Mama Mirajane-9
"Okay everyone, we are officially taking job requests again." Mira called from the newly rebuilt bar counter.
Everyone cheered, while Scythe was just sitting at the counter, his face in a manga book.
"Hey sweetie, what's wrong? I thought you'd be excited to go for your first official job." Mira exclaimed.
"I know. It's just Chelia came by the guild today." Scythe sighed. "I had to tell her everything that happened to me."
"Oh dear, I'm sorry sweetie, I hope she at least understood why you weren't going to the Daycare anymore." Mira sighed.
"She understood, she even left after her parents took a couple pictures of us. One for me to keep, one for her to keep." Scythe explained.
"What's the problem then? The council should be finding a reversal spell to what Hades did to you." Mira stated.
"There is no reversal. Miss Porlyusica found the type of spell that Hades used on me, and it's impossible to reverse." Scythe groaned, sounding frustrated, beyond anger. "My childhood was taken from me, and I can't do anything about it. This spell that was put on me could only have come from something called the Demon Heart. An ancient artifact that is made of living flesh, from the book of Zeref. It's actually what powers Grimoire Heart's flying guild hall."
"Oh, I'm so sorry sweetie." Mira sighed bringing him in for a hug. "Oh, I almost forgot. The Master wanted to have a word with you."
"Alright." Scythe sighed, calming down as he went to where the master was sitting.
"Ah, Scythe my boy. I'm glad you're here, though I'm sorry to hear about the spell Hades put on you being irreversible." Makarov sighed after taking a swig of his beer.
"I'm just gonna have to deal with it. What's up, mom said you wanted to see me?" Scythe asked.
"Yes, well it's a little unconventional to do this, but you held your own against Jose pretty well, not to mention to took out two of his Element4 before that, thus stopping the Abyss Break spell from being cast. Not to mention blocking a direct hit from the Jupiter cannon and coming out with only a few scratches. Holding your own against Jose is enough in its own right to permit an early S-Class trial for you." Makarov smiled. "You impressed me to no end when Elfman, Grey, and Mirajane told me of your feats."
"What will I have to do in order to try and pass the trial and make it to S-Class?" Scythe inquired. "That is if I choose to accept."
"All you have to do, is fight against Erza and Mystogan, either knocking them both out of the fight perimeter, or knocking them both out in general." Makarov exclaimed.
"Honestly, I don't know if I should accept this." Scythe sighed.
"What do you mean my boy?" Makarov inquired.
"I feel like if I accept this, I'll be cheating everyone else out of their chances." Scythe sighed.
"I understand my boy. But remember, do it for you, if it feels right." Makarov smiled. 'Bless his heart.'
"Alright. So when would, this trial be taking place?" Scythe asked, solidifying his resolve.
"Tomorrow if you wish. Mystogan has agreed to do the trial to test your metal." Makarov said with a smirk. "For now, go out and enjoy your day."
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay and help with rebuilding the guildhall?" Scythe asked.
"I'm sure. Enjoy yourself and relax." Makarov smiled.
Scythe nodded his head and left, grabbing a glass of soda before heading to the other side of the bar counter near the break table. As he neared the side of the bar counter, he was going to sit and read at. Just as he was about to place his book on the table, he heard a rather heated argument going on to his left.
Scythe turned and caught sight of the source and his eyes widened momentarily. Erza was fuming mad her hair rising with her magic energy slowly seeping out. Standing in front of her was the familiarly hated blonde haired lightning man Laxus.
Scythe knew for a fact, he didn't even help during the war even when his guild mates had pleaded with him. If Scythe remembered right, Macao had told him that Laxus had made Mirajane cry when she tried to implore his help in fighting against Phantom Lord, after Scythe had left to practice the Lotus Barrier spell in the back. He even went as far as to say he'd only come and help if Mira convinced Lucy to be his woman. A man like him made his heart churn with anger.
"Well, yeah! It had nothing to do with me!" Laxus scowled. "Although if I had been there, you guys wouldn't have had so much trouble."
"Why you..." Erza grit her teeth, her face contorting with rage as she clenched her fists.
"Hold it right there!" Natsu shouted, as he came charging in from behind Erza much to her surprise. He jumped through the air and launched his fist straight for Laxus's jaw. Then, Laxus disappeared in a burst of lightning. Landing, Natsu sensed Laxus's presence and turned around. "Laxus! Fight me! You heartless Bastard!" Natsu shook his fist at the blonde haired wizard, causing him to laugh.
"What kind of fight would it be when you can't even catch me?" Laxus scanned the property, staring at each individual guild member. "When I inherit the guild, I'll get rid of all the weaklings. As well as anyone who stands against me! I'll make the ultimate guild! The strongest guild in history that no one can look down upon." With that, Laxus began to walk away.
"You're pathetic you know that?" Natsu smirked, causing Laxus to stop in his tracks.
"What?" Laxus asked, his left eye twitching in annoyance.
"I said you're pathetic. You claim to be strong, but you can't even do half the things Scythe can do. He can take a blast from a Jupiter Cannon and come out standing, I know for a fact that you are unable to do that." Natsu smiled before leaning over as Laxus kicked him in the gut.
"Shut up. That weakling has nothing on me." Laxus growled. "I'm the strongest one in Fairy Tail, not some wannabe walking apocalypse."
"I disagree with everything you've said." Scythe spoke. His voice came out of nowhere and startled a few of the guild members sitting around, shaking in fear at the monstrous aura surrounding him.
Laxus turned his head back. Upon seeing Scythe, he scoffed. "What's it to you? You're not even in the guild, it's none of your business."
Scythe placed his book down on the bar counter. Standing to his full height, Scythe stared into the eyes of the Lightning Sorcerer towering over him a bit. "Think again dumbass…" Scythe said parting the right side of his vest to reveal his guildmark. "I was just thinking... You talk as if you're the strongest, yet even the so called 'weaklings' have done more than you." Scythe's words increased the already rising tension in the area, causing a few of the newer guild members to leave when no one was watching.
Laxus's expression changed back into a scowl. "As I said, it had nothing to do with me." Laxus had expected Scythe to back down after this, but the boy had surprised him.
"Then that dawns another question." Scythe's eyes narrowed. He had no malicious intent, but his gaze burnt like a wildfire. "Your wish is to inherit the guild and yet, when it was being attacked you were nowhere near. You only said you'd come fight, like the pig you are, if mom convinced Lucy to be your woman."
"I repeat, it had nothing to do with me." Laxus glared, wanting this silly argument to end.
"No true king has ever inherited a kingdom by just sitting on his ass, expecting everything to fall in his lap like he's earned it. If you don't work for something, then you don't earn nor deserve it. Someone with your mindset is more comparable to a thief than a guild master. Anyone off the streets would be more worthy than you." Scythe growled.
Laxus' face distorted into shocked anger for a few seconds. Regaining composure, he closed his eyes, his expression relaxing. "You're that brat Mirajane adopted right?" Upon receiving a nod, he continued. "You have guts..." Turning around, Laxus began to glow a bright yellow color. "I'll be sure to remember you." And with that, the lightning wielder vanished into threads of electricity.
Scythe too had relaxed once again, turning to the bar counter, downing his drink, and grabbing his book, and the bag he had hanging from the seat, before heading for the exit.
"Where are you going young man?" Mira asked in a bit of a concerned tone.
"I'm going to go find a gym I can get a membership at, maybe it will have some MMA classes to." Scythe exclaimed heading off.
~Three hours of searching later~
"Well, this seems to be the only place that trains in both weights, and MMA." Scythe exclaimed looking at the sign.
(~Huntsmen and Huntress MMA Academy~)
Scythe pushed the doors open, revealing the gym to be practically empty. All the equipment were covered in sheets, with dust already starting to build up on 'em. Even the walls of the octagon were covered by sheets.
"If you're here for a membership, then I'm afraid you're out of luck." A woman with golden blonde hair in a ponytail, glistening lilac eyes, and a figure that could rival Mira's, exclaimed putting a for sale sign on the window. "I'm selling the place. I knew I shouldn't have bought state of the art equipment so early into opening up."
She was dressed in a golden yellow and black fighter's bra, with a flaming heart imprinted on it in white. On her lower half, she wore a pair of black shorts with white stripes going down the sides with golden knee and elbow bracers that looked just like his black elbow braces, finishing off with a pair of martial arts slippers on her feet, and her hands wrapped in fighting wraps.
"Hmm, that's too bad." Scythe sighed. 'I know mom's gonna scold me for this, but I might have enough money in my college funds for this. I mean the reward from Galuna Island was seven million Jewels.' Scythe mentally contemplated. "How much are you selling it for?" He inquired.
"More than you could afford pipsqueak. Name's Yang Xiao Long." She chuckled packing up some stuff in a box.
"Trust me, I think I could afford it." Scythe said with a cheeky grin.
Yang looked to Scythe momentarily before sighing in defeat, realizing she should tell him if he were truly interested.
"Seven-hundred-fifty-thousand jewels." Yang exclaimed.
"Alright, you got a piece of paper and a pen?" Scythe inquired.
Yang raised an eyebrow looking at Scythe, until she pulled out both items, and put them on a clipboard handing them to him.
Scythe accepted the clipboard, and spent the next five minutes writing something down, before he handed it back to Yang, who read it, her eyes widening after reading the final bit of it.
"Are you serious?" Yang asked.
"Dead serious. I'll buy this place from you, and keep it running, bringing in customers, and clients, while you personally train me in both weights and MMA." Scythe exclaimed. "Sign that contract and you have a deal."
"How do you even know I'm a master of MMA? I could just be some wannabe gym instructor down on her luck?" Yang inquired.
"You're Yang Xiao-Long, The Dragon Empress of the Octagon." Scythe smiled.
"So you're a fan." Yang smiled.
"Somewhat. My mom just started letting me watch MMA, and I've only seen your fights. Even reruns of all your fights." Scythe smiled.
"Well, how old are you kid?" Yang asked.
"Fourteen, I can run out and get a witness to put his approval of the signature if you want." Scythe exclaimed.
"I can have my sister be my witness and sign as well." Yang sighed. "Can you even afford to pay for it?"
"I can. My mom was an S-Class Sorceress from Fairy Tail at one point." Scythe stated.
"Alright, go get your witness." Yang sighed.
Scythe smiled stepping out of the door, spotting a familiar duo of a blue flying talking cat and a pink haired white scarfed Dragonslayer.
"Hey, Natsu, I need your help for a minute." Scythe exclaimed.
"Alright, one stop on the way home won't hurt." Natsu smiled as he and Happy entered the building. "Hey I know this place."
"YOU." Yang shouted, her lilac eyes now fiery red.
"Uh, hey Yang… l-long time no see." Natsu said, shaking in fear as the blonde brawler came marching up to him.
Another girl had been standing behind her at the time, wearing the same clothes, only the yellow was replaced by the color ruby red, and her hair only reached down to the base of her neck with red dyed bangs on her black hair, and she had silver eyes.
"You two know each other?" Scythe asked getting in the middle.
"Uh, you could say that." Natsu said nervously.
"He's the one who tainted my sister." Yang shouted standing firmly.
"Tainted?" Scythe inquired, not understanding what she was saying.
"You see that girl over there?" Happy asked pointing to the girl. "That's Ruby Rose, the She-Wolf of the Octagon. Natsu beat her in a fight on an amateur night a year back and took her virginity a few hours later in their hotel room. She also happens to be Yang's younger half-sister."
"Oh." Scythe stated. "Well, Yang, Natsu is going to be my witness for the contract signing."
"Alright, come on, we'll sign then our witnesses will sign." Yang begrudgingly sighed as Ruby came back with the clipboard that held the contract.
"Hold on let me see that." Natsu said taking the contract as it was handed to him. He read it over and forwarded his brow a bit. "Scythe does Mira know about this?" He asked pinching the bridge of his nose.
"No, I thought it'd be better to ask for forgiveness than permission." Scythe exclaimed.
"Alright, but I'm warning you now she's not gonna be too thrilled about her son being the owner of a gym." Natsu sighed as he handed the contract over for Scythe to sign.
Once their contract had been sign and sealed so Scythe could have Makarov legalize it, he signed the paperwork putting the building in his name, and filled out the check for Yang, handing it over to her, before she went and filed herself and her sister in as employees of the gym.
"Alright Natsu, you and Happy are free to go home." Scythe smiled.
"Okay, but just be careful, I hear it's tough owning a business and working at a guild at the same time." Natsu exclaimed as he left, secretly having gotten Ruby's contact info from her when Yang went back to get the paperwork. "I've got to go. Erza, Lucy, Grey and I are going on a job to stop some bandits."
"Bye Natsu." Ruby smiled with a bright blush on her face as Natsu walked out the door.
"Okay, first order of business. Removing all the sheets from the equipment. You two take care of that while I get this contract of ours fully legalized." Scythe said.
"Before you go. Take this. It's filled with all the gyms information, and the deed to it as well." Yang stated handing him a folder.
"Got it." Scythe smiled putting it in his bag, before heading off, disappearing in a flash of black lightning as he made it back to the guild's construction sight, and found his way to Makarov."
"Master Makarov, hey." He stated gaining the Guild Master's attention.
"What's up my boy? Didn't find the gym you were looking for?" Makarov asked.
"No I found it. I just need you to legalize this." Scythe smiled, seeing he was drunk, knowing he'd probably sign it without questioning it.
"Alright my boy. Hand it over." Makarov smiled, taking the contract, and legalizing it before reading it. "There you go my boy."
"Thanks." Scythe smiled before using his Lightning Slayer Magic to race home and put his bag under his bed, before racing off back to the gym.
"I'm back." Scythe smiled as he raced back through the doors.
"That was fast." Yang exclaimed.
"You're one to talk, taking down all these tarps would take a half hour at least, but they're all gone and all the machinery has been wiped down already." Scythe exclaimed, seeing the freshly cleaned place.
"Yeah, Ruby's magic can come in handy when it comes to maintaining this place." Yang smiled. "We were known as…"
"The Demon Sisters of the Octagon whenever you did a tag-team fight, only it'd just be the two of you against five others." Scythe smiled. "I know, I've seen those fights to."
"Yang, you never said our new boss was a fan." Ruby said appearing next to her sister in a blast of red lightning.
"You never asked sis." Yang smiled.
"So what type of slayers are you?" Scythe asked.
"What?" Yang questioned in confusion. "How did you know we're slayers?"
"Your scents, they're similar to a Dragonslayer's except they have a bit of a sulfur smell." Scythe explained.
"Okay, we'll answer only if you tell us your magic to." Ruby stated.
"Deal."
"I'm a Hellfire-Demonslayer, Ruby is a Lightning-Demonslayer." Yang explained.
"Now you." Ruby smiled.
"Etherion Godslayer." Scythe smiled. "As well as Satan Soul."
Yang and Ruby's faces showed they were dumbfounded the instant Scythe said that. He smiled seeing how they were trying to come up with an explanation for that.
"Now, it is getting a bit late, so why don't we head home, and we'll start my first lesson the day after tomorrow." Scythe smiled.
"Why then?" Ruby asked, being the first to come out of her dumbstruck stupor.
"Because I'm going through an S-Class trial tomorrow, and I need to get enough rest before then." Scythe smiled before he felt an ominous presence coming through the door.
"Scythe Strauss." Mira stated, a dark aura around her, while her face looked calm with a smile.
"Uh… hi mom." Scythe exclaimed turning to face her, before he received a fist to the head.
"What the hell were you thinking taking that much money out of your college funds?" Mira shouted with a scowl now on her face. "I got a call from the bank asking if I approved of the check that was deposited. I approved it because I thought you had good reason. So start talking or you're grounded."
"I bought the, Huntsmen and Huntress MMA Academy, because my two favorite fighters were going under with the business and wanted one of them to teach me how to fight." Scythe exclaimed crouched on the ground holding his head in pain. "Plus, I didn't want them to go homeless or without a job."
The dark aura around Mira began to diminish as she calmed down, putting a hand on his head as he was still feeling the sting from her punch.
"Honestly Scythe you need to talk about these things with me, before you go and do them." Mira sighed. "I'm still a little mad at you for doing that, but I suppose your heart was in the right place in the end."
"So, I'm not grounded?" Scythe asked.
"Oh I never said that, after your trial tomorrow, you're going to spend all your free time rebuilding the guildhall. Without using any magic to aid you." Mira exclaimed pulling him by the ear out the door.
"Ow mom, please stop I'm sorry alright?" Scythe pleaded.
Over in the corner, Yang and Ruby were holding each other close, cowering from the monstrous aura that Mirajane had been producing.
"Scary." They said in unison.
~The Next Day, Magnolia Southgate Park~
"Welcome everybody." Makarov shouted.
The entire guild, and a good majority of towns' people, had gathered to watch the spectacle of Scythe-VS-Erza-&-Mystogan. Two of the fighters were there, while one of them was running late. There were several food stands, and vendors in the park, treating this like a festival. Even Porlyusica came, but only because Makarov has asked her to in case someone needed medical attention.
"Mmm, these burgers are delicious." Lucy smiled, standing next to the vendor who gave her one.
"Yeah, Scythe helped me make the recipe last night." The vendor smiled.
"Velvet?" Lucy asked.
Velvet was indeed running the stand, only she was different, instead of her usual fur, she had skin. The only thing relating her to what she looked like before were her cat ears, and tail, while she wore a similar outfit to what Ruby and Yang wore, only with an apron on, and a bandana over her head, with two holes in it, allowing her ears to poke out.
"Yep it's me. Don't know why, but my fur was just gone this morning, so now I can pass for human, if I hide my tail that is." Velvet smiled handing her a side of fries. "On the house."
"Thanks." Lucy smiled. "So when's the fighting going to start?"
"As soon as the man of the hour arrives." Velvet sighed.
"Where is he?" Erza questioned.
"This is not very professional of someone taking an S-Class trial." Mystogan exclaimed.
"Sorry for the wait." Scythe shouted entering the fighting circle. "I slept in."
"Well now that you're here, we can begin." Makarov smiled. "Alright, the rules are simple. No killing, or lethal attacks. For Scythe to win he has to either knock out both his opponents, or knock one of them out of the ring and put one unconscious, or knock both out of the ring. Mystogan, you know which spells you're forbidden from using in this fight, so don't try and use them."
(Que Music… Rise: State of Mine)
Mystogan nodded as he and Erza took a fighting stance. Scythe examined his opponents familiar with Erza's fighting style, but not Mystogan's. From what he's heard, Mystogan is a long range user, as well as an S-Class Sorcerer. His spells were specialized in illusions and long range attacks that struck fear in the hearts of those he fought.
'This is gonna be tricky. But I gotta fight to win.' Scythe contemplated.
"Begin." Makarov shouted.
Erza leapt at Scythe reequipping into her Heaven's Wheel armor, before clashing swords with Scythe.
Scythe's falchions weren't as long as Erza's claymores, but one advantage he held over that was speed. Using his lightning slayer magic, Scythe ducked under Erza's swords and rolled behind her, kicking her in the back, knocking her forward, before she turned around and swung at him, but stopped, when he put on the cutest face possible. Thing was, he looked like a cute little baby dragon.
"What the heck?" Macao questioned.
"Since when can he do that?" Wakaba shouted.
"He does live with me and Mira. We gave him a crash course in transformation magic last night." Elfman smiled.
"So cute." Erza exclaimed shaking as the transformed Scythe trotted up to her and pushed her leg.
Erza fell over her upper body outside the circle, as her weakness to cute things rendered her powerless.
"Erza is out of the game, Scythe wins against the Queen of the Fairies, by using her greatest weakness no less." Makarov smiled.
"Oh yeah." Scythe cheered returning to normal. "I only took a guess that it might be her weakness."
"You'll find I'm not so easy to defeat." Mystogan exclaimed throwing his staffs up in the air. "Monstrous Generations…" Mystogan shouted as the staffs landed in a circle around Scythe. "Three layer circle."
'What spell is he going to use? I have to act fast.' Scythe contemplated.
"Memory Banks." Mystogan exclaimed.
'Memory Banks?' Scythe questioned before everything went pitch black.
The crowd around the fight all gasped as the cylinder of magic Scythe was just in turned dark enough to hide Scythe, and any movement he might make.
"Mystogan, what did you just mutter?" Makarov asked.
"I used the Memory Banks illusion spell." Mystogan explained.
"You what?" Makarov shouted.
"Nothing short of…"
Mystogan was stopped as the black cylinder began to crack, white light seeping through.
"No, he couldn't have." Mystogan mumbled.
The black cylinder shattered into pieces, and there stood Scythe. Though to their astonishment, his expression was different from his usual playful joy filled self. He now carried himself as if he were burdened with the weight of the world. His smile was replaced with a pain filled grit of his teeth. His eyes were closed, but it didn't take a blind man to see his cheeks were stained with blood and tears, and his eyes, were lying on the ground with the nerves and roots of the gelatinous body parts visible for all to see. Mystogan and the crowd stared in horror as Scythe stepped forward, crushing his own eyes as he used his other four senses to go after Mystogan.
"Mystogan, you fool. RUN." Makarov shouted.
Mystogan barely had time to register as Scythe came rushing at him, his hands ready to strike like claws. The masked illusionist ducked, evading the strike, before he rolled to the side, evading a flaming kick from the Etherion Godslayer.
Finally, Scythe came in with his signature triple elemental move, slamming his fist into Mystogan's gut, which sent the masked man flying through the air, and into Velvet's stand, landing on the grill on his butt.
"AAAAAHHHHHHH…" Mystogan shouted as he rolled on the ground, as his butt was still on fire.
"Scythe that's enough." Mira exclaimed hugging him from behind, as he began to struggle.
"Mira." Lucy gasped.
"Are you crazy?" Natsu shouted.
(End Song…)
"Please, calm down. You're no longer grounded. Everything's going to be okay. You're safe. You're with your family, you're with Fairy Tail. Grimoire Heart isn't going to hurt you. Your family will always protect you." Mira pleaded, as Scythe's struggles began to weaken, his cries of anger turning into cries of sadness, as rain began to pour, washing his face of the blood that had flowed from his empty eye sockets.
Far off behind a tree, Juvia was staring in sadness and horror, having seen what Scythe had done to himself to escape the illusion.
'What could he have gone through, that made him gouge out his own eyes?' Juvia questioned hiding fully behind the tree, her knees up to her chin.
~Later that day~
Lucy was sitting on one of the stools at the bar counter. A look on her face that said she was worried about Scythe as he was still in the tent with Porlyusica. Mira pacing outside the tent with worry, and a concerned look on her face, giving the occasional glare to Mystogan as he was still there, sitting on a block of ice Grey made for his burnt rear. Finally Porlyusica came out of the tent, with a sigh, as Mira went to her.
"What's the verdict on my baby?" Mira pleaded.
"He's going to be fine. However, it's impossible for someone of my skill or any magic healer's skill, to replace his eyes as they aren't damaged, they're gone." Porlyusica exclaimed.
"Can't you do with him what you did with me?" Erza inquired.
"Unfortunately I cannot. Your eye was simply damaged beyond repair, in which I took it to make your synthetic one. His eyes however they're gone, and he crushed them when he went to attack Mystogan." Porlyusica sighed.
"So, he's blind forever?" Mira asked.
"He is. I truly am sorry." Porlyusica stated.
"Oh, my poor baby." Mira cried falling to her knees. "Master can't even promote him to S-Class even though he won against both Mystogan and Erza."
"No, there has to be a way." Erza exclaimed.
"Enough."
They turned to see Scythe standing there, his arm up to move the curtain of the tent out of the way, as he came out. His eyeless sockets covered in bandages.
"I did this to myself. I'll live with it." Scythe stated walking over to the bar counter.
Mira looked up at him, before down at her hands.
"Porlyusica there's something I need you to do for me. I'll owe you greatly, please." Mira exclaimed standing up. Erza had gone to sit beside Scythe as she wanted to talk with him.
"Scythe, would you like to talk?" Erza questioned as Mira made her request to Porlyusica.
"There's not really much to talk about." Scythe sighed.
"Oh I think there is. If you want, I can tell you about my childhood." Erza smiled. "You're not the only one here, who's been a slave."
"What are you talking about?" Scythe asked, turning his head to her.
"When I was about four years old, the town I was living in was attacked, just like yours." Erza said softly. "I was an orphan, left at the steps of the orphanage the day I was born. The orphans made the perfect targets for the Zeref cultists who kidnapped us, and forced us to work as slaves to build the R-System."
"The Tower of Resurrection." Scythe acknowledged.
"So you know of it." Erza smiled. "I was a slave there for five years, I had made more friends there than I did at the orphanage. One of them being a friend of Master Makarov's. He was an old geezer, who I called Grandpa Rob. One day, we began an escape attempt, but we were caught, the boy I liked, Jellal, tried taking the blame for creating the plan, when in reality it was Sho, one of the friends I had made at the orphanage. But they blamed me, and took me away, to torture me. Jellal started a revolt, to save me, when he did, my right eye was damaged, to where it was literally falling apart. Jellal took my place in being tortured, and I restarted the revolt, which lasted much, much longer."
"Sounds like you were quite the fighter." Scythe smiled.
"But it wasn't enough." Erza said, a mournful tone in her voice. "The guards at the tower began using their magic to bring us back in line. Then as they aimed their sights on me, Grandpa Rob used himself as a shield, before he was killed right in front of me, and the last thing I saw of him, was the Fairy Tail Guildmark on his back. That situation right there, had unlocked my magic."
"Did you manage to rescue Jellal?" Scythe questioned. 'Why does that name sound so familiar?'
"No. He had been corrupted, and had magic of his own somehow. He spared me when I tried to reason with him, but threatened to kill everyone I knew there, if I ever returned. That was ten years ago." Erza explained. "Not long after I joined the guild, Master took me to Porlyusica, and she made a synthetic eye for me out of what remained of my actual eye."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Scythe sighed. 'Of course, he'd visit Grimoire Heart on official business while I was still serving under Hades and the others.'
"Siegran, the man you met when you followed me to my court is Jellal's brother. So at least you have some solace of what he looks like." Erza smiled.
"So you're past is like mine. Only you went through hell longer than I did, by about four and a half years."
"It's experiences like those, experiences that hurt us, make us feel weak, that make us feel powerless, that turn us into who we are today. Mind telling me what happened to you that drove you to gouging out your own eyes?" Erza questioned.
"Well I…"
"You don't have to tell her if you don't want to."
Scythe turned his head towards Mirajane as she was sliding him a cold frosted milky drink.
"A past as troubling as both of yours can be hard to get through, but it does help to have someone who's been through something similar." Mira smiled. "Strawberry milkshake, your favorite."
"Thanks mom." Scythe smiled taking a sip from the drink. "Is there something added to it? It tastes a little different from usual."
"No, I made it the same way I always make it." Mira explained.
"It could be since you lost your sight, your other senses cranked themselves into high gear and your taste buds are a little more sensitive than usual." Erza theorized.
"That could be it." Mira smiled.
"Order up." Velvet said putting a plate of food in front of Scythe.
"This the burger we developed last night?" Scythe asked.
"It is three of them with the same amount of helpings of fries." Velvet smiled.
"Thanks, but I'm not that hungry right now." Scythe chuckled taking a fry. "I'll just have one burger and a handful of fries."
~Later at the gym~
"Scythe, what are you doing here?" Yang asked. "Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I'm fine, I came because I figured I'd try and start our first lesson." Scythe exclaimed.
"Uh, it's almost closing time boss. We're packing up."
"Damn, I cannot get the times right. I'll never get used to that." Scythe cursed. "I'm sorry, I just haven't been able to tell what's what since I lost my eyes."
"Oh no, it's fine. Why don't we help you get home after we close up?" Yang said.
"Thanks, but I got a handle on it." Scythe sighed heading for the door.
"Scythe." Natsu shouted bursting through the doors. "You gotta come quickly."
"What's wrong?" Scythe questioned.
"It's Loki, he's left the guild." Natsu exclaimed.
"What, why?"
"Don't know. He just stopped by, said he was quitting, and left before anyone could protest." Natsu explained.
"I can track him with my sense of smell, I'll find him and bring him back." Scythe exclaimed before rushing out the door.
"Scythe wait." Natsu shouted.
"I'll join you in the search Natsu." Ruby exclaimed joining the pinket's side.
Scythe was running through the streets, catching a whiff of Loki's scent, before he caught another familiar scent.
"Lucy." Scythe called as he slowed down.
"Scythe, what are you doing out here?" Lucy questioned.
"I'm looking for Loki. His scent lead me in this direction. Where are you going?" Scythe asked.
"I'm going to Karen's grave. She was a Celestial Sorceress from Blue Pegasus who died little over three years ago. I have a feeling that's where Loki is heading." Lucy exclaimed.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's get going there." Scythe stated.
"I'm not letting you go anywhere in the state you're in." Lucy admonished.
"You can't stop me from going." Scythe declared.
"Fine, then at least let me lead you so don't go walking off a cliff or something." Lucy said taking his hand.
~Karen's Grave~
"Thought I'd find you here." Lucy stated.
Loki turned around to see Lucy leading a blind Scythe.
"Scythe, what happened to you?" Loki asked.
"Long story bro. Now why don't you tell us why you're here Loki? No… Loki isn't your proper name, is it Leo the Lion?" Scythe questioned.
"So you figured it out." Loki sighed.
"Lucy was the one who figured it out, she explained the research she did with Grandpa Crux before Grey told her you were gone." Scythe smiled. "But seriously, how long has it been since your gate was closed?"
"He-he, it's been about three years, since I killed Karin." Loki explained.
"I call bull on you killing her." Scythe stated firmly. "That would be just like saying I was the one who led the Grimoire Heart to my home town intentionally. Leading to its destruction."
Lucy looked at him in shock.
'Did he unintentionally lead them to his home?' She questioned inwardly. 'Was that the painful memory he wanted to never see again so badly?'
"True it wasn't by my hands. But I kept my gate open by force, which led her to be helpless in battle. I was trying to save a friend of mine. Aries, Karen treated us like toys, like mere common objects." Loki explained. "I forced my gate to stay open so she would relinquish mine and Aries contracts, in turn it led her to desperate measures, which got her killed."
"Then it wasn't your fault." Lucy stated.
"You were trying to protect your friend. You were trying to do what was right." Scythe shouted, surprising Lucy. He walked slowly forward following his scent. "Whoever thought it was right to banish you to die here was wrong, you don't deserve to be here for so long without recharging your energy, whomever said this was to be your punishment was dead wrong." He exclaimed.
"He's right, you don't deserve to die here, you're the king of the zodiac and you deserve to be given a second chance." Lucy shouted.
Just as soon as she said that, Loki keeled over in pain, his body phasing in and out of the dimensional realms. Scythe grabbed him and held him close, trying to keep him in their realm.
"WHOEVER SAID THIS WAS RIGHT IS DEAD WRONG…" He shouted.
After saying this, time and space froze and the waterfall seemed to stop. The sky above turning to stars as a large figure came forward.
"WHO DARES SAY MY JUDGEMENT IS WRONG?"
'What the, this can't be happening. Did the Celestial Spirit King really just come here from his throne just because someone said he's wrong?' Loki thought questionably.
"I did." Scythe stated standing up to face the Celestial Spirit King, at the very edge of the cliff.
"THOUGH IT WAS NOT BY HIS HAND, LEO IS STILL RESPONCIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF HIS MASTER, THUS GOING AGAINST CONTRACT AND BEING PUNISHED WITH BANISHMENT."
"That doesn't matter, he was standing up for a friend, trying to protect her. He was willing to sacrifice everything for her." Scythe stated drawing his blades. "I will fight you if I have to."
"Are you trying to get killed?" Loki asked reaching for him before reeling back in pain as his body began to phase once more.
"No, Loki please stay with us." Lucy shouted grabbing him by the shoulders, causing her body to start phasing.
"No Lucy please stop, you'll get sucked in with me." Loki shouted.
"I don't care, I'm not going to sit here and watch one of my friends dies right, right before me as if it were normal." Lucy shouted, her magic energy starting to flow.
"You see your Highness, he has something that you probably wouldn't understand, he has family, and he has us. He. Has. Fairy Tail." Scythe punctuated.
"I'm not going to sit back and let you disappear, please, stay with us Loki." Lucy cried out, a bright burst of light emitting from her, as all her spirits appeared behind her. "You have so many people waiting for you, waiting to come back home."
'She summoned all her spirits, not even Karen was strong enough to do that.' Loki thought.
"I know you were just passing judgment on what he did by defying Karen, but that doesn't excuse the fact he did it for a friend, a member of his family." Scythe stated, tears seeping out from under his bandages.
"HMM…" The King contemplated. "TELL ME YOUNG WARRIOR, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR EYES?" He asked.
"I blinded myself, gouged out my eyes, so I wouldn't relive the greatest pain I'd ever felt in my short existence. My home was destroyed, my entire village. All because I brought home an injured man, who turned out to be a worshiper of Zeref, as well as a powerful member of Grimoire Heart's elite seven. He was a Red Herring, a front for the real invasion. My village suffered for it as he led his fellow worshipers into my home, and killed my family right before my eyes. That day was the one greatest tragedy I had ever experienced."
The company of Lucy, Loki, and all the celestial spirits were silent after hearing this.
"So I beg of you, please give Loki another chance, his burden is nothing compared to mine. But I swear I will fight you to the bitter end if I must." Scythe stated, as he continued to shed tears.
"Scythe." Lucy mumbled.
"Kido." Loki exclaimed softly.
"AFTER HEARING THIS… I HAVE DECIDED TO GRANT MY OLD FRIEND ANOTHER CHANCE. LEO THE LION, I WELCOME YOU BACK WITH OPEN ARMS."
They were all overjoyed to hear this, Scythe smiled as the tears still flowed down his face.
"YOUNG WARRIOR, REMOVE YOU BANDAGES, AND LOOK UP AT ME."
Scythe hesitantly did as commanded, after sheathing his weapons, and was stunned to find he had his sight back. His swords glowed bright in their sheaths, as they had the Celestial Spirit King's emblem magically engraved on them.
"FOR SOMEONE SO YOUNG, YOU HAVE THE HEART AND SOUL OF A TRUE AND SEASONED WARRIOR. AS A TOKEN OF MY GRATITUDE FOR YOUR COURAGE TO STAND UP FOR MY OLD FRIEND, I GIVE YOU A FRACTION OF MY POWER, USE IT WISELY, IT WILL RETURN JUST AS YOUR MAGIC DOES TO YOU." He smiled. "IN TIMES OF TROUBLE YOU FEEL YOU CAN'T WIN, YOU MAY ALSO USE IT TO SUMMON MY AID."
"Thank you, your highness." Scythe smiled kneeling.
"I DUB THEE, SCYTHE, THE CELESTIAL KNIGHT." The King stated tapping Scythe on the shoulders with his own blade.
Scythe stood and smiled, before the Celestial Spirit King vanished, returning everything to normal.
"Well, I guess it's about time I head home. I'm three years past curfew." Loki laughed handing Lucy his key. "Take care, and call me any time." He smiled before disappearing and returning to the celestial spirit world.
"Take care. Loki." Lucy smiled, smiling at the golden key in her hand.
~Author's Note~
Hey everyone, for those of your who enjoy this story, I hope you enjoyed these three chapters.
For those of you who are questioning, why I added Yang and Ruby from RWBY, well, it's because I thought I'd add a little variety to it, like I do with my Mama Yang story.
Hope you all enjoyed these chapters, and keep an eye out for the next chapters.