Hello my dear readers! Nice to meet you! I am Morgana and this in my first fanfiction :) I do NOT own Fairy Tail and the cover image! Credits to the amazing authors!
Now, let me quickly tell you a couple of things before starting:
1) The story starts AFTER the Grand Magic Games, and BEFORE Tartarus (so, Lucy has still Acquarius)
2) Cobra has been assigned on probation at Fairy Tail. When the story starts, seven months had already passed, and our favourite poison dragon slayer has found his place at the guild... well... kind of
3) I might edit again some chapters every now and then, but I am not going to modify the storyline or the characters, don't you worry! Moreover English is NOT my mother tongue, there might be some spelling or grammar errors... I will do my best :)
4) I haven't seen the anime, I have ONLY read the manga! You will not find here the infinity clock arc, etc in here.
I guess there is nothing else you need to know... Therefore, I welcome you to this adventure!
My dear readers, let the story begin!
Edited version: 24/08/2022
At the border between Fiore and Bosco, Blue Mountains, an April morning if the year X792...
If we look at the map of Ishgar, on the border in between the lands of Fiore and Bosco, we will see tall peaks drawn in blue ink, with snowflakes on their tops and pines of their flanks. The label above says 'Blue Mountains'.
Now, if we look closer, we notice a small black dot, right in one of the valleys that cut the mountain chain. That's a small city, and its name is 'Linveland'.
Look up even closer. Do you see the symbol of a hammer next to the city? Exactly, that means that close there there is a mine.
There is a small notice next to the hammer: it says that the mine has fallen into disuse a hundred a years ago, around year X690.
However, if we observe carefully the surroundings of the mine, we notice that the old entrance had been reopened. Men in working uniforms are going in and out: they are cover in black dust of coal, and bring out of the mine barrows full of stones and debris.
Let us now enter the mine with them. A few lamps are scattered around, and in their dim light, if we search with our eyes, we see five figures, walking in line.
The first one is tiny and short, and is leading the way on a rough path in between pickaxes and crumble stones. Look at the other four... Do you recognise them?
Laxus huffed. He didn't like mines. They smelled of coal, and the dust made his throat dry and his eyes burn.
"So, if you please follow me, you will see why I called for Fairy Tail." said the short man in front of him, leading the way through the dirty tunnel.
Laxus heard Evergreen complaining, as her shoes were getting stuck in between the cracks of the ground. He ignored her. I have always told her high heels are not appropriate for our missions, but she never wears anything else.
He could hear also Freed, complaining for the humidity that was making him sneeze, and Bickslow, that was making fun of him.
"When are we going to arrive?" Huffed Evergreen, talking to the small man in front of them.
"It's not far, miss. This way!" bellowed again the small man in front of them, lifting the lamp he was holding and illuminating an uneven trail in between rubbles and rocks.
Laxus looked around in the newly digged gallery. Well, there was a gallery here before, as far as I have understood. They are just reopening the site... Right?
He couldn't remember clearly. Damn, he couldn't even remember the name of the short man that was leading them. I know I should remember at least his name... He is our client, after all. Thought Laxus. But I had spent a whole night on a train! He is lucky I haven't threw up on him or something...
At the thought of the terrible night they - and he in particular - had spent on the train to get to Linveland, Laxus felt his stomach contract and protest.
He took a deep breath - which didn't help much, since the air was full of dust and coal - and kept going.
We can supply the knowledge that Laxus was lacking at that moment: the name of the man was Mr. Jones, and he was the supervisor of the works to reopen the old mine.
It was Mr. Jones who had called Master Makarov a few days before, asking him to send one of his mages as soon as possible.
By chance, the Thunder Legion had just come back from a job, and Makarov asked Laxus and his team to go. 'I don't know what is going on, Laxus, Mr. Jones hasn't given me any details, but he seemed quite worried.' Had told them the Master of Fairy Tail. 'I would appreciate if you'd go to Linveland, where he is located right now.'
It was strange that Mr. Jones hadn't put up a job request for all the legal guilds, like the regulations imposed. Apparently he had called only for Fairy Tail, and hadn't taken into consideration any other guild.
That had seemed strange to Makarov as well, however, since Freed had not yet picked up a new job request, Laxus and his teams had left Magnolia immediately, and after two days travelling by train, they had arrived to the small train station of Linveland.
It is indeed strange... Was thinking Laxus inspecting the dark tunnel, as they walked deeper and deeper into the mountains. Why Fairy Tail?
"Is this mine yours, Mr. Jones," enquired Freed from behind:
"No, Mr. Justine. I am just an employer of the FioreTrains s.p.a., you see, a foreman, to be precise." He replied the small man, walking hastily on his short legs in front of them at the same time.
"This mine is very old, and it was used until a century ago or so, and then it was closed, because of a collapse, you see. Most of the the mine became unaccessible, and they didn't think about reopening it again at that time."
"Are you rehabilitating the mine, then?" asked then Freed. The Rune mage didn't know much on the region, apart from the fact that Linveland was a small town in the middle of the mountains, with harsh winters and cool, brief summers. Oh, and that it could be reached after almost twenty hours by train, which meant that you had to deal with a grumpy, nauseated dragon slayer.
Mr. Jones gestured to the freshly cut walls. "My men are restoring part of it. We are currently walking where the main tunnel was, you see."
"Oh, not at all, sir!" exclaimed Mr. Jones, turning to look at Freed and almost tripping over an axe. He gestured to the freshly cut walls. "My men are restoring part of it. We are currently walking where the main tunnel was, you see."
"We are exploiting part of the old mine trails, to build a gallery for a new railroad that will connect Fiore and Bosco. I am here to supervise the works!" said Mr. Jones proudly. "My employer has won the public procurement, you see, and with this new railroad it will be possible to cross the Blue Mountains in much less time. That is why this gallery is important."
It seemed like Freed was satisfied for the moment.
"Then, why did you called some mages?" Came the angry voice of Evergreen. "I mean, if you just need to dig a tunnel... Ah, my shoe!"
"Well, madame, it's not exactly for the digging part that I have called you..." Suddenly Mr. Jones voice became wary and preoccupied. "You see, many investments have been made and this project is really important for my boss. I really don't want any trouble, you see... But you will see in a while, we just need to walk a little more..."
Laxus nodded to himself. It's not for the digging part, it is something already... For a moment ha had been preoccupied Mr. Jones wanted to employ them down there. He didn't like mines.
"Have you had any problem digging?" asked Freed politely. Clearly there is something that is upsetting ... However, to be left in the dark upsets me!
"Ehm, you see... while digging, we found... something..." Mr. Jones muttered, glaring back at Freed. "Nothing dangerous, of course, but... We have done nothing but our work, you see, we don't want any problems..."
"Sure." Freed nodded.
"Well, it is at the end of the gallery... We didn't move... it, we waited for Fairy Tail to come, you see..." Mr. Jones added quickly, before his voice dropped. "Well, we are very close. You will see in a few minutes..." he fastened his pace with his little legs.
Freed honestly hoped it was nothing dangerous, as Mr. Jones believed. It might be only an old artefact, he thought, or something magical, like a crown, or a sceptre, or a spell book... They say it is not dangerous, but it you never know with magical objects...
In that case, the job of the Thunder Legion would have been to retrieve it and bring it to the Council, as the standard procedure required. And Mr. Jones had promised a good reward to the mages to help him get rid of the problem. But why had Mr. Jones called specifically Fairy Tail?
Freed shook his head, and accelerated his steps. It was clear that whatever Mr. Jones and his men found at the end of the gallery, their priority was to go back to their work as soon as possible.
They passed two workers that were eating their lunch in a corner under a small lightbulb. The workers nodded to Mr. Jones, looking sheepishly at the group behind them, but their gaze became suddenly attentive, when they looked at the rest of the group.
"Is he truly..." "Yes, he is." "What is he doing here?" "I don't know... Wow, I didn't think he was so tall!"
Laxus turned his head only slightly, and the workers gasped.
The lighting dragon slayer chuckled to himself. It was no news for him to be considered intimidating, but it never ceased to amuse him. Since the Grand Magic Games nearly one year ago, the dragon slayer had been a lot under public attention, and not only because he was the only grandson of the Master of Fairy Tail.
It was because he had defeated the whole Raven Tail guild by himself, and Jura, the fifth Wizard Saint.
Jura had actually expressed his will to train him and helping him becoming a Saint himself, but Laxus had postponed his answer. Becoming a Wizard Saint was his childhood dream, however...
It would make Gramps proud, of course... And it would give prestige to Fairy Tail, that is also true... And, he would not admit it, he would be extremely proud and happy as well. But I am not sure... Not yet, at least. I like life at Fairy Tail.
Things were starting to go back to normal, after what happened at Tenrou Island, the seven years gap, and the Games. The truth was that, Lacus wanted to enjoy his time at the guild a little more, now that he was no more the Laxus of Fantasia.
His thought were interrupted by some distant voices. After a few minutes, the others started to hear them as well.
"Damn, I told them to stay behind..." Mr. Jones could be heard growl under his breath. "Hey you!" He cried to a crowd of workers gathered at the far end of the gallery. "I told you-"
"Mr. Jones! We were about to get you!" A young man left the crowd. He pointed with his thumb to the crow behind him. "Mr. Jones! We have just finished extracting her!"
Laxus narrowed his eyes, but the backs of the workers were in his way. Her?
"Yeah, yeah!" grunted Mr. Jones, who seemed to get angrier at each step.
"I told you to stay away!" he shouted, finally reaching the group of men "This is none of your business!"
Bickslow, who had been strangely quiet as they walked into the mine, chuckled. "Her?" he asked, sticking his tongue out. "What have you found for us there, Mr. Jones?"
Mr. Jones was sending the workers away with big waves of his tiny arms. "Shoo, shoo! Old perverts, they don't even - excuse me, young man!" Mr. Jones held one hand out, blocking Bickslow from moving too close to the end of the tunnel, "I would rather prefer if it was madame to have a look, first."
Laxus and Freed exchanged a glance. Laxus shrugged, and peeked in the darkness, trying to see what all that fuss was about. However, the only thing he could distinguish in the dim light of the lamps, was a big block laying on the ground. It was translucent, and seemed a giant crystal.
It was rather long, and tall maybe four feet. It looked disturbingly like a huge coffin, or a sarcophagi.
Laxus raised and eyebrow. There better be something very serious with that crystal, he thought. If he had been tossed into a train for two days just to see a piece of crystal at the far end of Fiore, he was going to electrocute someone.
Bickslow stepped obediently back, and Evergreen made her way to the crystal. She was still struggling with her hills and the rocks and cracks on the floor, and Laxus rolled his eyes hearing her hissing and ranting.
"What is it?" she asked, moving closer and looking warily at the giant block.
"Oh, do not worry, Miss, there is no danger, but, you see,-"
Mr. Jones explanation was interrupted by Evergreen's small scream. "Oh my Mavis." she whispered, lifting her hands to cover her mouth, eyes wide with horror.
"What it is?" asked Freed, trying to peak from behind Bickslow. But Bickslow was already next to Evergreen, and was looking inside the crystal as well.
"Oh fuck!" he shouted, "There is a girl trapped inside here!"
A girl? In a crystal? Ok, maybe there was the chance that this was serious, after all. Laxus was ready to check that crystal and girl himself, but as soon as he did, a torrent of protest and shouts came from Mr. Jones, and seemed to wake Evergreen from her daze.
Holding her fan in her hand, she started hitting Bickslow angrily on his head. "Stop looking, you pervert! She is naked!".
Magnolia, seven months ago...
A man in white uniform was standing rigidly in front of the desk of MakarovDreyar, sixth (or third, no one was really sure how to address him), Master of Fairy Tail. Master Makarov had his eyes closed, and he was caught in deep thoughts.
The man in the white uniform and the Master were silent. They had been silent for a while now, the last minutes spent studying each other carefully, as if they were preparing themselves for a sort of battle.
Or maybe the outcome of the battle had already been decided, and they were just turning their respective results over and over in their minds.
"So, it is decided." said slowly Makarov. His eyes opened, and his stern gaze fell on the man in front of him. "I understand this is your final word, Lahar."
Lahar, Captain of the Rune Knights, was wearing an unreadable expression. He looked back to the small Master of Fairy Tail with equal gravity. "Yes." He said. "These are orders from the Council. I am a mere messenger, Makarov."
Makarov was sure he saw a sly smile hidden under Lahar controlled face, but he did not lose time investigating. It was pointless, now. If the Council had made up its mind, there was not much Makarov could do.
"For how long?"
"The probation will be five years long." Lahar said dryly. "Usually it's shorter, but since he has been a criminal for most of his life..." Lahar made a vague gesture with his hand. 'for all his life' would have been much accurate, but there was no need to point it out. Not when they where talking about one of the worst, most wanted and dangerous criminal under the Council custody.
"I understand." Muttered Makarov. "Cobra is no man to play games with."
'Cunning', 'evil' and 'merciless' were some of the nicest adjectives Cobra was usually described with, Makarov was very aware of that. He knew the former member of the Oracion Seis quite well, since when Natsu and his team had defeated the Seis, almost eight years ago.
And, from the folder Lahar had given him that very morning, Cobra's sadistic, scathing personality had not changed much during his seven years of prison.
Was Cobra still evil?, that was the question that bothered Makarov the most.
Cobra had helped the legal guilds after the Grand Magic Games, but on that occasion, it was in his own interest.
But is parole really a good idea, for someone that had killed so many? Is he to be trusted? Asked Makarov in his mind once more.
He sighed. He knew there were no answer to these questions. Not now, at least.
But there was something Makarov wasn't digesting. "Why Fairy Tail, Lahar?" asked the old Master. "Why the Council thinks our guild is the best place for Cobra to be put on probation?"
Lahar rolled his eyes, annoyed. It was the fifth time Makarov had asked him that same question that morning. Nevertheless, part of him could not blame him. Having such a criminal in his guild was no joke.
Moreover, he could not really answer, since Fairy Tail was not famous for being a tranquil guild. In Lahar opinion, neither Cobra nor the Fairies should have been allowed to roam freely, anyway. If it was for him, they would have been locked up, preferably all together and let them kill each other. The destructive power of the guild was beyond the Captain's comprehension, and with Cobra, things could only get worse.
But Lahar kept all these considerations for himself. It was not his business, after all. Cobra was not going to get bored, that was for sure, and the Captain thought it was a good thing for the poison slayer - the last time Cobra grew bored in prison, they had two guards heavily poisoned. They had to be treated in the infirmary for almost a week. Lahar couldn't understand how exactly
Cobra had been able to attack the guards from his own cell, and the poison slayer had refused to tell him despite all his threats.
"Because Fairy Tail is the only guild that can restrain him, if necessary." He blurted out. Which was actually true, since it was mainly team Natsu who defeated the Oraciòn Seis and destroyed Nirvana.
The Captain wanted to add that he had nothing against Cobra poisoning a Fairy - was hoping of it, in fact - but he stopped himself in time.
Makarov shook his head. The same, unsatisfying answer. The Council will have to explain this to me. I am writing a letter as soon as I have one free minute... I am not putting my brats to danger...
Makarov had the feeling that Lahar was concealing something to him. Makarov was inclined to believe that Lahar, or the Council - Probably both, he thought - were scheming something against Fairy Tail.
But the small Master was not going to fall in their trap. I have not aged for nothing, for Mavis sake.
"I am saying this to you, Lahar. And keep that in mind: if you, or the Council, want to play a game, we are more than ready to play."
Lahar clenched his teeth. "Makarov..." he started, but the small Master interrupted him.
"If you want to use Cobra to degrade Fairy Tail, or even worse, to put my children in danger with an ex-criminal, you will have to deal with me."
Lahar sucked in air. "No one want to put anyone else in danger."
"I hope so, Lahar." I will show them, what kind of guild Fairy Tail really is.
This was going to be even harder than the Grand Magic Games. Winning a fight is easy. Winning the trust and the affection of a person, is much more complicated.
But Makarov had faith. Faith in his children, in the spirit of their guild, and also in Cobra. He was positive that the poison dragon slayer was everything but happy to be used as a tool by the Council.
That child has already been used by Jerald in the Tower of Heaven and by Brain in the Oraciòn Seis... I will not allow the Council, or Lahar, or anyone else, to do the same.
Next to him, he felt the presence of the First Master of Fairy Tail. Invisible to Lahar, Mavis Vermillion nodded to him. "This is the spirit, Third," she whispered, even if Lahar couldn't hear her. "I am sure Cobra will find his home here, at Fairy Tail!"
Makarov wished he could talk to Mavis, seeking her advice and support, but he couldn't address her in front of Lahar. He looked briefly at her, taking strength and comfort in her green eyes full of determination. The First is right. Fairy Tail can do it. Cobra can do it, as well, if he wants.
Makarov nodded severely at Lahar. "Let him in."
Lahar didn't waste a moment. He had arrived at Fairy Tail with Cobra early that morning, and had spent half of the morning discussing with Makarov about the whole affair. He was sick and tired by now. What's more, he had left Dorambalt alone in Era to deal with some papers and files, and Lahar was sure Dorambalt was going to make some silly mistakes the Captain had to fix later on.
I shouldn't have given him so many tasks... Thought the Captain, opening the office door.
"I am sure your pretty sidekick misses you just as much you miss him, dear Captain." cooed a sly, low voice.
Makarov held his breath, as four man with the white uniforms of the Council entered the office. But the Master had eyes only for the tall, handcuffed man between them.
With his single purple eye and his blood red hair, so tall and thin, Cobra was more intimidating than Makarov remembered. And the wicked smirk that was playing on his lips and the scar on his right eye were not making him look more trusty, or even approachable.
As their gaze met, Makarov saw a glint in the eye of the poison dragon slayer, that made him doubt of the sanity of the Lahar and of the Council. Probation suddenly seemed a bad, very bad idea...
Cobra looked at his new Master, his smile growing a little.
Then, he spoke, his low, mellifluous voice barely a whisper, but enough to make everyone in the room flinch and back a little.
"Oh, I see." Cobra said, "You don't like my face, is it?" he chuckled, "Sorry about that, Master. Many people don't think it makes me look... trusty." Cobra hissed the last word. "It must be my bad luck."
Still in Makarov office, back to present time, evening...
While in Linveland Bickslow was being hit with a fan by Evergreen, and Laxus and Freed were rushing to see the 'girl trapped in the crystal' among Mr. Jones protest that 'only madame was allowed to see', Master Makarov was sitting in his office, leafing through a huge pile of papers on his desk. Folders were scattered on the floor and on the chairs. The Master was furious. His face was pale and his lips were trembling, letting a curse escape them while his eyes searched the papers for something that was missing.
On the other hand, the man sitting in the chair in front of him, was perfectly calm. Or at least, so he wanted everyone else to believe.
"It must be my bad luck again." Cobra eyed the mess around him, "If you have looked for it, and you haven't found anything yet, it means they can do this."
The little man slammed the papers on the desk. "Those filthy... bastards!" he spat. "I should have known they were going to play some dirty tricks!"
"You couldn't foresee that." stated Cobra. He could feel the soul of his Master boiling. Normally he would have laughed at the state the old man was in - he saw him that angry only once, and it had been when a huge bill had landed on his desk because of several houses burned down by a certain fire dragon slayer. The expenses had been paid by the whole team, but the Master have been furious with Natsu for a whole week anyway.
Makarov lifted his clouded, heavy gaze on the poison slayer. "You do not seem to understand, Cobra. You have been sent here on probation, and probation means you must be treated as a normal citizen. Otherwise, what's the point?"
Cobra sighed. "It's not important."
Makarov slammed a gigantic fist over the table. "It is!" Among the papers that were flying in all directions, Makarov picked one.
It was a letter, that was written on the letterhead of the Council.
"'For prisoner 435261, currently on probation at Fairy Tail, the Council has disposed a momentarily internment in Era for routine inspection.'" Makarov threw the letter on the ground. "What the hell this means?"
Cobra huffed. "They maybe suspect I am fucking doing some shit... That I am back to criminal life, or-"
"Ah, I thought about that!" Makarov exclaimed. "But you are on parole! And as you are on parole, they should sue you through a tribunal, call you with a charge! Anything, but just saying..."
"I know what they are saying." Cobra cut in. "No need to repeat it."
Right. The rest of the letter. Cobra had read it once, and had been enough for him to impress it in his mind.
The full text of the letter was the following:
'For prisoner 435261, currently on probation at Fairy Tail, the Council has disposed a momentarily internment in Era for routine inspection. Prisoner 435261 will be escorted tomorrow morning by the Rune Knights from Magnolia to Era, and sojourn in there until the required and needed verifications will be held.'
It meant that the day after he was to expect the Rune Knights at his door, and he was going to be drag to Era. No indications of where he was going to stay. No indications for how long he was going to be there.
"It think they don't give a shit about my fucking parole." Cobra almost snorted. "They probably didn't want to give it to me in the first place."
"Cobra." Makarov lifted the head from the book he was consulting. He looked the poison slayer directly in the eyes. "Let me tell you how do I see it: the Council is taking away one of my children, a member of my family, of our family! I will not step aside and watch! We will not step aside and watch!"
Cobra's expression was in between scowling and bored, as it always was, but inside of him, the poison slayer could feel that muscle called 'heart', warm a little.
Since the Council gave him the chance of joining Fairy Tail seven months ago, he had swore to himself he was not going to jump onto that hideous 'merry- go-round-we-are-a-happy-family' carousel that was so typical of the fairies.
Cobra had openly despised each one of the fairies more than once, but no-one had ever seemed to take him into account.
And now, he was in the office of his Master, being called 'one of his children', and he was founding it oddly comforting.
"They can't just come to Magnolia and take you to Era without a valid reason!" Continued the Master, now walking up and down his desk. "It's probation rules. Even if we didn't find anything to prevent them from... There must be something, a footnote in some law or document, some article, that says they just can't bring you back to prison!"
"Well," Cobra shrugged, "they said 'routine inspection'."
"What the actual fuck means 'routine inspections'?" said Makarov sternly. "And they didn't mentioned how long you are going to be in Era!"
Usually Makarov soul was usually very hard for the poison slayer to hear, but on that moment, it was clear to him that Makarov was desperate to keep him at Fairy Tail.
And, much to Cobra surprise, Makarov was not the only one.
The letter had arrived that morning, and the first thing Makarov had done was of course to gather team Natsu in his office, and read it out loud - such was the surprise and the astonishment of the old Master.
When team Natsu - the only team Cobra had been allowed to join - had apprehended the content of the letter and its implication, Cobra had believed they were going to destroy the Master's office.
Their souls had been screaming with rage even after Makarov had forced them into silence. Natsu and Gray had even needed an extra enlarged fist from the tiny old mage.
"But Master, Cobra has done nothing!" Lucy had said, holding tight a crying Happy, "He has tried to poison Natsu only twice! They can't just take him away."
"Are you sure they can do that, Master? And why?" Erza frown could have made shiver all the Wizard Saints of Fiore. No matter that at the beginning the Requip made didn't trust Cobra as much as she did with Lucy, Natsu, or any other member of the guild. Now Cobra was family, he was nakama, and had proved to be loyal to Fairy Tail and to the team. Cobra is family. Cobra had thought her thinking. No one can ever take him away like that. Not even the Council.
Wendy had been on the verge of tears for the whole meeting, not wanting to lose a member of the team. She had come to like Cobra, and to consider him like an older brother. Well, an older brother with some murderous tendencies and a sick personality, but still a brother. Not even Charle had been able to console her.
"Silence! I said SILENCE!" "But Master, why?"
"I don't know, Lucy. I don't know, really." Makarov had sounded defeated that morning.
And now the old wreck looks more tired and defeated than ever. Cobra shook his head to himself. It is pointless to find a way not to...
The thought was like a sudden stung in his chest. Cobra swallowed hard. To admit that it was pointless meant surrendering to the Council.
But he was going to tell Makarov the same thing he had told that morning. "I am going."
"Cobra-" Makarov sighed, but Cobra interrupted him.
"I am going, old man. There is nothing you can do to stop them, and whatever the fuckers want to check with me, they are going to be a pain in the ass until they get what the hell they want. I know the bastards more than all of you."
Makarov sighed.
That morning, Cobra had said the very same sentence, he startled everyone in the room.
"But still... They can't just take you with no explanation, neither an indication when you will come back." Lucy swallowed heavily, and Cobra heard all that her father taught her about contracts and business coming into her mind at once. He fought back a smile when he had heard her brain already working out a possible solution, something that could be used against Lahar and the Council.
Lucy thought Cobra was a sassy little bitch most of the times, But he had also been to prison for seven years. She had thought. And into a dark guild, before. And before that, a slave in the tower of heaven. No wonder he is a little sadistic from time to time. Ok, maybe most of the times.
"Lucy is right. You are on parole, and therefore you are a member of Fairy Tail at all effects. They would never dare to do that to any other member." Makarov stared angrily at the letter.
"Yes, that's right," Cobra only eye was staring at each one of them, "but for them, I am still a fucking psychotic criminal. Most likely I have been assigned to Fairy Tail because they hoped I run away or kill someone, so that they could blame you fairies." Cobra shrugged, doing his best to pull himself together and look relaxed. "I didn't go into a killing spring, so the bastards are taking the beast back, I guess."
"You are not a beast!" muttered Wendy. Tears had started running on her cheeks, and she wiped them away quickly. "You have helped us in many missions!"
"That's true." Erza nodded. "You are an expert fighter and an extremely skilled mage." And you take jobs very seriously, not like another dragon slayer of this team. And she was not talking about Wendy, of course. Knowing that Titania appreciated him was... surprising, to say the least.
"Thanks." muttered Cobra. He was secretly very proud to have Titania's consideration.
"And you didn't destroy much." Gray force himself to admit. He still didn't want to admit that he liked the poison slayer - a little. Cobra was bearable, when not busy messing with ones' thought. Which was happening most of the time, but for Gray it was not enough to bring him back to prison.
"See, Gramps! They can't just take him away!" Natsu snatched the letter from the hands of the Master and started to burn it "He is not going, that's it!" . Cobra run a hand on his face. "Burning things do not change what the letter says, ash brain."
"I don't care!" Natsu jumped in front of Cobra, the letter still burning in his hand. "You. Are. Not. Going."
Cobra sighed. "You think I am happy to see the fuck face again?"
"I beg you," Makarov let out a whimper, "no more swearing in my office..."
But there had been much more swearing from Cobra during the rest of the meeting, and for once Charle was too busy complaining for the whole affair and comforting Wendy to scold him.
Finally, the Master dismissed them all, declaring that he was going to search into his law books. He was hoping to find some rule - anything - so that Lahar could 'eat shit and die', to use Cobra's words, and not bring him to Era the day after.
But there was not explicitly stated that Cobra couldn't be brought to Era. The day after, Makarov was still empty-handed.
"It is ok." In all fairness, Cobra hadn't allowed himself to hope Makarov could find something to keep him at Fairy Tail. Ok, maybe a little bit, but only to see Lahar pissed off. I already knew there was nothing to be done... If the shit- eaters in Era had sent that fucking letter, it's because they know they can do the fuck they want. He looked at the letter on the floor, where you could see the hems half burnt by Natsu's fire.
Lost in these dark considerations, Cobra hadn't anticipated what Makarov told him a second later.
"I am going to send Gajeel and Lily after you." Declared the Master. "Don't look at me like it's not necessary, Cobra. You are not going to go there alone, that's it."
The small man jumped on the floor and reached Cobra's side.
"I expect a full report when you get back." said Makarov, looking straight into Cobra's indigo eye. "If they dare to touch you, I am personally going to make them regret it." And I am speaking the truth, my child...
Cobra saw the threatening flash crossing Makarov features, and chuckled.
Well, I can't promise they were not going to beat me, the fuckers enjoy that too much. But giving a full report to Master... "I promise." he said with a small smirk.
The faintest of smiles played on the Master lips. "Good. Now, go home and rest. You never know what might happen until tomorrow."
Cobra said nothing, feeling the old man wanted to call his old friend an 8island and having a chat with him about that damned letter from Era. He really is not- Lahar will hear me... the Council cannot permit - I am not going to let this pass, definitely...
Makarov angry rambling reached his hears, and Cobra smiled to himself. The old geezers is so angry I can hear him... Usually he manages to be silent around me...
When his hand twisted the doorknob, Makarov spoke again: "If you are not coming to us in a few days, I am sending Mirajane to Era."
Cobra didn't try to stiff his laugh. "Are you shooting your big shoots, aren't you, old man?"
"The big shots?" the Master grinned, "Not yet, child. If Mira is not enough, I will come to Era to fetch you." But trust me, Cobra, no one in the Council is that stupid to cross Mirajane. Not even Lahar.
"I can't wait for it."
The old geezer really considers me as family, uh-hu? To be honest, he couldn't say that he didn't like it.
The feeling was warming, and reassuring.
But the truth was, that things had moved so fast Cobra had had no time to take them in.
Only when he closed the door of Makarov's office it came to him the horrible thought that that could have been the last time he saw the old mage.
He took a deep breath. No... It's not going to end like that. I am coming back. Back to Fairy Tail.
He moved a step, starting to descending the stairs. He was going to go to the guild hall, have a glass or two of beer, and then go back home, packing... Packing for what?
Cobra felt his legs trembling. Who do I want to cheat? What am I thinking? They are fucking going to lock me up again... And this time, forever.
He let out a shaky breath. I don't want to go back to prison.
Even if he had been forced by Lahar and Dorambalt to join Fairy Tail, seven months had been enough for him to taste freedom. He was on probation, so he was not technically free, but this was the closest thing to freedom he had experienced in his whole damned life.
I don't want to go back to prison. He thought, gritting his teeth as tension started building inside him, once again.
He reached the far end of the stairs. A few steps, and he would have been in the guild hall, where his team was waiting for him.
He could hear their souls, whining and whispering and crying in anger. They were expecting good news, he realised. They wanted to hear him saying that Master had found a solution, and that he was going to stay at Fairy Tail.
Cobra tried to move, but his feet were glued to the floor. I can't meet them.
Finally he turned, opened the door of one of the storage rooms, and slid into the room. He closed the door behind himself. I knew there was a window somewhere here...
Right, the window was there where he remembered it was - he had studied perfectly the planimetry of the guild when he first arrived... Just in case.
The window was opened. Cobra didn't thought about it a second time, and jumped in the dark street outside.
When Cobra left his office, Makarov smile evaporated.
"Those bastards of the Council... They aren't going to have him... Not until I am Master of Fairy Tail!"
He wished he could have hug Cobra, but of course he hadn't dared.
He didn't dare to touch the poison slayer - it had been clear since his first day at Fairy Tail that trying to touch him was equivalent to steal a cake from Erza.
Remembering the first weeks of Cobra ta Fairy Tail made Makarov smile a little.
He was really out of his own element, wasn't he?
The first time someone tried to pat his shoulder it was Bickslow. The Seith Mage had ended up being attacked with acid and poison, and it took two days to Porlyusica and Wendy to fully heal him.
Thank Mavis Bickslow hasn't taken it seriously! Makarov shook his head. However, I wished the rest of his team had not been that scared... I was afraid for a moment that the Thunder Legion was going to revolt...
Cobra's reaction had terrified Freed and Evergreen and the whole episode had caused a fight between Cobra and Laxus. That had been a serious fight, one of those that Makarov still remembered with a shudder.
The two slayers had almost turned the guild hall and some of the other members into ashes. Laxus was immensely strong, but Cobra was smart, experienced, ruthless, and not much below Laxus in power.
Cobra had proved to be much stronger than I expected, in fact... I bet he is using only a fraction of his magic power when in mission with team Natsu...
Well, it was better this way. Already Natsu and Gray were difficult to control.
We don't need another overexcited slayer... The fines I am getting are already exorbitant...
That time with Laxus it took Mirajane with Sitri, Erza, and the Master himself to separate the two dragon slayers.
I couldn't explicitly punish them, however... Those two didn't like one another, that was for sure. If Cobra thought Laxus was a pompous, spoilt kid, Laxus thought of Cobra only as a ruthless criminal, with no hope to change.
Luckily they are always in mission, and they have little chance to meet at the guild.
After that fight, Cobra and Laxus had studiously ignored each other, and apparently this was the best option, for the time being, since both of them were very, very stubborn.
But Makarov would have much preferred to let Laxus and Cobra respectively fry and poison each other, than sending the poison slayer to Era.
Speaking of Laxus, there was that strange job of Mr. Jones. The should be arrived at Linveland by now... I wonder what was it about. Makarov shook his head. Well, I will call the Thunder Legion tomorrow.
He seated in his chair, and took the communication lacrimal. "8Island? Hello Yijima, here it is Makarov..."
Cobra was out in the street. I can't tell them. Why should I? They don't care, in the end...
It was a lie and he knew it. But he was too disheartened himself to see his team and just tell them goodbye.
Bullshit! Cobra scolded himself. What do I have to lose? Now I do fucking go back in there, and tell them everything, and...
"Cobra?"
Cobra sighed. He should have heard her, but so busy as he was debating himself and trying not to have a breakdown in the middle of the street, he hadn't realised she was there.
"What do you want, Tinkerbell?"
"You are not thinking of..."
"Escaping?" Cobra growled. "I do not escape, Tinkerbell."
Lucy nodded. "Yes. I know." She seemed to ponder something in her mind, biting her lower lip. "I was wondering if I could walk you home."
Cobra sighed. There was no way of escaping her. "Your soul is going to hunt me all night long." He glanced behind his shoulder, looking at her. "Come."
So, Cobra and Lucy walked home, in silence.
They lived a few streets apart, and when Natsu was not coming to dine at Lucy's place, which she secretly enjoy, even if Natsu's stomach could host an army, Lucy had made a point walking home with the poison dragon slayer.
There was no way Cobra could escape that woman, and his snarky comments and long silences made her more determined to talk to him and to help him fitting in the guild and in the team.
Lucy knew what was like starting a new life all of a sudden - she had done it herself when she had run away from her family estate years ago. She knew what meant wanting to forget all that happened before.
Therefore, since he was ignoring her attempt to start a conversation, she had started talking about his family and her life in high society, and Cobra found himself soaking in her memories, listening while her soul trembled with anger and fear when she talked about the marriage se escaped from, or glimmered with joy when she talked about the beautiful gardens around her house, or how her mother taught her magic.
He ended up know about her a good deal more than what he ever thought possible.
At the beginning, I hadn't given a shit about her, her story, or her family - damn, I had gone through much worse. It was ridiculous to listen to her feeling alone and rejected because her father didn't remember her birthday. I don't even know when my birthday is.
No one ever cared to tell him which year he was born, exactly. By now he could have been thirty one, or twenty six, for all he knew.
Whatever, Lucy's technique to convince him to open up a little bit.
And it fucking worked.
He had fought her with all his strength, but despite his determination to not share anything with the fairies, Cobra couldn't help letting her know he had a sweet tooth, being sugar a sort of poison, and liking thriller films.
He even remembered the time he had told her he liked spy stories. It was after three months of his probation.
"I like spy story." he had blurted out of nowhere one evening.
And there she was, giggling like an idiot, asking if I had ever seen some nice films. Cobra remember it clearly. He had told her that no, he had never been to the cinema, nor seen any film of any sort. He just heard sometimes Brain and the other guild masters of the Ballam Alliance talking about spying the Council and the legal guilds, and when he had been younger, he had sometimes dwelled into those accounts.
And after two days, Tinkerbell had organised a film night at her place, of course... With the rest of those freaks... And she had even cooked a cake...
The memory of that night was still making him smile. They all - even Cobra - had discovered that Cobra liked spy story only because he knew what a real spy did. He had been a spy so many times while in the Oraciòn Seis, that his main fun was laughing at every scene, plot twist, and every action of the protagonists.
Of course he had been able to spoil the film to everyone - he liked that part, too - to the point that at the end of the night Erza had declared: "I am never going to see a spy story again!"
But even she laughed when Cobra mocked the poor fighting technique of the main character, plus the cakes made by Lucy were amazing.
Surprisingly, Cobra found himself wanting to do that some other time. He had real fun, and not by torturing someone and murdering them afterwards.
Maybe when I am back...
But immediately he stopped. Who knew if he was ever to going back to Magnolia?
"You really think there is nothing that can be done, right?" asked Lucy right at that moment.
Cobra rolled his eyes and sighed. He had seen this coming. The Celestial mage was damn perceptive, she could as well have his Soul Hearing magic. "I am going, that's it."
Lucy's step came to a halt, and the girl looked at Cobra with wide eyes. "You are a mage of Fairy Tail! We will not let the Council take you away just because Lahar had decided so! Parole is parole - they must keep you out of prison, not taking you back in!"
"Fucking Lahar seems to have different ideas." Cobra muttered. Lucy said nothing more, keeping her fears and doubts to herself.
They headed home in silence, and when they parted, Lucy only said: "We are coming tomorrow morning, when you leave."
Cobra said nothing. There was nothing to said, anyway. He just waved goodbye, heading to his apartment.
While walking home, he had to fought a little to control the lump that was forming in his throat.
