Chapter 8
Nothing's The Same

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

.:+:.

"Tch.... These bastards again.." Chase growled, his eyes narrowed as he turned toward the door. He stood up from his chair, a motion followed by Macao and Wakaba alike, while both Solana and Aisha tensed.

"Tch.... We should just run the bastards out of town already." A voice growled lowly, belonging to a dark grey Exceed with darker paws and ears, and a splash of white on her forehead. She wore an outfit that consisted of long pants and a jacket left unbuttoned with a darker blue shirt underneath. On her ears hung several earnings, including one to which a small bell chimed as she moved.

"I agree." A cream colored she-cat beside her with white paws, tail tip and a splash on her forehead, wearing a similar outfit, with a dark maroon shirt and the jacket tied around her waist. There was a bell on a collar about her neck that tingled as she shook her head slightly, her tail flicking in agitation. "They're rotten idiots who don't deserve a damn thing."

"Its not as if we don't have the manpower to do it." A third cat, a male with dark brown fur and darker stripes, and a splash of white fur on his forehead muttered, his eyes narrowed as he took a drink of the mug in his paw. The bracelet to which a small bell hung jingled at the movement. He was dressed nearly the same as the first two, though his jacket sleeves were rolled up and his shirt was deep purple. "..... Hmph...... I wouldn't mind biting into some of these bastards."

"But you won't, any of you." Wakaba warned, earning small looks of disapproval from the Exceeds. "Bastards or not.... There is no denying we owe them money."

"Tch... Yeah but we wouldn't have asked them if we had known they were gonna charge the ridiculous interest they do." Max growled,

"... They wouldn't be knocking on the door if Frea was here..." Aisha murmured, her hands folded on the table top before her. Her purple eyes watched Chase, Wakaba and Macao approach the door slowly.

"Heh, if Frea was around right now these idiots wouldn't dare come around ever again." Solana growled, "There ain't no way she's giving these guys any money... And I'm sure when she gets back she'll be making that very clear." Aisha sweatdropped slightly, seeing the smirks of approval cross the Exceeds lips at having heard her sister say the words.

"..... When, she gets back." Aisha murmured, "The Council's been littering the news and magazines with reports of Black Chimera and the Flash Beast Triad for days now... But Frea hasn't been heard from. There's no telling when she's coming back." Aisha paused, "Or Corbynn for that matter."

"Knowing them they probably got lost." Solana smirked, Aisha sweatdropped.

Speaking of getting lost.... Everyone on the boat search had been gone a long while too...

"They'll be back before you know it." The dark brown Exceed called from the bar with a smirk, earning the glances of the two sisters.

"And when they are, you'll be sure we're gonna pay these assholes in Twilight Ogre a visit." The dark grey she-cat smirked, her pale blue eyes flashing in excitement.

"Speaking of assholes..." The cream colored Exceed growled, all eyes turning to the doors as they were thrown open, and a band of smirking and gangly looking men strutted in like they were kings. The Guild sweatdropped and scowled at their presence, as Chase, Wakaba and Macao simply met them at the door with as much calm as could be managed.

"Look, Fairy Tail's even more of a dump than last time we showed up." The man at the head of the group sneered,

"What the hell do you want?" Chase's tone was unusually cold and flinty, a stark contrast to how gentle and patient he usually was. He stopped in front of the group, Macao and Wakaba on either side of him as they made one small line blocking the unwanted arrivals from the rest of the Guild.

The small band of Twilight Ogre Mages smiled wryly, hands on their hips and sneering as they glanced around the hall- the man at the head glowering slightly at the line of men that blocked their path, smirking slightly at what disgruntled look passed across Chase's expression for a minute.

"Oi, don't go giving me that look, I might just have to tell the Master we need to double the interest." The man snickered, Chase's eyes flashed as he frowned at the words.

".... let me eat them, please?" The cream-colored Exceed grumbled hotly to the dark-grey she-cat beside her.

"... no." Was the short reply, she earned an annoyed hiss in return.

"We already payed you this month, why are you here?" Macao grumbled lowly, the man at the head picked his nails, looking nonchalant a moment and smiling slightly.

"Yeah, about that- the Master's decided to increase your monthly pay." He snickered, Macao stiffened along with several others in the Guild, Chase's eyes flashed, narrowing to slits as his hands tightened around his arms.

"That is not part of the deal." Chase replied lowly, his usually light and carefree tone giving way to something flinty.

"Don't go tellin' me what the deal is an what it isn't." Was the sharp reply, "You lot ain't got any leverage, you owe us and we get to pick the rules." That man stepped up, right up toward Chase as he glared up at the Energy Mage, smiling darkly as Chase grimaced at how close he got so suddenly- their faces were barely a few inches apart.

"You Fairy Tailers are weak as weak can be, what're ya gonna do? Huh?" He sneered,

The Exceeds had gotten to their feet, ears flat against their heads and eyes glinting in muffled anger. Solana and Aisha had risen to, their eyes narrowed and sweatdropping- a small flash of anger rising in their cores at the sheer fact that that man had even dared try and stare Chase down.

"Chase..." Macao warned lowly, looking a little nervous as he saw the small, quick flash of anger appear in the Energy Mage. He didn't want a fight to break out and he usually wasn't all that worried about Chase being the one to cause one- but in that instant he could see the anger rising and he wasn't sure Chase was gonna keep himself from hitting that idiot.

".... I don't know, get any closer and you might just find out what I'll do." Chase muttered lowly, his tone icy. Aisha and Solana sweatdropped, looking a little nervous now too. ".. maybe your Master will use the money he keeps stealing from us to pay your Hospital bills." The man glared, looking furious as Chase leaned in, taller than the other man by a few inches at least, his blue gaze shining with the most icy fire any of Fairy Tail had seen in him for a long, long while. "Or maybe he won't, he's too greedy to even think about giving up a single bit of Jewel on you idiots."

Wakaba and Macao sighed, sweatdropping heavily as they deflated, seeing the anger and the rage appear on the Twilight Ogre Mages in the next instant, hands balling into fists and all glares.

"You got some nerve, asshole!" The man snapped, though he put some space between himself and Chase. Chase just frowned, not at all perturbed by the sudden anger, in reality he had been anticipating it... he was so, so done with dealing with Twilight Ogre.

"You idiot." Macao grumbled lowly in Chase's direction, immediately aware the several others behind them were tensing up an ready to start a fight. He didn't earn even a glance from the Energy Mage, Chase just kept that icy stare on Twilight Ogre.

"I suggest you leave before you get hurt." Aisha had stepped up quietly, her purple gaze flashing slightly as she shook her head at the Twilight Mages.

"Nah, let 'um stay. They could use a little pain." The cream colored she-cat smirked, her yellow gaze flashing as she growled.

"You are all idiots!" Macao snapped in exasperation, "Starting trouble is just gonna make things worse!"

"Aren't you tired of them picking on us, dad?!" Romeo snapped,

"That's not the point!"

"No, that's exactly the point!" Romeo shot back, "They're just gonna keep beatin' down on us the longer we let them! It's time it stopped!"

"You got a big mouth, brat!" Romeo and Macoa's attention snapped around toward the gruff voice, their eyes landing on the larger of the Twilight Ogre Mages, who had raised a hand in Romeo's direction, looking murderous. Macao moved to put himself between the man and his on, followed closely by the dark brown Exceed, light dancing around the hall as Magic flared in the Twilight Man's hand.

Chase's hand snapped upward, snapping down on the Twilight Man's fist, his fingers wrapped in pale blue and eyes dark.

"Cast that Spell, it's going right back at you." Chase growled, "At this distance, that is going to hurt, a lot."

Chase halted though, the anger and annoyance on his face dissipating in an instants time, falling into something that betrayed shock and confusion, his blue gaze snapped away from the Man he was holding so tightly in his hand, and behind the Twilight Mages toward the closed front doors. His eyes went wide, sweatdropping heavily as his jaw went slightly slack, those standing near him noticed the sudden change in behavior and blinked, 

".... what's wrong..?" Aisha asked quietly, her head tilted slightly.

"... there is no... way..." Chase mumbled, not much of an answer but he hardly seemed to be paying any attention to the conflict he had started.

The Leader of the Twilight Mages snapped back to his senses though, looking thoroughly pissed as his attention snapped toward Chase, pulling his sword from his belt as he swung out sharply toward the Energy Mage looking so stunned still.

"You bastards think you can mess with us?!" He snapped furiously,

Chase didn't flinch as the sword sung toward him, not even when the man he was still holding shifted and the other Twilight Ogre Mages started to get ready to jump into the fray.

Aisha's hands glowed pale blue and white, her eyes narrowed as she clapped her hands together, her Magic forming and shaping into a long, smooth edged blade composed of nothing but Magic. She flicked her wrist up, easily running her own sword against the Twilight Man's sword before it even got close to hitting Chase, her eyes narrowed and flinty as she hardly flinched as the weapons made contact. The man stiffened, his attention snapping toward her and looking rather astounded how quickly she had reacted.

Chase stepped back, his hand unlocking from gripping the other man's fists, eyes narrowed and sweatdropping heavily as his hand flicked forward, a small, powerful blast of pale blue knocking the large man back a few paces, though he did nothing else to get into a fight, his eyes never left the door.

Energy Signatures.... those Energy Signatures.... no way...

"Bad move, assholes."

Twilight Ogre all moved their eyes toward the owner of the voice, their attention landing on Solana as she stepped forward quickly- her hand falling behind her and fist clenched as furiously clashing yellow, orange and red light flared in her quake.

A wall of her Magic flashed in front of them, pounding against the group and knocking the Twilight Mages against the front doors with a painful smack and a rumbling boom. They cringed, bruising immediately and looking all the more angry, Solana stepped up beside her sister, green eyes glinting as Aisha stared them down to.

"Last chance, leave." Solana growled, her fangs flashing at them as she glared.

"Unless you want to know what it feels like to have your asses handed to you by the Cosmic Souls of the Sun and the Moon." Aisha growled lowly, her usually placid and docile attitude disappearing for a moment.

"... tch..... you.... bitches..!" The man at the head snapped, "Show these assholes who they're messing with, boys!!"

"YEAH!!!"

Twilight halted for a split second, their attention casting backward as they stepped away from the doors they had been slammed against, sunlight filtering in through them as they opened. The Guild in front of them all looked toward the doors too, sweatdropping and rather confused as they struggled to come to terms with who was coming in just then, the light nearly dazzling as compared to the shadowed interior of the building.

"..... you have got... to be kidding me.." Chase breathed, his eyes flashing as his face fell.

"Eh? Who are these bastards?" The words broke through the sudden deathly silence that settled over the Guild in those few, short instants.

"And what the hell are they doin' in our Guild?"

"Oi! Back off!"

Twilight Ogre hadn't any time to turn around all the way, the moments going by in a blur as Magic flared, swords clashed, the sound of fists against bodies sounded- and Twilight Ogre were thrown outside the Hall doors, across the clearing outside and all in a sudden flare of light off metal, icy cold and brilliant flame.

Fairy Tail stared, eyes wide an jaws dropped, hardly able to even fathom the collection of people standing in that bright, sunlight filled doorway.

Chase went still, hands limp at his sides and eyes flashing. He felt the panic and the shock flicker off everyone in the hall behind him- and the disbelief.... the hope.

"..... that is not..." The cream-colored she-cat grumbled under her breath, "... no way, right...?"

"...... this is...." The grey she-cat mumbled, ".... un... expected..."

The pinkette sent one last confused glare at the men he had just helped to thrown out, turning toward the building and the collection of staring, stunned people with a toothy grin- his hand fell on his hip as he waved toward them. He was entirely oblivious to the stunned expression and even the tears that had started to fall at the sight of them in that doorway.

"Hey!" He smiled brightly, "Been awhile, huh?"

"NATSU!!!!"

Solana and Romeo had jumped forward, bright smiles and gleaming eyes as they slammed right into the pinkette, their arms locking around him and knocking him to the floor with a painful thud. Their action was mirrored by several other people, Laki and Kinana jumping forward in tandem with Vijeeter and Nab, a whole rush of people suddenly rushing forward, bright smiles and watering eyes as they crashed into the collection of new arrivals in the doorway, cheers and shouts of happiness and excitement filling the air.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!!!!"

Chase didn't move, nor did Aisha next to him or the Exceeds- who settled down at their own table, watching the wash of excitement with soft smiles and gleaming eyes.

... is... is this what that feeling was...? That rush of cool air before.... something that felt like... hope?

His legs had been trembling though he hardly noticed, not did he even register the small flecks of tears at the corners of his eyes- his gaze riveted, locked ahead as he took a few steps backward, before he sat down on the floor, legs crossed and propping himself up with his hands behind him. Aisha glanced his way, looking lost, and all the more confused when he suddenly sat down.

"Chase...?" She mumbled, though he still wasn't paying any attention to her.

"Quit exciting, right men~!?" Ichiya had jumped in, smiling as he stopped beside Chase,  "Miraculous find! The Island wasn't destroyed after all!"

"... no kidding..." Chase sighed, smiling as he blinked, the tears fading slightly as he shook his head.

"Shit, is that you Chase?" Chase's head snapped up, eyes glinting as Gray suddenly stopped right in front of him- bare chest and trousers, looking astounded. "Come on man, you keep gettin' older every time I see you!"

"Everyone looks so different." Lucy murmured as she drew up near them, her eyes dancing around the hall.

"It's been seven years, men~!" Ichiya added, Lucy and Gray seemed to grimace at that.

".... that's still so hard to wrap my head around.." Lucy mumbled with a heavy sigh,

Chase chuckled, earning blinks from everyone around him.

".... hehe.... You think that's confusing?" He smirked, "... try not seeing you lot in seven years, and you look exactly the same as when you left!" He sighed though, shaking his head a little, still smiling.

"... damn.... you're gonna explain what happened, right?" Chase smiled lightly, his eyes falling on the figure of the Old Man as he walked toward the small group slowly.

"Indeed." Master Makarov murmured, Chase smirked.

"Great." He chuckled, "Might as well celebrate at the same time though... its not everyday you get to come back from the 'dead'."

A few people smirked at that, looking flustered but relieved- the collection of those left behind were still beaming, their hearts aflutter and the air buzzing with so much happiness and glee it was like electricity against his skin.

"....... you have no idea how good it feels to have you back."

.:+:.

Fairy Tail hadn't been so happy, nor so loud in seven long years. The small building absolutely buzzed, laughing and talking and the air flickering with emotions so light and so happy- the kind that hadn't graced the Guild in so very long. They drank and smiled, grinning from ear to ear as stories were exchanged, but more than anything it was just good to see them again.... They never dreamed this day would come.

The jovial atmosphere lessened some as Master settled near the bar, his eyes cast to Macao intently as they settled into explaining the important bits of what happened the last seven years.

"There's something you probably oughtta understand about what's been going on the last seven years," Macao murmured, sweatdropping as he crossed his hands around the mug in front of him. He looked tense, conflicted... And maybe even a little ashamed. "We've been hit pretty hard with all of you gone, we've lost a lot of reputation. For the most part we're hardly scraping by paying all the bills we have and bringing in enough money to keep going."

"We haven't been given any of the high paying jobs in years, and we're stuck with the ones that pay little to nothing. Its all we have." Max mumbled quietly, leaning against the bar top with his elbows, "We have to work dozens of jobs at once just to scrape by most of the time, and sometimes we don't even have enough Requests to do that."

Master sweatdropped, eyes narrowed as he listened in with Erza, Gildarts, Mirajane, Reedus and Wakaba. They formed a small, tightly closed group on either side of the bar, all eyes of the Tenrou members fixed to those left behind- seeing immediately that same painful look appear in the faces of Wakaba, Reedus, Macao and Max.

"We almost shut down in the first year." Macao mumbled lowly. "To be entirely honest, the only reason Fairy Tail is still a Guild anymore is because we had Frea and Chase around." Erza and Mira blinked, their eyes flicking across the bustling building to see Chase smiling from where he sat drinking with Gray and Juvia.

"Those two worked their asses off, taking every little job they could, regardless of the pay. They did everything they could to keep bringing in money and help pay off bills and taxes, almost to the point their everyday was dedicated the Guild, and not to living for themselves." Wakaba murmured, shifting his cigar between his teeth. "It got easier when Aisha and Solana joined, they're naturally strong and they do well on bigger missions, but they're still working harder than they should have to."

"The Exceeds have brought in some pull, though they aren't full time Members." Macao murmured, flicking his head toward the coalition of Happy, Moon, Lily, Carla, Iki and Uno.

"Without Chase, Frea, Aisha, Solana, the Exceeds and the kid..... Fairy Tail wouldn't be here." Wakaba mumbled, those who had been gone the last Seven years and who were listening narrowed their eyes slightly, biting the insides of their cheeks and eyes falling, they knew it was a reality and it was one they had been faced with constantly.

Erza, Mira, Master and Gildarts looked between the lot of them, feeling their stomachs clench slightly. They could scarcely believe what they were hearing.... How could the Guild have fallen so low? Enough that they were barely scraping by?

"We work hard, but there's no doubt it's been Teach who's kept us afloat really." Everyone's heads snapped around to see Chase sit down at the bar with them, apparently having been listening in to the conversation. He smiled slightly, wearily almost as he rest his hand in his chin,

"Teach's done a lot of things she'd have never dared to do before, just to keep us going. And as awful as it is, she really doesn't have a life outside of working to keep us open, everything she does is fueled to keep Fairy Tail around." He smiled a little ruefully, his blue eyes glinting as he bit the inside of his lip a small moment. "She doesn't care about making herself happy.... Nor does she really care about herself above everyone else." There was a long pause as his eyes fell, he looked troubled for a small minute, before he glanced up at Master briefly, his eye flicking toward Mira, Erza and Gildarts in turn.

"....You probably ought to know that Teach really isn't like the person you all knew when you left, she hasn't been for a very, very long while." Chase murmured, his voice low.

The members who had been left behind in those seven years all sweatdropped, their eyes falling and shoulders hunching slightly. They bit their lips, their hands clenching in their laps or around their mugs, all of them subdued suddenly and tense.... As if they had come across something taboo, or maybe something painful was more accurate.

"... What do you mean?" Mira asked slowly, her blue eyes glittering at the reaction from the members who had been left behind. The reaction was noted by Master, Erza and Gildarts as well, their minds racing and unable to fathom what could have earned such looks.

Chase hesitated a minute, unsure of whether or not he could explain how Frea had changed over the years. It wasn't obvious when you saw her, and then yet it was all at once. It was the little things, how she used to smile, and how she did it now- it was tired, weary, all the time. It was that murderous glint that came into her eyes in the middle of a fight where I had never been before, the coldness when she stared someone down... Daunting.

She was fiercely loyal and cared deeply for the Guild, and yet she had closed herself off, changed.... He didn't think he could explain. They'd probably just have to see for themselves.

He sighed a little,

"... To start with, she's a lot stronger than you probably remember." He murmured,

"Frea was always one of the strongest members in the Guild." Erza pointed out.

"And she is the strongest one in the Guild right now." Max replied without skipping a beat. He smiled sheepishly, noticing the looks he received from the Tenrou Members at what a certain assertion his words had been. He shrugged, "Sorry, but it's true."

"You guys have been trapped away, sleeping, for seven years." Chase pointed out. "In that time we've gotten older, trained and grown stronger. And Teach has done that too. There's no contest who's the strongest Mage in Fairy Tail, there hasn't been for a long while. And with how far behind all of you guys are with missing seven years, she's definitely stronger than any of you." He smiled slightly, "Even you Gildarts, though I can tell you don't quite believe it, or you, Master." He added with a glance to Makarov and Gildarts in turn. He shrugged slightly, "Though I really doubt you'll see what I mean unless you see her at work."

Or maybe just being near her would be enough.... It usually was for most people.

"And she'd have to be pretty strong, considering what mess we found ourselves in about two years ago...."