Last week was the third anniversary of the story. Time flies! I wish I hadn't missed it :(
I hope you enjoy the chapter!
"I guess we should go see them." Gray stretched with a sigh and turned to the exit. The arena was slowly emptying itself, already awaiting the conclusion to this year's Games. "I doubt Mira will be awake, though."
"I think she might." said Wendy. "Their treatment is really advanced, much better than seven years ago."
"Really?" blinked Gray. "Maybe it's because the intervals between the events are so short they need to patch people up quick, so that they can be ready the next day?"
While the two talked about the miracle of today's medicine, Natsu followed them down the stairs with a small frown, clearly deep in his own thoughts. He managed to cut off everything up until they reached the way too small infirmary room a couple minutes later, where he was knocked out of his trance by a scream let out by half the guild.
"That was one heck of a fight." Macao nodded with a smile.
"As expected of my Sis!" Elfman punched his hand and then grimaced in pain, some of his injuries still present, especially on his hands.
"I thought my heart would stop!" moaned Lisanna.
"I'm surprised you two haven't burned down there!" said Lucy.
When said all at once they were incoherent and loud, but everyone clearly meant to sing praises to the two women stuck to beds, both with a medic by their side, already wrapping them in bandages and pricking them with needles. Mirajane, who has just woken up, was definitely not thrilled to be greeted by this much noise after just coming back to earth.
"So noisy..." she groaned and shifted the compress on her forehead down to her eyes. "Leave it for the inn."
"I have to agree." said Erza with a guilty smile. "Right now I'd like some quiet. I'm sorry."
Makarov raised his hand. "No need, we understand. That wasn't just any guild, I'm sure fighting must have been the last thing on your mind down there."
"Thank you, Master." Erza bowed gently in her bed.
"We shall await you at the inn." he declared. "Tomorrow is a day off, so there is no need to go to bed early. Take as long as you need."
"Good job, you two." Laxus told them as the guild started to shuffle towards the exit one by one. "That really was something."
Mirajane groaned and threw her compress at his head, which he dodged with a smirk. His blonde head disappeared behind the door, leaving Lucy, Carla, who landed on Wendy's lap, and the remaining members of team Fairy Tail alone in the room.
"I'm gonna go, too." said Natsu, his face weird and sweaty. "I'll see you later."
Erza, who'd noticed he was looking at her weirdly ever since he came in simply smiled and nodded. "Okay. See you soon."
Natsu nodded to the rest of the room and left, gently closing the door behind him as if he was leaving a room full of sleeping babies.
"What's up with him?" asked Gray.
"What is ever not up with him?" snorted Mira.
"Good point."
"How are you feeling?" Lucy asked Erza and Mira.
"Very itchy." said Mira and hissed after her medic applied ointment to her burns. "And tired." she added.
"Tired, indeed." agreed Erza. "But liberated, if I were to use a term."
Gray pulled up a chair and sat on it backwards. "You finally come to terms with that chick?" he asked.
"I wouldn't say so, more like made less room for violence." she said after a thought. "Although she did try to cut my head off, so I'm not so sure."
"Mira, do you know that other person?" Lucy asked her and sat down on Erza's bed. "It sounded like he knew you."
"Maybe." she shrugged. "If what he said was true then I probably did tell him to piss off. I had many people coming up to me after I agreed to be interviewed by that paper years ago."
"And I've always kept telling you to not do that. Your story, even if heavily compressed, was inspiring to many people, who wanted to be acknowledged by you." Erza said with a frown.
"Look who's talking." Mira scoffed. "It was hard to take anything you said to heart back then, when you walked around covered in shit and blood all the time. You didn't listen to anyone, either."
"Before you go any further with this..." Gray threw in loudly enough to interrupt the women before they could escalate further "We have to decide what to do about the last day. Do we go in with the same team, or do you guys have other ideas?"
"I think Laxus should replace me." said Wendy. "We already have four strongest mages in the guild in our team, I'm just a burden."
"We'd be going full brute force, then." said Mira and massaged her freshly bandaged leg, the medic now wrapping up her head. "With you we can at least repair some damage during the fight."
"Yes, but that'd make her a primary target." added Erza.
"Wendy is strong enough to repel the attackers if it comes to that." said Carla.
"Well, I sure as hell don't want Wendy fighting against Jura." Gray laughed nervously, which seemed to have convinced the tabby.
"With Laxus joining you four there'd be a very small chance of losing." threw in Lucy. "I think that's the right choice."
"It's settled, then." Erza said and moved her shoulder around to assess how much she could move around with the cut on her chest stitched and patched up. "I'll speak to Laxus this evening." she added and Requipped into more casual clothes composing of a plain white buttoned-up shirt with short sleeves, blue shorts, her red wristbands she received from Natsu and a hair tie that put her hair up into a ponytail. Her medic was taking her gloves of and gathering the bloodied gauze and bandage, done with her work.
"You good to go?" Gray asked and stood up from his chair.
"Yes, I think so." said the knight and stretched with a moan. "Thank you." she smiled at the medic, who smiled back and closed her bag.
"I'm starving, let's get something to eat before we go back to the inn. I know a nice place that should be quiet this time of the day." suggested Lucy, which the gang agreed with.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up with you." Mira said from her bed.
"Alright. See you later."
As her friends left the room Mira's medic put a finishing touch to her wounds, and was now cleaning the mess. Mira stretched, hissed in pain and annoyance, and jumped off the bed. She felt like she weighed 2 tons, but her balance was just fine. She put her uniform on her bandaged body and left the infirmary with a loud and clear "Thanks." to her medic, who simply waved her goodbye.
Mira closed the door and looked at the hair tie in her hand. Too tired to use it, she left her usually tied hair loose and marched through the corridor. As she walked she stumbled upon a door being open, with Emilia walking out into the hallway, along with more staff. The two women looked at each other briefly, before Emilia averted her gaze back to the staff and walked with them in the opposite direction. Mirajane raised her eyebrows ever so gently and was just about to walk away, but noticed the door was open. Hesitating for a moment, she released a deep sigh and entered the room.
It was almost empty, just as she expected, with but one person laying in bed, his gaze locked on the window. Upon Mira's entrance, Svenar looked in her direction, only to have his expression grow sour and his eyes go back to the window.
"What do you want?" he asked tiredly.
"Not here to boast, if that's what you think." she said and crossed her arms on her chest. "I just wanted to ask you something."
Svenar looked at her, which she took as a good sign.
"Your parents...That story true?" she asked.
He frowned. "Yeah, what of it?" he asked, his tone growing lightly hostile.
Mira shrugged. "Nothing, it just reminded me of how mine abandoned me and my siblings as soon as I showed signs of my magic. I don't even remember what they looked like, to be honest."
Svenar's frown deepened. "If you came here to mock me-"
"I'm here to show you there's never been a single reason for you to be jealous of me." she cut him off sternly. "Your childhood sucked, I get it. It sucked when mine didn't. But it goes the other way too, you know? I told you, people see what you let them see."
"Are you asking me to take pity on you?" Svenar asked.
"I am asking you to take your head out of your ass and realise, that no Take Over Mage has an easy life." said Mira. "I'm sorry I pushed you away that one day, I was wrong. But it was also wrong of you to assume so many things about me after just one encounter. You made it your sole purpose in life, hell, you even tried to kill me and my friends because of that. Maybe if you gave me a chance to pour my heart out to you like you did to me today, that could have helped you see my point of view easier."
"Why do you care about what I think of you?" Svenar asked after a moment of silence.
"Because I'm starting to think someone is trying to use your grudges against my guild for their own dirty use." Mira said. "And I am sick of using violence to deal with things that can clearly be resolved through talking. If Erza and that friend of yours can bury the hatchet through talking, why can't the rest of us?"
Svenar contemplated her words for a minute. He swallowed some spit with his dry throat and looked at his lap.
"My parents used this magic to heal people." he said. "They couldn't do what I can do, but they could do what I can't. They could heal others, but not themselves. We traveled from village to village and helped people. Not everyone appreciated our help, though. There have been rumors spreading, our reputation was always rocky. "The freak family." they called us, one that uses witchcraft and steals people's souls in exchange for health. Healing Magic is Lost, and my parents would always say they weren't using it, which didn't help that much."
Mira listened in silence, her focused eyes glued to his face.
"One day, we arrived at this one village that was already aware of us, but they have still welcomed us. The mayor's daughter was sick. I knew they would have told us to turn around if they couldn't find use for my parents, but they wanted to help. My parents tried everything, but the daughter's condition would just not get better. The people were growing hostile, afraid. One evening, my flames turned on subconsciously and I burned down a barn full of cattle, all of it gone within seconds. The village was lost without it, and in their rage they tried to punish me, but my parents begged for forgiveness, that I didn't mean to. Obviously I told the folk so, but they didn't listen. My parents could not use the flames for offense, even if they could they never would have. So I've watched them being skewered by pitchforks before my own eyes."
Mira closed her eyes. "What did you do with the town folk?" she asked.
"Nothing." he said with a hollow voice. "I grabbed my parents and ran, burned them by a cliff and buried them under a tree. They've always said that's how they'd like to be buried, so that they could give back to nature in death."
"And after that you found out about me."
"Yeah."
Mira leaned against the wall. "Me and my siblings almost ended up on pitchforks, too, if it hadn't been for Fairy Tail." she told Svenar. "Hell, one day I had gotten sick of being chased, after years of abuse and alienation. I almost went berserk on the villagers after they hurt my sister, but someone stopped me and took us in. I can't imagine what I would have done if she died. By just walking away you proved you are a much better person than I am. Don't just let yourself be manipulated and exploited."
"What do you mean?" Svenar asked.
"Every single member of your guild has something against mine, some old grudge that pushes you lot over the brink and drives you. All I'm saying is, maybe it's time to think for yourself for a change. As I said, no Take Over user has an easy life, we all suffer at one point or another. You just have to make best of that and try not to fall to their level." she said and stood straight up. She turned towards the door and was just about to walk out, before turning back one more time. "You said you were jealous of me - you have no reason to be. You already have everything I have. You just have to see it."
With that said Mirajane was gone, leaving confused Svenar all to himself. As the Demon walked the corridor, she was watched by Emilia, who emerged from behind the corner, her face that of someone who's been given food for thought.
A sound of clapping echoed from behind her and upon turning around Mirajane's face soured at the sight of Ivan, who was just a few meters away from Svenar's door.
"Touching, truly touching, miss Mirajane." he said mockingly. "I wasn't aware you had such a delicate and kind side to you."
Mira merely scowled and was just about to resume walking away, until Ivan said something that made her blood boil.
"I wish to thank you for cheering my dear Svenar up. I'm sure he will appreciate these kind words when he's locked in his room thinking about how he failed me and everything I've done to him."
Mira grit her teeth so hard she almost chipped one of them and ran across the hallway so fast Ivan couldn't even react. She grabbed him by the collar of his robe and smashed him against the wall.
"These people are not your property, you scumfuck bastard!" she roared into his face and raised him up the wall so much, that his feet have left the ground. "You've always been like this, treating people like trash and something you could just use! Have you ever gave a shit about anyone in your life?!"
Ivan looked her in the eye, his own showing an unusual sign of life. "I have." he said with a deadpan.
His reply caught Mira off-guard. She heard steps and upon looking to the side noticed Emilia, with her hand on the handle of Nemesis, who watched the scene with an expression that, to Mirajane, looked like that of someone, who didn't want to do their duties.
With a loud "Tsk." she let Ivan drop to the floor and resumed walking, still shaken up. She passed Emilia, who merely gave her a look and walked away towards Ivan.
"Are you all right?" she asked her Master and tried to help him up.
Ivan swatted her hand away with anger and got back to his feet. He adjusted his robe and cleared his throat. "Gather everyone in my chambers tonight. It's time we entered the final phase." he said with a cold voice and entered Svenar's room, leaving Emilia alone with her silent fury.
Natsu kicked a can on the side of the road and watched it fly into a trashcan. He marched the streets of Crocus with his hands in his pockets and his face the shade of red. Truth to be told, be felt embarrassed and disappointed. All he wanted to do was run up to Erza and give her the tightest hug he'd ever given her. He was proud of his girlfriend, and he wanted to show it true to his heart, but at the end of the day, he froze.
And he knew why.
For months he was convinced his old life was over when his right hand connected with Silva's temple. It was only until recently that he truly acknowledged, that it happened a couple minutes later, when he chose a different path and allowed himself to be talked out of delivering the finishing blow. Ever since that moment he felt lost, unsure who he was.
He was Salamander for so long his real name sounded wrong when spoken out loud. Each action cemented his new persona as the dominating one, and it wasn't until the very end that he realized, that who he was prior to all that was almost gone. He didn't see that as an issue, he enjoyed his own company. He rarely spoke to others, he had no friends, no one who could have told the difference. But that later did end up becoming an issue, when people started to pour themselves into his heart against his will, and before he knew it, he was no longer alone. He was, however, the same disconnected from reality kid, who forgot how society and people work. And that has been his problem ever since.
No matter who it is, no matter how close they were, with the exception of a few rare occasions, he'd always find it artificial and difficult to interact with others. Each of his actions came with self-doubt and uncertainty. The idea of adapting and flowing with the situation would always backfire - at the end of the day, he'd simply sit quietly and say no more than ten words for the entire evening, just how he would have in his days as Salamander. If he happened to break through that, he'd receive weird looks based on the wrong reaction or words to what was happening. If he happened to act based on emotions, he risked revealing the side he wished to bury.
He spent the entirety of Grand Magic Games quietly observing and listening to his comrades, yet no matter how hard he tried he'd always be left on the sidelines.
His constant chase after their approval was exhausting, and the inability to find the balance needed to obtain it was slowly turning him bitter. He may have made progress with finding the resolve to fight for the right cause with necessary means, but he was still stuck on how to be an actual person. And it scared him.
Just how Mira said, there was always something "up" with him. To others he may look composed and distanced. In reality, he's confused and stressed.
Upon entering the park, his train of thought was interrupted by a ball hitting his face. He massaged his nose in annoyance and looked down to see a small boy, probably no older than 7, with a messy head of blonde hair pick the ball up. The boy straightened his back and looked up at Natsu. "I'm sorry!" he said.
"No problem." said Natsu and passed the boy, who stared at him curiously.
"Are you that fire guy from the Games?" the kid asked.
Natsu turned to look at him. "Yeah, that's me."
The boy's face lit up with joy. "That's awesome! Could you sign my ball?" he asked and put the ball in Natsu's face.
"Sign?" asked unsure Natsu.
"Yeah! I try to get as many signs of mages from the Games as possible! So far I've got the sword lady, the other sword lady, the black lightning guy and the iron dragon!" he beamed.
Natsu frowned. "The iron dragon? But he's not even..." he started, but decided to drop it as soon as the kid's smile started to fade. "Nevermind. You got a pen?"
After being handed a pen, Natsu grabbed the ball and started to write his name on it, carefully spelling it in his head. It's been a while since he had his literature training, and it showed."
"Are you okay?" the boy asked. "You're writing slow."
"It's difficult for some people!" snapped embarrassed Natsu and finished the signature in a rush. He handed the boy the ball with his name written on it and a small flame right next to it. The boy's smile came back and he run off with a thank you. Natsu waved his hand in goodbye and walked to a bench. He sat down with a sigh and went back to thinking, still nowhere close to an answer.
A few minutes later he got hit with a ball yet again, to which he reacted with a delayed reaction. It turned out to be the very same boy, who apologized once again.
"Wait, are you playing with the ball I signed?" Natsu asked with a small note of outrage in his voice.
"Nope." the boy said. "I always bring two balls, in case I meet someone who can sign one of them!"
"Smart." nodded Natsu.
The boy stared at his face for a good while and jumped up to sit next to him on the bench, much to Natsu's confusion.
"How'd you get that scar?" asked the boy and pointed at Natsu's face.
"From a bad guy." said Natsu and ran his finger through the scar.
"Oh. Looks painful."
"It was." nodded Natsu. "He used this spell that concentrates wind into a single point and can slice through many things."
"Wow." gasped the boy in awe. "I didn't know you could do that!"
"And these..." Natsu said as he rolled up his left sleeve and showed the scars running up his forearm from the wrist up to his elbow. "Are also from that bad guy,. He used wind to give me these, too."
"Was it one of the guys from the Games?" the boy asked.
"No." Natsu shook his head. "He's in jail now."
"Oh. They're cool."
"Honestly? I sometimes think so, too. But I don't tell anyone."
"Why?"
"Adults don't always like the same things as kids." said Natsu, which must have hit the boy harder than it should, judging by his understanding expression.
"And what about these?" he pointed at Natsu's wrists.
"I think you're too young to hear about those." Natsu said with a small laugh.
"Aw, come on!" the boy moaned and wiggled his legs hanging off the bench.
"No way, kid."
Having given up, the boy sulked in his seat and the two sat in silence for a good minute or two. Surprised he was still here despite the heartbreak, Natsu looked at the boy and asked him a question he wished to ask many other people, but was too afraid to do so.
"Aren't you scared of me?" he asked.
"Not really." the boy shook his head. "My parents are, though. They say you're a monster and that I shouldn't watch when you're in the Games."
"How old are you?"
"Eight."
Makes sense. thought Natsu with a sarcastic scoff. "And you don't think I am? A monster?" he asked the boy.
"No, because you're not scary." he shook his head again. "You look a little distant and weird, but you're a good guy and you have cool magic. My parents don't know you, I think that's why they call you that. Do you want to meet them?"
"I think I shouldn't." Natsu deadpanned. "And you shouldn't tell them we talked, either. You might get in trouble."
"I get into trouble all the time, so it makes no difference."
Natsu laughed out lout. "That's still a no."
The boy sighed and jumped off the bench. "I knew it, even cool adults are boring."
Natsu frowned. "You're weird." he said.
"I know." said the boy and picked up his ball. He was then called to by a couple, who immediately froze upon seeing who he was hanging out with. The dad called out to his son, pale as milk, and the boy waved Natsu goodbye, before running off to meet with his terrified parents. Natsu waved him back and watched the family leave the park so fast their shoes left trails of dust in the air with amusement.
His expression then changed from joy to that of someone, who'd just crapped their pants. He narrowed his eyes and looked at his hands, his mind full of enlightenment and conviction, that he'd just found the answer he was looking for.
The conversation he just had was one of those few times he did not, in fact, feel fake and out of place. He wasn't trying to get along with that boy, he just did. He remembered all of the previous times he had this feeling and shot up from the bench with all the pieces falling into place inside his head, before turning on his heel to run back to the arena while calling himself an idiot for failing to see something so simple. The sun going down in the horizon peeked out from behind the clouds to blind him, as if laughing at him for taking so long. He had to come clean with what he'd just come up with, and it could not wait.
For it was a good half a year overdue.
Makarov tapped his finger on the armrest of his wheelchair, the shadows slowly devouring him along with the city in those few minutes before the street lights would light up. He was anxious and impatient, the person he was waiting for late by whole five minutes. Normally such a trivial thing would not bother the old Master, but the situation called for such responsibility with a loud bellow.
He noticed three shadows approaching him from the darkness, which eased up his anxiety by just a bit. He turned with his chair to face Crime Sorciere, who dropped their hoods.
"I apologize for the delay. We're not exactly allowed to take the streets." said Ultear with an apologetic smile.
"I understand." said Makarov. "Let's get this over with, I don't think my old heart can wait for much longer."
"Don't say that, we might get another charge to our list." Meredy chuckled nervously.
"As I've stated in my note, this is about your son and his guild." said Jellal.
Makarov sighed deeply. "Of course it is."
"We have no actual, reliable proof of my suspicions, but I've figured it is only fair to relay everything to you." said Jellal.
"You do."
All four quickly turned towards the nearby alley, alert and ready to fight. Ultear cursed herself in her mind for not paying more attention, already planning to hone her skills back into shape first chance she got.
Rorge's bony, bearded face emerged from the alley, his hands in the air. "I am not here to fight." he said tiredly. His voice was hoarse and he was sweating, so much, that his robes were soaked in the armpit area.
"Who are you?" asked him Jellal.
Makarov narrowed his eyes. "Rorge, was it? Is that you?" he asked.
"Yes." replied the man and lowered his hands. "I am surprised you remember me."
"You were Ivan's only friend during his days in Fairy Tail, that feat alone would make anyone memorable." chuckled the elder.
Rorge gave him a faint smile and turned to Crime Sorciere. "If you want proof of whatever it is you suspect us of, I'll vouch for it. I was going to tell you anyway."
Jellal narrowed his eyes. "Why would you do it? What's in it for you?" he asked cautiously.
Rorge's eyes sharpened. "I don't want to send innocent people to death." he said truthfully. "I want no further part in what Ivan is plotting, I've done plenty already. I was drawn in at first, true, but the more details I received the more horrified I was. I don't want anything to do with that."
"And what would that plot be?" asked him Ultear. "We will not reveal anything first. If you truly wish to come clean, do it."
"That's fair." Rorge nodded. "I can do this. I meant it when I said I want to help."
"Speak." ordered him Jellal.
Rorge took a deep breath and looked at Makarov. "Ivan wants to bring his wife back to life." he said.
The Master's eyes widened in shock upon the revelation. He looked at Jellal and the rest, whose expressions only confirmed it as true. He pinched the bridge of his nose and massaged it tiredly. "And he wants to use Fairy Heart for this purpose." he added.
"'Yes." confirmed Rorge. "He's planning on using his two teams to weaken several powerful mages from Grand Magic Games and then apprehend them once they are over. He would then feed their magic to that crystal in order to wake it up. The process would kill those people."
"Who's on his list?" asked him Ultear.
"Many." scoffed nervously Rorge. "Titania, Salamander, Jura, Laxus, The Twin Dragons, Bacchus...People he considers to be strong enough to kickstart the crystal into use."
"Laxus?" frowned Meredy in disgust. "His own son?!"
"He blames him for her death." said Rorge. "Calls him a thief, for stealing the dragon lacrima he'd obtained years ago. He got it for this exact purpose, so if he got to sacrifice Laxus, that'd feel like paying a debt."
Makarov grasped his heart with a pained expression. "You've wanted to do this for that long?!" he muttered under his breath in disbelief.
Ultear patted the elder on his back. Jellal turned to Rorge. "What about his own guild?" he asked.
Rorge gulped. "He wants to sacrifice them, too. At first he told me they were off limits, but that changed rather quickly. He recruited B Team specifically because he saw them as easy targets, based on history and so on. Then I found out he was raising A Team for this very purpose from the start."
"Why not sacrifice you, too?" asked him Meredy.
Rorge shrugged. "For all I know he thinks of me as talentless trash, as far as magic goes." he said. "I may be wrong, though. He did put me in as a substitute for you, Jellal." he said with a small grudge in his voice. "He knows you've used him for your own benefit."
"Those children..." Makarov said. "He nurtured them to hate Fairy Tail, so that he could use them and then stab them in the back at the end?" he asked Rorge, as if pleading the man to say he heard wrong.
"Yes." nodded Rorge, much to Makarov's dismay. After a long pause he knelt by the elder's side. "It might be hard to believe, but they are good kids. They aren't evil, they don't enjoy cruelty, they were just brainwashed since they were little. Albert is different, but he's not a bad guy, either. Even as a bandit he had more guts and honor than some noble knights in shining armor. "
"Is your guild willing to take part in this?" Jellal asked.
"Probably not, but they can't say it." said Rorge. "Especially B Team. For some reason whenever they try to oppose Ivan, he shuts them down with a single glare. I know who those people are, and it makes no sense for these strong individuals to listen to a guy like him."
"I think you can." said bitterly Ultear. "You-"
Jellal raised his hand to stop her. "Are you sure you don't know why these people obey Ivan?"
"I can't for the life of me think of one reason." Rorge shook his head. "They joined to take revenge on Fairy Tail, but ever since then they've shown how much they hate to be under someone like Ivan. And yet, no matter how hard they smash the tables and threaten to kill him, it takes him just a second to tame them."
"Is that the same way with the other group?"
"No, they've been giving him smack since they were kids. With them it looks more natural, he's disciplined them well enough. They still hate his guts, too, though,"
Jellal looked at Ultear, who finally realized what was his point. Even someone like Rorge didn't know everything there was to this situation.
"There must be something we can do." Makarov said after a pause. "I should warn my kids and the other guilds."
"Something is already happening." Jellal told him reassuringly. "A Council Captain is on it, too. He's managed to convince his superiors to inspect Raven Tail's Headquarters. We have the testimony of...Rorge, was it?" he asked the redhead, who nodded. "And Rustyrose. I'm sure others will join, too, once everything is over."
"Rustyrose?" Rorge asked, surprised. "He's working with you?"
"Yes. His magic allowed him to bypass...whatever it is Ivan is using to subjugate others to his will. It is only thanks to him we know of the situation."
Jellal avoided the daggers Ultear sent him with her eyes. The fewer people knew about his suspicions, the better. Something of this caliber could easily stir panic and bring unnecessary attention.
He squatted in front of Makarov and looked him in the eyes. "I know it is a lot to take. I apologize, no father should ever hear something like this about their son."
Makarov nodded gently with gratitude. "Just when I finally think he's reached the bottom he somehow manages to go beyond..." he muttered tiredly.
"It's getting late." said Meredy and put her hood back on. "Let's split. I'm sure this was a lot to process, we wouldn't want to hold you up too long." she said to Makarov.
"It is fine, young lady." he said and straightened his back. "I am glad I've heard all this. I wish to take part in that search of yours, if it's no trouble." he said to Jellal.
"I'll ask." he said. "It's meant to happen the morning after Day 5 of the Games."
"Very well. I shall leave as soon as the Games are concluded."
"As for you..." Ultear turned to Rorge. "There is a high chance you will be prosecuted alongside Ivan, granted what you've told us is true."
"I am aware." said the man. "I've done many despicable things against your guild over the years, but even I have my limits. I'd never take someone's life, or take part in it." he said to Makarov.
"My son could turn even the most noble men off the right path." the elder said. "Sometimes, in the eyes of people, a single action can overshadow countless of those, that came before it. You have both my gratitude, and forgiveness. I hope your future will be brighter than your past."
The streetlamps have finally been turned on. Rorge swallowed some spit and bowed to the Master, his pale, bony face overtaken with emotions. He then nodded to Crime Sorciere and left, his robe disappearing into the streets of Crocus.
"Do you need help getting back to the inn?" Meredy asked.
"Not at all. I can get back by myself." he said. "Now scram, you naughty brats. I don't want to be seen with you."
Although they knew he was joking, they took it to heart and left as fast as they could. Makarov took a deep breath and started to stroll towards the inn, with a lot on his mind to think over.
"When did you intend to tell us?" asked a voice.
Makarov stopped and closed his eyes tiredly. "I should have known you would follow me, Laxus." he said in amusement.
Laxus walked to his grandfather with his arms crossed on his chest. "What are we going to do, gramps? Are you going to tell everyone what's going on?" he asked.
"I shall leave that up to you." said Makarov and looked his grandson in the eye. "It's about time I start letting you make decisions as important as this on your own."
Although taken back, Laxus nodded slowly. "All right. We'll keep this a secret until the very end. If there is a countermeasure at play already, there's not much point in making everyone worry about it."
"If that's what you wish, so be it."
"I am coming with you, though. To the guild."
"That's fine."
Laxus sighed. "Let's get you back to the inn. It will take you years to get there by yourself."
"I did a very fine job getting here myself, mind you."
"You left 3 hours ago."
Makarov grumbled under his beard as Laxus pushed him towards the inn at pace much greater than what the elder could achieve. They marched through the streets of Crocus, the lights turning on one after another as they strolled while bickering.
Erza stretched outside of the inn, the cold, night air chilling her overheated body. The combination of alcohol, laughing and an overcrowded inn have managed to make even someone like the great Titania feel nauseous. The knight leaned on the railing and closed her eyes to enjoy the cool breeze wash the heat off.
After a while she heard some noise and looked to her right, where she spotted someone in the distance, his pink hair reflecting the light under each lamp he passed.
"There you are." she said to Natsu. Before she could even straighten her back properly he rammed her with a hug that almost knocked her off her feet.
"What's up with that?" she asked him while laughing and hugged him back. He almost never initiated physical contact with her.
Natsu pulled away and looked Erza in the eyes so intensely she was certain she blushed. "I just felt like it." he said.
"O-oh. I see."
"See, I wanted to talk to you about this." he said and let her go. "Truth is, I wanted to do this in the infirmary."
"The hug?" she frowned. "Is that why you were staring at me like that?"
Natsu nodded. "I wanted to show just how proud of you I was, but... I just couldn't do it. I was too focused on what others might think."
"I see." she said slowly, slightly confused.
"But then I realized: this has always been my problem." he continued "Ever since I joined the guild I could never figure out how to interact with others, because I didn't have to interact with anyone for over seven years. I forgot how to be genuine and honest."
"I think I know the feeling." Erza said with mild amusement.
"Every time I tried to make conversations I didn't know how to do it, so I'd try out different personalities. One day I'd try to be talkative, the other sarcastic, but all of them felt wrong, and everyone was just looking at me weird."
Erza snorted into her hand, which threw him off. He raised his eyebrows, while she waved her hand in apology while still laughing. "No, sorry...Go on." she said.
"Right." he said and resumed his train of thought. "I was trying to fit in and be accepted by others so much, that I was beginning to lose hope. But then, someone helped me see what my problem was; I wasn't speaking from my heart. Instead of being honest, I'd just worry about how what I say may affect others, and shut it down, which only made things difficult for myself. So, from now on-"
"Natsu." she interrupted him and put her finger on his lips. "It's my turn, for now."
The Dragon Slayer nodded, which Erza smiled at.
"The reason everyone was weirded out by you was precisely because you were trying to be someone you were not. They thought you were trying to be funny, in a very unsuccessful way. We all know the real you and we have seen him many times, I more than most. You don't need anyone's approval, Natsu. You've had it for a very long time now, I was simply hoping you'd see it by yourself." she said tenderly.
Natsu's eyes widened, as he went through his memories. She was right, there were several moments, where he was treated on par with everyone else, by almost everyone in the guild. Why did he not see it before?!
"Your emotional range is...unusual, to put it simply." she continued and ran her hand across his chest. "But I understand that more than anyone. Who we once were never goes away, it will always remain a part of us. We simply have to make some room for them, and welcome them in our hearts. So you can be cynical, angry, happy, or sad, but as long as it comes from within here it will always be the real you." she said and tapped his chest. "Not something you created in here and tried out on your friends." she added with a laugh and flicked his forehead.
Natsu massaged his forehead and smiled. "So...That's what I'm gonna do. Let my heart decide." he declared.
"You have my full support." Erza said with a smile.
Natsu pulled her in and kissed her, much harder than usual. After what felt like a minute he let her go and then looked at the inn, where his friends were fighting amongst each other.
"My heart is telling me I want to go in and knock some heads in." he smirked.
"As long as you don't break anything." she told him, and with a nod Natsu entered the inn and immediately proceeded to throw Mirajane over the room right into Gray.
Erza smiled at the sight of the Demon yelling at him across the room, with Natsu yelling something about a payback back. For reasons unknown, Erza felt like some weight was taken off her chest, and with a loud, pleasant sigh she looked at the moon in peace.
November 27th, Domus Flau
The fireworks shook the entire city as a signal of the opening of the last day of Grand Magic Games. The usually packed arena was even more crowded, and every available pub and in its proximity was full of customers, with ale in hand and their eyes glued to projector lacrimas.
The guilds had all spent their day off in practically the same way: coming up with a strategy to turn the tables around and achieve victory. They were now standing in a circle around the arena, awaiting for the instructions.
Fairy Tail was wearing their usual blue and white uniforms, with Laxus throwing his trademark furry coat over the shirt. Natsu has also ditched his grey clothes for a blue jacket with a cut-out for his right shoulder, white pants with a black belt and black shoes. Erza was wearing the uniform she's been wearing every day thus far, only now she openly wore her red wristbands over the sleeves of her top and tied her hair in a ponytail.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen!" Lola greeted the excited crowd happily. "Welcome to the fifth and final day of this year's Grand Magic Games!" he announced as the fireworks erupted yet again together with the crowd.
Kabo entered the center of the arena via a lift that emerged from underground and greeted the crowd with an eager bow.
"Talk about flashy." Cana snorted with amusement.
"Well, it is the end, after all." said Lucy.
"It's really exciting to watch with everyone." Wendy said with a wide smile.
"You're about to see how loud it gets here, too." Carla said from her lap.
"I can't believe ice-brain is still down there, but I didn't even get a chance." Gajeel choked out and wiped a tear from his eye.
"Gajeel, it's okay..." Levy tried to comfort the depressed Dragon Slayer. "You still have a chance next year!"
"Stop whining, Gajeel. It's unlike you." scolded him Pantherlily.
"I told you you'd get your turn." Makarov told him. "Stop sulking and just listen."
The elder shifted his eyes towards his son, who sat by himself. He looked unusually nervous, and knowing the reason made the old Master's gut turn.
Are you really going through with this, Ivan?
Down in the arena, Gray nudged Erza with his elbow. "Is it just me or do they look a bit off?"
The knight followed his finger and looked at Raven Tail. Both of their teams looked worn out, their eyes dry and bloodshot. It was almost as if they hadn't slept last night. Their usually confident demeanor was gone, now replaced with nervous fidgeting and their eyes glued to their shoes.
Laxus watched his team examine their opponents. "Focus on yourselves. Thinking about others won't get you anywhere." he said sternly, which they took to heart.
Natsu walked up to Laxus. "You sure you're still fine with it?" he asked him.
"Define which one you're asking me about."
"Both."
"Yeah, it makes sense. They are going to either avoid you, or ambush you as soon as possible, same with me, so giving the leader to Erza makes sense. As for the other one, sure, go ahead. I'm not that petty."
Natsu grinned. "All right, thanks."
"I assume you got the hang of it?" asked him Laxus.
"More or less. I still can't output as much as I'd like to, though." Natsu scratched the back of his head.
"What are they talking about?" Mirajane asked Gray, who shrugged, just as not in the know.
Erza smirked. "You'll find out." she said playfully, which gently annoyed them.
Sting stared at Natsu across the arena, his fists clenched.
"You'll drill a hole in him if you keep this up." said Orga playfully.
"Has he even slept last night?" Rufus asked Rogue.
"Not al all." sighed the Dragon Slayer. "I think he doesn't even realize he was talking to himself, either."
"Cease this pointless blabber." ordered them Minerva. "We are not here to play. We are here to remind everyone, that we are the strongest guild in Fiore, no matter what cost. Act the part."
Her guild said nothing, well aware talking back would resolve nothing.
"This sure makes your blood pump, right, Mr. Jura?" Sherria asked with a smile.
"It most certainly does." replied the Wizard Saint with a smile.
"I feel sorry for other guilds." Lyon shook his head.
"We're going wild today, boys!" Bacchus rallied his guild, who replied with a loud howl.
Kagura glared at Erza from across the arena in silence. Her grip on Archenemy might have been too strong, for the fabric on its hilt was getting twisted to the point of a gentle tear.
"Welcome to the final day of the Games!" Kabo announced and took the cheering in with a smile underneath his mask. "Today's theme will be a well known to all Battle Royale! All eight guilds will face off in an all out battle to determine who leaves with the trophy! You will battle in the exact replica of Crocus placed several kilometers outside of the city. You will be free to go all out without worrying about damage!"
"Makes sense, the city would be a ruin towards the end." Hibiki nodded slowly.
"Each guild was instructed to select a leader. Said leader will be worth 5 points! Everyone else will be worth 1 point each. Defeating someone in battle, that is rendering them unconscious, unable to fight, or forcing them to forfeit, equals taking over their points. The guilds with the most points at the end wins!" Kabo explained further.
"So, even if a guild is the last one standing they are not guaranteed victory." Lucy deduced.
"Additionally, we are introducing a new rule! Each guild will be able to take one of their members off the field in exchange for 3 points. Said member can be replaced with a different participant, who will take their place!"
"What?" Cana frowned. "How does that make sense?"
"If someone is too worn out to fight they can be easily defeated and become points for other guilds. But if they were to leave on their own, no one else would get the points. I think..." Lucy said sheepishly.
"Lost points can be retrieved, but given may remain in the hands of the enemy." said Pantherlily.
"Unless they substitute someone, too." added Lucy.
"This rule must have been created with leaders in mind." said Levy. "If a leader falls the enemy gets 5 points, which turn into 2 if they also exchange someone. Nothing will take those points back. I think it's better to lose 3 points and make up for them, than give up 5 to someone else."
Gajeel punched his palm. "Now we're talking!" he said, suddenly full of energy. "Master, if any of them can't keep up I'm jumping right in!" he declared to Makarov.
"Very well." said the elder.
"Now, then, let us commence! Please step into your designated circle and await the relocation!" the referee told the guilds.
All eight teams stepped into the white circle in front of them and braced for the upcoming challenge. Erza stared Raven Tail down one last time before everything went blurry and a moment later she was standing outside of a tavern she'd walked past several times the past few days.
"Let the countdown begin!" said Lola and a giant number 60 appeared above the city, which was now counting down to 0.
"It's time." Gray breathed out nervously and cracked his knuckles. "We should stick together." he said.
"I'm going on ahead." Natsu announced and stretched his shoulders above his head. "You all can stay together."
"Nah, I'm going, too." said Laxus.
"Me too." Mira said.
"So be it." nodded Erza.
Makarov tiredly dragged his hand across his face, while his guild laughed.
With 20 seconds left, Erza took a deep breath and gently slapped her face with her hands.
"Let's do this." she told her team. "Good luck to you all."
"If you go down, make sure to drag someone with you." Gray smirked.
"Otherwise don't show your face in the guild ever again." Mira added playfully.
Natsu took a deep breath. "Let's go!" he roared with excitement as the gong echoed and just like that all five dashed in opposite directions into the fake city. Natsu cut through the alley in quick fashion and started to work his nose to its absolute fullest, the scents falling into place already.
All eight teams scattered across the city in search of opponents, some of them lucky, or unlucky enough, to find one right behind the very first block.
"And there they go, the final day of the Games is officially on!" Lola announced with excitement.
"I am looking forward to everyone's performances." Yajima said with a smile.
"And it looks like we won't have to wait for long! Quatro Cerberus' Nobarly and Jaeger found Raven Tail B's Rorge!" Lola said while everyone watched the fight on the viewing lacrima.
"Just my damn luck, huh?!" Rorge grumbled under his nose and did his best to avoid the spells of his two opponents, who looked very pleased to be in this situation.
"Make this easy for us and give up!" Jaeger said and started to grow a plant behind his back to attack with, but before he could even do it his face met the ground, as someone kicked him in the back of the head and buried him in the concrete, his consciousness cut off before he even landed.
"Wha-" Nobarly gasped in shock but was struck in the solar plexus before he could even think of a counterattack, his limp body falling on top of Jaegers.
Rorge blinked in confusion and within that very short moment the attacker managed to cut the distance and block the man's field of view with his head of pink hair, as his fist landed flush on Rorge's chin and knocked him back into a nearby wall, which he slid down off onto the ground, defeated.
Natsu breathed out slowly and straightened his back, pleased with his work.
"Fairy Tail's Natsu swoops down and defeats all three of them in just a few seconds!" Lola announced to the pumped crowd. "Fairy Tail receives 3 points!"
Fairy Tail has bumped up by two spots and was currently leading the competition with 57 points, 2 more than Sabertooth. His guild was overwhelmed with joy, as they cheered louder than anyone in their proximity.
"This will be easy work!" Macao said with confidence. "They can't lose!"
Natsu watched his defeated opponents vanish in thin air, most likely already in the infirmary. He was just about to leave when he heard something and unleashed his flames just in time to protect himself from a wave of purging black fire that swept down the entire alley and swallowed it whole.
Once they calmed down, Natsu dispelled his own flames and revealed his rid of damage self to his attacker. He narrowed his eyes tiredly at his sight. "You again?" he asked.
Zancrow grinned and set his hands ablaze once again, ready to unleash another spell. "I'm surprised you canceled that out, Salamander! I thought you'd be sprawled on the ground, like you used to!" he taunted with a cackle.
"It's him again." Wendy said nervously.
"Yet another opponent for Natsu! We are about to witness yet another battle between a God and Dragon Slayer!" Lola said.
"If you want, I can point you in Laxus' direction." Natsu told Zancrow calmly. "Isn't he higher on your shitlist?"
"I will get him, once I deal with you." Zancrow licked his lips. Natsu frowned at the sight. He looked even more unhinged than usual, his eyes dosing heavy bags under them and his skin pale. He appeared to have lost some weight, too, his clothes hanging off of him as if they were a size too big.
"I guess there's no stopping you." Natsu said and readied himself for the upcoming attack, as Zancrow leaped in the air and threw a kick. Natsu ducked under it and retaliated with a kick of his own, one that knocked Zancrow into a building to their left. Natsu quickly stepped in and threw a right straight, which Zancrow dodged and tried to counter, but failed in doing so, for Natsu jumped back and avoided the black flames.
"Fight like a man, Dragon Hunter!" he nervously roared on top of his lungs and raised his hands before his chest.
FIRE GOD'S PURGATORY!
FIRE DRAGON'S PURGATORY!
The black flames crashed into red flames, as they splashed to the sides and consumed everything in their path. Windows cracked and blew up under the pressure and heat and everything made out of wood was already turning to ash. The lacrima monitoring the fight barely avoided being caught in cross-fire, its picture distorted and bright, which made telling what was going on impossible for everyone in the arena.
After a short while the flames began to subdue and both mages canceled their attacks, neither able to overthrow the other. Zancrow grit his teeth in fury and dropped his hands down to his waist, his fists clenching hard.
"Woah." Lucy commented on the exchange.
"That one may have been bigger than the one on Tenrou." said Carla.
"No, I don't think so." she replied, much to everyone's shock.
"You bastard...my spell..." Zancrow growled under his breath, furious with Natsu.
The Dragon Slayer lowered his hands as well and took a deep breath. "Sorry, it's a habit of mine. I seem to subconsciously copy those, who've had an impact on my mind."
Zancrow began to laugh. "I see, so that's how it is! The defeat still hurts you, doesn't it?!" ha cackled and lit up his entire body in purging flames. "Allow me to remind you of that fear, Salamander!"
Suddenly, Natsu disappeared. Before Zancrow could even shift his eyes someplace else to look for him, he was staring right into a pair of onyx eyes staring deep into his soul.
"I wouldn't count on that."
Natsu's fist connected with Zancrow's stomach and made him buckle in agony, his flames dispelling in an instant and blood dripping from his open mouth onto his shoes and the ground. With yet another hit, this time to the temple, Natsu blew the God Slayer aside right into a window of a nearby house, which he fell through and landed inside.
Zancrow coughed and pushed pieces of furniture off of his body. He stared out the window in pure confusion. How did he do that? He just vanished in thin air! And that trick of his...it's even stronger than it used to be!
Zancrow stood up and spat aside, now climbing down the window. He glared at Natsu with hateful eyes, but couldn't stop thinking just how stronger and more coolheaded the Dragon Slayer has become. If he's like that, then maybe I could...
"You're gonna have to try better than that!" he said to Natsu. "Come on, hit me with all you've got!"
"I've already known you are nothing but a piece of garbage taking pleasure in terrorizing others" Natsu said out of nowhere. "But I didn't think you'd stoop so low as to become someone's dog. Before you at least had a little bit of pride."
"What is he doing?" Lisanna asked nervously. "Should he really taunt this guy?"
"Probably not." Lucy said slowly.
Zancrow grit his teeth. "What did you say?!" he growled.
"You're too much of a coward to even go after the guy who actually beat you." Natsu continued. "I'm tired of dealing with you. You're not worth my time."
Zancrow grinned through rage. "Oh, I see. Trying to get even on me, aren't you?! Trying to get inside my head, like I did with you?! Well, come and try!" he roared and puffed out his cheeks.
FIRE GOD'S BELLOW!
Natsu jumped out of the way of the torrent of black fire and landed on a lamp. He then jumped off of it after Zancrow redirected his flames and puffed out his own chest.
FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!
His flames crashed into Zancrow's but failed to overwhelm them. He was yet again forced to get out of the way and jumped off of the side of a building. Suddenly he heard someone behind him and turned his head only to meet Zancrow's furious red eyes and his hands aimed at Natsu's.
FIRE GOD'S EXPLOSIVE FLAME!
Natsu was swallowed by a pillar of black flames that crashed into the floor and devoured everything that was left after their previous clash.
"Natsu has been hit! Is this the end?!" Lola wondered.
"I knew he shouldn't have taunted him!" Cana slapped her forehead and shook her head in dread.
Ivan watched the fight with a smile on his face. Very good.
After a couple more seconds Zancrow stopped his attack and landed on the scorched ground with a sadistic grin on his face. He was just about to taunt his seemingly defeated enemy, only to hear the sound of clothes being dusted a couple meters behind him. The God Slayer turned his head in disbelief to see Natsu, barely affected by the spell, dust his uniform off ash and dust.
"You...how..." choked out Zancrow.
Natsu looked at him. "I blocked your flames with mine and jumped away at the last second." he said nonchalantly.
Zancrow grit his teeth and unleashed his flames yet again. His frustration was getting the better of him. "You damn rat...Either burn already, or..."
The last part of the sentence did not come out of his mouth, as he grabbed his head and groaned in pain instead, His eyes were shut tight, his fingers digging deep into his head, so much, that blood started to show on his blond hair.
Natsu watched the scene in mild shock and bent his knees. He wasted enough time on this fight, he had other places to be in.
The God Slayer yelled and raised his hands in the air, all of his flames starting to form a gigantic ball of purging black fire above his head. "Let's see you getting out of this one!" he yelled so hard his voice cracked. "Come on, pull out something bigger!"
Natsu took a deep breath and planted his feet flat on the ground. He puffed out his chest and cheeks and started to build his magic up.
"That again?! It won't work-" Zancrow taunted again, but noticed that something was different. Both the magic and sensation of the spell were different, and he could have sworn he saw small cracks of lightning form around the Dragon Slayer's chest and mouth.
With a swift and snappy lean forward, Natsu unleashed his spell upon Zancrow in all its glory.
LIGHTNING DRAGON'S ROAR!
Zancrow watched the yellow lightning make its way towards him and decided to bet everything on this card. His ball of flames dispelled the very moment he was hit by the Roar, as he yelled out in agony, the pain that haunted him for years hurting all of his senses once again. After a couple more seconds Natsu snapped his jaw shut and canceled the spell, as Zancrow fell to the floor, defeated.
The crowd erupted like a volcano, and so did Fairy Tail.
"Since when can he do that?!" Wakaba asked with his mouth wide open.
"Hell if I know!" Macao said just as excited.
Gajeel clicked his tongue. "I knew it'd happen one day or another." he said.
"Don't let it get to you." Levy tried to console him.
"Was it me or did it look weaker than Laxus'?" Cana asked.
"Who cares?! He's amazing!" Lucy celebrated with Wendy and danced with the girl in their very narrow seating, much to Carla's annoyance.
"Zancrow is down! Another point for Fairy Tail's Natsu!" Lola's voice boomed across the arena.
Natsu stared at Zancrow, his confused face slowly giving in to anger. He grit his teeth gently and walked up to the beaten man, before grabbing him by the collar and lifting him off the ground.
"The hell are you playing at?" he asked with a gentle growl. "Why did you lower your magic before you got hit? You could have died!"
Zancrow opened his eyes gently and looked at Natsu. For the first time since their reunion, he showed the fire his eyes had seven years ago, even if but a glimpse.
"I'm...no...dog..." he grunted quietly, before vanishing in thin air from Natsu's grip.
The Dragon Slayer stared at his hand for a moment, before clenching it. Something was happening behind the scenes, and he had a feeling he wasn't going to like that. With a determined face he kicked the ground and ran off the ruined alley in search of more opponents, but his mind was someplace else.
Ivan's smile was long gone, now replaced with a furious grimace. He gripped his knee so hard his knuckles turned white. Wipder the sweat off his face and tried to calm down. He still had eight pieces left. There was no need to panic.
In the meantime, several other mages have finally managed to meet up with one another. Up in the northern central parts of Crocus Emilia crossed a tag team of Jenny and Hibiki, while just a couple blocks further Ichiya clashed with Rocker.
Gray wandered the empty library placed near the center of the city. He felt his magic upon walking by and would not let the chance slip away.
"It appears our paths have crossed once again." a voice said from the upper floor.
Gray looked up and smiled at the sight of that musketeer hat and annoying, overconfident eyes. "It would seem so." he said.
Rufus jumped down and gracefully landed on a bookshelf, before putting his fingers against his temple. "I shall make sure to memorize this battle." he said with a smile.
Gray punched his palm with a wide grin. "I'll burn it on your brain." he declared.
Things started to pick up pace, and there was no stopping this train. The final day of Grand Magic Games has only just begun, and it would run over anyone with a wavered heart.
End of Chapter 45. To be continued in Chapter 46: Day Five: Mayhem
I do not want to introduce more fights than I can keep a good track of, so these boring ones will open the next chapter. Once they are concluded I will move on to more interesting fights. The closer we are to the climax, the better the fights. Trust me, the next chapter won't be mostly about Ichiya vs Rocker :D