Rhodes smiled. "It's easier to keep him this size most of the ti. He can get bigger when needed."
"Purr~~~"
Warm happily rubbed against Lucy's soft embrace, as if saying 'long ti no see.' Lucy giggled and stroked the little white furball fondly.
"We're back!"
Three familiar voices rang out from the doorway. A blue cat, a white cat, and a black cat, Happy, Carla, and Lily, had returned, all looking cheerful.
The next instant, Gajeel ca charging in, dressed in an ill-fitting white suit of all things. He dove to the ground and clutched Lily like a lovesick fool, rubbing his face against him repeatedly.
Lily pushed Gajeel's head away with his paw, looking exasperated. "This kind of behavior is far too immature, Gajeel."
But Gajeel burst into tears. "I was so worried about you! It's too dangerous outside, I should've been there!"
He really did treat Lily more like a pet kitten than a partner.
With a sigh, Lily asked, "And why are you dressed like that?"
"Because there's a reporter here today!" Gajeel announced proudly, pulling out an electric guitar. "I'm going to sing for him! But first, let introduce my partner, Lily!"
Gray rembered Gajeel's infamous "singing" voice and his expression turned grim. "We should leave. Now."
Lucy nodded heavily. "Agreed."
At that mont, Erza called Wendy over. Natsu scooped Happy into his arms, Gray grabbed Carla, and Lucy held onto Warm, the three of them bolting for the door without hesitation.
"Carlaaa!" Wendy yelped in shock. She hadn't even gotten to talk to her partner yet! Why did Gray just run off with her?
Erza, however, only nodded approvingly. "They're still so energetic. Wendy, let's go as well."
"R-right…" Wendy followed hesitantly. Rhodes's team had always felt dependable, but… these new teammates didn't seem nearly as reliable. Still, Miss Erza had to be trustworthy… right?
Wendy reluctantly waved goodbye to Rhodes, who waved back with a faint smile. He also had his doubts, none of them even thought to ask why Warm had been entrusted to them.
"Shoobee-doo-bah!!!"
"Ugh," Rhodes winced, covering his ears as Gajeel's voice tore through the Guild like a sonic explosion. Had that guy accidentally discovered so kind of sound-based magic?
The Guild went silent for all of two seconds before angry curses erupted, but Gajeel had already thrown himself into his "performance." The screeching of his guitar was louder than a construction site, easily drowning out the protests.
Soon, cups, plates, orange peels, and apple cores were flying through the air like missiles, pelting him from all directions. But Gajeel didn't falter; he kept thrashing and wailing like he was on stage.
Rhodes covered his ears tighter and made his way toward the exit. He glanced back, only to see Mira standing beside Levy, listening with a smile on her face.
Levy looked unimpressed, covering her ears at the volu, but Mira? She looked genuinely amused.
"…?" Rhodes blinked. 'Has my wife's brain been shaken loose?'
Gajeel stood frozen on the little stage for a mont, shivering as though he had felt a sudden surge of killing intent. Then he dismissed the feeling, it wasn't as if playing terrible music was a cri punishable by death.
So he doubled down, belting out lyrics on the spot, his gravelly voice roaring about "Fairy Tail's Glorious Rebirth!"
Jason, of course, was enthralled. He snapped photos non-stop while flashing death-tal hand signs, clearly the only soul in the room who truly appreciated Gajeel's "art."
Mira listened for a short while, then caught sight of Rhodes staring at her with a deeply worried expression. She walked toward him, only for Rhodes to pull her outside, grip her shoulders, pinch her cheeks, and even cast a bit of healing magic on her.
Mira blinked, confused. "What are you doing?"
"I thought your ears were broken. Or maybe your head."
"It's not that bad," Mira chuckled. "From a certain perspective… Gajeel's music is actually rather high-level."
"…."
Rhodes wasn't convinced. 'Maybe we should still drag her to Porlyusica…'
Several more mbers who couldn't stand it bolted out the doors, including Lily, who muttered sothing about hearing thunder hidden inside Gajeel's guitar strings.
Everyone ended up gathered at the outdoor tables. Mira, ever kind, turned to Lily with concern. "Was your visit to your relatives smooth?"
"It went very well," Lily replied. "Carla's precognition magic is becoming a little more controllable. Sotis she can glimpse the 'wrong future' when we take a bad path. It makes finding people much easier."
Kinana curiously poked at Lily's tail. "It's so strange seeing such a cute little form speaking with such a mature voice."
Lily took it as praise, smiling proudly. "I'm rather fond of this form too. And my voice suits ."
Rhodes brought the talk back on track. "How are Happy's parents and Queen Shagotte?"
"They're doing well," Lily said warmly. "Most of the children who were sent away have been found. The Queen has led everyone to settle in the mountains and even invited us to visit. So Exceeds, like , Happy, and Carla, chose to stay with humans we wished to follow. Everyone's living freely now."
For Lily, the difference between Edolas and this world was like night and day. Back in Edolas, he lived on edge, always braced for war and weighed down by the divide between humans and Exceeds. Here, Exceeds could choose their own path, and humans treated them like… well, just cats who could fly and talk. No prejudice. No fear.
Kinana tilted her head. "Did they hear about your disappearance?"
"Of course. But it didn't bother them," Lily said with a small grin. "Exceeds don't sense the passage of ti the sa way. To them, six years doesn't feel very long at all."
Everyone exchanged glances. They weren't sure if that was comforting or unsettling. Rhodes, however, felt a bit suspicious. Was this really true? Or just a white lie Queen Shagotte told to ease their guilt?
Before he could think on it further, the Guild roared to life again. Fighting had broken out inside, and Makarov erged through the great doors, digging at his ears.
Everyone outside smirked knowingly. 'Even the Master couldn't take Gajeel's "music," huh?'
But instead, Makarov looked directly at Rhodes and said seriously:
"Rhodes, get ready. Tomorrow, there's a gathering of the Ten Wizard Saints. You're coming with ."
Rhodes blinked in surprise. "A gathering of the Ten Saints? Are you sure it's not just another regular council eting?"
...
Bonus @1600
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