I just realised that when I uploaded Chapter 5, about half the formatting of the chapter got screwed up somehow.
So, I am sorry for the terrible state it was in, and I have now fixed it.
For those of you who actually read it, well done. It looked horrible and I apologise again.
Thanks all!
Chapter 7: Tenacity
Shio hissed in pain as a cut opened up on her leg. A rather large one as well. Mira's Satan Soul was terrifyingly strong and her speed was too much so she tried to use more magical power to keep up. Faelan stopped running at the same time that Mira was descending to the ground when they saw her falter. Shio fell to her knees and growled angrily, hitting the solid ground with her closed fist, frustrated at herself. Her fist make quite a deep dent in the hard dirt.
Mira reverted back to her normal, sweet, smiling form as she strolled over to her upset friend. They had been training every day or two for about an hour after they finished working at the guild hall for the day, and Shio was getting impatient with herself. Over the last three months, she had been trying to master techniques and magical abilities that she could learn in her half-transformation. She had already got her normal form skills sorted. Most of them revolved around her physical abilities, but the one that used her claws like a sword, creating an arc of power that sliced through the air just wasn't working for her.
So far, she had created a tiny line that wouldn't even give anyone a paper cut. Mira could see how frustrated she was. Shio had spoken to her in confidence many times about her change in heart with learning magic. At first, she wasn't comfortable with learning something that had killed her whole family and the rest of her village, but she also learnt from her fellow team mates in Fairy Tail that having strength could protect those you care about, which meant she had a new reason for learning magic.
To ensure she never lost anyone again.
This had been a repeated point in their discussions, and the reason why she was so angry now. Shio felt that if she couldn't master such a technique, how would she ever be able to stand amongst the strongest members of Fairy Tail as an equal. She didn't want to be someone in the background forever. She wanted to give the weak a feeling of safety and security, and strike fear in the hearts of those who would hurt the people she cared for. The white haired woman knew that it wasn't for a sense of pride, or a desire for enough power to control others. It was sort of strength that made Fairy Tail such an incredible guild; the strength of love and friendship.
Mira placed a comforting hand on Shio's shoulders, able to see the tear tracks on her face. It was hard seeing her friend so upset, but that's why she had offered to help. Shio knew that Mira was so strong that she could take any attack that Shio was going to throw at her while she learnt to perfect it, so she could control the lethality of the skill.
Unfortunately, Shio wasn't very good at making short term goals. Instead, she just kept the big picture, the end game in her head, and just wouldn't stop until she got there. Her efficiency at controlling her half-transformation was perfected about 5 weeks ago, and she had gotten two new physical abilities to use. Her general power had increased at least three fold, but it still it wasn't enough. Mira was worried that she was just exhausting herself and would get sick, or severely injure herself. Something like that would only push her training further back. There had been a few minor injuries, like a rolled ankle, or pulled muscle, but luckily nothing serious. Yet.
Shio only seemed to have two modes. Relaxed and full blast. Mira couldn't seem to convince her to slow down and take a break. It took all her persuasiveness and gentle manipulation to get Shio to spar with her once a day, instead of twice, then she talked her down to once every day or two about two weeks ago after either of them could barely work behind the bar due to being so tired. It was a good workout for the S-class mage, who was in Sorcerer Weekly consistently, but she got tired too, and Shio seemed to have blinkers that prevented her from seeing anything else that her goal. Mira had considered asking Natsu or Laxus to spar with her, but neither of them really knew how to hold back, and would probably beat her senseless. Same with Erza. Gray just wouldn't be able to help because he would barely cool the air around them from fear of hurting her.
After taking a minute to decide what to say, Mira spoke up in the happiest voice she could. Faelan wagged his tail, hoping that would convey his agreement.
"Shio. I am so proud of you!" Mira beamed her best and brightest smile at Shio, who just returned her gaze with a furrowed brow and wide eyes.
"Why?" Shio asked quietly, still breathless from her earlier efforts.
"Because you have come so far in such a short time! Your efforts have allowed you to triple or maybe even quadruple your strength in the few months you have been in Fairy Tail." she answered with no hesitation at all, still smiling brightly.
"You should not despair, my friend. I did not think we would get this bonded in a year or two, let alone a few months. We are only getting better and stronger together." Faelan echoed Mira's praise and hoped that Shio would accept it. He did not want his companion upset, especially since he could feel it too.
"Why don't you go on an easy mission, to prove this to yourself?" Mira recommended, and quickly darted back into the guild hall.
She returned a moment later with a mission flyer that was asking for two mages to assist with security at a big formal dinner in Hargeon worth 120,000 jewel. The reward wasn't too high, which suggested a low risk of serious danger, but not so low that danger and attacks were guaranteed not to happen. Usually missions like this paid more due to the nature of the task as well. Whoever organised the event would want to make sure that nothing could possibly go wrong, thus being happy to pay mages to assist in security detail and pay well enough to ensure someone capable would accept the job.
Though she was still frustrated, Shio nodded and accepted the mission. Now she would just have to figure out who to take with her...
"Lucy, you have such a nice place! Is it really only 70,000 jewel for rent?" Lucy nodded in response. "Fairy Hills is so expensive. I can barely afford it. If I don't work at the guild every day, I wouldn't have the money. Gray paid half my rent last month and didn't tell me either. It was really nice of him, but I don't want to be a charity case forever." Shio groaned and put her chin to her chest, and didn't see Lucy's cheeky smirk when Gray was mentioned. Faelan lifted his head just enough to glance at Shio, and though she didn't see it, she felt his gaze at the back of her head.
The tea Lucy was making smelt amazing and she brought over two cups and poured them both, adding a little sugar to her own. Lucy had been surprised by Shio's visit because usually she kept to herself, or was just too busy training to simply hang out. Lucy really liked her though, and was glad when Shio made her proposal for them to go on a mission together for the purpose of proving to herself that she was fairly strong.
"So, what's the mission?" she asked, her spoon making circles in her cup.
"We have to work as security at a formal dinner. It pays 120,000 jewel which is pretty good. It shouldn't be too tricky. I think if they were expecting trouble it would be worth a bit more." Shio explained, sipping her tea occasionally. It was rose and vanilla, and tasted amazing.
"Sounds awesome. Do we get to dress up?" Lucy said excitedly with a grin.
"I would say that we would need to be in formal clothes, yes." Ship smiled at how happy the idea of dressing up made Lucy. It was easy when she had a spirit who could just get her nice clothes whenever she needed them.
The two girls laughed happily, and talked about their hair and make up for the night, something that Shio was not well-versed in, but Lucy just told her that she would help her get ready. The job entailed them to go to the venue and speak to the other security guards, and the event manager a few hours before the dinner was supposed to start, so that they would be familiar with the building, entrances, exits, blind spots etc.
"So how are things with you and Natsu going?" Ship enquired with a devilish smirk on her face.
"They are going...good." Lucy chuckled with flushed cheeks.
"That good? Wow." Ship was practically in stitches laughing at how much Lucy was blushing. "I'm happy for you. You guys are really sweet together. Natsu seems to have... levelled out a little too. He seems to be very enraptured with you. It's nice." The dark haired woman smiled, but Lucy could tell that it was a little forced.
"What is it?" she asked, the happy tone in her voice was gone, replaced with concern. Shio shook her head, but Lucy wouldn't have it. "Shio. We are friends. You can talk to me about anything."
"She likes a certain ice mage and she is embarrassed because she doesn't know what to do about it." Faelan spoke up without opening his eyes.
"Thanks, best friend." Shio tapped him on his nose for being a smart ass and glared when he mock-growled at her.
"I knew it." Lucy grinned and clapped her hands in girlish excitement. "I reckon he likes you too. He's so protective of you!"
"To the point of putting me on a figurative leash." When Lucy raised an eyebrow in question, she went on. "He seems to have been conveniently forgetting that I'm not as weak as I was when I first walked in here. Or carried, rather." Shio frowned and stared angrily into her tea.
"Isn't half the idea of this mission to prove your strength to yourself, not Gray?" the busty blonde questioned her with a heavy stare.
"Well, yes. I know I am at least a little bit stronger than I used to be. I just want to be strong enough to stand beside you guys and not be a weak link." Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but Shio raised her hand to signal her to stop. "Gray didn't think I could take down a few guys with no magical power and one half-dull blade. C'mon Lucy, that's a bit much. I'm sparring with Mira every other day, and she's scary shit!" she took a deep breath and threaded her fingers together. "I just want him to acknowledge that I am becoming a strong mage, and a strong woman."
"Training with Mira will help a lot. Look at it this way, Natsu is one of the strongest mages I've ever seen, maybe besides Laxus and the Master. Then there's Erza, Gray, and Gildarts, whom you haven't met because he's always off doing ridiculously hard missions. You already know Mystogan." She paused to take a deep breath, "My point is that barely anyone in this guild stands even with those guys. How do you think I feel when I go on missions with Natsu? There isn't a hope in hell that I could stand equal to him."
"You don't have to have brute strength to be strong. Your spirits are wonderfully versatile. It's your smarts that probably get your missions done." Shio smiled and laughed softly with her friend.
"I know that you are right, but it doesn't always appease our emotional side. I'm sure you feel the same. You can't always convince yourself fully with these things." Lucy kept smiling, but it turned into her lips being pulled tight into a flat line, before she laughed abruptly. "You llliiikkkee Gray." She rolled her tongue like Happy does.
Shio laughed and shook her head. She was embarrassed but she knew Lucy wouldn't say anything outside of these walls. However, she picked up a scent that was very familiar and her jaw practically dropped to the floor. The young woman turned towards the window and her expression immediately turned horrified as a pink-haired man came in through the normal entrance the dragon slayer would normally take, instead of the front door. The wolf girl immediately grabbed Natsu by his shirt and put him against the wall.
"What did you hear?!" Shio whispered ruggedly, shaking him violently.
"You llliikkkkeee Grraaayyy." Happy echoed and Shio tried to grab him, but the Exceed just flew out of her reach.
Natsu laughed his devilish laugh and weaselled his way out of her grip. He leapt back through the window and Shio spared no time chasing after him, leaving Lucy and Faelan sitting there, staring at one another. Lucy just shrugged, still able to hear Natsu cackling and Shio hollering at him down the street.
"Natsuuu! Get back here!" Shio got frustrated when Natsu started running backwards and making faces at her. She growled and felt her form change into her partial transformation, and it didn't take long for her to catch up with her increased muscles and speed.
The dragon slayer yelped when she sped up and when she was in range, she jumped and spun mid air, sending her foot flying into his face. She heard him grunt in pain as he flew through the air and landed in the river in Lucy's street. He climbed out and tried to run away on the other side, but Shio leapt across the large gap with ease and grabbed the back of his shirt. She not-so-gently put him on the ground and stood over him.
"Natsu, please. I don't want him to know." Shio's face made him stop laughing. She looked terrified, but she held onto him as he tried to get our of her iron grip.
Before the conversation could continue, Natsu's face dead panned. Shio wasn't sure why, but a voice soon told her.
"Who don't you want you know? And what do you not want them to know?"
Gray's voice stopped Shio's barrage and she heard Happy snort with the effort of not laughing as he fluttered above them. Shio snarled at the blue cat and tried to swat at him. When she remembered who was standing behind them, and what the earlier subject matter was, she almost soiled herself with shock. She let go of Natsu and scratched the back of her head awkwardly as she spun to face the ice mage, who was thoroughly confused about what was going on.
"Nothing! Nothing at all! Anyway, I've got to go to the guild hall to help Mira. See you guys later!" she turned to see Lucy hanging out the window, watching with a cheeky grin on her face, Faelan was slowly making his way toward her and picked up his pace when he noticed they were leaving. "Bye Lucy! Thanks for the tea!" she yelled loud enough for the blonde to hear and power walked away, leaving behind Natsu, who was still rolling on the ground laughing, Happy alongside him and Gray standing next to them with his hands in his pockets, wondering what the hell just happened.
Gray was back at the guild hall after trying to get information out of Natsu for the last hour. Both him and Happy had just cracked up laughing every time he had brought it up, but kept their lips sealed other than that. Lucy didn't seem to know what they were going on about either.
He had gone to find Natsu after he had found a mission for them. Erza was away on a mission, presumably with Jellal somewhere for some of that time as well, and he had found out that Lucy and Shio were going on their own mission, so he would just be going with flame-brain, but Natsu declined, saying that he was going on a fishing trip with Happy.
It was just a boring delivery mission for a rich man who wasn't able to attend a cousin's wedding due to illness. They had to deliver the very expensive gift he had bought and make sure it didn't get damaged or stolen. Nothing too interesting, but the easiest way there was by train, so he asked Wendy to come along to help out, but she was busy as well, so he decided to go on his own.
The ice mage's gaze fell upon the young woman he couldn't deny that he might be a slight bit interested in. It was a nice, fuzzy feeling, but he wasn't exactly sure what that might mean for him and Shio. Was he supposed to ask her out? Should he leave it alone since they were guild mates, and would probably end up working together?
With a sigh, he put his head in his hands and stared at the marks on the wooden table. This was probably something he should ask someone else about, but he wanted to avoid being made fun of, or have someone blurt it out to Shio. If he asked Mira, she would definitely not be able to keep it to herself, same as Lucy. He couldn't take Natsu seriously, though he had changed since he got together with Lucy. Erza would just be scarily serious, and everyone else would make fun of him.
After an almost silent groan, he looked back up to see Shio smiling and laughing with Mira, at the Master, who was quite clearly drunk and having a hiccuping fit, whilst he sat on the counter. His hiccups were incredibly loud and almost shook the entire bar.
Gray watched as Shio turned towards him, probably feeling his eyes on her and he didn't know what to do, so he just smiled and looked away. Little did he know, Shio almost melted from seeing his adorable, shy smile. It made her feel more awkward about him nearly finding out about her feelings earlier today. Faelan had gone back to his world after realising that Shio was going to glare at him all day for telling her secret to Lucy, and technically Natsu and Happy as well.
She was sort of avoiding Gray, but hopefully not enough for him to notice. The young woman just wasn't ready to face him yet after whatever it was that happened earlier today. She was going to be sparring with Mira in an hour, and she wasn't sure if she wanted him to be around or not. Not many people knew that she was training with the white-haired Take Over mage, but the Master knew, and Levy as well.
Since Levy knew, Gajeel would know. Jet and Droy too. Laxus would know since the Master knew, meaning that Freed, Bickslow would know as well as Evergreen. Elfman had probably already told Evergreen anyway since he and Lisanna knew. Macao knew, being a former Master and Wakaba would know too, and more than likely Romeo knew. Wendy knew due to being required for a few short healing sessions a couple of times.
A frown came over her face as she realised that a lot of people actually knew about it already.
It had been good, helping her hone her skills further, but she had been having strange dreams of late. She would be looking through her own eyes, and seeing a deep red sky. Then it seemed like she switched to another person's view, who she at first thought would be Faelan, but when she saw herself it looked like she had made a full-transformation, or what she assumed it would look like. It was quite menacing to see from another's perspective. She would watch as she raised her straight arms and made a blood curdling howl, but she would always wake up straight after and didn't know what happened after.
When she had asked Faelan about it, and 'showed' him the images she recalled through their mental bond, his eyes opened wide in fear. It was rare to see the direwolf lose his composure, and that indicated to Shio just how serious this was. She wasn't entirely sure that she wanted to know what her dreams meant, but she knew she had to know, just in case it was something that was going to happen, like a vision. The conversation ran through her mind, reminding her of her possible fate.
"So, what you saw was a full-transformation. Pretty horrifying, hmm?" Shio nodded her agreement before he continued. "In the past, a lot of Kisan-Aralyn's understood the dangers of their power, and did not risk trying to make a full-transformation. Most of the time, previous and more arrogant summoners would make the change and either die from too much blood payment being taken because they weren't ready, or they would survive long enough to lose their humanity after transforming." he explained with a level, calm tone.
"A full-transformation can kill you, just from the blood payment required?" Shio questioned, becoming a bit concerned about aiming for a full change after hearing that news.
"Yes, it can. If you aren't ready. The actual change itself is...rather simple to complete." his slight hesitation made her furrow her brow, since that was different to what he had said before. "However, the more we train, the more bonded we get, therefore I require less blood for payment."
"You didn't tell me before that we could make the change easily. You told me that people stopped using the third skill, and that the summoner and creature would fight to the death about the use of their power. Did you lie to protect us?" Shio questioned him firmly, only assuming that he was trying to do the right thing and he confirmed it with a nod. "It's fine, I totally understand. But why have you just now told me the truth?"
"To be entirely honest, it's because I now know who you are. I know that you are not an arrogant person, or someone so desperate for power that they would risk both our lives and sanity, as well as the lives of those around them to achieve said power. Now we are so bonded, I know I can trust you with this knowledge." There was no wavering in his voice, only a little pride when he was saying that he trusted her.
"To my understanding, we can make the change after you have gotten the hang of the half form. But I am not sure if there is any prerequisite. We haven't really been able to get much outside assistance, which is very different to previous summoners from years ago. Normally, barely any one risked it after the first few summoners would die from the strain on the body during the change. There was also the risk of permanent madness, due to survival instincts kicking in too strong when the body was weak or the two minds fighting over the one form. The process is not reversible. Some would go mad and be killed due to them attacking humans and livestock." the macabre nature of the conversation worried Shio, considering that these things could happen to her and Faelan.
"Has anyone ever achieved mastery over the full-transformation, enough to change at will?" Shio still wanted to know the chances of being able to bond that much with Faelan, and gain that ability. It might be the only way she could become a strong, independent, S-class mage.
"Yes, there has been. I do not know exactly how many, as I am not sure how far our line of skill goes back. It may be a few lifetimes or a thousand years. I do know of one, but only his name, not the companion creature. His name was Orion. He almost died the first time he made the change but managed to fight back the madness. Everyone comes close to death, but he was the first to achieve control over the full form. If we ever decide to try it, we must ensure that we make our first change in a safe place. The trauma on the summoners body is just too much for them to do it in the midst of a battle."
"I think we can wait a while before we try something like that. There's still more I want to do with the half form. I still haven't gotten to grips with using the flash step. Still way to slow with it, and it takes too much concentration for me to do it instantly." she shrugged and exhaled heavily, trying to come to terms with all that Faelan had just told her.
Both Shio and Mira finished up about an hour later, and there was barely anyone in the guild at this time of evening, since most people had gone home to their friends and families. Even the Master had gone home already. Gray was still at the counter making small talk with Mira, whilst Shio hid out the back for ages, though she was actually keeping busy by organising huge barrels of alcohol, which she used her partial form to have the strength to move.
She had heard him announce that he was heading home for the night, and started to feel bad. He hadn't done anything wrong, and she knew she shouldn't ignore or avoid him. It was just her own embarrassment getting to her. Mira seemed to have great timing as she called out to ask Shio to bring out a large barrel straight away and she lifted it onto her shoulder and carried it out just as Gray stepped off the bar stool.
His eyes went wide as she gently put the barrel down on the ground, that was almost the same size as her, and he watched carefully to see her muscles shrink and her fingers go back to their normal length. He had been toying with the idea of asking her out, and the idea almost slipped his mind completely as he saw the unnatural display of strength from the girl who was only about 5" tall.
"Are you using your transformations to help you move those?" Gray asked, looking her over as she went back to normal. The differences were visible, but only if you knew where to look. Her leg muscles went back their normal size, but he could see that she was a lot more toned than a few months ago. Of course, his observations were purely to assess her strength, not just because she was attractive.
Shio was too distracted hooking up the new barrel to see him checking her out, but Mira's eyes noticed straight away, though she kept silent.
"Sure am. Now Elfman doesn't have to do it, since I can just use a partial change to develop the extra musculature. It's good practice for me too." She lifted her head up to make eye contact and smiled at him. The expression on his face was unreadable and she looked back down as she put everything in place and removed the old barrel.
"I was just about to head off. You and Lucy have your mission tomorrow, don't you?" he asked, figuring that he would leave tomorrow as well.
"Yeah, it should be interesting. I'm sure Lucy will forget about it being a mission and put me in some ridiculous outfit that is incredibly impractical and shows too much skin." Shio chuckled lightly as she leaned against the bar. Gray was a bit disappointed that he wouldn't get to see that.
"Okay. I've got a delivery mission, so I'll probably leave tomorrow too. I should be back the day after." Gray quickly glanced at Mira, who said her goodbye and headed away from the two young mages, and he hesitated before he blurted out his question. "Did you want to get dinner together when I get back?" Before she even got a chance to answer, he continued blurting. "It's okay if you don't want to."
Shio laughed, and her cheeks went bright red as she bit her lip nervously. "I'd like that."
"Awesome." he said after he exhaled in relief. "I'll come to your place when I get back. The train will bring me back around 4 o'clock."
Shio just nodded in response, not really sure what to say or do in this situation. Gray nodded as well, and his eyes darted around the bar for a moment before he reached out and brushed his fingers against the back of her hand in an affectionate gesture. He pulled his hand back just as fast, and put it in his pocket.
"Bye." he smiled that shy smile that she loved and headed out the guild doors.
"Oh my goooooodddd!" Shio heard to see Mira jumping up and down in excitement, her voice a higher pitch than Shio had ever heard before. "About time he asked you out. He's had a crush on you for months!" Mira hushed her to stop her from speaking. "And don't you even try to tell me that you are infatuated with him."
Shio pursed her lips, but shrugged nonchalantly. "I wasn't going too. I know you are way too perceptive to have missed that fact."
"I'm so happy for you. I think he really needs a girl in his life. He needs someone he can open up to. He's a really nice guy, Shio. You couldn't have done better." Mira beamed at her, her little ponytail flopping to one side. "You can have the day off if you like, so you can get ready."
"Thanks, but we haven't even been on a date yet so I haven't done anything yet. Here's to hoping I get through that without tearing my hair out in fear. I'll probably spend the whole day freaking out and he'll end up getting to my place and I won't even be ready. I'll have to come in for a few hours or I'll work myself up too much."
Mira laughed and told her that she could do whatever she liked on her big day. After they finished packing up, they went through their usual sparring routine, and Shio discovered she was improving at her air slicing technique, but just very slowly. She was probably too impatient for her own good.
It seemed that things were looking up for the wolf girl...but how long would her luck last?
