Chapter Three: To Atone for My Sins


Leonis: Welcome to Chapter Three!

Jellal: Fitting title, as we all seek atonement for the sins we commit

Leonis: That's deep, man

Jellal: Mhmm

Leonis: Intro please? But first I'd like to thank AdamineTerra for all her help and support

Jellal: Leonis Serviert does not own Fairy Tail


Last time on Among The Stars

Dax then passes out from the stress on his body, falling into a deep sleep. So quiet, so lonely. Oh how he hates being lonely. Dax Sterling, the boy abandoned at a few months old, is once again alone...


Timeskip - 9 Years

It's over. His days of being a test are over. He's been free for years now, adjusting to life in the outside world rather well. Despite his now-upbeat front, he is still the same Dax Sterling who was experimented on and treated like something sub-human. Referring to him as a boy is now a null-and-void description, as he isn't one. Dax is now nineteen and it is the year X791. Dax's hair is shaggy like always has been, keeping that golden brown colour that shimmers in the sunlight. His dark blue eyes decorated with white speckles like the stars in the sky are bright—but behind them lay a heart and mind filled with guilt—.

Questions plague the teen's mind constantly; Could I have saved Felicia? Could I have saved my parents? Could I have met them in the first place?. These remorseful and guilt-filled thoughts swarm the nineteen-year-old's mind.

Now taller and stronger, Dax has a lean and muscular physique covered by his new outfit. The boy wears a loose, three-quarter length sleeved gray v-neck—the front of which is usually exposed—underneath a black aviator jacket with a loose upwards collar, an orange ribbed fleece collar attached on the inside. He wears a pair of sturdy black jeans with thigh pockets and a pair of black boots to top it all off.

On top of changing physically, mentally and emotionally, Dax has also gained access to a plethora of new spells from his Stellar Magic. These include, the sword spells Alpha Leonis and Alpha Draconis, the duplication spell Polydeuces Strike and the motorbike-summoning spell Apollo's Chariot among a large plethora of ranged, physical and support-based spells to numerous to list.


Rose Village

We rejoin Dax as he treks through a town, passing many civilians on his way through. Two men with a small child behind one are conversing about something of the utmost importance to them.

"Did you hear about that Dark Guild over yonder hill?" One man queries.

"You mean Crux Shadow? The dark guild who've been causing so much trouble?"

"What's Crux Shadow? And can I beat it up?" Dax asks with a cocky smirks, butting in on the conversation.

"Are you mad or stupid kid?! Maybe a little bit of both?!Crux Shadow are a Dark Guild that has been terrorizing the local area for a few months now and are too powerful for local mages to deal with, way out of your league kid"

"Why not send a request to a Guild then? And for your information I could take these chumps down with ease" The golden brown-haired teen asks in a confused manner, slightly agitated by the mans comment.

"Because of the agreement between Legal Guilds and Dark Guilds, they can't deal with them. And even if we attempted to hire an Independent Guild, Crux Shadow has spies everywhere that would take down the messenger within hours"

"They sound like a pretty nasty bunch these guys, I'll go rough em up for ya" Dax grins.

"Will ya really mister?! Pa, is he gon' beat up that dark guild?" The small child asks.

"Yes boy, he's wantin' to rough that guild up" The man says to the child before turning to back to Dax "Kid..." He says "Iffin you're wantin' to go out and challenge Crux Shadow I'll give you a reward but heed my words: Be careful. Rumors have it that Crux Shadow have two dragonslayers among their ranks. Also, supposedly Crime Sorciere, an Independent Guild specializing in the annihilation of Dark Guilds is in the area, so you might bump into them"

"Eh, dragonslayers aren't that tough. I'll be done in no time. And if I do meet these Crime Sorciere guys, I'll be sure to request permission to join" The Stellar Mage smirks as he walks off.

"Bye bye Mister! See ya!" The child chirps.

"Kids these days...so cocky..." The first man grumbles.

"Stellar Summoning: Apollo's Grand Chariot!" Dax exclaims as a small blaze appears then quickly dissipates, revealing a mainly black sports bike with a red front, yellow suns on either side and orange flames at the bottom "See ya!" The brunet yells as he leaps on his bike, revving it quickly before speeding off, leaving a literal trail of fire in his wake.


In the forest

Meredy, Jellal and Ultear are walking through the forest, tracking down the Dark Guild Crux Shadow.

"Are we nearly there Ul?!" The pink-haired girl pouts.

"Yes. Not far now" Ultear smiles at her adopted daughter brightly, Meredy smiling back.

"There it is" Jellal says as a large mahogany building with a low stone outer wall and a metal gate comes into view "Crux Shadow's Guildhall"


Meanwhile, in another part of the forest

Dax is speeding through the once-tranquil forest on Apollo's Grand Chariot, leaving a blazing trail in his wake as he speeds through the thicket. Seeing the Crux Shadow Guildhall, Dax takes a sharp slide, leaping from the motorbike as it disappears, landing on his own two feet after skidding a few feet.

"Get ready Crux Shadow, for a Stellar Smashing!" The golden brown-haired boy smirks as he walks towards the guildhall.


Crux Shadow Guildhall

The members of Crux Shadow look out of the windows to see a group of blue-cloaked people approaching from one side and a brown-haired teen approaching from the same side.

"Boss! What do we do!?" One exclaims.

"We fight" 'Boss' says stoically, rising from his chair and walking to the door "Follow me boys" He grins as his entire guild follows him.

"Who are these runts?" One member whispers.

"Who are you four?" 'Boss' asks.

"We are Crime Sorciere" Jellal says as he, Meredy and Ultear pull down their hoods.

"And I'm Dax Sterling, prepare for a Stellar Smashing!" Dax smirks as he slams his fist into his open palm.

"Hugo. Sven" 'Boss' smirks as a red-haired man with pale skin—Hugo— and a dark green-haired teen with a heavy tan—Sven— walk out from the crowd.

(Play Fairy Tail OST: Third Generation Dragonslayers)

The two step up to the mark, a dark green magic circle appearing before Sven and a red one in front of Hugo.

"Acid Dragon's Roar!" Sven shouts as dark green sludge-like liquid flies from his mouth.

"Maguilty Sodom!" Meredy exclaims as she fires energy blades at the green-haired teen, whom effortlessly dodges them.

"Magma Dragon's Roar!" Hugo bellows as insanely hot magma launches at Meredy.

"Photon Missiles!" Dax snaps as he fires long arcing beams of light that follow Sven, whom is desperately trying to avoid them.

"Meteor!" Jellal shouts as he rushes at Hugo, striking him rapidly.

"Acid Dragon's Corrosive Sword Edge!" Sven yells as he swings an arm covered in sword-shaped acid at the Photon Missiles, causing them to fizzle away.

"Polydeuces Strike!" The golden brown-haired mage grins as he creates a clone of himself, the clone going for Sven whilst the real Dax leaps at the rest of Crux Shadow.

"Winter Hexagon!" The real him shouts as a cyan beams of energy fire from a stationary hexagonal position in the sky, striking many of the mages in the group.

The clone of Dax engages Sven in hand-to-hand combat, the two striking each others shins, arms, legs and chest. As Sven weakens the clone and is about to finish him off, Jellal punches the Acid Dragonslayer in the face at a rapid pace, still under Meteor's effects.

"True Heavenly Body Magic: Sema!" Jellal yells as Dax's clone stands behind him and quite far away.

As he fires the gargantuan meteor at the remaining members of Crux Shadow, Dax—who is still stuck in the group—looks up and gasps before turning to look at his clone and exchanging a knowing nod.

"Polydeuces Switch!" The two yell in unison as the clone swaps places with the real Dax, bringing him to safety as the meteor hits the guildmembers, defeating them and causing Dax's clone to dissipate.

Dax dusts off his hands and chuckles at the site of Crux Shadow laying in a crumpled heap on the floor. He then turns to Crime Sorciere with a bright smile.

"Hey! Y'all did great!" He smiles.

"Thanks" Meredy smiles, causing a light dusting of a blush to appear on Dax's cheeks.

"Do you mind if I ask something?" Dax asks.

"Sure. Go ahead" Ultear says.

"May I join Crime Sorciere?" The golden brown-haired teen queries.

"I do not see a problem with that. Why us and not another guild?" Jellal asks.

"Because in an Independent Guild, I can do whatever must be done within the law to atone for my sins" The Stellar Mage says solemnly.

"And what sins must you atone for?" Ultear queries in a perplexed manner.

"I need to atone for the sins I have committed. Allowing a monstrous beast to roam free and murder everyone I held dear at that time" The golden brown-haired teen says solemnly.

"How did this happen in the first place?" The pink-haired mage asks with concern.

"I was imprisoned at a few months old and experimented on for ten years before I accidentally summoned the beast and killed everyone" Dax sighs.

'His past is very similar to mine. I sympathize with this kid, because he had to endure it for longer' Ultear thinks "How do we know we can trust you?" The raven-haired mage asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Because I'd never hurt anyone whom too seeks redemption. I deem it as unethical" The golden brown-haired boy says stoically.

"Then you've come to the right place kid, Crime Sorciere is all about atonement and redemption" The blue-haired man nods.

"Thank you sir. Will i get a guild mark?" Dax asks curiously.

"Of course, you seem like you can be trusted. But keep in mind I'll be watching you closely. Try anything with Meredy and you're dead meat" Ultear smiles sadistically "Where would you like it and in what colour?"

"O-Okay" Dax gulps "C-Can I get it in gold and on the right side of my neck please?"

"Sure" Ul smiles as she presses the stamper against Dax's neck lightly, imprinting the mark upon him.

"Yay! New member!" Meredy cheers.

"Alright, Let's get going" Jellal says dully as they begin to walk.

Dax, the child abandoned aged only a few months and again at age ten has finally found somewhere he hopes to call home. A place he hopes he can call home for a long time...


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Next time on Among The Stars: Dax's First Birthday