Part 45

The area was completely quiet even Warrod and Jura, plus the remaining Rune Knights, kept staring at Freed Justine. Had he gone mad? Why on Earthland did he call king Toma E. Fiore for father? Bickslow looked at Freed and then blinked in confusion when he saw something strange happen to Freed's visible eye.

"Baby why is your eye changing color?" he asked. It was true. Freed's visible eye had turned from light blue to match the color of his hair, just a little darker. Hisui gasped in surprise and Arcadios turned a ghostly shade of pale. The king was the only one not looking phased.

"That attack meant to kill me killed the soul mark on my face", Freed said. "It also ruined my longest running enchantment… the one I used to change the color of my eyes."

"But why?" Evergreen asked and Freed turned back to look at Toma.

"Maybe you should answer that … father", he said and the king looked as if he was about to explode. Then he screamed:

"You have no right to call me that you insufferable brat!"

"Is that…" Arcadios began. "Are you really… you…"

Freed turned around to face everyone staring at him.

"My name is Albion E. Fiore and year X775 my father banished me from my home after I used my magic to get rid of intruders hurting my mother and sister", he said. Makarov's eyes widened.

"That's right", he thought.

"Albi… No… My name is Freed. Freed Justine."

"He changed his mind when introducing himself", Makarov continued. "The boy changed his name to avoid his past. But it looks like he's ready to live it now… how much have you changed these past few years my boy?"

Freed kept looking at them but then his eyes widened when he suddenly felt a pair of arms around his middle and how a face pressed tightly to his back. He could hear sobbing behind him and he smiled a sad little smile. He put one hand on Hisui's arm.

"Big brother", she sobbed into his back. "Big brother. You're alive!"

"Yes baby sister", Freed said gently and turned around so he could hug her. The king didn't seem happy, he looked as if he was about to explode.

"Daughter", he screamed. "Get away from that monster!"

"He is not a monster!" Hisui yelled.

"He murdered those men!"

"He protected us!"

"He needs to die!"

"No!"

"I will not have a monster sit on the throne of Fiore!"

"As I see it one sits there already", Lyon spoke up and all eyes turned to him. "I've not known Freed for as long as some of these other people but I can still honestly say he is the most honest man I've ever met. I don't think there's a malicious bone in his body. How dare you call him a monster!"

"Yeah Freed's my best friend and I'll be damned if I let some pipsqueak who is full of himself call him a monster!" Gray yelled. The two ice mages started charging up their powers.

"Uh oh", Bickslow said.

"Ice make", both mages began.

"Stop!" Freed said and threw his arm out and his two friends stopped what they were doing. "It doesn't matter you guys. Don't make him right. Toma E. Fiore has always believed that magic is mostly used to damage things, destroy countries and kill. Just recently he got to experience the good things of magic." He looked at his father. "You never hated me for what I did to those men did you? No. You were scared of what people would think if it became known that the crownprince practices a darker type of magic. You are still afraid that my powers will cause harm to the country. You are worried that the people will try and harm the family.

Hisui's powers are usually referred to as light magic whereas mine is dark which is why you can accept her powers without question. But deep down you are still my father and do not wish for any harm to come to me. You also have to look at what's best for your kingdom and your people… and in your opinion it is erasing a threat that you do not fully comprehend. When you realized who I was I am sure you felt joy at finding out I was still alive and kicking."

As he spoke Toma E. Fiore were having flashbacks from when he was still raising Freed at the castle, pictures of him practicing his fencing and formal codes and how to rule a kingdom. He also could fill in his son's body into the movements that were Bifrost's during the Grand Magic Games. And he remembered how he had felt when Freed's face had become visible at the games.


Toma was in his mascot costume acting as the referee of the match. So far it was really exciting. The arena was bursting with energy. The screams and cheers were loud. The signal sounded and the match started. Natsu set off towards Booré at full speed. Toma was cheering on the inside. This was going to be amazing!

"I'm gonna crush you", Natsu said happily when he reached Booré. But in the next second Natsu was stuck in a small iceberg. Toma gaped. How did Booré or Tundra do that so fast!?

"Natsu!" Gajeel and Laxus exclaimed. Laxus called down a lightning to release Natsu but something strange happened. When it reached the ice it bent and struck Gajeel instead. Tundra had controlled Laxus' lightning! Amazing! Toma didn't know you could do that to other people's magic! Wait… where was Bifrost? Suddenly he appeared by Laxus' shoulder. He'd jumped up behind Laxus and was about to swing his sword at him.

"Laxus!" Gajeel roared and used his Iron Dragon's Club. It hit Bifrost directly in the chest and sent him flying. But the guy just made a vault in the air and landed by the iceberg that was Natsu. Bifrost wasn't there for long because the ice exploded and he was sent flying with it. But yet again he just made a vault and landed.

"Now I'm all fired up", Natsu said with a smirk.

"Amazing", Chapati yelled happily. "This surely will be a game to go down into history!"

Bifrost jumped out of the way of Gajeel and landed by his guild. He landed in a crouch and got up slowly. The trio still looked indifferent. While the Fairies were talking to each other Bifrost suddenly let a cascade of rune needles fly at them and Toma got reminded of what he had seen his son do all those years ago. He sighed and looked away from the match for a bit. His attention came back to the match when Gajeel screamed as a huge flame engulfed him and his arms and legs turned to ice. Tundra stood there with his hand outstretched.

"Okay now I've had enough of you", Laxus said and used his lightning to move towards Tundra. He grabbed the young man by his cloak and swung him at a high speed into the wall. Gajeel broke out of the ice and charged at Bifrost. He grabbed the guy around his waist and slammed him against a wall. Natsu used his elbow boosters to charge at Booré. He collided with the guy and sent him flying high in the air. Laxus grabbed Tundra again and threw him towards the center of the field. Gajeel grabbed Bifrost by the shoulders and did the same thing. Natsu grabbed Booré by the foot and swung him towards the center as well. The three members of Winter Solstice crashed against each other, back to back and the three dragon slayers smirked.

"Lightning Dragon's-"

"Fire Dragon's-"

"Iron Dragon's-"

"-ROAR!" all three released their roars against the three members of Winter Solstice. They hit them full force and then… the trio exploded into tiny ice-crystals. The arena gasped and stared. Natsu and his teammates hurried up to the pile. Natsu was panicking, trying his hardest to get the three mages back together. Laxus and Gajeel watched suspiciously. Not noticing that behind them, Bifrost dropped his enchantment and he and his teammates appeared. Tundra and Booré made weapons out of ice and Bifrost a rune sword. They were about to do the finishing strike when someone shouted:

"STOP!"

That red flying cat screamed and gripped Booré's hood. Happy gripped Tundra's hood and Lily grabbed Bifrost's. They flew forward as fast as they could and there was a ripping sound and then gasps throughout the crowd. The judges stopped the game. But Toma couldn't take his eyes of the green haired young man kneeling not far from him. When the young man looked up their eyes met for a second and Toma felt his heart jump. Albion! Sure the eyes looked different but he could still see it! The birthmark, the structure of the face, the hair, the nose, the mouth, the chin… The gaze.

It was as if his wife had come back from the dead to look at him. The color was all wrong but it was still them. He could still see the shade of green there. His son. His beloved son. His heir. Toma was about to run up and hug him as tightly as he could but then he remembered. Remembered what his son was capable of. No… no he couldn't. He couldn't accept him. The kingdom would not survive. His son wouldn't survive. They would kill him. The people would kill his son and he wanted him to live! He needed to live! And if that meant he had to be gone forever to be safe… so be it. Toma withdrew from the field.


"Then", Freed continued and Toma was brought back to the present. "Bifrost took me over and everything you have ever feared has come true…" He looked at the king. "I became the monster you feared I would."

"But that was Skadi Freed", Evergreen said and took his hand. "That wasn't you."

"It matters not to this man", Freed said and looked at Toma. "All he can see now is his fears coming true in front of his very eyes. But father… no… your Majesty" that hurt "I promise you will not have to worry about the kingdom finding out. The crownprince is missing… and I think it shall remain so." He turned on his heel. "Farewell your Majesty. Little sister… I know you will make an excellent queen. Arcadios." He turned to the huge knight. "Protect my sister for me, can you promise me that?"

"Forever and ever my prince", Arcadios answered. He had always felt as if he had failed his first charge. He had begun as Albion's life guard but then when he had been given a night off... his prince had been slain by robbers. Or so the king had said. So he had made it his sworn duty to protect his beloved prince's little sister when he couldn't protect her brother. Freed smiled and turned to his sister again.

"Don't cry little Jade", he said and hugged her. "We will see each other again. I am still Freed Justine of Fairy Tail. Cheer up, the games will return and Fairy Tail with them."

She sniffled a little and then smiled.

"Okay", she said. "I will be rooting for you."

He kissed her forehead gently before walking towards Gray and Lyon. Both ice mages joined in on each side of him and they started walking away from the area. The king took a step forward but pulled back. Tears were streaming down his cheeks. One by one the wizards of Fairy Tail followed the retreating trio. Mars landed on Freed's shoulder and she hugged his head. All wizards started to move towards the south. Just as they were about to disappear the king stepped forward.

"Albion!" he shouted and Freed turned to look at him. The king wiped his eyes and then in a very Makarov way changed his temper. "When will you start acting like a god damn crownprince and stop fooling around with these wizards!?" Everyone around smiled, Freed just managed a tiny one.

"Not in this life you old geezer!" he shouted back and felt Bickslow and Laxus slung their arms around his shoulders. Laughter rang out through the area as the sun started to set. Gray smiled. Things were finally looking up for all of them. He held Lyon's hand in his but soon felt an arm around his shoulders. It was Cana. She was grinning widely at him. Gray smiled back. Lyon was looking a little scared as Mira put her hand on his arm and started chatting about this and that. This really was a crazy guild but one look from their master and a warm smile from Mira told him that he was more than welcomed. The end.


It's over. I hope you liked it. I had a hard time with the ending and this was the best I could do.

Thanks for all reviews and favs :D I hope you stay tune for my next story. I think I shall call it: The Ninth Demon