I arrived back at the guild tired, hungry and covered in sweat and dirt, and yet I was still greeted with hugs, grins and pleasant hellos
"It's good to be back" I cheered even giving Loke a big hug, though his hands did stray a bit too low and he ended up with a slap.
Me and Lucy went home and I had a nice long hot bath and a large dinner and by the next day I was feeling completely refreshed
I was helping Mira with serving drinks, she was teasing a flirty Wakaba and I was refilling Natsu's cup and listening to him moan.
"We should get to work..." he muttered, face down on the table
"Aye!" happy agreed biting down on a fish "we're running out of food money."
"I knew we should've taken that two million jewel reward" Lucy said worriedly "come to think of it, this month's rent is coming up!"
I laughed "you don't have to pay Lucy!" I grinned "your company, cooking and the constant amusement you bring to me is payment enough!"
She sighed "is that supposed to be a compliment?" Lucy sent me a determined look "I will pay you the rent, I wouldn't feel right, living at your house for free."
I sighed at her stubbornness and walked back over to the bar, placing my jug down and sitting next to Gray
"What's up frosty?" I asked him cheerfully
He scowled "why won't you leave me alone you creepy midget?"
I pouted "Cana! Tell him I'm not short, that I'm a normal size!"
She growled "you're both interrupting my drinking! Now be quiet or get lost!"
I turned to Cerberus and buried my face in his fur "she's so mean" I wept
I turned to my left to see Lucy and Natsu arguing over being a team and grinned
"Don't forget me Natsu~" I cooed "I'm on your team too!"
I enjoyed watching his face contort into anger, then denial, then sadness and finally acceptation "yeah, yeah, you too Rian..."
I grinned widely and hugged Lucy around the waist "Isn't this great Lucy?" I grinned "Now you can see me at home, at the guild and on jobs! We'll basically never be separated!"
She put on a wide forced smile "wow that's great Rian" she said
I laughed and let go of her in favour of dancing around humming cheerfully, only to be cut off by Gray
"Don't worry about picking a team; I'm sure you'll get lots of offers soon enough" He told her smirking
Cana paused from her drinking "Gray. Clothes."
Gray panicked looking down at his half naked form in shock
"You're annoying" Natsu told him
Gray stood up and glared at him "did you just call me annoying, fire freak?"
I giggled "boy's you should stop fighting..." I told them cutely
"Why?" they yelled turning to glare at me
I grinned holding up my bat sweetly, lets just say they were quiet after that...
Loke took the opportunity of me being distracted, to grab Lucy and ask her "Lucy, won't you form a team of love with me? Tonight just the two of us, you really are beautiful, even with my sunglasses on your beauty is dazzling, I'm sure I would go blind if I saw you with my naked eyes." he flirted.
I glared and punched him in the stomach "of course she is Loke you pervert! But she's also under MY protection, so back off!" I growled
He caught sight of her gate keys and flinched back "yo...You're a celestial wizard?" he questioned leaning away
"Huh?" Lucy asked, confused.
"Yeah. She has a cow and crab and stuff" Happy informed him as he ate a fish.
"AH! What a cruel twist of fate! I'm sorry! We can never be together" Loke yelled running out the door.
I watched him go "yeah! And don't come back!" I triumphantly yelled
Lucy looked at me nervously "uh, I don't think it was you that scared him off Rian...what was his deal though?" she asked Mira
"He's bad at dealing with celestial wizards" she told us, smiling happily "rumour has it he had trouble with a girl a long time ago."
Lucy sighed "I'm not surprised he's..." she was cut off as Natsu was thrown into her by Gray
I scowled and whacked Gray round the head with a mug "I told you guys to stop fighting, or do you need a reminder? I threatened
He flinched "he picked a fight with me. I can't turn down his offer!
"I told you, your clothes." Cana reminded him
He looked down and noticed his bare chest again and yelled out genuinely confused.
I scowled and hit him again, catching his arm as he made to hit me "you're such a massive idiot that you can get undressed without noticing..." I sighed
"hey he started it!" Natsu accused glaring at Gray "droopy eyes!"
Gray glared back "when exactly did I start it, slanty eyes?"
I glared at both of them "I'm going to be the one that finishes it in a second!"
"Talking underwear!" Natsu insulted Gray
"Hothead" I insulted Natsu
"Muddy little midget" Gray insulted me
Our fight was observed around the room and people started laughing, I blushed hotly, I hated too much attention.
My embarrassment was short-lived as Loke burst back into the guild yelling "this is bad!"
There was silence in the room as we all watched him.
He looked down before saying "its Erza... she's back!"
There was panic around the room, but I just grinned "she finally came back!" I cheered, holding myself from running out to greet her.
There was a loud crunching noise from outside and everyone was listening intently "it's Erza." "those are Ezra's footsteps""Erza must be back." people muttered fearfully
As she entered the room and set down her latest trophy I squealed and launched my self towards her "ERZA-ONEE-CHAN YOU CAME BACK!" CLANG. I hit my head against her armour and fell over dizzy.
She smiled and offered me a hand to help me up "Of course I've returned. Is the master here?"
"Welcome back" Mira greeted her "The master's at a conference."
"I see." Erza muttered
"What is that enormous thing, Erza?" a man asked motioning to her huge trophy of a horn.
"The horn of a monster I subdued" she said flippantly "the locals decorated it and gave it to me as a souvenir." She looked at him "is it a problem?"
"No, not in the least!" he cowered shivering.
"Listen up!" Erza demanded everyone's attention "On the road, I heard that Fairy tail has been causing yet more trouble. The master may not care, but I do! Cana!" she turned to the woman who was currently drinking a barrelful of beer "how dare you drink dressed like that! Vijeeter!" she said spinning sharply to face the dancer "Dance outside. Wakaba I see cigarette butts on the floor. Nab I see you're dawdling in front of the request board as usual. Do some work! Macao!" she turned to him and simply let out a sigh
"Say something!" Macao demanded feeling insulted
"Honestly, you cause so much trouble." Erza said rubbing her forehead "But I'll be kind and say nothing for today." She decided
She turned to me a smiled "are Natsu and grey here?"
I grinned "yup" and pointed over to where the boys were 'hugging' and pretending to be friendly so as not to piss off Erza.
"h-hi, Erza. We're good buddies as usual...!" Gray said nervously
Natsu let out a high pitched "AYE!" I laughed as Lucy panicked about him turning into Happy
"I see" Erza nodded straight faced "It's natural for good friends to fight sometimes, too." She enjoyed watching them shiver before adding "That said, I like seeing you get along like that."
I turned to her and tilted my head playing along "but Erza, how come you never fight me?" I forced tears to prick at my eyes "are...we not good friends?" I wailed
"Ah, but that's because we're not testosterone filled idiot males" she told me wisely "we don't have the stupid constant need to prove ourselves by fighting for nothing."
I nodded "so basically, we're like on a whole different level already, by just being female!" I summarised grinning widely
"You...sneaky...midget" I heard Gray mutter
I turned to him "got something to say to me and Erza Ice pop?"
Erza turned to stare at him and he stuttered out an "n-no... of course not..."
"Rian. Natsu. Gray. I have a favour to ask." Erza told us plainly "I heard about something bad while on my last job. Normally, I would consult the master about something like this first, but I believe this is a matter of the utmost urgency. I want your help. Will you come with me?"
I grinned "did you really need to ask?"
"We leave tomorrow. Make sure you're ready." Erza finalized before leaving.
I grinned at Natsu and Gray "We're all on a team~" I sang before frowning "piss me off, and I'll kill you." I told them before grabbing Lucy's arm "come on Lucy, we gotta go pack!" I told her cheerfully.
"Wait? I need to pack? Why?" she asked me as she was pulled along.
I grinned and stopped "well Natsu and Gray will fight when Erza's not looking, you need to be there to stop them and also... I want you to meet Erza-onee-chan more and learn about how cool and wonderful she is!" I cooed.
The next day I took the duffle bag I'd packed that contained only a toothbrush, hairbrush, a black scarf and soap and left the house with Lucy, wanting to impress Erza I'd worn my knee length green gypsy skirt and a light green/yellow puffy pirate shirt, just in case of fighting I had bindings underneath though.
"Why do I have to team up with you?" Natsu demanded of us.
"That's my Line! I don't know why Erza needed all of us, I would've been enough help on my own Gray boasted
I scowled "It's too early in the morning to fight" I moaned "shut up before I kill you."
We had a menacing glare off throwing insults at each over for a while
"I'm sorry, did I keep you waiting?" a newly arrived Erza asked tugging a giant stack of suitcases on a cart.
I laughed but furrowed my eyebrows confused "Erza, why do have so much stuff? You can just switch out your clothing with your magic can't you?"
She simply sent me a mysterious smile and wandered over to Lucy "so, who are you? I didn't see you at Fairy Tail yesterday?" she asked her.
"I'm Lucy! I just joined! Rian asked me to come with you too. It's nice to meet you!" Lucy babbled.
Erza smiled "I'm Erza. It's a pleasure" she said smoothly "ah so you're Lucy? The one who defeated a mercenary gorilla with just your little finger?"
I gaped "wow, Lucy! You're stronger than I thought" I praised
"Is that another 'compliment?'" she muttered
"Anyway" Erza continued "It'll be wonderful to have you on board. Thanks for your help."
"m-my pleasure..." Lucy stuttered worriedly
"Erza. I'll come along, but on one condition." Natsu told her
Erza turned to face him "What is it? Tell me." She asked.
"Fight me once we get back!" he demanded eagerly.
I laughed mockingly "yeah, cause you're gonna do so much better than last time" I imitated what had happened by hitting my fist into the palm of my other hand "you were beaten to a bloody pulp" I grinned.
"Do you want to die?" Gray asked him scared
Natsu smiled confidently "things are different from last time. I can beat you now." He told Erza
Erza nodded and chuckled "it's true that you've improved. I feel somewhat at a disadvantage, but all right. I accept"
Natsu posed straining his muscles "All right! Now I'm fired up!" his head caught fire again
Minutes later we were on the train and he was completely blue and motion sick.
I poked him "hey hothead, what happened to your fire." I poked him again staring curiously at his vacant expression "hey you look more like ice boy now!" I said referring to his blue skin.
Gray glared at me "don't you dare compare me to that idiot" he hissed before glancing at Natsu and frowning "Geez, you're pathetic. This, immediately after picking a fight?"
"Its gotta be tough doing this every time..." Lucy pointed out
"Oh, all right. Come sit next to me." Erza told him.
Lucy sweatdropped, I grinned and nudged her "don't worry she's not trying to get rid of you or anything, she just wants to uh 'help' Natsu..."
I told her as she moved opposite us. Natsu sat imbetween us and Erza told him to relax before she elbowed him in the stomach knocking him unconscious and into her lap.
"There, that should be better" she said calmly
"Erza, Isn't it about time you fill us in?" Gray asked "what exactly are we doing?"
Erza nodded "Right. We're going up against the Eisenwald dark guild. They plan to use a magic called Lullaby for something big." She told us seriously
"Lullaby?" Gray gasped
Lucy frowned "that thing from before!"
We told her about the incident involving the weird men trying to eat happy, I left out the bit about my mother and the bounty on me, after all, no one in Fairy Tail knew fully about my past, and I'd rather it stayed that way.
"I see" she said "so you've encountered Eisenwald as well." Erza stated
Gray sighed "Probably. They did mention something about lullaby."
I blinked "It sounds like they were guild dropouts." I muttered
Erza nodded "the plan must've been to much for them, so they ran off."
"And that plan had something to do with lullaby?" Gray questioned
"It's only a guess" Erza said "but the shadow that dragged them off was probably Eisenwald's main squad. They must not have wanted the plan to get out."
"What kind of plan are we talking about?" Lucy whispered worriedly
Erza shut her eyes "allow me to explain everything in order. It happened the other day, on my way home after that job. I stopped by a pub in Onibas where wizards gather. "
She told us how she overheard some loud wizards talking about finding Lullaby and complaining that they couldn't do a thing about the seal on it, one man had stood up, (the other men called him Kage), and told them he'd be back in three days with the Lullaby.
"Lullaby...Like a nursery rhyme, right?" Lucy asked.
Erza nodded "yes. The fact that it's sealed away likely means it's very powerful magic. "
"And they were members of Eisenwald too?" Gray asked
"Yes." Erza confirmed "like a fool, though, I didn't recognize the name 'Erigor' at the time."
I scowled "the 'ace' of the Eisenwald guild, he only accepts assassination related jobs, for which he has earned the nickname 'Erigor the Reaper" I told them scoffing.
I had met the man once before, when I was 7 my mother introduced us and we had to spend a whole week together 'playing' is what she called it.
It was more like training... no, not even that, it was constant sparring to see who would collapse first.
Erigor did, and I never saw him again, only hearing of his 'achievements' through gossip.
"assassination?" Lucy gasped.
"The council outlawed assassination requests" Erza informed her "But Eisenwald decided money is more important. As a result, it was kicked out of the wizard guild league six years ago. However, they disobeyed orders and remain active to this day."
"I think maybe I'll go home..." Lucy sweated.
"You're making a lot of juice" Happy commented
Lucy glared at him "its sweat."
Erza smashed her fist down onto Natsu's head "I was careless! If only had I recognized Erigor's name then, I could've pulverized them and had them confess their scheme." She cursed herself.
I patted her armoured shoulder "It's probably best you didn't" I smirked "now although we have less of an idea of what they're up to, we have a stronger team and a sneakier approach."
Gray made a noise of agreement "so Eisenwald is planning to do something with this lullaby, and you want to stop them because it's obviously something bad?" he asked
"Yes" Erza agreed "I don't believe I can take on an entire guild by myself. That's why I asked for your help. We're going to storm the Eisenwald guild" she declared
Gray smirked "sounds interesting."
"AYE" happy agreed
"I shouldn't have come" Lucy moaned
Happy grinned at her "Lucy! Your juice!"
"Its sweat!" she glared.
We reached a stop and Lucy got off and brought us some sandwiches,
She got back on just as the train started to leave and we all started eating
"If it's not to rude to ask, what kind of magic do you use, Erza?" she asked over her sandwich
"It's not rude." Erza told her
Happy grinned "Erza's magic is pretty! It makes her enemies bleed a lot!"
"You call that pretty?" Lucy asked him disbelievingly
"Personally, I think gray's magic is prettier." Erza told her.
"Really?" Gray muttered holding his hands out, powering up his magic and producing an ice Fairy Tail symbol
"Wow!" Lucy said
"Ice magic" Gray informed her proudly
"Oh so is that why you two never get along..." Lucy wondered "because Natsu uses fire and you use ice?"
"Oh... I never thought of that..." Erza murmured
I frowned "it would explain why I panic every time I see Natsu using fire" I said recalling when He set me alight in the duke's mansion.
Lucy turned to me "come to think of it, I've seen you using lot's of different types of magic, I've seen you controlling vines, making earth move... what type of wizard are you?" she asked me
I blushed "I'm an earth mage, I can control anything that has been created by Mother Nature, controlling a plant or animal takes up a lot of my magic though, so I normally just stick to using my vines and the earth." I told her modestly.
Gray laughed "I remember when you tried to set a pack of mountain wolves on me, but you couldn't handle the magic and they ended up chasing you!"
My blush deepened "that was years ago!" I moaned "I've gotten better since then!"
"Yeah, yeah..." he rolled his eyes
We disembarked the train at Onibas and it wasn't until the train started leaving the station did we realise that we'd left the unconscious Natsu on board.
Erza pulled the emergency stop lever and we got into a hired magic- mobile (it's like a car powered on magical energy), Erza powered and steered it and we were off chasing the train at a great speed.
"Natsu!" Lucy yelled as the pink haired boy jumped out the train grinning and collided with Gray's head, knocking them both off the magic-mobile.
The car slid to a halt and we got out looking at the pathetic forms of Natsu and Gray sprawled on the floor, clutching their heads and moaning.
"Natsu! You alright?" Erza asked panicked
She received a dizzy "Aye..." from the idiot
Eventually they stood up, recovering from their pain and dizziness and the first thing they did once they had recovered? Yeah, they fought.
"That hurt, you idiot!" Gray complained
Natsu rubbed at his head irritably "Shut up! How dare you leave me behind!"
"My apologies, but you don't appear to be hurt. I'm glad." Erza said gently and hugged him to her armoured body, causing his head to whack against it and making a loud 'Donk' noise
I giggled "that was the noise of Natsu's empty head" I mocked.
"That's hard!" he moaned, clutching at his abused head "Urgh! I'm not all right! Some weirdo attacked me on the train!"
"Weirdo?" Lucy asked
Natsu nodded and frowned "the one who dragged away the guys who tried to eat Happy. Said he was with Eisenwald..."
Erza's eyes widened and she slapped Natsu round the face sharply "You fool! We're trying to go after Eisenwald! Why did you let him go!"
"This is the first I've heard of this..." Natsu muttered
"I explained it earlier! Listen when people talk!" Erza said angrily
I tapped her on the shoulder and stood on my tiptoes to whisper in her ear "uh, Erza... you do remember knocking him out, right?" I asked carefully
She blushed slightly, before hurriedly turning away, back to the magic-mobile "He was on that train, you say? We're going after it!" she connected herself back up to the engine.
"What was he like?" Gray asked Natsu quietly
Natsu looked up remembering "he wasn't very distinctive actually. Oh yeah. He did have some kind of skull flute. The skull had three eyes."
Lucy's eyes bulged and she paled considerably "A three eyed skull?"
"That's creepy." Gray muttered
I frowned "I think it sounds sweet, I've always wanted to play the flute..."
Happy looked at our blonde companion in concern "what's the matter Lucy?"
"I know about that flute..." she gasped "Lullaby... a cursed song...! It's death magic!"
Erza turned to her "what?"
"A cursed song? Like an incantation?" Gray asked
Lucy looked down and clenched her fists "I've only read about them in books, but there are some deadly forbidden spells out there, right?" she asked
I grimaced "yes. Cursed black magic that kills whoever, and whatever it's used on."
Lucy's frown deepened "Well, lullaby is even worse than that!"
She told us how the flute started out as a simple death-cursing tool. But fell into the hands of a powerful black wizard called Zeref and he developed it into a demon flute. It was a terrifying mass cursing Item that killed whoever heard the sound of it.
As soon as she had finished explaining Erza ordered us to get in the car quickly and we drove off at a speed that I was previously unaware the car could go at...
"Slow down, Erza!" Gray cried from the roof. "Powering this thing takes a lot of magical energy! Even for you, Erza!"
"This is no time for complacency!" she yelled "There's no telling what Erigor might do if he gets his hands on this death curse magic!"
I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek, there was no telling how much stronger Erigor had become from when we last met, and whether or not there was a chance of me beating him...But I'd have to try, and do it quickly. He probably knew about my mother's bounty on me and I couldn't have him blurting it out to my friends...
Just as a precaution I wrapped the scarf from my bag around my neck and covered my mouth and nose up with it, this way there was at least a smaller chance of him recognising me.
Noting the strange look I was getting from Lucy I plastered a goofy grin on my face "I have dust allergies" I said gesturing to the dust that was flying up around us from Erza's crazy driving.
She nodded in acceptance and turned back round to stare out the window. We had stopped on top of a hillside that overlooked Kunugi station, Eisenwald had recently taken it over and the civilians were all standing outside, demanding awnsers from the solders.
"I can understand carriages and boats" Lucy muttered "But taking over a train?"
Happy nodded "Aye! It wouldn't be very helpful, since they can only follow the tracks."
"But they are fast" Erza reminded them
"And perfect, if they're headed where you want to go." I added
"Sounds like the Eisenwald guys have to rush for some reason" Gray pointed out
I grimaced "Maybe they're running away from your scary half naked body..."
"Oh..." he said casually looking down.
"Still, the army's already taking action" Lucy said "so it's only a matter of time until they're caught."
"Let's hope so, anyway." Erza muttered, making the magic-mobile move forwards again. We sped over the hill tops and into the next town, zooming down the streets, people had to jump out of our way to avoid being hit.
"Erza! Not so fast!" Gray warned "you're overloading the SE plug!"
"Scores of people will die if the Lullaby flute is played!" Erza yelled back "Just hearing the sound of it is fatal!"
"What if you run out magic power just when we really need it? When we really need you?" I yelled to her trying to convey my worry
"If that happens, I'll use a stick or something to fight." She smirked "besides Gray and Natsu are with you too."
I smiled slightly hopeful again before I caught sight of the travel sick Natsu and sighed "I'm so doomed..." I muttered, but a grin worked its way onto my face. I stared out the window, mentally steeling myself for the upcoming fight.
"What is that?" Erza asked staring at the tower of smoke coming from Oshibana station. We sped off towards it and arrived in seconds. After parking Erza rushed off to interrogate the station guards
"Tell me!" she asked hastily "what's the situation inside?"
When he didn't immediately answer she knocked him out and moved onto the next guard.
"I guess she has no use for people who can't answer immediately" Lucy muttered
I frowned "Erza must really be worried..." I said staring at the seemingly aggressive woman "she's not usually this impatient." I muttered
"Finally starting to understand what she's like?" Gray asked Lucy
She sweatdropped and I growled "put some clothes on in public, you pervert."
Erza cut off the oncoming argument by walking over and saying "Eisenwald's inside. Let's go."
"Right!" we all agreed following her inside the large building.
"Apparently, a small army unit broke in earlier but has yet to return." Erza told us, leading us down a hallway. "They're probably locked in combat with Eisenwald"
We ran up to a set of staircases where the aforementioned soldiers laid still, their weapons broken and they laid slumped up the stairs.
"They've been wiped out!" Happy cried out
We walked up the stairs and past them "we're up against and entire guild, they're all wizards in other words, a small army unit never stood a chance" Erza muttered
We entered a main room filled with Eisenwald wizards and in the middle; standing on the window ledge was a familiar face.
"Erigor." I whispered my hands moving up to check my scarf was still in place.
"So you did come, you Fairy Tail flies." He mocked
"Wake up, Natsu! Time to work!" Lucy pleaded shaking Natsu's still out of it form.
"It's no use." Happy told her "he rode a train, a magic-mobile, and then you. It's a triple vehicle sickness combo!"
"I'm a vehicle?" Lucy asked loudly
"Damn flies!" a man at the front of the crowd with a white coat and ponytail yelled "because of you, Erigor got mad at me...!"
Natsu stiffened "that voice!"
"What is your aim?" Erza demanded "what are you planning to do with the Lullaby?"
"You mean you don't know?" Erigor drawled and jumped up, levitating in the air in front of us "what do train stations have?"
"He's flying!" Lucy gasped
"Wind magic" I informed her quietly
Erigor's eyes snapped to me and I looked down praying he wouldn't notice.
My prayers must've been ignored because moments later I heard him laugh and mutter "an interesting development."
Erza scowled "you plan to broadcast it?" she yelled, shocked.
Erigor laughed obnoxiously "thousands of nosy onlookers have gathered around this station. No, If I raise the volume, the melody of death might just echo throughout the entire city..."
"You're going to make innocent people hear the Lullaby being played?" Erza asked furious
"This is a cleansing" Erigor told her calmly "a cleansing of fools who preserve their livelihoods by flaunting their rights, ignorant of those who've had their rights stolen away." He told us referring to him and the rest of his dark guild "It is a sin to live oblivious in this unfair world. Therefore... the reaper has come to dish out punishment."
I scowled "Urgh. You talk too much. Earth magic!" I cried making an earth pillar lift me up to his level "you're and idiot if you think this'll give you your rights back!" I told him kicking out at his chest.
He blocked me and hit out with his arm, I back flipped away saying "You were kicked out of the wizard league for a reason you know, you're never going to get any sympathy if you keep doing bad things!"
He laughed as I sent a vine towards his neck and shredded it with wind "at this point, we don't want rights. We want power!"
I scowled and made a block of rock fly at him from behind, he kicked it, smashing it completely and making the gravel rain down on his guild, some of them being knocked out by the falling debris "with power, we can wash away the entire past and control the future." He laughed
I laughed with him cynically "you're completely insane" I said as I made to punch him in the face.
He grabbed my wrist and threw me into the wall grinning.
He followed me and stood over my panting form lying in the crater and grabbed me by the hair
"I leave the rest to you." He told his guild "Teach them the true terror of a dark guild" he floated up into the air holding me by my hair and we disappeared.
"Aargh! You freak. That hurts!" I screamed as he floated over the train station roof.
He looked at the hand holding me and smirked "it does?" he asked in mock surprise "opps." He laughed dropping me.
I screamed as I fell ready to hit the ground and die when he grabbed me by the wrist.
"Your mother wouldn't like it if I let you die Adrianna, or should I say..."
"SHUT UP!" I screeched, head butting his chest "never mention that name to me! I've left all that behind me! And you should have to! Maybe then you wouldn't be so completely insane" I told him sourly
He chuckled before scowling "do you know what happened when I lost to you all those years ago?"
I shook my head and frowned "your parents hit you right? It's not that bad" I muttered "my mother did much worse to me..."
He laughed darkly "not only did they hit me. They beat me senseless and left me in the forest to die"
I gasped, I had no Idea I had caused something like that to happen, the guilt of it pushed down on my chest like a lead weight and tears pricked at my eyes as he continued "The Eisenwald guild found me and took me in. As I grew up there I gradually became more evil and twisted..."
I looked up at him pitifully "I could help you..."
His dark laughter cut me off "As if I'd accept help from a pitiful fly like you, I swore revenge on 3 people that day and I killed my parent's years ago." He looked at me and smirked darkly licking his lips "though it is a shame such a dark beauty like you should go to waste... I'll try not to cut your pretty face too much." He assured me
My breath came out in pants and I felt my heart race "NO!" I screamed "they'll stop you! Erza, Natsu, Gray?" I screamed, looking around in panic, my movements quick and shaky
Erigor stared deeply into my fearful grey ones and smirked "Your friends aren't here, they probably don't even care. After all, who could care for a cold hearted murderer like you?" he told me.
My fast paced heart almost stopped as he threw me into the air and stabbed me in the stomach with his scythe. He let me slide off it slowly and fall into his arms. The pain was immense and I felt myself blacking out
I saw his cold emotionless face watching me lie there, and with tears in my eyes I muttered three words before I slipped into the darkness.
End Adrianna's point of view
Erigor floated there, frozen, watching the still doll like looking girl in his arms. Her shirt was ripped torn and dirty, and was quickly staining red with her blood. Her breaths came in gasps and her face became paler and paler.
A roar of anger filled the night.
Erza, who had just finished evacuating the town, looked up to see a giant twister furiously spinning with freezing winds and surrounding the station she had recently exited.
'The stations is surrounded by wind!' she thought panicked
Hearing a mocking and emotionless laugh behind her she turned round expecting to see Erigor, she was not expecting however to see her best friend held tightly in his arms.
Her tiny form limp, lifeless and blood stained.
Erza gasped, she wasn't... she couldn't be...
Tears sprung to her eye but she blinked them back, anger and fear filling her.
"W-what have you done to her?" she demanded.
Erigor ignored her completely "I had always wanted to fight you at least once, Queen." He told her, his words sounding empty and dark "But it's a pity. I have no time to play with you now!" He yelled using his magic to force her behind the barrier.
"Erigor!" Erza raged, running forwards to try and get through the barrier. She was blasted back and heard Erigor's dark mocking laugh.
"Forget it." He taunted "this magic wind wall is one-way only. Try to leave and the wind will tear you apart."
"What is the meaning of this?" Erza demanded "What have you done to Adrianna? Why...?" she trailed off her throat tightening
"You people have wasted much of our time. I must be going now." Erigor said but before he left he glanced down at the lifeless girl in his arms, he sneered
"Pathetic how she even thought she could make a difference." He took one more look at her; he stroked her nearly white face and whispered "such a shame" almost remorsefully before throwing her through the wind barrier and flying away.
Seeing the figure flying through the wind barrier, Erza leapt and caught her, cradling the girl's still form to her, tears falling from one eye and onto the younger girl's body.
She held two fingers to her throat and almost collapsed from relief when she felt a pulse, tying the remains of Arianna's top around the still bleeding wound as a make shift bandage.
She picked up the weaker girl and cradled her in her arms muttering angrily "You'll pay for this Erigor."
She headed back indoors and interrogated the men she had beaten earlier.
She demanded they remove the wind barrier, but the answer she got was always the same. "Forget it!" "It's impossible!" "You know we can't undo the magic barrier..." she was about to beat them up from frustration when Gray's voice called out to her from the floor above.
"Erza!"
"Gray! Wasn't Natsu with you?" she asked him
"We split up!" he told her quickly "but never mind that for now! Eisenwald's real target is the town up ahead!"
"What?" Erza questioned sharply
"Gramps' and the others' conference!" he informed her, panic lacing each word. "They plan to use the Lullaby there!" he said eyes wide
If It was even possible Erza became even angrier, she almost had an aura of power floating around her that would make most men cry in fear "is that so?"
Gray hurried down to talk to her face to face
"There's a magic barrier surrounding the station" Erza told him
"Yeah I saw it" The ice wizard muttered "try and break out and it'll turn you into mincemeat" he said walking into the room
Erza had her back to him and was cradling the girl against her chest with one arm, the other arm dangled limply by her side. "I've already tried" she muttered
"Erza! Your arm...!" Gray said in alarm.
Erza spun around and held the girl out for him to see "that isn't our biggest worry!"
Gray choked on air as he saw the motionless woman, her hair normally up in a perfect bun was splayed around her abnormally pale face, it was a frightening looking contrast, his eyes ventured down to her bindings (he blushed) and her stomach where her top had been used as a bandage and already had blood seeping through it.
"R-Rian...?" he gasped "Erigor did this?" he demanded, his eyes flashing darkly
Erza nodded stiffly "could you possibly hold her? I may need an arm free to fight."
Gray held out his arms and Erza placed her gently into them, Gray almost gasped at how light she felt.
He looked down at her pale face and noticed the dried tear tracks, what had Erigor done to her?
Erza led him urgently down the hall, in search of the seal breaking wizard Kage.
they ran down endless corridors and eventually found the wizard with Natsu at the top of a stair case. Natsu had blasted him into a wall and was standing over him triumphantly
"That's enough!" Erza demanded "we need him!"
"Way to go fire freak!" Gray yelled at him angrily, holding the unconscious girl tightly in his arms
"huh?" Natsu said oblivious "wait! I-I dunno what I did" he yelled "but I'm sorry..." he trailed off in shock as he caught sight of Rian in Gray's arms
His eyes went wide "Is she...?" he gasped
Gray scowled "she's not dead Idiot. Not yet." He yelled at the fire mage 'and she won't be for a while, cause we're gonna protect her' he added on silently in his head
Natsu's face darkened in anger and his fists lit up "Erigor, that, bastard." He muttered observing the sorry form of his teammate "He's gonna regret this!" he yelled shooting fire at the ceiling.
Erza ran past him and pointed her sword at Kage "you will be quiet and remove the wind wall for us!" she demanded darkly
He whimpered and Erza scowled "understood?"
"a-all right." He stuttered nervously.
A hand reached through the wall and through his stomach, everyone gasped.
"WH-why...?" Kage choked out.
The hand pulled back, Kage fell to the floor and everyone saw the perpetrator, a fat green haired man was using magic to go through the wall, he was whimpering and froze there, looking ashamed and scared out of his wits.
"Damn! He was out only way out!" Gray yelled and rand to the fallen man, kneeling beside him, and holding Rian in one arm.
"Kage!" Erza yelled, running to his other side and propping him up "Stay with us!" she demanded "we need your help!"
Natsu stayed completely still and wide eyed throughout all of this, staring disbelievingly at the fat man with green hair
Damn! I can't believe this!" Gray cursed
"You're the only one who can remove the magic wind wall!" Erza yelled "don't die!"
Natsu clenched his fist muttering "He's one of you own comrades...!" he lit up in fire yelling "He's a member of your own guild!"
The fat man disappeared back into the wall and Natsu exploded, punching the wall open after him "you bastard! Is that just how you guild is?"
Erza cradled Kage's head in her arm "Kage! You need to stay with us!"
Gray frowned at her "its not use Erza! He's unconscious."
Erza flipped, knocking Kage up and down and yelling "we can't let him die! He has to do this!"
Gray sweat dropped "come on! He can't use magic in his condition!"
"He has to do it!" Erza yelled
They were cut off from arguing by a scream , Lucy's.
The blonde ran over to Gray's side and looked despairingly down at Adrianna "w-what happened?" she stuttered
Gray frowned "we... don't know." He scowled "Erza found her like this..." he was shaking from anger "in the arms of...t-that bastard Erigor."
Lucy felt tears run down her cheeks and gasped in shock when she felt a thin cold hand reach up and wipe them away.
She looked down to see Rian smiling up at her softly "don't cry about me" she whispered letting her arm drop back.
Erza and Gray gasped and smiled down at the petite girl, Natsu just smirked and ruffled her hair
"I knew you couldn't be that hurt midget." He muttered
The sound of Adrianna's laughter filled them all with relief
She stubbornly refused to be carried and walked beside them all the way outside, biting her lip when her wound twinged in pain.
When they reached the wind wall she sat down against a pillar sighing with relief and fell asleep again, much to the group's amusement.
The group discovered Happy's forgetfulness about Virgo's key and watched Lucy open her gate and summon the maid, they escaped and Natsu and Happy flew ahead, whilst the others travelled by the magic-mobile along the train tracks.
Rian was asleep in Gray's lap and he was watching her curiously, how had she managed to get so beaten up by Erigor? She had all sorts of magic at her disposal, it was impossible she couldn't have used at least one of them...
He shook his head, it just didn't make sense.
He looked down at her pale face once more, she looked so vulnerable. He'd never seen her like this; she either had a composed facial expression, or a goofy one. It was like she didn't want people to see the real her.
The car stopped suddenly and the movement jolted her awake quickly, her eyelashes fluttered open and grey eyes meet blue, Gray looked away blushing and Rian smirked before looking around in confusion "where are we?" she croaked and sat up, looking out the window.
Her eyes widened "Erigor..." she whispered, climbing clumsily over Gray and out the car, he watched her go frowning, before hurrying to follow.
The girl stumbled down the railroad, ignoring the worried looks from her friends, she knelt besides Erigor crying.
He looked up through dazed eyes to see her crying form; to him she truly looked like an angel.
"I'm so sorry" she muttered repeatedly, staring in horror at his charred form.
He frowned "I heard you before" he recalled her words to him at the station "I tried to kill you." He whispered "why are you apologising"
She wiped away her tears angrily "I caused...you...this..." she murmured angrily
He chuckled darkly, but it soon turned into coughs "I did all this, not you, don't you dare even think about stealing my infamy." He wheezed
She smirked weakly "like I'd want it." she turned to leave but he grabbed her arm and whispered "I'll see you soon senka-hime." He leered and winked before passing out again
Rian gasped and fell backwards, scuttling backwards away from him, fear evident on her face
Gray pulled her up to stand next to him "What was that all about?" he demanded
Rian's mind raced madly, she put a sheepish grin on her face "I wanted to find out why he hurt me" she offered
Gray frowned, he knew she was lying, but he wouldn't call her up on it. He sent a glare to Erigor's still form; they seemed to be a little too close for comfort.
Rian's point of view
I felt dizzy and sick, and this wasn't from my wound. I hadn't heard my real name in 10 years.
Hearing it spoken so easily caused shivers to run down my spine and my mind to freeze up.
I frowned. I'd left all that behind. And that was how it was going to stay.
A loud crash snapped me completely out of my thoughts; Kage had stolen the Magic-mobile and the Lullaby and was escaping with them.
"The Lullaby is mine!" he yelled "You let your guard down, flies!"
We hurried after him, on foot. I ran for a few minutes before I collapsed.
"ARGH!" I screamed "stupid weak body!" I punched my leg in anger
Gray smirked down at me "need a hand?"
I scowled as I climbed on his back, blushing as soon as he couldn't see me. This was so embarrassing; I had never felt so weak and helpless.
We caught up to Kage at the conference hall; we spotted him on a hill below us, talking to master Makarov.
"Gramps!" Natsu muttered in shock.
We were about to rush down and intervene but a giant crossing man came out of nowhere yelling "shhhh!" he made a 'cute feminine' pose "It's just getting good! Watch quietly!" he demanded
He looked at gray and Natsu and cooed "Oh, you two are such cuties! You're just my type!"
They boys watched him with horror.
"Who is this?" Lucy asked watching the fluttering transvestite
"Master Bob" Erza sweatdropped
He looked over at us "Oh, Erza? You've grown... Rian... uh... you haven't huh?"
I scowled and sent a glare his way "of course I've grown" I muttered "I'm not still the size of a 10 year old am I?"
Lucy looked at the man disbelievingly "he's the master of Blue Pegasus?"
Erza hushed us and we watched Makarov and Kage interact
"What's wrong? Hurry it up" Makarov demanded of Kage
Kage gulped before lowering his lips to the flute once again.
"Oh, no!" We all cried out panicked
"Just be quiet and watch." A man wearing a dog's collar told us "this is getting good."
"The Quarto Cerberus' Master Goldmine!" Lucy gasped
"well?" Makarov demanded once again
Kage breathed heavily, indecisive
"Nothing will change" Makarov told him sternly "the weak will always remain weak, but weakness isn't necessarily bad. People are weak creatures by nature. People's insecurities are why guilds exist. Why comrades exist. They come together and move forward, to live life to the fullest."
I smiled thinking of all my friends at the guild and how we relied on each other and how we looked out for each other.
"If you're clumsy, you might run into more obstacles and take a long way around, but as long as you step forward with faith in tomorrow, you'll find that your strength will emerge on its own. You'll be able to smile and live life to the fullest. You don't need some special flute for that." Makarov told him
The flute clattered to the floor and we watched as Kage fell to his knee's saying "I give up!"
We were finally allowed to run over to him.
"Master" Erza called
Natsu grinned "Gramps!"
"Oh! what are you guys doing here?" he asked us cheerfully
"That was well said!" Erza praised, hugging him into her armour 'Donk' "your words were truly moving!"
Natsu enthusiastically patted Makarov on the head and I laughed at Erza's glare sent towards him. The moment was shattered by a roaring voice yelling
"I grow tired of all you gutless wizards!"
Black smoke streamed out of the Lullaby flute.
"Something came out!" Happy exclaimed
A gigantic magic symbol appeared in the sky and the sound of crackling magic filled the air
"I can no longer hold back! I shall eat you myself!" Lullaby declared emerging from the symbol
A giant wooden monster with 3 glowing eyes stared down at us "I will devour your souls!" it roared
"It's too big!" Lucy cried out
Happy turned to her worriedly "that's your complaint?"
"What the...?" Gray asked
Kage looked up it worriedly "N-No one told me about this!"
"Oh, this is a pickle." Master Rob cooed.
The other guild masters rushed to evacuate the conference building
"Why did a monster come out the flute?" Lucy asked
Master Goldmine frowned "That monster is Lullaby; in the flesh" he muttered "it's living magic, in other words. Zeref's magic."
We turned to him confused "Living magic?" Gray asked "Zeref? That ancient wizard?" Erza questioned
I nodded "the black wizard Zeref, was the most evil wizard in the history of wizard kind. He must've left this magic behind centuries ago, only to take form now!"
"Now, then!" Lullaby roared at us "whose soul shall I dine on first?"
"What did you say?" Natsu hissed, he turned to Gray "Hey, are souls tasty?"
Gray glared at him "don't ask me. How should I know?"
"Natsu! Get everyone away from here. Grey! Take Rian to a doctors, we've already let her wound go untended to for too long." Erza demanded
I scowled "I'm staying here to fight Erza!" I declared
She sent me a glare but I deflected it with one of my own and she sighed
"Just don't get under my feet." She muttered
The Lullaby sent a destructive beam into a mountain; exploding it and making the nearby army run away in fear.
"Now then! I've decided! I will devour all your souls, wizards!" it bellowed
"All right, then!" Natsu challenged "bring it on, if you dare!"
"Good luck...!" the guild masters cheered, a safe distance away.
"What can just the four of them do?" I hear Lucy mutter behind us
The lullaby roared into the sky and Erza just smirked and unsheathed her sword.
"Let's go!" she called
"Yeah!" we all agreed
And followed her up to the monster.
"Reequip!" she gracefully reequipped into her knight armour and flew at the beast, slashing it with her swords.
"Ice make... Lance!" Gray cried launching the gigantic lance into the monster.
I grinned chanting "Mother nature lend me your power; Earth magic!" I raised a giant rock pillar that went straight through the middle of the Lullaby.
"Chew on this!" Natsu shouted "Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" and punched the monster in the face with his flaming fist.
We repeated these actions until the Lullaby lashed out at us "you're starting to annoy me!" It roared.
So we smirked and doubled our attacks.
Erza using more swords.
Gray made a crossbow of ice that fired thousands of shots at once.
I launched boulders, one after the other, never stopping.
And Natsu attacked it with his dragon wing attack.
The Lullaby roared and sucked in all the life from nearby tree's and plant life. I frowned, Mother Nature was going to hate me if I let this guy live now.
"Your souls will be mine!" It yelled opening its mouth wide to let out the dreaded song, it tooted.
Like a broken wind chime, or a baby's fart. The noise it made was embarrassing.
"What is this sound?" Lullaby wheezed "where has my great musical sound gone?"
Lullaby stood their in disbelief for a few moments before raging "to hell with this!" It screeched, kicking mountains and trees down.
"ice-make... shield!" Gray yelled bringing his shield up in time to stop all the guild masters and Lucy from being hit by Lullaby's explosion of fire.
I was in front of the shield though and had to quickly bring up my own earth made one before I got fried.
"Curse you!" Lullaby whined.
Natsu ate all the fire that it produced with a burp.
He ran up the monsters arm and up to its face
Erza reequipped into Black wing armour. Making half the Guild masters get nosebleeds
Gray sent a spinning ice saucer into the Lullaby's middle, smashing it open
I grinned "Earth magic!" I made vines wrap up and drag the monster sharply down to the ground.
Erza slashed it up the face
And Natsu finished it off by using his 'fire dragon brilliant flame!' attack that blasted it into particles and resulted in a huge explosion of the nearby area.
Lucy and Makarov ran over and praised our work; we modestly denied it, well... I did
"That wasn't much at all!" Natsu said
"It was piece of cake" Gray told them
'Tch, oh well, I suppose they deserve a moment of glory, they did do amazingly well against that thing...' I thought laughing to myself
They noticed that we'd not only destroyed the conference hall but a mountain or two as well.
The master almost fainted and Natsu just laughed it off.
I couldn't help joining in, after all, I almost died today, who knows, I might tomorrow. So I think I'm going to keep living life to the fullest so that when I do die, I won't have any regrets...
