Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Open Road Between Cedar and Crocus.
June 1, x792.
While battles raged around the Kingdom of Fiore, the strongest wizard of the Alvarez Empire, August, walked alone towards the capital city, Crocus.
Originally, August was stationed on the same warship with Seifer Almasy, the former member of the Final Fantasy guild. Yet, when the fighting started between Final Fantasy and the Alvarez army, he concealed himself and started making his way to Crocus to carry out his mission to subdue the Royal Family and use them as hostages. {Pic}
"It amazes me how much stronger these Ishgar wizards are than we expected." August said while shaking his head in disbelief. "It would seem that not a single one showed their true capabilities during the Grand Magic Games last year. Then again, that makes perfect sense. Irene and Brandish must have informed them of our invasion plan, even if they had no way of knowing when it would actually take place."
Although August was correct in assuming that the invasion plan had been leaked by Irene and Brandish, his assessment of why the Ishgar wizards were so much stronger than the Alvarez Empire expected was not. Rather than hiding their true capabilities, their growth stemmed from the training chambers and weapon upgrades they received from Fairy Tail. Or rather, from Alfonzo.
Even worse than that, the Alvarez Empire scouts and spies had no way of knowing exactly how strong any of the members of Fairy Tail were. Nor did they have any information about their [soul Armaments]. So, they had an even less accurate assessment of Fairy Tail's strength than they did for the rest of the guilds.
At that moment, a low hum from the distance pulled August out of his contemplation. Looking up, he noticed a dot on the horizon. However, this dot was growing larger at a terrifying speed. Before long, August could make out what the dot was, and when he did, he raised his stave in its direction.
"So, even after I went to the trouble of hiding myself, they still have a way to keep track of me." August muttered while channeling his magic power into his stave. "But approaching me without the ability to maneuver freely was a mistake. [Bullet Magic: Piercing Bullet Storm]."
With his chant, a large magic circle appeared in front of August before a large number of magic bullets were fired from it towards the Blackbird. And these magic bullets moved so fast that they left lines of magic power in their wake, showing the path they took to reach their target.
Yet, before the [Magic Bullets] could strike down the Blackbird, a slab of metal appeared in front of it, intercepting the incoming projectiles. However, instead of just blocking the assault, all the [Magic Bullets] were turned around and sent back the way they came.
"Some sort of reflection barrier… interesting." August said while stroking his beard. "Still, that's not enough."
*Tap!*
As he spoke, August tapped the butt of his stave on the ground. When he did, there was no visual effect of anything happening. Yet, the trio in the Blackbird could sense his magic power spreading out and forming a dome around himself.
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
Then, almost at the same time the dome solidified, the [Magic Bullets] that were reflected struck the dome and the ground surrounding it, kicking up a huge dust cloud.
Not long later, the dust began to settle. Through the haze, August could see flashes of light floating in the air. When he did, he created another barrier to prepare for an incoming attack.
Yet, when the dust settled completely, he realized that there was no attack incoming. Instead, he saw a message that had been written in the sky with what appeared to be lightning.
And the message read: "Stop attacking, God damn it! Why do all you Alvarez Empire mother fuckers attack first and ask questions later? Fuck!"
Meanwhile, in the Blackbird's cockpit, mavis was glaring at Alfonzo while he began the landing sequence.
"Alfonzo, please do not swear at my son like that." Mavis said in a perturbed tone. "He doesn't deserve to be spoken to like that."
Hearing Alfonzo being reprimanded by the guild master, Shizuka could not help but giggle at his misfortune. Meanwhile, Alfonzo could only look at Mavis with a dry stare.
"You do know that he just tried to shoot us out of the sky, right?" Alfonzo asked in a flat tone.
In response, Mavis blushed slightly while turning away.
"Still, you don't have to be so mean about it." Mavis replied in a small voice. {Pic}
Naturally, August was thoroughly confused after reading the message. So confused, in fact, that he did not regain his clarity until the Blackbird had landed less than a hundred feet in front of him.
But he snapped back to his senses quickly when he saw the Blackbird's hatch open and lower a set of stairs. However, he found himself dazed once again when he saw the first person to step out of the airship.
"Mother…" August muttered absent-mindedly.
That's right, the first person to step out of the Blackbird was naturally Mavis. After finding out that the child she gave birth to right before she was sealed in the lacrima all those years ago was still alive made her extremely excited to see him. So, without any wariness, she ran down the stairs from the Blackbird's hatch and darted towards August with her arms spread wide open.
Meanwhile, Shizuka and Alfonzo stood at the Blackbird's hatch while watching over mavis. And while Shizuka was just smiling at her guild master, Alfonzo was on high alert, even though he did not think August would do anything to harm his mother after seeing her for the first time. {Pic}
Eventually, Mavis reached August. And when she did, she threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in his torso while tears streamed down her face. Meanwhile, August, still dazed from seeing his mother, did not know how to react, going completely rigid while simply allowing Mavis to hug him.
But August did eventually come back to his senses. Slowly, and carefully, he wrapped his free hand around his mother's shoulders. At the same time, he put the stave in his hand with the other six strapped to his back. Then, he let his other hand join the first to hug her.
"Mother…" August muttered once again.
Hearing August's muttering, the stream of tears running down mavis' cheeks turned into a torrent as she began to cry loudly. Meanwhile, Alfonzo and Shizuka made their way down from the Blackbird at a measured pace, so they did not interrupt the moment.
"I'm so happy for Master mavis." Shizuka said quietly while wiping away her own tears.
"Yeah, she really deserves this." Alfonzo said with a gentle smile. A moment later, however, he turned his head to the right, and his smile widened. "Oh, and it looks like the reunion isn't over yet, either."
Hearing that, Shizuka looked at Alfonzo with a quizzical expression. And when she noticed that he was no longer looking at Mavis and August, she followed his line of sight. And at the end of that line of sight, she saw a man wearing black and white sprinting towards mavis and August while Irene followed him at her own pace.
"Is that Zeref, the Black Wizard?" Shizuka asked while tilting her head cutely with a confused expression on her face.
"Yeah, that's him." Alfonzo replied with a nod while he tracked Zeref's approach with his gaze.
"Hmm? He doesn't look like what I expected." Shizuka said while placing her right index finger on her cheek. "I thought he would look like a scary monster. Instead, he looks like a very well-behaved young man. The type that would have gotten good grades at the academy I used to work at."
Hearing that, Alfonzo could not help but laugh aloud. {Pic}
"Oh, shit… That was funny as fuck." Alfonzo said through his laughter. "It's even harder to see him as the big bad Black Wizard when he lost the cloth he usually wears around his chest along the way, too."
Luckily, Zeref was too far away to hear exactly what Alfonzo and Shizuka were talking about. Though, he could hear Alfonzo's laughter. Otherwise, he would have probably attacked out of sheer embarrassment.
"I actually thought that was pretty funny, too." Irene said as she teleported to Alfonzo's other side. She then looked at the family of three with a gentle smile on her face and took hold of Alfonzo's hand. "But this is nice. Seeing others receive the happiness you helped me attain is wonderful."
Hearing that, Alfonzo, without turning to look at Irene, took her hand in his while continuing to watch the family of three's reunion. The peaceful atmosphere bringing a sense of warmth to his heart. Unfortunately, this scene was soon interrupted.
{BGM: "Snow Fairy" – FUNKIST}
"Of course." Alfonzo said as he let go of Shizuka's and Irene's hands before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his lPhone. He then looked at the Caller ID before answering the call. "What's up, Gozaburo?"
{"I just got word from people stationed at the borders between Fiore and Bosco and Fiore and Seven."} Gozaburo replied. {"Two suspected members of the Spriggan 12 have been sighted crossing into Fiore from the two countries."}
Hearing that, Alfonzo raised an eyebrow in interest.
"Suspected members?" Alfonzo asked curiously.
{"Actually, only one is suspected to be a member of the Spriggan 12."} Gozaburo clarified. {"One is definitely a member. It's that arrogant guy who calls himself a god, the former number one of the Wizard Saints, Serena."}
"Yeah, he's definitely a member of the Spriggan 12." Alfonzo replied with a nod. "So, who's the other one?"
{"He looks like a younger version of the former Magic Councilor, Orga."} Gozaburo said. {"But we don't have any records of him. On top of that, my man can't feel any magic power from him."}
Immediately, Alfonzo's mind returned to the day he, Elicia, Erza, and Marin hunted down the homunculus under Father's rule. And he remembered, there was one missing when they disposed of the remaining homunculus.
"Greed." Alfonzo said quietly. "So, that's what happened to him. After realizing that Father was about to die, he found another backer."
{"What the hell are you talking about, Kid?"} Gozaburo asked in an impatient tone.
'Oh, that's right.' Alfonzo thought to himself. 'We kinda kept that operation a secret from everyone. So, there's no way Gozaburo would know about it.'
"Don't worry about it." Alfonzo said dismissively. "I know about him. So, I'll assign someone to take care of him."
{"If you say so."} Gozaburo replied nonchalantly. {"Anyway, I finished reporting. Oh, and send someone to deal with the crazy bitch who just arrived at Cedar. She's blowing through the Mermaid Heel and Final Fantasy forces."}
"Yoruichi can't handle her?" Alfonzo asked in a surprised tone.
{"Tch! She isn't here."} Gozaburo replied with a scoff. {"She's dealing with another one of the Spriggan 12, that demon, Bloodman."}
"*Sigh* Alright, I'll have Ur pick up Marin and Lici to deal with the crazy girl you're talking about and Greed." Alfonzo replied while shaking his head.
"No need, I'll go." Irene said from Alfonzo's side. "As it turns out, I'd like to stretch my legs for a bit. And this new girl sounds like the perfect excuse to do so."
"Then, I feel sorry for her." Alfonzo replied with a smirk. "Anyway, I'll call Lici to handle Greed. Though, anyone with a [Soul Armament] could do it. But only she would be able to capture him. And having another Philosopher's Stone and hand would be nice for my research."
"Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder why Zeref didn't use it to break his curse." Irene asked in a contemplative tone. "I doubt he only came across that homunculus within the last few months."
{"You can ask him later."} Gozaburo said, sounding impatient once more. {"I've got forces to command. So, I'm hanging up."}
Then, without giving Alfonzo the chance to say goodbye, Gozaburo did just that.
"Alright, I hate to do this, but we have to get moving." Alfonzo said, raising his voice so that it would reach Mavis, Zeref, and August while he put his lPhone away. "You guys can either stay here or come with me while I handle a problem with an over inflated ego."
"Huh? Did something happen?" Mavis asked, her overjoyed expression giving way to one befitting the Fairy Strategist.
"Nothing too major." Alfonzo replied with a shrug as he turned to head inside the Blackbird. "I just need to make a trip to the border between Fiore and Bosco to handle a little problem."
Hearing Alfonzo's destination, Zeref and August exchanged glances. Yet, they did not move to stop Alfonzo. They knew who was supposed to be arriving from that direction, and they did not feel any pain at losing him.
"We'll come with you." Zeref said solemnly. "Back when we met in Crocus, you said you did not fear my power. And I must admit, I've been curious to see just how powerful you are to have said that with such confidence."
"Sorry to break it to you, but I won't need to show nearly that much power when I deal with the little arrogant Dragon Slayer on your payroll." Alfonzo said as he led Shizuka into the Blackbird. "Unless he's powered up a whole lot, I could probably curb stomp him in my base form."
Alfonzo's confidence made Zeref raise an eyebrow. Even so, he did not question it. Rather, he, with Mavis' hand held in his right and his left on August back, ushered his family towards the Blackbird to witness Alfonzo's strength.
"Irene, you're not coming with us?" Shizuka asked over her shoulder from the top of the stairs leading to the Blackbird's interior.
"No, I'll get to Cedar on my own." Irene replied with a smile. "It will be faster this way, as well."
Then, without another word, Irene tapped Belserion on the ground, creating a magic circle around her, before she vanished from where she stood.
"Well then, let's go." Alfonzo said with a slightly bloodthirsty grin. "I've got some Dragon slayer Lacrima to collect."