Hello again, lovelies!
Where were we? Ah yes, our mysterious girl is a DRAGON SLAYER! BA-DUM-TSS!
But, how did that happen? And what is Mavis version of this story? These questions will find answer in this chapter - only partially, because Dalila is still sleeping, and who knows what will she tell us?
And then, prepare tons of tissues! In the second part of this chapter, Lahar is coming to take our favorite dragon slayer back to Era - for who knows how long!
This time, not even team Natsu will be able to stop the Captain in doing his duty... But cheer up, ladies and gentlemen! Because another dragon slayer will make his appearance at the very end... Do you already hear him munching his metal?
XOXO
Magnolia, where a very incredulous Makarov is still talking with the Thunder Legion...
Makarov hardly believed what Bickslow just said. The fact that a a woman had been imprisoned in a crystal - no, not a crystal, a magic shield, according to Bickslow - was dumbfounding. But the fact that a dragon lacryma had been implanted in her, without even using magic, but merely by a shot, was totally bewildering.
"What do you mean, Bickslow?" asked Makarov.
Dragon lacrymas do not get implanted like that, he thought. There was a very specific enchantment that had to be casted, and by a very powerful and skilled mage, nothing less. Ivan had almost killed his own son, and Makarov still shivered at the thought.
On the other hand, none of these thoughts seemed to cross Bickslow mind, as he grinned widely to his Master from the lacryma screen.
"Exactly what I said, Gramps." he cackled. "The dark mage that shot her with the rifle, must have implanted the lacryma in her, somehow. Then, the fusion between the lacryma and her body caused the collapse of the mine, and the lacryma activated a magic shield, to protect itself and the chick, keeping her in a state of suspension for, well, ninety years."
"This explains why it looks like she hadn't age over the years, and how could she survive under there for so long." completed Makarov, slowly nodding to himself.
"Yup Gramps. It's like she is sleeping right now."
Next to Bickslow, Evergreen hadn't stop fanning herself for the whole time. "Ninety years sleeping!" she gaped. "Master, if she is sleeping right now... What is going to happen when she wakes up?"
Makarov opened his mouth, but found nothing to tell to Evergreen. Sadness clouded his face, as they all fell silent. The girl had no idea how much time had passed, that's what Bickslow said before. When she wakes up, she will find herself in a totally different world, thought Makarov. Who was going to tell her that her family and friends were gone? And, how tell her she was a mage?
"And when will she wake up?" asked Laxus. He didn't think it was a good idea to just let her there, next to the mine, with old Mr. Jinus not knowing a thing about magic.
"No idea, boss. When her body will come back from the state of suspension, most likely she will need to eat. I guess in a couple fo days she will be up."
"Poor thing... All alone, not a soul she knows in all Earthland..." sighed Evergreen, looking at Makarov in the lacryma screen. "And now anyone who remembers of her!"
Freed took in a deep breath. "Bickslow, you said the crystal is disappearing, right?" he asked.
The Seith mage nodded. "It will be gone in a day or so."
"I was asking because... Maybe..." Freed glanced at his companions, "Maybe we could bring her to Fairy Tail?"
Makarov looked thoughtful for a moment, but then his eyes cleared and his lips stretched in a warm smile. "Of course, Freed! The child will need much help when she wakes up."
"And she has a Fairy Tail guild mark! We never leave behind a guild mate!" Freed pointed out, looking at Laxus, whose smile was mirroring the one of his grandfather.
"That's right man! She is a Fairy Tail member!" Bickslow slammed his fist on his knee. "Gramps, the chick is coming with us back home! We only need to wait until tomorrow, then we take the train back to Magnolia!"
"Yes, Master!" Evergreen squealed on her sit, waving her fan in the air victoriously. "To make her feel at home, we should start calling her by name, right? Dalila is such a pretty name!" she cried, "Laxus, what do you think?"
Laxus was thanking Mavis that they were the only ones in the building. Evergreen's squeaks could have awaken the dead. "Sounds good to me." Although the idea of spending two days on a train so soon was all but appealing to him.
He smiled as Evergreen small cries of excitement raised of an octave. From his seat, Bickslow gave him both thumbs up.
"Master, maybe we should alert Porlyusica." Freed was always thinking ahead. "We are going to need her once we are back to Fairy Tail."
"Yes Freed, I am seeing her tomorrow. I will explain everything to her. We will be ready to take care of Dalila. Now," Makarov clapped his hands. "I want you all to go to bed, and keep an eye on the girl." "Yes, Master! Thank you. We will call you tomorrow before leaving." "'Night boss!" "Goodnight Master! I will sleep close to the poor thing, I do not trust these perverts." "Me too, boss!"
Makarov chuckled at the glare Evergreen shot at Bickslow. "Goodnight brats!"
He finally turned to his grandson. Laxus smiled at him. "'Night gramps. See you in a few days." "Goodnight Laxus. I will see you soon."
Makarov waved goodnight to his grandson and the rest of the Thunder Legion, and closed the call. The screen became empty for a second, then vanished back into the small lacryma on his desk. Once again, the Master's office was silent.
Who could ever guess... he shook his head.
Who could have said that the Thunder Legion and his grandson were going to change that much? Nearly eight years ago - well, two years for them, after what happened on Tenrou Island - they had fought against their guild mates, with cruelty and scorn. And then, they shown their repent and had been forgiven. Even thought they were still carrying in their hearts the grief for what they did, Makarov was happy to see how much they were looking forward to be better persons.
Once Freed would have tested her, before allowing her into Fairy Tail. Also Evergreen's friendly attitude towards a girl she never met, was a surprise to him. How much ha they changed with time... he thought, looking at the mess of open folders and paper sheets that surrounded him.
His smile slowly faltered, and then disappeared. Around him was laying another proof of how time could affect one's character. In seven months, Cobra had gone from being a murderous and stubborn combination of Gajeel and Laxus to... Well, a stubborn combination of Gajeel and Laxus.
Which was more that what Makarov had hoped for. His mind drifted towards the poison dragon slayer. My dear child, he thought, as if Cobra could hear him, You are not alone anymore. You belong to Fairy Tail, now.
Makarov went to the window. Outside the sky was clear, and the moon and the starts were shining in the dark. It must be one or two in the morning. He and the Thunder Legion had been talking for more than an hour, Makarov realised.
His thoughts went back to the girl, Dalila, who had been trapped for ninety years under the debris of a collapsed tunnel. He had never faced such a case.
Sleeping for ninety years... he thought absently. A dragon slayer, second generation... Inside him, he cursed whoever implanted the lacryma in the poor child. Dragon slayer magic was one of the most powerful ones. The girl was going to struggle to learn it. She is twenty-two... Makarov felt a jolt of pain coming from his chest So young...
Dalila was so young, and yet she had to face the enormity of what happened to her. The world she knew, gone. Herself, changed forever. No family, no friends... maybe she had boyfriend, or a fiancé...
The girl needed to be brought to Fairy Tail, immediately, he decided. He was tempted to call Laxus again, and ask him to leave from Linveland, even if the crystal was still partially intact.
There were five dragon slayers in the guild, he pondered. He was sure they were going to help her. Well, Makarov had never thought about Cobra as a teacher, but maybe...
They are going to take the beast back. Cobra's sentence popped in his mind, but Makarov shut it out angrily. Cobra proved to be everything but a beast. Agree, he was still intimidating, and it was true that had sent Natsu to the infirmary a couple of times, but again... Fights between guild members were part of the routine of Fairy Tail.
Makarov was lost in his thoughts, when suddenly a small whisper started him. He turned and met a pair of green, teary eyes.
"First..." Makarov features softened, as he found the first Master of Fairy Tail staring at him.
Mavis Vermillion, in her pink and white dress, fluctuated ethereal in the dim light of the night. "They found her, Third..." she whispered, while a silent tears fell from her eyes. "I-I believed... I believed she was dead, Third!" she stuttered. "But-but... She is alive!"
"Please, First, don't cry!" Makarov forced himself pushed aside the panic raising at the sight of Mavis tears, and tried to smile reassuringly. "She will be back in a couple of days, don't you worry."
He had so many question for the First, but Mavis didn't look like she was ready to answer them. Makarov had wished the girl was not made out of thin air to hug her. Mavis looked like she needed a good snuggle right then.
Mavis sobbed. "When we arrived at Linveland, fifteen citizens had already been abducted." she started. "Dalila insisted to accompany Warrod and me into the mountains. The two boys, Jared and Jean... the last two that were kidnapped... They were her friends... She was so fond of them... She wanted to help us, Third, she wanted to-to come with us!"
The First sniffed and took a deep breath. "I told her no, but then... she insisted, Third, and I had not-I could not turn her away!"
Makarov nodded. He understood. He would have done the same. "So you gave her a Fairy Tail guild mark, and allowed her to come with you and Warrod?" he asked.
"Yes, exactly! It was a temporary guild mark... It must be almost gone now, even if she was in the crystal for so-so long!" Mavis started to cry again.
It took a couple of minutes before the First could continue with her story. "I swore to protect her! When-when we discovered that she had been taken too, Warrod and I... We felt as if an actual member of the guild had been taken away... We were so relieved when we found her alive when we reached the cave!"
Makarov lowered his gaze. The cave, right. It was the last time Dalila had seen seen alive, before the collapse of the tunnel. "It must have been very difficult for you, First..."
Mavis buried her face in her hands, sniffing and sobbing. "We didn't take the reward." she whispered. "We looked for her for weeks, but... it was like we could not locate her. Even with Warrod magic, even with my magic..."
"I understand..." "It was terrible, Third! I could not look into her parents eyes... I wished we had never, never taken that job!"
Mavis burst into tears.
"But she will wake up, First!" Makarov stretched out a hand and patted the air where Mavis shoulder would have been, if she was alive. "Somehow, I am sure she will heal. One day, she will be fine."
"Will you ask Dalila to join Fairy Tail, right, Third?" the First sobbed again. "You told the Thunder Legion to ring her here, but you never said... I-I promised I would have helped her, and kept her safe... I couldn't back then... But now-" "Dalila is part if Fairy Tail, First!" Makarov exclaimed, "I promise I will do my best to keep her safe!"
"Really?" Mavis eyes dried in an instant, as hope washed away remorse. "Will you, Makarov?"
"Of course, First! She has no one else in the world." Makarov grinned. "We are Fairy Tail, right? I have welcomed so many children through the years, and Dalila will be nothing but the latest one." he said.
"Thank you! Thank you so much, Third!" Mavis jumped and hugged Makarov. Which ended up being him surrounded by frozen air. Not very pleasant, but still, it was the closest thing to a hug the First could give.
Above all, he was relieved that the First was not crying anymore. She was spinning around the room instead, giggling and chirping.
"You will like her so much, Third!" she cried. Then, all of a sudden, she stopped dead in her tracks. "I wonder who could be shipped with..."
Makarov paled slightly. "Ehm, First, I don't think..."
"Elfman is taken, right? And also Gray... What a pity, but I like Gruvia so much..." Makarov was about to ask what 'gruvia' meant, but Mavis didn't let him time to ask. "I don't think she would do well with Bickslow, though..."
"First, I really do not-" "Freed! That's it" she exclaimed triumphantly. Makarov paled even more.
Mavis was now pacing back and forth in the office. "Or maybe, maybe... Makarov, is you grandson free?"
Makarov was very pale by now. "La-Laxus, First?" he stuttered.
"They will make beautiful babies, Third!" Mavis smirked. "You want grand-grandchildren, don't you?"
Makarov face turned of a deep shade of crimson in an instant. "Maybe we should wait a little-" "I need to discuss with Mira tomorrow!"
Mavis was fluctuating almost three feet from the ground from how happy she was.
"Surely, First, but maybe, we should wait that she wakes up, right?" Makarov asked tentatively, a small sweat drop running on his temple. Mira should stop with this shipping bets... It is driving all of us crazy! he thought. He wanted to ask the First something more about the lacryma, or how was it possible that Dalila had it implanted by being shot - whoever was going to be Dalila's boyfriend was not a priority!
"Uh?" Mavis looked at him questioningly, before realising she was almost touching the ceiling with her head. "Sorry, Third! I got carried away." she giggled and came back on the ground, hovering over the floor by a few inches. "Is there anything you wish to know about Dalila, before she comes here?"
"Well" Makarov said wavering, before asking, "What do you know about this lacryma?"
Mavis tapped her chin with a finger as she answered. "It was an ancient lacryma, Third. When I first took it in my hand, I felt its power creeping through my fingers."
Makarov nodded. "Dragon lacrymas are powerful object."
"You know that they contain part of the dragon personality, right?"
"Yes," said Makarov, "I know. They affect the slayer personality, up to a certain point." he had done some researches on the matter, and came to the conclusion that Laxus dragon must have been a big cocky bastard. "The body of a human can reject them, if the two characters are too different." he added.
"That's is right. It was immediately clear to me why all the other attempted implants had failed." murmured the First, "The lacryma was from a female dragon slayer."
Makarov raised an eyebrow. "Is that so, First? How can you tell?"
As har as he knew, dragon lacryma did not communicate with humas, not even with the slayers that hosted them.
"Yea. Strange, isn't it?" Mavis smoothed an invisible folder in her dress. "I felt it was strangely alive. Like it had a will of her own..." she turned her gaze at the moon, and its pale light was reflecting in her green eyes.
They stayed in silence for a while, listening to the muffled sounds of the sleeping city.
"First, what are you trying to say to me?" Makarov asked after a while, looking at the First Master.
"Nothing, Third. I was just thinking out loud, I guess." Mavis didn't look at him, her gaze lost in the sky above them.
"I was thinking," she said again, after a few moments "that the lacryma choose Dalila. It is unlikely for lacrymas to build shield like the one Dalila has been sleeping for all this time."
"Dragons have many mysteries." Makarov observed.
"Indeed they have." Mavis smiled softly at the moon. "Maybe, what I am trying to say is simply that everything will turn out good. Although she will be scared and lost at first, her own magic will help her."
Finally, Mavis turned her gaze to Makarov. The Third Master of Fairy Tail felt his worries calm a little. The optimism of the First Master was contagious, and Makarov couldn't help but feeling lighter, now that they had talked.
"Which will be the power of this new child of mine, First?" he asked with a soft smile.
Mavis smile grew, as her eyes lit up and sparkle. "She is going to become a great mage, Makarov, I am sure! You will se what can do Dalila, the wind dragon slayer!"
Next morning, Magnolia...
Cobra eye was open, staring at the ceiling. It had been like that for the whole night.
The evening before he couldn't decided whether to pack some clothes or not, and for how long, so he simply put a couple of t-shirts, boxers and some socks in his travelling bag in the end.
In jail, he was not going to need any of them, anyway. He vaguely remembered the rogue material of the uniform that he had been wearing for so many years. His skin crawled at the memory. They had never changed his, and it was already used when they first gave it to him. After seven years, of never washing it, it was ragged, covered in dirt and who knows what else. He closed his eye and shook his head. He didn't want to think about that. Not now.
Damn... he thought.
He couldn't panic right there. He was not going to run away, just because he was scared. He was also disgusted, but he was mainly scared. Scared of been thrown in a cell for years again. I have never run away, and I am not going to start now.
He rose from the bed and walked to the kitchen - his kitchen, which he had ordered meticulously last night, because who knew when he was going to come back. Maybe never.
Other memories came to his mind. The smells of his cell, hideous for a normal man, was barely tolerable for a dragon slayer. During his first year in prison, he was almost sure he fainted a couple fo times.
And then there were other things, that preoccupied him more than the smell. The beatings, the insults, the lack of poison... Sometimes the guards enjoyed to take away from him, just to see him rolling on the floor of his cell, his stomach screaming in hunger and pain. A couple of times, he was able to claw the culprit, but he got a shock from a teaser in return. What was getting on his nerves the most, was the fact that the guards that bullied him were cowards. If they had to fight him seriously, he could have killed them with a single blow.
Even without magic. Even with a hand tied behind my back. Even with my eye closed. Even... Only with his senses, or even with his presence alone, he was going to defeat them.
He shrugged. It was pointless thinking about this now.
He wanted to have breakfast, since he doubted they were going to offer him anything to eat, but his stomach was close since yesterday. He grabbed a little bottle of bleach from the cupboard, and took a couple of sips. His stomach was not going to accept anything else.
At least, if I vomit in the train, it will serve the fucker well. He tried to picture himself Lahar disgusted face. That lifted his mood a little. A small revenge, but still revenge.
He turned all the lights off, checked that the gas was turned off as well, and that the taps were closed properly.
Finally, he put his shoes on and headed to the door, but as he put one hand on the doorknob, his whole body started shaking.
Damn it... Having spent seven months out of there is making this hard. He looked around one more time. The house was in order, spotless. His house. My house.
Half of a year out of prison, and he turned to a whining little pussy.
He took a deep breath and tried to laugh it away. What was he hoping for? To stay out of prison and live his life as if his past never happened? He had been lucky to have seven months of what could be called 'normal life'.
All kind of memories started to rise in his head. The time Titania had brought him to her room and asked him to take poison out of one of his armour - the collection of the requip mage was immense. Or when they found a silver key for Lucy? How could he forget about that? She had been so happy he could still recall how her soul was squirming and singing. For a fucking week.
Once he would have despised all of this, but now... Those fairies... Can't blame them, right?
He chuckled and shook the head to himself. When did I became so... oversentimental. He remembered that when Lucy used that word once, Natsu had no idea of what it meant. That had also been the first time he asked himself how the fire slayer had been able to caught the Celestial Mage eye and heart, was still a mystery to him. I guess love is blind, and deaf. Definitely deaf.
He pushed all this memories in the back of his head. They were useless now, weren't they?
He finally turned the doorknob, stepped out of his apartment and closed the door behind him. As he locked it, he heard some familiar voices coming from the street. Cobra tilted his head. During the past seven months, he had learnt the sound of their soul so well, he needed to listen for less than a second to see who they were. Actually, he could recognise them in a crowded club with loud music, even against his will.
"Do you think he will be still at home?" was asking a female voice.
"Yes, I can smell him!" another one answered.
He chuckled to himself. Of course, they came. Natsu roaring thoughts were still angry and confused, and Lucy was internally both sobbing and planning to hide him using Virgo - and telling it was her spirit idea afterwards. Happy was flying back on forth, sad because he had eaten his last fish last night, and could not give it to Cobra for the trip.
Ugh... No, but thanks, Happy. He appreciated the thought, even if it was coming from that nasty, little flying cat.
He straighten his back as they turned around the corner. Natsu came to a halt. "Hey." he said. "Oi Salamander."
For once, Cobra's tone was not mocking, nor a snarl, and this made Lucy heart ache in her chest. She clutched to Natsu's side. "Hello, Cobra. How are you?"
"How am I?" Cobra snorted. "Ready to have my dear friend Lahar to take me to breakfast and then to escort me to my five start luxury accommodation."
Happy chuckled as he landed on the ground. Well, if Cobra was going to have breakfast with Lahar, it didn't mattered if he ate that fish, right?
"You didn't have any breakfast?" Lucy frowned, "I could have-" "No, Jugs. My stomach better to stay empty, for now. Did I ever mention that I love trains?"
Lucy was ready to reply, but a strong, female voice boomed from a nearby street. "I hope there will be no problems. We need him for the missions!"
The group turned. Marching with her head tall, with her armour shining in the morning light and a deep scowl hardening her features, Erza Scarlet appeared from a nearby street.
Next to Lahar, Captain of the Rune Knights, was doing a poor job trying to match her stride.
"I am sure you understand this matter is-" he started, but Erza didn't give him time to finish, for one of her swords went less than one centimetre from his throat in a blink of an eye. "You better bring him back safe and sound, Lahar," she hissed, "as you promised me one minute ago. Or you will have to account for this to me!"
Lahar eyes filled with anger - how even dare this fairy threaten him, the Captain of the Rune Knights? - but his trembling body betrayed his fear. "Sure-routine controls, and-glom-of course..."
Cobra smirked, hearing Lahar babbling soul. The fucker was scared to death by Titania, Captain of the Rune Knights or not. Erza was lot letting him take his words back. Too bad you tried to fuck with Titania, you idiot.
Yes, Erza! Lucy hands left the key holder on her hip, as she relaxed. Maybe there was no need to call Aquarius to drown them all.
Behind Erza and Lahar, Wendy and Charle were talking to Dorambalt. Charle had turned into a little girl. The two were at both sides of Dorambalt, who was becoming redder and redder at every step.
And behind them, six Rune Knights walked, with their swords waving at their sides, and their capes white in the early morning light. One of them had something in his hands that made Cobra let out a low growl.
Lahar escaped from Titania's sword and pulled his chest out. He walked, as he had a giant stick up to his ass, thought Cobra, towards Cobra.
"Cobra. I am here today to bring you back to Era." he said pompously.
Cobra rolled his eyes. "Nice to see you again, Lahar." he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I see you are happy to see me as well."
"Although your parole is going well, I-" "I see you are more stiffened than usual, Captain. Maybe you changed the stick you have up to your ass?"
Lahar shot him a glare, clearly not getting it at first. "What did you just-" "Maybe one of Titania's sword could help?"
Dorambalt shot a worried glare in Wendy direction. It was not appropriate for her to hear such a language, wasn't it? How was that Charle hadn't slapped the poison slayer yet? But Wendy seemed to do just fine - well, apart from the teary eyes seeing the Rune Knights getting closer and closer to Cobra.
The poison slayer growled as the Rune Knights moved around him. "Or maybe you are just jealous your sidekick there has found someone else to talk to?" he sneered.
"Enough!" shouted Lahar, becoming suddenly redder than Dorambalt. "I was going to make this in a civilized way-" "Sure you were, fuckface!" Cobra shouted as three Rune Knights grabbed his arms. One of them waved a teaser menacingly.
"-but apparently you want it the hard way! Just handcuff him and let's go. We are just wasting our time here." Lahar watched as the handcuffs clicked against Cobra wrists. The dragon slayer felt his magic being drained instantly from his body. He tried to break free from the circle of Rune Knights, snarling and snapping his jaw.
That was more than enough for Natsu. He couldn't witness nothing else. "You will not bring him away!"
"Stop it, Natsu!"
Lucy's advice was useless. Natsu's fists and arms were already covered in flames. A wave of heat run over the street. "Natsu! Stop!" pleaded Lucy again, clutching to Natsu's arm, trying to restrain him, "You will get Cobra into trouble."
"It's their fault!" shouted the fire dragon slayer, "They came here and are stealing one of us!"
"Natsu!" Erza's tone was low and menacing, but her was ready to land a hit on the Rune Knights and their Captain as much as Natsu. She didn't like Lahar, nor the Council, and the poor excuse they made to bring Cobra back to Era was unacceptable.
"As I am here today, you are coming to Era. Those are necessary." Lahar stated with a small smirk, as the fire dragon slayer huffed sparks from his nostrils.
Cobra was forced still in between the Knights. His bag fell on the ground, and someone kick it out of the way.
"That was not necessary!" shouted Lucy angrily, running to pick his bag. I am keeping this, Cobra, until you come back.
Erza's grip on her sword tighten, and even Wendy clenched her small fists. "Stop it!" she hissed.
"If you keep this up, you will all come with us as well!" threatened Lahar, eyeing the mages around him.
That was the green light for Natsu. "How dare you!" he shouted. Once again, flames started dancing on his body. "Fire Dragon-" "ICE MAKE: HAMMER!"
Right when Natsu was going to invest Lahar with a storm of fire, a huge hammer made of ice materialised on top of him and crushed him to the ground.
"OUCH!" was the only thing Natsu could say. "What the hell, ice princess?"
Gray came into view, hands in his pockets. He had already lost his t-shirt. Lucy looked at him with relief, but it didn't last.
As Gray came closer to the group, the giant hammer lifted from the ground, freeing Natsu, and flied towards Lahar. The Captain let out a high pitched scream, as the hammer landed heavily right in front of him, breaking the pavement of the road and sending splinters and dust all around.
As his ice enchantment vanished, everyone heard Gray hissing. "You will bring him back in a few days. Fairy Tail will not let you do as you please, Lahar."
Lahar swallowed heavily, as a few sweat drops run on his forehead. Gray voice was, if possible, more scary than Natsu's shouts. But it was the look in his eyes that made Lahar blood run cold. Which made perfect sense, considering Gray's magic. Those fairies are crazy...
"Yes they are." Cobra mused. He had gained his cool again, shaking off the Rune Knights with low growls and snarls.
The fuckface and all the Rune Knights in the world were not going to break him, he decided. If even Gray was there for him... And he could still hear Natsu inner fire struggling to be kept inside. If the fire dragon slayer had been able to let his anger down, he was going to burn half of Magnolia, literally.
Cobra never knew it could be possible, but he felt stronger, hearing the seven souls of his team mates screaming in anger and pain for him - yes, even the two cats were hoping to see him back at Fairy Tail soon.
Natsu jumped on his feet. "You heard the ice princess, Lahar!"
"Shut up, ash brain!"
"You stop it right now." growled Erza. She moved past Lahar, looking at him with disdain and disgust, and went to Lucy's side, glaring at the other two mages. Be back safe, Cobra. Master have forbidden us to go to Era, but Gajeel and Pantherlily are waiting for you at the train station.
Cobra smirked to Erza. And Mira will come in a few days. Erza completed in her head, returning a small smile to the poison slayer.
"Let's go." Lahar turned and started walking away. The Rune Knights followed him, pushing Cobra in between them. He heard Lucy shout something, but his mind was focused on the aching feeling of the cold metal against his skin.
Dorambalt was a few steps behind the group. He had hoped everything would have gone smoothly, but of course, since Fairy Tail was involved, that was too much to ask for.
"Mest!" he stopped, and turned, as a voice called him from behind. "Yes, Wendy?"
The sky dragon slayer reached him. "Will you bring him back to us, right?" she asked him with a trembling voice.
Dorambalt chest tighten a little. Wendy had always been his weak point, after all.
Since when the majority of Fairy Tail disappeared with Tenrou Island, he had felt like something had been ripped away from him. And after he knew that they had all been found, he felt as a huge weight had been taken off his heart. Even if so many years had passed, he had still a soft spot for the young sky dragon slayer. As he looked at her, he felt a seventeen years old again. But the age gap was almost ten years now, so Wendy was far away from his reach. He had promised himself, that maybe, in some years, maybe one day, he could hope to talk to her again like they did when they were partners for the S-class trials. Maybe, in many years...
He could not ignore the tears glistening between Wendy's eyelashes. "Will you?" she asked again.
"Yes." said Dorambalt. "I promise I will bring him back." He wanted to hug her and tell her everything was going to be fine. But the Council uniform he was wearing, and his superior that was burning holes in the back of his head, prevented him from any display of affection. The only thing he could do was force a smile, and say goodbye with a nod, before he hurrying to reach his Captain.
A carriage was waiting to bring them to the train station. Cobra was pushed inside, and he was seated in between two Rune Knights. Seated in front of him, there was Lahar.
Cobra could hear how much the Captain was annoyed by the fairies. I should have sent someone else for this job. he thought, as the door of the carriage closed behind them. Maybe Dorambalt alone? Nah, he was not firm with the fairies. That was a delicate job, and he, Lahar himself, was needed.
"Sure." mused Cobra, ready to vomit even if the carriage hadn't started to move.
Lahar rolled his eyes. "Block his magic." grunted. One Rune Knight pressed a small circle on the handcuffs, and the sounds of the souls around him became mere whispers.
Right on that moment, the carriage started to move. Cobra closed his eye. Nausea instantly crept up to his throat and stomach, and he knew it was not only for the moving trap he had just been forced into.
Something inside of him was scared as hell of a world of complete silence. He was not used to it, Lahar knew it.
He tried his best to concentrate on the low murmurs of the souls around him, ignoring the protest of his stomach. It was better trying not to puke, than making the Captain completely mad and having his Soul Hearing magic completely blocked.
He ignored the small smirk playing on Lahar lips, or the satisfied hums of the Captain's soul. He hated Lahar's soul, from the pit of his stomach. Lahar's soul was viscous and dead boring, and after all those months without hearing it, it was hard to get used to those burps and pretentious thoughts again.
As they were approaching the train station, his hears caught a familiar sound. Oh, it didn't mattered if they ad blocked his magic. He didn't need it to recognise who was making such a sound.
After a while, the cracking of munched metal slowly reached his companions hears.
"What is that?" asked Lahar, peeking outside the window seat.
Cobra smirked, keeping his eye closed. He could hear a certain iron dragon slayer soul groaning at the thought of four hours on a train.
As the carriage stopped and they all got out, Cobra saw him. Sitting on a bench right outside the station, Gajeel Redfox crunched with his teeth what was left of a metal pole. As the group exited the carriage and headed to the station, the pierced eyebrows of the iron slayer raised in a deep frown. Next to him, Pantherlily was in his combat form, and looked warily at the group.
Dorambalt shot them a preoccupied glance. What are those two doing here?
Lahar was too busy leading the group inside the train station to notice the iron dragon slayer and his cat leaving the bench and casually following them inside the building.
Dorambalt caught a dangerous flash in Gajeel red eyes, as he looked at Cobra handcuffed hands. Behind him, Lily caressed the giant sword was pending at his side with a clawed paw.
"I hope it is not a crime to travel by train these days..." Dorambalt thoughts were interrupted by an amused whisper. The poison dragon slayer smirked at Dorambalt expression and lifted and eyebrow. "Am I right?"
"Yeah..." Dorambalt didn't find a good comeback, and let it slide. He knew too well how things worked at Fairy Tail. Makarov was not going to try to bring Cobra back by force, Dorambalt was sure, but at the same time, the old Master must have alerted his 'children' and sent someone to tail them. And Gejeel Redfox is a man for this job. thought Dorambalt, as the group reach the rail.
"Exactly." Cobra snorted.
They entered the train carriage. Lahar had reserved them a whole vagon. Gajeel and Lily were in the one right behind them.
Before the train left, Cobra looked outside the window. The morning was dull, and the light of earlier had been replaced by the gloom of the clouded sky.
"I hope you will not cause us any trouble during the trip..." grunted the Captain, taking his seat and adjusting his glasses.
Cobra didn't bother to pay attention to Lahar. He had noticed a woman on the rail. Cobra caught a glimpse of purple hair. I promise I will be back, Cubellios.
The train moved, and soon Magnolia was left behind. Cobra started feeling sick almost immediately. Maybe it was also Lahar presence next to him to make him wanting to vomit.
And, I do not fuck faces. was thinking the Captain, staring angrily at the page of a book he was trying to read.
"Oh, but you wish." snickered Cobra, as his stomach rolled and the taste of bile filled his mouth. "You wish."
