Erza woke up to a vibrating pain in her neck, arms and stomach. After being tossed around effortlessly by Mirajane she stuggled to keep up, she knew she wasn't the most powerful Demon Queen ever but she was confident she could put up a good fight. Her expectations were crushed like her backbone. She lay in her bed looking at the ceiling, was she really strong enough to lead the Demons like she thought or was there a more suitable person like Mirajane. She recalled the feeling of rage she felt when Mirajane said she was planning to take control of the Demon World again, it was only to rile Erza up but it worked. At that point it made Erza feel unstoppable, the hard work she put to raise to her position and the amount of work she put in and how getting stepped on felt. She wasn't planning to just give it up without a fight, she was smart and prefered politics over violence of any kind.
Having worked to make the Demon World a part of everyday life for the whole world she knew that if someone with more experiance offered to teach her no matter how that person made her feel she could learn something from them. She got up determinated and with a jump she put on her clothes and slammed open her room door startling the gurads stading outisde.
'I'm leaving for the a few days, tell Lucy she's in charge until I'm back.' She stomped down the staris of her tower and headed for the door of the castle.
'My lady are you going back?' Algaran met her outside.
'I am.'
'Are you sure going back is the best choice, My Lady?' He was worried, when they left yesterday Erza had a defeated expression.
'I'm sure. You don't get the chance to be taught by one of the most powerful people ever everyday. Make sure to work hard while I'm gone and keep tabs on the other Generals, I don't think Lucy will be able to handle them alone.'
At the mansion Mira and Natsu sat at the usual table in the salon, opposite of eachother they looked at one another.
'What happened to no one finding out you're alive?' Natsu asked sarcastiaclly.
'...' No answer from Mira.
'That's one peaceful life you got goin' on there with the current Demon Queen and one of the Demon Generals already knowing you're alive and well. Not only that but you invted the Demon Queen to train.'
'...' Still no answer, it was as if a father was scolding his child.
'So what's the plan? You're going to show her how to use your magic better?'
'I don't know.' She almost whispered.
'Good one, well thought through. Can't wait for the execution of that plan. What made you offer to train her?'
'She struggled so hard to beat me, she wanted to do it so bad and she used every bit of strenght to bring me down. I mean, if you could have seen the rage and resiliance in her eyes to bring me down and beat me you would have offered it too. That glint in her eyes the raginf fire, you know what I'm talking about?'
Natsu froze for a moment and looked into Mira's eyes. There was a brief pause as the cynical expression faded from Natsus face.
'Yeah... I know what you're talking about.'
'That determination in her eyes, it made me think about how much she must care for her people and what she's willing to sacrifice to protect it.'
'Well...You go teach her then, good luck because your guest is here.'
There was a knock on the door, Natsu and Mira looked towards the door.
'You need me to hold your hand for this or...?' He mocked her.
Mira shot him a deadly glance, she got up and made her way towards the door. She stood at it like she did the other day trying to decide how to act when she opens it. Another knock. Mira opened the door and seen Erza standing there with a smile which welcomed her but somehow looked intimidating.
'Lady Mirajane, I will be in your care.' She bowed slightly.
Mira didn't respond. She didn't know how to, dealing with others wasn't one of her strong points.
'Lady Mirajane?'
'COME IN!' She shouted so loud Natsu came running from the salon with a frightened expression.
He looked at Erza who stood there puzzeled and stiff. He then looked at Mira who was just as puzzeled with a pale face.
'BWAH!' Natsu laughed. 'Good start. Good start.' He kept laughing while walking away.
Finally even Emma ran up to see what the shouting was about, she passed Natsu who held his stomach laughing and making his way back into the salon. She ran up to Mira who still stood there.
'WHAT HAVE I DONE?!' Mira thought to herself. 'I was meant to invite her in nicely, what have I done?! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!'
Mira grabbed Emmas arm and gestured for help.
'Please, come in, Lady Erza.' Emma invited her in.
Startled Erza walked in. She didn't quite know what was going on.
'THANK YOU!' Mira whispered to Emma. 'You get a big bonus of those shiny circles you humans like.'
Mira, Natsu and Erza were stead in the salon. The atmosphere was awkaward after Mira's loud invitation, Natsu still let out the occasional laugh while reading a book and the awkardenss continued.
'Excuse us for a moment.' Mira broke the silence. 'Natsu could you join me for a moment.' She signaled for the to leave the salon.
'What for?' Natsu asked not averting his gaze from his book.
Mira stood up and walked over to him, grabed him by the shirt and almost dragged him out.
'First lesson going well?' He mocked her.
'Natsu.' She looked him in the eye, her eyes were slightly teary and not a single trace of a smile at the joke decorated it. Natsu looked at her and noticed how serious she seems.
'Mira, what's wrong?' He asked concerned.
'HOW DO I TEACH HER?!' She finally blurted out, loudly. They stopped for a moment hoping Erza didn't hear anything.
'You don't know how to teach her?'
'No.' The answer was instant.
'Just teach her how you do it, tell her what you do and how you do it.'
'I just do it.'
'Wha-There has to be some kind of method.'
'Yeah, doing it.'
'...'
'What.'
'You are so screwed. She'll think you did this to mock her.'
'What do I do?!' She panicked even more.
Natsu thought for a moment before speaking.
'Good luck.' A magic circle opened beneth his feet and he was swallowed by it.
'NATSU!' She reacher to grab him before he was fully gone but all she could see was his smug smile. The type of smile he had when he wanted to say 'Deal with it on your own.'
'NATSU! YOU MOTHERF-'
'Lady MIrajane?' Erza popped out from the salon. 'Is...Everything alright.?' She was slightly concerned.
'YEEAS!' She jumped.
'I was wondering when we're going to start the training.'
'NOW!' She shouted again but this time she realised it. 'Now.' She corrected herself
They stood in the fields behind the mansion. Mira still had no idea how to train Erza at all, so she did the only thing she really knew how to do best.
'Hit me.' She said.
'Sorry?' Erza wasn't sure if she heard right.
'Try to knock me down. Use Demon Soul.'
'That's it?'
'You weren't able to do it before.' Mira smirked.
Erza used her Demon Soul, horns and wings grew from her body. She leaned back a bit and then like a slingshot she shot towards Mira. Her arm was fully prepared to lauch into Miras stomach. Before it even connected her hand was stopped by Miras, almost effortlessly she threw Erza to the side.
'You can't use a perfect Demon Soul.' Mira asked.
'Since you, no one can.' She said getting up from the ground.
'You don't understand the magic is why. You have theses thoughts about protecting and saving but magic is all about emotion. Come again.'
Erza was ready to punce again. She moved a bit to the left circling Mira. She knew to hurt her just attacking won't be enough. She hit the gound with her first smashing part of it into little rocks. Using magic she made them levitate and froced them towards Mira, they were sharp enough to pierce skin going at 80 km/h. At the same time the stones collided she rushed towards Mira, as she got close enough to make contact she knew Mira would be able to throw her away again so just before she hit her she made a sharp step to the left and went for the side of her stomach.
Mira turned around so Erza was now facing her back and right before Erza got a hit she stomped the ground causing a pillar of black flame to swallow up Erzas hand. Mira kept spinning as she moved her to take control over the incoming stones, she did a full 360 taking Erza along with her causing her to be thrown again. While Erza lay on the floor, panting from hitting the ground she was hit with the stones she threw at Mira.
'You wouldn't need to play any tricks if you perfected Demon Soul. I created it for attacking.'
Erza didn't respond, she felt it was a provocation. She got up again.
'Demon Sould was created to attack.' Mira continued. 'You don't need to think about saving, protecting or helping. You need the rage, the fear and the violence to take over.'
'How am I meant to get angry and feel the rage when there's nothing to be angry over.'
'You feel like there's nothing to be angry over? I just tossed you like a piece of cloth and you think it's not a reason to feel any rage?'
Erza didn't answer.
'Erza, I didn't even move from my spot.'
'I understand.' Erza said with her head down.
'Come again!' She guetured with her hand.
A coat of black flames exploded around Erza as she stomped the ground running to Mira, there was no tricks while she sprinted towards Mira almost hunched as if she were to start running on all fours. She looked more and more like a beast.
'That's it.' Mira whispered to herself as she braced for impact. Erza was withing punching range within seconds but this was no punching battle, Erza lift both her hands trying to go for a hammer-like hit from the top but right before she made contact with Miras head her hands were caught by Miras.
It was a contest of strength and ferocity, Erza pushed down and moved Mira back a bit. Quickly Mira answered by pushing towards Erza with relative ease.
'This is you best shot? HIT ME!'She shouted to push Mira to the edge. She knew best that if someone kept shouting at you mockingly it was the best motivation to prove them wrong.
Erza's magic exploded further, she screamed a warrors cry as she pushed Miras hands back. Eventually Mira had to give in and was forced back. She didn't expect it and using the element of surprise Erza went in for a heavy punch landing a direct hit on Mira's face.
Mira was thrown backwards by the force of the punch, she felt it, she knew Erza was getting closer to releasing Demon Soul. The visible characteristics were the mire beast like wings, bigger horns and the overall beastial appearance in her eye's.
Mira pushed herself off the ground and wiped her lip where Erzas fist connected. She as getting excited to be in a real fight after 400 years. it looked as if she made one step but she actually pushed herself off the gorund, she jumped towards Mira at a speed normal humans weren't able to see. She was coming at Erza with a haymaker, a full power punch. Mira almost appeared out of thin air right infront of Erza and like foam from someones hair the effect of Demon Soul disappeared like it were washed off. On Erza's face was just fear like she was about to meet the reaper. She could see the power of Mira's punch coated with black fire of sharpness and a dark colour so much so that it made the one Erza made look bright gray.
Erza dropped all defenses, she knew there was no blocking this. Miras fist was right before her eye's when she instinctively covered her face with her arms and prepared for impact. A second, two, three and four there was nothing not even the eerie feeling she had from Miras magic. She moved her arms slightly to see what had happened. Before her stood Natsu with Miras clenched and held within his, he had a serious look on him and pierced Mira with it.
Immidietly she could see the panic on Miras face as she stood there with her hand in his. Ntasu looked at Erza and then at Mira. The imposing presence he had right now made Mira's punch look like a kitten. It was hard to breath and Erzas body was heavy.
'Natsu...'Mira said nervously.
