The morning sun filtered through the guild master's office window as I stared at yet another stack of paperwork. Mission approval forms, budget reports, Magic Council complaints about property damage and now, on top of everything else, festival planning documents. Event proposals, vendor applications, safety permits, noise ordinances... the list was endless.
"NIMO, remind me again why I thought being guild master was a good idea?" I muttered, signing off on a repair estimate for a marketplace that Natsu had accidentally set on fire before picking up what looked like Cana's proposal for a "Pokemon drinking contest."
A drinking contest. For Pokemon. Why am I not surprised.
"You wanted to help the guild family and provide stable leadership during a transitional period," NIMO replied helpfully.
"Right. The noble reasons." I rubbed my temples, setting aside Cana's proposal and picking up another one from Elfman requesting permission to set up a "Manly Strength Competition" that apparently involved lifting increasingly heavy objects while Pokemon cheered from the sidelines. "Sometimes I miss when my biggest problem was just figuring out which monster to fight next."
The Harvest Festival had seemed like such a simple idea when I'd announced it. Three days of celebration, some food booths, maybe a few games. How hard could it be?
Apparently very hard when every guild member decides they want to contribute their own special event.
I picked up the next proposal—this one from Levy suggesting a "Pokemon Educational Exhibit" complete with interactive displays and a full lecture series. Then there was Gray's request for an ice sculpture contest, Lyon's counter-proposal for an "Ice vs. Fire" demonstration with Natsu, and Mirajane's surprisingly detailed plan for a full theatrical production starring guild members and their Pokemon partners.
At this rate, we're going to need a month, not three days.
A chuckle from the doorway made me look up. Makarov was leaning against the frame, looking more relaxed than I'd seen him in years. The old man had traded his usual guild master robes for a simple shirt and pants, and there was definitely a spring in his step.
"Having second thoughts already?" he asked, walking into the office with his hands behind his back.
"Just wondering if there's a less paperwork-intensive way to run a guild," I said, gesturing at the mountain of documents. "And maybe a way to announce a festival without every single member deciding they need to organize their own personal event. Did you know Jet wants to set up a Pokemon racing circuit? A whole circuit, Master. With multiple tracks."
Makarov laughed, settling into the chair across from my desk. "Trust me, I tried the simpler approach for the first few decades. The guild members always find ways to make things more complicated. It's their specialty."
More complicated is right. I've got seventeen different food booth applications, and that's just from Mirajane.
"You seem awfully cheerful for someone who just handed over a massive headache," I observed, setting aside what looked like Simon's proposal for a "Sword and Pokemon Coordination Demonstration."
"Are you kidding?" Makarov grinned. "This is the first time in fifty years I've woken up without immediately worrying about what the guild destroyed while I was sleeping, or how many festival permits I needed to approve. It's liberating."
I snorted. "Glad my suffering brings you joy. Do you know Ultear submitted a proposal for a 'Time Magic Educational Workshop'? For a festival. A fun, lighthearted festival."
"Oh, you'll get used to it," he waved dismissively. "Besides, you've got advantages I never had. That AI assistant of yours handles more paperwork in an hour than I could manage in a day. Though I have to admit, I never had to deal with Pokemon-related festival events."
He's got a point there. At least NIMO can sort through the more ridiculous proposals automatically.
"Speaking of which," Makarov said, his expression shifting slightly, "they should be getting back any time now."
"They?" I looked up from what appeared to be Kagura's surprisingly thoughtful proposal for a "Traditional Dance and Pokemon Grace Exhibition." Actually, that one's not too bad. "Who's 'they'?"
"Laxus," Makarov said simply.
"Ahhh." I nodded in understanding.
Ever since I'd gotten back from my latest mission and officially taken over as guild master, I hadn't seen a hide nor hair of Laxus. When I'd asked about it, Makarov had mentioned that he was out on an S-Class quest, which was understandable. Those missions could take days, sometimes even weeks, depending on the complexity.
Wonder how he's gonna react to me being guild master now. Probably won't be thrilled about it. And I'll probably have to explain why everyone's gone festival-crazy while he was gone.
I was about to ask Makarov for more details about the mission when I noticed him pause mid-reach for his sake cup. The old man had gone completely still, and there was something in his expression that looked almost like... realization? Dread?
That's not a good look.
"Master?" I asked, setting down my pen and what looked like Happy's proposal for a "Fish Appreciation Festival Within the Festival." "Why are you making that face?"
Makarov's eyes went wide, and he slowly turned to look at me with the expression of someone who'd just remembered they'd left the stove on.
"Oh no," he said quietly.
Definitely not good.
"What 'oh no'?" I leaned forward, pushing aside the stack of festival proposals. "What did you forget to tell me?"
"There was something..." Makarov started, then trailed off, looking increasingly uncomfortable. "Something very important that I should have mentioned when you got home."
This can't be good. Nothing that starts with 'something very important I forgot to mention' ever is.
"Master," I said carefully, "what exactly did you forget to tell me?"
Before Makarov could answer, the office door suddenly swung open with enough force to rattle the hinges.
"Old man, I'm back! And I've got some serious complaints about that mission you—"
Laxus stopped dead in the doorway, his words cutting off as he took in the scene before him. His eyes moved from Makarov's guilty expression to me sitting behind what had been the master's desk, then back to Makarov again.
Well, this is awkward.
Laxus had grown since I'd last seen him. He was taller now, more filled out, and there was a maturity in his features that hadn't been there before. His blonde hair was still spiky, but it was longer now, and he carried himself with the confidence of someone who'd been handling serious missions.
His Pikachu was perched on his shoulder, looking just as surprised as its trainer.
"What," Laxus said slowly, his voice carefully controlled, "is going on here?"
I glanced at Makarov, who was suddenly very interested in examining his hands.
Great. Looks like I'm handling this one.
"Hey, Laxus," I said as casually as I could manage. "Welcome back. How was the mission?"
Laxus's eyes narrowed as they took in the festival proposals scattered across the desk, my nameplate that had replaced Makarov's, and the general air of authority I was trying to project.
"Don't 'hey Laxus' me. Why are you sitting at the guild master's desk? And why does the old man look like he just swallowed a lemon? And what's with all this festival garbage everywhere?"
Well, there's no easy way to break this news.
"Funny story about that..." I began.
Laxus crossed his arms, his Pikachu mirroring the gesture on his shoulder.
I gestured to the guild master's chair I was sitting in. "Well, your grandfather decided to retire and made me the new guild master."
For a moment, Laxus just stared at me. Then his eye twitched.
"He WHAT?"
"Surprise!" Makarov said weakly, giving a little wave.
Laxus turned to his grandfather, sparks literally crackling around his hair. "You gave the guild to HIM? The guy who once tried to teach Natsu 'advanced fire safety' by setting bigger fires?"
"Hey, that was educational!" I protested. "And it worked! Natsu hasn't burned down a building in... well, a few days."
"A few days is not an improvement!" Laxus shot back, but I could see the corner of his mouth twitching like he was fighting a smile.
"Look on the bright side," I said with a grin. "Now you can complain to me directly instead of going through your grandfather."
Laxus groaned, running a hand through his spiky hair. "This is why I go on long missions. I leave for a few weeks and come back to find you've taken over the guild."
"To be fair, I also announced a festival," I added helpfully, gesturing to the mountain of proposals. "Seventeen different food booth applications and counting."
"Of course you did." Laxus shook his head, but his expression had softened. Despite his complaints, I could tell he wasn't actually upset about me being guild master. Annoyed, maybe, but not upset.
"But seriously," Laxus said, dropping into the other chair in front of the desk, "congratulations, I guess. Even if you're gonna be terrible at it."
"Don't get all sappy on me now," I said. "You'll ruin your reputation as the guild's resident grump."
"Trust me, there's plenty of grump left." Laxus picked up another festival proposal and shook his head. "Especially after I see what everyone's planning for this festival. Pokemon fashion show? Really?"
"That one's from Lisanna," I said. "And before you ask, yes, Elfman thinks it's manly."
"Of course he does." Laxus sighed. "Though I have to admit, it's kind of nice knowing the guild's in capable hands while I'm away on missions."
"Welcome home, little brother," I said with a grin.
"Don't push it, Master," Laxus replied, but he was smiling too.
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