Chapter 29

Fantasia

"Speech"

'Thoughts' / 'Telepathy'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

Unknown Forest

A ball of floated through a heavy forest, ducking under branches. It stopped at the largest tree as deep blue eyes opened and shined out of the hole in the trunk. "Hello, Drusta."

"Grandeeney, its good to see you." Drusta poked her head out and stared at the ball. "But you know the rules. We're not aloud to talk to each other."

"What's wrong with wanting to talk to an old friend?" The ball asked.

"What do you want?" Drusta asked, getting annoyed.

"I must say, your daughter is doing extremely well." Grandeeney complemented. "But she still hasn't reached her full potential. Still, I do find it amusing that she fell in love with Igneel's child. Fire and wood don't typically-"

"DO NOT MENTION THAT NAME!" Drusta roared, shaking all of the leaves in the forest. "I appreciate what his son has done for my daughter, but I despise Igneel."

"I know." The ball said. "But still, about those... unique genes you found."

"That will never come into play." Drusta said as she sat down.

"I hope you're right." The ball faded away as Drusta closed her eyes again.

Magnolia

Porlyusica walked down the street, listening to the humans complain that the Fantasia Parade wouldn't happen until tomorrow. Rumor of Makarov's condition travelled fast as people started wondering who the new guild master would be should his heath fail him.

"Laxus would make the most sense." Someone said as she walked by. "But he's a such a jerk. Who would put him in charge?"

"I've known him since he was a kid, and now he might be the new master." Another said. "Now I really do feel like an old man."

Guildhall

"Thanks to Porlyusica, the master is going to pull through." Erza declared to the whole guild. "He'll be back to work in no time." The guild cheered at the statement and raised their mugs in joy. "Still, he's not as young as he use to be. So any added stress could affect his health. So everyone be on your best behavior."

"Is it a good idea to hold the Fantasia Parade after that just happen?" Lucy asked.

"But the master wants us to do it." Mirajane added. "It seems like the perfect way to cheer everyone up after that mess."

"I can't wait to see what you have planned for the parade!" Juvia cheered from behind Gray.

"You're not gonna watch it, you're gonna be in it." Cana said, shocking the bluenette.

"But, but I just joined..." Juvia mumbled.

"A lot of members were injured fighting against each other, so anyone who can move has to participate." Happy mumbled with a fish in his mouth.

"Does that mean I'm gonna be in it too?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, we need all the people we can get." Gray answered. "Besides, it's not like those three can help out." He pointed over to Natsu, Gajeel, and Laki, all heavily bandaged.

"Screw you and your parade!" Gajeel growled.

Natsu mumbled something under his bandages, confusing Lucy. "You can barely stand, Natsu." Laki said as she rubbed his head. Natsu mumbled something back, making Laki smile at him

"How is it that they can understand each other?" Lucy asked.

"Maybe 'cause they've spent so much time together." Happy suggested. "Or she's just as stupid as him."

Erza stared at the hall and smiled at the merriment of her fellow members. Footsteps drew everyone to the front door in anger as Laxus walked into the guild. "What do you want?" Wakaba asked as he walked past him.

"Where's the old man?" The blonde asked Erza, throwing the whole guild into a frenzy of protest.

"Quiet!" Erza shouted, calming the whole guild down. "The master's in the infirmary."

"Are you serious?" Jet asked in anger. Laxus walked past him and Erza, as everyone else stared at him until Natsu slid in front of the blonde.

"Natsu..." Laxus mumbled as the two locked eyes.

Natsu pointed at him and mumbled something incoherent, leaving the whole guild flabbergasted.

"Can you translate?" Lucy asked Laki as she walked over.

"Basically, next time it'll just be you and me, no one else." Laki said. "You're going down hard, and you better fight against me again sometime Laxus, and I won't lose then."

"More like a draw." Gajeel confessed as he walked over and Laxus walked past Natsu. "Look at what he did to us. I don't even wanna think about what would have happened if he was around during the Phantom battle. I might be six feet under by now."

Natsu turned around in anger and mumbled again. Laxus waved his hand back and Natsu stared wide eyed. "Shows over!" Erza shouted. "Let's get ready for the Fantasia parade!"

Laxus walked into the infirmary and closed the door behind him. "A rowdy bunch, aren't they?" Laxus asked as his grandfather sat up.

"Laxus, do you understand how serious your actions are?" The old man asked, making the blonde look away. "Look me in the eyes, boy." The blonde obeyed and stared at his grandfather. "This guild is a place where friends can gather. Where wizards can find work. And where children whom fate seems to have cursed, can feel like they are apart of something special. It's not something that can be owned."

"This guild was built upon the trust and honor of each individual member. Without that, no bonds will be formed and the entire guild will fall apart. Your actions have proven that you lack these traits, and you threatened the lives of your comrades. That is unforgivable."

"I'm sorry, sir." The blonde said, looking up. He clenched his fist in anger before letting out a heavy sigh. "I just... wanted to make the guild stronger... I never meant to hurt anyone."

"I swear, your just as high strung as I am." Makarov jumped off the bed and slid into his slippers before walking over. "You'd better relax or you'll end up here with me. Take some time and smell the roses. If you do, you'll be able to see thing you couldn't see before. Life is something to be enjoyed, you know?"

Laxus looked away in shame. "I've watch you grow into the man you are today. Where did I go wrong, what lessons did you not learn? The past is the past, and I am left with only one choice." The two stared in silence until Makarov spoke up. "Laxus, you are hear by expelled from Fairy Tail."

The blonde felt his whole world crumble around him. "Right... thanks." The two turned around and Laxus headed for the door. "Grandpa..."

Makarov tried to hold back his tears as Laxus walked out the door.

Magnolia Park

"This has to be a joke, right!?" Evergreen shouted. "Why would he kick you out and not the rest of us!?"

"We're just as guilty as you are!" Bickslow added and his dolls repeated.

"Guess he doesn't see it that way." Laxus said back.

"If you're leaving, then I am two!" Evergreen shouted.

"There's no reason for us to stick around if you're not here!" Bickslow added.

"You guys are so annoying sometimes." Laxus smirked. "Can't you just say goodbye and be done with it?"

"I don't understand..." Freed mumbled, finally joining the conversation. "We're at fault too, so why are you taking the blame?"

"You got it all wrong." Laxus shook his head. "Say what you want, but you guys are way more attached to the guild than I could be."

"We'll ask the master about this!" Evergreen shouted. "Maybe we can change his mind."

"Natsu and Gray respect you, so I'm sure they'll back us up." Bickslow added.

Laxus grabbed his bag off the ground and flung it over his shoulder before he turned around and walked away. "Take care, you guys."

"Don't leave!" Bickslow shouted. "What's gonna happen to the Thunder Legion?"

His question went unanswered as Freed stared in silence with a smile. 'We'll meet again, Laxus.'

Rocky Plain

"Wonderful news, Ultear." A voice said through her orb. "What happened to Jellal?"

"Honestly, I couldn't care less." The woman said back.

"The buffoon never had a clue you were the one behind the whole thing... Pathetic." The voice added.

"He wasn't the brightest boy, but he was adorable." Ultear added darkly. "I still can't believe that in all those years, he never realized that I was pretending to be the spirit of Lord Zeref."

"Your ability set the stage for a wonderful play." The man said back. "The council is in turmoil and the etherion was fired. Out plan is coming closer to realization."

"I had hoped the confusion would have allowed you to move freely." Ultear said.

"It worked perfectly." The man said. "One of the keys needed is now in my position."

"That's good, master Hades." Ultear said with a chuckle. "I'm sorry things had to end this way, my dear Jellal."

Magnolia

Fireworks shot into the sky as the whole town cheered at the floats going past them. All the wizards of Fairy Tail shoes off their magic, starting with Cana making her cards float in mid air. She, Wakaba and Macao sent their magic into the sky and they collided, creating hearts in the night sky.

Laxus watched from the side with a smile smile as Bisca, Lucy and Levy followed on a float and did a ribbon dance.

Elfmans float followed them as he stood in his beast form, roaring in front of a castle that was topped with a rose. The rose opened and Mirajane popped out, making everyone cheer. Those cheers died out the second she turned herself into a giant lizard.

Gray and Juvia, dressed in a king and Queen outfit, followed them as Gray created a castle of ice. He nodded at Juvia and she summoned a current of water above it and then Gray created the words Fairy Tail in ice on it.

Laki's float followed after them. Dressed up as a dryad, she pulled herself off the stand until she was free and shot her hands up to the sky. Trees rose up around her until she waved her hands and they all morphed into a giant Fairy Tail symbol.

Near the back of the parade was Erza's float. Erza spun her swords around her before she twirled and glowed into a new revealing outfit with four pigtails.

Natsu walked behind her and behind him was a mountain of flames. He pulled his head back and spat the words 'Fairy Tail' in flames until he coughed, scaring Happy.

Other members followed them as Makarov watched from the very last float. "Hey master." The old man turned around and looked at Gajeel.

"You're really not gonna be in the parade, Gajeel?" He asked.

"Spotlights aren't really my thing." He said back.

"Whatever you say, mister 'shooby do ba." Makarov chuckled.

Gajeel almost shouted back, but instead sighed and pulled out a piece of paper. "Here, this is for you. It took me a while, but I tracked down your son for you."

"Thank you, my boy." Makarov said as he took the scrap. "I'm sorry it was so dangerous."

"Not a problem." Gajeel said back. "It was actually kinda fun. That guy has no idea I'm a double agent."

"We can't let him do as he pleases..." Makarov said and then someone called for him. "Sorry, but my public awaits."

Laxus walked down the streets when he heard someone point out the master. A smile grew on his face and he turned to leave but something compelled him to turn around. His eyes went wide as the whole guild gave the symbol of victory to him.

The blondes eyes filled up with tears until they burst. "Grandpa..."

'I may not be able to see you.' Makarov thought to himself. 'They're maybe thousands of miles between us. But I'll always be looking your way. I'll forever be watching you.' Tears fell faster from the blondes eyes as he turned and left the town.

"The party's just getting start!" Natsu cheered. "Okay guys, who's proud to be a member of Fairy Tail!?" The whole guild erupted into cheers as the parade carried on.

No matter how many times I watch it, I feel NO pity for Laxus in this scene.

Someone in the reviews a while back suggested that I should have called Laki 'the Wood Nymph'. My problem with this is nymph is where we get the word 'Nymphomanic' or a person who REALLY likes sex, and that does not describe Laki's character, at all. This seemed like a fair nod to it.

One question I'll ask before I go. Do you want me to do the two episodes before the Oración Seis arc or just skip to it? Let me know in the reviews and see you next time.

Beta read by Natsu is Awesome.