Oh boy do we have a chapter for you! A lot of important things are going to happen in this one. I really, REALLY cant ask you guys enough to leave a review this time. I REALLY need to hear your feedback on this, seriously, it means ALOT. So, please, PLEASE, leave us a review.
Also, I cant thank the people who have left reviews enough, as of now our review count is over 100! Thats awesome! Hear's hopping we get to 200 soon!
Im sure you'll all like this, so enough waiting around, lets do this!
Also, thank you
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach of fairy tail. Those belong respectively to Tite Kubo and Shounen jump and Hiro Mashima and Weekly shounen magizine. This is just for fun!
Kenshinverse Disclaimer: As you can probably imagine I do not own the Fairy Tail or Bleach series or any of the characters that appear either. The honor of being the man behind Fairy Tail belongs to the one, the only Hiro Mashima. Oh, and Bleach's creation rests solely on the shoulders of Tite Kubo. Oh sure, I've purchased plenty of manga, DVDs, video games and maybe a few too many Rukia Kuchiki and Erza Scarlet action figures and statues (though only the Fairy Tail merchandise remains at this point), but the series themselves? Oh no, they're certainly not mine. You'd know if it were me in charge. Though to explain how different Bleach would be, well to detail that would take a higher word count than this story will eventually end with. Though oddly enough, little would actually change about Fairy Tail. Huh. Go figure.
Within the confines of darkness, an orb lay. Upon its surface was a glimmer of light, one that projected forth the very events that were taking place within Clover Town. A battle was underway, one that pit a coalition of wizard and Quincy against a being that by all rights could not exist within Earthland. Yet there it was, a being that had become Hollowfied.
Two specters kept their attentions on the globe, the both of them heavily invested in the battle's outcome. The first's attention was focused entirely on Bambietta Basterbine, the second watching Liltotto Lamperd.
"How can such a creature have come into existence here?" the first presence said, her mind left far from ease. "Could another god have chosen such a blight as its champion?"
"No god would be so foolish," the second voice said. "The rules we all agreed upon were quite clear. A mindless beast has no right to be used as a pawn."
"Don't use that word," the first voice said, growing rather cross. "They are our champions, not pawns."
The second presence sighed. "You care for these beings far too much."
"You and I both know we feel the same way about humanity," the first replied. "Deep down I know you desire their presence."
"Think what you will," the second contested. "Personally I'm rather disappointed with what has become of my... champion. I moved her to this realm of reality, brought her back to life and even went so far as to restore her powers to their former glory. And this..."
The presence focused on the viewing globe, bringing Liltotto into focus. The Quincy was lying on the ground, her blood seeping from wounds that had formed on her chest.
"This is the thanks I get," the specter said. "All because she put the feelings of another over her own safety. How foolish."
There was a silence then, one that hung over the void the specters called home. It broke quite suddenly then, the second presence lashing out at the first.
"You could have prevented this! You know that, right? My champion would not have performed so poorly, would not have been so hesitant to reveal her strength, if you had simply done the right thing for your chosen!"
There was no silence then, the first specter replying with no ill intent, but a gentle tone. "You think I did wrong by Bambietta Basterbine?"
"You can't tell me that she's a better champion the way you've brought her into this world," the second presence said. "You've wasted far too much time with your... tactics. You could have brought her back to life on your own, but instead you leave her resurrection to others, lending your powers to the a unknowing mortal's magic so that she could undo what had Bambietta was subjected to. You could have brought her back at a level of strength closer to her own, but you tampered with her Voll Stern Dich and her Explode. And if you hadn't done such things, Liltotto would not have gotten herself hurt trying to spare Bambietta's feelings!"
There was a silence for a moment, the second specter trying to calm himself.
"I apologize for the outburst. You know we both want the same results of this game, but... your decisions frustrate me. You know our enemies will not deny their pawns their abilities like you have. So why... why would you be so foolish?"
"I understand how you feel," the first presence replied, her voice showing no signs of judgment over what had been said, "but I could not allow Bambietta into this world with her Shrift or Voll Stern Dich intact. She was broken and would no doubt respond to those around her with hate. Her desire for vengeance would burn brighter than any fire in this world, especially once she learned that those responsible for her pain were playing pieces on the board."
"I told you," the second voice interjected, "she is unfitting for you. There were others from that world that would have suited your needs, one in particular if you had your heart set on a Quincy."
"Maybe you're right," the first replied, "but Bambietta has... potential. The other whom you speak of would perhaps have been ideal, yes, but I believe in the end Bambietta will be just as worthy. Besides..."
"Yes, yes, you want to help the poor, unfortunate soul." The second presence was speaking with no hidden amount of sarcasm. "You and I both find humanity interesting, but surely you must realize that the one who have chosen is a cruel individual."
"There is a spark of light within her," the first replied. "Buried deep, but it is there. She just needs a light to help guide her way. And if her powers were hers to command she would have simply reveled in her darkness for all eternity."
"So you're playing the long game," the second specter said. "I swear, you're so naive."
"Is that right? Power for power's sake is something I will never understand. It needs to be guided by a heart that has grown past pain and darkness." The first presence moved closer to the viewing globe, forcing its focus to shift and instead show Bambietta. The Quincy was standing between the young Sky Dragon Slayer known as Wendy Marvell and the Hollow that Gisbourne had become. "Look at her. Such radiance..."
Bambietta Basterbine could feel it, power flowing into her body at such a rate that she felt as if she could conquer the whole world if she dared desire it. Yet that rush of adrenaline only lied to her senses for so long, the Quincy coming back to reality.
This was strength yes, but it was not what she had once possessed in her past life. However, it was no less intoxicating. She could feel the magic particles pulling towards her, becoming one with her body's spiritual self. It caused her skin to tingle, her nerves feeling more alive than they had in the last several weeks. It was only a fraction, a percentage, but it would be enough. It would have to be.
Lowering her sword, keeping the blade pointed towards the wounded Hollow, Bambietta made certain to look back at Wendy Marvell. "Now you keep on healing everyone, Wendy. That's what you came to Clover to do, right?"
"But what about you?" the Sky Dragon Slayer said, looking up at Bambietta with little hidden admiration.
"Me?" Bambietta turned her gaze back to Gisbourne, the beast beginning to regenerate a new arm. "I'm going to do what I came to Clover for. But so that you can work uninterrupted..."
Bambietta's sword vanished in a flash of late, the Quincy's bow appearing in its place. She held it forward and looked at Gisbourne.
"Hey, Hollow," Bambietta asked, allowing an arrow to form within the bow. "Would you care to step outside?"
Bambietta waited the briefest of seconds for a response, the Quincy obtaining nothing but a low growl from Gisbourne.
"I'll take that as a yes." Bambietta fingers let go of her arrow then, the blue hue travelling across her face as the arrow fired forward.
Wendy watched as the attack flew away from Bambietta quickly, much larger in scope and in power than any other the Sky Dragon Slayer had seen over the past week.
The blue arrow struck Gisbourne in the torso, the Quincy energy exploding upon impact. The Hollow roared in pain and was sent flying back, its body crashing through the far wall of the train station. It fell out of sight then, the darkness of the night peeking through the newfound opening that Bambietta had made.
Bambietta began to move her right foot forward, spiritual energy swelling beneath the heel, yet she stopped when she heard Wendy suddenly speak up once more.
"Bambi, are you going to be all right?"
The Quincy turned back to look at Wendy, Bambietta feeling nothing but exhilaration. "Darn straight. But I won't be complaining if any healed wizards come to fight beside me if you catch my drift."
"Oh right!"
Wendy began to heal Levy, being the closest. Bambietta smiled, nodding slightly. Then she was gone, Hirenkyaku taking her out of Wendy's sight.
Wendy's jubilant expression began to fade, the Sky Dragon Slayer concentrating fully on healing Levy. "Just please be safe, okay, Bambi?"
Bambietta pushed herself forward through Clover, one step then two. She was moving by leaps and bounds, the Quincy trying to locate Gisbourne. She was a slight bit embarrassed, Bambietta beginning to realize that she might have hit the Hollow with more power than she had ever intended.
"There you are!"
The Quincy begin to grin, not out of positive joy but a twisted sense of personal satisfaction. Gisbourne was lying on the ground, the monster clawing at its torso where the arrow had struck it. It was in pain and that made Bambietta smile. This monster had tried to hurt her and it had hurt others. Liltotto, Levy and Lucy. There was a part of Bambietta, a section of her inner self that longed to get some measure of revenge. Now that time was upon her.
"Get up." Bambietta allowed her bow to come back into existence, the Quincy holding it steadily before her. "I said get up!"
Gisbourne was roused by Bambietta's voice, the strange Hollow no doubt sensing her Quincy bloodline and spiritual form. It began to crawl up on to its feet, glowing red eyes. It's tail began to sway back and forth as Gisbourne began to walk forward, the talons on its feet scraping against the ground.
"That's right," Bambietta said as she created another arrow, one more powerful than the last, "walk right into it, you ugly son of a-"
Then both the bow and arrow suddenly disappeared from sight, scattering away into blue particles. Bambietta's eyes widened in shock, the Quincy wondering just what had happened. Then she could feel it; or more precisely, she could not feel it.
There was no power within her or around her. At least none that Bambietta could feel. She knew it had to be there, it could not simply vanish, but she knew precisely what was happening.
She knew well what the others in the Vandenreich had considered her, the very literal personification of an emotional rollercoaster. Despite her altered state of powers, Bambietta knew that much of her had not changed, a fact that any in Fairy Tail could attest to.
Bambietta had been stressed, her state of mind on edge as she had been struggling to keep pace what was going on. The worry of seeing Liltotto and the others hurt, to bear witness to the birth of something that had no right to exist in this world, to be fighting a Hollow here in Fiore, to see Wendy in grave danger; it had all been bad enough, but to have the Sanrei Glove always at the back of her mind, remembering what one just like it had cost her so many decades ago, it had left Bambietta running entirely on her basest emotions.
Now the adrenaline rush was over, Bambietta's scattered nerves costing her greatly. The Sanrei Glove's special properties were catching up with Bambietta now. Her powers were not gone, but with her calming state of mind, the Quincy having fallen into the state of mind that was apt for fighting, she had lost her edge and control. The glove was making it far more difficult to draw on the magic around her and harness it as spiritual powers.
"So I fall into my usual grove and I get screwed over," Bambietta hissed under her breath. "Well isn't that a fine how do you do?"
Bambietta glared at her glove for a moment, the Quincy mumbling under her breath as she did so. She could feel the ground shaking with each of Gisbourne's steps, the Quincy looking towards the Hollow with a rather nervous expression. Bambietta had started the battle so fearlessly, yet now all she could do was look at Gisbourne as a drop of concerned sweat arced down the side of her face.
"Well now," Bambietta said, the Quincy unable to blink, "this is totally embarrassing, you know? Tell you what, I'll do you a solid, Mister Hollow. I'm more than willing to be the bigger person and consider this a draw. How about you?"
Bambietta was quick to turn and run right then and there, a Cero blasting the space she had once occupied. She held her hat tightly and began to yell.
"Yeah, that's what I figured! Stupid Hollow! I was trying to be nice and this is the thanks, but no! This is the thanks I get?"
Bambietta was utterly frustrated now. It seemed like every time she tried to act as awesome as she could be, things would work against her in this world.
"This is like that darn boulder incident all over again!" Bambietta leapt into a back alley, another crimson blast of a Cero careening by. "I guess I should be happy that Wendy and the others aren't here to see this."
Bambietta slipped behind a dumpster, trying to keep herself out of Gisbourne's line of sight. She was not sure if the Hollow could sense her presence when her ability to draw spiritual power into herself was impeded but she was willing to take the chance. She needed time to make the glove her slave and not be one to it.
"Stupid fucking glove," Bambietta said, the Quincy holding the back of her hand before her eyes. Her tone was ragged yet still possessing a hint of the rage that had been born from a tragedy a young girl had once witnessed "Things like you are hell-bent on taking away everything from me, aren't you? My mother and now my life, right?"
Bambietta's fingers curled into the palm of her hand, forming a first. For a moment the Quincy was quite temped to slam the glove into the brick wall beside her, but she knew that would only hurt her and nothing else.
"No, I'm... I'm better than that." Bambietta leaned her head against the dumpster, closing her eyes for a moment. "Robert always told me I had to reign in my emotions, right? But..."
Bambietta's face contorted slightly, the Quincy at last opening her eyes.
"It's so damn hard."
Bambietta could feel it then, the trembling ground beneath her. It was faint, but she knew Gisbourne was close. The Quincy peaked out from behind the dumpster, watching as the Hollow walked by the opening of the alleyway. The creature was clearly confused, looking about for its prey.
Bambietta sighed in relief. The Hollow truly could not sense her presence when she herself could not properly harness her powers. That was good, it meant that fate had been kind for once and given her the time she needed.
"It's about damn time I catch a break," Bambietta said to herself, the Quincy trying to concentrate and overcome the glove's ability to impede her ability to gather power. Yet it was not long before that concentration was shattered, Bambietta's eyes opening as she realized that fate was never so kind to the likes of her. "Lil."
If the Hollow was no longer following Bambietta's spiritual pressure, she knew what would happen next. It would go after the wounded and weak Liltotto. Bambietta shook her head slightly as she looked up towards the darkened sky.
"You couldn't even give me this, could you?"
The Quincy knew better than to blame her misfortunes on a god, not in this world at the very least. Where she had come from, that was home to what Bambietta considered an unjust god. Here? She was not even sure a god existed.
"So much for catching a break." Bambietta forced herself to stand, pressing against one bent knee with a hand as she began to rise from the ground. She knew she needed time to grow accustomed to Sanrei Glove, to overcome the limit it placed on her ability to draw strength and in turn ascend to greater heights. Yet time was not on her side. As she began to move out of the alleyway, she mumbled to herself. "This is stupid, stupid, stupid."
Liltotto had abandoned her once before. Was it not worth returning cruel favor? No, Bambietta knew that was not the case. Liltotto had done what she could to make up for that sin since they had reunited in Earthland. Then there were others.
There was Wendy.
Had Bambietta not sacrificed her pride as Stern Ritter by putting on the Sanrei Glove for her very sake? Had she not cast aside any of her the hang-ups that remained rooted in her past for the safety of the Sky Dragon Slayer? Yes, she had. So how could she even dare to consider letting it all go to waste.
"Hey!" Bambietta shouted as she stepped out on the street and pointed her right index finger at the back of the Hollow that Gisbourne had become. "Where the hell do you think you're going? We aren't done just yet! I'm still standing!"
Bambietta braced herself for what was no doubt going to come next, a Cero or a sudden charge from Gisbourne, but nothing came of it. The Hollow was still simply lumbering away towards the train station. Bambietta's expression dropped slightly, her arm wavering as her eyes widened. She was simply in shock.
Yet then did she get upset. Her hands balled into fist and she quite literally stomped her feet as she waved her arms about. "Hey! Don't you dare going ignoring me, you big dumb monster! What am I? Chopped liver? I want to fight you, so get your ass over here!"
Bambietta calmed down for the briefs of moments then, realizing precisely what was going wrong. It was the glove after all. Her spiritual powers were so out of tune with the rest of the world now that the Hollow did not even recognize her existence if it did not look directly at her. It had been a blessing just a moment before, but now it was simply an irritant.
"Oh I get it!" Bambietta shouted as she ran to catch up with Gisbourne. She moved towards his side, smirking as she tried to move into its line of sight. "You're scared, aren't you? Yeah, I bet you are! Fine! Go ahead and run away, you big chicke- Whoa!"
Gisbourne suddenly lashed out with a clawed hand, giving Bambietta little time to duck away. The monster looked at her directly then, stopping its advancement towards the wounded and weak at Clover Station.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Bambietta said as she stepped a few feet back. "Just you and me! Quincy versus Hollow! Cute versus ugly! Lady versus.. the monster equivalent of a guy? Yeah, that'll work!"
Bambietta tried to keep herself talking despite the Quincy knowing that Gisbourne was in no state to understand what she was saying. She did not care if that was the case. She just wanted the sound of her voice to keep its attention on her. The longer it focused on her, the longer Wendy had to heal the others. More importantly however was that the longer Bambietta could stall Gisbourne, the longer she had to get a handle on the Sanrei Glove. For as long as she kept boasting a mile a minute, her thoughts were elsewhere. The bulk of her concentration was focused entirely on her spiritual needs, the Quincy trying to absorb all the magic around her, to convert it into spiritual energy and triumph over the Sanrei Glove.
Yet then did Gisbourne suddenly roar, the Hollow lunged right at her. The time for talk was clearly over, but Bambietta was not one to remain quiet.
"Hey, I didn't hear no bell to start the next round! Okay, fine! Ding ding!"
Bambietta leapt back, trying to stay clear of Gisbourne's talons. Yet what the Quincy did not expect was the Hollow's tail to lash outwards, smashing into her ribcage with enough force to break two of the bones and send her flying away.
Bambietta cried out as her shoulder hit the ground, her body skidding across the unforgiving stones that made up the ground. She grit her teeth as she came to a stop, the Quincy looking at the advancing Gisbourne.
"Damn it." Bambietta spoke in nothing but a whisper began to get up to her knees, one hand clutching at her wounded ribs. She was beginning to doubt herself now, knowing that she had no hope of killing the Hollow, not like this. She had started out so full of vigor, believing herself to be the hero of this story. Now she was not so sure. Now all she could do was hope she could keep Gisbourne busy long enough that Wendy could heal the others. "No."
A realization began to settle upon the Quincy's thoughts as she began to make it up to her feet. One that led her to assess her situation differently.
"I'm not going to need help," Bambietta said as she breathed heavily and looked the approaching Gisbourne in the eyes. "I'm going to crush you, Hollow. I'm going to beat you down and scatter your remains in the wind like so much dust!"
Gisbourne stopped its advance, the Hollow beginning to notice a change in her spiritual makeup. Her blood, it recognized it once more. She was a Quincy, a pure blooded Quincy. Gisbourne roared then, its mask cracking open at the jaw to reveal its unholy roar as it did so.
"Powers or not, I'm going to beat you all on my own! And do you know why?" Bambietta remained undeterred, the Quincy holding her gloved hand before her, tightening it into a fist. "Because it's just like I told Lil. This is my story and it's about damn time I take center stage!"
Bambietta could hear the words she was speaking, but she could not understand them. She loved fighting, she truly did. Yet there was one thing she had always understood, one credo she had obeyed. She only fought battles she knew she could win. Even if she was wrong, even if her opinion of her power was too overinflated and she underestimated an opponent, she would fight that battle. Yet to face a foe she realized she had no change against, to even consider for a moment throwing her life away for the sake of other, it was a strange sensation to the Quincy who had once been Stern Ritter E.
"Oh hell," Bambietta whispered under her breath, her right eye and its brow twitching, "I've become a total idiot."
Bambietta's moment of self-depreciation was shattered then, Gisbourne suddenly opening its mouth. A Cero fired forth and Bambietta tried her best to leap away in the time allotted to her. She fell to the ground, clear of the blast, yet the shockwave caused by it hitting the pavement was more than she had prepared for.
Bambietta screamed as her body was thrown to the side, buffeted by the forces at play, torn pavement smashing into her body even as it collided with the side of a house.
The Quincy spit up blood upon impact, her head tilting back as her eyes widened. It hurt so very badly, Bambietta left vulnerable without Blut Vene to protect her. Yet despite the pain she could feel something else.
There was a tingling running across her skin, feeling as if a cool breeze had touched down upon her body. Bambietta knew full well what it was. She was drawing the surrounding energies into herself and making them her own. It was slow and it was unsteady, but she was beginning to give birth to her powers.
"How?" It was all Bambietta could say, her voice hoarse and wracked with pain. Once the adrenaline rush had faded, she had tried so very hard to concentrate and pool her strengths. She had tried with all her might to remain calm and collected, to remember what Robert Accutrone had instilled in her so long ago.
Then it hit Bambietta, the Quincy remembering well a fact that she had Stern Ritter N had discovered so many decades ago. Her teacher had tried everything in his power to help Bambietta, to allow her to grow into a Quincy worthy of the title Stern Ritter. In the end he had succeeded by mere happenstance, Robert observing the one place Bambietta was truly at home.
She was loud and explosive in every sense of the word, but Bambietta had always found her sense of inner peace when she was fighting, when she was truly losing her soul to the battles. Bambietta remembered well what Robert had said to her when he had deduced what was her happy place.
"Apparently violence has its own calms."
Bambietta began to pull herself away from the wall she had been thrown into, understanding at last what she was trying to accomplish. She could not try hard, she could not attempt to force the issue. No, she simply had to let herself slip into the ebb and flow of battle.
"Thank you," Bambietta began to whisper, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "Accutrone."
Bambietta looked at Gisbourne, the Quincy's eyes glaring at him. She had been wrong, so very wrong. This was not hard, it was terribly simple. She just had to give herself over to the battle, that was all. That was something Bambietta knew she could do with relative ease.
She could not doubt, she could not question anything. She could not even think on any deep level. She simply had to act, to fight to her heart's content. Yes, it was so very simple. More importantly to the Quincy, however, was that it was fun.
Bambietta began to move towards Gisbourne then with no hidden amount of swagger, the Quincy feeling the magic particles around her slowly swirling around her. They were bending to her will, conforming to her desires and becoming one with her power, one with her body. The Quincy continued to move towards Gisbourne then, the Hollow preparing to attack.
It's claws lashed out, arcing towards Bambietta's face. The Quincy gave no ground, allowing the talons to make contact. Her body shook under the duress of the attack, the Quincy's head turning to the side as a result.
Bambietta felt it, a slight amount of pain, a sensation of warm blood on her cheek and the bridge of her nose. Yet it was miniscule, the red liquid obscured by the glowing blue light that pulsed underneath the Quincy's skin.
Bambietta had control of her Blut once more. She looked at Gisbourne, a savage smile crossing her bloodied face. The Hollow's eyes flickered in response, as if the monster was hesitating.
"I was right," Bambietta said. "You are scared."
Gisbourne roared in defiance, swinging out a handful of serrated claws at Bambietta. The Quincy did not let them make contact this time, disappearing from sight. Hirenkyaku took her completely out of sight, the Quincy appearing behind the Hollow with such precision that time seemed to momentarily slow for Bambietta. Her sword appeared in her hand and the Quincy slashed out with it, the blade cutting through flesh and bone.
Blood gushed out from Gisbourne's back as the Hollow stumbled forward, but it quickly began to regenerate. The monster refused to relent, spinning around and swinging its tail out.
Yet all it could do was scream as Bambietta's blade moved to intercept it, tearing the appendage clean off. The spiked tail quivered as it fell to the ground, stopping its erratic movement not long after.
"Wow! Just... wow!" Bambietta said, looking at her sword in clear, honest amazement. She had not even swung the blade with any force, she had simply moved it at a gentle pace and it still had torn apart Gisbourne. The Quincy smirked, a devilish glint in her eyes. "I think you're power has peaked, ugly. But me? I'm just starting to tap into how freaking awesome I really am!"
Gisbourne did not understand a word the Quincy was saying. All it knew was that its blood was demanding her death no matter what it took. To that end it swung an arm down, intent on separating Bambietta's head from her shoulders. Yet she saw the attack coming an gauged what strength it possessed.
Disappointed, Bambietta reached out with her left hand, Blut Vene at the ready, and caught the talons that belonged to Gisbourne. The monster continued to struggle, to try and to truly connect with the attack, but Bambietta hand the hand at bay and looked at the Hollow.
She began to open her mouth, the Quincy about to speak, but Bambietta thought better of wasting any further breath on a mindless east. She quickly moved her hand down away from Gisbourne's claws and grasped his wrist. Her Blut switched forms as Bambietta desired.
Then, with a simple tug, she tore the Hollow's arm off, leaving behind a spray of unnatural blood to issue forth from Gisbourne's shoulder.
The Hollow cried out in pain once more, leaping back to try and put some distance between itself and the vicious Quincy. Gisbourne's tail was beginning to regenerate and soon its arm would join it, yet it was growing enraged with how this battle was progressing.
It roared then, a familiar and faint red glow emanating from beneath its mask. Then did the jaws of the covering crack open, a Cero firing forth.
"All or nothing, huh?" Bambietta tossed aside the Hollow's arm and allowed her sword to be replaced by her bow instead. "Fine by me!"
Bambietta focused her concentration on the creation of an arrow, pouring all of her accumulated spiritual strength into it. The Cero moved closer, yet she did not allow it to worry her. No, she simple let the arrow loose, the blue bolt of spiritual energy colliding with the scarlet power of the Cero.
There was a brief moment of friction, yet in the end did Bambietta's arrow triumph. It pierced the Hollow's power, the Cero dissipating as the holy arrow continued its journey.
Then it struck Gisbourne, igniting the Hollow in a burst of sapphire light. The creature screamed in pain and defiance, its wounds coming into view as the light faded.
The creature's opposite arm was gone now, the bulk of its upper torso a smoldering husk. A portion of its mass was gone, leaving the Hollow hole open on one side.
Any other would have been pleased with the damage they had done, but Bambietta was not. "Damn it! That was so a head shot!"
Bambietta began to wonder if she had miscalculated her efforts, if she had misjudged the strength she needed. That much made sense to her, the Quincy wondering if perhaps her aim had been thrown off by an unnecessary use of force.
"Is that where I went wrong?" Bambietta reached up with one hand to scratch the side of her head, her eyes casting downwards and catching a glimpse of her bow. "Oh my."
Ignoring the Hollow completely, knowing that it was too preoccupied with its own damage, Bambietta raised her bow before her and basked in its illumination. Traces of telltale spiritual energy were running across the frame, but that was just it. The bow was a solid construct now, pure white and possessing jagged edges despite the smooth contours that contrasted against them.
Bambietta smiled, the Quincy suddenly bringing the bow right up to her face, practically rubbing her cheek against it as she smiled with her eyes shut. "Damon Stechen Bogen! It's been so long! I'm so sorry I totally ditched you for the Explode! But now you, me and Schragstrich are going to have so much fun together! Just like the old days!"
Bambietta blinked for a moment, her spiritual senses drawing her attention back to the wounded and enraged Gisbourne. The Quincy's face assumed the slightest shade of red then and there, Bambietta staring at the beast with widened eyes.
"I just acted like a total fan girl for my own weapon in front of a Hollow-slash-monster hybrid, didn't I?"
Bambietta shook her head, understanding well why she had done what she had. It had been so long since she had seen her empowered bow at its peak. She had trained for it night and day, yet when she had obtained the power of the Explode, Damon Stechen Bogen had lost much of its relevancy in battle. The Explode covered range and Schragstrich was the ideal blade for cutting down foes in close quarters. Without the Explode, Bambietta had been forced to rely on a traditional bow once more, yet she had been unable to control the necessary power to bring it out in its true, physical form.
Now, however, had mastery of the Sanrei Glove allowed Bambietta to ascend to heights she had previously dwelled within, her empowered weapon hers once again. Yet still was she more concerned with other matters.
"Okay, totally going to need to repress that. But let's be honest with each other..." Bambietta looked at Gisbourne, her embarrassed expression becoming one of malevolency. "We both know you aren't going to be tell anybody what you just saw."
Gisbourne's glowing eyes narrowed within the sockets of its mask, the Hollow's body regenerating to its full form once again. Its tail began to whip about, its clawed hands quivering on instinct, the desire to kill at the forefront of the monster's mind.
Then it lunged for Bambietta with Sonido, the Quincy more than willing to return the favor with Hirenkyaku. She let Damon Stechen Bogen vanish, her sword once more materializing. Schragstrich at the ready, Bambietta let loose a battle cry as she and Gisbourne came closer and closer, their clash inevitable. Yet as Bambietta drew closer, she slipped her free hand into her coat pocket.
Gisbourne's body began to brace for a swipe of its claws, yet its instincts for battle were slowly developing. It could see Bambietta was preparing for just such a thing, no doubt intending to use her blade to cut another appendage. Instead the Hollow opened its mouth, another Cero launching forward, this time at point blank range.
"Nice try." Bambietta vanished from sight as the crimson energy came dangerously close to her, another step taken with Hirenkyaku.
Gisbourne suddenly began to roar in pain as it ran past the space Bambietta had once occupied, the Holllow feeling waves of agony across both its mask and its very soul. Its feet skid across the ground and it came to a stop, Gisbourne turning around to find Bambietta standing where it once had.
"Big dumb Hollow," Bambietta said, her cape billowing due to a gentle breeze, the Quincy holding her sword outwards to her side. "I bet you couldn't even tell how many times I used Hirenkyaku in the time you did it once. Or... how many times I cut you just now."
Gisbourne had no idea what the Quincy was saying, nor did it care. It simply lunged for Bambietta then, ignoring the agony etched across its mask.
"Was it just once?" Bambietta asked as she looked over her shoulder with a sly smile. Then she winked. "Well... maybe."
Gisbourne lunged for Bambietta, a row of talons swing out with the ill intent of skewering the unmoving Quincy through the back. Yet it never got the chance to make contact, Gisbourne suddenly feeling a strange sensation overtake it.
The Hollow's torso began to fall apart, blood pouring out from twin cuts that ran from the hips to the opposing shoulders and straight through the Hollow hole. The dreadful liquid began to take on the shape of a cross as Gisbourne's body split apart into four pieces. The lower portion of its body slumped to its knees, the right and left chunks dropping to the ground and splattering blood as they did so. The top portion, little more than the Hollow's chest, neck and head hit the ground next, the twin sets of eyes glaring at Bambietta defiantly.
"Oh, I guess it was twice," Bambietta said as she turned and looked down at Gisbourne. "But I guess even that wasn't enough to overcome your regeneration. Oh well. What are you going to do now, huh? Bleed on me? Bite my ankles until your body regrows?"
Gisbourne began to open its mouth in response, a red glow beginning to come into view.
"Oh no! A Cero? Whatever shall little old me do?" Bambietta screamed in a rather mocking tone, not letting up for a second. Then she shifted gears, casting a wicked grin. "I guess I should have told you it was more than two times that I cut you just now, big guy."
Bambietta could see it as Gisbourne continued to prepare its attack, the cuts and cracks her sword had made in the Hollow's mask quite evident. More importantly, however, were the Ginto capsules she had lodged into those very same spots of damage. The Quincy raised her free hand then, snapping her fingers and sending a burst of spiritual energy to those very artifacts of Quincy power.
A cacophony of explosions rang through the Quincy's ears, Bambietta watching as Gisbourne's masked face disappeared in a burst of blue light. It faded then, the decapitated Hollow's remains lying still on the ground. Then did its body begin to dissolve, Gisbourne's regeneration unable to activate now that its very essence as a reborn monster had been terminated and wiped from existence by the power of a Quincy.
Bambietta watched as Gisbourne's physical and spiritual presence vanished, leaving no trace of behind. The Quincy took a deep breathe then, allowing her sword to fade away. She began to speak, uncaring that Gisbourne was not around to hear her answer even if the beast could have understood it.
"I could have killed you with a single stroke to the mask just now, but I didn't. You want to know why?" Bambietta smiled then, content with what had just occurred. "I told Lil that you were going out with a bang, one way or another. And I don't lie just to make others feel better."
The dawn of a new day was upon the town of Clover. Those who called the town felt finally felt a sense of security, the threat to their lives at last at an end. The forces of Magic Council and the kingdom of Fiore were due to arrive soon enough, yet they would be too late for anything save repairing the damage to the town and nothing more.
The combined forces of Fairy Tail, Phantom Lord and Blue Pegasus had brought peace to Clover despite the damage caused in the name of protecting those who resided there, and the wizards and Quincy were trying to enjoy themselves now as they assessed all that had transpired in the previous week. Despite the property damage that had ensued, those of Clover had deemed the wizards and Quincy their heroes and had held an event in their honor.
It was strange to Bambietta, so very strange. She had been congratulated and awarded for her accomplishments within the Vandenreich, Yhwach having praised her abilities when he deemed it appropriate, yet that was all it had ever been. Here in Fiore she had been praised for her accomplishments just as before, yet it was not only from her superiors but also from those she had saved.
That was something that had no place within the Vandenreich. Saving others had not been within the organization, conquest their only goal. Despite what had happened when Eisenwald had been defeated and the guild masters saved, despite what had transpired after the crisis on Galuna Island, Bambietta was not able to bask in her glories.
As the others mingled within those thankful and pleasant at the Clover town hall, Bambietta kept her distance, staying on the sidelines of the chamber. She had found a seat for herself and had taken it for her own, watching but not involving herself with the festivities.
Instead Bambietta simply watched as the others enjoyed themselves, even Liltotto. Bambietta knew well how odd that was. Here she was, the social butterfly who stayed far away while the withdrawn and quiet one was actually trying to be friendly. Bambietta knew how ridiculous it was, but her mind was elsewhere.
"A Hollow..."
It made no sense, a being such as that existing here in Fiore. Worse was the simple fact that it had not just been one of the spiritual beings she had battled in her home world. No, this had been an aberration by any standard. She had seen it before her very eyes, had felt the shift in the life force that had belonged to the monster known as Gisbourne. It had changed in its death, become reborn as something else.
Someone had been responsible for the transformation and Bambietta was vexed by that fact. She was in this world, as well as Liltotto. Were other Quincy? Yet even if there were others, what Quincy would dare play with forces that could be lethal to their very being?
Bambietta leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment, running a thumb and index finger against their inner edges. "What the hell is going on here?"
None of it made much sense to Bambietta, but she also knew she had no true knowledge of how precisely she had ever come to this world in the first place. Was there a purpose behind it or was it simply a moment of fate's fickle nature?
"Bambi?"
The Quincy's body shook for a second, Bambietta's mind snapping to attention. She opened her eyes and looked forward, coming face with Wendy. "Oh. Hey there, Wendy."
"I got you some fruit punch from the concessions table," Wendy said, holding up one hand and the plastic cup within it, one that matched the one in her other hand. "That is if you're thirsty."
"Thanks." Bambietta took the cup then, noting the smile that overcame Wendy's face. The Dragon Slayer pulled up a seat beside Bambietta and began to sip at her drink. The Quincy did the same, her mind slightly more at ease now. "So tell me, Wendy, what's it feel like to be considered a hero?"
Bambietta knew how the question would sound, just an adult picking the mind of a child to find out perhaps how they were adapting to the praise of others. There was more to it than that, Bambietta keeping it under the radar as well as she could.
She simply hoped Wendy, someone new to what was going on while free of the Vandenreich's darkness, could explain it to her.
"Huh? Me?" Wendy held her drink with both hands, the Sky Dragon Slayer nibbling at her bottom lip as she began to think over the Quincy's question. "It's kind of embarrassing. I just wanted to help people, but all this attention we're getting..."
"I'm not used to it either." Bambietta took another sip from her drink, the Quincy remember well the conversation she had had with Erza Scarlet back on Galuna Island. Bambietta was beginning to understand what the wizard had mean that night when it came to others practically worshipping her good deeds. "Still, I kind of like it in a way."
"Well, uh," Wendy said, "that's good. I mean, what you did the other day was really cool if you ask me."
"I beat up a monster," Bambietta said. "That's nothing new for me."
"No, I meant..." Wendy began to trail off for a moment, the Dragon Slayer trying to regain any semblance of confidence. "I meant putting on that glove."
Bambietta looked at Wendy, noting the slight smile tugging at the young girl's lips. "It's no big deal," Bambietta responded after giving herself a moment. "I just..."
"You said you didn't want to," Wendy said as she looked up at Bambietta. "Because of what happened to-"
"Don't... don't say it." Bambietta had interrupted Wendy, her voice hesitating but still possessing a hint of a rough edge to it. Bambietta regretted her tone, realizing she had come very close to snapping at the Sky Dragon Slayer.
Wendy glanced down the floor then, her happy expression faltering. "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm..." Bambietta sighed, the Quincy trying to get the words out. "What did I say about apologizing?"
Wendy still did not look at Bambietta. "But-"
"I should be the one who's sorry," Wendy said, glancing away with a cold look in her eyes. "It's just... that's a touchy subject for me."
Wendy nodded, the Dragon Slayer realizing what line she had reached with Bambietta. She looked back down at her cup, too hesitant to speak up again or to take a sip of the fruit punch.
Then Wendy felt one of Bambietta's hands atop her head, fingers ruffling her hair lightly. Bambietta began speaking then. "I know I said it before, but thanks for the magic healing."
"Huh?" Wendy looked up at Bambietta, noting the smile on her face.
"My face," Bambietta continued to say, pulling her hand away and running the index finger across the bridge of her nose. "Don't get me wrong, a battle scar would have been cool and all, but I like being as pretty as I can be."
"Y-you're welcome," Wendy offered up. "I'm just glad you were able to protect me. Wait, I mean everyone." Wendy stammered a bit, glancing away again. "And I'm glad you came back alive."
Bambietta responded quickly, the Quincy's mouth moving faster than her own thoughts. "I wish I could have said that to my mother."
There as simply silence then, Bambietta unable to speak anymore. All she could do was curse herself mentally for speaking out of turn, for bringing up the subject she had very nearly chided Wendy for mentioning.
Wendy, meanwhile, was just as quiet. She too was unable to think of anything to say. She looked at Bambietta, noting the look of longing for a past long gone. Slowly did the Sky Dragon Slayer reaching out with one hand, laying it atop one of Bambietta's own that rest on the table before them. Wendy took a breath then and began to speak. "I miss my mom t-"
"I want a rematch!"
Bambietta and Wendy both snapped to attention then, the Quincy and wizard both catching sight of Natsu Dragneel fast approaching, Happy following not far behind.
"Oh ho," Bambietta said slowly, bringing the back of right hand up besides the corner of her mouth. "Not that long ago it was me looking for a fight with Fairy Tail's big shot Salamander. Now the shoe's on the other foot and you want to fight me? Isn't that sweet?"
"I ain't wearing your shoes," Natsu said, looking the slightest bit of confusion. "Pretty sure I couldn't handle the heels. 'Sides, all I want is another fight now that you're stronger!"
"I oh-so-unhumbly accept your challenge," Bambietta said, standing to look Natsu directly in the eyes. "Loser gets healed by Wendy, while I get to brag about how awesome I am."
"Bambi, you're going to fight the Dragon Slayer?" Wendy said meekly, tugging at the Quincy's cloak to get her attention.
"Well yeah," Bambietta said, looking down at Wendy. "Fighting's fun."
Wendy looked upset.
"Well, for me," Bambietta added on.
"Wait a minute," Natsu said, looking down at Wendy. "How do you know I'm a Dragon Slayer? I never told you!"
"Man, you're dense. I'm pretty sure all of Clover heard you fighting Gisbourne in front of everyone, Wendy included." Bambietta resisted the urge to slap her forehead, instead opting to deepen her voice as much as possible when she next spoke. "Fire Dragon's Roar! Fire Dragon's Wing Attack! Fire Dragon's Fists of Fury!"
"Hey, I dont have an attack named that!" Natsu shouted, pausing for a moment. "I kind of wish I did now, but that's beside the point. Isn't that right, little Miss Pure Blooded Quincy's Arrow of Awesomeness?"
"T-that was just a phase!" Bambietta shouted in return, her face going flush as she fought desperately to resist the urge to stomp her foot. "I'm totally over that, I swear!"
Bambietta and Natsu both stopped there little shouting match, the sound of Wendy giggling catching both their attention. They looked to her and could see the young girl holding one closed hand up to her mouth, Wendy clearly trying not to laugh.
Both the Fire Dragon Slayer and the Quincy calmed down then, Wendy's actions having disarmed their almost sibling-esque quarrel.
"You two knuckleheads finally calm down?" Gray suddenly asked, the ice wizard approaching. "Lucky you, Natsu. I'm pretty sure if she could beat that monster, she could handle you too."
"Speaking of that," Jenny Realight said, the blonde wizard also coming towards Bambietta, "what was that thing we fought today?"
Bambietta looked to Jenny, catching sight of Liltotto in the distance, the other Quincy clearly trying to avoid eye contact. "What?"
"Your friend just made it quite clear that you and her are rather knowledgeable about... what was it she called it again? A Hollow?" Jenny nodded as she spoke. "Yes, she made it quite clear to me that you both know what that Hollow monster was that Gisbourne turned into. I asked for more information, but she said you were the boss of... the Bamb Squad I think it was?"
Bambietta's shoulders sunk and she looked over Jenny's shoulders towards Liltotto again. The blonde Quincy could see the gaze that seemed to cast judgment and she simply shrugged in return.
"Well, I'm sure nobody else is too familiar with those sort of nasties," Bambietta began to offer as an explanation. "Me and Lil just had to deal with them back in our homeland a lot. You know, back when we were in our old country's top guild. The Knights of Vanden, that was us!"
"Hey," Natsu said, whispering in Bambietta's ear. "I thought gramps said you were part of some group called the Vandenreich."
"Shut up," Bambietta whispered back through gritted teeth. "The Knights of Vanden sounds so much better and less evil. Especially after that night I was looking at my hat too much in Levy's bathroom."
Natsu was extremely confused at that point, but he said nothing and simply backed away.
"Anyways," Bambietta continued, raising her voice, "me and Lil fought those kind of Hollow thingies all the time back home. They're pretty much, you know, ghosts. Spirits. The dead who have unfinished business sometimes turn into them. I guess Gisbourne really didn't want to go down without a fight, you know?"
"Curious," Jenny said. "I suppose I should be thankful then that fate blessed this mission with two experts on these... Hollows. Seriously, that was good work that you did last night."
Bambietta smiled. "Well, you did trust me with staying back and dealing with any monsters that got into Clover. Figured I should live up to my part of the mission, you know?"
"Still," Jenny began to trail off, "this sort of thing has never happened in Fiore. What country are you from agai-?"
"Whoa, it just hit me!"
Jenny scowled as Natsu cut her off at the pass, the Dragon Slayer looking more alive than even before.
"Bambi!" Natsu shouted as he put one hand on the Quincy's shoulder and looked at her with a devilish glint in his eyes. "I bet that you could totally kick Erza's butt now!"
"You think?" Bambietta's attention was taken hold of then, the Quincy beginning to contemplate another battle with the scarlet haired wizard. "Oh, I so want a rematch when we get back to Fairy Tail..."
"It looks the shoes back on her foot again," Happy said, the cat watching Bambietta's eyes glazing over with a lust for battle.
Natsu looked down at the cat, one more confused. "But she hasn't taken either of them off this entire conversation, Happy."
Bambietta was entertaining the prospects of fighting Titania Erza once again, but that dream quickly faded. "No, that would be stupid."
Natsu blinked and looked towards Bambietta. "Huh?"
"I'm stronger, yeah," Bambietta said as she looked down at the Sanrei Glove, "but I know she didn't even come close to using her full strength on me back at Galuna Island. No, if I'm going to ever have a rematch, it's going to be when we're equals."
"Huh," was all Gray could say at first. "That's a rather mature outlook from you, Bambi. And here I thought you'd be just as gung ho to get another beating like Natsu here. You could learn a thing or two from her, hothead."
Natsu glared at Gray then, the Dragon Slayer intent on picking a fight. "What was that?"
"Or," Bambietta began to say, ignoring the two of them, her eyes gleaning as she grinned, "I'll pick a fight when I know I'm so much better than her! Then I'll be Queen of the Fairies!"
Natsu and Gray both looked at Bambietta again, the ice wizard simply beginning to shake his head. "Okay, so much for being mature about it..."
"Good grief, you're all such a lively bunch."
Bambietta's fervor began to die down, the Quincy noticing Totomaru of Phantom Lord approaching. The Quincy smirked the slightest bit as she prepared to speak up, yet Natsu beat her to the proverbial punch.
"Come on man, isn't that what makes us such a loveable bunch?"
Totomaru looked at Natsu, sighing the slightest bit before speaking up again. "Perhaps. Frankly I always thought you people didn't take things seriously, that you caused too much trouble in doing your jobs-"
"I'm still waiting for the part where you compliment us," Bambietta interrupted, folding her arms impatiently across her chest.
"Yeah, yeah," Totomaru continued, looking towards Bambietta. "Maybe you guys are a bit destructive but... you aren't half bad after what I've seen this past week. You and the Dragon Slayer after what I went on with that monster last night."
"Awww," Bambietta said with a the slightest hint of a mocking tone, "isn't that just so sweet."
"Fine, be that way," Totomaru replied. "I try to be nice to the rival guild and this is the response I get?"
"Jeez, chill out, man," Bambietta interjected, growing irritated. "I was just messing with you."
Totomaru laughed under his breath slightly. "I guess I'm not used to a guild being so... friendly with each or outsiders. Master Jose doesn't much care for Phantom Lord being too caught up in relationships."
"That is sad," Bambietta said. "Even my old guild master didn't object to those under him socializing with each other, and he was actually kind of a bushy mustached jerk from what I've been hearing recently."
"Yes, well," Totomaru began to say, "I'd actually like to stick around, but I know my Master Jose would not appreciate me having fun as opposed to doing job requests."
Totomaru bowed ever so slightly before taking his leave. Yet as he walked away, he passed by the approaching trio of Liltotto, Lucy and Levy. Bambietta noticed a strange fluctuation in the emotional state of the Phantom Lord's soul, catching sight of the wizard glancing at Lucy as he moved past her. Bambietta shrugged, wondering if maybe he was simply finding her easy on the eyes. That was something she could not argue against.
"I believe that Totomaru fellow has a good point," Carla said as she scampered over to Wendy. "We've spent enough time here in Clover, child. We must stop dawdling and return back to Cait Shelter to report the success of the mission to Master Roubaul."
"I guess you're right." Wendy took one last sip of fruit punch, emptying the cup before sitting up from the chair. She looked disheartened then, something Carla was quite quick to catch on to.
Bambietta and the others took notice of it as well, the Quincy preparing to speak up. Yet she was once more beaten to the punch, Jenny stepping before Wendy.
"As the leader of this mission," the blonde began to say, "I just want to thank you for everything you've done, Wendy Marvell."
The young girl looked away bashfully, not sure what to say. "You don't have to say that. I didn't do much."
"Nonsense," Jenny replied. "You saved my life and the lives of everyone else, isn't that right?"
The Blue Pegasus wizard turned to look at those from Fairy Tail, the wizards and Quincies speaking up and agreeing in a veritable chorus of approval. Wendy did not know how to take it, turning away shyly from Jenny and the others. She began to hold her hands together, tiddling her thumbs against each other.
There was one who did not speak up in an effort to legitimize Jenny's statement however, that being Bambietta. The Quincy remembered well what Wendy had said only minutes earlier and was unwilling to add to the attention that was no doubt overwhelming her. Instead she walked over and asked a question that was concerning her.
"How far is your guild hall from here?"
Wendy turned around and looked up Bambietta. "Huh?"
"Cait Shelter," Bambietta said, all but repeating herself. "How far is it from here?"
"Well, uh," Wendy said, a little nervous.
"Good heavens, child," Carla began to say. "The lady asked a question. The least you can do is respond." The white cat walked up towards Wendy and looked up towards Bambietta as well. "It's-"
"Nuh uh," Bambietta interrupted, waving an index finger towards Carla. "I was asking Wendy."
Carla grew a little upset, yet the cat was able to see one silver lining to the moment. It was perhaps better to allow Wendy to answer the question than to chastise her reluctance and speak for her.
"Well, uh," Wendy continued to say meekly, "it's about two days away on foot? Yeah, that's it."
Bambietta looked at Wendy then, the Quincy not entirely happy with what she just heard. "Wait a minute. You're telling me that your guild sent you out all alone..."
Carla grunted.
Bambietta continued. "... All alone to a town swarming with monsters? And now you tell me it's that far away? Please don't tell me you had to pass by the forest the monsters were residing in on your way here."
"Okay," Wendy replied. "I won't tell you that."
"This is just great." The palm of Bambietta's right hand made contact with her forehead, slowly slipping down her face. "Okay, now that just won't do."
Bambietta turned to face those of her guild, speaking up once more.
"You guys and girls head on back to Magnolia, okay? I'm going to be taking Wendy to Cait Shelter and then I'll double back and head home."
Bambietta paused for a moment, the Quincy truly starting to like the sound of that last word in particular.
"Darn it," Natsu said in response. "I was looking forward to seeing you fight Erza sooner rather than later."
"For crying out loud, Natsu," Grey replied. "You're just trying to live vicariously through her and want to see an A-Class wizard beat Erza, aren't you?"
Natsu looked at Gray, blinking a few times. "I ain't trying to live viciously through anybody. That just sounds evil!"
"I'm glad you want to help, but me and Carla can get home safely on our own," Wendy began to say to Bambietta. "I don't want to bother you or waste your time."
"Nonsense!" Bambietta moved beside Wendy. "You need an adult for such a journey far away from home. And despite how your kitty cat talks and acts, she's not an adult, she's a pet."
Carla grew the slightest bit cross in response to that statement. "Pardon me?"
"Now me," Bambietta continued, ignoring the white cat, "I'm totally an adult, so it's only right I be in charge of this little field trip to Cait Shelter."
"You hardly act like an adult," Carla said, the cat still annoyed.
"Hey!" It was Bambietta's turn to be annoyed.
"The cute kitty has a point," Liltotto interjected. "But I like to think that's why I enjoy hanging around you. Oh, and Natsu. He's just a big kid at heart too."
"Bambi," Lucy said, moving towards her, "you sure you're up to this? I mean, after everything that went on here in Clover-"
"Please, thanks to Wendy we're all healed up," Bambietta replied. "It's the least I can do as a member of Fairy Tail, right? Besides, what do I have to worry about? I totally owned the masked monstrosity. Oh wait, there is one worry now that I think about it."
Lucy grew concerned. "What is it?"
"This Sanrei Glove," Bambietta said. "If I take it off of my own accord, I'll lose my powers and something drastic would have to be done. Darn it, how the heck am I going to wash my right hand now?"
"That's it?" Lucy was overcome with surprise. "Okay, so I guess I don't have anything to be worried about."
"Exactly," Liltotto said as she moved up towards Lucy and Bambietta. "Besides, I wouldn't take Bambi's worries seriously at all. We're talking about a Quincy who refused to wash her hand for months after the first time she got to meet our old guild's second in command and shook his hand. Eventually he had to give her a lecture about hygiene."
"And that was the end of my crush on him," Bambietta said. "That guy was so boring. He wouldn't even liven up around New Years for crying out loud."
"Yes, I remember the lecture he gave you about Japanese culture ten years ago," Liltotto said. "You were whining about it the rest of the year."
Bambietta looked away from Liltotto, folding her arms across her chest. "You say that like I didn't have good reason to."
"Anyway," Liltotto began to say, "I'm going to head out with you girls as well. That way Bambi can supervise you and I can supervise her."
Bambietta looked back at Liltotto. "Oh, now you're going to play the role of the big shot, Miss Voll Stern Dich."
Liltotto grew a little withdrawn. "I'm sorry, all right. I knew it would make you mad."
"You think I was going to be mad you were stronger than me?" Bambietta asked. "Okay, so I am a little peeved about that. But you want to know what really grinds my gears? Being lied to."
Liltotto lowered her head as she could hear Bambietta walking away, the sound of Wendy and Carla's footsteps by her side. Yet then they suddenly stopped.
"Come on, Lil. I've only got the glove, so I still need a bodyguard with wings and stuff."
Liltotto perked up then, the blonde Quincy following after Bambietta, trying very hard not to smile.
"So this Cait Shelter," Bambietta began to ask Wendy. "Does it have a nice guild hall?"
"I don't know," the young mage answered. "I haven't seen any other guild halls myself, but I always thought it was awesome.
"Wow. That is... so awesome."
The journey to Cait Shelter had been long and uneventful, the quartet of Quincy, wizard and cat finding themselves their only company. Now they found themselves at the town that was home to the guild hall, Bambietta and Liltotto finding themselves staring at a series of quaint structures. At the center of the town stood a small guild hall, formed in the shape of a cat's head, ears and all.
"So... so very awesome." Bambietta's arms hung loosely by her sides, the Quincy staring wide eyed at the unimpressive town before her. Liltotto tried to console her let down friend, patting her gently on the back.
Wendy, meanwhile, was overjoyed, the young girl running forward, Carla by her side. "We're home! Master Roubaul! We're home!"
"Bambi," Liltotto said, moving closer to her friend, "is it just me or does something seem... strange about this place?"
"No kidding."
Bambietta's skin was crawling, the Quincy on edge. She allowed Blut Vene to seep through her body. She looked to Liltotto and could see the familiar light of that power lining her veins as well. Satisfied, Bambietta began to move forward, drawing closer to Wendy.
"Wendy, hold on."
The Sky Dragon Slayer turned around and looked at the two Quincy. "Huh? I something wrong?"
"I don't know," Bambietta said, her eyes wavering slightly as she touched the side of her face gently. "Something just doesn't feel right, that's all."
Wendy was confused, unsure of what was wrong with those who had volunteered to be her caretakers on the journey home. "Everything should be fine, Bam-"
"Wendy Marvel, you have returned at last."
Wendy turned around then, smiling at the sound of the familiar voice. Bambietta and Liltotto watched as an older man adorned with a thick, white beard, stepped out of the guild hall. He moved forward, a long walking staff by his side. As he looked at the approaching Wendy, he smiled brightly.
"I'm so glad to see that you have returned safe."
"Master, master!" Wendy exclaimed before calming down. "I'm sorry, I should be more serious after a job request, right?"
"Nonsense, child," Master Roubaul replied, placing a comforting hand on Wendy's shoulder. "I would expect no less of you after returning from your first mission after all. And I see you have brought back friends?"
Bambietta caught sight of the guild master looking at her and she was unsure of how to properly react. She felt Liltotto's elbow nudge her in the ribs and she spoke up. "Ummm, hi?"
"Oh yes," Wendy said, glancing at the Quincy before turning back to Roubaul. "They're two wizards I met in Clover, Bambi and Lil of Fairy Tail. They said they wanted to make sure I got back here safely."
"Bambietta and Liltotto to be more detail oriented," Bambietta added on.
"Wizards you say?" Roubaul ran a hand through his beard, peering at the newcomers. "Yes, wizards..."
"Is something wrong?" Wendy asked.
"No, no, nothing is wrong at all," Roubaul replied. "I just was not expecting visitors, that's all." The guild master looked to the two Quincy, nodding in approval. "I thank you for bringing Cait Shelter's youngest member back. Perhaps you would wish to stay the evening before returning back to Fairy Tail?"
"Master," Wendy said, becoming concerned. "Where is everyone?"
"I'm sorry," Roubaul said kindly. "Everyone wanted to be here to greet you upon your return, but we weren't sure when that would be. Everything's fine though."
Roubaul glanced back at the Cait Shelter guild hall, Bambietta noticing something peculiar about the master's spiritual form at that moment.
"Everyone is inside," Roubaul said suddenly. "Why don't you tell them how everything went, hmmm?"
"Okay!" Wendy smiled as she ran into the guild hall then, Carla following after her.
Roubaul, meanwhile, found himself alone outside with Bambietta and Liltotto. The guild master looked at the two. "Once again, I appreciate your going to the trouble of helping Wendy on her journey back home. I take it she was a great help in Clover?"
"You could say that," Bambietta replied. "She totally fixed up my arm. Not to mention saved my friend here and everyone else..."
Roubaul grew concerned. "The monsters were that much of a threat? I... should apologize to Wendy then. This was not how I wanted to introduce her to the outside world."
"She held up just fine," Bambietta said. "She's a trooper, even if she's really shy about everything. But... I agree, someone like her shouldn't have been subjected to that."
Liltotto looked up at Bambietta, having not expected her to speak up about the matter. "Bambi?"
"I suppose you're right," Roubaul replied. "I won't argue against what you feel, and if I had known the situation was so dire that wizards of such caliber would be in mortal danger, I would have reconsidered allowing Wendy to go. However, I am glad that she was able to prevent any unnecessary deaths. I am... so proud of her."
"You should be," Bambietta interjected. "Now I've got a question for you."
Liltotto looked to Bambietta, the blonde Quincy once again questioning the brash actions that her friend was known for. They were faced with the unknown and Liltotto felt that this was not the time and place for a direct confrontation, be it physical or simply verbal.
"Don't be shy," Roubaul said surprisingly warmly. "Speak your mind, Bambietta of Fairy Tail."
The Quincy did just that. "You said everyone was inside the guild hall waiting for Wendy's return, yes?"
"That's correct," Roubaul replied.
"Interesting," Bambietta said in return. "See, me and Lil here can sense people's spirits, their life force, and the only people I can sense in there are Wendy and Carla."
"And you," Liltotto said, "you're a ghost, aren't you?"
"N-nonsense!" Roubaul was completely caught off guard, the guild master trying to act calm despite the accusations. "I'm as lively as they calm, and-"
"Yeah, no," Bambietta interrupted. "I know lively people. Like really lively people. And you... you're just a spirit."
There was a silence then, Roubaul sighing as he watched Bambietta and Liltotto staring at him. "You are correct. I died long ago, yet my soul cannot move on. I have a duty to perform for all eternity if need be."
"Well at least he's not turning into a Hollow or anything," Bambietta whispered into Liltotto's closest ear, using a hand to cover up their conversation from Roubaul.
"I'm pretty sure the dead don't do that here even if they have unfinished business tying them down," Liltotto replied.
"Oh really?" Bambietta pulled away from Liltotto, confidently planting her hands upon her hips as she smiled at the shorter Quincy. "Need I remind you of what I just totally annihilated back in Clover?"
Liltotto kept calm, not giving Bambietta the satisfaction she desired. "That wasn't a natural Hollow and you know it."
"Ladies?" The two Quincy looked to Roubaul, the guild master trying to get their attention. "I do not know what this Hollow is you speak of, but I am indeed held back by the desires of myself and those who came before me."
"Wendy and Carla?" Bambietta asked, growing serious. "They both seems alive."
"They are indeed," Roubaul replied. "They were brought to this village by a young boy by the name of Jellal. He was on a journey of some sort and he asked that I take care of them for a time. I agreed out of the goodness of my heart and he set off. Unfortunately, Wendy seemed to be under the impression that the young boy had brought her to a guild."
"So this isn't a legal guild of the dead?" Liltotto asked simply.
"No." Roubaul closed his eyes for a moment. "I did not want poor Wendy to be lonely or to think that Jellal had lied to her, so I used the power of my spirit to create this imaginary guild. Though in time, that which did not truly exist still became known in Fiore as an unremarkable guild."
"This is nuts." Bambietta took off her hat for a second, running one hand through her hair. "All this lying, all this deception, just to keep a little girl happy with ignorance?"
"It was all I could think of at the ti-"
"It's crap!" Bambietta lost her temper and began to yell. "No world is all lollipops and rainbows! There's always pain no matter how hard we try to avoid it! The sooner she figures that out, the quicker she can grow up!"
"Bambi." Liltotto began to grow concerned for her friend. "I think... this world is close to that. At least compared to our own."
"Life is pain, whether we want it or not! We have to-"
Liltotto continued. "And wouldn't you want to go and take back your childhood if you could?"
"I can't believe you-" Bambietta began to quiet down then, looking at Liltotto. "That's-"
"You are right, " Roubaul said. "But even an old spirit such as myself can get lonely. I have kept Wendy content for all these years, bringing peace to my own soul in the process. Yet even still, I know that she needs to become one with reality. It was why I sent her to Clover. And that's why... I have a request of you two."
"Oh?" Bambietta watched as Roubaul began to walk away, the guild master opening the doorway to the hall. "You see it, don't you?"
Bambietta and Liltotto draw closer, looking into the Cait Shelter guild hall. They could see Wendy speaking excitably men and women, boys and girls, all of them dressed like Roubaul himself.
"She's happy at least," Bambietta said, watching with some level of curiosity. "But it's built on a lie."
"Yes," Roubaul said with a hint of misery within his voice. "I am the ultimate deceiver in the end. That is why... I ask if you might bring Wendy and Carla to your guild."
Bambietta was left stunned. "What?"
Liltotto was less shocked and more overjoyed. "I could... have that kitty cat around all the time?"
"Wendy looked so happy within your company upon your return," Roubaul continued. "And I have heard of Fairy Tail. It would be a good fit for her."
"Look, I appreciate the vote of confidence," Bambietta began to say with some level of hesitation, "but I'm totally not the kind of role model you want for your kid."
"Or a caretaker," Liltotto added on. "Seriously, we haven't always been the nicest people."
"You're right about Fairy Tail," Bambietta continued, "but me? I'm no hero."
"But that's not even the coolest part!" Wendy's voice suddenly became quite loud, the Sky Dragon Slayer extremely excitable as she spoke to those illusionary beings that made up Cait Shelter. "Bambi put on this glove and saved me from the monster, taking it out of the train station with super speed or something!"
"Is that a fact?" Roubaul said, glancing towards Wendy and then back to Bambietta. "I believe Wendy would disagree with you."
"You're such a fool," Bambietta said, growing frustrated. "First you lie to Wendy like this, then you go and send her into a warzone without even knowing how bad it is, now you just want to entrust her to people you just met? You don't even know me!"
"Perhaps I am a fool, yes," Roubaul said with a faint smile. "It's just... I pride myself on being an excellent judge of character, especially when it comes to the light and darkness in everyone."
"Yeah, sure." Bambietta was not one to believe him so readily.
"I don't know the particulars," Roubaul said, but I could sense the darkness within your souls the moment you set foot within my territory. That worried me at first, yet... it is being eclipsed by something else."
"Nice words," Bambietta replied, "but people don't change that easily, believe me."
"You think I don't know that?" Roubaul's voice grew quick stern then. "I know full well how hard it is to make people change. I know how foolish it is to do it against their will. That is my greatest sin."
Roubaul took a deep breath before continuing.
"The only way people can change for better or worse is if they allow light or darkness into their hearts. And I believe that you two have allowed Fairy Tail into both of your own."
"Okay, fine," Bambietta said, getting a bit annoyed as she folded her arms across her chest and turned her eyes away from Roubaul. "I'll go talk to Wendy then if that's what you want."
"And I," Roubaul began to say, "will show her what I have done all these yea-"
"Oh hell no!" Bambietta snapped then. "We'll ask if she wants to go to Fairy Tail, but you are not forcing that decision on her by showing her that everything is fake here."
Roubaul was surprised. "What? But-"
"You're right, Lil," Bambietta began to say, "this world is better than ours. So why... give Wendy pain if we don't have to?"
Liltotto looked to her friend. "But Bambi-"
"Ignorance is bliss, Lil," Bambietta replied. "If I could only be so ignorant of... never mind. How about this? we keep this our little secret for now, then you can tell Wendy when she's older and grown more used to being away. When she has new friends and family. Just don't... force her to grow up the hard way. Not like this."
Roubaul nodded. "As you wish."
Bambietta began to move into the guild hall, walking amidst the illusions that Roubaul had made. She moved up to Wendy, the Quincy trying to assume a comforting expression.
"Hey, Wendy, can we talk?"
"Oh, sure," the Dragon Slayer said simply enough. "About what?"
"I know you're happy to be back here at Cait Shelter," Bambietta began to say, careful to avoid using the word home, "but how would you feel about coming back to Fairy Tail with Lil and me?"
Wendy began to grow a bit withdrawn. "But this is my home."
Bambietta heard that word then, the one she had hoped would not come up during this conversation. She knelt down beside Wendy, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know. I just... thought maybe you could see how a bigger guild works is all. You'd get to make new friends and-"
"I want to stay here," Wendy interrupted. "Bambi, I-"
"Wendy," Roubaul said, speaking up as he approached. "You know why I sent you to Clover, yes?"
Bambietta closed her eyes for a moment, the Quincy wondering if the guild master had been right, that the painful truth was the only way to help Wendy move on to the rest of the world.
"Yes," the Sky Dragon Slayer replied. "To experience the outside world."
"Exactly," Roubaul said. "That is why I asked Bambietta and Liltotto if they would bring you to Fairy Tail for a time. You know we don't get many, if any, job requests here at Cait Shelter. I was hoping you could learn more of the world through Fairy Tail."
Wendy grew upset, bringing a closed hand up to her chest as she began to tear up. "But Master Roubaul..."
"Hey," Bambietta cut Wendy off then, the Quincy trying to talk as softly as she could. "Me and Lil aren't actually from around here. Fiore's new to us as well. It's a big country and... I don't know, I just felt we could see all that it holds together. How about it?"
Wendy looked towards Bambietta's eyes, then up to Master Roubaul's. He nodded in approval. "It is only for a time, Wendy. You can come back to Cait Shelter whenever you want of course. I just... want what's best for you."
Wendy sniffed back with her nose, running the back of one of her hands over her eyes to wipe away any tears. She looked at Bambietta than and smiled. "I'd... be honored to join Fairy Tail."
Before Bambietta knew it, Wendy suddenly hugged the Quincy. It was an unexpected action, one that caught the Quincy off guard completely. Bambietta froze for a moment, eyes wide. Then she slowly began to close them, a hand gently patting Wendy on the back.
"Then... welcome to Fairy Tail."
Bambietta's mind was at peace for the moment, yet one lingering doubt crept around the corner of her thoughts. This country, this world itself, was new to her, yet now she was left to worry about just how much her old world was becoming a part of it.
To the north east edge of Fiore lay the Inferno Mountains. Few dared to travel there, the volcanic formations that made up the area a detriment to any who lived. Yet now did one such being do just that, a figure clad in white robes. The individual was careful with its movements.
Within the figures gloved right hand was a black crystal, one adorned with the unnatural blood of a monster. It had travelled far to return this artifact to its rightful owner and now that goal was almost fulfilled.
The figure stopped before the side of a mountain, sheer black rock before it. The individual reached out with its free hand, placing the palm against the stone. A faint glow of energy sparked forth than, the mountain side splitting open.
Inside stood the polar opposite of the mountain range, pure white as far as the eye could see. The inner structure was ornately carved, as if fashioned from crystal itself.
The figure moved into the chamber, the mountain side closing behind it. It began to speak then, an unnatural voice with twin inflections issuing forth. "I have returned."
Another figure began to move out from behind a column than, a man also clad in white fast approaching. "And did anyone sense your presence?"
"Oh no," the first figure responded. "One of my many abilities that I put to good use."
"Excellent," the man said. "And how did the test go?"
The first figure reached out with a hand, showing off the blackened object it held.
"So Gisbourne died," the man said, a disappointed tone evident. "Such a shame. I had done much experimentation on that lacrima, etching the power of a Hollow into it. I had gone to such lengths to fuse it with that the monster as it slept. Yet a mere wizard killed it all the same."
"No, not a wizard," the first individual interjected. "It was a Quincy."
The man's eyes opened in surprise from behind his spectacles. Yet his surprise did not last long, his eyes narrowing as he smiled. "How... interesting. A Quincy, here in this world? Are you sure you saw what you saw, Aaroniero?"
"You think I would not recognize that kind of spiritual pressure?" the masked Arrancar known as Aaroniero Arruruerie asked, quite distraught. "You wound me. But yes, it was a Quincy. And not only that, it appeared she is a part of Fairy Tail. Tell me, doesn't that pique your curiosity, Szayelaporro?"
Szayelaporro Granz's eyes began to grow lost behind his glasses, light reflecting on the lenses, yet still his smile never faded. "How interesting..."
That's right! There are Arrancar in Fiore as well! What, you didn't think I was JUST bringing back Quincy's now did you? No way. Now, HOW and WHY is this happening? I bet your ALL looking for that answer. Good news is, I DO have it planed out, and you will find out soon! How soon? At the end of the next arc! What is the next arc? I wont say, but trust me, you'll love it.
But there is something far more important that the two espada at the end, atleast, far as im concerned. Wendy joining fairy tail! Or rather, her joining so soon. Now some of you may be asking why that matters...It matters ALOT actually, because it changes ALOT.
How would Phantom lord, Tower of heaven, and The Battle of Fairy tail have gone differently...if they had a healer? Im sure if yuo think about it, youll see why this is important. Besides all of that, She's going to be a very important character to this series. At the very least, Bambietta now has a new found friend in her.
So yes, alot has happened, and alot will continue to happen. I'm positive that all of you, my readers, enjoy what is to come.
Oh, and in case your wondering, here is Bambietta's current MPF.
Bambietta: 3300
Yeah, that's very high up there.
Anyways, please leave your thoughts in a review, I would REALLY appreciate it.
Thanks so much for reading.
