Ivan's mouth was still sealed, but his glare burned toward Makarov.
Only when Makarov raised a hand and fired a light bullet, cracking the stone enough to free him, did Ivan finally speak. His voice, however, was low and heavy.
"Why do you keep that power sealed away, never using it? Is it just because you're afraid the guild's darkness will be exposed?"
Makarov's reply was calm. "That is sothing that should never be revealed in the first place."
Ivan snorted. "Weak old man."
Makarov shook his head gently. "No. I simply value family more."
That struck a nerve. Ivan's eyes flared as he roared, "And what about ? Am I not your son?!"
"We've been through this already," Makarov said, his heart tightening as he recalled the day he had expelled Ivan from Fairy Tail. "The mont you harm the guild, or its children… you are no longer family."
"Heh." Ivan chuckled bitterly. After all these years, the answer was still the sa.
Maybe if he had stayed in Fairy Tail, behaved like the others, he could have been happy.
But no, then he would have been nothing more than "Makarov's son," or "Laxus's father." He knew his talent was only average, but he had ambition. He wanted the world to know his na, not as "the son of" anyone else.
Family? Ivan clenched his jaw. That wasn't what he wanted. "Foolish ideals! What I want… is power!"
Rhodes lifted his hand and with a wave resealed Ivan's mouth. He turned to Makarov, concerned. "Master, are you alright?"
Makarov gasped a few tis before steadying himself. "I'm fine. I've always known he was like this. My decision hasn't changed."
Rhodes's eyes softened. "Deciding and hurting aren't the sa thing. He's still your son, after all."
He was about to summon the Ocean Dragon for aid and return for dicine, but Makarov straightened, regaining his composure. "No need. Let's take them back. Let him reflect properly in the Council's prison."
"Understood." Rhodes signaled the Crab to begin hauling Raven Tail's defeated mbers. "Sister Ocean, we'll talk again next ti. It's ti to go."
"I understand." The Ocean Dragon, though still eager to chatter, reluctantly turned to Mira. "Goodbye, little one."
Before vanishing, she turned once more to Flare. "Little girl, having such long hair isn't good, you'll trip when you walk. Just like my tail."
Flare stared blankly, stunned to still be alive and utterly confused.
The Ocean Dragon added brightly, "But I've never tripped over my tail, because I can fly! Hahaha!"
Her figure shimred and faded, leaving only her laughter echoing through the canyon.
Everyone blinked at one another. "What was that supposed to an?"
Rhodes waved it off. "Don't mind her. That was two jokes."
"Those were jokes?"
"And two of them?"
With Raven Tail secured, Rhodes guided the Crab to carry them off. Then his gaze fell on the small black creature he had captured, before finally turning to the magic crystal. "Gajeel, co give a hand."
"Hah?" Gajeel grunted, clearly reluctant.
But Rhodes knew, restoring soone crystallized by magic required either Moon Drip or Dragon Slayer Magic. And fortunately, they had a Dragon Slayer right here.
Gajeel's arm shifted into iron. With a tallic clang, his sword-like hand struck the crystal, cracking it open.
Light burst out, scattering like a hundred tiny stars. And then, before their eyes, the crystal transford back into a young girl.
She had short black hair to her shoulders, a fuzzy white cat-ear hat, a red short winter jacket, a loose white scarf wrapped around her neck, a red-and-black checkered skirt, bubble socks, and shiny black shoes.
Her outfit was an odd mix of sumr and winter styles. Judging by her looks, she was no older than fifteen or sixteen, and radiated an energetic aura.
"Ahhh...ouch, ouch, ouch!" She yelped.
When she had been crystallized, she was crouched in a peeking pose. Suddenly released, she toppled over and landed hard on her bottom.
Rhodes blinked at her. He didn't recognize the girl, but her clumsy, awkward deanor reminded him of Lucy.
Still sitting on the ground, she rubbed her sore backside, then realized belatedly that a whole crowd was staring at her. Among them, one particularly fierce-looking man had his eyes locked directly on her.
"Requip!"
The girl suddenly sprang to her feet, light flaring in her hand. In an instant, a massive, rainbow-colored lollipop appeared.
Its handle stretched over a ter long, and the candy head itself was wider than half a ter. Everyone quickly realized it wasn't just candy, it was a lollipop-shaped magic staff.
"A Mage?" Macao's eyes lit up for a mont, then dimd again. 'Cute… but only cute.'
Wakaba frowned, puffing his pipe. "Why would a kid like this be mixed up with Raven Tail?"
The girl's nerves were obvious, but she held her ground, pointing the oversized staff directly at Gajeel. His sharp features clearly didn't help.
"You ambushed us!" she shouted bravely. "How despicable, Raven Tail! But now I have proof you attacked a legal guild!"
She raised her voice higher. "Surrender now! My companions will arrive soon, and they'll notify the Council, you can't escape!"
Her lollipop staff pulsed with shimring, seven-colored light.
"Sweet Bonds!"
"Oi, you'd better look properly before..." Gajeel raised an arm lazily to block, but before he could finish, the spell hit him squarely.
In a flash, his entire body was encased in an amber-like crystal patterned with rainbow hues, leaving only his head free.
The crystallized Gajeel toppled to the ground with a heavy thud. To everyone's shock, he couldn't break out imdiately.
"You brat!" he roared from the floor. "It was who just freed you! Look more carefully before you attack!"
"What a strong little girl!"
"She actually took down Gajeel!"
"Hey, you alright?"
The guild mbers clustered around, sounding concerned, but their smirks betrayed a healthy dose of amusent.
As the girl swung her staff toward another target, Rhodes quickly stepped in. "Wait! Raven Tail's already been captured. We're Fairy Tail, don't panic!"
The girl froze, scanning the faces around her. They didn't look like the ones she'd been chasing. And then…
Her eyes locked on Rhodes. They sparkled with recognition.
"Big Brother!" she cried, dropping her staff and lunging toward him.
Gajeel's temper nearly exploded. "You little..!"
'She attacks without a word, but jumps straight into his arms? What the hell does that an?!'
Beside him, Lily, still in his Exceed form, folded his arms with a calm air of wisdom. "Your glare's too fierce, Gajeel. Mr. Rhodes simply has more charisma."
"…." For more chapters visit NovєlFіre
Gajeel's eye twitched furiously. He wanted to retort, but the words died in his throat.
As the girl pounced, Rhodes caught her easily, pressing down on the fluffy cat-eared hat atop her head to keep her from clinging on. Her arms flailed helplessly.
"You know ?" he asked, bemused.
From the sidelines, several guildmates shot him sharp looks, the kind reserved for a scoundrel. 'He's about to get married, and he's still picking up girls?!'
Mira, however, didn't see it that way. Her smile hinted at sothing else entirely. She slled juicy gossip brewing.
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