Chapter 11

(On a small wooden boat in the middle of sea, Mason's POV)

"Ughhh…." My head felt like it was splitting in half, it was incredibly painful but that meant one thing. "I'm alive… Where am I? I remember being pulled into the lacrima then it's just blank." I tried sitting up, when the ground beneath me began to wobble and shake and I immediately grew sick. "Nooo….." I groaned sickly. "I'm on a boat…."

"Ugh!" I struggled to sit up in the rocking dingy, the total lack of magic energy and rough waters did little to help my situation. "I need to get back to Era…. I'm sure my team assumes the worst at this point, so the sooner I get back the better." My eyes narrowed as I was able to focus better. "There's some stuff I need to take care of too…. I think i'm gonna be sick!" My face went green before I passed out once more….

There was nothing but blackness, then I heard a strange voice in my ear. "Who is he?"

"I don't know child, but we must be careful I can sense he's a wizard of sorts" An older man's voice replied.

That's enough, I need to know what's going on. I slowly opened my tired eyes to find a sight I was not quite expecting. "What the hell!" It turned out that my boat had washed up on the shores of a strange Island and in front of me an entire village of multicolored demons and at the head of them a certain older looking purple demon with massive sideburns that hang down almost touching the floor. "Where the hell am I!"

"Welcome to Galuna Island!" The towns people all greeted me with a friendly shout.

"Oh, that makes sense. I've read about this place in one of the Fairy Tail files." Now armed with more information, I was able to calm down and think more clearly, but there was another problem.

GRUMMBBBLLE! A loud growl rang from my stomach. "I hate to ask, but do you guys have anything to eat?" I asked, before all the towns people went pale.


(days later, on the road to Era)

Mason found himself alone walking the dirt road that would return him home. While he was excited to be reunited with his friends once more, he found that his mind was preoccupied by other thoughts.

'Jellal… I gave that fight everything I had in me but I didn't stand a chance, he was just toying with me. He was more powerful than I ever thought possible, Jose was a wizard saint as well but there powers were nowhere near the same level. But somehow Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail managed to beat him. Natsu's no slouch by any means, but regardless he's only a guild wizard. I'm a soldier, an elite at that. I've been fighting powerful evil mages almost all my life, I train nearly everyday but somehow Natsu managed to achieve a level of magic power I've never seen before. It's crazy, maybe there's more to guild life than I thought.' Mason thought to himself as he walked the lonely road.

"HELP!" A voice that sounded as if it belonged to an older man called out through the trees.

"What the!?" Mason quickly snapped out of his head. "Sounds like trouble, looks like I'm back on the clock already. Of course this world couldn't just let a dead man rest for at least a week." With that the snowy haired wizard flipped his ever dark hood on over his face and continued forward.

"AAHH! Please, just leave me alone!" An older gentlemen pleaded as he backed up into his stagecoach, he shook as he moved. "I'm no wizard, but this wagon holds everything I own. I just want to move to the capital and try to expand my business. If you take it, my livelihood will be completely destroyed."

"Well that sounds like your problem, doesn't it grandpa." One of the thugs, a muscular man with tanned skin and a bald head mocked the old merchant.

"Now hand over your wagon before things get messy." Another bandit withs slicked back black hair and a long cylindrical body.

"No please…" The old man whimpered.

"Hey!" Mason called out, his face still covered by his hood as he slowly approached the confrontation. "Walk away guys, this doesn't need to get messy. Could you really sleep at night knowing you intentionally ruined some old man's life?"

"Like a baby." The bigger brute mocked. "And it's not like he'd be the first old man anyway."

"Ever since the attack on the magic council, this road has been easy pickings for wizards of are calibur." The smaller one who appeared to be more intelligent of the two continued. "I suggest you mind your own business before things get ugly for you."

'The council was attacked?' Mason thought to himself, as he just stood there motionless.

"Not gonna walk away, huh?" The slim bandit reeled back before leaping forward. "It's your funeral! SNAKE MAGIC! TOXIC FANG!" The bandit opened his crooked jaw and four long fangs extended in his mouth.

"Huh?" Mason wasn't paying attention as his attacker flew through the air at him. Mason stood pat and the snakelike mage prepared to bite down on the dragon slayer, but his fangs and then his entire body just passed right through Mason unable to touch or grab onto him anywhere.

"What the?!" The attacking mage stuttered in confusion.

Mason turned around slightly and pointed his hand towards the bandit. "PHANTOM DRAGON SHOT!" The wizard fired a volleyball sized energy ball at the man that exploded rendering him unconscious.

Mason then turned to the muscular bandit, getting him to sweat. But he stood his ground regardless. "Grrrr…. STONE MAKE CAGE!" A cage made out of solid rock surrounded the hooded mage, seemingly capturing him. "HA! Gotcha, now to make my getaway!" But with a single step, Mason's body passed through the cage like it wasn't even their. "C'mon!"

"PHANTOM DRAGON!" Mason chanted before disappearing into midair. The muscular bandit scanned back and forth across the wooded area but couldn't see a thing, until. "VANISHING FIST!" Mason appeared directly in front of the man and pluged his glowing purple fist deep into his abdomen, knocking him down for the count.

With the two men now unconscious Mason pulled of his black hood and used his magic power to transform it into a long metal chain which he wrapped around the two criminals then began to lift them into the air with telekinesis letting them float like a balloon.

"Thank you sir! Thank you very much!" The old man thanked Mason with tears in his, but the Dragon Slayer simply kept walking past him.

"Don't mention it." Mason brushed him off carrying his bandit balloon along with him. 'I just hope everybody's alright…'


(Custody Enforcement Unit, Temporary headquarters)

In a unfurnished warehouse in Era sat at dusty old table the Custody Enforcement Units new 2nd Captain Tyson Hammer sat working on piles of unfinished paperwork.

"Crap…" The older man grumbled to himself. "Not only is there more work to deal with after news got out of the attack on the council, but those of us that are left have to pick up the slack until replacements can be found. It's especially hard now that we're down a pair of hands…" Also at the table sat Amber Celadon the new 4th captain polishing a magic pistol as well as Julia Moors the new 5th captain looking over a piece of paper. "Julia, what's the report say."

"Nothing good. After the council went down, a majority of the troops dropped out. Apparently Sieg- I mean Jellal was very popular with a lot of soldiers, and Mason's entire battalion chose to leave after receiving news of his sacrifice. Are numbers are down to about 5000 at the moment, barely enough to keep the piece. Citizens are complaining bandit attacks but unfortunately we don't have the manpower to deal with minor crimes like that." Julia explained in a depressed tone.

"Scum…" Tyson growled. "The lowest of the low, choosing to strike now while we're at are weakest and we don't have the funds to pay new soldiers to help deal with them…"

"Wait. So you mean I'm not getting paid for these?" A familiar voice called out from the corner of the room causing everyone to drop what they were doing and turn to the door where Mason stood holding his human balloon, the crooks still unconscious as Mason lifted his levitation spell letting the thugs drop to the ground. "What's up gu-uggghhh!" Mason couldn't finish before he was tackled to the ground by Julia and Amber.

"I knew it! You're alive!" Julia cried out with tears in her eyes.

"We thought you were in the tower when it went boom…" Amber didn't exactly cry or show much emotion but you could tell she was relieved.

"Yeah, I thought I was too. Guess not though." Mason smiled, but eventually he got tired of being smothered. "Okay hop up."

The two girls got off of him and Tyson offered a helping hand, Mason took it and it quickly turned into a massive bear hug. CRACK! "Your alive! The Fairys told us you sacrificed yourself in the tower." Rivers of tears began to flow from the giants eyes.


(Flashback, on the Magic Council ship after Jellal was defeated)

"Hey." Amber called out in her soft monotone voice as she examined the horizon through the scope on her riffle. "I found something." After she said this Natsu and Erza were fished out of rough waters in a net, and the two of them were reunited with their guildmates and Erza's old friends.

"Wheres Mason?" Brosnan asked, her voice flooded with concern as she and her fellow captains approached the water logged redhead.

"Mason….and simon sacrificed themselves to protect us from Jellal and his tower. They're dead..." Erza, full of sorrow addressed everyone present.

"No simon…" Sho could believe what he was hearing, as Wally removed his hat in respect.

"No! Maaahhhh-kun!" Millianna sobbed.

Amber stood silent, her eyes wide in disbelief as Tyson clinched his shaking fist. Julia covered her mouth and turned away to keep from sobbing aloud.

"No way…" Brosnan's mouth was agape as she stared out into the black waves as the tower of heaven crumbled before her. Her entire body shook as she slowly walked over to the side of the boat and put her hands on the railing. A single tear fell from her cheek and into the sea below. "How could you…. You just left….YOU DAMN IDIOT!" She screamed at the top of her lungs as more tears began to stream down her face.


(End of flashback)

"So Natsu and Erza made it out okay… That's good. Sorry for worrying all of you though." Mason lowered his head briefly feeling bad that he made all of his friends feel bad. He looked back up at Tyson. "Speaking of the boss, where is she."

"She and Lahar are both out on missions. There's been a lot of work after the council's attack, but things are starting to look up now that you're here. Maybe you can convince your soldiers to return to battle." Tyson went on with his optimism, causing Mason to sweat a bit.

"Ummm well here's the thing…" Mason said, fidgeting as he did so.

"WHAT?!" Tyson and Julia yelled, there faces covered in shock as Amber remained indifferent. "Your quiting the Custody Enforcement Unit? Why?" Tyson finished.

Mason took a second to think about it before answering. "Well, Jellal is dead… He's been my driving force for so long, but when I finally went face to face with him I didn't stand a chance. I refuse to believe that Natsu's ceiling is just higher than mine, so there's gotta be something to his strength that I'm just not getting. I need to find that thing before the next Jellal shows up and I've spent years here and I couldn't find it so it's gotta be out in the world somewhere."

"But you just got back…" Tyson pleaded once again with teary eyes. "Don't you wanna wait until Brosnan gets back?"

"Actually about that…" Mason scratched his chin. "It may be better if you guys broke the news to her. I'm not exactly great with goodbyes but I think it would help to have a head start." Just as he said this he heard a loud THUD! from behind him and he immediately got chills. He turned around to see Brosnan standing outside of her armor in the doorway a heavy napsack on the ground next to her.

She remained silent for a time as the two stared at each other. "Mason?... You're alive…"

Mason couldn't help but smile back at the girl. "Sup Boss…" Brosnan ran up and wrapped the boy in her arms and held him there for a time, a long time… "I think I'm hugged out today." Mason phased through the girls arms and took a few steps back, his face looked a bit troubled.

"What's wrong?… You look nervous.." Brosnan tried to approach again but Mason kept a safe distance.

"Nothing's wrong." Mason lied. "Coming back to life is just a bit tougher than it looks." Mason faked a smile.

"Mason-san is leaving…" Amber blurted out, causing the dragon slayer to break out in a cold sweat.

"Leaving? You already assigned him a mission, that's a shame I just got back. I guess we'll celebrate when you get back." Brosnan too happy at the return of her friend to stop smiling.

"No." Tyson spoke up, getting Mason to sweat even more. "Amber means that Mason plans to resign."

"Resign?" Brosnan sounded confused and when she looked over at Mason she could read everything on his face.

"Look on the bright side." Julia who sounded upset spoke up. "At least this time he decided to say goodbye before disappearing."

Brosnan began to shake with fury, and Mason quickly jumped in to try to calm her down. "Uh… Boss it's not personal I promise… But now that Jellal is gone, I have to find something new ya know… I'll come visit I promise…" Eventually Brosnan stopped shaking and she looked up at Mason with an extremely serious glare.

"Captain Mason Alastor." Brosnan said in an authoritative tone. "You broke command by leaving your post as supervisor of the Fairy Tail guild and at the same time impeded the operation of the Tower of Heaven. For failing to follow orders as Head Captain of the Custody Enforcement Unit, I hereby strip you of your command and relieve you of your duty. You are dismissed."

Mason was stunned for a moment, but eventually smiled back at his old friend. "Thank you sir." He saluted before turning around and walking out the door, but before he could leave.

"Where do you think you'll go?" Tyson called to him.

Mason turned back to face his old mentor. "Honestly I don't really know."

"Yeah you do…" Tyson saw right through the boy. "If you hurry you may make it back in time for the Magnolia Festival. I hear it's a spectacle that's not to be passed up."

"Uh thanks…" Mason took one last look at his friends before leaving. "Hey, I'll see you guys around. I'll be back I promise."


(Later at magnolia station)

"Ughhh…. Trains…." Mason groaned as he stepped of the loading platform still shaken from the ride, but he was quickly revitalized by the smell of baked goods and fresh flowers and soon a smile appeared on his face. "New home, new beginning. Time to get started."

Mason strolled down busy street after busy street making sure to avoid bouts of magic combat as he did so. "These fairies are crazy, hopefully they'll still have a part for me when I show up." Mason eventually reached the mainstreet of Magnolia where he found the rebuilt Fairy Tail guild hall. "Well, looks like they finished it. I hope they're ready to roll out the welcome wagon."

The door was open so Mason chose to simply stroll in. "Hello Fairy Tail, I have returned!" Mason entered the room to find Natsu and Master Makarov sitting together alone in the massive guild hall. "Okay, not the reception I was hoping for but okay…"

The two stood silently for a moment, until. "A GHOST!" Natsu jumped up in fear.

"No I'm not a ghost. I just didn't die on the tower." Mason explained with roll of his eyes.

Natsu slowly and carefully approached Mason and began to sniff the air around him. "Okay, it checks out. He's alive." Natsu said with a thumbs up.

"Listen kid, I'm a little busy right now. It's great that you're not dead and all but I don't have time to deal with the magic councils crap." The old Fairy Tail master's temper was almost as short as he was.

"No I'm not with the council anymore. You see..." Mason continued as Makarov's eyes widened. "..So I was actually kinda hoping that I could…"

Makarov turned to the boy and lifted his hand, suddenly light began to glow on the side of Mason's neck and before he could say another word the Fairy Tail guild mark had formed itself a few inches above his collarbone. "Listen kid." Makarov spoke up. "You're a member of Fairy Tail now and your guild needs you to fight are you up for it?" Mason nodded slowly as he took in the bizarre circumstances. "Ok, let me explain." Makarov was quick explaining the current situation that the guild found itself in.

"Alright, I got it." Mason stood up and saluted the guild master. "I won't let you down I promise." Mason turned to the door and began sprinting for it, but before he could exit. "OOFF!" Mason slammed into an invisible wall as red rune signs appeared before him. Natsu and Makarov both became pale as Mason picked himself up. "What the?!"


(end of chapter)