Five Little Sacrifices

Chapter 85

They opened the door to the infirmary and looked around. Gajeel was sleeping on his bed, Levy and Vellanja sitting on stools around it. Erza was talking with Makarov and Porlyusica and finally they saw Roxanne who was laying on her bed, Kvestor sitting next to her worried.

She opened her eyes when she heard the door and chuckled.

"There you all are", she said. "Sugarcube and Ravenberry have been so worried about you."

"Hi, Granny", Roscoe said and he felt a bit relieved. At least Roxanne was awake and talking.

"How are you feeling?" Bickslow asked as they stepped closer.

"How do you expect? I'm just a tired old lady, I don't have such strength as you youngsters."

"Yuidose made a big portal above the city and tons of ghosts were coming out from it", Chester explained. "And she closed that portal."

"You used too much magic, Madam", Kvestor said worried.

"It had to be done", Roxanne said. "After it was gone, Yuidose and Emmett left right away."

"They left?" Roscoe frowned. "Just like that because the portal was closed?"

"That sounds an awful lot like they're scheming something", Evergreen said crossing her arms. "I mean, of course they wouldn't have any chance against Fairy Tail just by themselves, but leaving like that?"

"Underestimating your enemy is the first step towards failure", Makarov reminded as they had been listening to them. "Especially with enemies like Yuidose. You can never be sure what he has in his mind before he has succeeded."

"We have lots of smart people in our guild too, we're definitely gonna find out what it is he's scheming", Evergreen said.

"It's not because he's particularly smart", Freed said looking at the fairy mage. "It's because he's unpredictable. When it's added to the fact that his magic is strong and he has followers who will do what he says, he's a dangerous enemy. You should have noticed this already, Ever. We have someone like that in here too."

"We do?" Evergreen asked surprised.

"Yuidose's fighting style is exactly like Bickslow's", Laxus grunted.

"Hey, you're saying I'm stupid?" the seith mage asked.

"Are you smart?"

"No I'm not..."

"You're not stupid", Freed chuckled patting Bickslow's shoulder. "You can be pretty smart when you want. You're the observant type, but not a strategist. You can change your plans immediately if you so want because you don't really have a plan in the first place. You have a goal, but not a plan. Yuidose works like that too."

"I'm still a bit confused", Bickslow huffed.

"That's because you're not too smart", Laxus said amused.

"You're hurting my feelings, baby."

Roxanne chuckled.

"Whatever it was Yuidose was looking for here, it seems like he got what he wanted", she said. "So he had no reason to stay longer."

"He also hired mercenaries", Felix said. He wasn't sure what a mercenary was but that's the word others used. "And he just left them behind to get caught."

"They meant nothing to him", Erza said looking out of the window. "They've been arrested now and taken away."

"But why? Why are they different to Yuidose from Emmett and the others?" Chester asked confused. "They were working for him, right?"

"For Yuidose they were just temporary help he needed", Laxus said. "It's wrong how he abandoned them, but those mercenaries did wrong too when attacking Magnolia. They deserved to get caught and put in prison. We can't know what all they might've done before this."

"That is true", Makarov said. "But the situation is what it is now. So what did happen in Elenbora?" he asked and had noticed their bruises and Freed's injured hand.

"Overall everything went fine", Freed said. "Only when we were returning we got problems with Moritz and Humphrey."

"That's what we were afraid of", Erza huffed.

"It was a right decision to ask help from Ichiya and others", Roxanne smiled looking at the red haired mage.

"It was you who send them to us?" Laxus asked. "Thanks. Hate to admit it, but it helped a lot. Humphrey and Moritz got away, though. They didn't want to stay and try fighting against all of us."

"Good", Erza nodded. "We don't need more injuries now."

"Speaking of which, how bad is that?" Porlyusica asked pointing at Freed's hand.

"I still need a proper doctor to tend it", the rune mage said.

"Then come with me. I'll examine you while we're taking care of that. I'm surprised you actually managed to come back this fast."

"I'm sorry you lost your chance to yell at us", Freed chuckled giving Felix to Laxus.

"I don't need a reason to yell at you", Porlyusica tisked opening the door. "I yell at you because you're all idiots and that's enough."

"Yes, Porlyusica", Freed nodded following after the old healer, while others started telling what all had happened in Elenbora.

After that they all went home, washed themselves and they were all happy when they could dress up in their old clothes. Freed was happy to wrap his red coat around him while he still could do it and he was sure he heard Laxus purring when the Thunder God tossed his big coat over his shoulders.

They returned back to the guild and ate, talking with others what had happened. It was getting dark outside when the doors were slammed open and they looked at Natsu and others who barged in.

"Where's Emmett?!" he snarled angrily. "Where are they?! We're ready to fight them off!"

"They're not here anymore", Chester said. "You're late."

"Whaaat?!" Natsu shouted surprised.

"Obviously they're not here anymore, it was hours ago when we got a message from Erza to come back", Gray huffed. "You're as slow as ever, flamebrain."

"Anyhow", Wendy quickly said before Natsu would start a fight. "How is everyone? Are there injuries?" she asked worried.

"Gajeel got hurt badly", Cana said and now the whole Team Natsu was surprised. "He fought against Yuidose. Erza was suffering a dehydration because of Emmett's salt but she's doing a lot better already. What comes to Roxanne..."

"Is Granny hurt too?" Natsu asked his eyes wide.

"We don't actually know how bad it is, Bickslow, Roscoe and Kvestor are there with her now", Freed explained. "Porlyusica didn't say anything to us and despite looking relaxed, Roxanne was really tired."

"I'll go see them right away", Wendy said and she was heading towards the stairs but stopped.

Bickslow, Roscoe, Makarov and Kvestor stepped down the stairs, joining them in the Hall. For some reason it made them all stiffen.

"How is it?" Evergreen finally asked but her voice was trembling. They all got a bad feeling.

Bickslow and Roscoe both took off their visors and Kvestor took off his pointy hat.

"Granny is gone", Bickslow said, big tears rolling down his cheeks and Roscoe gritted his teeth.

Silence landed in the Hall and they were all shocked.

"Yuidose said he got what he wanted", Makarov sighed and it looked like all those years he had lived were pressing his shoulders more than ever. "We just didn't know then what he was after."