A/N: And I am back! Feeling quite a bit more refreshed and ready to write!
That break really did me some good. Not only was I able to work out quite a few things regarding this story, but I was also able to work on a secret that you will all learn about at a later date. I feel like there was something else that I wanted to talk about, buuuut I can't remember what it was. So onward to replying to the reviews!
After a word of thanks of course. I would like to thank Stormhawk99,WrittenWhim, SaiyaStyles (formerly known as Saiyan-Styles), Guest (whomever you might be), WaterDragonMaverick, MyDearWatson, LightandDarkHeart, Hikari, and lexlovesya for their reviews.
Stormhawk99- Glad that you liked the chapter and don't worry, we'll see Fareth a lot more as the story continues, cause I know that it wasn't much in the last chapter. But anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter!
WrittenWhim- Yeah, keeping track of all of the different character is quite a chore and it's definitely one of the hardest things that I have to deal with when writing and when coming up with ideas (especially since my mind keeps gravitating towards a part in the story that won't happen for a long time). But, anyways it's great to hear that the fight scenes turned out well, here's to hoping that the future ones turn out even better!
SaiyaStyles- That Hydra fight definitely gruesome, what with all of the beheadings and blood. Then there was also Gideon's broken arm, Vladimir's shattered ribs, and Jace cutting several unfortunate monsters in half with his magic. But more fun is coming! It'll just take a while to get here... Just kidding (I hope).
Guest- I'm glad that you liked the chapter, but this arc is still ongoing, we're just entering part two of it.
WaterDragonMaverick- What did Reina do to Camille? You'll just have to wait to find out, but you might be able to draw some conclusions from going over that scene. Yeah, kinda got to hope that they find the man that cursed Rayner eventually. Yeah... it'll happen... eventually, just not anytime soon. Yep! Ajax and Reno are actually very experienced sea monster hunters and Ajax even states this in chapter 6, but you'll learn more of their time as monster hunters in their historical omakes. I'm glad that you liked the fight scenes with Team Jace, but we will see more of Schrodinger since he got away (we'll also see more of a certain "horse" as well).
MyDearWatson- That Info Broker... he's definitely going to be giving everyone in the guild a hard time for quite a while (hint hint y'all). Muahahahaha! An answered question always leads to more questions, and you will be waiting to have these questions answered for many, many chapters! You have fallen into my devilish trap MyDearWatson! (Insert a diabolical and evil laugh that lasts for about 10 minutes and ends in an abrupt coughing fit here). Ahem... So anyways, all of my shenanigans aside, I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed how I used Team Reno last chapter. I figured that with a rookie Dragon Slayer around that Ajax felt like he would need to man up and show him how it's done and all that. I had quite a bit of fun with Team Jace's part of the chapter, writing the interactions between them all is pretty fun, but yes, Malon's made a new friend that's pretty much just as strange as her. Well I love to hint at things, I've actually dropped a few hints throughout past chapters, sometimes they hint towards things later in the chapter, other times they hint at stuff that'll happen in chapters that have yet to come. But yes, Caleb is unquestionably the scariest person in Undine's Cove, even most of the S-Class mages fear his wrath and the only person who truly doesn't fear him is Salina of course. I hope you enjoy the chapter!
LightandDarkHeart- Yep, Rayner's got it pretty rough and I don't always make Dragon Slayers, but when I do I make sure I'm creative with their element. Yep, if the mages of Undine's Cove thought Malon was crazy enough by herself, just wait until they get a load of Malon and Jewul.
Hikari- Well, like I said in an earlier response, this arc is still actually ongoing, we're just entering part two of it. I'm actually all caught up on Fairy Tail, so no spoilers in the reviews please for those who aren't all caught up. The manga is something that I have to keep up on since what happens in it will have a direct effect on how I plan out the events of the story, but it's what happens after the Tartarus Arc (or how it ends) that will have the biggest effect on the story so far. Yeah, when it comes to my Dragon Slayers I try to be as original as possible with their elements and I try to avoid using the more common elements in favor of things like salt. As I said to MyDearWatson, you'll just have to wait for the why and how Rayner got cursed (and it'll be quite the wait). The Info Broker, he's a pretty interesting character, but that's all I'm gonna say on him for now, asides for the fact that you all better get used to having him around, cause he's here for the long haul. As for Reina, my lips are sealed, cause she's not my character. Well I do have to say that my creative thoughts have been flowing quite well these past few days, if only I could focus them on this story a bit better, but something great did come from it. As for what that something is, it's a secret to everybody. As for writing multiple chapters in quick succession, I tried that at the very start... and I tired myself out real quick and started to have thoughts that I wasn't up for the challenge, which I can assure you all that that is not the case anymore. But I'll be sticking to my loose and tight schedule for as long as I am able to, cause I established it so that I didn't tire myself so quickly. As for the dynamics between Jayne and Light, I feel as though Jayne doesn't know Light all that well, but things might happen to change that fact. You never know with me at the wheel of this story. So we have our second shipping name of the story! RayIlle, and it's in direct conflict with the first shipping name RayMiri, what dramatic irony! Anyways, you hear that Believe In The Unknown!? You have been complimented on your character good sir or ma'am, now say thank you (gets stared at for acting strange, but is in too good of a mood to care, or maybe it's the fact that I'm writing the A/N at 2 in the morning). Anyways, I'm not a liberty to so openly discuss Jezabelle's history just yet, but all your questions about her will be answered eventually.
lexlovesya- It's all right if it takes a while for you to review. Readers have real lives too, despite whatever I, the author, might think (wait a moment, wasn't that a little reversed given the typical scenario?). Anyways, enough of my fooling around, I'm happy to hear that you like how the different characters have been interacting with each other so far. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that fun is one of the last words that Rayner would use to describe the experience of being cursed, and Leif has had it pretty tough with his life on a boat, but he might get better when we see him later on. And all should fear that which is Caleb! Strive to never miss an opportunity to visit the infirmary, even for the smallest injury! Lest you be hunted down like the reckless and irresponsible dog you are! But seriously, don't get on his bad side or he will hunt you down.
I remember now! I was going to tell you guys that this chapter is more a wrap-up of the last one and a setup for the next group of missions, so it's probably going to be a shorter chapter than the last one, okay it'll definitely be a shorter chapter than the last one. And I did write this A/N ahead of time, I'm not reckless enough to write a chapter when I'm in such a weird mood. But I am reckless enough to write my A/N's in such a weird mood.
I remembered yet another thing before I started writing. I am still in dire need of villains. So if any of you (even if you don't have a character in the guild, this is open to everybody) have an idea for a villain, please send it in. Just keep in mind that I already have this story's main and final villain all ready to go. When submitting a villain, please use the OC submission form at the end of the prologue and send it to me in a Private Message. Also, there are some things that can be left out of a villains profile. I only need one outfit for a villain, so just their regular clothes are needed. Also there is no need for the 'Type of Person They Would Like' category since I am doing no romance stuff for villains, which means that there is no need for you to describe how they would act around crushes. However, if you happen to make another villain that they happen to already be romantically involved with, then describe how they would act around that person. And I would prefer if they are not any form of Slayer, meaning no Dragon Slayers, no God Slayers, and no Devil Slayers (I wouldn't even know how to write one's abilities at this point anyways). So please, please, please don't send in a Slayer and expect me to take it, I will say this right now: It will be denied no matter how much you argue since I do not want anymore Slayers than the ones that have already been submitted and accepted. And I'm sorry if that makes me sound like a jerk, but that is the decision that I have come to for the time being and there is a very, very good reason for it that has to do with the future events of this story and as such, I cannot divulge my reason. Just know that I have one and it is too good of a reason for me to change my mind on it anytime soon.
I don't own Fairy Tail!
I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 10
The evening sun began to set in the cloud cloaked sky as the Free Spirit arrived in Hargeon's port. The wooden ship had gone through some make-shift repairs, with the mast being kept in place by large, glass bolts made by Ajax.
"Are you sure you won't reconsider?" the Dragon Slayer asked one last time before he and Reno departed.
"Yeah! The guild's a really fun place and it's right next to the ocean!" Reno added in support.
Leif looked at the two mages before letting a small smile form on his lips, "Sorry guys," he apologized, "But I want to stay and help my father and the crew now that I can, I need to repay them, y'know?"
"If that's what you want to do then, don't let us stop you," Ajax sighed before turning around and waving, "Later."
"Bye!" Reno called out as she followed Ajax back to Undine's Cove, "Take care!"
It was a fairly quiet walk through the port, the two of them watched several of the different crews going about their business loading and unloading cargo, "I wonder where he is right now?" Reno muttered in a far-off tone.
"Who?" Ajax asked as the two of them started down the mile-long path back to the guild, "Your dad?"
"Mhmm," Reno nodded, "I miss him, the crew, and mom a lot sometimes," she admitted while scooping Leon off of Ajax's shoulder so that she could hug him.
"Well... Um," Ajax started to say, partly unsure of what to do, "Next time we take a mission I guess we can see if there are any missions in Cedar so we can see your mom, but you know how rare those are."
"You promise!?" she shouted in surprise at Ajax's thoughtfulness, causing him to flinch at the sudden loud noise.
"Yeah," he answered, "And if anyone else, like Rayner or someone, tries to take it before we can, then we'll just have to take it from them," he said with a confident smirk on his face as they heard a loud 'boom' come from the cove.
. : + : .
"So you want to make sure that I'm stronger than you before you join?" Salina asked from her position on the bar.
"Yeah! I won't work for anyone weaker than me!" Jewul announced to everyone in the area. Not many of her guild members had ever seen Salina fight, in fact she could count the one's who had all on one hand.
"Very well," Salina agreed as a serious expression took her face, her eyes looking as chaotic as the dark skies her old title was named after, "I was once known as Salina of the Dark Skies," she explained as she stood up and walked to the beach, Jewul following right behind her, "Alongside Iron Rock Jura of the Ten Wizard Saints, I was one of the strongest mages in Lamia Scale. This your last chance to bow out of this match completely unharmed," she announced as thunder rumbled off in the distance as it began to rain.
Ladon, Wilhelm, Yune, and Team Jace all looked up at the sky as it became cloaked in clouds, "This should be good," Jace snickered in excitement.
"You've never seen her fight before?" Ladon asked as he pulled the hood of his sleeping bag over his head.
"Have you?" Fareth questioned without looking over at the reclusive man.
"Once before," Ladon answered without saying anything else.
"Well it looks like now's our chance to watch her fight," Wilhelm pointed out, "That girl doesn't look like she's going to back down," he explained as they all watched Jewul lift up her mallet before charging at Salina with a powerful downwards swing.
"You're fairly strong," Salina complimented as she blocked the swing with the tip of her umbrella with seemingly no effort, "Try again?" she asked as Jewul's expression turned angry as she pulled a revolver pistol out of her boot and fired it at Salina's head, "Another good try," Salina admitted as the magic shot was caught by the air around Salina and squelched, "Weather Magic: Air Pressure Cannon," she announced as Jewul was sent flying across the cove and into the rock wall across the water by an invisible wall of air pressure, causing a loud boom to resonate throughout the area.
"How...?" Jewul gasped as she pulled herself out of the Jewul-shaped crater in the rock wall, only to see Salina casually strolling across the water towards her, that chaotic look still in the elder woman's eyes as Jewul watched her hold an arm up into the air.
"I suggest you admit your defeat here!" Salina called out as a bolt of lightning shot down into Salina's arm, causing the lightning to crackle up and down it as she held her arm in Jewul's direction, "Unless you still need to see the difference between us?"
"Jocker Magic: Now You See Me, Now You Don't," Jewul mumbled as she teleported behind Salina and swung her hammer.
"Discharge," Salina muttered as she quickly turned around and released the lightning bolt against Jewul's stomach, sending her flying back towards the beach before her hammer could connect with Salina's side, "You won't be able to move for a while after being hit by that spell," Salina explained after arriving on the beach near the now paralyzed Jewul, "I'll hear you're answer after you recover," she said as her eyes lost their chaotic look as Ajax and Reno ran up to her.
"What happened here?" Ajax asked as he saw a girl he didn't know lying on the beach, unconscious.
"Well she said that she wouldn't join the guild unless I was stronger than her," Salina explained with an innocent smile as she twirled her umbrella over her head, leaving the trio dumbfounded, "Do you think you could take her to the infirmary for me since Caleb will want to see you all anyways."
All three of them paled at the thought of missing an after-mission check-up and quickly began to pick up Jewul so they could hurry to the infirmary.
"Salina," she heard Ladon call out.
"Hmm? Are you three leaving now?" Salina asked as Ladon nodded in response, "Well if you see anyone I know say 'hi' for me, alright?"
"Will do, Salina," Wilhelm responded as he and Ladon began walking out of the cove with Yune walking behind them.
"Yune!" Salina called out after her.
"Hm? What is it Master?" she asked, causing Salina to sigh before starting.
"Be careful all right?" Salina requested, "I can't help but feel like a storm is coming."
Yune nodded in response, knowing that she hadn't been talking about an actual storm, "Okay! Don't worry, I'll have Reginald and Wilhelm with me!" she shouted back before running to catch up with her teammates.
. : + : .
"What on earth were you thinking!?" Caleb shouted as he continued to treat Rayner, who was lying on a cot while covered in bandages, too afraid to make a retort as Miriam and Alistar just watched the scene in fear while Camille laid on the cot next to Rayner, still paralyzed, "You know that your curse goes out of control when you don't get your regular check-up! So how did you forget about it!" he continued to ask.
"S-s-she w-was d-drunk," Rayner mumbled in fear while pointing at Camille, causing Caleb to raise an eyebrow before walking over to Camille to heal her of her paralysis so he could question her.
"You were drunk?" he asked in an intimidating tone, causing Camille to only nod in response out of fear, "Why were you drunk!? You know that you can't handle alcohol!"
"Th-they were arguing a-and I embarrassed myself when stopping the argument, s-so," Camille stammered while pointing at Miriam and Rayner, Miriam flinching in fear when Caleb's attention became focused on her.
"He started it!" Miriam shouted in fear while pointing at Rayner, feeling relieved when the healer's attention was redirected back at the injured man, "What are you looking at?" she asked when she noticed that Alistar had started to stare at the scene with a strange expression on his face.
"Just watching what happens," he answered, "This is reward enough for the last mission and it's why I find you three so entertaining," he said with a smug look on his face that disappeared as soon as Miriam kicked his shin, "What the hell!?" he shouted as he lifted up his leg to grab his shin.
"Tch, idiot," Miriam responded as they entered a full blown argument, unaware that the door had opened, showing a completely dumbfounded Ajax, Reno, and Leon.
"What happened in here?" Reno asked as they all watched Miriam and Alistar argue while Camille and Rayner kept shifting the blame on one another to avoid Caleb's wrath.
"Idiots," Ajax mumbled after the shock had disappeared, "Yo! Doc!" he shouted as everyone turned and looked at him, after being brought out of their own little world.
"That was kinda creepy," Leon mumbled from atop Reno's head.
"Got a patient for you," Ajax continued as he laid Jewul on a cot, "Salina did a number on her," he explained, causing Caleb to sigh and push his glasses back up as he walked over to the girl to begin healing her.
"You three wait here as well," he ordered as he began healing.
"Roger!" Reno said with a salute as Leon jumped over to Ajax's shoulder.
"The hell happened to you?" Ajax asked as he looked down at Rayner.
"Oh you know, just a more difficult mission than you've ever been on," Rayner answered with a smug look on his face.
"What? Did you hide behind your shield the whole time after you lost one of your weapons?" the Dragon Slayer retorted.
"At least I'm smart enough to hide behind my shield, pretty boy!"
"What'd you say!?" Ajax shouted as he picked up Rayner by the bandages on his chest.
"Are you going to stop them?" Miriam asked Camille as she sat down on her cot.
"Someone else will," Camille answered as two senbon needles whizzed past her head and hit Ajax and Rayner in their pressure points, causing the two men to collapse into each other, "See?" she said as though it was completely normal while Miriam sweat dropped, "At least we have time for a break, Sir Heartfilia paid well."
"How much did you get paid?" Reno asked as she walked over to the two girls.
"One-hundred thousand jewels apiece," Camille answered as she looked over at Alistar who had resumed watching everything unfold with a strange expression, "Alistar got nothing though," she added with a pleased look on her face as the two girls next to her sweat dropped at Camille's pleasure of that fact.
. : + : .
"Well what do you think of this one?" Hughes asked as he pulled a request form off of the board.
"Sounds too easy," Zain mumbled, "Leave that mission for Sean and Jean."
"Okay," Hughes sighed as he put the paper back and pulled down another one, "What about this one?"
"Let me see it," Ziv requested as she took the form and read it, "It sounds good to me."
"What is it? What's the job?" Zain asked as he took the form from Ziv, "Recover a lost treasure?" he read, "That doesn't sound interesting."
"You didn't read the whole thing did you?" Hughes responded, "Apparently there are some pretty dangerous monsters where we'll be going and the job pays pretty good."
"Well I say we take it," Ziv announced, "So you're outvoted even if you don't want to go on this mission, Zain."
"We best go tell Salina then," Hughes said as he walked towards the stairs, Ziv and Zain following him down them.
"Did you pick a mission?" Salina asked as she watched the trio walk down the stairs, request form in hand.
"Yeah, we'll be going on this one," Hughes answered as he handed her the request form after Salina had pulled the large log book out from under the counter and opened it.
"Well it looks like you'll be heading to Oshibana Town to formally accept the quest, good luck you three!" she said as she handed the request form back to Hughes, "Oh, can you fetch Camille from the infirmary? A letter came for her while she was gone."
"You'll be heading over that way to get your things, can you do it Ziv?" Zain asked as he and Hughes started walking off towards the male dorm.
"I guess," she sighed as she started off towards the infirmary and female dorm while Salina picked up the large logbook and put back in it's place underneath the counter while she picked up the envelope the letter was in.
"Salina," she heard a woman call out.
"Yes?" she asked as she stood back up, "Oh, Aspen, are you leaving now?"
"Yeah, that last mission was such a disappointment so I figured that I'd go ahead and go on another one," Aspen explained.
"With the mission you're going on, I suppose it's a good thing that you're going so soon. Kidnappings are messy business," Salina sighed as Aspen nodded in agreement.
"I'm off to Shirotsume Town then," Aspen said as she turned and began walking away as Camille ran up to the bar.
"You said there was a letter?" Camille asked as she stopped.
"Yep," Salina responded as she handed the young girl the letter.
"I'll be going to my room now," Camille said before she ran back towards the female dorms.
"You've always been one for privacy," Salina smiled softly, remembering the day she first met the young girl.
. : + : .
Camille hurried through the dorm, nearly knocking over Roseala on her way up the stairs as she came to her room. It was a modest room at best, kept in near perfect shape with there rarely ever being a mess in it. Her burgundy bed sheets were neatly made and the books on her wooden shelves were neatly organized. Her desk was also kept in good shape, if not a little dusty, but sitting on it was a framed picture of her family from when she was a small child and a picture of her with her foster family in a frame next to it. Camille sighed as she picked up the picture of her foster family, the Ealdwines. She certainly looked a bit younger in that picture, it being taken only a few short weeks before she had left home at the age of 14, so she was certain that her two younger brothers had grown since then, as well as her cousin. Her master stood tall with his usual smirk on his face, standing next to his wife while her own father stood behind her. Camille smiled before looking over at the picture of her birth parents, both standing tall and proud while Camille stood in between them with a stoic look on her face. She was wearing the clothes of a young noble boy, having been raised as a son instead of as a daughter, which was obviously something that she still carried to this day. Camille sighed as she looked down at her wrinkled suit, before walking over to her dresser and changing clothes the old-fashioned way into a burgundy t-shirt with a pair of black sweats, while her silver, sword-shaped pendant was worn over the shirt instead of under it like it usually was.
"Time to open this letter then," she said to herself with a small smile as she collapsed onto her bed and began tearing open the envelope.
To Camille,
I'll get this out of the way first thing. I've been looking around for anything about this guy who cursed your friend while looking around for the last of the people responsible for what happened for Lynn, and so far I haven't found anything on either of them.
Camille wrinkled her brow upon reading that, it wasn't the news that she had wanted to hear at all, both Rayner and her cousin Lynn had been through a lot, she wanted to do what she could to make their lives better and she felt that finding the people responsible for all their problems was what she could do.
But I don't think that either of their cases are related, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to find anything for your friend while looking for those last two people. Anyways, it's been a while since you've stopped by the dojo, think that your guild will come to Crocus this July? I know that both Quill and Lynn would love to see you, and Jareth would love to fight you again to see if he's surpassed you yet.
Camille smiled at the thought of it, her younger brother, Jareth, had seen her as his rival ever since she had started learning Gunblade magic with him after her master had taken her in. And she had always gotten along with both Quill and Lynn.
I'd like to see your progress as a mage as well. I know that you've always had trouble changing the element of your Gunblade magic, even with an elemental magic sword, but I'd like to see if you've made any progress with that.
Camille sighed in embarrassment, her master hit her right on the head with that. It didn't seem to matter what sword she was using, but it always came out as the wind element when her master switched through them all with relative ease.
Although, I need to ask a favor of you, Camille. I won't be able to make it out to Mt. Hakobe this August since I have a large job lined up for then, and I'd like to ask if you could go for me, you know how much it would mean to me.
Her expression turned solemn as she remembered the reason why it was so important to her master to visit Mt. Hakobe on August 10th every year. She didn't know if Rayner or Miriam would want to visit the freezing mountain during August, but she would make an effort to go.
Well, whatever you decide to do, there's one last thing that I need to tell you, and I want you to tell your guild master. There's some information broker going by the name of Euclid causing trouble all over Fiore. I don't know what he's after, but he hides his tracks incredibly well. It took a whole string of favors just to get that much information on him. Anyways, take care on your missions.
Sincerely,
Your Favorite Master.
"You're my only master in that sense," Camille sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose, "But still... Euclid eh? I'm going to have to tell Master Velvet about this in the morning," she said to herself as she looked out of her window at the dark jungle behind the guild.
. : + : .
"I've returned Euclid," the deep voice said through Vladimir's body as it entered the dark office.
"In that thing?" Euclid asked as he spun around in his chair while leaning back, "What happened to the horse?"
"It ran away," the voice answered as Vladimir's unconscious body dropped to the floor as a black and white tabby cat walked out from under Euclid's desk before hopping onto a nearby chair, "And I've had enough of being called 'Horsey-kun' anyway," the voice replied from the cat's body.
"You always did like possessing my cat," Euclid smirked as he stopped spinning.
"It's agile, not to mention that you feed me better when I'm in your cat," the voice retorted, "Now what are we going to do with the thing on the floor?"
"Well we could just kill it, but it may have it's uses if it gets stronger," Euclid explained as he stood up and walked over to the unconscious body, "Most of the ribs are broken, and these claw marks in it's back," he observed, "I believe I know who took him down, considering which guild I sent that fake request to."
"Why are you so interested in Undine's Cove anyway?" the voice asked as it jumped down from the chair and sat down on Vladimir's back.
"Because there are so many potential conflicts just waiting to happen there!" Euclid exclaimed, "Each member has something that they've run away from or are seeking, each one has the potential to start the conflict that we seek!" he continued as he walked over to a chessboard and moved a white knight over to the black side, "All I have to do is make sure that all of the pieces are in play for the grand finale of this game called life," he finished with a knowing smirk on his face.
"Are you sure that it'll work?" the voice asked.
"If it doesn't, then I'll just have to make it happen myself," Euclid answered while retaining his smirk, "And no one will stop us like last time."
"I certainly hope so," the voice replied.
A/N: Like I said, a shorter chapter than last time, but it's all for the purpose of setting up the next three missions. We'll be seeing Team Ladon, Team Hughes, and Aspen out on their missions next time.
Anyways, don't forget that I'm looking for villains right now! And I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Your host,
dreadburner94.