Chapter 4: Training
Sonic return back to Fairy Tail after Ebony giving him information about the attackers who ambushed the Rune Knights and killing Zack Hyperion. Sonic had learned about the origins of the Hedgehog of Darkness and how powerful they are. When Sonic return to the guild, Kenny was the first want to greet him.
"Hey Sonic, welcome back." Kenny greeted.
"Thanks buddy." Sonic responded.
"So Sonic what di Ebony told you? What did she say to you?" Gray asked.
"I… I can't tell you. Not all of you."
"What do you mean you can't tell us?" Natsu asked.
"It's a secret and its high classified. Ebony wanted me to keep it a secret so that's what I'm doing."
"I can't let them know about the Hedgehogs of Darkness otherwise it'll get much worse." Sonic thought.
"So you can't tell us at all?" Lucy asked.
"I'm sorry but I can't do that. So it's classified only for me to know." Sonic answered.
"Well if you can't tell us about it then I understand." Makarov accepted.
"Thanks Makarov."
"No problem."
"Anytime. So did Ebony kissed you, is she your ex-girlfriend?"
"WHAT?!" the girls shouted.
"No. We're only friends, we sure hang out once and fight together as a team once but we're just only friends nothing more."
"Really?" Erza asked with a stern look.
"Yeah no worries."
"I believe you."
"Now that's out of the way, Sonic are we going to play some football or not?" Elfman asked.
"Yeah and after that I promise Wendy to train her."
"Y-You will?" Wendy asked.
"That's right, I did promise you a few days ago right."
"Yes."
"Then it's settled, after I play some football then we start our training ok."
"Of course daddy."
"Good. Alright guys, let's go play some football.
Elfman smiled, he, Sonic, Natsu, Gray and the other guys left the guild to play some football.
The Magic Council…
Spiral looking up on the case of the three suspects that attacked the Rune Knights ambushing them without any warnings and killing the prisoner. They've investigated the incidents and finding out who are the culprits behind the ambush. Spiral working his best to investigate, finding out who are they want and what they want with his cousin. Lahar comes in to check up on his comrade.
"Something wrong Spiral?" Lahar asked.
"I'm still trying to find out who're the three suspects are and what they want with my cousin. I don't have any leads." Spiral answered in frustration.
"Do not worry Spiral, we will know something. We'll have a lead soon enough, Sonic can take care of himself."
"That may be true but I fear for my cousin's life. Sonic described it yesterday, they control Ki energy and I have a feeling that these suspects are powerful than they look. Whatever it is, Sonic will be fighting for his life. I can feel it, I don't want nothing happen to my cousin. I don't know what I'll do if I lose him again."
"Don't worry, you will not lose your cousin. Sonic is stronger and powerful than he looks. He always find a way to win and defeat his powerful enemies. You got to believe in your cousin Spiral, he made a promise to the people he cares about and to his family."
"… You're right Lahar, I got to trust my cousin. Although he's still young and he's eighteen but I still fear for his safety."
"That's the spirit Spiral. Now we have to continue the investigation."
"Yeah good idea, we need to find out who we're up against when the enemy comes."
"Agreed."
Meanwhile…
After playing some football, Sonic had taken Wendy to the woods to the waterfalls to train in the outskirts of Magnolia. Sonic trained Wendy with fighting style of martial arts, he helped her with her stamina and endurance with some exercises. Kenny helped Sonic with the training for the young sky dragon slayer. Carla watching from the sidelines, smiling to Sonic and Wendy having a father and daughter bond together as they train.
As the training continue, Wendy was getting better with the punches and kicks moving and doing what Sonic orders her to do. They even do some cardio to as going out on a jog and plus working out on the body to gain strength to be strong. Sonic even helped Wendy to use her reflexes and her senses as Sonic throwing off numerous attacks to the sky dragon slayer. She uses her refluxes wisely, biding time to use the right timing to use it bringing Sonic by surprise and had a proud smile on his face seeing progress of his adopted daughter.
Right now, Sonic and Wendy are in a meditative stance, focusing their magic together as Wendy closes her eyes concentrating with her magic and balancing it.
"You're doing a fantastic job Wendy, keep concentrating." Sonic encouraged.
Wendy was in her focus mode, trying her very best to concentrate. By seconds after, the wind aura begin to appear from both of her hands during her concentration. Carla looked on, she was proud of her friend to pull off the wind aura like Sonic wanted her to do. Sonic look on with another proud smile on his face, Wendy open her eyes seeing that her progress is working.
"I did. I finally did it daddy." Wendy said.
"Yes you did, I am so proud of you." Sonic commented.
Wendy disintegrate the aura of her sky dragon slayer magic and hugged her father.
"Thank you." Wendy thanked.
"No problem, glad I can help and train you and you've showed a lot of progress during our training sessions." Sonic reminded.
Wendy let's go of Sonic. Carla flew over to her friend.
"I'm proud of you Wendy. You've progress so much." Carla said with a proud tone.
"Thanks Carla, is all thanks to my dad." Wendy assured.
"Well that's enough training since we've spent four hours. Let's call it a day." Sonic suggested.
"Yeah good idea, I feel exhausted from all the training."
"Come on, I'll carry you back home or the guild. Your decision."
"Let's go home."
"Alright then."
Sonic picks Wendy up in bridal style knowing she's exhausted of her training. The group left the forest to return home. Sonic uses his sonic speed as Kenny and Carla hold onto Sonic as he dashes over back to the house which took him in seconds to get there. When they arrive, they enter inside the home and Sonic set Wendy down, Sonic went to the kitchen to get his daughter some to drink like a bottle of water. He heads to the living room and hands Wendy the water bottle.
"Thanks daddy." Wendy thanked.
"No problem." Sonic responded.
"Hey daddy can I ask you a question?"
"Yeah what's up?"
"How do you keep fighting, never give up when tough times goes worst?"
"Well you see Wendy, it's the promises I made to you, the Fairy Tail, the civilians I cared about even the entire world. That motivates me to never give up, thinking about what's important for me which gives me the strength to protect everyone I care about."
"What can I do to be strong as you?"
"You do what you can, focus on something what's important to you and think positive. Never give up when times go rough but always follow your heart, let it guild you to help you pull through the toughest circumstances ya hear."
"(Nodding) Yes daddy."
"Good. Any questions you want to ask me sweetheart?"
"About Zack… have you been thinking about him since he was locked up?"
"Well… I have from time to time. I apparently blamed myself for Sonic betraying me, I should've helped him earlier from betraying me. Zack was… lost, trapped in the darkness without finding the light to guild him from the darkness. His soul was trapped in darkness even in mind, all Zack wanted is acceptance. Yeah he was part of the family of Fairy Tail and have friends to care about but now I let him died, I let him betrayed me. I should've paid more attention to him in the first place."
"Don't blame yourself Sonic, you did not know that would happen. Zack was lost and you tried to help him. Don't blame yourself it wasn't your fault dad."
"How can I, I should've helped him when I have the chance."
Wendy stood up from the couch, walks to her father and hugs him.
"It's alright daddy, you didn't know. Don't blame yourself."
Sonic sighed softly, returning the hug.
"Thanks Wendy. I needed that." Sonic thanked.
"You're welcome daddy, like what you said to me just think positive." Wendy reminded.
"*Chuckle* Yeah you're right."
The pair breaks the hug. Sonic went back to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water for himself followed by Wendy following the hedgehog hero with Happy and Carla.
"So Sonic what are you and Kenny going to do next?" Carla asked.
"Me and Kenny are supposed to head out to the Magic Council to meet with Lahar as they're investigating about the ambush still." Sonic answered.
"That's right." Kenny nodded.
Before Carla would respond until all of sudden there was a knock on the door. Everyone look at each other wondering who it is at the door so Sonic went to the door and open it reviewing to be Spiral the Hedgehog and Sonic's cousin.
"Well if it isn't Spiral." Sonic said.
"Hey cousin, is Wendy home?" Spiral asked.
"Spiral!"
Sonic and Spiral look over sees Wendy running to him and hugs him.
"Hey Wendy, I thought you and I can hang out like promised. If that's ok?" Spiral asked.
"Yeah it sure is." Wendy beamed.
"Cool."
"Well since you're here Spiral, me and Kenny will be heading out so you behave for your cousin you hear?" Sonic commanded.
"Yeah daddy."
"Cool. Come on Kenny, let's get moving."
"Right behind you." Kenny nodded.
Team Sonic exit the house leaving Wendy and Carla behind with Spiral.
"Want to go to the park?" Spiral asked.
"Yeah." Wendy answered.
Elsewhere…
The Rune Knights investigating in the woods to look for any clues or any leads about the culprits. Sonic and Kenny arrived on jeep as Sonic and Kenny drove to the investigation and exits the vehicle.
"Well this is how it all started." Kenny pointed out.
"Yeah so let's get the investigation going on." Sonic gestured.
"Yeah."
Sonic and Kenny investigate, finding any clues about the ambushers. Kenny start to scan any activity using his scanner that he and Sonic invented together. Sonic look into the prison carriage as it was destroyed and in ashes. Sonic then spotted something, it was the broken magical handcuffs which bringing Sonic by surprise.
"Huh?" Sonic said.
Sonic picks up the broken magical handcuffs analyzing it.
"This has got to be Zack's handcuffs. But where is the body?" Sonic pondered.
Sonic look around for more clues, he then discovers three broken rails as there missing. Sonic takes a look of it, he takes out a scanner and scan for the results and a DNA sample. Sonic discovers some fingerprints on the rails, checking the results and by seconds after his eyes bulge wide.
"No way. Zack must've got out of the prison carriage before the explosion erupted." Sonic assured.
Sonic exits the prison carriage to investigate more. He can the ground again but discovers some footprints. Sonic scanning the footprints until he has a match. It was Zack's footprints that brought Sonic to be shock with that Sonic came to a conclusion of this investigation.
"So Zack somehow got out just in time before the explosion occurred. Zack is still alive and is out on the loose. Still he's a criminal and now an outlaw. But how did the explosion happened?" Sonic questioned.
Sonic looks back at the prison carriage to look for more any clues. Sonic look on and discovers a dent on the prison carriage.
"I knew it, it must been a Ki energy ball that made a dent before it explode. So the Hedgehogs of Darkness ambushed the Rune Knights, freed Zack to demand some answers then tosses him back to the prison carriage, threw a Ki ball in and created an explosion. Zack somehow broke the magic handcuffs, tears off the prison rails and escapes in time before the explosion. That's how it all happened." Sonic concluded.
Kenny appear and talk with Sonic.
"Sonic I haven't found anything, what about you?" Kenny asked.
"I discovered that Zack is alive." Sonic informed shocking Kenny.
"Alive but how?"
"He broke the handcuffs and the prison rails making his escape before the explosion had started. Zack is out there on the loose, I discovered his footprints and went through deep in the woods."
"My god. So are you going to go after him?"
"Not likely. He's still a criminal and now he can't go anywhere to anyone. Even Mirajane, he can't get near her."
"So now what?"
"We tell Lahar about all of this, he has got to know."
Moments after, Lahar appear behind Sonic and Kenny.
"What did you guys find? Have you two discovered anything?" Lahar asked.
"We've learned that Zack is still alive." Sonic reported.
"What? How can that be possible? Zack is dead?"
"That's true but he somehow got out of the explosion. I found these broken handcuffs and three broken rails here. He luckily escaped."
"My god. So you're telling the truth. Zack Hyperion is still alive and he's at large. I'll let the Rune Knights and the guild to know about this right away."
"OK. Me and Kenny will continue to investigate a little more further searching for more clues if that's alright with you?"
"Permission granted. You can proceed."
Sonic and Kenny nodded in response, they resume to their investigation. The team went deeper in the woods to investigate more. Kenny discovers some blood on the ground leaving a trail ahead.
"Hey Sonic, I discover a trail of blood here." Kenny informed.
"Really? It must've been Zack. It seem like he was cut, stabbed or whatever and left here escaping the carnage. He must've healed himself from dying." Sonic pondered.
"Wait how would Zack heals himself?"
"He mentioned to me before that he has healing magic when I was training him as my apprentice. I had seen him heal his wounds a few times before from here or there. His healing magic is much more effective than Wendy's healing magic."
"Now that you mentioned it, I did see him heal himself once before. It could been a severe wound that he received from the culprits that did all of this."
"Probably so. Come on, let's continue to see where the trail leads."
"Right."
Team Sonic resume on to follow the trail for a few yards until they come across the end of the trail there blood simply stopped. Sonic discover a hand printed in blood on the tree. Kenny scan the blood printed hand to see who the results.
"Well is it Zack's blood?" Sonic asked.
"It sure is. He must've healed himself here before leaving to wherever he went off to." Kenny informed.
"Hmm. This where the blood stopped for the time being, I can scan anything here so there's nothing to investigate here."
"Hey take a look at this."
Sonic turn to Kenny holding up a collar.
"This is from Zack." Kenny said.
"It looks like he use his magic to rip off the collar and the chains before he can escape. All we know is that Zack is still alive and out on the loose." Sonic clarified.
"Yeah I'm still surprised that Zack is alive and somehow escape the explosion. Hey isn't Zack's Dragon Scales are fireproof?"
"Now that you've mentioned it, yeah there sure are. He told me that once before. He couldn't have use it since the magic handcuffs prevent any wizard from using its magic so Zack must've bash the handcuffs to break it off freeing his hands then use his strength to break the rails, escaping the prison carriage in the nick of time before the Ki ball exploded like a bomb. Now it all makes sense now."
"It sure has. Hey are we going to go after and capture Zack?"
"I don't think so, I can't sense his magic from here or use my Chaos Sense to sense it far from here. We'll just have to let Zack go only for now before we can find and capture him."
"OK then so should we head on back with the Rune Knights?"
"Y-Yeah I think so. We got everything we came here for so let's go."
Kenny nod in response so he and Sonic return back over to the Rune Knights and Lahar.
Magnolia Town…
Spiral spending time with Wendy and Carla as he took her to get something to eat at a restaurant.
"So how is life being an agent at the Magic Council?" Wendy asked.
"Everything's going fine. It's been very busy as of late." Spiral responded.
"So have you gone out of missions with my dad and his partner Kenny?"
"Yeah. Whenever I got a job to do, I always invite my cousin and Kenny. I'm even part of Team Sonic."
"Have you ever consider joining Fairy Tail to be close to your cousin?" Carla asked.
"Nah. I like to do agent work, it's my specialty. I know my cousin can take care of himself even Kenny, they always work as a team to get their jobs done."
"Speaking of which, have you've been training with your dragon slayer magic all of sudden?" Wendy asked.
"Yes and I even have Dragon Force as well. I can unlock it anytime I want."
"Can you teach me how to unlock my dragon force one day? I want to use it one day to protect my dad."
"Sure thing, I can show you a thing or two even show you some new moves and abilities for your dragon slayer magic. I take it that Sonic has been training you as of late right?"
"Yes. Sonic taught me about martial arts, making my dragon slayer magic to be strong and harness my magic to be strong whenever there tough situations."
"Smart move. My cousin always one step ahead for anything."
"So have you and Sonic been hanging out sometime whenever you're free from your duties or days off at least?" Carla asked.
"You can say that, I've been so busy with work I forgot to take some time to hang out with my friends and so with that I took my time to spend some time with you as promise Wendy."
"I appreciate that. I'm not mad that you have a lot of work to do so take as much time you need." Wendy stated.
"Thanks Wendy."
"You're welcome."
All of sudden, Zack's communicator went off getting his attention so does Wendy and Carla.
"Excuse me, I got to take this." Spiral said excusing himself.
Spiral left the girls behind at the table and head to the bathroom. He answers his call which it is Sonic.
"Hey cousin, what's up?" Spiral greeted.
"Hey Spiral, me and Kenny had finished the investigation and we've discovered a shocking clue." Sonic responded through his communicator.
"Lay it on me."
"We've discovered that Zack Hyperion is alive."
"WHAT?! The Black Dragon Slayer? Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I've discovered that he escaped the explosion before he would've got himself killed. He break free from the magical handcuffs then use his strength to break out of the prison carriage and make his escape."
"I'll say. This is surprising to me from hearing all of this. Where's Zack now?"
"We're not sure. When we followed the trail of his blood, we reached to the tree as he healed himself before taking off from the scene."
"So basically Zack is out on the loose."
"Yeah pretty much. Lahar had contacted every guild in Fiore through the lacrima about Zack and is out on the loose. He also wanted me to tell you about this."
"You don't say Sonic, I'm pretty sure that every guild is shock to hear this news about Zack. I can imagine how Mirajane would feel right now knowing her crazy and stubborn ex-boyfriend is still alive."
"Me too. Anyway, I got to go, me and Kenny are with the Magic Council still looking on the investigation. Me and Kenny won't be back home until later tonight so tell my family that me and Kenny will be home late."
"Roger. I'll let you and Kenny get back to work."
"OK and talk to you later Spiral."
Spiral cuts the conversation off with his communicator. He pondered to himself thinking about Zack.
"Where could Zack be right now? Hmm… probably into hiding knowing he's the most wanted criminal in Fiore." Spiral pondered.
The Outskirts of Magnolia…
The black cloak figure appearing out of the blue looking at the view of the town. He had one thing in his mind who he came to see.
"Mirajane…" the figure said before heading to the town.
Later, that night…
Sonic and Kenny are on the way back home from investigating more about Zack and the culprits. Sonic driving the jeep on the way back home. Kenny looking through the laptop to track Zack's whereabouts.
"Anything Kenny?" Sonic asked.
"No. I've scanned the entire Fiore looking for Zack but came up empty handed." Kenny reported.
"Wherever he is, I hope he doesn't come to Fairy Tail or see Mirajane. Fairy Tail got a strong grudge against him for what he did three months back."
"Yeah I remember that one big incident. No one hasn't forgotten about it. All in Fiore don't trust Zack anymore after he betrayed you and betrayed Mirajane's heart. She really loved him so much, as she cried everyday and looking so depress that no one couldn't comfort her not even Lisanna and Elfman could help her but you did. You rise from the occasion and helped her."
"Yeah. I understand Zack, I witness being heartbroken before back at Mobius. I know what's it like."
"Y-You do?"
"I've dated this cute and hot fox name Fiona. We sure spend a lot of time together but until she betrayed me and dated my counterpart Scourge. She even break my best friend's heart even he's my brother as well."
"What did she do?"
"She smacked him in the face. That what made me lost it, I was so angry and I wanted to take it out on Fiona but instead I took it out on Scourge and I've hated Scourge so much from the gecko. We've been rivals and our rivalry has been so intense just like back at Edolas seven years ago."
"Really? You fought Scourge when you encounter Scourge the first time?"
"Yeah he wanted to find me to settle the score but end up in Edolas. He even dated Erza's counterpart Erza Knightwalker."
"You don't say. Does she has the same personality like Erza's?"
"Oh yeah pretty much."
"It's like dealing with the identical twins."
"You're telling me bud. We should go look for Zack tomorrow. I hear that Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Erza, Wendy, Happy, and Carla are going out on a job tomorrow."
"Makarov did send and put Natsu and Gray to a job to work together and try to work as a team instead of fighting. I hear that they fought all day a few days then accidentally punch Erza and she beat their sorry asses for that."
"That's one way to NOT piss off the Titania."
"I know that's right."
"So how long until we reach home at Magnolia?"
"Just about two minutes."
In Magnolia, the Strauss Residence…
Mirajane and Lisanna cleaning the dishes after Mirajane fixed dinner for herself, her sister and Elfman. Lisanna start to create a conversation.
"So how are you feeling since you know Zack is still alive?" Lisanna asked.
"I'm shocked and surprise. But I moved on from Zack since I've broken up with him. I don't love Zack anymore." Mirajane responded.
"He did hurt you, I hope he never comes anywhere near you. You still have that necklace that he gave you?"
"Yes I've kept it all this time. Still I remember the times I spent with Zack but those happy moments have fade away and Zack hurt me to the core of my heart when he betrayed Sonic."
"Not only that is that he slapped you across the face. Elfman became so angry that he wanted to beat Zack to a bloody pulp for hitting you like that."
"I remember but he's history. I'm just thinking positive and keep smiling."
"That's right, Sonic told you and gave you that advice haven't you?"
"Yep. Sonic is very sweet."
"Hey I know this questions is going to be random but um do you love Sonic?"
"To answer your question Lisanna. Yes I love Sonic, I have strong feelings for Sonic when he first share a smile and spread positivity to the guild. He always makes you smile and show his wonderful personality, I feel so safer when I'm around Sonic. *Sigh* I wish I would be Sonic's wife, I would do anything to please and make Sonic happy. He would enjoy my cooking."
"Hey you should invite Sonic over for dinner?"
"Invite Sonic for dinner?"
"Yeah spend some time with him. You like him don't you?"
"Yes I do."
"Then invite Sonic, show him how much you appreciate him for helping you to move on and break away from your depression."
"Maybe I should. If I see Sonic at the guild tomorrow, I'll be sure to ask him."
"Good. You know Elfman is very fond of Sonic and loves him like a big brother."
"I know. He always talks about Sonic being a real man and he loves the game of football."
"So you're going to invite Sonic over for dinner tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"That's wonderful and speaking of Sonic, I even like him too. He's sweet and kind."
"I'll finish up the remaining dishes so you go on ahead and get ready for tomorrow."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Ok Mira."
Lisanna left the kitchen to get ready for bed. Mirajane finish the dishes and puts them away and heads upstairs to get ready for bed. She smiles as she cannot wait to ask the hedgehog hero for dinner tomorrow. By the time when Mirajane enters in her room and turn on the light until all of sudden she felt a presence in her bedroom which made her froze.
"It's been quite a while Mira." The male voice said.
Mirajane turn around to see the person in black cloak with a hood covering his face.
"Who are you, what are you doing here?" Mirajane asked getting into her stance.
The figure takes off the hood to review his identity. Mirajane gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth with her eyes bulge wide. It was Zack Hyperion himself.
"Hey Mira, it's great to see you again." Zack greeted.
*Closing Theme (Dragonball Z)*
Zack Hyperion here at the Strauss home? Why did he come and Mirajane is in absolute shock of seeing Zack in her home in her room. What will happen and what will Mirajane do? Will she call Fairy Tail and let them know Zack is here or will she help him?
Tune in next time for another chapter of Fairy of Darkness 4: Tartaros.