Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, its characters and in no way associated to the franchise. Any circumstances found in this story are fictional. Fairy Tail rights reserved to Hiro Mashima, creator and illustrator. The Vampire Tales reserved to K.T. Adams, fiction writer.

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Note: Italized paragraph means flashback/dream sequence as suggested by my beta-reader XXinsidemymindXX.

Previously on The Vampire Tales

Trevor Scarlet takes the lead in the tally sheet while Gray Fullbuster was dangerously below the red line. The champions were transported to Magnolia's first class military facility where the Royal Family were waiting for them. Juvia's attraction to the raven-haired champion was getting, not only her in trouble, but the Western prince as well.

The Institute housed the most advanced technology that Magnolia haven't even seen yet and Gray got the surprise of his life when his father, Silver Fullbuster, came to visit him, forgetting for a moment the falling out they had before the Selection.


Chapter 6: The Training


The green grass swayed with the warm breeze. The leaves that were full of life shook on their branches ever so gently. It was as if they were dancing to the heavenly melody that welcomed the morning sun with much ardor.

"Hope is the thing with feathers. That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all,"

The voice echoed hauntingly through the quiet. It was so soothing and so entrancing that the dwellers of the forest were transfixed, letting the song disrupt their morning. Even the birds had deserted the free sky to rest on a branch and hum along. It seemed to them like time itself had stopped to listen.

"And sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm. That could abash the little bird. That kept so many warm."

Gray basked on the calming song her mother used to sing to him when he was a child. His head was rested on his mother's lap as he sprayed out comfortably on the picnic blanket they brought with them. Usually, the boy would be too sensitive about anyone touching his raven hair but not today. Under the old oak tree, under the sun's warmth, Gray let his mother gently brush his stubborn bangs away from his face.

"I've heard it in the chilliest land, And on the strangest sea; Yet, never, in extremity, It asked a crumb of me."

The boy with the unkempt raven hair hummed with his mother until she faded on her song's end. Then, she spoke for the first time, the sweetness of her song not leaving her voice.

"Gray, what's bothering you?"

"The Selection." He said flatly, flinging his eyes open. "I don't think I have given it enough thought."

Amethyst let out an amused laugh. She gestured for his son to get up.

"You're just like your father."

Gray wanted to ask what she meant but he was now more worried that her mother was distancing away from him, almost out of reach. Amethyst was heading towards the stream.

"Where are you going, mom?"

"Why I have to go now, honey."

He briskly ran after her mother, stopped her from stepping into the water but missed her by a mere inch. Amethyst's feet floated on contact instead of submerging, like the water was made of glass. She turned to his direction with a dreamy glow that came from within her. Gray could have never seen her more beautiful than today. She looked ethereal. The bright light of the sun shone ablaze behind her, almost blinding Gray. He wanted to stop her, to make her stay but she was already drifting away.

"I will see you soon."

Amethyst disappeared in the bright light.

The blinding white light made Gray feel dizzy. He covered his eyes with his hand to allow his blurry vision to refocus. When it did, he propped his elbow to get up, swung both his feet at the side of the bed and sat there for a moment. His thoughts were still flooded with the dream he just woken up to.

"All participants for the Selection are requested in the Dining Hall."

Gray had barely time to fix himself up and pass presentable. He wasn't sure how long he had been sleeping but he was thankful for it. He never felt so relaxed since he started training at the Institute. His mind flew back to his mother's gentle smile. Oh, how much Gray missed his mother.

"All participants for the Selection are requested in the Dining Hall." The mechanical voice repeated.

Gray's eyes darted towards the digital clock near the intercom. He was sure the others would be half-way down the hall now. He needed to get going. So, with one last look at the clock, Gray set off to start his first day of training.

He met with Natsu at the Dining Hall, who was obviously too excited to mop the floor clean with Pierre Milkovich's face. The morning, Gray noticed, was filled with tension. Today was the first day of training. He wasn't sure if he should be excited or nervous about it. A number of champions sent death glares on his way. One even ate his soup without blinking at the two young champions. Gray ignored him and like the pink-haired boy beside him, he focused his attention on the well-done sausages on his plate.

Once they finished breakfast, they were sent directly to the training center below ground where someone was already waiting for them. This year's training officer was Arcadios, a tall, athletic man with an awkward, pointed nose. His hair was fashioned in a way that reminded Gray of cabbages. Although his appearance was a little bit funny, the man himself was only the opposite. Even his voice – a deep and orotund one – could awaken one's fears. Arcadios gave them a short course on self-defense and the basics on some of the weapons they had at disposal in the training center before he introduced Magnolia's most infamous and deadliest weapon of all – the Twelve Generals.

These twelve men were legends in Magnolia – stealthy, covert and mysterious. No one ever came against these trained assassins and lived to tell the tale. The Twelve Generals each specialized in one kind of weaponry. On the Eldest's orders, today they would personally show and teach the champions how to use these weapons. One man was familiar to them, a young, regal blonde who needed no introduction – Knightus Dreyar.

They started off with medieval weapons located in the first chamber. One of the Twelve Generals, a tall man with a scar in the shape of an 'X' near his eyes, picked up a plain looking axe from the arsenal. He threw it towards the mark on the end of the room and hit the center. The axe then flew back to him and the man who threw it caught the handle. The champions stood in awe.

Gray and the others spent half the day watching the rest of the generals handle the weapons with ease and grace. Knight gave the last course about swords and talked about the importance of footwork. His natural grace handling the sword made Gray think about his good friend Erza and wondered how she would match the youngest general. The woman's swordsmanship was something not to be taken lightly too.

"Hey, do you think he ever sparred with Erza?" Natsu, as if reading his mind, asked in a low voice.

"I don't know. But knowing Erza, she never passes on a challenge."

"Then who do you think won?"

Gray thought about it. Knight was fast and obviously accurate and Erza was too. But they witnessed the woman actually wipe-out almost one-third of the entire school in sword-dueling. And knowing how much she hated the prince's guts, there was only one answer.

"I think, Erza."

Gray and Natsu looked at each other, remembering the time when the three of them just entered first year in Kindred Academy and the president of the Black Knights, the academy's finest swordsman club, bullied the three on a daily basis. Erza, not taking any crap from anybody, challenged him in a duel. He didn't even last a minute when the young Scarlet, fueled by her hatred towards injustice, cornered him and pressed the sharp end against his neck. No one crossed her path from that day onwards.

"Definitely, Erza." They chorused with confidence and pride. When the two turned their eyes back to the Northern heir, they were met by the shiny end of Knight's sword, just a short breath away from them.

"I don't waste my time on amateurs." He sheathed his sword. "I hope that answers your question." Knight turned his back on them and returned to his formation. The Twelve Generals were ushered towards the elevator. Natsu leaned in and whispered again to Gray when the subject of their conversation was in a safe distance, feeling offended in behalf of Erza.

"He called Erza an amateur."

Gray had the feeling, if Erza heard what the prince just said about her, she would make him pay – pay a hundred fold.


The champions were given the rest of the week for individual training. The court had prohibited them to spar with each other, though, calling in the service of the S-Class – the Institute's top trainees. They were a better practice anyway since men of this class did not know the concept of mercy.

Gray made his way to the third room. He passed by Pierre who had one of the members of the S-class hold his punching bag for him. When the Milkovich champion caught the sight of the young Fullbuster, he purposely beat the poor bag until it fell on the floor, along with his sparring partner. He then looked at him with a marking stare and a challenging smirk. Gray just continued walking; putting up a brave front even if Pierre's action did intimidate him a little.

The slide door opened on a roomful of knives, varying in sizes and design. Gray felt like he wasn't in the Institute anymore, wasn't in the training center but back to his comfortable house. His father, Silver Fullbuster, was the top blacksmith in all Magnolia. In their house, he had a special place for all the weapons and armors he had forged himself out of the highest class of metal known to man and out of pure silver. Gray walked deeper into the room, surrounded by rows and rows of knives. He let out a soft smile. This might just seem strange but Gray never felt safer.

He walked towards the collection that looked so familiar to him. Out of the assemblage of shiny, silver daggers, he picked up one without thought and inspected it closely. Gray recognized the handwork immediately. He brushed his fingers on the either side of the silver blade, careful not to cut himself, then the cold, flat body, feeling the familiar dent just above the handle. The raven-haired champion took two more with him and started towards the shooting range. He threw the three knives simultaneously and hit the target in a tight grouping. A slow clap coming from the back caught his attention. Trevor Scarlet had been watching him.

"As expected from a Fullbuster."

It was known all through-out Magnolia that the best silver forgers hailed from the Fullbuster clan. Needless to say, they were also the best knife handlers in the country.

Trevor approached the table. He inspected the row that was missing three daggers and picked up one himself.

"Your father made these?" He examined the dagger in his hand with great admiration.

"Yeah."

"I admire this man's craftsmanship, simply unparalleled."

"Well, it pays to spend your whole life forging a knife." There was an underlying meaning behind the Fullbuster's words. They were simple yet the Scarlet champion could sense the poison hidden within it. He wanted to ask further but decided better of it, knowing they were not in the position to talk about personal things. Trevor brought the dagger closer to his eyes and saw the small engraving that each of Silver's creation carried.

"I always wondered what this meant."

Gray now remembered the necklace his father gave to him, the one owned by his deceased mother. He held the sword pendant between his fingers and traced its shape, realizing that the engraving on the blade, just above the handle, was an exact replica of his pendant. But before he could answer, he was interrupted by Doranbolt's announcement for lunch.


Knight slipped into the ballroom where the Queen was busy giving out instructions. The servants were running around the area like busy bees so he approached his mother carefully, staying out of the way.

"Oh good! You're here." Queen Lyssandra chirped. Knight shook his head. When the Queen of the North was this high in spirit, it never resulted to any good – at least for him.

"I need you to bring these to Erza." She gestured towards the cart of lidded plates and handed him a medium-sized pastry box. "I heard that's her favorite. She's in the study." Before the prince could protest, his mother bolted out of ballroom. So with the weight of the world on his shoulders, Knight led the old man to the devil's den.

It took him unusually long to arrive at the study hall. He could have used his vampire super speed if not for the old man dragging behind him with the cart. Besides, he wasn't in a hurry to see the woman. So, he walked as he counted the thousand other things he preferred doing. Of course, he blamed the devil burying her head in one of her books for the inconvenience. Both men stopped beside her table and Knight greeted the tutor with a smile that weakened ninety-nine percent of the female population of that room. The other one percent was busy hating him.

"It's time for a break, Madame So."

Erza never understood how this man could smile so sweetly to others and not send one her way. Well, one that did not mean 'You're screwed' and 'I'm gonna kill you in your sleep' that she usually received from him.

"Well, then I will give you some privacy." Madame Deborah So, the Ceremonies tutor, disappeared behind the thick doors.

Knight took the seat opposite Erza. The red-head gave the former's unusually bright smile a suspicious look. He leaned on the table and flipped a few page of the book Erza just put down.

"Ah... Royal Ceremonies and Rituals. And that's just the first volume."

Erza forgot her hatred for the man a moment to make space for the horror that struck her to know that the enormous book she was reading the whole morning was just the first volume. She wasn't even half-way through it.

"How many volumes are there?"

She immediately regretted her reaction when Knight smirked with triumph.

"Now, where's the fun in that?"

"What are you even doing here?"

Knight motioned for the cart to be brought closer. The rest of the servants immediately cleared the table and helped the old man set the food between the two royals who eyed each other like warring wolves.

"Mom sent this too." He gently pushed the pastry box in front of the red-head, careful not to mess up whatever was inside it. Erza took her time sizing up the box. She only decided to unwrap it when Knight told her the box wouldn't bite. Her caution, however, never wavered when she peeled the walls as careful as possible as if doing the opposite would trigger some kind of explosive. It wasn't a bomb, much to her relief, but a beautifully decorated mini strawberry cheesecake – Erza's favorite. Knight was sure the woman's mouth was watering at the sight of the pastry. She immediately grabbed the silverware and took a spoonful. But before she could put the delicious treat in her mouth, Erza's delighted expression suddenly dropped. She resumed eyeing the prince suspiciously.

"What?" Knight couldn't help but feel insulted.

"How will I know you didn't put, oh I don't know, poison in this cake?" The prince admitted it was reasonable for her to suspect. He just felt bad he didn't think of it first.

What Knight did next not only surprised the rest of the people in the room but rooted the blushing red-head on the spot. Erza froze when the prince grabbed her hand and ate the piece off the spoon she was still holding. After licking the icing off the corner of his mouth, the bastard managed a victorious smirk that sent Erza's entire system to overdrive. A different kind of feeling stirred inside her, something she never felt before. Like all the little Erza's inside her, who were perfectly aligned and in order, went mad. An unexplainable feeling of want surged through her that reached the tips of her toes and fingers. Sadly, it had nothing to do with the cake.

"There! Happy?" Knight was still oblivious of the effects his actions had on the woman, even when Erza spluttered incoherent words. He stood up from the table and made his way to the doors.

"But you know…" He turned to her again. "Even if there's poison in it and actually kill me, I'm still gonna come back to life." Then in a flash he disappeared, leaving a dumbfounded red-head in his wake.

Erza debated whether to throw the cake away or disregard her suspicions and just eat it. After the manservant's endless assurance that the treat was safe, the stubborn princess stabbed the cake with the spoon mercilessly and shove it in her mouth while she scold herself for thinking that Knightus Dreyar was sexy.


The rest of the days became routine. Gray and the others woke up, be called on the hall for breakfast and proceed to the training center. Then, they would gather again for lunch, come down and resume their individual trainings. He didn't keep track of the other champions' progress and minded his own business, except those times when he checked on Natsu.

In the evenings, the Institute opened its doors to the champions' guests. An hour was allotted for pleasantries and strategy devising. Gray grew accustomed of his father's presence. He made it a point to take down what his father said. Even the hesitant Orion pitched-in his ideas. As told, Gray learned how to use all of the weaponries in the center. He hadn't mastered them all but knew a thing or two about them. Then, when the whole Institute was asleep, he sneaked down the training center to practice what he was best at. He would just sleep the following morning after breakfast saying he wanted some rest.

On the morning of the challenge, the champions were roused earlier than usual. Gray rose from his bed to take a shower and found a plain, maroon shirt, white long sleeved coat and a gray vest neatly folded on his now made bed. He noticed a note tucked in-between the folds.

'GOOD LUCK OUT THERE SON.'

Gray let himself smile. He was only interrupted by the same female mechanical voice he heard over the last few days. He put on his black pants and shirt, struggling with the 'X' of his vest in front and hurried towards the door but it won't cooperate. Gray brushed his raven hair with his fingers in frustration.

"C'mon! Open up."

He waved his hands against the censor and on his third attempt it finally cleared him. He stumbled out the corridor while finally securing the 'X' strap in place. The champions were ready, standing outside their respective doors in attention when the crystal-cube opened and spilled out Doranbolt and some men wearing the Royal Army uniforms. The champions were herded in the cube, not wasting any second. Gray felt gravity pull his entire weight when their ride shot upwards. Strange, he thought. He wasn't aware there was another top level. The strong wind surged in as soon as the cube's glass door disappeared. But what caught their attention was the huge hovercraft parked in front of them.

"Get in, boys!"

The boys boarded the craft with caution as if they were entering uncharted territory. The men who boarded the craft before them, who Gray recognized as the same people who served the champions in the dining, ushered them to a room where breakfast was laid out neatly on two long tables. If the engine already started, Gray had not felt it. They only knew they were already in the air when the announcement was made over the speakers. The service crew handed them plates and utensils and guided them towards the table. There were a lot to choose from but Gray settled on something familiar. He wasn't particularly hungry today and even if was the case; he wasn't sure he could stuff himself with all those food and not vomit on the arena, especially now that his stomach was acting funny. He picked up a piece of bread on his way and sat opposite Natsu who was unusually quiet during the whole travel.

Finally, Doranbolt announced their arrival. Gray's seat by the window offered him an open view of the top of the Hegen. He couldn't believe how small and unassuming it looked from where he was. So small that he could fit it in his palm but Gray knew better. He knew how the amphitheater was only the opposite of what he perceived. He experienced it first-hand how the Hegen looked down at him, how it made him feel like a speck of dust running around its oval arena. But now, he was looking down at it like it was just a stray dandelion he could step on and destroy anytime. The world was really different depending on how you look at it. Gray settled back on his seat to prepare for landing.

Instead of a bright open space that he expected, Gray found himself coming out of the hovercraft and into an underground tarmac. His whole body adjusted to the sudden change in environment. He felt his lungs start to contract but before he actually suffocated, one of Doranbolt's men flicked a switch that made the oxygen level rise and they could all breathe better again.

The champions were then escorted to a dimly lit tunnel that led to an underground control room. The walls of the room were lined with computers. People in blue suits clicked and pressed on the computers so fast Gray thought they owned several pair of arms. But no matter how busy the room was, they all stopped to acknowledge their arrival. After Doranbolt dismissed them, he led the champions around an oval table right in the middle of the control room. Gray noticed immediately the shiny silver rings that lay on top of it.

"These are called resurrection rings. As the name implies, it prevents the wearer to die permanently. It must be worn at all times. During the challenges, do not aim directly and hit the part of the body that conceals the vital organs: Chest, Neck, Head, and the rest of the entire upper body, or else points will be taken away from you. Do not aim directly and hit the audience and the Imperial Court's area or you will be disqualified. Medics are posted all around the arena but will only be deployed once the challenge is over. The mechanics of the challenge will be announced once you reach the arena."

Gray inspected the ring before he slid it on his finger. The black stone attached to it was engraved with a decorated 'M' that he assumed stood for Magnolia. Although the ring fitted perfectly, he couldn't help but feel conscious and uncomfortable wearing the ostentatious piece of jewelry.

"It's time."

The champions were guided towards the freight that would transport them above-ground. Gray boarded it alone and on Doranbolt's order, the freight's gears hummed to life and the boy felt himself being lifted up. His vision gradually turned black as the control room disappeared below him. The ride was short and Gray found himself entering the familiar sight of his chamber. Once again, he followed the array of torches that lined either side. Gray stopped dead on his tracks when he finally reached the wooden door. All he needed to do now was to wait for the commentators to call out his name. He managed to order himself not to feel nervous but his stomach started to grumble. He kept telling himself to relax. Breathe in. Breathe out. The silver ring caught his attention again. He played with it, twisting it around his fingers. Breathe in. Breathe out. The familiar babble coming from the other side of the door filled his ears. Breathe in. Breathe out.


The Hegen was already overflowing when my family and I arrived. I noticed immediately a huge, white crystalline cover in the middle of the arena. I wondered what was inside of it. Nothing good I presumed, something deadly yet entertaining and safe. I knew mother made sure of that – deadly and entertaining. I searched for her and found her in a circle with the other queens and few of the nobles. Oh, how excited she was about today, the day of the first challenge. And yet, there I was, sitting lazily on my seat, playing with my fingers, bored out of my wits. And I knew I wasn't alone. Mira absent-mindedly twirled her white locks around her finger, straightened it then twirled it around again. And the ladies' man, I couldn't even count how many times Gajeel sighed out of frustration. He should be entertaining the noble's daughters who came up the veranda if he hadn't done it thousand times already.

"You can only do it once or twice 'til you almost just want to kill yourself." He said.

I couldn't count how many times he begged Mira to snap his neck.

The only people who seemed to have kept their sanity were Knight and Erza, who was busy ignoring each other's existence. A year had already passed yet their relationship never progressed.

"Your dress is invading my space."

"Sorry, your highness."

Erza gathered the hem of her gown – not feeling sorry at all – and contained the ruffled skirt in a tight embrace. She wanted to make sure it wouldn't invade Knight's 'space'. I thought she just wanted to keep him off her long scarlet hair Queen Lyssandra chose to just let flowing for this occasion. I was expecting an all-out-war since these two had history of blowing simple arguments out of proportion but the tension died down as quickly as it had escalated. They just sat in silence and resumed their habit of pretending the other didn't exist. I couldn't believe I was saying this but I missed the banters, the insults and the not-so empty threats. If only Queen Lyssandra did not give them the last warning then Mira, Gajeel and I wouldn't have to suffer this dreadful boredom.

"Hey." Gajeel leaned in to whisper. "Do you think we can provoke them to fight?"

"I can hear you." Queen Lyssandra never left her post yet her warning reached us. "Don't even think about it."

Gajeel sank in his chair dejectedly.

"Well, there goes our free entertainment." Knight and Erza glared at him at the same time. It was so cute that I even heard Mira hide a giggle. She then became the subject of a pair of warning look. I guess I was wrong. Knight and Erza did share a unique, although possibly harmful, relationship.

My heart skipped a beat when the static crackled and Michael's thrilled voice came pouring out the speakers. He welcomed the guests and acknowledged the presence of the entire Imperial Court, soliciting an equally ecstatic cheer from the audience. He ordered the doors to be lifted at once and the champions walked out of the chambers and into the arena with pride and joy.

"Looking dashing, aren't we?" I heard Michael commented with a quick giggle at the end. I was sure that almost every woman in the audience agreed with him, even men, and I was no exception. I stood transfixed as my eyes bounced at each impeccable champion and lingered on the raven-haired boy. Gray, even I admit wasn't the best looking in their group, never failed to entrance me.

After the singing of the historic Magnolian hymn, Michael ordered the revealing of the arena. (Which was changed every week in accordance to the design of the challenges.) I felt the entire amphitheater come to a still when, as if in a slow motion, the crystalline cover disappeared from top to bottom and uncovered this week's challenge arena. My heart dropped at the full sight.


Author's Note


I was honestly troubled when I wrote down the Knerza moment knowing I will be breaking a few hearts. And I know this is one of those slow-moving chapters I always manage to slip into this story but the first challenge is coming up so yey for action! But I gotta warn you, I'm not really into action so I have no idea how to go about it. Hihihi. If anyone wants to help, you are most welcomed to. I'm honestly thinking of dropping this fic since the FT disbandment news broke out but I just couldn't let Gruvia go. I seemed to have lost my inspiration from Fairy Tail. I think, after the disbandment thing there's no going back. But Hiro-san is so amazing I think he just hit the reset button. It's quite an adventure to look for the other members and know what happened to them now. It'll be fun! So don't forget to leave reviews as usual!

THANKS TO

NeverInUrWildestDreams Thank you very much for always, always leaving reviews at my doorstep although I know how busy you are now. I don't think I can ever thank you enough for pushing me to go on. I really miss talking to you so I hope you can get yourself out of that messy schedule soon. Sorry talaga sa Jerza girl. Hahaha. Don't worry, I promise next time! Ako nga rin nahihilo sa mga OC. Nakakalimutan ko sila. hahaha. Kaya I'll stick with FT characters. And, you'll find out soon. :)

rebekfanai06, Hi! You must be a new reader. Thanks for leaving a review. It really made my day. :)

XXinsidemymindXX Mir! Well, you did rub off some of your GraTsu bromance to me. Hahaha. Thanks for the review dear and I'm so excited for you! :)