Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 48 - Reunion to Part

START OF ARC 4 - FAMILY

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The new hideout was, by all accounts, way better than the last one that Romeo and the others were shacking up at. That one was little more than a typical village hut with a basement dug out by Max and Laki. This one was...well, it was more like two huts smushed together in the deep reaches of a forest of twisted vines and fallen trees. But, that at least allowed for a bit more space. There was, at least, still a basemen the account for.

It took pretty much everyone about a week's worth of time to arrive at the new hideout. Makarov and the others decided against using Mest for the majority of their travel. They didn't want to overexert their one means of efficient escape, and too much magical use could put off some sort of alarm the Empire had set up. Erza and those involved with the Grand Magic Games also decided to travel naturally, following directions as laid out in hints by Meredy and her group.

Yukino got to know all of them, and their names, quickly. He had to put it all to memory. Sure, there were some she already knew from her time in the Empire, like Meredy, Kagura, and the rest of Crime Sorciere, but there were other members of Fairy Tail she was not so aware of. Makarov and Laxus she knew from the days before the Empire, but the Thunder Tribe, and the other rebels hiding out, like Romeo, Max, Laki, Cana?

They hadn't come to the hideout, and not even in the extra week had they ever had to be together. Makarov believed them all to be watched by Gildarts, if not at least sticking together and holding the fort at their old hideout. The ones who did come were a woman named Flare, a member of Fairy Tail named Lisanna, and Tayaka, a key piece of prey from the Hunter's Division. Of course, she found her way to Fairy Tail.

It seemed, to Yukino, that all lost souls were magnetically linked to the guild. Former guild.

Whatever.

They all showed their true colors quickly, despite the overcast nature of the Empire. That man, Elfman, partook in many scuffles that Natsu and Gray and Gajeel caused but when the scuffles were inevitablty ended by Erza, he'd be downtrodden, living in the memory of Mirajane and what the Tartaros Division did to her. His sister Lisanna would attempt to comfort him.

It hardly did them any good.

Still, Yukino couldn't help sticking around, or training, if such were an option. Makarov was wary of Yukino at first, particularly given her marriage to Sting.

"Though you are here and my children vouch for you, know that I must keep at least one eye on you," Makarov said.

"I have no further ties to the Empire," Yukino said. "To be honest, if they ever found me, I'd be the first one they want to kill before any member of Fairy Tail. Even you, Makarov."

"Be that as it may," Makarov said, "I won't have a traitor in my midst, not even one who comes with sweet words and leaves the bitter taste of betrayal in my enemies. Am I understood?"

If he did watch her, he had a curious way of doing so. The forest was long abandoned, begotten by the Empire. Though all of Fiore was open for the Empire to just drop in on them, Yukino was quite confident the Empire wouldn't even bother checking on it. Meredy picked a good spot.

Better yet as it allowed Yukino the chance to use her magic and speak with her Celestial Spirits on where her head was at, no longer did she need to involve them in schemes, for, she had none. She left that to Makarov, Laxus, Erza, and Hisui.

At night, she couldn't help the slight bitterness that came with that, as she lay awake beneath the dead trees, staring at skies of unceasing stars. She mocked Sting for his lack of freedom, yet there she was, willingly giving it up.