Happy November everyone! We're back with another chapter. Once again, this was written by me, though I did need Ankoholic's help in writing some dialogue with Levy. In any event, I'm sure this chapter is bound to get quite the reaction out of all of you. Now, why is that? Well, I'm not going to spoil the surprise until you get to it yourself. I will say however that this chapter was originally going to only be about 7000 words long... and ended up being over 14000. Well, that's writing for ya. XD
Still, as per usual, I'm eager to get your reviews to hear what you all thought about this chapter. I worked really hard on this one, so it would mean a lot.
Anyways, I've kept you all waiting long enough, so let's get on with the show!
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo and Shounen jump. Fairy tail is owned by Hiro Mashima and weekly shounen magazine. I own NOTHING. This is all just for fun!
Levy let out a sigh as she placed yet another book down at the counter before her. An old friend of hers, Patricia Warburton, owned a bookstore in Bottlebrush, a small town near the mountain range of Fiore. Patricia had formerly run her bookstore in Magnolia, but her husband had been given a very promising business opportunity in Bottlebrush. Thus, she parted ways with her old friend. Recently, however, Patrica had reached out to Levy to ask for a favor. She and her husband were going to be going out on a five-day vacation to celebrate their third anniversary and she wanted someone to watch the store for her while she was gone. It was a job with pay of course.
Ever the kind wizard she was, Levy had accepted. Knowing her old friend, she was more than likely to have a collection of novels that she had yet to read and that too had enticed her. She knew deep down that she was very likely to lose all her salary to the store itself if she was not careful.
However, much to her disappointment, all of the recent books Levy had wanted to check out had been recently sold just a few days before she had arrived. Sure there were plenty of books in the store she had yet to read for herself, but a vast majority of them had come from authors she believed were less than talented in the literature world, though there was one in particular that she held a grudge against. How a story about a famous hero from Fiore's past dealing with the mental scars they gained over their adventures could turn into such poorly written schlock she would never understand.
Champion's in Crisis? More like Literature in Crisis, she thought to herself. But what was bothering her right now was the lack of anything to do! She had asked Bambietta and Lucy if the two would be willing to lend her a hand by keeping her company, but sadly the two Fairy Tail wizards had already made plans for a special weekend. Jet and Droy were also busy, Patricia not having enough money to pay for all of Shadow Gear, the two had no choice but to take on jobs on their own to pay for their daily needs.
No one had even bothered to come through the front door to even skim through what the bookstore had, let alone buy anything! The only thing Levy had to keep herself distracted was one of the few books she had found that had gotten her interest. However, she had finished reading the entirety of the small novel two hours ago, and now the petite mage found herself bored out of her mind! It had been money well spent, but also a joy short-lived. Worse, Levy did not want to believe that she was not only her first customer but her last. I've already read everything else I've liked in this store at least three times back home. I do wish Jet and Droy were here!
Maybe, if she was lucky, she would see some sort of action soon. Patricia had warned her of a dark guild that was located nearby that had been causing the town trouble as of late. Property damage, beatings, a protection racket and even the occasional sacrifice all in the name of the dark wizard of times long gone... Zeref. Typical dark guild behavior. A squadron of Rune Knights had been assigned to deal with the task at hand, but presently, the Magic Council was overwhelmed by a rise in the number of dark guilds beginning to fall under the influence of the Balam Alliance.
Maybe, just maybe, some of them would come by to cause some trouble for her to deal with? And if not, perhaps it would have been best for Levy to seek them out herself once this task for Patricia was complete. As a member of Fairy Tail, it was hard to watch as other wizards threw their weight around.
Levy just as quickly shook her head as the thought came to mind. No, I shouldn't be asking for something like that. Someone could easily get hurt without me knowing about it. I'll just have to deal with... this. However, just as she was about to let out another sigh of boredom, Levy heard the distinct sound of a bell jingling as the door opened. She smiled as she turned around. Finally, some company! However, as she turned around what she saw... Well, it wasn't what she expected at all.
A man wearing an almost entierly white outfit had walked in, but he looked rather strange. To begin with, his skin was as white as the garments upon his back! It was as if his skin itself was chalk! From the pristine countenance of his face were piercing green eyes, markings that matched their color falling across the sides of his face. For a moment Levy had to wonder if it was merely makeup, a simple fashion statement of an eccentric wizard. However, it all looked too perfect to have been anything of the sort. It looked like it all belonged... which made it all the more weird. However, what she had found to be the most bizarre part of his appearance had to undoubtedly be what appeared to be half of a skeletal helmet on the top left side of his head. There was even a horn sticking out from it!
Levy was taken aback at first, though the Fairy Tail mage did not allow that to last for long. "Welcome to Patricia's Book Warehouse! Not that I'm Patricia, but... " Levy paused. The first customer she ever had and she botched the introduction. She bowed slightly at the desk, a nervous sweat forming around the edges of her face. "I'm sorry, can we start over? This is Patricia's Book Warehouse but I'm just Levy. Levy McGarden. Is... is there anything I can help you with? A certain book? Or maybe a preorder you'd like to place?"
The man looked around for just a few seconds before he turned his attention to the woman before him. He stared at her, not in any sort of malicious sort of way, but with a blank and utterly emotionless expression upon his face. Even still, it left Levy feeling a bit uneasy. "Possibly. Tell me, do you have any books pertaining to... the heart?"
"The heart?" Levy looked up, smiling despite her confusion. Awfully specific. Still, she did her best to be a proper cashier. After all, providing customer service was the goal here. And Levy knew she should be grateful that a quiet man was her first customer. Patricia had told her many horror stories about pushy customers. "Well, we do have some medical books in the back of the store," Levy answered. "Or are you... talking about romance novels by chance? Sorry, just... This is my first day so if I'm misreading your interests, I apologize!" Levy bowed again, a nervous look slowly taking over her face. C'mon, get it together, girl! You can do this!
"It's... not quite something I understand myself," the man said as he looked at Levy. "Though, I hardly believe the matter I'm looking into involves the biological organ." He closed his eyes for a moment as if he was remembering something. "I suppose this is all because of a woman I once knew."
Levy perked up then. Oh, so he is looking for a romance novel!
"She... " The man paused for a moment as if searching for words. "She was, for the lack of a better term, incapable of leaving her residence. I was tasked with being her caretaker, as well as ensuring that she would not leave her new home. Due to issues outside her control, she could no longer see her friends. The distance between them all had become vaster than any ocean. But despite that harsh reality, she still believed that they would be together again one day."
He then opened his eyes as he continued. "But, despite all of the hardships that they faced, all of the pain and suffering, they bested that harsh reality and they were all of them reunited in the end. Her unshakable resolve was rewarded. It... baffled me. To see her believe in something as intangible and invisible as hope and each time I asked why she continued to believe... her answer was always the same."
"That's what friends do," Levy said, her mind thinking back to a time when she was at her lowest. Of being defeated by a wizard, of being left crucified to a tree. Of the guild that came to her rescue and the woman who brought her down and cradled Levy in her arms and cried for her. "They care for one and another. They believe in one and another. Through thick and thin."
"Friends you say?" he said as he looked back at Levy. "And in what way do friends relate to the heart? For all my life, I have believed in only what my eyes could see. No matter how much that woman kept on telling me about the heart, I was never able to truly grasp just what she was talking about. However, it was at the very end of my time as her...caretaker, that I was able to glean a slight understanding of just what she was talking about." He then shook his head. "But that feels as if it was a lifetime ago. I've since traveled abroad and found myself in this new land, this Fiore, with no purpose left in life. None, except to unravel this mystery left before me."
"So you meant..." Levy paused for a moment, thinking back to a conversation she had recently with one of the newer members of Fairy Tail. She brought her hand up then, placing it not over her chest, but clenching it tightly in the space between herself and the man. "You mean this heart. The one that forms between people?"
"I believe that to be the case, yes," he said. "I have spent the last several months reflecting on this matter. However, I remain confused even now. I have spent the vast majority of my life alone. It was only very recently that I found myself in the company of others, but that was transient and impersonal and that purpose in life was hollow. But as I've told you moments ago, that purpose is no more. This... is all that I have now."
"Well... " Levy thought it over. "There are some self-help books in the back. As well as some about... emotional intelligence I believe is the term. I could go bring those over if you wanted."
"That would be most appreciated," the man said.
"All right then!" Levy smiled, happy to be able to help her first customer despite all obstacles. She put on her reading glasses before she ran off then, getting a ladder rolled into place. She moved up to the top shelf, running an index finger across the spines of the books. "Not this one, or this, or- Ah, there it is!"
The man stood there and watched as Levy soon returned with what she believed would be the tome that might help him in his search for answers. She placed the book down on the counter and his eyes slowly wandered down to look at the cover. Its appearance was nothing special, just a brown book with big golden letters, all of it spelling out a name the man read aloud. "How to Acquire Friends and Understand Oneself?"
"I hope it's a good choice," Levy said, a little nervous with her selection.
"I suppose there is only one way to find out," the man said as he reached for the book. He looked back at Levy however as he placed his hand over it. "Does your store have a policy on whether or not a customer is allowed to look over the contents of a book before purchase?"
"Uhm, well... " Levy paused for a moment. "Patricia never told me whether or not that was okay, so... "Levy glanced from side to side innocently enough. "If you want to look over a couple of pages, I won't tell anybody."
The man nodded his head before he walked over to a nearby table. He slowly opened up the book and his eyes began to slowly scan over the page, appearing to be very into the novel before him.
He's a quiet one for sure. Perhaps it was simply due to Levy having grown accustomed to the madhouse that was Fairy Tail's guild hall but she was taking much note of the reserved nature of the customer before her. When you spent your days surrounded by the likes of Bambietta and Natsu, someone as quiet as this man would stick out like a sore thumb. Now I'm just being nosey...
Levy went back behind the counter for the moment, keeping herself busy with organizing everything around her. No... Levy had spent a better part of her days in bookstores and libraries to enjoy her interests. She had dealt with the quiet life such hobbies brought about. So it was not Fairy Tail that made this a unique case. He was unique even to the other side of her life as well. With what he talked about in regards to his past... maybe he's hurt like Bambi was. He just... shows it in his own way.
Silence soon began to take over the bookstore once more as the customer continued to read. However, after some time, he closed the book. "How troublesome."
"Hm?" Levy had been behind the counter then, looking over the shelf beneath the register. At the sound of her first customer's voice, she popped her head up into view. "Something wrong?"
"In a manner of speaking," he said as he turned around to face her. "Not with the book itself, but rather the context required. I've already gathered some valuable information from the first few pages, on why people value companionship. To pass through harsh trials and moral support as well as interact with one who shares common interests. However, the final words of the first chapter make it clear that self-reflection and prior experience with friends of my own will be used throughout." He then handed the book over to her. "Unfortunately, my thoughts on this matter are insufficient. Furthermore, I'm afraid I've had and continue to have no one that fits the definitions of a 'friend' this text has provided me."
"That can't be true," Levy said as she moved around the counter and towards the man. "Whoever it was who entrusted you with being the caretaker of that woman you spoke of, surely they were a friend, right? I mean, they trusted and believed in you. "
"You've misinterpreted the situation," the man said as he placed the book down. "When I first met my... employer, I had no purpose in life. I joined him when he promised to give me one. However, myself and those like me... we were just a means to an end to him. And my comrades and I tolerated each other at best, our only connection our united service. I had no friends then, nor do I now."
He is like Bambi... Levy thought to herself. In his own way... Levy reached out a hand towards the man then, her next words both honest and true. "Well, maybe I'm overstepping my bounds, but if you need a friend in the area, I... I could be it."
He stared at her for a few seconds before he spoke. "I don't understand. Why would you make such an offer so casually? You know little about me. I haven't even given you my name."
Maybe I'm just a sucker for hard-luck cases... but don't tell Bambi that... Levy cleared her throat. She considered pouring her own heart out, of how she had met Bambietta months ago and how she had seemed in need of a friend. Of how he seemed to as well, in his own way. She considered it, but... "Well, we're both going to be frequenting this bookstore in the future, right? I figure we should at least get to know one and another."
There was truth to what she was saying. He highly doubted that just this one singular book would be enough to truly understand the issue at hand. Furthermore, he remembered from the interactions he had with that woman that having friends of at least some kind was an essential part of understanding what the heart was truly about. Last of all, this woman's company was something that he found rather... soothing. Her cheery optimism was the kind that was a diamond in the rough that was the land of his birth. And while once he would have considered such an attitude annoying, things had changed, no doubt due to the influence of the woman who had reached towards him when there was no reason to. "Very well," he said before he took her hand. "I accept your offer."
"Great! And in that case, I think a proper introduction is in order." Levy smiled as she shook his hand. "I'm Levy McGarden of Fairy Tail. I'm kind of just filling here, so usually, I can be found back in my guildhall in Magnolia, Mister-?"
"Ulquiorra Cifer," he said as he slowly looked over at the woman before him. A wizard? That would explain why her spiritual pressure was much higher than most of the individuals that I've encountered in this world thus far.
"So, do you have any hobbies?" Levy asked as she took a seat right next to the pale man. "I personally love to read, though I guess you already had that part figured out."
"At the moment, I don't have any hobbies to speak of. I merely go about doing what is necessary for my day to day existence…Though I suppose my current desire to learn more about the heart could be considered one."
Wow, I've met some odd ducks before but this guy takes the cake. But hardly anyone in Fairy Tail can really be considered normal now can they? Levy thought to herself before she smiled. "Well, if you're looking for something fun to do, maybe I can recommend something good to read? I don't mean to brag, but I like to think I know of some pretty good novels that might entertain you."
"Is that what your heart is telling you to do?" Ulquiorra asked her.
"In a sense, yes," Levy said. "When people make friends, they tend to share the same interests and we won't know what it is you like or don't like unless we start trying. Besides, you don't seem to be the type that would be overly interested in sports or the like."
"That would be a correct assumption on your part," he replied. He never did understand the fascination human beings had with such competitive shows of physicality. No, not just humans. Even his fellow arrancar were willing to give in to their baser instincts. Though not through more refined sport, Grimmjow and Nniotra both had been utterly intent on proving their superiority through actions and not words. For a moment did Ulqiourra have to wonder if such human sports would have allowed his fellow Espada to release their pent up aggression in less destructive ways.
"In that case, I know just the place where to start!" Levy said as she quickly got up and ran back over to the back of the store. She soon came back, carrying a moderately sized book. "It's one of Zekua Melon's classics! The Adventure to the Center of Earth Land! It's about three mages who embark on a journey to see and discover more of the known world and the crazy adventures they go on! I'm sure that you'll get a kick out of reading it!"
Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow as his newfound friend became excited over the book in her hands. He had serious doubt that he would be as entertained as she hoped he would. Still, as she said earlier, there was only one way to find out. "I suppose I can give this book of yours a chance."
Levy handed him the book, and he soon opened it. Silence soon once again fell upon the book store as Levy watched on in interest. She was positive that she had made the right choice! She and Lucy had spoken for hours on how this was one of their favorite pieces of literature. Surely he could find at least some merit to it all.
Soon enough, like before, Ulquiorra had finished looking over the book and turned to Levy. "This piece of literature is full of inaccuracies in regards to how the world operates."
Levy's mouth dropped as she heard him insult the book that she had just given him! He didn't like it!? But she was so sure she had made the right choice!
However, before she could say anything, he continued. "With all that said... I must admit that I do find myself invested in its characters and plot."
Levy felt herself let out a breath of relief that she wasn't aware that she had been holding before she asked. "Really? You like it?"
"Like isn't the word I'd use. However, I can't deny that I find the premise itself to be interesting if anything else. The pursuit of knowledge of the unknown, despite the risks and ridicule that our protagonists face, is something that I find to be of a worthy cause. They wish to prove what truly exists by seeing it with their own eyes. In other words, I believe that I need to continue reading to form more of an informed opinion."
"Great! Let's get you set up at the counter and we can get these purchased for you as soon as possible!" Levy scampered off to the counter, moving behind it as Ulquiorra made his way to the other side. He pulled from his coat a small wallet. However, as she reached for the jewel needed for the exchange, Levy noticed the man frowning.
"It appears that I lack the funds necessary to afford both books."
"Hmm. " Levy gave it the briefest of thoughts before she took out her wallet. "You know, as a celebration of you being my first customer and to show my appreciation... let's just say that the second one is on me."
Ulquiorra looked as if he was about to ask another question, no doubt if this was something that friends tended to do for one another when all of a sudden, a fireball came bursting through the window, glass shattering everywhere and pieces of flame hitting the bookshelves. Levy gasped in surprise, but soon quickly lept into action.
"Solid Script: Water!"
Writing into the air with her hands, giant letters in the form of the element she had just yelled out appeared from thin air. The watery word launched itself forward, quickly dousing the fire before it could cause the building any more harm. Frowning, the mage looked back at her friend. "Stay here!"
Quickly marching out the door, Levy could see the ones responsible for the wreck. A large group of men, about twenty in total, were currently bring devastation to the town. No doubt these were members of the dark guild that Patricia had warned her about.
"See what happens when you fail to bring in the dough we ask for!?" one of them shouted out before letting loose a spell, quickly firing a boulder from a magic circle into another building. " The bossman told you it'd be a real shame if something happened to your place! And it's a real shame you stood him up on the jewel!"
Needless to say, the petite mage was quite furious at what was going on before her. A brief flash of guilt quickly went through her mind when she remembered she had briefly wished for this sort of thing to break up her mundane routine, but she quickly let it pass. The people of Bottlebrush needed her help and standing here feeling guilty for herself wasn't going to do anything!
"Solid Script: Fire!" she yelled out as she quickly wrote out the letters in midair, the word sent flying into one of the mages that were currently destroying the town. Quickly, the other wizards took note of her presence. Good, now she had their attention.
"I'm going to give you one chance to stand down or you're going to be dealing with me!" Levy said as she stood defiantly before the group of criminals. Trying to bargain with them before they had known she was a wizard would have gone nowhere, but maybe now that they knew what they were dealing with-
"A mage!?"
"Who cares!? We'll show this town what happens when you mess with the Shadow Acolyte guild!"
So much for that idea. Figures. Levy held her ground even as a bunch of her opponents began to rush her. However, in light of the Phantom Lord incident, Levy had gone out of her way to make sure that what occurred with her and the Iron Dragon Slayer would never happen again. Thus, she had begun to train whenever she found the time to become stronger.
Quickly dodging under a water attack from one of the mages, Levy quickly wrote the word 'Lighting' in the air, shocking the man as soon as his attack missed her. Behind her, a man wielding a sword tried to stab her, but Levy was more than prepared. His sword clashed against her arm, only to be surprised that not only did he fail to cut it at all, but it was his weapon that had sustained damage.
Glowing beneath her sleeves, the words 'Steel' could be seen on her skin before Levy kicked the man right in the chest/ As she had discovered in her time training, Levy had realized that her magic had more potential than she had initially realized. While Solid Script could be used rather effectively for ranged offense and a slight defense, the scope of its power could be so much more. By writing some of the words onto her body, she could give it certain attributes to allow her to take more hits than she would normally be capable of. Perhaps even to dish out harder ones of her own if she so wished.
"Solid Script: Earth!" A giant word made out of rocks soon came crashing down on the mages that were gathered before her, seven of them now stuck underneath the rubble as they desperately, and futilely tried to escape.
"Just who the hell is this chick!?" one of the rouge's asked his comrades. "I didn't think this town had any mages!"
"I don't know, but we got to deal with her somehow! Otherwise, what are we going to tell the boss!?"
"Just rush her! It's thirteen of us against one of her!"
Levy did not allow them to intimidate her. "Solid Script: Wind!"
Instantly, the group of mages that had been discussing what to do next had been hit by a gale of the word wind. They soon fell to the ground, slowly trying to get up to continue fighting. However...
"Solid Script: Chains!"
Several chains in the form of letters came into existence around the mages, wrapping them up and pinning their arms to their sides. Not satisfied with just that, Levy repeated the spell, her eyes glancing down. Once more did another set of the letters formed from chains appear, this time half embedded in the ground, what could be seen of them wrapping around the ankles of the wizards, holding them still.
Levy smirked as she now looked at the dark mages that she had ensnared. Wow, I can't believe I just took out all of them so fast! I mean I know I improved a lot but still! Who knows? If I keep this up, then maybe Master Makarov will consider me for the trip to Tenrou Island this year...
The fallen men groaned before one of them began to have a scared look on his face. "Oh man, what are we going to do now!? If the boss finds out, he's gonna, he's going to-"
"YOU FOOLS! To think that I entrusted you all to spread the great and honorable word of Lord Zeref! How uncouth of you all to fall in battle as you have! It has become abundantly clear that I, CRUZE DE FABIAN, SHALL HAVE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO MY OWN HANDS!"
Levy slowly turned around to see a man with long orange hair clad in a violet outfit emblazoned by a crimson Z on his torso, a white cape falling from his pauldrons. "Disrespectful harridan, you may have bested those who call Shadow Acolyte their guild, but I am their guild master! I am beyond as far beyond you as you are beyond them! I am Cruze De Febian, the great and wondrous prophet of Zeref himself! And you, wretch, should KNEEL BEFORE YOUR BETTER!"
Levy simply stared at the dark guild master, her expression unblinking. She knew that Bambietta would have had some kind of snappy comeback to his... bravado, but the Solid Script mage was not so quick to come up with one herself. "... What?" Levy was completely beside herself. This was the guild master of Shadow Acolyte? He seemed like a complete and utter goofball, far too in love with his voice. How on earth had someone like this gotten to be in charge of so many wizards?
"What's this?!" Cruze asked, his voice descending into an unhinged cackle. "Are you in shock- NAY, in awe of my mere presence?! It is not surprising of course! For you stand before the greatness that is the Prophet of Zeref! I have many a great many wizard bow before me in reverence to his ancient wisdom and power AND YOU SHALL BE NO DIFFERENT!"
"Shock and awe? No, I... I think this is more confusion and bewilderment I'm experiencing. And... I know we're outside, but inside voice, please..." Levy furrowed her brow, a single drop of sweat sliding down the left side of her face. Yeah, there we go. Insult the loudmouth wizard. Bambi would be so proud of me... I think.
"YOU DARE?! You dare to think you can mock the prophet of Zeref and just walk away?! Wretched fool! I shall make you sacrifice to my lord!"
A whip that seemed to be composed of solid magic then appeared into his hands, and he swung it at Levy with great ferocity. Dodging to the left, Levy quickly let out another shot of her Solid Script magic, sending a word composed of fire hurtling towards her enemy. However as the flame approached him, Cruze swung his whip down once more, dispersing her attack. "What?" Levy gasped before she just narrowly avoided the next attack, the whip cutting through a nearby lamp post with utter ease. Well, I guess he isn't a guild master for nothing.
"Yes, dance, dance for me you little swine! Your cries of misery shall make for such sweet music for Lord Zeref's return!" Cruze yelled out before Levy ducked an overhead swing.
"Solid script: Water!" The wet letters splashed right against Cruze's face and he fell due to the surprising force. However, he quickly rose back onto his feet, black magic suddenly arcing across his weapon.
"Darkness Whip!"
A shot of solidified shadow flew forward and, not having enough time to properly dodge, Levy settled for the next best thing.
"Solid Script: Shield!" A metallic barrier in the shape of the word appeared before her now, blocking the attack, though the letters cracked under the duress of the attack. Not wanting to allow the dark guild master an opportunity to follow up on his offense, Levy decided to press on with an attack of her own.
"Solid Script: Hole!"
"Huh?" Instantly, a large hole was written under him, the letter O forming a large ditch that Cruze fell into. Groaning, he struggled to get to his feet. "You bitch, this isn't ov-"
"Solid Script: Landslide!" Just as Cruze began to look out from the hole that Levy had dug for him, he could once again see large letters, this time made out of many rocks, come crashing down at him. He attempted to swing his whip in an attempt to deflect all of the incoming debris, but it was too much, and he was soon engulfed by the landfall.
Is it over? Levy thought to herself as she looked over at the hole. It seemed like her last attack had finally defeated him. Still, it would be best to contact the Rune Knights as soon as possible. However, just as she was about to head back to the bookstore, she heard the crack of a whip come from the hole she had just created, darkness spewing out of it. Worse, she could see Cruze's weapon flailing about. The guild master slowly emerged from it, though he wasn't in what Levy could describe as good condition. Cuts and bruises of all kinds covered his body, his face, in particular, suffering a rather nasty gash, one that left his face a crimson mask.
"You dare... You dare... YOU DARE HURT THE GREAT PROPHET OF LORD ZEREF!?" he yelled out as the black energy condensed itself around his whip. He swung it forward, and Levy just barely managed to conjure up another shield with her Solid Script magic before it connected. It clanged against her shield but a follow-up swing shattered it, sending the Fairy Tail mage across the street. She slowly got up as Cruze descended upon her.
"I was going to give you the honor of being a sacrifice to Lord Zeref but now I see the truth. Such a privilege is too good for you!" Cruze slashed at a nearby magic mobile, cutting the vehicle in two as he continued. "Oh no, I'm going to keep you alive, as my little consort! You'll serve as a perfect example of what happens to those who defy the almighty Cruze!"
Levy coughed as she looked at him in defiance. "Like hell... I'm going to end up as your damn pet!" she yelled out before she wrote a word in the air once more. "Solid Script: Fire!"
However, the word that came out this time was much smaller than before and Cruze casually whipped it away.
"Wh-what?" Levy gasped out. What was going on? She hadn't used that much magic yet, she was sure of it. "Solid Script: Earth! Water! Wind! Fire! Arrow!"
Each attack she sent at the enemy with everything she had, but each one was casually swatted away as the man's grin only began to get larger and larger. "Do you see it now, you little harlot? Against me, you're nothing more than an insignificant insect!"
Levy was panting now, the mage feeling exhausted, and confused. What was going on? She knew she could do better than this, even before she had begun her more taxing training following the Phantom Lord incident. But now... she was nothing more than a mild annoyance to the man before her. He walked up to her as she began to write down words all over her own body.
"Now then, why don't you be a good submissive pet and I'll make sure that I won't hurt you tonight. Not too much at any rate." He looked down at Levy, offering his hand. "Well? How about it? A night in my bed? Or a night in the dog pen?"
Levy said nothing as she slowly got to her feet. She then slowly began to extend her hand towards his. Only when she made contact with his hand did she at last speak. "Here's my answer."
Levy sent a punch right at Cruze's face, her fist covered in flames. Right before the punch connected, Cruze could have sworn he saw the word 'fire' adorning Levy's knuckles. Gasping in pain, the dark guild master was soon punched with by Levy's other fist, his hand having let go of it, the word 'ice' upon it.
"Wh.. Why you little-"
Shouting at the top of her lungs, Levy began to punch at Cruze over and over, causing the man to stumble back under the duress of both fire and ice. She could do this, no, she HAD to do this! For the town, for her future! Hit after hit, she continued to wail on Cruze, until finally, the man fell to the ground. Levy panted for breath, hoping beyond all hope that she was finally done with this whole thing. That is it, I am never going to ask for a dark guild to make things more exciting for me ever again! However, just as she caught her breath, did the man once again begin to rise to her absolute horror. He had a black eye and what appeared to be a bloody nose, but nothing more. "H... How?" Levy asked as she fell to her knees. How was he still standing!?
"Isn't it simple? I am the great prophet of Zeref! I am the illustrious Cruze De Febian! None shall stand before me! None can dare hope to impede my desires! For I am-"
"Nothing more than mere trash."
Cruze turned to look over his shoulder, an incredulous expression etched upon his face. Amid the damage brought about the town by the fight was none other than Ulquiorra Cifer.
"TRASH?!" Cruze was beside himself with disgust as he looked upon the interloper. "What manner of heretic speaks so callously of one of the great prophets of Zeref?"
Ulquiorra simply said nothing as he walked forward, moving past Cruze with not a care in the world, stopping only when he arrived in front of Levy. "I do believe I've discovered a suitable source of payment for the book you recommended to me."
"You... you shouldn't have come... " Levy whispered before she managed to find the strength to speak up at last. "Run away! He's inhumanly strong! You can't-"
"Your choice of words confuses me. What was it that you said to me earlier when I asked about facing impossible odds for someone else? That's what friends do, was it not?"
"HA! Does this heretic think he can protect you? What an EPIC SHAM!" Cruze shouted before he chuckled. "Truly a comedy for the ages!"
Is... is he a wizard? But even still... Levy thought to herself. She had serious doubts that he could handle someone like... this! Cruze seemed to agree with her, the man continuing to laugh as he snapped his whip against the ground, shattering a part of the roadside.
"You're a fool if you honestly think you can stand before me! In the name of the great wizard Zeref, I shall smite you down! Darkness Whip!" Cruze swung his weapon downwards and it slammed right into Ulquiorra's shoulder, the ground beneath the pale man cracking from the strain. Cruze grinned manically, expecting a gasp of pain or the sight of a broken, bloody man. But what he was treated to was anything but. Ulquiorra was just standing there, with a completely blank expression. He didn't seem to have been hurt by the attack at all, not even his pristine clothes were the slightest bit singed or torn.
"Is that all?" he simply asked.
"No... no effect at all?" Levy was more than a little shocked. "My first customer is... "
"What!? That's-That's impossible!" Cruze shouted out as he continued to swing his weapon at Ulquiorra again and again. However, each time the weapon failed to do any sort of damage, the man standing his ground as if nothing was occurring.
"It's as I suspected. The only reason you were able to defeat Levy had nothing to do with your strength. No, it is simply because you possess magic that was capable of draining hers from a distance." Ulquiorra spoke, his face still as emotionless as ever.
"W-What?!" Cruze gasped as a shocked expression crossed his face. "No, I am the great and powerful prophet of Zeref! I would never need to debase myself with another's magic!"
"That's... what happened?" Levy asked, equally curious.
Ulquiorra slowly looked over to Levy before he answered. "I suspected it was the case when I sensed your spiritual pressure, no, your magic begin to decrease much faster than I had noticed with other wizards. I wasn't sure if your magic just took a different toll on your reserves, but once I sensed his powers increasing as the battle went on, it all became rather obvious.
"Then... all my training... " Levy felt herself brighten up then, this quiet man had brought her salvation in both combat and purpose. "It wasn't all for nothing."
"So... you figured it out..." Cruze began unnaturally calm then... but only for a moment. He went wild once again, his body alive with manic energy. "You say that as if knowing that will make any difference, you worthless wretch! All I have to do is drain your power and you'll be in the same position she is! It's all just a matter of time!"
"An inaccurate assessment on your part," Ulquiorra said as he slowly approached the man. Cruze continued to whip his weapon against Ulquiorra again and again but to no avail, confidence quickly giving way to panic. He was only delaying the inevitable…and failing miserably. "Your magic allows you to drain the power from others to enhance your own. However, you can only draw so much at any given moment. With Miss McGarden, it was if you were emptying a hot spring with a glass. But now...you find yourself trying to empty a lake."
"CRETIN!" Cruze shouted before he raised his whip high into the air. Purple magic continued to grow more and more from the whip until it was about as twenty feet in length. "You're just jealous of the grandeur of my power, you green-eyed monster! HAH! You speak greatly of your power but I know it not to be true! I've already taken it from you and added it to my own! And this, this attack is three times greater than any I've struck you with! I'll split you in two! No, I'll reduce you to dust!" With a crazed look on his face, Cruze shouted at the top of his lungs as he cracked his weapon forward. "DARKNESS WHIP, EXTREME OVERDRIVE UNLEASHED!"
As Levy began to feel her face grow pale, her eyes soon widened in shock as Ulquiorra simply raised his hand. The dark whip cracked against his arm, wrapping around it. Windswept around Ulquiorra, the ground beneath him crumbling into the form of a crater. Levy could feel the resulting shock wave from the attack as her hair flowed in the wind, yet she could see it. Ulquiorra was no more phased than he had been before.
"Curious. You believed three times your strength, stolen from my own, would be enough to vanquish me? You're a bigger fool than I had assumed," Ulquiorra flexed both muscle and spiritual pressure, extinguishing the darkness encircling the whip strapped to his arm. The weapon went slack then, Ulquiorra shaking it off.
Ulquiorra then vanished from sight with a sound that Levy could only describe as a strange static. That's like Bambi's hirenkyaku!
Appearing before Cruze, Ulquiorra kicked out with his right leg. The dark mage was sent flying some distance, crashing into a nearby building. Confident that the situation was resolved, Ulquiorra turned to look back at Levy. "Are you seriously injured?"
"I've had worse. Much worse actually." Levy said as she recalled the night of Gajeel's attack. "I'm just... so surprised. I had no idea that you were so strong. But if that's the case, then why-"
"Didn't I assist you sooner?" Ulquiorra answered Levy as he offered her his hand. She took it before she nodded her head. "In my homeland, I encountered many warriors who detested receiving the help of any kind in battle." He said as his thoughts brought to mind certain members of the Espada, the 5th and 6th to be more specific and even from what lord Aizen had told him about squad 11. "I didn't want to interfere on the off chance that you were such an individual, unlikely that it was. Furthermore, I could already sense that you had more than enough spiritual pressure to handle the foes you faced. I simply deemed my assistance unnecessary until that man joined the fray. At that point, I determined that it would be best to deal with the problem personally."
Spiritual Pressure? Is this guy from the same world that Bambi and Rukia are from? Levy wondered before she got up to her feet. She recalled Liltotto using the words "spiritual pressure" more than once in regards to how she and Bambi could sense how strong others were. "Well, you don't have to worry about me being so stubborn. I'll take any assistance you can give me any time."
"Duly noted," Ulquiorra said. Levy was just about to ask him about his homeland, specifically if he came from the same world that Bambi had told her so much about when he then slowly turned around. "It would appear that he's quite the stubborn one."
Sure enough, as Levy looked in the same direction, Cruze was back on his feet, though he was currently wobbling forward and gasping for breath. Had he done that much damage with just one kick? Just who was this mysterious man she had made friends with a few moments ago?
"You..you...you dare!? You will pay for your insolence RIGHT NOW!"
If he were anyone else but himself, Ulquiorra half-suspected he would have rolled his eyes out of annoyance due to this man's sheer arrogance. "Do you honestly believe that you have any hope of victory? Your attacks are incapable of causing harm to me. Or do you still believe that your ability to leech off my Spiritual Pressure will somehow make up the difference in our strength? Is that the hope you so desperately cling to?" Ulquiorra slowly looked the Cruze over as the man's face was contorting from anger. "Or," Ulquiorra continued, "are you so lost in your anger that you've lost sight of both rationality and misplaced hope?"
Ulquiorra had to admit to himself that, in some ways, Cruze was reminding him much of Yammy Llargo. Both the overconfidence and the fits of rage that were shared between the two led the Arrancar to such comparison. However, whereas Yammy at least had enough power to make his arrogance somewhat founded in reality, the man before Ulquiorra was entirely unfounded in his supreme arrogance. He was, in Ulquiorra's eyes, nothing more than a pest, a mere insect that wouldn't even be able to continue fighting if not for leeching off the magic of others.
Truth be told, the only reason he hadn't killed Cruze in the first blow was merely out of convenience. While he wasn't sure of just how powerful the wizards under the Magic Council were, he had sensed some humans in this world with considerable strength. To risk such a possibility of being branded an unknown quantity that had killed needlessly in battle and find himself confronted by wizards whose power may exceed his own would have been foolish.
"I have avoided inflicting any fatal damage thus far because taking your life would be far more of a hassle than it would be worth. However, if you continue to fight me in your current state, you will die, whether it be my intention or not. You already have several broken ribs and no doubt a concussion from your previous battle. It would be wise of you to stand down."
"Stand down? You wish for me to stand down?!" Cruze asked before he began to laugh. "YOU FOOL! You... you foolish fool! I'll admit, you're much stronger than I originally gave you credit for, but I have an ace up my sleeve! One that you don't possibly stand a chance against!"
Ulquiorra sighed slightly. "I rather doubt that."
Undeterred by the pale man's casual indifference, Cruze raised his whip high and looked upon his fallen comrades. "You stand before the voice of Lord Zeref alone, while I... I COMMAND THE POWER OF AN ENTIRE GUILD!"
The looks of horror that appeared on those who called Cruze their guild master were clear as day, the dark wizards begging for mercy. They knew what he spoke of.
"No! Please, boss! Don't!"
"Ya can't do this!"
"We'll do better next time! Spare us!"
"SILENCE!" Cruze shouted as he looked down on them with a stern face. "You have failed me, and the word of Lord Zeref for the last time! But fear not, the sacrifice you're about to commit shall be more than enough to earn our lord's forgiveness! DARKNESS WHIP, EXTREME DOMINATION!"
Realizing what was about to happen, Levy released her hold on the magical chain words that kept the men bound to the ground, hopeful that this would allow for at least some of them to escape. However, it was too late. Just as some of them got up and began to run, Cruze's whip multiplied into several long cords and struck them all, piercing all of them through the torso. Their cries of pain were brief and short however, as their skin soon began to shrivel up.
"YES! The power fills me!" Cruze's voice trailed off, his form undergoing a metamorphosis. His muscles began to bulge, the magic of those who had served under him working dreadful wonders. As they became nothing more than lifeless husks, empty shells of who they had once been, Cruze was growing tall and wide, his new muscular frame threatening to dwarf the head that rested atop it and was soon well over eight feet tall. However, it was his eyes that seemed the most inhumane now, having to become purely white, dark shadows surrounding them. "Ah yes, the young blood has given unto me their all... Now, oh pale and meager foe, you face the combined total of all SHADOW ACOLYTE!"
As if to dramatize that moment, Cruze's whip transfigured just as its wielder had, the weapon forming into another altogether. Its end crashing to the ground, it had become a spoke covered club, giant, and nearly a match for Cruze's newly acquired mass.
Levy gasped, not at the transformations, but at the sheer and utter cruelty that he had just taken place before her. "How could you!? Those were your guildmates!"
Cruze let out a chuckle as he faced Levy, an evil grin plastered all over his face "Soft words from a frail one such as yourself? To me they were nothing more than pawns, soldiers to use to spread the great word of Lord Zeref! If they couldn't live up to my standards they may as well not live at all!"
"That's...You're the worst!" Levy yelled out at Cruze as she slowly tried to walk over to him. "People like you make me sick! You don't care about who you hurt so long as you get whatever you want! To just take lives like that, of your allies no less... It's despicable!" At least Bambietta had shown regret over her past actions, but Levy somehow doubted this man would do the same.
"You can insult me all you want, it'll only just make breaking you in all the more satisfying!" Cruze said as he looked at his newly formed weapon. Swinging it to the side, a powerful shock wave emitted from the weapon and struck a small building, the resulting clash causing the structure to shatter into several pieces. "AHAHAHA! DO YOU SEE NOW JUST HOW STRONG I'VE BECOME!? I CAN DESTROY ANYTHING I WANT NOW WITHOUT EVEN COMING INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH IT! I AM-"
Just before he could finish what was no doubt a long-winded speech about his greatness, Ulquiorra soon appeared before Cruze, the sound of static being heard by Levy and the dark wizard once again before. Before even a moment had passed, Ulquiorra punched Cruze in the stomach which caused him to kneel down in pain. Another kick sent him sailing back, smashing into the brick wall of a home, debris flying all over as a result. Ulquiorra's eyes narrowed as he slowly turned his head and looked at Levy. "Go back inside. Now."
"What? I can't just let you fight this guy all on your own!" Levy shouted in surprise. He wasn't seriously still considering fighting Cruze alone was he?
"This trash has gained enough strength to better withstand my attacks and has powered up to a level that I have yet to fully ascertain. It may be nothing of consequence, or it may prove problematic. Regardless, I can't guarantee you'll remain safe if you stay this close to our battle. Leave."
Levy held her ground, shaking her head. "No, I-"
Ulquiorra interrupted the mage with a word he had never imagined he would use. "Please."
Before the Arrancar could say another word or Levy could argue her case, the ground began to shake. It was Cruze, the man lumbering towards Ulquiorra in a mad rush. His weapon swung down towards Ulquiorra then, the man raising his hand to stop the swing. However, even as he did so, the pavement beneath him began to crack and buckle.
Ulquiorra was about to retaliate but Cruze surprised him. The dark mage swung his weapon to the side, then brought it back in the blink of an eye. The club struck home, catching Ulquiorra in the ribs and sent him flying towards a building. Ulquiorra was not amused, rotating in the air to allow the soles of his feet to make contact with the building. He was about to push off, destroying the complex with his physical power alone, but thought better of it.
There was no telling who might be inside. Instead, he flew away with no added momentum and soon found the space around him growing dark. Looking up, he could see the mad wizard now in the air, jumping down to his position as dark magic roiled around him and extended outwards. The club came down on Ulquiorra, smashing him down onto a vacant magic mobile.
This time, however, he wasn't even able to get up before Cruze had grabbed onto his right foot and brought him into the air only to slam him into the ground. As if Ulquiorra were some sort of ragdoll, Cruze continued to slam him into the ground over and over and over again, laughing mad all the while. "Take that, you no good swine! NO ONE DEFIES THE WILL OF LORD ZEREF AND LIVES TO TELL THE TALE!"
Levy gasped as one of her hands covered her mouth. It was just as she feared, the power Cruze had cruelly obtained had increased his strength too far greater heights than her first customer and friend could handle!
Slamming Uqluiorra down on the ground one last time, Cruze grabbed his weapon with his right hand and swung it onto the Arrancar, breaking the street apart and sending Ulquiorra deeper into the ground below. "It's about time I ended this little farce! By the time I'm done with you, there won't be enough left of you for that woman to even mourn!" Cruze began to wail on the fallen man then, destroying the street in the process. The guild master had to believe his foe was already dead, but he had been quite serious with what he had just said. As far as he was concerned, Ulquiorra would be nothing more than a greasy smear on his weapon by the time he was done!
"Hm?" Cruze suddenly stopped then, feeling something hit his head from behind. Turning around, he found himself looking upon an angry Levy, the drained wizard holding a fragment of the street that she was no doubt prepared to throw like the one she just had.
"Leave him alone!" she yelled as she threw it, catching the dark guild master in the chest. She knew what she was doing was pointless, that there was no way that she could hope to defeat Cruze in her current state after he had drained her magic for the time being. However, she could not, and would not, just stand back and watch someone die! "If you think I'm just going to let you hurt him anymore, you've got another thing coming!"
"You're more foolish than I thought," Cruze said as he grinned. "Not that it matters. Your friend is no more than a pile of mangled flesh now. Oh I know, as a reward for your bravery, how about I show you his mangled corpse?"
"He isn't dead! I-"
"I thought I told you to stay inside."
Levy lit up with joy. Slowly turning his head in response, Cruze could hardly believe what he was seeing. Slowly standing up, and still somehow undamaged stood Ulquiorra Cifer. He slowly dusted off his clothes with his right hand before once again vanishing from sight and appearing before Levy. "I... I'm sorry. I just... I thought you needed help," Levy struggled to say. Just who was this man? While she did not doubt that the likes of Erza could easily withstand the blows that he just had, Ulquiorra had done the same. Was he... on par with Fairy Tail's S-class? "You weren't moving at all, and.. and..."
"I was merely testing out just how much that transformation improved his strength. If I am to still defeat him without taking his life, it was a necessary process." Ulquiorra slowly turned around as he looked at the insane mage. "But for all your bluster and boasting, I find what you have accomplished...less than impressive."
At that moment, a strong sensation of pressure came upon Cruze, forcing the man to collapse to his knees. Levy herself could feel it as well, her knees wobbling slightly. She looked at Ulquiorra then, surprised. This weight... Is this coming from him!? It's like what Bambi did to the Carbuncle wizards.
"My apologies," Ulquiorra said, keeping his eyes on Cruze even as he took notice of Levy's looking his way. "Even if I focus my spiritual pressure on him, trace amounts will affect those I wish it wouldn't."
"It's... okay," Levy said, managing to remain standing. "I mean, you did tell me to move away from this."
"You... Damn you... I won't yield to some low life pissants like you!? Do you-"
Whatever was about to Leave Cruze's mouth Levy would never know as Ulquiorra punched him straight in the jaw, blood spewing out along with several teeth. Cruze attempted to swing his weapon once more, but Ulquiorra vanished from sight one last time, appearing with a kick that caught Cruze in the back of the head. Once more he was sent careening away.
I don't believe what I'm seeing here. Ulquiorra... He truly might be just as strong as Erza is! Levy thought.
Cruze was slowly getting up once more, his breathing ragged and shaky. How!? How could he be losing so easily to some nobody!? He was one of Lord Zeref's chosen ones! The power of an entire dark guild now resided in his body and here he was being treated like some novice! It was humiliating! Unforgivable even! He wanted, no, needed to kill this man above all else! With a loud yell, Cruze raised both of his hands in the air as dark magic began to surround them. "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH YOUR CONSTANT INTERFERENCE IN THE GLORIFICATION OF LORD ZEREF! I'm GOING TO HIT YOU WITH EVERYTHING I GOT AND TURN YOU AND THIS ENTIRE STREET INTO NOTHING BUT RUBBLE!"
Ulquiorra held his ground, his expression was unmoving. "Madness."
The magic had formed into a massive sphere that hovered above Cruze, one that was two stories in diameter. "Darkness Impulse!" Cackling, Cruze threw the giant sphere forward, the ground beneath it slowly eroding as it hurtled towards its target. "It's over, you bastard! You're done! My Darkness Impulse is stronger than even the gods! THIS ENTIRE TOWN SHALL BE YOUR GRAVE!"
This is bad. This is really, REALLY bad! Levy thought as the large attack was closing on Ulquiorra.
"I suppose you intend for me to be impressed? Or perhaps terrified?"
Ulquiorra was neither. All this hype, all this bluster, and it was for an attack that he was more than confident that he could withstand with minimal damage. Power comparable to a god? No doubt an exaggeration provided by an unreliable narrator consumed by his power. This was nothing compared to any of the Getsuga Tenshou's he had withstood in his last battle with the substitute soul reaper.
Still, while he had no concern for his safety, the same could not be said for Miss McGarden. The resulting explosion from the attack would no doubt level the entire street, if not more so, and that was something he simply could not allow. There was only one way to properly end this nonsense. Moving his hand forward, his index finger now extended, a green glow began to emanate from it.
"I have tried on numerous occasions to end this without lethal force but you've stubbornly refused to give up every time. If you are unable to survive, then you only have yourself to blame." A flash of green light then shot forth, bursting through the Darkness Impulse and dispersing the magic as if it were nothing more than a balloon waiting to be popped.
"No, that's impossible! SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE!" Cruze shouted as he was soon caught in Cero itself. "MY LORD ZERE-" In the end, there was only silence and a smoldering crater.
"You did it! You actually managed to beat him!" Levy said happily as she stopped within Ulquiorra's line of sight. "I didn't think anyone other than some of our best wizards could have done that! But, what was that attack anyway?"
"That was a cero. A powerful blast of concentrated spiritual energy to put it simply. Though that was only a fraction of its full potential."
"Only... a fraction?"
"I wished to avoid any excessive damage to the area or the unnecessary taking of a life, but... it seems he was trash unfit to survive."
Levy frowned as she heard this. On the one hand, it did upset her to see yet another person die from all this senseless violence... But Ulquiorra had tried on multiple occasions to end the fight without using lethal force. Not to mention if he hadn't done what he had countless people would have died, herself included. Judging him over something like this would be extremely foolish. Besides, it's not as if Cruze would have shown her any mercy even if she had survived.
"Look... please don't worry about it," Levy said as she walked past him only to turn around to better face him. "You did whatever you could to keep me safe. Not to mention the rest of the town. Beside's, it's not like you were intentionally trying to kill him or anything."
"Perhaps, but I also do not care that I did," Ulquiorra said. "I don't... have the heart to do so. I only worry that those in power will seek me out with judgment and condemnation. With death...or isolation."
"I'm sure the Magic Council will understand," Levy continued. "You fought for this town. For Fiore. It's not like you acted recklessly. And... believe me, I'm sure they'll appreciate the fact that you saved the town without leveling it completely in the process."
"Is that a common occurrence with wizards?" Ulquiorra asked innocently enough.
"With... some," Levy replied sheepishly.
"I suppose I should consider this a relief then," Ulquiorra replied. "I am less intentionally destructive than the average wizard. Now then, about the novel you recommended to me-" Moving forward, Ulquiorra suddenly pushed Levy to the side. Shocked, she could see Cruze. He was beaten and bloody from the Cero, but still on the attack. A sword in his hand, he had brought it towards her and Ulquiorra.
"You are beginning to become a nuisance," Ulquiorra said as he stared into the man's wide eyes, the blade of the sword pressing down upon his shoulder.
"No, this blade! It should- should-" Cruze continued to press the sword down as hard as he could against Ulquiorra's collarbone. "This blade was forged by Lord Zeref itself! It will cut you down where you stand! None can withstand its edge!"
Ulquiorra held his ground nonetheless. "You've grown weaker. No doubt due to my Cero or... No, if this blade was made by the one you worship so, then why did you not lead with it? I suppose there must be a drawback."
"Silence! Silence! SILENCE!" There was indeed but Cruze would not hear of it. He pushed down harder, darkness slipping out from between his fingers and into the sword itself. Soon enough it began to cut through cloth and flesh alike, drawing blood. Ulquiorra's face flinched ever so slightly, but he paid it no mind.
"I see now. This sword draws from your life itself to grant it power. A weapon fittingly made by the Black Wizard of legend." Ulquiorra swatted the sword aside rather casually. However, in doing so, he allowed the weapon to tear his shirt open.
Cruze stared in shock then. "You... What are you!?"
Levy was equally surprised. She could see the number four adorning Ulquiorra's chest, leaving her to rationalize it away as a guild emblem. However, what truly took hold of her attention was the gaping hole in Ulquiorra's chest. At first, she felt her heart skip a beat, afraid that Cruze had mortally wounded him. But there was no blood coming from the whole. No, it looked... eerily natural.
Ulquiorra casually looked down at his chest as he noticed the reactions of the two wizards near him. It was more than enough to consume his usually calm mind. First was the fact that the blade had managed to cut through his Hierro. Truly this Zeref that Cruze had spoken of deserved his reputation in the world. The second, however, was more worrisome to him. He didn't care one lick about Cruze's opinion, but Levy's...
He quickly punched Cruze in the face, the man falling to the ground, finally still and silent before he turned to face Levy. Ulquiorra had rather hoped that she would have never found out about his monstrous nature. After all, humans tended to fear that they didn't understand. And in a world that had no understanding of Hollows, he no doubt was truly fearsome to the uninitiated. It wasn't so much that he felt sad that she now knew, but a feeling of... of...
Ulquiorra was at a loss for a moment. Perhaps "disappointment" would be the best way to put it. After months of trying to understand what the "heart" truly was, he had finally begun to make some progress. Nothing significant by any degree, but it was something that happened regardless. And it was because of Levy. Not the books she had recommended, at least not yet, but because of her in all her inherent kindness. This feeling he was experiencing was quite alien to Ulquiorra. Was this too, what it meant to have a heart?
"Are you..." Ulquiorra's voice trailed off for a moment. "Are you afraid of me?"
It was a simple question he had to ask. Even as he did so, his mind wandered back to a time when he had been in his world.
"Are you afraid?" Ulquiorra asked Orihime as he stood just a few feet away from her. "It's over. You will die here. You will die all by yourself with no one to witness it. So I want to know how frightened are you." He stared at her, expecting her to break down into tears, to ask, no, beg for mercy. However, her reply was anything but what he had expected.
"I am not… Not at all."
His eyes widened in shock. This woman, the one who he had believed to have been doing nothing more than putting on a fake façade of bravery, to overcome her fear of her captivity... was still showing no signs of fear or regret. Smiling, she continued.
"You see, now I know that my friends came to rescue me. So right now, my heart... my heart is with them."
"What nonsense," he replied. " You're not scared because your friends have come for you? You can't be serious. You really think they can save you?"
"Absolutely."
Finally, curiosity began to take over, as well as a feeling of bitterness as he slowly strode over to her, his hand now pointing right at her chest. "Tell me, what is a heart? If I tore a hole in your chest, would I see it?" His hand moved upwards' this time near her face. "If I split open your skull, would it be there?"
However, just before he could get any sort of answer, the ground behind him gave way, Orihime's symbol of hope appearing before him. Ichigo Kurosaki had arrived just as she said he would.
He did not doubt that she would be different from Orihime Inoue. That woman was an oddity, a one in a million personality. Levy, however, had so far been a person who seemed to have a more clear head on her shoulders. No doubt she would shun him for what he was. It was only the logical thing to do after all.
"Why should I be afraid?" Levy asked. "You're my friend. I'm just... curious is all..." Levy looked at the hole that was within Ulquiorra's chest. "If it wouldn't bother you, I would like to know... more about you. That's all."
"What do you mean?" He responded. Was she serious?
"Well..." Levy looked back up at Ulquiorra's eyes. "There's a story here and... I want to get you to know you better is all."
He couldn't believe it. She had chosen hope. To believe in him. To trust him... as a friend. Once more, his mind wandered back to that fateful day atop of Las Noches.
This was it. The end of the line. Ichigo Kurasaki's Cero had done irrevocable damage to his body. The new arm and leg that he had regrown were nothing more than a shadow of their former selves. Death was inexorable. Despite his pleas of wanting to finish things properly, Ichigo Kurosaki refused.
" I don't want to, not like this. It's wrong... THIS IS NOT THE WAY I WANT TO DEFEAT YOU!"
Eyes widening in shock as his wings began to turn to ash, Ulquiorra soon closed his eyes. "To the very end... you just won't do what I want." Slowly, he turned his attention to the human woman. "And just when I was finally becoming a little bit intrigued with how you people behave."
Despite only knowing her for the past few days, she had managed to make him question himself and his outlook of the world with her stubbornness. He had tried to break her down, time and time again but, in the end, she had broken him. No, that wasn't accurate, not at all. She hadn't broken him. She had opened him up to the world in ways he had not imagined possible. As his wings began to turn to dust, he could see her looking straight at him and no one else. Not Ichigo, not the Quincy. Just him. Did she... pity him?
It made no sense. The last few minutes had no doubt been some of the most traumatizing of her entire life, all of which was his fault. Crying desperately for the one she worshiped as a hero to rise up to save her once again, tears of not just sadness... but fear. He wanted, no needed to know as he slowly reached to her. "So I'll ask you again girl... are you afraid of me?"
Then, the thing that surprised him most of all, what shocked him to the very core of his being, more than even the beating he had received from the Hollowfied Kurosaki happened before his eyes. The woman he had dragged over to this world, that he had tried to break repeatedly over and over again... was crying for him.
"No, I'm not afraid. Really, I'm not." Her face gave no hints of lying. Her tears, her bravery, all of it was real. All of it... because of what she called, "the heart"
"I understand."
Her hand finally touched his only for it to disintegrate upon impact, as his body now began to rapidly vanish. But as he died one last thought went through his mind.
'I see now. In my palm of my hand... is a heart.'
In the end, he only wished he had more time to scratch past the surface of the world Orihime had opened to him.
It had been in that moment that he had had an inkling to just what the heart really was. Standing now before Levy however, his lips moved upward. He wasn't smiling, not quite, It couldn't even be classified as a small smirk. But this feeling, this tiny sensation of satisfaction... Was this what joy felt like?
So this is what it mean's to have a heart is it? He thought as he looked towards the Levy. Perhaps... there truly is some merit to it after all.
Rain began to slowly fall from the clouds now, Levy squeaking in surprise as she felt herself become wet. "Ah! Let's go back inside! We can talk some more about some new hobbies for you once we're nice and dry."
"Very well." Ulquiorra watched for a moment as Levy ran towards the bookstore. As she stepped into the building, she kept the doorway clear for him. He stepped forward then, refraining from using Sonido. Orihime had opened the door for him once upon a time, yes, but now it was Levy that would guide him through it.
"Lord Baraggan! Lord Baraggan! The Fourth Espada, we've finally managed to locate him!"
Findor Callius burst into the throne room where his lord was currently resting, the old king currently drinking a glass of wine that had been served to him by an attentive Arrancar.
"Oh, have you now?" Barragan Loiusenbairn asked as his eyes looked down at his loyal Fraccion. How and why he had ended up in this strange land was a question that the Vasto Lorde still didn't have an answer for. However, in the months he had been here, he had not been idle, far from it. Traveling around all of Fiore, he had been able to locate and recruit many Arrancar that had once been a part of Sosuke Aizen's army. From all the Fraccions that once belonged to himself and the others to the Espada he knew had died as he once had, he had soon raised an army almost as powerful as the one Aizen once had had in the palm of his hands.
Still, despite that strength, he had remained quiet. There had been the search for others, as well as experimentation with wizards and the creation of Hollows, but otherwise, Barragan had required his forces to keep a low profile. For now at least.
"Ulquiorra..." Barragan crushed the glass of wine in his hand, Hierro protecting him from any shards of glass. He had asked the Fourth Espada time and time again to join his ranks, but every time had Ulquiorra turned down his request. "Damn him and his fools' quest for a heart!" Force wasn't an option. Barragan was a king, an emperor, and no longer was he to fight his battles himself. He would not allow it, not after having his throne taken from by Sosuke Aizen, the very same man who forced him to the front lines! This was proof that he was in charge once again. Others would fight and die for his goals, but not he. Not until he was all that remained.
And yet... none others who remained within this new Espada could hope to match Ulquiorra's powers. To bend him to Barragan's will. Barragan knew he would have to someday do it himself. But the combat involved would be boring. His form of strength allowed it to be nothing but a bore. There had to be something, anything else he could do to bring Ulquiorra to his side. Something that would ease the endless boredom that was a new lease on existence.
"Show me Ulquiorra," he said rather dismissively.
Findor produced from his satchel an invention of Szayelapporo Granz, a translucent orb. He placed it upon the stone structure besides Barragan's throne, locking the orb into the stone chiseled to appear like a dragon's talons. Findor grit his teeth then as he scraped one of his fingernails across his right eye, taking a portion he knew his Arrancar born abilities could regenerate in time. Still, it was no less abhorrent to imagine doing to himself time and time again and made him question the sanity of the Espada's resident scientist.
Still, he smeared the fleck of his eyeball on to the orb, allowing to light up with the images of what he had seen, all of it recorded in perfect clarity. Still, he looked forward to the possibility of Ulquiorra returning to the fold and using his optic abilities for observation.
Barragan watched then, noting something that truly caught his attention.
"A rather interesting turn of events," he muttered as he watched Ulquiorra conversing about books with a small woman adorned with blue hair.
"It seems as though he's rather attached to her," Findor said, working from his observations. "He's interacted with her for quite a bit and even defended her against a dark mage. Strange though. It's rather unlike him."
"His behavior has changed, even if only slightly," Barragan said as he continued to watch the two speak, the woman having a very large smile as she gave the Espada some sort of drink. "However... it has given me an idea. If he will not join us for our sake or his own, then perhaps for hers."
"My lord?"
"Ulquiorra has granted us a boon this day," Barragan answered. "His heart, Findor. We attack his heart."
Now I think it's safe to say that you've all been expecting Ulquiorra to appear in this story for quite some time once I revealed that any Bleach character that died in the series could show up here. However, I don't think any of you expected me to go about it this way.
I'm aware that the 4th Espada may be a bit out of character in this chapter but I argue that if he had lived past his fight with Ichigo, he would have begun to slowly open up more. After all, he was already starting to change, even if only a little bit, with all the interactions he had with Orihime and Ichigo. I feel what I did here was simply move that characterization forward a bit. Honestly, I feel keeping him exactly the same way he was after all he's gone through wouldn't exactly make much sense. It's more entertaining, to me anyway, to have him grow a bit.
Now granted, I could have spent several chapters writing him getting him to the point he is at now but... well, he isn't the main character. Bambietta is. He'll certainly be an important side character for chapters to come, but I don't want to waste too much time on him. Bambietta and the other fem ritter's will always be the main focus of the Bleach characters in this story. Period.
I will say that writing for him was slightly difficult. I really tried to make sure that I used words that I feel he would use and make sure he still came across as himself. The battle he had with Cruze also took me a while to write, if only because I'm still not used to writing fights, at least not ones so damn one-sided. Hopefully, this is something I'll grow out of as I continue to write. Honestly i'm not quite sure how I feel about it as it is, but I feel like I've delayed this chapter long enough as it is. I just hope you all liked it for what it was.
Also, I felt it was about time I addressed why Levy was going to eventually be recommended for the S class exams, so I decided it was best to make her a bit stronger and expand on her magic a bit. She may not be as strong as Natsu or Grey still, but she's much stronger than she used to be. I'd say she's almost as strong as Cana is at this point. Almost.
(Also no, I am NOT pairing up Ulquiorra and Levy. Levy is still going to end up with Gajeel. Nor is Ulquiorra joining fairy tail just because of this meeting. This is just a friendship. Nothing more. He may or may not join the guild down the line, but for now, that is simply not happening.)
Also, I've finally decided to show just what the other arrancar are up to. I don't want to give away too much, but just know that, aside from Ulquiorra, Baraggan had pretty much EVERY dead arrancar now on his side. That is a considerable force that I plan to do a lot with as the story goes on.
Well, that's all I have to say for the moment. I'm really eager to hear what you all have to say about this chapter, so please leave a review and tell me what you all thought. Are you glad that I've finally brought Ulquiorra into the story? Do you like the friendship ive set up with him and Levy? Please, do let me know.
MPFs:
Levy: 900
Cruze: 860
Cruze (power up): 1130
Ulquiorra: 5250
Also, it may be a while until the next chapter. My job is going to get much busier these next two months. I'll try to have something out in December but I make no promises.
