Chapter 3: The First of Many Battles
A/N: I've decided that Erza x OC (It's gonna be Stormblade in case you couldn't guess.) is pretty much confirmed. Also this finishes up Justin's development for now I think. Want to know something funny, it's easy for me to write this 4,000 word chapter in 3 days but hard for me to write a thesis paper that is roughly 1,500 words in length. Ah well, such is life.
As Erza sped the car up as fast as she could, Natsu told the others about the flute he saw. "It was made of wood, and was shaped like a skull on one end, but it had three eyes and the rest of it had holes going down it like a flute. Lucy then realised what Lullaby was. She spoke as loud s Natsu had so Justin and Erza could hear her. "I think I know what Lullaby is!" she shouted. Justin answered her, "Really, what is it?"
Meanwhile at Kunugi station Erigor had just cut one of the guards in half and was forcing people off the train. "Get everyone off the train, the passengers, their luggage, the conductor, all of it!" he shouted. "Well look who's here." said Kageyama as he jumped off the train. "Kageyama, I heard you were coming back on this train. There is quite a bit of wreckage, care to explain what happened?" said Erigor "That doesn't matter, look what I brought back with me. I finally broke that damn seal." Kageyama answered. "Excellent" said Erigor. "Is that it?" asked a fat man in a red jacket and a green shirt. "Yes, this is it men! The forbidden Lullaby. Originally it was used for casting simple death curses, useful but limited. That is till the great black wizard Zareff transformed it into a demon flue. Now it will kill hundreds, thousands, why not millions? Lulling them all into an endless sleep. And it's all ours." Then the guild boarded the rain and set it in motion again.
Back with Team Natsu, "It's a black magic flute that will kill anyone who hears it being played!" said Lucy. Erza, who had already been going quite fast then sped up even more. "Slow down Erza! You're using too much of your magic energy!" Gray said as he leaned out the window to yell at her. "I can't slow down! There are far too many lives at stake." Dammit, what do they hope to accomplish? Justin then did something against all magimobile driving instructions, he jumped off the roof and landed behind Erza then put his hands on her shoulders. She said "What do you think you're doing Justin?" she yelled although she didn't swerve or stop the car. Justin didn't answer he merely stood there for a second. Then he said "MERCY...MAGIC!" and Erza felt warmth spread from his hands, through her shoulders and throughout her body, as she felt her magical energy replenish as Justin's went down. "Sorry if I startled you but you are the strongest one here so you're not gonna use all your power up yet." Justin said. "This is my mercy magic. I can replenish your magic, make you not feel pain or even heal you, but at the cost of my own magic, or feeling my own pain, or my own health." Erza then said. "You can heal people? That's a lost magic!" she said. "Yes but say I heal a sword cut on your arm. Your arm will be perfectly healed, but mine will be cut instead. Hence why it's called Mercy Magic. I can not harm someone with this, but I can kill them, but only if it was merciful for me too, like if they were in a lot of pain, or were terminally ill. There life will then replenish my own." Justin replied. "Wow." said Lucy. "Damn." said Natsu. Gray remained silent.
"Any other special powers up your sleeve?" Erza asked? Justin nodded. "Only one that I can do now, but I need your permission to wear the Fairy Tail symbol to do it." "Go ahead." Erza answered "Look at my scabbard, i'll watch the road" Justin said. He's insane but we've done crazier. Thought Erza as she looked at his scabbard. It was a dark blue with gold trim that went down the sides and was at the edges. The tip was steel. Also at the base, (the part where the hilt of the blade and the scabbard met), which was also gold and encrusted with what looked like sapphires, was a blank spot that had no sapphire and looked like a spot where a symbol would go Erza realised. The entire scabbard was beautiful and looked like it cost a fortune. As she looked a blue Fairy Tail symbol magically appeared on the blank spot. As she turned back to the road she asked, "Neat trick, but what did it do?" "It means anyone who wears the, our symbol" he corrected "truthfully, shall never be harmed by my blade." Erza thought that's actually a nice power to have, then again with all the brawls we get into? "What if you spar with someone?" "The blade, and my scabbard recognize traitors, practice fights, and friendly brawls, it definitely is helpful in actually combat, it also makes it so only my closest allies can wield my sword." he described. He had been talking loud enough for everyone in the back to hear as well.
"Hey Justin, thanks for that tea! It's cool being able to ride in a vehicle without getting sick for once!" said Natsu as he hung out the right side window almost like a dog and let the wind go through his hair. "This is awesome!" he then said. Justin smiled and said "No problem, I'll get you the recipe so you can make it yourself anytime."
In the town of Clover, the guild master conference was in full swing with various masters talking about current events and catching up with each other. Bob, Goldmine, and Makarov were talking about Fairy Tail's spirit, and destructiveness. A bird came flying into the hall they were meeting at and dropped a letter into Makarovs lap. "Message from Mirajane." it said as it dropped the letter. "See this is our poster girl Mirajane, grab some eye candy boys." he said as whistles and cat calls were heard from the crowd that had gathered to see the letter. "Hello Master, I'm glad you made it to the conference. Anyway I wanted to let you know that Erza, Natsu, and Gray, along with two new recruits teamed up together. And despite the fact that is has two newbies it's one of Fairy Tail's strongest teams yet! I was so excited I had to write to you right away. This is possibly the greatest thing that has ever happened to Fairy Tail!" she finished and her image disappeared. However Makarov's heart was beating extremely fast. This isn't good, those three, plus two newbies, really could destroy a whole city!
As the group arrived above Kunugi Station they saw that Eisenwald had hijacked a train. "Why would they hijack a train? It can only go two directions." said Lucy. "Yeah, but there aren't very many things that go faster, this car but only if Erza burns up her energy using it. The train is much more effective." said Justin. Erza nodded and then took started the car again before taking off. "Good thing the military knows now, right?" said Lucy. "I wish." said Natsu. "The military is horribly under equipped and under trained against a whole magical guild. They'll be slaughtered if they try anything." said Natsu. "I hate to say it be he's right." said Gray, gravely.
On the hijacked train Erigor was interrogating Kageyama about Natsu. "You let a Fairy Tail fly see the flute and then let him get away? Is this true?" Erigor asked angrily. "But it's not like he knows about our plans Sir! And even if he did it's not like his stupid guild could stop us right?" Kageyama asked. "It doesn't matter! We can't risk the plan at all! Fortunately we have a strategy in place." Erigor continued. "Right the thing at Oshibana station." said Kageyama. "We can't have harmless little flies buzzing where they don't belong. It will be up to you men to swat them!" finished Erigor. "Yes Sir!" his men replied eagerly.
Meanwhile Erza was barling through Oshibana, trying to get to the station as fast as possible. Justin had stopped replenishing her magic due to his being drained too much. She nearly hit a group of people and knocked a barrel across the road in her rush. "Slow down Erza! You're going to overload the SE plug!" said Gray desperately. "There's no time for that, we have to hurry or this town could be wiped out!" said Erza. "But at this rate you're going to use up all your magic energy!" continued Gray. "Then i'll have to rely on hand to hand combat, plus I have you four to back me up." finished Erza. Natsu meanwhile was talking to Lucy. "There was something I was supposed to tell you, I just can't remember what...sorry Lucy." Lucy shrugged. "It's alright." she said. "Happy do you remember?" he asked. "Fishy, it was something to do with fish, wait! I like fish, was that it?" thought Happy out loud. Erza turned another corner and saw the smoke rising from the station. "Oh no, what happened!" Lucy said.
This is Oshibana station. A large crowd had gathered outside the station to see what happened. The police were trying to get the crowd to disperse. "The damage was caused by a train derailment!" the cop said exasperatedly. The crowd started muttering about thugs and other various theories as the cop tried to get them to go away. Then eRza asked the cop what was going on and then knocked him out when he didn't answer. She proceeded to do this with all the cops before finally the last one answered her and she knocked him out for good measure. "Her interrogation technique seems a little counter productive." said Lucy. "Erza has her own style of doing things." said Gray. "Where are your clothes?" asked Lucy. "Eisenwald is inside, come on!" said Erza. As the group rushed in Erza fille them in. "A small army unit stormed the station earlier, they have yet to report back. My guess is they're caught in combat with the Eisenwald members." She finished just as they turned a corner and saw the army unit, it had been destroyed. "They've been completely wiped out!" said Happy. Justin crouched down and checked a body. "No pulse, they're dead." he spat angrily as he gripped his sword that was sheathed in his exquisite scabbard. "COME ON!" he said as he got up and ran ahead. The rest followed and caught up. They were aligned with Erza and Justin up front. Natsu, Gray, and Lucy in the back, with Happy flying above.
As they stepped out onto the platform they saw a large group of mainly men but some women standing in front of the derailed train as Erigor said, "Welcome to our parlor Fairy Tail flies!" as the group of wizards laughed at their leader's joke. "That's a lot of wizards." said Lucy. "You fiend, I take it your Erigor?" Erza asked the silver haired man with a giant scythe. "Hey pinkey, it's your fault that I got in trouble with Erigor!" said Kageyama to Natsu. "We are not threatened by any of you, tell us what you plan on doing with Lullaby!" demanded Erza. "What do all train stations possess?" Erigor asked as he landed on the station's speakers. "You plan on broadcasting Lullaby through the station's PA!" said Justin. "Yes, a huge crowd of nosy on lookers ripe for reaping, who knows if I turn it up enough maybe the whole city will hear my melody of death!" Erigor exclaimed. "You bastard! What do you gain from doing this?" asked Erza. "This is a cleansing on all the fools who don't acknowledge the rights they hold so dear. Who remain blissfully unaware of those who have had their rights taken from them. Therefore, the Reaper has come to punish them!" finished Erigor darkly.
"But doing that won't make your situation any better, that's why you lost your rights in the first place!" said Lucy. "We don't care about regaining our seat with the magic leagues anymore, we want power and with it the ability to control the future and wash away the sins of the past!" Erigor said. "The world will revel in a new age of darkness, too bad you Fairy Tail flies won't be able to see it!" said Kageyama as he sent three Shadow Fist's at Lucy. Natsu however blocked them with a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist. "Eisenwald dude, ready for round two?" he taunted. Erigor smirked. "I leave them to you, show them the terror of the dark guild Eisenwald!" he then teleported away. "He disappeared!" said Lucy in shock. "Natsu, Gray. Go after him, if the two of you work together not even Erigor can beat you." said Erza. However the two were arguing again. "What did I say!" yelled Erza. "AYE!" the two said and ran off. Kageyama and Rayule went after them. "We'll catch up to them once we finish off the rest of the guild." said Erza. "Us three versus a whole guild?" said Lucy. Justin then stepped forward. "I give you one, and only one, chance to surrender!" he said to the Eisenwald members. "Oh yeah, well screw you scar cheek!" said someone in the crowd. "We're going to beat you and your two girlfriends to a pulp." the same man said.
*Cue Battle Music of your choice. My recommendation: Erza's Theme OST - Extended (Can be found on Youtube)*
"I am sorry then." he said as he pulled the sword from the scabbard he had shown Erza. As he did all of the Eisenwald wizards were blinded by the light coming from the sword. Erza and Lucy had to cover their eyes but were not blinded. As the light cleared they finally saw the blade. It was a longsword, it's hilt was made of gold and it too was encrusted with sapphires, just like the scabbard. The handle was leather and wrapped with a dark blue cloth, also like the scabbard in color. The handle was capped by a silver end. The blade itself was pure steel, and it had razor's edge that looked like it could cut through almost anything. Finally engraved in the blade on the side were words that seemed to be in a language that no one there could understand, except for one which simply said, "Excalibur" in english letters.
Erza *gasped*. She recognized that name from countless ancient legends. An ancient blade wielded by countless kings that was lost tens of thousands of years ago. And Justin had it the whole time I've been traveling with him? she thought.
"What the hell was that light?" said one man. "Doesn't matter we have tons of magic swords, and swordsmen in Eisenwald!" As Justin took on one half of the charging group and Erza took the other. Justin held up his sword and then dashed through the crowd moving fast as light it seemed, cutting them down like grass to the mower. Erza did just as well, if not better. While Justin had merely struck down his opponents Erza had actually destroyed some of their weapons as well.
"Now I'll show you why I'm called Stormblade!" he said as Excalibur crackled with energy. "LIGHTNING BOLT!" he said before a large bolt of blue lightning left the sword and struck down a group of four wizards. Erza was taking on another group too, defeating up to five men at once with just her swordsmanship. Then she jumped backwards up into the air and requiped her sword into a spear. She used it's superior reach to knock back even more of the Eisenwald morons. Finally she switched from a spear into dual swords and charged into the people she had knocked back and promptly knocked them out. "Wow, she requips fast!" said Lucy. Happy nodded, "You ain't seen nothin yet, Erzas just getting started." Lucy grabbed one of her keys. "Well it's time for me to help too!" she said. "Aw don't get in her way." said Happy sadly as his ears drooped a bit.
"Open gate of the giant crab! CANCER!" A bell was heard as a part man, part crab spirit came out of the celestial gate. "You need me to take these dudes out, baby?" Cancer asked. "Yeah, take them out with style!" said Lucy. As the Eisenwald members charged the crab one of them said, "I ain't never seen anything so freakin ugly or stupid in my life." As they did Cancer moved between them cutting there hair and weapons into ribbons. "What the? We're all bald?" said the same dark wizard. "That was impressive." said Erza. Justin nodded in agreement. "Thanks, but it was no big deal." said Lucy. "Yes points scored!" "That's what you were going for!?" asked Happy. "However, the way this crab spirit calls you baby, I find it rather insulting." Erza said. "Points unscored!" said Lucy sadly. "Whoa." said the spirit as it disappeared with a flash. "Look out!" said Justin as he blocked a swing that was heading towards Erza. "No offense but forget about points and fight!" he said as he stabbed the attacker through the stomach.
Still so many, I thought we took them out. Annoying, but I'll take care of them. thought Erza as she started to requip. As her current armor was taken off and her body was enveloped in a yellowish-white light all of the Eisenwald guys thought she was stripping out of her armor. Even Justin couldn't help but look at her figure as the light seemed to barley cover her form. However once he saw the dark wizards were distracted he took the chance to say "Alright then, no more holding back for me either, BLADEDANCE!" he said as his 14 remaining swords appeared around him. Just as he did that Erza finished requiping and was in her Heaven's Wheel Armor. As she finished she was floating in the air and said, "NOW DANCE MY SWORDS!" as her 16 blades and Justin's 14 (I counted from the scene in the anime) seemed to truly dance with each other circling through Eisenwald's defenses and cutting down all of it's members, save for a few at the back of the crowd. "Woah, they took them down with a single attack!" said Lucy in shock. All that remained was two men who were facing Erza and Justin. The two Fairy's were back to back each with one blade pointed towards the two.
"Alright, you're dealing with me now!" said the skinnier man as he used a LIGHT'S BEAM type spell at the two. "Don't do it Byard, that's Titania Erza! Queen of The Fairies! And that sword, it's one from legends old as time itself!" However Byard didn't listen and Justin deflected the attack with Excalibur and Erza jumped up and cut him down. The fat man, Karacka then turn and ran away. "Lucy, go after him!" Erza said as her Heaven's Wheel Armor disappeared to be replaced by her Heart Kreuz Armor. "On it!" Lucy said as she and Happy ran out of the room.
After Lucy left Erza wavered and almost fell on one knee when Justin caught her by the arm and helped her stay standing. "You okay?" he asked. "Gray was right, I used up to much magic energy, even with yours to boost me." she replied. Justin smiled, "You know, you don't have to do things by yourself all the time, that's why we're a team, so no one person has to do all the work." he said. "True enough but I'm the leader of this team, at least right now and the strongest here." she answered back. "Yeah, well even the strongest need someone there to catch them." he said wistfully. Erza thought Sounds like there's a story behind that. I'm not going to bring it up though.
"I need to get the crowd outside to disperse." She said as she tried to walk away from Justin but she fell to one knee after a single step with an *Ugh*. "Like I said," he said, as he helped her up and made her sit on a bench, "let the others on your team help you." he finished as he picked up a megaphone and walked upstairs to make the announcement. As he walked out of Erzas line of sight, Erza smiled as she sat back and relaxed for a moment. Justin told the crowd about Eisenwald and got them to run away before telling to police to get out of there as well. Finally he walked back down and sat next to Erza. "It is done." he said.
"Thank you, hopefully less people will be killed now thanks to that. And you should of told me that Excalibur was your primary weapon. That sword is legendary" she said with just a little bit of awe in her voice. "Well it is definitely a good sword and it does augment the user's natural magic to make it stronger. It boosts my lightning magic considerably when ever I channel it through the sword. However other then that it's only abilites are to change it and it's scabbard's appearance, as well one as one other thing." He finished. "Oh? What else can it do?" she asked. "It can summon," he paused for dramatic effect. "A table." he deadpanned. Erza looked at him and said "A table?" "Well yeah, but it can adjust it's size to fit any number of people." he defended. "Okay, but why a table?" she asked. "Because Arthur and Merlin didn't want to drag the Round Table every where." he said seriously. "By the way, why did that guy call you Queen of The Faires?" he asked.
"It's a nickname I got because I always help Makarov with enforcing the rules, and I'm the strongest female wizard we have in Fairy Tail." she said. Justin laughed a bit after she finished. "What's so funny?" she asked with just a touch of anger in her voice. Is he mocking me? she thought. "Sorry," he said sincerily, "It's just people have called me a king before because of Excalibur, the only problem with that is the lands that I would be king of are underwater now, and that's why I didn't show you my sword. I was worried you'd try to treat me differently." he finished. Erza's anger evaporated immiditatly, "No, we measure you by your character not by fancy titles or anything like that. I honestly don't care that people call me Queen of The Faires." she said. "Really? I think it suits you, pun totally intended." he replied. Erza just smiled as she said, ""We should go help the others now, I'm feeling better." she said as she stood up and Justin got up after her.
A/N: Leave a review, even if you hate it I want to know why. Also to the one anomynous reviewer of the last chapter, what do you mean by Happy is cut?