Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
February 2, x792.
"Hope you're ready to lose, Mira." Elicia said as she and Mirajane made their way to the underground training chamber below the Mansion on the Lake.
"I remember you used to always have something to say when Alfonzo got too prideful, Lici." Mirajane replied with a challenging grin on her face. "But look at you now. Oh, how the roles have reversed."
The day after Alfonzo and the ladies had their day of relaxation with the guys and girls of the guild, Elicia and Mirajane woke up early to settle the challenge from the day before. Currently, they were walking down the corridor leading from the elevator to the training chamber while exchanging a little pre-battle banter.
"Yeah, I remember that." Elicia replied with a smile. "But Erza, literally, knocked some sense into me ten years ago. It's alright to be proud of what you've accomplished. And I'm quite proud to be the second strongest woman in the guild."
"Second strongest, for now." Mirajane said as her smile widened. "But after I beat you, that title will belong to me."
*Scrape!* *Scrape!* *Scrape!*
The banter continued as the ladies walked down the corridor. However, when they reached the door leading to the training chamber, they heard a strange sound that caused them both to fall silent.
Exchanging glances, both Elicia and Mirajane were curious to know what could be causing such a sound to come from the training chamber. Unfortunately, even if they used [Magic Power Detection], they would not be able to find out without entering since Alfonzo had to reinforce the seals due to the increasing levels of strength the residents of the mansion continued to reach.
"Other than Grayfia and the other maids, who else gets up this early?" Elicia asked as she gripped the door handle.
"No idea." Mirajane replied while shaking her head. "Honestly, I'm surprised you managed to get up this early without smelling Alfonzo's cooking."
"You know how it is." Elicia replied with a shrug. "After having a kid, sleeping in isn't as easy as it used to be."
"Very true." Mirajane replied with a nod. "Even so, I wouldn't trade her for the world."
"I know that's right." Elicia replied with a radiant smile. "Anyway, let's go inside and see who's making that noise."
Receiving a nod from Mirajane, Elicia quickly opened the door. However, when she and Mirajane looked inside, they did not see anyone.
*Scrape!* *Scrape!* *Scrape!*
Yet, the sound that first caught their attention continued. Luckily, with the door open, they were able to tell exactly where it came from.
Looking up towards the source of the sound, Elicia and Mirajane saw Alfonzo standing on a floating metal plate while adding a layer of plaster to the ceiling.
"What in the world are you doing, Fonzie?" Elicia asked curiously as she stepped into the training chamber, Mirajane following closely.
"Huh? Lici? Mira?" Alfonzo asked after Elicia's voice pulled his attention away from his task. "Didn't expect anyone to be up for at least another hour."
"Yeah, yeah, I like to sleep in." Elicia said while rolling her eyes as Mirajane giggled at her expense. "So, are you gonna tell us what you're doing up there?"
"Adding a little something for extra magic power control training." Alfonzo replied as he turned back to the ceiling to continue adding the plaster.
"And how is putting plaster on the ceiling supposed to help with your magic power control?" Mirajane asked curiously.
Hearing that, Alfonzo smiled widely. Then, after smoothing out the last spot of plaster, he ran a current through the plaster, creating just enough heat to dry it. And once it was dry, he grabbed the bucket with the solution before dispelling his tools and the platform he was floating on, causing him to fall to the floor.
"I'm glad you asked." Alfonzo said with a grin as he approached the door to the training room under Elicia's and Mirajane's gazes.
Once Alfonzo arrived, he put the bucket down next to the door. Then, he tapped the panel that controlled the training room's gravity. Then, once he had it set the way he wanted, he gestured towards it while looking at Elicia and Mirajane.
"I already set the gravity." Alfonzo said. "When I give you the signal, turn it on."
After saying that, Alfonzo stepped to the side of the panel. Then, with magic power coating the soles of his shoes, he started walking up the wall vertically, surprising Mirajane because she's not used to seeing Alfonzo use Shinobi techniques.
Meanwhile, Elicia is starting to understand what Alfonzo is about to do. So, while he climbed the wall, she moved in front of the panel while continuing to watch Alfonzo.
Eventually, Alfonzo reached the ceiling. However, instead of stopping, he walked on the ceiling as if gravity had been inverted before stopping in the center of the chamber.
"Alright, hit it." Alfonzo said after taking a deep breath.
Following Alfonzo's instructions, Elicia pressed the button that will change the gravity to Alfonzo's parameters.
Immediately, the gravitational force in the room changed. At the same time, Alfonzo regulated his magic power so he wouldn't be ripped off the ceiling. At the same time, he had to use his magic power to manually regulate his blood flow so his blood ded not gather in his head.
"Whoa!" Mirajane exclaimed in wonder. She then turns towards Lici before continuing. "What's the gravity set at, Lici?"
"150G." Elicia replied while looking up at Alfonzo. "Holding himself up there like that under a hundred and fifty times normal gravity is crazy."
"I know, right?" Mirajane replied. "Just how good does your control have to be to do that."
"It's not just holding yourself up there that makes it hard." Elicia explained. "You also have to have fine enough control that the plaster doesn't crumble under your feet, too. This would be a whole lot easier if he didn't put that plaster up there."
"Actually, now that I think about it, how is the plaster not crumbling under the increased gravity." Mirajane asked.
"Beats me." Elicia replied with a shrug. "Fonzie probably did something with sigils or [Seals] to keep it intact. By this point, I don't question some of the stuff he does. I don't even think about it too hard, really."
"That's probably a good mindset." Mirajane replied with a nod of understanding.
About five minutes later, Alfonzo stopped flowing his magic power to his feet, causing him to fall from the ceiling. On his way down, he reoriented himself, pointing his feet to the floor. Then, using his magic power, he cushioned the impact, touching down lightly.
"Good." Alfonzo said with a smile. "Training like that should push my magic power control to a whole new level."
"Part of me wants to say you're insane." Mirajane said as Alfonzo approached her and Elicia. "Falling from the ceiling while under heavy gravity could kill you if things go wrong. But since the whole chamber is made of metal, you'll probably be fine even if you hit the floor without breaking your fall."
Alfonzo's response was to simply smile at Mirajane's observation. A moment later, he put on a curious expression and turned his awareness to catch both Elicia and Mirajane.
"So, you never told me why you're up this early." Alfonzo said, his gaze lingering a little longer on Elicia than on Mirajane.
"Because Mirajane challenged me." Elicia replied while crossing her arms and rolling her eyes at Alfonzo's obvious gaze. "She wants to take the title of second strongest woman in Fairy Tail from me."
"Oh!" Alfonzo intoned in interest with an eyebrow raised as he turned his full attention to Mirajane.
"That's right." Mirajane said as she rested her hands on her hips. "She's been holding that title for too long. It's time for a change. Then, after I win, I'll rub it in Red's face."
'So, that's her real reason.' Alfonzo and Elicia thought simultaneously.
"You two don't mind if I watch, do you?" Alfonzo asked as he reached past Elicia and Mirajane to turn off the increased gravity. "Having a witness would be better for bragging rights, right?"
"You just wanna watch us get all sweaty while we fight." Elicia said as she rolled her eyes again, this time at Alfonzo.
Mirajane giggled at that while Alfonzo smiled brightly, showing no signs of shame in his expression.
"I can't deny that's a perk of watching." Alfonzo replied cheekily.
"Whatever, it's not like we can stop you." Elicia said, shaking her head before she walked into the sparring area of the training chamber.
"*Muah* I'm okay with it, too." Mirajane said after planting a kiss on Alfonzo's cheek. "Wouldn't want Lici denying her loss, would we?"
Once again, Elicia rolled her eyes at Mirajane as the white-haired She-Devil strutted into the sparring area and stood across from her.
"Alright, you ready, Mira?" Elicia asked as she took her fighting stance.
"Anytime." Mirajane replied as she began circulating her magic power.
"Then, I'll be the referee." Alfonzo said as he took a step forward with his right hand raised. "You both already know the rules for these kinds of spars. Don't take it too far."
Receiving nods from both Elicia and Mirajane, Alfonzo glanced at both ladies for the last time. Then, he slashed his arm down.
"Begin!" Alfonzo said sharply, signaling the beginning of the match.
"[Take Over Magic: Satan Soul: Sitri]." Mirajane chanted as soon as the match started.
*Flash!*
As Mirajane changed forms, Elicia pushed off the floor, dashing towards Mirajane to limit her options. At the same time, she began spreading her threads all over the chamber.
*Bang!*
An instant later, Mirajane reappeared in her [Sitri Take Over]. She then threw up her hands to block a spinning kick from Elicia. Meanwhile, Elicia, with her leg and foot pressing against Mirajane's cross block, noticed something different.
"Ooh! That's a new look." Elicia said in an intrigued tone. "Since when can you change what your [Take Overs] are wearing, Mira."
"It's only been a few days." Mirajane replied with a savage grin. "Imagination is a big part of magic, after all. So, I tried something different."
"It's very sexy." Elicia said as she pushed off Mirajane's block. "I like it."
At the same time, as she backflipped through the air, Elicia yanked her arms backwards, causing the threads surrounding Mirajane to contract.
*Whoosh!*
However, before the threads could close in, Mirajane expelled a large amount of fire from her feet, incinerating the nearest threads. She then tilted her head to the left, avoiding a bundle of threads Elicia lashed at her.
"Come on, Lici." Mirajane said as she, with her hands coated in her [Darkness Magic] grabbed the threads that narrowly missed hitting her in the face. "I thought you were better than that. Such low-level distractions will never work on me."
"I never expected it to." Elicia replied as she contracted the thread Mirajane was holding, sending herself soaring towards Mirajane feet first.
Reacting quickly, Mirajane let go of the thread and bends backwards into a bridge, letting Elicia sail past her. However, before she slammed into the barrier Alfonzo raised, she slowed down thanks to the threads spread around the area.
Then, when the threads Elicia landed on snapped back into place, she was shot upwards where she hit another set of threads before being shot downwards at Mirajane, who was still in the bridge posture.
"Nice try!" Mirajane shouted as she braced her hands on the floor before swinging her flaming legs up at Elicia, releasing a pair of flaming slashes at the Magic Seamstress.
"Uh oh!" Elicia exclaimed as she tugs on the threads attached to her hands, pulling herself away from the path of the flame slashes.
As a result of Elicia's evasion, some of the plaster Alfonzo just put up is turned to ash, drifting down towards the two ladies and making Alfonzo frown at the extra work he would have to do to replace the damaged plaster.
From there, the battle picked up in intensity with threads, [Darkness Magic] bullets, fire slashes, punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and knee strikes flying every which way. However, with the rate Elicia and Mirajane were going, Alfonzo was sure that the match won't last more than an hour.
Just as Alfonzo expected, the match lasted a little more than fifty-seven minutes. At the end, Elicia managed to loop a fire resistant thread around Mirajane's right leg. She then slid in, avoiding a punch from Mirajane, and landed a powerful elbow strike to Mirajane's solar plexus. Then, in the same motion, she yanked the thread looped around Mirajane's leg, causing the She-Devil to fall to the floor.
Finally, before Mirajane could react, Elicia reeled in the rest of the threads. And with her exquisite control, she managed to leave Mirajane hog-tied before sitting on her sister-wife's back, bringing an end to the match.
"Well, I guess we can call it there." Alfonzo said while shaking his head at Elicia's mischief.
"Yup." Elicia said with a nod. She then looked down at Mirajane and continued in a cheeky tone. "Unless you're unsatisfied, Mira."
"Get off of me." Mirajane replied while struggling to free herself. "You're heavy."
"Ugh! How rude!" Elicia exclaimed indignantly. She then started wiggling her butt on Mirajane's back to get back at her.
"Seriously, stop!" Mirajane squealed, laughing at Elicia's antics. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry! Now, get off!"
"Not until you say you give up." Elicia replied, her cheeky smile reappearing on her face. "If you don't, I'll start tickling, instead."
"Fine, you win!" Mirajane shouted. "I give up! I give up!"
Hearing that, Elicia smiled, patted Mirajane on the butt, and stood up. Then, she dispelled her threads before stretching satisfyingly.
"Ah! That was a good workout." Elicia said cheerfully. "And now, it's time for a nice, hot bath."
Reaching that point, Elicia looked at Alfonzo and Mirajane with a seductive gaze.
"Would the two of you care to join me?" Elicia asked, the invitation obvious to Alfonzo and Mirajane.
"Your sex drive is always on, isn't it?" Mirajane asked while rolling her eyes as she got up from the floor.
"That didn't sound like a 'no.' Elicia said cheekily as she hugged Alfonzo's arm when he was close enough.
Once again, Mirajane rolled her eyes. Yet, just as Elicia said, she did not say no. After that, the trio headed to the bath for a little after-training relaxation.