Chapter 2: A Hellish Discovery
The next morning.
Gray was up early with his clothes on, wearing black pants as he exited his bedroom, he then walked down the hallway. "Something isn't right, that girl may have a weak spot for picking up people that don't have a place to go, but...
Aria then was in front of him. "Hello."
"Uh, good morning." Gray answered acting cool. "You need something?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I'll be shopping with my guards and Tatsumi." She answered with a innocent smile.
"Ok, my friends and I will stay here and relax then." Gray replied nodding his head.
Aria smiled and walked away as she met up with three guards whispered something in their ears then walked pass them.
The three guards nodded their heads.
Juvia wore a her usual outfit which was clean, she was walking down the hallway gazing at the windows. "This place is quite beautiful."
"Yes, but..." A voice said from behind who was Taran. "For some reason, I feel something is off." Beside her was Gray.
"I agree, Aria and her parents seem nice however I think too nice." Gray stated putting his fingers under his chin.
Juvia was little puzzled. "Now that you mention it, they have a lot of guards."
Gray agreed on that part. "Hmm, to think this family has a lot of guards here." He wondered. "Something isn't right, I got a strange feeling about this."
Taran remembered the mother was writing in a book of some sort. "Her diary must have some secrets, maybe that she doesn't want us to look at."
"Isn't that natural, I mean, reading someone's diary isn't right," Juvia questioned.
"I agree, but, something must be up," Gray replied. "Anyway, we'll worry about later, let's try go explore the part of the capital with Tatsumi and we'll discuss the matter once the family is asleep."
The two wizards nodded.
Meanwhile
Tatsumi helped with the guards help Aria with shopping, Gray, Juvia, and Taran were helping carrying the gifts.
"Damn, why do we have to carry them?" Gray asked himself
"Jeez, couldn't she bring more guards?" Juvia questioned puffed cheeks.
Taran looked around seeing passing citizens. "Strange, the people look a little off..." Their faces shown signs of dull, concern, and fear. "Something isn't right, I get the feeling teh capital is-"
"Hey you three!" Aria waved from her chariot. "I
After stopping a few shops, everything they bought was on a wagon.
"She is quite the shopper, I never saw stuff like this." Tatsumi said astonished seeing a lot packages.
"Women do act like this, I mean do all women act like this?" Guarry commented.
"I don't know I mean I have a female friend that wears anything she has." Tatsumi replied.
An image of Sayo with an angered comically expression appeared in his mind "THAT'S BECAUSE I'M POOR YOU JERK!"
"Oh, Tatsumi, you see the castle over there?" Gaurry asking gazing foward at a large castle in the center. "That is the large capital where everything happens."
Tatsumi was totally surprised on how the castle was so large. "I always wanted to see the inside and what kind of decsions the Emperor makes for the whole country!"
"Well not excatly." The guard said as he got closer to whisper into the young boy's ear. "There is an emperor but he's a child, our world is plaqued by corruption, its the minister that controls the emperor from the shadows."
"Minister!" Tatsumi yelled as the guard covered his mout quickly. "Don't let anyone hear you, those who oppose are beheading."
Tatsumi hung his head down. "So he's the one taxing all my villagers."
Gray was already disgusted hearing that detail. "So, this minister taxes people to the extreme?"
Juvia thought that was terrible. "What a despicable man."
Taran was silent.
"Yes, the entire capital knows." The guard added.
Tatsumi gritted his teeth.
"On top of that we're dealing with these scums." Gaurry turned his head around pointing at a wall with three wanted posters.
"Night Raid, who are they?" Tatsumi asked.
"Band of assasins terrorizing the area, they're called that cause they attack at Night, high rank officals the upper class, its wise to be very cautious."
"Thanks sir." Tatsumi said.
Gray observed the wanted posters. "I have a feeling they won't be easy opponents if they're giving this empire a problem."
Taran then was talking to a young couple and whispering to them, then her face shown signs of shock.
At sunset.
The gang returned to Aria's mansion.
Gray, Juvia, and Taran went outside to have a secret conversation.
"So, do you think this family is hiding something?" Juvia asked.
"Who knows, but, other than that, I saw some guards walked into the woods last night, I remember asked a guard about what was in the woods," Gray replied. "But, the moment I asked the question, he frozen like he was scared, I decided to avoid questioning even more, so, I turned away, but, I have feeling there more to this family."
"Yes, however, I think the family did had company here before," Taran spoke with her eyes hidden by her hair.
The two mages wondered what the new recruited avatar mage meant until she explained what she found out from the young couple she was talking to.
At night fall.
The mother was holding her diary. "Another entry I can add to my diary, what an addicted hobby this is." She giggled.
Then she heard footsteps from ahead of her and saw Taran. "Oh, Taran, what's up, why are you up this late?"
"Cut the act lady," The psychic mage replied coldly. "I know about Tatsumi's friends were here about a few days ago."
The mother gasped quietly, but kept her composure. "Dear, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Tatsumi's friends were seen around the capital a few days ago, the couple said that they saw them arrive and was offered to stay at this place by your daughter, I believe it was late at night, which they were out late due to some late shopping."
The mother was started get nervous, but, before she could make a counter in her defensive, she was cut in half as blood spilled on the floor.
Taran was left frozen as the killer was a girl with purple hair and glasses wielding a giant pair of scissors, then she bowed. "I'm sorry." She then noticed the other girl. "Who are you?" It took a while for the girl with the glasses to realize the frozen state. "I take this is new to you, I suggest you read that diary, it should give you answers for why I'm here including my team."
The psychic wizard snapped out of her state and saw the diarry still in the mother's hand, as gross as it was, she took the book and opened it.
A few seconds pass and then a horrified expression appeared on Taran's face. "What the hell is this?!"
Tatsumi woke up hearing the scream. "What was that?"
Gray was looking around for the old man and came to the bedroom, he slowly opened the door and saw that it was empty. "It's clear..." He gestured to Juvia.
Both went inside and searched around the room for clues for anything that lead on Tatsumi's friends.
"Man, at this rate, we might have to search for the whole night," Gray thought looking annoyed.
Juvia opened a drawer from a dresser that was next to the Aria's parent's large bed. "What's in here?" She wondered as she took a few pictures out of the drawer. "Photo's..." She looked at the pictures closely and then gasped quietly showing horror on her face.
Gray saw her reaction and got concerned. "Juvia, what is it?" She handed the distrubing photos which showed people dead in different various ways. "What is this-"
"Hey!" Two guards were standing at the bedroom door entrance and were pointing their rifles at the two. "You two aren't suppose to be in here!"
"Ice Make: Prison!" The ice mage created an ice like cage which trapped the two guards.
"Water Cane!" Juvia created a water like whip from one of her hands and whipped one of the guards in the chest and knocked out the other.
"We need to get to Tatsumi and Taran!" Gray stated.
Juvia nodded and took the pictures with her.
In a hallway
The blond woman had the father by the neck in a tight grip. "Please... don't kill me... I have a daughter..." The father begged as his neck was being choked tightly.
"Don't worry, you'll see her again where you're going..." The blond woman replied coldly.
The father grew worried at those words. "Please... spare my daughter... have mercy on us."
The woman smirked as her grip on the man's neck got even tighter. "Mercy, I don't remember that word..." In a second the father's neck was snapped which made him stop.
Gray and Juvia eventually made to the entrance doors.
"Where is Taran, she told us she would be here?" The ice mage wondered.
"Did she run out on us?" Juvia thought.
Before any could further, they sensed the Psychic Wizard, who was walking down from opposite hallway. "Where were you?" Juvia asked.
Taran walked down quietly and handed over a strange diary. "This is the mother's diary, what she wrote inside is something I never would expect."
Gray took the book and read it, what he read through some pages was enough for his eyes to widen with horror.
Juvia read it next and was horrified at the details that were written inside.
Tatsumi ran through the hallway, feeling a strange presence from outside so he stopped and looked out the large window.
There stood several Night Raid assassins. "It's them, Night Raid." He thought.
Four guards arrived outside wielding different sharp weapons.
"Hey Akame, those guards are targets too..." A green-haired teen whispered.
Just as Akame was about to make a move she gasped quietly looking towards the mansion. "What is this?"
"Hey, Akame, what's going on, the guards are targets," A pinkette girl said who was holding a large-like rifle.
The armored stranger gasped too. "Guys, I sense powerful aura's in the mansion."
"What?" The pinkette girl cautiously took aim with her large rifle.
Then Gray, Taran, and Juvia came out.
Tatsumi saw them. "Good, those guys are here, I guess I'll go find Aria and procect her for the time being." He continued through the hallway.
The four guards turned around looking relieved.
"Gray, Juvia, and Taran, glad you three are here, if you assist us on helping us, the family will pay you a big award," Guarry said looking relieved. "So, let's take out these assassins-"
"Cut the crap!" Taran roared out which got the assassin's attention as well.
The guards were dumbfounded. "You all confused, maybe, these should give you some answers," Gray tossed the photos.
Gaurry picked the photos and gasped quietly. "Listen, we didn't know about this, we swear..."
Taran put her hand out and closed her eyes, then a few seconds pass and her eyes shot open. "You guys are lying, you did know about these photos and what the mother was writing in her diary too."
Juvia had a glare on her face. "To think you would keep such a family's disgusting secret." A dark aura covered her body. "I suggest we punish you four."
Gray stripped off his shirt and tossed it, then he did his stance.
The pinkette assassins was flustered. "That pervert!"
The armored stranger blushed red. "Quite daring."
"Ice Make: Hammer!" Gray created an ice-spiked hammer and slammed it into one of the guard's chest.
"This young man has powers like Esdeath?" The pinkette thought in surprise.
"Why you!" A guard wielding an ax charged at the black-haired boy.
"Water Nebula!" Juvia casted a twirling torrent of water which rotated forming a helix then send it directly at the guard wielding the ax.
Taran created purple rocks in mid-air. "Psychic Shock!" She motioned the rocks and fired them directly at the last remaining guard.
Akame saw such strength in these three people, so, she dropped onto the ground and stood tall in front of them. "You three... don't move..."
"I take it that you're part of Night Raid?" Gray presumed.
The black-haired girl nodded her head. "Hand over that diary..." Taran was little hesitate at first, but, she had no chocie. "Here..."
"Is there a reason why Night Raid is here?" Juvia asked cautiously.
Akame looked at the three for a moment. "Do you have anyone else here?"
"Yeah, we forgot about Tatsumi!" Juvia yelled comically. "Split up!"
"Tatsumi?" Akame wondered in question as she looked down at the four knocked out guards, she took out her Sword. "All of you are done..."
At the area where the storehouse.
A masked guard was running with Aria. "M'lady stay in the shed, you'll be safe in there."
Tatsumi eventually caught up with the two. "Aria!"
The masked guard was relieved. "Thank god, you stall the enemies while I hide the girl."
Tatsumi was taken by surprise. "You'd expect to fight-" He stopped when he heard something land behind in the direction where he came from. "Guess it's too late to complain!"
The brown-haired teen took out his Sword as Akame charged towards him. "You're not a target..." She used the boy's head as a spring board, then continued on towards the rich girl and the guard.
The masked guard took out his gun fired mulitple bullets but, Akame easily dodged every one of them and got in close-range. "You're done..." She slashed the guard's abdomen spilling out blood.
Aria stepped backwards and fall on her butt as Akame appraoched her ready to deliver the kill. "You deserve this."
Tatsumi swung his sword, but, Akame dodged it. "Stop this..."
Akame looked at the boy. "You're not a target..., so, why do you want to fight me?" The boy glared at her. "I can't let you hurt a helpless little girl."
Though the black-haired girl just nodded in response that she'll kill Aria not matter what, Tatsumi knowing what he's gotten himself into descided to fight against the assassin.
The two brawled, however Akame proved to be too fast and had strong reflexes, like she was some kind of wild animal, eventually she stabbed her sword into Tatsumi's chest causing him to fall on the ground.
The assassin looked down at the boy and moved back a few inches away as slight smirk appeared on Tatsumi's face, who stood back up. "Looks like the village was looking out for me after all." He took hold of a statue that the chief of his village gave him.
Akame wasn't done as she attempted to cut off the boy's head, but, her attack was stopped when she felt someone grab her by her shirt. "What are you doing?"
There stood a blond haired woman. "We still have some time left..." She then looked into Tatsumi's direction. "Besides, I owe this boy a favor, I think he could cash in."
The browned-haired teen was puzzled at first until he recognized her voice. "Wait! You're that girl with the big boobs!" He pointed out a little upset that his money was stolen by her.
The blond woman just waved at him teasingly. "Yep, that's what they call me." She then heard three footsteps approaching from behind.
"Tatsumi!" There was Gray, Juvia, and Taran coming from the path.
"You three, what's been keeping you all?" Tatsumi asked.
"Tatsumi, we got bad news... You see-" Gray began to say until he noticed the blond woman's arm in front of his face. "Allow me, listen boy, I think we should show you what's really going on here."
Leone kicked the shed's door down like it was nothing as Tatsumi walked into the doorway, what he saw in there was something he wasn't expecting to see. "Wh-wh-what is this?"
Gray, Taran, and Juvia looked inside, seeing the pictures was one thing, but seeing what the actual horror was another story. "Oh no..." Juva said covering her mouth in horror.
Gray's eyes widen with shock and anger. "Disgusting..."
Taran was just silent.
"We learned that this family was taken a lot of people from the countryside and doing twisted experiments on them for their own sick entertainment," Leone explained. "A client requested us for this task."
"That's right, our client also told us that a friend who was also taken from the countryside fell victim to this family," Akame added with a blank expression.
Tatsumi continued to look in horror, but, then he saw someone familiar hanging by the arms. "S-Sayo, no..."
That name caught the blond's attention. "Do you know that girl?"
Aria saw this chance to sneak away, however, the blond woman grabbed her by her head. "Whoopsy, didn't think you were going to sneak away sweetie."
"Did they really do something like this?" Tatsumi questioned not bothering to turn away.
"Yes, their guards are just as guilty too for keeping this a secret," Leone replied.
"Even Aria's Guarry knew about this crap too," Gray added.
"Not only that, we found these in her parent's room," Taran said tossing the photo's to Tatsumi, who caught them. "As you can see the photo, they had enjoyed taking picture of their victims as well, which the father seemed to enjoy the most since he was using a camera to take pictures."
"This isn't true, I had no idea that my parents were doing this!" Aria said defending herself. "Night Raid is lying!" She then turned to Gray, Juvia, and Taran. "My guards never told of this either, you three can't honestly think I was also part of this!"
Tat-su-mi." A weakened voice said which got the browned haired boy's attention as he turned to look to the left side.
There was Ieysau looking in a cage and looking severely sick. "That girl, she let me and Sayo in her house, later she gave us something to eat then everything went black, Sayo was totured to death."
Juvia's eyes widen with shock. "Oh no..." She was horrified to see a boy in such a sickness state, judging from his condition, he looked very ill too.
Aria pulled her self away as she began to scream, "Fine! Fine! I did this okay!" Her true nature was shown with a twisted freaky expression on her face. "PEASANTS ARE NOTHING BUT LIVE STOCK FOR WHAT I SEE FIT! THAT GIRL, SHE HAD SUCH NICE HAIR BUT SHE DIDN'T DESERVE IT, SO, I TREATED HER SPECIAL, SHE SHOULD'VE BEEN HAPPY THAT GAVE HER SO MUCH ATTENTION! UNGRATEFUL BITCH!"
"She's gotten creepy," Taran said.
Gray was taken aback by this sudden tantrum.
Juvia was bit shaken up. "Creepy!"
Leone was little disturbed by the rich brat's freaky tantrum. "Okay, I hate to interrupt your tantrum but, you're kinda distrubing."
Akame took out her sword. "I'll kill her."
Gray and Juvia were dumbfounded by this. "Are they...
"Really going to kill her?"
Taran didn't say a word.
"Wait..." Leone, Akame, Gray, Juvia, and Taran looked towards the browned-haired teen.
The blond assassin sighed. "You're kidding, you still going to defend her?"
"No... I'll do it!" Tatsumi swiftly cut Aria's abdomen with a single slash and killed her.
Leone looked seemingly impressed. "Hmm... He didn't even hesitate."
"Thank you...Tatsumi... I needed to see that," Ieyasu said his voice getting weaker and weaker as he coughed out blood.
Tatsumi got his friend out of the cage and held him up. "Hold on, we'll get you some help!"
"The Lubora virus..." Everyone including Tatsumi looked at the young assassin's direction, who was holding a book. "In this diary, the mother wrote every detail of every victim's reactions from the each medicine she injected them with."
"She's right..." Taran spoke. "I read it myself too, it was distrubing how much pleasure she felt seeing each victim's reaction to the pain."
"Tat-su-mi..." Ieyasu said his eyes growing dim. "Sayo didn't break in, no matter how much that girl tortured her, she kept being strong."
He put his arm up with a proud smile. "So, I wanted to go out as a hero." In a second, he dropped dead as Tatsumi hugged his childfriend. "What is wrong with this place?"
Gray was silent as Juvia cried on the ice mage's shoulder.
Taran was left shocked and felt an ache inside her. "What am I feeling." She thought.
Akame turned around to leave.
"Shall we take these four with us?" Leone asked as the black haired girl looked at her but soon got what her friend was getting at.
Leone took Tatsumi by his shirt. "Hey, let me go now!" He cried struggling to break free.
"I suggest you three come with us too." Akame said staring at the three people. "Besides, you three have some powers we never seen before."
"Did she see us using our magic?" Gray asked himself.
"What do you think we should do?" Juvia asked wiping her eyes. "I think we should go with them." Taran answered. "Do you think, Gray?"
"Hmm, I suppose besides we might not have a choice." Gray said though he wasn't liking the idea in a way.
They soon followed Akame and Leone on top of the mansion(who still had Tatsumi in her hands but was now carrying him.)"
"You're late!" Mine asked. "Who are those four, with you and Akame?"
"This is Tatsumi that I'm carrying." Leone replied then she turned to the other three. "As for these three...umm."
"My name is Gray Fullbuster." The black-spiked haired boy replied.
"My name is Juvia Lockster." The blue-haired girl replied waving slightly.
"My name is Taran." The long hair girl said.
"I see, new recruits?" Lubbock asked as he made a goofy grin. "Two female ones at that."
Juvia was creeped out by the green-haired teen. "Pervert."
"New Recruits?" Tatsumi questioned in confusion.
"Starting tomorrow you four are part of Night Raid." Leone explained as she tossed the browned haired boy onto the ground of roof. "Don't we get a say in this?" Tatsumi asked.
"Forget it, we don't have choice I think." Gray answered. "He's right." Taran agreed.
"Well, aren't you two smart especially you." Leone said giggling at black spiked boy.
Juvia's eyes twitched but then the armored stranger began to walk towards Tatsumi. "Bulat, take Tatsumi."
The armor stranger took Tatsumi in his right arm. "Put me down, I don't want to murder people!" The brown-haired teen protested struggling to get free.
"Aw, it gets easier." The Tall Armor Knight said in echo like tone.
"What does?" Tatsumi asked weirded out.
"The mission is complete, we're heading back to base." Akame stated as her and her comrades leaped ahead into the forest.
"Where are we going?!" Tatsumi asked but none of the Night Raid Assassins answered.
Gray carried Juvia on his back, much to her delight. "Gray, my love!" The ice mage just ignored the girl's love sickness.
Taran had other thoughts. "I have a feeling this journey has just begun."
Meanwhile at Earthland.
Gajeel, Levy, and Pantherlily were at the gateway and three were gazing at it.
The three former Fairy Tail members were talking with the Jean-Luc the head of Archaeologist in a hotel building
"I see, an old woman told you about the gateway." Jean-Luc said.
"Yes, she knows about the place, she also mentioned a girl named Taran was nearby, however we don't know much about this Taran." Gajeel replied.
"Taran, I heard about that girl, rumor is that there is a Dark guild called Avatar, but their location was never located but Taran was a new recurit, therefore her wherebouts was close by the town." Jean-Lux explained.
"So, you're saying that she was going meet up with her new guildmates, also capturing her might help you find Avatar's location?" Levy asked.
Jean-Luc nodded his head. "Anyway, I'll gather some more of our Archaeologist students and see how we can bring back your friends including Taran.
Gajeel seemed to be getting impatient. "Maybe we can activate this piece of junk, using magic, IRON DRAGON'S ROAR!"
"SOLID SCRIPT: STORM!" Levy proclaimed as her created a strong gust of wind.
Their magic launched toward the Gateway which then absorbed their magic and activated.
Like last time the gateway unleashed wind enhaling the three Fairy Tail wizards.
"This isn't good!" Gajeel screamed. "NOT GOOD AT ALL!" Levy cried.
"THIS IS WINDY!" Pantherlily paniked
The gateway closed the portal.
Four figures in black cloaks were walking through the forest.
"Let's find out more about this gateway we've been hearing about." One of them said who was taller.
"Yes, indeed." The second black cloaked figure argeed who was shorter.
"Let's go investigate." The third said who seemed to litle taller but not as tall as the first figure.
"Right." The fourth figure said who was enormous body showing a bit of muscles on its arms and legs.
Forgive me for editing this, after I did completing working through a new chapter for my story: Wizards, Assassins, and Pirates, I realized I had to improve and re-edit some stuff on this chapter so it can match some parts, anyway, don't judge for this re-editing.
End of chapter.