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#but saving is especially important for fandoms like fairy tail that are old enough that a LOT of fics are ffnet-only
thenightofcups · 7 years
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On the subject of Jellal’s arc
I've seen some Jellal commentary lately that's kinda raised my eyebrows. There's several points I want to make here and to avoid a tangental rant I'm going to address the biggest three issues I have.
Redemption. What does this mean in Fairy Tail as a manga and what does it mean for Jellal specifically?
Jellal vs. Siegrain. Is this a versus or are they both pieces of the same whole?
Moving forward. Where can Jellal go from here?
REDEMPTION
One of the overlying themes of Fairy Tail as a manga is friendship and forgiveness. Depending on who you ask these things may or may not be executed well.
There's a handful of notable redemption arcs in FT. Laxus and Gajeel have perhaps the most important arcs when it comes to main and secondary characters. Less important, quaternary redemption arcs, like Minerva and my girl Brandish, stand out, as well. Then there's Jellal.
In my opinion, Jellal can be classified as secondary or tertiary, depending on the arc. His relevance usually has something to do with Erza, and he packs a mighty punch. For a character that's secondary on his very Best Day Ever, Jellal has one of the largest and most developed redemption arcs in the series. We've seen him as a charismatic child slave, an obnoxiously arrogant tool of Hades, a kind hearted amnesiac, a self loathing penitent anti-hero, and whatever he is now (I'd classify current!Jellal as on the cusp of completion).
The crimes associated with him are many and include the manipulation of a government body into firing a weapon of mass destruction. There's a lot of debate surrounding these activities and honestly it's super exhausting. Remember, though! Jellal is the only character with a redemption arc (besides perhaps Zeref) who was magically manipulated on a neurological level to commit his crimes. Laxus was abused by his asshole dad. Gajeel was an angry youth who was given an improper outlet. Minerva was also terribly abused by an ain't shit dad. None of these other kids were actual slaves nor were they violated by a magic taught to yet another victim expressly for the purpose of brainwashing (this term is also widely debated and I'll touch on that later).
What's a guy – who's agency was quite literally stripped from him for more than half his life – have to do to earn redemption? According to many in the FT fandom, nothing will ever be enough. I've seen folks say he's heinously unforgivable and can only bring Erza sadness despite canon evidence to the contrary. More than once we've seen Erza state how much she cares about and for Jellal, show appreciation for his efforts, and actual concern for his lack of care in keeping himself hidden from prying eyes.
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Why is it so easy for fans to forgive Laxus and Gajeel, but not Jellal? I sure don't know the answer. He has been instrumental in assisting (and saving the life of) the protagonist [Natsu] in a plot relevant battle.
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He has saved Erza's life and wreaked havoc in the wake of her injuries...
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Time...
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And time...
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Again.
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He has provided crucial assistance to the Magic Council when necessary and followed their rules.
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He has been weighed and judged by Mavis and found to have a heart worthy of Fairy Tail.
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He not only saves Kagura's life...
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...but she later saves his!
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What more do you people want? Is this not enough? He has earned the trust and approval of the characters that matter. This is redemption over the course of hundreds of chapters. This is forgiveness. He has earned both. I don't think it's been done poorly. Remember the real-time time line of FT is about two years. I don't think his story has fallen flat at all. In fact, Jellal and Erza are a really good example of love and understanding when it comes to mental illness, trauma recovery, and boundaries.
Jellal does not expect Erza to fix him. He's taken it upon himself to handle his own shit – to right his wrongs as best he can. He's not forcing her into that emotional labor. And like... wow. What a guy. Can actual men take note of this please? Because damn. Erza understands his problems and she loves him (and cares about his well being) so much she has waited for him.
I can't understand the opinion that Jerza is somehow toxic. Are we reading the same manga?
JELLAL vs. SIEGRAIN
When we first meet Jellal as Siegrain, he's an arrogant asshole. He and Ultear display the kind of casual supremacy that only a young person with position and ability – that they likely don't deserve – can pull off. He shows a weird kind of amused affection for Fairy Tail and stops the council from punishing them more harshly for the destruction they regularly cause.
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Siegrain's first interaction with Erza is super creepy but foreshadows what happens later with Jellal in his corporeal form at the Tower of Heaven. It's a hint that Erza has a nasty backstory she's keeping secret and that it has something to do with Siegrain. He is very much in her personal space here and the argument can be made that even under Ultear’s control, Jellal is still drawn to Erza. The full story doesn't come until later, though.
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In the flashbacks during the ToH arc we see a young Jellal. He is kind. He is friendly. He is charismatic, and in the recent past, he convinced a group of terrified child slaves that they absolutely could escape to freedom – because he genuinely believed they could. He cares deeply for his friends, especially Erza, and when she is tortured to the point of losing an eye, it is Jellal who comes for her and finds her in horrible shape. In the background of the panel below it's pretty clear what Jellal has done to get to her.
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These are children approximately 10-12 in age who are living a nightmare that, even by FT's standards, is pretty damn horrible. Jellal is well liked and trusted. Erza cares enough about him to seek him out in return – only to find he's a different person. Between chapters 80-83 Jellal changes utterly. He goes from what Erza describes as her ideal –
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To something... else.
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While Erza is finding her claws, Jellal is tied up and tortured. He's whipped and beaten and is forced to endure the retelling of what these same guards had done to Erza.
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This kind of bleak horror would drive anyone's soul to it's knees. Jellal is about 12 here. He is a child slave on a fucking rock in the middle of the ocean. He tried to rescue a friend he loves only to find her bloodied and missing an eye. For this crime of compassion, he's tortured by the very same people. He. Is. Twelve.
How could a grown person resist the sweet call of revenge by a specter who appears before them claiming to be the ghost of a god, much less a distraught child? Of course he hates the world. Why shouldn't he? I know I hate the world and for so many less valid reasons!
The anime shows the scene where Ultear possesses Jellal very differently than the manga so for the sake of continuity I'm sticking with the manga. By the time Erza finds him, the Jellal she knew has been warped.
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Whatever magic Ultear used on Jellal is never explained in detail. In chapter 95, Ultear is speaking with Hades and she thanks him for teaching her a brainwashing technique. The Oxford definition of brainwashing is: “the activity of forcing somebody to accept your ideas or beliefs, for example by repeating the same thing many times or by preventing the person from thinking clearly.” I'm not sure if that meaning entirely defines what happened to Jellal. Ultear appeared to him at a time when Jellal was at his weakest. He was in pain, his heart was broken, his spirit was broken. She offered him an outlet for his rage – but she also lied.
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Would Jellal have let her in if he'd been in any other circumstance? Probably not. And it wouldn't matter anyway because Ultear lied. She wasn't Zeref. Nor did she even have a grasp of who Zeref truly was. In fact, Ultear was also a tool much like Jellal – but without the brainwashing magic. She's a product of good old fashioned grooming. He could not possibly have known her true intent of manipulating him for nearly a decade, and hurting a lot of people Jellal previously cared about in the process. If given the full scope of things, would he have let her in? No.
This is basic consent. Jellal was a slave. Slaves cannot give consent. Not ever. They are property. They do not have choices. Jellal could not give Ultear – a person who was not a slave – permission to enter his body or mind and change his goals and decision making processes. For argument's sake, let's take away the slavery element. Jellal is in a random basement dungeon. Still tied up. Still thinking his friends are dead. Still tortured and hating the world. Ultear pops in, lies, and slips in his head. This is still not consent. Her intentions are not made clear to him. He lets her in under completely false pretenses. Any and all arguments that Jellal is somehow to blame for Ultear manipulating him are invalid and should be burned to the ground immediately. Salt that bullshit earth!
All that aside, Ultear is now in his head. Siegrain is born. Is Siegrain really all that different from Jellal? Mmm... not really. Jellal and Siegrain are both parts of the same whole. Siegrain is just as charismatic as Jellal. He's very good at getting what he wants from the council. He is a toxic cocktail of Ultear's desires, and qualities we know Jellal had already. Heroes and villains are shockingly alike when picked apart. Both have ambition and drive. Well written heroes have a darker side, and a well written villain has a core of humanity. Siegrain is a manipulation of Jellal. It only takes a few tweaks to turn a full bodied hero into a nasty villain. Ultear found the right spots, and squeezed.
I have no doubts that if he'd been allowed to grow up without Ultear's and Hades's intervention, Jellal would've developed the same anti-hero tendencies we see from him in the most current arcs. In chapter 416, Jellal tells Erza she'll survive because she has seen the best and worst parts of humanity and understands them. He encourages her to continue her walk in the light.
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Even as he says this, he takes his place in the shadows. He knows he is needed there.
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Jellal is the kind of guy who will take a bullet for the team. It's just who he is as a person and even before he was brainwashed by Ultear he was struggling to take Erza's bullets.
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The line between good and evil is pretty thin. Characteristics alone don't make a person a hero or villain. When boiled down, Siegrain and Jellal are the same person. Intent doesn't always equal result, but result doesn't always have to define a person. Jellal struggles with what defines him. He's made some questionable decisions since regaining control of himself but he is well aware that he toes the line.
I've said before that Jellal is an idealist. He's romanticized his goals and ambitions on a ridiculously impractical scale. This isn't too different than a possessed Jellal. He was positively heretical and had wildly romanticized the idea of Zeref's magic. Idealism on steroids.
MOVING FORWARD
Jellal's stated goal has always been to take down Zeref. He's hellbent on it. The reason for this is pretty clear. He associates Zeref and the zealotry his followers display with everything that went wrong in his life and the lives of the people he loves. I said in a [previous post] that this aspect of Jellal's arc is a bit of a plot hole. Zeref didn't create this dark magic. He was cursed for dabbling in it. We haven't seen too much of pre-curse Zeref but the things he did aren't much different than other characters in other stories (EG: Edward and Alphonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist). As I said before, a well written villain has a root in humanity that is somewhat relatable to the audience. That's what makes them scary!
I digress. Crime Sorciere cannot possibly take out all dark magic practitioners any more than a single police department can take out crime in any given city. It's just not plausible. I'm repeating myself here but August addressed this in chapter 509. He scoffs at Jellal's light vs. dark conundrum.
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August is right. Jellal can't save the entire world. What he can do is find redemption in love. This is Jellal's crux. He's earned forgiveness from relevant parties – but he's not really expressed whether or not he's forgiven himself. He has done more than anyone could possibly ask of him in order to atone for what was done in his name. Even Kagura has decided his life has worth!
I believe Mashima has set Jellal up to have a happy ending with Erza. When I started reading FT the Avatar arc had just ended. There's a gap between the interpretations of those who binge and those who've read serially for years. Serial consumers have time to stew and get hung up on things that are sometimes hard to let go of. I binged so I was able to consume the meatiest bits of Jellal's story all at once. I don't think it's been poorly executed. I don't think any of it has fallen flat. There is absolutely no point to Kagura saving Jellal's life on her own, without prompting, if Mashima did not intend to wrap up Jellal's arc in a positive way. We even have a canon confession of love.
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He implicitly says he has finally found the light in his heart. He's found light. Inside of himself. Jellal loves Erza and has vowed to protect her – and has! Against Acnologia no less! Jellal has all the materials necessary to complete his arc. I have absolute faith this will happen.
I mean...
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momobage · 7 years
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Momobage Interview: Questions for a games enthusiast
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I still consider myself a relative beginner in the mobile game world since I haven’t explored many different genres yet. However, while the games and the developing companies are important, each gaming fandom and community make the playing experiences more enjoyable. Personally, meeting and becoming close with people can be difficult in real life. But, the people I have met and befriended because of mobile games have a strong understanding and connection for the game and its fans. So, I contacted Michelle from kurumiya on Tumblr. Michelle is 25 years old and lives in Scotland. She is a video game enthusiast and enjoys Japanese media such as games and TV shows. She also provides help and some translations for various Japanese mobile games through her Tumblr. I could tell she was such a nice and helpful person who really cared about the games she played and others in the gaming community.
Currently, what are your favourite mobile games to play? Why?
My current favourite games are Love Live, Kirameki Note and Smash Tap.
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Love Live! School Idol Festival (ラブライブ!スクールアイドルフェスティバル) is a mobile game developed by KLab and Bushiroad which combines a rhythm tapping game and a card collecting game into one. It was also the very first rhythm game I played so it's just something that has always stuck with me.
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Boyfriend (Beta) Kirameki Note (ボーイフレンド (仮) きらめきノート) is a mobile game published by Ameba Games and has become one of my favourite rhythm games that I've tried playing so far. Even though I knew nothing about the characters when I first began, the game was very easy to get into and events aren't too challenging for a free player.
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My Hero Academia: Smash Tap (僕のヒーローアカデミア スマッシュタップ) is a mobile game developed by Bandai Namco. It’s a new game that I'm currently going through the "I love this game!" phase. Although it’s a simple tap to attack game and needs a bit of patience to play, it’s something that everyone can play for free without needing to pay for in-game purchases.
When and why did you start playing mobile games?
I started playing mobiles games about 3 years ago since they're easily accessible and many of them are free. It’s beneficial since you don’t lose any money if you end up not enjoying the game or get bored of it. I also usually play games that align with my interests, which is why I really like Smash Tap and another game called Fairy Tail Goku Mahou Ranbu (フェアリーテイル 極・魔法乱舞) since they are based off the original anime and manga.
What is your favourite part about mobile games? Story, characters, mechanics, etc.
The mechanics of a game definitely makes a game hit or miss for me since it is essentially what will keep me hooked on a game. My other favourite thing about mobile games is the luck element many of them have like gachas. [I commented, “YOU LIKE GACHAS?! You must have really good luck!” since my experience with them is usually bad]. The reasons I love gachas so much is because I kind of like the gambling element to it. You're using all your saved up in-game currency for new characters or items so it’s really exciting to see what you're going to get! Although there is no guarantee of winning something favourable, there is always hope in the next try. It's the same feeling when you say "One more time!" while playing a UFO catchers’/claw cranes and such.
Do you feel a stronger connection between you and some characters that you may not normally feel in other games you have played?
Not particularly. I don't think mobile games are as immersive as perhaps console or pc games because they are often limited in what you can do. Often the amount of time you can play for in one sitting is only fifteen to thirty minutes before you run out of stamina.
How do you react to criticism? Usually there are negative comments online on how a game functions or is not being fair, etc.
I don't really pay attention to criticisms or reviews of mobile games. As a more mature player, as long as I find it fun for myself then that's good enough. I also don't see mobile games as a long term commitment either. If something isn't functioning right or the game is failing to make improvements then it's too easy to just delete it and find something else. Eventually you forget about it and move on. In that way I think mobile games are very disposable.
Are there any games you stopped playing? If so why?
There's too many games for me to really mention that I've stopped playing, but some games I have stopped playing recently were A3!, Band Yarouze, and BanG Dream! The main reason I often stop playing a game is because as a free player you often reach a cap that you can't really surpass without paying money. For some other games, the game starts to focus on multiplayer functions too much, which again, relies more on how much money you spend on the game rather than your own persistence.
If a game doesn’t already have one, would you want to see developers create an animated series, real life mini drama, or character sung songs?
I think it really depends on the franchise and type of game, but I think there is definitely the option to branch out into different medias such as character songs and animated series for some games. Voiced characters and a good storyline are definitely needed beforehand though.
Since smartphones are so important in our everyday life, do you think that creates even more potential for mobile games, or does it defeat their purpose since it is so common?
With smartphones being almost a necessity these days and internet becoming more accessible, I think it definitely leaves room for improvement in the mobile gaming industry since it allows for more competition; which is good in terms of gaming quality. It's also a good industry for new developers, aspiring writers and artists etc. and allows for growth and new ideas which can only lead to newer and better games.
With the development of virtual reality, do you think future mobile games will try to incorporate it? Do you think it’ll be successful?
I think there is definitely a market for VR mobile games, but it will still take some time to produce something considered "good". I think as technology continues to improve, it will eventually be successful. But for now, I think we're still quite far away from making a "good" VR mobile game.
What kind of mobile games do you wish to see next? Are there any mobile games you anticipate for? Whether in the making or already released.
I personally hope to see some more RPG open world type of mobile games as I still haven't found one with the kind of feature I'd like to see or with a decent game progression rate. As for games that I'm anticipating, I'm highly excited for the B-Project: Muteki*Dangerous (B-PROJECT~無敵*デンジャラス~) game (photo below).
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If you could create any mobile game, no limitations, what kind of game would it be?
For me I would like to create a dungeon crawling/quest RPG sort of game with lots of character customisation like MapleStory, World of Warcraft and other MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games). With customisation, it would make mobile games, especially dating/visual novel ones, even more emotional and personal. These types of games also have no limit on how long you can play you can play for hours at a time rather than perhaps 30 minutes.
If you could recommend one game to other beginner mobile game players, which one would it
I would recommend that people play Love Live as it's a popular game with a large community in both Japanese and English. So, there are multiple beginner tutorials, walkthroughs and other people to ask questions and talk to about the game.
As mentioned in the beginning, the gaming community is very helpful, especially for mobile game beginners. By conducting this interview, I understand how Michelle and I’s gaming experiences may be different based on the games we played. However, we can still bond over similar aspects in games or fan over characters we like with ease. These kinds of relationships with other players are what make mobile games so fun and special. A big thank you to Michelle for being so nice and doing the interview!
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g-on-ef · 7 years
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Daddy’s Little Songbird
Fandom: Fairy Tail Parings: Natray/Gratsu, Fraxus, Chendy, Gajevy, Juvana, Jerza, Stingue, A little of Loray. Ratings: M for sexual content Warnings: none that I can think of Summary: Five years ago Natsu left Gray for fame and fortune, five years ago he left his unborn child never knowing them or seeing them going through their experience in life. Now he’s back and he wants to make amends, the question is does Gray even want him back? Especially now that he is engage to another man?
Chapter 1: The offer
Natsu and his cat Happy stood in front of the water fountain that was in the center of Magnolia Park. He could see people walking by minding their own business, he could see that it was a pretty crowded.
Perfect.
“You ready little buddy?” he asked at the little cat who meowed and grabbed the hat on that was lying on the ground with his mouth and walked over to the fountain. He hopped on top of the fountain. He then turned to his friend/partner.
“You ready Lucy?”
Lucy looked at him and nodded her head.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she took out the mix tape that she and Natsu have been working on and put it inside the portable CD player. She then pressed play, and stood up and walked over to where Happy was and sat down.
Natsu heard the familar beat of the song that he and Lucy have been working on, waiting for his queue. Once the intro was done Natsu began to sing,
When you're standing in the dark And you struggle to find the light When you just try to find your way But you just can't find the time I'll come for you You know that I'll save you
Lucy watched as the people were stopping their walk or whatever they were doing and turned to face the pinkette that was singing his heart out.
Who you gonna call, gonna call? Who you gonna call, gonna call? When you need somebody When you need someone Who you gonna call, gonna call? Who you gonna call, gonna call? When you need somebody When you need someone
Lucy grabbed Happy and placed him on the ground. The little cat started walking up to people with the hat in his mouth, some were generous enough to drop a few jewels in the hat since they were enjoying the performance and had to admit, the boy had an amazing voice,
When you need somebody When you need someone When you need somebody When you need someone
When the water's just too deep Getting chased by the shark When the pressure's just too much And you feel it in your heart I'll come for you You know that I'll save you
Lucy couldn’t help but smile as she watched her best friend sing to his heart’s content, he was an amazing singer and it broke her heart that he couldn’t show the world his talent. He was amazing, his music was fantastic and the songs he wrote put any professional writer to shame.
Of course, according to Natsu, those writers didn’t have his beloved to inspire them.
And who's right? Let me know I'll be there I'll be close It's your fear That we won't If this dies Be my ghost
Who you gonna call, gonna call? Who you gonna call, gonna call? When you need somebody When you need someone Who you gonna call, gonna call? Who you gonna call, gonna call? When you need somebody When you need someone
The song ended along with the tape, Natsu stopped his singing and watched as people applaud his performance. Natsu bowed and thank them as they stared to leave the park but not before they congratulated Natsu on a job well done. Natsu thanked them as he walked over to Lucy who picked Happy up and began to count the money.
“Alright Lucy, how much did we make?”
Lucy looked at Natsu before a huge grin spread across her face.
“Well my dear friend we made...$350!”
“3-350?!”
“Yep, people are really loving your performances, not that I blame them, you keep getting better and better which each song that you write and perform,” she said with a soft smile.
Natsu smiled as he took the money and counted it, once he was done he put it in his pocket.
“Well we should start heading out, Gray is probably wondering were I am,”
Before Lucy could agree with him the two heard clapping. They turned to see a short man with bright orange hair walking up to them. The man had a white suit on and looked like he just came from a very important meeting. Standing next to the man was none other than Lucy’s parents.
“You were right Jude, the boy is talented, hell I haven’t seen talent like that in a long while,”
“Mom, Dad,”
“Mr. Heartfelia,”
“I told you Ichyia, he has an amazing voice and his writing skills are simply divine,”
“So that was an original song eh?”
“Uhhh...”
“Of course it was, he even compose the beat that came along with it, didn’t you Natsu?”
Being address by Layla Natsu shook his head and snapped out of his shock.
“Yes, I basically wrote and produce this song, of course I had a little help,”
“Oh?”
“My boyfriend, Gray is usually the one who inspires the most of my songs and he’s always helping me when it comes to choosing which beats best suits the songs,”
“I see,” Ichiya said staring at the boy.
“Well Mr. Dragneel you certainty left an impression on me and I would love to hear more of you, you probably haven’t guessed it yet but I am Ichiya of Blue Pegasus,”
“Blue Pegasus?! The most successful music company to ever exist!”
Ichiya smiled,
“The very same one, and I would love it if you were a part of our team, you have a talent my boy and it is being wasted on just doing nothing but street performances. My men and I are here for the next two weeks, I hope you and I can have a meeting a schedule your future soon my boy,”
Taking out a card he handed it to Natsu.
“I look forward to your call of course I would prefer it if you called me within the next two weeks as that is the amount of time I will be here, now if you excuse me I have to go and find my men and inform them that we will be heading to the Heartfelia mansion a little earlier than expected,”
With that said both he and the older Heartfelias left the two alone.
“So what do you think Na...tsu?” Lucy looked to where her friend was supposed to be but wasn’t nowhere to be found.
“He must have ran to the bar to tell Gray the news,” she said to herself as she picked up her boombox and head towards the direction where Fairy Tail bar should be at.
Fairy Tail Bar
“Don’t work to hard you hear me Gray?”
Gray turned to see the owner of the bar glaring at him along with the co-owner.
“Don’t worry Gramps, I’m not lifting anything heavy and Juvia is making sure that I’m not overworking myself,”
“Good, the last thing any of us need is for you to get hurt,”
“Don’t worry old man, I’m making sure that he doesn’t do anything stupid,” Gray turned to see his friend, Cana walking up to him.
“Besides, he and I are on the same boat now aren’t we?” she asked as one hand rubbed her belly and the other rubbed Gray’s.
Gray just laughed as he placed his hand over both of hers.
“Yeah we are, so don’t you guys worry we’re going to be okay,”
“Alright, just don’t do anything that will bring harm to my great-grandchildren,”
“Makorav is right, I don’t want anything happening to my grandchild and their future best friend okay kids?” Gildarts, Cana’s father said.
Both Cana and Gray just nodded their heads as they went back to serving the customers.
As they served the customers everyone was enjoying the peace and quiet, not knowing that things were about to change...
A/N: Good ??? Bad ??? Should I continue this ??? Let me know ^^
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the-real-narnia · 5 years
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Ripples, Chapter Three - Cana, Part One
Title: Ripples
Fandom: Fairy Tail
Rated: M for Violence and Swearing
Other Sites: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12477008/3/Ripples, 
https://archiveofourown.org/works/10831923/chapters/24111408#workskin
https://www.quotev.com/story/9590597/Ripples/3
https://www.wattpad.com/416539692-ripples-a-fairy-tail-fanfiction-chapter-three-cana
Chapter Three - Cana
The next day, I started making teleportation trips.
I made two trips, and was halfway into town before I felt my magic drain out.
After resting, I sighed and decided to walk the rest of the way. My magic wasn't very strong yet, and the fact that I could only make two short trips before being completely drained wasn't very promising.
You're just starting, Elle. Give it a rest.
After several minutes of walking, I finally stood in front of the guildhall.
I took a deep breath and opened the door.
While it was certainly loud and festive, it was nowhere as crazy as it was in the future.
I wonder if it's Natsu's fault it gets so violent, I thought.
"Hey there, little lady, what are you doing here?" a man I vaguely recognized as a younger Macao asked me.
"She's older than Cana," Wakaba said, snorting.
Oh? That was interesting. I didn't know Cana had already joined the guild yet.
"I would like to see the Master," I said.
"Oh, you're such a cutie-pie!" A girl squealed, hugging me. I recognized her vaguely as a girl named Enno, who was dancing on tables in one of the OVAs. I was also fairly certain she was Romeo's mother, but I had no proof of that, and I don't think it was ever confirmed. But Macao also ends up divorced later on, and Enno is no longer in the guild in the future, so…oh well, it's just a thought. "Come this way," Enno said, taking my hand. "I"ll take you to the master."
She took me up the stairs and down a hallway until we reached the master's door. "He's in there, sweetie! Don't be scared of him or anything, he's a nice old man, and he's even shorter than you!"
"Thank you, miss," I said, as she turned and went down the stairs.
I looked at the door before sighing and knocking.
"Come in!" said an older voice.
I opened the door and closed it behind me, walking to the center of the room to look at Makarov over the desk. "Hello Master Makarov. I come baring news of the future. I hope you will take the time to hear it, and listen to my plans."
His eyes widened, but other than that, he had no real reaction. Which was odd. I mean, how often do children walk into your office saying that they know the future? "What is your name, dear girl?"
"Eleanor Rigby, but I prefer Elle."
No reaction. I forgot the Beatles weren't a thing here. At least I don't need to worry about being teased.
"Alright, my dear girl, please sit down."
I took the seat across from the desk and began to start. "I know information of the upcoming future, though most of the information doesn't occur until after Year X784."
"Is there any way you can prove that you know this?" Makarov asked.
"Yes," I said quietly. "In the future, Fairy Tail will end up fighting the entirety of the Balam Alliance, though luckily the three main guilds are taken down at separate times. After that, Fairy Tail goes to war against Alvarez, Acnologia, and Zeref. These are the most important things to know. And while the Balam Alliance, with the exception of the master of Grimoire Heart, Master Hades, doesn't know about the Lumen Histoire, Alvarez does, and that is what the war is over."
He opened his mouth to say something, but paused and looked confused. "What is the Balam Alliance? Tartaros is known, and I know that Grimoire Heart is starting to become prominent, but I've never even heard of the other one."
I sat up in shock. That's right! At this point in time Oracion Seis isn't formed. In addition to that, Ultear probably hasn't joined Grimoire Heart yet, and she was the leader of the Seven Kin for a reason. "You probably shouldn't worry about it, because I think I'll be able to change it."
His eyes widened, and he sat back. "Can you prove that Lumen Histoire is more than just a name?"
"Yes," I said. "Lumen Histoire is actually First Master Mavis in a lacrima crystal, and an endless store of power. It's held in the basement."
"Please give me a minute," he said, before closing his eyes. Well, at least he knew to take me seriously now. "Alright. Do you have any sort of plans?"
"I have some," I admitted. "Most I'll be taking care of myself. Such as leading certain members of Fairy Tail here so that they join earlier. As for your help, I was hoping that you could get an MPF and have everyone do training sessions. You can measure the power of their strongest spell every few months, and work on increasing their magical power. I would also suggest everyone learning a secondary type of magic, such as teleportation or requip magic for emergencies. I'm also hoping to save the lives of several powerful mages and have them join the guild as well."
He nodded. "Those are smart ideas, and it would be good to implement that. Anything else?"
"Well, the Fantasia Parade shows of magical power and puts on a show, right? Well, why don't you also have an annual battle thing that happens on the other side of the year? You can have people pay to watch, which raises money, and we get to practice by sparring against each other."
He nodded. "Smart idea."
"Yes, especially because of the damage that's going to be caused."
"What?" he asked.
"Some of the main people who end up joining the guild are very destructive. I hope that, with our training sessions, they will get enough refinement and control over their powers that they don't end up breaking everything. More precision, you know? But it will be good to have some extra cash so we can pay for the damages they do cause."
I also hoped that by making Natsu stronger, he wouldn't just become more destructive, but I didn't get my hopes up.
Master Makarov sighed. "Alright. I will start setting up training sessions. Is there anything else?"
"Yes, I have a few more things. Please tell your members to pick up any strong gate keys they can find. I will reimburse them if they buy it from a store, but those keys will be very handy in the future. And that's about it for now."
He nodded. "Alright. Will you be joining the guild?"
I smiled. "Yep."
He opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a stamp. "Think of the color you would like. Where do you want it?"
I moved the back of my dress down and moved my hair out of the way. "Right in between my shoulder blades, please."
He pressed it down and I felt my magic taking it in. Master Makarov held up a mirror so I could see it. It was black, with a gold outline. "Nice," I said, smiling. It had come out perfectly. I had remembered that Levy's was white with an outline in a pinkish-orange color, and I wanted to have an outline on mine too.
"Now, let's introduce you to the guild!" he said, leading me out of the office.
"Actually, if you could wait to introduce me until after I get a strong hold on my magic?" I asked. "That's also why I had the mark on my back. Once I get the right clothes I'm going to have them laced up in the back so you can still see the mark, but if I put a jacket over it I can keep it hidden, which is also good in case I have to go undercover."
He gave me a look. "How old are you really, Elle?"
"Today, I'm supposed to be nineteen, but because of other circumstances (which is also how I ended up with knowledge of the future), I'm physically ten years younger than I am."
"I see," he said quietly. "Very well, I will not introduce you. You will still visit often, however?"
I smiled. "Of course. Have a nice day, master."
He smiled back. "You as well, my dear."
I made my way downstairs and managed to exit the guild without any other members of the guild – of my guild seeing me.
My guild, I thought fondly.
As I exited the doors I crashed into a small person.
"Sorry," I said, quickly stopping her from falling. Taking a step back, I quickly realized who it was. "Hi, I'm Eleanor, but you can call me Elle."
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A five-year old Cana Alberona looked at me in slight confusion. "Like the letter?"
I giggled. "Yep. What's your name?"
"I'm Cana."
"It's nice to meet you Cana," I said, holding out a hand. "Why don't you take a walk with me."
"Okay," she said. She took my hand and we started walking to East Gate Park.
"So tell me about your magic!" I told her.
"How do you know I have magic?" she asked. "I'm not that strong. I've only just started and I'm only using cards to predict when my f- ah, when people come back from trips and stuff."
"Do you mind showing me your cards?" I asked. We had arrived at the park.
We took a seat underneath a large (and somewhat familiar) tree.
"Sure," Cana said, pulling out a packet. "Do you want me to read your fortune?"
"Hmm…maybe in the future. But why do you only try to do that? Cards are good for a variety of magic. You can summon elements, and use cards to transport objects…it's all super cool! People underestimate card magic a lot, too, but you could probably become an S Class Mage if you try hard enough."
"R-really?" Cana asked.
I nodded. "You're still pretty small, but I can feel your magic, Cana. You've got power just waiting to be tapped. If you start training every day, your magical reserves will grow, and you can become super powerful."
"Do you really think so?" she asked.
I nodded. "Yeah, and if you ask Master to help you and to give you books you need, you'll probably learn even faster!"
She smiled. "I'm gonna do it! I'm gonna go train!"
I smiled. "Then go get started, silly! I need to get going home anyway, I've got my own training to do. So how about we meet here every once in a while and we compare our training methods and strength."
"Cool!" she said. "I'll see you later Elle-nee-chan!"
Nee-chan? I smiled. "It was nice meeting you," I told her. "I'll see you at the guild!"
Helping Cana get motivated this early was another bonus, something I thought I wouldn't actually have to do for a while; I didn't expect her to be here this early. I got up, stretched, and teleported to my house.
When I appeared outside, I nearly collapsed, dizzy from the spell. It was probably too long a distance for a beginner, so I'd have to practice some more, but the fact that I made the distance was good.
I wonder what would happen if I didn't make the distance? Would I just end up somewhere halfway? How does that even work…
I shook the thought out of my head and went inside. I sat at the table and started eating some bread and fruit, and reading more about teleportation magic.
It was time to get back to work.
"What do you think, First?" Makarov asked.
Mavis Vermillion moved out of the shadows. "I think she's telling the truth, but you should probably wait and see."
"And her intentions?"
"I think they're in the right place. I suggest for now, we watch what she does, and the actions she takes. If it becomes troublesome or problematic, then we'll discuss things."
"Why are you here, anyway?" Makarov asked, curiously.
"I sensed a disturbance. I wanted to see what it was."
"Do you think it was Elle coming back in time?" Makarov asked.
"I don't think she particularly came back in time," Mavis said. "I think she's a new variable."
Makarov sighed. "I was wondering; her magic doesn't seem strong enough if she went back in time."
"What makes you think that going back in time would send back magic?" Mavis asked. "If you only sent your mind back in time, your magic wouldn't come with it. It's not as if you magical container is a part of your spiritual body - it's a physical thing. They wouldn't keep their magic. If they tried hard enough, they could probably stretch their magical containers very quickly, because they remember what it was like, but I highly doubt their magic would continue with them, unless they stored it in an astral plane."
Makarov blinked. "Huh. I guess I always assumed differently."
Mavis sighed and walked to the window. "Eleanor Rigby is going to bring changes," Mavis said. "Whether they're good or bad, we'll have to wait and see."
"If she changes too much, won't her knowledge of the future be useless?" Makarov asked.
"Yes...and no," Mavis admitted. "Some things are destined to happen, and cannot - will not be able to be changed."
Her gaze drifted outside. "And that's what I'm worried about."
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