Strengthening Bonds

Once the explosion of media died down around 1 month later, I decided that it was finally time to head back to the Fairy Tail guild.

I had avoided it because the while the reputation of the Fairy Tail guild wasn't terrible it wasn't great either. They were a rather polarizing group.

While they are known to go above and beyond on their mission they are also known for collateral damage. The Magic Council did not want me associated with that.

But now that I actually have free time once again I decided to head back to them. I needed to shore up the ties I had built with them.

Especially now that I had done such a massive favor to one of their members they should be feeling closer to me than ever.

When I entered the guild it was one of the rare times that there wasn't a fight or argument going on, it seemed relatively calm.

I could see that a lot of their members were passed out on the floors, benches, and tables. Makarov seemed to be the only one who was awake slipping beers on the pub.

I walked up behind him and asked, "So what's going on? Why is everybody passed out on the floor?"

He looked up and said, "Well we just completed our S-rank trials and Erza just became our new S-rank mage so everybody partied late into the night."

I nodded, "Really? Good for her. I knew that she had the potential, do think that it is still a bit early though."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Funny you're the one saying that considering that you are one of the youngest S-rank mages."

I said, "Hey I know the issues that come with the title so I just wanted to have her be prepared for the issues that she will face now that she is at this level."

He nodded, "Yeah. I do have to thank you kid for what you did for her. I didn't know her backstory myself as she never seemed to want to spill but you managed to do."

"Not only that you managed to fix a problem that had been gnawing at her for years and I just hadn't noticed. Her friends really helped her you know."

I said, "Well, after hearing about a potential doomsday weapon I had to check it out no matter what some bureaucrat says."

He nods, "Yup no matter how great the organization it is always the bureaucracy that kills us."

I laughed and the morning passed on with us just bantering to pass the time. One by one people started to wake up after their night of excess.

Once Erza did Makarov said, "Ok, that was a great talk but I think you have something more important to deal with now."

I nodded then walked to Erza, she was smiling and said, "Marcus your back, and you kept your promise! All of my friends are safe now."

I nodded, "Yeah I did. So I hear that you are an S-rank now?"

She smiled, "I am, just like you advised I focused on my fundamentals and they did help a lot. I was able to more effectively use every weapon that I had."

I nodded at her, "That's great. Keep that fire within you though there is always more room for improvement. I know that more than anyone else."

She said, "Don't worry I won't stop till I can beat you in a fair fight."

I smiled, "Then you'll have to wait a long time as I plan to become the strongest person in all of Earthland."

She declared, "I will beat you Marcus Fulbright just you wait. I will be the strongest mage in all of Earthland if I have to be but I will do it."

I said, "Good luck with that. I have to ask though, how was meeting with your friends?"

Erza said, "It was great. I knew Jellal would never become so evil. You help him get rid of it and giving me the real Jellal back was a true blessing."

I nodded, "Yeah, possession is a nasty business that's why I always prepare. So you made up with everyone?"

She nodded, "I was so sad that many of them were wary at first because they thought I was a traitor but we managed to bond again quickly after that."

"So", I asked, "Do you visit them often?"

"Nearly every day if I can," she said.

I said, "That's great. I know how important they were to you."

She was about to respond but apparently, the other kids had woken up and I heard Nastu yelling, "Oh it's Marcus, fight me! You too Erza, I will beat you two on one."

That seems to open the flood gates as more of them asked me to fight and train. Mirajane in particular looked pissed that Erza managed to become an S-rank before her.

Natsu yelled, "Are you some type of big shot now? I've seen your picture all over the place."

Grey said, "Yeah, now I hear a lot of people talking about you. It is because of what you did, saving Erza's friends?"

I smiled at them, "Yes I did become famous and it was because I save a lot of people including Erza's friends."

They nodded then Natsu once again said, "Fight me!"

It was always like this in every meeting, needing to always fight. Well, I had the time so I indulged them, sparring with anyone who wanted.

I did notice Erza's improvement in skill, she went from a minor threat to a moderate one where I actually had to pay attention and plan to beat her.

Mirajane was not much further behind but her temper made it so that she made impulsive decisions when she was angry.

When they were all tired laying on the grass floor I asked, "So think you're getting better?"

They all groaned. I said, "You might've heard that I developed a set of martial arts right?"

They nodded. "Well," I continued, "I am thinking of training all of you in it as a test run. Would you like that?"

As soon as I mentioned it all of them seemed to shoot up and said, "Yes!"

I said, "You can calm down, it would be for a while I need to make a training plan."

I wanted to teach them my skills to test if I could. And if I could I wanted to refine that skill as that would help if I ever wanted to teach my organization these skills.

I was not expecting them to, to be honest as the time I would take to learn these skills even with the system is longer than I am willing to teach.

But who knows with telepathy I might be able to implant that information into their minds instantly. This was exactly why I wanted to try now to see what I could do.

The tired Fairy Tail kids once again collapsed to the ground in a heap. I smiled it was fun messing with them. I bid my farewell to them leaving them exhausted on the ground.

I started walking back to my base, now my ties with the Fairy Tail were basically set in stone. I could now count on them if I was in a tough spot.