Some Time Ago
Three men made their way down the street towards a posh hotel. The people on the street recognized them for what they were, members of the Fairy Tail guild. At the head of the trio was Laxus Dreyar. The other two behind him were Freed Justine and Bickslow. Normally, there would be a fourth member, but Evergreen was away on another mission. Even so, the three still carried the reputation of the Fairy Tail guild. Strangers gawked from across the street or stepped out of their way. Whatever mission they were on, it was probably better to stay a safe distance away.
All three stepped in front of the hotel, looking up at the five-story building. The Golden View hotel was marketed as the fanciest and most accommodating hotel in the area. In fact, it was the only hotel in the city to boast a five-star rating. Five stories stretched up with gold-painting details. Marble columns supported a veranda decked in a plush red carpet. Bickslow let out a long whistle while gaping at the hotel through his helmet visor.
"They weren't kidding when they said 'fancy,'" said he.
"Are we going to find our target here? Would he be so bold as to try to lay low in a place like this?" Asked Freed.
"Not quite. We're not looking for Chalcedony here, but there is somebody we need to talk to." Laxus' fur-trimmed jacket bellowed behind him slightly as he marched through the stained-glass doors leading into the lobby. His partners followed behind shortly after.
If Bickslow was impressed by the outside, then the inside must have left him too stunned to speak. Marble columns were included in the entire and marked a sitting area with a skylight. The carpets patterned with gold damask on red covered much of the visible floor. Laxus marched to the front desk where a petite brunette was answering a phone call. The trio waited patiently for her finish. She quickly set aside the phone and looked up.
"How can I help you gentlemen?"
"I would like to speak to one of your guests. I believe she's staying in this hotel. Shakti Kumali. Can you tell me if she's here?"
"Oh, well, I believe Miss Kumali is scheduled to stay with us for the rest of the week but let me double check." The clerk pulled out a thick leather-bound registry and flipped through its hundreds of pages. She scanned the pages until she stopped on one and ran her fingers down the list of names. "Ah, here she is. Let me call her room to see if she's available."
The clerk picked up the phone once more.
"Hello, may I speak with Miss Kumali, please? Oh, she's busy now? Could you inform her that she has guests in the lobby? Um, okay…" The clerk looked a little abashed as she pressed her hand over the earpiece of the phone. "Unfortunately, I've just been informed that Miss Kumali isn't accepting interviews or fan meetings at this time."
"We're not fans and we're not here to do an interview. I'd like to speak to her about a certain man named Carl Chalcedony. She'll know who I'm referring to. I have some questions about him that I think she'll have the answer to," said Laxus. He folded his arms across his chest and grimaced.
The poor clerk swallowed aloud. She glanced him up and down and put herself back on the phone to relay the message. This time, she hung up.
"Miss Kumali is busy at the moment, but if you'll wait a few minutes in the lobby, she'll let you up soon."
"Thanks," said Laxus brusquely.
He, Freed, and Bickslow made themselves comfortable in the lobby beneath the sky light. Leather creaked beneath them as they sank down.
"Must be pretty important to afford digs like this," said Bickslow.
"Not quite. According to my information, Miss Kumali is a dancer," said Freed.
"Like a dancer-dancer or a…you know." Bickslow playfully stuck his tongue out while his babies chanted 'dancer-dancer' while flying in the air.
A modest man, Freed's face turned a little pink. "No, not that kind of dancer. Miss Kumali apparently is an accomplished performer as well as a wizard. That's how she's probably able to afford staying in a hotel like this."
For twenty minutes, they talked about their mission. Shakti Kumali, a wealthy dancer or no, played a role in finding their target. Carl Chalcedony once had a small duchy and a vast sum of money he hoarded over the years. It took officials years before finding out just how he earned the title duke. His money was dirty, bloody even. Chalcedony swindled a mining company out of its main source of product. That alone wasn't what made his money dirty. While the mines produced quality iron ore, Chalcedony was more interested in the seemingly unassuming crystals that were chipped away in the mining process. The crystals alone weren't much value on the gemstone market, but to dark wizards they were key ingredients to dark magic. Chalcedony lined his pockets with money from illegal guilds and dark wizards. On top of that, he'd been known to overcharge poor and middle-class people at the numerous businesses he owned his in duchy, raise taxes to exuberant amounts, and he was a notable scourge to women. In their research, Chalcedony had a few favorite types: weak, foreign, disenfranchised, or otherwise vulnerable women.
He also happened to be on the run and the current price for his capture was seven-hundred and fifty thousand jewels.
The clerk from earlier announced twenty minutes later that Shakti Kumali was able to take visitors. Laxus, Freed, and Bickslow climbed aboard the elevator operated by a lanky fellow in a gold and red uniform. They were let off on the fourth floor. Shakti's room was located on the west wing, which meant turning left, and it would be on the left-hand side, third door towards the end of the hall. Laxus knocked. Only a second passed before the locks on the door were undone and the door creaked open. However, instead of a dancer in the doorway, there was a cat. A mint green cat wearing a cream-colored dress and floated on white wings.
"You must be the guys lookin' to talk about Chalcedony, right? Come on in." The cat pulled the door open wider for them to enter. It floated on the air as it guided through the large room.
Instead of red and gold carpeting, the hotel room was decked out in soft white. Pink curtains hung over the entrance to the balcony overlooking the city. The room consisted of a queen-sized bed, a bathroom big enough to be someone's apartment, and a sizable lacrima screen mounted on the wall for the guests' viewing pleasure. The room was big enough to accommodate a conversation pit swathed with pillows. The person they presumed was Shakti Kumali was dressed in a pink flannel robe on top of the white silk pajamas she wore underneath. She sat atop a throne of pillows like a queen while she flipped through the latest edition of Wizard's Weekly.
"Ahem, Shakti, our guests are here," said the cat.
Shakti looked up from her magazine and put it to the side. She stood up and gestured for them to take a seat.
"Mint, would mind making some tea?" Shakti asked the cat, who seemed to oblige.
"That's a fancy house pet you've got there," said Bickslow.
Shakti sat down; arms folded. "Mint isn't my pet. She's my friend and my manager."
Laxus sat across from her in the conversation pit. "I'm Laxus Dreyer, and these are my guild mates Freed Justine and Bickslow." He pointed at each and named them. "We're from Fairy Tail."
"I see, and what does Fairy Tail want with me?"
"I think you know."
"Do I?" Shakti said with a smirk.
"You wouldn't let us up until I mentioned Chalcedony. Why is that?"
"Chalcedony, what a creep!" Mint returned with five cups of steaming tea. She passed one to each and sat down next to Shakti with her own. "I've had to book private security teams just to keep the guy at bay. He's been followin' the tour for a couple of months now, tryin' to get Shakti's attention. The loser's obsessed."
"When did this start?" Asked Freed.
"I'd say right before the news blew up that he's been supplin' dark guilds with magic crystals. He was always a creep before that started, though. He liked to send flowers to our hotel rooms before we even check in. Regular thorn in my side, I says he is."
"At first, I thought of him as a fan who didn't know when to step back. I was tempted to file formal complaints. Then I heard that he's now a wanted criminal. I thought I eventually the authorities or bounty hunters would take care of the problem for me," said Shakti.
Up until then, she made eye contact. The moment Chalcedony's name passed her lips, though, Shakti looked into her teacup. She sipped it quietly.
"I have a feeling that's not everything you wanted to say," said Laxus.
Shakti moved silently as she placed her cup to the side and got out. They watched her move to the bedroom area and bend over. She rummaged through the waste basket beside the bedside table. When she returned, Shakti held a crumbled piece of parchment in her hand. She handed it over to Laxus after doing her best to iron-out the wrinkles in the paper.
"This is…"
"A letter from Chalcedony. I received it this morning, but the cleaning staff haven't taken up the trash yet. I was considering taking it to the police, but I didn't want to leave my hotel room in case he was waiting to follow me."
Laxus unfurled the letter on his knee. He was thankful that Shakti merely crumbled the letter instead of tearing it because the contents were just too damning.
"May I?" Asked Freed, holding out his hand.
Laxus wordlessly handed over the letter. It took Freed only a minute to read and analyze the contents.
"I don't know how someone could be so repulsive," said he. Freed turned the letter back over to Laxus, who folded it neatly to the best of his ability and stuffed it into the inner pocket of his jacket.
"Like I said, total creep," Mint chimed in.
"I suppose asking you if you were ever involved with Chalcedony in 'any' capacity would be out of the question?" Asked Laxus.
Shakti and Mint scowled at him.
"I understand why you have to ask such a thing. Given the fact that he wrote that letter as if I'd broken up with him, I would be asking the same thing too. However, I can promise that I have never been involved with that man beyond trying to file a restraining order against him. He's been following me for the past two years since I started my career. I've complained and complained but it always falls on deaf ears because nobody would believe that a duke would be capable of forming disgusting ideas about a woman who dances for a living. I've had tabloids claiming that I'm doing it for attention or that I'm playing hard to get. Just once, I'd like for someone to listen to me." Shakti sighed and drank her tea.
It was then that Laxus noticed something terribly wrong. Though she was seated in the lap of luxury, there was something off and troubling about Shakti's appearance. Her eyes were a little red as if she'd been crying. Dark circles under her eyes were very pronounced. She fiddled with the ends of her long wavy brown hair like she needed something to distract her. Her honey-colored eyes stared off into space.
"Does Chalcedony pose a threat to you?" Asked Laxus.
Shakti looked up from her tea. Her eyes appeared wide for a moment like his question startled her.
"Perhaps not Chalcedony himself, but he has a lot of connections. The fact that he was still able to follow me and send me a letter without hinderance means that he has friends in high and low places. It wouldn't surprise me if he has some dark wizard friends who owe him a favor. I thought I'd be able to handle him on my own, but he sounds desperate. And if there's one thing I don't like, it's the actions of a desperate man."
"From the letter, it sounds like he plans on meeting you soon. Any idea when?"
"I have a performance on Friday, which I haven't been able to rehearse for because I'm afraid to leave my hotel. He's too much of a coward to come here. At least, that's what I'm hoping," Shakti answered.
"I think we can solve both of our problems. You need protection from Chalcedony, and we want the reward for turning him in. You can help us capture him and we'll act as your bodyguards until our mission is complete," said Laxus.
Shakti and Mint exchanged looks.
"Well, it sounds like a better solution than stayin' in the hotel all day. Two birds with one stone, I'd say," said Mint.
Shakti agreed. Turning to Laxus, "You have our cooperation. If you get the man out of my life, I'll offer as much as I can for my own reward."
"Sweet! That's twice the cash I was hopin' we'd make!" Bickslow cheered.
Mint flew off for a moment and returned with a leather-bound binder. Her tiny green paws flipped through the pages before coming to a stop.
"We have dress rehearsals at the club tomorrow afternoon. Be here at ten in the morning?" Mint asked.
Laxus huffed. "I don't particularly like taking orders from a cat, but we'll be here in the morning to escort you and make sure nothing bad happens. We'll need to do a security check around the building anyway."
"Excellent!" Mint slammed her binder shut.
Laxus made himself comfortable at the table nearest the stag while Bickslow and Freed surveyed the surrounding area. He watched the stage like a hawk. The live band stood off on either side of the main stage. There hadn't been any incidents between the hotel and the club where Shakti was supposed to be performing. It was less of a nightclub and more of a high-end restaurant that happened to have performers like dancers or magicians and a live band. While the band was tuning their instruments, Shakti practiced her routine with pre-recorded music. The effect wasn't quite the same with a boombox blasting wild strings, cymbals, and drums, but Laxus understood how she was able to afford a place like the Golden View Hotel. Her moves were graceful and sensual without overly sexualizing herself. He also came to understand how a man like Carl Chalcedony would get the wrong message.
It wasn't just the dancing that caught his attention. Her fire magic that she used in her performance had complete control that made it look easy. Tiny flames danced on her fingertips as well as around her ankles, all without catching her clothes on fire. She wore a black and grey skirt and athletic bra for the practices with her hair braided and pinned to the back of her head. That didn't stop the fine hairs from sticking to her forehead. She was gracious to management, the band, and the wait staff. Her smile was what drew his attention the most. How perfect it was, how sweet and sincere she smiled. Laxus stared more at her face than anywhere, though there was ample opportunity.
"Alrighty, let's take five!" Mint flew in on small white wings and handed Shakti a bottle of water and a towel.
Shakti wiped sweat from her brow. Laxus couldn't hear what she and Mint were talking about as they stood in the middle of the stage, right beneath one of the beams. Something or someone crawled along the catwalk above the stage, though it didn't seem like either of them heard it. They were too engrossed talking about the performance four days from now. Laxus heard it though. His hearing was a lot better than most humans. He stood up from his table and glanced around. Whatever or whoever it was stopped in their tracks.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Something like a cord snapped from above. A brown sack came hurtling towards the ground.
"Look out!" He shouted, running for center stage.
Shakti and Mint looked up to see the sandbag falling, aiming to hit the former. They both threw their bodies out of the way. Shakti narrowly missed getting hit by the forty-pound sandbag that would have broken her neck on impact if she hadn't moved. Mint went to investigate. She held up the frayed rope where the sandbag had been tied. Everyone within listening vicinity scrambled. Staff and members of the band started heading for the stage after the sandbag made its dreadful and loud crash.
"Some bastard's cut the rope! There's a murderer on the loose!" Mint shouted.
One of the musicians looked up and saw a shadow running across the catwalk. Feet pounded against the metal frames, no longer caring about sneaking away. Laxus didn't wait for any of them to get in the way. If anyone was going to catch the prey, it would be him.
In a flash that likely scorched a part of the stage, Laxus transported himself to the catwalk. He appeared at the end, where the shadowy figure came to a sudden halt. Laxus appeared in front of him so quickly that he didn't have time to turn back around before everyone else was already changing up the stairs. Laxus took the time to get a good look at the man.
Carl Chalcedony looked a bit thin than his wanted poster, but Laxus could still tell that this was his man. He was tall, lean, and horribly average looking with a gold tooth in his snarling mouth. Shaggy blonde hair was brushed back and pulled into a ponytail. His once-nice suit had holes and tears in it. Chalcedony's shoes were scuffed to hell. He didn't even bother to hide the knife on his belt. The clanging of feet on the catwalk alerted him to the gang of waiters and musicians blocking his exit. Well, his only safe exit.
Chalcedony looked over the side of the catwalk, turning green at the height. He gripped the ledge and tossed himself legs first over the side. But Laxus was faster. He managed to grab Chalcedony by the back of his ruined silk vest and haul him back onto the catwalk. With another zap, they were teleported to center stage below. Chalcedony struggled in Laxus grip, kicked, and flailed like a child.
"You won't get away with this! I'll be out in no time, and then I'll come after you, ya big dumb sparkplug!"
Laxus gave him a warning zap with his lightning magic. Chalcedony howled in pain for a moment before succumbing to unconsciousness. Laxus put the slightly charred man on the floor and then looked for Shakti. It was easy to find her as she hadn't left the stage to take cover. Mint hovered nearby her shoulder.
"That was surprisingly easy," said Laxus.
"I didn't imagine that he would do things himself. I thought he was going to have dark wizards do the job for him. I suppose he ran out of money," said Shakti.
It didn't take long for the authorities to arrive. Once it was explained what happened, Chalcedony returned to consciousness while being handcuff. He put up a bigger fight with the guards than he did with Laxus, but he was hauled out of the building all the same. He was raving and foaming at the mouth with rage. All of it centered on Shakti who watched him be taken away.
"You won't get away with this you, bitch. I'm going to teach you not to defy and reject me!"
His abuses were forgotten as the town guard pulled him through the doors and out of sight. Finally relieved of her burden, Shakti lowered her showered. She sighed.
"Good riddance to bad rubbish," said Mint, sitting on her shoulder.
Friday Night
The music hall was packed to the brim. After hearing the daring near-death experience, anyone who had the money to see her perform bought tickets. Every table had a person seated at it, but the only ones who didn't pay were the three Fairy Tail guildsmen Shakti insisted on inviting as a form of thanks. Laxus, Freed, and Bickslow had front row seats and a comped meal thanks to Shakti's generosity. Still, something didn't sit right. The hairs on the back of Laxus' neck wouldn't stop standing on end throughout the whole evening. He picked at his food more than he ate of it.
"Yo, are you gonna finish that plate?" Asked Bickslow, jabbing his finger at the half-eaten steak.
Laxus, losing his appetite, pushed the plate towards Bickslow. "Knock yourself out."
Bickslow started chowing down just as the lights dimmed. The band started a low hum of music that slowly rose in volume and tempo. The lights grew dimmer until the music hall was left completely dark except for the band's alcove which remained lit by lamps. On the stage, large lamps flickered on one by one as the curtains parted. Those who gathered to watch the performance began to clap and cheer as Shakti's silhouette was hidden behind a gossamer. Once the audience cooled down their enthusiasm, the band hushed themselves. One could hear Shakti's jewelry jangling like bells as she moved centerstage.
The curtain parted revealing the dancer in a glittering orange and gold costume. Her dark waves fell behind her back and decorated with a golden headdress. Her costume consisted of a modest top that covered most of her chest and upper arms and tied in the back but let most of her stomach exposed. A layered skirt flared from her hips and was secured by a belt dotted with bells. Rings on her fingers and toes and bracelets on her wrists, Shakti wore a king's ransom on her body. Even her delicate earrings looked like they must have cost a fortune.
Laxus stared. The music began again, sending Shakti into a spiral of ecstatic dancing. Her body moved to the passionate beat without hesitation or a single flaw. Their eyes met briefly as Shakti spun around on stage. Her arms stretched then her hands burst into flames. Rather than scream in agony, Shakti turned the fire into rivulets that danced on top of her skin. They moved with her; the crowd roared and clapped. The tongues of flame moved like snakes across her bare stomach and writhed around her arms to the tempo of the music and matched her movements. Looking at her face, Shakti wore a blissful expression as if possessed by the fire itself.
Laxus let himself get lost in watching her, seemingly possessed himself, then a cold breath ran down his neck. All the hair on his neck and forearms stood on end at once. He glanced behind his shoulder to see a figure stand up from their table. It had been dark in that corner of the music hall even before the lights were turned off. The table was half-hidden by fake potted palm trees.
The figure didn't remove the hood covering their face. They rose quietly, their movements and footsteps drowned out by the music and cheering. Everyone else was focused on the performance that they didn't notice the figure stepping closer and closer to the stage. Laxus leaned out of his seat, but then it was too late.
With a flick of their wrist, a long sharp blade sang through the air. It happened in a flash and before Laxus could shout out a warning to the woman on stage, the blade was already spearing through the air. Shakti spun just in time to see it. She opened her palms. The blade was suspended by a ball of air. The weapon tried to force its way out of its prison as if it had a mind of its own. The crowd stopped cheering long enough to notice that the weapon wasn't part of the act, that's when they started screaming.
Shakti kept her palms up, one arm pointed up with the other turning right. Her golden-honey eyes zeroed in on the piece of sharpened steel aimed at her. It continued to push against her barrier and was slowly winning. Shakti spun on her feet as she shifted her arms the opposite way. The blade was sent flying, narrowly missing her and at the cost of snipping the belt from her hips. Shakti's eyes followed the trail that blade originally followed and pinned her gaze on the assassin standing in the middle of the room.
"Shakti, look out!" Laxus shouted without even knowing what he was doing.
The assassin leapt to their feet. Instead of the nearest exit, the toppled over guests and tables to get to the stage. Shakti's blissful face turned into a mask of rage. Her eyes hardened as the black-clad figure made a mad dash for the stage, and her. She inhaled a sharp breath and exhaled. Her fingers made a strange sign as she muttered under her breath. The assassin ran faster than even Laxus could catch them. They had one foot on stage, snuffing out several lamps, only to be thrust back by a powerful burst of wind.
Storm-colored winds and clouds enveloped Shakti's form. Miniature lightning bolts surged through the clouds cloaking her. Thunderclaps tore through the sound barrier. Guests scattered in every direction. The assassin landed with a heavy thud on the ground. Freed and Bickslow stood up at once, but Laxus, of all people, held out his arm to stop them.
"Laxus! What are you doing? She needs help!" Shouted Freed.
"I don't think she needs any of us to rescue her," said Laxus.
His eyes turned and fixed on the whirling storm that replaced Shakti's form. A moment later, it burst apart. Shakti was there but she was no longer the enchanting dancer. Her long wavy locks were matted with a topknot tied with a red strip of cloth on the side of her head. Her glittering costume was replaced with a red bandeau covering her breasts. The skirt she wore previously was now a sarong that resembled loose pants. Bronze bracelets rang on her ankles instead of gold ones. All her illustrious and eye-catching jewelry was taken away to reveal her strong bare arms. To make her sudden costume change stranger was the tiger skin wrapped around her torso and belted around her waist with a long cord. In one hand, she held a trident.
Bickslow whistled low. "Nice costume change."
Shakti raised the trident, sending a gust of powerful wind towards the assassin. Before the figure could resist or get of its way, they were sent back another several feet. Stepping forward, Shakti pointed the trident at her opponent and stirred the air like a cook stirring a pot. Wind was summoned from the motion of her trident and lifted the assassin up and up and up. Any weapons they could chuck at her were deflected with a swat of her hand.
Stirring the trident faster, the assassin spun with it. Shakti stopped and spun the trident in her hand. The assassin moved with the trident's movements. She hurled him up and down, from floor to ceiling, probably breaking a few bones in the process. Anyone close enough could hear the assassin's body breaking and their moans. After a few turns of this, Shakti stopped. She hurled the would-be assassin to the ground, where they groaned.
Shakti hopped off the stage still dressed in that bizarre costume many couldn't identify. With the tip of the trident, she flicked the mask and hood of the assassin, revealing a bruised face of a man.
"Let me guess, Mr. Chalcedony paid you to kill me in the middle of my act?" Shakti sneered.
The man nodded his head, pleading for mercy between bloody, chipped teeth.
"I hope you and Mr. Chalcedony have a nice long chat while you rot in prison," said Shakti. She looked around to find the crowd mostly dispersed or ducking for cover. "Would someone be so kind as to summon the town guards? I'd like to have this man removed from my sight."
Mint appeared from behind the numerous red curtains, floating on white wings. The little green cat already had a lacrima phone in her paw.
"Way ahead of you!" Said Mint.
Freed and Bickslow talked between themselves on how to help the situation while Laxus stared in awe. How could there be so many faces to one woman? The posh celebrity, the ecstatic dancer, and now the warrior goddess with a trident at someone's throat. Shakti was beautiful beyond compare.
