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
—oXo—
—PURELY BY CHANCE—
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SOME DAYS AFTER Jellal met with Richard Buchanan in Heavenly's library to plan the trip to Akane.
"I think we should leave as soon as possible. Is it okay if we go out tomorrow morning?" Jellal said.
"Can I know what the rush is, Jellal?" Richard asked strangely. "I never saw you so anxious to leave Heavenly."
"It's not anxiety, Richard, it's worry," Jellal replied. "You know how heavy the Magic Councils are with these issues."
"That's true." Hoteye sighed and added. "I imagine that we will also foresee staying a longer after the test, in case of any eventuality."
"Of course," Jellal nodded suppressing a grimace. It did not make his happy to have to part with Wendy again. Nevertheless, "At that scale, controlling all that power can become a serious problem." Jellal reflected. "With all that movement we will up calling attention to the abhorrent."
"And the least we want is to deal with those creatures." Richard added.
That meeting continued late into the night. Since the Etherion test would be an official event in which a considerable concentration of rulers, legislators, nobles and magicians from all over the continent were expected and any incident would become a true catastrophe, Crime Sorcière magicians should not neglect the more minimum detail, in terms of security measures.
When they finished and after agreeing to meet at Heavenly's entrance the next morning, Richard retreated to his designated room. Charle flew into the library and Jellal, immediately, noticing the presence of the exceed, asked her, "Is something wrong?"
"That depends," she replied with a malicious smile that alarming the blue-haired boy. "You want to know?"
"No," Jellal replied following his instinct, although he may have said it only to avoid an uneasiness. "It is better to let everything as luck would have it."
"I did not expect to hear anything else. But I wonder, what would have happened if you had not fallen in love," Charle choked out a giggle, "really?"
"Charle!" Jellal swallowed thickly, "Are you suggesting?"
"You liiiiike her." Charle insinuated, stirring her tongue with exaggeration, obvious influence of a certain blue cat. "And you may have noticed that you love…"
"Unfortunately," Jellal interrupted that impertinent comment, "I did not have the best dealings with that particular lady."
"I'm not going to lie." Charle put her hands around her waist like a complaint. "There were many ways to offend her."
"I just wish I'd been nicer to her, Charle," Jellal said, annoyed. "It's done, it's too late." he muttered.
"Okay, you need not grieve, Jellal," Charle replied with a pout, "Not yet."
"What do you mean?" The blue-haired boy asked, wrinkling his forehead.
"I will not tell you, but I think it's time you define once and for all what you really want. You will be able to do it?"
"I do not know."
—oOo—
Very early in the morning, Jellal went out to the entrance of Heavenly, where the carriage that would take him to Akane was already, with Richard waiting inside.
"I'm sorry to have to leave you again, you must think I'm the worst of the brothers," he apologized to Wendy as he hurriedly made for the carriage.
"Do not worry, I understand." Little Dragon Slayer looked away trying to hide her grief. "I hope you come back soon."
"Me too and then…"
Wendy turning her face towards her brother.
"I had promised we would spend more time together." Jellal curled his lips into a funny grimace and Wendy was silent to understand the meaning behind that comment.
"We'll talk as soon as I return." Jellal smiled again and, before getting into the carriage, decided to exchange a few words with his pink-haired friend. "Natsu, do not do anything stupid until I get back."
"Me? You are the expert stupid," replied the fire Dragon Slayer, looking towards the nothing, taking the wax out of his ear.
Natsu struggled to be animated, but many times it was possible to perceive the tone of sadness in his voice, but Jellal hoped that his state would not last any longer.
"Good luck on your trip to Akane, brother," said Wendy, waving her hand excitedly.
Jellal corresponded and was about to close the door of the carriage, when he looked up to see Charle flying by. When the exceed reached the carriage, she murmured, "I know that knowing more brought you many problems the last time, but let me give you some advice, for your own good, stay away from the beach."
The wizard saint was uneasy at the warning. He knew that his little friend had said it for all the future situations and possibilities that she was able to see, but for some strange reason he suspected that one of those possibilities included Miss Erza Scarlet.
:-:-:-:
"You do not carry much luggage," Richard said, when they had been traveling for some time. "Did not we agree to stay a few days in Akane?"
"I already told you I do not plan on staying for longer than expected." Jellal muttered, unable to hide his annoyance.
"I imagine the reason."
"Since I was forced to stay in Fairyshire," Jellal sighed in frustration, "I think I have not spent enough time with Wendy."
Richard remained silent, since he was able to fully understand the feeling behind that sigh, the separation. He himself had remained separated from his beloved brother for years and before he being invaded by nostalgia and sadness, he took out a book of minutes and began to perform accounts. Jellal, was looking through the window of the carriage, deep in meditation. Even in those moments no matter how hard he tried he could not stop thinking about Erza, about how stormy and frustrating he was, admitting that he had undeservedly fallen in love with her.
A moment, had he really fallen in love with her?
"Jellal, what do you think?" Hoteye's sudden question drew the blue-haired boy from his thoughts.
"Nothing," Jellal replied. "Nothing worthwhile."
Richard laughed.
"I was Hoteye, how do you think I got that name?" Richard reproached Jellal taking a pair of fingers to the height of his eyes. "I know you think about something important, otherwise, you would not be so thoughtful. Tell me, what it is about?"
"Actually Richard, I was thinking about how long I stayed in Fairyshire. There was a rather strange problem with Natsu." Jellal commented nervous, hoping to divert Hoteye's attention.
"Strange?" Richard asked with considerable interest.
"Yes, with respect to what we talked about the other day in Lupinus," Jellal began to explain. "He got too attached to that Fairyshire girl. I did not see any problem, so I noticed that that affection was transforming into something else. I imagine you've reached the same conclusion." Jellal fell silent to sort out his ideas. "Yes, he fell in love." He sighed.
"Everyone falls in love, why should Natsu have to be different?" Richard replied. "What happened then?"
"The usual, he was not sure of his true feelings and it is already difficult to know what Igneel's son feels. Moreover although praised by the Natsu's attentions, the lady never showed any kind of correspondence to him, except friendship. And I think it's better that it was in friendship."
"You say that Natsu was very much in love," Hoteye put his hand to his chin to think, "Did not you do anything? how strange, it's really very strange."
"For him, I would expect him to have been frank and straightforward with the lady, however," Jellal shook his head disappointed, "It has come to me to note, that in matters of these, Natsu is a zero to the left."
"Like you?" Richard smiled when he noticed the indignation in Jellal's face. "But tell me, what did you do?"
Jellal, regaining his composure, answered, "As for what I did, I'm not sure. I thought it was time for Natsu to learn to make his own decisions," after reflecting for a moment he added, "It's what I did not do that bothers me, if I had not allowed the girls to convince him to leave…"
"I get it. But in my opinion, you helped him to throw everything away, did you do it on purpose?"
"I admit was desperate to see Wendy," Jellal confessed, "After seeing all that anguish, his strange behavior and the lack of concentration that almost cost him his life. No, I could not leave it loose without him alone put himself in danger or someone else. Before that, I prefer to keep an eye on it and away from Fairyshire, but I never thought that all this would affect me so much…"
"Affect him, Jellal," Richard corrected.
"Oh yes, of course," Jellal corrected. "Anyway, I keep hoping that this was just a passing whim and not love."
"Oh, love, it's a mystery!" Richard sighed excitedly, preparing to give an extensive chair about his favorite subject all over the world, the same subject that Jellal, given the circumstances, should never have touched.
"You're a stupid!" Jellal scolded himself.
"I never fell in love, but when I saw the others," Richard, ignorant of the suffering of Jellal, continued, "I think it's a pleasant experience.
"Are you sure?" Jellal asked with a certain irony.
"Of course!" Hoteye answered. "You just have to imagine it, you and that special lady walking through a meadow covered in bloody flowers, holding hands, jumping, killing abhorrent in the light of a romantic sunset."
"What if who ends up without a head is me?" Jellal murmured, looking at the landscape through the window, remembering the sensation of having a sharp blade under his neck.
"And why would it happen?" Richard asked curiously.
"I do not know," Jellal replied somewhat uncomfortably. It was hard for him to believe that after so many evasive actions, he had ended up involved in a situation that he had wanted to avoid from the beginning. Was he doing it on purpose? Resigned, he sighed and exposed what was hidden in his head and heart too.
"When I considered, as a warrior, I must fight the battles of humanity. Wherever I look, I feel the darkness grow. As a magician of Crime Sorcière, eradicating darkness, it is my most sacred duty. Besides, there is that debt to Simon's sister, who is a magician of Fiore's elite and a great swordswoman. I made a promise," Jellal clenched his fists tightly. After remaining silent, he continued, "If it were just me, none of this would matter, but you know that's not the case. Richard, tell me the truth, do you think that someone with all these objections has the right to think about love? And if that were not so," he said the last statement with deep sadness, "I doubt very much that there is a girl who corresponds to me."
"Nonsense, I'm sure you only say it because you're afraid of falling in love. Crime Sorcière exists because we believe in the atonement of our sins and those of this world that is not big enough, dark, dangerous, or abominable to find the right girl. It is a matter of time for both things to happen," Hoteye assured him. "Moreover, I am completely convinced that both will find you when you least expect it."
Jellal smiled, grateful to Richard for his words and the breath he found in them. But he barely had time to do it, for both he and Hoteye heard the moans of the abhorrent that resounded through the forest on both sides of the carriage and the forced silence that followed was used by Jellal to reflect.
"Maybe he's right." Jellal allowed himself to smile at the thought of an opportunity with Erza, but shaking his head immediately dismissed any future that he had imagined at her side. No, it was not fair to do that to her, he had to protect her, protect her at all costs!
"It is better that I stop thinking about this, it only distracts me…"
Jellal's thoughts were interrupted as soon he felt the carriage shake and then stop suddenly. When he got out of the car, after contemplating the chilling landscape before his eyes, he rubbed them to make sure he was seeing what he was seeing. He looked from one side of the path to the other, without believing what he saw.
"What happened here?"
—oOo—
A few hours ago, purely by coincidence…
Erza carefully reread the last letter she had received from Lucy, before she left Fairyshire, reflecting and stopping at each paragraph that conveyed a sense of anguish, disappointment and shame, suffered by the celestial spirits fairy. But she barely had the chance to be affected by this, because at that very moment, the magical car in which she was traveling in the company of her sisters stopped abruptly. Almost immediately, the fairies heard the dissonant and very close (too close) moans of the abhorrent, mixed with the shouts of the coachman and the musket shots that were not left waiting.
If Erza did not possess nerves of steel and a fortitude, the result of many years of training, she would have been stupefied when she removed one of the curtains and found that they were surrounded by more than a hundred ichiyas.
"What does this mean?" Erza exclaimed.
—P+P+I—
Several days had gone by without any major events in Fairyshire because in Magnolia Town a large number of wizards had gathered, so Erza had planned to leave for Akane Beach. At first she had not seriously thought about going there; however, Bisca, had endeavored to encourage the redhead girl to participate in the event of the Etherion test. But it was not until the last hour that the Connell declined their participation, as little Asuka had contracted the long-awaited chicken pox. In compensation, Erza, Laki and the new fairy, a nice and kind girl named Kinana would attend on behalf of the guild and they would stay in one of the best suites of the Akane Resort, with what the trip promised to be very rewarding and Titania was willing to take advantage of it.
The dismissal of the guild was extensive and charged with emotion. The master was especially determined to fill Laki, Kinana and Erza with recommendations. Although the journey to the south of Fiore was a pleasant trip, it did not stop being dangerous. Erza knew that very well, so she was dressed in her new Heart Kreuz armor, in case she needed it. And so it was that around noon, while the girls had a cordial conversation, that magic car was attacked.
The abhorrent who had taken over the road and were finishing sniffing a caravan that was heading towards Akane, were preparing to advance against them. Erza immediately got up and taking her sword, she ordered the fairies to stay inside the car. She opened the door with a kick and went outside. From there she found that the situation was much worse than she had anticipated, because instead of a hundred abhorrent, she observed that there was twice as much. The leader of the fairies witnessed the last moments of the coachman, who shot awkwardly at the ichiyas and was knocked off his seat on the ground. The monsters that were closer held him tightly preventing him from escaping and began to rub their wet noses on the unfortunate, who gave horrendous screams. Erza saw this with nothing she could do to help him, rather than lift her musket and shoot the almost-abominable in his head, giving him an instant death, an act that caused the ichiyas to turn towards the carriage.
Seeing that she and her companions were in real danger, she took a gigantic jump firing her musket while flying through the air and her bullets pierced the heads of several abhorrent. She landed standing next to a rock, after which she began to shoot down the aggressors with her sword, showing all the grace and ferocity of Titania. Her feet, her fists and her sword were too agile for the clumsy horde of ichiyas, which fell like flies. At the time, Laki left the carriage and with her magic, materialized a field of stakes that managed to stop the abhorrent, enough so that Erza could perform such an enormous feat, that only she could dare to do. In record time, the redhead fairy emptied her arsenal. Invoking all the axes, swords, javelins, and knives she had, she directed the deadly weapons at the increasingly uncontrolled monsters and finished them with a single blow.
Erza ran to the magical car, sat on the seat and took the bracelet. The ichiyas surviving the last and extraordinary attack of Titania began to regroup, while Erza allowed the armband to drain the magic power that still remained, driving the car down the road at breakneck speed, until making sure that the danger had passed.
The fairies breathed a sigh of relief when they finally spotted the bay, with the roller coaster towering above the luxurious Akane Resort hotel and the green palm trees, which grew in number as they neared their destination.
Shortly after they arrived at the military camp and although Erza had drained much of her magic, she still had enough energy to walk, so when stopping the car at the inspection point, she did not hesitate to address a noisy complaint to the security manager of the road, who did nothing but listen in silence to the energetic redhead fairy. Everyone present was surprised to see the fierce aspect of Titania, who recounted the details of her eventful journey as quickly as she could, hoping not to talk about it again, except to say that she had never seen such an amount of abhorrent in all her travels, amazed that such a large number had attacked a carriage.
—oOo—
That afternoon Jellal and Richard arrived in Akane and stayed in a modest inn, strategically built on a cliff.
"I need to see the road safety chief right away," Jellal said as he stormed out the door.
"I think it's best to order an investigation as we agreed," Richard said. "But if you are so worried, I can ask the commander of the Akane camp to present a report of the events." he suggesting to see the dissatisfaction in the face of the wizard saint.
Jellal sighed resignedly. Personally, I hoped to get to the bottom of this matter, but remembered that Richard was completely capable of handling the situation. In addition, the Magical Council, once informed of that incident on the road, would soon propose the strengthening of security, so it must be available for any imposed provision.
"It's okay," Jellal muttered grudgingly.
Minutes later, Jellal watched through one of the windows of the inn, as Richard left for the military camp of Akane. He sighed in frustration and then sat down to read a book of ritual magic. Although he enjoyed reading a lot, he felt the need to do something, go out and kill something, whatever!
The hours that passed became eternal. The long-awaited appeal of the Magical Council never arrived and that was going to be one of those few pleasant days, if Richard had not returned with the most disturbing news.
"What, Miss Erza Scarlet is here in Akane?" Jellal thought as Richard told his what had happened. "What misfortune or maybe…"
"You talked to her?" Jellal asked, anxious to know more.
"Yes, a little," Richard replied with a gesture that indicated that he had had fun with this particular matter and continued. "By the time I arrived, the lady had spread terror throughout the camp…"
Jellal listened attentively and silently. That was not a coincidence, he knew as soon as he remembered Charle's insinuations in Heavenly. Everything was for Erza! there was no other explanation. "He must have come to the Etherion demonstration," he thought as he paced the room. He was eager to see her, he needed to check one thing, but it seemed inappropriate, appearing as soon as she had reached Akane, so he waited impatiently for the opportunity to meet her, so that it would look like a casual encounter.
—oOo—
After the long and tedious interrogation to which they were subjected, and of being seated long enough to count the spots on the roof, the fairies went to the hotel. When they arrived (fortunately without major setbacks) they were received with rigid courtesy by Lahar, Commander of the fourth division of magical law enforcement. Before such reception, Erza was increasingly convinced that Fairy Tail was under the Council's eye.
Without further delay than the questions and observations of Lahar to the fairies, about the feat of the road, entered the hotel and once in the hall, the Commander welcomed them, repeating the activities and schedules established for the previous of the event. At dusk, Erza was in her room preparing for the (as the informative pamphlet on her comfortable) night of fireworks, when she heard a sudden noise. She listened for a moment and noticed that they were knocking on the door and calling to her. Erza summoned her sword and opening the door, she found Laki and Kinana in the corridor, both agitated and out of breath.
"Erza, you have to get down immediately!" the fairies shouted at the same time and taking the redhead girl by the wrists took her out of the room. Titania asked what was happening but the fairies refused to share what they knew.
"And that's it?" Erza exclaimed with disappointment and disgust. She expected at least that the abhorrent would have invaded the compound, just as when they attack Fairy Tail Hall. "I see only a lot of wizards…" the redhead girl continued with that complaint until raising her eyes mumbled. "Jellal?"
"Erza!" Kinana, who did not notice the perplexed state of the redhead girl, replied with commendable encouragement. "They are not any kind of magicians. They are from Fiore's elite. Is not the youngest one of the wizard saints?"
Erza did not know how to respond, she had been speechless and it was not very helpful to watch the magicians move towards their direction, guided by a very enthusiastic Laki. Who was just after Laki, was quite tall and corpulent, at first glance and good-natured guy. Jellal, who was last, was just as I remembered Fairyshire, so quiet and…
"Are you looking at me?"
"It's a pleasure to see you again, miss." Jellal greeted her politely and Erza just nodded at the same time she thought, "What is he doing here?"
Both remained plunged in a reverential silence, while their companions made the presentations of rigor and concluded the social convention, Richard began to converse with the fairies in a friendly way, with such ease and ease that it would have been a pleasant experience for the redhead girl, she did not feel the need to jump on a balcony, after noticing that Jellal had not stopped looking at her.
Could the night get worse? Indeed. The leaders of the Magical Council, after hearing about the incident on the road, had forced Erza to take part in an exhibition fight against imitating golems1 which took place in the pavilion where they were assembled. Erza resisted vehemently as much as she could, sensing the reason behind such a proposal. However, given the pressure so insistent and fearing that her rebellion could bring problems to the guild, she agreed very reluctantly.
"It's really a misfortune." Erza sighed in disgust. "Or maybe…" In a defiant gesture, she planted her feet on the floor and reequip her fight attire, which consisted of red pants, bandages covering her voluptuous bust and a katana.
"Maybe I can use this situation to fight fire with fire." Erza smiled mordantly and, raising the sword in her hand, predicted her victory.
Nadal, one of the Council's assistants, stood up to signal the start of the fight. The first Lizardman appeared and unsheathed his sword, emitting a shrill scream as he lunged at Erza. When his sword was only a few inches from the neck of the fairy, she was pulled to one side and split the belly of her opponent with the katana in her hand. A new Lizardman appeared in front of the girl, advancing and throwing ninja flying stars. Erza shielded herself from the first thrown star and advanced at the same time that she diverted the trajectory of the other two on either side striking with the sword. She raised the katana on her head with both hands and delivered a blow that beheaded her opponent.
The last three golems 2.5 appeared at the same time surrounding Titania. She took a jump in the air and with a split demolished to the lizards that approached by her flanks. When she fell to the ground, she made a sweep that knocked down the third Lizardman, who was approaching from behind. Before he got up, she stabbed the sword through the creature. Stripped of her katana, she summoned two sword in each hand and brandishing both at the same time, she sliced at will.
"This savage person, how can you be a fairy?"
A faint murmur was heard from somewhere in the room.
"I am not surprised" the old Michelio, unhappy witness of such a show, annoyed, raised that comment.
"Their remarkable destructive capacity and lack of tact are well known throughout Fiore."
Another reaction joined the voices and comments giving rise to an extensive discussion that remained heated the rest of the evening.
The councilors lost no opportunity to comment on Fairy Tail, attributing to Erza's guild the responsibility for hundreds of colossal wrecks, mixed with numerous complaints and various threats about their imminent dissolution, but Erza endured them with all the patience that courtesy imposes.
That was a bad night, one disappointment after another. When she retired, to the solitude of her room, the redhead girl thought about how the next few days would go, how uncomfortable and even odious it would be to have to deal with those people of the Magical Council, so arrogant and authoritarian. It was true that Fairy Tail was never liked by the Council, Erza acknowledged that her guild was intentionally problematic, that a corrective was necessary, but that they had been so ruthless, had exceeded all limits and Erza could not ignore the offense against her guild.
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ENDING: David Bowie - As the World Falls Down
NOTES OF THE AUTHOR
1. Golems imitators. The Lizardmen are golems in the shape of anthropomorphic lizards, with the ability to imitate the magic and fighting style of their opponents.
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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!
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