Fiore Academy
Chapter Seventeen – The Dance Begins II
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 – I looked back after writing Chapter 16, and I decided I would name the next few chapters 'The Dance Begins', but in parts using roman numerals as you can see. Now the main part begins, I hope you enjoy. FYI, I don't know how this will go in terms of quality… I'm tipsy at the moment.
"Fairy… Heart?" Mirajane asks Zeref, who at this moment, looked more serious than he had ever looked before.
Zeref nods, "Yes, Fairy Heart… Its power is only matched by few".
Erza shakes her head, "I've never heard of it".
Zeref nods at that, "You wouldn't… the only people in the world who do know, is the General of the Knights of the Red Cross, his ten Captains and his Spymaster, the Headmaster of Fiore Academy and their right hand, as well as the Head of Fiore Clan, who were the ones originally entrusted to Fairy Heart".
Katherine nods, "I have only heard rumours, never a name and the rumours were far from the truth it seemed".
"But what exactly is Fairy Heart?" Hisui asks, "I've never heard of it, and I'm a Fiore".
Zeref shrugs, "Like I said; only your Uncle, the Clan Regent, would have knowledge of it".
"Clan Regent?" Mirajane asks.
Zeref waves a hand, "Hisui will inherit the throne when she graduates from the Clan, but since the Clan needs a leader until then, her Uncle was made regent when her father passed away thirteen years ago".
Mirajane and Erza look at Hisui.
"I didn't know your father…" Mirajane began to say, but Hisui puts up a hand.
"That doesn't matter right now Mirajane" Hisui says coldly, "Right now however… it seems we're in a bit of a crisis".
Zeref smiles at her, "Glad to see how much you've grown Hisui" he turns to everyone else, "If Jellal has gone AWOL, then that means he's getting ready to enact his plan".
"But why would he do it here?" Erza asks.
Zeref frowns, "Because one-hundred years ago, Fairy Heart was entrusted to the Fiore Clan, and they made a safe-place for it… and to cover it up, they built a school… the Magical Academy of Fiore".
"So, Fairy Heart" Mirajane began, "Is here? At the Academy?"
Zeref nods, "There are two key needed to open the chamber underground; one is held by the Headmaster, another by his right hand… there are two more keys as well, held by the General and the Head of the Fiore Clan, but only two are needed" Zeref sighs, "As long as Jellal doesn't get his hands on two keys, we're fine".
Virgo clears her throat, "He only needs one".
Everyone turns to her at that.
"What do you mean, one?" Zeref asks her.
"He has the Key of the Right Hand" Virgo answers, "Ur Milkovic gave him her key, and that is how I found out about all this".
Erza scoffs, "Are you saying that Milkovic Sensei is a traitor?"
Zeref nods, "I have to agree with Erza… it seems… unlikely".
Virgo shakes her head, "I never said she was a traitor; she was blackmailed".
Zeref looks up at that and sighs, "No point worrying over that, it's done now… but how does he plan to get the second key?"
Zeref looks around the Ball, "There's only two ways he can get the second key here… the General is busy thousands of kilometres away… so that leaves Makarov Dreyer, the Headmaster as well as Hisui's Uncle, Frey B. Fiore".
Zeref points to the entrance of the hall, at a small man with balding white hair and a beard.
"Headmaster Makarov is over there, and" he searches and then points to chocolate fountain, "Frey B. Fiore is over there… they both appear unharmed".
"I suggest we keep some people on them, just in case" Katherine puts in.
Zeref nods, "I agree… out of the two of them, I think Frey is the more likely target; he's the weaker mage… so Erza, Hisui and myself will be on Frey, whilst Katherine, Mirajane and Karen, sit on the Headmaster".
"What about Virgo?" Hisui asks.
Zeref looks at Virgo, "I assume you know your job?"
Virgo nods, "I am to locate Jellal Fernandez".
Zeref nods, and Virgo immediately walks off.
"Why is Virgo the one looking for Jellal? Aren't you the most qualified?" Erza asks him.
Zeref smiles, "Virgo is more than she seems to the eyes… but we can talk about that at a later date… I assume everyone knows what to do?"
Everyone nods, and splitting into their teams, they head to their targets.
…...
"I hope we get there in time!" Ashley says breathlessly at Natsu's side, running to the ball.
Natsu showed no sign of breathlessness; he could run like this for hours.
"We'll get there, don't worry" Natsu says grimly.
Ashley looked at Natsu as she ran. His eyes… they were usually soft, full of laughter and joy… but right now… they were a dark as their onyx told… Natsu was serious, he was angry… and he was ready for battle.
"Judging by the size of the hole, we might be dealing with a hundred mages" Ashley says.
Natsu shakes his head, surprising Ashley.
"I believe there will be more; remember the other attempts?" Natsu asks her and she nods, "There were a lot of them, there would be at least fifty around the entire border, and each one we saw, including the successful breach, was the same size… forget a hundred mages, we're looking at closer to five thousand mages".
Ashley's eyes widen at that, "Five… thousand?"
Natsu nods, "This is serious… the attack a fortnight ago, in the city… I think it was a diversion".
"A diversion?" Ashley asks.
Natsu nods, "This was very well planned, they used ten thousand mages, to covertly sneak in five thousand… using the ten thousand to draw the attention of everyone in the City, while the other five thousand snuck in, and spread themselves over… nobody would have noticed an extra five thousand people in a city of millions, especially with the Ball coming up… there were too many distractions with that alone".
Ashley shakes her head, "Natsu… you're smarter than you look… I knew you were smart, but this… you've seen it all".
Natsu shakes his head in regret, "No… I only saw it all just now, when the puzzle was set before me… I should've seen the pieces for what they were".
Ashley laughs, "You're too hard on yourself, but right now, let's get back and warn everyone; we're being attacked".
"We're afraid we can't let you do that" a voice ahead called out.
Natsu and Ashley stop in their tracks, and from every available shadow, a mage came out.
"There's at least a hundred of them… and their power is not dismissible… I can only take on at most six of them" Ashley says.
Natsu growls, "I see… that's how things are"
Ashley raises an eyebrow, "Care to fill me in?"
The man who spoke before laughed, "Yes, be sure to let us in as well child".
Natsu smirks, "Five thousand men… more than enough to set up parties around the ball to make sure no one comes in, and no one comes out… judging by how far away they are from the party, and the circumference of the area that makes around the ball… I'd say strategically speaking, there are ten parties of one hundred around the ball".
The man takes a step back, "How did you…?"
Ashley laughs, "You know… when it comes to battle, you sure know a lot Natsu".
Natsu smirks, "Comes from being raised in the Clan that's also known as the 'Battle Clan' among other names".
Ashley loses her smile, "But you know, none of that matters; we're still up against a hundred trained mages".
"As to that" Natsu says, "There is no problem".
The man, who seemed to be their leader, with his men behind him, sneered, "Oh? How so?"
Natsu smiles and flicks his hands; from them, two swords made of fire so hot, they burned white, sprung into his palms, "Twin Blades, Dragneel Style… Twin Fangs of the Dragon!"
With those words, the swords in Natsu's hands flashed, and become still.
Nothing appeared to happen.
The leader of the men laughs, "What was that? Did you expect hose blades to hit us? You're still twenty yards away from us!"
Natsu smiles, "You know… you sound just like another man in your position… and like him, you should wait a couple seconds before saying that… three… two… one".
One the count of one, men around their leader began to fall down, each one smoking a little. At the end, only twenty men stood.
"What happened?" The leader asked himself, and looked closer at one of his dead men, and then the next… and then the next.
Each one of them had an identical slash wound across their chest in the exact same place… each wound was cauterised from heat, and smoked slightly in the cold winter air.
Ashley meanwhile, gawked at the sight, "How… in an instant… that's… how…"
Natsu smirks, "I told you; I was raised in the 'Battle Clan'".
Ashley looks at him, both in awe and fear; he was only sixteen years old, and he can already wield magic this well? This was the power of a Captain!
Natsu looks at the Leader, "So? Are you and the rest of your men next?"
The leader looked at Natsu in despair, before becoming crestfallen.
"We… surrender" the man mumbles.
Natsu smiles, "Good… Ashley, you're up, I hear you're good at tying guys up".
Ashley began to go red in the face, "That… might give people the wrong idea".
Natsu looks at her confused, before what he said dawned on him.
"Oh… I… see… I meant… I didn't mean" Natsu tried to explain, but Ahsley waves a hand dismissively.
"Let's take care of these guys and get to the ball… before it's too late" she says.
Natsu nods, and after tying the men up, the two of them continued to run back to the ball.
…..
Mirajane stood fifteen metres away from the Headmaster, keeping an eye on him at all times, and the other eye on those around him.
"I found it doubtful he will just attack them outright" Karen says thoughtfully beside her.
Mirajane turns and nods, "As do I; but there is little more than we can do until we hear word from Virgo… why she's the one doing the spying, I am clueless".
Katherine smiles, "Well, she is the most qualified".
Karen and Mirajane turn to Katherine.
"You know why Zeref chose her?" Mirajane asks, and Katherine nods.
"Then tell us, it'll relieve the boredom" Karen says.
Katherine sighs, "Do you know what Ur Milkovich was before she became a teacher at the Academy?"
"That isn't what we're asking" Mirajane says.
Katherine shakes her head, "it's exactly what you're asking, just answer my question".
Mirajane shrugs her shoulders, "I heard she was in the Knights of the Red Cross".
Katherine nods, "Not just that though… she was also the Spymaster for the Knights".
Mirajane's eyebrows raise at that, "Milkovic Sensei was a Spy? And the Master of them?"
Katherine nods, "Every Spymaster takes on an apprentice from the new recruits of the Spy Corps in the year they are appointed, and it's the apprentice that becomes the Spymaster once they retire".
"What's your point?" Mirajane asks.
Katherine smiles deeper, "Virgo Constellar, was apprentice to Ur Milkovich, and as I've pointed out, Ur Milkovic is retired from the Knights".
Mirajane's and Karen's eyes widen.
"Are you saying…" Mirajane says, "That Virgo… is the Spymaster for the Knights of the Red Cross?"
Katherine nods, "That's exactly what I'm saying… and because of their job, they are posted somewhere near the Academy, to help look after Fairy Heart".
"So, they made her the owner of a Café?" Mirajane asks.
"It's the Spymasters' choice what they do here" Katherine says, "It seemed, the lifestyle of owning a Café was what she wanted, and quite smart as well; where better to pick up the odd rumour or two, than in a place where people gather to converse".
Mirajane and Karen nod; it was very logical when you thought about it.
"So… Virgo is a Spy" Mirajane says thoughtfully, "I wonder if that has something do with why she's with Natsu".
Katherine laughs, and Mirajane frowns at her.
"Something funny?" Mirajane asks her.
"Honestly" Katherine says, shaking her head, "What possible reason could Virgo have to date Natsu on professional grounds?"
Mirajane blinked; she's right, what reason would she have? Was Mirajane trying to finds a reason to get Virgo out of the picture? And if so, why? She thought that she was over that already.
Mirajane didn't have much time to dwell on that, because at that moment, someone in the ball screamed, and the next thing she knew, everyone around her, including herself, were blown away by a force of air.
Her mind was rattled as she opened her eyes and found herself on the ground. She began to stand up, and looking around, she realised that everyone at the ball, was packed together into one group… and surrounding them… was thousands of mages in black cloaks trimmed in red.
"What's… going on?" Mirajane asks aloud.
"I think it's begun" Zeref's voice said behind her.
Mirajane turns around, and sees Zeref, Katherine, Erza, Hisui and Karen standing together, looking grim.
"Where's the targets?" Mirajane asks him.
Zeref points behind them, where Frey and Makarov were surrounded by Zeref's men.
"They're secure, though they do not know why" Zeref answers.
Just then however, a voice boomed over everyone.
"I thank you all for coming tonight, and acting as willing hostages" Jellal's voice boomed. When the words were said, the man himself walked out to a point just in front of Mirajane.
"Captain Jellal Fernandez!" Frey B. Fiore called out, "What is the meaning of this?"
Jellal laughs as he steps closer, "What is the meaning of this, you ask? I think you should've realised by now… let's just say, I'm looking for a key".
Frey's eyes widen, as does Makarov's beside him.
"You don't mean you're after the Heart?" Frey asks, astounded.
"That's ridiculous!" Makarov calls out, "Even you should know it can't be controlled".
Jellal shrugs, "So you think… but once I obtain the power of Fairy Heart, this world will be mine to change as I see fit".
"You're mad!" Makarov yells.
Jellal laughs, "Mad? Maybe, but I prefer to be called… ambitious".
Jellal tries to move in to the pair, but Zeref steps out to bar his way.
"Step aside Zeref… a battle of Captains may very well bring this place to rubble" Jellal warns Zeref.
Zeref nods and flicks his hands, "Twin Blades of Darkness" two blades of black flame spring from his hands, "I am well aware of that Jellal… but I cannot permit you to obtain Fairy Heart… your actions tonight have caused me to declare you guilty of treason… I somewhat wished I was wrong earlier tonight, but it appears I was right".
Jellal smiles and draws a sword from his hip, "There's no need for us to fight, my fellow Captain… you could share in the power with me".
Zeref raises an eyebrow, "You don't know me very well, for you see, unlike you I have a brain, and one that knows never to tamper with the Heart; it's too dangerous".
The smile on Jellal's face vanishes, "Is that so? Then I guess this means battle".
Zeref calls over his shoulder, "Stationary Perimeter Shield!"
At his words, all of Zeref's men march forward and perform a ring around all the thousands of guests of the ball, blades drawn, magic to be used at the ready.
Jellal laughs, "How many Zeref? How many did you bring with you?"
Zeref grits his teeth; both Captains brought three hundred of their men as an honour guard, but it seemed that Jellal was also able to sneak in a few thousand of his men on top of his three hundred… Zeref was outnumbered ten to one at least.
At that moment of thought however, another voice called out.
"Students of Fiore Academy!" Erza Scarlet called out, standing beside Zeref, "Prepare for Battle!"
A moment of hesitation, before most of the students stepped forward, to create a ring behind the Zeref's men, and in front of the guests. Most were dressed formally, and held no physical weapons, but all had their own magic, and all seemed prepare to use it. The odds were better, but Zeref knew they were still outnumbered three to one… and most of their number were still in training at the Academy.
Jellal laughs, "How adorable… my Erza… commanding forces to oppose me? Her future husband?"
Erza smiles, "I should thank you Jellal; because of your actions, I can now have a legitimate reason to call off our engagement".
Jellal snarls, "It won't matter what you want; in the end, I will rule this world, and you will be my bride, like it or not".
Erza sneers, "Not if I stop you".
Jellal lowers his head, "It seems this will be done the hard way… TO BATTLE!"
And the Dance… Began.
Authors' Note – Hahaha… a little cliff-hanger there… well… not really, since Chapter eighteen is posted with this… why did I bother making a cliff-hanger? Oh well, be sure to let us know what you think!