Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Karakura.
November, x784.
Early in the morning of the next day, all seven alliance wizards t outside the hotel's front entrance after breakfast.
"Looks like it's about that ti." Alfonzo said. "I can't say it was fun… I an, quests like this never are. But it was good seeing most of you. Maybe it will be all of you next ti if a certain soone has given up on my fiancée."
As he spoke the last part, Alfonzo glared at Bacchus. And although Bacchus wanted to say sothing in return, he thought he should have an actual conversation about this with Elicia. Because for so reason, although it didn't make any sense to him, he doesn't rember ever hearing Elicia say that she was in love with him.
"Hmph!" Instead of arguing, Bacchus simply snorted before taking a swig of his wine.
"Wow. He actually stayed quiet." Marin said in an astonished tone.
"Like Momma used to always say, there's no better way to get soone to act right than a good ol' fashioned ass kicking." Alfonzo replied with a shrug. "And counting Laxus and Bacchus, I'm really starting to believe her."
"She sounds like the kind of woman I would get along with." Yoruichi said with a smile.
"Yeah, she probably would have liked you, too." Alfonzo replied with a fond, reminiscent smile.
Understanding Alfonzo's aning, the mood outside of the hotel fell slightly. But considering the smile on Alfonzo's face, everyone present knew there was nothing to worry about.
"Your mother sounds like she was full of youth." Guy said, breaking the slightly awkward atmosphere.
While everyone looked at Guy weirdly for his ability to ntion youth in every sentence, Alfonzo nodded in agreent.
"Yeah, she was quite youthful." Alfonzo replied. "She was a bit of a prankster with a short temper who wasn't above solving a problem with her fists, after she made sure that you couldn't do the sa with your magic."
"What does that an?" Kagura asked curiously. "How could she make sure that soone couldn't solve a problem with their magic?"
"Once you hear her na, you'd understand imdiately." Mirajane said with a smile.
"Oh, now I'm even more curious." Yoruichi said, clinging onto Alfonzo before continuing. "Co on now, Alfonzo, don't keep us in suspense. Who was your mother?"
"Back in the day, they called her the Mage Killer, Bianca Rollen." Alfonzo replied casually. "but after she retired and got married, she went by the na of Bianca Marcus."
Hearing that, Yoruichi, Kagura, and Bacchus wore shocked expressions while Guy looked at Alfonzo with a fla burning in his eyes. And judging from his character, it did not take a rocket scientist to guess that he wanted to spar with Alfonzo because of who his mother was.
"Anyway, we're burning daylight." Alfonzo said, breaking the others out of their dazes. "And we've got a pretty long ride back to Magnolia. So, I think it's ti we got on the road."
"Then go." Bacchus said, taking another swig from his gourd. "It's not like you're a train station. There's no need to announce your departure."
"Let's just ignore this idiot." Yoruichi replied. "Mirajane, Marin, it was nice to et the two of you."
"Indeed." Kagura said with a nod. "It was nice to et the two of you. And you should both consider joining rmaid Heel. You would definitely be appreciated there. "
"Oh, we get all the appreciation we could ever hope for already." Mirajane replied with her usual pleasant smile.
"Yeah, I appreciate the offer, but I'm happy where I am." Marin added with a smile of her own.
"I see." Kagura replied before stealing a glance at Alfonzo as she fell silent.
"You know, I'm actually more surprised that I wasn't insulted during that poaching attempt." Alfonzo said with a slightly surprised expression on his face. "I an, you are Simon's little sister, right? And I know he really doesn't like all that much."
"That's right, he really doesn't care for you very much." Kagura replied with a nod. "He said you were quite the womanizer and playboy. He also told I shouldn't get too close to you or you'll---"
"Okay, I get it." Alfonzo replied, holding up a hand to stop Kagura. "So, because I got engaged to Erza, he's jealous and decided to slander , huh?"
"What do you an, slander?" kagura asked with an eyebrow raised. "Is it not true that you're a playboy who tricks won into his harem?"
"Oh yeah, I trick them by telling them up front that I have a harem." Alfonzo replied while rolling his eyes. Then, in an overdramatic tone he continued. "Those are truly the most despicable and dastardly of deceptions that would put any playboy to sha."
While Mirajane, Marin, and Yoruichi giggled in response to Alfonzo's words, Kagura furrowed her eyebrows slightly. At the sa ti, they could hear guy muttering sothing about youth while Bachus ignored the conversation entirely to focus on drinking from his gourd.
"Besides, other than Elicia, who has been with Alfonzo for as long as either of them can rember, as well as Erza and Sun, who's circumstances were a bit special, the rest of us actually confessed to him first, knowing full well that he already had other lovers." Mirajane clarified for Kagura.
"I see." Kagura said while nodding slowly. "So, it would seem my brother tried to influence my opinion based on his own narrow-minded thoughts. It would seem I'll have to have a long conversation with him the next ti we et."
At that mont, Simon, who was on the other side of Fiore, shivered after feeling a chill go up his spine. Though, he had no idea what could have caused that feeling in the first place.
"Anyway, it really is ti for us to get going." Alfonzo said with a smile. "I'll look forward to the next ti we et."
"That might be sooner than you think." Yoruichi said with a smile. "After hearing about your training facilities, I'll be trying to convince our guild master to take a trip to Magnolia to see them for ourselves. And if they're really as good as advertised, we might even be looking to buy so of our own."
"Indeed." Guy chid in after hearing Yoruichi's statent. "I'll be doing the sa with our guild master as well. And if everything is as good as I believe it will be, I'll even pitch the idea to the Village Hidden in the Leaves. You may end up being the first outsider to be invited to the village in centuries."
Hearing the possibility to make money, Alfonzo's eyes lit up.
"Well, I'm sure Gramps would be happy to have you all visit." Alfonzo replied with a business smile. "And if you like what you see in our guild hall, I'm sure we could work out a deal that would satisfy both parties if you'd like to purchase so gravity chambers. Hell, building a new guild hall for your guild isn't outside the realm of possibility ether, if that's what you want."
"Oh great, he's in his money making mode." Marin muttered. "If we don't stop him, we could be here for hours."
"Alfonzo, it really is ti for us to go." Mirajane said, agreeing fully with Marin. "If we want to get back to Magnolia today, anyway."
"Okay, okay, I get it." Alfonzo said, snapping back to himself. "Let's get going."
With that, Alfonzo turned around and started walking towards the Escalade with Mirajane and Marin following after him after waving at their allies for this quest.
"I'll let Gramps know to expect a visit from your guild masters when I get back." Alfonzo said without turning around. "Until then, stay safe and have a safe trip ho."
With that, Alfonzo, Mirajane, and Marin put their luggage in the trunk space of the Escalade before boarding themselves. A mont later, the Escalade's engine roared to life before it pulled away from its parking space and the three wizards from Fairy Tail drove away.
"Well, I guess we'll get going, too." Yoruichi said, stretching her back as she spoke while watching the Escalade disappear on the streets of Karakura Town. Then, in a voice that only she could hear, she whispered. "And the next ti I see you, I'll make sure to convince you to let have so fun with you and Elicia."
Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
"They are coming back today, right?" Cana asked after putting down an empty mug of ale.
Nearly twelve hours had passed since Alfonzo, Mirajane, and Marin left Karakura Town and all their friends were gathered on the guild hall's first floor, waiting for their return.
"For the tenth ti, yes." Ultear replied. "Didn't Lici tell us so this morning?"
"I know. But why are they taking so long to get here, then?" Cana asked with a pout. "I really miss Fonzie."
"From what Alfonzo said before they left, Karakura is about a twelve hour drive from here." Erza said as she scooped up a spoonful from a slice of strawberry shortcake. "But I know what you an, I really hope Alfonzo gets back soon, this is the last slice of the strawberry shortcake he made before he left."
"So, the only reason you want him to co back is for the strawberry shortcake, huh?" Lucy asked, finding Erza's reasoning a bit off.
"Of course not." Erza replied calmly. "I miss having him around. He's a great training partner, he makes the best strawberry shortcake, it feels nice when he holds , and I'm looking forward to spending a passionate night of love making with him."
Hearing that, all the girls without boyfriends blushed, Bisca's blush being the most pronounced as she stole glances at Alzack. anwhile, the boys could only shake their heads. Other than Jet and Droy, who were vying for Levy's attention, the rest of the boys seed to be not so interested in girls.
At the sa ti, the rest of Alfonzo's girlfriends/fiancées could only look at Erza awkwardly. Even though they had gotten used to Erza's shaless speech, it never really got any easier to hear her talk about her sex life in public.
"I'm more interested in hearing about the people they got to fight on their quest!" Natsu shouted excitedly, breaking the awkward atmosphere. "I wonder if Alfonzo got any stronger. I really wanna fight him again."
"Hmph!" Laxus, from the next table over snorted. "Why? So you can get beat up again, like you always do?"
"What did you say, Laxus?" Natsu asked, his head snapping in Laxus' direction. "You wanna fight?"
"Why?" Laxus asked, raising an eyebrow in a provoking manner. "Did you wanna get beat up by before Alfonzo does it?"
"Argh!" Let's go, Laxus!" Natsu bellowed as he stood up from his seat. "You and ! Right here! Right now!"
With that, and without waiting for Laxus to respond, Natsu leapt from his seat towards Laxus with his right fist reeled back and wreathed in flas.
*Bang!*
Unfortunately for Natsu, as soon as he was within arm's reach, Laxus slamd his open palm on the top of his head. As a result, he was slamd face first into the floor, knocked unconscious, just to the right of Laxus.
"Soone co get this idiot." Laxus said, turning back to his al. "He's ruining my appetite."
"*Sigh* Doesn't he ever get tired of this?" Lisanna asked in an exasperated tone with a fond smile on her face.
"If he did, he wouldn't be Natsu." Happy said while eating a raw fish from his seat atop the table.
"Yeah, he faces challenges head on, like a real man!" Elfman shouted energetically.
"*Sigh*" Everyone sighed collectively after hearing Elfman's declaration.
"Um… will he be okay" Wendy asked, looking at Natsu with concern. "Should I heal him?"
"Don't bother." Gray replied without even looking up at Natsu. "It will be quieter while he's asleep."
"yeah, but…" Wendy replied unsurely.
"Just let him be, Child." Carla said. "he brought this on himself. Maybe next ti he will think before jumping into a fight he can't win."
'I seriously doubt that.' Everyone who heard Carla thought to themselves simultaneously.
"By the way, has anyone seen Gajeel?" Ultear asked curiously. "As soon as we finished training, he just disappeared."
"Oh, Gajee is out searching for a cat." Juvia replied. "I think he's jealous of Natsu and Wendy."
Just as Juvia said, Gajeel was out searching the streets of Magnolia for a talking cat of his own.
"I'm a Dragon slayer, too." Gajeel said as he pulled a stray cat out of a trash can. Then, after inspecting it for a while, he put the cat down and continued in an aggrieved tone. "So, why am I the only one without a talking cat? It's so unfair!"
"That's actually kind of cute." Levy said with a smile.
Hearing that, Jet and Droy stared at her with hurt, disbelieving expressions on their faces.
"*Cough* Anyway, you're awfully quiet tonight, Lici." Levy said while blushing heavily as she tried her best to change the subject. "Is everything all right?"
"Oh, I'm fine." Elicia replied with a smile. "I'm just looking forward to when Fonzie---"
Before Elicia finished what she was saying, her head snapped in the direction of the guild hall's front doors. Then, with a massive, happy smile on her face, she shot threads from the tips of her fingers, sticking them to the walls on either side of the doors.
"Lici, what are you doing?" Sun asked, a curious expression on her face.
At that mont, the doors of the guild hall slid open, revealing Alfonzo, Mirajane, and Marin who had returned from their quest. At the sa ti, Elicia quickly retracted her threads, catapulting herself directly at Alfonzo.
"Fonzie~~~~~!" Elicia shouted happily as she flew through the air. "Welco ho!"
Hearing Elicia's shout and seeing her approaching quickly, Alfonzo smiled widely as he spread his arms.
A mont later, Elicia slamd into Alfonzo, wrapping her arms and legs around his torso on impact. Then, before he could respond, she pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss.
anwhile, everyone who saw the spectacle could only look on in amazent.
"How did she even know they were here?" Macao asked in wonder. "Did she have her [Magic Power Detection active the whole ti?"
"I doubt it." Wakaba replied while taking a puff from his pipe. "But that's the only explanation that makes any sense."
"You shouldn't think about it too hard." Ur said, setting a glass of wine down on the bar top. "She's got this weird sixth sense when it cos to Alfonzo that can't be explained with logic."
In response, Macao, Wakaba, and Makarov, who was also sitting with the trio, nodded in agreent.
"Either way, now that they are back safe and sound, we can get the full details of their quest." Makarov said with a smile. "Although we heard from the kingdom that they completed the quest successfully, it would be nice to know what they went through."
"Yeah." Ur replied with a nod while smiling at the returning group of young wizards.
Around that ti, Alfonzo and Elicia finally broke their kiss.
"It's good to be back, Lici." Alfonzo said, finally responding to Elicia's welco with a smile.
User Comments
0 comments from readers