Chapter 68: Back Home at Last
The train pulled into Magnolia station just after noon, sunlight flooding the platform as the doors hissed open. Team Natsu stepped out onto familiar ground, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they were home.
Happy shot out of the train like a blue missile, zooming in circles around the platform. "AYE! WE'RE BACK! WE'RE BACK! MAGNOLIA! FISH! HOME!"
Gray followed at a more sedate pace, fully dressed for once, which was suspicious enough on its own. Juvia walked close beside him, her blue hair catching the sunlight, a soft smile on her face.
Lucy stepped off next, stretching her arms above her head with a groan of relief. "Oh, solid ground. Beautiful, unmoving, non-tower-shaped solid ground. I'm never leaving again."
Erza followed, her posture perfect, her expression composed. But there was something different about her. A softness around the eyes. A warmth in her smile.
Natsu came last, still moving a little slowly, still bandaged in places, but very much alive and very much grinning. His scarf fluttered in the breeze, pristine as always.
They walked through the streets of Magnolia together, five mages and one blue cat, drawing stares and waves and cheerful greetings. Word traveled fast in a town like this. Everyone knew Fairy Tail had been through something big. Everyone was glad to see them back.
The guild hall rose before them, rebuilt and restored, more magnificent than ever. Fresh timber gleamed in the sunlight. The iconic emblem hung proudly above the entrance. And from inside, the unmistakable roar of chaos could be heard even from the street.
Home.
Natsu pushed open the doors.
The guild hall erupted.
"THEY'RE BACK!"
"TEAM NATSU RETURNS!"
"EVERYONE, IT'S THE TOWER SURVIVORS!"
Bodies pressed in from all sides. Macao was crying. Wakaba was crying. Elfman was definitely crying, huge tears streaming down his face as he bellowed something about manly survival. Cana raised her barrel in toast. Laki waved from behind a stack of lumber. Bisca fired her rifle into the ceiling in celebration, which was probably not regulation but nobody cared.
Mirajane appeared at the bar, her serene smile firmly in place, already pouring drinks. "Welcome home, everyone. We were so worried."
Makarov stood on the bar, having grown to his full intimidating height for maximum dramatic effect. His eyes swept over his returning children, checking for injuries, counting heads, making sure everyone who left had come back.
"REPORT!" he boomed.
Erza stepped forward. "Mission complete, Master. The Tower of Heaven has been destroyed. Jellal has been defeated. The threat is over."
A cheer went up. Makarov's expression softened, and he shrank back to his normal size, hopping down from the bar and walking toward them.
"Well done," he said quietly. "Well done, all of you."
Happy, who had been buzzing with barely contained energy since the station, could hold it in no longer.
"AYE! AND NATSU ATE A BUNCH OF CRYSTALS AND TURNED INTO A DRAGON AND BEAT UP THE BAD GUY REAL BAD AND THEN SLEPT FOR THREE DAYS AND ERZA DIDN'T LEAVE HIS SIDE THE WHOLE TIME AND LUCY KEPT CHECKING ON THEM AND GRAY AND JUVIA WERE ALL..."
"HAPPY!" Gray's face went red. "THAT'S ENOUGH!"
But it was too late. The damage was done.
Cana's eyes narrowed with the precision of a master gambler sensing opportunity. "Wait. Erza didn't leave Natsu's side for three days? Lucy kept checking on them? Gray and Juvia were ALL what, exactly?"
Juvia's face flushed the color of a ripe tomato. "Juvia and Gray-sama were simply... keeping each other company! In the cold nights! Platonically! Mostly!"
Gray buried his face in his hands.
Elfman's tears changed from manly pride to manly confusion. "I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING BUT I SUPPORT IT!"
Mirajane's smile widened by approximately three millimeters, which for her was the equivalent of open-mouthed shock.
Makarov stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Something has changed. I can sense it. The dynamic between my children has shifted."
Cana was already taking bets. "I've got twenty thousand on Natsu and Lucy! Another twenty on Natsu and Erza! Fifty on the three-way! Who's in?"
"CANA!"
"What? It's free money!"
Lucy's face was burning. Erza's expression remained composed, but a faint pink had crept up her cheeks. Natsu just grinned.
"You want to tell them," he said to the women, "or should I?"
"Tell us WHAT?" Macao demanded.
Natsu put his arms around Lucy and Erza, pulling them both against his sides. Lucy squeaked. Erza's composure cracked just slightly.
"They're my girlfriends," Natsu said. "Both of them."
Silence.
Absolute, total, complete silence.
Even Cana stopped taking bets.
Then the guild exploded.
"BOTH OF THEM?!"
"HOW?!"
"SINCE WHEN?!"
"THAT'S MY BOY!" Elfman roared, then immediately looked confused. "WAIT, IS THAT MANLY OR NOT? I CAN'T TELL!"
Gray just shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "Told you guys. He's been ahead of me this whole time."
Juvia clutched his arm. "Gray-sama, does this mean we...?"
Gray's face went red again. "Juvia, not now!"
Mirajane laughed, a genuine sound, warm and delighted. "I always wondered which one he would choose. I never considered he would choose both."
Makarov stared at his three children, at the way Natsu held them, at the way they leaned into him, at the way they all looked... right. Complete.
"Well," he said finally, a slow smile spreading across his weathered face. "This is certainly unexpected. But you have my blessing, if that matters. Fairy Tail has always been about following your heart. Even if your heart leads you to... unconventional places."
Lucy looked up, tears in her eyes. "Master..."
"No tears, my child. Only celebration." He raised his voice. "DRINKS FOR EVERYONE! ON THE HOUSE! WE CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF OUR FAMILY AND THE BIRTH OF SOMETHING NEW!"
The guild roared. Mugs were raised. Bets were paid out (Cana lost a fortune but didn't care). Elfman finally decided it was manly and started crying again. Wakaba lit his pipe in salute. Macao hugged everyone within reach.
Through it all, Natsu held his women close, grinning like the happiest idiot in all of Fiore.
Later, much later, after the celebration had died down to a manageable roar, the three of them sat together on the hill overlooking the guild. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink and gold.
Lucy leaned against Natsu's shoulder. Erza held his hand. Happy was curled up in Lucy's lap, purring softly.
"So," Lucy said quietly. "We're really doing this."
"We're really doing this," Erza confirmed.
Natsu looked at them, at the two most incredible women he had ever known, and felt something he couldn't quite name. Gratitude. Wonder. Love. All of it mixed together into a warmth that had nothing to do with fire.
"Thank you," he said.
Lucy looked up. "For what?"
"For believing in me. For trusting me. For... for everything."
Erza squeezed his hand. "You saved us, Natsu. You saved all of us. Believing in you was the easiest thing we've ever done."
Lucy nodded. "The hardest part was waiting for you to figure it out."
Natsu laughed. "Hey, I figured it out eventually."
"Eventually being the key word."
They sat in comfortable silence, watching the sun sink below the horizon, painting the world in fire and shadow.
"We should probably talk about living arrangements," Erza said eventually. "My apartment is too small. Lucy's apartment is too small. Your house is..."
"A disaster," Happy mumbled, not opening his eyes. "It's always on fire."
"It is NOT always on fire!"
"Last week it was on fire."
"That was a training accident!"
Lucy giggled. "We could find something bigger. Somewhere in the city, close to the guild. With enough room for all of us. And Happy."
"And Happy," Natsu agreed. "Can't forget the cat."
"I am NOT just a cat! I am a Wizard of Fairy Tail!"
They laughed, the sound carrying across the hill, mixing with the distant noise of the celebrating guild below.
Home.
They were finally home.
And together.
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Next Time: New Magic, EVOLUTION!!