Chapter Text
There were no living inhabitants left, but on the other hand the vegetation came to life again and the city of Dandelion was repopulated by all kind of Nature Spirits. This made Mei much more relaxed and relieved... even if it meant having to take the train to the nearest town and walk all the way to there. Fortunately for them, the barrier that Hergel had erected had also broken and they could exit Dandelion with their memories intact.
-I still don't believe it.- Ray snorted, continuing to complain as they walked down that path. -Our reward is under the rubble and we can't even take it.-
Mei reminded him who exactly had destroyed those underground corridors and Ray, possibly, snorted even more, feeling deeply involved but saying nothing at all.
-Come on, we saved the town.- Bixlow tried to reassure him that, sometimes, the work was based on the heart. And even though Freed agreed with that statement, that this time it was okay not to get paid, Ray remembered a job the Raijinshu and Laxus had once, where they forgot to get paid and gave those same excuses.
"Be that as it may, I'll never go on an S-Class quest again if they're all like this." Ray commented at the end, sounding thoughtful about a certain detail: they had never understood what that strange lacrima was the one which had stolen part of his and Bixlow's magical power. When he talked about it with Mei, she didn't know exactly what it could be either. Ultimately, they decided it was a prototype that didn't work well... and then it was buried under piles of rubble. If it had been dangerous, she would have known.
-But are we certain that the witch, Ecate, won't do the same thing again?-. Evergreen admitted her concern, but Mei let her know she could rest easy.
-Since we defeated her, her ethernano has kind of disappeared. And that only means one thing. I don't think she will be a danger to anyone anymore…-.
**
Ecate's breathing and heartbeat were becoming slow and short. Inside that ravine the woman could only glimpse the sky, but could no longer move. She didn't want to die, but couldn't do anything but accept it.
-They're gone. I made sure they thought you were dead.- A familiar male voice reached her pointy ears, not expecting it.
-Adler... you...-.
Her violet eyes slowly moved on that man who, in those hundred years, had not changed a bit: he had the same young appearance as when they had met for the first time.
-Hello, Ecate. We haven't seen each other for a century. I'm sorry to do this under these conditions.- Adler lowered himself to his knees, looking at her face with a cold but also sad look. -I wanted to come to warn you that I'm the new Master, but when I arrived they had already defeated you. Riley told me what happened. Sorry, I arrived late.-
Her eyes filled with tears as she heard those apologies. She now felt even more guilty because of all her unexpressed regrets.
-No... it's my fault. I'm the weak one.- Ecate bit her lip, admitting in a whisper that she didn't want to die, not yet.
Adler nodded seriously. -Don't worry, you won't die.-
He held out his left hand and brought it to her unsurprised face. In just a few moments, he transformed her body into a purple liquid contained inside an ampoule with a label indicating a name, that of the enchantress.
-You will live forever in the form of a powerful weapon that I going to create myself. You can be sure of it.-
Adler promised her that he would continue their Yggdrasil Project: now he knew what was going wrong and what needed to be improved. "In a few years I should be able to complete it...".
His thoughts were halted after sensing something extremely interesting. Standing up, Adler placed the ampoule in the inside pocket of his long black coat and moved through the rubble without any problem, using a special weapon of his own creation so as not to get stuck and be able to continue undisturbed, reaching a large almost destroyed room. Every piece of the broken lacrima in front of his very eyes still shone, and Adler recognized it immediately. It was the special lacrima that Ecate had managed to steal from the Oni village: she wanted to try to use it for her experiments, but in the end she threw it away in that room because only those who had oni blood in their veins could use and light it. Unfortunately, a red-horned half-oni had exterminated his own race and it had become a more unique than rare event to find one.
“Apparently, such a person is hiding in that guild full of fairies… Fairy Tail, huh?” Adler smiled at the sight of the little girl with short black and blue hair, lying asleep among those broken pieces. She looked to be about three years old.
Adler picked her up and suddenly a beautiful idea crossed his mind. The little girl opened her eyes, waking up, showing a dark red shade that became brighter when they rested on him, as if they were scrutinizing something inside her person. Adler was surprised to see that she was using magic: unfortunately he was just an alchemist and therefore didn't know much about it, but Derek would certainly have understood what magic the little girl must have. Even if he didn't want to, she would force him to train that little girl who exuded magical power.
-You aren't my mom. And not even my dad.-
Adler's smile widened even more at the sight of a beautiful goose that laid golden eggs.
-I know, but don't worry. Come with me and I'll help you look for them, what do you think?-.
**
Ray walked down the street towards a certain destination, but his legs walked on automatic while his mind was lost to the feeling of a shadow grabbing his hand. He shook his head as Mei's and Laxus' new home came into view before Ray's eyes. The first noises he heard were those of practically almost the entire guild who, in some way, had occupied the garden with food and beer. He smiled, much more relaxed at the sight, entering through the door left open to place other boxes of beer that he had brought for the occasion.
Once they returned to Dandelion, his sister had told everything to the oak spirit, who cried after listening to the truth: both from sadness at not being able to see Harry and Olivia again, and from relief at how it had ended. Thanking them, the spirit promised Mei and Laxus of behaving and keeping their part of the promise. And that had brought them to that afternoon, where pretty much everyone had decided to help them fix up the house, but most were just using that excuse to party.
-Thanks Ray!-. Mei entered the kitchen, busy but even so exuding happiness from every pore. And if she was happy, he certainly was too.
-Don't worry, I got everything from the guild. Gray and Gajeel are about to bring the rest.-
Mei was about to reply, but just then the two wizards he mentioned earlier came in with more alcohol and more food.
-Master's Orders, Mei. You can't refuse.- Gray grinned and Gajeel supported him, stating how he and Levy had been there too.
-As you wish-. Mei sighed, but ultimately accepted "that order". Then she brightened, remembering something. -Oh, Ray. Can you go to the garden? Natsu has decided, for I don't know what reason, that he wants to grill meat on the barbecue because he's the "fire dragon slayer", using his words. An extra pair of eyes around Natsu wouldn't be bad.-
Gray commented that Natsu's outburst made no sense, while Gajeel hoped it didn't burn all the meat.
-Laxus and Lucy are there to hold him back, fortunately. And the Master checks that no one accidentally damages the plants.-
Ray laughed, shaking his head. -Okay, I'll go see what happens.-
Coming out of the kitchen, he vaguely heard his sister thank him. Juggling the various boxes on the floor, Ray saw Gerard and Erza actively helping Mei tidy up, along with Freed, Evergreen, Lume and the three Strauss siblings: the only ones who actually helped, while everyone else seemed to be out in the garden.
-Where's Bixlow?-. Ray quickly asked Freed, who pointed to the barbecue. Thanking him, he went outside the house, where the rest of the gang was already making the usual mess. Ray knew that any excuse was good to party, here in Fairy Tail, and this afternoon was no different; that noise was almost a cure-all for him.
Natsu's laughter could even be heard from inside and now he noticed Laxus and Lucy jousting between him and the dishes. With his eyes he saw Bixlow, who was placing two more on the enormous table. With a small smile, he approached his boyfriend.
-So we're ultimately opting for the buffet?-.
Bixlow winked at him, before nodding. -Take advantage of it now, everyone is eating a bit of everything anyway.-
-Then I'm gonna do just that.-
Ray took a plastic plate and placed a bit of everything on it, taking advantage of the fact that it was still warm. Feeling his boyfriend's gaze on him, Ray turned to look at him, asking silently for an explanation with a raised eyebrow.
-Well, I just thought you were down in the dumps.- Bixlow exclaimed, leaning better on the table. -But if I was wrong, it's okay.-
Ray had to admit of feeling decidedly surprised, because he had tried not to show it, but Bixlow had noticed it and now Ray was overwhelmed by a nice warmth at chest level. For this reason he smiled, placing the plate on the table for a moment.
-It seemed because I was.- Now Ray lowered his gaze to the ground, becoming thoughtful. -The more I think about Dandelion and that lacrima, the more I... you know, it's strange, but I have this feeling that we forgot something important.-
Bixlow frowned, asking what it was about, but Ray admitted he didn't know.
-If you want, we can come back and check.-
But Ray shook his head. -No, it won't be there anymore. Whatever it is, we've lost it.-
Seeing that sad look return, Bixlow didn't know what exactly was worrying him, but was ready to cheer him up whenever Ray needed it. So Bixlow put a hand on top of his head to ruffle his hair and Ray let him do it, albeit with a small pout.
-If we have lost something, it means that we're gonna find it again.-
Ray's eyes widened again, amazed. -But... I don't even know what it is.-
Bixlow shrugged, bringing now his arm around his shoulders. -It means that we'll know once we have it in front of us.-
Those very genuine words initially made the other blink several times, but then smiled and burst out laughing. -You make it so simple... but I don't mind the way you see it at all.-
-I've always told you that you make yourself too many problems in your head.-
-Too many! Too many!-.
Ray pouted again, watching his boyfriend and his dolls flutter around him with an impassive look.
-Hey, I give you a compliment and you offend me?-.
-I cheer you up and you accuse me like this, shortie?-.
______________
It was late in the evening when everyone left, bringing with them the noise and confusion. Mei lay down bodily on the sofa, tired and slightly tipsy.
-I refuse to clean. I'd rather do it tomorrow.-
Laxus fully agreed, sitting down on the same couch, in the free space next to her.
-Tomorrow I'll force Natsu to help us.-
Mei laughed at the scene he had just made her imagine, then admitting that the Raijinshu were certainly gonna help them as well. -We don't lack helping hands. I'm also expecting to see Gerard at one point. He wanted to stay to help, but I sent him away to tame a completely drunk Erza.-
Mei thought it was because he had recently joined the guild and felt obligated to help, but it seemed like he was slowly starting to get used to their constant mess.
Now bringing her gaze to her boyfriend, she changed her position so she could rest her head on his shoulder, absentmindedly stroking his hand.
-We have a house...-. Mei whispered softly, showing the inherent emotion she held within her.
Laxus returned the caress, intertwining them together. -We have one.-
Bringing her eyes to his, Mei couldn't resist any longer. She leaned in to kiss him passionately, ending up placing her free hand delicately on his shoulder. She felt his hands rest on her hips and only then noticed that she had moved on top of Laxus, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Mei didn't care, because it was the only place she wanted to be.
-Didn't you just say you were tired?-. Laxus broke away from those inviting lips only to continue kissing her neck. He brought her closer to his chest, making sure to sneak his hands inside her shirt, caressing her back and gradually moving up. Mei held her breath for a moment at that touch, closing her eyes and letting herself immerse in those sensations that Laxus was always able to make her feel as if it were the first time.
-Never too tired for this.-
-Mm? "This" what?-.
Mei was starting to hate how much she loved the times he teased her with that way of his; furthermore, she was also starting to believe that Laxus already knew that. And yet, she could never help but blush. -You know, come on!-.
-If you don't tell me clearly what you want, how can I help you?-.
Mei decided to grab him by the cheeks, lifting his face so she could silence him with a kiss and show him with facts exactly what she meant. And Laxus felt like they were on the same wavelength, because for better or worse, there was no other person he intended to be with and have by his side. And now, from today, they had just taken a small step towards their desire of wanting to spend a life together and soon, when they felt ready, they would take others.
Step by step, but walking side by side... possibly with a ring on their finger and, why not, even little ones around them to liven up their already hectic life.
This was perfectly true for both Laxus and Mei and they showed it with their love that same evening, under the roof of their dream house.