OMG IM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ON VACATIONS AND CAME BACK A FEW DAYS AGO. I WROTE A LOT DURING MY BREAK SO I HAVE LIKE 3 MORE CHAPTERS IN STOCK.
Sorry again, this chapter is 5000 words long so...yeah.
Thanks to everyone, please leave a review, they always remind me there's people who like my stuff and want to know more. it encourages me a lot so please do. I also wanna thank all those who fav and like from the bottom of my heart.
Enjoy a lot! I'll update very soon:D
Chapter 10
Being in the army means going to war, killing people.
I wanna be strong, but I'm not sure if I would trade strength for….lives.
But being weak made me lose everything, yet those things I lost didn't have any real value…So I don't really have a reason or excuse to be a ruthless warrior.
I have no pride for this kingdom, no desire for revenge or blood, nor do I have someone to fight for…
Who am I doing this for? And for what? For Jellal? I barely know him, I mean he's cute but not worth a life I think. I don't have any friends, well there's Natsu and Gray, but although Gray is quite sexy, I know them even less than I know Jellal. And for myself? With what purpose?
Am I doing this because it's just what comes next or is it my destiny to fight?
According to Jellal we'll be making a very long journey, so I might as well have time to figure things out.
He seems very secure on the king's decisions of destroying and killing everything in their path to conquest, I wonder if any of these men feel any sort of remorse? Will I be like them? Will I grow use to killing?
I can't keep all these thought spinning around my head.
I sigh.
"You okay Scarlet? You haven't said a word since we left?" Jellal asked from his horse that walked just beside me.
"Yeah yeah I'm fine" I said with not much enthusiasm.
"Aren't you tired?" he asked worriedly. actually I was tired since we walked out the castle, I have never walked this much in my entire life and we just walked a few kilometers away from the kingdom, but I don't wanna be with anyone right now.
"I'm fine really" I lay with quite a lot of credibility but somehow he knew I was lying as he picked me up from the back of my shirt like a little kid and got me over his horse, maybe it's that tone I mentioned before what busted me again. And by the way...
HOW DID HE CARRY ME UP WITH JUST ONE ARM WHILE IN MOTION!?
This guy...
He wrapped his arms around me, but my shoulders are really tense and I'm not comfortable at all.
"What's in your mind love?" he asked with concern.
"I told you already, it's nothing" I said trying to get off the horse annoyed, but his arms blocked my movements.
"Look, we're missing 3 hours until we reach our first camping site.
"Are you going to cooperate or do I have to make you cooperate?"
"Woaaaah all mighty pants take a chill pill would ya? I'm just thinking"
"what are you thinking so much about?"
"If thoughts were meant to be heard, wouldn't they be spoken out loud?" I asked with a spoonful of irony. He didn't like that, I could feel his glare.
Fuck me then.
I didn't mean that literally...
I meant I don't care.
Yeah.
That.
"What's got your panties all in a twist! Geez" I spat rolling my eyes, but somehow in a quick movement Jellal had me facing him completely.
He was looking at me very intensely, I stared back, the tension between us was growing by the second, that until he opened his dreadfully kissable mouth and asked "are you on your period?"
I felt my eye twitched and I felt an incredible desire to slap him so hard, but I have a better idea for a punishment.
I relax my face and close the distance between us.
"If I'd be on my period..." I started trailing off with a low tone, while my hands caress his neck and down his chest, opening his shirt
"...I'd do..." I said feeling his heartbeat going faster as I continue touching his flesh with my hands.
I grab fistfuls of his hair and brush my lips to his neck, feeling his unsteady breathing as well.
I got this bastard where I want him.
As I grazed his lips with mine I finish the sentence I seductively let hanging saying "this" dropping to a serious tone, I felt his muscles tense but it was too late.
I pushed him off the horse.
Yep, I just slid him off a moving horse.
AND IM NOT EVEN ON MY PERIOD.
I smiled as I watched him falling over in slow motion, along with a terrified expression on his face. I turned around to face the front once again, taking the reins of the horse ordering it to speed up. I turned my head back to look at Jellal. He landed in his feet, which was a shame, because I wanted him to break his beautiful face, but fair enough I give him that.
"Hey come back!" I heard his voice in the distance, and I caught him sprinting from the corner of my eye, but seriously even the All
Mighty Captain should know he can't outrun a horse, or is he that dumb?
"Frieren!" he screamed and the horse stopped running.
Are you serious!? I turn to see him getting closer, then back at the horse.
"C'mon horse! Move! Move! I give you strawberry cheesecake I promise! Go! Go!" I pleaded to the horse while patting its neck.
"Über!" Jellal spoke loud again but this time I heard it closer.
The horse suddenly raised its upper half in the air taking me by surprise. Now I was falling in slow motion off the horse, I reached for the reins, but it was useless I was going down.
Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.
Maybe if I do a back flip I can land on my feet! Like Jellal did!
Okay, I just have to-
Wait...when did I stop falling?
That didn't hurt at all!
Arms...?
I look up to meet a pair of wickedly evil irresistible green eyes.
Oh geez...
"That was very immature of you Princess" he said with a charming smile.
"What!? You're the one that called on my period!" I said grabbing his cheeks "you can feel its wrath now!" I said now stretching out his cheeks. He smiles knowing we are even now, with no hard feelings.
His face turns serious once again. Oh boy, I know what's coming now. I get up, leaving his arms and continue walking.
"Erza-"
"I don't wanna talk about it!"
"I just wanna-"
"Let it go, Jellal, just..." I said walking away.
Why does he have to ruin this? I don't want to talk about how I feel about this stupid war!
God!
I walked in silence for the rest of the way, Jellal didn't bother asking me anything again. thank god for that.
I fell behind the pace of the front line. I don't know how long it's gonna take us to reach the camping site, but I can only pray we're close.
Should've kept the horse.
If only I spoke German...
"Hey bitch" I heard the familiar insulting voice of Natsu, along with his hand SPANKING MY TATTOOED ASS.
"Don't spank my ass" I said but with no acid, things were cool. I was tired but chilled.
"Sorry, I thought it was our thing"
"Our thing?" i repeat confused.
He gives me a fully sincere smile reassuring "We're comrades now! arent we?"
This guy actually makes me happy "we are" i confirm.
He spanks my ass once more.
"HEY!" i screamed but Gray came and hit Natsu's face for me.
"What you did that for Stripper?!" Natsu asked rubbing his sore cheek.
"Respect the Princess idiot! Ive told you already!" i kept walking while they kept fighting.
but i could still hear their voices behind me saying "why you care so much about her, youve only met her!"
"Cause shes a lady. Asshole"
"you liiiiiiike her"
"You little-"
Im not sure if i heard right, i wont give any thoughts to that conversation though.
I really want to know the purpose of this war...
Jellal surely knows the whole plan, but i just had a fight with him.
Laxus could be other source, but i wouldnt come near him even if he had the winning numbers of the lottery.
Guess I won't know until one of us takes the first step...
After what felt like a decade we finally arrived to the camping site, right as the sun was setting.
Everyone started setting their tend with very little effort i had to say, cause im not doing a very neat job i have to admit.
Okay, I got this.
First I expanded the whole piece on the ground, and I proceeded to fold the fabric diagonally. Then I thrust the short metal poles on the far opposite corners. Finally, I took one of the large poles and...
Who am i kidding, the tend is as fucked up as my description of making it.
i kicked one of the poles in frustration, but aparently they were very well placed cause my foot now hurts like hell.
Like my day.
i sigh.
Well i can always just use this as a blanket and sleep under the stars.
"dinner's ready jack-asses!...and Lady" i laugh when i hear that extra for me.
A huge line forms in no time, hungry men all lined up. Im the last in line, but im not even hungry so its fine with me.
i havent seen jellal in a while...
"Erza!" oh pleaaase not this guys again.
"Oii Erza we saw your tend...That shit's miserable"
"Thanks for the critic judge" i said very sarcstically, but apparently it wasnt enough.
"Youre welcome" Natsu said as enthusiastiaclly as every.
Gray noticed though and chimmed in the converstion "What we meant was that youre welcome to stay with us, cause you kind of pierced your tend so..." he looked away with a shade of pink on his cheeks.
"Yeah! We also got you a plate with rice and chicken! here!" Natsu continued handing me the plate. Well that was a very nice gesture.
"Thanks" i said a bit cheered up, Natsu laughed like a little kid and SPANKED MY ASS AGAIN "Youre welcome Princess" I breathe in and out. These guy...
"We should get inside the tend" Gray said noticing my growing anger and taking the lead to the tend.
Wow they aparently made theirs perfectly...
it was big, for more than two people certainly and very spacious.
Gray opened the door for me and Natsu got inside as well. We sat but Gray was still looking outside while holding the zipper door.
After a moment he finally snapped out of it and got inside as well, zipping the door shut.
We ate awkwardly for several minutes, Natsu finished his plate by the time i decided to break the silence "Where we headed at?" i asked as casually as i could.
"War obviously" Natsu responded instanly
"i know but i mean-"
"North of Ishgar, we're on a journey to conquer the whole continent and once we get what we're looking for, we head for the real deal. Arbaless" that was easier than i thought it would be, and also
"What!? Arbaless?!"
"Yes Arbaless, otherwise known as the Dark continent.
I was speachless, Gray looked very serious of what he knew. But Arbaless...We wont be able to survive for a day without lossing our minds! Or thats what the scripts read at least.
"What kind of power you guys are hidding..."
Gray chuckled and leaned back closing his eyes "Nothing"
"..." i cant believe this... "Are you guys idiots!? You planning on going to Arbaless without-"
"Yet" he said cutting me off.
"What do you mean with that?"
"I said we were going to conquer the rest of Ishgar first"
"With what purpose?"
"First we need to purify the continent, Zeref's magic is expanding at a fast rate and-"
"Wait a moment! Zeref?! The dark wizard?!"
I dont even know how this conversation took this wild turn! How did this happen!? And what with purifying the contry? They mean destroy everything and kill everyone? that means purifying?
"Yes, that souless monster...We're gonna hunt him down, and kill him to end all the darkness" And suddenly we're talking about killing the God of Darkness in flesh? These guys truly are nuts! Gray knew about all this thoughts exploting in my head, and gave me a knowing look "I know it sounds crazy, but there is a way to kill him, a weapon"
"What kind of weapon will that be?" i asked with disbelief. Gray smiled confidently and opened his mouth, but Natsu interrepted saying
"Magic" Natsu said after gulping down my dinner as well. I turn to look at him, very confident about what he just said.
"Magic...?" i burst in laughter.
"Hey! We are serious! Dont-" but my laugh just got louder.
"Princess! Its the truth!" i stop laughing to look into Grays eyes "Reeeeeaally?"
"Yes, magic exists"
"Have you seen it?"
"No"
"Then how are you so sure it exists?"
"The King said it does" you gotta be kidding me...
"You're basing your beliefs entierly in what a man says?" i asked challening.
"we believe cause he saved us" Natsu spoke seriously out of the blue.
"What do you mean? Saved you from what?"
"Zeref's demons" Gray said emotionless.
"Zeref's...demons...? i thought-" they're real...? Demons are real. Gray stood from his seat and got closet to me, very close.
"you thought they were just a scary night story? Well let me tell you what, Princess, they are very real and-"
"Gray!" Natsu shouted and pushed him to the far end of the tend "Shes a lady you Dick-head, calm the fuck down" Natsu stood in front of me, facing Gray. The held glares for a long time, until Gray got up from the ground "Whatever" he said, and left the tend.
"im sorry, i didnt know-"
"Dont worry about him" Natsu said turning to me.
"i just-"
"he'll be fine. Demons...they just get to him, but its nothing to worry about"
"im sorry" i say sincerly.
"Hey, dont be, mistakes are a part of life, we all make them" he said with a big smile, like a little kid.
"So this magic...? is it real?"
"If Gramps said it is, I bet my ass it is" he said prideful. Im still not sure about this, but i guess ill take a leap of faith.
Zeref, darkness, and magic.
Just like the ancient scripts Father had.
I can just pray it doesnt end the same way...
We slept though the night, i had some trouble at first, cause now i know their goal, destroy Zeref. Which i think is great, but their path to conquest will mean destroying entire kingdoms, and killing everyone and everything.
Again taking innocent lives worries me, and i cant shake the guilt of even thinking about it. I have to know more about this plan, i should just talk to jellal and-
I open my eyes, but the burning sunlight hits me straight to my brain.
What the f?!
I use my hand to cover my eyes. Im outside and...everyone's staring...
Those bastards...
I cover my body with the green sheets, and my face is burning.
I get up from the ground and walk back to the tend, completely ignoring the perverted eyes and the whisteling. but i bump into someone on the way.
Jellal.
I look up to him, his face serious as our eyes meet.
"Quit goofying around soldier, get ready" he ordered shoving a bag, with quite some unnecesary force at my stomache. i just grab the bag and we stare at each other, until he walks away.
I rub my stomache a bit as i watch him walk away. i walk back to my tend and i open to zipper door to find Natsu eating his second plate of what looked like scrambled eggs and Gray...naked...
Our eyes connect and he looks down apparently just noticing his nakedness, and quickly looking back up. Dont look down Erza, dont look down...
Fuck.
My face was suddenly heating up.
Not virgen eyes anymore.
I closed my eyes shut and cover them with my hands as well. I also heard Natsu's loud laughter.
"Now you made it Stripper!"
"I-Im...P-Pard-don me P-Princess..." I opened a gap between my fingers to see if he was dressed now.
He was, thankfully. Although i admit his girlfriend will DEFENITLY love him.
"D-Dont I-I didnt kn-nock after all..." i responded still a bit embarrased i admit.
Natsu laughed again, but stood up and handed me one of the plates he had "Eat something, training starts in 10 minutes"
"10 minutes?! We just woke up!" this time they both laugh but just a bit "YOU just woke up" Natsu said "Cmon its your first day! Get ready!"
I nod and take a seat on the floor, opening the bag Jellal gave me.
It had clean bandages so i could use as underwear, also a pair of boxers, probably his...hmm...? and a white shirt. I miss him already, hes probably mad cause i didnt wanna tell him how i feel...
I take the white shirt in my hands and pull it close to my face. it smells just like him, a small smile escapes my lips. I didnt realize Natsu and Gray were still in here so that must have looked pretty weird, their faces tell me it was indeed quite weird.
"Sorry" i say stuffing the thing back inside the bag. I get up "Excuse me, wheres the bathroom?" i ask politley.
They just burst into laughter again. Whats with these people!? They either laugh a little or plain just explode!
"Whats so funny!?"
"There's no bathrooms here"
"Yeah, we're in the middle of nowhere"
"Then what am i suppose to do?!"
"I dont mind you changing here"
"Jellal said you're one of the boys now, I don't mind either" Woah these guys are incredible...
"YEAH BUT I DO MIND YOU SEEING ME NAKED"
"Fine we'll go"
"Geez Princess some trust for your comrades please" they mumbles as they left the tend.
Yeah yeah just go perverts.
I change to my new clean clothes very thankfully, although for some reason he didnt gave me any pants...
I hope that doesn't cause any controversy amongst my fellow companions...
I heard a loud gong sound coming from outside, I get out to find Natsu and Gray waiting for me outside.
"Cmon Princess we're about to start! cmon!" Natsu said eagerly taking my hands and pulling me with him as he made his way to the front lines. Gray followed just behind, pushing and shoving people so he could be with us. We got to the front, Jellal was staring at us, then directly into my eyes before he looked at the whole crew.
"Listen up dirty bastards and Princess" he said with not much appeal, but thanks?
"Our preparation for war starts now. We'll stay here for three days before we move to our next camping site" he said in a loud voice while he walked from side to side "I want everyone to give their best, we're heading for the real deal now. So everybody grab a wooden sword and a partner, the training begins!" everyone was like YEEEEAAHHH! but i just stood there like ...ok..a..y...
"I wanna fight the Princess!"
"What!? Why me?!"
"I bet youre pretty good with swords! i wanna fight ya!"
"I-I..."
"Natsu, youre fighting Gray" a voice coming from behind Natsu said.
"Aye! Aye! Captain!" Natsu said rushing "Gray!" he screamed and they started fighting. I didnt even see when they took their swords
"Princess" Jellal said, he had a real sword in hand and threw another to the ground in front of me "Youre fighting me" i gulp.
He's still mad.
I get down to take the sword, but he steps closer and holds the sharp end of the sword to my throat.
What the fuck!?
He presses the flat part of the sword to my chin, forcing me to stand.
His face was completly serious.
What he wants to kill me now?
"What are you trying to prove?"
He doesn't answer.
I glance quickly at the ground, the sword is just over my right foot. Maybe i can kick it up?
I stare back at him. He's expressionless, not giving any clues.
I just hope he doesnt slash my thoat.
I make a quick back step with my left foot, moving my body as well to create distance between us. He reacts instantly, thrusting his sword forward. I kicked up my sword effectively and grabbed it with my right hand just in time to make an upper slash and divert his attack.
We both took a step back to regain our balance. A drop of sweat ran down my face. I also noticed he managed to cut very superficially my skin, just a small cut below my jaw.
I guess we both know who is on his period.
He suddenly smirks "Impressive, but lets see if you can handle this!" he charged forward with a down slash, I blocked it, but he was applying quite some force downwards. I pushed forward to get some space and jumped back afterward to recover, but in no time he was delivering slashes again. I blocked them, but he was forcing me back.
His feet caught my attention, they were very close together, cause I wasn't taking long steps back. I might be able to trip him.
I continue blocking slashes until he makes a horizontal slash. I take the chance to duck, dropping the sword I land with my hands on the ground and kick horizontally with my right foot.
He...jumps...though...
Shit.
I spin my whole leg around and grab the sword, but I didn't have a balance point to get back up.
Jellal threw me another horizontal slash, I leaned on my left knee and straighten the sword to receive the impact, but the sword... he Just cut through it. The force sends me off balance and I landed on my butt defenseless.
That's not fair!
He held the sharp end of his sword to my throat like before.
I stared up at him as he did down at me.
"Kill me, isnt that what youre trying to do? do it" he narrows his eyes, please dont kill me, please dont kill me.
"Do it, i dare you" this time he frowns, dont kill me please, please, please!
"Do it!" i scream and he thrusts his sword. i close my eyes.
Nothing happens. I open my left eye and his holding out his hand to me. I open my other eye. he had a smile on his beautifully stupid face.
THANK GOD HE DIDNT DO IT.
"Im not as souless as you'd think Scarlet" i take his hand and he pulls me close.
"That was very impressive for a first timer"
"What did you expect me to do, you were trying to kill me!"
He laughs, cause death is so funny!
"I was forcing you to do your best, and it was pretty good. Youre a natural"
"but take it easy would ya, i almost pee my pants"
"Youre not wearing any"
"Thats exactly my point! where are my pants!"
"I like your legs, they're sexy"
"I dont care!"
"but they make me wanna do this" he said kissing me all of a sudden.
God i missed those lips.
i kissed back and fall into his embrace, he broke the kiss and went to my neck "and this..." he said as he kissed the small cut below my jaw. I winced a little, but he seized the pain with his tongue.
Erotic i know.
He stopped though and came back to face me "sorry about that cut" he said truthfully "Aww dont worry about it" i said placing a hand on his cheeks "i could cut your head and we'll be even" his smile vanishes as he felt the sharp blade behind his neck "I win" i said victoriously.
"When did you-"
"Thats my secret" i said winking at him.
He smirked, "Woah, what happened to the scared cat that suddenly appeared on my door step?"
There he goes again.
"She's been thinking" i answered dropping his sword and walking away
"Hey, come back" he said grabbing my wrist
"Again? Seriously? I dont-"
"I know you spoke with Gray about everything" he said seriously looking into my eyes "I ordered him to tell you everything"
"You know what had me worried...Then why didnt you-"
"Of course i knew! You think im so blind i wouldnt see that a Princess is worried about killing and destroying kingdoms, alongside the ones that destroyied hers?! Please"
"I-"
"I wanted you to ask me..." he said letting go of my hand "i wanted- i wanted you to trust me..."
"How can you ask for my trust?! Your army destroyed my kingdom! Everything!"
"You dont understand, your kingdom was doomed"
"Doomed?! What do you mean?! Seriously Jellal how can you expect me to be all right?! I know nothing!"
"Dark magic, it had consumed all your people. Once the battle started they turned into demons"
"Again with magic, and what about me? why didnt i turned?"
"Dark magic only affects strong bonds of affection, your parents loved you very deeply, but the fact that they kept you inside the castle and far from everyone made you grow apart from their love. They knew about the dark magic, they protected you-"
"By pushing me away"
"They did it to save you"
"Yeah, but they didn't prevent a filthy army of men from kidnapping me to have me as a price for the great accomplishment of killing!
Why did the king threw me to you?"
"I dont know Erza! Its part of being a man, other men think they can throw us pieces of meat and its fine with us!"
"Now im a piece of meat"
"You know what i meant"
"what happened to the other girls?"
"I told you i protected them as much as i could! We're the good guys and we are also humans..."
"what happened to them!"
"They turned into demons!"
There was a moment of silence.
"I killed them. I had to they-"
"Why havent i turned?" it hurt me to ignore him, and i can tell it hurt him too, but i have to know. I need to know.
"Fairy Tail has magic"
"You guys dont seem to get tired of these so called magic do ya?"
"Its the truth, thats why we havent turned, light magic protects the kingdom of Fairy Tail"
"Really?" i said skeptically.
"Yes, the goddess Mavis takes care of us and protects us with her Fairy Sphere"
Mavis...I've also read about her in the scripts. Could this possibly be the truth? Magic is real...?
"If you already have magic why are you searching for it?"
"We don't have magic, that Mavis's magic. She purifies the land as we pass by it. I know you think its killing...but these people are already dead, they're trapped and suffering in darkness" he gets closer to me and speaks from the heart "We just want freedom, for everyone"
I pull away "I don't know Jellal...I-"
he grabs my hands, squeezing them in his, but I don't look at him.
"Hey, don't you want to be free?" now I look in his irresistible green eyes "the only way to be truly free, is fighting. I'm not talking about combat, I'm talking about taking life head on, and being strong to fight whatever it throws at you" he brushes a strand of hair off my face.
"I'm weak, Jellal. Vulnerable, I can barely hold a sword, let alone thrust it into someone's chest"
"What!? you're amazing! You had me in there a few moments ago! You can do this...We can do this..." he said deeply gazing into my eyes.
Did he just said we?
I feel a very light blush in my cheeks and I can see on his face as well!
"It's different, we're just goofying around. i could never hurt you"
"I keep telling you, its not about the lives or the blood, its about fighting for yourself" he walked back and grabbed his sword "C'mon give it a try and when you realize you're your own restrain, you'll be free. Believe in your strenght, Erza"