Chapter 3 - Home
Written by LastationLover5000 and Demod20
It happened in an instant.
One moment, Wendy was bidding farewell to the kind people of the Lamia Scale Guild. And the next, the scenery around her blurred and then reorganized into being. A familiar road lied beneath her feet, the scent of the air had a slew of pleasant aromas and the sound of bustling townsfolk in the distance complemented the chirping of birds and whooshing of the wind. She didn't think she'd be here so soon, but she was.
She was truly home again.
A thought occurred to her amidst her wave of nostalgia. Looking over at Doranbolt as his hand released her shoulder, she questioned with a few choice blinks, "Wait, why didn't you teleport me into the Guild Hall?"
"I think it'll be best you return home through the front door," The Council agent replied, a look of affection placed on his face as he smiled down at her. "Should I lead the way?"
"N-No, I can do it," Wendy stuttered out, waving her hand with protest while holding Charle close to herself. Breathing slowly she began to walk towards the place she called home for the past half a year. The memories she had carved into the hall itself will forever be etched into her mind, as well as the adventures tied from them and in them. Even now as she walked closer she could hear the raucous noise of people inside, with someone she didn't recognize wholly speaking to someone else.
Biting her lower lip she stopped in front of the door. Something inside of her gnawed at the prospect of showing up, unannounced, after what she left behind. Even if it had the words plastered 'WELCOME' on it she still would feel hesitant to enter. She could feel Doranbolt's shadow waiting behind her, almost pleading to be of help and open the gates of the guild for her.
But she had to do it. If she was ever going to move on, this was the obvious first step in coming to terms with things that have happened.
With a breathy sigh, Wendy placed her hand on the door, pushing it open-
"-and that's why I think its to your benefit that we merge our guilds, given the most probable worse case scenario."
"With all due respect, Master Baba, I cannot make a decision this drastic without some given thought. There's still no indicator that they really are all gone."
"And you need to start thinking of the future, less you spin-!"
The two figures, speaking in the center amidst mutters, grumbling and other less than pleased conversations were ones Wendy recognized upon further inspection.
On the right was one adorned in a white knee-length jacket with sleeves pulled up to the elbows with a flared collar with blue interior trim, was Macao Conbolt, the slicked back cobalt haired man with a slight muscular build and lightly trimmed facial hair. Upon departing for the S-Class Tests, she remembered he was placed in charge of the guild in Makarov's absence. Given his longtime experience and wisdom, he seemed to be the best choice with such a huge influx of new members joining due to recent strings of victories the guild had; a number she noticed had lessened to half upon returning with chaste glances around.
On the left, was the master of Lamia Scale she had briefly met after the matter of Oracion Seis was settled, Master Ooba Baba. She, much like Makarov, was an old and short woman who looked ready to retire despite vocal objections she'd have. With bony hands, a shriveled up oblong shaped face with squinting eyes, her hair was larger than her torso with a three-layered bun pointed backwards. Enamored with golden jewelry around the neck, bracelets on the wrists and a jeweled collar that held her scarlet cloak over her purple dressed person, she was a visible definition of someone not wanting to let go of the glory days.
"Its not like we don't appreciate the offer," Wakaba spoke, the pompadour, green-speckled shirted man replied as he adjusted his pipe; both his hair and his stem ebbing telltale smoke as part of his habit and his specialty in magic. "But Macao was left with the responsbility of holding all members of the guild accountable. If we abandoned this hall, we wouldn't have a home to go back to."
"Bah! And you'll keep taking in jobs that the others did so well?" The hunched harpy snapped dismissively, pointing at the chair leaning man. And in a twist, she sent him suddenly spinning - much to his shouting chagrin - as she screamed out. "SPIN for your foolishness! SPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!"
"Please, be reasonable, Master Baba-!"
"I'll send you spinning too, boy-!"
"Hey...is that-?" A voice from the mission board piped up. The Mage who hadn't went on a job in years, Nab, was the muscular man adorned in islander native garbs with a sleeveless jacket and shorts, allowing his bare feet to touch the floor while his brawny hands slackened to his sides.
As he spoke another girl, Kinana, a recent addition whom was a waitress dropped her platter in surprise. The clattering of dishes caused everyone who was either paying attention to the older men and woman's antics jerked immediately to the now petrified Wendy. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as voices made gasps in the pregnant pause. Even though the master of Lamia Scale had already spoke of this development not but earlier in the day, it was still hard to imagine.
"Wendy!" Laki, a lavender haired girl with a red bow and spectacles cried out. "You...you really are alive!"
"H-Hi-" Wendy managed to shakily raise a hand, her face paling and her eyes spinning.
Before she had much of a chance to say anything, a slew of people suddenly galloped to meet her. Wendy squeaked out, holding onto the unconscious Charle in fear as she was about to be assailed by a bunch of mages aiming to embrace and/or meet her head-on.
Doranbolt, thankfully, stepped in between her and the rest with hands raised up before the heel-skidding mages.
"Take it easy," He tried to speak diplomatically. "She just got up and around after being bedridden."
"I-It's alright, Doranbolt, really," Wendy tried to speak up, causing the scarred man to look over with a puzzled expression. Despite her squeamish expression, she stomached it back and put on a weak smile. "They're friends. You don't need to protect me."
"If you say so," He sighed, stepping aside and letting her shakily approach them.
The first was Laki, whom leaped up and hugged Wendy. Despite squeaking out a slight "Meep!", she hugged back. Soon Nab gave her a big hug as well, which was then shared by a duo hug by the gunslingers Alzack and Bisca. Max Alors, the dark blonde with a bowl cut hair and short blue tee shirt, gave her a half hug and Reedus gave her a tearful embrace. Vijeeter, Warren and Mickey all gave their praise, comments and sign of affection. Even young Romeo gave Wendy a hug, the Slayer having to bend over but was thankful for the thought of it. Even those she didn't recognize gave her hugs, shakes of the hand and headpats, all doing their best to make her feel welcome back into the guild.
When it came to Macao, the older man gave her a firm rub on the head which Wakaba doubled. While Ooba just scowled to nothing in particular, she waddled over to a table and sat on a chair, observing their conversation with interest but saying nothing.
"Wendy. We heard you were found outside of the Lamia Scale, we didn't know what to make of it," The acting Guild Master spoke, his tall form standing with his arms crossed seriously over his chest. "I...know the worst has possibly come to pass, but I think we'd all like to know. What happened out there? Where's the master, Natsu and the others?"
Wendy knew she had to steel herself for the eventuality they'd bring this up. Even though she had just explained it to Lamia Scale not but an hour ago, it was still a painful thing to bring up. Too exhausted to cry, she took a deep breath and held Charle tight as she began to retell the tale of how the exams started. She omitted the part where she found out Doranbolt was an agent for the Magic Council, and how he was sent there by a task force to undermine the guild in some way; but the rest, of how he helped, and the enemies they faced, achieving narrow victory against Grimoire Heart...only to then be set afoul by the nightmare that was Acnologia.
"Did you say...Acnologia?" Wakaba inquired, his squinting eyes open wide with recognition. It was shared in accompaniment with Macao, and even Lamia Scale's Guild Master's mouth hung ajar at hearing that last bit.
"To hear about our former master, Precht, attacking us is one thing...but the Black Winged Apocalypse? That's something I never would've thought could come across our people," Macao spoke, his face beading sweat while his eyes focused at the floor while cupping his chin in thought. "I think...that'd explain why when Gildarts returned he was all bandaged up from his failed mission. At first I thought something else could've done it, but now I know he had run into him to begin with. But to run into him again, with all of our comrades just recovering from a fierce fight? Damn bad luck, that is..."
"Forgive us, Master," Laki proffered, raising a hand for the man to look over at her with curiosity. "But...what is Acnologia? Wendy says he was a dragon but, most dragons we hear about in books don't have names. Why is his so special?"
"We're not actually really sure," Macao confessed, lowering his left hand to his hip while gesturing with the other for emphasis. "All we do know is that anytime he's shown up, death and destruction follow his wake. The largest achievement of his that got him written in the Book of Apocalypse was him annihilating an entire country overnight. Of all dragons that's come before, he was the worst and the one that all men fear; perhaps even the last living dragon that no magic on this world can harm it."
"How terrible...!" Kinana exclaimed, holding a hand up to her mouth, tearing up at the thought of the kind dwarf Makarov being gone so completely after he had taken her in.
"Natsu...Gray...Erza," Alzack grimaced, looking down with balled up fists while Bisca places a comforting hand on his shoulder; one he raises a hand to squeeze it back, his face giving her a bittersweet smile of thanks in return.
"Mirajane...Elfman...even Gildarts and the Master," Warren grimaced, his rounded lips shaking as his eyes watered up. "To think they're all just gone. Just like that."
"But...how did Wendy survive that?" Nab inquired, scratching his head as he looked over at the glum expressed Slayer, still cradling the Exceed in her arms; still asleep from the exhaustion her healing magic had only just assisted in recovering from.
"I-If she survived," Jet began to say, looking over at Droy with a faint bit of hope glimmering in their eyes. "Then...maybe Levy has too?"
"If someone like Wendy could make it, anything's possible, right?!"
"And what do you mean by that?" Doranbolt sharply asked, catching the pair of Shadow Gear dead in their tracks. Glaring at them with wide eyes, the man had to restrain himself from not walking up to them and reaching for their collars. Realizing he drew unwanted attention, he raised up a hand, and began to apologize. "I-I'm sorry. What I meant to say was that you shouldn't get your hopes up; be grateful for the comrade you've gotten back."
"That brings up another question," Bisca broached the issue, the gunslinger looking at him with a more critical eye. "Who are you? I feel like I should know you, but I can't place why."
"Yeah, it is strange," Warren spoke, raising forefingers as he concentrated on his Telepathy. "I can't read his mind either. Its...clouded. Who is he?"
"I'm Wendy's friend," Doranbolt replied stoically, meeting his accusing stare with a cagey glare back. "That's all you need to know."
"If you haven't noticed, this is Fairy Tail, not a public mead hall," Max spoke derisively, waving a hand out at him. "We appreciate you being there for her, but can you please leave? As in, now?"
"Wait," Wendy raised a hand, stopping any further altercation between everyone. "I want him here."
"But Wendy-"
"Its fine, Bisca," Macao interjected, giving a knowing glance to Wakaba before smiling over at Doranbolt. "Name's Macao Conbolt. And, in light of these events, I'm now the official 4th Master of Fairy Tail. Though we aren't much, given circumstances, we still have heart and pride in ourselves as free spirited mages. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like, until Wendy or I say otherwise. Does that sound fair, Mister...?"
Smiling at this, the striped-shirted scarred man nodded with appreciation, "It's Doranbolt. And thank you for your understanding and hospitality."
Despite a few looks of confusion and disbelief at the conclusion of his stay, Wendy was happy that Macao wasn't refusing. She felt kinship to the man, for having seen him beg her to be of use in any way for failing to do what he thought he could've. While her guild didn't know it now, Doranbolt had a pure heart beyond his ego and wants to put others ahead of himself.
"...maybe...I can too..." She thought to herself, quietly hugging the sleeping Charle as she considered this train of thought.
Black wings spread outward, clad in a smoky film while looking on high down at her. Hollowed white eyes, swirls of an abyss that never ended. A curled beak for a mouth, spreading wide to show rows upon rows of fangs; jagged, like serrated blades, oozing with saliva. A horrible glow began to whirl from within the back of its throat, a terrible screeching sound penetrating the sky as she looked up, petrified.
And then, without warning, a massive geyser of sheer white struck her!
A baleful scream tore from her throat as she was wrenched from her nightmare and into the waking world.
Her arms reached to clutch onto something she expected was there, but wasn't any longer.
"C-C-Charle?!" She choked out hoarsely, her head swinging back and forth, cold sweat trickling down her face and off her chin onto the quilt. "W-Where are you?!"
Seeing her not anywhere within her quaint room of the guild's dormitory for girls - Fairy Hills - she felt her blood go cold. The silence of the mostly absent rooms surrounding hers on this floor rattled her further. Despite liking going back to her old room, the nightmares persisted and without Charle present, evidence that everyone she loved going missing from her life was now becoming a horrifying reality.
"CHARLE! DON'T LEAVE ME!"
Amidst her hollering an instantaneous shift in space took place. A familiar man, wearing now a simple long-sleeved pajamas with a hanging sleep cap on his head, appeared in a bout of a swift teleport to her bedside.
"Wendy, what's wrong?" Doranbolt questioned, his eyes wide and full of worry. "I heard your screams and-"
He wouldn't finish as she began to sob. Grabbing his midsection, she buried her face into his front as she began to choke on cries and speak expletives that he couldn't make out. While his arms were raised up in confusion, he'd try to decide if it was best to comfort her, or let her cry it out unimpeded.
Then, the door on the other side of the room opened.
"Wendy?!" Charle cried out, her voice a raised whisper as she walked inside, adorned in her own small-sized pj's as she trotted towards her dear friend. "I'm so sorry! I just went to refresh myself for a few minutes and lost track of time. I'm so sorry-"
"Is...this a recurring problem?" The man asked, looking over to the Exceed with a concerned look.
Biting her lip, the feline sighed as she leaped up and began to hug Wendy, whom finally returned it but not letting go of Doranbolt just yet. "She's been having nightmares, yes. Ever since I woke up the other night I tried to help make it easier for her. She usually calms down when she wakes up next to me. She was sleeping so soundly, that I didn't think she would...again..."
"Right," The agent replied with certainty. "I'll start sleeping in here, then."
"You'll what?!" The Exceed suddenly raised her voice.
"Until Wendy feels safe to rest on her own, of course," The scarred man proffered, unmoved by her sudden outburst. "Unless, you think its best I maintain my distance?"
"I...you...hmmmm," The white haired feline stammered, looking a measure of conflict. With her ears twitching she realized no one in the building had heard Wendy. What few female members of Fairy Tail remained, they obviously were roomed elsewhere and weren't the least disturbed by this happenstance. The isolation of being alone, toppled by a recent traumatic event, made the Exceed wonder if that's what was causing the recurring nightmares?
"It...is a bit too quiet," Charle affirms, nodding sadly up to Doranbolt. "You truly don't mind?"
"Don't worry," The man smiled, patting Wendy on the head as he noticed she had fallen mostly asleep clinging to him. "She needs to feel safe in her home, yes? I'll keep watch so you don't have to feel overwhelmed."
"...thank you, Doranbolt," The Exceed finally said after a long pause, watching him lay her back on the bed and tuck her in. "Its good that Wendy has a friend like you."
"You think so, huh?" He questioned, his smile traded for a thin-lipped look of solemn contemplation. "I wonder if I can live up to that kind of expectation?"
"Then don't doubt yourself. I'm not strong enough to hold Wendy up when she's already lacking confidence. Someone has to stand up for her, and I can only do so much," She replied firmly.
"Not like I did my job for a promotion to see you all get burned," He muttered under his breath, making Charle frown at him. Shaking his head, he smiled morosely at her as he walked around to the foot of the bed, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms as his eyes closed, maintaining a half-smirk as he began to rest. "The irony I have to protect the guild, after my mission's failure, isn't lost on me. I can only wonder how long I can keep it up?"
"Well, the guild seems to think you're alright," Charle answered. "That's good enough for me, for now."
"Yeah," Doranbolt muttered, drifting to sleep in his odd position as he closed with drifting thoughts. I wonder how the higher-ups will think of me hanging around here instead of reporting back? They're probably pretty mad...
Pretty mad was an understatement, Doranbolt thought ruefully to himself. It had been a full week since the young man had returned to Fairy Tail with Wendy, and about four days since his new sleeping arrangements had been settled. Attempting to ease the soreness in his back, the Magic Council agent found himself on the receiving end of a call from none other than his comrade in the Council, Lahar.
"It's been a week, Doranbolt!" came Lahar's tense voice, ripe with irritation through the communication Lacrima. "You take off suddenly, with barely any explanation, and then we receive no communication for over a week! I hope you have an explanation, because the higher-ups are riding me on this one!"
"You don't understand, Lahar," replied Doranbolt tersely, his eyes locked to the eyes of the image of Lahar within the Lacrima. "You weren't there on the island itself. Fairy Tail is...truly something, and I've done them a great wrong. But Wendy managed to survive, in spite of all of that. If I stay here, and protect Wendy while she needs it, I can make amends for the events of Tenrō Island."
"'Make amends'!?" repeated Lahar incredulously. "Have you forgotten that you initially infiltrated their guild to destroy them, Doranbolt? For the sake of a promotion!? What are you playing at now, talking like that? You owe Fairy Tail nothing!"
Images of Wendy flashed through Doranbolt's mind; her tears, her grief, and her pain, all brought vividly to the forefront in a surging flash. For the first time since he'd began working with the Magic Council, Doranbolt felt a irritation rising up against Lahar, his own benefactor. "I may not owe Fairy Tail itself anything...but to Wendy Marvell, I made a promise. I can't return to active duty while Wendy needs me by her side. If you want to consider this an official resignation, Lahar, you can take it how you want..." Doranbolt hesitated, "...but I'd prefer not to leave the Council on terms like these."
"Doranbolt, I don't know what that girl means to you, but you have a duty here at the Council!"
"Forgive me, Lahar," Doranbolt replied. With suddenness, the man rushed his head forward, crashing his forehead into the Communication Lacrima crystal, and destroying it. The last thing Lahar saw was Doranbolt's face before his Lacrima cut to nothingness. The idiocy of his actions hit him almost immediately; a sharp pain seared in his forehead, and the man felt something warm and wet drip downwards across the bridge of his nose.
Of course, slamming his head into a solid sphere of crystal had hurt him. But he didn't care.
Blood is a small price to pay for Wendy's sake, Doranbolt thought to himself. I owe her far more than that...
"That was quite an interesting conversation."
The suddenly voice gave Doranbolt a start; on edge as he had been for the entire week, constantly listening for a sign of Wendy's distress, the Magic Council member — no, former Magic Council member now — was surprised to see Macao leaning against the doorway, the smile of a father on his face. Hands in his pockets, he crossed the distance between them, the Fourth Master of Fairy Tail and the man sworn to protect Wendy stood eye-to-eye.
"It's you...the Fourth Master...Macao, wasn't it?"
"I'm glad you remember my name," replied Macao easily. "Tell me...how long are you going to keep pretending to work for the Council?"
Doranbolt eyed Macao apprehensively. There was something in the man's gaze that Doranbolt didn't like. It wasn't accusatory, and that itself was the problem; Doranbolt, as far as the entire Guild was concerned, was an unknown variable. Yet Macao acted very familiarly to him, and that statement about him pretending to work for the Council seemed to trigger something in the back of the young man's mind. Wiping the blood dripping down his face away, Doranbolt maintained silence.
"Look, you don't have to say anything," Macao sighed. "I know you're in deep with them. But," he added pointedly, "as one of the old guards of the guild and as current acting Guild Master, I know things." I also know one of the reasons none of the guild recognizes you is because of your Memory Alteration."
"...Macao, why are you mentioning this to me?" Doranbolt asked slowly. "If I am undercover, aren't you blowing it right now?"
"Why not ease Wendy's pain?"
The question was so abrupt that it took Doranbolt offguard, sidelining the man as if the Fairy Tail Master had slapped him across the face with the suggestion. "What—?!"
Macao's hand came up between the two to indicate a request for silence. "Hear me out, Doranbolt, before you rebuke me." He motioned for Doranbolt to follow him, and the young man complied. They walked out of the cramped room where he'd been having his communication with Lahar, and gestured to Fairy Tail's bar. While the guild members who still remained were chatting with each other, sharing drinks, enjoying the return of at least one of their members safe and sound, the celebrated survivor herself sat alone, with only Charle for company. Her mood, while it didn't infect the room, could be felt around her. The lavender-haired Laki checked in on Wendy from time to time, and the little Dragon Slayer smiled only to wave her off, before resuming her solitary sitting.
"It's been nearly a week since she's returned to us, but we all can tell. She puts on a brave face but she's in a horrible amount of pain. It..." Macao hesitated before continuing, as it was quite clear he didn't like the route this conversation took, despite being the one to broach it. "...will probably would be easier if she forgets it. Everything about that makes her cry, everything Laki and the others hear during the night."
Silence followed Macao's statement. Doranbolt's face was grim as he watched his small companion, and he could only close his eyes, sighing. "It isn't like the thought never crossed my mind," he admitted. "But...to use it that way...I couldn't bear it. I've done enough harm to Wendy, and repressing her memories on a scale like that would be far too sudden. The massive hole it would leave in her memory would be unexplainable; also, my magic isn't foolproof. If something jogged her memory back into place, the shock could potentially render her mentally crippled. I'm sorry, but I refuse."
Macao placed a hand on Doranbolt's shoulder, giving it a fatherly grip. "I understand. Just keep what I said in mind, Doranbolt. Time heals all wounds, but the kind that are buried this deep may never truly heal."
"I know..."
Doranbolt left the conversation on this foreboding note, and crossed the room instantly through the use of Direct Line, materialising by Wendy's side. He leaned casually against the wooden table, his sudden appearance having startling a departing Laki, yet leaving Wendy unperturbed, though Charle's fur stood on end. "How are you doing...?" His voice, far from the stern tone he'd carried in his conversation with the Fourth Master, had become gentle and kind instantly when he spoke to Wendy.
"Nothing's changed..." said Wendy, slowly. "I'm finally home...but it's still so hard..." Wherever Wendy looked in the Guild, she couldn't shake the shades of her teammates and friends; Gajeel on stage. Natsu and Gray fighting in the middle of the bar, somehow roping Elfman into their mess. Erza's exasperated efforts to reign them in, while poor Lucy could only watch and let the chaos sweep her along, and Makarov allowing the chaos. The bar itself seemed empty without Mirajane to serve drinks, Cana's usual perch was empty, and Juvia would have been fawning over Gray at this time. Levy should be where Jet and Droy sat, a duo who looked nearly as forlorn as Wendy herself. "Their memories are everywhere..."
"I know it hurts, Wendy," Charle reached up from the table to lay a paw on Wendy's shoulder. "Please, don't rush yourself. Neither one of us expects you to bounce back immediately."
"She's right," replied Doranbolt. "Healing is a slow process. When you're ready to take your first step, we'll be here to support you."
"...Thanks, you two..."
Fairy Tail's entrance doors burst open, attracting the attention of every person in the guild. Nab rushed through, out of breath, holding several letters in his hands. Only one had been opened, and it was clutched in Nab's trembling hands. The man ran across the tavern floor, panting and wheezing; he bent over, clutching the stitch in his side before speaking. "M-Master Macao...we...we...you won't believe it..."
"W-What's wrong, Nab?!" Macao had never seen the man so exhausted, or so flabbergasted. "Catch your breath and speak to me!"
It took a moment for Nab's lungs to put out the fire, and when he was finally able to speak, what he had to say was incredible. "Master...you won't believe what just came to us...it's an S-Rank job...and it has the Seal of the King of Fiore!" The guild gasped collectively, shock rippling throughout every soul; even Wendy stirred, her dull brown eyes blinking and her ears twitching to listen.
Macao gripped the paper in his hands, reading and re-reading the statement, the shaking of his hands becoming more and more erratic. "I...this..." Now it was the Master's turn to stammer and mince words, unable to believe the words printed on the paper before his eyes. When he finally regained his composure, he read aloud:
"A formal request to the strongest guild in the country of Fiore,
your assistance in the detainment of a certain brand of brigands is required.
Promising a reward of 50 billion Jewels.
Further details will be given to the advance party representative of the King of Fiore, in Crocus."
A buzzing, as though of angry bees, began to fill the Guild Hall. The members of Fairy Tail were muttering among themselves, and Wendy could pick out several words all at once.
"The king..."
"Jewels..."
"50 billion..."
"The capital city..."
The young girl felt slightly dizzy from the influx of sounds, but she had to admit, she was as surprised as the rest. Jobs normally entered the guild via job forms that listed the client, basic details, and the reward. This was different than any job request they'd ever received; sent directly from the royal family themselves. It was a job that carried with it the reputation of their guild, as the strongest in Fiore. If they didn't take it...
...could they take it?
In all the excitement of the moment, the fact that Fairy Tail was missing its heaviest hitters crashed back down on everyone, weighing on their spirits. The promise of 50 billion jewels was incredible; the expenses of their Guild would be paid for and then some for quite awhile. It was so tempting...
"...But none of us can take on an S-Rank job," Warren said, voicing what everyone was thinking. "We weren't even selected for the exams..."
"50 Billion Jewels..." muttered Mickey Chickentiger, a wistful tone in her voice. "Are we really going to have to pass it up?"
"I couldn't go even if I wanted to," said Chico C Hammitt, due to the limitations of her magic.
"We're going to have to pass this one up, Macao," Wakaba said, sounding resigned.
"You're going to have to call me 'Master', Wakaba," replied a disgruntled Macao. "But I know that...this is a great opportunity, but we just can't take it."
"I-I'll do it..."
Dead silence.
Out of the entire Guild, only a single soul had volunteered to take on the S-Rank Job. Little Wendy Marvell had stood up from her seat, walking forward to face Macao; the Fourth Master of Fairy Tail, who had thought nothing else could surprise him today, had not expected this.
"W-Wendy, it's fine," he said quickly, raising his hands in protest. "We know how hard of a time you're having lately. You don't have to push yourself too hard. This job is a great opportunity, but you're not in a fit state to take the job; besides, you aren't even an S-Class Mage..."
"I'll do it," Wendy repeated, firmly this time. Her eyes, for the first time since she'd returned, were no longer dull and lifeless. A fire was burning within, the soft brown blazing strongly.
"Wendy, it's too soon!" Charle objected, putting her foot down figuratively and literally, a small thunk! indicating her stomping for emphasis. "I am firmly against you taking any kind of mission, S-Rank or otherwise, in the state you're in!"
"I...I know I'm not an S-Class Mage...and I know I'm not in the best place right now..." Wendy placed both hands to her chest, gripping them tightly. No more tears. No more crying. "But this is how I'll take my first step forward! If I just sit here, everyone's sacrifice and my life will be wasted, won't they? I've come home, to my family...and if a job like this is what we'll need to stay afloat, then I can't say no! Please, Master! Let me do it."
Materialising at her side, Doranbolt's hand gripped Wendy's shoulder. "If Wendy is going, then I am going."
"Doranbolt!" Wendy's face broke into a weakened smile.
"Surely you didn't think I would let you go alone?"
"As if she'd be alone," replied Charle huffily. "If I can truly do nothing to stop Wendy from going, then I shall be going as well!"
"I don't think a party of three is really going to cut it," Max spoke up, sliding out of his chair and walking over towards the strange trio to stand beside them. "I'm not really S-Class material either, but you'll find my magic can be helpful in a pinch! Besides," he added, "I'm not sure I completely trust you yet, Doranbolt. And Fairy Tail mages have to watch out for their own."
To everyone's surprise, Macao began to cry. Tears poured from his eyes, his shoulders shook, and the man began to wail loud enough to attract the attention of onlookers passing by outside. "Everyone...even with the Master and the others gone...we've still got a damn fine Guild!" Clearing his throat, Macao abruptly stood tall, crossing his arms firmly and adopting a sudden official attitude.
"Very well! As the Fourth Master of the Fairy Tail Guild, I approve this S-Rank mission! However...!" Macao waved his hand, thrusting it, palms flat, out towards Doranbolt. The cloth covering Doranbolt's right shoulder vanished, revealing a bare forearm. The skin darkened, and the pattern of the Fairy Tail Guild symbol emerged, bright and orange. "Guild rules prohibit mages unaffiliated with the Guild from taking on quests under our name."
"I..." Doranbolt spluttered, gripping his shoulder in vivid shock. "Macao...what did you...!"
"Welcome to Fairy Tail, Doranbolt."
The spirit of the Guild was considerably higher as the strange new team of Max Alors, Doranbolt, Wendy Marvell, and Charle made their preparations for the sudden S-Rank mission. Macao informed the Royal Capital that the mission had officially been accepted by their Guild, and within a day, the quartet was ready to depart. Wendy found the suspense almost stifling as she and her teammates stood on the door of the Fairy Tail guild, ready to step outside.
Nervously, Wendy took a tentative step over the threshold, and for a moment, felt as though nineteen familiar pairs of hands gently nudged her along, her feet stepping out into the roads of Magnolia and beyond.
It was time to move forward.
When the four had departed, the Guild remained celebratory. All except Jet and Droy, who, if anything, would have been the exact opposite of the 'life of the party'.
"Do you think we should have volunteered too, Jet?" asked Droy, his voice listless. The idea that Levy had possibly survived, when Wendy had arrived, had reignited hope. When no news of any Fairy Tail members gad surfaced over the past week, that fire died out as soon as it had ignited. They had to accept the reality.
"Part of me wanted to," replied Jet. "But...without Levy, what is Team Shadow Gear? Levy..."
The two of them, never usually seen out of the company of their third member, had taken the losses of those at Tenrō Island as hard as Wendy.
"We only took on some of those higher ranked jobs because of Levy," said Droy, to Jet's agreement. "We're going to have to reexamine Shadow Gear from the top down...if Wendy can move forward, so can we."
The winds for Fairy Tail were finally shifting.
A/N:
Demod20: This was another fun chapter to write. Not because we enjoy writing angst, but it helps propel this story forward to brighter horizons! Poor Wendy. She's been through so much and you can tell she's breaking inside. Doranbolt's trying his best too, for her sake and you can get the makings of a good man behind the years of being a jaded agent for the Council. Speaking of which, I'm glad my co-author and I nipped that in the bud. The reveal came right out of left field when it did, so having it brought up this way feels a bit more...natural...and it helps fulfill the Redemption Arc he's undergoing. And with a mysterious big money mission sent to them, its up to Wendy and company to bring home the cash to help keep the guild afloat. What could the King of Fiore want with Fairy Tail? You'll just have to wait and see in the next chapter!
LastationLover5000: I'm not going to lie, this was an unexpected surprise, but a welcome one. My co-author and I are feeling an incredible amount of excitement for this new story, so I suppose a third chapter was definitely in order. We wanted to get the arc's main idea rolling almost immediately, so, while we managed to write more establishing moments, the plot is going to get underway from Chapter 4 onward. I'm enjoying this a lot. We're going to make use of characters that, until now, were almost only background characters, and the start of that is Max! I never would have considered Doranbolt, Wendy, Charle, and Max as a team, but here we are! Considering Doranbolt being a Magic Council agent is a late-arrival spoiler now, I don't feel bad having brought it up here. Alright everyone! We'll see you in the next chapter!