Magi x Fairy Tail crossover: prequel

Chapter 36

'Sin and Princess Serendine are going to fight...' Ja'far thought, shocked. "What do you mean by fight in 'a different way'?"

"What? It's not difficult to understand. I'll have them fight with words." Zepar smiled, confusing everyone.

"With words?" Sin asked

"That's right. Anyone can see that your strength would be no match for Sinbad with his metal vessels. So in order to fight against him, you must use words as weapons."

"Words as weapons..." Ja'far mumbled. 'Good. This doesn't sound like something that could turn out like the fight between Masrur, Sora, and I.' He felt relieved.

"Oh great, another speech by the 'Oh Amazing Sin'..." Sora mumbled. (A/N: If you haven't noticed in the manga/anime, Sin does a lot of speeches... Is that what he's good for, I wonder...)

"Oh? It's a little early to be feeling relieved, isn't it?" Zepar looked at Ja'far and Masrur. "It seems like you don't quite understand the nature of this fight. They'll be using words to argue against each other, essentially having a mental fist fight, attacking the very values that make up the foundation of their kingly attributes. Besides bringing their differences to the forefront, fighting without using strength of arms may result in a conclusion that leads some of you to part company with your Master, as you find that your ideals conflict with those of the king vessel you have risked flesh and blood for!" This shocked everyone, aside from Sora who wasn't going to stray away from Sin just because they have different ideals. "Shall we get started then?" 

Zapping Sin and Seren, rukh came out of them. (A/N: I don't really know what it is that's coming out... I think it's their rukh...) Continuing, held them in his hands, smiling. "This fight is a showdown between your ideologies. In other words, a battle of the heart." Moving, he put a balance scale in the background of which side there were standing on, putting both of their rukh on each side. It was bigger than them. "No matter how well you're able to keep your cool on the surface, your heart can't lie." He smirked, hands under each scale. "If your heart wavers, this copy I've made will also waver. When the scales tip towards one side, that will indicate the winner. Now let's get started. A fight between two king vessels." Seren and Sin looked at each other directly in the eyes, determined to win. "My question for the king vessels...if you were awarded the metal vessel, how would you use it?"

Going first, Sin said, "Zepar, that's easy. I would use the power of that metal vessel to change the world. For that purpose, I have made efforts to create alliances with other countries and continue to advance towards my goal of creating my own country. The world is still filled with injustice. I will create a perfect world free of conflict where we can all accept one another as we are. My intentions haven't changed at all since the moment I gained Baal's power!" 

Zepar put his hand under his chin, thinking. Looking at Seren, he smiled. "...Well, Serendine, that's his side. What do you think?"

"...I can empathize with Sinbad's ideas. I have no desire to stand in the way of his efforts towards them. But...your ideals are just a bunch of pretty words. There's no substance to them, like a dream where your feet never touch the ground. Just what is that 'perfect world' you keep going on about? A world without poverty? A world without war? Or a world of complete equality with no countries, no races, and no discrimination? The world you're wishing for is one you can't even put into words. Isn't it too vague an image of a perfect world?"

Sin's face contorted into one of anger. "That's not true. I've made many friends and formed alliances with those who agree with my ideals...!" He put his hand in front of his chest.

"That just makes it seem even more disingenuous. There's no one in the world who hasn't faced some sort of injustice. Everyone wishes that they could change something about the world. That's why everyone agrees with your desire to change things." Seren's face contorted too.

"Of course! That's natural! What's wrong with that?!"

"That's not real approval for the world you're trying to create! That's nothing more than you taking advantage of the circumstances and benefiting from the fact that everyone wishes for some version of an ideal world! Your words make people feel good. That's also natural." This shocked everyone from her words. "They're applicable to anyone and everyone...because the 'perfect world' you keep going on about is just an empty idea." The scale started to move with Sin silenced.

"...If that's the case, how would you use this power, Serendine?" Zepar smiled

"...That's a good question. If I was able to gain the power of a king, I would use it for the sake of my country and only my country."

"For your country? That wouldn't change anything then, would it?" Sin asked. "Are you saying it's enough just to make your own country happy?! That's..." He thought back at what he went through. "Just how Parthevia was back then, isn't it?!"

"I won't deny that." She closed her eyes.

"Then...why?!"

"...Sinbad, there's more to changing the world, than just using all of your power against it." This confused Sin. "You wish to found a country as a means to change the world, don't you?"

"Ye-yeah."

"Because you think as the leader of a country, you'll be able to negotiate with other countries and influence their actions?"

"...That's right."

"Right...if that's the case, you don't need a country. Just being a merchant is enough, isn't it?" This shocked and confused Sin and Ja'far, with him glaring at her. "That's true, isn't it? The Sindria Trading Company has become a prominent company, even in Reim. You were able to eliminate the Mariadel Company and absorb their resources, and in doing so ensured that you have all the property, assets, and human resources you could ever need." Sora was confused, tilting her head. "As a trading company, you've been able to make alliances with other countries. Money, popularity, fame, power...you gave it all. Doesn't someone like that already have the power to greatly influence the world? Even if you don't found your own country, you already have everything you wished for... So why do still wish for a country?"

"...That's obvious." Ja'far said as Masrur and Sora looked at him. "In the end, a trading company is just a trading company. It'd be easier to accomplish what we want as a country. Which is why Sin needs to found a country..." Sora's eyes softened, and she patted his back.

Hearing him, she continued. "So you still want more, huh... I see. In that case, nonw of you...really understand what a 'country' is! You aren't thinking of a country as anything but a vessel for diplomacy! Have you given serious thought to what it means to have your own country? What about the population? What will you produce? How will things be organized? Will it be a monarchy or a republic? Currently, you're just a trading company made up of a few hundred people but a country is different. They won't be your friends and allies that agree with your ideals. They'll be your citizens." Sin's eyes widened. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to keep domestic affairs stable and protect the livelihood of your citizens? It's just a matter of fact that diplomacy has to come second. As a king, wouldn't your role be to protect your country and citizens and not to go out and change the world?!" He took all this in, quietly with his eyes widening. "I would use this power in order to protect my country and its citizens. I would stabilize our domestic affairs and if I had the extra power, I would try to improve our foreign policy, but giving priority to your own country is just a natural part of being a ruler."

"Woah..." Sora's eyes brightened. "She's awesome..." She couldn't believe what she heard. 

"You're always looking further and further ahead at the world as a whole. Doesn't that make you unsuited to create a country? You're strong...and without even trying, you attract people to you. You have the wit and resourcefulness to be an overwhelmingly successful leader. However, because of those things, you're not suited to be king!" She pointed towards Sin, his eyes widened, looking for an answer.