Chapter Three: Ruler of Earth
Delphine stood tall and proud as she introduced herself. She gazed carefully at them when the one introduced as Gray Fullbuster got up, still naked.
"Why'd ya hit me?" the Ice Mage asked.
He was answered with another punch that sent him flying. "I hate nudity and exhibitionists!"
Lucy gawked at the strong girl. Delphine was easily taller than Natsu and Gray. The way she held herself screamed Erza. But underneath the girl's exterior, Lucy felt as if she was meeting her mother. They had a similar warmth that coursed through Lucy, giving her comfort and security.
Wendy also felt as if she was meeting her mother figure, Grandeeney again. The motherly energy just radiated of the Earth Dragon Slayer. Wendy thought it was because of her element. The earth was often compared to a kind but fierce mother, one who cares but teaches you a lesson if you crossed her. And Wendy defiantly felt the raw power which coursed through the other female Dragon Slayer's veins. "Umm, Ms Delphine, what is the year?" Wendy asked.
Delphine looked at the blue haired girl with confusion. "Hmm, shouldn't it be X777? I mean, I couldn't have been under for more than a week or a month, right?"
"Try 14 years," Erza said. Team Natsu watched as Delphine crumbled into hysterics.
"That can't be! What about Mama Astraea?" she blubbered. When everyone didn't answer, Delphine listed every Dragon she knew, hoping to get an answer. "Aunt Crystalia? Aunt Celeste? Uncle Solaris? Uncle Metalicana? Aunt Grandeeney? Uncle Igneel? Uncle Weisslogia? Uncle Skiadrum? Uncle Zirconis? Auntie Bandina?"
The Fairy Tail Dragon Slayers' eyes widened at the names of their Dragons. Natsu grabbed Delphine by the shoulders. "You knew Igneel? How?"
Delphine, taken aback, looked into the Fire Dragon Slayer's eyes. She must have seen something honest in his eyes. The girl gently smiled. "You're name was Natsu, right? I knew Igneel when I was a small child. I stopped visiting when I heard he had a human child. It's a rule for Dragon Slayers to not interfere with other Dragon Slayers' training. Me and Igneel still wrote letters to each other. He is a very kind Dragon. You're his human child, aren't you?"
Natsu nodded. Gajeel walked up to her. "How'd you know Metalicana, Glass girl?"
Delphine stared at Gajeel. "You're Metalicana's stubborn child, Gajeel. He also wrote to me about you," she said bluntly. The girl looked at Wendy. "And Grandeeney's protégé, Wendy. She told me loads about you." Delphine looked at the Dragon Slayers. "I guess time has passed by more than I thought. You all really aren't children of Dragons anymore. Tell me, where are the Dragons?"
"All Dragons either disappeared or were slayed by their children on July 7, X777." Carla stated. "We don't know where they are. We were hoping you had a clue."
"Killed?" Delphine squeaked.
Lucy glanced down and bit her lip. "We know two Dragon Slayers in another guild who were told by their Dragons to kill them."
Delphine felt a tear escape. "Then Astraea has left me here. Why would she freeze my time? There was someone who would have needed me if their Dragon disappeared. He was only 5 years old. He's probably dead now."
"Who?" Lucy asked.
Delphine shook her head. She couldn't speak the name without breaking down. "As for the knowledge you seek, I fear that the Infinite Stasis spell wasn't the only one casted on me by Astraea. I can feel a powerful block on some of my memories. I think I've been to where the Dragons are hiding. They must have blocked out the memories in fear. If I was forced to spill the location their sacred place, it would put them in danger."
Tigress Orchid, back to being a chibi, flew to Delphine. "It's ok. If you wish, I can try to retrieve them. I don't just use Aera, ya know. I can use a magic called Memoria Flexibus. I can mess with memories and retrieve lost ones. It may take awhile because it's a Dragon's spell, but I believe it is possible."
Delphine smiled at the orange exceed. "Thank you."
Erza grabbed Gray, who was now clothed and out cold, much to Delphine's relief. "Do you have anywhere to go, Ms Delphine?" Erza asked with authority.
"Not now," Delphine said, a sad look coming across her face. "Before I was put under that spell, some of Zeref's followers found my house. Both my attack and my house are no more."
Erza got a scary look on her face as Lucy paled. "Zeref?" Erza spat.
"Zeref and the Dragons never got along. All of his dark magic disgusted us."
Lucy shivered. "Isn't he dead?"
Delphine gave a cold smirk. "Tell me," she said. "Do you think a monster like that just dies with no trace of a body?"
Erza and the others cringed at her words. Happy decided it was time to lighten the mood.
"So, Delphine," Happy said. "Why don't you join Fairy Tail? You can be a part of our family! We're the strongest guild in Fiore!"
Delphine eyed the flying blue cat. "Pfft! Sure. You guys seem like fun."
Lucy grinned. "You can room with me!" she said. Lucy leaned closer to Delphine. "And you can help me keep Natsu and Happy from breaking in," the blonde whispered.
Natsu took offense to that. "Oi! We're a team, Luce! And teams stick together! Plus, your place is fun!" he grinned.
Delphine laughed as the Fairy Tail members carried on with their banter. She knew that she was going to love it there. She felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Milady," the orange exceed said shyly. "May I be at your side? It's always been my deepest wish to serve you since I read about you and your escapades in Lady Astraea's journals."
The female Dragon Slayer smiled. "Sure! I love having new friends! What's your name again?"
"Tigress Orchid," the exceed replied. "I took it from your journal of experiment plants. The flower is so orange and it had the orchid's elegant shape."
"Then, Orchid, I'll be in your care from now on."
A grin crept across Orchid's face. "Yes, Milady!"
"Welcome to Fairy Tail!" Natsu said as Delphine looked at the massive building.
The Earth Dragon Slayer's eyes shined with a brilliant light. "Beautiful!" she exclaimed. "I've never seen such a glorious building!"
Natsu, Lucy, and Happy lead Delphine and Orchid into the guild hall. The other team members went home to unpack and the original Team Natsu volunteered to bring their new friends to the guild.
The guild was as boisterous as ever, chairs flying alongside fists. Gray, who amazingly got to the guild before them, was knocked into Natsu.
"Hey!" the Fire Dragon Slayer exclaimed.
Gray looked at who he bumped into and glared. "It's you, Flame Head." Gray glanced at Lucy and Delphine. "Hi, Lucy. Yo, new girl." In the background, Juvia watched from behind a pillar. "New love rival!" she declared, staring coldly at Delphine.
Delphine looked at the Ice Mage with disdain. "I don't like you at all."
Her blunt words were like a knife in Gray's back. "Hey, what did I ever do to you?"
"You are a freaking nudist, you pervert!" she said.
Natsu laughed at that causing Gray to turn on him. "You think that's funny, pointy eyes?" The Ice Mage invoked is magic circle. "Ice Make: Ham-"
Gray was knocked back into the crowd of brawling people, taking Elfman and a few others with him. The guild hall became quiet as they stared at Gray.
Macao crouched down in front of Gray. "Whatcha do to upset Erza this time? You nearly took out the bar. We just had it fixed."
Gray pointed feebly behind Macao. "N-not Er-erza." And then the Ice Mage blacked out.
Macao turned and saw a wide-eye Lucy and a shocked Natsu and Happy. Inbetween them was a new face, wearing a plain gray dress with a purple striped scarf and no shoes. Her fist was still raised as dark aura engulfed her. "I HATE ice and perverts, you perverted snow cone!" Delphine yelled. The guild bursted into conversation as Macao and Wakaba went up the the new girl.
"What a punch," they exclaimed at the same time. Delphine looked at them in shock.
"What's your name?"Wakaba asked.
Delphine blushed at all the attention. "Delphine Moonbriar, sir."
Wakaba dropped his pipe. "You can't be! Why you're the Lone Wizard, Mother Earth Delphine, aren't you!"
The female Dragon Slayer turned tomato red at her nickname. "Yes, sir."
"Oi," Macao yelled. "Master, you better get down here!"
Master Makarov appeared from nowhere. "Hi, there!" he said, using his signature grin on Delphine.
Delphine bowed to the tiny old man. "Hello! I'm Delphine Moonbriar! I am indebted to your guild. Your wizards freed me from the time lock I was under. I am incredibly grateful! Please allow me to join!"
Orchid imitated her Dragon Slayer. "Allow me to join as well!"
Master Makarov laughed. "Hahaha! Please lift your head child. Of course you can."
Delphine and Orchid smiled widely. "Thank you!" they said.
Makarov glanced Delphine over. "So what kind of magic to you use, Delphine? I heard that the Lone Wizard could take out an entire Dark Guild by herself." The guild gasped at that.
"I mainly use Earth Dragon Slayer Magic, but I am proficient in others as well."
"Others?"
"I can use Take Over Magic and Earth Magic. I was also told I have potential for casting extreme advance magic. I am also experienced with sword combat." Delphine answered.
Makarov was taken aback. Such a young girl and she was already at an S-Class level, if not higher. He would have to she her in action to be sure.
"Mirajane!" he called.
Mira ran with the guild mark stamp, falling on her face twice. "I'm here, Master."
"Give the girl her mark. Welcome to Fairy Tail, Delphine!"
"Here you go," Mira said, lifting the stamp from between Delphine's shoulder blades. A emerald green mark graced the Dragon Slayer's back.
"Thank you, Mira."
Mira turned to Orchid. "Now where do you want yours?"
"On my back as well," the exceed answered.
A moment later, a gray guild mark was on the tiger pattern exceed.
The pair thanked Mira once more before heading back out to the hall. They found Lucy quickly by the Job Board. "Hey, Lucy!" Delphine exclaimed.
Lucy turned toward them. "Hey, Delly!" the Stellar Mage greeted, using her nickname for Delphine. "Are you ready for your first job? Or do you want to head to my place?"
Delphine glanced at the board, looking at the Jobs. She snatched a flyer off the board and read it.
Help needed. Bandits terrorizing locals at Gochante Town. Reward is 800,000 jewels.
Delphine grinned. "I'm going to Gochante!"
Lucy gaped. "Didn't we just pass that town on the way back?"
Airi: Sorry guys. It seems Del and Orchid ran off somewhere today. They might have ran because I was teasing Delphine about her mysterious past. I would like to point out that she did somewhat interfered with a young Dragon Slayer's training, but it was because she knows the Dragon and the use-to-be child. Apparently, Ms Delphine hates people knowing too much about her personal life and that includes me. She'll be back soon. Until then, I'll do the disclaimer. I don't own Fairy Tail at all, just some made up Dragons, made up locations, Delphine, and Orchid. Hoped you enjoyed this chapter. R&R please! No flames shall be tolerated. I prefer kind reviews with everybody getting along, got it? Okay! See ya next time! :D
UPDATE: Jeez. I read my jotted down plot details again and reread this chapter and saw the boy's age was wrong. He wasn't 8. He was 5 in X777. Whoopsies ;)