Cirque de fairie
Chapter 8
Hidden Truth
Hello everyone I'm back! I had to take time off due to school just swamping me and some personal issues coming up but none the less here you guys go!
Special shout out to Spikker, Biwann and Mangaguitar96 for betaing this chapter for me I honestly couldn't have done it without you guy!
The circus was much bigger than Levy had ever imagined. Scattered around the huge big top were several smaller tents that were either selling something or doing small circus acts to draw crowds, a rich maroon tent caught her attention, she saw that it was Cana's tent. She sat behind a table and speaking to a couple flipping one of three cards and she was speaking to them. The couple smiled happily at the last one, they thanked her and gave her some money. She waved to Levy before turning to a couple of children that had came over, curious about the tent.
Levy wandered over to a rather smug Cana as she put the money in her shirt.
"Hey blue bird,you gave us quite a show this morning. Poor Lucy was white as a ghost when she came out and Jellal even had to pry the knife out of Erza's hands to hug her. In my opinion that freaking hilarious." She laughed before taking a swig from a large flask she hid under her table. Levy was kinda mortified a bit not sure on how to respond. A part of her wanted to say yes, the other saying to get away cause she drank the very thing that destroyed her life.
"How's about I take your reading?" She suggested as she began to shuffle her cards, motioning for Levy to sit down in front of her. Deep down Levy did want to find out what Cana did say about her, but another told her that she needed to move it and help out Lisanna.
"Come on, I don't do this for free," She smirked as she fanned out the cards and held them out for her. Sighing, Levy sat down.
"Take three and I will tell you what they mean," she instructed. Levy slowly took three cards from the deck. A part of her told her that this wasn't real and it was all for fun and allowed herself to enjoy what Cana was doing.
"Now then, these cards represent something that will happen in the future, it isn't concrete but the cards don't lie." She lowered her voice, sounding mystic and serious. She reminded Levy of a gypsy traveller that she would read in her books.
One by one they flipped the cards over.
"Moon, Tower and the Chariot," Cana looked more concerned now concerned, her eyes narrowed together as if trying to make sense of it.
"What's wrong?" Levy asked, she started to grow a bit perplexed at the situation.
"Nothing, but," she sighed before scooping the cards up, "don't let your guard down." She warned.
"What do you mean-" Levy started to ask
"Listen, go help Lisanna and just be on guard, that's all." Levy was stumped as what to say. Cana pulled out her flask and groaned.
"Damn it's going to be pain to get more of this," She grumbled.
Quietly biding her a good-bye, Levy picked herself up and started back on her quest.
Cana watched the young girl walk away and looked down at the three cards in-front of her.
"Why didn't you tell her what it actually meant?" A voice asked from behind her.
"Why do you care Gajeel?" She asked as she absentmindedly shuffled the cards.
"You've never been one to hide the truth from someone, so why now?" he deadpanned. He had known Cana and in all these years and this had been the first time he had ever seen her not tell anyone the full truth. Normally she was beyond excited to know what lies in one's coming future but this time it was different.
"The poor girl already has been through hell, I don't need the cards to tell me that. So telling her would only give her something more to fret about." She sighed, defeated.
"So you ever going to tell her?" He questioned.
"No." Letting Levy know that someone was honestly after her was the last thing the poor girl needed. Instead, Cana needed to make sure that everyone kept their wits about them and watch her. If that is what the cards said then she would do everything to change them.
"Just make sure she's safe, and who knows maybe your fate will come true as well with her. Considering that you've been following her instead of helping Elfman and the guys round up the two elephants." She smiled and took out her flask again and took a sip.
"Tsh, shut up you're drunk, bad enough that you and Demon maid make a dangerous combination with your matchmaking craze," he grumbled and sulked off to try and follow Levy. Cana only laughed, the idiot was in love with her but he just didn't see it yet.
Keeping her eye on the prize she found the tent; a rich egg white, with the red flag. Inside were several benches all empty with no sign of anyone anywhere. Going towards the back she found the train cart that had been converted into a kitchen. Flaps from the cart opened up and allowed people to be served directly from the cart. She made her way inside and found that the small silver fridge and several oak cabinets were chock full of supplies and food. A small loaf of bread caught her eye and she reached for it, breaking off a small eyes widened when she discovered that, it was a sweet cinnamon and brown sugar bread! She hadn't had in years, the last time she had ever had it was at the harvest festival, just a few short months when he had changed.
Angry voices snapped her back from her reminiscing, and she whipped around, unsure if they belonged to friend or foe. Trapped in the kitchen, she ducked under the counter, leaving the sweet bread behind.
"Damnit, how did only two of those things escape and not all seven of them? I left the gate wide open last night!" One voice screamed.
"Well I made sure that that dye on Lisanna's horses won't come off and even switched a couple of Erza's throwing knifes," A feminine voice retorted, "You had one job Bixlow and that was to make sure they all escaped!."
"Hey, not my fault those things never leave him! How was I supposed to know that only the bulls would get out?" Bixlow snapped at the woman's voice. He muttered something else too low for her to hear followed by a smack, causing the two to bicker some more.
"Enough you two, tonight we need to make sure the show does not go well. I've already made sure that wiring is partially cut for the sound and light along with Natsu's oil replaced with water when he does his fire show." A third voice growled, "We need to keep this up if we want Makarov to hand this Circus over to Laxus so we can bring it back to it's original glory-"
Levy gasped as she lost her balance, causing a broom stationed near to her to topple over, startling the others into silence.
"Who's there!?" the third voice yelled, their voice nervous now that someone might have overheard their plans.
"Show yourself!" Bixslow screamed as he began to make his way towards the counter that Levy was behind. Thinking quickly, she opened one of the doors and found that inside it was empty. She slid in and softly closed the door just as he looked over the counter.
Her heart was in her throat, and her body was shaking. She dared not to breathed as she felt herself remembering the last time she did this to hide from Jet, but had failed. This time she wouldn't however, though she felt that he would hear her heart beating from how hard it pounded in her chest.
She heard footsteps coming up the cart and her held her breath as slowly the footsteps got closer and closer, she dare not breathed as the footsteps stopped right infront of her door. She peeped through the crack, barely able to make out dark clothing and legs.
"Must have been a rat or something that knocked it over, now come one we have work to do and an act to perfect." The third voice commanded. Bixslow grumbled, stopping his investigation and followed his friends out. Levy let out a gasp of air as soon as she felt that they were far enough away. Her body greedily sucked in the air and her head spun. She hesitated, unsure if she should stay put and wait it out a little longer or leave immediately. But as time crawled on, she sighed and ultimately peeked out before finally crawling out, glancing around as she hastily reached for her ingredients, her mind working over what she had heard.
"So those are the people responsible for causing this morning's chaos." She thought to herself. she had to stop them. But how? It was their word against hers and she was still new, if anything she could warn Max tonight to check the wires again and make sure that none of them were cut. Grabbing the materials she came for she wasted no time making for the river.
Down by the river Levy found Lisanna and her horses. She could tell they were once white as the pink wasn't truly set in. Instead there were squirrels and large patches of the paint covering the horses. Lisanna had two others tied up under a large oak tree eating their breakfast while she had one in the river furiously scrubbing the animal, suds covering the animal head to tail yet it remained pink. She stood knee deep in the water and held onto the animal by the halter. Attached to her waist was a bottle of soap, she looked under the horse's neck and spotted Levy making her way down to them.
"Levy thank goodness you're here! Grab a sponge and help me get this stuff off of him!" She begged as she rubbed the soap harder.
"Bring him over here! Gajeel told me that baking soda and epsom salt would get it off them." Levy yelled, picking up a fallen bucket she scooped some of the river water pouring a good amount of the baking powder and salt into the water and mixed it.
"I've been scrubbing him for well over an hour and it won't come off!" She cried, devastated that her liberty horses had all been damaged by the hideous paint.
"Let's give this a shot." Levy suggested. Lisanna, desperate for her horses to be returned to normal, dunked her sponge into the bucket and within seconds the pink began to stain the water and the horse returning to it's briliant white color.
"Oh my gosh it's working! Finally!" She yelled with joy, however they soon realized that the pink was staining them in return.
"Oh no.."Levy muttered as the paint began to coat her arms and dress pink.
"I swear whoever did this is going to pay dearly this stuff is just horrible!" Lisanna grumbled, as she began working on his legs and tummy.
"So Levy how did you ever wind up in the cat cage?" She asked causing Levy to pause. She didn't know what to say. Sooner or later her story would come to light to the others but she didn't expect to be asked directly.
"I've heard the whispers from the others but you don't have to tell me if you don't feel comfortable. But my siblings and I came here when the orphanage that we use to live in tried to separate us. They wanted Elfman to work in the auto factory and me and Mira to go to a home out of the country. We ran away that very night and hopped on the train. We didn't even know where to go but all we knew was that we couldn't let the world separate us." She said softly.
"So here we are years later. Mira was once the best daredevil in the whole circus. Tightrope walking, leaping off high, even trapeze. Mira did it all until she got into the accident and the Ringmaster decided it was better if she stayed on the ground and help out with the bar and keeping everyone in line."
"I didn't peg Mira would be someone who did that." a stunned Levy said. Mira didn't scream to be the type of person to do those kinds of daring acts. Lisanna only laughed.
"She was a huge crowd drawer back when we were kids. People used to line up overnight just to get tickets to see her perform." She paused, "Thank you for helping, everyone is scrambling for tonight and we're already have had to deal with this insane chaos from this morning so an extra hand helps." Lisanna sighed as the the stress of tonight's performance loomed over them.
"Alright I'll bring out another one. Take Silver here to the middle of the river(;) he'll know what to do." Lisanna smiled as she handed Levy the rope.
"Wait I-I-I've hardly been around animals much less a horse! I don't know what I'm doing?" Levy stammered, she looked up at the horse who was giving her a curious look. Fear and anxiety bubbled up in her as she stood there not knowing what in the world to do She tried to give the lead rope back to Lisanna, shaking her head in fear. Lisanna smiled
"Levy relax." Lisanna grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her dead in the eye.
"Horses feel our emotions, what you feel they feel. Silver here will never harm you, he is a kind, gentle soul. More than likely he will take care of you. Trust me when I say this, you can do it. And don't worry about the mud,the river only has rocks in it so you both will be fine." Lisanna smiled gently and place the rope once again in Levy's hands.
"Besides, if Lily likes you then so would all the other animals." She winked and set off to fetch another horse. Levy took a step towards and tugged Silver to step with her. Feeling confidence blossoming in her, she made her way into the gentle river, Silver never leaving her side. Her short stature however, didn't help as she made her way to the middle of the soft river. By the time she was a quarter of a way there she was already waist deep in water. Silver took the advantage and began to sink to his knees and attempted to roll in the river. Levy tried to back up and felt her barefoot slip on the rocks under her. Water encased her and fear surged through her like lightning. The rope in her hands began to tighten and she was dragged back to shore by Silver who looked unamused at the fact she had fallen into the water.
"Thank you boy." she coughed and he rolled his eyes and once again sank to his knees and proceed to get the soap off of him.
After five hours of scrubbing and washing horses, Levy's arms were in pain and she was soaked to the bone. However, with three blazing white horses tied up on the side of the trains she felt happy to have been of help to Lisanna.
With a quick change of both her dress and wound dressing, she enjoyed a late lunch in a packed mess hall with Lucy, Natsu. Levy warned Natsu to check his oil for tonight to make sure that it wasn't water or something else. Gajeel however, couldn't be found, no matter how hard she looked. A part of Levy wished that he was nearby,she felt safer with him around. After lunch she hurried off to find Max as the circus prepared themselves for the performance within the next few hours.
She found the bowl cut hair man under a mess of cables and wires muttering to himself, cursing at some points. At the top of a tall podium stationed just above the entrance to where the audience enters. Parts of the podium was almost haphazardly thrown together, and even though it felt sturdy, the patches and rickety ladder going up didn't ease her mind.
"Hello?" She called out to the man. He sat up, forgetting where he was and slammed his head clean on the sound board.
"Ouch! gosh damn it, fourth time today." He grumbled, before scooting out from underneath "Hi! You must be Levy, I'm Max. Sound and light coordinator." He offered his hand and Levy shook it "Welcome to the best seat in the house."
Irene walked through the city of Oak town slinking through the streets rather than her proud strides. Normally she would don risque clothing showing off her features but not this time. She was on a hunt for truth to what Jet had told her. Her informants had told her that Fairy Tail Circus had indeed landed in Oak town for the week and was performing tonight. But what she wanted was to see if they still had her beloved panther.
It was getting close to sunset as the sun was just starting to sink behind the mountains. Pulling her hat down,she made her way into the circus, keeping her face hidden as she did not want her children or Makarov seeing her. She paid for her ticket and settled for a seat midway up the stands. Far enough from where the performers can't see her but close enough to where she can see them.
Surveying the area she saw that just above the entranceway was a huge platform and she spotted the blue hair girl Jet was seeking. Irene can could tell that she was nervous of the man working her, she would flinch slightly if he raised his hand to fast and even making sure that he never got behind her. She would be easy to catch once her guard was down, Irene thought to herself.
All at once the lights dimmed and a single spot light shined on the center. Music began to play a mysterious tune and the audience leaned forward in their seats eager to see what will happen.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Boy and Girls. Welcome to the world's most amazing show on Earthland!" A voice boomed through the tent. In a flash of purple smoke Master Makarov appeared in the center, wearing an all white uniform and holding a cane. The crowds cheered excitedly.
"Welcome one and all tonight we will be showing you some of the greatest acts ever! Daring stunts and creatures from far away lands. Magic that will fill you with wonder and exotic dancers! Please give a warm welcome to-" All of a sudden the sound and lights cut out. Surprised flooded the tent as the audience wondered if this was a surprised hush fell over the crowds they looked around in curiosity wondering what would happen murmurs of excitement arose from them.
Suddenly drums began to play, Irene can could feel the rattel deep within her. Suddenly fire came of nowhere came alive, spinning and burring.
"Ma'ma look it's the pink hair fire dancer!" A child squealed excitedly(, pointing at the source of the dancing fire). A shirtless man with a flaming fire staff danced to the drums, the crowd watched as he controlled the fire like he was a dragon. After a few minutes another set of flames came alive. A female with Fire poi danced with the young man the two almost in perfect harmony.
However, Irene could hear what was going on above in the platform. Apparently there was something wrong with the lights and sound and they were trying to fix it. She smiled, so there were problems going on in the circus, she could most certainly use it to her advantage.
Using the influence the fire dancers had on the crowds, and the turmoil within, she snuck out of the stands and into the backstage area.
"Someone find Laxus! We need him right now!" She heard Makarov yell as she slipped along the shadows. She paused briefly as her eyes laid on her son and two daughters. The three of them were helping a tall man with white hair place headpieces on the elephants. What she wouldn't give to snatch up little Wendy at the moment at and use her as live bait to bring her other two running straight back into her hands.
"Gajeel, go with Lisanna right now and help her with her horses, something is spooking them. And if you see any members of the Thunder Legion, tell them to get on deck! They were suppose to go first, but now it seems they have vanished." Makarov commanded. Irene smiled; oh how she simply loved chaos. She loved the effects it had on people and the power to be the one dishing it out.
Silently she continued her scouting on the circus, taking mental notes on who to watch out for and who would be of no trouble to her when the time came. She came across a huge cage and when she looked inside her heart leaped with joy. Her treasured black panther had grown into a fine beast, and what's more is that he wasn't alone: there were six more various felines with him.
She smiled wickedly, "I can't wait to take you all home with me."