All rights to Hiro Mashima
~ Eighth ~
"You have the lacrima?"
"Yes Master, I have it. No one suspected anything, I used the staves and cloak just as you said."
"Hand it over now, I want to start the first sequence before the end of the night."
A lacrima swirling with dark crimson magic is taken out of a hidden pocket and set down in a hand covered in golden armour.
Hesitation is felt. A dark aura appears, the muggy air swirls with disbelief and malice.
"Why in the Gods is it red? It should be gold."
This is the tipping point between outrage and civility. The one who produced the lacrima is at a cross roads of sorts. He could live or die tonight depending on his answer.
"That is the colour of the magic that I removed from the boy."
"Did you just say…boy?" Malice turns to incredulity. Surely no one is this idiotic.
"Yes, boy, the one with pink hair. As you requested."
"YOU COMPLETE IMBICLE! I said pink guild mark! Not pink hair! The magic should have been taken from a woman!" Rage flows from the one in armour, surrounding the man who stands before him.
"But…I followed what you said Master…I removed the ancient magic and placed it in the lacr-"
His answer is cut off prematurely as a silver sword is thrust between his ribs straight through his heart.
It seems that the tipping point has been passed, and the decision made tonight is death.
His answer just wasn't good enough to keep him living.
-Lucy-
"Ivan? As in Master Ivan of Raventail that tried to kill Laxus and effectively ruined my first match in the GMG by cheating? That Ivan?" This is ridiculous! Why can't anyone around here just stay gone when we put them in jail!? We had to deal with Jellal more than once and the Oracion Seis on numerous occasions, with Cobra coming out of the woodwork at every turn. At least they are still locked up. What good is the Magic Council if they can't keep people in jail?
The Master looks to me. "Yes, my son Ivan." He sighs.
"Uhm… that's not all I have to report." Gajeel looks super shifty right now, he won't meet anyone's eyes. "It seems that Ivan escaped because of break out in process in the same cell block that was already underway."
Levy pulls on his sleeve to get his attention. "Who was it Gajeel? Who was released?"
Gajeel's eyes shift to me. "It wasn't just one person. It was six."
"Oh for fucks sake! Are you telling me that the Oracion Seis escaped!? Again!?" Everyone looks a little startled at my outburst, but seriously, just when I thought this situation couldn't get any more complicated the damn universe throws that slimy snake fucker and his 'friends' into the mix.
"The weirdest thing about this break out is that the Seis didn't go with Ivan, they left separately and went on their own way." Master rolls his eyes.
"So you mean we no longer have just one problem, but two separate ones?" Well crap, that is super complicated. And stupid. "We really need to talk to Jellal, he might know information that even Gajeel doesn't know at this point. I wish that man would pick up his goddamn lacrima!"
Wendy speaks up quietly. "Why not use his calling card? I thought Cana made one for him during the GMG?"
Everyone is absolutely silent.
"Holy Mavis, why didn't anyone think about that beforehand? Good job squirt." Laxus looks impressed with the diminutive Dragon Slayer and pats her head awkwardly. Wendy just glows at the praise from her elder.
"Who are the Oracion Seis?" Poor Natsu, he looks completely bewildered. Nothing in this conversation would make sense to him.
"Short version. Our team – including you – met up three other guilds a while back to put a stop to the Oracion Seis. This is where we met Wendy and Charles who joined our guild after theirs was disbanded. After fighting for a while and meeting up with Jellal who had amnesia, we effectively stopped their plan to use the weapon of mass destruction, Nirvana, to wipe out the other light guilds in Earthland. You Natsu, destroyed another Dragon Slayer named Cobra and took out their leader Zero. They were thrown in jail, along with Jellal. After our seven year sleep, the Oracion Seis, tricked Fairy Tail into collecting the pieces of a gigantic clock which transforms into a…uhm…fish thing…and sacrificed many celestial wizards to bring about 'the real nightmare' spell. The spell removes time and creates the ultimate chaos. They came after Lucy to do it, and we nearly lost her to that damn fish. The Oracion Seis were sent to prison. Again." Thank Mavis for Erza and her condensing skills.
"You know that story sounds completely crazy, right?" Looking back on it, Natsu's right. Everything that happens at Fairy Tail is absolutely crazy.
Natsu grabs my hand and looks down at me with fear dancing in his eyes. "They almost killed you? Why wasn't I there? Why wasn't I protecting you?"
"Natsu, first of all, chill out, that time you had many strong people trying to kill you, including their new leader Midnight and another who infiltrated our guild and posed as a cousin of mine, Michelle." I smile slightly. He is just so cute when he's in protective mode.
"Wait, that time? Just how many times has someone needed you to complete some stupid world ending plot?" I shift around nervously and look around the room for some help.
Everyone looks away pointedly. Apparently I'm on my own for this conversation. I scowl at everyone. Traitors, all of them.
"Uhmm…lots?" I pose the answer like a question. "I don't really know, we've lost count really. But you're always there to catch me. Literally, you've caught me when I was falling from really high up at least twice now." I laugh nervously.
He just stares at me. Which makes me fidget with my keys a bit. His gaze is so intense I can't look away.
"I have this feeling…imprint thing…that I'll always be there to catch you. No matter what. You're just too important to me." I'm floored. First a sexy Natsu and now a romantic one? Just what in Mavis' name does his magic do to him? He's acting so different!
I'm brought out of my musings by Master clearing his throat. I hadn't even noticed everyone was still in the room. My face flushes again but my smile doesn't completely leave.
'Shit! This is so embarrassing! And I'm still holding his hand!'
Whatever, it's warm, and I'm still cold from Juvia's mental break down. This is an acceptable excuse and I'm sticking to it.
"While that is very touching, I think this concludes our little meeting for today. Wendy, please find Cana and bring her to my office so we can get a hold of Jellal. Thunder legion and Laxus, search for hints on where Ivan or the Seis have gone. Levy and Freed converse with Crux please and sort out your data. Erza and Gray, you just finished a job for the council so they might be willing to tell you more about the break out. You will leave for Era as soon as possible. Lucy and Natsu, continue training with Romeo and spar with the other members for practice. Gajeel, back to the dark guilds, we need more information on just what Ivan wants with the magic he stole. Any questions?" We all shake our heads 'no'.
"Alright brats, meet here again in three days, same time." Everyone groans.
"Master, might I ask if we could re-locate to somewhere slightly larger than this room? I'm practically straddling Evergreen." I glance around at everyone. We are all squished together, standing really close just to accommodate everyone. Erza is indeed practically in Evergreen's lap. 'Could be worse, she could be rubbing up against Bickslow.' I have nothing against the man, but he's a huge pervert. And an even bigger jackass.
All the mages present snigger slightly, Erza just scowls.
I can still feel Natsu's eyes on me and his burning hand in mine.
Master nods. "Let's meet in the library instead then. And Freed could you set up a barrier when we get there so we can minimize the damage of any more…flooding incidents and eavesdroppers." At this remark we all give a small smile and feel the heaviness of the previous conversation lift, at least for the time being.
Everyone starts to file out of the office going their own ways.
"Erik, where are we going? Do you even have a plan?"
"Shut it Sorano, you know you're not supposed to call me that anymore. That life is behind us all. And yes, you angel-loving twat, I have a plan. Get the hell out of here, and get as far away from the magic council as we possibly can."
A new voice stops all six mages in their tracks.
"You know Cobra, you can't run forever, the freedom you desperately desire can be achieved. But you must first seek retribution for your crimes."
They all know that voice. They hear it in their nightmares, from the time when they were children in the tower.
As a unit, they all turn towards the man that is awakening their long suppressed fear.
A man with a single eye glares at the two new mages. And he speaks with murder in his voice, dripping out of his mouth like poison.
"Fancy meeting you here, Jellal."