Authors note: Hey, this is my first time writing a Fairy Tail Fan fic, so if any of the characters are extremely OOC, please tell me and I'll try to fix it. Reviews would be appreciated, other than that have fun and I hope you enjoy. Also, I own nothing except Gaia
Gaia took a deep breath as she stepped off of the train, taking in all the familiar scents of the town of Magnolia. Hints of cinnamon from her favorite bakery wafted to her on the light breeze combining with the smell of hot steel from the tracks. To some it might be an odd combination but to her it just smelled like home, a warm and comfortable place where she felt welcome. Flicking her copper mane over her shoulder, she shifted her pack on her shoulder and started walking. She didn't need to see where she was going; her feet knew the way without her having to think. When she had met Gildarts a few weeks ago while on her way back, he had informed her of the move to a different location due to foreclosure, but even then she knew the way. As she walked, she could hear the whispers of the people she passed. Most of them were negative, derogatory comments on Fairy Tail but she just brushed them aside. It had never been in her nature to fight without cause like one particular fire dragon slayer she knew.
"Gaia?" The petite woman stopped and turned towards the voice of her longtime friend. She smiled at the white-haired woman.
"Hey Mirajane, it's been a while hasn't it?" the white-haired woman's blue eyes widened as she set down the fruit she was looking at and slowly approached the nature mage as if she would disappear. As she neared, Mirajane tentatively put her hand out and touched the shorter woman's lustrous light copper hair. Gaia laughed, stretching up to pat the other woman's white hair. Instantly, Mirajane's eyes filled with tears and she gathered the smaller mage into her arms. Bright amber eyes blinked in confusion before she pulled away to look at the other mage.
"Are you okay Mira?" the woman cupped her cheek.
"We thought you had died. You stopped sending letters; we hadn't heard a word from you." Gaia blinked in confusion before annoyance crossed over her fairy like features.
"I had told Gildarts to tell everyone I was okay but it seems like that idiotic mage let it slip his mind again," Mirajane laughed, all traces of her tears gone except the shimmer in her eyes.
"That seems like something he would do. So are you headed back to the guild?" Gaia nodded, sending some strands of her wavy copper mass sliding out of the ponytail she'd placed it in.
"Yeah, I just finished that quest. It took a lot longer than I had suspected it would." The nature mage laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. Mira blinked at her.
"Do you mean the 20 year quest that you took? You already finished it?" Gaia nodded, smiling.
"Of course, I was aiming for ten but I had to take a break to replenish my magic," Mira shook her head and laughed before going back to pay for her food and rejoining the young mage.
"So how long are you staying this time?" Gaia shrugged, shifting the large pack over to her other shoulder.
"A while; I really want to stay for a few years and find a house. I left when I was too young to own one and with the reward from this mission, I'll be set for a couple of years at least. It's hard to imagine that it's been fourteen years huh." Mira laughed, nodding.
"I almost didn't recognize you, you've really grown up Gaia-chan," the nature mage laughed nervously.
"Yeah, you have no idea how long it took for me to actually fill out, I thought I was going look like a boy forever." Mira laughed, hugging the small woman as they walked, causing her to trip a little.
"You could never look like a boy Gaia, you're too cute," the mage laughed, catching herself before she fell and made a scene.
"Well according to Laxus I look like a scrawny little boy instead of a girl." Gaia tried not to wince as she repeated the last words he'd ever spoken to her. Even after fourteen years, it still stung. Mira laughed.
"You know Laxus, he was probably just mad that you could go on a 20 year mission and he couldn't. You were both little then," Gaia shrugged, suddenly nervous to see everyone again as they exited the town and headed up the trail to their new guild hall. She grew quiet, sinking into herself. Would they remember her? Would they be happy to see her after all of this time? She stopped as Mira went to the door of the hall. Noticing her hesitation, she turned to her friend.
"It'll be okay Gaia; everyone will love having you back." Gaia laughed to herself. Probably not everyone. Laxus had never been thrilled having her around and she doubted that any of that had changed. Taking a deep breath, she steeled her resolve before walking up to the doors and swinging them open. An eerie hush fell over the normally boisterous guild and Gaia felt the strongest urge to run as they all cast somewhat skeptical glances her way. Her instincts were foiled as Mirajane stepped in behind her and wrapped the mage in a surprisingly strong hug.
"Everyone, Gaia's back!" there was a long pause as the members observed her before she was attacked with yells and hugs, the most painful coming from a now giant Elfman who was saying something she couldn't understand because of his weeping. She felt her worries seeping away as all of her old friends greeted her with hugs and yells.
"Gaia!" The nature mage jerked, trying to find an escape before she was engulfed in yet another pair of arms and lifted into the air, "It's been a while kiddo!"
Gaia could feel her irritation rise and she quickly wiggled out of the behemoths grasp before hitting the mage in the head. A silence rushed over the guild as a dark aura appeared from the fairy like woman in front of them and she glared down at Gildarts.
"I saw you the other month, you perverted old man. Plus did you forget that you were supposed to tell everyone that I was okay?" the older man laughed nervously, rubbing the bump that she had caused in her fit of anger.
"Yeah, sorry about that; must have slipped my mind." A vein pulsed in her forehead but she shook her head, clearing away the anger, leaving only a mild annoyance. He was ancient after all, so how could she really get mad at him for forgetting her messages.
"Old geezer," she mumbled, her cheeks coloring as mortification washed over her. She never got violent. It was one of the notable things about her. He stood and ruffled her hair, smiling. She snorted, swatting at the hand playfully before looking around at all the smiling faces of her guild mates, her only nakama. A loud yell broke her reverie and she turned to the sound, smiling as she saw a head of salmon pink hair. She chuckled, shaking her head. That boy was always getting excited over the smallest things. She smiled. It was to know some things never changed. She went over to the bar with Mira, a small group of the older members following behind her and bombarding her with question. Where had she been? Had she had fun? Did she bring anything back for them? She answered them on auto pilot, discreetly scanning the room for the one person that she both hopped and dreaded to see. Would he remember her? Would he even recognize her?
"He's not here right now," Gaia jumped and turned a guilty eye towards Mira who was smiling back at her as she cleaned a cup. Gaia blushed a bright red and Erza laughed as she took the seat next to her.
"Some things never change do they Mira? Even after all of this time she still has a crush on Laxus." Gaia felt her face heat up even more if that was possible and she squeezed her eyes shut.
"N-No I don't." Erza and Mirajane exchanged knowing looks over the woman's head, "He's so annoying and infuriating. I don't know how anyone could like that jerk." She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest even as Mira chuckled.
"That was a younger Laxus, he's changed since then Gaia, and it has been fourteen years since you two last saw each other." Gaia refused to let the hope that he'd changed well up in her chest. In all the years she'd known him, he had always been mean to her; pulling her pig tails, taking her toys, calling her all sorts of names; never had he ever once said something nice to her. She sighed, pulling her hair away from her nape to let the area cool.
"I find that doubtful Mira," she mumbled before standing from the stool and stretching her back and picking her bag up from the floor.
"Well, I'd better go look for that apartment now. Don't know how long it'll take me to find one I like," Slinging her pack over her shoulder, she waved good-bye to Mira and Erza before heading towards the door.
"Good luck!" Gaia smiled over her shoulder and walked out of the door…and straight into what felt like a brick wall. She bounced back before landing on her rear. She groaned as her fall jostled her injured side before looking up at the thing she had bumped off of, an apology forming on her lips before shock coursed through her as she noted the thick mass of blonde spikes on the man's head. The behemoth before her glanced down at her, revealing a familiar set of orange eyes. Her mouth dropped open. This giant of a man…..was Laxus?!