Freed and Levy were spending their time reading the translations of the book Baluhu had gave them. The kids were playing with Bickslow, Roscoe, Mirajane and Mest was keeping an eye on the doors.
Everyone halted and stiffened when they heard steps. They were all quick to step in front of Felix, Chester and Vellanja, everyone tensed up and waiting who it would be who would open the door to the chamber.
Everyone was relieved when they saw Makarov.
"How's the situation?" Mest quickly asked as they walked closer to the old man.
"Emmett is gone", Makarov nodded and they were relieved. "He won't be coming back too soon. We were also able to catch Ichabod", he said and they were surprised.
"Where is he now?" Bickslow growled.
"We used the collar he left behind earlier, he can't use his magic", Makarov assured. "But he is in a really bad shape, Wendy is taking care of him. We hope he will spill us the information about their plans and stuff once he's feeling a bit better. Right now he's unconscious."
"To think we need to tend the enemy that was ready to kill all of us", Mest huffed. It was pure irony.
"But he might be able to help us", Mirajane smiled. "He did do horrible things, but we can't just let him die, that is not right."
"I agree", Levy nodded.
"Yeah", Roscoe grunted. "Letting him die wouldn't make us any better than what they are."
They muttered something, all agreeing.
"So what happened?" Freed asked as they started walking up the stairs, leaving the chamber after Makarov locked the doors. "Is everyone alright?"
"We're still searching for Juvia and Gray as we have no idea where they are in the town, but we will find them. Happy brought Natsu over when the saltstorm was over", Makarov said. "Erza, Warren, Max, Lily, Natsu and Reedus, they were all shot with magic sealing stone bullets but their wounds are not life threatening." They were all happy to hear that. "Once the bullets are removed by Porlyusica and Wendy, they will be just fine."
"Thank god", Mirajane smiled. "I will make them some good soup so they can gather their strength."
"You do that", Makarov nodded.
"How is the town?" Mest asked.
"Surprisingly it seems the town itself suffered only very minor damages and the townspeople are scared but unhurt. Emmett didn't have enough time to hurt them."
"So how did you get rid of him?" Bickslow asked curiously and Makarov sighed.
"It was Roxanne who chased Emmett away", he explained.
"What?" both Bickslow and Roscoe asked.
"She shouldn't be using her magic", Roscoe said. "It's too powerful and she's too old! It might kill her!"
"She's at the infirmary right now, Porlyusica is on her way here", Makarov said and Bickslow and Roscoe quickly ran up the stairs.
They arrived at the hall where those who weren't injured were talking. Everyone looked tensed up and worried because of what happened and how many of them were injured because of Emmett. It didn't help that they had Ichabod here to take care of.
Freed was worried about Roxanne too, but for now it would be better if only Bickslow and Roscoe were there to see her. They might have to leave the infirmary too so Porlyusica and Wendy could work in peace. Levy and Vellanja went to comfort Gajeel who was worried because of Panter Lily and Mirajane disappeared in the kitchen. Mest left to help find Gray and Juvia from the town and Cana came over to Freed, Felix, Chester and Theophilius once she saw them.
"You're okay", Chester said and he was relieved. He had been really worried.
"Of course I'm okay, Ravenberry", Cana chuckled patting Chester's hair.
They noticed the fluffy exceed with a pointy hat who was sitting down, looking sorrowful.
"Kvestor, are you okay?" Felix asked worried and they all sat down at the chairs and Theophilius flew down on the table.
"You must be worried about Roxanne", Freed guessed and Kvestor sighed with a nod.
"She hasn't used her magic even once in years", the cat said. "I have never seen her using it before. She told me that Porlyusica herself had warned her not to use her magic anymore and that was over a decade ago."
"It was really amazing", Cana said. "That Guardian Drum she created, Emmett had no chance against it. He couldn't even scratch it! Noaidi Arts must be really powerful magic."
"Noaidi Arts?" Freed said surprised. "That is one of the Ancient Magics. But what I've heard about it, it's mostly used to heal people."
"That's true", Kvestor nodded. "But it has a highly destructive side."
"Is Granny gonna be okay?" Felix asked worried, sitting on Freed's lap.
"Porlyusica and Wendy will do their best so she will be fine", the rune mage smiled.
"How that... Whatever magic is used to heal people?" Chester asked confused.
"Noaidi Arts", Freed said. "It's actually really simple, but dangerous and those who use it must be ready to take a lot of pain and using it usually shortens the caster's lifespan. Usually they absorb the disease, magic or anything inside them. Once they're the one who has the cause of illness, they can banish it from themselves. It is simple but dangerous. It can even kill them."
"No!" Felix and Chester both shouted terrified.
"I'm afraid it's true", Kvestor sighed. "I don't know what to do without Madam... I really enjoy living with her and helping her out."
"You still belong in Fairy Tail", Theophilius said. "Guess you could find someone else who to help out?"
"Maybe you could live with Bickslow or Roscoe?" Freed suggested. Though he guessed that neither of them needed Kvestor's help and the silver tabby exceed obviously wanted to be helpful. Take care of the house and things like that. Kvestor wasn't much of a fighter, but he was an excellent housekeeper.
"Or you could live with Freed and Laxus?" Cana said with a shrug, making Freed blink. "You know, you have Felix and a second kid coming, Kvestor could help you guys a lot", the brunette grinned. "Laxus could finally have his exceed."
"He would get mad", Freed laughed imagining Laxus' face. "He doesn't want an exceed, he always says he doesn't need one. But yes, once the baby is born things are going to get hectic, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to have more help", he said looking at Kvestor who seemed really happy that at least he didn't need to worry where to live if things would go bad and Roxanne would die.
"It would be fun", Felix smiled.
They were talking for a while, when suddenly they heard fast steps and talking. Soon Elfman and Romeo came inside, the older one carrying Gray on his back.
"We found him", Romeo said when they came closer. "He's still breathing but it looks really bad", he said worried. Felix looked at them as well, but before he could actually see anything, Freed turned his head away.
"Mama", he whined.
"It's better if you don't look", the rune mage said. "You would just see nightmares."
"No I won't!"
Elfman and Romeo headed upstairs, disappearing in the infirmary. Only minutes later they heard steps again and Lucy appeared with Loke, who was carrying Juvia. She was unconscious, but the wound didn't look bad.
"Take her to the infirmary", Makarov said.
They nodded and went upstairs. While there, Lucy could check on Natsu as well if he was doing better. It took only moments and finally Porlyusica appeared in the hall and she was looking pissed.
"Move out of my way!" she growled to anyone who happened to be on her way when she was heading towards the infirmary.
Now they could only wait. They all knew Wendy and Porlyusica would be able to heal their injured guild mates, but they could't stop worrying nonetheless. At some point Mirajane and Lisanna went upstairs with trays of food and soon they came back, starting to serve food for others as well.
The sky was turning orange and Freed was still sitting at the same place. Others had eventually moved and started to do something else. Felix and Chester were playing together with Theophilius, Cana was talking with Bickslow and Roscoe who had came down a while ago. What he had heard, Roxanne was feeling better but she needed lots of rest. Just like the others. The bullets were out and it seemed like everyone would be just fine when they would rest enough.
For a while, Freed had felt uneasy and he was still worried about Laxus. They still had no idea what was happening in Ginkgo, but at least they knew Ichabod and Emmett weren't there. That didn't mean Humphrey and Yuidose wouldn't be there, though. Freed was feeling frustrated as he knew he wasn't allowed to leave Magnolia, but just sitting around felt wrong.
Suddenly something changed. The rune mage got up from his seat, looking out through the windows that had been hastily fixed – at least some of them, rest of them were covered with sheets – and his eyes widened.
Laxus was still hurt, but he was coming home. He had no idea how he could exactly tell it, but he knew he was coming. He would be home soon.
"Bickslow", he called and the seith mage looked at him surprised. Freed motioned him to come closer. "Take Felix away for a while with Theophilius", he said.
"Huh? Sure, but why?" Bickslow asked confused.
"Laxus is coming", Freed said and hushed before Bickslow would cheer so everyone would hear. "He's hurt", Freed frowned. "I don't know anything else but I know it's bad. I don't know how he's coming and even if Ever is with him. He will be here soon and I don't want Felix to see him if it's really serious."
"I hear you, baby", Bickslow said with an understanding nod. "Okay, we'll take them away, for how long?"
"Go home and take Felix and Theophilius with you tonight at your house."
"Oh, so you think it might be really bad", Bickslow said and he was surprised, but more serious now. "Okay, we'll take care of Felix and Theo, send us some information about the situation later."
"I'll do that, now take them home", Freed said and the seith mage nodded.
They left quickly after that and luckily, Felix looked only excited because they could have a slumber party with Chester and Theophilius. Once they were gone, Makarov stepped beside Freed and he looked serious.
"Something is really wrong if you sent Felix away like that", he could guess.
"Yes", Freed nodded. "I don't want him to get scared."
"You did the right thing, Freed. He's still quite young after all", Makarov said. "When will they be here?"
"It won't take long", Freed said and he went outside.
The orange colour in the sky turned darker and more red while Freed kept waiting. Others had noticed him doing this, some were confused and some had heard him talking with Makarov earlier. Freed didn't care what they were talking, he just kept waiting as he knew Laxus was coming closer.
Finally he could see something. It appeared so suddenly he almost flinched and soon he recognized the figures. It was Evergreen with her golden chainmail dress that was glimmering at bright sunset. She was holding tightly a bigger figure and that was without a doubt Laxus.
As they came closer others noticed them too and they came outside, surprised of what was going on. Freed narrowed his eyes and he knew something was wrong. Had Evergreen flewn the whole way while carrying Laxus? And if Laxus was in this bad of shape, he was pretty sure Evergreen wasn't feeling much better.
"It's Laxus and Evergreen!" someone shouted and even more of the came outside to see them.
Freed stepped forward as they heard the loud buzzing of Evergreen's wings and with her last bits of strength left she dashed towards the guild house and before any of them could do a thing, they both crashed down heavily.
"Ever!" Elfman shouted and he and Freed were the first ones to reach their partners.
Evergreen was panting, sweating and she was exhausted. She had bruises and she had lost her glasses somewhere. The wings and the chainmail disappeared, leaving her with her usual green dress that was slightly ripped here and there.
"We made it..." she whispered proud of herself. She managed to bring Laxus home!
"Yeah, you're back home", Elfman assured and as gently as he could with his big arms he lifted her up. "It was too dangerous but damn that was manly!" he said with a little laugh, though he looked terrified if Evergreen might make it even though she was back home.
Freed carefully lifted Laxus' head and his eyes had widened when seeing all the damage. Apparently they had used whatever they found as temporary bandages and they were all soaked in blood already. Laxus was pale, but he was still breathing.
"Laxus?" the rune mage said caressing his cheek, but the lightning dragon slayer stayed immobile.
"Let's get them inside!" Makarov yelled and suddenly Macao, Wakaba, Nab and Vijeteer appeared, grabbing Laxus and lifting him up before Freed could say anything. "In he infirmary" Makarov commanded and Freed got up too, following after them and Elfman was coming in just behind him, carrying Evergreen.