𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜

On the way back, Laxus maintained his distance from you. Everybody knew why.

It wasn't until you returned to the Fairy Tail guildhall that he approached you.

"[Y/N]..." he spoke, getting your attention. Your head snapped towards him.
"Oh, Laxus," you said, "what's up?"

"I'm... sorry about earlier," he grumbled, with much reluctance, "I didn't think about how... scared, I would make ya."

You paused to stare in almost disbelief, before your expression split into a forgiving grin.
"It's fine," you said, "man, it must have been hard for you to apologise to me."

"Shaddap, don't mention it again," he replied, eyeing you exasperatedly, but you could see the way his lips twitched as he suppressed a little smile. You chuckled, slapping his bicep affectionately. He grumbled something to himself, but you let it slip by, just this once.

Everybody else celebrated for Makarov, drinking to his return. You found out that the Thunder Legion had actually joined Blue Pegasus, the guild in which Ichiya and Trimen belonged to, during the past year.

You just relaxed, basking on the warm energy radiating throughout the guildhall - Makarov was back, everyone was celebrating, and everything... was okay.

Makarov was back at Fairy Tail, and so were Laxus and his Thunder Legion.

In the Alvarez Empire... there are wizards whose abilities go beyond what you had originally thought possible. And not to mention, the Black Wizard, Zeref. He had taken on the name Emperor Spriggan, and ruled over the Empire. He wanted the Lumen Histoire, you knew, the body of the first master.

So the battle begins... it would probably be your hardest one yet, if you were to be truly honest to yourself. You hoped that you'd win like Fairy Tail always did.

Your thoughts were interrupted by a sharp thwack ringing out through the guildhall, where everyone simultaneously looked to see Makarov.

"Everybody... I'm sorry," he announced, "I'm not going to make excuses. I'm the one who took away your home. And I'm really sorry about that!"

"We heard from Mest," Max said with a lopsided grin.
"You did it to keep us safe, right?" Warren called out.
"It doesn't bother us!" Nab agreed.
"I mean, we're all back together now," Jet nodded.
"And how's a guy supposed to enjoy a drink when you're looking at us all guilty like that?" Droy frowned.

Makarov sighed, "on top of that, my mission was pointless. Alvarez will attack us. They're an enormous empire, and they're going to send their forces against this guild."

"Yeah? What about it?!" Natsu piped up. You blinked at him, and then shot up from your seat as well.
"We'll fight off every last one of them!" you batted your fists in the air.

"How many times d'you think we've fought for this guild so far?" Natsu came stomping towards Makarov, "and the enemies have always been powerful! Our determination to protect what's really important makes us strong! Sure, we're scared — the fear is like a burden we need to get rid of, but don't know how. But... everyone's gonna help out! I know it!"

You watched, awed at Natsu's sudden outburst, and a chill ran down your spine. Something felt incredibly wrong to you, yet you couldn't place it. The Fire Dragon Slayer continued to shout his words and you looked around you hurriedly.

"Kuschel..." you muttered beneath your breath, realising your partner was missing, again.

"I think we're all prepared for this fight," Laxus spoke.
"I am too," Makarov clenched his fist. At that, you turned on your heel and ran from the guildhall. Mirajane and Lisanna exchanged a bemused look briefly.