Chapter 15
Why Not?

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters, only my own OC's, Energy Magic, and Ideas

.:+:.

"Not happening!" Corbynn snapped lowly, his hand clamping down on Frea's wrist and tugging hard to sidetrack her movement in the opposite direction she had turned. Frea blinked in slight surprise, her feet easily shifting as she followed him a few paces, before halting altogether.

"Excuse me?" She grumbled, Wendy and Carla near them blinking in surprise and question, their arms filled up with groceries. They have been shopping for the better part of an hour and it had been utterly content between them for the whole of it, enjoyable even- but that smile and cheery demeanor Corbynn had been wearing suddenly wore off out of nowhere.

He shot Frea and annoyed glare, "Don't even try, I know where you were planning on going, idiot."

"..... Kid...." Frea started, looking near as annoyed as he did for a split second.

"Nope! No Twilight Ogre, leave it alone!" He growled, Frea hissed under her breath.

"I wasn't-"

"No!" He cut her off again, Frea grumbled under her breath,

"......... Are you going to let me finish?" Frea huffed, Corbynn glared.

"And what were you planning on doing?" He asked shortly, Frea let out a breath of agitation.

"..... I was gonna grab this idiot," Frea snapped hotly, her hand reaching out over Corbynn's head as her hand latched on to something- there was a startled yelp somewhere between a hiss and a meow. Wendy and Carla jumped, sweatdropping as the air wavered where Frea hand grabbed it- a spray of water hitting the ground at Frea's feet as she pulled a now visible Uno toward her by the back of the she-cat's shirt and out of the air.

"She can turn invisible..?!" Carla and Wendy stammered, 

Corbynn blinked, his head tilting up at the nervous looking Exceed in clear surprise and question.

"Ah... Hey... Frea...." Uno stammered, smiling with a wave of her paw at the Energy Dragon Slayer- who still looked entirely unamused. Her silver glare turned from the she-cat and toward Corbynn in clear annoyance, still holding Uno aloft but uncaring as she bared her fangs down at the younger Mage.

"Try not to jump to conclusions on everything, yeah? I'm more focused on food than I am on dealing with those Twilight Bastards, you don't have to scold me like a child!" Frea snapped, Corbynn grimaced, sweatdropping slightly but entirely calm under a glare from the Energy Dragon Slayer that had Wendy, Carla and Uno shivering. "And next time let me finish what I'm saying!"

Those furious silver eyes snapped right toward Uno, who jumped, looking ready to try and struggle free of Frea's grasp and avoid her wrath- only she was trapped and she knew it.

"And you don't need to spy on me either, Uno!" Frea snapped, "I already know Master Makarov is handling Twilight, I can feel him there with Mirajane and Erza- I'm not gonna rush off and skip breakfast to bud in where I don't need to! Those three are plenty capable on their own of knocking sense into Twilight Ogre, and that is more than fine with me! So you and Moon can bud out on the watching me!" Uno deflated a little, chuckling nervously.

"...ah... Right.... I guess....?" Uno stammered, having trouble coming up with a response as Frea let out an angry breath. "... Sorry....? But.... You already knew they were going there....?"

"They're at Twilight's Guild Hall now." Frea replied curtly, "Energy Signatures, Uno. Don't forget."

"... Right... Sorry......"

"..... So you weren't going toward Twilight." Corbynn mumbled, sweatdropping slightly.

"No." Frea growled, "I am hungry, I want food and I'm not wasting time on something that's already being taken care of." Corbynn sweatdropped a little more, his eyes narrowing a little.

.... He wasn't sure he could imagine a world where Frea would stay away from kicking Twilight Ogre's ass for any reason at all, least of all for food. Once she set her mind on going somewhere or doing something, there was little that could stop her..... And certainly never for something that involved the Guild, or people that pissed her off as royally as Twilight Ogre did.

But then again.... Frea was acting a little different, he noticed that already. Especially so this morning, with Wendy and Carla... And yesterday, with the rest of the returned Guild Members.

He wasn't sure he got it though.... Or even if it was a good thing... He wanted the small changes to be a good thing.

"... Sorry." He mumbled, ".... I shouldn't have assumed..."

"Damn right!" Frea growled, letting go of Uno finally who sighed in relief. She stuck her hands on her hips, shaking her head before her hand dropped down on his and she roughly steered him in front of her and toward where Wendy and Carla were waiting by uncertainly.

".... Come on, we got the ingredients. Let's get home so you can cook me something good, yeah?" She murmured, smirking slightly as all annoyance and anger disappeared without a trace. "Everybody else too, we got breakfast to get back to."

He couldn't turn his head her way because she was still directing him forward, but he blinked.

..... Is she really that worried about food?

His eyes snapped toward Wendy and Carla as he was pushed forward closet to them, they seemed a little lost and confused but they smiled none the less.

.... No..... Is she trying not to freak them out...? Because she feels bad about worrying them earlier...?

Frea's hand left his head again and he spared a glance back toward her- though Frea had turned toward Uno instead.

"Did I hear breakfast?" Uno smiled, Frea blinked.

"You can come, but you gotta quit spying on me." Frea grumbled, Uno chuckled.

"Yeah, I'll try... You know Moon's the one who asks me to, huh?" Uno smirked, Frea sighed.

"Moon's always got her paws in everyone's business, you just do the footwork."

"How harsh!"

"It's the truth."

"Hehe... I can't really deny that."

Corbynn sighed silently, his icy blue gaze glittering as she stepped up toward Wendy.

"I can carry some of that." He offered easily, Wendy smiled.

"Ah, thank you..." She murmured softly, he nodded.

"You got it." He smiled slightly,

...... She's being usually happy..... And it's not fake either.... It's like that person she used to be... Is coming back, little by little....

His lips dared to twitch at the corners in a small, soft smile for half a second as he held the bags of groceries closer to him.

He couldn't remember the last time he had had a meal with the Energy Dragon Slayer and other people- and it be so warm and cheerful... And genuine. Not since long before the Triad, and long before Chess.

.:+:.

"You look broody today."

Gildarts glanced up in surprise at the sudden voice, his attention leaving the water he had been staring at and moving to find probably one of the last people he'd expect to find... and the one he recognized the least since coming back from the island.

She made her way lightly along the low wall bordering the canal, her movement at ease as she stepped from the wall and onto the small bridge that spanned the canal- and the same one in which Gildarts was previously standing alone on, staring into the water passing by under him. The light of the dying sun overhead shone brightly off the rings on her index and middle finger as she waved a hand at him, smiling slightly as her silver gaze glittered.

".. Frea.." He murmured quietly, hardly moving as she came to a halt in front of him.

Her day had been spent with Wendy, Carla, Corbynn and Uno. Breakfast had come and gone in ease an they went back to walking about Magnolia, visiting places that hadn't been around when the Tenrou Team had left and catching up... And it had been nice.

Frea had become less talkative and she surely didn't spend time just doing nothing or productive. She had been too busy for too long to do that, and this was the first time in years she had time to do something so mundane. And honestly?

It was odd, and foreign a thing to her now... But familiar too, in a way. Something like nostalgia, it felt nice, but it also ached and she had no clue why.

She'd left Corbynn and Uno to walk Wendy and Carla home, slipping away for a little after a busy day to take a walk- she'd assured Corbynn she just wanted some air, while that was somewhat true- the real reason she'd stepped away was because of one thing- one feeling she felt incessantly on the air, and she knew who it was coming from, regardless of the distance between herself and him.

She cocked a hip, her arms crossing about her chest as she tilted her head at him and the somewhat dazed reaction- he hadn't been expecting her, no, but his mind was clearly elsewhere, she could feel it.

"... broody..?" He echoed, quirking an eyebrow.

"I can feel your tenseness all the way from my house." She replied, "You're unusually serious today, and uneasy... it's not all that much like you, ya know." He blinked at the response, looking a little unsure of just how she could 'feel' his emotions from such a distance.. but honestly, he wasn't sure of what she could do anymore. He could never shake the heavy feeling on the air whenever she got closer, pressure, power... more than he could imagine in a girl he had hardly known since she'd been brought to the Guild all that time ago.

He'd never been close to her, he was hardly around as it was- but even then they knew little of one another. He'd been aware that Frea was strong in her own right even when she was younger, and he'd known she was likely one of the stronger Wizards in the Guild... but even he had a hard time wrapping his head around how utterly different she seemed now.

A chilling thought, but what little he had seen and felt of her Magic had him believing she was likely even stronger than he was.

Frea tilted her head slightly, "You good?" She asked, he sighed. He rubbed the back of his neck in exasperation,

"... yeah, sorry...." He mumbled,

"Hmm, distracted?" She asked,

"... yeah, pretty much." He hummed, "... not everyday you're told you're being chosen as the next Guild Master of Fairy Tail, and..." He trailed off, stopping himself from saying anything further and missing the sheer blank and expressionless look Frea had settled on him even after the news.

Gildarts' eyes fell to the water as she watched him silently, her silver gaze flashing as she shook her head slightly, smirking the slightest little bit.

"You're not going to do it, are you?" She asked, he blinked, glancing up at her and the small smirk, before smiling himself- if a little sheepishly.

"Heh, how'd you know?"

She shrugged, "I know you enough to know you'd go insane sitting around running a Guild. 'Master' isn't really you're style."

"I suppose you're right." He replied, Frea chuckled.

"Of course I am, I know people a lot better than they think I do." She replied easily, he smirked slightly. "Who are you appointing as Guild Master once you resign?" Gildarts shrugged slightly,

"Maybe you."  He replied lightly, she blinked.

".... very funny.." She mumbled,

"And why not? Seems to me you've been taking care of the Guild for seven years just like any Master would." He replied, Frea sweatdropped slightly. He waved a hand toward hers, his eyes lingering on the rings with a sly smirk her way. "You certainly fit the bill for Power, not many Wizards have a need to use those- not even me."

Frea smiled slightly, sweatdropping a little.

".... so you noticed." She sighed, ".... Makarov hasn't even pieced it together yet."

"He's still trying to hold on to the idea that you haven't changed so much in Seven Years." Gildarts replied, "He wants to think you're still some semblance of the person that got left behind, and he can't wrap his head around just how much you have changed yet."

".... and you can?" Frea asked slowly, though for a split second Gildarts swore he saw something like sadness appear across her face at the words. He shrugged slightly,

"For some of it, I understand." Gildarts replied, "I wouldn't say I know you well enough to piece together how your demeanor's altered, but the change in Power is hard to miss. You're certainly not the same tough little kid that showed up... you're on a level higher than me, or Makarov now... and I get it."

"Power doesn't make me Master material." Frea murmured softly, "... I care about the Guild, but I'm not the right sort of person to go around leading it.. trust me." His head tilted slightly, though he didn't question it further. Frea sighed, her eyes glittering, "... so, seriously now Gildarts. If you plan on resigning outright, I assume you'll give the position back to Makarov?"

"Of course." He answered and she nodded, that's what she figured his answer would be. "And I'll be gone before morning comes around... hehe, I suppose I ought to start writing a letter."

"Your first and last order as Guild Master." Frea smirked, "He's not gonna be happy you're bailing right out, ya know."

"Probably not, but he won't be able to stop me." Gildarts chuckled, Frea blinked, her eyes trailing away from him and toward the water for a moment.

"...... Authority of a Guild Master, for as little as you plan on having it...." she mumbled half to herself, before smirking slightly as her eyes fell closed. "Hehe.... You might as well lift Laxus' expulsion before you give the title back up."

Gildarts' eyes widened a little in clear surprise, his eyes snapping from the water and back toward her instantly at the all too shocking suggestion.

"Huh?" He hummed, Frea smiled, casting him a small glance from the side- though she gave no further reply. Gildarts blinked a few times, smiling slightly, though he still looked a little taken aback. ".... You're serious? Not that I disagree to the idea... But I do recall you two being quite the rivals. Why would you ask to let him back in?"

"Cause why not?" Was the entirely simple answer she hummed. Gildarts settled her with a look that made her sigh a bit.

".... Seriously, he did show up on Tenrou to help even without being a technical member, yeah? Even on top of that, he's not been his usual bratty self. It seems to me he learned his lesson, he realized his mistake even before Master kicked him out- and at that point he only expelled him out of pride." She smiled, her tone even and calm and entirely unperturbed as she said any of it.

"I really don't see a reason to keep him out anymore, do you?" She asked lightly, he blinked. Gildarts simply held her in his gaze for a long while, his eyes narrowing slightly at just how steady she remained about it- she wasn't bothered, she wasn't tense or uneasy about it- she was just so calm and he didn't know if he understood it.

".... Heh..... You have changed, haven't you?" He smiled, chuckling quietly. ".. Where did all that hatred and annoyance go when it comes to Laxus, huh?"

Frea sighed, though she smiled regardless.

"... Honestly?" She hummed, her eyes falling on the water again.

".... I don't even remember why I disliked him so much any more..."

.:+:.

"You what?"

Frea blinked, her hand falling and her drink with it as she shot a sideways glance at the Old Man sitting cross-legged on the counter beside her.

She had come to the Guild Hall expecting a whole mass of people, and she had arrived at the Guild Hall with Corbynn in tow- though he had been whisked away quickly by Wendy, who was by now becoming fast friends with him. She was only faintly aware of them somewhere outside with Lucy, Happy, Natsu and Romeo. The Guild was fairly empty though as she sat in it at the bar, having taken a seat and a drink- it seemed everyone else had gone off to see what had changed and Solana, Chase, Aisha and the Exceeds- as well as near everyone else beside the afore mentioned, had gone too.

Familiar feeling, it so empty- and yet it never felt so different.

Master Makarov had taken a seat beside her at the bar and seemed content to silence and his own drink for no more a minute or two- Frea figured he sat down to talk and wasn't surprised when he did, but the inquiry was a surprise.

Because the Old Man said nothing about Gildarts, and him being appointed Guild Master. She'd talked with Gildarts the night prior, and though she knew by now Gildarts was long gone- she'd expected him to be the first thing mentioned, and yet-

"I was told by Macao and Wakaba about the new festival that started when we left." The Old Man replied evenly.

".. The Grand Magic Games." She murmured slowly, he nodded. She narrowed her eyes at the Old Man and the pointed, controlled way he said the words and kept from glancing at her- almost offhandedly, yet clearly there was something more.

"I was thinking of maybe involving the Guild. What little they explained to me of the subject, I thought it would be a good way to reestablish Fairy Tail and its reputation- and the prize money would certainly be appreciated. It seems a good opportunity, and I was hoping perhaps you could assist." Frea blinked.

"..... You want me to explain how the Games work?" She asked lowly, her eyes trailing away and landing on the coffee mug twined in between her hands.

"I was more hoping you would agree to participate." He replied evenly.

And there it is...

".... Yeah, sorry. But that's gonna be a no." Frea mumbled, Master blinked in clear surprise at the near immediate, and utterly final answer. He blinked, glancing her way carefully and a little surprised at the near immediate refusal.

".... May I ask why?" He replied evenly, Frea let out a sigh, her cheek falling onto her hand as she trailed a finger around the lip of her coffee mug. Master's eyes watched the movement, his attention lingering on the rings for only half a second.

".... Three reasons, mostly. The first being I don't like the attention." She replied, "Second being I do try avoiding painful situations where I can, and using Magic in that Arena is not pleasant-"

"Meaning?" Master asked immediately.

"You recall I mentioned Energy Mage's lives are more heavily connected to their Magic Energy than other Wizards?" She asked, he nodded. "And that if my Magic Energy gets stolen all at once the shock could kill me?"

"..... Yes...?"

".... Hmm... I'm not sure what it is exactly, but there is some device embedded in the Arena that siphons off Magic Energy from the people fighting there. It's not enough that anyone will notice it- but being an Energy Mage and how sensitive I am to it, I can feel my Magic get stripped away when I use it on the grounds and its not a pleasant feeling. I do my best to avoid using as much Magic as I can while I'm there." Frea explained lightly, earning a blink of shock from the Old Man. ".... And no, I have no clue why Magic is being siphoned off either... I haven't had time to look into it, being so busy. You'd probably need to ask Jellal more about it, I'm fairly sure he's been looking into it for awhile now."

".... Jellal...?" Master asked slowly, his expression tensing a little at a name well known and not particularly liked.

"Yeah, you're not a fan, I know." Frea mumbled, "He's not so bad, he's made his own Independent Guild dedicated to knocking down Dark Guilds and things involving Zeref... He's helpful, when he needs to be- if a little hard to get to talk to you." She smirked slightly to herself, ".... Though I'm sure people say the same about me nowadays...."

".... How did you come to ask him for help?" Master asked slowly,

"Moon's in contact with him a lot, he helped us contend with some of Phoenix Tear's activity at one point." Frea replied easily, shrugging slightly. "I've heard little about what he and his friends have found out about the Arena in Crocus, but they've been looking into it for awhile now- if you wanted to get a hold of him, you'd best talk to Moon." Master nodded slightly, his eyes narrowing in thought as she glanced down into his mug for awhile.

Frea hardly seemed to care as she took a small sip from her coffee mug, before letting it rest on the table again.

"..... and the third reason?" Master asked, Frea grimaced slightly.

"..... despite not wanting to use Magic in the Arena... I don't have much choice at times..." Frea grumbled lowly, her eyes falling closed as she seemed to bite the inside of her cheek. "..... for the last five years I've been enlisted by the Council to set up and hold defenses around the Arena." Master blinked, "..... I'm in charge of making sure the viewers of the Games don't get hit by runaway Magic or flying debris, whatever... and to make sure excess Magic doesn't spill over and do any real damage."

Frea sighed, her finger trailing along the edge of the cup again.

"... there's usually not much to do, considering most of the Spells stay pretty contained all on their own... but I have a feeling this year is gonna bring a lot of work for me......" Frea mumbled, "..... especially if you want the Guild to join.... and with Jura planning to participate too......." She trailed off, her eyes narrowing to slits and her silver gaze flashing with some strange light for a split second.

"........mm...... and there is that too..... things moving again...." She mumbled under her breath, near too low for him to hear and low enough he figured she hadn't meant him to.

Frea shook her head, seeming to cast the thoughts off as she gave him a weary look. "So... I'm gonna have my hands full, sorry to disappoint." He sighed,

"... given how strong you seem to have grown, having you play would make victory that much more assured." He grumbled,

".... maybe, but where's the fun in that?" Frea said softly, smiling slightly as he glanced to her from the corner of his eye. "... you still have a chance you know, you wouldn't need me... or any of my Team, for that matter. With everyone you brought back with you, you can win.... even if it doesn't seem that way right now."

She tapped her finger lightly against the rim,

".... so much potential hidden deep down in the lot of you.... Power you have and haven't reached yet.... drive too.... heh...." She tapped her finger against the edge a few more times.

"....... I'm actually looking forward to the Games for the first time.... how weird." She smirked, shaking her head at herself. "So, even without actually participating in the Games- I can help you out with the rules and things. I had to learn every page in the damned rule book, heh..." She twirled her finger in the air as a spiral of silver flared, before there was a small flash of light and a heavy bound book fell on top of the table with a thud.

Master sweatdropped, looking taken aback by the sheer amount of pages in the thing.

"You're help will be very much appreciated." Mavis' voice sounded as the ghost girl appeared, sitting on the edge of the counter beside Makarov and smiling warmly toward the Energy Dragon Slayer. "Do you think we'd garner the help of your Team should we ask?"

Frea shrugged, smiling slightly. "I don't know, Chase, Aisha and Solana weren't huge fans to start with- and I have no clue on Corbynn. You'd have to check with them." Mavis nodded in understanding,

"Very well- now, to start with the rules."

She completely forgot to hand off the letters that were tucked away in her back pocket.

.:+:.

"Oi. Broody Lightning-Boy."

Her eyes remained fixed on his back as he slowed to a halt ahead of her, his hands in his pockets and Magic Headphones on. She could hear the music from where she was, though he clearly heard her around it.

He pulled the headphones down to hang around his neck as he turned her way, eyebrow quirking.

"Frea...." He grumbled, "..... What do you want?"

"To bring you to the Guild." Was her simple reply, her eyes flashing in the setting dim of twilight overhead. He blinked, stiffening slightly at the unexpected answer.

"..... Excuse me?"

She sighed, "I'm asking you to come to the Guild, have a drink, hang around... It's not that complicated."

"... What in the hell for?" He grumbled, looking just slightly annoyed at the less than explanatory reply. She tilted her head, smirking ever so slightly as she crossed her arms about her chest.

"Does there have to be a reason?" She murmured, "I'm asking nicely, I could have easily just snatched you and Teleported you to the Guild." She twirled her finger lightly in air before her a few times, his eyes narrowing at a familiar gesture when she brawled with Natsu- not that he'd call it a real brawl, though. Laxus huffed,

There was a flash of gold as he switched into his Lightning Form, sparking through the air in her direction before halting just in front of her again. Frea didn't budge an inch as he moved and came to be right in front of her, his head tilted at her, eyes narrowed to slits as she simply blinked at him.

"I know you enough to know you don't do anything without a reason." He grumbled, "I ain't a part of the Guild anymore, so there's gotta be something more to you wanting me to come to the Guild than to simply 'have a drink and hang around', Frea."

"Hmm, well nothing gets passed you does it?" She hummed in amusement, he growled under his breath. She shrugged, "Well then, fine- Makarov's appointing a new Guild Master. I figure even not being a member of the Guild, that's something you're interested in."

Laxus blinked in surprise, looking a little taken aback by the news. "The Old Man's retiring?" He grumbled,

"That'd be the plan." Frea smirked, Laxus sweatdropped slightly. "So, you coming?" She asked lightly, he sighed slightly.

".... I guess..." He grumbled lowly, she nodded.

"Good." She smiled, he grumbled under his breath at the response- but she turned on her heel and started back up the hill toward the Guild. He paused for only half a second, before starting to follow her.

His eyes trailed along the scars cutting across her shoulders and arms as he followed behind her without a word,

".... Frea." He murmured,

"Hmm?"

"..... you know who the Old Man's appointing as Guild Master..?" He mumbled,

"Hoping it's you?" She asked easily, he stiffened.

"... hell no. I know it's not me, and I don't want it." He growled,

"Hehe..." Frea laughed lightly, Laxus blinked at the sound of it. "Well well, you really have changed, haven't you?" He stiffened, sweatdropping slightly.

"... tch... quiet." He snapped back lowly, she hardly seemed to care about the remark.

"To answer your question- yes. I do know who he's choosing." She continued without skipping a beat, "You want me to spoil the surprise, Lightning-Boy?"

"... why do you know before everyone else does?"

"I know more than everyone thinks I do." Was the light reply, and the annoying one.

"...... what is with the non-answers and evading every question?" He huffed, Frea shrugged her shoulders in response and nothing else. ".... you're more annoying than I remember."

"How harsh." Frea hummed, entirely non-bothered.

".... you're a pain in the ass."

"I've been told, many times.... hehe, by Corbynn in particular, actually." She laughed, he growled under his breath.

If you've been told why are you still so damned difficult....?

"... that's the little brat that's been hanging around you, yeah?" He asked, deciding better not to argue- it didn't seem likely it would get him anywhere.

"That's the one." Frea hummed, "Probably best not to call him a brat to his face though, he might throw you through a few walls."

"... I'd like to see him try." He grumbled back,

"Oh he'll manage it." Frea smirked, "He may not seem like much on the outside but that kid's extremely powerful. And his Magic isn't something near anyone can just avoid." She chuckled under her breath, "He's really good... and I should know, I'm training him."

Laxus' eyes narrowed at the reply, his thoughts immediately flashing to the stories and tales of her fights ans battles over the last seven years- and all the crazy, impossible things she'd laid out and told them she had done... All while acting like it was no big deal. Like it was nothing to her, trivial.

He'd be lying if he said he hadn't been at least a little taken aback by what she'd told the Guild- there were several parts he could scarcely wrap his head around. She'd clearly changed, gotten stronger... But 'stronger' didn't seem the appropriate word to describe just how much she'd grown.

And trying to imagine how this suddenly strange, and unrecognizable person could ever train someone? Frea as she was before the Seven Years would never have struck him as the teaching type, and this new colder, more distant version of her seemed less capable.

".... The idea of you training anyone is a bit hard to swallow.... Let alone a little kid." He grumbled aloud,

"Hmm?" She hummed, the coolness and the even tenor giving way to clear surprise. "Why? I trained Chase well enough, Corbynn's not so different."

".... I hadn't a clue you trained anyone up until a few days ago." Laxus replied, "... That Chase guy, the first I'd ever heard of him was when we showed back up at the Guild."

The figure of the Guild Hall rose among the trees ahead of him as Frea slowed to a half-halt.

"..... Ah, right.... I forgot, you never met Chase before heading to Tenrou." Frea mumbled, her hand running along the back of her neck. "..... I guess it didn't occur to me you had no clue who he was, or that I'd taught him Energy Magic.... So maybe.... I guess I understand why you're hesitant on the idea of me as a Teacher."

Laxus drew up as he reached her shoulder, casting her a sideways glance and she smiled slightly, almost weakly.

"..... Truth be told, I never thought myself capable of training anyone..... It'd be fair to say I was just about as surprised as anyone on just how well I had managed to teach Chase anything." She admitted lightly, he blinked. She chuckled, almost nervously.

"...... And I still don't feel like I know what I'm doing all the time, when I'm training Corbynn....." She added in lightly, Laxus blinked in shock at the admission though. Her eyes trailed toward the ground as her hand running along the back of her neck came to a halt,

".... but I'm trying.... I have to try, I said I would..." She mumbled, nearly all to herself as Laxus simply held her in his gaze in silence. Her mind seemed to wander off for a few moments while he just watched her, his yes narrowing to slits when he saw something light up in those silver eyes- some shred of emotion igniting suddenly in her where she had been so off-handed, carefree and neutral since coming back.

Pain

Laxus bit the inside of his cheek slightly, his eyes trailing away from her and toward the Guild Hall, his mind turning toward what Chase had said the day they'd come back.

".....Chess and Teach hardly ever went on a job without one another, Teach helped her train Corbynn, and took him under her wing. Those three were quite the Team... And Chess and Teach were nearly unstoppable." Chase's eyes fell closed. "... Nearly being the word. We took down both Black Chimera and Phoenix Tear with her around, and when we went after Death Bolt.... We lost Chess."

".... Death Bolt was the strongest of the Triad, and we knew that. But we didn't think we'd lose, and we certainly didn't think anyone would get killed. We were wrong... losing Chess broke everyone's hearts, especially Corbynn..... But losing her just... Broke Frea." He shuddered slightly at the memory of it, his hand holding his cheek and his fingers absently tracing the scar running along the bridge of his nose. "...... She wasn't right for a long time after it...... Even more so since what happened with Mordren came into play only a month after Death Bolt. She hasn't been the same since then, slowly she's gotten back to being mostly her... But I don't think she'll be herself ever again."

"... they.... They were that close....?" Mira mumbled, her blue eyes shinning.

".... They were more than friends, if that's what you're asking." Chase smiled sadly, "But I don't expect Teach'll talk about with you guys, and it's probably better not to ask her. So its good you heard it from us first."

... more than friends.... could Frea have cared about this Chess woman so much that losing her turned her into this? This shell of a person who seemed to hide behind an unnatural facade of coolness and calm? This distant, subdued, unrecognizable person?

"... hmmm, anyway." Frea's voice caught his attention again. He glanced sideways toward her to see she was smiling at him with ease,  "Better head on in, no use hanging out here all day." He quirked an eyebrow at her and the sudden shift in attitude, but he let it be.

"Whatever.." He grumbled, Frea nodded slightly as she started forward again, leading him with her as they entered the busy and bustling Guild.

"Enjoy the dog-pile, Lightning-Boy." Frea called easily, turning his way as they crossed the threshold and waving a hand as she sidestepped, a playful smile on her lips as he blinked.

"Wha-?"

"Laxus!"

"Boss!!"

He jumped, his eyes snapping from Frea and toward the blur of Freed, Evergreen and Bixlow that charged his way upon seeing him enter the building.

Frea laughed to herself as she turned away, walking straight across the hall to take a seat at the end of the bar, joining Chase as he smiled her way.

"Hey, Teach." He said in greeting,

"Hey, Kid." Frea replied, he sighed in slight exasperation at the nickname.

".... not a kid..." He mumbled, Frea simply smirked at it. He tilted his head in the direction of the front door- where now Laxus was grimacing under the weight of the Thunder God Tribe on top of him. ".... Any particular reason you went out of your way to bring him to the Guild?" Frea blinked, leaning back with her elbows atop the counter.

"Why not?" She replied easily,

"Well he's not a technical member of the Guild, for one." Chase went on, not at all perturbed by the lack of an answer. He was by now entirely used to it, and shrugged a little with a small smile her way. "And it would have to be something important to convince you to go track him down, especially having been in such an intent discussion with Makarov and Mavis earlier."

Frea smirked, her silver eyes glittering a little before they fell closed.

"Were you eavesdropping?" She asked coolly,

"Heh, only a little. I heard 'Grand Magic Games' and couldn't help myself." Chase smirked, "You were explaining the rules pretty in depth there, Makarov and Mavis seem pretty intent on joining the GMG, huh?"

"Seems that way." Frea said, "Why, you looking to join?"

"Ah, you know me Teach, I don't like fighting unless I really have to. The GMG has never really been my style." He chuckled,

"I know.... most everyone else who've been here the last seven years aren't all that thrilled about them either." Frea sighed, "Even Solana, and she loves brawling.... the GMG has never seemed to appeal to her at all."

"That's more because she thinks they're a waste of time from working jobs, than anything else." Chase reminded,

".... I wonder if she'll try and volunteer..." Frea mumbled half to herself, her silver eyes opening to find Corbynn in the hall- with Wendy and Carla, of course.

She smiled a little,

".... this year's GMG is going to be interesting, no doubt..." She hummed, Chase blinked.

He was about to ask her why she said so, but stopped himself when he noticed Makarov move purposely across the Guild floor and stand atop the bar- seriousness prickling from the Old man as he silenced the Guild with practiced ease.

Chase quirked a brow, his head tilting slightly- he cast Frea a glance and saw she had let her eyes close again, entirely uninterested by him or the Old Man or anything else.

"Listen up, Brats!" Makarov called, earning all eyes. "I have an important announcement to share, given all that his happened and how much has changed... I think it time another change come too." He sighed slightly,

"Today I will be announcing the Guild's 5th Guild Master." Makarov said firmly, his eyes glittering as a small, slightly shocked murmur passed from the Guild. He heeded the whispers no mind,  his expression nothing but resolute as he swept his arm out to the side and toward the side of the small stage. "Fairy Tail's 5th Guild Master: Gildarts Clive!"

There was a silence that fell over the Hall as all eyes followed the gesture toward what remained an empty spot, Master stiffened, blinking several times after a few seconds of silence and no appearance of Gildarts, before whipping about in the direction, miffed.

"Where the hell is he?!" Makarov exclaimed hotly, the Guild shared confused and bewildered glances between themselves.

"... huh..." Chase mumbled, watching Makarov begin to march toward the end of the bar as Mirajane smiled nervously, trying to calm the Old Man down as he growled a few choice curses under his breath. "... that.... clearly did not go as he planned..." He sighed, "..... seems like Gildarts bailed... hehe..."

"Hmm?" Frea hummed, her silver eyes glimmering as his voice finally seemed to snap her from her thoughts and her own head. Chase smiled,

"Did you hear any of that, Teach?" He asked, she blinked. He took that as a no and chuckled softly, "... didn't think so, well- Makarov just retired, and handed the job to Gildarts- who is not here." Frea blinked, looking a little dazed, before he saw her eyes widen.

"... crrrraaaaaappp." She grumbled lowly, pinching the bridge of her nose before she stepped away from leaning against the counter, Chase gave her a questioning look. Her hand moved to her back pocket as she shook her head at herself, producing two neatly folded letters in her hand as she took a step past Chase and down the bar.

"... talking about all the GMG rules completely made me forget.." Frea sighed, Chase blinked.

"..heh...?"

"Oi, Old Man." Frea called, interrupting Makarov's hot grumbling back and forth with a slightly nervous Mirajane. He stopped, his head turning in her direction as she stopped just in front of him- holding out one of the letters toward him with a nearly bored look. Makarov quirked an eyebrow,

"He left a letter." She said flatly, ".... I got so wrapped up talking earlier, I forgot to hand it off."

Makarov sweatdropped slightly, before quickly taking the letter from her and opening it. Frea didn't wait, she'd turned on her heel and headed in Cana's direction, before handing off the second letter without a word. She took up her place again at Chase's side, entirely unperturbed by the glances of question she got from him or anyone else on just why she had the letters at all.

Makarov pulled the letter free and began to read it out loud quickly,

" 'Sorry Guys, but I'm not cut out to be a Guild Master. But while I am- I'm going to do two things.' " Master growled, his hold on the paper tightening slightly. " 'First.... accept Laxus back into the Guild!?' " Makarov stared in shock at the paper as he read it, and Laxus visibly stiffened, while Freed, Evergreen and Bixlow looked extremely happy. 

"The Boss is coming back?!"

"That's wonderful!"

" 'I'm convinced he learned his lesson, and the I think the idea of letting him back in is as good as any.' " Makarov continued reading, a bead of sweat falling down his face. " 'Though admittedly, I wasn't the first one to suggest it- it's not a bad idea at all, so why not?' "

Laxus looked a little stunned though, his jaw dropping slightly as his eyes narrowed to slits. Never in a million years would he have dared hope he'd be let back in the Guild after what he did, let alone by someone other than the Old Man.... wait, Gildarts wasn't the one who came up with the idea?

Laxus blinked in surprise when the thought struck him, why had Frea dragged him here in the first place?

His eyes flicked over the heads of the people in the Guild and landed on her, her silver eyes glittering as she caught his gaze, and she smirked- shrugging her shoulders slightly before looking away again.

... you're kidding...

" 'Second; I am appointing Makarov Dreyer as the 6th Guild Master.' " Master Makarov read aloud and his eyes widened in surprise, breaking Laxus from his thoughts.

"Me again?!" The Old Man snapped in exasperation, everyone else in the hall simply laughed.

" 'I will be traveling around for a while, and don't expect me to come back anytime soon. But I do know that you'll have managed to make Fairy Tail the strongest Guild in Fiore by the time I return. Good luck guys!' " Master finished the letter off in near agitation, before his eyes snapped closed and the latter scrunched up in his fists.

"That idiot... I'm never letting anybody take over as Master as long as I'm here! I'll be Master of this Guild till the day I die!" He growled hotly and everyone smiled, as they started laughing and drinking.

"To the 6th Guild Master!"

"Hehe, you ain't gettin' rid of us that easy, Old Man!"

"Question is now, how are we going to rise up to the top again?" Erza smiled softly,

"There's only one way to rise to the top fast!" Romeo announced to the redhead, who blinked.

"Not that...." Macao grumbled,

"Why not?" Romeo argued.

"Nobody's ever wanted to do it after the first time, why would we now?" Macao grumbled,

Most everyone who had been around when the Tenrou Team went missing for seven years, all raised their hands with small smiles and sighs.

"That's something I never want to do again." Alzack murmured and Bisca nodded while their daughter Asuka had her hand raised too.

"It's a waste of time and energy, Romeo.. better to just work some jobs." Solana sighed,

"Besides, we already know there's something shady going on." Moon mumbled, the bell on her earring twitching a little. ".... it's probably better not to get involved if we can."

"True." Aisha and Uno mumbled,

"You guys don't have to do it, but we have everyone from Tenrou back now! They could enter, and we could win!" Romeo shot back,

"Everybody who went missing haven't gotten stronger over those seven years, we wouldn't stand a chance." Max told him.

"Excuse me." Master Makarov murmured.

"That doesn't matter, we were the strongest before they went missing, we could be the strongest again!" Romeo yelled, seeming not to have heard Master at all- everyone else was fixed on the younger boy, the Tenrou Team looking lost and confused.

"That's a big maybe." Wakaba grumbled,

"... uh.... I'm lost." Wendy mumbled, her eyes trailing toward Corbynn who sighed.

"Yeah, I'm confused too. What are they talking about?" Lucy asked, she, Wendy, Carla, Levy, Gajeel, Juvia, Gray and Natsu all sitting at the same table at the russet haired boy who sweatdropped.

"They started a new thing while you guys were gone." Corbynn explained. "It's a competition held every year that decides who the strongest Guild in Fiore is. It's called the Grand Magic Games... and for the most part, the Guild hasn't been interested in doing them."

"Huh? Why not?" Natsu pressed,

"Apart from being busy all the time?" Corbynn mumbled, "..... I guess the biggest reason is because Frea and Chase can't join, and most everyone else just has no interest."

"The Grand Magic Games?" Master's  voice rose to call attention to himself as Romeo turned his way.

"Yes!" Romeo replied,

"Master, you are aware of this already?" Erza murmured, Makarov nodded.

"The First and I have already been discussing it, and I think it would be a good way to improve the Guild's reputation... as well as bring in some profit."

"How long before they start?" Erza asked.

"Three months." Mavis replied, appearing beside Master Makarov in a shimmer of gold.

"That's plenty of time to train and get stronger!" Natsu yelled. "We should totally do it Gramps!" Natsu grinned.

"You have no idea how strong the other Guilds are nowadays, Natsu." Solana told him,

"I'm not sure three months would be enough..." Aisha sighed,

"I have a few doubts on that as well." Iki, Uno, and Moon all said at once, in perfect unison.

"Ah, come on!" Gray and Natsu snapped,

"... we're just being realistic, three months can't seriously be enough time for you guys to catch up on seven years worth." Aisha murmured back,

"It does seem a little far-fetched, unfortunately...." Chase added with a nervous smile.

"I think they can do it."

People all around the Guild Hall went rigid in shock at the words, their heads and eyes snapping around to land on Frea when she said them, a small smile on her face and looking nonbothered as ever.

"W.. wha?!"

"You really think so, Frea?!" Natsu grinned,

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't meant it, Flame-Brain." She chuckled,

"You hear that?!"

"If Frea thinks we have a chance, why not go for it?"

Frea hummed under her breath as she smiled a bit more, Chase, Solana, Aisha, Iki, Uno, Moon and Corbynn looking her way warily and completely silent for a few long moments. They didn't get it, not how relaxed she was... not how sure she sounded. It was like she really did think there was a chance, even when logically there wouldn't have been.

Almost like she knew more than they did.... and with Frea, that was a wary thought.

"Very well, then we're doing the Games!" Master Makarov announced. Half the Guild sweatdropped while the rest smiled, looking determined.

Corbynn bit the inside of his lip, his icy blue eyes glittering as he watched Frea warily for a long, long while- even as the Guild got louder and the Tenrou Team got more excited.

.... what does she know.. that we don't...?

.:+:.

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