Erza and her team are now traveling to Eclair, all of them taking a train to the city closest to the Boundary Forest.
"So how long till we get to the Rose Garden" Gray asked.
"A couple of hours," Happy answered, "Its long way from Magnolia,"
"Hey Eclair, I've been meaning to ask, where are you from," Lucy asked.
"I don't know," Eclair answered. "Or should I say remember, as that is a mystery to me too,"
"So you have amnesia," Wendy said.
Eclair nodded "Yes but only partial,"
"Partial?" Carla raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but I do remember some things," Eclair smirked.
"Eh, maybe those memories can help us," Lucy smiled. "What are they,"
"Its that I do not like wizards, especially very nosy ones," Eclair smirked.
The comment made Lucy blush and pout in embarrassment making her turn her head away.
"Eclair, don't be mean. They're helping us," Momon told her. "I'm sorry, she may seem mean but she's good at heart,"
"If you say so," Lucy pouted.
A couple of hours later, the group has finally arrived in the city of Rose Garden, and suffice to say all of them were amazed at the magic they were seeing.
"Woah, this place is brimming with magic," Gray said, amazed.
"So pretty," Wendy smiled.
Erza smiled at her team's amazement "Hey, after we check in to our hotel, we can all go exploring,"
"Really," Both Lucy and Wendy smiled with glee and Erza smiled and nodded.
After heading to the hotel and dropping their stuff off the team then set off sightseeing. Lucy takes Eclair and Momon and tries to get the girl to open up to her. Wendy, Carla, and Happy go off to see the shops and food stands, Gray takes a walk by himself, and Erza explores.
"This town really is beautiful," Erza smiled.
"Hmm," Kurama scoffed.
Erza just chuckled at the fox's attitude, she continued to walk through the town until she stumbled upon a clothing store and something caught her eye in amazement. Before Erza was a beautiful wedding dress, and she couldn't help but buy it.
"Seriously," Kurama signed.
"What, It's a beautiful dress," Erza smiled proudly "I would need something like this eventually,"
"You're that desperate huh," Kurama said.
Erza blushed "No, that's not it," she flustered and Bijuu just laughed, unknown to her Wendy, Carla, and Happy were watching her.
"What's wrong with Erza," Happy wondered.
"She looks embarrassed," Carla said.
"Maybe she's arguing with that Fox spirit in her," Wendy said.
Erza quickly shook off her fluster and regained her composure. "Well it's about time to get back to the hotel," Erza then started to walk towards until, it was until a mysterious man in a hood walked past her which made her froze.
Erza quickly turned around, feeling a strong presence near her, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. "What was that," her eyes narrowed, but she quickly shook off the feeling and headed towards the hotel.
"That power just now," Kurama's eyes narrowed. "Was that? No it couldn't be,"
As Erza was heading to the hotel, there was a hooded figure who was watching her from behind an alley.
"That woman, she felt just like me,"
…
Everyone made it to hotel each of them getting their own rooms, Erza, Wendy, Carla, and Happy sharing a room, Lucy and Eclair, and Gray by himself.
Lucy was currently taking a shower, with Eclair outside staring out the window.
"What with her seriously," Lucy said to herself, she then exited the shower and sat in bed drying herself off and she saw Eclair just staring out the window "Are you not going to shower,"
Eclair gave no response and just stared at the night life of the city.
"Eclair," Momon said.
"You know if you're not comfortable, I can switch rooms with someone," Lucy offered,
"I don't mind sharing a room," Eclair finally responded much to Lucy and Momon's shock "You have the same look as me,"
"Eh, what does that mean," Lucy blinked.
"You have the eyes of someone who knows human sorrow," Eclair told her. "You and your friends are second people I met that have those eyes, I never thought magic users had those,"
"Second," Lucy blinked.
"The man who told me to go to Magnolia," Eclair told her "He had those eyes as well, ones that suffered despair and sorrow,"
"Despair, and Sorrow," Lucy said, a bit stunned and confused by her words, it was the room darkened, much to three's shock. Lucy turned and saw a masked man appear out of the shadows. The man took out throwing knives and started throwing them at Lucy who narrowing dodged them.
Lucy quickly got to Eclair's side and stood in front of her protectively "Who are you," she glared at the shadow.
"The comfort of being a captive, or the terror of being fleeing prey," the man said. "Choose,"
"What in the," Lucy said confused.
"Not you," the man said coldly, his glare directly at Eclair.
Lucy quickly turned to Eclair "Eclair run,"
Eclair nodded and opened the balcony door and jumped off, the man then chased after pushing Lucy aside.
Lucy quickly ran out "Erza, Gray" and jumped after Eclair.
"Lucy," Erza's eyes narrowed.
"Someone's here," Kurama told her.
Erza then quickly ran out to her balcony and saw the balcony door to Lucy's and Eclair's room was open, "Wendy, Carla, Happy stay here," she then jumped down and ran after her friends and their pursuer,
Lucy, Eclair, and Momon continued to run from the mysterious man dodging all of his throwing knives.
"Someone is after you," Lucy questioned Eclair.
"Above," Momon screamed.
Lucy and Eclair then dodged more knives that were thrown at them, but in doing so made Lucy and Eclair lose their footing and fall off an edge, but luckily landed on some sand bags cushioning their fall.
"Lucy, Eclair are you alright," Momon asked worriedly, Lucy groaned but she was alright.
The mysterious man stood over the edge staring down at them "Let her blood flow, blade of mine," he then took out another blade and dived towards them.
"Eclair," Lucy held her protectively, but Eclair stood in front to take the attack, but before the man could strike several swords and ice lances were launched at him causing him to dodge.
It was then Erza and Gray appeared standing in front of Lucy, and Eclair.
"Erza, Gray," Lucy smiled.
"Who the hell are you," Erza questioned the man.
The man didn't answer but they saw their guild marks "none of you are worthy to know," the man then started to flee.
"Hey wait you bastard," Gray chased after him.
"Lucy stay here with Eclair," Erza ordered and the celestial mage nodded, and she then started to chase after the man.
The man was quick and elusive managing to outpace Gray, once Gray turned into an alley the man quickly dropped kicked him sending the ice mage to the ground. Erza then arrived and requiped a sword and charged at the man.
"Bastard," Erza charged.
"O starving claw," the man then brought twin claws.
Erza and the man then clashed with each other, the two clashed with Erza blocking the man's strikes with her katana. The man then swiftly left the match running up a building.
"Hey get back here," Erza shouted and she chased after with Gray following.
The swordswoman and the ice mage made it to the roof of the building, and came face to face with the masked man.
"How polite of you to wait," Erza glared.
'Fairy tail huh," the man said.
"ERZA ABOVE YOU!" Kurama shouted.
Erza turned and saw another hooded figure diving towards her. Erza's eyes then widened seeing that figure formed several hand signs.
NEZUMI KEDAMA
The figure fired several small fireballs that took the form of the mouse, Erza quickly requipped a sword and slashed through the tiny fireballs "Ninjutsu," the hooded man then landed next to the masked man.
"Chase, what happened," the man asked.
"This guild interfered," Chase told him.
"Oh I see," the man nodded, "So you failed to get the girl," and Chase nodded.
Erza's eyes narrowed "what do you want with Eclair,"
Chase's eyes narrowed "That is none of your business, lets go Ryuji,"
Ryuji signed "Alright then but remember this is your fault,"
"Hmm," Chase scoffed.
"You're not going anywhere," Erza quickly formed several hand signs.
DOTON YAMI NUMA
"Woah! She knows ninjutsu too," Ryuji smiled as he stumbled in the swamp.
Chase signed "Lets go,"
Ryuji nodded "Yes sir,"
It was then suddenly the two then disappeared into the shadows. Erza and Gray tried to chase after them but it was too late.
"Damn it," Erza shouted.
"They got away," Gray grunted.
Erza's eyes narrowed "that man he knew ninjutsu too, just in who the hell were those guys,"
…
A small village erupted in fire, people were running from invaders dead bodies all around. Eclair was being pulled by an old man, the two of them attempting to flee from the invaders, and it was then Eclair remembered something the man said.
"Fine the Wizard Kalard in Boundary Forest," the man theng gave Eclair the Phoenix stone "And give him this stone,"
"I believe that's why they are after this stone," Eclair told everyone about a recent resurgence of a memory.
"So they weren't after you but the stone," Lucy said.
"It does give off a strange magic power," Carla said.
"I never heard of a Wizard named Kalard before," Erza told her. "And he knows something about this stone,"
Eclair nodded "I still don't remember much, but this stone holds a great importance, and I started to remember small fragments of my memory and this stone is the key. But I don't remember who this Kalard is,"
"Well guess we got to ask this Kalard guy then," Gray said.
"And Eclair knows where he is," Happy smiled.
Eclair nodded "We must go even if it's too late,"
Both Erza and Lucy were stunned by those last words, but left it at that.
…
The next morning, the group had finally set off to the Boundary Forest, they defended off a group of monsters as they did, but it was no trouble for them the group continued their walk they saw and walked through a magic barrier.
"That was a monster deterrence barrier, and it's quite worn out," Erza pointed out.
"That means we're close aren't we," Wendy said.
The group continued their walk and stumbled upon an open field with a nearly destroyed stone house.
"Is this the place," Lucy asked.
"He lives here," Gray raised an eyebrow.
Eclair and everyone else was shocked by the state of the house, but Eclair quickly rushed in with everyone following here.
"This seems more like ruins than a house," Happy pointed out.
The group was shocked at the destroyed and old state it was in, but it was then they discovered a staircase that led to a basement area. The group then entered the basement and saw it was completely old and run down, giant roots nearly took over the place.
"This is even worse than upstairs," Carla said.
It was then Eclair stumbled upon an old portrait, and to her shock it was that of her as a child "That's me," it was then suddenly a projection from the crystal ball was activated.
"Get back," Erza told everyone.
"So you come," the old man said. "If this message is reaching your child, then the rumors are true. Many people came searching for you. Survivors of Fire village tome of the tragedy. I was overjoyed to learn of your survival, however when I think of your fate."
"This guy is Kalard," Gray asked.
"My darling sweet, Eclair, despite our short time together I was blessed with such happy moments of my life, but alas the people of Fire Village needed you as a maiden and I was tasked with dispelling the Phoenix stones,"
"Dispel, you mean he was trying to nullify the stones magic," Erza said.
"I have no doubt you were a spectacular maid, my dispel magic was complete but I fear I shall never have the chance to use it," the crystal ball started to crack "I have grown ill, I will clutch what little life I have until your return, but if you see this Eclair,"
"You mean he's already gone," Happy wide-eyed.
Erza, Lucy, Gray and Wendy's eyes all soften in sympathy for Eclair.
"Eclair, my last prayer for you is that you find happiness and you find people that care for you deeply, my beloved daughter Eclair,"
"Father," Eclair cried softly "I'm here," she tried to reach out her hand to the projection but her hand passed through and the crystal ball shattered.
…
It was now late at night, Erza, Wendy, Lucy, Happy and Carla were watching Eclair dance underneath the moonlight.
Gray ran up to Erza "It's no use, Kalard left no notes of his Dispel,"
"I see," Erza nodded and she looked back at the dancing Eclair "The real issue is the spell cast on the Phoenix Stone. Kalard spent his life trying to remove that spell, I can't help but feel this is an ill omen,"
Eclair continued to dance, memories of her childhood started to come back to her, those memories brought tears to her eyes, which made her collapse. Lucy, and Momon then went up to comfort the crying Eclair.
"I know how you feel," Lucy cried to Eclair "I lost my father too, and I couldn't be there for him," tears fell from her eyes, Lucy then hugged Eclair to comfort her "he wanted you find happiness and people who cared for you,"
"It was his final wish," Eclair cried.
Lucy smiled tears still in her eyes "Well you found one of those people," more tears came from Eclar, and the priestess found herself crying in Lucy's amrs. The others couldn't help but smile now seeing Eclair is ready to open up to them. After the emotion died down, the group now gathered at the fire.
"I would like to request help from Fairy Tail," Eclair said. "My father spent his life trying to Dispel the Phoenix Stone, I would like your help to do so,"
"Of course we'll help," Erza smiled.
"You can leave it to us," Gray smirked.
"Aye," Happy smiled.
"Thank you," Eclair smiled.
After sometime the group all fell asleep, well except for Erza, whose mind was still on those assassins.
"Are you still thinking about those guys who attacked you," Kurama asked.
Erza nodded "Yeah, and one of them used ninjutsu, and you know there aren't many of those out here," and Kurama nodded in agreement.
"It is strange but there could be people still passing the knowledge of shinobi," Kurama said.
"Maybe, but there was something else about him," Erza told the fox spirit.
Kurama nodded "yeah for me too, something about him felt similar to you,"
"What do you mean," Erza asked.
"There are other Bijuu out there, 8 more like me," Kurama said.
Erza's eyes widened "you mean he could be a Jinchuriki too,"
Kurama nodded "yes, and I have feeling I know which one,"
"Really," Erza said.
"Yeah maybe, I'll tell you when I remember," Kurama then went to sleep.
"Hey," Erza shouted, but she signed "fine," Erza then proceeded to go to sleep as well.
Unknown to them a hooded figure was watching them from afar.
Hey guys here's the new chapter. Yeah made some changes from the original story so Ryuji is no longer a Hidan Clone. Anyway be sure to let me know what you all think. Next update might be after Christmas or a little before if I get a grind going anyway hoped you all enjoyed, Oh Annoucement once this story is completely finished I plan on writing a sequel.