Greetings, my dear readers! Okay, first of all – I'm terribly sorry for a long gap between chapters. For the last chapter I got a lot of reviews, and the least I could do is update my story ASAP. However, about a month ago I've suffered in industrial accident and got my right arm broken. Cast was removed just a week ago, so I was able to resume writing just recently. Anyway, here's my new chapter.
For the reviewers:
First – general answers.
1. Lucy. First of all, I have to say that I'm a bit displeased about the amount of attention that Lucy's death drew to itself. I intentionally have tried to make her death as insignificant as possible, with a good reason. And it seems I've failed…
I don't wanna write spoilers, so I'll just say that choice was between introducing another OC or reshaping one of existing characters. And my story doesn't need more OC's for now, so Lucy was a convenient choice – people always complain that she's too weak, she's weepie, etc…
The hint about Lucy's fate was at the very end of my notes in previous chapter, I hope you've noticed it. I know some people likes her, some hates and some indifferent. So, there's absolutely no matter how exactly I'd decide to do, regarding her case – some of my readers will be disappointed. However, all my actions toward Lucy had very pragmatic, but good reason.
Anyway, about Lucy's death… That was a turning point for her character – where it leads – you'll see soon enough.
2. Jellal. He is dead, simple as that.
As far as I know – Initially Mashima didn't plan to make Fairy Tail this long, Tower of Paradise had to be the final arc. His plans were changed however (which is good), but his characters' development suffered because of it (which is bad).
Actually, it seems almost as if there's two characters with the same name in this story. Jellal was smart, cunning, powerful and dedicated man, who deceived and outplayed entire magic council. After his 'revival' he turned into pathetic, stupid and pitiable emo-kid. I killed Jellal to let him keep his dignity and legacy as a good developed character.
It's only my opinion, but Jellal's revival in manga was the greatest mistake Mashima made during his work on Fairy Tail.
Now, about some specific questions:
Silent Reader 6100: Again, AFAIK, in Mashima's initial plan Tower of Paradise arc had to be last in the story, but due to series massive popularity he decided to make the story longer, and real Zeref's ghost has been replaced with Ultear's trick.
DragonSlayer96: Thank you. Zeref isn't the only bad guy for sure…
kwerli: Thanks for the high praise.
Deadmask: Many thanks. And yes, as I said – Lucy had to die, and exactly that way she did. You'll see soon enough.
Shuuwai: Thank you. And there will be much more changes from cannon, promise.
ValinNight: Yea, many people just tired of Lucy due to her unexplainable popularity. Well, we can change it – that's what fanfiction for!
NyAnCaTX3: Yes. Simply =)
Geraze90: Oh, trust me, you ain't saw even a half of Erza's badassitude. About Lucy… we'll see soon enough =).
FanFictionHunter: Yeah, you right – Lucy's death would cause too much 'inconvenient' consequences. Depressed Mira, Emo-Loki, possibly depressed Levy. But most importantly – greatly ashamed Natsu and Erza, which means no Astrum Eclipsis arc and greatly delayed wedding. Lucy is Erza's maid of honor, after all. And since I already promised this arc and wedding – I actually had no choice. For now, Lucy must live, for Erza's sake =)
And yes – I revealed that Sin (the very reason why Happy became a cameo supporting character), is actually an ancient, powerful being, created in Tower of Din thousands of years ago. I also gave a hint that Zeref and Acnologia are not the main villains in my story. I just hope it wasn't overlooked because of Lucy's temporal demise.
Wolf Strife: Thanks!
Steam Powered Crow: Oh, you'll see. Sometimes death can be convenient…
Tottenham Hotspur: Thank you!
Tet19: No, no zombies, promise xD.
Meowhaha: I've to admit – Jellal's death was planned from very beginning, for his own sake.
Heat: Of course, Dragon Queen knew what she was talking about. Nothing too serious, but…
Mira-san: Easy there, it's okay =) I'm telling you – Lucy is alive… She may regret about it, however…
Guest: You know, usually, for such a big review, I'm answering via PM. However, since you posted the review under guest alias, I'll give only basic answers.
Revived Jellal is one of the worst developed characters in the manga. I killed him so he could die gloriously and with honor, instead of living in misery and shame. The privilege of reshaping Jellar into a real man I'll leave to JerZa writers.
Natsu and Erza's powers… You know, in most cases their defeat usually means their imminent deaths. They could lose, of course, but it would mean the end of the story, so guess why they usually wins.
Gray is an ice giant… Ice Giant Slayer Magic! Nice idea, I'll consider it.
Anyway, thanks for the review. All reviews, good or bad, are useful.
InflatedChimp: At your service!
Cameron: Thank you, honestly – action scenes is my special pride. And don't bother about other reviews – as I said – all of them, good and bad, are useful.
Chillax: Yeah, Erza's sickness was pretty weighty argument to make her a dragon slayer xD.
deathgrips099: Already on it. I have a beta-reader and she checked all my already published chapters, I just need to find a chunk of free time to republish them all. About the kid, I don't know… Child means no crazy adventures until he'll grow up, so…
Guest: Ah yes, Sin… Believe me, it was only the beginning…
Yes, may be, but it's hard to avoid all misprints, considering the chapters' size. Besides, there's dialects peculiarity, also I like to use idioms and quotes.
xSPQRxCenturion: No, no, no! It's only the beginning for her… And thank you xD.
Now that was a review-answers section… Alright, let's proceed. This chapter may look a bit messy, I was in a hurry to finish it ASAP, not because of my arm but because more interesting chapters await. This one is entirely social, but I couldn't just skip those events. Good reading and not forget to leave the review.
Chapter updated 11/12/2016
Omake – Lucy's fate.
Lucy's spirit: "Man, I was so young and pretty, why have you done this to me?!"
Author: "Relax, it's just temporary. I thought that you need a slight shake-up to rethink your life."
Lucy's spirit: "Slight shake-up?! You've killed me!"
Author: "Enough. We all know that you are just a pale copy of your prototype – Resha Valentine. I just want to fix that."
Lucy's spirit, resentfully: "I'm not someone's copy! And I don't need to be fixed!"
Author: "It's up to me to decide. Besides, you won't remember this conversation anyway. Alright, look – your body has been restored, go back there and be a good girl."
Lucy's spirit, looking at her 'new' body: "Wait, why am I naked?!"
Author: "Ask this question to Hiro Mashima, you constantly appear naked in original manga…"
Lucy's spirit, freaked out: "But why?!"
Author, grabbed Lucy's spirit by the scruff and threw her spirit into her body: "Because it's fun!"
Chapter XX – Psycho Circus.
…
September 27, Thursday, X784, 6:10, Caelum soil.
Erza's eyes widened in shock as she saw Lucy's body appearing from the pile of ash. She hurried to check it, as fast as she could in her current condition. Natsu also saw Lucy. He stood up, leaning on his sword, and headed to Lucy's body. Sin just sat on his shoulder – looks like the little boney creature had no strength to take wing.
Lucy's body was lying still, she wasn't breathing. Erza fell on knees near Lucy and began to examine her body. To her great surprise – it was completely intact – no hole in her stomach, no wounds and bruises that she got in battle against Vidaldus, and even no scars that left after Nelliel's 'drawing exercises'. Also, her Fairy Tail guild crest has been gone and she had absolutely no clothes, even her ribbon, which she was using to make that cute ponytail, was missing.
"She's absolutely clean, as if she has just taken an ion shower…" Natsu noted as he too came closer and examined Lucy's body.
"What?" Erza tiredly looked at Natsu as if he's a madman.
"Never mind, I just…" Natsu's phrase was interrupted as Lucy's eyes suddenly shot open and two beams of dark violet light shot into the skies from them. Both Natsu and Erza jerked back from unexpectedness.
The beams shone for about ten seconds, when they faded out, Lucy's eyes closed up again and she suddenly made a deep, spastic breath as her back arched upward. One second later Lucy's muscles again relaxed and Erza's dragon ears heard the heartbeat in Lucy's chest. She also began to breath regularly.
All three were speechless for a few seconds. "N… Natsu…" Erza stuttered, "I… I can hear her heart!" Erza exclaimed with mix of surprise, excitement and hope, "She's alive!"
"I know," Natsu confirmed, "I can see her soul inside of her body right now…"
"How is that even possible?!" Erza still couldn't believe her eyes (and ears). "She died on my hands and then her body was disassembled on molecular level, and now she's alive again?!"
"Sin, do you have any ideas?!" Natsu asked his familiar. Despite his knowledge and travels, Natsu never heard about anything like this.
"Actually, I have one," Sin replied, gaining attention. "I think there's a flaw in R-System's technology. Look, to bring someone back to life you need a large amount of magic, right? When demon has been revived, this magic was used to reshape Lucy's body into demon's body. However, demon itself was an extremely powerful magical being. And I think that, due to R-System's imperfection, Lucy's soul wasn't banished immediately, it was still inside demon's body…"
"Wait, are you saying that we actually re-used the R-System to revive Lucy?" Natsu asked with somewhat ironic expression.
"Exactly," Sin confirmed. "We've killed demon quickly, Lucy's soul was still here, demon had a lot of his own magic and traces of R-System energy were still inside him – we just sacrificed Procellion's body to bring Lucy back to life."
"But I thought it needs 2.7 billion ideas of magical energy to revive someone…" Erza asked uncertainly.
"To revive a huge, ancient demon – probably you need just that much," Sin guessed, "But to revive a seventeen years old girl, who's soul was still present in this world… the amount of magic needed was much more humble."
"Yeah, truth what they say – fools rush in where angels fear to tread…" Natsu shook his head.
"If the council finds out about this – we'll sure to come to a bad end…" Erza sighed, yet happy smile shone on her face as she again sat near Lucy.
"Her soul looks completely normal," Natsu informed, "It's definitely our Lucy's soul, just as she was a few hours ago, when we got separated."
Erza leaned closer to Lucy and sniffed the air. "Strange, she smells different…" She-dragon noted.
"I hope she ain't stinks like rotting corpse, doesn't she?" Natsu again looked at Lucy's body carefully (no one cared that she's naked).
"What?! No!" Erza exclaimed, "Why did you ask?!"
"I think that your boyfriend is afraid that she may turn into zombie or something…" Sin guessed, making Erza to face-palm.
"Nothing like that!" She replied. "It's just… well, usually she smells like…" Erza tried to find a proper epithet, "…like a flower meadow at night, something like that. But now she smells like the air after a thunderstorm…"
"Like the air filled with ozone molecules, you mean…" Natsu mumbled to himself. "But still, her attribute is still the same – Abyss – the mix of darkness and void, which is completely unfitting for her beloved Stellar Spirit magic…" He sighed. "However, there's something strange with her body, she has… an unusual aura…"
"What you mean?" Erza asked a bit worriedly.
"I cannot say for sure," Natsu replied. "My eyes can easily see through a spiritual nature, but when it comes to the physical nature – I only can see pretty obvious things, at least for now, like that former Phantom Lord girl…"
"What's wrong with the Juvia-chan?" Sin wondered.
"She's an Ajin [Demihuman, 亜人], Natsu replied simply, "Her mother was a Tiene-type water spirit, Undine or maybe even a Siren. She's not an Ushinatta Mahō [Lost Magic] user, so her watery body has no other explanation," God slayer added as if it was nothing special. "And she inherited her weird passion from her mother, no doubts. But in Lucy's case – I can't see any obvious anomalies, so to determine the reason why she seems strange I have to perform some invasive analysis, I'm afraid, and I'll be needing some tissue samples…"
"Don't touch her!" Erza shouted as she stood between Natsu and Lucy. Of course, Erza was shocked (again) as she learned that Juvia is a half-elemental (she didn't even know that such a thing is possible) and that she's a former Phantom Lord member, but protecting Lucy (Erza's maid of honor) from Natsu's insanity was the top priority right now.
"Can you two stop it?" Sin asked tiredly, looking at Lucy. "By the way, why she's still unconscious?"
"No idea, but demon also was weakened after resurrection," Natsu noted, hiding his sword, as Sin jumped down from his shoulder and climbed on Lucy's body to check her closer.
"Let's check it out," Sin said and suddenly he pinched Lucy's nipples with his boney claws, Lucy twitched but didn't wake up.
"What the heck are you doing?!" Freaked out Erza asked as she grabbed Sin and dragged him away from Lucy's body.
"I'm checking her reflexes," Sin replied as if it was quite obvious.
"It's not how it's done!" Erza exclaimed.
"Alright, we can sort this out later," Natsu decided as he grabbed Lucy's body and threw it on his shoulder, "Let's get out of here."
"Wait a second Natsu, darling, don't you want to tell me anything?" Erza asked with narrowed eyes.
"Right here?" Natsu replied with sarcasm. "I promised to tell you everything and you know the worth of my word, let's just get out of here, at least to the hotel."
"All right…" Erza sighed as Sin now was sitting on her shoulder. She waited for almost a year, she can wait for few more hours.
"By the way – what's about him?" Sin pointed at Jellal's corpse.
"Leave him to the petrels," Erza replied, not even looking at beheaded body, her dragon ears already picked birds' screams. Erza really didn't care about him right now – he caused too much pain and grief to her and her friends.
As they came close to the edge of little lacrima island where they were, Natsu raised his left hand and made an icy path over water surface via his deathfrost art. Erza, with Sin on her shoulder, followed him. "By the way, Natsu, what are we going to say to the others?"
"Nothing," Natsu replied simply.
"There they are!" Simon announced as he saw Natsu and Erza, with their respective 'passengers', in the distance.
"Finally…" Mira sighed with relief. She was all the nerves, which wasn't contributing to her recovery, by the way.
"Maybe now we'll know what happened there…" Gray mumbled.
"Juvia thinks that it all was just an insanity…" Water witch agreed.
"It's always like this with these two…" Ice mage commented.
"No kidding," Mira agreed, "I only hope that Lucy is also okay…"
"C'mon Gray, help me, let's turn around the ship and pick them up," Simon suggested.
Natsu and Erza were about half-way toward the ship when Lucy began to regain consciousness.
"Ugh…" Blonde moaned as she slowly opened her eyes. She perplexedly looked around, trying to understand the situation. She tried to move her hand, but her limbs were refusing to move, she only could slightly move her neck.
"Welcome back," Quiet and calming female's voice said from above.
Lucy raised her head a bit and saw familiar white leather open-toe sandals and black leather low-waist shorts – Erza's new casual clothes that she wore since they've returned from Galuna Island. "Um… Erza?" Blonde asked uncertainly, "What's going on?"
"It depends…" Erza replied, "What's the last thing you remember?"
"Well… that Jellal guy… sent a huge black orb towards you…" Lucy began to remember, "…then I tried to save you and… pushed you out of the way… and then… oh!" Lucy remembered the bloodstained crystal sticking out from her stomach and that she asked Erza to find a kind owner for her spirits. It was the last thing she could remember. "Where's my keys?!" Lucy asked worriedly.
"Right here," Erza replied as she smacked her pocket and bunch of keys tinkled inside.
"However, Lucy, technically they are no longer yours…" Natsu said with his signature indifferent voice and only now Lucy realized that she's being carried on his shoulder.
"What? What you mean?" Lucy asked in confusion.
"Doesn't it obvious? You died, Lucy. All of your contracts were voided," Sin answered to her question.
"So, I've actually died…" Lucy said in slight shock. "Then why I'm still here? What happened?"
"Making the long story short, you died, then you were disassembled on molecular level and then again reassembled in original form, thanks to our combined efforts," Natsu replied. "Well, Lucy, was it painful? Death, I mean…"
"What?!" Now Lucy was shocked quite deeply.
"Relax, actually it has a good side – all your wounds, including drawings made by Nelliel on your body, are gone," Sin noted to Lucy.
"Really?!" Lucy finally heard something encouraging, those scars really bothered her. Due to shock her thoughts were quite messy right now.
"The bad side is – you have to renegotiate all of your contracts, you lost your guild crest, so technically you're not even a Fairy Tail's member right now, and all your clothes are gone… but since they were cheap it's just a good opportunity to buy new, good ones," Natsu informed, seemingly he was trying to say something calming.
"Yaaah!" Lucy yelped, only now she realized why here's so cold – she's naked! Worst of all – she only could barely move her hands… "Erza! Can you ex-quip some clothes to me?!" Lucy begged.
"Seriously?" Sin asked with disappointed voice, "This is what bothers you the most right now? Not the fact that you lost your life, your contracts and your Fairy Tail membership?"
"But I'm naked!" Lucy exclaimed, "It's so embarrassing!"
"Sorry, Lucy," She-dragon replied, "My ex-quip spells became expensive and right now my manapool is completely dry…" She used last drops of her power to ex-quip her worn-out combat outfit to her casual clothes, and she couldn't replenish her magic now – Etherion and following battles caused abnormal weather conditions. By the way, it seems Erza wasn't bothered by the fact that Natsu is carrying a naked girl, looks like Erza trusted Lucy... and no, it didn't start today, for some reason, almost from the very beginning, Erza was thinking of Lucy as of her adorable imōto…
"Relax blonde, we all are nakama here," Natsu said emotionlessly, but then he slapped her ass, seemingly trying to encourage her (he couldn't reach her shoulder).
"Yaap!" Lucy yelped, slap was quite harsh. "Natsu, it hurts! Please, can you give me your coat!?"
"Later, Lucy. I'm using my arts to make this icy path, I have no time for it now, wait until we'll return to the ship," Natsu replied. Well, it is a well-known fact that Natsu doesn't care about girls' nudity at all. No matter how nude the girl in front of god slayer is – he can easily ignore her all together, which is quite insulting by the way, but it can't be helped – he's only interested in Titania's body.
"You're exaggerating Lucy," Erza noted, "Be patient, maybe we'll be able to find some Millianna's spare clothes aboard the ship." Erza also has a well-known trait – she considers her closest friends as a family, and she herself was okay with being naked among family members.
"No!" Lucy exclaimed. "There are more men aboard the ship! I don't want them to see me naked!" Blonde cried.
"I said relax Lucy, we all are nakama here, besides, those guys shouldn't bother you at all – you'll see," Natsu said and gave her another 'encouraging' slap on her ass.
"Yaah! Natsu, stop it!" Lucy yelped again.
As ship approached to Natsu's group, everyone on board could see Lucy's exposed ass, as she still was carried by Natsu. "Faces away, you two perverts!" Mira ordered as she noticed that Lucy got unrequited attention from Gray and Simon.
"Oh, right!" Two guys quickly turned around.
"Juvia is so embarrassed…" Water witch also quickly turned away from Lucy.
"Natsu, what a hell are you doing?!" Mira shouted at him, she was well aware of Lucy's feelings right now, "Couldn't you give her your coat?!"
Natsu looked at ship's deck. "Honey, can you hold it for a moment?" God slayer asked, pointing at Lucy, "I'll deal with them."
"Yes, I think I can," Erza replied as she came closer and Lucy (who was freaked out by such kind of treatment, as she was called 'it') was relocated on Erza's shoulder. "What's on your mind?" She asked.
"Thing that has to be done, for now," Natsu replied and began to climb aboard via rope-ladder.
"Stop treating me as a sack of potatoes!" Lucy cried as Mira face-palmed, looking at this process.
"Relax blonde, everything will be all right," Erza tried to cheer Lucy up and also gave her a 'cheering' slap on her ass.
"Yaah!" Lucy yelped, "Stop it!"
"Why? This is what for a girl needs her ass, in the first place, besides, it seems that you like it," Erza noted.
"No I don't!" Lucy cried.
"My nose tells me otherwise," Erza snorted. She wasn't too perceptive, but even she understood now that Lucy actually likes to be embarrassed and likes to get her ass slapped, at least. "Lucy no Ecchi…"
"I don't want to hear that from you!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Just don't forget to tell your boyfriend about this when you'll get one," Sin laughed at Lucy.
"Trust me Lucy, it's worth it, he has to know all your preferences, don't make me to talk to him myself," Erza chuckled, "But I do if I have to!"
"Somebody, kill me!" Lucy pleaded aguishly. Obviously, her friends wished her good, but with their specific way.
Natsu climbed aboard. "Natsu, how many times I should tell you that you can't treat a girl like this!?" Mira began to scold him in stride. "You can do whatever you want with your hentai girlfriend, but normal girls…"
"Mira, forget about that!" Gray exclaimed, interrupting she-devil. "We saw that tower melted down, huge monsters, explosions, what happened there?!" Now all four – Mira, Simon, Gray and Juvia were looking at him.
"Too long to explain," Natsu sighed, "I'll better show you…" As he said this, Natsu first looked at his watches and then raised his left arm. "Nōtōkei!"[Brain Freeze] Suddenly, Natsu cast a spell as four beams of dark blue energy shot from his left palm and struck all four mages in their foreheads, knocking them all out, as none of them expected something like this. "Sorry people…" Natsu whispered silently, "But it's for your own good…" Natsu approached to the ship's side. "Lucy, can you move your arms now?" God slayer asked.
"I think so…" Blonde replied with sigh, it seems that she resigned to fate that no one actually cares about her dignity.
"Then clench to the rope-ladder and I'll lift you up," Natsu explained his intention.
"All right," Lucy replied as Erza carried her closer to ladder, and Lucy grabbed the ropes, "And tell everyone to turn away!" Lucy demanded. However, when Natsu lifted her up, Lucy only saw four knocked-out people, lying on the deck. "What happened?!" Lucy asked in shock.
"No idea," Natsu replied indifferently as he helped Lucy to stand up, leaning on his shoulder – it seems that she got used to the fact that Natsu already saw her from every side and she has nothing more to hide from him anyway. "I think all of them were knocked out when R-System became unstable."
"What are you talking about?!" Lucy asked in surprise as Natsu were leading her to Millianna's cabin, "I heard their voices just now!" Okay, she didn't see that ship turned around and approached them since she was carried on a shoulder, facing backward, but she heard Mira's voice just several seconds ago.
"No, you didn't hear anything, Lucy, and you're going to stick to that story, if only you don't want to share their fate, " Natsu said peremptorily. "I wiped out their memories about what happened during last hour, the last thing they will remember is that R-System almost exploded."
"Why?!" Lucy asked in shock.
"To protect your privacy, in particular," Natsu replied as if it was obvious. "I promised, remember?"
"Oh!" Lucy exclaimed as she remembered that she's still needs some clothes. Natsu helped her to get to the wardrobe, "But that's not the main reason, right?" Blonde asked.
"No," Natsu replied, "But trust me – I had a very good reason to use this quite dangerous spell on my closest friends. Lucy, never tell anyone about it. Remember, I could wipe your memories as well, but I decided to trust the word of Seirei Madōshi…" [Celestial Spirit Mage]
"Ok… okay!" Lucy exclaimed, she was a bit pleased that she actually earned Natsu's trust, besides, Lucy herself didn't remember anything too sensitive, like huge beasts and all. "I believe that you know what you're doing, I won't tell anyone. And… thank you for your trust…" Lucy smiled as she began to search for suitable clothes.
"As I understand – you saved the life of my fiancée, so I owe you now…" Natsu slightly bowed to Lucy, showing his gratitude. "But Lucy, you lost yours, and we're going to have a serious talk about it later…"
"Yes… yes, I understand…" Lucy gulped a little, she remembered how Natsu scolded Macao… She probably is going to hear much more… But, fortunately, not now, as Sin's voice called for Natsu from the deck, gaining god slayer's attention.
"Natsu, come up here please, we have a… situation…" Lil dragon called.
"What now?…" Natsu sighed, as Lucy finally found some underwear. God slayer headed back to the deck, he was very tired and wanted some rest instead of solving those 'situations'…
"What the hell is this?!" Lucy's eyes widened in shock as she took out the lingerie set and examined it. There were a cat faces, embroidered on both front and rear sides of panties and on both sides of bra as well.
"What's going on?" Natsu asked as he returned to upper deck.
"Your girlfriend refuses to get on board," Sin replied in annoyance.
"Right…" Natsu rolled his eyes. "Erza, my love, please…" Natsu called for his bride, "I know you're very tired, but we both exhausted as well, I have no powers left to transform Sin right now!"
"And even if he would have power – I'm in no condition to fly right now," Sin added. It was a truth – his rear claws and, most importantly, his wings were damaged in battle.
"I don't care!" Erza replied, she still stood on the edge of the icy path that Natsu made, "I suffered enough for today! I can't take it anymore!"
"Okay," Natsu replied tiredly. He took a long rope, tied one of its ends to the piece of aft superstructure end threw the second end to Erza. She looked at him questioningly. "It's your only other option," Natsu explained. "Tie it around your waist and swim behind the ship."
"Are you insane?!" Erza asked in shock. "Let's wait until you two recover a bit!"
"No way," Natsu retorted. "Erza, usually I like to satisfy your caprices, but now is really not the time for it," Natsu saluted to her and headed back to raise the sails.
"Natsu, wait, are you serious?!" Erza exclaimed but Natsu just ignored her. Sometimes this obstinate girl just needs to be forced to do something, a reminder who is actually in charge here. "Natsu!" She cried but ship already began to accelerate as Erza was forced to tie the rope around her waist to not being left here. "Natsu, you'll pay for this!"
"Hey, Natsu, look," Sin brought the map, "If we sail south from here, we can get to Galuna Island," Sin noted.
"And why should we sail there?" Natsu inquired.
"To tease your bride a little more," Sin smiled maliciously.
Natsu thought a little. "No, she's already on edge," He decided in the end.
"You both will pay for this!" Erza yelled from behind the ship, tumbling in the waves, she heard their conversation.
"Erza, as soon as you'll decide to get on board, I'll pick you up immediately," Natsu noted.
"Shut up!" Was her reply.
September 27, Thursday, X784, 8:00, On the way to Akame Resort.
As soon as ship left the zone of abnormal weather and autumn sun showed up above the horizon, things became much easier for Erza. She ate some sunlight, restoring her magic and stamina, and now she wasn't helpless. First, she tried to ex-quip water-skis (yep, she has water-skis), but it appeared to be a transportation and she immediately became sick. However, she found an alternate solution. Dragon-slayer engulfed her legs with plasma energy, which turned seawater into steam, and now she was gliding on some sort of steam-air cushion, which was quite cool, actually.
"Nice trick," Sin admitted, looking behind the ship.
"Told you," Natsu replied as if it was nothing unexpected, "She's extremely clever girl, and she likes to improvise…" In Natsu's opinion she was a wonderful girl no matter how you look at it.
"Fawn over as much as you like, I'll still punish you!" Erza shouted as her ears heard their conversation. Natsu, however, just smiled. Erza was the only one who could make him smile that easily…
"Umm…" "Ough…" "Ouch…" Both Natsu and Sin heard some moans behind them. One by one, knocked out mages began to regain consciousness. They all rose from floor and began to look around in confusion. Last thing, which they could remember, happened when sky was still dark, but now the rays of morning sun were lighting up the deck.
"Natsu? What's going on?" Mira asked as her sight became focused. Accidentally she and Gray looked at each other and quickly turned away, last thing they could remember – they stood, holding each other arms, as Gray said that Mira is not the one to blame.
"What happened, where are we?" Ice mage wondered.
"You tell me," Natsu replied. "When we've returned to the ship, we found you lying on the deck out cold." Natsu already invented the legend, which used as little lies as possible – not that Natsu had a problem with deceiving his guildmates, but he wasn't enjoining it either, especially because Mirajane was among them. Hardest part was Lucy's – she had to explain the disappearance of her guild crest and clothes. Yet, Natsu found an elegant solution…
Natsu easily managed to convince his friends that they all were knocked out when R-System gone wild since it was the last thing they remember. Natsu said that he, Erza and Lucy were saved thanks to Sin's help, which was a truth, but of course Mira and others thought that they just escaped thanks to frost wyrm's ability to fly and carry passengers.
Also, Natsu explained that they ran into some troubles during the fight since Jellal and Siegrain were together against them, but situation was solved thanks to Lucy's interference. Most scenes, described by Natsu, were real, without unnecessary details (since most of fighting was done by Erza – he didn't know too many details anyway). And when it came to Lucy's part, Natsu simply said that she tried to help and was knocked out, but he used her to create a distraction. Everyone looked at him with disapproval, imagining what exactly he did, since she lost her clothes, but… well, in critical situation all means are good, everyone knew that Natsu would not risk Lucy's life without very good reason. Of course, Natsu didn't give any detail, to 'protect Lucy's dignity'.
Neither Natsu nor the others were enjoining to keep the most important facts in secret, but truth was too complicated right now, it only would be an unnecessary burden. God slayer wanted to look into this matter by himself, first.
When it was sorted out, Gray again made additional sails and cowered ship's hull with ice as Juvia used her magic to make a tail stream and ensure ship's stability. Even without Mira's help (she was too exhausted), ship accelerated to almost 45 knots. Now Erza was really enjoining it as with such a speed this water gliding was almost like flying.
Gray escorted Mirajane to captain's cabin so she finally could rest peacefully. "Gray," Mira called for him as he turned towards cabin's exit.
"Um?" Ice mage replied.
"I had no chance to say it, but… thank you," She gave him her angelic smile, which now became rare sight since she reverted to her old self.
"For what?" Gray asked.
"For saving my life," She replied still smiling. "I know you transfused your blood to me," She added, looking at Gray's bandaged elbow.
"You're welcome," Ice mage smirked. "Just promise to never do anything like that again."
"Sorry, but I can't," She again smiled, a bit guiltily. "If my friends will be in danger… I'm not going to spare myself… even if it's just Erza…" She added, making Gray to smile a little. "Besides, situations like that teaches us to value our lives, to fight for our lives with everything we have!"
"I'm hearing Natsu's words…" Gray shook his head.
"Yeah… we all learned many things from him, doesn't we?" Mira smirked. "But there's one thing that I've learned by myself. When you're on a verge of death – you're sorry about things that you haven't done much more than about things you already did. And there are several things that I really, really want to do…" She-devil said as her angelic smile disappeared and devilish grin appeared instead and she grabbed both Gray's hands and pulled him to herself.
"Hey, Mira, what are you?!..." Gray exclaimed in shock.
"Just relax!" She-devil ordered, "I just want to say 'thank you' in proper way!"
September 27, Thursday, X784, 11:15, Akame Resort.
The ship finally dropped the anchor in the middle of the little gulf not far from Resort hotel. Everyone headed to the beach, following Natsu, via the icy path he made. Erza walked last, looking at Natsu with narrowed eyes – no doubts she wanted to sort things out with him.
"I look absurdly…" Lucy complained, "It would be less embarrassing if I'd be naked…" To be honest it was a truth – Lucy was taller and much more curvaceous than Millianna so her clothes were too small for blonde, not to mention that cat-girl style was foolish by itself.
"Lucy-san, Juvia do not want to sound rude, but Juvia already heard it for hundred times, so can you please stop complaining?" Water witch asked.
"Wow, so polite way to ask someone to shut the fuck up…" Mirajane noted, freaking Lucy out. "Gray, can you walk me out to the hospital, please?" Mira sighed, turning to ice mage, "I think I've to visit a doctor. I need to sterilize the wounds and replace bandages – these are soaked with blood…" It was a truth, most of her bandages were covered with dark-red spots.
"Of course," Gray replied. He still was worried about her condition… besides, there's a great opportunity to again feel the wonderful taste of those lips, which can make crazy half of Fiore's men…
"We have to tell the others what happened," Simon addressed Natsu and Erza.
"Alright, besides, I promised to free them from collars if…" Natsu replied, as he looked at his fiancée, but he couldn't finish his phrase, "…Erza?" Suddenly, god slayer saw that Erza's sight became unfocused, in the next moment he noticed the spasms of her throat as she-dragon leaned forward and vomited. Lucy barely jerked away as Erza burped strange, bright-yellow, shining liquid with strong smell of nitromethane. "Erza, are you okay?!" Natsu asked worriedly as he urged to check her condition. Again, only Erza could make him worried that easily…
"Is it… is it a half-stomached light?!" Mira asked in shock as sun-colored liquid began to melt down the sand with loud fizzing. She, however, was the only one who was interested in it – other felt themselves a bit sick and urged to turn away.
"Uhh… sorry…" Erza replied as she caught her breath. "I suddenly felt some dizziness… It is that damn seasickness…"
"Are you sure that you're okay?" Natsu asked, examining Erza's face, he still was a bit worried, why she felt it now, on surface?
"Yes, I'm fine… I think…" Erza answered uncertainly. She just suddenly felt strong sickness without any noticeable reason. However, she wasn't completely fine – she still was a bit sick, and Natsu noticed it, but none of them wanted to make their friends worried again.
September 27, Thursday, X784, 11:40, Akame Resort.
Juvia left the Resort immediately as she headed to Magnolia, she wanted to join Fairy Tail as quickly as possible. It seems that, in her obsession, she somehow managed to not notice anything suspicious between the Ice mage and she-devil.
As Gray and Mira went to the nearest hospital, Lucy rushed to her suite, to change clothes. Blonde also had very interesting puzzle to solve – she has to explain the disappearance of scars, made by Nelliel. Okay, Natsu gave a simple explanation to disappearance of her clothes and guild mark, but scars? Yesterday Lucy wore closed swimsuit to hide those scars, but sooner or later someone will notice that they're gone…
In the meantime, Erza, Simon and Natsu came to meet Erza's old nakamas. Simon quickly found Erza's old friends and told them what happened to Jellal, with little help from Natsu and Erza. They, however, 'softened' the story for them, despite that Natsu was against it. According to fabricated story – Jellal died when tower exploded, unnecessary details could cause unnecessary questions, and Erza hoped that it was the last time she had to lie to her friends about such important things.
"Uh… so yeah… I'm really sorry, Erza…" Wally said in excusing tone, scratching his head. He and his friends felt themselves very ashamed and guiltily for being Jellal's supporters.
"I'm very sorry as well, Eru-chan…" Cat-girl mumbled, hanging her head down.
"I… I don't really know what to say…" Shô couldn't dare to look into Erza's eyes. Natsu removed the collars from their necks, yes, but burden of their actions was still there. Especially hard it was for Shô, since he was one of Jellal's most strident zealots.
"Please, don't apologize…" Erza replied, smiling softly.
"But… We're not only tried to kidnap you… We also hated you for all these years, willingly being Jellal's hostages, making you and ourselves miserable…" Shô exclaimed.
"Yet, in the end, all of you just were desperately trying to survive," Erza replied with calming voice.
"Besides," Natsu noted passionlessly, "Even I couldn't imagine that Jellal's madness came this far. I thought he's some sort of idealist with insane but noble dream, who chose very wrong method to achieve it. Who could imagine that he was just a terrorist, driven by desperate nihilism?... Ouch!" Erza pinched him.
"I told you to choose words carefully!" She-dragon hissed at him.
"But he's right," Simon agreed with Natsu. "He promised us peace, freedom from this world's evil, the 'Paradise'. Nothing about assassins' guild and weapon of mass destruction…"
"Anyway, it's all over now, we shouldn't bother ourselves talking about it," Erza decided to change subject. "We must turn the past into the future and walk onwards. And the step we take today will be the step that takes on to tomorrow!"
"Step into tomorrow…" Wally mumbled, scratching his head.
"What are we all going to do from now on?" Millianna asked herself.
"What you mean?" Natsu asked, "Eight years you were dreaming about freedom, and now, when you've finally free, you do not know what to do with it?"
"It's kinda pathetic, you know?" Sin agreed with god slayer.
"Can you two just shut up or not?!" Erza snarled at her boyfriend before addressing to her old friends again. "If you have nowhere to go, you can all just come to Fairy Tail. I'm sure everyone will welcome you with open arms."
All four were shocked.
"What?!" Simon asked.
"Fairy Tail?!" Wally yelped.
"Nyaa?!" Millianna… well, meowed.
"Us, go there?!" Shô exclaimed.
"Great, as if we have not enough of mediocre mages in our guild…" Sin mumbled, earning approving nod from god slayer and angry growl from she-dragon.
"It may not be the same as the freedom that you guys were seeking for all this time…" Erza continued, still looking at Natsu and Sin with narrowed eyes "…but freedom is one thing you can definitely find at Fairy Tail. I think you'd like it there."
"It's the most upbeat guild in the world!" Millianna exclaimed in rapture.
"True," Erza nodded, "Besides, I'd love to be able to stay with you guys forever…" She added, trying to hide that even she has doubts about it.
'Yeah, it would be nice, especially for Shô. He always will be able to look into your eyes – good reminder that you lost one of them, thanks to his cowardice…' Natsu thought, observing Erza's friends. He knew that the last thing these guys need now is another patron. Besides, he already has read the answer to Erza's proposition on Simon's face.
Besides, with Procellion's help or due to some other means, but Jellal made all four to learn magic, matching their attributes. Yet, all four were mediocre mages at best. And that could mean only one thing – their magical talent was pretty washy from the very beginning. Talent for magic usually is inherited. Natsu had no idea how Erza ended up in orphanage, but, highly likely, at least one of her parents was an excellent mage. But these four… they were just village kids. Though, of course Natsu had no desire to discuss that matter right now.
"Okay people, if you're going to join Fairy Tail, there's a thing you should know – Fairy Tail mages always do their job to the end," Natsu said, gaining attention. "And you three still have a casino hall to repair, so get back to work."
"Natsu…!" Erza exclaimed aguishly as all her friends froze on place.
September 27, Thursday, X784, 12:15, Akame Resort.
Despite Erza's protests, Natsu forced her old nakamas to resume the repairing of the casino. In the meantime, he and Erza returned to their suite for well-deserved rest.
"Okay Natsu, now can you please explain – what the hell happened with you in that tower?" Erza asked as she and Natsu finally were alone, not to mention Sin. They were on the balcony of their suite, little boney dragon was sitting on the backrest of Erza's sun lounger.
That little group of people, who knew Natsu's secret, thought that Natsu told everything to Erza. But they were wrong. Even her knowledge was quite limited as Natsu only explained general picture. But after those things that she witnessed tonight – Natsu lost his right to keep secrets from her. Besides, even to himself Natsu couldn't explain why he still didn't tell her everything, despite she explained her own past long ago. Probably he simply thought that she's mentally unprepared, but, if so, after today's events she has proved that she's more than prepared to know everything.
"Okay, I think these two weeks actually doesn't matter, anyway…" Natsu said. "I think I'll start from the beginning," God slayer sighed, looking at Sin. Magic familiar nodded and Natsu continued. "Tower of Din is hidden by many spells, which not only directly hides it from sights, these spells also make the tower 'unmemorable' and unnoticeable. You can't find the tower accidentally. It's hidden in separate dimension, and to find it you should know exactly where to look and what are you looking for. I was seven years old when I heard about it for the first time, when my mother 'accidentally' mentioned it. However, as I think of it now, she made it on purpose, I think she… Erza, are you listening?" Natsu asked as he noticed his fiancée's unfocused sight, and that was quite insulting since he was telling the most important and fascinating story from his past, to the most important person in his life. And he was telling this by her request!
Instead of an answer, however, Erza quickly jumped from her lounger, dashed to balcony's fence, leaned over it and again vomited with that sun-colored liquid.
"Erza, what's wrong?!" Natsu asked very worriedly as he run closer to check her condition.
Erza didn't reply, as she stood, leaning over fence, trying to understand what's going on with her, when dragon queen's voice sounded inside her head: 'I WARNED YOU THAT YOUR BODY AREN'T READY TO USE MY POWERS TO THAT EXTENT, DIDN'T I?' Andromeda asked in quite a sarcastic tone, 'NOW ENJOY THE CONSEQUENCES…'
"Damn… Not now…" Erza croaked, trying to suppress the bout of nausea, unsuccessfully, as she vomited again.
"Erza what is going on?!" Sin asked, he was quite worried too, partially because her vomit burned down the fence of balcony on the lower floor.
"She warned me… bueee…" Erza croaked as she vomited again, "…my body wasn't ready… for dragon force yet… haven't accepted… enough of her heritage… bueee… but I… had no choice… had to defeat Jellal… bueee… and now… I'm suffering… from the backlash… bueee…"
"Right…" Sin sighed heavily – he knew about this effect – she wasn't dragon enough yet to use so much of dragon powers (less than three months have passed since she began to accept Andromeda's heritage). "Good luck, Natsu," Sin said ironically, "She's going to have a fascinating weekend and as her future consort you have to… Natsu?" Magic familiar noticed that Natsu's sight also became unfocused. At the next moment god slayer dashed to the fence and leaned over it, next to Erza, and vomited, burping out shining, cyan-colored liquid with sharp odor of ammonium perchlorate. As liquid fell on the lower floor's balcony, it began to corrupt everything it touched.
"Now this is just great!" Sin exclaimed angrily, he guessed that Natsu began to suffer from the consequences from his absorption of the Etherion. He may be powerful and experienced, but actually, he's still a teenager, his body wasn't ready to carry such an immense magic power. As he absorbed all the remnant mass of ethernano from remains of Etherion, Natsu oversaturated his Mahōsui [Magic Sleep], and now he's going to get quite an unpleasant backlash. And now Sin stood before dilemma – he got two very sick slayers (whose emesis was very hazardous, by the way), and their recovery probably is going to take more than a few hours. In such circumstances, Sin took the only correct decision: "Cya guys, good luck!" Lil skeletal creature wished cheerfully and flew away, as his ability to fly 'suddenly' returned.
"You… little treacherous… bueee…" Natsu had no possibility to stop his 'friend' from leaving as Sin flew around the corner, leaving Natsu and Erza for very 'fascinating' weekend.
"Is that serious?!" Lucy asked worriedly as Sin told her about situation. After he fled, Sin decided to settle in Lucy's room for a while.
"Not really, worst thing is that there's no way with we or anyone else can help them," Sin replied calmly. "They need time and rest to recover, nothing can be done with such kind of sickness."
"Doesn't they need our help?" Lucy wondered.
"Best way to help them is to leave them to rest, Lucy," Sin replied. "They don't need chicken broth or something like that, worried people around won't do any good to them."
"I'm still going to see them," Lucy decided, "Maybe they need something."
"Good luck," Sin gave her a short response.
"You aren't going?!" Lucy asked in surprise. "What a friend you are…" She added with disapproval when Sin shook his skull, meaning 'no'.
Ten minutes later.
"Lucy? What happened?" Sin asked when blonde returned to her suite, her face was paler than usual and she was barefooted.
"Seven minutes I was knocking into their door, and when Erza finally opened it, she vomited right on my shoes!" Lucy explained resentfully. "I barely managed to throw them off before that… thing burned my feet!"
"Told you," Sin said, "Just leave them be Lucy, they should recover soon. Our rooms paid until the end of weekend, so I'd suggest you to use this time and relax."
"I guess…" Lucy sighed heavily.
"Mira was hospitalized?!" Lucy asked in surprise as Gray came to her room to tell what happened, alone.
"Yeah… Doctors were horrified when they've seen her wounds and insisted on immediate hospitalization. She tried to refuse, of course, and in the end, I was forced to use my magic to literally freeze her arms and legs to hospital bed… She'll make me pay for it later, but…" Gray sighed heavily, "…and they prescribed a ton of remedies for her. And since Natsu and Erza are sick too…"
"Yeah, this is not how I imagined this weekend either," Lucy agreed, it seems that she and Gray are the only two from the whole team who actually going to have fun during this vacation, if it could be called 'fun', without their friends.
September 30, Sunday, X784, 8:20, Akame Resort.
"We'll talk about it later, Gray!" Mirajane growled at ice mage. No doubts – Gray's going to have a hard time as soon as team will be back to Magnolia. Gray not only used his magic to force her to stay in hospital, he also advised to hospital's personal to keep Mira on sedatives to prevent her from escaping. Thanks to it, she spent the whole weekend on hospital bed and now she was unwilling to hear Gray's excuses – Mira wanted to enjoy at least these few hours of their vacation, tomorrow at 11 AM they have to leave. Besides, sorting things out here could expose that their relationships are a bit closer than others think.
For Natsu and Erza this vacation was even worse. Both pale and completely exhausted from three days of sickness and constant nausea, they now were sitting aside from others, cursing all and sundry that pushed them to resort to such desperate measures, which made them both sick for half of the week. The week that had to be a very enjoyable vacation in the first place.
Lucy and Sin, on the other hand, were nowhere to be found, they actually enjoyed this weekend.…
"The world outside really is something…" Shô said in awe as he, Wally, Simon and Millianna were walking along the park alley, filled with people, kiosks and park amusements. "All these people just wandering around, even though it's night time…" Thanks to their big experience, which they obtained building Tower of Paradise, they managed to complete casino's repair pretty quickly and now were enjoining their new-found freedom.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?! You little…!" One of kiosks owner shouted when Millianna just took the ice cream and began to eat it, without paying.
"Nyaa?" Cat-girl meowed, surprised by kiosk owner's reaction. "What? They were just lying around, so I thought I'd eat one, that's all. They looked quite tasty…" Her lack of social skills was quite obvious now.
"They're for sale!" Kiosk owner shouted, swinging his arms, he was freaked out a bit. "You don't just go around eating them 'cause you feel like it!"
"For sale?" Milianna wondered. "What is that means?"
"I'm not really sure what's going on, but if they're yours and you do not want people to take them, you shouldn't leave them out where everyone can see them like that," Wally noted, unable to understand why this guy is so upset.
"Shaddup!" Kiosk owner bellowed, "And pay up! Give me cash!"
"Nyaa? What's 'cash'?" Millianna asked Wally.
"C… 'Cash'… Yeah… That's… You know… I mean… They're always flashing it about in the movies and stuff, but…" Wally tried to explain, sweating all over. As a 'dandy man' he should know what it is, but… "…but I've never seen it in real life!"
"Oh, pull the other one! Give it up! Hand it over! Pay up!" Guy yelled, still trying to get money for his ice cream. Crowd of people already gathered around, watching the weird scene.
"This way! Milli, Wally!" Shô suddenly shouted as he grabbed Millianna's hand and started to run away from crowd and kiosk owner, pulling cat-girl along. Simon did the same with Wally.
"Nyaa!?" Millianna yelped.
"Simon, what exactly is cash?!" Square guy asked.
"I'll explain later, c'mon!" Simon replied, running toward beach.
"Hey! Wait! Hold it!" Kiosk owner shouted, as he and some other people were chasing for Erza's old friends.
"They're coming after us!" Millianna exclaimed, still holding the stolen ice cream, "I'll use my magic…"
"NO!" Shô cut off her mid-sentence, "When you're living in the outside world, you can't go around just using magic to solve all of your problems!"
"Do you think we'll really be able to handle ourselves, living in outside world?..." Wally asked uncertainly.
"It's not a question of whether we can or not!" Shô replied confidently, "We have to!"
"I agree," Simon said, "We already caused more than enough troubles to Erza and her friends. "She deserves normal life more than anything else…" Big guy added. If only he'd know what awaits her in the future…
"We'll be the constant reminder about our past for nee-san, which she definitely doesn't need," Shô added, untying the boat from the mooring column.
"Hell yeah! We'll make it somehow!" Wally agreed.
"Okay then, let's go for it, nyaa!" Millianna shouted joyfully, anticipating the new adventures. "But Eru-chan is sick… Are you sure she'll come?" She asked, looking at Simon.
"She said that she will," Simon replied, "Besides, we're not in hurry, we have to say her about our decision in person, no way we'll run away."
"We're here," Very tired and a bit sad voice sounded from behind.
"Nee-san!" Shô exclaimed as all four turned around to see Erza and Natsu. Both were still pale and looked very tired.
"Nee-san, please, hear us out and please don't try and stop us. We've made the decision and we're not turning back!" Wally made a statement before Erza could say anything.
"Erza nee-san, listen…" Shô spoke out, "We lived our whole lives inside that tower… Now we're trying to take our first steps into outside world. Sure, there are tons of things we don't know, things we're worried about… But we want to see the real world with our own eyes…"
"And, most importantly, we don't want to keep on relying on other people all our lives…" Simon added, "…as well as we don't want to live for anybody else's sake."
"We want to live out our lives for ourselves, to seek out the things that we really want to do, that's the freedom we've been looking for!" Shô continued his fiery speech.
"Yes guys, I know, I heard your entire conversation," Erza smiled, pointing at her ears. "And I have no intentions of stopping you, it's your lives and I can't tell you what to do."
"Damn… I rehearsed my speech for hours… and it all was in vain…" Shô was surprised, he didn't expect that Erza let them go that easily.
"No need to look at me," Natsu said emotionlessly as all four looked at him. "Though they call me a 'Cardinal', actually I cannot give you a blessing. And if my forgiveness is that what you want… Simon already earned it…" Natsu nodded to big guy "…about two of you I'm still thinking…" He looked at Wally and Milliana "…and I will never forgive you, just as you will never forgive yourself, since cowardice simply cannot be forgiven," God slayer didn't even look at Shô. "But, fortunately, none of you actually need my forgiveness…"
Wally and Milliana looked at Natsu in shock as Shô dropped his shoulders, only Simon seemed unsurprised.
"You just couldn't stay silent, couldn't you?!" Erza hissed. Natsu opened his mouth to reply, but she-dragon ordered "Silence!" And god-slayer obeyed.
"Don't mind him, guys, and remember, I expect to see all of you at my wedding, and don't you dare to not come," Erza said with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Of… of course! No way can we miss it, Eru-chan!" Millianna replied joyfully as Wally and Shô shot their arms in the air, celebrating that event, Erza succeeded in changing subject. Simon, however, remained quiet. Instead, he looked at Natsu, and god slayer realized what he wants.
"Alright then, you three, on a few words before you leave," Natsu called for Wally, Millianna and Shô so Erza and Simon could speak in private. All three looked at Natsu worriedly, seems they still were afraid of him, especially after what they just heard. "Quickly," Natsu urged them and they didn't dare to disobey.
"What is it, Simon?" Erza asked as Natsu took others away.
"Well… It is hard to tell…" Simon said, "But… I think I won't be able to come to your wedding, Erza. I… well… I probably had to tell you about this earlier… but… I have feelings to you…" Needless to say how much courage a man needs to say something like that to a woman who's going to marry someone else.
"I know," Erza gave Simon a sad smile.
"Really?!" Simon wondered.
"Simon, I may be not as perceptive as Natsu, but I'm not a fool," Erza raised an eyebrow. "And Natsu, by the way, noticed it as well."
"Are you sure he can't read minds?" Simon asked worriedly, looking at god slayer, who, by the way, was explaining basic social traditions to the three. Simon tried his best to hide his feelings toward Erza from Natsu, yet he managed to notice it during their quite short acquaintance.
"Not completely…" Erza answered uncertainly…
"Anyway, Erza, that's not what I'm trying to say. No one else will fit you like he does. Even after our short acquaintance, I can tell you that you two are the perfect couple. He's smart, strong, noble, handsome, and quite rich, as I can tell looking at that coat of his. And he's most reliable man who thinks the world of you. And you love him as well…" Simon spoke out.
"No…" Erza replied with dreamy face, "I love my guild and my friends. But the feeling I have toward Natsu… I'm not sure there's a word to properly describe it… Devotion…? Obsession…? Worshiping…? Idolization…? I don't know… But I want to be with him 7/24, I can't breathe without him… Oh, sorry…" Erza came back to her senses as she realized that her words aren't helping. "Okay, I'm sorry that you won't come, but I understand."
"Thank you…" Simon replied, he was glad that she didn't try to insist, he wasn't sure that he'd be able to refuse if she would insist. "Besides, there's another reason. I never told anyone, but… I have a sister. We were separated when our village was attacked, and I never found her in tower. Maybe she managed to hide… I never tried to find her, but now, when Jellal is out of picture and I'm finally free in my actions, I have to find out what happened to her."
"I wish you luck then," Dragon slayer smiled. Actually, she knew about Simon's younger sister – the very girl that nine years old Erza hid from the cultists, only to be captured in her stead. Simon didn't need to know about this, Erza knew him too well. It only could amplify his sense of guilt – he might blame himself that he wasn't able to protect his sister, as if forcing Erza to do so. Last thing Erza wanted is Simon thinking that he's the reason for Erza being captured, in the first place. All of this is a distant past now…
"Nyaa! See you soon, Eru-chan!" Millianna shouted, waving her hand as Shô and Simon began to push the boat into the sea.
"I'll get the cash and buy a present for you!" Wally shouted, as expected, Natsu explained some social traditions to him and others.
"Take care, nee-san!" Shô exclaimed, jumping into the boat, "See you soon!"
"Good luck Erza, we'll meet again, I promise!" Simon waved as their boat headed to the sea.
"Take care guys, stay away from the troubles!" Erza waved her goodbye as Natsu used his frost magic to draw a Fairy Tail symbol in air. No, there were no ceremonies, Erza was too tired, besides, they'll meet again in less than two weeks.
"Okay Erza, c'mon, we need to rest, after that horrible weekend I want to relax at least a couple of hours. As you remember – there's a spot in great desert, in a western part of the continent, which was mentioned in cultist's scrolls. And since there's still almost two weeks until our wedding – I think we should check it out while we have some free time," Natsu declared as familiar flame of treasure hunter flashed in his eyes.
Erza looked at him with dull sight. "Hey, guys, wait for me!" She exclaimed as she tried to run toward the boat, "Take me with you!"
Natsu caught her and threw on shoulder, heading toward hotel, "C'mon Erza, we need to rest."
"Somebody, help me! Simon!" Erza shouted, crying in comical manner as Natsu carried her away.
"Nyaa… Are you sure that Eru-chan will be all right, Simon?" Millianna asked uncertainly, looking at god slayer and his crying bride, "He's weird and very scary…"
"Absolutely," Simon smiled as Natsu carried away his beloved.
October 1, Monday, X784, 9:15, Ultear's mansion.
"…And so… the council will have to take responsibility for their actions; I doubt that they will be able to function normally for a while. Even more, they may be even abolished entirely." Ultear reported to someone through communication lacrima, taking hot relaxing bath in the meantime, which was even more comfortable, considering the hard rain outside.
"Excellent, Ultear…" Man's voice replied through lacrima, "And what became of Jellal?"
"Died," Ultear replied carefreely, enjoying hot bath, "His half-eaten corpse was found by a recon team."
"Without ever realizing that he was in fact being used by the very woman he thought he was using to his own ends… truly a pitiable man," Voice commented as Ultear reached her towel.
"Ohoho… well, it was enjoyable. He was rather… cute," Ultear noted, drying her luxury dark-purple hair. Some guild crest could be seen at her exposed back.
Completely unaware of what exactly happened at the Tower of Paradise, Ultear only transferred to her master the information she managed to gather by intercepting several reports from the recon team, which was dispatched to investigate the sight where Tower of Paradise once was. They found that left of lacrima island and nothing more, Jellal corpse was gnawed by scavenger so only his beheaded skeleton was recovered.
"I never could imagine that brainwashing may work so flawlessly," Voice said, "The conflict engulfing the entire council… The firing of Etherion… All of it went just as planned."
"Indeed… For whilst Jellal was going on his rampage, you were able to move as you wished," Time mage replied, remembering crumbled council building.
"And as a result, one of the keys to the seal is finally mine…" Voice said with satisfaction.
"Congratulations!" Ultear cheered as she grabbed communication lacrima and headed to the bedroom. "Oh, I'm very sorry Jellal-sama… But to think that for all those years you never realized that I was simply playing part of 'The ghost of Zefer'… maybe you weren't so smart after all…" As soon as Ultear said that, powerful, dark violet lightning struck her mansion, obliterating the bathroom and damaging her house itself. It seems that Ultear left her bathroom just in time, yet, by power of the strike she was knocked unconscious as her communication lacrima was destroyed and half of mansion's roof crumbled.
In her smugness as she thought that she actually tricked Jellal, in her and her master's pursuit for 'Keys of Zeref', Ultear overlooked much more dreaded sign, never noticing the truth about Jellal and his real master.
October 1, Monday, X784, 16:05, Town of Magnolia.
In Magnolia, this Monday was quite warm and sunny. That, however, didn't ease Erza's suffering. "I… never again… ride on train…" Dragon slayer moaned as she finally regained consciousness. Team headed back to Fairy Tail to report their return before they'll depart to their respective houses. However, when they approached the guild and rounded up the corner, there was a surprise waiting for them.
"Oohh!" Lucy exclaimed in surprise, as all six stopped in their tracks, "Is it the new Fairy Tail?!"
"How they've managed to finish the construction so quickly without our help?!" Erza exclaimed in shock.
"And what is that supposed to mean? It's not how we planned it, not at all. Its design almost as archaic as it was before reconstruction," Natsu pointed at guild building.
"It looks not like I drew it!" Mirajane exclaimed indignantly, pointing at statues, which looked like fairy-girls, "There should be gargoyles, not these fairies from eight years old girls' bedrooms!"
"Why here's so much torches?!" Gray shouted, "It will be too hot in there, they had to make an ice garden instead!"
Only Lucy and Sin had no complains about new guild building, and now they both stood with facepalm. "Why it always has to be like this?" Lucy asked herself.
As Natsu and others entered the guild's yard, two wizards, whose names of course were unknown to God slayer, greeted them. "Hey, welcome back!" One of mages exclaimed.
"Bet you got a surprise, huh! This here is our brand-new guild!" Said a mage, who was sitting on the wooden barrel. "What's up guys, you lost for world?" He asked, thinking that team is in awe.
"Yes, right now I have too much girls around to express my exact feelings," Natsu replied. Fortunately, these two didn't recognize an explicit sarcasm due to Natsu's usual, indifferent expression.
"It's totally different from how it was before!" Lucy exclaimed, examining the guild.
"Well, yeah. We did build it from the scratch, you know," Guy on the barrel replied.
"Open-air café with wooden furniture? Seriously?" Natsu skeptically looked on the right.
"Hey, look, there's souvenir shop at the entrance!" Sin pointed at wooden kiosk on the left.
"Welcome! Oh, it's you guys… welcome back!" Max waved cheerfully.
"Oh, Max… finally found your avocation?" Mirajane asked with sarcasm, which Max didn't recognize.
"Look, we've got Fairy Tail T-shirts, wristbands… mugs and towels… and even special lacrima crystals!" Max showed the assortment of shop goods. "But the most popular we've got are these mage figures! 3000 jewels a piece!" Max announced, showing Natsu's and Makarov's figures.
"I see you guys didn't waste time…" Sin commented as he sat on the shop counter and took Lucy's figure. "Hey, look, there's a figure of Lucy too…"
"Whaaaa?!" Lucy yelped as Sin grabbed her figure by his boney claws. "Don't just make stuff like this without asking me! It's embarrassing…" Blonde exclaimed.
"Good likeness, but I think breasts and ass should be bigger," Sin expressed his opinion as he examined the figure. "Whoa," Sin accidentally pressed some button and 'clothes' of figure-Lucy fell off, leaving her in swimsuit.
"Naturally, the clothing is all removable," Max noted.
"Yaaaaaahh!" Lucy was freaked out.
"…huh, mine isn't even wearing any cloths to begin with…" Gray said thoughtfully as he looked at his own figure, which was dressed only in boxers.
"I'm not sure about mine, either," Mira commented her own figure, which still was dressed in her old pink dress. "I've rid of this dress a month ago, besides… since when I'm so tanned?" Her pale, white-toned skin actually was an important part of her beauty.
"Honey, your figure also has an obsolete design," Natsu examined the figure of his bride, which still wore Erza's old Heart Kreuz armor. "And eyes seem wrong somehow…"
"Yours either," Erza replied, "Your coat is still one-sleeved, and why there's no glove…?"
"Oh! You guys are back now?!" Cana called for the group, saving Max from the flow of complains. "C'mon, you've gotta come inside!" She said cheerfully, it seems that she didn't notice the team's lack of enthusiasm.
Natsu and team walked inside the guild building and saw… the pretty same guild hall, almost as it was before, just a bit larger and with stone walls instead of wooden. Everything else – wooden columns and wooden furniture, of the same 'village tavern' design – all that looked exactly as it were. Only noticeable addition was a stage in the end of the hall, right beneath the large Fairy Tail banner.
"Wow, that's lovely!" Lucy exclaimed as she entered the hall.
"She definitely isn't pernickety…" Natsu commented Lucy's reaction as she was only one who was rather impressed.
"Well, it's turned out quite convenient," Erza noted, for some reason she looked satisfied. "Since it's almost the same as it was, I just need to make a few adjustments to my wedding plan," She explained as Natsu looked at her questioningly.
"Hey there! Welcome to Fairy Tail!" Two very cute waitresses called for Natsu's team. Both girls were pretty and wore quite sexy uniforms.
"Was that the master's idea?" Lucy asked as she facepalmed at new uniforms.
"And where were these uniforms when you were a waitress…" Gray whispered at Mirajane's ear, earning a playful smile from snow-haired ex-waitress. It's good that Erza's attention was focused on new girls. Or not…
"So, master finally decided to hire some professionals…" Erza commented, looking at new waitresses, "Good idea."
"Don't you worry," Mira parried, "As soon as they become better acquainted with you, they also will begin to spit into your food."
"You already missing the hospital bed?" Erza asked with narrowed eyes.
"Please, not now…" Natsu sighed tiredly, stepping in between two girls.
"Hey, c'mon, that's not all we've got that's new!" Cana called for the team again. "Look here! The crater that you, Erza, made – we turned it into a pool!" Cana showed them a pool that was behind the guild hall.
"Hey there, Lu-chan!" Levy cheerfully called for Lucy.
"Downstairs, there's an amusement center!" Cana continued the tour, ignoring team's lack of interest. There was a snooker table, darts and other stuff. "And perhaps the biggest difference of all – the second floor! Anybody is allowed to go up there now!"
"Hey!" Warren waved from the second floor's balcony.
"Seriously? Three years I spent to convince master that second floor was used ineffectively, and now, after guild was destroyed, he finally agreed?" Natsu asked with irony. "Closing an entire floor to keep some request board away from sights of regular mages…"
"Speaking of which, naturally you still need to have an S-rank mage in your team to take an S-rank mission without master's personal permission," Cana added.
"So, no more VIP-zones…" Sin noted.
"Oh, you're finally back, are you?" Master's voice sounded from behind. "How do you like our new guild?"
"Quite nice!" – Lucy.
"It will suffice…" – Sin.
"Good, almost as it was." – Erza.
"It's too hot in here!" – Gray.
"Like a dollhouse…" – Mirajane.
"Unimpressive…" – Natsu.
Fortunately, all six replied simultaneously so Makarov couldn't understand their answers. "Glad to hear it!" Makarov replied carefreely. "Anyway, I want to introduce you our newest member – Juvia Lockser." Makarov presented a curvaceous, blue-haired girl. "Cute, ain't she?"
"It's good to see all of you again!" Juvia exclaimed cheerfully.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail!" Gray greeted the newcomer. Mira, on the other hand, looked displeased and remained silent.
"Hmm? You know one another?" Master wondered.
"Juvia has all of you to thank! Juvia will do her best!" Blue-haired girl smiled to Lucy, adding quietly, "…my rival in love…"
"I'm really not…" Lucy mumbled, "Good luck to you!"
"Oh, the ajin-chan from resort…" Natsu examined the newcomer. "So, after all that happened you decided to join? You're brave one, I give you that…"
"Don't call her like that!" Erza hissed at Natsu, "They all don't need to know her origins, or she will become a showpiece!"
"Just call her 'jo-chan' until you manage to remember her name, as if she's a common girl," Sin advised.
"Thank you for all your help back there," Erza nodded to Juvia.
"Mira," Master called for snow-haired girl so she leaned down to him, "In that case, you probably already know, but… she used to be one of phantoms…"
"Yes, yes, don't worry master, it will be okay…" Mira replied. To be honest she wasn't too glad to see Juvia in Fairy Tail, but it wasn't related to her Phantom Lord's past.
"Okay, I see, make her feel welcome then," Master said, waving his arm toward Juvia. "Oh, and there's one more new member I'd want you to meet. Come, introduce yourself!" Makarov called for someone, but that was unnecessary.
"Master, what the hell is this?" Erza hissed as her eyes were burning with rage. She picked a familiar smell from the far corner of the guild hall, and now her sight was focused in that direction.
Natsu and others looked that way. "Wha….!?" Lucy yelped in shock.
"You… you're kidding, right?!" Gray gasped in disbelief.
"Gajeel?!" Mirajane shouted angrily, as she and others recognized the iron dragon slayer, "What is this punk doing here?!"
"Master! What kind of joke is this supposed to be?!" Gray exclaimed.
"Wait, Juvia brought him here!" Blue-haired girl tried to intervene, but she was ignored.
"Juvia is one thing…" Erza growled, "But this guy destroyed our guild with his own hands!" Actually, Erza didn't meet with Juvia during battle with Phantom Lord, moreover, she learned that Juvia is a former phantom member when they were already preparing to return from Tower of Paradise.
"Now that is unexpected turn of events…" Natsu noted, examining Gajeel, unlike others he wasn't shocked or angered for some reason.
"Now, now… he was only acting by Jose's orders back then; it couldn't be helped," Makarov said as his attention was caught by a butt of a waitress that just passed by him. "You know what they say – yesterday's enemies are today's friends…"
"Well, that works for me…" Natsu shrugged, surprisingly he wasn't bothered by Gajeel's appearance.
"Uh-huh… I'm not… not bothered at all, really…" Levy said with nervous smile, hiding behind the column and shivering all over. Jet and Droy were looking at iron dragon slayer with very dark expression on their faces.
"You're okay with it?!" Mira looked at Natsu with disbelief.
"He was just an enemy soldier," Natsu replied, "War is over, and so we're no longer the enemies. Besides, his guild was annihilated and he ended up as my meal with his ass kicked pretty badly," God slayer added, embracing his bride. "Erza said that his debts were paid, and I believe her… War is never between soldiers."
"But master! How do we suppose to work with this guy?!" Mirajane exclaimed as Gajeel came closer.
"Oh, don't worry. I have no intentions of being all buddy-buddy with you," Gajeel replied, looking straight into Mirajane's eyes. "I need a place to work; that's all there is to it. One guild is as good as next. Not that I ever thought I'd end up working at a nasty little guild like this…"
"Say it again…" Mira hissed with narrowed eyes.
"Gajeel-kun always seems so lonely, Juvia couldn't bear to just leave him… I, I mean! Juvia doesn't like him or anything!" Water witch tried to justify herself, mostly in front of Gray, but no one seemed to care about it.
"It is the duty of an old man like me to guide young men who have lost their way back onto the right path. He's not a bad guy at hearth, you know… at least I hope so," Makarov explained his decision as his face became serious.
"No, you're right," Natsu nodded to Makarov, "He's a loutish barbarian, but he's not an evil person…" He already took a good look at Gajeel's soul.
"All right, if this is your decision, Master, I will support it," Erza sighed as waitress brought her a strawberry cake, "But I think we should keep an eye on him for a while… just in case…"
"When did you manage to order this cake?" Sin asked, looking at Erza's meal as Makarov was talking with Mira about something.
"Natsu, a little help from you," Mirajane turned to God slayer as she handed over some piece of paper to him. Natsu looked at it and nodded as light in guild hall was turned off.
"Hey, what's going on?" Lucy asked, looking around.
"Hurry up and take a seat! The show is about to start!" Cana exclaimed, pushing Lucy toward the nearest table.
"What's all this now…" Gray mumbled, he'd prefer to have Mira near him while here's so dark…
"Erza… You're glowing!" Cana suddenly exclaimed. It was the first time when she saw star dragon slayer in darkness.
"It's just her dragon's feature…" Gajeel grunted.
"You can discuss it later!" Sin shushed at them from Lucy's shoulder.
At the next moment, the stage's curtain was opened and whole guild saw Mirajane, which was standing on stage with… black violin in her arms.
"That's what we've been waiting for!"
"Mira-cha~~~n!"
"Miraja~~~~ne!"
"Nee-san!" Elfman and other guild members cheered for her, anticipating to hear one of her ballads and her angelic voice. From the stage, Mirajane nodded to Natsu and he clapped his palms. By his will, two guitars, bass-guitar and drums, which were on stage, began to play as Mira's fiddlestick touched the strings of her violin.
Whole guild, with exception of Natsu, Erza, Gajeel and Juvia, became pale as they heard absolutely not that they were expecting. Dark theme of melodic black ballad filled the guildhall, as Mirajane began to sing:
"I'm lying still, my heart stopped for good
My corpse is still warm, drowned in my own blood
Now come for me, my black raven from hell
Rip off my soul and let's enjoy the deathknell…"
Mirajane was singing and playing her violin with closed eyes, she definitely enjoyed her own music. No doubts she put all her heart into this song.
"Jane wrote this song about two weeks ago," Natsu informed with whisper. "She wrote both lyrics and music, and I'd say – she did pretty well." Praise from Natsu? That's rare… And Juvia seemed to like this song as well. Erza and Gajeel were looking at Mira with approximately the same scornful expression on their faces. All other guild members were silent as their shock was becoming deeper with each word of Mira's song.
"…Being whipped by demons, burning in hellish flame
In my eternal torment, I scream and suffer in your name
So come to me, my beloved raven from hell
Hear the song of my agony, hear my blissful wail."
Mira stopped playing the violin and few seconds later other instruments ceased their playing as well. Guild became as silent as graveyard. Platinum blonde looked around with satisfied smile. This silence was louder than any applauds – whole guild looked at her with their jaws dropped on the floor. Especially Gray… 'Good luck man…' Natsu thought as he looked at an ice mage with indifferent but somewhat ironic face expression.
"Well, did you enjoy my new song?" Mirajane asked, smiling innocently.
Just another day in Fairy Tail…
* – Mira's song written by me.
Well, that's it for chapter twenty. I hope it wasn't too boring, I wanted to close this arc ASAP and move to next one. Do not forget to leave a REVIEW! See you in the next chapter – The Big Day.