Author's Note: Sorry…It's been a while. Thank you for all your support and patience :,)
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail...but if I did, we would have arcs that involve other countries in Ishgar. Like, for real, EVERYTHING happens in Fiore despite the fact that Ishgar has FOURTEEN other countries! Like damn, Bosco gets a brief mention in the very beginning. Isvan - where the ice guys and their master hail from-is not specifically tied to a larger country [in name], thus we can't find it on the map. Stella, the only place we get to see, is only showcased in the Dragon Cry movie. So many possibilities and so much to work with *hint-hint-hint*, but this story needs to develop before we leave our familiar, beloved Fiore anytime soon!
Please feel free to give me your constructive criticisms, feedback, suggestions, etc. as they are all welcome. I appreciate your engagement and ideas.
Spells and attacks will be typed in bold font. Thoughts, flashbacks, and emphasized words or sentences will be italicized.
Enjoy the read :)
Exceed Hunter arc ~ Chapter 11 ~ Live And Let Live
~A Few Miles Away From the Exceed Village~
"It's not a long story...but it is an enlightening one." Aria wrapped a strand of her pink locks around her left index finger.
"Make haste Aria," Carla was perturbed indeed, but she was not in the mood for everyone to gather around for story time. With the dire straits they were in, she knew all too well that time would not be kind.
~Flashback: Exceed Village/Inside the Barrier ~
Chagotte and Aria stood before the magenta borders that trapped them inside the village. The other Exceeds [and an unconscious, bound Wanda], trustful of Chagotte's visions, formed a semicircle aw The pinkette, riddled with bruises and minor cuts from her skirmish with Wanda, took a few deep breaths before placing her palms flat against the semi-translucent wall before her. She continued to take a few deep breaths, trying to tap into her magic. Despite her efforts, nothing happened.
"Ah, man! It's hopeless" Aria faceplanted to the ground, then rolled around while making a pouty face, " This is my twelfth attempt! And nothing is has changed! We're really going to stuck here and get turned into kitchen appliances!"
Aria's sarcastic joke earned her many a gasp from the mass of Exceeds, who were placing their hopes on her and their queen. A few of the Exceed children hugged their parental figures, scared of the hypothetical fate Aria mentioned. The many who were originally from Edolas, dreaded her words exponentially more.
Realizing her hubris, Aria got back up and prostrated herself in front of the denizens of the Exceed Village, lowering herself into a cowtow, "I'm sorry, that was highly insensitive of me. I do hope you can forgive my horrible sense of humor. It's quite the fad to be morbidly sarcastic these days..."
"There, there...you must not lose hope." Chagotte kneeled down to console the dispirited Aria by patting her laying figure, "All you can do right now is try and try again. It's not like the rest of us can use your magic. Only you can. "
At Chagotte's words, Aria rose her head and saw the gaze of many expectant eyes upon her. Such innocent, harmless creatures just wanted to survive in this new world they were forcibly thrust into against their will. The facts become more egregious when you consider they were prey in their home dimension too.
Aria recounted the vision Chagotte described to the premonition bearer herself, "When the man in your vision tried to touch the crystal altar, the shrine tried to resist his touch... I am directly touching the barrier... But why am I not feeling any resistance?"
Queen Chagotte looked into the pinkette's soul. Her normal chocolate brown eyes gleamed golden, "Magic is strange. Sometimes, raw emotions can amplify one's capacity in desperate times. Most times, the essence of training and honed techniques shine through. But one thing remains, imagination is the greatest companion for a magic user. Although most of your past is shrouded in mystery to you, some parts of it can resurface if you let it. Calm yourself and embrace the flow."
"You're majesty..." Aria was astounded her words of wisdom, "I will...keep that in mind."
Taking another deep breath, Aria stepped towards the magenta boundary and placed her hands flat against the wall for the thirteenth time. She closed her eyes, imagining herself a petal fallen from a cherry blossom tree that effloresced in a city from a top a cloudy mountain. The lone petal would shuffle and pirouette before kissing its reflection on a pristine, mirror-like body of water, forming ripples.
Ripples...that would turn into waves.
"Wooahh..." the Exceed children behind Aria were awestruck at the scene before them. Unbeknownst to Aria, her hands were creating visible ripples on the lacrimal barrier.
"Keep at it, young one. Stay one with the flow," Chagotte smiled.
"..." Aria keeping her eyes closed, maintained her concentration. She imagined the ripples caused by that single petal that touched the water became waves.
Corresponding to the girl's imagination, the ripples on the actual barrier grew more intense. Slowly, cracks began to form around the area of the barrier that Aria touched.
"Oh?" The Four Elders looked on proudly. Their queen had once again proven that her premonitions are not child's play.
As the ripples on the barrier, the small cracks on the magenta wall zigzagged in various directions like a more unpredictable lightning strike was cast in a two dimensional plane. Bits of magenta barrier chipped off from the conglomerate wall. With one final wave from Aria, a small section of the barrier broke apart. The shattering of glass reverberated inside their dome-like prison like a symphony signaling their freedom.
Aria was brought back to reality thanks to the raucous shattering. around her. She opened her eyes and witnessed what she did. Although the whole barrier was not dismantled, a sizable opening was made.
The cheers of many Exceed caused her to nearly jump in surprise.
"Miss Mage!" "You did it!" "You are amazing!" "What a beauty!" "Thank you!"
The pinkette turned around giving her fellow captives a sweet smile while showing them a small thumbs up, "I guess I did that."
"You sure did," Chagotte smiled before switching to a more serious demeanor. She turned her head towards her subjects, "Everyone, please evacuate the premises as soon as possible. We do not have time to gather our things. If you value your lives, please leave immediately and head towards the emergency shelter!"
"Aye! Your Royal Highness!"
Honoring their queen's words, a parade of Exceed began to vacate the premises and headed into the dense woods. Aria, Chagotte, Nadi, and the Exceed soldiers in helped guide any stragglers or elderly Exceed towards the exit. Aria made sure she was the last to leave before joining the other Exceed.
"Everyone...please be okay."
~A few miles away from the Exceed Village~
"You know...I wouldn't exactly call this an emergency shelter." Carla sighed as she analyzed the bush-filled clearing, "And that single stump in the middle is kind of weird."
Aria facepalmed, "Oh that's your takeaway?"
"While it may be lacking, it still served it's purpose no?" Chagotte countered.
"That being said..." Carla went on as she solemnly looked up at Aria, "Your magic is weird, but it was a real lifesaver. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"Don't mention it," Aria waved both her hands side to side.
Nadi's eyes became stars as he mimicked Aria, "Ooh double timing, are we - meow?"
For some reason, Aria could not bring herself to stop her hands, "Wait, this is actually kind of addicting!"
"Kaah!" a sudden exclamatory cry behind them caused them to turn to the source of the noise. A white-furred Exceed with thick black mono-brow, a black facial hair dressed in a straw hat and farmer's attire stood next to Happy's unconscious body. Next to him stood a blue furred Exceed with a green scarf over her head, a white dress, and yellow apron. She quietly wept as she blotted her eyes with a yellow handkerchief.
Seeing how both of them hover over Happy enabled Aria to connect the dots, "Oh crap..."
Boisterous and anti-social as he projected himself to be, Lucky loved his son dearly. He yelled, "My young'un, i haven't seen you in years and you turn up like this?"
Marl, still, patting her face with her handkerchief tried to get her husband to maintain his composure, "Dear, please, you're making a scene."
At his wife's words, the straw hatted Exceed shut his mouth. But his lips still quivered, and his eyes glistened as tears formed in the ducts.
The sudden dazed voice emanated beneath them, "Aye~"
The two Exceeds jolted in surprise as they eyed their son's body. Happy, still asleep, was stretching and rolling as if he was lost in a sweet dream. The blue cat began to drool as he contemplated something in his slumber, "Fish..."
"Kahhh!" Lucky bonked the blue furred Exceed over the head, waking Happy up.
"Gah!"
"How dare you make us worry about us like this!" Lucky's veins popped on his forehead as he scolded his son.
"What do you mean?" Happy not knowing what happened held his paws up in surrender.
Marl smiled as she stifled her laughter.
Carla, Aria, and the others, looked on at the scene with fondness. The pinkette turned to the white furred Exceed, "Now I have questions."
"Ask away."
"First, where are the others?"
"Everyone else is far off towards the hillside. A few developments happened and now some of Magistia's employees joined our cause. Unfortunately, as you witnessed the barrier get zapped by the laser, the giant machine in my mother's vision has been completed."
"That would have been horrifying to watch from inside the barrier. At least we were able to get everyone out in the nick of time." Aria sighed in relief.
"No kidding, meow," Nadi agreed with the pinkette.
"Second question," Aria flashed a peace sign at Carla although she was really keep tabs of the quantity, "Where did you and Happy come from?"
Carla grimaced, "We were with Shinji and one of Magius's former employees earlier at the village. Per intel, Magius sent a team to excavate the newly formed lacrima vein."
At Shinji's name, Aria's eyes became stars, "Shin-kun is with you guys?"
"Separated but not far off if we go back the way we came. Right now, he's fighting off Magistia's remaining forces. One of them was actually quite dangerous."
"How so?" Aria asked.
"She wields Black Magic that summons giant black snakes. From what happened to Happy, it's also possible to say that she her magic enables her to create poisons as well."
"Something is off about that. Why would a powerful enough mage join a lacrima company?"
"So she could make lots of cash from turning her magic power into kitchen appliances, meow?" Nadi asked.
Aria and Carla faceplanted to the floor.
"Ugh, hard pass, that stuff would be too lethal," Aria joked. The pinkette turned to Shagotte and the Four Elders, bowing her head in reverence. Particularly, her eyes sparkled at Chagotte, "Thank you kindly for your hospitality."
The queen returned an amicable smile, "It was an honor to help one of my daughter's friends."
Happy, now fully conscious and sporting a swollen bump over his hand, walked to Aria and Carla in confusion, "Are we leaving already?"
"Mhmmm," Aria confirmed.
Just then, one of the nearby bushes rustled again. Carla and Happy jolted back in surprise. A light blue-haired girl in tattered magician's clothes whose limbs were tied and mouth was gagged hopped out from the bushes on her stomach. One of her twin tails was much shorter than the other as if it were chopped off.
"MMHHHHEEECCC MMEEE MOOO!" Wanda glared daggers at Aria as she threw a tantrum while hopping on her stomach.
"I don't understand what you're trying to say." Aria looked away from the humiliated Magistia spy with her hands behind her head, whistling a small tune as if feigning ignorance.
The veins on Wanda's forehead were bulging furiously at this point.
Carla and Happy's jaws sank to the floor, "What did you guys do to her?"
"Woah," Aria raised her hands and pointed at the Four Elders, "it was their idea!"
Carla looked at the captive Magistian operative, "As much as I don't like this, I think we can use her..."
~Exceed Village~
Catching his breath, Ambrose steadied his gaze at the scene before him.
Hovering feet above the ground in his Fuujin Armament, Shinji readied a a wind-imbued arrow at the lavender-locked woman below him. Delphinium bared her true colors as two black magic circles formed around her hands.
"Twin Vipers!"
Two black sprung forth from the magic circles, meandering to opposite sides before lunging at the sword's mage. Using the winds below his, feet, Shinji maneuvered his aim at the left serpent. He fired his quiver at its face. The vorpal wind arrow corkscrewed through the magic creature's skull. The right snake bared it's sharp, white fangs as it closed in on Shinji.
Inches before it could bite down, a quick bolt of green slashed decapitated through it. The sixteen curved, green blades that circled behind Shinji were not just for show. Shinji was silent. But as if on unspoken command, the sixteen blades joined together in two groups of eight forming structures akin to feathered wings that dances around Shinji.
Delphinium smiled, "I'm far from done."
She raised her right up towards Shinji. Eight of black magic circles appeared around him, "Hydra Embrace!"
Eight large purple horned, black scaled draconic heads with red eyes lunged from those circles from each direction.
"!" Shinji steeled himself, "Storm Hanetachi!"
On order, the emerald wing blades that floated behind the sword mage rotated at an alarming velocity, becoming large, stormy sawblades. Shinji glided and evaded the eight draconic heads while moving his hands accordingly to shift the positions of his turbulent arsenal. Delphinium's horned serpents twisted and meandered around Shinji's sawblades, continuously closing in on their prey.
With the Fuujin Armament granting him control over Wind Magic, Shinji's evasive measures via air currents was not a challenge at first. But with every close attempt, the hydra only grew more eager to take a bite out of him. For a split second, he eyed Delphinium on the ground level. Her circling hand gestures made it clear she was controlling these beasts. Another horned serpent opened its jaws wide to ensnare Shinji.
Turning his attention, Shinji quickly pulled the lucent jade string of his green bow-blade, materializing another wind arrow. He let the bow fly. True to its aim, the bow zipped through the serpent's upper jaw and out the back of its head, subsequently it disintegrated. But those few seconds allowed the others to surround him. Shinji's held his breath to max capacity, "Drat."
"Hmph." Delphinium red lips curled with cruel satisfaction from ground floor, "Crush him!"
With a swipe of her hands, the seven remaining hydra heads rammed into Shinji at full force knocking the lights out of him. Shinji's spell came too late, as his wind-laced sawblades ensued their strike after, shredding the hydra heads into black dust. Despite wearing armor that could offset the impact, Shinji had not fully recovered from his battle with Phalene. Furthermore, the blunt trauma of the seven large, hard reptilian skulls was too much. Shinji's consciousness slowly faced as he fell from the sky. As he plummeted, his wing blades dissipated back into his Reequip space.
Ambrose, despite his weakened state, waved his ringed finger, summoning a floating bed of flowers to catch Shinji's fall in the nick of time. An assortment of differently colored petals dispersed from the cushion upon landing. Feebly, Ambrose beckoned the flowerbed holding the Sword Mage to come to his side. Alas, the orange-haired male was not fast enough. Delphinium conjured a large, black snake that snatched the armored mage from the flowerbed with its elongated, ivory teeth.
"Gahh!" Shinji winced in pain as the obsidian serpent clamped down on him with its powerful jaws, one of its venomous fangs poking into his left bicep.
"My, my...that was quite fun, " the serpent-controlling mage mocked Shinji as her pet tightened its grip over him, "Too bad you didn't last."
Attempting to get back on his feet, Ambrose huffed as he tightened his ringed fist. He, too, was badly beaten prior to this encounter. And with only eye, his odds of freeing Shinji from Delphinium's clutches were near impossible.
"What-No. Who are you, Miss Delphinium? No one in the company was even remotely aware you could use magic, even Mr. Magius himself." the orange-haired man politely asked, knowing she had a life lingering over his head. Nonetheless, he still wanted answers.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Delphinium clicked her tongue as she wagged a finger at her former co-worker, "Ambi...it's none of your concern. I am no one of importance. Like you, I'm just a pawn in someone else's game. Maybe the truth is, we all are."
"One of many accurate analogies depicting life, but Magius and the Magistia Lacrima Company won't be faring well even after all this blasphemous nonsense blows over."
Delphinium curled her lips again and stopped wagging her finger, "Magius is no more, dear Ambi...I saw it myself."
Ambrose's eyes widened, "What on earth do you mean?"
"Surprised? I killed him myself."
Ambrose was further taken aback by this revelation. But as he loathed the man, he could not find the right words to express himself.
The femme fatale smirked as she lowered her finger, "On a technicality. See, all I did was shove him into the sentience lacrima where his physical form was absorbed. I can't say the same for his consciousness because the sentience lacrima can operate based on programs and codes...Similarly, the minds of humans and other living creatures can be considered codes too."
"Tch. You're just as demented as he is," Ambrose scoffed at her.
"Ironic, isn't it," Delphinium chided, "Sometimes when you put two demented people in the same goldfish bowl, one of them will inevitably out-dement the other."
Shinji, almost blacked out, was still able to listen to bits and pieces of the conversation. As his vision grew cloudy from the increased toxins in his system, he could espy something pink in the distance.
Suddenly, he vanished into thin air. Replacing him in the gap of the serpent's mouth was a tied and gagged blue-haired Magistian spy - Wanda.
"MMMMMMMHHHHHAAAHHHH!" Wanda's wailed in muffled agony as Delphinium's black snake clamped on her unprotected frame.
"Huh?" Delphinium was so caught off guard by sudden swap that she could not anticipate the crystalline dagger that suddenly lodged into her right abdomen after being thrown from afar. She grit her teeth so as not to show her pain, "Who's there?"
Aria, Carla, and Happy stepped out from the shroud of the woods. Cradled in Aria's hands was Shinji's unconscious figure. The pinkette's hands were armed with another solid, ether floret. Her ruby orbs penetrated the lavender-haired snake charmer like the small blade she managed to stick into her, "If your party means my friends getting eaten, then of course I'd have to crash it."
"Cheeky. I don't like you." Delphinium's smile faded.
"Mmmamme mmmherrrree..." Wanda's voice muffled through her gag.
Aria looked to her Exceed allies as she lowered Shinji's body, handing him to them, "Carla, Happy, please look after him."
"Aye sir!"
"Understood."
Regaining her stance, Aria pointed her crystal knife at Delphinium's direction, with deadly, red eyes, "It's over Delphinium. I suggest you slither back to the hole you came from before I detonate that knife in your stomach."
Carla, Happy, and Ambrose looked at Aria almost like she lost her mind.
Aria's threat only perturbed their strange adversary more, "Oh? Can you really do that? Try me."
The pinkette snapped a finger. In response, the crystal knife lodged in Delphinium's abdomen transformed from an amethyst shade to a bright red shade as it began to heat up. Delphinium first bit down heavily on her teeth. In seconds, she was sweating and could not hold verbally hold back her pain, "..Ngghh!"
Aria snapped her finger again. She was not happy with what this woman did to Shinji, but torturing someone like this was too low for her. On command, the ether knife cooled down. Delphinium's pain subsided as she herself took a few deep breaths to calm herself.
"Okay Pinky. You have proven your point. I guess you do have me cornered," Delphinium spoke as if she did not go through the pain she just endured. She raised her hands in sarcastic surrender, with one hand holding a black paper talisman.
The talisman slashed, causing a magic circle beneath Delphinium, Wanda, and her pet snake to form. From this magic circle a black snake head came into being and opened it's mouther. A thick, dark fog cascaded out from its mouth, wrapping around the three.
"Not so fast!" Aria threw her second crystalline knife at the enemies' direction. But the knife got swallowed in the shroud.
As the torrent of black smoke enveloped Delphinium and Wanda, the three caught a glimpse of Delphinium's amused smiled, "So long...Fairy Tail."
Gathering, the smog formed a dark sphere around Delphinium and her two other passengers before disassembling. With a flash of white light, the sphere vanished. So too did Delphinium with Wanda in tow.
"It seems we lost them," Aria spoke up, still confused from what transpired held Shinji's body close to her, "And what were those shikigami just now?"
"I feel like I don't know anything about her anymore, "Ambrose was equally confused.
"Carla and I only know of one other person who uses that type of magic," Happy said ominously.
"But one thing is certain, this won't be the last we'll see of her," Carla added
The bushes rustled behind them once more, startling everyone.
"Oh no, what is it this time!" Happy wailed while the others sweatdropped.
Lucky's head popped out from the foliage, "Kahhh! It's just me, you idiot son! Just checking if the coast is clear."
"Aye, the coast is clear, " Happy reassured his father, "My friends sent them flying."
"Well I'll be darned, " Lucky gave his son a toothy grin, before turning his head over his shoulders, "Ya hear that everyone? We're no longer under attack!"
Countless cute, cat heads as they poked their heads from the bushes and treetops. A whole hoard of them rushed towards Aria.
"Wait what?" the pinkette gawked at the feline mob that charged at her. The Exceeds lifted her up and down and chanted accolades for their savior, "Yay! Yay! Miss Mage!"
"I should go off somewhere and let these folks enjoy their peace." Ambrose, feeling out of place, staggered as he tried to raise himself up again. Nearly falling back, a pale hand grabbed his outstretched one.
"Need a hand?" the hand that stopped hi from falling over on his butt belonged to none other than Papillon. The purple-haired, purple eyed man pulled his longtime friend into a hug, "Did you miss us?"
Ambrose, a little flustered, hugged his dear friend back, "More than you know."
The orange haired man then pulled away from his much needed embrace, "Wait? What happened to the Deus Ex Machina?"
Papillon smiled, "That pile of scrap metal has been busted. I even dropped the sentience lacrima into Flame Ass's and Pipsqueak's flamey wind thing."
Ambrose chuckled, "Since when did you start giving people ugly nicknames?"
"Since today, I guess. Haha, " Papillon laughed along.
"And what of the others?" Ambrose asked.
Papillon raised his head to the rose-hued sky. Amrbose traced his view to same winged figure of a Pantherlily holding up Romeo and Wendy.
"Wendy! Conbolt-boy! Get down here!", Carla yelled from below.
Propped on Lily's shoulder's, Romeo and Wendy's hearts were warmed as they slowly descended to the site below. The Sky Dragon Slayer's were brimmed with tears of joy. She beamed an angelic smile at everyone as she got off of Lily, "Everyone! you're okay!"
"O-of course, we are!" Aria interjected as she was tossed up and down by the cheering Exceeds who were hailing her as their hero.
"Why are they calling you Miss Mage?" Romeo stifled a giggled as he pointed at the Exceed mob beneath her.
"That's- for another time."
Quickly, Aria teleported off her newfound fanbase, reappearing in front of the Sky Sorceress. Aria took Wendy's hand, "Wendy, Shin-kun needs your help."
She turned to Shinji who lay supine on the ground. He was still breathing, but it was heavier than usual. His left bicep endorsed a puncture with associated black discoloration.
Romeo switching his gaze to an unconscious Shinji felt paused his breath, "Oh no."
"Don't worry," Wendy put her hand on Aria's, "I can fix this."
Wendy kneeled next to Shinji, casting a healing light over his left upper arm. The following minutes felt prolonged, but the inky blotch on the skin surrounding the tooth puncture subsided. Wendy stopped her healing magic. Shortly, Shinji's breathing normalized to everyone's relief.
"He'll be fine after some rest," bluentte stood up as she wiped her forehead, before getting tackled to the dirt into a platonic squeeze by Aria.
"Wendy you're the BEST!" Aria squealed with sparkles in her eyes, "Thank you. Thank you. Thank youuuu!"
"That's what friends are for Aria-san," Wendy hugged her teammate back.
Picking both the girls up from the ground, Aria's Exceed mob lifted them up and down again, once more chanting, "Hurray! Hurray! Miss Mage!"
Romeo smiled at the scene before him. For some reason, Magius's plot did not come into fruition. Aria and the Exceeds were not lacrimized. The Deus was destroyed. And the Exceeds of Exceed Village could live without another foreboding prophecy about their demise looming over their heads. Most of all, he learned he was stronger than he gave himself credit for.
His line of sight absorbed all the joy around him. Ambrose and Papillon, no longer shackled by their past, genuinely laughed together for the first time. Happy was getting scolded by Lucky for doodling a unibrow on Shinji's peacefully conked-out face as Marl covered her laughter with one of her blue paws. Pantherlily, now shrunken to his pint sized from, kneeled respectfully before Chagotte while Carla clung to her possessively. Wendy and Aria hugged while the Exceed mob raising them up incessantly chanted and cheered for their service.
"Man, it's almost like being back at the guild over here."
~Fairy Tail Guild Hall, Magnolia~
Laughter, cheers, and joy are never scarce in the halls of Fairy Tail. Everyone was doing as they usually were. Nab was still looking at the job request board without intentionally picking a request. Mirajane, Lisanna, and Kinana were serving cedar mugs filled with foaming beer to various guild members on the bar top- Cana was chugging down an extra-large barrel. Macao and Wakaba were admiring the younger girls in the guild house. Elfman was whacked on the back of his head by Evergreen in front of her teammates, Freed and Bickslow. Per usual, Natsu and Gray were engaged in another fist fight which required Erza's assistance to break up.
Weeks flew by since the incident in the Exceed Village was resolved. In the present day, Romeo, Wendy, Carla, Shinji, and Aria were seated on a small round table discussing the happenings of the previous week.
"Oh, look here guys! Rare Flying Cats Placed Under Lawful Protection of Magic Council, "Aria pointed to a particular article published on the newest edition of Sorcerer Weekly to her teammates who were sitting on the same round table as her, "Isn't that great, Carla?"
Carla smiled, "I am glad those fogies in the Magic Council are finally stepping up to the plate thanks to pressure from Master Makarov and Warrod-san. My mother and her people deserve to live without the fear of being exploited."
"Master Makarov joining the Council certainly came with its perks for our guild, huh? "Romeo jested, remembering his guild's previous master fondly.
"Look here!" Wendy pointed at the page next to the one Aria pointed at, "Turns out this was a double spreader, this one is titled: Magistia Lacrima Co. Blueprints Leaked: A Scandal of Erudition Without Ethics... This title is so long, it makes my head hurt."
"I read that one earlier," Shinji laid back on his chair with his arms folded over his chest, "It really puts a sickening spin on lacrima-based technology."
"I'll say..." Romeo added, "But more importantly-"
Suddenly a loud applause roared from behind them. Romeo and his tablemates turned his attention to the bar.
"Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to indulge you in some tricks I learned!" Standing on the counter was none other than Papillon dressed in black slacks, long-sleeved white shirt with brass butterfly cuff links and a black top hate with a golden ribbon, bowed to the crowd. He started by pulling cards out from mid air and then from unexpected places- such as behind some of the guildmember's pockets, ears, and even mouths. As the places he acquired these cards got more ridiculous, the audience's gasps grew more exasperated. With all eyes locked on him, Papillon proceeded to spring flourish all the cards he collected between his hands. The audience's eyes followed the cards as they bound back and forth between the entertainer's hands. Suddenly, there were no more cards between his hands. Suddenly, Papillon tucked his left hand when a flourish from his right came in bound towards the audience. But instead of spraying his front seat audience with cards, they were caressed by fragrant, yellow freesia petals.
"Now that's not something I can do with my cards, heh," Cana drunkenly nudged Mirajane and Lisanna, who giggled behidn the counter.
"You could say it's a different kind of magic, "Lisanna responded.
"Wooooahh" One of the front-seat audience members was Asuka, Alzack's and Bisca's daughter, who sat alongside her. Her eyes sparkled in pure amazement at Papillon's performance.
"And now for my last trick!" Papillon held out a few flowerless stems from his left hand and circled his right hand over them as if to reel the freesia petals inwards. Following his motions, all the petals waltzed one by one back onto the stems he held, until he produced a small bouquet of flowers. Walking to Asuka, Papillon kneeled down and presented her with the flowers.
"My fair lady, will you kindly accept these flowers?" Papillon slicked back his dark purple bangs and gave her a charming smile.
"Yes please, kind sir!" Asuka's eyes beamed as she blushed intensely, her hands enveloping the unexpected gift. Asuka looked at her mother and father, elated by the present, "Mommy, Daddy, look! The Mister gave me flowers!"
"That's wonderful sweetie,"Bisca smiled at her daughter, "What should we tell him in return?"
"Oh!" Asuka remembered a most important lesson, "Thank you Mister!"
"Thank you, kindly, Papillon," Bisca smiled at the purple-haired gentleman
"You're very welcome, little lady!" Papillon tipped his hat off to Asuka and bowed to her parents. The former Magistia Company employee turned to crowd and bowed again, "With that, I bid thee adieu!"
Once more, the guild hall roared in excitement. A number of female guild members in the audience formed a small huddle.
"Where can I find a guy who will give me flowers?"
"He's so dreamy~"
"I'm going to sit somewhere in the front next time!"
"Let's hope he stays here forever!"
Papillon noticing them as he stepped down from the table, winked at them and pulled multiple roses from his hat. They swooned as they were showered with rose petals.
"Well he's become quite the heart-snatcher," a green-eyed, orange-haired man now sporting an black eyepatch with a red rose design over his damaged eye stood next to Romeo's team. He wore a gray blazer over a simple white shirt, with business slacks matching the blazer, and brown leather shoes.
"Ambrose-san, it's good to see you again," Wendy welcomed their acquaintance.
Since the incident with Exceed Village brought the Magistia Lacrima Company's unscrupulous nature into the limelight, a sector of the Magic Council has been conducting wide-scale investigations of former employees, business partners, and other associates. Snuffing out all possible connections to ensure a repeat or something worse will not occur in the future. Per the recently published Sorcerer Weekly article, only snippets of the blueprints permitted by the Council have been discussed. For the sake of maintaining peace, information about Magius's lacrimal implants would be kept clandestine. But keeping it a secret from the public did not mean they would ignore it. Ambrose and Papillon's accounts would be crucial, as they were former employees of Magistia and victims of their founder's ruthless curiosities.
In the meantime, the two were temporarily residing at the Magnolia under protective custody of Fairy Tail per Makarov's orders. Laxus, who didn't like to beat around the bush, was transparent about this issue with the guild. At first, the two felt awkward being in an unfamiliar setting. But it was only a matter of time before the lively atmosphere infiltrated the walls they put around them. Papillon loved performing magic tricks on top of tables in the guild's hallways, showering people with flowers or turning his cards into butterflies.
Papillon smiled, waving goodbye to the ladies. When he turned around, Gray and Natsu were sent flying at him.
"Ah!" Papillon was knocked out cold.
Not caring who they knocked over, the Fire Dragon Slayer and Ice-Make Mage continued to bicker, locking hands as they tried to overpower the other.
"You wanna piece of me, stripper? I can take you any day."
"That's a load of crap coming from you, Flame-Brain!"
"Having a fight are we?" a dark aura with glinting red eyes loomed next to them.
Realizing who it was, Natsu and Gray sweat dropped and gulped.
Phalene, with a bruise on his face, smiled at Natsu and Gray with his pointy teeth as he cracked his knuckled as raised a fist at the two, "Don't mind me then!"
Ah, Phalene fit in well too with rowdy bunches in Fairy Tail. He loved getting involved with the fist fights between the mages. Phalene, Gray, and Natsu became a dust cloud of mayhem. Romeo and his table laughed as they watched from afar.
"He really fits in here, " Romeo wiped a tear of joy from his eye.
"No kidding," Ambrose laughed along.
The orange-haired man was still reserved and polite to everyone in the guild. He didn't smile much when he came to the guild at first, but after a few weeks passed, he began to open up more. Interestingly, he had a high tolerance for alcohol.
"Oi~ Ambi!" a drunken Cana yelled as she leaned on the bar counter with a keg of beer cradled in her arms, "Come over here! I challenge you to another drinking contest!"
"A drinking contest? How manly! I want in!" Elfman listening in on the jabber, could not help but admire the prospect.
He wapped over his head Evergreen's pink fan, "You brute. Drinking in excess is not manly at all."
"Challenge accepted." Ambrose's eye lit up, Before heading to the bar, he turned to
When the orange-haired man left, Romeo and the others were overcast by shadow.
"Master Laxus!'"
Standing behind them, was their current guildmaster, Laxus. Grinning, he put one of his large hands on Romeo head, ruffling his hair.
"Good job, Romeo. I told you that you could do it, didn't I?" the Lightning Dragon Slayer jested as he praised one of his youngest guild members.
Romeo turned red with embarrassment, "Y-Yes...but-"
"Ah- no buts," the blond man interrupted "Although most of what happened is being omitted from the public for now, I thought that you deserved some recognition for your noble deeds."
He dropped down a hefty bag filled with Jewel in the middle of the table so loudly, that the other four mages jolted back. Wendy looked at the bag and turned to their guildmaster, "This isn't the same amount of Jewel as the reward Magistia posted, is it?"
Laxus chuckled, "Haha. No, not even half. But I think it should suffice."
Everyone collectively faceplanted flat onto the wooden table's surface
Aria pouted as she raised her head, "I demand a raise!"
"I second that motion!" Carla raised as she turned to the others, "All those in favor?"
"Aye!" Wendy, Romeo, and Shinji unanimously raised a hand in agreement.
"Since when did you all become secondhand versions of Happy?" Laxus smirked, "Now, jokes aside...today our guests will have to depart soon."
"Today's the day?" Romeo got up from his seat.
"Yes," Laxus confirmed, "I received word that Gramps himself and a handful of the Ruin Guards will be showing up around sunset. I informed those two earlier today so they wouldn't be alarmed. Do me a favor and stick around them for today. It'll ease their nerves if you guys are the ones to send them off."
"Master Makarov is coming?" Romeo nodded his head.
Laxus nodded back, "Yep. And I am positive he will be happy to see you all."
...
Sunset painted the sky a cozy orange. As the day was nearing its end, so too did the guild's shenanigans calm down. Many of Fairy Tail's mages left the guild's hall for work or to go homes. Romeo, Wendy, Carla, Shinji, and Aria waited outside the guild alongside Ambrose, Papillon, and Laxus in preparation for the anointed hour the Council's men would arrive.
On the cobblestone road ahead, a small unit of Rune Knights led an extremely short, elderly man with a white mustache, marching towards the guilds entrance. The small man was clad in white furred cloak with gold colored shoulder guards. Auric tussels swayed from the shoulder guards with each step. Beneath his coat, the man wore a white dress shirt with dark around the edged. Hi slower half consisted of baggy navy pants and brown leather shoes. Attached to the left side of his coat via a turquoise ribbon was a blue circular medal with the insignia of a silver cross- the emblem of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Aria and Shinji who have only heard tales about the esteemed third [fifth and eighth] Guild Master of Fairy Tail could not bring themselves to breathe.
Makarov stopped in front of the teenage mages. The Rune Knights behind him halted accordingly. He stared at them with a stern expression.
"So this is former Master Makarov," Aria kept her thoughts to herself, "He's so tiny, but he has so much Magic Power inside."
"What a presence. This is my first time meeting one of the Ten Wizard Saints in the flesh," Shinji bit his bottom lip, "Best I make a good first impression."
Contrasting his initial stern disposition, Makarov's cheeks suddenly became rosy and his eyes glittered with paternal fondness, "My children! You two have grown so much since I've last seen you!"
The tiny man enlarged and outstretched his arms before pulling Romeo and Wendy towards him in a hug.
Romeo and Wendy smiled as their cheeks were squished against his wrinkly face, "Master Makarov!"
"Huh?!" Baffled by Makarov's drastic flux from Council authority to grandpa figure, Aria and Shinji stared blankly at his public display of affection towards their teammates.
Laxus snickered as he put a hand on each of their shoulders, "Now that you know what he's really like most of the time, you two could also stand to relax a little too."
The raven-haired swordsman and pinkette turned back to the Lightning Dragon Slayer, both sweatdropping.
"That might take some time," Shinji said nervously.
"Did he just use Giant Magic in front of us?" Aria inquired.
"Oh, fair warning," Laxus teased, "Don't get on his bad side or else he'll flatten you into a pancake."
"Eek!' Aria cringed at the dreadful thought.
"Laxus!" Makarov hollered at his grandson, "I can hear you! Stop scaring the young ones!"
"Alright, alright," Laxus shrugged, then tilted his head towards Ambrose and Papillon who felt out of place, "Anyways, didn't you come here for a different reason?"
"Ahem," Makarov released Romeo and Wendy, before clearing his throat as he produced a parchment ridden with ink writing as he looked at the two former-Magistian employees, "Without further ado. I, Councilman Makarov, hereby declare these witnesses under Magic Council custody. Upon arrival at Era, you will be interrogated with regards to your involvement with Magistia Lacrima Company's operations, relations with Mr. Magius, and crimes committed. The Council advises you tell the truth under risk of perjury or increased sentence. Do you have any objections?"
"Geez, that killed the mood, " Romeo and his entire team felt the wind blow out their sails at Makarov's decree. Even Laxus was lost for words.
Ambrose and Papillon stepped forward unafraid and unwavering. Although they were victims in a sense, they also committed crimes under Magius's blackmail. You can run away from all the people you hurt. But you can never outrun the truth. Knowing this, everyone was still filled with apprehension. Most likely, the Council would arrest them even after taking the uglier aspects of the situation into account.
"One objection, if I may, sir?" Papillon feebly raised his hand.
"What is it you would like?" Makarov formally replied.
"Please, sir councilman. If you would allow it, Ambrose and I would like the chance to say goodbye to everyone who helped us along the way," Papillon pleaded with utmost etiquette, lowering his head slightly.
"Allowed, but don't take too long," Makarov nodded.
Ambrose and Papillon turned to Romeo, Wendy, Shinji, Aria, and Carla who smiled back at them.
"Everyone, I guess this is farewell. Thank you for everything you've done for us. Especially for setting us free," Papillon smiled before looking at Laxus, "Oh, and thank you Master Laxus for letting us crash at Fairy Tail for a while, it was fun meeting everyone."
"No problem," Laxus crossed his hands over his chest in approval.
"Thank you all. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. And to you especially, Ms. Marvel, for all those times you healed us, even if we were enemies only briefly" Ambrose bowed his head to Wendy.
Wendy slightly blushed, shook her hands, "It was no burden at all. Healing is my specialty."
"One of many, "Romeo smirked at her.
"And what is that supposed to mean, Romeo-san? " Wendy lowered her eyes at the Fire Mage.
They all laughed together.
Soon, Ambrose and Papillon walked off into Magnolia's streets with Makarov and his Rune Knights stationed at their peripheries. Sending them off under a nostalgic sunset, Romeo and his teammates waved goodbye to them from the guild's doors.
"I truly hope they can start finding some well-deserved peace in their lives," Wendy internally wished as she saw the exiting figures turn to ants in the distance.
"I'm not really good with sugar sweet moments like this, "breaking the silence, Laxus spoke up eliciting everyone's attention, "But how about we celebrate back in the guild? How does takeout from 7 Island?"
"Yajima-san's cooking?" Romeo's eyes sparked, "For real?"
"Who is Yajima-san?" Shinji and Aria tilted their heads in absolute confusion.
"I'll take that as a yes," Laxus clicked his tongue, before looking at Romeo, Wendy, and Carla, "But you guys really need to give these two a serious history lecture."
"Yes, Master." Romeo, Wendy, and Carla solemnly bowed their heads out of respect.
The blond facepalmed before opening the doors to the guild, "For the millionth time, just 'Laxus' will do."
Shinji and Aria snickered before they burst into full-on laughter. Romeo, Wendy, and Carla joined in shortly thereafter.
Seeing this Laxus couldn't help but chuckle a little too, "These kids, what on earth am I going to do with them?"
~ Unknown Wasteland~
Somewhere faraway in a part of Fiore where the land was gray and barren, a path was riddled with the skeletons of creatures that died from hunger or thirst from attempting to trek this desolate territory. Nighttime only made this location more daunting for those who dare to enter. The littered path led to a gray rock castle.
Moonlight flowed like into one of the many rooms in the castle, illuminating a room with an unlit chandelier, purple rugs, and mahogany furniture, including a grandfather clock. In the center of the room was a suit of red, medieval armor that stood upright. The red helmet sported a golden arc design with three prongs lining the salade. Beneath the helmet visor was a red armored component that supposedly protected one's face. Conveniently, there were gaps in the face guard for the eyes, mouth, and nose.
A creaking sound filled the quiet room, followed by the footsteps of two individuals entering the room. The center figure was a tall woman with lavender locks that flowed down past her shoulders. She wore a pearly Victorian blouse with brass buttons on the middle chest, a long black skirt, leather magenta gloves and heeled boots to match. Her blouse has a small tear to the left abdomen. Through the tear, the moon shone on white gauze wrappings. Without a visor, her eyes were akin to the daylight's sky- a beautiful shade of light blue.
Next to her, stood a shorter light-blue-haired girl clad in torn-up magician's assistant attire. Her hair was up in twin tails. One of the tails was still noticeably shorter than the other.
"Miss Delphinium? Is this what you were looking for?" the bluenette questioned her former superior with uncertainty.
"Yes, dear Wanda," Delphinium replied. Her heels clacked the hard rock floor as she walked to the center of the room, stopping in front of the red suit of armor. Before she set out to complete her true objective, she looked back to the younger girl who waited by the doorway. Her voice oozed with venom just like her serpentine summons, "From here on, it's best that you don't question what I do. Is. That. Clear?"
"Understood, ma'am", Wanda gulped as a severe chill went down her spine. By now, she knew full well the evils that Delphinium was capable of, especially since she was the one who chronically deceived their former boss without being discovered until the very last minute.
Delphinium shifted her attention to the red armored suit before her. She opened her right gloved hand and plucked two round, black lacrima gems that glistened like shadowy diamonds under the moon's glare.
One at a time, she slipped the dark jewels into the eye slits of the face guard.
...
In the following seconds, the lacrimal eyes in the armor's eye sockets glinted with a sinister green light.
Delphinium curled her lips in sickly contentment. At long last, her objective was complete.
"Master? Can you hear me?"
Next Chapter: Restful Day Off
...
Confession: Guys, I wrote this in just two days! But I completely understand if this closing chapter was underwhelming. It was hard to stop writing because I felt like I HAD to wrap this up. I am enjoying the process of planning the next arc(s). Time may tell how it all goes down. Just a heads-up, the next chapter is a slice of life chapter. Thank you, dear readers, for your cheers and words of encouragement.
As always, please feel free to give me your constructive criticism, feedback, suggestions, etc. but please don't be too harsh with me. If you're rude, Delphinium will let loose one of her snakes.
Delphinium: *summons a cute garter snake with extra beady eyes*
Garter Snake: *bleps with tongue in cuteness*
Delphinium: Be careful, the smallest ones have the biggest bite.