Colors of the Will 'o' the Wisps Chapter 4

The party was loud and noisy and chaotic. Typical Fairy Tail party from what I remember as a kid, but… it felt unfamiliar. I mean, why wouldn’t it be? These past seven years, we didn’t have much to celebrate, so something of this level of excitement would naturally be out of sorts.

I was having fun though. I got my mug of mead, which I didn’t have to pay for this time because everything was free, take that, dad. But I got my mug of mead, I got some snacks to nibble on, and I had my corner. My nice corner where people didn’t talk to me.

Which was fine because what would I say to them? This was a time of celebration and my usual personality is… uh… not the greatest for this sort of thing.  I mean, I’m happy they’re back, the members I had grown up with were happy they’re back, THEY’RE happy they’re back. What more needs to be said?

There needs to be something to denote those who lived through the seven years and those who were stuck in Fairy Sphere. Maybe Wisps and the Awoken? Because those who stayed were the Wisps of Fairy Tail? And those who were stuck in the Fairy Sphere had just Awoken from their slumber?

I watched as Gray and Natsu suddenly broke several tables in their brawl. Maybe not Awoken. Awoken implied that they were wise and circumspect. How about Dreamers? Yeah, the Wisps and the Dreamers, the two halves of Fairy Tail split apart by seven years of difference.

There are definitely going to be clashes between us two. I can already see it. The Dreamers will have bad habits from when reckless collateral damage was the norm, we Wisps will be annoyed when they think us too naggy, and… Yeah, there’ll be classes.

See? This is why I’m not joining the party. I’m already making myself depressed thinking about all the crap that could happen. Fucking who knows what’ll happen if I actually start talking.

…I’m really glad they’re back. I want to kick past!me for even thinking about not being happy about this. What was that cringey-ass monologue about not liking surprises? This was great! Everybody’s here. Except for the bit where we are probably going to get into a shit ton of fights over how we handle missions and teaching hte new protocols and practicing fixing things after we break them and--

…Hah, maybe I should head home. I think this party’s a bit too high energy for me and I am hella depressing right now.

Getting up, I only barely refrained from yelping when I almost knocked over Asuka. Okay, you know what, maybe past!me had a point in hating surprises. Holy fuck, I almost punted you, you little munchkin.

“Big Bro Romeo, are you scared?” Asuka asked, uncaring of the fact that she had almost gotten hurt.

“Whyever would you think that, my dear?” I denied immediately, “I am perfectly in control of my actions and emotions. There is no need to worry about silly old Romeo.””

She raised an eyebrow, “When you panic, you start talking funny like an old-timey play or something.

“Perish the--” I cut myself off with a cough, “I mean. I am perfectly fine, Asuka. You just go on and have a good party with the rest of them.” I patted her head,, “Cheerio, that’s a good lass.”

I then froze, having recognized exactly what I said.

Why did I say that last part? I just proved her point right. I quickly replayed the conversation just to make sure. …Fuck, I cannot unhear it now. Fucking hells, have I always had that obvious a tell? I talk like I’m giving a dissertation at the shitty Crocian Academy of Magic when I hear myself talk like this.

It’s been years since I’ve been unofficially expelled from  there. Stop infecting me with your elitism, you shitty institution of magical meritocracy.

I rubbed my face. Fuck, what a mess I am.

…Don’t. Don’t pat my hand, Asuka. Please don’t pity me. I’m your big bro. Let me at least pretend I still have my cool points.

“...I’m kind of scared to meet all of these new people, Romeo,” Asuka simpered, pretending to be shy and demure, “You’ve met them before though! You can show me around!”

…I know exactly what you’re trying to do, sis. It is adorable in how you’re trying to help encourage me, but it’s only making me more self-conscious and… Fuck it. Might as well meet the Dreamers. This is an embarrassment to myself. I’m classy, not a fucking coward.

“Well, then,” I held out my hand, silently asking for help, “Where do you want to go?”

If she was going to offer help, who was I to refuse it? Not very classy of me to refuse a maiden’s help, eh?

Grabbing my hand, Asuka pointed with a small bounce, “Them!”

Following her gaze, I did not gulp when I saw it was Team Sky Dragoons. Natsu, Happy, Lucy were all sitting on a table, enjoying the food and drink. Gray was off to the side chatting with Laki and competing in Make Magic sculptures. Erza was chatting with Mister and Miss Connell about… something. ALl in all, it was picturesque and lovely and I do not feel ready to cat with my childhood heroes at all.

“Uh, let’s save them for last?”

Smiling indulgently, Asuka nodded and dragged me elsewhere.

---

“Are you sure we should go to the bar?” I frowned. I mean… Granted, this was Fairy Tail, and when I was a kid, I sat at the bar all the time, but… my childhood was fucked up, so let’s not use that as a measuring point.

“Well, I’m not going near Mama or Papa when they’re flirting,” Asuka said, twisting her face in disgust, “Besides, I hear this is where the Ace is!”

Hm, well, if she wants to see the Ace, sure. Taking a step, I marveled at how quickly the barstools had been replaced. Were they… A quick scan with Sky-Orange  Flame Radar revealed that, yup, they were Laki’s handimake. She really was the lynchpin behind Fairy Tail’s architecture, huh?

I took a seat and just sighed. Felt like I was six years old again and asking for a mug of milk.

Kinana was manning the counter like usual. Fitting that she served ‘poison’ given her poison-aligned magic. Setting down my empty mug, Kinana immediately refilled it before sliding it back to me with a smile. Bowing my head in thanks, I sipped. Mm. Just like my usual.

…Should I order a milk refill? Just for old time’s sake?

“Hey!” somebody shouted from beside me. Oh right, I was here to meet up with the returnees with Asuka. Turning to face him, I smiled politely at a tall ginger-haired man and a lady hugging a barrel of beer.

…That last one was weirdly nostalgic. What the fuck. Why would I remember somebody hugging a barrel of beer?

“You’re Macao’s kid, Romeo, right?” Gildarts said after snapping his fingers in his efforts to remember. He chuckled, “You’re so much bigger now,” turning to face Asuka, he made to pet her head, And you must be Alzacks’ and Bisca’s kid.”

“Hello, Mr. Clives,” I tipped my fedora, greeting the orange-haired ruffian that was our guild. Somehow, he still felt just as large to me now as he had to me when I was seven. Strangely nostalgic in a way.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ace” Asuka grunted, stepping back and hiding on the other side of me. Don’t do that, Little Sis! You’re the one who’s supposed to shield me! I kid. I kid. Use me as a shield as much as you want.

“Cute as a button, eh?” Cana Alberona cut in, slamming her, and I say this with clear confusion, barrel of beer down. Long, silky black hair and dressed in an alluring bikini, she wore her sexuality as a weapon. Though, seeing her kneel down to smile reassuringly at Asuka softened that bit of her.

“I’m Cana,” she said before sticking a thumb behind her to gesture at Gildarts, “You don’t have to be scared of this doofus. He’s the strongest, but also a huge softie.”

“Aww,” Gildarts groaned good-naturedly, “Don’t go ruining my image like that!”

Asuka giggled, “Well, I’m Asuka! Fairy Tail’s youngest mage!”

“Ambitious little bugger,” Cana snorted, reaching out and ruffling Asuka’s hair. Ah, it was nice to see my little sis bonding well with--

Oh fuck, now I remember her. She was the one that Dad hit on with Wakaba. Her and… the nice lady with white hair. Don’t remember that one. It’s been forever since I’ve met these people.

Then, I felt a tug at my hand to drag me out of my reminiscence. Looking down, I saw Asuka jerking her head. Oh, she wanted me to say something. RIght. Uh… Let’s just go with the first thing in my mind.

“Sorry, my dad used to hit on you,” I bowed deeply, “He’s better about it now.”

WHY THAT, ME!? WHY THAT!?

Things were silent for a bit and then Cana laughed, just a bit forced, waving a hand, “Oh, that’s all in the past. You know I had a crush on him once.”

“You had a what?” Gildarts cut in, a tinge of anger creeping in.

Keeping up a smile, I politely said, “I never want to know about my father’s love life, but thank you for that information.”

Asuka, why’d you squeeze my hand so tight just now.

…Oh, the awkwardness is palpable. Noted, Asuka. Hand-squeezing meant I said something awkward.

“I’m going to kill him,” Gildarts growled, his mug shattering into pixellated cubes, “I’m going to find Macao and kill him.”

“Stop, dad,” Cana growled, tossing a few cards at his head, “You’re just embarrassing me.”

“Oh, so you’re daughter and father?” I chuckled, hoping to change the topic from trying to murder my dad to something else, “Neat, that’s kind of the reverse of what happened to me and my mom.”

They went silent. Shit, they must not have understood the joke.

“See,” I explained, “It’s because you two acknowledge each other’s relationship while my mom just ditched me and-- OW!”

Why are you stepping on my foot, Asuka!?

Looking down to glare at her, I found that the munchkin’s returning glare was much stronger. Jerking her head, Asuka nommed her lips together as if she was trying to shut herself up. No, wait, she was trying to mime for me to shut up.

Looking up, I saw how forced the smiles were on Cana and Gildarts were. I replayed the conversation and… ooh. Right. Yeah. Most people don’t joke about that sort of thing.

Tipping my fedora, I kept up my bland smile, “Whelp, it was nice meeting with you two. Sorry about the horrible joke on my part. Don’t worry, I’m sure your relationship will work out much better than my mother’s and mine.”

Asuka kicked me in the shin as she followed me away from that disaster. I deserve that.

---

Retreating to the back of the corner, I nursed my mug as Asuka paced back and forth. I gave her the time to ponder over what exactly had happened. It was painfully obvious that she had never seen me interacting with ‘new people’. People I knew already? Completely fine. People I had just met or reunited with after a long time? Absolutely horrendous, if a mome could be burnt, those absolutely should.

I was resigning myself to never being the cool bro again.

“What was that, Big Bro?” she snapped, eventually whirling around.

“Stupidity,” I muttered. I didn’t bother trying to defend myself.

“For sure!” Asuka growled. Tugging her hat down around her ears, she let it flop back up as she clapped her hands together, “Okay, new plan. How about I talk with them for a bit and then you jump in when it feels good?”

“Sounds good,” I lied. This was going to go horribly, and the Hitman inside of me was reveling in the chaos.

The Hitman was a bit of an arsehole if you didn’t know. He didn’t care about much except the chaos.

I fucking knew I should’ve stayed in my corner. It’s so fucking sad I have an easier time bantering with literal demons trying to kill me than actual people who I should, theoretically, know well already.

Following along, Asuka brought me over to a table in the corner where four people sat. Uniform in the theme of yankee-styled delinquency, the quadro paused in their conversation to look at us intensely

“Hi! I’m Asuka! This is my Big Bro Romeo!” Asuka chirped, uncaring of the aura they emitted, “Who are you?”

While Asuka chatted them up, I remained silent, disassociating myself as I stared at the four of them, trying to put names to faces.

They were the… Thunder God Tribe. A team where a trio of highly skilled mages acted as a backup to an S-Class mage that… I could not remember the name of. Looking at the spiked headphone-wearing yankee, I felt childhood fear goad me into remembrance, but… I just didn’t remember him. Who the fuck was he?

I remember the other three though.

Long-green hair and dressed like a refined noble, the leader of the trio was Fried Justine; Master of Letter Magic to the point that he could use it on the fly in combat. Having dabbled in Letter Magic, it was impressive to say the least. Metal visor holding down a metal hood, Bickslow’s mystery was ruined by his boisterous demeanor; User of Seith Magic that he uses in conjunction with his puppet totems. The Femme Fatale of the trio, Evergreen somehow combined the yankee-girl trope with the megane-trope; self-proclaimed Fairy that used “Fairy Magic”. Really, it was just a combination of Earth/Light magic to produce the “Fairy Dust”. Devastating to fight though.

Asuka tugged at my hand, trying to get me to say something, but two problems with that. First, I was not paying attention to the conversation. Second, I was trapped in a staring contest with the boss of the Thunder God Tribe.

Who was this guy? Laxus? He was definitely some top-notch wizard, having been an S-Class that could access the old second floor. I remember him for something else though, but what. I should definitely know him. I remember being terrified of him when I was a kid, always scurrying away when he stomped up the stairs to the exclusive second floor just for S-Class mages, but… he was so different now. So much more smile-y and softer. Shit, what was it that made him so spooky?

Thunder God Tribe. Lightning Dragon Slayer… OH, SHIT! The Thunder Palace! That thing! He made that thing! From the battle right before the Fantasia Parade! And that whole war thing! This guy’s responsible for that! I finally remember who this guy is!

Snapping my fingers in victory, I finally jumped into the conversation with my important revelation, “I remember you now! It’s been bugging me this whole time, but I finally remember! Laxus Dreyar! Son of Master Makarov! Didn’t you throw the entire guild into civil war that one time?”

The conversation didn’t screech to a halt, so much as just stop breathing to fall flat, dead on the spot, punctuated by an audible smack as Asuka slapped her face with her hand.

I deserved the footstomp Asuka gave me. Also, the hell grinding. Could’ve done without the pummeling as she herded me back to my corner.

---

Back in the corner again, I swished my mug. Mead was getting low. I should probably bug Kinana for a refill.

“Okay, how about this,” Asuka prayed, keeping her two hands cupped together in front of her face. “You just go up to them and say how happy you are to see them. Just that. And then we leave. Immediately.” She punctuated each statement by tipping her clasped palms forward and back as if chopping away my stupidity.

“Sounds like a plan,” I smiled blandly, keeping a thumbs up. When in doubt, smile. It hides the pain, the shame, and all of the game! “...Side question. How many cool points do I have now?”

She glared, “The fact that you think now is a good time to ask just made me take away more points.”

I sipped in response to that. Savage, but I respect it for how classy she kept it. She didn’t even stomp on my foot this time.

This time she dragged me over to a white-haired trio that were catching up with some of the Wisps. Drinking, chatting, unlike the previous one, this table exuded warmth and friendliness. This time, I immediately tried to place names to faces, so I didn’t have an unfortunate outburst like last time.

The eldest sister, the middle brother, and the resurrected youngest sister, the Strauss Siblings specialized in Take-Over magic, defeating beings of their specialized type and incorporating the forms for their magic.

Lisanna Strauss. Short-haired, but sporty, she seemed nice. I don’t actually know much about her. She was supposed to be dead, but came back after the Edolas Incident. Still don’t know what was up with that, but I guess she’s come back from the dead twice now. She used Animal Soul, a take-over magic that used animals.

Elfman Strauss. Big man who loved being called manly. For some reason, he brought to mind a Boxer who shouted ‘EXTREME’ all the time. Never met a boxer who did that, so it must have been one of my inherited memories. He used Beast Soul, a take-over magic that used monsters. …I really hoped he didn’t have a Vulcan Soul. My dad and I have… a grudge against them.

Eldest of the three and a former model, Mirajane Strauss was my childhood crush. She was nice and was like… the nice big sis to Erza’s no-nonsense one. I’m not ashamed to say that I liked her; she was one of the models on Sorcerer’s Weekly. Hers was the rarest of the three; Satan Soul, one that could take over demons.

Wish she was around these past couple years. Would’ve made things easier. I’m pretty sure Mr. Zeref wasn’t trying to kill me with demons, but holy fucking shit did I have to meet and kill a lot of them.

Still! I was ready. I had my compliment planned as we stopped before the table.

“Hi, I’m Asuka! This is my Big Bro Romeo,” Asuka smiled before squeezing my hand tightly, gritting her teeth at her next statement “Big Bro Romeo, say the nice thing and then we can leave.”

“I’m glad you’re not dead,” I smiled with a tip of my fedora.There. Nice. Simple, and cla-- and I just got a stomp on the foot.

“Oh, come on!” I grumbled as Asuka dragged me away, “I followed that one perfectly.”

---

Asuka didn’t drag me to my corner this time. Instead, she dragged me to where my father was sitting with Uncle Wakaba and Master Makarov. Sitting on a chair, I was still taller than her standing, but as she placed her hands on her hips and glared, I felt quite small.

“I am going to leave you with your dad,” Asuka said, “Please do not say anything more embarrassing.”

“Hai,” I muttered, “Thanks for trying. I’ll buy you ice cream.”

“I deserve three stampcards!” Asuka snapped, holding up three fingers.

“That you do.”

A huff left her lips before she broke into a smile to hug me. “Thanks for trying, Big Bro Romeo.

Returning the hug, I whispered, “Have fun tonight. They’re a bit rough and very silly, but they’re good people. They were kind to me when I was young, and they’ll be kind to you.”

Letting go, Asuka rolled her eyes as she scampered off, “You’re being way too intense again, Big Bro. Relax!”

I sent a construct of a crow after her, one borne of Cloud-Purple. Squealing in delighted anger, Asuka ran off to join her parents in meeting Erza and Juvia. Despite being an armored S-Class mage and a former S-class Water Mage, the two girls were blushing as Bisca recounted her wedding day.

Lighting a finger with a Night-Black Flame, I carved a connection from where I was to the bar-counter. Sticking my empty mug through it, I watched Kinana take the mug and refill it with mead. As she gave it back to my disembodied hand, I shouted, “Thanks, Kinana!”

Ah, distance refills. What a concept.

Pulling my mug back through the closing portal, I sipped. Mmm… Nice and sweet with that soft burn.

“So how was your day?” Uncle Wakaba puffed, his signature smoke tightly wafting around him in a polite manner. I didn’t have to look at his face to know he was wearing a shit-eating grin.

I rolled my eyes, “You say that as if you haven’t been watching that disaster for the past half hour. Greetings, Master Makarov.”

“Greetings to you too!” Master Makarov shouted, holding up a frothing flagon “You’ve certainly grown from your younger years!”

“Kek,” I chuckled, cheering him with my mug, “Yeah, I’ve been around.”

As we shared a sipping moment, I sighed, trying to sort my feelings on the Third Master. While everybody that had stayed in Fairy Tail these past seven years, the Wisps, had fond memories of him; all I remembered of him was being angry at him.

…Imagine a child, worried about a father gone for a week after he had promised to return in three, going up to a guildmaster and asking for help. Only for that guildmaster to refuse. Being thankful to a Dragon Slayer and a Celestial Mage and a damn flying cat for saving his father, but holding a grudge against that Guildmaster.

Have that child grow up just a bit and watch that Guildmaster’s grandson almost kill him, see that might guildmaster be laid low by his own family and pity him. Have that grudge soften and almost disappear.

…Imagine that child growing up to having half that guild disappear. Having to deal with the residue and leftovers of all the guild’s faults in resolving quests. Having a grudge fanned and cooled in equal measure over seven years.

Imagine me sitting here wondering whether to put faith or not in that Guildmaster. I… I know Dad has been wanting to step down from Guildmaster ever since he got it. He wasn’t the best guildmaster at the start, but he got better, and having learned why he had let the guild get impounded today, well… I thought he was a pretty damn good guildmaster.

But I also remembered how happy things were under Master Makarov. I wanted things to be like that again.

After a long moment of silently listening to the hustle and bustle of the guild, I asked, “What’s the guild leadership going to be like?”

“Well, I was thinking of leaving it to your father.” Makarov cackled, “I mean, he’s certainly held it well for seven years!”

I took a sip of my mead. It was good mead. Nice and chilled, bit bitter, but still sweet. Fuckign love sweet mead, and it wa soothingly cool. It did nothing to quell the burning anger at the audacity of this old midget who dared laugh at my fucking father. He wasn’t the best dad, not the best guild leader, but damned if he didn’t try and that was enough for me, so, pardon my language, so fuck Master Makarov for laughing at my father.

Maybe I should take a step back. Master Makarov was old, senile.  He didn’t understand. He wasn’t here when we had to call off the search, wasn’t here when my father reluctantly took the spot of Guildmaster, wasn’t here when we began to slowly lose everything.

…He wasn’t here when we began fighting to take everything back, wasn’t here when my father plotted a seven year plan by himself to protect the secrets of the guildhall, wasn’t here when we finally won, wasn’t there to know everything we went through, just sleeping on a faroff island and Dreaming.

“Good idea,” I nodded, gently placing my mug down, “I mean we had to deal with the fallout of your laissez faire management when the Magic Council fined the guild into near-bankrupcy.”

“...What?” Master Makarov blinked.

I smiled. Smiles are great. They hide your thoughts, lull your enemies into a false sense of safety, one should always smile when in doubt. Not that I was in any doubt.

“Oh, you didn’t know?” I cocked my head to the side in a mocking facsimile of confusion, “We lost the guildhall because we almost went bankrupt thanks to the council’s little ploys. It was all the little big incidents, you see. Little big incidents like destroying half of Hargeon Port, breaking Nazuna Observatory, destroying so many clock towers and churches, so many little big incidents that they carefully stored and remembered until you were all gone. They saved all their grudges until they had the perfect opportunity to try and take everything in one go.”

“But… we have the guildhall,” Master Makarov gestured to the guildhall.

“Aye, and who do you think is responsible for protecting its secrets these seven years?” I challenged with a smile, “Responsible for playing the little tricks and ploys, planned the path to get it all back?”

Master Makarov remained silent.

“That’s right. My father. Seven years he fought a losing war and it was scarcely a month ago that we won that war,” holding my mug up high, I emptied it in one chug before slamming it down, “My father and I just put the finishing touches on Twilight Ogre’s guildhall today.”

“So, yes, Master Makarov,” I leaned in, toasting my empty mug against his still one, “When you think you should leave this guild to my father, I agree quite well. Despite my doubts over the years, he’s certainly proven himself and risen to the occasion.  At the very least, you shouldn’t laugh at my father’s efforts to fill your spot as guildmaster.”

Ah, this felt great. Just laying it all out. What should I go for next? Bring up how many damn secrets this Guild has? Ask about why the fu--”

“-meo! Romeo!”

“What!?” I snapped before sucking my teeth in. Shit, didn’t mean to snap at Dad.

Hands in pockets, eyes shadowed, my father softly growled, “Enough. Take a breath. Look around.”

Following his instructions, I did as he said. A deep breath and I looked around. The guild hall had gone silent, the mood dead as grief. The people at the bar had all twisted around to stare, flagons and mugs untouched. The various tables had frozen in stunned shock. Even the Thunder God Tribe, loners that they were had stood up to creep forward to watch.

My breath unnaturally calm, I finally turned around to look at Master Makarov. Stoic and silent, his face a mask, I couldn’t help but notice a small tear down his cheek.

…Fuck. I went overboard and snapped. A-fucking-gain.

Master Makarov was probably just making a crappy joke like I usually did. He didn’t know the full context of what we had gone through. Hells, if it was me a couple years ago, back when I was way more edgier and angrier, I may have laughed right alongside him. He didn’t deserve my anger.

I wasn’t sorry that I said it at all though. That was the worst part. I wish I had chosen a better time for it, but if Master Makarov thought it was okay to laugh at my Dad’s efforts these past seven years, then I’d call him out on that bullshit in a heartbeat.

Just wish it wasn’t this particular heartbeat. Just wish I had done it kinder.

Rubbing my face, I sighed. Why do you only think of better options after you’ve chosen a shitty one? Swiping my hand down from my face in a smooth downward motion, I burnt Night-Black to escape the party.

Ah, what a coward I was.

Guess I wasn’t ready for a reunion after all. Wasn’t that a fucking pleasant surprise?