Year: X783 (Ryo 16, Mira 15, Erza 14, Cana 14, Laxus 16, Gray 12, Natsu 11, Lisanna 10, Elfman 12, Levy 13)
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Part I – New Orders
The guild was restless that morning. The boards had been plastered with more dark guild activity than usual—smaller, scattered groups, but dangerous all the same.
"About time you brats faced something more than beasts," Wakaba muttered around his pipe. "But this ain't no child's game."
Makarov gathered the young squad at the front of the hall. His expression was grave.
"Reports say a small dark guild calling themselves Ash Serpents have been raiding villages along the east trade road. Extortion, destruction, kidnapping." His eyes swept across them. "I want this stopped."
Erza stood tall. "Yes, Master. We'll put an end to it."
Mira smirked. "Finally, some real fun."
Cana sighed. "Couldn't they be, like… nice criminals who only steal bread?"
Makarov's gaze lingered on Ryo. "Your curse will hunger for this fight. Do not let it lead you."
Ryo only nodded once, his shadows twitching faintly.
Then Makarov turned to the last figure leaning against the bar, arms folded, lightning crackling faintly around his shoulders.
"Laxus, you'll accompany them."
Groans erupted instantly. Mira crossed her arms. "Seriously? We don't need Thunder Prince dragging us down."
"Like I'd want to waste time babysitting you lot," Laxus sneered. "But fine. If the old man says so."
Ryo's jaw tightened. Sparks danced across the air between them before they'd even left the hall.
The mission hadn't even started, and already the squad was a storm waiting to break.
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Part II – Sparks and Shadows
The road east stretched long and dusty. Their boots crunched in uneasy rhythm, tension so thick it nearly sparked on its own.
Laxus strode ahead, lightning dancing across his arms. Mira glared daggers at his back. Erza marched with cold determination. Cana shuffled her cards just to fill the silence.
Ryo walked near the rear, shadows curling faintly at his heels, his curse whispering every time he glanced at Laxus.
Kill him. Rival. Threat. Cleave him. Dismantle.
He ground his teeth and forced it down. Not here. Not now.
They reached the village by dusk. Houses stood half-burned, crops trampled, the smell of smoke still clinging to the air. Villagers huddled in fear, eyes wide as the Fairy Tail crest came into view.
"Please," an old woman begged. "They'll be back tonight. They always come back."
"Not tonight," Erza said firmly. "We'll protect you."
The children peeked out from behind her, eyes lighting at the certainty in her voice.
But Ryo noticed the way Mira's hands clenched, the way Laxus smirked like it was already over, the way his curse thrummed like a drum in his chest.
Tonight, fire and lightning and shadow would collide.
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Part III – Clash with the Serpents
The Ash Serpents came at midnight.
Dark mages cloaked in tattered robes, each bearing serpent tattoos glowing faint green. Their leader was tall, scarred, with fangs glinting when he grinned.
"Well, well," he hissed. "Fairy Tail brats come to play."
Erza stepped forward, blade drawn. "Leave these people, or face the consequences."
The man laughed. "Kill them."
Spells erupted. Fire, poison, chains of shadow-green magic.
Erza charged first, her blade flashing through the night. Mira roared and slammed into a serpent mage, her demonic aura cracking the ground. Cana tossed glowing cards that exploded across the battlefield.
And Laxus?
He walked calmly into the storm, lightning arcing in waves, frying two mages before they even touched him. "Pathetic," he spat.
Ryo's chest burned. His shadows burst outward, wolves slamming into enemy lines, blades slicing spells apart. His curse screamed at the taste of dark magic.
Yes. They are filth. Cleave them. Dismantle them.
His shadows obeyed too eagerly, ripping through mages in a frenzy. The Serpents screamed, blood hitting the dirt.
"Ryo!" Erza shouted, blocking a poisoned blade. "Hold back!"
"I am holding back!" he roared, his eyes burning gold.
Mira's fists cracked against another mage's skull. She saw the wild fire in his gaze, and for the first time, it scared her.
But there was no time. The leader stepped forward, his magic pulsing like venom.
"You think children can beat us?" he sneered, conjuring a giant serpent of shadow-green flame.
Lightning flared beside him. Laxus stood, electricity dancing across his arms.
"Watch me."
He launched forward, lightning crashing against serpent fire. The ground shook, explosions lighting the night.
And suddenly, the battlefield wasn't Fairy Tail vs. Ash Serpents.
It was Ryo vs. his curse.
Mira vs. her demon.
Laxus vs. his pride.
And the rest of the squad caught in the middle.
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Part IV – Fire and Lightning Together
The fight raged, brutal and blinding.
Erza cut down two mages at once, her blade sparking against cursed steel. Cana shielded villagers with glowing cards, teeth grit.
Mira and Laxus clashed side by side against the leader's serpent beast. She slammed her fists into its jaw while Laxus fried it with thunder. Sparks and fire crackled together, neither willing to yield.
"Don't get in my way!" Laxus shouted.
"Then keep up!" Mira snapped back.
And to both their surprise—they did. Their strikes synchronized, forcing the serpent back in a storm of lightning and flame.
Meanwhile, Ryo's shadows swarmed the battlefield, tearing through mages with merciless precision. His curse laughed in his ears, urging him to go further, deeper, bloodier.
He almost gave in—until he saw a Serpent blade swinging toward Cana's back.
Without thinking, he threw himself between them. The blade cut into his shoulder, blood spraying. His shadows erupted in fury, shredding the attacker instantly.
Cana gasped. "Ryo—!"
He gritted his teeth, clutching his wound. "Stay alive, damn it."
For a moment, the curse was silent. Just for a moment.
And then, with a roar that shook the night, the Serpent leader fell beneath Mira and Laxus' combined assault, lightning and fire exploding together.
The battlefield fell still.
The Ash Serpents were broken.
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Part V – Grudging Respect
Morning came with smoke and silence. The village was safe. The Serpents were bound, their leader unconscious.
Fairy Tail stood victorious—but bloodied.
Mira slumped against a fence, panting. "Not bad, Thunder Prince. For a spoiled brat."
Laxus smirked, sparks still dancing faintly. "You weren't terrible yourself, She-Devil."
For once, there was no venom in his tone.
Cana flopped in the dirt, exhausted. Erza polished her blade with grim satisfaction.
Ryo stood apart, shoulder bleeding, shadows faint around him. He stared at his hands, remembering the laughter of the curse. The blood on the ground.
Mira walked over, dropping beside him with a thud. She was quiet for a long time.
Then she said, "You scare me sometimes."
He flinched.
"But…" Her eyes softened, just a little. "I trust you. With my siblings. With the guild. With me."
Ryo's throat tightened. He didn't know what to say.
So he just nodded once.
The curse hissed, furious. But for the first time, it felt… small.