Fairy Tail not belongs to me is owned by Hiro Mashima
The cover belongs to omake of Hiro Mashima 'Fairy Tail of the dead'
—PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ICHIYAS—
A Fairy Tail fanfic 100% ~meeeeeeeeen, inspired by the omake of Hiro Mashima, Fairy Tail of the dead and the novel by Seth Grahame-Smith, Pride, prejudice and zombies (Austen, J. 1813, Pride and Prejudice)
WARNING: Gruesome scenes of ichiyas who terrorize and sniff humans
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OPENING: Escape the Fate - You are so beautiful
—o8o—
—IDLE HANDS—
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THE NEXT MORNING the fairies set out for Magnolia Town armed with their respective muskets. They had barely gone a mile from Fairy Hills when Juvia, who had decided to take the lead, stopped abruptly and motioned for the girls to do the same. Juvia wielded her musket, but none of the other fairies knew what it was pointing at, for the road was clear and there was nothing suspicious of them attacking them.
But after a few moments, deer appeared, jumping through the path and the fairies pointed their muskets at the trees, ready to face the legion of ichiyas they suspected, and they would soon appear. The first to come out from the trees was a woman, dressed in a white wedding dress. Juvia crushed the creature with a shot to her face, after which Levy leaned the barrel of her weapon against the abominable head and sent it quickly to the Tartars.
"It's a pity," said Cana indifferently, recovered from the incident at the orphanage, "Yo waste a dress as beautiful…"
~meeeeeeeeen
The shriek of another ichiya heading toward her direction interrupted her. He had a long white beard, a sturdy body, and was covered with a blacksmith's apron. Erza and Lucy aimed and fired their muskets. Lucy's bullet embedded itself in one of the monster's eyes and Erza's wounded his neck, separating the head from the body. These ichiyas followed others, each of whom was killed as fast as the last, until the roar of magic ceased.
Sensing that the danger had passed, the fairies laid down their weapons and decided to proceed to Magnolia. But a noise from the forest forced them to delay their plans. It was a shrill cry, neither human nor animal, but distinct from any cry that the fairies had heard. The noise intensified as it approached, and the girls again gripped their muskets. But when the source of the strange noise appeared, they were immediately deposed.
"Do not!" Lucy cried with horror. "It's not possible!"
An ichiya woman came out of the forest, holding in her arms something extraordinarily rare, something none of the fairies had ever seen, nor did she want to see again, an abominable baby! The baby waved his little hands while emitting an atrocious bellow.
~meeeeeeeeen
Erza raised her musket, but Cana hurried to grasp the barrel of the weapon.
"You shouldn't do it!" Cana exclaimed with anxious tone.
"Have you forgotten the law of the fairies? Or the oath you made before the fallen Magnolia orphanage?" Titania's eyes had darkness, an absence, as if her soul had left her so that heat and compassion could not intervene.
"It's a baby, Erza!" Cana insisted.
"An abominable baby," Erza said, "As abominable as the action I propose to silence him."
The redhead girl reached for her gun again and aimed. The abominable woman one had crossed the middle of the road and Erza pointed to the head of it, with her finger caressing the trigger she decided to lower the weapon, to load it again and to liquidate both. I just had to squeeze. But she could not do it! She felt a strange force stop her, a sensation she vaguely remembered from her childhood. It was a strange feeling, akin to shame, but without the dishonor of defeat, a shame that did not demand revenge.
"Can there be honor in mercy?" she asked herself.
It contradicted everything had been taught her! The instinct of a warrior she possessed. Why could not she shoot? Confused and perplexed, Erza deposited her musket, and the ichiyas entered the forest until they disappeared. Because of the unusual incident and the horrible experience, the fairies agreed not to talk about it again.
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When the girls entered the Magnolia Camp, they met Kagura and Milliana, who kindly escorted them to the city. The additional presence of two warriors was well received by the fairies, if they were met with more setbacks on the road.
Kagura, aware of the unfortunate fate of the servants at the Nappiefield ball, was dismayed and uneasy. However, she confessed to Erza that her absence from the dance had been deliberate.
"As the date approached, I thought it best not to meet Jellal," The mermaid declared as they walked. "I could not stand the idea of being in the same room with the man who took my brother's life, and that the scenes that could provoke that encounter could annoy other people."
Erza praised Kagura's temperance, which was greater than her, for he recognized that if she had been in her place, she would doubtless have challenged Jellal to a duel.
When they arrived at the guild, the fairies found a messenger pigeon hooting in the entrance, the bird had in its power a letter that came from Nappiefield. The envelope contained a sheet covered with the mysterious script of runes. Erza realized that Lucy's expression changed as she tried to decipher the letter and noticed that it stopped in some paragraphs.
"It's Lissana Strauss," she murmured in confusion. "She says they left Nappiefield, everyone! And apparently have no intention of returning. By this time they must be halfway to Crocus."
Levy immediately snatched the note from Lucy.
"I'm sorry to be such a rude Lucy, but I need to see this." the little blue-haired apologized, and Lucy nodded even though she was not disturbed.
"We regret everything we leave in that dangerous countryside full of sniffing or as my dear Natsu has begun to call them, ichiyas," Levy began to read, "more than anything, we regret having to leave far from you dear fairies. But I trust that in the future we can enjoy again our delicious talks."
Erza listened to all this with insensitivity and distrust; and although the unexpectedness of the departure of the magicians of Nappiefield surprised her, she did not regret it.
"How unlucky," said Kagura, "You can no longer see yours friends, but there is always the possibility of a reunion. Anyway, what can keep them both in Crocus?
"Lissana claims none of them will return to Fairyshire this summer, as they prepare for the festival," Lucy said.
"But Evergreen is here!" Cana said. "Elfman may returns."
Lucy shook her head, "Evergreen will go with the Rain tribe to the capital in the next few days, they want them to install and monitor the Thunder Palace which has been very effective here in Fairyshire."
"Juvia believes that this whole situation was given so that they definitely do not return," concluded the water mage with aptitude.
"That's absurd! We are talking about Natsu, who in itself has the tendency to act more by instinct than by pressure." Erza replied.
Finally, Levy read the bloodiest paragraph.
"Jellal is eager to see his sister and we are also eager to meet her. Wendy is a sweet, elegant and stylish girl, and has the ability to calm Natsu during the trips where we need transportation. Natsu admires her a lot and does not intend to leave her company at least until we reach the North Front."
Seeing Erza, who saw an expression of deep disgust, and was about to leave, surely looking for Natsu to slice it, Levy read the small but not less amazing postdate.
"Happy comes with us."
"WHAT?" the fairies exclaimed in disbelief.
—oOo—
My dear Wendy
I am happy and at the same time anxious because there is not much to see you again. I miss you and I'm counting the hours to meet you at Heavenly. I promise that as soon as I arrive I will tell you everything you want listen, starting with my experience on the battlefield of Oshibana.
With love, Jellal
Jellal read the letter, immediately folded it, and handed it to one of the messenger doves at Kunigi Station. He immediately turned his gaze to Natsu, who was sitting there, submerged in his stormy thoughts.
"Natsu," the blue-haired boy one approached the fire mage, taking advantage of their resting moment, "I think it would be best if you stayed here in Fairyshire."
"What are you trying to tell me?"
"That maybe you should be right, although it's going to be difficult, I would say impossible," He added, "Are you quite sure that Miss Heartfilia loves you enough to ignore that you're leaving, so suddenly?"
"You suggest Lucy does not love me?"
"No." Jellal shook his head. "I think Lucy Heartfilia is not completely sure of her feelings towards you. She is very confused, and after this, it will get even worse. Maybe your reaction is completely contrary to what you expect, and if it never appears in Crocus? I doubt that she is of the same stalker nature as the other lady of water."
"Do you think she'll feel rejected?"
"I can only imagine."
"What should I do?" The alarmed pink-haired boy asked. "You will have heard of our departure by now, and I am sure he will skin me alive."
"I do not think Miss Heartfilia reaches so much," Jellal said confidently, but then became pensive. "Unfortunately, I cannot say the same thing about her sisters, especially Miss Erza." He worried when he imagined the episode of blood, death and revenge that would arise, all because of the blue-eyes demon. "I suppose you must worry."
"I'm honest; I do not like how you say that." Natsu crossed her arms in disgust, until her brain processed the last. "So it's my fault for listening to the girls!" He tugged at his pink hairs.
Jellal smiled. If Richard had listened to what Natsu said during last night's party, she would probably say, "Natsu and Miss Heartfilia will be the happiest couple" or something; and most interesting of all this matter, Natsu would be in complete agreement with the corpulent preacher of the love. But to leave in such a sudden way for (according to Mira and Lissana) to increase the affection, never seemed a good idea to him. When have you heard such nonsense? That only happens in the fairy tales and in the twisted mind of the Strauss sisters. Of course, although he always respected the will of his friends, there was a possibility that the celestial spirits fairy would interpret what happened as a rejection and thought that Natsu never had any real interest in her.
"That would be just what I need, I say we need" he had heard Lissana comment with Happy at the time, but he did not mind. What occupied his mind was that he would finally see Wendy; he was going back to Heavenly! As he watched the farms and small towns pass through the carriage window and away from Fairyshire, far from Nappiefield, far away from Erza. Jellal felt a strange contraction in his chest as he thought of her. I could not believe I really felt sorry for leaving Nappiefield! What was happening to her? Jellal was so distracted trying to define himself that he did not realize that time passed without being felt.
—P+P+I—
The days passed and a new scene occurred in Fairy Tail, one of those in which the humabominable wizard of Blue Pegasus finished with the face stamped in the wall, after that it dared to sniff to a certain redhead girl without its consent and when Erza was about to cross the little man with a spear, master Makarov interjected.
"Before you continue my daughter, I think it is best that you remember your position as a Fairy Tail mage and do not respond to the provocations of this abom-Ichiya.
"You're right, master," said the mage, holding back her lance. "I am a warrior and I will not be provoked."
Soon the master called the redhead girl, "Erza, I've noticed Lucy suffers from love affairs."
She shook her head.
"Congratulations. Apart from getting married, it's a good idea for a girl to have a love affair from time to time. It gives her reason to reflect, and makes her stand out among her friends."
"Is that what you think, master?"
"Of course, otherwise what's the point of living?" Said the old man, looking at Cana sitting in the bar, flirting with a handsome boy, "and I wonder, when will it be up to you? I do not think you stand for a long time to see you eclipsed by Levy or Laki." He said looked up at the girls and sighed. "It's your turn now; in Magnolia there are enough magicians and officers to disappoint all the girls of the region. Why do not you choose Fullbuster?"
"I do not know why, but Juvia is deeply embarrassed."
"He is a pleasant boy," Makarov added, ignoring that from a dark corner in the guild a cloud of shadow and depression began to take over the atmosphere.
"Thank you, Master, but I'm content to be the bride of death. We cannot all be lucky for Lucy," Erza said sarcastically.
"True," answered the master. "But it is a consolation to think that no matter how much a disappointment of love makes you suffer, you have such an unpleasant suitor that no doubt will give flavor to your life," he smiled candidly, "an unpleasant suitor who happens to be behind you."
"What the hell?"
The grim silence of the moment was interrupted by a thundering punch on the square face of the man and a scream of death that rumbled throughout Fairy Tail Hall.
~meeeeeeeeen
"That's our Erza," Macao joked and prepared to drink, "There it is, showing as little affection for that old man as for the abhorrent she's got to head off.
After that embarrassing incident, Erza went out on the terrace of Fairy Tail and found Lucy sitting on the roof. Her heart was torn between concern for the blonde girl and the tempting idea of immediately moving to Crocus, demanding an explanation, and perhaps…
"Now I see it clearly." Lucy began to speak, releasing Erza from her not very cordial thoughts. "Natsu's behavior," she said. "If my feelings towards him were noticed, he has saved me the dilemma that would have been to discover what he feels."
"I do not believe it! Do not you remember our stay at Nappiefield, Natsu's attentions to you? How, despite going out to chase after the abhorrent all day, was there still time to see you? Besides, Mirajane has always been on your side. I dare say that all this is just a misunderstanding."
Lucy shook her head.
"Lucy, no one who has seen them together can doubt Natsu's affection for you," exclaimed Erza. "But remember that you are a warrior; do not let your feelings soften you! And if it hurts so much, let me go to Crocus and give him his due."
"Erza, you should not harbor those feelings of revenge. Do not rush into believing that my sadness is because I feel offended."
"Natsu Dragneel's conduct have no rationale, nor are his actions intended to harm, not even Gray or Gajeel," Erza replied. "But one can make a mistake and cause suffering without offending or hurting someone on purpose. Unthinking, disregard for the feelings of others and lack of firmness are serious offenses against honor."
"Do you attribute his conduct to any of these faults?"
"All. But if I continue, I will dislike you by saying what I think, so I'd better shut up."
"Do you think I should forget him?"
"That's something you have to decide for yourself. I can do nothing more than wish for your happiness, although for that I have to insist and offer you my sword and go to Crocus to skin Natsu Dragneel."
"I appreciate your good intentions," Lucy replied with a smirk. "But I do not think that contributes much to my happiness. As for whether Natsu is in love with me," she sighed with sorrow, "I think only time will tell."
And from that moment on, they barely mentioned the name of Natsu Dragneel again.
—oOo—
After a week dedicated to avoiding to head off the archetype of perseverance and to correspond their declarations of love (or failing to respond in the most painful way possible), the early arrival of Grand Magic Game's in Crocus forced the Trimens to return to their guild. The members of Blue Pegasus said goodbye of their colleagues in Magnolia Town, wishing their soon reunion in the capital during the festival.
"I want them to arrive at their destination, safe and sound, because for some time now the roads are so full of abhorrent that it seems inevitable to run into them," the master commented as he watched the Trimens get lost on the road.
"But I'm sure it'll be an exception with them," Erza said with a grin.
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The next day, the guild had the pleasure of receiving the respected Shito Yajima in person. He was a wise man, chivalrous, kind and appreciated by all members of Fairy Tail. Erza respected him a lot, and there was deep respect among them. On the first occasion he had to talk to her alone, about what had recently happened in Fairyshire, Mr. Yajima told him honestly what he thought about it.
"Oh, the little prank of Macky's grandson was useful after all," he smiled remembering that incident during the Harvest Festival.
"Mr. Yajima, this is serious." Erza rebuked him indignantly.
"I do not blame Lucy," the old man returned to the matter in question, "If I could have managed to conquer Mr. Dragneel."
"Apparently it was a good match for Lucy," Erza said with annoyance.
"I'm sorry it did not work. But such things happen frequently. A boy like Natsu who only looks for adventures and fights never falls in love, and when something like that happens, the feelings are so confusing that when he realizes it's too late."
"An excellent comfort in a way," Erza said not very satisfied, "But it does not help us. I can offer my right arm to see them together, for he was hopelessly in love with her."
"Tell me, was I very hopelessly in love?"
"As wildly as can be the Vulcans of Mount Hakobe. Each time they saw each other, it was firmer and more evident."
"Poor Lucy! With your character, it will take some time to get over it. It would have been better if it had happened to you; I suspect you would have cracked Natsu's belly and strangled him with his own intestines."
The redhead girl nodded, revealing her disgust and indignation. The mistreatment to which the fairies had been subjected was disproportionate and Titania found it humiliating that it went unpunished.
After that, Yajima distributed the gifts he had with him and described what was happening in the capital city; spoke of several subjects as diverse as the recent victories against the abhorrent and the preparations for the Festival of the Games. The former member of the Magic Council remained for a week in Magnolia. The master took great pains to entertain his old friend, who every day had a party at Fairy Tail Hall and invited many of the officers, including Gray Fullbuster and Captain Redfox.
"Do you think I'll be able to convince Lucy to come with me to Crocus?" The old man asked Erza during one of those bustling meetings. "A change of scenery will suit you and you may want to get away from Fairyshire for a while."
Erza was very pleased with this proposal, convinced that Lucy would willingly agree.
"Besides," added Yajima, "with the start of the Games we're going to have so much to do in the restaurant that it is unlikely that she will meet Mr. Dragneel unless he comes to visit.
"That's impossible, because at the moment Natsu is in the custody of his friends, and Jellal Marvell will not allow under any circumstances to leave Domus Flau. I hope for the good of both that they are not.
The old man could not help but notice when Erza mentioned the name of the wizard saint in an annoying tone. Despite being present as a projection of thought at the Hanami festival, he was sure to remember when Erza said without any delay that Mr. Marvell was a very proud and bad-tempered man. But he had also seen the behavior of those two during the recent Nappiefield ball.
"You talk as if you are resentful, you must be careful of everything you say."
"On the contrary, it is he who must be careful what he says and what he does! Or he will leave forever. We are both warriors, and the honor of a warrior requires retribution," Erza said referring to Kagura Mikazuchi.
Yajima was thoughtful. Although he knew the details of this delicate matter, he decided that the best thing would be to wait for Titania to be aware of everything that happened from Jellal's own lips, so that the morning he left for Crocus decided to predispose the redhead girl to that dangerous dialogue.
"I have information on your holy magician," he said, and immediately he noticed that the atmosphere had turned dark and gloomy. Carefully he continued, knowing that this would probably awaken Erza's murderous instinct, "You will be surprised to learn that Jellal is not a high-born," once he got Titania's attention, related. "When the Marvell lost their parents during the second battle of Crocus, Jellal was already a prodigy; at the age of nine he had beheaded his first abominable, and when the tragedy occurred he was taken to the capital, separating him from his sister who was hardly a baby. Since then he has been training with a different master every year to improve his technique and his lethal ability. But Jellal never forgot his sister and worked hard to keep her at his side. That's so you see that annihilating abhorrent is not the only thing in life." The redhead girl at the sight of him made a face. "In the time he fought for Wendy's custody, Jellal became some enemies in Court and Council, and after that, you can imagine that they are not exactly places where he can feel at ease.
"And apparently the field, too," Erza grumbled.
Yajima sighed, "He is very skilled in battle and has qualities of leadership, but you already know that. He also has a good heart, often behaving in a detached and generous way. He is very affectionate, kind, affectionate and often too protective with his sister.
"What kind of girl is Miss Wendy?" Erza asked curiously.
"She is a very affectionate and sweet girl, about twelve or thirteen and, as I understand it, a promising mage. Since Jellal obtained legal custody, she resides in Westernshire with a lady who is in charge of her training.
So far the talk came; Lucy appeared at the entrance of the guild ready to leave and said, "I promise to write you. I hope to hear from you often, Erza.
"Count on it."
"I expect to return after the Games. I do not plan to leave 8island for all that time. Alzack and Bisca will go to Etherion's demonstration," Lucy added, "and I trust you agree to accompany them."
Of course, Erza could not refuse the request. Attending the Etherion show was a great honor for any wizard.
—oOo—
Time passed without any novelty. Lucy had been in the capital for a week. She had written a few lines home saying that she and Yajima had come safely to Crocus. Erza hoped that when she wrote again, Lucy might say something about Natsu or about his friend, about whom they agreed, he should not be named. Lucy wrote again, saying that she had seen Miss Strauss.
Lissana seemed a little down, but she was very happy to see me and reproached me for not communicating my trip to Crocus. Naturally, I asked about Natsu and (please do not be angry with me) also for happy. Lissana told me that the two are pretty good, but Natsu has so many commitments with which he should not be named that he hardly sees him.
Erza shook her head. Lucy was exceedingly naive. Erza was convinced that Lissana Strauss had no intention of informing Natsu that Lucy was in Crocus, the question was, why? The days passed and became weeks, until one cloudy morning Erza received the following letter.
Dear Erza
To say that I am very confused seems to me little. I know that Natsu knows I'm in Crocus, for something Happy said. Yes, I met him by chance the other day and he told me everything, or so he says that Natsu will not return to Nappiefield, but he did not say it for sure. I cannot understand it. Maybe I was too naive. I ask you please do not say anything to anyone.
Lucy
The letter caused Erza some regret, but immediately she was encouraged to think that Lucy would no longer be blinded by such idiocies and that she would return to the battle. With this in mind she set out to wait for a group of abhorrent coming from a village recently attacked and they had taken over the road. Pushing her swords she rushed over that horde, making its way through the mass of uncontrolled ichiyas, advancing toward Magnolia.
"There are few people for whom I feel a deep affection, and less that that I like. The more I know the world, the more I dislike it; and every ichiya confirms my conviction that this world is being scoundrels punished. But as long as I have strength, with every breath of life, I will protect my family!"
The heads and severed limbs of the abhorrent flew through the air and fell to the ground bleeding the road, while Titania thought that there is no purpose nobler than the protection of their loved ones, Fairy Tail! The feelings of a girl seem insignificant in comparison.
"You are a stubborn girl, Erza, not to admit that you fell in love with a boy simply for fear of leaving the fairies," the master used to say, to what Erza replied, "Do not worry, master. I know how to take care of myself and I will try to prevent from breaking heart them any my sisters. I am a magician of Fairy Tail, I have survived the one hundred monsters of Pandemonium, I supported the projectile of the cannon Jupiter and I have seen with my own eyes the world of the celestial spirits. I'm not looking for love right now. I'm not in love with anyone and I certainly do not expect to fall in love with a man who does not suit me. I promise not to rush to believe that I am the object of any magician's love. I have always tried not to get my hopes up and at worst to act cautiously."
"In love?" Erza tried to convince herself that she was incapable of feeling such a thing, that it was a subject she could not assimilate and that she had long since abandoned.
"I have nothing to say against that boy, he has killed a lot of sniffers." Bisca, who had followed that story more closely, said to her, "If it were not because he offended you and you did not give him the opportunity to sorry, it would be an excellent match for you. Do not be carried away by your pride."
Titania stood on the road, with the decapitated bodies of the abhorrent around her and the rain falling on her bloody swords.
"My talents and my time demand that I serve my guild, and I think the Council will be more pleased that it is on the battlefront than on the altar," said the redhead girl, but that powerful conviction was displaced by a thought that involuntary and inexplicably flew far, far away, to a specific place in Westernshire, the Marvell property, Royal Heavenly.
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ENDING: Superchic[k] - Bowling Ball
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***Romance is possible even in a world dominated by ichiyas***
To all for you who read, enjoy, follow and comment PPI, thank you very much!
We will read us soon...