Chapter 213: Welcome Home
"Your Highness the Prince, who is he?"
Panther Lily stood amidst the ruins of the Royal Capital, his gaze fixed on the lingering traces of magical energy in the sky.
He clutched his bandaged side; the memory of his brief exchange with the white-haired monster was still fresh, a dull throb in his ribs reminding him of the gap in their power.
He had never felt such overwhelming, irrational strength before.
"Him?" Mystogan looked up at the fading rift in the sky, a complex expression crossing his face—relief, gratitude, and a hint of awe. "He is the strongest Mage in the Fairy Tail Guild of that world."
"The strongest..." Panther Lily murmured, his ears twitching. "Earth Land truly lives up to its name as a world rich in magic power. To think it is capable of birthing such terrifying monsters."
He turned his gaze to the unconscious figure lying nearby. King Faust, once the absolute ruler of Edolas, now lay defeated and broken, pulled from the wreckage of the Dorma Anim.
"Your Highness the Prince, as for His Majesty the King..."
"He is alive," Mystogan said quietly, looking down at his father.
"But according to Ren, the damage to his mind is permanent. Even if he wakes up, he will likely be... vacant. Like a shell without a soul."
Panther Lily fell silent. It was a cruel fate, perhaps, but fitting for a man who tried to steal the souls of an entire world.
"This is his just deserts," Mystogan said, his voice firming. He turned away from the fallen king, looking towards his people who were slowly emerging from the shelters. "At least he's alive. Let's first properly reassure the citizens. There are still many matters that need to be dealt with now. We have a kingdom to rebuild."
Earth Land, Magnolia Town
The sky hung heavy and grey over Magnolia, weeping a steady, gentle rain. The droplets tapped a rhythmic beat against the cobblestones, washing away the dust of the day.
Buzz—!
Suddenly, the space above the town square distorted. A jagged rift tore open the fabric of reality, revealing a swirling vortex of darkness—a Garganta.
Several figures stepped out from the void, their feet splashing onto the wet pavement. The cool, damp air of Earth Land wrapped around them, a stark contrast to the dry, magic-starved atmosphere of Edolas.
"We're... we're finally back!!!"
Natsu Dragneel fell to his knees, kissing the wet ground. "Earth Land! I can taste the Ethernano! I'm all fired up!!!"
Although they hadn't been gone for long in terms of time, the weight of the journey made it feel like years. The fear of losing their friends, the desperation of fighting a kingdom—it all washed away with the rain.
"Yeah! When I first saw everyone disappear, I really didn't know what to do."
Wendy Marvell let out a long, shaky breath, clutching Carla to her chest. Her large eyes were misty. "I was so scared... I thought I'd lost another guild."
"It's okay now, Wendy," Carla said softly, patting the young Dragon Slayer's arm. "We did it."
The group looked around. The familiar streets of Magnolia stretched out before them, wet and glistening under the streetlamps. And there, standing proudly at the end of the main road, was the building that meant everything to them.
"It's Fairy Tail! It's the same as before!" Happy cheered, flying in circles.
"And the streets of Magnolia too!!" Lucy Heartfilia smiled, wiping rain from her face. "Everything is back to normal!"
"That's great!!"
The relief was palpable, a physical weight lifting from their shoulders. They had won. They had brought everyone home.
"Let's hurry over and see! I wonder how everyone is doing?"
"Okay!"
Natsu scrambled up, and the group broke into a run, splashing through puddles as they raced toward the guild hall.
However, one person lagged slightly behind.
"Ren... Ren-nii! My sister and brother..."
Lisanna Strauss stood frozen, her hands trembling by her sides. Her eyes darted frantically towards the guild, then towards the town, filled with a mixture of overwhelming hope and terrifying anxiety. She was back. She was really back. But... were they ready for her?
Ren stopped and turned back to her. The rain soaked his white hair, plastering it to his forehead, but his expression was warm and reassuring. He smiled, a gentle look that anchored her racing heart.
"They aren't at the guild right now," Ren said softly. "Mira and Elfman... they are currently behind the cathedral."
"Behind the cathedral?" Lisanna's breath hitched. She knew what was there.
"Go," Ren urged gently. "They're waiting for you."
"Thank you... Thank you, Ren-nii!"
Tears welled up in her eyes again. She didn't hesitate anymore. Lisanna turned and sprinted, her feet pounding against the pavement as she ran towards the Kardia Cathedral.
Kardia Cathedral
The imposing structure of the cathedral loomed against the grey sky. It had been damaged in the previous battle between Ren and Laxus, the stone scarred and broken, but it had since been completely rebuilt. It stood taller and more magnificent than before, a symbol of resilience.
Behind the cathedral, in the quiet solitude of the cemetery, the rain fell harder.
Rows of headstones stood like silent sentinels. In front of one particular grave, two figures stood under a black umbrella.
The tombstone was clean and well-kept. It bore the name 'Lisanna Strauss.' Because her body had disappeared into particles of light—sucked into the Anima—there was no body beneath the earth. The grave contained only some of her favorite clothes and trinkets that Mirajane had lovingly organized.
"Nee-san, it's almost time to go," Elfman said softly, holding the umbrella over his sister to shield her from the downpour. His large frame was hunched, his usually boisterous voice subdued.
"Wait a little longer... Elfman," Mirajane said, her voice barely a whisper. She stared at the cold stone, her blue eyes filled with an endless, aching sorrow. "I want to spend more time with Lisanna..."
Normally, Mira avoided this place. The pain was too raw, the memory of that day too sharp. Coming here usually meant spiraling into a depression she fought hard to hide behind her smiles. But today... today she felt a strange pull.
"But the rain is getting heavier," Elfman murmured, though he didn't move.
"Just a few more minutes," Mira whispered, reaching out to brush a wet leaf from the tombstone. "I just want to tell her about the guild..."
"Mira-nee~~!! Elf-niichan~~!!"
A voice cut through the sound of the rain.
It was a voice from their memories. A voice that should not exist in this world anymore. High-pitched, cheerful, and filled with tears.
Mira and Elfman froze. Their hearts stopped beating for a second. Slowly, terrified that it was a cruel hallucination, they turned around.
Standing at the entrance of the cemetery, drenched in rain, with short white hair and cat-like eyes, was a girl. She was panting, her chest heaving, tears streaming down her face and mixing with the rain.
"Li... Lisanna...!!" Mira gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. The umbrella slipped from Elfman's numb fingers, clattering onto the wet grass.
"Mira-nee!!"
Lisanna cried out and leaped forward. She didn't care about the rain or the mud. She launched herself into her sister's arms.
Thump!
The impact knocked the breath out of Mira, but the warmth... the warmth was real. The sobbing girl in her arms was solid. She smelled of rain and Earth Land and home.
"It's not a dream..." Mira choked out, her arms instinctively wrapping around her little sister, holding her so tight her knuckles turned white. "You're real... you're really here..."
Elfman stood trembling, his massive hands shaking uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his face like waterfalls. He stared in disbelief, his mouth opening and closing.
"I... Is that really you... Lisanna! You... you..."
"It's me!" Lisanna pulled back slightly, looking from Mira to Elfman, her smile radiant despite her tears. "Mira-nee, Elf-niichan... I'm back."
"Welcome home!" Mira sobbed, burying her face in Lisanna's neck. "Welcome home, Lisanna!"
"MAN!!" Elfman roared, abandoning all composure as he wrapped his giant arms around both of them, lifting them off the ground in a crushing bear hug. "You came back! You really came back!!"
The three siblings held each other in the rain, crying and laughing, their broken family finally made whole again.
After a long while, Mira finally pulled back, wiping the tears from Lisanna's face with her thumbs.
"Lisanna... how? How did you come back? We saw you..."
"It was Ren-nii," Lisanna said, sniffing and wiping her eyes. "Ren-nii brought me back."
"Ren?"
Mira looked up. Through the veil of rain, she saw a figure standing quietly at the cemetery gate, leaning against the stone archway. He had his hands in his pockets, a faint smile on his face as he watched them.
Ren nodded slightly when their eyes met.
"Ren... thank you..." Mira whispered, her voice trembling with gratitude. She didn't know the details, she didn't know what impossible feat he had pulled off this time, but she knew that he had given her back her world.
"Don't mention thanks between us," Ren said, walking over as the rain began to lighten. "Come on, let's head back to the guild. Everyone is waiting. We can discuss the details once we get there."
"Yes! Let's go home!" Lisanna beamed, holding Mira's hand tightly on one side and Elfman's on the other.
Fairy Tail Guild Hall
The doors burst open, and the group walked in.
The guild was already buzzing with the confusion of their sudden return, but the moment Lisanna walked through the door, the noise died instantly.
Jaw dropped. Tankards fell from hands.
"Li... Lisanna?!"
"No way..."
"Is that a ghost?!"
"It's me, everyone!" Lisanna waved cheerfully.
"LISANNA IS BACK~~!!"
The guild exploded. It wasn't just a cheer; it was a roar of pure, unadulterated joy.
"Today is a holiday!! Drink until you drop!! Eat until you're full!!" Makarov shouted, jumping onto the bar counter, tears streaming down his face.
"Welcome back, Lisanna!!"
Most people in the guild had joined Fairy Tail before Lisanna disappeared, so they all knew her. Natsu, Gray, Erza, Cana, Levy—they all rushed forward, surrounding her.
"I feel like the guild has changed," Lisanna said, looking around the expanded hall with wide eyes. "And Mira-nee gives off a totally different vibe... she's so gentle now! But Fairy Tail is still Fairy Tail."
She laughed as Natsu tried to put her in a headlock and Gray started stripping in excitement. Her former small guild had turned into the large, boisterous family it was now, making her realize that two years had truly passed. But she was home.
In the corner, Ren sat at the bar, sipping a drink. Makarov sat beside him.
"Ren, we owe you a great deal again this time," Makarov said, his voice serious.
Ren had reported everything that happened in Edolas—the Anima, the parallel world, the threat of the Exceeds, and the mechanical dragon.
"What?!" Makarov's eyes bulged. "There's actually another world called Edolas?! We almost turned into a giant lacrima crystal?!"
"If it weren't for the timing and Lisanna's return, I really wouldn't dare to believe it," Macao chimed in, shivering.
"Ren," Makarov said, placing a hand on Ren's arm. "Since you joined the guild, you have solved countless troublesome matters. And this time... you saved not just the guild, but my family. Thank you."
"This is just what I should do. There's no need to be so polite, Master," Ren said with a casual shrug. "Besides, I live here too. Can't have my house turning into a crystal."
"Good job, kid! You even defeated a whole kingdom! Truly a young hero! You have the spirit of my youth, hic hahaha!"
A heavy hand slapped Ren on the back. Gildarts Clive, the guild's ace, grinned at him, his face flushed with booze. "I originally just thought you were a formidable young man, but to think you saved me while I was oblivious... I owe you a drink!"
Gildarts realized now that he and the Master had been unknowingly in grave danger. If Ren hadn't gone to Edolas, they might have remained as magical power forever.
"It was just a coincidence. If Uncle had been awake and taken action, it would have been much easier to handle," Ren said modestly.
He wasn't just being polite. He knew Gildarts' strength was immense. With Crash Magic as his base, magic from a place like Edolas—which relied heavily on items—would be disintegrated the moment it touched Gildarts' aura.
"Hic hahahahaha! You really are something, kid! Modest too!" Gildarts laughed, patting Ren's shoulder hard enough to bruise.
"Mystogan... I hope everything goes well for him in Edolas!" Makarov said suddenly, looking thoughtful.
"He'll be fine," Ren assured him. "He's the King now. He has Panther Lily and the others. He'll rebuild that world."
"The King, huh..." Makarov smiled proudly. "The children raised by this guild are all full of energy."
He then looked at his Ace. "Gildarts, are you going to stay at the guild for a while this time?"
Gildarts paused, his smile softening as he looked at the chaotic, happy guild hall. He looked at Natsu brawling with Gray, at Mira fussing over Lisanna, and at Ren quietly enjoying his drink.
He nodded slowly. "Yes, of course. I've been gone for too long this time. It's time to rest properly for a while."
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