Chapter 12

"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?!"

As the two wizards behind him gave up hope Mason began to sink through the floor beneath him before reemerging on the other side of the magic barrier. "They always forget to extend the barrier below the ground." Mason stood up and brushed off his pants.

"Wait!" Makarov called out from behind the barrier. "You were an elite in the magic council weren't you? Can't you lift this barrier."

"Yeah, probably." Mason said before turning away from the old man. "But this way was faster…" Mason then disappeared into thin air without another word.


(Later)

"All right wise guy, where are you?" The smoke wizard Wakaba Mine stood on guard as he faced the unseen foe. "I saw Freed's Runes activate, so that means there's gotta be someone else around. Quit your stalling, Mirajane and the others need saving so let's get this over with already."

"As you wish..." Mason suddenly appeared less than a meter in front of Wakaba, catching him off guard and startling him. Mason had his hood covering his face but his two bright red eyes shined through almost as if they were glowing. "Let's get this over with…" Mason lifted his arms and purple energy began to form around his hands.

"I know you, you're that council dog they sent to watch us. You're not a member of Fairy Tail!" Wakaba called out as a swarm of miniature fists made of smoke emerged from his pipe.

Mason disappeared and Wakaba's attack missed him. "I am now…" The disembodied voice called back.

"Come out and fight you coward!" The normally laxed Wakaba was becoming increasingly frustrated.

"Okay." Mason said in a mocking tone before reappearing and blasting the smoke mage in the back with a two handed blast, knocking him down. Mason walked over to the grounded veteran and picked him up by the chin and began staring into his eyes. "I'm trying to leave a good impression with my new guild mates so I'm not gonna beat you bloody. Try and remember that none of this real, ok. Dragon Slayer Forbidden Art! Timor!" Mason's eyes flashed before Wakaba's eyes began to glow red as well.

"AHHHH! AAAAAAHHHHHH!" Wakaba began to scream in terror for a time before he had enough. "MAKE IT STOP! I SURRENDER!" Wakaba dropped into a fetal position, as the magic rune barrier dissipated symbolizing that Mason had won the fight.

Mason snapped his fingers and Wakaba's eyes returned to normal and Mason's spell was lifted, but the mental stress caused him to collapse.

"Sorry bout that." Mason apologized as he walked past the fallen wizard. "That makes three fairies, Makarov made this sound almost like a game. I wonder if I'm winning or not?" Mason thought aloud as he walked down the streets of magnolia, the cloaked mage gathered the attention of passersby.

'I guess we're already in the late game, I can walk around freely without worrying too much about getting into a fight. It's almost sad, I wish I'd gotten here sooner.' Mason thought to himself as he scanned for any possible challengers. 'I won't act like I know the guy, I only ever met him once but…..'


(Flashback/ Mason's POV)

'Back before the events on the tower of heaven.'I narrated. 'Laxus paid the guild a visit while it was still being reconstructed and he had a few choice words for me.'

"And the biggest embarrassment of all! It turns out that you losers need a babysitter!" Laxus berated his guildmates before turning to me with a death glare. "Hey you! Council dog! Do you think you can just walk in here and make the rules like you own the place! If you think you can tell me what to do you've got another thing comin!"

I looked up at him and made sure to keep a straight. "Look I'm not here to tell you guys what to do. I'm more than willing to let you do whatever it is you do, its less paperwork for me that way. As long as you don't blow up anymore cities we should be fine." I stood up to face Laxus, but he was still a head taller than me. "You don't mess with me and I won't mess with you. Deal?"

Laxus growled a bit in frustration but eventually he backed down. "Whatever… I'm outta here anyway…"


(End of flashback)

'So it's not like I want I know him very well, but I never got the feeling that he was evil or some sort of psychopath.' Mason thought as he walked down the crowded street. 'I mean I got the feeling that he was a jerk but I just thought he was passionate about his guild. Maybe Makarov is over exaggerating, turning the girls to stone is one thing but just look.' Mason passed by shops and restaurants teaming with people in seemingly high spirits. 'Not a single civilian has been hurt, I don't think Laxus is the evil villain he's making himself out to be.'

"Um excuse me sir…" A timid middle aged woman approached Mason, shaking as she did so. "I hate to bother you but it's festival time here in magnolia and your hood is frightening the children… and some of the adults. I hope its not too much trouble if you remove it."

"Oh, no my bad…" Mason felt a bit embarrassed as his hood and cloak began to glow purple before reducing itself into a small black armband, letting his messy white hair flow in the wind. Under the cloak mason wore a sleeveless white T-Shirt along with baggy black pants. 'Crap! I'm drawing more attention to myself than the enemy…'

"Hey… Your a member of Fairy Tail right?" A man from one of the shops called out to Mason, getting him to jump without his hood on his new guild mark was clearly visible. "Can you tell us what the heck is going on? I saw a couple of your buddies fighting earlier and they almost destroyed my shop here. What's the deal?"

"Sorry…." Mason forced a smile to keep spirits high. "It was meant to be like an appetizer for the Fantasia Parade this evening but you know my guildmates I'm sure things went overboard. Just a few sparring matches for your viewing pleasure, but it's probably a better idea to keep a safe distance…"

"I swear that crazy guild of yours gives me second thoughts about living here." The shop owner said with a shake of his head.

"Haaahhh…" Mason let out a deep sigh. 'I can't get distracted, I gotta keep an eye out for trouble.'

"Woah!" A young boy with a marveled look in his eyes approached Mason from the front. "Are you really a Fairy Tail wizard, I don't recognize you at all."

"Uh, I'm brand new…" Mason's voice began to shake as more and more strangers started to approach him. "I just joined today actually, but I used to work for the magic council as a Rune Knight…."

"A Rune Knight huh? I hope you're in for a major culture shock buddy, our Fairy Tail is anything but organized and disciplined." A younger gentleman said with a chuckle.

"A new member huh? What kind of magic do you use." A lady asked from behind him.

"Look at that white hair, he's gotta be some sort of Ice Mage or something." A man answered back.

"Woah, he's pretty cute.." A Girl said with a giggle.

"So what's your name newbie." An older gentleman asked bluntly.

"I... Uh… Umm… Well…." Mason started shaking and had trouble answering. 'Crap, I can't stand crowds. This is bad, I feel like I'm gonna faint…'


(With Erza)

'Laxus you idiot!' Erza thought as she stomped down the streets of Magnolia dressed up like some sort of gothic maid complete with head dress. 'You've always been head strong and full of yourself, but you've gone and taken things too far this time. I'll defeat you and win this Battle of Fairy Tail myself! And save our friends!' Erza raced down the paved streets before she came across a crowd of people gathered around something.

"What's this?" Erza asked the crowd, but she didn't receive an answer. "Hmph! Fine, I'll find out myself!" Erza said as she tossed a man aside who was in her way. "Move it!"

Erza began to quickly muscle her way through the crowd. "What's going on here? Laxus, Is wear if you…." As she reached a clearing her eyes bulged and she lost her train of thought. "... No way…."

"Have you met Guildarts yet?" One of the crowd members yelled out.

"Is Gray single?!" One of the woman followed up.

"Shhh! Give him a chance to answer!" One of the onlookers hushed the crowd.

Mason shook as he stood, a nervous sweat began to form across his face. "W-Well.. I uh…. Ummm…." Mason stuttered for a moment but his eyes lit up as he recognized a familiar face. "Erza!" Mason phased through the crowd to make his way to his new guildmate. "You're not a statue anymore!"

SMACK! Erza struck Mason across the face, knocking jaw back as she did so. Mason paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "Ouch!"

"What the hell were you thinking!" Erza yelled back with teary eyes. "How are you still alive, and if you were alive the whole time then why didn't you come back sooner! I cried for you! Sho, Wally and Millianna all cried for you! Why didn't you come back sooner!"

Erza was on the verge of sobbing and Mason saw that they were causing a scene. "I promise I'll tell you what happened, but not right here." Mason grabbed the redhead by her hand and the two of them vanished from sight.

"Huh? Where'd they go?" The crowd asked as they searched for the fairies.


(Later)

"Whooh!" Mason sighed in relief, whipping the sweat from his brow as he and Erza became visible once more away from the crowd. "I'm glad we got out of their."

Erza didn't quite grasp what had just happened, but when she looked down she saw that Mason's hand was still firmly intertwined with hers. She quickly pulled back from him and crossed her arms definitely as she turned her head refusing to look at him. "How dare you touch me without my consent. Last time I saw you, you flung me from the Tower of Heaven and then I watched it explode and you have yet to explain how your standing here today. For all I know you could be some sort of imposter."

Mason stood stunned for a moment before he began crossing as well. "Your one to talk. Last time I saw you, you were a statue. Now I'm here fighting for a guild I just joined an hour ago. How do I know Laxus or one of his buddies isn't using shapeshifter magic to try and take me out of the game."

"Hmph!" Erza scoffed. "As if anyone would need to use underhanded tactics to beat you. What are they scared you'll pull another useless power up out of your ass." Erza continued in a mocking tone. "Behold! My Phantom Drive that never works on anyone! Now tremble!"

"Oh yeah…" Mason glared back at his childhood friend. "I could kick your sorry butt no matter which of your bazillion armors you choose to use. Tell me has the mighty Purgatory Armor ever actually beat anybody." Mason kept an angry glare for a few more seconds before it broke into a smile. "I guess we both have explaining to do."


(Even Later)

"Okay, so how exactly does having a glass eye keep you from becoming a total statue?" Mason asked as the two teenagers strolled down a nearly empty street.

"Because Evergreen's attack only worked if she looked in both of her targets eyes. You tell me how you got back from Galuna Island!" Erza called back more demanding than her companion.

"Uh… I took a boat…" Mason said as if it were obvious. Mason stood silent for a moment getting Erza to stop as well. "Listen, I just wanted to say that i'm sorry… about Jellal…"

"Waahhh!" Erza jumped back, she clearly wasn't expecting to hear that name. "Wh-What do you mean? He was our enemy, and he hurt so many people! H-He got what was coming to him right?"

"Cut the crap…" Mason deadpanned. "Don't treat me like Natsu or Gray, I'm not that dense. I know you were crushing on him pretty hard. And… he was my friend too. Sometimes I wish he was still with us, even when we were on the tower I thought deep down that I could change him back to the way he was before but I couldn't. Part of me for some reason refuses to accept the fact that he's dead, I mean if I got out okay why couldn't he ya know but I think I have accepted that the Jellal we knew back when we were kids is gone…" Mason lowered his head before he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"No you don't." Erza said with a smile. "You're like me deep down Jellal will always be your friend and he'll always be a part of you, but you're on the right track. Neither of us will ever forget the person he was, but I think both of us need to do a better job of getting over him."

"Y-yeah.." Mason nodded and the two slowly continued their walk. They didn't get much further before Mason's nose began to twitch. "Crap!" Mason grabbed hold of Erza's arm and brought her in close to his chest and rose his other hand into the sky and created a shield of magic energy that blocked an incoming barrage of Magic blasts.

Meanwhile, as Mason kept the bullets of light away from him and Erza the sword mage's face began to turn a bright red as she felt her old friends arm tight around her shoulder. She looked up and got a good look at Mason's brand new snow white guild mark. 'Am I dreaming?...'

"How cute!" The unseen foe called out from above. "I never could've guessed that Titania would be the type to go out and get a boyfriend!"

Mason sniffed around trying to pick up the scent of their attacker, before he lept to the top of one of the surrounding buildings.

"Hey wait!" Erza called out before following the boy up to the rooftop. When she got up there she saw Mason staring down a girl with brown hair tied in a sideways ponytail wearing a flower like green dress with white wings protruding from the back and glasses over her eyes. "Evergreen…" Erza growled.

"Wow Titania, this one's actually pretty cute. I always you'd settle for a one of those other losers like Natsu or Gray." The brunette taunted.

"Evergreen?" Mason mulled the name over in his head for a bit. "Yeah Makarov mentioned you, your one of Laxus' Thunder Buddies or something like that. You're the one who turned all the ladies into stone. I don't typically like fighting girls but that's reason enough to kick your butt." Mason began channeling magic power into his fists as he prepared for battle.

"Listen your new right?" Evergreen asked not really taking the boy seriously. "So I'm not gonna act like this is really your fight, so if you wanna leave now's your chance."

"Pffft! As if! Last time I checked this was called The Battle of Fairy Tail right?" Mason lifted his head to extend his neck and show off his guild mark. "This symbol means that this is just as much my fight as it is anyone's! Now let's go! You and me!"

"Haha! I guess you've made your point." Evergreen said as she fiddled with her glasses a bit. "If you're really that anxious to die, than who am I to get in your way?"

"Wait just a second!" Erza blurted out before she summoned a short sword to her hand. "If you think you can leave me out, you have another thing coming! I have to defend my guild too!"

"Fine! I'll take you both on and prove who the real queen of the fairies is!" Evergreen smiled as she prepared a magic attack in her hands.

Mason began smiling a toothy grin as he couldn't help but get excited for a fight but his nose suddenly began to twitch once more and his face suddenly went pale. "No way….." Muttered loud enough for the other two to hear.

"Mason you look terrified, is something wrong." Erza was quick to ask.

"You can handle this without me right? There's something I need to take care of." Mason didn't even look at Erza to answer her.

"What's going on, are you okay?" Erza tried to approach her friend but before she could he vanished from sight.


(Elsewhere)

On the outskirts of Magnolia, a man cloaked in tattered blue sporting a mask over his face and carrying an array of magic staffs on his back. "Home at last." The strange man spoke in an voice that was frighteningly familiar. "I'm here to put an end to you Laxus." But before this stranger could take another step.

BOOOMM! An explosion of purple energy erupted in front of the strange man stopping him in his tracks, the new comer looked off in the distance to see Mason standing atop a building with his hand pointed out towards the man.

"You have major balls coming here, I'll tell you. Did you think I wouldn't smell you coming a mile away, and that I'd ever let you anywhere near me or my friends again without a fight? I'd recognize your stench a hundred miles away." Mason lifted his hand and magic energy began to glow around the strangers ask before it was yanked of his face, revealing a mess of blue hair. "I knew you were still alive, but I never thought you'd be stupid enough to show your face around here Jellal!"


(end)