Please vote!
(I almost forgot I even had a poll running.)
95
Harry, his son, friends, and familiar were listening to Makarov give out news about who it was that he had chosen to be the official guild master. He had chosen Gildarts, but both Fawkes and Harry thought that that was a bad idea.
{Why Gildarts?} asked Fawkes. {Makarov does know that Gildarts can't sit still long enough to be guild master, right?}
{I think he does. He may have just thought that since Gildarts found out he has a daughter now he would want to stick around for a while,} said Harry; although, he wasn't sure if what he said to his familiar was right or not.
"Gildarts?" Makarov called out when the bigger man didn't come up to him.
"He had already left," muttered Harry, who was heard by Ron and Hermione.
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione, and Harry told her what he and Fawkes just spoke about. Ron and Hermione were surprised that Gildarts would run away from being guildmaster just so he could continue going on missions.
"What kind of missions does the man do?" asked Ron.
"Century quests. They are the hardest job request a guild can have. You have to be S-class to even take one, and hold a lot of power if you're going to take one on by yourself. It is also named as such because it could take you that long to complete," explained Harry. "Didn't you know any of this?"
The two shook their heads, and Harry wondered why. Before he could ask, he heard Mira call out to the master.
"Master, Gildarts left a letter," she said while walking up to the little, old man. She handed him the letter, which Makarov opened and read.
"'My first order as guildmaster is allowing Laxus back into Fairy Tail.' WHAT?!" Makarov shouted, but Laxus' old teammates were beaming with joy at the news. Mira encouraged Makarov to continue reading. "'My second order is to appoint Makarov as the new guildmaster again'!? Will I ever retire?!" Makarov shouted.
"You can allow me to be guildmaster!" Natsu said jokingly, and many others followed.
"That is not going to happen! I'll stay as guildmaster until the time I find someone responsible to take my place!" the master exclaimed.
"There you go, Master!" some member of Fairy Tail said.
"It is great to have you back, Master!" another said.
"AHHHH! What will it take to retire?!" Makarov cried out.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot to ask you this," said Harry to his two old friends. "How come neither of you knew about the century quests?"
Hermione and Ron looked at each other nervously before turning back to him. Hermione decided to be the one to explain.
"Well… Fairy Tail's rank has been dropping for a while before we joined. They were at the bottom of the food chain by that time. It was thanks to us and Kagura and Simon that we were able to bring it up at least a few ranks," she said.
"Is that so…" said Makarov, who overheard their conversation. "This wouldn't have something to do with these Grand Magic Games, would it?"
"Gramps, we already know that the games are what is used to rank the guilds nowadays," said Harry. "We learned it on our way back from Tenrou, remember?"
Makarov nodded. "I do remember, Harry. What I would like to know though is what are the rules of these games?"
"OH!" exclaimed Hermione. "I have a book on that. Let me go get it!" The bushy-haired girl took off in search of the book she mentioned.
Makarov was surprised with how fast the young girl could move. "Now you've done it," said Ron while holding his head in his hands.
Harry chuckled, "She hasn't changed much."
Hermione came back with the book, and Makarov grabbed a pair of glasses that allowed him to read at fast speeds called Wind-reader glasses. He read the book in less than five minutes, and then handed it back to Hermione.
"I believe I have a plan for how we can get back on time," the master said gleefully.
Hermione asked, "Where can I get a pair of glasses like that?" Harry and Ron can see stars in her eyes.
{I'm shocked she didn't already know about those glasses,} said Fawkes.
{Same…} said Harry.
"You can ask Lucy or Levi that question. Right now, I need to speak with Harry about some things," said Makarov. "Can you come with me to my office, Harry?"
"Uh...sure," said Harry as he got up from his table. "I'll see you guys later." He told his friends and son.
Before they left the hall where everyone was, Makarov announced, "We will be joining the Grand Magic Games this year! We will fight our way back to the top!"
"YYYYEEEAAAHHHH!" Everyone in the guild shouted, while Harry and Makarov left for the master's office.
While Harry followed his guildmaster, he wondered what it was he wanted to talk about. He knew he wouldn't have to wonder for long, since they were now standing in front of the master's office. They walked in, and then took a seat.
"What is it you want to talk to me about, Master?" asked Harry.
"On our way back from Tenrou Island, you said something about being trained by Death. I want to hear the full story behind this, and what it was you learned. Before you do, however, tell me what happened to Zeref," said Makarov.
{I thought this was going to do with the Grand Magic Games,} said Fawkes.
{I did too, but that didn't make any real sense. Why would he want to talk to me alone for that?} Harry said to his familiar, and then answered Makarov. "After Acnologia almost killed us, I was asleep for a year in Fairy Sphere, regaining my memories, while I was remembering everything, Death started to train Zeref on how to control his powers. Zeref didn't know how to control it, because he was scared of it. So his powers would go out of control and kill everything around him. Due to his lack of control, he believed it to be a curse,"
Harry told Makarov everything he knew about Zeref. From how he first met him when Harry was found by Gildarts, to when Zeref had to leave Tenrou Island before everyone woke up. Harry made sure to include his and Zeref's training with Death.
Makarov wore a thoughtful expression on his face and hummed. "I know I said that I believed him when I spoke to him back on the island, but I still can't help but believe he had another reason for trying to help."*
"Master, I have been training with him for 6 years straight. Zeref is a good guy. Death himself said that we'll need each other's help in the future," said Harry.
Makarov stared into Harry's eyes, and Harry had a feeling it was to see if he would waver from his belief - maybe - but the dark-haired wizard held his ground. Makarov sighed, "Alright, I believe you. But...if he hurts you, I will kill him myself. Also, who is his brother? I remember him telling me about how he brought his brother back, and gave him to a dragon along with four other children. Three of those dragon slayers are in Fairy Tail. Is his brother Natsu or Gajeel?"
"..." Harry didn't know if he should tell Makarov or not, but he doesn't really see the harm in it. "I'll tell you, but you can't tell Zeref's brother. Zeref wants to be the one to tell him." Makarov nodded to show he understood. "His brother is Natsu," Harry said. "Now may I ask how you figured it was someone here and not either of the other two outside our guild?"
"Zeref helped us, and I heard him beginning to say Nastu's name before changing it to 'my brother'," explained Makarov. Harry couldn't deny what was said to him. His master was very observant. "Now then! Why don't you tell me about your time before joining Fairy Tail? I believe this will be less serious."
Harry smiled and told Makarov about his life at Hogwarts. When he was done explaining in great detail, his master said, "That sounds like quite the adventure. Now before I let you go, Harry, there is just one more thing I want to talk to you about."
Harry tilted his head. "What is it?"
Makarov gained a huge, dark grin on his face. This grin was Harry's only warning. "I need you to do something for the guild, but I want to keep it a secret from everyone for now. So this is what I want you to do…" Makarov told Harry what it was the old man was scheming.
When the next morning rolled around, everyone, except Harry, were training for the upcoming Games. Harry decided that he should contact Zeref and let him know what was going on, but he first had to find a messenger bird. He didn't know where they sell birds like that nowadays, so he went to Hermione.
"Hey Hermione, do you know where they sell owls or a bird that sends messages?" he asked.
Hermione gave him a questioning look. "Couldn't you just use Fawkes?"
Harry froze, he was hoping she wouldn't think about that. What does he tell her? "...Um... No...I need Fawkes to help me in my missions and training, so he'll be busy helping me with something else. Right now I just need a bird that can deliver a message for me now," he said, hoping she bought that. 'Well, it's not like anything I said wasn't true. It was, I just don't need Fawkes right now to train,' he thought.
"Oh, I didn't know Fawkes helped you in training, and that would be a good idea. We should all train for the games. Sabertooth is the toughest guild right now, so everyone would really need to take them on if we have a hope of getting number one again," said Hermione.
"Are you joining the games?" asked Harry.
"No, neither Ron nor I are joining this year. I did join last year, but it wasn't for me. The year before that would have been more up my alley, because there was a knowledge test they had to do, and no one could do it.
"Anyway, Master Makarov wants you guys from Tenrou Island to have a crack at the games this year since you were all the most powerful of the whole guild," she explained.
"Too bad Gildarts isn't here. He could take the whole game and win it for us," said Harry. "So could you help me out? We should also ask Ron if he would like to come with us."
Hermione smiled. "Yeah, let's go find him real quick." The two magic users left to look for Ron and found him training with Elfman in hand-to-hand combat.
"Hey Ron, you got a few minutes?" asked Hermione.
Ron looked up, and said, "We're almost done here for the day. What do you need, Hermione?"
"Harry wants to look for a messenger bird, and I figured it had been a while since either of us had a pet. Want to join us?"
"Yeah, give me a minute."
"Okay, while we wait, Harry and I are going to find a shop that sells animals." After Hermione said her piece, she and Harry left to read Witch Weekly. They figured that there would be an ad in there somewhere for a pet shop, and luckily there was. It was a new shop, only opened three years ago.
Harry, with Fawkes on his shoulder, and Hermione waited for Ron to join them, and when he did they left for the shop that was in Hargeon.
Harry spotted the shop not long after they left the train, and so they went in and looked around. Harry found a beautiful golden hawk. He could feel the magic in the bird, which made sense as to why its feathers were more gold than normal. Harry asked if the bird could be used to send messages, and the owner said that all the birds there could.
Ron found a Great-Horned Owl, or more like it found him. Ron was looking at the rats at first before he sneered. Most likely remembering Peter. He was about to look at the dogs when the owl landed on his shoulder. The owner was shocked, because this owl hated everyone that walked in. So, Ron decided to go with the owl. It was calmer than his last one.
Hermione found a two-tailed cat with white fur and black tails. She fell in love with the creature the moment she laid eyes on it. She decided to get the animal right then and there.
The three bought their new pets and went back to Magnolia. When they got back to the guild, Castor dragged Harry outside, because he wanted to show Harry what he could do now, and Harry helped him in his training.
When the sun started to set, Harry told Castor that they should leave to go home. Once they told everyone in the guild goodnight, the father and son duo left for their house.
Harry made dinner for the two of them and while they ate, Harry asked, "So how far along did you get in forming your familiar bonds with Dash and Edge?" he asked.
"I've gotten really far! I can hear their voices in my mind now, but…" Harry was worried when Castor trailed off.
'Why does he look sad all of a sudden?' Harry questioned himself.
"I started talking to them more and getting closer to them than the others back at the guild after you vanished," said his son. "I couldn't bear the thought that you may have been dead, and with how everyone wanted to think the worst, I couldn't take it. Only Romeo tried to keep believing everyone was still alive, so he was really the only person I spoke to besides Edge and Dash." At this point, Castor was crying. Harry got up from his seat and moved over to comfort his son.
"It's okay, Castor. I'm okay and so is everyone else," said Harry. "You will never lose me like that again. I'll make sure of it."
Castor cried a little harder into Harry's shoulder. The poor thing held back those tears for too long, Harry realized. The child cried himself to sleep, and so Harry picked him up and carried him to his bed. Once Castor was tucked in under his blankets, Harry was about to leave, but someone stopped him.
"You better not ever scare that child like that again, Potter, or else I'll haunt you for the rest of your life." Harry heard Draco's voice coming from the picture behind him.
"I know you would, Malfoy, but you don't have to worry. I'll make sure it never happens again," Harry said.
"Maybe you should get a portrait made so that Castor will know the next time you disappear you're still alive. After all, portraits don't start moving until after you die, Potter," said Draco.
"I'll keep that in mind." Harry said and left for his own room.
Harry walked over to his desk and pulled out some paper and pen. He began writing his letter to Zeref.
Cerberus,
It's me, Coils. How are you doing? Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I found two of my friends from "back then" already at the guild. They had joined two years ago. They had told me that everyone else was okay too. I was relieved when I heard this.
So, I'm sure I don't have to say this, because you probably already heard of it, but the Grand Magic Games for this year are coming up, and the Master wants us to join it. It would seem that my guild isn't number one anymore, and the Master didn't like that. Although, I have a feeling that he's really doing it for the money.
Let me know how you are doing and what you think of these games.
Coils
Harry finished his letter and gave it to his new hawk, which he named Kiniro. "Take this to Zeref," he said so quietly that even if there was someone listening in they wouldn't have heard him. Kiniro nodded, took the letter with his beak, and flew out the window that Harry had opened for him. Harry decided to clean up from dinner, shower, and then go to bed.
TBC
*I almost forgot what Zeref told Makarov. I wasn't sure if he told him that Natsu was his brother or not, so I had to go back and find the answer. He didn't, so I changed up a little bit of what I wrote in this chapter where the star is.
Anyway. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It was during when Natsu and some of the others were getting help from Ultear and Wendy getting the Sky Dragon Slayer magic book. Next chapter should be them heading for where the Grand Magic Games are taking place.
Natsu: Finally some action! XD
Harry: You would be happy about that. ^^'
Zeref: You still have to wait for two weeks though, Natsu. Enjali is writing two fanfics, remember?
Natsu: I know that. :)
Enj/Dark: I might have to take a breather again after chapter 96 though. I need to plan what I'm going to do in this arc. I have some ideas, but I forget some of the things that happen in the arc that I need to know so I can plan around it.
Zeref: Look it up on the wiki. That always helps.
Harry: She was already planning that.
Voldy: It better not be my turn. *glares at Enjali.*
Enj/Dark: It's not, it's Natsu's turn.
Natsu: Please review! XD
