Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
The Fairy Tail mages all landed in a heap. Mirya still had tears racing down her face. Lucy and Wendy notice her and go to hug her. The others take notice of Mirya's distraught form and go to comfort her.
"Why did he have to leave?" Mirya asks, feeling the loss of Mystogan.
"He needs to help his homeland. It's his duty." Erza tells her gently. She didn't know how close her words hit home. "We all have our duties. His duty is helping his people. Mine is to ensure the future of the human race." Those words were enough to pull Mirya out of her funk. She sniffles and puts on a grin.
"You're right. He has his duty to complete and I have my own. I'll see him again, so until then I can't cry." Mirya says, standing up and lightly slaps her face. She looks to her friends and see them smile at her.
"Let's head back to the guild!" Mirya says, until she hears the bush next to them crackling.
"Who's there?" Erza demands.
"It's me." Pantherlily says, walking out of the bush, in his tiny form.
"Woah, you're adorable!" Mirya grabs Lily into a hug.
"Thank you. But I wish to join the guild where Prince Jellal resided." Lily says, jumping out of Mirya's arms.
"You got it buddy!" Gajeel tackles Lily, tears streaming down his face.
"Gajeel, did you find a cat for yourself?" Mirya asks, she knew how much Gajeel wanted a companion. He saw how she, Natsu, and Wendy had Piri, Happy, and Carla; and felt that he was falling behind.
"I am an exceed." Lily says, informing her of their proper name.
"I have captured a suspicious individual." Lily tells them, they finally noticed the rope he was holding.
"You are so reliable." Gajeel says, pleased with his choice in partner.
Lily pulls the individual forward and Natsu, Happy, Erza, Gray, and Mirya freeze.
"Lisanna…" They could only look on in shock.
"Hey! Be a little gentle. Are you an exceed!?" Lisanna yells at Lily, annoying Gajeel.
"Hey! Are you picking a fight with my cat!?" Gajeel goes forward to question her. Lisanna turns her head to see part of her family there.
"Natsu!" Lisanna tackles Natsu. Natsu couldn't do anything. "Happy!" She goes and pulls Happy into a bone crushing hug. She looks at Mirya, Gray, and Erza.
"Hey you guys, I've missed you!" Lisanna tells them, to their shock.
"Are you our Lisanna?" Gray asks in disbelief. She nods to his question.
"LISANNA!" Natsu and Happy come to their senses and try to hug her. Erza grabs onto them and stops them. "Erza, what are you doing?" Natsu and Happy whine.
"Our Lisanna died two years ago." Erza says, not trusting the girl in front of them.
"When I went on the S-Class quest with Mira and Elf, I got hurt. Mira thought that I was dying. What we didn't know was that an anima was overhead. When the Lisanna from Edolas died, the anima tried to replace what they lost. So it took me. I woke up injured in Edolas and found Fairy Tail." Lisanna began to tell her story, to their shock. "They thought that I was their Lisanna. I couldn't hurt Mira or Elf anymore. So I pretended to be the Lisanna from Edolas."
"Whenever I would slip up, they passed it off as memory loss due to the accident. I spent two years there. Until a couple of days ago, Natsu and Happy walked into the guild hall. And I knew they were my Natsu and Happy. I was set in my decision to stay in Edolas, but then I was ejected with the magic from Edolas." Lisanna told them.
"So it's really you…?" Mirya questions, she missed Lisanna, just like the rest of them.
"Yep! I'm back." Lisanna says, getting tackled by Mirya and Erza.
"LISANNA!" All of her childhood friends crowd around her, crying and welcoming her back. She looks to the side to see Gajeel, Lily, Wendy, Carla, and Lucy standing there.
"Hello, I'm Lisanna. You guys must be Wendy and Lucy." Lisanna points to the two girls. "You look just like the Lucy from Edolas. And you're a mini Wendy." Lisanna says. She looks to Gajeel and manages to recognize him. "You're Gajeel right? You were a well known reporter in Edolas." Lisanna tells him.
"You want to go see Mira and Elfman?" Mirya asks her. She knew her siblings would shower her with love and joy.
"Yeah. I'm ready to see them." Lisanna puts on a determined look and starts to walk, only to realize that she didn't know where they were.
"Um, where are Mira and Elf?" Lisanna asks.
"They went to the Kardia Cathedral." Mirya says, walking with the rest of them to witness the reunion.
They made their way to the Cathedral and saw Lisanna run towards her siblings.
"Mira! Elf!" Lisanna yells. Mirya saw them go rigid and look behind them. The hope in their eyes was overwhelming and they looked at Lisanna with tears in their eyes. Lisanna runs towards them and jumps to hug them.
"LISANNA!" Mira and Elfman yell. They hug her and felt the emptiness inside of them fade.
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"LISANNA!" The whole guild yells as they see her walk into the hall.
"My child." Master walks up and addresses Lisanna.
"Master…" Lisanna looks at her grandfather figure.
"While I'm sure you have a tale to tell, but let's celebrate the miracle that is your return. Welcome home my child." The master says, causing Lisanna to tear up.
"MASTER!" Lisanna tackles him and hugs him, tears running down her face.
"She just tackled him!" Lucy yells, spazzing out.
"Let's Party!" Mirya declares, causing the guild to celebrate. Mirya wanders over to the other dragon slayers to catch the incoming conversation.
"My cat is the best." Gajeel declares. Piri landed on her tamer's shoulder.
"Nuh uh. Happy is the best." Natsu says back, not willing to lose against Gajeel.
"Let's let them decide this. My cat against yours." Gajeel declares, pitting Happy and Lily against each other.
"I have to fight against Lily?" Happy asks, panicking.
"You've got this Happy." To Mirya's surprise, it was Carla who cheered him on.
"You think so?" Happy asks.
"I do not wish to fight against you. We can reopen our injuries." Lily says, acting maturely.
"I'm impressed. You know how to deal with these situations." Erza praises him.
"They are just acting childishly." He replies, looking at Gajeel who started yet another guild brawl. Lily turns to look at Mirya.
"You are the one who my prince holds in high regard. Both in Edolas and here." Lily says, starting conversation in between them.
"I guess… I considered Mystogan an older brother. He's family, no matter where he is." Mirya says, firm in her declaration.
"Yes, I can safely say that your feelings are mutual." Lily says, remembering how Edolas Jellal talked about Mirya.
"You said that he cares about my counterpart in Edolas. How does he feel about her?" Mirya asked, she was curious to see if Edo Mirya's romantic feelings were reciprocated.
"During their childhood, he confided that he cared deeply for her. I believe that she was his childhood love. Whether or not those feelings will continue is a mystery." Lily tells her. "Hope is not lost! Edo Mirya, if you can hear me somehow, go get your man!" Mirya thinks. She hoped that one of them could get their happy ending.
"Thanks." Mirya walks away to go talk with Cana and Gray.
"What are you guys talking about?" Mirya asks, upon arriving.
"I'm telling Cana about her Edolas counterpart." Gray says. Mirya noticed that a lot of the guild was paying attention to what Gray was saying. Among those listening was Juvia, master, Gildarts, Bisca, Alzack, Natsu, and Lucy.
"I didn't get a chance to see Cana's counterpart. What was she like?" Mirya tried to envision the opposite of Cana.
"She was a proper lady. She wore a dress and had an umbrella. She drank tea instead of alcohol and was the epitome of ladylike." Gray announces with a laugh. Mirya was so shocked that she started to choke.
"What!?" Mirya shrieked. She wasn't the only one though. Gray continued to laugh and Cana looked annoyed. "Two can play at this game." Mirya thought.
"You know Gray, tons of us saw your counterpart." Mirya drawls, effectively shutting Gray up.
"Don't you say it." Gray says. Mirya saw his counterpart when she went to go talk with the Edolas Fairy Tail.
"Hey Cana, guess what?" Mirya asks, Cana knowing what she was trying to pull answered her.
"What?" Cana asks. Mirya saw the guild look on in mischief and curiosity.
"Edolas Gray had more than three layers on at a time. And he was in love with Juvia." Mirya says, laughing. The guild started to chuckle, and then laugh. Cana grinned. Gray pouted.
"What did I do to deserve this?" Gray asks.
"You made fun of Cana, you dolt." Mirya says, head butting him. She could barely hear Juvia when she said, "I want to go to Edolas."
"Hey Mirya! Natsu! What was I like?" The master calls the duo over. They walked up to talk to Master and Gildarts. Natsu was just casually leaving the brawl he semi started.
"I don't think I saw you Gramps." Mirya says, trying to remember if she saw the master.
"Hold on… I think you might have been the king!" Natsu says. Mirya thinks back and sees some of the similarities.
"Hmmm." The master and Gildarts exchange a look and the master looks pleased.
"Hey what about me?! What was I like?" Gildarts asks.
"I didn't see you. You could have been a frog or a lizard." Natsu teases.
"Hey man! That's cold." Gildarts looked horrified at the thought that he may have been an animal.
"Natsu get your butt over here!" Gray calls out, waiting for his rival to finish the brawl he started. Natsu walks away, leaving the three strongest mages of the guild to talk.
"So old man, what are you going to do for this year's S-Class quest?" Gildarts asks.
"About that. Do you mind staying for this year's? I will need the help of the S-Class mages this year." Master says, surprising Mirya and Gildarts.
"Yeah, I was planning on staying for a little while." Gildarts says. Mirya only nods.
"Remember when I made S-Class? You almost missed it." Mirya accuses Gildarts. He had left for the hundred's years quest that year. He left right after the trials, after seeing Mirya and Mira make it.
"Yeah, I remember. You and the she devil made it." Gildarts says. "You were thirteen, I still don't know how you're this powerful for your age." Gildarts says, shaking his head.
"Training, and life threatening situations." Mirya tells him, semi joking.
"Will you gather Mira and Erza? I wish to discuss their participation for this year's trials." The master asks Mirya.
"You got it Gramps." Mirya gets up and goes to the table where Lisanna was sitting. Mira and Erza were seated with the youngest Strauss.
"Hey Erza, Mira. Gramps wants to talk with you two." Mirya tells them. She was about to follow them when a chair hits her, said chair breaking on impact. She turns to cast an evil eye towards those participating in the brawl and their skin crawls. Everyone in the guild watches in silence, they wanted to see how she would react. They were all surprised when she launched herself towards them.
"I'll beat you all!" Mirya yells, diving straight into the middle. Lucy, Wendy, Carla, Lily, and Happy were smart enough to retreat behind the bar. Mages like Erza, Gildarts, Mira, and the master were relatively safe.
Gildarts looks at the girl who helped him through dealing with his injuries. She didn't tend to him physically, but she was able to put his mind at ease with the information she shared about the beast they both encountered at one point.
He watches as she beats those responsible for the brawl into submission. Among the unconscious were Natsu, Gray, Gajeel, Elfman, and others.
"I win!" She yells, jumping around. She walks over to talk with the S-Class mages.
"For someone who is supposed to be an example of what a wizard is to strive for, you don't do a very good job." Gildarts tells her.
"I'm amazing, and don't you deny it." Mirya says, enjoying his company. Gildarts was always on jobs, so for him to stay for this long was rare.
"Gildarts, Mirya. Can you come over here?" The master asks.
"What's up Gramps?" Mirya asks.
"Mirya, I have a different plan for you. Instead of being an obstacle in the first test, will you be an obstacle for the third and final test?" The master asks her.
"You got it." Mirya agrees. "Does that mean I can join you guys on the boat?"
"Yes, you may join us on the boat ride." The master says, relieved that the process went easier than what he imagined.
"When are you going to announce the selection?" Mira asks.
"Next week. I'll say that the S-Class trials are coming up and we'll see them go on a job frenzy. When I announce the candidates, they'll have a week to prepare." Makarov says.
"So two weeks from now?" Mirya asks.
"Precisely."
"How many are candidates and how many are you willing to move up?" Erza asks, it depended on the year and the trial.
"This year there will be eight candidates and one who will move up in rank." He says.
"Wow… I remember my year. You let me and Mira become S-Class." Mirya says, reminiscing.
"I remember my year, it was brutal." Erza says.
"Well S-Class isn't for the unprepared." Gildarts says.
"Ain't that the truth." Mirya says.
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.
(One week later)
"Brats! Pay attention." The master says, standing on the stage. Mirya, Gildarts, Mira, and Erza standing behind him.
"As you all know, we are approaching the S-Class trials." The master says, the guild cheering. They were waiting in anticipation for the candidates. "This year, I have selected eight candidates."
"Natsu Dragneel."
"Gray Fullbuster"
"Juvia Lockser"
"Elfman Strauss"
"Cana Alberona"
"Freed Justine"
"Levy McGarden"
"And Mest Gryder."
"You will all compete and only one can claim S-Class." The master says. "You will be allowed a partner and you have one week to prepare." The master says.
"Remember that your partner can not be an S-Class member." Mirya reminds the candidates.
"Just know that to claim victory, you will have to go through Erza." The master says, intimidating the guild members.
"You're kidding?!" The whole guild pales.
"I'll do my very best to weed out the rest of you." Mira says, holding up her hand.
"What?!" They couldn't believe that sweet Mira would be fighting them.
"Quit your complaining, we had to go through this, now it's your turn." Gildarts says.
"No way…" The guild stares in disbelief.
"I get to fight old man Gildarts!" Natsu says, with stars in his eyes.
"That's not a good thing!" Gray tells him.
"Honestly… Get ready for the hell we are going to put you through." Mirya says, informing the guild of her participation in the trials.
"You've got to be kidding me?" The guild can only look on in dread.
The guild's strongest mages then leave the stage, drifting in different directions. They all knew that Mirya would be the worst to encounter. While Gildarts still beat her in terms of power, she was harder to read than the man. She was also merciless when the situation called for it, unlike Gildarts.
"This year is no joke." Gray says, worrying.
"Who's going to be your guy's partners?" Lucy asks.
"Well my little buddy, of course." Natsu declares Happy his partner.
"That's not fair. If this is a race, then you've got an unfair advantage." Elfman says, disagreeing.
"Happy qualifies as a partner, per the rules. There's nothing you can do." Mirya says, arriving to sit in between Natsu and Gray.
"What about you Juvia?" Lucy asks, only to see her squirm.
"I wish to withdraw from the trials." Juvia says.
"What?" They could only look at her in disbelief.
"I would rather be someone's partner." Juvia semi mumbles.
"She would rather be your partner." Lucy whispers to Gray.
"You think?" Gray asks back, causing Juvia to accuse Lucy of partner theft.
"Ladies please… I already have someone lined up." Gray motions to Loke, who had just arrived.
"Leo? You're going to participate?" Mirya asks.
"Are you still even a member?" Elfman asks.
"Yep." He removes his shirt to display his guild mark. "Still a certified member."
"Look at that." Mirya points to Freed and Bickslow, they had just sealed their agreement to be partners.
"That's going to be a tough team to beat." Lucy comments.
"What are we doing sitting around? We've got training to do!" Natsu yells as he and Happy race out of the guild.
"Well Juvia, how about I be your partner?" Lisanna asks, shocking the others.
"How can you do this to me sis? I thought we were flesh and blood?" Elfman asks.
"I was good friends with the Juvia from Edolas, so why not?" Lisanna says.
"Can you tell us anything about the trials?" Gray asks.
"Sorry, but my lips are sealed. Just be prepared." Mirya warns them before leaving for home.
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(One week later)
"Natsu!" Mirya yells as she arrives at Happy's and Natsu's house. She had her bags with her, since she and Natsu would head to the port of Hargeon first thing in the morning.
"Hey Miri and Piri!" Happy greets them with a smile.
"Hey Happy. Where's Natsu?" Mirya asks, not seeing the pinkette.
"I was just going to go get him for dinner. I made enough for all of us." Happy says. Mirya walks inside of the house and waits for Natsu and Happy. They get in and Mirya looks to see him smiling.
"Just you watch Mirya! I'll be S-Class soon! Then we can go on an S-Class quest soon." Natsu says, sitting at the table.
"I believe in you. Just don't overdo it." Mirya says, knowing his tendency to go overboard. "How has your training been going?" Mirya asks, wondering at what techniques he would employ.
"I've been hauling boulders and dodging flying objects." Natsu says, reminding her of the exercises she would do with Aella.
"You'll get there." Mirya says, seeing his determination.
"Now, let's get to sleep. You'll need your rest for tomorrow." Mirya says, getting ready for bed. Eventually she and Natsu went to sleep.
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.
"Hello everybody!" Mirya says, catching their attention with her exotic outfit. She was wearing an off the shoulder crop top. It was plain black. She was wearing a Pa'u hula skirt made with cotton. It was dark blue with the zodiac markings in white. She was wearing a flower crown, made of white anemone flowers and branches found in the forest. She wore gladiator sandals that were white and knee high. She looked incredibly different from her fellow guildmates.
"What's up with the getup?" Gray asks.
"Don't ask. I tried to get her out of it, but she wouldn't budge." Natsu says, resigned. The morning had been hectic. Mirya woke him up and was ecstatic about her outfit. She rushed around, trying to leave things in pristine condition before they left.
"We are going to Tenrou, I have to dress up." Mirya declares, causing her guildmates to sweat drop. The candidates were there with their chosen partners, plus Mirya and Piri. The other S-Class mages were already on the island and preparing for their stay.
"Little Dragon? You got chosen as a partner?" Mirya asks, noticing Wendy.
"Yep! I'm going to be helping Mest." Wendy says with a smile.
"YAY! You're here with us, I don't have to worry." Mirya was worried that she would be leaving a fellow dragon. She could keep an eye on all three of them, since Gajeel was chosen as Levy's partner. The pairing that had been surprising was Elfman and Evergreen.
"Well, brats. Time for you to get on and start the trials." Master says, as the ship arrived. They loaded their things and stepped foot on the ship. Mirya had taken two steps and collapsed. Natsu wasn't far behind her and collapsed next to her. Piri swooped down and cast a motion sickness spell on her tamer. Mirya crawled into a corner to regain her strength and when that happened she was running all over the ship.
"This is going to be so much fun!" Mirya shouts. The others can only think of how long this trip would be. Between looking at Mirya running around and Natsu collapsed in a chair, they knew they were in for the long haul.
"Mirya, why don't you settle down?" Lucy asks, hoping it would work.
"Why? I'm just having fun." Mirya says with an innocent expression. "I mean, I'm only sixteen. I deserve to have some fun." She says with a flourish and begins to run around again. Her words struck a chord in all of them.
"She's right. She's one of the youngest here. The only one younger than her is Wendy." Lucy says in realization.
"She doesn't seem like sixteen. At times she seems like the master, advising her guildmates. But at times she seemed like a five year old, running around with reckless abandon." Evergreen comments.
"She's sixteen and an experienced S-Class mage. I don't know how she does it at her age." Lucy says, looking at the girl who continued to break the known boundaries of magic. Her attention was caught once again as Mirya began to sing in her excitement.
I've been staring at the edge of the water
'Long as I can remember, never really knowing why
I wish I could be the perfect daughter
(She was staring at the water, but started walking around the boat.)
But I come back to the water, no matter how hard I try
Every turn I take, every trail I track
Every path I make, every road leads back
To the place I know, where I can not go, where I long to be
See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me
And no one knows, how far it goes
(The others smiled as she explored the boat)
If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
One day I'll know, if I go there's just no telling how far I'll go
I know everybody on this island, seems so happy on this island
Everything is by design
I know everybody on this island has a role on this island
(The volume in her voice was increasing with every line.)
So maybe I can roll with mine
I can lead with pride, I can make us strong
I'll be satisfied if I play along
But the voice inside sings a different song
What is wrong with me?
(Everybody was silent, they were listening to hear her sing. Even Natsu stopped his complaining. She climbed on top of the crows nest and stayed there for a tiny bit, before she got down.)
See the light as it shines on the sea? It's blinding
But no one knows, how deep it goes
And it seems like it's calling out to me, so come find me
And let me know, what's beyond that line, will I cross that line?
(Mirya, who was genuinely excited at the sight of the sea and the water, began to climb the wooden tip of the boat's bow. The others begin to freak out until they see her balancing at the front, arms spread. She looked behind her to flash them a beaming smile.)
The line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me
And no one knows, how far it goes
If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me
One day I'll know, how far I'll go
(How far I'll go- Auli'i Cravalho)
She jumps back onto the boat and looks confused to her guildmate's awe. "What's wrong guys? Did you eat something bad?" Mirya questions.
"No. Just admiring your singing. Once again you amaze me." Loke says, knowing the occasional oblivion she exhibited.
"Thanks! Means a lot." Mirya says, skipping her way to sit by Wendy.
"Do you think she knows that Mira sold that compilation of her performances?" Lucy asks Loke and Gray.
"Mira is still alive, so no." Loke replies. They watch her as she heads over to Wendy's side.
"How are you Little Dragon?" Mirya asks, checking up on Wendy.
"I'm fine, but it's really hot." Wendy says, resting her head on Mest's shoulder.
"Well around this time, Tenrou always gets hot. You can do this Little Dragon." Mirya smiles at Wendy. The others look on to realize how much Mirya cares for the younger girl. If it was anybody else, she would tell them to suck it up. Mirya gets up to talk with the master.
"Hey Gramps? How long till we get to Tenrou?" Mirya asks, watching as the others complain about the heat.
"Ten minutes." He answers, continuing to steer the ship.
"Kay!" Mirya skips off to get sidetracked. She smacked Gray because he was naked in front of all of them. If it was just the older mages she would've had no problem. But Wendy was aboard.
"You perverted stripper. Put your clothes on! You will shatter my Little Dragon's innocence!" Mirya yells, chasing him around the deck.
"Mirya, will you join me?" The master asks, motioning for her and Piri to join him in the explanation. He put a halt in her quest to beat up Gray.
"Coming!" Mirya runs to the master, Piri taking her place on Mirya's shoulder.
"Now then. It's time to explain the first challenge. There will be eight paths you will choose from. Three of them contain an S-Class mage. They are there to test if you are ready for S-Class." The master explains, shocking them.
"We have to fight them?" They asked. They look to Mirya who was standing by the master.
"What about Mirya?" They question.
"She is here for the third part of the trial." The master says, divulging the bare minimum.
"Now back to the rules." Mirya says, pulling them back to the trial.
"Yes, right. Four of the paths merge, meaning you will have to fight against each other to move on. The last route is known as the serenity route. You will have free passage on to the next test." The master finishes.
"Now then people! Get to it!" Mirya announces, starting the trials.
"Wait, it starts now!?" Lucy asks.
"Let's go Happy!" Natsu yells.
"Aye sir!" Happy agrees and flies off with Natsu.
"Get back here cheater!" Elfman yells, annoyed at Natsu's mobility.
Natsu crashes into an enchantment wall and can't leave.
"Hey! Why can't we leave?" Everybody looks to find Freed and Bickslow outside of the enchantment.
"Don't worry, it'll only last five minutes." Freed says, leaving for the island.
"Hey master! Isn't this against the rules?" Gray asks.
"Technically, it isn't. It's not even permanent, you just have to wait." Mirya tells them.
"Well, since this is an enchantment, I can just rewrite it." Levy announces to their relief. That relief is brief though as they see that only she and Gajeel could make it out.
"It's my turn." Evergreen announces, rewriting the enchantment.
"You know how to do that?" Elfman asks.
"I've spent years working with Freed. This is child's play." Evergreen says as she and Elfman jump out of the ship. The others were forced to wait the five minutes.
"Finally!" They all day after the timer is up.
Mirya watches as Juvia and Lisanna swim away. Lisanna a fish, and Juvia's body water. Natsu and Happy fly away. Loke and Gray skate away on the ice that Gray summoned.
"We're going to be last!" Lucy spazzes out, looking to Cana.
"No we won't. Mest and Wendy are still on the ship." They both look to see them gone.
"We really are dead last!" Cana yells as she and Lucy race on to the island.
"This is going to be awesome." Mirya says to the master.
"Agreed." They both continue to the island and dock the ship. They make their way to the meeting point and wait for the mages to arrive. Eventually they see Gajeel and Levy come.
"Mirya! Guess what? We got the Serenity Route!" Levy announces, excited by their luck.
"Well, you've cleared the first test." Mirya says, interested as to what path Natsu took. She continued to wonder until she saw Natsu silent. "So he took route E… Gildarts is the only one who would've let him pass." Mirya thinks. She leaves him alone, she could tell that he needed time to think things through.
She sees Cana and Lucy arrive. "Hello ladies! It's nice to see you two still in the trials." Mirya says.
"Well, it was tough." Lucy says.
Mirya continues to look and sees Gray and Loke arrive. "Nice job guys!" Mirya congratulates them.
"Is this all that made it?" Loke asks, looking at the people who made it.
"Juvia didn't even make it through the first round?" Gray asks, causing the master to freak out.
"What's wrong Gramps?" Gray asks, recovering from the shock that he experienced due to the master.
"Luck was not on Juvia's side. She had to face against she who knows no mercy." The master yells.
"That sucks." Gray says, knowing that the master meant Erza.
"She never stood a chance against her. I should've gone up against her." Gajeel says, annoyed that he didn't get to fight someone.
"Lucy and Cana faced down Freed and Bickslow in combat. Well done ladies." Master praises them. Lucy shows a peace sign.
"They beat Freed! No way!" Gray yells in disbelief.
"Gajeel and Levy chose the Serenity Route, aren't you lucky?" The master says.
"This sucks!" Gajeel roars.
"Gray and Loke took down Mest and Wendy in combat." The master says.
"Yeah, and Mest is a lot weaker than I remember." Gray says.
"Just be happy that we didn't have to fight Wendy. She's strong for a mage her age." Loke says, subsequently informing Mirya that Wendy wasn't hurt.
"Natsu cleared the obstacle that is Gildarts." The master says to their shock.
"There's no way!"
"Where's Elfman?" They ask.
"Well by process of elimination… Mirajane!" They all pale at the thought of fighting the she devil.
"Don't count us out just yet!" Elfman yells as he and Evergreen make it.
"Are you serious?" Mirya asks. There's no way Mira would allow her brother to pass.
"How did you manage this?" The master asks. They seemed flustered and look away.
"A real man doesn't brag about his victories." Elfman says.
"Let's just say that we caught her off guard." Evergreen says.
"Well then. You five will continue on with the trials. Now for your second test. This task will be to find our first master's grace here on Tenrou. You have six hours to complete this test. Those who make it will proceed to the next test." The master says, reminding them that they would have to go against Mirya.
"Cana, Gray, Elfman, and Levy! I'm not losing to any of you. So bring it on." Natsu yells, challenging them. Mirya smiles, he had some of his pep back.
"Now get to it!" The master and Mirya leave.
"That's all he's going to tell us?" Lucy asks.
"I guess so." They all leave, heading in different directions.
Mirya flew around the island, seeing them run around. "Wonder how long till one of them realizes the hints that master left? This test would've been up Freed's alley."
Mirya feels surges of magic on the island. Some of them were unfamiliar to her, so she headed to see who was causing it. She looks to see a chicken man and a dog attacking Gajeel. Levy was running, yelling for help.
"Who the hell thought it was a good idea to hurt my pack?" Mirya questions, landing behind the duo. They turn to see her dark expression.
"We are Kamazu and Yomazu of Grimoire Heart, we will-" The dog man didn't finish his sentence because Mirya knocked them both unconscious. She had grabbed their heads and slammed them into the ground with enough force to rattle their surroundings.
"Gajeel are you okay?" Mirya asks, running to the iron dragon slayer.
"Fine. I had them you know." Gajeel says.
"Doesn't matter. They launched an attack on Fairy Tail. That means I don't have to hold back. Didn't you hear what guild they're a part of?" Mirya asks, hoping he understood the gravity of the situation.
"Grimoire Heart." Gajeel growls.
Mirya looks up to see Juvia and Erza run alongside Levy, who managed to find them.
"Gajeel!" Levy yells, worried about her partner.
"I'm fine pipsqueak." Gajeel tells her, motioning towards Mirya.
"Mirya! What a relief. Thank you for helping Gajeel." Erza says, relaxing.
"Erza, we've got a problem. Grimoire Heart may be on the island." Mirya informs Erza of the two who were with Grimoire Heart.
"The trial must be stopped." Erza grabs the red flare meant for an enemy attack. She launches it into the sky and tells Levy to get Gajeel to the base camp while she, Juvia, and Mirya find the others.
"Erza, I'm going by air. You and Juvia go by land." Mirya says, launching herself in the air. She scouts the island only to see something that made her freeze with shock and delight.
She saw Ultear and Zeref. "Wait… What the hell is he doing here?" She sees Ultear take him down and decides that Ultear was her opponent. "Piri, go find Natsu and don't leave his side. I'm going to take care of things." Mirya tells Piri, who rushes to find Natsu.
"Sorry. He's not going anywhere." Mirya lands in front of Zeref, blocking Ultear's path.
"Get out of my way fairy! I will not be stopped, not now." Ultear says, angered. She launches her attack using the green orb she carries. A numerous number of orbs fall upon her. She places a barrier for her and Zeref.
"What do you plan to use Zeref for?" Mirya asks. She was furious at the fact that they were here for Zeref. They had no idea what they were interfering in. They were just as deluded as the rest.
"We will get to the Grand Magic World! We will all rule alongside Lord Zeref!" She yells.
"There is no such thing as the Grand Magic World. If Zeref was capable of taking you there, what makes you think he'll even accept you?" Mirya questions. Using her belief against her was cruel, but it was the best way to stop her.
"We have awakened him! We found the keys to his dormancy and woke him up." She says. Mirya noticed that Zeref was waking and waited until he woke up.
"Those keys were just a wild goose chase. Zeref was never dormant. That's fool's gold." Mirya tells her.
"What would you know about it?" Ultear asks, not believing her.
"She is correct on every aspect. You and your guild slaughtered countless villages in search of these keys. I was never dormant, I just chose to exist peacefully. You have interrupted that." Zeref says, glaring at Ultear and releasing his pent up frustration and anger.
"But- But my lord. You are Zeref. You are meant to cause destruction and chaos." Ultear says, angering Mirya further. Ultear was shocked and scared at the aura he and Mirya were releasing.
"You are deluded, who fed you these lies?" Mirya asks, wanting to know who dragged Ultear down with them.
"Master Purehito. He promised that if we made it to the Grand Magic World, I can go back to a time where my mother loved me. I can get that back." Ultear says, desperation clear in her face.
"Leave this island. The idea of the Grand Magic World was used to manipulate you. It's not real." Zeref says, saddened at the fact that there were people capable of using his name to coerce others into the path of darkness.
"I killed people, only for you to tell me that it's not real." Ultear says, dropping to her knees.
"Take those who you care for and leave." Mirya says, giving her the option to retreat. Ultear leaves in disbelief. She goes to find the only member she cares about, a pink haired girl by the name of Meredy. She leaves with tears falling.
Mirya turns to see Zeref look at her. "You are a tough person to find. Where have you been all of these years?" Mirya asks.
"Been here and there. I didn't realize you were looking for me." Zeref tells her. He was comforted by the fact that he could converse with the one of the only people who could understand and relate to his position.
"Well, do you think it's time for the Oath?" Mirya asks, to her disappointment he shakes his head.
"No. Not yet. Why doesn't Natsu remember me?" He asks her, hoping she would know.
"Let's get somewhere secluded. I can't let anyone see us." Mirya says, grabbing his hand and pulling him. He wrenches his hand away and backs up.
"Hey, you okay?" Mirya asks.
"My curse can kill you." He tells her.
"Do you not remember what Aella taught me? The first thing she made sure I knew, was to withstand your curse. Dragons won't fall so easily to Ankhseram." Mirya says, grabbing his hand again. "You know this."
"It's been too long. There are things I do not remember." He admits as he's led by Mirya. She pulls him into Route C, the path Lucy and Cana took for the first test.
"We can talk freely for a bit. What do you wish to know?" Mirya asks him, getting reacquainted with an old friend.
"Why doesn't Natsu remember me?" He asks.
"Natsu and the rest of the slayers don't remember how they came to be in this time. They've forgotten me, you, and Anna. They believe the training they underwent was done in this time period, not the past. It was a side effect from passing through the gate at their age." Mirya explains.
"I see. I feel Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel here. Where are Sting and Ryos?" Zeref asks, wondering where the other two children were.
"When they came out of the gate, they were separated. When I went to look for them, they were already settled. I couldn't pull them away from their new homes, so I did the next best thing. I kept tabs on all of them. But Igneel asked me to take care of Natsu. A promise over the mission. So I followed Natsu to Fairy Tail. I kept my promise to Igneel and the rest of the dragons. I watched over the slayers." Mirya says.
"Thank you. For taking care of Natsu. This is selfish of me to say, but I am glad that you chose Natsu over the others." Zeref says.
"It was not easy. I never made myself known to the other slayers, and eventually Gajeel and Wendy made their way to Fairy Tail. That made things easier." She tells him.
"Where have you been?" Mirya asks.
"Well, I've created an empire. On the continent of Alakitasia. It helped pass the time." Zeref says. "I'm the ruler there." He adds.
"Of course you are." Mirya says, rubbing her forehead. She never dared venture out of Ishgar. She didn't want to be out of the continent in case something happened to the slayers or if she encountered Acnologia.
"Feel free to stop by anytime you want. Here." He hands her a stone attached to a metal chain. It pulsed with his magical energy. "This will provide proof that you are a friend and access to go to the palace." He says.
She slips it on. "Thanks. This extends to Piriryu, right?" Mirya questions.
"Yes. How is she anyway?" Zeref questions, remembering the familiar who always tagged along with her tamer.
"She's great. She's currently with Natsu." Mirya tells him, causing him to relax. He developed a curious look on his face.
"I know that you will not accept now, but will you consider joining the ranks of my army?" He asks, shocking her.
"Army?" Mirya asks.
"Yes. I've had centuries to prepare for Acnologia's wrath. What I mean is my personal guard, the Spriggan 12. Well it would be the Spriggan 13 with you." He says.
"What makes these twelve people special?" Mirya asks. Zeref covers his bases, so his guard will be composed of powerful mages.
"They are equivalent in power to you. Some are even stronger. I mean how can I compare you to Irene, for instance." He mentions, knowing that would be a name she would recognize.
"You know where Irene is?" Mirya asks in disbelief.
"She's a part of my guard. She is the one of the strongest, along with another mage by the name of August." Zeref says, shocking her. Irene was in the top ten of strongest people she knew. To hear that someone was on her level was terrifying, especially if it was a human mage.
"Well, I'll consider it. You know that I cannot leave, that would mean abandoning my mission. But perhaps there will come a time where I can accept that role. If that time comes, then I will accept, I promise." Mirya says. She promised him that she would join his guard in the future.
"That makes me feel better. While Irene can understand, you can relate to what has happened. I'm glad that you are still alive and kicking." Zeref says.
"How much longer will I have to wait until you will dispel the Oath?" Mirya asks. "I have waited more than seven years. My mission is ongoing, and has been for fourteen years." Mirya reminds him. While that pales in comparison to the time he has waited, he didn't have dragon slayers to take care of.
"The amount of time is unclear, but I believe it to be years." Zeref tells her honestly. She sucks in a shaky breath.
"Okay… Okay, I can do this." She says, resigning herself to a longer wait. She was determined to see her mission through.
"I have business to attend to with this Grimoire Heart." Zeref says. "They have killed in my name, something that I despise." He says, a dark expression casting over his features. "One more thing before I go. Have you found Aella?" Zeref didn't know where her mother was either.
"No. I haven't asked the dragons since that would go against the Oath." Mirya confides.
"I see. Send my regards to the dragons." He says, starting to leave.
Mirya darts forward and pulls him into a hug. "Hey… Feel free to visit anytime you want. I've heard how mages refer to you and how they blame you. I don't believe any of that. You are still the teenager I met all those years ago. Remember that I'm on your side. Nothing will ever change that." She says, holding on to him. She feels him shaking. He wraps his arms around her and drops to his knees. She drops with him.
"Thank you…" He says, crying. She felt the coldness that came from his curse flow forward. She knew that she would be fine, but she felt him loosen his grip. So she held tighter in retaliation. He looked surprised at her when he saw that she was still alive.
"One thing is telling me you won't die, another thing is actually seeing it." Zeref says. One of the only people who was able to withstand his curse was trapped in a lacrima, the other was in front of him.
"I told you I would be fine. How long has it been since you've had a hug?" Mirya feared that the last time someone hugged him would be seven years ago, when she hugged him in greeting after she left the Spirit world.
"The last time would be seven years ago. The person who hugged me was you." Zeref says, remembering the last time they met.
"Well… If you are ever in need of a hug, you know where to find me." Mirya says with a grin on her face. "You know what's another thing?" She asks.
"What?" He asks.
"I don't leave my pack behind." Mirya says, telling him the thing she was too scared to do seven years ago.
"Pack?" Zeref knew what pack meant to the dragons. He was touched that she considered him in high regard, enough to imply that she would do anything for him.
"Yeah. So don't go thinking you're alone." Mirya tells him. He was the only one who could relate to her situation, and vice versa.
"I won't forget. Thank you." Zeref says, releasing himself from their embrace and stands up. "It's time I leave. I need to find another place to inhabit safely." Zeref tells her.
"I also have some dark mages to handle." He adds. "Please continue to watch over Natsu." He asks.
"Of course. I won't let anything happen to him." Mirya tells him. "And like you, I have a dark guild to take care of." Mirya says, walking with him to the opening of the path.
"I'll see you again." Mirya bids him goodbye, heading to the sounds of explosions.
"Thank you Mirya." He stares until he could no longer see her. He walks in the opposite direction, heading to the floating ship that housed Grimoire Heart.
A/N: I want to thank everybody who has read so far, so here is a list of the first ten people who have followed or favorited.
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