A/n: All rights belong to Hiro Mashima who owns the setting, characters and a majority of the story. All I own are my Oc and a few ideas I dropped in there.
Also, I originally planned on updating weekly but I got really excited, this chapter is Beldyyn's first big experiences in FairyTail. Also incase anyone is wondering. Canon plot is most likely going to start around chapter 4 or 5. For now it will mostly be how Bel meets and interacts with the other members of FairyTail before Lucy joins. Also please review or message me, this is the first story I've posted and I would love to know how I can improve.
Chapter 1:
"You wanna go lighting bug!?"
" Like you could beat me wolf spawn"
" Wolf spawn? Take that back sparky!"
" Make me puppy dog" Laxus and I leapt towards each other, meeting in mid air and assaulting the other with a flurry of fists and kicks. It's been a year since mom and I went our separate ways. I joined FairyTail the day after she left, getting a silver guild insignia on my left forearm and quickly became friends with Laxus Dreyer. He's strong, just like me, and also the grandson of FairyTail's guild master Makarov. With spikey blonde hair and greenish blue eyes, we honestly look pretty similar. He's a year older than me but since he is the only other guild member around my age we hangout all the time, to the point where we are inseparable. Entering back into human society was a pretty big shock, considering I've spent the majority of my short life living in nature, with just mom as company. Magnolia, the town where FairyTail is housed, is a pretty town. With cobblestone walkways, and beautiful buildings like the Cardia Cathedral. I honestly really like it but still, the large groups of people walking the streets, chatting, buying and selling wares were all overwhelming for me. Laxus and master picked up on my anxiety in large crowds and spent the first few months of my living in Magnolia helping me reintegrate back into society. They have both been such a big help, teaching me about what it means to be a guild wizard, helping me find a house, and Laxus in particular is a great sparring partner. We train together almost everyday, pushing each other beyond our limits, both physical and magical. We are also equally obsessed with learning everything we can about magic. One thing about FairyTail that I find totally awesome is their massive library located under the building. Laxus and I would camp ourselves down there for hours reading as many books as we could get our hands on and developing new ways to use our magic. He has the same thirst for knowledge that I do, we drive eachother to do better and become stronger. In the year since I've joined the guild, with Laxus and master's help, I've taken great strides with the second aspect of my magic. I've even developed a few spells, although at this point they aren't anything amazing. I most commonly use Moon Cloak, a spell that increases my natural speed and magical defense by wrapping myself in moonlight. I also have a few offensive methods of using moonlight which adds some long range attacks to my fighting style.
Laxus and I continued our brawl, bouncing around the guild hall in a whirlwind of feet and fists, much to the older members' amusement. Until we found ourselves out of breath and panting on the ground, Laxus laying outstretched next to me.
" Hey Laxus, there's a job I saw posted on the board" I say in between labored breaths. " I was wondering if you would come with me?"
" Of course I will wolf breath, we're a team, right?" he says and a small smile dances across his lips mirroring my own. I stand up, offering Laxus a hand which he accepts. Pulling Laxus to his feet together we make our way to the job board. I noticed this job a few days ago and it had piqued my interest. A few bandits have been harassing a small village located near Oshibana. Normally I wouldn't have hesitated to take this kind of job, it's right up my alley. Combat oriented jobs are the main one's I like to focus on, considering most of my magical knowledge revolves around fighting. But the difference with this job is that the bandits are supposedly members of a dark guild. Wizards who band together, using their magic for illegal or sometimes even downright evil means. In the past I've tried to take jobs that involve fighting wizards but the master refused unless I went with an older guild member. Macao, a practitioner of fire magic, is really nice and always lets me join him when I ask but he's out on a job right now and won't be back for a while. I don't want to wait anymore though, the whole scenario with this dark guild reminds me too much of what happened to my own village for me to just leave it alone. So I grab the job notice off the board and walk across the guild to the bar where master Makarov sits sipping a drink.
" Master, I would really like to take this job" I say, handing him the sheet of paper, a tone of pleading in my voice. Master Makarov skims over the request before looking back at me, grey eyebrows raised. Master is a short, kind-hearted and funny man, even at only eleven I tower over him. He thinks of the guild members under his guidance as his children, but when serious he's terrifying. So I can't help the small beads of sweat forming on my brow under his gaze.
" Are you sure you're ready to handle a job like this Bel, you're still young my boy no matter how talented you are at fighting."
" I won't be alone, master, Laxus said he'll come with me and despite the presence of wizards this is still only a b-rank job. I'm sure we can handle it." I say, keeping my voice steady and forcing confidence into my words. Laxus approaches from behind me, exuding an aura of reassurance for both me and his grandfather. Master's eyes jump back and forth between us, as if evaluating our entire being, who knows maybe he is. I keep my back straight and my green eyes directly on him. I can handle this, I know I can, I made a promise that if I can help people I will. So far I've lived up to that promise in small ways, but I want to do more. This job is more, it's the next step on my path. I can feel it.
" Alright my boy I trust the two of you to handle this, you are both strong, but remember to watch each other's backs and come home safely." A wolfish grin breaks onto my face, I quickly get to work on preparing for the journey. Taking a train to Oshibana should only take three hours, with another hour trek to the village. Then we have to actually find the bandits so to be safe I pack up enough food and supplies for a three day trip. An hour later, after going our separate ways to get ready, Laxus and I meet up at the train station and start our job.
We reached the village faster than I expected, the sun having just passed its peak in the sky. I'm dressed pretty casually, in loose fitting dark green pants, black boots that reach to right under my knee, and a white t-shirt. Along with my trademark forest green bomber jacket, a gift from Laxus for my birthday, on full display. Laxus and I's journey was mostly silent, which is one of the things I appreciate about working with him. Neither of us see a need in pointless conversation when on guild business, so for the train ride and hike through the forest to reach the village we only spoke when discussing our next steps. Most of the time Laxus had his headphones on using a music lachrimae while I read a book on dispelling magic circles during the train ride. Once we make it to the village I immediately search out the man who posted the job request, finding him at his home, with some help from the village folk who gave us directions. He's a tall man, dressed for the role of a farmer, not a businessman or governor. I actually respect that, it makes it seem like he cares for those who follow him by working instead of just his words, and he does so unapologetically.
" Excuse me sir, are you ?" I ask once I'm close enough for him to hear me. Laxus isn't exactly a people person, he's great with me and others he's close to, but I usually handle meeting the clients while on jobs.
" That would be me youngster, sorry I can't help you right now though I'm supposed to be meeting some wizards from a guild, according to their master their due any minute now."I plaster a kind smile on my face and straighten up to make me look taller and more dependable. Trying my best not to be offended by his underestimating Laxus and I. Seriously though, why else would two kids you've never seen in your village before just walk up to you when you're expecting wizards.
" Well you're in luck sir, my friend and I here are the wizards from FairyTail you've been waiting for." I say, with as much politeness as I can muster under his narrowed eyes. He looks at us with contempt, as if to say 'prove it' so I roll up the sleeve of my left arm showcasing my guild mark. His eyes widen almost comically large and I have to hold back a chuckle. " So sir if you could please give us any information you have about the bandits, We'll get them out of your hair soon." With little fuss he fills Laxus and I in on what we need to know. Pointing us east in the direction of the bandit camp, as well as giving us minor descriptions and details on the wizards magic. From what I can tell the wizards all use fairly basic magic and spells, nothing to worry about too much. You can never be too careful though, even basic magic, if used correctly, can cause a lot of damage.
After another hour of searching through the forest Laxus and I come across a small clearing where twelve men are moving about. Each doing some mundane task to collect food, or sticks for a fire, some are even repairing weapons. Laxus is a lightning dragon slayer, so like me he has heightened senses. Between the two of us it wasn't that much trouble to track these guy's down. Still hiding in the dense forest, bushes and trees keeping us out of sight, my mind goes into hunting mode. My mom's teachings on how to track down and swiftly defeat my prey echoing in my ears. I glance over to Laxus, who like me is crouched low behind a tree.
" You stay low, I'll go high, get them to group together and I'll ambush them from behind" I whisper, as quietly as I can, knowing his dragon hearing can pick up on my voice, a subtle nod from the boy is all I need to jump into action. My lean body helps me nimbly climb a tree and balance my weight on the branches. Staying in the cover of leaves, I circle around the small bandit camp, keeping all the men in my line of sight. After a few minutes I stand atop a tree opposite Laxus, watching intently as he steps into the clearing to announce his presence.
" What's up, chumps?" He says, smashing his fists together with a mischievous grin. " A little birdy told me you guys were causing some trouble." A man steps forward from the gathered bandits. Laughing maniacally at Laxus' bravado, too bad for him said bravado is not misplaced.
" Yeah, what's it to you kid?" The man takes out a staff, pointing it directly at Laxus. " If you've got something to say, come out and say it." Laxus takes a menacing step forward, lighting ebbing and weaving across his finger tips.
" Alright, I'm going to beat you weaklings up for picking on the villagers around here and then send you all to jail" A chorus of laughter comes from the bandits as they start to circle around Laxus. In a flash of yellow light Laxus' fist slams directly into a bandit's chin knocking the man to the ground. While the bandits are stunned by the power of Laxus' attack I jump down from my branch. Summoning my wolf claws to knock down two bandits at the back of the group. I stand slowly, my wolfish grin growing on my face at the thrill of battle.
" You know, you guys should really pay attention to your surroundings." I say, making my way into the campground, the men left whip around to face me. Splitting their attention between Laxus and I.
" Who do you think you're talking to, kid, get out of here before we get really angry." One says with a voice like gravel, I smirk at his confidence. This is going to be really fun.
" Hey Laxus, I'm going to take a page out of your gramps' book, you mind?" I ask in reference to master Makarov, Laxus' smirk matches my own and he nods his approval." Ok then, here's what'll happen, I'll give you until the count of three to surrender. Or else I'm going no holds barred". My smirk is still in full view as my words settle across the bandits. Master does this whenever anyone in the guild really messes up, although it's mainly held for Laxus and I. The little old man grows into a giant and releases large amounts of magic into the air. I can do something similar with my Wolf Soul transformation. All around me the bandits share a humorous look before attempting to advance, weapons held at the ready. I take that as their answer and begin to release my magic, taking the form of a bloodthirsty pressure bearing down on them, the bandits pause in their tracks.
" What are you doing?" A bandit speaks up, voice a little shaky as fear drips in and my smirk grows," It's like I can feel your bloodlust"
" One" Is all I say to reply, the braver idiots continue to inch closer to me so I begin to cast my spell. A silver magic circle forms above my head as the wind in the area begins to pick up. My hands turn into sharp claws and I grow taller. Vicious snarls escape my mouth as it forms into a wolf's snout, razor sharp teeth protruding from my gums.
" Two" My voice comes out deeper, more animalistic, I pour more of my magic power into my spell, the wind and pressure in the area only continuing to grow. " Surrender now before I get to three and I'll let you" My arms grow longer along with my legs, producing claws of their own on my feet. Instead of doing the smart thing, the bandits take another couple of steps forward.
" We're not scared of some kids' little trick, you might look like a monster now but it's probably just an illusion you little shit" Wow, he really has a smart mouth, I snarl at his words, my lips receding to bare my fangs. Oh well I tried, guess it's time to keep my promise and show these guys no mercy.
" Three" As soon as the word leaves my mouth I launch attack after attack at the bandits. Screams fill the air and my smile never fades as I throw the men around like ragdolls. Knocking them against the ground, or trees and sending them into a pained state of unconsciousness. At least I hope they're only asleep, I don't think I put enough force into my attacks to kill anyone. Laxus and I finish off the bandits with ease, him taking care of the stragglers that try to run away. Before the day's end, we carted them off to prison, choosing to stay the night in Oshibana before returning to Magnolia in the morning. Getting back to the guild and filling master in on the news of our success brings with it a rush of confidence. After that job Laxus and I became an official team, a destructive one at that, but we got results. We continued to grow stronger together and very few were able to stand against the both of us fighting in tandem.
Another year passes, I'm twelve now, more people have joined the guild but Laxus and I have been too busy to really get to know them. We are constantly out on jobs with eachother and I'm fulfilling my promise. Taking down bad guys across Fiore with Laxus and a few more people that joined us. Laxus, a skilled letter magic user named Freed, a seith wizard called Bickslow, Evergreen who uses fairy magic and I are known as the Thunder God Tribe. Together we've gained quite a bit of notoriety due to our success rate in taking on jobs and because Laxus and I are powerful for our age. I even managed to get myself a monicker, or title, a source of pride for most mages. According to the master it means people are acknowledging my strength and skill. I rather like mine, I think it suits me. They call me Lycaon Beldyyn, the King of Wolves, which comes from greek mythology. I'm really enjoying my new life, even though mom's not here anymore, with Laxus by my side I know we can face any challenge.
It's a pretty chilly day when I find myself on my way back from a solo A-rank mission. Things between Laxus and I have been going down hill, the happy, mischief filled boy I've come to think of as a brother has been different recently. He's more bitter, temperamental and power obsessed, it's been making him really hard to work with or even talk to. A couple months ago Makarov kicked Laxus' father, Ivan, out of the guild, only he really knows the reason. Laxus barely talks to his gramps any more and is even giving me the cold shoulder. So I have been taking more and more solo job's. If his attitude doesn't change I fear for him and the path he'll eventually go down. I might even be forced to leave the Thunder God Tribe soon, I still love Laxus but if he's going to treat me like dirt I refuse to work with him. I have also changed a bit in personality myself, the excitement of being in FaiyTail and living with humans again has died down a lot. So have my more gregarious mannerisms, I've calmed down, acting more like I did when I was with mom. Reflecting the peaceful state of the forests I grew up in. Laxus and I don't spar anymore, although I don't know if that has to do with my less violent nature nowadays or our tense relationship. However this leaves me with a new problem that hadn't occurred to me. It's my own fault, I hadn't made an effort to get to know many of the other guild members besides those on my team. I was friendly with most everyone, and a little closer with Cana, who joined last year, since she was only a little younger than me. Since I'm not that close with most people though, I find myself constantly taking jobs to avoid sitting by myself in the guild hall. I know it's not helping me and I should just make an effort to get closer with everyone. Yet, I continue to try and avoid the awkwardness. I also take the hardest jobs I can, no offense to Cana but she isn't strong enough to come with me yet. So I find myself alone most of the time.
All these thoughts swirl through my head as I make my way down the road, walking back from a successfully completed job, walking to spend more time outside the guild and avoid Laxus. I was somewhere near , the cold air of the mountain settling on the ground and chilling the air. My sensitive hearing picks up on the sound of footsteps, someone else walking a few feet ahead of me. I concentrate on who they are instead of my depressing circumstance. Ducking behind tree's to spy on the person and see if they are friendly or not. Traveling alone and walking most everywhere for the past few months might have made me a little paranoid, but the paranoia has saved my life a few times. When I've come across dark guild members or thieves, my preemptive actions keep me out of harm's way. When I finally trackdown the person all I see is a boy. No older than eight or nine, stomping over leaves and cracking sticks underfoot. He's dressed in a simple pair of jeans, brown shoes and a white jacket. I can't help but worry a little bit. He's way too young to be on his own, I do pick up on faint traces of magic coming off him so he might be a wizard, but still he's not safe by himself.
" Hey you okay over there?" I call out to him, stepping back onto the road. He freezes in his tracks, turning to face me, with dark blue eyes matching his hair. In that moment, a tugging sensation forms in my gut, just like when I met mom and Laxus.
"I'm fine" he replies shortly, turning back around to keep walking.
" Yeah I totally believe you, are you hungry?" I ask in a deadpan voice, the boy pauses again, a rumbling in his stomach giving me an answer. His blue eyes meet my forest green, a dash of red tinting his cheeks. I just smile kindly and take out some bread from my bag, offering it to him. He takes the bread from my hand, hesitantly, before munching down. From the way he's eating it's like he hasn't had a meal in weeks. 'What could this kid have gone through?' I pull out more bread, deciding I'll have to stop in a town before continuing on to Magnolia in order to restock on food. " Do you have a name?"
" It's Gray, thanks for the food, but I should get going"
" What's the rush Gray? Take a break and sit with me, I can tell you've been traveling for a while. You look like you need to rest." I can see he's conflicted, and obviously doesn't trust me very much. I understand why, but I just want to make sure he's alright and has somewhere to go where people can take care of him. My mom comes to mind, how she took me in at my lowest and kept me safe, is this how she felt when she met me? When I was the one who was scared and alone? After a few minutes of deliberation Gray shrugs, taking a seat next to me in the grass. " By the way I'm Beldyyn but you can call me Bel. You're a wizard right?" I ask.
" How'd you know that?" Suspicion laces his voice.
" Nothing creepy if that's what you're thinking. I can just sense your magical power, what kind of magic do you use?" I lean back against a tree, trying to project an aura of calm like my mom.
" IceMake magic"
" Really? That's pretty cool, if it's not obvious i'm a wizard too, I even joined a guild a few years back. You in a guild?"
" No, my master Ur taught me magic but… she's not around anymore" I can't help but
feel sorry for the kid. Losing someone so young isn't easy. Gray and I find ourselves in casual conversation, me just trying to get him to trust me. Somehow I end up telling him my story, how I lost my parents and about Astea. My magic training, joining FairyTail and meeting Laxus. He even lets me vent about Laxus' current attitude change. Eventually I decide it's time to get back on the road, and stand up, packing up the leftovers from Gray and I's lunch.
" Gray do you have anywhere to go?" I ask, if the answers no, like I suspect, I'm not letting this eight year old kid travel alone. When he answers that he doesn't I invite him to travel along with me and thankfully he accepts. With Gray joining me we walk together in comfortable silence. Like Laxus and I Gray doesn't seem to need conversation in order to enjoy our travels. After a few hours he seems completely relaxed and even smiles at some of the landscapes we pass. One thing about Gray I didn't see coming is when he stripped in front of me to my utter shock. Taking off all of his clothes except for his underwear. I immediately avoided my eyes demanding he put his clothes back on. Despite the strange habit, he's a good kid and I can't help but want him to join FairyTail. I feel like he would fit in nicely.
After a full two days of traveling together Gray opens up to me about his past. His story is eerily similar to mine, but worse, like me he lost his parents. Although his village was attacked by a demon from the book of Zeref, Deliora. After his parents death the woman who taught him IceMake magic took him in, Ur I think her name was, he trained along with another kid. Until eventually Deliora attacked again, this time his master sacrificed her life force to use a spell called Iced Shell. Which imprisoned the demon in an unmeltable block of ice, sealing him for eternity. We both understand loss and in that moment I make another promise to myself. Just like my promise to protect whoever I can, I promise to take care of Gray and make sure happiness can enter his life again. He has had too much sadness for too long, so I will do for him what my mom did for me. With this in mind I have another decision to make, one I'm not looking forward to. When I get back to the guild I will leave the Thunder God tribe so I have more time for Gray and I will devote my loyalty to the guild as a whole instead of just Laxus. I know now, that was a mistake, I should have made the effort a long time ago.
Gray hit it off with the guild immediately once we got back. I left him to hangout with Cana, who was only a few months older, while I needed to have a talk with master Makarov. I found the man where he usually is, sitting at the top of the bar with a drink in hand.
" Bel, it's good to see you return safe and sound, with a new member as well. Seems like you had an interesting journey?" You have no idea. I can't help but feel like just meeting Gray and making the decision to take him under my wing has helped me grow, as both a person and a wizard.
" That I did master, but there's something I need to talk to you about, in private if possible." He nods his head and I follow the smaller man into his office. I've been multiple times in the past but it never ceases to amaze me. Not because of anything special but the fact that it's cluttered, mountains of papers litter the ground, and the singular desk pushed against the far wall.
" What's this about my boy?"
" Gray" I tell him, mulling through my thoughts, if I'm about to do what I'm planning, my life will change drastically, but hopefully for the better. I decide that it's worth it, Gray needs someone and I feel like that person needs to be me. " I've made a decision, I want to take Gray under my wing. He needs someone and to be honest. WIth what's going on between Laxus and I. I need someone too. I have a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment and because of all the jobs I've been taking recently I have more than enough jewel to take care of the both of us for a while." I stop to try and get a read of master's thoughts on the matter. It's a tense moment, I know this is what I want but I also know I'm still a little young to be taking care of someone else. I just hope that the master overlooks that in lieu of the situation.
" While I am a little concerned about your age" My breath hitches and my heart rate increases " I can see that you will take this seriously and despite my misgivings about this I trust you to do right by Gray and yourself." I sigh in relief, a smile breaking out on my face. Now for a less worrisome discussion. I just need to get this off my chest and I trust Master's wisdom to help.
" There's something else, I think, I've been doing something wrong" I say, concern blooms in Makarov's brown eyes, not wanting to worry him I briskly continue. " You know my past and so you know I'm not always the best at human interaction. I have definitely gotten better thanks to you and Laxus though. However, I think being loyal to one person isn't the right way of doing things. Because, my relationship with Laxus cost me my relationships with everyone else in the guild. When I found Gray my immediate instinct was to devote myself to him like I have with Laxus."
" But when I thought about it, I wouldn't have even met Gray if I was still teamed up with Laxus. The two of us would have just taken the train back to Magnolia. Breaking ties with Laxus is the hardest thing I've ever done, but in doing so, I can open myself up to the people I have denied previously. So from now on I'm entirely loyal to the guild as a whole, everyone, not just those closest to me. If I'm being honest I feel like you only trust me to care about Laxus and no one else, am I right?" A small sad smile forms on gramps' face. Pride trickling into his eyes.
"My boy, you truly have grown through your adversity with Laxus and don't think I haven't noticed you two squabbling. I admit I did have some concerns about your loyalty to him. It took you all these years to stop emulating your relationship with your mother and form bonds with more than one individual. Better late than never, because with this step I think you are finally ready. You have both the power and the skill, now you understand what to fight for. Not a person but a family, more than one. Expect your names to be among those chosen for the s-class trials this year my boy." I smile at his praise, a true smile, not the wolf-like grin I wear when fighting. I had often wondered about the requirements to be s-class mage. I know they are the strongest mages in the guild and have to pass a test to become one. The test is given yearly and out of the selected candidates only one passes but nobody knows what happens during the trials. Those who pass and participate are sworn to secrecy. It's no secret that my magical power and physical strength are above most of my fellow guildmates. But I still knew I've been missing something, some key element of what it means to be an s-class wizard of FairyTail. Now, thanks to gramps' I know and come the s-class trials I will fight with all my power to pass. First though, I have Gray to settle in and take care of. I pull Makarov into a hug, squeezing the taller man tight against my chest.
" Thank you gramps, I hope I make you proud," I say, pulling out of the embrace to meet his eyes. " I won't let you down, not with the s-class trials and not with Gray either."