"Talking"
'thinking'
"Spells"
Disclaimer: I do not own either Fairy Tail or the Seven Deadly Sins
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Chapter 22:
The tale of master and student
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Kingdom of Liones
Meliodas wasn't worried as he heard a group coming their way. Their magic was all over the place, so it couldn't be a group of Holy Knights. Most likely a group of regular knights with a couple Holy Knights. Something he and Gilthunder could easily handle.
But he relaxed when he saw who it was, but he was also confused too. He saw Gowther and Diane coming his way, but they had Howzer, Jericho, Guila, and Dreyfus with them.
Meliodas saw they were all battered and injured as that would explain why their magic was so low. But it didn't explain why they were all together.
"Captain!" Yelled Diane as she rushed over and picked Meliodas up.
"Gilthunder! Graimore!" Said Howzer happy that his best friends were ok.
"Howzer." Said Graimore happy to see Howzer.
"I have one question. What's going on in this kingdom?" Asked Howzer as he learnt so much today, that it hurt head and all the fights didn't help either.
"How long do you have?" Asked Graimore in a joking manner.
"We'll tell you everything once we finish this." Said Gilthunder in a series manner.
"I'll hold you to that." Said Howzer as he agreed.
"So what happened?" Asked Meliodas as he looked at the Holy Knights his comrades brought with him.
"They helped me." Said Daine as she explained everything that happened and how King went to face Helbram by himself.
"Wait Helbram is a fairy!?" Said Graimore as he found the man odd, but he would have never expected that.
"And somehow King knows him." Added Gilthunder as he wondered how far all this went.
"Will King be alright?" Asked Veronica as they needed all the power they could find right now.
"I am." Said King as he floated down to them as he then sat down as his head hung low.
No one need to ask about Helbram, especially those who fought him. The only way King could be here is if he killed Helbram. Though some did wonder why he looked so sad.
"Let's end this." Said King with a serious face and tone.
"Then it's time to free the king." Said Gilthunder as it was long over due.
"And Elizabeth and Lucy." Agreed Meliodas who then looked at Merlin.
"I can teleport us all there." Said Merlin as she then looked at Diane who understood.
"Don't worry I can wait here." Diane told her as Merlin nodded.
"Then I will to." Said Howzer surprising everyone.
"You will?" Said Graimore in surprise.
"Yeah, the order to kill the Sins is still out there. If I stay with Diane, then I should be able to get the old generation to listen to me." Siad Howzer as the others agreed with him.
"I like you boy. So I'll stay too." Said Varghese with a gentle smile.
"I'd better stay too, just to keep you out of trouble." Said Blanchefleur as they could see the smile on her face meaning she didn't truly mean it.
"Good luck." Said Arthur as he fully supported their decision to stay behind.
"By the way find Hendrickson's body." Said Meliodas suddenly confusing the four.
"Why should we do that?" Asked Diane confused.
"Because he's responsible for all this." Said King with a growl.
"How did I miss all this." Said Dreyfus in frustration.
"It was the other you." Said Gowther plainly as this confused everyone.
"What is he talking about?" Asked Arthur confused.
"He's been saying that for a bit now. And when we ask why he's saying that he says nothing." Explained Howzer as he was wondering if Gowther went insane.
Meliodas all the while gave Dreyfus a look. Dreyfus saw it and flinched at it. What he saw was a cold calculating look as if Meliodas was trying to look into his very soul.
"We should go now." Said Gilthunder unaware that he saved Dreyfus.
"Merlin." Said Meliodas as everyone vanished.
Varghese looker at Howzer confused as he asked him something.
"What's happening in this country?" Was Varghese question, as it was mostly out of curiosity and confusion.
"I wish I truly knew." Admitted Howzer as he learnt so much today that it made him question so much.
"For now we should do what the captain wanted." Said Diane as she was right.
Blanchefleur then placed her hands on the ground and used her magic to find Hendrickson's body. But as she did she frowned.
"Blanchefleur what's wrong?" Asked Varghese as she rarely frowned when using her magic.
"I can't find his body." Admitted Blanchefleur as there was only one reason for that, he was out of her range. But after the blow Gilthunder landed on Hendrickson he shouldn't be moving while being at the edge of her ability.
Hearing confused Howzer and Diane as they didn't know what her magic was. But for Varghese, it scared him. As he could count the times Blanchefleur had failed to find someone with her magic on one hand and have leftover fingers.
"What's going on here?" Asked Blanchefleur in worry.
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Kingdom of Liones, castle, Meliodas's group location
Meanwhile with Meliodas's group they all appeared in front of two large door in a large room.
"Where are we?" Asked Meliodas as he looked around.
"We're outside of father's bed chambers." Said Margaret as she recognized where they are.
"Then father, Eli, and Lucy are beyond the door." Said Veronica as she rushed to the door to open it, only to find it wouldn't budge.
"Something wrong! The door won't open." Said Veronica alarmed.
"What!" Said Griamore as he and Gilthunder rushed to the door to open it, only to find it wouldn't.
"There's a barrier here!" Informed Griamore as it was a whole other league then his magic.
"I see." Siad Merlin with a smirk. "This is a Perfect cube."
"I've heard of those. Nothing can get in or out, expect for the caster." Said Griamore as he only read of them.
"That's right. It's a high-level magic spell." Said Merlin as she doubted Vivian did this.
"Then how do we get in?" Asked Jericho worried.
Merlin said nothing as she simply walked over and opened the door, like nothing was wrong. Seeing this shocked everyone as they did not expect that.
Inside the room they all saw Elizabeth sitting on a bed with an elderly man. The man had sort white hair and a white beard that went down to the top of his chest he wore white robes that split down the middle form the chest showing a red robe under it. On his wrist and lower arms he wore gold armlets. On the top and bottom of his robe he had black fur lining. This man was Bartra Liones, the king of the kingdom of Liones.
"Meliodas!" Cried out Elizabeth in joy as she got up and rushed over to Meliodas and hugged him.
"It hasn't even been a day, but I missed you so much, Meliodas." Said Elizabeth as she was glad everyone was safe.
"There, There." Said Meliodas as he was coping a feel.
"Hey!" Cried out Bartra as he saw that.
But then a book nailed Meliodas on the side of his head making him let go of Elizabeth. Seeing this everyone turned and saw Lucy was the one who threw the book.
"Not now!" Said Lucy annoyed.
"Nice shot." Praised Tiffany of all people.
"Tiffany." Said Merlin as walked over to her student.
"Merlin." Said Tiffany as got up and walked over to her as well.
"Lucy are you ok?" Asked Meliodas as he remembered how pissed Tiffany was at her the last time they meet.
"Yeah. All she wanted was information about my world." Said Lucy grateful that was all she wanted.
"She comes from quite the interesting world Merlin." Said Tiffany as their magic system was much different from their own.
"Yes. I would very much like to go there once this is finished." Agreed Merlin as she was interested in dragon slayer magic.
"But for now, I think it's time we finish this." Said Merlin in a serious tone.
"I agree. Field beta?" Asked Tiffany as she was in agreement with Merlin.
"Agreed." Said Merlin as the two then vanished.
"Merlin." Said Arthur worried about her.
"Don't worry Arthur." Said Meliodas in a calm tone.
"How are you so calm?" Asked Arthur in surprise.
"Because Merlin might not be the strongest, but she's the smartest and craftiest." Said Meliodas as the other Sins agreed with him.
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Merlin's location, field beta
Merlin and Tiffany suddenly appeared in a baren wasteland. All that was around them was dirt and stone for as far as the eye could see. The two would come here to practice magic, since no one was around for miles.
The two eyes each other as neither one said anything. Both knew the other was a powerful magic user in their own right.
"I've always dreamt of this." Said Tiffany as Merlin smirked.
"You have." Said Merlin amused.
"Yes, this will be the ultimate test for me. If I defeat you then that means I've reach my peak." Siad Tiffany as she meant it.
"You don't think you can defeat with even with the demon blood going through your veins, do you." Stated Merlin as Tiffany was always the level headed one.
"No, but then again you did get those gifts." Said Tiffany as this shocked Merlin.
"You know?" Asked Merlin trying figure out how Tiffany found out.
"Yes. It was hard to find out but imagine my surprise. And at the same time, it makes so much sense." Confirmed Tiffany.
Merlin couldn't help but smile hearing that. Tiffany was always her best student. It made her think back to when she first met her all those years ago.
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Flashback
Merlin was walking back to her lab after picking up some supplies she needed. As she neared her lab, she saw a little girl just standing there, waiting. Merlin paid the girl no mind as she continued to the door.
"Are you Merlin?" Asked the girl curious.
"Maybe." Said Merlin curious why the little girl wanted to see her.
"You are, aren't you." Stated the girl as this made Merlin smirk.
"And how did you come to that conclusion?" Asked Merlin amused.
"Because if you weren't Merlin, you wouldn't head inside without looking worried. Merlin has placed several protection spells on her lab to protect it. Also the way you just spoke to me states your curious to why I'm here." Answered the girls as this surprised Merlin by her deduction.
"Very nicely done. But why are you here?" Asked Merlin curious.
"I want to be your student." Said the girl in a serious tone.
"You do?" Asked Merlin as she wasn't excepting that. Most people just want her to make stuff for them or something like that.
"Yes. You may not remember it, but you saved my life once." Said the girl as she remembered what happened.
"Bandits attack our village and were killing everyone. That was when you appeared and took them all out like they were nothing. And then you healed those who could be saved."
Merlin nodded as she remembered that day. As she looked at the girl eyes, she could see the drive and determination to see this through.
"I'll only ask you this once, why become a magic user like me? A Holy Knight would be a better goal." Asked Merlin as she wanted to know the girl's answer.
"Yes being a Holy Knight would be easier, but nothing in life is easy. If I can do even a fraction of what you can, I can try to make it so others don't loss their parents like I did. I know the road I choose is going to be hard, but I will take it." Siad the girl as Merlin smirked hearing this.
"What's your name?" Asked Merlin.
"Tiffany." Answered Tiffany.
"Then come with me Tiffany." Said Merlin as she led Tiffany inside.
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Present
Ever since then Tiffany thirst for knowledge grew and her reasoning as well.
'She truly is my best student.' Thought Merlin with a smile.
"Oh, before we begin can I ask you something that I've always wondered?" Asked Tiffany with genuine curiosity.
"And what is that?" Asked Merlin wondering what it was.
"Why did you allow Vivian to be your student?" Asked Tiffany as she had to lock her room at night with serval protection spells, out concern what that woman would do to her.
Merlin sighed as Vivian was one of those students, she wished she never trained.
"At first I heard rumors of a promising mage. Then the nobles brought Vivian to me. At first, she had promise and the nobles offered me supplies for teaching her. It was soon after I found out Vivian obsession with Gilthunder and lack of effort. When I took you on, she got worse. But the nobles made it impossible to get rid of her. And if I'm being honest, I got scared what would happen if she got lose. And I was right." Explained Merlin as Tiffany agreed with her.
Tiffany then held out her hand and pointed her fingers like a gun.
"Bang." Said Tiffany as she fired a blast of magic at Merlin.
The blast shot towards Merlin who dodged, but not fast enough as it grazed her left thigh.
'That's a pure magic blast.' Thought Merlin impressed.
Tiffany then brought up her other hand and started to fire at Merlin as fast as she could. Merlin meanwhile calmly flew around as she dodged the magic blasts. Tiffany saw this as she then started to try to make Merlin move the way she wanted.
Tiffanny then fired at the rocks around Merlin creating a dust cloud around her. Merlin had to stop momentarily and that was enough time for Tiffany to shot Merlin right through the chest.
When the dust cleared Tiffany stood proudly as she saw the wound on Merlin. But then Merlin smirked as then burst into flames and fireballs shot out at Tiffany. The flames hit Tiffany as she cried out as she was being burned.
"I honestly thought you'd see through that illusion Tiffany." Stated Merlin as she appeared near Tiffany.
Tiffany said nothing as then exploded. Merlin quickly put up a barrier to protect herself.
"I could say the same to you Merlin." Said Tiffany with a smirk as she appeared a bit away.
"Not bad." Praised Merlin as she too had a smirk.
Then Tiffany exploded as dozens of Tiffany's floated around Merlin, though Merlin wasn't worried. She could feel these were all illusions, though she did wonder where Tiffany was. Then two illusions charged at Merlin. Merlin simply waved her arms as ice spears shot out and impaled the two Tiffany's.
One Tiffany simply vanished, but the other one exploded. Seeing this surprised Merlin.
"Do you like it?" Asked all the Tiffany's at once. "I based it on your elemental trick. Which one's are just illusions? Which one's exploded? What else could there be?"
Merlin looked at the Tiffany's as they flew about. Then she just smirk.
"Very nicely done." Praised Merlin as she couldn't tell what illusion had what.
But then she snapped her fingers and she then trapped herself and the illusions in a Perfect cube. The real Tiffany was outside the cube and was curious what Merlin was up to. She then got her answer when she saw the cube start to shirk.
The illusions all looked at the shirking cube confused. But soon the cube reached some of them. Some illusions vanished from the contact, while the other exploded. The exploding illusions caused a chain reaction causing the other illusions to explode.
Tiffany watched confused as the explosions died down. But then to her shock Merlin just stood there fine.
"How?" Asked Tiffany confused.
"I used two Prefect cubes. One for myself the other for your illusions." Said Merlin as she smirked at Tiffany.
"And the one for the illusions contracted pushing them together while the one around you kept you safe. I should have seen that coming." Said Tiffany as that was something Merlin would do.
"I must admit though I could not tell which of your illusions were safe to attack or not. Or what else there could have been." Admitted Merlin as that was impressive.
"Thank you." Said Tiffany as she got a serious look on her face.
"But I suppose it's time for my secret weapon." Said Tiffany as Merlin got worried. Whatever it was Tiffany was sure to have spent a lot of time on it.
Tiffany then snapped her fingers and Merlin suddenly found herself trapped in Gowther's old armor.
"What?" Said Merlin confused as she didn't understand the point of this.
"I know your confused, so let me explain things for you. I know you made this armor for Gowther to help keep him in line. But I've made several changes for it. Frist of I made it so you can't easily take it off. Next I made it to absorb your magic when you cast a spell. So whatever spell you use you'll have to you a lot of magic, though that shouldn't be a problem for you." Explained Tiffany as Merlin could confirm what she said.
'Leave it to Tiffany for this out of the box thinking.' Thought Merlin as she did not see an easy way out of this. But it did make her think back on the past again.
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Flashback
Merlin had just returned from her 'vacation' with the other Sins. Though Meliodas tricked them into thinking it was a vacation when really, he was putting them to work.
Merlin had returned to her lab late at night as she was walking down the halls. She had heard Vivian snoring in her room, so she knew she was asleep.
As Merlin walked pasted her study she saw a light in there. Curious Merlin walked in and saw Tiffany sitting at a desk surrounded by books.
"A little late-night reading?" Asked Merlin as walked in as she startled Tiffany.
"Oh master." Said Tiffany as she got up.
Merlin looked at what Tiffany was reading and got interested.
"These books are on fairies, giants, demons, and goddesses." Said Merlin as some of them were very old.
"Yes. I figured if I learnt about the other clans, it might inspire me in someway." Explained Tiffany as Merlin smirked.
"Then read these ones." Said Merlin as she waved her hand and serval books floated over to Tiffany.
"Thank you master." Said Tiffany as she went for a book only for it to float away.
"But first some sleep." Said Merlin.
"But master I'm fine." Said Tiffany as she then yawned. Tiffany then blushed as she got up.
"I'll see you in the morning master." Said Tiffany as she got up and headed for bed.
Merlin chuckled as she put the other books away.
'Looking at the other clans for inspiration not a bad idea.' Thought Merlin as headed to bed herself.
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Present
Tiffany had a grin on her face. She knew if Merlin had enough time, she could find a counter to her armor strategy. But time was something Tiffany wasn't going to give Merlin.
With a deep breath Tiffany blew out fire from her mouth. The fire then took the shape of a serpent. The fire serpent then roared as it flew at Merlin.
Merlin saw the serpent coming and tried to fly out of the way. But the weight of the armor slowed her down. The serpent was about to bite down on her when Merlin did a roll out of the way.
"Exterminate Ray." Said Merlin as she tried to fire a beam at the serpent but as she fired it the beam broke apart.
Merlin cursed at this. Tiffany trump card was deserving of its name. Nearly all of her spells were second nature to her. And worse yet some of her spells had to casted carefully or else who knows what could happen.
"Merlin." Said Tiffany as she floated down to her. "If you give up now, know I will spare your life."
Merlin looked at Tiffany and knew she meant it. Though the smug look on her face did somewhat annoy her. But what Tiffany forget her trump club.
"Tiffany did you forget about my treasure?" Asked Merlin as Tiffany eyes went wide.
"You still have it!?"" Said Tiffany in shock as none of the other Sins kept theirs, except for King.
"Of course." Said Merlin as a small crystal orb appeared in her hand.
"I don't need to tell you this Tiffany, but Aldan changes things for my favor." Said Merlin as Tiffany growled for overlooking Merlin's Sacred Treasure.
"First things first." Said Merlin as Aldan floated away from Merlin.
"Exterminate Ray." Said Merlin as she used Aldan as a conduit to channel her magic. Aldan then fired serval beams at the suit Merlin was wearing.
The shots hit the amour, but in control manner. The shots hit the joints in just the right way that the armor crumbled away. Soon Merlin floated there free as she brushed some dust away.
Tiffany growled as one little oversight caused her whole plan to fall apart. But she had come this far so there was no going back. So with that in mind she sent her serpent at Merlin hoping to get some time.
Merlin chuckled at the approaching serpent as she brought her right hand before her mouth. She then blew towards her hand as frost appeared. The frost hit the serpent as it froze over instantly and fell to the ground as it shattered on contact.
Merlin was about to move when chains appeared around her confining her. Then the chains electrified her. But Merlin wasn't even bothered as she then flexed, and the chains broke off her.
"You have to do better then that Tiffany." Siad Merlin as she wondered what Tiffany was up to.
She then got her answer as a swarm of Tiffany's appeared around her.
'What is she up to' Wondered Merlin as she knew Tiffany wouldn't resort to something like this.
That was when Merlin felt it for a second. It was Tiffany and she was charging up a spell. Realizing that whatever Tiffany was up to she need time to get it ready. That was when Merlin realized what Tiffany could be up to, and actually got worried.
Merlin scanned the area for Tiffany. If she finished the spell even for a second Merlin was sure she would lose. But Merlin couldn't find her as she was masking herself too well. Her only hope was a wide shot.
"Endless Whirl!" Said Merlin as a vortex wind appeared. The wind it created was so strong it sucked everything into its centre.
Rocks started to fly towards the vortex as some of them hit the Tiffany's. This caused them to vanish. Seeing this Merlin realized Tiffany did have time to make her exploding illusions. But the question was where was the real Tiffany? If she was planning to use the spell Merlin thought she was going to use, she had to be close by.
That was when a few boulders moved allowing Merlin to see Tiffany. And she was right about what she had planned.
"It's over Tiffany." Said Merlin as she teleported behind her and used her Absolute Cancel, on her spell.
Hearing Merlin's voice right behind her caused Tiffany to stop. As she sigh in defeat while something felt different for her.
"What were you thinking? You know as well as I using Chrono Coffin is forbidden and can only be used in an extreme life or death situation." Criticized Merlin with a frown as she expected that from Vivian not Tiffany.
"Because I saw no other way to win." Admitted Tiffany as she looked down in shame. Tiffany's ace in the hole was the suit and Merlin dealt with it so easy. All because she over looked one small fact.
"Tiffany." Said Merlin sadly as she couldn't fault Tiffany for thinking that way. If their roles were reversed, she probably do the same things.
"Tiffany what happened to you?" Asked Merlin curious.
"Honestly I don't even know where to begin." Answered Tiffany as she then had it.
"But if I'm being honest it started after you and the other Sins left the capital. I tried to keep up with my studies and such, but it was hard. Everyone looked at me with such distrust and hate. All for being your student. It was no surprise when Vivian forsaken you. But I refused to do that. But then one day Hendrickson appeared before me."
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Flashback
Tiffany followed Hendrikson through a cave system. The only reason she was following him was because he found something that he needed her for.
"Hendrickson what is it you called me here for?" Asked Tiffany as she was getting annoyed.
"It's easier to show you." Was all Hendrickson said as he continued on.
Tiffany frowned as she was starting to think this was a trap of some sort. But when she turned a corner, she stopped and gasped. For chained up was a red demon.
"A red demon!?" Said Tiffany in shock as they shouldn't be here.
"So you do know what it is." Said Hendrickson not surprised that she knew what it was.
"Why do you have this!?" Demanded Tiffany as she knew something was up.
"Would you believe that I found this?" Asked Hendrickson as his calmness was starting to worry Tiffany.
"I would ask where?" Answered Tiffany as she was a bit curious.
"I then remains of the fairy forest." Said Hendrickson as this surprised Tiffany.
"Then why bring me here?" Asked Tiffany curious.
Hendrickson walked in front of the demon as he looked at Tiffany.
"I am offering you a deal. If you help me unlock the secrets, I'll help you find out who framed your master and the other Sins." Said Hendrickson as Tiffany eyed him.
She knew there was much more to this what she was seeing. The sudden appearance of this demon and Hendrickson's proposal was too convenient. The smart thing to do would be to leave as fast and a safely as she could. But at the same time knowing your going into a trap can help you get out of it. But at the same time, she had to be careful.
"Ok." Said Tiffany unaware of what was to come.
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Present
"I should have never tired to outsmart him." Admitted Tiffany remorsefully.
"Tiffany, you made a smart move." Admitted Merlin as she would do the same.
"But something happened didn't it?" Asked Merlin as she curious.
"I don't know. As I worked, I felt like something was slowly changing my morals." Admitted Tiffany as she realized she watched so many deaths.
"Oh my god! I allowed so many deaths to happen." Cried Tiffany as she started to cry.
"Tiffany, I know you. You most likely made it so drinking demon blood wouldn't be as deadly." Reassured Merlin as she meant every word.
"Master." Started Tiffany as she then went wide eyed. She then started to shake as she clutched her sides in pain.
"Tiffany!?" Said Merlin in shock as she then realized what it could be.
"Merlin…" Said Tiffany weakly as she pulled a syringe.
Merlin saw it and smirked as she realized what it was. She quickly grabbed the syringe and injected Tiffany with it. As the substance entered Tiffany she relaxed.
Merlin looked at the syringe as her smirk never left her face.
'Good thinking Tiffany.' Thought Merlin as whatever this is substance was either destroyed or suppressed the demon blood.
"Master the kingdom." Said Tiffany weakly.
"I know." Said Merlin as if this happened to Tiffany then it happening to the new generation. But the problem was she only had one syringe and about a third of the substance was gone.
As if sensing what Merlin was thinking Tiffany then teleported them to her lab.
"Tiffany!?" Said Merlin surprised as she was in no condition to do that.
"The wall." Siad Tiffany weakly as she then passed out.
Merlin looked at the wall and saw nothing off the bat. But then she realized it was an illusion. And easy enough one to dispel. And when she did she grinned as it was a vault of syringes with the substance they needed.
"And this is why you are my favorite student." Said Merlin as she gathered all the syringes.
It was time to save the kingdom.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. And I hope you all enjoyed the fight between master and student. I know some of you are wondering why Tiffany went for the enteral coffin so fast, but against Merlin you have to use everything you got.
Next we got the endgame for this arc. And then we get to the interesting parts of my story.
Until next time.