It was nice of the King to provide them with carriages for the ride back to Magnolia, but it felt like it was going to take them forever to get there. If Kia had been fully healed, the girls probably would have just traveled by their usual means. And a certain someone was making that fact easily known.
"Are we really not there yet?" Verani leaned her head against the window.
Amber sighed from her seat beside her, turning the page of her book, "If you're that bored, why don't you take a nap?"
The blonde grumbled, "But I already took one..."
"I don't care what you do, just don't start whining, because you won't stop until we get there."
"Gee thanks, Amber."
But the Blood mage didn't respond, only continued the feat of trying to enjoy her current read with the antsy Dreyar beside her. It was at this moment that said blonde noticed the distant look in the onyx eyes in the seat across from them. Kia was turned sideways in the seat, one arm resting lazily on her knees as her gaze watched the empty fields outside.
V's tone shifted, "You're still worried, aren't you?"
Even without looking, the Phoenix Slayer knew the question was directed at her, "It's been too quiet."
"What part of fighting a crazy man from the future and a handful of dragons do you call quiet?"
Kia closed her eyes, "You know what I mean, V."
She leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest, "I also know that you need to take more than two seconds to fully recover before you even think about going off after either of them again."
"You'd be better off telling that to a brick wall," Amber still didn't look up, "and we both know that."
The blonde grumbled as she scratched at the back of her head, "I know, but I can't just sit here and watch as she keeps running herself into the ground."
"I'll be fine." Kia turned to her friends, "I know what I'm doing."
"You know that does nothing for my nerves, right?"
Amber nodded, laying her book in her lap, "You tend to do more reckless things when you understand entire situations."
Kia rolled her eyes, "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
V crossed her arms over her chest again, "Don't act like you don't know it either."
"I know." The pinkette sighed, "You guys jump me about it enough."
"Apparently not, because it hasn't gotten through that thick skull of yours."
"You would have pulled your hair out already if I wasn't the least stubborn Dragneel."
The blonde's eye twitched, "That has nothing to do with what I'm talking about!"
Amber sighed, peeking out the window in hopes of seeing any landmarks that would tell her they were close to home.
||~x~||
Nobody was expecting this.
The streets of Magnolia were lined with its citizens, creating a pathway for the members of Fairy Tail to walk down the center of town. Once they passed Kardia Cathedral, there were even more people.
"I can see 'em! Fairy Tail is coming home!"
"Over here, hurry, come check 'em all out!"
"We're all so proud of you! Welcome back!"
Some of the guild were waving, while some of the others were in tears. Those that had been left behind for the past seven years couldn't believe what they were seeing. They still were trying to grasp all that had happened after everything that they had been through.
Even the Twilight Ogre guild were among the welcoming committee, their guild master yelling out, "All right, then! People of Magnolia, let's give a round of applause to Fairy Tail, winning guild of the Grand Magic Games!" The townspeople cheered as he continued, "You left! You saw! You conquered!"
Verani rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms, "I feel like that's a little rich coming from him."
"I agree." Amber shoved her hands into the pockets of her skirt. "However, he was the first thing that was conquered when we all got back."
"That's true," Kia chuckled. "You would think that after everything they went through while we were traveling, other guilds would learn to stop picking a fight with Fairy Tail."
"How many was it?"
The pinkette thought, "Well, only counting the ones that directly fought the guild, there's Phantom Lord, Grimoire Heart, Twilight Ogre, and Sabertooth. But you could also count Eisenwald and the Oracion Seis on that list."
"And two of those names come from the Baram Alliance." Amber nodded, "You'd think they had all gotten the message by now."
"Yeah," V grinned, "That no one messes with Fairy Tail without getting their asses handed to them."
The other two sweatdropped together, "More or less."
Their procession slowed a little as they listened to the people around them cheering and yelling for certain members in the guild. As they moved up further, the girls could see that one of the reasons for the slowed pace was a certain Fire Dragon Slayer who had knelt down to rummage through his bag.
"What is he doing now?" Verani asked.
Amber shrugged, "Do you honestly want to know?"
Natsu was beaming from ear to ear, "Check out this little souvenir I brought back, you guys are gonna love this!"
One of Kia's brows rose as she looked to her friend, "Did Master really let him carry the trophy home?"
The blonde nodded as Amber responded, "He probably didn't want to waste the energy arguing with him about it."
"Ta-da!"
Everyone paled as they saw what Natsu was holding in the air above his head. More of them turned to look when Wakaba and Wendy exclaimed.
"Is that the king's frickin' crown?!"
"You didn't steal it for him did you?"
"Oops," he quickly stuffed it back in his bag and began digging again. "You weren't supposed to see that."
Wendy was nearly in tears, "They're going to throw you back in the dungeon, Natsu!"
"I think he'll be lucky if that's the worst that happens to him." Carla crossed her arms as she gestured over toward the Phoenix Slayer who was about three seconds from actually flaming. But he didn't seem to notice a thing.
"The symbol of our victory!" His arms stretched over his head again, this time holding the Grand Magic Games trophy that he meant to pull out in the first place, "A super shiny cup!"
"I'm not going to kill him. I'm not going to kill him." Kia mumbled under her breath, "I love my brother. I love him and won't kill him."
Amber sighed, "That would make our searches a little redundant if you just killed him here."
Verani slung her arm around the pinkette's shoulders, "At least don't do it in front of all these witnesses."
"That wasn't my point."
"Oh lighten up, Amber. I was only making a joke."
The Blood mage pointed to their friend, "I don't think it's working."
The blonde peeked over, before slowly pulling her arm back. There were thin lines of smoke beginning to crawl up from Kia's shoulders as she was slowly taking deep breaths. She could feel a pull on the flame inside her, almost as if someone or something had taken advantage of her moment of anger to look for something inside of her.
'I don't like this.' Kia clenched her jaw as she pulled back the temperature that was still trying to rise in her body. 'I need Master to completely redo my seal.'
Thankfully everyone else was still celebrating as Natsu carried Romeo on his shoulders, the younger boy holding the trophy high in the air for everyone in Magnolia to see.
"Kia...?" Amber kept her voice low while keeping her body language calm. "Is something going on?"
Verani wasted no time, slipping her arm back around her friend. Pressing her palm against Kia's shoulder, she tried to pinpoint if what she feared was actually the cause of the sudden reactions from her friend. Even though she didn't have her hand directly over Kia's chest, she could feel that something was disturbing her already weakened seal. Between the long sleep on Tenrou Island messing with her magic and then all of the time magic craziness in Crocus, the blonde wasn't surprised that the seal was giving her problems, but it shouldn't be reacting. Someone had to be doing this.
Their procession had come to a halt. Taking a peek forward, V easily spotted that they stopped so that her grandfather could talk with the mayor of Magnolia. She could barely make out what was being said as she tried to block everyone around them out. There was no way she could adjust the seal without someone in the guild noticing that her magic level had spiked.
Amber seemed to understand the quisitive look in her friend's hazel eyes. "Is it backlash from the Eclipse?"
"I don't think so," she shook her head.
"Stop worrying."
The two watched as Kia rolled her shoulders, stretching her back as she stood up taller. Verani hadn't moved her hand, letting her know that there was still something going on with the Phoenix Slayer's seal, but it wasn't as bad as it had been a moment ago. The three were so engrossed in the pink-haired girl's health that they didn't notice the small monkey-like creature scurry away on the rooftops, but someone else had.
"He's taunting me." Kia's eyes drifted up as a familiar spectral blonde floated over the builds to her right, almost as if she were following something from afar. "He wants me to know that he knows where I am even if I have no idea where he is or what he's up to."
"So what are you thinking?" The Blood mage stepped a little closer as the rest of the guild cheered at whatever they were being presented with around the next corner.
"Yeah Kia, do you want to head back out as soon as you're better."
There was no question that they would have to make their next move soon, especially if she was correct about Zeref toying with her for kicks. But it was just like she said: they didn't have a clue where he was. And wouldn't that be playing into exactly what he wanted her to do? Why else would he purposely let her know that he knew where she was if he wasn't trying to lure her somewhere?
"No," she shook her head, "we stay home for a little while and see if anything else pops up. Crime Sorciere will still be looking around and we could use the break." Feeling the tingling in her chest continue to fade, Kia took in a deep breath, "And it may not be a bad idea for Master to redo my seal before we head out again."
"That's an understatement," Verani mumbled under her breath. "And maybe you won't strain yourself hard enough to agitate it again."
Amber sighed, "I wouldn't get your hopes up."
||~x~||
Kia was actually slightly grateful for the amount of damage that she took in Crocus. It was an easy coverup for the flare ups that came from a seal being so weak and from the tremors that came from having said seal repaired, which was something she had to do with currently having the world's most worrisome little brother. But she really couldn't blame him after the way he had opened up to her earlier.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Kia waved the question away, "Natsu. I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."
"...If you're sure..."
She turned her head to look at her little brother. There was something in his eyes that made her heart ache. He was staring at the corner of the room, but Kia could tell that he was seeing something else in his mind.
"Natsu?"
He blinked before looking back to her, "Yeah?"
"What happened in Crocus?"
His eyes shifted to the side slowly and his sister could see that he was tearing himself up inside, though she wasn't entirely sure if it was over what had happened or whether he should talk to her about whatever it was. There was a clear answer to her question and he decided to not dodge it.
"Future Rogue wasn't the only one who passed through the Gate."
Kia refrained from adding any comment about knowing that for a fact. She wasn't ready to explain all of that to Natsu and she could also tell that this was not the time either.
"Lucy came from the future too." His words trailed off as he talked.
Feeling the sadness coming off him, she stepped forward to pull him into an embrace. He didn't protest as he hugged her back, resting his head in the crook of her neck.
"What was it?"
He took in a shaky breath, "I couldn't protect her. She was murdered by Future Rogue."
"It wasn't your fault," Kia ran her hand up and down his back.
Natsu held his sister tighter, "If Future Lucy hadn't jumped in the way, it would have been Luce."
Kia stopped rubbing his back, just holding him to her. She understood. He just needed to let this go. He had been keeping strong to get through the battle and hadn't taken the time to get away from everyone to process what had happened. She was all too familiar with doing the same thing herself. Right now, he just needed her to hold him together as he fell apart. He needed to feel safe.
"I got you." She whispered, "No matter what."
Natsu nodded into her shoulder, before answering so quietly she almost missed it, "I know."
Twenty minutes later and he had been back to the normal Natsu, or at least that's what he was going for. Kia could tell that it was still bothering him, but she wasn't surprised. He had announced that he was hungry before he grabbed Happy and took off to raid Lucy's fridge. Kia knew why he was really going. He probably knew that too, but neither one of them would point that out. They didn't need to.
And that was how she had found herself alone for the night. She thought about heading home to stay with Verani and Amber, but the cool night air had been inviting her for a walk instead. There was a half moon overhead, giving off enough light for anyone to see, but not enough to disrupt the subtle peace that the darkness gave her. The lack of hustle and bustle was reinforced by that lack of sunshine that helped the Phoenix Slayer's nerves ease, especially after that strange tugging she had felt on her seal during the welcoming parade.
A defeated sigh escaped her, 'I don't even know what he's planning and he has the time to taunt me personally.'
That fact was just as infuriating as the taunt itself. A much younger Kia wanted to go find an old tree in the forest and punch it into splinters. But that side of her had long since been left behind, but it scared her how the thought crossed her mind. She had been a different person back then. A being filled with misery and craving for vengeance; a being that she never wanted to go back to being again.
She shook her head, 'No. Dad taught you better. You have Natsu. You have the girls. You have Fairy Tail.'
Kia checked her surroundings to see where she had ended up while lost in her thoughts. As she did, her eyes landed on a familiar raven-haired male leaning on the railing of one of the main bridges throughout Magnolia, his eyes trained on the gently flowing river below.
She exhaled as she continued walking in his direction. Even though she took no extra action to avoid detection, he never moved. She finally spoke when she started up the arched structure, "You know, if we keep running into each other like this, people are going to start making stuff up."
Gray didn't really move except to shake his head, "When you say people do you mean Cana or Mira?"
"Does it really matter?"
"I suppose not."
Kia stopped beside him, leaning her arms on the railing the same way Gray was. Though she faced the water, her onyx eyes were peering to the side, taking in the Ice-Make wizard. He had a far off look that immediately reminded her of the one she had seen on her little brother's face not an hour before. She started running through the possibilities in her head.
The silence stretched between them for a few minutes before he stood, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "You need your rest, Kia. I'll see you tomorrow."
She watched him turn, knowing that if it were something simply about himself then he would have asked her for advice. But he hadn't.
Kia closed her eyes as she silently exhaled, "Ultear wouldn't want you blaming yourself."
Gray stopped, turning back to see the pink-haired girl still leaning against the railing. The calm summer breeze shifted their hair gently, but didn't block their vision.
"How did you know?"
She slowly opened her eyes, staring down at the water below, "I was holding off the hatchlings as she performed that spell. That's why I was in such bad shape when Meldy and Jellal found me."
This information shocked him some, but at the same time it almost wasn't surprising. Just like he wasn't completely surprised that Kia had been able to read through him so easily, but that didn't help with any of the other questions that were swimming in his brain with the guilt.
He clenched his fists as his face fell forward, his hair hiding the pain in his eyes. "Why did she have to give up her life for me too?"
"It wasn't just for you." Gray looked back up. Kia's hands were still resting on the railing, but she had stood up straight, tilting her head back so she could look directly at the moon. "She decided that was the way that she could atone for the suffering she had caused in her life." She took in a breath before finally gazing in his direction, "Though I'm sure she would have been pleased if I told her that you were one of the ones that she saved."
He averted his gaze, unable to look her in the eyes, "She had done plenty."
She started across the bridge to him, "For her, it didn't feel like nearly enough. There was no talking her out of it, Gray. I could see it in her eyes."
"It doesn't make it any easier." His voice was low, but Kia caught the words as she stopped in front of him.
"I know." Her hand went to the back of his head as she pulled him down till his forehead rested on her shoulder. "I know it doesn't."
Gray took in a shaky breath. He didn't feel like crying. Even if he knew Kia would stay until he was done, he didn't want to put that on her now. He didn't want to put that on anyone. This was something that he needed to work through, though talking to her had helped his brain start working instead of just going in circles.
Kia messed up his hair some before removing her hand. He slowly stood back up, getting a moment to look at her before she started poking him in the chest. A serious expression had come to her features.
"And don't you ever go doing that again."
He blinked at her in confusion, "What are you talking about?"
Kia poked him one more time, "My magic is centered around a cycle of life." Her shoulders relaxed a little as she returned her hand to her side. Her eyes shifted downward, resting more on his chest than his face. "I felt you fade away, Gray. I felt all of you who fell in that moment."
His heart skipped. It was bad enough knowing who had watched him die, but he had never imagined that anyone else would know what had happened. "Kia..."
Her head snapped up so that her onyx eyes locked with his dark blue ones. All seriousness returned to her as her hands went to her hips, "So take care of yourself, idiot."
Gray sighed as he barely smirked, "Yes, ma'am."
"Good." Her shoulders relaxed as she took a half step back, "Now come on. We both could use some sleep."
He followed beside her as they began walking off the bridge. Putting his hands in his pockets, he peeked over, "You going to tuck me in too?"
Kia didn't turn to look as she rolled her eyes, but she also couldn't contain the faint smile that crossed her lips, "Don't push it."
||~x~||
And that's a wrap on Arc 2! Arc 3 (which is a filler to replace Eclipsed Spirits) will be starting on Monday. I'm super excited and can't wait for the next update. See you guys then!