Chapter 12 - Forgivens
Written by Demod20 and LastationLover5000

Team Wendy was thrown into a complete silence. The very last thing that any of them — even the forward thinking Doranbolt — had expected to see, was Robyn Lazuli, sitting in their guild-building, freely swilling alcohol down his throat. The cobalt-haired young man chugged with the force to embarrass an older man, slamming his mug onto the table, the empty tankard clanging dully against the wood. His face flushed bright red, and he grinned at Wendy. "What's the matter, Wendy? Speechless?"

Speechless was a fine word for it. Wendy, Max, Doranbolt, and Charle all stood open-mouthed at Robyn, Eris, and Bobbie, who stood surrounded by their friends as easily as if they belonged here. Contrary to the rowdy Robyn, whose face was crimson with the flush of blood flowing to his cheeks, Eris seemed the picture of composure. She had traded her armour for something befitting a casual locale — or perhaps she simply did not wear armour when not on the road, unlike Erza — and it was easy to see it suited her. She donned a sleeveless, form-fitting green dress, which tapered out to a skirt, cut short just past her rear. It was held up by a series of overlaced belts. Her footwear consisted of brown boots, but she didn't wear anything else excessive. Bobbie, meanwhile, had shifted to the other end of the spectrum; she wore a bunnysuit, which struggled to contain her cleavage, while her face was completely unperturbed.

Even in a building like Fairy Tail, these three stood out.

"I..."

"...Why is he..."

Max and Charle were struggling for words, trying to fight to force some to the surface. Every had been so sure that Robyn was hidden away in some prison cell in the Magic Council's prison somewhere. To see him not only free as a bird, but sitting in their Guild's bar, had done a number on their faculties. Doranbolt had half a mind to wrench the nearest communications Lacrima from someone and read Lahar the riot act, until he remembered that he'd formally resigned; the decisions made by the Council weren't his to judge — assuming, of course, that they had let Robyn go and he hadn't simply escaped.

Eventually, Wendy found her voice first. "Robyn...what are you doing here?" Her wide brown eyes were searching, locking with Robyn's sapphire orbs, as if she could find the answer in his eyes before he spoke. "The last I heard, you were in the custody of the Magic Council; Doranbolt delivered you there personally, and I know that was a short trip." Wendy forced some more grit into her voice. If Robyn was still an enemy, this meant he'd infiltrated the guild. She'd have to be ready to fight him off, sure, but here, in Magnolia? Wendy shuddered to think.

A hush had fallen over the Guild. Normally raucous and loud, it quieted itself quickly; the sounds of laughter and conversation died down, the thunk of wooden mugs on similarly crafted tables faded away. The silence itself created an entirely new sensation; only Team Wendy currently knew the full details of what had happened in the Capital City of Crocus. While their reputations as Heroes may have already begun spreading, Robyn himself wasn't as well known. No one on Team Wendy had seen a copy of the newspaper since then, but Robyn's involvement had largely been glossed over.

Moreover, the Guild Members themselves were stunned. The little girl speaking so boldly to their new member had been a crying wreck only weeks ago. It was an astounding turnaround.

"It seems the little miss has a beef with the newbie," Wakaba chortled.

"There's more to it than that," interrupted Charle. "But that's not the point right now, we'll fill you all in later."

Robyn slid off of his bar stool, heels clacking against a polished wooden floor. Even with his new attire, it was clear that the Dragon Slayer intended to be a show-off. In spite of the fact that Robyn had imbibed enough alcohol to spike his blood levels considerably, he walked and moved with the grace that Wendy was familiar with; gliding across the floor, his hips sashaying with every clack his shoes made onto the floor, the Sea Dragon Slayer came face to face with the Sky Dragon Slayer. Wendy could smell the mead on his breath without even trying; it reminded her of paint thinner, only far, far stronger, yet it was mixed in with the sweeter smell of Robyn's own breath.

Fittingly, the combination turned her stomach.

Both Dragon Slayers were nose-to-nose, within kissing distance of each other, when Robyn spoke again. He jabbed a thin finger into Wendy's chest, the jovial expression he'd worn when she'd entered gone entirely. "I was hoping you'd be a bit more polite, considering the one who extended this invitation to me was you," Robyn said, speaking clearly without any hint of slurred speech. It seemed it took far more alcohol to get him drink than the multiple tankards he'd consumed implied. The young man merely enjoyed acting the part of the sake of the show. "This wasn't my first idea of where I was going to go, if I had to be honest. But you've piqued my interest, which is definitely a first; you'd normally have to be one hell of a hot guy to register on my radar."

"Wait, you invited him?!" Doranbolt asked, incredulous. "Why would you invite a known criminal to the guild?!"

"It's not like it's the first time," said Warren, his voice carrying over the newfound silence from a corner of the bar. Everyone was thinking of Gajeel and Juvia, both of whom were former members of Phantom Lord, a legal guild that had waged war on their own guild, an illegal act under the law of the Magic Council. Gajeel himself had a violent history even before Phantom Lord, and during his tenure there, had been known for brutalising opponents in the way only a savage would.

Helpfully, no one said their names out loud, and Wendy was inwardly grateful.

"Are we missing something?" inquired Laki. "Robyn, Eris, and Bobbie seemed really eager to join the Guild. She even said that you invited her, Wendy!"

"Well to clear up the first misunderstanding, Robyn is a bo—" Max stepped in, grinning. His sentence, however, became a garbled mess before it even finish; Robyn, in a blinding blur, had rushed him, the Slayer's body coated in scales, clawed hand bringing a torrent of water crashing into Max's face. Within seconds, he was floored, and any proof of draconic magic on Robyn's body faded instantly. The guild instantly burst into laughter; they were used to seeing Max be on the receiving end of an unfortunate but well-timed broomstick suppository. This, however, was new. Even Charle couldn't suppress a chuckle.

"W-What was that for?!" Max shouted, once he'd properly recovered his ability to breathe, the hyperventilating dying down. His hair, no longer a bowl cut, stuck sloppily to his face. The sandy-haired man shook his head to shake the water off, spraying anyone near him like a dog. "You're going to attack a man for being honest?"

"I'm allowed to have my secrets," replied Robyn, his eyes glinting. "You're a boor for not having any delicacy."

"He's a boy," Wendy replied bluntly. She had extended him the invitation, that much was true, but there'd be no indication he wanted to take it. In fact, Robyn had shouted her down during any attempt to reason with him in their last encounter. Thus, in her mind, 'delicacy' was a non-issue here.

"A boy?"

"With that figure?"

"He's still cute!"

"Yeah, he's cute so it's OK!"

The response to Robyn's true sex was overwhelming positive. Despite thus, Robyn looked affronted, his cheeks puffing out as he whined. "Weeeeendy!"

"Robyn, why are you here?" Wendy asked the question again, more sharply this time. "I wanted to be your friend, but you were having nothing to do with it. You can't expect me to believe you changed your mind."

"Wendy, our little blue bird has already told you," interjected Eris, seeing Robyn's face betraying his souring mood at the direction of the conversation, and hoping to steer it into less confrontational waters. "We didn't have anywhere to go, even after the Magic Council pardoned us. He didn't want to leave us out on our own, so he offered to take us with him here, to Fairy Tail. Isn't that enough?"

"It isn't," replied Doranbolt tersely. "I want an explanation to, or I'll escort him back to the Magic Council myself." The young man cracked his knuckles, his face flashing menacingly. "It'll be too quick for you to even consider striking me, Robyn. So talk."

"Robyn, go ahead," nudged Bobbie. "You've come all this way...and Wendy is not your average girl. I believe you can divulge your secrets to her." The comforting tone from the woman in the revealing bunnysuit — who, on closer inspection, was holding a tray of alcohol clearly meant for Robyn — was an amusing contradiction. Nonetheless, it seems that Bobbie's prodding, more than anyone else, made Robyn decide to speak.

"Papa did it," when Robyn spoke, his voice was muted, subdued, and his face flushed pink from a mixture of emotions unrelated to the drink. "I'm here because that idiot Papa of mine bailed me out."

"Your father bailed you out?" Macao asked, amazed. "From internment at a Magic Council where someone like Gran Doma is now presiding? What kind of influence does your father have to pull that off?"

The former Generous Robin sighed, and walked over towards his seat at the bar, sliding onto it with ease. "Bobbie, please," Robyn extended a hand and Bobbie, more like a faithful maid than a bunnygirl, was at his side instantly, handing him another tankard. Robyn chugged it easily, slamming the tankard onto the bar table; the fresh flow of mead flooding his stomach was a welcome friend, as Robyn figured he'd need to drink if he wanted to loosen his lips for these people. "My name is Robyn Lazuli," he began, to the gasps of multiple people throughout the room. He'd expected as much, his surname would be known even in a far-off town like Magnolia.

That's simply the reach his family had.

He explained, in as much detail as he felt comfortable with, his past as the Generous Robin. It was in the interest of transparency, if he intended to work with Fairy Tail as one of their mages, he felt that they at least deserved to know this much about him. "Papa arrived at the Magic Council, and took their new Chairman aside," Robyn said. "I'm not sure what Papa told them, though I could imagine a few things, and Gran Doma came back — white as a sheet — and told me I was free to go. It took a moments convincing to get him to let Bobbie and Eris go as well, but in the end, he pardoned them too. And so we came here.

I'm not fully convinced," Robyn added, glaring at Wendy. The redness of his cheeks clashed brilliantly with the blue of his hair, and in any other scenario, might have been humorous. "Everything I'd spent years building up, all of my plans, were ruined by you, Wendy," Robyn glowered. "I've not forgiven you, but at the same time, I can't start everything over from scratch. My original goal is out of my reach, so Fairy Tail is my fallback. But if, for even one second, you think I'm going to bend my ways because of your Guild, you've got another thing coming. I'd sooner bail than kowtow to any monarch. I'm still the Generous Robin."

"If it comes to that, and you turn on our Guild, then I'll fight you again," Wendy tried to keep the shaking out of her voice. It wasn't anger, though perhaps there was a measure of that at seeing someone treat her Guild as their 'Plan B', but fear. Fighting Robyn had been the first fight where she'd been almost entirely alone, fighting because her life depended on it. He was a terrifyingly strong opponent, and she didn't relish the idea of fighting him again. "Though...I want to avoid it coming to that. If we're going to be guildmates...then I want you to be my friend!"

Robyn paused at this. I really don't understand you, Wendy Marvell...I threw everything I had, everything about me, at your feet, and you thrust it aside without so much as blinking...and then offered me your hand and told me to start again... Robyn held out a slender hand to Wendy, smiling in earnest. I'll take it this time...so show me. Prove to me that I'm wrong!

Wendy clasped his hand in her's, surprised to see how soft it was when the young man wasn't trying to kill her with it. "I hope we can work together soon, Robyn."

Robyn was assimilated easily into the Fairy Tail guild. In fact, many took to him the way they took to Wendy when she'd first arrived, ignoring the fact entirely that he was indeed a guy. Whether it was selective ignorance, or something else, Robyn didn't know — but he loved the attention. He flitted to and fro throughout the building, checking out each and every male member of the Guild, before shooting them all down with rankings of "less than 5 points".

"Not a single winner among 'em," Robyn mused. "Only that Doranbolt guy ranks over a 5, though I'd say even being a former Rune Knight should dock him a point or two..."

It wasn't simply his cute looks that were winning Robyn favours. His magic was also the immense subject of interest, and several were crowing the young man to ask questions. Robyn had never actually been the centre of this kind of attention before, not the kind where people were legitimately and genuinely curious about him. If he'd had a sense of shame, it might have been embarrassing. So the Dragon Slayer lad allowed himself to be assailed by an assortment of questions from everyone, waiting until they'd all taken their turns.

"You can use Water Magic!?"

"What was with those scales?!"

"It looked so cool!"

"Would you go out with me?!"

Robyn laughed, a chiming bell sound which only complimented his appearance. "You're all way too excited about a newbie," He chided, though inwardly he understood. In the wake of the destruction of their heaviest hitters on Tenrō Island, the Fairy Tail guild had absolutely precious little to celebrate. And yet now, not only had the only survivor of Tenrō come back from her first S-Class mission and was now considered a hero along with the rest of her team, the Guild had gained funds and three new allies. It was more cause to celebrate than anything they could reasonably expect. "I'm the Sea Dragon Slayer! Sort of like your Wendy over there, but everything she does with wind, I can do with water."

"Another Dragon Slayer," grinned Wakaba, walking over to join the rambling crowd that had amassed around Robyn. "Up until the incident on Tenrō Island, we had two other Dragon Slayers — Natsu Dragneel and Gajeel Redfox. I'm not saying a Guild is only as good as its mages...but I'm going to feel more comfortable with someone like you here, kid."

"If we didn't have Wendy, I wouldn't have thought there could be a Slayer who was so little," said Mickey Chickentiger, a grin upending her perpetually blushing cheeks. "I bet yer pretty strong; Natsu's made good with all the Dragon Slayers before — well, except that Laxus — so I was wondering if you'd join my team, kid? Young Mega-Death would love to have someone like you!"

"That won't be necessary."

Bobbie's voice cut across before Robyn could even consider replying himself. She'd stepped into his side, avoiding the Guild members who had encircled him with ease. "We may be joining the Guild, and I appreciate that you consider us comrades, but our little blue bird will be operating with us. He won't need to join any other teams."

"B-Bobbie—!" Eris protested, trying to make her voice heard across the mixture of other voices.

"Oh, it seems you've got quite the bodyguard," Mickey's grin didn't fade, if anything, it grew wider. "You're only makin' me want him for my team that much more, Miss...Bobbie, right?"

"Just Bobbie," replied the bunnysuit-clad woman curtly.

"Bobbie, relax," insisted Robyn. "If we're going to be part of this guild, we should get to know the others better...but all the same, I'm going to refuse. Sorry, but I don't have any interesting in pairing up with just anyone. My taste in men and my taste in teammates are the same. I only want the best of the best." His eyes drifted over to Wendy, who was speaking to a very animated Kinana and Laki. Robyn hadn't expected her to have much in the way of female friends, and was surprised by how well received she was.

Standing at the bottom of the steps which led to the second floor of the Guild were Doranbolt and Macao, who were having a conversation all of their own, separate from the hustle and bustle of the Guild.

"I'm still new to this," Doranbolt said, his narrow eyes meeting Macao's sharp ones. "So what am I supposed to say in this case, Fourth Master? Mission complete?"

"You don't need to be quite so formal about it," replied Macao dismissively, though his face betrayed his good mood. "How was it then? Your first official mission as a member of 'Fairy Tail'?"

"You're asking more 'how did Wendy manage', right?" inquired Doranbolt. Macao tried to protest, but Doranbolt waved it off. "It's fine. I'm new to the Guild, and Wendy was the one who chose this mission, so of course you're going to be concerned." The former Rune Knight leaned against the staircase railing, his arms folded against his chest. "To be perfectly honest, she started out as you'd expect; simply deciding to take on an S-Rank mission wasn't going to snap Wendy out of it. Her night terrors haven't faded — they've lessened, but they're still persistent — and she's still hard on herself. But...she surprised me, spectacularly so."

"Did she now?" repeated Macao, the smile in his voice unable to be repressed. "I wouldn't say I'm surprised myself. She's a strong girl; what she needed was a push. But go on, Mes—Doranbolt. Give me the details."

Doranbolt launched into the story, explaining in detail the involvement of the Robin Hoodlums, the methods they took to stop them, Wendy's emotional turmoil during the ordeal, and how she'd willingly stood up to and fought tooth and nail against Robyn in the end. Doranbolt spared absolutely no detail, from his and Charle's wounds to Wendy's insecurities; Macao was a proper audience member, gasping and grinning at all of the right places.

"Wendy did more than I ever expected of her," Doranbolt continued, sounding far more like a proud father than an employee reporting to his superior. "She took the burden of the entire Kingdom onto her shoulders when she fought Robyn in Crocus, leaving Max and I to handle evacuations...and she came out on top." Doranbolt and Macao turned their attention towards Wendy, who was now trying to cheer up a downcast Charle. Laki and Kinana were still with her, participating in the pity party. "Aren't you glad I didn't wipe her memories now, Macao?"

Macao shrugged, looking sheepish. "I suggested that because I believed it'd be best for her at the time. But it looks like Wendy was able to pull herself back up without needing more us to pull anything drastic. But these wounds don't heal so readily; you're going to keep looking out for her, right?"

"My life is hers," Doranbolt said, as if it was obvious. "But now...I think it's time we discuss the fund divisions."

"Talk funds?" Macao's eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean?"

"We earned 50 Billion Jewels from that mission. The mission that Wendy was key in completing," Doranbolt said pointedly. "I firmly believe that some of that money should go to our team; Wendy should receive the largest dividend — I would say 1 million Jewels is fair for Wendy, as she was the one responsible for resolving the situation as a whole. Max, Charle, and I have all agreed on five hundred thousand; the rest can go to the Guild, but my terms for Wendy maintaining the largest of the cut are non-negotiable."

Macao stared at Doranbolt, his eyes appraising; his face was impassive at first, and Doranbolt worried he would refuse...until the older man placed a hand on Doranbolt's shoulder. "That girl really does mean the world to you, doesn't it? Honestly, I don't feel like what you're asking for is enough...but I feel Wendy would refuse anything higher, wouldn't she?"

"The three of us figured as much as well," agreed Doranbolt, chuckling, Macao removing his hand from the man's shoulder. "Given the situation Wendy is in, I'd feel more comfortable if she had some form of savings. I asked Charle — who was quite reluctant to confide this in me — but Wendy's total earnings from her quests prior to Tenrō Island weren't impressive. I know Lucy was famous for her money troubles, and I'd rather not put Wendy in a similar situation. Squaring away 1 million Jewels should keep her afloat for the foreseeable future."

"You've really planned this one out," Macao noted, impressed. "I wouldn't have argued even if you all had asked for a larger share; 50 Million is a hefty amount, and even taking two million five hundred thousand out of it will hardly dent it. Thanks to you four, we've managed to secure the Guild's prosperity for some time as well." Macao suddenly began to laugh heartily, his shoulders quivering in mirth. Wiping the tears from his eyes, his face turned serious. "Sorry, but I had to laugh. Everything is going completely against what I expected. Between you and me...well, I've told this to Wakaba as well...but I'm not cut out to be the Fourth Master. I know that. Still..." Macao exhaled slowly. "Because of you all — Wendy, Max, Charle, and yourself included — I feel like I can lead Fairy Tail into a new age. Doranbolt...thank you. One of these days, sit and have a drink with me, why don't you?"

"I'll consider it," replied Doranbolt, smiling. "If inebriation doesn't affect my ability to reach Wendy's side."

Magnolia Town, Outside Fairy Tail Building

Utterly ridiculous.

The past week had showcased events that shouldn't be possible. From one moment, the most famous and fastest growing guild of mages - Fairy Tail - was on top of the world. They bested countless villains of mystical and nefarious persuasion. It was even said they had encountered one of the strongest guilds of dark mages, Grimoire Heart, on their very own founding island of Sirius. However, tragedy struck and all who loved the strongest guild in Fiore had their best and brightest snuffed out in a tragic instant of a freak appearance from the nightmare of legend Acnologia himself.

All of it was released to the press within a day of its transpiring. He had been doing an interview when the news hit, and he felt a part of him died inside. To think such cool individuals would just be slaughtered without reason or thought was unforgivable!

But, who is this impassioned man of staunch character and boundless love of all things cool? Why, none other than Jason! The extraordinarily gifted journalist for Sorcerer Magazine! Why, among those in his field, he's the one with the biggest acquisition of Fairy Tail merchandise, pinups, action figures and autographs! There was none that could compare his adoration for such a popular and cool guild!

And now, that's why he was here, outside of their guild hall.

"Fairy Tail...you all...are...!"

He balled his fists, one clenching a freshly printed newspaper of the local Magnolia press as it read clearly: Fairy Tail Mages announced as Heroes of the Kingdom!

"...you...you all are...!"

Raising his blonde head, his pointed ahoge gleaming from the Sunlight cast down on his head as he lifted a foot up and kicked the door wide open. Slamming against the frames, he heaved heavily, his face construed into an expression of pupiless outrage.

However...no one seemed to acknowledge he was even there.

"CHUG-CHUG-CHUG-CHUG-CHUG-!" Was the chants that overwhelmed the sound of his rude entry, with a blue haired figure downing a enormously proportioned tankard of alcohol. Astride from him was a bunny suit-dressed woman of voluptuous proportions with blonde hair, fair skin and bright blue eyes that stared with somewhat interest whose expression was vacant apart from it. A pink haired girl sat down from the crowd of mages chanting, sighing as she drank a cup of tea and shook her head.

"Stop cheering him on! Boys his age shouldn't drink, let alone so much! Stop it, I say!"

"As if that's gonna stop him."

Jason's head turned angrily towards the center table, were among the focus of his ire.

The ones who spoke was a recognizable imitation of the adorable mascot of Team Natsu; Charle, the white-haired feline masquerading as Happy's doppelganger! She was in the midst of a condescending almost maternal scolding, albeit distantly as she was dressed in a miniature white blouse with a red tie and a frilled skirt. Standing atop of the table, she was to the left of the less than stellar looking sand magician, Max Alors, who was sipping on a mug of his own.

Lastly, to the left past a slew of people he hardly recognized - or cared to - was the chief perpetrators of this farce!

"I'm feeling better, really," Wendy Marvell spoke in her presumably 'cute' fashion, her body now adorned in a dress she had reported - on good intel - she wore during an excursion into the alternate realm of Edolas. Her hair was affixed into twintails, with each one supported by the popular Neko Ear hair pieces of red coloration. From the neck down she wore a red blouse uniform with an orange bow adorned on her collar while her red sleeves had a pair of beige-outliend white crosses from the elbows to the cuffs along the back. A black mini-skirt with a single white stripe an inch away from the hem, along with a pair of brown dress shoes with blue thigh-high stockings.

"Well, as long as you're sure," Doranbolt, the man of mystery of whom Jason knew the least, but also reviled as being among this 'Team Wendy'. He currently wore a form-fitting sleeveless black top, revealing his muscular arms down to a pair of fingerless black gloves with metal plates wrapped around each of his fingers along with plating flexibly placed over the knuckles of said hand-wrappings. From the waist down he wore a bandoleer of various satchels for who-knows-what in them, with a baggy black pair of pants leading into a pair of black cloth boots. "With all of the attention, I can imagine it could be exhausting. If you ever need a break-"

"Its alright," Wendy shook her head, her smile rueful and her eyes batting away nervously; one that looked at the outraged man still huffing at the front of the guild hall. Everyone else just gave the man the cold shoulder, or were outright ignorant of his existence. As everyone was being merry as a guild Fairy Tail was known to be, eventually Nab Lasaro -the islander dressed mage infamously known for taking forever to choose a mission to go on - walked up to him and tried to wave a hand in front of his face.

"Doranbolt, I recognize that man," Wendy began to say, squinting her eyes while Doranbolt looked ahead, his whole face blanching at the sight of him. "Isn't he-?"

"Hey man, you alright?" Nab inquired as he pressed his face close to the reporter's face. "You got indigestion or-?"

Jason inhaled, rearing his body backwards.

"GET DOWN!"

Doranbolt had nary a split instant to pull Wendy down before the unexpected transpired.

"YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACKS!" Jason howled, his head increased in mass several folder larger than his own body as a column of torrential sound waves blew back Nab comically across the room.

Along with him came Charle squeaking out as Max reached out and grasped her, but pulled along with her to crash against tables and people all thrown aside by the mighty gale of nerdy fan rage. Even the bar, which was occupied by criers were sent whisked away - with Eris crying out for her tea while Bobbie maintained a stoic expression as she was flung away.

However, apart from the hat thrown off his head, the blue haired new addition continued to down his drink, with only his clothes being rustled while everyone else was sent flying from the force of comical anger.

"W-What?!" Mickey Chickentiger spoke with bewilderment, trying to haul herself up while the bird atop her head fluttered erratically; her pawed glove brushing her hair as she tried to make out what just hit her. "Are...we under attack?"

"In a way," Warren groaned, his eyes fixing on the man who just bellowed his displeasing arrival to the rest of the mage guild. "Its the paparazzi..."

"Whoa-whoa-whoa," Max waved his hands, hair upright and in a messy bush compared to its usual bowl-cut as he approached the enraged reporter. "What did you call us just now?"

"You heard me, Max Alors!" Jason sneered, holding up a newspaper and shoving it into the taller man's face. "Hero of Fiore? Don't make me laugh! You're a walking mockery of what made Fairy Tail great!"

"And who are you, their number one fan?"

"WHAT OF IT?!"

At the retort being an incitement rather than a deterrent, the sandy blonde grimaced and looked over his shoulder towards Charle. She was still picking herself up from the whole endeavor, looking with a pair of condescending eyes at the reporter but not really speaking up. Helplessly he looked to Wendy and Doranbolt who were still a good distance away from the man and getting up from the loud vortex that was unleashed earlier.

Sighing, Max slapped himself on the cheeks and took a step forward towards Jason.

"Just because I'm no Gray Fullbuster, or Natsu Dragneel, doesn't mean I don't have the potential to be one of the greats," Max replied, the reporter glaring doubtfully up at him as he made his pitch. "This was my first S-Class mission. I know by all rights I wasn't qualified - none of us here barring Wendy were even qualified to go to Sirius Island for the Test - but even still, I succeeded. Maybe in time, I can do these missions without breaking a sweat, but I know I have a long ways to go so that can always motivate me to do better!"

Jason pursed his lips, squinting his eyes and gave an expression that looked far more critical than the Sandstorm Mage expected.

"Eh," The dark blonde reporter sideglanced, waving dismissively at him. "3.5; you're barely above passable with that speech."

"C-Come on!"

"I'm still not convinced why my next article shouldn't be written on why this is a last desperate climb of glory for a now has-been guild," He shook his fist threateningly, all the while tears forming in his eyes as his face construed into a look of despair as he continued to raise his voice into the guild hall. "Nothing breaks my heart knowing there isn't an ounce of coolness left in this place. Give it a week, a month, or even half a year and this place will barely have a tenth of the members if not outright be in a shabby shack on the outskirts of Magnolia. What makes you all think you can substitute the people that carried you all on their backs, huh?!"

There was a brief solemn edge to the air of what he spoke. They all knew that, ever since Wendy returned, it was providence that the guild got the funds they needed to stay afloat for awhile. But for how long could they rely on such magnanimous rewards for such treacherous quests?

It was one thing to feel uplifted and proud of a great act such as saving Fiore from an economic crisis, but what were they to do the next time something big and terrifying happened? Could they rely on just Wendy, Doranbolt and Max, even Charle? What did the rest of them have to offer?

"Now hold on," An airy voice came from the bar, a tankard clacking against its counter that was held in dainty soft hand traced from the long-sleeved robe wrapped around the feminine shaped figure. "I may have my reservations about the grandeur of any one organization, let alone a Legal Mage Guild, being cracked up for what it is with or without its vanguard of power players. But," A face looked over the shoulder, smiling halfway while staring curiously at Jason's look of incredulity. "you seem to have already made up your mind, rather than wanting to be convinced, aren't you?"

Being talked so forwardly didn't sit well with the journalist, especially in a guild hall he had come to know and love so fervently.

"And who the Hell are you?!" Jason shouted at the person with a finger that seemed to be much larger than it actually was. "You don't belong here!"

"On the contrary," The person replied, swiveling along the stool to face him fully. A beautiful face framed by a long curtain of teal colored hair that draped down the back and pooled over the bar's surface behind the figure. Curved around the torso, the normally contemporary attire was cut just above the navel, adding to the sex appeal as a clearly brandished teal colored Fairy Tail brand marked the guild's insignia over the belly button. Pointing idly at the exposed waist as proof, the mysterious new member leaned against the counter by the elbows, the robe loosening around his naked shoulder blades to only add to the rookie's sex appeal; one tights-formed leg crossing over the other with high-heel boots gesturing slightly as he regarded the man with a wry grin. "I'm Robyn Lazuli, a bona fide Fairy Tail mage; recently, I might add."

"Oh," Jason flatly replied, his eyes blinking owlishly at the enamoring visage that almost seemed picturesque to his gaze. Darting forward, he seemed to be in multiple places at once, cupping his chin and holding one elbow with his free hand for posterity as he got a gander of his physique, outfit and overall glamor.

Then, he clasped his fingers together and seemed to materialize a notebook with a pen in hand that he clicked readily, "Tell me, what are your sizes?"

"Why?" Robyn asked with a raised brow.

"I want to see if you'd be interested in being a model in Sorcerer Magazine," He admitted, his eyes suddenly alight with a questionable glint over encompassing the normal color, with a broad grin overtaking his face. "It'd be so COOL if you considered-!"

Before he finished his sentence, his body was grappled from behind, a soft but powerful grip. Folded backwards till he was off balance, he found himself pinned to the ground by the throat, and a blade held straight towards his left eye. Looking up aghast he saw a busty Maid-Dressed blonde woman with a wakizashi in hand poised in a vein throbbing hand; similar to the veins threatening to burst along a stoically glaring face poised down at him.

"You'll not objectify my blue bird after speaking such slanderous things about his new home, you bottom feeding scum!" Bobbie snarled, eyes wide and pupils contracted as he raised his hand in preparation to sheathe its edge through his skull.

"Ah! Don't kill him!" Wendy shouted distantly, her sentiment of brief comical horror shared by the rest of the spectating guild mages.

"Yeah, that'd be bad. Think of the headlines: Fairy Tail Mage kills reporter for suggestions of legal promiscuity!" Max intoned with a chuckle, much to Charle's disgust.

At hearing their words, Bobbie halted her actions, - causing Doranbolt's gut impulse to keep himself from lunging to restrain her - and looked around as if taking stock of her surroundings. She looked over at Robyn, his face assuming a disappointed pout with his lips forming a fish-like sputter towards her. Her face blushed, and she released her hold on the smaller man's neck and helped him up to his feet, blade still in hand; before she sent it back into its holding place with a flash of light.

"W-Whoa!" Jason gaped, his eyes now affixed on Bobbie's person. "I thought you were hired help-"

"Not incorrect."

"-but you must be a new Fairy Tail mage too!" He finished despite her quip, looking around at her bunny costume attire for a mark.

Answering the unspoken question, Bobbie casually pulled at her bunny suit's top to reveal more cleavage - much to the squeaking shock of Wendy as she covered her eyes and Charle's mortified spurt - to point out the top of her left breast was marked in an amethyst colored Fairy Tail insignia.

"Oh, very nice placement!" Jason scribbled down, eyeing it up with an enthusiastic grin before looking at the hand that sent the blade away. "So, tell me, what's your name and what do you and your sexy friend do?"

"He's male, you know."

"And that matters why?" He answered without skipping a beat.

Sighing, Bobbie explained with a deadpan expression, "I'm an Assassin Requip Mage, Bobbie Blondes. My partner, as you've heard his name already, is a Magical Tool craftsman and a Dragon Slayer-"

"WHATDIDYOUJUSTSAY-?!"

From his sputtering of disbelief came a shower of spit that caked Bobbie's face. Instantly her face was alight with throbbing veins and wide-eyes of rage. Her maid costume disappeared in a flourish of light and replaced with a shadowy garb that encompassed her whole curvaceous being. With a shadowy blade in hand, she rushed in to cut the man down only for him to duck at the last second; with his ahoge cut in a clean half.

"S-Sorry for spitting in your face-"

"You will be sorry, you disgusting man!" Bobbie howled as she rushed at him across the guild hall, the journo zipping back and forth in a display of surprising agility as he avoided the near-death slashes that cut just his shirt and pants with not a sign of blood being shed.

"T-This is good, though! You're quite nimble, and use a rarely used Requip Magic with such skill!" He commented, penning it down all while deftly avoiding her attacks within an inch of his life, much to the amazement and shock of the mages surrounding him. "Not an Erza but, maybe, you too can model in Sorcerer Magazine with Robyn? He'd be in our Sexy Male line-up while you'd be a definite contender for being among the most attractive models in the Legal Mage community!"

Stopping short of connecting with his neck during a certainly fatal trip, Bobbie's face turned from rage to stoic once again. A glint of interest glowed in her blue eyes and she asked in a soft voice, "Would I get paid for this work?"

"You'd both be paid for your work," Jason replied with a straight face, unafraid of certain death.

In a beautiful flourish of light and movement, Bobbie returned to her bunny suit, her head nodding with understanding, "Write up a contract, and then we'll see."

"Excellent!" The reporter gleefully said, his movements becoming iconically erratic once more. "That'd be so-so-so COOOOOOOOOOL!"

"...what even is happening?" Max inquired with a hunched over look of exasperation.

"I think the new members are outshining you," Charle teased with his face twitching with annoyance. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do just fine."

"You're just saying that..."

"That's well and good," The reporter nodded, his face becoming serious as he looked away from them, turning back towards Wendy. "Two Slayers, cute, and fashionable. A new Requip Mage is also a bonus. But, I doubt that'd be enough to make this guild survive. I'm still unconvinced this isn't a mere buffer to an inevitable decline."

"That's true and all," A sage voice came from the disaster zone of the guild hall, bringing the reporter to look towards its source. Macao Conbolt, flanked by his partner and old friend Wakaba Mine, strutted forth with his S shaped necklace jingling over his black undershirt, his white coat with blue outlines flourishing over his body as he kept his hands pocketed in his brown pants. "You're forgetting that our guild is home to all sorts of unused talent. We've become complacent, and truly over-reliant on our brothers and sisters and our mutual father to pull the weight of so much expectations. If we can muster up our strength and push forward despite our losses, I'm sure we can truly show the world that we have more to offer than being just the leftovers you may think of us as."

"Okay, that's a 4.5!" Jason replied with a brighter grin, jabbing a finger at the man who was currently the new Guild Master. "Well, its not perfect, but I guess that's just what happens when change is in the air. I'm not sure if you will actually step up to the challenge. You have to admit, the world knows you've weakened considerably. A few new additions and a big win isn't enough."

"It is just the beginning," Another new voice spoke, bringing the journo's attention. A smaller figure of almost magical beauty that stole his breath away. With wide eyes he saw slender arms sway freely over a free-form fitted dress of viridescent coloration. With its simplicity came the overlapsing belts that held it aloft, her feet skipping away as she traipsed up towards him. With sharp ears jutting from her luscious long locks of strawberry hue, pink eyes looked up at him with a strange agelessness but also held a sense of confident that bolstered her words. "Can't you feel it? Just as this guild is the focal point of great change, thrust upon it without knowing it, so we too will help catalyze the the events that will shape the rest of the world. Do not underestimate the strength of even the smallest drop of rain; for it will have the power to move the faces of mountains if enough pressure is applied."

"That's right!" Bisca cried out, the cowboy hat toting mage said with a fist pump, joined in by her significant other in Alzack as they shared expressions of excitement. "We're no pushovers when it comes to magic. I know we'll find new ways to invigorate ourselves with this newfound inspiration given to us."

"I won't waste this time given to us by Wendy, Doranbolt, Charle and Max," Laki said personally, placing a hand on her chest as the amethyst haired, bespectacled girl spoke passionately. "I will soar higher than the tops of the tallest trees! That's my goal as a Mage from this point on!"

"And from what I've heard, the Shadow Gear boys have been busying themselves training," Wakaba mentioned with a grin, his pipe smoking passively as he nodded to Macao. "And your boy is already nose deep into Fire Magic books you had lying around. I'm sure he'll follow in your footsteps to make Natsu proud, no?"

"Wh-Why wouldn't he make ME proud?"

"Cause you're not as cool as Natsu."

"H-Hey now-!"

"Yeah, just you wait," Mickey turned around, punching one large glove into the palm of another. "I'm going to get my time to shine in the Sun: the Demon Princess will not be looked down on!"

"I'll try my best too," Vijeeter Ecor danced awkwardly, his trademark magic moving with his black-clad silver-highlighted body as he thought about what he could do to maximize his already existing talents. "I won't fall behind..."

Painting things with greater flair and eloquence, Reedus thought to himself, wondering about his style of spellcasting as he saw the others become more invigorated. Simplicity has always weakened my creations. Perhaps I should focus on things of much more complexity? That can work, with time...

"I-I'll go on missions," Nab proclaimed, causing a loud pause in the air around him. Sweating nervously, he raised a fist and shouted out loud. "H-Hey! I really will do it now!"

"Wow," The dark blonde man intoned, mouthing it out as he was truly held aback. Looking at the faces of each Fairy Tail mage, it just occurred to him just how dismissive hew as to the resolve of these mages.

Clearing his throat, he looked to the pink-haired girl and he saw her levitate into the air, now surrounded by a pale blue glow. Pulling off her left gauntlet, she showed the crimson mark of Fairy Tail on her palm, contrasting with her brightly pinkish hue or the current aura she was embalmed with.

"I believe this Guild will do great things. It turned my blue bird into one that sings confidently and with hope rather than one of melancholy and despair. Please give them your best wishes, and take to heart what you've seen this day, Jason. This I ask of you," The Elf requested in the most maternal manner one wouldn't expect from such a youthful appearing person.

Tears formed in the reporter's eyes.

He remembered the days he spent in the past, where he'd make regular visits to the guild hall to do interviews and inquiries to the mages of Fairy Tail. Even at a young age he had known just how popular they are, and the amazing feats they've accomplished. Just seeing them in person was so emotionally overwhelming each and every time he couldn't keep it contained. The loss of such people; no, his friends that he had lost, was devastating.

Streaming down his face, biting down on his lip, he tried to sniff back as he kept a brave face on towards Eris. Looking over to the happily smiling Wendy, the half-grinning serious expression on Doranbolt and the lackadaisical look of resignation on Max while Charle looked on with approval brought his heart to thump in his chest with admiration.

"Yes," He nodded, raising a pink-sleeved arm to wipe away his face as he did all he could to hold back the full outburst he was almost assuredly about to unleash. "I'm sorry, everyone, for saying such awful things. I...I just miss them, is all..."

"We miss them too," Max replied, standing more upright as he put his hair back into its bowl-cut order. "But that doesn't mean we can't do our best to pick up where they left off. Sometimes, stories end, but Fairy Tail has yet to have its end, really."

"That...was a much better one," Jason intoned with a chuckling sniffle. Standing upright, he turned towards the whole of the guild, staring to Wendy with an outstretched hand for her to grasp. "Congratulations on a mission well done, Wendy Marvell! I hope you, your new team and your guild continue to being the coolest you can be!"

The shy girl looked a bit sheepishly around at her friends. When they gave her nods of affirmation, she reached out and grasped his hand, the two sharing a smile of encouragement towards each other.

For the next handful of erratic minutes, Jason sought to write his wrongs by literally writing up interviews about each of the mages he had overlooked so callously before. He learned their names, their magicks and what they plan to do to improve on themselves. Each of them had their own fascinating story to tell, and personalities that made him fall in love with the guild all over.

He very much enjoyed this newly formed 'Team Wendy', even though he didn't think much of her contemporaries. Doranbolt's Direct Line magic was indeed very compelling, but his attitude could stand to be more approachable so he advised him to smile a bit more genuinely and not act so abrasively to strangers. Max he gave more criticisms on how he worded speeches and not to think too hard or force them out if he had nothing compelling to say. By Charle, he was lectured in return more than he was able to ask questions, much to his chagrin.

Wendy herself...he felt her pain.

It was daunting, to imagine embracing oblivion with the whole of her family only to be captured by fear and then swept away, barely clinging to life. He now realized what kind of courage it had to take to take such a dangerous mission, even when she was in no place emotionally or mentally to take it. But she did, and despite the odds, she succeeded. He found that she was far more cooler than he had ever credited her for.

Wrapping up the interviews, Jason waved them off, turning on his heel to exit the building with his spirits high and his heart set on doing a complete one eighty to what he had pictured going in.

Natsu...Makarov...everyone. You can rest easy, The reporter thought with a smile as he headed to the exit. Your family is doing alright. And I can't wait to see what they'll do in the future!

Just before he could reach the entrance to the guild hall, he stopped himself.

A pair of silhouettes were walking into this sacred space, with hoods overlapping their heads and in black fatigues. They had a strange, eerie presence but also something vaguely recognizable; at least, to the taller of the two.

Entering in, Jason blinked, wondering if he was hallucinating or not. As they passed him by, the rest of the guild that was in the midst of cleaning up and also in good rapport thanks to the reporter's interviews - along with Robyn and Bobbie's modeling deals proposed - they too recognized what looked to be relative strangers standing in the guild hall.

Macao, being on the floor, squinted his eyes and cleared his throat, "Ahem...can we help you?"

The taller one flinched at being called out. The shorter one nudged, a harsh whisper ushered to it.

Wendy looked over from her table, her eyes trailing up the taller cloaked individual as it spoke, with words that made her eyes widen and her mouth hang open.

"Is this guild still accepting new members?"

It couldn't be, could it?

After all this time?

No, there had to be a rational explanation. Last time she heard this voice it was-

"We are," Macao intoned, looking the pair up and down. "Why so mysterious? If you want to be examined for mage candidacy I think it'd be proper that you introduce yourselves to us."

Again, the taller one fell silent and a sharper nudge from behind made it form a grunt. As Wendy left the table and walked over, the taller figure reached up a pair of hands and pulled at the hem of the hood, unfolding it and revealing a frock of blue spiky hair. A single italic tattoo ran over the right side of an angular but strong cheeked face, with dark eyes looking at the current master of the guild with a sense of resolve but sadness all the same. When Wendy saw it, she knew it wasn't who she thought it was, but it still bore significant memory all the same.

One that was jogged fiercely as he spoke in front of a startled Jason.

"I am Jellal Fernandes," He announced himself.

"And I," The shorter of the two pulled back a hood, being less recognizable to the Sky Dragon Slayer, but still eerily familiar in a way she couldn't place a finger on it. She had a tomboyish cut of bubblegum pink hair - as opposed to Natsu's light-reddish mane - with a golden-winged head piece wrapped around her temples and back of her head revealed with her cutely cherub shaped face with green eyes staring harder forward. "Am Meredy, his companion."

"We'd like to officially pledge our support to the Fairy Tail Guild, if you'd have us," Jellal proclaimed, bowing his head as he spoke, in a clearly pained tone. "Please."

At this moment, Wendy had no idea what to make of this. It was one thing to run into a recent nemesis-turned-ally, but this?

What happened for this to occur?

"JELLAL FERNANDES?!" Jason's voice let out a high pitched shriek before his entire visible opacity turned into a comical sheet of white that overlapped with his clothes. With a pair of bulging eyes and outstretched arms, he fell over and landed with an audible clunk as if he was a lifeless statue.

"Is...is he dead?" Max inquired.

"Holy shit, I think you killed him with your presence alone," Meredy commented with a few blinks by his side.

"Ah...that's...well," Jellal intoned with a visible grimace.

"He's not dead," Macao discouraged with a wave of his hand, stepping down to help the journo up and laid him onto a chair by a table. Sighing, he looked to the man, stroking his chin as he did. "Well, I'm not sure what to say but...last time I heard from the previous master weren't you locked up for what you did to the Council?"

"Yeah, that's what I remember too," Wakaba nodded, his pompadour bouncing with him as he addressed the pair with inteest. "I'm not sure about the girl, but what's your story? Why did you come here of all places? Are we in trouble housing you?"

"There's no trouble, unless I'm not wanted here," Jellal hastily spoke, his eyes looking up at them, but still holding a sense of anguish in them. "If you rather I'm not here I'll make sure you never see me again."

"Don't," Wendy intoned, making the man jump in surprise. Looking over at the cobalt haired girl, he had vague memories of seeing her during the Nirvana incident. Despite recognizing him for a different man entirely, she welcomed him just as much as the rest did after they had collaborated to halt the plot of Master Brain of the Oracion Seis. Now, she held a hand out and grasped his cloak, her eyes looking pleadingly up at him past Meredy's shocked expression. "Stay, Jellal. And please, explain why."

Looking around at all of the faces that looked at him with wonderment and bewilderment all the same, he felt his air leave his nostrils in a sigh.

"First of all," Meredy raised a black gloved hand, pushing Wendy away with a half-hearted shove before looking around at the others. "He doesn't have the whole story. I do. So listen up, and I'll tell you how this all went down...and why we decided to help you all out."

A/N:
LastationLover5000: This chapter was a very, very nice change of pace from our normal ones. Given the first few were depressing and the several after that were all focused on the arc at hand, a relaxing, character-driven chapter like that was just what my co-author and I needed, I'd say. Writing Robyn and company in a more causal setting is interesting, since, while Robyn can relax — and drink things he shouldn't be — and Eris will go with any situation, Bobbie just won't. Their interactions with the Guild from this point on will be interesting; Robyn is down to experiment, but he doesn't fully believe in Wendy's spiel at all. My friend's section was amazing; I knew I couldn't write for Jason, but he did it wonderfully, and made it an emotional section all at once. But then..Jellal and Meredy of all people arrive, asking for the Guild to take them in! You'll know why...next week! We'll see you then!

Demod20: And that's the end! Wow what a fun distraction. From Robyn and his two besties joining the Guild, to Jason's antics of doubt and encouragement to Jellal and Meredy's arrival?! So much to unpack with this. I loved what my co-author did with detailing Robyn, it definitely hit the nail on the head. He's not 100% on board, but he's definitely interested to see why this girl fought so hard if she didn't believe in something so strongly. He'll play nice, for now, and see where this guild takes him; with Bobbie sticking by him no matter what and Eris joining him for her own reasons. I loved playing around with Jason's comic relief, but he also got in some surprisingly emotional pieces here. In the end, Jason was such a huge fan because he almost knew all of the 'main cast' like family. To see them go like that must have been devastating to him, so naturally his criticism would be the harshest cause it comes from a place of love. Really enjoyed writing that. That, and of course we have Jellal's despondent arrival with Meredy. That in of itself is a whole story that'll be unveiled...next chapter, believe it or not! See you all in a week from now :P