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Chapter 3-Fairy Tail
Two Weeks Later- Front Entrance of Fairy Tail
"Wow!"
Erza exclaimed while her eyes had become like stars while looking up at the massive guild building that will become her new home. Standing behind Erza were Naruto and Esdeath looking at the building with their own thoughts.
"So, this is Fairy Tail. I expected a lot more." Esdeath had said with boredom as she crossed her arms
"What are your thoughts Naruto-sensei?"
*Silence*
"Naruto-sensei?"
Silence met Esdeath's questioning again. She looked at her master to see him looking at the guild with a sad but small smile as if watching a replay of memories.
'How long has it been, and it still looks the same. I wonder if it's just as rowdy as the last time I passed by here.'
After Naruto finished that thought the sounds of crashing and people screaming could be heard from inside the building.
"Well what are we waiting for! Let's go inside" Naruto said, sporting a massive grin while placing a hand on the doors of the guild. Once the doors were opened the group was met with a brawl going on between guild members with tables and mugs flying everywhere. Naruto's smile seemed to only get bigger as he watched what was going on while Esdeath had a frown of disapproval and unbelief with Erza having a similar reaction.
"Naruto-sensei?"
"Yes, Esdeath-chan?"
"Sensei, please tell me this isn't one of your stupid pranks. Are you sure we have the right place?" Esdeath asked continuing to look at the scene while a man was sent flying, crashing into the nearest wall
"Why of course my sweet little student, but I have to say it's much rowdier then I remember it being." Naruto responding while scratching the back of his head.
"That's enough you guys, can't you see we have guests!" A loud and booming voice had said turning all eyes to look at the group towards the front. The response from the group was mix of disappointment and awkward happiness. The voice whom the voice belonged to was large muscular shadow with what appeared to be horns and yellow eyes. Naruto still smiling started to walk toward the being while cupping his hands together like a megaphone.
"Naruto?
"Makky! What's up it's been awhile! What's with the transformation?!
"It has been a long time."
After saying that the being started to shrink down to an extremely short elderly man. He was balding with white hairs rimming around his head. His outfit was an opened orange hoodie over a white shirt with a black Fairy Tail emblem. His attire was completed with orange shorts and an orange and blue striped jester hat.
"That was just a show to keep everyone in line."
"He's so short." Both Erza and Esdeath had said in a surprised voice.
"Hey! Don't make fun of me!" Makarov had exclaimed while shaking his fist at the two girls.
"So Makky, still the master or did you finally pass the torch?" Naruto had said looking at the short man. This caused a dark cloud to go over the the short man.
"Unfortunately, no, the paper work is still a pain in the ass. With the amount of complaints we get is nonstop especially with Gildarts. He's so oblivious he destroys buildings by simply walking into them. We had to reconstruct the entire town just to make sure that doesn't happen! The man is literally a walking path of destruction!" Makarov has said with tears running down his cheeks
Naruto just chuckled at his antics while scratching the back of his head.
"Anyways, why don't we catch up Makky. Esdeath, Erza why don't you aquatint yourselves with the other children."
Esdeath grumbled a little, wanting to leave as soon as possible while Erza nodded at his order and walked off.
"Why don't we go to my office, so we can talk more privately." Makarov had said to Naruto with him nodding as his response.
Makarov's Office
"So, what's your real reason for being here Naruto? You haven't aged a bit and it's been almost forty years since we last saw each other, the day I became guild master. I want you to tell me the truth why have you come and why haven't you aged?" Makarov had said in a serious voice glaring at Naruto from behind his desk. Naruto was leaning against the wall in the corner of the room with his arms crossed with a blank face. Naruto then turned to look at Makarov and asked.
"What exactly do you know about the history of this guild?"
"All most everything, why does that matter?"
"Then you know about Lumen Histoire?"
"How do you know about that! No one outside of the guild master should know of such thing. Are you the one who told Ivan about such a dark and dangerous secret!" Makarov had yelled glaring at Naruto while flaring some of his magical aura. Not intimidated Naruto just continued.
"Easy Makky, I don't even know who this Ivan is. But the way I know about is that you can say that in a way, I'm responsible for Lumen Histoire even existing."
"What do you mean by that?" Makarov now getting confused at his response.
"Let me explain a little, Lumen Histoire is a byproduct from some of my power that was sealed away and later used in its creation. My eyes, the Rinnegan, allows me to do many feats including the creation and resurrection of life, or cursing and bringing one's life to an end. This power of course comes with a price however. This power over life and death had later given me the curse of immortality. While I can die in battle I would still suffer the pain of watching others die. So, I had decided I would watch over each generation while keeping the peace and only would intervene if someone or something like Zeref or Acnologia were to come to power."
"But power over life and death? That's the only something that sage of six paths possesses but that's only in legend! That would mean?" Naruto only nodded as he saw Makarov expression.
Makarov had become wide eyed with this revelation, but it only made sense why he would know about Lumen Histoire and why he still looked the same. Naruto was the sage of six paths, the man who was able to do battle with Zeref and Acnologia at the same time and became the victor.
"Now you understand Makarov but honestly I'm surprised though. I would've thought Precht would've told you once you became guild master both he, Mavis, and the other founding members knew who I was. I guess he thought I wouldn't come back since I left on my own journey around the time you became master." Naruto had said smiling.
"But it still doesn't answer the question of why you're here Naruto?" Makarov asked again once he came out of his shock. Naruto's smile then turned deathly serious making Makarov uneasy.
"You've noticed it haven't you? The increasing numbers of dark guilds and increasing activity among Zeref cultist."
"Yes, I have, though the magic council hasn't done anything about it. If anything, the most they're worried about is keeping their seats and pockets filled."
"Politics."
"Unfortunately, but the other guilds have noticed it as well and will probably bring it to the focus next guild masters meeting."
"I can only hope. The increasing activities has already caused a lot of damage."
"Those two girls I'm assuming are among the collateral? You want me to accept them into the guild correct?"
Naruto nodded his head as his response
Makarov looked down in sadness but continued
"I see, I can do that. It's the least I can do for them. What can you tell me about them?"
"The younger one, Erza was taken as a slave by Zeref cultists to rebuild the R-system. She and many others managed to escape during a rebellion setting them back several years."
"The R-system! We must notify the magic council an- "
Naruto raised his hand to interrupt him
"While I understand your worry and I'm sure the magic council would react quickly, they would try to interrogate the young girl treating her like a criminal. I won't let her go through such a process she already has been through enough so, I will try to locate the R-system myself."
While Makarov wasn't completely satisfied with what Naruto wanted to do, but he understood his reasoning.
"Very well and the elder one?"
"She's a little more complicated."
"Oh, how so?"
"That girl is Esdeath Partas the lone survivor of the Partas clan."
"The clan's whose village was wiped out a little over a year ago?"
"Yes, The sane one. I had found her a little after the village was destroyed."
"Such a tragedy but, I find it strange that you were just around the area. There's more to that story. Am I right?"
"Yes, there is a lot more to it. I had heard a rumor that a demon was around the area, so I investigated and sure enough it was true. The demon had already been killed by the villagers by the time I had gotten there. So, I stuck around to keep an eye of the village and I'm glad I did. As you know the Partas clan are a warrior clan and would do anything to further their strength including human experiments."
Makarov became more and more disgusted as Naruto told his tale. He knew some of the horrible things that people would do to gain power after all his own son Ivan, had experimented on his grandson which forced Makarov to excommunicate him from the guild.
"They had been injecting the demon's blood into different clan members ranging from ten to thirty years old, Esdeath being the clan's heir of course was among them. While this gave clan members increased strength and speed, what they didn't know is that the demonic power could make a person insane with blood lust."
"So, your saying that the villagers killed each other." Makarov putting all the pieces together
"For the most part, yes. They killed most of each other off and the remaining were by bandits."
Another question then popped in Makarov's head, "If you say they the experimented people went insane why hasn't Esdeath become that way as well?"
"It has happened once before. About half a year ago when she came across the bandits who killed her clan. While she was able to return to normal and luckily, I was able to put a seal on her to prevent the demonic blood from taking over. I was only able to do it because she had exhausted her magical energy after she had killed those bandits. Even then she's not exactly how she used to be when I first met her and I consider her unstable if not kept in check."
"I see, what are her chances of becoming like that again?"
"I believe unlikely if she stayed in Fairy Tail and more likely if she traveled with me. The more she goes into that state of mindlessness. She will eventually reach a point of blood lust she would have to be put down."
"I understand then I will get paperwork ready so they could be admitted into the guild. What will you do now that you've succeeded in bring them here?"
"Well I've decided on rejoining the guild. I'll use long term missions as cover to gather intel on dark guilds and finding the R-system."
"Very well then I will also admit you into the guild with them."
Makarov grabbed three sheets of paper, filled them out and then stood from his desk. He began walking towards the exit with Naruto behind him.
"I do have to ask, why haven't named the next master yet? You've been master for almost forty years." Naruto said to him as Makarov placed a hand on the door.
"Well…"
Makarov then opened the door to a scene of a destroyed guild. Tables and chairs were broken into splinters and guild members were either knocked out somewhere or fighting. Among the crowd was Esdeath who seemed to be in a fight with an older teen with spiky blond hair. He had a dark yellow shirt over a black long sleeve and wore green slacks. He had a lightning bolt like scar over his right eye and had headphones over his ears. Erza meanwhile had been standing next to a girl in an orange sundress while over a boy who was in his underwear. The boy had black spiky hair with his guild mark over his right pectoral. Naruto was looking at the scene in amusement while Makarov looked angry. He grew large once again and yelled
"WHAT ARE YOU FOOLS DOING! DO YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH THIS IS GOING TO COST! STOP THIS INSTANT!"
"Now I see why you haven't chosen as successor. There's no one around to take the job without starting a fight." Naruto had said with a slight laugh. Makarov had just given him a look telling him to shut up
"Now Laxus can you please tell me why you started another fight especially with visitors." Makarov said after he shrunk down.
"It was my fault Master Makarov, Naruto-sensei, I let my emotions get the better of me." Esdeath walking up to the two men while bowing her head.
"Well why don't you explain the story for me."
During the Meeting
Once Naruto and Makarov had told them to socialize a young brunette girl in an orange sundress approached Esdeath and Erza.
"Hi there, my name is Cana nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends in case you join the guild." Cana had said to them while extending her hand.
"Nice to meet you Cana. My name is Erza Scarlet, and this is Esdeath." Erza said to the young girl with a smile on her face while Esdeath just looked at the girl with a stern look.
"Come on don't be that way Esdeath she's just trying to be nice." Erza said while lightly poking Esdeath's side.
"There's no point in introducing myself. As soon as Naruto-sensei and Master Makarov finish talking we'll leave, after all we just came to leave you here not join this garbage guild." Esdeath said looking down at Erza.
"Hey, you take that back!" A boy with black spiky hair who was in his underwear had said approaching the three while other guild members looked at Esdeath with distain.
"Gray, your clothes." Cana said to the now named Gray
"It doesn't matter right now! She just insulted the guild and I'm gonna make sure she's gonna take back what she said!" Gray said while getting into a fighting stance.
"Come on boy, I can't take you serious if you can't even properly dress yourself."
"Boy? You're just a few years older than me!"
Gray then charged at Esdeath with a fist at the ready. Unfortunately, the punch never landed as Esdeath stepped to the side and knocked the boy upside the head making him fall to the floor.
"Gray!" Cana yelled out
"See, you're just proving my point. You're so weak you can't even land a proper hit." Esdeath said with a smirk looking down at the fallen boy. Esdeath walked up to Gray then placed her foot on his head holding it to the ground.
"Now say I'm sorry Esdeath-sama."
"I-I'm sorry Esdeath-sama" Gray muttered glaring at Esdeath
"Come on, you can do better." Esdeath said grinning madly
Erza having enough placed a hand on Esdeath shoulder.
"Stop that Esdeath, you've proven your point. You don't need to embarrass him like that."
"Oh boo-hoo Erza this is how the weak learn their place." Esdeath said while grinding her foot into his head.
"Stop It please!" Cana yelled to Esdeath
"Esdeath stop it!" Erza yell and was ready to push Esdeath off Gray until another voice had cut in.
"I usually don't care for the younger members and think their weak myself. I gotta say though what you're doing is cruel and uncalled for." A blonde-haired teen had said
"Oh, who are you?" Esdeath taking her foot of Gray and bringing her attention to the blonde her teen.
"My name is Laxus Dreyar."
"Well, Laxus Dreyar I hope you can provide me with some entertainment." Esdeath said to Laxus with a sadistic smile while flaring out some of her power.
'Something's not right about Esdeath. This power it feels so cold and malicious. This is not the Esdeath I've gotten to know.' Erza thought to herself while staring wide-eyed at Esdeath.
"Hmph, not bad but you're still weak compared to me." Laxus said to Esdeath flaring some of his own power. Esdeath's smile just grew wider as she prepared herself.
Both fighters crouched down and jumped at each other, clashing, causing sparks of lighting to fly around the guild. This had caused many tables and chairs to be destroyed instantly while causing panic among guild.
"Come on is this all you got! You talk big girl!" Laxus said blowing Esdeath away making her crash into the bar. Esdeath got up immediately and readied an ice spear. She threw the spear while Laxus fired a lightning bolt destroying the spear blinding him. Esdeath took advantage of this to jump towards him with her right fist raised, unfortunately Laxus caught her fist gripping it painfully. With her left hand she summoned an ice sword but Laxus caught her wrist gripping it in the same way as her right forcing her to drop the weapon.
"Like I said you talk big, but you can't seem to back it up. You're weak." Laxus said to Esdeath causing her to growl in frustration.
"I know all about who you are. You're last of that clan whose village was annihilated over a year ago if that symbol on your shirt is anything to go by."
"Shut up!"
"I heard stories that they were very barbaric and had such power over ice it made the average ice mage look like a rookie. To think someone so weak was the only one left alive."
"I said shut up!" Esdeath yelled in anger as she kick him in the gut pushing him away. Laxus was pushing her buttons to anger her and he was succeeding. Both fighters were ready to clash at each other again until Makarov had interrupted.
Present
"I see, well I believe I can deal with Laxus but Naruto will decide what to do with you." Makarov had said looking at the young girl. Esdeath just bowed her hair more when Naruto stared at her more intently. He placed a hand on her shoulder and said firmly
"Come with me."
"Yes, Naruto-sensei." Esdeath said meekly
Naruto with Esdeath trailing behind him left the guild. Everyone went back to what they were doing before the fight while Erza looked at the guild entrance with worry.
Magnolia River
Esdeath and Naruto sat on the bank of the town's river as the sun was slowly going lower in the horizon. It had been silent for what seemed to be hours. Esdeath unsure of what to say to her master decided to break it.
"I'm so-"
"Be quiet." Naruto said firmly making Esdeath flinch at his tone of voice.
"I want you to listen and listen well." Esdeath only nodded as her response.
"While I don't know why you started a fight against the guild members and neither do I care. However, you told me when I first picked you up that you wanted to become stronger, although you never told me why. So, I ask why do want to become stronger?"
Silence was Esdeath's answer, she had no answer to his question. She couldn't give a reasonable answer to his question; did she want to get stronger just for the sake of just show her strength as a mage? A mindset that only reflected what her father would've wanted but she had given up that philosophy when she became Naruto's student.
"You have no answer do you?" Esdeath just nodded her head.
"I could tell you what you probably feel. You feel guilty, don't you?"
Silence once again but it was enough as his answer
"If that is how you feel don't be. I told you once before and I'll tell you again even if you were there you wouldn't have been able to help in your clan's survival. However, I know that feeling not being able to protect those you love." Naruto said as he looked at the orange sky.
Even if she was silent his words were getting to her as tears started to build in her eyes. He had noticed but continued
"The pain will never go away but you must be strong in order to move on. To be strong however, is not by having magical power but, it is the will to protect those closest to you currently. I think you already found at least one in young Erza. You may not show it but you care for the young girl. I will be joining Fairy Tail with Erza and I hope you do the same. However, I will also be leaving soon to find information for Makarov." Esdeath's eyes at widened at his last statement.
"So, my question to you when I leave, will you be there for Erza and join the guild with her and be stronger if nothing else but to protect her?"
Esdeath was silent but Naruto decided it was best to leave her to think. He stood up and left while a small distance away Erza was behind a tree watching the scene. Once Naruto was out of sight Erza walked to where Esdeath was sitting and sat next to her. A peaceful silence was over them while Esdeath was in thought and Erza was watching the sunset.
"I didn't agree with what you did to Gray." Erza had started "but it was still it was cool seeing fight like that. You're so strong."
Esdeath just stayed silent while Erza looked disheartened at her lack of response.
"I hope you and Naruto join the guild, it would mean a lot to me. I don't know what it was like to have a family and you two are the closest to something like that even it was just a short time."
Silence reigned for a couple more minutes
"Yeah, we're joining the guild." Esdeath finally said
"Really! That's great!" Erza said joyfully
"But Naruto is leaving soon, and I'll be alone again. I doubt anyone from the guild would want to talk to me after what I did." Esdeath said mournfully, regretting her stupid attempt at displaying her strength.
"You don't have to be alone you know. I'll be there for you." Erza said while leaning her head on Esdeath's shoulder. Esdeath while didn't show it was uncomfortably with the display of affection.
"You know I saw old man Rob as a grandpa and even if I haven't known him for long but sometimes I see Naruto as a father. So, I wanted to ask but could you be my big sister?" Erza asked twiddling her thumbs while shocking Esdeath even further. She was going to turn down her request until Naruto's words came to her mind once again.
'Someone to protect? Hmph, I guess I could try' Esdeath thought to herself as she looked at Erza awaiting her reply.
"I guess I can." Esdeath finally said while Erza yelling joyfully how happy she was to have a big sister and hugged Esdeath to her embarrassment.
'Is this love? I don't understand it but it's nice.' Esdeath thought to herself while placing an arm around Erza's small body.
'I'll make sure nothing will happen to you. I'll protect you no matter what.'
The next morning
"I see you're leaving already?" Makarov had said with Erza and Esdeath behind him. Naruto looking at the old man gave a simple 'yes' as his answer while adjusting he gunbai on his back.
"I see, well come say your goodbyes you two.' Makarov said while the two girls walked forward. Erza was the first two respond as she threw her arms around his waist in a hug while thanking him for everything he had done for her. Esdeath walked up him while rubbing her arm and feeling an itch on the newly made guild mark on her right hand.
"I guess, this is goodbye." Esdeath said sadly while Naruto chuckled at his student's start
"Yeah, I guess."
"Naruto-sensei will you come back" Esdeath asked looking up at him while Naruto chuckled at again. His hand then moved in front of her and lighted tapped her forhead with his index and middle fingers causing Esdeath to blush.
"Of course, I'll come back. After all, I'm still your sensei and I need to make sure your progress is going well. Maybe, I'll even train Erza while I'm around." The last statement made both girls smile.
"Anyways I should get going." Naruto said while turning around to leave and gave a two-finger wave as he left. Both girls looked at his walking form as he moved farther and farther away now waiting for their next meeting.
'I will treat this two as though if they were own children but I'm sure you already know that.' Makarov thought as he looked the distant horizon where Naruto's form can no longer be seen.
'I sure hope you know what you're doing Naruto, leaving them so soon. Even in the past you were always so distant from those around you.'
Chapter End
