Chapter 6: Meeting the Fairies
Jackson: I prefer HappyxCarla, thank you very much.
It was a warm morning in the Worth Woodsea. Bird were chirping, animals were grazing, and the trees were soaking in the beautiful sun. Nothing could possibly ruin this peaceful air-
"Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang!" an explosion sounded in a random spot of the forest.
And I spoke too soon.
Zen was training Wendy in combat, and she was doing greatly well in it in the week they had started her training. So far she has access 3 new attacks and could properly defend herself if Zen wasn't around, which was rare.
"Come on Wendy," Zen said. He was getting in a work out from her attacking, "you can do better than that, and I know you can!" her expression turns into a happy determined look as she happily complied with his wishes.
"Sky Dragon's Wing Attack!" whip like winds hit the spot where Zen was once standing. Said mage was high in the air from a jump he took to avoid the attack before landing gracefully back on his feet. But Wendy wasn't finished yet. "Sky Dragon's Claw!" she went in for up close and personal, trying to slash at Zen, only for the mage to dodge her attack with a single handed back-flip.
She then inhaled the air around her. "Sky Dragon's...ROAR!" a torrent of monstrous winds tore through the forest as the giant amounts of magic was expelled from her lungs.
When she stopped she saw Zen took the attack, but his clothes were highly ruffled and his hair was sticking out the direction her roar was released, and looked a bit shaken from the stun he was feeling.
Wendy's magic had grown rather well in the last week, and he couldn't be prouder of her for her achievement. Zen quickly shakes himself back to normal and pats his hair back into place.
"Great Wendy," Zen told her, grinning like an idiot, "you're training is coming along greatly." Wendy beamed from the praise.
"Thank you Zen, but I couldn't have done it without your help."
Not to far from their current spot, Carla and Percy watched the two's spar. Carla at first was rather reluctant to let Wendy learn combat, but seeing just how far she's come in only a single week, and the fact Zen took it both hard and slow with Wendy making sure she had everything right to her body and style, she can say she approve of Zen's methods. Percy was amazed by Zen's training, he wondered if he could do the same thing as well?
It was then he remembered something that Erza said a week ago today...something about goods being delivered to her guild.
Oh yeah, last week he officially joined Cait Shelter and got an emerald green guild mark on his back under his clothes, and it showed on his multicolored fur too.
"Zen," Percy called out.
"Yeah, what's up little buddy?" Zen asked, walking up to his partner.
"What did Erza mean last week about goods being delivered to her guild about sometime this week?" Zen's face looked calm, but soon broke out into a furious sweat, then horror dawned upon his face.
"Oh Crap! I forgot!" In a cloud of dust he races back to the guild hall, accidentally blowing the Calico cat away in his burst of inhuman speed.
-Z-
Zen rummaged through the fridge, looking for something, but couldn't find it.
"Nope, noda, zilch...here it is!" he pulls out two boxes. The bottom one holding a cake, the top holding a batch of macaroons, both boxes white.
"Zen," the mage turn to see Wendy and the two felines at her side, "what's going on?"
"Remember what Erza said to me last week on the train?" Wendy and Carla thought about it, till a look of remembrance came upon their faces.
"I forgot she asked you to be her personal baker," Wendy exclaims.
"More like force," Carla comments at the memory. Zen sweat drops.
"Well, anyways, I'm heading out to Magnolia to deliver the food. Do any of you want to come with?"
"No thank you," Wendy told him. To be honest she was starting to get wary of transportation with her powers increasing as of late.
"I'll stay here with Wendy," Carla answered.
"I'll come along," Percy said.
"Okay then. We'll see you two later, come on Percy, we have a delivery to make." the cat nods as he and Zen depart from the guild hall.
In less than an hour the two were walking through the streets of Magnolia. It was a rather nice place, they had to admit, and was large too. Zen had to ask around about where Fairy Tail was located, and the people-who were all nice too-pointed him in the right direction.
In five minutes flat the two were standing in front of the large guild hall.
"Holy moly, this place is huge!" Percy shouts from his place on Zen's shoulder. Said mage nods mutely, he never expected the guild to be this big.
The young prince opened the door to be greeted to people talking, drinking, and laughing. Zen and Percy couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"You want to say that again you pyro!?"
"You hear me you stripper!"
"Flame-Brain!"
"Ice Queen!"
"Enough!" Zen heard a rather sickening crack as Erza shoved two heads apart from one another, causing their necks to turn at an almost full horizontal level.
One was a teen older than him with raven black hair. For some reason he was without a shirt and had his guild mark on his chest. Around his neck was a cross necklace. The other figure Zen remembers well, after all, who could forget a head of pink hair?
"Erza, Natsu!" all heads turned to the boy and cat, and immediately all the females, sans Erza, were captivated by his cute and rather handsome appearance. The armored mage walks up to him and smiles.
"Greeting Zen, and I see you brought the baking goods like I asked for." the boy nods. "And hello to you too Percy." the cat waved.
"Zen!?" said mage turns his head to see Natsu and Happy staring at him in shock.
"Oh, hello Natsu, Happy." suddenly Percy found himself tackled by the blue fur-ball.
"YES! I'm not alone!" the blue cat cried in happiness. Sadly his hug was a little to tight and was choking Percy.
"I-I rath-ther live, th-thank you!" Happy realized his folly and lets Percy go.
"Sorry about that Percy," Erza told him, "but Happy always thought of himself as the only talking and flying cat." the calico feline waved her off.
"No problem, I don't blame him." Zen decided to get back on topic.
"Erza, I have a special treat for you." the redhead looks at him with interest.
"Oh, and what would that be?" The boy walks over to the nearest table and sent down the boxes. He opened the smaller one to reveal macaroons, something Erza was delighted by. But when he opened the last one, she fell into utter shock.
It was a cheesecake, buttercream frosting layered the entire top of the cake, and had little bulbs around the sides and top, but what caught her attention was the golden strawberries that ringed the top with the frosting. He even made a chocolate Fairy Tail insignia in the center of it.
"Tada!" Erza couldn't speak for she was to stunned for words. It was then she took Zen's head and hugged it into her armour, resulting in a resounding clang.
"O-ow." he muttered. Wow, twice in a week getting his head clanged by Erza's armor.
"Thank you!" she had tears streaming out of her left eye, shocking everyone present at both actions.
"Erza, are you alright!?" Zen turned to see a beautiful woman coming towards them. She had long white hair with her bang up in a pony tail above her face, her eyes were a warm blue color. She was dressed in a maroon dress with light pink frills on the edges and had on a tear drop necklace.
Zen had a healthy blush at the sight of her.
"I'm great Mira! This boy made my day!" Zen's blush deepened from the attention that was on him now.
The newly dubbed Mira looked at him with interest. She then smiled warmly at the sight of him.
"Oh, and who might this young gentleman be?" Erza released him as all eyes were on him.
"Everyone, this is Zen, he's my personal baker as well as a mage from the Cait Shelter guild." Zen rubbed his right arm and tried to hid the blush on his face, but all the females found it adorable.
"Awe, he's so cute." Mira said. Zen's blush deepened.
"T-thank you Miss. Mira," he told her. She smiles.
"An such nice manners."
"Yep, he'll be a heartthrob when he grows up," a voice rang. Zen turns to see a woman sitting at the bar, a mug of ale in her hand. She had dark brown hair and pale skin like everyone else mostly. She wore brown capriese and a blue bikini top along with a pair of laced high heels on her feet. Her guild mark was on her stomach.
"Um…" Zen didn't know how to handle this attention, and the fact they called him cute and handsome as well. Sure he's been called that before by Brandish and Dimaria, but he wasn't used to being called that by other woman.
"Come on, stop teasing him," Percy pleaded on behalf of his partner.
"Aye," Happy agreed, "he's red as Erza's hair." Zen pouted.
"Alright," Erza said, "but thanks Zen, this cake is truly marvelous." the boy smiled brightly.
"No problem Eza." Her face then turns to one of confusion.
"But how on Earthland did you get some Legendary Golden Strawberries?" Zen shrugged.
"Oh, it was a reward for a small job I did, I got a bushel of them and decided you might like them on your cake." she nods approvingly.
"Well you have my deepest gratitude."
It was then felt a sense of dread, the type of dread when someone wants you to do something and you really don't want to do it. Sadly his hunch was proved right all because of a certain Fire Dragon-Slayer.
"Zen! Fight me!" and speak of the devil.
Natsu's hand was total ablaze as he looks at the young mage with determination in his eyes. It was then he was knocked down to the ground by Erza, whacking him upside the head with her steel hand.
"You fool! He's a guest to our guild, and you ask to fight him!?" everyone cowered in fear from her rage...except Zen.
"What's wrong, I don't see the problem with a small spar?" Ezra threw him a look of surprise, along with everyone else in the guild. "That, and the fact I have a feeling he probably won't stop pestering me until we fight." everyone sweat drops at his perception. He was 100% right on that fact.
Natsu then emerged from his spot on the ground, his face showing a massive grin.
"So you'll fight me?" Zen smirks and nod.
"Sure, what could be the harm?" he gives an inward sadic smile, 'besides your bones all breaking.' he froze...Irene's nature was wearing off on him. He shakes that thought from his mind and focused on the task at hand.
"So, where and when?"
"Right now, right outside!" Zen blinked. He then turned to Erza.
"Is there some where we'll cause less destruction?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, and why's that?" before Zen could say anything, Percy spoke.
"Yeah, most of his spells and magics are rather destructive, and he doesn't want to accidentally destroy anything." this caught many people's attention.
"What do you mean 'magics'?" the naked guy from before asked, though this time he was also missing his pants. Before the young mage could answer, Erza immediately cover Zen's eyes and shot him a dark glare.
"Put some clothes on, Gray, you're in front of a child!" The mage looked down and cursed.
"When did this happen!?" he went to go find his clothes while Zen was confused.
"What's wrong, I've seen men naked before in local baths?" Erza blushed as his innocent bluntness.
"Sorry, but you're young, and don't understand fully yet." Zen gave her a confused look.
"What should I know then?" the guild went utterly quiet, heck, even Master Makarov-who was about to introduce himself-didn't speak.
"Uh…" she didn't know how to answer him. Thankfully, her master came to her rescue.
"Why hello there young man." Zen turns and looks down to see a short standing old man with balding white hair and a rather large mustache on his face. He was dressed in an orange and blue jester like outfit, and wore a white shirt with the Fairy Tail insignia on underneath his jester jacket.
"Wow, he's tiny," Both young mage and feline said in unison. This got a laugh from everyone, because that's how everyone usually reacts to Makarov. Said Guild master didn't pay it any mind for it happened often to him.
"Welcome young Zen, and companion. So, you're Erza's personal baker, huh?" Zen nods.
"Yeah, but more like forced to be exact," Percy said. No one was surprised by this, Erza says something and everyone has to comply regardless, or face deadly consequences. Thankfully, Erza didn't hear him, due to the fact she was enjoying the divine taste of Zen's baking skills.
"Mmm, so good!" Everyone's, sans Zen's and Percy's, eyes widened to the size of saucers. No one has seen her act like this before!
"Woah," Gray says, "I've never seen Erza so...so…"
"Cheery?" Zen asked facing him, an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah that." it didn't take long for the armored female to finally notices their looks and gives a confused expression.
"What?"
"Oh nothing Erza," Zen assured her, trying to save everyone's hide from her wrath. She nods and goes back to eating. The young mage then turns his attention to Natsu. "So, shall we go then?" The fire mage grins.
"Lets."
Erza lent them her personal training fields for their fight, cause she too wants to see the extent of Zen's full power. Cana was currently doing a betting pool, with everyone going for Natsu, with the only ones for Zen were Makarov, Erza, Happy, Cana herself, and Percy.
Zen and Natsu faced each other, the latter wearing a large grin on his face.
"Are you ready for this Zen?" the dual haired boy nods.
"As I'll ever be." Makarov stepped forwards from the side where he and the other spectators were going to watch.
"The match between Zen of Cait Shelter and Natsu of Fairy Tail is about to commence...are all bets in!?" Cana gave him the all clear, "then let the match...begin!"
Natsu charged with a flame coated fist. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" he aimed to punch the boy, who just stood there in his place.
"What's he doing, he's going to lose," Gray shouts.
"Oh please," all heads turned to Percy, "he's about to get warmed up."
True to his words, Zen grinned before flashing out of Natsu's way in a flash of energy. He then reappeared right to Natsu's right as a swirling blue and green tomoe swirled between his hands. He fired and the Fire Dragon-Slayer was engulfed in a beam of special magic power.
The resulting effects was him being thrown back and a giant trench to form from the assault. Everyone looked wide eyed in utter shock, they never seen such a magic like his before.
Happy turned to Percy who watch the battle with a normal expression.
"Hey Percy?" said Calico cat turned to the azure feline.
"Yes?"
"What kind of Magic did Zen use?" Percy smirked.
"The magic he used is called Territory. It's a lost magic that specializes in the space that's around Zen." Everyone was stunned, a magic like that existed?
"Fascinating," Erza said, "what is it's capabilities?"
"Well," Percy began, "as you seen, it allows him to teleport, generating explosions through intense heat, and switching places with people to take their own attacks. But I think it's greatest offence is actually it's defence, for it can trap enemies in the users space to either damage them to great effects, or sap their magic and return it to the user." no words could describe the shock all the Fairy Tail mages were feeling, such a powerful and dangerous magic, it was truly-
"Remarkable," Makarov spoke, "to think he's able to use such power." Percy smirked.
"Heh, you ain't seen nothing yet," he whispered under his breath.
Natsu stood up on his feets and gave Zen a playful grin.
"That was some attack you know," he said. Zen places a hand on his hip, a smile on his face.
"Thanks," he sticks his hand out, "but I'm not finished yet." his hand was surrounded by the spacial magic as tomoes appeared all around Natsu. They then detonated in a chain explosion, sending out a shock wave of wind through the area.
Once the smoke and dust cleared Natsu was nowhere to be seen.
"Wait, where did-?"
"Right here!" Zen looks up into to see Natsu coming down on him with his fist blazing. The young mage puts his arms up to block and takes the attack full force, causing the ground under him to crumble into a large set of spider web cracks upon Natsu's impact. The Fire Dragon-Slayer couldn't help but grin at the boy's strength.
"You're strong," he comments.
"Thanks." Zen then pushes him off and gives him a powerful right hook to the cheek sending him flying. Natsu straightens out in the air and skids on the ground then jumps forwards aiming for another punch.
Zen parries and the two were soon exchanging fists in hand to hand combat, something that Zen proved to be superior in.
"His fighting skills are amazing," Erza comments.
"Yeah, he's been trained by the best fighters in his homeland." This piece of information has everyone looking at the tricolored feline.
"Oh, tell us more," Makarov asked. Percy thought about it. Zen told him his whole life story, but he didn't want to give everything of his partner's past away, so he decided to tell them a short version.
"Well...he was raised in a castle since he was young. He trained with his kingdom's best fighters and mages, studied everything he needed to know, and that's pretty much the jist of it." Gray gave a snort.
"You make it sound like he's a prince." Percy was silent. Gray blinked. "...you're not serious are you?"
"Well he is crown prince after all." Everyone wore a blank face and blinked twice all in unison, before…
"EEEEEHHHHHH!?" they shouted in total unison.
"No way, I was just kidding!" Gray exclaims.
"He's royalty!?" someone shouts.
"I don't believe this!"
"This can't be possible!"
"Quiet!" Erza shouts. Everyone went silent. She then turned her attention to the cat. "Is this true?"
"Erza, does Zen peg you as the type of person to lie?" Erza thought about it. No, Zen didn't look like the person who would lie about his status and his background, but he would lie if those he cared about is in danger.
"No, you're right about that, but where did he come from then?" Percy thought about it. He wasn't exactly told about where Zen was from, he kept that to himself mainly.
"Don't know, Zen was discreet about that part," Everyone's shoulders slumped forwards, "but he did say he came from across the seas from another continent." Makarov thought deeply about this.
It was peculiar really. There weren't that many continents across the sea from Ishgar, the only one he could think of was…
His eyes shot open wide is unabashed shock. Though he hid it extremely well on the outside, on the inside he was near panic. Zen couldn't be from Alvarez...could he? He would ask later, and if so...see what his intentions are, and if he's the son of the Emperor known as Spriggan.
Back in the fight, Zen threw an upwards split kick right into Natsu's jaw, sending him upwards. But the Fire Dragon-Slayer straightens out in the air.
"Fire Dragon's…" Zen looks to see Natsu taking in a deep breath.
"Crap," Zen muttered. Either get burned mildly, or show off his powers...he didn't want to ruin his clothes. "Well, it's better late than never," he into a breath, "Sage Dragon's…" eyes widened left and right in total shock at what he said.
"Wait, is he...!?" Gray shouts.
"No way!" Cana exclaims.
"He's a Dragon-Slayer!?" Erza shouts.
"ROAR!" both beams of magic shot towards one another in torrents of flames and torrent white and off white magic. Zen was holding back considerably, but he was through playing around. He inputs more magic into his attack, and it increases drastically in size and overpowered Natsu's Roar by a long shot. End result the Fire Dragon-Slayer was engulfed by the beam of magic as he let out an agonizing cry from the onslaught.
Zen released the beam as Natsu's body fell to the ground. He was covered in burns, scratches and cuts. Zen smirked.
"Looks like this is my win Natsu." The Fire mage sits up from his spot on the ground slowly.
"Yeah, that was some attack...AND WHY DID YOU LIE TO ME ABOUT BEING A DRAGON-SLAYER!?" Zen covered his ears. They were on the verge of bleeding now thanks to him.
"S-Sorry, but I wanted to keep it a secret. Darilapa Elos(1)!" Natsu didn't understand the last two words.
"Uh...what?" Zen realised what he said.
"Oh, sorry, bout that, I picked up on another language and tend to say it every now and then instead of cursing. It means 'Great Gods'." Natsu nods in understanding.
It was then everyone else came over to them, and straight away they started asking questions to the Cait shelter mage.
"Zen, you're a prince!?"
"You're royalty?"
"You're a Dragon-Slayer?"
"Where are you from?!"
Zen sweat dropped. How the heck did they find out he was a prince? Dragon-Slayer he let that magic slip, but it was okay, he didn't mind, but what he wonder was the prince part, he only told-
"Percy!" the Calico cat landed on his head, a large smile on his face.
"Yes?" Zen lost some control of his magic pressure and the results were staggering. Everyone backed up in slight terror, Makarov looked extremely shock along with Erza, and Natsu's and Gray's jaws hit the floor at the sheer power they were feeling.
"Yes," Zen hissed, "you told them about my past when I strictly told you NOT to, and all you say is yes!?" his magic pressure raised more as a sparkling silver aura formed around his being and grew with every pulse of his heart.
'Th-this power!?' Makarov thought, 'he surpasses even my power!'
'He wasn't even using his full strength against Natsu,' Erza thought in shock and surprise.
'Aw what!? He could beat Gildarts," Natsu thought, his eyes wide.
Zen's temper was rising dramatically along with his magic pressure. By now everyone, sans Percy, was a few yards away from his as his aura was growing at an alarming rate, as his Draconic side was wanting to be released.
Then, it happened.
A crack formed along his right cheek. Percy sees this and his eyes widened as he paled. Zen can't transform, it would spell trouble for the boy.
"Zen, stop this!" The boy's glowing silver eyes darted to the floating feline in his face.
"Why," he asks coolly.
"Look, I'm sorry, but I forgot...and your...your cheek." as fast as the power spike came it quickly diminishes and Zen's has an apprehensive look on his face.
"Fine, I forgive you, but next time please ask when you tell someone about my past, magic is fine, but past you need to ask first." The cat nods. The two then notice the looks he was receiving from everyone else. Zen sheepishly rubs the back of his head. "Ehe, I guess I have some explaining to do...don't I?"
Everyone gave him a blank look.
"That's the largest understatement for the next year kid!" Cana calls out.
Zen and Percy sighed. They wanted to just deliver the Bake goods to Erza and be on their way, but now here they were, having to explain Zen's origins when he really didn't want to.
The two were in in Makarov's office, a silence spell casted around the entire room so only the old man can hear what they have to say.
"Now," Makarov spoke, his voice unwavering with total seriousness, "just who are you Zen...or is that really your name?"
Zen couldn't blame the man. Alvarez tried to invade Fiore about a few years ago when Spriggan specifically told them under no circumstances were they to do so, but Ajeel had to go against orders and launch an invasion with a few others to Fiore.
Thankfully they didn't get very far...at all. The Magic Council had Enthiron setup along with Face, stopping their assault before it could even happen. Long story short Ajeel was punished by Spriggan and his grandfather, Yajeel, accordingly.
"Look Mr. Makarov, I know you're suspicious of me for being from Alvarez, but I assure you, I mean no one on Ishagar, especially Fiore, any harm." Makarov had to admit, when the boy was under pressure, he kept calm and collected. A nice quality, but now wasn't the time.
"Then tell me, who are you?"
"My full name is Zenith Memoriae, adopted and first prince of Alvarez." Makarov's eyes widened slightly, he didn't know the boy was adopted.
"Now, tell me why you're here." Zen sighed.
"I left home for...adventure." whatever Makarov was expecting, it definitely was not that.
"Adventure?" Zen nods.
"Yes, when I was young I was mainly kept in the castle for safety, and I had a routine that was the same...every. Single. Day." he could hear the annoyance in the boy's words. "Everyday was the same routine. Wake up, eat, lessons-either political or history, sword fighting, magic lessons-which was really, really painful in the long run, and then my evening lessons, free time if any, dinner, then the rest of the night is mine."
Makarov felt a bit of pity for the boy. He too would get sick of the same thing everyday.
"How long has this schedule been going on anyways?" Zen scratches his chin in thought.
"I don't fully know...I started probably around 4 or 5, and back then I had more free time then I did recently." the old man looks at the boy, dumbfounded. No wonder he was as powerful as he was now, training at those age one is destined to be powerful.
"I see, well then, what did they say about you leaving them for adventure?" to his surprise Zen shrugged.
"I don't know, I left a note and left." Makarov's face was blank.
"So...you ran away?" Zen smiles and nods.
"Mhm."
Makarov had to reconsider the thoughts he was thinking about Zen. He hasn't done anything hostile to them at all, and the fact that he ran away from his homeland is also another fact.
"Do they know you're in Fiore?" to his relief, Zen shook his head no.
"No, I told them that I was leaving, not where I was going." Makarov nods, glad that Fiore wasn't the empire's prime target.
"Well then, is there anything else I should be aware of?" Zen thought about it, but nothing came to mind.
"No, as far as I know Alvarez is biding its time." Makarov nods.
"Alright, you're free to go, but know-"
"I know, you'll have your eye watching me, so you can subdue me so if I stab someone in the back." Makarov blinked.
"Yes, that is all." Zen nods as he got up from his seat and left the office, Makarov not too far behind.
-Z-
"So, what did he say," Erza asked.
Zen was currently sitting at a table along with Natsu, Gray, and Erza, who was eating her macaroons he gave her. Percy and Happy were talking with each other, the latter enjoying a fish and the former enjoying a carrot.
"Not much, wanted to ask me a few questions and that's all." she nods.
"But why did you lie to me about being a Dragon-Slayer," Natsu asked. Zen didn't make eye contact.
"It doesn't come up in casual conversation, and the fact that my type of Dragon-Slaying magic is dangerous as it is."
"Dangerous," Gray asked, "how so?"
"Well, first of, put a shirt on then I'll talk." Gray looks down and cursed at his shirtless torso.
"Damn it, why does this always happen!?" He quickly went to scavenge for his shirt. Zen turned to Natsu.
"Does he do this all the time?" before the Fire mage could say anything, Cana beat him to it.
"Kid, not a day goes by when he's not in his skivers," She then proceeds to down a barrel of beer. Zen sweat drops at the sight.
'Am I the only sane person here?' Gray then comes back, his shirt on, and asked again.
"Now, how is your Dragon-Slayer magic dangerous?" the talking began to quiet down a bit, others wanting to listen in on the subject.
"Well, it deals with another one of my magics, Enchantment. It deals with extending my magic onto either living or nonliving objects, with it I can either enhance a person's powers, or use it as a form of attacking, or...how about I show you." He requips a sword he had on hand.
People were already highly intrigued, but they were now curious on what he would do with a single sword.
"What's a sword going to do," Natsu asked, unimpressed.
"Nothing at first." He embeds the tip in the ground and takes a few steps back from the weapon, "But, when I use Enchantment." He requiped his staff, causing all to look at the weapon in awe. The crystal in the center glowed brightly as the sword itself shined brightly. It glow then blinded all of those watching as the innards of the guild hall was bathed in yellow light.
Once it died down, all fell into unabashed shock at the sight that laid before them.
In the swords place was a teen, about Natsu's and Gray's age in knightly armour, but like Erza the waist down he wore black pants and black boots. His hair was a glimmering silver that flowed down his head and his eyes were a black color. The teen stood and looked around, till his eyes rested on the one who brought him into service.
"Master," he said, "I am in your service." he finished with a bow.
No one could speak from the sight of the awesome feat of magic they just witnessed first hand.
"Amazing," Makarov whispered, "in all my life, I've never seen anything like this magic." Zen smiled.
"Well I'm only an advanced user in Enchantment, the one who taught me it was named Belserion, the Sage Dragon." All looked stunned by that fact, even Natsu, for his dragon/father, Igneel, only taught him a single magic. Zen then turned his attention back onto the the sword made man, "I'll summon you again if I need you, okay?" he nods.
"I'll be waiting master." The crystal in Zen's staff glowed once more as this time a faint light formed around the figure. Once it dispersed, the sword fell to the ground with a clang. Zen then turned to a dumbfounded Gray.
"And that's just one of the many things it can do, but I'll leave the rest for another time." His eyes then catches sight of outside, and saw the sky was turning orange. "But now I guess we'll have to leave for a while." Everyone gave a groan.
"Awe what," Natsu shouted, "you can't leave yet!"
"Sorry Natsu, but it's getting late and I have things to do back at the guild. But don't worry, this won't be the last time you see me." He requips his sword and staff away and began to leave. "Come on Percy, we have to go."
"Now," The cat asked sadly.
"Yeah, but have no fear, we'll come by again in about two weeks, so don't worry pal." the cat nods, happy to know that this wasn't the last time they would see Fairy Tail. He sits on Zen's shoulders as they made their way out the large set of doors, but not without giving a goodbye to everyone.
"Bye Everyone, we'll see you real soon!" The two walked out backwards, waving to the guild, who all waved back to him in return. Once the two were out of sight, Erza let out a sigh. No more divine treats for two weeks, but, she can wait, she's done harder things after all. That, and next she saw Zen, she would ask for a battle herself, not everyday you got someone who could beat Natsu in a battle like he did.
Zen and Percy were on the train, the former using every ounce of his willpower to not get sick on the ride back to Cait Shelter. Percy was reading a copy of Sorcerer Weekly latest articles, but one of them causes him to gasp in shock.
Zen turns to his partner and asks, "what's wrong?"
"You might want to read this." the feline handed the magazine to the Slayer who reads it himself, before his face falls into horror.
Turns out Oxballs Festival, called Carnival, was really popular in Fiore, and the article he was reading what the magazine said about it, especially the singing stunt he pulled. Pictures of the events were scattered along the page with reviews from people there, but the concert he gave was on the next page, all on its own.
No reviews were bad at all, rather, they loved the his singing and adored him. Girls raved about him and men were rather jealous of him. Zen's will dropped as he both paled and turned sick from the horrors that the magazine talked of, for his case at least.
Percy sighed, he felt bad for Zen, but hey, he had it coming in the long run.
In an unknown location somewhere in Fiore, a group of people were meeting about a certain mage from a certain guild.
"Why was this meeting called, Brain," asked a feminine voice. It belonged to a rather average looking woman with an above average chest who wore rather revealing clothing which consisted of mainly of a black swimsuit leotard which showed off much of her legs and rear, her shoulders and arms are covered by a striped purple jacket which conceal her hands except for a pair of claws and much of her neck. She also had a pair of thigh high boots that were a few shades darker than her jacket. On her head was a helmet that cover almost her entire face, sans her eyes and mouth, with two holes on the side along her green hair to stick out. This was a member of the nine Demon Gates of Tartaros, Kyôka.
"There has been a rather interesting development as of late," the tan skinned man told everyone present, "we've encountered an asset who could go down in history as the darkest mage since Zeref, with only the right motivation." This peaks everyone's interest.
"Oh? Do pray tell," another feminine voice told him. The owner of this voice was more voluptuous than the last woman. She adorned a white kimono that reached her lower thighs and had an orange sash wrapped around her waist, with one arm bar of a sleeve. She had long black hair and cold dark brown eyes. This was Ultear Milkovich, One of the Seven Kins of Purgatory of Grimoire Heart, as well as an infiltrator to the Magic Council as well as one of its members.
"We ran into a child, he looks no more than 12, possibly 13," Brain began. He sat up a memory Lacrima and an image of Zen appeared in the center of the room, "his magic is completely staggering, and Angel's Gemini couldn't even turn into him when they tried." All heads turned to the Celestial Spirit mage.
"It true, ask them yourselves. Open, Gate of the Twins, Gemini." the two blue figure appeared on both sides of the mage. "Go ahead and tell them about the boy you two." Gemi went first.
"Piri-piri, his magic is very powerful and has the strength to beat Hades if he so desired with ease," Eyes widened at hearing that.
"But if he were to go against all in this room, he would lose." That eased their thoughts, but they wanted to know more. Mini then continued for her brother.
"His magic itself, however, it feels...off."
"How so," Angel asked.
"Piri-piri, it feels both cold, yet warm," Gemi said, "like death and life." All attention was on them.
"But it was hard to tell, we couldn't transform into him, but we did feel his magic." Angel sighed, that was probably the only thing they were going to get out of the two.
"Good my little pets, now, you're free to go." She swiped her gold key and the two vanished.
Hades was deep in thought. He was a rather old man with a long white beard and head full of long white hair. He had an eye patch over his right eye. On his head to was a helmet, but it left his face in full view and had horns on the sides of them. He wore a pair of white pants that was held up by a light brown belt and had on a pair black boots. His upper body was covered by a red shirt and his hands up to his elbows were covered by metal gauntlets and on his shoulders was a black cloak. This, as was said before, was Master Hades, Master of Grimoire Heart.
"Fascinating," he said, "perhaps he could be a key to Zeref our guild has been looking for this whole time. With that type of feeling those spirits felt, he undoubtedly could be one." it was a plausible idea, but they weren't certain about it.
"Well, either way he's something else," Cobra said, disdain hidden in his words. However, a certain female member of Tartaros heard it laced in his words.
"What's the matter Cobra," the speaker was a beauty. She too wore a Kimono, but hers reached her upper thighs unlike Ultear's, and it was blue in color with dot lining its fabric and wrapped with a thick yellow sash, and her's showed much more cleavage. She didn't wear shoes, but she did wear toe less green thigh high stockings. She had long black hair, with pale gold horns sticking out of her head. Her eyes were an emotionless purple, but they showed great wisdom and knowledge. This was Seilah of Tartaros.
The man scoffed. "The kids different. I tried to hear his thoughts, but when I did all I got was absolute silence." eyes widened left and right at hearing that statement. Cobra was known to hear a person's thoughts and know their next movement, but hearing that he couldn't hear one person's, let alone a single child, was shocking.
"Hmm, interesting." this was the last guild master of the Balam Alliance. He was a tall somewhat young looking man, a smirk on his face. He has long black hair, up in a high pony tail along with two side bangs falling down the front of his shoulders, he had slanted eyes that were black. He wore a long black jacket with light flame colors on the edging with the cuffs rolled up. He also had on a closed v-neck shirt along with light color pants and with black shoes on. And in his arms rested a book, the only thing seen on it were the letters E.N.D.. This was Mard Geer, Master of Tartaros. "I can see why you're all interested in him."
The other two knew better than to question Tartaros. Despite what the world may think, they are undoubtedly the powerful of the three dark guilds, but they prefer to work in the shadows, giving Grimoire Heart the title of Strongest. And the fact that they were Demons from the book of Zeref, or rather Etherious-what they once were called, they were forced to not be trifled with. They knew more about Zeref than the other two, even what he looked like.
"He reminds me of Lord Zeref as well," Mard added. That threw them all for a loop.
"H-how so," Ultear asked. If there was a resemblance, then maybe they'll have an easier chance of gaining the Grand Magic World.
"Here, let me show you." an image of Spriggan/Zeref appeared right besides Zen, and they could see the resemblance. The look in their eyes, their nose, and half the boy's hair, no doubt now.
Hades gave a sinister grin.
"Seems our work has been made easier, for we may have found...the son of Zeref." everyone else also gave a sinister grin or smirk at the boy's image. A tool for their bidding, and all they had to do was bring him in and break him and bend him to their every whim. The endless possibilities.
"Now, that leaves another problem," Brain interprets. Mard raises an eyebrow.
"Oh, and what's that?"
"We have no way of locating him." the room went dead silent. They came to a knick in their plans, but...they could work around it, and the boy will be theirs. All their subordinate guilds would be made aware of the new development.
Their plans would be ensured...no matter the costs.
Zen had a feeling of pure dread run down his spine. He never felt anything like this wave of dread before, but he felt something dark and malicious out for him. It was...actually scary from the thought, but he would try to endure...right after they got off the train of course.
-Z-
The two partners were off the train and now the two were walking back to Cait Shelter. The sky was a beautiful scarlet red, reminding them of Erza's and Irene's hair.
Actually, the more he thought, the more he saw similarities between the two. Both were extremely strict, and rather sadic, both terrifying when they want to be, and powerful in their own rights. Zen would bet 500 jewels that the two were somehow related with each other...even Erza's scent was almost like Irene's, but he wasn't sure about it.
He pushed the thought to the back of his mind, for the two just arrived back in the guild hall. The first to notice their arrival was none other than the blue hair Sky Dragon-Slayer.
"Zen, Percy, you're both back!" She calls out, running up to them with Carla right besides her.
"You both took your time," the white cat said.
"Yeah, I ended up having a match against the Fire Dragon-Slayer Natsu actually." both girls face turned to shock at earning his name.
"You met Salamander!?" Wendy asked, stars in her eyes.
"Uh, yeah, why?" Wendy stepped back.
"Well, like me he's a Dragon-Slayer, and I was hoping that he knew the whereabouts of my mother, Grandeeney." Zen had a feeling about who her mother was.
"Was she...a Dragon?" Wendy threw him a surprised look.
"Y-yes, how'd you know," she asked. She then in took a whiff of the air, and what she smelled caused her eyes to widen. She smelt...Dragon on Zen, more so than before. She never decided to take in his scent before, but now, he smelled rather...nice. Which was shocking seeing that he was a boy. He smelled of roses, which added to the shock she already felt, but, the scent drawed her in…
She instantly blushed heavily from the thought and shook her head. It then occurred to her, did he lose his dragon on July 7, x777 too?
"Zen," she began, "did you lose your dragon on July 7, x777?" Zen, who only lied for others safety, told her the semi-truth.
"Wendy," he began, "my dragon did the same." okay so he did give a little white lie, but Irene did stop showing him everything and gave him notes to learn on his own, saying he wouldn't be shown everything from her.
"Really?" She felt his pain. But that didn't mean she couldn't be a little curious. "What was their name?" Zen smiled.
"Her name was Belserion, the Sage Dragon. She taught me most of my other magics as well as My Sage Dragon-Slaying magic." Wendy looked at him in awe. Zen knew how she felt.
"She sounds amazing," Wendy said. Zen sweats drop.
'More like a sadic woman with no regard for my safety,' he thought. It was then his stomach growled in hunger. He gives a sheepish laugh as he rubs the back of his head. He hasn't really eaten all day, and now he was starving.
"Looks like someone's hungry," Carla commented.
"Yeah, let's go get something to eat, my stomach needs it." Wendy and Percy laughed as Carla shook her head in amusement while they head to the kitchen.
Blissfully unaware of the dangers to come.
Things are heating up in our story as Zen and Wendy fall further for one another, but they won't start dating for a while. Next chapter will be minor stuff, but after the next 2 chapters I'm hoping to start a self-made Arc. Remember the Homunculus from Chapter 2 and 5? Yeah, he plays an important role in that Arc. by the way, below is in the Enochian language, translated.
Darilapa Elos - Great Gods
Oh, and for all those wondering on how/why no one can sense Zen's full magic power is because said mage has a spell casted over him to hid his magic power. People can feel it, but not the full extent of it. But the spell has a flaw that releases his full power once angered to an extent.
And as for a character voice actor, I was thinking Bryce Papenbrook, you know the guy who voice acts Kirito from SAO, Eren for Attack on Titan, and so on. But his voice is a bit higher to fit Zen's age.
Oh, and another thing.
It was late, probably midnight, in Fiore, all was asleep in the calm peaceful air...all except one that is. In the Cait Shelter guild one mage was wide awake, albit a bit drowsy, but still awake nonetheless.
Percy was out cold in slumber on his bed in the room. Zen was in the bathroom examining his...crack in the mirror. The crack along his cheek was now longer than when it first appeared in Magnolia. Zen never felt so broken before(pun intended). It felt like a cracked piece of pricilin.
It was even more noticeable now than earlier, some might have mistaken it for a scar, but now...now there was no hiding it.
He should have listened to Irene, he shouldn't have lashed out at Percy, but what was he too do now?
He ran a hand along the jagged blemish on his face and preyed that there was a way to reverse the affects of this for as long as he could.
It was then his hand glowed faintly along the crack that laid on his skin, and in less than a minute, the mark was no more. Zen was utterly confused, how on earthland did he fix it? He would look into this at a later date, but right now…
He yawned.
He had a date with a bed with his name on it.
The Slayer left the bathroom and laid down on his bed and made himself comfortable. In a mere few minutes he too was asleep, dreaming of adventure and love.
Trey: Zen is out sick today, so I'm here to-(Percy flies in from out of nowhere)
Percy: Not so fast!(Trey looks shocked at the feline)
Trey: When and how'd the heck did you get here!?(Percy gave a cheshire grin)
Percy: Zen sent me, he wanted me to give you a piece of his-(sadly the feline was cut off by being sucked into the vortex Trey made before he even finished)
Trey: Good, one problem down, now onto some answers.
Zen training Wendy in the span of one week. While not seemingly realistic, this is anime/manga, a lot can happen here than in real life. Also, the fact about his upbringing he had rigorous training methods installed in learning all he did, but made it into something faster and much easier for Wendy, also helping her with gaining new moves.
The Fairy Tail part was rather amusing to write, getting Zen all flustered(which he is prone to somewhat easily) and Natsu challenging him to a fight, with Percy revealing things that he wasn't really supposed to talk about.
And the crack on the skin well… the process of Dragonification has started for Zen, but it's process was greatly slowed from his divine powers, so it won't appear again till somewhere along the lines of Tartarus or The GMG.
And Makarov will keep an eye on him, because who wouldn't? He's from a country that has disliking for the other, and of whom they almost went to war with over Lumen Histoire, other known as Fairy Heart.
Now the Balam Alliance is aware of Zen and his supposed connection to Zeref, so there will be trouble a brewing sooner or later.
Anyways, that's all for now, and like usual, ask questions in Reviews or PM me, and make sure to Favorite, Follow, and Review, and see everyone real soon.