Sshh, it's okay guys. 499 didn't happen here. Juvia is a-okay here. There is no death in the walls. Haha...Ha...
Enjoy!
"Alright, this seems good enough!" Nashi stopped and looked around. The place in question seemed to be grassy plateau with a small body of water nearby. They'd been walking for a while now, only to come to the place in question. Michael happily dropped the bag around his shoulders and turned to everyone else. "We'll set up camp here."
"Set up camp for what?" Elise asked. "Would you just tell us already? Jeez."
"Alright alright, calm down." Michael said, holding up his hands in mock fright. "We came here so Keita and I could help you guys."
"Help us with what?" Drake demanded. Michael smirked.
"A little birdie told me you guys have entered Dragon Force before. Would that be correct?"
"Yes..." Elise said slowly. Michael smiled.
"Great! Then we already have one step done."
"Just come out with it." Drake muttered.
"Michael and I are going to help train you guys to enter Dragon Force at will." Keita spoke up, looking exasperated. "That's why we're here. We're going to help you guys train." At this, Nashi noted both her friends seemed confused.
"Why exactly?" Elise asked. Michael frowned.
"Are you telling me you don't want to activate Dragon Force whenever you want?" He asked. "Because I don't believe you."
"I guess it would be useful." Drake said. "But we need an immense amount of magic power to do that."
"You're all on par with Keita and I." Michael pointed out. "I think that's close enough, don't you?"
"I suppose." Drake agreed. "I'm game." Michael smiled.
"Great!" He said. "Then put your shit down and let's get to it!" The three of them complied to this, putting their shit down and getting ready. As she did so, it gave Nashi some time to think. After all, she was probably the reason they were here.
The 'little birdie' that told Michael they'd entered Dragon Force before had been her, a couple of days ago.
Nashi had gone to hang out with Michael a couple of times over the last week. She hadn't told her friends this because she feared they'd make fun of her for it being a 'date', which it absolutely was not. They were just hanging out. Nothing more and nothing less. Right? Right. Of course.
Anyway, at one point during that time, she had mentioned Edolas to Michael, and told him about how she and the others consumed a mass amount of the ether-nano in the air and entered Dragon Force for the first time. Nashi had not entered it since then, only Drake had against Kronos the first time. At this time she'd offhandedly told Michael that she wished she could do what he and Keita could do, which was enter it whenever she wanted. It would have made pretty much every major fight she'd ever had way easier. Exponentially, really. It would have prevented her from consuming Katsuchi's flames, falling into the Etherion vat, and killing...
Nashi stumbled as this thought crossed her mind, her vision growing blurry. That was her own fault, it always happened when she thought of Apocalypse meeting his demise.
Regardless, it just seemed so useful to be able to do. Michael had seemingly joked about teaching her how to do it, and yet here they were, about to be trained how to do it. She really needed to get better at detecting jokes.
"So what's first?" Drake asked, their stuff now on the ground. Michael crossed his arms.
"All of you sit down and cross your legs like you're meditating." He said. Nashi didn't seen any reason to object, so she sat and crossed her legs as instructed next to Drake and Elise. Once they had all sat down, Michael smirked. "Now, close your eyes." Still doing as instructed, Nashi closed her eyes. After a little while, a breeze rolled past.
"That's a nice breeze." Keita said from somewhere in front of Nashi. "You guys feel that?" She did. It did feel rather nice.
"Just focus on the breeze." Michael said. "Focus on how it hits your skin and how it feels."
"Are you smoking something?" Drake joked from Nashi's left, which made her snort and Elise to chuckle. Michael laughed.
"I wish." He replied. "Might make the meditation process easier. Just focus you idiot."
"Yes sir." After the banter died down, Nashi concentrated. Another breeze rolled past, she focused in on it and felt rather content at how at peace she felt. It really was a rather nice feeling.
"Feels nice, doesn't it?" Michael asked. It did. "You probably feel at peace right now. and if you really focus, you can probably feel the magic inside your bodies." Nashi focused a bit, and just as Michael said, she could feel the power surging through her body. At this, she almost lost concentration. What the hell? Had she always been this powerful? The amount of magic coursing through her was so much more than she had anticipated. Guess her bloodline really was insanely powerful.
"Think back to when you first entered Dragon Force." Keita said. "Remember the power you felt surging through you...And relate it back to how you feel now." That was going to take a bit of work, that had been so long ago. Regardless, Nashi thought back to Edolas and did her best to remember how she felt when she'd entered Dragon Force. Even though she was strong now, she'd never been as strong as she had been back then, because that had been insane. She did her best and concentrated on the raw power she felt back then.
"Now," Michael said. "Focus on your own power. And build it up. Make it reach what it was then." How exactly was she supposed to do that? Nashi stopped thinking about Dragon Force and started to concentrate on her own power. She drew into her magic and started to gather it up in her core. She started to feel tense, and sweat started to trickle down her forehead. She was close, but not quite there yet.
All of a sudden, Nashi's left side started to feel numb. At first she thought nothing of it, but it got to the point where she felt worried. Just as she was about to open her eyes, an arm grabbed her and yanked her upwards, her left side slowly regaining feeling.
"Well well." Michael said, chuckling. He'd been the one to hoist her up, and Keita had done the same to Elise. Nashi's eyes drifted downwards to Drake, where poison was rolling off of him in waves. "Looks like we got a natural." Nashi watched as Drake concentrated, and eventually scales started to form underneath his eyes. The purple scales grew in size.
Before, all of a sudden, they disappeared quickly and Drake collapsed onto his back, breathing heavily.
"Drake?" Nashi asked. "You okay?" Drake was panting pretty bad, but he had a slight smile on his face. Michael chuckled.
"Great job, Drake." He said. "For your first time without a huge amount of magic power entering your body, that was really good."
"...Yeah?" Drake asked, still panting. "Great...Progress."
"Well, you have entered it more times than Nashi or me." Elise said. "You getting to do it first makes sense." Drake shrugged on the ground.
"I guess...So." He said.
"You should probably take a break." Michael said. "The first couple of times are really strenuous on the body. You're better off having entered it before, but you should still wait until you feel better."
"Feel...Better?" Drake asked. He laughed, and Nashi watched as he sat up and recrossed his legs. "I'm ready to keep going."
"Well alright then, Mr. Trooper." Michael joked. "Let's start over."
Michael splashed water on his face and sighed, looking down at the water. It had been a pretty long day, having spent the majority of it training the other three to use Dragon Force. They were doing much better at the rate they were at, so he assumed that once a few days had passed, they'd be able to use it just like he and Keita could. All three were pretty powerful anyway.
Drake had made the most progress. His first attempt wielded scales on his face, and after that the scales stayed for a while. After another few hours of trying, he was capable of holding Dragon Force for thirty seconds before his magic power caved in on him. That was to be expected, he'd been straining it all night. After a good nights rest, Michael was certain the Poison Dragon would excel even more.
Elise had been a bit slower, but she wasn't too far behind Drake all things considered. Grey scales had started to form on her arms and face, but just like Drake she wasn't able to hold it very long before her body gave way. Having timed it, Michael figured she was able to hold it for about twenty-five seconds. Still really good.
Nashi, although she too had very little trouble, confused Michael a little bit. She didn't get as far as the others as quickly, but once she got the scales and increase in her magic power, she held in for two whole minutes before she collapsed under her own weight. Michael didn't want to make the other two feel bad by openly acknowledging how much Nashi's powers grew when she focused on contrast to the others, but it must have been apparent to them as well. Her passive magic power was impressive in and of itself, but if she concentrated and drew it together it was even more powerful. So, a couple more days as predicted.
"You sure Drake?" Michael turned at this, watching the exchange from the water. Nashi was standing at the mouth of the tent she and Elise were using, watching Drake who seemed to be walking away from her.
"I said yes." He replied. "I don't need to sleep in the tent. There's barely any room for me." Nashi frowned.
"What if it rains or something? You'll catch a cold out here."
"Oh no, whatever will I do with the sniffles?" Drake asked, sarcasm oozing from him so badly Michael cracked a grin. "I'll be okay, really." Nashi didn't seem convinced, but nodded.
"Alright. If your done acting tough for whoever's sake, Elise and I are willing to leave some space for you." Drake rolled his eyes.
"Alright, thanks." He said.
"Goodnight."
"G'night." With this, Nashi disappeared back into the tent. Drake walked a little bit to the side and sat down on the ground, yawning. Making a face at this Michael walked up the small hill towards him.
"Hey man." He said, making Drake look over. "You not sleeping in the tent?" Drake frowned and shook his head.
"No. Mira gave us a smaller one that she said she did. There's no room for me."
"You sure?" Michael asked, smirking. "Elise ain't that big of a girl." Drake laughed at this.
"That may be true, but I don't mind sleeping out here."
"Keita and I can make room, too. Just no spooning." Drake laughed.
"I"ll be alright man." He replied. "Thanks, though." Michael smirked. Drake really was a cool guy. They got along really well all things considered, so that was good.
Speaking of which, I'm still curious about that...
Michael shrugged the feeling off.
"Just yell if it starts to rain." Michael said, holding out a fist towards Drake. "I'll save ya." Drake smiled and bumped his fist against his.
"Thanks, Romeo." He said, both laughing, Michael walked towards his own tent and walked inside. Keita was sitting on the ground, and it looked like he was doing some of his own meditating. Smirking, Michael leaned down and flicked Keita's forehead, shooting off a small ball of light as well. Keita yelped and flew backwards onto his back, which made Michael laugh.
"Gotcha." he said. Keita just fumed at him from the ground.
"Thanks a lot, I was concentrated."
"On what?"
"Meditation. I was just training my own Dragon Force."
"Why?" Keita raised an eyebrow at this.
"In case you forgot, we lost in Dragon Force to girls not using it." He said. "We need to train just as hard."
"Yeah, yeah." Michael replied, lying down in his own cot next to the boy. "I"ll do it later."
"I expected no less." Keita resumed his meditation, and Michael just lay there in the silence, staring up at the roof. There was silence for a long time, so much so that the light from the girls tent next to them went out, leaving there's still flickering in the lamp. Michael just thought abut some things, most of which he wanted to keep to himself for now. It was nothing anybody but him needed to know.
"Hey, Keita?"
"Hm."
"What do you think about...All of this."
"What does that mean?" Michael sat up and crossed his legs.
"You know, the situation we're involved in." He said, looking over at his friend. "With Fairy Tail and...Whoever's after them." Keita opened his left eye and looked at Michael.
"It's not an ideal one." He said. "But right now things seem okay."
"Yeah...For now." Michael said. Keita resumed meditating, and Michael stared down at his hands, playing with them.
"...You already know, don't you?" He asked slowly. Keita hummed.
"I thought so." He said. "That Blake worked for the same people who hurt Elise. At least, perhaps the same overall situation. They're after those six, I think."
"Hm." There was silence in this. "They're after Nashi in particular."
"Do you know why?" Michael sighed.
"No." He said. "I wish I did, though. I want to help her out."
"I wonder why." Give the seriousness of the conversation, the snark from the meditating Shadow Dragon was not appreciated. Michael frowned at him.
"Stop." He said. "It's not the time for this." Keita grinned and slyly opened his left eye again.
"What?" he asked with a small laugh. "I've just never seen you act this way about a girl before." Michael growled and looked at the side of the tent. "Jeez man, Nashi must drive you wild if you're getting so defensive about it."
"Since when are you the one roasting me?" Michael demanded. Keita grinned.
"I got the trait somewhere." There was silence, then, "Is that why you pushed this Dragon Force training so badly?"
"Of course." Michael agreed. "They might need it in this upcoming battle. Best be prepared."
"Very true." There was more silence, and Michael looked over at the girls tent.
"...You gonna ask him about it tomorrow?" Michael didn't reply right away, but he nodded.
"Yeah." He said. "I'd feel bad if I overstepped on him or anything."
"Sounds good. I guess that leaves me with the girls."
"It does." At this, Michael turned and punched his friend in the shoulder. "You and Elise, eh?"
"Oh don't you go there." Keita said.
"Heard you guys already slept together, you animal."
"Goodnight, Michael." With this, Keita laid down and rolled over away from Michael, which made him laugh. He let the fire in the lamp go out, before he too rolled over and went to bed.
They, and most especially he, had a big day tomorrow.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, welcome to day two of Dragon Force camp!" Michael said, trying to get a laugh. He succeeded rather well as everyone let out a chuckle.
"When do we get our badges?" Drake asked.
"Once you earn them, scout" Michael threw back, making them both laugh again. "Alright, today's agenda is a bit different. Drake, you're coming with me."
"Me?" He asked. "Why?"
"You're the closest to getting it down." Michael said, "So I want to take you away so you can concentrate alone. That okay?"
"Sure." He said.
"Cool, let's get going!" Nashi smiled at Drake.
"Good luck." She said. Drake smiled back at her.
"You too." He said, giving her a high five as she walked towards Keita with Elise. Michael forced the worry from his mind.
"Alright, let's go over to a stream nearby." He said. Drake nodded and pocketed his hands.
"After you, Troop Master."
"Come on man, you almost got it! Ten more seconds!"
"Ugh, fuck..."
"...Three, two, one...!" Michael grinned. "My man! Beat his record!" He looked up as Drake let out a breath of relief, the scales still covering some of his face.
"At least it's getting easier." He said. Michael nodded, crossed his legs on the rock he sat sitting on.
"Yep, you're getting close." he said, now smirking. "Maybe you'll be able to fight off the fangirls one day. A whole army, even." At this, Drake shivered.
"Oh god please no." He said. "Don't mention those girls."
"Hey, as a fellow attractive young man, I get you man." Michael said. "More than enough girls have told me they'd be willing to tattoo my name on their ass."
"Oho?" Drake asked, shedding his coat and tossing it aside. "What about your face?"
"That too. Any of them ask you out yet?"
"Nope. You?"
"Wish we could relate here. Sometimes they don't know when to quit."
"Very true." Michael smiled down at the ground.
"Even if some of them are kinda cute. The obsessiveness really undermines it"
"Yeah?" Drake asked. "I guess."
"You guess?" Michael asked. "I've heard the rumors. Your fan club has to have an attractive girl here or there."
"I suppose. I generally try to avoid it anyway." This was it, his chance to ask about it.
"Aha, I get it." He said, putting on a sly face. "You've already got your eyes on a girl, don't you?"
"What gave you that idea?" Drake asked, crossing his arms.
"Well I just assumed." Michael replied. "Got to be a reason you're not checking out your fans."
"Cause it's weird?"
"Nah nah, it's another girl, isn't it?" Drake raised an eyebrow at this.
"No, it really isn't." He said. Michael wasn't giving up that easily.
"Is it...Can I have a hint?"
"There's no hints to give..."
"Whatever." Michael said. "I'll start with the obvious. It's Nashi, isn't it?"
"What?" Drake asked, still sounding confused.
"Yeah. You're into Nashi, aren't you?"
"What gave you that idea?" Michael frowned.
"I mean..." He didn't really know what to say to that. Drake sighed.
"Why does everyone always get on our case...?" He mumbled under his breath. "Seriously..." He stared down at the ground before he looked back up at Michael. "Don't misunderstand our closeness, please. She's a dear friend, but I don't think of her like that."
"No?" Michael asked. "Can't say I'd agree if I were you. She's pretty cute."
"Maybe so." Drake replied. "But we're not like that. At least, I'm not." Michael felt bad that inside he felt relieved.
"Okay, I'm sorry I assumed then." He said. "I just..."
"It's fine." Drake said, growing a rather unpleasant look. "My own father thinks the same way." Somehow Michael felt like asking about that wasn't his best option. "Whatever. Want me to keep going?" Michael had almost forgotten about the Dragon Force training, his mind was so muddled.
"Uh, yeah. Sure." He said. "You'll get it soon." Drake nodded and sat back down, leaving Michael to his thoughts as once again poison rolled off the boy in waves.
Guess I'm in the clear.
"Alright, happy campers!" Michael said. "Over the past couple days you've all done your best to use Dragon Force, and you've all succeeded wonderfully! At this point it's just up to you three to master it further, Keita and I have done what we can." Nashi smiled at this. She had to admit, over the last few days the three of them had made a shit ton of progress towards mastering Dragon Force, which would be a huge help down the road if she needed it. Especially if the battle Blake warned her of came to pass.
"Thanks again, guys." Drake said. "You didn't need to do this."
"Ah, don't mention it." Michael said. "I just felt bad that we were the best Dragon Slayers from the Fourth Generation."
"Says the guy who got his ass beat." Elise said.
"Says the girl who collapsed into my arms right after I got back up." Keita shot back immediately, making Elise blush. This made Nashi, Drake and Michael laugh. It was good to see Elise getting back to her old self. Soon enough, maybe things would be back the way they used to be.
"Let's just pack this shit up and get going." Elise said.
"Very true." Michael agreed. "We should get on that." Nashi moved to pack up the tent she and Elise had stayed in, with help from the other girl. Together they managed to pack it up with minimal curse words flying around, as oppose to when they set it up. Once it was all packed away and Nashi had convinced Drake to carry it for her, Elise stretched and cracked her back.
"I'm gonna go dump my face in the water." She told Nashi. "I"ll be back in a sec. Tell Drake he's a doll for carrying the tent by the way." Nashi laughed.
"I"ll pass along the message." She said. Once Elise was gone towards the lake, Nashi sensed a presence behind her. She turned a bit, and she found Michael standing there.
"Hey." He greeted. Keita and Drake were already up ahead, and Elise was down by the lake. This left Nashi with Michael. This made her a bit flustered.
"H-Hey." She said. "What's up?"
"Ah, not much. I just wanted to ask you something?" Nashi smiled weakly, her heart rate increasing.
"Yes?" She asked, trying to not look like an idiot. Michael smiled brilliantly at her and pocketed his hands.
"You free next week?"
Figured we need a little pick me up after 499, the chapter that doesn't hold any weight here. I hope you enjoyed, leav a review! Let's try to get five!