One, thanks to Bossgorda on Wattpad (aka my friend Cat irl who finally caught up to this, took you damn well long enough) I ended up switching the godparents in the previous chapter; Laxus and Elle are Hisui's and Mari and Gildarts are Koku's. Because it fits more with the appearance of their godparents into the children's lives.
The next chapter (first of the slayers) will be up on New Years Eve or New Years Day (I want to try and get it in for the last one of the year, though.)
Also...
Sorry if there's typos I couldn't exactly see through my tears.
I'm also not joking I fucking sobbed writing this.
Just warning you.
Chapter Ninety Three - The Gate
The next six months fit the phrase, "the calm before the storm" nicely.
Only a few things happened, and it seems to me as if the world was quiet, simply waiting for the Dragon Slayers (or hell, even Natsu specifically) in a type of silent agreement.
The waters were still.
Only a series of things happened.
One; I changed the birthday list, and added all of the newcomers.
January 3rd – Jellal (11)
January 19th – Reedus (19)
January 26th – Ur (29)
February 2nd – Brandish (9)
February 5th – Yukino (3)
February 28th – Laki (10)
March 1st – Makarov (80)
March 8th – Gray (10)
March 17th – Max (9)
April 4th – Sawyer (12)
April 7th – Gildarts (37)
April 10th – Sorano (10)
April 14th – Millianna (8)
April 26th – Juvia (9)
May 1st – Elle (13)
May 14th – Ultear (11)
May 25th – Mari (33)
June 1st – Lucy (9)
June 8th – Erik (14)
June 16th – Jet (10)
June 24th – Nab (12)
July 9th – Levy (9)
July 12th – Cana (10)
July 16th – Richard (17)
July 22nd – Sho (9)
August 7th – Erza (11)
August 12th – Layla (29)
August 24th – Evergreen (12)
August 31st – Enno (23)
September 8th – Macao (29)
September 14th – Simon (11)
September 25th – Droy (10)
September 30th – Freed (12)
October 6th – Wally (12)
October 9th – Orga (8)
October 16th – Lyon (11)
October 23rd – Bickslow (13)
November 9th – Kagura (8)
November 16th – Porlyusica (71)
November 18th – Wakaba (29)
November 23rd – Laxus (16)
December 9th – Macbeth (15)
December 16th – Erigor (19)
December 22nd – Silver (30)
December 29th – Jude (31)
Two; on Max Alors's tenth birthday, in March, he and an eleven-year-old Laki Olietta finally joined the guild.
Three; I disappeared for two weeks; I spent one of them learning from Ichiya about perfume magic, and another learning from Warrod, about plant magic in particular. These were for me to focus on learning Ceres.
Four; I ended up installing a school for the kids; or at least basic math and literary lessons.
I was also exhausted, as the one doing most of the teaching.
Five; Evergreen got her period, and I gave her a one on one talk version of the one I gave the boys (The 'Talk' Part Two) except extremely toned down.
She took it surprisingly well.
Six; My fourteenth birthday arrived. With it, I also grew a lot more, finally looking a bit more like a teenager. I hit around five six, and was still growing.
Which is good, because I need to catch up to Laxus.
And seven; we also put off the April Fantasia for one more year, hoping to announce our new event after our win at the Grand Magic Games.
The Games.
This was something I was worried about.
Mostly because of July 7th.
The last day of the games; the first day of the slayers.
After last year's absence, and our explosion of a comeback at Fantasia, everyone was very hyped about the Grand Magic Games; and when I say everyone, I mean people outside of Fairy Tail.
As for who was competing this year?
One team was comprised of me, Laxus, Jellal, Macbeth, and Erik. Erza was the backup.
The other one held Lucy, Cana, Gray, Brandish, and Orga. Ultear was the reserve.
Several people had asked to sit out, rather than participate.
And then we got the message that the games had changed, once again.
There were now six people on a team, plus one reserve.
The schedule would go like this:
July 1st - Day One: Game, Battles
July 2nd - Day Two: Game, Battles
July 3th - Day Three: Game, Battles
July 4th - Day Four: Tag Team Battles
July 5th - Day Five: Battle Royale
July 6th - Break
July 7th - Day Six: Game, Battle
July 8th - Day Seven: Game, Battle
July 10th – Day Nine: Tag Guild Battles
July 11th - Break
July 12th - Day Ten: Battle Royale
July 13th - Feast
So we had to shift things.
When I asked Toma about why this was happening (after all, we and Layla have previously spoken about the Gate), he said he wanted the Games to work as a distraction, and cover what else was happening.
As for shifting the teams:
Team A now comprised of me, Laxus, Macbeth, Erik, Jellal, and Erza, with Bickslow as back up.
Team B consisted of Lucy, Cana, Gray, Orga, Brandish and Ultear, with Juvia as the reserve.
Lyon was oddly fine with sitting out.
I don't believe it. I know that something else is going on, but as for what…I don't really care.
I was too tense regarding the Gate.
Most of the kids sensed the undertone, but I think most of them put it down as 'showing it to Ivan', which is how I explained away Fantasia.
Of them, only two knew about the Gate.
Laxus, and as a result, Erik.
And I was fine with them knowing. After all, the five next members were all dragon slayers.
It was on the fifth day when I caved.
But first, a recap: on the first day, Erik participated in Hidden, finding everyone easily and dodging all of their attacks immediately. When it was revealed that he was a dragon slayer, there were cries of outrage at Fairy Tail having two dragon slayers (which made me nearly pass out from laughing so hard).
I couldn't wait to see people's reactions next year.
Eventually, the last opponent (other than Ultear, who was also participating), was Jura, who figured out about Erik's powers. Or at the very least... "You're telepathic!"
"Ha!" Macbeth shouted by my side, standing on our balcony. "More like telepathetic!"
The group of us let out snorts and guffaws, while Erik was so angry he ended up releasing enough poisonous gas before Jura realized what happened (which ended up with Jura unconscious on the ground).
This was followed by a one on one battle with me against Phantom, and I ended up kicking Sol's ass. Apparently he's still upset for the time I kicked his ass four years ago.
Unfortunately for him, I kicked his ass even faster this time.
On the second day, Jellal took part in Chariots and used Meteor to get to the finish line before everyone actually got to properly start. Two members still hadn't made it onto the chariots by the time he reached the end, and Orga used his lightning to copy Laxus's Lightning Body as much as possible, making second place easily.
Bickslow, after speaking with Erik for awhile, came to the conclusion that though he was the reserve, he would battle in Erik's place.
When I asked them later, they both shrugged and Bickslow admitted that he probably wouldn't get to compete in the Games again, and Erik probably would, because of his Soul-Listening and Dragon Slaying Magic.
And that they mainly wanted to prank everyone in Fiore.
So during the battle, where Bickslow ended up against Jura (starting to feel bad for the guy) he activated his Figure Eyes and immediately took control of Jura's soul, putting him asleep immediately and winning the battle within seconds.
Which lead to a majority of our team cracking up. Even Erza had trouble hiding her smile, though she was obviously trying to be a bit more responsible than anyone else was.
It wasn't working, though.
But it was a good thing that Jura went out so easily; he wasn't a Wizard Saint (yet) but Lamia Scale had announced him as an S-Class mage (last year, apparently) and he was their top contender. With him being taken out so easily both times, it would be harder for Lamia Scale to rack up the points. They had apparently tied with Phantom for first place the previous year because they had the teamwork to make up for the power they lacked (versus Phantom, who had no teamwork).
The next day, the opening game was the Naval Battle, and everyone agreed that I should do it before I had a chance to protest.
And to be fair, it was probably smart.
As far as I knew, Erza didn't have her Sea Empress Armor yet, which pretty much left it up to me, and Lucy, who summoned Aquarius and kept throwing in a few spirits to give people trouble; including me, which is why she got first place and I got second.
I'm not surprised.
The battle portion was Macbeth against a familiar person from Quatro Cerberus (I'm fairly sure he was in the X791 GMG in the previous timeline, but I don't remember his name) and quickly took him out without even using his Illusion Magic, which he had started learning.
But the next day was what was really interesting.
I didn't realize until then, but Blue Pegasus got two more members I recognized.
Hibiki and Ren were both thirteen years old, placing them at twenty when the timeline first started.
And they were together in a Tag Team Battle against Erza and Jellal.
While I was glad that Blue Pegasus was finally getting some of it's main players, I also knew that they wouldn't last long against them, even though Jellal was only twelve and Erza wouldn't be twelve for a few more months.
But it was magnificent. Ren started out with sending hardened air bubbles at Erza and Jellal, while Hibiki mostly made shields. As Jellal dodged the air bubbles specifically, (using Meteor, of course) he started writing the magic circles in the sky, lighting it up with the casting for Grand Chariot.
Erza, requipping into a smaller version of her flight armor, attacked Hibiki before he could block, and he was unable to shield the two Blue Pegasus members from the volley of attacks from the sky.
Jellal and Erza were declared the winners, and I couldn't help but practically squeeze the life out of them when they got within reach. "Oh, I'm so proud of you guys! And Jellal, I love how you wrote it out in the sky like that! It was so adorably badass!"
"I don't think that's a thing, Elle," Laxus said from next to me. "I don't think you can be 'adorable' and 'badass' at the same time."
"Yes, you can, just you wait and see," I told him.
After all, I feel as if those words fit Wendy to a T.
And then...
And then it was the Fifth Day; a Battle Royale.
Lucy looked at me with pleading eyes. "Please, Ellie-nee! I want to show everyone soooooo badly…"
My mouth opened to say, 'What about the last day? You could do it then.', but the words didn't come out.
Instead, I croaked, "Okay."
Laxus shot me a worried look, and Erik and Macbeth exchanged glances.
Lucy and the others were too busy celebrating.
Laxus hustled me aside, and Erik and Macbeth joined us. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Just a feeling, that's all," I said quietly. I had done the math.
We had originally planned what we would do the Battle Royale days, and as we continued, Laxus looked more and more uncomfortable.
Eventually he had brought me aside. "Elle, I'm not comfortable with you going off on your own. The last time that happened, you go kidnapped and tortured for four months."
I squeezed his hands. "I was fine earlier this year, when I went to Blue Pegasus and visited Warrod."
"I don't care," he hissed.
"Laxus, Cana found a way to counteract her card," I told him, letting go of his hands and pulling him close. I wrapped my arms around him. "Even if something like that does happen again, I won't get cornered. I need you to let me do this, okay? I'm sure the dark guilds are still watching us, and it would be too suspicious if we both disappeared. Even myself disappearing is a pretty big beacon, but you know why I might have to do it."
He nodded.
To me, it was kinda simple; Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, Sting and Rogue – damn it, Ryos - would have known each other if they all just passed out of the Gate easily. Something told me they got separated, and that I'd have to track them down.
I had told all of the kids this while we were planning, and they'd all understood, which is why we made contingency plans in case I had to disappear.
And so, on the fifth day, to kick off the Battle Royale, Lucy pulled out her Christmas present.
"Open, Gate of the Sea Serpent! Cetus!"
A giant magic circle appeared over the whole city, and there was a rumbling noise as, out of the circle, a giant sea serpent appeared. Cetus was reminiscent of the sea serpent that appeared with Kemo Kemo on the island.
I could hear Goldmine screaming in the background, and I was fairly certain I could hear Jose screaming too (but in fear, not delight).
At the sight of Cetus, a bit less than half of our competitors immediately passed out, causing Team B's score to shoot up.
While that happened, the rest of my team (Team A) exchanged smiles and took out everyone else as they were distracted.
Cetus barely had to do anything, but after around five seconds of summoning him, every wizard who wasn't a part of Fairy Tail was unconscious.
I think Goldmine passed out, too.
After the fifth day, we had a day off, wherein I made Lucy, Layla and Jude spend the day together.
I spent the day going over plans with Freed and Levy, who (while not participating) were both working on the battle plans for the final days.
Just in case I wasn't able to be involved.
That night, Lucy gave Layla and I a hug, and she pulled out all twelve Zodiac keys and attached them to a key ring for us.
We said goodbye and the two of us headed down the basement of Mercurius.
"Are you sure you don't want me to do this?" I asked Layla. "Any of the five bloodlines can open the gate."
"Yes, but this has been my family's duty for years," she said quietly as we approached the gate.
I nodded, still wary. "So when do we open it?"
"As soon as the Eclipse starts," she said. "At midnight, exactly."
"It's always midnight," I muttered, and she chuckled.
We met Toma and Zeref as we watched the clock. Zeref was so impatient and jumpy I finally sent him back to Mavis, who would hopefully get his mind off of Natsu's upcoming arrival.
Toma just laughed, but eventually took a break (probably to meet with Ame, who was spending a lot of time with Mari over the past few days), and counted down his return to midnight.
Five minutes til, I looked over to Layla. "Are you ready about this?"
She nodded, and spread all twelve keys into their slots.
"Is it time?" Toma asked, approaching us.
"Nearly," I said, turning back to watch as Layla prepared the gate.
Since all twelve keys were here, and it didn't require any magical energy, Layla should be fine. Since she has Magical Deficiency Disease, that means that her magic is tied to her life force.
As she had no need to use magic this time (no need to substitute a missing key, as there weren't any), she should continue living at a normal rate.
The clock struck midnight, and Layla began to chant words in Latin.
"Why doesn't she just open it?" Toma asked me.
"She will, but this is connecting it. She needs to make sure she opens the Gate to the right place. If she doesn't, we could get just about anything coming through. In fact, remind me to tell you about what happened in X791, later."
He nodded and we both turned back to look at Layla, who spread her arms as the Gate began opening.
And then an explosion of light appeared, and five beams of light shot through the Gate and slammed into the ceiling, punching five chibi-sized holes into it.
I sweatdropped. "Great."
Damn you, Mashima.
I sighed and turned to Layla. "Well, I guess I better get going."
"Actually…" Layla said quietly. "Could you stay a bit longer, Elle?"
"Okay…" I said slowly, and sat down beside her, where she now sat on the floor. "Why?"
She gave me a sad smile. "You know that I consider you a daughter, right?"
It started getting hard to breathe, and I felt my heart pick up. "Yeah. Why?..."
She pulled me into a hug, and laid my head on her chest. "No reason," she said softly, humming and rocking me back and forth, her hand rubbing across my back.
My eyes started welling up. "Layla?"
"Could you call me 'Mom', just this once?" she asked, abruptly in her ministrations and humming.
"…Mom?" I whispered. "What's wrong?"
She said nothing, and I began to pull out of her embrace. "What's wrong?" I shouted, staring at her. Tears began to fall over the edge of my eyes.
"I think it's my time," she said quietly.
My heart stopped. "No, no it's not! It can't be! You didn't use any magic!"
"Still, it seems that it is…" she said softly.
"Let me get Lucy, then!" I said, trying to stand up. "And she'll summon Phoenix-"
Layla's hand was wrapped around my wrist.
"Elle…" she said. "You know that Magical Deficiency Disease can't be healed by Healing Magic."
"But you didn't use magic!" I protested, crying more. "So that's not the problem!"
"Nontheless, something tells me that you won't be able to change this," she said, pulling me back to her. "And I want time with you when I can."
I was full out bawling now, clutching her to me. "No, you can't do this!"
"My mother used to say to me…" Layla said softly. "That the hardest part about being a Celestial Mage isn't opening a gate, but closing one...when you're not yet ready...to say goodbye."
"BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER!" I shouted. "BECAUSE I'M NOT A CELESTIAL MAGE! SO NO BODY'S GATE SHOULD CLOSE!"
She began stroking my hair. "I want to thank you, Elle. For everything. For being a daughter to me, and a sister to Lucy."
I squeezed her tighter. "Stop it! You're not going to die here! I can get another lacrima, I have one in-"
"Elle, it's my time," Layla said softly. "I don't think the lacrima would work this time."
"WHY NOT?" I screamed.
"Because it's Fate, that she dies here today," came a voice, and Corvus appeared out of the shadows. "There will be some things that you cannot change. You know that, Elle."
I stared at him, tears streaming down my face. "I refuse to believe that."
"It doesn't matter what you believe," he said softly. "It doesn't mean it's not true."
And then he disappeared back into the shadows.
I turned back to Layla. "You can't do this."
"Shhh," she said, rocking me back and forth again. "It'll be okay."
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?" I screamed into her chest.
"What was it you always say, Elle?" she asked softly, still rocking me. "Okay doesn't necessarily mean it's good…but there's always something positive to be found. You still have Laxus, and Lucy, and the rest of Fairy Tail, Elle. So it'll be okay…"
I let out a mix between a scream and a sob, and would've heaved another one if not for another quiet voice. "Mommy?"
I stiffened and pulled out of Layla's chest, and turned to stare at Lucy.
"Lucy," I whispered.
"Mommy, Ellie-nee, what's wrong?" she whispered.
"Lucy, come here," Layla said softly, gesturing her closer.
Lucy approached and Layla enfolded her into our hug.
"I want you to know, Lucy, that I love you so much, and I am soooo proud of you," Layla said.
"Mommy?" Lucy whispered.
"I loved watching you become a Celestial Spirit Mage," Layla continued. "And becoming friends with all of your spirits. I'm so proud to say that I'm the mother of the most powerful Celestial Spirit Mage to exist, and that she can even summon Cetus. And I know it won't be long before you can summon Hydra and Draco, too."
"Mommy?" Lucy whispered, her voice higher pitched now.
"I'm afraid it's time for me to go now, sweetie," Layla said, pulling back from the hug and looking Lucy in the eyes. "Something told me that I was going to leave yesterday, even. I'm just glad I was able to do a few last thing for my girls, first."
Lucy began to cry, and she grabbed at her keys and wordlessly summoned Aquarius, Cancer and Capricorn.
A smile lit up Layla's face, as she said goodbye to her previous spirits, while Lucy silently cried by my side, hugging me.
After finishing her goodbyes, and the three spirits disappeared, Layla beckoned the two of us forward.
"But since it seems like I'm going to be going anyway, and I have all of this extra magic," she said, reaching up and tracing something onto Lucy's forehead with a glowing finger. "I might as well put it to good use."
She pulled her hand away from Lucy's forehead. "There you go, darling," she finished. "I want you both to remember that I love you, very much…"
And Layla Heartfilia died smiling.
I pulled Lucy in for a hug as she sobbed, this time loud, screaming cries of emptiness. My tears had long dried by now, and I could see, from the holes in the ceiling, that dawn was approaching.
Just how long had the two of us been here, crying?
At some point, Toma had left, and not returned. Probably wanting to give us some privacy.
Lucy's cries had slowly gotten quieter, and she pulled back to notice me looking at the ceiling.
"Ellie-nee, you should go," Lucy said.
I looked down at her. "Lucy, I can't leave you right now."
She shook her head. "You said that their dragon parents disappeared, right? So they're out there, wandering and alone, with no idea where their parents are. I know where my Daddy is, and I know where you and Laxus-nii and everyone else is. You need to help them."
I bit my lip to try and stop myself from crying again, but tears spilled down my cheeks anyway. I grabbed her and pulled her into a hug. "I love you, Lucy. So much. And I'm so proud to call you my Imouto."
I pulled back and wiped away the last of her tears. "I promise that, if there's a bad reaction from this, I will get you as soon as possible, alright?"
Slowly, she nodded.
"Also, you should probably ask Brandish to contact her mother, and for her to return to Fiore. Actually, it might be a good idea for the two of them to move into the Magnolia Heartfilia home, since it's unoccupied…"
Lucy nodded and hugged me one last time.
I tried to smile at her one last time, and grabbed her and her keys, teleporting them back into their room, before I left to search the mountains of Fiore.
I had some dragon slayers to find.