Chapter 7 : The Appearance of The Black Wizard

Saturday (DAWN)-Sunday

Ultear brought Meredy home after defeating those monsters. It was a tough fight for her because Jellal didn't appear to help them that night. The park was left devastated and there was nothing Ultear could do protect the park from getting destroyed when she can barely protect herself in fighting those goblins and orcs alone. Plus, she was angry at Jellal because of his stupid actions and selfishness by not helping them. They contacted him many times but were ignored.

Ultear returned to her house using the portal and Ur was shocked to see the pink haired girl in severe conditions. "Oh my god! Ultear, what happened? Hurry, bring her inside. We need to tend to her injuries." Ur helped laying her down on the sofa and rush for the aid kit and bandages. Ultear knelt beside Meredy and studied her wounds.

"You're losing a lot of blood. We should get you to the hospital."

"I'm just...fine...Mages like us heal pretty quickly than normal humans do, Ultear...Urgh." Meredy gripped her injured shoulder from before. Ultear tore open the clothes covering her shoulder and was shocked to find there was a bruise and thick purple liquid dripping instead of red blood. Meredy looked at her shoulder.

"I was poisoned..." Meredy's sight became blurry and fainted. Ur came and Ultear told her to call for ambulance. A few minutes later, the ambulance came and Meredy was brought to the hospital. Ultear followed along.

"Mama?"

A boy who just wakes up from his sleep was rubbing his sleepy eyes. Ur looked back in a slight shock, not realising Gary was there.

"Ah! Good morning, Gary. Gray's still sleeping?"

Gary hugged his wide-grinned cat doll to his chest. Ur took noticed of it.

"Yes..." Gary yawned. "Brother got a pair of thick ears. I told him a lot of times not to sleep with having the earphones stuck in your ears. Guess what? He brought his guitar sleep with him."

"Haha! Your brother is quite weird, huh? Gary, you're thirteen. How long are you gonna keep that doll with you?"

"I'm not going to let Ms. Felis go. Mom, when is Juvia coming? "

"Oh that's right! She's coming today. I'm not sure what time but she said she would come."

A smile appeared on his face. "That's great. I can ask her out for a date today!" Gary jumped and tossed Ms. Felis in the air and caught it before it could fall.

Ur laughed."Are you sure Gray won't be angry?"

"Don't kid me, mom! He will never fall in love."

The old castle was surrounded by clouds and thunders stormed and struck a large tree. The tree collapsed. Inside the castle lives an old king all by himself and a few servants. He was sitting on the throne in the darkness. A short girl with wavy blue hair in a black tank top with black legging and boots came upon the king and bowed on one knee.

"Your Highness, you call for me?" She asked as she kept her head low and her eyes are closed.

"I was informed you have tamed one of the dragon slayers. Is that true? " He asked. One of his servants made a mistake by tripping over rags lying on the floor, causing the dirty plate on the tray she was holding to fall and the king ordered his shadow guards to take her to the prison. The poor girl struggles to get herself released but the guards knocked her out and were taken to the prison.

The blue head girl smirked to herself in the dark. She clears her throat as she stood, looking straight into the king's eyes.

"That is true indeed, my king. I know you have the twin dragon on your side too."

"Haha. That's what I like about you. You know everything. I always thought training you would be useless."

"I take that as a compliment." She bowed."I may be small," The girl pointed her head. "But I have everything in here. You can count on me to get other two. I shall take my leave now." She bowed and just when she was about to go, the king halted her. This made her stop and turned to him. "Anything else, Your Highness?"

"You, as one of the Black Wizard Followers, are forbidden to fall in love. You must always remember that. Weaklings fall in love. Love is a disgusting feeling amongst humans. Understand?" The girl bowed again and smiled wickedly.

"I understand, Your Highness. I agree that love is indeed disgusting. Humans are easily defeated by love. Therefore, I have to go for the other two."

"...The fact that you know I am using you is very interesting, Levy."

"Another compliment, my king? It's an honour."She backed a bit while bowing before walking away. Two figures appeared from behind the king, watching the girl disappear in the dark.

"My king, are you sure you can trust her with that mission? She doesn't look like she's capable of doing that job. Look at her, she's short. How about you just let Rogue and me to take the other two dragon slayers? It's quicker that way."

"Sting, don't be ridiculous." The man with the black hair covering his right eye said to the man with blond hair. "Forgive his rude attitude, Your Highness. " The king strokes his beard and he suddenly stood.

"Follow her and make sure you report to me if you noticed she is starting to disobey my order. " The king walked away followed by his shadow guards and his servants.

"What? Follow her? Who do you think we are? Spies? We're Dragon Slayers!" The blond male shouted to the king. Rogue nudged Sting.

"Sigh...We should just do as King Hades said. He may be right, you know? Levy could easily turn her back against us if we don't watch her steps."

Levy went to visit the girl imprisoned in the dark in the castle dungeon. The girl was sitting, leaned her body against the grey wall and brought her knees to her chest as she heard a door creaked as it was opened. A short, blue haired girl from before came inside and the shadow guards bowed to Levy as she approaches the girl. The girl stood and gripped the bars of the prison and shook it harshly.

"Please let me go! Tell the king that I will not make a mistake again...Please..."

"I wonder if the king would trust you for the next time."

"But...I don't want to die yet...!" The girl burst into tears and slowly falls to her knees and her head is down. Her hands were still gripping the bars. She was shaking. Her scared look seems to made Levy pity on her. The girl kept on crying until Levy showed a sympathetic look to the girl. Levy knelt on one knee and raised the girl's head by holding up her chin.

Silently, she asked, "You're quite young. What's your name?"

Hesitating, the girl answered Levy."R-Rose. "

"Rose huh? Well, Rose. I'm sure if you pray to god non-stop; the king will forgive you and release you." Rose looked happy when she was told so.

"Really?"

Levy stood and looked at all the other prisoners in a different cell from Rose. Elderly men and women in the prison looked at her with hatred. Their eyes look like as if they wanted to end the blue haired girl's life now. Levy returned the sight with a kind smile and the elders showed disgust to her. Levy walked out of the room, closing the door as it creaked because of the rust. The room was dark again, having only the moon as a light.

"He will release me won't he?" Rose's voice echoed.

"Yes, Rose. King Hades will send you to god tomorrow. Pray for a safe journey to heaven, Rose." She said to herself and chuckled. "Oi guards, make sure you keep an eye on those prisoners. If you don't, I will burn your shadows and kill you." She warned the guards. The shadow guards bowed to her once again. "Good boy."

"What are you doing, visiting the prisoners?" A feminine voice came from where the stair to the upper floor of the castle was. The woman was standing there, slowly fanning herself and smirked to Levy.

"Evergreen."

"The king's favourite servant, are you?" Evergreen said, covering her grimace with the fan.

"It's weird to find you here, Evergreen. What do you want?" Levy asked coldly.

The brown haired woman fanned herself slowly. "If it weren't for stupid Freed I wouldn't be here in this filthy place." Evergreen said as her eyes looked away. "He said he wants to see you in his room. You're much weaker since you left Eulogia he said. Looks like you're going to get bad grades huh?" Levy crossed her arms and smirked at the woman in front of her.

"Heh. Saying he's 'stupid' when you actually 'love' him. Also, Freed will never say that to me. I am one of his best students after all." Evergreen's cheeks turned light pink and she quickly covered her embarrassment with her fan again. "Hades will be so upset with you."

"I-I don't know what do you mean, Levy."

"Sure, just keep on pretending and out of my way." Levy pushed Evergreen to the side and ascended the stair.

"What nerve!" Evergreen gritted her teeth as she watched Levy walk upstairs and disappeared from her sight. "I shall show you the wrath of a fairy, little girl."

"Fine,fine,fine! Do whatever you want and please, stop bugging me." The black haired teen scold the pleased maiden with sparkling eyes now.

"Then, what is Juvia's first duty?"

"Sigh...Just do anything you want." The blue haired stomped the ground lightly.

"That won't do, Gray-sama! You have to order Juvia around. "

"I'm late for work."

"Ah! Juvia will prepare a bento for you. Gray-sama can eat it during breaks."

"I work in a pub. They have food. Why don't you just stay and help Ur? Also, Gary would like you to be there."

"O...kay, then. " Juvia watches Gray rode his bicycle to Daniel's bar. Once he's nowhere to be seen now, Juvia felt a hand around her stomach. "Gyaa!"

"Let's go out, Juvia!" She turned back, and saw Gary. He flashed his teeth to her as he released Juvia. Juvia ruffles his already messy black hair and he seems to like it.

"Gary, want to play something?"

"Juvia, stop acting like a babysitter! I'm thirteen, you know? Thiiiiiiirteeeeen. "

Juvia looked at Gary who was just at her shoulder's level."Can't help it, since you're so short. Haha." Juvia laughed. A blush appears on Gary's face when he saw it. Her laughter made his heart go doki-doki. He tightens his grip on Ms. Felis. He can feel his heartbeat race faster.

"Juvia, I like you."

"Eh?" Juvia blushed lightly.

Gary held both her hands and looked straight into her eyes. "So won't you become my girlfriend?"

"Eh?!" Juvia blushed harder.

"I like you so much. I hate it when Gray simply neglected you like that. Once again, I like you, Juvia."

Both of them were quiet for a while. Juvia tried to not make things even awkward-er.

The blue head broke the silence first."Gary?"

"Yeah?"

Slowly, Juvia released her hands from the boy's hand. She put one hand on his head and started ruffling his hair.

"You know, Juvia is so happy when you say that to her."

"So that means-"

"But Juvia only see you as a younger brother. Not more than that. G-Gary?" Tears are forming inside his eyes. He quickly wipes them using the back of his hands. "Juvia didn't mean to-"

"Then I will work harder to make you like me! Wait until the day comes! For now, I'll retreat and do my homework!" Gary dashed upstairs into the bedroom.

"R-retreat?"

"My, that boy just won't give up." Juvia turned to the voice. Ur came out from the kitchen, wiping her hands with the apron.

"Is he always like that?" Juvia asked.

"He's always like that. Want to hear a story about Gary?"

"Okay." Juvia followed Ur to the kitchen and sat on the stool while Ur prepares a drink for her. Ur joined her later on.

"It happened when he was nine. I still remember at that time, he was really arrogant and despise every kid in his school. I hated that part of him because I want him to make friends. All my efforts are wasted, you know? Gary knew there was this girl that liked him so much that she follows him everywhere. So this one day came, where Gary was almost hit by a car. The girl pushed him aside and she was the one who got hit instead. Of course, Gary was shocked and ran to her. She turn to him and put up a smile, telling him 'I'm glad you're safe, Gary.' and fainted. She lost a lot of blood. She was still alive when she arrived at the hospital. The doctors couldn't find the same blood type as hers. Hers was O. Unfortunately; the blood banks ran out of O blood type. Gary didn't go to her funeral because he was ashamed of himself. He totally blames himself for her death. 'Boys are the ones who should protect the girls! Not vice versa!' Is what he always told me. Gray and Ultear can't do anything to cheer him up. And I guess that's why he wants to make you his girlfriend. Maybe he didn't want Gray to suffer as he did in two years. I think that two years of suffering is too much for a kid. But my Gary is strong now." A gentle smiled appears on Ur's face.

"So, did Gary ever visit her grave now?" Juvia asked. She stirred the tea with the spoon, making sounds as the spoon hits the mug.

"Yeah. It really shocked me when he turned twelve. I never see that arrogant side of him again. As you can see, he's a cheerful type, no? He rarely gets into bad mood and he has befriended all the kids in his school. It's like, I can't believe that was Gary. During the weekends, he used to go and visit her grave."

"Why did he stop?"

"I don't know myself."

"..."

A luscious green canopy letting the bright sunlight filter through in a greenish light. There is the sound of happily chirping birds and the rustling noise of animals running and frolicking in the brush. The ground is covered in beautiful flowers and vines that so gently twist up the deep mahogany trunks of the trees. The smell is fresh, you can almost taste the sweet scent of the flowers rising in the crisp air.

Squirrels chasing each other on the tree branch, fishes swimming calmly in the undisturbed lake. Under the oak tree, a pair of young man and woman was having time together. The young lady is reading a thick book while the young man was lying on the grass, gazing at the blue sky.

"If I need to make him obey my orders, I need to make him kiss me. I'll try this..." Levy put her book down and turned to her boyfriend."Gajeel, do you really love me?"

"I-idiot! Why are you asking that?" Gajeel turned his face away from Levy. Levy frowned and turned Gajeel's face to her.

"Just answer yes or no! Gah. You stupid Gajeel!" Gajeel gulped and turned red.

"I love you! Of course I love you! I just...It's awkward, you know? Those sentences make me feel awkward!"

"T-then, will you do everything for me?" Levy asked again, her cheeks turning pink, looking deeply into the lake.

"Why are you asking me these questions?"

"Gajeel!" Levy puffed her cheeks angrily.

"Yes, I would! Now tell me, why are you asking me this stuff?"

"No reason."

"Wha?"

"Idiot. It's because I wanted to know if you really loved me." Levy leaned closer to him. "You would do everything for me because you love me right?" Levy asked softly.

"I told you yes." Gajeel pushed her head slowly to him and brought his lips to hers. Levy returned the kiss. Soon, Levy broke the kiss and cupped Gajeel's face. Suddenly, a large magic circle appeared under their feet and they are surrounded by strong wind. Levy recited a spell and the wind blew stronger from the magic circle. The wind faded shortly.

"Now, Iron Dragon Slayer, you will do as I say from now on...Your ancient magic belongs to King Hades. Shall we retrieve the other two, Gajeel? " Levy chuckled to herself and laughed like a maniac. The lake suddenly blows up, making Levy turned back.

"This kind of attack...Bixlow is it?"

"Ah...Did I disturb you lovey dovey? Hahahaha!" A guy wearing a dark shirt that is covered by a black cape with black fur surrounding the neck and shoulders appeared. He walked on the lake towards the duo under the tree. Dolls like barrel belonged to him are flying freely and tend to repeat the last words in most of his sentences in an echoing manner.

"What are you? A moron? I don't fall in love. I successfully finished my mission. This guy was Metalicana's, the Iron Dragon. Seriously, if the dragons just joined us they wouldn't have to bother to erase the Dragon Slayers' memory and send them to the future. I don't think the Dragon Slayers' are aware of the greatness in their power. " Levy looked at her palm and slowly closes it forming a fist.

"Evergreen was right. You're slow." Bixlow said.

"You're slow! You're slow!" The dolls followed.

"Yeah, I realised that. I need Freed now. Let's go back to the castle. Oh, and, could you please just summon up a portal or something next time? Just don't blow up yourself saying that is your way of summoning a portal. "

"You're boring."

"Shut up. What do you think the king wants to do once he resurrected the black wizard?"

"Ssh. As a Black Wizard Follower, we aren't allowed to ask."

"Aren't allowed! Aren't allowed!"

"Arghhh! Quiet you little noisy flying things!" Bixlow laughed at her and it made her angrier.

Bixlow summoned up a portal and enters. Levy did too, and the hypnotized Gajeel followed. The portal vanished, leaving no trace.

The restaurant was filled with people and the waiter and waitresses are busy giving out orders and sending food to the customers. Their uniforms are of maids and butlers. That's right; they're in a cosplay restaurant. The theme will change most of the time. Today's theme was maid and butler uniforms. Other time it will change again.

"Here you go~" A braided pink haired maid placed the tray on the table and walk to serve another customer.

"Which one is mine? "

"Haha. They're yours, Natsu." The pink haired opened his eyes wide and looked at the red haired woman in front of him, not believing what she told him.

"You serious, Erza?"

"Dig up, you pig." She said and the boy did just that. "Slowly. You'll choke on your food."

Natsu swallowed the large bite of the burger and drank the coke from a straw. "So what is it you wanted to talk about?"

"...I'm going off somewhere."

"Where?"

"I'm leaving this country." Erza stirred the coke with the straw. Not that it was hot, anyway.

"What?!" Natsu stood and slammed the table with his free hand. "Why didn't you discuss this matter with me first?" He had attracted the other customers' attention on them, not that he cared as he continued.

"Natsu..."

"You can't just leave like that!" He slammed the table again. A waiter in butler's costume came toward them.

"Excuse me, Mr. Would you quiet down? We have customers here. Thank you." He said and walked away. Natsu looked at the butler, pissed but he sat and slowly ate the burgers.

"I have the opportunity to show the world my fencing techniques. You know it's my dream. If- "

"If it weren't for Jellal you could have successfully do it. "

"Natsu, it's not his fault!"

"Well, I say it's his fault for leaving you like that without notice! Erza, you are like my sister and it hurts me to see my family suffered for like, years. But this is still very shocking. I really...didn't expect for you to leave suddenly. "

"Everything's going to be fine with you. Just promise me one thing."

"What is it...?"

Erza held out her pinky finger. "Please protect everyone while I'm not with you guys here."

"That's it? Hah, I can do that!" Natsu linked his pinky with Erza and took another burger. Erza stood up and slings her handbag over her shoulder.

"And no matter what, don't abandon anyone."

"What are you saying? Of course I won't. You're weird, Erza."

"E-err...I gotta get going. It's almost time for my flight."

"Kay'. Have a safe flight!" He said and gobble up a few more burgers. Natsu just had three beef burgers. Erza couldn't help but laugh at her piggy cousin and went out of the restaurant. Leaving Natsu by himself in the restaurant, Erza proceeds to the port in Hargeon with her belongings. A few minutes later, a black haired woman with a haircut in the traditional Japanese "princess style" arrived with her long sword beside her.

"Ah, you're here."

"Sorry, I had to do something before coming here. "

"It's okay. Are you ready to go, Kagura?"

"I am. I will definitely avenge my brother's death. Let's go to Eulogia." Noticing that Kagura didn't have anything but her sword with her, Erza asked her about spare clothes in the other world.

"My Fugutaiten is enough. I could always buy some at Eulogia later."

An old man with a bald head and long white beard called out to the two women as he appeared out of the ship. "There's only two of you ladies, right? Come on. I don't have that much time before the portal closes." As Erza and Kagura got into the ship, the old man showed them their cabin and the old man went off. Erza entered first followed by Kagura behind. There are two bunk beds left and right. And someone had occupied the upper part of the bed on the left side.

"There's someone else besides us?" Kagura said.

"Leave her be. She seems to be sleeping. I'm going to have a sightseeing in this ship. Want to come with me?"

"No. I'll stay here."

"Okay." Erza opened the cabin door and closes it. She went up the stairs and into the deck. The ship started to set sail and Erza leaned against the handle, feeling the gush of wind striking her face.

Kagura sit by the window and opened it. She let the wind came in. The woman sleeping in the upper bed woke up grumpily and was slightly shocked to find someone is in her cabin.

"You, what are you doing here?" She asked. Kagura didn't turned to her.

"This is my cabin."

"But I got here first. Close that window." She waited for Kagura to do as she said but seeing that Kagura didn't, the woman leaped out of the bed and closed the window. Enraged by her, Kagura stood up.

"We shouldn't argue here." Kagura said with a calm voice. The woman before her sat on the lower bed and crossed her arms.

"...You're going to Eulogia?"

"Yeah. I have to do something there. I'm Kagura Mikazuchi."

"Minerva Orlando."

Wehehey, I actually have finished this one. There was supposed to be another chapter before I should submit it. But meh, I'm a lazy butt myself. Moreover, there's Dragon Nest in mah life now. Reviews, guys~ Guess what, Minerva appeared! Do you think she might join forces with Kagura and Erza or is actually their inside enemy?