Chapter Twenty Three:

"And welcome back to the Grand Magic Games!" an announcer called.

Carmen stared at the screen, though he wasn't super interested in what they had to say.

"While it's been hours since the final match ended, it's taken officials a while to sort everything out," Yajima explained. "A massive jailbreak and a huge scandal have sent everything for a wild loopy-loop! But, thankfully, we've managed to get it figured out."

"First thing first," Chapati took over. "Due to cheating, Phoenix Grave has been disqualified from the games. And, for crimes including, but not limited to, falsifying documents, accessory to attempted kidnapping, assault, and murder, and assistance in harboring fugitives, Phoenix Grave has been officially and permanently disbanded!"

"Disbanded?" Carmen gasped.

"So, no more Phoenix Grave? Ever?" Malla asked.

"I guess so," Georgiana said.

"Wow," Collin gasped, staring at the blank spot on his chest that his guild mark used to be. "We really are free, huh?"

"Yeah, but now what?" Tierra asked.

Carmen sighed. "I don't know."

"Now, onto the results," Yajima continued. "We've counted up the scores from the final round, and here they are:

Sabertooth-24

Blue Pegasus-17

Mermaid Heel -12

Fairy Tail -10

Lamia Scale -10

Quatro Cerberus - 6

And Twilight Ogre - 1."

"An impressive performance from Sabertooth and Blue Pegasus!" Chapati cheered. "But will it be enough to overcome the massive lead of Fairy Tail! Time to add the final score to the overall points!"

The final score appeared on the screen:

Twilight Ogre: 22

Quatro Cerberus: 24

Lamia Scale: 29

Mermaid Heel: 29

Blue Pegasus: 53

Sabertooth: 70

Fairy Tail: 71

"OH MY GOODNESS! And by one point, for the fifteenth time in 25 years, FAIRY TAIL WINS!" Chapati shouted.

"Well, there's a big surprise," Tierra chuckled as the game footage ended and a news broadcast began.

"These evening former Phoenix Grave guild master, Meyers Orlando, and his brother Micah were taken into Rune Knight custody along with close to thirty of their former guildmates. The third brother, Mace, who also used to be a guild master of Phoenix Grave, was found dead this morning. Serial Killer and Phoenix Grave accomplice, Elena Alteria, was also found dead."

Carmen watched the footage of Meyers and Micah being led away with a strange sense of...well...nothingness.

It was all over but...now what? What were he and the other five supposed to do?

He gasped as the footage of the criminals being locked up disappeared and cut to a group of protestors, holding signs and cheering:

"Hand them over! Hand them over!"

"The situation regarding the six children Elena Alteria had under her care is still unknown, but already the public has taken to the streets, demanding they be handed over to Rune Knight custody for trial."

All five children gasped.

"...she was training them to be cold-hearted killers!" A protestor being interviewed stated. "We can't let dangers like that roam freely in the streets! They need to be locked up, for everyone's safety!"

"Are we going to go to jail?" Tate asked, his bottom lip trembling.

"No," Georgiana said, pulling him into a hug. "We'll be fine."

"But, what are we going to do now?" Collin asked.

Carmen sighed. "I don't know."

IIIIIIIIIIIIII

Snores, sighs, and indistinct, sleepy chatter filled the air. The hour after the games ended had been a whirlwind of hugs, tears, cheers, kisses, as everyone in Fairy Tail reunited with their families. The entire hotel had shaken from laughter, tearful reunions, stories, and people running back and forth, greeting one another. And then it just stopped as everyone collapsed in the hallway and fell asleep. It didn't matter to them that it was the middle of the day. They were all exhausted and too happy to part with one another. So they all just collapsed into one massive sleep pile in the hall.

Benedict was one of the first to awake. Stretching his arms over his head as he turned and looked next to him. Reina was still sound asleep, Portia tucked under one arm, Vera tucked under the other. Benedict smiled down at his mother and sisters before standing to find a blanket to cover them with.

They were all back together, safe, and sound.

For good this time.

Benedict sighed as he finished tucking his family in and walked into one of the hotel rooms. He opened the door to the balcony, walked out, leaned on the railing, and took a deep breath of fresh air.

He still wasn't sure how to feel about Mace's death. He knew everyone was probably going to be better off now, especially him and his family.

But Mace was still his father.

He knew he should feel sad about his death but…

...he didn't. And that was making him feel a bit guilty. How could someone be so indifferent about their own father's death?

"Well, the fact your old dad was a monster would excuse you from not shedding any tears for his sake."

"Gah! Farrah!" Benedict yelped as he turned towards her. "Did...did I say that out loud?"

"Yup!" Farrah said as she drew near him, leaning on the railing next to him.

"Sorry," Benedict blushed.

"Don't be," Farrah said. "You've got a lot you need to work through."

"I guess?" Benedict shrugged.

"So," Farrah turned to him, a concerned look on her face. "How are you feeling?"

"I…" Benedict sighed. "I don't know."

"Eh, that's fair," Farrah said.

"Really, I didn't give you much of an answer," Benedict replied.

"I was asking that question for your sake, not mine. I'm not nosy."

"Liar."

"Okay, I'm not nosy today."

"Hmm…"

"This hour."

"Hmm…"

"Fine, I'm not being nosy this very minute but that could change quickly. Happy?" Farrah glared.

"This very minute I am," Benedict replied in a cheeky voice.

"Ha, ha," Farrah rolled her eyes.

Benedict chuckled as he looked back over the view of Crocus from the balcony. He glanced over at Farrah. The afternoon sun lit up her face and her golden, honey red hair, making her look almost as brilliant as she had when she-

"Hey, Farrah can I ask you something?" Benedict asked.

"Sure," Farrah said.

"When we were fighting, uh, well, you know…"

"Yeah?" Farrah arched an eyebrow.

"Was that the first time you've ever entered Dragon Force?"

"Yup!" Farrah nodded.

Benedict blinked, then rubbed at his chin, a small blush forming over his face. "How, um, how were you able to do that? I mean, what triggered it."

Farrah smiled, lightly bumping against his shoulder. "What do you think?"

She smiled up at him with a sweet smile that held just a subtle hint of mischief in it. Benedict suddenly found himself getting lost in that smile, in her eyes, just in her presence.

"Farrah, I-" Benedict stopped himself, catching his breath. Was he really about to do that?

"What?" Farrah asked.

"Nothing," Benedict said, turning away from her, his face burning bright with a red blush.

"That didn't sound like nothing," Farrah insisted.

"I was gonna, uh," Benedict's voice got higher with embarrassment.

"You were going to what?" Farrah asked a smirk on her lips.

"I was gonna tell you something, but, eh, it wasn't that important."

"If it's not important why are you getting embarrassed?" Farrah asked.

"I'm not embarrassed."

"Then you can tell me," Farrah chuckled.

"I, ach, no, really, it's nothing."

"So tell me."

"No."

"Tell me."

"No!"

"Tell me."

"Ergh. I was just going to tell you that I feel…" Benedict's voice faltered.

"Feel what?" Farrah asked, taking a step closer to him, eyes narrow.

"Feel…" Benedict stuttered. "Feel that you are…"

"That I'm what?" Farrah stepped even closer.

"That you're...you're...AUGH!" Benedict slapped himself in the forehead. "Just, just, forget it. I'm being an idiot. You're...I...just...I...I don't know. We-"

Farrah rolled her eyes. "C' mere," she said as she grabbed either side of his face.

"Wait, what are-MPH!" Benedict gasped as Farrah pulled him towards her and kissed him right on the lips!

Benedict could only stare as Farrah pulled back, smiling mischievously at him. "Was that what you were trying to tell me?" she asked.

Benedict nodded slowly. "Uh-huh."

Farrah chuckled as she ruffled his hair. "Dork."

"What, you can't just kiss me and then call me a dork!" Benedict shouted.

"Oh? Because I just did."

"Ergh," Benedict crossed his arms.

"Aw, getting all pouty on me?" Farrah teased. "Is that all you're going to do about it?"

Benedict narrowed his eyes as he grabbed her face. "Nope!"

It was Farrah's turn to gasp as he pulled her close and kissed her.

"I KNEW IT!" a loud voice shouted, breaking both Farrah and Benedict out of their slumber.

"CATO!" Farrah shouted.

Everyone in the guild was awakened with a start as both of the Dreyar children raced down the hallway.

"Farrah's got a boyfriend! Farrah's got a boyfriend!"

"Cato, I'm gonna kill you!"

"Farrah and Benedict, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Benedict just stood on the balcony, covering his blushing face in embarrassment.

"CATO, GET BACK HERE!"

"Wait, I was just teasing, guys help!"

"Nope," Storm shook his head. "You're on your own!"

"Fight, fight, fight!" Koree cheered as all the adults laughed at Cato running for his life from his older sister.

"Hang on a minute, where'd that Orlando boy go?" Laxus asked as he began looking around. "I need to have a word with him."

"Oh, for the love of Mavis, run, Benedict, run!" Cana shouted into the balcony at Benedict. "Run!"

"This isn't going to end well, is it," Mirajane sighed.

"Not sure what you were expecting," Lisanna laughed.

"Mira!" Cana called. "Stop your husband before he murders a teenage boy!"

Nashi laughed at the scene in front of her, before noticing that the six kids they'd saved from Elena weren't out there. She stood to her feet and walked towards their room. Knocking on the door.

"Hey, guys, you okay in there?" she asked. There was no answer. Nashi frowned and knocked again. "Guys?"

When there was still no answer she pushed the door open and peeked inside. "Hello?"

There was no one inside. Nashi gasped and ran into the room. "Guys!?"

But they weren't there. There was no Carmen, or Collin, or Tierra, or Malla, or Tate, or Georgiana. Only a note left on the bed. Nashi picked it up.

Dear Fairy Tail,

Thank you so much for saving our lives. We'll never be able to repay you. You had no reason to save us, but you did, and we are eternally grateful.

That being said, we saw the news reports this morning. We've caused you enough trouble as is. We don't want you to get any extra criticism for our sake. Besides, it's time we found our own way now that we're free.

We don't really know what lies ahead of us, but we know it will be better than we ever imagined thanks to you. We hope to meet you again someday, not as helpless children in need of rescuing, but as friends.

Thanks again, we'll miss you and we'll never forget what you've done for us.

Signed,

Carmen, Collin, Tierra, Malla, Tate, and Georgiana

Nashi gasped as she finished reading, then noticed the open window. She jumped out of it, using her Eos wings to fly above the hotel for a bird's eye view.

But they were already gone.

"Guys…" Nashi whispered. They didn't have to do that. Fairy Tail would have taken care of them. But…

Nashi sighed and flew back into the room, holding the letter to her chest.

"I hope we'll see you again too, someday," she whispered. "Good luck."

She looked back at the note and noticed something tapped to the bottom, with another note.

P.S. Can you make sure Luna gets this? It was our birth mom's. Thanks, Carmen.

Nashi took the object off the letter. It was a simple gold chain with a white crystal attached to it. Nashi held it in her hand, then closed her fingers around it and walked back into the hallway. The ruckus had died down. Erza was reading a letter to the guild.

"As a congratulation on your victory-"

"Guess we won again!" Macao cheered.

"I was too tired to even care until now," Wakaba muttered.

"Quiet!" Erza snapped before continuing to read. "As a congratulation on your victory, the royal palace has invited you to the annual celebration ball-"

"Alright, food time!"

"And hot babes!"

"I said quiet!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Nashi ignored them as she walked back to where her family was sitting in a warm pile on the floor. Luna was snuggled up in Lucy's arms but smiled up at Nashi as she approached. Nashi gently took Luna from her mother's lap and set her on her own.

"Nasa!" Luna babbled, setting a hand on her older sister's face.

Nashi smiled down at her before draping the necklace over her neck. "Here you go."

Luna stared down at the necklace before picking the crystal up. She smiled as she held it up to Nashi. "Pata!"

"Yeah, it is pretty," Nashi said as she wrapped her arms around her little sister and held her close.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Carmen sighed as he looked up at the vast, empty sky, watching the sunset. He ran a hand over his neck. It felt empty without his mother's necklace, but he knew he'd left it in good hands. Now Luna would have something to know him by.

He had no idea when he'd see her again.

"Did we have to take a boat," Tierra groaned.

"Well, unless you know another way to get across oceans," Malla scoffed.

"I still don't see why Tate couldn't-"

"No!" Tate shook his head. "No more portals!"

Carmen frowned. This was going to be a difficult next few months, maybe even years, on all of them, but Tate especially. Carmen set a hand on Tate's head. "That's alright, we'll get there soon enough anyway."

"Speak for yourself," Tierra grumbled. "Why are we even going there in the first place?"

"Because it's a place with strong wizards that can teach us, far away from Fiore and Elena's impact," Georgiana answered.

"Please can this boat move faster?" Tierra whined.

"Don't worry," Carmen sighed. "We'll get there soon enough."

He leaned over the ship's railing, smelling the salty sea.

"Yeah," he sighed. "We'll be at our new beginning here soon just wait."

The rest of the children slowly made their way below deck, but Carmen stood next to the railing watching the sun until it disappeared over the horizon.

"Alright, we'll get there by morning," Carmen sighed before going below deck to sleep. "See you tomorrow, Alvarez."

AN: And thus another story comes to a close. Thank you guys so much for keeping up with this through all the pauses, and hiatus, and other crap. I won't retread my personal issues, but just being able to write this story and see so much great feedback, and support and love have helped immensely! So thank you all so, SO much!

I'll be returning to "Children of Fairies" some point soon so be on the lookout for that. Thank you all, I love you!