Coco: Hey, guys, it's been a while. I'm not "fully" back yet since my mom is still recovering (though she is doing very well and should be fine very soon. Thanks to everyone for their understanding and for wishing her well.), but I've managed to get a few chapters done for my stories. Even new story ideas.
In this chapter of Fairy Tail a new character is to be introduced and it will be the beginning that slowly leads Rizzo and friends to deal with the Pied Piper :D I did decide not to include Morissa Wild and her exceed companion Cash as I felt as if I was adding too many characters. I have a bad habit of doing this, but I think I have finally fixed things as to how I want them. I even have an outline all the way up to the Sun Village Arc figured out. So, that means I have the GMG arc all mapped out. It's the one I'm most excited to write about but there's a lot of space between where I am now and then, so I better get busy! XD
Rizzo reluctantly entered the guild with the others as Erza led the way in. Rizzo didn't see any sign of Makarov when entering, which she took a good sign. However, he could be anywhere, so she couldn't relax just yet.
"Is Master Makarov here?" Erza demanded as she went up towards Mirajane, Macao, and Wakaba.
No one answered her at first. Macao and Wakaba even seemed too nervous to get too close to the annoyed redhead.
"You're finally back from your island getaway," Mirajane greeted. "So, how was it? Did you have fun?"
"Not really," Rizzo commented as she thought back to Silk.
She shuddered just thinking about it as she grew pale once more. Lucy pat her on the back consolingly.
"I wouldn't ask about it, Mira," Lucy said. "I'm not sure what happened between Rizzo and the guy she was fighting, but it's a touchy subject."
Mirajane blinked wondering what could have happened. Rizzo was indeed acting strange. Mirajane thought fighting a battle on an S-Class Quest would make the female pinkette happy.
"Yeah, the guy bit her and she won't talk about the rest." Gray said.
"Don't bring it up!" Rizzo begged as she grabbed onto Gray's shirt to throttle him. "That guy was a monster! A scary, gets-to-close-for-comfort monster."
Everyone kind of sweat-dropped wondering what happened. As Rizzo mumbled about never wanting to see Silk again, Gray awkwardly hugged Rizzo while patting her on the head.
"Enough!" Erza snapped getting everyone but Rizzo to jump. "Now, where is Master Makarov?"
Lucy shuddered seeing the redhead was getting more annoyed by the second.
"He went out of town for some last-minute council meeting or something like that." Macao said. "He's been gone since yesterday."
This good news brought a relieved sigh from Rizzo who had stepped away from Gray who was relieved as well alongside the others. Well, that was one scarred-for-life moment she wouldn't have to deal with. Finally, something good was happening.
"Well, that was a close one." Natsu said.
"Yes, we won't have to deal with that until Gramps gets back!" Gray said.
"Things are finally looking up!" Rizzo said as she gave Natsu a high-five.
"Oh, thank goodness!" Happy said. "I was ready to face of death. I've still got eight more lives!"
Their rejoicing only brought more terror to Lucy since the blonde still had no idea what kind of punishment awaited them.
"I can't stand it anymore!" Lucy said. "You guys are really freaking me out! How's he going to punish us?! I'm too young to die and have so much to look forward to!"
"All of you, shut up!" Erza ordered.
The group—but Rizzo—gasped in fright as they held onto the pinkette, who wasn't afraid of the mighty Erza, for protection. Rizzo just rolled her eyes at the redhead as Erza turned back to Mirajane.
"Do you know when the Master is planning to return?" Erza questioned.
"No, but I imagine he'll be coming back anytime now." Mirajane replied.
Erza whirled around to face the rule-breakers with her hands on her hips, which had Lucy flinching as she stepped closer to Rizzo.
Now, listen up, you fools!" Erza snapped. "You're not getting off the hook. You broke guild rules by taking on that S-Class Quest! Prepared to be punished."
As the others started freaking out, Rizzo snorted not that afraid of the glare or threat directed at them.
"Oh, get off your high horse, Erza." Rizzo said. "You can take your threats and shove it."
Everyone gaped at her as she frowned directly at the redhead who narrowed her eyes even more. Erza then smirked, which had Rizzo narrowing her eyes this time around.
"Very well," Erza said surprising everyone. "If you don't want to listen to me, perhaps your brothers should be the ones who decide your fate."
Rizzo frowned while tilting her head to the side. Her brothers? None of them were here. Besides, there are only two certain ones she feared punishment from, and she knew for certain they couldn't be anywhere near Magnolia at the moment.
"Nice try," Rizzo said. "But I'm still not afraid. The boys aren't even here, anyway."
"Oh?" Erza questioned.
Rizzo then gasped when she was jumped suddenly from behind. Two strong arms wrapped around her waist to lift her off the ground causing her eyes to widen. Lucy gasped as well while looking at this stranger as he was holding Rizzo up. The stranger was a young man with sandy colored hair—partially hidden under a scarf that was wrapped around his head. The scarf left his forehead bare—however, which allowed Lucy to see the golden diamond shape mark on his forehead—one of the marks found on the people of Rajasthan. He was tall—taller than Gray and Natsu—with a muscular physique. His skin was beautiful tanned tone with a few scars showing on his torso and right arm. One his left arm was a golden tattoo of a dragon with its tail starting at his wrist before going up his arm, which had the dragon's head ending on his shoulder. On his right shoulder was the guild emblem in gold.
He had on a sleeveless white sherwani that was left open—revealing his chest and torso. It had golden embroidery accents as well. He then had on white, tightfitting churidars that seemed to fasten above his ankles. On his feet were brown, simple sandals. Wrapped around his waist was a gold scarf that wrapped around his middle once with the rest of his hanging behind him to nearly touch the back of his knees. He had golden bangles on his arms as well. Finally, in his ears were long, golden, jeweled earrings that dangled where they hung.
"Little sister, welcome home!" The man greeted boisterously.
'Little sister?' Lucy thought. 'So, this is another one of Rizzo's brothers. They really are different. This guy doesn't resemble Breccan or Rizzo at all. And his personality wasn't what I was expecting.'
She was expecting someone more like Breccan she supposed. Kind of quiet and mysterious.
"Jaser, set me down," Rizzo whined as she tried to break free.
And she was trying, but having no luck whatsoever. Some of the others laughed at the sight as Jaser kept hugging his precious baby sister. However, a voice cleared rather loudly, which had the group turning. Lucy's eye widened when seeing another flying cat. However, this one was pink with turquoise eyes and had fluffier fur. Its tail was especially fluffy and seemed very well groomed. This cat wore something similar to Jaser's way of dressing, but wore more feminine colors and wore a cropped, off the shoulder shirt instead of a sherwani. She even had a jeweled circlet around her head instead of a scarf.
"Jaser, you heard Rizzo," The cat spoke in a feminine voice. "She wants to be set down."
Jaser pouted though did carefully set Rizzo back down on her own two feet, which made the pinkette feel better.
"Sorry," Jaser said.
Rizzo lightly chuckled despite being so suddenly airborne moments ago. She turned around to hug Jaser, which seemed to make him happy.
"Welcome home, brother," Rizzo said. "It is good to see you."
She then turned to look at the feline with the smile on her face remaining in place.
"You too, Bastet." Rizzo said. "Welcome home."
The feline—Bastet—lost her stern look with a smile spreading across her face as well. She deactivated the wings on her back to carefully fall down to the table—gracefully landing on her paws.
"Thank-you," Bastet said. "It's good to be back. I've heard some interesting things since we've returned. Like, you and Natsu breaking Guild rules alongside Happy. You even pulled a new recruit along. You three really are nothing but trouble."
Rizzo gave Bastet a apologetic look as Happy as just looked away—unable to meet Bastet's eyes. Bastet then turned her eyes onto Lucy.
"I know this is a bit belated," Bastet began. "But welcome to the guild. I am Bastet. And this is my partner—Jaser Sahara."
Jaser, who was still hugging Rizzo, finally let the pinkette go to step up towards Lucy who stiffened. He wasn't going to lift her too, was he? He didn't reach for her, however, as he gave a big, friendly grin as he leaned over a bit to get a better look at her.
"Nice to meet ya." Jaser said. "Mira and the others have been telling us about you. Like how you singlehandedly took down a crooked rich man and his team of assassin gorillas."
Lucy's eyes widened wondering how the story ended up being blown up like that. Just what was wrong with these people?
"Uh, that's not really what happened," Lucy said as she scratched the back of her head.
Before she could explain, Gray stepped up with his hands in his pockets as he looked around Jaser.
"Hey, Jaser, wasn't Craylee on the job with you two?" Gray questioned. "Where is he? Don't tell me he's already back to work."
Gray knew the guy was a workoloic, but the guy couldn't be that eager to go looking for work after getting back so soon. Especially since their last job took so long.
"Nah," Jaser said as he stood straight again. "Cray is just showing around the new recruit."
Rizzo and the others, who have been away to Galuna, blinked in confusion at Jaser's statement.
"New recruit?" Rizzo asked. "We have someone newer than Lucy?"
"Yeah," Jaser said. "We bumped into this guy on the way back home. Said he was lost and looking for Magnolia. And that he wanting to visit the Fairy Tail Guild to see about joining. So, made sense to bring him along with us, right?"
This had Rizzo and her team blinking once more before the sound footsteps had them turning around. Lucy saw two people heading towards them. Lucy guessed the redheaded male was Rizzo's other adoptive brother since his eyes flickered in Rizzo's direction and Rizzo seemed to smile when seeing him.
The redhead was lanky—definitely not as muscular as Jaser or even Natsu. Though he was taller than the pinkette Dragon Slayer. His skin was much paler as well. He had two different colored eyes. One was a deep green—greener than any green Lucy has ever seen before. The other was a lifeless grayish-white color and had a scar running over it—starting from about his eyebrow—down to his cheekbone. His expression very stoic—Lucy couldn't get a read on him at all.
The person walking along him other side was a young man as well. He was tall and seemed to match Craylee in height and his skin tone just barely a bit tanner than Craylee's complexion. His hair was silvery-blue and messy. It fell around his head down to his ears. His bangs also partially covered his face. His eyes were dark violet and his skin tone matched the woman's complexion perfectly. His expression was friendlier with a small, kind smile on his face.
"We're certainly getting a lot of newbies lately." Rizzo commented under her breath to the others. "I like seeing the guild grow, but we usually don't get this many new faces back to back."
"I don't know about that," Gray said though not sounding as if he was trying to pick a fight for once. "Back when we were all kids it seemed as if a new face was here every day."
Rizzo hummed supposing that was true. And Fairy Tail is a very popular guild. It made sense people—especially young wizards—would want to join. The group of two finally joined the others with Craylee turning towards Rizzo.
"Welcome home, sister," Craylee said. "I trust you made sure to have fun while you were away."
"…yeah…it was great…for the most part." Rizzo said while thinking about how things ended with her last fight.
As she looked away not wanting to think about it, Craylee's brow quirked in question.
"Something happened with one of her fights." Gray said having to explain a second time. "She won't tell any of us what exactly happened."
"I don't want to remember," Rizzo said paling once more. "I never want to see that man's face again, and if I do, I'm running away as fast as possible."
Everyone—minus the new recruits and Craylee—looked at Rizzo with wide eyes since she was never one to flee from a fight. No matter who the guy was.
"That doesn't sound like you, Rizzo," Lucy said while looking worried.
"Yeah, I didn't take you for a coward." Elfman added. "Be a man and man up."
He then grunted when a chair—which was thrown by Rizzo—pegged him in the head. He fell to the ground holding his bleeding head as Rizzo glared over at him. And Lucy gasped while taking several feet back away from Rizzo.
"You're not the one who had to deal with some creepy undead bastard who decided he was madly in love with you and wanted to run off into the sunset together!" Rizzo snapped.
Things got quiet as the group looked at Rizzo in shock. The pinkette let out a huff while looking away.
"He was so creepy." Rizzo said hugging herself. "Talking about being together forever and wanting to be lovers for all undead eternity. And he even said he could eat me up."
She shuddered with her eye twitching ever so slightly at the memory. This is why she hadn't wanted to remember. Gray frowned as he felt this uncomfortable feeling in his gut. This guy wanted Rizzo to be his lover? Why did that information bother him so badly? Jaser hugged Rizzo patting her on the head as her eye continued to twitch.
"Perhaps we should move on from the subject," Erza commented. "It is obviously making Rizzo uncomfortable."
"Yeah, poor girl," Wakaba commented. "Looks, like she's been punished enough."
Macao nodded in agreement while feeling bad for Rizzo. Hopefully, Master wouldn't be too hard on her.
"Well, we do have introductions that need to be made," Craylee pointed out. "This is Blaze Porter. He's joining Fairy Tail today once Master returns to approve him for guild wizard status. Blaze, this is my younger sister Rizzo and our guildmates: Erza, Natsu, Gray, Happy, and the other new recruit Lucy."
Lucy was a bit surprised she was added in the introduction, but she smiled all the same at Blaze. Blaze bowed his head at them in return.
"It is nice to meet all of you." He said as he held out his hand for anyone to take.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Blaze," Erza said reaching out to shake his hands.
"Yeah, welcome to the guild." Gray said grinning. "Hope you like it here."
Blaze thanked them for their hospitality before his eyes flickered very briefly to Rizzo. The pinkette didn't seem to notice his look as she was speaking with her brothers and Bastet about what happened. So, this is who he's meant to keep his eyes on, huh?
Rizzo stood with the others in front of Makarov after the man finally returned from his meeting. As expected, he wasn't particularly happy with any of them.
"Well, I'm certain you kids know what's about to happen," Makarov said. "You broke guild rules meaning you better prepare yourselves for punishment."
Rizzo frowned really hoping Gramps took it easy on them. She couldn't live through that again and getting kicked out wasn't something she wanted either. Beside her, Lucy gulped not ready at all for what might come. Rizzo and the boys have freaked her out all day as they waited for Master and she was so worried she almost felt sick.
"Now, bad!" Makarov shouted as he whacked Natsu over the head hard. "Bad!"
He hit Gray next causing the boy to wince, but he alongside Natsu and Rizzo were confused. This was the punishment?
"Bad!" Makarov continued as he thwacked Happy over the head next.
His eyes then turned on the girls, and Rizzo didn't like that glint in his eyes one bit.
"Bad~" Makarov said while swatting Lucy's ass, which caused the girl to squeal in shock. "And very bad~"
He swatted Rizzo's ass next and her brow twitched in annoyance. Hasn't she got enough sexual harassment already?
"Master, behave yourself!" Mirajane scolded as she glared at him.
Makarov cleared his throat while looking away from the former she-devil's dark look.
"Right, right," He said. "Now as for your actual punishment."
Natsu and Gray quickly latched onto Rizzo when the words left Makarov' mouth. This couldn't be good. Happy was huddled together with them as well—leaving Lucy out by herself, which had her whimpering. What was going to happen?
"Don't worry about it," Makarov said shocking everyone. "As long as you promise not to do it again, I'll let it slide."
Erza looked at Makarov in utter shock. He's never let a punishment slide for something like this.
"We promise!" The young wizards swore.
"Good," Makarov said nodding. "Now that's that is over with, I believe it's time to celebrate and welcome our newest member to the guild! Let's party!"
The others cheered in agreement as Rizzo just let out a laugh. Looks like things ended up fine in the end. She then looked over at their newest member as Mirajane was getting the stamp ready to give him the Fairy Tail emblem. Their family just keeps growing.
Once Blaze's lower left torso was stamped, more cheers erupted from the guild as the party began. Rizzo laughed alongside her guildmates while glad to see everyone in such a happy mood. Things might not have gone as she had wanted on Galuna Island, but at least she knew she could come home to these crazy wizards no matter how bad the mission goes.
"Rizz, Rizz, come on!" Natsu called over from a table. "Come sit with us!"
He was sitting with Lucy, Erza, Gray, and Happy and they were all smiling at her as well.
"Alright, I'm coming." Rizzo said.
She went to join her guildmates while taking the seat between Lucy and Gray. As the group all spoke together as they waited on their food, which Erza had ordered, Rizzo continued to smile and laugh at the antics of Natsu and Happy. And hearing Lucy scolding them for being rowdy and listening to Gray scoff and roll his eyes. And even listening to Erza chuckle…it all just felt right. While she might not always get along with Gray and Erza, right now at this moment, she was glad they were here. All of them together just might be a perfect team after all.
"We should really team up again," Rizzo commented getting the others to look at her. "We had fun, don't you think?"
Natsu blinked before a large grin came across his face. He nodded his head in agreement.
"Yeah, we did!" He said.
"I'm not sure I'd call what we went through fun…but working together was…nice." Lucy agreed with a small smile.
"Aye!" Happy said.
"I don't know," Gray said with a teasing grin on his face. "I don't know if I could put up with you—pinky losers—every time we took a mission."
And just like that, Rizzo's mood shifted as she turned to glare at Gray alongside Natsu.
"What was that, Icy?!" They demanded in unison.
"You heard me," Gray said as he looked down at Rizzo. "But it's nice to hear you like having me around, Rizzy. Not starting to fall for me, are you?"
Rizzo's brow twitched in annoyance as she felt her cheeks warm. But she ignored the latter.
"Like hell!" She snapped while taking a swing at Gray.
Her fist connected to his jaw and Lucy gasped when he fell from his seat to the floor. He quickly recovered as he sat up to glare at Rizzo.
"What the hell was that for?!" He demanded.
"For being stupid!" Rizzo said. "I was actually trying to be nice and you had to be an asshole!"
As they two argued, Lucy sighed. Well, looks like things haven't changed that much between the two. But it's…progress? She then flinched when the arguing turned into a brawl between the two. Natsu cheered Rizzo on as Lucy just slipped under the table alongside Happy. They knew what was about to happen. Soon the entire guild was in chaos and not even Erza trying to get everyone to stop, did nothing. In fact, the redhead had finally joined the fray when someone knocked over their table, which sent her precious cake flying through the air to fall to the ground and splatter.
"These guys are crazy." Lucy complained.
She peeked out from underneath the table seeing almost everyone was involved with the fight now. The only ones not in the fight seemed to be Makarov, Mirajane, Craylee, Bastet, and Blaze. Their group just stayed at the bar—out of the way—as everyone else was fighting each other. Lucy didn't see how they had the nerve to stand/sit out there. She'd be afraid to be hit. She and Happy then squealed when their table was hit and knocked off of them by Elfman who had been thrown into it. Then before she could blink, she was being squished by the large man who had ended up falling on top of her.
"Why me?" She whined.
"Sorry, Lucy!" Two certain pinkettes called from the chaos.
Of course, it was their fault.
"So, you managed to get in, did?" A voice came from the Lacrima in front of Blaze.
The young man was currently in his new lodgings, which had been provided to him by Craylee who managed to snag a deal with his landlord to get Blaze a room in the same apartment building. He had all lights off with the only light seeping through the room coming from the Lacrima sitting on his table.
"Yes," Blaze replied. "I am now an official member of the Fairy Tail guild. Apparently, they are very trusting and welcome almost anyone."
"Their trusting nature will be their downfall." The voice spoke again. "It's a pity such a long-standing guild will have to suffer just because of one sole member, but we cannot allow anyone to stop us. Is that understood, Hermes?"
Blaze—or was it Hermes?—nodded his head while knowing exactly what had to be done.
"Yes, of course, Master Taldila." Blaze said. "Everything will go according to your will."
Blaze bowed his head towards the Lacrima as an imagine of an older man with dark grayish-black hair grinned. His eyes were almost white with a green hue and his teeth sharp.
"Excellent." Taldila replied. "The Power of Absolute Control will soon be ours. Lord Zeref will certainly be pleased once we have it in our possession. And I am certain he will reward you greatly for all that you have done for the cause."
Blaze nodded his head once more. All what they were doing was for their Lord Zeref and nothing could get in the way of that.
"It isn't time to act now," Taldila reminded him. "Take your time with this guild. They are very special. Full of ripe, young wizards with magic just right for the taking. Pick out those you think could strengthen our ranks and when the time comes to take Rizzo Sweeney from Fairy Tail, take their magic as well—and crush them!"
"As you wish, Master." Blaze said.
Taldila's image then disappeared from the Lacrima as the orb went dim—casting Blaze into darkness. He sat there in silence as he rested his chin in his hand. Fairy Tail…Soon it would be no more and White Fang will have claimed another victim. And Rizzo Sweeney…soon wouldn't be part of this world anymore. Such is the fate to all those who stand in the way of Zeref and his plans-or rather in the way of his master.
"They all seem like such nice people," Blaze said as he placed his hand over his new guild mark. "But…so did all the others too."