Incarcerated Innocence, a Fairy Tail fanfic by Tsunami Storm
Chapter 10: Iridescent Insignia
(set during ch. 4, before the proposal)
"Ah, perfect timing, Jellal. Would you come with me for a moment?" Master Makarov motioned with his hand just as the newest member of Fairy Tail walked through the Guild Hall doors, intending to take another flyer off the Request Board and get to work on it. Jellal looked up at his new Guildmaster and nodded, turning right around on his heel and starting for the staircase to the second level of the Hall.
Makarov led the confused bluenette to a small office on the second floor of the Guild Hall and closed the door behind them when the young man entered the room. Jellal cocked his head in confusion, his eyes asking a silent question that he was too shy to voice aloud. What's going on? They seemed to say.
"Oh, it's just a formality. But given your generally 'secretive' disposition, I thought you might like a little privacy when we do this. We just have to pick a place and color for this stamp, to mark you as an official member of Fairy Tail. Your friend Meredy already got hers. A pink fairy on her left shoulder. That's usually where most people put it. So, where do you want yours? And what color would you prefer?" The Master smiled encouragingly, waving a hand over to a nearby table on which sat at least fifty different stamps of various colors and sizes.
Jellal walked over to the bench in interest, his eyes gleaming with intrigue and possibility. He put a hand to his chin as he looked over the myriad of choices, pointing to random stamps that he was considering as he moved up and down the rows. At the very end of the last row, one stamp caught his attention.
"Master? What is this stamp? What color does it use?" Jellal asked his fellow Wizard Saint, pointing to the stamp in question.
Makarov grinned. "Ah, you've noticed that one. Well, that's a very unique stamp, m'boy. The color used is unique to each wizard, and it 'reflects what's on the inside', whatever that means. I didn't make that up, that's just what the shopkeeper told me when I purchased it recently. It hasn't been used yet, as none of my children were too keen on discovering their 'true colors'. Either they were worried about what they might discover, or they knew what their true colors were and wanted to keep it to themselves."
Jellal nodded, acknowledging this as a valid point. Not everyone would be comfortable with showing their true colors, and he himself should know that better than most, given his dark past. Still, he was intrigued by the mysterious stamp, and now none of the other stamps seemed to fit quite as well as that one would. He already had a location in mind for the sigil, so he shrugged and selected the stamp from its base and showed it to his new master. The old man smiled in approval.
"I see that stamp somehow resonates with you. An interesting choice." Makarov grinned, alighting from the stool on which he'd been sitting and floating gently to the floor with the use of his magic. "Now all we have to do is pick a spot where you want it on your body. You can pick any spot you want, anywhere at all." Makarov explained, motioning for Jellal to go ahead and choose.
Jellal closed his eyes and smiled at the floor for a moment, then took a quick breath and removed his shirt, placing a hand on the upper left quadrant of his chest. "Right here. Over my heart."
Makarov raised his eyebrows. "An interesting choice. Not many people pick that spot. The only other wizard I can think of in this Guild that has a mark there is Wakaba, but his is bright yellow. All right, if that's where you want it, then so be it." The old man made a face then, as if mildly irritated about something. "Do you think you could kneel for me, my boy? We don't have a step-ladder in here, and-"
"Of course Master." Jellal interrupted quietly, quickly dropping to one knee and bowing his head, but keeping his chest as level as possible. Makarov nodded in approval, pleased that Jellal had guessed his meaning so quickly, and saved him some embarrassment by not acknowledging his rather diminutive height. Why did he have to be so short? Well, short stature comes with age, I guess. Clearing his throat to return his musings to the business at hand, Makarov gently took the stamp from Jellal's open hand and swiftly pressed the emblem end to the young man's chest, releasing it with a small, magical POP! some seconds later.
Jellal's eyes were still closed, so he didn't see Makarov raise his eyebrows again at the sight before his eyes. Makarov chuckled. "Well, I guess you can't blame yourself anymore for your past mistakes, my boy. Can't hide your true colors anymore, either. First Master was right. You really do have a heart of gold."
Jellal's eyes snapped open at that, and he looked down at his chest with a short gasp of surprise. Sure enough, an iridescent golden fairy was emblazoned over his heart, seeming to almost sparkle in the light of the midday sun that was shining through the windows. Standing up and quickly jogging over to the full-length mirror in the room, Jellal gasped again as he put a finger to the mark, gently tracing the outline as if he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing.
An unearthly giggle sounded then, causing both Jellal and Makarov to look around wildly in alarm. "Told ya!" The voice laughed, and a heat-wave in the room suddenly shimmered into the visible spectrum, revealing the First Master of the Fairy Tail Guild with her dainty hands over her mouth, partially muffling her snickers. "I told you he has a heart in tune with the rest of us in Fairy Tail! He just didn't believe it of himself. Now there's no denying it. You're a good person, Jellal, so quit blaming yourself for everything!" She teased, giving the young man's shoulder a playful slap.
"F- First Master Mavis?" Jellal stuttered, shocked that he could now see the ancient spirit of the Guild's founder.
"Yep! Nice to officially meet you, Jellal! And I can finally thank you in person for all your help. Not only for everything you did in the recent Grand Magic Games, but also for helping Erza save Tenrou Island from Azuma. If it hadn't been for you, he would probably have killed everyone on the island before I could intervene and cast Fairy Sphere. Then it really would have been a 'Tenrou Tragedy'."
Jellal nodded fervently, immensely grateful to the Guild's First Master for saving the lives of all of his friends, not to mention the girl he loved with all his heart. One of these days, Jellal thought, I'll actually work up the courage to confess my feelings for her. I'm such a coward. Punishing her too for dragging my feet. I've known for years how she feels about me, and vice versa, but I just never seem to find the right time. I guess I'll have to make the right moment.
End of Chapter 10
God Bless!
Tsunami Storm