Chapter 13 - The Past vs The Present Part II
Dedicated to: Goku275, zzkaizer, Kriim-Sauce786, shank, kush1995b, arata7ksuga, Todoroki Shoko and all the new readers who have found this story! Thank you for the reviews and insights, I'm definitely thinking about some of them for sure!
FairyTail (Day of Tenrou's Revival and Day Before Natsu's Arrival)
The year is now x791. FairyTail has undergone massive changes, entirely for the worst. Without leaders like Master Makarov and Erza Scarlet to guide them, the guild has fallen under tremendously and quickly lost the popularity that it once had achieved and earned.
It has been seven long years since the Magic Council released the altered news of the destruction of Tenrou Island and the disappearance of FairyTail's strongest and most well known mages. Standing on top of the harbor deck, a young boy with dark purple hair in a crimson covered coat with an orange scarf around his neck gazes off into the horizon. Eyes closed and his fists clinched... he remembers that fateful day.
Turning his shoulder to the cold sea, he looked over to the ones accompanying him, a young lady with green hair and a spikey black haired man. His mother and his father. They look at him back understanding his pain fully.
"It's time to head back, Romeo." She called out to him beckoning him over with her hand.
"Bisca." A spiked up black haired man with an orange sash murmured while shaking his head to the side.
"It will be fine Alzack. He's grown." She responded while walking over to him and grabbing Romeo's hand.
"Thinking about them?" Bisca asked him.
"Yeah, I miss them." He stated sadly while holding his head down.
"Hey." She said using her hand to lift his chin up so she can look him in the eye.
"You're not the only one who misses them Romeo. I, Alzack, the entire guild misses them as well. No one was prepared for this or even could have imagined it. It's been seven years now, we can only hold out on our hope for so long, but eventually acceptance is our only answer and by now it is time to move on."
Her final statement angered him as he backed away from her and glared.
"How could you even say that! The others would have never left any of us behind, especially Natsu!"
Bisca sighed at his outburst as she glanced over towards Alzack. Getting the hint of what she wanted, he walked over and kneeled in front of Romeo.
"Hey champ, I understand what you're going through, specifically at your young age this is hard to overcome and accept. Bisca's right, it has been a long time since the incident and at some point you must move forward, just like Natsu told us all along, right?" The mention of the young boy's idol caused a smile to form on his face.
"However, you're also right Romeo. I still hold faith they will return, and the day that they walk through those doors and greet us like nothing ever happened is the day where FairyTail will be whole again. Now come on kiddo, let's get you back to the guild." Alzack ruffled the boy's hair as he stood up and embraced his wife.
"Thank you." Romeo muttered aloud.
"Macao trusts us to watch you, it's our job to make sure your lead along the right path. As FairyTail mages and parents, it's what we do." Bisca smiled at him as she took his hand and the three renewed spirits walked off from the harbor towards their newly located guild hall.
"We're back!" A voice shouted as they kicked down the doors. He turned and looked and saw fewer members then normal. Huh, they must be out on a job.
"Romeo!" He heard his name called out. A man with dark blue hair and dressed in a white and blue coat ran over to the boy and grasped him in a tight hug.
"I missed you my boy!"
"Hey dad..." Romeo spoke slightly embarrassed while the two figures behind him laughed together.
"Thank you once again for watching him Alzack and Bisca." The man said while thanking them.
"It's no problem Master Macao, just glad to see he's growing up. Thank you once more for looking after our little girl." Alzack smiled as he shook the man's hand. Romeo walked over to the bar and sat on a stool as he pulled out a magazine and began to read. The three conversed with each other and then, suddenly the doors were busted open as a group of men stormed in.
"Nice to see that the Fairy trash is still going." A man holding a club sarcastically boasts before laughing. Their appearance and arrival catches the members in the run down guild hall off guard as the two sides just stare at one another. Instantly recognizing them, Macao's right hand man, Wakaba Mine, broke the silence.
"The hell are you guys doing back here? I thought we agreed on next month." He stated.
"Yeah Tibo." Macao questioned after getting over his original shock and stood up from his barstool looking directly at the club wielding man.
"Why don't you old guys sit back down." Tibo taunted while grinning. "I know we had a 'deal' the last time we came here and wrecked the place." He began as he started to laugh again along with group of buddies. That angered the boy next to Macao since this guy assaulted his father, but Tibo didn't seem to notice.
"Went back to the master and told him about your proposition, but he said no. Told us to come back here and demand our payment for helping your sorry guild. Master wants his money Macao, and Twilight Ogre always gets what they want." He finished.
Macao, Wakaba and the rest of FairyTail were unsure what to do as they didn't have the money currently to reimburse the guild who replaced them for helping them out. Suddenly, Romeo slammed his magazine he was reading down on the table and launched himself off the stool.
"Screw your master and your guild." He shouted angrily as he walked towards where his father was.
"Romeo what are you doing!" Bisca called out to him as she watched his fists light up with purple fire.
"Standing up for our guild since no one else has the guts to fight back." He declared as he stopped next to his father.
"Oh so the Fairy trash kid wants to play does he?" Tibo laughed smugly as he held his rather large club out.
"Romeo, stop this instance!" Macao hollered to his son as he tried to grab him only for Romeo to side step him.
"You might accept this, but I won't! Natsu and the others would be ashamed of the state we are in. To be picked on by losers like them? You might not want to rebel, but I will!" He shouted as he charged towards Tibo.
Purple Flare! Instead of doing the damage he thought it would, Romeo watched helplessly as Tibo simply blew on his fire using his mouth and it became extinguished.
"Do you see how weak you truly are brat!" Tibo roared as he brought his club down on Romeo. Waiting for the inevitable impact, Romeo braced himself only for that impact to never come. He opened his eyes and watched as Tibo soared over his head and flew into the FairyTail banner hanging on their wall.
Ice shards, steel blades, iron clubs, water jets, tiger claws, dark blasts, a giant fist and more were rained down on the remaining Twilight Ogre mages seemingly out of nowhere. They never had a chance to shout for mercy as they were taken out within seconds and were unconscious before even hitting the floor. FairyTail wizards alike broke their stunned state after seeing their harassers easily defeated as they looked towards the now opened guild doors.
Standing there with the sun shining down on them was the lost members of FairyTail, the Tenrou team.
"Hey guys, sorry we were a little late!" Gray called out while scratching the back of his head. Without warning, the figures in the door were stampeded towards and grabbed each and every way as they were hustled to the middle of the guild.
"Gray, Erza, Master, and the rest of you, you're all okay!" Macao began to cry along with the rest of the guild.
"Yeah...Macao you look a lot of older." Erza said as she looked at the current master curiously.
"Well, that might be because its been seven years since we last saw each other." Macao chuckled happily while hugging his son. His statement however froze the Tenrou team as all their eyes turned towards his figure. Jaws dropped as they didn't move an inch. Seconds later, they shouted in unison.
"WHAT!"
After being explained that seven years had passed since they vanished off Earthland, at least to the rest of the world, the Tenrou team understood the pain they had caused to their family.
"We're really sorry you all." Lisanna apologized for the umpteenth time.
"Is there anything we can do to make it up to you?" Gray asked.
"Nonsense, we're just so glad to see you all are alright." Macao smiled as he watched more and more members of the guild return from their jobs. Everything seemed to be going in the right direction at last for FairyTail and he was proud to of been the captain to keep this ship afloat. However, unaware to the rest present and even his own father, Romeo Conbolt's smile that he had sported since the return of his guild members quickly began to turn into a frown.
"YOU'RE MARRIED?" Erza shouted of nowhere while the two mages she was talking with, Bisca and Alzack, simply laughed at the knight's antics.
"Yea...we got married a little over three years ago." Alzack sheepishly replied while Erza bowed before them.
"I am sorry for missing your wedding, feel free to punish me." She stated. It was Bisca's turn to sweatdrop as she lightly tapped Erza's head before she helped her stand up.
"That won't be necessary, in fact I have someone I want you to meet." She revealed as Erza quickly found herself staring at a little girl with dark green hair dressed in western type clothing which was finished off with an orange cowgirl hat. The two stared at one another before suddenly both grew bright expressions.
"Erza Scarlet meet Asuka Connell, Asuka meet your Aunt Erza." Bisca announced which caught the rest of the guild's attention.
"She's the cutest little thing I've ever seen!" Erza exclaimed as she hugged the little girl who hugged her right back.
The two parted, and just in time too, as Asuka was tossed around between the Tenrou team who hugged and greeted her just the same. Through all the celebrating, reunions and story telling from Makarov about how the first master of FairyTail saved them, Romeo silenced the happy atmosphere with just five words.
"Where are Natsu and Wendy?"
The fire mage's question reached every soul in the active, and once more, boisterous guild. That activity soon died out as the members left behind realized that the pink haired and blue haired dragon slayer were no where to be found amongst the Tenrou team. Whispers begin to spread all around the room between members of the guild as they began to look for the two only to fail to find them.
"Everyone, I know I am not the master of the guild anymore, but I have something important to announce." Makarov stood atop the bar counter as everyone looked at him.
"No, no, you're still the Master sir!" Macao hurriedly added before he was shot down by Makarov's stare.
"No the guild is in your hand's now fourth, you've done a great job with it. As I was saying..." He began to explain them of the events that had transpired.
"We searched the island to no ends, but never found either one of them. Natsu Dragneel and Wendy Marvell...are at least for now, gone."
"What!" Different members began to cry out in an uproar before they were silenced by Erza's stare.
"I have my suspicions of where one of them could be, but the other has been lost without a trace. I can only hope our first master of FairyTail, Mavis Vermillion, can help guide us towards them so we can all reunite with each other completely." He summarized before cutting his speech off sadly. Wherever you two are...never forget FairyTail will always be with you.
The joyfulness quietly faded following Makarov's statement as many members went home, while some mourned the supposed loss of their two liveliest mages. Meanwhile, over at the bar, the red haired knight and the white haired demon stood next to one another as they chattered with FairyTail's third guild master.
"Do you really think they are gone Master?" She asked him.
"Please, Erza, I am no longer the master, just call me Makarov."
"No can do sir, you are still our Master Makarov whether you like it or not." Mira smiled before looking at him seriously.
"Now back to Erza's question."
Makarov simply sighed as he put his mug down on the counter and looked his two strongest female wizards directly in the eye.
"Listen carefully to what I have to say, ok?" He spoke as they quickly nodded in response.
"I have thought on this for some time now Erza since Master Mavis saved us, and the truth is...I simply do not know. Their is a possibility that both of them were either killed by Grimoire or Acnologia's blast, but their is also a strong possibility they too were saved just like us, but are somewhere else that isn't here. Personally, I believe both are still alive...it's just a matter of time until they come home." He concluded as he picked up his mug to take a sip and watched as the two walked off, in a daze, trying to process their newly learned information.
His eyes wondered across the guild as he watched some members be happy, while others were saddened by the most recent news. It just can't be helped...
Out of the corner of his eye he saw both Lucy and Happy discussing something among one another. He gently hopped off the counter and made his way over to two of the fire dragon slayer's greatest friends.
"Hello Happy, Lucy." He greeted them with a smile. Surprised to see him appear almost out of nowhere next to them, the two halted their conversation and greeted him.
"Hello Master!" They both spoke together as Makarov simply shook his head. When will they accept I am not the master anymore...
"What is on your mind?" He asked the duo who became depressed instantly.
"Just talking about where Natsu could be." Happy spoke for them as Lucy didn't seem to want to talk about it.
"Ah, well my dear and boy, I know that wherever he currently is that he is doing his absolute best to try and be with us as soon as possible."
"Do you really think so?" The two perked up hearing his speech while he inwardly laughed.
"When could anything hold Natsu down?" He stated as the two beamed at him before rising from their seats.
"We have to go, bye Master!" They both shouted as they ran out of the door while Makarov stood there smiling.
It had been a full day since Tenrou Island's lost inhabitants returned to Magnolia. Shops were open and booming as everyone in the town was thrilled to have their favorite mages and to some, their heroes, home at last. News quickly came out, however that two well known members had been lost, and the town solemnly carried out their day once learning who the two missing wizards were.
"Seven years really comes a long way, doesn't it Lucy?" Happy asked as he floated next to the blonde celestial mage.
"Yeah Happy, it sure does." She answered as the two watched the sun set from in front of her house. Happy noticed her somber mood and landed on her shoulder as he placed a paw on her head.
"I miss him too Lucy..." Happy began to sob as suddenly Lucy found herself trying to comfort a wailing exceed.
"Hey, hey, it's alright Happy." She quietly whispered to him as she gave him a gentle, but reassuring hug as he stopped his water works.
"What are we going to do without him?" Happy asked rubbing his eyes.
"We're just going to have to keep on going forward like he would want us. There will come a day when we see him again, but until then, let's become the strongest we can be so we can make him proud when he comes back for us." She smiled at him, as she too began to lightly cry. Seeing his father's best friend crying echoed something that he had learned in the past.
"Ahh, why are you crying Lucy?" He asked as she tried to cheer her up like what she did with him.
"I miss him too, but these aren't sad tears, because my speech to you made me realize something, I will one day see him again I just know it." She spoke as she hugged him again.
"They're happy tears." She declared as the two parted.
"I am going to go to sleep now Happy, would you like to stay the night?" She asked the floating cat. He desperately wanted to, but some invisible force was telling him to say no, and so he did.
"Are you sure?" Lucy inquired.
"Yes, I'll be okay." He stated as he took to the skies and headed towards the forest where he and Natsu lived.
"Take care Happy." She smiled watching him go as she reached her apartment door, unlocked it, and ascended up the steps.
"Who the hell is this guy?!" One of the remaining few soldiers shouted.
"I think we've got bigger problems man!" Another added in worry.
"Yeah like what? A freaking demon killing us all isn't the biggest issue here?" The first asked incredulously.
"Moron, look at the supports!" The other fired back as they began to bicker amongst themselves. His words did not go unheard, however as Connor's eyes began to scan the mansion's structure. The large fireball not only had destroyed the majority of his group, but also severely damaged the floor above, including multiple walls. He glanced over towards the fiery predator who merely glared.
Damn if I don't get rid of him now, he'll bring this entire place down and take us all out.
"Alright, what do you want!" Connor shouted over the commotion of his own group which instantly got them to go silent. He watched as the flames died down around them and the opponent began to walk towards them.
With every step taken, little flashes of fire and lightning revealed themselves before dispersing, making it seem like they were never even there in the first place. Flaming eyes appeared before clearing back into their normal onyx shade. His head tilted as he set his jaw and stared down at Connor.
"Give me back my cat, and hand over the girl." Natsu ordered, his voice tone changed as it lost its harsh grating sound and returned to its original state.
"The girl is mine." Connor challenged as he saw the fire light up in Natsu's eyes before going away.
"We did nothing wrong, and neither did she, at least against you." He calmly stated as he lifted his fist and lit it on fire.
"Don't you dare." Connor planned to call upon his troops, but lost his voice as the dragon slayer hissed.
"I'm going to ask you nicely one last time, and then I am just going to take them from you. Give me Happy and the girl and you'll never see me again." He smirked at the end showing his sharp canines.
Connor scowled, but knew is only chance was to back down, if he wanted to make it out of here alive. Angrily, he grabbed the unconscious girl, with Happy still in her arms, and tossed them to his adversary.
"Now leave monster." Connor yelled as he watched Natsu carefully pick up Jenny and Happy. He reached the window, but before exiting, he turned around remembering the insults that had been made against him and his party. Onyx eyes met green eyes as one was full of mischief and anger. In one fluid motion, a dragon's roar mixed with fire and lightning rammed into Connor and the remnants of his army sending them flying further into the mansion.
"Bye!" He chuckled escaping through the window.
"No!" Wendy huffed as she removed Zancrow's hand off her shoulder.
"What do you mean, no?" He asked surprised. "You're almost nineteen spitfire."
"Because I said so!" She turned her back to him before turning back around questionably. "Why do you keep calling me spitfire anyways?"
"If only you knew..." Zancrow whispered under his breath before coughing into his hand. "No reason."
"I know I'm almost nineteen Zancrow, but I don't have any feelings for you. Besides, I..." She trailed off embarrassedly.
"Why do you harbor feelings for someone who's long gone and is never coming back?" He asked curiously.
"What do you mean by that?" She tilted her head confused.
"Master never told you what happened to good ole Natsu did he?"
"Master Hades said he went on a very long quest and his time return was unknown. I have great memories of him though he is the reason that I am who I am today!" She raised her fist at him annoyed at his words.
"Wow, nice story almost put me to sleep." He fake yawned before snickering. "Now, back to you and I..." His arm made its way to wrap up around her waist, only for it to get caught and him to be thrown harshly into the wall.
"Go back to whatever you were doing before you showed up here you perv." The new steel voice ordered. Wendy looked over to her savior and realized it was her friend.
"Alice! It's so great to see you!" Wendy cheered grabbing her friends hand and running out the apartment door.
"Uh...you too." Alice mumbled.
"You okay?" Wendy asked concerned for her friend who seemed to be off.
"Yep everything's fine!" Alice quickly shut down her friend's worries. "How was your nap?"
"It was nice, although I don't remember walking back here so I'm a little confused on how I ended up there in the first place." She stated aloud as she began to think to herself.
"Interesting." Alice spoke going into her own mind. Did Hades mess with her maybe?
"Anyways, I am going to go see Master, bye Alice!" Wendy suddenly said before vanishing without getting an acknowledgement. After seeing her friend disappear and acting even stranger then she was, the gears in her mind started to turn rapidly.
What exactly are you plotting Master?
She felt the breeze brush itself against her as she slowly began to stir. Emerald eyes opened as she took in the sight. The sky was still dark, not as dark as night, but pretty close to it. She felt the rough edge of bark spear into her back as she sat up and similarly felt her mind be pierced with pain.
Ow, my head...
The sound of flowing water caught her attention and her eyes noticed the orange river that was just across from her.
I must still be in Orange River...
After sitting for a tad bit longer to make sure she was fully rested, Jenny stood up and began to walk around. There was no sight of her acquittance or his cat from just a couple hours ago. At least that is what Jenny was assuming, as she had no idea how much time had passed. She realized, through the reflection from the water, she had a light bandage wrapped around the side of her head, probably where her head had been banged against the side of a wall during their 'great escape'.
She smiled thinking about the last moments before her initial target had put her under his spell. It felt nice to meet another kind individual and to be held carefully, like a priceless artifact. Not like a punching bag, which was rough when growing up with people like Zancrow.
"He really is thoughtful." Jenny spoke aloud as she raked her fingers through the water. "I wonder, where did he go?"
She went back to the tree and waited for him to return, after what felt like days, which in reality was just a few hours, Jenny gathered her stuff as she turned on heel and began to walk away from the orange river.
"I guess he really is gone." She whispered to herself sadly. It was great to meet you Natsu Dragneel, I see now why Wendy admires you.
"It's okay, I'm fine Natsu!" Happy exclaimed one last time as Natsu continued to hug him dramatically with tears running down his face.
"I'm so sorry!" He wailed into Happy's fur which made the cat none to be pleased to be soaked with human tears.
"What would Igneel think of his proud son to be wailing over something so trivial." Happy waved his arms before crossing them, huffing in mock disgust at his friend's antics. Natsu simply stared at Happy with shocked eyes, before sticking his finger out at the cat accusingly.
"Jerk, I actually was sorry about what happened to you!" Natsu went on a tantrum as fire flew from his mouth.
"Alright, alright calm down Natsu I accept your apology!" Happy pleaded as he tried to dodge the approaching flames. He sighed as the fire extinguished itself, before going on his own tirade seeing his friend laughing at him. "Natsu you big meany!'
The dragon slayer continued to laugh, with Happy eventually joining in, as the two embraced each other. After a while, they pulled apart as Natsu stuck out his fist and Happy his paw.
"We're even?" Natsu asked.
"Even." Happy nodded as the two connected and smiled.
"Sounds good lil buddy, now let's get back to where I laid that girl who tried to kill me last night. I think she might know where we can find Wendy!" He concluded as the two took off back to river.
"Natsu she's not here!" Happy confirmed while turning back around to look at his partner.
"What do you mean she's not there?" He called back as he finally caught up to his exceed.
"Look around, that girl you brought back disappeared." He said while he waved his paw around.
"Hmm.." Natsu thought aloud to himself.
"Do you think she was captured by that army?" Happy questioned.
"Na, I took care of those bastards..." At least I hope so.
"Natsu...what did you do exactly?" He asked his friend who simply shrugged it off.
"Hehe, don't worry about it." He chuckled before turning back serious as his nose began to twitch.
"Did you find her?" Happy wondered knowing his father figure was incredible at tracking scents once he recognized them.
"Oh yeah lil buddy, I found her." He grinned as the two darted off into the sky to go chase back down their assailant
A/N: *Sigh*, I'd rather not talk about it. I had a lot to do over the break and simply just never was able to find any time to finish this chapter off in time for the holidays. It's extremely late, but Merry Christmas and Happy New Years hah. I know this chapter wasn't battle heavy like I originally teased in the last chapter's A/N, but I decided to save that for the next chapter since Natsu is very close to finding Wendy...what will happen is the real question? One thing that some of you know may have noticed is that I heavily focused on the introduction to Romeo Conbolt and several others of the guild from FairyTail.
Despite this story following the dragon slayers of Natsu, Wendy, and someone you'll eventually find out about more, I wanted to make sure I didn't skip over FairyTail entirely, specifically their return from Tenrou Island. This will be the last major chapter that revolves around FairyTail, but don't worry they will be back shortly and Lucy and Erza still have plenty of spotlight to go.
Once more, apologies for the lack of updates, it is 2022 after all now and I am nearly finished with high school. I will make sure I have Ch. 14 up before February, I will make that deal with you all and if I fail to make that deadline, then the next post that is made will include two chapters, woohoo. Let me know what you thought of this one and I'll see you all hopefully soon in a real thriller as Natsu gets closer to finding Wendy!