/N: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima. Magi belongs to Shinobu Ohtaka

The Scarlet Despair & Princess

On the village that was decimated by Irene a few hours ago, two individual is seen watching the carnage that happened here.

The first is a tall man with a muscular build. He has long blonde hair which extends past his shoulders, with bangs over his purple eyes. The hair standing on the top sides of his head has the appearance of cat ears. He covers his head with a turban, and wears a black and gold checker mask, and a cloth that covers the lower half of his face. He wears a black jacket with a high collar over his robe. He also wields a mask with a handle as a wand.

The second is a large man with a muscular build. He has short black hair with large sideburns and three vertical dots on his forehead. He has thick triangle shaped eyebrows, a large nose, a triangle shape mustache, thick small lips, and stubble on his chin. He wears a tank top with a square like design pattern, he also wears a shirt with the same design. He wears a large belt with a spiders design and wears shoulder plates that have a flower like design on them. He also wears sandals.

The muscular man later spoke. "Wow. What a carnage here. Who can do this kind of destruction, Ithnan-sama?" He asked another one known as Ithnan.

'Judging from the damage of the house, it's the work of Heat Magic. But, who caused it? If this is the works of Metal Vessel user, the damage will be more than this.' Ithnan confused by this handwork. "You better continue your search, Zurmudd. A speck of depravity isn't something we can't miss for." He said to the muscular man, known as Zurmudd.

"Okay then." Zurmudd sighed while walk away from Ithnan.

When Zurmudd not seen anymore, Ithnan clench his fists. "To think that she managed to escape before I can corrupt her." He said in frustration. "It seems someone knows about our existence besides that First-level Singularity and Magi."

Meanwhile, on a cave few miles away from the devastated village, Irene is seen sitting while resting her back on the cave wall. Her staff is put not far away from her. Beside her staff, the princess is seen sleeping, still induced by her Sleeping Magic.

Irene sighed. "I'm glad to be at least found this cave." She said in relief before looking at the princess once again.

This is not the first time she saw something like this. During her reign as Queen of Dragnof, she sometimes sees when her neighboring country was destroyed and the royal family, including their children, being executed.

But now, after that fateful battles with Erza and Wendy, she began to think if that tradition of her era is really the right thing.

"I...Isaac..." The princess mumbled in her sleep. Her body then shaking. "I...saac...why'd you leave me?" She continued while some tears leaked from her eyes.

For the past few hours, the princess continue to mumbling like this. At one moment, she was trashing herself during her sleep, forcing Irene to induced her with more powerful Sleeping Magic.

Irene sighed. It's already her strongest spell yet. "I truly wonder...what kind of bond you had with that man that was killed in front of your eyes? I can suggest it's Isaac person you always mumbling." She said practically to no one. She then decided to pull off the Sleeping Magic from her, making her sleeping naturally now. "No need to worry, little princess. I promise that I'll take care of you."

Time quickly passed to night. Irene is return to the cave after hunting for some deer, which she found to be abundant on this area. She currently put the already chopped off deer meat inside Spatial Magic, and then using her enchant to make fire camp inside the cave. After that, she then took a seat. This maybe look out of queen characters, but she sometimes do the hunt on her reign.

She ready to cook her meal once she heard mumbling from her little passenger.

"Uuuhh..." The princess is waking up. She yawned before rubbing both of her eyes using her last thing she remembered was meeting with a red-haired woman that ordered her to closed her eyes. Everything went blank after that. She then gasp and quickly get up from her sleeping position. "Huh?" She then look her surrounding. Her face is filled with fear. 'Where...is this?'

"Ah, I'm glad you awake, my dear princess." Irene said seeing her is wake up.

The princess then look at Irene once again. She still wary of her because the gruesome acts she did on the village. "Stay...away..." She said with fear.

Irene noticed her fear. "No need to fear me. I won't hurt you." She assured.

Even after that, the princess still had a fear look on her face. However, she bravely nodded.

"Now, why don't you sit beside me?" Irene offered.

She didn't move.

Irene sighed. She knows that wasn't a right word. "I see. then, I'll sit beside you." She then stand up and walking toward her, making the princess reflectively flinched in fear. After close to her, she then sit beside her. "Like I said before. You had no need to fear me." She then saw some tears, and wiping it using her fingers while also touching her cheek. Strangely she doesn't trash around at all. "Its okay. You save now."

'Save...' She thought, not expecting those words. She then slowly crawl to Irene and hug her despite their differences in size. She then make a loud cry: feelings of sadness and anguish that she been holds for days.

Irene couldn't do nothing but patting her head. "There, my dear. Just let it all out." She said.

The princess keep crying harder and harder. This could be a long time.

An hour already passed. The princess finally stopped crying, but her face is shown some sadness, seen by she only watch the campfire after that.

Meanwhile, Irene is busy cooking the deer meat by using Levitation Magic to make the deer meat not fall to the campfire. Her acts seems piqued the princess interest a little, which she noticed. "You had some interest in Magic, princess?" She asked.

However, Irene didn't pick any interest in her eyes. Its the look of little hatred.

'Oh yes I forgot. Her country, according from what I know by reading that mustache soldiers...being overthrown by this world Magician. However, I didn't found the reason behind this rebellion.' She reminiscing the time when she read the captain mind. "You hate Magician, am I right? For there were the reason your kingdom being overthrown." She said.

Dunya widen her eyes. How could stranger knows about it? "How...could you know about that?"

"I have my own way you see." Irene replied. "Then tell me, do you hate Magician or not?"

The princess didn't replied. She then clench her fist.

"I take that as a yes." Irene concluded. "But still...to think your country could fall like that...it means your father, the ruler of the kingdom...didn't love its people." She said.

Hearing it make the princess suddenly stand up with hate look on her eyes. "How dare you mock father! He...he's a good king! A stranger like you had no right to-"

"To your eyes, yes." Irene cut off. "But, how about what he did behind you? The weakness of every kingdom nation is one. If the royal family that rules cared about their wealth than their own people...the country is destined to fall. At least that's my opinion." She explain. "Not realizing it, you unexpectedly swallowed by it. Its something that can't be denied."

After hearing Irene words, the princess become silent. She didn't know how to reply. "That's...impossible...He...father is..."

"You're never realized that, because you still a child, young princess." Irene said. "But, if you direct your hatred toward me, its pointless. If you dare move a muscle, I can easily kill you on the spot."

The princess really confused by Irene attitude. "Then...why'd you save me?" She asked.

Irene sighed. "Let me straighten thing first, little princess. After I reading that captain mind, I can't deny that I really hate your family. However...I won't let child without sin such as you being killed in such brutal way. That's why I massacre that village for dared to do things like that." She stated.

The princess later look down. 'If I think about it. What she said had some truth. Father sometimes had a large party with the others. And...I even don't know how he gets moneys for it...'

"And before I forgot, tell me your name little princess. I can't call you by little princess every day you know." Irene demanded.

The princess at first didn't answer, until she finally look to Irene once again. "My name is Dunya. Dunya Musta'sim."

"Dunya...I see. A fit name for a princess." Irene commented. "Well then, I think I shall tell you my name. My name is Irene."

"Then, can I call you Ms. Irene?" Dunya asked.

"Call me anything that you like." Irene didn't care how she will calling her. She then looks at Dunya. She likes to talk about something. "Is there more you want to speak?'

"Um yes...Ms. Irene, I really thank you for saving me back then." Dunya expresses her thanks. She then had a sad look. "But...the captain that killed Isaac...he said that its my destiny to die. If that so, its better if I die right?"

"So my hunch is right? This Isaac person...is the one that was killed in front of you." Irene guessed.

Dunya nodded. She didn't mind about her words. Irene saved her, and all that matters.

"If I must advice you, don't listen to that vile man words. He said that to justify his actions as a rebel." Irene said. "And, your fate is not to die."

"But he said-"

"Dunya, what do you think about fate?" Irene asked.

"F-fate...is something that can't be changed no matter what. Because...there are someone that binds it." Dunya replied.

"That's wrong." Irene denied. "Fate isn't something to be bowed with. Its something that must be surpassed. Your situation during that time, even if I didn't came to save you, you must be struggle to stay alive right? That's one example you tried to surpass your fate."

"Then, how about cursing your fate?" Dunya asked, when suddenly the black butterfly-like thing is gathered around her.

Irene became cautious seeing it. Then, her mind quickly analyzed. 'Now I see. It seems in this world, those who curse their own fate in this world...become an easy access to evil.'

"If there's something that already been decided...I...I can't accept it." Dunya said.

"If so, then you had no pride at all of becoming a princess?" Irene sighed. "When I thought you had some potential, it seems I wrong."

"But...That's true!" Dunya yelled while stand up. "IF THERE'S SUCH POWER...I CAN'T ACCEPT IT!? DOES IT MEANS THAT ISAAC IS DESTINED TO DIE IN THE FIRST PLACE!"

"Now then Dunya, can you please just sit and do this talk without any yelling?" Irene casually said. "Its true that fate sometimes can be painful. But...someone who cursed it, are more lower than insect according to me." Irene then look outside the cave. "You know, I had a friend. She was told by my friends about her origins as a daughter of a very evil mother that discard her the moment she was born. But, after knowing the truth, instead of cursing her fate, she thanked her, because of it, she finds her friends and family." Irene lied. Actually its about her conversation with Erza. "For now, you just feeling empty inside you Dunya, and let those emotions hold the better of you. But, like my friend daughter, if you can find another things that can be precious to you to move on from your past, I'm pretty sure that's also what this Isaac person want when he protected you."

Dunya didn't expect her words. 'How...how could her friends daughter can be that strong?' "But...how could she accept her fate that easily?"

"She doesn't accept her fate as her daughter. She makes her own fate as a daughter of an old man." She replied. "What I mean is...fate isn't something to bow down and changed with. We can make our own fate. The more easy words is: Live your life with pride as long as you lives."

"Live my life...with pride..." Dunya said. "But...what can I...do for that?"

"First...find some drive. Then, you can make your own fate for it." Irene replied.

"Make my own...fate..." Dunya mumbled. 'Ms. Irene is right. After all, Isaac is died protecting me. I won't let his sacrifice be in vain!' She thought. "What you said is right Ms. Irene. If that so, I promised I'll live on for the sake of those that protects me." After she said that, the black butterfly then is dispersed.

Irene is actually interesting in those thing. However, to know much about it, she must a fellow Magician: A hard task. "Glad your resolve is back. That's what I expected from a princess." She smiled. She then look at the cooked meat, only to find it being burnt until black. "Oh my."

Dunya who looked it as well, feel like her fault. "I'm sorry for your meat Ms. Irene. Because you tried to advice me, you didn't had time to watch your food." She said.

"Rather than letting you curse your fate, this is nothing." Irene dismissed. "Haah, it seems I didn't eat tonight. Well, I just sleep." She then put her trademark hat, before lying her body close to the cave wall.

'Such quick change of mind!?' Dunya surprised.

Irene look at Dunya. "What's the matter Dunya? You don't want to sleep?" She asked while offering a place beside her.

"It's okay Ms. Irene. I will sleep if I want, since I already sleep anyway." Dunya replied.

"If that so." Irene said before turning her body facing the cave wall.

Meanwhile, Dunya still sitting, watching the fire from the campfire made by Irene. She then heard some soft snore, to find out that Irene already asleep. She then had a sad look on her face. "Its because of me...she didn't eat this night." She mumbled. She then look at the outside, and had determined look on her eyes, knowing what she must do.

In the morning, sun-rays reaching the mouth of the cave replacing the moonlight.

The former Queen of Dragons then slowly opened her eyes and sit up to look that beside her, there are some poorly made soup of mixed vegetables. "Don't tell me that child..." Looking at her feet that feels heavy, she founds that Dunya is sleeping using Irene feet as a pillow. From the look of her face, she looks very tired with her mouth slightly open. Her clothes also become dirty and had some rips on its bottom.

It revealed that Dunya is making food for Irene while she asleep by going out from the cave, searching for vegetables for making soup, which Irene knows she never make one.

Even so, Irene then stroking her head, making her smile in her sleep. "Foolish girl. I actually don't need food like this. Even so, thank you for it." She said. She then sensing something. "It seems we had a company." She then stand up, preparing to face whatever it is.

Outside the cave, Ithnan is seen standing. "According to the Black Rukh. She's inside that cave." He then charging Lightning Magic on his wand. "Lets test it." He then shoot stream of lightning on the cave. Suddenly, a blast is shoot from inside the cave, parried the lightning strike. "What the?"

"Ah, I think who." Irene said walk out from the cave while wielding her staff. "I guess you're from Magnostadt?"

Ithnan smile is not seen behind his fabric. "Sadly, I'm not them."

AUTHOR NOTES

And, the second chapter ends with a cliffhanger! So Irene and Ithnan are going to face-off against each other? Who do you think will win? Will Ithnan will face her head-on or using the classic Al-Thamen ways? Just wait in the next chapter!

See you in the next update!