Daybreak had broken out and the sun was starting to rise in the east. Early birds were chirping and readying to start the day, among the daytime animals starting to arouse while the nighttime creatures went into slumber. Not many people were up early this hour and were safe in bed, but the hard workers were aroused and ready to start the day.
While Erza was doing her early morning training, while Natsu was stomaching another hardy breakfast, even while Gray was getting clothes on to be only stripped later on, there was one guy who was already up, and he walked through the forest with the sun's rays glistening in his black hair that was slicked back, as it was grown to be as such.
Craig lazily walked up to a small hill with a tree at the top. There, a cliff was shown, and Craig sat cross-legged and looked on as the sun began to beam rays onto his face. He overlooked the forest beneath and the blue skies above. He was left to pull out a bottle of water and sat it besides him. He sat his sheathed blades to the opposite side and watched the sunrise, remembering the tales that came and went.
3 ¼ Years Ago
Craig rushed into the hospital, his lungs gasping for air as he was catching his breath. He looked around at the nurses frowning. He's only been around a couple of days and been in the hospital before, but they knew who Craig was looking for.
"Where is he?!" He bellowed.
One nurse nudged her head to the hallway to her left, and without even a word of thanks, Craig stormed off and ran down the hallway to the room at the very end, not a moment too soon as he stopped to see the doctor's overlooking a man's dying body.
He was bare-chested, his lungs and breathing being supported by machines to keep his cardiac stable. He was well built with toned abdomen and arm muscles. He had brown baggy pants and black shoes. He had weak brown eyes and red zigzag markings on his cheeks. His black hair was short, but in a bun.
Vincent turned his head to the opposite end and gave a weak sigh. He suddenly coughed and Craig headed towards his side.
"Vincent!" Craig said. "Calm down, speak to me!"
Vincent swallowed and managed to calm down. His breathing returned to its weak state. The cardiac machinery was keeping him stable to the best of its abilities, but that didn't mean he was gonna last much longer.
"Vincent…"
Vincent grew a weak grin as his blurry vision managed to get Craig's figure. "I knew I'd recognize them sea-blue eyes." He muttered weakly. His condition was eminent, as his life was to end soon. "Sorry man."
Craig lowered his head, the mood turning from worrisome to grim. "This isn't real, right?" He didn't want to believe it, but it was already in fruition. "This disease is really…"
Vincent was victim of a disease known for its hereditary destruction. His Magic Power was gone, leaving him sickly. It was accumulating over the past six months, but its reaching its peak. Craig looked distraught as Vincent coughed again, the machinery jolting with every cough.
When Vincent calmed his breathing. Which got weak in a matter of seconds, his lips were apart and his hazy vision saw Craig looking at him.
"This is a joke, right?!" Craig's eyes were getting misty. "There's a cure that you know that can fix this hereditary disease, right? Right?! There's still a chance you can hold on!" Craig's hands slammed onto the table, starling the doctors. "Answer me man! Don't you dare go out on me!"
"Sir, calm down!" A doctor insisted.
Craig growled harshly at the doctor, making him back away, startled by his vicious reply. Craig's misty eyes looked at the blur that was now Vincent.
"Vincent, there's gotta be a way! I've had enough of my friends leaving me! I can't just…I'm damned enough to let my pals go as they already have." Craig's shoulders jittered up and down, unable to control himself. "Vincent, keep fighting this."
Vincent snickered weakly, catching Craig off guard. "Hasn't anybody told you how stubborn you are?" His eyes weakened further. "But you got the spirits to hang on to the bitter end."
"Vincent, don't-" Craig was cut off by Vincent.
"Hey man." He interjected weakly. He shook his head at him, telling him no. "Stop Craig, just…stop." He turned his head up to the ceiling, his chest slowly rising and falling. "I've put up one hell of a fight, huh…but you know not everything lasts forever. Things like these…happen."
Craig balled his fists so tight that blood stopped circulating through them.
"Come on man, is that face really how you're gonna say goodbye." He smirked at the irony of him being blind. "I know what's you've been through buddy-!" He lurched again, coughing profusely, making the doctors hold him down as he gasped. Craig remained desolate and silent as his pal was hanging onto his last breaths.
Vincent calmed down again and he resumed. "I lost my family to this cruddy disease. That's the sucky part to this thing. Glad I didn't get a girlfriend, huh?" He grinned as he looked at Craig, seeing his blur. "We've had a good run huh? I've had a fight of my life…25 years, and this is how it ends, on a hospital table. Ironic, huh?"
Craig looked down, small tears forming. Vincent himself had those coming along, but he managed to smile through the pain in his lungs.
He took a small gasp before talking again. "Craig, I'll tell them all you said hi. You know, I never wanted to die like this." He looked up at the ceiling again, tears going down the sides of his face. "I wanted to grow old, get a lady, maybe a little monster to run amock…" The tears continued to thicken. "To think it won't happen…little buddy, this is where I ask one final thing of you."
Craig crouched down as Vincent glanced back at him.
"You can be damned all your life, but no matter what, live while you're young. Live every day as though your life depended on it. Bet you can do that, right?"
Craig was pouring tears. There wasn't anything that could be done. His friend he's known for almost a week was giving a final request. He wasn't sure what to do. He was unable to process such a thing. A few of his close friends had already come and gone, now Vincent?! It was too much to take.
However, when Craig looked back at it, I guess living life to the fullest really was what Vincent was doing. He was doing his bucket list pretty darn early, riding a Magic-Mobile at 120 mph for one thing while escaping a crime syndicate, which was the thrill ride of Craig's life, falling over a waterfall, saving half the population of Seven from an ancient army and a maniacal overlord; they were living the dream.
Craig looked down at Vincent, disregarding how they both had fresh battle wounds from that overlord devastation, and realized this was what he wanted after all. Craig half-grinned to the best of his abilities and did a brotherly shake with Vincent.
"You've got a heart man." Vincent said weakly. "A true friend…a friend worth betting on…"
Craig looked down with his tears still going. He shook his head and looked up. "Out of all the crazy guys I've come across, you're the highest bar set."
Vincent snickered., his head tilting towards Craig. "That's another thing to be proud of."
Both kept their bro handshake firm, remembering somberly of how they met when Vincent was causing a ruckus in a pub against two goons, and Craig joined up, and then their friendship came from there. Although reluctant, the two opened up to one another, and through the adventures of speeding, breaking laws set, falling over waterfalls…three times, and saving people, they've grown a bond, one of which you can't break. A bond that Craig had made with his late friends who gave their lives by his side.
As their tears flowed, Vincent kept his half-grin and his blinking slowly stopped, and his eyes shut one final time, his last breath taken and everyone in the room hung their heads down as Craig rested his head on the table, weeping as he held onto his late friend limp hand until the cover was put on. As Craig wept, he never forgot the dead man's half-grin, having living his life the way he wanted.
Craig wiped away the lone tear falling from his face as he remembered that incident, as for everything else over the hellish four years. He took the water bottle and held it up to the sky.
On this day, so long ago, Vincent passed away. He saw the image of him in the sky, imagining him doing crazy thing like sliding down a mountain on a block of ice.
"Happy birthday, ya crazy bastard." Craig held the bottle up higher as a toast and took a sip to hydrate, watching the sunrise of that morning come and go.
The morning arose, and all seemed casual in fairy Tail, as it ever will be. Mugs were being toasted upon, members were starting to come into the guild hall, and Mira was serving up some breakfast, especially to a certain Dragon Slayer and his Exceed of a partner. As said individual chowed down, Erza, Cana, and everyone else was gathered into the guild hall to ready for another day of usual, property damage destroying, labor.
Natsu yawned after his belly was bloated from breakfast. "Aw yeah, now that hit the spot. Nice job, Mira! He thanked with his toothy grin.
Mira smiled at him. "You're welcome!"
Lucy sat with a sigh at her team's table. "Hmmm." She sighed. "I wonder what we should do today?"
"Geez, you make it sound like doing work is lame. Lighten up a little, would ya?" Gray asked.
"It's not that." Lucy countered. "It's just that our jobs just keep getting low pay." She said, in which her point was backed up by their most recent one being yesterday. They destroyed half a city's library, and a church bell to boot. She then noticed Gray's habit. "And put some clothes on, would ya?!"
"Lucy has a point." Erza said. "We need to be more conservative on our approaches."
Lucy sighed. 'That's easy for you to say. You wrecked just as much property as Natsu.'
"Yo!" Natsu said, holding onto his energetic demeanor, with his belly minimized miraculously, "So, what's the plan?"
"We're not sure yet." Lucy answered. "I think we need a job where we can be in more open field, or somewhere in…mountains?" Lucy was just trying to think of locations that didn't involve urban property that wouldn't get demolished, that way her rent money could be spared.
Cana was gulping down booze, one mug at a time. She took a big sigh and relived herself before moving on with the next booze mug. It was another morning routine for her, with some water and some breakfast at Fairy Hills, then moving onto the guild hall's booze supply, being the parasite she was and nabbing booze from Fairy Tail's daily supply.
"Well I wonder what today is all about?" Mira interjected on the thoughts.
"What are you talking about?" Cana asked.
Mira turned towards her. "Not sure myself. The Master hasn't been seen all morning. Apparently he's been having some very serious messaging among Blue Pegasus's Guild Master Bob. There's quite the commotion going on, but I wouldn't worry too much about it."
Cana had a hand to her cheek and looked bored. "…serious messaging, huh?" It wasn't her business to begin with, but if their Master was preoccupied, and another Master was, something must be up. She decided that it was best to let the matter be until it comes up later on; but for now, she had an obligation…to down her next mug.
Cana began to take down more gulps, but then the guild hall got quiet all of a sudden. Everyone's gazes diverted to the entrance, where the culprit was seen. Cana was in the middle of drinking and her mug was in the air. When she looked at the door and saw Craig there, looking as irritated as a bull, the brunette's eyes widened and she nearly spit out her mouthful of booze.
"Cranky?" She coughed.
Craig rolled his eyes and growled. Ignoring the peanut gallery, he snarled and walked on over around everyone and among the sides of the guild walls. The way he was moving around, silent as a grave, like a predator who was ready to pounce if provoked, it was like he was ready to bite or slice off the fingers off of anyone who would so much as even look at him dead in the eyes. He never once made eye contact as he crept and swerved up the open stairway, leading up to the open second floor, where hardly anyone was. He actually went up on all fours, though lightly, and swerved to one of the tables, where he scooched out the seat and plopped on it. He then did what no one saw coming…he napped.
"Sleeping this early? That's not a man at all." Elfman stated.
"More like a savage beast." Gray said sourly. He put his hands together as he stood up. "I owe him a beating for what he did yesterday!"
"Are you that crazy, Gray?!" Lucy exclaimed. "You remember what he did to you! He nearly tore your arm off!"
Erza seemed despondent as she crossed her arms. "I'm afraid to say, but Lucy is right. His power is terrifying. Cana herself has seen Craig's vicious might first-hand, better than what I saw him do. He's to never joke around with. Remember well…" Her eyes narrowed. "He fights to kill or be killed."
Gray bared his teeth, getting very grumpy but relented when the points were clear. Nic crushed his ice without much effort, and then retaliated. If he went reckless now, especially when he's sleeping, he may come out without a limb…or two.
Makarov's door opened up to his office without subtlety. The loud banging got everyone's attention, although in Craig's case, he growled and adjusted his head on the table. Makarov's face was absolutely serious. It wasn't a face they saw too often, so whatever he had in store for them was gonna be very drastic. They all watched as he approached the stage and walked on it.
He faced the guild members that were all starting to gather around. They felt his need for their attention, and so Cana stopped drinking and got up. Natsu and his team got up and met up with everyone to see what Makarov had to say.
He cleared his throat and began his speech. "Listen up everyone, I have something very important to discuss with you. I was recently contacted by this information as of late last night, and this can't be put under respite. There is a matter we must attend to involving Blue Pegasus."
"Blue Pegasus? That pretty boy guild? Why them?" Natsu asked.
"Something up that big that they need help from us?" Gray questioned.
Makarov resumed. "As of recently, Master Bob and his guild came across something that caught one's eye while on a job. They got a surveillance team posted and found something that could tell dire consequences. There's been sightings of a something we never saw."
Natsu raised a brow. "So what's this big threat you're talking about?"
"It's a matter in which neither of us can do alone. That's how massive this task is." Makarov said. The guild grew stiff shock up their spines. "Whatever we're dealing with had just crossed from Seven into Fiore, and we must act accordingly."
Natsu cracked his knuckles, a smirk on his face. "An army ya say? I'm all fired up now."
Overhearing, half awake, Craig's eyelids were shut, but his sharp teeth were seen. He scoffed at this predicament as though it were a matter he'd never be caught in.
"We move out in one hour. This is a level 3 guild mission. All members must be prepared to meet up with Blue Pegasus." With that, Makarov stepped off the stage and left a lot of people hanging on loose and thin threads.
"The heck's going on?"
"Armies sound manly! Let them be armies!"
"All members? Okay whatever on earth Master has, this has got my attention."
Cana sat back on her stool, stumped. "We haven't had a level 3 in almost 3 years. This is big." She commented. "And yet Master wants up to prepare for war?"
"I don't think that's the case." Mira interjected her thoughts. "We're not exactly one to strike first. I'm sure the true details will be when we set out."
Cana shook her head, grunting. "Haste makes waste."
Up on the second level, Craig's eyes opened up and he looked down as Master went into his office again, grumbling about the predicament. His eyes closed again.
"That damned old timer." He mumbled before resuming his nap.
In the high mountains east, near Fiore's border with Bosco, there was what seemed to be an extremely large dome-like sphere. It was thin and visible, and inside was a darker layer, more gray colored. And then miles inside was a black dome, smaller, but much more potent.
Men were resting inside the first layer, gearing up for what was to come. Overlooking the whole scene from just outside were three people, all of which had an authority-like appeal to them.
One had a yellow robe, one had a blue robe, and one had a blue robe. The yellow and blue robed men had silver crowns, while the red robe man had an intricate golden brown. They had masks that covered their eyes, but not their mouths nor facial hair, showing their ages.
Each had a stave, two silver and one golden. The silver staves had yellow and blue orbs on one end, and the golden stave had a larger red orb.
"Though has the men set, yes?" The blue robed man asked.
"Yes." The yellow robed man stated. "Thy's holy pursuit of feeding for our kind shall be fulfilled with this cult of a country." He looked to the men, who were sharpening their weapons, his frown never left his face. "Such tools they are, but they shall be enough, for they shall bring us anyone they can manage."
"Our holiness demands of such offerings." The blue robed man said. "The mortals that he wishes to feast on is plentiful." He looked to the massive black sphere that was far away, several miles to be more exact since they were in the first shield layer.
"Do not fret, less thy reminds yee has already done so much." The yellow robed man stated. "Finding a suitable host of a country for the great Essence." He looked at the black sphere that lies ahead as well. "His holiness needs a plentiful Magic supply."
The red robed man turned his back and looked down at the mountain. They had only been in Fiore but for a week, and already the mountain was rock and dried up. Withered plants were seen and a few dead trees all around. He saw that Essence had already begun his feeding. To appease their great one, they must make sacrifices, no matter what.
He turned back to overlook the men and look out at the black sphere layered underneath the gray one. His eyes narrowed beneath his mask. "This world shall forever be a feast, no matter where we go. Essence shall have his desires, and thus we shall do our part." He raised his staff in the air. "Thou may not end, for our lives are giveth to thee! Or the great Essence that gives us purpose!"
"For the great Essence!" The blue and yellow robed men repeated.
"All hale Essence!" The men all shouted.
A large line of carriages carried the cargo of Fairy Tail, among a few members. Some choose to walk, but the weak-willed rather save the energy for what was to come. If anything were to come, they needed 100 percent energy. The large line of carriages had Team Natsu in one for example, as Natsu had puffy cheeks and a pale face.
"Why me-HURGH!" Natsu covered his mouth to keep the vomit inside.
Lucy sighed. "Should've known this would happen."
"If he spews in here, we're kicking him out." Gray warned.
Erza looked over at Natsu, seeing that he needed 'help'. "Natsu? Why don't you come over here?" She asked.
Natsu really didn't want to, and yet he had no choice. His despair made him want to get comfort as soon as he possibly can. "Ok-ah!"
The carriage hit another bump on the rough road, making the residence inside jump. Natsu fell over as he tried sitting up, involuntarily landing on Erza's lap. The position of Natsu's head on her legs made Erza get overwhelmed with slight show of surprise and slight blushing in her cheeks. That sudden bump to her legs was what made Natsu feel something, something foreign.
It felt good. Though his eyes were devoid of pupils and he was barely conscious, he felt Erza's legs on the back of his head, the soft, slenderness, despite the blue skirt, felt like a soothing remedy. The comfort was making the churning of his stomach settle down, and drift off into a coma-like sleep.
Erza looked down at Natsu, seeing how he was down and out, and yet seemed at peace for a little bit. Her smiled grew as she looked away, a hand on his face.
"Well…that's one way." Gray shrugged, trying to ignore the affection Erza was giving to Natsu. At least Gray had something to belittle Natsu with for now.
Lucy nervously smiled. "Well, at least we don't have to worry too much now."
In another carriage, Cana was sharing her ride along with the Strauss siblings. Cana was sipping soundly from her booze, but only a little to spare the boredom from the along trip that has been going on for what seemed to be the longest time.
"Uh, are we there yet?" Cana groaned.
"Now, now. Take a deep breath. I'm sure we'll be there soon." Mira insisted.
"And what was it you said an hour ago?" Cana reminded her. "The same thing."
"Repetition isn't manly." Elfman interjected. "But Cana does have a point, we've been traveling for over 4 hours."
Lisanna looked out the carriage opening. She looked to the side, walking along them with a strong step every way, Craig followed on foot. She watched his method of walking, curious as to how this man operated. What confused her was how he saved a tradesman awhile back, and here he was prowling outside like an animal. His back was arched up, and his hands were loose. He seemed lazy as his footsteps were more like stomps, like a dinosaur's almost.
"This Craig guy." Lisanna questioned. "I wonder who he is?"
Cana looked over and saw Craig. She scoffed at him and his head turned towards her carriage. Craig responded with a growl, his primarily sharp teeth shown. Elfman and Mira just saw him attack Gray with them yesterday, but they didn't necessarily see the teeth themselves. They were indeed sharp incisors, while there were some molars and regular teeth in the back.
Craig picked up his pacing, his stride becoming swift enough to pass Cana's carriage. "Hasta la vista, Brownie!" He yelled back.
"Screw you too, Cranky!" Cana yelled back.
Mira giggled at the display. It was kind of cute.
Craig past another two carriages until he found one with only a few random people inside. They seemed to not take notice of him. He silently stride behind the carriage to the cargo and found a lot of empty space, shielding him from view. With no hesitation, he hopped on, not even making so much as a sound. He looked at the oblivious members ahead and scoffed before lying on his side, falling into his possibly 4th nap of the day after carriage-hopping quite a few times.
The sun had started to set over the river, the rustling of evening winds ceased. The playground still held two children on the swings. The mother kept her eyes on her laughing and smiling daughter as she was cheering someone up. She was feeling pretty glad to know that her little Cana, the only thing she had in this world…finally made her first friend.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end. "Cana, sweetie!" She called. "It's time to go home!"
Cana looked back at her mom. "Coming!" She slowed down on the swings and got up, but Craig, however, just looked back with a blink as Cana ran off happily towards her mother.
Just like that, he was alone again, leaving him with a frown.
"Craig?" Cana's mother called out. Craig's attention was diverted towards her now. "Don't you think you should go back to your home? I'm sure your parents might be worried about you."
"…" Craig looked down, his small body barely touching the bottom of the playground swing set. He looked a little despondent and looked away, out to the trails and trees that layered amongst the small woods and river close by.
Cana's mother looked at her confused daughter and back at Craig as he stared out into the beyond, as though he were lost. "Craig?" She asked softer.
Craig looked down, at the ground, his body set so he was rocking side to side. He was just quiet, and out of the blue, his mouth opened up, showing his sharp baby teeth. He bit into the chains holding up the swing.
"Craig?!" Cana called out. "Are you okay?!"
Craig nibbled a little more until he slouched back and pouted, leaving the chains to the swing with very small bite marks in them, but not enough to make it wear out. Craig looked down again. "I don't have one."
Cana and her mom looked unnerved. It was Cana's mom who spoke up. "You don't have a mom? A dad? Relative? Home…?"
Craig tilted his head away. "None of those things."
"Oh my god…" Cana's mom put a hand over her mouth and gasped in shock. Cana looked on saddened as well as she realized the predicament Craig was in. Now it all made sense, why his clothes were scraps of torn toddler clothing, why he was neglected from the other kids earlier, and why he was isolated on the bench before. They now saw…that Craig was all alone in this world.
"Mama?" Cana asked in concern.
"I know, sweetie."
She said in low somber. When she looked down at her Cana, her daughter, she can't ever imagine such a fate where she'd be all by herself; alone. If she was gone, what would become of her? It was a fate she'd never want to know of. To think of Craig, isolated and alone, it would make sense of such a demeanor. The notion of a 3-year-old little boy with no guidance is nothing but a cry of pity, knowing that he was nowhere close to a home or family.
Cana's mother looked back at the swing set to find Craig teething again on the swing chains. She looked at him in contemplation before she cascaded her eyes down to her daughter. Cana was having a curious face, but she could see hidden sadness for Craig.
It was unlike her to provide such a thing, but if it meant giving the boy somewhere to recuperate for the time being, it may as well be worth the risk.
She walked up to him as he teethed on the chains again. Craig stopped and looked up at Cana's mom with wariness, disregarding the slightly bigger baby teeth marks in the chains. "Craig…sweetie?" She asked.
Craig tilted his head.
"Do you want to stay with us for a little bit?"
His sea-blue eyes widened. His belly grumbled when he looked down, and he gave a small, sad look as he saw his empty little tummy. The sight of a homeless little boy in tattered clothing and no food was just absolutely heartbreaking.
Craig looked up to her, seeing the mother's desperation to help him out. He looked down at her feet. "…please?"
Cana scuttled on over with a big smile on her face. "Yay! We're gonna have a sleepover!" She hopped up and down with joy, as to where Craig grinned weakly, but his eyes showed hidden joy.
"Cranky! Get your butt up!"
The voice was familiar. His eyes flashed open and he jerked upright. His heart rate was a little higher than normal from that sudden call, but he realized it was from Cana.
His mind flashed to that memory that was unveiled, and then he related it to Cana before him. His drowsy gaze grew despondent. "Brownie." He growled.
"Get up ya lazy sac. We're here." She told him.
Craig's gaze was drawn to the numerous Fairy Tail members who were up and on their feet from the carriage rides. All of them were heading into a large, pink building with a massive blue dome overhead. It looked more like a mansion than anything else, along with the Blue Pegasus insignia on the front.
Craig blinked and looked back at Cana. A long silence past before he laid back down. "Let me know when I should start caring." He yawned.
"How about right now?" Cana urged, a tick mark on her head.
"Sorry, too sleepy. How's about you try again, maybe…never."
Cana growled at Craig as he laid there with no intention on moving. Ultimately she just couldn't take it. "You wanna be stuck in the back of a wagon, fine by me! But don't come crying to us when you're all alone and hungry!" She turned away and started walking off with the others.
Craig rolled his eyes again. "Her bra's too tight. That's why she's such a stick in the mud…" He trailed off from his self-talk. He thought back to the recent dreams he's been having, involving Cana and him as little children. It was awkward enough knowing they were acquainted, but comparing her to the child, there was no doubt she was her. So many years, and those eyes never differed.
Craig groaned as his mind was pushing him, breaking him. "…dammit. Okay, fine!" Fed up, he got up and jumped off the wagon, working his way and being the last one to enter the Blue Pegasus doors.
Inside was a massive room. So many tables were around with decorative silk, as were the large curtains. There was a massive red curtain along the doorway that went up a flight of stairs. All around were stylish members of Blue Pegasus that were men in tuxedos or women in dresses. Fairy Tail felt a little outclassed given the location, but they weren't bothered too much.
"So this is the Guild Hall. Didn't expect a royal party going on." Gray joked.
Juvia appeared right besides Gray, hearts in her eyes. "Oh my darling! I can see him wearing the best tux fit for our wedding!"
Gajeel looked around with mild distaste. "Fancy styles aren't my thing. Why'd I get dragged into this?"
Among the members, Natsu was looking around with curiosity with Happy by his side. "Man, this place is pretty uptight." He said.
"Aye."
Master Makarov walked in front of everyone, watching as his guild was trying to get situated with Blue Pegasus. He watched them settle for maybe another half hour until he cleared his throat. Blue Pegasus and Fairy Tail were at his attention.
"Now, I'd like to thank Guild Master Bob for hosting this gathering. Everyone, may I present Blue Pegasus's Guild Master, Bob."
Bob bowed, his crossdressing making many in Fairy Tail hold back their vomit. "It's a pleasure to have such handsome people here. Thanks for coming, all of you."
"Man." Ichiya styled and posed with the Trimens as they were Bob's right-hand men. Everyone mustered up the guts to clap in honor of Bob hosting. Erza felt a shiver when she saw Ichiya wink at her, in which he flinched and hid behind Natsu.
"Huh? Hey Erza, you okay?" Natsu asked, unaware of Erza's insecurity around Ichiya.
"Alright, listen up." Ichiya announced. "Bob and Makarov have gathered us for a reason, so let us show respect and act as comrades in arms and listen to what they have to say."
"Well said, sir." The Trimens said in unison.
Everyone remained silent as Bob and Makarov had a serious atmosphere around them. What they had to say was extremely vital if it was a predicament as this.
"Now then, Hibiki, if you would please?" Bob asked.
"Yes." Using his Archive Magic, he tapped some programs into his hologram keyboard and a huge screen appeared for all to see, showing a mountain range.
"Now then. Let us start from the beginning." Bob continued. "As of a few days ago, our handsome stud Ichiya…"
"Man."
"And the Trimens have come across a startling discovery. In the eastern mountains, our darlings found a very peculiar site." The image zoomed in on the eastern mountains, showing a bird's eye view of a large dome. The members all around grew stunned as they saw the three-layered dome. The vision was enhanced, showing a massive count of men inside the first layer. The number was staggering, which left them on edge. "We found something that crossed from Seven into Fiore. And…" Bob put a hand to his cheek. "Oh, the horror."
Makarov took it from there. "Whatever this foreign force is, we can assume that it's not a mobile city. There's a much more critical view." The image zoomed out a little, showing that a small radius of the mountain range is dry and dead, as to where outside the perimeter it was full of life. "This three-layered dome that stretched for roughly six miles in accordance with Hibiki's calculations harbors someone or something that harbors Magic within the earth. It's like a parasite."
Lucy looked up at the screen with dread. "That's not a good sign."
"Now that you all see the possible threat, we can now establish a collaboration of Blue Pegasus and Fairy Tail to figure out and defeat this alienation." Makarov said. "With our combined might, we shall take down this threat."
"Hold up. There's something I don't get." Gray interjected, stepping forward. "How come we're dealing this and not other guilds? Huh? If these numbers are staggering, then why don't we all just combine and handle the problem together?"
Bob and Makarov looked down sullenly, and that meant a bad omen.
"About that…" Bob grimaced.
"Lamia Scale led a coalition a few days ago." Makarov led on. "They were forced to retreat due to circumstances of what was the barrier."
"The…barrier?" Lisanna wondered.
"All we know is that each layer has a secret, one we have little detail of. According to Lamia Scale's findings, the first shield is of a very strong Magic shield. It takes an incredible amount of effort, and Magic Power, to penetrate that first shield. On that note, the number of soldiers or followers was staggering enough that the Mages of each guild were outnumbered, even before the first shield was broken." Makarov explained.
"Man. The shield itself was revived within 24 hours, which can mean they have some repair or threshold tore-energize their defenses. We have reason to suspect it lies in the center." Ichiya's explanation was followed with a zoom-in to the black dome, the smallest dome inside. It was far smaller than the first and second shield, but no doubt something was off.
"Master Obaba asked us to help her in the fight." Bob said. She has a small camp with whoever decided not to go home, which is just her guild."
"So we're also teaming up with Lamia Scale, huh?" Gray figured.
"I've heard that they have a Wizard Saint in their guild. I think his name was Iron Rock Jura, I think." Mira said.
"Hell yeah! Rocks are manly!" Elfman exclaimed.
Cana looked at the monitor, scrutinizing it. "So despite having Magic, they have many more number of followers on their side. And on top of that, it exhausted almost all of everyone's Magic Power to break through the first shield, making them vulnerable to attacks once they enter inside." Her eyes narrowed. "Even with a Wizard Saint on our side, this is gonna be tough to handle."
"We move out now. Everyone, prepare to show these parasitic scoundrels who rules Fiore!" Makarov declared.
Everyone cheered, well, all except one. Craig was sitting on a stool, scrutinizing the monitor and what was told. Though it looked like he wasn't paying attention, he was fully aware.
'Well this is gonna be a hoot. So we just gotta crack open that first shield…then beyond that, who knows?' Craig turned his stool and got up slithering out of the building before everyone else did. As he was off to the side, seeing people like the Trimens, Jenny, Erza, Natsu, and then Cana all exit, preparing their voyage towards the mountains, he seemed to be in his own world.
'Whatever's gonna happen…' He thought. '…I'm taking my own route. I ain't draggin' myself into their fight.' He brought a hand back and held the hilt of one of his blades, silently praying with narrow, predatory eyes that he doesn't get caught in the midst of bloodshed. He's been through more than enough of that.
The red robed man tuned towards west, his eyes set on the horizon of trees that were yet to be leeched on by what was in the center of the barrier.
"What is it?" The yellow robed man wondered.
"Thou senses thy's forces are to arise yet again." His stave raised up into the air. "They can try and bring hell down upon us…"
He then brought the stave down, and the forces and the two other crowned men remained calm and unmoved as the bottom end hit the ground, making the land quake like thunder that boomed through the earth and reached out for miles.
"But their injustice shall be their downfall."
Sorry again for the wait. It took me a lot of time to find a reasonable arc. I don't expect this one to be that great, but it should give highlights on moments of Craig, and more of Fairy Tail as well. Comments and reviews are always helpful guys, until the next chapter arrives! :)