A/N: Yay! 30,000 hits! I'm so happy!
Also, this chapter's a but shorter than most... that's why B Plots are important... oh well... Next time think of a B Plot if I'm having trouble with coming up with material, now I know... Anyways enjoy!
Chapter 40: Getting Rid of Mom's Boyfriend
It was a beautiful night in Gravity Falls, the stars sheened brightly. A very happy couple walked back to the Mystery Shack.
The two of them walked in silence, just enjoying each other's company.
After so many years, they were finally together.
They reached the door to the mystery.
"So how do you want to end tonight?" asked Erza.
"Well first off." Said Jellal.
The two leaned for a kiss. However the floor opened.
Both of them saw the scowling 12 year old glaring at Jellal.
"Do you know what time it is?" asked Mabel crossing her arms and tapping her foot.
"Mabel…" said Erza.
"Sorry… but I think we should just end it tonight." Said Jellal.
Erza sighed.
"Good night." said Jellal as he started to walked away.
"Mabel Erza Pines…" muttered Erza, "Bed… now…"
"Fine…" said Mabel.
Both of them of them went inside.
However what they didn't know was that Jellal was smiling, as if Mabel killing the moment was something he wanted.
The next day Mabel was pouting in the Gift Shop, she had to help Wendy with cash register duty.
As long as she didn't' give anything away.
"You should be happy for your mom, I mean it could be worse… she could be with my dad." Said Wendy.
"I was the one trying to set them up." Said Mabel.
"Oh yeah… forgot about that…" sighed Wendy.
"I agree with Wendy, the more I hear their story, the more I find it heart warming." Said Soos, "Being in love since they were children, having so much tragedy, then finally after so many years getting together…"
"Yeah but your forgetting the fact he went crazy tried to kill mom many times…" said Mabel.
"Is it just me or does everyone in the guild seem to have really messed up pasts." Said Wendy.
"The Guild just seems to attract that kind of people." Said Laxus with a shrug.
"I'm pretty sure Lucy doesn't have a messed up past." Said Soos.
"Her dad hired an other guild to kidnap her after she joined Fairy Tail." Said Laxus.
"Please don't bring any more names up…" said Wendy, "It will probably be the world's most depressing guessing game…"
"You know… I've been wondering… how did Jellal commit treason?" asked Soos.
"I've been wondering that too." Said Wendy.
"From what the news said, Jellal created a fake twin brother, got his twin to be a member of the magic council and used his power to fuel his plans." Explained Laxus.
"Okay that sounds less tragic back story and more like something out of a soap opera." Said Soos.
"Can you please stop talking about Jellal." Muttered Mabel.
Meanwhile at the Guild Hall, the Strongest Team and Dipper were all looking at the Request Board looking for the perfect job… it was for either the team or even Dipper. But rather for someone else.
"Oh man! Look at this one!" said Natsu, "Wanted for Elaborate Prank…"
"Mabel does want to that job…" said Dipper.
"But I doubt that's something they should together." Said Erza.
"Fine." Said Natsu but he grabbed it for himself and Happy to do later.
"This one look good." Said Lucy, "Years ago I found a herb in a cave, it's very rare and I can't seem to find it anywhere else. However I have started getting some trouble in the cave. Please gather the herb, or at least make the cave safe so I can go in again…"
"That actually sounds perfect for them…" said Gray.
"It sounds easy on the surface, but definitely something he can handle if get too rough." Said Erza.
The others nodded.
That was when Erza called Mabel.
"Back at the mystery Shack Mabel picked up her phone.
"Hello?" she asked.
"I want to you come to Guild Hall." Said Erza.
"Fine…" grumbled Mabel.
She hung up the phone.
"Tell Stan mom wanted me at the Guild Hall." Said Mabel.
"He already knows about that." Said Soos, "Apparently it already planned out."
Mabel groaned and headed to the Guild Hall.
When she got there she saw her mom's team and Dipper waiting for her.
"So what's going on?" asked Mabel.
"You'll see." Said Erza.
Turns out that was when Jellal arrived as well.
"Jellal over here!" called out Natsu.
"What?" asked Mabel.
"What's going on?" asked Jellal.
"You two are going on a job together." Said Erza.
"What?" asked Both.
"Mabel I know you don't like Jellal, but you two have to get along." Said Dipper.
"Mom never told you the whole story!" said Mabel.
"She finally did." Said Dipper.
"But he…" said Mabel.
"I'm sorry but this time I'm taking Jellal's side…" said Dipper, "Especially since he brainwashed."
"Oh you believe that." Said Mabel.
"Mabel…" sighed Gray, "I was there when the person who did it to him confessed everything."
"That sounds convenient." Said Mabel, "A little too convenient…"
"Just try to get along…" said Dipper.
"We don't want a repeat of last night." Said Erza.
"Or what happens a few days ago." Said Happy.
(Flashback)
Jellal was walking back to the Guild Hall. That was when Erza showed up.
"Jellal, there's something I have to tell you. I don't think it's going to work out between us after all." Said Erza.
Jellal looked at her and tried not smile.
"Can you give me your reasons why?" asked Jellal.
"You're just not good for me, after everything you did." Sid Erza.
Jellal sighed and started laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Erza.
"You know, I would like to hear the reasons from Erza and not you Mabel." Said Jellal.
Turns out that it was Mabel disguised as her mother.
"How did you know?" asked Mabel.
"Various reasons." Said Jellal.
Mabel began to pout.
(End of Flashback)
"I still can't belie you tried that." Laughed Happy.
"You two need to get along." Said Erza.
"Or at the very least Mabel has to learn to hate him in silence." Said Dipper.
"I think it's fine the way thing are." Said Jellal.
They all turned to Jellal.
Natsu sighed and face palmed.
Just because he learned his lesson about avoiding Erza was also hurting her, doesn't mean he didn't have all his other issues.
"Maybe this will help work through more of your issues." Said Gray.
Erza gave both of them a look.
"Fine…" muttered Mabel.
"Okay…" sighed Jellal knowing that it was probably not to argue with Gray or Natsu, especially since that would lead to a fight, and he's rather not fight Natsu.
Not because Natsu could beat him but rather he just wasn't in the mood to fight.
Both Mabel and Jellal went to talk to the person who hired them.
It was an older man.
"So many years ago I stumbled upon that cave, and I found the herbs." Said the man, "They're very deicloius and I even make a sauce with them."
He offered them some of his sauce a dip.
"Oh wow! This is really good." Said Mabel as her eyes sparkled.
"Why would you even think of eating a random herb form a cave?" asked Jellal.
"Well reasons, I was young, stupid and thought it would certain things…" said the man looking at Mabel while saying it,
"Why are looking at me?" asked a confused Mabel.
Jellal on the other hand was clearly keep a straight face realizing what the man meant.
"But that's not important. I tried growing on my own, never worked, I tried to see if other caves had it, they didn't… thankfully I was able to turn to you." Explained the man.
"Don't worry… I'm sure we'll be able to handle it." Said Jellal.
"Do we get some of the sauce as reward." Said Mabel.
"I put that down." Pointed out the man, "didn't you read the request."
"I must have missed it." Said Mabel who hadn't read the request.
"Good luck! Because that's my main business." Said the man.
Both of them heard to the cave.
They got to the cave.
"Requip!" called out Mabel switch to her light bulb sweater.
She pressed the bulb and it turned on.
"Come on, let's just get this over with." Said Mabel.
They went into the cave, they went in Mabel began to think of something.
She had scene a lot of movies from the 80's and 90's and one of the plots for family movies was that the boyfriend or stepdad trying to get along with the kids despite the kids always causing problems.
Jellal had been very quiet and hadn't even tried to try to get her to like him.
"That's weird…" thought Mabel.
"Look." Said Jellal.
Mabel saw some of the herbs.
She began to pick them.
"That's weird, there wasn't anything dangerous." Said Mabel.
That was when strange monsters decided from the celling, they had bag like wings, but frog like bodies and two legs, not only that but they were pretty big.
"Okay… looks like I spoke too soon." Said Mabel.
The two of them were surrounded.
"Requip." Said Mabel.
"Think you can handle this?" asked Jellal.
Mabel nodded.
She shot her Grappling hook at some of the monsters, which kicked several out.
Jellal had many skills in magic. Including the four basic elements.
Which was why he was using wind magic to blow them away.
"Aren't you use strong spells?" asked Mabel as she shot more with grappling hook, "Aren't you like sup powerful?"
"Using my stronger spells will probably cause a cave in…" said Jellal, "I can't risk it."
The minsters looked at each other as if they understood certain English phrases and knew what to do.
He began to use their tongues (which were frog- like) to hit the celling of the cave and break the ceiling apart and cause a cave in.
"Mabel watch out!" yelled Jellal he grabbed her and jumped out of the way as they were sealed off in a chamber of the cave because of the cave-in.
Meanwhile at the Guild Hall, Erza, Dipper, Gray and Lucy waited for the two to come back.
"Is Mabel back yet?" asked Natsu holding a couple grocery bags.
"We want to see if she'll lend us a stuffed monkey." Said Happy holding a bag of feather dusters.
"Not yet…" said Dipper.
"He said he'd remembers us, so I guess we have to just buy one." Said Natsu.
"If it survives, we'll give it to Mabel afterwards." Said Happy.
"What is the prank?" asked Dipper.
"You don't want to know." Said Natsu.
"But it is really fun setting it up!" said Happy.
"Do you think the plan will work?" Gray decided finally ask.
"To be honest I'm having doubts too." Sighed Natsu.
"He's using Mabel to punish himself." Sighed Erza.
"Maybe their talk it out." Said Dipper.
"Are you sure." Said Erza.
"Knowing Mabel she'll compare to one of those moves with what the new stepparent trying to get along the with the kid…" said Dipper.
Erza blinked, she had to admit, Mabel did love those kinds of movies from the 80's and 90's.
"Maybe they might be able to work things out." Said Erza.
"I am so lost right now…" Lucy whispered to Natsu and Gray.
The two nodded, neither still used to certain media.
Back in the cave the two recovered from the attack.
"You all right?" asked Jellal.
"I'm fine…" said Mabel.
She winced.
"Never mind I think I twisted my ankle." Said Mabel.
"Let's rest of a bit." Said Jellal.
Mabel pouted.
"I don't get it…" said Mabel.
"Get what?" asked Jellal.
"Why haven't you been trying to get along with me." Said Mabel.
Jellal didn't answer.
"I mean I've seen these kind of movies a lot times." Said Mabel, "The mom or dad have a new boyfriend or girlfriend. The kid always causes problems but the new boyfriend always tries to get along."
"This is real life and not like one of those movies." Said Jellal.
"Wait you don't like me either do you?" asked Mabel.
"No I like you." Said Jellal.
"Wait… why don't you want to get along?" asked Mabel.
"Because I want you to continue you tormenting me." Said Jellal.
Mabel blinked.
"What?" asked Mabel confused.
"I love Erza so much…" said Jellal, "I don't deserves, but your mother… she's been through so much. After all this time she deserve to be happy…"
"What are you saying?" asked Mabel, "Why do you want me to keep tormenting you then."
"I want you to keep what you're doing… Because I don't deserve to be happy!" yelled Jellal.
Mabel paled when he said that.
"I've done so much to so many people… I killed my friend… I enslaved people… I tried to kill Erza…" said Jellal, "Everyone keeps telling me it's not my fault. But… but… I did so much… I should have just died that night!"
"Wait what?" asked Mabel.
Jellal sighed.
(Flashback)
It had been two days since what reminded of the Tower of Heaven vanished… all thanks to her…
But she was gone… and since then. Everything just collapsed, the spirit of Zeref that had controlled him disappeared. And all that was left was the crushing guilt.
He looked at the ocean below him.
"Should I just jump or something else…" he said, "The Self Destruction Spell should also do the trick…"
"What will killing yourself do?" asked a voice.
Jellal turned around and saw a figure walking towards him, the figure wore a hate and mask. On his back were several Staves.
Jellal's eyes winded, he knew who was walking towards him, he had heard of the stories.
"You're Mystogan aren't you?" asked Jellal.
"That's right." Said the mysterious man, "Killing yourself won't accomplish anything…"
"You have no idea what I've done or what I…" said Jellal.
That was when Jellal felt drowsy and suddenly he fell asleep.
The next thing he knew he was by a campfire in what looked like a cave.
"What happened" asked Jellal.
That was when he saw Mystogan.
"You were asleep for a long time." Said Mystogan.
"Why did you do that?" asked Jellal.
"As I said earlier killing yourself won't accomplish anything." Said Mystogan, "Death isn't the answer if you truly want to atone for your sins."
"Why do you want to help?" asked Jellal.
"What I am about to tell you is something you must tell anyone. Although I doubt you would be able to tell anyone." Admitted Mystogan.
That was when Mystogan removed his hat and mask revealing he was Jellal's double.
Jellal stared at his exact double.
Maybe it was the stress from the last couple days getting to him, or maybe what he was seeing was so bizarre he couldn't comprehend it.
But he did something he would never expect to ever do… faint.
(End of Flashback)
Mabel looked at him in shock. She didn't know that he almost committed suicide, and it was clear that he had yet to most of the guild about his first meeting with alternate double.
She could tell, he was telling the truth.
"Please keep tormenting me!" said Jellal, "Death isn't any punishment, and staying away from Erza will just keep hurting her… I need to be punished…"
"No…" answered Mabel who seemed to be tearing up.
Jellal didn't know how to respond to that.
"I'm sorry…" said Mabel, "I always thought you were an evil jerk! I didn't know you felt this bad about what you did. I always thought you were faking it… but… I'm sorry…"
"You shouldn't apologize." Said Jellal.
"I should!" cried Mabel, "Everyone deservers to be happy!"
"But…" said Jellal.
"You feel really bad about what you did!" said Mabel, "If you were evil then you wouldn't… You wouldn't want to punish yourself."
Jellal looked down.
Mabel grabbed his face and forced him to look into her eyes.
"You've been through so much… and you regret everything! Just let yourself be happy!" said Mabel.
"But…" said Jellal.
"I'm not going to torment you any more!" said Mabel, "But from now on I'm going to ensure you're happy! Understand!"
Jellal nodded.
"All right then!" said Mabel letting go of his face, "Let's get out of here."
Jellal looked at Mabel, he couldn't' help but to laugh.
Mabel requiped her confetti cannon (after what happened to the zombie she decided to add to her arsenal).
"Let's go get those frog bats." Said Mabel.
The frog bats (as Mabel started calling them) started celebrating thinking they had won.
However the wall that was blocking the chamber that had Mabel and Jellal suddenly exploded.
The frog bats stared at the explosion.
"All right! You messed with the wrong wizards!" said Mabel.
One of the frog bats made a strange noise which translated "Did we screw up""
Another one responded "Oh yeah, we did…"
They proceed to beat the bat frogs.
"All right! When an old man comes for these herbs! Let him in got it!" yelled Mabel holding some of the herbs.
The frog bats made noises meaning "yes."
Mabel turned to Jellal "That was easy!"
Jellal laughed.
That was when Mabel winced in pain.
"You're ankle?" asked Jellal.
Mabel nodded.
Got on his kneed in a certain way.
"All right!" cheered Mabel.
She climbed onto his back.
"All right! Next stop the clients house!" cheered Mabel.
Sometime later they got back to the Guild Hall with cash and some od that deicloius sauce.
They all stared at Mabel and Jellal, Mabel was still on his back.
"No way!" said Gray.
"It did work." Said Lucy.
"So what happened?" asked Erza.
"There was a small cave-in, but were fine and I asked him why he wasn't trying to get along with me… then he has a break down and confessed he didn't think he deserved to be happy…. And a few other confessions I really shouldn't get into…" Explained Mabel, "But everything turned out fine afterward."
"You didn't have to tell her everything." Said Jellal.
"Wow… you guys got close enoguh to give her a piggy back ride." Said Erza who was the most unfazed by that confession.
"That and I twisted my ankle!" said Mabel, "Hey Marvelous! I need some help."
Mabel got off his back limped towards where Marvelous.
"I'm glad to see you two finally getting along." Said Erza, "Just please find another way to punish yourself."
"I think Mabel's going to be on the look out for that." Said Jellal.
Erza smiled at that.
"She does love to make everyone she cares about happy." Said Erza.
That was when there was an explosion.
They all went outside to check it on it.
That was when the it started to rain butter.
"I think something went wrong with Natsu and Happy's job." Said Gray.
The taxidermy porcupine then fell to the ground as well.
"Oh maybe it went well…" said Dipper, "It was supposed to be a prank…"
"Oh Natsu got to do that job…" said Mabel, "I wanted to do that one!"
"Not surprised." Said Carla.
The next night, Erza and Jellal once again came home from a date.
"So I guess this is take two." Said Erza.
"Yeah." Said Jellal.
"So how do we end our night?" asked Erza.
The two leaned in for a kiss.
That was when the door opened and it was Stan with several boxes.
"Oh… you're back…" said Stan nervously.
Erza's eye ticked.
It wasn't so much that the moment was killed again, but rather it was clear Stan was doing his thing.
"What are you doing?" asked Erza.
"Nothing… nothing at all…" Stan said nervously.
That was when he used a smoke bomb to get away.
However something went wrong with the smoke bomb and there was too much smoke. The smoke alarms of the Mystery Shack went off.
"Fire! Fire! Must save Waddles!" yelled Mabel.
"Mabel calm down!" yelled Dipper trying to calm down Mabel.
Both Erza and Jellal watched the madness unfold.
"Next date we'll just go up to my room." Said Erza.
"Good idea." Agreed Jellal.
And so Mabel learned to along with Jellal… well more like learned that he was a big ball of issues and guilt that didn't deserve her hatred. And hopefully, she'll keep him from self punishment... After all in a sense he was party of the family now. Even if he and Erza weren't married… at least not yet…
Next Time: After Pacifica shows up her up in the newspaper, Mabel decides to chill out with some Mini-Gold, only to discover Pacifica also better than her at that. With a midnight challenge Mabel vows to beat her once and for all. However she and Dipper discover the truth of all Mini-Golf... what will happen? Find out next time!
