Beta read by Shigiya and Darklord331
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-Magnolia outskirts-
(A few minutes later)
"Oh boy… so let me get this straight," the newly met man began, raising a brow in disbelief while massaging his temples. "You were on a triple… quadruple or whatever date this morning — not just with this gorgeous woman over here, but with other members of Fairy Tail. Then some random idiot calling himself Polished Rose? Musty Robe? Ah who cares, well, he showed up and attacked you out of nowhere, then you got teleported into that floating behemoth of an airship, where you met the master of the Grimoire Heart. A nasty piece of work, who apparently wanted you to inherit his legacy."
"No, that was later. He wanted to use my Ki somehow to find the source of all magic." Broly corrected the man who nodded.
"Then, a giant battle broke out, and you ended up killing him. Did I miss anything?"
"Well," Broly hummed, his tone calm but unsure, "I still don't know what he really wanted, and why he wanted it in the first place. He kept rambling about the Two magic—"
"One Magic."
"Right, that, and he believed my powers were the key. I told him it was just life energy that could be found within everyone, rather than it being unique to me alone, but that didn't seem to change his mind. Then he went and started attacking the city. But yes, that's more or less what happened."
The stranger nodded sagely, absorbing each word with thoughtful patience. Then, without a word, he stood and stepped closer, eyeing Broly from head to toe before resting a heavily scarred hand firmly on his shoulder.
"How the hell did you go on a date with multiple women and not end up dead!?" he exclaimed, eyes wide with a mix of envy and astonishment. "I tried doing that once with just two, and they slapped me so hard that I looked like a chipmunk that overstuffed it's cheeks! But you? You didn't just score mages from my guild — you even bagged a celestial spirit?!"
He jabbed a finger behind Broly, where Aquarius had all but wrapped herself on him. Her entire form draped languidly over his back, her chest pressed comfortably against him as if he were a bed of warm stone. Her arms wrapped loosely around his neck, her fishy tail coiled around his legs in a lazy spiral, occasionally twitching. Her face rested peacefully against his shoulder, her breathing slow and even, clearly having drifted into a light nap. It was oddly charming, seeing her so relaxed—her delicate features softened in sleep.
To Broly, she looked so much like Lucy whenever the blonde slept in that moment that the temptation to poke her cheek crept up on him, though he resisted.
"Also, the date part," Broly echoed, genuinely confused by the man's outburst. "We were just eating together, talking, and having fun. I was also showing a… friend of mine around town, she tried to kill me just for telling her to go outside for a bit."
"Hmph," Aquarius scoffed, listening to the conversation. "She'll have to deal with me first."
The Saiyan wanted to shake his head, even though he knew Aquarius was quite capable as a Celestial Spirit… but compared to Irene? He doubted the latter needed to even transform in order to beat the other party. So best to keep them away from one another.
"That's exactly what a date is, you beautiful, absurdly lucky, completely envy-inducing man!" the stranger roared, throwing his hands into the air. "Do you even realise how ridiculous this achievement is?"
Broly blinked. Was it really that extraordinary? He'd thought the most difficult part would be introducing Irene to her sister, but to his surprise, everyone else had been quite happy to join him for lunch. He couldn't quite understand why this stranger was treating the whole thing like a divine miracle.
"Tell me your secret! I can seduce a single woman at a time or even do one-night stands but not with multiple at the same time!" the man begged, the dramatic flair fading into a genuine plea. He leaned in close, nearly nose to nose with Broly. "I swear on my ancestors I won't keep it to myself! I definitely won't use it irresponsibly! I absolutely will not try seducing a few beauties in the next town over for a fun little—ouch!"
His confession was cut short as Aquarius's tail lashed out without warning, cracking him across the face and launching him several metres back with a yelp. Crashing by the side of a mountain and several boulders crashing onto his body.
"Don't try to corrupt my boyfriend, you old man," Aquarius snapped, her previous gentle tone vanishing beneath a sharp, annoyed edge. "Broly doesn't need to know useless things like that. He's a simple man, and if he says it was just a get-together, then it was just a get-together! Say otherwise, and I'll drown you until you are waterlogged!
Her narrowed eyes slid toward Lucy, who wisely chose silence over further comment.
"Oh, beautiful, I meant no harm," the stranger replied, raising his hands innocently. Then, just by massaging his chin, he noticed that he had not even been scratched by that attack, which Broly had not missed, especially the strange way those boulders had broken. "But tell me... is a relationship between your kind and humans even allowed by your rules?"
Though he tried to mask it, there was a flicker of genuine worry in his voice, poorly hidden beneath his half-curious tone. Aquarius, however, dismissed the question with another scoff and an exaggerated shrug.
"If there's a rule like that, then I'll be waiting for the Spirit King to show up and punish me. But since I'm still here, then there is obviously nothing of that sort… yet." That was all she said, and it left the man momentarily stunned, sitting back on his cushion in quiet disbelief.
"Haha... you're really serious, huh? Well, I guess I can't say anything to that if nothing happened yet."
A short silence settled over them after that, broken only when Broly suddenly recalled something important. His gaze returned to the stranger who had shown up just after the fight.
"By the way, who are you?"
"You're only asking that now?!" Lucy blurted out behind him, unable to restrain herself any longer. She'd held that same question for a while now and had even begun to assume the two already knew each other somehow, given how easily and casually they spoke.
It turned out they hadn't even exchanged names.
"Ah right, where are my manners?" the man chuckled. "I'm Gildarts Clive. Nice to meet you, newcomer!"
As he pulled down his hood, a rugged face came into view: reddish-brown hair tousled by wind, a rough beard framing a weathered jawline, and sharp brown eyes set into a face that carried both exhaustion and strength. His entire presence gave off the air of someone who had walked through storms… battered.
For a brief moment, Lucy's brow furrowed in thought. Something about him seemed familiar, though she couldn't quite place it—until recognition struck.
"Wait... Gildarts? The Gildarts?! The one who went on a Century Quest? The strongest mage in Fairy Tail?!"
The flood of questions burst from her in a single breath, her wide-eyed disbelief drawing a hearty laugh from Loke and a pleased chuckle from Gildarts himself. Broly, meanwhile, observed with quiet interest that both Erza and Makarov had mentioned the name before. Now that he was meeting the man in person, his curiosity only deepened.
"Haha! The one and only," Gildarts said with a grin. "Nice to know folks still talk about me around here. I was worried I might get forgotten given how long it has been since I came back."
"What do you mean 'still talk about you'? You're one of the strongest mages in the guild! Now that you're here, no dark guild's going to try anything crazy again!"
"Debatable," Loke muttered, his voice uncertain. "Those idiots will attack even the Magic Council if ordered. Crazy bunch."
Broly gave a small nod. He agreed. Strength didn't always deter madness. There would always be those reckless or desperate enough to throw themselves at a force far beyond their understanding. He knew that better than most, greed, rage, and blind ambition often overpowered even the clearest logic.
"Wait... then why didn't you say anything earlier?" Lucy turned to Loke, her voice holding a hint of curiosity. "You've been quiet about Gildarts ever since we got here."
"Oh…, I was just thinking about something else. Got distracted," he replied simply, his tone evasive, clearly avoiding elaboration.
"It's all right now," Gildarts said, rising to his feet and stretching slightly. "Now that I'm here, I'll clean up whatever dark mage scraps are still lingering in town. But don't underestimate Fairy Tail, young lady. Even without me, I'm sure they'd be just fine. And this new guy over here? He's something else. I felt those tremors from miles away. For a second, I thought a dragon had dropped in for a visit! Hahahaha!"
He laughed again, then turned to Broly with a grin.
"All right, what was your name again?"
"I never told you my name." He replied dryly.
"Come on, man, that's just a way of speaking. You're not supposed to make things awkward."
"Broly."
"Broly! Nice to meet you too! I know we'll be good friends, given we clearly share the same interest. I don't see why we shouldn't head back — when we return to the guild, I'll buy you a drink, and you can share a few pointers on how you managed to bag such an amazing Celestial Spirit as your girlfriend!"
He seemed oddly excited to have that conversation, his grin wide and unashamed. The celestial spirit in question, Aquarius, did not seem bothered in the slightest. There was no flicker of offense on her face, only a raised brow and a flick of her tail. Lucy, however, groaned in disbelief. The image she held of Fairy Tail's strongest mage began to tarnish before her eyes, like a painting exposed to rain.
Broly, meanwhile, regarded the man with quiet curiosity. There was something familiar in the way he carried himself, almost like Natsu, though with a slightly more measured way of speaking. What stood out more was the power radiating from him… subtle, but vast. It felt stronger than anyone else in the guild, stronger even than the master. Yet at the same time, there was something off.
His Ki flickered. One moment it flared like a blazing fire, the next it dimmed to the fragile glow of a candle. Broly had sensed this kind of fluctuation before, but only in individuals recovering from near-fatal injuries. From the outside, though, the man looked mostly well. There were bandages, with a slight stench of iron and herbs he knew possessed some healing traits.
The man wasn't limping or moving in a way that suggested anything was too bad.
'Strange. He's most likely faking it. Gildarts should be in a lot of pain right now,' Broly thought, narrowing his gaze.
Still, even weakened, the newly arrived mage felt like someone no one else in the guild, neither Erza, nor Natsu, nor any other, could stand against. Perhaps even the master… Unfortunately, he never saw that old man's magic in battle in order to make an accurate judgement.
Looking at him stirred a memory. He recalled a conversation he'd had with Makarov not too long ago, when the latter mentioned the name Gildarts. If there was anyone who could match him blow for blow, he had said, it was this man. Back then, Broly had looked forward to the idea. The thought of facing someone he didn't have to restrain himself against had stirred real excitement.
That excitement had now dulled.
Back then, Irene hadn't been around either. But now she was, and Broly could tell — he knew firsthand — that she was stronger than the man in front of him. Her Ki signature alone proved it. The sheer pressure she released from her magic could suffocate others if she ever let it loose. After all, that woman showed herself to be a dragon in human form.
'But then again,' Broly reasoned, 'magic here works differently to Ki. Someone could possess a form of magic that's far more destructive, even with a weaker Ki signature.' He was starting to adapt to the rules of this world, understanding not to judge by one thing alone.
"Given we're basically in the middle of a war, so to say, I doubt they'll shift the city just because I showed up." Gildarts commented absentmindedly.
"Shifted the city?" Lucy and Broly repeated the words in unison, both blinking in confusion.
Loke, who had been listening quietly until now, decided to pipe in.
"It's a safety measure Magnolia adopts whenever Gildarts returns from a mission. Because of how destructive and uncontrollable his magic tends to be, and the level of devastation it leaves behind, there's a system in place. The entire landscape of Magnolia, the buildings and terrain, shifts. Everything moves to create a path that leads straight to Fairy Tail, with nothing standing in his way. The idea came after he accidentally destroyed an entire neighborhood once. All because he tripped while on a walk."
"Who the hell destroys an entire neighbourhood just by tripping!?" Lucy exclaimed, utterly disbelieving. She struggled to make sense of what she had just heard. Broly might wield immense power, but even he had never done anything remotely like that.
The middle aged man rubbed his nose awkwardly. "That's just embarrassing! It only happened because I was young and didn't have much control over my magic back then. It was just once!"
"It happened several times," Loke interjected flatly. "He was just so black-out drunk every time, that he forgot that he did it. That's why Master Makarov almost limits the amount of beer he has in the city."
"..."
The girl now began to genuinely wonder if there was a single person in the guild who could be called normal. Was every powerful mage cursed with some kind of odd personality quirk? The thought made her uneasy. If that was the cost of becoming S-Class, what kind of person would she end up becoming?
"It's understandable," Broly said.
"Don't try to empathise with him, Broly!" She snapped. "You might pick up his bad habits and start doing the same!"
"I mean, that's why I lived inside a mountain far away from civilization, you know? To avoid hurting people. And breaking things," Broly replied.
It became hard to say anything to that, even though she wanted to point out that his circumstances were hardly comparable. Still, she held her tongue. She was too tired to argue and far too bitter about the fact that her own celestial spirit and her partner were getting along a little too well for her liking — kissing in front of everyone had been the final straw.
"Whoa... that's a large pile of bodies," Loke muttered as they arrived at the edge of Magnolia. Before them was a stack of unconscious mages, strewn in disarray near the entrance. The sounds of fighting could still be heard from within the city, though they had lessened considerably compared to earlier.
"Wait... is that—?"
Several mages turned their heads, and gasps spread among them as they recognised Gildarts. Among the crowd were remnants of the Grimoire Heart guild, dark mages still resisting but clearly losing ground. The moment they saw who had arrived, whatever hope they had for victory crumbled like dust.
"G-Gildarts Clive!"
"Shit! When did he come back? Wasn't he supposed to be on a Century Quest? No wonder we saw that explosion in the distance. It must have been him who fought Master Hades!"
"Wait, if he's here, does that mean Master Hades is defeated?"
"Mistress Meredith, Mistress Ultear, and all the higher-ups have vanished too... That must be it!"
"Hey guys, uh… I didn't do that. Just got here not that long ago." Gildarts tried to protest, holding up his hands in defence. But his voice was completely drowned out by the panicking cries of the dark mages.
"Damn it! We've been abandoned! Retreat!"
"Seriously, I just got here. It's the guy behind me who did it!" He added, half-heartedly, glancing over his shoulder.
"Retreat! Forget about attacking Fairy Tail, Gildarts is here!"
"I really am not the one behind this—"
"How do we escape? We're surrounded!"
"You lot are seriously starting to piss me off," muttered the man as the vein in his temple twitched. "You're not going to help me out here?"
All he got was a shrug from the alien, "Doesn't matter to me what they think."
While he continued to be uninterested, the other mages started to become more restless. "We just storm him! He can't possibly take all of us down at once! Some of us will have to be sacrificed so the rest can survive!"
They all shouted at once, abandoning whoever they'd been fighting earlier. In unison, the remaining dark mages rushed toward the entrance where Broly, Lucy, Loke, Aquarius, and Gildarts stood. Their hands rose, each glowing with a different kind of magic, spells already primed to fire.
Broly stepped forward, planting himself in front of Lucy. His hands began to glow, a faint sheen of ki radiating from his fingertips. But before he could act, Gildarts raised a hand to stop him.
"Please. Allow me," he said calmly. "It's kind of my fault in the first place, so I'll take responsibility."
As soon as he said that, Loke panicked. His eyes widened, and he hastily shook his head.
"Wait! No, don't let him—"
Unfortunately, it was already too late. The brown-haired man had already raised his hand, an erratic grin tugging at his lips, barely able to contain the thrill running through him.
"Mizuwari!"
His fist slammed into the ground.
Immediately, Broly felt it — an immense surge of energy rushing through the earth itself. Unlike any magic he had encountered so far, it pulsed violently beneath his feet. The ground trembled, a quake erupting outward as the terrain shattered into countless cubic shapes chunks, each one the size of a boulder or smaller, exploding upward in a chaotic cascade.
The mages caught within the blast radius screamed in panic. Some tried to escape, but the spell's effect was too swift. The following explosion engulfed them, the shockwave hurling debris through the air like shrapnel. A deafening boom tore through Magnolia, echoing for miles. The impact was devastating — dozens of houses reduced to dust in seconds, as if a storm had swept them off the map.
"Woah..." Lucy muttered beside him.
Broly had to agree. It was a sight to behold. This was the first time he had seen someone deal more damage with a single strike than even Natsu. And what startled him most was how effortless it looked.
"Damn it!"
Loke dropped to his knees, sighing in exasperation.
"That's why we have the system in place. He causes too much damage every time he uses that magic, and then the master nearly has a heart attack when he sees the bill he has to pay afterward."
"Hahahaha!"
The man responsible bellowed with laughter, showing neither regret nor embarrassment. To Broly's surprise, he looked rather pleased with himself, as though the destruction was a badge of honour.
"This is what happens to anyone who attacks Fairy Tail! Don't underestimate my guild! We're number one for a reason!"
"Pft, it's okay I guess." Aquarius crossed her arms and glanced sideways. "Most of those buildings were already water-damaged from my earlier attack."
"You didn't have to go that far, you know," the Saiyan commented, recalling their entrance earlier. Lucy had been drenched from head to toe.
"Oh, don't act innocent. She deserved it for keeping me away longer than what was agreed upon. And why didn't you tell her to summon me? Didn't you miss me?" she asked, her tone taking on an oddly playful sweetness.
While he tried to find a proper answer to that, Lucy had other worries. "What about the other members? I don't think Ultear came alone. Surely they had others in the guild besides foot soldiers."
"Don't bother, young lady," Gildarts replied, giving a casual wave of the hand. "People like that tend to be the clever sort, hopefully. They would've vanished the moment their master fell. They don't wait around to join him in death."
Then his expression shifted, turning oddly awkward as his gaze landed on the black-haired Saiyan in front of him.
"I'll say this now, but if you want, we can keep what happened at the end of the battle a secret."
"You'd lie for me?"
Broly understood exactly what he meant. He knew the rules. Killing someone, even in battle, wasn't something Fairy Tail took lightly. He remembered clearly the conversation he'd had with the master not long ago.
"It's not exactly lying, Makarov is not that dumb but there is no need to give the full details the moment you meet him. Best to do it when we're alone and away from others. It's clear there's more going on than I'm aware of. You didn't strike me as someone who would end a life without reason. So I take it you were forced to do so."
"I tried..."
"Then that's all that matters. We can talk about the rest later. For now, let's just go home."
…
As the last dark mage left the town, this marked a clear victory for the guild who wasted no time cheering out loud.
"Alright, you brats, it seems like our unexpected guest got too scared and turned tail!"
Minutes later, after making sure every dark guild mage had either retreated or been properly arrested by the Rune Knights, all the guild members had gathered inside Fairy Tail, every single one of them carrying a jovial expression across their faces.
"So, this marks our victory against Grimoire Heart!"
"Yeah! That's what they get for attacking us out of the blue in our town!"
"They really thought they could beat us on our home ground? What absolute idiots!"
"They were also incredibly unlucky, attacking us around the same time Gildarts came back? Hahaha! If it wasn't for the state of the city right now, I would've counted myself extremely lucky today and headed out to gamble!"
Safe to say, everyone was in a good mood. For every dark mage they had taken down, their morale had risen higher, and the energy within the guild grew louder with each passing minute. Unfortunately, Makarov did not share that opinion. He drew in a long breath before shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Shut the hell up, all of you brats! You think this is the time to be celebrating?!"
His sudden outburst immediately cut through the celebration, and the once noisy hall fell into confused silence. All eyes turned toward him in puzzlement, trying to figure out what they had missed. Seeing their blank stares, the old man's brow twitched as he stomped toward the open window and jabbed a finger outside.
"A huge chunk of Magnolia has turned into dust! Who do you think is going to pay for all of this!?"
He shouted, tears of blood practically streaming down his face, already imagining the guild's savings coffers emptying out into nothing, filled with dust and cobwebs from how quickly money tended to vanish around here.
"Seriously, couldn't all of you just hold back a bit and not be as crazy!?"
"Why are you blaming us? We played our parts, didn't we? This was mostly Lucy's Celestial Spirit and Gildarts' faults!"
Ignoring the old man's breakdown, the others started cheering again, music returning as the party resumed. Seeing their excited faces, Makarov could only sigh in surrender. He walked over to sit down beside Broly and Gildarts, the two men already locked in conversation.
The latter was asking Broly several questions, though most of them left the black-haired youth visibly confused, since many revolved around women — something he did not feel equipped to answer.
"Hah, what a mess. Sorry you had to walk into this, Gildarts. I never would've imagined that a prominent dark guild like Grimoire Heart would just attack us like this out of nowhere."
"Don't worry, old man. The enemy no longer exists. And its master, well..."
"Loke already told me who it was," Makarov interrupted, his voice quieter, his shoulders more hunched than before. There was less energy in his tone now, weariness weighing down each word.
"Master Precht... I still cannot imagine what could have led him down such a path. He was a respected member of Fairy Tail. A former master. He taught me so much — magic, general knowledge, history. Things I still carry with me to this day."
"People change. It's an unfortunate reality, but sometimes good people can turn bad without even realising it, just by chasing their goals. I never met the old man, but I've heard your stories, and I can only imagine what must have pushed him to fall this far."
Makarov didn't reply. He just sat in silence, looking toward the wall, saying nothing.
"Let's just take a break. It's been a long day. I'll let the children celebrate and have their fun. The Magic Council will arrive any day now, they will never ignore such a commotion."
"Or they'll hide in a corner like rats, especially after one of their former members ended up being a dark mage. I wouldn't show my face to the world either if I were in their position, not for a good while." Gildarts added and took a long chug of his beer, the mug nearly empty as he set it down again. His somber expression slowly shifted into something more casual. "Speaking of which, I've been here for the last hour, but why has it not—"
"Gildarts, fight me!"
"Oh, there he is," Natsu's voice rang out from behind as the young Dragon Slayer came leaping in, fists ablaze, clearly aiming for a sneak attack. He didn't make it far. Without even turning his head, Gildarts casually swatted him away with the back of his hand.
"Oof!"
Natsu's body shot upward and slammed into the ceiling, limbs twitching. From the corner, Macao winced, already bracing for another repair bill.
"Don't destroy more property, you idiots! I'm probably going to be in debt already from having to reconstruct half the city thanks to your last attack!"
"Hahaha! It's great to see you're still as energetic as ever, Natsu!" Gildarts roared, throwing his head back with a booming laugh.
All he received in response was a pained groan as the boy dropped from the ceiling and crashed onto the floor with a loud thud. Several onlookers winced at the sound, though none looked particularly surprised by it.
"Perhaps I went a bit too strong on him," Gildarts muttered.
"This isn't over! I'll beat you one day, just like how I'll one day beat Broly too!" Natsu declared, his voice muffled slightly by the floor. Happy sat perched on his head, munching on a fish without a care in the world.
Wendy walked over with a sigh and began treating his wounds, her expression caught somewhere between concern and exhaustion.
"Please don't start fighting again, Natsu. I just healed you and I don't have much energy left."
"Seems like not much has changed," Gildarts said, chuckling as he signaled for another beer. Mirajane appeared swiftly, placing the drink in front of him with her usual grace.
"And I see you've got yourself another beautiful bartender. I approve. She looks amazing," he added with a grin, nudging the master playfully. "No wonder you're sitting here all day. You've got a nice view in front of you."
"That's Mirajane," the master said.
"What?" Gildarts blinked, looking between Makarov and the white-haired mage. His expression shifted slowly, realization dawning only when Mirajane gave a patient nod.
"A bit hurtful that you forgot about me, Gildarts. I haven't changed that much." Mirajane did not miss out on the opportunity to tease the other party a bit with a fake hurt face which worked wonders on the man in front of her.
"Holy hell. I'm getting old," he muttered, rubbing his head.
"Well, we all are. But I'm sure everyone here has a question they've been dying to ask you. How did your quest go?"
"That's right. He went on a Century Quest!"
"Century Quest?" Broly repeated the term with a blank look, glancing at Lucy in hopes of some clarification.
"I told you about this before. I think even Cana explained it too," she said with a frown.
Again, Broly just stared at her. It was clear he'd already forgotten. Quests, in general, weren't something he paid much attention to unless they involved Lucy directly.
"Fine, I'll say it again. Basically, it's a quest that's so ridiculously difficult no one's managed to complete it for over a century. That's why they call it a Century Quest. Completing one is a massive achievement. Mages dream of doing it. The fame alone dwarfs anything else you've ever done, and the reward is even more insane."
That sounded interesting. Broly turned to look at her, noticing how bright and excited she appeared as she spoke.
"Do you want to complete one?" he asked.
"Are you crazy? I'd rather stick with the smaller stuff. Those things are easily life-threatening. And I know you're powerful, Broly, but never take unnecessary risks with those." Then she released a sigh before adding more. "Besides, it's only for S-class mages. I still have a long way to go before reaching that point."
Hearing the many voices whispering around them, Gildarts remained silent for several more minutes. He took a long swig from his mug and released a series of coughs. Showing some pain on his face while clutching his sides.
"Argh… shit. Hah… Unfortunately, I failed."
The entire guild fell into silence. Even Natsu stared at him in disbelief, struggling to accept the idea that someone like Gildarts could fail.
"You'll understand once you look at my body," the man said, turning around as he pulled back his cloak.
Gasps erupted throughout the room. Beneath the cloak, his body was a mess of wounds. Deep scars, burn marks, bruises, and lacerations covered nearly every inch of him. Some still looked fresh, red and angry against his skin. Most shocking of all was his right arm, which Broly had caught a glimpse of before. Now fully revealed, it was almost unrecognizable—riddled with long-healed injuries and charred skin.
The guild was dead quiet. The atmosphere had changed instantly, the exciting mood quickly dissipating.
"Yeah... pretty nasty, huh?"
"How did this happen to you?" Erza asked as she stepped forward, just as stunned as the rest.
"Oh, it's not as bad as it looks. Could've been worse. I wasn't exactly a moment away from losing a limb, though I only managed to keep them by pure luck," Gildarts said with a strained chuckle. Then he shifted his gaze toward Natsu. "Hey, Natsu. You're still looking for your father, right?"
That caught the boy's attention instantly, as well as several others in the room.
"You found Igneel?!" Natsu shouted, almost jumping to his feet, only for his excitement to plummet when Gildarts slowly shook his head.
"Nah. I don't think that was Igneel, unfortunately. But I did find a dragon. Just... not the kind you'd be hoping for. That thing was no father figure. It was a monster. A sadistic one, at that. A black dragon, accented in purple, eyes like polished bone. And instead of breathing fire, it fired beams of pure magic."
His voice lowered, but every word landed with a grim tone many rarely ever heard from him.
"I can't imagine how something like that roamed the world this long without leveling half a continent. I've never encountered anything like it before. Nothing that strong."
The moment those words left his mouth, Erza's, Lucy's, Natsu's, and several other members' eyes turned slowly toward Broly.
He didn't move.
Frozen in place, he stared ahead, the description getting his attention. Images flooded back—of a dragon just like the one Gildarts had seen. One that nearly tore everything from him in a moment of blind, furious rage.
But he said nothing. He kept still, his expression unreadable.
Gildarts noticed the shift in the room. He saw where their eyes had landed but chose to say nothing, instead returning his attention to his drink.
"At least you're alive," Makarov said, his voice carrying through the silence. "The most important rule in Fairy Tail has never been to complete your quest at any cost. It's to stay safe, and to come home alive."
"You should see Porlyusica. She'll take one look at you and start scolding, but she'll treat you better than anyone else could."
Several members immediately tried to lift Gildarts' spirits, rallying around him, offering their usual warmth and celebration regardless of whether the quest had been a success.
Meanwhile, Broly sat quietly in his seat, a drink in hand, his mind far removed from the noise around him. Still lost in those old memories. Still staring at the dragon in his head.
.
.
.
(A few minutes later)
"Haah..."
While the house they had to be relocated to was a bit old, its traditional bath also came with something similar to a hot spring of sorts. Mostly, it is a spring nearby that brings water from a small channel into a large, dug-out hole. Heated by some magical devices Lucy brought to turn into a hot spring. While it still needed some work to make it comfortable and beautiful to see — for him it was already perfect.
Steam drifted through the air above a large hot spring nestled between thick rocks and overgrown greenery. Broly stepped into the pool, the water warming his skin almost instantly. He said nothing at first, letting his body and soul soak in the healing effects of the pond. A long breath escaped his mouth as he gradually sank in, his muscles unwinding as the water reached his neck. Only his head remained above the surface as his hair spread out gently over the water like drifting kelp.
"The black dragon, huh..." he murmured to himself.
After revealing the existence of the creature to the others, and accepting the failure of the quest, Gildarts had shared a few more details. From what had been said, he had managed to piece together when it might have happened.
"It was before we encountered it on Galuna Island... Did it fly over there after sensing me?"
He asked the question aloud, but no answer came. He wasn't sure how to feel about it, and even less certain whether the creature had survived or not. His memories of the encounter were hazy at best. He could barely recall anything beyond the pained screeches and the violent surge of his own unleashed energy. If he followed the logic, it should have been dead along with the island, consumed by the force of his power. And yet, part of him couldn't shake the discomfort, a nagging pull that refused to let him feel at ease. He wouldn't rest, not fully, until he knew with absolute certainty whether that thing was dead or still out there.
"Someone's unusually quiet," came a melodious and gentle voice.
He turned his head to the side and found Aquarius. She had appeared without a ripple, now sitting calmly beside him in the water. She, too, seemed to be enjoying the hot spring's warmth. This time, however, the bikini she usually wrapped around her chest was gone, and she made no effort to conceal herself. Her expression was serene but curious as she studied him.
"Are you thinking about that dragon?" she asked.
"I am," Broly replied.
"I thought you'd be more excited about meeting this Gildarts. Weren't you always chasing someone strong enough to fight without needing to hold back? The human's in rough shape at the moment, but recovery shouldn't be an issue. You saw what he did. No one causes that much destruction just by casually slamming their fist into the ground."
"I can tell he's powerful," Broly said after a pause. "Even more so than the master from what I could tell."
"Then are you thinking about the dark mage master who died today?"
"...Yeah," Broly admitted, not even trying to pretend otherwise. "He was a former master, and someone Makarov clearly looked up to. I think to myself, if I had taken a different approach, if I had stepped in and stopped him before he did something so extreme, maybe I could have convinced him. Maybe he'd still be alive right now."
Aquarius rolled her eyes at that.
"You're too kind for your own good sometimes. I didn't see the battle, nor did I meet the man. If I had, I'd have drowned him myself for attacking. Someone willing to destroy an entire city just to push you toward his own twisted ideals? That's not someone worth saving. That's not a redeemable person. That's a waste of time."
"You don't know that," Broly said, his tone soft. "No one is inherently evil. There's always a reason why people become what they are. There's also a chance, no matter how small, that they can be brought back. I just wish I were better at things outside of fighting. In moments like that, I can't communicate like Lucy, or Erza, or even Mirajane. I can get lost in the thrill of the fight. Even though I don't like hurting people, I still find myself drawn to the excitement of fighting someone strong."
He stared into the water for a moment, his voice quiet.
"And even when I put all of this power to use... I still end up feeling helpless and powerless when it matters most."
"No one's perfect. And no one should try to be perfect, either. That's an impossible task you're setting for yourself. You've got your flaws, just like everyone else. That's what makes us all unique. That's what makes you Broly."
She leaned her head gently against his shoulder. Her soft voice settled his thoughts more than he would have expected. It was in quiet moments like this that he appreciated her presence the most. He had told Lucy more than once that Aquarius had a gentler side, though the blonde had never seemed to believe him. She still feared the celestial spirit. But he had always known it wasn't cruelty that made Aquarius harsh—it was care.
He remembered her mentioning once that she had a responsibility to make sure Lucy didn't end up dead, something she had promised to her former key owner, Lucy's mother. A promise she was determined to uphold, no matter what.
"Speaking of which... who is this new friend you made?"
Suddenly, her voice shifted ever so slightly, her tone sharper as she turned toward him, eyes narrowed and watching with a certain pointed suspicion.
Though the Saiyan didn't seem to react much at first, he continued smiling faintly, his thoughts briefly drifting to Irene.
"Her name is Irene. I think... No, I know she's related to Erza somehow, but she won't admit it. She's a friend I made while I was locked up in a prison cell by the Magic Council. She can be a bit mean at times and says cruel things, but she hasn't done anything bad yet. You should meet her someday. I think you two could get along quite well, but don't try to fight her. She's really powerful."
As soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes widened. A strong urge to slap his own face surged through him. He had completely forgotten his earlier decision to keep the two of them separate, these two, and to never let one know about the other. But with how relaxed he had grown in the moment, and his mind slightly fuzzy from the heat of the spring, that decision had slipped right past him. He'd told her anyway.
Well, it was too late now. There was no point in lying, and even if he tried, it wouldn't matter. Aquarius had always told him he was a terrible liar.
"Just friends? This person isn't trying to get closer? That can't be. She's definitely after you. That whore!"
"Why are you angry?" he asked, startled by her sudden tone. "She's not the kind of person you think she is. I can vouch for her. And honestly, I don't think she even likes me. She's tried to kill me a couple of times, but I already showed her she's not strong enough to pull it off."
"What!?" Aquarius shot back, her voice rising. "She's not a whore—she's a bitch!"
"Just promise me... if you meet her, you won't fight. Please. For me."
He looked at her with a pleading expression, one that radiated nothing but sincerity. It hit her harder than she cared to admit. Her eyes twitched, her anger visibly deflating as her lips tightened and she quickly turned away. A blush began to bloom across her cheeks as frustration set in.
"Why the hell do you have a face like that with such an intimidating body? It's hard to stay mad at you when you look at me like that, you idiot." she mumbled with a pout.
"I know. That's why I'm using it. It's very effective on you."
"At least try to lie to me."
"I don't like lying. You know that."
The girl gave a long sigh. "Yes, I know. You're not that kind of person." Her voice softened slightly. "You know what? It's been a while since we had any time to ourselves, hasn't it?"
She shifted closer. Her chest pressed lightly against his arm, and there was a certain warmth in her tone now… something laced with salacious intent. A soft flash of light surrounded her lower body, and in the space of a heartbeat, her mermaid-like tail began to shift and morph. Scales gave way to skin as two flawless, pale legs formed before his eyes. With nothing covering her below, there was no fabric left to hide anything intimate beneath the water's surface.
As she moved under the water, he didn't even realize what was happening until her face appeared right in front of his. She leaned in, her body practically pressed against his, the distance between them nearly gone.
"Why don't we have some fun together... like old times?" she whispered. "You clearly need to clear your head, and I know just the way."
{Break}
-???-
Within a dimly lit chamber, several silhouettes sat motionless upon thrones carved from rough stone, each seat rising high and imposing like the figures who occupied them. The pale light of the moon filtered in through a narrow opening above, illuminating their forms in silvery streaks, though never bright enough to reveal their faces. They were humanoid in shape, but not entirely human. Horns curled from some skulls, others bore wings, talons, or serpentine tails. Each one carried distinct demonic traits, and though none spoke at first, their silent presence alone gave the room a stifling, oppressive weight.
Among them, one figure rose.
His footsteps echoed faintly against the stone floor as he walked to the center of the chamber, stepping directly beneath the shaft of moonlight. The light revealed the appearance of a young, handsome man, with long, dark hair styled in a ponytail that fell past his waist and a regal outfit.
The lack of any demonic traits compared to those around was not what made him stand out — but rather the thick, ancient-looking book clutched against his chest. It never left his person. None had ever seen him set it down, not even once. He held it close, as though it contained something more valuable than life itself. Perhaps, considering the secrets bound within it, that wasn't far from the truth.
"I see everyone has gathered today," he began, his voice calm but carried throughout the room. "We've just received word that one of our allied guilds within the alliance has fallen. Grimoire Heart for those who forget."
"The fuck, again?" a voice snapped from the shadows. It sounded young, male, laced with a mix of snark and irritation. "That's the problem with humans. They think they're unstoppable just because they use some unique magic. But in the end, they all drop like flies. Wasn't that the geezer who wouldn't shut up about discovering the origin of all magic and reviving Lord Zeref?"
"That's him," the man with the book confirmed.
"That makes two guilds that have crumbled in a short span, Mard Geer." another voice spoke up, this one belonging to a woman. Her silhouette stood out clearly in the half-light, marked by a pair of large fluffy pointed ears almost resembling horns, clawed hands and demon-like feet with razor sharp claws giving her the appearance of a human-bird hybrid. "It can't be the Magic Council. If they had the strength to do this, those two would've been dealt with long ago. Must've been another guild... Wait. Last I heard, they had formed an alliance like ours, hadn't they?"
"Correct, Kyoka." the book-holder replied with a nod. "But that alliance dissolved almost as soon as it formed. They managed to take down the Oración Seis, yes, but not long after, one of their members turned rogue and decided to handle the enemy alone. What remains now is a name, nothing more."
"You can never trust a human," someone muttered with disdain.
"Now that the Balam Alliance can no longer stand with just the few of us," Mard Geer continued, eyes sweeping over the shadowy forms, "we should begin planning for what lies ahead. It's only a matter of time before they turn their attention toward us."
"You want us to attack them?"
"No, not yet at least." He shook his head. "Rather, it would be in our best interest to accelerate Face's creation. The sooner it's done, the sooner we can bring our lord back and accomplish our mission. Aside from that, we also have a little bug that has been causing a bit of trouble for us lately."
He looked at another person in the room, her face hidden within the darkness but even that was unable to hide her voluptuous figure and the curved horns on her head.
"He's being hunted down as we speak." She mentioned with a soothing voice that seemed to carry an invisible force grasping at any listener's heart. "It's only a matter of time."
"Well, for one who channels the power of stars, astronomical objects, and constellations — I expect nothing less."
"We haven't discussed the possibility of us being targeted next. What do we do if someone comes after us?" Others were still curious about this fact, not particularly worried about losing in the least.
Mard Geer hummed, "Well, I doubt that will happen since they need to find us in the first place. But if that does happen… we can kill some of our boredom. Don't you agree, Kyoka?"
The woman smirked, a sadistic light flashing across her eyes.
"Mmm, yes~ I wouldn't mind some new toys."
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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.