The sun had just begun its descent over Turnip Village, casting a golden hue across the fields and cottages. Issei stood near the village gate, surrounded by his Sekirei, each of them sharing warm farewells with the villagers who had come to see them off, except Karasuba who continued to be standoffish.
A few feet behind him, the once-terrifying wyvern now lay calmly, wings folded, eyes half-lidded with a surprisingly placid demeanor. Kuromaru, now healed and freshly saddled with a leather harness gifted by the grateful farmers, looked every bit the majestic beast he was. Yashima stood beside him, gently stroking the creature's snout, whispering soothing words to show the villagers he meant no harm. Kuromaru let out a soft huff and nuzzled her shoulder, earning a few gasps and then nervous chuckles from the villagers.
Mitch, the rugged elder farmer that sent the request, stepped forward with a firm handshake and a wide smile. "You've done more for us than we could've hoped." He said, voice thick with emotion.
Issei gave a small bow. "We're glad we could help. Just… maybe keep the cows closer to the barn from now on."
He handed Issei a bulging pouch of bills and coins, their reward for the quest. "It's not much compared to what you did… but take it. You earned every bit of it."
"And some of our finest milk," added another villager, grinning as he offered several chilled glass bottles packed in straw-lined crates.
The rest of the girls were equally delighted, chattering about milkshakes and sweets they could make. Even Karasuba, usually aloof, took a bottle with a curious sniff and the faintest smile.
After final hugs, handshakes, and waves, the group approached Kuromaru. The wyvern knelt obediently, lowering himself so they could climb on with ease. The saddle had been reinforced with extra straps to accommodate the group by Uzume and, thankfully, Kuromaru was more than large enough to carry them all with room to spare.
Matsu adjusted her glasses with an eager gleam in her eyes. "This is going to be so scientifically exhilarating. The aerodynamics alone—how does he stay aloft at that size?"
"Just hold on tight, scientist," Karasuba snorted, already climbing into position with her usual smirk.
Issei climbed into the main seat at the front, the reins looped around his forearms. His heart thudded in anticipation. "Alright… let's see how flying on a giant wyvern goes."
One by one, the rest of the girls climbed up behind him. Akitsu and Yashima flanking his sides, gripping tightly onto him as if their lives depended on it.
Akitsu and Yashima clung to him tightly the moment they mounted behind him, their grip like steel.
"I-Issei…" Yashima whispered, knuckles white as she latched on. "I trust you… but I really don't like heights."
"It'll be fine," He chuckled nervously, "I think."
With everyone in place, Issei gave Kuromaru a soft nudge.
"Let's go, Kuromaru."
Kuromaru let out a deep rumble before launching into the air with a powerful beat of his massive, leathery winged arms. The wind kicked up dust and grass as the villagers staggered back, shielding their eyes. With one final roar, the great beast took off into the sky carrying Issei, Yashima, Matsu, Uzume, Akitsu, and Karasuba.
From the moment his claws left the ground, everything changed.
The sudden speed and change of altitude stole the breath from Issei's lungs as the wyvern soared skyward like a bullet. His hands clenched the saddle reins, his body leaning forward instinctively to counterbalance the lurch of Kuromaru's flight. Cold wind blasted across his face, whipping through his hair and making his eyes water. The landscape below shrank rapidly, fields becoming green patches, rivers thin threads.
Matsu squealed with exhilaration, her glasses nearly flying off as she gripped Uzume's waist. "This is insane! The aerodynamics! The lift-to-weight ratio! It shouldn't be possible!"
Uzume laughed, but her knuckles were white where she held onto the saddle. "WOOOO! I'm so glad we're not walking back."
Yashima, in contrast, looked pale and frozen. She clung to Issei like her life depended on it, pressing her cheek to his back with her eyes squeezed shut. "I-I'm fine." She mumbled, not at all convincingly.
Akitsu was silent as ever, but even she had one arm hooked tightly around Issei's side, her short hair whipping wildly behind her.
Karasuba, of course, was in heaven. She sat with her legs casually crossed, balancing with ease, her arms spread wide and a wide, wicked grin on her face as the wind howled around her. "Now this is what I call travel. Fast, airborne, and no roads to slow us down."
Below them, the village of Turnip shrank to the size of a toy town, the waving villagers looking like ants. The clouds above parted as Kuromaru banked sharply to the right, and the whole group let out a mix of yelps and laughter as they tilted sideways with the beast.
Issei's heart thundered in his chest, not out of fear, but awe. Riding on the back of a wyvern, with his girls by his side, soaring through a magical sky of a new world… This was a moment he'd never forget.
"Hold on tight!" He called back, voice nearly lost in the wind.
They flew higher, slicing through the clouds as sunlight glittered on Kuromaru's black scales. The air grew thinner and colder, but none of them cared. This was so much fun.
—----------------------------------------
Fairy Tail
Back in the bustling halls of Fairy Tail, the midday energy was as lively as ever. Tamamo, Yuuka, Miya, and little Sakura were seated at a table in the main hall, exchanging updates on their respective days while eating some food.
"So, how was training today?" Miya asked, her voice soft and warm as always.
Yuuka tucked her arms behind her head, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. "I'm getting better. I've gotten the hang of using the magic guns. Bisca said my aim's sharp enough to be actually useful in a fight and I finally unlocked a bit of Requip magic. The switching takes a lot of mana, but I'm adapting."
Tamamo looked at her with an approving smirk. "Not bad for someone who's just a normal girl."
Yuuka rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. The only problem is… the weapons. They're not cheap." Her smirk faded into a sheepish look. "I'm going to have to ask Issei if we can use the job reward to buy them."
"I'm sure he'll say yes," Miya said gently, cleaning Sakura's cheek as she ate.
Tamamo chuckled, the sound light and teasing. "He won't say no. He's like putty in our hands, especially when we pout at him."
Yuuka rolled her eyes again but couldn't hide her small smile.
Sakura,stopped eating and clutching a stuffed fox plushie under her arm, suddenly looked up with big, round eyes. "Mamas, when's Papa coming back?"
The cheerful atmosphere dimmed slightly. Miya knelt to her level and gently brushed Sakura's bangs aside. "Soon, little one. He should be returning any moment."
Tamamo nodded, her ears twitching slightly. "They were only supposed to be gone for two days at most. Maybe the quest turned out more complicated than expected. Either way, I'm going to give him an earful for making us wait."
Yuuka crossed her arms, her frown deepening. "Hopefully it's nothing too serious."
A sudden, oppressive presence rolled through the hall like a static charge before a storm.
They turned as heavy footsteps echoed closer.
Striding toward them was Laxus Dreyar, his trademark spiky blonde hair wild and untamed. Behind him, the Thunder God Tribe, Evergreen, Freed, and Bickslow followed in his shadow, each wearing varying degrees of smugness and disdain.
Tamamo's expression immediately soured. Her tails bristled, and her narrowed gaze cut through the air like a knife. "What do you want, lightning rod?" She asked, folding her arms under her impressive chest, her voice already lined with irritation.
Laxus didn't bother with subtlety. He let his gaze sweep slowly across Tamamo and Miya before stopping with a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "Just checking in on the guild's most… exotic additions." He said, turning from Tamamo to Miya. "You know, I'm still waiting on an answer. Have either of you given my offer some proper thought? I'm not a patient man, y'know."
Miya's expression didn't waver, but her tone turned firm. "I told you before, I am in a happy relationship. My heart belongs to someone already."
"And I," Tamamo added, "am not only married but would rather marry a tree than even consider you. My husband should be back any moment now."
Laxus's smirk twitched with irritation. "Husband? You mean that weakling who fought Natsu? Please. He couldn't hold a candle to me. I'm Laxus Dreyar, next in line to run this guild and its strongest member. I could give you anything you wanted. Wealth. Power. Respect. All you have to do is say yes."
The air grew tense, but Tamamo's tails flared behind her, her eyes now burning with anger.
"Respect?" Tamamo's voice dropped. "You think you can earn a woman's affection by throwing around your strength and status like cheap trinkets? I've met gods with less ego."
Yuuka stepped forward, her hand hovering near the new gun holstered at her waist. "You must really be bored, Laxus. That, or stupid. Because if you keep talking like that, my weakling boyfriend is going to plant your face into the dirt the moment he gets back."
Sakura, standing between them, puffed up her cheeks and shouted with all the force a six-year-old could muster. "My Papa's the strongest!"
Laxus's jaw tightened at that, and Bickslow chuckled in the background.
"Man, talked down by a six-year-old." Bickslow teased, sticking out his tongue playfully.
Freed sighed. "Perhaps we should be going, Laxus. The guildmaster—"
Laxus raised a hand to silence them, his eyes never leaving Tamamo. "Your man better be strong enough to back up your words. Otherwise, I'll come back and make you reconsider."
Tamamo smiled coldly, stepping forward so their gazes were nearly level. "You'll find that threatening someone's family is a very good way to make enemies you can't handle."
"Hmph. We'll see how strong he really is when he shows his face again," Laxus muttered as he walked off, his followers trailing behind him.
As the tension faded, Miya let out a long sigh. "Honestly, that man…"
"I can't wait for Issei to get back." Yuuka grumbled.
Tamamo smirked, though her tail still twitched in irritation. "Let's make sure Sakura doesn't hear what we plan to do to him when he does."
Sakura tilted her head. "Do what?"
"Nothing." The three women chimed at once.
A sudden gust of wind howled through opening windows of the Fairy Tail guild hall, rattling the glass panes and sending a flurry of papers flying from the request board. A few of the more relaxed guild members looked up in confusion, catching their hats or mugs before they could tip over. Then it happened.
ROOOOOAAARRR!
The walls trembled from the roar. Conversation stopped. Forks froze halfway to mouths. Even the most hardened members of Fairy Tail paused, brows furrowed in alarm.
From far away, a massive, winged shadow with a long tail appeared in the sky and coming closer to the town of Magnolia. The creature soared closer, its wings stretched wide, casting darkness over the outer edge of Magnolia like a bad omen.
The silence broke when the guild doors slammed open with a loud BANG.
A member of the guild, barely older than a teen, stumbled in with panic on his face and sweat glistening on his brow. "WYVERN! THERE'S A WYVERN HEADED THIS WAY!"
Chaos. Chairs scraped the floor. Plates crashed. Voices shouted over one another in disbelief and alarm. Mages scrambled to grab their weapons.
Laxus, who had only moments before been swaggering to the second floor, froze mid-step. His usual smirk twisted into a look of seriousness as he turned to face the large window. The golden flash of his Lightning Magic crackled faintly around his shoulders as his eyes narrowed.
"The hell?" He muttered.
His Thunder God Tribe quickly gathered beside him, each one sharing the same serious expression.
From above, the door to the second floor slammed open as Makarov came storming out of his office, his tiny face red with fury and disbelief.
"WHAT IN THE BLAZES IS GOING ON NOW?!" He roared, beard puffing like an angry cat.
"Master!" The member who came in screaming yelled. "There's a wyvern! It's almost over the eastern side of town!"
Makarov's eyes bulged. "A WYVERN?!"
Everyone including Yuuka, Tamamo, Miya, and Sakura, who had still been finishing their food rushed outside and toward the east gate. Miya's gaze sharpened as she saw the shape in the distance. Tamamo's ears twitched, already sensing the pulsing magical aura coming off the beast.
—-----------------------------------------
The town of Magnolia had erupted into chaos. The once lively streets were now filled with panic as residents fled indoors, slamming doors and shuttering windows. Mothers screamed for their children, merchants abandoned their stalls, and guards scrambled to organize a defense. All eyes had turned skyward, where a massive shadow eclipsed the sun, gliding ever closer with terrifying grace.
"A wyvern! A black wyvern's coming!"
"Where are the knights?! Someone call the guild!"
From every corner of town, the people rushed for cover, calling out for the knights, for Fairy Tail, for anyone who could stop the coming threat.
Dozens of mages sprinted toward the eastern edge of town, most of them cursing under their breath. Magic circles flared to life, weapons drawn, tension rising with every heavy footfall. Some cursed under their breath, others barked orders, but all shared one thought:
"Seriously?! Why did this happen now, when Natsu decides to go on a forbidden quest?!"
"Not to mention, Grey's gone too after him too?!"
"Don't even get me started on Erza! She should have come back with the others by now."
Tamamo, Yuuka, and Miya moved swiftly through the crowd, their expressions grim but focused. Sakura was held safely in Tamamo's arms, her wide eyes never leaving the sky.
The three women arrived on the eastern edge of Magnolia, where a crowd of Fairy Tail mages had already formed a defensive line. Some were trying to cast shields, others preparing attack spells but everyone hesitated as they looked to the sky. The wyvern was close now, its wings stretching wide enough to darken blocks. The air thrummed with its presence.
Tamamo's pink hair flowed wildly in the wind, her many fox tails flaring behind her. Her golden eyes glinted with anticipation, not fear. "It's big," She muttered, "But I should be able to deal with it."
Yuuka, eyes sharp, checked out the . "Let's just make sure it doesn't make it past the town's edge."
Miya remained composed and by her side was her trusty bokken, her serene expression tinged with a storm beneath. She had no intention of letting harm come to anyone in the town, especially not to her family.
Then, with all the subtlety of a thunderclap, Laxus Dreyar stepped forward cracking his knuckles with a smug grin.
"This is my chance," He muttered, his golden eyes gleaming with ambition. His voice rose as he addressed the crowd. "Everyone, stand back. I'll deal with this thing myself."
Bickslow and Freed exchanged glances, but didn't argue. The Thunder God Tribe fanned out behind their leader, watching as he raised his arms, lightning building like a storm around him.
Some of the guild flinched at the sheer force radiating off him, but others rolled their eyes.
Tamamo scoffed. "Showoff," She muttered under her breath.
Laxus barely spared her a glance. "This town doesn't need some beast flying over it. I'll kill it, and then maybe you'll finally see why I'm the one you should be with."
Soon the wind picked up, snapping flags and sending debris tumbling down the street. The wyvern was descending, its great wings blotting out the sky. The sheer force of its wingbeats sent dust and leaves flying, windows rattling. Guild members raised their hands, ready to attack.
But it didn't strike.
Makarov narrowed his eyes as he waited for the wyvern to do anything. "Something's off," he muttered. "It's not hostile…"
Just then, a voice boomed from above, calm and confident. "We're back!"
Tamamo's ears shot up.
There was a beat of silence before Miya's eyes widened in surprise. "That's Uzume…?"
The wyvern was still descending and the members of Fairy Tail were quick to notice something perched on the wyvern's head. It was a brown haired man, arms folded across his chest and jacket flapping in the wind and was a familiar figure to the girls.
It was Issei.
The wyvern descended lower, just enough for everyone to see the group riding it, Uzume, Karasuba, Yashima, Akitsu, and Matsu all aboard the creature's back.
From behind the crowd, a small voice burst with joy.
"Papa!" Sakura shouted, eyes sparkling as she pointed to the boy riding the wyvern. "Papa's back!" Sakura quickly took off getting out of her mothers arms to hug her dad.
The tension shattered into shock, awe, and disbelief.
Issei jumped down from Kuromaru's head, landing with a light thud and catching his daughter, who came rushing towards him.
"I'm back," He said with a grin, hoisting Sakura into the air.
Tamamo's lips curled into a proud smile and quickly went to join the hug. "Welcome back, dear."
Yuuka smirked and crossed her arms. "Showoff. Took you long enough."
Miya's face softened as she approached, her tone amused. "You certainly know how to make an entrance."
Behind them, the crowd remained stunned, murmurs rising.
"Wait… that's his wyvern?"
"He rode it? Like a mount?!"
"Oh my gods, That was so cool!"
"Tch…" Laxus scowled seeing the two women he was fancying lovingly embrace the boy, his pride wounded.
Kuromaru gave a low growl, and lowered its head toward Sakura, who smelled just like his master and the little girl began patting its snout without fear. Causing Kuromaru to purr as the little girl giggled.
"I think he likes me," Sakura said proudly, patting the wyvern's nose again before hugging her dad tighter. "Can we keep him, Papa?"
Issei chuckled, still hugging the girls. "Only if you promise to feed him."
Tamamo resting her chin on Issei's shoulder. "You're late."
"Ran into a few surprises," Issei said, then smirked as Karasuba landed beside them with a graceful hop, adjusting her sheath.
"We didn't come back empty-handed," Karasuba said, gesturing behind her to the other girls holding the bottles of milk that the villagers gave.
The rest of the girls dismounted, Matsu stretching and immediately writing on her notebook, while Akitsu remained quiet and stoic. Yashima offered a polite bow toward Makarov as Uzume waved flamboyantly from atop the wyvern before sliding down effortlessly.
"You should've seen Issei!" Uzume called out, grinning as she approached the group. "He blasted Kuromaru in the face!"
"That was after 4 Boosts!" Issei added with a grin. "Ddraig told me to go for the snout."
Tamamo's brows rose. "4 times? You really weren't holding back."
Makarov stepped forward, jaw still slack. "You… tamed it?"
Issei scratched the back of his head. "We were doing our quest and he woke up angry. We fought and he lost. Didn't want to kill him so now he's… kind of like our flying pet?" Issei said, and then turned to face the crowd, "Everyone meet Kuromaru, he's one of us now so please don't bully him."
Gasps rippled through the crowd, some mages lowering their hands, others still unsure whether to cheer or get worried at having to befriend the beast..
"He fought that thing? And won?"
"Wait, wait, isn't that guy supposed to be a newbie?"
"No way he's a rookie… Not if he did that."
Makarov finally snapped out of his trance, walking slowly toward the group, arms folded behind his back.
"You certainly caused quite a scandal. Bringing the wyvern here." the Guild Master said calmly, though his tone carried weight.
Issei sheepishly scratched the back of his neck, still holding Sakura. "Sorry about that. Didn't realize it would cause such a commotion."
A beat passed. Then Makarov sighed, covering his face with one hand and muttering something about heart attacks and early retirement. When he finally looked up again, his lips were twitching.
"I suppose there are worse ways to make an entrance."
That was all the permission the crowd needed.
A collective cheer erupted from the Fairy Tail guild members, many of them surging forward to pat Issei's shoulders, poke at Kuromaru's scales, or shout half-serious requests like:
"Yo! Can I ride him next?"
"Does it breathe fire?!"
"Can we teach it tricks?!"
Laxus stayed where he was, arms crossed, brow furrowed. He watched the joyful reunion with narrowed eyes, jaw tight. "Are they seriously all impressed by this?" He muttered, voice low.
Freed raised a brow. "He did show up on the back of a wyvern."
"Defeated and tamed it." Bickslow laughed. "Kinda hard to top that."
Laxus scoffed and stepped forward, his heavy boots striking the stone road with deliberate weight. His golden eyes locked onto the brown-haired newcomer who had just stolen the guild's attention and worse, its admiration. He went to confront the boy who was stealing his moment, lightning crackling faintly around him.
The crowd, still half-cheering, began to quiet down as a new kind of tension settled in the air. Several Fairy Tail members instinctively stepped back, forming a loose ring around the two. The change in atmosphere was immediate.
Tamamo's golden eyes narrowed, her long fox ears twitching as she stepped beside Issei. Wordlessly, she reached out and gently lifted Sakura from her husband's arms, cradling the giggling girl against her chest. "Careful," She warned in a low voice only Issei could hear.
Yuuka, a few steps behind, crossed her arms tightly under her chest and clicked her tongue, her voice dry and sharp. "Here comes the asshole."
Issei blinked at the tone wondering what they were talking about but quickly picked up on the tension. He didn't recognize the man approaching, but he could feel the hostility radiating from him. Still, he offered a polite, if slightly confused, smile. "Is there a problem, Sparky?"
Laxus snarled, tone low and simmering with barely restrained aggression. "You think you're clever, huh?"
Issei looked even more confused as he didn't think he was smart at all. "Not.. really."
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd, but they died just as quickly when the air snapped with another loud crack!
Sparks scattered from Laxus's body, drawing more gasps and mutters from those standing nearby. Even Makarov, watching from a short distance away, frowned as his grandson's power flared. "You walk in here like you own the place, thinking your hot shit. Taming and treating a wyvern like it's a puppy, and you've been here for what a few days?"
"Technically a week." Issei offered. "Also, I didn't defeat Kuromaru myself and it wasn't easy as he tried to kill us. Though he's a bit clingy now."
Kuromaru let out a low, pleased rumble behind him.
Laxus's jaw tensed. His pride was already frayed, and the casual way Issei brushed off his anger only made it worse. With a snarl, he released more power. Lightning arcing down his arms and snapping against the ground with a pop! that made more than one onlooker flinch. "You think this is funny?"
Issei's expression finally shifted. The patience in his eyes dimmed, his easygoing smile fading as irritation started to simmer in his chest. He didn't know who this guy was, but Issei had enough of the blonde trying to push him around.
—--------------------------
Inside Issei's body, Ddraig noticed the man trying to pressure his partner and was not having it.
(Sherri.) His deep voice echoed through the mental link with calm command.
"Yes Ddraig." Sherri, the ever-calm and composed AI, answered smoothly.
(Release the barrier that you have around Partner.)
There was a moment of hesitation.
"Is that wise? The barrier was created to conceal the Master's presence. Doing this would alert everyone of just how strong he's gotten."
(It will only be for a few minutes. Some fools can only be reasoned by force. If Partner shows weakness here, others may seek to exploit it. We will remind them exactly who they're dealing with.)
"Understood. Releasing the barrier."
—-------------------------------------
Suddenly, the world changed.
A deep, resonant pulse emanated from Issei's body, an invisible wave of pressure rolling across the ground like a heartbeat made of raw power. Every mage in the vicinity felt it in their bones. The air grew dense, like someone had turned up gravity itself.
Laxus felt it instantly. His lightning faltered for a second. The hairs on his arms stood straight. But this defiance only enraged him further causing him to release more power to match the brown haired boy.
Issei's eyes sharpened. His red aura had been released. Now it was like standing before a dragon that had just opened its eye.
He took one step forward, and the stones beneath his shoe cracked. "I don't know who you are," He said, voice low but heavy, "but I've had enough of you throwing sparks and barking like a mad dog."
Laxus took a half-step back before catching himself.
The crowd stood frozen. Even Makarov narrowed his eyes, feeling the sudden shift in magical density. 'That's no ordinary boy… That pressure… It's something else.'
Tamamo's tails rustled behind her, golden eyes gleaming with approval. "Darling looks so absolutely handsome right now."
Yuuka had her arms in her face trying to keep the wind out of her eyes. "So this is just how much he's been holding back."
Sakura, still held safely in Tamamo's arms, clapped her hands. "Papa's glowing!"
Karasuba's eyes widened the moment the pulse of raw energy washed over her. Her knees flexed instinctively, 'So this was his power… their Ashikabi's true strength.' She clenched her fingers tightly. Her breathing quickened, heat building in her chest and spreading down her limbs like fire. 'So wild... so unrefined… and yet so raw and commanding.' Her lips curled again, now in a different kind of smile, part hunger, part reverence, part anticipation. "Issei… you've been holding out on us."
Miya, ever composed, gasped softly. Her eyes widened,a flush of red bloomed across her cheeks, a physical reaction she hadn't expected. She forced herself to take a calming breath, but even that wasn't enough to stop the shiver that ran down her spine. "Incredible… How much of this has he kept hidden?"
His power wasn't violent, it didn't lash out. But it commanded attention. The aura of a being who could move mountains if he chose to. Miya felt her heart flutter.
Uzume stumbled slightly and had to steady herself against Matsu. Her mouth was slightly open, a blush rising fast to her face as she let out a quiet whoa. "Holy crap," She breathed. "He's so hot right now I think I'm gonna faint…"
Akitsu's usually expressionless face twitched ever so slightly. Her eyes shone with reverence as her desire grew for her Ashikabi.
Even Yashima felt a heat coil in her chest. Her legs trembled slightly. She looked away, cheeks tinged pink. "W-We shouldn't be reacting this way in public…" She whispered to herself.
Matsu, meanwhile, was frantically scribbling notes into her notebook with trembling hands, steam practically rising from her head.
Issei and Laxus finally had enough as their muscles tensed. They were about to clash.
"That's enough." The power in Makarov's tone silenced everything. His presence filled the space with authority earned through years of experience.
Issei didn't turn. He let the pressure fade just slightly, dialing his aura back with Sherri's help. The oppressive weight lifted.
Laxus took a slow step back, biting down a bitter remark he couldn't quite shape into words.
Makarov looked between the two. "We're a family here." He said. "While we bicker and fight, we do not do it with the intent to kill Laxus."
The blonde didn't meet his grandfather's eyes. But with a growl, he simply turned, sparks still crackling faintly at his shoulders, and stormed off. "Whatever. I don't need to prove anything to a clown." Laxus disappeared down the street, his anger simmering in every stride.
Freed exhaled, clearly relieved. "That could've gone worse."
Bickslow snorted. "I kinda wanted to see them fight."
Soon Laxus and his group disappeared.
Makarov released a sigh at seeing his grandson's behavior and turned to the other members of the guild. "This has been quite an experience.I know many of us have a thousand questions for Issei. But I believe it will be prudent that we move this to the guild."
Makarov soon started walking back to the guild and the rest followed the Guildmaster.
Issei turned back to the girls, taking Sakura and bouncing her happily in his arms. "So… how's the guild been without us and who was that guy?"
Tamamo chuckled, looping her arm around his. "Chaotic as always. But a little lonely without you being here."
Miya finally spoke, soft and serene. "It's better now that you're back."
Yuuka smirked. "That guy was the guildmaster's grandson, Laxus. He has a totally rude attitude with a massive stick in his ass. He also constantly flirted and tried to make Miya and Tamamo into his women."
Issei froze the moment he heard that and a massive furious yell came out of him. "THAT BASTARD TRIED TO WHAT!?"
As the group walked toward the guild hall, the townspeople slowly emerged from hiding, many whispering in awe as the wyvern walked through their street not destroying them, following the mages of Fairy Tail and with a little girl riding on its head.
—--------------------------
The lively chaos of the guild had returned as the members of Fairy Tail were seated and merrily drinking with a warm buzz of laughter, drinks, and curious stares most of them aimed at the massive wyvern curled up like a cat just outside the guild doors.
Issei sat at the bar, arms crossed, a deep scowl etched across his face like he was ready to declare war. His brows were furrowed, foot tapping an uneven rhythm against the wood floor. His usual lightheartedness was nowhere to be found.
Yuuka leaned her elbow on the table beside him, resting her chin in one hand, lips curved in a smirk. "You gonna keep pouting like that all night?"
Issei huffed. "I'm not pouting."
"Right. You're totally pouting." She chucked, nudging him playfully. "You've had that murder face since I told you what Laxus tried. Miya and Tamamo both shut Laxus down flat. You're acting like they ran off and eloped."
Issei grumbled something unintelligible, tapping his fingers restlessly on the wood. "If I'd known what he did before I landed, I would've punched him through a wall before the old man had to step in."
That statement caused a visible ripple of discomfort across some of the nearby guild members. A few male Fairy Tail mages who had been hovering close slouched deeper into their seats, glancing awkwardly at one another. Especially Max, Nab, and Warren—who had been shamelessly ogling Tamamo and Miya in the past, now stared into their drinks, cheeks red and expressions sheepish.
"…He doesn't know we tried to flirt with them too, right?" One whispered.
"Shut up, he'll hear you—"
"He's still pissed at Laxus. Maybe he'll forget."
"He has a dragon parked outside the building. He might send it to attack us."
Makarov, perched on his usual seat atop the bar, cleared his throat with theatrical timing. "Ahem. Let's… perhaps steer the conversation in a different direction, shall we?" He smiled tightly, though his gaze flicked cautiously toward the entrance. "I believe everyone here is more curious about how you came to meet, fight, and tame a wyvern the size of a house."
Mirajane floated in with her usual grace, her smile soft as she placed mugs in front of a few members. "Honestly, I'd like to hear what happened myself. The quest you took didn't seem that difficult and you all came back with a wyvern."
Levy popped up next to her, brushing her blue bangs out of her face with wide, excited eyes. "Seriously! I tried to walk in earlier and there it was curled up right at the guild entrance. I thought it was a statue until it breathed! I thought I was going to get eaten!"
"Sorry, I told him to move," Issei said sheepishly. "But I guess he got too comfortable." Issei was about to speak when he paused, scanning the room with a quick glance. "Wait… where's Natsu?"
Mirajane's smile faltered. She exhaled softly. "He's not here."
"Really?" Issei blinked. "I thought he'd be the first to show up when we came back."
Mira giggled, though her tone turned exasperated. "He came in with Lucy and Happy a few days ago to look for a quest. But after Laxus made a few comments about how he'd never be able to defeat him, Natsu snapped and took a forbidden S-Class job. Dragged Lucy and Happy with him."
Issei blinked slowly. "…He did what."
Makarov sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if anticipating the headache before it began.
"They went and took an S-Ranked forbidden quest," Mirajane continued. "Erza and Gray were sent to bring them back, but… they haven't returned yet."
Issei blinked. "Seriously?"
Makarov practically jumped off his stool, face flushed with rage. "That flaming idiot! AGAIN, I told him the last time, no more rule-breaking! The moment he sets his foot here he's grounded for a month!"
Issei leaned back, letting out a long, low chuckle. "Damn. And here I was hoping to ask Natsu for a favor."
Yuuka raised a brow. "You wanted a favor from Natsu?"
"Yeah. Something fire-related." Issei said vaguely, waving it off with a grin.
Makarov rubbed his temples. "Of course you did."
Mirajane gave a polite laugh. "Well, we'll be sure to let him know you were looking for him… after the punishment."
"So," Makarov continued, straightening and fixing Issei with a sharp but curious look, "why don't you tell us what happened? How did you run into a wyvern? And how in the world did you end up taming it?"
A small crowd began to gather, drinks in hand, leaning on tables and support beams, eager to hear the story. Even Loke and Cana drifted closer, curious smirks on their faces.
Just then, Tamamo poked her head out from the kitchen window, golden eyes narrowing with a familiar teasing glint.
"Dinner's almost ready," She said, wiping her hands on her apron. "And Issei, stop looking like you're going to pick a fight. Laxus isn't worth the effort."
Issei huffed. "He flirted with you!"
"And we shut him down," Miya added as she stepped out beside Tamamo, carrying a large covered tray. "He was more bark than bite. And frankly, you're far more satisfying to look at when you're not scowling."
A few of the nearby guild members whistled and made "awww" sounds. Issei flushed slightly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Fine, fine. I'll try to stop being pissed… for now."
Tamamo smiled warmly as she walked over and placed a plate in front of him. "That's all I ask. Now eat."
As the steaming platters of food arrived—piled high with roasted meats, seasoned vegetables, and freshly baked bread. The scent alone was enough to make stomachs growl, and within moments, every table was filled with the sound of satisfied chewing, clinking cutlery, and the occasional belch.
Issei had just taken his first bite when Uzume slapped her palm on the table dramatically, making everyone jump.
"Okay! I'm telling the story."
Issei blinked. "Huh? I thought I was—"
"Nope!" she declared, grinning wide. "You'll just gloss over the fun parts. This deserves drama, flair, audience engagement!"
Karasuba rolled her eyes with a smirk. "As long as you don't embellish too much."
"I make no promises." Uzume coughed once for effect and then stood up, turning to face the gathered crowd like a performer on stage. "It all began under the pale moonlight, in the quiet farmland of Turnip Village... where cow thieves skulked in the night, unaware that they were about to be caught by the deadliest combination of beauty, brains, us."
A wave of laughter rolled through the guild. Even Makarov cracked a grin.
"We caught them red-handed dragging a poor cow hidden down into the ground with magic." Matsu added between bites, adjusting her glasses. "Crude but clever."
"And then," Karasuba said with a grin, "we chased them underground—literally. They had a secret tunnel system under the cows."
Issei raised a hand. "Which collapsed on us, by the way."
"Under your orders Ashikabi." Yashima says, causing Issei to blush and look away in embarrassment.
"I'm getting there!" Uzume said, waving dramatically. "So we're stuck underground, no light, no clue where we are, after defeating those mages, someone says—let's use a Dragon Shot to escape!"
"That was me," Issei muttered sheepishly.
"And it worked!" Yashima cut in, trying to defend him. "Mostly…"
"You created a crater, darling," Miya added with a serene smile. "The farmers are still trying to fill it in."
The room erupted with laughter again.
"Oh, and the noise?" Uzume held up a finger. "Woke up the angry wyvern living nearby. Because of course it did!"
"We were resting when it came to threaten the village." Akitsu chimed in.
"And then we fought," Issei said, leaning back slightly. "He was stronger and faster than expected. Karasuba was fighting him by herself in the beginning."
(Partner needed four Boosts to even be able to hurt him.) Ddraig chimed from the Boosted Gear, his voice echoing for those close enough to hear.
"But it worked as we held him down and hubby blasted him at point blank with a laser." Uzume concluded, throwing her hands up. "We were going to finish it. But Yashima got all sentimental and wanted to keep him alive."
"It felt wrong to just kill him when he was already defeated." Yashima said with a frown.
"So yeah." Issei said, placing a hand on his chest. "We could leave him around as he might attack another village so we gave him a choice. Come with us or death. He decided to continue living and became my familiar."
"After that we spent the day healing him, luckily it bonded quickly to Issei and in its gratitude it gave us a lift here. It sure did beat walking." Matsu says with stars as she remembered the flight to hear.
"He's like a giant flying puppy!" Sakura cheered, lifting her plate with joy. "He let me ride his head!"
Loke let out a low whistle from across the room. "So let me get this straight, you guys took a simple job to deal with thieves, and came back with a wyvern as a pet?"
"It was much more difficult than that." Issei corrected.
"Semantics," Cana muttered with a laugh, raising her drink.
Levy clapped her hands together, eyes shining. "That's incredible! What kind of magic does he use? Can he breathe fire? Does he understand commands?"
"He understands tone and words. And no fire, but he does have lightning-based attacks." Matsu explained. "I'm still studying his biology. Did you know his bone density shouldn't allow for flight?"
Mirajane chuckled as she filled mugs with cider. "You're all welcome to allow him to stay here as long as you'd like. But maybe have him nap somewhere that doesn't block the front door next time."
Outside the window, Kuromaru was visible curled up by the entrance, snoring gently. His tail flicked once, sending a pile of leaves into the air.
Makarov lifted his mug and gave Issei a look full of grudging admiration. "From an unknown rookie. You've certainly left an impression, boy."
Issei gave a sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just did what I thought was right."
Tamamo leaned against him with a satisfied hum. "And you looked good doing it."
He turned toward the girls seated around him, curiosity glinting in his eye. "Alright, enough about wyverns and craters. What about you guys? Other than the Laxus's… situation," He made a face that earned a few knowing snorts. "What did you all do while we were gone?"
Sakura was the first to perk up, her little hands shooting into the air like she was answering a school question. "Papa! Me and Mama Tamamo learned Word Magic! Miss Levy taught us!"
Issei blinked. "Wait,Word Magic?" He turned to Levy, eyebrows raised. "You taught my daughter magic?"
Levy beamed with a slight blush of pride. "Only the basics! She and Tamamo picked it up fast. Too fast, honestly. It was adorable. Sakura learned how to write 'float' and made her toys levitate around the room like a parade."
Sakura giggled proudly. "I made my doll do a backflip!"
Issei chuckled and patted her head to congratulate her. "Thanks, Levy. Really. That means a lot."
Tamamo leaned into his side with a smug purr. "You should have seen her, darling. My little one is such a genius. I bet she will be a great mage."
"I'm sure she will." Issei replied quickly, face turning slightly red in embarrassment as some of the nearby guild members choked on their drinks from laughter.
Yuuka raised her hand next, reclining against her chair with one leg crossed over the other, looking far too satisfied with herself. "I did some training too. I learned how to defend myself."
Issei tilted his head. "Oh yeah?"
She grinned wider. "I learned how to use guns. Real ones with magic and learned the ability Requip." She said, drawing out the word like a slow, sweet threat. "With it I can instantly summon weapons that I stored from thin air. I would show you but I currently don't have any weapons to bring out."
Issei immediately paled. "W-Wait… guns? You? But Yuuka, you get mad whenever I do something dumb. You have guns now."
"I know," she replied cheerfully. "Scary, huh?"
Issei gulped audibly.
Yuuka leaned closer, resting her arm on his shoulder. "So, now that I'm armed, trained, and dangerous… you have no right to stop me from coming along on quests, right?"
Issei tried to laugh, but it came out weak. "Haha… I-I mean… technically—"
Her stare intensified.
He wilted. "R-Right. I'd never say no. You're coming with me next time.."
"Good boy," She said with a teasing smirk and ruffled his hair.
Then she added, more seriously, "Also…I don't have weapons at the moment and I want some magic guns of my own. Think we can use the reward for that?"
Issei opened his mouth to answer, but Tamamo held up a finger before he could say anything.
"After we discuss as a family what we'll do with the money." Tamamo reminded him with that gentle, dangerous smile of hers.
Issei immediately nodded. "Right after that. Permission first, then we waste our money."
"Smart," Miya said with a faint smile as she placed a refill of tea beside him.
Across the bar the guys chuckled as they saw just how whipped the boy was.