Phoenix Storm || Fairy Tail [2]

➝ 𝐯𝐢𝐢. 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 (𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙡𝙮) 𝙗𝙮 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙚
❛ 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘹 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯. ❜

◊

The mellifluous lullaby of the night eased the forest into a state of tranquillity. Cold blue moonlight coloured the surrounding woods in deep hues of green and blue. Rose crouched beside the fire, stoking the embers and encouraging the flames to grow stronger.

When Rose was satisfied she settled herself a little away from Erza, Wendy and the exceeds, leaning her back against a tree comfortably. From her position, she could survey every one and simultaneously keep an eye on the woodlands.

"We looked through every book and stack of paper down there, but we couldn't find anything about his dispel magic..." Gray reported to Erza. He and Natsu had emerged from the basement after their attempts to find more information.

"I see..." Erza mused, her gaze shifting. "... the real issue is the spell that's been cast on the phoenix stone."

Rose squirmed uncomfortably under the accusing gazes which the rest of the group sent her. They'd been pretty irritated by her unwillingness to say anything.

"Why won't you say anything?" Natsu asked, moving until he was standing a few metres away from her.

Rose crossed her arms over her chest and pushed off of the tree, beginning to walk towards the basement.

"Are you sure that you don't know anything that could help us?"

"Like I said earlier... this is something we should talk about after we return to the guild," Rose murmured. She could understand their desperation for information, but at the same time... she had to keep them safe.

"You're acting odd," Wendy said softly, to the phoenix slayer's turned back. "Ever since we returned to Magnolia—no, ever since we met Éclair... you've been less talkative."

Rose sighed, and they saw her shoulders sink slightly with the action. The woman turned to face them with a weary look in her eyes.

"Sealed phoenixes tend to release... miasma, I guess you could call it," Rose began hesitantly. This wasn't really information that she believed would make an impact on them. "I'm sensitive to auras, remember? The stone puts me on edge... before I knew she had it, I thought I was just cautious because she was a stranger... but now it's clear that I feel this way because she carries something that I'm hardwired to resent."

"Is there anything else you can tell us?" Erza inquired. She seemed to have caught onto the reason behind why Rose was so reluctant to say anything.

"... we can't let them take the stone. That phoenix was sealed for a reason."

"But aren't phoenixes good?" Happy asked, desperately, "maybe this one's nice!"

"I doubt it." A sardonic smile tugged on Rose's lips. "I can feel its malevolence from here, even though Éclair's with Lucy..."

◊

In the field beyond the ruins danced Éclair – twirling elegantly, body conforming to movements burned into her muscle memory. The necklace bearing the phoenix stone streamed behind her, the stone delicately pinched between her fingertips.

As her dance drew to a conclusion, Éclair crumbled to her knees. Crystalline tears welled up in her eyes and dripped down her cheeks. Momon hobbled over to her, and though he was small, she seemed to take comfort in the bird's embrace.

Lucy approached the crying woman cautiously, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears.

"I know how you feel. I lost my father not too long ago... and I wasn't able to be there by his side..."

The blonde crouched and wrapped her arms around Éclair warmly. "He wanted you to find happiness... and people who care for you..."

Lucy pulled away so that she could look into Éclair's eyes.

"Éclair... you've found one of those people in me."

They both erupted into heart-wrenching sobs, their shoulders shaking, their arms wrapped around each other tightly.

From the ruins, the rest of the group were able to see the private moment clearly. Those blessed with more enhanced senses were able to catch snippets of their conversation, even though they hadn't meant to...

Everyone had tried to busy themselves with setting up camp and preparing a meal, but Rose was busy with her own internal conflict. She'd been mindlessly chopping vegetables (and somehow avoided cutting her own fingers off in the process)—but that was beside the point.

The fact of the matter was, Rose was drowning in guilt. She was the reason for Éclair's pain. Callard had died not knowing if his daughter would return because of her. Éclair's village would have been fine if she'd done her job. She was supposed to be a phoenix slayer. She was supposed to be the person Felliora had wanted her to be – a protector.

But she'd done the opposite, even though her phoenix had cautioned her about her potential for cruelty. She'd failed when she ran away and shunned her responsibilities.

Rose knew that, above all, Felliora had wanted her to be good... and she would have been disappointed to see what had become of the girl she'd raised.

Felliora's death had been in vain. Acnologia lived on, and Rose – Rose had become just as bad as him. Worse, even, for allowing the dark guild to puppeteer her with their deluded visions of morality.

Did she even deserve the chance to be good?

Rose wanted to have that opportunity. She wanted to cling to it, because it was the only thing which allowed her tainted existence within Fairy Tail. The guild had forgiven many before – Gajeel, Juvia, Jellal... and she knew they forgave her too.

But she couldn't find forgiveness for herself. She knew she would always regret her past actions... but she didn't regret her decision to stay. Rose would protect Fairy Tail until her last breath. She'd find Adell again, and maybe, if he and Cylene and the rest of her friends were all within reach... if they were safe, and happy...

She'd feel at peace.

◊

"I'd like to make a formal request of the Fairy Tail guild," Éclair said. "My father spent his final days trying to rid the phoenix stones of the curse they carry. Will you help me to achieve it?"

"We most gladly accept," Erza replied, her armour reflecting the light of the campfire's flames.

"It's our pleasure!" Natsu grinned.

Rose was still for a time, before she whispered in an unusually reassuring tone, "I won't let you down."

Éclair sent a surprised look at them, amazed that they took on the request so easily despite the difficulty of the task. Her shock seemed especially directed at Rose, who didn't seem to be very friendly and had remained silent besides a few random remarks.

"You have my thanks."

Published: 20/12/2018