So sorry for the shit-storm of angst *bows 100 times*. And yes, I did name this chapter after the lyrics for "Small Town Girl" by Journey.
Earlier, Freed had picked out a lower ranking S-class mission for his team and gave it to Warren who was in charge of the bar while everyone was in the pool (he doesn't like water – totally making that up, I have no idea). The S-class mission detailed several large beasts roaming in a forest near the town of Stormsky (also making that up) who assigned the mission. The beasts had their own armor and were great pack hunters. It was mentioned that the armor repelled all kinds of magic, so defeating or scaring the beasts off was impossible. The beasts also had come down to the village to kill off some of the people just for fun.
Since Freed was in charge of most of the missions, and this one paid fairly well, he thought he would bring it up to the team after the party.
However, as Freed ran out of the pool area and away from all the cruel words, he demanded Warren give him the mission (scaring and worrying the poor guy since Freed was bleeding) before running out of the guild hall finally letting his tears fall.
Freed ran and ran until he got to his apartment. Most of the Raijinshuu shared the large apartment, which was for five people. It had three bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchenette. Freed startled most of the pedestrians before slamming through the front door, slamming it closed, dropping to his knees. A strangled cry left his lips as he gripped where his heart was beating frantically behind his chest. Freed rocked backward and forward as globules of tears and mucous ran down his face. Strangled cries left his lips as he forced himself up and grabbed his pre-made to go pack for emergency missions. He suddenly felt physically ill before throwing up in the bathroom.
He LOATHES me. He doesn't dislike me, he hates me. My family hates me! Freed sobbed they all think I'm disgusting. I'm just a disgusting fag. I'm dirty, dirty, dirty!
Freed ran from his apartment, headed for the train station out of Magnolia the cruel words circling in his head. His best friend's words, Erza's words, Mira all over him. If they didn't want him fine. If they truly thought that way about him then he was sure the other guilds would too. He really wasn't anything to anyone. Freed clapped a hand over his mouth to stop the sounds of his sobbing from spilling out.
He boarded the last train out of Magnolia for the day that was headed in the direction of Stormsky. Whether it was out of sheer luck, fate, or misfortune, Freed wasn't seen boarding the train from the members of Fairy Tail who were specifically looking for him and the cruel perpetrator. Laxus was too late in following Freed's trail to the apartment, smelling Freed's tears, his blood, and the fact that he had been sick.
Laxus was kneeling at the entranceway, head in his hands as a few of his own tears slipped down his cheeks.
I won't ever stop looking for you Freed. You are mine and I will prove it to you.
The train was an overnight train as was the next one Freed was getting on. It would take up to four days to get to Stormsky by train. Freed didn't mind though. His mind was blank. If he thought of anything other than the many ruins he had memorized over the years, the depression in his heart and mind would set in.
He may not have been wanted, but he was going to make this last job count for Fairy Tail even if it cost him his life. Even if it meant breaking the third rule Fairy Tail had and Freed never broke rules. This job wasn't meant to be a solo mission. The flier recommended that a team of at least four or five people with one or more S class mages would be best.
Freed had been sleeping like shit nonetheless with dreams that made him wake up in tears and feel physical ill.
How could there be so much hatred towards me after all these years? It doesn't make sense! Somebody would have said something considering no one can keep their mouth closed long, or at least not be obvious about it!
Why do you hate me Laxus? Is it really just a guy liking you? Or is it because I like you?
Freed brushed his hair until it was fluffy again since it distracted him from everything else. He hadn't really been sleeping or eating and in a few hours he would arrive at the town looking like crap. He would follow this through to the end though.
When Laxus had traced Freed's scent to the train station, after getting out of his stupor at the apartment, he broke down in anger destroying most of the station. Ever and Bickslow had to calm him down enough to get him back to Fairy Tail since his grandfather was probably the best at calming him down.
So there he sat at a table, head in his hands as he listened to the conversation around him, his headphones slung around his neck.
"Did you guys find anything in those books?"
"If anything, this is the book the spell would be in, but the rest have been a bust."
"What about you guys? Track the scent?"
"The scent lead out of the hallway of the pool area and out the back of the guild."
"It was weird though since it seemed to just disappear in the middle of the road."
"Does anyone know what train Freed could have taken?"
"At the time frame from when Freed left the guild to when Laxus tracked his scent to the train station, six trains had left to six different places."
Everyone sighed in defeat while Lucy and Levy continued to look through dusty old books.
"How is Laxus doing?" Someone whispered to Makarov. Makarov only shook his head in resignation. Considering Laxus' reaction to the whole thing, there was no doubt in the old man's mind that Freed was indeed his mate. He'd have to explain that to Laxus and the other dragon slayers later.
Laxus slammed his hands down on the table in frustration, scaring most of the members, before pacing around the guild angrily.
"AHA!" Levy yelled out in triumph causing several members to circle around her while everyone else gave her their full attention.
"I'm sure this is it so let me know if it sounds like what happened. 'Reverse emotion is a dark spell that can usually be cast by mid to high level mages; especially those who are good with dark spells or curses. The spell is temporary, depending on how long the castor can keep concentration of the spell. Certain people can be chosen by the castor for the spell, however, the more people there are the harder it is to control. It has only been recorded that up to six people is the maximum amount a high level mage can control.
Reverse emotion is exactly how it sounds. If person A likes person B, the castor can reverse the emotion so person A dislikes person B. Depending on how far the castor wants to reverse the emotion, it can turn even love interests into hatred by multiplying the magical amount into the spell by a certain number. Example: times two is said during the casting of the spell, which would be twice the amount of hatred, requiring twice the amount of magical power. While the person/people under the dark spell still have consciousness of what they are doing, the castor can manipulate what the possessed person does or says.
Please note, once the spell has been cast, it cannot be cast on the same people again by that castor. It has also been noted that black mist goes over the eyes of the selected person/people the spell was targeted to.'"
Those that were under the spell nodded their heads. It sounded exactly like that.
"So you're saying that somehow a high level mage snuck into Fairy Tail specifically to break Freed away from everyone? Why?" Natsu scratched his head. It was a good question, which is why it was weird to hear it from Natsu.
"It doesn't matter why. The bastard is dead and I am going to get Freed back" Laxus growled, crossing his arms.
"Laxus. If we understand why a person attacked Freed, we can either understand who the person is and where they ran off to or even where Freed is." Makarov explained. Laxus grudgingly nodded looking away from his grandpa, making the old man sigh out sadly.
Laxus was itching to tear down the place if someone didn't give him something about Freed in the next few minutes.
"Maybe it was a mage from the dark guild we just defeated?" Lucy questioned making the others think.
"I'm afraid not. All the members of that guild were accounted for and placed into prison," Mira said sadly making everyone slump.
"Well there can't be many mages who use dark magic right? I mean most of the Raijinshuu can use some form of dark magic. Do you think that's a connection?" Cana asked while sucking down liquor. Everyone nodded that it was a weird coincidence.
"Is it some form of eye magic Levy?" Evergreen asked curiously. Levy went to the back of the book to see what was listed under eye magic.
"Huh… it says that eye and physical hand magic must be used to caste the spell."
"So it is related to what we can do!" Evergreen asked excitedly thinking things were finally getting somewhere, even getting Laxus' attention.
"Hey! What if it was someone who wanted to be apart of the Raijinshuu but got rejected" Lucy piped up making everyone curious.
"There are a few people a year who request to join the Raijinshuu, but we've never approved any of them" Bickslow piped up.
"Do you remember any of them? Any of them stand out?"
Laxus, Evergreen, and Bickslow just shrugged at each other, not really remembering anyone that stood out to them.
"Hey, what's going on?" Warren gave a sleepy yawn as Mira smiled sadly at him. The guy had fallen asleep at the bar at least six hours ago. Everyone kept talking trying to figure something out. Mira carefully and slowly told him what happened making Warren more and more shocked by the second.
"So now we are trying to find out who the castor is or at least which one of the trains Freed could have gotten on," Mira finished sadly as everyone was in their own little group trying to figure out where their family member went.
"Um… Freed went to the town of Stormsky" Warren said with confusion making everyone's head snap to him at the same time, creepily.
"What?" Laxus said with a low voice that made everyone's hair on the back of his or her necks stand straight up in fear. Warren was shaking terribly.
"Explain how you know this" Laxus all but bellowed out, prepared to choke the terrified man.
"Sh-Shouldn't you know that?" Warren all but squeaked out.
"HOW THE HELL WOULD I KNOW THAT!?" Laxus was about to choke him before being held back by Erza and gramps.
"W-Well Freed picked out an S-class mission for you guys to go on and it was in the town of Stormsky. He asked me to hold it for you guys until after the party so he could ask if you guys wanted to go. U-Um… are you guys meeting him there? The flier asked for four to five mages, including one or more S-class mages for the task." Warren was sweating bullets before team Laxus and team Natsu ran out of the guild headed for the first train that went in the direction of Stormsky.
"W-Was it something I said guild master?" Warren asked worriedly.
"No. It was very helpful for this situation. Warren, contact the train conductor and let him know that a section of the train needs to be open for 8 members of fairy tail."
"Yes sir!" Warren put his fingers to his head hoping Freed was found quickly.
Don't you do anything stupid until I get there Freed. Wait for me my mate Laxus chanted in his head worriedly. His heart constricted at the word mate before Laxus all but dashed out of the apartment with little more than the clothes on this back along with the other seven members of Fairy Tail that were going with him.
Totally made up most of Warren's character :P Not that sorry about that REVIEW PLEASE!
