Finally, Vidaldus and Cobra notice how hard we are laughing at them, settling down grudgingly with occasional pushes and shoves, mostly from Cobra.
Jason clears his throat, reclaiming the attention of the audience. "The last battle of the day is Sherria Blendy vs. Noctus! This is sure to be intense."
This chapter's song is Irresistible by Fall Out Boy.
Jason, yet again, is left with tears streaming out of his eyes, although, this time it's over how cool Noctus is. When he said that, she just winked at him cutely, making him faint, getting him into the position he's in now.
Oh, yeah, what happened was that Noctus beat Sherria in one move, hitting her with her special attack, Veiled Orb, trapping Sherria in a darkness so black it can actually make a person go mad if they're in there too long.
Luckily, Sherria was released before long, as it takes an immense amount of power to hold that spell, and without being in Shadow mode, Noctus cannot project it for long, especially considering she used some magic on the MPF before that was pretty high on the scale.
"The victors are Morrigan, Nightshade, Noctus and Levy!" Jason announces, finally regaining his composure. Messing with him again, though, is Noctus, who blows him a kiss.
She likes to be playful as well as cute, and succeeds in making the announcer faint again.
I shake my head, but I'm too amused to reprimand her.
It's almost the end of the Grand Magic Games, anyway.
On the walk back, I pause, and instead lead Bickslow and myself to the infirmary. I want to know what Porlyusica thinks of Kurohebi's injuries, and see if anything else requires my attention.
Once there, though, Porlyusica is standing by the door, frowning only slightly at a pair of people, one in a bed and the other sitting in a chair close to it, just talking.
I glance at Porlyusica, then back at the couple. The hair is unmistakably Hibiki's, but who's with him?
Ah, Morrigan.
Hmm.
This could prove interesting.
I make no sound, simply standing there and listening to their conversation. Apparently, Morrigan just got there.
"So you are alive. I thought I killed you for a while there." Morrigan states, Hibiki looking up at her.
"Why would you worry about someone you wanted to kill?" he replies, fiddling with a sheet of paper.
"I never wanted to kill you, actually."
"That means so much coming from an assassin." he states, looking at the paper and starting to bend and fold it.
Morrigan huffs. "Says the guy who read my mind. Doesn't that break some intellectual privacy law?"
"Not if it's in a battle."
"...Ugh. How did you find all that out? I thought telepathy was limited to conscious thoughts and the like." Morrigan asks, curious as to find someone like this.
"I'm extremely gifted at telepathy and telekinesis thanks to my Archive magic." he responds, continuing to fold the paper into some sort of shape.
"What else do you have on me? If it's too bad, I might have to kill you anyways." Morrigan leans back, looking at him but with the slightest trace of a smile on her face. She's enjoying this.
"That's actually about it. If you want, I can tell you about myself as a payment."
"Eh, why not? Knowledge never killed anyone, only people."
Hibiki laughs. "Okay, so what do you want to know?"
He's finished with the paper, and it's folded in the shape of a crane. Interesting.
"Uh, okay. Where are you from originally? Did you grow up in Blue Pegasus?"
I smile, backing out of the infirmary and closing the door silently behind us. Learning about Killian's power level output with that spell can wait until morning; they have a lot to talk about.
The walk back to the palace is much less crowded than the day before, and instead of having a tense and awkward dinner in the dining hall, I lead us to a nice little cafe, taking a seat outside and looking at the sky, the setting sun sending the clouds into a lovely array of colors and making them look like a palace of technicolor.
A waiter comes up after about 5 minutes, explaining that they're swamped, but I wave it off. "Come back when you're not going to be yelled at by the other patrons. We're fine waiting."
He smiles radiantly, leaving the menus with us and bustling off to get ordered food to tables with wailing infants and crying children; impatient adults, of course, bothering him every which way.
Bickslow seems surprised at my gentleness, and looks at me with an eyebrow raised. It's kind of odd, considering how he wears a visor, but it works for him.
"You seem to be in a good mood." he comments, picking up the menu and perusing it.
I do the same to mine. "If I am in a bad mood, I wouldn't take it out on an innocent person just trying to do their job. A person should be judged not on how they treat their equals, but the people under them."
"That sounds archaic." he comments, peering up at me.
"It does seem that way, doesn't it? It still stands true, though, so I doubt it matters. Do you think we should get an appetizer?"
"The wait does seem pretty long on food."
"Well, then, let's."
A few hours later, the place is virtually cleaned out, the lone waiter cleaning tables, and I finally stand, leaving a hefty tip and placing some more jewels in the shared bowl.
"So, Listener, I've been meaning to talk to you about something." Bickslow starts, and I look at him while waiting for him to exit the nice restaurant. (117)
"What is it, Bickslow?" I question, wanting to listen to his concerns. Isn't that what Mates do?
"I was thinking… Laxus wouldn't be averse to joining the Brotherhood. He could probably be very good at it, in all actuality. If he could, just to protect his family, he wouldn't fail you."
I say nothing, walking calmly while he hurries to keep up.
"While that last statement is true, he is far too recognizable, too flashy, and his magic is not nearly as suitable as many other candidates. Also, if he fights for his family, what does he really want? Most likely to kill me, in one stroke, if possible, to prevent me from hurting his family. While if I had snagged him before, then yes, I would, by all means, try to do that. However, the Dark Brotherhood would never be his priority and would never have his full allegiance."
"You won't give him a position in the Brotherhood?"
I stop, looking my Mate straight in the eye. "If I thought it a good investment of both time and resources, enough that it would be repaid later on, I would include him. However, his ethics and morals, as well as Dragon devotion to his Family and Mate would always be a problem for him."
"So you won't ever accept him into the Brotherhood?"
"It is not logical nor is it wise."
Bickslow draws back from me, moving forward, almost running to get to the palace.
I breath out a sigh, sad that such a wonderful evening had to be ruined by that conversation. Why are things so complicated with such matters that should be as easy to tell as breathing?
Then again, why was my Mate not as corrupted as I am when I met him? (118)
I turn to look at the outline of the palace in the dim light, then sigh and shake my head. Using transformation magic, I change my outfit and put my hands in a fur muff, deciding to take a long stroll around the city. Maybe I'll visit the guilds.
Instead of visiting the guilds, I take a walk in the gardens, trying to clear my head of these annoying notions. Once there, I simply stroll along, seeing the people of the city enjoying the nighttime.
I hear an excited shriek, and look over, seeing Noctus fling herself into the arms of a guy, who I recognize as Lucifer. His red forearms encircle her waist, picking her up and twirling her around, making her laugh. As he sets her down, her arms link behind his head and the ebony skinned man laughs as she pouts when she can't quite reach his lips to kiss.
I leave the two thinking even more, and wishing wistfully to have something akin to that.
I arrive at the palace after about two hours walking around, at 1 in the morning, and moving towards my quarters.
I'm interrupted, however, by guards under my control.
"My Empress, there was a disturbance several hours ago."
I raise an eyebrow, and sigh. "What kind of disturbance?"
"A lightning mage seemed determined to find you, and he looked rather threatening. Currently he is waiting with your Mate in the throne room, and there are guards at every exit. Shall we escort you there?"
I sigh again. "Very well."
Once there, I transform into a more suitable outfit before entering the room. Dark Brotherhood robes allow me to hide my hands and the shadow of the hood hides my face except for my red eyes, glowing in the dim light.
"Listener, leader of the Black Hand." announces a guard, and all stand at attention. (119)
Laxus turns, looking at me.
"I've been waiting for over two hours."
"I did not know you would be so impatient; otherwise I would have made you wait even longer." I reply, glaring steadily at him.
He grumbles, then Bickslow intervenes.
"Laxus wishes to make a plea to you."
"A plea? How original. Do you have any idea of how many people have tried to bargain for their life with me?"
"How many survived?" the Lightning Dragon Slayer asks, slightly nervous.
"None." I speak, not moving and waiting for Laxus to speak. (120)
"Well then." Bickslow states, uncomfortable.
"Speak, Laxus, or get out of my sight." I dismissively say, wanting this to be over already.
"I wish to join your Family." he says in a huff.
"Hmm…. you are an exceptionally talented wizard, as well as quite powerful and with capabilities that could definitely work in my favor…. No."
"What do you mean, no?" Laxus asks, shocked (121) at my answer.
"I mean no. As in, not going to happen. As in, never. As in, not. A. Chance." I state, and the Dragon Slayer growls at me.
"Do I get a reason why?"
"I don't have to justify myself to you. Now get out of my palace." I demand, walking out a door and to my chambers directly. I'm tired of this kind of thing happening everywhere I go. It's time to truly prove that the Black Hand will reign eternal.
The next day seems especially tense during the walk to the stadium. I still have no idea what's happening, although most bets are on an all out brawl between everyone. Well, between my team and the others. Only the most injured won't take part.
Morrigan, Nightshade, and Noctus are already there, along with Lucifer, who Noctus can't seem to get enough of, Nexus, calmly conversing with Erigor, probably about the benefits of man skirts, which would seem to be many, and Kurohebi, who's talking with Nightshade and Morrigan, probably about the Family. Everyone is standing in the arena, while the other team is congregating on the opposite side. (122)
Kessie poofs in with Ortelloth, the latter being clutched quite possessively. Cobra and Orion walk in, nodding to me and joining the group, though continuing their conversation. Racer rushes in with Midnight, who is still half asleep. He walks over to Cobra and places his head on his shoulder, resuming his sleep there. Rustyrose appears with Vidaldus, and the party is complete.
Orion and Kurohebi are the only ones over here with much in the way of injuries, both still bandaged heavily, but insisted upon competing.
On the other side are some heavily bandaged people, including Lucy, Mirajane, Jenny, Minerva, Kagura, Natsu, and Eve. The rest of the people are there too, although it's a grim posse, as the news of Erza's death at the hands of Morrigan appears to have spread fast. It appears, though, that there are more of them than when the games began.
Gildarts Clive has appeared, as well as his daughter, Cana Alberona, with Lisanna Strauss tagging along. Dobengal is there, throwing dirty looks over at Kurohebi. I thought about recruiting him, and I might still, but not right now. The last people to arrive are Jellal, Meredy and Hoteye.
I bend the railing when I see them. I've been trying to track them down for months, and they just appear here like nothing's happened.
"Listener, what is the plan?" Morrigan asks me.
I stop glaring at that damned trio for a moment, turning my attention to my Sister. "Beat them all. I don't care how hard, or how many are injured, or even killed. Just do it. Focus attacks from the strongest of you on Jura, Laxus, Gildarts and Jellal. Hoteye shouldn't be ignored either, and someone needs to take out Meredy as fast as possible. After those threats are taken care of, knock off the Slayers and the most powerful ones, Jenny, Minerva, Mirajane, the like. Understand?"
Morrigan nods, and smiles. "This is going to be fun."
"Sithis guide you, Sister." I state, and walk away, up to the box. People are starting to arrive.
117- I'm very impressed with it, actually. I think I'll endorse them.
118- I fear the gods are messing with either me or my destiny and, one day, I'll get them for it. The last born of Akatosh does not mess around. Hey, maybe it's the Kelen.
119- There are at least 20 guards in here. Laxus makes everyone nervous with his power level.
120-In all actuality, that's not true. I've spared the life of gifted people, who were willing to join the Black Hand. Of course, if that happens, I send another soul to Sithis in place of theirs, at least temporarily. Being an assassin is dangerous.
121- Pardon the pun.
122- I'm not happy with how a certain dark haired Dragon Slayer is staring at Nightshade. At all.