Dawn of Adventure {Book One of The Paths We've Traveled}

Chapter Forty-Three: The Start of Something New

"And that about sums it up," Lucy finished, throat parched after speaking for so long without end. Natsu was at her side, his head resting in her lap as he slumbered peacefully. Her hand tangled in his hair, golden pendant dragging through the pink strands. A faint snore escaped every so often, but the quiet made her wonder if he snored so loudly just to be obnoxious. She wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

Across the room, the same dark green haired man they had met many months ago listened to Lucy's words with rapt attention. It was hard to believe everything she said while still keeping up with the story, but he found he could believe anything if it was this group who had done it. He leaned back in his armchair, digesting the tale as he let his gaze wander over the others.

Wendy and another young girl, who he belatedly remembered was actually Carla, sat on a nearby couch, the pair whispering and not even realizing that Happy was scooting increasingly closer. Gray stared out the window at the setting sun, watching different trains pull up and leave the station at varying intervals. And Erza sat at attention by an open window, reveling the spring breeze brushing her hair across her shoulders.

Lennox's clear gaze took them all in for another long minute, Lucy shifting slightly as she waited for him to speak. It didn't take too long.

Lennox cleared his throat, clasping his hands together with a smile of wonder and awe. "Truly, I cannot begin to express how incredibly thankful both I and the people of my country are that you have finally succeeded in this task my father first laid out many years prior. I never thought I'd see the day I could breathe easily and listen to children run happily through the streets of this town. We are forever indebted to you, Fairy Tail."

"We didn't do this for praise," Erza said, smoothing the blue skirt draped across her thighs.

"Yeah, we did it for a reward!" Happy crowed, springing up from the couch and letting his wings spread behind him.

Erza glared at the Exceed. "No, we did it because it was the right thing to do."

"I thought we did it because Natsu wanted to beat Gildarts in something." Wendy's brows furrowed slightly as she glanced at her dozing friend.

Gray snorted. "Please. Natsu couldn't have done it without our help, so does that really mean he beat Gildarts?"

"Even though it was our team that beat him, I still technically beat him because I was on that winning team." Natsu sat up with a groan, already missing the comforting touch of Lucy's hand in his hair.

"That technicality better be a part of the boast you're planning for when we see him again," Lucy said as she stretched her legs out, muscles on the verge of cramping after providing her boyfriend of two weeks with a pillow for so long.

"But that just makes it sound dumb," he argued back.

"I believe we've gotten off topic," Erza ground out, shooting daggers from her eyes at every one of her teammates. They cowered under her gaze, mouths snapping shut for fear of what she would do otherwise. She turned back to the older man with a sincere apology.

Lennox chuckled, admiring the camaraderie between the seven. "It's quite alright. I enjoy the laughter you have brought to this land. Actually, you bring up a good point."

"That I'm stronger than Gildarts?" Natsu asked hopefully, wincing when Lucy elbowed him in the side.

Lennox shook his head, still smiling gently. "No, no. Frankly, I don't believe anyone here could be a proper judge of that. No, I was speaking of your reward." No one dared breathe. Lennox seemed aware that he had their complete attention, and his smile widened a fraction. "Of course, I wish we could provide you with a pile of riches and a parade and three wishes, but..." He trailed off, not quite sure how to phrase the next part.