*Author's Note: My apologies for not updating in such a long time, but various things in my life have kept me…well, let's just call it "Occupied". On top of that, as you may have noticed, I have decided to begin Tail of Mar anew, for more than just a few reasons, not the least of which being that I wasn't happy with it. Not all of it was bad though, for one, I discovered a series that I am absolutely KICKING myself for not finding earlier. That series is Persona, a series of JRPG's that have apparently become popular in recent days, with Arena and Persona 4 Golden and all. Anyway, seriously, if you have a good enough computer, snag yourself a PS2 emulator and Persona 3 FES and Persona 4. Or hell, if you have a Vita, check out Persona 4 Golden! They changed a character's voice to one I can't stand, but otherwise it's better in every way. A warning, they are HIGH END PS2 games. My new laptop was 500 dollars, and it gets hot enough to melt rubber running one of them for long enough. Well, that and if you get invested in one of them, their endings will make you cry big manly crocodile tears. I know they sure affected me that way!*
*Author's second note, yes I know I just sounded like a used car salesman, but to get a series that deserves the spotlight even THAT much more attention, it's worth it. Enjoy the (Hopefully Better) take on my story.*
"So, Mar, I understand you were there." A young journalist said to the man sitting at a bar in the middle of nowhere.
"Be more specific, I've been to a lot of places." He said as he sipped at his drink.
"Fairy Tail. You were there on its rise to the status of legend. I know who you are, Mar."
"…Who are you son?" he asked politely.
"My name is Colby Quesnel, I want to hear your story."
"My story?" he asked, seemingly astounded by the interest he was being shown. "Ha, I haven't told that story in years, son. What would you do with it once you hear it?"
"I only want to hear it. I want to know what happened first hand, from someone who was there."
"And the microphone under your shirt? You want to sell it, don't you?"
"…Yeah."
"Son, I just want to ask you, and I want you to look me in the eyes when you tell me the answer, why do you need the money?"
"I have a family to support. We had some unexpected medical bills for our youngest daughter recently, and I need some extra money quick. People love Fairy Tail, so I know I can get a lot for an interview with Mar himself."
"And yet I've turned away everyone else before you. Why should I say yes to you?"
"Because I won't take no for an answer. I love her too much to do that."
"…Your words are sincere. Colby, was it? You have an interview. Come on, let's find somewhere quiet."
"Y-You mean it?"
"You want me to say no?"
"N-No! I'll take you back to my place, it's nearby! My wife and kids are off visiting her parents, I chose to stay close to Aveline."
"Your daughter?"
"Yeah, I need to be close to the hospital, just in case."
A few short minutes later, the two men were inside of the journalist's home. Nothing special, but clean and organized to a fault.
"So." Mar started, "You want to hear my tale? I'll start from the beginning."
Town of Magnolia, circa X783
It was a dark, rainy day in Magnolia when I arrived. I stumbled my way through town, still drunk from whatever the bartender would give me in the last town over. Somewhere along the line, I just stopped caring what I put in me, so long as it let me forget. So long as it let me drink my troubles away. It had been two years since I had arrived in this country, and another two before that I even cared to remember. Everything before that….everything before that I left to the booze.
It wasn't long before I was collapsed in the street gutter, finishing off what little I had left in my bottle. It was a beautiful town, even through the booze and rain I could see that. A pity really, such things were wasted on a wretch like me. I stood up and threw the empty bottle into a dark alley, shattering it throughout the blackness.
I slunk through the streets, swaying side to side, with only the occasional passerby to marvel at how messy and dirty my once proudly shining white hair was, or how tattered the cut of cloth I found myself using as a makeshift poncho was.
It wasn't long before I just picked a back alley and slumped myself into it, dead set determined to at least get a few hours' sleep before the sun came up. Sure enough, not five minutes after I had picked a spot on the cold, hard concrete, two fellow bums decided I had to have something nice.
"Well well, lookie what we have here Charlie!" One of them squeaked.
"Ha-ha, yeah! We got a traveller boss!"
"Shut up you idiot! We got someone with money to burn! And you know what, Charlie? I think he's in the mood for a donation!" he said as I heard a switchblade pop up.
I simply told them, "Sorry boys, I don't have anything, unless you want to take the cloth off my back."
"Ooooh, He's a liar boss!"
"That he is! I HATE liars!" the one in charge yelled before thrusting his knife downward toward me.
Really? They pick now? I'm approaching what is starting to feel like the worst hangover of my life and they decide to pull this? Fuck it, fine.
I bent my body and leapt up to my feet from the ground as his knife hit the ground, snapping in half at the impact. Taking advantage of his disarray, I gripped his shoulders and delivered not one, nor two, but three high knees to him before driving it all home with a roundhouse kick, sending the one in charge to the pavement, and three of his teeth into the street. Only as he fell was when I noticed what they looked like. The one I just knocked out was tall, skinny, and thin. Likely addicted to something with that skin pigment. The other one was shorter and round, and didn't look like he missed many meals. They looked like something out of a cartoon together, I imagined.
I turned to his accomplice, who also pulled a knife on me. He thrusted without a hint of grace, so I just sidestepped and let his momentum take him to the ground for me. Once he was down, I just dropped my heel on a sensitive vein and he was out cold.
When the taller one still showed no sign of movement, I decided to re locate before they woke up, and continued into the dark. My head was absolutely pounding by this point, and the rain had ensured I was completely soaked. The two even managed to disguise a presence from me, something I normally am completely on the ball with.
"Umm, excuse me? Sir?" a feminine voice came from behind me. I spun around to see a woman in a red dress, carrying a black umbrella.
I eased up as I saw that she was harmless, and instead realized she wanted to ask me something. "What is it? You want to try me too?" I asked, without emotion. I didn't want to intimidate when unnecessary, but I also found incredible solace in fighting. I literally didn't care if she swung at me right there and then.
"Are you hurt? I saw what happened back there."
I raised an eyebrow out of scrutiny. Kindness was not something I was used to. "No, I'm perfectly fine. Can't say the same for the two in the alley though….Sorry you had to see that ma'am."
She shook her head and smiled at me. "It's fine. What you did was the right thing to do, and I'm not going to criticize you for that."
"Alright, so you're not going to rob me, you're not going to lecture me, I'm running low on ideas here, what do you want with me?"
"Do you have a place to stay tonight? Do you have a home?"
"…No." I replied plainly.
"Come on." She beckoned as she grabbed my arm and pulled me under her umbrella. "You can stay with me and my big brother tonight, clean yourself up, and head out in the morning, when it's a little less wet."
I was dumbstruck. As I have said, I am in no way used to kindness….but this? This was new. "I….certainly have no reason to decline." I thought aloud. I shrugged and turned to the woman. I couldn't lose in this deal. On one hand, a warm bed, hot shower, and maybe a place to do laundry, and if she was a friend of tweedle A and B back there, and killed me in my sleep, I would escape my torment. Either way, I couldn't lose. "That…sounds like a plan. There's just one thing I want to know first, though."
"What?" She asked, restraining excitement.
"I would like to know the names of my hosts! I despise formalities, to be honest. People are people, and that's all there should be to it."
"You don't know me?... Oh good lord, I hope you don't think I'm being forward!"
"Don't sweat it. Love in my life is on short supply. I doubt I could even recognize it anymore." I said with a chuckle.
"Some things aren't meant to be laughed at." She scolded, "My name is Mirajane Strauss. My brother's name is Elfman."
I closed my eyes and pondered for a moment. I had heard the name Mirajane Strauss somewhere, but between the headache and sudden onset of joy, I decided to just worry about it later. I opened my eyes and smiled. "Mar is my name. Mar Vermillion."
"Vermillion?...ha, it's funny how small the world is. Someone important in my life has that last name too!" Mirajane said excitedly.
"Oh?" I said as we started walking, "Who might that b-"
"Hey asshole!" a voice from the street shouted. I turned to see the fatter of the two thugs brandishing his knife again, several meters from Mirajane and myself. "You ruined my bosses perfect teeth! And for that you're going to pay! I'll start with your girlfriend!" He said as he started running for us. For a man of his stature, he was surprisingly quick, I only had time to do what my body forced me to.
I dove in the way, and let the switchblade sink into my flesh. The right side of my chest was now pierced, how deep, I couldn't tell. Deep enough that my body had circulated enough adrenaline to make the entire area numb. I didn't feel a damn thing!
"MAR!" She shouted from behind me.
I didn't respond to her, instead, I grabbed the assholes arm, and I began bending it back, forcing him to his knees. I took off my cloth with my spare hand, and then slowly removed the knife and threw it to the ground. Blood began to pour from the wound, so I reached into my pocket and pulled out my lighter, and then sealed the wound shut with fire.
"Now." I started. "Consider yourself lucky you picked the side of my chest without my tattoo, and that you missed this." I said as I put away my lighter and produced the locket hanging from my neck. "That is the only thing that will keep you alive tonight. Well, that and I don't want this gorgeous lady to see anything I wouldn't want to. I AM however, going to punish you for endangering her."
"Mar, don-"
"Mirajane? Look away. Now." I demanded. She complied, and I proceeded to beat the assaulter mercilessly. Right. Left. Right. Left. High Knee. Right. Right. Right. To finish it, an uppercut.
He fell to the ground, missing twice as many teeth as his boss, and I turned to Mirajane. "Let's get out of here. If they get any stupider I'll have to bury them."
We marched away silently, and I could tell Mirajane was downright horrified. It didn't take a genius really, she didn't say a word to me until we got to the foot of her home.
"Mar…why?" she finally asked me.
"Why what?"
"Why…why did you hit him? He was already beaten, and you worked him over like a thug!"
"…"
"Answer me!" she shouted in my face. I didn't want her to make a scene, especially this late at night, so I decided I should just out and say it.
"Alright, you have me. Remember how I mentioned my locket and tattoo to that man?"
"Huh? Yeah, now that you mention it…"
"Before you ask, they are the final reminders of a friend long since gone….hell, she was a lot more than just a friend. She was my goddamn sister, blood or not. If I lose my locket and my ink, it would be the same as forgetting her, and everything she did for me. I can never do that."
"…Mar, what do-"
"I was afraid."
"Afraid?"
"I thought I might lose her…I thought he might have struck my locket, and I took vengeance on him for it. My sister…well, let's just leave it at 'She's a touchy subject at best.'"
"…Alright. But please, Mar, control your temper next time. For me."
"…No guarantees, but I'll try."
"Thank you."
With that, we walked into Mirajane's abode, and she directed me to the bathroom. I slid her my clothes so she could wash them before letting the water cleanse the filth from my form. My hair once again shone, even in this dim light. My wound still hurt like hell, but I had had worse, and the idiot missed all my vitals. Seriously, you'd think even the simplest of men could puncture a lung.
My tattoo was untouched, thank god for that…..on second thought, no, screw him. God can get off his ass and get me a new purpose, THEN I'll thank him. Either way, the symbol over my heart…it was just an impulse tattoo really, it meant nothing but style and personal pride when it went on me. But…it grew to be so much more.
As I thought further on it, I only ended up depressing myself. Things lost should stay in the past, far away from my eyes…Ha. Like I really believe that. The tattoo is hard to be rid of, sure, but I could chuck that locket off a bridge right now, yet, I don't.
After a hefty sigh, I finished in the shower, dried off, and looked at myself in the mirror. Still no facial hair, even after this length of time…I guess it just wasn't meant to be. My hair laid straight, reaching down to my shoulders. For the first time in I don't know how long, it was clean. I almost looked….civilized.
I opened the door a crack to find some unfamiliar clothes waiting at the step, with my name on a piece of paper on top of them. I pulled them in, closed the door, and slipped them on. They were nothing fancy, just a plain white shirt, some jeans, and a pair of black socks. Somehow, they were all fit very well. I figured they belonged to Elfman, or maybe they didn't fit him anymore. Whatever.
I walked out of the bathroom and looked down the hall to see Mirajane, sitting at a table, staring at something. A picture, by the look of it.
I crept over, being careful not to make enough noise to rouse Elfman, whom I figured was asleep. As I sat down next to her, she glanced at me and giggled. "You clean up well, Mar."
"Ha, thanks." I said as I slid in closer, trying to get a look at what she was gazing at.
"Umm, Mar?"
"Yeah?"
"You're a little close." She stated bluntly.
I looked up to her, and I realized she was absolutely right. Our faces were barely three inches apart! "Oh my g-I'm sorry!" I started apologising up and down, while Mirajane just seemed embarrassed.
"W-Wait a second Mar, where you trying to see this?" she asked as she held out the picture to me.
"Y-Yeah, I was….I'm sorry!"
"Stop that! Come on, take a look."
I grabbed the picture and stared into the face before me. A woman, who looked like Mirajane, but with shorter hair, and slightly more bright coloured eyes. Otherwise, they looked eerily similar.
"Who is she?" I asked.
"My younger sister, Lisanna…." She said, sounding obviously pained.
"…Something happened."
"…Yeah."
"Don't you dare go into it. Memories like that need to be shared only when the holder is ready, not like this."
"…Thank you. I will pay the same respect for your sister."
Pain gripped my mind, and I began to have flashbacks to her face. Innocent…pure…brightest soul I had ever met. I began to feel dizzy, and when I pressed my hand to my head, Mirajane realized what was going on. "I'm so sorry! I didn't want to…I'm sorry!"
"It's…fine, Mirajane. I just….I miss her is all."
I looked up to see Mirajane teary eyed, and it wasn't long before we both had burst into full on tears. We ended up on the couch, consoling each other over our losses. We just sat there, side by side, letting our emotions run as they pleased. By the time we calmed down, the sun had already come up. I decided to get on the road before Elfman woke up, since the scene before him might be just a LITTLE strange to explain.
As I left, I turned to Mirajane, and gave her a gentleman's goodbye. I bowed to her, and gave her a chaste kiss on her hand, before standing and saying, "I hope to meet you again someday. People as extraordinary as you are hard to find today."
She smiled back at me, and turned slightly red, before saying "Same to you Mar. Safe travels!"
I grinned, exposing teeth, before setting out into the sunrise.
I climbed up to the roof of a building a few blocks down, and looked around. Magnolia was a huge city, I knew I could spend my life here, homeless or not. Here, I could scrape by, that I knew. But…that's boring!
Realizing how free my train of thought was, I chuckled to myself and thought, "Well, if I'm going to be free, I guess it's only right that I follow the wind to the next town.
After determining the wind was blowing west from the position of the sun, I set out. The way took me through the better part of town, and I got to see the sights as the sun came up, ever so slowly. I got to see Fiore's glorious capital come to life before my eyes. People emerged and set up their businesses, carriages crossed through the street, and an occasional magic car drove past, getting more frequent as the day progressed.
I would have been completely lost in the sights if someone hadn't bumped into me while running.
"Gah! Sorry big guy!" the pink haired man shouted at me as I hit the ground.
"Don't sweat it." I said as I took his hand and he helped me up. "Why are you in such a hurry? It's a beautiful morning!"
"Exactly! And if I don't get to the guild immediately, I won't live to see the rest of it! Bye!" he shouted as he ran off.
Odd man him, I didn't even get a good look at him before he sped off. Noticed he only wore a vest though. Fitting for the weather, I suppose.
I kept walking and thinking about the people I met here. Mirajane was a pure soul, for sure. There was darkness there, that much was obvious, but she was pure. Considering what happened to her family, I'm surprised she's not broken, really. It took me two years to be capable of rational thought after I lost her…No, I need to stop this thought. The morning is too nice to be ruined by depression.
I shook my head and smacked it on both sides twice, and then sat on a nearby bench to rest for a second.
That man I met…he said he belonged to a guild. I wasn't even aware they still existed, really. Being a travelling bum keeps you out of the loop somewhat. I found myself wondering if they still did that whole "Guild Brand" thing, and if so, where his was.
Suddenly, a TV in a nearby window switched to a news room from the shop's channel, where a blonde man sat at a desk with some papers in hand.
"This just in!" He announced, "The guild masters of Fiore were the target of a sinister assassination attempt earlier this week, but the plot was foiled by none other than the mages of Fairy Tail!"
My heart jumped. Fairy Tail…that name was precious to me as well. How could they still…no, it must be a coincidence.
The report continued, showing a video of several mages fighting a large demon. "This demon here is Lullaby, reportedly a creation of the Black Mage himself!"
Zeref, huh? Hadn't heard that name in a while, even if they only mentioned his title.
"Pictured here are the mages that fought this horrible beast and prevailed, saving the entire system of guild authority in Fiore!"
It began cycling through stock photos of the mages, one by one, as the reporter named them. "Erza Scarlet, or Titania, as some of you may know her! Gray Fullbuster! The premier pervy Ice Make user of the Fairies!"
"I AM NOT A PERVERT!" I heard someone some blocks down shout.
"The Fire Dragon Slayer, Natsu Dragneel!"
I stared at the TV blankly. It was unmistakably the man who ran into me earlier…and on top of that, his brand was visible.
It couldn't be…it just wasn't possible! If my suspicions were correct…I may have just found my purpose.
I turned to the nearest man to me and asked, "Hey, how do I get to Fairy Tail from here?"
"Straight down that way, look for the big building with their emblem draped over the front in orange and white."
"Thanks!" I said before running off in the indicated direction.
It wasn't long before I found the building I was looking for. The street ran right into the property, so I had a full view for the last few blocks I covered.
I was in absolute awe as I opened the doors and looked around. The place was set up like a huge lounge, with a full bar and everything. In the room, I saw the woman I saw on TV, Erza, disciplining Natsu and Gray, yelling something about tardiness while nearby onlookers laughed.
It was around here I realized, I didn't actually know who the guild master was! Who the hell am I supposed to talk to? I just decided to ask the person at the bar.
I sat down on one of the bar stools, and as soon as I did, I heard a familiar voice come up from under the bar. "Just a second!"
Sure enough, up popped Mirajane! The joyful shock caused me to burst out into awkward laughter.
"M-Mar?! What are you doing here?!"
I regained my composure and said, "I've had a weird morning! Long story short, I think I want to make an honest man of myself, so who do I talk to to join this lively group?"
"That would be me." An older, short man who was sitting on the bar said before jumping off and walking up to me.
To show respect, I hopped off my stool and took a knee in the presence of a guild master.
"Hahaha! Get up boy, I'm not THAT proud!" he told me as he lightly punched my shoulder.
By this time, the two of us had already drawn quite a crowd. In between Mirajane's outburst, and my apparently odd mannerisms, nearly everyone was looking our way.
"Come on, if you're joining a mages guild, we're going to need to see what you can do, and you're certainly not showing us in here! Outside!" he shouted as he led the way for me, then everyone else out into the courtyard. It was around then I noticed a blue cat with wings flying next to Natsu, and I heard him call it "Happy".
"Alright, hit me with your best shot Mar! Let's see what you can dish out, I can take it!" Makarov provoked.
"You sure about that?...Well, if you insist." I said with a shrug.
It had certainly been a long while since I did this…I should probably take a second to warm up.
A yellow seal opened up beneath me, and for the first time in years, I felt Magic Power flow freely through me. I raised my hands to the sky as the power intensified, beginning to crackle around my body in the form of electricity.
"He really is a mage! I heard Mirajane say."
I smiled and cocked my head toward her slightly, noticing a large man with white hair and a facial scar next to her. Elfman, I deduced. "That I am. Now watch closely, or you might miss what this mage can really do!"
I looked forward to my opponent, and to my pleasant surprise, he was smiling. He's loving this! Could he love a good brawl as much as me?
"Here I come Makarov!" I yelled as I used the power of lightning to zap myself (Literally) behind him, and bring up and uppercut. Makarov was fast enough to counter me by enlarging one of his hands, catching my punch, and throwing me away.
I flipped backwards through the air before sliding through the dust and launching myself back at him, fist raised and teeth bared in a wicked grin. My next punch came down infused with lightning, and I pushed Makarov back a few feet, but he once again threw me away with that enlargement magic of his.
Little did he know, he had just given me an advantage!
I recovered and stood up straight, beckoning him to come at me.
Makarov smirked and called me a "Cocky bastard" before going on the offensive. Both of his fists enlarged and carved their path toward me while I simply let my magic loose. All of it. The magic spewing forth from me was dark red in colour, near the colour of blood, and it encompassed me entirely, like a fire emanating from my feet.
Makarov was a mere few inches away from me when I countered him. To his fists came two palms of equal size, still attached to my own form. I had him!
"What? How can you use my Titan magic?!"
"Ah ah ah, master. A good magician never reveals his secrets!" I shouted as I began to pass a light electric current through my own body and into his.
Makarov grunted at the agitation, he was fully aware I held back on what very well could have been a finishing blow. Although, he responded by forcing our arms down, breaking my grip, and then hitting me hard enough in the chin hard enough to send me into the air.
The entire way down and while I was standing up, I was laughing. I don't remember the last time I had this much fun!
I leapt to my feet from the ground and cracked my neck in both directions, and then decided to end the show with a bang.
"Everyone in front of me who is not a guild master, CLEAR OUT!" I shouted, to which I got a hasty reply.
Makarov was the last man standing before me, his back to the sea. Perfect.
"This will be my last attack. If I get any more fun out of this, I might start thinking I'm sadistic!" I said as my yellow seal appeared behind me. All at once, my aura began focusing on one single area. My head, or more specifically, my mouth.
"THUNDER DRAGON'S BLOODY ROAR!" I shouted as I let loose a massive torrent of energy. A beam, yellow and blood red in colour, due to my aura and the attack's element mixing. The entire thing was surrounded by crackling lightning.
Makarov was left wide eyed as the attack shot towards him, ripping the ground apart in its path, despite being a good three feet off of it. What he did to counter was certainly…unexpected. He more or less cancelled out my magical power with a wall of his own.
"Fairy LAW!" He shouted he quickly summoned the attack and unleashed it, stopping my attack dead. It continued pressing against the force of Fairy Law for some time, but it soon cancelled out Makarov's spell, leaving us both drained.
We were both breathing heavily, unable to even stand straight. What was left but to decide a victor? Unfortunately for me, gravity decided to do that for us, and I fell to the ground, unconscious.
I woke up to the sight of Fairy Tail's roof from the inside, and looked around as my sight returned.
Nearly everyone from the courtyard was there, but either asleep or falling asleep quickly. I glanced out a window and noticed it was night now. Holy hell, I thought, I was out for the whole day?
I rolled my head towards the bar, and sure enough, Makarov was sitting there, head bowed, breathing slow. He was asleep too, but notably, not comatose. It was then it really sunk in.
"Ah man, I lost!" I shouted out loud, rousing those who weren't completely asleep. Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel, and a blonde woman of whom I was unacquainted at the time came up to see how I was doing.
The blonde one started by asking me, "Hey, Mar right? I'm Lucy. Are you alright? Do you hurt anywhere?"
"Nah, I'm just fine Lucy. Thank you for asking though." I said with a genuine smile. I tilted my head back towards the sleeping master, "What about Makarov? Is he alright?"
Erza spoke next, "He's fine, he just used a bit more magic then he's used to. Speaking of, what is your magic, exactly? From the skill you displayed using Titan, it certainly wasn't something you've had since birth. That leaves the question, 'How and when did you acquire Titan magic, and how can you use two magic at the same time?'"
"Hah, oh why not, I'll tell you. I acquired Titan when Makarov hit me with it the first time, during our fight."
"Wha-How is that in any way possible?" Erza asked, obviously not believing me.
"Archive. A magic I imagine is foreign to you."
"…I've only heard whispers about it." She admitted.
"It's premise is simple. As its name implies, I store magic like books in a library, and am able to use them where, when, and how I please. There's only one catch. I can only store a magic that I have been struck with. No defensive or healing magic will ever be used by me."
"That still doesn't explain how you can use two spells." Lucy commented.
"That's a question I don't have an answer to, unfortunately. I've been to countless doctors about this, but the only concrete thing I ever get is, 'Your genes are just special. We don't know how.'"
"That's…kind of cool actually!" Natsu blurted out before receiving a right hook from Erza.
"It really is." A familiar voice from nearby said. We all turned to see that Makarov was up now, and walking towards us. "I think I have an answer for you all."
"I'm all ears." I commented sarcastically. "Your guess is as good as mine after all."
"I don't think it's a guess, Mar. You carry an exceedingly rare mutation in your DNA, likely only passed from parents to offspring, if it's even that simple. In fact, this condition is so rare, that I only know of one other person with similar symptoms."
"Oh? Who?" I asked, generally intrigued.
"A man who lived a hundred and fifty years ago. The strange part is, he had your name exactly, to the very letter. Mar…Vermillion, was it?"
"World's a small place." I commented. "Maybe he's my grandpa."
"That would be a viable chance, yes, if there wasn't a problem with that. Mar was an inventor by both trade and hobby, discovering many secrets of magic, and inventing your Archive as his chief accomplishment. Hell, the guy even trained with the Thunder Dragon to acquire Dragon Slayer magic. Mar vanished overnight after creating a new, terrifying magic that was buried upon its completion. He never had children. So, I ask you, if it died with him, how would you have it?"
"He either didn't die or he wasn't the only person in the world with that mutation."
"Precisely. However, no other case has ever been reported. One hundred and fifty years without so much as a peep. Now, that, coupled with what Mar's last creation was, leads me to believe something…strange."
"Really? Try me." I said. At this point, everyone around me were completely lost. Sadly, I had an odd feeling this wasn't new for a certain pink haired man near me.
"The Arc of Time…that's what he invented. A magic capable of manipulating time itself. A secret kept among only Fairy Tail's masters, and the oldest of tomes."
It was almost like the mood dropped with an audible thud. Everyone started to catch on.
"Mar Vermillion. Remove your shirt, please." Makarov asked, to which I sat up, slid off the table, and complied. I exposed my tattoo to the world, and the truth was revealed. The Fairy Tail brand was across my heart, coloured black, in all of its glory.
"I knew it." Makarov said with a smirk. "The pieces fit…Mar…one last thing."
"What?"
"Mavis Vermillion, our first master, was this man's adopted sister, and he treasured her more than anything else in the world, going as far as to keep a photo of her around his neck at all times…Mar? Open your locket."
"Ludicrous statements and accusations." I thought. Either way, I popped it open and showed everyone present the clock on one side, and the photo on the other. The resulting reaction involved screaming, absolute stunned gazes, and Lucy going wide eyed, then fainting.
As it turns out, just because something sounds ludicrous, it doesn't mean it's not true. Before everyone hung a photo of my younger, adopted sister. Mavis Vermillion, first master of Fairy Tail.
"It's all true." I said with a relieved sigh. "That Mar and me are one and the same."
Natsu's jaw hit the floor, and he kept switching his gaze between me and Makarov, who was laughing in delight.
"Tell me Mar, how did you stay so young? Come on, share your secrets with an old man!" He joked.
"Time travel. I popped out four years ago after ending my previous life. For some odd reason my body stopped aging two years ago. Every doctor I've been to pronounces me eighteen years of age without a shadow of a doubt. I have very few regrets…but unfortunately they are big ones."
"And I won't ask until you're ready. But still, you actually MASTERED Arc of Time? Time travel is a DREAM today!"
I snickered and replied, "And it shall remain that way. I have no intention of doing it again, nor do I have any reason to teach anyone."
"Fair enough." Makarov replied with a solemn nod. Everyone around us was still freaking out, and at this point, I noticed that many people around the room had woken up. Awkward. "Hey Mar? I've had a question that's been bothering me for some time. How old are you, exactly?"
"Twenty as of a month ago. Or a hundred and seventy if you want to go by my date of birth!"
"…You mentioned you popped out four years ago….are you telling me you invented both Archive and Arc of Time by the time you were 16?"
"That I did. It's easy once you know how, really."
"…Mar, that may have been the single most modest statement I've heard in decades. For the love of god man, take some PRIDE in your accomplishments!"
I fell silent, and painful memories began to surface. "Those…accomplishments are why I'm here today. I…I'm sorry. I don't want to talk about this. Not yet."
"Oh...Mar, I'm sorry…I should have known that would have be-"
"Don't!...Don't apologise, please. It's completely understandable that you'd be curious, but my devils are just that, mine. If I feel like telling, I'll ask if you feel like listening. Until then, I just want the subject to be left alone, okay?"
Makarov was silent for a moment, and then nodded. Everyone else seemed to agree as well. "Very well. Now, I think there was a matter of your admission into Fairy Tail."
"! You're going to accept me?" I said, shocked. I seemed to be the only one though.
"Yes. I had some time to think on it while you were out, not that I really needed it, but regardless, I've decided to let you in. Then again, with that mark on your chest, you may as well have been family already!"
I was overcome! My eyes watered, my throat was parched, and I just burst into a fit of laughter from a mixture of happiness and relief.
Everyone was awake by the time I stopped, and we launched right into a celebration! Dancing, drinking, and of course, general happy/lowered inhibitions partying! Hell, at some point someone got me dancing on the table on a wager. And I can't dance to save my life!
Throughout the course of the party, I managed to get Mirajane and Elfman off to the side and catch them up to what I had told Makarov. Elfman made a comment about it being a hell of a way to make a first impression, but otherwise seemed relatively neutral about it! By the end of the night, we had become fast friends, much to Mirajane's chargin'.
As the party began to quiet down in the wee hours of the morning, I was sitting off to the side, unable to shake a worry from my mind.
Elfman seemed to notice this, and took it upon himself to sit next to me and ask about it. "You look like you have something on your mind Mar, care to share?"
"Sure, why not? I'm kind of wondering where I'm going to sleep tonight."
"You don't have a ho-…ah, that's right."
"Yeah. I doubt my old home even still stands. I'm just a vagrant, and I know the guild doesn't have a living quarters."
"Hmm, that is a problem, what do you do usually?"
"Find a quiet alley, get piss drunk, and pass out on the concrete."
"…You're very…up front."
"Why hide it? If I'm not hammered, it hurts to the point I can't fall asleep. I can deal with the hangover and the sore joints the next day."
"That…is an interesting way to live."
"The best part is, I hate booze. I just can't stand the taste of alcohol." I said sarcastically.
"Yikes!" he said with chuckle. "But seriously Mar? That stops tonight. You're staying with Mira and me, no ifs ands or buts."
"And why on earth would I argue with the chance to stay with two of the brightest souls I have and will ever meet? I gladly accept your offer, and pledge to be of service to you until I have enough money for my own place."
Elfman smirked at me and patted me on the shoulder. Somehow, I felt safe, despite only knowing him for a few short hours. Something about him and Mirajane just…clicked for me!
Mirajane soon wandered over and asked if Elfman had succeeded in dropping "The Offer", and when I just came outright and said that I looked forward to living with them, she was overjoyed. I guess that clicking worked both ways!
We all walked out into the night and a few short minutes later, we arrived at the very place I stood less than 24 hours prior. Elfman held the door for us, and Mirajane led me straight to a room down the hall.
"Welcome to your new home, Mar!" chirped as she opened the door, revealing an absolutely beautiful room.
The bed was made, the room cleaned to a sparkle…it was almost perfect…the only thing that erked me, however, turned me completely off of the idea.
A picture sat by the bed, showing Elfman, Mirajane, and their younger sister, Lisanna. As thoughts began to penetrate my mind, I noticed there was a certain smell in the room. Sadness…regret…and a very faint hint of a woman's perfume I had never smelled before. Very faint, yet preserved. Pieces began to click together in my mind, and I backed out of the room, shuddering.
"Mar, what's wrong?" Mirajane asked.
"No…I can't live in there. This room…it was hers, wasn't it?"
Mirajane and Elfman both were shocked. "I'm sorry you two, but I can't interfere with this particular memory in any way. I know your pain far too well to do that."
Elfman was puzzled, but Mirajane's head sunk. Her eyes were wet, but oddly enough, she was smiling. "You're too kind Mar…" she told me. "How did you know?"
I pointed at my nose and just told her, "Dragon Slayers have enhanced senses, remember?" before walking back down the hall and laying on the couch. "Don't worry about me, I'll just sleep out here. Elfman, sorry for the confusion, I'll catch you up in the morning. For now, I'm just too tired."
"I-Yeah. Yeah, alright Mar. I look forward to it." He said with an awkward voice. Without any further conversation, I fell asleep.
While I drifted through the ethereal realm, I found myself pulled into a scene. Before me, several shadows stood over another one, apparently fallen in battle or otherwise. A large figure lay dead and burning away behind all of them. I knew I was dreaming, and thought I could just change the scene, as I usually did, but I could not alter even a minor detail.
This was strange. I had always been aware of when I was dreaming, and loved having fun with my subconscious….but never, NEVER had I not been able to interact.
I was floating above the scene below now. The several shadows standing over the sole laying one…they were crying. The voices were lined with static, and I couldn't make any of them out.
"What the hell is going on?" I said out loud, hoping to get one of the black form's attentions. They ignored me. I kept shouting and shouting, but I was invisible to them, it seemed.
Before long, I felt myself being pulled backwards, rising into the air and being forced toward a large light. Even though I was asleep, I felt warm! As I got closer, I got warmer, and not in an unpleasant way. I felt…rejuvenated!
A familiar voice entered my mind, "Beware…Beware the demon…" she said before a vision of a blackened face with piercing red eyes invaded my mind.
I woke with a jolt, sitting straight up with a gasp. I looked around to confirm I was awake and in the Strauss household. Sure enough, it was the same house I fell asleep in. I looked out the window and saw the sun was just starting to come up. I laid back down, knowing I would have another hour or two to rest.
I wasn't able to get comfortable, however, and turned onto my side. It was now that I noticed, Mirajane was sitting in a chair across from me, sound asleep. I smiled, glad to have a friendly presence first thing in the morning, something I wasn't entirely used to. Although I thought it was just a LITTLE weird that she might have been watching me sleep, but I let it slide. Somehow I knew she was just…strange as far as people go. In a good way, of course! Heck, if BOTH of them were any less strange, I might be sleeping in the street right now!
Thinking back on my dream, I couldn't make any sense out of it what so ever. But…that voice. I KNOW I've heard it before, but nowhere near recently. I know it wasn't anyone I had met in this time, and it wasn't Mavis. The voice was high, however, unmistakably feminine.
Even as I scoured my memory, I couldn't think of a single person who would match that voice. The only woman I really knew throughout most of my life was Mavis! I didn't care for dating; I thought it would just get in the way.
I shook my head to clear the thoughts out. There was no sense brooding on something I know I couldn't answer. I would, however, have to keep my ears open.
Just after I finished that thought, I heard a moan from Mirajane, and her eyes slowly opened.
"Good morning, Mirajane." I said politely.
She immediately went wide eyed was at a loss for words, her eyes darting around the room, trying to avoid me.
I chuckled and told her, "Don't worry. I find it flattering that you find me fascinating to the point you'd watch me sleep! I'm an inventor, remember? I can appreciate the want to know how something works."
Mirajane let out a large sigh while her head sank down, and said, "Right….Thanks Mar."
"Don't sweat it." I said while hopping up to my feet and offering my hand to her to help her do the same. "All that, and I hate awkward situations as much as the next guy." I said with a wink.
Now, I couldn't tell you for sure, but I'm pretty sure Mirajane tried to suck her head back between her shoulders right then and there. "Now." I began, "Where's the big guy and when do we start cooking?"
Mirajane seemed puzzled by my question, and told me, "Mar, you're a guest, you don't have to cook!"
"I don't have to, true. But you and Elfman took me in when you barely know me. I feel obligated to return the favour. Cooking, cleaning, weeding, or even if you need a hornet nest knocked down, I'll do it. Consider me your less-than-properly-mannered butler!"
"Mar, I can't ask you-"
"I know, you're too nice. That's why I must insist! I'll do it whether you ask me or not! Now, how does Elfman like his bacon…wait, you guys do eat meat, right?"
Mirajane started snickering, then burst right out laughing. I thought the poor girl was going off her rocker!
"Crispy! He likes it cr-phhh, hahaha-" she tried to get out.
"And you're not even vegetarians! God damn, I love you people!" I said as I sauntered into the kitchen, leaving Mirajane to laugh it out.
I quickly found everything I'd need, bacon, eggs, bread, milk, all that good stuff and got ready to throw breakfast together. However, once I tried to turn the element on, it didn't react.
"Uhh, Mira? The element isn't working!"
"None of them do! We use the oven!" she shouted back. "And I like that nickname!" she shouted back.
"Mira it is! And I'll take a look at this guy, just a minute!"
"Don't bother Mar, it's been broken for as long as I can remember, jus-"
"Fixed it!" I shouted back. Just to clarify, I noticed that the element wasn't generating heat due to a lack of power, due to a severed cable that ran inside the machine. Nothing a little lightning boost couldn't fix, at least temporarily.
Mirajane dashed into the room, in awe when she saw me starting to cook with a frying pan.
"H-How did you do that?"
I raised my hands and slapped them together twice quickly, generating sparks both times. "Mira, I'm a human jumper cable, remember?" I said as I started cooking.
"So…you're handy, you can cook, AND you're a genius inventor? Be careful Mr. Vermillion, or I just might end up falling for you!" she said teasingly.
I chuckled at her joke and told her, "It's not all good up here though." I said while pointing at my head. "I probably have the baggage of ten men. Maybe more!"
"Uh huh, but what you don't know Mar, almost everyone in Fairy Tail has more than the regular amount. I don't think there's a person there that hasn't lost someone." She said melancholically.
"No one? What about that Fire Dragon Slayer, Natsu?"
"Never knew his real parents, raised by the Fire Dragon, Igneel. Igneel disappeared on July 7th, 777."
"Wow. Good on him to keep going like that. What about that feline friend of his?"
"Happy? He doesn't know what he is. He was born just outside of Magnolia, yet we have no records of a winged cat species."
"That's what I thought. I sure never saw one of those things back in the day. Maybe I should help the little guy with that."
"I'm sure he would appreciate that!...What about Titania?"
"Erza?...She hasn't really ever gone into that. No one knows where she came from, but we know it was a painful enough place for a girl to grow up in that she became cold to all but her closest friends. On top of that, she los-…"
"Her eye. I know."
"! How could you know that?"
"It's a fake, a marvelous one, for sure, I wouldn't even doubt if it could see, but it is still a fake. A fake eye just doesn't have the same gleam, the same SOUL behind them." I explained.
"And as unfortunate as it is, she can never have that again. She may not let on, but just that one thing bothers her, Mar. Please don't bring it up with her."
"Hey, I might be cold too, but I'm not heartless."
"You're not cold!" she blurted out quickly.
"Tell that to those thieves from two nights ago."
Mira fell silent, and was clearly uncomfortable on the topic.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up. Hell, my sense of justice overall is perverted beyond recognition. It comes with how I grew up, I guess."
"…Want to talk about it?" she asked with a smile.
I turned and stared into her brightened eyes, and for a moment, I really did consider spilling everything. But, I decided it would be for the best not to. Not right now, anyway.
"Not now, but in time, I'm sure it will come out on its own."
Mirajane giggled and said, "I guess that will be good enough for now."
"Good, now go get your brother, breakfast is almost ready."
A lively morning later, the three of us walked to Fairy Tail, and addressed Makarov first thing. I had my name added to the Strauss team officially, and we accepted a job just out of town. Nothing overly complicated, just some farmers having trouble with aggressive wildlife.
The three of us waited on the property until the animals attacked, and once they were on the farmer's land, we sprung into action, beating them back with our magic. Well, Elfman and I did, anyway. Mirajane stood back and took score. As Elfman said, "A man should never let a defenceless woman do the fighting for him!"
Somehow I doubted the "Defenceless" part, her being in a mages guild and all, but I shrugged and went with it anyway. Wasn't anything worth note really, just a few bears and a couple packs of wolves.
By the end, every one of them would think twice before raiding farmland again, lest they want to be shocked or thrown around again. Elfman's Partial Takeover magic was certainly nothing to sneeze at. The final score? Elfman 31, me 26. I clapped as Elfman celebrated at the news. I'm not going to say I let him win or anything, hell no, but I will say I did hold back. Our mission WAS just to drive them off, not KILL them, after all. Elfman bested me within that boundary, and for that he deserved to celebrate!
That job was the first. There was soon a second, and a third, and so on. Weeks passed, and then a couple of months as Team Strauss gained fame and notoriety, slowly but surely. As we went on more jobs together, the three of us trusted and respected each other more and more, eventually leading to Elfman asking if I wanted to be a permanent resident in the Strauss household.
Now, the emotion of the moment makes it a little hard to remember, but I seem to remember saying something along the lines of, "I'm not going anywhere you big beautiful son of a bitch!"
A couple of days later, I started noticing Mirajane acting strangely. She seemed…sad when she thought no one was looking.
One morning, she left before Elfman and I, and as I was about to head out the door, Elfman called to me, "Hang on Mar."
I turned to meet Elfman's eyes and asked, "What's up?"
"Mar, I know you've noticed."
"Mirajane, right?"
"Yeah. She's been mentioning Lisanna a lot lately…I think it's just getting to her again."
"Has this happened before?"
"To both of us, actually. Though, I have an…odd idea to help her."
"Oh? I like odd, hit me."
"I want you to go out with her."
My cheeks reddened slightly, and I asked nervously, "Umm…Like a date?"
"Yeah! She needs to be distracted for some time, plus, you and her get along so well, I can only see it going well!"
I thought on it for a second, and I realized he was absolutely right! I could see no possible reason to say no!
"I guess we'll take the day off then! I'll go catch up to her!" I said as I bolted out the door, hoping to catch her before she got to the guild.
Once I found her, Mirajane and I had a fun day. Cotton candy, sideshow games, and even a big roller coaster or two decorated the daylight for us. Woman was a hell of a shot in the shooting gallery, she handled that gun like a pro. As the sun was going down, we decided to get on the Ferris Wheel, just to look over the peaceful town.
Of course, due to some clever sabotage on my part, the wheel stopped with us at the very top of the world, leaving Mira and I face to face, alone.
"Ah! Are we stuck?" Mira asked once the wheel ground to a halt.
Laughing lightly, I said, "I guess so…it's a beautiful view though."
Mira turned around and looked out at the lights on the city and giggled. "Yeah! They are pretty!"
Mustering all the courage I could, I forced my way through a statement, "I…I wasn't talking about the city." I surprised myself when I said that. It came straight from the heart, I didn't even think on it!
Mira looked at me, wide eyed and red as a tomato. "Y-You think I-"
"Am the most perfect woman I have ever seen. I…oh god, this is awkward…I really like you, Mira."
Mira did not answer me, but instead, she got up, stepped over to me, sat down next to me, and leaned on me. She rested her perfect head on my shoulder, and I wrapped an arm around her to keep her close.
For a long time, nothing was said from anyone but the wind. Until both of us said, simultaneously, "I wish this moment could last forever."
Somewhere below, a single bolt of lightning snaked its way through the metal of the wheel, into the breaker box controlling the wheel.
Shortly afterwards, we accepted THAT job. The job that changed my fate! A simple objective, destroy a minotaur that was terrorizing a small town. The execution was anything but simple, however.
We first traveled to the small village of Nohl, and talked to the mayor. He told us the beast would come every full moon and take their livestock. No one was near strong enough to stop it, so they put out a job offer to the guilds, offering what little compensation they could afford.
I pondered for a moment when they revealed the town's financial situation. The stress had likely been caused by the beast we were supposed to hunt.
"How long has this ad been out?" I asked.
"At least three months. No one answered us until now…they must think the money is too little…" The elderly mayor told us.
"Hmm…You know what? I don't need the money. Keep my share." I told them.
"What? But we have to pay you somehow!" he insisted.
"I guess, otherwise it's just a favour, not a job…Alright, I'll settle for a lower price. After we kill the thing, get me a hot meal and a comfortable pillow. That'll be payment enough."
The mayor seemed stunned. Even more so when Mirajane stepped up, bowed, and said, "Me too."
When we turned to Elfman, he said, "A man doesn't take an entire livelihood. Me too."
The mayor seemed absolutely taken aback for a few minutes, but then finally managed to say, "Bless you! Bless every one of you!"
As we waited, the townsfolk swarmed us with questions and admiration. We got separated quickly, just going with whoever tugged at us. In particular, one child seemed absolutely fascinated with me.
He was a scrappy little boy, with black hair and blue pants, only wearing an open red vest on his upper body. It was because of this, that I saw a strange mark on his chest. A dragon, red in colour, and abstract Japanese in style.
"Hey little man, what guild are you a part of?" I asked, curious.
"What's a guild?" he asked, puzzled.
"It's the organization I come from little man! We solve peoples problems for a living! Mine is called Fairy Tail, we all have marks like this, see?" I explained as I pulled my collar down far enough to show my brand.
"Wow cool! But mister, I was born with this! Does that mean I'm in a guild since birth?"
"I…don't know actually. If what you say is true, it's probably just a spectacular birthmark! If you ever join a guild, you might want to consider getting your brand somewhere else…your hand maybe?"
"Yay!" he replied simply.
"Say…ah, I can't keep calling you little man, what's your name son?"
"Lang!"
"Ha, alright Lang, can you use magic?"
"Not yet, but I can! I've been training!"
"Excellent…say, how old are you?"
"Ten last week!"
"Wow, happy birthday to you then!...hmm"
"What's wrong?"
"Tell you what Lang, wait a couple years, develop that magic of yours, and then come to Magnolia. Fairy Tail is located there, and I'll put in a good word for ya."
"REALLY?!"
"I mean it. We can never have enough excitement at Fairy Tail, and I think you could fit easily!"
Words can't describe how exited Lang was, but he immediately ran off somewhere. To practice probably! I looked forward to seeing him down the line, to what kind of person he would become.
A few short hours later, the veil of night fell. Luckily for us, the full moon was this very night. We told everyone to hide in their homes, and say a prayer for us if they were into that sort of thing.
Sure enough, as the fifth bell rung at the stroke of midnight, we saw something coming over a nearby hill. Elfman handed me a pair of binoculars the townspeople leant us, and I focused in on the anomaly.
Yellow eyes, humanoid in nature, bent legs, and a horned head. This thing was our beast.
I left the binoculars on a nearby windowsill and started marching towards the monster, with Elfman and Mirajane right behind me.
The bell continued to chime. Seven times, eight, nine. The distance between us shrank to the point we could tell how tall each other were. Ten…Eleven…We were now face to face with the beast, and it looked down upon us. It was massive, towering at least ten feet tall.
Twelve. The beast swung violently, missing Mirajane and Elfman, but striking me hard enough to be tossed backwards by the force.
Elfman engaged it as Mirajane began peppering it with some lesser spells of various elements. Why did she not use her own Magic, I wondered. To this day she had not even let me see it!
Unimportant right now, I thought. I charged back into the field of battle and leapt through the air, hand pulled back and ready to strike, shrouded in lightning. I brought my hand down with every ounce of energy I had, taking the beast to the ground and dragging it for a long distance, almost right back up its hill.
"How was that! I just knocked your ass OUT!" I shouted at the beast. It didn't appreciate that all too much. It struck me before I had a chance to react, sending me through the closest house wall and into someone's dining room.
By the time I had got up and regained my senses, I heard something that made my blood freeze.
"USE IT! DO IT NOW BROTHER!"
"NO! NEVER AGAIN, I WOULD RATHER D-AAAARRRGHHH!"
I leapt outside to see Elfman pinned by the monster, being pounded by punch after brutal punch, to which he was only doing his best to defend with Partial Take Over. Mirajane was off to the side, wounded.
My heart sank for a brief moment, and then, something new. All but a single thought left my mind, my senses went blank, and my vision became clouded by rage. I heard someone screaming as I went Lightning Form to get to the monster, and it was only when I reappeared and tackled it to the ground that I realized. The one screaming was me. I wasn't even in control of my actions, my voice, my anything! The sheer thought of losing these two had scared me beyond any and all rational thought! I couldn't lose anyone else! I wouldn't! NEVER AGAIN!!
At least, that's the story I'm going to stick to. Why else would I fire Thunder Dragon's Bloody Roar down a Minotaur's throat, knowing full well the energy would cause him to explode? Sure, I used Titan and threw him away, but still! Have you ever had an animal, of ANY sort, EXPLODE on you? I didn't think so. Imagine if someone decided to rain bone, blood, and fleshy bits on a two kilometer radius over the period of two seconds. Now imagine the source of that being a ten foot, half tonne monster with horns. Yeah, not a pretty sight.
After the unexpected shower, my adrenaline burned off, and I found myself exhausted enough to fall to my knees. I looked around to confirm Mira and Elfman were alright, and once I saw them moving, I let myself fall to the ground. I didn't pass out this time, at least. I still felt like every cell in my body was on fire though. It was enough to make me consider using my last resort…nah, I might not be able to do it again. Better to save it instead of use it for some…extreme discomfort.
"Mar! Damn it Mar, talk to me!" I heard Elfman say as he slid across the ground alongside me. Mira wasn't far behind, standing over me instead.
I rolled onto my back, and used some of the last remaining strength in my body to raise my hand. I was going to give a thumbs up, but Mira grabbed it before I could and held onto it with the tightest grip I can remember anyone having.
"Ha, relax you two." I choked out. "I just put too much into that roar is all. I'll be fine in a couple hours."
I saw them both sigh in relief, and then they both helped me onto Elfman's back so he could carry me back to town.
The village mayor was waiting for us, and few people ran out to greet us in joy, Lang included! We were surrounded by the grateful by the time we reached the elderly man, shouting praises and concerns for myself at us. Poor Lang near had a heart attack before I reached out and ruffled his hair.
The elder was absolutely ecstatic. "You actually did it! We can't thank you three enough! Come on, we already have a room ready for you all, we'll get you some breakfast in the morning and I'll get you to the train station personally!"
"Thank you for your hospitality!" Elfman and Mira said simultaneously.
"The big guy would thank you too, but he's wiped right out. Oh, and sorry about that wall as well." Elfman said.
"Don't worry about it, such things are easily rebuilt. The livestock you saved, as well as the potential victims of the famine you avoided are not so." The mayor said with a smile.
Without further delay, we were escorted to the local Inn, and taken to our room. However, an awkward situation arose. There were only two beds!
They eventually came to the conclusion that Mira and I would share a bed, Elfman being much broader than me and all. He put me down gently, facing the far wall, and I heard Mirajane crawl in behind me. I smiled and gave my good night before passing out right then and there.
I had that weird dream again. It was slightly more vivid this time, I could tell that the shadows had genders, at least. But otherwise, it was mostly the same. The only difference being that when I was pulled to the light, it warned me of a demon, and I saw its face. The thing looked like that Lullaby monster that Natsu's team destroyed. I awoke suddenly. Not with a jump this time, but I still woke.
The clock read 3:13. "Holy hell, can I get a decent night's sleep for once?" I thought aloud quietly.
Feeling returned to my body rapidly upon my rousing. Good to know my magic was at least fast to come back. However, it caused a certain…issue. I felt a presence, very close to my back. Touching me in places, and most certainly with an arm draped over me.
Nervously, I slowly turned my head, trying to move my body as little as possible. Sure enough, Mira was there, head buried in my back, squeezing me in her sleep!
I had no idea how to react! I'd a woman had never slept next to me before that wasn't Mavis! But, I didn't feel the same way about Mira that I did Mavis! Oh crap, how the hell do I respond?!
As it turns out, fate had an answer for me already. Mira started moving. I froze. Dead silent and more still than a corpse! She slowly crept closer to me, and got both her arms around me! The worst part was when she started hugging me with a grip I couldn't escape for the life of me! I felt certain, let's call them "Features" being pressed against my back, sending a shiver up my spine. I admit though, despite my reservations, the experience was far from…unpleasant.
When she finally stopped moving, I breathed a sigh of relief and calmed down. At least until she started TALKING.
"Mmmmm…Mar…"
You've got to be KIDDING me. I thought. She was dreaming about ME in there! And that means…she actually wants to do this with me?
Flashbacks from the past couple of weeks started going through my head. Mirajane had gotten much more…physical, now that I thought about it. She took me by the hand to lead me places, took me on walks nearly daily…taught me the basics of ballroom dance…and she also began kissing me goodbye and goodnight. On the cheek of course, but with that one thought I realized a terrifying reality. Sweet mother of Christ, she had fallen for me!
I should have seen it sooner, she was far too comfortable around me. I shouldn't have been comparing her to Mavis for this long! Holy Christ, and I made an advance on her! Shit! Shit! Shit! I had meant that to just be playful!
It was an…interesting predicament I was in. If I confronted her, and I was wrong, it could shatter our friendship. But if I was right, and she did like me that way…what if I rejected her? It would kill her! It would kill me to do that! I had to think on this, and with Mira gripping me as tight as she was, I didn't think I was going to get a second to myself any time soon. At least not until morning.
Through an increasingly awkward night, I gritted my teeth and went with it. I couldn't fall back asleep, so I just did my best to space out as much as possible, just to keep my mind logically driven.
When the sun came up and shone on our faces, Elfman was the first to wake up, and I heard him step into the bathroom. Mirajane woke soon after, and I felt her pull away, and begin talking to herself worriedly. I decided to listen as best I could. Luckily for me, being a Dragon Slayer has that particular perk.
"Oh god, I was holding him this time…what's going on with me!...Oh, it's not like you don't know, Mira." She said. From there, it was just the sort of sounds a nervous puppy would make, nothing really audible. In English, anyway.
The toilet flushed and the sink was turned on for a moment, followed by Elfman walking out and sitting down.
"Still having trouble with the Mar situation, sis?" he asked quietly, probably thinking I was still asleep. Lucky me! This guy was going to spill my answers for me!
"Y-Yeah…How am I supposed to bring up that sort of thing Elfman? What if I come on too strong, and he runs?"
"Then he didn't deserve you. You're a wonderful person sis, we all know it. Mind you, I really don't like the idea of you posing in a swimsuit for the Sorcerer, but that's another issue altogether."
Aaaaand, that would explain how I knew the name Mirajane Strauss before I met her. Don't think I'll bring that up around the dinner table.
"I guess that's true, but that would hurt too much…I can't risk it, yet it's eating away at me! I love him!"
My heart…hell, I'm not sure what it did just then, but it felt…really good! To tell the truth, I had been infatuated with Mira since I laid eyes on her, I just let it go because I didn't believe I deserved love, and even when I overcame that, I still didn't see myself as worthy for her. That's why I stopped at where I did on that Ferris Wheel. But…over the last couple of months…I've helped people, made friends, even joined my little sis' legacy. People today are alive because of my interference! Present company included! My body began to warm as my greatest thought entered my mind. "Yeah. I deserve this. More importantly, WE deserve this."
I sat up quickly, unable to contain myself any longer. Mirajane and Elfman were in shock and attempted to change the subject as quickly as possible. I raised a hand to them to stop them, and then slid next to Mirajane, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close as I did.
"I love you too, Mirajane Strauss."
