Holy cow this took a while to get finished. Between starting my new job and everything, I just haven't had a lot of time to actually sit down and work on this as much as I wanted to. For that, I deeply apologize.
I have something I would like to ask. Since my time has gotten limited, due to the new career that I mentioned previously, I would like to ask if anyone would be willing to help me write not just this story, but Legends Reborn and Dark Fairies as well. There's only so much I can do alone and I feel that having another head to bounce ideas around might make for more enjoyable (and longer) chapters for you all.
I don't have any reviews so I'll head straight into the Disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, I only own MY OCs.
Enjoy Chapter 5 everyone!
(Fairy Tail)
With Erza's return to Fairy Tail, the guild erupted into a celebration unlike any they had previously. Nearly everyone there was worried about the Titania after Team Natsu returned and broke the news about what happened regarding the Oración Seis. those concerns would only grow as Natsu and the others broke out of the guild crying while trying to tell them about Erza's role in what happened. But with the return of the famed Titania, there was no reason to worry. Everything was fine, right? Even Erza herself was participating in the celebration more than she used to. Talking to members of the guild she otherwise would have ignored or simply left alone.
To the rest of the guild, she seemed more relaxed and carefree. Even smiling more than she used to. Some of the members who knew her well, such as Mira and Cana silently questioned what brought about her sudden change in personality. Did she find Eren? If so, why wasn't he with her?
"Erza!" Cana would call out from the bar. "How about a drink or two?" Near instantaneously, Erza took a position next to her.
"After what happened, I could use one. Thank you for the offer." what started as a couple of drinks and conversation between friends quickly developed into a drinking competition as Cana and Erza downed mug after mug of the various drinks the bar had to offer. Catching up on what happened and divulging secrets only the two of them would ever know.
The only one left sitting at the bar conscious, despite having unintentionally drunk the other under the table, was surprisingly Erza. As Cana fell off her chair and passed out, Erza was looking around the hall, wondering why everyone was staring at her strangely. Did she do something wrong?
"Is everything alright?" She tried to ask, yet still, the guild was too awestruck to utter a response. They knew Erza to be a lightweight when it came to alcohol. Had Erza somehow grew a tolerance that Rivaled Cana's while they were gone. Even Mirajane, who had known Erza for years, was impressed by her newfound tolerance.
"My Erza, you've changed. Sooner or later you'll be able to outdrink Guildarts or even Master for that matter." Erza's eyes widened, slowly looking down on the floor to see a passed-out Cana slowly sleeping off the excessive amounts of booze in her system. This got Erza panicking. Unintentionally she could sense that Cana's life force was fluctuating. Slowly shifting between stable and critical. While she was sure that eventually Cana would settle out and be alright after all Cana had come back from a lot worse. It wasn't a risk she wanted to take at the moment. So, by sneaking a bit of life into her form, Cana's condition rapidly stabilized and her body began the process of sobering up. Fully content that Cana would be fine, Erza responded.
"I doubt I'll be able to drink that much, those two could drink the guild dry if they weren't careful." Mira's comment got a little chuckle from the new incarnation of life. Not that anyone in the guild was aware of Erza's new allegiance. It was something that she wanted to keep a secret for as long as possible. After all, who would honestly believe the fact that Erza was now working to save humanity from itself and put it back on the course it should be on. Being nurtured under the watchful eye of their mother?
"Isn't that obvious. But most of the guild is curious Erza." Despite maintaining her genuinely happy exterior, there were questions that Erza needed to answer. Some that threw the entire guild for a loop.
"Natsu and the others were concerned about you. When they almost mentioned you. They broke down crying and ran away. Is everything alright?" This wasn't good, not at all. Fairy Tail was on to her, Erza needed to think of something on the fly. Something that could divert attention away from her and on to something else.
"It's," Erza tried to blow off the concern, making it seem like something Mira shouldn't mess with. "It's something private between the two of us. Natsu and I still need to discuss some minor details. Nothing major." it seemed a little rough, but it was enough to get Mirajane to back away for the time being. Granted she knew that Mira would return to the topic eventually, nothing ever stayed away from her for too long. It was something that was well known throughout Fairy Tail.
Despite all of this, there was that nagging feeling that something would go wrong. That she was spending too much time in a place which she no longer belonged. That she needed to return to New Babylon and start the ritual. There was no doubt in her mind that Eren and Sorano were back by now. But there was someone in Fairy Tail she needed to rescue. Emily, the one who was closest to Eren during their mutual enslavement eight years ago. Erza felt it an obligation on her part to get Emily out of here and back to where she belonged. Not here in magnolia alongside those who would reject the offer that Tiamat holds in front of them. But in New Babylon where she can experience true joy and happiness. No longer forced to be a simple barmaid, as she is now.
(Magnolia)
It was a slow day for Team Natsu, Lucy was hesitant to get out of her apartment. Gray, even though he tried to show that this hadn't affected him, showed signs that he was deeply affected by the betrayal of the one mage he respected the most. Natsu took it the worst by far, today he didn't even get out of his house, let alone his hammock. Mirajane had to go over and motivate him to even get himself moving.
Wendy was still stuck in her mind. Constantly battling on whether she should stay with Fairy Tail, or go with Erza. What would Grandine do in this case? What would she recommend? What was there for her, not only here in Magnolia, but in general?
"Grandine" she spoke to the wind, hoping that it would carry her words towards the dragon in question. "What's wrong with me?" There was a slight breeze in response, but yet it didn't comfort her. The answers to her numerous questions still eluded her.
"Why?" Wendy didn't have long to muse before her mind was forced back to a time that she'd rather forget.
(Flashback)
It was by the Waterfall, Worth Woodsea. Just before everything went wrong. Before history, itself had changed for the worse. How many times had she seen this particular scene before? How many times must she watch herself knowingly attack the group she considered to be allies.
But this was before everything. Before things turned out the way they did.
Eren was sitting next to her by that waterfall. Telling her various stories about things he found funny. About life experiences, and reminiscing about their dragons. How his dragon, Sapphira, abandoned him just like Grandine.
"Many times, I question if I was good enough to even been in her presence." he looked so somber as he said that. "I was older, prideful, and certainly foolish. Overestimating my capabilities to where I thought I could successfully take on and defeat the King of Fire Dragons himself." silence once again covered the area; it was a silence that both of them accepted. "Wendy, I may be strong. But even I have limits, some I can try to overcome. Others I fear are well outside of my reach."
(Flashback end)
Wendy understood, she knew what Eren meant then. There are limits to everyone, some just have higher limits than others. No one is an exception to that rule. Anyone who thought otherwise was among the more foolish of mages.
Sitting at the park, Wendy once again debated what path she should take going forward. Each one was filled with unknowns, both good and bad. Staying at Fairy Tail would constantly cause her to feel guilty about what happened, even if the guild was able to forgive her and look past it. It was an event that constantly rears itself up upon an already broken soul.
Or she could go with Erza, live where she knows she was assured that she wouldn't suffer from anything similar. That she would be able to live a happy life. But the problem with that path is that she would have to deal with the source of all her mental torment daily. There truly was no clear answer. No light guiding her way forward. For the first time, Wendy Marvell felt nervous and scared about the future.
(Fairy Tail)
That feeling in the back of Erza's mind was getting stronger by the minute. Ever since Levy brought up the lack of Natsu and the others, she's been on edge. Natsu and the others know of what happened. she was running out of time, sooner or later Fairy Tail would learn the truth of what happened. Of how Eren as well as herself accepted their birthrights and became heralds for the new world.
Word of Crocus's fall had already reached the far reaches of Fiore and already most of the citizenry lived in fear of what was to come. Erza herself was both comforted and disappointed by their reactions. Comforted by the fact that the humans were getting what they deserved for betraying mother all those centuries ago. Disappointed by the fact that they still weren't accepting her love and asking for forgiveness. Everyone in New Babylon already did and they were enjoying a level of prosperity never witnessed.
'Natsu,' Erza thought to herself, silently staring at the drink she held in her hands. 'Don't you realize that you belong beside me? We can make this world a better place than it's ever been. I'm sure of it.'
Mirajane was due back soon, she could sense that Natsu and the rest of Team Natsu were there alongside her. This was the situation that she was not looking forward to, yet knew was going to eventually happen. Since her first attempt back in Worth Woodsea failed, it was likely that any other attempt would end similarly. This time it would likely turn violent considering she was now alone against not only Team Natsu but likely the entire guild as well, should they learn the truth.
Silent and still she was as time seemed to slow. Seconds turned to minutes into hours. All of it spent waiting, hoping, plotting. Trying to figure out a way to maintain her current status without a fight breaking out. Which was something she was sure was bound to happen sooner or later. It was simply inevitable when it came to the guild. Something that she had accepted a long time ago when she first came here.
After what felt like hours, Mirajane came back to the guild, with all of Team Natsu in tow. They all seemed somewhat lifted, perhaps something Mirajane had told them brought their moods up? Whatever it was, it had Erza on edge more than she would have liked to admit.
Erza tried to hide amongst the crowds, making herself appear among the many masses of guild members, drinking and enjoying life as it came. While also masking her scent to the best of her ability, knowing full well of Natsu's enhanced sense of smell.
Those of team Natsu on the other hand immediately felt something off as soon as they entered the hall. The aura about it seemed too familiar to what they encountered in Worth Woodsea for them not to be on guard.
Then, after scanning the guildhall carefully, they found the source of that aura. Erza Scarlet, the woman who betrayed not only them but all of humanity during that misfortunate encounter against the Oración Seis. There she was, intermingling herself amongst the guild as if she were playing them all for fools.
Without thinking, Natsu tried to rush her, to get at her, and anyone for that matter, for the embarrassment he suffered back then. Trapped and tortured within a cage of unusually deathly energy, while she just watched from the sidelines. Only to be held back by the combined strength of Gray and Lucy. Both of them tried to get Natsu to control his anger, stating that it wasn't worth it. For they too were not thrilled to see the former Titania among their ranks. Holding just as much fury as Natsu, yet were more able to control it and not let it show.
This behavior shocked not only Mirajane but everyone else in the guild who witnessed it as well. Natsu never looked this angry towards anyone in the guild before, not even during the daily brawls that he was a part of. So why was he suddenly so angry, and at Erza of all people?
"What are you doing here, Erza?" his tone was deep, almost in a growl. Highly animalistic, unlike how he normally is. Scales seemed to grow on his from, as his draconic fire consumed him from below. Overall, he looked like an ambush predator, ready to pounce and consume their prey where they stood.
Erza, on the other hand, had been expecting this kind of response. Yet showed no outside indication of fear or anything that might cause alarm to the other members of the guild.
"Welcome back Natsu! I hope you didn't miss me."
Once again, I apologize for how long it took this chapter to come out, hopefully, there won't be bigger delays in the future.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and I'll see you in the next chapter!
