Mama Mirajane-30
"I can't believe it. My baby's grown up so fast, he's already getting married." Mira cried out in a confusing mix of sad and happiness, as they were all celebrating the arrival of a new member.
"Oh, come on mom, it's not that bad." Scythe sighed sitting at the bar counter where Mira was crying her eyes out. "Neither Wendy or I knew that this would happen, when she finished. It just, sort of happened."
"You make it sound like you're getting married because you knocked her up." Elfman exclaimed before freezing. "You didn't did you?"
"What? No, Wendy and I might be husband and wife by dragon standards, but we're way too young for ANYTHING remotely close to something like that." Scythe exclaimed. "Master, could you please pushed the wedding back by at least a month?"
"No. A week at most is what I'll do." Makarov exclaimed.
"A week, but the anniversary of Lisanna's passing is on that day." Mira exclaimed.
"I understand how you'd be upset on that day, but I think it might be time for something happy to happen on that day, after you pay your respects to her." Makarov smiled softly. "After all, wouldn't she want you to be happy even on the day she died?"
"I guess that's true." Elfman smiled. "C'mon, let's get Scythe fitted for a suit meant for a draconic wedding."
"Yo Natsu." Grey exclaimed, as Scythe heard him talking with the fire breather.
"Yeah, what is it?" Natsu questioned.
"When I was on my way here, I heard something, crazy." Grey exclaimed.
"And that would be?"
"The rumor mill's running pretty hard core around town. Apparently there's been a dragon sighting." Grey said.
The news of this, caught Natsu, Wendy, Gajeel, and Scythe's attention.
"Someone saw a dragon?" Happy asked. "For real?"
"Okay, you've got my attention." Natsu exclaimed. "Was it Igneel?"
"I didn't hear any names specifically."
"Alright, did you at least talk to the guy who said he saw this dragon?" Natsu inquired.
"No, like I said, it's just a rumor I heard. Apparently the person who started it, some woman named Daphne, says there's more to the story. According to her, she didn't just see it, she says, she actually spoke with the dragon."
"Like in person? Is it true Grey?"
"Don't know, but it's worth checking out. Don't you think?" Grey asked.
'I get the feeling something's definitely up. Grey usually isn't the type of guy to give Natsu this kind of advice about searching for Igneel. Plus if what Amaterasu told me on the night I first met her and Raijin, is true, then it mean the dragons never left their slayers sides, they've just been hiding out in their souls to prevent them from going bananas like my old man. Grey's luring Natsu into something, a trap, maybe, but I don't know for sure. Question is, why would, Grey lure him into a trap. I really hate keeping this secret from them, but I promised her I would.' Scythe mentally contemplated.
"How do we find her?" Happy questioned.
"Go to the Rise Lodge. It's in the Western Wastelands." Grey exclaimed.
"Thanks, I owe you one. Let's go Happy." Natsu stated.
"Aye sir." Happy smiled jumping down from the bar counter.
"Mind if I come? I won't bug you." Wendy exclaimed, meeting him partially to the door.
"Why don't you stay here and continue preparations for the wedding with Erza and my mom?" Scythe said putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'll go with him instead."
"But what if it's Grandeeney?" Wendy asked.
"If it is I'll come for you as soon as possible." Scythe exclaimed. "Besides, if it is her, then what better way for me to meet my mother-in-law?"
"I guess you're right." Wendy laughed. "Okay, I'll stay behind."
"Tagging along Gajeel?" Natsu asked.
"Run around with you pink haired loser? Yeah like I'd want to do that." Gajeel said.
"C'mon big-bro, come for me?" Scythe asked.
"Sorry, not happening. Even if you ask me, I'm not trailing behind you." Gajeel stated.
"I know you're as curious as we are." Natsu stated.
"Listen to yourself for two seconds." Gajeel stated. "You hear, dragon, and you're off on a wild goose chase. Stories like this are sucker bait. But I guess they hooked one. It's pointless to get your hopes up. I learned that a long time ago."
"What if it was Metalicana?" Natsu asked. "Would you still just sit here?"
"No, I'd go punch him in the face." Gajeel stated. "I don't get why you care about someone who abandoned you. I'm especially surprised at you Scythe, do you want to have a relationship with your father?"
"Of course not. I'm wanting to kick his ass." Scythe exclaimed punching his fists together. "If it is Acnologia, I'm taking him out, and putting him down for good."
"That's my little-bro. But if Salamander wants to waste time, be my guest." Gajeel stated.
"You really feel that way?" Wendy asked.
"I bet if it really was Metalicana, he'd go running to him in tears." Lucy smirked whispering to Levi.
"Don't let him hear you say that." Levi smiled.
"Guess it's just us then." Natsu said turning to Scythe. "Where's Velvet?"
"Max is home sick, so she's stuck running the gift shop all on her own." Scythe exclaimed.
"Not anymore. I'm tagging along. Warren is taking over for me." Velvet stated stepping up next to them. "You honestly can't expect Scythe's Exceed partner to miss out on another one of his crazy adventures can you?"
"You're a what?" Carla asked.
"Same thing you are. An Exceed, a feline with flight magic, and the potential to transform into an anthromorphic figure." Scythe explained.
"She looks nothing like a cat, except for the ears and tail." Carla stated.
"She was exposed to Moon Drip, and it somehow turned her into a human with cat ears and a tail. Now come on, we're wasting time." Scythe exclaimed.
"Thanks for the tip man, I guess you really are useful for something." Natsu smirked.
"My pleasure." Grey smiled.
'Okay, something is definitely off, normally he'd start a fight with Natsu over a snarky remark like that. He's up to something and I don't like what it is.' Scythe exclaimed as he ran out the door with Natsu, Happy, and Velvet.
Later on around the late afternoon time, the four adventurers made their way to the abandoned lodge in the wastelands.
"Kinda looks out of place, huh?" Happy asked.
"Not to mention rundown." Natsu added.
"Lots of times, people who can't afford to live anywhere decent, or want to do experiments in privacy, locate to these abandoned establishments, and conduct their business, whether it be magic, weaponry, or even fixing up the place to open for business once again." Velvet explained. "I've seen plenty of people do so with these kinds of places."
Walking in, Natsu, Happy, Scythe, and Velvet all approached the front desk, before stopping.
"It doesn't look like anyone's around." Velvet stated.
"True, but her scent is here, and I can smell Grey's to. He was here recently. Be on guard, Grey might have lured us into a trap." Scythe exclaimed.
"How so?" Happy inquired.
"Remember that snarky remark Natsu said back at the guild before we left? Normally Grey would have picked a fight over something as small as that, with Natsu, but he just brushed it off like it was nothing." Scythe stated.
"Yeah, now that you mention it, I noticed that to." Velvet sighed, getting the jitters from the feel of the abandoned building.
"Next time I see Grey, I'll punch him in the nose." Natsu stated.
"Hold up. Grey might have lead us into a trap, but whoever he's been working with, is probably dangerous. I actually recognize the name Daphne, and if I'm right, she's definitely not someone you wanna take lightly." Scythe exclaimed. "We should search all the rooms to be sure about it."
"Good idea." Natsu stated as they split up in teams of two. "Hello?" Natsu asked checking the first door he stepped to, and knocked on it.
"Yo, someone here?" Scythe asked poking his head through a door.
Velvet pulled on one of the door handles, and it broke, which surprised her as she threw it to the ground, and turned to see Happy with a mischievous grin, on his face.
"You saw nothing." Velvet stated as her skin went pink from blush.
"Give me some fish and I'll forget it." Happy exclaimed.
"Blackmail, seriously?" Velvet asked walking to the next room over. "Honestly what is it with this shoddy termite buffet?"
Eventually, they all wound up on the top floor, in a decorated hallway, with a door that reminded Scythe of Millianna's room back at the Tower of Heaven.
"So far we've checked every single room." Happy stated.
"Guess this means this is the last one." Natsu exclaimed. "Which is so no suspicious in any way, I mean come on is that a giant Happy doll?" Natsu asked with sarcasm as he referred to the wall figure above the door. "Is anyone named Daphne in there?" Natsu questioned.
"Yes-yes…"
"Oh no." Scythe exclaimed, his spine tingling with dread. "It is her. I wish I was wrong about it."
"Open up, we need to talk with her now." Natsu stated as Velvet tried to get Scythe to calm down and explain the situation.
"She stalked me for three months in Metalica before she was forced out of town. Apparently I gave off some kind of weird draconic aura that she was fascinated with, and it creeped me out. She was forced out of town for trying to kidnap and dissect me, and that punishment was her getting off easy."
The door to the room opened up to reveal a woman, wearing glasses, a white lab coat, a green shoulder and sleeveless shirt, a western styled hat on her head, with cat ears, and some sort of sausage thing in her mouth.
"My-my, you certainly are a nosey bunch ain't yea?" She asked before stepping out a bit further and adjusting her glasses.
"We heard you might be able to help us." Natsu stated.
"Natsu don't…" Scythe tried to warn, but it was too late.
"Oh, yes-yes indeed. Help is what I do, look no further stranger, your search for aid is over." Daphne smiled brightly. "Come inside and unleash your burdens, yes-yes come-come." Daphne said as a magic circle appeared under each of them and dragged them into the room.
"Natsu you idiot." Scythe shouted as the door closed behind them.
"Filling for a treat, yes-yes. I'm the missionary that travels these lands aiding folks just like you. Dazzling Daphne, and I'm not talking about the old run of the mill cutie brands I mean real…"
"Alright shut up, we get it. Geeze, I don't need to hear all this schmutz for a second time in a row." Scythe groaned, interrupting her speech.
"Do I know you stranger?" Daphne asked.
"Well, you did kidnap me and try to dissect me for your research about dragons." Scythe exclaimed in an annoyed huff.
"My, my, if it isn't Connor Draconis, what a pleasant surprise, and look how big you've grown since I last saw you nine months ago." Daphne smiled.
"Yeah, it was no picnic for me either Daphne." Scythe sighed. "And the name's Scythe Strauss now."
"You seem like you're in good health and still alive. Last I heard, there were no survivors of Metalica." Daphne exclaimed stepping up in front of him.
"Yeah, well guess what. I'm the only survivor of that town." Scythe exclaimed braking the spell that was holding his feet to the ground. "Now why don't you cut the crap and tell us what you planned with Grey?"
"My-my, you're as clever as ever, and stronger to boot, yes-yes." Daphne smiled. "If you must know, he's helping me obtain something to sustain my perfect creation. A battery if you will."
"That giant Dragon Mecha you kept blabbing about? You actually completed it?" Scythe asked.
"Not just completed it darling, I perfected it, yes-yes." Daphne smirked.
"Tell me." Scythe exclaimed his hands igniting with flames and lightning. "I heard a rumor about the town you grew up in, after you were run out of Metallica. Is it true you cursed them to be invisible forever? To be unheard, or unseen for all eternity?"
"Yes-yes, that is indeed true. You see back in those days, my earlier experiments were smaller, and needed sustenance to survive. I figured the people of my home town would fit on the menu quite nicely, yes-yes. They should have been honored to be part of the progress of science and my research." Daphne exclaimed, intrigued by Scythe's dual elemental power. "However, they didn't want to, and decided to starve my precious babies by using a camouflage spell, so I figured I'd let them play hide-and-seek, forever, yes-yes."
"So you were going to commit genocide, on an entire town, for an experiment that would have failed?" Scythe asked glaring at her.
"For the greater good my boy. Science takes sacrifice, and I was willing to go the distance. Now why don't you just hop on down into the battery chamber of my masterpiece, and we can get on our way to conquering the world, and making those who called me crazy, pay with their lives?" Daphne smiled, talking as if it were the most normal subject ever.
"Sorry Daphne, but his magic won't be compatible with your machine. Only Natsu's will work."
Scythe turned around to see Grey standing there.
"Oh, and why is that darling?" Daphne asked, stepping up next to him.
"His magic isn't meant for slaying dragons, it's meant for slayer gods." Grey stated.
"Oh, I see, well then I guess your pink haired friend is just gonna have to do." Daphne smiled.
"Sorry, but there's one more thing I have to do before you use Natsu as a battery." Grey exclaimed, stopping Daphne from opening a trap door.
"Grey you bastard." Natsu growled.
"Natsu, the town Scythe mentioned. Does it happen to ring a bell?" Grey asked stepping up to him.
"Now that you mention it… I did promise this weird shadow dude I'd break the curse that's been placed on his entire town."
"That was the town Daphne cursed. You have a chance to keep your promise. You did make it in the name of Fairy Tail after all." Grey smiled. "Now that you remember, my work here is done." Grey slammed his foot on the ground and the circle keeping Natsu in place shattered. "Go keep that promise."
"With pleasure." Natsu smiled as Grey walked out, leaving Daphne baffled at his betrayal. "Scythe, mind taking care of the big mecha or whatever?"
"No problem." Scythe stated, freeing Happy and Velvet. "Though you might wanna get out of here for this. If I remember correctly, she always yapped about building the mecha under her home."
"You can't get out, none of you can. This place was used, creating my hidden cage spell. You're trapped until I get what I want." Daphne stated, sounding as if she still won.
"Hmm… that is a problem." Scythe exclaimed cupping his chin. "Oh well, just gonna have to work around that."
"Scythe… we've got a couple visitors."
Scythe went to the window and saw through the barrier Wendy and Carla, with Erza and Lucy. They were all looking for the building, and it looked like they were searching still.
"Damn it, why did they come?" Scythe asked before the sound of a trapped door opened up and Natsu's screaming could be heard. He turned around to see that where Natsu had once been standing, was now a trapped door.
"First one I'm gonna make pay for thinking I'm crazy is Grey, for his betrayal." Daphne smirked, as the building began to shake.
"Time to go." Scythe exclaimed grabbing both Happy and Velvet, before disappearing.
Outside Wendy, Lucy, Erza, and Carla were concerned as the ground beneath them began to shake.
"What the heck is going on?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know, but I've got a bad feeling about this." Erza said before light shinned behind them and formed three figures.
"Scythe." Wendy called as she ran to hug him.
"No time for sentimentals, right now." Scythe stated as Velvet and Happy flew into the air. "Did any of you see Grey?"
"No." Erza said.
"Here he comes now." Lucy pointed out as Grey ran to them.
"What the hell Scythe, didn't Natsu kick Daphne's ass?" Grey questioned.
"Apparently not as she had more than one trap door." Scythe stated.
"What in the world is going on here?" Erza demanded.
"We'll explain later, right now, Erza, Lucy, Wendy, Carla, Grey, get going back to Magnolia and warn everyone. Daphne is mentally unstable, and is most likely planning on using Magnolia as a testing ground for her machine." Scythe exclaimed.
"We've got trouble." Velvet said as she and Happy flew down to them. "The Hotel is disappearing, and there are several weird looking lizard men coming our way."
"But some good news, we saw Wakaba, Macao, and Elfman on their way here, ETA 2-minutes." Happy stated.
"Daphne's foot soldiers." Scythe groaned. "Alright new plan. Erza, Lucy you stay here and deal with the grunts while I take on the big mama dragon. Happy, Velvet, go with the others back to Magnolia and help evacuate the town immediately. Velvet, recruit my employees to help you if needs be. Hitch a ride the magic mobile if you have to."
"On it." Velvet said picking up Grey before flying off, while Carla did the same with Wendy. Happy was right on their tail.
"Happy." Scythe called to the blue cat, gaining his attention. "I promise you, I'm gonna get him out of that thing alive."
"I know you will." Happy smiled before flying off.
"Alright, big ugly. Let's dance." Scythe stated clashing his fists together as he covered them in holy-metal.
"Lucy you go with the others, they could use all the help they can get." Erza stated.
"But, what are you going to do?" Lucy asked, as Daphne's Dragonoid became visible and spread its wings.
"Brace for a wing-gust." Scythe called as Daphne's creation began to fly.
"We're going dragon hunting." Erza stated reequipping a sword.
"Let's go Erza." Scythe shouted entering Satan's Soul and lifting her into the air.
~The Guild Hall~
(Cue Music… Soldiers: Otherwise)
"Everybody quickly get in the Guild hall." Makarov called out as the town of Magnolia was evacuating. "I don't know how much we can hold out on. But we mustn't give up hope. Keep going."
Makarov and the rest of the members of Fairy Tail were helping the citizens of Magnolia into the guild, using it as an evacuation shelter for situations like this. Off in the distance, he saw Lucy, Wendy, and Velvet had returned and were helping guild the people, while Grey ran up to him.
"You've got a lot of explaining to do young man." Makarov declared, using a giant hand to grab Grey and drag him into the guild, to his office, before he could catch his breath to explain the situation.
"Look alive people, big dragon dead ahead." Cana stated. "Man it's huge. Looks like Scythe is already fighting it." Cana said as she saw sparks of blue lightning and crimson flames hitting it.
"I don't suppose anyone's figured out how we're gonna beat that thing." Droy exclaimed standing with the rest of the gathered Fairy Tail members.
"Can we protect the guildhall and town at the same time?" Levi asked.
"Master has some kind of strategy right?" Jet asked.
"He wants to wait until he's had the chance to talk to Grey." Mira explained.
"Though I do know someone who does have a strategy." Velvet said landing next to Mira, holding a scared child. "Scythe is going to fight Daphne and that Dragonoid, he's got a personal score to settle with her. We're to protect the guild while he protects the town."
"How is he gonna fight that thing? I know he's strong and all, but I don't think even he can beat it." Droy exclaimed.
"He's plenty strong enough to beat it. The thing I'm concerned with is him holding back." Velvet stated. "Daphne is using Natsu like a battery to power that thing, so Scythe will most likely try to hold back in worrying he might hurt Natsu."
"Look out." Levi shouted as a burning ball of fire came flying towards them.
Evicting the area, they all jumped out of the way, just in time to avoid being hit by Scythe, who came crashing down like a meteor, as his impact made a groove in the concrete.
"Scythe." Mira shouted as he painfully picked himself up.
"Damn it. Daphne really does know how to take me down." Scythe groaned. "Even at full strength I wasn't strong enough to beat her."
"How the hell is that possible? You're one of the strongest alive, plus, you hold a seating as a Wizard Saint." Droy asked.
"You forget I hold one of the lowest ranked seats of the Ten Wizard Saints." Scythe stated. "However, there's a flaw in her design of that thing." He smiled.
"What's that sweetie?" Mira asked.
"She doesn't know, that the lacrima core in her machine's design, is just as breakable as any other lacrima." Scythe smiled. "I need fire, and lightning."
"Solid Script Magic: ETHERION…" Levi chanted giving Scythe a large brick made of Etherion in the word Etherion.
"That will do." Scythe smiled biting into it.
"Scythe, you might wanna chow down faster, she's destroying the city." Bickslow stated. "Not to mention Natsu's soul is about to snap."
"Way ahead of you." Scythe smiled devouring the Etherion immediately.
Upon feeling refueled, Scythe pressed down on the ground before jumping up towards the Dragonoid. Or so they thought, right when they saw him heading for Daphne and her creation, he zipped past her and slammed into the bell-tower on a building to the left of the Dragonoid before leaping with all his might to Cardia Cathedral behind the Dragonoid. Much more to their confusion, he jumped from there to town hall, landing on the tower pointing up from the roof, then back to Guildhall, landing on their own bell tower.
"What the hell is he doing? Did his brains get knocked out while he was sent flying? He keeps missing the damned thing, and worse, he's bouncing off the same four spots, randomly, not in any type of pattern at all." Evergreen exclaimed.
"No look." Freed pointed out. "He's picking up speed with each jump."
"He's trying to knock Daphne off balance before he makes a final strike." Mira stated in understanding. "The more speed he builds, the stronger his final attack will be."
Landing against the bell tower of Fairy Tail, Scythe made a jump for the Dragonoid falling shot ten feet. Though the force of impact was enough to send the Dragonoid off balance. Through the cloud of dust, Scythe leapt upwards, out of Daphne's range of sight and attack or defense. Pulling his fist back, Scythe didn't even chant his attack before slamming it against the lacrima orb on the Dragonoid's chest, causing a small crack.
"You insignificant little pest." Daphne cried out as she used one of her wings to send Scythe flying back to the guildhall.
With that, Scythe landed in the same groove he created, before picking himself up, still retaining what little energy he had left.
"It's all up to you now Big-Bro…" Scythe called to the figure standing on top of the Guildhall.
"Oi, Salamander." Gajeel shouted with a smirk. "You're disgracing the name of Fairy Tail, if you're letting this woman beat you so easily. I'll show you how it's really done."
Gajeel leapt from the bell tower of the guildhall and ran across the rooftops, turning his right arm into his Iron-Dragon: Sword. Without missing a beat, Gajeel leapt for the cracked lacrima when he was close enough to jump, and slammed his sword through it, shattering the Dragonoid's heart and core, freeing Natsu.
"Everybody, send any type of fire spell you have at Natsu." Scythe shouted.
"Open Gate of the Archer: Sagittarius." Lucy called out bringing her archer forward.
"Yes sir doodaly." Sagittarius stated sending an arrow at Natsu.
With that, every single sorcerer and sorceress attached their fire spells to the arrow as if flew over them, sending the fire to Natsu as he consumed it.
"Oh yeah, I'm all fired up now." Natsu shouted as he devoured the flames.
With that said, Scythe just sat back, as Natsu destroyed the top half of Daphne's cockpit, scaring the living life out of her.
(End Song…)
"Scythe, are you okay?" Wendy asked kneeling down next to him.
"Hmm? Oh yeah I'm fine, just a little drained. I had to use my magic to replace my stamina so I could keep up that confusion tactic I did. Honestly, I didn't even think that would work, I just saw it in an anime, and thought I'd give it a try." Scythe chuckled.
"Well, I'm happy you're alright." Wendy smiled moving to sit beside him. "Though we're gonna have to hold off on the wedding for a bit because of this."
"Let's say, a couple months." Scythe stated.
"Nope, one month at the most." Makarov exclaimed stepping in front of Scythe and Wendy. "You two are going to be properly married if it's the last thing I do."
"C'mon gramps." Scythe groaned.
"Grey told me about what his plan was. I'm happy he's trying to keep Natsu honest to his word, but to take such extremes like this, is uncalled for." Makarov sighed sitting on Scythe's other side. "If he had just come to me about it, I could have gotten Natsu to keep his word, avoiding all this damage and destruction. But as my successor to the Guild, I will leave his punishment up to you."
"Hmm… There is one thing. On the way back from the Galuna Island incident, Erza mentions a punishment she only referred to as 'that' before the changeling fiasco. What is that punishment?" Scythe asked.
"Oh my boy, it is the most humiliating thing you will ever have the displeasure of going through if I ever decide to put you through it." Makarov said with an evil smile. "You remember Master Bob from the one Guild Master's Conference I took you to after the festival right?"
"The big bald guy who dresses like a woman, and is also Master of Blue Pegasus?" Scythe asked. "What's he got to do with it?"
"The punishment is being his personal servant for a month, with half the pay a servant would normally make." Makarov chuckled.
"Let's not put Grey through that." Wendy said nervously.
"Agreed, let's just have him be the guild janitor for a month." Scythe stated, equally nervous as his fiancée.
"Alright. Suit yourself." Makarov smiled.
"Is your arm okay?" Wendy asked. "You're clutching it quite a bit."
"Yeah, it just got fractured in the second landing, I'm a bit low on stamina so my healing factor is taking a bit longer to take care of it." Scythe explained.
"Oh, well I hope it heals up soon." Wendy stated.
"Scythe my boy; that was incredible how you handled that situation." Makarov exclaimed.
"Master, can I ask you something?"
"Hmm?"
"What is it that made you choose me, to be the next guild master of Fairy Tail?" Scythe inquired.
"Well, at first I was doing it based off what you told me during the Battle Royale against Laxus. Then I began to think about it. After that the answers became clear. You're courageous, kindhearted, noble, self-sacrificing, strong, empathetic, understanding, and patient with others. The first three alone are enough to qualify you in the running for being guild master. But I knew I could entrust the guild to you, because you are more than a man." Makarov explained.
"What about mom, or Erza, or this Gildarts guy I keep hearing talk about?" Scythe asked.
"Mirajane is kindhearted and understanding yes, but I'm concerned she may be a pushover and a little too lenient on the rules due to how big her heart is." Makarov sighed. "Erza is too hot headed, and even though she's the exact opposite of your mother when it comes to enforcing the rules, she can go a bit overboard on it. Gildarts, is strong and courageous, as well as patient, but he's also lazy, and would reinstate me as Master the first second he could if possible."
"So each of them has their flaws, but their weaknesses are too much to qualify them?" Wendy asked.
"Yes, I had actually been considering who I should name as my successor before the whole Battle Royale thing happened. The only one who caught my eye on that one, was you Scythe. Though to be honest, I wasn't planning on naming you my successor until you had at least become a few years older, and had proven yourself a bit more."
"But desperate times had called for desperate measures." Scythe sighed. "I understand."
"So does that satisfy your curiosity my boy?" Makarov asked.
"It does. Thank you Master." Scythe smiled.
"Scythe it's getting late, you should probably head home." Makarov said looking up at the night sky while holding out a key.
"What's this?" Scythe inquired.
"That, my boy is a key, to your new place." Makarov stated. "I had already cleared it with Mirajane. Your things have already been packed and shipped there."
"Where is it?"
"Not far, from the apartments Mira and Elfman live in. You'll actually be living there with him Wendy." Makarov explained as Scythe took the key.
"Me?" Wendy asked, blushing. "I think I'd prefer it if I continued living in the Fairy Hills Dorms, until after the wedding. It'll give me some time to accept the fact I'll be living with Scythe."
"Understandable." Makarov smiled. "Just enjoy your time together."
"Thanks."
"Hey Scythe, I can take Wendy back to Fairy Hills while you go to your new place if you want." Velvet recommended walking up to them.
"Carla is already back at the dorms, so I would appreciate the flight home." Wendy smiled sheepishly.
"Okay, well I'll see you later Velvet." Scythe smiled standing up.
Leaving and following the directions Makarov gave him, Scythe found his new home was a two story building, not an apartment build, but a full house, in his name.
"Master, this is one hell of a wedding gift." Scythe whistled using the key to unlock the door.
Upon entering the building, Scythe caught whiff of a scent that he knew smelt like death's cologne.
Silently creeping up the stairs, Scythe kept his guard up, finding nobody in the main hall. Following the scent, Scythe tracked it all the way down to the office in the building. Pulling a knife from his boot, Scythe silently opened the door, and found the office had been fully furnished with the finest, and latest of interior office designing.
"Okay, I know Master Makarov is wanting to make me happy with this wedding gift, but not even he would go all out and fully furnish a new home he's not gonna live in, on the guild's dime." Scythe exclaimed as he realized every room he'd checked had been fully furnished with the highest quality furniture.
"That's correct Mr. Strauss."
Scythe's eyes snapped to the wingback chair that was turned away from him, as the voice came from whoever was currently sitting in it.
"No need for the weapon Mr. Strauss. You're in non-hostile company." The man said as he slowly turned around.
The man sitting in the chair, was a brunet with brown hair, and a goatee, wearing a black turtleneck with a matching jacket.
"Can I help you?" Scythe asked, keeping his guard up. "May I ask what you're doing in my home, that just so happens to be a wedding gift from my guild master?"
"Cutting straight to the point Mr. Strauss. Good sign of a reasonable mind." The man said standing up, revealing he was quite tall. "My name's John Wick, I'm with a guild that works directly under the Magic Council. An Assassin's Guild, known as the Demon's Heart Guild."
"What, you name your guild after one of Zeref's creations?" Scythe asked, his guard up more than ever. "Also, how can you say you're not here with lethal intent, when you just admitted to being in an assassin's guild?"
"I assure you my intentions here are purely nonlethal. My guild, happens to do things the Magic Council doesn't want people to know about. I am unarmed." John stated opening his coat to reveal his was weaponless.
"Take off your shoes and you will be." Scythe stated. "You've got a hidden blade in the souls of your shoes."
"Sharp senses. I can see why your grandfather recommended you." John said, kicking off his shoes.
"My grandfather, you mean Logan?" Scythe asked.
"Indeed, but he didn't send me here to recruit you for the guild, or to become an assassin." John said kicking his shoes away. "He sent me here to offer you something."
"What's that?" Scythe asked.
"Let me train you in every martial arts I know." John stated.
"How many martial arts is that?" Scythe inquired.
"Five; Jiu-jitsu, wushu, krav maga, judo, and karate." John exclaimed. "You're already a master at kickboxing, I've seen you fight, so I don't need to train you in boxing. But your grandfather is concerned that the Demon's Heart Guild will try and forcefully recruit you, whether you want it or not."
"You're training will help me avoid that?" Scythe inquired.
"It will, because I'm the next person in line to be guild master." John said, showing his arm, revealing it had a blood red tribal heart with devil wings, and a black diamond in the center. "This is the Guild Master's Mark."
"Guess that makes two of us." Scythe stated, showing he had the Guild Master's Mark for Fairy Tail. "You swear on the honor of the Guild Masters Mark, you have no harmful intentions towards me, other than the pain of my training?"
"I swear." John stated as their marks began to glow.
"How long will the training take?" Scythe asked.
"Five years at the least." John exclaimed. "Maybe longer."
"We don't have that kind of time. But I might know somewhere we can." Scythe exclaimed grabbing the necklace around his neck, clutching it in prayer. After a few minutes, Rin appeared, yawning a bit.
"This had better be good Scythe." Rin groaned, rubbing her eye.
"It is. Do you happen to know of a training area within the Celestial Armory that is within a pocket of time that moves exponentially faster than the normal world of time?" Scythe inquired.
"Yeah, the fifth level of the training coliseum. Time in those mountain ruins runs so fast, five hours here, is two and a half years in there. Why?"
"This is John Wick, he's needing to train me, and the training he has for me, will take longer time than we have." Scythe said as the scenery changed to a young man walking through the lobby of a hotel, hauling a suitcase and a backpack. "Time we don't even have."
"Welcome to the continental Magnolia Branch, how may I be of assistance today?" A tall tan skinned woman, wearing a counter attendant's uniform asked.
"I've a reservation for several nights." The young man exclaimed, putting a gold coin down on the counter. "Maybe longer."
"Time you don't have for what?" Rin asked.
"Thank you. Please enjoy your stay." The woman smiled handing him a keycard.
"Time we don't have, before someone is sent to collect him." John stated as the young man left for the elevator. "Time we don't have, to prepare him for a fight."
"I see." Rin stated as the elevator doors began to close on the young man. "Then I guess you really do need that training."
"So will you help us?" Scythe asked as the scenery switched back to the three of them in the office.
"Of course I will." Rin stated. To which John only replied with one thing.
"Then let's begin."