In which the fifth Dragon Slayer of Fairy Tail tackles new friends, new relationship, and faces from the past. Ones she herself kept locked and hidden away, the key destroyed.
But she won't be alone this time, as now she has the strongest Guild in F...
The Guild's energy was positively radiant this afternoon. Many teams had just returned from missions, so in Fairy Tail fashion, an appropriate rager going on. Tables were being thrown, Gray and Natsu were brawling again, and well, it was standard Fairy Tail atmosphere.
That was until the doors of the Guild were promptly slammed open, but not in the jovial 'i'm-going-to-start-a-guild-brawl' way but in the 'holy-fuck-there's-something-wrong'. Heads whipped around to see the Thunder Legion uncharestically stumble in. They looked like absolute shit, to put it kindly. Evergreen had Freed slung over her back, the rune mage completely knocked out. Laxus, the only other conscious member, had Bickslow's arms around his neck with the seith mage pressed against his back.
"What happened?" Mira said, being the first to react. She set down her serving tray and rushed over to the group, instantly concerned.
"Got ambushed." Evergreen wheezed. "Get Master and Wendy."
Tables were cleared and others helped Evergreen and Laxus but the unconscious forms of Freed and Bickslow on the tables. The others ushered them into chairs, and began worrying over their states.
"Where's Tea?" Mira asked, "Is she behind you."
"She got taken by the dude who ambushed us." Laxus tiredly answered.
"What happened?" Makarov asked, storming over.
Laxus tiredly looked up to his grandfather, an exhausted look of frustration on his face. Makarov stood so he could put a hand on Laxus's knee, eyes wandering over the haphazardly tied bandages covering his bare torso.
"We were getting through the labyrinth fine, but then we got ambushed by a guy who restrained all of us except Tea with these super strong shadows. She tried to fight but she seemed to a dissipate all of her attacks. Then he bound her arms and before we blacked out he was holding her. When we woke up again she was gone along with him." Laxus explained.
"Did he give his name?" Makarov asked darkly.
"I think he called himself the King of Time?" Evergreen groaned.
Makarov let out a strangled grasp as he dropped his tankard of ale on the ground. Mira instinctively fumbled through her pockets for his heart medication. He dismissed her with his hand, before looking at Laxus with a steely gaze.
"Are you 100% sure you heard him call himself the King of Time?" Makarov asked, his tone quickly get dark.
"Yes. Why, you heard of the guy?" Laxus asked.
"Yes, in a matter of fact, he's Fiore's third most wanted criminal. He's been evading capture for 50 years now. There were rumours that he was obsessed with the eradication of any and all Spatial Magic, but had yet to find a Spatial Mage powerful enough to be a opponent for him." Makarov explained, causing the Guild to tense up as they connected the dots.
"Tea is a ridiculously strong Spatial Mage..." Erza muttered, "Not to mention she told me her magic is pretty close to True Spatial Magic."
"Jet!" Makarov barked, startling the speed mage. "Go get Porylusica. Wendy, do what you can help to help the Thunder Legion."
"Yes Master!" Jet called, before speeding out the door.
"What will you do Master?" Lucy asked, nervously speaking up.
"I need to contact the Guild League and inform the Magic Council that the King of Time has resurfaced and he has a hostage."
Bickslow and Freed, who had finally been brought back to consciousness under the care of Porylusica and Wendy's efforts came too and look around the anxious faces surrounding them. They still hadn't left the table, being too exhausted and sore to move. Mirajane and Kinana were quick to whip up so meals for the group in order to hopefully regain some of their lost energy all while the healers worked on them. Wendy in particular was having to spend more concentration on Laxus, as the shadow had squeezed him a little too tight and cracked several of his ribs Evergreen looked back at her friends, noticing just how unnaturally tense Bickslow was.
"Bickslow, you good?" Evergreen asked slowly, "You're tense."
"That guy..." Bickslow trailed off, his eyes a little wide and focused on the ground. He was still without his helmet, the unknown man having taken it. "I know his soul, it's one I could never forget."
"And who would that be?" Erza asked.
There was a long pause, Bickslow uncomfortable shifting on the table. Even Wendy, who was in the process of healing his bruised ribs stopped for a moment, looking up at the man curiously.
"Horatius. His name is Horatius." Bickslow said slowly, his voice breaking in the middle.
The Thunder Legion stiffened, all instantly recognizing the name and not liking the fact that it was even brought up in the first place. Freed's head swivelled to look at Bickslow, jaw dropped in horror
"Horatius? As in... as in... your brother?" Freed asked slowly and cautiously.
"Brother?" Gray asked, cocking his head. "You never mentioned having a brother, Bickslow."
"Don't like mentioning it." Bickslow snapped. "Listen, my parents were killed by a small plague that swept my hometown. So, it was just me and my older brother. Horatius is about four years older than me, and when was still really young he just up and left me behind one night. I had to fend for myself, and I got comfort in the fact that he was probably dead."
"But he didn't look a day over 25 despite him supposedly being what... 33 now? Plus how can he be committing crimes for five faced if he's not even 35 yet?" Evergreen pointed out.
"Based on what he called himself, and what we saw him do to Tea's Breath Attack, it is not entire implausible for Horatius to have Time Magic to that extent." Freed said, "Plus, when we got to the island Tea mentioned feeling Ancient Magic that reminded her of Bickslow. That could have very well been Hotarius she was detecting, she just didn't realize it."
"So we have Bickslow's evil brother who kidnapped Tea and uses crazy powerful Ancient Time Magic?" Gray whistled. "Great..."
"And strong shadow magic." Laxus grumbled.
"So we know practically nothing about this guy other than he's evil and dangerous, and he most likely knows a lot about us? This is going to go just great." Gray sighed.
"So what do we do?" Erza voiced everyone's thoughts.
"My children." Came the booming voice of Makarov.
Everyone turned their heads to the second floor, where Makarov was sitting on the railing with a stern look on his face.
"We have been summoned for a meeting at the Magic Council in two days time. I will select a delegation to join me. This is a most serious matter, so no usual shenanigans will even be thought of until this is solved. Do I make myself clear?"
Laxus's jaw clenched tightly as he listened to his grandfather's speech, all too aware of the draconic growling filling his head. Shoving the dragon aside for a moment, his gaze became focused and driven.
I'm coming for you Tea, just wait a little bit longer...
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normalize giving side characters interesting background that help further and explain why they are like that. don't worry, evergreen and freed will get their turn too.
unfortunately, you will be seeing much more of horatius fray and all his sickishness for the next while, so my apologies in advance.
