Hope Y'all enjoy
Makarov led the way out of his office, hopping down the stairs with his usual energetic bounce, Varion and Mira following close behind. The guild hall below was still buzzing with its typical chaos—Natsu and Gray trading insults over a spilled drink, Cana shuffling cards at a table, Levy buried in a book, and the kids (Wendy, Sting, Rogue, and Gajeel) playing a noisy game of tag that had already knocked over a chair. Elfman and Lisanna sat nearby, watching with wide eyes, Elfman sniffling a little from the overwhelming energy.
As they reached the bottom, Makarov cleared his throat dramatically, his voice booming over the noise. "Listen up, you lot! We've got good news—new members joining the family!"
The hall quieted almost instantly, heads turning curiously. Makarov grinned wide. "Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna Strauss! They're mages with some unique Take Over magic, and they've decided to make Fairy Tail their home. Treat 'em right!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd—loud whoops from Macao and Wakaba, a thumbs-up from Cana, "Welcome!" shouts from Levy and a few others. Gildarts boomed a laugh from the bar. "More kids? The guild's getting lively!"
Mira's cheeks tinted pink at the attention, but she smiled softly, waving shyly as she walked over to her siblings. Elfman and Lisanna jumped up, eyes wide. "Mira!" Lisanna cried, hugging her tight. "What's going on?"
Mira knelt down to their level, her voice gentle. "I talked to the master. He helped me fix my arm, it's better now. And… we can join the guild if we want. This can be our new home."
Lisanna's face lit up like the sun. "Really? We get to stay? With all these fun people?"
Elfman sniffled, tears welling up as he nodded vigorously. "Y-Yeah! That sounds awesome! No more hiding!"
Mira hugged them both, laughing softly as the guild's cheers continued around them, the warmth of the welcome wrapping them like a blanket.
While that was happening, Erza approached Varion from the side, her polished armor clinking softly as she sat down next to him on a bench, close enough that their shoulders brushed, a subtle contact that made Varion's pulse quicken just a bit. She turned to him with her usual serious expression, though her eyes held a hint of warmth. "Your mission went well, I take it? The new members… they seem nice."
Varion nodded, leaning back slightly, their arms still touching as he relaxed. "Yeah, it did. The 'demon' was just Mira—her Take Over magic went wrong during a job to save her siblings from a real demon beast. She absorbed its power to protect them, but couldn't control it. The villagers turned on her, called her a demon. I brought them back here. Master Makarov just helped her get it under control."
Erza's brows furrowed in sympathy, her shoulder pressing a little more against his as she shifted. "That's awful. But you did the right thing bringing them here. Fairy Tail will help them." She paused, glancing at him. "You always seem to find people who need saving."
Varion chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess so. It's—"
Before he could finish, Mira looked over from where she was hugging her siblings. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Erza sitting so close to Varion—their shoulders brushing, the easy way they talked. A spark of jealousy flared in her chest, unbidden and sharp. 'Who was this red-haired girl cozying up to him like that?' She speed-walked over, her cloak swirling behind her, planting herself on Varion's other side with a huff—close enough that her arm bumped his, mirroring Erza's position.
"Excuse me," Mira said, her tone sharp but with a sweet edge that didn't quite hide the rivalry. "Who are you? Sitting so close to Varion like that."
Erza turned slowly, her eyes narrowing in return, a competitive glint sparking as she straightened. "I'm Erza Scarlet. A member of Fairy Tail. And you are?"
Mira crossed her arms, leaning a bit closer to Varion. "Mirajane Strauss. He just saved me and my siblings. We've been through a lot together already."
Erza's brow twitched, her shoulder pressing a tad more against Varion's. "Is that so? Well, I've been training with him for the past month. We have history too."
Varion sat between them, blinking in confusion as the tension crackled like static. "Uh… guys?"
The two girls ignored him, their glares locking—Erza's stern and unyielding, Mira's sharp and defiant. The guild watched with growing amusement, whispers starting: "Ooh, catfight already?" "Over Varion? This'll be fun."
Makarov chuckled from the bar. "Ah, young love…"
Varion's face heated up, caught in the middle of whatever this was.
Mira leaned in further, her voice rising slightly. "Training? That's nothing—you're just bossy, thinking you own the place!"
Erza's eyes flashed, and she shifted closer too, their shoulders now fully pressing against Varion's from both sides. "Bossy? At least I don't show up out of nowhere acting all pushy!"
The argument escalated, their voices overlapping in a heated back-and-forth. "You don't even know what you're talking about!" Mira snapped. "You're just a control freak with too much armor!"
Erza countered, "Control freak? You're the one barging in like a know-it-all newbie!"
Varion tried to interject again, his cheeks burning. "Hey, let's calm—"
But they were too far gone. The two girls stood up suddenly, facing each other directly, their foreheads touching as they butted heads—literally pressing together in that classic anime standoff, sparks flying between their glares like literal electricity crackling in the air (a mix of Erza's latent magic and Mira's demonic aura clashing). The guild hall went silent, then erupted in cheers and bets—"My jewels on Erza!" "Nah, the new girl's got fire!"
"You're in my way," Erza said through gritted teeth, her red hair almost bristling.
"No, you're in mine," Mira shot back, her white hair swaying as she pushed forward a bit more.
Varion, squeezed between them earlier but now standing awkwardly to the side, rubbed his temples. "This is ridiculous…"
Varion had enough. The bickering was escalating, the sparks literally flying, and the guild's cheers were only egging them on. He stood up abruptly, raising his fists with a sigh. "That's enough out of you two!"
Before either could react, he brought his knuckles down gently but firmly on the top of their heads, one for each. Not hard enough to hurt, just enough to startle them into silence.
Erza and Mira froze, eyes wide in surprise, their foreheads pulling apart as they rubbed their heads. "Hey!" Mira pouted, her tsundere side flaring.
"What was that for?" Erza demanded, her pout mirroring Mira's indignation.
Varion crossed his arms, his tone firm but calm. "Sit and cool off." He sat back down on the bench, patting the spots on either side of him expectantly.
The two girls grumbled under their breath, shooting one last glare at each other—Mira's sharp and defiant, Erza's stern and unyielding—before reluctantly sitting down, one on each side of him. Their shoulders brushed his again, but the sparks had died down, replaced by awkward silence and crossed arms.
The guild hall went dead quiet for a beat, then the men—Macao, Wakaba, even Gildarts—stared in open shock, jaws dropping. "He… he just stopped them?" Macao whispered.
"Got two girls mid-catfight to listen?" Wakaba added, eyes wide.
Gildarts burst out laughing.
Varion rubbed his temples again, sighing as the guild erupted in cheers—for him this time. "This guild is insane…"
The group trudged back to the house as the sun dipped low over Magnolia, casting long shadows across the streets. The day at the guild had been long—full of introductions, cheers, and for Erza, a simmering determination that had her sticking close to Varion's side ever since learning Mira and her siblings would be staying with him. She walked beside him now, her polished armor swapped for casual clothes, her red hair catching the evening light. Varion carried Wendy on his shoulders, the little girl half-asleep, her chin resting on his head as she drooped like a wilted flower, her ponytails tickling his ears. The other kids followed tiredly—Natsu yawning dramatically, Sting dragging his feet, Rogue quiet but rubbing his eyes, Gajeel grumbling about "all this walkin'."
Mira held Lisanna's hand, the younger girl nodding off as she leaned against her sister, while Elfman trailed behind, sniffling occasionally from the emotional day but managing a small, teary smile. The air was cool, carrying the scent of fresh-baked bread from nearby shops, but the group was too worn out to notice much.
As they reached the house—a sturdy two-story brick home with its wide porch welcoming them—Varion unlocked the door, easing Wendy down gently as she mumbled sleepily. The kids filed in, flopping onto couches and chairs with exhausted sighs. Erza lingered by the door, her expression resolute, while Mira set Lisanna on a cushion, tucking a blanket around her.
Varion stretched, and turned to the group. "Alright, bedtime soon. But we've got a housing puzzle—only eight bedrooms for ten people now."
Natsu perked up from the floor. "Eh, I can crash on the couch!"
Sting nodded. "Me too—saves time."
But Mira, glancing at Varion with a faint blush from the day's events, spoke up shyly. "I… I can sleep with you, Varion. In your room, I mean. Just to save space. Erza can take the couch."
Erza's head snapped up, her face flushing red as she processed the words. "What? No! If anyone's sleeping with him, it's me! You take the couch!"
Mira's eyes narrowed, her own blush deepening as she stood. "Excuse me? I offered first! —you're just being pushy!"
Erza stepped forward, her competitive spirit flaring. "Pushy? You're the one trying to sneak in! I know what you're after!"
The two grabbed Varion's arms at the same time—Mira tugging his left, Erza his right—pulling back and forth in a cliché tug-of-war, their foreheads nearly bumping again as sparks (literal and figurative) flew. "Let go!" Mira huffed. "He's sleeping with me!"
"No, with me!" Erza countered, yanking harder.
Varion, caught in the middle, blinked in confusion, his face turning beet red as the kids watched with wide eyes and giggles. "Guys—wait, this isn't—ow!"
Elfman sniffled from the couch. "S-Sis… don't fight…"
Lisanna yawned. "They're funny…".
The pull continued, Varion wobbling between them, until he had enough. "Stop!" he said firmly, pulling his arms free. The two girls froze, looking at him with surprise.
Varion rubbed his shoulders, then looked at Rogue. "Rogue, you fine sleeping with Sting for the night?"
Rogue nodded quietly. "Yeah… that's okay."
Varion smiled. "Thanks. Lisanna and Mira, you can take one of the guest rooms. Erza, the other guest room's yours. Elfman, you can have Rogue's bed for tonight."
Elfman nodded gratefully, sniffling. "Th-Thanks…"
Varion turned back to Rogue. "Just for the night—I promise. I'll figure something out tomorrow."
Rogue gave a small smile. "No problem."
The group dispersed with grumbles and yawns, the tension easing as everyone headed to their assigned spots, the house falling quiet for the night.
Varion lay in his bed that night, the house silent except for the occasional creak of settling wood and the soft snores drifting from the kids' rooms. The moon cast a silvery glow through his window, painting the walls in pale light, but sleep wouldn't come. His mind kept circling back to that conversation on the train—the flashback to Veldanava's words, the teasing about girls and instincts. It had stirred something deep, a ache he'd pushed down since arriving in this era. The guild was home now, the kids safe, but the void his father left… it lingered like a shadow.
Quietly, he slipped out of bed, the floor cool under his bare feet as he quietly walked to the window and climbed out onto the roof with ease, the shingles rough but familiar under his palms, settling on the peak with his knees drawn up. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine from the nearby woods, the sky a vast canvas of twinkling stars that stretched endlessly above.
He tilted his head back, gazing up at them, a quiet guilt settling in. "I haven't done this in a while," he murmured to the empty night, his voice barely above a whisper. "Looking at the stars like we used to… just you and me, talking about everything."
The words came slowly at first, his tone steady as he began. "Hey, Dad. Things are moving fast here. Better, I think. I found them all. Wendy, Sting, Rogue, Natsu, Gajeel. They're safe now, in Fairy Tail. It's a guild, like Anna talked about. Noisy, full of fights, but… family. Real family. Makarov's the master—kind of like you, but smaller and louder." He chuckled softly, the sound fading into the breeze. "The kids are growing. Wendy's learning healing magic, Natsu's as reckless as ever, Sting and Rogue are inseparable, Gajeel's opening up. Even got them guild marks. They're happy, Dad. Really happy. You'd be proud."
Halfway through, the emotion crept in unbidden, a tightness in his throat, tears starting to form at the corners of his eyes. He blinked them back at first, but they welled anyway, hot and insistent. "And… there's others. Erza,she's…..strong, determined. Helps me with training, watches out for the kids. Mira too, i just met her, but she's got this fire about her, protecting her siblings no matter what it reminds me of what i feel for the kids. Even Lucy, she's Anna's descendant … She's kind, caring,and she likes writing letters about her life. I… I feel things for them. Like you said—instincts. It's fast, but… I'm taking it slow. Building bonds, like you taught."
His voice cracked then, choking up as the tears spilled over, tracing hot paths down his cheeks. He clutched at his chest, fingers digging into his shirt as if to hold back the pain blooming there. "I Miss the valley. Miss your stories, your roars shaking the mountains. Laying on your arm or just being near you, I miss you guiding me." The words caught in his throat, his breath hitching as the sobs built, quiet but deep. "I try to be strong for them, like you were for me. But some days… it's hard. I don't know if I'm doing it right."
He sat there longer, the tears flowing freely now, his body shaking slightly with the release. The stars twinkled on, unmoving, but he kept talking, pouring out the pent-up grief. Finally, he let out a long, shuddering sigh, wiping his face with the back of his hand. "I miss you," he murmured, the words hanging heavy in the air, his hand still pressed to his chest where the ache burned deepest.
Down stairs Wendy stirred in her bed, her small body jolting awake from the grip of a nightmare—the dark forest closing in, shadows with claws reaching for her, whispering that she'd be left alone again. Her heart pounded, tears pricking her eyes as she sat up, clutching her blanket. The house was quiet, too quiet, and the fear lingered like a chill in the room. She needed Varion—he always made things better. He was her big brother, the one who was always strong, always there to chase away the scary things with his calm smile and protective feeling she had when near him like nothing could touch her. He never cried, never hurt. He was her hero.
Slipping out of bed, her bare feet padded softly across the wooden floor to his room down the hall. The door was ajar, moonlight spilling through like a silver path. She pushed it open quietly, whispering, "Varion…?" But the bed was empty, messy sheets the only sign he'd been there. A soft murmur drifted from the open window—the sound of his voice, low and choked, like he was… crying? 'That wasn't right varion never crys' She thought.
Curious and still shaky from her dream, she tiptoed to the window, peeking out onto the roof. There he was—sitting on the peak, knees drawn up, staring at the stars with tears rolling down his cheeks, glinting in the moonlight. His shoulders shook slightly, his hand clutched at his chest as if holding in pain. Wendy's breath caught, her own nightmare forgotten as a sharp pang stabbed through her heart. Varion—her big brother, the one she looked up to more than anyone, the unbreakable protector who always had a smile for her—was crying. He looked so… broken. It hurt, like a knife twisting in her chest, seeing him like this. Tears welled up in her eyes instantly, hot and stinging, because he was hurting. What could make someone as strong as Varion so sad?
Without thinking, she climbed out the window, her small hands gripping the sill as she pulled herself onto the roof. The shingles were cool and rough under her feet, the slope steeper than it looked. She wobbled but pressed on, determined, her tears blurring her vision but not stopping her.
Varion heard the soft scrape of movement and turned his head sharply, his eyes widening in alarm as he saw her. "Wendy—no, stay there! I'll come to you!" He started to move, wiping his tears hastily, his voice thick with emotion, breaking slightly as he tried to sound strong for her.
But Wendy ignored him, her little face set in stubborn resolve, tears streaming down her cheeks now. She took careful steps forward, arms out for balance, until she reached him. Before he could protest again, she latched onto him with a hug, her small arms wrapping around his neck with all the strength her body could muster, squeezing tight as if to hold him together and take away his pain.
"It's okay," she whispered through her own sobs, the words muffled against his shoulder, her voice cracking with the hurt she felt for him. "I'm here… please don't cry, big brother. It hurts when you hurt…"
Varion froze for a second, the raw emotion in her voice hitting him like a wave. Then he wrapped his arms around her gently, holding her close as his own tears fell freely now, mingling with hers. "Thanks, Wendy…" he murmured, his voice choked, the simple hug from his little sister making the ache both sharper and somehow lighter.
They sat like that for a while, under the stars, two siblings sharing a moment neither would forget.