Chapter 44- The Power of Love
"Everyone, we have an announcement to make." Erza began,
Erza took to the stage with her fingers interlocked with Jellal's. Jellal smiled and turned to the scarlet-haired knight and nodded.
"We're engaged." Jellal announced, giving Erza's hand a squeeze.
Her cheeks tinted pink as the guild erupted into cheers of happiness and good wishes. Beer mugs were raised, hoots were hollered, palms collided as Crim Sorciere and Fairy Tail applauded. Natsu ran onto stage like a troll and yanked the couples' hands in the air whilst grinning stupidly.
"I never thought I'd see the day when you'd finally take off you're armor Erza!" Natsu ruffled her hair like an older brother.
"NATSUUUU!" Erza raged,
"Calm down, calm down!" Jellal calmed her with firm grip on both her wrists.
"Congratulations Erza." Evergreen nodded and smiled at her rival genuinely.
"Thankyou Evergreen." Erza continued to blush with Jellal still holding her.
"So Erza, where's the ring?" chirped Mira- appearing out of nowhere,
"Uhhhh-" Erza began,
"Well actually, it was kind of spontaneous-" Jellal explained,
"Awww that's so sweet!" Lisanna cut in, "Congratulations you guys!"
The evening was drowned out by endless well-wishings and positive blessings.
But one more issue was to be addressed….
….
"I'm glad you're happy." Ultear smiled at Jellal.
"Does this mean"-
"Yes." Ultear nodded.
"Thank you for everything." said Jellal,
Ultear smiled. "No need to thank."
Her figure started fading, transforming into confetti-like particles of magic.
"We'll miss you." Jellal croaked.
"Take care of Meredy for me…"
"I promise." he concluded.
The wind whisked away the last of Ultear.
o0o
The next day…
"Sting,"
"Lucy?" Sting wheeled around.
"Hey…" she said softly, walking into his apartment.
"Hey…" he mumbled.
"So I was thinking about us…" she began,
"Me to. I do all the time." Sting replied, locking eyes with hers.
Lucy took a deep breath, "I'm not sure you're going to like what I'm going to say…"
Sting let his head hang with defeat.
"Get on with it then. Just say it." he gritted his teeth.
Lucy blinked the water from her eyes.
"I think we should go on hiatus."
o0o
"Hang on a minute." Levy paused, raising her finger from her book.
"Did you find something?" asked Gajeel.
He was the reason why she was at the library searching every dragon related book.
"No." said Levy.
"Then what is it?" he grunted impatiently.
"Why did you hug me last night?" she asked straight out, in a spur of determination.
The question caught him off guard.
"Ugghhh.." How would he explain this?
"Why?!" she persisted.
"I umm…" Well fuck. Icy bitch (in reference to Rena).
"Gajeel?!" The bluenette waved her arm in front of the dragon slayer's face.
His cheeks were tinted red and his mind preoccupied with what to say.
"GAJEEL!"
His red eyes narrowed at her.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY?!"
"YOU KNOW WHAT?... I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!" Levy threw down the book and stormed out of the library.
o0o
Lisanna sat on the sofa with her chin in her palms. She stared off into nothingness with a downtrodden expression. Juvia sat opposite her, swerving her head in front of Lisanna's face.
"Lisanna?" Juvia frowned.
"Lisanna," she repeated.
"Hmmm sorry, what was that Juvia?" asked Lisanna, startled coming out of her daze.
"Are you alright?" Juvia asked,
"Just fine thanks," she smiled meekly,
"Juvia thinks you're lying." she said honestly.
Mira walked behind the sofa and put a hand on Lisanna's shoulder.
"You did the right thing... Letting Natsu go." she assured.
Lisanna put her hands on her elder sister's.
"I hope so, Mira-nee."
o0o
"I think you should stay with Fairy Tail to." said Jellal.
"What about our newest recruits? What about atoning for our sins? Dealing justice, and inducing peace?" Meredy demanded.
"What newest recruits? I don't see any. They don't care about Crim Sorceire the way they should. I would rather end the guild, then have it given a bad name." Jellal told her,
Meredy slapped him.
"Why are you acting like this?" asked Meredy.
"Because it's not Crim Sorciere anymore. Not without the three of us." he answered.
Meredy didn't respond for quite a while.
"…I see." she finally mumbled. "But no one's going to our job in our stead you know." said Meredy.
"It's not your job to do." he replied.
"Your sins were atoned for the day Ultear sacrificed herself for everyone. She gave up her life not only to save everyone, but to free the both of you. For fighting in the Silence war, the council has granted you a pardon, on conditions that when the day comes that dark guilds need to be stopped, Crim Sorciere will exist once again." said Erza, approaching the two.
o0o
"Wendy-chan! My~ My~ you are looking cute today!" Rena complimented the young girl- one of the few who was actually at the guild.
"Thank you, Rena-san. Good Morning, Nina-san," Wendy tipped her head in a small bow.
"Morning," Nina replied.
"Tell me, Wendy-chan, who is that girl over there?" Rena asked, pointing at a little blonde girl, kicking her legs playfully whilst sitting on the bar.
"That's first Master Mavis!" said Wendy,
"First Master?" Nina questioned.
"That's right! The legendary Fairy Tactician!" Rena gaped.
"You know her already?" Wendy wondered,
"I don't know her, I know of her." Rena confirmed.
"I see…" Wendy mumbled. "Come on, I'll introduce you!"
o0o
"Ne Cana," Levy began.
"Mmmm?" the partially sober brunette responded,
"Don't you think it's weird? I mean Juvia coming back from Silence with amnesia?" she wondered aloud.
"It's not unheard of. Maybe she just hit her head, accidents happen after all." Cana replied, waving around an empty flask in front of her like a hypnotist.
"Rena-san didn't say how it happened did she?" said Levy,
"No, and I don't know what you're getting at Levy." said Cana,
"Lyon-san and Natsu didn't mention anything about how it happened either."
"How observant of you." Cana mentioned.
"What if the amnesia is a side effect of Rena resurrecting her?" Levy suggested, "Or what if she is still incomplete and the missing piece is her memory?" she gasped. "If either is the case, Juvia may never remember her past ever again!"
"I doubt she's incomplete." said Mavis.
"First Master Mavis!" Levy exclaimed.
"If she was resurrected without her memory, than she wouldn't be able to function at all. Memories aren't all stored in one place, they are spread throughout every muscle of the body- and when recalled, signals are sent to the brain. So what Juvia has, is definitely a form of amnesia and quite possibly a side effect." Mavis explained.
"Then there's still a chance the memory loss is permanent!"-
"No it's not. The power of love is stronger than you think! This is a world of magic Levy-chan,"
The power of love…
And thus the seeds are sowed for the next arc! ^.^
I would like to let you all know I won't be regularly updating this story, I'm really sorry, life's just being really hectic. Hopefully, come December, I'll be writing lots and lots again!
Thank you thank you thank you to my amazing reviewers! and everyone who is following this story!
I'm sorry for the long hiatus I had going!
(Ps. attention GaLe shippers! Manga issue 396 will make you fan and swoon like a lolita girl!)
~Hermit!