Volume Six: Dragons, Demons, and Other Family Members
Earthland-2, Northern Seven, X776: Erza
I don't remember this area, Erza realized, staring around in disbelief. Not any of it. While it was true that they were still many miles from the former site of Rosemary Village, Erza Scarlet was still overwhelmed with disbelief. How is it not even a little familiar? The hills in the distance, the broad green fields slowly turning brown, trees in the distance starting to change color, the village near them bustling even with its obviously small community – Erza recognized none of it.
Behind her, Ultear's gateway vanished. They were a large group, with all of Erza's Tower family once again accompanied by Miss Ur and her two children. Gray and Ultear scanned the area, the boy nodding gravely to Ur, while Ultear smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. The powerful ice wizard rolled her eyes at the duo and chuckled. "Clear," Ur said, looking at Erza.
Jellal unrolled his map, much more detailed than the chalk ones he'd spent the last several days drawing and erasing, and began muttering to himself. I'm glad Levy finally convinced him to use some paper, Erza thought, but why does he spend so much time with her? The small knight-mage's eyes widened, and she fought off a blush while she looked over the rest of her team. N-not that it's a problem or anything.
Simon, of course, was looking around and fidgeting. He examined the village minutely, but also the fields around them. Wally had put on what looked like sunglasses, but the same enchantment that helped him target his Polygon Magic would let him scan for other things. Millianna was hunched down, sniffing at the grass, her conjured tail curling back and forth. She's not going to smell like "girl Simon," Milli, Erza thought, but she couldn't help be moved by Millianna's determination to help. Shou was flipping through his deck, frowning at each card he saw. Unlike his combat spells, Shou's divination magic was nowhere near Cana's league, but he tried all the same. Erza gripped her sword hilt and gritted her teeth, glaring around them. I feel so useless.
"Guidance of the North Star: Polaris Dial," Jellal chanted gently, holding out his hand. A tiny yellow-gold star formed above his palm, an even smaller blue one orbiting it. "Kagura Mikazuchi." The pinpoint blue light floated towards town, though it moved slowly and flickered as it went.
Wally raised an eyebrow at the spellwork. "Is that even working, nii-san?" he asked.
"We'll know soon enough," Jellal replied, eyes fixed on the star in his hand. "I just need someone to make sure I don't run into a wall or anything." Erza strode to his side, a hand on his shoulder. The blue-haired genius nodded. "The rest of you can keep searching. No sense putting all our hopes on one new spell." With that, he walked towards the town, Erza at his side. Ur chuckled, and Erza's face grew warmer yet. Why is this happening? It didn't used to be like this. She remembered his hands in her hair, the fearless boy right by her side, giving Erza her new name. Not much, anyway.
They strode through the field, purple wildflowers contrasting with the fading green of the grass. "Your eyes," Jellal muttered, his own briefly darting from the star.
"Hm?" Erza nearly stopped, but Jellal kept moving, so she stayed at his side.
"In the right light, they're purple. Almost violet." He chuckled. "It's a good thing I noticed your hair first. 'Erza Violet' wouldn't suit you, no matter how beautiful your eyes are." Erza moved to stand directly behind him, sure that her face was as scarlet as her hair. Y-you shouldn't say such things, Erza thought, but remained silent.
Mercifully, the town was closer than it first seemed, standing at the base of the hill they crested. Within a few minutes, they were walking along the streets. Erza found that she did in fact have to occasionally stop Jellal from walking into a wall, vending machine, or even a pedestrian at one point. He frowned at the Polaris Dial spell and waved his free hand over it. A magic circle appeared over the yellow star, and its little blue companion brightened. "That way," he blurted, and the smaller star pivoted, directing them anew. Jellal marched on with increasing urgency, Erza keeping pace with grim determination. Kagura. We will find you.
"Just hand over the sword, little girl!" a gruff male voice demanded. Jellal gasped, and the dial spell vanished.
"This 'sword' belonged to my mother," a younger voice replied, feminine and unrelenting. Jellal rushed forward, and Erza ran to keep up. "You will not take it."
Another young man chuckled. "Look, kid, you're cute and all, but you shouldn't have come into Ghoul Spirit turf. Hand over the blade and we'll let you leave."
"Hmph." Erza recognized the sound of a habaki breaking its bond with its scabbard. She hasn't drawn yet, the knight-mage thought, but she's ready to. "Apologize," the girl said, voice even and unwavering, "and I will let you leave."
The men laughed. Three of them, Erza thought, jaw set. They will regret this! "You hear that, boys? She'll let us leave!" There was a pause, feet shifting in preparation. Jellal, hurry! Erza demanded, her partner slowing as he threaded the town's back alleys. "Take it."
"Gravity Change!" the girl chanted. Jellal and Erza rounded the corner to find a pretty girl in a white uniform. She had hazel eyes lighter than Jellal's, a wakizashi at her hip –
– and shimmering violet hair, exactly as Simon had described –
– and Erza sucked in a breath when she realized she remembered her. "Kagura?" she whispered.
"Kagura Mikazuchi," Jellal agreed, smiling that pure, reassuring smile that had sheltered a broken little girl two years before. "It's good to finally meet you." He glanced down, chuckling at the whimpering, prone trio of gang members, pressed against the cobblestones by the child's formidable magic. Only the largest could do more than twitch, and even then, he barely kept his shaved head off the ground. "Though I doubt these criminals would agree."
Kagura blinked at them, hand still on her sword hilt. Good instincts, Erza approved, nodding to herself. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
The darkness boiled and erupted from where Jellal's and Erza's shadows intermingled. Kagura hissed in a breath and stepped back, moving to draw her blade, but froze. Erza turned to find Simon there, as she expected, eyes wide and barely believing. "Kagura? Is...is it really you?" he whispered, reaching toward her.
Kagura's eyes widened to a size that seemed impossible. "Simon," she gasped. The girl stood there for a moment, her trembling just barely noticeable. "Nii-san." Then she carefully pressed the hilt to the scabbard, and two seconds later, ran into Simon's arms. Erza couldn't help a smile as the pair cried silently. She glanced briefly at Jellal, who nodded and turned his attention to the thugs still pinned to the ground. Her spell's fading, Erza noted, though it lasted quite a while for one so young. She watched over the siblings while Jellal observed the slowly rising criminals.
"You...dare..." the shaved-head goon managed to get up to his hands and knees. "I'm...going to–"
"Oi, oi," Jellal objected, echoing Gray's favorite interjection, "don't interrupt a family reunion." Shaved-head managed to glare at Jellal, a small magic seal forming around his right hand. Jellal sighed, his knife-hand chop almost gentle as he knocked the man out. Erza gaped at her friend, not surprised that he had the skill for such a thing, but that he'd been willing to use it. Jellal met her gaze, then turned completely around. "I-it'll make the guards' job easier," he muttered.
Before they could say anything else, Ultear's Arc of Space opened a gate behind them, and their team poured out. "I told you nii-san would find her!" Shou exulted. Millianna pouted and rubbed her knuckles against her lips. Erza chuckled. At least she isn't licking them.
Kagura finally detached herself from her brother and looked around, eyes widening again (though not nearly to the same level, Erza noted). "Nii-san? Is that Erza? Are these other people your friends?"
Simon put an arm around her shoulders. "They're more than that, imoto. They're our family."