Well, I don't have too much to say, so I'll just go onto the disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
(Back to the flashback from chapter 10)
"Mira-nee, I can carry her if you want.." Elfman offered as they walked through the busy town of Magnolia.
"No need." Mira rejected politely as she carried Jazzie over her shoulder with ease.
The two Strausses struggled to find the right place for Jazzie's burial. You know, to bury her legally.
"Hey! There's one." Elfman pointed, making Mira look ahead to see the place.
"Funerals and Coffins?" Mira read, her eyes squinting from the sun. "I guess we could check it out."
(In Funerals and Coffins)
"Hello." A person greeted rather nicely for working in a funeral place.
"H-hi.." Mira stuttered, her voice cracking from being nervous.
"Umm..is that a joke?" Jack asked, pointing at the body Mira was carrying. (Jack was "a person".)
"Oh, this?" Mira showed rather blatantly. "No, this is a real life body."
"EHHH!? T-THEN WHY ARE YOU CARRYING A DEAD CORPSE?" Jack asked frantically, now hiding behind his desk.
"Isn't it obvious? I want to LEGALLY bury her." Mira explained, her eyes narrowing. "She's..a friend.."
"Okaaay..." Jack sweated, moving around shakily. "Uhh..just sign here.."
"Yes sir." Mira saluted and began to write her name.
"Salute?" Jack thought to himself, comically sweat-dropping.
"Done." Mira exclaimed after finishing writing down her name. "Now, where do we bury her?"
"Here's the address, and here..have this coffin." Jack offered, handing them a black coffin.
"..Wow..thank you.." Mira cried slightly. "B-bye.."
"Good-bye.." Jack waved, noticing the pain in those two kids.
(In Magnolia's burial grounds)
"..I guess we..say our good-byes.." Mira suggested, looking at Jazzie's tombstone with sorrowful eyes.
"E-even though..we b-barely knew each other..I felt like I knew you all my life." Elfman said while bowing his head down respectfully.
"Ah, jeez bro, that was so cheesy." Mira chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Jazzie, I hope you'll rest in peace."
Unknown to Mira, a shadow from behind her, watched everything. It frowned incredulously, knowing very well what happened here. Its minion..had died. Though, it only walked away, making oddly silent footsteps away from the buril grounds.
"Jazzie..you have betrayed me. But..no matter..because I will indeed..kill Mira Strauss." It thought to itself.
*~End of flashback~*
"Wait..that's it? That's how Jazzie died?" Natsu queried in slight disbelief.
"Yes, that is what happened." Mira replied, hoping that everyone believed the true story.
"I see." A few people nodded, trusting the story.
"Is this really the truth? Or are you just lying to protect your sister?" Gajeel asked out of the blue. He didn't really know whether to trust this story or not.
"It is the truth! If you have any questions, then I will answer them! And prove to you, that this is indeed the true story!" Mira answered, her voice loud and brave.
"Okay then. Mira, prove the fact that it was you who killed Jazzie." Gajeel said.
"Okay. Follow me." Mira guided, walking out of the storage room.
Everyone shrugged and decided to just follow her. Except for one, the man left the room, fully believing Mira's story.
"It makes sense now.." The man thought as he exited the room. "Now that I know the whole story..I can help Mira.."
(In Funerals and Coffins)
"This is the place that Mira mentioned in her story." Natsu remembered, now starting to believe Mira's story.
"Yup, hopefully Jack is still here." Mira said, silently praying.
Mira opened the door in an excited way, wondering how Ol' Jack was doing. Maybe he found a woman? Hah, that would be interesting.
"Hello-." Mira greeted, but cut herself off as she saw an odd looking man at the front desk.
She could tell it wasn't Jack. For one reason, the guy's name tag said, "Kole".
"Hello, do you need anything?" Kole asked in a rather bored tone.
"Actually..yeah. Where's Jack at?" Mira asked, her eyes filled with worry. If she couldn't prove that Jack worked here, nobody would believe her.
"Jack!? I remember him, was the Jack you know, tall, skinny, and had brown cheetah glasses?" Kole questioned, his facial expression now grim.
"Yeah!" Mira replied, glad that someone else knew Jack.
"Well, actually..if that is the Jack you know.." Kole said, his face paling with depression. "Jack..was murdered.."
"What! No way! How did that happen?!" Mira asked.
"Actually, it's a pretty detailed story." Kole admitted, looking seriously at Mira. "After he gave permission to this odd girl, whom was carrying a body over her shoulder, a man came over and killed him."
"..No way.." Mira cried silently. "Was it..my fault?"
"It's okay Mira, we have proof that this Jack guy existed. Therefore, our story is proving to be correct." Elfman reassured, thought it didn't quell Mira's depression.
"It was my fault..wasn't it? This man was after me..and he killed him because of me. I don't know why..but it seems like this is all my fault.. What do I do now?" Mira thought to herself, her hand clenching in anger.
"Mira, is there any more proof to your story?" Natsu asked, still unsure about this truth.
"Yes. But I do not know what to show you. You must ask me a question, and I shall answer it." Mira stated.
Natsu nodded, and began to think deeply on what to ask.
"Ah!" Natsu said after having a good idea. "I want to know why you were hiding this."
"Mm.." Mira hummed, her eyebrows furrowing in worry. "Even if I told them my story..I would still be sentenced to death."
"What!?" Natsu shouted in shock.
"Even on accident, I would be sentenced to death. After all, a murder is a murder." Mira said simply as she grabbed her arm tightly.
"..Oh.." Natsu whispered softly.
"Follow me to my storage room everybody, I have a few more things to tell you all." Mira demanded nicely.
Everyone nodded and followed her. Hopefully, their doubts would vanquish.
(In the storage room for drinks)
"First of all, I want to tell you all that I didn't purposefully try to kill Wendy or Erza." Mira explained out of the blue. "And..I don't have all the answers you're looking for. Lisanna can explain as well."
"Hello." Lisanna waved awkwardly. "Ask away."
"L-Lisanna..I want to know why Wendy's throat was red and puffy." Levy stuttered slightly, her eyes wavering.
"I-." Lisanna tried to say, but was cut off by Mira.
"I actually gave Wendy a pill, and apparently, she was allergic to it." Mira explained. "Fortunately, the effects of her allergic reactions were temporary."
"Oh." Levy said in realization.
"Lisanna." Natsu called, shaking a bit in fear. "W-why were you holding a knife with blood all over it, did you cut Erza or Wendy with it?"
"No. I was making them rice, and I cut them some pineapple to put in the rice. They had to eat as well, right?" Lisanna elucidated in detail.
"I see." Natsu sighed in relief.
"Are those all the questions?" Mira asked, looking around for a hand to raise. "You."
"Yes." Cana said as she cleared her throat to speak. "Umm..were you the voice? Or is Lisanna the voice?"
"I am the leader, and Lisanna is the voice." Mira answered. "I'm sorry that you guys had to live under my rule..it was..unfair to you."
"Mira.." Cana whispered softly to herself.
"What? I don't understand." Natsu said in confusion.
"I made everyone in the guild work for me by force. I tied them up and blindfolded them.." Mira exclaimed, her lips starting to quiver. "I did it so they could try to stop anyone who tried to solve the case of Jazzie's murder."
"That makes sense." Lucy admitted as she bit her lip in interest. "That's why everyone looked at us with concern and worry. They were going to be forced to hurt us."
"Precisely.." Mira half-smiled. "In short, I killed Jazzie, and Makarov made a request to find the killer. Nobody took it because it was too painful, so I wasn't worried. Sadly, Erza and Gray took the request, so I had to force people to work for me so nobody would find out. Plus, I told Lisanna to cut out all the information, but due to Erza's sudden entrance, Lisanna could only cut half of it off. Later on, you two took the request, and I ordered everybody once again to make sure you wouldn't find out. Though, I have been found out."
"It all makes sense now." Everybody said in unison.
"I see." Makarov's said as he walked into the room.
"Makarov!" Mira called out, her eyes full of fear and worry.
"I heard everything." Makarov exclaimed and huffed in relief. "So this is the truth.."
"I.." Mira said softly, shivering worriedly.
"Come Mira, you must get the judge to judge your case." Makarov urged, pushing her out of the room.
"I understand.." Mira accepted and walked to the courthouse.
"Come on everybody, let's be there for Mira." Natsu hurried everybody, and everybody followed him out.
"Mira..you won't die, right?" Lucy thought to herself, tears starting to drip from her cheek.
(Judgement)
"So that's all you can tell me?" The judge asked, narrowing his eyes skeptically at the murderer.
"Yes." Mira nodded after finishing telling the judge the whole story.
"I see. We will now find a punishment suitable for your crimes." The judge explained and went to the back, in his room.
Makarov apparently walked into the room as well, and nobody knew why.
Everyone fidgeted in their seat, nervous about the punishment. Mira would most probably get an execution, but there was still a slither of hope. Natsu breathed heavily, he was not only worried about Mira, but for her siblings as well. What would they do without her? Plus, Mira explained why she did this all. Natsu bit his lip in anxiety. When will those people come out and say it?
Finally, the door opened and the judge walked out. The eyes of everyone in the court watched the judge sit down as he cleared his throat speak. What would he have to say? That thought pounded everyone's mind.
"I have the punishment suitable for Mira Strauss." The judge spoke out, stopping everyone's heart.
Worry filled the room. Would the word execution come into his sentence? That word..would give everybody a heart attack in an instant. Mira..please..
"Mira Strauss.." The judge called, looking seriously into her eyes.
"Yes?" Mira asked, her eyes wavering with fear.
"You will be sentenced to five years in prison, and community service for ten years after your imprisonment." The judge finished.
Mira smiled with shock. She got off..so easily..
"Mira.." Everyone cried, knowing that Mira would not be executed.
What a wonderful day..even if it meant going to jail. Mira would still be with her siblings.
"Police, arrest her please." The judge ordered, and the cops quickly arrested her.
"Good-bye guys, see ya in five years." Mira waved with her cuffed hands.
Everybody waved back, crying as they did so. They wouldn't see Mira in the guild anymore, but at least they would know she's still alive.
The doors of the courtroom opened, and everyone exited the place. Except for one, who followed Mira out from afar.
"It's time.." The man thought as he followed her.
(In Fairy Tail)
"Well..I guess the case is solved.." Natsu said as he scratched his chin.
"Yeah.." Lucy huffed and looked up at the ceiling. "But..I feel like we're forgetting something.."
*~Meanwhile~*
"Hello!?" Gray yelled from the toilet. "ANYBODY THERE!?"
(At the jail where Mira is at)
The yells and the screams rang through the jail, disturbing the people who were actually well behaved and just laid on their bed. Fingers clawed at the walls, pitifully trying to escape. It was quite a noisy place. Jail..that word..seemed so distant before.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps were heard. They were silent, yet they could be heard if you listened hard enough. Everyone stiffened, thinking the warden came. Though when the prisoners saw the man, they cocked their eyebrows in confusion. Who was it? That thought went through everyone's mind.
"Hello." The man greeted with a slow wave.
"Uh, who are you?" Mira asked, leaning against the metal bars.
"Oh, my apologies." The man bowed respectfully and took off the hood that shielded his face.
"Mystogan!" Mira exclaimed in shock and looked straight at him. "Why are you here?"
"Actually, I have a very good reason." Mystogan stated with a smirk.
"And what would that be?" Mira questioned curiously.
"I heard your little story about Jazzie." Mystogan started to explain, noticing the sorrowful expression on Mira's face. "To cut this short, I have clues on who the leader is whom threatened Jazzie."
"Ehh!? You do?!" Mira queried in disbelief, her mouth gaping in surprise.
"Indeed I do." Mystogan grinned.
"Well, what does this have to do with me?" Mira asked. "I'm in jail you know."
"To be frank, I want your help to find more clues." Mystogan explained. "And I'll wait patiently for the next five years.."
"Why mine?" Mira questioned in confusion.
"You knew Jazzie." Mystogan answered simply. "That is all I'll say."
And just like that, Mystogan hid his face with his hood again, and took his leave.
"He knows the clues to that mystery.." Mira thought to herself. "I hope I'll be of use on that fateful day.."
Mira looked up at the bland ceiling, her eyes sparkling anxiously.
"Jazzie..just you wait. I'll find that man, and I'll avenge your father and mother." Mira whispered to the air as if it was Jazzie herself. "Just you wait.."
Well, that's the last chapter of my story, and I hope you enjoyed it.
I will most likely not make a sequel to this. I only wrote the end like that to make it a cool, intriguing ending.
Anyway, review. (If you want to.)