Hello and welcome to the next chapter of Manarath's Fairy Tail adventure! As you might have noticed, I posted another story, an MHA time travel fic with a grown-up Deku finding himself back in time. Check it out if you feel like it, but until then I hope you enjoy this one! :D
It was weeks before Makarov heard anything from Manarath. It didn't help that Manarath had shared none of his information regarding the slave ring he was taking on. Talking with Laxus about what he witnessed when they found out what Manarath was doing went well. Laxus' faith in Manarath was a bit shaken, but after some time spent with his grandfather talking about what Manarath did and what he said during his time there, he understood. There was a need for evil in the world, but if evil can be wielded by good people, the world could become a better place.
When Laxus understood that, his resolve to protect his guild, his family became even stronger, and if he needed to be viewed as a villain by those who would threaten them, then so be it.
A downside to this whole situation was that since the rune knights had been called, the magic council had been informed. And they had been informed of everything, from the slaughter of a dark guild to the rescue of the now-former slaves. And they wanted answers, which they pestered Makarov for since he was the one who got them interested in this unknown figure.
Oh yeah, where Makarov heard from Manarath wasn't from the man himself, but from a small red-haired that goes by the name of Erza Scarlet
Flashback:
It had been close to a month since Makarov and Laxus had helped the former slaves, and there was still no word from Manarath about anything about the slavering situation.
That could wait since the normal "peace" of the guildhall was disturbed by the door being pushed open, and in walked a short red-haired girl clad in a chest plate that fit her small size, and a sword on her hip that also fit her.
"I'm looking for master Makarov!" The redhead called out, the tone of her voice filled with authority and demanding attention.
Chuckling at the way most of the guild froze when the redhead spoke, Makarov jumped down from the bar table and made his way over to the new arrival
"Then you have come to the right place, little one. I am Makarov, 3rd guild master of Fairy Tail. Who might you be?" Makarov said, a welcoming smile adorning his face.
Going noticed by many, the girl's shoulders sagged in relief. "My name is Erza Scarlet. I'm here to join the guild and bring news from Manarath Frostbringer." the girl fished out a letter from one of the side pouches and handed it to Makarov. Accepting it with a smile. "We will have the papers in order right away, and have the guild mark on you in no time. Just follow me to my office and we will get this finished in no time."
Nodding in acceptance, they both started making their way towards Makarov's office. Arriving and entering, they both made themselves comfortable before Makarov began with the biggest question on his mind.
"How do you know Manarath Frostbringer?"
Pain flashed across Erza's face before she answered. "He saved me"
Connecting the dots, Makarov frowned. "So he found the base where they were taking the slaves?"
Flinching, Erza answered the new question. "No, he didn't. A revolt happened and all the slaves tried to escape. I was one of them and I ended up on a beach near a resort, I think? Manarath found me and helped me."
Trying to get a friendly smile on his face, Makarov only had a single request left "Tell me everything you feel comfortable with"
And that was how Erza Scarlet joined Fairy Tail, and she fit right in with the rest of the rowdy guild. She quickly become the disciplinarian in the guild and took charge when they became too rowdy. And she proved her skill when she was challenged. She also came with some fantastic information regarding what Manarath was currently doing. Since all the stupid letter said was.
"Makarov.
I have no other clues, but from what little Erza says, the base is now destroyed.
I'm settling down. Use the letter to find me. If you can't figure it out, give it to Levy.
If you need anything from enchantments to armor, I'm setting up a shop as well.
Manarath"
And that was all. After informing his three protegees, Laxus Gray and Levy, they took the information and ran with it. Levy started right away to use the letter to find him. Gray continued his training, as did Laxus, but with more fervor and purpose.
With everyone set on their path, Fairy Tail began its rise to even greater heights.
Timeskip
How much time had passed? Most likely a couple of years, my correspondence with Darion continued after I set up shop in the middle of nowhere at the foot of a mounting range even after years has passed for me. Less than a week had passed for Darion. This means there is no consistency with the time dilation between universes. How annoying.
At least there is a town close to here and a forest that's almost bursting with monsters. I take care of the stupid ones who come too close to the town and my place, much to the gratefulness of the townspeople, but they still put out bounties for the Wizard guilds to make sure the monster population is under control. At least I got them to agree to bring the monster corpses to me so I can use them for crafting.
Hearing my door being blown open and an angry voice yelling out after me. "YO! Is anyone home!? we're here because I'm supposed to talk with a Manarath about bringing back a corpse of the monster I'm hunting!"
After the yell, a smaller, more polite voice speaks up in admonishment of the behavior of the first. "Mira! You can't just kick in a door to someone's home!"
Making my way to the new arrivals at a fast pace, just to make sure the first one doesn't destroy more of my property. Arriving in the Foyer of my home, I see three people, two women, and one man. The tallest of the women, and the one I assume more or less broke into my home, is dressed in dark clothes that only cover the bare minimum to make it socially acceptable to wear in public. A little behind her was the other woman. She wore a pink modest dress. Behind the both of them stood the man. He was taller than both of them, but his posture spoke to his shyness. All of them had the same shade of white hair, which probably means they are related.
"So, is there any reason you break into my home instead of knocking like a normal person?" My tone was as deadpan as the look I gave them. Letting my power echo in my voice, giving it the unnatural echo.
Seeing people shiver when I do that never fails to put a smile on my face, and the goth girl apparently saw it and gave me a glare before explaining the situation. "We are here on a request for the hunt of 'The Beast' And we were told by the mayor to talk with you because they have some sort of deal with you?" the goth girl's tone was filled with annoyance by the fact she couldn't just hunt 'The Beast' and had to come to me.
"Yes, I have a deal with the mayor and the people of the town. Normally, I deal with the small fry that comes too close to the town. I harvest the monsters' bodies in my craft. So I came to an agreement with the mayor so that if anyone they hire comes to hunt monsters, they come to me both so they know who I am, and where to bring the corpse so I don't have to find it."
Confusion spread across their faces before the youngest girl asks, "What do you use their corpses for?" Her voice was small. She probably didn't want to hear, but her curiosity got the better of her.
"I'm a blacksmith and enchanter. Monster parts can make some of the best weapons and armor. And some of their natural magic I can study and create new enchantments to mimic them"
Laughing a little at the green that appeared in their face when they realized what I actually did with the monsters.
"It's good you are taking on 'The Beast' right now. I'm tracking it myself and might need some extra help. I fought it at one point, but it got away from me sadly. So it knows it can't kill me and will therefore flee. I need someone to be ready when I lure it into a specific place where it can be trapped."
Annoyance and anger flashed across the goth girl's face. "Hey! This is my request! I can take it on my own. I have no need for help!"
Raising an eyebrow at what she said, I simply have to ask, "And what are your siblings doing here, then?"
She freezes at my question. And I chuckle a bit.
"You don't have to worry. I will have to activate the trap myself. You just need to hold it in the place I show you. I trust you are powerful enough to do that?"
Seeing my challenge, the goth girl sends me a savage smile. "We are the Take-Over siblings! We can take on anything!"
"Oh, how wrong I was" was the thought running through Mirajane's head. With great reluctance, she had followed the plan Manarath had created. But he took too long... and Elfman tried to use his own Take-Over to take over 'The Beast'... But he couldn't control it, and she was too weak to fight it now.
Seeing movement, Mirajane turned to see her younger sister Lisanna walk towards the beast that was controlling Elfman. Letting Panic take over, she yelled out to her sister, "No! Lisanna stay away! Elfman lost control!"
"Don't worry Mira, Elfman is strong enough, he just needs to remember that we are a family"
Giving her a ridiculous look, all Mirajane could do was watch as her sweet younger sister went towards the overtaken Elfman and started speaking. Dread was the only thing Mirajane could feel.
"Ah shit, I'm late." A voice she recognized said before two beams of darkness flew past her and hit Lisanna. They drew her back right as the fist of the overtaken Elfman came down where Lisanna had just been. Feeling something getting sat down next to her, Mirajane turned to look. It was her sister, safe and sound.
"Sorry I was late. When I got 'The Beast' to flee the way I wanted it to, I got swarmed by smaller monsters who didn't know the difference between fight and flight," the voice of Manarath said. Stepping in front of both Mirajane and her sister.
From where Mirajane was sitting, Manarath cut the most intimidating figure. He was only clad in simple leathers for armor. Frost was flowing around his tall frame.
"Where is Elfman?" He turned his head to ask. Knocking Mirajane out of her frozen state.
Pointing to the monster, Mirajane said, "The monster is him! He tried to use his Take-Over magic to keep us safe, but the monster overcame his mind. Please! safe him!" Mirajane didn't care that she ended up begging, she just wanted her family to be safe.
Manarath smiled down at her and only said one thing "of course." And then he turned around to face the overtaken Elfman.
Manarath created a two-handed mace out of ice in one hand and channeled the spell known as Death's Advance through him, letting the speed build up instead of releasing it right away. Throwing out his free hand, Manarath made pillars of ice grow all around Elfman. Each pillar threw out chains of ice that bound Elfman to the ground, so he couldn't make his way to his downed sisters.
The possessed Elfman gave out a roar of frustration at being bound so easily and started breaking the chains of ice, which was harder than it looked since they kept growing back stronger. Felling the speed built up by Death's Advance, Manarath let his spell loose.
Simply disappearing from everyone's sight, Manarath reappears underneath Elfman, made mid-swing. The hit lands right at the side of Elfman's head, making shock waves roll throughout the air, knocking Mirajane and Lisanna a couple of meters back, and knocking Elfman several meters to the right. Making him land right where Manarath had set up his trap hours before. Willing the ice trap he had cast on Elfman to follow him, Manarath went over to the trap and stepped on a single rune, and started channeling magic through it.
The trap made up of runes started glowing, showing that they were active. Elfman went from thrashing at the chains of ice to being completely still, the trap having taken effect. The beast's roar turned from one of anger to one of agony. This went on until the beast collapses, and turns from a hulking monstrous form of the beast to the form of Elfman.
"He should be fine when he wakes up. He will need to practice his Full-Body Take-Over before he can start using 'The Beast' Properly," Manarath said, turning back towards where Mirajane and Lisanna were supposed to be. And seeing them both passed out. Sighing, Manarath sits down on the ground to just relax and reflect on the chaos that just unfurled. But couldn't help but smile at how good these kids actually did against something as strong as 'The Beast'
"I should probably get them back, so they can rest."
The next time Mirajane would wake up, it was in one of the most comfortable beds she had ever laid in. But that didn't matter as she bolted up, or she would have had her injuries not made her flinch and almost fall out of the comfortable bed. Hearing the door creak open, Mirajane turns to it and sees Manarath walking in with a tray in his hands.
"Ah, good, you're awake. I brought some food to help in your recovery." He said like there hadn't been a fight between him and an S-class monster last she saw her.
Staring at him in shock, Mirajane was stunned. She didn't see the whole fight before she passed out, but she saw how easily Manarath had handled an S-class monster without breaking a sweat. Why hadn't he hunted it himself? He was clearly strong enough to do it. Why was she needed to come out here?
"I hope you don't mind. I had the seamstress in town get you some new clothes, while your old ones were repaired. After I got you checked over, of course." Manarath said.
It took Mirajane a moment to realize what Manarath had just said, making her lift the blanket that covered her to see the clothes she had on her.
"I didn't dress you, and the clothes are on the table right over there," Manarath said, pointing at a table in the room's corner. He walked over there and placed the tray down. "I will let you be, but just be careful of your injuries. Oh, and your siblings are just waiting for you down in the sitting room." And with that, he left her to help herself.
Making her way downstairs, one step at a time. Mirajane could hear the laughter of her siblings. The door to the sitting room where she could hear her siblings was open, making her able to see her siblings enjoying some snacks and drinks. Even Elfman had a smile on his face, although he was taken over by a raging monster just hours ago. Seeing them both safe, the well of emotions she had kept at bay since she woke up started overflowing, and she couldn't stop the tears streaming down her face while slowly making her way towards her beloved siblings. Either hearing the sob Mirajane tried to hide, or her slow steps, both Elfman and Lisanna turned to look at her. When they saw her, their eyes lit up both in surprise and happiness. Both of them almost stumbling trying to get up, they hurry to Mirajane and give her the help she needed. They didn't get the chance as Mirajane simply hugged them both close, letting all her emotions out.
This was the scene Manarath walked in on. None of them had noticed him yet, and he didn't want to spoil the moment, so he let it play out. Letting a smile appear on his face.
It took almost half an hour before they all calmed down, and actually noticed he was there.
"It's good to see you all up and about, but please take all the time you need to relax before heading back to your guild. Anything you need, just ask and I will see what I can do to accommodate." Manarath said, the smile still on his face. "Oh! and I have a letter for Makarov I would like for you to take back with you to the guild. I haven't sent that old man an update on anything that has happened since I helped little Erza get to Fairy Tail." Manarath's smile turned to one of reminiscence.
"But please, stay till you feel well enough to travel. I will be at the smith, please knock before entering." Was the second to last words exchanged between the Strauss siblings and Manarath till they returned to Fairy Tail.
I know this chapter ended on a weird note. But I didn't know how to end it any other way. We should be getting into the actual plot of Fairy Tail next chapter.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. And I will see you next time :D