Chapter 4 – Back From The Dead
Most people were alright with Adryn's use of her pain magic, even though they wanted to see her lightning dragon slayer magic as well. However, one person was worried about the situation, which was their master, Master Makarov.
"Adryn," The girl turned to who spoke her name, which turned out to be Master Makarov.
"Yes, master?" Adryn responded hesitantly. She wasn't sure what he wanted so she was unsure of the situation.
"Explain something to me. Why do you not use your Lightning Dragon Slayer magic?"
"I just don't like using magic that was forced upon me. Plus, after finally seeing what it could do, I think it's too strong and I don't want to hurt or destroy anything. I especially don't want to kill someone by accident with magic I'm unfamiliar with."
"Oh really? Why wouldn't you have a problem with that, considering all the people you killed and hurt under Master Ivan's care." Adryn spun around towards the entrance of the guildhall. There stood someone that made Adryn's heart stop. It was a girl about Adryn's age with long pastel pink hair. She wore a black dress with a purple and silver corset. The dress's flowy part was knee-high in the front and reached the ground in the back. Most importantly though, she had a purple Raven Tail guild mark on her right cheek.
"E-Eclipse?!" Adryn gasped out, horrified and shocked at what she was seeing.
"Eclipse? You mean your childhood best friend, Eclipse?!" Mirajane also spoke with a gasp. She'd been the topic of many conversations. Eclipse was not only Adryn's first best friend but also the older sister of Adryn's former lover, Nova. Eclipse and her family had been supposedly murdered by Ivan when Adryn fought against him in the beginning.
"It's been a while, Adryn. Did you miss me?" Eclipse began to approach the shocked girl. "I've been watching over you all these years. I saw all the horrible things you did at the request of Master Ivan. You murdered so many people. Women, children, even elderly people. So terrible. I've been so ashamed of you, but I'm here now. I'll make everything right again." Eclipse held out her hand to Adryn. "You belong by Master Ivan's side after all the evil things you've done. Leave Fairy Tail and join us again, Adryn."
Adryn was now panicking and it showed on her face. She'd left out all the horrible things she did while with Ivan, but she only did those things because she had to and was told that Nova would be killed if she didn't. She didn't know that Nova was already dead and that all she did was pointless.
So, scared, panicked and upset, Adryn smacked Eclipse's hand away and used her lightning dragon slayer magic to turn into a bolt of lightning and fly out of the room. Everyone was in shock, but Eclipse. She just laughed at the situation.
"This is getting to be quite fun." Eclipse then just casually walked out of the guildhall, as everyone finally moved into motion and went to catch her. Laxus was the first one to her, but as he went to grab her, she disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.
"What just happened?" Mirajane questioned in shock at the whole situation. "Laxus, you need to go get Adryn. She shouldn't be alone right now."
"Yeah." Laxus simply responded as he began to leave the guildhall. Freed, Evergreen and Bickslow all got up instantly and followed after him.
"We're coming too!" Evergreen stated as she caught up to Laxus.
"Do what you want," Laxus responded as he began to hurry through the town to get to Adryn's home in the forest. After a few minutes, they made it there, but there was no Adryn there. However, the could hear faint crying off in the distance. They followed the sound to a lake with Adryn sitting on a rock there with her head in her hands. She was clearly crying to herself. "Stay back," Laxus ordered to his friends. He quietly approached the girl and spoke as soft as he could to her. "Adryn?"
"Laxus?!" Adryn shot up from the rock and looked to the man, horrified. "You shouldn't be here."
"Adryn, we don't believe anything that girl said about you. We know you and we know you couldn't do something like that." Laxus watched as the girl just shook her head.
"It's all true. I did all those horrible things that Eclipse said."
"What?" Evergreen questioned from where she was standing just a few feet away.
"I did what I had to do to keep myself and Nova alive. Though, it all came to nothing as Ivan had already killed her without telling me. I did so many horrible things that I can never take back, but I didn't want to do them. If I didn't, Ivan told me he'd kill me and Nova. I... I never wanted to hurt anybody!" Adryn broke down and fell to her knees, sobbing once again. "That girl, Eclipse. I was told she was dead and gone. She was taken from me when I first acted out against Ivan. I don't know what happened to her all these years if she's been alive. She wasn't the same as she was. That Eclipse that just appeared was someone completely different than who she actually was when we were younger."
"It's alright, Adryn. I understand that you had to do those things to live and I can see how you regret that. We all have something we regret doing, but it's okay." Laxus spoke up as he walked towards the girl on the ground. "If you come back to the guild and explain it to everyone, I know they'd be on your side like we are."
"Yeah!" Bickslow and Evergreen called out in agreement, with Bickslow's babies echoing the word as well.
"Indeed. Everyone would understand and not fault you for what you've done." Freed spoke up instantly after his friends.
"Come back with us, Adryn." Laxus held out his hand to the girl, and hesitantly, Adryn reached up and put her hand in his. The man pulled her to her feet and patted her head. "Remember what I told you, I'll protect you." To that, Adryn hugged the man, surprising everyone else, especially Laxus.
"Thank you, Laxus. I truly appreciate that." Adryn still had a few stray tears when she pulled away from the man, and to his friend's surprise, Laxus reached and wiped them away for the girl.
"Let's go." To Laxus' words, Adryn nodded her head. With that, they were off. They hurried back to the guildhall in silence. Adryn was quiet due to her being scared, but every time she thought about how terrified she was, she'd think of Laxus' words. She trusted that he'd protect her, no matter what.
Once they got back to the guild, everyone turned to look at them. A few people stated how they were worried about her and some people demanded answers immediately.
"Adryn, explain what that girl said. Is all she said true?" Master Makarov demanded as soon as they were fully inside the guildhall. So, Adryn told them all the whole story that she'd told Laxus and the Thunder Legion. She explained the situation and all she had to do to protect Nova and then explained how Eclipse was not acting like herself at all.
"I'm especially confused about the Raven Tail guild mark on Eclipse's cheek. Eclipse was never apart of Raven Tail. She never was in any guild." Adryn spoke as she finished the story that she told everyone. Mostly everyone seemed to accept her story, however, a few people still were against her and demanded that she be removed from the guild for her past actions. "Listen, everyone, I swear to you, I will take Ivan down for all the things he's done and that he's caused. If you still want me gone then, I'll leave." For the most part, that seemed to calm everyone down. "I should probably leave now to go hunt Ivan down."
"We're coming with you." Evergreen declared, surprising not only her friends but the others of the guild as well.
"Yes, I agree. It was also our job to take the remaining Raven Tail members down, so we should see the job through to the end." Freed agreed with Evergreen after he thought for a moment.
"What do you say, Laxus?" Bickslow questioned as he looked over to the blond man.
"Alright, let's go," Laxus spoke up almost immediately. Laxus wouldn't admit it, but he wanted to keep being around Adryn, plus he was worried that something bad would happen to her if he wasn't there with her.
"Thank you, all of you." Adryn smiled at her friends. With that, Adryn, Laxus, and the Thunder Legion bid farewell to the guild and headed out to get ready for the long trip ahead of them. They each headed to the location of where they stayed to get a small bag packed. They honestly just needed clothes for the trip, so that's what they packed. They all met back up at the train station later that day.
"Is everyone ready?" Freed questioned as they all stood there on the station platform as they waited for the train to arrive. Everyone nodded their heads in response and watched as the train finally arrived. They'd been practically right on time for the train, if they were any later, they probably would have missed the train. So, they quickly got on the train after it stopped and sat down. The men sat together while the women sat in a different seat.
"I really hate trains..." Adryn was already turning green and the train hadn't even begun to move yet.
"Just go to sleep. We'll wake you up when we get there." Laxus stated as he leaned his head back and started to try to sleep before the train ever even moved yet. Adryn nodded her head, not that he saw, and rested her head against the window. She must have been tired from all the emotional drainage that happened that day because she fell right to sleep.
~
The five of them went from town to trying to track Ivan down, with no luck. It had been a week with no sign of Ivan when they walked into another town and caught a glimpse of what seemed to be Eclipse. All they caught was her hair as she turned a corner, but it was enough for Adryn to take off running. Quickly, the rest of them followed suit and ran after her. Eclipse must have noticed them because she moved just as fast as Adryn and led them to a remote
part of town before turning to face them.
"Hello again." Eclipse stated when the five of them caught up with her. She had a snarky smirk on her face, which was completely unlike her.
"Eclipse, what is going on? Why are you part of Raven Tail?" Adryn demanded to her past best friend.
"Why? Because I want to be, of course."
"You must know where Ivan is then, correct?" Freed questioned as he looked at the arrogant girl.
"Oh? Do I?"
"Tell us where he is!" Adryn yelled out, stepping forward angrily. Instead of responding, Eclipse raised a hand and muttered a few words before the air around her hand began to swirl. It became a little tornado pointed straight at Adryn. The little tornado then was sent straight towards Adryn incredibly fast. The girl didn't move out of the way, but Laxus grabbed Adryn and pulled her to the side to avoid the little tornado. It would have barreled right though Adryn, probably killing her.
"Does she have wind magic?" Evergreen questioned as she too avoided the little tornado that had passed Adryn and came at her.
"No, she has elemental magic, so all elements are at her control." Adryn simply explained as she looked up at Laxus and muttered a thank you for saving her life.
"Elemental magic? I've never heard of that." Freed stated as they all watched Eclipse raise another hand to begin creating an even bigger tornado pointed at all of them.
"Stop it, Eclipse, don't make me hurt you," Adryn stated angrily once again. Eclipse just laughed and continued creating the tornado. So, Adryn used her pain magic on her. Adryn's eyes glowed and Eclipse began to cough, breaking the tornado. As Adryn used her magic on her, Freed created and enchantment around Eclipse to trap her. With Eclipse now trapped, Adryn stopped causing her pain.
"That was unpleasant." Eclipse commented with a laugh.
"Tell me what is going on? Why are you acting like this?!" Adryn demanded as she approached the trapped Eclipse.
"Adryn, could she be brainwashed? You said she isn't acting like she used to act, maybe Ivan has taken over her mind?" Freed suggested as he thought deeply about the situation.
"That... is a possibility, but Eclipse has a strong mind, I doubt she'd be easy to control like that."
"Try to talk to her, to see if you can break the brainwashing if that is what happened to her. You never know unless you try." Evergreen stated to the redhead. Adryn nodded her head and approached Eclipse.
"Eclipse, please listen to me. This isn't you. You would never try to hurt me." Adryn spoke up to her former best friend.
"Shut up! What do you know?!" Eclipse yelled back angrily.
"I know you better than anyone. You most likely are being controlled, so I know this isn't you right now."
"Be quiet! You don't know anything about me!" Eclipse's face contorted in pain as she yelled out to Adryn. Something seemed to be bothering the pastel pink-haired girl. Pain was written all over her face.
"Eclipse, please, I know you aren't you right now, but I finally got you back. I don't want to lose you again. Please fight this and come back to me." Adryn fell to her knees in front of Eclipse. Something in Eclipse must have clicked because, in a moment, the air around her seemed to change.
"Kill me before I kill you, Adryn," Eclipse begged as tears came to her eyes. However, before anyone could react, Eclipse's silver eyes began to glow brightly and she emitted a bright light. She sent a huge blast of wind from her body, knocking Adryn backward. Laxus moved to catch her, but they were both sent flying backward and collided with a building with a loud thud.
"Laxus!" Freed yelled out as he turned to look at where the two had landed.
"Adryn!" Evergreen cried out as she too turned around.
"Hey, where did that chick go?!" Bickslow questioned as he realized that Eclipse had disappeared completely. Freed and Evergreen turned back around to see that Eclipse was indeed gone. However, that wasn't the most important thing at that moment, so the Thunder Legion hurried to Laxus and Adryn. Laxus had clearly taken the brunt of the hit, while Adryn suffered minor injuries.
Laxus' head was bleeding and there was a slight blood pool forming on his back. Adryn had cuts all over the front of her and she was bleeding from a few of the deeper cuts. So, worried about their friends, the Thunder Legion quickly took them to an inn. Bickslow and Evergreen carried Laxus, while Freed carried Adryn. As soon as they set the injured two on their own beds, Freed hurried off to find a doctor.
"Why did Laxus move to catch Adryn?" Bickslow questioned, with his babies actually not saying anything for once. They knew how serious the situation was.
"He just showed us that he truly does like her. He must care about her on some level. Especially to be willing to get injured for her sake." Evergreen responded as she looked to her injured friends. The two then sat in silence for a little while until Freed returned with a doctor. Freed had already explained what had happened to cause Laxus' and Adryn's injuries.
"I'll check him out first." The doctor simply explained before the man moved to Laxus. He spent about a half-hour checking him over and then treating the injuries that the man had. "This man only has superficial wounds. Just bruises and a few deep cuts. He'll be fine by tomorrow." The doctor then moved to Adryn and spent the same amount of time on her as well. "She also will be fine by tomorrow. Both of them should wake up within the hour."
"Thank you, doctor," Freed spoke to the man as he paid him for his services. The doctor then left, leaving the Thunder Legion alone with the two injured people. Soon though, Laxus woke up. As soon as his eyes opened, they all threw themselves on the man.
"I'm so glad you're awake!" Freed, Evergreen and Bickslow all yelled out as they hugged their leader.
"Guys, get off me," Laxus grumbled simply to his friends. They all let go one by one, with Freed letting go last. "What the hell happened?"
"Eclipse attacked Adryn, and you moved to help her, which resulted in both of you getting injured," Freed explained causing Laxus to instantly turn his head to the unconscious Adryn.
"Is she alright?"
"She'll be fine. Though, I think that is only physically. Mentally, Adryn might be hurting still."
"I see." Laxus frowned deeply as he looked at the girl. "When do you think she'll wake up?"
"She should be waking up soon." However, Freed was wrong. An hour went by and Adryn never woke up. Two hours then went by and Adryn still didn't wake up. It was close to three hours going by when she still didn't wake up, which caused Laxus to get angry.
"I thought you said she'd wake up soon?" Laxus demanded as he looked to Freed.
"The doctor said she would wake up within an hour," Freed explained, worried that he would just upset the blond man further.
"Freed, Bickslow, we should go get food. I'm sure Adryn will be hungry when she wakes up." Evergreen stated as she looked to her two friends. Bickslow began to object, but Evergreen elbowed him instantly. "We should go get food, right Freed?" Evergreen was trying to get her male friends to not be so oblivious. She clearly wanted Laxus and Adryn to be alone together.
"R-right!" Freed caught on and nodded his head. Bickslow was still confused but allowed Freed to drag him out of the room. The Thunder Legion hurried out of the room and closed the door. After Laxus was left alone with the still unconscious Adryn, he began to speak to the girl.
"Adryn, we have a job to complete. I thought you wanted to make up for the things you've done. You can't do that when you're unconscious." Laxus stated to the girl. He sighed when there was no response from her. It was like he thought she'd wake up if he asked her to. However, after a few moments of silence, the girl began to stir. Laxus watched as her eyes slowly fluttered open. She looked around with confusion before her eyes landed on Laxus.
"Where am I?" Adryn questioned in a quiet voice.
"It seems that we're at an inn." Adryn nodded her head and slowly sat up. "Do you remember what happened?"
"Yeah, Eclipse attacked me, but why do you look hurt?" Laxus' head was wrapped with bandages from his head wound. He was also shirtless now with bandages around his abdomen.
"I tried to catch you and ended up getting hurt." Laxus simply explained as he shrugged his shoulders. That caused him to wince though, causing Adryn to frown.
"I'm sorry that you got hurt because of me," Adryn said after a moment. Laxus just shook his head and reached up to pat the girl on her head.
"It's alright. I'm just glad you weren't too hurt." Laxus then realized what he said and turned away from the girl who was now blushing.
"Thank you, Laxus. You really did end up protecting me, didn't you?" Adryn had a smile on her face, while Laxus tried to not smile back at her. Then, the door burst open revealing Bickslow who stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Adryn. The rest of the Thunder Legion then all paused and looked to Adryn.
"You're awake," Bickslow said, pointing out the obvious. Adryn nodded her head and watched as Evergreen and Freed followed Bickslow into the room.
"How are you feeling?" Freed questioned as he approached the girl.
"I feel... fine I guess. Just a little upset." Adryn responded as she looked up to the green-haired man.
"Understandable." Freed nodded his head and headed to Laxus. "How are you feeling, Laxus?"
"I'm fine. I don't even feel any pain." Laxus simply said as he stood up. He looked at the three of them and looked confused. "Where's the food?"
"What food?" Evergreen spoke before it hit her. "Oh! That food." Evergreen then looked to Freed to help fix the situation.
"We figured that we'd go to a tavern once Adryn woke up," Freed explained, hoping that it would sound normal. Laxus just nodded
his head and moved to get his shirt on.
"Do you think you can eat?" Laxus questioned the redheaded girl who still sat on the bed. Adryn just nodded her head in agreement. "Then let's go." Laxus began to put his shirt on as Adryn got out of bed. She stumbled a little bit, but Laxus instantly moved to catch her.
"Oh, thank you," Adryn muttered as she regained her balance.
"No problem," Laxus responded as he took a step away from the girl. He resumed putting his shirt on and watched as Adryn put her cloak and shoes back on.
Once they were ready, they headed out. There was a nearby tavern which was where they headed. Once there, Adryn and Evergreen went to find a seat, while the boys ordered beer and food for the group. As soon as it was all ready, the boys went to where the girls chose their seats. It was a corner table away from others, as they all weren't that friendly towards strangers.
"So, how will we go about finding Ivan?" Freed questioned after they were all done eating.
"Right to work again, huh Freed?" Bickslow sighed as his babies echoed "Right to work!" a few times.
"I think we need to find Eclipse. She'll guide us to Ivan. We should find her and follow her." Adryn responded, ignoring Bickslow and his babies. That seemed to be good enough for the group and they all began to drink.
"Wait, Adryn, don't drink too much," Laxus remembered after a couple of beers. Adryn frowned but nodded her head.
"You don't want to carry me back to the inn again?" Adryn joked as she looked to the man.
"I don't have a problem with that, I don't want you to get sick," Laxus spoke without thinking and instantly froze once he realized what he'd spoken out loud in front of his friends. "I mean, you already are hurt, we don't need to be held back by you getting sick too." Laxus tried to hide the caring under the rudeness of his comment. Adryn still smiled though.
"Thank you." After that, they all began to chat about random things, mostly involving the plans for the upcoming days. It was a nice evening with them drinking, eating and chatting. For the first time in Adryn's life, she felt like she was apart of something good. She was really starting to like it.