Foreword
Número dos! Now, as much as I like to start these out all cheerily and stuff. But it would appear that the first chapter got hit by a good ol' review troll. Eh, some people have nothing better to do I guess, it's a shame that the admins can't do much about it. Anyways, let's continue!
(Bold is the narrator dude, italics is for emphasis and spells and bold italics is for titles.) (I don't own Fairy Tail.)
Shinon stood outside of the Hargeon train-station with his coat fastened closed and his hood over his head, waiting for the legendary 'Titania'. He was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, his dead gaze observing the afternoon sun…until the sound of armoured footsteps…heavy steps…pissed off steps. Shinon hung back and witnessed a woman leave the station, her appearance fitting the bill of Erza Scarlet; angry presence, silver armour, and hair as red as her namesake, although he had to admit she was rather pretty…minus the murderous expression on her face. She gazed around, obviously looking for the one who sent her the letter; Shinon recalled what he had relayed.
"Titania, Queen of the Fairies. I do hope this letter finds you well…for I understand one of your comrades; a Miss McGarden has been missing for a while now…head to Hargeon…I wish to see her return home."
Magic Letters work different from standard pen and paper; the contents of the envelope are read aloud from a projection of whoever placed the seal upon the letter.
Knowing that Erza would recognise his appearance due to the letter he began to hide away and used a spell.
"Mirage body." An illusory copy of himself walked out into the streets, catching the attention of Erza.
"HEY YOU!" She bellowed furiously. (Holy crap she's angry!) Erza full on sprinted after the illusion. "WHERE IS LEVY?!" Shinon silently commanded his copy to hurry away down some alleyways. (My turn.)
"Mirage step." Almost instantly in a flash of shadow, Shinon had moved to one of the town's rooftops. He repeatedly did so, tracking Erza who was vehemently chasing his illusion. He commanded it to move down one last alley, a dead end.
"FINALLY!" She snarled. "NOW! TELL ME WHERE LEV-" She stopped as she saw who she was chasing had just…vanished. "What the?!"
"…The legendary Titania, I presume?" Shinon landed behind the woman, addressing her calmly.
"You! You sent me that letter!" She held out her hand, a red magic circle appeared before flashing into a sword. (A requip wizard? Fascinating!)
"That I did, now, I wish to free your friend as much as you do, so if you would be so kind…lower the blade." His voice remained calm, yet there was an underlying tone of threat. She did, but kept a glare upon him, Shinon sighed and lowered his hood. "See? I am no enemy of yours." He ran a hand through his white locks.
"Where is Levy?" She questioned, still evidently angry.
"Harshire village, a mercenary general named Gulak is holding her hostage." He spoke quickly and indirectly. "…Save her, and kill Gulak." His voice grew cold.
"Kill? why?" Her eyes widened.
"…Your friend is not the only one Gulak has captured…I know not of what became of the others…slavery…death…I do not know…" He hung his head. "He must die, scum like him do not deserve life!" Shinon spat out angrily.
"If what you say is true, he shall be tried before the Magic Council; either his life will be behind bars, or it will be forfeit…but I will not kill him." Erza tried to reason with him.
"Go now…Levy is trapped in Gulak's barracks, in the basement." He turned and walked away. "Mirage step." He vanished before Erza's eyes.
"…Thank you." She whispered into the air, before heading toward Harshire. Shinon stood upon a building, watching her leave. (…It's all falling into place…) He smirked, before vanishing once more.
Erza ran to the front of Gulak's barracks, fuelled with rage toward the general.
"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armour!" In a flash of golden light, Erza adorned armour with a steel dress and wings made of metal, a circle of blades followed her body. "HYAGH!" A storm of blades shredded through the wall of the building, allowing her access. "LEVY! She screamed as she tore the building to shreds. (The basement!) She hurried down a flight of stairs and blasted through the bolt iron door, annihilating the guardian golems.
"Woah! Erza!" Levy exclaimed with joy wrapping the blanket around her shoulders tighter.
"Levy! You're okay…" Erza freed her and helped her stand. "Come on, we're going home…" They carried on through the main hall, but as they left…
"Animate: Stone shackle!" Both of the women's legs were tied to the ground by chains made of the stone from the destroyed wall.
"You must be Gulak!" Erza shouted at the general, who's cackling became sickening.
"I gotta hand it to the kid…" As he said those words, Shinon's body appeared from the shadows. "…His plan worked to peeeerrrrrfection!" He smirked maniacally.
"Sh-Shinon…you…" Levy teared up, she was right; he had been lying the whole time.
"What? You thought him your friend? HAHAHAHAH!" He wiped a fake tear from his eye. "The boy's words have got more silver lining 'em than your armour Titania!" Shinon didn't look at the two, he kept his eyes to the floor.
"Why…I THOUGHT YOU WERE HELPING ME!" Levy screamed in anguish, she had been betrayed by her one hope. Erza silently looked on with a rage in her eyes.
"Ol' Shinny here hasn't helped any friends since he lost…OHP! Almost gave away the seeecret! Ha…" Gulak howled louder and louder. "Hahah…HAHAHAH! HAHA-"
"Jōhin Tenohira!" As the words finished, Gulak was sent flying through another of the building's walls. Erza and Levy looked in shock at Shinon, who's palm was facing the direction of where Gulak had been launched. "Silence! You know nothing of me, cretin!"
"Shinon…" Levy spoke softly.
"Go! I told you I would free you!" He shouted towards the two. "Dispel!" He held out his other hand and a wave of magic radiated from it causing the stone binds to turn back to rocks. "Now go!" Whilst he was distracted, Shinon was blasted by a giant boulder, driving him into a wall.
"PATHETIC RATBAG!" Gulak shouted, stones circling his body. "You would raise your hand against ME!?" Erza and Levy looked on at the fallen wizard.
"Levy, stay low!" Erza let go of the blunette and rushed toward Gulak. "You will pay for your crimes!" She whirled her blades at the general, who's stones guarded him. Shinon was shocked.
"But I deceived you! Why assist me!?" He barked, his eyes finally changing, growing wide. "I don't deserve-"
"You said you wanted atonement, right!?" Erza called back. "Then stand beside me!"
"You would still trust me?" He felt weird. "I've no time for this! I'll assist you for now!" He jumped to his feet and stood beside the scarlet haired wizard. "Just this once…I'll…accept help, from your kind..." He muttered before assuming a martial-arts stance. "Hachi Kyokuken: Eight Extremities Fist!" He pushed his palms downward, creating a wave of air that fluttered his coat tails.
"Animate: Skin of Earth!" The stone around Gulak's feet formed together to make a suit of armour. "Hammer of Stone!" More rocks formed to make a great-hammer in the general's hand. "You're gonna pay for your treachery, Luneheart!"
"…No." He spoke quietly. "No more lies! I will not hide!" Magic circles sat at his feet. He vanished and reappeared in front of Gulak. "Tetsuzankō!" At almost the speed of a lighting bolt, he slid his foot across the floor, turning his back to the general, driving his back and shoulder into Gulak's armour. The raw impact shattered the stone guarding his chest. "…Now!"
"Circle Sword!" Following the storm created by Shinon, Erza launched a hail of blades, mincing the rest of the stone armour.
"Impossible!" Gulak exclaimed.
"I tire of you!" Shinon exclaimed. "Byakkosōshōda!" A white coloured magic circle floated in front of Shinon, he drove both of his palms through the circle striking Gulak in his gut. A visible shockwave blasted through the general's body, destroying a wall behind him, but it didn't launch him. "…You are finished, relapse in three…"
"Wh-wh?" Gulak stuttered.
"Two…" He lowered his guard, as if he had already won, his voice dead and empty.
"N-n-no! Plea-" The general's voice stopped and he choked a breath.
"…One." Gulak fell to the floor, a far off gaze in his eyes. "You should not have insulted me, wretch." Shinon said coldly.
"I said not to kill him!" Erza said worriedly, requipping into her normal armour and kneeling by Gulak's body.
"He is not dead." His tone was empty. "I held back, you got what you wanted." He turned away, not wanting to look at his work. The three were silent for an agonising period of time, until a light voice spoke.
"Shinon," He glanced over at Levy. "I'm sorry…for calling you a liar…"
"Why are you sorry? I did deceive you." He turned his eyes downward, ashamed of his lies. "It's all I am capable of it seems." He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You've proved your loyalty." He kept silent as Erza spoke. "You said that you wanted him to die, as penance for his deeds, yet you stayed your hand."
"I am no better, despite me helping you now, I played a part in his plans, unintentionally or otherwise." Shinon shot back.
"Then atone alongside us." Levy spoke up. "Join Fairy Tail!"
"Join a guild?" (Why ask me? I am deceitful, I am a liar, my magic is used to manipulate! And…what if they found out?) "But I am a manipulator!" His voice shook slightly. "I…could be deceiving you all right now!"
"Not buying it." Erza deadpanned with a chuckle.
"Right!" Levy nodded as well. Shinon was taken aback, why did they trust him at all? Another painful silence ensued.
"…So be it." He finally said, a smile ghosting his face. "I've learnt all I can here anyways…maybe with you, I can find acceptance…" He closed his eyes and sighed.
"Yes then?" The scarlet wizard said.
"Sure." His violet eyes showed a hint of softness.
After the events of that day, Gulak had been taken to the Council to stand trial and would most likely be sentenced to life imprisonment, whilst Shinon, Levy and Erza rode the train to the town of Magnolia. The sun was setting; as such, Shinon wore his blindfold over his eyes and slept, getting looks from his new allies.
"Shinon is a bit strange isn't he?" Erza chuckled, as she enjoyed some of her favourite strawberry cake.
"Not as much as Natsu or Gray though," Levy looked at the sleeping wizard. "When he said he was a manipulator…Erza, do you think he hasn't told us everything?"
"Most likely." She looked over at the napping man next to her. "We'll see what Master Makarov thinks about him." She smiled sadly at Shinon. (Those eyes…they seemed so sad…)
The three stood outside of Fairy Tail guild hall; Shinon marvelling at its size, he didn't move closer, his blindfold still on. He could 'see' the guild using a sensory pulse spell, the draw back of it is that he couldn't use other mind based spells whilst it is in effect.
"Don't be nervous!" Erza exclaimed, clasping a hand on Shinon's collar and proceeding to drag him to the door. "You'll be fine!" Levy laughed and walked behind the two. (How did I get into this mess?) He thought to himself. (Although it may not actually be that bad…) The door was opened and immediately the wave of shouting and noise stunned him.
"Natsu! Stop messing around!" One male voice said.
"Can it, Gray!" The voice of 'Natsu' responded.
"WHAT WAS THAT FLAME-BRAIN?!" Was the instant response.
"YOU WANNA GO, STRIPPER-BOY?!" Shinon immediately began to regret his life choices.
"…I'm glad I'm blindfolded." Shinon deadpanned.
"That's enough, boys!" Erza scolded the arguing males.
"WAGH, IT'S ERZA!" Natsu and Gray replied in synchronised fear, before running away. The entirety of the guild grew silent upon Erza's exclamation.
"Master Makarov! I have returned with Levy!" Erza's voice resonated through the hall. Shinon heard steps approaching him.
"Ah, good work Erza." It was an old man's voice. "And Levy, I'm glad to see that you're unharmed." His voice was warm and filled with relief. "And this is?" Shinon assumed that Makarov was referring to him.
"He assisted me in rescuing Le-" Shinon cut off the scarlet knight.
"But I was partly responsible for her suffering." He bowed his head and spoke sadly.
"Show me your eyes, young one." Makarov insisted.
"Uh, is the moon still out?" Shinon responded shakily.
"There is no moonlight in this room, don't worry." Makarov spoke knowingly. The illusion wizard gently slid his blindfold up, resting it on his forehead and revealing his eyes, he looked down at the old guild master…whom he didn't expect to be so small. "Your eyes hold pain, but don't show it. What's your name?"
"Shinon Lunehart." He looked around the hall, taking in the sight, the other wizards gave him mixed looks; some were cold, some impassive and some kind.
"So, why are you here?" Makarov inquired, looking the young man over.
"Erza brought me here with her, she believes that I should join Fairy Tail." He explained, folding his arms.
"So do you not believe you should join?" The guild master scratched his beard.
"I…" He didn't want to answer.
"Son, you have a family right?" Those words struck deep with Shinon.
"None that breathe." He spoke coldly, fighting back any emotion.
"A kid like you wouldn't come from somewhere like Hargeon on someone else's whim." Shinon started to get irritated by Makarov's truthful insight. "Fairy Tail won't turn you away," How did he know so much? "Everyone you see here has been through something like you, we're a family."
"A family, huh?" He looked around once more and all of the others were smiling and nodding. "…Well, I guess I can't say no, now can I?" He smiled happily.
"Then welcome to the guild son." Makarov said before turning away and walking off. Shinon scratched his head before being rushed up to by Levy.
"Congratulations Shinon!" She said joyfully to the illusion wizard, who got glomped by a man shorter than him about his age with pink hair.
"New guy, eh? What kinda magic do you use?" He pressed on, the voice was familiar, he assumed this was Natsu.
"Illusionary Magic amongst other things." Shinon pushed Natsu's arm off of himself.
"…How do you even fight with that type of magic?" Natsu's question irritated Shinon, he placed his ring and index finger on the pinkette's forehead.
"Lightless Abyss." Natsu's eyes completely blacked out and he began stumbling around.
"I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!" He ran into a wall and fell onto his back.
"Better question; can you fight without eyes?" He folded his arms and looked at Natsu's squirming body, a few other wizards began to laugh.
"Not funny!" The dragonslayer exclaimed, fanning his eyes.
"Oh, but it is though." Shinon snapped his fingers and Natsu could see again.
"That's cheap!" He shouted.
"It's effective." Was Shinon's deadpan response. Most of the guild began to join in on the laugh and Shinon did so himself. (This'll be more fun than I thought!) For the first time in a long while he smiled with joy.
Closing Comments
Yay! Family feels time! The next chapter will be the last of the prologues. I hope you enjoyed this one though! Review and give some tips, it's always appreciated! Have a lovely day! -Muffin