Lucy sat at the bar of the Fairytale guild; absentmindedly sipping of her second strawberry milkshake of the day. In her mind, she was having a very serious debate on whether she wanted to take a mission or not. She didn't need to take a one, she was for once caught up on her rent and for the next three months at that. Her fridge and cabinets were full at least until her team entered her apartment again. She groaned at that thought and dropped her head to the counter. No, she didn't need to take a mission, but she probably should if she wanted to have any extra jewel.
Lucy's head shot up when a squealing Mira brought her out of her thoughts. She looked to the demon bar maid and saw that she was hugging a piece of paper to her chest while she danced around as if she was having a fit. With some concern and a lot of curiosity she asked, "What's going on Mira?" she looked at Lucy, her dark blue eyes filled with unshed tears and a soft smile. Mira whispered so softly that Lucy almost didn't hear her," She's coming home." "who's coming home?" Lucy couldn't help but ask, though it did not seem like Mira heard her question as Mira screamed, "Gramps Laxus come here!" Lucy had to admit that scream was impressive as she stuck her pinky finger in her ear and shook it in hopes of stopping the ringing. She knew other people were doing the same. There was no way that hadn't hurt the dragon slayers ears if it had hurt hers.
Laxus and the master or gramps as some call him appeared on the second-floor balcony. Master looked equal parts curious and concerned, while Laxus looked annoyed. He crossed his arms over his broad chest and scowled at Mira.
Mira lifted the Letter that she had previously been hugging to her chest, and quiet calmly stated, "Tali is coming home." Master gasped nearly choking on his breath as his old eyes filled with tears that threatened to fall. Laxus's eyes widened to what Lucy was sure was an impossible size, and gaped like a fish. Wow I never thought I would see the arrogant and aloof Laxus looking like that Lucy thought to herself.
Tali? Lucy knew that name from somewhere but for the life of her she could not think of where. Lucy was brought out of her thoughts by master when he asked, "when will she be back?" His voice was thick with restrained emotions.
"If I read the letter correctly, she should be arriving anytime between now and early this evening." Mira stated with a huge grin on her face. "What does the letter say?" Laxus asked. His face and tone simply stated that he was curious, but Lucy could see the joy that he was trying so hard to contain. Lucy found that odd. Even though she did not have anything against Laxus, joy was not an emotion that she had ever seen come from him. Annoyance, irritation, anger, sadness and once she even saw pity. These and a few other emotions she had seen from the lightning dragon slayer, but joy this intense happiness that radiated from his very being this was not something she had ever seen. This was new to her.
"My Fairytale family, I know it has been almost ten years since any of you have heard from me and for that I am very sorry. I am happy to announce though that I am alive and well and that my missions are completed, therefore I will be returning to magnolia as soon as I am able. I am very excited to see all my guildmates new and old. If all goes well and I've times everything correctly I should be arriving at most a few hours after you receive this letter. I can't wait to see you all, I love you. Always yours, Tali."
As Mira finished reading the letter the question Laxus asked stumped her. "How do we know if it's really her." He gritted out.
Lucy watched as hope and suspicion warred within the slayers eyes. 'Why wouldn't it be this Tali woman? I mean yea she's apparently been gone for a long time, but still why would it be fake? What could somebody possibly gain from a fake letter? Is it meant to anger them? Why? Everyone know you don't mess with fairytale. So why? Lucy thought to herself while Mira fiddled with the large yellow envelope the letter came in. Once Mira was done she held up the now completely opened envelope and showed it to Laxus. There was an image on it and it appeared to be a very large paw of some sort she couldn't tell what kind as the entire paw did not fit on it. Apparently though the entire paw was not needed as she saw the lightning bolt on what she assumed to be the middle pad. That must have been enough of a conformation for Laxus because in a very low voice she heard, "It's really her."
"Yea, Laxus 's really me." A musical and distinctly female voice rang out from the guild hall doors.
Every head in the guild whipped to the doors. There standing in the doorway with a pack sitting next to her, her hands on her hips, and a very large canine and feline stood flanking the woman who at this point could only be Tali. Lucy didn't Know whether she should be in awe or terrified of this woman. She was beautiful yet she was terrifying. The power that radiated from her was the stuff of nightmares, it wasn't dark power but it wasn't good either. How she made it to the guild without anyone sensing her was beyond Lucy even non-mages should have been able to.
The woman was beautiful too, Lucy couldn't deny that, even if it was a strange beauty. Lucy settled for both she was both in awe and terrified of her. The woman has thick beautiful sapphire hair that fell straight down to her calves. She also noticed that there were many layers cut into the hair of all different lengths with 'M' shaped bangs that almost falls into her eyes. She had elfin shaped ears that from what Lucy could tell was pierced from the point to the lobe with small different colored studs. Her eyes were large and elegantly shaped while at the same time sporting the slanted eyes of a predator. They are a stunning shade of orange amber but wholly unnatural as the rest of her eyes were a soft smoky black, no whites to be seen. Sitting between thin blue brows sat a teardrop shaped jewel that oddly enough was the color of Laxus's eyes. Her nose was small and in the right nostril a small orange stud can be seen. Her lips were full and plump and naturally dark even while smiling widely showing not one but two sets of fangs that sent shivers down her spine. She has light skin but not to light peachy is perhaps how she would describe it. She's wearing an ice blue sleeveless turtle neck that fits like a glove stopping just above her navel, showing off a top and bottom belly piercing. The woman had curves not as much as her mind you, but then again the woman was only about five foot she would look strange if she had her curves. As it was though she did not have her curves and the woman would have a devastating impact on the male population with the ones she possessed. Simple black skinny jeans and knee high black boots made up the bottom of her attire. She noticed that the woman didn't have long or blunt nails like most women no she had black claws and she's not entirely sure that they are painted that color. Lucy forced herself to blink her eyes were sore and she was giving herself a headache, and apparently not blinking causes one to miss things because she completely missed the black and orange furry umm belt? That the woman wore, though Lucy could swear that the 'belt' Twitched.