The evening sun cast long, slanted rays across the land, bringing a sense of quiet desolation. It was a peaceful moment that made one feel naturally still.
"Are you kidding me? Why are you the only one being expelled?!" Evergreen's shout shattered the harmony of the scene. "Aren't we just as guilty? Aren't we?!"
"The old man made the decision," Laxus said casually.
"If that's the case, I'm leaving the guild too!"
"Me too! If you're not in the guild..."
"You guys are such a pain. Can't you just say goodbye?" Laxus grumbled, but there was a hint of warmth in his voice.
Freed, who hadn't spoken yet, finally looked up. "Why? Why must you take all the responsibility alone?"
"It's not like that. I'm different from you guys. I have no attachment to this guild whatsoever," Laxus said, looking away dismissively.
"We'll go beg the Master!"
"Natsu and Gray would object too. Oh, and Chen Fanthe Master usually listens to him." Before Freed could finish, Laxus gave the Thunder Legion a small smile. He turned, waved his hand, and began to walk away. "Take care!"
"Laxus!"
"You've got to be kidding me! What is the Thunder Legion supposed to do now? Dammit!" Ignoring their shouts, Laxus continued forward, his silhouette gradually fading from their sight.
"Is this really okay, Laxus?" Naturally, the person appearing at this moment was Chen Fan.
"It doesn't matter if it's okay or not. They relied on me too much before. This might be for the better. Maybe now they'll grow into S-Class Mages," Laxus replied.
"Hah, I didn't expect such a change in you. You've become quite perceptive," Chen Fan teased.
"You, on the other hand, haven't changed at all. You're still just as annoying."
Chen Fan's smiling face instantly froze.
Laxus laughed. For some reason, seeing Chen Fan suffer a setback made him incredibly happy. Perhaps they were just naturally incompatible. He waved his hand. "Just kidding."
"Big brother, please don't make jokes like that. They're freezing cold," Chen Fan said, hugging his shoulders and shivering.
"Alright, did you come here to say something specific, or are you just here to mock me?" Laxus asked, stopping his laughter.
"It's nothing major. I just wanted to see your attitude, and to give you a reminder." Chen Fan's expression turned serious. "Watch out for your father, Ivan Dreyar!"
"What do you mean by that?" Laxus's expression sharpened.
"Exactly what I said. I don't have much else to say. Go out and train well. With that move of yours, you shouldn't run into too much danger. Everyone here is waiting for you to come back." Just as the mood was getting sentimental, Chen Fan's tone shifted. "By the time you return, I'll already be the Master of Fairy Tail! Ho ho ho!" Chen Fan covered his mouth and laughed oddly.
Laxus's face twitched. "I've realized... you really are annoying!!" With that, he walked away.
Chen Fan hopped with rage, shouting at Laxus's back, "Hey, bastard! Come back! What was that supposed to mean?!"
But Laxus didn't stop. Chen Fan yelled after him, "Make sure to watch Fantasia tonight!" Laxus waved his hand without looking back and walked away with style.
Night fell, and Fantasia finally began. Colorful fireworks burst over Magnolia Town. Floats of every shape and size were decorated brilliantly. Fairies danced, magic shimmered, and a symphonic, upbeat melody filled the air, making the procession feel like a dream.
Crowds of people followed the parade, shouting and celebrating the harvest season together.
A lotus flower bloomed atop the leading float, and Mirajane appeared in the center like a beautiful flower fairy. The people lining the streets cheered at her beauty. Suddenly, a flash of golden light erupted from Mira, and a giant red snake appeared in her place, shocking everyone nearby and leaving them speechless.
Elfman transformed into his [Beast Soul: Beast King] form, roaring from a parade float and sending groups of children into fits of screams.
Gray and Juvia constructed an ice castle float with their magic. They wore prince and princess outfits, looking exactly like a pair out of a fairy tale.
Erza performed her sword dance, constantly changing into her various suits of armor using [Requip]. Her movements were graceful and her charm was radiant; she was truly a sight to behold.
Further back in the line was Natsu, covered in bandages and clearly heavily injured. He looked up and spat several blasts of fire, forming the words "Fairy Tail" in mid-air. His precise technique drew a thunderous round of applause.
The rest of the guild members each gave their own performances. Makarov was about to head up when he spotted Gajeel leaning on his crutch. "Aren't you going on?"
Gajeel waved him off. "This kind of scene isn't for me."
"Don't you like heavy metal? Oh, never mind, it's probably better if you don't go on!" Makarov said, seemingly remembering something. Gajeel looked confused.
"Oh, right. Master, I found Master Ivan's location." Gajeel handed a slip of paper to Makarov.
Makarov took it. "Thank you for your trouble."
"It's nothing. My identity as a double agent hasn't been discovered by Ivan's people at all," Gajeel said casually.
But Makarov didn't miss the flicker of loneliness in his eyes. He patted Gajeel on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll handle this matter quickly." With that, Makarov put on a goofy horned hat and hopped onto a sightseeing car, wiggling his hips and making the children nearby burst into laughter.
After touring the town, the floats gathered in the center of Magnolia. All the lights were turned off, and a silence fell over the area. Lucy was startled and whispered to Mira, "What's going on? Why are the lights out? No one's talking, it's so eerie!"
"Shh, the best part is about to start," Mira said, placing a finger to her lips.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
Thump! Multiple spotlights flared to life. After sweeping around once, the light concentrated on a massive stage in the center.
"ROAR...!!!!"
"YEAH...!!"
"AHHH...!" The ground seemed to shake as everyone waved their arms and screamed with reckless abandon. Their faces glowed with pure fanaticism.
Bang! Bang! Two drum beats rang out, followed by the rhythmic melody of a keyboard, guitar, and bass. Then, Chen Fan's voice began to sing:
"Following my racing thirst, I run without end. I'm sorry, there was nothing I could do. I wasn't even allowed to share your pain. To live a flawless life, you never looked back. You left only your silhouette as you walked away... on the lonely rail.
So, I will follow you. No matter how harsh the dark world becomes, you will surely shine within it. Beyond the shore of the future, to keep a fragile soul from being destroyed, our paths overlap. Everyone together... God bless..."
Lucy watched Mira, who was screaming as wildly as the people around her, and was momentarily stunned. She had never seen this side of Mira before. Mira noticed Lucy looking at her, stopped for a moment, and straightened her hair.
Lucy stared at Mira blankly. "Miss Mirajane, you... do you like Chen Fan?" The moment she asked, Lucy regretted it. How could she ask such a question?
Mira was startled for a split second, then immediately broke into a charming smile. "I do!" Without checking on the stunned Lucy, she turned back and resumed screaming.
As the song reached its end, Swish! Chen Fan extended his thumb and index finger, pointing his finger toward the sky.
Flash! The lights on all the Fairy Tail floats lit up. Swish! Not just the guild members, but every single person present made the same gesture in unison.
Standing on top of a float, Makarov looked at the stage, then at Chen Fan, his guild, and all the people of the town. He gave a helpless smile, turned around, and a single tear escaped his eye. "This guild really is annoying," he whispered. "It makes it so hard to leave in peace." He didn't turn back again, vanishing into a corner with firm, steady steps.
"Thank you all for your support! That song, 'God Knows...', was dedicated to everyone here! Thank you for your trust in Fairy Tail! This was the annual performance of the Fairy Tail Band! Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night! Let's get this place shaking! Let's get high!"
After Chen Fan finished speaking, the cheers erupted again. The melody of the music swayed through the entire town of Magnolia, speaking the heart of everyone within it.
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