"Laxi!"
The large blonde man barely had time to react before his lightning fast sister had crashed into his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He grumbled under his breath as he kept the two of them from tumbling off the tree stump he had been using for a seat.
"V," Laxus looked over his shoulder at the grinning girl, "How many times do I have to tell you to ditch the nickname?"
"Sorry," she laughed, "I'm just so happy that you got reinstated!"
"Yeah yeah," he patted her arm as she continued to hug him. A small smirk came to his face. He was truly grateful to Gildarts for giving him another chance and for lifting the burden from their grandfather's shoulders. Speak of the devil.
"Good. I wanted to talk to the two of you."
Verani stood up on her knees, her hands raised, "I blame Laxus."
"What was that?" Laxus smirked as he reached back and pulled his little sister into a headlock.
"Not the hair, not the hair." V whined, even though they both knew her magic would just put it back into its commonly wild nature.
Makarov sighed, shaking his head. Though it warmed his heart to see his two grandchildren getting along so well, he really did have something he needed to discuss with them.
"It's about Raven Tail."
The blondes stopped their horseplay. Verani sat back on her ankles as Laxus leaned on his knees, both at full attention.
"What did he do while we were gone?" V crossed her arms over her chest.
Her grandfather sighed, "Surprisingly nothing."
"Good."
Verani had never been her father's biggest fan. The only reason she still referred to him by that title was so that others could understand the relationship and how that strengthened her dislike and sometimes hatred for the man. It was one thing to get himself banned from the guild, but that wasn't what made her mad. Verani hated how Ivan had just made the decision to put a lacrima inside her older brother. Sure it had helped with his health and allowed him to have the strength he had, but that didn't make it right. She also felt like it had given Laxus the idea that he cared about his children, that maybe he owed their father something. Even though it was Laxus' own actions that got him expelled from the guild, Verani felt a good portion of that blame also belonged to their father.
That deadbeat had decided that her older brother was essentially a walking storage container with security for his little lacrima. A part of her wanted to know where he was just so she could give him a piece of her mind with her fists.
"Then why are you bringing it up?" Laxus asked.
"Because I wanted you kids to know what my spy found out before we got stuck on Tenrou Island."
Between the Mythics being on the road the last few years and Laxus' excommunication, this was obviously the first either had heard about their grandfather planting a spy in their father's guild. However, it did answer the question of where Gajeel had been the last few days when he had suddenly disappeared after they got back from Tenrou Island. But the most impressive part was the amount of information that he was able to bring back with him. Either the metalhead was really good at spying or Ivan was a complete idiot. Verani was betting on a little of column A and a little of column B.
She had shifted to sitting with her legs crossed while her grandfather had been talking, "So what are we doing about it?"
"Nothing." Makarov turned from the two, looking out in the direction of Magnolia.
"What?!"
"Gimme a break. You're really just gonna ignore the guys?" Laxus crossed his arms over his chest, "Let's not forget my pops claimed to have dirt on Fairy Tail and he holds grudges longer than I do."
"I know that but it's been seven years since he made that claim."
The Lightning Dragon Slayer wasn't amused, "Yeah, so what?"
"I have no reason to believe that information was leaked while we were sealed away on Tenrou Island."
Verani clenched her fists in her lap, trying to hide her immense frustration, "And you honestly think he kept his trap shut for seven whole years?"
"Actually... I'm quite sure..." Makarov continued to stare out over the town, "Ivan's fully aware that sharing what he knows with someone would be more dangerous than keeping it to himself."
"About that." Laxus asked, "What does he know, anyway?"
His sister blinked at the back of her older brother's head. She had been so caught up in the fact that her grandfather wasn't going to deal with her father that she had missed that basic detail.
"Nothing you two need to worry about. Every guild has a few skeletons that should remain in the closet." He paused, tilting his head back to look up at the beautiful weather. "I've been told that... he left our members alone, in peace. While I was gone, he never harmed them or tried to make trouble. And as long as things remain quiet, I don't intend to make any trouble for him, either."
Laxus was the only one who heard the low growl in Verani's throat as she slid off the stump.
"You're too nice for your own good, Grandpa."
She didn't wait for him to respond. When reviewing information, he hadn't disclosed any of Raven Tail's locations. He most likely knew that either of them might take the actions that he didn't think were necessary at the time, Verani being the prime suspect.
She didn't want him to think she was giving him the cold shoulder, but it was better than her saying anything else that was on her mind.
'You may still have faith in him, but I never will.'
||~x~||
Though it was a little awkward to watch, Kia had to give Romeo credit for standing up to his father and everyone else who had remained in the guild while they were in their long slumber. And it didn't look like he was backing down anytime soon.
"We're gonna do it this time! You're not the master anymore, dad!"
"Well neither are you, you little rugrat! I absolutely forbid it! We're never gonna get involved with that thing again, ya hear?!"
The imaginary sparks could practically be seen between their glaring eyes.
Verani sighed, resting her face in her hand. The more heated part of the argument had started about the time she had walked back into the guild a minute before her brother and grandfather, "How long do you think they can keep this up?"
"From what we've seen so far," Amber hadn't moved her gaze either, "I would say a while."
The blonde slumped forward, arms straight across the tabletop as her forehead rested on the wood. "I knew I should have gone out to do some training."
"You can still do that..." Kia was beginning to find the idea equally appealing, even if she was stuck with only hand-to-hand for the time being.
"Yo guys, we're home!"
Kia's gaze shifted quickly to find her brother stepping through the doors with the small gang that had gone with him to Porlyusica's. Looking over them, they didn't look entirely dejected from the visit, but they also hadn't come running in with amazing new knowledge or methods that they wanted to share with the whole guild.
"If you want to train so badly," she nudged the blonde with her elbow, "the perfect partner just walked in."
V slowly but forcefully shook her head without lifting it, "I want to get away from all the commotion, not take part of it with me."
Their conversation was cut off as the heated debate grew louder again.
"You don't make the rules anymore, so just get over it! It's up to Makarov."
"I'm expressing myself as a member of the guild!"
"What's all the fuss about this time?" Gray walked up to the three, his hands in his pockets. The rest of the group followed.
Carla crossed her arms after she hopped up on the table beside the still sprawled out Dreyar, "Seems like typical teenage rebellion to me."
Amber shrugged, "Still waiting for them to actually mention what they're yelling about." Her eyes shifted to her old friend, "Gray."
"Yeah?"
"Shirt."
He looked down as he patted his bare chest with a grumble, "Not again."
Macao suddenly stood up straight, his eyes still locked with his son's, "Those of you with me, say Aye!"
Everyone who knew what was going on besides Romeo raised their hands as they chanted the singular word, even little Asca. Kia rested a hand over her eyes, "Oh brother."
"Is something wrong, Kia?" Wendy asked.
The pinkette shook her head as she softly replied, "They all just sounded like Happy."
Though she had spoken softly, the blonde beside her did not miss the words. Verani erupted into a fit of laughter that drew the attention of a few of the others in the guild, but it did not dissuade either of the Conbolts.
"But we've got the Tenrou Team with us this time!" Romeo pointed back toward their group, "Natsu and Erza and all those guys! There's no way we're gonna lose with them on our side!"
"Haven't you been paying attention?" Warren crossed his arms, "They all missed out on seven years of training!"
But the young boy didn't care, "We've got the Mythics back too! Kia could take them in her sleep."
A faint blush dusted her cheek, but Kia still sighed, "Don't put me on a pedestal when you currently have more firepower than me, kid."
She wasn't the only S-class wizard currently standing in the guild, thought she knew part of the reason why Romeo had singled her out was because they used the same element and she was Natsu's older sister.
This was the moment that her brother finally decided to step forward and ask the million jewel question, "So what exactly are we talking about doing or not doing here anyway?"
Romeo was all too eager to answer, "While you guys were all stuck on Tenrou Island, a tournament started to determine Fiore's number one guild."
"Sounds like a whole lotta fun to me!"
"Guilds from all over the country face off against each other in magic events. They call it: the Grand Magic Games!"
It quickly became apparent that Team Natsu were all on board with this idea, regardless of the concerned looks they were receiving from some of the others who had more experience with the mentioned event.
"I understand." Erza nodded, "Sabertooth is known as the top guild in Fiore these days because they won the last go-round."
"That's right." Romeo's excitement only seemed to grow as he began to see others getting what he was trying to say, "But if we can beat them and win the games this time, we'll be number one instead!"
Their Master, however, wasn't completely sold on how feasible this scheme was. "That would be nice. But I'm not entirely convinced we could win given our current state of disarray."
"That's my point exactly!" Macao exclaimed. Someone was finally thinking logically around here.
And then his kid played a little dirty, "Yeah, but if we do win, the guild will get, like, thirty million jewel in prize money!"
"We're in!"
Kia sighed, "The kid is too good at this for his own good."
"Yeah," Amber nodded, "he just played Master like a fiddle."
"It's not that hard," V mumbled into the tabletop, before finally pulling herself back to sit in her chair properly. "I've been doing it my whole life."
"We know." her friends replied in unison.
The hall was filled with complaints and questions and plans as all members present thought through what they were actually going to do with this new information and their Master's declaration.
"Now the final decision has been made, there's no need for all this moaning and groaning! So let's get to work! Let's win that thirty million jewel, and the title of Fiore's number one guild! Fairy Tail is entering the Grand Magic Games and aiming for the top!"
There wasn't much else to do, but prepare.
||~x~||
The whole guild was still in a bit of an uproar since Master had said they would be competing in this year's Grand Magic Games. Kia would admit that she was curious about the games, but that wasn't why she was halfway up the hill that led the guild hall after midnight. Though everyone else was making plans to train to catch up to the competition that had seven years on them, she was still concerned with a certain winged beast who had a few centuries on her. And if she was lucky, the snoring Dragon Slayer at home wouldn't notice that she had snuck out when she realized she was starting to get some of her magic back.
Kia exhaled as she stopped. She was far enough away from the buildings in town, but not too close to Fairy Tail that she might catch it or the surrounding forest on fire. Porlyusica would never let her hear the end of it if she did.
"Alright."
With her palms together, she extended her arms forward so that one hand was on top of the other. She slowly pulled them apart as she focused her magic on that space between them. Immediately, heat waves became visible as the trees in front of her seemed to waver. Kia continued to concentrate her power in that one spot. The simplest way for her to push her limits was to raise the temperature of the fire that she controlled.
Igneel had always told her that her phoenix flames had the potential to burn as fiercely as his own, if not hotter and brighter. Those words had meant a lot to her, not just because he was her dad, but because he was the Fire Dragon King.
Suddenly, her nose twitched as she picked up a familiar scent: a morning breeze through frosted grass.
"You know, it isn't smart to sneak up on me when I'm messing with temperatures like these."
Gray had stopped a few feet behind her, hands in his pants pockets. "Yeah. I can feel the heat from over here."
Kia began to gradually pull the heat back, very aware of the small explosion the sudden temperature drop could cause if she wasn't careful. "So what brings you out at this hour?"
He shrugged, "Just taking a walk until I saw you going through town."
Gray was beginning to feel the night air on his skin again as Kia finished taming her magic. She sighed, finally turning to face him.
"What's on your mind, Gray?"
He raised a brow, but didn't answer.
Kia shook her head, "I know something's keeping you up. I've seen you sleep through Natsu's snoring when you two were little."
Gray sighed, closing his eyes, "I can't hide anything from you, can I?"
"Nope," she grinned, "perk of being like a brother to me." She crossed her arms over her chest, "Bet Amber could read you too."
The Ice-make mage scratched the back of his head as his other hand fell from his pockets, "Still didn't expect for you to say you'd been tracking that dragon."
"Well I wouldn't expect you to," she walked down the hill a little, "You didn't even know that he existed."
His dark blue eyes locked with her's, "But you did."
"And..." Kia shrugged, "Master knew and he's the one who agreed that we were the right team for the job."
Gray mulled over her response. It did make sense that Gramps would fill them in before sending them off on the mission, though he did wonder about him letting Verani and Amber accompany Kia on the S-class level quest. But then it hadn't been the first time, and he let the Thunder Legion go with Laxus at times too.
"Would you have ever told us?"
Kia arched a brow at his question. "What is this really about Gray? The not-knowing or that we were off on that dangerous of a mission?"
There was a pause as he thought. He scratched at his cheek, "I guess a bit of both."
Shaking her head, Kia sighed, "You're as bad as Natsu." She rested her hands on her hips, "You know I can take you both at the same time and you still want to look after me." By now, she was leaning forward slightly, "Reminder: I'm still older than both of you. All the Mythics are."
She squared her shoulders as she straightened her spine, "And there are plenty of things that everyone in the world doesn't know and in some cases that's for the best. Like with Acnologia, what good would it do for everyone in Fiore to know that there was an evil dragon out there with that much power? It would just cause panic, which would lead to stupid decisions and more people getting hurt."
It was his turn to sigh, "I guess you're right."
"Hey."
Gray looked up and met her gaze.
"If there is ever anything I think you should know, I'll tell you." Kia started down the hill, lightly punching him in the shoulder as she passed, "So stop being such a worrywart."
"Fine," he grumbled, turning to follow her back toward town.
||~x~||