Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
March 14, x792.
After hearing the news from Grayfia, Alfonzo decided to go big with the dinner preparations. As a result, the dinner for the ladies in the house was much more sumptuous than originally intended. As for this dinner with maria, there was not much more he could do to make it more luxurious than his original plan. Though, he did take out one of his prized bottles of wine to go along with it.
While Alfonzo was cooking, Elicia, Erza, Lucy, Wendy, Carla, Yoruichi, Sui-Feng, Maria, and Rangiku continued to chat in the living room while Grayfia accompanied Alfonzo. At the same time, Ikaruga, Ai, Mey-Rin, and Miyuki prepared another room for Alfonzo's and Maria's dinner.
"So, do you think they're gonna go all the way tonight?' Ikaruga asked as she draped a tablecloth over a small, round table in the center of the room.
"All-All-All-All the way?" Mey-Rin asked in a fluster as her glasses fogged up from all the heat she was releasing from her face while it turned bright red.
"Probably not." Ai replied as she put several candles in a candelabra. "Although Maria really seems to like him, too. She's nowhere near as bold as Miyuki, Grayfia, or I."
Miyuki nodded in agreement as she dusted the decorations in the room.
"Why wasn't I put on that list?" Ikaruga asked with her hands resting on her hips. {Pic}
"Because you don't really like Master Alfonzo." Miyuki said in her nearly emotionless tone. "You only want to indulge in carnal pleasure."
"Hold on a minute, Miyuki." Ikaruga said as she raised a finger in Miyuki's direction. "You're only half right there."
"I can only imagine that you mean you do, in fact, like Alfonzo." Miyuki said while continuing to dust the décor. "Because you've never kept it secret that you want to lay with Master Alfonzo and Madam Elicia."
"That's right." Ikaruga said proudly. "Andin fact, I do like Master Alfonzo quite a bit. Not as much as Madam Elicia. But I definitely like him."
"B-B-But… It-It-It's not… Ro-Ro-Romantic, right?" Mey-Rin said, trying her best to join the conversation.
"That's right." Ikaruga replied. "I'd rather be something like… Friends with benefits. Hell, I'd even be okay with them using me like most nobles do with their maids."
"Neither Master Alfonzo nor any of the ladies that live here are like that." Ai said while shaking her head.
"*Sigh* I know that." Ikaruga said with a pout. "But couldn't they make an exception just once? I mean, do you know how many times I've had to listen to Master Alfonzo fuck one of the Madams or Mistresses into a coma? Argh! I'm so damn frustrated. And there's only so much my fingers can do anymore."
"Wha~~~~~~!" Mey-Rin squealed in embarrassment. "So… So… So scandalous."
"I'm sure Master Alfonzo would make something to help you with that if you asked." Miyuki said dryly. "he's made all sorts of toys for his lovers, after all."
"Yeah, no." Ikaruga said while looking away with an awkward expression on her face. "Although I don't' have much, I still have a little shame. And walking up to him and asking him to make me a toy because I've been diddling myself to the sound of him fucking his wives and lovers for years and can't handle it with my fingers anymore is something that makes me feel the little that I still have."
Saying all that in one breath, Ikaruga had to stop for a few moments to catch her breath. Then, once her breathing was under control, her eyes lit up with a good idea.
"Oh, I know!" Ikaruga exclaimed excitedly. She then turned to the other three maids before she continued. "Can one of you ask him for me?"
"Sure." Miyuki replied.
"No problem." Ai said at the same time.
Hearing how quickly Ai and Miyuki replied to her request, Ikaruga was not happy. Instead, she looked at the two with skepticism.
"What's the catch?" Ikaruga asked in a guarded tone.
Hearing that, Ai and Miyuki exchanged glances. Then, they both looked at Ikaruga and spoke in unison.
"There's no catch. But when we ask Master Alfonzo, we'll make sure to tell him what you said word for word."
"Damned bitches.' Ikaruga said through gritted teeth. Though her lips were curled into a slightly amused smile. "Forget it, then. But I hope you remember this when you need to ask me for something."
"That will never happen." Ai and Miyuki said in unison once again.
From there, the four continued to chat and set up the room. And with their efficiency, it did not take long for them to finish their work.
*Knock!* *Knock!*
And around the time they finished, the door was knocked on. Quickly, Mey-Rin made her way over to the door to open it. However, when she saw who was standing on the other side of the door, her face reddened once again.
"Ma-Ma-Master Alfonzo, good evening." Mey-Rin stuttered out.
"Hey, Mey-Rin, is everything ready?" Alfonzo asked.
"Yes, everything has been prepared." Ai said while bowing her head politely. "Whenever you are ready, you may begin dining."
"Great." Alfonzo said with a smile. "Then, I'll go get maria. Ai, Miyuki, you two bring the food from the kitchen. Mey-Rin, Ikaruga, please tend to the ladies in the living room. Marin and Sun have returned, too. So, there will be even more work to do."
"Understood." X 4
The four maids replied quickly as they and Alfonzo left the room to carry out Alfonzo's directions. And while the four maids hurried to the kitchen to pick up the dishes for the respective dinners, Alfonzo made his way to the living room to get Maria for their candlelight dinner.
"You actually fainted at the hot spring?" Marin asked while leaning on Sun as she laughed loudly. "Man, that's almost as bad as Sun when she fainted right after Alfonzo put it in during their first time."
"Marin~~~!" Sun squealed in embarrassment, her face as red as Erza's hair. "Why are you brining that up?"
"Did she really faint right after he put it in?" Yoruichi asked with her eyes wide open while still resting her head on Elicia's lap.
"Yeah, but there was a reason for that." Elicia said calmly. "I won't tell you the reason, though. It's Sun's secret."
Although the whole thing about having to kill anyone that found out Sun was a mermaid had been dropped, Rangiku and Sui-Feng were not considered family like Yoruichi was. So, Elicia decided that the secret should be kept for now.
"I see." Yoruichi replied as she flicked her gaze in Sun's direction for a moment.
However, before the conversation could continue, Alfonzo walked into the living room.
"I don't mean to interrupt your girl talk, but I need to borrow maria." Alfonzo said with a smile.
"Oh, go ahead.' Rangiku said with a smile. "We got a lot of good gossip out of her already."
Meanwhile, Maria stood up quickly, her face red from embarrassment, and quickly approached Alfonzo to escape the teasing. And when she reached his side, Alfonzo gently took her hand in his.
"Then, we should go, Shephard-style." Alfonzo said.
While most of the people in the room looked at Alfonzo strangely after he said that, Elicia, the only one who understood the reference, could not help laughing.
"I don't get it." Sun muttered.
"No one does." Erza replied. "Just chalk it up as another one of those things that only Alfonzo and Elicia understand."
"Yeah, I got a lot of things on that list already." Lucy added while shaking her head.
Shaking his head at the reactions, Alfonzo turned around and led Maria out of the living room towards the room that was set up for their dinner date, leaving the ladies to continue their girl talk.
Earth Land, Alakitasia, Alvarez Empire, Vistarion.
"How are the preparations for the invasion?" Zeref asked while resting his right elbow on the armrest of his throne and supporting his head with his hand.
While Alfonzo and the members of Fairy Tail were going on with their lives as usual, Zeref had gathered his Spriggan 12 in the Vistarion Castle's throne room for an update on their progress over the last few months. {Pic}
"With more time to prepare, we've managed to construct several more flying ships." Invel said as he stepped forward to report. "Our spies have also provided us with some new information."
"Oh? And what would that be?" Zeref asked curiously.
Zeref was not the only one interested in the new information, as the other eleven members of the Spriggan 12 gave Invel their full attention, as well.
"Apparently, Alfonzo Marcus and the traitor, Irene Belserion, engaged in combat two weeks ago." Invel said, beginning the report. "Their battlefield was the mountain range where Fairy Tail fought Tartaros and later Acnologia."
"Why would they fight each other?" August asked with his brows furrowed. "Did they have a falling out?"
"I guess that means there's another mountain range missing on Ishgar." Demaria said with a grin. "If Irene were to fight seriously, a mountain range would not stand a chance."
The other members of the Spriggan 12 also began to discuss what a battle between Alfonzo and Irene might mean. However, they were not able to talk about it for long.
"Silence." Zeref said calmly, his voice cutting through the din in the throne room. Then, once the wizards fell silent, he continued. "Let Invel finish."
Immediately, the throne room fell silent as all eyes once again fell onto Invel.
"From what the spies were able to gather, there was no falling out." Invel said, continuing his report. "Rather, it was only a friendly match to determine who was the strongest member of the Fairy Tail guild, and consequently, the strongest wizard in Ishgar, as well."
"Hmph!" God Serena snorted, the term, "Strongest in Ishgar," bringing back some unpleasant memories. "Just wait until I return to Ishgar, I'll show that upstart what real strength is."
"Do we know who emerged victorious?" August asked.
"Unfortunately, we do not." Invel replied while shaking his head. "But we do know that both were unharmed. And if the reports are to be believed, they both went all-out during the battle. So, you can do with that information what you will."
Hearing that, the original members of the Spriggan 12 knew that Ireen would definitely go all-out. So, they did not doubt it. And because of that, August, Invel, Ajeel Raml, Dimaria, Larcade Dragneel, Bloodman, Neinhart, and Wall Eehto looked at God Serena disdainfully.
Although they would not dispute that God Serena was, at one point, the strongest wizard on Ishgar. He, in no way, could compare to Irene, the Scarlet Despair. So, for him to say something like he did was nothing but laughable in their eyes.
Greed, who had tangled with Alfonzo in the past was also looking at God Serena like he was out of his mind. For someone to be able to kill Father, the one who created him, they had to be among the strongest wizards alive.
As for Seifer and Bambietta, neither knew just how strong Irene was. However, since they joined the Spriggans, they had heard stories. And they both knew they were no match for her. So, hearing that Alfonzo, after fighting her at full strength, was unharmed let them know that he was on a different level, as well.
"Invel, send someone to survey the site of the battle." Zeref said before anyone could bark at the arrogant God Serena. "We should be able to tell just how strong they've grown over the years based on the amount of damage the mountain range sustained."
"Yes, your Majesty." Invel said while bowing his head. "It shall be done. You will have a report before the time of the invasion."
"Good." Zeref said with a nod. He then let his gaze sweep over the rest of the Spriggan 12 before continuing in a solemn tone. "At the very least, Fairy Tail has two wizards of Irene's caliber at this point. And that is a conservative assessment. That man, Alfonzo Marcus, is not like any other wizard I've met. His strange weapons, for example."
Hearing Zeref's tone and feeling the aura he was releasing unconsciously, the members of the Spriggan 12 straightened their backs and listened attentively.
"Therefore, negligence will not be tolerated." Zeref said. "All of you, strive to grow as strong as possible before the invasion begins. If this plan fails due to your arrogance, I guarantee you will not like the consequences. Understood?"
"Understood." X 12
"Good." Zeref said as he returned to his normal tone. "We set out on May 25th. Until then, prepare well. Dismissed."
The twelve Spriggans nodded in response before leaving the throne room. Then, as soon as Zeref was alone, he faded out of sight, heading to the site of Alfonzo's and Irene's battle to do his own investigation.