Welcome to chapter 4. :)
Mirajane.
Parched. She was bone dry. Her mouth was ablaze. Every time she breathed, her throat protested by burning her. She moaned in pain, but she got nothing out of it. She begged her body not to sweat, not to release any more of the precious limited liquids of her body. She opted to steady her breathing, close her eyes and think of her dream place. Somewhere cold, somewhere not here. Somewhere safe…
She was in the ice mountains, several days away from the Kingdom of ice. It was cold and snowing heavily. She could almost feel the snow droplets on her scorched skin. She could almost feel herself gasping at the skin prickling cold that hit her naked body. She shuddered, smiling to herself. Ah yes…. I found my sanctuary…
Whilst she stayed within her sanctuary, she tried to recap how she got into this mess in the first place. She remembered the fire, how it almost caught her dress as she grabbed her siblings from their beds and ran from the building with immense haste. Everything burned around them, people yelled and women screamed. Lisanna screamed violently whilst holding Mirajane's waist. For the first time in a long time, her sister looked as she did several years prior… tiny and so innocent. She cried for days as the blaze demolished into ashes and embers. Her brother meanwhile, pretended to be older than he was and didn't cry once.
Mirajane within those few days had killed several knights to attempted to attack them. They looked at her with hungry eyes, scanning her body like a couple of vultures waiting for their prey to drop dead for them to pounce. She knew if she let her guard down once, they'd rape her and rape Lisanna. They would either kill or administer Elfman to their army. His sisters would in some way join the army, to be the whores of the soldiers… Possibly they'd live long enough to see the light of a pure day. But the prospect was unlikely.
The sky that day left a gray effect to the burnt down town. The white haired siblings looked ghost white all over. Their lips cracked from dehydration, their eyes wild and blue, their hair knotted and dry. Their clothes were even worse. Mirajane only wore her nightdress, Lisanna was wearing her night shorts and loose fitting blouse, and Elfman was wearing male briefs. They looked like naked beggars, and Mirajane aimed to get them to look like their old selves soon enough.
Mira had known how much blood was down her dress from the killings, yet when she saw more men ride towards then in the distance, her care left her. She stood straight and narrowed her eyes, hissing at them. Her body moving in front of her siblings in a protective manner, she held up her dagger in defence.
There were ten of them, her mind calculated several ways to kill every single one of them. But when she saw the tenth ride up in front of her, she found herself wincing. His armour was golden and bright, she had to let her eyes adjust to it. She gripped harder on her blade, holding it higher. One man on a horse attempted to get off of it. She gritted her teeth and let a hiss through them. He paused, "My Lord, I think she'll kill me if I move another muscle…"
"You already did move a muscle, you fool. You talked after all." The man who he spoke to said in return, taking off his helmet to reveal a blonde man with piercing blue eyes. He was handsome, Mira even knew that. Yet there was a sense of arrogance in his expression that led her to almost loathe the sight of him.
Her eyes hooded over, shadowed over with her fringe. Her eyes bright and blue looked as if they were filled with vigour. The King smirked down on her, his eyes quirking upwards, and a dimple showing underneath it. "What's your name, girl?"
Mira didn't say a word. She just stared, her grip tightened on the blade. He sighed and crossed his arms, "Why do you have so much blood on your dress?"
She smirked at that, he seemed to have reacted to that smile. She looked insane. Devilish almost. She lifted her head high and said through clenched teeth, "Men tried to hurt us, they would've raped my sister if I didn't slice their throats… sir." She smiled again, "I couldn't allow that, my sister doesn't deserve such forcefulness at her tender age."
The King saw the sister in question nod towards him, hiding behind the brother in protection. Three white haired siblings… he wondered if it was the white haired siblings?
"What're your names?" He asked cooly.
"Why should I answer that?" The eldest snapped, her eyes were sky blue fire.
The youngest, the sister, peeped from behind her brother and looked up towards the knights. She caught the eye on one of them, his helmet was different from the others. It had a feather on top of it, purple in colour. His cape and briefs were brighter colours than the rest of the knights as well…. He seemed quirky to her. Mira had been watching her, clicking her tongue twice, Lisanna spun her head to the sister and nodded.
Elfman patted his sister's shoulder, "Sis, he's the King. Look at the emblem."
"I know who he is." Mirajane replied, her voice was like acid. "His men were the one who were going to rape me and your sister." She reminded him.
"You killed my men?" The King replied, his mouth turned up into a sneer.
"I'd do it again if they try and touch my sister." She warned in reply.
Elfman widened his eyes, pushing forward. "Uh… My sister is wary… sir." He mumbled, "She's been up for days, trying to protect us. She doesn't trust Knights sir… a Knight of sorts killed our parents. She's pretty manly!" He cleared his throat, "Please pardon her rudeness."
"Rudeness?" She hissed.
He rubbed his hair, "Believe it or not, she's actually the kindest person I know. She just gets really protective over me and my sister."
Lisanna nodded, "She really hates people hurting us, or threatening to do so."
The King smirked again, "So the people she killed tried to hurt you, girl?"
She nodded softly, "One managed to push me down, Mira managed to stab the dagger into his neck before he… well." She bit her lip.
"Mira?" The King questioned, Mirajane narrowed her eyes. He looked to her, "You? You're Mira?"
Lisanna bit her lip, "Her full name is Mirajane."
"Shut up." Mira muttered, "Do you want me to die?" The King tried to hide a smile in response to her words.
Lisanna straightened her back, "My brother is Elfman and I am Lisanna." She then peeped at Mirajane, "Maybe they'll help us, sister."
Mira glared at her, "I killed several of his men by slicing their throats, you really think they'll keep us alive? Keep me alive?"
The King sighed, getting off his horse. "I heard about three half albino siblings running away from an orphanage from the next town onwards." He sighed, "Two of which are known to hold quite interesting magical abilities. Animal souls, it seems." He smiled, "You two, have magic, am I correct?" He looked to Elfman and Lisanna. They nodded.
Mirajane watched the knights and then to the King, Lisanna bit her lip. "We're not as good at the magic as our sister. Me and Elfman can only copy animals…. Mira can- well - she can…"
"She captured souls of demons!" Elfman finished. "She's a real man about it too!"
"Do you all just want me to die!?" Mirajane growled. She felt it then, the darkness. The thing within her stir and growl in her heart. She winced, holding her stomach, her knees wobbling.
Lisanna widened her eyes, "Mira?"
She gritted her teeth, "Gods be damned," she panted and grinned, the smile made the men uneasy, it was too sweet and happy to be real, surely? "Run Lisanna, run." Her voice though amplified her pain, it was still kind and considerate, just like her smile.
Lisanna gasped, "Everyone has to run now! Otherwise she'll kill you!"
Elfman turned to the King, "We weren't fooling you when we said she has demons within her. Real ones, ones that she had killed herself and stolen the souls of! But the price is dear, when she gets too worked up the demon needs to be set free." He swallowed hard, Mira watched, the pain was growing. "That's why she tries to be kind… it quietens the demons within her."
The King smiled, "Demons, huh?" He waved, "Bickslow! Freed! Take the two siblings to our camp… be sure to treat them both kindly." He then smiled, "We have to tame this demon it seems."
Mira's eyes widened drastically, her pupils going small and her mouth opening showing her snarl and newly pointed teeth. She managed to roar through her pain, "Don't you dare take them from me!"
"GO!" The King snarled.
The one named Bickslow grabbed Lisanna's arm and Freed led Elfman to a spare horse, the king's horse. Lisanna got onto Bickslow's horse, holding onto him as they rode west of their current position. Mira found herself standing, reaching for them, but with no avail. She clenched her stomach and bent over herself and panted. "You took them… heh…" She chuckled, the King and his men stood back. The laugh was satanic, doubled over with a much deeper female voice on top of her higher pitched tone. "You must be fools… Fools of a foolish King!"
It was then she let it all go, she stood straight suddenly, her arms flaying outwards. A scream left her throat, rippling through the entirety of the burnt down village. Echoing of surviving walls and trees, then hitting the tender ears of the men of the King and the King himself. An aura of purple and black spread from the Mira, as if in a cloud of light she shone brightly in the colour for a few seconds.
It happened in moments.
The King blinked, and all of his men that were left were dead. Necks shredded apart, guts pulled from their stomachs. She then faced the King, even out of his shock managed to block her claw slicing his own neck into chunks. He narrowed his eyes and grinned, "Well, even as a demon, you're one attractive woman."
She growled a chuckle, "I wonder if you'll still find me pretty with your blood showering over my body!" She swiped her other claw upwards, the King used his shield to block her and push her backwards. She flipped and landed on her feet and one hand, crouched like an animal. Her eyes narrowed and turned into splinters of hatred right before him.
He eyed her and smirked, "You're a good fight so far."
She chuckled once more in her growled tone, she stood straight. "So are you… so far." She held out her palm, letting the magic collect and swarm to the middle of her palm. The magic like the aura was black and purple, The King widened his eyes at it. He smiled suddenly, causing her to become cautious.
Why didn't he seem scared?
Oh yes… she remembered. He had magic too.
The clouds above her turned dangerously black, she hissed and moved out of the way fast enough to dodge the first and second strike of lightning. When she had found her feet, she saw him for what he truly was. A Dragon of Lightning. She knew the magic well, had heard about it often on her travels. It wasn't hard to guess who this person was off the moment he took his helmet off. He was King Laxus of the kingdom of Lightning. He had the power of the Lightning God…
Dangerous, very dangerous.
The lightning lapped around him as if it were his friend, he held out his fist and charged up his attack. It shot forward immediately, she was off-guard. She managed to escape, but barely so. The strike had cut through her leg, burning her flesh. She yelled, the pain shooting through her. It felt worse than any broken bone. It was something she wouldn't forget, not truly.
"Damn you!" She yelled as she rolled on the floor, and through the dust, she managed to gain some posture in the fight. She flew forward in a great dance of speed, Laxus widened his eyes, unable to defend himself with his shield, he managed however, to do so by shooting a strike of lightning when she struck him in his left shoulder. Her spell blew him backwards, and his did the same to her.
The only difference being is that when she tried to get back up, she couldn't. Something was stopping her. An invisible wall of magic. She howled in anger, "Let me out, you ass of a King!"
"A true demon…" He chuckled, getting up freely "When you're in this form there is no mistaking it. You're strong. You could defeat armies!" He bellowed, walking towards her, she hissed at him. "As a woman I saw something else, a woman who was as kind as her siblings claimed her be. Protective sure enough, yet kind." He sighed, crossing his arms. "I can't let you go unpunished, Miss Mirajane. You did after all strike me, striking a King would usually bring the death penalty to the table. But I know why you did what you did." He smiled, "You're honourable in your movements as a sister and as a woman in a world ruled by men…" He sighed, "You're under arrest and sentenced to be tortured for six days. If you live, I will let you choose your own fate." He clicked his fingers, one of the men from earlier came back and sighed. "Freed, make sure this spell can carry her back to the Kingdom."
Mirajane remembered her demon form fading, she fell on her all fours, looking up through her sweat soaked hair at the King a final time for that moment. "My siblings….?"
"They'll be treated well." He promised. She could tell he was being truthful.
She smiled instantly, this time she saw the King realise her true self… the kind self her brother had claimed to be one hundred percent real. She was a kind women being put through hell on earth daily. She sniffed back her tears and nodded, "Thank you… Laxus Dreyer…" She fell to the floor then, slipping deep into unconsciousness.
And then I was put through torture… whipped, burnt, chained and starved… and then he came… on the sixth day. I was still alive. He made them take the chains off of me and watched me kneel in my naked form, and grab my bearings… She remembered.
"Have you learnt your lesson, Mirajane Strauss?" He asked formally.
She looked up at him, tired, hot and hurting. "Yes."
"Then as promised I will leave you to your own fate."
She nodded, "Thank you…"
He smirked then, and then she realised it would be so easy as he first claimed. "A fate I give you the choice from."
"What?" She asked, too weak to seem any stronger than weak.
He sighed, kneeling in front her. Her naked form would be beautiful to look at, if it weren't for the dirt covering it. She saw how much he liked to assess her before he spoke, staring her in the eyes finally before speaking again. "Either be my personal assassin. By my side at all times, following my orders without hesitation, and being my play-thing. Or die, and your siblings die too." He smiled, "Your fate, after all, is tied with their own."
She could feel her eyes narrow, but not fully, as if she was shocked and disgusted by what he had said. "Play thing?" She managed to smile, "I will not suck a king's cock even if he begged."
"Is that a no?"
"No, it isn't." She smiled finally, it was full of sincerity. "I will protect you, follow your orders. But only your professional orders. I will not let you mould me into your personal whore, your highness." She then sighed, "I will kill whoever you want me to kill, if it means my brother and sister live, then so be it."
His smile turned cocky then, "Good." He stood, the same smile on his lips. "It's good that you understand me, Mirajane." He turned around to the door, "Take her to her chambers, let her wash, dress appropriately, eat and rest. Tomorrow we start training again."
"Sir." A guard said in reply.
The rest seems like history… she thought to herself.
"Did you hear me?" He said to her as she pulled out her bow and arrow, freshly made by the local blacksmith. She turned her head, facing him with a smile.
"You said to 'get the biggest Stag that you see,' Your Grace." Even after the interaction a few moments prior, Mira's voice was loving and kind again. "I will do my best. After all, if I cannot win this hunting trip for my King, what kind of Huntress am I?"
She looked up at the King who's eyes were assessing her once again, this time, it was her expression that he was double checking. He smiled finally and nodded, "Don't get hurt, Mira." He said, his voice was full of concern. However, his eyes tried to hide it with authority glaring in his expression.
"Again," she said putting the arrows into her holder, "I shall do my best, My King." She bowed her head and turned back to the forest.
She peeped over to her again, Erza Scarlet, her hair was just as red as she remembered… along with the fire and the brown gaze that Mira could never fully detain from her thoughts. All of which came from the women over on her left, who had taken off her cloak and placed it on her horse at that point. She also had a bow and arrow, not as fresh and new as Mira's but a good make all the same. Erza peeped over to Mirajane, nodding soullessly and then stared off into the forest.
The woman isn't sorry for what she did… she acts as if it didn't happen… Mira thought, her mind was wild and distressed. That woman made her feel wild and distressed.
Someone blew the hunting horn then, Mira didn't waste any time. She disappeared from her spot on the field quickly, as if in a flash. She could see as she looked over her shoulder that, Erza took a second longer to take off. Shocked at Mira's quick movements, it seemed.
The forest was thick and luscious, the leaves a beautiful shade of green that no artists could replicate into their artwork. Mira wished in some way that she could take her time, rummage through the forest for hours and admire the true beauty of the place. However, the match was set, she had to win the hunting trip for her King…
Her King…
It was her second week as his 'Assassin.' Though no one called her that personally, it was her official title from the King. She preferred, 'Huntress,' since that was her job as a youngster, yet the King disobeyed her wish at first. It was when people seemed to prefer it, that he started to occasionally call her 'Huntress' instead of her real name. As if to joke with her, a joke that she didn't find too amusing, that is.
The week started like the last, she got up early from her bed, her beautifully comfortable bed. She bathed by herself, ate with her siblings and went off to the battle hall in the basement to start her day. Lisanna would occasionally follow her to the doors, though it came quick to Mira's realisation that her sister wasn't always there for her company. But for the odd looking Knight, Bickslow, instead.
Mira had to smile, as much as she hated Knights, this Knight was different. He would joke and pat Mira's back out of humour, usually when he made a joke that no one else laughed at. He would joke with Lisanna as well, but in a more intimate manner. Jokes that Mira did not understand.
It didn't take a genius, however, that they were in love. Or at least on their way towards that direction.
Though that day, Lisanna did not follow Mirajane to the battle hall in the basement. Instead she was met with the King himself, his eyes angered. He was also only wearing slacks. His shirt missing from his person, his chest was gorgeous and covered in many tattoos. Mira let her gaze move away from him as she bowed respectively. "My King," she said. "Are you going to the battle room today as well?"
He grabbed her arm then, making her look at him. "I have order for you," he said cooly.
"Well My King, if I can say so, you do not need to grab my arm to make an order." She said, eyeing his hand.
He grumbled an apology, "I need you to be extra careful for the next few days."
"That's your order?" She asked softly, "May I ask why it sounds like I am threatened in some way?"
He sighed, "Some people dislike the idea of a King having a female protector by his side, they see it as unmanly. Therefore they want to prove that to me by hurting you. I cannot allow that."
He is worried for my safety? Or just his own?
"Who are these people?" She narrowed her eyes, "If they want to hurt me, then possibly they could hurt Lisanna or Elfman."
He shook his head, "They'll be fine I have Evergreen and Bickslow looking after them." He then smiled softly, "Too stop these people head on, Mira, I have to ask you to find them yourself and take care of the problem."
"You make it sound like I mind hurting people who threaten me," she smiled in a friendly manner, her eyes playful. "After all, that is how we met." She sighed then, turning the other way. "I will do the job quickly, I apologise in advance if the bloodshed comes from within the castle walls, My King."
"Yes, very well." He mumbled, she felt his stare as she vanished down the hallway.
Why is it that I feel a softness for that man? Is it because even though he could've just killed me, he instead gave me a second chance in life? Is it because he is handsome? Am I truly falling for such beauty and nobility?
Pitiful…
When she had found the people who had planned to hurt her, she swiftly ended their lives with not much of a fuss. She buried them in the courtyard under a tree, the same tree that later the gardeners unknowingly placed a bench around. Fitting really, for people who wished to hurt a 'Huntress' of the King, to go on to the night lands unnoticed by anyone. Unloved by everyone.
She jumped upwards, swiftly swinging on top of the branch and running across its thick base to the end, jumping to the next tree with the same grace as beforehand. She went East, keeping to the trees. The trees were her protection, her way of having an advantage of the game in hand.
She stopped finally after several minutes of travelling, her breath slightly heavy. She smelt Erza nearby, but more northwards. She narrowed her eyes, knowing full well that there were plenty of deer nearby that area of the forest. However, where Mira was, was where the Stag enjoyed to eat their fill. The alpha Stags after all, only went to the deer to mate with them. Other wise, they were quite solum creatures.
She perched herself on a branch, peering down to the water below. A small lake that animals used to drink their fill quite regularly. Sure enough, a Stag stood proudly by the water, drinking from it greedily. She could even hear its gross slurping.
She drew an arrow from her holder, placing it in position on the string of her bow. She aimed precisely. Her breathing stopped whilst she aimed, she took a deep breath as she drew back the string. And once she let go, she let go of her breath as well.
The arrow skimmed through the air like a bolt of lightning, it would've been an eye shot, if it weren't for another arrow at the last second hitting her own. Both breaking in the middle and falling to the forest floor. Mira gritted her teeth, jumping down, drawing her dagger from her holster. Sure enough, Erza had found her way to her hunting area.
"How dare you? That was my kill." Mira said as calmly as she could in the situation.
Erza bowed her head, "Apologies, he was a big prize. My King instructed me to do my best in this match, I intend to do just that." She looked to the direction that the Stag had run off in alert too. "If you wish, I could allow you to chase after it."
"No." Mirajane snapped.
"Fine, I shall have it." She bowed again, and like a dart, she disappeared after the Stag.
Mira watched after her and growled, "Damn it!" She cursed, darting after her.
They met quickly, Mira was fast. Erza smiled a little, as if she found Mira's attempts of keeping her composure amusing. Mira, all the while, was waiting for the right moment to strike. It was when Erza's long hair in a pony tail swayed in the air, that she threw her dagger. It caught where the band started on the base of her head. It made her fly to the nearest tree, stabled to the trunk.
Mira didn't give her another look, she kept chasing her prize. You're not making me look bad, you red haired idiot.
She found the Stag quickly after that, as she ran, she drew another arrow from her holder, and quickly she struck an arrow into its hide. It wailed loudly and fell down the hill. It was then that Mirajane realised that the Stag had brought them in a complete circle, they were almost back at the opening of the forest. She grinned, putting another arrow into the head of the Stag, she wrapped the rope around its horns and dragged it across the forest edge.
She saw her King waiting, he looked over his shoulder and smirked knowingly. She smiled back, proud that she pleased her King. Proud that she hadn't disappointed him by hurting the warrior of the Kingdoms long term ally. She will get chance, it just wasn't going to be then and there. Not yet… she would wait.
It was all sudden, but a swooshing sound went past her ear, catching onto her cloak before pinning her to the ground. She looked behind her, struggling too see. She widened her eyes as Erza ran from the forest edge. Her hair short and spiked. She had ripped her own hair off to get to Mira. The woman was crazy.
Fear ran through Mira's body for a split moment, then as quickly as it came, it was replaced with vigour.
Mira watched as the woman sliced her dagger across the rope of the Stag, dragging it over her shoulder before giving Mira a fearful glare. "How dare you steal my Stag!"
"Yours?" Mira hissed, kicking herself upwards. Her cloak ripping off her body in the process, the heated air tickled her skin. "I believe I killed it, you red haired mongrel!"
Erza narrowed her eyes, "This is a race, a little game if you like. Shall we make a wager?"
"A wager of what?" Mira said intently, her sneer growing.
"A wager that entails that the victor of a friendly match of strength, shall bring this fruitful Stag to their King. A trophy of sorts." Erza said, her face was dead and intense.
Mira grinned, "My King, does that satisfy you?"
"I don't see a problem." He chuckled, "I'd like too see who would win in such a battle."
The King of the Sky smiled a little, but his was full of worry, not full of humour. "If it pleases my Warrior, I have not reason to object."
"It does." Erza said shortly, her new short hair ruffling in the wind.
Mira crossed her arms, she could feel her magic bloom throughout her body. Her breath hitched as she tasted the air. A battle… she could kill the wrench here and now and it would be deemed acceptable to both Kings.
There was a God watching her, and he favoured her victory.
"I also add another participant to our battle," Mirajane muttered softly, as if in thought. "We use our magic, the magic that is deemed the most powerful. Our Kings after all, deserve no less." Her smile was full of tease, her mouth pulled at the corners, projecting her humour to those who could see her.
She could tell that Erza was worried about the new rule to the battle, yet she smiled as if thankful. "I haven't used my magic in a long while, you have the advantage on that point. Nevertheless, I agree to your term. This shall be a fair fight, after all."
"Then…" Mira walked back a couple of paces, "Show me the armour you'd wish to start with, Erza Scarlet."
The warrior in front of her nodded, crossing her arms as a piercing golden glow wrapped around her body and forced its light outwards. Air lapped and whipped around her for a few moments, before finally the light dimmed and vanished. Erza was no a completely different woman than she was moments prior, everyone could see that and comprehend it. She was wearing a stylish armour that glittered gold in the sunlight.
"What armour is that?" Mira said, her voice tentative.
Erza raised her head proudly, "This is my Morning Star armour." She smiled, "Does it please you?"
"It does," she smirked.
"And you? What about your summons? I believe I remember that you have a thing called Satan Soul?" She smiled, "I'd like too see it… again."
Mirajane all but sneered, she let the magic take over her. Her body glowing the ominous purple and black glow, the air whipping around her body before letting her go. The soul was strong today, it wanted to punish those who hurt her. A soul connected to her own, always feels that way. The way of their vessel.
"For now, I shall use my regular Satan Soul… I want to see if you have indeed progressed from the last time we fought."
Erza bowed, "Of course."
"Let's begin!" Mira wasted no time, she leaped forward, flying towards her target in brute speed. She collided into Erza's unready form, causing them both to fly back into the forest.
She grabbed onto the woman, flinging her up into the sky. Shooting a ball of her magic towards, the magic reflected her determination. The black and purple orb of magic cannoned into Erza's body as she scaled high in the sky. Mirajane flew up after her. She felt enlightened with the feeling of undaunted emotion. She swiped her claw towards the warrior's face, but she blocked it, grabbing onto Mira's arm as she flung her backwards in quickly put her two swords together. A round ball of energy escaped from it in tremendous velocity. When it hit Mirajane's chest, she felt a similar feeling of being electrocuted. She hit the ground, a cloud of dirt and dust covering her. She grinned nastily as the dust cleared, the black and purple aura growing. "Fine then, it seems that you have progressed. Put on your most powerful armour, and let's end this now!"
Erza landed on the clearing floor gracefully, nodding formally before letting the golden glow cascade over her body once more. This time, when the glow disappeared, she was wearing a black armour. Something that resembled onyx in its shine. It spiked outwards, her eyes darkened as well. Her sword was arched forwards towards Mira, her eyes never leaving her own.
"My Purgatory armour." She said proudly, "It is one of my strongest, I can assure you." She eyed Mira suspiciously, "and you? Where is your powerful soul?"
Mirajane stood, blood trickled from her mouth, she saw that Erza too had blood coming from her mouth and her nose. They were both somehow injured already. The huntress sighed, letting the powers increase over her body. "I have a soul that'll prove to you that I am stronger than the girl that gave you that scar, Erza."
When the black and purple aura left, she was left in a new soul. "Meet my Satan Soul: Sitri."
"And this is a strong soul?" Erza asked, suspiciously as she stared at the amphibious like tail coming from Mira.
She nodded, "I was actually banished from using this soul from a friend long ago. It is my strongest soul so far…" She chuckled, "I think that it is appropriate to use it now."
Erza did not answer, instead she went into her warrior like stance for a fight. Her blade went to the level of her eyes, "Let's finish this, Mirajane."
"As you wish!'
Their bodies collided once more, Erza managed to get a few cuts of her blade into Mirajane before she was able to punch Erza to the ground and cause her to splutter blood into Mira's face. She grinned snidely, picking her up from the floor and throwing her towards her King. Though on the way, she had grabbed onto the latches of the armour, ripping the armor from her body. Erza gasped as she grabbed onto her naked top half and glared over her shoulder to Mira's grinning form. She stood, facing her. Everyone widened their eyes at what they saw, the scar on Erza's abdomen. It was wide, like a giant claw had severed it, and curved up to the crease under neath her breast. Jaggered and brown in colour, it looked odd against her pale skin.
It was her King that spoke first out of the astonishment.
"What was the meaning of that scar?"
Erza sighed deeply, "She was telling no lie when she said I had killed her parents, My King. In return, Mirajane managed to fight me. Albeit, she was weakened at the time. She gave me this scar before fainting of exhaustion. I almost died." She nodded to Mira, "A grudge between the two of us has be apparent ever since."
Mira growled heavily, "Fight me." She hissed, "Give me your best shot, don't mistake that I know you have been holding back, red haired warrior."
Erza sighed, "Fine." She said firmly. Her glow came back, she let go of her free breasts and let her arms flay outwards. When the golden glow disappeared, she was wearing something Mirajane hadn't expected to wear.
She was wearing traditional samurai trousers, as they flared outwards, a pattern of fire at the bottom of them. Her chest was suddenly wrapped with bandages, her breasts lifted and secured with them. Her hand held a singular sword. "I don't need armor to finish this."
Mirajane lowered her head, "If you wish."
Mira knew she didn't have the strength to transform into another soul, her magic power stretched too far already to become two separate demons. Each Demon craved large chunks of power each, she could feel her body tire and shake.
Erza suddenly started running towards her, Mira paused for a moment, letting her come half way towards her before she too leaped forwards. Erza launched her sword forward, at the same time, Mirajane put her longest claw toward her form as well. They stopped in the middle of the field, sword and claw inches away from each other.
"I could cut your throat," Erza said calmly.
Mirajane sighed exhaustedly, "What people do not realise, is that the throat isn't the only place to kill a person quickly." She said, gesturing to where her claw rested. "There is an artery in your thigh, one little nick of it and you're dead in a minute." She grinned.
Erza nodded, "So technically, we're at a draw."
"Indeed," Mira said, discouragingly.
Erza pulled away her sword and stepped away, Mira doing the same. They locked eyes and did so for a while, as if assessing each other. Erza finally looked away, sighing deeply as she for the final time glowed a glorious gold before settling for a simplistic everyday armour. "I have to thank you in some way, Mirajane."
"Oh, you do?" Mira asked softly, confused was not the word she would use to how she felt in that moment… more like curious. She too let the black and purple aura take over to return her to her natural self.
Erza nodded firmly, "You gave me the determination to use my magic again, I've been holding back for a while… It is nice to feel like 'me,' once more." She smiled politely, "So thank you," she used her sword to cut the Stag, giving her half with her blood soaked gloved hand. "I will see you around, Mirajane Strauss."
Mira spotted that Erza had given her to front half of the Stag… quite gracious for an enemy to do so, Mira thought sourly. "I will wait for the day, Erza Scarlet." She replied in a whisper, glaring after her.
When she returned to her horse, Lisanna rode to her in worry. "Are you okay, sister? You look tired…" Her whisper was faint with disturbance.
Mirajane mounted her horse and put two fingers to her temple, rubbing at it cautiously. "I have a headache, is all." She smiled tiredly, "Are you alright?"
"Yes!" Lisanna nodded, "I am not the one who just fought… her." Lisanna pursed her lips, "Please, rest when we return home."
"Yes, I promise." She looked over to the forest and spotted something move, she took and arrow from her holder, launching it from her into the bushes. A familiar wail sounded across the field, she stared at Bickslow as she past he nodded and went to retrieve it. "I got a Stag after all." She said, as she trotted to ride beside her King once again.
As she looked at her King's agitated glance, she couldn't help but realise the softness in his eyes. She let her lips turn into a smile, softly assuring her health to be fine.
Why is it, whenever I am around you I feel so irritably calm? She questioned as they found the path back to their home.
First of all, I AM SO SORRY FOR THE MAJOR DELAY FOR THIS CHAPTER! Christmas, College, Final deadlines for the first term, essays and art happened (with a side order long term depression) So I had to delay this for a while, I am sorry.
But it is updated now, which is the main thing, right? Any who, I wanted Mirajane to show her darker side more in this chapter before she goes back to being her healthy and happy self. I mean, the girl goes through shit, so like, it is okay for her to be a little protective and crazy, right? But I hope you enjoyed the chapter, next chapter will be Levy and after that, I want you guys to tell me who you want to be after that!
Mira, Erza, Juvia (maybe Lucy or one of the kings, perhaps?) LEAVE A REVIEW! I will see you next time.