners of her own.
"I guess," said Lucy.
"Doesn't make it any less pathetic," snorted Gray.
"Aye, sir!" agreed Happy.
Erza's brain has turned Gray into a 'hero of old.' Nice... (facepalms) XD
When I first came up with the concept for this fic, it was supposed to be more of a satire or a parody. I wanted to poke fun at the idea of being stupid-head-over-heels-in-love. It feels like it would lend itself well to the classic love potion setup, but I wanted to do something a little different. I'm a firm believer that the human mind can be more powerful than any potion, under the right circumstances. (Some might even argue that love itself is a drug.) Everything that Erza experiences here is self-inflicted. Stick around and watch her brain turn to mush as she falls even deeper... XD
Erza made the perfect PoV character because she's the last person I'd expect this behavior from. I thought that would be enough to make it clear that I was being a little tongue-in-cheek. The problem? Things started to get a little too serious for a parody, and then my need for drama kicked in...and the story decided it wanted to be hurt/comfort instead of humor. It's kind of a weird mix; I think it still works. But I'll leave you to decide. ;)
Next time, in [Mazeverse] The Problem with Ranged Weapons: "I need to talk to you," she said, her voice faltering.
Stop back next Friday for the next installment, or just follow me, Karine of R011ingThunder.