Chapter 8: Welcome To Fairy Tail!
"There seems to be only one option." Makarov met Midnight's eyes evenly. "Welcome to Fairy Tail, boy."
There was a moment of silence that lasted a lifetime—and then a resounding "What?!" from everyone else in the room.
"You must be dreaming," Midnight snapped. "Me? Join Fairy Tail?"
"Gramps, you's been drinkin' or somethin?'"
"Ooh, I wish I had a recording lacryma on me," Bixlow said with a tremor of excitement in his voice.
"It is the only option besides turning you into the council," Makarov said, voice still even. "Don't be mistaken, however. In the event you do stay here, you will not be joining as a wizard. Your role in the guild will be that of a staff member. You will immediately be fitted with a magic-limiting lacryma and you will be under constant surveillance. Your duties will be that of a servant to the guild."
Midnight scoffed, black lips turning down in a sneer. "I'd rather die than be a slave to Fairy Tail."
"Master…" Dreamer spoke up with a trembling voice. "I know I said that he could be redeemed, but I… I wasn't saying I want him in our guild!"
"Finally, you're talkin' some sense," Piper grumbled next to her.
"Listen, young man," Makarov said sternly, still addressing Midnight. "It is freedom you seek, correct?"
Midnight scowled but didn't answer. He was trembling, though from anger or fear, it wasn't clear.
"Freedom is not something you deserve," Makarov said seriously. His voice held a mystical type of authority that demanded attention. "Freedom belongs to those who walk in light. You, young man, have walked in darkness for most of your life. You have caused great harm to countless innocent people, including the pain you caused my own children-an unforgivable sin." A shadow of rage waited in his eyes, ready to spring. But then, his gaze softened. Dreamer could feel the emotion that grew inside of the little stature, big heart master. Pity. No... Sympathy. "Because of your transgressions, the Magic Council would seek to imprison you for the rest of your life."
Midnight's red eyes swam with terror. His breaths became shallow, almost to the point of hyperventilating.
Dreamer watched him with an aching heart.
"You have two options," Makarov continued. "Since freedom is not one of the options, you must choose between two forms of captivity." He paced on the table-top. Midnight's eyes followed him as if in a terrified trance. "Option number one," he lifted a finger. "I turn you in to the council. You have your magic stripped forcibly away and you are locked in an isolated lacryma, only ten feet by ten feet wide, away from sunlight, away from fresh air. You are possibly fed three times a day, depending on the mercy of your prison guard that day. You spend the remainder of your life like this, trapped in the memories of the pain you have caused others."
"It's less than what he deserves," Piper said under his breath. Dreamer shot him a warning glare.
"Option number two," he lifted a second finger. "You remain here in Fairy Tail. You have your magic limited, but not entirely stripped from you. You are not caged like some wild animal. You have a bed, warm food, sunlight, and company." A soft smile tugged at his lips. He gestured to the grand hall around him, a welcoming and warm home to so many wizards. "You serve the members of Fairy Tail and the people of Magnolia, to make up for the pain that you have caused. Over time, you perhaps earn your redemption, and maybe even your freedom, if you pay your debts to the families you have injured throughout Fiore." He closed his eyes and breathed a long sigh. "It will not be an easy path, and likely far more painful than a life of solitude. However, I assure you... It will be worth it."
Midnight trembled and stared at the wooden grooves on the table. He shivered helplessly, reminding Dreamer of the child in his memories. Helpless. Scared.
"You won't be alone," she spoke up without thinking. The words flowed out naturally, inspired by her compassion for this stranger. She instinctively stepped forward, stopped only by Piper's grip on her shoulder.
Midnight put his face in his hands and started to sob. "I'll never be free!" He cried out in desperation and turned his eyes toward the ceiling. "It wasn't supposed to be like this!" His panicked whine echoed in the chambered hall. "Father told me I would be free! He told me I was the strongest wizard alive! And now I'm a slave to fairies?! It's not fair!" His voice was a wild scream. "What about my prayer?" His voice broke. "Did you lie to me, Father?!"
The others watched in silence as the sobs wracked his body. Even Piper kept his mouth shut. Only a monster could see how broken this man was at that moment, and not take at least some pity on him.
"Dear boy," Makarov said with a sad sigh, "the path of darkness rarely leads to fulfillment. It is the path of light that leads to joy, even if it doesn't lead to the thing you desire. You may never find your freedom, even if you choose to walk a path away from the shadows—but I promise that you will find something even greater. You will find hope."
Midnight's sobs turned to quiet gasps. "I don't have a choice."
"You always have a choice, young man."
His shoulders shook. Black nails dug into the tabletop. He wrapped his arms around himself. "I'll stay." It was nothing but a whimper.
Makarov gave a satisfied nod. Dreamer released a breath, relief washing over her. Bixlow chuckled and muttered something about how he wished Laxus could see this. Piper released Dreamer's shoulder and turned his head in disgust, fists clenched so hard that veins bulged above his knuckles.
"Piper," the master said, "from tonight on, Midnight will be rooming with you in the boy's dormitory."
"What?!" Piper was on his feet in an instant. "The hell he is!"
"This is non-negotiable," Makarov raised his voice. "He must be under supervision at all times. I will have Freed place a rule upon the dormitory that he will not be allowed to leave during the night, and another rule upon the guild hall. I expect you to keep an eye on him and treat him with respect."
"Respect?! After what he did to Dreamy?! Gramps, you seen her shoulder?!" The chains on his pants jangled as he took a step of disbelief toward the table.
"I'm okay, Piper…" Dreamer said quietly, though her shoulder did still throb from pain, and her dress strap was soaked red. She'd almost forgotten he'd injured her.
"During the day, Midnight will be under your supervision, Dreamer," Makarov ignored the blue-haired wizard. "Since you were the one who brought him here, you will be responsible for his reformation. This includes tasking and supervising activities for him as a servant of the guild."
She blinked and shook her head, lips parting in surprise. "No, I can't! I didn't intend-"
"When you make a decision, you must stand by the consequences of that decision, young lady."
"But Syllest—"
"Will not be in any danger," he cut her off. "I will personally see to that."
She bowed her head in submission. "Yes, Master."
"Young man," Makarov looked at Midnight's helpless form on the table again. "Do you understand the position you are in?"
He was no longer crying. His eyes were hazy but calm. "I understand." The spirit was gone from his voice, along with any will to argue or fight back.
"I will say this only once," Makarov said. "If you bring harm upon any of my children again, you will suffer a fate far worse than imprisonment by the council. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes." Submissive. Broken.
"Good. Then this meeting is dismissed. Dreamer, go home and see to your wounds. Piper, escort Midnight to the dorms, but try to keep him out of sight. Wouldn't want to work anyone up just yet." He chuckled thoughtfully, as if he was already imagining how the other guild members were going to react.
"Fine." Piper hissed. "But I ain't happy about this. And don't says I didn't warn ya when this bastard attacks one of our own."
"That won't happen, if you're doing your job," Makarov chided.
"Can we fit 'im with that magic limiter first?" Piper asked.
Makarov nodded. He stepped off of the table, officially closing the conversation. "Dreamer, get some rest. You're off duty tomorrow. Piper will keep an eye on Midnight so that you can be home. And don't worry about paperwork. We'll keep this mission off the record."
"Hey, I ain't questioning your decision, Master," Bixlow spoke up, "but aren't you forgetting something?"
The others, excluding Midnight—who was either numbly closing his eyes or sleeping again—looked at him.
"Won't the Magic Council be up our ass when they find out we're harboring him? I mean, they already know he was with Dora here."
"DREAMER!"
"Whatever."
"Let me worry about that," the master said coolly. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a very comfortable bed waiting for me. Don't wake me up again." He waved and walked with his hands behind his back.
"Gramps, wait!" Piper yelled. "The magic limiter!"
"Right, right. Silly me, I keep forgetting." The tone of voice implied he was more likely enjoying tormenting Piper than actually being forgetful. "Let's go see if Freed is still working in the library." He strode off, whistling.
"Come on, bastard," Piper glared at the dark wizard. Midnight stood up slowly and jumped off the table. Piper thrust his hands in his pockets and started for the door with him following, like a zombie or a scolded puppy.
"Macbeth…" Dreamer called after him. He turned and looked at her, but she'd forgotten what she was going to say. "I… I'm…" What? Sorry? She wasn't sorry. Not for capturing him. Not for bringing him here. But she was sorry for the pain he was feeling. She wished she could end it, somehow.
He narrowed his eyes. His expression was hard and unforgiving. Of course it was. If it wasn't for her, he might have woken up in the ruins of Nirvana on his own and escaped captivity. If it wasn't for her, he might be free.
He sneered and turned back around to follow Piper. The dice wizard gave her a shrug as if to say, "you brought this on yourself, Dreamy." She felt a stab of guilt in her chest. It was too late to undo her choices, however. Master was right. She had to face the consequences. Midnight's hatred toward her was destined to be one of those consequences. Along with Piper's frustration and the new stress of playing guardian to a member of Oracion Seis.
She let out a long sigh and turned in the opposite direction to leave out the main doors. Her fingers went to the wound on her shoulder, just another reminder of her decisions.
"Thanks for the entertainment, babe." Bixlow waved at her with a gaudy grin while she left. "I haven't had this much fun on guard duty in a while."
"Goodnight, Bix." she said, the exhaustion showing in her voice.
"Tell Mira I said hey," he called after her.
"Okay."
She walked out into the moonlight, in front of the guild hall wondering how this was going to play out. What was the extent of the consequences she would face for bringing an assassin to Fairy Tail? It was too much to think about tonight. Her thoughts drifted instead to the long black hair and pink eyes and rosy cheeks waiting for her at home. There was renewed vigor in her step as she descended the steps from the guild hall, setting aside the issue of Midnight for the time being.
"Syllestra, I'm home."