Here is the fifty-fourth chapter in this story released in accordance with the release schedule, which in this case is the two year anniversary of the publication of this story. The Grand Magic Games are over so it's time for the Guilds to return home and first up is Fairy Tail. What is waiting for them in Magnolia though? Well let's see as that is all the administrative stuff I have for y'all and there are some questions to answer, they were in one of the two guest revies that need a response and so I will do that there and there now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.
To Guest (guest), glad that you enjoyed the chapter. Yup, Yami, Noelle, and Mimosa know all about King Clover and how he pales in comparison to King Fiore so they're right there to defend Hisui's decision to accept her punishment and grow from it. Yami made sure everyone knew the situation and that Hisui was doing the right thing as the Princess and future Queen so that she can be a great ruler when her time comes, and inadvertently positioning himself to be an unofficial advisor to her what with teaching her ki at some point and now defending her. Asta does have a very squeezable head and he deserved it for that little stunt and I'm sure Makarov is taking pointers on how to deal with loudmouthed morons in his Guild. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To kiwifruit152 (guest), don't worry, the review was good and polite while explaining your questions so there was nothing wrong with it and I'll do my best to answer your questions. While it is unlikely that Asta will learn zetten in this story, your question is worth thinking about as you do make a good point regarding the 5 headed dragon. The main issue here is whether there are differences between that dragon and the Fairy Tail ones, beyond the 5 heads verses one head, and that's not clear. There is also the fact that the 5 headed dragon was purified by Lucius's Paladins and that might cause unknown changes. As such, and given what we know about Fairy Tail dragons, I'd say that it would probably depend on the dragon in question and how strong their scales are. They are known to be highly durable but blunt force damage can affect them so I'd say that Asta's zetten could at least bruise them but full effects will range from dragon to dragon. For example, Motherglare, the dragon that Natsu crashed into the Eclipse Gate, is exceptionally well armored and durable as it's the Diamond Dragon so Asta would have to hit its underbelly to affect it but a less armored dragon might be more affected. As for comparing ki to Toph's seismic sight, I don't think that that would work. Ki can sense things in nature but something that small and precise that isn't living, to me, seems a bit too much for anyone to do. Toph can 'see' the bits of impurity in metal because of her vibrations which coupled with her lifetime of perfecting her sight can find something that precise. I'd say that it would be easier for Asta to try to evolve ki to sense metal in general but whether that's possible I don't know. That's how I see it and at the moment Asta doesn't really need to learn that as he can determine flying swords by reading the controller's ki as he showed against Liebe. I hope this answers your questions, I know they're a bit vague but there really isn't a definitive answer, just my own opinion on them. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
That is it for this long pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the fifty-fourth chapter in Black Bull Banishment.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.
Chapter 54: Wake of the Games
"We did it!" Natsu said loudly as the members of Fairy Tail walked down the wide, central, avenue in Magnolia, the citizens of the city out in force and cheering for them while confetti rained down and banners had been strung across and besides the street to show that this was a celebration. "We kicked every single magic butt that we saw!"
"That makes us the champs!" Happy added leaping up next to Natsu. "Oh yeah!"
"Wow, it looks like everyone's come out to celebrate and honor us even though we didn't actually win the Grand Magic Games." Lucy said as she and Erza walked behind Natsu and Happy who were cheering where they were. "Or, you know, do what Natsu said seeing as the whole team lost in the Battle Royale and almost all to the same person. I'm still struggling to believe that myself if I'm honest because I didn't see it so it's hard to believe even if the results confirm it."
"Yes but Asta proved to be the stronger one on the day and more than earned the win for the Black Bulls while Charmy did her part when she ran into Juvia and Sheila, that was a matchup we'd hoped to avoid." Erza said, she was dressed in her usual civilian attire with her hair down and was smiling at the cheers from the citizens of Magnolia despite their loss. "But I'll admit, I wasn't expecting this grand of an entrance for coming in second place. We may have regained our status as a top tier Guild and had the lead going into the final battle but we failed to reclaim the top spot so all this is a bit overwhelming."
"Ah who cares about semantics, just because one guy wasn't beaten, we still kicked every other magical butt out there!" Natsu said clearly unphased by the technicalities of Grand Magic Games and the ensuing rankings while also being unaware of how technically correct he was but so far only Erza knew that Asta didn't actually have any magic at all though even she didn't know the full extent of where his powers came from. "And besides, we were the ones who ended the dragon threat, saved the city, and prevented the destruction of Fiore. That's a win in my book!"
"Whatever!" Makarov shouted arms in the air and Asca happily riding on his shoulders. "Fairy Tail is still the greatest Guild originally from Fiore! That can't be taken from us!"
"Hey Mira! You're the only girl out there for me!" One of the guys in the crowds lining the streets shouted at her. "Vanessa and Jenny have got nothing on you! Glad you're back!"
"Aw thank you." Mira said waving to the crowd. "I'm happy to be back."
"How awesome is the view up there!" Elfman said from behind his older sister and to his younger sister who was on his shoulders just like Asca was on Makarov's. "Can you see everything?"
"It's awesome but a little embarrassing." Lisanna admitted flushing a bit.
"Wow! This is some homecoming." Lily said from where he walked with Gajeel. "You'd think that they wouldn't be like this after we didn't win the Grand Magic Games."
"So what if we just lost, it was because of one punk that's all." Gajeel said. "Without him we'd have won handily. Plus, we still put Fairy Tail back on top in the end. Salamander's right, it's just a technicality and we'll surpass those bulls next time. I've gotta make up for losing to the loudmouthed brat, we've got our own version of that already I can't stand losing to another one."
"Then we should get back to hard training." Lily said. "I too would like to face this Asta kid, anyone who can best Erza in a sword duel is a worthy opponent."
"Oh yeah that as well, we're going to get real strong." Gajeel said grinning. "Then we'll be the first in Fairy Tail to beat Asta."
"Thank you all for cheering us on in the games." Wendy said as she walked and bowed her head her voice a bit quite while Lily just nodded in agreement with Gajeel. "Every single one of yours support meant so much to us."
"Wendy you have to speak up if you want them to hear you." Carla said from behind her. "I know it's a large crowd but you're confident now, show it."
"Let's party!" Cana shouted over the cheers of the crowd and cutting off any potential response for Wendy. "We did it so we deserve to let lose!"
"Did what? I still failed in the final battle and we had a chance of winning even though we were down by 1 at the time." Laxus said from next to her. "And even the dragons were only beat because Natsu crashed one into the gate, we didn't even kill one of them like the Black Bulls did."
"Who cares!" Cana shouted. "This is still an excuse to party!"
"You never need an excuse." Laxus said with a sigh. "But yeah we did do a lot of good and brought Fairy Tail back to respectability. Just try not to puke until after the parade, this is an unexpected honor so we should look good for it."
Cana clearly didn't hear him as she continued to cheer while the rest of Fairy Tail also let lose and celebrated the parade that they'd been honored with. That was because after the Grand Ball they'd spent the night in Crocus before they came back to Magnolia via various carriages or via their magic or in some cases the new brooms that the Black Bulls had been selling for the last few years. They may have failed to win it all but they'd shown their stuff and there was no way that new and better jobs weren't waiting for them so they had to get back and right into Guild business to capitalize on their success.
What none of them had expected was that the whole city would be out in force and waiting for them when they returned to Magnolia so that they could throw Fairy Tail a parade to celebrate their recent accomplishments. However, there had been and the members of Fairy Tail were being honored for their recent success in the Grand Magic Games so they went with it.
The fact that many in the crowd cheered their support and encouraged them to beat the Black Bulls next year only added to it. They'd rebuilt their reputation and were now back to where they were before the incident 7 years ago, well almost back as there was a new player in Fiore who'd appeared while they were away and shown them that they still had a little more to do to reclaim their title of Fiore's Number 1 Guild, a title that was now a year away at least.
As such it was a great time to celebrate and cheer while also being motivated to do one better the next year and fully reclaim their top spot. However, despite all this, there was still one person in the group who wasn't happy. That person was Gray and he walked towards the back of the parade next to Juvia taking it all in but not smiling as he walked.
The reason for that was simple, he wasn't happy at the moment. In the carriage with the rest of Team Natsu and on the way back to Magnolia, they'd chanced to pass an old woman in the road with her eyes closed and looking at the sun. Only Gray had seen her and she'd looked at him as the carriage pulled away and smiled. In that moment he recognized her but the woman just shook her head at him and so instead of stopping the carriage so that Gray could interact with her, they carried on as Gray cried but he didn't let the others see him.
That was because in that moment he'd realized that that woman was Ultear, his master's daughter and who he'd managed to rebuild somewhat of a relationship with after fighting her on Tenrou Island. Since then she and Meredy had freed Jellal and the trio had formed an independent Guild that hunted and destroyed Dark Guilds in an effort to drive evil from the world, a way of atonement for them.
Then, after Fairy Tail's missing members had returned, and several had ended up missing three more months in the Celestial Spirit World, the trio had reached out to them to help Team Natsu out before the Grand Magic Games. It had been Ultear who had used her magic to allow them to tap into their Second Origins and boost them for the Games, which they would be at watching over with Jellal even participating briefly pretending to be his Edolas counterpart.
They'd been in the background and even helped save Natsu at one point during his mission to rescue Lucy. However, as Gray saw the old woman that Ultear had become, he put two and two together with the memory he had of himself getting hit in the heart by a dragonling beam and realized that that had actually happened and that Ultear had, like her mother before her, sacrificed herself to save Gray and many others as well. The only difference being Ur had died while Ultear had just rapidly aged and so he was overcome by emotions at it.
Clearly it was Ultear's wish for Gray to not tell anyone about her current situation, she likely just wanted to quietly live out what days she had remaining as an old woman, and Gray would honor that wish. Still, it was hard and he'd not smiled since then even with the current celebration being thrown for them and that was something that Juvia noticed as they walked even if she didn't know the reason for his sadness.
"What the matter my love?" Juvia asked as they walked. "You're off. What's up?"
"It's nothing." Gray said bluntly his voice a monotone. "Seriously, I'm fine."
"It's not nothing Gray dear, I can tell." Juvia said getting him to look at her, her tone not the usual one she had around him but a serious one instead. "Clearly it's something big and while I'd like to help you, and you know I'm here for you, you obviously don't want help at the moment and I'll respect that. I don't know why you're sad right now but you should try to at least act happy for the sake of your friends. We didn't win the Grand Magic Games but we did come second by only a few points so it could have gone our way if we'd beaten Asta, and we made it clear that we and the Black Bulls are a cut above the rest so show some enjoyment for their sake and mope about this in your own time."
Gray was surprised that Juvia was being so normal about it and nothing like offering him the chance to cry into her bosom and let her comfort him that way, but she was and her words hit him hard. They were just what he needed to hear because Ultear hadn't saved his life, and no doubt countless others, just so that he could mope around. He had to live his life for her just as he'd done for her mother when she'd sacrificed herself for Gray and Lyon.
"You're right Juvia." Gray said with a smile before he turned to her. "I'm good now, thanks. I needed to hear that."
"Oh my darling that smile is too much for a girl to take!" Juvia said her hands clasped in front of her and hearts for eyes as her usual nature came out the moment that Gray praised and thanked her. "I'm falling in love with you all over again! Take me my love!"
"And there's what I was expecting." Gray said but his smile didn't fade as he got into the celebration as well, something the crowd was doing now too.
"Hey Lucy!" A voice Lucy recognized all too well called out to her from the crowd as she walked ahead of where Gray and Juvia were causing her to pause and turned to it while Gray got into the celebration behind her and Juvia continued to fawn over him. "You were great out there! I was watching the whole time."
"Oh hey landlady." Lucy said stopping and looking at her landlady as it had been her who'd called out to Lucy. "Thank you so much! We did our best even if we were just short in the end."
"Yeah well they should have still given you some prize money for coming in second so what did you get!" The landlady shouted. "Because your rent's late! Again!"
This got a groan from Lucy as she turned from the laughing crowd. It looked like any celebration for her would have to wait a bit longer as she needed to take a job and one that paid well as soon as possible so that she could once again pay her rent. However, she wasn't the only one of them getting called out to by the crowd.
"Woah it's Erza, she beat 100 monsters all by herself and won the only event those new Black Bulls didn't win!" A woman in the crowd said as Erza passed her. "She's amazing!"
"She even took on and beat Kagura of Mermaid Heel and Noelle of the Black Bulls!" A man said. "And that was just the appetizer for her."
"Yeah she was the strongest woman there making her the strongest woman in Fiore!" A second man said. "Almost the strongest over all, that duel with Asta was something else! I'll never forget that!"
"Yeah she should have won it!" A second woman said. "So close! Who knew that he was that good! To beat the Fairy Queen herself, just what kind of demon is he?"
"A Demon King clearly." A third man said. "But our Fairy Queen will beat him next time! You've got it Titania!"
"All of this praise is kinda embarrassing." Erza said flushing as she walked. "Plus, as they noted, I didn't beat Asta, I failed there and that cost us the Games. If I'd won the Battle Royale would have effectively been over. I did my best but Asta's proved who the strongest on the battlefield was that day."
"Yeah but it was some duel so no one cares, all they care about is how epic you were in that duel, the fight with Kagura, Noelle, and Minerva before that, and how you owned Pandemonium." Levy said from next to Erza. "So you'll just have to get over the fact that you're going to keep getting praised for your performance."
"True and that was a duel that I'll never forget." Erza said with a small smile and reflexively stopping herself from touching the scar on her left cheek that Asta had inflicted on her with Kagura's katana. "It was an honor to be a part of it and it's certainly motivated me to get stronger so that I can beat Asta next time we face off. I think all of us want to be the first to defeat him after what he did to Fairy Tail but I'm going to be the one to win that competition."
"That's the spirit." Levy said getting the feeling that Gajeel, Natsu, Gray, and Laxus were all also involved in the 'First to Defeat Asta' competition. "Just…"
"Hey everyone! We may not have won but check out this little souvenir that I brought back as a consolation prize for us to enjoy." Natsu said as he put his bag on the ground and opened it while people gathered around him, his voice carrying and interrupting Levy while his tone made several in the Guild worried. "It may not be the big ass trophy that those Black Bulls got for winning, we'll get that next year, but you guys are going to still love it! Tada!"
At that Natsu found what he had and pulled it out to hold it over his head. It was, of course, King Fiore's crown which he'd 'borrowed' when he pretended to be the King and had secretly stashed away after gramps had carried him back to the King's dressing room after his little stunt.
"Is that the King's fricking crown?" Wakaba asked his mouth wide and eyes white at the sight of the crown. "Natsu what the hell! Do you know how much trouble you'll get in for that?"
"You didn't steal it form him did you?" Wendy asked with the same expression on her face. "That's not right Natsu. You have to return it!"
"Come on, we just rebuilt our reputation." Marco said. "This won't help us at all."
"Well we didn't win it all so I've got no shiny cup to show off." Natsu said defending his actions. "This is the next best thing though."
"They'll toss you back into the dungeon for that!" Wendy said. "Asta didn't take his did he?"
"Nah, his Guild Master put it back on the King's head, I saw him do that but I wasn't going to let gramps to that to me." Natsu said grinning. "I took this as a souvenir. What do you think?"
"Natsu, that's not good." Erza said glaring at him as the crowd cheered, not really bothered by it. "We need to return it before the King sends someone to get it from you. He may even ask the Black Bulls and right now we can't beat their strongest normal member, so I doubt that we can stand up to their Guild Master especially after we felt how strong his magic is. As much as I'd love to face both of them, well face Asta for a second time, I'd like to be stronger when I do."
"The King stunt was one thing but that's a bit much." Lucy said with a sigh. "As good as it looks on you, Natsu, you really should give it back."
"Oh come on, you just said it Lucy, I looked good in it." Natsu said as he lowered it to his head. "See, it…"
Before he could, a large hand grabbed him by the head and lifted him up by it while squeezing. The crowd just laughed and cheered at the sight having seen it building and coming from behind Natsu while he now struggled and complained in the hand's grip but didn't let go of the crown.
"Come on, it was just a little borrowing! Nothing more!" Natsu said as the hand squeezed his head harder. "Ah this hurts, it's like what that Yami guy did to Asta!"
"It is, I liked his idea for how to deal with a moronic loudmouth in his Guild who doesn't think before he acts at times." Makarov's voice said from behind Natsu and he was turned to see that Makarov had used his magic to enlarge himself enough to grab Natsu's head and glare at him. "So you're coming with me back to the Guild Hall and sending it back to the Palace right away. I'm going to have to ask Yami for a favor for this as he's got a Spatial Wizard in his Guild and seems to have contacts in the Palace and you're going to pay that favor in kind. Let's go, everyone else can continue to celebrate but we're off."
"Man Gramps it's not that big a deal!" Natsu complained as he struggled but couldn't break free of the grip but couldn't. "It's just…"
"Attention, please!" A new voice called out from behind Makarov and he turned to it, still holding Natsu, to see what was up. "Thank you."
There, wearing a pinstriped yellow suit, black shirt, and purple cloak fastened with his Guild's crest, was Banaboster, the Guild Master of Twilight Ogre who'd taken over as the main Guild in Magnolia in the wake of all of Fairy Tail's top members vanishing. He wasn't looking hostile or like he was out for revenge after his last interaction with Fairy Tail.
Instead, he was smiling and gesturing to a fancy dressed man in a black suit with golden flowers on the breasts, a white shirt, and elaborate red butterfly style bowtie. He had a long neck, narrow face, bulbous nose, and short black hair neatly parted. Whoever he was, he was clearly someone of importance in the city.
"The Mayor of Magnolia would like to present Fairy Tail with a gift to honor the heroes of Fiore without whom we wouldn't be here today." Banaboster said confirming that the important looking man was in fact very important. "If the Guild Master of Fairy Tail would step forward please."
"Really, you've gotten us a gift." Makarov said smiling as he returned to normal and dropped Natsu on his ass in the process, this was something big so he had to deal with it first and Natsu's stupidity regarding the stolen crown later. "You mean it? You're far too generous, I don't know what to say to you."
"It is what you deserve." The Mayor said his tone that of a serious politician though clearly this wasn't just an act to score political points but something he wanted to do. "If you would kindly look to my right, your gift is there."
Makarov did so and gasped at what was there. Everyone else in Fairy Tail followed and they all shared his gasp as they stared down the street at the completely restored, and expanded, Fairy Tail Guild Hall. Not the one they'd had to move into after the incident 7 years ago caused them to lose their Guild Hall but the original one in its original location, the very one that they'd been planning on buying back when they won the Grand Magic Games.
Unfortunately, they didn't win the games and so they'd been upset that they couldn't reclaim their Guild Hall. However, Makarov had sworn that they'd use all the money they could from the new jobs that they'd receive for coming second by a large margin and thus restoring their reputation to save up and buy it back but now that wasn't necessary as it was being given to them by the Mayor of Magnolia himself.
"For many years, your Guild has been the pride of our humble city." The Mayor continued as they all gaped at their Guild Hall. "That is why we are honored to present you with your newly restored Guild Hall! The King explained how you saved the whole Kingdom and even provided funds to help restore and renovate it and now we give it back to you. Even though you didn't win the Games, you did something greater in the end and we of Magnolia couldn't be prouder of Fairy Tail!"
"Wow it's even cooler than it used to be!" Natsu cheered as the rest of the Guild laughed or gasped at the gift and no one noticed that the crown was once again back in Natsu's bag as he'd used the Mayor's speech to stash it there. "This is great! We didn't even have to pay for it!"
"Aye sir!" Happy said next to him. "We did it!"
"Good Mayor, your kindness to us knows no bounds, as does the King's." Makarov said crying as he approached the Mayor and completely forgetting about the whole Natsu stealing the King's crown issue as he was swept up with gratitude over the gift. "Thank you so much!"
"It is us who should be thanking you for all that you've done for the Kingdom." The Mayor said. "So please, enjoy it and continue your fine work as the number 2 Guild in all of Fiore."
Makarov just nodded at that before he devolved into sobbing. They'd done it, even without claiming the top spot and the prize money that came with it they'd still gotten their Guild Hall back and were officially restored to their status at the top, albeit just behind one Guild. It was that Guild that would have to come and celebrate all of this with them and Makarov knew that but for the moment he was too overwhelmed by everything else to do much about that.
"I love Magnolia with all my heart!" Makarov cried as the crowd cheered. "Thank you all!"
From there the parade continued and they all celebrated. The Guild Hall looked even better than before and none of them could wait to check it out and see what was new inside it once the parade was over. Fairy Tail was well and truly back after all that they'd gone through and their hometown embraced them as the celebrations continued.
"Attention everyone!"
Makarov's voice boomed out as he spoke into the microphone at the front of the stage that had been built at the back of the large entrance and dinning hall of their returned Guild Hall. Most of the Guild was present at the moment with the only one of note missing being Gildarts but that was to be expected. The rest of the Guild was there either at the various tables where they were chatting, eating and drinking the good food on offer, or at the jobs board deciding which of the many new jobs to take, or in the case of Mira and Kinana working behind the bar. However, at Makarov's words they all turned to him.
It had been a week since they'd all returned to Magnolia to a parade and celebration in their honor as well as the gift of their old Guild Hall newly restored, renovated, expanded, and improved, despite just losing the Grand Magic Games to the Black Bulls. They had saved all of Fiore so that was the reason behind the gift though the loss had motivated all of them to get stronger so that it didn't happen again.
In that vein, they'd gotten right back into the swing of things and returned to work with a renewed vigor. There were many new jobs to choose from and they were all at the same standard as what they'd been before Tenrou Island so it was clear that Fairy Tail's reputation was back where it belonged and they were all enjoying it.
Natsu, Lucy, and Happy had done their first job after the Grand Magic Games only a few days prior, a job involving getting rid of a giant mole in a town three hours away. It turned out that the town had been covered in mud and flooded with muddy water which had been the mole's doing and it was causing the town trouble hence the need for a Guild to help them out.
Alas their first attempt to get rid of the mole ended up with all three in the mud and the mole chasing Lucy in particular so it had been a total failure. After that, Gray, Erza, Wendy, and Carla had shown up and agreed to help in exchange for a cut of the payment for getting rid of the mole but all that did was end up with them in the mud again, twice in fact.
After that failure they learned the history of the mole and his abandonment by a former villager which had caused it to go wild and grow much bigger and attack the town for what happened to it. On top of that, they also learning that it was chasing Lucy because it was apparently the mole's mating season and as the mole couldn't find one of his own to mate with he'd decided to go for Lucy because she was a young, well endowed, woman.
That led to Gray suggesting that they call in Noelle Silva from the Black Bulls as she could consume the muddy water to drain it and then they could go from there. They'd have to give her a good portion of the money, especially as the water was nasty and she'd likely not be pleased with having to consume it, but it was looking like the only way.
However, before they resorted to requesting aid from the Sea Dragon Slayer, they decided that they should try to do this without help from another Guild, though all of them did want to work with the Black Bulls on other jobs, especially Erza, and so they had to lure the mole out into the open. That meant playing into what the mole wanted, which was a mate but that plan ruled Erza out due to her armor and Wendy due to her lack of a chest so they had to use Lucy in a wedding dress as mole bait to lure it out. Naturally, that worked and Lucy used Virgo to help her out but again ended up in the mud.
Finally, after more failures and even managing to get a net on the mole, Virgo appeared with a large crustation creature with big breasts for some reason that she'd found during the attempt to catch the mole and claimed was a female mole so it should work. To their surprise, and despite pointing out to Virgo that the creature was clearly not a mole, the giant creatures fell for each other and left but as the net was still on them, the mole dragged all but Virgo with him as he and the crustation went off to have some fun in the mud.
Overall, it had been an interesting job to say the least but it was a good way to get back into the grove of things now that the Grand Magic Games were behind them. They were going to take another job soon but for the moment Natsu and the others were back in the Guild Hall enjoying some food and discussing what to do next when Makarov had taken the stage and addressed them. As such they, along with everyone else, tuned in to see what gramps had to say to them.
"I hope you're all enjoying our old but improved digs and all the jobs that are continuing to come in!" Makarov said and there were cheers at that with people like Warren and Max noting that they were now super busy with all the jobs they'd taken in the last week. "This is what we were aiming for and while we didn't win the Grand Magic Games we did get all this so next year we'll beat the Black Bulls and reclaim our last missing item!"
"You bet!" Natsu shouted. "They're going down! Fairy Tail never loses to the same opponent twice!"
"We owe them that much." Gajeel said. "They don't stand a chance next year!"
"We can't let them best us a second time." Gray added. "And we'll be ready for all their tricks this time."
"I am keen for my rematch with Asta." Erza said. "I won't lose to him again."
"Neither will I." Laxus said grinning. "Asta lit a fire in my belly, I can't let him defeat me for a second time."
"Damn I really want to face him now." Natsu said. "The fights that you had with him sounded so epic! Plus he beat Erza! I've gotta prove I can beat someone she hasn't!"
"Epic almost feels like an understatement when I think back on it but don't worry, the lacrima recordings will be available soon." Erza said smiling as she too wanted to rewatch her duel with Asta to assess how it went while also keen to see how Laxus's duel with him had gone as well. "The Magic Council has already told me that they're going to send me one as a gift, same with Asta, to commemorate that battle and so I'll screen it so you can see just how strong he is. You'll need to see him in action Natsu, without that you'll stand no chance against him in my estimate."
"Can't wait!" Natsu shouted. "I'm going to be the one to beat him first!"
"I can see you're all excited for both the current and future status of Fairy Tail while understanding who our rival Guild is." Makarov said his amplified voice cutting off the chatter. "So I have a proposition for the Guild and to celebrate the Grand Magic Games and all the bonds we made there. How about we break this new Guild Hall in with a party with the Guild that beat us so we can get to know them even better as we work to reclaim our title from them. Let's invite the Black Bulls to party with us!"
There was a gasp that swept across the room at that as everyone took in what Makarov was saying. Of course Makarov had a secondary motive as he needed to chat with Yami privately about Julius having finally reestablished contact with his old friend and receiving information to relay to Yami. That and both he and Yami understood the need for a deep bond between their Guilds due to their connections to Julius, but these weren't the only reasons. No, Makarov also wanted to just have fun with the Guild that had bested them and he knew that his kids would as well.
"Oh hell yeah!" Natsu shouted standing up and clenching his fist. "Let's do it! We may have lost to them but we can show them that we can party harder than they can!"
"Can't argue with that." Erza said with a nod. "They are one of a kind and it will be good to get to know them all better. I was planning on doing that on my own anyway but this is better than that."
"They're all so manly." Elfman added. "It will be so much fun to throw down with them!"
"I hope one of them can drink!" Cana said as she set down the barrel that she was currently drinking from. "Because it's a party and someone has to keep up with me!"
"It does sound nice." Lucy admitted. "And the ones I spoke to at the Ball were all good girls that I feel like I could be good friends with so I'm looking forward to talking with them again."
"Yeah they're an interesting bunch." Gray said. "Plus I'd like to talk to Asta a bit, he did beat me a few times and copied one of my moves so I want to ask about that and get some training tips so I can beat him next time."
"I feel like Noelle is a kindred spirit in a way." Juvia said smiling. "I've not gotten a chance to properly chat with her yet but I'd like to do so."
"Didn't she try to drink you?" Erza asked looking over at Juvia. "I saw that she was biting you during the little dustup at the Ball before Natsu and Asta arrived so I presumed that she was going after your Water Body."
"A simple misunderstanding with her Guildmate." Juvia said dismissively. "And that Secré girl prevented it while assuring me that she has no interest in Gray so it's fine, I don't hold a grudge for her helping her friends."
"That's a good way to see it." Lucy said. "I didn't get to talk to her or her cousin as much as I did Nero so I'd like to properly get to know her."
"Aye this sounds fun." Happy said.
"Vanessa was kind to me and fun." Wendy said smiling. "And so was that Gordon guy, I know he'd like to make new friends with all of us and I can help there. Plus I hear that they've got a talented healer who might be able to advice me."
"You had me worried with that Gordon guy but in the end you showed that he's just quiet." Carla said. "And some of them seem civilized so there may be some intellectual discussion."
"I do want to read their books and see what kind of spells they have." Levy said. "I've never seen anything like those grimoires they carry. The whole concept of them is fascinating."
"I was intrigued by one of them." Mira said. "So it should be good to see how he is in a more casual setting."
"Likewise one of them caught my notice during the Games." Lisanna said. "I'd like to have a word with her if I could so this will be good for that."
"The sister lover was creepy." Laki said. "But harmless I guess."
"They'd better bring some good metal." Gajeel said. "I could use some and I hear that their magic tastes differently."
"Luck's lightning was unlike any that I've had." Laxus confirmed. "And not bad at all, different in a way I can't place so if one of them knows metal magic you should try it. One is a Fire Wizard so Natsu's covered there."
"Oh right the guy with the flaming bat." Natsu said. "Yeah I want to try his fire as well."
"Alright then it's settled!" Makarov said again cutting the chatter. "I will reach out to their Guild Master today and invite them to a party to celebrate everything!"
Everyone cheered at that as they couldn't turn down a good party and as it was with the Guild that bested them, and with which some of them had already started to forge bonds with though at the moment the only one really close to any of the Black Bulls was Erza, they knew that it would be a good time. They didn't know just how big partying with the Black Bulls would be for Fairy Tail and the ramifications of their impending bond.
"So it's decided then." The man at the head of the table said as he looked around the members on either side who all had their hands raised having just voted in the affirmative on the matter he'd proposed. "Unanimously."
The other men and women present nodded in agreement at it as they lowered their hands. The decision had been a no brainer after the Grand Magic Games and while some still had doubts as to the Guild's origins, their actions in against the dragons proved their loyalty to Fiore and thus Ishgar in general so no one had opposed it. There was a vacancy after all and now, following what had happened in the Battle Royale, there was no doubt who would fill it.
"Very well, we shall send a representative to inform him." The man said with a nod already knowing who to send. "And officially welcome Asta of the Black Bulls as the newest Wizard Saint."
I think that that's a good bit to end this chapter on, a little tease but I'm sure that many of you saw that coming a while back especially given all that Asta did. The reasoning for this will of course be explained in the next chapter which will look at the Black Bulls in the wake of the Grand Magic Games and set up for what you all know is coming, the long anticipated full meeting between Fairy Tail and the Black Bulls. Other than that the only real thing to say is that this is how Fairy Tail got their Guild Hall back despite not winning and was my plan all along for it to be a gift for them saving Fiore rather than winning the Games as they were going to lose the games but needed it back and of course the king helped there so now all is back to normal and soon we can move onto what I'm calling the Bonding Arc where Fairy Tail and the Black Bulls finally start their close relationship with each other. Anyway, that is all that I have for y'all so I will leave this chapter off here. If you like this story please follow, favorite (this story and me) to keep up with it and leave a review or PM; your support is what helps motivate me to keep up this work and any questions posed before the next chapter is uploaded I will try to answer. Until next time.
Stringdog