51 Chapter 51 - A Family Affair

---Outworld, 3rd Person POV---

Returning home without raising any suspicion, Sindel went to find her trusted bodyguard Sheeva. Concerned about what Mael had said, she wanted to ensure she was ready for anything. Having dealt with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi for many years...she knew they would strike her when ever and where ever they wanted. Finding her bodyguard honing her skills in the training yard, she beckoned her over with a wave of her hand.

"Lady Sindel, do you have need of me?", Sheeva asked.

"Follow me, I need to speak with you privately.", Sindel ordered.

Taking her to Shao Kahn's Study, one of the few places she felt wasn't under Shang Tsung's surveillance, she explained what was going on. Telling her that Quan Chi and Shang Tsung weren't to be trusted, she said things were going to change soon around here. Leaving her in the dark for the finer details, Sindel wanted to make sure Shang Tsung didn't see her coming when she lashed out.

"Bring my daughter Kitana and Jade, I wish to speak to them as well.", Sindel said with a nod.

"Of course My Lady...if I may...you seem...different.", Sheeva questioned, "Is everything okay?"

'Out of everyone...only Kitana and Sheeva truly wept for my deaths. It is hard to believe that after I all I have done, only two people wept for me.', Sindel thought, 'They deserve at least a chance to escape the wrath I will reign down on this place. Shang Tsung...Quan Chi...both of them of them will be slaughtered by Mael, and my weak willed husband will be executed by me!! I have found someone far more reliable, and that won't get in my way.'

Assuring Sheeva that it was nothing, she just said that she was growing tired of the constant losses. Stating that she felt it was time to make some necessary changes, Sheeva didn't question what she meant. To her, whatever Sindel said was law so that was good enough for her. Leaving to find the two women for Sindel, Mileena happened to watch Sheeva hurry away from the study which drew her attention. Walking over to the door of the study, she saw Sindel looking through some books calmly.

'Sindel hardly ever comes in here...something must be going on.', she thought, 'Shao Kahn has a secret room adjacent to the study, I will hide there and listen to what is going on.'

Slipping away to enter the room through a hidden passage, she settled in to wait for whatever was going to happen. It didn't take long for her sister Kitana and Kitana's friend Jade to arrive. Closing the door behind them, Sheeva took up station outside the door to ensure no one came in.

"You called mother?", Kitana asked.

"Yes, I have need of your assistance.", Sindel said, "I have it on good authority that Shang Tsung and Quan Chi are not completely subservient to Shao Kahn. Quan Chi is faithful to the Elder God Shinnok, and Shang Tsung is playing both sides. He is stalling for time till he finds a way to defeat both Earthrealm and us."

Looking at Sindel with a serious expression, the two were thinking now was the time to work on freeing Edenia. If they were going to cause Shao Kahn problems, this meant they had the ability to pull their homeland away from Outworld.

"What should we do?", Kitana asked.

"For now I want you both to monitor them in secret. Anything you find, I want reported back to me. Shao Kahn is busy preparing for war so we focus on securing his back.", Sindel said emphasizing the word securing.

Even though she felt confident the room wasn't being monitored, she wasn't foolish enough to openly admit to betraying him just yet. Fortunately for her, Mileena was foolish enough to believe they were trying to help Shao Kahn and hurriedly vacated the hidden room to relay the information to Shao Kahn. As much as she understood what Sindel was doing, she wanted to be praised by Shao Kahn more for uncovering a coup.

---Tenrou Island, Mael POV---

"*Panting*...that was...a long swim...", Lisanna wheezed, "A mile is a lot...longer than you...think."

"It wasn't that bad.", Mirajane laughed with a smile, "I thought it was kind of fun."

"Yeah it was, it was a nice warm up for playing on the beach.", Erza agreed.

"Playing on the beach?", Irene asked.

"Of course, we brought volleyball equipment.", Lucy said pulling some gear out of her magic bag.

As a gift to the girls for being nominated for S-Rank Promotion, I gave them each a magic bag with space equal to a 40x40x40 room. It was big enough that they could carry food, water, shelter, their equipment, and anything else they needed without needing to lug it around.

"I have to say, it was funny watching Charmy accidently almost drown Magna and Luck.", I chuckled.

"Not...funny...", Magna spat still spitting up water.

"...yeah...", Luck wheezed lying on his back on the sand.

Noelle and Vanessa were holding Charmy back from getting back in the water. Since she didn't have a magic bag, she stuffed a massive backpack full of food. The moment she jumped into the water, she sank like a stone. Unfortunately for Luck and Magna, they happened to be under her when she landed.

"She is probably going to cry all night if we don't do something.", Minerva said pitching her tent, "Mael...I hate to ask, but could you maybe catch her something? I don't think anyone wants to hear her cry much longer."

"You sure? I think you might need help pitching your tents.", I teased her.

"Not funny!", Sorano pouted, "We didn't know what we were doing the first time!"

Giving her a kiss on the forehead, I said I was just teasing her. Saying I would take care of the food situation, I ended up diving down to retrieve Charmy's bag. Using magic to restore it to new condition I carried it back up to the beach for her. Breaking free of Noelle and Vanessa she jumped onto the bag and rubbed her face on it.

"Hehe...my food is safe!!", she laughed.

"You are welcome.", I chuckled.

"Oh right...thank you for retrieving it.", Charmy said politely, "...I am not sharing though."

Telling her I didn't want any of it, I just asked her to make sure she didn't lose it again. Promising to do so, she threw it back on and wandered off to find a good place to setup shop.

"My retrieving that for her won't disqualify her, will it?", I asked Makarov.

"Of course not, she made it to the beach. That was the only requirement for this trial, retrieving her bag doesn't change that.", he told me, "Now go on and enjoy yourself for today. Gildarts and I have some very important business to-"

"Makarov hurry up, this rum isn't going to drink itself.", Gildarts shouted.

"Did someone say rum!?", Vanessa replied with excitement.

Laughing at that, I said it sounded very serious. Giving me a big grin, the geezer said it certainly was. Walking back over to where the girls were, they were busy setting up a volleyball net. Already in their bikinis, I thought they looked very beautiful. Wearing different floral designs, I couldn't help but stare a little.

"I am going to find you tomorrow, and kick you ass.", Laxus proclaimed snapping me out of my trance.

Glancing to my left, Laxus and the Thunder Legion were standing there in their swimming gear. I had to admit that Evergreen was pretty attractive, but she was the girl Elfman was trying to impress with his new job as a Magic Knight. While I wasn't sure if being a knight would help him, I was his wingman so she wasn't someone I was interested in.

"I admire your courage Laxus, just make sure you wear your big boy underwear. Wouldn't want your secret stash of animal print undies getting found out.", I jabbed.

"Laxus doesn't have any of those!!", Freed shout, "He only has a few with Dragons on them.

"Freed!!", Laxus hissed.

"Crap!", Freed responded.

"Haha, such a little kid.", I snickered, "It must be exciting to finally get here. I mean you always were too beat up to attend the prior years."

The past few years Laxus had challenged me thinking he could become S-Rank by beating me. Giving him the Fist of Love repeatedly till he blacked out every time, this was the first year he wasn't in a bed recovering from my punches.

"Well see you Laxus, don't be upset when you are laying in a puddle of your own tears.", I chuckled as I walked away, "Enjoy today while you can...little kid."

Seeing him twitch in anger, I smiled as I walked over towards the girls. Including Cana in the game, they had teams of five on each side. Pulling out a beach chair for Irene, she gratefully took a seat while I strung up a hammock. Watching the girls really get into their game, it was nice to sit back and watch them.

---A Hour Later---

"Having fun watching them?", Gildarts teased me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw him standing there with a grin on his face. He reeked of alcohol, but he seemed somewhat conscious of what he was doing.

"I am, is that a problem?", I asked.

"Shouldn't you go play with them. Boys your age should want to be around girls all the time.", he stated.

"I am dating all but one of them.", I retorted.

"Damn!", he chuckled, "Quite the ladies man, Cana is the one you aren't dating right? She's the only one that doesn't live with you."

"Correct.", I replied.

"She always seems lonely, you should cheer her up.", he said.

"You want me to pursue your daughter?", I inquired with a grin.

Laughing at that for a second, he quickly realized what I said and stopped. Looking at me with a serious expression, he said not to joke about that.

"I am not, that is Cornelia's daughter...aka your daughter.", I told him, "She acts lonely because she doesn't know how to approach you. Honestly, I have no idea how you haven't noticed up till now. Some of your facial features, come on man!"

Dropping his glass of beer, he looked at Cana closer. It only took a few moments for him to see I wasn't lying.

"Dear Lord...how could I have not noticed sooner...", he said hanging his head, "She has her mother's smile."

"And your drinking habits and tolerance.", I sighed, "You still want me to chase her?"

"No!! Keep your hands off my little girl!", he shouted.

Yelling it loud enough for the girls to hear, they all turned to look at us. Giving Cana a smile, she immediately realized he was referring to her.

"You finally realized it!?", she shouted at him.

"I am sorry it took so long.", he apologized.

"Geez...", Cana pouted.

"He said I should pursue you.", I jabbed glancing back at him.

Glaring back at me, I was enjoying this quite a bit.

"No, no one is good enough for her!!", he said.

"Gildarts!!", she spat, "Geez you are ridiculous."

Turning her back on him, he almost fainted on the spot. Dashing past me, he pleaded with her not to give him the cold shoulder. Saying he'd give her a hug as an apology, she spun around and begged him in the face with the volleyball calling him an idiot.

'Haha, serves you right old man. She isn't going to act like a little girl for you.', I thought with a smile.

Shaking off the blow, Gildarts ran after her trying to apologize. I was about to take a nap in the shade when I got pegged by a ball as well. Sitting up I looked over and saw Minerva grinning at me.

"We need another player now. You going to leave us hanging here?", she inquired placing her hands on her hips.

Getting up with a grin, I walked over to her with the volleyball in hand. Giving her a grin, I said she better be ready for a beatdown on the court.