Raizel spent the entire afternoon recording.
Unable to get it completely identical, he hummed the melody over a dozen times, tried several instruments, and after adjustments and suggestions from Varo, finally selected the version that sounded the most similar.
In addition to the one for his own use, he also asked Varo to save the music into a Sound Pod, planning to give it to Laxus after the Magical Parade in two days.
"Why are you only coming back now?"
As soon as he returned to the guild, Raizel saw Laxus staring at the food on the table, clearly waiting for him.
"Why didn't you start eating? Have Grandpa and the others eaten already?" Having recorded all afternoon, Raizel was already starving.
"It's fine, I decided to wait for you. Grandpa and the others finished eating long ago. Alright, hurry up and sit down." Laxus gestured with his chin for Raizel to sit.
"What were you doing out all afternoon? Are you prepared for your performance in the Magical Parade?"
Laxus asked between bites of a large piece of meat.
"Secret. It's all prepared," Raizel replied while eating.
Truthfully, he hadn't put much effort into preparing; someone with little artistic talent really couldn't come up with any ground-breaking ideas.
"Tch." Laxus curled his lip in disdain, then fell silent.
The two focused on devouring the food in front of them.
....
In the blink of an eye, two days passed.
During these two days, Raizel didn't go training.
Mainly, he wandered around Magnolia with Laxus.
Throughout the year, he hadn't really explored Magnolia properly. He also took the opportunity to introduce Laxus to Varo.
'Speaking of which, those two bastards started talking about music and completely forgot about me....'
To make his appearance at tonight's parade, he left early.
He had already informed the old man and Laxus.
"Let's get started, Laxus, Wakaba, Macao, and everyone else. Those performing, get on the parade float first. We won't wait for Raizel; that kid said he'd be there."
The parade time was approaching, but Raizel still hadn't returned to the guild.
Since Raizel had already informed him beforehand that he would appear, Makarov wasn't worried about his safety.
As long as he didn't leave Magnolia, nothing bad would happen.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Brilliant fireworks bloomed one after another in the sky.
The light from the fireworks illuminated people's faces.
The streets were filled with residents in strange costumes, all wearing smiles and cheering for the parade float.
Music played from Magnolia's sound systems.
On the parade float, the Fairy Tail members each displayed their own magic.
Wakaba continuously transformed pink smoke into various words, while Macao attempted to construct various animals out of flames.
'Wait, you can even play drums on a parade float?'
Watching Laxus playing the drums in time with the music, Raizel who stood together with Varo, observing their performance.
The crowd was too large; Laxus couldn't see him at all.
"It's about time for my entrance. Uncle Varo, I'm heading over now. Please keep the music box safe for me."
After bidding farewell to Varo, Raizel ran to a secluded spot to prepare.
...
"Why has the music changed?"
The music playing in Magnolia suddenly shifted to a track never heard before in the city, though it maintained a rock style.
Laxus was taken aback as a shadow fell over the parade float he was on. He looked up.
"That's a magic circle. Who is it?" Makarov stared intently at the black magic circle overhead, which crackled with purple arcs of electricity.
His body tensed, ready to intervene at any moment.
Following the melody, a suit of armor over four meters tall, predominantly black with gold trim, descended slowly from the magic circle onto the parade float.
It had wings wreathed in red flames, a white cape, and red crystals adorning its head and chest.
Alphamon.
Makarov relaxed his tense nerves.
Though he had never seen this armor before, he could sense Raizel's magical energy from it.
Raizel raised his palms upward, gathering magical energy and continuously firing beams of light into the sky's fireworks.
The beams and fireworks intertwined brilliantly, illuminating the armor as they shot upward.
Then, Raizel canceled his transformation and leaped onto the parade float where Laxus was.
The spectators found it quite novel, as they had never seen such armor before, and it was impressively large.
Various comments and discussions arose among the crowd.
"What's with the music? Why wasn't I informed? This track isn't on the setlist I saw."
"I'll explain later."
After speaking to Laxus, Raizel lay down flat on the parade float.
His artistic instincts didn't support overthinking, so he just went with the flow.
"So, did you see Grandpa?" Raizel, lying on the float, asked Laxus, who was still excitedly drumming away.
"Not yet. There are just too many people—I can't spot Grandpa. Wait!"
Laxus hopped down from the drum stool, ran to the front of the float, and raised his hand, pointing his index finger skyward.
'Grandpa, you said you'd be watching, right?' Laxus thought to himself.
"Laxus, I see you." Makarov stood silently in the crowd, watching his grandson.
Soon after, Raizel also raised his right index finger, followed by the members of Fairy Tail.
....
"I declare this Magical Parade a complete success!"
Makarov stood on the bar counter, raising his glass in a toast to the Fairy Tail members.
"Grandpa, did you see my message?" Laxus rushed up to Makarov and asked.
Makarov set down his glass and raised his right hand, making the gesture. "I've decided that from now on, this gesture will be the symbol and spirit of our Fairy Tail. It represents that even if I can't see you, even if you're far away, I will always be watching over you."
"WOOO!!!" The guild erupted in cheers, the sound echoing endlessly as everyone raised their hands to the sky once more.
"Now, about that armor?" Laxus and Raizel sat at the bar, sipping juice.
"Well, that's called Alpha. It's my strongest form, but it doesn't last long."
"And the music?"
"I went and asked the mayor to change it for me. We agreed on a time, and when it came, someone switched the track."
Knock—knock—
Varo appeared at the guild entrance, holding a wrapped Sound Pod as he stood there.
"Sorry, sorry, I forgot about you, Uncle Varo." Raizel clasped his hands together apologetically and hurried over to him.
"Come in quickly."
"Then I'll intrude. I've always wanted to see Fairy Tail too." Varo followed Raizel inside.
"Uncle Varo." Laxus waved a greeting to Varo, feeling quite fond of this rock-and-roll enthusiast.
"Grandpa, this is Varo James, who runs a music shop in Magnolia. He's the one I asked to handle the music for this event."
"I'm Makarov Dreyar. Thank you for looking after this kid. Please join our party." Makarov smiled and nodded at him.
"Not at all." Varo seemed somewhat shy upon meeting Makarov.
"By the way, weren't you going to give a gift?" Varo then handed the gift box to Raizel.
"Thank you very much." Raizel accepted the gift box and carried it over to Laxus.
"For me?" Laxus pointed at his nose with a bent index finger, looking surprised.
"Yeah, I think you'll like it. Open it and see." Raizel smiled at him.
"Thanks." Laxus solemnly accepted it with both hands, placed it on the counter, and slowly unwrapped the gift box.
Makarov craned his neck nearby, peeking sideways.
Two black Sound Pods connected by wires, each side featuring a sharp spike—the design was rugged with a rock-and-roll vibe.
Laxus loved it at first sight and couldn't put it down.
"You really like it, right? That day when I took you to Uncle Varo's shop, I asked him to set it aside." He had known all along that Laxus would love it, but he was still delighted.
"This must be expensive. Where did you get the money?" Laxus could tell the Sound Pods were quite valuable.
"Uncle Varo gave me a discount. Originally 100,000 Jewels, but when he heard you like rock too, he gave me half off."
"This thing is worth way more than 100,000 Jewels. You really have no idea..." Laxus glanced at Varo, who winked back, signaling him not to reveal the actual price.
Raizel, with his back turned, didn't see it, while Makarov smiled approvingly—a good way to win over an elder is to praise and indulge their grandson.
"I love it. Thank you, and thank you too, Uncle Varo." Laxus immediately put the Sound Pods around his neck.
"Oh! What great friendship! Macao, why don't you ever give me gifts?"
"Why would I give you anything?"
The two pressed their faces together, bickering and hurling insults as a series of BEEP, BEEP, BEEP censorship sounds filled the guild.
The guild was instantly filled with laughter and joy.