Here's the next chapter.
I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed with myself with the previous chapter. I promise to get better in the future.
Pragma - I'm sorry to hear this story isn't for you. The flute arc was quite a minor part of the main story so I didn't think it especially mattered. There will be more major changes when more important arcs come up. I'm glad you like the mythology and everything and I can see why you would see Lucy's and Night Terror's relationship as forced. I'll promise I'll try harder in future chapters. Thank you for reading anyway.
NinjaFang1331 - Thanks so much.
Tenma Kirin - Thanks and here's the next chapter.
ikusatsunagi - No problem, thank you for reading.
wellingtonlucas282- Thanks so much. I am glad you liked it.
danielsnow- Thanks, glad it made sense and everything. I will address Mira's and Lucy's relationship in this chapter and the reason why they hadn't gotten together. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter.
Djinn - I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, thank you. Night Terror will return to the guild in this chapter and we'll meet a certain somebody.
Lelouch of Zero - Thanks so much. Yeah, like I said earlier, I was a little disappointed with the last chapter. It thought it was longer. It certainly took a long time to write it. Perhaps I can go back and rewrite some parts. Thanks again for reading.
MDM11 - I will certainly try my best. Thanks again for the recommendations.
MBS41 - Yeah, I see what you mean. I will write Night Terror's and Lucy's relationship a bit better in future chapters and I will explain why Mira hadn't made a move in all these years in this chapter. Thanks for reading.
Blake1992 - I suppose you're right. I definitely would have kicked as well. Much safer that way.
K. God - Yeah, the website doesn't give me a lot of options to work with. I would have definitely have tried harder if I could.
Skull Flame - Thanks so much. I'm glad you liked the trial. I based it on a mixture of existentialism and isolation. The fear of absolute nothingness is something that anybody could be afraid of, because it's not something that the mind creates for itself. Sorry, that sounded really creepy. Thanks again.
Tikio - The Nazgul are major inspiration for the MC. They still scare me, especially in the first film when they are hiding under the log. Thanks for reading and it's nice to hear from you again.
Guest - It's quite alright. You haven't offended me at all. In fact, you have actually gave me an idea for what Muireall was doing for the past seven years. Thanks so much and I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Thank you all for reviewing :)
Chapter 17: The Last Night Terror
The Island of Fear
Night Terror observed the sliver of light pouring in from the hole he made in the wall, felt its warm and comforting rays. He reached out once again and made the hole in the wall bigger, allowing more light to filer through until it was large enough for him to fit through. He leaned down and stuck his head through, before he felt a sudden wave of dizziness wash over him. Once he got used to his surroundings, he discovered that he was in the ground and not, as he would expect with the angle, coming out of a cliff face.
This was both confusing and disorientating for a number of reasons. The first is that he knew he had been descending the stairs of the cave for a long time. He didn't know exactly how long, hours, days, months, but the surroundings around him were exactly the same as he entered. It was as if time stood still when he was talking to the nothing. Not only that, but he must have travelled much, much further into the ground, but it would seem he had barely made it past the top soil.
That's when the nothing's voice echoed in his mind:
'Oblivion is not enslaved by reason or science. There is no time, no space, no gravity, no life, no death, no right, no wrong, no direction.'
Night Terror shivered at the dark voice, but he tried to forget about it for now.
He climbed up out of the hole and sat on the rim, catching his breath. He looked around the area, but couldn't recognise his surroundings. However, if he had to guess, based on the fact that he emerged right beside the same cliff edge he entered that he wasn't too far from the entrance. Probably a mile or two area.
He looked to his right at the forest. Then to his left at the cliff face and frowned puzzlingly.
"What do I do no-"
His rhetorical question stopped when he noticed a small man-made cave cut into the cliff face. He got to his feet and approached it. Seeing that there was something inside it, he bend down, reached in and pulled out a pickaxe. He inspected the axe and saw an engraving in the handle which said in Timorin:
'Congratulations, Night Terror. Reap your reward.'
He rolled his eyes, "Slightly anticlimactic. But I suppose I can't expect much if what grandfather has told me was true.'
Night Terror turned back to the pit he made in the ground, his stomach dropping at the thought of going back into that chasm. He shook his head to get rid of his fears. It can't hurt him now...he had purpose.
Anam, Island of Fear
Night Terror carried the lumps of raw metal ore upon his back down the path leading to the village. The load wasn't too heavy as you would expect, but he needed a lot of it if he wanted to make a new suit of armour and mask. As he walked closer to his destination, his mind began to wonder what he and Condhuine should do now that he has officially become a Night Terror.
'I must bring him back to the guild. I doubt he would want to leave the island, but I can't allow him to stay here by himself,' he decided, 'I shall build a house for him in the forest around Magnolia. I think he would enjoy the place. It'll be an exciting-'
He spotted the man he talking about walking not to far away down the same path, carrying a pile of timber on his back. This puzzled him as why would he be travelling back from the Boghaig when he should be waiting for him to return from his trial. Night Terror was about to call out when he saw Condhuine stagger under the weight of the timber before catching himself. He staggered again but it seemed more painful for him. Then, to his horror, his legs gave out from beneath him and fell to the ground as bits of wood went flying everywhere. Night Terror instantly dropped the ore and ran to him in a panic. He kneeled beside him, turned him onto his back, and felt his pulse. He was still breathing, but it was weak.
"Grandfather!" he cried shaking him slightly, "Wake up!"
Condhuine eyes fluttered open, his gaze instantly falling onto Night Terror's bandaged face. Despite his laboured breathing and the pained expression on his face, he smiled gently.
"Leanabh, you're...back," he stammered.
"Never mind me. What happened to you?" he asked as he helped him into a sitting position, "I found you in the middle of the road."
Condhuine looked around with a small hum, "Oh dear, so you're right. Sorry for worrying you. I must have exhausted myself."
"You're never exhausted," Night Terror muttered sceptically. Spotting their oak tree not too far away, he lifted his grandfather into his arms and carried him over to it, setting him down at its roots, "Just stay there. I'll find some medicine at the village-"
"No medicine will cure me," his grandfather softly said as he leaned back on the tree trunk, "All I require is your presence. I'm proud of you for competing your trial."
Night Terror sharply turned to him, "Shut up about me! What do you mean you don't need medic-" he stopped his question when he remembered the timber that the Grand Master was carrying when he collapsed. Dread ran down his spine as he thought of what it could mean, "What was the wood for?" he whispered.
Condhuine gave him a sad smile, "You know what it is for."
"But it can't be for another funeral, because you said yourself that you already performed the last funeral. So it must be for something else."
"You're in denial."
"I'm in denial, because it can't happen!" Night Terror yelled, tears already falling from his eyes.
Condhuine merely patted the ground beside him, "Come and sit down, leanabh."
"No," Night Terror firmly denied, "You can't die. This isn't what you do. You're one of the greatest Phobos of our time."
"Everything has its time. In fact, I have been living on burrowed time for the past seven years," Condhuine explained with a peaceful tone, "The Slaodach Uaine that Muireall used to petrify me may not have killed a healthy person, but my elderly self couldn't take that stress. I guess she did kill me in a way. Still, I would have preferred if she killed me then so then I would die along with our people. But when I was finally freed, I knew that the gods gave me a responsibility...to make sure that our people have a proper burial so they can finally rest in peace. After all these years I have eventually carries out my duty as a Grand Master and the gods rewarded me by letting me see my grandson one last time. I am not invincible. I am an old man who wants to rest and reunite with my daughter and the Clan I love dearly."
"But I just got you back," Night Terror said through sobs, "Please, I can't be the last one. I don't want to be the last one anymore."
Condhuine nodded, "I know it is hard for you, but you have a life to live. A life the extends further from this island's shores. A life that is more then staying here with the dead. You have an important part to play in the future, but right now," he patted the ground beside him again, "I would like the last moments I have with you to be one of happiness, not of sadness. That is all I request from you."
Night Terror looked at the place through teary eyes before he slowly walked to it and sat down beside his grandfather. The two watched the beautiful scenery of the Anam, illuminated by the evening sun as it descended over the horizon. The scent of parsley and mint drifted in the air and the song of cardinal bird perched in the tree filled the air with gentle music. For a few moments, it seemed like the world was at peace with itself.
Night Terror bowed his head and sighed wearily, "What should I do now?"
Condhuine chuckled, not taking his eyes from the view, "You don't need me to tell you. You know what to do. That was the point of your trial. You are only just scared to take the first step, that's all. The path destined to you will not be easy. There will face trouble and adversary on your journey. However, just because it will be difficult, doesn't mean you have to walk alone. Hurdles and hinderances are weaker when there are those who are willing to help you. All you have to do is welcome it."
The image of his guild flashed through his mind. All of them smiling, drinking, and being there for each other, it warmed his heart when he thought of them.
Condhuine suddenly laughed, surprising Night Terror. He continued to laugh until turned into violent coughing.
"Sorry," he said through a cough, "I just remembered the time when you switched farmer Tuathanach's carrots seeds with chicken feed. He was so confused why they wouldn't grow and even more confused why the hens kept getting into his patch."
Night Terror groaned, "Please don't remind me. It's embarrassing to think I was so mischievous. As I recall, you didn't do anything to dissuade me."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"You were a bad influence. You told Master Gun Aghaidh that everyone at the elder meeting was coming in fancy dress, only when he arrived dressed up as a banana he realised that you lied."
Condhuine burst out laughing at the memory, "That was hilarious. You should have seen his face. What about the time you released a baby Snàmh cnàimhe in the exam hall before a test," causing Night Terror to laugh.
"Or when you sawed off the legs of the elders' chairs so they were thought they were getting shorter."
"Or when I told you that you always have to address the daonna with Mr or Miss or else you offend them," he chuckled.
...
...
...
"That was a joke!?" Night Terror cried, earning a confused look from his grandfather.
"Why yes. You didn't think that-" Condhuine eyes brightened in amusement, "Have you been-"
"For seven years. Seven years of my life," Night Terror answered in astonishment as the Grand Master laughed his head off, "It's not funny. Its almost become a verbal tic at this point," he crossly said, causing Condhuine to laugh harder.
The laughter soon turned into another coughing fit, ending the humour filled moment between them. Condhuine slumped back onto the trunk and stared out at the scenery in silence.
"Leanabh, can you please take off the bandages," he asked in tired tone.
Night Terror frowned uncomfortably, but decided that it was for the best. He hesitantly reached for the end of the bandaged and began to unravel it around his head. Ever since he left the island he never liked showing his face. He became obsessive of concealing it, even by Phobos standards. There were many reasons why this was: devotion to his Clan, a punishment for all his failures, the unwillingness to show the grief that has befallen him. Whatever the reason, Night Terror decided to dismiss them...just this time.
The bandages soon fell away to reveal the young face of a boy in his late teens. His black hair was messy and cut short, his eyes were emerald green and they were dark circles around them as if hadn't slept for a while, he had a square jaw and light stubble beard. Now that his face was revealed, he didn't look as terrifying as he once was. He may have been a Night Terror, but underneath the hood he looked...normal.
Condhuine smiled tiredly when he saw his grandson's face once again, "For a moment...I thought you would exactly like you did when you were young," he mused, before he smiled mischievously, "Shame you had to hide it. I bet you could make any woman fall for you with a face like that. Just like I did when I was your age."
Night Terror blushed in embarrassment, "Yeah right," he muttered.
Condhuine chuckled sleepily before he sighed, "I wish I could have seen you grow up. I know what I did was wrong, but I don't regret it. I'm so glad to have an amazing grandson like you."
Night Terror fought down a sob, "And I'm so glad that I have a wonderful grandfather."
Condhuine looked like he was about to say something else when he saw something in the distance. His eyes widened and he sat up slightly.
"Ailis," he mumbled happily, earning a confused look from Night Terror.
"I'm sorry?"
"Don't you see her? Condhuine asked as he raised a shaky arm and pointed at the meadow before them, "My daughter. She's right there."
Night Terror looked, but all he saw was an empty field. There was nobody there.
"Ailis," Condhuine gasped, trying to shout, "Ailis please come to me child. Why is she not approaching?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
Night Terror felt a tear roll down his cheek, not daring to look back at the slumped figure of his grandfather, "W-what...is she doing?" he asked.
"She's...waving," he uttered in reply, "waving at me to...come to her."
"Then maybe...you should go to her," Night Terror softly said, biting his lip to stop a sob escaping his throat, "Go and meet your daughter. Join the rest of the Clan."
Condhuine had a lost expression on his face for a moment before it broke into a small smile, "Maybe I should," he whispered as he closed his tired eyes, "maybe I should."
Grand Masters have been buried on Elder's mount for hundreds of years. The trees that grow from their ashes bloom beautifully from within the Anam.
It was only right for Night Terror to keep up the tradition.
Night Terror took the timber that Condhuine had collected and set up the pyre upon the mount. He watched quietly during the cremation, staring into the red and yellow flames as they flickered and crackled, the smoke drifting into the night sky. Once the process was done, he collected the ashes and placed them in the urn to carry to the burial sight. However as he passed through the library he spotted his Elder Staff leaned against one of the shelves. He must have left it there before collecting firewood. He ignored it for now and carried the urn through the library and onto the path before planting the ashes beside it. He stood back and almost instantly, a great tree grew from the ashes. Soon enough the three towered over him and blocked out the night sky from above him.
The funeral was complete and the Grand Master, his grandfather, can now move onto the afterlife. With nothing else to do, he sat beneath the tree and gazed over the Anam and the stars and moon above. He didn't think or do anything for the rest of the night, not at all feeling tired.
He couldn't sleep.
However, when the sun peaked over the horizon and illuminated the view, Night Terror knew that he couldn't sit under this tree forever. He had to return to his new clan and that means he needs a new armour.
He collected the ore he had dropped the previous day and found the blacksmiths tools among the ruins of the village. He was lucky that the equipment was still in working order and the moulds undamaged. Using an instruction book he found, he fired up the forge and smelt the ore to purify it. Once it was pure metal he found the right moulds and started to construct his armour. It wasn't as if this was the first time he did this, having made his own makeshift armour that he had been using for the past seven years and soon he had an almost complete suit.
He first made the lower half, the sabatons, the greaves, the poleyns and the cuisse. Then he made the top section, the breastplate, the rebrace and the vanbrace. He then created his prime weapon, his claws. He made sure to make them extra sharp for damaging blows. He then turned his attention to the gorget. He created a mould in the shape of Fairy Tail's emblem so he could solder his guild's mark to his armour just like his old one.
The last piece was the mask. He had found the mould of the grinning skull among the wreckage. He couldn't help but hesitate as he stared at the mould. He will finally have his mask and his journey to become a Night Terror will be complete. A gnawing urge in the back of his head told him to forget the mask, but he knew it was his fear of moving on, leaving the island and finding Muireall. Although, he had to admit that his head being uncovered for the first time in years was nice. Before he could start he decided to let the breeze ruffle his unbrushed hair and feel the sunlight upon his skin for a while.
He made his mask and attached to the front of a helmet. And with that final pierce, his armour was ready. He admired himself in a broken mirror, seeing the silver-like armour shine, feeling how light and the metal was. He felt...powerful. Yes powerful. As if had finally found the key that unlocks his true potential. Taking a deep breath, he reached out to the darkness.
Dark shadowy tendrils crept from the corners of the blacksmiths and circled around him. It rose and slithered up his armour, coating the shiny metal in its thick blackness. It started to form a cloak with a hood set upon his head, allowing only the silver skull mask to be seen. Night Terror originally made his cloak out of the darkest material he could find, but this new was more malleable and stronger. With barely a single thought a shadow tendril shot out from the cloak and he wielded it take an assortment of shapes and weapons. A hammer, a spear, a shield, all of it was possible for him now.
He walked out of the blacksmiths and raised his clawed hand before him and from the shadows rose a dark horse. To his surprise, his shadow horse seemed more realistic. He could see it's fine hairs on its body and the ridges in its hooves, even the way acted was as if it was alive. Snorting, whinnying and clopping his hooves upon the ground. He approached the horse and petted its mane. The horse responded by nudging him with its snout in greeting, causing him to chuckle.
"Hello, Mabel. I am sorry it has been a while since I made you," he softly said, Mabel nudging him with her snout as if to tell him that she was fine. Night Terror looked up at Elder's Mound before mounting the shadow horse, "There is one more thing I need to do before we leave," he told her before taking her reins and ordering her to move.
She rode her up the mound, he could practically hear the his old teachers tut at him for the disrespect. He reached the summit and dismounted the horse, moving swiftly to the library to where the Elder's Staff is left. He took it and passed through to the funeral pyre. Before the stairs and underneath the branches of the great tree, he stuck the staff into the ground, pierced the stone path and embedded it into the ground.
He knew he couldn't take it with him. It belonged to the elders and the Anam. Perhaps, someday, someone will take up the staff and wield it once again.
Someday.
With one final glance at it, Night Terror walked back through the library and back to Mabel.
He rode the shadow horse slowly across the Anam, sadly watching the scenery go by. He passed through the gates, through the dark forest, towards where he had tethered his boat to the dock. He recalled Mabel back to the shadows and prepared to set sail.
However, when he pushed the boat away from the dock, he looked back to the forest and, to his shock, saw hundreds of beasts and monsters that inhabited the Bodhaig. From the Snàmh Cnàimhe to the Faileas dubhar. All animals great and small. The large figure of the Eun Bàs flapped its mighty wings, hovering in midair while smaller birds flew around it. Night Terror felt the boat move sharply before it started to pick up speed. He looked down at the water and saw the Fir Ghorm, blue creatures who live under the water, pull the boat around the rocks and other obstacles, helping to guide him out of the Island of Fear.
"They're saying goodbye," Night Terror realised as the monsters cried, squared and howled as he drifted away, "they must know that there are no more Phobos on the island."
He assumption was correct. For the first time since the Five Brothers took their families and friends to the island over a millennia ago, the island was completely uninhabited by the Phobos. A lost so significant that even the monsters and beasts soon realised the difference.
As Night Terror sailed through the jagged rocks and out into the open ocean, he could still hear their goodbyes echoing on the horizon. He continued to watch his home until it disappeared from view before turning towards the front of the boat.
Sailing away from the life he once knew to the new one ahead.
Unknown Location
The constant ticking sound of a pocket watch echoed across the nearly empty hall. The windows have long been bricked over so the only form of light were the flickering candles perched on holders attached to the walls.
At the far end of the hall, the furthest away from the oak door was a laboratory of sorts. There were a number of scientific equipment, an operating table, bulletin boards with notes pinned to it. But dominating the most space was a large square table with a number of things cluttered on it. It was everything that the owner wanted and needed. Nothing more and nothing less.
However, the owner has ignored her equipment and books and just stared at the pocket watch on the table in front of her. Watching the second hand predictably travel across the face from her throne, listening to the steady tick, tick, tick, of the mechanism, and doing nothing much else.
Tick, tick, tick.
Everything was perfectly planned.
Tick, tick, tick.
Everything was as it should be.
From the other end of the hall, the oak door opened and in marched a person completely dressed in a black leather uniform, consisting of a duster jacket, trousers and mask. It was almost a complete copy of the No Name that Henry McCarty was once known as, but this one was different. It was human in shape, but it didn't move like one. Its movement was rigid and stiff as if it was only pretending to be alive. If somebody were to look upon it, they instincts would scream at them that this thing was not a fellow human being and that they should run away from it as fast as they can.
It marched across the stone floor like a soldier towards the throne where its master rests. Its glowing blue eyes rested on the back of the throne, waiting for permission to speak.
Its master snapped the pocket watch case closed to silence the ticking and called out to it, "What news do you have for me, Nobody?"
The Nobody bowed its head, "We have reports that the Night Terror has returned to Fiore," it spoke in a shrill, piercing voice, "We believe that he has completed his trial."
Its master gave a small smile, "Good. Everything is starting to come in fruition," she said before asking hesitantly, "Is he...well?"
The Nobody cocked its head in confusion, "That information is unknown. Shall I-"
"No," its master sighed, "forget what I said. Disband the scouts. No use wasting anymore resources on him."
"Yes master," It obediently agreed, "Secondly, the new recruits are ready to go through the initiation."
"I will see to that in a moment. I feel two presences in my house, I assume that would be the third piece of news."
"Yes master. Miss Ultear and Miss Meredy are here," the Nobody informed.
Its master sighed in irritation, "Send them in," she muttered.
The Nobody nodded sharply and instantly, from the opposite side of the hall, another Nobody, completely identical to the first, opened the entry door from the outside. It gestured inside with a stiff arm and in walked in Ultear and a younger girl with short pink hair. She had fair skin, green eyes and wore a red and golden lined cloak over a skintight purple and black suit.
As they walked down the hall towards the lab, the Nobody who let them in slammed the door behind them, making the pink haired girl flinch in fright, but she managed to calm her nerves when she saw Ur's confident and stoic expression.
They approached the throne which faced away from them, just stopping a few meters behind it in respect.
"Master Faceless One," Ultear called out with a bowed head, "Master Hades has asked about your progress."
"Are you not too high ranking to be Hades' simple messenger," the Faceless One drawled.
"We were in the area," Ultear explained, "Also Master Hades is...reluctant to send any more you killed the last messenger he had sent."
"He made too many mistakes," the Faceless One sighed uncaringly, "What's the point in a messenger that can't speak without being a stuttering mess. Hades needs to be more careful who he hires," they saw her raise a gloved hand which started to glow bright white, "Does he need me to purge his staff again?"
Ultear stared at the magic emitting from her hand and secretly gulped in fear, "He just needs an update on progress."
"Progress is doing well," she said as he lowered her hand, "Hades needs to learn how to be more patient. Now leave. I'm busy."
"You don't look busy," Meredy commented harshly.
Silence fell as soon as she said that. Ultear shot a nervous look at her before looking back at the throne, even the Nobody seemed to flinch in fear. Nothing happened for a few moments before the Faceless One stood up to from the throne and turned towards with a swift turn.
This was the first time that Meredy had saw the Faceless One and the sight of her superior almost caused her to scream. She was tall. Way taller than her an Ultear and about an inch taller than the Nobody. She wore a blood-red hooded robe over a black leather tunic and trousers. The hood was perched upon her head, displaying a porcelain white featureless mask. Meredy stepped back at the Fear magic radiating off of her as she stepped closer to them.
"You're new, aren't you?" the Faceless One questioned darkly as she towered over her, "Naivety is no excuse for your disrespect-"
"Faceless," Ultear sharply interrupted, steeping in-between the two, "Forgive her. I did tell her to mind her manners."
Faceless one moved her head from Ultear back to the terrified Meredy before she took a step back.
"Of course. I suppose that it doesn't look like I'm doing much. You have caught me in a relaxed period. However, I assure you that I am usually very busy," she raised her hand and tapped her blank mask, "Do you why my kin are called the Faceless Ones, Meredy?"
The young girl shook her head.
"Long ago, when my ancestor, the very first Faceless Once, first used his magic upon another person, it was said that he was so horrified by what he did that he used his own magic on his face. He removed his eyes so he wouldn't see what he had done and he removed his mouth so he would finally stop screaming," she told her in a tone that made them shiver, "Most of my kin thought it was a lesson of the devastation that our magic can cause and to take caution when using it...but now I see it in a different light. He was a fool to not see the potential that he had in his hands. If he pushed himself, improved his magic, become stronger...well, maybe he would have achieved what I can do," she said as her hand began to glow brighter and brighter until she dropped it to her side, "Perhaps a demonstration of my progress would be suitable. I already have a battalion of recruits ready for an initiation."
"That won't be necessary," Ultear insisted forcefully, "I will inform Master Hades of your progress so far."
"Nonsense," Faceless One said glaring down at Meredy, "this girl wants proof then I'll shall provide it. Follow me."
She walked past the two towards the door and the women followed briskly behind. The Nobody also followed obediently as well. They walked out of the hall and down the dark corridors lined with alcoves. Meredy saw that within each alcove stood a Nobody standing to attention. She noticed that all of them looked identical to each other. Same clothing, height, the bright blue lights for eyes. After the fourth alcove they past, Meredy's curiosity couldn't be bottled any further.
"What are these...things?" she asked.
"Nobodys," Faceless One replied.
"Are they human?"
"Once. They're more magic then human now. You could say I improved them. They are the perfect soldiers."
Ultear looked down at Meredy, "This is what Master Faceless One has been working on for many years, an army that is both powerful, fearless and, thanks to Phobian Fear magic, repellent to all types of magic. Master Hades is sure to love the army you made for him."
Unknown to her visitors, the Faceless One snarled under her mask, angered by that statement. But she kept her emotions under control and replied, "I am indebted to Hades for taking me in. This is the least I can do."
"But why keep the human side?" Meredy asked, "Wouldn't it be easier to make them 100% magic?"
"Fear cannot be created," Faceless One explained, "If it was 100% magic then it would constantly emit, eventually seep out and the Nobody becomes useless. Having the human side provides the magic with something to transfer to. As the human side gets more scared, the Fear magic becomes more powerful with 50% of it going back to the human side and the rest to emit and repel attacking magic. It's...self-sufficient."
Meredy looked uneasily at the Nobody they passed, "So, they are in constant terror?"
"You make it sound like I'm being cruel," Faceless One said as they approached another wooden door at the end of the corridor, "They are in no pain. I found a way to prevent them from feeling it...eventually. This is one of the nicer and most successful of my experiments. A while ago, I performed a forbidden spell on a willing participant and took away his fear. The procedure worked but the results were unsatisfactory. I disposed of him," she told her with a wave at Nobody at the door, telling it to let them in.
The Nobody opened the door and the four stepped into a hall much larger and brighter then the one in before. Ultear's and Meredy's eyes widened as they saw over a hundred Nobodys standing in formation like an army ready to go into battle. They looked more fresher then the Nobodys they have already seen as if they had been recently created. They stood on top of a stairwell overlooking the neatly organised troops in a small trance.
"Whoa," Meredy uttered, using the handrail to steady herself.
The Faceless One winced as she saw the young girl touch the handrail with her barehand as if it physically pained her. She gritted her teeth and her hands twitched irritably, but she fought down her emotions once again and continued with the presentation.
"Allow me to present to you our newest troops," she said fighting down a growl and descending a few steps.
The Nobody that attended the master marched down the steps and addressed, "Your master is present. ATTENTION!"
Simultaneously, the Nobodys stomped the ground and slammed a closed fist on their chest. Ultear and Meredy had to admit that the simple action happening at the same time was slightly off putting.
The Faceless One took her time to overlook her soldiers, making sure to stare each of them down. She then turned to her Nobody attendant sharply.
"Nobody, how long have you been at my service?" she asked loudly so anybody could hear.
"Three years, Master," the Nobody replied, "I was one of the first Nobodys you had created."
"And what are your responsibilities?"
"My one responsibility in life it serve the master and carry out your wishes. This involve scouting for people of interest, providing live subjects for the master to experiment on and cutting down anyone who opposes the master."
"Would you die for me?"
"Yes master. I am willing to sacrifice everything for your survival."
The Faceless One took a step towards it and leaned her face towards it, "And do you... love me?" she softly asked.
The Nobody took a while to answer that question, but after a while it answered, "Yes master. I have no need for it. But if I did it would be for the one who gave me purpose."
The Faceless One chuckled slightly, "I am very happy you said that."
Before Ultear and Meredy could realise what was going to happen, the Faceless One's hand began to glow and she swiped the Nobody's head. Immediately, the Nobody burst into dust before everyone's eyes. Even the new recruits seemed to move away in shock at the suddenness of it all and stared at the Faceless One with dust seeping out of her closed fist.
"Observe," Faceless One in a sinister tone, "I have killed one of my closest soldiers. It was loyal, would lay down its own life for me. And yet, I still killed it. And if I can slay my closest servant without a single hesitation..." she turned towards the Nobodys, who shuddered at the amount of Fear radiating of their master, "don't think I won't do the same thing to you."
She descended the rest of the stairs, the Nobodys shuffling away from her as she walked slowly towards them.
"Comradery, fraternity and loyalty is cheap if I don't see value in any of you. To survive under my rulership, I expect complete and utter efficiency. You will carry out every single command without question. Fall under my expectations and I will dispose of you, exceed my expectations then I consider you a traitor and dispose of you. You are nothing but cogs in the machine that I have built. You will not think, you have no independence, you are replaceable and expendable," the Fear magic she was emitting was becoming unbearable, even Ultear and Meredy seemed to back away in fear, "DEFY MY ORDERS AND I WILL VANQUISH INTO OBLIVION! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!" she bellowed.
"YES MASTER!" the Nobodys shouted in reply, completely terrified of their master,
The Faceless One smirked wickedly, happy to break them. They are now completely under their power.
"Good," she said with a calmer voice, walking back up the stairs to the the pile of dust, "If you meet my expectations, follow my commands and devote your lives to me, then maybe I'll see the value in you again."
Her hand began to glow again, but it was different this time. It was no longer a dangerous, killing magic, but something much gentler. To everyone's astonishment, the dust that was still in her hand began to glow, followed closely by the pile of dust on the stairs. It began to lift upwards, morph together into a humanoid shape. The glowing eventually stopped to reveal a restored Nobody who looked around in confusion for a few moments before standing to attention.
"Send them out for training," the Faceless One ordered and instantly it carried out her orders.
She turned back to Ultear and Meredy, the younger of the women is wide-eyed in terror, and slowly approached them.
"The initiation is complete. The Nobodys are completely loyal to Hades." she informed.
"W-What did you do?" Meredy stammered, pointing at the Nobody from before, "You brought it back to life."
"How observant of you," Faceless drawled, "Unlike my ancestors I have grown and developed my magic into something...stronger," her Fear magic grew as she towered over the younger woman, "The initiation also extends to you, girl. Don't you dare question me again."
"Meredy," Ultear interrupted, standing before her defensively, "Perhaps you should go outside. I have something to discuss with Master Faceless One."
Meredy gulped nervously and nodded in agreement. Faceless One, without taking her eyes of Ultear, waved at a passing Nobody to lead Meredy out of her house. The two powerful mages glared at each other ferociously, but inevitable Ultear back down.
"She didn't need to see that...or see what is going on here," Ultear firmly said, "It was cruel of you to-"
"I'm the cruel one?" Faceless One questioned with a smirk, "I wonder how the girl would react when she realised what you did to her?"
Ultear shot her a glare, "Don't you dare. That's none of your concern."
Faceless One sighed, "Hypocrisy upon hypocrisy."
"What are you talking about?"
"You really didn't think I notice how you summoned the Night Terror to the Magic Council or your conversation with him after," she inquired, causing her to flinch. Faceless One loomed over her, radiating so much Fear magic that it almost made Ultear collapse, "Stay away from him. I would kill you right now if you weren't Hades' favourite. Instead I guess I would have to break every bone in your body again. Do you understand?"
Ultear's eye twitched, but she backed away from her and bowed her head.
"I...I understand," she murmured.
"Good. Then leave," Faceless One coldly said.
Ultear nodded and swiftly left back through the door. The Faceless One watched her leave with a satisfied smile, before looking at the handrail Meredy had touch with a disgusted look. She snapped her fingers, calling for a Nobody to her side.
"Remove and destroy the handrail," she ordered, "in fact, tear up the floor that they stepped on."
"Yes master," the Nobody complied.
"Nasty disease ridden, daonna," she muttered distastefully, "Coming into my house and infecting everything with their-"
She gasped in pain, feeling her skin burn and itch all over. She took of her glove and wince when she saw the dark veins expand and darken. Growling in annoyance, she marched back to her private chambers where she will not be disturbed, reached into her pocket and brought out a flask. Lifting her mask slightly, she held the flask to her lips and drunk from it until her skin stopped burning. Looking at her hand once more, she saw the veins getting smaller and eventually disappear back into her body.
She sighed in relief, took out the pocket watch and brushed the polished bronze with her thumb. She read the inscription written in Timorin on the side. It read:
'A Muireall, co-là breith sona dhut'
Or,
'To Muireall, Happy Birthday'
"You see what I have to sacrifice for you," she muttered to herself but sighing, "But don't worry. I will forgive you. We don't have to suffer for much longer...we will finally be together."
Road To Magnolia
It started to rain not to long after he arrived at Fiore.
Night Terror was not a stranger to riding through it, however, and has learned to repel the raindrops using his Fear magic, not only that but his new cloak kept him warm despite the harsh winds. It did mean that he had to ride slowly over the stone path or else Mabel would lose her footing and with the evening coming to a close, it did mean he would have to find suitable lodging for the night.
'There should be a town not to far ahead,' he thought to himself as he passed through the countryside, 'I hope I did not worry my clansmen with my abrupt leaving. The question is whether I should tell them what has happened,' he sighed as he approached a small stone bridge over a stream up ahead, 'I suppose they'll need an explanation, but only for my closest companions. As the saying goes 'loose lips, sink ships', and I cannot take the risk of anybody knowing about the nature of the Island. And what of Muireall? I believe I need to inform the Mhaighstir of her. If she is still out there then she is a threat to all daonna. I wonder what she's doing now...and now that I thought about it, why did she want the Tome so badly? I think a closer inspection of it will...' he trailed off when he heard something unusual, '...Is somebody...crying?'
He looked around the area, but there was nobody there. The crying sounded like they were from someone, possibly a child. That's when he detected a presence from underneath the bridge he was about to cross over. He sensed their fear. A fear of being lost, loneliness and confusion. Clear signs that this person is a stranger to these parts.
Night Terror frowned in concern. He knows how it feels to be a lost child and he won't stand for let anybody suffer it. He dismounted the shadow horse elegantly and the crying stopped with a startled gasp, causing him to stop as well.
'I must take caution. Anyone would be scared with my appearance,' he thought to himself before he slowly walked down the bank and beside the bridge.
He made sure that the child could clearly see him. The arch of the bridge only came up to his waist so they could only see the bottom of his robe. He kneeled down and saw, sitting on a muddy bank, a young girl. She had long red hair that went down to her waist, large blood red eyes and pale skin. She looked to be about eleven or twelve years old and wore a loose fitting dull purple dress. She stared at him in absolute fear as if he was her worst nightmare (something that Night Terror could understand why) and shuffled away, pressing as far as she can against the bridge.
"Do not be afraid," he said as gently as he can, "I am here to help you. I am the Night Terror of the Fairy Tail Guild. What is you name, leanabh?"
The girl didn't respond. If anything she looked even more terrified. He hummed thoughtfully before taking of his clawed gauntlet and showing her his human hand.
"Please excuse my attire, but I assure you that I am just a human," he tapped his skull mask, "And this is just a mask. It is supposed to scare my enemies," he said, sighing gently when she still didn't look convinced, "Leanabh, there are many dangers in life and you have the right to be weary of strangers like me. However, there are many strangers who could be allies. There is no easy way of telling them apart, but if you trust your instincts, you can see those who really want to help you. All you have to do is give them a chance," he slowly reached out his uncovered hand out to her, "Please, all I ask if for your name."
The young girl stared at the helping hand for a few moments, trying to see anything that would do her harm. She then looked up at Night Terror, her scared expression slowly morphing away.
"Flare," she whispered in a croaky voice, "Flare Corona."
Night Terror smiled from under his mask, "Well, Miss Flare. Shall we get you out of this rain?"
Flare slowly and hesitantly took his outstretched hand and he led her from out under the bridge and to Mabel. Using his shadows he lifted the young girl onto the horse before mounting it himself. He made her a smaller cloak from his shadows to keep her dry before he pulled on Mabel's reins to order her to go. Throughout the journey, Flare leaned into Night Terror and wrapped her cloak tightly around her in order to get herself warm.
Hotel Room
The first thing Night Terror did when they entered their room at the inn was order Flare to take a shower. She complained and said that she wanted to eat first, but he wouldn't budge. She was filthy, wore damp clothing and could catch pneumonia if she didn't get cleaned.
While she showered, Night Terror ordered the inn's chef for some food and looked for clothes that she could wear for tomorrow. He managed to found an old dress that the innkeeper used to wear when she was a girl and supposed it would have to do for now.
By the time she got out of the shower and was wearing some more clothes burrowed from the innkeeper, she saw the plate of food on the table and ran to it eagerly, digging into the meal without stopping for a single moment. Night Terror looked up in concern from his chair at how she was wolfing down her meal.
"Please eat slowly, Miss Flare. Nobody is going to take it away from you," he remined.
Flare looked up, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment before she started eating much slower. Once she was done, she got up from her table and sat on her bed, shyly playing with her long hair.
"Well, Miss Flare, would you like to tell me why you were under the bridge during a thunder storm. I'm sure your parents would be worried about you."
She shook her head, "I don't...have any," she whispered in reply.
Night Terror was taken slightly back by this, "My apologies. Do you have a relative who adopted you or a guardian?"
"My guardians thought that I should be with my own kind," she said.
"Your own kind?"
"I come from the Sun Village," she explained, earning a hum for the Phobos in understanding.
"Oh I see, you were raised by the giants," he realised, 'It might explain why she is so underprepared. Being giants they don't realise how dangerous the world is for smaller folk.'
The Phobos Clan have known and made contact with the race of giants for hundreds of years now. Giants have also been mentioned in Phobian legends as enemies and allies. However, rather like the dragons, giants seemed to have all but disappeared into obscurity.
Night Terror noticed that Flare was having trouble drying her long hair with a towel and formed a hairbrush from the shadows, "Would you like some help?"
Flare looked unsure for a moment before she answered with a nervous, "Yes please."
Night Terror sat on the bed beside her and began brushing her hair. The young girl humming happily as her hair became less tangled.
"So you have been wondering all on your own for all this time," Night Terror mused sadly, "Do you have a destination in mind?"
Flare shook here head.
"Then may I suggest joining a guild."
She looked at him with a slightly bemused expression, "What's a guild?"
"A guild is an association formed by merchants, artisans and anyone of that ilk who oversee their production. The guild I belong to is one for mages. Anyone can send in a request for anything, from finding a rare flower to slaying a monster, and us mages take the jobs in exchange for money. I belong to the guild known as Fairy Tail," he tapped his gorget which held his guild's emblem, "The other members are...unique in their own ways, but all are welcome to join. If you don't have any magic then you can always learn-"
"Oh, I know magic," Flare excitedly said as her hair began to lift up and moved around wildly like snakes, "I was given the ability to move my hair at will, see-"
One of her hair tendrils accidently knocked over a framed photo of the countryside off the wall. It would have smashed on the floor if Night Terror didn't catch with his shadows and placed it back on its hook.
"Very impressive, Miss Flare. But I think you need a little more practise," the Phobos calmly said as Flare looked down in embarrassment, "We have very skilled mages at the guild. If you like to join then one of them can teach you how to properly-"
Flare gasped and turned to him eagerly, "You can teach me?"
"W-well," Night Terror stammered, "I was actually think of-" he paused when he saw the excited look on her face. He sighed reluctantly, "Yes, I suppose I can help you learn."
"Thanks Night," Flare happily chirped before noticing that the Phobos had put her hair into two large braids.
"I hope you don't mind," Night Terror said as she admired the braids, "It will stop you from accidently getting it caught."
"It's great. Thank you," she told him, "How do you know how to make hair braids?"
Night Terror hesitated slightly, "...I had a friend who taught me," he told her before he stood up, "We have to get up early so I think you should go to sleep now."
Flare nodded tiredly and got under the covers. It had been an exhausting day of traveling for her and she hadn't been in a warm bed in what felt like ages. She was about to lay her head on her pillow when she noticed that Night Terror stood beside her bed awkwardly. He was fidgeting around as if he didn't know what to do.
"Err...are you alright?"
"Perfectly fine," he said, "I was just wondering if...you require anything to sleep. Like a...glass of water."
"No, I'm fine thank you," she told him.
"Are you too cold or too hot?"
"No, not really."
"Do you require a bedtime story?"
'He doesn't have much experience around kids, doesn't he?' Flare thought with a small sweat drop, 'But a bedtime story? Really? Do I look like I'm four?' she sighed when she saw how nervous he looked, 'Fine I'll humour him,' she thought.
"Yes please-"
"Excellent," Night Terror happily said, "I shall tell you one that was always my favourite when I was young."
Sgeul an leòmhainn òir agus an damh airgid
Or The Story Of The Golden Lion And the Silver Stag
Long ago,
When the world was still shrouded in darkness and mortals were blind to their surroundings,
The deities Ghrian and Ghealach sought a way to give light for them.
Ghrian created a metal so bright that shadows retreat from its presence and life grew from its rays,
He built a giant disc from this metal and created the sun,
While Ghealach created a metal so soothing and gentle that it illuminated the night's beauty,
She too built a giant disc and created the moon.
They deities took turns to drag their domains across the sky and bath the earth with their heavenly light,
Ghrian dragged the sun across the sky so life can grow and people will no longer be blind,
Ghealach dragged her moon during the night to signify the end of the day and beginning for all the creatures to rest.
For years the two deities dragged their creations across the sky and all was well until disaster arose,
The sun and moon were too large and they scorched the earth beneath them,
Drying up seas, turning grassland into desert and setting fire to forests,
The deities daughters, Samhradh of the summer and Geamhradh of the winter, saw the devastation and sought a way to remedy it.
Samhradh found the great lion and told it to swipe its mighty claws at her father's sun,
The lion stood on its hind legs and scratched the sun, tearing its metal piece by piece until it no longer burned the earth,
The pieces fell to the earth and buried itself deep into the ground and is known to mortals as gold,
The golden dust had also stained the lion's pelt, making it shine brightly then any animal that trod upon the land,
Samhradh, thrilled by the lion's new appearance, took ownership of the golden lion and rides upon its back to bring in the season of summer.
Geamhradh ound the great stag and told it to buck her mother's moon with its sturdy hooves and scratch it with its proud horns,
The stag bucked and scratched at the moon, tearing the moon apart until it did no more harm,
Some of the pieces fell to the earth and became known as silver, other pieces flew into the night and became the stars that sprawls above us all,
The silver dust stained the stag's fur, making it glow in the darkest of nights and soothe mortals with its presence,
Geamhradh too took ownership of the silver stag and rides upon its back to bring in the season of winter.
Ghrian and Ghealach were upset by their daughters defiance,
But the sun god soon forgave his daughter and continues to drag his domain across the skies,
The moon goddess, however, was not so kind.
She rebuilt her moon to its full state, causing her daughter to retaliate and order the stag to attack the moon once more,
Enraged by this, Ghealach sends vicious wolves to chase down the stag until she can rebuild the moon and once it was complete she orders her wolves to howl so they can deter the stag from destroying her domain.
However, when the moon is complete and heavy to drag across the sky, Ghealach could no longer send her wolves and allow the stag to attack the moon on his master's orders.
And that, my child, is how the sun and moon came to be,
And why the moon eventually breaks down and rebuilds itself over what we now call a lunar month,
The first of the lunar month will forever be known as the Ùine Madadh-allaidh (the Wolf Period) when Ghealach sends her wolves to chase the stag so she can repair her moon,
While the second part of the lunar month will be forever known as the Ùine Damh (the Stag Period) when Geamhradh sends her stag to destroy the moon.
And thus is the story of how the heavenly bodies were made and the Golden Lion and the Silver Stag.
Once Night Terror was done telling his tale, he reached for the lamp and dimmed till the room was completely dark. Flare yawned and laid her head on her pillow while the Phobos sat in his chair, staying up for another sleepless night.
"Good night, Miss Flare," he gently said.
"Good night," Flare yawned before shutting her eyes.
...
...
...
"Night."
"Yes, Miss Flare?"
"...Why did you help me?" she softly asked.
Night Terror raised his eyebrows at the question before he replied, "I too have no parents and I have lost someone close to me recently. It is hard being alone."
...
...
...
"Thank you," Flare whispered before she drifted off to sleep.
Night Terror smiled from under his mask before he prepared to meditate for the night. He looked over at the sleeping form of Flare once again.
'A student. I wonder what grandfather would think of me being a teacher,' he thought.
For some reason, he thought that Condhuine would find the whole situation quite amusing.
Fairy Tail Guild
It was the next day and the members of Fairy Tail were busy rebuilding their destroyed guild hall. Well...attempting to. Natsu and Grey were competing with each other to see who could carry the most timber, much to Erza's annoyance.
The guild seem to have their priorities straight as they had built a makeshift bar before the rest of the building. Ur and Lisanna were sat at the bar as Mirajane stood behind it. Ur nudge Lisanna with her shoulder and nodded at Mirajane who was leaning on the bar, sighing wearily ever so often and staring an empty chair and table.
"What's up with her?"
Lisanna glanced at her and smiled in slight amusement, "Oh she's just suffering from PDD."
"PDD?"
"Phobos Deficiency Depression," Lisanna answered with a small giggle, "She's get like this when Night leaves for too long."
Mirajane gave her sister a light glare, overhearing what she said, "Don't give it a name. And I'm not depressed, I'm worried. He took off without warning and the only message we got from him was a letter carried by a crow."
Ur and Lisanna agreed that they were worried as well. Everybody in the guild were, especially the ones close to him.
"He can protect himself," Ur said as she sipped her beer, "Phobos are very good at protecting themselves. Honestly, I would have expected Lucy to be more worried about him considering..." she trailed off when she noticed the angry pout on Mirajane's face, "You too, huh?"
"Tell me about. She's been crushing on him for years now," Lisanna commented.
"Years? And she hasn't made a move on him?"
Lisanna shrugged, "For somebody who is popular among the men, she's painfully shy with love."
"But I have moves on him," Mirajane told them, much to their surpise.
Ur gave Lisanna a questioning look, "That's news to me," the silver haired woman said, "Mira, when have you ever showed that you were attracted to him. It was only a while ago that you asked him on the date."
"I have asked him on a date before," Mirajane insisted with an annoyed hum, "Remember not long after we and Elfman first joined the guild."
Flashback Six Years Ago
A young Mirajane sat cross legged on a table, looking irritably across the guild a young Night Terror. Mirajane was not always the loving and caring person that she was now. In fact, even though she hadn't been there long, she was infamous within the guild and was known as the Demon. Partly because of her vicious and foul-mouthed attitude and partly because of her form of Take Over magic. She wore a gothic- punk style, black tank top and shorts and had her hair pulled back by a black hair band.
Everyone considered her to be a demon, even she doubted whether she was actually human or not. The only people who weren't afraid of her at all were her siblings, Makarov and that Phobos. Ever since Makarov told her that Night Terror didn't consider her to be a demon she thought she was, she have been feeling weird.
'Why can't I stop looking at him?' she thought to herself angrily, 'Did he do this? Did that Phobos put a spell on me or something? How dare he do that! He should be scared of me! I'm going to show him who's boss!'
Night Terror was peacefully reading a book Makarov gave him to help him learn the language better when a fist slammed down on his table, almost knocking his cup of tea onto the ground.
"Hey Phobos!" Mirajane shouted at him, "You and me outside! I'm going to beat your ass up for making me feel weird!"
Night Terror gave her a confused look from under his hood, "Tha mi duilich. An urrainn dhut bruidhinn nas slaodaiche. Chan eil mi buileach cinnteach dè tha thu ag ràdh."
(Translation: "I'm sorry. Can you speak slower. I'm not quite sure what you are saying.")
"What's that!? Are you trash talking me!?" Mirajane growled, "I'm going to beat your ass twice as much now! Meet me outside in ten minutes!" she screamed before stomping away.
Night Terror watched her leave in slight confusion. He shrugged and prepared to leave. She seemed angry at him for some reason so he thought it would be a good idea to go on a job and stay out of her way for a while.
Flashback End
"Then there was that time I tried to invite him to the Blossom-Viewing Festival," Mirajane continued.
Flashback Six Years Ago
Mirajane kicked the doors of the guild open and looked around the hall, her eyes landing on Night Terror still sat in his place in the corner of the room.
"Hey! What you doing in here! Come to the festival with us, you coward!" she shouted at him, pointing accusingly at him.
Night Terror bowed his head, "Chan eil mi a' dèanamh gu math le solas dìreach. Bidh mi ann nuair a thig am feasgar tha mi a' gealltainn."
(Translation: "I don't do well in direct sunlight. I'll be there when the evening comes. I promise.")
Mirajane groaned, "When are you going to speak our language! It's so annoying!"
That was a lie. She actually liked it when he speaks Timorin, but there was no where she was going to admit that.
"Sorry...I try...harder...for you," Night Terror replied through broken English.
Mirajane blushed slightly, but his it when she turned to leave, "Whatever," she muttered, "I don't even want you to come anyway."
Flashback End
"And what about-"
"Mira, I'm going to have stop you there," Lisanna interrupted, "Were all your attempts before or after you changed your personality?"
"Um," Mirajane hummed thoughtfully, "Mainly before. After the incident with Elfman I saw how...really amazing he was and...well, I became what I am now," she finished shyly.
Ur and Lisanna shared an uneasy look, "Mira. Don't take this wrong way," Lisanna began, "but I think the reason why Night Terror doesn't know of your feelings is-"
"You bullied him," Ur told her harshly, earning a dirty look from Lisanna.
"What?" Mirajane said with a small giggled, "Don't be silly. I would never-"
Mirajane began to think through what she said, replaying all the attempts in her mind. Now that she thought about it, her attempts were more violent then she thought of at the time. One time she threw a chair at him because she thought he wasn't listening to her. He caught it with his shadows before it could hit him, but the point stands.
Her smile slowly dropped from her face into a horrified expression as soon as she realised. Then she began to cry.
"What have I done!" she wailed as Lisanna patted her on the back comfortingly.
Ur rolled her eyes before seeing Cana sitting at the bar, smirking proudly to herself as she overheard their conversation.
"What are you smiling about?" she asked in deadpanned tone.
Cana shrugged, "Oh...nothing," she said as she drunk from her tankard.
'Good grief, you really did a number on this guild, Phobos,' Ur thought with a sweat drop.
A chill ran down her spine suddenly and, judging by the reactions of the other guild members, they had felt it too. That's when the sound of hooves and cobblestones caught their attention, making them turn away from what they were doing and focus on the dark rider coming towards them. The citizens of Magnolia gave Night Terror a wide berth as he rode on his shadow horse. The guild was just as shocked to see him but for an entirely different reason. Not only was he wearing a robe, which was more pitch black then his destroyed one, but he now wore a silver skull mask which poked out from under his hood and seemed to loom down hauntingly at the people below.
He stopped his horse in the middle of the construction site, presenting his new appearance to everyone.
"Night, why is everyone looking at you like that?"
It was only when a new voice spoke out did they realise that there was another passenger on the horse. Flare looked up at his skull mask questioningly as if confused by the guild's reaction.
"This is a normal response," he reassured as he helped her off the horse, before he dispelled it into the shadows.
"YO NIGHT!" Natsu cried as he Happy and Grey ran over with Erza, who had changed into work clothes, nervously walking up as well, "Where ye been? And what's the deal with the mask?"
"It's super scary," Happy commented as he flew around his head.
Ur nodded in agreement, "Looks like something out a nightmare."
"I wonder what Mira would think of it," Lisanna pondered as they looked back at said girl.
Mirajane's eyes sparkled and her cheeks were red. She held her hands to her mouth and gave a love sick sigh, "He looks even more handsome now."
"...Really? He's even more concealed then before," Lisanna questioned sceptically, looking over at Cana and seeing that she had more or less the same reaction, but tried to hide behind her tankard.
Ur gave Lisanna an odd look, "Is this some sort of kink or..."
"I'm honestly too afraid to ask."
"Who's that?" Grey asked nodding at Flare who had timidly hid behind Night Terror as they ran over.
The Phobos looked down and patted her head reassuringly, "This is Miss Flare, Mr Grey."
"No way, is she your daughter?" Happy asked, earning a surprised yelp from Mirajane.
"No Mr Happy," Night Terror firmly denied, earning a sigh in relief from Mirajane, "She looks nothing like me."
Grey looked down from Flare to Night Terror's hidden face, "I suppose we have to take your word for it."
Natsu hummed and stared at Flare, "Are you sure she's not your secret love child or something."
"Mr Natsu, if she was my daughter then I would have had her when I was six years old," Night Terror sighed, "I had found Miss Flare on my way back to Magnolia and she has shown interest in joining the guild."
"Is that so," the voice of Makarov said as he made his way over to them. He looked up at the Phobos and noted his mask, "Shall I assume you have become an official Night Terror," the Phobos nodded, "Congratulations. I'm proud of you, leanabh. I hope you can tell me all about it later," he happily said before giving Flare a kind look, "Now who might you be?"
Flare looked up at Night Terror who nodded at her encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, Flare step out from behind him and stood in front of Makarov, "My name is Flare Corona...and I would like to join your guild, please."
Makarov hummed for a moment before he smiled kindly at her, "Of course, you can join. Everybody meet our newest member of Fairy Tail, Flare Corona!" he called out to the rest of the guild, earning cheers of joy from the rest of the members.
Lisanna walked up to Flare and offered her hand, "If you would like to come with me, I can get you registered."
Flare looked back at Night Terror unsurely, But he encouraged her with a simple nod of his head. With a small smile on her face, Flare took Lisanna's hand as she led her to get registered. The Phobos watched her leave before he turned back to Natsu, Grey, Happy and a quiet Erza.
"Where is Miss Lucy?"
"She's at her apartment," Natsu told him.
"You know I haven't seen her in a while," Grey mused, "Maybe we should check on her."
Natsu's pumped his fist in the air, "Alright! Let's find her and drag her back here!" he shouted before running off into town.
"Aye!" Happy cried as he flew after him.
"Don't take credit for my ideas, you idiot!" Grey shouted at him before he too ran off.
Night Terror watched them with a amused smile before turning back to Erza. The red haired mage coughed uncomfortably and turned away from his gaze. However, she did glance at his covered hand before averting her eyes.
"Miss Erza?"
"I better follow them before they destroy the town," she stoically said before she marched away.
The Phobos looked at her oddly before looking down at his hand, 'Has this got something to do with my wode. She has been acting odd ever since she saw them."
He decided to not think about and headed to the bar where Mirajane was already holding tray with his tea set.
"Here you go, Night," she happily chirped, "I'll just set up your table-"
"Actually, would you mind if I sat at the bar instead," Night Terror said as he pointed to a free barstool next to Ur.
Mirajane blinked in confusion before a happy grin spread across her face, "That's not a problem at all," she said as she laid the tray at the bar, 'I've been waiting for this moment for years!' she internally squealed.
Night Terror sat at a barstool, trying to get used to the feeling of sitting with other people. His attention was caught when Ur nudged him in the arm.
"Nice mask," she complimented as Night Terror poured his tea.
"Thank you, Miss Ur."
"Call me Ur, damn it!"
"I am physically incapable," the Phobos insisted in a mild panic, "How are you settling in to the guild. You hadn't had much of an introduction."
Ur chuckled slightly and looked over at the other members, "Not bad. Their insane, but I can see their good people. I'm glad Grey was able to find such a good guild."
"So am I."
"So, you want to talk about what you been doing or the last couple of days?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Night Terror sighed as he stirred in the milk, "What makes you think anything happened?"
"I practically raised two bratty kids. I know when something is up," she said matter-of-factly before her face became softer, "unless you don't want to talk about it. For now at least."
Night Terror sighed wearily, "I will explain another day. I just need a little rest and of course," he lifted up a finger and instantly tendrils emerged from the shadows and wrapped around a wooden beam that a few members were trying to lift. He raised and deposited the beam onto the second level of the building for other members to use, "...aiding my fellow clansmen."
He wrapped a claw gently around his teacup and raised it to his mask, "I think I really deserve a-"
Suddenly he dropped the teacup in order to catch Happy before he could crash into him.
"NIGHT WE NEED YOUR HELP!" he yelled as he wiggled in claws.
"Mr Happy what on Earth are you-" he looked down at the broken teacup he had to drop, "...that was favourite cup."
"Lucy is gone!" Happy told him, ignoring the Phobos distress, "She left a note that she was going back home!"
Night frowned slightly, "I am sure Miss Lucy has her reasons for going back-"
Happy slipped out of his claws and hovered by his head, "Natsu, Grey and Erza are going to get her back. We need you to help."
"But why must-"
Before he could ask, Happy flew off. Presumably back to where Natsu and the others were. The Phobos sighed and stood up from his barstool.
"But I just got back," he moaned.
And that's the end. Hope you enjoyed it.
I can't help but feel that Condhuine's death seemed a little...abrupt. I know I foreshadowed it in the last couple of chapters and an old man carrying out funerals once a day for seven years will damage his health significantly, but I can't help it. At least I have him a nice send off. Peaceful sitting underneath the tree with his adopted grandson and gazing over the land he protected for so many years.
Secondly, we see what Muireall has been doing for the past years. I think I unintentionally based her mannerisms and her new power on Overhaul from My Hero Academia. We will explore the new magic she created a bit more in the future.
Lastly, we get to meet a young Flare. Hopefully she will be brought up in better circumstances then she was in the original story.
That's all for now.
Thanks for reading: :)