Fairy Tail: The Dark Swordsman

78 - Laxus and Dannis

[X784, Train to Magnolia]

— Dannis Martell —

In the next day when they began their travel back to Magnolia, everyone had noticed the underlying tension between him and Laxus.

Levy looked particularly uncomfortable as her head kept swinging from him to Laxus over and over. Natsu and Gajeel couldn't care less, hating the choice of using the train as their mode of transportation.

Lucy was confused, which was funny to see since she had zero context of whatever was happening. However, they kept their promise in silence. There was no doubt that the whole of Magnolia would feel them duking it out from the amounts of magic they'll be throwing, but at least they'll have a little bit of privacy in the beginning.

There was no doubt in his mind that many of the people in Fairy Tail would give anything to see a fight between him and Laxus. They were among the two, along with Mystogan, to very rarely participate in the ever present guild brawls.

Now that he thought about it, Erza and Mira also rarely join in now that they were S-Class mages. It makes sense really, had any of the S-Class mages participate, the guild building would no longer be standing.

Perhaps he should ask Freed and Evergreen to watch the perimeter when the fight starts? Neither Dannis nor Laxus had any interest in being showboats and being seen by the others. Especially to something as serious as this.

Bickslow was covered in bandages head to toe to the point he looked like a mummy. The worst of injuries had been curbed—thank Mavis—but Porlyusica had said that he wouldn't be doing any magic any time soon.

Erza's friends were all urged by Master Makarov to leave and keep their heads down. With the way things turned down in Era, there was no doubt that the Magic Council would be looking for scapegoats for the whole event. The former subordinates of Jellal fit the bill too well.

And wasn't that a surprise? Not only was Siegran a fake councillor and a thought projection to boot, Ultear was apparently another traitor who had nearly killed the other councillors as well as destroyed the guild building.

Apparently, it was only due to the efforts of Crust, the Rune Knight he had met a long time ago, that most of the councillors were saved.

Looks like the old rumours of having spies in the Council was the correct one. They just never expected the spies to be the Wizard Saints.

Dannis really needs to get stronger if that was the kind of enemy they'll be facing in the future.

The good news about all this was that Gajeel and Juvia had officially joined the guild. Makarov had welcomed them with open arms. While Gajeel still had many looking at him with suspicion, it was nothing that the Iron Dragon Slayer couldn't handle.

And yet seeing the lands pass by from the window, the green rolling hills and pastures, Dannis had to curb the feeling of excitement and apprehension warring in his body.

When was the last time that he and Laxus had fought side by side as allies? It all felt so natural. Trusting the Lightning Dragon Slayer to watch his back, while doing it in return. It was surreal.

And now they would test each other once more, something that filled him with anticipation.

After all, Laxus wasn't the only one needing answers. Dannis had plenty of demons to face as well.

...

The very next day, he and Laxus stood upon a clearing a good mile north of Lake Sciliora.

The very same clearing they used to train in a long time ago.