Citrine in her Dragon form stared at a reluctant Mavis, who prepared to answer her question.
Mavis was confused how Citrine had discovered in 1 day what had been a secret Fairy Tail had kept for over 100 years.
"I guess there is no point trying to deny what you already know..." Mavis said looking at Citrine.
Citrine squinted her eyes as she stared at Mavis.
"Fairy Tail has been guarding the Light Pillar for the last 120 years... Only the Masters are aware of its existence" Mavis reluctantly said
"But, you haven't been entirely truthful either... have you Citrine" Mavis said trying divert some attention away.
"I almost lost control when I came close to the building in town" Citrine replied.
"But why? you shouldn't have had any reaction to it, as the Guardian of Light..." Mavis said as she studied Citrine.
"Resonance" Citrine replied, Mavis' eyes widened to her answer.
"Resonance? You shouldn't resonate with the Pillar." Mavis replied
"Why do you have MY PILLAR?" Citrine exclaimed, her patience running thin
"Your Pillar?" Mavis stopped and very quickly became terrified
"I'm the Light Pillar, I'm no guardian" Citrine responded
"You... You're one of the Dragons that was lost to legend. The God Slayers!" Mavis exclaimed.
"Yes, Obsidian and I. We were the Pillar Guardians you are referring to, however, we eventually defied that purpose and instead consumed the power of the pillars we were entrusted to guard." Citrine replied.
"So that's why you resonate with the pillar because your body effectively is a giant pillar." Mavis said as she now understood the issue.
"But why did you say you would die with Obsidian? Zeref was similar 7 years ago as he was searching for a way to die." Mavis said.
"Leaving him trapped in his human form for the last 400 years, seemed to opened his eyes to what I had seen... Natsu also gave me some information about Zeref's sadness 7 years ago." Citrine sighed
"However, he has reverted to his old destructive self; from what I heard of his side of the conversation before I arrived." Citrine said gritting her teeth
"You did predict the war was coming, sorry you had to be right" Mavis said with sadness.
"Because he was so intent on war I revealed myself. Now that Obsidian knows I'm here, and that I am fully manifest, he wont make any rash moves as I alone could crush anything he had likely planned until now. But he will adapt his strategy, so I have probably bought humanity at the very least 6 months." Citrine declared
"So we have 6 months to prepare" Mavis said as she started to devise strategies in her head
"Obsidian mentioned he was done with Dragons, which isn't surprising since he made sure of that 400 years ago, so his likely going to be using Demons for the humans, and Acnologia to try to repel me." Citrine said as she thought about the situation.
"It's not that Acnologia is a threat to me physically, it's that I can't kill him with out absorbing his power. That is why I need to instead get involved with the Dragon Slayers development, allowing them to reach their full potential in months instead of years." Citrine proclaimed before showing signs of worry.
"I also have an alternative that before now I wasn't too keen on. But with Obsidian's declaration of war, there is no longer time for doubt..." Citrine said taking a breath before continuing.
"I will forge an armor set for Erza, and use my power to permanently boost her Magic Capacity to the levels required to wield it." Citrine proclaimed knowing she was opening Pandora's box.
"Erza has proven herself to be a wonderful wizard, and her sense of justice and loyalty is Exemplary, but what do you mean by Slayer Armor?" Mavis said showing pride in Erza's actions.
"The armor and weapons will be the embodiment of One-Magic. Magic Slayer Armor" Citrine proclaimed.
"The capabilities of such an armor set would make the wielder almost invincible" Mavis exclaimed worried of the repercussions
"She will be the Pandora and the Apex predator of the Light in this war. It's why forging an armor set of that calibre is not something I considered lightly" Citrine said with a nod to reassure herself.
"Now that I know the Light Pillar is at Fairy Tail, I'll have to recalibrate my magical seals to account for its presence. However, it being here is fortuitous as I can use it to stabilize my form and with it Obsidian is rendered obsolete.
"Would that weaken you?" Mavis asked as she considered the loss of energy.
"No the power that makes me unstable now is magic I have no control over, it is represented by the lightning arching over my body which is involuntary. It is power I can no longer contain inside my body and that excess power is what I can deposit back into the light pillar."
"That Pillar changes the result of this war, it no longer requires the mutual destruction of both Obsidian and I, his terror can end with him alone." Citrine said this with a hope that radiated outward, Mavis feeling it's warmth, smiled.
"But how did you end up with the pillar? after I consumed its power and in the calamity of war that followed I thought it lost to time." Citrine asked puzzled how it had shown up now.
"A fairy found it" Mavis replied.
"Eh?" Citrine said confused
"My people, we found the pillar on an island south-east of Fiore, it came up out of a fissure during a volcanic eruption 200 years ago. We identified it as the Light Pillar as it reacted to our radiance, so we have protected it ever since."
"Your people?.. Heh I see... That's why I couldn't figure you out. I assumed you were a human, but because you have already passed on I had only your magical essence to analyse." Citrine said with a smile.
Mavis grinned before saying "I guess we both kept our true natures from each other, but now we have the whole picture. Let's work together from here on out, we have to protect the world from the coming shadow." Mavis extended her hand out as a sign of friendship towards Citrine.
"Yes, I just hope I didn't scare Magnolia too much. I was able to get away before my seals broke so no one would be hurt by my magical presence. However, I'm sure they would've been quite terrified, when I lost my control I'm pretty sure I screamed as a Dragon, which would've translated into a rather loud Dragon Roar..." Citrine said quite worried of the situation especially what Lucy must have thought.
"Well, only one way to find out right?" Mavis said with a smile tipping her head slightly to one side
"Your right... I'll repair my seals and head back to Lucy, it may take me all night to do though but I'll return tomorrow. When you go back, please let them know I am okay, and that I am coming back, I need to apologise to my daughter for making her worry." Citrine said as she showed some humility.
"I will inform Lucy that you are alright, but ill keep the particulars between us. Ok." Mavis said as she cheerfully floated back towards Magnolia town.
Citrine took off to look for a nearby cave to hide out for the night as she was done scaring the locals.
"I hope Momma is ok" Lucy said as her head lay on the bar of the recently refurbished Guild hall.
Mirajane was tending the bar as usual so decided to chime in hearing lucy's worried mumblings "Did something happen to Layla?
"I was walking with her near the guild hall yesterday and she fell ... I'll... She had to leave" Lucy said trying to be as vague as possible.
"Oh so the Dragon roar the townspeople claimed to hear was Citrine?" Mirajane replied with a reassuring smile.
"Huh!?" Lucy said but realising that there was no point hiding it decided to level "Yeah, she complained of a headache as she got closer to the guild, she flew off in a hurry and I haven't seen her since" Lucy said as she went back to laying on the bar depressed.
"I've seen her" an overly happy familiar voice said
"What? you have First?" Lucy said excited but at the same time terrified knowing she was most likely a Dragon.
"Yes, I saw her late yesterday afternoon, she said she had some trouble with a seal or something and would be back in no time!" Mavis said with a cheerful smile.
"And when you saw her... did she look... O...K?" Lucy asked but Mavis immediately knew what she was getting at.
"Looked fine to me" Mavis quickly replied showing no signs of worry.
"See Lucy that's good news" Mira said as she walked off to clean some wine glasses.
"Did you hear apparently something levelled a forest outside of town, and people claim the mountain nearby was also destroyed!" Romeo excitedly said entering the guild.
(and I'm depressed again) Lucy thought to herself overhearing the announcment.
"Wow do they know what did it?" Elfman asked before saying "It must've been a MAN"
"What who told you that nonsense, levelling a forest sure but a mountain that's rediculas" Macao said before saying "it was probably some drunk farmers imagination"
"Has there been any word Lucy?" Erza asked sitting down next to her at the bar.
"Well First said she saw her yesterday afterwards, and that she will be back soon. But based on what Romeo said, I don't know" Lucy responded ensuring to keep the Romeo part quiet.
"Well First isn't one to lie, especially when it comes to family" Makarov said popping up from behind the bar, which made Lucy's hair stand on end.
"M..M..Master! Um, how much do you know?!" Lucy asked scared of what he had overheard.
"First has spoken to me about it, and I can assure you from what she told me there is no doubt she saw your mother. So she should be back soon, when she returns we have a lot to discuss" Makarov said restoring confidence but with he couldn't help but show a deep concern towards the end.
"Well if your Mother meant us harm we would all be dead right, so looks like we are in the clear" Makarov said as he cheerfully walked off.
"What the hell kind of exit is that!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Don't worry Lucy, you're moms the toughest person I know" Natsu said as he sat down next to Lucy
"AYE!" Happy exclaimed backing up Natsu.
"That's not the kind of compliment most people hear about their mothers..." Lucy said not sure how to take it.
"Mmm, but it is a compliment, when I have children I hope they hear it regularly" Erza said with a nod
Lucy couldn't help but facepalm... but then she remembered what her mother had said... that when she grew up she would likely be the most powerful wizard in Earthland... she then started picturing children calling her tough as she walked passed them on the street... Lucy almost cried inside.
"Hey any word" Gray asked as he joined the group
"First said she will be back soon" Natsu replied
"Sounds like your mom is feeling better?" Wendy said overhearing Natsu's last response.
Lucy gave out a small sigh, before a familiar voice interupted.
"I could always keep you company to cheer you up Lucy, especially if you want to introduce me to your parents after all they should know their future son-in-law" Loke said appearing behind Lucy from a forced gate opening holding a bouquet of roses.
"Get away! I never said I'm marrying you!" Lucy exclaimed shooing loke back to the celestial realm.
Natsu began to sniff the air, noticing the familiar scent he started to smile. Lucy looked at him and her eyes began to grow wide, Natsu looked back at her and nodded, causing a large beaming smile to cross Lucy's face as she rushed out of the guild hall with the others shortly behind her.
"I'm sorry for worrying you... Lucy" Layla said as she stood in the entrance archway to the guild hall grounds.
Lucy ran into her Mother's arms hugging her "I was scared Momma, scared I wouldn't see you again..." she said as she couldn't help her eyes from welling up.
"It's ok, I just wasn't prepared for something in the environment here... It interfered with my magic seals so I had to get away to protect the town." Layla said trying to reassure Lucy that the problem has been fixed.
"Welcome back Layla you gave us a fright" Natsu said beaming a smile.
"You call that a fright" Gray exclaimed.
"Well there is nothing to be scared of, if what you guys say is true we would be dead before we could be scared, if Layla meant us harm" Erza said nodding.
"THAT'S NOT HELPING!" Wendy said freaking out with Carla.
"But in all seriousness where did you go, First said she saw you" Lucy asked curiously.
"I went to a forest outside of town..." Layla started to say before Lucy cut her off "Great it was you... so much for drunken farmers Macao"
"Hmm? Drunken farmers?" Layla said confused
"It's ok as long as your back" Lucy said as she held her mother.
"Well now that I'm back, feel like showing me around?" Layla said with a warm smile to the group
The group nodded as they felt their worry fade away, they all took a step back positioning themselves in a line in front of Layla with the hall behind them before they all announced in unison...
"Welcome to Fairy Tail"
