Fairy Tail Origins Episode 1: The Eternal Journey

Leone used the lonely walk to the guild hall to sort out her thoughts.  There aren't many good ones.  "Letting Marian see me using memory-make magic, bringing up family... of all the foolish things to do.  But what to do about it...?  Maybe... maybe Marian will be distracted enough to just forget- no.  That's not Marian.  In the best case, Marian will just let this go.  Maybe send a letter or two, just to make sure I know she knows.  In the worst case...  The thought of leaving Alicorn Wing makes me sick.  After all these years...  Going back on the run?  Maybe I can find a way to make peace...?"

The stroll was much too short for Leone's satisfaction.  Nothing was resolved, she still needed more time to sort things out.  "Aldous, punctual as always.  Atticus, what a pleasant surprise that you made it on time.  Oh...  Hecate!  That was... fast.  If you were that close behind me, you could have just called out!  Um...  Shall...  Shall we go in?"

Hecate offered no smile at Velia's words. She looked around, her eyes landing on the contest before roaming around the hall. It was bigger than theirs.

Atticus arched his eyebrows at the contest before glancing at Aldous. Aldous had nothing of note to say except make a light frown, but that was all.

"I'm Ag-Hecate." Hecate answered. She cursed herself for her slip up. It had been awhile since she had used that name, or rather, discarded it. She placed on a friendly smile that she didn't really feel at the moment, but offered out of necessity.

Aldous, of course, removed himself from the wall, hoping to regain his normal sense of attitude. "Aldous. A pleasure to meet you,"He greeted before pointing towards Atticus.
"And this is my twin, Atticus. It's a headache trying to tell which of us is older." He explained.

Hecate looked at her group, then smiled and waved. Goodbyes were never her thing. She then looked at Atticus. "We'll do so. Sounded will be surprised to know we spent a day with the famous Silver Chimaera's!" Atticus chuckled.

Aldous waved a little. "Thank you for the tour. If we ever get any free time off, we'll make sure to come here to Rosebud."

"Where in the world is Atticus? He's late. We were supposed to start some training." Aldous muttered. He recalled Atticus having gone out with Leone for something, and so he headed outside.

"I'll be back!" He called to Sounders and Marsh. Not long after, Hecate came downstairs, poking her head out from the stairway. She caught a glimpse of Aldous leaving. Rubbing her eyes, she aimed to go outside at least once today before everyone got worried.

"Aldous." Hecate said simply, watching the normally composed twin jump in shock comically. "It's you. I wasn't scared." Aldous coughed into his hand, looking bashful.

"Where are you going?" Hecate asked, her eyes boring a hole into the twin. Aldous shifted uncomfortably. She seemed to give everyone that stare.

"I-I'm going to see where Atticus is. He-"

"Oh my gods! There's a man in the street!" A woman screamed. Aldous turned around. He couldn't make out the figure, but... Aldous grew cold as he slowly recognized the figure on the ground.

"Atticus?!" He called, already running to the scene. Hecate wasn't far behind him, leaning over after brushing through the crowd—rather roughly on Hecate's part. Aldous rolled Atticus over, doing a full analysis of his body.

"He's out cold. But, there's no sign of physical injuries whatsoever. Well, damn. " Aldous swore, chewing his lip. This was the first time Hecate heard him curse, or look so conflicted.

"He'll be alright, right?" The Iron Dragon Slayer asked slowly. She didn't show it, but on the inside she was panicked. One after another, things seemed to pile up. She closed her eyes, squeezing them tight. She couldn't have another attack here... In front of all these people. She hadn't fully gotten her emotions sorted out from Leone's announcement.

Atticus muttered something inconsolably. "Leone... Stop... Don't... Take... Nngh."

Aldous leaned down, hoping he would repeat the words. "S-stamp. White... Top..... Red on... B-bottom." Atticus continued to say. His eyes slowly opened, but he seemed to not be moving.

"Atticus? Atticus, can you move? What's wrong? What do you mean Leone? Stamp? What stamp?! Dammit, don't fall unconscious again!" Aldous growled. He had an absolutely murderous look in his eyes.

"Hecate, see what he was talking about. Check all of Harborshire! No... Check outside!" Aldous yelled. This seemed to frighten the crowd, who whispered and backed off. Aldous slowly began to lift Atticus up.

"I'll take him back to the guild, and then join you." Aldous replied. Hecate watched the scene blankly before shaking her head. Leone... Was taken? Her mind began to catch up with the information, and she almost took off until she saw the box that was once beside Atticus. She picked it up, looking at it.

Clutching it in her hand, she headed towards the gates of Harborshire, praying she made it in time. Without a second thought, the familiar pain of iron wings bursting from her back could be felt. She didn't really care about her clothes right now. She took the sky, zipping past the gates, and scanning the fields.

"Where are you, Leone?" She mumbled.

Aldous comes into the guild hall, dragging the unconscious Hecate.  Vallory helps him place her onto the couch.  Sounders, sitting calmly in his usual seat, looks between the pair of dazed mages.  He tests the valves on the trumpet sitting in his lap, then brings it to his lips.  He begins to blast a sharp, energetic melody.

Sounders adjusts his glasses, and Vallory takes a seat.

"Alright, why don't we slow our roll?" Sounders asks.

"You're just spitting out words right now.  You're panicked, I'm sure, but you need to calm down, tell us everything that happened.  Start from the beginning," Vallory says calmly.

As Atticus, Aldous, and Hecate work to reconstruct the scene, Vallory sits extremely calmly, her fingers folded neatly in her lap.  Sounders fiddles with the valves and latches on his trumpet, his expression hidden behind his dark glasses.

"Well, this is a pickle," Sounders says as they finish.  "Out of curiosity, what's in the box?  Any chance it could help us figure this thing out?"

"Unlikely, Harland," Vallory says.  "How could she have put together a clue that fast?"

"Hah..." Sounders sighs.  "Not that easy, huh?  First thing's first.  We need to figure out that stamp.  Atticus, give me a drawing.  Second, and I doubt it'll be a useful lead, we may as well look into that knife.  It could've come from any blacksmith in the world, but maybe we'll hit pay dirt.  Vallory, you'll lead on that front.  Aldous, with her.  I'll make a few calls.  Hecate...  Go clean up.  You're wounded."

Aldous looks over at them before Vallory. "Seems like you got ninja'd." He comments before turning around. "Welcome back." He says, unsure of what to tell them and the new girl.

Sounders goes back to his guitar.  "Eh.  Rosa, join up with Val and Aldous to look into the knife.  That's in your wheel house, yeah?  Nalia, Jerid, Hecate, Atticus.  I want you on the first train to Ambrosia.  Figure out who those dudes were, then report back.  While you guys do that, I'm gonna give G a buzz."  Sounders rocks himself up, then strolls into the other room to use the Lacrima Crystal.