DISCLAIMER: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima, and the Maxwell sisters and Arthur Brookstone belong to me.
Chapter 1: The Magic Flu
It was a normal day at the Fairy Tail guild hall. Ariella had just returned from work at the town's flower shop and it wasn't as busy as some previous days. She observed her guild mates having a good time, as they always did, and it made her feel like at home every time she would go there. With them and her younger sister by her side, Ari believed that she was never alone.
But for Juno, who was a fun-loving prankster on a typical basis, she wasn't feeling like herself this time around. She was complaining about her body feeling warmer than it normally would, followed by aches throughout and coughing at times. It was concerning for Ariella, and she had to act fast. She took her sister out of the Fairy Tail guild hall and into the East Forest to see Porlyusica, with the guild muttering throughout with concerns about the Maxwell sisters.
Juno was tucked in a bed as she had her temperature taken by Porlyusica, with her older sister watching anxiously from nearby. A thermometer had just picked up the exact temperature of Juno's body: a fever of one hundred and one degrees. But that wasn't all; the elderly woman had also discovered that Juno's magic energy was drastically reduced to a low amount. It was one thing that she found alarming, and it was not a good sign for the poor Nature Mage.
"It is just as I suspected," Porlyusica said with a grim look on her face. "Your sister has the magic flu."
Ariella's pale blue eyes widened in horror the moment she heard the dreaded words. It couldn't be! Juno was perfectly healthy when she left for Lamia Scale. It was impossible that she had become sick shortly after she returned home.
"And she's not the only one who has it. There are currently two ongoing outbreaks of the magic flu, one in Lamia Scale and another in Blue Pegasus. This resulted in the guilds closing their guild halls temporarily and quarantining their members. Fairy Tail will need to do the same immediately, or else it will become the third spot of a magic flu outbreak."
"Juno was at Lamia Scale this past weekend to visit her boyfriend Arthur," Ariella said to her. "So she must have been exposed to it by someone who had it. I should have warned her about it sooner."
"Likely so," Porlyusica replied to her with a nod. "Now, Juno must stay here with me as I work on an antidote for her condition. As for you, you must go into quarantine with your guild mates. I will notify Makarov via a Lacrima Crystal Ball that he will need to close the guild hall for at least fourteen days."
"But I can't leave Juno alone. She's my younger sister and I—"
"She has to be isolated from you and the rest of the guild!" the elderly woman snapped, startling the blonde Nature Mage. "You don't want to risk getting yourself infected with the magic flu because of her, do you?"
"…No…"
"Then you must adhere to my words of advice and have your guild go into quarantine as soon as possible. I'll keep a close watch on your sister and do what I can to prepare her antidote."
"Yes, Porlyusica," Ariella said to her with a bow, but as she was about to leave, she turned back to see Juno one last time.
"I hope you will recover soon, Juno," she said to her, with deeply concerned eyes. As soon as she departed Porlyusica's house, tears began to form in her eyes. She could hardly bear the fact that she had to abandon her ill sister for the sake of her own safety, but she had to do it to protect the guild she cared about—including the man she loved dearly, Freed.
Upon Ariella's return to the guild hall, everyone was still concerned about Juno They observed her approaching their elderly master, Makarov, and requesting that she talk to him privately in his office. Makarov agreed, and they headed off to his office with whispers being heard throughout.
"I hope Juno's alright," Happy said to Natsu.
"Me too, buddy," Natsu replied with a nod. "But I'm just as worried about Ari. She doesn't look too happy."
Ari…, Lucy thought of her, with a worried expression on her face. She didn't like seeing her close friend feeling down, but like Natsu and Happy, she was also troubled about Juno.
After a minute or so had passed, Makarov and Ariella reemerged from his office and headed downstairs to the front of the stage, where Erza had just ordered the entire guild to gather around. They could hear the chatter going on, and they were quite anxious about what was going on with Juno.
"May I have your attention, please," the master said to them, as everyone started to quiet down.
"Ariella has just returned after dropping her sister off at Porlyusica's house, and from what she told me, we have some unfortunate news about Juno. She… has been diagnosed with the magic flu."
The entire guild gasped in horror, as they had also heard news stories about the magic flu and were aware of the outbreaks going on at Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus. However, the newest report that Sabertooth had also just become a new spot of a magic flu outbreak and had to close down their guild hall had left the entire country of Fiore on edge.
"Calm yourselves!" Erza urged them. "Please, let the master continue speaking."
"But the magic flu is spreading like wildfire!" Wakaba exclaimed.
"We'll be the next guild to have it too!" Macao added, holding his son Romeo close to him. "My son and I cannot be the next ones to become infected and die from it!"
"Master," Erza said to Makarov. "The guild is on pins and needles due to the spreading news of the magic flu outbreak. They know the symptoms ranging from fever to significant drainage of magical power. It'll render them useless if they catch it while out on a job, but the good thing is that it is treatable."
"Yes, I'm well aware of that," Makarov answered her. "However, all of this panic will leave them more vulnerable to the magic flu if they can't control their stress. This is why the time to take action and help them calmly prepare is now."
The alarming chatter was growing louder, and it would soon become an uproar if they weren't able to hear some positive aspects to balance out their fears of the ongoing outbreak.
"Everyone! Please, quiet down!" Erza ordered them. "Let the master continue. He does have some reassuring news about her, though."
The volume of chatter had turned down in time for Makarov to resume his announcement, albeit their concerns about the flu and the possibility of them catching it did remain high.
"According to Porlyusica, Juno only has a mild case of the magic flu and will be expected to recover from it in fourteen days," the elderly man explained to them. "In the meantime, we have been recommended by her that we go into quarantine during the timeframe of Juno's recuperation, while an antidote is being made."
"Quarantine?!" the guild members all exclaimed in shock.
Now the uproar had resumed once more. So much for trying to calm them down…
"Alright, settle down!" Makarov urged them. "There is no need to panic. We must prepare ourselves for what could become a pandemic. This flu virus only affects wizards like us, but we still need to take these safety measures to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
He was handed a piece of paper that was attached to a clipboard by Erza, "We will be moving into dormitories that will be temporarily used for our quarantine rooms. I will divide this guild into groups of two or three."
Everyone groaned in dismay; they hated being separated from their friends and teammates and it would be depressing of them going through the self-isolation.
"When we go to the dormitories, I will go over the rules will be put into effect the moment you move in. You must obey them at all costs."
Another wave of groans was heard from the guild members, with grievances that soon followed. It was starting to get on the master's nerves, with red veins popping up on his head as he was growling in annoyance.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" he boomed, rapidly growing into his giant form.
The sight of Makarov as an irate giant gave the guild members quite a scare, and it drastically reduced the commotion to a state of terrified silence. Once he was satisfied with them quieting down, he shrank himself back to his normal size.
"Thank you," he said to them in his normal tone of voice. He cleared his throat and held up the clipboard as he then added, "I will now announce the groups."
Everyone remained silent as Makarov read the first group off the list. They were wondering who would be with who and where they would go for their fourteen days of isolation.
"Group One: Natsu Dragneel, Happy, and Lucy Heartfilia."
"Hooray! The original Team Natsu is together!" Happy cheered, flying all around Natsu.
"That's good, but you two better not rummage through the fridge!" Lucy scolded them. "You have to share the food with me; it'll be a waste of money for me if you do eat it all in one day. Plus, I need my money to pay for my monthly rent!"
"Don't worry about it, Luce," Natsu reassured her. "Happy and I promise sure to share the food with you. But you're in charge of buying groceries for us, though."
That irked Lucy, as because she had always had to run into financial problems of her own despite being born into the wealthy Heartfilia family.
"Thanks a lot…," she grumbled to him, with Natsu and Happy grinning.
"Group Two: Gray Fullbuster and…"
Gray was keeping his fingers crossed as soon as he heard his name being called. He had high hopes of being paired up with Loke, who was his partner in the X784 S-Class Trials. Unfortunately for him, Loke was one of Lucy's Celestial Spirits and he had to remain in the Celestial Spirit World for his own safety, with concerns about the magic flu outbreak.
"Juvia Lockser."
Oh, no…, Gray thought, as he could feel his heart dropping. He dreaded being hugged tightly by the rain woman who had been infatuated with him since they first met during the war with Phantom Lord. Why couldn't she give him a break for at least once in a while?
Almost immediately, Juvia zipped over to Gray and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a constricted squeeze. She nuzzled her face against his, to the Ice-Make mage's dismay.
"Get off me. I don't want to get sick because of you," he grimaced, trying to push her away. But she simply wouldn't let go of him; her wish to be alone with Gray was finally coming true!
"Oh, my darling, Gray," Juvia crooned to him sweetly. "I'll be free to nurse you back to health if you do end up catching the magic flu. You'll have to rely on me for some JLC: Juvia, Love and Care!"
Gray let out another groan of dismay, shaking his head as he lowered it. Juvia continued to hug him and her face nuzzled his once more.
Two groups down, and onto the next one for Makarov to read: "Group Three: Wendy Marvell, Erza Scarlet and Carla."
"Well, it's a relief that I won't have to deal with the tomcat offering me a foul-smelling fish," Carla thought aloud.
"On the bright side, the three of us are together, Carla," Wendy said enthusiastically. "That would mean quiet nights for us."
"I hope so, child."
It was onto the next group as Makarov read aloud: "Group Four."
Elfman was having butterflies in his stomach, with hopes that he will be staying with his two sisters. He didn't know what he would do without them; he had to be there to protect them from a potential spread of the flu virus.
"Lisanna Strauss and Bickslow."
Elfman was left in utter dismay. His jaw dropped and his eyes widened in astonishment; his fear of being separated from his sisters was about to become a reality.
"Sorry, big brother Elf," Lisanna said with a wistful smile on her face. "I was hoping for us to be together too, but that's too bad."
The white-haired muscular mage turned to Bickslow and gave the Seith Mage a glare.
"What are you looking at?" Bickslow asked him.
"You'd better take good care of my little sister. I don't want her to become the next to have the magic flu!" Elflman boasted.
"Ah, don't worry," the navy-haired man reassured him. "I'll make sure she's in good hands, as long a she's got me and the babies by her side."
"Yeah! Lissy fine! Lissy fine!" his five dolls chimed in unison, hovering around their master and Lisanna.
"Group Five: Elfman Strauss and Evergreen."
Elfman jolted and he turned to see Evergreen, who was standing next to him with a frown on her face. It was not a pleasant sight for him, as their first encounter seven years ago wasn't a friendly one. As a matter of fact, he was turned into a stone statue when he lost to her and it was how he originally feared of her when he had to pick her as his partner for the S-Class trials.
"Ohh, great. It is NOT manly at all for me to be with the nagging fairy with the stone eyes!" he grimaced, irking Evergreen.
"You'd better watch your mouth, beast man!" she snapped, whacking him in the head with her fan. "It was bad enough for me to be your partner during the S-Class Trials!"
"S-Sorry, Ever…," Elfman replied, rubbing his head. "But I'm gonna miss my sisters terribly! I'm worried that one of them—or even both—will get sick with the magic flu!"
"You worry too much. Just rest easy and your sisters will be fine."
"She's right, Elfman," Mirajane said to him. "I understand that you are protective of me and Lisanna, but there are times when we can fend for ourselves."
"I guess you're right, Mira. I might even adjust to quarantining with Evergreen for the next two weeks, since they will go by quickly. Right now, I gotta man up for her."
"You'd better," Evergreen replied to him. "I might spare you from turning to stone if you behave yourself when I'm around."
"And you two better start kissing while you're at it!" Bickslow insisted, leaving Elfman and Evergreen with abash faces turning bright red as he started giggling at him.
"The ones who will be staying with me in Group Six are Mirajane and Laxus," Makarov read next, to the surprise of the white-haired mage. But as for his grandson, it was no surprise as he didn't expect to be paired up with her. Plus, his concern was that Sloane would becomes jealous of Mirajane for being with her man, even though the two S-Class mages were solely friends.
"Well, at least I won't be dealing with that brat for a while," Laxus said. He can recall the times that Juno kept targeting him in her numerous pranks or making insulting remarks about him, and that would usually result in her getting zapped by his Lightning Magic or being physically beaten to a pulp. This time around, it seemed like he was getting a break from her.
"Laxus, please be considerate for Juno's sake," Mirajane reminded him. "I understand that she can be a pain to you, but this is a time when you need to have a heart for her. She has the magic flu."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just can't stand her and her childish behavior has to stop. If she weren't this sick, she would have given me a serious headache the whole two weeks."
"Yes, Juno does need to adjust her behavior for your sake, but you should be more understanding of her in this situation. She is one of our comrades, and we cannot let her suffer any longer with this flu. If we want her to fully recover in fourteen days, she will need the love and understanding from all of us… and that will have to include you."
Laxus was hesitant for a moment, but he then realized that Mirajane was right. He had to show some consideration for Juno during her time in recovery, and he did understand that she had just been diagnosed with the magic flu.
"I suppose I have to agree with you," he finally spoke up with a nod. "I get that she has just come down with the magic flu and all, but I'll have to count on the granny and hope that her efforts will help the kid."
A smile of delight lit up on Mirajane's face, revealing that she was relieved about him starting to become more considerate for Juno's sake. Then again, the two had a long way to go if they were to fix their strained relationship.
Ariella could feel her heart thumping in her chest as Makarov was ready to read off the next group. She was unsure about who she would be spending the entire fourteen days with, and Juno was definitely out of the question because of her condition.
"Group 7: Ariella Maxwell and Freed Justine."
It was a surprise for the Nature Mage as she turned to the Rune wizard. She was relieved to be with her beloved Freed during this emergency, as she would turn to him for reassurance whenever she needed it and still had worries about her sister.
In fact, she might even adjust well to this temporary quarantine with him.
"Group Eight: The Conbolt Family and Wakaba Mine."
"Yes! We're still together as a family, Dad!" Romeo cheered, hugging his father.
"We are, son. We are," Macao replied, nodding to him with a merry smile on his face.
"It's good that the three of us are grouped together, but I'll have to ease my smoking when Romeo is around," Wakaba said to him.
"Group Nine is the Connell Family."
Alzack hugged his wife Bisca and young daughter Asuka close, overjoyed by the fact that they will remain together as a family of three during the quarantine.
"Group Ten is Cana Alberona and Gildarts Clive."
"Oh, no…," Cana groaned, with Gildarts cheering. "He is going to be a total nuisance to me with his embarrassing shenanigans."
"Hey, look on the bright side, Cana," Gildarts said to his daughter with a big grin. "We can always drink together."
"Yeah, Dad, we can have drinks together. I'll have to call Mira and ask her to bring some liquor for us."
"Group Eleven is Gajeel Redfox, Levy McGarden and Pantherlily."
Jet and Droy's jaws dropped in shock the moment Makarov announced the names of their teammate and the Iron Dragon Slayer. They dreaded the sight of her with him, as they believed that she had feelings for Gajeel instead of them.
"NOOO! LEVY!" they sobbed, hugging each other tightly. "TEAM SHADOW GEAR IS SEPARATED AGAIN!"
"Relax, you two," Levy coaxed them. "It'll be only for two weeks. When we get back together as Team Shadow Gear, we'll take on a job together."
"Sounds good to us, Levy," Jet agreed, giving her a thumbs up.
"Group Twelve: Jet and Droy."
"Yay! Team Shadow Gear is still together!" the boys cheered, still hugging each other.
"Yes, but Levy is with us," Pantherlily reminded them, only to be yelled at by them: "WE KNOW THAT!"
"Group Thirteen is Max Alors and Warren Rocko."
The Sand Mage and the Telepathy Mage gave each other a high-five, enthusiastic about being partnered up for the quarantine. They were sure that they will adjust well to it, due to how close they had been over the past seven years.
"Group Fourteen: Nab Lasaro, Vijeeter Ecor and Reedus Jonah."
It was great news for the trio, as they were celebrating with a big group hug and they were looking forward to spend the fourteen days together—that is, as long as they would keep their stability in check.
"And Group 15: Laki Olietta and Kinana."
The Wood-Make Mage glanced over at Kinana, as she said to her: "I am optimistic that our partnership will be beneficial over the next fourteen days."
Kinana simply nodded to her in response, as she came over to her and stood by her side.
"Alright, that's all of the groups!" Makarov announced. "Now, for the difficult part. We have to close up the guild hall, pack up everything we need, and go to the dormitory for the rules and room assignments."
A new flu virus poses a threat to the wizards, and all Fairy Tail has to do to defend themselves is to quarantine for two weeks. It may not be be fun, but it's for the best.
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