Here it is, the longest chapter of My Fairy to this date. I hope you all enjoy reading throughout this final chapter of Season Two.


"~I wish you would all just disappear...~"

Those words...If only I knew back then how powerful they could really be...

But words seem to hold a power much greater than any magic could bestow. Relationships can be forged or fractured with a simple sentence. Lives can be nourished or lives can be ruined with a work of the tongue. Fates can be sealed...And fates can be altered with a mere flex of those vocal chords. Thoughts we once held onto proudly can be regretted – albeit, often when it's too late to reverse them.

It was just an offhand comment, the day I could honestly say I felt something close enough to hatred of those folks at the guild. It was just an offhand remark – angry at them, and angry at myself; but it was just an angry thought, heck I was a little revved up that day. But I never would have taken that too much to heart.

I mean...Really...As much as I wish Natsu would stop being a jerk towards me every waking moment...As much as I wish Gray would stop being a smug smartarse who strips like a gigolo...As much as I wish Erza would not be so scary with those swords ready to cut something far more precious than cheesecake...As much as I wish Charles would just – well not be around...As much as I wish Gajeel would stop being a dick...And as much as I wish Laxus would be a half-decent half-nephew in law or whatever the hell he is to me...As much as I just wish the entire guild would just shape up or leave me alone...

I love those crazy son of a bitches...They're my family...They're the only family I've ever really had...

Why'd I have to become such a sucker for these friends?

Why'd they have to leave me behind?

Why do I feel more lonely than ever before?

~My Fairy~

The Final Trial, The Ultimate Tribulation

"You guys had a good enough perv on your master yet?" the little old man crossed his arms and grinned in his cheeky manner just as about everyone else had their gawking eyes set on him.

Everyone had already stopped splashing and playing around a while ago. I heard a few huffs and gasps. I think I even heard someone drop a brick in the water.

I heard Gray quiver out a 'master?'. So too did Erza with a few tears dripping into the water. I heard Natsu groan out an agonisingly high-pitched 'Gramps?'

But it seemed no one could get the jump on little me this time. I surprised just about everyone, myself included, when I leapt out of the water and cleared about 15 yards (yeah I was even counting in freaking imperials this time!) in two steps when I dived into him with my arms extended and nearly glomped the poor old bastard to death again.

"DADDYYYYY!" I cried louder than a walrus who'd found their long-lost tusk.

"Get off me why dont'cha!" the old master grumbled in protest as he tried shaking my emotional wreck of a self off him. He tussled with my python like hug for a few seconds before he grunted and grew his right arm to about five times the normal size and sent me uppercut and away into a tree. "Goddern it I'm not yer father kid! What's gotten into you!"

"But Daddy! You're my Daddy aren't you Daddy?" I jump out the tree and crawl over to him like an excited pooch.

"GRAMPS IS ALIVE!" But this pooch was soon impounded as Natsu, followed behind by everyone else mobbed the little survivor who pulled through in the end. "Gramps, we missed you so much!" I heard Natsu crying as he pulled Makarov's cheek just to make sure he was the real deal and not some goblin or midget wearing a mask.

"Master, the guild hasn't been the same without you!" Erza said as she shook him by the shoulders. "How could you leave us in that incompetent child's hands?"

Oh thanks Erza, wait aren't I older than you?

"We seriously thought you'd passed away master!" Gray said with his pants now soaked (in tears, you). "How did you make it back?"

"Yes master! We all thought you were dead!"

"We're so happy to see you're alive and well!"

"What a Man you are, coming back to life!"

"Would you lot wrack off for one bloody minute!" The old master, in his pent-up rage surrounded himself in a golden aura and threw everyone back with a powerful energy force. Natsu, Gray, Elfman and Gajeel all bounced a little as they landed on their bums in a seated position – which was perfect as it looked like the old man was about to give us a long story anyway. "I ain't never been dead you damn idiots! Why did ya friggin bury me with no food or water?"

"But we really thought you had died Gramps!" Natsu nodded his head as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.

"Yeah you had stopped breathing and had no pulse." Erza added with a more reasonable tone. "You definitely appeared dead to all of us."

"I was having a long snooze." Makarov grumbled as he twitched his moustache. "I had been so drained going through what felt like the same day over and over and over again that I went into a hibernated state to preserve my energy until it was over."

Needless to say, like a bunch of meerkats, everyone whipped their heads around towards me. Yep it looks like once again I am at fault. I irk out a weak little "Sorry guys."

"But master, couldn't you have given us some sort of notice about this?" Mirajane asked in her gentle tone of concern. "Maybe you could have left us a note."

"I was so tired I couldn't even write a letter or call out to anyone," the poor old geezer shook his head and sighed. "You know I'm no spring chicken these days," he said brushing off the last remaining bits of caked dirt around his cape. "Good thing you buried me next to Mavis' grave and didn't have Natsu cremate me or I really wouldn't be here to give you brats a lecture."

"I could never do such a horrible thing Gramps," Natsu sunk his head on the ground as he watered the grass with his tears. "I never thought I'd get beaten up by that giant hand of yours again!"

Mystogan stepped forward, speaking more as a curious outsider to the situation. "What I'd like to know is how you got out of that grave? Your physical and magical strength would have been too low to dig yourself out."

"Hey guys!" coming back to the group and making his unwanted presence known, Laxus returned with a shovel slung around his back. Another man, draped in a dark tattered cape was walking in step with him.

"L-Laxus." I stutter out his name as I still get over my shock.

"Oh hey Hunky! Look who I dug up when I was searching for treasure."

"Don't sound so casual Laxus." Erza collared him as the other man came into view. I recognised him as the man who had saved my group when we encountered Bluenote Stinger.

"If I was around at the time, I would have stopped these kids from burying you alive Jiji!" the ginger haired badass said as he gave the master a pat on the head.

"So you're a member of Fairy Tail then?" I ask in my ignorance.

"Haha! Yeah I guess you must be the new guy Laxus has been telling me about."

I muster up a bit of skin as I stand back up. "Yeah so they've all been lies then?"

"So you made this little fella the fourth master of the guild Jiji?" the built-up cape-clad warrior asked he master as he looked back at me again. "I would have thought Erza or Mirajane'd be better cut out for that role."

I know this guy looks fairly old and wise himself, but I mean...I'm standing right here...

"It's a complicated situation Gildarts. I'll have time to explain things to each of you later." Then the man who I had believed up until now was my father, strolled over to me. Walking past, he rested a hand on my shoulder as he said to me, "We need to talk."

/?/?/?/

After about eight minutes trying to hold back Natsu (apparently he felt entitled to have the first one-to-one with his Gramps and felt pretty duped at my selection) the two of us were walking for some time until we reached a beautiful outcrop with a waterfall streaming down from the other side. Makarov perched himself on the very edge of the outcrop with his legs crossed. He wasn't facing me but rather gazing out towards the falling water as it sprayed and illuminated itself in the sun's reflection.

I stood under the shade of a low branch nearby. The birds were chirping in the tree as they reaffirmed their bonds with one another; the giant Tenrou toads were croaking down by the waterfall's edge. The clouds in the sky were parting as the sun beamed down and infected all life with its sunny glow of warmth.

"So...do you want me to call you Makarov...Or master...or-"

"You can still call me Dad or Father if it suits you," he said without hesitation. "But you should know that I am not your real father."

"So...Laxus can stop calling me Hunky then?" I say with a little relief.

But the wise old man sighs as he looks up at the departing clouds. "She had raised you like her son. And she loved you the same way she loved her own daughter. But even she could provide you with the things only your real parents could have and she left you in my hands when you were about eight years old. I think that decision must have broken her heart so much it ended up taking her life."

"Are you talking about Lucy's mother?"

"Aye," he nods. "How did you know?"

"I...I just had a feeling it might be her." I rub my right arm trying to comfort myself.

"Layla was an outstanding woman. I could have fallen in love with her if I was thirty or so years younger back then. But she was a very selfless woman who would put her children's priorities above anything – even her own health. I'd heard from Jude that a man claiming to be your father had been repeatedly harassing her. So I think for your and her own child's safety she must have let you go."

I recalled that man who'd threatened my step-mother in front of a tiny Lucy. "Do you know who my real parents might have been then?"

My step-father turns his head left and right, making one slow shake to signify 'no'. "If I had any idea who your real parents were, I would have used all my resources to return you to their custody. But alas, your past is an even bigger mystery to me than that of the Dragonslayers in our guild."

I look down at my fingernails, cracked and worn from battle. "Then do you think you know why my real parents might have abandoned me at such a young age?"

Makarov slumped forward, looking as though he were about to nod off, and then rose to his feet and faced me once again, his expression more regal than I had ever seen on this old man's mug before. "That is something only you can find out the answer for." And with that, the man I can mostly know of as my father began to walk back towards the main camp.

"Just one more thing," I call out to him in his departure. "Did you remember Layla saying anything to you about a brother of mine?"

Makarov turned and showed half his face as he answered. "Nothing that I can pick out from my old memory bank. As far as I know, you were the only clawed child that came to my guild's doorstep that day."

As Makarov left sight, I pondered more about the other child in those memories. It seems I was only left with more questions after this talk.

/?/?/?/

Tracing father-sort-of's steps back to the main camp, I watch the rest of the gang as they get up to their usual mischief. I see Natsu laughing as he gives Gray a noogie (which in turn must give Juvia a 'sense-link' or some sort of corresponding pain); Elfman flexing his muscles as he yells about his masculinity to a tree (I'm guessing it must have made a wise-crack about his muscles or something). Gajeel is pulling the moves on Levy by the shade, acting all macho despite his battle wounds (come to think of it a lot of them are doing the mummie cosplay thing lately); she seems to laugh with him more out of pity than actual agreement. The Thunder God Trio are crowing under their bolt-head's arms. Mirajane and Lisanna seem to be cooking up something by the tents (Mmm can't wait ;p) whilst Pantherlily is cooking up some sort of rant for the other token Exceeds on the Island. Cana is sharing her trademark keg with Gildarts for some reason (I guess he must be her drinking mentor or something). And then I find the old master, baking on a rock whilst having a level-headed discussion (is that a form of irony?) with Erza (our one, the other one probably went to go pash Mystogan somewhere in the bushes).

Phew! See I even have those cats accounted for. No wait, there's a few missing here.

"It seems things have neatly wrapped up here Master," I hear Cruz's loud thoughts behind me alongside Yoshi, Mest and Wendy.

"You might need to correct yourself there," I say back. "With Makarov's sudden resurrection, I'd say that title will go back to him now."

"I'm sorry Ben-san," oh wait why is Wendy apologising now. "I'm sorry that we all doubted you back when Mest was in our guild."

"Oh that?" I laugh and scratch my head. "Oh that's all in the past now. Besides how could I ever be angry with you?"

"Thanks for being so forgiving Ben-san," Wendy adds with a small bow before she skips over to Charles where Pantherlily is holding a symposium on the possible plot holes left behind after this arc is over.

"Well I hope you can forgive me too Master," Mest adds as he laughs and holds out a hand.

"Yeah, I guess you had your reasons for all that snooping and brainwashing of our guilds anyway so..." I shake his hand and let him now we're on good terms now (even if I still think he's kinda a douchebag). "But why are you still calling me 'Master'?"

"Well, calling you Master just feels right," Yoshi says with a blush hidden behind her tan. "I mean you've been like a Master ever since we joined the guild."

"But you know I can't be the guild master again," I tell them with a sigh. "I was only a temp-master, filling in for Makarov while he was hibernating. And I mean I was and still am the weakest member of the guild."

"What you lack in strength, you more than make up for in leadership and initiative," Cruz says some words to lift my spirits. "When those masked goons took over the city, we all relied on your skills to get us safely to Fairy Hills. Even with our abilities, nobody else had the gall to take on the role you did."

"I agree," Mest contributes. "Although I was under my mission during my stay at Fairy Tail, I saw the way you tirelessly worked and sorted out the day's paperwork. And despite the hard time I must have given you, you still managed to get it all done, on time, each and every day. If it was up to me, you're more than qualified to be Master again."

"Well thanks you guys, I really appreciate it." I look down at my feet then back up their expressions of optimism. "But my future in the guild rests with the real master."

And just on that note, I hear the others calling us over as they gather around a semi-circle.

"Oi! Where's Lucy?" Makarov called out to the group as he stood on a rock platform. The three S-Class Mages plus Gildarts stand in front of the platform, facing the rest of us.

"I think she went off to chat with herself – geddit KAHAWHAW!" Natsu laughed at his own joke, which indicated to everyone else that it was very unfunny.

"Ah, having a chat with her Edolas counterpart. Very well – ahem!" the old geezer cleared his throat as he began to speak. "Erza has filled me in on a couple of events which have taken place under my so-called 'death'. It seems over the last six months there has been a number of admissions and resignations from our guild. And I see Darren Cruz and Yoshi Takimora have joined us on this year's S-Class examination."

"Oh well actually sir, we aren't participants of the exam, we just came to provide combat support," Cruz corrects the old man. I see what he was doing, deliberately addressing the Master with a 'sir' instead. Careful buddy or he might have to change his next sentence.

"I accept both Darren and Yoshi's guild membership and hope they can be here as real participants of next year's S-Class examination." Awesome, it looks like they're safe. "I understand Doranbolt is still staying for this presentation."

"Doranbolt?" Everyone else flicks their heads back towards Mest. "You mean he's-"

"Wait how did you know?" Mest makes them all gasp a little more when he reveals his true name.

"I've been in a coffin on this remote island for six months, you really thought your memory manipulation reached me too!" Makarov shows his cheeky smirk as everyone else feels pretty damn stupid now.

"See I was right all along wasn't I?" I couldn't help myself but point that out to everyone.

"Well Doranbolt, if you have no more business with our guild, why don't you head back to the Magical Council's fleet and tell them Makarov said 'kiss my eighty-five year-old arse!'"

"I ugh. Sorry but I-" Mest jumbles his words. "I think, I'd like to be a part of your guild."

"Wait so," Natsu pokes up his hand. "So that day at the park where we played catch and said you loved me was just a lie?"

"Afraid so Natsu," Mest bites his lip just as Natsu falls down on his knees and goes...

"WAAAAAGH!"

Yeah that.

About time Natsu got some Karmic justice.

Makarov steers back everyone's ears. "Okay, while we're on arses for a moment, Laxus."

"Huh?" Oh come on Laxus don't act all surprised, even your grandfather thinks you're one.

"For installing Doranbolt as a guild member not only without taking the proper background checks but in also taking advantage of the advisory role I left you, I shall once again remove your Fairy Tail membership."

"Hagh? What the hell Gramps, I just dug your sorry old kit up and this is how you repay me?"

"Oh and tell him to stop calling me Hunky since we're no longer blood related." I chime in.

"You shut up Hunky!" Laxus retorts as fast as lighting.

"Oh..."

"And now there's one more arse here which needs to be brought up. My stepson, can you come forward?"

Too overwhelmed to feel insulted by the old master's words, I step forward from the group. "Um yes Master."

"Erza and Mirajane have told me about your performance as Master of the guild. I would like to see how far your performance can improve-"

"Yes."

"When I reward you with-"

"YES!"

"An extra long examination to assess your written, oral and magical abilities by next Summer."

"Aww come on!"

"Hey what did you think I was going to make you master again? You aren't even a member of Fairy Tail right now kid."

"Oh."

"Hey Gramps is right, we kicked Benny-boy out that time he hit Mest – I mean Doranbolt," Natsu says, even though I technically kicked myself out of the guild.

"Oh do we really have to make Benny-boy a member again?" Gray whines. Shut up Gray of course we have to!

"Yes we do," my step-daddy sticks up for me. "The writers wouldn't let us have it any other way," Makarov takes advantage of this open environment to break a few walls. "So we're stuck with him in the long haul."

"Yay." Darren lets out a lone cheer down the back. Thanks anyway.

"Well I guess I should be grateful that you guys are accepting me back into your wonderful guild," I say with great humility as I face the group. "So I'll try my best to improve for you guys."

"Hehe," with my back turned, I hear Makarov making a perverted old man snicker from behind. "So, Mirajane, do you have the hot iron brand ready?"

"Hang on isn't it just supposed to be a cheap tattoo?" I stammer with beads of sweat pouring down my face.

"Don't worry son..." Makarov now looks more evil than Banzai did; so too Mirajane wielding that deadly poker. "This way, you'll be a member of Fairy Tail – FOREVER."

"Please stay still Benny~!" And with Mirajane's evil chirp, Natsu, Gray and Elfman all tackled me and held me down as the friendly barmaid did her demon-work.

Do I smell bacon?

Oh wait...

"KKKYAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH!"

/?/?/?/

"B-hoo-hoo-w" I'm blowing a few bubbles in the creek after submerging myself in the cooling bathtub of nature. "Damn Natsu had to poke it an extra eight times too, the jerk."

I hear some rustling over the embankment as I see two blonde twins emerge. "Oh hey Benny," the longer haired one named Lucy calls out. "So you're back in the guild?"

"Yeah, and if you need proof you know where to look," I grumble in a groan of a moan.

"Ashley has told me about your brave actions back home while we were taking the exam," the more acquainted Lucy of my world averts her gaze with an almost guilty look in her eyes. "It seems I was wrong to ever doubt you in front of the others," she says, almost looking as though she might shed a tear as she holds her arm for comfort. "If Lucy Ashley could see a heroic side of you, then I will try to from now on."

Strangely, the burning pain on my butt has gone away now.

"But don't get ideas from this, champ!" Ah it's alright we're back to reality now. She leans her back forward and points her hand like a loaded handgun. "I'm not as easygoing as Ashley. We're neighbours and friends and that's that."

"Yeah I know. But I'm glad we can still be good workmates and neighbours," I smile sincerely at Hearfillia as she loosens into a short smile as well.

"Well, I'd better see what everyone else is up to..." Lucy heads on back to camp, leaving just me and her Edolas twin behind.

She hasn't said anything for the whole time. In fact she looks rather troubled about something herself, with her fringe lowered over her eyes and her hands behind her back.

"Well I guess you'll have to go back to your world soon." I break the awkwardness as I bob my head out of the water. A few drops of water drip down off my chin, making tiny splashes as I wait for her reply. "Banzai told me that your friends should all be okay. He sounded genuine at the time. So I told you that they wouldn't die. So everything's all right now, see."

"It's not alright," she grits her teeth as her eyes remain hidden. "There's still something I have to do," she takes very slow steps down towards the creek. I start to get a little concerned of her odd behaviour and stand up in the waist deep water.

"What do you mean? We stopped Banzai and the bleeding Grimoire Hearts aren't gonna bother us anymore either. Why do you look so upset?"

I hear more rustling from both sides of the creek as I find Erza Knightwalker and Mystogan on one side and two of the Seven Kins, Ultear and Meredy on the other. And I don't think they're here to give my back a wash!

"What's going on? Why are the those two Seven Kins here?" I try to back away from Lucy only to trip and splash back into the water. The two Kins and two Edo-lovers close around me with each step towards the creek, sealing off my exit. "Hey Lucy! What the hell is going on here!?"

I hear a few soft sniffles come from the blonde as she tries to hide her tears. Her mouth twitches as she speaks a few broken words. "I'm sor-ry. But...I have to-"

She brings out her hands from behind her back, revealing a cruelly shaped blade carved out of a large bone. I freak out as soon as I see Lucy holding the large knife and thrash in the water trying to get away. But I feel two pairs of hands on each shoulder restraining me.

"Hey let go of me! What the hell are you gonna do to me with that thing?" I ask in my panic, even though the answer must be pretty obvious.

As much as I wish Ultear had said 'we're just gonna cut you a birthday cake' with that freaky bone knife she actually said, "Having you stop Banzai for us only took care of half the problem. Now we are taking care of that other half."

"Wait guys seriously this is not funny! I thought we were all friends now!" Just as Lucy winced and took one last lunge forward – her crafty tribal blade thrust back and ready to dig rather deep and rather fatally into my stomach.

I catch that traitor Mystogan, looking rather remorseful with his eyes closed. "Please don't take this personally but...we must stop the Fairy Boy's awakening."

There's that Fairy Boy thing again! What the hell do they mean? I don't understand, do they think I'm gay or something? What the hell is it about a Fairy Boy that's gotten them so worked up they have to kill me?

I'm restrained, trapped, betrayed. I have no options left to pluck out of my nails. I'm seriously gonna die – and not the cheap Disney way that Makarov had.

That thing looks like it can really kill me dead!

And did you know people die when they are killed!?

"LUCY PLEASE DON'T DO IT!" my wailing pleas must have had an impact on the birds at least as a whole flock of them fly away. As for Lucy Ashley, she continues moving her body forward, her knife...

...slipping out of her hand...

...as she wraps her arms around me and sobs.

"I just can't kill him. There has to be another way, I just can't kill an innocent person."

"What are you doing Lucy?" Knightwalker snaps into rage. "You said you would do it. Now hurry up and pick that blade up before we finish the task ourselves."

But she holds her arms around my waist tightly protection. Then in a quick move, she presses the handle of her energy whip onto Ultear's stomach and charges it – effectively acting as a taser. Before her younger Kin comrade can defend herself she punches her lower jaw, knocking her in the water.

"Hey!" Erza steps into the water and is now closing in on us fast but Lucy acts as my bodyguard and takes up a fighting stance. With her face as hard as stone and her determination set, she fully draws out her energy whip as it snakes just above the water.

"Don't come any closer Knightwalker. If this thing makes contact with the water you know what will happen."

But the evil(er) Erza just smirks as she grips her lance. "Heh, you're not the type who'd just throw their life away for a silly brat."

"And you're not the type who'd like to throw their life away either," Lucy came back at her with those words. "Either way, I'm not letting you past."

"Dammit," the riled up redhead bit her nails (hey that's a bad habit you know!) as she tried working out her options. "Mystogan! Set up a seal around Lucy."

"I'm working on it now," the two-faced bluenette said as he tapped his stave hard on the ground, reciting a few words as several magical circles began appearing over Lucy.

"Four Layered magic Circle: Cancellation Sphere."

"No!" But I push Lucy out of the way just as the seal falls upon myself instead.

"Benny!" Lucy cries as I find myself surrounded by a thin barrier.

"Hah! So he's a heroic idiot afterall?" Erza laughs as she comes closer to the barrier. Actually I was hoping we'd both avoid the barrier thingy, not just some sort of valiant self-sacrifice on my behalf or anything. "Well we have him now, just finish him off quickly Mysotgan."

"Five Layered Magical Circle-"

"NOO!"

"GAGH!" I try to reach Lucy as she bashes against the wall of the barrier, those terrifying circles are hanging above me, just like a guillotine waiting to fall.

"Sacred Song..."

I try to dig my nails through the wall, a seemingly hopeless and last-ditch attempt to get out of this death cage of sorts.

And surprisingly, I seem to find a tear in the bubble on my right side. Instincts take over as I scratch the inside wall, using both hands, I pull apart the magical membrane and literally dive out of the hole, only fractions of a second before a giant purple beam descends and cooks up whatever unfortunate sea microbes may have been left in that barrier.

I never thought I'd be able to say it, but it looks like I survived by the scrape of a fingernail there.

"Impossible! He shouldn't have been able to escape from such an advanced magical barrier," Mystogan seems a little shocked as does Erza at my strange luck. "Not even Banzai could avoid my spells!"

I know I shouldn't because we're in a sort of melee situation at the moment, but I take a quick look at my slightly out of the ordinary nails, they seem to be learning more tricks lately. I can't even comprehend just what exactly the true potential of these bits of keratin are.

Now that I recall, I did clean off half a man's (well tiger-dog thingy man) body with these things. I wish I could have remembered how I did that again.

These guys just won't give me a break. Now the four of them are ready to pounce on me. I don't think my claws can evenly dish something out to these guys now.

I think the only thing that could possibly save my sorry tail now is...

"RRRRROOOOOAAAAARRRR!"

The earth shakes violently as a tremendous noise floods the sky. Everyone stops and looks up as the trees are uprooted and shredded into mulch by the sheer aura of this creature. Easily towering over fifty feet (that's right, I was so awe-struck I was using freaking imperials again!) with its gaping jaw swallowing the sun's light and its wings stretching across the horizon, I didn't need to look up what this giant thing was.

I know it didn't take me long to adjust my beliefs for things like Magic and Goblins and Sparkling-Robot-Vampire-Ninjas. But I honestly never thought I'd see a real one of these things.

I guess that's why they have Dragon Slayer's huh?

But anyway, back to my voicebox: "HOLY F&^%ING SHIT IT'S A DRAGON!"

/?/?/?/

I had never truly felt what being alive meant until that day...

A creature born from Fairy Tales now transcending all preconceptions of my reality.

/?/?/?/

"Wait, where are you all going?" I follow the mad bunch of people who had not five seconds ago tried to kill me are now prefixed on something else. "Shouldn't we be getting away from that thing?"

"We've truly been careless," the shade of evil named Ultear cursed under her breath as they continued charging towards the dragon. "All this time we had been distracted with him, we had allowed Acnologia to awaken."

"You mean that giant bugger up there is Acnologia!?" I shriek just as I peer up at its terrifying form – its body covered in black scales and bright blue markings lining its sides. For such a huge beast, its eyes seem just like tiny pinholes poked on its head. It begins swaying its head and thrashing its body as it bellows out another roar.

I notice a few explosions and sparks are coming off its body. Just as we reach the giant clearing it had made, we discover that just about everyone else on this island is slugging it out with this dragon. And yet both sides seem on equal footing.

/?/?/?/

The sight of this battle – with fire, ice, wind, and lightning...All the elements you could think of released in sporadic bursts...It was a dazzling display of strength and determination...They knew that combined as one, they could not possibly fall – even to a beast as mighty as this.

/?/?/?/

"WHAT'RE YE DERN' BRATS DOIN'?" and showing that his hibernation had not affected his ticker, Makarov was now grappling with the behemoth as he grew to a giant of equal size himself. "GET OUTTA HERE WHILE YE STILL CAN!"

"NO DAMN WAY GRAMPS!" Natsu said the words just about everyone else fighting must have felt. "WE AIN'T LOSIN' YOU AGAIN! We'd rather go out with you! Fist's blazing n'everything!"

Just as the giant dwarf's foot dug a little deeper in the ground, he turned back and showed a smile behind that bushy moustache of his. "You kid's never learn do ya!"

"What should we do? Go help them or-" I notice Erza, Mystogan and the two Kins have already vanished and have already chosen the fight in their fight-or-flight response systems. Even Yoshi is slinging a few distorted notes at the beast as Cruz tries shooting some smelly slugs up its nostril. And just to show that no-good memory fondler is good for something, Mest seems to be putting in just as much effort as everyone else, giving the scaly giant a few good roundhouses wherever he appears around its body. Laxus finally does something good and fights for the right side; and even Happy and Charles are putting everyone else to shame as they soar around the beast, scratching the soft gaps in its armour (or scales in this context).

In fact, the only people left on this island who aren't fighting is me.

And a tough blonde who is showing more fear than I'd ever seen before.

Her gaze doesn't leave sight of the dragon as she tugs my shirt. "Hey, let's get out of here..."

"But shouldn't we go and help the-"

"No...We can't...This time, we cannot win." Her voice breaks as she tugs my shirt tighter. I don't think she's lost her stomach to this situation, in fact, she is absolutely right. Despite the efforts of the entire guild (well the strong half) and a few other allies, they're really not putting much of a dent in that big lug of scales and teeth. Not once has it even looked like it was going to fall over. Even the giant Tenrou Tree was easy to knock down than this thing.

Edo-Lucy's right...We really cannot win...

But we can't just run away either...

Even someone as brainless as Natsu must have known that the retreat option was gone as soon as this thing rose from the ground. Despite the sheer imbalance in strength, there really is only one option for us.

We've gotta fight!

"Benny wait!" I let my clothes tear a little more as I leave Lucy's grasp, running straight down the hill and heading straight into the battle of our lives. I just hope all my days doing crappy jobs and fighting creatures with little more than about 15HP has given me enough preparation for a day like this.

At least I would never have to whinge about the jobs I get from here on out...

I think I should retire and get a veterans pension just for giving this one a punch on the toe.

/?/?/?/

That was the worst decision I could have made...

Those guys might have had a better chance if I wasn't there...

/?/?/?/

"Benny what the hell are you doing down here?" Erza and Gray turn back with wide eyes just as they look ready to carve up roast dragon.

"Whadd'ya mean. I'm a wizard of Fairy Tail aren't I?" I try to offer a smile in this hopeless situation. "Running away wasn't a part of my job."

"You idiot!" Gray of all people scolds me like an angry mother would. "You aren't strong enough to fight this dragon. We need at least one of us to get back home alive."

"Huh?" I'm very confused. "What do you mean 'alive'? We aren't really gonna die."

"Shit!" Gray has no more time to coddle me as he leaps out of the way of the beast's hand before firing a few Ice Arrows at its leg.

"Oi get out of my way!" Gajeel barges over me as he drives his iron chainsaw down on the same leg. "What's he doing here? You don't get a prize for participation in this battle!"

Even the Dick seems to have some sense about him. I really must be causing everyone a problem just by being so utterly useless.

If only I could fight with these claws. Then I could be of some use to them.

"Benny..."

Sorry guys, but I'm gonna give this big ol' thing a try.

"Benny..."

I might not be able to break his skin, but at least I'll prove I can be just as crazy – or heroic – as all of you.

"BENNY!"

Because I am...A member of the craziest and most heroic guild of all: Fairy Tail.

"NOOO!"

SWOOOSH!

The mere flap of the Dragon's wings sends a powerful enough shockwave to knock everyone over. I'm now lying with my back leaning against a small rock; facing up at this god-like creature as it breaks free of the confines of earth and reaches for the heavens.

Its wings continue to flap, the thundering winds it generates uprooting columns of forest and flattening the cliffs and hills. And it only takes something as trivial as its tail whacking a boulder to cause an exponential reaction; with the boulder now flinging its way towards me.

One of my claws is snagged by the rock, I try to break it off but my hands are too sweaty to get a good hold of the damn nail. The boulder is plummeting down like a meteorite at breakneck speed. I can't move away from its path.

Adrenaline must have finally kicked in as I get my nail free. But by now it's already too late. The giant hunk of rock blocks my view of the world as it closes in on its final few metres of trajectory.

But then something else blocks my vision. Something far more special than a rock. Something with blonde hair and brown eyes. Something who likes to wear a black tanktop and has a strange liking for weak men. Something...someone...who fills my vision with one last tear filled smile as she wraps her arms around me and whispers something in my ear.

I never got to hear those words. The sound of the accursed boulder crashing to the ground ripped through my eardrums instead.

I never got to hear those words. Of all the possible things those words could have been will never be known by another soul.

I never even got to hear my screams and cries as I wrapped my arms around that silent body. All I could hear was the constant ringing of my ears as I lost all of my composure in one mere twist of fate. All I could think about was killing that monster now. I couldn't feel myself biting my bottom lip or the blood trickling down my mouth as I extended my claws as far as possible, my killing intent driving those nails to extend to lengths never even imaginable before.

Yet even as my claws seemed to eclipse the highest point of this island, they could never reach that monster. I shouted at the heavens until my throat was hoarse. The injustice of having somebody so close to you perish and the compounding injustice of not being able to avenge that person.

If there was one time I truly hated my weakness...

A few arms were pulling me away as I continued gazing with bulging eyes at that murderer in the sky. I must have shouted a few colourful words at him as I was pulled away. They only came to me as fuzzy blobs of sound though, but it didn't matter any less as I knew what I meant to say – what I meant to do, to that Dragon: Acnologia I believe his name was.

Acnologia...

I kept reciting that name even as I suddenly found myself on a ship. As we parted the island and the Dragon breathed down on those unfortunates still inhabiting the place...as I continued shouting and screaming...as my nails grew to the point where my fingers bled and my bones ached...as Mest, Yoshi and Cruz tried to hold me down and control me...as everyone else aboard dropped their jaws at the sight of the island being consumed by the dragon's roar...and as flashes of those last moments in Lucy Ashley's arms kept assaulting my brain – reminding me how I should have sacrificed my life instead.

I kept reciting that name...

Acnologia...

Acnologia...

Acnologia...

The name of the Dragon I would have to kill.

Six months later...

"Well this council has heard the defendant Benny Makaren's testimonial of the events which had transpired on Tenrou Island – ahem, I mean the former Island...In light of the evidence the defendant and the other witnesses have provided what is this council's verdict?"

Ten heartless faces peer down at me from their high pedestals. Their expressions never wavered as I recalled those events leading up to six months ago. Their judgement is supposedly impartial and objective. As I rattle the chains of the cuffs around my hands I look back down at my clenched fists, holding the memories of all those lost souls on the Island. They hadn't confirmed their deaths but I didn't need to comfort myself with such fallacies. Maybe that's why they have brought me here to this trial...Any sentence they hand down to me though cannot amount to the sentence I've been putting myself through ever since that day...

One of them stands from his chair, looking down at me with tiny pupils in his large eyes. "The Council is unanimous with its decision...We find the defendant Benny Makarov Makaren..."

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~To be continued next season...~


ARGH! Don'cha just love cliffies!? And just to leave you hanging in suspense even longer, the next season won't be out for another whole month as I'll be going to Japan in a few weeks and for a few weeks too. But at least I got to finish the second season off beforehand. Now I can take a break for a while and maybe try to focus on a few other stories before I go. But please be patient and stick around as there WILL be a third season of My Fairy. This crazy old tail (geddit?) is far from over just yet!