𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮

"How could you leave like that?!" Sting said, "[Y/N], we walked into the guild this morning to find poor Yukino crying her eyes out and sobbing about how you'd done a runner and left in the middle of the night!"

Rogue just stayed silent while Sting continued to have a go at you.

"Hell, did you even consider how we'd feel if you died?! And Natsu or Lucy or whatever had to show up at our guild to tell us because you were too reckless to even bring us along, or even let us know where you were off to?!" he continued, "we only knew 'cause we had the Council's army running past our guildhall to fend off some Black Magic Cultists or something!"

"Sting, I... I'm sorry," you murmured. He gave a sigh.

"It's... it's fine. I was just worried..." he frowned, "I didn't mean to snap."
"It's okay..." you sighed.

"Everyone be quiet, Wendy needs to concentrate," Lucy said. You silently thanked her as everyone around you hushed and Wendy began casting her magic. You felt the sudden weight lift off of you.

"Is it done?" Natsu asked.
"Yes," Wendy confirmed, "[Y/N]... even though it looks and will feel healed, please take a couple days of rest... not necessarily for your back, but... I don't think you're in the right headspace right now."
You manoeuvred round onto your back and carefully sat up.

"What's that supposed to mean?" you asked. Wendy squeaked.
"Never mind!" she said quickly.

Lucy, Natsu, Wendy and Carla all stood up and slowly split off to speak with Erza, Gray and Lucy, Natsu hissing under his breath. As soon as they left, both Twin Dragons pulled you into a tight hug.

"I thought I lost you..." Rogue murmured.
"Never do that again," Sting added.

"I'm sorry, guys," you frowned, "I just... I woke up in the middle of the night, and I had a bad feeling."
"[Y/N] threw up!" Kuschel chirped.

Both Dragon Slayers pulled away.

"Are you alright now?" Rogue furrowed his brow.
"Yeah... I'll be fine," you sighed.

"So... what now?" Sting said, "I figure you won't come back with us..."
You nodded hesitantly.
"I'm not sure. I just... don't think this is over yet," you replied, "it's a long story, err... this is the commission that you were going to take with Minerva, Rogue."

"I figured as much. Not to intrude, but... how haven't you been killed yet? I thought this was when you were going to die?" he asked.
"I think it's because of Wendy and Juvia. Nobody anticipated that they'd show up in the middle of the battle, not even Erza," you shrugged, "and luckily Wendy healed me, I guess."

"I see," Rogue nodded, taking your hand in his and squeezing it, "so... will you come back to Sabertooth?"
"No," you shook your head, "not yet, at least. I just... wanna spend some more time with Fairy Tail. You know, before I properly let go of them."

"I understand," he said, "just come back when you're ready, we'll all wait for you."

You nodded and then the three of you stood up.
"We'll see you 'round, [Y/N]!" Sting grinned, "say hi to Natsu for me."
"Yeah, tell Gajeel I say hello," Rogue agreed.

"I will!" you pulled Sting into a hug and slapped his back, before turning to Rogue and hugging him too. You both shifted back slightly and he kissed your lips. You smiled into aforementioned kiss, running a hand through the back of his hair.

"Alright, alright!" Sting pulled Rogue away from you, "that's enough, you're gross, I get it."
"Sting," you scolded him mockingly, "you'd better watch it!"
"Yeah, yeah, I will. Take care of yourself!" he said.
"You guys too!" you nodded.

With that, the Twin Dragons of Sabertooth walked off, Lector and Frosch flying in tow.

"Well, c'mon, [Y/N]! We're all waitin' for ya!" Natsu exclaimed.

// Time Skip //
// 1st P.O.V //

The town of Magnolia, in the eastern region of the kingdom of Fiore, once housed the guild Fairy Tail.

We've returned to the town after a year away.

"Hey! This sure brings back memories!" Natsu grinned.
"Look, they managed to fix the Kardia Cathedral!" Happy said.

When Natsu and Lucy mentioned reviving Fairy Tail, everyone said it was a great idea.

"You'd hardly know it was in ruins years ago," Wendy smiled.
"Yeah! This town is tough!" I agreed.

Most of them had things they needed to take care of first, though, but we arranged to meet up again in Magnolia.

"I have to report this to Jellal," Erza spoke.

"Gajeel, don't report us to the higher-ups, got it?" Gray folded his arms.
"Yes, keep the fact that we were living together a secret!" Juvia said dreamily.
"Why would they care about that?" Gray asked her, "I meant what Erza and I were doing!"

"Right after we report in, we'll head to Magnolia too!" Levy said smilingly.
"I kinda thought I found my calling with the Council," Gajeel sighed.
"Your face is enough of a joke. No need to try comedy," Panther Lily commented.

I heard that there isn't much hope the Council will glean any actual information on Zeref from the Avatar members. It seems they were simply believers in Zeref, nothing more.

"Lucy, are you okay?" I asked, putting my hands behind my back and leaning over to the blonde.
"Huh?" she looked up and hummed in response.
"You don't seem very chipper," I said.

"Oh, it's nothing!" her serious face relaxed into a cheery smile, "it's been so long, I was just lost in some memories."

Yeah, I also have a lot of memories of this town. Happy memories, sad memories, fun memories.

And all that time, I walked with Fairy Tail beside me... until it was suddenly disbanded a year ago.

Nobody seems to know what happened, but only moments after he disbanded the guild, Gramps vanished. And, little-by-little, all the members began travelling their own paths.

Fairy Tail really did disappear, leaving only memories in its wake.