Ch. 16- Wendy Joins Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs © Me

After things had finally calmed down and Erza came to rejoin the others, Wendy and Carla brought the heroes to Cait Shelter, which actually looked more like a small town than a wizard's guild. Knowing that they had fought all day and all night long yesterday, the group decided to come here to rest and eat until they headed for home. Right now, Haru was sitting in one of the tents, wearing tribal clothing that was provided by Cait Shelter, while Natsu sat nearby, stuffing his mouth with food, along with Happy, who was munching on a raw fish.

"Oh, man, that's good!" Natsu exclaimed as he took a bite out of a leg of meat.

"Aye!" Happy agreed as he ate his fish.

"Hey, sis, come and eat!" Natsu called. "You're hungry, too, right?"

All he got in response was silence, causing him to glance over his shoulder and see Haru sitting on top of a crate with Blue Fang sitting before her, whimpering softly in concern as he laid his head on the Beast Wizard's lap, causing Haru to sigh as she gently stroked his head.

"Hey, sis," Natsu said as he walked over and sat down beside her. "You okay?"

"...No," Haru answered.

"...You're still upset about what happened earlier today, aren't you?" asked Natsu.

"...Natsu... Erza looked so sad," Haru said. "I know she didn't want Jellal to go... I know he did some really bad things, but... he was trying to change... and Erza... she loved him. I could see it in her eyes." She sniffled as she wiped her eyes. "And now... they'll never see each other, again."

Natsu's eyes softened while Happy sat on the table, watching sadly as he held his half-eaten fish.

"I don't really know what Erza was thinking, sis," Natsu began, "but... if things work out, maybe she and Jellal will see each other again."

"...I hope so," Haru whispered, prompting the Fire Dragon Slayer to pull his sister into a side hug, gently but firmly squeezing her in an attempt to reassure her, which caused her to smile... if only just a little.

"Excuse me?"

The Dragneel Siblings looked up to see Wendy and Carla enter.

"Master Roubaul will see you, now," said the former.

Nodding their heads, Natsu, Haru, Happy, and Blue Fang all followed after the Sky Maiden and her white cat, and they were soon joined by Lucy, Gray, Erza, and all the others. It was soon after this that they entered the square... where they were met by the entirety of the Cait Shelter Guild, led by an old man with a long, thick beard, wearing tribal clothing, and even had a big, feathery headdress. The people surrounding him were all dressed the same way, some even wearing tribal tattoos and face paint.

"Everyone," said Wendy. "This is the Master of Cait Shelter: Master Roubaul!"

Roubaul stood before the heroes, who bowed their heads in greeting, causing him and the rest of Cait Shelter to do the same before the Master of Cait Shelter spoke.

"Fairy Tail... Blue Pegasus... Lamia Scale... and of course, Wendy and Carla," said Roubaul. "I commend you all for bringing down the Oración Seis Guild and stopping Nirvana. Speaking for the alliance of all the regional guilds, I, Roubaul, express my gratitude to you all! Thank you! A nabura thank you!"

"No thanks are necessary," Era replied.

"Erza's right!" Haru exclaimed. "We were just doing what was right, is all!"

"Yes, indeed," Ichiya concurred. "We admit that defeating Oración Seis was no easy task and we fought all day and night... but our bonds of intimate friendship was what let us to victory!"

"That's our sensei for you!" the Tri-Men exclaimed.

"And there he goes, stealing the spotlight again," said Gray.

"Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing him fight anybody," Lucy added.

"All's well that ends well, no?" asked Sherry.

"Quite," Jura nodded as he placed his hands on both hers and Lyon's shoulders. "You two did very well... and made our guild very proud."

"Thank you, Sir Jura," Lyon replied.

"Well, now that that's settled, there's only one thing to do!" Natsu grinned. "Let's party!"

"Aye, sir!" Happy exclaimed.

"Hold it, hold it, HOLD IT!" Lucy called out, causing everyone to look at her in surprise. "Uh... I don't mean to put a damper on things, but there's actually something I'm curious about." She then looked to Roubaul. "Master Roubaul... we actually haven't heard of Cait Shelter until recently."

"Come to think of it," Haru began, "she's right about that. Why is that, Master Roubaul?"

"Ah, you guys think too much!" Natsu exclaimed. "Come on, let's go and have some fun! Maybe eat more of that yummy food!"

However... all the members of Cait Shelter didn't speak. They just stood there, staring blankly... and Roubaul, meanwhile... one could just barely make out just a bit of sadness on his face, to Wendy's concern.

"Is everything okay, Master?" asked Wendy.

"...I should have figured someone would notice," said Roubaul before he sighed. "Everyone... forgive us... we heard the truth of the Nirvit Clan from you... and I deeply apologize."

"Oh, come on!" Happy complained. "Talk about a mood killer!"

"Yeah, you think we care about that?!" Natsu asked, only for Haru to shush the pair.

"They're right, Master!" Wendy added. "I don't really care, either! Carla and I are just glad that you're safe!"

"Wendy... Carla... everyone," Roubaul said. "Listen very carefully to what I am about to tell you all. To start with... we are not really the descendants of the Nirvit Clan. We are actually... the Nirvit Clan, itself. The man who created Nirvana, 400 years ago... that man was me."

Everyone stood gaping in utter shock upon hearing this news... with Wendy herself stunned into silence.

"What?!" Lyon questioned.

"No way...!" Lucy whispered.

"400 years ago?!" Happy repeated while Natsu and Haru just gaped. Even Blue Fang's jaws were hanging open at this revelation.

"4 centuries ago," Roubaul began, "in order to stop the wars that spread throughout the world... I built Nirvana with magic that could reverse evil to good. Soon, it became our nation, and for a period of time, it was the symbol of peace. However... any great power will always give way to its opposite power. Every bit of darkness that Nirvana turned into light ended up wrapping around the city, itself. Instead of completely purifying evil, it was restoring that balance... it was unable to turn an unlimited number of people from darkness to light. Just as darkness gives birth to light... light can also give birth to darkness."

"That's true..." Haru muttered. "Darkness and light can't really exist without one another... there has to be a balance."

"So... when Sherry turned evil for a while," Gray began, "it was only because she switched personalities with that Richard guy."

"Indeed," Roubaul affirmed. "The darkness that was made to vanish from within people's hearts soon found rest inside the hearts of the Nirvit Clan."

"You're... you're kidding me...!" Wendy whispered in disbelief, with Carla equally as shocked.

"It was hell on earth," said Roubaul. "The Nirvit Clan turned on one another... killing each other... and soon, we were all wiped out... all but one."

"...You..." Erza realized, causing the ancient Nirvit to nod his head, sadly.

"I'm afraid so," he said. "Although... even I can't say that anymore. You see... my real body died and rotted away, ages ago. The man you see before is nothing more than a thought projection of who I once was. You see... I had to atone for my crimes. Until the day when someone who was strong enough to destroy my creation... all I could do was watch... as a powerless spirit." He shut his eyes in remorse. "For 400 years... all I could do was nothing..." He then smiled before he looked up at the heroes with hope shining in his eyes. "But now... thanks to your heroic efforts... my duty has finally come to an end."

Soon after... the members of Cait Shelter began to vanish, one-by-one, to everyone's shock.

"Hey!" Ren cried. "Where's everybody going?!"

"What's happening?!" Eve asked.

"Everyone! Where are you going?!" Wendy asked as she watched her fellow guildmates disappear. "Magna?! Pepel! Stop! Don't go!"

"What's going on?!" Carla questioned.

"...Don't tell me..." Haru whispered as she looked at Roubaul, who smiled sadly. "...Cait Shelter... it was never real, was it?"

"...I'm afraid not," Roubaul replied, sadly. "Cait Shelter... is also a thought projection I created using the last of my power."

Wendy gasped in horror... her eyes welling up with tears.

"Wait, you mean this is all fake?!" Natsu questioned.

"Mirages with actual personalities?" Lyon asked as he watched the people around him vanish.

"It must have taken some incredibly powerful magic to do so," Jura noted.

"A long time ago," Roubaul began, "I was but a lonely old man in this village... but then, 7 years ago, a young boy approached the village... and with him was a little girl."

"...Jellal...!" Wendy realized. "He was the one who brought me here!"

"He begged me to take you in, Wendy," Roubaul replied. "He had such straightforward, determined eyes that I agreed before I knew it. Just when I was ready to accept my fate... you entered my life... and I loved and cared for you as if you were my own granddaughter... and so, to make you happy, I used my remaining power to fabricate an entire guild for you."

"You... made Cait Shelter... for Wendy...!" Lucy realized.

"Stop!" Wendy cried as she covered her ears, desperately trying to keep her tears from falling. "I don't wanna hear this anymore! Please! Bask! Naoki! Everyone! Please, don't go!"

"Wendy... Carla..." Roubaul said. "There's no need for false friends anymore... you have real friends, now." He then looked toward the heroes that now stood behind Wendy and Carla... and gave them a kind smile.

"Take care of her... won't you?" he asked.

A pause... before Natsu stepped forward, placing his hand on Wendy's shoulder, to the Sky Dragon Slayer's surprise.

"You can count on it, old man," he said with a determined expression.

"We promise we'll take good care of Wendy," Haru added.

"...Thank you," Roubaul replied... just as he began to fade away, as well.

"No!" Wendy cried as she ran toward him with her hand reaching out. "Master! Please don't go!"

"Goodbye, Wendy," Roubaul said. "Your future has finally... begun..."

With that said, the last of the Nirvit Clan... finally vanished, his spirit fading away to the afterlife... and all Wendy could do was watch as the lights drifted away into the sky, her tears never ceasing.

"No!" she cried. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Heartbroken, the 12-year-old fell to her knees and sobbed while the mark of Cait Shelter disappeared from her right shoulder. Carla, in tears herself, walked over and placed a comforting paw on her knee... but even that didn't seem to console the child. After everything they had done, the guild they fought for was nothing more than an illusion... a dream that died a long, long time ago.

"Oh, Wendy," Lucy said as she watched with tears in her eyes, along with Haru. Even Sherry was in tears at this point, while Gray, Lyon, Natsu, Jura, Ichiya, and the Tri-Men all watched silently, but nonetheless felt their hearts go out to her. Blue Fang whined sadly, his ears lowering and his tail flattening as he watched Wendy, wanting nothing more than to go up and lick her tears away.

Just then... someone else approached, placing a comforting hand on Wendy's shoulder, causing her to turn around... and see Erza standing behind, the light of the sun shining from behind her scarlet red hair... and a smile on her face that was just as warm.

"It's very painful when we have to part with the people that we love," said Erza. "However... you have friends that can fill that void, now."

"...Erza...!" Wendy whispered.

"And we know a place where you can make lots of friends, too!" Haru spoke up as she approached, along with Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Happy, and Blue Fang.

"It's probably not something you're used to," said Gray.

"And we can be a little rowdy," Natsu pointed out.

"But the friends there are definitely real," Lucy added.

"Aye!" Happy chirped while Blue Fang barked.

"Come with us, Wendy," Erza said. "Come and join Fairy Tail."

Wendy's eyes widened as she stared at her and the others, who all smiled at her.

"Well?" Natsu asked. "What do you say, Wendy?"

There was a long pause... before Wendy smiled as she stood up and wiped her eyes.

"...Okay...!" she nodded, causing Natsu, Lucy, Haru, and Happy to cheer while Erza and Gray just calmly smiled, the former taking the Sky Maiden by the hand.

After Wendy had packed up her things and they had said farewell to their allies, the Fairy Tail Wizards began to make their way back home to Magnolia. As they did, Haru noticed Natsu standing next to Wendy, who smiled up at him, which caused him to grin back at her as he gently ruffled her hair. Happy, meanwhile, was still trying to impress Carla with another fish, but once again, the white feline turned him down... but even so, that still didn't seem to deter him.

'The battle with Oración Seis was long and harsh,' Haru thought. 'Not to mention with Jellal's arrest and Cait Shelter turning out to be just an illusion... the victory was a bit bittersweet for a while... but one good thing came out of it. We have new members to our family, now: Wendy Marvell and Carla...'

The Beast Wizard grinned and giggled in excitement.

'Secretly... I've always wanted a little sister!'

At long last, the Oración Seis Arc has finally drawn to a close, and with a new member of Fairy Tail to boot!

Now that this is arc is over, I'm gonna be taking a break from Fairy Tail for a week or so and try to see if I can work on One Piece: The Fire Within, because that story is long overdue for an update. Also, I need to update Bonds Through Time one of these days, two.

Also, be on the lookout, for once my break from here is up, I plan to write a story arc where Natsu and Wendy bond, followed by an original arc of my own, titled Fairy Tail: Guardians of the Elise Kingdom, which takes place before Edolas.

See you then! Review, please!