SailorStar9: We now continue with Chapter 136 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OCs.

Chapter 136: Alvarez Empire Arc: Rescue Mission End!

Just as Ajeel's 'Sands of Death' was about to engulf Makarov in his Giant Form, a powerful blast of lightning shot down from the sky, totally dispelling the sand wave.

"Laxus!" Makarov saw his grandson standing on the bow of Christina.

"He disintegrated that sandstorm in one attack?" Erza gawked.

"The guy's as flashy as ever." Gray remarked.

"You're gotten much older, old man." Laxus teased.

"We're in enemy territory." Ulyo shouted from the bomber ship. "We're pulling back now!"

"Hop on." Gajeel gestured. "Although technically, it's his ship."

"Wait." Natsu frowned. "But that's a ship. How are you and Laxus not sick?"

"This ship has been customized so Dragon Slayers can ride on it." Mirajane explained.

"Mest, teleport onto the ship!" Ulyo ordered.

"Got it, Guardian-dono!" Mest grinned and activated his teleportation magic.

"You're not running away." Ajeel renewed his sand attack.

"Running?" Laxus echoed as the sand user sent his attack towards Christina. "We're just going home. We don't wanna miss supper." he sent his lightning blast downwards, causing a massive explosion and enabling the reunited group to exit the battlefield.

"Whoa..." Ajeel was impressed, although totally unscathed. "Are those guys for real? Was that barrier your doing?" he turned to August.

"It's painful to lose a comrade, Ajeel." the aged mage replied.

"You're suggesting that attack would've killed me?" Ajeel scoffed. "You must be getting senile, August."

On board the Christina...

"Master rescue mission, complete." Bickslow declared.

"So, this is what you meant by 'rearguard assault group', huh?" Gray looked warily at his almost-wife.

"And Laxus was the main part of it." Mirajane beamed.

"This ship is awesome." Natsu gashed. "I don't feel sick one bit. Let's fight, Laxus." he instantly issued his challenge.

"You're annoying." the Lightning Dragon Slayer sighed.

"Everyone..." Makarov started. "Fairy Tail is the finest family I could ever asked for." he teared up.

In the Fairy Tail Guildhall sometime later...

"Here's to Fairy Tail's official return!" Lucy started the celebration off.

"If Erza's the Master, then he's..." Bickslow wondered.

"Makarov-san, I guess." Freed mused.

"That doesn't sound right, somehow." Evergreen noted.

"Call him 'Master'." Erza insisted. "I'm stepping down."

"I'm still surprised you guys joined Blue Pegasus." Gray remarked.

"Entertaining customers isn't a bad job, after all." Freed stated.

"But I feel more at home in shabby pubs." Bickslow admitted.

"Did Laxus do any... hospitality work?" Ulyo wondered outloud, digging into her triple scoops of Pina Colada ice cream.

"Once in a while." Evergreen giggled. "And was it ever hilarious."

"Recording or it didn't happen." Ulyo fired back.

All three members of the Thunder God Legion exchanged a look and Bickslow brought out a portable recording lacrima.

"You guys..." Laxus growled.

"Did you manage to contact Sorano?" Carla asked.

"Yeah." Mest stammered. "And she was really fuming, too."

"So vehicles affect you now, too?" Gajeel remarked.

"Yes..." Wendy sighed. "I can't ride on horse carriages anymore."

"Is that such a big deal to you?" Carla sweatdropped.

Makarov halted all celebrations with a slam of his staff. "Everyone, I'm sorry." he addressed the Guild members. "I won't make excuses, I took your home away from you. I'm truly sorry."

"Mest explained everything." Bickslow assured.

"You did it to protect us, right?" Freed reminded.

"It's no big deal at all." Evergreen assured.

"What's more, my plan was all for nothing." Makarov rested his staff across the map he had laid on a table in front of him. "Alvarez is going to invade. They're a vast superpower, and they'll be coming straight for us."

"So what?" Natsu snapped. "We fought for our Guild before; time after time. We've fought for what's important to us, no matter how tough our enemies were. That determination has always made us stronger. It's not that I'm not scared. It's more like I have a heavy burden I don't know how to get go of. But I know I can count on everyone. What I am afraid of is never having fun like this anymore. We have to fight, so that we can all smile and laugh together again. We have to make a stand. Not to win, but to live. That's what our fight is for."

"Looks like everyone's made up their mind." even Laxus was boosted by that speech.

"So have I." Makarov made his stand. "Listen up. We're going to make them regret messing with our family. Let's take them down! Before the battle begins, there's something I must tell you all. It's about Lumen Histoire, formally known as the 'Fairy Heart'."

"Perhaps I should do the explaining, Sixth." Mavis stepped in. "No, Eighth Master."

"Shodai?" Makarov gasped.

"Everyone," Mavis started. "Fairy Heart has always been our Guild's most confidential secret, because it hold something the world must never learn of. However, it's also important you know what Zeref wants it, and about my own sin. The time has come to reveal everything. This is a tale about a cursed boy and a cursed girl and the tale of the primordial magic they sought."

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.