After Makarov finished explaining in-depth about Cooper's past, there was a bout of silence along with a solemn atmosphere as everyone came to learn the truth regarding their 'big bro'. Their 'big bro', who was viewed as their aggressive, hard-headed, battle-loving, and slightly arrogant, was their unbreakable pillar. So, to learn, Cooper was forced to experience such a horrific tragedy, let them know that he wasn't always like that; he merely became that way to survive.
"Haa, see, this is partly why I didn't want to tell you guys anything." Gazing at his children with a wry expression, everyone snapped out of their pity-filled thoughts and glanced at Makarov. "To think big bro has such a past." "Yeah. To be the sole survivor of your village? I couldn't even imagine." "And then to fight for survival, lost in a forest for 7 years?" "Honestly, even as an adult, if that happened to me now, I might just end it all."
As their sorrow-filled voices filled the guild, Natsu, the ever-so hot-headed one of the group, seemed more upset than sad as he slammed the bar. "Damn! Why didn't big bro ask for our help then? If he really might've found a lead to what transpired in his village, why didn't he ask us for help? Doesn't he see us as his family?" Rather than an aggressive hit on the head, Erza merely wiped her tears before gently rubbing his head, calming him slightly.
"Natsu, when has big bro ever asked for your help?" With a forced smile, Mira eyed Natsu, who opened his mouth, only to furrow his brows with a thoughtful expression, prompting her to address everyone else. "What about everyone else? When was the last time big bro asked for your help?" As if it had just dawned on them, every single person except for Levy, Laki, and Makarov, descended into silence with a troubled expression.
"Now. Now that you mention it, Big bro has never asked for my help." "Yeah, me neither." "I've gone out of my way to help him, but he's never verbally asked me." "Same." "I'm confident he could use our help, so why has he never asked?" As everyone began to realize the deeper meaning of Mira's question, Erza heaved a deep sigh.
"You guys still question yourselves even when you know big bro? He could be carrying the heaviest burden imaginable, and yet he'd make sure we'd never know." Erza's words hit home as everyone also understood everything she said was true. No matter how injured or exhausted Cooper would be after every mission, his reply would always be the same… "I'm fine."
"Why do you think I was hesitant to tell you all? Your pity-filled gazes and sorrow-filled words would just annoy him; he wants everyone in Fairy Tail, his family, to be happy and free-spirited. That's why neither he nor I said anything… Not to mention he's terrible at expressing his emotions." Makarov's words elicited faint smiles from a few while he leaped onto the ground.
"Don't bother asking Cooper anything, just smile and act like you always do, it'll ease his mind even if he doesn't show it… If Cooper asks where I am, tell him I left Magnolia." Walking to his office on the second floor, Makarov glanced down at his numerous children huddled around the bar before disappearing behind the wall while the guild once again descended into silence.
"Easier said than done after dropping such a bomb." Scratching his cheek with a troubled expression, Gray gently shook his cup before suddenly downing his drink while Juvia, who had been silently standing beside him, refilled his cup. "I don't like it. I think we should still help." Folding his hands, Natsu firmly stated his stance while Happy agreed. "Yeah! I'll surprise him with a freshly caught fish when he returns!"
"If you do that, there is a good likelihood you'll be instantly knocked unconscious; then big bro will likely try to beat an answer out of Master." With a slightly amused expression, Max leaned against the bar while glancing at Natsu, only for Elfman to raise his fist into the air. "But that's the manly thing to do!" "You'll also be instantly knocked unconscious."
"You two, don't do anything stupid. Let's listen to Master and pretend to be oblivious; we may not actively be helping big bro, but maybe just knowing he always has a happy family to return to will be us helping him in our way." With a cheerful smile, Mira resumed her duties as a bartender while her gaze swept the room, causing the crowd to nod before slowly dispersing throughout the rest of the guild.
However, compared to before, it wasn't nearly as energetic and boisterous as everyone's minds were currently preoccupied. Though as the hours passed, the guild slowly regained its natural lively atmosphere.
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Cooper POV
After spending nearly all day training, I returned to the guild around dusk and, like usual, the guild was as lively as can be; though as I walked through the guild, it got noticeably quieter, and although they were trying to be secretive, it was easy to spot them looking at me.
Usually, I'd make a scene, which would end up with one person lying on the ground, usually Natsu or Gray, unconscious, yet I wasn't in the mood and merely ignored everyone before sitting by myself in the corner of the guild. Lying my head atop the table, I tried drifting to sleep, but before I could, Levy approached me with several documents in hand.
"I finished what you asked of me, Big bro. These are everyone who used either Mind Controlling magic or Slave Magic in the past three decades who have been arrested. The other ones are mages who have only been recorded, not arrested, in case the person you're looking for isn't among them." Handing me two separate stacks of papers, I briefly glanced at them before affectionately rubbing Levy's head. "Thanks."
Once Levy left me alone, I grabbed the documents and briefly examined each one, focusing on their appearance, age, name, arrest location, and crimes. However, unsurprisingly, most of the mages were men with crimes related to women, which wasn't surprising. Unfortunately, none of the arrested individuals appeared to be involved in controlling beasts.
Inwardly clicking my tongue, I shifted my focus to the thinner stack of papers, checking on the non-arrested mages, and again, most were just like the previous ones. However, just when I was about to crush the table, I suddenly narrowed my eyes as I read the description of a young woman.
'24. Jessica Hadey. Mind Control magic. Caught controlling several beasts before quickly fleeing. Operates secretly and leaves behind no trace. Known locations: Rose Garden, Borwatt, Oshibana Station, and Tuly Village.' The more I read her profile, the colder I felt, until I finally felt a chilling fury course through my body.
'Spotted near Oshibana Station on March 3, X767.' Not only was my village near Oshibana station, but that was the same year the destruction of my village occurred, and it happened a day later. It was seventeen years ago, but even so, that day was still so vivid, so clear to me; I feel like if I wanted to, I could perfectly relive that purely from memory.
'It was the happiest and worst day of my life… I would never forget.' Sparking flames in my hands, I burned every other document while stuffing Jessica Hady's document into my pocket before standing up and leaving. The sleepiness I was feeling just a few moments before was nowhere to be seen; only cold, simmering anger remained.
"Uh, hey, big bro, where are you going?" Stopping, I turned and glanced at Lucy, who was looking at me with a concerned gaze, which confused me, but I had something more important to deal with. "To deal with something… I'll probably be gone for a while." "Oh, if that's so, why don't Cana and I join? Just promise me there won't be any more skeletons."
"No. I'm going by myself." Shaking my head, I continued walking to the entrance while Lucy stayed behind. "O-Oh, is that so? Well, if you get into any trouble, just give me a call; I'll give rid of the enemies with a Lucy kick!" Faintly nodding at Lucy, I walked through the doors and left, heading to Orcus, intending to look for clues at the Magic Council headquarters.
"Hey! Big bro, look what I brought! A five-pound tuna!" "Ah, sorry, Happy, you just missed him." "Eh? No!" "Don't worry, I'll eat it for you." "Not a chance! If big bro can't have it, then naturally, I'll eat it." 'Haa, morons."
Leaving Magnolia several minutes later, I don't bother to take a train and instead sprint there while enhancing myself, ensuring I would get to Orcus in the quickest time possible, as I didn't intend to take things slow after acquiring such a massive lead.
'Jessica Hady.'
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Random ass question, but what's your take on Acnologia? Do you guys think he's the strongest, even above the five Dragon Gods, or what? Personally, I think he's individually the strongest being, but I think if the Dragon Gods teamed up, they could take Acnologia down.