"Of course," Makarov said without hesitation. "If they're willing, Fairy Tail will welcome them with open arms."
"Sho, Simon, Millianna, Wally… what do you all think?" Erza turned to her old companions, gently asking for their thoughts.
Wally looked surprised. "Fairy Tail? Us?"
Millianna's eyes sparkled. "That's the most passionate guild, meow!"
Sho, still wiping away his tears, looked up. "Big Sister's guild…?"
"W-Wait, hold on," Simon said, the calmest among them. "We're happy you'd even say that… really, we are. But it's all a bit sudden. We're not ready. At least… let us take a little time to think it through."
Their world had just been upended. The place they lived for eight years was gone. The dream they had followed was a lie. They were all feeling lost and unsure of what lay ahead.
They didn't know what kind of life waited for them outside. Making a decision now would be too rushed.
Erza gave a soft smile. "You're right. I spoke too quickly. Let's rest for tonight and talk again tomorrow."
Suddenly Juvia raised her hand with a resolve. "Juvia has made up her mind! Juvia wants to join Fairy Tail!"
After a brief pause, she looked at Makarov nervously. "Is… is that okay?"
"I approve," Makarov replied with a warm smile. "Didn't I say back then—if you have nowhere to go, you're always welcome at Fairy Tail?"
"Yay!" Juvia clutched the pendant on her chest, radiant with joy. "Gray-sama, Juvia has joined Fairy Tail!"
"Ah… yeah?" Gray blinked, unsure how to react. "Uh, congratulations?"
"Should we celebrate?" Mira offered kindly. "Master, you must be tired from traveling all this way. Would you like something to eat?"
"I wouldn't mind," Makarov chuckled, rubbing his beard. "A drink would make it even better."
Mira playfully puffed her cheeks before grinning. "All right, since you came all the way here."
Normally, this resort hotel would have provided late-night snacks, and several food stalls nearby stayed open until midnight. But because of the commotion, everything had shut down early.
If they wanted to eat, they'd have to make do on their own.
Luckily, Erza always traveled heavy, and Rhodes had come well-prepared.
The group gathered by the beach, setting up a simple campfire and makeshift grill. Everyone pitched in—laughing, chatting, and slowly letting their stress melt away.
Rhodes summoned one of his crabs, who cheerfully scuttled into the sea to fish.
Before long, it returned proudly with two giant crabs clutched in its claws and dropped them at Rhodes' feet.
"Crab catching crabs?" Rhodes blinked. "Tsk… You guys really can't help fighting your own kind."
He shook his head and sighed dramatically. "Well, I'll end your suffering quickly. Mira, should we steam these or boil them?"
"They're huge!" Mira exclaimed.
Erza confidently reached for her luggage. "Don't worry—I have the perfect steamer for this!"
Watching the others expertly prepare the food, Rhodes found himself shedding a tear—not from emotion, but from the mouth-watering scent. His stomach rumbled in approval.
Twelve people and one cat. It made for a lively little beach party.
As he cracked open a crab leg, Rhodes glanced at Makarov and asked, "Master, last time you assigned Tono to Levy, and Lucy to Natsu… Shouldn't I be the one mentoring the newcomers this time?"
He puffed up his chest a little. "I haven't had my fair shot at being a proper Fairy Tail senior."
Lucy frowned. "What do you mean assigned me to Natsu? That sounds way weirder than it should."
"Pru~!" added Plue, her Canis Minor Celestial Spirit, standing proudly with its hands on its hips in full agreement with her tone.
Rhodes whistled and called Warm over to play with Plue.
Happy, meanwhile, was too busy to join them. Millianna had latched onto him and refused to let go. She kept feeding him whatever he asked for with sparkles in her eyes.
As someone who once viewed her as an enemy, Happy had been wary at first. But now that they were allies… he quickly adjusted and enjoyed the attention.
Warm and Plue, however? They weren't so lucky—strangers didn't get the royal treatment.
Makarov sipped from his wine gourd and asked casually, "So who are you hoping to take on?"
"I'm not picky," Rhode said, smug. "Anyone's fine."
"Juvia?"
"Come on, I'm not that shameless."
Gray rolled his eyes. He'd clearly be the one looking after Juvia, since she'd practically attached herself to him already.
"We'll sort it out when we're back at the guild," Makarov replied with a laugh. "Most of them haven't even decided yet. Some might follow Erza. You might get left out again."
"Don't jinx it." Rhodes scowled and stuffed a whole chunk of crab leg in his mouth. Then he shamelessly snatched Makarov's wine cup and downed the rest in one gulp.
"Hey!" the old man cried, lunging too late. "That was all I had left!"
He turned to Mira, seeking justice. "You saw that, didn't you? Tell him that was mine!"
Mira, without even looking up, calmly split a piece of crab meat—half for herself, half into Rhode's mouth—and smiled sweetly. "Did you say something? I didn't see anything."
Makarov looked mournfully at the starry sky.
Rhodes, meanwhile, munched on crab meat contentedly. Then a thought struck him. "Oh right—Simon. I know someone who can help with your eye. She uses Sky Dragon magic and can heal old injuries. If you'd like, I can introduce you."
"You mean Wendy?" Erza chimed in. "That's right. And if you also talk to Porlyusica, she might be able to make a replacement eye for you too."
"For real?" Wally and Sho exclaimed in unison, eyes wide.
Simon blinked. "That's… possible?"
Erza nodded with conviction. "Absolutely. Wendy's magic is incredible. She could definitely help."
Millianna clutched Happy with both arms and jumped with joy. "Erza-chan would never lie to us! That's amazing, Simon! Your eyes can be fixed!"
"Recover." Simon muttered, voice low with emotion. His fingers unconsciously brushed over the eye patch and the cold edge of the metal plate beneath his jaw. If there was a chance to live without them, to no longer hide his wounds, how could he not be moved?
Rhodes blinked, startled. "Wait, even eyes can be replaced?"
Lucy gave him a look. "Didn't you suggest the treatment in the first place? Why are you so surprised now?"
"I knew about healing magic… not that level of medical magic."
Erza gently touched the corner of her left eye, the expression on her face calm. "This eye of mine… is artificial."
"What?" Rhodes and Lucy said in near unison, stunned.
They had traveled together for a while, but neither had ever suspected. Her gaze had always seemed perfectly normal, resolute, piercing, full of strength. Never once had it appeared mechanical or lacking life.
"Yes," Erza said softly. "I lost it when I escaped from the Tower of Heaven as a child. It was Porlyusica who crafted the prosthetic and performed the operation. I can see as clearly with it as I could before."
She looked down for a moment, then added with a small, almost wistful smile, "Back then, it couldn't produce tears. But now… it does."
Everyone went quiet for a second. The unspoken weight of her journey, the pain she had carried alone, hung briefly in the air.
But Erza didn't show shame or sadness. She stood tall, and in her steady voice was the warmth of someone reaching out a hand to someone who once stood where she had.
"Simon," she said gently, "you don't have to wear those scars forever. You can move forward. You deserve that chance."
Across the fire, Gray watched Erza speak with such calm strength. A faint smile formed at the corner of his mouth.
Juvia noticed instantly, her heart practically melting at the sight. 'Gray-sama smiled… because of Erza's kindness. He likes strong, caring women… I must work harder!'
...
Bonus @1.6Kkk
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