Fan art by Freed-n-Friends on Tumblr: http://freed-n-friends.tumblr.com/post/129900424352/this-was-a-rather-fast-drawing-and-is-based-on

It had been thirteen years. Laxus spent five of those wandering until people compared him to Gildarts. He fought enemies no one would have dreamed of. He perfected his magic to a level far surpassing the past. He was offered the role of guild master over and over again. Gildarts didn't want it. Erza felt like retiring again. Laxus kept refusing. Once, that had been his goal. However, that was a goal he made with Freed and the others. It seemed frivolous now.

Still, he was named as one of the Ten Wizard Saints, replacing his grandfather after his passing. He ignored the distinction most days. He wore a fur coat with the Wizard Saint symbol emblazoned on the back. That was all.

The guild still felt incomplete. Life in general lacked that bit of color, that dash of green. However, he could not pretend it had gone monochrome. There were other colors, pinks and yellows and blues and reds and browns. He stared out at the noisy guild from a corner table where he sat alone.

Erza walked through the broad doors, and a few people hailed her return. Laxus quietly gulped his beer, wondering who she had with her now. He was a child, not even a teen by his face, his hair so alike in color to hers that, if he did not know her better, he might have mistaken the boy as Erza's long-lost son. Wide green eyes roamed around the guild in innocent wonder.

"Everyone, this is our new member. He's young, but he's quite powerful."

"Hey!" Natsu shouted out. "I thought you left to take care of a dark guild, not rescue kids."

"The dark guild is vanquished," she informed them, looking like it was no big deal. Laxus knew that for someone like Erza, it was swatting some annoying flies. "This boy had been a member, but not by his choice. The Magic Council pardoned him due to his age. He'll live here and learn how to use his magic for the side of good." She patted the boy's shoulder. "You'll be safe here. No more scary stuff."

Laxus watched intently. There was something about the boy. His waist-length hair was of course reminiscent of long ago, if not for it being such a bright shade of red.

Natsu stomped up to the child with a massive grin. Thirteen years and a family hardly tamed the Fire Dragon Slayer. "So, you're really strong, huh? What magic do you use?"

"Natsu," Erza warned.

"Um ... I use runes," the boy said in intimidation.

Laxus perked up even more. Runes?

"Well, I won't accept you until I see you fight," Natsu declared.

Erza scolded him harsher, "Natsu!"

The Dragon Slayer pointed his finger at the boy. "You have to defeat my daughter. If you can beat her, I'll accept that you're strong. She's only six, but don't let her age fool you. She's gonna grow up to be a Dragon Slayer like me."

"I'm ... not good around girls," the boy said timidly, trying to shy away.

Natsu laughed and ruffled his hair. "It's fine, it's fine. She's stronger than any girl you've ever met, I guarantee it."

When Natsu removed his hand, the top of the boy's hair stuck out. Laxus saw it for just a second. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but ... no, definitely! The boy reached up and tried to smooth his hair back down, but two cowlicks still stuck out to the side of his head.

Laxus immediately rose and strode over. "I'll take him," he boomed out in declaration.

Everyone paused and stared in confusion. Take him? Hearing that from Laxus almost sounded scary.

"The boy needs a mentor," he clarified. "I know a bit about runes magic. I'll take him as a disciple."

Erza looked the most stunned out of them all, but she gave a nod. She had not missed seeing the little similarities. "You're in luck," she told the boy. "Not many in history get to have a Ten Wizard Saint as their master."

Green eyes turned up to him, and their admiration was the same as similar eyes in the past. "Wow! You must be really strong."

Laxus smiled gently at the lad. "You'll be my second-in-command. Follow my lead. I'll protect you with my life."

The boy nodded eagerly, and Laxus patted his head right between the pointy cowlicks. Maybe it was just him, but the boy's red hair felt just as soft as Freed's had been.

Laxus stood once again on the hill overlooking Magnolia. The sun was making its way down, setting in the bay and turning it into the color of wine.

"I think you managed to come back into my life," he said softly. "He reminds me so much of you, Freed. Twelve years old, but he's strong, brilliant. He may even surpass you when he's older." He laughed softly and looked down at the grave. "Or maybe you want to surpass your old self. Maybe that really is you reborn. I like to think so."

He leaned over and placed red roses against the headstone.

"I promise to protect him. I won't fail this time. I swear to you, Freed. I won't fail!"

He thought he saw a vision, a specter, those long lashes, loyal gaze, reticent smile, and the emerald sheen of hair. As the sun sank, the vision changed. The sun glared red on green, replacing the color.

Laxus smiled as the vision faded. "Thanks for giving me another chance, Freed."

The End