Clover Town, Year 813

Nashi

I bolted awake in the small bedroom. It was becoming a regular thing.

I rubbed my forehead as my dark pink hair spilled out around my shoulders. I was drenched in sweat again. The weird voices and nightmares that had been plaguing me in my sleep these last few years were only getting worse. I shook my head and patted my cheeks a few times before glancing at the clock. 2:30 in the morning.

I sighed. I was wide awake now. I probably wouldn't be able to go back to bed anyways.

It wasn't surprising that it would happen today. April 19th The day Dad left. Thirteen years had passed. To be honest, I don't really remember my dad. I only remember him from pictures and the day he left. Mom always has a hard time being happy today. So I usually take Layla out for ice cream or something. I started to get changed.

The rock. I had to carve the rock. I grabbed one of my knives off the dresser and strapped it to my hip before I slowly crept out of the house. Clover Town was pretty quiet this time of night. A small breeze gently blew through, rustling the tree branches and causing me to readjust my dad's old scarf.

I walked past the edge of town, the few taverns open were relatively quiet. Most customers had gone home. I kept walking until I turned onto a dirt path. Five minutes later, and there it was. The small and hidden Clover Falls. The boulder in the bushes to my right was the intended place. I scrambled to get to the back of it before pulling out the knife. Thirteen scratches were etched into the rock. One for every year dad was gone. I started etching in the new mark. The thirteenth one on the face of it. I sat down afterwards and looked at the sky.

"Hey...Dad..." this was my yearly therapeutic ritual. I took a deep breath, "another year with you gone. No contact as usual. Anything would be nice. It'd probably keep mom from spiraling."

Year after year it seemed like the joy was sucked out of my mother's eyes. Her book sales skyrocketed with the change in direction. But she was dying emotionally. At least she didn't develop part of a drinking habit like I did. Granted, I could drink more than half the town when it came to Cinnamon Whiskey.

"Not to mention I started getting nightmares and a voice in my head. At least Layla tries to help. You would like her. She's sweet but has a habit of being overly caring sometimes. But it's been thirteen years now. I still remember when you left. You said you would come back...to this day I still wonder...why you lied."

I waited as if the heavens were going to split open and dear ole dad was gonna pick me up and reassure me everything was alright. But I was sixteen, not four. I stood up, "anyway, I gotta go. I have a yearly tradition to get drunk today but Mom, Layla and I leave for her book tour later today, so better early than never. Not like you actually care anyway...we all know I'm talking to no one."

I took one last look at the rock. Thirteen scratch marks followed by a name.

NATSU DRAGNEEL

?-?

I walked back into town to the only tavern that was open. The Black Scale Tavern. Junior, the owner was still up and drying dishes. A cloaked man was sitting in the corner. A hand clasped around his drink as he started at some of the wall paintings.

"Can't sleep again?" Junior asked, the grey on his face showing his age.

I nodded, "yeah, but you know what day it is."

"I mark it on the calender just for you. You starting early?"

"Have to, Mom's got a book tour."

Junior raised an eyebrow, "really? Well make sure you three stay safe. Heard there are some pretty troublesome people out there right now."

"Nothing I can't handle, you know that," I teased as he handed me a bottle of Cinnamon Whiskey.

He crossed his arms, "just be careful, okay? And make sure you drink some water later so you don't have as bad a hangover."

I have him a thumbs up as I took a swig. The fiery taste of it was welcome. I smiled as I set it down, "oh yeah, now I've got a fire in my belly!"

Junior gave a light hearted chuckle at my remark as I leaned back and relaxed. Mom would kill me if she knew about my drinking habit. Time started to pass as a few people came down from the rooms above. One woman even stopped and blinked as I sat there with a bottle in my hand, "you got a problem?"

She shook her head, "no, you just look a little familiar, that's all."

Typical. Apparently mom and dad were some big shot wizards of some guild once. Now Dad is a run away father and mom is a depressed writer. I became responsible at the age of three in helping raise my younger sister all while trying to keep up in swordplay.

I made my way back home slowly as the early morning sun began to rise. I shielded my eyes from it when I saw my little sister running down the road, "Nashi!"

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, "Layla! What are you doing out so early?"

"Saving your ass! I knew you'd be drinking again today! You didn't pick up your pills, did you? You haven't taken them yet?"

I waved her off as she tried to check what I had on me, "I'm fine, I just went to the rock and the tavern. I'm fine, honestly."

She sighed, "mom got worried sick so she sent me to look for you. Did you have the nightmares again?"

I nodded slowly.

"Which one?"

We made a turn to head for the market. The one stop hangover cure was here along with my motion sickness pills. I was the only one out of the kids that had it. Dad apparently had it too.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm even related to my mom. Layla has a bit more muscle but other than that, she almost looks like mom. Her breasts are even bigger than mine and I'm over three years older. We stopped by a booth and I got the medicine with half my remaining money from my last tournament.

Without magic, swordplay was my outlet. I couldn't summon a spirit like Mom and Layla, no, I hacked and slashed my way through most issues.

I even had a nickname from my opponents.

Nashi the Dragon Blade.

Apparently that was how they saw me. A dragon. I surely didn't feel like a Dragon. I just felt angry and I tended to take it out on who ever I was fighting.

Layla snapped fingers in front of my face. I blinked, "what?"

"I said did you pack?"

I shook my head, "no. Not yet. I didn't want to wake you two up."

We hurried home to see my mother pacing the front porch, "there you are, where were you?"

"Jogging," I replied, "didn't sleep well."

She sniffed the air, "do I smell whiskey?"

I gritted my teeth, "forget it. I need to pack."

She was about to open her mouth but hesitated, "you're drinking again?"

"Can we no talk about this right now? Geez," I pushed past her and walked into my room. The posters on the wall greeted me as I grabbed my backpack. Kagura of Mermaid Heel, Minerva of Sabertooth, and lastly, my biggest idol, the poster my mom wanted me to get rid of most, Erza 'Titania' Fernandes of Fairy Tail. I had studied her techniques for years. I grabbed my Heart Kruez t-shirt and threw it on to spite mom. I changed my pants too before putting my hair up in a ponytail. I grabbed the leather jacket off the chair by my desk and my Temple Sword of the wall and slung it onto my back. I snatched the bag up before heading out to the front porch where my mom flinched at the shirt was wearing.

"You're going to wear that?" she hissed at me.

I smiled and nodded, "don't worry, it's not like I'm the center of attention for this."

Layla stifled a grin. My little sister knew me pretty well most times. Mom closed her eyes, "fine, fine. Let's just go."

I clenched my jaw as my stomach was feeling like someone liquefied it and was shoving a knife through it at the same time. I was taking a few quick breaths but it wasn't helping. I needed off the train. Apparently, it was very noticeable. Layla was patting my back as best she could with the sword on it. My mom was looking at the pill bottles, "Layla! You got the wrong pills!"

My sister looked worried, "but I got them from the same place I always do! The labels are the same color!"

Mom shook her head, "these are for an upset stomach. Indigestion. We need ones for motion sickness."

"Urp...I can vouch...my stomach...is plenty upset...mph!" I covered my mouth as bile rose in my throat.

"How is it you can handle a cruise but not a train ride!" Layla giggled.

Mom sighed, "because for some reason, Aquarius and her get along as thick as thieves. She ended blessing her when she was four."

"Attention all passengers, we are arriving at Onibas Station, I repeat, Onibas Station."

I shot to my feet and looked at my mother as I was drenched in sweat, "I'll meet up with you on the tour...urp."

She nodded, "okay. Stay safe."

"I'm going with her!" Layla added on.

"NO!" Mom and I both shouted.

She pouted and sat back down, "someone has to protect her."

I gestured to the sword on my back, "uh, national...champion..."

"Oh, right. Sorry. I'll miss you big sis!"

I nodded as I made my way off the train, falling into the pavement as a wave of relief washed over me. The world was right again. I rose to my feet as the train departed. Then it hit me.

Mom didn't exactly say what cities she was going to, just that it was a tour.

I smacked my forehead, "how could I be that stupid?"

I started thinking about major cities in the area and only one came to mind.

Magnolia.