Dragonheart
Chapter 6: Spies in the Shadows!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of the characters involved except the members of Dragonheart
Slicer, Anna, and Tin waited for their guildmates to stir, Bruga snoring was the only sound in the tavern.
"So, seats next to Fairy Tail. That'll be exciting!" Anna said cheerfully.
Tin nodded sagely, crossing his arms over his chest, "And an excellent learning opportunity for all of us, especially the youngsters."
Slicer nodded absently, his mind having wandered away from the conversation.
"Slicer?" Anna asked.
The mention of his name seemed to snap him back to the present, "What? Oh, sorry. Did you say something?"
"Is everything alright? You seem out of sorts. I know you didn't leave Fairy Tail under the best circumstances, but you aren't concerned they're planning something are you?" Anna asked.
Slicer shook his head, "No. One of Fairy Tail's rules is-" he cut himself off, realizing he had almost broken another rule.
"Let's just say they aren't the kind to plot revenge. No, my concern is why Makarov would come to us on the day after the preliminaries with such an offer. If they wanted us to watch with them Natsu would've probably suggested it when we met them yesterday. Something's changed."
Tin perked up "Could it be Raven Tail?"
"Raven Tail? That new guild that's had all those rumors swirling around it?" Anna asked.
Tin nodded, "Word is that it's run by Makarov's son Ivan, and there's some bad blood between the two. Maybe Makarov wants some extra security for the event and trusts Slicer, and us, to cover for them."
Slicer put a hand on his chin, "That is one possibility…"
"Well, we won't figure anything out if we sit here all day. Tin, can you wake up Bruga? I'm afraid he'll crush me in one of his bear hugs if I try. I'll get the kids up," Anna spun around and started toward the younger members by the fireplace, not giving either of them a chance to respond.
Tin sighed, "I suppose if I must."
He forlornly turned and made his way to his large friend while Slicer watched in amusement. After a few minutes, the members of Dragonheart were awake and moving about the tavern. Some of them were still a little groggy. As they were served drinks to help wake them up, Slicer cleared his throat to get their attention. Once all eyes were on him, he explained Makarov's offer. As he finished up, he scanned the room and was met with eager faces from all of his members. Even though he knew their answer, he wanted to be sure:
"So, what do we say?"
"What do we say? Master, do you even have to ask? Of course, we want to watch!" Albin shouted.
Slicer tilted his head down, hiding the smile that was spreading across his face in the high collar of his robe.
"I had a feeling you'd say that. Very well. After you've all woken up a bit more and cleaned yourselves up, we'll head over to the hotel where Fairy Tail is staying."
The guild members turned to each other as Slicer took a seat. Excited, whispered conversations began as he took a cup from Anna and took a deep draft.
A while later
Slicer and the members of Dragonheart stood in front of the door of Fairy Tail's hotel. Slicer lifted his hand and grasped the knocker before rapping it on the wood. A few seconds later the door clicked open and the group was greeted by Mirajane who smiled warmly at them.
"Welcome, Master said we should be expecting you."
Slicer bowed slightly, "Thank you for this opportunity to learn from you," he said.
The others repeated his movement and thanks, but Mirajane waved them aside as she stepped back, opening the door wider to let them inside. As the members of Dragonheart crossed the threshold they were immediately brought to a stop as a pink and blue blur slammed into Slicer and sent him crashing into a table.
"What kind of show was that Slicer?!" Natsu shouted.
Slicer groaned, recovering from the unexpected attack, "What are you talking about?" he asked.
"You didn't even show up for the event last night!"
"Natsu you idiot, I'm the guild master! Guild masters can't participate!" Slicer retorted.
Natsu scoffed before his look of disgust turned into a grin and he slammed his fists together.
"Doesn't matter, now that you're here I can get that rematch."
"What rematch?" Slicer asked.
Natsu charged at him, slamming him through another table as a reply.
While the two wrestled in the corner, Mirajane laughed at the sight before turning to Anna.
"Can we get you anything? Drinks? Some breakfast?"
"Oh, no thank you. We ate before we came over," she answered.
"Alright, well, why don't you all take a seat, and if you need anything just holler," she said with a wave before walking away to stand by Makarov.
Anna looked at the rest of the guild. Tin and Bruga walked past her and took a seat at a nearby table with Macao and Wakaba. Tin immediately struck up a conversation with the two senior mages. Anna smiled to herself before turning back to the rest of the guild. Albin and Reina were enthralled with the fight between Slicer and Natsu. Meanwhile, Marcus, Mantra, Redd, and Simon dispersed through the room to find seats with other members of Fairy Tail.
Slicer kicked Natsu off him, sending the other Dragon Slayer flying toward the ceiling.
"Will you knock it off?" Slicer asked, "I don't owe you a rematch."
"Sure you do! You weren't at Tenrou Island! I need to see how strong you've gotten since you left and I've been gone!" Natsu shouted.
He inhaled before releasing a Breath of the Fire Dragon. Slicer sighed before quickly disappearing into the floor. The attack hit empty air, scorching the floorboards and lighting some of the smashed furniture on fire. Natsu landed, quickly scanning around for Slicer, but all he could see were members of both guilds watching the scuffle.
"You never learn," Slicer said as he emerged from the ground behind Natsu, mid-strike.
His leg slammed into Natsu and sent him flying across the room, smashing into the table next to Makarov, who did not seem phased as he took another drink from his mug.
"Alright Natsu, that's enough. Settle down," he said as he lowered his mug.
"What? But we're just getting started!" Natsu protested.
"There'll be time for that later, besides. You'll need to conserve your strength for the games today."
Natsu went to retort, but Erza spoke up, "Master's right Natsu."
He closed his mouth before grumbling, walking over to a table with Lucy and Gray, and slumping into a seat. Slicer sighed in relief before brushing himself off and swiping his hand through the air, the movement causing a gust that blew out the flaming furniture.
"Slicer, can you come here a minute?" Makarov said.
Slicer weaved his way through the tables to approach Makarov, who stared at him. Mirajane remained steady and silent as she waited. The silence stretched between them for a few minutes before Makarov's eyes flicked behind Slicer to see members of both guilds looking at them.
"Well?" he asked.
The members of Fairy Tail perked up before turning to each other and beginning conversations. Some of them encouraged the members of Dragonheart to take part, and once a steady babble had arisen Makarov turned back to Slicer.
"I want to discuss something with you," he said.
"Me, Master?"
Makarov raised an eyebrow, but Slicer ignored it, "What did you want to talk about?"
Makarov lowered his eyebrow, and locked his eyes onto Slicer's "It concerns Raven Tail…"
Slicer stiffened at the mention of the name.
"So Anna was right…"
"What about them?" he asked.
Makarov looked past Slicer as he spoke, "I think Ivan is planning something. Maybe a revenge plot against Fairy Tail. But more likely against me."
"And you wanted us to help you stop him?" Slicer asked.
"Not exactly. If it comes to blows I'm afraid to say that Dragonheart wouldn't hold up against Raven Tail."
Slicer went to protest but Makarov raised a hand, "I'm sure you and your older members could handle it. But your youngsters don't have enough experience quite yet. And I'd rather avoid getting them involved."
"So what would you have us do?" Anna asked as she stepped into the conversation.
Makarov and Mirajane turned to her as she spoke.
"We need to know what Ivan's planning, and I can't think of a better group to spy on him without being obvious. Especially with the particular magic type your master uses," Makarov explained.
Slicer nodded, "I can manage that. But won't it be strange to have me missing when the rest of Dragonheart is watching from Fairy Tail's stands?"
"I was thinking you could take the watch in shifts. If it was just you watching and something happened, we'd be too late to come help."
Slicer nodded at the explanation, he could see Tin and Bruga blending into a crowd, and Anna could keep her head down to monitor Raven Tail.
"What do you think Anna?" Slicer asked as he thought about her involvement.
She had crossed her arms under her chest as she considered the idea, "I think we have to repay Fairy Tail in some way for letting us watch the games from their booth, don't you?"
Slicer nodded, a smile spreading across his face as he realized her intent, "That's one way of looking at it."
Makarov turned from Anna back to Slicer, "So… you're in?"
Slicer and Anna nodded, "We'll do it," they said.
Makarov breathed a sigh of relief. "Great, today will be our first opportunity to see what Ivan's planning. With luck, he'll be as clumsy as he always was and tip his hand early."
Slicer shook his head, "If he's been planning something all this time. Chances are he'll be extra cautious to make sure it comes to fruition. Better to be careful."
Makarov sighed again, "You're probably right. But, we won't find out anything sitting here."
He looked up to Slicer and Anna, "Pick whoever's going to watch first and have them come talk to me. I have a plan for today."
Slicer shook his head, "I'll take the first watch. I can't participate in the games, and it makes the most sense for me to be gone because of it."
As he spoke a grin slowly spread across his face "And besides, I need a way to blow off this extra energy Natsu gave me with that fight. Unless, of course, you want us to resume?"