The Aftermath

{A/N: I added a couple of paragraphs to the end of the last chapter if you're interested.}

Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Worth Woodsea.

November, x784.

After seeing Ur's feat of power, all the onlookers could only stare in amazement. Where the Nirvana once stood, there was only a large crater which they just watched crumble into ice dust along with everything standing above it.

"Holy shit…" One of the wizards on sight muttered in pure disbelief.

Though no one was sure who it was, everyone that heard it could only nod their heads in agreement with the sentiment.

A few moments later, the sound of footsteps and the crunching of ice dust echoed through the eerily silent surroundings. Shortly afterward, Ur's silhouette could be seen walking to the edge of the affected area.

Though everyone wanted to rush over to her to ask her about what just happened, the biting cold produced by her spell greatly deterred them. Eventually, Ur walked far enough away from the epicenter that everyone could approach without endangering themselves.

Meanwhile, when Ur was close enough, everyone who could see her face, noticed that she was wearing a scowl.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Ultear asked, rushing over to her mother once her instincts said it was safe to approach. "Did something go wrong with your spell?"

"*Sigh* No, everything went fine." Ur said, shaking her head with frustration. "Other than being a little low on magic power, I'm perfectly fine."

At the same time, everyone else, or rather, those who had spread out to attack the six lacrima, had Ur's spell failed to destroy Nirvana, rushed over to see Ur, as well. And considering how strong they were, they were just in time to hear Ur's response to Ultear's question. Like Ultear, however, they were all curious about why she was scowling.

"Then, why is your expression like that?" Ultear asked in a confused tone.

"*Sigh* Because I get the feeling that old man is not only going to withhold any points from this quest for me…" Ur said, explaining the reason for her sour mood. "… but he's probably gonna take some away from me."

Hearing that, Gray, Ultear, Natsu, and Happy wore wry smiles as they immediately began to sympathize. The wizards from the other three guilds, however, were even more confused than before.

"I'm not sure what these points you speak of refer to, but surely it can't be more important than having captured the members of the Oración Seis, captured Jellal Fernandes, stopped and destroyed Nirvana, and saved the Cait Shelter guild, could it?" Jura asked, confusion overflowing from his words.

"No, of course you're right, Jura." Ur said while shaking her head sadly. "But since you're not a member of our guild, you'd never understand."

In response, Gray, Ultear, Natsu, and Happy nodded their heads in agreement.

In response, the confusion from the other wizards grew.

Meanwhile, at the end of the path Nirvana was travelling, where the village that served as the headquarters of the Cait Shelter guild stood, Roubaul, Cait Shelter's guild master stood atop the wooden walls that surrounded the village with an astonished expression on his face.

"To think, there is a wizard with such power in this era." Roubaul said. Then, he shook his head to get rid of those thoughts. "No, it no longer matters for me… for us."

As he spoke the last part, Roubaul looked back at all the villagers/members of the Cait Shelter guild.

"Our time has finally come." Roubaul continued as he turned back towards the direction where Nirvana once stood. "Our mission here is over."

Earth Land, Ishgar, Era.

In an area surrounded by dense vegetation, a grand building stood next to a large lake. In front of this building, a large ship is docked at a rather impressive dock that leads to the building's front doors. And hanging above the main entrance of this impressive building is a banner with the Magic Council's emblem stitched onto it.

Inside the largest meeting room of this building, A familiar group of people, with a few exceptions, are sitting in a meeting room as they await the outcome of a quest they requisitioned with the aid of the Kingdom of Fiore's Royal Family.

"I can't believe that damned Yajima retired just because things were not going well for us." Org, the second seat of the Magic Council said in a disdainful tone. "It's obvious that his favoritism for Fairy Tail was dictating his decision."

"That's enough, Org." Gran Doma, the new Magic Council chairman, said in a stern tone. "Speaking ill of someone who is not present to defend themselves is unbecoming of a member of the Magic Council."

In response, Org quickly shut his mouth with a scowl.

Before the conversation could continue, however, a clerk rushed into the meeting hall with a handful of documents.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Chairman." The clerk said between hurried breaths. "But we just received a report about the Oración Seis subjugation quest."

With that, all the other conversations around the meeting hall died down.

"Have they succeeded?" Gran Dom asked in an authoritative tone.

Hearing Gran Doma's question, the clerk straightened his back instinctively. Then, he stepped forward and handed the report in his hand to the chairman as he responded.

"They did." The clerk replied as Gran Doma accepted the documents. "However, a large part of the Worth Woodsea was destroyed in the process."

"And let me guess, that's due to a member of Fairy Tail, right?" Org asked in a derisive tone.

In response, most of the members of the Council nodded their heads in agreement. Meanwhile, Gran Doma silently read through the report.

"Y-Yes." The clerk replied nervously after feeling Org's gaze land on him.

"Ha!" Org guffawed. "I knew it was only a matter of time until they went back to their old ways. Even if they have been keeping their destructive tendencies to a minimum over the last few years."

Like before, most of the members of the Magic Council nodded their heads while throwing their own insults at Fairy Tail and calling for its disbandment.

"I believe you are speaking too soon, Org." Gran Doma said, his voice cutting through and silencing all the chatter.

"What are you talking about, chairman?" Org asked, a disbelieving expression making it on to his face.

Not only Org, but all the members of the Magic Council wore similar expressions after hearing the no nonsense, by the book, Gran Doma defending Fairy Tail.

"Read this report, and you'll understand." Gran Doma replied, handing the report to Org.

Taking the report, Org pulled out a pair of [Gale Force Reading Glasses] with an 18x reading speed amplification before he began reading through the report.

"What?" Org asked, the disbelief in his tone growing after he finished the report. "You mean to tell me that the Oración Seis managed to revive an ancient weapon like Nirvana? How did they even know where to find it?"

"We'll have all the time we need to find out when we start interrogating the criminals." Gran Doma replied.

"Even so, this does not change the fact that a large swath of the forest was destroyed and turned into ice dust." Org said, snapping out of his stupor.

"And if you can tell me how they could have destroyed Nirvana without destroying the surroundings, I'd like to know." Gran Doma said calmly.

In response, Org could only shut his mouth and lower his head while clenching his fists in frustration. In his opinion, this would have been the perfect chance to disband the nuisance that is Fairy Tail.

Though, if Gran Doma had known that there was a potentially less destructive way to deactivate Nirvana, he would also agree with Org. Fortunately, expecting something like this, Ur was able to convince everyone to leave the fact that Nirvana could be stopped by destroying the lacrima at the base of each of its legs. Otherwise, at the very least, Fairy Tail would have been fined once again for causing excessive damage to the surroundings.

Earth land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Worth Woodsea.

About an hour after communicating with the Magic Council and sending in their report on the quest's completion, a Magic Council airship arrived to take the criminals into custody. And unlike in the canon, there was no altercation with the Fourth Custody Enforcement Unit, led by Lahar, over Jellal's incarceration, since Natsu was not present to see4 provide aid during the quest.

Before Jellal and the members of the Oración Seis were taken away, however, Jura did ask Richard for his brother's name so he could keep his promise to help find him.

"Oh, his name is Wally Buchanan." Richard said with a fond smile on his face.

While most of the wizards only nodded in response and decided they would keep an eye out for someone with that name, Ultear wore a surprised expression.

"Now that I look at you, I guess it makes sense." Ultear said with a wry smile.

Richard only turned a confused gaze in Ultear's direction.

"I actually ran into him a couple months ago." Ultear added. "Right now, he's out traveling the world, seeing everything it has to offer."

Hearing that, Richard smiled brightly.

"Thank you for telling me." Richard said in a happy tone. "Hopefully, I'll get to see him if I ever get out of prison."

With that, Richard was escorted along with the rest of the Oración Seis, Jellal, and all the captured dark wizards into the Magic Council's airship. Then, before the Fourth Custody Enforcement Unit departed, lahar thanked the members of the alliance for their service to the continent before he boarded the airship as well.

For the next few moments, the members of the alliance watched the airship take off before flying off into the distance.

"Did someone from the Magic Council just… thank us?" Natsu asked in a confused tone.

"Well, now that Fairy Tail's not destroying everything they touch, the council won't be so antagonistic." Sorano said while rolling her eyes.

"Hey, we don't destroy… everything." Natsu said, his words getting more and more unsure as he spoke.

While Ur, Gray, Ultear, and Happy looked away, the other wizards either snickered or rolled their eyes at Natsu's statement. All except one of the wizards present, that is.

"Um… Excuse me." Wendy said in a soft tone.

Though she spoke softly, everyone, with their enhanced senses, heard her despite the conversation taking place. So, they all quieted down and turned their attention to the blue-haired, petite, Dragon Slayer.

With all eyes on her, Wendy quickly grew nervous. However, because they saved her home from being destroyed, she mustered her courage to continue.

"We're really close to my guild." Wendy said shyly. "So, would you like to spend the night there before you all head home. I'm sure our guild master would like to celebrate with all of you."

In response, all the wizards present, other than Karen, smiled. Despite not smiling, Karen agreed with the rest of the wizards as they accepted Wendy's offer to spend the night at the Cait Shelter guild to celebrate their success.

Just like that, all the wizards in the allied forces, with the exception of Sherry, who was still recovering from her injuries, made their way to the Cait Shelter guild. And before long, they were welcomed into the village with open arms before they were thanked for what they did and partied the night away.

Unfortunately, things were decidedly less jovial the following morning.

After waking up, Roubaul summoned Wendy, Carla, and the rest of the wizards from the allied forces into the guild's meeting hall. Then, he told them a story. The story of a certain tribe. More specifically a certain man from that tribe. The man who created Nirvana.

This man created Nirvana to protect his tribe, the Nirvits, against the dangers that plagued the entire world four hundred years ago. Unfortunately, he overlooked something crucial during Nirvana's creation. Nirvana was intended to absorb the darkness residing in the hearts of those who would seek to do the Nirvit Tribe harm.

However, he never considered where all that absorbed darkness would go. Unfortunately, it ended up being transferred to the peaceful Nirvit tribesman. As a result, they ended up destroying themselves from the inside.

Meanwhile, Nirvana's creator, who ended up as the last survivor of the tribe, managed to seal away the Nirvana. But he ended up losing his life in the process. Then, as a way to atone for what he had brought upon his people, instead of passing on after his death, he vowed to watch over Nirvana until it could be destroyed.

And for the next four hundred years, he did so… alone. Until a young man and a little girl appeared outside the gates of his tribes ruined village, asking for shelter for the little girl.

By this point, everyone had a bad feeling about where this story would go. Still, they continued to listen.

Then, he explained how the man, with his vast magic power, weaved an illusion so real that the little girl never realized the truth even after living in the village for the next seven years. This illusion encompassed the entire ruined village, bringing to life an entire guild. Just so the little girl, Wendy Marvell, would have a place she could call home.

"And now that you've grown up into such a splendid young woman and wizard, I can finally leave to join my people." Roubaul said, ending his story.

By now, not only Wendy, but even Carla was crying uncontrollably. Meanwhile, the village that served as the Cait Shelter guild began to fade away. First, it was the buildings, revealing all the people who had watched Wendy and Carla grow up waving at them with sincere smiles on their faces.

Then, one by one, each person also vanished.

"No!" Wendy shouted, in tears as she watched everyone she recognized as her family disappear one by one. "Please, don't go! Don't leave me alone!"

Carla, on the other hand, could not even speak, completely overwhelmed by sadness.

Meanwhile, everyone else could only look on with sympathetic gazes. Until Ur approached the two crying children.

"Hey, you two need to stop crying." Ur said in a soothing tone. "I know goodbyes are hard. Believe me when I say this, no one likes to say goodbye."

As she spoke, Ur patted both Wendy and Carla on their heads with a smile on her face.

"But if you have to say it, you should say it with a smile." Ur continued. "That way, you can let the person you care about know that you'll be alright. And they won't worry about you so much when they're gone."

Hearing that, Wendy and Carla looked up at Ur blankly for a moment. Then, after processing her words, they both tried their best to wipe away their tears. Yet, their tears never stopped. Still, they both turned to Roubaul and put on the brightest smiles they could muster.

"Thank you for taking me in all those years ago, master." Wendy said, trying her best to smile happily. "If it weren't for you, I don't know what would have happened to me. But now, I'm all grown up and I can take care of myself and Carla thanks to everything you taught me. So… Please rest well, you deserve it after so long."

"Thank you, Master." Carla said, smiling for the first time since the quest started. "And we'll both miss you."

In response, Roubaul smiled with the love of a grandfather swirling in his eyes. Then, his body began to glow brightly.

"You two have made me so proud." Roubaul said as the last of the villagers vanished. "I know you'll go onto to become great wizards and do great things. So, please liv well and be happy."

With that, Roubaul's voice faded and his figured vanished. At the same time, Wendy and Carla's guild marks faded away, as well.

Then, as soon as Roubaul could no longer be seen, Wendy and Carla's expression broke and the tears started again in full force. A moment later, both girls felt a pair of arms wrap around them and pull them into a warm embrace.

"I know it's hard." Ur said soothingly. "And I know it will take time, but things will get better. I would never presume to replace the family you've lost, but if you follow me back to Fairy Tail, I can promise that you'll be able to find new people you can call family."

Instead of responding immediately, Wendy and Carla both cried themselves to sleep in Ur's embrace. When they woke up, however, they agreed to Ur's proposal and Fairy Tail gained itself another Dragon Slayer, as well as another talking cat.