Huntresses of Fairy Tail
"Jerk, dumbass, stupid, stupid, stupid!" Yang insulted, as she hit Raion with a seat pillow multiple times.
"Yang knock it off, last I checked I was the one still recovering from being blown up along with the tower." Raion said, grabbing Yangs wrist as he sat back in his seat in the train car.
"That's exactly my problem you jerk." Yang stated, hitting him with the pillow one more time with a backhand swing. "Ruby and I cried for two days after the tower went off, we thought we'd lost you again. The only bright side of the whole situation, was Blake had finally woken up. We had no idea how to tell her you'd died."
"I'm sorry okay?" Raion said. "But if you think about it, I had the highest chance of survival, since I'm an Etherion Godslayer."
"With limits." Seras stated. "An' those limits were cut in half when you and Mesu split and became two people."
"I get it alright, I shouldn't have done that." Raion said. "But it was either that, or let half the continent get caught in the explosion. So I had to do something."
"We understand that man." Grey said. "But just so we're clear, Master's not gonna be happy with you about the stunt you pulled, Mira either. We already sent letters to them, explaining everything that had happened, including your death."
"Now it's gonna be really awkward to explain to them how you're still here." Lucy said.
"Leave that part to me." Raion sighed. "I'm sorry for putting you all in that situation."
"No need for apologies." Erza said. "It was what the evidence had shown us. Nothing to do now but accept the humiliation."
"Next Stop Magnolia Station." The conductor said.
"Looks like we made it back." Ruby said as the train came to a slow but firm stop.
"Hooray." Natsu groaned, as Erza picked him up and carried him off the train.
The instant his feet were on the cobblestone of the station, Natsu was back to his old self.
"Alright, I'm feeling better again." Natsu cheered.
"Aye sir." Happy cheered with him.
"Hey Ruby, Yang, I've been wondering something." Grey said, looking to the sisters, as they made their way through town.
"What's up ice stripper?" Yang asked.
"Don't call me that." Grey tsked. "Anyway, I'm curious. You're Dragonslayers just like Natsu, correct?"
"Is this about the fact that he has motion sickness and we don't?" Ruby asked. "Because Weiss asked about the same thing during our flight from Vale to Fiore right before landing."
"You could say that." Grey said.
"I'm curious myself." Erza said. "Natsu's usually extremely sick when he's on a vehicle. So that begs the question as to how you two aren't."
"It's not that complicated. We're 5th Gen Dragonslayers." Ruby stated.
"5th Gen?" Natsu asked.
"Does it have something to do with how you obtained your magic?" Lucy asked.
"You could say that." Raion said. "It was a bit of a nightmare to be honest."
"It actually has something to do with an incident when Ruby and I were kids." Yang said. "Raion was actually around for it, and that was the first time I'd ever seen him trying to act so macho and manly, in order to protect us."
"So you were there?" Grey inquired, looking to Raion.
"I was." Raion said. "In fact, the whole situation was my fault."
"No it wasn't Raion." Yang said. "It was my idea to do what we did. No one forced you to come along."
"But I came along, instead of going to an adult to stop you." Raion said. "I was the responsible one after all. Or I was supposed to be."
"So this happened sometime after Afton had killed me." Seras said.
"Ruby had already been born a few years prior, so yeah." Yang said. "But that's a story for another time, when Ruby and I actually feel like telling it."
"Uh guys…" Raion paused, as they reached what was supposed to be the Guildhall construction sight.
The others looked to the guild sight, and they all gasped to see it had definitely progressed further since they left.
"Whoa." They all said in awe.
"Wow." Lucy stated.
"Well this is a surprise." Erza exclaimed.
"They finished building it?" The rest of them asked.
The Fairy Tail guildhall looked more like a castle than a guild. With a larger foundation, and a sturdier looking structure.
"There it is, Fairy Tail's new guild hall." Grey said happily with a smile.
"Are we sure this is structurally sound?" Weiss asked. "It was built rather quickly."
"Are you kidding me? We've got a café now?" Raion questioned. "Guess they took my renovation suggestions seriously."
"Do we really need a gift shop too?" Lucy deadpanned.
"Looks like they even took my jokes seriously." Raion chuckled nervously. "I wasn't serious about the gift shop. I guess Master is just trying to earn as much money as he can for the Guild and its many expenses."
"Hey there. Glad you guys made it back okay. What's new?" The clerk asked.
"They got you working the gift shop Max?" Happy asked flying over to him. "It's been a while since we've seen you around the guild."
"Well, Master made me go back to school 'cause he wanted me to take business classes." Max smiled. "I heard we have a new Beacon Team, and they were being trained under our late God of War. Such a tragedy we lost him to something so devastating."
"Uh, not dead man. Total misunderstanding." Raion said, showing he was still alive.
"Whoa dude, no way. Are you a ghost, or a zombie or something?" Max asked.
"Nope. I just actually survived the Etherion Tower explosion, that I redirected into the atmosphere." Raion said, before Team RWBY stepped up next to him. "Anyways, this is the Beacon Team, Team RWBY. Ruby Rose, the leader. Weiss Schnee, her partner. Blake Belladonna and her partner, Yang Xiao Long. Fun fact, about these two, Ruby and Yang are actually half sisters."
"Doesn't matter though, because I don't see it that way." Yang said. "Doesn't matter if we share both parents, or just one of them, we're still sisters, and nothing can change that."
"It's a pleasure to meet you girls." Max smiled, before noticing Seras. "Nice to meet you, you must be the dead girl brought back, I heard talk about. Grimm Demi, right?"
"That's me." Seras said, sounding annoyed. "But nobody seemed to remember I'm Yang and Ruby's older sister, and oldest sibling."
"Just ignore him Seras. He means well, but sometimes doesn't realize what he says, can be annoying or hurtful." Raion stated.
"You're Max Alors. I've read all about you in Sorcerer Weekly." Lucy said going total fan girl on Max.
"Yes ma'am, that'd be me." Max said giving off a smile. "Ya know, I've heard a lot about you Lucy."
"I don't wanna think about the crazy things they probably told ya." Lucy cried out in embarrassment.
"So what kind of stuff are you selling here?" Happy questioned.
"Ha, ha. We've got t-shirts, wristbands, mugs, towels, and of course our most popular items." Max smiled handing one of the items to Happy.
"Wow a Lucy action figure?" Happy questioned holding it.
"Ah! Nobody ever asked me if I was cool with that." Lucy stated.
"I'm sure you're gonna get a cut of the profits Lucy. Don't worry." Raion said.
"She's pose-able, and her clothes come off, revealing a bikini underneath." Max said demonstrating it. "We've even got a Raion action figure."
"An' I better get half the profits from you selling those." Raion grumbled. "Otherwise I'll sue."
"As you should, and so will I!" Lucy said.
"No need to worry. Master is making sure you both get your cuts for the action figures." Max said before looking to Team RWBY. "Actually, the Master was considering making figures of the whole Deity Team."
"Deity Team?" Weiss questioned.
"What's that exactly?" Ruby asked.
"It's what the six of you are being called." Max stated. "Raion's the leader, Seras the second in command, while Team RWBY fights the good fight alongside them as their teammates."
"Well, so long as the clothes don't come off on my figure, I don't mind." Ruby said. "I mean, I'm not exactly sure what the legal age of consent here is in Fiore."
"Ruby here skipped ahead two years and made it into Beacon as her teams leader." Seras smiled.
"No kidding?" Max smiled. "Well not to worry, you can hash out the details with Master and I, when we sit to talk shop. Speaking of the Master, he's looking for you Raion."
"Uh, me?" Raion asked.
"He's not to happy, you nearly killed yourself apparently." Max said. "I thought he was going senile, but I guess he was right, you're not actually dead."
"How's the guild know I'm still alive already?" Raion asked.
"I sent a letter the moment after you finished telling us the story." Happy said.
"An' you didn't bother to tell us you did that?" Natsu asked.
"I figured Raion would have been able to handle the backlash coming his way." Happy smiled.
"Let's just head inside, and see what other changes have been made to the Guildhall when it was rebuilt." Raion said, leading them in.
Heading inside, they were amazed at how spacious it now was, while everyone looked happy and were enjoying themselves.
"Ooh, pretty." Lucy, Ruby, and Happy said in awe.
All the while, Grey turned to Natsu, seeing he was being grumpy and gloomy.
"Hey, man. What's wrong?" He questioned.
"I'm not good with change." Natsu stated.
"OCD much?" Raion asked.
"It's so good to have you back, everyone."
The others turned to see Levy standing there, the cast on her leg gone completely.
"Levy, you're finally out of your cast!" Lucy cheered, hugging her.
"Isn't this awesome? Guess what, now we've got a swimming pool behind the bar." Levy smiled showing them the pool.
"Welcome back." Romeo said sticking his hand up in the air.
"That's kinda weird." Lucy stated.
"It' just not the same." Natsu complained.
"We've even got a game room down in the basement." Levy added, showing them the basement.
"You're back." Macao smiled.
"Took you long enough." Wakaba laughed.
"Does it need to be this big?" Lucy questioned.
"I don't like it." Natsu grumbled
"But the biggest change is upstairs, 'cause everybody's allowed to go up to the second floor, since the S-Class quests are on the third floor now, and all our paperwork is in a storage room in the guilds library." Levy stated.
"Yo." Elfman called from the second floor with Lisanna waving to them.
"Oh wow." Lucy awed.
"Due to Raion's recommendation, Master actually lets more of us go on S-Class Quests, as long as we're accompanied by an S-Class Huntsman or Huntress. Otherwise we're forbidden from doing so." Levy concluded.
"Well I'm glad you dunderheads made it back safely." Makarov stated surprising them with his appearance with someone beside him.
"Master."
"Hey Master." Raion said, before he was sent to the ground by a giant hand chopping his head. "Ow…" He groaned.
"What the hell were you thinking boy? Doing something so boneheaded that you could have actually killed yourself?" Makarov questioned. "I oughta string you up by your stones for a stunt like that you neanderthal! I was so devastated, come to find in another letter from Happy that arrived this morning, that you were alive, and had only been missing for two days? Where's your sense of reason boy?"
"Believe me, I didn't know it was two days. I just woke up and made my way back to the resort. I thought it had only been a few hours." Raion said, getting to his feet.
"I don't wanna hear your excuses. You are in so much trouble young man, just wait until Gildarts makes it back!" Makarov exclaimed, before he took a breath and calmed down. "Well what's done, is done. I'd like you to meet Fairy Tail's newest member Juvia. Isn't she a cutie?"
Juvia stood before them, her long hair having been cut short, with some more revealing clothes, but still keeping her dress style with lighter hues then before.
"I can't wait to work with you." Juvia smiled doing a curtsy.
"Hahaha, so you actually made it in, huh?" Grey smiled.
"Thanks so much for helping us in Akane." Erza added.
"No, I should be thanking you, because now I've found a new guild." Juvia smiled.
"Hey girl." Lucy greeted.
"We will fight for Grey." Juvia said a menacing look in her eyes.
"That won't be necessary." Lucy exclaimed.
"Juvia, I keep telling you Lucy doesn't have a thing for Grey, and Grey doesn't have a thing for Lucy!" Ruby stated, pulling on Juvia's ear.
"Ow, ow, ow. Stop pulling, it was out of reflex, I swear." Juvia stated whining in pain, causing the others to laugh at the scene.
"Juvia, being scolded by someone younger then her. Priceless." Grey smiled.
"We've also added another new member to the guild. Someone you might recognize." Makarov added, sweating a bit nervously.
Raion sniffed the air, recognizing the scent smiled broadly. Raion twisted around, with his fist clashing into an iron scaled fist, creating sparks in the air.
"Gajeel, you old rust bucket. Good to see you again." Raion said.
"Same could be said about you, but I'm still a little peeved at that stunt you pulled at Akane. Juvia told me all about it." Gajeel said, grabbing Raions wrist, and pulling him into a headlock, while driving the knuckles from his other hand, into Raions head.
"Okay, I get it. You're pissed, could you stop with the knuckling already?" Raion questioned.
"What, him? Are you kidding me?" Grey questioned.
"Gajeel!" Natsu shouted, getting defensive.
"Why'd you let him in here Gramps?" Grey asked. "Juvia, did you invite him?"
"Calm down. No I didn't, he was here and already registered as a new member when I arrived." Juvia said.
"I don't mind Juvia, but he's the one responsible for destroying our Guildhall." Erza stated.
"Now, now. Remember what I taught you. Yesterdays enemy, can be todays friend, right?" Makarov asked.
"Yeah, I mean if Ruby and I are okay with him being here, then you should be too." Levy said, standing confidently with Ruby at her side.
"That's right." The reaper girl smiled, before they both turned to Gajeel.
"Gajeel?" Levy said stepping up to him.
"Hmm?" The iron eater asked.
"I just wanna say thank you for what you did." Levy smiled bowing to him.
"Me to." Ruby said, bowing to him as well.
"Wait, you're both thanking this monster for beating you half to death?" Grey questioned.
"Grey, calm down, right now!" Raion exclaimed. "Gajeel wasn't responsible for what happened to Ruby and Team Shadow Gear. That was Team CRDL."
"They're thanking Gajeel for stopping Team CRDL from killing them." Blake said.
"Because that's what Cardin and his team were aiming to do to Ruby and Team Shadow Gear." Yang added. "But Gajeel stopped them."
"The point is, Gajeel isn't a bad guy. Sure he might have been with Phantom Lord, but he had his morals." Raion stated. "He's actually a good friend of mine. He and I go bowling on a guys night every Saturday, with switching off who pays the tab every week."
"Relax everyone, it's natural that there'd be some skepticism around here seeing how I used to be your enemy. It's fine, it'll just take time for them to warm up to me." Gajeel stated.
"There ain't no way. I can't work with somebody I can't trust!" Natsu exclaimed.
"What's the big deal? It's not like I wanna be your buddy." Gajeel said, looking at Natsu.
"Man that's cold." Natsu said in shock.
"I'm perfectly fine with Raion and Juvia being my only friends in the Guild." Gajeel added.
"If you guys wanna be mad at anyone for him being here, be mad at me." Raion said. "I asked Master to invite Gajeel and let him join the Guild. He has my respect, and my gratitude."
"I know you kids don't like it, but as the Master of the Guild it's my duty to help those who've gone astray to find the right path." Makarov stated. "Give him a shot, you might find he's a nice guy. At least I hope so."
"While I may not agree with either of you on this, I will respect your decision." Erza stated. "At least now I know where Raion goes every Saturday instead sticking around, hanging out at the Guild. But I'll warn you, I'm going to be keeping a very close eye on him."
"Fine." Makarov said, while Gajeel and Natsu kept growling towards one another.
"They act more like dogs then dragons." Macao said.
"Aye sir. You might wanna break out the muzzles to be safe." Happy said.
"Psst, Raion." Makarov said, drawing the hybrids attention to him.
"What's up Master?" Raion asked.
"I need to ask you and Team RWBY a favor real quick."
Later on, after Gajeel and Natsu managed to be pulled apart, Natsu was wondering around the Guildhall, still not feeling comfortable with it, and all the changes that came with the new place.
"This new Guildhall just doesn't feel right." Natsu said, before the lights went out.
The darkness only lasted for a second, as the spotlights shined upon the stage, with the curtains drawing back, revealing Team RWBY standing on the stage, with Blake and Weiss having changed into their photoshoot clothes.
"What the heck is going on?" Natsu questioned. "What are you all doing up on the stage?"
"Believe me, I'm questioning that right now." Weiss said, before switching to a hushed tone. "I thought we were saving this performance for the fantasia parade during the Harvest Festival?"
"Relax Ice Queen, we've still got our second performance covered for that." Yang said.
~Flashback~
"What's up Master?" Raion asked.
"I was hoping you'd allow for Team RWBY to perform their dance and song routine on stage? Mira was supposed to sing, but she's not able to. Namely she passed out after reading the letter Happy sent in, and is still in the infirmary recovering." Makarov said. "They don't have to wear their costumes, but Weiss and Blake will have to wear their Photoshoot clothes. Just to make things a bit more attractive for the performance."
"Mira being out of it is a problem. We do need to put on a performance then." Raion said. "Alright, I'll get everything set up."
~End Flashback~
"Did he have to agree without consulting us though?" Weiss asked.
"At least this will give us an in depth look at how people will enjoy our performance." Blake said. "Consider this a beta test."
"Alright girls, let's go." Ruby said, as Raion started up the music.
(Cue AMV… K/DA: Pop-Stars: Ruby{Akali} Weiss{Evelynn} Blake{Kai'Sa} Yang{Ahri})
As Team RWBY started up the performance, Raion and Seras watched from backstage, both of them impressed with how well the Beacon Team was pulling this performance off.
"Wow, they're really good out there." Seras smiled. "How long have they been practicing this routine?"
"They've been practicing since Yang first realized, they were gonna be in the Fantasia Parade this year." Raion snickered. "Since then, she's been having Team RWBY practicing this routine every waking second of free time they've had. At this point, they don't got it down to a T, they've got it down to a ritualistic dance."
"Creepy. How come I've never seen them practicing?" Seras asked.
"Because they always practice in the basement of the house. Which is sound proofed because it's supposed to be my home gym, but Yang's taken over it for dance practice." Raion stated. "But it's not the only routine they've been practicing; they've been working on an encore routine Yang thought would be needed as the parade continues. So instead of going first, this one will come through second."
"How long does the parade last?" Seras asked.
"It goes all the way through town, and they've only got two performances to work with." Raion said. "If they had a third, then they could repeat those three only once throughout the entire parade."
"I might have a fix for that." Seras said. "An' it's not too late to add a third Choreography to the routine, is it?"
"No, if you've got a fix for it, then we'll talk with the team as soon as they finish." Raion stated as the performance came to an end.
(End Song…)
"Thank you Fairy Tail." Ruby smiled as they bowed to them, with the crowd cheering them on.
The instant the lights turned out, Team RWBY exited the stage, meeting up with Raion and Seras.
"How was that?" Ruby asked.
"You kidding? I'm starting to think we should go on tour during our jobs." Raion snickered.
"You really think so?" Yang asked.
"It could be fun." Blake said.
"An' as a bonus, we don't have to watch our weight, since our slayer metabolisms convert any excess calories, into power and energy." Ruby said.
"It doesn't work like that Ruby." Weiss said.
"Either way, we don't get fat." Blake chuckled.
"That's a win-win in my book." Yang smiled.
~Later~
"Ugh, why is this so hard to do?" Raion asked with a groan, as he was looking at the different kinds of paperwork that needed to be filled out.
"Being a manager is never easy my boy." Makarov said with an amused smile. "I'm glad you're taking it seriously though. What brought this on if I may ask?"
"The girls and I thought it was a good idea to go on tour during our jobs." Raion said. "I got the merchandise and transportation handled, now I just gotta focus on Choreo and Music. Thankfully, Weiss and Ruby volunteered for taking care of the music, songs, all that stuff. While Yang and Seras are taking care of their Choreo for the group. An' that just leaves me with security detail, and booking the gigs, while Blake focuses on the groups dietary needs, mainly foods that'll boost stamina and overall health."
"I don't see the problem there." Makarov said.
"My power's been cut in half now." Raion stated. "With Mesu still out and about on her own, I'm at half strength. I'd say I'm about as strong as Natsu right now, maybe less, and that's with the yellow sun's radiation my body is absorbing. I'm not gonna be able to cut it as their security on my own."
"There's the heart of the issue." Makarov said, before his attention was drawn elsewhere. "Raion, look over your shoulder to your right."
The Hybrid teen did as requested, and his eyes thinned into a leer, when he saw Team Shadow Gear, mainly Jet and Droy, confronting Gajeel while Levy tried to stop them, before the Iron Dragonslayer started following them out of the Guild.
"Something tells me, they're not giving him a proper Fairy Tail welcome." Raion said. "I'm gonna tail them, to make sure they don't do anything stupid."
"Be careful, only intervene if you have to." Makarov stated.
"You know I can't promise that." Raion sighed, leaving the table.
~Magnolia South Gate Park~
The air was thick with tension, so thick in fact you could cut it with a knife. Jet and Droy stood side by side with each other, across from Gajeel who stood on the other side of the field, while Levy was standing back by the tree.
"So what's the deal? Why'd you ask me to meet you out here?" Gajeel questioned. "Make it fast, I gotta get to work."
"We got a bone to pick with you." Jet stated.
"After what you allowed Team CRDL to do to us, there's no way you're joining our Guild!" Droy exclaimed.
"Come on guys, can't you just forgive and forget?" Gajeel questioned. "Besides, Raion vouched for me, shouldn't that be enough to convince you?"
"Just because Raion vouched for you, doesn't mean you deserve to be in our Guild!" Jet exclaimed.
"Come on guys, can't we just forget about this, and move on?" Levy asked. "I mean, now that he's in the Guild, it's unlikely he's ever gonna do any of that stuff he allowed Team CRDL do to us again. He wasn't even the one who attacked us."
"We gotta let him know." Jet stated.
"He can't mess with us." Droy finished, causing Gajeel to smile.
"I'm a member of the Guild now, I don't plan on digging my grave any deeper." Gajeel stated. "Besides, none of you are even a threat to me."
"That's right, go ahead and act tough, while you still can." Jet stated, before charging at Gajeel and ramming into him.
Off in the distance, across the park to the side, Raion watched intently, his gaze sharpening when he saw Gajeel take that hit. He knew from personal experience sparring with him, that the Iron Dragonslayer was much faster then the speed Jet hit him with, so why didn't he dodge the attack?
"Secret Seeds: Knuckle Plants!" Droy called out, throwing several seed pods to the ground, which grew into a barrage of fists that struck Gajeel all over his body as he picked himself up from Droy's attack.
'Again, he just stood there and took the hits. From their report about the incident, both Jet andDroy used the same moves on CRDL in their battle that night, but Gajeel was able to dodge it without a problem, when they attacked him, as he jumped in to intervene. So why is he just… letting them beat him to the ground!' Raion thought in realization.
"Falcon Heaven Sword!" Jet cried out, slamming a kick into Gajeel's chest, and sending him sliding back in a three point stance.
'He's not fighting back, because he wants to make amends for what the Beacon Team under his watch, did to them. He's letting them wail on him, as a means of atonement for what his team did.'
Before the conversation of fists and attacks could go any further, someone spoke up surprising Team Shadow Gear, as well as Gajeel, as he walked past Levy.
"You're not giving the new guy a hard time, are ya?" Laxus questioned. "But seeing as this is the punk who tore down our Guildhall, I understand how you feel. I bet the only reason the old geezer let him join the guild was because he was scared of you wrecking the place again. An' that's why he humored Raion's request."
"Laxus, I thought you were off with the Thunder Legion on another job?" Jet asked.
"I was on my way to meet up with them when I heard we'd gotten ourselves a couple new members, who used to be with Phantom Lord." Laxus said, stepping right up to Gajeel.
Right after saying that, Laxus hit the Iron Dragonslayer with a knee to the jaw, lifting him off the ground and sending the black haired man through the air, before he landed flat on his back on the ground, before the electrical man began beating on Gajeel.
"We've become the laughing stock of the magic community, because of you and Team CRDL!" Laxus stated, veins bulging on his face and neck, while his teeth were gritted in an angered smile. "On my way back from my last job, I stopped at some pubs and I heard some things that really pissed me off. Everybody is talking about how weak the Fairy Tail Guild is now! No one dared to say that about us before you came along Blacksteel!"
Laxus just glared at Gajeel, with lightning sparking around his body as he stepped back, reacting to his emotions, before a ray of lightning came down from the sky, hitting Gajeel dead center in the chest, causing him unbelievable pain. His body in agony as the electricity coursing through him was intensified by all his metal piercings.
"Now, you're gonna pay!" Laxus said.
Slamming his fist into the ground, Laxus sent a buzz saw of electricity at the iron slayer, before it slammed into him, and dragged the black haired slayer around the park, before ramming him into one of the smaller trees, and straight through it. Gajeel groaned as he landed on the ground on the other side of the tree, unable to move his body in the slightest.
"Don't think I'm through with you yet Blacksteel." Laxus glared, cracking his neck. "I'm just getting started."
Stepping up next to Gajeel, Laxus raised his foot to stomp on the Iron Slayers head, his body filled with electricity and rage, as he brought it down hard and heavy. The momentum of the stomp, was interrupted however, as a booted foot came rising up, and intercepted Laxus's strike, while still half a foot above the injured man.
"That's enough Laxus." Raion growled, his body tense with his fists clenched in anger. "He's had more then enough punishment from you and the boys of Shadow Gear."
"Raion?" Levy gasped, seeing him standing there.
"What's this? Sticking up for your old pal are you?" Laxus questioned.
Raion and Laxus glared at one another, before both their bodies let off an electrical storm of power, with Raions black lightning fighting against Laxus's gold for dominance. Eventually, both powers burned one another out, and pushed them both back from a minor explosion their impacts caused.
"Had enough?" Raion asked.
"You got a lot of nerve, showing me up like that pal." Laxus growled, before he smirked. "Yet I'm sensing that's all the power you could muster right now. Interesting."
"You've had your payback Laxus, even you Shadow Gear." Raion said. "Gajeel destroyed the Guildhall, yes. But he didn't attack anyone from our Guild. He only stood by, because Jose is the one who ordered CRDL to attack members of Fairy Tail."
"You've gone soft." Laxus tsked. "If you'd initially joined the Thunder Legion like I'd asked you back when it had first formed, you wouldn't be so weak now. You might have even been able to salvage your strength if you'd agreed after I'd asked you to join, when you became S-Class."
"True strength doesn't come from ones body or magic, Laxus." Raion said. "It comes from ones heart. Their willingness to do what is needed to protect those they cherish."
"Tsk, whatever." Laxus hissed, turning away to leave. "Just remember Blacksteel, you're only walking away from this because the Master's chosen successor, saved your life."
Raion didn't show it, physically. But he was surprised that Laxus knew about Makarov's choice to name him successor, and only a select few, were aware of it as well. But he knew for certain, the Thunder Legion wasn't a part of those in the know. He turned to Team Shadow Gear, and understandably saw the looks of shock on their faces.
"You okay man?" Raion asked, holding out his hand for Gajeel to take.
"Did you have to wait that long to intervene?" Gajeel groaned, accepting Raion's helping hand. "Couldn't you have stepped in before he beat me down?"
"I couldn't find an opening sooner, sorry. An' given how my strength was cut in half during the incident that had supposedly killed me, I was taking on a bigger gamble intervening like this." Raion said. "I just got lucky, finding the opening I did. But Laxus isn't usually so sloppy with his defenses. It's been like that since we were kids."
"So you've known him for that long huh?" Gajeel asked.
"He was the first friend I made right after joining Fairy Tail, actually." Raion said. "To be honest, I don't know what changed for him to end up like this."
"Hey Raion, listen we just wanted to say…"
"You two ignored mine and Masters words, and coerced Levy into joining this little vengeance scheme, didn't you?" Raion asked, interrupting Jet from speaking, while sticking his hands in his pockets, his back to them as he slumped his shoulders.
"Uh… yeah." Droy said.
"We're really sorry man." Jet stated.
"Sorry isn't gonna fix what you've done." Raion sighed. "As punishment, you're both suspended from Guild work for a month, and banished from the Guildhall for two weeks. Meaning if you want work, you gotta get the jobs from city hall, and you're forbidden from stepping foot in the Guildhall until your banishment is over. Just in time for the Harvest Festival."
"Fair enough." Jet and Droy said in unison, hanging their heads in depression.
"I'm going easy on you this one time, because you both had steam to blow off, towards the team Gajeel was supposed to be keeping an eye on. But the next time this happens, you will be severely punished, to the fullest extent that the law will allow. Am I understood?" Raion questioned, looking over his shoulder to them.
"Yes sir." The duo said.
"I can't hear you!"
"YES SIR!" Jet and Droy said louder, suddenly standing at attention.
"Good. Now get going." Raion said, dismissing them. "Levy, a word please?"
"What's up?" Levy asked stepping up to his side.
"I know this might seem a bit sudden, but I'd like for you to accompany Gajeel on the job he's taken." Raion said, handing her a small bag. "This is filled with a special type of medicinal healing supplement I've been working on. Give one to him before getting on the train. You're both to come back alive. Is that clear?"
"But, why send us both on this job?" Levy asked.
"Because I know, you don't fear him. You understand the importance of forgiveness, and I am hoping some of that sunshine you radiate, will soften him up a bit." Raion said.
"Hey, I'm plenty soft man. I cried at the end of Old Yeller, and I'm man enough to admit it." Gajeel said.
"Everyone cries at the end of Old Yeller, Gajeel." Raion chuckled, shaking his head. "See what I mean?"
"I'll do my best." Levy giggled. "C'mon Gajeel, I just gotta grab my overnight bag from home, and then we can go."
"What have you gotten me into man?" Gajeel asked, following Levy off to the girls dormitory.
"Have fun." Raion snickered.
~Home~
"You sure you're allowed to do that Raion? You're not even the actual Guild Master yet." Yang asked. "I mean, I get that Jet and Droy needed to be punished, but do you even have the power to do that?"
"I do." Raion said, chopping veggies in the kitchen. "When I agreed to the Masters offer, he said I had power within the Guild equal to his status. Though he's gonna make the formal announcement of making me his successor, at the Harvest Festival, at the end of the Mrs. Fairy Tail Beauty Pageant."
"He's still doing those?" Qrow asked, drinking his whiskey. "Damn, I can't remember the last time I saw one of those."
"Why are you even still here Qrow?" Raion asked.
"What, can't I stay to make sure my nieces are fine after what happened to them with the R-System?" Qrow asked.
"You've been here, since the day Master informed you Seras was alive again." Raion said. "An' you've been drinking all my booze, without paying me back for it."
"He's right Uncle Qrow." Yang said. "You've practically drank his entire cellar of booze, on your own."
"An' he made most of it himself." Ruby added.
"Alright, fair enough no need to gang up on me." Qrow said. "I'll pay to buy new ingredients for you to make another stash Raion. I apologize. But you also have yourself to blame for it."
"Why's that pray tell?" Raion asked curiously.
"I mean, have you ever made booze before?" Qrow questioned.
"I have plenty of time, and the first time I did, someone from Quatro Cerberus was the one who gave it a taste, and he said it was wild how my first try came out so good. Said he'd never tasted anything like it, and has been ordering regular shipments of the stuff from me ever since. So you're lucky I sent his shipment to him before you drank my stockpiled supply." Raion stated. "Honestly all I did was follow the instructions to the letter, while adding my own ingredient to the fermenting sake, before I began experimenting with different flavors."
"Did he happen to say stuff like, his soul was shaken and stirred?" Qrow asked raising a brow.
"He did actually, now that I think about it." Raion said. "You know him?"
"Bacchus Groh." Qrow said. "He's Quatro Cerberus's top S-Class Huntsman, and probably the heaviest drinker in the whole Kingdom. Even I can't beat him in a drinking contest, and I can out drink Cana."
"Whoa, for real?" Yang asked.
"For real. Now that man's been all around the Kingdoms, all around the world, tasted the finest vintages, and the greatest drinks ever made. But if he actually praised your drinks with such high regards, then that means he honestly believes you're a master of the craft." Qrow said.
"Qrow…" Raion paused as he sighed, before looking to the drunkard. "I'm a jack of all trades, and master of one. An' I'm a master of fighting. When I got a new lease on life, I realized that it was too short not to try new things."
"What do you mean by that?" Weiss asked.
"Well, what I mean is. I tried everything, everything I could get my hands on that seemed like it'd be fun." Raion said. "An' the things I failed at, I knew weren't right for me, from multiple failures, no matter how hard I tried."
"So what things could you say you are good at?" Seras asked.
"You could count them all on both hands." Raion said. "Cooking, making sake, fighting, singing, magic, weapons making, and sketching. That's about it. Everything else I'm either terrible at, or can't even do to save my life. I'm descent at sewing, and first aid, but I'm not anywhere near expert level for those. If there's a hole on my jacket, or a button to sew back onto my shirt, that's about the extent of my sewing skills. The rest I rely on Mira or Lisanna for. An' I mainly rely on my magic for medical stuff, so my first aid skills are extremely lacking."
"Onto another topic." Seras said. "Are you worried at all, about what Laxus might be plotting? I mean, he knows you're Master Makarov's successor."
"I do have a bad feeling about that." Raion said. "No one, outside of everyone in this room, Taiyang, and Master Makarov, should be aware of my place as his chosen successor. Damn it, I wish pops was here."
"So, what will you do?" Weiss asked.
"I'll keep my eye on Laxus, make sure he doesn't end up doing something, too drastic." Raion said.
"That's all you can do for now." Qrow said.
"By the way Raion." Weiss continued. "I've finished my treatment for undoing the brainwashing my father did to me, as of yesterday. Are you gonna tell me what those pills were made of now?"
"You sure? It'll gross you out." Raion said.
"I can handle it." Weiss said.
"Okay, if you're so certain, here's the ingredients." Raion said. "Two tablespoons of powdered aloevera plant, a cup of burdock root paste, a teaspoon of Ginseng, 7oz of passionflower, a dollop of lemon balm, half a teaspoon of ground ginkgo biloba, and three tablespoons saffron. Those are all the common herbal ingredients found within the medicine."
"That doesn't gross me out." Weiss stated, crossing her arms.
"Because I haven't said the main ingredients yet." Raion stated. "Last chance to back out now before I tell you."
"Oh boy, if it's the medicine I think it is, you're gonna be in for a wild ride Ice Queen. I'd back out now if I were you." Qrow stated, sounding amused.
"No. I wanna hear the main ingredients!" Weiss stated, firmly.
"Okay, don't say I didn't warn you." Raion said, before smiling. "One whole brain from an Alpha Beowolf, the dried and powdered eyeballs of a Nevermore, and the hollowed out intestines of a Boarbatusk. All those ingredients in the proper mixture, makes at least three months worth of the medicine I had you taking."
Weiss's face paled at hearing those ingredients, before it turned green a bit.
"Want some gingerale for the nausea?" Raion asked.
"Yes please." Weiss said, sounding like she was gonna be sick. "That would be appreciated."
~Elsewhere~
"I can't believe that ass hat." Laxus growled. "He just had to jump in, and ruin things when they were just getting good. An' he had to be all noble about it, knowing he's not strong enough to defeat me anymore."
"If his power's been diminished by half, wouldn't that qualify you as the only viable candidate for the Guild Masters successor?" Cinder's voice came from the shadows.
"It would. But that old geezer still relies on leaving the Guild in that monkey's hands." Laxus stated. "He's gone senile, if he doesn't recognize that the Guild is doomed if left under the monkey's leadership."
"Then what should we do about it?" Emerald asked.
"I say, we just take the mantle from Raion once he's been named the new Guild Master. Laxus challenges him to a duel, and takes the power and title for himself." A helmet wearing man said, his tongue out, showing the Fairy Tail emblem was on it.
"Not a bad play Bickslow, but it won't be enough." A green haired man in a magenta suit said. "We need some kind of leverage over him. A means in which, he won't be able to refuse the challenge. Even if he's challenged before actually gaining the title."
"Freed's got a point." Emerald said. "If you wanted to Laxus, then you could challenge Raion for the title of successor, and take it from him."
"But that wouldn't guarantee I'd retain it." Laxus said. "Gramps would just find someone else to name his successor in my stead."
"So what then, we're just gonna role over and allow this to happen?" A chestnut brunet woman in a green fairy dress asked.
"No. What we need is a plan to ensure Laxus becomes Guild Master." A silver haired boy said, stepping out from the shadows. "The plan to get the charges against Jacques dropped was a bust, like I had called it, so we need something a bit more, permanent."
"What do you propose Mercury?" Laxus asked.
"Isn't the Harvest Festival coming up soon Laxus?" Mercury inquired with a smile.