Merry Christmas, everyone! this is my little gift to all of you guys reading, and following my story^^ Thank you so much! Now, this here won't be too eventful-but this will serve as an 'introduction' to the conflict of the story(Yay! for a story development!)
Kay! on to the-
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
owh, this is gonna be looooongggg..
Chapter 5: Home
Flashback part II
It was a blazing hot sunny day in Magnolia, and a certain female redhead was aimlessly wandering the streets of the place. It had been days since she had read the letter. Days of not showing up in the guild, and days of saying terrible excuses of her catching a bad cold. She figured out nobody ever bought her lie, nevertheless they decided on not pursuing further for they knew it was crossing boundaries, especially that it was Titania of all the people. She was just thankful enough, at the same time felt horrible having no one to open up to without Gray who was currently on a solo mission. He was the only one who'd ever calm her down, but right now, with all her jazzed up feelings between him and Jellal, his presence would've been much painful for her, and will be for him if he knew.
She found her feet stopping in front of guild's gate. and then, walked through guild- surprisingly only few of them were left while the rest probably took up some missions. There she found Mira, as usual cleaning up the utensils at the bar while humming a cheerful tune.
"Oh, hey there, Erza. Are you feeling better?" she happily greeted her fellow guild mate.
She knew no matter how innocent the white-haired waitress looked like, she knew about her alibis long time ago. She walked closer to the bar where she was before showing off a smile, which indicated it was okay for them to not play each other's games.
"You know, if we didn't grew up together, I would've been surprised that you knew about my alibis, Mira. I don't know what to say. Thank you, for not telling the truth to everyone." she sat down heavily as if her armor was weighing her down but put a small yet meaningful smile on her face.
Mira's expression softened. She knew this girl was so polite and formal at the same time whenever she speaks, but this was giving her the different creeps. She knew something was bothering her, and she's rarely being bothered by anything. And she wanted to know the reason behind her sobs only the white-haired waiter heard in the middle of those nights when everyone else were too tired, sleeping after their own missions. So, she decided to infiltrate Erza's armor.
"What's bothering you, Erza?" She laid one of the glasses she wiped with a cloth and turned her complete attention to her, leaning her elbows to the counter.
Erza only bowed down. She didn't know if it was right to tell her, or where to even start. She was all she had whom she can rely on, and she was glad it was her.
"I-Jellal. H-he's back." Those words. Just those words and she ended with a sigh while remained bowed down.
She was afraid of what Mira would say after hearing her out. Her doubts seem to caused her to be more ashamed of herself.
"Mira, is-I know it's wrong. I'm not supposed to. The Council will set them free anytime now. But why does he have to bring it along with him?!" she tightened her gauntlets before slamming it to the hard wood, earning the remaining guild member's eyes fixed on her.
She didn't mind. They'd go back to their own business sooner or later.
"I can't understand. I-" she shook hard.
Then, a pair of soft warm hands held her cold armored ones that stopped her from continuing any ex-S class mage knew about her that much.
"Don't think, Erza." She moved her hands to the exquip mage's covered chest.
"Feel."
This startled the Great Titania, more. She didn't need further explanation, no more words to show how she feels right now. Her once-rival knew just that easily.
Feel.
"Oh, Welcome back, Gray!" she snapped out of her reverie as she heard the barmaid call his name. She could feel his presence coming closer. The miraculously-still-dressed mage sat behind her armored girlfriend.
"Erza, thought I'd pass by Fairy Hills- how've you been doing?" he asked usually.
But earned nothing out of her as he saw the scarlet somehow, stick in her own thoughts while staring at him. If she wasn't get girlfriend, he would've died with those stares.
"Erza?"
"hu-Gray..W-welcome back."
He stole a quick glance the barmaid currently looking at the two of them. As if replying to his own thoughts, Mira's showed a sympathetic smile, hiding the worry behind her sapphire eyes. With this, the ice mage stood, startling the redhead out of her wits and immediately wondered if he might be angry. He took her cold metallic hands and while she almost lost her balance being pulled out of her chair all of the sudden. And literally dragged the Great Titania out of the guild.
"Gray!-"
"Mira, tell Master I haven't came back yet!" he said playfully storming out the guild while dragging the scarlet behind.
"Gray, what are-"
"No questions." he said.
She doesn't know if he was mad or anything because he had his back turned away from him.
"B-but you-"
"No buts."
"G-Gray! I dema-" then a soft warm sensation hit her lips.
He kissed her just that. She suddenly forgot everything, but her and him. "You moron! Come back here!" too late, he already got her into a chase as he ran towards the park.
- End of flashback...
It was for the best.
Erza kept repeating these words through her mind. That she didn't notice the door cracked open to reveal the three hooded mages.
"Ahhh—Welcome back, you three!" The Master waved cheerfully sitting in his desk.
Her heart paced faster as he heard his voice. She can't believe it.
"Thank you, Master." They all greeted back.
Jellal can't help but turn to what seemed to be a redheaded person standing beside him. Her scarlet hair that always reminded him of her name.
"Erza.." He hardly spoke while he stared at the woman, armored as always, but matured in a lot ways.
"Jel—lal." She found herself stuck, gazing over his features, his blue hair, his face, the tattoo, his eyes—she missed them all.
.
.
And the world around them seemed to stop. Distance enclosing them together.
But a light strike to his gut snapped them both to the reality. It was her, Ultear. And the dark-haired woman only smiled a playful grin. Oh, how she loved teasing those two. Meredy can't help but make a funny face, and can't stop giggling about it.
"O—Oh—right.. Welcome back, Ultear, Meredy, and you, too Je—Jellal." Yes. The great Titania stammered saying his name aloud. Add the embarrassment from the awkward silence earlier.
Jellal looked away, hiding his red face. So, he was still the same even after those years.
A light cough broke the momentarily awkward feeling inside the room.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, young ones. I'm afraid we'll gonna have to set it aside for a while. It heaves me that this is the way that we have to meet again." Makarov referred to the once disbanded Crime Sorciere.
"-but, I have to say this matter is really important for us to discuss." He continued.
"Yes. I agree, Master Makarov." Jellal quickly gained his composure back.
"S-So, what exactly is going on, Master?" Erza always had that attitude of getting straight to the point as much as possible.
"Ah—right then. Listen carefully, Erza." The old man sighed heavily, crossing his arms before started speaking.
"Two years ago, after being satisfied about the Balsam Alliance destroyed during the Grand Magic Games, The Council received a very reliable source that there is yet another Alliance formed from the remains of the earlier broken Alliance. Only this time, they were able to convince all the dark guilds existing in the land of Fiore. That was the information. Investigations were deployed right after, and the evidences proved it to be more dangerous than it seems. There was a rapid increase of the number of the dark wizard guilds, and along with it were bulks of reports stating their activities showing they are continuously growing and becoming more of a threat: black markets, slave trades, gambling, illegal hunting and possessing of forbidden and powerful magic, and even terrorizing small towns that were almost hard to reach for the kingdom's army. These activities have slowly reached the civilians' awareness that they were afraid that it would cause a wide panic and make matters worse. So, they acted on consistently handling the situation with the number of personas involved, with the cooperation of the Kingdom's forces." Makarov explained as anger built up his aura.
"However, it was only this year that they accepted the fact that it was going out of their control. The Council's hired high-ranked mages had either been reported missing, or come back dead. At the same time, the kingdom's battalions assigned in attacking the dark guilds had now decrease in number. The casualties have gotten a lot worse as they couldn't anymore handle many dark guilds all at once. That is why they sought help from few of the strongest guilds in Fiore and bringing out representatives to fight alongside them and for the name of their guilds." Jellal relayed the information he was briefed few days ago.
"That is the reason why they brought us here, along with other prisoners whom they thought could be useful for once, to offer a deal of our cooperation and service in exchange of our freedom. " Ultear bowed her head while telling this.
"W-What do you mean?" Erza bolted up upon hearing such explanation. She didn't saw it coming for she thoroughly believed that they were set free for good. Her thoughts suddenly came down to sympathize for him, Jellal.
"Ultear's right, Erza. I'm sorry for not telling you this earlier." Jellal looked away, not wanting to meet Erza's gaze.
"They're going to use us, to risk our lives for something we don't know if we're going to survive in exchange of-" Meredy can't help but to voice out her emotions about their situation as well. But pain coursed through her right arm, she flinched suddenly.
"Meredy!—I told you to not do that again!" Ultear said, nervously checking on the younger girl with Jellal.
All eyes in the room except them turned to their way. They knew they needed explanation. As if on a cue, they removed the cloak that covered their arms. And there they saw a mark, a scar placed on their right shoulders that glowed in bright purple. It was in a shape of a star inside a circle and the smallest runes tracing the features. The purple light was revealed to be like a flame that spread slowly over their skin, as the scar dug its way right through the flesh, leaving it sore red. Erza and Makarov were taken aback. As words were left hanging from their tongues. The sight was disturbing, and cruel. But what angered them most is that it was being suffered by their comrades.
"W—hy?How?" Erza managed to choke out. She could feel the despising aura behind her Master as they both saw the scars.
"It's a magic spell to track us down, to restrain every movement that might appear to them as a sign of defiance. These runes will spread out every time we do something against them, and will kill us if it reaches our hearts." Meredy barely managed to speak.
"Even if without these scars, we don't have much choice. It was the only way we live. Either way, they'd kill us if we don't agree to them." Jellal softly said, trying to hold back his anger towards the one responsible for this.
"Why those despicable fools-"
Erza never spoke this harsh towards the Council she always respected.
"Erza, calm down.—I feel the same way, too.—"the Master shivered in anger, much anger than the scarlet. But he was rational enough to stop himself.
"I know it must have been hard for the three of you, to get played on by those bastards by using your will to live against you. I understand. However, those fools just won't be too successful on that. Because they've messed with the wrong wizards."
Now, how did that matter became theirs, too?
"That's right. I assure you this mission won't be a cause of a single death from you. It will be as easy as pie, before they know it—those dark guilds will be wiped out in no time! You've got everyone in Fairy Tail at your back!" Makarov proudly said, almost as quickly his scary aura faded out and gave them the determined look.
"Yes. I, along with every one of us in Fairy Tail am willing to help you, Jellal, Meredy, and Ultear." Erza said in a firm, assuring tone. Now that it was her mission, too, she isn't gonna let them die, or hurt—not on her watch. She isn't going to let him die, now that he has finally got the chance of the life he wanted. They wanted.
And the three mages were left in awe. They never expected this much support.
"Oh, before I forget. I have something to tell you." Makarov, now standing outside the opened door, once again turned his head to the speechless trio.
Despite the noisy, messed up scene of mages in the hall currently 'partying' for their friends' coming, Makarov continued.
"When this all ends, if you ever wanted a bunch of rowdy and mischievous bunch of people to be a part of your family, Fairy Tail will always welcome you home."
The crowd stopped as they turned their way to the three mages. Hearing Makarov, they all flashed their brimming faces of smiles, welcoming them as a part of the family, excitement written all over their actions of approval, and gladly gave their warm invitations as well. Erza was no exception as a sincere smile was on her face, too.
They felt tears ready to fall anytime after hearing and seeing everyone radiating such pleasant auras. They're never been this accepted, welcomed, and treated a part of a family in their entire lives. It was too much of what they expected to be. They were happy enough to know they will be right behind their backs whenever they need them. They could not ask for more, and yet this guild has given them more than enough they thought they deserved. And not any words of gratefulness will be enough to express their feelings, but right now it was all they can do. But they promised that maybe someday, when all of this ends, they will be able to pay everyone back.
"Y-yes. T-thank you, Master… Everyone..."
Nope. this is soooo long that I won't be able to put my normal length-author's note. Just-Review, pleaseee? it's one special gift I could receive this Christmas. Thank you soooo much! I promise to reply to all reviews including from the last chapter. ~Merry Christmas from IcedSoulFairy.