AN: You know what's missing from this story? ERZA. Yeah. You'd think one of the main characters of both Fairy Tail and this story would have shown up by now. So, where is she? Well… I got sick of putting off her arrival. See, I've never really written Erza before. Surprised? Well, it's true. Erza is such a complex character that I worry I'll fuck up, but I'm not putting it off any longer. So, with all that said, I hope you enjoy my Erza! Thanks for reading!
Story the Twelfth: The Color Scarlet
It was rather surprising that it had taken so long – they had all known it would happen sooner or later. That's not to say it hadn't been relatively early on in their days as a guild, but it had still taken longer than anyone had thought. Surprisingly enough, the first person to realize she was coming wasn't Erik.
"Erza's coming?" Erik asked, astounded. "How the hell do you know that? I haven't heard anything." Jellal shrugged.
"I just know," he said simply. Merudy giggled.
"He always knows," she said, grinning. "He and Erza have some sort of crazy mental link." Sawyer raised an eyebrow.
"Like, telepathically?" he asked. "Because natural mental links are pretty rare. I think you actually have to intentionally form one most of the time."
"It's the result of love," Richard proclaimed. "Oh yeah!" Erik snorted.
"Well, that much is obvious," he pointed out. "Even Macbeth figured out that they like each other."
"Th-that is not the situation!" Jellal protested. Macbeth opened one eye.
"I have seen people falling down the stairs who are less head over heels than you," he said, smirking. Jellal frowned.
"And how many of those people did you push?" he asked. Macbeth shrugged.
"Most of them, probably," he replied. "But the journey is more important than the reason for it."
"That's not how that saying goes," Merudy told him. "But you've got a point. The only reason those two aren't together is because Jellal is a phenomenally bad liar."
"Oh, you mean the fiancée thing?" Sorano asked. Jellal blanched.
"You told them?" he yelped.
"I didn't think it would be a good idea to keep secrets," Merudy said innocently.
"Tell your own, then," he grumbled. Erik cleared his throat.
"Hot redhead at three-o-clock," he told them. They all looked at him. "Oh yeah, Erza's here too, seven-o-clock."
"Greetings," said Erza, trying not to laugh. Jellal scrambled to his feet.
"How long–"
"Three and a half minutes," Erik said, grinning ear to ear. Jellal sighed.
"I apologize, Erza," he said. She shook her head.
"Not at all," she replied, smiling warmly. "It's good to see that you're all getting along. I was a bit worried." The two exchanged smiles. Erik pretended to gag.
"Stop that," Merudy hissed, elbowing him. "This is adorable."
"How are you all doing?" Erza asked, ignoring Erik and Merudy.
"I'm just fine," Sorano said, rolling her shoulders. "But if you can convince your boyfriend that these cloaks are unnecessary, that'd be great."
"I do not have a boyfriend," Erza informed her, lips twitching in amusement. "But I actually quite like the cloaks." Sorano groaned.
"Hey, why'd Fairy Tail disband?" Erik demanded. "I never heard a reason."
"I'm not quite sure myself," Erza confessed. "I'm sure Master had a reason, though. He's not the type to do something so outrageous without a very serious reason. I don't know for certain where most of the others are, but I've been in contact with both Gray and Levy, and they seem all right. By the way, Jellal, I thought you intended to recruit all of the Oración Seis. Where's Brain?" Jellal gestured to Erik, who shrugged.
"I may or may not have carved a new hole in his torso," the Dragon Slayer said, grinning. "Payback's a bitch." Erza raised an eyebrow.
"I… see…"
"It was before Merudy and I arrived," Jellal added. "In all honesty, though, I am not extremely torn up about his loss." There were murmurs of assent and hissed curse words from the Oración Seis.
"I was under the impression that he was like a father to you lot," Erza said.
"He gave zero shits about us," Sawyer snarled. "Why should we give any about him, huh?" Richard nodded.
"While I do not wish to advocate murder, I will agree that the world is a better place without him," the large man said. "Oh yeah!"
"I'm all for advocating murder on this one," Merudy said shamelessly. "He's the one who ruined Ul's life."
"And, by default, the rest of us," Macbeth added. He looked at Erza. "That goes for you too." Erza bit her lip and nodded.
"I don't believe I will be shedding any tears over him," she confessed. "I hope that was the last life you intend to take, though."
"Our guild's main goal is to kill someone," Erik pointed out. "I mean, I know Zeref's a dick and all, but murder is murder, right? Kinda hard to pretend we ain't plottin' to kill someone when that's the reason we're all here."
"That's fair," Erza allowed. "However, when the time comes to fight that battle, I assure you that Crime Sorcière will not be the only guild with blood on its hands."
"I thought Fairy Tail didn't kill their enemies," Merudy said, frowning. "That's what Juvia said, anyway." Erza looked away.
"To protect the people we love, there is very little we will not do." She said quietly. "This goes for Juvia as well, I believe. That does not mean we will not feel guilt over it. All we can do is what we believe is best and not look back. Focusing on the past never got anyone anywhere."
"Is everything you say something out of a crappy romance novel?" Erik asked.
"Cobra, have you ever even read a romance novel?" Erza asked. He shrugged.
"No, but I think that's what they'd sound like," he told her.
"Erza," Macbeth spoke up. The redheaded woman turned to him. "We are going by our true names now." She nodded.
"In that case, I suppose we should reintroduce ourselves," she decided. "I am Erza Scarlet, also known as 'Titania', S-Class mage of Fairy Tail." Macbeth gave a small smile.
"I am Macbeth," he told her. "Formerly known as 'Midnight', former member of the Oración Seis and the Reborn Oración Seis, and current member of Crime Sorcière."
"This is dumb," Sawyer said flatly. Sorano elbowed him.
"I'm Sorano Agria," she introduced herself. "Formerly known as 'Angel', former member of the Six Generals, and currently a member of Crime Sorcière."
"I am Richard Buchanan!" Richard declared. "Oh yeah! Formerly Hoteye of the Oración Seis, and currently attempting to atone for my sins as a member of Crime Sorcière! Oh yeah!"
"I'm with Sawyer," Erik said. "This is stupid."
"I'm Merudy!" Merudy chirped. "Former member of Grimoire Heart and one of the founders of Crime Sorcière." She turned to Erik and grinned. He blanched.
"Okay, okay, geez," he muttered. "Ya little psycho. I'm Erik, used to be Cobra, formerly of the Six Generals, blah blah blah, I'm in this guild now. Happy?"
"Thrilled," Merudy told him. Erik looked at Sawyer.
"It's not worth it, man," he said. "Pinky's a demon."
"Fine, whatever, I don't care," Sawyer grumbled. "Name's Sawyer, formerly Racer, ex-Oración Seis, ex-Reborn Oración Seis, now I'm here. Yay."
"What about you, Jellal?" Erza asked. Jellal sweatdropped.
"I believe everyone here knows who I am," he pointed out. "I do not see the point of–" Erza frowned.
"Everyone else in your guild did, though," she pointed out.
"Yes, well, if everyone in Fairy Tail jumped off a bridge, would you–" Jellal stopped. "Never mind. Of course you would. Very well." He cleared his throat. "I am Jellal Fernandes. This… is actually the only guild I have ever been a member of. I did go by Siegrain once, though." Erza clapped, eyes gleaming.
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Anyway, Jellal, I wanted to know how you guys were doing."
"We are fine, mostly," Jellal replied.
"Nobody's died since Brain!" Merudy informed her happily. "At least, not by our hands." Erik's eye twitched.
"I killed Brain!" he snapped. "Don't make it sound like a group effort!"
"It was a group effort!" Sorano protested. "We provided motive and moral support!" Sawyer rolled his eyes.
"We didn't even know what he was gonna do," the skinny man pointed out.
"I guessed," Macbeth said bluntly. "I just didn't care."
"Anyway," Erza said, a bit louder than was strictly necessary. "How do you guys feel about being on the side of righteousness?"
"I think you're a drama queen," Macbeth told her. The other former members of the Oración Seis (sans Richard) nodded.
"I think it feels wonderful!" Richard boomed. "Oh yeah! Once I have properly atoned for my sins, I shall be able to face Wally with pride!"
"There's someone I want to find," Sorano said suddenly. "I don't particularly care about 'righteousness', but if being on the side of the light means I can find that person, I'm all for it." Erik nodded.
"I gotta find someone as well," he said. "She's out there, somewhere."
"I don't know where Kinana is," Erza said, "but I can try to get in contact with her, if you'd like."
"So her name's 'Kinana' now, huh," he mused. "Nah, that's all right. I don't want to drag her into this. Thanks anyway."
"He said 'thanks'!" Sorano gasped, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. "They grow up so fast!" Erik tackled her, and began tickling her sides. She giggled madly, flailing at him. Merudy's eyes sparkled.
"I like this guild," she declared. Erza smiled.
"It's good that they get along," she said. She turned to Jellal. "Will you be alright?" He nodded.
"Yes. And yourself?" she smiled at him.
"I'll be fine," she told him. She held out her hand, requipping a communications lacrima. "I'd like to stay in touch, though. Just in case."
"Of course," Jellal replied. "If you need help, let me know. Though I have a feeling it will be the other way around." She chuckled.
"Yes, well," she turned to leave, glancing over her shoulder. "I do have some experience calming down rowdy crowds." And then she was gone, leaving Jellal standing there with a lacrima in his hand staring after her. Macbeth smirked at him.
"You lllllllliiiiike her."
AN: I REGRET NOTHING! Okay, so I regret some things. Anyway, I was finally able to get this chapter out, and I swear to god I'll finish the next chapter of Deicide soon. I'm thinking the next chapter of this story, which will be chapter thirteen, should be Halloween-themed. Like, a giant costume party. I think I know who'll go as what. What do you guys think? Well, see you next time! Thanks for reading!