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[FT: O King of the Fairies] Chapter 36
🕑 Added 2025-03-26 06:59:09 +0000 UTCThe guild was as loud and chaotic as ever—laughter, shouting, and the occasional brawl breaking out over spilled drinks. Just another normal day in Fairy Tail.
Then, the town bells rang.
A sudden, eerie silence fell over the guild. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Drinks hovered in midair as people froze, eyes widening in realization.
Then—
RUMBLE.
The ground trembled. A deep, mechanical groan echoed from outside. Buildings shifted, roads rearranged, entire sections of Magnolia moved like some unseen force had decided the town’s layout was incorrect and needed immediate adjustment.
Cana, who had been sitting nearby, blinked. "Huh? What’s going on?"
I leaned against the bar, watching the inevitable unfold. "That, little lady, is Magnolia’s emergency response system for the walking natural disaster known as Gildarts Clive."
Cana tilted her head. "Huh?"
BOOM!
The doors to the guild burst open.
Standing there, grinning like he hadn’t just forced an entire city to rearrange itself, was none other than Gildarts Clive.
"HOH?! IT’S BEEN A WHILE, FAIRY TAIL!!"
The moment he stepped inside, several people instinctively dove out of the way.
"DON’T MOVE!" Macao screamed. "STAND STILL, DAMMIT!"
Gildarts blinked. "Eh?"
Then he glanced down. His foot was halfway through the floor.
"Oops," he muttered.
Cana gawked at the destroyed floor, then whipped her head toward me. "Is—Is he a monster?!"
I shrugged. "He’s Gildarts."
"But—!" She pointed at the open doorway. "The town literally moved for him!!"
"Yup."
"Like it knew he was coming!!"
"Uh-huh."
"Does he do this every time?!"
"Without fail."
Cana’s face twisted in pure disbelief. "Why is he allowed to walk around freely?!"
Alma, sipping her drink, replied with a deadpan tone, "We’ve all asked the same question. The answer is, unfortunately, ‘Because he’s strong.’"
Makarov groaned. "Gildarts, control yourself!"
Gildarts scratched his head sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, sorry! You know how it is."
I exhaled, activating the Traveler’s Clock to fix the damage. "Could’ve been worse."
Cana stared at me like I’d lost my mind. "Worse?! How is this not the worst thing ever?!"
Mira chuckled, patting her on the head. "Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it."
Cana’s eye twitched. "I don’t want to get used to it!"
Gildarts was finally seated (after being carefully guided to an unbreakable chair).
"Ahh, man, I missed this place!" He grinned. "So? Anything big happen while I was gone?"
Laxus crossed his arms. "Ivan got kicked out."
Gildarts whistled. "About time."
Makarov groaned. "And somehow, the guild is still standing."
Cana, meanwhile, hadn’t said a word since Gildarts arrived.
She was just… staring at him.
Her fingers curled into fists. Her jaw clenched.
I could see it—the emotions swirling in her eyes. Confusion. Hesitation. Hope.
Because for the first time, she was looking at him not as some absurd, overpowered mage—
But as her father.
She swallowed. Opened her mouth.
Then closed it again.
Before Cana could have a full existential crisis, Gildarts spotted me and beelined over, clapping me so hard on the back I nearly bit my tongue.
"Kid! Long time no see!"
"Ow—yeah, great to see you too—ow—can you not crack my spine?"
He just laughed. "Man, what the hell happened to you? I leave for two years, and now you're—what, some famous rogue hero? Ishgar’s most wanted menace?"
I smirked. "Oh, please. If I was wanted, I’d know about it."
Gildarts gave me a deadpan look. "Aiden. You are definitely on some watchlists."
I shrugged. "Fair."
He pulled up a chair, still grinning. "Seriously, though. You seem… different. What changed?"
I thought about it.
The war. The battles. The people I’d met. The things I’d done.
"...Dunno," I said finally. "Just got stronger. Got famous. Got better, obviously."
"Better, huh?" He smirked. "You mean more chaotic?"
I feigned offense. "Strategic chaos."
He burst out laughing. "Makarov must have his hands full with you."
"Oh, absolutely."
Gildarts shook his head, amused. Then, after a pause, he gave me a more serious look. "...You doing okay, though?"
I hesitated.
I could brush it off. Make a joke. That was easier.
But… Gildarts was one of the good ones.
"...Yeah," I said eventually. "I’m good."
He studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Good."
He studied me for a moment, then sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Y’know, when I first met you, I figured you were just some polite kid trying to survive in all this craziness."
"And now?"
He grinned. "Now you are the craziness."
I grinned back. "Damn right."
Gildarts barked out a laugh, clapping my back again—just as hard as before.
"I like this version of you."
"Good," I muttered, rubbing my spine. "Because you’re stuck with me."
Then his grin turned mischievous. "Although... I heard you've got a new nickname these days."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
His smirk widened. "Oberon, King of the Fairies."
I groaned. "Goddammit."
Gildarts cackled. "Oh, that’s amazing! I leave for two years, and you go from ‘mysterious new guy’ to the Fairy King?!"
Alma sipped her tea. "It’s quite fitting."
I shot her a betrayed look. "Et tu, Alma?"
Gildarts leaned back, arms crossed. "So what’s next? You gonna start wearing a crown? Maybe get a little throne? Oh! What about a royal decree?"
I deadpanned. "I decree you shut up."
He howled with laughter, slapping my back again. "Oh, I missed you, kid."
"Ow."
Meanwhile, Cana still hadn’t said a word.
She was staring at Gildarts, tiny hands curled into fists at her sides.
Most wouldn’t notice the tension in her shoulders or the way her lips pressed together like she wanted to say something but couldn’t. But I noticed.
I sighed. She’s stalling.
Leaning down, I lowered my voice so only she could hear. "You gonna tell him?"
Cana stiffened. "...I—I don’t—"
I cut her off. "Cana."
She turned her head away. "...It’s not that easy."
"Yeah, it is." I nodded toward Gildarts. "He’s right there. You open your mouth, say, ‘Hey, you’re my dad,’ and boom. Mission complete."
Cana shot me a glare. "You make it sound so simple."
"Because it is." I crossed my arms. "The longer you wait, the scarier it gets."
"I just—!" Her fingers curled tighter. "What if he doesn’t want me?"
I snorted. "Cana. He will."
"You don’t know that."
I narrowed my eyes. "Fine. You have five minutes."
She blinked. "Five minutes for what?"
"To tell him." I tilted my head. "If you don’t, I will."
Her eyes widened. "You wouldn’t."
I smirked. "You wanna test that theory?"
Cana panicked. "You can’t just—! I should be the one to—!"
"Then do it."
She froze.
Then her gaze flickered back to Gildarts.
She swallowed hard.
I sighed, crouching beside her, voice softer now. "...I get it. You’re scared."
She didn’t respond.
"But let me ask you this," I continued. "If you don’t tell him now… when?"
Cana’s lips parted slightly—then pressed together again.
I shook my head.
Five seconds. That’s all she had left before I made the decision for her.
Five…
Four…
Three…
Two—
"I—!" Cana suddenly blurted out, loud enough that the whole table turned toward her.
Gildarts blinked. "Eh?"
She froze.
Her eyes darted to me, and I gave her a triumphant smirk.
She inhaled sharply.
Then, clenching her fists, she forced herself to say the words.
"...I’m your daughter."
Silence.
A beat passed.
Then another.
Gildarts blinked again. "...What?"
Cana swallowed. "I—I’m Cana Alberona. My mom was Cornelia." She shifted her tiny feet, clutching her hands to her sides. "She told me you were my dad."
Gildarts went completely still.
I leaned forward slightly. And here we go…
For a moment, it was like the information refused to process. Gildarts just stared at her, his usual carefree demeanor vanishing in an instant.
Then, slowly… his expression changed.
Shock. Realization.
Regret.
"...Cornelia," he repeated softly.
Cana looked down. "She died. I came here looking for you."
The weight of those words hit hard.
Gildarts leaned back, staring at her—no, really looking at her for the first time.
His breathing was slow. Unsteady.
Then he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling shakily. "...Damn."
Cana flinched.
For a second, I worried she’d take it the wrong way—
Then Gildarts suddenly laughed.
Not in amusement. Not in disbelief.
But in that holy crap, I just got hit with something I never expected kind of way.
He wiped a hand down his face, shaking his head. "Man… I always wondered if Cornelia…" He trailed off, then looked at Cana again.
And then, in the softest voice I’d ever heard from him, he asked:
"...Were you planning not to tell me sooner?"
Cana looked away, her jaw tightening. "...I thought you wouldn’t care."
Gildarts’ face twisted, like those words physically hurt him.
He let out a slow breath, then suddenly pushed back his chair—causing the guild to tense as if expecting him to break something.
Then he crouched in front of Cana, placing a hesitant but firm hand on her shoulder.
"Kid… of course I care."
Cana’s eyes widened.
Gildarts chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, I missed out on so much, huh?" His grip on her shoulder tightened, not in force, but in reassurance.
Cana bit her lip. "...Yeah."
"...Can I make it up to you?"
For the first time, Cana’s posture relaxed slightly.
She wiped at her eyes and scoffed. "You owe me."
Gildarts grinned. "That’s fair."
The guild, silent up until now, suddenly erupted into cheers.
"OI, CANA! YOUR DAD’S A BEAST!"
"LITERALLY MOVED THE CITY FOR HIM!"
"WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OFFICIALLY!"
Cana groaned. "Oh my God, shut up!"
Gildarts just laughed—then suddenly turned toward me.
"...You knew, didn’t you?"
I smirked. "Yup."
"And you made sure she told me."
"Of course." I leaned back. "You deserved to know."
Gildarts grinned. "I like you, kid."
I clicked my tongue. "Good, because I’m great."
Cana groaned again. "You both are embarrassing."
I nudged her. "You love me."
"Unfortunately."
The second the realization fully settled, the guild did what it did best—throw a party.
"DRINKS ON ME!" Gildarts bellowed, throwing his arms out like he hadn’t just learned he had a daughter.
The guild exploded into cheers.
"HELL YEAH!"
"I LOVE THIS GUY!"
"OI, MACAO, STOCK UP! WE'RE DRINKING TONIGHT!"
Cana groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Seriously?"
Gildarts grinned down at her. "What? You think I’m not gonna celebrate meeting my daughter?" He ruffled her hair, ignoring her protests. "Besides, a man’s gotta start making up for lost time!"
Cana huffed, smoothing down her hair. "...Fine."
Within minutes, the guild was in full chaos mode. Tables were pushed together, food was being passed around, and someone (probably Wakaba) was already drunk and dancing on a chair.
"YO, GILDARTS!" Wakaba called, swaying slightly. "DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD A KID, MAN!"
"Neither did I!" Gildarts shot back, taking a swig of his drink. "But I do now, so we’re celebrating!"
Macao laughed, raising his mug. "TO CANA AND HER DEADBEAT—"
Gildarts kicked the chair out from under him before he could finish.
"Ow! Okay, okay, I take it back!"
I shook my head, sipping my own drink. This guild was something else.
Cana sat beside me, watching the chaos with an unreadable expression. She wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t frowning either.
"...You good?" I asked.
She hesitated. Then, finally, she let out a quiet chuckle. "...Yeah."
Gildarts suddenly stood, lifting his mug high.
"TO FAIRY TAIL!" he roared.
The guild responded in kind.
"TO FAIRY TAIL!"
Cana, sitting beside me, watched the scene unfold, her tiny hands wrapped around her own mug of juice.
And, for the first time that night, she smiled.
As the party raged on, I slipped away from the chaos, stepping outside for a breather. The night air was cool, a welcome contrast to the heat and noise inside.
I didn’t have to wait long before Alma joined me, leaning against the wooden railing with a knowing look.
"That was sweet of you," she said, watching the stars.
I snorted. "What, bullying a six-year-old into confessing her parentage?"
Alma rolled her eyes. "Helping her, idiot."
I smirked but didn’t argue.
We stood in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the muffled sounds of laughter and clinking mugs from inside, the sounds of Fairy Tail’s celebrations carrying through the night.
Then Alma nudged me.
"Come on," she said with a small smile. "Let’s go back inside before Gildarts gets too drunk and tries to arm wrestle master again."
I chuckled. "Yeah, that didn’t end well last time."
Together, we walked back inside, where our chaotic family was waiting.
Comments
GCrimson
Ahh. Now I apologize, kinda forgot about the ring. It was an oversight. I’ll note on this on future chapters. Thank you for pointing it out
Joshy Vindicta
But.. what about the ring to contain excess power?
