Fiore Academy

Chapter 27 - Plans and Preperation

Disclaimer - I dont own Fairy Tail or its characters, Hiro Mashima does. Im just a fan writing dribble that is not canon in the hopes of amusing a few people.

Author's Note - Sorry for the super long wait you guys! When I finished writing this though... it was a ridiculous amount of words, so I've split it up into a larger chapter and a smaller one. This is the smaller one and I'll upload the larger one within a few days just for the sake of suspense. Hope you enjoy!

Hours after waking, Mirajane found herself swabbed in blankets under an erected canopy. The sun was close to it's zenith, and all around her were countless people, wearing red and white uniforms; The Knights of the Red Cross.

Around her were other canopies, each one with one of her friends, all of them being questioned... even Mavis, who had been nowhere to be seen during the battle, was present. Mirajane made it a point to speak with her later.

Of course, Mirajane herself was being questioned by some four eyed investigator, acting far too casual in the current crisis, like he didn't care that Natsu and Ultear had been captured; he cared more about Hades and Acnologia.

But as time went by and she mindlessly answered the questions, the four eyes set down his clipboard and said, "Well then Lady Strauss, that's all for the questioning; for now, please head over to the Command tent, our Commander wishes to speak with all of you".

With those words he left, and Mirajane looked up to see Erza, Hisui and the others heading to the Command tent; standing up, Mirajane followed suit.

Before reaching the tent, Mirajane took in the whole scene; about an hour after waking up, teleportation circles appeared all around and a battalion of battle mages converged. When it was clarified there was no immediate threat anymore, a crew of forensic specialists came through and began surveying the area.

She saw them now, examining bits of rubble like they held the answer to rescuing her Natsu... and Ultear too she supposed.

Then there was the battle mages, staying vigilant, patrolling the grounds in case the Demon Lords decide to come back... though she doubted they would.

Canopies and tents had erected atop the rubble that was once the grand Dragneel Estate, and inside of one of the tents marked with a green cross, Zeref would be found resting.

Mirajane turned back to the Command Tent and saw Erza waiting for her at the entrance.

"They love their questions, don't they?" Erza opened up with when Mirajane approached.

Mirajane nodded, "But now, they will need to answer ours instead".

Erza nodded and opened the entrance flap for Mirajane, "Then let's not waste any time asking them".

Entering the tent, lit by magic bulbs floating above, Mirajane looked around; the only furniture in the room was a large round table with twenty chairs around it. Most of these were occupied, seating her friends; Hisui, Virgo, Kagura, Katherine and Karen. Mavis was seated a little away from all of them.

"Virgo, do you know why we're being gathered?" Mirajane asked the current Spymaster of the Knights of the Red Cross; it was sometimes easy to forget who Virgo was in the larger world, outside of their circle of friends.

Mirajane intended to get some answers, but she knew they weren't gathering all of them here to give those answers; there had to be another reason.

Virgo nodded to Mirajane's question, "It seems even Commander Arias has made an appearance here; he wishes to debrief us".

Mirajane was shocked at this as she and Erza took their seats, listening to Virgo's response; Commander Arias, the head of the Knights of the Red Cross. She had never met him.

"If that's the case, where is he?" Mirajane asked, and just as Virgo was about to answer, the tent flap opened and from it, a bald man with eyes so white, he could be blind, entered the tent.

He was a heavy set man, reminiscent to a brick wall, wearing flowing robes of red and white and a golden badge on his left breast, indicating his rank of Commander.

His voice was deep and reaching, "I was simply visiting young Zeref; it seems he'll make a speedy recovery" he said that with a nod to Katherine, who returned it in kind.

"And what of us... what of Natsu and Ultear?" Erza spoke up.

Arias turned to Erza and said simply, "You are to be debriefed and sent home... as for Natsu and Ultear, that is no longer your concern".

Mirajane abruptly stood up before anyone could react to his words, and she turned on him, her face thunderclouds.

"Not our concern? This is Natsu we're talking about!" Mirajane bellowed at him, his simple words sending her over the edge.

Arias remained an expressionless wall, "How did you fare against Hades and Acnologia?"

Mirajane gritted her teeth, grabbing Arias by the collar of his robes, much to Katherine's protest.

"If it's for Natsu, we will defeat anyone... ANYONE!"

The tent went quiet... until the tent flap opened once more and another deep voice interrupted the silence.

"I understand how you feel; I want to save Natsu as much as all of you... perhaps more" the newcomer said as he placed a hand on Mirajanes hands clutching at Arias' collar.

Turning viciously to the newcomer, "How dare you, to think you would care more for Natsu than..." But she couldn't finish.

Everything about them, aside from some wrinkles, red hair instead of pink and a mature jagged beard... was the same. The same black eyes, filled with sadness, happiness and anger. The same set smile, the determined jaw... all of it was the same...

"It's a pleasure to meet you at last Mirajane Strauss, as well as everyone else, Zeref described you all well, since Natsu never writes" he replied with a smile.

Mirajane let go of Arias, shocked; she had never met this man before in her life, though she knew who he was immediately.

"I am Igneel Dragneel" the man introduced himself, "And for the sake of Natsu, can we all be seated?"

...

Acnologia stared out from the balcony of the meeting room, upon the sight of the Blight that was his home, dark brown, cloudy and dusty... temperatures high, being surrounded by volcanoes.

He smiled at his home, knowing it won't be too long until it would be reverted back to what it once was.

It had been a few hours since he returned from the Mortal Plain through the small gateway that usually remained, as soon as he returned, he placed Natsu Dragneel in the dungeons, shackled... But he allowed Kronos some good will and handed his daughter over to him.

But now, it was time to congregate for a meeting of the Six Demon Lords; earlier he spoke with his father, the King, to report on the incidents on the Mortal Plain, reporting success all round.

So now, it was time to relay the next steps to the other Demon Lords.

As he thought that, the doors to the room opened, bringing Acnologia to a turn; it seemed everyone had arrived at once.

As they took their seats, he noted Wrath was smiling with mirth, whilst Hades looked down, almost ashamed. Mard Geer had a slight smile on his face, but that was his passive face. The two he was most interested in, was Kronos and Lilith.

He didn't have to worry too much about Kronos; he had his daughter, that much should placate him for now.

The one he worried about was Lilith, arguably the strongest here, if you discount himself.

He knew by now, she had visited Natsu, though what she said to him, if he was even conscious, was unknown to him.

But he knew she wouldn't look at his current treatment favorably.

As they all took their seats, he did as well.

"Thank you all for coming" Acnologia sneered, "As you may have heard by now, our operation to secure Ultear Milkovic and Natsu Dragneel was a success".

"No thanks to Hades over here, or so I hear" Wrath laughed.

Hades backed up on that, "He was stronger than I was led to believe; no one here would've done better except for Acnologia!"

"It's true Natsu Dragneel is powerful" Acnologia remarked, "But if it had been just Hades and Natsu, it may have ended differently".

"I don't care about the means he was taken" Lilith said that as she stood up, "Why is he in the dungeons?"

Acnologia stared at her; she was angry after all.

"To placate him; Ultear is likely to settle down, meeting her father for the first time will likely blind her somewhat to her current situation" Acnologia commented, "But as for Natsu, he is likely to resist, knowing full well what being captured could possibly mean".

"But for how long?" Lilith gritted through her teeth, "You've given orders for him to be starved of food and water".

"He'll survive a few days without food or water Lilith" Acnologia replied, "By which time, he should be placated".

"You honestly think that? Don't make me laugh... He will always fight!" Lilith sneered at Acnologia.

"That may be so... But we need to try" Acnologia sighed, acknowledging the reality would likely be as Lilith described.

Lilith continued to seethe, then resumed her seat.

Acnologia turned to the others, "Now then, we need to begin preparing for a possible assault on the Elysium Castle".

"A possible assault?" Wrath questioned, "From who?"

"We just took the heir of the Dragneel Clan" Mard Geer replied, "Who do you think?"

"The Knights of the Red Cross... and likely as not the Red Dragon will make an appearance" Kronos answered.

The name of the Red Dragon set the room still.

"Igneel Dragneel" Acnologia broke the silence, "Otherwise known as the Red Dragon; of all the human forces, he will be the most troublesome, even more so than Commander Arias... I myself may not even be able to defeat him if he marches to war to retrieve his son".

"Knowing him" Kronos added in, "He'd probably challenge all of us... and it's not unlikely he would win too".

"I've heard tales of the Red Dragon; is he truly as powerful as they say?" Wrath asked.

"All members of that Clan grow to be troublesome" Mard Geer answered, "But few in all of history have ever come close to Igneel Dragneel... I'd wager the only one more powerful in the past was the first Dragon of the Dragneel Clan, who fought in the first war".

"All of that is well and good, but if he did come" Lilith joined, "Our King would surely intercede".

Acnologia nodded, "My father has made it clear; only if the Red Dragon appears will he intervene, and only that" Acnologia sighed, "Even if all the Legions came to battle, he wouldn't intervene".

"Then it's up to us" Mard Geer sighed, "We'll only have a minimum of four days before they march".

"And the ritual is in seven days" Acnologia finished, "Meaning we're going to have to fight them for at most three days".

"Would we be able to hold out that long against their full force?" Wrath questioned, "We haven't finished recruiting in the pits".

"We'll live, we just need to be prepared" Acnologia, "I'll leave your own preparations to yourselves... meeting adjourned".

...

Everyone was seated in the command tent, including Igneel and Arias. Igneel took a seat next to his wife and adopted daughter, whilst Arias seated himself next to Mavis.

"Now then, shall we begin?" Arias suggested, his fingers tented.

"Before we begin" Mirajane speaks up and turns to Mavis, "Why did you run when we were fighting; I didn't realise it at the time, but when Hades appeared, you were no where to be found".

Mavis turned her expressionless eyes onto Mirajane, "I was sending word of our situation; besides, I wouldnt have been able to fight".

"Dont lie" Erza came in, "We all saw at the Fiore Academy Ball what level of magic you possess".

"Magic which is now sealed" Mavis countered, "Even I cannot control that much magic; if I went around with it unsealed, who knows what I would destroy... I'm merely a back up plan in case Natsu isn't strong enough to defeat the Demon King".

"If Natsu isn't strong enough to defeat even Acnologia" Hisui jumped in, "What makes you all think he's strong enough to fight the Demon King?"

"For a very simple reason" Igneel answered, "The Demon side of Natsu's magic... wasn't the only part of him that is sealed".

All the girls except Karen and Katherine looked shocked at that, even Mavis.

"I thought we were dependant on his Demon Magic" Mavis questioned.

"Partly, that's true, but there is more to it than that" Igneel replied, "To seal away Natsu's Demon Power, which would have corrupted him... We also sealed away his human powers, for the same reason we've sealed Mavis' powers".

"If Natsu's power were to be free, without him being able to control it... It would run rampant" Katherine added.

"And destroy just about everything around him" Arias finished.

Mavis crossed her arms, "So he has a seal similar to my own seals?"

Igneel nodded, "Except for one difference; we placed three seals on you Mavis for you to unlock over time... But Natsu has five".

Mavis' eyes widened at that.

"Is that such a big issue?" Virgo asked, confused like everyone else.

Igneel nodded, "It is... the more seals you need to place, the greater the power" Igneel looked up with fiery eyes, "Having a second seal means you have power twice as great as if you were to only need one seal, and having three seals means you have power three times greater than if you needed two seals... this means that Natsu has power inside him that is five times greater than if he needed four seals..."

"Which means the power he has sealed..." Mavis almost stuttered, "Is roughly twenty times more powerful than my own" Mavis looked at Igneel, terrified at what she was hearing, "You have to be joking".

Igneel shook his head, "I'm not... if that fifth seal comes undone and Natsu uses all his power... He could very well destroy the world".

"Instead we're hoping he'll destroy the Blight, but we don't know the repercussions of such power" Arias added in.

"Then how do you know the repercussions of unlocking the third gate of END?" Karen asked, entering the part of the conversation she didn't know.

"We dont't" Igneel replied simply, "All we know is that it'll take him over... and something to take note of, is that there is no demon inside of Natsu".

The tent went quiet, and all those who didn't know this stared at Igneel... though for Mavis, this confirmed her suspicions.

"What are you talking about?" Mirajane asked, voice cracking.

Igneel stared hard at them, "No Demon resides within Natsu... Natsu is in reality, a half breed; half human... half demon... his mother... my greatest love... was in reality a Demon".

Shocked expressions crossed the occupants of the table.

"But... Natsu never told us..." Erza spoke up.

"He doesn't know" Igneel quickly responded, "For years we lied to him; when he was five, what he thought was a contract with the Demon, was in reality... the ritual where we sealed all his power away... Natsu as a whole, is only at about a hundredth of a percent of his true power".

Even though they were all shocked, Arias pressed on, "Which is why we'll go to all lengths to retrieve him... he's too powerful of an asset for us to lose".

"He's not just some mass of magic power" Mavis spoke up. With those words, the shocked faces of the girls turned to her, as Mavis glared at Arias. Was Mavis... defending Natsu?

"He has a name... women who love him... a family that adores him... friends who need him..." Mavis continued, "I was once treated as something not even living, nothing more than magic power... dont objectify him".

"Mavis..." Mirajane muttered, shocked that Mavis was defending Natsu's character.

"Don't get me wrong" Mavis turned to the girls, "I understand his strategic importance... but there is a reason why he'll fight... that reason is what makes him who he truly is, Demon or no Demon... and such a thing shouldn't be forgotten in the face of the fact that is his power".

Mirajane could accept Mavis' reasoning; it still didn't change the fact of what Mavis had just done.

"I apologise" Arias spoke up, "I understand Natsu is also a human, one that the Knights have sworn to protect like all humans... I lost sight of that in the face of his strategic importance".

"But putting that aside" Igneel showed no signs he was troubled by Arias' objectification of his son, "We must retrieve Natsu, as well as Ultear; there had to be a reason why she was taken as well and it cannot bear well for the future".

Erza stood up and slammed her hands on the table, "Let us join you!"

Arias scanned Erza with those white eyes before responding, "All of you are untrained, unseasoned and with no clue what the Demon race is like; they're not all as kind as the Demon Lords".

"It doesn't matter" Hisui stood beside Erza, "He is our love, Ultear is our friend... we must be a part of the rescue".

"Father" Karen stood up, "I am to turn sixteen soon, the age of my trial; would you please consider this my trial... all of our trials? For being with Natsu... they are by extension also of the Dragneel Clan and would be more than happy to hold to that tradition if it means saving Natsu".

"Karen, now is not the time-" Katherine began to scold her daughter, but Karen turned determinedly to her mother.

"I won't be able to do a normal trial, not with the current state of the Blight... please, let me save Natsu and complete my trial at the same time" Karen smiled, "Two birds with one stone".

"I do not know what this trial may entail" Kagura stood up as well, "But if accepting it's terms grants us all a chance to save Natsu as well ass Ultear... I will gladly accept whatever I have to in order to make it so".

Hisui, Erza and Mirajane nodded in unison; they felt the same.

Igneel sighed, "Arias... a favor?"

Arias looked at the girls, their determined faces shining at him; he knew it was perhaps not the wisest move... but he felt he had to in the face of these determined girls.

"Granted; the fourth legion will take charge of you all; you march with them".

The girls sighed happily; they managed to convince him... thankfully.

"It won't be easy" Igneel warned as he also stood, "But I'm sure you already guessed that; as Zeref Is out of commission, report to the Spriggan Twelve, Zeref's Lieutenants... and with that, meeting adjourned as I need to speak with Arias alone".

The girls all nodded, and everyone left, leaving the two men to themselves to concoct the rescue mission of Natsu Dragneel and Ultear Milkovic.

Author's Note - So no action in this chapter, but I hope you found it interesting and brought some light to a few things. I'll upload the next part in a few days, just some forewarning, it's the longest chapter I've ever written to this day, even after taking away this first bit from it. Until then, let me know what you guys thought of this chapter! Auf Wiedesehen