A New Life in Fairy Tail

”After we learn Take Over magic, we’ll show Mira-nee! We’ll give her a surprise!”

”Mhm!”

”Then let’s start learning now. Do you two know how to read?”

”We know a little, but not much. Will that affect our ability to learn magic?” Lisanna and Elfman looked at Noah, worried.

Noah thought for a moment. ”It’s best if you can read, but you’re in a hurry right now. I’ll just teach you directly, and you can make up for the basic knowledge later.”

”Okay! Thank you, Noah!”

So, Noah began to teach them the principles of Take Over magic. Perhaps because they were family and their sister was so gifted, their own learning speed for this magic was also very fast.

In about half a month, under Noah’s guidance, Lisanna and Elfman had essentially learned the basics. Lisanna, the younger sister, had more talent than her brother and was already able to perform a Full-body Take Over. Elfman, however, could only manage a Partial Take Over. The difference in their talent was obvious. But at the very least, both of them had learned the magic. Their future potential would depend on their own hard work.

Having learned the magic, both of them were overjoyed, but they decided to practice a bit more to get proficient before showing their sister.

Two days later, Erza returned from a request. Resting in the guild, she saw Mirajane sitting all alone at the counter and walked over.

”I’ve heard about you, Mirajane. You must be pretty tough! So, are you getting used to guild life?”

Mirajane didn’t say a word. She just slid off the stool and silently walked towards the guild doors.

”Hey!”

Erza stared in astonishment at Mirajane’s retreating back. Macao and Wakaba, who were nearby, advised her, ”Give it up. That one doesn’t talk or laugh.”

”She walks around with that scary look on her face all day. Her younger brother and sister, though, are a different story. They’re already goofing off and brawling with everyone.”

Erza turned her head and, sure enough, saw Lisanna and Elfman playing happily with Natsu and the others.

Noah, who was also resting in the guild and listening to the members chat and brag about their adventures, saw Mirajane leave by herself, not with her siblings. He stood up, walked over to Lisanna and Elfman, and said, ”You can go and show your sister your results now. She just left. You’d better hurry and catch her.”

Hearing this, Lisanna grabbed Elfman’s hand. After saying a quick goodbye to Natsu and the others, they ran out.

Natsu saw Noah and immediately wanted another challenge. ”Noah, take this!”

Noah caught his fist with one hand, twisted it slightly to throw Natsu off balance, and then flicked a finger. ”Spin.”

A small tornado rose from under Natsu’s feet and grew, enveloping him and spinning him around a dozen times before dissipating, all without affecting anyone else. Natsu was left dizzy and nauseous, collapsing to the floor, unable to get up for a long time.

Gray sneered from the side. ”What an idiot.”

Natsu wanted to retort, but he felt like he was going to be sick and quickly covered his mouth, unable to argue back.

After leaving the guild, Mirajane walked alone down the road, away from the guild. She clutched her right arm, which was still in its demonic form.

”Magic... a demon... I don’t need this kind of power... It’s disgusting,” she muttered to herself. She remembered the scene of the villagers shouting and chasing them away, remembering them calling her a demon, a cursed person. Her spirits sank even lower.

”I’m... not human anymore. That guild is a good place. I can entrust my brother and sister to them. I’ll just... leave this town. Goodbye, Elfman, Lisanna. I’m sorry...”

She walked on silently, moving further and further away. Suddenly, she heard familiar voices calling from behind her. ”Mira-nee—!”

Mirajane stopped in shock and turned around to see Lisanna and Elfman running towards her, finally catching up. Mirajane stared at them in surprise as they stood before her, smiling.

”Look, look—!”

”This is gonna surprise you, Sis!”

”Watch!”

As magic circles appeared, a puff of smoke enveloped both of them. When it cleared, their forms had changed significantly.

”Animal Soul: Cat! Meow~” Lisanna had sprouted a pair of cat ears, whiskers appeared on her cheeks, her hands and feet became paws, and a cat tail swished behind her.

”Beast Soul: Bear! ...Although it’s just the arm (he whispered).” Elfman’s right arm had transformed into a giant brown bear claw.

Mirajane stared at them, utterly speechless.

”Ta-da!”

”We asked someone in the guild to teach us! It’s the same magic as yours, Mira-nee!”

”Even though I can only change my arm right now...”

Mirajane looked at her brother and sister, tears welling up in her eyes, not knowing what to say.

”Because... you always looked so lonely, Mira-nee...” Lisanna said, holding up her cat paws. ”This way, you’ll never be alone again.”

Elfman crossed his one human arm and one bear arm over his chest, smiling at his sister.

”You two...” Mirajane’s tears finally began to fall. Her voice was choked.

”We’ll always be together!”

”And we’ll have the same magic!”

They both tried to activate their Take Over magic again, but something went wrong. Lisanna turned into a tiny piglet, and Elfman’s arm turned into a deer leg.

”Waah! Huh?? I can’t control it very well yet—”

”Waaah—me too—”

”Pfft!”

A laugh involuntarily escaped Mirajane’s lips. She wiped the tears from her face, but a genuine smile was now blooming. ”How are you going to complete any guild jobs with such sloppy magic?”

Elfman’s face was full of determination. ”Just like you used this power to protect us, Sis... from now on, it’s our turn to protect you!”

”That’s right!”

Mirajane couldn’t help it. She pulled her brother and sister into a tight hug and began to cry again. Lisanna and Elfman hugged their family back, Lisanna gently patting her sister to comfort her. The three of them just held each other, waiting until all the pent-up emotions had been released, and a sense of calm slowly returned.

~~~

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