Chapter 15: What Does Redemption Equal?
Nephrite entered a bar in the town of Acalypha. He didn't even bother with a disguise. He knew that both the Dark Kingdom and Fairy Tail were searching for him. Thankfully ghee still has the money on him from when he did those jobs.
He had a couple stiff drinks.
"What am I going to do?" he thought.
Meanwhile Team Lisanna was taking a carriage to Acalypha. They had organized a search for all nearby towns for signs. Thankfully a member named Reedus was such a skilled painter that he painted very accurate paintings (As they hadn't taken any pictures of him yet) so the groups searching for him could ask around.
Lisanna couldn't help but to think about the conversation some of them had before they left.
(Flashback)
"I can't believe it was him…" sighed Cana.
"I know I didn't suspect him sooner." Said Loke.
"You thought you stole his girlfriend." Mumbled Luna.
"I don't think he was that bad of a guy." Said Natsu.
Everyone turned to stare at him as if he said "Who wants to go out for a drive?"
"Look, he killed his monster…" said Natsu.
Loke blinked and smirked, "Maybe Natsu's right." Said Loke.
Luna stared at Loke, "Why is he agreeing with Natsu."
"For all we know it was a trick so that we wouldn't think he was the one doing it." Said Erza, "We still have to find him and bring him to justice."
(End of Flashback)
"So… what do you think will happen if we're the ones to find him?" asked Levy.
"I don't know." Said Luna, "But if you need to, you should transform."
"IT feels like it's been a while since we transformed." Said Lisanna.
"I know." Agreed Levy.
That was when the carriage stopped.
"We're here!" called out Erza who was the one driving.
After putting their stuff in a hotel, all of them had the painting that Reedus painted.
"All right, we'll look around for him." Said Erza, "We'll meet up here in an hour."
They nodded and parted ways.
Meanwhile with the dark kingdom… Zoisite had finished giving orders to three monsters.
"Do you think it will work?" asked one of the monsters.
"I'm sure of it." Said Zoisite.
The three monsters disappeared, Zoisite smiled evilly.
"Either way Nephrite will die." Said Zoisite.
In the bar Nephrite was earlier, Erza managed to ask the bartender.
"Yeah, he was in here earlier." Said the bartender.
"Did he do anything wrong?" asked Erza.
"All he did was drink the strong stuff and left." Said bartender, "He looked depressed and not like the usual crowd."
"I see." Said Erza.
"Did you dump him?" asked the bartender.
"What?" asked Erza.
"With a face like that it seemed like he was dumped." Said the bartender, "He wasn't in a talking mood so I didn't find out anything…"
"I see…" said Erza, "Thank you."
Erza walked out wondering why he did that.
Not too long later, Lisanna and Luna met at the meeting spot.
"Did you find anything?" asked Luna.
"A few people saw him." Said Lisanna, "You?"
"Uh…" said Luna.
(Flashback)
"Excuse me have you seen this man?" asked Luna to a couple people.
"Yeah, I've seen him around here." Said one of them.
"HOLY CRAP A TALKING CAT!" yelled the other one.
The first one looked at his friend.
"He's never heard of moon cats." Said the first one.
(End of Flashback)
"Half of them freaked…" said Luna.
"Well that happens." Said Lisanna.
"So you're a member of Fairy Tail…" said a voice.
They turned to see the three monster.
"Oh no…" said Luna.
One of the monster unleashed strange fireball.
However before Lisanna could counter in anyway the second started using sonic waves.
As Lisanna covered her ears the third punched her in the guts with her arms, which was root like.
The three pickled up Lisanna.
"Where are you going with her!" yelled Luna.
"Don't worry… this has nothing to with her… hopefully your friend Maxfield will understand." Said the monster who punched Lisanna.
The three disappeared with Lisanna.
"No…" whispered Luna.
She broke down crying.
"Luna what's wrong?" asked Levy who arrived a minute later.
"They took Lisanna!" shouted Luna.
When Erza explained everything they both grew concerned, but more so when it turns out she was kidnapped because of "Maxfield".
"We have to contact the master right away." Said Erza.
After going into their hotel room and through Erza language, she found the communication Lacrima and delivered the good news bad news.
"What!" yelled Makarov.
"I'm sorry it's all my fault." Said Luna.
"No I'm the one to blame." said Erza, "We shouldn't have split up."
"I don't' blame either of you." Said Makarov, "I'm calling everyone on the search mission to that town… and I'm coming there myself, both of you should transform…"
"Right." Said Levy and Erza.
The call ended.
"Don't blame yourself Luna…" said Levy, "There wasn't anything you could do…"
Luna sighed.
"Let's go look for them." Said Erza.
"Like Master said, we should transform first." said Levy.
Erza nodded.
"Mercury Power!" called out Levy.
"Mars Power!" called out Erza.
"Make-up!"
Elsewhere in town, Nephrite was roaming the streets when suddenly an envelope landed on her face.
He grabbed and he looked at it.
"To Maxfield." He read.
His eyes winded he opened it was a picture of Lisanna tied up and gagged.
"We have a fellow member of your guild. If you ever want to see her again come and rescue her." Read Nephrite.
He sighed.
"I'm no longer a member of the guild." He muttered as he burned the letter.
He gritted his teeth. Lisanna were among those that ousted him. Why should he rescue her… plus Erza, Mirajane or Natsu could rescue her too.
He looked at the pictures again. HE gritted his teeth. He realized that he should go and rescue her. He remembered the location and teleported away.
Elsewhere in a shack in the woods, Lisanna regained conscious and found herself gagged.
She decided to try to use her magic and found it wasn't working.
"It's no use." Said one of the monster, "Those bindings cancel out magic."
That was when Nephrite entered the room.
"Oh Maxfield." Mocked the tree like monster.
"Oh Grape." He said to the tree like one.
The monster glared at him.
"Housenka." Said the Nephrite to the one who shot out fireballs.
She also glared at him.
"And I forgot your name." said the Nephrite to the one that sent out sonic waves.
"It's Suzuran." Muttered the last one.
"It's good to see you again." Muttered Nephrite.
The three monster glared at him.
Nephrite teleported to Lisana managed to get her untied.
"Why you…" muttered Grape.
"Do you think you can help me?" asked Nephrite to Lisanna.
"Okay…" said Lisanna, "Animal Soul: Cat!"
She immediately changed into her cat girl form.
Housenka shoot them at Lisanna but Lisanna dodged and scratched her up.
Suzuran was about to use her sonic attack, however he crap his hands together.
"Starlight Prayer." He said as the star like balls of energy shot towards the youma.
While Suzuran was knocked out, Grape attack Nephrite from behind however Nephrite only got a nick on the arm and created a sword and placed it on the monster's neck.
"I'm leaving right now." Said Nephrite, "And I'm taking her with me."
Nephrite grabbed Lisanna's arm and teleported away.
"Why that…" muttered Grape.
In the forest both of Nephrite and Lisanna reappeared.
"Thank you." Said Lisanna as she turned back to normal, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Said Nephrite noticing a little cut on his arm.
Lisanna noticed his blood was green but looked at away since she knew she shouldn't stare. Then she realized something else.
"Why did you save me?" asked Lisanna.
Nephrite removed his sleeve and revealed the guild mark was still on his arm.
"My plan was to infiltrate the guild and target it's members." Said Nephrite, "However something happened that I never expected."
What?" asked Lisanna.
"I ended up liking the guild." Said Nephrite.
Lisanna's eyes winded.
"I has to remain in the guild hall in order to pick and choose targets, but I ended up befriending some of the guild members." Said Nephrite.
Lisanna did notice that "Maxfield" ha often had conversations with Cana and a few other people.
"When I targeted Laki I had no intention of killing the monster…" said Nephrite, "But I had to protect the guild… even if ended up betraying the Dark Kingdom… It took be a while to realize that."
Lisanna nodded in understanding.
Nephrite sighed, "Because of that I'm wanted by the Dark Kingdom. If they get their hands on me, they'll kill me." Said Nephrite, "And I don't know what Makarov would do to me…"
"He wouldn't kill you…" said Lisanna.
"I'm going to give myself up." Said Nephrite, "I'd rather live than die or worse…"
"Lisanna!" they heard several yells.
Lisanna turned around and saw Natsu, Happy, Elfman and Mirajane headed towards them.
"Don't worry I'll explain everything." Said Lisanna.
She waved at them.
However Grape appeared behind ready to strike her from behind.
But she that could happen Nephrite pushed her out of the way and took the hit. His shoulder was impaled and fell back. Grape retreated her arm but the gigantic thorns remained.
"He protected Lisanna…" said Elfman.
"Why did he do that?" asked Mirajane.
"I told you wasn't that bad of a guy." Said Natsu.
"Now's not the time!" yelled Mirajane.
Nephrite fell to the ground.
"Those thorns are going to drain all of your energy." Said Grape as her sisters appear, "And there's nothing that you can do, no human can take out those thorns."
"I guess I should have known this would happen." Said Nephrite.
"Don't give up just yet." Said Natsu.
"No I deserve this." Said Nephrite, "I tricked the entire guild and almost killed many members not to mention the havoc they caused while under my control… this my punishment I guess…"
"You know I should be the one who deals out of the punishments…"
They turned to see Makarov walking towards them glaring at the monsters.
"Master…" said Lisanna.
"I saw everything…" said Makarov, "And I think we all know what to do…"
"All right!" said Natsu, "Just the same thing I was thinking…"
"Are you crazy? IT won't work!" yelled Nephrite.
"I thought you knew by now." Said Natsu with a big grin.
"You just save our sister! IT takes a real man to do that!" yelled Elfman.
"And I wouldn't fell right if we didn't repay the debt." Said Mirajane.
Elfman turned his arm to stone, while Mirajane turned to her Satan Soul form, while Makarov turned hi hands gigantic.
"Are you idiots!" yelled Grape, "I already said that no human can take out those thrones."
Makarov, Natsu, Elfman and Mirajane all grabbed some of the thorns. Evil energy crackled from them, but all of them endured it. They managed to pull out the thorn and tossed them away. Nephrite screamed in pain as they were removed.
"Thank you…" he managed to croak out.
However the three monsters were in shock.
"Huh…" said Suzuran.
"Didn't see that one coming." Said Housenka.
Natsu, Mirajane and Elfman were all ready to fight.
"Lisanna!" said Mirajane, "Get him out of here!"
"You two happy." Said Natsu.
Lisanna helped Nephrite.
"I'm going with you." Said Makarov.
HE gave a nod at Lisanna, which she knew what he meant.
That was when suddenly there was a shout of "Bubble Spray!"
The entire area became foggy.
"Go now…" Lisanna heard Sailor Mars tell her.
Lisanna, Happy and Makarov helped Nephrite to get a safe enough distance.
As the fog cleared they saw Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury performed their speeches.
"I am the pretty sailor-suited guardian of love and intelligence Sailor Mercury! Douse your head in water and repent!" called out Sailor Mercury.
"I am the pretty sailor-suited guardian of fire and passion, Sailor Mars! In the name of Mars, I will chastise you!" called out Sailor Mars.
"What do those things mean?" asked Elfman.
"We don't know… they just sort of happen…" said Sailor Mercury blushing.
Elsewhere in the forest they found a good spot for Nephrite.
"There you go…" said Lisanna.
"Lisanna!" called out Luna.
Luna flew down.
"You're okay..." Said Luna.
"Yeah…" said Lisanna, "But…"
Lisanna didn't know what to call him and stumbled on her words.
"He's not doing okay." Said Makarov.
"I'll be fine." Said Nephrite.
"Lisanna… you should transform. "said Luna.
"But…" said Lisanna eyeing Nephrite.
"I'm sure he won't tell anyone…" said Makarov, "Right?"
"Sure…" said Nephrite knowing it was best not to argue.
"Okay." Said Lisanna.
Moon Prism Power! Make-Up!" called out Lisanna.
Of course she transformed into Sailor Moon.
Nephrite jut stared at her.
"Okay… so Lisanna is Sailor Moon…" said Nephrite hearing about the mysterious mage before.
Sailor Moon ran to join the fight.
"Now Nephrite…" said Makarov, "Tell me exactly what's going on."
Nephrite sighed but it was a worried or exasperated sigh, but rather a somewhat happy one.
Back with the fight.
Grape managed to regain herself and was in a hand-to-hand fight with Mirajane. However Mirajane punched her so hard into a tree.
Suzuran tried to use her sonic waves but Sailor Mercury called out "Bubble Spray Freezing!" and froze her.
Housenka sent out the fire balls at them however Natsu ate the fire.
"That was barley a snack." Said Natsu.
"What?" asked Housenka surprised what happened.
"Hey Mars!" said Natsu.
"Right!" said Sailor Mars.
"Fire Dragon Roar!" shouted Natsu.
"Fire Soul!" called out Sailor Mars.
The fire engulfed the monster, afterwards she could barely stand any more.
"Hey!" yelled Sailor Moon.
Of course even she couldn't help but to do the speech.
"I am the pretty sailor-suited guardian of love and justice Sailor Moon! In the name of the moon I will punish you!" called out sailor Moon.
"Seriously what's with those speeches." Said Elfman with a sweat drop.
"I don't want to talk about it." Said Sailor Moon.
"Sailor Moon." Said Sailor Mars.
"Right!" said Sailor Moon.
She grabbed her tiara.
"Mars! Mercury!" said Lisanna.
The three knew what that meant and nodded.
"Moon Tiara Action!"
"Fire Soul!" called out Sailor Mars hitting the tiara with her flames.
"Bubble Spray!" called out Sailor Mercury as the flaming tiara was engulfed by the bubbles.
She directed the tiara at all three, turning them all into dust.
Sailor Moon breathed a sigh of relief.
She looked at the other two who nodded. They knew they had to leave.
"Well we have to go now." Said Sailor Mars.
"Yeah, sorry but we have to do something else." Said Sailor Moon.
"Later. "said Sailor Mercury.
"Seriously!" yelled Mirajane as she turned back to her human form, "What's their deal?"
"They have their reasons." laughed Natsu.
"Well come on Dragon Boy, go find them." Said Mirajane.
"Fine… "muttered Natsu.
Lisanna rejoined the group caring for Nephrite along with Erza and Levy (creating the illusion that they joined the group during the fight).
Luna had removed the jacket that Nephrite was wearing and used it as a bandage for his shoulder.
"Why does he have green blood?" asked Happy.
"You know I'm right here." Said Nephrite with a sweat drop.
Soon enough Natsu, Mirajane and Elfman showed up.
"It's about time you show up." Said Mirajane.
"I'm sorry I let Lisanna get kidnapped." Said Erza, "If you wish you may punch me once as punishment."
Mirajane punched her, then she punched her again, however Erza caught it.
"I said only once." Said Erza.
"I felt like doing more." Muttered Mirajane.
Both of them began to glare at each other.
Makarov cleared his throat.
"Now isn't the time to be arguing." Said Makarov.
Both of them stopped knowing that Makarov was going to lay down Nephrite's punishment.
"What do you did my children were something I probably won't ever forgive." Said Makarov, "However you have proven yourself. You showed that you would be willingly to give up everything to protect your fellow guild mates…"
A silence filled the air, Nephrite knew he must be punished in some way.
"I will not strip your membership." Said Makarov.
Nephrite was surprised by this fact.
"However you must be punished." Said Makarov, "You are not only not allowed to jobs until I say otherwise but you almost be the guild's new bartender."
"Thank you." Said Nephrite.
"I'm not done yet." Said Makarov, "You won't get paid beyond tips."
"All right." Said Nephrite.
"And in the next 24 Hour Endurance Race you will join the loser in the punishment game." Said Makarov.
"What?" asked Nephrite.
"Oh that's just needlessly cruel!" yelled Natsu.
"Come on have a heart!" said Happy.
"There's no way he'd survive that!" yelled Elfman.
Makarov flared at three and they immediately shut up.
"Do… do I want to know?" asked Nephrite.
"No… you don't." said Lisanna.
"Now there's just one more thing." Said Makarov.
"Yes…" said Nephrite.
"What do you want to be called?" asked Makarov.
Nephrite smirked.
"I think from now on… I'll go by Maxfield Stanton from now on." Laughed Nephrite… well Maxfield.
Above them, Zoisite scowled and teleported away to Queen Beryl. He explained all that he saw.
"So he has made his choice." Said Queen Beryl gritting her teeth.
"Should I." said Zoisite.
"Let him have this…" said Queen Beryl with an evil smile, "After all when the time comes we'll eliminate him along with the rest of Fairy Tail…"
Zoisite reluctantly nodded in agreement.
"Zoisite… I leave the mission to you now." Said Queen Beryl.
"Yes my queen." Said Zoisite.
Zoisite on the other hand was thinking "One Day Nephrite, your day will come…" thought Zoisite.
The next day at the Guild Hall.
"WHAT!" yelled almost the entire guild.
"I have made my decision with his punishments." Said Makarov, "Besides, he has proven himself to be that he can remain in the Guild."
"Oh really what's his punishments?" asked Jet.
"I can't go on jobs, I have to be the bar tender and I won't be paid for my bartending beyond tips." Said Maxfield.
"That's not much of a punishment!" yelled Bisca.
"Oh and something about a punishment game involving a race." Said Nephrite.
The entire guild went silent.
"Poor guy…" said Cana.
"That's just evil." Said Gray.
Maxfield sweat dropped at that.
"Don't worry you'll be fine." Said Lisanna.
"Thanks." Said Maxfield.
Maxfield looked at the Guild Hall, he knew he would have to prove to the rest of the Guild he could be trusted, he knew it was going to be an uphill battle, but he had a new life now. One that he was happy to live and it was going to be one that it worth living.
Next Time: Zoisite is now in charge... however the true ruler of the Dark Kingdom gives him a very different task, find these things called Rainbow Crystals which are hidden inside of human souls. Meanwhile Luna figures out who is the last Sailor Guardian who she's supposed to find is... and let's just say she isn't happy about it... Who is it? Find out next time!