Updated 9/28/18
Chapter 17Cana groaned as Kinana and Lisanna both announced that the guild hall was closing and it was time for everyone to start heading out. "But, I'm not done with my barrel yet."
The two short haired mages eyed each other with a look that screamed. Yes, but even if you were done with said barrel you would just pull out another one from the storeroom downstairs!
"Perhaps, you can check out that new bar down the street. They are open for another hour." Kinana muttered and nearly regretted it after she did. Last thing Cana needed was more alcohol.
The drunken mage smirked, slipped out off her stool on unsteady feet, and winked at Kinana. "I like the way you think!" She tottled off a few steps before she found herself muttering about the drunk Quatro Cerebus member that hasn't called her in over a week. "Don't get me wrong I'm not looking for anything serious. But I thought there was a connection of some sort. But...nope...nothing."
It didn't take long for Cana to find her way directly to the bar in question. A corner stool seemed to immediately be calling her name. "Hey barkeep! Some service here." While she wanted to order a whole barrel she was aware enough to realize that a bar outside of the Fairy Tail guild hall wouldn't consent. A tickling at the nape of her neck had her looking over her shoulder.
There stood a tall scrumptious looking man, or maybe that was the booze talking. Didn't much matter when he said, "I'll take care of this lovely lady's tab." Yeah he had her full, drunken, undivided attention for the rest of the evening.
oOo
Whoever it was in the universe that controlled the hands of fate seemed to be playing some kind of cruel joke on Erza right now. Titania, Queen of the Faeries, was thinking that the title someone had dubbed her with long ago perhaps wasn't well deserved at the moment. Her emotions going cattywampus and barely suppressible. She was dealing with being irked at the insects that fluttered about in the forest trying to suck away her life force and cover her with a superabundance of unattractive puckered red welts all over her body. Because they had no map, and the long extending branches of the trees around the trio formed a dense canopy veiling the stars from sight she was reluctant to admit to herself that she was afraid of getting lost. Then you had the person that impacted her emotions the most. Unfortunately at the moment instead of adoration she was feeling a tremendous amount of self doubt, regarding how he was dismissing her, and anger towards his lack of acceptance about the fact that he somehow deemed the team she was working with incapable of the task set before them. She couldn't bite her tongue any longer. She accelerated her movements so that she was able to push past the two who were leading the trek through the woods and is able to halt their movements.
Jellal stops and crosses his arms. "Erza, whatever this is about we don't have time for it now. We need to make the most of the time we have allotted to us so we are able to get back to the cabin in due course."
"Then let's adjust the time table accordingly to make time for it. Because I don't think this discussion can wait. You had the gall to anticipate and expect to run this errand all on your own. While you said you were only going to scope out the camp and come back with the info from your reconnaissance I could see the look in your eye. You were going to attempt to take down Venom's Talon on your own. In that moment of thoughtlessness you managed to belittle the capabilities of myself, my teammates, and my friends." He was one of the few people she usually quietly respected but right now her emotions were making her less likely to hold her tongue.
"If I apologize can we proceed forward?" It was obvious that Jellal was just attempting to postpone the inevitable.
"No, I'm not sure that is going to be enough to resolve this issue right now." Erza shook her head fiercely.
Meredy on the sidelines veiled a muttered, "Man, I wish I had popcorn right now."
Jellal scowled at Meredy barely catching her comment. "What do you want me to say, Erza?"
"Oh no, I am not going to feed you your own dialogue. You have to figure this one all out on your own."
Jellal sighed. If he were honest with himself she had every right to be angry with him. What he had done was inexcusable. He had rationalized that his methods were better for them all. But that was a load of crap because at the end of the day he just wanted to be able to get away from Erza as quickly as possible. He loved being with her and having the scarce moments to relish in his feelings for her. Unfortunately, he wasn't someone that was allotted much time, if any, to have romantic feelings about anyone. Also, it wasn't fair to her for him to encourage her own feelings and let her wait around for him so they could have a few scarce moments to themselves.
"I am sorry. Please do believe that much, Erza. But I can't do this. I can't let us get wrapped up in this whirlwind back and forth romantic relationship that we just can't have. I realize that I could have let us just continue on with the plans as they stood. But I didn't want to spend and over-excessive amount of time in your presence."
Erza gasped. How cruel could he really be? "An over-excessive time in my presence!?"
Something in him broke, and he quivered as she punctuated each syllable with bitterness. He sighed. "I'm not good at articulating this but I just don't want to get caught up in the charade. We can pretend that we have all the time in the world with each other. The trouble is, it just isn't true! I'm not going to let you wait around for me pining away when I just can't be there."
"You won't let me? Well let me tell you something. I do 'pine away' for you as you so called it already. Your actions have no impact upon my own feelings." Erza was so angry but at this moment she knew she had to calm down. If she said these words in anger they wouldn't hold the depth of meaning behind them. So she took a deep breath before she proceeded with her tirade. "Look, I don't remember the exact quote or where I heard it. But I know I watched something where the female protagonist said something about not being able to change someone's mind or heart. You can't order my heart what to feel, Jellal." Suddenly she felt her emotions made her feel weary and deflated. "The same as I can't keep myself from feeling. You may not want to feel about me the way I feel about you and I can resp—"
Suddenly her words were taken away from her as he quickly pulled her against him and kissed her passionately. His unwillingness melted away as he tasted her lips for the first time. Erza's lips were only hesitant for a moment before they became more pliant under his own.
She never thought their first kiss would be in the woods about to take on their enemy. Nor did she mean to respond to his lips in such a tempestuous manner.
It was the clearing of a throat that made them break apart. "I'm sorry to interrupt this amorous display. But we should really keep going."
Jellal and Erza both cleared their throats and muttered an inarticulate noise of agreement.
oOo
The trio is now approaching a clearing. Jellal switches to telepathic communication so as not to alert any of the bandits that may be scouting the vicinity. Okay we need to make the most of our abilities. I was thinking one of us should scout the towers and see how many guards are on duty at those points. One should attempt to get past those guards and see how many are off duty asleep in the fort. Then the last of us should scout the surrounding area and see if there are any footmen. Remember this is not a mission to take anyone out. If we alert anyone of our presence tonight it will create a problem for how we take them out tomorrow.
Meredy casts a three spread sensory link. This should give us access to each other's abilities. But remember that if one of us gets hurt we all do so take precaution in that regard. I will sever the link if something becomes too risky. Meredy turns and looks at Erza. I don't suppose you have two requips that could blend us with the darkness and perhaps help us remain cloaked in stealth?
I think I may have two. She turned to look at Jellal. He wouldn't be able to requip in something since all her requips were female clothing and armor. They wouldn't fit him properly.
As if he read her worry he replied. I can manage without.
Erza, form a mental picture in your mind at the two garments in question. Once Erza did this because of the three spread sensory link both Meredy and Jellal were able to also see the requips in question. Jellal had to turn around immediately because he blushed quite profusely when he saw her garbed in one of the two. Oh we can't have that. Meredy requiped accessing Erza's magic. When Jellal turned back around he saw the rubber latex onesie that had popped in his vision. He drew a breath of thanks.
Where did that particular requip come from? He had to ask out of his own curiosity.
Ever hear of the Butt Jiggle Gang?
Oh, say no more. He looked up at the fort. So that uniform should keep her from making much sound. I think she should probably try to sneak in to do the inside job. Let's see what you planned on requipping into.
Erza accessed her magic quickly to requip the uniform in question. Once the magic that cloaked the change dissipated she stood before them dressed head to two in black. Her hair and face were hidden by the black cloth mask of the shinobi shozoku (garment a ninja would wear).
Okay, Erza you take the towers and outside doors then. I will take point and walk the perimeter to see if there are any stragglers scouting the vicinity.
Meredy is able to create a diversion to pull the guard away who is manning the back door. She sneaks past him and lets herself in the fort immediately taking route to scout through the barracks where they all are sure to be sleeping. Luckily the fort is set up similarly to many others she has been in and she finds the room pretty much right away at the top of the stairs. Inside she does a mental tally of all the bodies inside snoozing. She is surprised at the numbers. I'm counting probably about fifty bodies here at most. I am sure the group of leaders sleep elsewhere though so I would probably add another five to that list.
Each of the towers only have one man on point. In two out of four of the towers the bandit on duty is asleep. The main door has two standing guard and Meredy said there was one at the door in the back. So that's another seven. Erza reported her findings. It seemed like they were very over confident that they wouldn't be attacked by anyone at night. Either that or they were overconfident that no one would ever take them on at their home base.
I have only spotted three patrolling the outer perimeter. So I am going to come to the conclusion that they're somewhere between sixty-five and seventy here at the fort.
I really wish we knew if any of them were also mages. It would make it easier to prep for this battle. Meredy relayed her misgivings.
While I agree with you. I think this battle may be easier won then you may worry over. If we come back at night instead of doing this in the daylight we can catch them by surprise. Erza relayed her thoughts.
They all reconvened back at the outer rim of the forest where they had initially started their scouting expedition. We can't let our guard down however. They could be more formidable than they appear.
oOo
The exhaustion of the day began to hit the trios bodies as they made their trek back to the cabin. A collective gasp of relief passed through the three of them as they arrived at their destination. Jellal saw how tired the two were so he took it upon himself to leave a letter for the others to find in the morning.
Once you all awaken I ask that you let Meredy, Erza, and myself sleep. The plan is to attack the fort at night when their defense is weakened. There are somewhere between sixty-five and seventy bandits at the fort. Only ten were on patrol last night and I don't see a reason that the patrol numbers would change. I think we can easily overthrow them while their guard is down. Feel free to chart out some attack plans and don't let the three of us sleep past noon.
-J
oOo
So I hate to admit it but personally I have never been much of a fan of Erza and Jellal. Don't get me wrong I don't dislike them they just have never been at the forefront of my mind either as characters or couples. The reason I mention this at all is because I am greatly hoping I did okay with their personalities this chapter and didn't disappoint those who are Jerza fans.