Just under nine months, that's the time gap between chapters 2 and 3. That's embarrassing, at least for me. But what can I say, writer's block on where I wanted to take this maybe? I know the overall progression, but what gets me is how to get each separate chapter to tell a story within the greater whole. That's the only thing I believe holds me back as a writer. I'm sure it's a problem that I'm not dealing with alone, but that's just my opinion on the issue.

As I mentioned back in Scarlet: Dreams of the Throne, the order in which I'll post new chapters is Scarlet, followed by this story, and Dark Fairies following. Although I did mention that Primordials would be uploaded as soon as I had a chapter ready.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, I only own MY OCs

Enjoy chapter 3 everyone!

Every story has a beginning, it just has to. If a story doesn't have one, then it's not a story at all. You wouldn't have anything at that point. It's the beginning which draws the reader in, gives them that inkling, that desire to continue to read the middle and end of the story.

For me, my story with Fairy Tail began exactly when I was born. But you already know that. What you might not know, however, is the journey I took along the way. The number of friends and enemies I've made along the way. It all goes back to the purpose I supposedly have for being here.

Everyone has a place within the world. All they have to do is find it.

Now, it may be safe to wonder "what exactly is your place then?" That's a reasonable question to ask. But it's also one that I can't reveal right now. Maybe in the future, I'll reveal what my role here is exactly. But for right now, I'm just a Fairy Tail mage. A fairy Tail mage with the powers of both the Angels and the Abyss.

~Excerpt from Serandiel's journal

Days would come and go, with the younger generations of mages training and just living their lives as they saw fit. The older mages would take quests going to various towns. But one mage was coming back from a quest he had only taken to pass the time.

The City of Magnolia would shift around with his coming, a series of pulleys, levers, and magic would work together to create a pathway for the mage to return to the guildhall. All while avoiding the accidental use of his magic.

Having heard the sirens and alarms signaling the Guildarts shift, Cana burst out of the guildhall. Wanting to greet the now named mage. Serandiel followed close behind, interested in who this Guildarts person was. Makarov had said that Guildarts had taken him on as a son when the older mage first saw him. But considering that he was gone most of the time, Serandiel never could remember the interactions he had with the crash mage. Only knowing of the fact through the stories which the aging guild master would tell him.

Guildarts would come through the streets of magnolia lazily, not even caring to check in front of him for any stray buildings that might not have been successfully pulled out of his path. His Crash magic would make sure that nothing happened to be in his way. Whether or not the mage wanted that to happen, is a matter up for debate.

Minutes would pass, bringing Guildarts ever closer to the guildhall he had come to call a second home. Both Cana and Serandiel would greet him by the front door; each wanted to ask how the mission went. It was a monster extermination mission suited for his status as the Guild's ace mage. A type of mission which if not handled carefully, could easily result in the death of a less experienced mage.

"Guildarts," Makarov would call out, easily gaining the attention of the ace mage. "I take it the mission was a success?" Guildarts would show a smirk, clearly happy about the mission's status.

"I'm pleased to report that it was an overwhelming success." Most of the guild cheered, getting the guild ready for another celebration. Cana, as well as Serandiel, kept conversing with Guildarts. Getting him to tell them exactly how that mission played out. The targets of the mission resided in the northern mountains, far from anything close to civilization. Recently these creatures started causing trouble for the shepherds who would let their flocks graze at the base of the mountain. Then for no particular reason, a pack of wolves charged the flocks from the top of the mountain, only a few members of the numerous herds were able to survive. The rest were killed and eaten by those same wolves.

Mages had tried to deal with them, only to retreat after realizing that the wolves, in particular, were a force beyond what they could safely accomplish. Only a mage with a lot of wisdom and skill behind them would fair a chance. Thankfully for Fairy Tail, this was exactly the type of mission Guildarts was suited for.

(Flashback)

Guildarts was standing just in sight of the mountains. His targets had seemingly claimed this territory as their own, mostly through their repeated attacks against the farmers and shepherds whose flocks and fields roamed these lands. Damages from these wolves were in the millions of jewel, meaning they were pests which needed to be taken care of.

"So, this is where the supposed pack of demon wolves are? Doesn't look too bad." His guide would walk beside him, pointing at the base of the mountains.

"Our flocks get attacked as soon as they enter the foothills. There is a howl, and then the wolves come. Please do something about them mister mage, we won't be able to survive otherwise." This wasn't anything new to the crash mage, he had been tasked with far harder missions in the past. This should be an easy mission for him to complete.

"Don't worry, this won't take long at all." Without another word, Guildarts walked towards the foothills and into the territory of the wolves which caused so much pain. He was certain that by the end of the day, they wouldn't be a problem for everyone trying to make a living here anymore.

(Flashback end)

"Those wolves were interesting, never before had I seen coordination in a hunt from a pack of wolves like what they had." Guildarts was recounting the mission, exactly how events played out.

It started with the initial contact; an ambush set up by the wolves against the crash mage. At first, they merely followed him as he walked towards the base of the mountain range. Then as he got closer, the howls began.

"They just kept rushing me relentlessly, I was attacked from all sides. It was all that I could just to hold them back."

(Flashback)

The first attacks came and went, the wolves having retreated into the brush to plan a new angle of attack. They were trying to find a weakness in his defenses, coming at him with their normal tactics weren't going to get them anywhere. That first engagement proved that creativity would be needed to beat him.

Guildarts, on the other hand, was taken aback a little. These wolves were different from the others he had encountered previously. There was far more to this pack than any other. He needed to take this one differently. Brute force might not be the answer he sought.

Another howl, the wolves came again. Instead of one by one, they all charged him simultaneously. Guildarts had to give this pack credit, they were smarter than they appeared. Each action they took was swift and calculated, trying to open up a weakness that another wolf could then exploit. It was a smart tactic, one that was a common tactic in warfare at the time. But this was a tactic that the older crash mage knew all too well. And knowing a tactic means that its weaknesses are also known.

For example, for this type of strategy, a small nimble force would be able to plug the weaknesses that a stronger force might not be able to.

This attack proved to be the downfall of the wolf pack. Finally getting serious, Guildarts pulled the full extent of his Crash Magic. Nearly all of the wolves did not survive this attack, all except for one perished. That last wolf fled back into the mountains. Knowing full well that it had been defeated, it would go back to its den. There was nothing more that it could do, the victory went to the humans.

(Flashback end)

Cana's face had brightened significantly as she listened to the tale. It was obvious that she had enjoyed listening to Guildarts talk about his most recent adventure. Even when he talked about the dangerous situation that he was forced into; the excitement never left her visage.

The same could also be said for the young Serandiel as well. But one thing stuck to the back of his mind, that one wolf which had managed to sneak away. What would become of that lone wolf? It wasn't something he wanted to talk about, as he was with the rest of the guild in celebration.

(Later that evening)

The party had died down for the night, most of the attendees were either passed out on the guild's floor or stumbled their way back to their own homes. Two of the younger mages, however, were still awake. Staring at the starlight sky from the roof. Admiring the beauty that only such a sight could provide.

"Hey Cana," Serandiel would break the silence between the two of them. "Do you think that we'll be able to explore the world like Guildarts can one day?" it was an innocent question, from an innocent child. It wasn't wrong to hope for the future, after all, children tend to dream quite big.

"It's possible," Cana would reply. "Maybe if we do, I might be able to tell Guildarts about me." This caught Serandiel off guard. During their many conversations, Cana had never brought Guildarts up once.

"Why would you want to tell Guildarts, wouldn't that be something the whole guild would want to know?" He was genuinely curious at this point. Why did Cana want Guildart's approval specifically?

"Guildart's opinion matters most because…" she hesitated, "he's my father." That explained it, it was simply a child wanting the acceptance of their parent. Serandiel was no exception, he constantly tried to gain the approval of both Makarov and Ivan. Ivan more than Makarov.

"Why don't you just tell him then? Given how he was, I'm sure he'd understand."

"It's not like that at all. It's just, he's strong and I'm not. There's no way he'd accept me." She would turn to him. "Just look at you, your strength already far surpasses mine. You're already close to Laxus and he's had more time to train." Serandiel would just sigh, Cana had a point. But there was much that she didn't understand his situation. Even on his end, there was much about Cana he still did not know.

"I don't think it's that simple. I know Laxus had been training me and all, but from what I can tell, your potential far exceeds me." It was the truth, Serandiel was only limited to two types of magic. Mainly due to the circumstances surrounding his origin. Cana, meanwhile, had unlimited potential. It was simply the difference in the biology between the two of them.

An idea would suddenly pop in his head.

"Hey, Cana! How about you start training with me? That way you'll get your goal of growing strong enough to reach him!" the idea held merit; it would put her closer to where she wanted to be. But there was still this nagging feeling that kept her from accepting right away.

"I'm not sure right now. Can I think about it and tell you later?" Sighing in disappointment, the only thing Serandiel could do was nod in acceptance. Cana was his friend; he didn't want to strain that by pushing her down a path she didn't want to take then.

Instead, the two would continue to watch the starlit sky. Commenting on any shooting stars they were able to see. Unaware that in a certain home, an aging guild master was watching the two. Smiling to himself as he watched the two form a friendship that would last for a lifetime.

'Those two sure have a lot of untapped potential. I wonder what exactly the two of them will be able to accomplish together.' It wouldn't be long after that when sleep would overcome him. Letting him dream about the future beyond the horizon, the endless sources of happiness and joy that would come into their lives.

"First Master," he would say, "You would be proud of what Fairy Tail has become. I'm sure of it."

I really can't think of anything to say now. I'm just sorry that this chapter took as long as it did to get out. I know that in the future, we'll be able to experience more of Serandiel's adventures together.

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and I'll see you in the next chapter!