It was just another bright morning at Fairy Tail, or so it seemed.
The scent of food wafted through the wide doors of the guild, where noise and laughter clashed in classic chaos. Shinra sat quietly in a corner, sipping warm herbal tea Mira had brewed for him—he liked it less for the taste, more for the feeling. There was something calming in being cared for, even subtly.
At a nearby table, Mira stood with Levy, laughing over some strange magical fashion sketchbook. Across the hall, Erza was reviewing mission logs, armor glinting under the sunlight.
For once, everything was… quiet.
Too quiet.
---
The doors burst open.
Electricity crackled, not literal—yet the presence hit harder than any lightning bolt. Laxus Dreyar walked in with Bixlow and Freed trailing behind, their usual swagger loud without words.
Most turned away. Others looked nervous.
Shinra, however, calmly sipped his tea.
Laxus's eyes locked on him instantly.
"Still playing babysitter with brats, huh?" he called out. "Not like you've got much better to do."
The room stilled.
Shinra raised his gaze, polite but direct. "Laxus."
Laxus walked over, boots thudding loud in the hushed guild.
"You've been acting like some second Master lately. Training with Erza's team. Giving lectures. Whispering advice."
Shinra tilted his head, unreadable. "I'm helping them grow."
Laxus snorted.
"Grow soft, maybe. Look around you—this guild's full of crybabies and clowns. But you've got potential. More than they do."
There it was.
Laxus grinned.
"Join me. Join *Thunder Tribe*. We'll actually put strength to use. You're wasting time with these weaklings."
---
Silence hung.
Mira stepped out from behind the bar, her eyes narrowing.
Erza looked up, hand on the hilt of her sword.
But Shinra shook his head calmly. "I appreciate the offer."
Laxus raised an eyebrow. "But?"
"I didn't join Fairy Tail to be powerful," Shinra said softly. "I joined to protect the kind of strength that matters. Bonds, not dominance."
Laxus laughed. "You're softer than I thought. Too weak-minded for real battle."
Shinra didn't react. Not even a twitch.
Instead, he stood slowly. "Perhaps. But if I'm weak for choosing heart over cruelty, then I accept that."
---
Later, on the guild balcony, Mira sat beside Shinra. The breeze was light, but she held her arms to her chest anyway.
"You didn't need to stand up to Laxus like that."
"I did," Shinra said. "He's powerful, but not right."
Mira looked at him sideways. "You speak like someone who's walked that path already."
He looked far away. "Once. Long ago. I chased strength at the cost of everything. I won't let that happen again."
She gave him a sad smile. "Then I'm glad you're here with us. Even if it makes things complicated."
He glanced at her. "Complicated?"
Mira blushed, shook her head. "Nothing."
Below, Erza walked by, glancing up at them. Her eyes lingered longer than usual. She said nothing—but Shinra noticed the way her grip on her sword eased, as if relieved he hadn't accepted Laxus's offer.
---
Meanwhile, in a dark alley of Magnolia…
A cloaked figure watched Fairy Tail's windows from afar. He flicked a small coin etched with a symbol of a skull and gears.
He smiled wickedly. "Time to cut of the fairy wings"