Back with the continuation
"speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
Lucy looked out her window to the ruined streets of Magnolia. It had been one week since the battle with Tartaros and the town was still rebuilding. The train station was in shambles, but it still managed to run due to the Fairy Tail wizards and townspeople managing to fix it over the course of four days. However, hundreds of houses and businesses had been reduced to rubble, and the Fairy Tail guild was completely obliterated. Lucy was amazed that her apartment was still standing.
Though Magnolia was not the only town in the continent devastated by Tartaros and their Face bombs, the scars of the war against demons still ran deep in the members of Fairy Tail and their allies. Showing no signs that they would heal anytime soon.
Inside of Magnolia Hospital, Laxus Dreyar slowly came to. When he fully opened his eyes, he was greeted by the smiling faces of Bickslow and Evergreen.
"Alright! Finally!" Bickslow exclaimed.
"Laxus, you're awake!" Evergreen cried.
"Not so loud, guys." Laxus groaned. "My head is still killing me."
"Oh." The bespectacled woman covered her mouth. "I'm sorry."
"My bad." Bixlow apologized.
"You had us worried. We thought that you would never wake up." Freed stood from the chair he was sitting in near the window and walked to Laxus' bedside. "I'm glad you're awake."
"Pathetic…" Laxus muttered. He suddenly pulled his friends into a tight hug. The gesture surprised the trio.
"L-Laxus?!" Evergreen blushed.
"What's going on, man?" Bickslow questioned. "You still sick or something?
"I can't stay like this…" Laxus said solemnly. "At this rate, I won't be able to protect the people I care about."
"It's ok." Evergreen comforted.
"Yeah, don't worry about it." Bickslow said. "We're all going to get much stronger."
"That's right." Freed nodded. "We're a team after all."
Laxus pulled them in tighter and grinned.
Wendy turned her head to and for, marveling at the length of her newly restored hair. "Wow it really is back to normal! Actually, it's even longer than before."
"It was no problem, baby." Cancer said, snipping his scissors.
"Thank you so much, Lucy." Wendy said to the blonde.
"You're welcome." Lucy smiled as she patted the young girl's head. "Are you sure you want it this long? I thought you looked cute with short hair."
"Yeah." Wendy nodded. "I only cut it short to make it even. I much prefer it long."
"I didn't know you put that much thought into that sort of thing." Lucy giggled.
"I-is that bad?" Wendy nervously asked.
"No I was just saying." Lucy twirled the locks of her own hair. "Maybe I should grow mine too."
"I think it would look great on you!" Wendy chirped.
"Really?" Lucy blushed.
Gajeel laid across part of the long stone bench in the park. Lazily watching Wendy and Lucy talk about hair styles. "I'm sleepy…" he trailed off and began snoring.
"Hey, Gajeel you can't just sleep there. This isn't the guild." Levy chided, squatting next to him. "Besides it's not good for you with a surface this hard."
Gajeel grumbled and opened his eyes. He glanced at Levy before looking back to Wendy and Lucy. "It's weird not going to that place every day." He mumbled to himself.
"What?" Levy asked. She barely heard him.
Gajeel closed his eyes, Levy's voice drowning out as he thought back to before Fairy Tail. More specifically when he was still apart of Phantom Lord. He was on trial for another complaint of destruction on a job and was standing before the Magic Council.
"We meet again, Gajeel." Org said. "How many times have we seen you this month alone?"
"It has to be at least ten." Michello spoke up. "He's nothing but a juvenile delinquent. I say we just lock him up and throw away the key."
The Iron Dragon smirked at the council members. "This gonna take all day? I got places to be."
"Why, you insolent-"
"Enough, Michello." Org ordered. "Let's begin the trial."
The trial went just like the ones before it. Gajeel was found guilty of the claims against him and was forced to pay for the damages out of his own money. He knew the drill, but that didn't make it any less irritating.
"Damn, geezers." the disgruntled dragon slayer kicked a rock down the steps of the hill the council building sat on. "They always gotta ruin my fun."
"Wait right there, Gajeel."
Gajeel looked over his shoulder to see Elder Belno walking up to him. "What do you want now?" For the past few trials Belno had sought him out before he left back to Oak Town. She always told him the same thing each time they met, and Gajeel was starting to get irritable.
"I'll tell you again." She began. "It would be better for you if you left Phantom Lord."
Gajeel sneered at the woman. "Like I said last time, you can spare me the advice. You ain't the boss of me, lady."
"Phantom's actions as of late are growing more and more unruly. I have no idea what Jose thinks he's accomplishing by egging on the council, but if things don't calm down then we will be forced to-"
"Look, you old hag!" Gajeel interrupted. "I told you before that you're not the boss of me. You think you can just order a dragon slayer around like some dog?!"
"I will say it as many times as needed to penetrate that iron skull of yours. Believe me I've seen hundreds of young men like you come and go. Chances are I will see a hundred more. No matter their outward appearance they were always the same sad, lonely, person on the inside. You do not have to follow that path."
"You're really starting to piss me off…" Gajeel grumbled.
Belno gave him a wry smile. "I'm not saying that you have to become an upstanding member of society. I just want you to find meaning in your life."
Gajeel raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?" He began to laugh. "If that's all you want then I got plenty! Phantom is going to go to war with Fairy Tail soon! I'll find all the meaning in the world after I start wailing on some fairies! Especially when I take down that Salamander jerk!"
Belno's smile fell and she began to walk away. "I truly hope that you find meaning in your life, Gajeel. Before it's too late."
"Are you deaf?! I already told you I found meaning! Now leave me alone will ya?! Next time I might not be so nice!"
Belno stopped and thought about Gajeel's words. She looked over her shoulder at him. Flashing a warm smile that caught the dragon slayer off guard. "You remind me so much of my late son. You even kind of look like him." With that Belno walked away, leaving the stunned Gajeel in her wake.
"What the hell was that about? Weird. Comparing me to some dead guy." Gajeel turned around and walked down the steps with his hands in his pockets, and a light blush on his cheeks.
Gajeel's reflection brought him forward to just after his group found Belno's body. After reporting to Makarov he went to the roof of the deceased woman's home and sat there, looking out at the setting sun with a morose expression.
Granny, you and I never had a chance to have a decent talk. You wanted to help me find meaning in my life and I just kept blowing you off like a jackass. You looked out for me ever since I was a snot-nosed brat. Tears formed in the dragon slayer's eyes. And I never found a way to pay you back for that! I'll find the bastards that did this to you and make them pay, no that's not right. I'll remember your words instead. And I'll do my best to live up to them. Just watch me!
Gajeel opened his eyes and saw Levy's face again.
"Geez, Gajeel." She pouted. "I told you that you can't sleep here."
"Just…watch me…" Gajeel lazily said before he drifted off to sleep once more.
"Gajeel!" Levy shouted. He snored in response and Levy once again sighed in frustration, but after seeing the peaceful look on his face as he slept, she smiled.
Charla sat on the grass as she watched Wendy and Lucy. Pantherlily approached her.
"How does Wendy seem to you?" he asked.
"She's the same as she ever was." Carla answered with a wry grin. "She's putting on a brave face so no one worries about her. That child can be quite the handful. What about Gajeel?"
"Nothing new to report." Pantherlily took a seat next to Carla. "That goodbye was tough on everyone."
"Yes it was." Carla nodded. "But I worry about Natsu the most. So does Wendy."
"I wouldn't worry about Natsu. He'll be fine."
Carla was curious about her fellow exceed's words. "Why do you say that?"
"He's got his family with him doesn't he?" Pantherlily grinned at the tabby, who returned with one of her own.
Gray sat in the snow covered ruins of his hometown of Isvan. It had been years since he stepped foot in this place, but recent events had him feeling nostalgic. Only a few hours ride up north, Gray had left by carriage that morning. He didn't know when he would go back Magnolia, if at all. He would figure that out after. He sat on a rock, staring at a cross stuck in the ground that read: Silver X Mika. He reflected on the people he had lost. His parents, his father twice now. Ur. Ultear. He clenched the sleeve of his jacket. "It's too much." Lost in his head, he did not hear the crunching of snow underfoot.
"Gray…?" a sweet, yet familiar, voice called.
"Juvia?!" Gray nearly fell from his seat in his shock. "Did you follow me here?!"
"I did! I-I'm so sorry for intruding on your private moment but…" she fidgeted nervously. "There's something important that I have to tell you."
"What is it?" Gray sniped.
"The necromancer who was keeping your father alive, Keyes, I…I was the one who killed him. I am to blame for your father's death."
Gray's eyes went wide at the revelation. "You did…?!"
Juvia nodded solemnly and her eyes began to mist. "I-I know that's no excuse for what I did, but…I had to . Because my weakness was…"
Gray stood up and walked to Juvia, not looking at her directly as he grabbed the collar of her coat and lifted it. "You…" His clenched teeth slowly began to shake, and his angered sneer faltered to a saddened whimper. His forehead fell into Juvia's chest, his grip on her loosening. "Thank you…" he sobbed. "Thank you..."
Juvia was taken aback by the words.
Gray slumped to his knees and Juvia followed, still holding onto him. He began to repeat himself. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry." Juvia couldn't readily figure it out, but she eventually gleaned that Gray was apologizing to both her and Alana for what they had to go through.
"Gray…"
"I'm sorry."
Juvia wrapped her arms around him and he did the same. Juvia rubbed the back of his head as he continued to cry and shake.
Erza sat on the hill next to the bridge crossing over Magnolia River. She had been there for hours, but it had felt like days. Ever since the battle with Tartaros, Erza was afraid of being touched by anyone.
Her past in the tower came flooding back to her as it came back to haunt her
She looked at her hand. It was trembling.
""betrayed….deceived….stripped bare….humiliated….after all that, can I still trust anyone""
"You'll be just fine."
A voice spoke to Erza from behind as she turns around and sees Jellal standing behind her with a smile
"You understand both human strength as well as weakness. Let your light guide your path, and move you forward. Never waiver." Jellal told Erza as he leans out his hand for her to take.
Cobra who was a bit away with his allies, smirked as his ears twitched. "He thinks he so cool, doesn't he?"
"Tell me what you hear later." Racer requested with an equally mischievous smirk. "I wanna know too."
"This is love…is it not?" Richard mused.
evening
Makarov stared at the ruins of the guild hall. Everyone else had gone home for the day, but those two stayed behind.
Makarov remained silent. He thought of what he should do all day, and had finally come to a decision.
Doranbolt approached the pair, heaving a long sigh. "Alright it's done. I've erased Lumen Historie from everyone's minds."
"I know you want me to erase mine as well, but I don't want to tamper with my own memories."
"You've done it before." Makarov countered. He turned to face him. "You can stop now; the mission is complete."
"What are talking about-"a light began to shine on Doranbolt's shoulder, ripping the cloth from the arm of his coat.
"What's going on?!" To the councilman's shock, a Fairy Tail symbol slowly materialized on his arm.
"What is this?! What did you do to me?!"
"I did nothing," Makarov said. "You've been a member of Fairy Tail from the very beginning. You erased your memories and infiltrated the council."
"What?! That makes no sense! How can I be a member of Fairy Tail?! Why would I erase my own memories and infiltrate the council?! And Tenrou Island! What about what happened there?! This doesn't make any sense!"
"I actually told you not to erase your memories, but you insisted on it. This is exactly the situation I was trying to prevent." Makarov let out a rueful sigh. "It's not like it matters now though."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going to disband Fairy Tail"
With Natsu
In the home of the Dragist, Natsu stood in the backyard of his home with a solemn look on him
North and his family were asleep as they snore in their sleep
"so, this is how it goes to" Natsu said as he lifted up his right hand and summoned Drac on
He stared at the gauntlet as it glowed red to him
""the time for war is coming….the time for light and darkness to clash each other….the time for the END is coming near…choose who you are…..the bright future of the world?...or the dark sealed past that thought to be forgotten?""
The words of the shadowed figure speak yet again in his mind
""the future? The past?"" Natsu thought before he hears the backdoor being opened
"Papa!" Aya called out to her father as she runs to him with Meredy behind her
Natsu smiles to his daughter as he carries her up into his arms
"dinner is ready," Meredy told her stepfather who nodded with a smile
Meredy went back to the house with Natsu and Aya following behind
The family had their dinner as the night comes to greet Magnolia
In Aya's room
Natsu put Aya to her bed as the child had already fallen asleep
He pulled up her blanket and gave her a pink teddy bear for her to cuddle with in her sleep
Aya reached for the doll and hugs it tight
Natsu smiled to his little girl as he gives her a goodnight kiss before leaving her room
In the hallway
Natsu walks downstairs and to his backyard where he finds Ultear sitting at the porch
"mind if I join you?" Natsu asked Ultear who nodded with a smile
Natsu sits down beside her as he holds her waist and pulls her closer to him
The two shared a moment of silence with each other in their home as the fireflies come out of their home and dance through the night
"When are we departing?" Ultear asked Natsu
"tomorrow," Natsu replied as he watched the moon "you don't have to come with me, you know"
"no, I'm going with you" Ultear said to Natsu as her hand intertwine with his "I don't want us to be separated anymore"
Natsu looks to Ultear who had a sincere look to him
"alright, I understand" Natsu said before the two watch the moon in the night sky
The next day
Lucy was on her way to the guild with the resolve to help to rebuild the guild
"Another day, another adventure," Lucy said as she grabs her bag and Aquarius broken key
She was about to leave her room before her eyes notice the envelope on her table
"what's this?" Lucy said as she put down her bag and takes the envelope
She opens it and reads it
Dear Lucy,
We're going away for a little while. I guess you could call it a family vacation of sorts. We don't really know where we're going exactly, but we'll be back in about a year or so. Tell everyone hi and bye for us. We'll see you when we get back, ok?
Signed,
Natsu, & Ultear
"what!?" Lucy screamed before bolting out of her room "How can they just leave so suddenly?!"
With Natsu
Natsu and Ultear were at the forest near Magnolia as they were on their way for their journey
"let's go," Natsu said as Ultear nodded and they turned around to walk away
As they walk away from their home, they were greeted by Meredy, Aya and North
"it's not fair that you two get to go, you know" Meredy said while crossing her arms
"yeah!" Aya agreed with her sister while riding on North who let out a bark as his agreement
Natsu sighs before walking past them
"you two better not whine on this journey of ours" Natsu told them as Meredy, Aya and North snickered to him and followed him with Ultear joining them
At the Dragist's home
"Those two really are a match made in heaven," Ur said while holding a letter which was a goodbye envelope from Natsu and Ultear
"You four better come back home," Ur said while looking to the sky with Shina and her pups as they were left at the home "I'm not going to take care of these rascals all alone"
In her words, the pups started barking to her
Back with Natsu
Natsu walked up a cliff with his family following behind as he looks behind and sees Magnolia, small from the distance he sees
"for sure…I will END him" Natsu said as his eye glowed back for a moment before returning back to normal
Thousands of miles away from the fledging hearts of Fairy Tail and Fiore, Zeref sat alone in a room. The rays of the shining cast lines of shadow in his candlelit space, while he looked over the hundreds of people going on their day out of his window. The Book of END sat on the table a small distance away, but it was not out of reach. "I look forward to the progress you will make, Natsu."
That's a wrap!
Story going hiatus for a few while
Sorry it became like this
Bye bye