"A man who wouldn't kill for something is unfit to live."
- Johannes Bolton, President of the Bolton Company
A/N: If you're enjoying the story so far, please consider writing a review!
CHAPTER 17
TRUE EVIL
Good men go to Heaven, evil men go to Hell.
That's simply the natural order of things, right? They were such pretty words, the same words we tell ourselves over and over again in times of doubt, rage, and misfortune. A sentimental code integrated with society to uphold moral standards, to usher in harmony. What stops you from murdering your wife when you discover she's been unfaithful? What prevents an emaciated peasant from swiping an apple from the fruit stall when he thinks nobody's looking?
The promise of eternal damnation, of course, the possibility of disappointing a man in the sky.
What a load of cheap, superstitious bullshit.
It's the ultimate scam, history's greatest hustle, humanity's signature lie. Johannes just wished he came up with it first. Heaven, Hell, Faith, Damnation, Salvation, these are terms used to indulge in childish fantasies, terms leaders weaponize to keep their followers muzzled and obedient. The most effective weapon in a ruler's arsenal doesn't come in the form of a blade or firearm, it's fear.
They're terrified, scared shitless of an all-knowing entity that doesn't even exist, it's the perfect con.
If he died, here and now, in this cramp, nauseating little sewer, where did he deserve to be sent to? Black Jack would crack his knuckles and march right up to the pearly gates, chest out and devious smirk unwavering. God would be there, and he'd give the oligarch a good long look, reminiscing on all the people he killed, all those he deceived and manipulated, all those he drained and traumatized in his reckless pursuit of power.
All the blood and tears he spilled, the list goes on… the sins were endless. Even the Almighty Creator had difficulty keeping track of them all.
"Jesus Christ," God would say, pinching the bridge of his nose in genuine disgust, "you, Johannes Bolton, are a fucking monster."
God snaps his fingers, and our protagonist goes to Hell.
Why though?
"Because he's terrible!" would be your immediate response. "Look what JB did to Akane, to Fairy Tail, to poor Mira! VAMPIRE!"
It would be the obvious answer, yes, but what does a man need to do to get thrown into the pit to start with? What abhorred traits must he possess? Greed? Jealousy? Hatred? Qualities we claim to detest, but refuse to acknowledge.
Without greed, there can be no innovation. Without jealousy, there can be no desire for improvement. Without hatred, there can be no justice.
And without monsters, there can be no heroes.
Hell isn't where Black Jack belonged. What he was doing was completely natural, completely necessary. Struggle breeds strength. Adversity sparks unity. God couldn't think too poorly of his actions, the big guy upstairs never lifted a finger to stop him, after all.
The Blood Queen had promised Johannes something far more suitable than any church could offer, he simply had to reach out and take it.
Let the naive and self-righteous continue fighting for a cause not even worth fighting for, the real players in the ballpark had work to do.
But that didn't necessarily mean it would be pleasant to carry out.
Bolton set his irritated, half-despondent gaze on the two Fairies snoozing dreamlessly on the harsh, icy pathway below, still contemplating the blatant idiocy of his actions. Remnants of the maiden's exquisite blood danced throughout the cavern of his sharpened teeth and tongue, but ironically, it left a sour taste in the Antegrien's mouth.
Mirajane Strauss didn't deserve that.
It seemed so reasonable just a few minutes prior. The beautiful young woman was like a slice of cake, just waiting to be eaten, to be consumed. The way her heart pounded when filled to the brim with suffocating apprehension, there was no sound in existence more pleasurable to listen to.
And so, Johannes pounced. He wanted her, so he took her, like everything else that caught his fancy, driven by pure lust and instinct, violating the purest soul imaginable in the most horrific of ways, almost butchering a child in the process.
His own sense of memory was a bit dull at the moment, courtesy of the ethernano that swamped the tunnel around them, but Jack did manage to recall one nagging little tidbit from his scuffle with the pipsqueak back there.
"Would they be proud to see what you've become, to see what you're doing with the gifts they gave you?"
He wanted to be angry, indignant at the thought of being patronized by a witless twelve-year-old, but the emotions wouldn't come to him.
Would Draclana be… disappointed? Revolted by his actions, as God would be? The man admittedly didn't know.
Johannes Bolton just stood there in dead, awkward silence. He clenched his hardened fists before setting his glare on the fissured stone wall to his left, slashed and hacked aimlessly by his magic.
Oh, what the fuck did they know? Who were they to judge him?
A dragon shouldn't concern himself with the opinions of the sheep.
Setting aside his guilt, Jack requipped a tiny, crystal clear syringe into his painfully tight grip, illuminating the tunnel in yet another radiant, crimson glow. Kneeling down, He loomed over Wendy like one of those absurdly tall guard towers in Mercurius, roughly taking hold of an arm and preparing to pierce her creamy skin.
He was only hoping to obtain a sample of Dragneel's blood during this pisspoor excuse for a vacation, this was an unexpected bonus. His original plan was to have Noda incapacitate all four of them at once before moving on to those dumbasses from Sabertooth, but that was far too risky, far too obvious. This was something that couldn't be rushed.
The needle sucked and sucked, filling the vial with rich, glorious liquid that would be used to change the world forever. It disappeared in a blinding flash of light, stored safely in a secluded, alternate dimension where it belonged.
"Ugh… oh… w-what… what happened? J-Jack?"
Two sets of shining blue eyes locked on to each other as the Demon of Fairy Tail awoke from her tireless slumber, resting a shaky hand on the ice-cold ground to support her lithe, exhausted form.
"Is that… Wendy? Is she… okay? W-What's…"
Johannes gently grasped Mira's shoulder, diverting her attention right back at him. She was dazed, lightheaded, and thoroughly lost in a state of utter confusion.
"Easy, sweet cheeks, easy," he cooed, voice filled with deceitful reassurance, "everything's going to be A-OK. Just sit back and chill for a sec, the pipsqueak's gonna be fine. Those damn bugs clipped you while your back was turned. Knocked you out cold. Can't let them get away with that now, can we? Up for a little payback?"
"What if he's dead, dude?"
"Don't be stupid, Bedford. The man's a Wizard Saint."
"Dude, can't that Fullbuster guy shoot ice out of his hands and shit? Freeze the ocean solid? Not a good match for a water mage."
"It's pitch black out there, the fog's too thick. Frosty the Snow Prick shouldn't be able to see two feet in front of him."
"Neither can Rainfall, dude."
"Whatever. Either way, shouldn't we move to a different position if the ship's been compromised? Who knows how many of them were able to bust through the barrier? Why are we-"
"Because your Lord Admiral commanded it, sailor," Captain Fairweather snapped from nearby, interrupting their conversation, "if he tells you to wait, you will wait, if he tells you to fight, you will fight, if he tells you to die, you will die. Either we return to Sailor's Hill with Arlon, or not at all. Now cut the chatter."
Flinching ever so slightly, the pair stood to attention and nodded. "Aye, sir."
The officer sounded so confident, but he himself wasn't fond of those daunting words he so openly preached. Their leader dove headfirst into the raging currents below, with no assurances of his safety, or any knowledge of what was really out there. If he were to fall in battle, who was to take his place? Governor Rogers? The Baylon boy? Not exactly pristine options.
"The tides…"
Fairweather's calculated gaze shifted to the main deck behind him.
"... they're angry. Angry at us. We need to set things right. We must honour the tides."
Oh, brother. Not this hogwash again.
"What are you yammering on about now, old man?"
"The Cobalt Sea, Captain. We've upset her. We must turn this ship around before it's too late, or else the depths will swallow us all."
Bloody Tidesages. The sailor never particularly liked them, a sentiment shared by most reasonable inhabitants along the Southern Coast. Their lot preferred form over function, tradition to reason, if not for the Brotherhood's unmatched comprehension of water magic, Arlon would have dismissed them from the navy years ago.
"Innocents… we've endangered countless innocents… why? To stroke an angry boy's ego?"
Annoyed, the officer adjusted his feathered hat before spitting out a careless reply, laced to the brim with disinterest. "Return to your post. This is the army, not a sharing circle. Empty words are better left unsaid."
The edges of the mage's robes fluttered in the wind. "Who possesses more of your loyalty, Captain, your king, or your lord?"
"Our king doesn't have the stomach for war, nor is he capable of winning one."
"So loyalty belongs to the strong? To the brutal?"
"No, it belongs to men who earn it. I live in a place called reality, Tidesage, not a fantasy world where you sing a little song and expect peace and prosperity to just fall in your lap."
"Reality is ugly, sir, however, I'm not the one straying from its path. Rainfall respects you, Fairweather, he acknowledges your abilities as an officer. It's not too late to set things right, to sway our lord in a harmonious direction. Talk to him. Make him see the light. This dishonour can be scrubbed away only if he allows it."
"To think that you know better than the Guardian of the Cobalt Sea is a treasonous idea. Get back to work."
The elderly wizard wrung his sagging fingers, unsurprised by the mariner's response. He hoped that young Baylon wouldn't follow in his big cousin's footsteps, he hoped that little Severa and Lyana wouldn't be used as thoughtless, political bargaining tools, and, most of all, he hoped that the outcome of this disaster would miraculously prove to be beneficial, that a better tomorrow would be ushered in for Southern Coast, somehow. But that hope was pitifully far-fetched.
Grimacing, the Tidesage turned towards his hooded compatriots, still chanting quietly in unison, following their orders like a pack of thoughtless dogs. This isn't why the Brotherhood was formed. Not at all. They say that it's unwise to play with fire, but from his experience, playing with water could prove to be equally as hazardous.
"What was that?"
"Hm? I didn't hear anything."
"There it was again! Captain, something's climbing up the hull!"
There was scratching, loud enough to echo across the deck, creating a chilling, haunting atmosphere for the already paranoid crewmen. Alarmed, a handful of soldiers rushed over to their comrade's position, rifles at the ready, gathering in a semi-circle and preparing to blast anyone or anything foolish enough to board their ship. Most of the lanterns have been blown out, and the fog was so thick that they couldn't simply lean over the railing to see where those sounds were coming from.
Fairweather had a nagging feeling he already knew who it was.
"Cease fire," came a familiar, commanding voice, "I rather like this tunic. Don't even think about littering it with bullet holes."
Arlon hauled himself effortlessly over the banister as his shocked subordinates lowered their weapons, standing at his full height like some kind of revered deity. Tiny droplets of water fell from the ends of his uniform. There were specks of crimson decorating the ridges of the noble's hand, it didn't take a genius to pinpoint where it came from. The Captain considered offering the man a towel but ultimately decided against it.
"Fullbuster, sir?"
"The issue's been resolved."
"Meaning?"
"He'll be sleeping with the fishes tonight."
Captain Fairweather bit his tongue in alarm before replying. "It was foolish to block your path, my lord. I suppose Fairy Tail will-"
"Bring the wall down. This farce has proceeded long enough. Weigh anchor and release the main sail. Set a course for Throne Harbour, we'll change our colours once we reach the open ocean. If we move quickly, we should arrive before dawn."
"The 7th Legion hasn't given us the signal to depart yet, sir."
"Our mission was to garner terror. We succeeded. I will not jeopardize Rainfall lives by lingering here a second more than necessary. Bolton's message was sent. His little temper tantrum has been unleashed on Akane's populace. We're done here."
The Wizard Saint shifted that expressionless glance of his to the aging Tidesage, the one who was questioning his leader's morality and motivations mere minutes before.
"The Three Roses. I want them to see it. I want them to fear it. Do as we discussed."
There was no immediate reaction from the senior's bearded lips.
"Apologies, did I stutter?"
With great reluctance and another warning glare from his Captain, the Tidesage wandered off to do as he was told, joining his brothers in spellcraft to prepare the Admiralty's final surprise. They chanted, they sang, in timed, perfect unison, forming a large, singular magic circle on deck, replacing the numerous smaller ones.
The sea rumbled. Everyone was blinded by a brilliant azure hue that began stretching across for miles. This siege has already reached its climax, now it's time for the conclusion.
Arlon held both hands behind his back, walking by the mob of astonished sailors as the cyclone of fog began clearing up, brightened and cast aside by his scorching, inescapable fury.
Any doubt of the war he's been fighting, any criticism or denouncements of his actions, of his treatment of the invaders, will drown after tonight.
Foreign Rights Act… just the mention of it was enough to sour his mood.
He'll strip those rights away, one by one, bit by bit, until all screams for liberty have been silenced, and all impurities have been expelled from the realm.
Thunder… thunder, screams, and agony…
Those are the sounds that welcomed Kagura of Mermaid Heel as she returned to the world of the living, the sounds that she had grown so intimately familiar with as a mere child, as she fled from the Cult of Zeref and hid as they slaughtered her friends and family. It reminded the warrior of Simon, of the last day she saw him, of how peaceful Rosemary Village appeared that fateful morning, of how easily all those houses and people burned for no other reason than some madman willed it.
However, she did learn an important lesson that day, there is no fate, there is no luck, only destructive, emotional concepts that motivate you to hold your head high and keep moving forward, such as revenge.
The woman detested those sounds, detested the cacophony of suffering that roared throughout the coastline, but she especially detested the fact that she didn't have a clue of how she ended up here, on the sand, Archenemy laying pointlessly beside her.
"That's a relief," came a memorable, joyous voice, "I thought you were dead."
"Millianna?" Kagura croaked, groaning in pain as she sat up and examined her thigh, bandaged hastily with a few excess scraps of cloth by unskilled hands. In addition to all that, the Mermaid had a dreadfully splitting headache, as if someone bashed her skull like a church bell. Her mind was in pieces, and her ability to recall anything other than her own name was violently stripped away.
"Easy, easy," the cat-lover mewed, kneeling down to soothe her fallen compatriot, "it's alright. Try not to move, okay? Those guys got you pretty bad, we don't want the wound opening up any further now, do we?"
Kagura's amber irises widened, there were bruises, ugly splotches of black and purple scattered along Millianna's lithe, delicate neck.
"We were attacked? By who?"
"I dunno, Kagy, but with the condition you're in right now, I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope they don't come back."
Wait, a ship… the lady remembered seeing a ship… the shadowy silhouette of a naval vessel floating arrogantly near the shore, doubtlessly manned by the culprits responsible for this whole endeavor. Kagura was in the middle of formulating a plan when they encountered a squadron of unmarked soldiers, mercenaries, most likely.
Then… she and Millianna were ambushed, it was all coming back to her now, and the floodgates of her consciousness slowly creaked open. There were blades, parries, pirouettes…
… and ears. Long, thin, and pointed.
"Elves," the Mermaid spat, ignoring the jagged agony that spread through her limbs, "those gutless cowards. One of them incapacitated you from behind as I dueled with their ringleader. Those unidentified men we subdued earlier must have been under their payroll. It was foolish of me to rule out Rayne Clover as a suspect. That bitch has made her hatred of Fiore blatantly obvious in the past."
"Rayne Clover? The activist?"
"No, Millianna, not activist. Terrorist. The Magic Council must hear of this."
Kagura Mikazuchi held no love for the Southern Coast, detesting the way they treated women, immigrants, and just about anyone else the Admiralty didn't approve of, but senseless barbarity would never erase those prejudices, would never usher in a new, better way of doing things. Arlon Rainfall was a wicked tyrant, but he was far more preferable than the elvish guerillas who revel in stirring up public terror.
"Another name to add to my list," the young fighter thought, "right next to Jellal's."
"Well," Millianna said clumsily, "at least we know where to start searching, although convincing the Admiralty to let us through the Stormwall isn't going to be fun."
"Oh, we're getting through alright, one way or the other."
More rustling emanated from the darkened foliage nearby, catching both mages' attention. Kagura instinctively reached for her katana, but still couldn't muster the energy to stand, forcing herself into a kneeling position and shoving the pointed tip of her blade into the ground shakily for support.
The other Mermaid put a comforting hand on her shoulder before readying a swift and decisive spell, ready to be flung at someone at a moment's notice.
"Don't worry, Kagy, this is what we trained for, right?"
A pair of shadowy figures emerged, accompanied by the faint yet unmistakable sound of rattling chainmail.
"Captain, we've got two live ones here!"
"Stop! Don't move! Put the weapon down!"
The women were greeted by white cloaks and navy blue tabards, accompanied by holy crosses sewn on the chest, worn by men wielding intricate long staves that seemed almost too large and impractical to carry around on a battlefield. Kagura honestly wasn't sure whether she should feel relieved or disheartened by their ambiguous arrival, Rune Knights did have a nasty, continuous habit of getting in her way.
"Your sword," one of them yelled out, "drop it, girl! I won't ask a third time!"
"Enough, Corporal, save your bellowing for the dark wizards."
The soldier who seemed to be leading them, lanky and imposing, pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his spearlike nose before calmly making an approach, taking extra care not to make any sudden movements that might alarm the already cautious guild mages.
"Hey, I remember you," Millianna quipped, "you were a commentator during the Grand Magic Games."
"Indeed," the other woman added, "Lahar, was it?"
The Captain glowered down at the pair as if unsure whether or not he could trust them, given the circumstances. "Yes. I'm surprised that a legal guild was able to deploy any significant forces to Akane before we did. Mermaid Heel is tens of miles away, how could you possibly get here so quickly?"
Kagura frowned at what he was implying, still wincing in discomfort due to her injury. "We were on a job in the area, to clear out some dangerous wildlife. We heard that our comrades from Fairy Tail were staying at the resort nearby, so I wanted to stop by and say hello. Nobody expected the oceans to turn."
"Hm," Lahar hummed, looking down at her pitifully-bandaged leg, "how dexterous. We'll get that properly looked at then we can discuss what happened, Ms. Mikazuchi."
The cat lover's lips curled into an indignant pout. "Hey! Excuuuuuuse me for not going to med school!"
"Really? I never would have guessed. This looks like it was done by a child for her school project."
"Listen to me!" The swordswoman cut in. "Tartaros isn't behind this mess, sir, it's the elves! They struck from the trees while we were searching for a way through the barrier. There's an unidentified warship idling out in th-"
RUUUUUUMMMMMMBBBBBBLLLLLLEEEEEE!
"HOLD YOUR GROUND, MEN!"
"CAPTAIN, WHAT'S HAPPENING?!"
"HOLD YOUR GROUND, DAMNIT!"
An earthquake. The mages were certainly getting sick of those at this point. Unpredictable, relentless trembling echoed, once again, across Akane and beyond, the chaos spreading all the way to their party's relatively exposed position on the strident beachhead. The Rune Knights yelled out in surprise and braced themselves against their staves, some flat-out falling right onto their faces. The stench of saltwater and marine life ran rampant around their nostrils.
A shine of radiant blue glimmered brightly in the distance, an unknown, luminescent beacon of ethernano and sorcery, casting aside the hazy tempest of mist that obstructed their vision of the Cobalt Sea. There was a ship indeed, it was undeniable now, with a hull comprised of formidable pyrewood and sails of tattered green. The rumbling simmered into an eerie silence, and the unit scrambled to get back into formation.
"What kind of magic is this?!"
"Look at the sails, Captain! Three Roses! Elvaran guerrillas, it has to be!"
"Why the hell would they give away their position?"
"They're called terrorists for a reason, Corporal, they want us to know it's them. There's nothing we can do to retaliate, not from here."
Kagura snorted in disbelief, finally, yet painfully, managing to stand. "You're not even going to bother trying, Rune Knight?"
"What would you have me do?" Lahar snapped. "Unless you've got a schooner hiding under that skirt of yours, there's no realistic way of confronting them. There are two dozen guns on that ship, even if we did have a vessel, they would sink us before we had the chance to board."
"How did a pack of starving bandits get their hands on a military-grade frigate in the first place? Do you think it's one of Rainfall's?"
"Most likely, but that's not our primary concern right now. We have to secure and fortify the bay, that is our mission."
Millianna's eyes widened in a mixture of shock and genuine relief, pointing her manicured finger in Sin City's direction.
"Kagy, the wall!"
The unshakable pillars together made a ferocious, hydraulic barrier, but cracks in the once great, monumental structure abruptly began making themselves known. It reminded the Ace of Mermaid Heel as a circular waterfall, the liquid collapsing back to the earth as an endless series of splashes reverberated across the clearing. She could see it now… the tall, flashy buildings, the giant Ferris wheel Beth and Risley had told her so much about, the sumptuous hotels and seedy casinos.
The barrier had been abolished, the siege lifted voluntarily by their enemies. Endless gallons of water flowed rapidly back to the ocean as if the imposing wall was never there. Perhaps they simply ran out of magic power? No… that can't be it… surely they would have kept that in mind before casting the spell to start with. This wasn't over yet.
Everything appeared to be relatively untouched, there were no fires or significant damage to any buildings, as far as she could tell. To put it bluntly, there were no obvious problems to deal with.
"Squad, move out! To Akane! Mikazuchi, stay here with your companion, our medic will tend to you. This discussion will have to be continued later."
"I'm afraid I have to insist," Kagura said through gritted teeth, "as long as I can hold a blade, I can fight. A close friend of mine is lost in there somewhere, Mermaid Heel has no intention of sitting this out. We could be walking into a trap, you'll need all the swords you can get."
A smug look from Millianna opted Lahar to breathe out in patent annoyance. "Very well. You battled with that Celestial Wizard from Sabertooth and won, so I suppose this shouldn't be much more of a hassle. Stay close, Mermaid."
Coughing. Terrible, desperate coughing. A loud, pitiful sound caught the group's attention, forcing twenty sets of eyes to gaze further down the beach. Something had washed ashore, courtesy of the sudden shift in the tides' unpredictable behaviour.
"What the… where did that one come fr-"
"My God, he's still breathing! Get a medic, get a medic now!"
A shirtless, muscled body, laying face down, covered in varying streaks of sand and blood. The young man looked like he was clawing tooth and nail for the basic need to survive, a large, hand-sized hole blown grotesquely into his back and out of his stomach.
Kagura didn't waste a second, rushing over at speeds thought impossible for someone with such a dire leg injury. The other Mermaid and a handful of Rune Knights joined her only moments later, all gathering around the boy to determine what had happened.
"Ugh, you see that wound? This guy's toast."
"Shut up, man, he'll make it! Medic, goddamnit!"
"Sir, we don't have time for this! Tens of thousands of civilians are at risk while we're stuck tending to one."
"He could be a witness, he could identify who's behind this mess!"
The swordswoman ignored their senseless hollering as she examined the stranger's flesh, torn like venison. His breathing was ragged, desperate, it made her stomach churn. That emblem… imprinted firmly on his chest, she knew it all too well.
Fairy Tail.
"Gray Fullbuster," Kagura concluded, gently grasping his head and checking his pulse, "what have those marauders done to you?"
A member of the greatest guild in Fiore, one of their elite, paralyzed with shock and struggling for air, not a welcoming sight. The ice mage's eyelids were shut tight, doubtlessly replaying the events that led him to this broken shoreline over and over again in the back of his mind. The Mermaid didn't seem overly concerned.
"I've seen you and your allies compete in the Grand Magic Games, stand up to Raven Tail, to dragons. This is nothing. You'll pull through. Now, Captain Lahar, I believe there's a city that's in dire need of relieving."
"What do you mean you lost her?"
Gajeel flinched in agitation, doing his best to appear guiltless, but failed to maintain that scowling, apathetic demeanor he was so used to portraying when in the presence of a guildmate.
The Dragon Slayer liked to think words, regardless of context, didn't have any effect on him, as if they would bounce off his skin like flies to insect repellent. However, the accusation stung, far more than he was willing to admit, and the fact that it came from the mouth of one of the most insufferable pricks in all of Magnolia didn't do a whole lot to brighten his mood.
"Do I need to spell it out for you, Lightning Rod?"
"You said you'd watch over the kid, keep her safe," Laxus barked, his hands pulsating with darkened sparks of electricity, "I guess that was too much to ask."
"Screw you! I said I'd track down the stupid bugs, not babysit. The little tyke's one of us, she'll pull through."
"Hope your carelessness didn't cost us our only healer. I'm okay with losing that Bolton scumbag, but not Wendy. She's got more heart than you and Salamander put together."
How hypocritical. The younger Fairy too was concerned for their blue-haired friend's safety, but couldn't suppress a derisive snort as the pair angrily continued their journey, still keeping a sharp eye out for any springtail queens.
"Funny how you're concerned about family all of the sudden. Didn't see you fawning over anybody during that BS stunt in Magnolia, when you, oh… I dunno… threatened to kill us all."
"You really going to keep bringing that up, Gajeel? I did what I thought was best for the growth and future of my guild. Nobody was supposed to get hurt. Too badly. The Thunder Palace wasn't meant to kill anyone, just scare 'em a bit."
Instead of another snort, the S-Class mage's claim was acknowledged with a fit of mocking laughter as Gajeel stopped walking and immediately spun around.
"Right, right. Was casting Fairy Law not supposed to hurt anyone either? Or was it dumb luck that it turned out to be a dud?"
Something unreadable passed through Laxus' shadowy, greenish eyes. "You're no saint yourself, Gajeel. I haven't forgotten what you did to our guildhall, to Levy. You nailed her to that tree like a damn wall hanging. The worst part is that you took pleasure in it. So who's hurt Fairy Tail more here? Think carefully."
"Keep talking, and I'm gonna-"
BANG!
Something sudden and deleterious roared down the sweltering tunnel, followed by a feral screech of unimaginable pain.
"Courtesy of the First Amendment, you have the right to sit the fuck down!"
Their sharp ears picked up a familiar voice amongst the chorus of destruction, accented and masculine, it wasn't difficult to determine who it belonged to.
"Black Jack?"
"Yup. Come on."
Neither of them knew much about firearms in general, but the unsubtle volumes such weapons tended to exhibit were rather difficult to miss. Guided by their ears, the Dragon Slayers were led further down the corridor, making a quick left to reveal exactly where those bullets came from.
"Huh. You're the ugliest insects I've seen all day. Reach for the sky, motherfuckers! Any sudden moves and pa-pow!"
A carapace, riddled with holes and oozing puss, lay lifelessly on the floor, its dozens of spider-like legs twitching pathetically in a desperate, last-ditch effort to escape the vengeful Antegrien's wrath. A queen.
"Laxus, Gajeel!"
The pair was mildly unsettled when Mira volunteered to pair up with Johannes at the beginning of this excursion, but ultimately didn't think much of it. The Strauss matriarch was easily one of the toughest women they ever met, perhaps it was silly to believe even for a moment she could be in any real trouble. If she could handle Freed, if she could go toe-to-toe with Erza, then she could handle this guy, but that's not who they were truly concerned about.
"Wendy," the Iron Dragon huffed, in a tone uncharacteristic of his usual behaviour, "what the hell happened?"
The girl in question stood meekly behind Jack's imposing form like a bashful child at the playground, as if someone was looking to nick her lunch money. Her beady little eyes were, unsurprisingly, filled with apprehension, but it was clear something was off. Wendy's skin was deathly pale, similar to that of a phantom, and judging by her expression, you'd think she just had a run-in with one. She appeared exhausted, with a noticeable slouch, her tiny hands trembling nonstop.
"What did you do to her, Yankee?"
If Johannes was afraid, he showed no hint of it. "Always jumping to conclusions, Black Steel. Must say, I find it insulting that you think every microscopic problem in the universe is my fault somehow."
Laxus planted a hand firmly on his enraged colleague's shoulder. "Easy. Don't do anything Salamander would do."
"It's… it's okay, Gajeel," a tiny voice cut in, almost robotically, "Mr. Bolton protected Mira and me from the springtails when we were knocked unconscious, he dragged us to safety."
"Yes, everything's alright, boys," the Demon added, "Jack can be trusted. Wendy's fine."
The black-haired man acknowledged their pleas with a resounding grunt but refused to divert his suspicious glare from Johannes' complacent, self-serving face. Laxus cocked an eyebrow and folded his burly arms.
"Unconscious? How?"
"Their venom, of course," the brunet explained, "it's very potent. Happens to the best of us, but don't worry, it should be out of the ladies' system by now."
Gajeel snorted and gazed at the abnormally large carcass with a semi-approving nod. "Fine. One less to deal with. Guess you're good for something other than counting coppers. Good to know."
"Eh. Fuck you."
"So, um, how do the drones know when a queen dies?" Wendy questioned. "Most of them are crawling above ground."
"They emit signals through their antennae, without orders, these things got nothing. They'll piss off at the first given opportunity."
"But remember what Erza said? These broods have been genetically altered. Earth or nature magic would be my guess. We don't know what's going to happen, it's just a theory."
"Yeah, and where would they even go? The city's walled off."
"At the very least it would take some heat off the others. C'mon, let's find the rest of them."
A shine of hindered moonlight, a streak of brilliant blue gleaming through the darkness, peered through a rusty sewage manhole directly above where the party was conversing. Fittingly enough, Mira glowed like an ascending angel, an angel who's been sneaking around a sewage system, but an angel nonetheless. There was no hiding it now. Laxus and Gajeel stared at the girl with disturbed, unreadable expressions.
Bite marks.
There was a pair of dots, small yet discernable, printed firmly on the flawless skin of her neck. Where could they have possibly come from? Who could they have possibly come from? Not a mosquito, that's for damn sure. It seemed too perfect, too clean, to be done by an animal. Only one way to find out.
The Iron Dragon lunged before his guildmate had the chance to comment, clenching a rough, scratchy fist around Johannes' unsuspecting throat. Wendy and Mirajane yelped in surprise as Black Jack was forced back into the harsh, cobblestone wall, landing with a resounding thud, blue eyes wide with alarm. He lifted his gun hand, aiming to get a quick and clear shot, but his wrist was intercepted before he could pull the trigger.
"Gajeel," Laxus warned, "think about what you're doing."
"What's there to think about?! Those spots weren't there before, and now they are. This bastard was with her the whole time. You like sucking on models, Antegrien?!"
You don't see Johannes speechless too often. He was shocked, inwardly cursing himself for not covering them up, an amateurish mistake. In this business, the slightest details could mean the difference between life and death.
The young man began gasping for air as that resentful grip tightened. Redfox, ironically, had him trapped in a very similar position to when he cornered the barmaid. It seems Karma had every man's number, even his. Gajeel was far stronger than Bolton originally anticipated. His left arm was free, but from this angle, it would do little good.
"Y-URK-You better get your fucking hands off me."
"Why? So you can bite me too? Freaking pervert."
"Alright, I've seen enough. Let him go."
"PISS OFF, LIGHTNING ROD!" The Dragon Slayer roared, not breaking eye contact with Jack's squirming, panicked form.
Sighing in annoyance, Laxus grabbed his unruly comrade from behind in a redoubtable headlock, dragging him backward as he kicked his feet wildly in outrage, hissing out insults and demanding to be released.
Johannes collapsed on his ass, inhaling greedily for oxygen as his pistol fell abruptly to the ground. His shock was gone as quickly as it came, replaced with sheer, unadulterated rage. Bolton scrambled to get back up, gritting his teeth and snarling like a rabid crocodile.
"YOU'VE GOT A FUCKING PAIR ON YOU, REDFOX! I'LL BLOW YOUR GODDAMN BRAINS OUT!"
"Your threats don't scare me, you lying prick!"
With a single flash of radiant, crimson light, the oligarch was holding a rather intimidating pump-action shotgun, pointing the barrel right at Gajeel's skull. He didn't appear concerned that someone else was standing literally right behind him.
"This is a stand-your-ground, homeboy!"
"Stop it!"
Mirajane was quick to get between them, bravely, or perhaps foolishly, putting herself in the line of fire.
"I got bitten by a springtail before getting knocked out, Gajeel! Calm down!"
"That's no damn springtail bite I've seen!"
"But it's true!" Wendy was quick to join in. "It was a juvenile, a lot smaller than the adults, it got her from behind! Mr. Bolton, please put the gun away!"
"That's it, you dumbass bag of bolts," Jack thought, "there's no way you'll find out what really happened. Their memories of the past ten minutes have been scrubbed clean, replaced like panty liners. Good fucking luck getting 'em back."
"Save it for the enemy, Gajeel."
His features slackened in alarm as he realized his mistake. Good thing Levy wasn't here to see this. Finally seeing reason, the bloodthirsty Fairy relented, gesturing to be let go.
"Fine."
The tension amongst their tiny group seemed to subside as Bolton lowered his weapon, offering quite a nasty leer to his assailant.
"Fine? Yeah, sure, my neck muscles might have been dislodged, but hey, everything's fine. What do you think I am anyway, a vampire?"
More barbaric hissing, more growling, more unpleasantries. The heroes' attention was captured, yet again, by a series of hasty crawling and skittering movements further down the tunnel. Multiple silhouettes could be seen, casting shadows that were far larger than the springtails' actual size.
"Well, that makes things easier. Drinks are on whoever kills the least of these shitbirds."
They lined up like a firing squad, a Petri dish of iron, lightning, wind, and bullets, preparing to enact a swift yet horrific punishment.
"Feel that? We're having a moment! Only super best buddies execute monsters together!"
"What? Why the heck not?"
Furrowing her thin eyebrows in agitation, Lucy clamped both pale hands over her boisterous friend's mouth, effectively shutting him up and stopping any more blatant, unwanted nonsense from pouring out for all the world to hear.
"They've got a lot on their plate right now, Natsu. Now's. Not. The time."
"But you know what he did to your dad, right? We can't trust him."
Agreed. Out of literally anyone the blonde has ever met in her travels, even considering all those cutthroat thieves and murderous dark mages, all those corrupt guildmasters and magistrates, Black Jack Bolton was easily the most untrustworthy person to slither into the flaming heap of chaos that was her life.
Why does a single man need a private army, hundreds of thousands strong? Why does a single man feel the need to hook his claws in everything, to keep growing? What was the point, the purpose? What else could he possibly want? Just another bottomless pit of rapacity and self-gain.
To make matters worse, he allegedly paid for it all with a fortune that rightfully belonged to her father.
"Look, Johannes probably doesn't have anything to do with what happened here tonight, it's entirely unrelated to his company's past actions. We get out of this alive, then we tell Erza and Makarov." Lucy glanced briefly in the swordswoman's direction and shuddered. "Plus, do you really want to talk to her right now? I mean… yikes."
Natsu folded his arms and huffed. "That damn stripper's really in for it this time. It was nice knowing him."
There are three things all wise Fairies fear, the sea in a storm, a night with no moon, and the wrath of Erza Scarlet.
Titania stood diligently by the refugees' side, blade in hand, scanning the barricaded lobby for anyone or anything eligible to slice like bladed grass. The woman didn't appear to be in a particularly forgiving mood. They say it hurts more when a parent is disappointed rather than angry, but with the redheaded S-Class mage they've grown to know and love, it was very much the opposite.
Scoldings and the occasional smack on the head were one thing, but dead, seething silence was another matter entirely, such as what she was portraying at this very moment. You knew you were in for it when her response wasn't instantaneous, that meant she was contemplating what was to be done with you.
Part of Lucy thought Erza did it on purpose, building suspense and sparking terror in whoever was foolish enough to break the guild's rules or protocols, but of course, she had no way of knowing.
That day on Galuna Island was an experience the blonde never wanted to replicate, the way the knight seethed and glared when she caught her working a job she had no business working. The Celestial Wizard thought her reaction was a tad bit harsh but never had the nerve to voice her complaints.
This, however, was different.
Gray disobeyed a direct order in a time of war, where tens of thousands of lives depended on their nimble, collective actions. A single unruly fighter could spoil the bunch, now their remaining ranks were burdened with worry, confusion, and hostility.
There was enough rumbling going on outside that you'd think the bloody sky was falling. The casino they locked themselves in was perched on a conveniently elevated position, a hilly surface, it was the ideal choice for a holdout. It had no windows, however, so that wasn't exactly comforting. There was no way of telling what was out there unless you wanted to end up as a midnight snack.
"Everyone, remain calm! we're safe here!" Titania addressed the crowd. "Rune Knight forces should dispel the barrier within the hour! Fairy Tail is out hunting as we speak!"
"What if no one's coming?" One of the many policemen questioned, setting down his ichor-stained shield. "Why don't we send your boy Salamander out there to roast those things like fucking marshmallows?"
"Shut your mouth, Daniels," a Sergeant barked, "everyone's staying put! Those doors aren't opening until the threat's been neutralized!"
Erza felt a hand tug on her armoured shoulder. "Hey, someone should be out there looking for Gray. Anything could have happened to him if he beelined it to the shore. Juvia's whining is really starting to get on my nerves."
The redhead grunted indifferently. "Overgrown insectoids are no match for him, Cana, but if the fool insists on risking his life for the sole purpose of hogging everyone's glory, then that's his decision."
"Hm. Whatever you say, boss. The last time you were here you got kidnapped, and now this. This place is freaking cursed."
"Yes, well, that's fate for you. For us, it's never seemed to be especially kind. We'll all have plenty of time to relax after we're dead."
THUD!
"S-Somthing's trying to get in!"
The massive oak doors holding the elements back clanged, threatening to undo the small mountain of furniture, slot machines, and the assortment of other items stacked against it on the other side.
"Natsu, Lucy!"
Fists ablaze and gate keys in hand, the mages scrambled to get into formation as the ragtag mob of civilians rushed back even further down the overly crowded room. Erza, Cana, and Juvia were by their side in an instant, the riot squad gathering to form a defensive line behind them. These people have seen enough ruination for one day, but, unfortunately, peace is often obtained through feats of violence.
"Magic!"
Dazzling beams of purple peered through the cracks, adding to the already tense atmosphere. Erza tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. So the springtails were merely a distraction to soften them up? To pave the way for some kind of invasion? No matter. The woman was sure Natsu held no qualms about it, brawling with other wizards was clearly his most treasured pastime.
With a swift blast of ethernano, the towering door was knocked right off its gilded hinges, scattering the casino's lavish furnishings in almost every other direction as it landed with a resounding crash. Screams echoed throughout the chamber behind them as multiple figures of the unwelcoming night marched right inside.
Two figures, that once were set in a certain light, appeared oddly recognizable.
"Kagura?" Titania uttered in fragrant disbelief, lowering her weapon.
"Hello, Erza," came the Mermaid's relatively lifeless reply, bowing her head in a humble show of respect, "It was foolish of me to believe you found yourself in any real danger. Good to see you alive and well."
The knight, letting out a sigh of relief, wasn't even able to get one more word in before a flash of hazelnut brown collided right into her chest, knocking the air out of her lungs and nearly tackling her to the floor.
"ERZY! I missed you! ImissedyouImissedyouImissedyou!"
"Millianna!" Erza chuckled as the shorter girl nuzzled into her breastplate. "You're a sight for sore eyes."
"Woah, easy, copper," Cana motioned for the agitated Sergeant to back down, "they're with us."
"I'm grateful for the timely arrival. What are you two doing here?" Her gaze set worriedly on their saviour's mutilated leg. "I'm no expert, but that will only worsen without proper care. You need a doctor. So those bugs got to you too, didn't they?"
The other swordswoman brushed some stray bits of debris off her blazer before glaring darkly at nothing in particular. "Thank you, but I'll manage. There are powers involved in this calamity that are far more malignant than I initially realized. The Southern Coast of Fiore has crawled right into our backyard."
"Seriously? The Admiralty? Those freaking Rainfalls are calling the shots?" Natsu questioned with a fold of his arms.
"No," Kagura simmered, "by someone else entirely. Besides, I'm lucky in comparison to your…"
Mikazuchi stopped herself just as she realized the severity of the words she just spoke in such a thoughtless tone. Stunned silence reverberated along the tiled walls.
"Who?"
She bit her lip in discomfort as she formulated an appropriate answer. "That ice mage, Gray Fullbuster. Direly injured, but stable."
Juvia's reaction was immediate and predictably ear-shattering. Lower lip quivering and tears threatening to spill down her pale, youthful face, Juvia slipped down to her knees on the cold, unloving ground.
"MY DARLING, I'M SORRY I WASN'T THERE TO PROTECT YOU! FORGIVE ME!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Millianna soothed, putting her gloved hands up in an attempt to soothe the lovesick rain woman. "He's fine, he fine! The Rune Knights are stitching him up as we speak, Gray's gonna be alright!"
Erza shredded her teeth together, Lucy tried but failed to stifle a despairful gasp, and Natsu simply growled, more furious than concerned.
"We found him on the beachhead to the east. The man deserves a little credit, he did manage to find a way past the water barrier, after all."
"Where is he now?" Juvia sniffed.
"A medical bay has been established near McCarren International, he's being treated alongside hundreds of others. Our robed friends are battling those savage insect hordes as we speak."
"And how did you even get here?"
"Take a look outside, Erza," the Mermaid stated calmly, "we walked right in. We had nothing to with it, the enemy dispelled the wall all on their own, assuming there wasn't some shadowy third party involved, this is all part of their plan."
"A part of whose plan?" The water mage demanded, looking up with sorrowful, indigent pupils burning with an unmistakable rage that the other Fairies had rarely seen the gentle girl use before now.
Wordlessly, Kagura pointed out the door and into the sky. True to her word, the blanket of stars and moon was visible once more, albeit with a single, aberrant change. A pattern… no, a hieroglyph, sat unchallenged hundreds of feet in the air, comprised entirely of magic. It glowed and beamed like all other magical structures conjured up that evening, a message of terror.
"ELVES!" Someone yelled from the crowd. "WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS THEM!"
"POINTY-EARED FREAKS!"
"FOREIGN TRASH!"
"THEY'LL TAKE OUR CHILDREN! PLEASE PROTECT US!"
So this was their end goal.
The Elvarans want them scared, weakened, demoralized, but this would do nothing to hinder their resolve. Guerrilla commandos murdered the honourable Ryhard Rainfall to invoke discord and panic, this little outburst is no different. Fairy Tail will stand ready against the thieves and rebels that are blind enough to kill in the name of freedom, they'll be cut down just as easily and painfully as any human would.
Either way, the many grasslands of the Southern Coast shall run red with elvish blood.
"W-What are we going to do?" A policeman spat out amongst the outcry.
"Well, the same thing as any other pest problem, of course, you hire an exterminator."
Brash, bold, unwavering, Natsu and the others knew that voice all too well.
"Pardon me, professional badasses coming through."
Johannes Bolton stormed right past the contingent of Rune Knights guarding the entranceway, who made no effort to stop the Antegrien upon recognizing him. The Celestial Wizard felt her stomach turn, hiding her distasteful glower behind a curtain of golden locks.
Salamander seemed like he wanted to knock the oligarch's teeth in, but Lucy was quick to calm her friend down, taking his hand firmly in hers and staring at him with stern yet pleading eyes. Natsu balled a fist and huffed. Just the sight of the girl was enough to douse his flaming-hot temper.
"Not today," she whispered, "not like this."
"Hey, it's Johannes!" someone pointed out excitedly.
The Fairies breathed out a collective sigh of relief as the businessman was trailed closely behind by four others, reeking of sewer, bug guts, and the stench of combat. Laxus, Gajeel, Wendy, and of course, Mirajane… they wouldn't be here if they didn't finish their task. None of them appeared to have any serious injuries, but they weren't exactly jumping for joy at their achievement. Seeing that terrorist emblem in the sky must have gotten them somewhat up to speed with what's been happening above ground.
Kagura was usually quite proficient in the art of suppressing her emotions, but the unexpected and unflattering appearance of everyone's favourite aristocrat put that talent to the test.
"Mr. Bolton," she spat the word out as if it was venomous, "it's been a while."
"Uh-huh. Good to see ya again, girl scout. How's the battle for gender equality going? Are you still fighting the fight, sticking it to the man? The pay gap's still an issue, but it looks like you made it work."
Erza saw Millianna pout in what can only be described as adorable anger but opted to remain silent.
"Your mockery is wasted, Black Jack. There are several moral and cultural issues that your corporation doesn't hold in particular regard. You know how to smile, threaten, and swindle, but can you govern? Can you sit atop that throne in Crocus and consider the wellbeing of anyone other than yourself?"
"Okay, sorry to interrupt, but do we really have time for this crap right now?"
Cana was thoroughly and utterly ignored. Something baleful passed through those charming blue irises of his. The crowd huddled behind the endless row of armoured police officers were far too occupied gasping and hollering to pay attention to anything the mages were up to.
"What have I done wrong? Hm? What? I'd love to hear it. What have I ever done wrong besides making money?" Everyone was watching now. Fine, let them. "We employ hundreds of thousands both directly, and indirectly, we build your homes, your railways, the goddamn swords in your hands. Let's face reality, Mikazuchi, these streets would drown without me. We maintain order, we build the future, we put Fiore on the bloody map." Johannes tilted his head, clicking his tongue in genuine disgust. "So I must have done something right. I'll make sure you understand that when I've won your fucking war for you. Now move."
The Ace of Mermaid Heel wasn't given a chance to retaliate as Bolton trudged his way by, knocking her aside with a rough and callous shove. Erza Scarlet wasn't aware of the history between Kagura's guild and the oligarch's associates, but it didn't take a professor to hypothesize it wasn't anything pleasant.
"Why don't we flip a coin, Millianna?" The amber-eyed woman seethed, glaring at Johannes as he ditched the party and advanced toward the sea of onlookers with a gallant spring in his step. "Heads, we gut Clover, tails, we castrate Bolton."
"He's not as bad as he seems." Words spoken in a tone Wendy rarely used, the tiny Dragon Slayer turned to face the older woman with a determined gape. "Jack protected me and Mira down in the tunnels, kept us safe."
"Speaking of which, the queens aren't gonna be a problem anymore. Whatever bugs are left out in the city should be running for the hills by now."
"God… are all those stories really true? I heard the Elvaran incursion could get pretty ugly here and there, but I never expected this. We need to keep our guard up. Master Makarov can get us authorization to operate beyond the Stormwall, I know he can."
Mirajane breathed out a sigh in frustration as her allies continued to voice their perturbations. How could a week of sun and free drinks on the beach turn into all this? It seems they have little choice. Fairy Tail's about to get involved with some very dangerous people, on all fronts.
A tale of two tyrants, this will be, an Antegrien Eagle in the North working alongside the Blue Sea Serpent of the South.
It sounded fragile. Too tenuous and unpredictable. Based on what she's heard and seen, it's no secret that Johannes and Arlon are only barely tolerant of each other. If fighting did somehow break out between Fiore's resident superpowers, the barmaid prayed her friends had no valid reason to get themselves involved.
"What was that? Tell us what we need to do!"
"I said this could have been prevented."
Everyone's attention was seized by a booming (and, again, familiar) vocalization, this time through the magic-powered speakers of the casino's intercom. There he was, standing proudly and dominantly on the stage reserved for late-evening entertainment, hijacking the microphone designed for world-class performers.
Oh, he would perform all right, he'll give these folks a performance they'll never forget.
"Minister Darton, Colonel Arcadios, Gran Doma, they've served you well, boys and girls. They clawed and fought for this country. For your country…" He paused, for dramatic effect. "But are they enough?"
Discontent and uncertainty washed over the room like a plague, some of which found themselves nodding along in agreement, eager to listen to what their beloved public servant had to say.
"What the hell's he doing?" Laxus hissed.
"Those damn long ears have been prancing around our backyard for years, killing people, raping people, and what have our leaders done? They offered them a seat at the negotiating table. Tried to give them rights, tried to integrate them into "functioning" members of society. I guess we all know how that went. Playing appeaser is the same as feeding a shark, hoping it eats you last."
Johannes Bolton brought the mic right up to his lips, crouching down and shoving his finger right in the audience's face.
"ARE YOU PREY OR PREDATOR, FIORE?!"
Natsu and the others felt the urge to clasp their hands and cover their ears, but the desire to do so was quickly overcome with… surprise… unsettlement…
These hundreds, no, thousands of civilians, ordinary party-goers, and tourists who came here to Akane just for a bit of fun and relaxation …
… began applauding… cheering…
"FOREIGN RIGHTS ACT MY ASS! Those things aren't hardworking Caelics or Antegriens! The terrorists don't need "jobs" or "education", as Parliament claims, WHAT THEY NEED ARE BULLETS TO THE BACK OF THE FUCKING SKULL!"
The riot squad began bashing their humongous metal shield in thunderous agreement, adding to the symphony of hate and aversion that soothed Jack's conscious like a well-tuned harp. It was beautiful.
A crushing realization fell upon Earth Land's strongest guild as they all cooked up the same, dire conclusion.
Were they just used? Played?
"WE HEAR YOU, JOHANNES!"
"AND I HEAR YOU, BROTHER! THE COMPANY HEARS YOU! THE WORLD HEARS YOU! AND PRETTY DAMN SOON, THREE ROSES WILL BE HEARING FROM ALL OF US!"
The clapping didn't stop, nor did it show any sign of stopping. No. Something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Kagura and Millianna couldn't rip their varying expressions of shock and distrust from the stage. Natsu and Lucy wanted to shout, wanted to protest, but what would they say? They didn't know what was wrong, only that something was wrong.
"Hey, Mira, I think your BF over there's lettin' his newfound popularity get to his head a little," Cana hissed, "why don't we schedule a chat?"
Then came the chanting. Bolton! Bolton! Bolton! Bolton! The name rolled off their tongues as if it were a catchy phrase.
"GOD BLESS YOU! GOD BLESS HOUSE RAINFALL FOR KEEPING THEM AT BAY FOR SO LONG, BUT WHY LET THEM HAVE ALL THE FUN?! AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, GOD BLESS YOU, FAIRY TAIL!"
Suddenly, the cheering turned in their direction, flipping like a switch, all complimenting them, borderline worshipping them, but how could they take any pleasure from praise derived from such a horrific spectacle?
Johannes hopped off the ornamented platform, brown leather boots storming fearlessly down the aisle to the other side of the chamber, cordless microphone in his grasp, high-fiving anyone he could with his free hand. The mages were too distraught to move.
With a swift motion, Salamander and Black Steel found themselves tangled in Jack's heavily-built arms, wrapped around their necks as if they were long-lost buddies, reunited through blood and strife.
"Are you with me, Fairy Tail? Will you protect us from the great evil that is the elvish infestation? Choose carefully, there's quite the crowd here tonight!"
It came off as a lighthearted joke, but neither Dragon Slayer was stupid nor ignorant enough to realize this was obviously not the case. Both growled. How easy it would be to knock his stupidly perfect teeth in.
Reluctantly, both nodded.
Erza choked back a retort. How opportunistic Black Jack is, preying on his future subjects' fear and innocence. His behaviour made Titania sick to her stomach.
Mirajane was too busy staring off into space, contemplating what exactly just happened. The oligarch's words would spread through the kingdom like wildfire. In a manner of minutes, the homeland they protected and loved with such passionate ferocity has turned to a path of carnage.
The girl's eyes widened as a coarse, amicable hand slipped into her own with an almost punishing grip. It was raised unwillingly into the air in a show of triumph.
"Brave warriors such as the lovely Mirajane here bled tonight to keep us safe! To keep you safe! The 7th Legion will return the gesture tenfold!"
Mira blinked. From this distance, the charming man almost appeared sincere in the words he spoke. Now this would make a good magazine cover. For once in his life, Johannes actually wished Jason was here with that ridiculously large camera of his. Eh. Oh well. Hisui and old Toma wouldn't dare to shit on him now. The chessboard's been set, except he'll be playing both sides.
"That's right, go on and cheer," Bolton smiled and waved with a skeptical Strauss glued right to his side, "you stupid cocksuckers."
And who says Johannes isn't under the special protection of God?
END OF ACT I
TO BE CONTINUED...
And so the stage is set. The true Dance of Dragons looms right around the corner.
I want to hear your thoughts, your suggestions, and your concerns regarding the way the story is progressing.
Who's more chilling to read about? Jack or Arlon? What characters do you want to see implemented more? Got any ideas for a cool OC for me to add? Maybe shake things up a bit or stir up trouble for our favourite businessman? I'm open to suggestions.
Most importantly, thank you. Thank all of you for the support and encouragement you offered me throughout the duration of this story. I've had a lot more fun writing this thing than I possibly could have imagined.
The Review Section is always open. Stay tuned for more Fairy Tail.
- Connor the Poet