Chapter 15

The sun was beginning to set as Wendy and Carla on her human form finally returned to Fairy Tail's lively guild hall, their exhaustion evident. The mission had been grueling—not in terms of combat, but the sheer mental strain of navigating an intricate labyrinth of puzzles, traps, and hidden passageways. Their objective had been to steal a classified document from a corrupt politician's secret hideout, all while remaining completely unseen. Every step had required precise timing, patience, and the sharpest wit, leaving them more mentally drained than physically.

The moment Wendy spotted Naruto amidst the bustling guild, she practically threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist in a tight embrace. She buried her face into his chest, inhaling deeply, as if the familiar scent of warmth and comfort could wash away the stress of the mission.

Naruto, though slightly surprised, chuckled softly as he ruffled Wendy's blue hair. "Rough one, huh?" he mused, feeling her nod against him.

Carla, following just behind, let out a tired sigh, her usual poise giving way to visible exhaustion. "That was… certainly one of the more frustrating tasks we've had," she admitted, rubbing her temple.

"Ara~ Welcome home~" Mirajane's sweet voice chimed as she stepped forward, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

Wendy finally pulled away from Naruto, offering Mira a small, appreciative nod. Despite her fatigue, the warmth of being back at the guild filled her heart with relief.

"I'll get something good prepared for you two," Mira said, already heading toward the kitchen.

Wendy and Carla exchanged glances, the mere thought of a delicious meal from Mira bringing them a sense of peace. Whatever stress the mission had brought, they knew that, here, in the embrace of their guild and their friends, they could finally relax.

Normally, after returning from a mission, Naruto, Wendy, and Carla would head to the nearby forest to unwind—letting loose through a series of friendly sparring matches. Wendy would refine her Sky Dragon Slayer martial arts, Carla would demonstrate her agility and precision, and Naruto would test their reactions, pushing them just enough to help them grow stronger. It had become their post-mission routine, a way to shake off the tension of their work while honing their combat skills.

But today, Naruto decided to change things up.

Rather than the usual training, he instead walked up to the bar, where Mirajane was cleaning a glass with her usual radiant smile. "Yo, Mira-chan, got any twin popsicles?" he asked casually.

Mirajane giggled at his simple request, reaching into the cold storage and handing him a neatly wrapped twin popsicle ice cream. "Here you go~" she said, winking playfully.

Naruto unwrapped it with ease, then split the ice cream in half, handing one piece to Wendy and the other to Carla. The two blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

"Alright, take a break for now. No need to spar," Naruto said with a grin, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Wendy glanced at Carla before looking back at Naruto, surprised but ultimately nodding in agreement. They had grown so used to their routine that skipping it felt unusual, but the cold treat in their hands was a welcome substitute.

Mirajane's soft giggle sent a shiver down Naruto's spine. That innocent smile of hers? Yeah, pure bait. He knew all too well that behind those gentle eyes was a certified menace, waiting for the right moment to strike with teasing that could shake even the strongest warriors.

"So, what's your plan today, Naruto?" she asked sweetly, her voice dripping with honey.

Naruto, mid-bite into his popsicle, froze. His instincts flared—danger detected. This was no casual question. No, this was Mira fishing, and he was not about to take the bait.

He slowly swallowed, keeping his face neutral, but deep inside, alarms were blaring. Think fast, think fast—

He could already sense the nuke loading up in her arsenal, a tease of catastrophic proportions brewing behind her mischievous grin. He could almost hear the countdown.

Not today.

"Not now, Mira," he quickly waved his hands, denying her any chance of launching her mischief. "There are kids here..." he added, nodding toward Wendy and Carla, who were too busy enjoying their ice creams to notice the tension brewing.

Mirajane pouted playfully, resting her chin on her palm. "Oh? But I was just curious," she mused, tilting her head. "Nothing too bad~"

Naruto wasn't buying it for a second. He knew Mira too well. One wrong move and she'd start some wild rumor, or worse, turn this into another one of her 'helpful matchmaking schemes' that always ended up making his life ten times more chaotic.

He sighed, shaking his head. "You're way too dangerous," he muttered under his breath, taking another bite of his ice cream, hoping it would cool down his nerves.

Mira just laughed, completely unbothered. "Fufufu~ If you say so~"

Yeah, she wasn't done. Naruto could feel it. She was just biding her time.

Naruto, mid-slurp of his miso ramen, nearly choked as the entire guild erupted into chaos. The mere presence of Mystogan walking through the hall like a normal guy was enough to send shockwaves across Fairy Tail.

"Oi, oi," Macao muttered, rubbing his eyes as if he were hallucinating.

"Where's the sleeping spells?!" Wakaba yelped, instinctively bracing himself as if he were about to hit the floor.

Yet… nothing. No sudden drowsiness, no collapsing members, no magical knockout waves. Mystogan, infamous for knocking out the entire guild just to avoid unnecessary interactions, was standing there in broad daylight—fully awake, fully present.

And then—the real shocker.

Mystogan, the ever-elusive, ever-mysterious S-Class mage, walked straight toward Naruto's table and requested to sit next to him.

"EEEEHHHHHH?!"

The collective disbelief shook the very foundation of the guild.

Elfman's jaw dropped. "A real man only speaks when needed… and this man has barely spoken at all!"

Levy, peeking from behind a book, pushed up her glasses. "This might be the first time we've actually seen him interact voluntarily..."

Even Mirajane, always the composed one, blinked in mild surprise. "Oh my~ That's quite unexpected," she mused with a soft giggle, side-eyeing Naruto like she just found another piece of gossip fuel.

Meanwhile, Naruto just stared at Mystogan, one eyebrow raised. "Yo?"

Mystogan nodded. "Naruto. I need to talk to you."

The guild collectively gasped.

Macao was losing it. "HE SPOKE—"

Wakaba grabbed his collar. "I KNOW, SHUT UP!"

Naruto, unfazed by the attention, sighed and gestured toward the empty seat across from him. "Alright, alright, sit down before they all pass out from shock."

Mystogan took the seat.

The guild exploded into whispers, all eyes locked on Naruto and the mysterious mage.

What in the seven hells was going on?

"Truth be told, I was waiting for Wendy," Mystogan said, his voice carrying a certain weight as he addressed Naruto.

At the mere mention of her name, Wendy perked up, her eyes widening in surprise. She hadn't even noticed Mystogan's presence until now—probably because the entire guild's collective disbelief had drowned out all other thoughts.

But what truly made her freeze for a moment wasn't just the fact that he was looking for her. It was his voice.

There was something oddly familiar about it.

A strange feeling tugged at her chest, like an echo from a past she couldn't quite grasp. Her sharp Sky Dragon Slayer senses picked up the tone, the cadence—it was almost like... his.

Carla, sitting beside Wendy, narrowed her eyes. "Mystogan… what business do you have with Wendy?" she asked, her usual sharp intuition immediately kicking in.

Mystogan remained silent for a brief moment, his eyes hidden beneath his signature bandana. Then, finally, he spoke again, his voice steady but with an almost unspoken urgency beneath it.

"I need to talk to her… alone."

Silence.

The guild, which had been buzzing with whispered speculations, suddenly froze.

Wendy's heart pounded. Naruto exchanged a glance with Carla. The tension in the air was thick.

And then—

"EEEEHHHHHHH?!"

Another collective explosion of shock rippled through the guild.

Naruto subtly raised his hand, a silent signal for Carla to ease up. The Exceed, though still visibly wary, didn't press further, trusting Naruto's judgment for now. Wendy, however, after exchanging a brief glance with her friends, hesitated only for a second before nodding and trailing behind Mystogan as he led her to a more secluded space within the guild.

As the two disappeared from sight, Carla turned her sharp gaze toward Naruto, her ears twitching. "Naruto, what does he mean by all this?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Naruto exhaled, rubbing the back of his head as he leaned closer. Lowering his voice so that the rest of the nosy guild members wouldn't overhear, he muttered, "That guy… Mystogan… he's the one who took care of Wendy back then."

Carla's expression stiffened. "What?"

Naruto nodded. "Yeah. He's Jellal… but not the Jellal that we met back then."

Carla's ears twitched at the statement, but before she could question further, realization struck her. She recalled the fragmented memories Wendy had shared with her—the figure who had protected and guided her in the past, Jellal. However back from their mission before the the disbandment of Cait Shelter, after the subjugation of Oracion Seis. Carla watched as Jellal Fernandes get taken by the council garrison. And in their later discussion with Naruto, she told him that the Jellal that took care of Wendy may not be the same that was taken by the council. If Naruto's words were true, then Mystogan wasn't just some enigmatic S-Class wizard of Fairy Tail. He was someone far more important to Wendy's past than anyone had realized, her Jellal.

Wendy stood frozen, her breath hitching as Mystogan's hands slowly reached for his scarf. Her sharp senses had already picked up on it—the familiar scent, the cadence of his voice—but she had refused to believe it.

With one smooth motion, Mystogan pulled down his mask, unveiling a face that sent a shiver down Wendy's spine.

Jellal.

Or rather… someone who looked exactly like him.

Her lips parted slightly, her throat tightening with emotion. "Jellal…?" she whispered, hesitant, unsure. But deep down, she knew. Something was different. The aura he carried, the weight behind his gaze—it wasn't the same as the one she had met in Worth Woodsea.

Mystogan gave a small, somber nod. "I am… but I am not."

Wendy blinked, confusion flashing across her face.

He exhaled deeply, as if gathering the strength to finally put words to something long buried. "I am not the Jellal you encountered during the subjugation of Oración Seis," he clarified, his voice steady but laced with something melancholic. "I am from another world—Edolas."

Wendy's eyes widened. "Another… world?"

Mystogan nodded, allowing her time to process before continuing. "I was the one who left you in the care of Roubaul all those years ago," he admitted. "I did it to keep you safe… so that I could continue my mission to stop Anima."

Wendy took a step back, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of revelations. Her heart pounded in her chest. This was him—the one who had watched over her when she was younger, the one she had always hoped to see again.

Tears began to well up as memories came back to her rushing down, clutching Mystogan as if preventing him from walking away. Mystogan held her, apologizing as he deemed leaving her under Roubaul necessary to not burden her with his troubling identity. Wendy simply accepted it as she clutched onto him.

Mystogan felt the weight of Wendy's small hands clutching at his cloak, her body trembling against him. Her breath hitched, and he could feel the warmth of her silent tears soaking into the fabric.

"I looked for you," she whispered, her voice shaky. "I thought I had been abandoned… but I never stopped hoping."

Mystogan closed his eyes, guilt pressing heavy on his shoulders. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his hand resting gently on her back. "I had to leave you. I thought it was the only way to keep you safe… to make sure you could live without the burden of my past."

Wendy shook her head against his chest. "You didn't have to carry it alone."

"I deemed it necessary," Mystogan replied. He felt heavy, not from Wendy's weight, but from the emotions welling up inside him—the regret of leaving her behind, the choices he made in solitude. With the sudden stop of Anima, maybe—

Maybe things could have been different. Maybe he could have stayed.

Wendy pulled away slightly, her large, teary eyes searching his face for answers. "You were my family," she whispered, voice cracking. "You were all I had before Cait Shelter."

Mystogan clenched his fists, "I know," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I never stopped thinking about you."

Wendy bit her lip, wiping at her damp cheeks. "Then why does it feel like you were always so far away?"

Mystogan hesitated before gently placing a hand atop her head. "Because I thought distance was the only way to protect you." His voice carried the weight of years spent alone, of sacrifices he never explained. "But I see now… I was wrong."

Wendy took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Then don't disappear again."

A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at Mystogan's lips. "I won't."

For the first time in years, Wendy felt at peace.

The two embraced each other again, a silent understanding passing between them. This was closure—not perfect, not without pain, but enough.

A gruff voice interrupted them. "Maybe this is the time you put your guard down, Mystogan."

Wendy and Mystogan turned to see Makarov standing nearby, his aged gaze steady yet warm. The old guild master crossed his arms, watching the S-Class mage with knowing eyes. "You've carried too much on your shoulders alone. It's about time you let yourself rely on others."

Mystogan exhaled softly, the tension in his posture easing just a little. "Maybe you're right."

Wendy smiled through the lingering tears. "You're home now… right?"

Mystogan gave a small nod. "Yes. I am."

Back at the guild hall, Naruto sat with Carla, his usual laid-back demeanor barely masking the hint of concern in his expression. "Let her go for now," he said, arms crossed. "She needs this."

Carla huffed, folding her arms as well, but she wasn't truly upset—just wary. "Hmph. I suppose… but if he makes her cry again, I won't forgive him."

Naruto smirked at that, shaking his head. Before he could respond, Mirajane leaned over the counter with a sly smile. "Ara~ So your little Wendy is being taken away, huh? What a shame," she cooed, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Naruto instantly felt a shiver down his spine. "Oi, don't start, Mira."

But she was already on a roll. "Maybe it's time for you to move on too~" she teased, voice dripping with honey. "How about we—"

"Nope! There are kids here!" Naruto shot up, waving his hands frantically.

Mira giggled behind her hand, while Carla just closed her eyes, graciously plugged her cat-ears with her fingers, avoiding the indecency of the two. "Good grief, get a room you two…"

"Elfman~! Help me out here!" Naruto pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice as he turned to his supposed savior.

Elfman, however, only crossed his arms and nodded sagely, his expression one of approval. "It's okay, Naruto! You have my full support!" He then raised a determined fist. "YOU ARE A CERTIFIED MAN, AND AS A MAN, YOU MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!"

Before Naruto could process the impending disaster, Elfman's eyes gleamed with an almost unnatural intensity. With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forward. "MAKE ME AN UNCLE!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Naruto howled in despair, flailing as he tried to escape the sheer absurdity of the situation. "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STEER ME AWAY FROM HER, NOT THROW ME INTO THE FIRE! AAAAAHHHHH!"

Mirajane, watching from the counter, only giggled into her hand, thoroughly entertained.

Meanwhile, Carla just sighed, rubbing her temples. "This guild is absolutely hopeless…"

The next morning, Wendy and Carla scanned the guild hall, their eyes darting around expectantly. Yet, the familiar sight of Naruto slurping down his morning ramen was nowhere to be found.

"Where is he…?" Wendy murmured, tilting her head in confusion.

Macao and Wacaba, both nursing their morning drinks, overheard the inquiry. Macao leaned back, blowing out a puff of air. "Oh, that guy? He took off early for a tough mission. Needed to blow off some steam."

Wacaba chuckled, shaking his head. "Can't really blame him, kid got cooked by the Strauss siblings last night."

Carla sighed, rubbing her temples. "Y-yeah… I was there… I saw everything." The sheer secondhand embarrassment still lingered.

Macao scratched his chin, an amused smirk forming. "Still, it's kinda weird. I never thought I'd see the day someone passed up Mirajane."

Wacaba nodded sagely, exhaling a ring of smoke. "Right? That's a first in guild history."

Before anyone could add more to the conversation, a voice cut through the chatter.

"Well, he is a married man, after all."

"Yeah… right— no one's buying that pal~" Wacaba sarcastically remarked then he looked at the man who said it and dropped his cigar.

?!

It wasn't the casual statement but the one who said it, it sent a shockwave through the entire guild, as if an earthquake had just erupted inside the building.

Heads turned. Mouths gaped. Someone's drink hit the floor.

Mystogan had arrived.

MYSTOGAN!?

The elusive S-Class wizard, known for his constant avoidance of interaction, had appeared out of thin air and was now nonchalantly chiming in like he had been part of the conversation all along.

The reaction was instantaneous.

"EEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHH?!" The guild erupted in chaos.

"MYSTOGAN?! T-THAT MYSTOGAN?!"

"D-DID HE JUST CASUALLY SLID ON A CONVERSATION?!"

"Oi, is this a dream? Am i sleepin'?" Wacaba palmed his head and Macao smacked him.

A pause.

"Totally not a dream…" said the stone-faced Macao.

Wacaba stared at him, Macao slowly avoided eye contact with Wacaba.

"You ain't slick motherfucker!" Wacaba jumped him.

And so chaos ensues.

Meanwhile, Wendy and Carla stood frozen, their reactions vastly different.

Carla, her feline eyes narrowing, looked thoroughly bewildered. "What…?"

Wendy, on the other hand, barely registered the chaos. Her gaze locked onto Mystogan, eyes glassy, emotions bubbling up. A lump formed in her throat.

"OI! YOU CAN'T JUST SLIDE IN LIKE THAT!" Cana exclaimed after dropping her barrel of liquor to the counter she sat on, utterly flabbergasted. Never in her life did she think she'd witness the famed— most elusive man in the guild casually engaging in conversation with everyone. The sheer attention Mystogan had gathered caused a pink tint to dust his otherwise composed face underneath his mask.

"Je—" Wendy instinctively began, but she quickly caught herself. "Mystogan," she corrected, her voice softer, more certain.

Mystogan looked at her for a moment before placing a gentle hand on her head, ruffling her hair in a rare display of warmth. His posture, his presence—it all spoke one clear message.

He wasn't going anywhere this time.

Makarov stood atop the balcony, overlooking the bustling guild hall below. His wise, aged eyes took in the sight of his elusive S-Class wizard—Mystogan—finally letting his walls crack, if only by small steps. The once-distant figure was now standing among his guildmates, engaging with them instead of fading into the background like a shadow.

A knowing smile tugged at Makarov's lips.

This… this was because of Naruto.

The boy's unyielding energy, his knack for dragging even the most withdrawn souls into the warmth of companionship—he had done it again. Pushing Mystogan toward Naruto had been a gamble, but one that was already paying off.

Chuckling to himself, Makarov leaned back. Looks like this old man still has a trick or two left.

Later that loud and chaotic morning, as the guild finally settled down from Mystogan's unexpected presence, a new sight took center stage—Mystogan, Wendy, and Carla standing together before the request board.

Wendy practically vibrated with excitement, her bright eyes scanning the various missions before nudging Mystogan eagerly. "Let's take a tough one!" she chirped, her voice full of determination. "I want to show you how much I've grown since we got separated!"

Mystogan turned his gaze toward her, the corner of his lips twitching slightly in what could almost be considered a smile. He didn't say much, but the warmth in his eyes was enough.

Carla, standing beside Wendy, puffed out her chest with a confident smirk. "Don't underestimate her Mr. Mystogan, Wendy's pretty strong."

Mystogan gave a slow nod, scanning the missions thoughtfully.

He patted the two and they set out for their quest.

"Let's go!"

Meanwhile, in a far-off place, away from Magnolia…

A secluded island.

The very island where Erza's team had embarked on their S-Class quest.

Inside her Celestial Spirit, Horologium, Lucy sat curled up, her arms wrapped around her knees as she shook in horror.

Outside, an absolutely cursed sight unfolded before her.

Natsu, Happy, Gray and even Erza Scarlet—the indomitable Titania—were all boogying down in perfect sync with a horde of baboons, their bodies moving in unnatural, hypnotic rhythm.

"W-what is this—WHAT IS THIS NIGHTMARE?!" Lucy wailed, her cries muffled by the safety of Horologium's confines.

A bright wooden sign stood next to the chaotic scene, the mission details written in bold letters:

S-CLASS QUEST:
DANCING BABOON INFESTATION!

"Please return the baboons to their natural habitat by beating them into submission! Despite their silly appearance, they are incredibly dangerous in packs. Only highly competent wizards PLURAL! should take on this mission."

Reward: 500,000 Jewels.

Lucy's trembling gaze darted back to her teammates—her so-called incredibly competent wizards.

"Hoo! Hoo-ha! Hoo-hoo-ha!" Natsu spun on one foot, arms flailing.

Gray shirtless as always, was aggressively moonwalking. "Hee—hee—"

Happy breakdanced on his tiny cat paws, a dead-serious expression on his face.

And Erza, the Queen of Fairies, the terror of all who opposed Fairy Tail—was effortlessly pop-and-locking like she had trained for this her entire life.

Lucy's face paled.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Chapter End