章節 23: Fairy 21: Farewell, my family.
After that, Mirajane and Zack went their different ways.
On his way back towards the hut he had built in the forest near Magnolia. Zack stopped, as he felt someone else here. As he turned around only to see a red-haired beauty, Erza Scarlet leaning by a tree, waiting for him.
"You going?" Ezra only said that.
"Yep, I thought it over. I needed to experience more… and I need to train by myself, so I don't unwillingly hold myself back anymore. I am thankful towards you Erza… the one that taught me the sword the most is you… and the one that shown me the way, is also you. To me… I never can be more grateful." Zack said.
"I see, then I am glad, to see first-hand, how you grow… even if the last year was… it my fault. I shouldn't have butted in. For that I am sorry." Erza said with a slight sad smile, as she walked towards him.
"Don't be, Erza. You did what you thought was right, and I cannot be gladder, seeing you care that much of our wellbeing. After all, even if we are the same age, I always thought of you as my elder sister, who always given me a hand, whenever I needed it the most."
When Zack said that, Erza shows a warm smile, before she grabbed a hold of Zack's head, and brought him closer to her chest. Of course, Erza being Erza, is wearing her steel armour, making it harder than soft as it should be. However, Zack is not Loke, who will be upset with this fact, and enjoy the warmth of Erza's steel armoured chest.
"I am more than happy to be here for you Zack, my little brother." Erza went with her smile, even if they are at the same age. Erza is just like Zack, treats Zack as a little brother, as he does with her, as an elder sister. It not just Ezra, he treats everyone in the guild as a family. Only few he didn't, and one of them is Mirajane, who was firstly a subject of interest, but bloom into feelings of love towards her.
That's why he doesn't have the same kind of feelings he does with Mirajane for Erza. That also goes for the same with Erza. After all, there are complicated emotions dwelling inside her heart towards another. A feeling that once love, but bloom to hatred. Which is why Erza cannot accept anyone until she sorts out her own heart.
After few minutes. Erza let go of Zack, as she begun to summon a greatsword with her Equip Magic and throws the greatsword towards him.
It was different to the sword that Erza lent him when they train. This greatsword has a blackish blue body, and runes on the blade, with black leather around the handle of the greatsword.
"This…?" Zack tilted his head, not understanding why she passed him this sword.
"I thought it is a shame, that my little brother doesn't have a weapon. Even if he trained with one, that's why. I have prepared a farewell gift. Do you like it?" Erza asked with a grin.
"Yeah… I do." Zack said that as he slashed the dark night blue greatsword which also matches with his hair, creating a powerful whoosh, as he sliced the air: "No, I love it."
"I see, then I wouldn't waste any more time. I fare you farewell Zack Smasher, I hope you seek the strength that you seek, and then one day, come back to us." Erza only said that, as she smiled and patted his arm. Zack didn't say anything, and just hold the blue greatsword, as he watches Erza's back leaving him alone.
However, Zack wasn't really alone, as soon he came near his hut, that made with wood, veins as ropes. Zack notices a little old man inside, which was of course, that little old man was no other than the guild master of Fairy Tail, Makarov Dreyar, who has been waiting for Zack to returned to his hut.
"You finally here, Zack, my boy." Makarov said, looking at the pile of junk at the side of the hut. It was all kind of things, to books, to gifts and even clothing, like that black robe that he worn when he first came to Fairy Tail. All kinds of things, things that all have meaning to them. All kept with each other, showing how much the boy that own this this hut loved his family.
"Master…? What are you doing here?" Zack asked in surprise.
"Hahaha, to think the boy that will take everything off, and refused to wear clothing, going on his own adventure already." Makarov said with a laugh, and slight amusement.
"If you want, I always ready to remove my clothing." Zack said with a joking tone.
"Don't! Jeez, don't make this old man jumped out of his chest!" Makarov said, as he actually thought Zack was serious…
"Well, I only removed them in bathing, sleeping… and in bed… right? Wait, what the difference between sleeping naked, and in bed naked?" Zack asked recalling Loke's words.
"T-That's, something… you too young for that! That's right, too young." Makarov nodded saying that.
"Really? But I always naked when I am in my bed…?" Zack tilted his head in confusion.
Coughing, while changing the topic, Makarov looked at Zack with a serious look: "I had seen you, growing into a young man. Even if you had your ups and downs, but I always been grateful having you part of our family, part of Fairy Tail. That's why, go my boy. Go and see the world, meet with others, and experience both the bad and the good. I will be here, waiting for you, my child, waiting when you will come back, with tales of your adventures. So, have fun, and keep on your clothes on."
"But… what if I need to go to the toilet? Or a bath? When I sleep in a bed? If I can't remove nothing, how the heck I am going to do any of those things?" Zack said.
"I mean, besides those points! You are doing this on purpose, right!?" Makarov yelled; truly thought he is! He is still clueless in many areas. But still matured a lot since the 2 years since he joined Fairy Tale.
Coughing again, Makarov looked at Zack with a smile, the kind a grandparent would looking at their grandchildren, a gentle look in his eyes, as he said: "That is why Zack, don't blame yourself."
"Don't blame myself… what you mean by that?" Zack said not understanding his meaning.
"I am sure you know what I mean by that." Makarov only said that which Zack somewhat realised what he meant. Which is why, Zack could only show a wryly smile.
"Zack, life is like that, that's why go and see the world with your own eyes, go my child. And may the fairies be with you. And don't forget, that we are all be here waiting for you, no matter the outcome may be."
As soon Makarov said that he went towards Zack. And due to Zack being tall for his age, and Makarov very short for his own age. Makarov who wanted to pat Zack's head, had to make do, with patting Zack's leg, before he walked out of Zack's hut.
Zack just stared at Makarov's back leaving him, to Zack, this little old man, was like a real parent, or grandparent in this case, to him.
He was the one who pointed the way, whenever Zack gets lost, and always give the boy advice, as well knowledge to aid in Zack's maturity the most out of everyone in the guild.
When Makarov nowhere in sight. Zack picked up the things he will take along with him. And took one last look at the town, Magnolia, that he has spent 2 years in.
All honest, somewhere in Zack, that made him want to stay in this peaceful town, with a noisy guild that brighten up within the middle of this town.
However, Zack knew he cannot remain here, if he wished to become strong. However, before he turned and left. Zack took one last look towards the church, that had Lisanna's memorial service.
Zack just stared and felt guilty that he is leaving on the same day as of Lisanna's funeral. But there wasn't he could do, he wanted to go earlier, but the boy/young man wanted to pay respects to the little girl, that was like a real little sister to him.
Not to mention, Zack feels, if he remains here any longer. He feels like it will be harder for him to leave this town, that is no different to his hometown in this world.
That is also the main reason why Zack barely told anyone, besides Gray, who will understand Zack the most in his choice, and Erza and Makarov that already somewhat already sensed him leaving. He didn't want them to stop him from leaving, because deep down, Zack knew, if someone he cared about, askes him to remain, he without a doubt will remain here.
After all, Zack is the kind of person, that put family first before his own wellbeing.
Taking one last look towards Magnolia. Zack turned around and begun to walk deeper and deeper into the forest. And when he did, he cannot stop all those memories he has made, in his time in Magnolia. Two years of memories in this town, alongside with people that he cared for, begun to replay in his mind.
Natsu: A little brother that loved to fight each time he gets, but he is interesting in a way.
Gray: A little brother, that always seems lazy, but alright to talk with, and spend time with.
Cana: A little sister, that became a drinking buddy in the end. Thanks to her, Zack didn't spend his broken year alone.
Loke: A big brother that shown him many things in the last year. Who is a pervert, but goodwill one at that. It if wasn't for him, he still has trouble what's a harem is, and what's his view on it as well.
Erza: A big sister, even if they both at the same age. It is thanks to her, that he can stay on the right path. Even if guilt washed over her this last year. Needlessly to say, if it wasn't for her, he still be that naked stripper, and that's Gray job.
Elfman: A little brother, that always talks his problem to him. Who wanted to be a man, but fear to take those steps of being a man. He only could hope he will those first steps by himself.
Mirajane: His first love, and the one he is unwilling to let go, even now his feelings still stay true.
And Lisanna… not only she is like a little sister to him. But a person that always put others before herself. And the first person in this, to opened herself to him, like a real sibling.
'Big brother… do I had to…? I don't like studying…'
'Big brother, you think me and Natsu be together forever?'
'Say big brother. Thank you… thank to you big brother, big sister is slowly changing.'
'I am sorry big brother… I tried to stop them… but… big sister won't listen…'
'Big brother, look! I had made you some food!'
"Lisanna…" Zack weakly went, as memories of the one he failed to save, or protect, flooded his mind. And not even realising deep inside himself, Ether or his magical powers are beginning to be moved by itself.
'Big brother… I am sure big sister will come back… look! See what I have made for you! Ta-ta! How you like it?'
With his magical powers activated, his dwelling emotions, that been sealed over this last year, also respond to the activation of both his moving magical powers, and his sealed emotions.
'Big brother!'
"Lisanna…" Emotions overflowed in his heart, even causing Zack to form tears from his eyes, something that he has been holding in since Lisanna's funeral, no, ever since her death.
'Say big brother…'
"Lisanna…!" Zack yelled with a face full of tears, as he begun to run at his full speed without stopping.
'Big brother… thank you for everything.'
"LISANNA!!!" Zack yelled with an unstable state of mind, as he unleashed all the dwelling feelings and emotions of losing the second most important person to him after Mirajane, Lisanna herself.
She is the first person that welcomed and opened to Zack, and someone that Zack loves dearly, not the same kind of love, as he feels for Mirajane, but the kind that a big brother loves their little sister they so proud of.
But now, she is gone, someone he swears to grow up together with, someone he promises to protect, is now gone. And this is all because he is too weak, all because he prolongs and delay his training, to match others. All because cannot control his emotions and Magical Powers, after Mirajane rejected him.
Of course, from a third person point of view, Zack blaming himself of not protecting Lisanna, who is miles away at that time, is wrong to blame himself for.
However, the current Zack wasn't in the right state of mind, and blame himself for being too weak, too incomplete as a wizard.
And because of that, and his overwhelming emotions. Zack's magical powers begin to overflow as well, magical powers that Zack cannot active due to his unstable emotions of last year leaked out, alongside with his Quake Magic. Begun to activate on their own, due to the overflowing of emotions that fuel them.
Ether is alive, which is why, when Zack was broken from the last year onwards, his magical powers became unstable alongside him. And now with the overwhelming guilt and shame of not saving his little sister caused his magical powers to become stronger than his initial stats.
Because of those factors, and his magical power being empowered further with Ether responding to Zack's undying emotions, begin to leak out of his body, showing the true might of the Gura Gura no Mi Devil Fruit's power, the power that is capable of nothing but pure destruction.
Everything around 100m of Zack begun to shake, but that was only the start of the destruction known as strongest Devil Fruit power, when it comes to destroying things.
The earth within 100m of Zack tremor, before cracks in the earth appeared violently and controllingly. The air itself rippled with a strong overwhelming face, that shattered trees, before turning them into dust, but that wasn't all. As the Magic that seeks nothing but pure destruction, didn't even leave mere dust alone, and even turned those clouds of dust into nothingness itself.
As for the unlucky animals and magic beasts? The lucky ones are the ones that fallen into the cracks in the earth, that fallen to their deaths. But the unlucky ones, are the ones that hit by the uncontrollable waves of ripples in the air that shattered and turned them into mincemeat, before their bones and flesh also turned into nothingness, not even their blood was spared.
And just like that, 100m around Zack became nothing but a wasteland of pure destruction. Showing the true potential of the Gura Gura no Mi, or known as Quake Magic now, and it's true power.
But that wasn't all, that was just at the eye of the storm. Because around 1km, the earth shakes as well, not as violate and chaotic around 100m of Zack, but enough to alarm all wildlife in those areas.
And for the one that caused this pure destruction? Zack who unknowingly unleashed this mayhem, lose every ounce of magical power inside him, before he fallen asleep on the spot. This was the first time Zack slept properly ever since Lisanna's death.
創作者的想法 
AnimeDamon
AnimeDamon This chapter has been re-edited
Chapter Status.
Verison of chapter: 1.1
Former word Count: 2026
Current Count: 2669
Re-Uploaded on 14/07/2023
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