"I see, so that's what happened," Makarov said as he listened to Ryker explain what happened to him.
Hours after he woke up and found Mirajane at his bedside in the guild's infirmary, they decided to explain everything to the rest of their companions. Ryker told him about the monster hiding inside him, about the blocking magic in his chest, the nickname 'Demon of Burninghill ' and everything else he needed to clear up.
"Can't this become a problem in the future?" Lucy asked. "I mean, Ryker might freak out and like he said, he loses control and can end up being dangerous," she said worriedly.
Mira glared at her, causing the Celestial mage to shiver. "He's not dangerous and that only happens rarely. He has too much control over his emotions to let himself be controlled by anger", she said looking at the blonde with fury. "Then don't say he's dangerous again," she said with a threatening tone in her voice.
Lucy looked at her terrified with fear and quickly nodded, nodding.
Ryker placed his hand on her shoulder, calming his girlfriend. "It's okay, Mira. Lucy is just worried and rightfully so." Mira looked at him and I smiled at her boyfriend. He looked at Lucy and everyone around her. "In fact, only once did I get to the point where I lost control and broke the seal on my chest," he explained. "But the truth is, if Mira hadn't stopped me, I would have lost him again," he resigned himself.
"Do you think this condition of yours could be a problem? Because in that state of yours you went insane. I never imagined that you could have so much power and how easily you defeated us in that moment", Gray said looking at him in a serious and worried way.
"Exactly! You've become incredibly powerful, I'd like to fight you like that again", Natsu enthused, looking at him defiantly.
"Don't wish for it!" Lucy yelled.
"Didn't you miss him with just one blow?" Carla asked sarcastically.
Ryker looked at them seriously and steadily. "I do not believe this. As I said, it's a rare thing to happen. I can try to strengthen the block in my chest, make it less tolerable, but that will take time."
"I don't think that's necessary," Erza interjected. Everyone looked at her confused and curious. "Both times this happened to you, Mira was in danger, it was a reaction to her. If she is safe and well, nothing will happen", the redhead concluded.
The Fairy Tail mages looked at her in astonishment. "That's true. Now that you mention it I understand," Lucy said thoughtfully. "On both occasions, Mira was the key, both for the ignition and for calming him down."
"Are they saying I need to stay safe to keep Ryker under control?" Mira concluded.
"I can't disagree with the theory," Ryker said. "I had already completed that myself," he looked at the girlfriend beside him.
"Then just keep Mira out of trouble," Lucy concluded hopefully.
Makarov looked thoughtful and sighed. "Mira is someone important to the guild and we cannot give her up. Besides, she is a powerful mage and she knows how to take care of herself."
"So what should we do?" Lucy asked tearfully.
"That's simple," Ryker said. "We have to train and be prepared. Even more so now that we are sure that someone is preparing an attack on the guild. We still don't know who or when, much less how. As for me, don't worry. As for Mira, as much as I don't want her in danger, I've seen what she can do. Your help on the battlefield will be vital."
"Ryker is right. We have more pressing matters now," Makarov spoke seriously. "Valentin confirmed our suspicions. Jellal is meeting with an informant and all we know is that we will be attacked at some point." He looked at Mira and Ryker. "You must work together, protecting each other. I believe this is the best way for this to end well and without scares. As for the others, stay tuned."
After the meeting ended, everyone went their separate ways.
"Wendy," Ryker called out to her. "I'm sorry for what I said to you. I didn't mean to, that's not what I really think of you", he apologized crestfallen and awkwardly for having hurt his 'sister'.
The little one hugged him and looked up, seeing his troubled face. "Don't worry about it, Ryker," she said, smiling. "I know you didn't mean that. I was just sad about what you were going through and I was worried."
Ryker sighed and hugged her back. "Thanks, Wendy. The women of this guild are always saving me," he said wistfully.
"We help those who are important to us," she said smiling and Ryker smiled back.
Mira returned to her duties at the bar and running the guild and quests, Ryker helped her with whatever she needed. They were in the kitchen fixing some things when the white haired mage stopped and looked at him.
"Ryker," she called. "Why don't you want me to fight?" she asked intrigued.
He stopped what he was doing and turned to her. "It's not that I don't want you to fight, but … but I almost lost you twice, Mira," he sighed. "I don't want that to happen."
"That's not going to happen, Love," she tried to reassure him.
He looked at her seriously. "How can you be sure of that!? Balor nearly killed you and you stood in front of a bullet to protect me. Next time maybe you…" Ryker couldn't finish his sentence.
"Ryker, I..."
"You must not defend me anymore! If necessary, let me die." He looked at her seriously.
Mirajane gave him a startled look and irritation began to take over her. She looked at him annoyed and would be. "Listen to me here, Ryker!" she said in a firm, serious tone. "It's not you who decides who I can and can't defend. I have already been captured and fought a lot against powerful and dangerous enemies, I know what I do and without whom I must protect. I will always protect the people who are important to me!"
Ryker looked at her irritated and frowning. "You do not understand! I'd rather die than see you dying to save me. I know what you're capable of, but I couldn't live knowing you died for me. I can't live without you, but I'd be fine knowing you'd be alive and happy even though you're dead."
The Take Over mage sighed. "And how do you think I would be without you?" she asked, much to his amazement. "I couldn't live without you either, idiot", she looked at him seriously but with understanding.
Ryker sighed dejectedly and sat down on a nearby bench. "Listen Ryker, I've sacrificed myself for the people I love and I know you did and would do the same. 'I cover you and you cover me,' remember?" he nodded in confirmation. "You are the best partner I could ever have on a battlefield. Let's be rational and not take hasty measures, okay?", she said understandingly, while consoling him.
"Okay," he replied. Ryker looked into her eyes and smiled, at the loving face Mira had.
A few days later...
"Mira-san, how are you?", Lucy greeted her and asked the waitress for a juice.
"It's okay, Lucy," she replied. "How are you?".
The blonde sighed wearily. "Needing money to pay the rent," she said dejectedly.
"So it's all normal," Mira said, smiling.
" Awww !" the blonde whimpered. She looked around and noticed the absence of some people. "Mira-san, am I not seeing Lisanna or Elfman? Are they all right?" she asked.
"It's okay, yeah, don't worry," Mira replied calmly.
"That's good," she said, relieved. "What about Ryker? I haven't seen him lately," she commented.
"He's training with Lis and Elfman, and Wendy too."
Lucy looked at her in surprise. "That's why they're not around," she concluded. "But why didn't you also go train with them?", asked the Celestial mage, curiously.
Mira smiled, in her usual angelic way. "Ryker thought I'd better train alone or just with him eventually," she said with her finger to her mouth thoughtfully. "I think that's why I always beat him at sparings," she smiled.
Lucy was stunned by the revelation, not believing what she heard. "Do you always beat him, Mira-san?" she asked in amazement.
Mira looked at her curiously and confused by the question. Hadn't she said that? "Yea. Why frighten you?".
"But, but he beat everyone he fought!"
Mira smiled amusedly. "Not everybody..."
Somewhere on the outskirts of Magnolia, in an open country far from the city...
"We will! What are you waiting for?" Ryker yelled with authority at Lisanna and Elfman lying on the floor, completely exhausted, sweaty and dirty from training.
"Give us... give us a second...", Elfman begged, asking for some time to rest.
"We don't have a second in war!" Ryker shouted. "Get up and attack me with everything you've got!" he ordered.
Elfman and Lisanna struggled to their feet and assumed fighting stances. Ryker grinned evilly and summoned them to attack him. The fight didn't take long, Lisanna and Elfman were no match for him who easily defeated them with few moves. He was being brutal to both brothers, beating them up and pushing them to the limit.
Lisanna and Elfman were slumped on the floor, breathing heavily and without the strength to continue. Their bodies were sore and bruised. Ryker observed the situation and became irritated.
"This is depressing," he snarled. "We'll rest for a while, then we'll return to training," he said and walked away, going to sit on a large rock.
"Don't you think you're getting too hard on them?" Wendy asked, sitting down next to him.
Ryker glanced at her sideways, his expression serious. "This is not a joke. If they don't get stronger, they can put others at risk or die in combat."
"You're worried about them, I know. But don't you think you should find a way that works better for them?", the little Dragon Slayer advised him. "See, we've been here for a few days and they and I have already gotten stronger. Can't you feel it?"
"It's not enough," he looked at her. "We don't know how strong the enemy is, we need to perfect ourselves to the fullest, going beyond our capabilities," Ryker sighed. "Elfman is strong but slow and lacking in agility, Lisy could be stronger but she neglects training and is beneath her ability. If they catch an enemy who knows what to do, they..." Ryker trailed off looking at the Strauss brothers resting in the middle of the field.
Wendy watched him and smiled. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."
Ryker looked at her and smiled slightly out of the corner of his mouth. "And shouldn't you be trained with your pussy?"
"We're taking a break," she replied.
" Tsh ! You lazybones," he grumbled as she laughed.
As soon as the break ended, they got back to training. Lisanna jumped from side to side, using her agility to attack and punch Ryker, while Elfman used a more direct approach. Ryker dodged the brothers' attacks with ease, anticipating their every move and countering them with force.
"Don't give up!" he shouted. "In combat you fight until you die or defeat your opponent."
Elfman and Lisanna got up and continued attacking him, for hours they trained intensely, until complete exhaustion.
"We're done for today," Ryker said. "We continue tomorrow morning."
" Aww !" Lisanna whimpered. "At least give us a morning off, we're dead," she pleaded.
Ryker looked at her seriously. "Request denied!" he replied indifferently.
"You freak!" she yelled and crossed her arms, frowning.
After everyone washed up in a nearby river and Elfman lit a fire, they were bestowed with roasted animals, hunted by Ryker.
"Again, those prairie dogs," Lisanna complained.
"Don't complain Lisy, or I'll make you go get food tomorrow," Ryker glared at her.
Lisanna huffed and pouted indignantly. "I think it's better than dying training with you," she crossed her arms sullenly.
"Hunting is a masculine thing to do. Thanks to Ryker we have something to eat as no one has brought supplies," Elfman said.
"Thanks, Elf," Ryker thanked him. "See Lisy, someone's grateful," he smiled sarcastically at the youngest Strauss, who sulked even more in her corner.
Wendy looked at everyone, enjoying the company. Lisanna turned her attention to the little bluenett. "Hey Wendy," she called out to her. "What was your training today?" she asked.
The young Dragon Slayer looked at her chewing a piece of meat. "I trained with Carla, we were training in close combat and the technique Ryker taught us long ago," the little one explained.
"This looks more peaceful than ours," Lisy sighed.
"It just looks like it, but it's not," Wendy said with a smile. "It takes a lot of concentration and effort."
"In time you two will learn too," Ryker chimed in. "But for now they will have to improve their physique, strength and their magic power."
"But beating you is impossible. We didn't even get to hit you once," Lisanna complained.
Ryker looked at her seriously. "No one is invincible, Lisy. But someone experienced in combat can predict 80% of attacks. Victory lies in strategy and intelligence. Know how to use your characteristics, your strengths and weaknesses, against your opponent."
Lisanna, Elfman, Wendy and Carla listened attentively and admired those words. They felt a renewed spirit for the next day.
The next few days were more difficult and cruel, pushing the mages to the limit of their strength. But little by little they noticed that their powers had evolved, thanks to the intense training Ryker had put them through.