Chapter 1
All was quiet in the Fairy Tail Guild, something uncommon for this usually rowdy guild. It was probably because of the absence of some wild mages- notably Erza, Natsu, and Gray.
Mirajane was serving drinks at the bar, along with her friend Niya, who was complaining at the lack of entertainment. She had easily won a debate with Reedus, who had not even tried to reason with her. Mirajane's brother was out on a mission, with Macao and Wakaba, so Niya couldn't quarrel with them either, as she would have done if they were here. Just then the doors of the guild opened, and the Raijinshu stepped in. This was uncommon, reflected Mirajane, they don't come often. Niya frowned discreetly. She did not approve of the Raijinshu. She never said why, but Mirajane thought she must have encountered them somewhere.
"I wonder why they're here; I thought they were above mixing with us scum?" Niya muttered sarcastically. Mirajane nudged her.
"Be nice! They don't come often!"
"Like I-" but was cut off by a woman dressed in what was obviously supposed to be a 'charming' pixie outfit (Niya thought it was ugly, rather than charming, and showed way too much skin), known as Evergreen (Mirajane didn't understand why her name was Evergreen, when it was Fried's hair that was green),
"I'd like a drink please Mira-san."
"Comin' right up!" Mira said happily. Not many people had been drinking today, since Cana, the card mage, was absent, presumably on a mission as well and Mira and Niya had been drop-dead bored.
"So where'd you all just come from?" Niya asked politely, leaning over the bar. That girl, one minute she's being all rude, next minute she's all nice and happy.
"We have just finished exterminating a dark guild to the north," Fried Justine said in his almost non-existent voice. Niya nodded.
"Okay. Was it easy?"
"It was surprisingly easy. How they managed to remain a guild so long is beyond me," Evergreen said, in her snobbish way.
"Hmmm . . . maybe it's cuz no one else had any guts to up there and smash their faces in." Niya said, stifling a yawn. "I haven't been on a mission in a while, maybe I should go . . ." she said, more to herself than Evergreen.
"Yes, why don't you Niya? It's been quiet round here, with Natsu and Gray being absent. I can handle it," Mira immediately said. She felt so guilty; ever since Lisanna's demise, Niya worked at the bar with Mira, occasionally going on a mission with Cana, and taking photo shoots with Mira. She did it to show Mira that she had her unwavering support, and it didn't matter to her whether Mira was a mage or not. But Niya was an extremely powerful mage, and like Mira, was also an S-Class mage.
"I guess I will. Anyway, catch ya'll later," Niya drawled, and sauntered up the stairs, to look at the S-Class missions. Mira looked at her parting back with a sad smile. If only . . . but it was alright. She still had Elfman no? She had her photo shoots; she had people telling her she was beautiful by the dozen. She could still do transformation. But none of the things she did to distract herself helped her to forget the enormous rush of power she had felt when could go on missions and fight for people who could not. She had never imagined she would be on of those people that needed others to fight for her but . . . oh well. Power wasn't everything! So smiling, she returned to her duties as a waitress. She noticed that all the members of the Raijinshu had cleared out, except for Fried, who was gazing at her curiously.
"Fried, you want something?" she asked, automatically reaching for a glass. Fried simply went on looking at her, till she felt uncomfortable with the silence.
"It's rude to stare," she said playfully, leaning over the bar towards Fried. He simply smiled.
"Do you not feel lonely sometimes?" Mira looked at him, surprised. It took her a few seconds to formulate an answer.
"Lonely? Why would I feel lonely Fried?"
"Because no one has gone through what you have, and no one understands what you have gone through."
"And according to you, just what have I gone through?" Mira inquired, ignoring the impulse to reply scathingly that he obviously thought he knew what Mira had gone through.
"You were the eldest, and most powerful. It was your duty," Mira trembled at his words, shocked to hear such cruel but truthful words. "And after it all, you gave up something else that was very important to you, something that was a part of your personality. You felt compelled to change yourself, for what you felt was the better. You made a whole new you, one that was harmless and sweet. You do not feel as powerful as you were before. That is a lot of suffering for one to go through Mirajane-san. I admire you for it." He finished and got up. Mirajane felt furious. How dare he? And that was the moment Mirajane found herself bitterly resenting Fried Justine and his damned tendency to talk about what was none of his business.