Chapter 11: Space Fiends and a New Bond
The morning sunlight spilled into the Fairy Tail guildhall, highlighting dust motes drifting lazily through the air. Menma stood before Makarov's desk, chains coiled neatly at his side. The small master looked up, pipe in hand, a rare glint of seriousness in his eyes.
"Menma," Makarov began, tapping the desk, "reports have come in about dangerous creatures—Space Fiends—near the northern forests and abandoned ruins. They attack indiscriminately and are highly volatile. I want you to investigate and eliminate the threat if necessary."
Menma's crimson eyes flickered faintly, the glow of his Eye Magic scanning the master's face. "…Understood. Duration?"
"Approximately a month and a half. Solo mission," Makarov replied. "Use judgment. You may kill if unavoidable, but never harm innocents or act without reason. Chains, Wood Make, and Eye Magic should suffice."
Menma inclined his head. "…I will."
The Hunt
For weeks, Menma tracked the Space Fiends—shadowy creatures with warped bodies, glowing eyes, and spatial distortions swirling around them. His Chain Magic restrained their movements while his Wood Make constructs created traps, shelters, and barricades.
When a fiend endangered a village, Menma acted decisively. He restrained it with chains, judged its danger, and, when it threatened lives, dispatched it with a swift Wood Make strike. His mind echoed with the same vow: kill only when necessary; always protect the innocent.
The Encounter
One evening, deep in the forest, Menma heard faint cries. Following the sound, he found a small girl—no older than twelve—trapped by an aggressive Space Fiend. At her side floated a white, winged cat.
The fiend lashed out. Menma moved instantly. "Chains: Bind!"
His chains shot forward, wrapping around the creature's limbs and body. With one twist, he slammed it into the earth. The fiend struggled, shadows rippling violently. Menma exhaled, wood spears sprouting from the ground, pinning it down. A final strike ended it.
The girl gasped. "You… saved us!"
Menma turned to her, his crimson eyes dimming. "…Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, hugging the cat. "No. I'm Wendy… and this is Carla."
Carla flicked her tail. "Hmph. You certainly took your time."
Menma ignored the jab. "…What are you doing out here? The forest is dangerous."
Wendy looked down. "We're from a small guild… Cait Shelter. Our master sent us to gather supplies, but we got lost, and then… that thing attacked us."
"Cait Shelter…" Menma murmured. He hadn't heard the name often—one of Fiore's smaller, lesser-known guilds. "…Then I'll escort you back."
The Escort
Menma guided Wendy and Carla through the dense woods. His chains extended ahead, brushing aside branches and detecting faint distortions in the air. Twice, they encountered lingering Space Fiends, but Menma dispatched them with efficiency.
As they walked, Wendy glanced up. "Um… Menma-san, what kind of magic do you use? I've never seen chains like that before."
Menma's gaze remained forward. "…Chain Magic. Space Devil Slayer Magic. And… others."
Carla narrowed her eyes. "Others?"
Menma didn't elaborate, but Wendy smiled shyly. "They're amazing. You're really strong… but you don't feel scary. You feel… safe."
Something in her words tugged faintly at him.
Soon, the small settlement of Cait Shelter came into view. Its modest guild hall sat nestled among trees, lanterns glowing warmly inside. Wendy's face lit up. "We're home!"
She turned to Menma. "Thank you for helping us… really."
Menma gave a small nod. "…Stay safe. You're young, but your heart is strong. Don't forget that."
Carla added, "…I suppose you're not completely useless after all."
Menma raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The Hunt Resumes
As Wendy and Carla disappeared into the guild hall, Menma turned back to the forest, his chains slithering faintly like restless serpents.
"…Back to work."
For the next month, he continued his mission—eliminating the Space Fiends one by one. Each battle reminded him of Wendy's smile and her small guild's fragile safety. He killed the monsters when he had to, refrained when it wasn't necessary, and ensured no innocent ever came to harm.
Return to Fairy Tail
At last, weary but accomplished, Menma returned to Magnolia. Pushing open the guild doors, he was met with familiar chaos. Natsu and Gray were already bickering, Cana was at her usual barrel, and Mirajane brightened the moment she saw him.
"Menma! You're back safe!" Mira said warmly.
"…Mission complete," Menma replied simply, walking inside.
Natsu stumbled over, pale and queasy. "Ughhh… I still feel sick from the last carriage ride… You better not drag me on missions like that again, Menma…"
Gray sighed. "Idiot, you weren't even there this time."
Cana smirked. "Our stoic chain man returns. So… how many fiends got sent to the afterlife?"
Menma's crimson eyes flickered faintly. "…Enough." He thought of Wendy and Cait Shelter, but said nothing more.
Mirajane smiled gently. "Then rest. You've done more than enough."
For the first time in weeks, Menma allowed himself to breathe. The hunt had ended, but a new connection had been made. Somewhere in Fiore, a girl named Wendy Marvell and her Exceed partner Carla now lived a little safer—all because of him.