Please forgive me for the grammar mistakes!
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is not mine.
This story takes place after Laxus's excommunication.
Chapter 1. An official announcement
Master Makarov sighed heavily.
Meetings with the members of the Magic Council have never been pleasant but this one was just a torture for him. He wanted to be far away from that place…
But he had no choice.
All had started with an official letter form the Council. Makarov had received it two days ago.
Flash-back
The letter was dry and laconic.
"It is our duty to inform you that Laxus Dreyar, a former member of the Fairy Tail guild, was arrested by the Rune Knights due to his crimes, namely an attempt to destroy the entire city of Magnolia by the Thunder Palace magic and an intention to kill all citizens by so called Fairy Law enchantment. As a master of the Fairy Tail guild, you are required to appear before the Magic Council and give explanations about this case."
Makarov finished reading and cast up his eyes.
"I'm coming with you, master!" exclaimed Natsu and Gajeel at the same time.
"We are coming too! We must be there! Everything that concerns Laxus concerns us too!" added Bixlow and Evergreen.
Fried nodded. "That's right. And it was us who helped him, after all," he said.
"No, I will go alone," answered the old man and sighed. "The letter is addressed to me only."
End of flash-back
"And here I am," thought the old man. The situation was very painful for him but he knew that he couldn't ignore the Council's letter. He had one and only desire – all this to end as soon as possible.
His thoughts were interrupted by a female voice.
"Please come in, sir," the voice said.
When Makarov entered the hall, all members of the Council stared at him. But he didn't pay attention to them; he saw one and only person.
Laxus…
The lightning mage was standing in the middle of the hall. His face was absolutely expressionless. As it seemed, all that happened was of no interest to him. He didn't even look at his grandfather.
For a moment Makarov got lost in his memories. He remembered Laxus as a little child… a golden-haired boy with an ever-presented smile…
A male voice brought him back to the reality.
"Thank you for coming, master Makarov," said the chairman. "Please take your place."
The Fairy Tail master obeyed unconsciously. He couldn't take his eyes off Laxus.
"I have no intention to waste your time, so I will be brief," continued the chairman. "Now, could you explain us…"
-ooo-
Twenty minutes later Makarov felt himself extremely tired. It seemed to him that he had spent hours in the hall.
"Thank you, master Makarov. That's all we wanted to know. You can go now," said the chairman. "You will receive an official announcement about our decision in a week."
The old man cast a final glance at Laxus and left the hall.
-ooo-
Six days later
There was a feverish exhilaration in the Fairy Tail guild.
Lyon Bastia and Sherry Blendy from Lamia Scale would be guests there for a week. Everything was ready for their welcome party. Mirajane had taken care to decorate the guild hall and now she finished the last preparations. All guild members (except for Gajeel and Wendy who were on missions) assisted her.
Everyone was in a good mood. Makarov was the only one who was depressed. He was waiting to learn the decision of the Council. "You will receive an official announcement about our decision in a week," the chairman had said. And six days had already passed. The guild master knew that the announcement would arrive soon. He wasn't able to think about anything else.
"When will Lyon and Sherry arrive? I can't wait!" exclaimed Levy.
"Any moment…" A knocking on the door interrupted Gray's words.
"It must be them!" said Lucy.
Levy smiled with joy.
"Everyone, the guests are coming!" said Mirajane. She rose to her feet, ready to welcome the newcomers.
But when the door opened, her smile faded.
No, the figure on a doorway definitely was not the people they expected. A red-haired man was standing there. His handsome face was expressionless.
He entered the guild hall and cast a glance at everyone.
"Good morning…" started Mirajane. She had an intention to bid the newcomer welcome but he interrupted her greeting.
"I'm a messenger of the Magic Council," declared the man without introduction.
"A messenger of the Council? But I thought that their messengers were frog-like creatures… Doesn't it seem strange to you, Natsu?" whispered Lucy in Salamander's ear.
"It is very strange, indeed," answered the Fire Dragon Slayer.
"I have to talk with Makarov, the master of the Fairy Tail guild. And immediately," continued the newcomer. His voice was cold and impatient of opposition.
"It's me. What is it?" asked Makarov persistently.
"I have an official announcement for you," was the answer. The man pulled a list of paper out of his pocket and started reading: "It is our duty to inform you that Laxus Dreyar, a former member of the Fairy Tail guild, was sentenced to death."
"What? But how…?" exclaimed Mirajane. Her voice was trembling.
The man continued reading imperturbably: "The sentence was executed yesterday evening." (1)
Silence ensued. Everyone looked at each other in horror. The news was as a bolt from the blue to them. It was so unexpected and incredible that at the first moment no one could find words.
"The sentence had been executed?" Natsu said under his breath. He didn't believe his ears. That was just not possible. That couldn't be true!
"What did he say? Laxus is dead…?" whispered Evergreen. Her heart stopped beating for a second and her face became white as ashes. Frozen in shock, Fried and Bixlow stood behind her.
Makarov didn't say anything. His expression didn't change. He just closed his eyes and remained stone-still and silent for a few seconds… as if he was trying to realize the meaning of the words he had heard. And then, without saying a single word, without even gave a sigh, he collapsed on the ground.
The messenger pocketed the letter.
"Goodbye," he said in the same cold and indifferent tone. He cast a final glance at Makarov and left the guild hall. The door closed behind him.
-ooo-
(1) As you guess, this man is not a messenger of the Council. I will explain in the next chapters who have sent the fake announcement. As for Laxus, he is alive and well.
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