Erza pwning bad guys in chapter 9! yayz!
writers block has gone (for now) so this chapter is better than chapt. 8 and...I don't really know what's gonna happen next chapter...:P
anyway, please enjoy and please review!
Chapter 9
Erza
"It's time to send in the big guns." Makarov sighed as Levy finally went down under a dual attack by two Mermaid Heel women. The all-female guild had given it their best shot, but at this point in the game, even with Kagura, they were just a little too far behind to catch up to Fairy Tail and Manticore Emerald, who were battling neck-and-neck for the top spot.
"Erza, you're up."
Erza nodded. "Hai, Master."
…
Now, just outside the town's library, Erza materialized after teleportation, resisting the urge to grip the hilt of her sword in case there was anyone around – she didn't want to seem paranoid in front of the whole of Fiore.
Paranoid. Erza Scarlet. Yeah right.
After carefully studying the Lacrima-vision, Erza had concluded the positions of most of the Manticore Emerald wizards – those she was meant to be targeting.
First target: Katsuko Oomara.
Last seen: 1407 3rd Street
Magic: Reflector Magic
Skill level: S-Class
Erza found her right where she expected. Katsuko was travelling by rooftop so as to get a better view of the situation below; a smart move.
"I see you, Titania."
It was the first time Erza had heard her speak. Her voice was strong and rough, and her tone guarded.
"I see you, too, Oomara."
"Not anymore."
Katsuko's appearance took on the familiar translucent quality of an illusion. Erza closed her real eye, leaving the artificial one open, and Katsuko's figure became clear to see as she leaped down from the roof and waited for Erza to try and strike.
"I still…" the redhead growled, swinging a sword at her opponent, "See you."
"Agh!" Katsuko partially dodged the strike but still took a cut on her forearm. "I knew about your artificial eye but you still shouldn't be able to see me! I simply reflect light off my body!"
"This eye is not to be taken lightly." Erza explained, striking again. This time, the sword glanced off a shield that Katsuko flung between them, leaving the latter unhurt. "It was crafted with the magic of the Healer Porlyusica herself, and it perceives light differently than an ordinary human eye."
"A lost advantage," Katsuko replied, redirecting anther swing by Erza, "But no matter. I can still deflect all the blows you fling at me."
"I have fought your kind before." Erza snarled, "I know how your magic works. You are not an exception."
"Don't get too cocky, Titania. Surely, you of all people know that underestimating an opponent is ultimately one's downfall…"
"Yes, you are right." Era was forced to concede, "My opponents learned their lesson after battling with me, and I must refrain from making their same mistakes." Damn, why couldn't she get a hit?
Frustrated at having her sword merely glance off of the Reflector mage, Erza resorted to what had led her to victory over Midnight: her fists.
Again, she was met with a wall of invisible glass without laying a finger on Katsuko. Erza cursed quietly in frustration.
"I didn't come into the Grand Magic Games unprepared, Titania – I learned lots from your battle with Midnight."
How does she know about that?!
"And I learned lots," Katsuko added, twirling a finger and wrapping Erza in her armor as Midnight had done, "From Midnight himself."
"Hold on." Erza frowned, "If Midnight lived in the Tower of Heaven when he was young, then learned magic and immediately added his prayer to the Oracion Seis, then…" she trailed off, not wanting to make potentially false accusations in front of the Lacrima-camera that was sure to be around here somewhere, broadcasting to the public.
But Katsuko understood. "Yes." She said, twisting Erza's armor tight around her, "The answer to your question is yes."
"Then you are –"
"Yes. It will happen any moment now."
"What will happen?"
"Well if I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise." Katsuko frowned innocently.
"Gyah!" Erza focused all her strength on pushing back the force of Katsuko's magic. "Re…quip!"
"It won't work." Katsuko smirked, once again rendering Erza immobile, "I've already mastered the Robe of Yuen."
"I figured as much." Erza replied, "But it was worth a shot. However, there is a limitation to everyone's powers. It's just a matter of finding it."
"I have no limitations." Katsuko growled.
"Now who's being cocky?" Erza glared. "Let's see if you can handle the strongest armor in my arsenal. One I use only rarely. Requip!"
"The Armor of Nakagami?" Katsuko guessed as Erza's body took on the usual glow of requipping. "It still won't work."
"No." Erza corrected. "The Nakagami is my most powerful. I said I was requipping into my strongest armor."
"But," Katsuki stared, aghast as she saw the results of Erza's requip, "You're not wearing any armor! That's just pants and bandages and a katana."
"Sometimes," Erza snarled, rushing forward, "Pants and bandages and a katana can do a hell of a lot more than any armor."
"With these pants, these bandages, and this katana," she continued, "I carry the power of friendship, I carry the bonds of a true guild, and I carry with them my pride."
Katsuko twirled her fingers in another attempt to wrap Erza up like a mummy.
"Why isn't it working?!"
"Because the specialty of Knight mages," Erza explained, "is to requip into different armors, and the ability of Reflector mages is to use a different magic's specialty against them, you are able to twist my armor. But since this outfit doesn't count as armor, you can't manipulate it."
"That's bullshit!" the other woman growled, trying once again to twist Erza's clothing around her, to no avail. Erza saw her chance, diving in to push her katana up under Katsuko's chin.
"Although you may have surpassed Midnight's skill level, since you studied under him, the fundamentals of your magic are the same as his – you can go on the offensive or on the defensive but not both. I believe this round is mine, Oomara."
"Fuck you, Scarlet." Katsuko spat. Erza smiled slightly.
"You remind me of Knightwalker. I know you're a good person, somewhere deep down."
"I will never be a good person." Katsuko's eyes flashed. "I was born rotten – I don't know what it's like to be a good person."
"No-one is born a bad person." Erza replied, "And no one is completely good or bad; we all have a little of both in us. It's pure luck that determines whether we are led to walk during the night or during the day. And if you find yourself walking through pitch," Erza shrugged, "Just remember that you can always wake up in the morning."
"Maybe that's true for you." Katsuko glared, "But I was condemned from the start. Don't humiliate me with words as well as your sword, Titania."
"As you wish." Erza complied, "But I'll have to –"
A voice cut her off as it boomed out of the loudspeakers. "Ladies, Gentlemen, residents of Fiore, we're terribly sorry, but these Games will no longer be in session..."
Katsuko smirked, though Erza's katana was still at her neck. "It has begun."
well, did you like Erza's little sermon? XD got any ideas about what katsuko's talking about? (you see? there is a reason she's like midnight!)
fufufufu possible FreedxMirajane next chapter (or maybe just one-sided FreedxMirajane)
~ice
