Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail nor anything relating to it, or anything mentioned in this story rather than Ava. The same goes for the rest of the chapters.

Revival

by: imafangirlforever

"Has that idiot been bothering you again?" He sat next to her on the dock, letting his legs dangle dangerously close to the cold ocean. The sea was peaceful as the waves came to the shore and back out, and the dark waters mirrored the moonlight so serenely it seemed unearthly. She didn't move or flinch at his sudden motion, instead just giving a defeated sigh that didn't seem like her as she fiddled with her bracelets, an action Gray had become used to in the years she had been in Fairy Tail.

"I wish I could come too." She admitted, eyes lowered as she refused to look him in the eye. She watched the waves, waiting for his response. Gray had always been the one to listen to her: to hear her opinions when she was feeling down. Over the years, she had learned to value the navy blue-haired boy's opinion, and he had learned to value hers. It wasn't out of any meeting by chance that they had become this way: it just happened that they were probably the most sane in their guild, and sane people stuck with other sane people.

Gray wasn't exactly sure how to reply to that, so he shrugged casually and commented, "There's always next year, right? I think Master was just waiting until you were a little older."

"But Erza was my age when she was promoted!" She protested deeply, waving her hands extravagantly as she gestured back in the direction of the guild.

"Yeah, well…" He gazed at the sea in thought, thinking of the injuries he had noticed Erza spotting after taking her S-Class exam. Her entire pale body, usually spotless, was littered with bruises and cuts as she had staggered off of the boat coming back from Tenroujima, the red head's magic severely depleted. "It doesn't hurt to wait a little longer."

She huffed, the cool breeze ruffling through her hair and sending it flying to the side. She adjusted some of the hair that flew into her face before turning back to him, honey eyes narrowed and mouth pulled into a frown. "I know. It's just...I have this weird feeling about this, you know?"

"No." His mouth twitched upwards as he gave her a small smirk. She was worrying about them the whole time? Heh, she always was soft. "I don't."

"Gray, you know sometimes you can be very irritating," she said fondly, eyebrow twitching.

"I know."

"Well…" She turned to face him, her amber eyes locking on to his dark blue, and Gray couldn't help but notice the slightly dangerous look in her eyes and how heavy the atmosphere was. "Just promise me you'll come back safely."

"Tch, I can't promise that. Flame Brain will probably-"

"Promise," she said sternly, holding her pinky finger out childishly, making Gray sigh and agreeing to indulge in her wish.

"Promise."

A wide grin began to spread across her face, and she hugged him tightly before standing up, pointing her finger at him, her eyes lit as she said, "Okay then, I'm holding you to that. The next time the boat comes back from Tenroujima you'd better be waving back at me. One month, got that? No more, no less."

"You sound like Natsu."

"Well?" She raised her eyebrows challengingly, ignoring his remark about the pinkette as they looked at each other straight in the eye, each gaze refusing to waver. His mouth twitched upwards as his lips moved to form his words to her.

"Of course."

(Nearly a month later, all that is left is the remains of the shocked guild. A single tear slides down her cheek as she whispers nearly inaudibly, "He broke his promise.")

(A few days later, no one is surprised-more like just saddened-when the black haired girl asks to quit the guild.)

(If she had known they would be back, would she have stayed?)

Year X789 (two years before X791)

In the more run-down part of town, crowds brimmed with life as people rushed about. Several people, clad in natural colors of brown and black, flocked to the entrance of a small bar, a sign hanging on the door identifying itself as the Midnight's Delight.

The wooden door would swing open and closed as people entered and exited, and Eve couldn't help but notice that there were more people coming in than out. Curious, he whispered to his partner for his mission, "Do you think that's the suspicious place the client was talking about?"

His partner was Riko Applico, a particularly pretty girl that was very cold to everyone. Eve couldn't fathom why she joined their guild when she acted like she hated it, but a job was a job. Hibiki, Ren, and Ichiya were in the hospital wing from their last mission when they tried hitting on some girls that had powerful punches, so he had to have someone to do the mission with. It had happened that Riko was the only person free at the time, so they had gone to see the client together.

Their client, a burly man who for some reason insisted there was some magic or sorcery happening in his town, had hired them to find the source and stop it. There were always those kinds of paranoid clients; Eve had learned just to appease them and put on a show later about how they had defeated whatever foe that had done the crime. Of course, there were always the exceptions when it was actually the work of a mage.

Riko shrugged, giving a small grunt. "You go check it out. I will continue."

"Okay…" Eve looked doubtfully at the bar for a moment before smiling at his partner. "I'll meet you back at the inn later."

"…" He received no response except for a slight nod of the head before the girl turned and walked away with a flourish.

Eve turned back to the entrance of the bar, and taking a small breath, went inside. He observed everything around him, noting that he felt something off about this place.

Brilliant lights of pink, teal, and orange shone on the faces of awed onlookers as they watched what was going on before them. A girl, about the age of 20, danced with the stealth of a panther as she leaped about the small wooden stage at the corner of the room. She was dressed in loose attire, gold bangles decorating her arms and legs and complimenting her amber-brown eyes. One gold bracelet that seemed to have some kind of stone engraved in it hung on her right wrist. Her hair, a coal black, was tied into a single braid that flew as she danced across the stage.

Their eyes met for a moment, and she tensed for a moment before resuming her dance with even more vigor. It finally came to an end, the music fading as she bowed while the crowd enthusiastically applauded and whistled in her favor.

She smiled a calculating, yet warm, smile and bowed again before getting off the stage. The bar quickly resumed their usual mood, with men pounding their mugs and guffawing as barmaids frantically rushed around, pouring refills of the amber liquid. If not for the presence of the girl, Eve would've already left. This place was obviously a rendezvous point for the assembly of the lower class of society, and he refused to partake in this nonsense. His eyes searched the room before seeing a flash of gold. His feet moved before his mind did, and soon he was walking alongside the girl as she exited the bar, her face now a mask.

"Hello there."

"Ah, it's you," she said with distaste. "Eve Tearm of Blue Pegasus, correct? And to what do I owe the honor of your presence?"

"Join our guild!" Eve blurted out suddenly.

The girl looked up in mild surprise, and she tucked a stray strand of black hair as she asked, "What?" Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, and she seemed to analyze him before taking a neutral expression.

"Join our guild."

Her mouth twitched upwards a fraction, and he wasn't sure if it was because she was entertained by his offer or excited.

Eve wasn't stupid, and he knew that offering a random person a spot in one of Fiore's top guilds wasn't very smart, but as soon as he spotted the strangely intricate white bracelet and golden eyes he knew who this person was.

"You're the Golden Mage, right? The Independent Mage who's supposedly taken more than a thousand missions, and used to be part of the number one guild, Fairy Tail?"

"Eh? You think I'm the Golden Mage?" She paused, then said more softly. "Oh the irony…" She stifled a chuckle. Yes, that was definitely a smirk forming in her face as she gave a sigh before giving him a conniving look. "Who knows? Maybe I am, maybe I'm not."

Two could play at that game. "Eh~? But I want the famous Golden Mage to be my onee-chan! You are her, right?"

Thanks to him raising his voice, the pair had caught several people's attention. The girl's eyes darted from side to side, her left hand unconsciously hovering to her right wrist as she inhaled sharply.

"Eve." A voice sounded from his left, and the tall figure of Riko appeared as she watched him with cool eyes. "Do not make a scene here."

"But—" he protested, but she cut him off by taking him by the arm and dragging him away from the scene. His eyes locked once more with his newly-made acquaintance, and she smiled amusedly and lifted her hand in a gesture of farewell. He huffed, annoyed, but allowed himself to be taken away.

Until next time.

Eh, that was interesting. The girl sighed, and allowed herself to smile a little as she walked to the entrance, or exit, of the town. She hummed a faint tune under her breath as she slung her home over her shoulder. Her home, or her suitcase to be more exact, was crammed with different little magical trinkets she had picked up at a few stores. A few specialized scrolls, a nifty diamond ring with a hidden compartment, and a few nice pieces of jewelry she planned to barter with once she reached the next town.

She fingered her moonstone bracelet, fingers tracing over the names etched in the stone wistfully. Ava and Mia- Sisters forever

The silence that accompanied her was almost eerie. She supposed she had gotten used to the lively atmosphere of the bar.

She'd miss it.

She pushed away the thought, bothered, and glanced down at the map in her hands. Where should she go next? She debated the question for a little before deciding to close her eyes and pick at random. Her finger jabbed at a random spot, and she opened her eyes and looked down to see the bright letters: MAGNOLIA.

How ironic.

She hesitated for a moment, but then shrugged. The past was the past, and she was bound to pass it again after travelling so long.

…

…

…

...right?

She turned swiftly, heading in the direction of her old home.

Magnolia had always been a busy town of much activity, mirroring the atmosphere of their main guild. The city's occupants had gotten used to strange occurrences like men flying out of a building; it was all in the usual Fairy Tail gusto, after all. So when a woman randomly entered the town, no one said anything about it.

Ava Lucioni, age 20, observed the city with an almost fond look as she recalled everything around her and the events that had taken place in the town. She had donned some sunglasses and a long-sleeved blue blouse that mainly covered her bracelets—for safety measures, she reassured herself—and sported a nice straw hat. Adorning her wrists were silver bracelets decorated with moonstone designs, her name and her sister's name engraved onto it. She fiddled with them absentmindedly for a moment before smiling.

"It's been a while…" she said faintly, vaguely remembering that the square she was in was where Natsu had first challenged Erza to a duel. Her mouth twitched upwards as she remembered the red-head and pinkette. If only they could see her now. She had grown strong: stronger since when they first found her, dirty and beaten as she staggered into the guild hall desperately. Definitely. She was stronger now.

Her eyes turned reminiscent as she unconsciously stroked a strand of her hair. She blinked, startled, and realized that her feet had started to take her in the direction of her former guild. She immediately stopped herself, but stiffened at the sound of a high, distinctively feminine voice.

"Ava! Ah, Ava, is it you? Ava Lucioni?"

She turned around slowly, caught, and tried for a smile as she fiddled with her fingers nervously. "Hello Laki."

Her friend had grown over the years: she was now well endowed, and her hair reached her waist and was tied back with a red ribbon. She was wearing a light colored mantle over her rather revealing blue dress, and Ava's eyes traced the low V-neck as she sighed. Of course her guildmates would change after her not seeing them in so long. The purple-haired girl beamed, and before Ava could react, ran forward and hugged her friend tightly. "It's so nice to see you again! You chopped your hair! Did you feed your stomach yet? Where did you go? Why did you go? Gosh, can you imagine the guild's reactions when they learn you're back?"

"Laki," the girl cut off sternly, prying off her hands as she sighed. "I…I'm not in Magnolia to rejoin the guild. I just was passing by."

"B-but you've been gone forever! Everyone misses you."

Ava's head jerked upwards and nearly hit her purple-haired friend as she tensed. She had just felt some kind of magic that had felt too familiar for her own good. But the strange feeling vanished as quickly as it came, and she turned her attention back to Laki who was staring at her curiously, dismissing it as an effect of having too little sleep.

"I'm sure they've managed." Ava bit her lip for a moment before letting her curiosity get the best of her. "Say, did anything new happen while I was gone?"

"Eh? Well, the usual I suppose." Laki flashed her a weak smile, and Ava knew that her friend had been missing the old guild just as much as she had. She felt a flash of an emotion she couldn't quite identify. Shame? Guilt? Perhaps a mixture of both? "We miss you."

"Ah, I see." A flash of pity welled in her chest for the poor girl, but she quickly pushed it away and forced a polite smile. "Well, I'd best be going. I'm probably going to head to some new town like Lavek: I heard the tea there's amazing."

"You're not going to stay?" The disappointment in Laki's voice was obvious as she stared at Ava. "Everyone would love to see you again."

Ava shook her head again. "It's fine, thank you."

"It's just," Laki hesitated, her eyes saddened as her shoulders slumped. "It's not the same without everyone."

She looked like a kicked puppy. Ava's body moved instinctively, and before she knew it she had embraced her friend. She inhaled, a scent of fresh lavender invading her senses, the familiar feeling warming her as she whispered, "I'm sorry, Laki."

And before her old friend could protest any further, she disappeared into the crowd of strangers, a hand outstretched to signal her goodbye.

(She didn't think that she'd see her friend again so soon, several months later when she stood in front of the guild as everyone was welcomed home.)