HEEEELLLLLOOOOOOO MY MINIONS! THIS IS ENICD WHO IS HYPER CAUSE SHE JUST ATE LIKE, 20 SOUR GUMMY WORMS AND STOLE SOME OF JHLINE'S ROOT BEER! I'M SUPER HYPER AND SINCE IM HIGH ON SUGAR IM GONNA GIVE YOU GUYS THE NEXT CHAPTER OF MY FANFIC! YAAAAAAAYYY FOR SUGAR! (by the way, for all you people who are new to my stories, please beware that jhline and I are seriously weird and we refuse to be "normal"...get used to it)
Mei-chwan told me (jhline) that because she was sugar high, I should let you all see her true self. Which generally includes not-entirely-proper spelling and/or grammar. But whatever. It is what it is, and I won't edit the beautiful author's note. . See what you all might be reading without me here? (I'm just kidding, Enicd is a glorious writer. :3) Anyway, she's busy saving frogs right now, so I now present you with Chapter One of "A Fairy Keeps Her Honor"~
"Now all of Fiore knows you're here."
Hades looked at the solider and grinned. "Excellent."
"KYAAAA-" Erza shot up from her bed. She looked at her sweaty palms, then out the window next to her bed. The sakura trees' flowers were almost in bloom. She heard the soft singing of birds calling to each other from different directions. Thank goodness...it was only a dream...I just hope I didn't wake-
"Nee-chan, are you okay? I heard you screaming and I wanted to make sure..." A young blonde asked, stepping into her room.
Erza yawned rubbed her eyes exhaustedly. "Oh, I'm sorry, Sho. Did I wake you?"
Sho shook his head. "I was already up. I was, um, doing some chores."
"Sho, it is my responsibility to do the chores around the house. I've told you that already."
Sho's dropped his head in dejection. "I know, I just wanted to help..." He looked towards his sister again and changed the subject. "But are you okay? Why did you scream?"
Erza shook her head. "It was only a nightmare. Nothing harmful."
"Really? I had one too..."
Erza tilted her head with concern and a bit of worry clouded her gaze. "What was it about?"
Sho broke their eye contact, blinking back tears. "Mom..."
"Oh," Erza stretched her arms out towards her brother as he sat on her bed and embraced him. "I know it's hard, but it's going to be okay."
Sho sniffled. "I know, but its just... I barely knew her... I was so young when she died. I lost her first and today, I might lose you too..."
Erza pulled back a bit to look at the boy, raising her eyebrow in confuzzlement. "What do you mean, Sho?"
Sho pushed her slightly, to get out of her embrace. "Don't you remember? You're going to see the macthmaker today. She's supposed to find you a husband, then you're going to leave us."
Erza's skin turned cold. She had forgotten all about seeing matchmaker Karen. How could she forget? It was the day her grandmother was practically preparing her for her whole life.
"Um, nee-chan? Father also told me to come get you. He would like a word with you before you leave. He's outside praying."
Erza sighed. She wasn't prepared for this, physically or mentally. Karen had always told her she was "too skinny" and that her uncommon red hair was a "turn-off", though Erza suspected that Karen was envious of her and her mother's scarlet hair. Her constant worrying would prevent her from remember what she was supposed to say and her fear of messing up always left doubts in her mind. The way she stumbled over her words did not make for an attractive bride, she had been told on many an occasion.
"Ne, Erza? You're going to be late if you don't hurry. Grandma is already waiting for you. I'll take care of the chores this morning, just go before you get in trouble."
Erza nodded to her little bother as she quickly jumped out of bed. After hastily combing her fingers through her hair, before giving up, she headed towards where she knew her father would be waiting for her.
She saw her father kneeling at the shrine and quietly walked over.
"Erza," Her father sensed her presence and turned to meet her gaze. "I knew it would be you."
"Good morning, father. Am I interrupting you?"
"Oh, no. I was just praying to the celestial spirits, that's all."
"Sho said you wanted to speak to me?"
Rob nodded. "There was something I wanted to give you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sakura flower hair clip. "It was your mother's, the only thing of her's that survived. She wore it when she went to see the matchmaker. She also wore it to our wedding." He sighed. "She wanted to give it to you herself today, as a present. It has been passed down from your great-grandmother, to your grandmother, to your mother, and now to you. It saddens me that she couldn't give it to you herself, but she instructed me that, if anything should happen to her, I give it to you." He reached for Erza's hand and placed the clip in her palm. He tucked her messy red hair behind her ear. "You look so much like her. She would be so proud of you."
Erza felt warm tears roll down her cheeks with every word her father said. She held the clip close to her heart. It smelled like the trees her mother would always sit by with her and Sho. Her mother would read to them and tell them stories about when she was a child, how she would always get in trouble for climbing the sakura trees. She shared stories of how she first met their father after he came back from war and how they fell in love. It was only by coincidence that they ended up matched together by the matchmaker. It seemed as if all the memories died with their mother. Sho was too young to remember their mother, and Erza could only remember a few things about the woman who was once a prominent figure in her life. She recalled that her mother used to make the best strawberry cake in Rosemary Village. She had promised Erza that she would teach her how to make them when she got older. But that day never came. No one knew how to make cakes as good as her mother. The recipe was like the memories they had together. They died, never to be remember quite like they used to.
Erza felt the tears streaming down her cheeks like a waterfall. She missed her mother, and she didn't want the memories to die, but there was nothing she could do.
Rob wiped the tears from his daughter's eyes. "You better head over and get ready. Your grandmother is waiting for you."
Erza nodded and hugged her father. "Thank you." She turned and headed for town.
"Ugh! Where is that girl? She is always late for everything. I thought I raised her better than this..."
Erza panted as her numb legs carried her through the semi-busy streets of the village. She stopped to catch her breath, only to see her grandmother's eyes glaring deep into her soul. Crap. I'm really in for it now...
"Erza! Where were you? You're late!"
Erza opened her mouth to respond only to be cut off.
"Never mind that." Hilda started to push Erza toward the doors which lead to the "preparation room."
"Grandmother, I'm sorry, I sort of slept in..."
"I could tell. You're still in your pajamas for goodness sakes!"
Erza looked to see that she was still in her purple silk pajamas. She sighed deeply. She was so nervous that she forgot something as simple as putting on regular clothing. "Listen, I'm-"
"Nope! I do not want to hear it from you this time. We have a lot to do and very little time."
The redhead huffed as she began to get ready. She always hated this procedure. After she had been washed, the elderly women put her in a beautiful pink, floral kimono and started to comb her scarlet hair.
Erza looked at herself in the mirror. Was this what her mother looked like when she was going to the matchmaker? Sometimes she regretted being gifted with her mother's scarlet hair. It brought back too much pain.
After her hair was brushed out, Erza put her hair in a bun and put the sakura clip in her hair.
"You look beautiful." Hilda complimented.
"Thank you." Erza answered sombrely.
Hilda put her arm around Erza. "Is there something bothering you, sweetheart?"
Erza slightly nodded. "I'm not ready for this..."
"Nonsense, you look beautiful."
"That's not what I mean. I just don't think I want to get married so soon in my life. I'm only nineteen. And besides, I promised Mom when she died that I would take care of the family. I can't leave the family. I can't leave Sho."
"Erza. This is not something you can choose. This is about honour. Besides, Sho is seventeen. He is a man, and he shouldn't have to rely on you. You and he both knew this day was coming. He should've prepared better."
"It just doesn't feel right..."
"It's just something you have to get used to. Now, you better get going. Would you like me to walk you there? Or will you be okay on your own?"
"I'll walk myself. I need some time to think."
Hilda nodded as she let Erza pass her and start down the street.
Erza's mind was running wild as she walked through the never-ending street. This isn't how she wanted to live her life. She wanted to stay with Sho and her father and grandmother, but she hadn't any choice. She wished her mother was still here. Even if her mother couldn't change the systematic standard of honour, she was formidable figure when it came to family. Erza wouldn't have to live the rest of her life worrying over her little brother's well-being.
"Ne, Erza!" A voice called from behind her.
Erza turned to see one of her childhood friends, Simon Mikazuchi.
"Hey, Simon." She responded, trying to force a smile.
"What's wrong? You look so upset."
"Matchmaker day. I don't feel that prepared. I'm really nervous."
Simon smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, you'll do fine. Besides, you look really pretty! I don't see why any guy wouldn't want you for a wife."
"Thanks, Simon, but I don't feel like this is what I'm supposed be doing. I don't feel like I should be paired up with a random person I haven't even met before.
"Well, I'm sure you'll be paired up with a good guy. The matchmaker knows what's best. You may even be matched with a guy you already know." Simon smiled.
Erza sighed on the inside. She knew what he was implying. He liked her. She was 90 percent certain. But she didn't like him like that. She wouldn't mind marrying Simon, because she knows he would let her check on her family frequently. The only problem was that she knew she probably wouldn't be paired with him. It seemed highly improbable.
"Erza, just don't worry. You'll do fine, I promise."
Erza looked at him and smiled. Simon was always there to try to make her to feel better. He was one of those really good friends everyone wanted.
"Thanks, Simon."
"No problem, Erza."
Sooner than later, they approached the Matchmaker house. There they saw Mirajane Strauss and Cana Alberona waiting outside. She always hated how only three girls were being matched today. It meant that she would go second and she didn't like the anxious feeling in her stomach.
"Don't worry, Erza. You'll do great." Simon whispered to her one last time before he left to go find his own sister who was somewhere in the crowd, waiting for the girls' results.
Erza sighed as she looked towards the building.
I hope you're right Simon, I hope you're right...
AAAAAANNNNNDDDDD THAT'S ALL FOLKS! Okay, I'm a lot less hyper than I was when I first started this (which I started like, 5 hours ago... Derp). ANYWAY, I realized I actually get more fanfic crap done when I'm at Jhline's house. I dunno why. Also, like always, I would like to know what you thought about this chapter. I tried to make it long since I haven't been here in a while... I've been kinda busy. I made the basketball team at my school and anyone who has tried out for high school basketball knows it isn't easy. I'm only on JV but I still have to do a lot of work for it. Also, I always have a lot of homework, so I have, like, no free time. I apologize for school and my after school activities. Anyway, please R&R and have a wonderful week! I will try to get my next chapter up ASAP (hopefully before Christmas) SAYONARA!
Woooooooo- Okay, that happened. Mei-chwan is actually quite busy recently. I'm not on any sports teams, so I suppose I wouldn't really understand... But in high school, I did volunteer work, robotics, engineering, every extra-curricular with math and science... Yeah, you can certainly see where my focus lay. Or at least where my parents wanted it to lay. Brilliant. I just realised that I probably don't sound quite as enthusiastic as I usually do. I had to go take tests just this morning, so... I'm not exactly in the lightest of moods. XD But nevertheless, please read and review! We love to hear from you and we love each and every one of you individually! Until next time~!