Earth land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.
November, x784.
"Mira, Marin, welcome back!" Elicia said, letting go of Alfonzo a short while after they broke their kiss. "I missed you!"
A moment later, Elicia had stepped past Alfonzo and pulled both Mirajane and Marin into a hug.
"Oh, so you did see us." Marin said in a playful tone while returning Elicia's hug. "I would have bet my reward from this quest that you had forgotten about us after you saw Alfonzo."
"It's good to see you, too, Lici." Mirajane replied with a smile. "I bought you souvenirs from Karakura Town, too."
"Really?" Elicia said pulling away from Mirajane with a smile and excitement in her eyes. "Lemme see! Lemme see!"
"They're in the Escalade." Mirajane said with a chuckle. "I'll show you when we get home."
By now, the rest of their usual group of friends arrived at the guild's entrance as well.
"Fonzie, I missed you!" Cana shouted as she threw herself into Alfonzo's arms.
"Hey, Cana, I missed you, too." Alfonzo said lovingly as he wrapped his arms around Cana's waist.
Hearing Alfonzo's tone, Cana was slightly taken aback. Although his tone is always at least somewhat affectionate when he talks to the other girls in his harem, other than Elicia, today, something sounded a bit different.
Naturally, Cana was not the only one who heard the difference in Alfonzo's tone. Elicia, Ultear, Erza, and Sun also picked up on it. Meanwhile, Mirajane had noticed it while they were still in Karakura. But they could talk about that later. Right now, it was time to welcome Alfonzo, Mirajane, and Marin back properly.
"Alfonzo, Mira, Marin, welcome back." Erza said with a smile. "I trust your quest went well."
"It did." Marin replied. "But what those people were doing was really messed up."
Just remembering what she saw in Mayuri and Orochimaru's in the hideout, Marin's expression started to sour.
"Yeah, Marin's right." Alfonzo added. "If I wasn't so concerned with innocent people getting caught up in it, I would have just blown up the entire hideout after some of the stuff I saw."
"Was it really that bad?" Sun asked.
"Yeah, it was." Alfonzo replied in a solemn tone.
"Yeah, from what they told me about it, I'm glad I didn't have to go inside." Mirajane added, glancing at Alfonzo with concern.
"Well, at least you made it back okay." Ultear said, wrapping around Alfonzo's waist from behind.
"Yeah, I'm glad to see you're alright after going after the Oración Seis, too." Alfonzo replied, his expression softening. "How was your quest? Were there any issues?"
"Huh?" Lisanna exclaimed, tilting her head in confusion. "Why didn't you go inside, Big Sis?"
"Did you guys fight anyone strong?" Natsu shouted excitedly from the table where everyone was eating.
"Damn it, the fiery mouth breather woke up already." Gray muttered.
"You can tell them the story later." Makarov said, his voice loud enough to be heard overall the noise the younger wizards were making. "For now, you three should come up to my office for the debriefing."
Hearing that, the ruckus at the guild hall's main entrance died down immediately.
"Sure thing, Gramps." Alfonzo said in a solemn tone. "We've got some stuff to tell you about, anyway."
Hearing Alfonzo's tone, Makarov exchanged glances with Ur before hopping off the top of the bar and making his way to the elevator. Meanwhile, Ur finished her glass of wine before following him.
"Okay, guys." Alfonzo said with a smile. "We'll be back as soon as we're finishing talking with Gramps."
"Have a fight with me when you get back." Natsu said, having just arrived next to the rest of the group.
"Why?" Gray asked sarcastically. "Were you trying to prove Laxus right by getting your ass kicked by both of them today?"
"What did you say, Ice Cube?" Natsu asked angrily. "Why don't you put some clothes on and then we can settle this!"
"Huh? What are you---" Gray replied before looking down at his body. "Ah! What happened to my clothes?"
Meanwhile, the rest of the group could only sigh at the usual song and dance between the two.
"Anyway, we'll be back soon." Mirajane said in a gentle tone. "Then, you all should come over to the house, we've got souvenirs for you."
With that, the group of young wizards made way for the trio of returning wizards to walk towards the elevator.
About two minutes later, Alfonzo, Mirajane, and Marin were standing in front of Makarov's desk while Makarov looked at them proudly.
"You can stop with the proud grampa act." Ur said from one of the couches in the room. "Just get down to business already."
"but I am proud of them..." Makarov grumbled. Then, in a more solemn tone, he continued. "But Ur is right. Tell us about what happened on the quest. It sounds like there were some elements that we should be concerned about."
"Yeah, though they had nothing to do with the quest objectives." Alfonzo replied in an equally solemn tone. "But I'll get the quest debriefing out of the way, first. We arrived at the meeting point, a hotel in Karakura Town, shortly after sun rise two days ago…"
From there, Alfonzo gave a detailed recount of everything relevant to the quest's completion with Mirajane and Marin adding details when necessary. Then, after an hour, Alfonzo's recounting of events came to an end.
"*Sigh* That's a lot to take in." Makarov said in a serious tone. "But before anything else, Thank you for holding back and not seriously injuring Bacchus. I know that must have been tough."
"Hmph!" Ur snorted at Makarov's response. "It would have been what he deserved. If some bitch was ever spouting a bunch of shit about my man actually being in love with her and I was keeping her from following her heart, I would have turned her into an ice statue before she could say it a second time."
Hearing that, Alfonzo, Makarov, Mirajane, and Marin could only smile wryly.
"But what really made me worried wasn't what we saw during the quest." Alfonzo said, his expression becoming solemn once again. "But what came after."
"What do you mean?" Makarov asked, taking on a solemn expression once again, as well.
"After we caught the targets of the quest, the mad scientists, a platoon of the Cherry Blossom Holy Knights came to retrieve them." Alfonzo said. "And they were led by the Knight Commander, King Bradley."
"Ah, Commander Bradley, a very competent man." Makarov replied with a nod. "I haven't seen him in nearly twenty years. IN fact, he went along with your mother on the last quest she and Orlando took before they had to retire from injury."
Hearing that, Alfonzo narrowed his eyes with a dangerous glint in them. A fac that Makarov seemed to miss due to his reminiscence.
"I've met him a few times, too." Ur added. "He always tried to get me to join the knights when I was active as an independent wizard. He was really persistent. Yet, he was somehow not all that annoying about it."
"I see." Alfonzo said in a colder tone than before. "Then, this will probably blow your minds."
Hearing Alfonzo's tone, both Makarov and Ur looked at him with a hint of shock in their expressions. Before they could ask him about it, however, he continued with what he had to say.
"King Bradley did not have a spec of magic power in his body." Alfonzo said.
"Impossible." Makarov replied immediately. "Everything has magic power. Are you suggesting he's not actually alive?"
"Seriously, Alfonzo, that's a bit farfetched." Ur added.
"But we felt it, too." Mirajane said.
"Yeah, we were using our Magic Power Detection] the whole time." Marin added. "Ever since we left the hotel yesterday morning."
"But still…" Makarov muttered, the confusion in his eyes clear for everyone to see. "How is that possible?"
It was clear that Ur was just as confused by this information.
"Do you think one of those alchemists were able to do it?" Alfonzo asked, guiding the conversation. "Is it possible they did what all alchemists have dreamed of for centuries?"
With that, the office fell silent. Eventually, the silence was broken by Ur's muttering.
"Creating a life." Ur said quietly. "Are you suggesting that Commander Bradley is a…"
"Homunculus." Makarov said, finishing Ur's sentence in a solemn tone. A moment later, however, he shook his head. "That should be impossible. I've seen Bradley before. I remember when he was a young man. And I've seen him age. But if the legends alchemists tell about homunculus are true, they shouldn't age."
"Whether you believe me or not, I know what I picked up with [Magic Power Detection]." Alfonzo replied. "Either way, I'm sure there aren't many people that know. I just thought I should let you know what we found."
"It's not that I don't believe you kids." Makarov said, hurriedly trying to defuse the situation after hearing Alfonzo's reply. "It's just… this is a lot to take in…"
"You think Bradley had something to do with your mother and Lici's father's injuries, don't you?" Ur asked, narrowing her eyes at Alfonzo.
"Honestly, I don't know." Alfonzo replied. "But after hearing that he was on that quest with them, I have my suspicions."
'Of course that muh fucker had something to do with it.' Alfonzo thought, contrary to his words. '[Dispel Magic] would be detrimental to anyone's plans. And if things are the same int this world, I'm sure that asshole, Father, had her taken care of to make sure that she wouldn't' get in the way of his plans.'
"You said there aren't many people who know about this." Makarov said. "That suggests that we're not the only people that you told about it, correct."
"Yeah, I told the four from Mermaid Heel and Quatro Cerberus, too." Alfonzo replied. "I did tell them to keep it to themselves, though. But they'll probably… definitely tell their guild masters."
"I see." Makarov replied with a nod.
"Oh, and speaking of their guild masters." Alfonzo said in a tone that would suggest he just remembered. "I wouldn't be surprised if they asked to drop by for a visit in the near future. After hearing about our training facilities, Yoruichi Shihouin of Mermaid Heel and Might Guy of Quatro Cerberus were really interested to see them and said they would tell their guild masters about them."
"Oh, that's right." Ur said, in a tone similar to Alfonzo's. "Don't be surprised if the masters of Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale stop by for similar reasons."
"You've been back for a day, and you're just telling me about this?" Makarov asked with a twitching eyebrow.
"To be fair, I was more concerned with getting Wendy and Carla settled than telling you about your old friends coming to visit." Ur replied nonchalantly. "Besides, weren't you looking forward to bragging to them about the new guild hall? I thought you'd be happy about this. In fact, I'm surprised that you haven't had them over yet."
"Wait, Wendy and Carla?" Marin asked curiously. "Who are they?"
"Oh, I guess you didn't get a chance to meet them yet, huh?" Makarov said, deciding not to think about the fact that Ur forgot to mention the possible visitors. "They're the newest members of our family. Wendy Marvell, a young Dragon Slayer, and Carla, a cat that can talk."
"So, another Natsu and Happy?" Mirajane asked curiously.
"Heavens no." Ur replied with a chuckle. "I don't think this world could handle another Natsu and Happy."
"Besides, we've already got an edgier Natsu in our guild, right?" Alfonzo asked.
"Yeah… Gajeel is the edgy Natsu, isn't he?" Marin replied with a wry smile.
"Before we get too off topic, do you have anything else to report?" Makarov asked in a serious tone.
"No, that's the end of the report." Alfonzo replied.
Mirajane and Marin nodded in agreement with Alfonzo's statement.
"Good." Makarov said with a nod of his own. "The three of you have done well. I'm proud of the wizards you have become. Now that the business matters are out of the way…"
With that, Makarov's expression turned to one with a bit of pleading in it.
"Because we knew the three of you would be back soon, we held off on having a welcome party for Wendy and Carla." Makarov continued. "And I know you must be tired after your quest and the long trip back, but…"
"I swear, Gramps, if you start giving me the puppy dog eyes, I'm gonna kick you out of the window behind you." Alfonzo said with a deadpan expression on his face.
"*Cough* Just what do you take me for, Alfonzo?" Makarov said awkwardly. "I'm the guild master of Fiore's strongest wizarding guild. I don't use puppy dog eyes when I make requests of my wizards… my children."
"Uh huh, sure." Alfonzo replied with an eye roll. "Anyway, what do you want, Gramps? Not that it's all that hard to guess."
"Right. *Cough*" Makarov said, trying to cough away the awkward feeling. "Do you think you could cook for those two's welcome party?"
"Sure." Alfonzo replied with a shrug. "You already know my rates. I guess you already have the ingredients prepared, right?"
"Oh… Uh… Yes. The ingredients are ready." Makarov replied.
"Good." Alfonzo said with a nod. Then, he turned to Ur. "Do you know what their favorite foods are? I'll make this a night to remember for them."
"Sure do." Ur said as she stood up from the couch energetically. Then, she grabbed Alfonzo by the arm and started dragging him towards the elevator. "I'll tell you about it on the way down. Let's go! It's already pretty late, and those kids shouldn't stay up too late, right. I mean, Wendy is only twelve. So, we need to get this party started as soon as possible."
Seeing how excited Ur was to have Alfonzo's cooking, a side effect of not getting the last sandwich on her trip to the Worth Woodsea, Makarov, Mirajane, and Marin could only smile wryly. Still, they quickly followed Alfonzo and Ur into the elevator. Neither of them wanting to miss having Alfonzo's cooking either.