"We've decided!" Natsu slammed his fist on the table, grinning ear to ear. "From now on, whenever we fight, we'll do it in the mountains! If we smash enough, we'll find gold mines too and then we'll be rich!"
The guild hall erupted in agreement.
"Yeah! That's genius!"
"Gold mines for everyone!"
"Forget missions—let's go mountain-breaking!"
Fairy Tail's members shouted with bright smiles, their logic flawless in its chaos.
"...…"
Makarov's face turned ashen. Just picturing the damage reports already gave him a migraine.
"Calm down!!!"
The tiny master leapt onto the bar counter, his voice cracking with desperation. "Do you brats even hear yourselves?! When you fight, you destroy half a town as it is! Do you realize how much money I lose every month cleaning up after you?!"
He clasped his hands together, begging them like a man on death row. "Please, I'm begging you! Stop dreaming about gold mines! Just… just be grateful if you don't bankrupt the guild the next time you brawl!"
But Fairy Tail would not be swayed.
"Guildmaster, what are you talking about?!" Natsu shot back, his eyes blazing with conviction. "Even if one mountain doesn't have gold… we'll just smash more! Right, Happy?!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy saluted, wings fluttering.
"That's right." Gray stepped up beside Natsu, arms crossed with unusual seriousness. "If we break enough mountains, the odds are in our favor. There has to be a gold mine somewhere."
"…I agree."
Erza's voice cut in, her eyes sparkling with dangerous imagination. "If we found a gold mine… think of how many strawberry cakes I could buy. Or how many custom armors I could commission…"
Her fists trembled with excitement, and her cheeks flushed pink.
"..."
Makarov slumped to his knees on the counter. His soul left his body.
"It's over. Completely hopeless," he muttered, staring into the distance. "This guild is doomed…"
And yet… even as despair wrapped around him, a faint, weary smile tugged at his lips.
Because no matter how reckless, absurd, or downright idiotic his children were—he still loved them.
"Brother Rain, will you… will you still go out again soon?"
Lisanna tugged on Rain's sleeve, her big eyes shimmering with hope as she looked up at him. Her voice carried that faint tremble of someone afraid of being left behind.
Rain chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Don't worry, Lisanna. We won't be leaving again for a while."
He smiled gently. After disappearing for ten years, both he and Mira knew they owed their family this time together. Rest, laughter, and warmth—right here in Fairy Tail.
Lisanna's face lit up with joy. "Really, Brother Rain? That's great!"
Unable to hold back, she threw herself into his arms, hugging him tight. Her smile sparkled like sunshine breaking through clouds.
—But not everyone's reunion was so sweet.
"Elfman…" Mira's voice suddenly dripped with sweetness. Too sweet. Dangerously sweet. She stood before her trembling brother, hands on her hips, her eyes gleaming like a predator's. "It seems you didn't recognize me at all just now, hmm?"
Elfman broke into a cold sweat instantly. "T-This… Sister Mira, y-you have to listen to my explanation—!"
As someone who had grown up with her, he knew that tone all too well. She wasn't just teasing. She was angry.
And when Mira was angry…
"I'm sorry," Mira said, smiling kindly in a way that sent shivers down his spine. "But I don't have a younger brother who can't even recognize his own big sister."
"N-No…! No, Sister Mira, please—!"
"Help!!!"
Elfman's wail echoed through the guild as Mira's punishment began, drawing laughter and sweatdrops from the watching members.
Meanwhile, Rain sat with Lisanna, sharing bits of what had happened to them during their journey. The siblings' voices mixed with Mira's "discipline" in the background, creating a scene both heartwarming and chaotic—the very essence of Fairy Tail.
But then—
Crack!
A sudden spark of lightning split the air.
Rain looked up to see Laxus striding toward him, lightning dancing across his shoulders and arms. His golden eyes burned with excitement.
"Laxus?" Rain blinked, surprised. "What's with you? You don't usually talk to me. And it wasn't me who showed off just now—it was Mira."
Laxus stopped a few feet away, his presence sharp, his grin wild. "Doesn't matter. You're strong—I can feel it. So…" His fists clenched as electricity roared around him. "How about it? Want to fight?"
"…A fight?"
Rain froze for a moment, caught off guard. Of all the things he expected, being challenged by Laxus wasn't one of them.
"Brother Rain, don't agree so easily!" Lisanna hurried forward, her face pale as she tugged on his sleeve. "Laxus… he's already an S-Class mage now!"
Rain smiled gently, patting her hand to calm her. "Don't worry, Lisanna. I know."
His steady tone and warm smile reassured her a little, though her worry still lingered in her eyes.
"It's fine. A fight every now and then isn't a bad thing." Rain's gaze shifted toward Laxus, his expression calm. "But I am curious… why me? Shouldn't you be picking Mira, the one who just unleashed all that power?"
Laxus shrugged, lightning crackling faintly across his shoulders. "Simple. I think you're stronger."
His words were blunt, almost careless—but his sharp eyes gleamed with certainty.
"…You think I'm stronger?"
Rain tilted his head, speechless at the simplicity of Laxus's reasoning. After a beat, he sighed with a faint smile. "Alright then. In that case… let's find somewhere more open."
He turned and strode out of the guild hall.
Laxus followed immediately, his boots striking the floor with heavy purpose.
The guild, of course, erupted.
"Eh? Rain and Laxus are gonna fight?!"
"Quick, outside, outside—this place will collapse if they go at it here!"
"Oi, grab the drinks! A fight like this needs a proper audience!"
Within seconds, half the guild was stampeding out into the streets, eager to watch the clash.
On the sidelines, Lisanna's anxiety hadn't lessened. She clung to Mira's arm, her voice trembling. "S-Sister… is Brother Rain really going to be okay?"
Mira looked down at her, her smile soft and reassuring. "Don't worry, Lisanna. Rain is much stronger than you think. You don't need to be afraid."
"Mm…" Lisanna nodded slowly, relief flickering across her face.
But when she turned her eyes back to the street, she didn't see the faint crease of worry etched in Mira's expression.
Because even Mira wasn't sure.
Rain… just how strong are you, really?
The crowd buzzed with anticipation as Rain and Laxus faced each other across the cobblestone street.
"Rain or Laxus… who's stronger?"
The question hung in the air, whispered from mage to mage.
No one knew the answer.
But everyone wanted to see it.
And in Fairy Tail… a fight was always the best way to find out.
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