Chapter 391: Everyone, We're Home!
"Grandpa Roubaul!!!"
Wendy's heartbreaking wail echoed through the empty clearing.
Her legs finally gave out. Slipping from Mirajane's embrace, the young Dragon Slayer collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing the little girl completely break down, Mirajane gently lowered herself to the grass, wrapping her arms securely around Wendy and holding her close.
Yukino, Sorano, Meredy, and Ultear were in a similar state. Their vision blurred with heavy tears as they slumped to the ground, utterly drained of strength.
Wendy and the girls had known Roubaul for seven long years. Outside of their time at the guild, the vast majority of their free time was spent right here in this forest, playing in the village under Noah's supervision. In many ways, this place had been their second home.
Their bond with the ancient spirit was incredibly deep. Whenever Roubaul had acquired something nice or baked a fresh batch of treats, he had always saved them specifically for the girls.
To have him suddenly reveal such a devastating truth and vanish right before their eyes... it was a reality they simply couldn't process.
Mirajane and the older girls gently hugged the younger ones, rubbing their backs and letting them freely release their pent-up grief.
Truthfully, Mirajane and the others were also heartbroken. They had visited this village countless times over the years and had grown incredibly fond of the kind, grandfatherly figure. Seeing the gentle old man depart after carrying such a horrifying burden for four centuries left them needing time to sort out their own chaotic emotions.
As Mirajane comforted Wendy, her own eyes reddened, and tears began to silently fall.
"Carla..."
Seeing the usually stoic white Exceed tearing up, Happy walked over quietly and gently placed a paw on her shoulder to comfort her.
According to Roubaul's final words, out of everyone present, Noah was the only one who had known the entire truth from the very beginning.
Mirajane and the others turned to look at Noah, only to find that he was already crying, silent tears streaming steadily down his face.
"Noah?" Ultear called out softly, stepping toward him with deep concern.
"I'm fine... just give me a minute..." Noah replied, his voice incredibly hoarse and strained.
Pushing aside her own sorrow, Ultear immediately stepped forward and pulled Noah into a tight embrace. She was overwhelmingly happy and grateful for what Noah had done for her in luring out Brain, but seeing the immense emotional toll it had taken on him shattered her heart. She gently stroked his back, whispering soft words of comfort.
Her own eyes quickly reddened. She, too, had shared a deep bond with the ancient spirit.
Noah buried his face into Ultear's shoulder, hiding his expression from the rest of the group. Only Ultear knew that within seconds, the fabric of her shoulder was completely soaked with his tears.
The Fairy Tail members mourned silently, grieving the loss of their friend.
Meanwhile, the mages from Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus stood quietly to the side. Having just received a massive, world-altering lore drop, their minds were reeling, and they needed time to process the sheer weight of what they had just witnessed. Recognizing the deeply personal mourning of the Fairy Tail mages, they respectfully maintained a solemn silence.
After several long minutes, Noah was the first to compose himself.
He pulled back from Ultear's shoulder, wiped the tear tracks from his face, and turned to the rest of the Alliance.
"Since Grandpa Roubaul has passed on... I need to stay and pack up the remaining things in this village," Noah said, his voice still carrying a hint of raspiness. "What are the rest of you planning to do?"
"We are staying right here to help you pack, of course," Ultear stated firmly. The rest of Fairy Tail nodded in absolute agreement.
"A beautiful parfum of memories! Miss Lucy, Miss Erza, Noah, and everyone from Fairy Tail... farewell!" Ichiya declared, striking a fabulous pose.
"Make sure you guys come visit our guild next time," Hibiki smiled warmly, extending an open invitation. With their goodbyes said, the Blue Pegasus mages set off on their journey home.
"Please send my regards to Master Makarov," Jura said, bowing respectfully to Noah.
"I will. Thank you, Jura-san," Noah nodded.
The Lamia Scale mages also prepared to depart, though a rather amusing scene was unfolding between two specific members of the Alliance.
"Y-You need to hurry up and go home already!" Sherry snapped, her face flushed red.
"I-It's not like I'm going to miss you or anything!" Ren shot back, his own face matching hers in color.
The unmistakable spark of tsundere romance had blossomed between the Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus mages. Ultimately, it took the physical intervention of their respective guildmates aggressively dragging them away by their collars to finally separate the blushing duo so they could begin their journeys home.
With the other guilds gone, only Fairy Tail remained in the quiet forest clearing.
Countless Nirvit structures and artifacts remained in the village. Since the spirits were gone and the area was now permanently uninhabited, Noah planned to dismantle the architecture and store it all away as a memorial to the ancient tribe.
After having some time to cry, Wendy and the younger girls managed to stabilize their emotions. Though they were still deeply saddened, they fully agreed with Noah's plan and immediately joined Ultear and the others in helping pack up the village.
As they worked, Noah finally explained the full timeline of his history with Roubaul.
"Nine years ago, I discovered the existence of Nirvana and tracked it down to this forest. In the beginning, Grandpa Roubaul only taught me basic magical theory. But eventually—likely after I passed whatever silent test he had set for me—he taught me the deepest secrets of ancient magic and revealed the entire truth about his past."
Noah paused, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "From that moment on, I was constantly trying to figure out a way to convince him to stay. I knew that within a few years, I would have the power to destroy Nirvana completely. So, I proposed a project: documenting the lost culture and history of the Nirvit tribe. I told him I didn't want his people's legacy to simply vanish from the world."
"He was genuinely moved by the suggestion, and he spent the next several years meticulously recording everything."
Noah let out a soft, self-deprecating sigh. "I foolishly thought that by giving him a long-term purpose, his desire to pass on would fade. But to my surprise, the moment the documentation was finished, he immediately asked me to destroy Nirvana so he could finally join his people."
"When my usual persuasion failed, I suggested we hold off on destroying Nirvana for just a little longer. I proposed leaking the location of the seal to the criminal underworld, using it as bait to lure out Brain, since I had received intel that the Oración Seis were actively searching for it."
Noah cast a deeply apologetic look at Ultear. He knew she might feel guilty knowing that he had delayed Roubaul's peace and orchestrated an entire war specifically to draw out the man who had ruined her life.
Understanding his gaze instantly, Ultear firmly grasped his hand, her eyes conveying absolute sincerity. She squeezed his fingers gently, silently reassuring him that she wasn't upset in the slightest; she was only immensely grateful.
Relieved by her reaction, Noah continued. "The rest played out exactly as you saw. We successfully lured in the Oración Seis, Brain included, and managed to bag a massive syndicate of dark guilds as a bonus."
He then looked at Wendy, Yukino, and the others, his eyes filled with profound apology.
"Grandpa Roubaul explicitly forbade me from telling you the truth. He knew his departure was absolute, and he didn't want you spending your days dwelling in sadness because of him. He hid it until the very end because he wanted to spare you from prolonged grief. He said that watching all of you live healthy, joyous lives was the greatest gift he could have ever asked for."
"Grandpa Roubaul..."
Hearing the absolute depths of the old spirit's kindness, Wendy and the girls broke down into fresh tears. Even Ultear and Mirajane found their eyes tearing up once more. To the very bitter end, Roubaul had only thought of their happiness.
Taking their time, the group processed their emotions while efficiently dismantling and packing up the village. By the time the sun began to set, the clearing was completely empty.
Instead of teleporting directly back to Magnolia, Noah led the group to a nearby town and rented rooms at a local inn for the night.
Everyone was still emotionally raw from Roubaul's passing. Bringing that heavy, depressive atmosphere directly into the boisterous guildhall wouldn't be good for anyone. They needed a buffer period to process their grief. Taking the long way home via standard transportation would give everyone the necessary time to decompress and stabilize their emotions.
After a quiet dinner, everyone retired to their rooms early to sleep off the emotional exhaustion.
When morning came, Noah was relieved to see that everyone's spirits had noticeably improved.
After breakfast, Noah suggested they spend the morning exploring the town's shopping district to pick up some souvenirs. The group fully agreed.
It quickly became apparent that Ultear and the girls were channeling the last of their lingering sadness into aggressive retail therapy. By the time they finished their shopping spree at noon, Noah had sealed an absolute mountain of purchases into his Magic Cards.
"Alright, is everyone ready? Let's head back. Let's go home to Fairy Tail," Noah smiled, his tone bright and cheerful.
"Yeah!"
The group cheered, their voices ringing with genuine excitement and a deep longing for home.
Boarding a carriage, they rode to the nearest train station and took the express line straight back to Magnolia.
Upon arriving at the guildhall, Natsu predictably sprinted ahead of the group. Reeling back his leg, he violently kicked the heavy wooden doors open, practically blowing them off their hinges.
"WE'RE HOME!" Natsu roared at the top of his lungs.
"Oh, welcome back," Laxus smirked from his usual spot behind the bar. He then looked toward Noah, who was walking in behind the chaotic Dragon Slayer. "How did it go? Everything run smoothly?"
"Pretty much. It went as well as it could have," Noah nodded.
"Noah, come here. Give me the rundown on what happened," Makarov called out from his seat on the counter.
"Sure thing," Noah replied, walking over to the Guild Master to deliver his report.
As Noah spoke with Makarov, the rest of the returning members quickly scattered, excitedly sharing tales of their mission with their guildmates.
"And then, get this! The giant snake actually flew right up into the sky!" Natsu yelled excitedly, wildly gesturing as he described the battle to Elfman.
"A flying snake?! That is NOT MANLY at all!" Elfman crossed his arms, glaring in sheer offense at the concept.
"What does manliness have to do with a snake...?" a random guildmate muttered from a nearby table, entirely bewildered by Elfman's logic.
Across the hall, Levy spotted her best friend.
"Lu-chan! Welcome back!" Levy cheered, sprinting toward the celestial mage.
"Levy-chan!" Lucy beamed, dropping her bags.
"Lu-chan!"
"Oh my gosh, you're exaggerating!" Lucy laughed as Levy practically tackled her in a massive hug. The two girls spun around happily, pressing their cheeks together in a joyous reunion.
"I can't believe you actually made it back alive..."
"I swear, it feels like Lucy's power level is drifting further and further away from ours..."
Jet and Droy, Levy's perpetual shadows, sighed as they watched the emotional reunion.
"If that bothers you, then you two need to train harder and stop slacking off!" Erza barked from behind them, glaring at the duo with her signature 'disappointed mother' expression.
"YES MA'AM! WE'LL DO OUR BEST!" Jet and Droy screamed, instantly snapping to attention and sweating profusely under Titania's terrifying gaze.
SWOOOOOSH!
Suddenly, a massive tidal wave violently swept through the guildhall, washing Jet and Droy completely away.
Juvia was standing in the center of the room, crying a literal river. Tears poured from her eyes like an open floodgate, manifesting into a localized tsunami that was rapidly turning the first floor of the guild into an indoor lake.
Ultear, Sorano, and the others seamlessly activated their magic, leaping gracefully to the second-floor balcony to avoid the deluge. Those on the first floor who weren't fast enough were instantly swept up in the raging currents.
Thankfully, when the guild was rebuilt, Noah had installed reinforced defensive runes around the bar and the Master's counter, ensuring that the surging waters harmlessly parted around Makarov and Laxus.
"Gray-sama! Juvia was... Juvia was so incredibly worried about you! Juvia's eyes are raining! They can't stop!" Juvia sobbed, her magical tears continuing to violently flood the hall.
"Gray! Make her stop!"
"We're going to drown in here!"
Various guild members thrashed wildly in the water, screaming at the Ice Mage.
"Why is this my responsibility?!" Gray roared back, aggressively treading water to keep his head above the rising tide.
"Incredible. Her sheer emotional turbulence actually managed to briefly overpower the guild's internal magical dampeners," Noah mused. He had just finished giving Makarov the abridged version of their mission, promising a detailed written report later, when he turned around to see the entire first floor submerged.
"Where's Lyon? Why isn't he here?" Noah yelled out over the sound of the rushing water.
"Lyon went out on a job! Just make Juvia stop crying!" someone gurgled from the impromptu lake.
"Ah, what a shame. If Lyon were here, this situation would be infinitely more entertaining," Noah sighed, genuinely disappointed.
"Please... have mercy..." Gray groaned, floating lifelessly on his back like a piece of driftwood. He had completely given up on fighting the current and simply accepted his soggy fate.
Having enjoyed the chaotic spectacle enough, Noah casually waved his hand. He manually boosted the output of the guild's suppression runes. Within seconds, the magical water rapidly dissipated into mist, dropping the soaked guild members unceremoniously onto the wooden floorboards.
As the first floor drained, Ultear and the others gracefully hopped down from the second floor.
"Well, it sounds like you all did an exceptional job. With a syndicate that large taken out, the underworld should remain quiet for quite some time," Makarov nodded, bringing the conversation back on track now that the flooding had ceased.
"Definitely. With the Oración Seis captured and dozens of allied dark guilds dismantled in a single sweep, the remaining dark factions will be terrified to make any major moves. Honestly, I didn't expect Brain to rally so many dark guilds to his banner. He was incredibly desperate to get his hands on Nirvana. Frankly, I should thank him for perfectly wrapping up so many bounties into one convenient location," Noah chuckled.
The sheer scale of the arrests would absolutely send a shockwave of terror through the dark guilds. It guaranteed them a solid period of peace.
Makarov's expression softened into one of gentle sympathy. "I never imagined the kind old man you visited so often carried such a heavy past... Do not let his passing consume you, Noah. He would not want you to mourn him forever. He simply wanted you all to live happy, healthy lives."
Putting himself in Roubaul's shoes, Makarov knew exactly what a guardian figure would wish for their children.
"I know, Grandpa," Noah nodded seriously. "Grandpa Roubaul said those exact words to me before he left. I promise I won't let him down by wallowing in sadness."
"I am glad to hear that. However, please pay close attention to Wendy and the younger girls. Do not let the grief overwhelm them," Makarov requested softly.
Losing a parental figure at such a young age was a devastating blow, and Makarov was deeply concerned for their emotional well-being.
"Don't worry, Ultear, Mirajane, and the older girls are keeping a close eye on them," Noah reassured him.
Sorano would naturally coddle and protect Yukino, while Mirajane and Ultear had practically adopted Wendy and Meredy as their own little sisters. Because the older girls had all experienced the agony of losing loved ones, they knew exactly how to gently guide the younger ones through their grief without letting it consume them.
Hearing that the support system was already in place, Makarov nodded in approval.
Deciding to save the rest of the mission details for his formal report, Noah stepped away from the bar to properly soak in the chaotic, comforting atmosphere of his guild.
As he glanced around, his eyes locked onto a large figure attempting to aggressively blend into the shadows of a corner booth.
Smiling wickedly, Noah casually strolled over and slapped a hand down onto the man's broad shoulder.
"Why are you hiding back here in the dark? Why not go join the party?"
Gajeel flinched violently. Seeing that it was only Noah, he let out a tense breath. "I'm not really cut out for that kind of noisy atmosphere. I'll pass."
Noah knew that despite the immense effort Gajeel had put into helping the guild recently, the Iron Dragon still felt somewhat awkward fully integrating into the chaotic family dynamic. Noah didn't push the issue.
However, his eyes quickly zeroed in on several sets of fresh, bloody scratch marks crisscrossing Gajeel's typically tough face.
"Oh? What happened to your face?" Noah grinned, leaning in closer. "To think there's actually a beast out there capable of bypassing the Iron Dragon's scales! Tell me who did this, and I'll go avenge you right now!"
"N-No! It's fine! I can handle it myself! I don't need your help!" Gajeel panicked, frantically covering his scratched face with his hands and aggressively shaking his head.
"Are you sure? I'm incredibly curious about whatever opponent managed to injure you. Come on, let me help you get justice," Noah teased, throwing an arm around Gajeel's shoulders and pulling him into a side-hug.
"I SAID I DON'T NEED HELP! I'VE GOT PLACES TO BE!" Gajeel roared, violently ripping himself out of Noah's grip. Still frantically covering his scratched face, the imposing Iron Dragon Slayer sprinted past the tables, scrambled down the stairs, and bolted out the guild doors like his life depended on it.
Watching the massive man flee in utter embarrassment, Noah couldn't help but burst into genuine, ringing laughter.
"What's so funny? Did something good happen?" Sorano asked, walking up behind him and tilting her head curiously.
"I just saw fresh claw marks on Gajeel's face. That's why I'm laughing," Noah replied, wiping a tear of mirth from his eye.
"Wait... you mean he still hasn't given up on trying to find his own cat?" Sorano giggled, immediately understanding the context.
Gajeel had previously gone on a desperate, secret quest to find a talking cat for himself, which had resulted in him getting his face absolutely shredded by normal, feral alley cats. Seeing fresh scratches meant the notoriously stubborn Dragon Slayer was still wandering the back alleys of Magnolia, trying to adopt stray animals.
"Of course he hasn't given up. Think about it from his perspective," Noah laughed. "There are three Dragon Slayers in this guild who were personally raised by dragons. Two of them have magical, flying, talking cats as their best friends. He's the only one who doesn't."
"Knowing how secretly insecure he is about that kind of stuff, the poor guy is probably losing his mind. He's never going to stop looking."
~~~
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