Fairy Tail; The Sequel

Chapter Seventeen ; Shipping

The group was spread out, each person on look out. Everyone was tense after Jellal had spoken about the three brothers. Crime Sorciere had found more information on the men. "I can't believe we forgot they were looking for Aquarius' key!"

Jellal's lips quirked downwards as he suddenly recalled the pain the brothers' made Meredy go through. All for a single key. "We were too consumed by the fact that they were from Edolas."

"Calm down, getting them back to Edolas will solve everything. They won't be able to find another piece of the key." Erza's soft voice soothed. Everyone relaxed, except for Natsu and Gray whose attention was elsewhere. The scarlet-haired wizard turned to the fire and ice wizards with a glare. They leapt apart and smiled charmingly. She was glad to see that Natsu and Gray had their arms around each other and were chatting.

Lucy groaned, "That's not it. What if they already have some of the other pieces? I'll never be- I mean we'll never be- able to complete Aquarius' key! I'll never see her again!"

Natsu walked up behind the girl and placed his hand on her shoulder. He smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Luce! I promise we'll get mermaid-woman-girl back!"

Lucy turned her head and smiled gratefully at Natsu. "Thanks, Natsu."

Rain squealed quietly at the moment. She already shipped Natsu and Lucy, just like Mira and Erza did. She'd developed many ships after seeing all the guild members together. She shipped Jellal and Erza, Natsu and Lucy, Mira and Laxus, and a lot more. Varian laughed at the girl. "Why in the world are you squealing?"

The dark-haired girl smiled and pointed at Natsu and Lucy sneakily. "I ship it!"

The wizard looked at her with confusion. "What? Ship? What are you shipping and how?"

Three blue lines appeared on the girl's forehead. "Shipping people is when you want two people to be together. Not an actual ship."

"Oh..." Varian laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I get it!"

'I ship us,' the boy thought fondly, watching as Rain skipped away.

Soon enough, the path widened, trees and shrubs growing together in clusters. At the sight of the familiar location, the wizards quickened their pace.

"Race ya!" Natsu yelled, nudging Lucy with an elbow. He sprinted ahead, Gray close at his heels.

"How childish," Erza remarked, chuckling lightly. Despite herself, she transformed into her Flight Armor and raced ahead, making her way down the path.

"Shoot!" Gray exclaimed, rushing after the scarlet-haired titania.

"Home sweet home," Rain mumbled sarcastically. She took a deep breath, facing the empty town with a newfound confidence. "Okay. Let's do this."

Varian stepped out from the pack of mages and strode over to the middle of the clearing. The looming trees towered over him, casting shadows, darker than ink, across his face. The silver-haired man gazed up at the blue sky, watching the clouds.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Erza asked at last. The question everyone feared.

There was no hesitation this time.

"Yes."

Lowering his gaze, the man closed his eyes, and took a breath, deep and long. No one dared to move.

Just when everyone had thought Varian had given up, a faint golden light began to glow, enveloping his hands, climbing up his legs, covering his body. He was a ball of blinding, white-hot light, fierce and fiery. The white illumination began to consume him, burning his skin, taking the boy over. His eyes flashed dangerously, the blue color draining from them, only to be replaced by a colorless white. His hair paled, while a crystal, blue color crept up his forearms and legs, twining their way around his hands and bleached face. The glow faded away, his new figure turning to the group. "Get close to me, when the anima appears it'll start to work immediately." His eyes were fixated on Rain, whilst her silver ones begged him to stop. This boy, he was no longer Varian, he was some other being, and it startled the others. But not Rain.