Fiore Academy
Chapter Fifteen – Beginnings of a Ball
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail in any shape or form. I am a mere FF writer paying tribute to the world of Hiro Mashima, the rightful owner of Fairy Tail.
Authors' Note – Well of course, I haven't read your comments and opinions of the last update for reasons I explained, so I have no basis whatsoever on what to write in this Note. I hope you guys enjoyed it at least, and I hope you enjoy these last few chapters of book one of Fiore Academy.
Mirajane Strauss stared at herself in the mirror. Tonight, was the long-awaited night of the Fiore Academy of Magic Annual Ball, and she was sceptical over her wardrobe choice.
A one strap turquoise dress covered her bodice, revealing the first centimetre of the top of her bosom, as well as the inside curves of them with the oval hole in the middle of the dress.
The left side had a split to show off her recently waxed legs, and she stood two inches taller, thanks to her dark blue soft-leather heels. She also wore gold and diamond earrings along with her Dragon Necklace.
"You look great Mirajane, hardly to be surprising though" a voice spoke behind her.
Mirajane turned around to see the sight of a beautifully dressed Erza Scarlet.
To compliment her hair, Erza wore a scarlet no-strap dress, that hugged her sizeable chest tightly, showing at least two inches. She also wore black heels similar to Mirajane's, and she also wore gold and ruby earrings along with her own Dragon Necklace. To top it all off, her scarlet hair was done up in a double bun.
"You too Erza; I'm sure Natsu will be very impressed" Mirajane smiles at her friend.
Erza smirks, "Yeah… well, he just might ravage you also".
Mirajane laughs at that; the other girls, especially Hisui, were still upset that they had not yet been intimate with Natsu, but she had.
"What's so funny?" another voice asks, and Hisui walks into Mirajane's and Erza's dorm.
"Don't you know how to knock?" Erza asks, with a hint of humour to dull the edge of the question.
Hisui smiles, "You were expecting me anyway; Virgo wasn't far behind me".
Erza nods, and Mirajane looks Hisui up and down.
Hisui wasn't as well developed as Mirajane and Erza, but she still had some very redeeming qualities, which she took advantage of.
She wore an emerald dress to do as Erza did, compliment her hair. It was a two-strap piece, with a split like Mirajane's. Except the dress was tight around her bottom to accentuate its natural curves, and the bodice seemed like it would normally be a tad too large for Hisui, but it would seem Hisui used most girl's secret weapon; pads.
"Clearly, you're not planning on undressing tonight, do you Hisui?" Mirajane asks, and Erza scoffs.
Hisui turns red in the face, "I'll have you know I plan to have Natsu in my bed by the end of tonight!"
"Plans change I suppose" Virgo says, walking in without knocking, "Because you'll have to change them; Natsu will be in my bed instead".
Mirajane liked how Virgo was dressed up; She wore a black dress with a white diagonal stripe across the body. The dress was one-strap on her left shoulder, and the right side of her dress was lower, showing the entire right side of her right breast, right until just before it reaches the nipple. The leg area was short too, unlike the other three girls', so it displayed her well-toned and waxed legs. She also wore white heels with a black ribbon over the toe space. Another thing about the two girls, Hisui and Virgo, was that they both wore the Dragon Necklace; it seemed all four of them wanted everyone at the Ball to know, that they were Natsu's, so don't both flirting.
"I'm afraid you're going to pop out there Virgo" Hisui says seriously, pointing at Virgo's right breast.
Virgo shrugs, "Advantages outweighed the disadvantages; this way, I might keep Natsu in a boner state all night, ready for me when the time comes".
Hisui smiles, "Well I'll thank you for keeping the little sailor up for me when he crawls into my bed".
"Girls!" Erza scolds at them.
Hisui barks a laugh, "Come on Erza; you want him in the sack as well, admit it".
Erza crosses her arms, "As a matter of fact, I do; but I won't argue over who has what night".
Mirajane claps her hands before Hisui could retort.
"Now then, I think we had all best be off for the Ball now, shall we?" Mirajane suggests, and the three girls nod.
Mirajane looked at herself once more in the mirror before thinking in her mind.
I hope tonight goes okay… please let there be no dramas!
…..
Natsu laughed at what he saw in the mirror.
"What's so funny? You look good" Zeref says behind him.
Natsu smirks, "Yeah, maybe; but this really isn't what I like to wear".
Zeref shakes his head, "Well you'll need to like it; officials, politicians, royalty… they're all out there even as we speak, and we can't have the heir to Dragneel Clan looking like some teenager who likes to spend his time at a maid cafe".
Natsu frowns, "I am a teenager who likes to spend time at a teenager".
Zeref nods, "Hence why you cannot go dressed how you like".
Natsu sticks out a tongue at his brother, "Whatever you say".
Natsu and Zeref were both wearing identical tuxes. They were as traditional as they come; full black suit, pants and loafers and narrow tie, paired with a white button shirt underneath the buttoned jacket.
"So, are you nervous?" Zeref asks his younger brother.
Natsu nods, "And I am not afraid to admit it".
Zeref smiles, "You shouldn't; this will be much larger than the dinners father hosted when we were kids, there will be over ten thousand suits and dresses out there tonight, nine out of ten of them being very important people".
Natsu nods, "Yeah, it's no joke that's for sure".
Zeref looks at his watch, "What time did we say we'd meet the girls?"
Natsu sighs, "Six o'clock, why?"
Zeref smiles, "You've got thirty-nine seconds… now".
Natsu's eyes bulge, "Say what? We got to go Zeref!"
Zeref yelps as Natsu grabs his arm, and pulls him out of the dorm at full speed.
…..
Natsu was stunned at the sight before him. The four women he was coming to love with all his being, were dressed and fashioned to absolute beauty; albeit, Virgo was more sexy than beautiful, and it was causing a party downstairs.
"You guys… look…" Natsu stuttered as he and Zeref walked toward the four girls smiling at him.
"Hot?" Zeref suggested.
Natsu nods, "Yeah, ho… hot? That's not what I want to say!" he says as he turns to Zeref, but quickly turns back to the girls, "Not saying you girls don't look hot, because you do… I just… I just…" Natsu's mind was scrambled, all thanks to one word.
The girls giggled at the scene Natsu was making for himself.
"Natsu" Mirajane says soothingly, "Your reaction is enough… and thank you".
Natsu smiles nervously at the other girls, who all nod to agree with Mirajane.
"Well, if my brother is done acting like some cheesy anime character" Zeref says, walking past Natsu, "Then I believe that I can hear, even as I speak, a Ball that awaits us".
Zeref offers an arm to Virgo, which she ignores, making Zeref crestfallen.
Natsu nods, "Yeah, let's get going" he offers out his arms.
"That's one disadvantage" Hisui points out and the girls nod.
"He only has two arms, and four of us" Erza says pondering.
The girls began to argue who got an arm, until Natsu decided he had enough of the delays.
"I'm the tallest here" Natsu says.
The girls turn toward him, frowns carved on their faces.
"What's your point?" Erza asks him.
Natsu shrugs his shoulders, "I think we should all go in arms linked; two of you link arms with me, and the other two link arms with the other two girls… like a chain".
"I still fail to see why you pointed out your height advantage" Virgo says.
"Because it would look weird if the chain looked like some kind of random bar graph" Natsu says, "If the tallest pair link arms with me, we'll look good walking in… so that's how we'll decide, so who are the tallest?"
The girls look at each other, and Hisui immediately pouts, clearly being the shortest.
Erza was definitely the tallest of them, so she was smiling… but the trouble was Mirajane and Virgo.
Standing back to back, the girls ask Natsu simultaneously, "Who?"
Natsu looks at them, and true enough they were pretty close… but it seemed Mirajane was around a centimetre taller.
"It's Mira" Natsu says, and Virgo sighs crestfallen, while Mirajane silently enjoys victory.
That is how the guests of the Academy Annual Ball witnessed the group walking in. Natsu in the middle, with Erza and Virgo on his right and Mirajane and Hisui on his left… and Zeref walking a pace or two behind, looking depressed.
"Man, it's packed" Natsu exclaims softly.
Mirajane and Erza nod beside him.
"This is what ten thousand guests look like Natsu" Mirajane says.
"Every year, the Academy has to open up the main courtyard as well, just to fit all the guests" Erza adds on, "The Main Hall is still in use, but that will be where all the really important people will be".
Natsu nods, scanning the crowd; he was expecting someone, so, where was she?
"She's not here yet" Zeref says, putting his forearm on Natsu's back.
"Who's she?" Virgo asks.
"Katherine" Zeref answers, "Our Stepmother".
Hisui's eyes pop open, "Aunt Kath is coming?"
Zeref and Natsu nod, and Hisui smiles, "I can't wait to see her again".
Zeref smiled as he thought, you'll wish she stayed away, with the person she's bringing along… Natsu was a lady's man before the Academy, after all.
Natsu sighs, "Well… no point just standing her, let's enjoy the night".
Everyone nods, and the Fiore Academy of Magic's Annual Ball, had finally begun.
…..
"So, you say that kid over there with the pink hair is Natsu Dragneel?" Jellal asks his Lieutenant, Koban.
Koban nods, "Indeed; if there are any doubts, they are erased by the Lady Erza's appearance with him".
Jellal nods, "I apologise for my doubts… it's just… he and my dear fellow Captain Zeref, look nothing alike".
"Yes, I thought that too" Koban answers, "But as it turns out they are only half-brothers; their father had a child out of wedlock, known as Zeref".
Jellal puts on a dawning face, "I see… so that's why Natsu, the younger, is the heir to the Clan; he's the eldest legitimate son. By all reports, the two of them have a good relationship… but in these cases, it should be normal for someone in Zeref's position to resent Natsu… I wonder why they're more like friends than enemies".
Jellal however, was having other thoughts than what he was saying; Was this boy capable of destroying ten thousand well-trained mages to literally nothing within a second?
Jellal caught sight of the boy making a stupid grin, and Jellal suddenly became infuriated. Of course, this kid couldn't be capable of that! It had to have been Zeref! But then… even Jellal had doubts Zeref could do that… but it had to be him, no way it could be that stupid boy!
"You seem distracted my Captain" Koban speaks, bringing Jellal from his thoughts.
"It is nothing… is everything ready?" Jellal asks him.
"They are" Koban answers.
Jellal nods in satisfaction, "Very impressive Koban… you make the move when I give the word, got it?"
Koban nods and moves off, quickly disappearing in the large crowd.
Jellal meanwhile, takes a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and sniffs the sweet drink.
You will die at the end of tonight Natsu Dragneel, Jellal thought to himself, as he stared at the boy, if you are the one who killed all those men, then that's reason enough… but you dare have the gall, to attend a public ball, in the hands of the woman I own? You will die… and slowly…
…..
Zeref frowns as he catches sight of a familiar man with blue hair and a tattoo on his right cheek.
"Natsu" Zeref says to his younger brother, drawing his attention from his girlfriends, "I need to speak with you".
Natsu looks surprised at first, then frowns and nods before gesturing to Zeref to walk.
Once they were a safe distance from the girls, Zeref began, "Do you see the man with blue hair and the tattoo on his cheek? By the fruit punch fountain".
Natsu looks over and sees the man Zeref was speaking of; strangely the man was staring at him.
"Who is he? Why is he staring?" Natsu asks his brother.
Sighing, Zeref answers, "His name is Jellal Fernandez, a Captain of the Knights of the Red Cross".
"A Captain?" Natsu asks, blinking.
Nodding, Zeref continues, "He was made Captain only last year, and since then his rank has gone from tenth, to fourth".
Natsu frowns, "It took you four years to do that".
Zeref nods, "It did… which is why he worries me".
Natsu frowns at that, "Worries you? He's a Captain, isn't he? Why worry over an ally?"
Shaking his head, Zeref answers, "Ally? Is he an ally? I really don't know… he seems too ambitious and crafty to be trusted, and for someone to be an ally, you must trust them… so no… he is not an ally".
"So…" Natsu says, "You think he's up to something?"
Shrugging, Zeref's response was, "I really don't know of anything large scale; but you of all people here, should watch out".
Blinking, Natsu asks, "Why me of all people?"
Zeref shakes his head, "I can't be the one to tell you; if you want to know, you'll have to ask Erza".
Natsu didn't know why Erza would be involved in this, but Natsu nods, "Very well then… you'll have my back?" Natsu asks his brother, holding out his forearm.
Smirking, Zeref wraps his arm in a twirl around Natsu's given arm, "As always".
Smiling at each other, they simultaneously chant, "Children of the Dragon, Fortuna on this day of Mars!"
A:N/ The phrase is something Zeref found in old book of the clan after the incident at the Shrine. The brothers found it cool, and it was used whenever two members of the Dragneel clan expected battle. 'Fortuna' is the goddess of luck or good fortune in Roman Mythology, and Mars is of course, the Roman form of Ares, the Greek God of War. So basically, they're saying "Good Luck on the Battlefield Today".
…..
"Where did Natsu and Zeref go?" Mirajane asked the girls as they each ate a plate with cake on it.
Erza shoves a fork of cake in her mouth and shrugs her shoulders, "This cake is more interesting than that".
Virgo nods, but Hisui answered, "I saw them head off somewhere alone before… they'll be back soon I'm sure".
Mirajane nods, and forks another mouthful of cake.
"Looks like you spoke too soon Mirajane" Virgo says, pointing her fork behind Mirajane.
Sure enough, the brothers were walking towards them. When they reached the girls, Erza asked, "So where did you two head off to?"
Zeref wraps an arm around Natsu's shoulders, "You know, brother business… you wouldn't want to cross that barrier would you Erza?"
Erza shakes her head.
"Actually, Erza" Natsu says with a sidelong glance at Zeref, "I was hoping I could talk with you quickly as well".
Erza blinks at that, "Sure".
Natsu and Erza head away from the party to a deserted slope of grass. The Ball could still be seen, and the hum of thousands of conversations and music could be heard, but the spot was strangely relaxing as they both sat down.
"So Natsu" Erza begins, "What did you want to talk about?"
Natsu sighs, "I was talking with Zeref… and there's something I want to ask you".
Erza nods, "I'd hate to cross that 'brother barrier', but go ahead".
Natsu looks at Erza in the eyes and says, "Why would Zeref warn me that out of all the people here, I am the one in the crosshairs of a guy named Jellal Fernandez".
Erza's eyebrows rise and she mutters audibly to Natsu, "I have to wonder how Zeref knows… I suppose they're Captains together, so they probably talk".
"Erza… what's going on?" Natsu asks her.
Sighing in defeat, Erza tells him, "The reason would have to be that Jellal is technically my fiancé".
Silence fell after her words, until Natsu began to chuckle.
"What's funny?" Erza asks him.
"Nothing… so… why are you dating me if you're already betrothed?"
Erza frowns, "I am dating you because I love you, Natsu Dragneel".
Natsu looks at her with sad eyes, "But you're engaged, aren't you? Doesn't that mean you love him as well?"
It was Erza's turn to chuckle, "Baka, you should ask these things first; this was an arranged marriage at birth by my tyrannical mother, I have no love for Jellal Fernandez… quite the opposite… but he desires to make me his own, and that is why you're in danger of him" Erza looks up into the stars of the night, "He threatened me weeks ago, that if I don't stop being with you, he would hurt you… kill you perhaps".
Natsu smiled, "Kill me? Why did you keep dating me then?"
Erza laughed harder, "Because I love you… baka… I couldn't stand being away from you! I also knew, that worse come to worse, Mirajane and I would help you beat him".
Natsu frowns, "Still… you have an obligation to marry him someday".
"For the moment" Erza says, turning unshed teary eyes toward Natsu, "But Natsu; you are the only man in this world I will ever desire to be with! Jellal means nothing to me, for I only have you in my eyes! My whole existence now, depends on you being by my side… these past few months, have been the happiest I've ever had… and it's thanks to you. I will find a way to nullify this arrangement with Jellal, but…" Erza reaches out a hand to clasp Natsu's cheek, "When the day comes, you will be the one to clasp my hands on the altar… not and never, Jellal Fernandez".
Natsu reaches up with one of his hands to hold Erza's hand n his cheek in place.
"Those words… you have no idea how much they make me happy" Natsu says, "These past few months have been rollercoaster ride for me… full of twists and turns, and unexpected drops… but I can say right now that It's been the greatest ride of my life… I love you Erza Scarlet… and whatever needs to be done to stop this engagement, I will do it".
Natsu leans down to Erza's lips, and the kiss he gave her, was perhaps the most meaningful kiss he had ever felt.
Their tears of joy streamed a river down their cheeks as they held each other's faces in a lip-locked embrace. Their feelings being shared, were as endless as the vast sea of stars that lay above them. At this moment they knew, that never a moment of their lives could be spared without the company of the other.
Breaking from their kiss, Natsu slides a finger across Erza's cheeks, to wipe away her streaming tears.
"He will never have you, Erza" Natsu vows to her stunned face, "I vow, that you will make your wedding vows to me, not Jellal".
Never had there been a moment in Erza's life, then she had been happier at that moment.
…..
Natsu watched Erza return to the girls from a distance. He figured she would need some time alone with the other girls for now.
"Enjoying the Ball, Dragneel Heir?" a voice behind Natsu said, and he had a funny feeling who it was.
"Jellal I take it?" Natsu asks before turning around, and sure enough, he was face to face with the blue haired man.
Chuckling, Jellal replies, "I see you've been made aware of me… how is my dear Erza?"
Scowling, Natsu retorts, "She's fine… she'll be better if she never has to see you again".
Jellal shakes his head, chuckling, "How would that even be possible? For a husband and wife to never see each other? Are you saying I lock her away in a dungeon?"
Natsu could tell that even had he not heard of this man before, he wouldn't have liked him.
"I'm going to give you a chance Natsu Dragneel, since you're your Clan Heir" Jellal says softly, coming close to speak in Natsu's ear, "Leave Erza alone; she belongs to me, and me alone".
"Or what?" Natsu asks just as softly and deadly.
Smirking, Jellal answers, "Or else, they won't be able to tell it's you on the slab".
Natsu laughs bitterly, "Some threat you got there; but for threats to work, they need to be able to be backed up, something you're sorely lacking".
"We shall see" Jellal finishes whispering in his ear before moving away, "It has been a great pleasure to meet you, Natsu heir to Dragneel Clan… It seems we could not come to an agreement; a pity. Oh well, I will see you around" Jellal began to walk away.
"I have a feeling" Natsu says, "That it'll be pretty soon".
Jellal laughs as his form retreated from Natsu.
Natsu frowned; A dangerous man that… Zeref was right, there just no way anyone could trust that guy.
Deciding to worry about it all later, Natsu headed back to Zeref and the girls, to enjoy the Ball.
Authors' Note – It's the night before I post this, and I just realised I've only written this chapter, so it looks like I won't be posting the remaining chapters this time guys. Oh well, hope you lot don't hate me for it, but I will update soon.