The rain continued to fall outside as the blue-haired pipsqueak took her time reading in the far back corner of the library. She sighed as she finished the last word on the last page, completely content with the end but still not quite satisfied. So she looked around herself for another book, one she hadn't managed to read during the hours she had already spent in her little space.
Nobody ever bothered her because nobody even knew where her little corner was. It was hidden behind strategically placed bookshelves, giving her the perfect secret hiding place. In fact, she only managed to find it when she tripped over her growing stack of books a few months ago. Since then, it has been the place she went every day for hours to hide from her problems.
"Miss?" A voice called out. It was Makarov Dreyar, the librarian. "We have to close up now so I have to send you home."
"Coming." The girl emerged from her hiding place and walked to the front desk, a new book in hand. "Can I take this one out, Mr. Dreyar? I'll bring it back tomorrow, you know I will."
"Hmm. The Dragon's Treasure. Very nice choice." He nodded and took the book from her, signing it out under his name since the petite female didn't actually have a library card to use. "There you go Shtra. Have fun reading, that's one of my favourites."
Makarov watched as Shtra walked out into the rain and begin her lonely walk home, fighting every instinct he had to keep her with him and tell her all about her past. He knew she deserved to know, but he couldn't reveal the truth after 13 years. Especially since he had yet to locate Yajeh so he couldn't really explain everything to her.
Shtra was a good kid, she had her mother's hair and eyes. Not to mention her father's temper if you interrupted her while she was reading. The only thing missing was her actual mother and father. Shtra had been placed into the foster care system before she was even 3 years old despite Makarov's protesting and now, at the age of 16, she was still there with no recollection of her relation to Makarov at all. Makarov shook his head and sighed.
"Where in the hell did you two brats go? She needs you now more than ever…" Makarov stared at the dark sky through the windows, tears threatening to spill down his face. A lot of things had changed since Gajeel and Levy went missing years ago. Fairy Tail was no longer a Magic Guild in Magnolia, it was shut down and turned into the very same library where he stood. Even the dark weather seemed to reflect the constant moods of all the previous members of the old guild. Nobody had accepted the fact that Gajeel and Levy might be gone from the world, and everyone hoped for them to one day return. Makarov most of all.
"Gajeel! Slow down!" On another continent, another azure-haired female whined at her companion who stopped and turned around.
"C'mon Shrimp. We don't have all day." Gajeel Redfox walked towards little miss Levy McGarden and threw her up over his shoulder, ignoring her initial protests, before continuing down his original path.
Levy pouted while Gajeel walked. She had gotten used to him carrying her every since their ship got caught in a storm 13 years ago. The managed to survive but the ship got completely wrecked on a new continent and they had no clue where they were. They had been travelling around looking for civilization in order to find a boat to take them home to their friends and family.
"Gajeel?" Levy questioned, as she always did when the thought of her precious people crossed her mind.
"Yea Shrimp?" He knew the next question already since the woman had asked him it at least once every day. "They are fine, Makarov probably has them and you know he won't let either of them forget us."
Levy nodded and then snuggled her face into Gajeel's back. Despite his cold, uncaring attitude towards most things, she knew he was equally just as worried as she was. Afterall, Gajeel was a total softie on the inside.
"Hey Lev. Jackpot. Gihi." Gajeel beamed as he saw a town coming into view. "Only took us 13 damn years of walking to find it." At his words, Levy twisted in his arms to look at the sight.
"Hey, you were the one who wanted to 'zigzag' across the island instead of just walking along the shoreline like I suggested. We would have made it here years ago if you hadn't been so stubborn." She stuck her tongue out at him and laughed as he slowly set her down. His guard was up, something was wrong. "What is it?"
"I don't think we are going to be very welcome in this town. Smells like blood, smoke, and iron." Gajeel kept walking. Whether they were welcomed or not he was going to make sure that at least one of them made it back to Magnolia, and by one of them he meant Levy.