The Leviathan of Fairy Tail

by dragomaster312

Sadness and grief are like water in the ocean. At times, it's calm and other times it crashes violently. All you can do to overcome it, is to swim. A boy named Willy goes through many adventures, while struggling to find out who he is despite his past. Will he swim or drown? I do not own Fairy Tail. Willy by is owned by me. Any comments/reviews appreciated. OC x Canon in later.

233. Chapter 233 A Grand Night

Chapter 233

A Grand Night

"Come on… Why can't I get this thing tied on right?"

I stood in front of a mirror, trying my best to tie a neckerchief under my collar, but to no avail. I was dressed in a gray and blue suit with my hair slicked back into a ponytail with a white ribbon while leaving my single bang hanging on the side of my face. However, my collar was unkempt, I was having trouble with the buttons on my coat, and my pant legs were stuffed inside my socks.

I heard Alzack chuckle. "Geez. Willy, you're not really good with putting on formal wear, are you?"

"Well, I've never had to wear stuff like this before," I huffed in frustration.

Alzack then came over. He was wearing a red coat with gold trim on top of a white undershirt, a pair of brown pants with a belt, and a yellow neckerchief around his neck. "Here. Let me have a look," he offered.

I turned to face him and allowed him to do so. Alzack then took my neckerchief and, in a matter of seconds, tied it in a perfect and tidy bow. Then, he fixed my collar, my buttons, and my pant legs, which made me blink in amazement.

"There you go," smiled Alzack. "You're all set."

"Thank you very much, Alzack," I said. "I never would have thought that you'd know about this kind of stuff. Then again, dressing up like this isn't really my cup of tea.."

"Well, I had a lot of practice," said Alzack. "Plus, this is your first time doing something like this. Also, it never hurts to dress up formerly, especially if you've been invited to a banquet at Mercurius. I'm not too keen on dressing up like this either, but it's important to look your best if you want to make a good impression. And with how you're dressed right now, I'm sure you'll be getting a lot of good impressions."

"How so?" I asked him, feeling confused.

Alzack responded with a knowing wink. "Sorry, but I'm afraid it's something I can't say," he said. "Now, come on. We better hurry and get going. The others are already at the main ballroom and are probably waiting for us."

The two of us then made our way out of the dressing room and walked down the halls of the castle. Soon, we came to a grand and spacious room where the party was taking place.

The place was alive with the sounds of an orchestra playing and the chattering of people conversing. There were lots of people, including women wearing fancy dresses and men wearing stylish suits. There were also numerous tables filled to the brim with food and drinks of all kinds, which made my mouth water at the sight of them. Overall, this had to be one of the most spectacular-looking parties I've ever seen.

Alzack and I walked into the room, and I looked around. I recognized a few of the partygoers everything themselves, including Kagura and the girls from Mermaid Heel and Bacchus and his guildmates from Quatro Cerebus. I could also see that the members of our guild were all scattered around enjoying themselves.

Wendy was hanging out with Sherria, the two of which were enjoying some pudding. Cana was having a good time with Bacchus and his friends, drinking merrily. Sting was pouring Gajeel a drink while he, along with Rogue and Rufus, talked. Then, I saw Bisca, Sieri, Lapis, and Asuka, who were over in a corner enjoying some food.

"Hey, Willy! I'm going to go over there," said Alzack. "You coming?"

"Nah, I'm going to go see if I can find Mira and the others," I replied. "You go on ahead."

"Suit yourself," said Alzack. "I'll tell the girls that you said hi."

Alzack then walked off, and I went off on my own, looking around until my eyes fell upon something on the table. It was a plate filled with pieces of pink and orange meat with a familiar fishy smell. Upon seeing it, my stomach let out a grumble as I felt a pang of hunger, recognizing what it was.

"N-No way! Is that what I think it is?!" I thought. "It's sashimi! And not just any standard sashimi! I can tell by looking at it that it's of high quality! I mean, it makes sense, considering that this is the king of Fiore we're talking about, who is most likely rich as heck! But even with having eaten all sorts of fish, I've never seen anything like it!"

I then picked a piece up with a fork, and while bracing my tastebuds while swallowing, I popped it into my mouth. As soon as the taste of the sashimi graced my tongue, my eyes went wide, and I let out a squeal of delight as I savored the taste.

"This is absolutely delicious!" I couldn't help but marvel aloud. "The texture is soft! The temperature is absolute perfection! And the taste is absolutely wonderful! I think my taste buds have gone to heaven! I never would have dreamed such a thing would be so good!"

I then proceeded to wolf down other pieces of sashimi, savoring every bite and oblivious to my surroundings. But then, I noticed that some of the people were staring in my direction. Some were baffled, while others were a bit put off. I immediately swallowed what was in my mouth and proceeded to walk away, trying not to show my embarrassment.

But just as I did, I heard someone call out to me.

"Hey, Willy! Over here!"

I then spied Mira in the crowd, who was with Lucy, Lisanna, and Yukino. Each one of them was wearing a beautiful dress, but I was more drawn towards Mira. Her dress was a brilliant red with white diagonal stripes, and had her hair styled in a high ponytail. She also wore a silver pearl necklace around her neck.

"H-Hey, guys," I greeted while trying not to stammer.

"Wow, you look great!" complimented Lisanna. "I don't think I've ever seen you in a suit before."

"Well, it is my first time wearing something like this," I said while twirling with my bang. "Alzack helped me with it. I'm not even sure if this even suits me."

"Not at all! I think it suits you rather well!" said Yukino.

"She's right! It's times like these where you have to dress fancy!" said Lucy.

I then glanced around, realizing that someone wasn't here with us.

"Hold on. I just noticed. Where's Natsu?" I asked. "I would've thought he, of all people, would be causing a rampage somewhere, partying his brains out."

"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him either," Lucy hummed thoughtfully. "Usually, he's the center of attention, yet he's not here."

"Did he decide not to go?" wondered Lisanna. "That wouldn't seem like him. Maybe he's still recovering from the last battle?"

"Well, I'm sure he'll pop up eventually," said Lucy. "In the meantime, let's enjoy ourselves and savor the peace and quiet while it lasts."

Yukino then approached me. "Um, Sir Willy. I hope you don't mind, but there's something I wanted to say to you the moment I saw you," she said.

"Sure. What's up?" I asked.

Yukino then bowed. "Well, I wanted to thank you for saving my life. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't stepped in when Zirconis attacked us."

"It's no big deal," I said while raising my hands. "Besides, it wasn't just me. Everyone pitched in, so you don't have to be so formal."

"Nevertheless, I owe you a debt of gratitude that I hope to repay someday," said Yukino. "So if there's anything that you need, you can count on me." She looked at Mira and the girls. "And that goes for the rest of Fairy Tail."

I was briefly taken aback but then smiled. "Yukino really is a sweet girl," I thought. "But she could dial it back a bit."

Then, as Yukino straightened up, she happened to look past me. She froze, while her eyes widened a bit. I turned around, wondering what was wrong, and immediately, I was on guard and tense.

Approaching us were Sting and Rogue. However, I noticed that something was different with them. Sting appeared a lot less arrogant, now looking more remorseful and benevolent, and Rogue seemed to be less stoic, guilt being more evident on his face.

"I-I'm sorry," Yukino stammered as she tried to leave. "I-I have to go!"

"Yukino, wait!" Sting then spoke. "Just hear us out for a minute!"

Yukino stopped.

I raised an arm protectively in front of her. "And why should she?" I asked coldly. "You have business with her?"

"Look, We didn't come here to pick a fight or anything," said Sting. "I didn't even know that she was here. Just… hear us out, OK?"

I glared suspiciously, but Mira gently touched my arm and lowered it as she addressed the two.

"All right then. What did you want to talk about?" Mira asked.

Sting briefly faltered but plucked up courage. "Well, first off, we're sorry about how you were treated," he said. "Even though we were just following what mast - I mean what Jiemma said, we didn't do anything to help you when you were kicked out. And… you don't have to worry about him because he and Milady have disappeared."

"Disappeared?" I repeated.

"Yeah, and it's not just them," Rogue chimed in. "Orga's gone, too. We don't have any idea where they've gone or what they're up to."

"And in light of their disappearances, along with everything that happened," continued Rogue. "We've decided to rebuild Sabertooth from the ground up."

I couldn't help but be surprised. "And what brought this on?" I asked.

"Well, sorry if it sounds all cliche, but it was seeing you all," replied Sting. "The way you all came together, believed in each other, and how you all fought for the sake of your friends. It made us realize that you all possessed strength none of us could ever hope to achieve and that the way we were… was wrong."

He paused before looking at us with a determined expression.

"That's why… the old Sabertooth is dead and gone. I want our guild to be the kind that treats its members like family."

Yukino looked at Sting, stunned, but was still a bit mistrusting. "And why are you telling me this?" she asked quietly.

"It's because… I would like for you to come back to Sabertooth," said Sting. "I know that your wounds are still fresh from what happened, but we would love it if you were a part of it again. I would love it if you came back."

I looked at Yukino, who seemed indecisive about the invitation. But right at that moment, Kagura came lumbering over, looking very tipsy.

"Now, hold on a second! Don't be such an idiot!" she slurred. "If Yukino's going to be joining in any guild, it's Mermaid Heel! After all, her life belongs to me!"

Needless to say, Sting, Rogue, Yukino, and even the rest of us were surprised by this declaration.

Sting then stomped indignantly over to Kagura. "Hey! You don't know what you're talking about!" he snapped. "You're completely wasted!"

But Kagura wasn't backing down. "Shut up! I said Yukino belongs with Mermaid Heel, and that's that!"

Just then, Erza, Lucy, Elfman, Gray, and Juvia jumped in.

"Stop right there!" ordered Erza. "We won't stand idly by while you decide her fate!"

"Yeah! After everything we've been through together, Yukino should join Fairy Tail!" Lucy objected.

"Yeah! Yukino and Lisanna have similar characteristics! They're practically twins!" chimed in Romeo. "They both have the same short hair, and they're little sister types!"

"Hey! I already said there's only room for one Lisanna in Fairy Tail!" Lisanna protested. "If Yukino's going to be joining our guild, she's going to need to change her hairstyle at least!"

"Hey! First of all, Lisanna, you need to take it easy with that whole twin complex," I cut in. "And secondly, don't you think Yukino should make that decision instead of us?!"

"I… never considered joining Fairy Tail," Yukino spoke doubtfully.

Ichiya, Lyon, and even Bacchus, along with their respective guild members, then joined the fray.

"A beautiful woman such as yourself deserves nothing but the most beautiful guild!" Ichiya spoke. "Especially one with such a sweet and intoxicating parfum!"

"If she wants to join a guild, she should join the best of the best!" said Lyon. "And there's no question that Lamia Scale would be the best fit for her!"

"We've always been a macho guild, but I think Quatro Cerebus could use a womanly touch!" Bacchus whooped eagerly. "We may have lost the games, but there ain't no way we're losing to this battle!"

"Oh, no. I can see where this is going…" I thought, exasperated.

"Hey! Hold on, everyone! Please calm down!" Yukino pleaded worriedly. "There's no need for all this!"

She then tried to intervene, but Mira stopped her by gently touching her shoulder.

"You might want to take a couple steps back," she warned with a wink and a giggle.

Then, the whole ballroom erupted into chaos as a mass brawl ensued. Food and tables went flying everywhere. But while watching the pandemonium, tears began to trickle down Yukino's face as she started to cry.

"Hey! Are you OK?" I asked worriedly. "There's nothing to cry about."

But as Yukino looked at me, I saw that she was smiling.

"I know. But it's just… you all make me feel so happy," Yukino hiccuped.

Mira then came over all smiles. "It's wonderful seeing you smile," she said kindly. "It makes you look way cuter." She then looked over at the others. "And just know that whichever guild you pick, you'll always have a place, no matter what."

Yukino tearfully agreed, and I couldn't help but do so, too.

Then, suddenly, there was a loud, sharp, metallic clang that came from above, followed by a commanding voice that yelled out.

"EVERYONE STOP THIS INSTANT!"

Everyone immediately froze as they looked up, drawn to where it came from. Standing on the balcony was Arcadios, dressed in a white suit with a green cape, looking as stern as the day we first met him in the graveyard.

"In honor of your performance of the Grand Magic Games and the Crocus Fighter's Tournament, as well as your bravery against the greatest threat our kingdom has faced," Arcadios boomed. "His majesty, the king would like to express his gratitude! Pay heed!"

A pair of giant doors then began to open with a resounding click and a creak. Beyond them was a shadow in the shape of a person. At first, I believed it was the king himself, but when they stepped into the light, my eyes went wide with dumb shock while my mouth dropped in horror.

The person turned out to be Natsu, who was wearing fancy clothes with a large crown resting on top of his head while wearing a gleeful and toothy grin. While he did, I saw Mato frantically jumping up and down, looking mortified.

"All right, my loyal subjects! Shut up and listen!" Natsu yelled out without abandon as he cackled with glee. "Make yourselves as you worship your new king! All hail, King Natsu, the new ruler of Fiore!"

I pinched the bridge of my nose while groaning out loud. "Well, I guess that answers the question of where Natsu was this whole time."

"Yeah, we should have seen this one coming," Lucy wryly chuckled. "But as we always say…"

"That's our Natsu," finished Mira.

After that, Natsu was promptly taken care of and reprimanded by Makarov, and he changed into a suit. From there, everyone else had their fun dancing while the orchestra played. I didn't really feel like dancing, so I spent my time trying out all of the food while watching from afar.

Then, I happened to notice Hisui walk by. She was wearing a dress with the top half blue and a white skirt with yellow flowers on. She also wore a silver tiara with a red gem in the middle on top of her head. But unlike the other happy partygoers, she looked rather solemn and a little fearful. She continued on her way until she approached a little man standing amongst some soldiers, who was the king of Fiore himself.

"Father," Hisui spoke to the little man. "May I please have a word with you?"

The king answered with a nod. "Hisui?" he said in a deep voice.

The princess then bowed. "Please, I beg for your forgiveness. I have brought great shame to our kingdom," she said with remorse. "And so, once the festivities are over, I will accept whatever punishment you see fit."

Arcadios then approched. "Please wait," he interjected. "Begging your pardon, but I must intercede on the princess's behalf. The Eclipse Project was a means of defeating Zeref, and the chaos with the Eclipse 2 was a result of the Future Rogue's deception. It was because of his accurate predictions that the princess believed that it was the only way to save Fiore."

Darton also approached. "Her actions did have good intentions," he said. "All for the sake of the kingdom."

Lucy and some of the other wizards nearby also stepped forward.

"Princess Hisui did whatever she could protect the future of the entire world," she said. "So it wasn't her fault."

"She had the best intentions in mind," added Jura. "So I would also like to implore you to forgive her for her mistake."

Natsu even chimed in while munching on a leg of meat. "I say water under the bridge," he concurred between bites. "In fact, it's actually thanks to her that us wizards came together."

This made me smile in agreement as I also walked forward.

"He does bring up a good point," I said. "We've all gained and learned so much from the experience, as crazy and chaotic as it was. So, if you must give your daughter a punishment, please go easy on her." I looked at Hisui. "And to the princess, just in case you want to go and give yourself a harsh punishment, remember this. Everyone makes a mistake at least once in their lives, but make sure not to beat yourself up about it." I then smiled warmly. "Instead, focus on growing and learning from it while loving yourself."

Hisui held her mouth with her eyes as her eyes welled up with emotion. "Th-Thank you… All of you," she said gratefully.

The king remained silent as he gazed at everyone around him. He then spoke. "I understand all of your feelings after listening to your arguments," he said. "And seeing Arcadios's loyalty to Hisui, Darton's loyalty to the kingdom, and most especially, all of the brave wizards I see before me working tirelessly for peace, please me immensely." He paused as he grew stern. "However, I must put my foot down as the king and a father. Hisui still must be held accountable. Therefore, in light of all this, I have conceived a suitable punishment."

He then approached Hisui while everyone grew tense. The girl seemed to shiver with fright, but she didn't move, ready to accept whatever was coming. But then, to the surprise of all, the king whipped out a large pumpkin mask reminiscent of Mato's and placed it right on top of Hisui's head.

"You must wear that pumpkin head for an entire week!" the king ordered in a familiar high voice.

The princess couldn't help but let out a questioning sound of confusion, as did the rest of us.

The king then smiled. "That's right. A little dose of humility and the slate will be clean," he said warmly to his daughter.

Everyone else was happy to hear that, but none more so than Hisui.

"Looks like things all worked out, haven't they?" Mira smiled at Hisui.

"Sure has, punkin," responded Hisui happily. Then she looked at me. "And I owe you an apology as well, Willy Falconer. I've said some rude things about you, and I shouldn't have assumed. So I ask for your forgiveness as well."

"Ah, don't worry about it," I soothed. "Besides, I'm kind of used to it by now."

Then, the king fixed his direction on me. "So you're Willy Falconer," he said. "Am I correct?"

Immediately, I grew nervous. "Um, y-yes, your majesty," I spoke, trying to be as polite as possible.

"I've heard quite a few things about you," said the king. "Mostly, rumors that were less than kind labeling you as a traitorous scoundrel."

I couldn't help but swallow nervously, feeling worried. However, the king smiled warmly.

"But I'm happy to find out that those rumors are nothing short of rumors," he went on. "I've seen your prowess and valor in the Crocuss Fighter's Tournament. And I've also been told that you've even saved my precious daughter's life along with Arcadios and Sergeant Yukino."

"He also fell into the Palace of Perdition of his own volition rather than take my offer to escape, Father," said Hisui. "He's not only brave and courageous but also loyal."

"W-With all due respect, Your Majesties, i-it was no big deal," I couldn't help but stutter. "I just did what I had to and thought what was right, that's all."

"Nevertheless, I can't thank you enough for what you've done," said the king. "Therefore, I wish to give you my thanks as the king of Fiore. Arcadios? If you wouldn't mind…"

Arcadios smiled. "It would be my honor, Your Majesty," he said. "Willy Falconer, will you please take a knee?"

While feeling unsure as to what was going on, I did so. Arcadios then unsheathed his sword, holding it just in front of him as he spoke grandly.

"Willy Falconer, in honor of your heroism and by the power invested in me as head of the Cherry Blossom Holy Knights," He then lightly tapped my shoulders with the flat side of his blade. "I hereby dub you, "Sir Willy Of The Azure Sea!"

The whole ballroom then erupted in a chorus of cheers and applause. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed by all the attention, but I also couldn't help but feel proud.

---

The banquet continued late into the night. There was lots more dancing, and with Natsu rejoining after his little prank, it became wilder than ever. However, he, along with everyone else, had a great time and enjoyed themselves to the fullest. However, despite having fun, I decided to head outside to get air.

I walked out of the grand ballroom and made my way, going down halls, down some flights of stairs, admiring the decor. I soon came to some doors leading outside. I looked back, making sure no one was behind me, and opened the doors going through them. A gentle summer blew through my clothes as I did, shutting the door behind me as I looked at the scenery before me.

The moon had lost its ominous red color and had returned to its bright blue luster, and there seemed to be more twinkling stars than ever. A beautiful garden was also laid out before me, with various bushes of colorful flowers and a small pond with a distorted reflection of the sky shimmering in it. I couldn't help but feel calm as I took in a lungful of air before letting out a sigh of contentment as I walked forward.

"Man, what a day," I mumbled to no one in particular. "It's hard to imagine all of that happened in a single day. I don't know about you, but I think I deserve a massive break after all that."

Then, I saw someone standing beside the pond gazing up towards the sky. It turned out to be Mira, who wore a thoughtful while, worried expression on her face.

"Hey, you," I greeted as I approached her. "What are you doing here by yourself?"

Mira looked at me, a bit surprised, but smiled as I reached her. "Oh, just needed a minute to myself," she replied. "The party's gotten a bit too crazy for my liking."

"You and me both," I chuckled. "So, is there something on your mind? You look like you're worried."

"I was just thinking," said Mira. "About… Future Lisanna and Lucy."

"What about them?" I asked. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Mira appeared to look down before turning upwards toward the sky.

"Well, to be frank, I can't help but stop thinking about those two," she said quietly. "Especially Lisanna. I know that Lucy was killed by Future Rogue, but I can't stop thinking about how Lisanna is doing. Or if the future she came from still exists at all."

"To be honest, I'm not sure myself," I replied. "I'm not exactly well versed when it comes to time travel. But… I'd like to think that Future Lisanna's all right and at peace."

"Yeah, me too," said Mira. "I guess I'm still worrying because she's still my sister, even though she's from a different timeline. Not to mention that I still have some feelings of regret after her supposed death. But… I'm happy that I was able to protect her. And I'll keep doing so for the one in the present as well as everyone else and the future."

I lightly chuckled as I smiled. "The same goes for me."

The two of us then fell silent, listening to the sounds of the night while staring at the stars. Then, I realized something. It was only the two of us out here, and now that I thought about it, this place was a pretty good romantic setting.

"Alcohol can do many things to a person. It can numb their pain, make them forget the things they want to forget and all that stuff. But the one thing it does out of anything else is bringing out their true wild selves. And based on what I've seen tonight, Mirajane's got the hots for you, brother."

At that moment, I remembered what Bacchus said the other day. Almost immediately, I felt my heart skip.

"W-Wait! Why am I thinking about that now?! I told Bacchus there's no way Mira sees me that way! At least… I don't think so…"

But as I denied it, memories of the past crept up into my mind as I started ruminating.

"I won you in my match fair and square! Therefore, you belong to me and have to do what I say! Got that?!"

"I don't want anything else to happen to you. Especially now that you're a target of not only the Magic Council but also the dark guilds. If someone tries to hurt you or even try to take you away, the guild and I will always have your back. No matter what.

"I'll always be there for you, even if you don't need or believe me. No matter what anyone thinks of you, I'll always be on your side. Because you're not a traitor, you're Willy Falconer."

I've known Mira for as long as I can remember, and I've learned a thing or two about romance thanks to Sieri. However, it didn't occur to me that she would actually have feelings for me. At least, I didn't think she would, considering my past.

But now that I thought about it, there were moments where I was either smitten with Mira's beauty or, despite her teasing, I enjoyed her company. And I may have also felt a little jealous of all those guys leering at her back at the Navel Battle. Most of all, no matter what I've gone through, she was always there for me. She even saved my life a few times. It was apparent that I felt the same way she did.

"But if she does like me… does that mean… that this could be my chance to tell her? But… what if she says no? And I end up ruining things between us?"

Then, Bacchus's following words came to my mind.

"When it comes to women, and as a real man, you gotta take advantage of things like this while you're still young. Otherwise, if you let it slip through your fingers, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. You only live life once."

My eyes then widened from those words, and as I looked at Mira, who was still gazing at the sky.

Mira then glanced in my direction. "Something wrong?" she asked.

I stayed silent for a moment, staring until I faced her fully.

"Mira, there's something I need to say to you," I spoke. "So, I want you to please listen to me."

Mira faced me. "I'm all ears," she said.

I took a breath and then spoke what was on my mind.

"Look, we've known each other ever since we were teens, and we've been through a lot together. Meeting new friends and fighting enemies. We've been through so much together, and… I know I've said this before, but… I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you. Even when I was at my lowest, aside from our friends, you picked me back up. And in the last battle, you helped Future Lisanna snap me out of it when I was about to lose myself again. So… I'm very grateful to have you in my life and to have met you."

Mira stayed silent, staring at me.

"It's just… with everything that's happened after we saved the future and how everything can turn crazy at the drop of a hat when we least expect it, I've got no idea what the future has in store for us. But… it would mean the world to me if you were a part of it or at least continue being a part of my future at least. So… I guess… well, what I mean to say is…"

At this point, my heart was drumming in my chest for what I was trying to get out, but the words seemed to die in my throat as I hesitated. But after swallowing whatever fear I felt, I took another deep breath and blurted out the following words that came to my mind.

"I love you, Mira!"

Mira's eyes went wide, shock evident on her face. "Wh-What did you say?" she asked in a hushed mumble.

"I… I said that I love you," I repeated. "Not just as a best friend, or a guildmate, or as a family member. I'm talking about… as a woman." I then adverted my eyes. "But I understand this may be out of the blue, and I know I'm not as good-looking or as powerful as the other guys you've seen, but I…"

But as I looked back at her, I was surprised to see that Mira not only had her hands clasped on her mouth, but her eyes were overflowing with tears.

Immediately, I felt a pang of guilt as I grew worried. "H-Hey! Are you OK?!" I asked. "I didn't mean to make you cry! Did I say something wrong?"

Mira shook her head. "N-No. I'm all right," she spoke, her voice cracking. "It's just… I didn't expect you to say that to me. I was afraid that you would never see me that way after what I said to you."

I didn't know what she meant at first, but then I remembered. "Are you talking about that fight we had back when?"

Mira nodded while still crying. "I was so scared that you were still resenting me," she continued. "And that because of what I said, I was worried that I'd hurt you so much that you would never be able to see me that way. Just like the way I see you."

"Then… does that mean… that you…" I mumbled out.

"Yes. I love you, too. More than anyone else," Mira confessed. "You're obsessed with fish as much as Happy, and you're always selfless, too much for your own good. But… you're also one of the bravest and kindest souls I've ever met. You drive me nuts, and I can't imagine life without you either."

I could feel my face grow hot while my heart began beating rapidly as it swelled with joy. But then, there was a loud crash interrupting the moment, followed by the sounds of multiple screams as both Mira and I jumped while turning to look.

The double doors leading to the castle were swung open, and standing in between them were Natsu, the other guild members, and the other wizards.

"Wh-What the hell?!" I couldn't help but yell out.

"Whoops! Looks like we're busted!" Natsu spoke with a sheepish grin.

"Only because you wouldn't stop moving around, charcoal brains!" gruffed Gray.

Erza was crying, but mostly from feeling touched. "How touching. To think that I'd get to witness something so moving! I'm happy for you two!"

"Um, quick question," I spoke as my irritation grew. "How long were you all standing there, and how much did you hear?"

"Pretty much around the time when you said you wanted Mira to listen to you," responded Lucy. "So… pretty much everything."

"Ha-ha! Way to go, kid!" Bacchus cheered. "I knew you had it in you to be wild!"

"Yeah! Way to be a real man, Willy!" Elfman also gladdened.

"Seriously! It's about time!" Lisanna called out. "How long were you two going to play hard to get?"

"Now, now. You know how it goes," smiled Sieri. "You can't rush love." She then squealed. "Even though I've been waiting for this for a long time!"

"Ah, to be young and in love again," hummed Makarov. "Makes me remember when I was a lad."

"Congratulations, you two!" said Wendy. "You two look so cute together!"

"Hey! What the heck do you think this is, a stage show?!" I shouted in frustration and embarrassment. "Get out of here!"

"Seriously! Do you all have any idea how long I've been waiting for this?!" Mira snapped crossly. "The least you all could have done was give us some privacy!" She then looked at me poutily. "Willy, this is your fault, too! Why didn't you confess to me somewhere more private?!"

"H-Hey! I didn't ask for an audience, so how could I have known?!" I complained.

"Anyway, we'll leave you two love birds alone," teased Alzack. "Try not to get too crazy out here."

"And let us know when the wedding is," chimed in Bisca. "I'll make sure to give you some pointers on how to propose to each other."

Everyone then scurried back inside, shutting the doors.

The two of us looked at each other, and then Mira started to giggle as she wiped away her tears.

"Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag now," she said. "Although, I still think this is partially your fault, Willy. But then again, Lisanna and Sieri were probably watching us and had everyone else join them."

"Like I said, how could I have known?" I sighed. "Either way, I get the feeling we're never going to hear the end of this for a while." I could feel myself blushing again. "So… um, since we love each other, does that mean… that we're…"

Mira looked at me, a shy blush also on her features, and while still smiling, she held her hand in mine and squeezed gently. "I'd… like to think that we are," she said quietly.

I could only stare with wide eyes as I felt like my entire body was going to explode. But my heart was hammering with joy, and I couldn't help but grin from cheek to cheek.