I'll be honest with you right now, not a whole lot happens in this chapter. I still think you should read it mind you, or at the very least, skip till the end of the chapter, and we do deal with some important things, but just know that for the most part, not too much happens. THE NEXT chapter however will be the exact opposite. Still, I cant wait to hear your thoughts on the chapter, so feel free to leave a review.
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!
"So, uh..." Wendy Marvell was overtaken by the sights and sounds all around her. She had been taken to the town of Magnolia by the two Quincy who had at first volunteered to take her home, yet now she was finding her senses assaulted by the chaos all around her. Wizards were yelling at one another, another Wendy recognized from Clover drinking herself silly with a keg of beer. Far across the guild hall Wendy could also see the pink haired Natsu engaging in a scuffle with Gray and Elfman, a woman with silver hair trying to get them to calm down. "So this is Fairy Tail?"
"Yup, you bet!" Bambietta said as she walked forward, stepping away from the entrance and into the chaos itself. A smile adorned her face as she turned to look back at Wendy. "Isn't it great?"
Wendy began to move behind Liltotto, peeking out from behind the blonde Quincy. Wendy began to become more timid than ever before, her eyes wavering as she looked at Bambietta. "Can I... go back to Cait Shelter now?"
Bambietta's enthusiasm dropped for a moment, the Quincy staring at Wendy with a deadpan expression. She perked up quickly however, Bambietta walking over and trying to coax Wendy out from behind Liltotto. "Come on, Fairy Tail's the furthest thing from scary."
"I don't know..." Wendy moved further around Liltotto, making the shorter of the two Quincy a little uncomfortable.
"Good grief," the blonde began to say, "Bambi chasing a little kid around me in circles. Oh yeah, this is just how I want to spend my day."
Bambietta heard that disparaging remark and stopped dead in her tracks. She cast a glare at Liltotto before turning her attention back to Wendy. "Okay, so forget what I said. You're scared. I get it."
"No," Wendy said, peeking out from behind Liltotto again. "I'm just... intimidated is all."
Bambietta sighed. "Okay, so Fairy Tail is different from Cait Shelter..."
"No kidding," Liltotto interjected. Bambietta shot her another glare, hoping that her friend wouldn't bring up the topic of one being real and the other imaginary.
"Listen," Bambietta began to say, moving down to one knee as she placed a comforting hand on Wendy's shoulder, "I know this is all knew to you, but take it from someone who's been uprooted twice in her life... It'll be fine. I promise."
Wendy began to smile faintly then, the young girl at last pushing past her concerns. "Thank you-"
"What the? What are you girls doing here?"
The trio turned around to catch sight of Natsu and Happy approaching. Bambietta began to speak in return. "What do you mean what am I doing here? This is my guild, Natsu."
"Nah, that's not what I'm talking about," Natsu replied. "I thought you and Lil were going to be taking Wendy home. I don't know if you're just bad with directions, but this isn't Cait Shelter."
"Uhm, I was... hoping to join Fairy Tail," Wendy said. "For a little while at least..."
"That she is!" Bambietta said excitably as she stood up. "I guess you won't be the only Dragon Slayer around here now, huh, Natsu!"
"Whoa," Happy said, the cat looking up at Wendy. "This little girl is a... a..."
"Yes indeed!" Bambietta said as she moved behind Wendy and patted her on the head. "Not only is she a white mage, she's a Sky Dragon Slayer! How cool is that?"
Wendy went red in the face. "Bambi, you're kind of embarrassi-"
Wendy flinched suddenly, Natsu standing before her and placing both hands on her shoulders. "You wouldn't happen to know where Igneel is, would you?"
"Natsu, you're scaring the little girl," Liltotto said rather calmly.
"Scaring the little girl?" Natsu was completely thrown off. "Nah, I was just asking a question, that's all. From one Dragon Slayer to ano-"
Natsu was suddenly thrown back, a closed fist having caught him square in the face. "Yes, you're scaring the little girl" Bambietta said as she looked down at Natsu and pulled back her fist from above Wendy's head.
"Whoa!" Natsu popped up rather quickly, looking to Bambietta. "So we are going to have that rematch, aren't we?"
"Not here you won't."
Natsu and Bambietta both turned to see Makarov standing beside them, the chaos that had been brewing in the guild no longer present. Behind him stood Gray and Elfman, both of them no longer fighting as Natsu had been earlier, the guild master having no doubt lectured them.
"Take it outside if you two must," Makarov continued, "but I believe the guild hall has seen enough fisticuffs for one day."
"Fine, fine," Bambietta said. "Anyways, master..."
"Hi," Wendy said as forwardly as she possibly could. "My name's Wendy and my friend here is Carla. I don't want to be a bother, but I was wondering if we might... join Fairy Tail for a little while?"
"But you are clearly of another guild," Makarov said, looking at the emblem that adorned the mage's right shoulder. "Wouldn't your family miss you?"
Bambietta very nearly rolled her eyes, the Quincy tugging down on her hat's visor to hide such an action from Makarov. The Quincy was more than willing to admit she did kind of like the people in this guild, but to call it or any other a family? That was something she could not believe was truly the case. It was just honeyed words, far too good to be true.
"Well, Master Roubaul told me that it would be best if I were to experience the world in a more active guild," Wendy said shyly. "He was kind of hoping that Carla and me could do that through Fairy Tail since you're one of the biggest guilds in the world."
"Well then," Makarov replied, "I suppose we can make an exception. He turned to look towards Mirajane, the silver haired wizard not far away. "Mira, honey, would you be a dear and give our guests the Fairy Tail emblem?"
"Sure!" the energetic wizard replied, waving towards Wendy and Carla. "Come on and I'll get it down in a jiffy!"
Bambietta was not surprised in the least that Makarov was not going to put any special emblem on Wendy and Carla. One was just a child after all. However she was surprised that he had not looked to interview her like he had those in the past. Even Lucy had not managed to join the guild without such an event. "Hey, what gives, master? Aren't you going to ask her a bunch of questions you want answered immediately?"
"I see no reason," Makarov replied. "I recognize the emblem on her shoulder. Cait Shelter is a small guild, one that doesn't get much activity, but I've never heard of any troubles from them. Why would I have to worry about one of their own joining our guild for a time? If I'm lucky, she'll be a good influence on all of you."
"Does this mean Carla is going to stick around?" Happy held his paws against his now rosy cheeks, the cat overjoyed. "We'll have to share a fish together to celebrate!"
"I will pamper her," Liltotto whispered to herself. "That will be fun."
"Awww," Bambietta tried not to giggle. "Just remember, Lil; you can't go and steal Wendy's cat."
Liltotto lowered her head in sorrow. "Darn it."
"This is ridiculous. First Romeo and now this brat? Since when did Fairy Tail become a daycare center?"
Bambietta felt her skin crawl in revulsion and she and the others looked to their sides to see Laxus Dreyer not far away. The man was standing with his arms folded across his chest, his black coat hanging from his shoulders. He was watching as Mirajane applied a Fairy Tail emblem to Wendy's left shoulder, the man growing irritated by the sight of it.
"Oh," Liltotto began to say. "This must be the dick you told me about, Bambi."
Laxus' eyes narrowed as he turned to face his fellow Fairy Tail members. "What was that?"
"Bambi," Lil continued, "told me you're a dick and probably because you're compensating for not having one-"
Bambietta was quick to cover Liltotto's mouth with both hands, knowing that was a foolish action. She looked nervously at Laxus, trying to brush off what her friend had been saying. "Silly Lilly, I would never say something like that about one of my dear Fairy Tail comrades. You must have been hearing me ranting about how much of a dick that Erigor from Eisenwald was!"
Laxus glared at Bambietta, the Quincy in turn trying to ignore the sparks in the air.
"So who's Dick? Is he a wizard here to?"
Bambietta and Laxus slowly turned their heads, the tension in the air cut by the veritable knife that was Wendy's voice. She looked at the two of them innocently, then took notice of Bambietta covering the majority of Liltotto's face with both hands.
"Is something wrong?" Wendy continued to say, tilting her head in confusion.
"Oh, nothing!" Bambietta said, letting go of Liltotto. "Everything's fine! Really!"
Laxus suddenly stepped forward and looked down at Wendy. "So you're the kid who wants to see how we do things in Fairy Tail? I hope you're ready to be disappointed."
Wendy was unsure what to say, Laxus' imposing nature and unpleasant attitude not making the best first impression. Nonetheless she tried her best to be nice. "But... it seems like a nice place already."
Laxus' stern face began to soften slightly, the wizard beginning to walk past Wendy. "I can't believe we're letting a kid in here. This guild is a joke."
"What was that?" Natsu began to grow frustrated. "We've all been in Fairy Tail since we were kids, so-"
"And look at the sorry state of the guild now," Laxus interrupted.
Natsu only became more irate. "Listen, I don't care if you are Master Makarov's grandson, I'm going to-"
"That's enough!" Makarov grew quite loud then, cutting Natsu off. "You two will not spoil Wendy's first day in our guild by fighting!"
Laxus sighed and began to walk away, looking down at Wendy as he did so. "Listen, kid. I-" Laxus shook his head and walked off without another word, the mage unable to finish whatever he was going to say.
Despite the guild master's words and the Laxus' departure, Natsu continued to stare in his direction with a veritable fire in his eyes. Bambietta watched on, the Quincy very tempted to join Natsu in glaring at the S-Class wizard.
Wendy, meanwhile, began to grow visibly concerned.
"I'm very sorry," Makarov said as he looked to Wendy. "We may be a rowdy bunch, but there's nothing you have to be afraid of."
The door of the guild hall suddenly flung open, Loke standing in its entranceway with a look of panic in his eyes. "Bad news, everyone! Erza's coming!"
The guild hall's occupants went into a complete panic then, the wizards beginning to try and clean up any messes they made or to simply clean up their acts as soon as possible. Wendy watched on as the madness continued, Natsu quickly calming down and trying to not look like was willing to pick a fight with Laxus.
"Erza?" Wendy said as she looked up at Bambietta. "She must be pretty scary if this is what happens when her name is said."
"Oh, she's not that bad," Bambietta replied, the Quincy turning her head to try and hide the nervous sweat drop descending down the right side of her face. "I mean, yeah, she's intimidating, but she's... not at all what you'd expect."
"What do you mean?" Wendy asked, probing for more information.
"Well, uh," Bambietta continued, "she's quirky? Yeah that sounds about right. One minute she'll be scaring the heck of Natsu and Gray into hugging each other, the next she'll-"
The doorway opened again, Erza standing before those of Fairy Tail. Her armor was glistening in the daylight, a stern look on her face as she held within her arms three white boxes. "I bring cake!"
"The next she'll be announcing she's got cake," Bambietta finished, the Quincy shaking her head. "Probably strawberry cake."
Wendy's face lit up as she took one step towards Erza. "That's my favorite."
"No, no," Bambietta said as she gently reached out and placed a hand on Wendy's shoulder to stop her advancement. "Look but don't touch. I've already seen what happens when someone gets between Titania Erza and her cake. It isn't pretty."
Erza said nothing as her eyes began to scan across the guild hall, stopping at last as she caught sight of the nearby Bambietta and Liltotto. "There you two are. I'd heard rumblings that another Quincy had joined the guild during my last mission. Now then, that leaves Lucy."
Bambietta began to grow nervous. "What did we do?"
"Join the guild of course!" Erza said, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "It's tradition that I buy new members their own personal cake! Now come, come!"
Erza moved towards a table, laying out the three boxes full of cake. She folded her arms across her armored chest, tapping her right foot as she watched and waited for Bambietta and Liltotto to sit down. They did so with some degree of trepidation and Erza then began to look around.
"Lucy Heartfilia, you are requested to join us at this table immediately."
There was nothing but silence that hung over the guild hall for a moment, Erza standing tall as she began to wait it out. Then, quite suddenly, Lucy came running over, a look of concern in her eyes. "Whatever it is, I'm sure Natsu did it."
"Oh, somebody's in trouble," Bambietta teased from her seat at the table, the Quincy glancing at Lucy with a sly grin. "Bad Lucy, bad, bad..."
"Like I said," Lucy continued, looking just as worried as Bambietta remembered her being on Galuna Island, "whatever is going on, it was all Natsu."
"Is that a fact?" Erza asked. "And here I thought Natsu joined the years ago."
Lucy stared blankly at Erza. "What?"
"This," Erza began to say as she held her hands out, pushing a white box to Lucy, "is my way of welcoming you to Fairy Tail."
Lucy was on one hand ecstatic, but on the other confused. "It's not that I don't appreciate it, but isn't it been a little while since I joined?"
"Yes, that is true," Erza replied, "but between the Eisenwald crisis and the job requests we've all been taking-"
"Without permission," Liltotto offered up. "Yeah, I heard about Galuna Island."
Bambietta and Lucy's eyes both began to widen, fearing further retribution from Erza. The two of them were worried for nothing, Erza putting the past behind her. "A questionable action, but one not without merit befitting a member of Fairy Tail. Nonetheless, I do believe that time has held this tradition up long enough. That is why I wish to welcome our three newest members to Fairy Tail."
"Actually," Bambietta began to say, "only Lil is part of that group now. Me and Lucy are old news."
Erza's eyes began to narrow. "What do you mean, Bambietta?"
"Well, first of all," the Quincy said, turning to look up and over her shoulder, "there was that new girl who showed up right after Lil here joined. I think her name was... Stella Upchuck or something like that. Then there's our newest recruit..."
Bambietta motioned with her head slightly, directing Erza to look towards Wendy Marvell. The Sky Dragon Slayer was far and away, looking a little nervous when she realized another S-Class wizard was paying attention to her. "Uhm, hi," was all she managed to say, all the while holding her hands together behind her back.
"Wait." Erza's conviction started to waver, the scarlet haired wizard beginning to see the truth before her eyes. "Curse my inattentiveness to the guild's roster! I have shamed this tradition of my own making!"
Wendy began to grow scared again, the mage having not expected someone of Erza's supreme confidence to falter the way that she was. "It's okay, really. I love cake, but..."
Bambietta watched in complete amusement, the Quincy having not entirely expected the reaction in the least. "Oh my God. I broke Erza?"
"No." Erza suddenly calmed down, the mage taking a deep breathe. "No, I can make this work. It's simple really. I just need the right outfit. Yes, that one will do."
Bambietta began to worry for Erza, noting the way she spoke to herself in reassurance despite her calm tone. The wizard's body suddenly became alive with magic, Erza's default armor shifting away and becoming replaced by something else.
"That," Bambietta began to whisper, hoping that Erza would not hear her, "is adorable."
Liltotto whispered as well, hoping that both Erza and Bambietta would not hear her. "Lady Boner alert."
Erza stood before her fellow guild mates in a revealing attire that held the pattern befitting a cheetah. Most eye catching to Bambietta was the felt cat ears that peeked out from underneath Erza's head.
"My flight armor will have to do if I am to correct this mistake in a hurry." Erza looked about, catching sight of Wendy and then a woman she did not recognize. "You! You must be Stella Upchuck!"
Stella did not look pleased. "It's Upland."
"My apologies," Erza said simply enough.
"No apologies from me," Bambietta muttered under her breath.
Erza continued to speak then, her voice stern but still showing signs of being concerned with her error. "I shall return with a cake for you and Wendy in just a moment!"
Erza began to move then, Bambietta taking the opportunity to start to open up the box to her cake. The Quincy had no intention of waiting any longer, curious to see what was awaiting her, but Erza's rather demanding tone took hold of her attention.
"Bambietta Basterbine, you will wait so that you and all your fellow new guild members shall dine at once. Is that clear."
Bambietta's eyes widened in shock as her back straightened. "Yes, ma'am."
Erza left then, leaving Liltotto to simply giggle at Bambietta's reaction. Liltotto caught a dirty look from Bambietta and quickly began to whistle innocently enough. "Well, Erza might be fast, but I wonder how quick the bakery can possibly-"
"And I'm back, bearing more cake."
Bambietta turned and caught sight of Erza standing with the guild once again, twin boxes in her hands. "What, did they have some just waiting for you?"
"Of course!" Erza replied. "And even if they hadn't I was prepared to pilfer my own stock hidden away in my armory's freezer."
Bambietta's expression began to drop. "You've got to be kidding."
"We speak of cake," Erza said as she placed the boxes down on the table and gave Bambietta a stern look. "I never joke about cake. Ever."
The Quincy felt her skin grow cold for a moment, Bambietta realizing that she had done what she had warned Wendy of in one form: she had not gotten between Erza and a cake, but she had insulted the pastry. "Duly noted."
"How... how many cakes do you have in there?" Liltotto asked.
Erza looked at Liltotto with a discerning stare. "After this withdrawal, I still have forty cakes in storage."
Liltotto's eyes began to waver, her mouth watering. "That's... so not terrible." The blonde looked to Bambietta, Liltotto trying to compose herself. "I love this woman, Bambietta."
"No, you love the cake," Bambietta said. "But sometimes that's enough."
Bambietta looked and could see Wendy moving closer at a rather unsure pace. Whether it was the girl's timid nature, Erza's larger than life demeanor or a combination of both at play, Bambietta did not know. What she did know was that she could at least try and alleviate the problem.
"Come on, the cake isn't going to bite," Bambietta said as she patted the bench before Wendy's pastry box. "Take a seat and pig out."
Erza watched as Wendy did just that, the S-Class mage content with the moment. She had not expected Bambietta to be so kind to another, Erza having experienced the fragile nature of the Quincy back on Galuna Island. She had seen the best and worst this woman had to offer, yet Erza was quite happy to see the better side winning out for the time being. However, she knew this still required observation, especially now that there were two of these Quincies within Fairy Tail.
"You can't be serious."
Erza was forced out of her trance, the scarlet haired woman watching as Stella Upland approached her. "And why wouldn't I be?" Erza asked.
"Cake," Stella said simply. "This is how Fairy Tail does things?"
Erza's eyes began to narrow, yet she did not allow her voice to betray her concerns. "Is that a problem?"
"No, I just..." Stella paused for a moment. "It's... just not what I expected is all. I've never heard of a guild do anything like this for new recruits."
"I suppose Fairy Tail isn't your average guild then," Erza replied. "And I'm quite content with that."
Erza moved her gaze suspiciously to the last box of cake on the table, trying to direct Stella's attention to it. The newcomer relented, sitting down and opening the box. She was quite surprised by the elegant pastry inside, white frosting adorned with strawberries all around its edges.
However, the true nature of Stella was not so easily swayed. Emberella was not so much impressed as shocked. This seemed so very childish for any guild, let alone one as renowned as Fairy Tail. Still, she was willing to keep up appearances and began to use the utensils within the box to begin to carve out a piece of the cake itself.
Wendy, meanwhile, was simply overjoyed as she looked at the personal sized cake, overwhelmed as to where to start. Bambietta was about to help her when Erza stepped in and began to cut the cake. Liltotto, meanwhile, ignored the supplied plastic ware and simply let the Gluttony resolve the matter for her. Her mouth stretched outwards, sliding over the cake as if it belonged to a snake capable of unhinging its jaws.
Bambietta and Lucy were far from stunned, having seen it all before. Stella, on the other hand, was caught unawares and quickly dropped her fork as her mouth began to hang open in shock.
Wendy was quite surprised as well, simply staring in awe. She was horrified by the strange power, but was willing to chalk it up to magic.
Erza was little different, having seen her fair share of peculiar magic, particularly during her dealings with an individual from Blue Pegasus. She simply paid Liltotto's ability no mind, her only concern that the Quincy enjoyed the cake.
"Now then," Erza said, realizing she had reason enough to speak up earlier than she had intended, "I do have a question for you, friend of Bambietta Basterbine."
The blonde Quincy looked to Erza, her mouth returning to its original shape, a tongue running across her lips to take care of any left-over frosting. "It's Liltotto, Liltotto Lamperd."
"Liltotto." Erza nodded her head. "So be it. I was wondering perhaps if you might want to go out on a mission with me. Don't worry, I will not pick a job request from the S-Class board upstairs. That would be rather rude of me."
"Hey, wait a minute!" Bambietta interjected. "You didn't want to go out on a mission with me first thing."
"You came with me and the others during the Eisenwald matter, didn't you?" Erza asked simply enough. "We'll always have Clover, Bambietta."
"Uh... yeah." Bambietta knew what Erza meant, yet the Quincy also knew how that last line could be taken out of context. "We'll always have Clover, uh huh."
"I'd be all for that," Liltotto answered, trying to be heard over Bambietta. "But... why me?"
"I've seen what Bambietta can do as a Quincy," Erza continued. "And after what I saw just now, you're power intrigues me. I'd like to see you are capable of."
Bambietta kept her thoughts to herself as she ate her cake, the Quincy wondering if this was simply a case of Erza's curiosity taking hold of the mage or if she simply wanted to find out if another Quincy could be trusted.
"So you're the Bambietta Basterbine, right?"
The Quincy snapped to attention, stopping herself from chewing a sliver of her strawberry cake and looking towards Stella. The woman was wearing an honest smile, leaving Bambietta uncomfortable. "Yeah, that's my name. You trying to wear it out?"
"Oh no, not me," Stella replied, waving a bit nervously. "I've just been hearing rumblings about you through the guild. Apparently you've defeated the ace of the dark guild Eisenwald, helped take down a corrupt guild master and now I'm hearing that you killed an S-Class monster."
"Well," Bambietta said, her pride as a Quincy forcing her to smile, "I hate to brag, but it's true. Still, I try to be dignified about it."
"And arrogant," Liltotto added.
"Yes, and arroga-" Bambietta paused for a minute, looking at Liltotto as her eyes widened with realization. "Hey!"
"Don't get mad," Liltotto replied. "I like that trait when it comes to you."
"Anyway," Stella interrupted. "I was wondering if maybe you wouldn't mind helping me on a mission."
"Huh?" Bambietta looked at Stella, once the more the Quincy slowly grinning. She leaned over towards Liltotto, putting a hand over her mouth as she whispered into her friend's ear. "You hear that? Somebody wants me to train them. My rep is going up and up."
Bambietta pulled away from Liltotto and looked back to Stella. The Quincy was overjoyed at the prospect of getting some respect, especially if it meant another rookie newer to the guild was looking to her guidance.
"So, Bambietta began to say, "what kind of mission are we talking about? Does it have to do with slaying a monster? Or getting a mountain of treasure? Or do we have to save a distressed prince and he'll be so grateful that he'll ask for my hand in marriage?"
Stella stared blankly at Bambietta for a moment. "Uh, no. It's just I found a job request up on the board that's from a nearby town being plagued by plagued by a bandit gang going by the name of the Stonebreakers. I figured you'd enjoy a little rough and tumble scuffle from everything I've heard is all."
"A little violence does go a long way," Bambietta said, thinking the prospect over. "I'm in!"
"Perfect." Stella smiled, her inner Emberella quite happy to hear Bambietta falling into her trap hook, line and sinker. The former member of the Chicken Fangs had her plan in place, an orchestrated tragedy in the making. She would lure Bambietta away from the guild and into a battle with the Stonebreakers. They would no doubt win, but Emberella would take the opportunity to stab Bambietta in the back quite literally. Emberella would return to Fairy Tail speaking of how Bambietta had died to save her and her revenge would be complete. The one who had brought an end to the Chicken Fangs that Emberella had come to now would be dead, none the wiser as to how it had occurred, and Emberella's pride as a mage would be avenged.
"However," Bambietta began to add, "I do have one condition."
"And what's that?" Stella asked, trying to play nice.
Bambietta slipped an arm around Wendy, pulling the Sky Dragon Slayer in close. "Wendy should totally come along if she wants to."
Wendy very nearly choked on the piece of cake in her mouth. "Me?"
"Yeah," Bambietta replied. "Me and Stella can't be too careful with all those baddies around, so it can't hurt to have a white mage with us. Besides, you missed out on seeing me beat up Gisbourne, so now you'll get to see how awesome I've become."
"Okay," Wendy replied, trying to smile, "I'll go if you want."
Emberella's inner mood soured, the dark mage not happy in the least. She could not have witnesses of what she planned, not at all. She knew what she could do to take care of that problem, Emberella looking at the Sky Dragon Slayer.
"Okay," Stella said, putting back on her happy expression, "we'll all set out tomorrow then. That way we'll all get a good night's rest first."
Time had moved on from that point, Wendy having tried to acclimate herself to the Fairy Tail guild the rest of the afternoon. Now, the sun had set upon Magnolia and Wendy found herself in a bed not her own, the Sky Dragon Slayer and Carla having been invited to stay at the apartment of Bambietta Basterbine and Lucy Heartfilia until her living conditions had been arranged. Neither of the older women had been willing to run the arrangement past their shared landlord, worried they may have already asked too much as it was, but for now things were fine.
Bambietta had offered her bed to Wendy, the Quincy having taken the couch for her own for the first time since her own first night under that very roof. It had been calming to Wendy at first, Carla curled up and sleeping by her side. Yet now it was proving difficult for the young girl or her lifelong friend to sleep. For there was a truly terrifying noise echoing forth across the apartment.
"What... what is that?" Wendy asked, the mage trembling as she gripped the blanket up to her chin tightly. "That's the same sound I heard back in Clover after night fell. Oh no, don't tell me there's monsters here in Magnolia once the sun sets."
"Don't worry," Lucy answered from across the room, the Celestial Spirit wizard looking at Wendy from her own bed. "It's just Bambi is all. You get used to her snoring eventually."
Wendy and Carla both sat up, the two looking towards the sofa. Sure enough they could see Bambietta's face contorting as her mouth opened, another snore escaping from her. The Sky Dragon Slayer shivered in response, Carla meanwhile shaking her head.
"Good heavens, child," the cat began to say, "we've been invited to the den of a true monster."
Lucy giggled, catching both the newcomers off guards. "Funny you should mention that. I think the people of living on Blueberry Avenue thought the same thing back when I found Bambi sleeping on a bench."
"Poor Bambi," Wendy replied, the mage finding little reason to laugh. Her enhanced hearing, common to a Dragon Slayer, only made the snoring more uncomfortable to hear "I wonder if I could fix that for her."
Wendy threw off her blankets and stepped down to the floor. She quietly walked over to the sofa, listening all the while to Bambietta's snoring. As she got closer, Wendy began to concentrate on her magic. Her hands began to cover in the miniscule currents of localized wind, the skin glowing a faint emerald. She placed those very hands on the sides of Bambietta's face then, watching and waiting.
Slowly did Bambietta's snoring begin to die down, the Quincy's breathing becoming more relaxed and quiet. Wendy smiled as she noted the calm look that overtook Bambietta's face, the Quincy apparently resting peacefully.
"Wow, it work," Lucy said, sitting up and peeking from her bed. "I guess Sky Dragon Slayers can do a lot more than traditional healing."
"Yeah," Wendy whispered in return. "I can temporarily fix ailments like this. But I'd have to stick around for whenever it comes back."
Lucy was impressed. "Huh, I wonder if you could do the same for Natsu's motion sickness."
"Of course!" Wendy suddenly shouted, losing herself in the moment. "I could totally-"
"Wendy?"
Wendy looked back and could see Bambietta staring at her, the Quincy having woken up due to the sudden outburst. She was looking to her sides, noting Wendy's hands on her cheeks.
"What are you doing?" Bambietta continued, the Quincy still trying to awaken fully.
"I, uh, was just trying to help is all," Wendy said meekly. "You know, with your... snoring."
Bambietta became red in the face for a moment, the Quincy not a fan of that sore spot being brought up. She calmed down quickly however, noting who she was dealing with. "You... can fix that?"
"Yeah, for a little while," Wendy said quietly. "It's just the least I could do for you letting me stay the night."
Bambietta grinned for a moment, breathing in through her nose than mouth. They felt so much clearer now. She looked towards Lucy and spoke up. "Say, you think we could talk with the landlord about this apartment housing a third tenant for the long haul?"
Lucy looked a little nervous in response. "Bambi, I think we're pushing our luck as it is."
"Okay then," Bambietta replied. "I guess we'll just need to pool our resources and get a bigger place. I'm sure between the three of us we can manage."
"Four of us," Carla said.
"I don't think the average landlord is worried about pets being a part of the number of tenants," Bambietta shot back. "Anyway, thanks Wendy, but I think it's time we all got some rest for the job tomorrow."
"Yeah," Lucy said, trying not to yawn. "Me too. Natsu said he's got a new job request lined up he needs my help for. I just hope it doesn't involve dressing up as a maid again. Oh well. At least I'll finally get a good night's sleep for the first time in ages."
Bambietta raised an eyebrow at that statement, the Quincy trying her best to let it go. She sat up from her couch. "Well, good night, Wendy."
Bambietta lay back down, only to notice the Dragon Slayer not moving, her eyes wavering as if they were pleading for something.
"What's the matter?" Bambietta asked.
Wendy took a moment to respond. "Could you... tuck me back in?"
Bambietta kept her eyes closed for the moment, recalling that this was the very same request Wendy had made earlier. "Again? Don't tell me this happened in Cait Shelter all the time, Wendy."
"Well, no," the Sky Dragon Slayer answered. "But this place is still new, so..."
"All right." Bambietta sat back up, throwing off her blanket as she began to walk Wendy to the bed she had been lent. "But don't think I'm the type to sing a lullaby. Most I've ever done is destroy one."
The next day Bambietta found herself standing within the town of Krautweide, Wendy and Stella by the Quincy's side. Around them stood an assortment of ruffians, the lot of them wielding crude weapons of all shapes and sizes. These were the Stonebreakers, the bandits that Stella's job request had asked to be conquered and brought to justice.
Wendy was worried, the young mage having not ever encountered so many cruel individuals together. She was staying close to Bambietta, holding tight to her skirt as she managed to slip underneath the Quincy's cloak.
Stella was not worried in the least, having been the S-Class ace of the Chicken Fangs, but she knew she had to forget herself, to forget her stature as Emberella and play the part she had taken for herself within Fairy Tail. She acted nervous as well, though kept up her battle stance. She was playing the role of a neophyte as well, but she would not cower like the young girl.
Bambietta, meanwhile, was unimpressed. The bandits were clad in torn and dirty clothing, wielding makeshift weapons that no doubt possessed little power. This was hardly the kind of mission she had been expecting, the lot before her looking so very boring. The Quincy raised a gloved hand up to her face, trying to stifle a yawn.
"Are you kidding me?" Stella asked, feigning some level of surprise and disgust. She honestly felt the same way, yet she knew she could not tip her hand to her own powers. She was already on edge when it came to Bambietta, her plans to slay the Quincy who had ruined the Chicken Fangs in Emberella's eyes forced to change.
"I don't have time for these small fries," Bambietta said. "Not after all the big stuff I've been doing lately."
"Are you kidding me, lady?" one of the bandits shouted in return. "You underestimate the Stonebreakers and we'll-"
"You'll do nothing," Bambietta said, pointing to the man in the eye patch who was threatening her. The Quincy began to speak again, hoping what she was about to say would go right over Wendy's head. "But you get on my bad side and I'll be the one breaking your stones."
"Who the hell do you think you are?" the bandit shouted back.
"Come on, don't curse in front of the innocent little wizard," Bambietta said with a sigh. "People these days. As for who I am? People who hurt the innocent little sensibilities of my Dragon Slayer buddy here don't deserve to know my name!"
The bandits began to grow fearful, the one in the lead trying his best to speak. "D-D-Dragon Slayer?
Bambietta watched as the bandits' eyes were all drawn to Stella, the woman just as surprised as the Quincy. "No, I'm not the Dragon Slayer," Stella began to say. "It's-"
"Yeah, does she look the type to have delicate sensibilities?" Bambietta added on, catching a dirty look from her Fairy Tail companion. "No, allow me to introduce you to the Dragon Slayer who soars throughout the sky-"
Bambietta brought one arm up, lifting her cape so that those of the Stonebreaker gang could see the young mage clinging tightly to Bambietta.
"- Wendy Marvell!"
The bandits stared in disbelief at the sight of the timid young girl, completely shocked. Then they began to laugh.
"That little kid is the big bad Dragon Slayer?"
"Man, I almost had a hard attack!"
"She's too cute to be scary!"
Bambietta could feel Wendy's grip on her skirt tightening, a slight shiver moving through the young girl's body. Bambietta looked down at her. "Hey, Wendy, show them they have something to worry about."
"But," Wendy began to stammer, "that'd be mean."
"No, no," Bambietta replied. "They're the bad guys and bad guys..." The Quincy paused for a moment. "They get what's coming to them."
Wendy noticed the moment of hesitation in Bambietta's voice. "Is something wrong?"
The Quincy shook her head, clearing her mind. "No, of course not. Now then, just give these creeps a little Sky Dragon Roar for me, 'kay?"
Wendy was still hesitant. "But-" Wendy felt Bambietta's hand lightly pat her on the back, the Dragon Slayer taking a step forward. "All right."
"This is a joke, right?" One of the bandits said he eyed the timid Wendy Marvell. "Yeah, you're just trying to intimidate use into surrendering because you know you ladies can't take us down."
"Oh no," Bambietta said slyly. "I know for a fact that I could take you done by the time I finish this sentence if I really wanted to, but I figure I can't have all the fun."
The bandit leader grew a little concerned then, noting the playful venom within Bambietta's voice. "You can't mean-"
Wendy cut the man off, yelling at long last. "Sky Dragon's Roar!"
A current of wind shot forth from the young girl's mouth as she leaned forward into the attack. It struck the assembled Stonebreakers head on, sending the lot of them flying backwards. Then it was gone as fast it came, the bandits left crashing into the ground and the rocky outcrops around them.
"Oh no." Wendy brought both hands up to her mouth as she stared at the carnage her attack has caused. "Did I... hurt them?"
"Oh, I'm sure they're fine," Bambietta said as she stepped forward. She watched as the lead bandit struggled to stand up, only to drop back down. The Quincy changed her tune in response. "Then again..."
"I did bad, didn't I?" Wendy asked, growing a little upset.
"Now look what you did," Stella said as she approached. "You made her upset, Bambietta."
"Aw, come on," the Quincy replied, closing her eyes as she ran a hand through the back of her hair. "She's a member of Fairy Tail and we do tend to get a little carried away with kicking butt. Besides, it's nothing she can't heal."
Bambietta reached down and put a gentle hand on Wendy's right shoulder. The Sky Dragon Slayer grew alert to the touch, looking up to Bambietta's face.
"You did good, Wendy," the Quincy replied, smiling softly. "I just... thought these jerks would be made of sterner stuff."
Bambietta looked to the downed Stonebreakers and began to speak under her breath.
"I figured some of them would get back up for more so I could do my thing." Bambietta sighed. "I just hope Erza and Liltotto are having more fun on whatever job they took together."
"I hope Bambi is having fun."
Liltotto spoke under her breath as she continued to use Hirenkyaku to evade the low level magic spells that were being cast at her by the denizens of the dark guild known as Nosferatu Heart. As much as she was good at it, combat was never something Liltotto especially enjoyed. It was a means to an end and nothing more in the Quincy's opinion, something she knew that she and Bambietta differed on extensively.
Still, this was a means to getting paid for a job well done and Liltotto was going to see it through to the end whether she was enjoying it or not. She slipped away from the low level wizards, quickly firing off a volley of her arrows. The majority of them struck home, the Quincy managing to hit non-vital areas. The mages gasped in pain, their defensives dropping for a moment. Liltotto took that opportunity to go truly on the offensive, stepping into the fray and dropping one wizard after another with strikes empowered by Blut Arterie.
Erza, meanwhile, was herself busy contending with the master of the dark guild, a man going by the name of Tepes. Initially he had managed to keep pace with the S-Class mage, Erza having to switch to an armor more apt for their battle. The Black Wing armor had been just what she had needed, the pale man beginning to falter under Erza's constant assaults.
"I admire your tenacity," Erza said as she moved in close and slammed the flat side of her blade against the side of Tepes' head, "but this battle has reached its conclusion."
The guild master's let out a gasp, the pale man in black slowly dropping to the ground as Erza lowered her sword. She considered unequipping her armor, yet thought better of it. Erza turned to aide Liltotto in cleaning up the left overs of Nosferatu Heart instead.
"Impressive."
She knew the woman was stronger, going by the rumors she had heard, yet when Erza had asked Liltotto to engage the guild so that she could fight Tepes on her own, she had expected that she would have to help the Quincy with the few stragglers that would remain.
Yet Erza could see that they were all of them defeated, their bodies lying around Liltotto. She was untouched, possessing no wounds and her white clothing not even scuffed up. Those she had beaten were clearly still alive, their chests rising and falling even as they lay before the Quincy unconscious.
"It was nothing. I just did what you asked after all." It was a simple statement, one that was followed by Liltotto looking to Erza. "But I don't think you got a good look at what I'm capable of. That is why you asked me out here on this mission, right?"
"I believe you've given me a good example actually," Erza replied, the mage returning to her more traditional armor. "That was-"
"You also want to know if I'm trustworthy," Liltotto interrupted. "Me and Bambi."
Erza kept silent for a moment, the mage trying her best to ascertain what was going through Liltotto's head. "Perhaps I should be honest with you first."
Liltotto raised an eyebrow at that.
Erza took a breath, closing her eyes for a moment, opening them and looking at the Quincy sharply. "Master Makarov has asked me to look after you and Bambietta both. It was a request I took graciously as I do feel that your friend joining this guild is partially a result of my actions. And I suppose your joining was just another outcome that soon followed."
"Speaking of that," Liltotto began to interject, "Bambi hasn't exactly been rather forthcoming with how she joined your little guild. Maybe you could be more honest with me?"
"Is that how it's going to be? So be it." Erza's gaze never wavered. "I found her by the side of the road during one of my journeys. She was under a spell, neither alive nor dead, and begging to find someone she called Gigi."
Liltotto's change in body language was visible, the Quincy's frame tensing up. She closed her eyes as she looked away. Erza took note of that, giving Liltotto time to find the strength to compose herself. All the while did Erza continue to speak.
"I took her to someone I hoped could undo what had been wrought. I was quite content to see that she was alive and well when next I returned to the guild hall."
Liltotto lowered her gaze again, the Quincy barely able to let her lips curl up into a smile, a lone tear slipping down her face. "Good for you. I just wish... I... I could have..."
Erza let the moment linger, realizing that Liltotto was unable to finish her statement. She began to speak then, a serious tone still evident in her voice. "Liltotto Lamperd, I need to know something for the sake of my guild. I understand that it might pain you, but I have not asked Bambietta precisely because I realize it would cause her even more undue stress. What kind of guild were you two in if something like that could be done to one of your comrades?"
"It... wasn't a guild," Liltotto said. She looked up at Erza at last, running the back of one of her hands beneath her eyes. "But surely you know everything if you've been speaking with Master Makarov after I did."
"Yes, I suppose so," Erza continued. "But I would like to hear it from you if not Bambietta herself."
Liltotto took a deep breathe, trying to find the best way to go about it. "Bambi probably told you all we're from another country or something, but... it's not... Damn, this sounds insane."
"Try me."
Liltotto took a brief moment to compose herself. "Bambi and I are from... another world. I don't even... know how we got here, but back home... we were in an army called the Vandenreich."
"The empire under control of the one Bambietta referred to when we fought," interrupted Erza. "The God Emperor Yhwach."
"Yes," Liltotto replied, shivering slightly. "Him."
There was a moment of silence then, Liltotto struggling to continue. Still, she did find the strength to do so.
"We were at war with the afterlife itself. Humanity sought to protect itself from the dark spirits left behind in death. But then those who were meant to protect us, they... massacred our kind so long ago."
"I can only assume then that this Yhwach you speak of fought back," Erza replied. "Though I imagine his army was... less than ideally run."
Liltotto could hear the judgment in Erza's voice and despite her agreement with the assessment in light of what Yhwach had done to his Stern Ritter in the end, the Quincy grew defensive. "It was better than lying down and dying to the Soul Reapers. How could you hope to understand what it's like when life and death itself are against you? I bet you never grew up poor or starving! Not you, Fairy Tail's queen!"
Liltotto could see it then, a brief moment when Erza's armored hands had tightened into fists. It had disappeared as fast as it had occurred, leaving the Quincy to wonder if Erza was simply annoyed or if the Quincy had struck a nerve.
"I'm sorry," Liltotto said, trying to speak calmly. "I don't even know you and yet I make a snap judgment."
"It's all right," Erza said, trying to keep composed herself. Some memories had been dug up by Liltotto's words, yet she kept them at bay. "However, I need to know-"
"You don't need to say it." Liltotto's voice fell to nothing more than a whisper. "I wasn't Bambi's only friend in the Vandenreich. There was Meni, Candi and... Giselle. We were close, all of us. But during our last great war with the Soul Reapers, we split up. The others and I, we left Bambietta behind to fend for herself. It was just a joke, a little prank and nothing more. She was the strongest of us and I knew she'd take care of herself just fine without us. But then... she was beaten by a Soul Reaper and left on the edge of death. And then..."
Liltotto's arms folded across her chest, fingers digging into shoulders as the Quincy fought to speak any further.
"Giselle, she... she said she could help Bambi. To keep her with us, to make her good as new. Meni and Candi, they listened. I listened. I wanted to believe, but I was also afraid. I knew what Giselle could be like and it... she..."
Liltotto's teeth came together tightly, her lips curling back as she began to lose control of herself.
"She killed Bambi right before my eyes and I was too much of a fucking coward to do anything about it!"
Erza could hear it in Liltotto's normally stoic voice, the pain etched within each and every syllable that now slipped away from her. The mage knew the pain well enough, to be too weak and scared to help one that you looked up to, and she knew as well that the pain had to be expressed if it was ever to be calmed. So she kept silent, allowing Liltotto the time and space she needed.
"She used her powers on Bambi and made her a puppet! A zombie that served her every need! Her every desire! And she... she..." Liltotto lost her foot then, the Quincy dropping to her knees, her hands moving upwards to cover her face. "I was such a coward that I... I... Bambi, I-"
Erza waited one brief moment before taking a step forward. She approached the sobbing Liltotto with grace befitting one known as Titania, kneeling down beside the Quincy. Erza took off the glove from her right hand, resting the palm gently atop Liltotto's left shoulder. "Let it all out, Liltotto Lamperd."
The Quincy looked up towards Erza then, eyes peeking out from between spread fingers. Slowly those hands moved away, revealing the remnants of tears left behind. "No, I... I'm supposed to be the quiet one. I can't... can't be like this."
"Nonsense," Erza said. "You have no need to keep your heart hidden away when someone is willing to share your pain. You are... so very fortunate, Liltotto."
Liltotto began to speak again, however softly. "I just... I didn't want to lose Bambi. But... she would have been better off that Soul Reaper had killed her. Then Giselle wouldn't have-"
"She is alive here, right?" Erza asked. "And I see no harm done to your bond."
"Maybe Bambi forgives me," Liltotto continued, "but I don't know how. I can't... ever forgive myself."
"I would not ask you to do something you feel you are incapable of," Erza replied. "However, perhaps in time you will feel different."
Erza helped Liltotto up to her feet, the Quincy keeping quiet for a time. Erza did not forced the issue, instead simply providing Liltotto a shoulder to lean on if she needed it. The Quincy took it for the moment, speaking up at last.
"How can she forgive me?" Liltotto asked. "Erza... Could you forgive a friend that hurt you like that?"
Now it was Erza's turn to grow silent, leaving Liltotto to feel the mage's arm stiffen up in response to the question. She began to wonder what she had done wrong, what button she had pressed, but Erza's body remained tense for only a moment.
"I don't need to worry myself with such concerns," Erza replied, her tone of voice less than convincing at first. "No one in Fairy Tail would ever betray their own."
Liltotto could see a confident expression on Erza's face, yet there was something within her spiritual nature that the Quincy could detect. A deep rooted sadness that was buried within her soul as if encased in the thickest of armors. Yet still it was desiring to peek out.
"I guess you're right," Liltotto said, unwilling to press the subject any further. "I mean, that Natsu kid, he..."
Liltotto's face suddenly went the slightest shade of red, the Quincy unsure of what was suddenly overtaking her.
Erza simply smiled. She glanced away from Liltotto for a moment, the wizard beginning to wonder a great many things. She was content in what she had seen this day, that Liltotto was apparently no threat to the guild. Still, Erza would keep her eyes open just in case. However, her biggest concern was the Vandenreich that Liltotto had spoken of, the woman known as Giselle in particular.
It was clear that Liltotto had no idea how she had arrived in Earthland, just as Bambietta had been, and it was leaving Erza to wonder just how many other wanderers from other worlds had come to Earthland.
Bambietta watched on as the Krautweide authorities, unimpressive as they were, led the defeated members of the Stonebreakers into a series of carriages. The Quincy was quite content with how Wendy had managed to defeat them all with ease, but at the same time she was disappointed that she had not been able to have any chance at getting in on the action.
Stella was no different, the disguised Emberella's plans having become nothing more than a bust. She had hoped to make some money at the expense of the Stonebringers, all the while taking the opportunity to kill Bambietta and return to Fairy Tail with the sob story of how she had heroically sacrificed her life. Now, all thanks to Wendy, that plan was in shambles. She could not hope to kill Bambietta with a witness and worse of all was the fact that Wendy had shown the Stonebringers to be nothing special. There was no way she could blame Bambietta's death on such weaklings.
"What nonsense is this?"
Both Bambietta and Stella snapped back to attention, an unfamiliar voice pulling them away from their sullen moods. Bambietta, however, was focused on something else. A spiritual force was rippling through the magic around her, one that seemed to demand her respect.
The Quincy and the wizard could suddenly see a look of fear on the faces of the myriad number of Krautweide officers, all the while the members of the Stonebreakers were clearly overjoyed.
"Boss!" one of them shouted. "You've come to save us!"
"B-b-boss?" Wendy squeaked out, the young wizard feeling a tremor run through the earth beneath her, the constant sound of metal boots striking the ground with footstep after footstep.
The Sky Dragon Slayer turned around then, just as Bambietta and Stella did the same. The trio of Fairy Tail members suddenly found the sun blocked, a massive shadow cast down upon them. Bambietta looked up them, catching sight of a tall figured glad entirely in dark armor, a blood red cape descending from its pauldrons. The individual's face was obscured, a spiked helmet covering it all.
Bambietta gulped back her concern for a moment, the Quincy still sensing the power roiling off the man that stood before her. He was at least twice her height, leaving Bambietta to question if that was potentially natural in Fiore. Yet while her spiritual senses were telling her this was trouble, while her mind processed the potential need for fear, her mouth continued to run of its own accord. "So who are you, the iron giant?"
A low hissing sound echoed from within the man's helmet, a clear indication that Bambietta had gotten underneath his skin. That pleased the Quincy, at least for a moment. Twin magic circles appeared within the man's armored hands, giving physical form to two serrated swords, both of them as long as Bambietta was tall. The Quincy's eyes widened for a moment, Bambietta beginning to wonder if she had made a little mistake. Still, she did not act any more sensible.
"Okay," Bambietta said to herself as she and Stella took a step back, pushing Wendy to do the same. "So we've got on our hands a walking trashcan with an attitude problem."
"I don't really think it's a good idea to antagonize the big scary man with swords, Bambietta," Stella interjected.
"But that's what I do," Bambietta replied.
"You would be wise to listen to your friend, woman," the armored man said. "But I suppose it does not matter. You are all from Fairy Tail, yes? Then I have business to conduct with you wretches. But first thing's first..."
The armored man simply walked past Bambietta and the others, keeping his swords to the ground. The Quincy followed his movement, clearly confused. She surely did not recognize the armored giant of a man, in either appearance or spirit, so she could not understand how he could have issue with her.
"Is he going to hurt those people?" Wendy asked, the little Dragon Slayer growing worried. "I know they're bad people, but-"
"Don't worry," Bambietta cut in, the Quincy's hand twitching as she focused on her powers. In an instant she could bring her sword into existence if it proved necessary. "If he makes any move, I'll be there in a flash."
"That's good," Wendy said sweetly.
"Besides," Bambietta continued, "if anything happens to those bandits, that'll probably be the end of our reward money."
Stella smirked slightly in response to that statement, quickly shaking her head to clear away that expression. She had to admit, she did at least share the Quincy's baser desires when it came to doing good deeds, the money being a prime motivator, but she knew that changed little. She was the one who had to die for what had happened to the Chicken Fangs. That was precisely why she was happy that this armored man had shown up when he had. He might very well be the opportunity that Stella had been hoping for. Now all that was left to worry about was Wendy.
The bandits, meanwhile, could see their boss slowly approaching, the lot of them growing concerned. One of them began to speak in fear, trying to garner his favor. "B-boss, we're sorry we've failed you, but-"
"You have failed me for the first and last time, you incompetent garbage," the armored man said. "Know this, I am going to fight these Fairy Tail wizards that defeated you. Do not think I do this out of respect for trash such as you all. No, I have others to avenge. However, you had all hope that they defeat me, miniscule as that chance is, because when I'm done with them, I am going to kill each and every one of you for your failure. And then this entire town and all who live here will follow."
"Well," Bambietta began to say, listening keenly to the conversation, "no pressure then. We just got to beat up tall, dark and edgy here if we want to protect our reward money."
Bambietta felt Wendy tugging at her cloak, the Quincy looking down at her pleading eyes.
"And the town," Bambietta continued, trying to placate the Sky Dragon Slayer. The Quincy looked to the armored man then, pointing her sword at him as it materialized fully. "Yo, big guy! We're all for fighting you if that's what you want!"
Wendy's eyes widened at that statement. "Uhmm..."
A guttural snarl issued forth from the man's helmet as he turned to look at Bambietta, his right eye glaring at her through the mask. "You speak as if you have a say in the matter, Fairy Tail fly."
Bambietta blinked. "That's an oddly specific insult. Say, you wouldn't happen to know a guy by the name of Erigor, would you?"
"Do not speak that name in my presence," the armored man said.
"Oh, so you do know that faux shinighami," Bambietta said slyly. "What? He owe you money or something? You two gambling buddies or something? Gotta say, that mask makes for a mean poker face. The poor little Reaper must have been taken to the cleaners by you."
Wendy and Stella both began to look at Bambietta, wondering just how crazy she was becoming in response to a change to fight.
"The Reaper?" The armored man's head and shoulders lowered for a moment. "Don't make me laugh. He is unworthy of that title I gave him, just as these worthless bandits are unworthy of my benevolence."
Bambietta raised an eyebrow at that very statement, Stella doing the same. Wendy, meanwhile, remained only worried.
"The title you gave him? Then that means..." Bambietta's confusion suddenly shifting back to a mean spirited smile. "Oh, how the high and mighty have fallen."
The armored man suddenly turned his head back up, a glint of red light escaping from his eyes as he looked to Bambietta. "I am Schwarzwald, the guild master of Eisenwald, and you will pay me the proper respect."
"Former guild master," Bambietta said, doing exactly the opposite of what Schwarzwald demanded. "Considering the beating I gave Erigor, it's better off that the Magic Council disbanded you posers. I wouldn't want you to work through job requests with all that shame, shame, shame."
Schwarzwald stood to his full height, staring down at Bambietta. His calm voice began to crack, a rage once more returning to it. "So it was you!"
Schwarzwald swung his right arm down, his massive blade striking the ground. A shockwave of power suddenly burst forth from the motion, the crimson energy arcing across the ground towards Bambietta. It took her by surprise and she quickly grabbed towards Wendy and Stella, using Hirenkyaku to remove them from harm's way.
The house behind them, however, was not so lucky. The three story complex was overrun by Schwarzwald's power, the structure tearing apart from the force. It crumbled then, right before the eyes of the Fairy Tail members as they came into view once again.
"Oh no..." Wendy was overwhelmed with worry then, the Sky Dragon Slayer concerned for all those who had been in that building. She began to move towards it, to want to see if she could heal those in need if they were even still alive, but Bambietta's hand suddenly clasped down on her wrist.
The Quincy could tell that Schwarzwald's gaze had suddenly settled on Wendy as she began to move, the dark wizard's malevolent spiritual nature sparking. He was fully intent on killing her if she so much as took another step.
"Bambi!" Wendy cried out, desperate to help those in need.
The Quincy said nothing, Bambietta standing up and looking to Schwarzwald. "So you want a piece of me, man of steel?"
"You, yes," Schwarzwald replied simply. "And then everyone else who wears that accursed Fairy Tail emblem. You destroyed my guild, so it's only proper and fair that I return the favor."
Stella's face remained impassive, yet the true individual underneath the mask, Emberella, awakened in response to Schwarzwald's words. He was just as she was, wishing to hurt the one responsible for taking away her guild, her family. The mage glanced at the nervous Wendy, her thoughts becoming lost in darkness.
If Schwarzwald could bring harm to innocents for his grudge, then what was stopping her? This girl was just another Fairy Tail wizard after all. This was the moment that Emberella had been hoping for.
"Stella," Bambietta suddenly said, snapping the wizard out of her inner concentration, "I'm asking you to keep Wendy safe, okay?"
"But we should all fight him together," Stella contested. She needed that if she was going to get the chance to turn on Bambietta in the heat of battle. The opportunity could not be taken away from her so easily.
"No," Bambietta replied. "One, you asked me to go out on this mission for help. Well, I want to help. Two, I want to have some fun. And three, this guy is after me first and foremost, so I want her kept out of this."
Bambietta shook her head for a moment. Here she was again, fighting to protect others. It felt so unnatural to the former Stern Ritter.
"Oh, and fourth?" Bambietta looked at Schwarzwald with cruel intentions etched upon her face. "This won't be my first rodeo when it comes to kicking the butt of a guild master. Oh, sorry, Schwarzwald. Former guild master."
Stella heard exactly what Bambietta had just said, understanding exactly who she was speaking about. She grew upset in response but tried to keep her emotions in check. The disguised Emberella could only count her blessings that Ultear's advanced form of magic had been put to good use. The woman had spoken of how the Quincy had managed to very nearly peek through the veil of her disguise, so much so that Ultear had needed to make a more elaborate form of magical deception that masked even the transformed one's nature and projected feelings.
Bambietta, meanwhile, could feel Schwarzwald's eyes staring at her intently, the malice that the man felt for her radiating off his spirit in waves. He was readying his blades, speaking once more. "I will enjoy extinguishing your life, Fairy Tail fly."
Bambietta's smirk slipped away, a cold stare issuing forth from her eyes. She replied slowly and deliberately, a tone escaping from her lips that left Wendy truly worried. "You wouldn't be the first."
Then Bambietta was gone, Hirenkyaku propelling her towards Schwarzwald. Her plan was simple, to grab hold of the man and use the speed of a Quincy to take him out of town before he could even blink. That way Wendy could heal those in need and no more collateral damage could be caused. More importantly however, Wendy would not get caught up in the battle. It had worked tremendously well against the unnatural Hollow in Clover and Bambietta expected the same result here.
Unfortunately she soon found her arms wrapped around Schwarzwald, her shoulder pushing against his stomach. Bambietta winched in pain from the impact, her feet digging into the ground as she continued to push against Schwarzwald's unmoving body.
"Come on..." Bambietta grunted. "You're... making me look bad, you know?"
"What a foolish little fly," Schwarzwald said, the man completely bemused by Bambietta's actions. "Just what are you trying to accomplish?"
Bambietta sheepishly turned her gaze upwards, looking into Schwarzwald's eyes. She shrugged her shoulders slightly as she continued to try and tackle Schwarzwald away. "Would you believe I thought we could settle our differences with a hug?"
"Enough."
Schwarzwald raised both his arms high, the sun's light glistening on the edges of his twin swords. Bambietta's face grew serious in response and she quickly let go of Schwarzwald and skipped backwards. His blades came down then, shattering the ground and causing his crimson energy to ripple through the pavement and dirt. The magical energy arced all around, tearing asunder whatever it came in contact with, be it simple fences or magicmobiles.
Bambietta, however, was happy that she was not a part of that disaster. "Well this isn't good," the Quincy said, looking around at the devastation. "You just know the Magic Council is going to blame me and Fairy Tail for this sorry mess."
"You speak as if you will live long enough to worry about such matters," Schwarzwald replied. "Soon enough your flesh shell hang from my blades, your blood running down them."
Wendy grew quite horrified by the man's threat, her reaction clearly visible on the young Dragon Slayer's face. That only got Bambietta more upset as she pointed an accusing finger at Schwarzwald.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Bambietta shouted. "Does anything not grim and dark come out of that filthy mouth of yours? I mean, come on, man! We've got an impressionable youth in front of us."
Schwarzwald clearly did not care. "Shut the fu-"
An arrow suddenly struck Schwarzwald, catching him by surprise. He was sent flying backwards, crashing through one build and leaving the field of view possessed all around.
"Watch the language, my good sir," Bambietta said as she lowered her bow. She looked at Wendy and Stella and shrugged. "I guess I should have just done that in the first place. I just didn't think it'd be cool to repeat myself so soon after the whole Clover fight."
Then Bambietta was gone, using Hirenkyaku to go after Schwarzwald. Left in her wake was Wendy, the Sky Dragon Slayer moving towards the downed home, hoping to help whomever was in need.
Stella, meanwhile, followed close behind. Her thoughts were of a darker nature, the disguised Emberella contemplating how she could dispose of the young girl before joining Schwarzwald in killing Bambietta. Perhaps she could simply wrap her hands around Wendy's throat and stop her breathing, or simply plunge an arrow into her heart. Options were playing throughout Emberella's thoughts, the woman's eyes keenly following Wendy throughout it all.
That was when she saw Wendy find someone amongst the rubble of the ruined home, the Sky Dragon Slayer using her magic to begin to heal them. Emberella's thoughts slipped away from the darkness, her disguise as Stella Upland freezing in horror.
She was planning to kill someone who simply wanted to heal others.
Emberella had approved of Master Danvers changing of the Chicken Fangs after her initial meeting with Ultear, yet still had Emberella been a part of what had started as a legitimately recognized guild of Fiore. She had accepted the changes that Master Danvers had enacted after Ultear's corruption of her, she had welcomed it and yet...
"I..." Stella began to say. "I can't..."
Wendy, unaware of the potential danger, smiled in relief as she saw the man buried in the rubble begin to awaken, breathing slowly at first. "Thank goodness you're okay."
"Goodness?" Stella said as she moved towards Wendy, trying to ignore the conflicting thoughts in her head and keeping up appearances. "I'd say it's all thanks to you."
Emberella cursed herself for her indecision, but she knew what still had to be done. Bambietta and Fairy Tail would suffer for what happened. It was just this innocent little soul that she would need to keep out of that conflict.
The outskirts of Krautweide were quiet, several deer leisurely lapping up water from a stream that ran through the forest. It was a peaceful scene for the animals, the deer taking their time to quench their thirst.
Then a man in dark armor came crashing down into the stream, screaming obscenities before his impact.
The deer quickly ran off, leaving Schwarzwald to stand up from the stream. He let his twin swords fade away into his offsite armor, instead reaching up towards his shoulder. Bambietta's glowing arrow was lodge into it still, the pain irritating him. He grasped the weapon of light, tearing it from his body. Then, before his eyes did the arrow fade away, its power spent.
"What devilry is this?"
"What?" Bambietta said, suddenly appearing in the nearest forest clearing. "You've never seen my Pure Blooded Quincy's Arrow of- No. No, I've outgrown that. Totally."
"Naming your attacks?" Schwarzwald was far from impressed. "How childish you must be. A true warrior would simply fight."
"Hey now," Bambietta complained. "Even Erigor named his magic powers."
"A trait I was never able to beat out of him," Schwarzwald replied. "Believe me, I tried."
"Well, nuts to you," Bambietta shot back. "My old 'guild master' loved naming the power I used to use. Damn, even he's got a perk over you."
Schwarzwald did not offer Bambietta another reply, instead equipping to himself another weapon. He threw his arm forward, a thick and heavy chain whipping about Bambietta and wrapping around her upper body, pinning her arms to her sides. "The hell is this?" Bambietta asked. "I never thought I'd run into a guild master into this sort of thing. Oh wait. Former guild master. Sorry, Schwarzy, I keep forgetting."
"Get over here!" Schwarzwald shouted, twisting his body around as he pulled on the chain.
"Oh, no thank you!" Bambietta shouted, her heels digging into the ground as she was pulled across it, all the while resisting. "A white outfit in that water? No thank you, you kinky son of a gun!"
Bambietta's body became empowered with Blut Arterie, her sword materializing once more. With a quick stroke she cut the chain before her, leaving it to fall slack around her body. Schwarzwald, meanwhile, stumbled forward, his momentum thrown off balance when he no longer was being resisted.
The former guild master of Eisenwald dropped his weapon, rendered useless as it was, and growled under his breath as he looked over his shoulder at Bambietta. "I am going to rend you limb from limb."
Bambietta shook her head. "Good grief, there you go again being all super dark and creepy." Bambietta lowered the pitch of her voice. "I mean, come on, man. 'Rend you limb from limb,' 'I'm going to kill you all for being defeated,' 'I beat my apprentice on a nightly basis because I'm so evil.' You are such a one note bad guy. The least you could do is be quirky or something. Schwarzy."
Schwarzwald turned on Bambietta, lunging for her quite suddenly. A massive axe suddenly materialized in his hand, the armored man bringing it down towards the Quincy. "I'll split you in two!"
"Ah, boys with their toys. You all seem to think bigger is better, but it just slows you down with all that girth." Bambietta simply stepped out of the way of the attack with Hirenkyaku. The ground shook as the massive axe embedded itself in the ground, yet it did not phase the Quincy in the slightest. She simply brought her sword back, preparing to attack. "Here, let me show you how it's done. Lethal things do come in small packages."
Bambietta swung her blade down, careful not to do any lasting harm. She knew Makarov's rules and she was willing to abide by them. The sword cut through the mask that adorned Schwarzwald's helmet, leaving the metal to drop to the ground. The wizard gasped in horror, his heart very nearly skipping a beat, the sight of Bambietta's blade having consumed his vision for a moment.
"So that's it, huh?" Bambietta said. "Big guy in armor, but at least you aren't a doggy under that helmet or something. That's a plus."
Bambietta looked down at the momentarily terrified Schwarzwald, noting his sullen face. The only particularly remarkable thing present was the emblem of Eisenwald that adorned his entire face, as if it served as the man's war paint.
"Nasty tat, man," Bambietta continued. "And I thought Erigor the Reaper took his guild seriously."
"The Reaper," Schwarzwald began to say, trying to compose himself. "I gave him that title, so what do you think that makes me?"
Bambietta answered simply. "A bad guy who tries too hard?"
"That foolish apprentice wanted to avenge our guild's dishonor," Schwarzwald continued, as if he was no longer listening to Bambietta. "But I did not care what the council did to our standing. Eisenwald was a guild that specialized in assassination, that was all. We could do that with or without the Magic Council's permission."
"Okay," Bambietta said, clearly uninterested in whatever story Schwarzwald was trying to tell. "Look, I'm sorry I beat you so readily. I mean, you are tougher than Erigor, but I've gotten stronger since then too. So come on, don't feel bad. Just please stop with the 'woe is me' backstory, all right?"
"Erigor wanted the other guilds to share our pain," Schwarzwald continued, his voice trailing off as if he was in a trance. "But me? I didn't care in the least. Lullaby was a means to a different end as far as I was concerned."
"Do you ever shut up?" Bambietta asked. "Seriously, it took a lot of effort on my part not to slice your face off just now and what do I get for my trouble? A surrender? Nope, just random babbling."
Schwarzwald's voice began to trail off, as if he was in a trance. "All those guild masters meeting in Clover, each and every one under my control..."
Bambietta furrowed her brow in response to that statement. "What?"
"Erigor was my Reaper," Schwarzwald said, his voice climbing towards a crescendo, "but the lives taken by those who wore the emblem of Eisenwald belong solely to me and me alone!"
Bambietta felt her skin begin to a crawl, a shiver running down her spine as the spiritual nature of Schwarzwald began to spike, a shade of darkness eclipsing it. She leapt back with Hirenkyaku, trying to put some space between herself and the downed maniac.
Schwarzwald began to rise, a magic circle forming in his right hand. A new weapon began to materialize from it, an ornate, crimson scythe. It glowed with power, leaving Bambietta to feel as if she was growing ill from its twisted power.
"I am the Master of Eisenwald," the armored man said, his voice booming with power as he planted the pole of the scythe into the ground, "Schwarzwald the Underworld!"
Waves of corrupt power spread out across the battlefield that had become Schwarzwald and Bambietta's, the Quincy bringing one hand up to her mouth to fight the urge to vomit. This was a dark magic at the man's beck and call, one that was assaulting her spiritual senses. Her grip on her sword began to waver, Bambietta beginning to realize that this was not a feeling entirely foreign to her.
She watched then as magic circles began to light up upon the ground, crimson magic arcing away from Schwarzwald's scythe to create them in the first place. Then Bambietta's own heart skipped a beat, the Quincy watching as individuals began to rise up from the circles.
"No." Bambietta could see it clearly. Rotting corpses, all of them long since dead. That was what was before her now, several bodies of those who had no doubt died to members of Eisenwald. "Schwarzwald, you..."
"This is but a mere fraction of the legion that is mine, but it should be more than enough," Schwarzwald said, "but with the power you've left with me with, this is all that I can summon at once. But it will be enough."
The emblem that adorned Schwarzwald's face lit up with power, the sockets and eyes of his dead summons doing the same. They began to shuffle towards Bambietta then, rigor mortis becoming overwhelmed by the power of Schwarzwald.
"Think of it, Fairy Tail fly," Schwarzwald continued. "The power of these wizards and their damned souls are mine now and forever."
Schwarzwald snapped the fingers of his free hand, the dozen dead wizards before him raising their arms upwards. Magic circles began to form, their corrupted powers activating under the former guild master's command.
"What's the matter?" Schwarzwald asked, noting Bambietta's suddenly quiet demeanor. "No witty retort? No matter. The dead have risen and you shall fall now. But do not worry, I shall make your body mi-"
Schwarzwald suddenly cried out in pain, blood spurting outwards from his chest and obstructing his vision. He brought his left hand upwards as he leaned forward, using his scythe to keep his balance. His hand touched his armor's breastplate, noting how it had been sliced open, the same applying to the flesh underneath it. He looked forward then, noting how Bambietta had vanished from sight. All that remained was the sight of dirt that had been kicked up by a sudden movement, the dust falling back to the ground.
"How dare you!" Schwarzwald screamed, his teeth gritting as his eyes began to shift from the right and left. "Show yourself!"
Schwarzwald suddenly cried out in pain once more, a bloodied sword suddenly extending outwards from his chest and into his line of sight.
Bambietta was behind him then, holding her sword tightly with both hands as she stood directly behind Schwarzwald. Her eyes were cold, her expression lifeless as she withdrew the sword. A trail of blood followed it for a moment, the liquid of life splattering down on the ground.
Schwarzwald stumbled away from Bambietta, falling to one knee as he held his scythe's with both hands. His breathing became erratic and forced, blood oozing down from his mouth. "I will... make your corpse... suffer for this..." His power began to falter, yet still did Schwarzwald reached out with one hand towards his undead legion. "Listen... to me now... Kill her..."
Bambietta swung her sword in a horizontal arc without a word, the blade tearing through the scythe that Schwarzwald held tightly to. Split in two at the base of its blade, the scythe's light began to fade, the undead beings beginning to fade from existence.
"No..." Schwarzwald said, looking on in horror. "You've destroyed... Purgatory... My collection... it's-"
Schwarzwald cried out in pain once more, his unmasked face slamming hard into the ground. Bambietta had lashed out with a kick, the heel of her boot pinning down the back of Schwarzwald's helmet.
"Your collection?" Bambietta screamed. "Nothing in this world is yours! Not them and not me! I'm going to fucking tear you apart, you miserable piece of shit!"
Bambietta went down to one knee, planting it firmly upon the small of Schwarzwald's back. The Quincy reached out with a hand wrapped in Blut Arterie, gripping down on the helmet the man wore. With one swift motion, she tore it from his body, uncaring of what damage such an action might do. Schwarzwald gasped in pain, metal tearing at his face and flesh. His head began to fall forward, but was stopped when Bambietta's fingers slipped between his dark hair.
"You..." He gasped out, watching as a sword move around his field of vision, the blade stopping as it hovered before his throat.
"Yes, this will do," Bambietta whispered, the tone of her voice teetering and on the edge. "I'm going to slit your damned throat, Giselle."
"What?" Schwarzwald had no idea what Bambietta was saying, why she was calling what such a name, but he knew it did not matter. He was already dying a slow death thanks to the earlier fatal wounds. This would hopefully be a quick end to his suffering. "Do... it..."
Bambietta held steadfast to her desires, the Quincy lost in the moment completely. All she could see before her was not Schwarzwald, but a woman she had considered a friend, one who had taken from her everything. Her life, her pride, everything and anything she could get her hands on.
"Bambi!"
There was a moment, a brief instant where Bambietta could see it then, could hear another's voice. She saw for that brief second of time Wendy's face, the Sky Dragon Slayer crying.
"Damn it."
Bambietta let go of Schwarzwald's hair, allowing her sword to fade away back into magic particles. She could see him before her now, her psychosis and its vision of Giselle gone.
"What.. are you doing?" Schwarzwald asked weakly, the man struggling to pull away from Bambietta, his fingers digging into the ground faintly.
"I promised a little girl that she'd get to see how awesome I am," Bambietta answered, "and bringing back a dead body isn't awesome at all."
Bambietta put a boot against Schwarzwald's shoulder and pushed him over on to his back. She noted the blood staining his face and chest, the Quincy reaching into her coat pocket to retrieve a Ginto capsule.
"What... is that?" Schwarzwald asked, looking the slightest bit nervous.
"Just my way of healing damage," Bambietta replied. "Nowhere near as effective as what my little Sky Dragon Slayer friend can do, but it should at least make your wounds more presentable so she can heal them without getting too grossed out."
Bambietta popped open the lids of the Ginto capsule, saying a chant under her breath. A light suddenly shone from the silver capsule, Bambietta extending her hand over Schwarzwald's chest. She began to turn her wrist, preparing to pour the glowing liquid on to the two wounds she had caused. Bambietta stopped then, looking at Schwarzwald's face.
"Fair warning," Bambietta began to say, a cruel smirk extending across her lips, "but you might feel some momentary discomfort."
Bambietta began to pour the liquid on to the bloodied wounds, watching as the flesh began to slowly attempt to knit itself back together. All the while did Schwarzwald begin to scream.
"Okay," Bambietta said, not even batting an eyelash, "I guess it stings a hell of a lot more if you aren't an actual Quincy. Oh well."
The mission had been a success, the town of Krautweide saved and the Stonebreakers and Schwarzwald apprehended. Those of Fairy Tail had been rewarded for their efforts and had returned home to Magnolia.
Now Bambietta was sitting at a table in the guild hall, quiet and alone. Wendy had gone off to converse with Natsu, the Fire Dragon Slayer keenly intent to see if she truly did not know about the whereabouts of Igneel. Natsu had told Bambietta that Lucy had gone out to spend her portion of the reward on some new clothes and Levy apparently was out with Shadow Gear on a job request all their own.
It was just as well, Bambietta withdrawn for the time being. Schwarzwald had survived, all thanks to the Ginto capsule and Wendy's healing, but the Quincy knew she had very nearly crossed a line with him. The man had been quiet when apprehended, perhaps humbled or afraid, she was not sure, but he had not spoken of what she had almost done to him.
Bambietta, however, was still concerned. She did not regret for an instant about what she had almost done. The man no doubt had it coming, but she also knew that she was not strong enough to fend for herself in this world. Killing as a last resort, as self-defense, that Makarov said could very well happen. Bambietta, however, had very nearly executed the man in cold blood. All because of what horrid memories his magic had dragged up to the surface.
There was some solace to take in the fact that she had at least broken the man's Purgatory scythe, freeing the souls he had corrupted and letting them pass on in hopeful peace, but that was all Bambietta could see positive.
She would have been ostracized from Fairy Tail, perhaps even arrested and tried by the Magic Council and that creep Siegrain. What would happen to Liltotto then? To Wendy? Would Bambietta ever see the likes of Lucy, Levy and Erza?
Bambietta leaned forward on to the table, dull eyes peeking out as her face began to rest against her crossed arms. She was beginning to realize something that gnawed at her thoughts. She was growing attached to this guild. She would miss it if it was taken from her.
"Bambi? Is something the matter?"
The Quincy sat up then, turning to see Liltotto and Erza standing behind her, the duo walking from the entranceway.
"No," Bambietta began to say, standing and walking over to the two, "everything's just fi- whoa!"
Bambietta had not been prepared for Erza to suddenly reach out and touch her, the S-Class mage pulling Bambietta in for a hug. The Quincy gasped in pain as the side of her head struck Erza's breastplate. She had gotten no chance to activate Blut in preparation.
"Okay, ow," Bambietta whimpered. "What was that for?"
"Liltotto has told me much of what transpired to you both," Erza whispered, the wizard still managing to possess a commanding tone of voice despite the low register. Then did take on a sweeter demeanor. "I am so very sorry to hear what had happened."
"That's... great," Bambietta said, the Quincy still trying to shake off how dizzy she felt from hitting the armor headfirst. "Really, I appreciate it, but... I have a favor to ask of you..."
Erza's eyes lit up and she let go of Bambietta. "A favor?"
Bambietta pulled away, rubbing the side of her head with one hand. She looked at Liltotto for a moment, curious to know how much her friend had told Erza, but for now she shrugged it off. "Maybe it's just the concussion talking, but I seem to recall you were able to defeat the majority of Eisenwald with her sword and didn't draw even a drop of blood, right?"
"Yes," Erza replied. "That is how I've tried to fight all my battles. The flat side of a sword is just as effective as the blade, as well as not fatal."
"Well," Bambietta said, going a little red in the face as she looked away from Erza, her hand moving from her temple and into her hair so she could nervously scratch it. "That, is, I-"
"Liltotto," Erza suddenly interrupted. "Isn't that the way you looked when you spoke about Natsu?"
"What?" Liltotto's eyes widened in shock. "I- I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Bambietta could not help but giggle under her breath due to Liltotto's reaction. It was rare to see her get flustered, but it was always amusing. Still, she knew what the matter at hand was. "Erza, I need... want to see if you might be willing to show me how to use a sword like you do."
Erza nodded but still had one question. "Didn't the... Vandenreich, was it, teach you how to use that sword I've seen you with?"
"Yes," Bambietta began to answer, looking down at the dominant hand, "but all I ever learned was how to kill with it. And I... I want to be able to use it like you would. I want to be able to actually bring it out for Fairy Tail without having to be worried about what I might do. I want to know how to use a sword non-lethally."
"Well, the first thing I was ever taught to fight in that manner was to always lead with my left foot," Erza began, the mage preparing to run through all that she had been taught and learned on her own. She brought an index finger up, ready to speak once again, when she suddenly stopped. "I suppose this is not the time or the place. Nonetheless, I accept your request, Bambietta Basterbine. Shall we begin tomorrow, four in the morning?"
Bambietta's eyes widened in horror. "That early?"
"I've always believed that a warrior's skill rises best when the sun does the same," Erza replied.
"Okay then," Bambietta said in return. "Four in the morning it is. What have I done?"
"Oh, Bambi! Lil! You're both here!" The two Quincy and Erza looked to see Mirajane fast approaching, an honest smile on her face and a package in her hands. The silver haired woman walked right up to Bambietta and handed it to. "While you were both away, this was delivered to the guild hall for you both!"
"For us?" Bambietta was confused, something that became all the more apparent when she looked at the mailing label and could see that it was indeed addressed to herself, Liltotto and the Fairy Tail guild hall. "Well, this is odd."
"Open it," Liltotto said simply as she leaned in close to Bambietta, peeking down at the package.
"All right, fine," Bambietta said as she began to tear open the box. "So pushy..."
Inside the package Bambietta could find nothing but a bound hardcover book, a rather lengthy one at that. She reached in and grabbed the contents, letting the box drop to the floor so that she could hold the heavy book with both hands. There was nothing on the cover at all, leaving Bambietta to begin to open the book.
"Oh wow." Liltotto's eyes widened a bit as she took notice of the writing within the middle pages that Bambietta had opened to. It consisted solely of directions and instructions for Quincy spells, ranging from the basic to the esoteric.
"But... who would know anything about Quincy spells here?" Bambietta whispered under her breath. "And even then, who would know we're here?"
Bambietta began to flip through the pages, working her way back to the start of the book. When she arrived at the first page both she and Liltotto could see a note that was not typed but hand written.
Bambietta began to read it aloud, becoming lost in the moment as she did so. "I hope this book will help you both in making your way in this new world. Perhaps we shall meet again soon, my old friends."
Now who could have given her that book? I know who it is mind ya, but the question is, do you? Feel free to leave your guess in your review. Id love to see how many people get it right.
Now I know not much happened in this chapter, but I felt that it had to be done in some way, shape, or form. This is better than just going to the next arc. What's the next arc? I'll just say this, its an arc that changes alot of things for both Bambietta, and Fairy Tail as a whole. I'm sure alot of you already know what it is. Oh but trust me, this is going to be VERY different from its cannon countrpart, dont you worry. Im not "just adding Bambietta" to it and thats the only difference. Oh no, this is...far different.
Anyways, before I go, i feel its only fair to leave you guys with the MPF's of this chapter.
Bandits: 10
Wendy: 800 (she has power, but not the confidence to use it, thats all)
Schwarzwald: 1900
Bambietta: (holding back) 1470
Liltotto: 1500
Bambietta: full power: 3300
Erza (Normal armor):2300
Just to help keep things in perspectave. Anyways, thank you all so much for reading, I cant thank you guys enough. If you can, please leave your thoughts on the chapter, or the story as a whole in the form of a review. Thank you very much
