Hey, Just a short chapter timeline for watching. Don't expect it to be too much! Anyway…read it!
Chapter 15: Happy New Year
As always, the mages of Fairy Tail had taken a small break between the viewing's, the last timeline of futuristic nonsense slowly fading from the memories of all. While only a few minutes had passed, some were chomping at the bit to view something new and exciting.
Natsu rested his chin on the table, watching with extreme jealousy as Jet sauntered toward the cube, his grin cocky. "Oh yeah oh yeah, this is gonna be great!" cracking his knuckles, the speed mage then winked at Levy. "This next universe, we're going to be married, Levy"
"Ugh…why is my team filled with idiots?" Rubbing her temples, the script mage knew it was possible in the grand scheme of realities.
"Fish…come on fish universe!" Happy hoped as the blue cat sat upon Natsu's head, the fire mage hoping for grilled meat in some form.
Erza waved a finger, the beautiful redhead lecturing. "Obviously we're hoping for a timeline with the most delectable cheesecake. Meat and fish are far too boring"
"Your mistaken Erza. The next timeline will be extremely manly!" Flexing his muscles and biceps, Elfman knew that he was right in every regard.
Obviously, Erza and mostly all the mages within the guild thought he was just being loud and obnoxious.
Mira smiled at her brother, humoring him as Jet prepared to push the green button on the dimensional cube. "Let's just hope it's relatively normal without monsters or bloodshed. We can all agree on that for a desired outcome" smiling warmly at her friends, the stunning barmaid found many agreeing with her words.
"Heh…come on wife Levy!"
"Don't say that!" Barking out a scolding tone as Jet slammed his palm down, Levy couldn't believe her friend and teammate.
Juvia's gaze narrowed, the watermage scrutinizing the speed mage with suspicion. "How dare he wish for a marriage universe when Juvia hasn't seen one with Gray yet…"
Natsu and Happy watched the strange looks of Juvia, the cat then whispering to his fire mage friend. "I think the cube has made all the women insane, Natsu"
"Yeah, probably" chuckling a bit, the lenses flared, then showed the next timeline upon the far wall.
Light snow dusted the city park, covering the lawns and trails while icicles hung from the branches of bare trees. Bustling traffic weaved down the nearby roads filled with traffic while the distant skyline glinted with dull sunlight.
A few people were walking along the park pathways, bundled up in thick coats, hats and gloves that protected them from the cold temperatures.
Two women jogged, their cheeks giving a light pink hue as they kept a healthy pace while still wearing warmer attire. Hair colors or styles were hidden beneath hats, not that it really mattered as they ran under a small brick bridge to emerge on the other side. Avoiding a young mom pushing a stroller, the duo talked as they ran.
"So Nancy, what are you doing for New Years?" Gasping with slight exertion, the first woman kept pace.
"Drinking obviously. Shots, partying! Who knows, maybe I'll meet somebody to take home" Laughing as they continued to run, the women passed a very old man sitting on a bench.
Weathered and wrinkled with a very long, white beard, the man wore a dull, brown coat with the number '2024' stenciled in big red letters along its horizontal length. A dingy hat of dirty gray rested upon his head, partially hiding whisps of white hair and several age spots. His boots were worn and scuffed, indicating heavy use. Reaching into a brown bag, the man flung some seeds onto the path nearby, drawing the thankful chirps of several birds and pigeons. Pecking at the morsels, the avians were content as the old man sighed.
"It's only a few hours away…the new year. A year filled with rising global tensions between Russia and the United States. War in the middle east, riots and civil strife…so much has happened. Far too much for this old man to see through" Frowning sadly, he flung some more bird seed, his strength almost gone from a long life. "Maybe China will invade Tiawan next year, that will cause a global war, hehe" The laugh was a rasp, barely audible as he coughed harshly, hacking up a glob of phlegm which he spit out with discomfort.
"The United States again. And a rival country named Russia? Don't know about the Middle East though" Stroking his gray beard, Makarov wished he had a better understanding of these strange countries.
Lisanna clasped her hands, the woman's face filled with sorrow. "That poor old man. He seems so sad and lonely. I hope he has some family left to be with on the new year"
"Well said" Smiling at her younger sister, Mira found the sentiment infectious as she returned her attention to the unfolding timeline.
The view rapidly shifted, flowing past the park, bare trees, and pedestrians that walked briskly on the salted sidewalks. Traffic flowed slowly, the cars spewing exhaust as some pedestrians entered the lines of offices and stores. Cafes and restaurants were popular as shoppers bought steaming cups of coffee or cocoa.
At the far end of the city park, a grayish structure stood twenty stories tall, its appearance relatively blocky. Glass windows glinted under bouncing rays of sunlight, the offices within housing several companies and businesses. Toward the left of the building, an alleyway lined with several dumpsters and fire-escapes were attached to the structure, the trash receptacles covered in snow and ice.
Appearing from the shadows of the alleyway, a baby in a black suit appeared while carrying a high gloss briefcase. The shoes were polished and sheening, reflecting bits of sunlight. Across the baby's breast were large numbers, 2025 blazed in crimson. Moving to a side door, the infant gained entrance, but only after checking for interlopers one last time.
"Why is that baby alone!? Where is the mother!? OR FATHER!?" Screaming in alarm at how a baby was wandering alone in a bustling city, Bisca couldn't imagine leaving Asuka alone for any reason.
"Uh…yeah! And who bought that baby such a great suit!?" Alzack asked with equal surprise, only to get a glare from his stunning wife. "Don't be an idiot, dear"
"Maybe in this reality, baby's wear suits?" Hisui pondered, finding the statement and idea strange while stroking her chin in mild contemplation.
"It is beautifully possible, my queen. After all, the multiverse is infinite with possibilities." Cosmos said rapidly, before brushing her pink hair in a light toss.
Whistling softly to himself, the baby entered the emergency stairwell of the building, avoiding the front lobby and possible interference. Beginning his ascent up the concrete stairs, the suited infant passed fire extinguishers on each level, along with the large painted numbers of each floor.
Nobody came to meet the baby as he finally reached the twentieth floor, his suit and appearance completely unruffled from the moderate exercise. Pushing the roof access door open, the baby was greeted by a rooftop of desolate frost and snow, the majority removed by snow removal specialists.
Walking toward the edge of the roof, an electrical power box was only a few feet from the waist high barrier, giving the baby an excellent platform.
"I wonder what that baby is doing?" Wendy asked Carla, the young woman and exceed equally confused by the whole situation.
"Whatever it is, it will involve that briefcase" Romeo offered with a simple observation.
Staying silent as he opened the briefcase, the contents revealed themselves as baby formula, an obvious diversion for anybody unfortunate enough to seize the belongings. Pushing down on the center bottle, a soft click was heard as the false front of formula lifted upward.
Below, an unassembled rifle took up the contents of the case, which the baby began to expertly assemble with practiced ease.
"Why does that baby have a gun!? I wouldn't trust Natsu with one let alone a baby!" Lucy shouted with obvious panic.
"Yeah! Punching is way better than bullets anyway!" Agreeing with his friend, the fire mage missed the point entirely as Bisca fumed nearby. "Clearly, this baby has terrible parents. If I find them I'm going to give them the mom lecturing of a lifetime!" Clenching her fists, Bisca would make anybody regret her lecturing…which her husband could attest to on numerous occasions.
The infant hefted the rifle, planting the supporting bipod on the edge of the electrical box as he lay prone, his suit remaining pressed and clean. Peering through the scope, he aimed at the park below, seeking out the target.
"It's time for you to die, old man. Twenty Twenty five is going to be one hell of a year" Grinning from ear to ear, the baby began to squeeze the trigger.
Across the park, the decrepit old man tried to scoop one last bunch of seeds for the birds, but his hand refused to work as coughing overtook him. "L…looks like…eh…this is the…the end"
The gunshot rang out, blowing the old man's head away in a gruesome spray of blood, bone and gore. Crumpling to the ground as onlookers screamed and cried for help, the old man lay still while the cold breeze flapped his coat.
Two thousand twenty four was dead.
"AH! NO WAY! THAT BABY JUST KILLED A GUY!" Gajeel shouted with a pointed finger and loud voice.
"I'm never having kids. What if they try to kill me while I'm in the park?" Gray asked, the ice mage glancing toward Asuka for a brief moment. "No…Asuka's nice…she wouldn't kill us"
The little girl waved at Gray, drawing a shriek from the man as he tried to avoid the young child.
Of course, Juvia heard the madness of the insane statement, rushing to her love's side. "Fear not, my love! Juvia will protect you from murderous babies with her own, super baby! Yes…a baby from Gray…" Clearly crazed, Juvia eyed all the women in the hall, daring them to interfere.
Laxus scoffed, clearly not interested in the insane watermage and mental anguish of Gray. "Great, now she's gonna be all riled up for the next hour or so"
"Indeed, Laxus. Although it's concerning how we all seemed to just accept the fact that babies can kill"
"Hah! That's why I don't trust babies!" Standing on the table, Natsu was all bravado as he crossed his arms with extreme confidence. "Next baby I see, I know its an assassin and I'll punch it!"
"You'll do no such thing!" Punching Natsu in the side with a heavy, womanly fist, Erza sent the fire mage flying as steam rose from the curled digits and enclosed hand. With a glare that could melt steel, she stared at her friend who had crashed against the wall. "I will not allow you to attack infants Natsu. The possibility that you would try will cause me to punish you"
Groaning as he tried to pick himself up, Natsu then pointed at the unknown timeline. "Don't blame me if we get attacked by babies! I tried to save us all!"
"Lets just try and watch a little more, maybe that old man was a very horrible criminal years ago?" Lisanna stated before her inner thoughts went down a different course.
Standing up on the electrical box, the infant pulled some sunglasses from a lapel pocket. Flicking them open as they were covered in the design of the American flag, he crossed his arms as the sky began to roil and thunder with growing power. Lightning began to flash and fall, striking several buildings as the baby remained unmoving in a very cool stance.
"Fuck yeah. I'm the new year, bitches" Lightning struck the baby moments later, coursing down his body as his stature began to transform and ripple with power. Growing to a height of six feet, the tailored suit grew with the now adult and very handsome man, his crimson colors of 2025 flaring with bits of electricity.
Waving black hair, a trimmed goatee and a very muscular body rippling with strength had replaced the infant. Flexing his fists, the man grinned as he jabbed his closed fists skyward, the cracks of lightning piercing the dour sky.
"BRING IT ON! I'M TWENTY TWENTY FIVE AND NOBODY CAN BEAT ME FOR A WHOLE YEAR! AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!"
Rock and Roll music played as the man jumped from the building, his youthful vigor rising. Slamming into the concrete, he stood up, dusting off his suit and instantly drawing several stares from women who clearly found him irresistible. Giving a cocky grin, he sauntered down the street as the music still played from an unknown source.
Levy hit the button, the woman more confused than anything as the connection severed. Trying to say something, her mind failed to find the words.
"Ohhhh…I think I get it! Every year, the new year kills the old one and gets transformed into an attractive man with theme music!" Drinking some more beer, Cana leaned back against the bar, her large chest pushing outward as the material strained. "Yeah, now it makes sense"
"How did any of that make sense?" Mira asked, the barmaid's brain hurting from watching the stupidity of the whole thing.
"Made sense to me" Natsu chimed in as he retook his seat.
Huffing to herself, Mira wasn't going to debate with Natsu or Cana about how all that was just random nonsense.
"Do you think that new year will get killed the same way next year?" Levy asked, hoping for some clarification.
"Probably. I wouldn't worry about it too much" Evergreen filled in as she propped her chin on her hand, supporting her head with a bored look. "Lets just move onto the next timeline in a few minutes. Preferably without baby assassins"
"If that's the case, I'm going next…right after I finish my beer" Sipping slowly, Makarov was in no rush as the next timeline could hold humor, horror, or insanity. Letting the mages talk among themselves, the guild master could only hope nudity would appear in the next universe.
That's it! Just a small chapter for the New Year! Hope everybody had a safe one!
TheHappy