AN: Here you have it folks! The long awaited Origin Story of James Price. I hope you guys enjoy it. This mini arc will span several chapters before we dive into the Edolas Arc. Enjoy and Review. Hope this lives up to your expectations.
James was sitting in his usual corner of the Fairy Tail Guild Hall. He had his left arm encased in his Jaeger armor. He had a set of precision tools out and was making fine adjustments to his armor. Erza came over in her white blouse and pleated blue skirt with a tray full of food. James removed his armor and pocketed his tools.
"How can you do that?" Erza asked a look of slight discomfort on her face. "I can't imagine that feels pleasant."
"My magic turns my body into a machine, Erza. What I am doing is nothing more than maintenance. Think of it as the exercises you do to maintain your strength," James explained flexing his hand. "But yes, it does feel funny. Like an involuntary tightening of my muscles."
Erza shivered before sitting down. James grabbed his burger and took a large bite. Erza ate her sandwich with a little more restraint before she said, "I was thinking we should take a break from all the fighting and missions."
"Yeah, things have been hectic lately." James frowned as he thought back to all that had happened. The Oración Seis, that misadventure with the dragonoid, and Gildarts' return. He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Anywhere in mind?"
"That's the thing. I don't know where to go or what to do," Erza complained. James nodded and looked out over the rest of the guild. Wendy and Carla were over by the mission board trying to find something for the young Dragon Slayer to do. Natsu and Lucy were over at another table discussing what they should do for their next big mission. Gray and talking with Juvia and the poor girl was blushing madly.
"Sorry to bother you two, but I have to make a request," Master Makarov said as he approached.
"What is it?" James asked.
"Something has been stirring up trouble around Mt. Hakobe. It's got the locals spooked. I'd like you two to go check it out," Master Makarov said.
"Not a problem, Master," Erza smiled. "We'll get right on it." The old man nodded before toddling off to the bar.
"Well that answers where we're going," James smirked. Erza looked at him confused. "Once we take care of this little scare, we can spend a nice relaxing weekend up on the mountain. Just think about it; lovely sunsets, long walks in the mountain forests, relaxing in the cool mountain air."
"You have me sold," Erza giggled.
A commotion at the door drew their attention.
There standing in the main entrance was a tall man with blond hair with a sharp nose and eyes. He wore earth-toned clothes and a brown leather jacket. He was arguing with Macao over something. Erza was about to get up and go see what was the matter but Macao gave a dismissive gesture towards the newcomer before walking over to the bar. Frustrated the newcomer started to scan the crowd.
"What could he want?" Erza whispered.
"Beats me," James said. He took a long drink as he continued to watch the interloper. He was slowly making his way through the crowds. James' eyes narrowed when he realized that the interloper was heading towards them.
"Are you Herr Price?" the man asked. "The one they call Maschine Price."
"Depends on who's asking," James stated.
"I don't have time for games," the man growled in a high pitched nasally tone. "Are you or are you not James Maschine Price?"
James stood and glared at the man. They stood eye to eye, though James had a few more pounds of muscle on him. "I am he."
"Do you remember a little village called Drumlin? Do you remember a little boy who lived next door to you?" the man inquired. James stiffened at the mention of Drumlin and he examined the man before him. James' eyes went wide and he took a step back when he realized he knew this man.
"Gale," he breathed.
"So you do remember. I've been searching for you for a very long time, James," Gale smirked.
"Hey, James, you know this guy?" Natsu asked. He, Gray, and Lucy had all come over see what was going on.
"Old childhood friend," James muttered.
"Indeed. We lived in the same village before James destroyed it," Gale sneered.
"What?" Lucy, Gray, and Natsu cried.
"Oh, he never told you?" Gale continued. "Go on James. Tell them all how you destroyed an entire village in your youth."
"They don't need to know. It doesn't concern them," James growled. His entire body was tense and a cold sweat was breaking out on his brow.
"Fine, I'll tell them," Gale glared. He turned his head towards James' friends and said, "When we were kids James decided to experiment with magic. No harm there, we all did it, but James decided to play around with magic he had no business knowing. He unleashed a demon and it proceeded to destroy our entire village. It would have gone on to destroy others had your Master not been in the area. He quickly came and destroyed the demon. But not before it killed my parents, my sister, James' parents and everyone we had ever known or loved."
"James is this true?" Lucy breathed, her hand covering her mouth. James just stood there looking like he'd rather be anywhere but here.
"I was seven," James breathed, this tortured look on his face. "I was seven when I lost my entire family. It was my fault. I wasn't able to control my powers. Gramps could have killed me or turn me over to the Magic Council for what I'd done. But he told me to atone for what I had unleashed by learning to use magic properly. So I did. I became the S-Class wizard known as Maschine."
"But our village wasn't the only one you destroyed was it," Gale sneered. "Tell them about Viola."
James shivered as horrible memories accosted him. He clenched his fists tighter nearly drawing blood.
"Erza and I were dispatched to deal with a swarm of demons that were attacking Viola. But we were out-numbered and the enemy was stronger. Erza got hurt pretty badly during the fight and I was forced to use a transformation I still hadn't mastered. That night was the first time I used the Götterdämmerung armor. I was barely able to control its destructive power. I defeated most of the demons.
"Then this large powerful demon struck. I could barely stop it. I lost control of Götterdämmerung. Its destructive power was unleashed and I ended up destroying half the village along with the demon. I nearly died. When I awoke in Erza's arms I made her promise me something: If I ever lost control like that again, she was to kill me. I needed to be stopped before I harmed innocents ever again."
"James…," Lucy whimpered. Gray and Natsu stood shocked.
"Why are you here?" Erza growled at Gale.
"I want him to pay for his sins," Gale stated. "I want you to feel my pain!" Gale surged forward and struck James across the face. James stumbled back but didn't retaliate. Lucy gasped and Gray and Natsu moved to stop Gale. Erza stopped them.
"No, this is James' fight."
"Doesn't look like much of a fight to me," Gray grumbled. Gale unleashed a storm of punches and jabs. Each one landed squarely on James' body, a hard jab across his cheek drew blood.
"Fight back!" Gale snarled. He drove his fist into James gut causing him to double over.
"Why won't you fight me?" Gale snarled. He grabbed James by the shirt and slammed him into a nearby column.
"I won't fight a grief-stricken fool," James stated. "I abhor violence and won't fight you. I earned the name Maschine because I show no fear, feel no pain, I don't let emotions cloud my judgement. I am cold, brutal, and efficient. I buried the pain from my past and moved on."
"You killed my family, you killed my sister, you destroyed everything I loved!" Gale snarled.
"I killed my parents," James whispered. He looked at Gale so sadly, so dejectedly.
"No, you do not get to wallow in self-loathing!" Gale cocked back his fist to punch James again. Natsu grabbed Gale's fist and growled, "Can't you see he's had enough?"
"I think it's time you leave," Gray growled.
"I will be back. This isn't over James," Gale snarled. He yanked his hand back and stormed out. James wiped the blood from his cheek and headed to the bar.
"Give me the entire bottle, Cana," James growled. The voluptuous bartender gave him a bottle of whiskey and he disappeared upstairs.
"James!" Lucy cried after him. Erza grabbed her shoulder and her head.
"But, he shouldn't be left alone right now," Lucy said.
"James just wants to be alone right now. I'll go check on him in a little bit."
Lucy nodded hesitantly.
"Hey Erza, you know who that punk was?" Gray asked.
"No. James never talks about his past. I can see why now."
"Yeah, it's pretty dark."
Erza walked into James' room to find him leaning against the wall sitting in his bed. He took another ling swig from the half-empty bottle of whiskey. He glanced over at her before closing his eyes.
"Who was that?" Erza asked closing the door.
"Old childhood friend. Someone I thought I would never see again," James groaned.
"Do you know why he's attacking you?"
"Revenge I'm sure. I did kill his family."
Erza came over and glared at James. "You did not. That demon did. Stop blaming yourself for something you had no control over."
James leveled his glazed eyes on Erza. "I could have not picked up that book. My stupidity cost people their lives."
"You have no idea what would happen!" Erza snapped. James groaned and clutched his head.
"Please be quiet. Your voice… it's annoying." James moaned. Erza sighed and took the bottle from James.
"I think you've had enough." Erza placed the bottle on the bedside table and gently pushed James into bed. "We'll talk more in the morning."
"Don't leave," James whispered, clutching at Erza. "I… I don't want to be alone tonight." There was something in his tone that made Erza stop. She sighed and turned off the lights. She drew back the covers and slipped in beside James.
"Sleep well my knight," Erza whispered.