Naruto x Fairy Tail: Fairy's Shadow

Bonus Chapters every 100 Power Stones

"Normal Dialogue"

'Inner thoughts'

[Year X789]

~ With Shisui ~

Romeo finally looked up, his eyes searching Shisui's face for any sign of deception. The rest of the guild members held their breath, understanding that Romeo's reaction would likely determine their own. He'd become something of an emotional touchstone for them. If Romeo could accept this, perhaps they could too.

Long seconds passed before Romeo's clenched fists slowly relaxed. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly, though wariness remained in his posture. He'd found whatever he was looking for in Shisui's expression.

"I understand your reluctance to involve yourself in the matter of Tenrou," Romeo said. "But I won't forgive you if you try to stop us from getting involved ourselves."

The declaration sparked agreement from the other guild members. Nab and Reedus nodded emphatically, Warren straightened his shoulders, and even Wakaba removed his cigarette to voice his support.

The renewed determination in the room almost reached a boiling point until Alzack cleared his throat.

"Not to dampen everyone's spirits," he said carefully, "but we should remember what just happened at the training ground."

Bisca picked up where her husband left off. "The five of us didn't stand a chance against Ultear alone. If they decide not to share information..."

She didn't need to finish the sentence.

The reminder was like cold water. The bravado that had been building dissipated as quickly as it had formed. Several guild members who'd been puffing up with righteous determination seemed to deflate, remembering the overwhelming display of power they'd heard about.

Ultear's lips curved into an amused smile as she watched their confidence evaporate.

Stepping forward to address the guild properly, Ultear finally spoke. "How refreshing. At least some of you understand the reality of your situation."

Her gaze swept across the assembled mages, taking in their mix of defiance and recognition of their own limitations.

"But I'm not here to pick a fight. We came to meet with an old friend, and when he asked us to test your representatives, we agreed."

She paused, her expression becoming more thoughtful. "I'll acknowledge their performance. Your five showed heart and determination. But you're still a far cry from where Fairy Tail once was."

The words stung, but Ultear wasn't finished. Her tone shifted, becoming less critical and more encouraging. "Don't focus on what once was. Focus on what will be. That's the only way forward."

Meredy nodded in agreement. The pink-haired woman's earlier playfulness had given way to something more sincere.

Ultear's next words silenced any remaining protests. "Shisui is like family to Meredy and myself. We've trusted each other with our lives, our secrets, our failures."

Her gaze moved across the guild members, seeming to see each of them individually. "But I can see that you're as much family to him as we are. He's found something here worth protecting."

She glanced back at Shisui, a fond smile touching her lips. "He always did have a weakness for broken things that refuse to give up."

The mild insult might have sparked anger on another day, but the guild recognized the affection behind it. More importantly, they heard what Ultear was really saying.

Shisui's bonds with them were real, were valued, were worth preserving.

"In light of this," Ultear continued, her voice taking on a more formal tone, "I'll tell you what happened at Tenrou Island."

Her words had changed the atmosphere within the guildhall as every person seemed to lean forward simultaneously, even breathing seemed to quiet as they prepared to finally hear the truth they'd sought for five long years.

"Before I begin," Ultear said, her voice carrying the tone of someone about to deliver difficult news, "let me ask you something. What do you know about what happened to Grimoire Heart?"

The question seemed to catch the guild off-guard. They'd been braced for immediate revelations about Tenrou Island, not an inquiry about one of Fiore's former dark guilds. Macao recovered first, his brow furrowing as he considered the question.

"They disbanded. Almost exactly the same time as Tenrou's disappearance, actually. The Magic Council reported that they had captured branch members of the dark guild, only to discover the main guild itself had disbanded. No one knew why one of the strongest dark guilds would just dissolve like that."

Ultear nodded, her expression suggesting he'd given the expected answer.

"What the rest of the world doesn't know," she started, "is that Grimoire Heart attacked Fairy Tail at Tenrou Island prior to its disappearance."

The reaction was instantaneous and violent.

Multiple guild members shot to their feet, magic already gathering around raised fists. Jet's body blurred with speed magic, Droy's seeds scattered across the floor, and even Wakaba's smoke magic thickened ominously around him.

The revelation that their missing family had been under attack by one of Fiore's most dangerous dark guilds while they'd been helplessly waiting at home struck every protective instinct they had.

"You attacked them?!" someone shouted.

Before the situation could escalate further, Ultear raised one hand in a casual gesture. The Time Arc magic activated instantly, and every attacking guild member found themselves frozen mid-motion. Not paralyzed exactly, but caught in a temporal field that held them as surely as physical chains.

"Now, now," Ultear said, a chuckle escaping her lips despite the seriousness of the situation. "Don't be so hotheaded. If you'd let me finish, you'd know that Grimoire Heart's attack failed. Your precious guild members defeated us quite thoroughly."

She released her magic, allowing the frozen mages to stumble as time resumed its normal flow around them, though anger still simmered in their expressions.

"Defeated?" Macao asked, retaking control of the situation before anyone else could act rashly.

"Completely," Ultear confirmed. "Our guild master, Hades, was beaten. Most likely killed, though I can't confirm that personally."

She paused, noting how several guild members winced at the casual mention of death. Even when discussing enemies, Fairy Tail's more peaceful philosophy showed through. "The Seven Kin of Purgatory were defeated. Our entire assault force was thoroughly trounced by your guild's teamwork and determination."

She allowed a hint of respect to enter her voice. "Fairy Tail proved why they were considered Fiore's strongest guild. Even caught off-guard, even outnumbered by elite dark mages, they prevailed."

"By the time Meredy and I retreated to the waters," she continued, "Grimoire Heart was finished as a functioning guild. The defeat was so complete that those who survived scattered rather than regroup. That's the real reason for our disbanding. Not some internal conflict or strategic decision, but complete defeat at the hands of Fairy Tail."

The guild members exchanged glances, processing this information. Pride warred with confusion on many faces. Their family had won against one of the most feared dark guilds in existence, but then...

"If the attack failed," Romeo said, speaking for everyone present, "then what happened? Why did Fairy Tail disappear?"

His voice carried a desperate edge now. The momentary pride in their guild's victory had given way to deeper dread. If Grimoire Heart hadn't been responsible for their disappearance, if their family had won that battle, then what force could have overcome them afterward?

Ultear's expression underwent a dramatic change. The confident, slightly amused demeanor she'd maintained throughout their conversation vanished, replaced by something much more serious. Beside her, Meredy's playful attitude similarly evaporated, her face becoming grave.

The two women exchanged a look that spoke of shared trauma, of having witnessed something that had shaken even their dark guild backgrounds. When Ultear spoke again, her voice had lost all traces of its earlier lightness.

"A dragon appeared," she said simply. "One completely black, with blue markings."

The words fell into the guild hall like stones into a still pond, sending ripples of shock through everyone present. Several faces went pale, eyes widening with recognition and dawning horror.

"A... black dragon?" Jet's voice came out as barely a whisper. "With blue markings?"

The description was unmistakable. Every mage in Fiore knew the legends, the warnings, the name that even the Magic Council spoke in hushed tones.

A dragon that had disappeared centuries ago, only to return briefly during the dragon civil war four hundred years past. A creature of such devastating power that its very existence was considered more myth than reality by many.

"Acnologia..." Macao breathed the name like a curse.

~ End of Chapter 49 ~

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Dun. Dun. DUNNNNNN! ANOTHER CLIFF HANGER!