Broken Heart

Chapter 13

The End

It was strange, how fast things just ended. One moment, they were in mortal peril, and the next they were safe and everything was over. Everyone now sat in the basecamp. Wendy had given emergency help to those who needed it – particularly Aiko who had a deep injury to her abdomen. She'd then placed healing enchantments on everyone else that boosted the bodies' natural recovery ability by several times.

She sat with Bea now, examining her arm. "I was worried that having so much power here would have hurt you in some way, but I should have known Master better than that."

"Do… do you think I'll ever have the ability to cast Fairy Glitter again?" Bea asked shyly. "It was the only thing that made me special."

Wendy smiled. "I'm sure that it'll return to you when you need it again. You know, it's not something to take lightly. Not anyone could have cast that spell. I doubt that I could have."

"You're just saying that."

"I can't convince you, but believe in yourself. Makarov believed in you. And if there's one thing I believe in, it's Makarov's judgement." Wendy stood and patted Bea on the back before walking away. The young woman looked up at the sun in the sky and felt a little better. It felt like tomorrow was going to be good. Maybe if she just kept going, she'd be as strong and reliable as the others.

"This is bullshit!" The angry shout could have only come from Aiko. She and Ignale were raging about the exams being suspended. Bea smiled and left them to it. After all, the three of them had already lost this exam anyway! Still, they needed to move and vent – it was just their way.

===][===

"You cannot keep us here!" Yomazu and Kawazu stood within a runic containment field. It was only a few metres across, so they didn't have a lot of room. Levy stood before the cage, looking up at them.

"We're not going to keep you here. That was our mistake last time. We'll take you home and send you to prison, as is only fair."

"Wait, pe-pero!" Kawazu cried. "We've been trapped here for twenty years! Isn't that punishment enough?"

Levy turned away from them. "Twenty years ago, you pinned me to the ground and tried to kill me. Then, I was forced to leave the man I love to his possible death. Because of you two. My heart is big enough to forgive that." She turned back to them, her expression harsh, a strange expression for her. "Yesterday, you hurt my child. That alone, is the one thing I can never forgive."

Levy marched away, leaving Yomazu and Kawazu to their confinement.

===][===

Tacks was getting a headache. Not because of any injuries he'd sustained, but because he'd been left alone with both Nashi and Karren. Karren was gloating about how she'd spent the day with him, exaggerating every little detail to their extremes.

"Love-rival shouldn't be sad, just because Karren and Tacks-sama bonded on such a deep level!"

"I'm not a love-rival, he's like my brother," Nashi replied offhandedly, not even paying attention. Tacks sighed deeper. How the hell did he get into a one-way love triangle? How was that even fair!? He looked up as Gajeel trudged up to the trio, towering over them in a manner most people would find imposing. Tacks, though, only saw his dad as a big softy.

"You did well, all of you," he stated simply. "I'm sorry that this happened to you guys. You all deserve a shot at becoming S-class, but whatever happens, I'm sure that you'll make it someday. You're all true Fairies, to the core, gihi!"

"I'll want a rematch someday dad, maybe when you're using a walking stick and have grey hair!" Tacks replied with a grin. Gajeel smiled at the joke.

"Don't you think wrong, lad. I'll kick your ass if you try and put me in a care home!" He turned over to look at Karren. She quailed slightly before his fierce gaze. "You beat Salamander's gate, right? Be proud of that achievement; not many could do it. I know that I couldn't."

"Um… thanks, Mr Redfox sir."

"It's Gajeel, for fuck's sake. Salamander-spawn…"

"Nashi."

"That's what I said. I heard you stood up to that Zancrow guy. Not bad at all. He kicked your dad's ass too. Hmm… maybe he's just a weakling on Tenrou or something. You should be proud – it was a brave thing to do."

"Thanks, Uncle Gajeel," Nashi replied earnestly. Gajeel turned away and looked around the base camp.

"Any of you know where the last two went?"

===][===

Gabriel traipsed through the jungle, trying to find where Laura had gone. She'd run off suddenly at some point. Jeez, why did the damned blonde have to make things so complicated? She'd made all these sort of vague statements yesterday that Gabriel wanted to talk about, not that he knew how to start that conversation.

He finally found her, and she looked a bit dejected. For some reason, seeing her upset made his anger subside.

"What are you doing?" He asked gently.

"I'm trying to find Master Mavis. She disappeared after I left her yesterday."

Gabriel shrugged. "Probably gone back to sleep. Master Lucy said something about the heartbeat disrupting this island's magic. Now that the heart has been broken, Mavis was able to rest again."

"She never said goodbye, though."

"Does that bother you?" Gabriel scoffed. "I thought you had thicker skin than that."

Laura whirled to face him, her eyes angry. "Shut up! I didn't ask for your opinion, did I? Didn't anyone tell you not to make fun of a girl when she's feeling vulnerable?"

"What, are you on your period or something?" Gabriel replied carelessly. It was about the moment that Laura's fist collided with his face that he realised that maybe he wasn't good with talking to girls. He staggered to the side, but kept his footing. That punch hadn't been magically charged, but Laura now crackled with her trademark lightning, an obvious threat.

"Piss off, Gabriel, I'm not in the mood," she warned. She began to turn away, but Gabriel's hand went to her shoulder and as she turned, he punched her in the face in return. She stepped back, and when she looked at Gabriel again, he was glowing with the golden light of Meteor. "You hit me! You can't hit me – I'm a girl!"

"Fuck that, you're a fucking monster," Gabriel replied. Laura then noticed the look in his eyes. The look that Erza wore. The look that said, I wanna fight, and I have no idea of how to hold back. Gabriel grinned. "We never did settle our fight from yesterday."

Both of them were tired and injured, but they went at it anyway. They didn't use any magic beyond their basic reinforcement spells, clashing at high speed over and over again. They say that when fighting, your fists convey your thoughts and feelings. Not everyone has the ability to read such violence, but Gabriel and Laura were born of it.

Gabriel could feel how restless Laura was. Pent up, wound up, and ready to explode. She had wanted to become S-class so badly, and it had just suddenly been taken away from her. On top of that, she'd made a small confession yesterday, but had no confirmation from his side.

Laura could see how lost Gabriel felt. He'd been dragged to this island unexpectedly, and made to fight an old enemy for no sensible reason. On top of that, he'd been told something by her, but didn't understand it at all.

"You're a goddamned moron!" Laura screamed, punching him away. "Who cares what anyone else does or says!? If Lucy tells you to come here, if Asuma tells you to fight, if I tell you that I like you, who cares!? Take your own path with your own strength, god damn it! Life is no more complicated than that!"

"Do you really think it's that damn simple!?" Gabriel roared angrily. "You think I can turn down this opportunity so easily!? You think I can let my mother's legacy down!? You think I don't care if I hurt you!? Life isn't just about me!"

"I didn't say to be a selfish asshole!" Laura objected.

"Then what the fuck are you saying!?"

"I'm trying to tell you that I like you, even if you are a pig-ignorant country boy!"

"And I'm just trying to tell you that I like you, even if you are a stuck-up, arrogant cow!"

There was a giggle above them and they both looked up sharply. Master Mavis sat above them on a tree branch, her legs dangling back and forth as she smiled. She then looked a little upset that they had seen her.

"Aren't you going to continue? It was so cute to watch!"

"Cute!?" Laura snarled. "I am not cute!"

"I second that," Gabriel said quickly, so Laura hit him. "Okay, you are cute!" Laura hit him again. "Argh! What's the right answer!?"

"I don't think there is one," Mavis said with a light giggle. "The woman's heart is a fickle thing. Anyway, if I might interrupt your lover's tiff for a moment… I wanted to thank you. You two, specifically. The tree is the source of our magic, and as you two fought under it, I felt your hearts and magic synchronize. It was beautiful to watch."

Laura folded her arms and looked away rather than accept the compliment. Gabriel scratched his cheek in embarrassment. They thought that Mavis would say more, but she simply vanished as if she was never there. Laura scoffed and began to walk away.

"I'm going back to the base camp."

"Fine." Gabriel walked alongside her, but Laura felt her cheeks flush and quickened her pace. Gabriel sped up to match her, but she went faster. This continued until they were sprinting at top speed, but neither knowing why.

===][===

"Ah, I don't know what to do," Lucy said sombrely, staring at the boat moored on the beach. "I don't want to tell them that they can't make S-class this year. It feels rotten."

"They'll get over it," Natsu replied, holding her to him by the shoulder. "We did, remember? It sucks now, but they'll feel better once they get back home. There's always next year. Hell, seven of them weren't going to make it anyway."

"This place is supposed to be our holy ground. Why does this keep happening to us here?"

"Gramps always had a saying. The stronger the light, the deeper the shadows. There'll always be strife, but it's how we deal with it that matters."

"When did you get so wise?" Lucy asked with a smile.

Natsu shrugged. "Probably when I married someone really smart. Next year, Ignale and Nashi will have another go, and I bet they'll have matured enough to win."

"What was that, Salamander?" Gajeel replied gruffly as he walked down to the beach, Levy in tow. Natsu knew full well he was coming and listening. "Maybe you forgot how far Tacks got into the island before they were attacked – much further than your daughter."

"Aiko will be bigger next year," Levy promised. "Then the difference will close!"

"Then there's Kara," Gajeel said maliciously, leaning in. "I bet she'll be an S-class mage before either of your pups, gihi!"

"Get the boat ready!" Natsu shouted. "We have to get back and start training immediately. Our kids aren't losing to theirs! Just you wait! Nashi and Ignale will kick everyone's asses!"

"Like Karren kicked yours?" Gajeel taunted.

"I let her win!"

"Did not."

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"You're a wizard saint," Levy said with a sigh. "You should be more mature."

"And you're the Master's husband. Shouldn't you be setting an example?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Natsu replied with a contrite stance.

"Wendy's kids will pass before yours!" Gajeel shouted, jabbing a finger at Natsu and setting him off again.

"The hell!" He cupped his hands and yelled. "Everyone get down to the beach! We're going home!"

One by one, the kids began to arrive on the beach, looking back at the island wistfully. A lot had happened here in the last twenty four hours. For Aiko, Ignale and Bea, the exam had been over, and they resolved to come back stronger next year. Aiko kicked Yomazu and Kawazu to the boat maliciously.

Tacks, Nashi and Karren were happy. None of them had expected to pass with Laura and Gabriel here anyway. Now that they'd seen an exam personally, they felt like they'd be ready next time. They'd gone into the unknown and performed well.

Laura and Gabriel refused to speak to one another on the ride back. For some reason, both of them had quite red faces, like they were embarrassed about something. When they arrived back in Harjeon and began to disembark, Gabriel grabbed Laura's arm. He looked at her deep in the eye.

"Next year, I'll win for sure."

Laura grinned widely. "Just try it."

===Author's Note===

…

You all hate me, right? I understand that, and I understand why, but this is where I wanted the story to end. It isn't a self-contained story, it' part of their lives. Laura and Gabriel have just met, they'll go on many adventures yet. I'm sure Tacks will one day get the courage to tell Nashi how he feels.

And when it comes to making an S-class mage, they all feel too young. They need to grow up a little. If you want to ask me, I think Tacks would have won if it had gone unhindered. He's the smartest and really quite strong.

This story is over, but I'm not averse to writing another story with my kids, I just don't have a story to tell anymore.

Playgod: I hope I gave you a little closure.

Ulcaasi: I think it depends on the translation, but I take your point. I've never actually watched Gurren Laggan.

Bookprof101: No, sorry.

Bookworm0313: I like the idea of writing more for my kids, but I don't have a story to tell yet.

LexieLovesAnime: Lauriel, because you're worth it. Better than Gabra. Gay-bra. *shudder*

SakuraIchigoDark: I'm glad someone likes Bea. I'm her creator and I struggle with her. Oh, BTW, SHRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMP *puts you in the box with the other two*

GojiGrimlockSaurus: I thank you for the kind words.

Nick: A crack chapter. Now there's a possibility.