SSD: Hello, everyone! Sorry for such a long delay. I would like to say that i did not get the promotion i had been hoping for as there were a few things to be done prior that someone neglected to tell me. I do have another chance in another 3 months, though, so fingers crossed on that.
Lucy: Ouch, I know you were looking forward to it...
Laxus: Weakling...
SSD: *glare* Not my fault they made it so you pretty much have to game the system. So stupid. Anyway, thanks for all the positive reviews of last chapter, I'm actually intending on doing a few more Lisanna chapters before I call this story a close. *holds up hand* Don't panic, I'm just going to start on the sequel after an intermission short story based on Lucy's year of training. It should offer at least a bit of enlightenmemt to some of her actions so far.
Laxus: Meaning I won't be in it? *menacing glare*
SSD: Never said that. Anyway, back to the story you all love so much! Take it away, Lucy!
Lucy: Silverserpentdragon does NOT own Fairy Tail or it's affiliated franchises. All other characters and concepts belong to her.
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Chapter 46: Sacrifice
The three men moved swiftly through the forest, hoping to gain some distance before Knightwalker's company fell upon the guild's location. Across their shoulders were strings of lacrima lights, intended to draw more attention to them. Ivan took center point with Wakaba flanked on his left and Macao on his right. The two men beside Ivan were terrified out of their minds, but they couldn't let the kids get hurt, not because of them. Ivan kept his eyes narrowed on the path ahead of them, straining his ears for any other sign of Knightwalker.
A roar bellowed out from above them, towards their northwest.
"There!"
Macao paled. "Shit, she's this close?" He gulped, glancing at his partner in worry.
Wakaba's hands trembled, shakily grasping for his grenades. "They need more time...the system, it takes too long to charge up. Knightwalker leads the best Legions in Edolas. We...we won't-"
"Wakaba." Ivan glanced behind him quickly, speaking in a firm tone. "We need to buy them time. We'll split up, it'll take them longer to track us."
Nervous laughter wracked through the Brunette. "Master, we can't outrun a damn Legion! It's impossible!"
A shrill whistle filled the air and Wakaba dropped, screaming as an arrow pierced his chest.
"Wakaba!" Macao cried out in horror and pain.
Ivan looked up sharply and skidded to a stop, pulling Macao with him. He heaved and shoved the man out of the trajectory of another arrow. "Macao, get his grenades! I'll cover you!" He flung the lacrima lights off of him, though they stilled, eerily hanging in the air as they began to cast a sinister glow.
Macao gulped and closed his eyes, fighting back his grief as he ran towards their fallen comrade. He rifled through his pockets, grabbing the haming lacrima as well as a handful of grenades. He glanced back towards Ivan at hearing a resounding crash nd stilled, terrified. Clashing against the violet barrier conjured between the lacrima crystals was the head of spear split into 4 jagged blades, the metal a deep ebony that gleamed evilly against Ivan's magic. He looked up and shuddered. Hovering in the air was no less than four of the terrifying Legions, archers perched upon their backs.
"Should've brought my lasers instead...i should've brought them." He closed his eyes and pushed up his glasses a bit, eyes hardening as he pulled a pin from a grenade. "This is for Romeo, you bastards!" He drew back and hurled it upward as hard as he could. With grim satisfaction, he watched as one reacted just a second too late and caught the blast. He unpinned and chucked another one to follow up. "And this is for Wakaba!" One of the Legions schreeched in pain.
Ivan looked down at Erza Knightwalker, remorse filling him. "Erza..."
The redhead glared at him balefully. "That's Knightwalker to you, traitor!" She grit her teeth and pushed her spear harder against the now cracking barrier.
"You forget that it was I, not my father, that took you into our home? I treated you as if you were my daughter." He twisted and the barrier shifted, forcing the spear upward in a deflection. One of the lacrima shattered to dust.
Erza let out a cry of rage, lashing at him again, but narrowly missing. "You did nothing! His Majesty is the one that allowed me to join the army, who taught me magic! You did nothing and spurned him when he told you of a way to replenish the lacrima supply!"
Ivan reached into his coat and quickly sliced through the cloth sheath stitched into it. A clang of metal on metal screeched among the generous explosions coming from Macao's direction. "Stealing the magic of another world won't save ours, it will just doom both! Why can you not see that?"
Erza stepped back and the lance shifted into the shape of a cannon, firing a ball of magenta light at him. "That's a lie! His Majesty would not jeapordize the people!"
Ivan just looked at her with deep sorrow. He closed his eyes before throwing a lacrima at the incoming attack, the homing lacrima. The two magics exploded spectacularly and Ivan took the chance to quickly fall back to Macao's side while there was still cover frome the smoke. "Macao, go back. I'll hold them off."
"Master?" Macao gave him a bewildered look before glancing at the sword in Ivan's hand. "No, I can't let you fight alone!"
Ivan held up his free hand. "I already destroyed my homing lacrima. Wakaba is still alive, if just barely. Get him to Wendy." He smiled sadly. "Tell her, no...no, I won't do that to her." He shook his head ruefully. "I can buy you another ten minutes to evacuate the guild. Now go!" He shoved Macao towards the weakened brunette while grabbing a grenade from him. He tossed it, extending the smokescreen.
Macao stumbled, tripping against his friend. This time, he couldn't hold back the desperate tears as he held the transport lacrima, gazing at Ivan's proud back. The white-clad guild master stood firm, hands gripping the hilt of his sword firmly. With push of a small button, the two were whisked away to safety.
Ivan grimaced as the remaining Legions wings started beating furiously, the smoke swirling and curling away in giant gusts. He brought up his guard just in time as Erza rushed him, blood red hair a banner behind her. The now silver tip of her spear clipped his cheek, a thin line of blood drawn. A dark smirked crawled across her lips.
"First blood is mine, traitor. You know, perhaps if you beg me enough, I can request His Majesty to allow to attend the wedding."
Ivan blinked and shifted back, parrying another strike in alarm. "Wedding?"
Erza smirked. "In a month, I will be Princess-consort." She twisted and slammed the shaft of her weapon against Ivan's side, forcing him to stumble back.
Ivan looked stricken. "Princess? You're marrying Laxus?"
The redhead sneered. "So you do remember your other son. I honestly would prefer not to, but it is a great honor His Majesty has bestowed to me." She jabbed the butt-end of her spear at him, causing Ivan to give a hoarse scream as his kneecap was shattered from the blow. Erza grinned chillingly at him. "On second thought, maybe I'll just take your head and gift it to my groom. I'm sure His Highness will appreciate the offering of his neglectful father."
Ivan grit his teeth, sorrow welling inside him. He couldn't bring himself to strike her down, not when the image of the petulant streetrat with gaunt and smudged cheeks glaring up at him with determined fire in her steely eyes. He attempted to raise his sword once more, but stopped, a sickening squelch filling his ears.
[Has it...always been so hard to breath...?] Ivan's vision cleared, the gaunt face of a child filling out and aging, the fiery eyes changing to harsh chips of flint. He took a shaky, wet breath and coughed, watching dazed as crimson speckled across Erza's stomach. A greaved foot came up and rested on his chest and she pushed, easily sliding Ivan off the Silfarion Commandment.
Erza's lip curled up in disgust as she looked at the blood staining her boot, but she wouldn't let that ruin this moment for her. She had killed Ivan Faust! Glee lit in her eyes as she watched the man struggling to take his final breaths. She paused, a cold, iron pit forming in her stomach as she watched him die.
"Stop it...stop looking at me like that!" Fury filled her and she stabbed him in the stomach, forcing a gurgling cough out of him.
Ivan continued gazing up at his murderer, the bloodloss making his vision clog up with black spots. But her face...he still saw the child he had taken into his home, protecting her from his father who had wished to kill her for stealing from the palace kitchens. He arched up in pain as Erza twisted her spear and began stabbing him repeatedly.
"Stop it! Stop staring at me like that, you filth!"
Ivan relaxed, seeing the tears beading at the very edges of her eyes. "E-Erza...t-tell Laxus...I-I'm...so...rry..." Darkness closed in on him and just out of reach, he could hear the vague remnants of childish laughter and chiming, bell-like laugh that rang clearer than anything.
Erza screamed in rage, jerking her spear out of him as she panted heavily from her tantrum. She wheeled around and, with a signal, called her Legion down. The beast grabbed the cooling corpse as its master clambored aboard. "Return to the capitol! Our business here isdone!"
The surviving soldier gulped and nodded as he gave a salute. "Yes, Captain!" He pulled a lacrima device from his pocket and pressed a button. Obediently, the riderless Legions rose, the blasts from before injuring them but not incapacitating them.
Macao crashed through the doors of the guild, holding Wakaba close, just in time for the teleport to activate. Alarmed members immediately reached for weapons before recognizing one of their own. Gildarts' eyes passed over the two and a swear left him.
"Wendy! Get the medkit! Shit, how bad is it?" Gildarts headed to the two, taking part of Wakaba's weight off Macao as they lowered him to the floor.
"I-I don't know! He just, it was an ambush..." Macao sat back heavily on his haunches, a shaky hand coming up to rub his face. "Knightwalker was there..."
Sharp eyes looked up, away from the bluenette that was now rushing to save their guild mate. "Macao...where's Ivan?"
An unnatural chill settled over those in the room, dread filling them. In a corner, Lisanna bit her lip in worry over the revelation. Her concern only mounted higher as the bespectacled mage gave a shuddering sob.
"He...he stayed behind. He told me to get Wakaba out of there. He was fighting Knightwalker."
Cana's lip trembled, covering her mouth in horror. Lucy's fists clenched tightly, leather creaking in protest. Natsu collapsed into a chair in shock. Similar reactions spread among the group, but every gaze glanced to the healer among them. Wendy stilled in mid-stitch, her hands shaking some before she resolutely started stitching Wakaba's wound up again. Respectfully, they turned away as the tsundere quietly sniffled during her work. She placed a bandage over it, taping it in place and stood up, medkit clenched tightly in her grasp.
"He's dead...isn't he? No one escapes Erza...not when she's on a Legion..." Wendy kept her head bowed.
Lisanna hesitantly walked over and put a hand on her shoulder. "I-" Wendy slapped her hand away.
"Don't! That idiot old man...he should've known she wouldn't spare him!" The bluenette closed her eyes. "First Mom, then Jellal, now Dad too? When will Faust stop?!" Wendy's knees wobbled and gave out, sending her to the floor. "Hasn't he hurt us enough already?"
Lisanna glanced around the guild, mildly disturbed when, instead of comforting her as she knew her guild would have done, these mirror versions just left her to suffer, focused on their own loss. The girl straightened herself and screwed up her courage before firmly placing her hands on Wendy's shoulders and pulling her into a hug. The Earthland native held tight as the other girl began to wail in earnest, clawing and beating at her back. Lisanna winced a bit, but continued comforting her, stroking her hair soothingly.
Gildarts wearily rubbed his face, wondering what the hell he was supposed to do now other than keep these people alive as long as he could. This was definitely against any situation he had planned for.
Erza Knightwalker strode proudly through the castle halls, personally dragging the corpse of Ivan Faust behind her. She ignored the horrified gasps of the serving staff, focused on the large doors in front of her. The guards posted at the sides immediately saluted to her and shoved the doors open, revealing a resplendant throne room. Seated in the throne was her King, Prince Laxus standing to his right side behind him. The old king looked up from the scroll in his hands and stiffened just faintly at the sight of his son's body. Erza knelt before the two, bowing her head.
"My King, I bring you the traitor Ivan."
For a solitary moment, remorse was evident in Makarov Faust's gaze before the emotion was ruthlessly crushed. He gave a dismissive wave. "Excellent work, Captain, your loyalty and service is, as always appreciated. Do dispose of the refuse."
Raising her head, hesitation flickered briefly in Erza's eyes as her mind nearly rebelled against what she remembered of her King. "Your Majesty, I do not mean to question your orders, but would you like me to place him in the Royal Crypt? He was-"
Faust stood abruptly, towering over his still grandson. "WAS NO SON OF MINE!" He stood a moment longer, let the fear resonate in Erza for just a bit longer before taking seat again. "Throw him to the crows, string him from the walls, that trash will not rest in MY family's crypt."
Erza hastily bowed her head once more. "Yes, Your Majesty! Forgive my impudence."
Faust gazed down at her coldly. "You are dismissed, Captain."
The redhead stayed kneeling. "There is another matter I wish to address, sire."
The King felt irritation crawl across his skin as he picked up his scroll once more. "Speak quickly."
Erza gulped slightly and took a small, steadying breath. "I request to not be His Highness' bride. I would like to focus on my duties as Captain and hunting down the rest of Fairy Tail that escaped."
Faust paused in his reading. "You do not wish to marry Laxus?"
Laxus' eyes widened imperceptibly and he cast his gaze across the room where the other Captains were standing at attention. He locked eyes with an equally surprised Hughes and quickly shifted his attention back to Knightwalker.
"I know that it is a great honor to have been accepted to me, but I fear that I am not worthy of such an honor when I have to provide all of Fairy Tail before you for execution." Erza shut her eyes, fearing the rejection that was surely coming.
Faust debated this for a few moments more. On one hand, the line of succession would be held off from continuing, but on the other. "I see. You do provide a point. Fairy Tail is one of the last two guilds that refused my decree. Bring them and Mermaid Heel down and we shall revisit your engagement to Laxus."
Relief flooded through her as she stood and saluted. "Yes, Your Majesty! By your leave."
Faust dismissed her and the redhead dragged Ivan's body away to dispose of as she pleased. His lip curled beneath his mustache and he snapped his fingers. A butler immediately appeared beside him. "See to it that all this blood is cleaned up. It wouldn't do for any...guests...to see the halls in such disarray."
Beside his grandfather, it was taking Laxus everything he had to remain the perfect vision of a prince. His father's death was affecting him much more than he thought it would and it was conflicting with his love for his grandfather. His stomach roiled in protest, but it was a small price to pay. Anything to better help Edolas, no matter the cost.
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SSD: Oh, WOW! This chapter was hard to start, but once I did, it just FLOWED. So, yeah...the death of the Edolas Fairy Tail guild master. It was coming, since it was explicitly stated in the anime that he was dead. This chapter just turned out fucking dark, especially when I started trying to put on Knightwalker Vision to get inside her head.
Laxus: Damn, I was starting to like this version of my old man. But this me is just pathetic! No spine at all!
Lucy: Poor Edo-Wendy...*sniffle* She's all alone...
Laxus: *looks at SSD* She ain't my sister, too, right?
SSD: No, no, in Earthland she has no relation to you. But she and Jellal ARE blood siblings, I will say that much. And there's a reason for the blue hair. Anyway, that's enough for now. Here's to hoping i find time to post another chapter before New Year's! Speaking of, this story is almost TWO YEARS OLD?!I'll have no choice but to do something special. Maybe a fanart spree? Should be fun, especially if I can give you guys some sort of visual for my OCs. *wink* And if anyone has visited my deviantart page, you'll catch sight of who Wendy and Jellal's mother is.
Lucy: Don't forget to Favorite, Follow or Review!
