Chapter 6: Reaper? Bitch Please, im a Sternritter
Alright, lets get Lullaby arc done with!
I dont own Bleach of fairy tail. Those belong respectively too Tite Kubo and Shounen jump and Hiro Mashima and Weekly shounen magazine. This is just for fun!
Also, I have a poll on my profile regarding the pairing for our favorite quincy. Vote now and give your answer. The pairing will be decided by the end of February. It is entirly possilbe that we may not go for the one with the most votes, but do know it WILL be one of the characters on the poll.
On the outskirts of the town of Clover lay one solitary building. Grand in design yet possessing enough isolation due to the surrounding forest, it had been chosen by the guild masters of Fiore as the location for their annual meeting. Makarov Dreyer had been so looking forward to the event, hoping to enjoy time with the friends he held in good standing while the more serious proceedings would no doubt go on, yet now could the master of Fairy Tail simply shake in horror.
In his hands was a magical letter, one that had displayed the ever-cheerful countenance of one Mirajane Strauss. She had relayed to him a simple message, one that stated that Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster had decided to join together. Further on had it also provided the information that the newcomers Bambietta Basterbine and Lucy Heartfilia had decided to tag along with them as well. Also had Mirajane's message spoke of Happy joining the group as well, the cat never far from its friend, yet by that point Makarov was in such a state of shock that he was not completely sure he had heard that part.
While Mirajane's bright smile had never faded from the recorded message, Makarov s own cheerful demeanor had vanished all but completely. Gone was an older gentleman enjoying the company of his friends, replaced instead by a quivering individual full of fear. Visions of chaos danced through his head, property damage unheard of, madness beyond the scope of even Gildarts' abilities.
Makarov could hear his fellow masters speaking to him, his friends clearly concerned thanks to the look of utmost horror that had no doubt overtaken his face. Yet he could not hear them. No, all he could hear was the devastation that those he considered his Fairy Tail family might inadvertently bring about. They were good kids, yes, and they meant well, but that did not always keep their surroundings safe during the heat of battle. Then there was the newcomer that Porlyusica had warned him of so dearly.
"I can't..." Makarov did not finish his sentence at first, the small statured wizard falling on to his back, his body shaking with fright. "I can't believe it... That trio could really level a city if they're not careful... And that Bambi girl..."
Makarov forced himself into a state of composure as best he could, his breathing steadying.
"I can make it back to the guild in a day's time once this meeting comes to an end," he told himself in an attempt to calm down. "I just hope those crazy kids don't cause too much of a ruckus before then."
"Erza! Stop this crazy thing!"
"There's no time! Innocent people could die if Lullaby is played!"
Bambietta Basterbine was beginning to take back any bad feelings she held towards Natsu Dragneel for throwing up on her boots not once but twice. The Dragon Slayer was a victim of motion sickness and now she too was beginning to feel the same way, if only because she had opted to ride the magicmobile not shotgun but atop its roof. It had all been towards getting under Gray Fullbuster's skin even the slightest bit, yet now was Bambietta beginning to wish she had simply let him do as he pleased. For as the vehicle had entered the town of Oshibana, Erza had only been pushing it harder and faster. The situation had already been grim but now it was potentially even more serious. The Fairy Tail wizards had gone after the train that the Lullaby artifact had been upon, only to find those who had been riding it stranded beside the train tracks. The local military had been there as well and all the talk had been about how a group led by a scythe wielding individual had stolen the train for their own purposes.
Erza Scarlet had known then and there that it was the work of Erigor the Reaper, no doubt the rest of Eisenwald by his side. Now they had both Lullaby and an expedient means of transportation. That was precisely why Erza had pushed her magical reserves to the limit, forcing the magicmobile to propel itself along the train tracks at incredible speeds, leaving Bambietta to shriek in fear as the wind swept by her.
Now the Fairy Tail wizards had come to the town of Oshibana, the next stop on the train's schedule. It had perplexed Bambietta that the dark guild had taken a means of travel that would make their destination so predictable, leaving her worried despite herself. Pulling herself forward across the magicmobile's roof once more, the wind still clawing at her cloak, the Quincy began to speak to Erza once more and gave voice to her concerns.
"Hey!" she began to shout. "You know the Eisenwald guy Natsu fought must have told Erigor that Fairy Tail is after him, right?"
Erza's voice remained impassive, yet it was still displaying traces of the wizard's own irritation at not stopping this crisis before it had gotten so out of hand. "What of it?"
"What if it's a tra-" The Quincy's statement was cut short then, Bambietta and Erza both noticing smoke pouring upwards into the blue sky from a building not far away. Bambietta could only sigh. "Now what?"
Erza began to push harder then, the magicmobile picking up more and more speed, cutting down the space between the vehicle and the apparent disaster up ahead. Bambietta began to grip down tightly then, knowing a full stop was no doubt in her future. The Quincy did not relish the thought of her own momentum continuing when the vehicle came to a stop. The thought of her body propelling forward at unimaginable speeds at the forefront of her mind, Bambietta began to focus on her Hirenkyaku. Surely it would allow her to mitigate if not complete avoid a rather unorthodox landing on the pavement. Yet then, as the magicmobile approached a group of onlookers looking at the smoking building, did Erza gracefully bring the vehicle to a slow stop, leaving Bambietta both surprised and grateful.
"That's a miracle even Gerard couldn't offer," Bambietta said under her breath as she breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Er-"
The Quincy could only blink in confusion then, realizing that the armored wizard was no longer occupying the driver's seat of the magicmobile. Looking around, Bambietta took notice of a railway official standing before a gathered crowd and speaking through a megaphone to them.
"Please return to your homes!" the man was shouting. "Oshibana Station is closed until further notice! We ask that you please move aw-"
Then did Bambietta notice Erza standing behind the man, the wizard quick to get his attention. "If I may interrupt," she began to say, "what exactly is going on here?"
"Why would I just go and tell you, lady?"
Then it happened right before Bambietta's eyes. Erza suddenly lunged forward, head-butting the official so hard that he propelled far and away, no doubt unconscious. Bambietta's jaw all but dropped at the sight of it, watching as Erza simply moved to another railway official, all but putting the fear of god into him. "What exactly is going on here?"
Then, once more did Erza deliver a head-butt, not even giving this individual the chance to speak up. Bambietta continued to watch on in mixed amounts of fascination and horror as Erza began to make her way through any and all officials that were within eyesight. Only when she heard the voice of Lucy did the Quincy's concentration divert away from the madness.
"If you ask me, her method of questioning isn't exactly helpful."
Bambietta looked down then and could see Lucy outside of the magicmobile, the arm of a motion sick Natsu draped over her shoulders, the Fire Dragon Slayer barely able to move.
"Well that's Erza for you," Gray offered up, the ice wizard also out in the open again. "She's always had her own unique way of getting things done."
"Where the hell are your clothes?" Bambietta screamed, staring at the mage's boxers. "Oh, why do I even bother?"
"It appears that Eisenwald's train arrived at the station before we did!" Erza shouted, standing amidst a veritable sea of unconscious railway workers. "Erigor and his men have taken the building as their own!"
"Yeah, definitely sounds like a trap," Bambietta whispered, all the while looking at Erza s handiwork. "Though I don't think this Erigor guy has any idea what he's getting himself into."
Erza's gaze suddenly shifted towards Bambietta, yet as far as the Quincy could tell it contained no anger or irritation at her comment. Still did the armored mage speak in a questioning tone however. "What exactly do you mean?"
Bambietta felt herself on the verge of taking a step back, wondering if she was next in line for a head-butt from Erza, but it never came. Only then when she realized that she was in the clear did the Quincy answer, her voice still showing signs of being ever-so intimidated. "Oh, nothing. Nothing at all."
Trying to put her best foot forward, Bambietta marched forward then, her target the Oshibana Station itself. She began to crack her gloved knuckles, a slight smirk forming on her face. "Anyway," Bambietta began to say as she glanced over towards those she had to consider her allies, "shall we go take care of these Eisenwald creeps? I know I'm just dying to see what this so called 'Reaper' has up his sleeve. Oh, and Lucy? I almost forgot my hat."
"Yeah, well," the Celestial wizard began to say with no hiding her hesitant mannerisms, "I don't think you're going to want to wear that ever again."
The Quincy's eyes widened, glancing away from Lucy's nervous expression to the sick Dragon Slayer that was by her side. "Oh hell no, he didn't."
"Hey," Gray suddenly interjected. "It was either my shoes or your hat, and I'd rather he puke in or on something other than my Sunday best!"
Bambietta flinched for a moment then, her brain nearly cracking under the insanity she was listening to. Then she simply pointed a finger at Gray, unable to contain herself any longer. "You're not even wearing your shoes anymore! My hat had to be sacrificed for clothes you were going to be stripping out of? What the hell?"
"Is... Happy with us?" Natsu asked groggily.
"Aye, sir!" Happy shouted as he hopped out of the magicmobile. "And I found an awesome hat, just like the cranky girl's!"
Bambietta glanced then to Happy, seeing that the blue cat was indeed wearing her hat. She should have been mad, and normally she would have been just that, but she knew what was in her hat and no doubt going to be atop Happy's head soon enough. Also, she could not lie to herself, the cat did look adorable trying to wear a cap that was far too big for him. "Oh, you poor little furball you."
Then, as if like clockwork, did Happy's eyes widen. "Something's in this hat! Get it off! Get if off!"
Bambietta moved towards Happy then, whipping what had once been hers off his little head. Without a care in the world she tossed aside what had been her favorite article of clothing, knowing that it was beyond saving now. "Natsu..."
Erza stepped forward then, the armored suddenly breaking into a spring that brought her into the station. The others from Fairy Tail were quick to give pursuit, Lucy doing her best to drag Natsu along and Happy flying not far behind.
"While they were not forthcoming at first," Erza began to say, "those who work at this station did inform me that the local military has already responded to Eisenwald's brazen actions here."
"Maybe they would have been more forthcoming if you hadn't been knocking each and every one of them out," Bambietta muttered under her breath.
"Is something the matter, Bambietta?"
The Quincy turned her attentions forward then, taking not of Erza looking her way. Again, she was not showing any signs of anger, no, but still was Bambietta just the slightest bit nervous. "No, no. I'm cool, you're cool, we're all cool."
"I'd like to think we could provide backup to the military unit," Erza said, turning her attentions forward, "but if they have not left the station in victory or defeat by now then I fear the worst!"
Then, as if fate had been beckoned by Erza's concerns, the group soon came upon a grisly sight. Soldiers lay atop the stairway towards the central hall of the station. Broken, bloodied and battered, there was no movement among them.
"They're all dead?" Lucy whimpered, the Celestial mage stopping in her tracks for a moment.
Bambietta did the same, though hers was a very different reaction. It was not an uncommon or new sight to her, no. Dark forces brutally murdering those that opposed them was something she was very much intimately familiar with. Yet once more did the reactions of those around her tear at her very being.
"I swear that Eisenwald will pay for their savagery," Erza hissed, not giving herself more than moment's pause at the sight of the carnage. "Let's keep moving. We can honor those who have died after we know Erigor has been stopped."
Lucy was still not moving, however, leaving Bambietta to force her forward as best she could. The Quincy reached out towards the one she called a friend, gently touching the shoulder that was not supporting the battered Natsu.
"Hey, are you going to be all right?"
"No, I-" Lucy was at a loss for words, her body shaking slightly. "I knew that Fairy Tail wasn't going to be all fun and games, but this... this is... How could somebody do something so horrible?"
Bambietta could say nothing in response. The Quincy knew she could offer up an explanation born of her past experiences. Of how some simply possessed an insatiable desire, of how they could revel in a bloodbath of their making. That, however, would simply frighten the mage even more. Instead could the Quincy only offer a false smile as she moved in front of Lucy and looked at her. "It's going to be all right, you hear me?"
Lucy was not entirely "Yeah, I guess, I just-"
"We'll keep you safe, Lucy."
It was something that Bambietta had wanted to say yet she had not gotten the chance. No, instead that statement had come from the barely-there Dragon Slayer that was trying to get over the ride from Magnolia.
"Yeah!" Bambietta stated, slamming a closed fist near to her heart. "Me and the Vomit Comet there will keep you safe, Lucy! So have no fear!"
"What exactly is going on here?"
Bambietta heard Erza speaking behind her and in response the Quincy began to turn, willing to either allow Lucy to give voice to her fears or do it herself if need be.
She never got the chance.
Erza's forehead suddenly collided with Bambietta's own. The Quincy stumbled backwards in response, yet still did she refuse to lose her footing.
"Motherfu- Why?" Bambietta changed tones quickly, from irritation to simply question. The Quincy rubbed her throbbing forehead with one hand as she stared directly at Erza. "Why do you keep head-butting people in the face?"
Erza said nothing, instead simply glancing at Bambietta's other hand, perhaps noting the fingers that were twitching. It was a reflex to be sure, a defense mechanism where Bambietta had very nearly summoned her sword to her. Yet the Quincy had held back that instinct. However she too took notice of Erza's staring. It simply baffled Bambietta once more.
"Lucy," Erza said, turning to face the mage, her voice softening slightly, "I know what you've seen must be hard to process but we have to push forward."
"Yes," Lucy said with a confident nod. "We can't let Eisenwald do this to anyone else."
Bambietta was impressed by the sudden burst of self-assured confidence in Lucy's voice. She had to admit, Erza was good at drawing out others inner strengths. Despite Natsu and her own attempts, Lucy had still been fearful. Yet now she was a different individual, all thanks to the armored mage of few words.
"I don't think we have anything to worry about," Bambietta said as the group began to move forward again, still rubbing her sore head and wondering if it would be pertinent to leave Blut Vene active at any time Erza was nearby. Still did the Quincy remain flippant. "Eisenwald won't stand a chance if Erza just goes and uses her head."
"I appreciate your faith in me," Erza replied, perhaps not even noticing the sarcasm laden voice of Bambietta's, "but it will be some time before my magical output has returned to normal. Still I will do what I must."
Bambietta cringed slightly then, wondering just how deadly this woman could be at full strength? She had an inkling, yes, one born from both glimpsing her power and now taking a hit from her, but the Quincy was beginning to wonder if it had simply been a mere drop of water that had been produced by an unseen ocean.
Nonetheless the time for talk and thinking was over. The members of Fairy Tail soon found themselves within the main chamber of Oshibana Station and awaiting them was quite the reception.
"I bid you welcome, Fairy Tail flies! Step into our parlor!"
Before the wizards, the cat and the Quincy was what Bambietta could only guess was Eisenwald. Several dozen mages standing in utter confidence of their abilities.
"There's so many," Lucy said, her newfound determination shaking just the slightest bit.
"So many punching bags," Bambietta said, her own determination remaining as strong as ever, "so little time."
Erza, however, simply paid the group no mind. Her interest lay elsewhere, with the one who had spoken as they had entered the room. She glanced upwards then, and her fellow Fairy Tail members followed along. Soon enough did they all catch sight of an individual hovering in midair, gravity unable to hold him down, no doubt to his magic. The gray haired man was dressed in tattered violet robes, his bare chest adorned with markings no doubt signifying his allegiance to Eisenwald. Yet it was the scythe he carried by his side that led Bambietta to know exactly who she was seeing now.
Yet she was not particularly impressed. "Erigor the Reaper."
"You callous fiend," Erza said as she looked towards Erigor, her own confidence never wavering. "Whatever you're planning to do with Lullaby, it won't come to pass. I swear it."
Erigor simply laughed in response, leaving Bambietta to wonder if he even had the slightest inkling as to whom was speaking to him. Then did one of the mages of Eisenwald step forward his eyes focusing entirely on Natsu.
"Hey, punk," the dark haired man in white began to say, "we got a score to settle. It's your fault the boss got cross with me. I suppose I should put an end to the Fairy Tail wizard that got away, don't you think?"
"Don't lose your head, Kageyama," Erigor said quite sternly. "It was your mistake in not finishing off such a worthless pest after all. But don't worry, you'll get your chance for payback soon enough. We all will."
Bambietta could not help but smile then, her eyes focusing entirely on the ace of Eisenwald. It was quite clear to the Quincy what his motif was and it amused her greatly. She was about to speak up then, however Erza beat her to the punch.
"Your threats are meaningless, Erigor," the armored mage said, her eyes never shifting away from the scythe wielder. "As for your plans for Lullaby-"
"Ah yes, Lullaby," Erigor said quite simply. Then did the man's suddenly move in midair, tracings of wind coming alive around him as he darted around the higher alcoves of the chamber. "No doubt you know by now what it is, yes?"
"Ancient and terrible death magic," Erza simply replied. "The power only a monster would crave."
Bambietta let those words set in her soul for a moment, the Quincy remembering well how she had all but considered taking this power for herself. It was dark yes, but she had already allowed herself to be steeped in the shadows of the Vandenreich once before. It would give her control, control over her fate and any who would dare to think they could rule over her. Then there was the fact that this Lullaby could simply make a lovely gift to bestow to His Majesty if she ever found a way to return to the world she had once called home. Yet now she was beginning to wonder about herself. She was with Fairy Tail, yes, but was Eisenwald simply more fitting for someone who had drenched herself in her enemy's blood time and time again?
"You wound me!" Erigor suddenly cried out, as if echoing one of the many thoughts working its way through Bambietta's own head. The Quincy looked up then and watched as the scythe wielding mage continued to move about in the empty air. "But yes, that is the true nature of Lullaby! Yet how its magic is employs is the truly the most... delightful part of it all."
From his worn robes did Erigor produce what could only be Lullaby. It appeared as if it had been forged from mere wood, brown in color, yet to Bambietta it looked like a simple flute. Simple, perhaps, if not for the three eyed skull that adorned one end.
Clearly could Erza see what it looked at as well. "You don't mean-"
"Yes!" Erigor shouted. "Lullaby is just as you would imagine it! It's song will kill any who listen to it! All will perish in the wake of its melody!"
Bambietta had to admit, that was a rather awe-inspiring power indeed, though a dreadful one.
"But that's not all," Erigor said once more, the scythe wielder landing atop a post in the station's main hall. "Tell me, Fairy Tail flies, what does every train station possess?"
"Well now," Bambietta began to offer up with a rather unbecoming grin, "there's usually meanies behind the ticket booth who won't give you a price break no matter how much cleavage or leg you try and show off. Then there's the turnstiles that seem to never work most of the time so you have to jump them, though that's kind of fun actually. Oh right, then there's, you know, trains! They're awesome!"
"I humbly disagree," Natsu whined from atop Lucy's shoulder.
Erigor simply shifted his gaze away from Erza and towards Bambietta, the man clearly irritated. "Either you're just trying to be a pain in my back teeth or you're simply an idiot. I'm not sure what's worse."
Erza, however, was quick to catch on to Erigor's plot, taking notice of the speakers that hung from the pole he was standing on. "You intend to broadcast Lullaby?"
Erigor began to laugh then, the man's shoulders rising and falling with each and every one. "Exactly! So many witless fools have flocked to the area around this station, their curiosity overwhelming them! And in the end it has only led them to death!" Then did Erigor begin to wear a cruel smile, a glint of pure madness in his eyes. "Perhaps if I were to raise the volume of this station's broadcast system I could even kill everyone in Oshibana! Oh yes! I can't think of a more fitting accomplishment for a reaper of souls!"
"A... Soul Reaper, huh?" Bambietta whispered to herself. "How delightful."
"What gives you the right to choose who lives and dies?" Erza shouted, her eyes all but locking with Erigor's own. "What do you hope to gain from killing the innocent?"
"The innocent?" Erigor could not help but laugh further. "There is no such thing! All I see are fools that cannot fully comprehend the freedoms they take for granted! Perhaps if I were to cull their ranks, others would begin to appreciate what they have! Or perhaps... they will no longer remain so ignorant to the plight of others! Others who have lost the rights they so desperately miss!"
"What are you talking about?" Bambietta asked, the Quincy unable to hold back her own interest. She could feel it, sense it, the level of deep-rooted despair within Erigor's voice. Then she began to recall what Erza had spoken of on the train. "Wait, you're kidding me. How the hell is taking innocent life going to get back your rights?"
Bambietta stopped then, questioning herself and not Erigor now. Had the Quincy not fought against the Soul Reapers out of revenge for being slaughtered? Had the Vandenreich not been formed with the need for vengeance for their murdered brethren of a thousand years past fresh on His Majesty's mind? How then could she judge Erigor himself. The Quincy had fought for a measure of vengeance for their ancestors being killed for the crime of protecting themselves from Hollows, now she was face to face with a group looking to kill in the name of their lost rights as well.
"It doesn't matter anymore," Erigor said, giving Bambietta a fleeting glare and nothing more. "The past is the past. What has been lost can never be regained. But revenge, that is what I can offer my brethren! The reaper has come for Oshibana and there's not a thing you Fairy Tail flies can do to stop me!"
Revenge, yes, Bambietta could understand that. The Quincy had obtained power to save themselves from Hollows when the Soul Reapers could not. Yet in the end all they had experienced was further bloodshed, the Soul Reapers killing them centuries before Bambietta herself had been born. Yet all those years later had the atrocities continued. Quincy hiding in the World of the Living, only to be slaughtered or captured by Soul Reapers, as if instructed by a cold and calculating devil who worked behind the scenes.
In the end her parents had fallen to that fate, leaving a young girl to find salvation under through the grace of her own personal savior, a god in the flesh. Bambietta had pledged herself to Yhwach and the Vandenreich then, hoping to exact revenge on the Soul Society that had wronged her. So yes, revenge was something she could understand. However, there was one rather large difference between the Stern Ritter and the forces of Eisenwald.
"You fools," Bambietta said, her voice low for a moment. Then did it burst forth, very nearly filling the room. She pointed at the teaming masses of Eisenwald before at last turning to Erigor himself. "You jerks want revenge? Well fine! Be my guest! Go find whoever kicked Eisenwald out of official matters and sing them a tune, whatever! But leave the innocent out of it!"
Bambietta could see it then, unwavering expressions of dedication to their cause forever remaining on the faces of Kageyama and his fellow wizards. Erigor, however, seemed quite irritated, if only for a moment. Yet it was when Bambietta turned to face her fellow Fairy Tail members that she was truly horrified. Lucy, Gray, Happy and even the sick Natsu were staring at her in shock. Erza, however, was simply exuding an icy stare.
"What?" Bambietta asked, nervously rubbing the back of her head with one hand. "Was it something I said?"
Erigor was composed once more, yet his megalomania continued. "Eisenwald now has the power to wipe away the sins of the past! Once that is complete we shall control our fates and the future as we see fit!"
"I guess I can still relate," Bambietta whispered to herself.
"You people are completely insane!" Lucy shouted, her harsh judgment hitting Bambietta as well.
"Before us stands a new age of darkness! But a fool such as yourself won't be around to see it!" Kageyama suddenly slammed a hand down on the station floor, tendrils of shadow issuing forth. They sprung up then, lunging for Lucy.
Bambietta saw it coming and began to move, to protect her roommate, when suddenly Natsu sprang into action. The Dragon Slayer moved away from Lucy's shoulders, swinging out a flame covered hand that shattered the attacks and dispelled the shadows.
"Hey, your that dude from Eisenwald I fought on the train!" Natsu exclaimed, the Dragon Slayer no longer showing any signs of motion sickness. "I thought I recognized that foul stench when Lucy dragged me in here. Guess we've got ourselves a party now, huh?"
"No, Natsu!" Lucy shouted. "These are the guys we have to fight!"
"Like I said," the Fire Dragon Slayer slammed his fists together, "we got ourselves a party."
"Oh yeah, I like him still." Bambietta could not help but smile, the Quincy slamming a fist into an open palm. "Let's rock, baby!"
"This is the best Fairy Tail has to offer!" Lucy shouted, trying to instill whatever concern she could into Eisenwald. "You ready for a beating?"
Erigor only laughed once more, the ace of Eisenwald flying upwards. "I leave these flies to you, my faithful allies! Show them the terror that is the dark guild Eisenwald!"
Then he was gone in a flash, air currents and wind moving through the space he had once occupied, as if filling the void that had been left.
"Great," Bambietta mused. "So the Soul Reaper cosplayer can use Shunpo. That's just super."
"Natsu, Gray," Erza began to say, "I need you two both to go pursue Erigor. He cannot be allowed to reach the broadcast room, no matter the cost. With your combined strength I am certain that Erigor will have no chance."
Natsu and Gray could only glare at each other, anger in their eyes. Bambietta sighed in response, once more knowing that things would clearly never change.
Yet this time they did, Erza taking notice of their rivalry. She glared at them then, gritting her teeth before speaking. "What did I just say?"
"Best of friends, working together for the greater good!" Gray shouted.
"Aye, sir!" Natsu added.
Then they were off, leaving Erza to stand beside Bambietta, Lucy and Happy.
"They're going after Erigor," Kageyama said softly, turning to face one of his teammates in Eisenwald. "Rayule, let's go! The mage with the pink hair and I have some unfinished business!"
Rayule suddenly issued forth whips from the sleeves of his coat, the cords wrapping upon the banister of the station's upper level. He flew upwards then, disappearing out of sight to the other floor. Kageyama, meanwhile, simply disappeared into the shadows beneath him.
"I swear, that Eisenwald kid would have been a natural for the Vandenreich," Bambietta said to herself. She then turned to Erza. "That's going to mess things up, huh?"
"No," the armored mage replied simply. "We'll take care of them after we settle things with the rest here."
"The three of us against an entire magical guild?" Lucy said in fear. "A dark guild at that?"
"What about me?" Happy asked.
"Like I said," Lucy began to reply, "the three of us against an entire dark guild."
"I'm sorry, my pretties," one of the Eisenwald wizards began to say, "my mom always said not to hit a girl but you three ain't going to be so easy on the eyes once we're done with you!"
Bambietta was ready and willing to reply back with a quip, yet Erza was quick to action. The armored mage had raised a hand forward, a magical seal appearing in the palm of her hand. "This ends now!"
As if appearing from thin air, a broadsword formed in the palm of Erza's hand, the mage making certain to point it towards her influx of opponents.
"Oh, so that's what Levy meant by saying my power was kind of like hers," Bambietta said in awe. "Neat."
"Is that a magic sword?" Lucy asked, completely mystified.
"I swear on my honor," Erza began to say, her tone never shifting for even a second, "that your mad plot will not succeed!"
"Oh, we're shaking!" one of the members of Eisenwald retorted. "We've got plenty of magic swordsmen too, you know!"
True to his word, several members of Eisenwald began to summon blades to their hands. They then charged Erza without any fear or hesitation. The group descended upon her yet Erza did not waver in the least. She swung the flat edge of her sword out once, then twice, striking those that were approaching. It was quick, it was efficient, the force of the blows sending the men careening backwards as if they had posed no challenge to Erza at all. Then did Erza leapt forward into the fray herself, landing amidst a dozen of Eisenwald's forces. With one quick movement she swung her blade out yet again, sending them flying from the force alone. Then did the trio of wizards in the back resort to other methods, firing magical energy from the palms of their hands. It did them no good, however, Erza simply leaping into the air to evade the attack with a grace befitting one known as Titania.
Bambietta and Lucy both watched on in awe, taking note of Erza's sword vanishing and being replaced by a spear. Again did the mage leap into fray, bringing the weapon to bear with precise attacks, once more sending her foes away with sheer strength. Yet then did the spear vanish as fast as it had appeared, replaced by twin swords.
"What the heck kind of power is that?" Lucy asked.
"It's called Requip," Happy began to explain, leaving Bambietta to begin to feel like an audience to the situation unfolding. "Erza can summon magic weapons whenever she needs. You ain't seen nothing yet, though! Erza's just getting started!"
"And yet I thought you said she made her enemies bleed," Bambietta mused quietly to herself, watching as Erza switched to a massive axe. "She's so damn good she's beating them down without even inflicting any fatal wounds or even drawing a hint of blood."
"Well now it's my turn to kick some butt!" Lucy shouted, pulling forth one of keys. "Open the Gate of the Giant Crab! Cancer!"
"Oh God, what kind of freak is this going to be?" Bambietta waited and watched, the Quincy ready for just about anything now.
What she was greeted with then was an impeccably dressed man with hair braided into red cornrows, several crab legs protruding from his back. In his hands were twin pairs of scissors, the hands appearing as if they were the pincers of a crab.
"Okay, so I was wrong," Bambietta said in shock. "I so wasn't ready for that."
"Hey, baby," the Celestial Spirit said, looking at Lucy, "you want me to fight these bad dudes for you?"
"Oh yeah," Lucy answered. "And take them out with style."
Cancer was glad to oblige, the spirit charging forward then and there. He tore through a barrage of Eisenwald wizards, appearing behind them. Bambietta simply watched in morbid fascination, the Quincy sure she was hearing the sound of scissors snipping left and right the entire time. Then it happened. As Cancer appeared behind the wizards, their weapons began to fall to pieces, as if cut apart. Yet then did their hair do the same, leaving the men bald and in shock.
"Well, I won't lie," Bambietta said, trying to fight off any disbelief, "it was strange but effective."
"That was quite impressive," Erza said, watching from afar.
"Oh, thanks," Lucy replied bashfully, the Celestial wizard surprised by the sudden compliment. Then did she whisper under her breath. "All right, I so totally made points with Erza."
"However," Erza continued, "I do find it rather insulting how that crab spirit refers to you as baby."
"And there go my points," Lucy whimpered.
"Well then it looks like it's my turn to score some points for the newbies!" Bambietta reached out with her hand, allowing her short sword to appear in her hand. Then did she begin to whisper. "Two can so play this game, Erza. Well, kind of."
Bambietta leapt into the fray then, using Hirenkyaku to appear amidst the remaining members of Eisenwald. Having already witnessed two of Fairy Tail's own battered their compatriots, this group was quite hesitant to attack another. Bambietta glanced away for a moment, noticing that Erza and Lucy each were still laying waste to the others in Eisenwald, then did she turn back to her own little group.
"Oh, come on now," Bambietta all bit cooed, placing the index finger of her free hand against her lower lip and tugging against it gently. "Just because my friends are totally mangling your guild, don't go and chicken out against little old me. I promise to show you boys a good time."
Bambietta brandished her sword then, letting the light flash against its spiritual metal. The Eisenwald guild members were hesitant, yet little did the Quincy know it was not solely due to the weapon. No, it was the looking of glee present on Bambietta's face that left their blood running cold.
"Let's have some fun!" Bambietta went on the offensive then, swinging her sword out and towards the nearest opponent. Yet that was when it happened.
A flash. A glimmer. A transcendent burst of memories playing through her. Of Hollows and Arrancar alike falling to the ground of Hueco Mundo, dead or dying. Of Soul Reapers being cut down in the prime of their afterlives. It was how Haschwalth had trained her in the art of swordplay after all. Cut off limbs, go for the head, aim for the heart, tear out the throat, those were the lessons he had drilled into her without hesitation or repose.
To fight in any other fashion with her sword was completely alien to Bambietta. She simply knew of no other way. The moment a blade was within her grasp it was like she became another person perhaps, or simply allowed herself to fall under the sway of the darker impulses the life of a Stern Ritter had encouraged and valued.
For the time being, however, Bambietta had a very different family and a very different set of rules she had to work under. Her hand quivered for a moment, her sword vanishing then, returning to the particles that it had formed from. The Quincy allowed Blut Vene to flow through her body, knowing it could protect both herself and her opponents. At least now she could fight with her bare hands and not worry about playing too rough or causing any inadvertent death.
"Well will you look at that," an Eisenwald wizard said, brandishing the dagger he held in a reverse grip. "I guess she got cold feet. Poor gi-"
He never finished the sentence, Bambietta's fist slamming into his face with enough force that he fell upon his back, completely out cold.
"Cold feet? No." Bambietta looked to the others than, motioning for them to come closer. "But I guess I can't have a cold heart anymore either. Consider yourselves lucky."
Those from Eisenwald began to inch forward then, slightly hesitant to engage the Quincy after what she had just done. That only prompted Bambietta to yawn.
"Okay, fine," she said, stretching her arms up for a second. "I'll just have to bring the fight to you!"
Bambietta did just that, launching herself forward. It was controlled chaos then and there, poetry in motion. The Quincy bobbed and weaved, striking out and dropping one Eisenwald wizard after another. An elbow strike to the face to one, a jumping kick administered to the face of another, a fist burying itself into the stomach of yet another. On and on it went, Bambietta working her own brand of magic, fists and feet flying out in every direction as she controlled the tempo of the brawl she had instigated. She had found her grove now and nothing could quite take her out of the veritable trance.
"Oh, swing and a miss!" she exclaimed as she swiftly dodged to the side, allowing a battle axe to slam down to the ground beside her. "Care to try again?"
Another wizard of Eisenwald struck from behind then, swinging a short sword low, hoping to cut Bambietta's feet out from under her. The Quincy was quick still, hopping up and leaving the weapon to slice through nothing but thin air.
"Strike two!" Bambietta said with a smile. Then did she pause and glance away for a moment. "Wait a minute. I have Blut Vene. Silly Bambi, dodging is for the defenseless!"
The wizard with the axe struck again, swinging the weapon downwards towards Bambietta. She let it connect this time, the weapon colliding with her shoulder with a loud smacking sound.
"Now I got you!" the wizard shouted with some twisted sense of satisfaction.
"Oh, this was the highlight of your day?" Bambietta asked with a shrug that gently moved the axe resting atop her. "So sad, too bad."
"What the hell?" the Eisenwald member said in shock, staring at the edge of his axe, taking note that it had down no damage or even drawn the faintest amount of blood. "You're a damned monster!"
"A damned adorable monster, thank you very much!" Bambietta said as she gripped down on the axe with a Blut Vene empowered hand. She then began to push it away gently. She shoved it aside then, allowing it to hit the floor hard. Before the wielder had a moment to retaliate, the Quincy decked him in the face, just as she had done the first victim of this battle.
Then, however, did she take notice of Erza stealing glances her way despite her own battle still going on.
"Serious," the Quincy whispered, "take a picture. It'll last longer."
"You're wide open!"
Bambietta barely reacted, instead simply reaching up and blocking a downward strike from a sword with her forearm. She turned around then, glaring at the Eisenwald wizard who had attacked her from behind.
"No," Bambietta said, looking his way with cruel intentions, "you are."
The Quincy kicked forward then, catching the man in the groin with a ferocity he had not encountered before. He dropped his weapon in response and collapsed, leaving Bambietta to glance towards the other then.
"Oh, I bet you think you're pretty cute, fighting dirty like that" one of the other wizards said, trying to keep himself brave despite the circumstances.
"Please," Bambietta replied, "didn't I just establish that I'm adorable?"
Bambietta turned then, taking note of a dark mage casting a spell at her. The blast of magical energy covered the distance quickly, yet it was to no avail. The Quincy simply raised her arm up, the beam striking the palm of her hand and dissipating not long after.
"Oh, you better not have singed a fingernail underneath these gloves," Bambietta offered up, "otherwise I'm going to be rather cross with you."
"Impressive work, Bambietta," the Quincy suddenly heard some speak from a distance. She turned then and caught sight of Erza dropping another dark wizard before speaking once more. "Your skills in hand-to-hand combat are indeed a sight to behold."
"Yes," Bambietta said under her breath as she punched away a sword strike with a closed a fist. "Points scored."
"You and Lucy both are rather impressive," Erza continued to say, striking down several more Eisenwald wizards with a warhammer, "however, this battle is taking longer than I would wish. We have to take care of those scoundrels going after Natsu and Gray."
"And how do you propose we end this quicker?" Bambietta asked. Oh, she had her own ideas of how precisely to do that, to use lethal force, but the Quincy had to imagine that Erza was not accepting such notions unless under truly trying circumstances.
"There's many left, an annoying fact," Erza said, letting her weapon vanish in a burst of light, "but I'll end this soon enough."
Bambietta watched in awe then, magical energy beginning to pool around Erza, fragments of it dancing about her body. Then did the woman's armor become light itself, fading away. Nothing could be seen, no, but the Quincy could not keep herself from going red in the face despite the magical energy obscuring Erza's body.
"Did she just pull a Gray?"
The Quincy's spiritual sense came alive then, her vision finding itself wrapped in sights that may well elude others less aware of such forces. The world seemed to change around Erza, as if the very forces of magic were being drawn to her. The wizard was reaching out then, her fingertips brushing against the power and creating ripples as her hands began to drop. Then did her arms suddenly extend outwards, a magical seal flashing for a moment. The light around Erza began to fade at last, leaving the mage standing before both friend and foe alike in a very different armor than before.
It was a pure vision to say the least, silver plating all around her frame, a white dress hanging from her hips. Yet it was the sharp edged metallic wings that hung from Erza's broad back that truly took hold of Bambietta's attention. For but a brief moment she could remember her own Voll Stern Dich, an ability she was missing so very much now.
Then did Happy mysteriously appear by Bambietta's side. "That's what makes Erza so special. Nobody requips as fast as her, not to mention there are very few who can requip anything more than simple weapons or cloth. But she can summon all kinds of nifty magical armors at the drop of a hat. It's a technique that's called the Knight."
"Yeah, thanks for the info, kitty," Bambietta grumbled. "I'm sure the viewers at home are thrilled by your wealth of knowledge but this isn't a spectator's sport."
Bambietta whirled around, kicking away an Eisenwald wizard that was daring to get close to her. Yet then did she take notice that he was the only left, the others clearly going after Erza now.
"Seriously?" Bambietta said with a slight edge of irritation. "What a bunch of dumbasses." The Quincy stomped a foot slightly and turned to watch the carnage about to unfold, folding her arms across her chest as she did so. "Fine, fine. I'll be a captive audience."
Twin swords appeared within Erza's armored hands then, the wizard staring down those of Eisenwald who dared to challenge her newly revealed power. She swung the weapons to her sides, the wizard's armor allowing her to propel up into the air. Erza was no longer under the mercy of gravity and she stared down at her foes.
"Now then," she began to say, "dance, my swords!"
Around Erza did several ornate blades appear, all of them hovering in the space near her, as if they too could not be held down by gravity. Then did they begin to spin around the armored mage, moving so fast that they appeared to simply blur into a circle of pure magical energy. Bambietta could only watch on in utter fascination then, the Quincy unable to remember seeing a technique quite like this.
"Oh no!" one of the Eisenwald wizards began to scream. "It's her! It has to be her! We're doomed!"
"We have to warn Erigor!" another shouted. "He's the only one of us that can-"
"Circle Sword!" Erza swung her blades forward then, commanding the legion of blades around to do her bidding. They flew outwards then, striking down Eisenwald wizards one after another.
Yet still were the blows damaging yet not fatal, leaving a pile of unconscious foes in Erza's wake. Bambietta had to admit that she was impressed. "Is this what I felt earlier? No, this... this is just the beginning, isn't it?"
Only two members of Eisenwald remained then, the duo standing in fear of Erza herself. Yet one began to crack under the pressure. His hands began to come alight with magical energy and he lunged for the armored mage.
"Fine! You're dealing with me, woman!"
"Byard, you fool!" the other member screamed. "Do you have any idea who that woman is?"
Erza simply sidestepped the attack of the man known as Byard, striking him down with ease. She then turned to the last one standing. She began to power down, shifting back to her standard armor. Yet that did nothing to alleviate the man's worries.
"You," he began to whimper, "you're Titania! The Queen of the Fairies!"
Bambietta only looked in in simple shock, having not expected such a spectacle. "Wow, wish I had that reputation. Sooner or later..."
Lucy, meanwhile, was caught up in the moment. "That was so cool! I think I may be in love!"
"Oh?" Bambietta asked, moving closer to Lucy and leaning an arm down on her shoulder. "Smitten with the hottie in armor are we?"
Lucy glanced over then, her expression losing its composure. "No, it's like that-"
"Lucy and Erza," Bambietta began to giggle, "sitting in a tree..."
"Bambi, please."
"To hell with this! I'm out of here!"
The two mages turned then, no longer lost in their moment of amusement and embarrassment, and took notice of the last Eisenwald member beating a hasty retreat out of the main hall.
"Oh no you don't, you big ball of evil, you." Bambietta began to summon her Quincy bow, taking aim down the corridor at the man. Yet then did she feel someone's hand gently pushing down on her straightened arm. "Erza?"
"He's probably going to report directly to Erigor about who I am," the armored mage said. "You and Lucy should follow him."
"Me?" the blonde asked in surprise.
Erza found herself snapping slightly then. "Just do it! Don't let Erigor's dreams come true!"
"Whatever it takes to not make you angry!" Lucy was running off then, in pursuit of the Eisenwald wizard that Erza had let go.
Yet Bambietta was staying put, her eyes on the wizard. Erza too notice of that then and glared her way. "Just do it!"
"Or you'll head-butt me again, right?" Bambietta asked. "Though I imagine you're a little too worn out for that sort of thing."
Erza said nothing then.
"Look, I get it," Bambietta continued, noticing she still had an opening. "You're the best. But even the best needs help every once and while. Between the magicmobile and busting out that armor, you're probably all tuckered out."
Again, nothing.
"Look we're both of Fairy Tail, right?" Bambietta began to ask. "I'll be honest, the last thing I'm interested in is leaving a teammate alone when they might not be able to defend themselves. Been there, done that. Been abandoned, hated that. So you're going to be stuck with me until you recoup."
"And what of Lucy?" Erza asked, the armored mage unwilling to be forthcoming with the Quincy for the moment. "Aren't you abandoning her?"
"Oh, she's not alone," Bambietta retorted. "She's got crabs. Oh and pervie bulls. Not to mention that masochistic maid she introduced me to yesterday. She's the furthest thing from alone. She'll be fine!"
Then did Erza began to shake slightly, the mage dropping to one knee. "I suppose I did overdue it a bit after all. But I'm not worried in the least," Erza began to say, "because I know I can count on Natsu, Gray and Lucy."
"Oh, and what about little old me?" Bambietta asked, the Quincy keeping herself tense for any potential attack that may come. "I'm so totally going to take that Erigor guy on if he starts gunning for you now."
"Yes, I do believe I can depend on you as well," Erza replied.
"Well that's good to hear," Bambietta said in return. "Makes me all warm and fuzzy inside, considering how much you've been watching me like a hawk today."
"I assumed you might notice."
"Well I did start to wonder if there was something on my face," Bambietta quipped, "but I have to believe you had bigger reasons than that."
"It was... nothing."
"Uh-huh, yeah," Bambietta replied with no hidden amount of sarcasm. "The long pause definitely made that sound legit."
Once more did Erza say nothing, at least at first. "Master Makarov asked that I keep an eye on you."
"Okay, between this emblem on my hand being a radar in case I cause problems and now you being told to keep a close eye on me," the Quincy began to say, her voice cracking slightly, "I'm really starting to feel like I'm not welcome or trusted."
"Such nonsense." Erza forced herself to stand then and moved close to Bambietta, placing a hand on her shoulder. "If you were not welcome within Fairy Tail, then the master would not have given you the right to wear our emblem proudly."
"But you still don't trust me."
"Trust comes in time, Bambietta," Erza continued to say. "And while I do not understand everything about you, I do not see any reason to believe that my trust is misplaced."
"Funny," the Quincy began to say, "I feel the same way about Fairy Tail. But... trust only opens your heart to betrayal."
"Is that right?" Erza's eyes narrowed for a moment, wondering what exactly had prompted that statement. Yet when the mage saw Bambietta turn to face her, Erza got her answer. The skin beneath the Quincy's eyes was red, as if she had fought against a need to express sorrow with tears. It was not a threat of any sort, simply a bitter recollection.
"But that's just a thing of the past," Bambietta said solemnly, trying to smile. "So anything we can do to keep busy while we wait for the others to take care of Erigor?"
Erza paused for a moment. "Yes, actually."
For the townsfolk of Oshibana it was a day truly out of the ordinary. Theirs was a rather unassuming spot on the map of Fiore and rare was it that anything particularly extraordinary occurred there. That was precisely why so many had gathered at the train station to check out the commotion that was going on. It had been a peculiar day, yes, but now was it going to continue its parade of oddities.
"Hey look," one of the residents began to say, her eyes drawing up away from the entrance of Oshibana Station, "there's somebody on the balcony!"
All eyes were cast upwards then, the populace taking note of a scarlet haired woman adorned in armor.
"People of Oshibana," Erza began to shout into a microphone, "I suggest you vacate this area immediately!"
Despite her power having temporarily lost its luster for the time being, the Fairy Tail wizard knew there was little she could offer to the battle against Eisenwald. Yet still was she determined to play a part in saving the lives of Erigor's intended victims.
"A dark guild has taken this place for their own," she continued, "and they intend to broadcast a deadly spell over the loudspeakers! I beg each and every one of you to inform those you see and to run as far as you can! Save your friends! Save your families! Save yourselves!"
Erza sighed then, taking note of the mass panic that ensued, the civilians running in absolute fear. It was a terrible sight perhaps, but a necessary one if they were to survive this day.
Yet the one railway official atop the balcony did not particularly agree. "Lady, what the heck do you think you're doing? Why would you scare the hell out of everyone like that?"
"I'd rather watch them flee in fear than simply die on the spot," Erza answered simply. "In fact I suggest you run as well. If you have family, you need to get them out of Oshibana immediately."
The railway official simply stood in shock. "Are you cra-"
"Hey!" an amplified voice suddenly screamed directly into the man's left ear. "What are you, deaf? When Titania tells you to run, you run! Got it? Good! Now get moving!"
The railway official fell to the ground then, rubbing his ear as Bambietta continued to shout at him with a megaphone all her own.
"Bambietta," Erza began to say, "I suggest you cease your talking into that megaphone or he may truly become deaf."
"Oh, my bad!" the Quincy replied, moving the megaphone away from her face while wearing a sheepish grin. "So I see your plan worked."
"Yes," Erza said as she watched a mass influx of people pouring through the streets of Oshibana and moving far away from the station.
"Shame it went so well," Bambietta said softly. "I was so hoping I'd have to chip in too. I was all ready to start screaming my pretty little head off. 'People of Oshibana, run away this instant or you're all going to die!' That would have been a hoot and a half!" The Quincy looked towards the railway official who was now taking his leave as fast as he could. "Oh well. I still kind of got that out of my system."
"I suppose that's good to hear," Erza began to muse as she looked down at the emptying town, "though now I can't help but what Erigor's next move will be."
"Hey, Erza."
"No doubt that man will lose heart once he learns that we've denied him the majority of his potential victims."
"Erza!"
"What?" The armored mage turned then, taking note of Bambietta glancing back towards the Oshibana Station building they had just been inside. Yet it was what the Quincy was staring directly at that left even the S-Class mage in shock.
It was wind. Wind in its most violent form, whipping about with such force that it was completely visible, as if a tornado had consume the train station itself.
"What sorcery is this?" Erza began to ask, the wizard's hands tightening into fists. "Erigor, you-"
"You know, I always wanted a chance to fight Titania," a voice suddenly said from behind. Bambietta and Erza both turned in response, catching sight of Erigor hovering in the air, his scythe resting atop his shoulders. "How unfortunate then that I do not have the time do so."
"Erigor!"
Bambietta began to summon her bow yet it was too late. The dark mage's hand suddenly came alive with magic, a gust of wind slamming into her and the weakened Erza with such force that they were pushed into the barrier around Oshibana Station.
"Damn it!" Bambietta shouted, finding herself and her ally back within the building and left to look at the veritable tornado before them both.
"It's not over yet!" Erza was quick to her feet, running forward. Yet as her armored hand made contact with the barrier she was thrown back, a small gasp of pain escaping from her.
"You fool!" Erigor shouted, making sure he was heard over the sound of his wind. "One cannot simply walk through my magical barrier unless I allow it! The winds will shred your body to pieces if you try!"
"You scoundrel," Erza said as she began to stand once more. "What is the meaning of this?"
Bambietta sighed. "Okay, so I was right. It was a trap. This totally blows."
"Curse you, Erigor," Erza murmured, the armored mage watching as he vanished from sight. "So you weren't targeting the station after all?"
"Oh I was indeed," Erigor replied. "Capturing you meddlesome flies was simply a happy result, but a necessary one. I cannot have you or anyone else interfering!"
Erza's eyes narrowed. "Interfering with what?"
Erigor simply smiled down at Erza then, the assassin's gaze one of utter confidence. "You'll see soon enough."
Bambietta could see it then, the wind wizard beginning to move away, as if ready to leave those he had trapped. The Quincy was uninterested in that then. She knew it well enough, yes. She had confided in ones who pledged themselves to the dark and perhaps this man was no different.
Bambietta knew it well enough, that many an individual who indulged in such dark desires was arrogant to a fault, ready and willing to do anything to meet a challenge presented before them if it had dared to wound their ego. After all, was she so different?
"Please," the Quincy began to say, shrugging her shoulders and shaking her head, "I wouldn't worry, Erza. This putz barely seems the type to even have a master plan."
"Is that what you think?" Erigor stopped moving then, his gaze settling upon Bambietta. "The potential fool is perceiving me as a fool? Well now..."
"Don't blame me," Bambietta replied with a smirk. "You just hardly seem the deep thinker type, you know?"
"How transparent." Erigor simply chuckled then. "I suppose this is where you expect me to prove you wrong and explain exactly what I'm plotting, yes?"
Bambietta's arms dropped to her sides then, the Quincy slumping forward in annoyance. "That was the general idea, yeah."
"And still I am left to wonder if you are simply trying to irritate me or are just that dumb," Erigor mused. "I suppose it doesn't matter. Nothing matters anymore. Especially not you Fairy Tail flies."
Bambietta chided herself for her foolishness. She had hoped to goad Erigor into revealing just what he was after but clearly he was not quite the type she had grown used to within the Vandenreich. He was playing his cards close to his chest, something more akin to His Majesty than any simple Stern Ritter.
Still was Bambietta persistent. Whether she was simply trying to show off for the illustrious Erza Scarlet or to simply puff up her own ego she was not sure. "Oh come on. Share with the rest of the class, you silly shini-"
Then did the Quincy pause, taking note of the simple fact that Erigor was removing from his robes the Lullaby flute. The man was bringing it closer to his lips then, no doubt intent on ridding himself of two who dared to oppose him.
Bambietta began to move then, summoning the power of her bow and intent on shooting Erigor down. The Quincy knew that she no doubt had no chance of shooting through the barrier of wind, yet she was going to try. It was simply better to live on her feet than die on her knees. Yet then did Bambietta remembered well the words Makarov had spoken to her not long ago. Of how there would no doubt come a time that she would be in a situation where it was her life or another's that would end. Yet that was not all she remembered.
The Quincy promised herself she would do her best to not enjoy taking this man's life if she got the chance.
Yet then did Erigor stop, a moment's hesitation forcing him to move Lullaby away. "No. Not like this. Far be it for me to deny the Queen of her Fairies and her little sidekick a proper and deserving death."
Bambietta flinched then and there. "Sidekick? Why you bare-chested bastard!"
Erza suddenly stepped forward. "What are you plotting now?"
"The same as before," Erigor continued. "However I do hope to fight you at your very best, Titania. Not this spent shell that stands before me now."
Bambietta could tell then that this Erigor was rather observant, having realized that Erza was spent for the moment. She tensed up then, wondering if he would still go back on his word and attack despite his claim.
"Yes," Erigor continued. "When we fight, I want to see your face contorted in anguish and sorrow, with a merciless rage! And soon I shall have provoked such feelings in you!"
Erza stood steadfast, never letting her voice raise or lower in response to Erigor the Reaper's madness. She simply began to repeat herself. "What are you plo-"
"I'm sick of you being so vague, you big blowhard!" Bambietta suddenly screamed. "Either tell us what you've got planned or just stop being so cryptic and fly the hell away, all right?"
A low hiss slipped from between Erigor's lips, the man glaring at Bambietta once more. "You were correct before, you know. Perhaps you are smarter than I give you credit for."
Bambietta blinked. "Huh?"
"I see no innocents," Erigor began to reply, "simply victims that may need to die on a mission. Yet the target of Lullaby's spell will not be them, not today. No, it was exactly as you said before, Fairy Tail fly."
Bambietta tried to remember back. "What did I say again? Oh, you mean-"
"The ones who will suffer under the magic of Lullaby of those who have basked in the light while condemning my guild to the shadows!"
"You fiend," Erza began to say, realization dawning on her. "You don't mean-"
"You have no need to fear for the Magic Council," Erigor retorted. "They are beyond my reach for now. However, do you know what town is next in line from this train station?"
"Yeah, no," Bambietta whispered. "I'm just the newbie to this world. Erza?"
"No." The armored mage's eyes went wide. "Clover..."
"Yes," Erigor replied with a sadistic grin. "The only expedient way to reach there is through this train station. And now that it's cut off and you flies are trapped, I can move on without being impeded or stopped by you or anyone else!"
"And what's so important about this Clover place exactly?" Bambietta asked.
"Master Makarov," Erza began to whisper. "It's where the guild masters of Fiore always meet year after year." Erza snapped then, her face contorting with rage. "You heartless dastard!"
"Yes, that's the look!" Erigor cackled, his own face contorting with a twisted sense of joy. "Once the guild masters who bask in the light are dead I will return, Titania! Then you can show me the monster you will have become! Wallow in despair and let your rage consume you!"
"Erigor!" Erza screamed outwards then, her armored hands curling into fists. Yet it was to no avail, the Ace of Eisenwald simply vanishing into thin air then, his cruel laughter fading not long after.
Only then did Erza calm herself. "We have to stop him. For Master Makarov's sake. For all the others."
"Well let's get to it then," Bambietta said as she moved forward. "You're the Queen of the Fairies, right? I'm sure you've got a nifty little armor that could waltz right through this silly little barrier."
Erza reached out, allowing her armored fingers to brush against the wind. Sparks flew for a moment, the pressure forcing the mage's hand to move to the slide. "Yes, I do. However, to use it to its full extent would require me to be at full strength."
"Then rest up," Bambietta said. "We're not going anywhere until then unfortunately."
"I may not," Erza began to say, "but you can."
Bambietta could only blink. "Say what?"
"You did say you could teleport earlier, yes?" Erza asked.
Bambietta blinked again. "What now?"
"When you offered to get Natsu off the train on our way here."
Then did it come to the forefront of Bambietta's thoughts. "Oh yeah. That." She laughed nervously then, her right hand playing with a lock of her hair. "Well, you know... we were pressed for time then and I didn't quite have the opportunity to explain it in great detail. I... I can't actually teleport."
"So you simply possess high speed movement?"
"Yeah, pretty much," Bambietta replied. "I kind of gather energy by my feet and it allows me to move in the blink of an eye. Again, it would have taken way too long to explain during that mess."
Erza nodded. "High speed movement."
"Okay, when you say it like that I guess I could explained it accurately and quickly." Bambietta very nearly dropped her face into the palm of one of her hands then. "Well at least it's a unique power, right?"
"I suppose I should have realized it sooner," Erza mused, speaking absent-mindedly. "It did seem similar to what my Flight Armor is capable of."
Bambietta sighed. "Okay, so not that unique. Darn it." Then did the Quincy snap to attention. "Oh yeah! Erigor!"
"There's got to be a way through this cursed wind." Erza bit her lower lip then, trying to weight any and all options present to her. Then did one come to mind. "There's a chance that those of Eisenwald have seen Erigor employ this technique in the past. They may know how we can break through it."
"Oh." Bambietta grinned then. "So we just have to play a little rough with them? Sounds like fun."
"No, Erza. Stop." Bambietta spoke with little enthusiasm as she watched Erza continue to yell at Byard, the armored wizard holding him by the lapels of his shirt. The Quincy could only fold her arms across her chest in annoyance, mumbling under her breath while she did so. "This is no fun. Why do I have to play the part of the good cop?"
Bambietta glanced around then, taking note of the restrained members of Eisenwald, all of them tied up. The Quincy began to wonder if she should go against Erza's wishes and play hard ball with one of them. Yet she remembered well that the armored mage was the one with a terrifying reputation around here, not her. Someday soon Bambietta would have to earn such a status, she knew that much.
"You think I'd help you?" Byard rasped as he looked up at Erza. ""You and your friends aren't going anywhere. No one in Eisenwald knows how to break through Erigor's barrier."
"You're lying," Erza said simply.
Byard began to sweat a little then. "Okay, fine, so the guild master does. But even if I knew, I'd never tell. You official guilds are going to understand our pain, make no mistake!"
"Hey, Erza!"
Bambietta and her compatriot glanced to the side then, taking note of Gray Fullbuster fast approaching. In response did Erza grow cross.
"Gray, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be with Natsu!"
Gray flinched, his approach slowing. "We had to split up but never mind that now! We've got bigger problems! The guy from Eisenwald I was fighting pretty much told me everything! They're real target is-"
"Clover, we know," Bambietta interrupted. "I so totally made Erigor spill the beans, yeah. That's just how I roll."
"And we still can't get through his barrier," Erza hissed as she dropped Byard.
"Yeah, I saw it through the windows on my way back," Gray said as he began to move closer. Then did he pause, noticing that Erza was holding her right arm tightly. "Erza, you didn't try to force your way through?"
"Yes." It was a simple answer, the mage offering up nothing else. "Wait..."
Bambietta began to move closer than. "Erza?"
"When I overheard the guild members back at the pub they spoke of a man named Kageyama," Erza began to say. "He was their choice to break the seal on Lullaby in the first place. Maybe he can do the same to Erigor's wind magic."
"Isn't that the guy Erigor shouted at earlier?" Bambietta began to ask. "The one who went after Gray and Natsu?"
"Well I didn't fight him," Gray replied. "Then Natsu must be-"
Erza began to move then. "We need to find him and Natsu now!"
Bambietta and Gray gave chase as well, leaving the battered and broken Byard alone. The man began to look towards the wall then, his gaze growing quite serious.
"Karacka, you can come out now."
From the wall a magic circle appeared and thus did Karacka move out from it. The rotund wizard sighed. "Just look at you. I told you not to fight Erza Scarlet. Look where it got you."
"Shut up and listen," Byard growled. "You need to find Kageyama before they do."
"Please don't make me," the green haired wizard begged. "You know I'm not a good fighter."
"Calm down already," Byard continued. "This is a simple task. You just need to kill Kageyama before they force him to break Erigor's barrier. Then our ambitions will be unstoppable."
"Well I guess Natsu must have run into Kageyama."
Bambietta continued to run beside Erza and Gray, the Quincy taking note of the mild shaking that was occurring around the train station. It was clear that a battle was taking place, leaving Erza to quicken her stride.
"Bambietta," the armored mage began to say, "perhaps now would be a good time for you to use that high speed movement we spoke of earlier."
"Why doesn't she just teleport?" Gray asked.
"I don't actually-" Bambietta stopped and scowled. "High speed movement, here we go!"
Then did the Quincy propel herself forward, energy building upon the soles of her feet. Each step left her vanishing and reappearing in a flash, covering massive distance across the station. The rumbling of battle grew more intense with each movement, leaving Bambietta to know she was getting closer.
Then did she come upon her intended destination, catching sight of Natsu standing triumphant before a downed Kageyama. The Eisenwald wizard was slumped against a wall, clearly defeated.
"Not bad," Natsu muttered to himself. "I managed not to mess up the whole building this ti-"
"Move!" Bambietta shoved Natsu out of the way, catching the Fire Dragon Slayer completely off guard. He fell to the side then, allowing Bambietta to charge towards Kageyama. The Quincy smiled, knowing that now she had the chance to play the bad cop. "You and me, punk! We need to talk!"
"I ain't got nothing to say to you," Kageyama hiss quietly, the man trying to regain any semblance of strength. "Trash like you-"
Bambietta's fingers suddenly dug into Kageyama's throat, the Quincy lifting the mage off the floor and pinning him to wall. "Now you listen good," she began to say, her voice low, her eyes narrowing. "You're going to break the barrier that your false death god of a boss set up or so help me-"
"What?" Kageyama retorted. "Is the Fairy Tail wizard going to play rough? Please, someone from a guild that enjoys the light doesn't have the stones to-"
Kageyama gasped then, Bambietta's fingers tightening. She leaned in close than, staring directly into his eyes as she whispered. "You think you understand true darkness? Well let me show you what I was like before I joined Fairy Tail..."
"Just do what she says, man!" Natsu interjected. "Lady be crazy!"
Erza and Gray soon entered the room as well, taking note of the situation. The armored mage was all but ready to draw a sword and threaten the Eisenwald wizard into breaking the wind barrier but she could see that Bambietta had already beaten her to the punch.
Kageyama, meanwhile, could see the inherent darkness that lay within his tormenter's eyes. The young wizard began to fear for himself then, knowing he had only one choice at this point. He could only hope that Erigor had bought himself enough time. "All right, I'll do it."
"Good," Bambietta loosened her hold then and began to move away. "Was that so hard, shadow boy?"
Kageyama began to rub his throat then, trying to regain his composure. "But you Fairy Tail flies will still be too la-"
Then did Kageyama's boast transform into a scream of pain. Bambietta and the others simply looked on in horror, a magic circle having appearing across the man's torso. Worse still, however, was the hand extending out from it, having clearly pierced the Kageyama's body. Then did it pull back, leaving the Eisenwald wizard to fall to the floor. That allowed Bambietta to clearly see then the man from earlier, the one who had retreated from the battle with Erza, Lucy and herself. His was a shaken face, the man clearly overwhelmed by the action he had just taken.
"Kageyama," the wizard, Karacka, whimpered. "I'm sorry, but I-"
Bambietta stared wide-eyed for a moment, shock overwhelming her. Had this man betrayed one of his own simply to protect Erigor and Eisenwald's plan?
"Don't you die on us!" Erza suddenly moved forward, grabbing hold of Kageyama and speaking directly to him. "You're the only one here who can dispel Erigor's wind barrier!"
Gray moved closer then, taking note of the situation. "I think we're losing him, Erza."
Erza would have none of that. "Hang on, do you hear me?"
Bambietta simply continued to stare at the quivering man projecting himself from the wall with his magic. Little did she know that Natsu was doing the same. Yet soon did she take notice, the Fire Dragon Slayer's voice beginning to come to life.
"He was your friend. How you could do that to him? He was a member of your guild and you tried to kill him! Is that how you dark guilds treat each other?"
Bambietta heard it well, the indignation apparent in Natsu's voice. She could not speak, not now and not for herself, but the Dragon Slayer was clearly giving voice to her own objections to the abominable action she had just witnessed.
Then, at long last, did she speak. "You bastard!"
Bambietta leapt forward then, Hirenkyaku bringing her towards the Eisenwald wizard. She grabbed Karacka's tunic with both hands and began to pull the man from the wall. With one quick motion she brought him to the floor, slamming his back against the rough surface. Then did Bambietta throw out her fist, aiming for his face. Karacka cried out as her knuckles dragged across his soft flesh, the blow very well loosening teeth. Over and over again did Bambietta strike, losing herself in the moment. Emotion had overwhelmed her then, the Quincy lost in her own rage and despair. She no longer could see the Eisenwald wizard. No, all she saw was one who had betrayed her in the harshest manner possible. Yet with each blow from her fist did that image change. First she saw Giselle, then Candice, then Liltotto, then Meninas, before at last revering back to Giselle once more.
"All of you!" Bambietta screamed, raining down another strike. "I hate you all! How could you do that to me? How could you betray me?"
Bambietta was completely awash in her own bitter memories, her heart and soul consumed with rage while still her eyes wavered with sorrow. She could feel it, slight hints of tears at their corners, but her hatred fought them off. Her fist descended towards Karacka once more, his face still appearing as Giselle's own, a cruel smile etched upon it. Then did Bambietta stop, a low gasp escaping from her.
In an instant, in one quick flash had Giselle's face vanished. Yet it was neither Karacka's own that peered back, nor a delusionary image of any of those Bambietta had once considered her own friends.
No, what looked back at her was simply her own face. Upon it was a dull expression of boredom and disinterest, blood dotting the flesh around it.
"I..." Bambietta began to say, unsure of just what was going on her, her thoughts a jumble. "You... I hate..."
"Bambietta Basterbine!"
The sound of her name being spoken by Erza pulled the Quincy from the brink, her mind and soul snapping back to reality. Now she simply stared down at Karacka's own bloody and bruised face, the results of her enraged handiwork.
"I'm... sorry... So... sorry..." the Eisenwald wizard whimpered, finding it hard to speak.
Bambietta began to feel herself going numb then as she stood and turned away. Those of Fairy Tail were looking at her in shock, all save Erza. That one was simply staring sharply.
"Bambi, are you okay?" Natsu asked.
"I..." Bambietta did not know what to say. Her shoulders began to slump and she gently reached across her side with her right hand, clamping down on the opposing arm as she looked down at the floor. "No."
Erza stared at Bambietta a moment longer, though the armored mage knew she had more pressing issues at the moment. "Kageyama, stay with us!"
"It's no use," Gray said, trying to compose himself and rationalize the situation for Erza. "He's already unconscious."
Then did the stress begin to overwhelm Erza for a brief moment. The stress brought about by Erigor's plans, by Bambietta's moment of rage, of everything going so very wrong. She began to shake Kageyama then. "He's our only expedient way out of this situation! We can't let him die!"
"Erza, there's no chance he can use his magic when he's in such rough shape," Gray continued.
"He will if I force him to!"
From the doorway to the room did Lucy and Happy simply watch on in shock, having arrived on the scene at last. The Celestial wizard watched as Bambietta simply stood alone, shivering slightly, a barely conscious man lying at her feet while Natsu was simply staring at her in shock. Erza was simply shaking another Eisenwald wizard violently, Gray shaking his head in response.
"Happy," Lucy began to say, "I think this might be a case of really bad timing on our part."
"Aye, sir," that blue cat replied with a low hush.
Bambietta began to move away then, the Quincy resting her back against a wall as she continued to glance down at the floor. She began to whisper to herself then, mumbling over and over again until at last Lucy moved closer to her roommate.
"Bambi?"
"This is how dark guilds treat each other," the Quincy whispered, her hands tightly squeezing the opposing arms. "Natsu said it himself."
"Natsu," Lucy said, turning to look at the Dragon Slayer despite her not being entirely sure what was going on. "Look what you did!"
"Huh, me?" Natsu said in return. "But it was that green haired jerk who tried to kill one of his own! What did I do?"
"Nothing," Bambietta said softly as several locks of her hair fell forward and began to cover her face as she continued to look down. "You simply spoke the truth. Eisenwald is full of monsters who betray their own. Was the Vandenreich was the same? Yes, full of monsters. And I... I was..."
Bambietta's teeth grit together then, her lips curling back as her body began to tremble. Her fingers began to slip away from her arms and curl into fists then.
"Enough!" The Quincy voice was low still, yet traces of rage played out through each and every syllable she uttered. "To hell with Eisenwald! To hell with Erigor! To hell with all of this! And to hell with myself!"
Bambietta began to move then, a grim determination burning itself into her face. Lucy tried to reach out, hoping to stop her friend, to try and help her in any way she could, but Erza was the quicker of the two.
"Bambietta," the armored mage said as she stepped into the space between the Quincy and the room's exit. "What's going on?"
Bambietta did not look forward, instead insisting at keeping her head low still. She chuckled slightly, not out of actual joy or even from being nervous. No, it was a slight laugh issuing forth from a briefly unhinged mind.
"I'm going to stop Erigor," Bambietta said, her voice monotone.
Erza did not allow herself to flinch, such a reaction unbecoming of her, yet still was she surprised by Bambietta's mannerisms and tone of voice. "Have you forgotten the magic barrier?"
Bambietta said nothing for a moment, finally forcing herself to look at Erza with a wavering expression that deep down the Quincy hated wearing at such a crucial time. "Even if it kills me."
Bambietta began to move to the side but Erza simply shifted so that she was in her way once more. "I can't let you leave like this."
"Oh," Bambietta retorted. "Because you and Makarov really can't trust me?"
"That's not it," Erza replied sternly.
"You're my friend," Lucy said as she moved in closer from behind. "Don't do this."
"Don't be such an idiot," was all Gray could offer up. "Natsu is the only fool we need charging head long into things he can't handle."
"Yeah!" the Dragon Slayer added in. "Hey, wait a minute!"
"You and Natsu are friends, right?" Happy began to say. "And don't you want to see him fight Erza when this is all said and done?"
Bambietta took a deep breath, the Quincy unsure of how best to respond to this situation she found herself in. She was used to friends who would vanish without a trace, leaving her to curse them and fend for herself in the heat of battle. This was decidedly different yet it was tearing at her heart all the same. That however was precisely why she had to go through with it. She was of another world, Bambietta unable to comprehend ever truly fitting in here. The Quincy simply felt she did not deserve such luxuries.
"I've got nothing left to lose." Bambietta turned then to look at Lucy and the others and offered them a brave face, a confident yet false smile spreading across it. "I kind of lost my hat already thanks to the vomit comet Dragon Slayer after all."
"You shall not pass," Erza said staunchly.
"Oh," Bambietta said, glancing back towards Erza, "I think my Hirenkyaku might disagree."
Then did Bambietta vanish from sight, her speed propelling her around Erza and towards the door as fast as she could go. Yet the Quincy did feel a moment of stress then, taking note of the armored mage's eyes tracking her, an arm reaching towards her direction. It was unbelievable, yes, but all for naught. The Quincy was gone in an instant, leaving Erza's diminished reflexes unable to catch her.
"Gray," Erza began to say. "I need you to start tending to Kageyama's wounds. I won't let him die on Fairy Tail's watch."
"And what about Bambi?" Lucy asked, the Celestial mage worried tone carrying through the room.
"She is one of us," Erza replied simply. "The same applies to her."
Bambietta stood before the wind barrier, her eyes tracing its movements. Her spiritual senses were alive now, taking note of the magical components of the force, leaving the Quincy to understand the power that was at play here.
"You can do this, Bambi," the young woman said to herself, taking deep breath after deep breath. "And if you can't... Oh well, this world is too damn good for you anyway. You deserved worse."
Bambietta closed her eyes then, focusing on the power that was hers and hers alone in this realm. Magic began to flow towards her, converting into spiritual pressure. Then did it course through her flesh, Blut Vene becoming active.
"No, it's not enough." Bambietta forced the power to grow stronger, trying to burn her will into strength. Yet she had to wonder how well that could possibly go for one who was seeing death as a welcome possibility. Still did she begin to reach out with a hand then, her glove fingers moving towards the wind barrier as spiritual power flowed through her veins.
Then did the currents of wind push her fingers to the side, very nearly dislocating the Quincy's wrist. Bambietta stared at her bare forearm then, taking note of the faint blue glow that was her power.
"I can't do it. Not like this."
Bambietta's hands began to tighten then, the Quincy shaking slightly as she bared her teeth in a snarl once more.
"I've already died," she began to rasp. "It won't happen again! I am beyond such a worthless death! I am Stern Ritter E, Bambietta Basterbine, of His Majesty's esteemed Vandenreich!"
"I thought you were part of Fairy Tail."
Bambietta's resolve suddenly shattered for a moment, the Quincy looking back to take note of Lucy and the others entering the room.
"You can't do this," Erza said. "Please, wait until we can get Kageyama back on his feet or for my powers to reach their apex."
"You're all too good for me," Bambietta whispered before at last letting her voice raise high enough to be heard by those she spoke of. "You're all underestimating my power!"
Bambietta let herself focus then, her determination giving light to the Blut Vene that flowed through her very being. The light burst forth from her skin then, so brightly that it even shone through the Quincy's clothing.
"Just watch me!" Bambietta screamed. "I'm going to live right to the very end!"
Then did the Quincy move forward, not giving any from Fairy Tail the chance to stop her. Hirenkyaku sent her forward into the barrier. Yet despite the howling winds did the young woman hear Lucy's voice.
"Bambi!"
There was a momentary flash of pain that issued forth across Bambietta's senses, her sight consumed by an instance of swirling madness all around, chaos echoing in her ears. Then it was over, the Quincy on the other side of the magical wind barrier. Bambietta exhaled then, having not even realized that she had ever begun to hold her breath. She felt pain across her body, Blut Vene having been pushed to its absolute limits. There were tears in her uniform, her cape ragged, slight cuts that had managed to burn through the defensive power of the Quincy.
However she was alive.
Bambietta began to smile then and turned towards her friends behind the wind barrier. "Uh oh," she began to say with apparent glee, "looks like we got ourselves a bad ass over here!"
"Bambietta Basterbine," Erza said simply, making certain that her voice could be heard over the high winds. "I trust you."
"Don't you worry your pretty little S-Class head," Bambietta replied. "I'm going to kick that poser Soul Reaper's ass from here to... whatever the next town over is called."
Erza was willing to trust Bambietta despite her reservations about the outburst that had just occurred. Yet there were other concerns. "I trust in your power, yes, but do not throw your life away."
Bambietta stopped any further bravado, the Quincy unsure of what Erza was getting at.
"Use your speed," the armored mage continued. "Get to Clover ahead of Erigor and warn Makarov and the other guild masters. They will stop Erigor."
"But you don't think I can, do you?"
"I do not know," Erza began to say. "But I do not wish to see the life that I-"
Then there was silence, leaving Bambietta deeply confused. She shook her head, unsure of what Erza had been about to say. Yet there was one weapon the Quincy used when faced with utter confusion: more confidence. "I'll do it your way, Erza."
Then Bambietta began to turn, her Hirenkyaku taking her out of sight. As she moved through the town of Oshibana with bursts of speed, the Quincy began to whisper to herself.
"Yeah, I'll do it your way, Erza. I'll go warn the guild masters over in Clover. But if I run into Erigor along the way... Well, I guess then we'd just have to fight, huh?"
Erigor the Reaper was in the sky, his body travelling at incredible speed, the wind by his side. The individual was moving parallel to the train tracks that would lead him to the town of Clover. Now he was above a rocky canyon, one that the tracks were suspended high above. Fog was blanketing the abyss, leaving any who dared glance at it to wonder if it was simply bottomless. Yet now was Erigor simply smiling. The dark wizard could see Clover far up ahead, his eagle eyed vision catching sight of his intended destination.
"Revenge is within our grasp, my comrades," he all but cackled. "Soon those who bask in the freedom we have been denied will die."
Erigor began to push himself further then, his speed increasing with each passing moment. The assassin could barely contain himself, visions of murder and destruction dancing across his mind's eye.
Yet then he suddenly stopped, a flash of blue light piercing the sky before him. It flew up higher and higher, leaving the man to follow its trail until the bolt of light vanished.
"What the hell was that?"
"Oh, just a little present from me to you!" a voice shouted from below.
Erigor began to turn, casting his gaze upon the train tracks below him. Then did he catch sight of Bambietta, the Quincy standing battered and injured, yet still holding her translucent bow in hand.
Erigor began to all but snarl then. "The Fairy Tail fly who cannot shut her mouth."
"Man," Bambietta all but whined. "I sent that gift airmail and you still didn't receive it. Really ticks me off, you big turd blossom."
Erigor said nothing, simply turning away from Bambietta and flying towards the town of Clover once more.
"Oh no you don't." Bambietta grew cross then at being ignored. Hirenkyaku took her forward, propelling the Quincy along the suspended train tracks. She appeared well ahead of Erigor and she primed her bow once more.
"Damn it!" Erigor's movement was cut short by another arrow flying through the air. Once more did he glare down at Bambietta, the woman now not behind him but directly in his way. "You just don't know when to quite!"
"Oh I'm sorry," Bambietta said with a smile. "That's just not a lesson I ever learned properly."
"I've wasted more than enough time on you Fairy Tail flies," Erigor replied, the man beginning to reach into his robes. "And you are not the Queen of the Fairies, so you don't deserve a good death."
"One, give me time," Bambietta shot back both verbally and physically, firing off an arrow that Erigor dodged. "And two, I've already suffered a bad death once before. It won't happen again!"
Erigor said nothing then, simply dancing through the air to dodge any arrows of light as he withdrew Lullaby from his robes. He moved the instrument of death towards his lips then, fully intent on killing Bambietta with the least amount of effort.
Arrows weren't helping her, not now, but Bambietta had a feeling she knew what would. It was a weapon she was hoping she could use to its full potency. Words.
"Hey, reaper dude!" the Quincy shouted. "Don't go killing yourself on my account!"
Erigor paused for a minute, holding Lullaby at bay. "What are you talking about now?"
"Oh, I've just been thinking it over," Bambietta said as she began to pace on the train tracks, keeping a close eye on Erigor as she began to fold her arms across her chest and began to nod occasionally. "And if I've got a good handle on this death magic of Lullaby's, then it's supposed to kill all who hear it's melody, correct?"
"You've heard right," Erigor replied. "I suppose I've underestimated the fly's brain power."
"See, that's the kind of crap people always try to lay on me," Bambietta said as she still paced. "Even my old... friends... made it very clear to my face and behind my back that they thought I was just plain stupid. Maybe they were right. I never was the sharpest arrow in the quiver but the smarts I do have make me a nightmare for people like you."
"People like me?" Erigor asked. "What are you getting at?"
"You know," Bambietta answered, looking up at Erigor with a mean-spirited smile. "People who really piss me off. And I've got the battle smarts to make them pay for it dearly!"
"As if I'd waste my time battling you," Erigor retorted. "One note and you'll be dead, you worthless Fairy Tail fly."
"No, no, no," Bambietta said, waving an index finger up towards Erigor. "Don't go dying on my account, dumbass."
"Again," Erigor began to hiss, "what are you getting at?"
"And again," Bambietta shot back, "anyone who hears that melody dies."
"What of it?"
"Well you're going to be the guy playing it right?" Bambietta asked. "Aren't you going to be in earshot of your little melody of death?"
Erigor simply said nothing, his thoughts coming to a complete stop. His body remained frozen in time, even the wind around him stopping as if caught up in the moment.
"Wow," Bambietta said in shock, "I guess you really didn't think this plan of yours through, did you? Well if you're that afraid of death, you could always force one of your subordinates to play the Lullaby on your behalf."
Then did Bambietta begin to rage, her bow coming back into existence once before, pure power radiating off it.
"You dark guild son of a bitches seem to love killing your own when it suits your damned needs!"
Erigor's attentions were snapped back into the moment then, the Eisenwald wizard taking notice of yet another arrow heading directly for him. He moved briskly to the side, the weapon of pure light narrowly slipping past his body. The hair on the back of Erigor's neck began to stand then, his body tingling slightly in response to the close proximity he had just shared with the Quincy's spiritual attack.
Bambietta, meanwhile, simply stared up at the self-styled reaper, breathing heavily for a moment as she tried to get herself back under control. The momentary flash of anger began to fade, the young lady once more shifting back to her more sarcastic mannerisms, barbed words her weapon of choice.
"Sorry for the outburst," she said. "But it'll probably happen again during our little fight. That's just me, you know? Anyway," Bambietta began to shrug, "I bet that Zeref guy totally botched making Lullaby. It's defective!"
Bambietta's last statement began to echo out across the valley then, ricocheting across the stone outcrops of the cliff sides, leaving Erigor to hear her words over and over again. The man simply wanted to play the flute, to use Lullaby to end this battle without lifting a finger in actual combat, yet now he was a little worried. Dying was not his concern, no, he was fine with ending his life if it meant the other guild masters would perish alongside him. That was a sacrifice he was willing to make to ensure Eisenwald's vengeance would be obtained. Yet he could not dare take that chance against one such as this Bambietta if it meant he could not see this plan through to the bitter end.
His face contorting with rage, Erigor slipped Lullaby back into his robes and began to bring his massive scythe to bear. "To hell with my life! We will fight, you Fairy Tail fly! But remember this... when death is entreated, the battle has already been decided!"
"Oh, scary words from the false shinigami with the bad haircut and the ugly tats," Bambietta retorted, her confidence never wavering.
"I am Erigor the Reaper!" the Eisenwald wizard scream as he began to fly towards Bambietta. "You will show a death god the proper respect!"
"Yeah, whatever," Bambietta said as she braced for the battle she so richly desired. "I've fought the real deal and you ain't got nothing on the Doggie!"
"I have no idea what madness you're babbling about," Erigor screamed as he moved in close and brandished his scythe, "but it doesn't matter anymore!"
Bambietta's eyes focused not on Erigor himself but the weapon that was his, the blade of the scythe most especially. It was clear as day what this assassin-for-hire was intending, to cut Bambietta's head clean from her shoulders.
There was Blut Vene to fall back on yes, and Bambietta already had it activated, but she was not foolish enough to test its power under such lethal circumstances. This Erigor was not merely an untested opponent but clearly the best his guild had to offer going by his title as the ace of Eisenwald. There was no telling if his power could potentially pierce through Blut Vene. Thus, as the blade was mere inches from Bambietta's neck, she reacted with reflexes befitting a Stern Ritter and leaned back as far as she could. Yet still did her eyes widen as the blade enveloped her eyesight for a moment, passing directly across her fast. The moment of danger past, Bambietta pushed herself forward then, ready to launch a counter attack of her own. Yet then did she gasp in pain and fell further forward not of her own accord.
"So weak," Erigor cackled, the point of his scythe digging into the back of Bambietta, right beneath one of her shoulder blade. "Did you really think I wouldn't be prepared for an opponent to dodge? What kind of fool do you take me for?"
Bambietta felt it, the stabbing pain upon her back, but she was simply counting her blessings. Blut Vene had strengthened her body in accordance with her wishes and though it was not at a potency she had hoped for, it was still enough to avoid a fatal blow.
The Quincy had not been inclined to take a strike if she could help it. She had hoped to avoid putting her Blut Vene to the test against a potentially magical weapon she knew nothing about, yet she could only be content that her wound was simply a happy accident. Yes, there was pain, but it was simply unworthy of her fear.
"So that's it, huh?" Bambietta asked, not allowing herself to flinch any further. "You managed to dig your silly little toy in me, what, not even close to a freaking inch? And now you think you think you've won this battle? How ridiculous."
Erigor's eyes opened in surprise, the self-styled mage's confidence faltering ever-so slightly. "What?"
"I see it now." Bambietta began to stand up right then and looked over her shoulder at Erigor. Her eyes were wide with maddened glee, a sinister smile curling her lips back. "You're absolutely nothing."
"How?" Erigor pulled his scythe back and took used the wind to put some distance between himself and Bambietta then. His shock quickly gave way to fear and he brought the weapon to bear once more. "How dare you?"
"You're not worth my time," Bambietta said simply, raising her materializing bow. "And you're certainly not worthy of Erza Scarlet, you big blowhard."
Erigor lunged forward then. "We'll see about that!"
Bambietta simply sneered. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever."
She let loose with an arrow then, aiming directly for the approaching Erigor's torso. At this range the Quincy knew that him dodging was no doubt impossible. Yet then did she hear Erigor shout, a magical circle appearing before him. "Storm Wall!"
There was a burst of power then, one that obscured the space before Bambietta. The Quincy strained her eyes for a second, trying to peer through the smoke that seeped outwards from the collision of strength.
Then it approached, the scythe and Erigor not far behind it. He swung the blade to the side then, hoping to strike Bambietta from such an angle that the lack of injury would matter little. He could still force her to move if not cause any real wound and he was intent on forcing her off the suspended tracks and into a fall that would send her towards the depths of Clover Canyon.
However, Bambietta was quick on the draw. The Quincy's bow faded away then, a solid sword taking its place. She brought it up to her side, keeping her free hand pressed against its back edge to brace it. Sparks flew then as the scythe impacted against the short sword, Bambietta's feet firmly planting themselves on the tracks. She stood her ground as best she could, fully intent on parrying the attack.
"So you're a requip specialist, are you?" Erigor asked, pushing further with his scythe and trying to take the advantage for himself.
"Yeah, sure," Bambietta replied as she focused entirely on the man's weapon, "let's go with that for now."
"Perhaps you won't make such a poor substitute for Titania after all."
"I don't know whether to be offended or flattered," Bambietta continued, the Quincy gritting her teeth as she tried to push away the scythe. "But I do know that I have no use for praise from the likes of you!"
Pushing both her hands as hard as she could, keeping Blut Vene active, Bambietta enunciated her words with action, finally shoving Erigor's scythe to the side. Free from the pressure, the Quincy was quick to act, swinging out her left hand. She grinned as she heard the sound of the impact, taking notice of Erigor stumbling away from the sudden backhand. Then did the Quincy press her advantage, surging forward with Hirenkyaku. Her fingers wrapped around Erigor's face tightly, Bambietta pushing him down until the back of his skull slammed into a wooden board of the train tracks.
Erigor, to his credit, managed to keep his wits about him. He could see the rage apparent in the Quincy's face though he was unsure of what precisely had provoked it. Perhaps she was simply upset that he dared to threaten her guild master, yet there seemed to be a darker reason behind it. Whatever it was, he did not care in the least, not when his life was on the line. Erigor could see Bambietta pulling back with her other hand, the sword vanishing as she let the fingers close into a fist. The Eisenwald wizard quickly made several small motions with his left hand before slamming it into Bambietta's chest.
"Storm Bringer!"
A burst of wind pushed out from the palm of the man's hand, slamming into Bambietta with such force that she was thrown up and away. The Quincy gasped in pain from the sudden influx of wind, trying to regain her composure as she felt herself go airborne and out of control.
Erigor, meanwhile, simply began to stand up once more and watched as Bambietta was thrown about within the miniature tornado of his creation. He brought his left hand outwards then, extending his index and middle fingers forward until at last the wind ceased. Then did Bambietta begin to fall, helpless. Grinning, Erigor launched himself into the sky then, gripping his scythe with both hands. Bloodlust danced within his steely gaze, the assassin knowing that victory was in his grasp then and there.
"Your life ends now!" Erigor scream, whipping the blade around and preparing for the killing strike. "The grim reaper has come for you, fly!"
Bambietta tried her best to remain aware of her surroundings no matter how chaotic they may have been. She could hear Erigor and once she glanced down the front of her body she could see him fast approaching.
"Yeah, that's right, come closer again." Bambietta drew upon her powers and brought her bow to the ready. "We're going down together!"
An arrow fired then, forcing Erigor to halt his momentum and deploy his defensives once more. "Storm Wall!"
It was irritating to Bambietta that she had once more been denied a successful attack but she was at least happy that she had put her opponent on the defensive with relative ease yet again. Now all she had to do was allow Blut Vene to absorb her impact against the train tracks and then she could stand and fight once more.
Yet it was in that very moment that the falling Quincy caught sight of the tracks beginning to shoot her.
"Damn it!" Bambietta moved on instinct then, reaching out with one arm, her fingers finding delicate purchase in the metal frame that made the scaffolding of the suspended rail bridge. She cried out then, her arm and shoulder screaming in pain from the sudden force they were subjected to. The Quincy's body swung forward then, slamming into the metallic support structure.
"That was too close," Bambietta mumbled as she glanced down at the foggy abyss below her. "Yeah, still missing those wings right now."
"Wings, huh? Yes, I suppose not all Fairy Tail flies can actually defy gravity."
Bambietta glanced up then, glaring towards the confident Erigor. The dark wizard was staring back down at her, his scythe at the ready. Yet still did the Quincy never let her ego descend into self-pity. Not now, not when she was in the heat of battle.
"I guess you could say I've had my wings clipped," Bambietta said with a scowl. "Sucks, I know."
"For one of us, yes." Erigor began to lean forward then, propping his left arm on a bent knee while he held his scythe back. "Tell me, do you know the history behind Clover Canyon?"
"Sorry, I'm new to the area," Bambietta answered. "But if I lied and said yes, would you be willing not to bore the hell out of me with some trivia?"
"Legend tells that it it s so deep that its treacherous walls may well extend from the abyss itself," Erigor replied, leaning forward just a little more. "Perhaps you'd like to test theory yourself."
"I'll pass," Bambietta said. "Though I get the feeling that you're not the type to take no for an answer... or to allow begging to change your mind."
Erigor chuckled. "What gave it away?"
"I've dealt with your type before," Bambietta replied darkly. "It never ends well."
"Then far be it for me to do things differently!" Erigor stamped down with his foot then, smashing his sandal against Bambietta's struggling fingers.
Bambietta felt nothing, Blut Vene keeping her safe from harm. Instead she began to reach up with her dangling arm, trying to find more leverage to support herself.
"Damn you!" Erigor screamed, swiping his scythe across the edge of suspension bridge and across Bambietta's fingers. "Fall!"
Bambietta cringed then, pain radiating across the back of her hand, yet still did Blut Vene protect her from lasting harm. She continued to reach up with her other hand, yet then did she hear something from Erigor that made her blood run cold.
"Storm Bringer!"
Another tunnel of violent, compressed air slammed into Bambietta, forcing the Quincy to completely lose her grip then and there. She flew away from the train tracks, a scream all that remained as Erigor watched her fall into the fog.
He sighed slightly then, turning his head to look towards the way to Clover. "Soon it will all be over," he said softly. "Perhaps my death will do for Eisenwald what my life could not."
He began to move then, his body shifting into the air and propelling itself through the wind once more.
"This is stupid!"
Bambietta Basterbine hated it all. She had joined the Vandenreich due to promises of both camaraderie with a new family and vengeance against those who had stolen everything from her. They had been offered by one who was a veritable god in the flesh, a being who radiated power and commanded respect. Yet ever since that day she had joined Yhwach by his side all Bambietta had experienced was day after day, week after week, month after month of lessons. Today's continuing lesson was one she hated the most. It made no sense to her, a fact that she always made quite clear to Stern Ritter N, Robert Accutrone.
"I already have angel wings thanks to His Majesty," the little girl whined, "so why do I need to be able to make Hiren- Hirenkya- whatever it is work like this?"
Robert could only sigh, the older man realizing once more that Stern Ritter E was still his most difficult student. Yet despite his moment of despair, his better nature prevailed. He was a patient man after all, having managed to train even Bazz-B and Mask De Masculine in the finer arts of the Quincy. He would succeed here as well. At least that was what he told himself every day Bambietta came to the training grounds to work with him.
"It's a rather simple technique actually," Robert said, taking his glasses off for a moment so that he could rub his eyes gently. "All those in the Vandenreich can perform it under even the most trying of circumstances."
"I know!" Bambietta all but shouted, her angered expression simply giving way to tears. "But Meni keeps saying I can't do it right because I' can't concentrate!"
Robert placed his glasses back across the bridge of his nose and moved towards Bambietta then. As she began to run her hands across her face to wipe away the tears, Robert knelt down before her and gently placed in Bambietta's fingers a handkerchief he had removed from the breast pocket of his coat.
"T-thank you," Bambietta said meekly as she used the cloth to dry her face. "Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Robert shook his head slightly then. "Every Quincy, every Stern Ritter, has their own speed that they work at. It's not a matter of intelligence or raw talent. We all simply get where we need to be at our own pace."
Bambietta continued to sniff back then, trying to compose herself.
"This will be our little secret," Robert said softly, "but even Stern Ritter J had much difficulty comprehending this skill. Now he is one of the best within our ranks when it comes to the usage of it."
"But he's a meanie!" Bambietta protested. "And his haircut looks so dumb!"
"Yes, well, I suppose that may be true." Robert sighed once more as he placed a hand gently on Bambietta's shoulder. "I believe you can master this technique if you put your best foot forward."
Bambietta sniffled one more time. "Really?"
Robert nodded. "No more tears."
Then did Bambietta hand back the cloth and Robert folded it into his pocket as he stood. "Now then, reach out with your senses."
Bambietta took a deep breath then, the Quincy feeling the energy coursing through the world around her. It was in the floor, the walls, the ceiling and even the air around her. Her skin began to tingle in response, almost making Bambietta giggle.
"All right," Robert said with no hint of reservation. "Now I want you to focus on the space before her. Concentrate on the energies there and force them under your control. Make them do as you wish. Solidify the spiritual power and make it tangible. Do not stand in awe of that which cannot be scene. Subjugate it instead."
Bambietta bit down on her lower lip as her face furrowed. She could feel the energy encircling in the space of her choosing but she could not make it come together. Then did Bambietta exhale, allowing her held breath to slip away from her. The energy began to lose consistency, the particles flowing away to follow their paths of their own erratic choosing.
"This is impossible," Bambietta whispered.
Robert moved behind Bambietta then, placing both his hands on her shoulders. "Try again. Only this time do not work so hard. You need to relax your body and soul. Strain yourself and the technique will never be at your beck and call under any circumstance."
"No, I don't want to waste my time anymore."
Robert sighed. He did not wish to play this card but he knew now he was clearly going to have to offer something to Bambietta if he was going to ever get her to fulfill her potential. "If you promise to keep trying," he began to say, "I'll tell you the answer that you've been pestering me about ever since you came to the Vandenreich."
Bambietta's eyes suddenly lit up. The young girl turned her head up towards Robert, a curious expression beaming from her face. This was a question that had been plaguing her ever since becoming a Stern Ritter and meeting the senior members. Robert especially had been the quiet type, never speaking of his own talents. "You'll tell me what the letter His Majesty gave you does?"
"If that's what it takes," Robert replied, "yes."
"Oh! This is so exciting!" Bambietta looked forward once more. "You got yourself a deal, mister!"
Robert took a deep breath. "All right then, now listen well, Bambietta. You're going to try again this instant and I will not deny you the fact that it will be hard. You may fail this time. You may fail the next and the next. But you must never stop trying to better yourself."
The young Bambietta did not know what to make of what Robert was saying. "Huh?"
"Never mind." Robert became all business then. "Concentrate."
Bambietta did as her teacher asked, once more pulling and pushing on the energies before her. This time she did it gently, knowing that to be forceful, to strain herself and the environment to the breaking points, would accomplish nothing. Then did she begin to draw similar power around her own body, letting it flow to the soles of her feet.
"Now," Robert said. "Step forward."
Bambietta did as he asked, tentatively moving her right leg out, bending it at the knee. Then did she smile, watching as her foot touched down on an invisible surface before her. The Quincy's eyes widened with absolute joy and Bambietta quickly move her other foot forward to join the other. She turned then to look at Robert, standing atop what appeared to be nothing but thin air.
"I," Bambietta began to say, her voice wavering. "I did it!"
"I knew you coul-"
Robert was cut off then, Bambietta leaping forward and wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you! Thank you!"
"Bambietta, do you know why people sometimes fall when they pursue their goals?" Robert asked as he gently patted Bambietta on the top of her head.
The young girl offered an honest response. "No."
"It's because it gives them the chance to rise up once more."
Bambietta's eyes snapped open then, the Quincy taking in her present surroundings. Fog was all that was around her, her body plummeting into what Erigor had promised was an endless abyss.
"Well screw this crap!"
Bambietta knew it now more than ever. She was a stranger in a strange land, yes, but she was also a veritable newborn with her powers. Now, under both duress and stress, was she beginning to recall the lessons of decades gone by. She let herself relax despite her situation, allowing herself to reach out to the power around her. Spiritual pressure, magic, it did not make a difference to her. She would harness it, she would make it truly her own and take complete dominion of it.
"Come on," Bambietta hissed, once more forcing her nerves to calm. "Work."
Bambietta could feel the space beneath her beginning to shift and transform, the energies coalescing. She let similar power flow into her body to match it. The Quincy smiled then but it only lasted an instant. Her body hit the invisible force, her life saved for only a moment. Her lithe form hit hard, Blut Vene doing what it could to alleviate the impact, but still did she roll off, the invisible platform not nearly big enough to support her body.
"Well hell, that sucked."
Bambietta focused once more, tugging at even more energy this time. Her momentum continued as she focused on the empty void beneath her once more ready to meet it. Then she hit the much larger barrier, gasping as she did so. Bambietta lay on her side then, breathing deeply as she all but hovered in midair.
"Oh, wouldn't Robert be proud of me," Bambietta whimpered. "I swear, if I get back home I'm so making him hold up his promise of telling me what his epithet does. Maybe it was the Nag? That would make sense."
Bambietta began to crawl back on to her feet, her body enveloping in the approaching fog. She could see it slight then, the telltale traces of energy beneath her feet becoming slightly visible under the moisture.
"Well now," Bambietta said with a smirk crossing her face, slowly looking back up, "it's time for round two, you faux shinigami!"
"It's almost time."
Erigor was once more making his way to his objective, the assassin's flight taking him ever closer to the end of Clover Canyon.
Then it happened. Once more did an arrow suddenly pierce the space before him, putting a stop to his movement. However, unlike last time, this one had not ascended but descended. "What?"
"You know," a voice called out from above, "gravity can be a real bitch!"
Erigor turned his attentions skyward then, taking note of his Fairy Tail opponent hovering high above him. Yet it was not quite like his own technique. It was almost as if she was simply standing on the air itself.
"But now," Bambietta said with a grin, "gravity is my bitch!"
Erigor only grew enraged. "You damned fly."
"And don't even think of sneaking a peak up my skirt!" Bambietta said as she pointed a judgmental finger at Erigor. Then did she take a deep breath. "Oh yeah, I got black tights on now, so I've got nothing to worry about. Hey, wait a minute." Bambietta's face suddenly went red. "Oh, I hope no Soul Reapers were looking up at me while I was fighting the Doggie!"
"You," Erigor began to say, "you're completely insane."
"So says the half-naked death god who's willing to throw his life away on some insignificant little revenge scheme! You'll pardon me if I don't take your opinion on what makes someone insane seriously. Though yeah, I probably am crazy as hell. That turn you on or something? Because, well, no offense, but you're not my type."
Erigor simply stared up at Bambietta in disbelief. "Insignificant?"
"That's what you took from that? Bambietta shrugged. "Yes, I said it. Don't like it? Oh well."
Erigor began to become enraged then. "My guild, my comrades, they have had to live in the darkness! All because of those who could not accept us for what we were and exiled us there! They will pay for their sins even if it costs me my life!"
Bambietta grew cold in response, her expression losing its luster as she began to walk down to Erigor one step at a time. "I get it."
Erigor was taken back. "What?"
"My old... guild... was forced to live in the shadows as well," Bambietta said. "All thanks to those who considered themselves are betters."
"Don't you dare!" Erigor began to curse. "Don't you dare speak as if you understand me!"
Bambietta felt it in herself, the conflict. There was a part of her that almost wanted to let Erigor do as he pleased, to see his plan come to fruition, but there were things holding her back.
"There's just one problem," Bambietta said. "One difference. My... guild... was cast aside because we protected ourselves when those in power wouldn't. And all you people did was kill for money!"
"Silence!" Erigor snapped then, swinging his scythe forward.
Bambietta simply vanished, leaving the blade to tear threw nothing but thin air. She appeared behind Erigor then, once more standing atop thin air.
"But I guess," Bambietta said softly, her voice losing its composure for a moment, "I'm even worse than you. I've- I've-"
"Shut up!" Erigor swung his weapon around again, yet once more did Bambietta evade the attack with Hirenkyaku.
"We're both worthless monsters," Bambietta said, appearing near Erigor once more. "The only difference is I fought my hardest to live, while you're intent on sacrificing your life. I guess that must be a shinigami thing."
Erigor flinched. "You..."
"I wanted to live, you want to die." Bambietta shrugged. "In the end I didn't quite get my wish fulfilled. And I'll be damned sure that you don't either!"
"Die, you damned Fairy Tail fly!" Erigor lost it completely then, swinging his scythe out with such ferocity that even Bambietta was surprised by it.
Surprised, but not prepared. She allowed Blut Arterie to overtake her body, sacrificing any and all defense for simple power. It mattered not, her sword coming into being within her right hand. Then she swung the blade out, allowing it to meet the scythe head on.
"No." Erigor watched in complete shock and awe as his weapon was cut in half, the shattered remains of his blade plummeting into the ravine. "It can't be."
"So sad, too bad," Bambietta said without a hint of hidden ego. She glanced down towards the abyss and waved. "Bye, Mister Scythe."
"You witch!" Erigor began to scream then. "This isn't over yet!"
"Wow," Bambietta said with a sigh. "Talk about lousy lines."
"Storm Mail!" Erigor continued to yell, bringing his arms in a cross shape in front of his torso. A magical circle appeared for an instant, wind suddenly coming into existence and encircling the man.
"Well now," Bambietta said, not allowing herself to show any fear. "You're just full of surprises. At least this will keep things interesting."
The wind began to fade then, leaving nothing but a vortex surrounding Erigor's entire body. All Bambietta could see within it was the darkened shade of the man's body, his eyes glowing directly through the magical wind.
"Oh my, how intimidating." Bambietta could not help but sneer in contempt. "Please, I walked through your last wind barrier like it was nothing. This'll be a piece of cake!"
Allowing Blut Vene to flow through her very being once more, Bambietta charged, her right fist propelling forward.
Yet then did she cry out in equal parts surprise and pain, Erigor's winds forcing her flying back. She was quick to recover, however, her feet skidding across a makeshift invisible platform.
"What's the matter, fly?" Erigor asked, his voice howling alongside the vortex that covered him from head to toe. "This barrier is much more compact than the last! All this power condensed into a much smaller surface area! I don't know or care how you penetrated my last barrier, because you'll never be able to pierce this veil!"
Bambietta's eyes simply narrowed in response to the challenge. "I'll just have to try harder."
"By all means," Erigor replied. "Try."
"You asked for it!" Bambietta's bow ignited within her hand again and she took aim. "Don't say I didn't warn you!"
An arrow of light shot forward then, aimed directly for Erigor's torso. Bambietta knew this shot would take him down if it hit and she was confident that it would. Yet when the arrow make contact with the swirling mass of winds it began to shift off course. Then did it fly off into the distance, leaving Erigor unharmed.
"Well this blows," Bambietta said to herself. "Huh, I'm not sure if that pun was intended. Let's just say it was, okay?"
Bambietta kept her eyes locked on Erigor then, waiting for him to make the next move. She could only hope that she had the means to counter it.
"We've got you now, Erigor!"
"What?" Bambietta glanced over Erigor's shoulder then, the Eisenwald wizard glancing back as well. They both were then able to see Natsu Dragneel fast approaching, hanging on to Happy for dear life. The cat's wings were flapping wildly, a rather enraged expression on his face. Bambietta could not help but laugh. "Oh, Happy looks so mad..."
"I bet you didn't know my little buddy could go Mach speed, did you?" Natsu let go of Happy then, allowing his momentum to propel him towards Erigor. The Dragon Slayer's foot became lit up with flames then. "Fire Dragon's Claw!"
It was an impressive, if unique, entrance, that much Bambietta had to admit. Unfortunately it amounted to very little. Natsu's flames completely faded away on the spot, leaving him to harmlessly bounce off of Erigor's wind shield.
To Natsu's credit, however, he managed to land on the train tracks with his feet and was quick to catch Happy. Bambietta glanced down then and could see that the blue cat was exhausted, no doubt having pushed himself too hard to achieve the speed he had used to get here. The Quincy did not want to admit it, but it did tug at her heart. "The poor little guy is all tuckered out."
"You okay, Happy?" Natsu asked, gently cradling his friend.
"Yeah," Happy replied, closing his eyes for a moment. "I'm just... so tired..."
"Don't worry," Natsu said as he lay Happy down softly to the platform, "I can handle everything from here."
"You again," Erigor said, glaring down at Natsu. "Foolish Dragon Slayer. My powers can smother your power with ease! Fire can never hope to defeat wind!"
"I guess we won't really know that for sure until I try!" Natsu began to slam his fists together, activating his flames once more. "I've got a fire in my belly and- Wow, Bambi, you can fly?"
Natsu's powered faded then and there, the Dragon Slayer glancing up towards Bambietta, keeping a hand above his eyes to block any rays from the sun.
"Well not exactly," Bambietta said simply. "Still awesome looking though, right?"
"Yeah!" Natsu answered. "But how about you sit this one out? I want a shot at-"
"Hell no!" Bambietta suddenly appeared in front of Natsu with the power of Hirenkyaku. "If he beats me, then take your best shot! Until then you can stand here, watch and wait your turn!"
Natsu could only sulk. "That's no fun."
"Wait," Bambietta suddenly said, the Quincy showing signs of confusion. "How the heck did you get out here? I thought the wind barrier had you all locked up tight?"
"Oh, we had an idea after you left actually," Natsu explained. "See, Lucy remembered that some maid in her employ could dig holes. So she dug us a tunnel underneath the building and to the outside. Pretty cool, right?"
"Oh, yeah, Virgo," Bambietta replied. "And where's everyone else?"
"I guess they're coming here in the magicmobile," Natsu explained. "I'm not sure really. Me and Happy just kind of took off on our own."
"Of course you did." Bambietta sighed. "Wait, I walked through that barrier for nothing?"
"Well you looked pretty cool overcoming it," Natsu said with a smile.
"Okay, so I scored some bad ass points. Yay me. Now watch me go score some more." Bambietta turned her back on Natsu then. As she began to walk towards Erigor, the Quincy started to whisper to herself. "This is a fight reserved for monsters after all. You don't have a place in it."
Erigor continued to look down at Bambietta, his bemusement catching up to him. "You are truly a fool. Two flies, no matter how weak, would have better chances at dealing with the spider before you."
"You just had to go and say something like that again, didn't you?" Bambietta leapt upwards then, standing atop an invisible platform of her making. "Creepy bastard, I hate spiders! They freak me out!"
Bambietta lunged then, letting her emotions flow into her power. She had gotten through the barrier using Blut Vene and Hirenkyaku and she was determined to do the same here despite Erigor's boasting. Her fist hit the windy shield with incredible speed and the Quincy grit her teeth in response.
She could feel it, the wind tearing at her knuckles, shredding her white glove as she continued to push forward. Her arm was screaming at her, begging for her to pull back, to cease her attack, but she was unwilling to listen. All she did then was scream with all her might, trying to push forward. Yet it was simply proving to be a hopeless strategy, the wind barrier proving Erigor's earlier claim correct.
The dark wizard simply sighed, knowing that the advantage was his and his alone now. It was a welcome relief, yes, but also a sad fact that this battle was going to be so very easy now. "Storm Bringer!"
Bambietta braced herself then, prepared to be pushed away by Erigor's attack as punishment for her own defiance. Yet this time did the tornado come from below, enveloping her body. The Quincy was thrown about then, having trouble maintaining her position underneath the cruel maelstrom.
"Natsu," Happy groaned, trying to lift himself up off the tracks, "aren't you going to help her?"
"She's got this," Natsu said with the utmost confidence. "Trust me."
The Dragon Slayer watched then as Bambietta was buffeted around by the force of the attack but he was not worried in the least. He had fought her before and he could see she had already grown since their brief scuffle. That was a fact that left the Dragon Slayer curious about a rematch. Though first he would have to contend with Erza in the promised battle they had agreed upon.
Erigor, meanwhile, knew he could no longer play around at all. He had to finish this Quincy quickly, then take care of the young man with the pink hair. No doubt if these two had been freed from his barrier, then the others would be here soon as well. He could not dare to fight all of them in rapid succession, especially not Erza Scarlet. Weakened or not, she was a foe worthy of his admiration and fear, and he too would be in a weakened state if he had to deal with her after all these other flies.
To that end he cut off the power to his Storm Bringer spell then, allowing the winds to die down. It was a potent spell but not one he could count on to end this fight. No, to bring this to a close he would have to activate a spell of much more destructive potential, one that he could only use when his Storm Mail skill was in full effect.
Bambietta, meanwhile, simply created a platform to stand on, her legs wobbling, her eyes all but spinning. "I think I'm going to hurl..."
The Quincy glanced down towards Natsu then, an inkling in mind.
"Turnabout's fair play," she began to say, "but that'd be too mean. Hold it in, Bambi. Puking in mid-battle would so not be cool."
Erigor, meanwhile, simply brought his hands together. "Storm Shred!"
Bambietta saw it then, several dozen strands of wind moving away from a large magic circle in front of Erigor. They held such power within them that the very magic was lighting the sky with each blade of wind, leaving Bambietta to seize up with fear. She began to move then, relying on the power of Hirenkyaku. The barrage of the Storm Shred continued yet Bambietta managed to keep herself free from further harm, crisscrossing through the open sky, from spiritual platform to spiritual platform, never staying in one place for long as she approached Erigor. She had a different plan for action now, the Quincy reaching into her coat pocket.
Erigor, meanwhile, simply grew irritated with the lack of success that was his current attack strategy. "You've pushed me too far, fly!" he screamed, as he flew up away from Bambietta, gaining altitude above her as he did so. The wizard then began to draw upon his powers with erratic arm movements. "Allow me then to grant you a death worthy of the displeasure you've forced on me!"
Bambietta drew closer, hoping to finish her plan of attack before Erigor did his. She could see him raising his wind covered arms into the sky before suddenly pushing them towards her. "Oh damn it all."
"Behold a magic that can rend the very heavens themselves!" A magic circle appeared before Erigor, the violent emblem crackling with raw power. "Emera Baram!"
A massive gust of wind suddenly surged forward. It's concentrated strength slammed directly into Bambietta, its magical properties ripping and tearing at her body. She tried to stand up to it, yes, but it was to no avail. The Quincy simply fell back, her body hitting the train tracks with incredible force. Yet the magic of Erigor's attack was not done, the wind slicing directly through the support structure, leaving shards of metal and wood to fall into the canyon.
"Now it's your turn, Dragon Slayer," Erigor said as he lowered his body down until his feet came into contact with the bridge. "I wonder if you'll fare any better than your friend."
"My turn?" Natsu said smugly. "I wish but I don't think your fight with Bambi is just over yet."
Erigor's eyes widened. "What?"
"The bad guy's seem to say that a lot if you ask me," Bambietta said as simply lay battered on the train tracks, Blut Vene having held up tremendously under the pressure it had just been subjected to. "I guess I should know."
"That's not possible!" Erigor screamed. "You should be nothing but a bloody smear!"
"Whatever," Bambietta said as she forced herself to sit up. "You could leave me a fine red paste on the wall and I'd still keep coming back to fight you, got it?"
"You damned fly," Erigor hissed. "Why won't you Fairy Tail flies fall?"
"Oh, I fall a lot," Bambietta said as she made it to one knee. "But you know what the best thing about it is?"
"Damn you," Erigor began to draw on his powers once more.
Bambietta forced herself to stand then, breathing heavily. "It just gives me the chance to rise back up and try again!"
Bambietta lunged for Erigor then, Hirenkyaku taking her forward as she screamed in defiance of both the dark wizard's power and ambition. She pulled back her right hand, once more allowing it to become a fist that glowed with the energy of Blut.
"This again?" Erigor could not hide his contempt. "How pitiful."
"We'll see about that!" Bambietta's punch connected suddenly with Erigor's barrier once more, the Quincy's scream of rage changing to one born out of absolute agony. The cloth of her white glove began to tear away completely into the wind, blood ripping away from her hand as well. It was decidedly different from before, Erigor could tell that much. The last time his shield had kept Bambietta at bay, yet it had not caused her any lasting harm. Now however was the flesh of her hand being torn apart.
"Try as you might, you cannot succeed! You're just wasting your time!"
Erigor held his position firm, yet the wizard was content in the knowledge that his wind barrier concealed his face from those before him. He was confident in his power yes, but this woman was pushing his buttons in so many ways, both in terms of his strength of body and character. She had no hope, no chance to break through his barrier, yet she was pushing against it nonetheless.
"I'll do with my time as I damn well please, you dumbass!" Bambietta grit her teeth then as she began to push harder. "Scum who would sacrifice the lives of their subordinates don't deserve to get what they feel they deserve!"
Erigor could see it, then the wind of his barrier shifting, Bambietta's continued raving filling his ears. He knew what she was saying, yet he had no idea what exactly had provoked such ire on her part.
"Not you..."
Then did the Eisenwald wizard beginning to see the bloody knuckles of her fist piercing through the currents.
"And not me!"
Bambietta had been willing to sacrifice it all to get through Erigor's barrier, casting off the protection of Blut Vene for the pure power of Blut Arterie. Now her hand was a bloody mess, flesh shredded, but it was worth it if she could land one empowered blow now that she had pierced Erigor's shield. Yet the agony coursing through her right arm was too much for her to bear.
Her bloodied fist stopped mere centimeters away from Erigor's face.
The dark wizard gasped for a moment, seeing how close he had come to defeat. Yet then did he grin. "Nice try, fly, but now it's-"
Then did Erigor hold his tongue, watching as Bambietta opened her ravaged hand. Several small magical capsules fell from it, no doubt having been gripped tightly in the palm of her fist. The lids on the capsules were loose, a strange liquid that glowed with power spilling out.
Bambietta pulled her hand out from Erigor's Storm Mail, a trail of blood dancing in the wind as she did so. She stepped back then, mumbling a Quincy chant as she did so. Then did she stare forward, her voice booming. "It's time you reap what you sow, Erigor!"
Bambietta smiled, having held that line in the since the moment this battle had started. Her Quincy spell long since complete, the makeshift Ginto capsules she had left in the wind barrier suddenly burst forth with explosions. She could hear Erigor cry out in pain within his own defenses, bursts of light echoing forth so greatly that they shone right through the dark matter of the Storm Mail.
Then did it fade, leaving a battered and broken Erigor, his eyes white and wide with shock, to simply fall to the ground. From his robes fell Lullaby, the flute rolling away on the tracks.
"Bambi," Natsu said, repeating what he had said back in Oshibana, "you all right?"
"Me?" the Quincy said, looking back to him. "I'm just dandy! Kicked his ass and-"
She took note of the Dragon Slayer and Happy both not staring at her face but her right hand. Bambietta raised it up then, staring at the shredded, bloody mess that it had become. She cringed slightly, a strange and repulsive memory suddenly playing out in her mind. She could picture it for a moment, a man in black robes slicing the arm off completely, only for it to be reattached and healed by another.
Then did the Quincy shake her head slightly, closing her eyes for a moment as if she was trying to shake off the past. It did not matter in the slightest. "Don't worry about it, Natsu. My little Ginto capsules can do more than just blow up jerk ass wind assassins!"
With her good hand did Bambietta produce another capsule from her coat pocket. She undid the lid with her mouth and began to pour the spiritual liquid onto the damaged flesh that composed her right hand. It stung horribly but she pressed on, her whispers forcing the liquid to glow and infuse itself into her flesh. Ravaged skin and scarred tissue began to fade then, leaving behind only dried blood as a sign of the damage that had been done by her reckless attack.
"See?" Bambietta said as she rose the hand once more, moving her fingers about without even a momentary trace of pain. "Good as new!"
"That's pretty cool," Natsu said. "Maybe with you around I can fight more carelessly all the time!"
Happy simply sighed. "That's doesn't seem like such a good idea, Natsu."
"Aye, sir," Bambietta added on, smirking slightly. "Now then, about this stupid flute that's caused us all so much troub-"
"Natsu! Bambi!"
Both Fairy Tail members turned in response to their names, Happy growing distraught that no one called out to him, and they took noticed of Erza driving the magicmobile across the train tracks. Lucy, meanwhile, was poking her head out the window, waving towards them.
"Well, well," Bambietta simply said. "The gang's all here. Shame the party just came to a close. My bad."
Erza slowed the magicmobile then, bringing it to a complete stop. "Natsu," she began to say. "You defeated Erigor?"
"I wish!" the Dragon Slayer answered. "But I just kind of had to sit this one out!"
Erza glanced toward Bambietta then. "You deliberately disobeyed me."
The Quincy's eyes went wide. "Hey now, I was so totally heading to Clover to warn the guild masters. But, you know, me and Erigor were on the same path, so we kind of bumped into each other and-"
"Damn it, Bambietta."
Erza pulled herself away from the magicmobile, her legs shaking slightly. Lucy was quick to her side, trying to help the S-Class wizard remain on her feet. All who watched could tell that supplying the magicmobile with the vast amounts of power it had needed to perform as well as it had this day had taken quite the toll on the wizard.
For that one brief moment did Bambietta feel guilty, though that only irritated her deep down. "Erza, I-"
"Enough." The armored mage simply looked at Bambietta with a worn expression upon her face. "I'm just content to see that you survived."
"Survived?" Bambietta said with a smile of renewed confidence. "I totally wrecked this guy! Eventually."
Gray was the next to exit the vehicle, staring at the results of the battle. "Nice work, rookie."
Bambietta could not help but continue to smirk. "Well thanks, I- you left your coat and shirt back in Oshibana, didn't you?"
"No, I-" Gray glanced back towards the seating of the magicmobile and sighed in defeat. "Yeah, I guess I did."
Then did Bambietta take notice of a bandaged young man exiting the vehicle. She recognized him quickly as the shadow wizard that had been all but betrayed by his group. "You joining Fairy Tail now or something? Well then, rookie, let me explain to you the pecking order that's in place."
"You defeated Erigor?" Kageyama asked simply, his face consumed with shock. "That's... impossible!"
"Possible and kind of easy," Bambietta said, waving her right hand towards Kageyama. "See? Not a scratch on me!"
"Now that this is settled," Erza began to say, "I suggest that we all go to Clover and report to Master Makarov and the others what has transpired."
"Oh, we get to meet the other guild masters?" Bambietta asked, a little glee in her voice. "That could be fun!"
"Yeah, I don't know about that," Natsu said with a sigh. "It's just a big stuffy event. Hardly my kind of party."
Gray looked towards Bambietta then. "Don't listen to him. It can't be that bad. Though just brace yourself for some oddballs."
"Oh yeah," Bambietta said with a raised eyebrow, "like we're a bunch of normal folks."
"That's right," Natsu suddenly whispered towards Gray. "She hasn't met Master Bob of Blue Pegasus yet."
"Yeah, that should be interesting," Gray replied. "He always makes a big first impression."
Then did it happen. While the members of Fairy Tail were lost in conversation, Kageyama made up his mind. The Eisenwald wizard slipped into the driver seat of the magicmobile and slipped on the SE-plug. Without any fear or hesitation he propelled the vehicle forward, driving right past the Fairy Tail guild members.
"Erigor!" Kageyama began to shout. "What you started I'll finish!"
His shadow powers came alive then, a tendril whipping out and snatching the discarded Lullaby and bringing it into the young man's possession.
"Watch and weep, you flies!" Kageyama screamed as he began to drive towards Clover. "I'm going to massacre those cretins in power!"
"Hey!" Natsu shouted in return. "What the heck, man? We saved your life and this is how you repay us?"
Bambietta simply watched in shock, the Quincy quick to get irritated. "That idiot!"
She ran forward then, Hirenkyaku taking hold of her feet. One step after another and soon was the Quincy catching up with the vehicle. She leapt for all she was worth then, her feet touching down in the driver's section up front.
"What the hell?" Kageyama stared in shock at Bambietta's presence. "How did you-"
"Give me the damn Lullaby!" Bambietta reached out, intent on taking it from Kageyama by force, yet then did she notice the young man's fear suddenly growing. It was simply not just her he was afraid of this instant. It did not take long for the Quincy to realize what may have just happened. She could feel the wind in her hair and she was quick to look over her shoulder.
Sure enough, Kageyama had lost control of the magicmobile in his panic and driven it right off the tracks. Now it was plummeting into Clover Canyon.
Kageyama simply screamed while Bambietta only sighed. "Don't go pissing your pants, you moron."
She grabbed Kageyama by the shoulders and quickly leapt away from the falling vehicle and landed atop a spiritual platform. Bambietta did not say a word then, simply bounding from one foothold to another until at last she was back atop the train tracks. She took from the shocked Kageyama the Lullaby then, throwing the young man harshly to the ground.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Bambietta screamed, her temper flaring. "Those Eisenwald bastard tried to kill you and you still want to go through with their plan? How dumb can you-"
Bambietta paused then, the Quincy's rambling suddenly dragging from the depths of her own soul desires she possessed as well. Did she not want to return to the Vandenreich despite what had happened?
"Damn it." The Quincy simply sat down then, letting her legs dangle over the edge of the bridge. "We're both idiots I guess."
Kageyama simply pulled himself up, staring at Bambietta's back. He thought of it then, to push her off, to take back Lullaby, but then she spoke once more.
"Don't even try it, kid," the Quincy said simply. "When I'm around jerks like you, I just seem to feel like I'm walking on air. Literally, I mean. And as for this creepy little thing..."
Bambietta pulled Lullaby before her, staring at the three eyed skull that adorned its craftsmanship. She had considered wanting this power for herself, if only to give her leverage over the world around her, but now she was beginning to reconsider it. Then did the eyes of the skull suddenly glow, a strange power within them. In disgust, Bambietta threw the flute out into the open air. Then did she summon her bow to her.
"What are you doing?" Kageyama screamed. "That's-"
"A waste of all our damn time." Bambietta let loose an arrow then and its aim was true. The weapon of light quickly collided with the Lullaby flute, reducing it to nothing but ash. A burst of violet energy erupted then but it too quickly faded away, leaving behind no trace of the magical artifact's existence. "There. Done."
"What am I supposed to do now?" Kageyama continued to scream. "Eisenwald lost everything because of people like you and now-"
"Just shut up," Bambietta interjected. "You think you've lost everything? Look, I hate to play the victim card here, but... I'm pretty sure I've had it much worse than you. And look at me, moving forward." Then did Bambietta frown. "No, I was just trying to move backwards."
"What are you talking about?"
"Like I said," Bambietta answered, "we're both utter fools."
Bambietta stood then and looked down at Kageyama, her face cold and showing little sign of emotion for the moment.
"People like us need to move forward, even if it hurts. The Doggie, Erigor, you, me... We can't be throwing our lives away for such worthless pursuits. After all, what's the point in winning if you end up dying?"
"Bambi!"
The Quincy turned then, taking notice of Lucy and the others fast approaching on foot. The Quincy could not help herself, smiling broadly as she watched them approach.
"Yeah, I just need to move forward," she said softly, becoming lost in the moment. "And if I fall in the process, I'll just have to stand back up and try again."
Time moved on, the weary members of Fairy Tail having made their way to the town of Clover on foot. They had been welcomed into the meeting place of the Fiore guild masters with open arms and once the events of the day had been recalled and discussed, the Magic Council had been contacted so that the military could be sent to apprehend those from Eisenwald.
It was a cause for a celebration and several wizards were doing just that. Natsu, Gray, Erza, Lucy and Happy were partaking with conversation with the guild masters present.
Bambietta, meanwhile, was standing away in the distance of the massive room. It was not that she had no interest in conversing, that was far from it. There was just one in particular she want to talk to and she was biding her time.
"Finally."
The Quincy sighed in relief as she watched Makarov end his conversation with one of the guild masters, a gaunt older man wearing sunglasses, and thus did Bambietta make her move. She approached quickly.
"Master Makarov."
"Ah, Bambietta," the old man said as she looked up at her. "How are you holding up?"
"Fine," the Quincy answered before asking a question all her own. "Why did you ask Erza to watch over me?"
"My child, whatever are you talking about?"
Bambietta raised an eyebrow in response to her question being greeted with another. "She said you told her specifically to keep an eye on me."
"Now that's peculiar," the older man replied. "I haven't seen Erza since she left for her S-Class mission some time ago. That was right before you showed up at the guild hall, actually."
Bambietta was only more confused then. Still the Quincy would not let that become irritation, not here of all places. "Oh well," she said with a shrug. "Maybe I just misheard her."
"Whatever the case may be," Makarov said, "you did an exemplary job today, Bambietta. There's no telling how much devastation could have been caused if Lullaby made it to Clover."
Bambietta could not help but go red in the face. "Well, that's nice of you to say and all, but-" She lowered her head slightly then, her facial expression growing somber. "Thank you, Master Makarov."
"It does an old man proud," Makarov continued, "knowing that he won't have to worry about dealing with the Magic Council over this incident."
It was true enough, Makarov having very nearly gone into shock when he had known that some of his most troublesome wizards had banded together. Yet now he was simply at ease, the possible crisis having been averted by the most unlikely of individuals.
"Well don't think this means I'm the type to play nice," Bambietta said. "I did kind of wreck a fair portion of Oak Town while you were-" Bambietta caught herself then, trying to smile as she changed the topic. "Oh, I'm just so happy we were able to save you and the other guild masters!"
Makarov simply let the subject go for now. "Well then, I suggest you mingle among the crowd. Have some fun, live a little."
"Oh," Bambietta said with a smile, "I plan to live a whole lot actually. As for mingling..."
The Quincy began to turn then, her eyes settling on Erza Scarlet. The woman was talking with Lucy, yet the Quincy was quite intent on entering that conversation herself. She had questions she needed to ask of Erza, ones she hoped would be answered honestly this time.
"It's time I get a straight ans-"
"Oh my, aren't you just precious!"
Bambietta's eyes suddenly widened, her spiritual powers alerting her to a rather interesting presence behind her. The Quincy began to turn, only to find herself suddenly hugged by a rather overweight and bald individual who was very clearly wearing lipstick and a necklace.
"Well now," Bambietta squeaked out, feeling as if her life was very nearly being hugged right out of her, "aren't you friendly."
"Ah, Bambietta," Makarov suddenly said. "Allow me to introduce you to Bob, the guild master of Blue Pegasus."
Bambietta's eyes widened. "Bob?"
"Oh, Makarov, you do seem to get the real lookers in your guild, though I guess this one can't compare to those fire and ice users."
"Lucy, Erza, Natsu," Bambietta whimpered. "He's too close... I can feel the stubble on his chin... Somebody... Anybody... Help..."
And so, the Lullaby arc concludes. The end result was very fun, at least I hope so. We figured we stretched this arc out as much as it is, so we decided to just destroy the flute outright. Besides...It seems like the kind of thin she would do anyways. XD
I do hope you all liked the Flashback with Robert. Poor guy had the potential to be a real badass, but for some reason, he didn't get a real fight. Its my head cannon that he more or less acted like the "teacher" to the rookie sternritter, or new quincys in general. Just made sense to me.
But as you can see, the likes of Erigor are only a slight challenge to her. Fact is, in terms of power, shes 7th in all of fairy tail (the guild)
Also, I do hope you enjoyed her whole reaction to how a dark guild can treat one of their own. What happened in cannon was going to hit a sore spot without a doubt. At least here, she can see that the life in the dark side of this universe wouldn't serve her any better here.
Once again however, I want to remind you all that we have a poll regarding our pairing. We have only ONE vote so far. So there is still a huge chance for you to get the pairing you want...Or no pairing. Thats also a choice in the poll. As of right now, Levy is winning, so if you want to change that, vote.
Anyways, please feel free to leave a review, its VERY appreciated.
