Fantasia

The next day, when the town managed to calm down, and began the appropriate repairs, much to the townspeople frustration.

"What the hell happened with Fairy Tail?" one guy asked, "Why was the Fantasia parade postponed to today?"

"Something about one of their brawls, though this one was bigger than usual," one of his friends answered.

"Its Fairy Tail, what's to be expected?"

"There's something about their Master being ill," a third guy said.

"Really?"

"Yeah, that guy is pretty old. Maybe he should retire. Of course that would leave the guild to Laxus."

"Ah yeah, remember when he was a kid?"

"Yeah. Man I hate thinking about that, it makes us seem old."

Overhearing this, Porlyusica took a breath, as she smiled lightly, and continued her departure from the town.

(at Fairy Tail)

"With all due thanks to Porlyusica, the Master will be making a complete recovery!" Erza announced. Everyone cheered in response.

"Boy, am I glad to hear that," Lucy said, wiping her brow, "I was really worried there."

"It will take a lot to put that man under," Gray said, "He's tougher than nails."

"Be that as it may," Erza said, "The years are catching up to him, and we need to remember that."

"Can we really do the parade though?" Elfman asked, "We aren't in that good of shape."

"The Master wants us to keep at it," Mirajane said, "We need this, though its a shame that Freed, Bixlow, and Evergreen won't be in it. They're always one of the best parts."

"Juvia's really excited to see it!" Juvia piped up.

"I'm afraid you aren't going to be watching, sister," Cana said, with a mischievous grin "You're going to be part of it!"

"Really?!" Juvia cried out, "But Juvia just joined the guild!"

"A lot of people are hurt," Happy said, "We've got to get everyone who can walk in this."

"You mean me too?" Lucy asked, surprised.

"You know it!"

Lucy let out a yelp as Natsu slung his arm around her shoulders. He was bandaged up, but no more than Erza, something others found strange.

"Natsu, what are you doing?" Mirajane said, "You need to be resting!" Natsu just grinned.

"I feel fine," he said, "My Dragon's Eye does me wonders!"

"Believe it or not, there's some credibility to that," Erza said, "After his fight with Jellal, he was back on his feet the next day. I don't what it is, but Dragon's Eye protects him from damage, and increases his rate of healing."

"That's fine with me!" Natsu said, with a laugh, "Means I can be in the parade! Unlike that wimp!" He jerked his thumb over at the much more heavily bandaged Gajeel.

"Shove it up your ass, Salamander!" Gajeel grumbled.

"Come on, Gajeel," Levy said, leaning over with a smile, "You can do it next year!"

"Who the hell says I even want to be in this damn parade!" Gajeel yelled with frustration. Levy just giggled at that.

"They liiiike each other," Happy said. Gajeel would've hit Happy in the face, but he didn't have the strength.

"What are you going to do?" Lucy asked Natsu.

"I've got a float of my own," Natsu said, "Just you wait, it'll blow you away!"

"Let's take solace, though, in knowing our trouble is over for now," Erza said with a smile. As if on cue, the doors slammed open. Everyone turned, as Laxus strolled right in. He was bandaged up as well.

"Laxus!"

"Where's the Master?" Laxus calmly asked.

"The hell are you doing here!"

"You think we're going to let you see the Master?!"

"Get out before we kick you out!"

"Enough!" Erza ordered, silencing everyone, before turning to Laxus, "He's in the infirmary. You know where it is." Laxus nodded, as he started walking, as everyone slowly parted.

"Laxus!" Natsu yelled, as he jumped in front of him, "Don't think that fight meant the end of everything! My Dragon's Eye made the match lopsided! Let's fight one on one!"

"Isn't he satisfied, now?" Lucy asked, "He won didn't he."

"I wouldn't necessarily say that," Gajeel responded, "If not for Salamander going crazy, there's no way he would've won. Its a good thing Laxus wasn't during the Phantom Lord fiasco, I don't think I'd be hear right now."

Laxus walked right past him, and as he did, he put his hand on Natsu's shoulder. Natsu was abruptly silenced, as he watched Laxus walk away. Erza took a breath.

"Well enough of that," she said, "Come on! We've got a parade to put in!" Everyone cheered loudly at that.

(in the infirmary)

"I'll never understand why they are like that," Laxus said.

"You don't need to," Makarov answered, as he lay in bed. He then sat up, and looked towards his grandson.

"Laxus, look at me," he instructed. Laxus did as he was told.

"Tell me, do you know what a guild was?" Makarov asked.

"No, I suppose I don't," Laxus answered.

"A guild is a place where people work together. Where children with no family can find said family," Makarov explained solemnly, "It can never belong to a single person, much less you. This guild was built on trust, camaraderie, and honor, and through that, we have formed bonds that has no comparison. And what you did today, was to spit on all of that! Do you understand?" Laxus was silent, as he listened intently to Makarov's speech, before looking down.

"I understand," Laxus answered. He looked at his hand, and made a fist.

"I guess in my twisted mind, I thought I was really doing good by the guild," he explained, "All I really wanted to do was make the guild stronger." Makarov sighed, as he hopped off his bed.

"You're impossible," he said with a smile, "You need to let some of the stuff off your shoulders. Take some time off, and gather your thoughts, that's what life is sometimes for." Laxus just looked at Makarov carefully, as his grandfather's gaze fell to the floor.

"But you know I can't let what you did go unpunished," he said.

"I do," Laxus answered. Makarov's fist clenched as he took a deep breath, and finally spit it out.

"Laxus, you are hereby excommunicated!"

For what felt like an eternity, grandfather and grandson just stared at each other. Laxus closed his eyes, took a breath, and opened them again.

"Can you do one thing for me?" he asked. He took Makarov's silence as approval.

"Let the Thunder Legion off the hook," Laxus said, "They were only following after me. I don't really think any of them truly liked what they were doing anyway." He smiled softly.

"And let them be in the parade," he said, "Remind them where their home is." Makarov looked at Laxus, before sighing again.

"I suppose there' son harm in that," he said, "I always did enjoy the show they put on." Laxus nodded.

"Very well," he said, before turning around, "I'll go now." With that he began to leave the room. Makarov turned to the window, not wanting to watch.

"Grandpa," Laxus said as he left, "Thanks." Makarov teared up at those words.

"Just get out!" he forced out.

(later in the day)

"That's crap!"

"Crap! Crap!"

"There's no way we can let you leave!"

Laxus had told his ever loyal legion about his excommunication, and needles to say, they weren't taking it well.

"Its not like its my choice," Laxus said, "But the old man's orders are orders."

"If you really are leaving, then we're leaving to!" Evergreen cried.

"Yeah, I've got no reason to stay if you're not here," Bixlow said. All this time, Freed remained silent.

"Don't kid yourself," Laxus said with a smile. The Thunder Legion looked at him in surprise.

"You're more attached to this guild and everyone here far more than you are willing to let on," Laxus continued, "Unlike you, I've got no stake left in this place."

"So you're taking all the blame yourself," Freed muttered, clenching his fists.

"If that's what you want to believe, have fun, but its not the case," Laxus answered, as he slung his bag over his shoulder.

"We'll go talk with the Master!" Bixlow said.

"Gray and Natsu too!" Evergreen chimed in, "They respect you, they'll agree!" Laxus just chuckled as he began walking away.

"Take care," he said, as he waved, "And have fun in the parade!" As Bixlow and Evergreen voiced more of their objections and pleas, Freed remained silent. He knew that this was for the best when all was said and done.

"Don't get worked up," he said to his teammates as he looked up, "No doubt we'll see him again soon enough." The other two looked at him, before silencing themselves.

"Come on!" Freed said gesturing, "Let's get back to the guild and set up our float."

(that evening)

With a massive show of fireworks, the parade began. The people of Magnolia were assembled along the streets, as the floats began marching down.

At the head was a float on which Lucy, Levy, and Bisca stood, in short skirts, waving flags that read "Fairy Tail". Behind them, was a float with Cana, who threw her cards into the air, which flashed into letters, spelling out "Fairy Tail". The other guild members each showed their own float, each one celebrating their own form of magic.

On Gray and Juvia's float, the two were dressed royally. Gray nodded to Juvia, who smiled, and helped up her hands, creating a massive torrent of water. Gray grinned, as he held up his hands, freezing all the water, forming a brilliant castle of water.

On the Strauss sibling's float, was Elfman in his Beast Soul form. Behind him, a box opened revealing Mirajane. Everyone cheered at that, only for it to abruptly turn into cries of disgust, when Mirajane to turn into a giant lizard.

After them, came the Thunder Legion's float. Each one of them was in a flashy costume (save for Bixlow, since his outfit was flashy enough already). Freed brought up different runes that formed intricate light shows; Bixlow's dolls danced around; Evergreen used her Fairy Dust to flash

Closer to the end, was Erza's float. Erza was wearing an outfit that was both showy, and showing. Her swords spun around in show, as she spun around.

Finally, at the end, was a float with a huge red dragon on it. Framing the dragon were a multitude of flaming cauldrons. Standing atop the float, was Natsu (his bandages off) dressed in an intricate dragon costume, complete with wings, a tail, and horns; he even had on red body paint and makeup. At the dragon model's feet, was Happy, dressed in knight armor.

"Aye!" Happy said.

With an excited grin, Natsu stood up, and sucked in. The fire from the cauldrons was sucked into his mouth, and Natsu puffed his chest out showing his glowing chest, and breathed his fire into the air in a show. The fire then formed into the letters "Fairy Tail", as everyone cheered.

So that is what Natsu had in mind, Lucy thought, as she looked over her shoulder, and watched Natsu's float. She had to admit she was impressed. But what Lucy didn't see coming was Natsu's addition to the show.

Happy picked up Natsu, and then carried the madly grinning Dragon Slayer to the head of the parade.

"What's he…," Lucy began, but then Natsu suddenly grabbed her, and with a shriek, Lucy was lifted into the air.

"Natsu, what're you doing?!" she cried. Everyone else in the parade laughed at Natsu's antics.

"I told you the parade will blow away!" Natsu answered, smiling at Lucy, as he landed on the top of the float, and loudly said, "Behold, I, the fearsome dragon, have taken the princess hostage! Who challenges me to save her?!" Erza deciding to play along, jumped form her parade onto the same level as Natsu.

"Release her, foul serpent!" Erza said dramatically, pointing one of her swords at Natsu, before saying to Lucy, "Fear not fair maiden! For I will save you!"

"Don't encourage him!" Lucy yelled.

"Never!" Natsu said, as he smiled at Erza. With that, he breathed fire at Erza, who blocked it easy. Everyone laughed and cheered at their antics, and even Lucy couldn't help but laugh as well.

From the crowd, Mystogan watched in silence.

Laxus watched from the side, as he smiled. He then took a breath, as he turned to leave, memories flooding back about when he was a child.

(Flashback)

"Why aren't you part of the parade?" a young Laxus asked, "You're always the best part!"

"Why would I need to be in it?" Makarov asked, "This is your time in the sun after all."

"But how am I going to see you?" Laxus asked.

"Oh I don't know, but rest assured I'll be there," Makarov answered.

"I've got an idea!" Laxus piped up, beholding up his index finger and thumb, "When I'm in the parade, I'll hold up my finger, and that will show you that no matter what happens, I'll always be able to see you!" Makarov teared up at that.

"Atta boy!"

(End Flashback)

Laxus then turned around, and began walking away. That was when heard even greater cheering. He turned, and saw Makarov's float coming down the street, and raised into the air, was Makarov's finger.

Soon enough, everyone else in the guild, even Lucy (who mind you was still in Natsu's grip), also held their finger up. Even the crowd held up their fingers. At the sight of that, tears began to form in Laxus' eyes.

"Grandpa," he said slowly. He then turned away, and began his new journey.

No matter what Makarov thought No matter how far your road takes you, I will always be looking in your direction, Laxus.

I know, Laxus thought Thank you, for everything. With that, Laxus walked away, to wherever his feet decided to take him. Behind him, the parade marched on, as everyone cheered loudly.

However, one man was not cheering. He watched from the back, in complete silence. He was wearing a blue, carved mask, with a hood and cloak. The Masked Man just remained silent, as he watched the celebration continue. He then hiked up his hood slightly more, as he turned, and melded back into he shadows.

Note: I was annoyed that Natsu couldn't get his own big float or anything during the parade. He just got a few fire cauldrons and he had to walk down the street (while wounded), so I decided to give him this. I actually had two ideas for what to do with the parade, so I went with this. Maybe if you're all interested enough, I'll post a short alternate scene, featuring the other idea I had in a future chapter.

The next chapter won't begin the Oracion Seis arc, I'm going to do short arc of my own, an arc I hope you'll all like.

I said a few chapters ago that I intended to carry over some features from EOTBD. The Masked Man was one of them I decided to use.