Author's note
Don't have much of an introduction to this chapter but I just got a review asking about Ships in this story, so I figured I would lay all that out.
So FreakyFreek to answer your question. For Kinzo our main character he will only end up with one person, this won't be a Harem fic. That being said I do have some fun romance-type situations planed. In the story, there will be 3 female characters gunning for him throughout the story and their actions/ advances should lead to some funny and somewhat plot-relevant progression for the story. There will be others throughout the story that are interested but won't go anywhere.
As of right now, we have only seen Kinzo interact with 1 of the 3 so if anyone wants to take a shot at who the three are just PM me and I'll let you know if you're right.
The Greyhound Part 3: War of the Mind
Chapter 31
Kinzo cut through the air doing the best he could to aim himself as he balanced on the back of the large shield.
He was rapidly approaching Mirajane's location. The girl was still trapped in the massive robot's hand. But something had complicated her situation. Now instead of being held there alone, she was being approached by a horned monstrosity.
He could only assume it was Elfman. The thing had a scar running along its chest in the same place he'd been hurt earlier today, and even its facial structure was similar. So this was what he meant about losing control.
Regardless, even if it was Elfman, he couldn't let this thing hurt Mira. So instead of landing on the mech, he twisted himself. Putting his feet and the shield out in front of the rest of his body.
He'd pick his target carefully and the impact was heavy.
As his shield and compressed body flew through the air he struck the Beast's face. His steel 'surfboard' making a satisfying sound as it crashed against the monster's right side.
And to add insult to injury, he formed a Conversion Leap at his feet and kicked off, sending the shield flying into the creature's head for a second time.
He meanwhile rolled back, finding his balance next to Mira.
The monster roared in protest while it found its footing and the two started to stare each other down.
"Ki-Kinzo!?" he heard from behind him. "Wait, don't hurt him, that's Elfman!"
He just ignored the girl, and focused on his opponent.
The Beast was hesitant.
His instincts were screaming for him to be careful. When he'd attacked Sol, he knew just by looking at the man that he was no threat. And one glance at Mira was all he needed to know she was helpless.
But this man. He knew, he wasn't sure how but he knew, this one was dangerous. A real threat.
He should have been careful, taken his time, but his pride as 'King of the Beasts' screamed just as loudly for him to kill the challenger.
In the end his pride one out. And he growled while crouching down, ready to pounce at the man only a few paces away.
But the sound of clicking metal, and the feeling of something pressing against his forehead made the Beast pause, and his growls grow silent.
The man, this mere human who'd been several meters away not a second ago, had now appeared right in front of him. With a gun pointed at his face.
"Come on Elfman, you need to wake up."
The Beast responded by shifting his weight back slightly to get some air between him and the gun. Growling angrily all the way.
The barrel was pressed harshly to his skin again before he even realized his hunter had moved.
"Come on big guy, you were doing so well. Don't make me put you down now."
The creature's growls only intensified, before it started clawing its own arm, as if something was irritating it there. But as quickly as the irritation started it faded away, and his attention was once again on the hooded man.
"Come on Strauss, don't make me do this in front of your sister. Get control of yourself."
"Grraa-I- hrugha-can't!" the demon cried, with a mixture of human and animal-like inflections. Throwing its limbs around at wild angles, as if fighting an invisible foe.
Kinzo had to move out of the way to avoid taking the blows himself, but that did little to stop him from yelling back at the boy pretending to be a monster.
"Yes, you can! For fuck sake Elfman, that thing is already dead. It's been dead for years. It's just you!"
He'd noticed it as soon as he landed, that the takeover mage wasn't actually possessed by the beast. No, he's met a takeover mage in Alveraz, and he'd seen her possessed by the soul of a mad 'god'. But this wasn't like that.
The behavior, the fact that Elfman had already spoken, and the magic surrounding his body. It looked nothing like a soul possessing his body. No, it was just his own magic fighting against him, just his mind playing tricks on him.
"Stop thinking of yourself as some kind of monster!"
And that was the best advice he could really give.
"RAAAAAGH!" came the beast's roar, this time filled with pain as it fought for control.
Kinzo pressed his weapon's muzzle harshly into his adversaries skin, before squeezing the trigger halfway back. Preparing himself in case the man couldn't reign himself in.
"Damn it Elfman, WAKE UP!" he screeched.
And all went quiet.
The Beast's roars ceased, and his body grew still.
Slowly color returned to its pale eyes, and soft blue ones took their place.
The creature seemed to raise its hands as he stared down at them in a confused fascination.
"Welcome back." he heard. And as it glanced up he saw someone he recognized.
"Kinzo?" he said in his still monstrous voice.
"Glad you at least remember that much." He jested.
"What happened, where's the Beast?" Afraid of what the creature might still be able to do if he let his guard down.
"I thought I told you already, that thing's been dead for some time."
"But that doesn't make any sense. I heard its voice!" He argued back, confident in its existence and influence.
Ya I suppose it would be hard to believe his words, but they were true. And maybe he could help the man understand.
"... You know, my master told me something once. That magic is ruled by our emotions, by what we think is true. You had convinced yourself that you were a monster, that if you ever transformed again the beast would take over. So your magic and mind made it real. There is no 'beast' left, just your own magic playing on your fears."
Elfman continued to stare at his monstrous body, before magic enveloped him.
"I don't understand entirely, but I think I can control this if nothing else," he said, returning to his human form.
"Good." was the response before his voice hardened. "Now take your sister and get back to the guild."
Elfman seemed to remember her for the first time as his eyes widened and he sprinted toward the woman.
The rogue looked back to watch the siblings embrace. Before turning to move toward the inner workings of this guildhall.
He still had to find Lucy.
"Wait Kinzo!" He heard from behind him once again. And with a twist, he saw Mira free from the metal's grasp.
"Thank you... " she said softly. But he paid her no mind.
"Take your brother and get off of this thing, we can have a 'heart to heart' later," he replied shortly, before leaving trying to find any clue as to where the Heartfilia girl was.
He didn't look back, but if he had he would have seen a rather disappointed or perhaps downcast expression on the barmaid's face.
Natsu was very high energy right now. The thought of kicking in another Phantom Lord guild member's teeth in just made him feel happy inside. And with Happy actually at his side nothing could bring him down.
"Cugh!"
He gasped, as what felt like one of Elfman's punches connected with his gut, and keeled over in pain.
Coughing again he tried to get his breathing under control, while also looking up at whatever had hit him.
Now in front of him was a weird-looking street magician dressed in a green trench coat and hat. He had a blindfold on and was crying through it as he levitated just in front of the young Dragneel.
"I'm sorry little dragon, but now I must clip your wings." the man said as he landed.
"Taken cheap shots now, are we? Who the hell are you anyway?" the fire mage shot back, despite his discomfort.
"I am Aria, head of the Element 4, and I am here to lay you to rest."
"Ya right buddy, You ain't got what it takes. But now I have to pay you back for that little stunt you just pulled." the young dragon claimed while charging forward.
He only took a few steps before another invisible blow struck his leg.
Then his shoulder.
Next his back.
Soon all the fire mage could do was hold his arms up in an attempt to guard.
"The hell is this!?" He asked in pain and frustration.
"Natsu it's Wind Magic you won't be able to see it!" Happy called out in worry.
"Ya? Well screw that!"
"Raaaaaaaaah!" he cried out while once again surrounding himself in flames. If he couldn't see the attacks he could at least try to burn them away… Unfortunately for Natsu, Aria wasn't willing to wait for him to fully power up.
Disappearing and Reappearing behind the boy, the wind mage raised his hands before offering his opponent a final word. "You will be granted the right to feel the same pain Makarov did. Metsu!"
As the spell was cast Natsu was frozen. The feeling of sharp wind cutting his skin filled his senses before his fire went out.
"Ahhhhhhhahah!" he screamed, it was all he could do. The wretched feeling of his magic being ripped out of him was overwhelming.
"Natsu!" his partner cried in worry.
"As my magic takes hold, his will be reduced to nothing. How pittiful"
"Re-Quip!"
Before Aria's spell could take full effect, a Scarlet menace sprang into action. Swinging a large blade toward the man.
He had no choice but to release the struggling Salamander, or else be wounded himself.
As the pinkett fell forward he couldn't help but feel relief at the sight of his savior.
"Erza!" he shouted in joy. But the girl paid him no mind, she was much too focused on the mage in front of her.
"Ah, the famous Titania. What an honor," the wind mage offered with a bow.
But the Fairy Queen had no time for fake courtesies. Not when she heard him say-
"Did you just say you were the one to put Master in that awful condition?" she asked back in anger.
As Aria rose from his bow he took in the woman's own posture and attitude before answering.
"... Indeed. My intention was to take his life, but it would seem as though I failed. A mistake I will not repeat with you two."
Erza's rage was nearly boiling over as he spoke, confirming her suspicions.
"You would try to take life so easily? You Phantom Mages disgust me!"
"How you see me is irrelevant, all that matters is who wins and who dies. Know this Fairy Queen, we have already acquired the Heartfilia girl. All that remains is crushing what is left of your guild before we attain victory."
His nonchalant responses were pissing her off "They have Lucy!? If that's the case then I'll just crush you now."
"My apologies Titania, but I'm afraid you won't get th- Kah!"
As he spoke Aria was careful to keep the woman in his line of sight, but he was so focused on her and the threat she posed that he forgot about the little pest he'd been dealing with earlier.
Natsu had sprung while he was distracted, and smashed his fist full force into the wind user's back. The blow stealing his opponent's breath and pushing him forward, off-balanced, and dazed.
It was the perfect chance for-
"Erza put this guy in the dirt!"
She wasted no time. This man was arrogant to gloat about what he had done to their master. Now he would pay.
" Re-Quip: Heaven's Wheel!" She'd blitzed him, and in one strike the fight was over. The Element's unconscious body crumbled to the floor.
"Woah Erza… That Was Amazing!" The fire mage gushed, while rushing over to her.
He intended to embrace the girl but as he got closer he could see she was standing on shaking legs.
He put a hand out to hold her steady and tried to support her. But she wasn't having any of that.
"Natsu I'm fine." she said firmly, she was far more concerned with, "Why are you still here, didn't you hear him? They have Lucy here somewhere, go find her!"
Oh he knew and wanted nothing more than the tear this place up looking for her, but he had some right in front of him that might need some help too.
"I know but you're not in the best shape either Erza." He said trying to convince the woman to let him help her.
"Natsu I will be fine. A few minutes of rest and I'll be good as new, now get going!" But he was skeptical.
"If all you need is a few minutes, I'll just stay here until you're ready and we can look for her together." He tried, for once being rational.
Just her luck, now the boy started thinking things through. She needed him gone, there was one person left that she still had to fight today. Jose Porla the Wizard Saint, but there was no way Natsu would let her go if he knew that was where she was headed.
And so she had to do something she hated to do, manipulate her friend. "Natsu, we have no idea what they might do to her. Please I need you to find her, I don't trust anyone else with this. I promise I'll catch up, but you have got to find her."
The dragon still looked unconvinced... but decided he would trust the girl. She'd never steered him wrong before, why lose faith now.
"Alright," he told her, removing his hand. "But make sure you catch up."
With a smile, she reassured him, and not a moment later he was off.
…
With the boy finally gone she let out a shaky breath and focused on calming down. She needed to be ready for what came next. Jose wouldn't be an easy opponent.
Gray was climbing.
Why he was doing it I have no clue, but clearly, he thought there would be an Element 4 member on the roof. And as he pulled himself up through a busted window he was proven right… frickin plot convenience.
A woman with blue hair was walking toward him steadily. A blank expression on her face as her heels continued to click against the hard ground. At the sight of her, Gray shot to his feet. An equally blank but slightly more irritated expression appearing on his own face.
"Juvia is impressed that your guild has managed to best the other Elements, but it would be wise for you not to underestimate Juvia."
"If that's your way of asking for a fight I'll give you one." he said back. And the stare down continued. Eyes locked gazing at each other… so intently.
A healthy blush spread across the rain woman's cheeks, before she spun around and started walking away. "Okay then, you win, Juvia gives up."
On the outside, her appearance seemed mostly normal but on the inside-
"Ahhh, don't stare at Juvia like that, Juvia's heart can't take it. Not the gaze of such a handsome man."
- She was squealing like a love-sick school girl.
"What!? Hey, get back here and fight me!" Gray was understandably confused and started chasing after her.
But the rain woman was off in her own little world. "So beautiful, Juvia can't look at him any longer... Oh, but what would our kids look like?"
While the woman was having some… questionable thoughts Gray had caught up, and without a second wasted grabbed her shoulder to halt her escape.
For him, it was a common gesture that he wanted her to stop walking away, but for the girl, well…
"Kyah! So forward, no we can't, Juvia barely knows you! … But if you keep going, Juvia won't complain either."
"Listen lady, you need to stop the Abyss Break and leave our guild alone!"
That seemed to snap her out of her fantasies, at least for a time.
"Uh, uh... even if you yell, Juvia can't do that. Juvia's guild cannot leave until we Acquire Lucy Heartfilia, hand her over and all this will stop." the water mage offered in a shy voice, unsure how to react to the commanding tone Gray had used.
"He sounded mean, but… Juvia kinda liked it." and we're back to this.
Gray on the other hand, completely unbeknownst to him, was about to dig his own grave. "You can't have her, Lucy doesn't belong to you! And I would rather die than just hand her over!"
As the words left his mouth a very ominous feeling overtook him, and as he looked at the girl her face contorted in a murderous fashion.
"He would die for Lucy? Then they're together… So he was just toying with Juvia's feelings!?"
"So you and this Lucy girl are dating then?" She asked him in a tone that promised pain.
Gray almost flinched at the gaze, and felt like he was in trouble as he answered "What no. She's just a friend! A friend that you people are trying to kidnap by the way!" he shot back.
As quickly as he'd said they weren't together Juvia's face returned to normal. Smile and blush in full swing.
"Oh they're just friends, that's fine. As long as he's not cheating on Juvia… But if this Lucy continues to be a problem in the future she may need to disappear."
Gray was getting really uncomfortable, he didn't know what was running through this girl's head, but her facial expressions were making him nervous.
"Wait, if they aren't together but this Lucy could try to steal him later, then Juvia should just claim him now!"
Her thoughts were getting worse and worse, and when this was all over someone was gonna have to talk to her about what is and isn't okay to do to people you just met. But in the meantime "Water Lock!"
Gray soon found himself trapped in a ball of water and unable to breathe.
"Yes, Juvia will make him hers! Then no one will touch what belongs to Juvia!" ya but...Gray had other ideas.
As quickly as the Water Lock appeared it froze over and shattered freeing the fairy tail mage. "Heh, nice try but a cheap shot like that won't work on me!" he said in confidence.
"An ice wizard… IT"S LIKE HE WAS HANDCRAFTED FOR JUVIA!" she gushed in her mind.
Meanwhile, back in the real world.
Gray was taking off his now-soaked shirt. For once stripping on purpose instead of subconsciously. Ya... that went over well.
"He's taking his clothes off!? What, does he want to do that with Juvia? Oh no no, Juvia can't do that! Juvia is too young to be married, too young to be a mother!"
Wait, why is she freaking out now? Wasn't she just thinking abou-?
Yes, yes she was.
Then I don't understand why she's-
No one does.
"No Juvia can't do this! But he's so pretty. No Juvia you mustn't!"
For those of you who are somehow still following this. Once again back in the real world, Gray had finished taking off his shirt and readied himself for battle.
"Listen here, lady. I don't know who you think you are, but I'm not here to mess around. So either get serious or give up, because I'll be giving you everything I have!"
Poor choice of words Gray, poor choice of words.
"He'll give me... everything… Oh, Juvia's heart can't take this."
Those were her final thoughts before she promptly passed out with an all too happy grin on her face.
"... Uh, what just happened?"
Take the win Gray, just take the win
*Warning* *Warning* *Mark II Abyss Break is now at 0% power. Total weapons failure imminent.*
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Jose screeched while slamming his fists into the control module. The Element 4 were down, his cannon was destroyed, the Abyss Break wasn't an option anymore, even Gajeel was wounded having run into that hooded man for a second time.
"Uhhhh! Fine, I'll do it myself!" he ranted as his eyes turned black.
Cana was faring well, they were finally starting to gain the upper hand against these shades. Things were looking up.
But it was strange. As she prepared for her next attack, she watched as each of the dark spirits paused. Just hanging, suspended in the air, not doing anything. And a moment later they all flew away. Heading back toward Phantom Lord's guildhall.
"That was a good thing right?"
Asked a fellow mage. "Not for the people inside it isn't." Was all she could think to say.
Jose stood with his arms outstretched, waiting patiently for his servants. Quickly the Shades descended upon him, and moments later he could feel his power return. As the darkness circled around him his thoughts turned just as black.
"All right Fairy Tail, I think it's time I put an end to your pointless struggle for life."
Kinzo was racing down a hallway. He'd finally caught a bit of Lucy's scent and wasn't willing to let it go. He hadn't been able to find her magic signature with Talionis either, unfortunately. Though what could he expect, this was a massive guildhall turned robot, there was a lot of ground to cover.
As he ran the girl's trail brought him to an adjacent hallway with stairs at the end clearly leading up another story. He was ready to storm up the steps but as he prepared himself a familiar pair of faces blew around the corner nearly running into him.
"Natsu? Happy?"
The two stopped, turning toward him. Taking a moment to register just who had called out to them.
"Oh, Kinzo you're here? I thought Gray said you wouldn't help, but I guess that just shows how little the ice prick knows."
"Natsu now's not the time. Did you catch onto Lucy's scent too?" They needed to stay focused.
"Oh ya, Erza was feelin kinda tired so she told me to leave her on a lower floor and go looking for Lucy. Followed her scent all the way here."
That explained why they were both headed for the stairs, but the assassin was far more concerned about the first thing the boy had said.
"Wait, you just left Erza down there alone?"
"Huh, ya I mean she said she was fine." Whether or not she was fine wasn't what he was concerned about. He had a sinking suspicion based on what she said at the bar that she was gonna try to fight Jose.
The girl didn't stand a chance when she was fresh. In her current state, it would be a slaughter. The only question on his mind was if he should go looking for her now or wait until they'd saved Lucy.
"Ahhhhh!" A pain-filled cry brought him out of those thoughts and made the decision for him. The voice behind it was feminine and it came from several stories up.
Lucy.
All three started for the stairs, Natsu and Happy leading the way, until Kinzo's blood ran cold. He froze looking back to the steps leading several floors down. It felt like something dark was down there.
"Huh, Kinzo, what are you waiting for? Let's go!"
He quickly turned around looking at the Dragon Slayer, before Re-Quipping a red stone into his hand. He tossed it to the man who caught it without issue.
"You two head up and get Lucy, I have a bad feeling about something so I'm going to look for Erza."
The Slayer just nodded before looking back at the stone.
"It's a fire-lacrima, break it and a plume of flames will shoot out. It's not as strong as one of your attacks but it can cover a small room." The metal mage explained.
"Why give it to me though? Like you said, my attacks are way stronger." The Dragneel questioned.
"It's not to attack with. Don't you Dragon Slayers eat your own elements?" It finally clicked for the Dragon's son. He smiled back before pocketing the stone and finally charging up the stairs yet again.
Kinzo on the other hand dashed in the opposite direction. A sinking suspicion that what he'd find on the other end was a Wizard Saint who'd fallen from grace.
Some distance from the action in a small cottage hidden in the woods the elderly Makarov Dreyar rested. And hovering over the bed he laid in was a woman with pink hair who appeared to be of the same generation.
She wore a disapproving look as she watched him, her face stuck in a permanent scowl. "Come on you old fool, your guild is falling apart while you're here taking a nap."
As if responding to her words, finally the Wizard Saint's eyes fluttered open. And the woman's gaze softened if only slightly.
"Good, now get out of my house."
Author's note
Gonna be honest the only part of this I really enjoyed writing was the Gray and Juvia scene, and bits of Kinzo and Elfman's conversation. The rest was just stuff I had to write so everyone got where they needed to go. Kinda unfortunate but what are you gonna do? Anyway, I'll have another chapter coming out tonight that is almost exclusively action scenes. And then tomorrow morning I'll post my last chapter before Basic training. Until then, take it easy.
Magic
1) Metal-Make Magic like ice make... but with metal
2) Speed Magic (Potential energy magic- p.s. I made this up so you won't find it on a wiki... I think.) so any time you see Conversion Leap (speed boost) or Kinetic Decay (stealing something else's speed and trapping it in place)
3) Telekinesis lifting things with one's mind etc.
4) Re-Quip no armor just items/weapons
Tools
1) His Revolver- Iron Maiden (two types of ammo revealed. Puncture rounds and Flashbang rounds)
2) The rings his mother gave him - can be molded into other objects and when spun together replay a recorded message.
3) The magic absorbing metal - He can choose to make his weapons out of this or other kinds of normal metal (iron, steel, etc.)
4) The Eye of Talionis - replacing his right eye, it allows the user to see magic (Ethernano)
5) Isacc Colt's journals - three journals belonging to his father
6) metal woven into his hair - this will not play a major role for most of the story but I may as well mention it so people don't forget.
Abilities
(1) Enhanced strength, speed, and senses. - under normal circumstances, Kinzo can act like a normal human in terms of strength and senses, but when he focuses on a particular trait it can increase its effectiveness. I.E. by focusing on his sense of Sight, he can see more clearly at much farther distances.
