Incarcerated Innocence, a Fairy Tail fanfic by Tsunami Storm

Chapter 5: Invited Infiltration part 4- Iridescent Insignia

-A few days later-

Clang! "Silence, everyone! Her Royal Highness, Princess Hisui E. Fiore, will make an announcement at this time!" Colonel Arcadios boomed as he stood on the second-floor balcony of the ballroom in the palace, where all of the participating wizards from the Grand Magic Games were gathered. The conversations slowly petered out as the princess stepped into view on the higher balcony and gave a graceful curtsey.

"Thank you, Colonel Arcadios." The young woman began with a sweet smile. "And thank you to all of you wizards gathered here for your efforts over the past few days. Not only for your magnificent performances in the Grand Magic Games, but also for your bravery and loyalty in defending our beloved kingdom from the invasion of the savage dragons. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you. Fiore thanks you for your miraculous feats."

At this statement, the entire ballroom erupted in applause as everyone present congratulated each other over the events of the past week. It really had been crazy, and everyone was surprised that there was not one casualty among them.

Two wizards however- hiding in the shadows of the room as much as possible- knew differently. With bowed heads, they recalled with sorrow the loss of their comrade and Master of their tiny Guild, the Time mage, Ultear Milkovich. She'd made the ultimate sacrifice, giving the Time of her life to save the lives of multiple wizards with bright futures ahead of all of them. Silently, the younger and shorter of the two mages turned to her 'big brother' and hugged him around the waist, burying her face in his chest and crying again quietly as he returned the embrace, bowing his head and resting his chin atop hers.

"Now," The princess continued. "I have one more announcement, this one of a more personal nature to some of you." Hisui looked over the crowds of smiling faces down below, and her jade eyes rested on the two wizards trying to disappear into the shadows in the back, fearing discovery. Slowly her smile grew wider and she winked mysteriously, causing the second-in-command of the Independent Guild to look up at her in confusion.

"I'm sure by now that most of you have heard tell of an Independent Guild that has been causing quite a stir in the Magic Community over the past seven years, eradicating entire Dark Guilds with only three members to their name. This, coupled with their heroic endeavors over the past few days, has led me to a decision regarding their status. As of this moment, I hereby absolve Crime Sorciére of their respective pasts, and grant them a full, royal pardon. No longer need they remain in the shadows, hidden from their friends and allies. Now they are free once again to walk in the light and be with those they love." At this, Princess Hisui winked at the gobsmacked Guildmaster again, but this time it was more mischievous in nature, and perhaps just a bit coy as well.

After this Earthland-shattering announcement, murmurs and whispers erupted all around the ballroom as the gathered Guilds looked at their fellow wizards in shock and surprise, but no Guild was more surprised than Fairy Tail. Specifically one redheaded Knight in particular as she looked over to the darkest corner of the room, right into the hazel eyes of the man she'd loved since they'd first met in the R-System island prison. A silent invitation in her eyes, she smiled at the shadowed wizards and tilted her head ever so slightly in a signal for them to quit hiding and get over here already. With a nervous exhale, Jellal Fernandes and his 'little sister' Meredy wordlessly stepped into the light of the ballroom, all eyes now on them and making them feel very self-conscious.

Meredy looked like a princess herself as she stepped out of the shadows in a primrose-colored gown that was decorated with blooming roses on the skirt and bodice, and a crown of the flowers was woven into her bubblegum hair- worn down for the occasion. At her side, Jellal was dressed as he appeared for the second day of the Grand Magic Games, though this time his mask as Mystogan was absent, as he no longer had to hide his identity. However, as a tribute to his Edolas doppelganger, he still wore the sash and staves on his back as he walked over to the convened wizards of Fairy Tail Teams A and B.

"You look incredible, Meredy!" Juvia exclaimed quietly as the shy former member of Grimoire Heart approached behind Jellal, not meeting anyone's gaze. At the Water Mage's words, however, she looked up and her cheeks darkened to match her dress, bashful at the praise.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You really do look like a prince, 'Mystogan'." Lucy grinned as she made the Heavenly Body mage blush as he looked back down at his shoes. "The Heavenly Prince and his Scarlet Knight." She giggled, making Erza go red as well as the two wizards smiled shyly at each other.

"Oo! Thank you very much! For the idea! That story would make a splendid play for my beloved theater! Thank you so very much!" The short owner of the grand theater in Onibas exclaimed with a bow, and all of the present mages from Fairy Tail groaned at the memory of that grueling catastrophe that was their last performance.

"Lucy, aren't you working on a novel back in Magnolia? Maybe you could- um- write down our story for this gentleman as a script? It could give you more practice, at the very least." Jellal suggested quietly, still a bit self-conscious from all of the staring.

"Hey, yeah! That's a great idea! And you guys' story is filled with all kinds of interesting twists and turns people will never see coming!" The Heartfilia heiress squeaked happily, her eyes turning into stars.

"Not to mention all the love. It's just like all those classic romances that people talk about all the time!" Meredy giggled, giving her 'big brother' a gentle elbow in the arm and laughing louder when he blushed again.

"I think I'll call it- hm. I want it to be a good title, one that captures the reader's attention right away, but something that doesn't spoil the plot. You have any suggestions, you two? After all, you're the two main characters." Lucy asked with an encouraging smile. Jellal merely smiled back softly and shrugged. He had read many books over the years, but no good title ideas were coming to him at the moment.

"How about 'Incarcerated Innocence'? It's to the point, grabs attention right away, and it leaves the plot a mystery." Erza mused, half to herself and half aloud. "Then you can think of a way to have each chapter start with a word or words that begin with 'I'." She smiled.

"Hey, hey yeah! That's a great idea, Erza! Oo, I can't wait to start working on it!" The former debutante practically jumped up and down in excitement. "I'm gonna need all of the details, though, just fair warning." She half-teased as she playfully poked her best friend's true love on the bicep, giggling merrily when the simple action triggered another easy blush from the twenty-four-year-old wizard.

"Just remember that you asked for it, when you feel all the heartache from my story." Jellal smiled wryly. "It's not for the faint-hearted."

"It might not have a happy beginning or middle, but every Fairy Tail has to have a happy ending." Meredy smiled, putting an arm around her 'big brother' in a gentle side-hug and making him blush for what seemed to him the hundredth time that evening. "And yes, I said it like that on purpose." She giggled as she winked at her gathered group of friends.

"Exactly. Besides, who doesn't love a little drama in a story?" A new voice chimed in as a familiar cat mage approached with one of her guildmates on her arm, the other young woman wearing a highly decorated dress uniform that looked like it belonged with the military more than a wizard's guild. "And I can't think of a better happy ending than to have the hero and his friend officially join the very Guild that he's fought alongside all these years. Yes, I know about that, Mystogan." Millianna smirked victoriously when she received several shocked looks.

"Yeah, it's about time you officially joined the family you 'infiltrated' about six years ago." Gray chuckled as he walked up, Juvia clinging to his arm and both holding small glasses of punch. "Not that we mind, mind you. It was really great of you to just about singlehandedly keep our Guild afloat for all the years we were gone." He grinned, clapping a hand on the former Wizard Saint's shoulder in a friendly, manly gesture. "We're always looking for a few good men and women to join our Fairy Tail family. And all three of you will make powerful additions to the gang. Join us. I can promise there will never be a dull moment in our crazy Guild." He laughed, causing the gathered wizards to smile at the memories they'd shared over the years.

"Thank you for your kind words- um- Gray." Jellal smiled softly, and Meredy echoed his expression. "We will think about your generous offer."

"Whaddya mean, 'think about it'? I'm all for joining right now! I dunno about you, but I'm tired of running all over Fiore and hiding in caves! It's time Crime Sorciére finally stepped into the light once and for all." Meredy huffed, making a face at their all-too-frequent stays in less-than-appealing living arrangements.

"Speaking of your Guild, where is Ultear, anyway? This party's 'cause of her too." Gray mused aloud, looking around for his beloved master's daughter and 'adopted sister'. He had a sneaking suspicion that half of Fairy Tail wouldn't even be here if it weren't for the Time mage, himself included.

"We haven't seen her. She's probably just waiting for us somewhere outside the city. We are fugitives, after all." Jellal lied, putting his hands in his pockets and looking back down at his feet, unable to meet anyone's eyes all of a sudden. He knew exactly where she was, and that she was lost to them forever. Well, until the time came for all of them to join her on the other side of the Mortal Veil.

"Not anymore, you're not." Millianna smiled slyly. "Did you already forget about your pardon? You're free as a bird now."

"Crime Sorciére may be pardoned, but that doesn't absolve us of all our sins. As far as I'm concerned, I'll carry the guilt of my past till the end of my days." Jellal muttered, his morose voice barely above a whisper. "Everything that I've done can't be erased by a single pardon. Especially my worst crime of all:" He looked up at Kagura through his eyelashes, guilt burning in his hazel eyes like real flames. "A royal pardon can't bring back the dead."

But then Kagura did something that no one ever expected. She smiled. At him! "Millianna's told me the whole story." She explained. "That wasn't really you. You were possessed. Simon was like a brother to you, right? The real you would never hurt someone close to your heart." She put her left hand on the hilt of her sealed blade, and everyone present tensed. "I swore to kill you with this sword- Archenemy- but now, I see that my rage was misdirected. It's Zeref that deserves to die for all his crimes against humanity, not you." She dropped her hand back to her side for a moment, then held out her right hand to silently ask for his. Jellal was confused for a moment, but then smiled softly and gently shook it with his own right hand. "It's nice to meet you, 'Onee-chan's boyfriend'." Kagura smiled kindly and just a little shyly.

Jellal looked surprised at the title, but then smiled again, this time slightly shyly. "Um, it's a little more complicated than that, but it's an honor to meet you as well, 'little sister of my best friend'."

"What's so complicated about it? You love her, don't you? And she loves you. It couldn't be simpler." Meredy winked mischievously at the 'Prince' and his 'Knight', making them both blush again.

"Oh, he's just being stubborn again. He's convinced that he 'can't allow himself to fall in love with those who walk in the light', because of his dark past." Erza smiled wryly, shoving his shoulder back playfully.

"Well now that you've been pardoned, that excuse goes out the window. You don't have any more reasons not to join Fairy Tail and be with your friends and the woman you love." Millianna smiled as she elbowed her 'big brother' playfully.

Grimacing half-heartedly that all the girls were ganging up on him, Jellal surrendered and bowed his head in a silent admission of defeat. "Fine. You win. As acting Guildmaster, I hereby dissolve Crime Sorciére as an Independent Guild, and declare that its members will be joining the Fairy Tail Guild, as long as its Master agrees." Two members. He silently corrected himself. He couldn't tell them the truth just yet. Clearing his expression, he smiled sheepishly at Makarov, who was entertaining little Asuka over by the nearby dessert table. The short man looked over and beamed, his eyes sparkling with the excitement of gaining new powerful wizards for their somewhat struggling Guild. The group took that smile to mean that he had no problems whatsoever with Jellal's proposal, then everyone turned to face the highest balcony as the king walked out of the shadows to address his subjects and the wizard Guilds that he so favored. To everyone's shock and surprise- and to Fairy Tail's eternal embarrassment- Natsu finally arrived at the party, decked out in the full royal regalia and wearing the king's crown on his own head. As one, every wizard in the room sweatdropped, and most of Fairy Tail facepalmed at their most brazen and reckless Dragonslayer.

Fortunately for Fairy Tail's reputation, the king was a very forgiving man and took Natsu's little stunt in stride and withheld punishment- at least the severe one that everyone expected. Instead, both Hisui and Natsu were only commanded to wear pumpkin heads for the remainder of the evening, and refer to everyone that they spoke with as 'punkin'.

-A few days later-

"So now that Crime Sorciére's been disbanded, are you two gonna come back to Fairy Tail with us?" Natsu asked with a raised eyebrow as Erza talked with a local coach business that could take them all the way from Crocus to Magnolia, so they wouldn't have to walk so much. Natsu was adamantly against the carriage, insisting that he'd run alongside the 'death trap' if needed, just so that he wouldn't have to ride it and get sick all over the place. Again.

Jellal smiled softly and looked down at the dirt road under his feet. "Eventually. I wouldn't want to complicate things between your team by riding home with you, and Meredy- well-" He looked sadly over at his rose-haired companion, who was staring off into space and constantly wiping away the tears that were coursing down her face. They had finally found Ultear, or- more accurately- what remained of their tiny Guild's Master. Meredy had yet to stop crying for the loss of her surrogate mother, and Jellal- though a bit more stoic than his guildmate- also felt the void in his heart that her death had left.

"She needs more time." Natsu guessed, and Jellal nodded. "I understand. Took me forever to man up after Igneel vanished, and he was pretty much my Dad in everything but blood. It's not exactly the same, but-" He trailed off awkwardly.

"Yeah, I get it." Jellal nodded again with a small smile of gratitude. "Igneel raised you for a good part of your life. It's only natural that you'd feel such a bond with him, despite the fact that he was a dragon and you're human. It didn't matter that you weren't related by blood. Anyone can be a father, but it takes a really special being to be a Dad. Not that I would know." He laughed once in a small bit of self-deprecating humor. "Closest I ever had to a Dad was Grandpa Rob in the Tower. Then I was possessed- and-" He trailed off awkwardly. "Well, you remember what happened after that. You were there to knock some sense into me." He laughed. "Literally!"

Natsu snorted at the memory. "Yeah, I guess I could've gone a little easier on ya. Holdin' back ain't exactly my strong suit. As you've probably noticed by now." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly in a nonverbal apology, then looked over at the carriage that was to take him and his team home to Magnolia. The rest of Fairy Tail had already departed the previous day. Near the front of the boar-drawn vehicle, Lucy waved to the boys in a signal that they were getting ready to leave, and the Fire Dragonslayer groaned in despair. A whole day of riding in that tiny box on wheels? He didn't know if his stomach could take it.

Just then, a crazy idea came to the former Wizard Saint. "Hey, Natsu. You don't feel sick when you ride on animals or anything living, right? It's just vehicles that make you nauseous, isn't it?" He asked, and Natsu grunted in the affirmative.

"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up." He groused, putting his hands in his pockets and glaring over at that doom machine waiting just fifty feet away.

"Well- this is just a crazy thought I had, but- maybe you could sit on the animal's back while it pulls the carriage with your friends? Then you wouldn't have to walk the whole way and tire yourself out. And you'd still be pretty close to your team and could still join in the conversations if you wished." Jellal shrugged, voicing his spontaneous suggestion for the Dragonslayer to ponder.

Natsu crossed his arms and frowned at the ground, thinking for a moment. "Hey- hey, yeah! That's perfect! You're a freakin' genius, Jellal! Man, why did I never think of that?!" He laughed uproariously, literally bouncing over to the carriage and hopping right on the working animal's back. The large beast snorted a little at the extra weight, but then shrugged as it shifted its rider's weight more evenly across its back. Jellal smiled over at the Salamander, who was grinning from ear to ear at the prospect that he'd never have to feel motion sickness again. Unless they had to take a train or boat somewhere for a Job Request. Jellal was glad that he'd been able to help one of the wizards to whom he owed so much for setting him on the right path again. Now if only he could find a way to repay the others for everything they'd done for him.

I'll probably spend the rest of my life atoning for my crimes and repaying everyone for their kindness, so I might as well get used to it. Jellal thought to himself as he mirrored Natsu's earlier action and put his hands in his pockets. The carriage bearing Fairy Tail Team A finally rumbled off toward home, and Jellal raised a hand in farewell as his scarlet angel and her friends disappeared down the dirt road. As he watched them go, Meredy slowly approached from behind him and stopped at his right side, her tears finally spent as she managed a small smile. That's what Ultear would have wanted, anyway. She wouldn't want her two closest friends to mourn her passing for the rest of their lives. She would have wanted them to live in happiness and walk in the light.

And from now on, that was exactly what Meredy Milkovich and Jellal Fernandes intended to do.

-End of the Dragon King Festival-

A few days after Fairy Tail had left Crocus, homeward bound, Jellal gently asked his young companion if she wanted to accompany him on his own journey. It was time that he put his past behind him and looked to the future, and he thought that the young woman who stood at his side could benefit from that outlook as well. With a slow nod, Meredy agreed to journey from the Capital to the home of the victors of the Grand Magic Games: the picturesque and bustling town of Magnolia. It was time for a fresh start for both of them, and a brand new Guild to call home.

-A few weeks later-

Iridescent Insignia

"Ah, perfect timing, Jellal. Would you come with me for a moment?" Master Makarov motioned with his hand just as the newest member of Fairy Tail walked through the Guild Hall doors, intending to take another job off the Request Board and get to work on it. Jellal looked up at his new Guildmaster and nodded, turning right around on his heel and starting for the staircase to the second level of the Hall.

Makarov led the confused bluenette to a small office on the second floor of the Guild Hall and closed the door behind them when the young man entered the room. Jellal cocked his head in confusion, his eyes asking a silent question that he was too shy to voice aloud. What's going on? They seemed to say.

"Oh, it's just a formality. But given your generally 'secretive' disposition, I thought you might like a little privacy when we do this. We just have to pick a place and color for this stamp, to mark you as an official member of Fairy Tail. Your friend Meredy already got hers. A pink fairy on her left shoulder. That's usually where most people put it. So where do you want yours? And what color would you prefer?" The Master smiled encouragingly, waving a hand over to a nearby table on which sat at least fifty different stamps of various colors and sizes.

Jellal walked over to the bench in interest, his eyes gleaming with intrigue and possibility. He put a hand to his chin as he looked over the myriad of choices, pointing to random stamps that he was considering as he moved up and down the rows. At the very end of the last row, one stamp caught his attention.

"Master? What is this stamp? What color does it use?" Jellal asked his fellow Wizard Saint, pointing to the stamp in question.

Makarov grinned. "Ah, you've noticed that one. Well that's a very unique stamp, m'boy. The color used is specific to each wizard, and it 'reflects what's on the inside', whatever that means. I didn't make that up, that's just what the shopkeeper told me when I purchased it recently. It hasn't been used yet, as none of my children were too keen on discovering their 'true colors'. Either they were worried about what they might discover, or they knew what their true colors were and wanted to keep it to themselves."

Jellal nodded, acknowledging this as a valid point. Not everyone would be comfortable with showing their true colors, and he himself should know that better than most, given his dark past. Still, he was intrigued by the mysterious stamp, and now none of the other stamps seemed to fit quite as well as that one would. He already had a location in mind for the sigil, so he shrugged and selected the stamp from its base and showed it to his new master. The old man smiled in approval.

"I see that stamp somehow resonates with you. An interesting choice." Makarov grinned, alighting from the stool on which he'd been sitting and floating gently to the floor with the use of his magic. "Now all we have to do is pick a spot where you want it on your body. You can pick any spot you want, anywhere at all." Makarov explained, motioning for Jellal to go ahead and choose.

Jellal closed his eyes and smiled at the floor for a moment, then took a quick breath and removed his shirt, placing a hand on the upper left quadrant of his chest. "Right here. Over my heart."

Makarov raised his eyebrows. "An interesting choice. Not many people pick that spot. The only other wizard I can think of in this Guild that has a mark there is Wakaba, but his is bright yellow. All right, if that's where you want it, then so be it." The old man made a face then, as if mildly irritated about something. "Do you think you could kneel for me, my boy? We don't have a step-ladder in here, and-"

"Of course Master." Jellal interrupted quietly, quickly dropping to one knee and bowing his head, but keeping his chest as level as possible. Makarov nodded in approval, pleased that Jellal had guessed his meaning so quickly, and saved him some embarrassment by not acknowledging his rather diminutive height. Why did he have to be so short? Well, short stature comes with age, I guess. Clearing his throat to return his musings to the business at hand, Makarov gently took the stamp from Jellal's open hand and swiftly pressed the emblem end to the young man's chest, releasing it with a small, magical POP! some seconds later.

Jellal's eyes were still closed, so he didn't see Makarov raise his eyebrows again at the sight before his eyes. Makarov chuckled. "Well, I guess you can't blame yourself anymore for your past mistakes, my boy. Can't hide your true colors anymore, either. First Master was right. You really do have a heart of gold."

Jellal's eyes snapped open at that, and he looked down at his chest with a short gasp of surprise. Sure enough, an iridescent golden fairy was emblazoned over his heart, seeming to almost sparkle in the light of the midday sun that was shining through the windows. Standing up and quickly jogging over to the full-length mirror in the room, Jellal gasped again as he put a finger to the mark, gently tracing the outline as if he couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing.

An unearthly giggle sounded then, causing both Jellal and Makarov to look around wildly in alarm. "Told ya!" The voice laughed, and a heat-wave in the room suddenly shimmered into the visible spectrum, revealing the First Master of the Fairy Tail Guild with her dainty hands over her mouth, partially muffling her snickers. "I told you he has a heart in tune with the rest of us in Fairy Tail! He just didn't believe it of himself. Now there's no denying it. You're a good person, Jellal, so quit blaming yourself for everything!" She teased, giving the young man's shoulder a playful slap.

"F- First Master Mavis?" Jellal stuttered, shocked that he could now see the ancient spirit of the Guild's founder.

"Yep! Nice to officially meet you, Jellal! And I can finally thank you in person for all your help. Not only for everything you did in the recent Grand Magic Games, but also for helping Erza save Tenrou Island from Azuma. If it hadn't been for you, he would probably have killed everyone on the island before I could intervene and cast Fairy Sphere. Then it really would have been a 'Tenrou Tragedy'."

Jellal nodded fervently, immensely grateful to the Guild's First Master for saving the lives of all of his friends, not to mention the girl he loved with all his heart. One of these days, Jellal thought, I'll actually work up the courage to confess my feelings for her. I'm such a coward. Punishing her too for dragging my feet. I've known for years how she feels about me, and vice versa, but I just never seem to find the right time. I guess I'll have to make the right moment.

End of Chapter 5

God Bless!

Tsunami Storm