Alright boys, let's get this show on the road! By the way, new Homecoming of a Devil chapter went up! Get yourself over there and read that as well! I'll say it again: Canon side story, lots of good information!
Wait, we're pretty close to chapter 300, huh? What could I have in store for that?
Enjoy!
"Why do you push yourself so hard?" Erza asked Simon. The two were still in the infirmary of the airship, talking about how Simon was feeling. Well, trying. Mostly because Simon was starting to clam up again after his little outburst. He looked up at her when she asked, looking confused.
"What do you mean?" He asked bluntly. Erza rolled her eyes at this, knowing full well Simon was just avoiding the question.
"Don't start playing stupid," she said. "Why are you training and fighting so much?" Simon stared at her quietly for a little bit, before he sighed and looked down at his feet.
"I need to get stronger," he said. "What happened at Mt. Olympus could have been prevented if we were stronger. But we weren't. We didn't have the strength to guarantee victory. So getting stronger can guarantee nothing like that ever happens again."
"Your strength had nothing to do with it," Erza replied with a frown. "You were tricked, not beaten in a fight."
"If I were stronger than I would have been able to do more," he said. "But I wasn't. And here we are. So I want to get stronger. So strong that I'l never have to worry about losing someone ever again. I'll be able to bring everyone home." Despite the flaws in his logic, Erza had to admit Simon's end goal was a valiant one. He was trying so hard because he wanted to make sure nobody else ever suffered the same fate Nashi did. Forced to give themselves up to save those they love.
"Just promise me something," she said, cupping the scarred side of his face with her hand, making him look at her. "Promise me you'll be careful, and you'll stop pushing yourself so hard. Your hands are in terrible shape Simon, you need to calm it down a little."
"Yeah, I guess..." He muttered, looking down at the bandages covering his hands. "They do hurt a lot."
"Exactly," Erza said. "You need to heal, in more ways than one. So just take a deep breath and calm down. It'll be okay." Simon looked up at her, eyes looking softer than before. It was good to see him reacting positively to her words, because she'd been afraid he'd push her away as well. Thankfully, that didn't seem to be the case.
"I won't stop," he said, watching her closely. "Once I'm feeling better, I'm training again. I need to get stronger." Erza watched him carefully before she sighed and stood.
"Fine," she said. "But you'll be training with me until I'm certain you're not being stupid about it." Simon seemed ready to object, but Erza wasn't having it. "Shut your mouth, I'm not letting you fight me on this." He did as he was told, but not without rolling his eyes.
"Whatever," he mumbled, also standing. "Let's get out of here already, I'm hungry." Erza nodded and walked with him out of the airships infirmary, back towards the guild hall. As they walked, Erza cast him a glance. She was no fool, she knew that everyone dealt with grief in their own ways. Some, like Drake, drank to escape what happened. Some, Like Elise, ran from it.
And people like Simon just got angry. She couldn't fault him for that reaction, she understood it. She just wasn't going to let him treat her and others like he was anymore.
Once they got back to the guild hall Simon split from her and went to Mira to ask for something to eat, who smiled at him and agreed to whatever he requested. Once she saw he was distracted, she walked over to where Jellal and Crime Sociere were, talking quietly.
"How'd it go?" Jellal asked as she approached. Erza sighed.
"Good," she said. "I had to beat his ass in a spar, but I got through to him."
"Well if anyone could, it would be you Erza." Erik said with a smirk.
"It's their love!" Richard proclaimed, making the others rolls their eyes.
"I'm glad you had some success," Jellal said. "I came up with a plan of my own too."
"Oh?" Erza asked. "What did you come up with?"
"We're heading up to Arkney," he replied. "Where his friends are. I think reuniting them might be a good idea, see how he reacts." Erza had to admit it was a solid plan. Reuniting seemed to cheer up the others before they left, so maybe the same could be said for Simon.
"He may get to help them out on that job too," Sorano said, "He'd like that I bet." Jellal nodded in agreement.
"That too," he said. "What do you think?"
"I think it's a great idea," she said. "Separating caused all of them to suffer even worse. Maybe being together again will help them all heal." Jellal nodded.
"One can only hope," he said, turning his head towards the bar. "Simon! Come over here." Simon seemed confused by the request, as he was waiting for Mira to finish cooking him something to eat. Walking over, he pocketed his hands and scowled again.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Don't get too comfortable," Jellal replied. "We're leaving in the morning." Simon widened his eyes in surprise.
"Really?" He asked. "Do we have a lead on something?"
"No," he said. "We're heading up Arkney. Drake and the others are up there, maybe we could help them out." Simon had seemed almost excited to get out of the guild hall, but at the mention of his friends his slightly happy look faded.
"...Oh," he said. "Is that it?"
"Aren't you happy to see them again?" Erza asked. "It's been months."
"Sure," Simon replied, turning to go and wait for his food again. "Excited. That's a good way to put it." Without saying more he walked away, and sat back down at the bar as Mira served him a plate stocked with food.
"What a reaction," Macbeth said sarcastically. "You sure this is a good idea Jellal?"
"You have a better one?" Jellal asked. "We have time, and I want to help him any way I can."
"I say we do it," Erik said, playing with the mug in his hand. "Might be good for Drake too."
"Since when do you care about Drake?" Sorano demanded. Erza was surprised by the anger that came over Erik's face at this.
"What kind of stupid fucking question is that?" He demanded, slamming his jug down on the table. "He's my son, of course I care about him."
"Yikes, you're touchy today aren't you?" Sorano asked, seemingly unaffected by the outburst as she checked her nails. Erik growled and finished his drink, leaving the group in silence.
"Anyway," Jellal said. "I think it'll be good for them to see each other, and that's that."
"I think so too!" Meredy shouted, joining the conversation from somewhere else in the guild hall, throwing herself against Jellal. "Being alone sucks!"
"Exactly!" Richard proclaimed. "Love is best when you are with family!"
"I swear I would rebuilt Nirvana with my bare hands if it turned you back to who you were," Macbeth hissed under his breath.
"You sure about that?" Sorano asked, still seeming uninterested. "Money Richard was pretty annoying too." As Crime Sociere descended into a debate about Richard and whatever else they argued about, Erza looked over at Simon and watched him eat quietly. She didn't know what would happen when he reunited with the others in Arkney, but she had hopes that it would be good for him.
She just wished she knew how he felt about it.
Simon stared up at the roof of his room in the airship, listening to the hum of the engine as it flew through the sky. It had been a few hours since they'd left the guild, so he had no doubt that with how Erigor flew they'd reach Arkney before he knew it.
The others...
Simon sighed and looked over at his bedside table, where a framed picture sat. In that picture was himself and others, all posing like morons for the picture. It had been taken after the Grand Magic Games, and Steph had returned home. Nashi had the cup in her hands, and raised it above her head with a smile that made Simon's stomach twist. reaching over, he grabbed the picture and stared at it as it sat on his chest. Slowly, he reached forward and covered Nashi with his hand, making it seen as though she wasn't in the picture at all.
Mostly because she wasn't.
All Simon had to remember her by was things like this. Pictures and memories, and even those felt faded and weaker than ever before. Her smile, her voice, it felt forever ago to him. All because she'd thrown her own life away for them.
Growling at the thought, Simon swiped the picture off of his chest, making it fly across the room and land on the ground. He stared at the shattered glass on the floor before slowly leaning back and relaxing on his back again. He truly didn't know if he could show his face around the others right now. He'd left with his father so that he could get stronger and protect everyone, so that they'd never be in a scenario where someone had to throw themselves away for him ever again. He'd always be indebted to Nashi, and he'd never be able to repay her.
After all, he'd promised he'd bring everyone home. And yet, he hadn't. Getting stronger was the only way he could ensure that he never had to lie to himself like that ever again. With strength came assurance, and he'd make sure he was a sure as he could be. Maybe then he could at least pay Nashi's sacrifice forward.
Well, there's also that...
Sitting up, Simon opened the drawer for his bedside table and stared down at the things inside. A few random bits of junk sat around it, but that was just a cover. Leaning down, Simon picked up the bottom of the drawer, revealing a secret compartment he'd hollowed out. Inside sat a notebook, torn up and covered in sticky notes and other bits of information. Picking it up, Simon flipped it open to where'd he'd left off a few days prior, staring at his work.
"A few sightings here and there..." He muttered to himself. "Apparently no one really knows where to find them. Looks like I'll have to step up my reconnaissance." With this, he looked over to the side of the page, where and black and white photo was stuck.
In the photo stood a man in a dark suit, facing away from the camera. This man had eyes and hair just as dark as the suit, and the smile on his face was dark and foreboding.
Simon would've recognised Hades anywhere after what happened at Mt Olympus.
He didn't know where the photo had been taken, or who had even taken it, but he'd found it at the base of a dark guild operating out of Inca. It was the only evidence he had of The Olympians being around at all, so it was quite important to him. He'd spent months examining the photo, but hadn't been able to discern anything of it, except that Hades seemed to be standing in front of some sort of portal.
A knock at the door threw Simon out of his own head, and he quickly shoved the notebook back down into the secret compartment and closed it.
"What?" He demanded. With this his father opened the door and stood there, watching him with a strange look on his face.
"We're almost at Arkney," he said.
"Okay, so?" Simon demanded. With this, his father sighed.
"I think you should come and have a look at this," he said. Confused, Simon stood and followed his father through the airship towards the Bridge, wondering what he needed to see.
As soon as he reached the bridge, it became apparently clear from the raging fires within the city's buildings. From where they were Simon could see an army outside the city, so it didn't look good at all.
"What the hell..." He started.
"Looks like they're in trouble," Erigor said, piloting the ship closer and closer. "What're we gonna do, Jellal?"
"What do you think?" Jellal demanded. There was silence among the members of Crime Sociere before Erigor nodded and smiled.
"Just the way I like it," he said, the airship speeding up. "Loud and explosive."
"Everyone get ready," Jellal said towards Simon and the others. "We're dropping right into the middle of that and defending Arkney, got it?"
"Sounds like a plan," Erik said with a smirk.
"We will defend the city of love with our bare hands!" Richard shouted.
"I'll start the bombing run," Sorano said. "Then you guys can drop in." Jellal nodded, and Sorano left the bridge to do just that. Simon watched the army approaching the city, and he noticed that the part of the city that was on fire looked to be destroyed already, and towards the center of the city was walled off and perfectly fine. Looked like the citizens had prepared for this a little bit. As they reached the sky above the army, Simon heard the bottom of the airship open, and soon after explosions sounded from down below.
"That's our cue," Erik said with a smirk. "Let's go!" Following Erik and his father, they soon came to an airlock. Richard joined them inside, and his father closed the door.
"Ready?" He asked. Everyone nodded, and with that, his father ripped open the door to the outside. Simon let the wind carry him out of the airship and into the open air, giving him a good look at the devastation the bombs had caused. the army had been pretty scattered by the attack, so it gave him a good open ground to land in. Simon smirked the closer he got to the ground.
Show time.
"Requip!" He shouted. "Renegade Armour!"
He hadn't spent the last nine months doing nothing.
This armour was one he'd gotten inspiration from when they took out pirates in Inca. It was made from hardened leather and steel protecting his chest, and he also forged himself two scimitars to wield alongside it. Slowing himself with his Heavenly Body magic, Simon hit the ground and caused dust to fly up, the men and women looking at him in confusion. Standing up straight, Simon twirled the blades around and took a defensive stance.
"Who's first?" He demanded. It didn't take long for them to register he was an enemy, and soon he was being rushed. Creating a circular explosion with his magic, Simon took the bandits one by one as they rushed him, utilising both his swords to disarm them and them out them out of commission. Jumping up, Simon dodged a downwards swing from behind and blasted the man who'd attempted to strike him with heavenly light, making him fly back into his friends. Simon coated his scimitars in holy light and attacked as quickly as the men came, the explosions his blades caused making the men fly every which way from simple parries. Despite how many men surrounded him, Simon could see explosions of poison, light and earth all around him, meaning that the others were also going work. A whistling could be heard, and soon more explosions sounded, probably bombs dropped by the airship. Soon, piles on unconscious men surrounded Simon, who watched as most of the army had started to hard retreat.
Richard didn't give them the opportunity.
Simon watched as the big man took control of the earth beneath their feet, and soon it encapsulated the entire retreating army. With a simple flick of his finger, the wave of earth flung the men so far away from the city that Simon could barely see them anymore.
"Well that was boring," Erik said, cracking his back. "I was hoping for more of a challenge."
"It seems they weren't prepared to deal with magic," His father said, raising a finger to his head. "Macbeth, can you strangle these flames so they don't spread?" Simon didn't hear the response, but seeing as the fires started to extinguish as magic bent around them Macbeth seemed to be on it.
"We should check on the townsfolk!" Richard said. "They defend the city they love beautifully!" Together the group walked towards the hastily built walls at the inner city, doing their best to ignore the destroyed remnants around them. Easily jumping over the walls, Simon found himself surrounded by terrified townsfolk. From the looks of it more than a few bandits had gotten through the walls, as unconscious bodies and small flames littered the ground.
"We don't mean you any harm," Simon said, sheathing his blades on his back. "I;m from Fairy Tail, I'm here to find my friends."
"Your friends?" One of them asked. "You're looking for Ultear and her friends?"
"Ultear..." Simon said slowly, the name causing a tingle to go down his spine. "Yes, her. Where is she?" The townsfolk looked at each other warily before lowering their weapons.
"I think you should follow us," One of them said. "We're in trouble and so is Ultear and your friends."
"What?" Simon demanded, stomach starting to turn. "What's going on?" Where are they?"
"Captured or worse," Another said. "They went out to raid the main base of these bandits and haven't returned. Follow us, you should speak with the mayor." Simon quickly followed the people through their city, mind racing. His friends were captured, they were in trouble.
He needed to find them.
He needed to protect them.
That's a good stopping point for today, don't you agree? Remember, New Homecoming chapter went up! Go and read up on it! I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!
Chapter 296: Just Finish This