A beautiful blue sky draped over the Fiore countryside. Wendy's Troia spell allowed Kai's insides to sit comfortably with him while he watched Erza comfortably reading a bunch and Gray stared out the back window.
Team Natsu had been given a carriage big enough to carry all of them, though it was split into two carts: Erza, Iggy, Gray, and Kai were in the front one near the automatic lacrimal driver, and Natsu, Wendy, Carla, Happy, and Lucy were in the other, chatting away about this and that. Natsu, for the most part, was passed out from all the partying he'd done and Lucy and Wendy spoke about some of the friends they'd made.
The front cart was quieter, by far. For a good bit of the ride, Erza just read while Kai and Gray worked to reinforce Kai's sword. Iggy took to traveling in the skies above for most of the ride home, enjoying the feeling of the wind rushing around her.
The ride would take a few days at best, though none of the wizards felt any rush. The earnings would be more than enough to cover reparation costs for the guild hall plus a few small bonuses for those that partook—small earnings, of course, considering that it would be split across twelve guild members…it would've been thirteen but Makarov was wise not to risk paying Jellal some of it for his part.
In Kai's mind, those winnings would pay for the ring he'd get Erza. He still had the frozen one from before in his pocket, and would continue to keep it up until he could purchase one from in the town and get someone in the guild to help him stylize it for Erza, specifically. Probably Levy, the more that he thought about it. As good as Gajeel was with working metals, he was not the most…light-touched of the members.
If Kai needed a sword made? Call Gajeel. An engagement ring? Call Levy.
Made sense.
Since the carriage didn't move too fast, when Kai felt his stomach start to church from the Troia spell wearing off, he'd step out with Natsu and they'd walk for a little bit. The weather could not have bene better for them returning home. They kept the windows down in the cart, too.
During a stretch with some hills, Erza at last closed up her book. Iggy continued to fly around outside and Gray had crashed. Natsu was, it sounded, crashing while Lucy kept him away. The Celestial Spirit Wizard had been busy scribbling away for her book.
"What's next, then?" Erza asked.
Kai's stomach flipped end over end. "Next?" Like, for them, as a couple? Did she know, was she going to propose?
"Our next job," Erza said.
Kai tried not to sigh, and instead just exhaled, pretending he was confused—though, genuinely, he had no idea.
"I mean, how do you top the Grand Magic Games?"
"A few odd jobs here and there couldn't hurt," Erza said. "Our winnings could be enough to continue making ample payments toward the house. I'm hoping to buy some new armor sets, so, a few jobs would pay for that."
"I could probably go for a wardrobe change, too," Kai said, poking at his hoodie. "But, I don't know, I guess we'll just have to see what's available."
"Hopefully quite a bit, considering we're the number one guild of Fiore now."
"Yeah."
Erza tilted her head back, still relaxed. "When should tackle the problem of Alok?"
Kai nestled back as well. "Soon. Gildarts said he had some leads. We'll need to sync up with him, if he isn't halfway across the continent already."
"He must be a powerful wizard to have done that to Iggy."
"I don't care how powerful. There's nothing I won't to do help her out."
"I had the same mindset."
A new scent appeared from out the window, and the carriages slowed up a bit. "I think we may know some others who are able to help, too."
He nudged toward the door, opening it with his foot and stepping out as the carriages came to a halt. Everyone else poked their heads out.
They'd arrived at an intersection in the moors. Three blue-cloaked wizards stood alone at the intersection, and at once, they all removed their hoods.
Everyone else quickly got out of the carriages and said their hellos to Crime Sorciere.
"Not surprised you were following us," Kai said.
"We've just been waiting for you," Ultear said, nodding to them all.
"It's good to see you all," Jellal said.
"What brings you all the way out here?" Gray asked.
"We never got to properly thank you for your help in our endeavor," Jellal said, nodding to the guild wizards. "Without you we may not have found Future Rogue and definitely would not have been able to ward off the pending disaster." He glanced at Kai. "Not matter the cost."
Kai only emotionally winced at it. Hearing Jellal, in the man's own, strange, way give Kai condolences from his father couldn't have been weirder yet more welcome.
"This was definitely the most interesting of the Grand Magic Games we've seen," Meredy said.
"Fiore owes you a great debt," Ultear said. "Once again."
"You can't have just come all the way out here for a thank you," Lucy said.
"No, they would," Kai said. These three, despite their oft-sullen expressions, were just that level of extra to not send a note but make a dramatic interruption on the road.
"You're right," Meredy said, and sneered at Kai.
"We're concerned that the uproar in Crocus may stir the final guild of the Balam Alliance from its slumber," Ultear said.
"For the last few years, the Dark Guild Tartaros has mostly operated through its fringe guilds," Jellal said. "We've worked to crush those, but finding those actual monsters has proved difficult for multiple reasons. With Fairy Tail returned and showing their dominance over the other guilds, we fear Tartaros may have reason to come out and take you on for threatening their status."
"Well bring it on," Natsu said, slamming his fists together.
"Tartaros is not an enemy to take lightly," Jellal said. "But must soon be dealt with. Their magic is unlike anything I've ever encountered."
"So you have met them?"
"One, yes," Jellal said. "Named Seilah. The Magic Council briefly believed to have captured her but she escaped from maximum security."
"That's impressive," Iggy muttered.
"Just one of their primary members is enough to wreak havoc, and if all nine were to come to attack you, you'll have an outright war on your hands," UIltear said. "We'll be there to fight alongside you should it occur, though."
Kai stepped forward as Meredy was called over by Erza, and Gray approached Ultear. Jellal nodded to Kai, and crossed his arms.
"We could use the backup, and then some," Kai said. "If you're willing to gamble a little."
"I'm not following."
"You could expand Crime Sorciere beyond just the three of you. I think there's a few more formerly misguided wizards who could use your help, and would greatly benefit from taking on Tartaros."
Jellal furrowed his eyebrows, but when understanding dawned on him, he nodded.
"An excellent idea," he said. "Would you mind helping with this recruitment?"
"Not at all."
Jellal held his hand out to Kai, who clasped it.
"Thanks again," Jellal said.
"Thanks for helping me get here."
Jellal stepped back, the signal for the others to do the same, and they bowed to Fairy Tail. Without another word, they stepped to the side of the road, and the Fairy Tail carriages started off once more.
Everyone settled back in and Natsu no longer slept, but was abuzz with the possibility of getting to fight Tartaros, who were still just so mysterious to everyone in the guild.
"Have a nice chat with Ultear?" Erza asked.
"Yeah," Gray said, staring out the window.
"Better not be thinking anything bad, or Juvia will actually kill you."
"Wh—Ultear? No way, man she's like my sister, she's Ur's daughter!"
"Alright, alright."
Kai shrugged harmlessly and Gray shook his head. "I'm just—I'm happy that she's found people to reform with, you know? I think it's what Ur would've wanted, too. They helped us save the kingdom. When we fought on Tenrou, no way would I have thought her capable of that."
"They deserve much better treatment then the Council gives them," Kai said, glancing toward Erza. "What's it going to take for someone to realize that?"
"It's going to take Crime Sorciere at last recognizing that they don't ride that line, or don't need to, anyway." Erza sighed and rested back. "For them, and for now, I think it's enough to know that they're allies with those they sought to take the most from. Recovery like this doesn't happen overnight."
"Yeah, you're right." As usual. Kai rested his sword on his lap. "It was nice to see them, though, even if they kind of told us we're about to go into another war."
About a day and a half later, Magnolia's gates and walls at last appeared before the caravan of Fairy Tail carriages, all converging at once. Even from a reasonably distance away, too, Kai could tell the city had come alive with fervor and celebration.
"Another party?" Iggy asked.
"Seems like it," Erza said.
"Can you blame the town?" Gray asked, but was brimming with smiles.
Citizens lined the streets, throwing up confetti and tossing banners back and forth to one another that bore the Fairy Tail emblem or just had the guild's name splayed across it. The carriages slowed upon arriving in the city.
People clambered through the streets in various outfits, some wearing shoddy versions of the uniforms that the guild members wore during the games, some just dressed like the guild members, some in fine party clothing. Kai and the others waved to them, giving them more reason for an uproar.
The Exceeds burst out from the carriages and soared through the skies, dazzling the skies with their presence and causing even more cheers from the crowd, who just couldn't get enough of the guild.
Kai couldn't help waving at everyone. Was this the same town that they'd left? One downtrodden for years by a ridiculous guild, one that'd had its steam and majesty robbed of it? Magnolia, now, appeared far more beautiful and alive than Kai could remember. It only came to life like this around the Fantasia festival.
"Maybe it'll be like this every year," Kai said, turning back to his cart mates.
"What do you mean?" Gray asked.
"When we win the Grand Magic Games every year," he said.
Erza and Gray were hard pressed to not agree to that.
As they approached the outskirts of the town, the wizards stood atop their carriages and put on a magic show to show their gratitude for the town.
Natsu climbed atop his carriage and revealed the grand golden trophy from the Grand Magic Games, hanging it over his head, causing a massive uproar.
"Wait, Fairy Tail, wait!"
The voice cut through the crowd and silenced a good majority of it. A short man ran toward them up ahead.
Makarov ducked out of his carriage. Kai had to dig through his memory to recall that the short person was the mayor of Magnolia.
"What is it, sir?" Makarov asked. "I'm sorry if this parade has caused a ruckus, it was definitely not our intention."
"Absolutely not, Makarov," the Mayor said. "Just as Natsu has revealed the great trophy you have brought to Magnolia, I would like to show you the trophy Magnolia has gathered for you."
"Beg pardon?" Makarov asked.
The Mayor cleared his throat and grinned. "You're headed home the wrong way. You see, Fairy Tail is the pride of our town. Thus, the town thought it best to reward you with the return of your true home."
Kai's eyes widened and his stomach jumped up in his throat. Immediately, the carriages turned about and the mayor guided them toward the center of town and then north, where, at the top of the steps…
Lay the Fairy Tail guild hall, returned to its resplendit nature and then some. Banners hung from it, and great confetti cannons shot out from around the gates in front of the guild hall. Makarov, bawling, thanked the mayor over and over again, who repeated that this was not just his effort, but that of the entire town.
Upon Fairy Tail's return and subsequent victory in Crocus, the town gathered together to restore the guild hall to its proper glory. After all, the Mayor reiterated, the number one guild of Fiore deserved little less.
Kai smiled in disbelief the entire way up, all the way until they barged into the guild hall and immediately ruined it with their own celebration.
Drinks flowed, music played, and everyone danced atop the tables. The golden trophy flung about the entire guild hall.
Regular townsfolk partied with them, too, including the Mayor (who, really, only danced for a bit before hanging back with Makarov). Kai's head spun the entire afternoon; he moved in a blissful daze.
It was at last over.
When the festivities ended that night and everyone passed out way before their bedtime, Kai walked with Erza back toward their home. They'd lived in it a very brief time before having to move to go train on Akane Beach, where they'd even still been away.
At last, though, he opened the door for he and Erza. Iggy flew through over his head and at a snap of Erza's fingers, the house sprung to light life. It remained as beautiful as Kai remembered when they first bought it. He balled a fist and tapped it to his heart.
For him, only four months ago, he stared down the Dragon of Apocalypse. He stood with his guild mates and watched as he and all that he loved were nearly wiped out.
Now?
The world moved on, but they'd caught up to it. Because Fairy Tail never stayed down for long.
Now Kai had a home. He had beautiful partner to spend the rest of his life with, even if she hadn't officially agreed to it yet. He had a best friend flittering through the house. He had a family, alive and well, with their own home returned to its proper glory.
After four months of strife, of battle, of training, of physically and mentally tearing himself up and building himself up, Kai could at last…breathe.
He sighed, and a great weight fell off his shoulders.
Despite Tartaros lingering in the back of his mind, despite knowing they had a ways to go before getting financially back to a stable place, and despite the budding nerves of proposing to Erza soon, Kai sighed and breathed easy. He crashed and slept easy that night. When he woke it was not in nerves of having to survive or having to face a great challenge with his guild.
He went out on a job that day with the rest of Team Natsu and they had fun. They smiled and laughed and used their magic in the way only they could.
Indeed, Kai had lost something during the Grand Magic Games. But, even then, that loss came with a victory:
Belief.
Maybe Ichigo Nakamura, the cursed God Slayer, did spurn Kai's journey, but he also knew that Kai could do it. He, like all others Kai loved, believed in him. Kairi saw it from a young age, Erza saw it every day, and at last, Ichigo felt the same.
There would be dark days to come, surely, but for now, the sun shone bright upon Kai Hope and the Fairy Tail guild. And it was all Kai could ever ask for.
At last, we've reached the end of the Grand Magic Games! Phew, that was a long one, but I hope you were able to enjoy it nonetheless!
Next up, Sun Village and then Tartaros! Big stuff to come.
Thanks for reading!