Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 5 - Dare to Dream

Those receiving their Second Origin release were laid down in the cellar. Nobody wanted their screams to drift up to the level above, in case Imperial soldiers came through the village and heard a mass of people seemingly being tortured.

Natsu, Wendy, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Gajeel, Levy, Elfman, Lisanna, and Cana all received the Second Origin releases. Erza, Mirajane, and Laxus did as well but were not feeling the effects of it. Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen declined such an opportunity, figuring they'd get in good training with Laxus soon enough. Plus, Evergreen was still feeling quite shaken from her time beneath Magnolia.

Erza sat at the doorway to the cellar. The crying had mostly gone down since the initial round of it. Tayaka was down there with everyone to make sure the spell went off as planned. Occasionally, Erza heard Tayaka shouting to them that she was sorry for what she was doing.

For such a young woman, she tried to carry the weight of the world deftly on her shoulders. Maybe that woman, Ultear, had been the same way.

Gray did not mention her that much but had a haunted look on her face whenever her name came up as they prepared to receive the enhancement. Someone close, a former...girlfriend?

Still, her power was impressive. Either she'd trained into it over the last few years or Ultear had given her whatever remnants of power she had left.

"I found her crawling toward me in Magnolia when things really...when it was over for the town," Tayaka explained while everyone got ready. "I could tell that it was the end for her, but I was frozen solid. Couldn't run away. She didn't have a spell on me or anything, I just knew I shouldn't leave. She handed me this sphere, and I felt a rush like never before. She smiled at me and told me that I would change the world. She told me I wasn't the symbol of Magnolia's vengeance but of its continued life."

"And then she died?" Gray had asked.

"No. Then she stood and walked back to a burning building," Tayaka explained. Given the dark shadow upon her face, it was obvious which building it was she returned to.

"I'm proud of them, you know?"

Mirajane stood across from Erza. Somehow, someway, she found a pair of pajamas. Did they fit her? Not quite. They were a tad small—the pants shrunk up her calf and the shirt was a touch tight about her torso. They probably belonged to Flare Corona, who spoke to Gildarts in the other room about the Giants of the Sun Village that she was from.

"It's not easy, having this performed," Erza said.

"You had it done?"

"No. I suspect I had my Second Origin unlocked at some point in the Tower of Heaven, but, I've not quite known it was there to tap into."

Mirajane nodded. "I feel the same way. When I finally used Satan Soul, I sensed that there was something more there. Now that I understand what it is, that it's there for me to save people and not harm them, I believe I can put it to use."

"Such a strange thing, how our body interprets magic power," Erza said, quietly. "I'm sure there are many challenges ahead that will require the use of the Second Origin. I want to feel bad for them all down there, but..."

"It's like growing pains," Mira said. "Everyone's gotta deal with it to mature."

Erza didn't pity them for their experience but pitied all of them for having to go through this in the first place. Even if they'd missed out on the seven years and there was nothing urgent going on afterward, would everyone still want their Second Origin unlocked?

Yes, Erza thought. They would. At least, her close friend would. They'd never tolerate the idea that they fell behind in any regard when it came to the wizards and the world around them.