Fairy Tail Rewind (Completed)

Chapter 16 -- Master Makarov's Down

Natsu and Happy brought Lucy to a dilapidated warehouse overlooking a wide murky river. A few fish floated belly-up on the surface. Even Happy couldn't refrain his urge to puke at the sight. Natsu was still hugging Lucy as he tottered down a path of rusty metal bars. Unlike the prosperous Magnolia Town, this part of the region looked infertile. Lucy was shocked to see hardly any vegetation covering the rocky mountains in the distance. 

It wasn't until they had arrived at the entrance of the warehouse that Natsu put Lucy down. Mirajane dashed towards them, dabbing her swollen eyes with a handkerchief concurrently. Had Erza not caught her in time, Mirajane might've already tripped over a mushy log. 

"How is Master doing?" asked Natsu anxiously.

Mirajane shook her head; teetering between tears and anger. They dashed into the warehouse; no one seemed to be aware of the violet light, lurking in the corner like a rattlesnake, waiting for the right moment to strike. The warehouse was cramped with hundreds of mages, mostly heavily bandaged. Gray was leaning in between Makao and the beastly built Elfman. As they saw Lucy, they eyed her with disbelief. But they quickly averted their gaze as Lucy frowned at them.

Lying on a straw bed at the right corner, was the dwarf-like Master Makarov. His face was a shade of green and purple as if being intoxicated. His breathing uneven. Sweat coated his forehead and the top of his lips, even though the autumn wind was howling ferociously outside now.

"Master had his power depleted when dueling with an Element Four's mage," Mirajane inhaled her sob with much difficulty as she said. "A mage's power is his life source. If he loses it, he will--" Mirajane shook her head. "We didn't know what to do until Madam Miranda showed up."

Lucy's lips parted wide at the mention of the name. Miranda... Was she the same Miranda that she knew? Could she be... No, it was impossible. Bewildered, Lucy stared at the back of a red-cloaked woman with pale blond hair. Lithe but strong... It was too familiar.

Madam Miranda had her back facing them as she mixed something into a bubbling cauldron. Bottles with different labels scattered on the floor. Kana helped to add charcoals into the fire so that the contents would keep boiling. Upon hearing the noise of heavy footsteps, Madam Miranda spun around with locked brows, looking disapprovingly at the newcomers. However, her expression softened as she saw Lucy. Her hand holding the ladle dropped.

"Mama?" Lucy took a step forward, but then she halted, uncertain of the situation. Was she fantasizing thing? Her mother had passed away three months ago. "You're alive." She sounded stupid. Her head ached as her confusion towered, and she crouched on the floor, gripping it.

Natsu draped a hand over Lucy's shoulder to calm her shivers, amid eyeing Madam Miranda with a mixed expression of suspicious and respect. It was a weird feeling, which had twisted his face into an unrecognizable form. He wanted to say something but he didn't want to upset Lucy.

"I'm glad to see both of you are getting so well." Madam Miranda regarded Lucy and Natsu.

The Fire Boy returned her gaze with a flat, cold stare. But Madam Miranda still smiled warmly. Slowly, she reached them and supported them up. Lucy still had her eyes fixated on her mother. That gentle touch as her mother's fingers landed on her skin... That soothing voice like the whispering of water... Those brooding mercurial eyes... They were all too familiar. All of Lucy's thoughts ran thickly like a muddy mixture of cement in a swamp as she tried to string the logic.

"All I could say is, I'm reborn, after consuming the Lacrima of Dracos. The very same concoction I'm brewing now. Both of you deserve the truth, but healing your Master is the most crucial thing to do now. If he didn't recover before midnight, he won't--"