Fairy tail Next Generation

5-Echoes Of Ancient Evil

The journey back to Magnolia was markedly different from their departure. As the train rumbled along the tracks, Nashi sat next to Gideon, her head resting on his shoulder as she dozed peacefully, free from motion sickness. Gideon's arm was draped protectively around her, his eyes alternating between watching the passing landscape and glancing at Nashi's sleeping form.

Across from them, Natsu and Gray sat in companionable silence, both lost in thought about the events of the past few days. The defeat of Moros and the sealing of the ancient evil had brought back memories of their own youth, of battles fought and bonds forged.

As the train pulled into Magnolia station, Nashi stirred, blinking sleepily. "Are we home?" she murmured, not immediately moving from her position against Gideon.

"Yeah," Gideon replied softly, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "We're back."

The group disembarked, greeted by a crowd of anxious guild members. Lucy rushed forward, embracing Nashi tightly.

"We heard what happened," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so proud of you both."

Juvia wasn't far behind, fussing over Gideon and checking him for injuries. "My brave boy," she sniffled, pulling him into a hug.

As the initial excitement of their return settled, Master Laxus stepped forward, his expression serious. "Nashi, Gideon, I need a full report on what happened. But first..." A rare smile crossed his face. "Welcome home, and well done."

The guild erupted in cheers, members rushing forward to congratulate the young mages on completing their first S-class mission.

Amidst the chaos, Nashi found herself standing next to Gideon. Their hands brushed, and without thinking, their fingers intertwined.

"So," Nashi said, a hint of nervousness in her voice, "I guess we make a pretty good team after all, huh?"

Gideon squeezed her hand, his usual smirk softened into a genuine smile. "Yeah, I guess we do."

As they stood there, surrounded by their guild family but lost in their own world, both Nashi and Gideon knew that something fundamental had shifted between them. The rivalry that had defined their relationship for so long had transformed into something deeper, something neither of them fully understood yet.

But before they could explore this new dynamic, Laxus's voice cut through the celebration. "Alright, everyone. We need to discuss what this return of Moros means for Fairy Tail and for Fiore. Nashi, Gideon, Natsu, Gray - to my office. We have much to talk about."

***

Nashi and Gideon exchanged worried glances as Master Laxus's words hung heavy in the air. The guild master's office, usually a place of warmth and camaraderie, now felt oppressive with the weight of their recent revelation.

Natsu, his pink hair disheveled from the mission, stepped forward. "Laxus, what exactly are we dealing with here? How many of these ancient evils are we talking about?"

Laxus stood, his muscular frame casting a shadow across the room as he moved to a bookshelf. He pulled out a weathered tome, its leather cover cracked with age. "According to the guild's records, there are at least five sealed entities as powerful as Moros. Each was sealed away by the combined efforts of multiple guilds centuries ago."

Gray, his arms folded across his chest, frowned. "And you think Moros's near-escape could be linked to the others?"

"It's possible," Laxus nodded, his lightning scar seeming to pulse with tension. "These seals are connected by old magic. If one weakens, it could have a domino effect."