Not an Heir on His Head [Avery]

THIS ISN'T MAGNOLI

It was a long ride to the city, but it was one deserving of every moment. He stood in the midst of the plaza, waiting for his guest to rejoin him. They had left the station perhaps an hour ago, and he had vanished to get a coffee. He took a seat on a bench, sipped his warm drink and set his right ankle upon his left leg. He was planning to relax. It was only for the moment. It was the early hours of the morning here, at least in Fiore. Time was a strange thing in Pandora. What was one thing in one country, would be another in a different one. That, was something to enjoy.

If you traveled often, you could watch the sunset forever, although, there was no sun.

"Avery?" he would ask to himself, where had that woman gone?

Avery was currently in line for what seemed to be a clothing store. But she didn't intend on buying anything. Very sneakily and quick she was beginning to pick-pocket people as they walked by. They wouldn't notice until after they went to pay for something. Avery put her stealings in her pocket before leaving the store and going to find Shirou. She stands beside him, leaning on a pole and sighing.

THIS ISN'T MAGNOLI

The displeasure of people in the distance was enough to cue his life lesson for his newest visitor. He would motion, again, for her to take a seat. If she didn't then he would continue nonetheless.

"I hope benefiting off misfortune will stop eventually." he would tell her, "We run this city. You can steal, the way you've been, or you can steal in the more conventional method. . . like taxes, and donations." He would reach to lift open to show the inside of his jacket, only to find it lined with various silvers and golds.

"Tell me, what is your true goal in Pandora, and I shall make it happen." he would say, "I'm sure both our plans will align with each other."

She looks over to him, not sitting beside him. "You're a guy who tries to act like a nice man, aren't you?" She scoffs and looks at her nails. "My plan in Pandora..." She looks up at the sky to come up with an answer.

"I've never really had a specific end goal besides survive as long as possible, regardless of what I have to do." Avery looks toward Shirou. "I don't have an I.D, and I'm not technically a citizen. Having an official identity is something I was never found of. I rather be...not there. It makes committing crimes easier."

Her eyes slowly move toward's the ground, and she crosses her arms, looking in deep thought. She probably sounds like a lost kid, pathetic.

"But I chose this life." She quickly says.

THIS ISN'T MAGNOLI

"In Fiore, I was a knight of the holiest order. I kept the peace. War happened. I executed hundreds." he laughed, finding it amusing she had even gotten him to start such a story. "I killed the former master of Twilight Dragon and branded it a new name, Fairy Tail. They were a children's tale of a peacekeeping order." he would turn to face her,"If I were a kind man, who gave a damn about the people, I would have killed you, not employed you." He set both of his feet on the ground, thinking of what was left to do.

What did he need to tell her? What was important?

"In this world, little things like those don't matter anymore. No one cares for your identification. Carry a brand, or a tattoo of the organization you belong to, and this city will bow to you. Soon, one day, perhaps all of Pandora will do that. " he laughed again, "I don't suppose you even know about Laughing Coffin?" and with that, he would cough, spitting up some blood, only to wipe it away with his right hand.

Time was ticking.

"I only know what effects me." She tells him. "Does this effect Fairy Tail?"

She looks down at her open palm, her intentions were true. To rule the area of how she wanted. To destroy anyone who opposed what she believed in. Urban City seems to be filled with a bunch of no good souls, souls need leading. This could possibly be a new beginning. Something only that can be done by someone who's lived in the sewers as she. See what she has.

Her fist clenches to the thought. People bowing to her? The area running as one, under her command? Avery knows what she wants, and this man is making it sound possibly. But if he is what he says, that means he can't be trusted. Maybe he wants the same as her.

She bites her lips as the wind blows through her pale blonde hair, the smell of food filling her nostrils. But she smelt this before, she used to walk these streets with her mother. But it's all very blurry.

Her mother, the one who deserved the world. Who deserved to be treated like royalty. She was the only sun this place had, and everyone knew it.

Only then had she realize that Shirou was spitting up blood, she scowls and steps back. "I hope whatever you have isn't contagious."

THIS ISN'T MAGNOLI

"What I want, is to live." he would tell her, "I'll give you anything you want, everything I have, but you must kill Laughing Coffin. Preferably before it kills me."

He would again, turn to face her. He was ill, sick, poisoned. It was no disease. He knew his time was coming up soon. If he wasn't going to die soon, he was going to be bed bound soon. He needed someone he could trust to get things done, at least what he wanted, done. Anything after, was out of his hands. He didn't care if the city burned down or turned to gold. He only wanted revenge.

"Perhaps we can even publicize your victory, make you famous, here at least. Then everything will be yours, and everyone will be your pawn."

"You're dying?" Avery raises an eyebrow, well this was quick. She's just met the guy, who's promising all of this and already he's dying? She probably would've thought twice if she knew this.

Nevertheless, she isn't quite strong. And if he's a guild master and couldn't kill this, how could she? She's specialized in stealing and killing people who weren't too skilled themselves.

"What is laughing coffin?"

THIS ISN'T MAGNOLI

He wasn't too sure of them himself. He knew they existed and were the reason for his condition. "I don't know when, or how. I only know they poisoned me, and its probably getting me from the inside out. I'm in no condition to follow after them." It was the truth. He didn't have the skill anymore to go after them.

"They are a group of thieves and assassins, I'd imagine." he would say. "I had a few people gather some information, but they're as tricky as The Agency. If you could so much as either kill a few of them, or just find out who is in charge, I'm sure the problem would solve itself."

Killing their pawns would send a message, to let them know not to mess with Fiore, nor Fairy Tail. To find their leader, was to at least have a bartering point to the other orgs. It was a threat to get any of them heated enough to assist them, even for a small task, or even better, make them do all of the work for them while they sat back.

Either, would had the same outcome.

"I need to be logical here, killing them is possible if I'm strong enough." She says to him. "How can I know I can take them on? If you couldn't even take them on? And if you aren't joining me, then I'm also outnumbered."

She's more likely trying to figure out what his true plan is. If he's just trying to lead her to his death or something more.

THIS ISN'T MAGNOLI

"If you attacked me now, I'd be overpowered, but that wouldn't mean I can't put up a fight, or at least take a limb or two with me." he spoke, boasting almost. "If power is what you seek, I'm sure I can find your something of value to help you slay them. If you want an army, there are more than enough servants to help you as well." He would have gone himself, but he would have to play defensive. Plus if they had poisoned him, he had no idea what else they could have done to him. He wasn't going to risk playing into their hands. He needed as many outside forces as he could get his hands on.

Avery sighs, crossing her arms. "Servants huh?" She rubs her temples for a moment, trying to think about what to do.

It sounds like this could be an easy fight, she took take them off one by one at a time. Hang them by nooses, and create an internal fear within the Laughing Coffin. This could be interesting, and yet amusing. And the outcome could be greater. But she'll need a weapon, good allies.

She could try going alone, she can't trust others.

THIS ISN'T MAGNOLI

"I, we, own this city. Soon, when my time is up, it will be yours alone." he spoke, thinking only of her successes. "These people are your social servants. If you need a blade, there are blacksmiths. If you need training, there are teachers. Anything you could need, is here. And if you really seek help, then we can each reach as far to the other organizations to assist you."

For a moment, he thought only of Hanzo. He too, was a man of the same background, but in this world sought a different route. Perhaps in this time, he would again help Shirou. After all, as his former master, there was a few debts to repay. Training Avery would be good enough for Shirou to call it even. For now, he would continue to speak, as she seemed to be the silent type.

"Vengeance, is a small price to pay. As such, I will give you everything your eyes can see in this moment, and more, should you carry out my last wish." he spoke. And he spoke the truth.

This city was pocket change compared to what he wanted Laughing Coffin to pay.

Avery grows silent. Inhaling and exhaling once more, feeling this type of air in her lungs. She feels an excitement drift over her for a moment, looking at the people of De Fiore. Power is like a drug. You get it and if you get addicted to it, you can't stop. And having to much can kill you. But perhaps that's how she wants to die after-all, instead as no one.

Oh mother. If you could only see me now. She thinks softly, this was her beginning. And only but the beginning. She'll have whoever she wants, whatever she wants, whenever she wants. She'll make this world hers.

This is her time to shine, it's time for those rich, wealthy, goddesses up above to finally lay eyes upon her. It's time for her to finally make a dent in the rock that she was too weak to even scratch upon. After De Fiore, she'll grow.

Fairy Tail. She enjoys the name. This all seems like a Fairy Tale to her. But its too become a reality all too soon. All too quickly.

Her hands are shaking now, with excitement. Her eyes are wide as her gaze is spaced out, and she's staring at the ground. If this is what this man wants, then he'll get it. No doubt about it.

She turns to him, becoming relaxed. "You have yourself a deal."

THIS ISN'T MAGNOLI

He would smile. After today, he could at least lay in his bed knowing that it would be taken care of. It was one less worry to think about. The poison would soon claim his life, but to live on the coattails of his own desires would make it bearable.

"Then Drachenburg is yours." he would say, "As well as Fairy Tail, but first, we must get to the guildhall. There, is where I will forever lay. And there is where you will find me." He would shift his weight to stand, much like an old man with aching bones. He would hold his own sides as she got up to stand, just like he did the day before.

He would look forward, and only forward. Soon, they would go home.

Soon, all of it would be their home.