Chapter 7
Cold and Shadow
It was her. The mirror being created by the mirror mage had accurately copied her appearance down to the last hair. Not so much as a flaw in complexion, too.
"...Glacia..."
How many nights had Vóreia cried over the death of her beloved partner? How many mages had suffered physically—under Rogue's fist—and emotionally after her murder? Yet here she was, standing before Rogue. The very girl who had triggered his violent personality change.
It was her...but it wasn't. On the surface, Glacia was cheerful with a touch of sadness. This Glacia was emotionless, blank, the epitome of emptyness.
"Glacia!" Beth cried out.
"Vait, that girl in the arena is Glacia?" Platina asked, glancing back and forth between her team mates and the battle.
"It may be an illusion," Risley said. "But that's Glacia."
"I remember you telling me that she vas eighteen ven she died."
"She was eighteen," Kagura confirmed, looking at Mizuno in disgust. "But due to the nature of her magic, Glacia was frozen into the form of a child."
"Mermaid-san?" Frosch's eyes began to water up. "She's alive!"
"Of course not!" Even though Lector wanted to believe that it was Glacia back from the grave, he knew better. "It's an illusion, it's not her!"
"Shit." Sting ran a hand through his hair. "Illusion or not...Rogue..."
"What I don't understand is," Rufus began, "how that girl is important to Rogue."
"Weren't you the one who finished an entire book on war history in one day?"
"Your point being?"
"Do you remember what the best battles were fought over?"
"A woman," Rufus replied, frowning. "But—"
"Exactly."
"My, my." Mizuno rested an arm on Mirror Glacia's head. "Never did I imagine that another man besides Dobengal would fall for this frozen beauty. She may be adorable now, but you should see her with long hair! Truly, her beauty surpasses even Lady Venus!"
Lyon turned to Dobengal, who turned away from Chelia, who was currently flashing a smug look.
"..." A fiendish smirk crossed Rogue's mouth. "You know, at first, I thought a battle against an incredibly conceited pretty boy like you would end quick. But to see you mock the dead so easily—" Shadows began to float in the air around Rogue. "You make me sick," he snarled.
"And?" Mizuno tilted his head, retaining that laidback air while smiling. "Your point being?"
"I'll make you scream for mercy," Rogue said, appearing behind the mirror mage. "Shadow Dragon's Slash!"
Mizuno spun around as a fist wrapped in shadows came for him, aiming—
Right for his pretty face, Rogue thought.
Blood flew into the air, his fingers drenched in the same liquid. Shock pulsed through Rogue's veins at the sight before him. Mirror Glacia had taken the attack meant for Mizuno, her right cheek slashed badly.
"Oh dear, now look," Mizuno tsked. "You marred her pretty face."
As he spoke, the wound began to close over with new flesh, blood evaporating into the air. Mizuno clapped his hands together in satisfaction. "There we go. Good as new!"
"Let her go."
Mizuno raised an eyebrow as he tilted his head again. "You know, I was expecting a thank you when I brought her here."
"For what? For mocking her death? Shadow Dragon's Roar!"
A large burst of shadows charged towards Mizuno, who simply stood smiling.
"...Ice Dragon's Mirror," a flat, monotone female voice spoke.
A smooth sheet of ice appeared in front of Mizuno, reflecting Rogue's attack back at him. The ice floated off to the side under Mirror Glacia's control.
"Nuh-uh," Mizuno chided, waving a finger. "I'm not your only opponent here. Glacia is going to fight with us."
Rogue hesitated, but reminded himself furiously that this was an illusion in front of him.
But she was bleeding, he thought.
"What will it be? To be brought to your knees by Glacia, or to retain your guild's so-called 'honor'...and lose her all over again?"
"Heh." Rogue got back to his feet, glaring at Mizuno. "For a moment...I almost felt sorry for you. I have no idea how Glacia put up with you."
"Oh? This is coming from a man who barely knew her for more than a week," the mirror mage mused.
"If you don't mind me murdering you, keep talking. Shadow Dragon's Whip!"
A long tendril of writhing shadows grew from his right hand, snapped forward on Rogue's command.
"...Shattering Whip."
A long, bladed ice whip lashed out to meet Rogue's, passing through the shadows.
"Wait, that's Glacia's magic!" Lyon cried.
"If Mizuno can copy a mage in his mirror, he has access to their magic," Dobengal admitted bitterly. "He beat me using this same strategy once."
"That was a long time ago. You can take him now, right?" Chelia asked.
She received no answer. "Is there at least a weak link in his strategy?"
"...just one. Mirror Glacia has the same magic as the genuine, but her magic comes from Mizuno's magic."
"Shadow Dragon's Punch!" But his attack phased through Mirror Glacia's stomach, tiny ice particles floating in place of her entire body.
"'Dragon that hides in snow: Freezing Mist,'" Mizuno quoted as Mirror Glacia vanished into the air. "Glacia's favorite technique, one that she crafted herself."
Mirror Glacia appeared, her fist glowing blue as she drew it forward. This time, it was Rogue's turn to become intangible, a shadow that couldn't be touched.
"Intangible shadow, huh?" Mizuno leaned back as tiny ice particles floated towards a shadow. "Cold and shadow—you accent each other beautifully."
Rogue burst out of Mizuno's shadow, ready to attack him when the mirror mage suddenly moved out of the way.
Mirror Glacia rushed forward, her fist glowing blue until she opened it. Three linked chains hovered over the palm of her hand.
"Ice Dragon's Chains," Mizuno said.
On cue, Mirror Glacia drew her arm back before bringing it forward. Multiple chains shot out of her palm, trying to restrain her opponent. Rogue was forced to slip back into the shadows, effectively avoiding the chains.
"The best part about Glacia's magic is that nothing has to be practiced to perfection," the mirror mage sighed. "It's always beautiful improv."
A chain with a grappling hook struck the shadow where Rogue hid. But the hook vanished into the darkness until Mirror Glacia yanked on it.
How? Rogue thought as the hook extracted him. How did she—
"Pull me out of the shadow?" Mirror Glacia said. "I forgot she could read my mind."
Three more chains soared, wrapping themselves around Rogue's right arm and his legs.
"Glacia." Mizuno's hands radiated with blue light, and water floated in his hands. "Will you?"
Mirror Glacia took a deep breath, drawing her head back. A spiralling cyclone of snow and ice burst out of her mouth.
"Unison Raid?" Rufus noted.
At the same time, Mizuno extended his hands, water streaming out of his palms. Water collided with ice and snow, and two dragons made of water drowned Rogue in a violent torrent. "Clashing Dragons of the North Sea!"
The arena filled with water, it froze over. But not before Rogue pulled himself out of the freezing water, dripping wet and coughing on the icy floor.
"Water is the element of change," Mizuno said, spreading an arm out. "Ice and snow are water's cold siblings. Reunite them, and they accent each other beautifully. Magic of the Ice Dragon, her unmelting tears: Glacia is living proof, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yeah. She was." Rogue got back on his feet. "You have no idea what her tears do to a complete stranger, do you? They make you feel helpless, powerless, and those same tears could bring a god to their knees. However..." He removed his cape, heavy from water absorption "It's those same tears...that gave me this strength...and guided me to where I am today!"
Slowly, Mizuno applauded. "Well done. I haven't heard a passionate declaration like that since Dobengal's excommunication."
"Remember what I said earlier?" The fiendish smirk returned to Rogue. "I'll bring you to your knees...and you'll scream for mercy. Shadow Dragon's Abyss!"
A dark shadow consumed Mirror Glacia's, and it pulled her into the darkness. She struggled, but long arms grabbed every part of her, dragging her into the deeper. Mirror Glacia glanced back at Rogue, tears threatening to fall as the abyss consumed her.
He almost faltered.
Among the falling rubble, he could see her lifeless body falling into the chasm. Darkness claimed her, and debris buried her body.
You saw her die that day, and this isn't her! he thought.
The mirror being disappeared into the shadows, not a trace of its existance.
"I can't believe...you—"
"Your turn." Rogue appeared from Mizuno's shadow.
"Agh!" Mizuno slid across the icy floor, which was beginning to melt and evaporate. His cheek bruised, the mirror mage used whatever water left to attack Rogue, but the Shadow Dragon passed through it with ease.
His fist collided with Mizuno's nose, a sickening crack sounded as the mirror mage skidded across the ice on his back. Using the mirror cost me more magic than I thought, Mizuno thought as he rolled away from a Shadow Dragon's Roar. But in his line of sight, an armored boot shot out, kicking him in the gut.
A hand grabbed the back of his neck, hoisting Mizuno into the air.
"I—I surrender?"
"You lost that right the minute you began."
Mizuno was slammed against the ice, breaking it effectively. Ice chunks floated away as the water sunk into the small crater in the ground. And in the center of it was the unconscious water mage of Imperial Snow.
"The battle is over! Rogue of Sabertooth is victorious! Mizuno...is he all right?"
"We should get him to see a doctor," Yajima said.
"Cool! Sabertooth is cool!"
"And so are today's results!" Chapati announced as the score appeared on the Lacrima Vision.
Mermaid Heel 20P
Lamia Scale 18P
Sabertooth 14P
Fairy Tail A 13P
Imperial Snow 6P
Fairy Tail B 2P
Blue Pegasus 1P
Quatro Cerberus 0P
"Already, Mermaid Heel has stolen the top place from Sabertooth! But will they retain that position?"
"To think that Sabertooth is in third..." Lector shook his head.
"Interesting fellow, his opponent. I memorized his magic," Rufus said with a sly smile.
"That Mizuno guy had it coming for him," Sting shrugged.
"Mizuno, you idiot." Sasori raked a hand through his poison-colored hair.
"That guy has a bad habit of going with the flow," one of his cloaked team mates said.
"Speak for yourself," another spoke.
"What, me?" The first cloaked man leaned back, casual and calm, unlike his formal guild mates. "Hey, I rock and roll, got it, airhead?"
"Why can't you be more like Sasori?" The one addressed as airhead taunted.
In a chain reaction, the cloaked man lunged for 'Airhead'. Sasori did his best to hold back the man, while the fifth member of Team Imperial Snow got between the two and separated them.
"Thanks, N," Sasori added as he dragged the man back.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" 'Airhead' called.
"I'm gonna go see Sissy," N replied, before turning back around to leave.
"Those two are remarkable." Sasori leaned against the wall, smiling. "To have a sibling that cares for you...it's been so long since I felt that feeling."
"Hey, I'm your brother, aren't I?"
"Aw, stuff it, spider."
Vóreia entered the room she shared with Team Mermaid Heel. Something white and purple on her small suitcase caught her attention. To Vóreia, read the front of the envelope.
"Where do you think you're going?" Lyon called to his new team mate.
"I'm heading out," Dobengal replied. His back disappeared beyond the door.
Fairy Tail was living it up at Bar Sun, celebrating their fourth and sixth place results.
"I hope Gajeel is okay," Levy murmured.
"Wendy and Porlyusica are with him, of course he's okay!" Natsu insisted. "But seeing him get his butt kicked got me all fired up! Now I wanna battle that mermaid girl!"
Knock, knock, knock! Someone was at the door.
Lisanna, being the closest to the door, grabbed hold of the doorknob and opened it. "Oh—you're with the Magic Council!"
The party died down as several members craned their necks to see. Lahar stood outside with several Rune Knights.
Makarov leapt down from the bar and approached. "Is there a problem?"
Lahar bowed his head. "Please forgive our intrusion, but a recent murder led us to investigate anything and everything the murdered was ever connected to. His guild members...even guilds he went up against."
"What do we have to do with this person?" Gray asked, eyes narrowing.
"Oracion Seis, codename Cobra."
Several heads went up at Cobra's name, including Kinana's.
"He was murdered last night," Lahar continued grimly.
~Crocus Gardens~
Vóreia entered the lobby, looking at the decorations placed around.
The doors to the hotel slid open, and a tan-haired ninja trainee walked in, holding a white and purple letter.
"...hello," Vóreia said stiffly. Under her glare, Dobengal could only nod.
"Vóreia, Dobengal!" Sasori came around, grinning. "Please, relax. You're my guests, after all."
Sasori led the duo down a hallway, oblivious to the tension between his former comrades.
"Say, Sasori?"
"Hmm?"
"Back there." Dobengal pointed behind himself, where one door had seven different locks, unlike the others, which had one. "Is there a reason why that door is heavily padlocked?"
Sasori stopped, a pained look on his face. "A friend of mine fell quite ill. His entire body is being overtaken by rogue cells...let's just say they made him turn rogue as well."
"Mutation?" Vóreia guessed.
"Luckily we caught the mutation in an early stage," Sasori continued. "I'm doing my best to poison the rogue cells out. It hasn't been easy. The poison also goes for the handful of healthy tissue, weakening my friend greatly."
"But enough about him. Why don't we sit down and chat, like old times?"
Wanting to take a break, and get away from his guild mates, Rogue wandered aimlessly around Crocus.
Then again, they're too afraid to come near me now, so we're even, he thought. Rogue had lost count of how many members he scared off. The few victims that chose to stay made sure to keep their distance.
There was too much silence on his side. Rogue spun around to see that Frosch had rooted to a spot near the trees, several yards away from a fountain.
"Frosch—" But Frosch didn't respond, even as Rogue came closer to his friend. It was almost as if he were entranced, given by the dazed look in his eyes. Frowning, the Shadow Dragon Slayer, focused his attention on what had caught Frosch's near the fountain, only to see a young girl dancing.
Is she drunk? Rogue thought, unable to see how she enchanted Frosch.
But then he realized the girl couldn't have been drunk. Because an intoxicated person wouldn't be able to pull off every graceful step, each fluid movement.
The girl skipped forward, executing a beautiful pirouette as light surrounded her like a veil. The veil burst into glittering light, and the girl spun around in a blue dress. Part of the skirt was attached to a wristband on her left arm.
The moonlight accented her, and Rogue felt his feet stepping closer for another look. Soft silver rays highlighted her river-like, snow-white hair; her delicate, pale skin cast a gentle glow around herself; and as her skirt rippled with each step, the blue silk resembled ocean waves: overlapping, gentle, lulling. The girl opened her eyes, and Rogue took in a silent gasp.
It was her. Not Glacia—but the look-alike from the other night.
If there are gods, they must hate me, Rogue thought, entranced by the dancer. She stopped, spreading her arms out in a grand flourish.
Frosch began to clap, but his were drowned out by others—others that were slow, mocking, predatory. Three men came out from behind the trees, stalking towards the young dancer.
"Lookie here, boys," the leader of the thugs, being the ugliest of the trio, leered, licking his lips. "Now what's a pretty girl like you doing out so late?"
The girl backed away, only to be grabbed from behind by his lackies. She struggled, but the leader grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "You'll be dancing for me now...you know what I mean?"
The lackies cackled as the leader leaned in closer, puckering his disgusting lips—
Suddenly, a clenched fist pulled him back, hurling him towards the brick wall.
"Huh?" The lackies were torn from the girl as Rogue delivered a swift roundhouse kick to their faces.
"Ugh..." One of the lackies got to his knees, but froze when he saw Rogue's red eyes glowering at him. "H-he's that guy from Sabertooth! Shadow Dragon Rogue!"
"Crap!" Both of the goons scrambled to their feet, hauling their unconscious leader with them.
Smirking mentally, Rogue turned around towards the girl. "Are you—"
But the girl ran away so fast, a trail of dust clouds were left behind. He sweated. "—okay?"
"Rogue, why did the pretty lady run away?" Frosch asked, coming away from the trees.
"...I don't know."
Did I terrify her that badly? he thought.