Chapter 4, there's one more chapter left for this arc. Afterward, we're going to go straight into the story itself. The second arc will likely be called "Ashurian rise", as it will entail just how far they will go to claim perfection.
On another note, I was reading over the prequel and found some areas which I thought could have used a bit more attention. So, I'm going back through Scarlet: Legends of Creation, and making the necessary adjustments to flesh some details out. The updated chapters are posted in a new story, Scarlet: Legends of Creation(expanded). Give it a read if you get the time.
I'm thinking about dropping Legends Reborn from the rotation, for the time being, seeing as I find myself more often than not lost on where to take it. But what do you think, should I keep working on it for now?
Now onto the review:
GhostDespair: Ask and you shall receive. Sorry, it took so long, life and my other stories got in the way of this one.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, I only own my OCs.
Enjoy chapter 4 everyone!
Far away in the kingdom of Fiore, lies a guild known throughout the land. A mage guild, home to some of the most powerful wizards around. It is known simply as Fairy Tail. But this isn't the Fairy Tail you know. This isn't a Fairy Tail where everyone is happy and cheerful, this is a different Fairy Tail. One where even the slightest misspoken word can set off a train of pent-up emotions. Where everyone had to be careful, the air in the guild was too tense to allow for anything else.
Magnolia itself was no different. The sun continued to shine, but a shadow hung over the city day after day. It wasn't the type of shadow that could be seen. But it was a shadow that everyone knows exists. The fall of Crocus struck fear into the hearts and minds of all citizens of Fiore. The rise of New Babylon made that fear worse.
A new kingdom was formed, right at the heart of Fiore. The Ashurian empire claimed to be humanity's future, that it would be under their banners where the future would be born. They claim that the painless future humanity shall achieve is only built from the hard work of today.
Already some of the residents of New Babylon are undergoing the ascension as they call it. It is a process where all imperfections are erased; free will, evil. The ascension allows for only the noblest of human traits to remain; generosity, kindness, obedience. These are the traits that Tiamat desires. The traits which lead to humanity's perfection.
But this is yet another tale for another time. What was just mentioned is a story that may happen soon. Once the gods have made their return and Tiamat awakens from her slumber. Then, this story will likely come to pass. It is one of those inevitable outcomes which cannot be avoided. All paths lead directly to ascension.
But for now, other stories need to be told. The story of the vessel the gods will use to walk the earth once more. The story of twins who suffered hardship in life, now reborn into a world of happiness and joy. Of a particular sect of humanity finding their purpose where none previously existed.
(New Babylon)
A day in the city is unlike any other, people are hard at work rebuilding the city to glories not seen since the empires of old. Fountains and other sculptures of magnificent beauty were formed from the innate magics of those who were gifted with them. The more powerful the mage, the more magnificent the artwork. But even a mundane craftsman can produce works of genuine merit. Magic is not the end all be all of this world, magic is but a gift to make the lives of everyone easier, happier.
Irene was walking through one of the many gardens just outside of the Ziggurat. Her draconian senses easily distinguishing all of the different flowers and shrubs which bloomed. It was a peaceful existence; she was unburdened by the bureaucratic process which was needed when leading such an empire. Her voice of approval mattered little when everyone knew what they needed to do to make the Ashurite empire strong.
"Erza should be back soon." Her voice went unheard, no one was in the garden to listen to her. Not that she minded. She was happy and content with her new life. No longer was she burdened by the endless amounts of paperwork that came with running Alvarez. She had forsaken that kingdom ever since she felt the awakening. Having noticed the signs of Tiamat's return long before anyone else. Irene Belserion welcomed it with open arms. Her 400 yearlong mission had finally come to its end. Her Children, Erza and Eren, had played their parts perfectly just like she knew they would.
"Eren and Sorano should be back soon after." The main fountain was done by a sculptor of great renown throughout Fiore. While a commissioned work, the sculptor, in the end, saw the benefit of devotion to Tiamat. "Once they do, the old gods shall return to us. This will mark the true beginning of a new and wonderful world."
Minutes would pass into hours as the red-haired enchantress milled around the ziggurat. Learning where every one of its many corridors and pathways leads to. Where each of the splendid and ornate hallways went, the grandest was the pathway straight to the throne room.
A servant would break Irene from her thoughts.
"Madame Irene. There is someone at the palace walls requesting an audience."
(Magnolia)
Erza was walking through the streets of the city she used to call home. The sense of Deja Vu running through her mind as she remembered all of the experiences she had here after escaping the Tower of Heaven eight years ago. How helpless and scared she was when she went back to bring that tower down. That wasn't the case anymore, Erza was stronger than the armored weakling she used to be. She was superior in every sense to those around her. When she accepted Tiamat's love and guidance, Erza felt reborn. Her purpose changed; her personality changed. Gone was the strict rule-enforcer, and what replaced it was someone more carefree and personable. She would enjoy everything life had to offer. She would never wear armor again, preferring instead for a simple silken red dress.
"Strange, Magnolia doesn't look any different, but why is no one walking in the streets?" The streets were completely quiet, no one dared walk around unless they had to while the threat of what happened in crocus would happen to them. In short, it seemed like the city itself was paralyzed with fear.
'I wonder what Fairy Tail is doing right now?' She thought to herself 'Did Natsu and the others tell them of what happened in Worth Woodsea?' The guildhall was slowly coming into view. The last of her two objectives for being here resides in that hall.
Emily, the one that Eren holds close to him. She kept him sane, she gave him something that Erza never could have at the time, hope. Emily was Eren's light, just like Natsu was to her.
Natsu, just thinking about him worried her. Would he accept what happened, after thinking over everything for some time, would he join her? That was another reason she volunteered to go to magnolia, Erza wanted to make sure Natsu was okay.
In essence, she was in love with him. She wanted him by her side and happy. Was something like that too much to ask for?
'I hope that he didn't. I would never hear the end of it if he did'. Mirajane was outside, tending to the flora that made their roots around the guild. It was anything she could do to get her mind off of what happened with Team Natsu's return. She knew Natsu well, it wasn't often where something so bad would happen where he would get too caught up in sadness. The only other time she could recall this happening was when he found out that Lisanna had died on that mission two years ago.
Lisanna, merely thinking of her youngest sibling nearly brought her to tears. Mira couldn't believe that she let her ego get the better of her. Everything she's done since then was to try and make up for her past transgressions. Even though she got her magic back, it was hard for her to use it again. In her mind, it took Lisanna away from her, who else would it take?
"Mira!" Getting the barmaid's attention was easy. Getting back into the guildhall would be a different matter entirely.
"Erza?" Mirajane was shocked to see her former rival's return. She was still on edge a little after hearing what Natsu said. But the mere sight of seeing Erza again toned down that edge, at least for the moment.
"I'm sorry I'm late Mira." Erza began, "I would have returned with Natsu and the others, but something came up which I needed to take care of." It was a lie of omission, Erza kept away the important information. About how she found her true purpose.
"Oh, well I'm glad you're back, come on let's tell the guild!" With that, Erza and Mirajane rushed back into the guildhall. One was filled with joy at her friend's return. The other, filled with unbound determination.
(Northern Mine)
Sorano and Yukino had spent the better part of the day reconnecting. They had spent many years apart, in different parts of the world. Now that was no longer the case. Now that they reunited, they had the rest of their lives together to do as they wished.
"Yukino?" Sorano asked, "I want you to come home with me." Her voice held a gentleness not seen since their time spent in the tower of Heaven. With her family reunited, and in full, there was no reason for Sorano to ever show the side that she had during her time in the Oración Seis. all of them could tell that everything she did, every life she took. She did not enjoy.
"But our home is gone. It was destroyed a long time ago." It was true, their home was destroyed when the slavers came. Every building was burned to ashes, the adults brutally murdered and the children forced into slavery. But by sacrificing herself, Sorano ensured Yukino would be alright.
"I have a new home now Yukino, one that surpasses anything you could dream of." the two were still in an embrace, they didn't want to leave each other any time soon. If they did, there was the nightmarish possibility that they would wake up and everything up to this point would have just been a dream.
As the siblings spent the time reconnecting, Eren took the moment to finish what he came here for. The catalyst for the ritual needed to be here, something that would speed it up. Some sort of stone capable of harnessing vast amounts of magic. Such a stone would be perfect in the ritual to come. Once Erza returns with what she set out to find, they can begin the first act of bringing about the new, perfect, world that Tiamat desires for her children. The Old Gods along with her will make that possible.
"It should be somewhere around here," he said to himself, the lack of light not doing his still mortal eyes any favors. Even the sight magic he had spent years trying to perfect while he was under the Oración Seis did little to help him. If he was going to find the stone, he would have to peer into the supernatural, since his mortal form continues to fail him. Eren has to go beyond mortality, escape his physical form if only for the briefest of moments.
His spirit wandered through the mine, unburdened by any physical obstacle. As such, it was easy for him to search through mine. The stone he was looking for gave a signature which would be easy for someone like him to track. Its signature was unique among the other rocks and minerals in the area. It was a shining light in a sea of dark and uninteresting phenomena.
'I feel its presence, it has to be close by.' the surrounding aura was growing stronger, he was getting close. It was only a matter of moments before everything would change. Eren could feel this joy building from within him, his mission here was almost complete. Then he could be with Erza again. After all, there were still many things that the two of them still needed to do together. Hills they wanted to climb, places they wanted to discover, trees that waited to be climbed. Eren wanted to return to his childhood. Certain aspects of it were too beautiful for it to simply vanish from memory. Certain memories which he couldn't help but smile at. He was sure Erza felt the same way he did.
'Found it!' The stone they were looking for was a level below them, in a far-off corner of the mine. In an area, the original miners deemed an unnecessary part of the mine and left alone. Meaning that the area itself was relatively untouched compared to the other areas of the mine.
'With this stone in our possession, the old gods will return to us at last!"
(New Babylon)
The world was changing ever slightly, the subtle alterations to the magic were felt by anyone sensitive enough. Irene knew what this meant, Tiamat was almost finished bending the magic to her will. Soon, she would awaken from her task. Then their new empire would expand, claiming all of what used to be Fiore. Perhaps after, all of Ishgar. Such possibilities were endless and innumerable.
She would sit on the throne, waiting for the guards to bring the visitor to her. From what she was told, this individual used to be quite prominent throughout the old Fiore kingdom. Yet, her role was kept a secret from any prying mind.
Without further delay, the grand doors leading into the throne open, and in walked a hooded figure.
"You requested an audience, unfortunately, her majesty is unable to make an appearance. So, I shall act in her stead." Being a royal herself, she knew which tone to take when speaking with her subjects. Which inflections to use and which words to stress above others.
"I know who you are lady Irene." The figure spoke with a royal authority befitting that of a child. "My father kept detailed records of all members of the Spriggan 12."
"Well then, does he know that I recently abandoned that foolishness?" She left Alvarez just before the Tower of Heaven fell. Arriving in Fiore right as the sky began to crack.
"I don't know, but that's not why I'm here." The figure would then remove her hood, letting her emerald green hair flow and embrace the sun's rays. "My name is Hisui E. Fiore, and I wish to join the Ashurian Empire!"
The chapter finished, and whew what a chapter it was.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and I'll see you all in the next chapter!
