Dark Fairies is back with another chapter, after too long in development and writing. Hopefully, this will have been worth the wait.
Some things I wanted to address before we continue with the chapter. I have a new story out, Primordials rising. The basic premise is of that of a mage who is from a sect of extremely powerful mages is awakened in the year 790 by Yukino. The story is mainly going to focus on their sisterly bond and how they handle the culture that is Sabertooth.
This is one part of a double upload alongside Scarlet: Legends of Creation. I would recommend reading that if you find the opportunity to.
One last thing before we begin, I'm going to try and bring Legends Reborn back from the grave that is Hiatus. While I can't give an estimate as to when the third chapter will be posted, know that I'm going to work on it when I get the opportunity to.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, I only own MY OCs
Enjoy chapter 7!
(Illuminated Path guildhall)
"Natsu!" Ur's voice called from across the hall. "It's about time you proved yourself." As expected of one of the supreme masters of Ice magic, her stare and voice alone could freeze anyone solid. Even one as impulsive as a fire mage like Natsu.
"I got word that the magic council is currently attempting to transfer some of our captured members over to a more secure facility. You are to go and free them and bring them back here. Erza and Mirajane will accompany you." This was to be a mission right up Natsu's alley. One where he had free reign to cause as much destruction as he wanted and not have to suffer potential consequences from the rest of his guild.
"Why is Mira coming with us? I thought She didn't have access to her magic." He was dumbfounded, but more of all confused. First Erza comes to him, declaring herself to be a member of this guild, then he finds out that Mira was also a member. Does that mean Elfman is one also, what about Lisanna?
"Oh, come on Natsu," it was a voice he recognized instantly. One that meant a lot to him during his younger years. "Do you really think that big sis would lose her magic over something as trivial as me apparently dying?"
"Li-Lisanna?" he was breathless, how was she still alive? Finding it near impossible to get his words out. "How?" he tried to ask. There was a brief smile from Lisanna, a genuine one.
"How am I still alive?" She asked, finishing Natsu's question for him. "I never really died, just teleported back here after Elfman lost control." Mira joined in not too long after. Finally putting the nail in the coffin.
"The glow that we reported was nothing more than a teleportation spell, something that Lisanna here worked hard to master." She was dressed in the gothic attire she was known for before Lisanna supposedly died. "But I'll admit I've never seen anyone train so hard as Elfman did. Especially after he lost control as he did."
"Mira," Ur butted in, stopping the conversation before it could progress any further. "Where is Erza? She was supposed to be here by now."
"Oh, she's getting ready at the moment," Mira responded. "She's changing into something more befitting to her status as a Dragonslayer." The surprises just kept coming for Natsu, Erza was a dragon slayer? He had only known her as a Requip mage, when did she get Dragon-slaying magic? It came as a shock to the young dragon slayer as to how much he didn't know about those he used to call close friends of his.
After a few more minutes of discussion between the former mages of Fairy Tail, Erza arrived clad in clothing that more resembled a dragon than a knight. She wore a headband which had steel horns protruding from the back. Her armbands were akin to that of a dragon's wings. Overall, she would be easily mistaken for a humanoid dragon if one were to glance at her from a distance.
"My apologies for being late," she would begin. "Since I am no longer a masquerading as a knight, I thought it best that my true nature as a dragon should be brought to light." Erza would then look to see those that were going on the mission with her. Smiling at bit upon noticing Natsu.
"I'm glad to know that you decided to join us Natsu, this may yet be a wonderful day." Ur, wanting to get to the actual matters at hand interrupted the group of mages again. She told the dark mages present of their task,
After being informed of the mission which they were to undertake, the group consisting of Mira, Erza and Natsu set out. Happiness and joy were evident on the former S-class Fairies, Natsu still had one of confusion. He couldn't wrap his mind about what had recently occurred. It still felt like he was dreaming, unable to wake up from this sort of nightmare.
(Fiore)
"Now then, I wanted to go over the plan in more detail, since The Mistress only gave you the basics of what this particular mission entails." Mirajane brought Natsu from his thoughts, ever since the three dark mages left the camp, he had been thinking about his life in Fairy Tail up to that point. All of the ups and downs he had along the way, the friends he had made. All of that was taken from him by the one he considered a father. Did he have a reason to do it, surely it couldn't just be due to the amount of damage he would generally cause on missions? As he saw it, the rest of the guild was just as destructive as he was. Even his team couldn't claim innocence when it came to damage caused.
"Some of our members were caught by the magic council during the previous attack on our guild. -Apparently, they're being transferred over to the abyss palace." It had to be explained to the Dragonslayer that the abyss palace was a jail below the palace in Crocus. A dark place where criminals rarely returned from. Those who entered it in chains usually did so under life sentences. Such was the case with this captured group of mages, the courts had given them all such sentences after being convicted.
Erza was next, her tone just as serious as it was back in Fairy Tail. "Our job is to go and raid the convoy transporting them." She pointed to the map, outlining the path the prisoner convoy was supposed to take. "Our agents within Fiore's government made sure to have the route go through this area. Which is where we'll intercept it, free the ones held captive, and return to the guild victorious." While Mirajane seemed happy about the current plan, there was still some confusion on Natsu's part. Not from the plan itself, that made sense to him. His confusion lied within Erza's statement. That the guild had agents in the government. He tried to ask about that, but the two mages dodged the question.
(Tenrou Island)
Three figures stood across from each other, one of them looked to be quite happy while the others held looks of anger or disgust. As the sun was setting behind them, the conversation began.
"I'm only going to ask you this once, and you better respond honestly." The girl was the first to speak. "How were you able to steal four members from Fairy Tail?" A smirk came from one while the other still seemed to be confused.
"I don't recall 'stealing' any mages as you put it, Mavis. The one known to you as Natsu Dragneel, your younger brother if I recall Zeref, was simply shown how Fairy Tail truly was. While the others, Erza Scarlet, Mirajane and Elfman Strauss, were mine from the beginning. It was a simple plan really." Mavis didn't know how to react, some of the mages she thought loyal weren't at all? That would explain why Mirajane, Elfman, and Erza weren't at the Guildhall. Looking back, it should have been obvious that they were hiding far more strength than what they showed. Rilian's guild was never known for producing weak members.
Zeref, on the other hand, was beyond angry. Natsu was never supposed to undergo this sort of betrayal. He wasn't a token to be played around on a chessboard. His ultimate work, the reason he underwent this existence, wasn't meant to be in Rilian's guild. The plan was to have him in Fairy Tail, where did he go wrong?
"It is strange, isn't it? The three of us, fighting each other through proxies." He would sigh in disappointment, recalling an event from long before. "You know, all of this would have been avoided if we could find some common ground. But apparently, we can't." Rilian would begin to fade away, leaving behind one final warning for the other immortals. His stare capable of drilling holes in their souls had the not seen it before.
"Mavis and I are the first to fight apparently, it seems the winner will fight you, Zeref Dragneel." As he left the two remaining mages looked at each other. In a way, he was right. The events that were about to take place were easily avoidable. They knew he discovered the way to counter Ankhseram's curse, but their pride wouldn't allow them to learn his secrets. Their foolish pride caused all of this to occur, now they had to suffer the consequences for their actions. Zeref more so than Mavis, as he had centuries to learn the countermagic yet refused to.
(Fiore)
It was getting late in the evening; the sun was just about below the horizon. The council convoy was supposed to pass through this area in a couple of days. While Natsu was nervous as to how he would perform against those he used to consider allies to a degree, Erza and Mirajane seemed to hold no such reservations. In fact, they seemed more than eager for what the three of them were about to do.
There was a fire lit around the three tents, Dinner was nothing more than the wildlife caught by Erza's steel traps.
"Natsu," Erza spoke up, "I wanted to ask you something. But I haven't really had an opportunity to since you joined us. I wanted to ask; do you know why I initially joined this guild? Why the Strauss siblings joined?" it was a simple question, one which Natsu responded honestly. Ever since the tower of Heaven incident, he had been starting to question the validity of Erza's statement regarding how she arrived at Fairy Tail.
"Early into my enslavement at the Tower of Heaven, I lost my faith in the inherent goodness that Rob claimed that humanity had. 'How could humanity be good, if they're willing to enslave their own kin?' I would ask myself questions like that constantly during the periods when I wasn't forced to work. Even bringing it up with Jellal and everyone else in the cell." She would continue prodding the fire, making sure her meal was cooked to her liking before continuing.
"Master Rilian saved all of us from the Tower, just before we were to begin our revolution against the slavers. Looking back, I could see why I was so impressed by him. Having nearly lost all sense of morals, here comes a mage to liberate us. His mere presence caused most of the slavers to drop dead, the others were killed by his magic." Erza stopped there before she revealed too much, Mirajane soon took over.
"I had similar feelings, back when I first found out about my magic. The other villagers saw my demonic arm and chased us out of the village. You know that much at least, right Natsu?" He nodded, signaling for Mira to continue.
"Partway through our journey, Lisanna, Elfman and I were found by Master Rilian. At first, I was confrontational, driven by my newfound lack of faith in humanity and my desire to protect my younger siblings. But he remained calm, and explained to me that my arm wasn't a curse." Mira's arm glowed, revealing the demonic arm she kept hidden. "He was the one who told me about my take-over magic, and what it could be used for. It wasn't long after that for those villagers to show up. But he drove them away, and proved that we could trust him." She would then hold a smile, what would come next had to be a happy memory for the elder Strauss.
"It was at the guild where I met Erza, driven by similar experiences we instantly became the best of friends." Her arm would go back to normal, and the mages would continue conversing into the night. Erza and Mira answering any questions Natsu had about their origins. Why their master sent them to Fairy Tail, and what their plans were now.
(somewhere in Ishgar)
"This had better be important Ultear, it's not like you to contact me out of the blue for no specific reason." A shadowed figure was speaking into a lacrima. Their voice shadowed and distorted through the use of magic.
A pause as the figure listened to what Ultear said.
"Bring her to the guild as soon as you can. Make sure you give Him as a valid excuse." A silent confirmation could be heard from the lacrima. Causing the figure to smile in satisfaction.
'This game gets more fun by the minute.' The figure would say to themselves before disappearing. Leaving nothing more than the remains of a shadow where they stood.
Some interesting things happened in this chapter. Lisanna's not dead, all three Strauss siblings are members of the Illuminated Path. And last but not least, Natsu's first mission with this guild is currently underway.
What do you think will happen as a result?
Hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you in the next chapter!
