Hey everyone! I've got a new chapter ready! The Tenrou Island arc is about to begin. I'm excited to write this one. I had so many ideas for it but I decided to go with this one! I hope you all like it! Anyways, let's go!
The Dark Fairy
Chapter 29
The guild hall was silent as everyone held their breath. Every wizard in the guildhall was on their feet and standing around the stage. Some mumbled silent prayers while others nervously chattered to themselves. Joshua was not nervous in the slightest. He took a deep breath. He knew what was coming, and he knew what he had to do. The strong but small footsteps of the Master pinged around him and his sandals clapped against the wooden floorboards of the stage. He grabbed the microphone and cleared his throat.
"I see everyone is here now."
Stepping up behind him was Gildarts, Mirajane, and Erza. Each with a deadly serious look on their faces.
"You all know what time of year it is." Makarov said as his voiced boomed out of the microphone, "Before I announce anything, I just want to say how proud I am of all of you. You all have worked incredibly hard and made me proud to be your guildmaster. Choosing who will go was no easy decision." Makarov spread his arms wide out, "But now it is time, to announce who will be allowed to go to the S class trials!"
The crowd cheered loudly. Anticipation in the air was building at a feverish pace. Joshua shrugged and slurped on a smoothie as he sat in a booth.
"Now then," Everyone leaned forward, "First I will say where the trials will be held."
"AW C'MON!" shouted Max Alors.
"Stop keeping us in suspense gramps!" shouted Natsu.
"Calm down, calm down." Makarov smiled, "You will know soon enough." The crowd's rowdiness faded and they listened quietly, "The S-Class trials will take place on our guild's sacred ground, Tenrou Island! The resting place of our first guild master, Mavis Vermillion!"
"Whoa!" "Really!" "That's amazing!"
Joshua practically choked on his smoothie.
Did… did he just say island? Joshua saw the vision of the dragon replay in his mind. Then the vision of Zeref. Joshua felt his hands begin to tremble. No, no, no. I won't allow that to happen. I have to change the course somehow. Joshua blinked. What if the way to change it is-
"Alright! Enough suspense!" Makarov announced, "It's time I told you who will be given the chance at getting the incredible S-Class rank!"
The cheers around Joshua grew louder as he shook in his seat with wide eyes. Erza smiled out at the crowd before her eyes landed on Joshua. She saw the terrified look on his face as he stared straight down at the table. Erza's smile faded, what was wrong?
"There are eight participants this year!" Makarov looked out at the crowd, "The names are… Natsu Dragneel!"
"YEEEEEEEESSS!" roared Natsu happily as he pumped a fist in the air.
"Gray Fullbuster!"
"Really!?" Gray said stunned as Macao patted him roughly on the shoulder.
"Cana Alberona!"
Cana frowned and looked away from the stage as she nervously rubbed her arm.
"Levy McGarden!"
"WAY TO GO LEVY!" cheered Jet and Droy with hearts in their eyes.
"Mest Gryder!"
"Mest will be tough competition." Wakaba mumbled as he looked over at a young man with short brown hair and a large scar on the left side of his head. "He made it last year too."
"Juvia Lockser!"
Juvia began to panic, "Juvia has to fight her love!"
"Elfman Strauss!"
"I feel like a real man!" bellowed the behemoth member of the Strauss siblings.
"And…"
Everyone held their breath.
"Joshua Scarlet!"
"WHAT!" exclaimed the entire guild hall.
The murmers began.
"He's just a kid."
"How the hell does he get to go in when Alzack has been here longer?"
"Bullshit, I'm calling it what it is."
Joshua clenched his jaw and closed his eyes.
"Now that the names are settled we will depart in-"
"Master Makarov." Joshua stood from his seat and looked up at the old man. You won't force me into a last resort, old man… this guild won't do that to me. And I won't let that future come to pass. "I decline to go."
Guildarts' eyes widened. He wasn't expecting that. Mira put hand over her mouth while Erza was stunned by Joshua's declaration. Makarov blinked for a moment.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DECLINE!" roared Makarov as he towered over the boy below the stage, "DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE HONOR YOU ARE TURNING DOWN!"
"There is no honor when it is a last resort." Joshua snarled back.
Makarov stopped yelling and his face softened instantly. He glanced over at Erza who looked away from the old master and to Joshua. Makarov sighed, that is how Erza explained it to him.
"Joshua…"
The boy shook his head again, "I won't go." he said stubbornly before turning to leave the guildhall, "Find someone else."
He shut the guildhall doors behind him. Erza looked after him in stunned silence as her mouth hung slightly open. Gildarts exhaled and shook his head. Wendy gulped and hopped down from her chair.
"Where are you going child?" asked Carla in a hushed tone.
"I'm going to see if he is ok." Wendy replied as she quietly followed Joshua out the door.
Makarov let out a defeated sigh, "Very well, we will only have seven." Makarov replied solemnly. The boy had found a way to get out of his test, "We leave in one week. Pick a partner to train with. That partner will assist you in the trials."
"Yes master!" the seven participants said together.
"Dismissed then."
Erza instantly descended from the stairs and walked swiftly out of the guildhall. She had to fix this situation quickly. Who knows what the Master was bound to do with this outcome.
….
"Joshua!" Wendy called after him as he walked along the canal that ran through Magnolia, "Wait up!"
Joshua stopped in his tracks. His hands were resting in his jean pockets and his head was bowed. Wendy ran up alongside him and stopped.
"Hey what's wrong? Why did you say no?" she asked.
"They don't want me in the trials Wendy." Joshua said bitterly before sitting down on the ledge next to the canal. His feet swung over the empty air that was above the still blue water, "Hell, most don't even want me in the guild."
Wendy shook her head before sitting down next to him, "That's not true!"
Joshua looked at the blue haired girl, "You heard what they were saying when my name was announced." he muttered, "I know you did, you've got dragon ears after all."
Wendy blinked, "I don't think all of them feel that way. I mean, Natsu seems to like you a lot."
"That's not hard to do." Joshua mumbled with a bowed head.
"Erza loves you. And Macao and Wakaba think you're amazing. Don't forget Romeo, the little kid practically idolizes you after you saved him and Macao on that one job." Wendy continued, "And Cana has called you the best card player she's ever seen and that you've earned her respect. Elfman called you a real man for standing up to Laxus. How can you say no one in the guild wants you?"
Joshua sat silently for a moment as he stared down at the water below. He stared at his reflection in it. Staring back, was a ten year old kid who was scared, but for some reason, no longer feeling like an outcast. He saw Wendy's reflection beside him, then he imagined Erza's on the other side with Natsu grinning behind him as well as his other friends.
"Thank you Wendy." He whispered before wiping his eyes and gulping. "I need that."
"I'm glad to help."
Joshua sat silently for a moment a sad look still on his face, "That was not the only reason I said no."
Wendy narrowed her eyes and placed her hand on Joshua's shaking one's, "Tell me." Joshua hesitated, "Joshua, I'm your friend. I don't hold these feelings you think are in the guild. You can tell me anything."
Joshua sniffled and took a deep breath, "I had a vision on the train during me and Erza's last job."
Wendy's eyes widened, "Like when Porlyusica identified that hex on you."
Joshua nodded, "This one wasn't the past though. I- I think I saw the future." Wendy fell silent as she listened intently, "I s-saw a dragon descending on an island, and it killed all of you."
Wendy gasped.
"I was on the island, but I wasn't near you guys. For some reason, I was far away." He grit his teeth and clench his fist underneath Wendy's small hand, "I won't let that future come about, and one way to change it, is by me not going to the island at all!"
Wendy stared at the boy.
"The rest of the guild, the master, they may not see it. But I care so much about everyone in there. I don't want to lose any of you. And if that means that I give up my chance at S-Class,"
From the shadows of a building nearby, a man wearing a dark brown cape listened carefully.
"Then I will give up S-Class." Joshua finished.
The man actually felt a sense of pride when he heard this. His lips, covered in long stubble, parted into a small smile and he closed his eyes. That was all he needed to hear from the kid. He wasn't convinced about this darkness anymore. He didn't believe the kid ever tried to harness any sort of evil. Gildarts walked away from the shadows and back towards the guild hall. He couldn't deny something must've possessed the kid in the past. But that in his mind was a moot point. It didn't say what was in that kid's heart. In Gildarts mind now, that kid was as much a true Fairy Tail member as anyone else in the guild. And he was going to make sure Makarov knew as much. Gildarts glanced back once more to see the two kids sitting quietly beside the canal. He smiled softly as he saw Wendy rest her head reassuringly on Joshua's right shoulder as the boy began to calm down and stop crying.
"Keep him in the light Wendy," he whispered to himself, "He needs your help still."
"Gildarts." The ace of Fairy Tail looked ahead of him and saw Erza approaching.
"Hey Erza." He glanced back at the two kids when Erza stopped next to him, "I don't think you gotta worry."
"Hm?"
"I mean," Gildarts gave Erza a childish grin, "Unless you're worried about being replaced by another chick."
Erza blinked and looked to see Wendy and Joshua busting out laughing. Joshua must've said something either entirely stupid or pretty damn funny. Erza smiled at the scene.
"I'm not worried about being replaced. Just worried about him."
"Don't worry." Gildarts replied, "His heart is in the right place. I'm sure of it now."
"Will you be able to convince master of that?" Erza asked hopefully.
"I can only try." Gildarts replied, "But let them be. Besides, you, me and Mira got to get the planning done for the trials anyways." Gildarts walked past her, "C'mon, beer's on me back at the guild hall. I've got some good ideas for the trials."
Erza smiled back at Joshua before following Gildarts back to the guildhall.
….
A week passed incredibly fast. For Joshua, it felt like it went beyond the speed of light as the seven days before the S class trials came and went. He had sent Erza off from Hargeon a day before with a smile on his face as she left to prepare her portion of the trials. Now he was about to send off the others. But more specifically, he was about to send off Wendy. During the one week, Wendy had asked him to help her train Mest for the trials, since Mest asked her to be his partner in the trials. Joshua felt something was off about Mest but Wendy seemed to trust him so he gladly helped. The training was tough. Mest showed off impressive teleportation magic that kept Joshua and Wendy on their toes the entire training time. Both felt stronger in just a week's time. Joshua walked up towards the dock that the participants were walking across at they boarded the ship. Wendy was the last to board the boat. Before she did she glanced back at the end of the dock. Joshua smiled at her and gave her a thumbs up.
"Kick their asses Wendy!" he grinned widely while Carla bawled at his side.
Wendy waved back at him.
"Look after Carla for me!"
"I'll make sure she eats her catnip!" Joshua called back.
"As if I'd eat that disgusting stuff." Muttered Carla through tears as she saw Wendy go off on a mission without her. "You better be safe Wendy!"
"I will Carla! See you all soon!" she shouted to them as the ship sailed off towards the sparkling ocean as the sun began to rise overhead.
Now Joshua sat at his normal booth in a surprisingly quiet guildhall. The most rowdy people he knew had left the guild for the trials. There were no brawls, no drinking contests, just him, Macao, Wakaba, and occasionally a new girl named Kinana, playing cards and talking about random stuff.
"Man Joshua." Wakaba puffed on his cigarette, "I still can't believe you turned down a chance to go to the S-class trials." he let the cards flutter in his hands as he shuffled the red deck, "I mean, at your age too."
"Eh, I didn't feel ready." Joshua lied to him flawlessly, "Besides I'm ten. I've got plenty of time ahead of me to go. And I want to be powerful enough so that when I do go, I won't lose."
Joshua kicked his feet up on the table and sucked on the straw that was in his smoothie cup.
"You probably would've done really well kid." Macao said as he grabbed the cards near him as Wakaba dealt them, "You've been full of surprises since you got here. But I wouldn't have been surprised if you gave everyone else a run for their money."
"Thanks Macao." Joshua smiled. He then glanced outside before being dealt his hand and saw that it was dark outside, "Whoa! How late is it!"
Wakaba glanced over at the clock above the bar, "Wow we really did lose track of time, it's past eleven o clock."
"Oh crap!" Joshua exclaimed, "If Erza hears I was up this late I'd be done for!" he quickly put his arms through his cloak's sleeves and raced out of the guild towards Fairy Hills, where he lived with Erza, "See you guys tomorrow!" he waved as he raced out of the guild hall.
"See ya kid."
….
Joshua felt the sand around his bare feet and the water lapping at his ankles. He looked around and saw he was on the island again. This was the third island vision in a row. What were his visions trying to warn him of? They never showed the same thing three times in a row. Joshua frowned and began to walk along the beach before he felt a familiar dread grip him. The warm tropical air grew cold around him. Joshua looked up and saw that it was dark over Tenrou island. Something was wrong. He then saw that the giant tree was toppled over, shattered into pieces. There were craters in the cliffs around the island and a magic airship hovered nearby. Joshua's eyes widened as he saw the symbol painted in red onto the black hull of the airship. He recognized it from when Mira drew up a chart of the dark guilds. That symbol, was the one for Grimoire Heart. Joshua felt fear seize him. He began to sense it. They were all in pain. They were all fighting for survival against impossible odds.
"You still aren't here boy." Said a growling voice behind him that made his blood turn to ice in his veins.
Joshua turned around and saw Maul sitting behind him, legs crossed, as if he was meditating. But now his eyes were open and he was staring directly at Joshua.
"I'm sure you feel it."
"F-feel what?" Joshua shivered as the air grew colder around him.
"Their pain, their suffering, their fear." Joshua gulped, "You know, they may not survive this. But I will admit, they are definitely giving my new allies all that they can handle."
Joshua had enough. He let the fear leave him and it was replaced with anger as he narrowed his gaze at Maul. The creature seemed to notice this shift in emotions.
"What do you want with me?" Joshua growled.
"So, you do have guts after all. You aren't just some child paralyzed by fear." Maul began to chuckle lowly, "Oh, that well of anger in you feels incredible. I'm sure it must be intoxicating for you."
"Answer me!"
Maul smirked and closed his eyes, "Very well, I wish to train you."
Joshua glared across the beach at him, "Train me?"
"Yes."
Joshua looked back at Grimoire Heart's airship and then back to the creature, "You said they were your allies?"
"Correct."
"Then you can go pound sand!" Joshua shouted back. Maul raised his eyebrows at the kid, "I will never allow someone who would try to harm my friends to come anywhere near me!"
Maul closed his eyes and sighed, "I was promised by Hades that you'd be here. And I've been sadly disappointed. And now it seems, I need to give you some extra motivation to come to me."
Joshua felt his heart begin to beat faster, "What do you mean?"
Maul didn't even moved a muscle as Joshua saw her hovering towards him. Her blue hair was filthy and she was covered head to toe in scrapes and bruises. Her limp unconsicous body dropped into the crook of Mauls' right arm. Joshua felt rage build up in him as he stared at her.
"She is important to you isn't she?" Maul said coldly, "Precious even?"
"LET HER GO!?" Joshua shouted at the top of his lungs.
Maul gave him an evil smirk, "Come and make me."
….
"WENDY!" Joshua shouted as his body shot up from his bed. He looked around, his breathing raspy as his heart continued to race. Joshua didn't even think twice, he jumped from his bed and grabbed his cloak that was covering a chair next to the desk Erza bought him. Joshua then slid his lightsaber up his right sleeve and looked into the mirror. He saw not a fearful boy anymore, but a furious wizard. Joshua's eyes glinted crimson in front of him.
"Geezer! Wake up!" Joshua barked.
Joshua felt a presence fill the room as he called out to the person in his head.
"What is it boy? You've never called like this before?" Said the aristocratic voice.
"My friends are in danger. I'm going to need your help." He said as he walked towards the door.
"What if I refuse?" Joshua stopped walking to the door and stood rooted in the spot on the carpet "What do I have to gain from helping you save your precious friends?"
"You've done it before." Joshua snarled.
"I did it because you were the one who was about to get killed." The man snarled back, "Do not mistake that as compassion for your friends."
Joshua stood quietly in the darkness. Not a muscle on his body moved.
"What do you want?"
"Hm?"
"What must I do to get you to help me?" Joshua asked.
There was no reply. Not a single word was uttered. Joshua waited a moment before realizing that he wasn't going to reply. He frowned with frustration.
"Fine then. I'll do it myself."
Joshua reached for the doorknob to Erza's dorm in Fairy Hills and swung the door open. He was about to step out when he looked down to see a white and black cat waiting at his doorway. The black cat had his paw raised as if he was about to knock on the door. Joshua frowned at the two.
"I assume you saw something as well Carla?" Joshua asked.
The white cat nodded fearfully while Lily lowered his paw.
"How fast can you fly me to Tenrou Island?" Joshua asked as he swept by them and began to walk towards the exit of Fairy Hills.
"I will get you there faster than any other creature in the world if it means we can save Wendy!" Carla replied with determination.
"I'll be by your side as well." Lily said as he sprouted his wings beside Carla.
Carla let her Aera magic come free and she grabbed Joshua's back.
"We gotta hurry you two!" Joshua shouted as they blasted off from the ground and streaked through the cloudy night sky, "We are running out of time!"
….
Hades sat patiently on his throne as the airship sped through the dark skies. His gloved fingers tapped against the armrest as he lounged back.
"How far behind schedule are we?" Hades asked his grunts as they raced back and forth try to speed the ship up.
"Sir, we are a full twelve hours behind schedule!" replied one of the grunt pilots, "We won't make landfall on Tenrou Island until at least tomorrow!"
A curvy woman with black hair and wearing a skin tight battlesuit stomped her foot in frustration.
"That detour to the north set our plans behind schedule!" she snarled, "We are going to be late to the island."
"Calm yourself Ultear." Hades ordered, "There is no need to grow impatient."
"But Zeref is on that island! I wish to be near him as soon as possible!"
A low growing voice filled the airship, "You would be wise to listen to your master girl." The alien creature named Maul hobbled out of the shadows of the ship where he was previously sitting quietly, "Patience is virtue that both good and evil need to succeed."
"How poetic!" exclaimed a man wearing a blue fur coat and sporting a large purplish gray mullet styled hair cut on top of his head. He pushed his glasses back up onto his nose, "You speak elegantly for someone who is actually quite brutish."
Maul bared his teeth behind his lips at the extravagant man, "Your name is Rustyrose, isn't it?"
"Why yes it is."
Rustyrose felt his something around his throat and his windpipe was squeezed. Rustyrose's eyes bulged from his skull as he grabbed at his neck and gasped for air. Maul hadn't even raised a hand.
"I am not a brute, child." scoffed Maul. Rustyrose squirmed in the air. Ultear stepped forward but then she felt Hades' hand quickly hold her place, "And I don't take insults lightly."
A loud crunching noise echoed around the ship. Rustyrose's head lolled to the side as the vacant stare of death filled his eyes. His limp body fell to the ground and Maul sighed as he let his power fade away. The other people in the ship stared terrified at the creature. Even Hades was somewhat stunned by the display of power. A large man with a plump face and obese form covered in gray skin nervously poked his fingers together as he looked at the horned creature terrified. A young girl with pink hair wearing a red cape gulped with wide eyes as she too felt the tremendous power in the air as Rustyrose died. The loud, amused cackles of a wild blonde haired man with crazed, red eyes filled the background.
"It seems you now have an opening in your seven kin." Maul growled at Hades, "Need a replacement?"
Hades glowered down at the inhuman creature, "Are you offering?"
"You can't be serious Master Hades?" Ultear said stunned.
"Six kin doesn't sound quite right." the elderly master of Grimoire Heart mumbled, "Seven is a much better number. And he is a perfect candidate to fill that role." Hades looked back at Maul, "Very well, I accept your offer to join me. Welcome to Grimoire Heart, Maul."
Maul grinned and his crimson eyes glowed in the shadowed out belly of the ship.
"However, you may have to wait on finding Joshua. I received intelligence earlier that the boy was not going to Tenrou Island with the other members of Fairy Tail."
Maul smirked, "I already sensed as much."
Hades glanced over at Maul while Ultear stared at him with apprehension apparent on her face.
"I've already taken care of that little… issue." Maul chuckled to himself, "The boy's visions are so easy to manipulate. I had to give him some extra motivation in order to get him onto the island." Maul sat down cross legged beside Hades' throne, "He'll be there. And so will this Zeref you all speak so fondly of."
"Fondly?" trembled the large bluish gray skinned man with the pudgy belly and long black hair, "He's the most terrifying wizard to have ever existed!"
"Another pleasant compliment for him." Maul replied with an amused smirk, "I almost want to meet him myself. Just to see how powerful this legendary black wizard truly is. After all, I am a warrior at heart. I do love a great challenge."
"My kind of comrade." Azuma said from the other side of the chamber. "Maybe you and I can go a round after all of this. I've been looking for a worthy opponent."
Maul let out a bemused laugh, "You may provide me some entertainment…" Maul closed his eyes and began to even his breathing, "Prove to me that you are truly powerful, then maybe I will accept your challenge."
Maul let the dark side of the force wash over him as he began to fall into a deep meditative state. He let all of his anger, hatred, and suffering course through him. He could feel his power growing with each hateful thought, with each painful memory, and with each action performed in his mind. The one that emboldened him the most was an image of him and the boy plunging their sabers into the heart of his former master. A master that he had served loyally yet been betrayed by and replaced. Maul thirsted for revenge. But he needed help. He stretched his mind out and smirked as he saw a boy racing towards an island with the help of two flying cats. It was all going according to plan.
And chapter! This one was mainly to get some more buildup and to set up the arc. But it appears Maul has tricked Joshua into thinking his friends were in danger right away. How will Makarov respond when Joshua arrives filled with anger and fear? This is going to get interesting. As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!
