Fanart by Kawaii Luna over on Quotev. Isn't is so adorable!?
~~~~~~~~
"Ember." The Old Man's glower spoke volumes as I entered his brand new office after returning home. Apparently, the news traveled quickly, and even quicker when it was something I didn't want him to know about, "What have you done?"

No innuendos, no mind games, the old man certainly knew how to get straight to the point. He gestured to the seat in front of me, obviously wanting me to sit down for this conversation, but I knew better than to accept that trap. I shifted my weight slightly as I looked anywhere in the room but at him.

"What?" My voice came out sounding about as petulant as I could manage, "No hello, welcome back, or thank you for protecting my children from the idiot who was hellbent on killing the redhead?"

The old man's stoic expression didn't change at my comment, he was obviously pissed and determined to get answers, "What have you done?" This was different from anything I had seen from the Old Man before, usually, there was some trace of humor or sympathy on his face, yet this time there was nothing, he looked well and truly angry.

I supposed that I shouldn't be too surprised, if he was mad for the reason I suspected then he had every right to be worried... I sighed deeply before slumping against the wall with my hands in the pockets of my battered leather pants, preparing to defend myself for all I was worth. "I have a feeling you already know what I did, how about you just rant at me so I can go home and take a nap."

The pressure in the room grew exponentially as his face darkened a few shades in anger, "Do you even feel remorse Ember? You took three lives. How dare you speak of this so casually."

My gaze sharpened on the rug, old and frayed unlike the office around it, "What use is there for remorse?" I asked, my voice deceptively quiet, "It's a useless emotion, only good for getting in the way of what needs to be done." The faces of my mentors swam before me, that was an ideal they had pounded into my head when I was young... Why did it feel so foreign to me as I said it again now?

I didn't need to look up to know that the Old Man was shaking with barely repressed anger, the magical pressure that was attempting to smother me was all the evidence I needed.

"What needs to be done?" His voice trembled as even the ground beneath my feet began to shake slightly, "Murder is never something that needs to be done. Just what were you thinking? Was it jealousy, or perhaps you just wanted to kill again."

He was beginning to press into areas that were better to avoid, within my pockets, my hands clenched as I fought the magic within me that was beginning to block out my vision. I couldn't give in to my baser instincts. Despite everything, the Old Man was still trying to help in his own way.

Red pulsed around me as I forced my attention away from anything that could be a distraction. The magic rose in me like a snake, wrapping around my entire being before tightening the coils, longing to be used.

"You had made it so far, Ember, yet you had to choose now to bring up the past? Do you know what this could lead to?" His words sounded as though they were making their way to me from a long tunnel and I bit my lip harshly as yet another wave of all-consuming power rushed through my body. "How could you be so selfish?"

Selfish?

How could I be selfish?

My world shrank as that one word echoed in my ears once more. He thought I was being selfish?! I forced the power to the side as I breathed in deeply, the oxygen allowing a small amount of control to return, "Is that really what you think Makarov?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I kept my eyes on what had to be the carpet, all I could see was seething red, "That I murdered out of selfishness?"

For once, Makarov was quiet, apparently, I had shocked him by using his name, "Are you really so oblivious to think that I would do anything that stupid just to protect myself? If that was all I wanted, then it would have been a simple matter to let Trinity Raven live and then go into hiding after the whole ordeal."

I pushed off the wall and began to pace, movement forced blood through my body, which in turn allowed me to think about something besides the power inside of me that was screaming for me to let it take control, "No, do you want to know why I killed three people?" Makarov attempted to say something, but I was too lost in the moment to notice, "It was because of Fairy Tail. It was because you took me in when any sane person would have thrown me to the dogs for what I had done. This place is my Home! Please tell me you understand that, Makarov?"

Tears began to well up in my eyes as I spoke, but I blinked furiously to hold them back, "If I had allowed Trinity Raven to live, news about me would spread and people would begin to connect the dots. You would be arrested for harboring a criminal along with the Thunder God Tribe, while Fairy Tail would be disbanded, or worse, turned into a dark guild. The rest of the members wouldn't be safe though. Even if they left and hid their past, they would still be hunted for knowing and having associated with me.

You see, I made my fair share of enemies while I was active, and several allies who were less than pleased that I retired." There was no way to stop it, tears were rolling down my cheeks as I spoke, my breath speeding up to a worrying pace, "Of course I killed anyone who knew about me, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Their lives are nothing compared to yours. If that makes me a murderer, then so be it. If that makes me unworthy to be a member of Fairy Tail, then I will accept that."

A hand grabbed my wrist as I was about to make another pass of the office, but that wasn't enough to stop the final words that would much rather die in my throat.

"If that makes you hate me, then... Then..."

I was pulled to my knees as the tears continued to stream down my face. Soft arms enveloped me, but I would not sob, I couldn't; my fingernails dug into the fabric of my pants, biting past them and into my legs.

"Then I will take your condemnation and you will never have to see me again." My words were cold and harsh, forced through every insecurity that I buried within me and I waited for Makarov to throw me away from him, to dismiss me as filth so that I could leave and never have to face him again.

Moments passed and yet nothing happened, no scorn, no rejection, nothing but a soft hand running gently through my black hair.

Thankfully, the power was as tangled up as my emotions were, so I was allowed to wait in relative peace for him to pass my verdict, to determine what I was worth to him.

"Oh my child," Makarov's voice was as soft as the fingers that ran through my hair, "You carry so much on your own, when will you learn that your family will always be here to support you, no matter how dark your road may seem?"

The red that was clouding my vision receded in shock as I finally looked at Makarov, who was watching me with a gentle smile, "My... Family?"

A deep chuckle came from the Old Man as he nodded, watching me fondly, "I cannot condone murder Ember, but I will never allow you to leave here, as you so aptly stated, Fairy Tail is your home. Families fight and bicker, but at the end of the day, a family will always be there to support and help each other get back on their feet."

Finally, a grin began to spread across my face as I realized that I would not be kicked out of my home, "So, this family has room for a murderer like me?"

"Well," Makarov coughed slightly and looked away embarrassed, "I suppose no family is perfect."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, that was... depressing. Next chapter will be a bit more light-hearted, I promise, just keep that in mind.

Also, I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a Q&A with the characters? I've seen them done a few times, and they always look cool. So yeah, if you have a question for anyone, just ask them and if I get enough then I'll post a chapter on it! If not, then... Oh well, I'll post this over the next few chapters to see who would be interested.