Chapter 16

(8 Island's restaurant/ Hargeon)

The 8 Island's restaurant a relatively new establishment, but already regarded as one of Hargeon's finest. This is where we find a familiar group of Fairy Tail wizards on a rather peculiar job.

"C'mon, there must be something you want…" Erza who was dressed in a waitresses outfit spoke in a seductive tone as she leaned over onto the table. "So, what'll you have?"

"ONE OF EVERYTHING!" The flustered men screamed their order out for the entire restaurant to hear.

"Excellent." Erza jotted down quickly on a notepad before making her way to the next table over before beginning her seduction act over again. "So… I suppose you'll have the same thing right?"

"No actually." A familiar voice answered back stunning the redhead as Mason slowly handed here his menu. "I'll take two orders of today's special, the soup of the day and a house salad. That should be enough to get me started." Mason smirked as he ordered.

"M-M-M-Mason… What are you doing here?" Erza rushed to try to cover herself up, clearly flustered by her failed seduction tactic. "I thought you were on a solo job that sounded pretty urgent."

"He is." The voice of an older man answered back from the seat across from Mason. "I urgently needed to see an old friend." The chef's hat totting former council member with eyebrows long enough to cover his eyes Mr Yajima sat up and handed in his menu as well. "And I'll take a coffee please."

"Right away sir…" Erza stumbled away in a confused state to fill out the order leaving the two aquaintances to catch up.

"So pops it's been awhile hasn't it?" Mason pulled a deck of playing cards out of his pocket and began using his telekinesis to shuffle the cards in the air over the table. "Lets see how your skills have held up over time."

"Hmmm…." Mr Yajima groaned. "It's nice to see that after all these years not much has changed. You still never learn your lesson."


(Flashback/ Magic Council Headquarters Era)

"I win…" Mr Yajima announced as he laid his cards down on the table. "And that makes it three in a row." The old wizard smirked, his eyebrows still covering his eyes. "Are you ready to give up yet?"

"WHAT THE CRAP!" A young mason growled as he slammed his fists down shaking the table. "How'd you do that! You always beat me you're the only one I can't win against!"

"Now now… There's no shame in second place you should be proud of accomplishing that much." Mr Yajima tried to counsel the young wizard as he carefully and neatly stacked the playing cards.

"No way!" Mason spat back in defiance. "I won't stop until I'm number one, I'm never gonna settle for second place! Deal those cards out old man! We're playing again!"

"Heheh alright if you're that serious then we'll play one more time." Yajima smiled as he passed out the playing cards. "If you beat me then I'll cook you any meal you like."

"HAHA! Alright! There's no way I can lose with a meal on the line." Mason perked up and began to focus on his cards. "Crap! This hand sucks!"


(End of flashback)

"Ughh… What do you mean I lost!" The older mason slammed his fists down on the table like a child. "I want a rematch!"

"Haha.. Some things never change." Mr Yajima threw up a peace sign in victory.

"Ugh…" Mason groan as he slouched down in his booth seat. "So I have to ask. I've been in fairy tail for less then a month but do you know how things are back in the council I mean?"

"Well you should know that I relinquish my seat on the council pretty soon after you left, but unlike you I know to keep in touch with my old friends. Your old comrades are doing just fine and the custody enforcement unit is in full force protecting the law even as the council struggles to reform itself. Though one of your old friends is pretty upset with how distant you've been recently." The old man lifted his eyebrow to glare at Mason.

"Well you know, I've been so busy with work and all that. There really hasn't been time for me to go on a social visit." Mason began to ramble on with excuses all the while his face began to sweat as he rubbed the back of his head. "Anyway it's been good seeing you Mr Yajima but I better get should do this again sometime." Mason scrambled to his feet in an attempt to escape the conversation.

"Wait a second son." Mr Yajima stood up and faced Mason with a concerned look on his face. "There is something else… Before I left the council we got the results back from the search of remnants of the tower of heaven and we didn't find a body and considering you managed to survive the towers destruction it's safe to assume that he did as well…."

"No way…. He's alive ..." Mason stood stunned in the middle of the restaurant drawing some weird stares from the dining crowd.

"Jellal…" Erza who had been eavesdropping for most of the conversation muttered softly as she clung a bit tighter to her notepad.

"We don't know for sure but he's officially at large as opposed to deceased, or at least that's the stance Brosnan is taking and with the current state of the council she's calling the shots. I wanted you to hear it from me and I'm sorry." Mr Yajima bowed his head in disappointment.

"No… It's okay." Mason shook off his uneasy feelings, and his eyes became sharp with determination and rage. "In fact it's better he's alive… That way I'll be able to finally get some closure." The Dragon Slayer growled.

"Now I know that face, quit it. Thoughts like that won't get you anywhere revenge and closure two very different things." Yajima tried to talk some sense into the young man, but his blood was already boiling as he walked out of the packed restaurant, slamming the door behind him as he did so. "Oh, dear. That can't be good."

Meanwhile Mason stomped down the streets of Hargeon, his anger got the best of and triggered his telekinetic powers and made levitate small rocks and stones as he passed them. 'I swear if I ever see that monster again I put him down like the dog he is!' Mason clenched his fist causing all of the stones he was levitating to shatter into dust behind him.


(Days later, on a covered wagon)

"Ugghhhh…. I think I'm gonna be sick…" Natsu's face was almost totally green as the wagon bumped down the trail.

"Ya know sometimes I actually feel bad for the guy." Gray said looking down at Natsu with a pitiful smile before turning his attention to the hooded Mason. "You're a Dragon Slayer too right? You don't look very sick at all."

Mason turned around to face Gray, his face covered up by his hood. "Yeah…. I'm-I'm doing great…. Ughhhh….. Just need some air." Mason took off his hood revealing his face to be a similar green color to Natsu's.

"Guess I spoke too soon. Poor guys." Gray said with a smirk.

"Okay I have a question." Lucy spoke up from the back of the cart. "Erza is a S-Class wizard and a walking arsenal, Gray is nudist who could freeze an entire army if he wanted, Mason is an unseeable untouchable super soldier and Natsu is what happens if you throw a hundred pounds of dynamite into an active volcano. I can summon a perverted bull with a battle axe and a maid. Why am I here again?"

"You heard the Master." Erza sat with her arms crossed and her eyes closed. "We need all hands on deck if we're going to have a chance at beating the Oracion Seis. That's why this coalition between the other guilds was set up."

"According to the council archives before it was destroyed the Oracion Seis is currently the most active member of the Balam Alliance with 482 confirmed kills amongst the group. A single member can wipe out an entire squadron single handedly." Mason spoke up as he fought back the urge to vomit. "They've also destroyed a total of 3 official wizard guilds, the council itself eventually gave up on trying to arrest these guys they were so afraid of these monsters."

"Thanks… Now I wanna go home even more than before." Lucy said as she began shaking in fear.

"Sssshhh!" Erza who was now in complete serious mode shushed the complaining blonde. "Look we're here." Erza pointed to an old mansion surrounded by dark forest.

The cart pulled up to the mysterious old house and the five young wizards and flying cat unloaded and entered through the large double doors into a seemingly empty house. "Hello!" Lucy called out after whole team entered. "Is there anyone here?"

"Yes there is!" An unfamiliar male voice called out seemingly from nowhere. "C'mon boys, let's give them a warm Blue Pegasus hello! Welcome!"

"Welcome!" An invisible corus of two other guys called back in an echo.

"Fairy Tail!"

"Fairy Tail!"

"Wizards!" All three finished before a spot light illuminated a small part of the mansion revealing three good looking male wizards all dressed in formal suits. "We're so glad you came! We are the Blue Pegasus elite Trimens!"

"Hundred Knights Ibiki." The first wizard a tall man with good looking features introduced himself.

"Holy Knight Eve." Next up was a younger looking wizard with childlike features and golden blond hair.

"Still Knight Ren." A man with a darker skin tone and a more aggressive look to him finished the introductions.

"The Trimens from Blue pegasus, that's so cool." Lucy elaborated. "Hibiki Lates is always at the top of sorcerer weekly's most eligible bachelors list." Meanwhile Natsu and Gray were panicking and acting goofy in the background. "And those guys aren't on the list."

"I've heard tales of your beauty and there true!" The honey blonde Hibiki said with a snap of his fingers.

"It's a pleasure to meet you miss titania." The childish eve bowed behind Erza.

"Please come with us." Hibiki rushed to her other blind spot and with that the Trimen had her surrounded before quickly abandoning her to bring in a large couch with a heart on top of it.

"Would you like to freshen up?" Hibiki bowed and presented Erza with a moist towel before she took a seat on the couch.

"Or maybe you'd like something to eat?" Eve asked as he took a seat next to her.

"No thank you." Erza refused sternly.

"Oh but we have cake." Hibiki added.

"No I'm alright." Erza refused again.

"Okay, what's the deal here?" Lucy asked in a peeved tone, annoyed by the attention Erza was receiving over her.

"Please have a seat." Ren came seemingly out of nowhere to grab lucy by her side, getting her to jump. "Oh, wow you're almost too cute."

"No joke." Gray spoke up, his shirt seeming to have disappeared magically. "What is the deal with these losers?"

"Ughhh… I think I missed something. Who are these guys?" Natsu who was slowly recovering from motion sickness finally spoke up.

"Grrr." Mason growled, his hood back up covering his head. "I don't know who they are but they better shut up before they piss me off. That cart ride gave me a massive headache."

"It's a pleasure meeting a future ally." Erza greeted formally. "It'll be a pleasure working with you."

"My god!" Eve's eyes began to sparkle as he stared at Erza. "You're so beautiful it can't be real. Am I dreaming, I hope not because I've always admired you.." The Trimen continued their flirtatious efforts before a fourth stranger made himself.

"Calm down men." A voice like silk called out from atop the stairwell sending chills down Erza's spine. "Give these ladies some room. Erza, It's been too long!" A man short in stature dressed in all white with pointy orange hair and a chiseled face made himself known

"A long time yes… I never expected to see you here." Erza practically shaking as she acknowledged the strange looking man.

"My sweet honey, oh how I've missed you." The well spoken dwarf did an elaborate spin on top of the staircase. "But don't cry, I'm here. Oooohh" The strange man hopped on the railing and began to slide down as he was cheered on by the Trimen. "A surprise! A reunion! Oh yes! Oh yes! Oh yes!"

"We're sorry Mr Ichiya we didn't know she was your girlfriend!" The Trimen apologized for the previous flirting.

This was the last straw for Erza who finally broke. "YOU KNOW THAT IS NOT TRUE!"

"YOU IDIOTS! WE HAVE WORK TO DO!" In the face of rejection Ichiya turned on his disciples who quickly rushed to clean up their mess as their Master regained his composure. "It seems that destiny has brought us together Erza and Lucy not so much you three!"

"THAT'S IT!" Mason yelled as he threw off his hood in frustration. "My head is killing me! And all you guys have been doing is yelling and clapping! So now I'm gonna take out some of this aggression on you Purple Unicorn jerks!" Mason stomped towards Ichiya, his eyes an even angrier red than usual.

But before any conflict could ensue Ichiya began to fidget in his pocket. "A headache you say my violent friend? I have just the thing for that!" Ichiya pulled a small pink bottle out from his pocket and opened the cap. "Alleviation PARFUM!"

A faint pink aroma wafted up from Ichiya's bottle and invaded Mason's nose and his angered face was quickly soothed. "Woah… My headache is completely gone! That stuffs amazing do you think it could clear up motion sickness?"

"Of course it can!" Ichiya said proudly. "Here! You can have the rest of the bottle!" He tossed the small pink bottle into Mason's waiting hands.

"Man you're awesome!" Mason smiled as he pocketed the bottle. "I'm saving you for the ride home."

"Hey man you better share." Natsu who had finally recovered from his motion sickness said in an expecting tone.

"It's you…" Blue Pegasus' Eve Tearm approached Mason with sparkling eyes. "Commander!"

"Commander?" Mason looked down at excited young wizard, a confused look on his face. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

"What are you talking about. It's me Eve, Eve Tearm I served under you as a rune knight cadet. We used to eat together at the same table." Eve began to pout at the thought of being forgotten.

"Oh Eve, yeah of course I remember you. I just needed to be a hundred percent sure." Mason said, completely lying through his teeth. "But hey neither of us are Rune Knights anymore so you don't need to call me Commander anymore."

"Really? Then is it okay if I call you big brother?!" Eve asked with even more determination in his eyes than before.

"Uhh, I guess if it's alright with you…." Mason said with a fake smile plastered on his face as he began to sweat nervously.

"Hey guys this is no time to joke around." Gray being the last serious guy left called out. "We're on some serious business here."

"At last we agree on something Gray." The air in the building grew colder as man with spiky grey hair entered through the front door. "I demand you buffoons take things seriously. Lamia Scale deserves more respect."

"Lyon!" Gray clearly recognized this stranger began glaring daggers at him. "It's you!"

"Yes it's me." Lyon said with a smirk. "But I'm not alone!" As he said this a woman with long magenta hair entered the building.

"I can feel the love in the air." The unknown lady smiled at her own bad pun.

"Now way. Sherry!" Lucy called out as if this lady was somehow familiar.

"It's good to know that you fairies remember me so well." Sherry said with an almost evil grin on her face. "But I hope you don't remember who I was back then. The power of love has changed me! I am reborn!"

"Man I don't know any of these guys and am I the only one who feels a bit insulted being called a fairy. Maybe it's just because I'm new." Mason said feeling a bit awkward by the whole situation.

"Yeah me neither." Natsu added as he scratched his chin in confusion. "The grey haired guy is kinda familiar."

"Ugghhh! I need more of your PARFUM!" Ichiya said as he began to crowd Erza.

"Get back you little troll!" Erza growled back as she summoned a spear to her hand.

"C'mon Lyon let's fight!" Gray called out as he glared at the spiky haired mage.

"Fine by me." Lyon answered back in a calm voice as he glared back at the nudist Wizard.

"Grrrr… GIMME SOME OF THAT MAGIC MOTION SICKNESS MEDICINE!" Natsu barked at Mason.

"Hey we're on the same team we aren't supposed to be fighting!" Mason tried to talk down the pink haired pyro.

"Don't talk to big brother that way!" Eve barked back at Natsu coming to Mason's aid.

"ENOUGH!" A powerful voice called out with pouding of a staff. "We're supposed to do battle against the Oracion Seis. How do you expect us to achieve that goal if we're busy squabbling amongst ourselves." A Bald man with a strong jawline and brightly colored robes holding a long staff announced as he entered the room.

"Yes you're right." Lyon stepped away from Gray and lowered his head in respect. "My apologies Jura."

"JURA!" The entire room erupted in shock.

GULP! "Him I know!" Mason said aloud.

"Really?" Natsu asked scratching his head. "Who is he?"

"That is Iron Rock Jura. He's one of the ten Wizard Saints like Makarov and formerly Jose of Phantom Lord. Meaning he's one of the most powerful Wizards on the planet." Mason explained.

"Ha!" Sherry laughed aloud. "Blue Pegasus sent four members and Fairy Tail sent five. Lamia Scale only needed to send three."

"Again I'm forgotten." Happy said with a depressed sigh.

"The members of three of the guilds have arrived. All were missing is the representatives for the Cait Shelter guild." Jura deduced.

"That is correct." Ichiya called out from above as he currently found himself stuck to the end of Erza's spear. "On that note. Rumor has it they are only sending one member."

"One member!" Lucy cried out with a gasp. "Whoever they are sending. He must be pretty hardcore…."

As Lucy said this A small girl ran into the mansion before tripping on the rug and falling over. "WWAAHHH!" WHAM! "Ughh.." The young girl brushed herself off as she stood back up. "Sorry for being so late, I'm the wizard from Cait Shelter. My Name's Wendy, Wendy Marvell."

Everyone kinda stared at the poor girl for a few seconds before Mason whispered something to Natsu. "Hey, is it just me or is this kid familiar?"

Natsu stared for a bit longer before saying anything. "Wendy huh?..."


(end)