The light of the rising sun over the tops of trees, the birds beginning their morning songs, the shared warmth of two bodies pressed together, a black cloak over them fighting back against the chill of the early autumn morning; it was a serene, peaceful moment that Ashima always craves desperately. But upon waking up more and becoming more aware of her self and surroundings, the tall brunette realized that scenery around her was anything but serene.
The clearing was filled with scorch marks, chunks of missing ground and shrubby. Ground dried and cracked, and covered in large, broken pieces of branch and splinters littered the earth mixing with ripped up grasses and weeds. Charred leaves and slashed earth added to the disarray. Little Wendy curled up tight in the brunette's side as her black cloak covered them both. From the air and earth.
Ashima propped herself up on her elbow as she looked around hearing more then seeing, Natsu sawing logs with his obnoxiously loud snoring, laying spread eagle. His body covered in scratches and bruises, his clothes laying in tatters, little bits of leaves and twigs tangled in his wild, spiky, pink hair. Gajeel slept not to far away, grumbling on his back. Rolling onto his stomach, he hazardously flopped his dirt stained hand over the opened mouth of the fire slayer, instantly cutting the noise level in half. His own wild jet black mane in tangles and knots, holding a forest's worth of pine needles in it as his destroyed shirt shifted precariously on his scarred torso.
The brunette looked down to the tiny slayer in her arms, sleeping away without a care in the world. Safe and secure, protected against the chill and breeze. The warmth of the taller keeping her content and lulling her deeper into the land of dreams. Ashima smiled down at the bluette, a soft upturn of the lips, that quickly twisted down at recalling the actions taken to get here.
Seven hours earlier
Ashima stood, still as a statue, in the center of large clearing. The auras of raw, ancient magic pulsing through them, wrapped tightly around every piece of their bodies, crept towards her from her left. The auras of beaten down soldiers and a determined leader, the souls of monsters attached to his, following his trackers to the brunette, coming up from behind. But at the pace the two groups were going, the dragon slayers would get to her first. Natsu the lead nose in the search.
Standing there awaiting for her two choices to reach her, made the mage pause and wonder. Which one did she want? But more importantly, which one would she regret the least? Fairy Tail seemed like an obvious choice, but she has known them but two months, while her brother, his soldiers, her soldiers, were her life. The one she left for freedom, the most difficult choice she had to make. But it seems like she'll have to make it again. Only this time she only got final decision and none of the reasoning. The debate would take place here between her people and her friends.
Her responsibilities or her freedom? She could have only one. Not both. And was her freedom worth the heartache that was sure to come for both her and her family? To send her brother, her twin, back to their parents and older brother back empty handed. To tell them she choose another life over them, the ones who gave her soul shape and love, no matter how tough they had to be on her, because they didn't like this as much as she, but they had to do it. If not for themselves, then for their people. The ones who look to them for protection, for peace, for order.
But could she deal with being auctioned off to a suitor of noble birth and bare a child she did not want. Children of a man she would not love, could not love. Be forced to smile as she was draped in the finest silks and made out to be something she was not. Be molded to become a house wife, taking care of a noble house, while her brothers fought along their soldiers to defend their country. Sitting around worrying about when she would be able to see them again alive, instead being out there and protecting their weak sides, as they did the same for her, just like how they were raised.
Ashima's long, dark fingers twitched and flexed against her thighs, her head not hanging, but stuck upright but the tension that held her entire body still and frozen to her spot in the middle of a large clearing, her two lives, her two choices, her family, her friends coming closer and closer. The sun beginning to dip into the horizon, painting the darkening sky with streaks of oranges, pinks, reds and purples. A masterpiece of colors that went unnoticed by Ashima as Natsu, Gajeel and dear little Wendy came busting through the brush.
"Ashima!" The bluette called out just as Kane and his soldiers came through the tree line, Kane's eyes narrowing as the three slayers blocked his way to his sister. Who stood completely frozen as she stared off into the setting sun. Seemingly memorized by the sight, as if this was her first time seeing one. But Kane knew for a fact that it wasn't, when they were only children, they would sneak out of dinner to watch the sun take its last breath as the moon took over the darken sky. Revealing the glittering stars and all the stories they held.
"Sectrar (Sister)!" Kane called out. Ashima did not flinch as she was startled back into reality, but her head did lower as she turned around, meeting her brother's eyes. Eyes that matched her own. Eyes that seemed distant with a cold fury, but she was able to look past that, was able to sense the loneliness that echoed in his soul, the betrayal that scarred his heart, the confusion and sadness that was covered with determination and fury. It was nearly enough to make her cave. Almost.
"I will stay here in Fiore!" She called back, betrayal roared to life, fueling his anger and loneliness as he frowned deeply. Confusion emanating from the soldiers at his back. Surprise and happiness coming from the slayers in front of her. She had decided for her freedom. The heartache was already settling in, burrowing deep into her heart as a coldness settled over her. Numbing her and preparing her for the fight that will ensure in mere moments.
"You will return with me, whether you like it or not!" Kane declared as a dark purple magic circle, the size of the clearing appeared above their head. White light taking over the male twin as he transformed. "Elemental Soul: Thunderbird!" Everyone braced themselves against the fierce winds. Their howls deafening them as thunder rumbled in the distance, a great bird shooting up into the sky, casting lightning down upon them all as wings of arsenic shoot out, revealing Kane covered in an armor of soft silvery steel feathers. His hair had turned into a mane of jet black feathers that settle heavy on his broad shoulders. Eyes glowing a dark prussian blue behind his feathery mask. Bands of silver circled his biceps and thighs, while bands of silver were wrapped around his wrists and ankles, all engraved with marks of lightning.
"Davamseiz combelraz'sya Sectrar (Let us fight Sister)!" Kane's voiced boomed over the area like thunder as he watched the people beyond him. His prussian blue eyes locking onto the eyes of his sister, as she simply looked up at him. Her face a distant and cold mask. Though tears lurked just beneath the surface as one of his soldier gave a loud cry and charged, the others following suite, the slayers gave a quick look to the brunette before to each other. She would deal with her brother, they would deal with the others.
"Fallen Soul: Israfel." An arctic blue magic circle the size of Kane's appeared. The bright blue light wrapping around brunette, embracing and caressing her mocha skin as the spell bleached her hair of any color, releasing it of its bindings. Wings of pale gold wings springing forth from her back, so long and so large they trailed behind her, tips pooling by her ankles. Her clothing being deconstructed and reconstructed into black thigh high, wedged boots that clung to her as a pale grey skirt sat low on her hips and flowed all the way to her ankles, slits running all the way up to the brazened gold strips of plated armor for her hips. A matching armored corset piece, covered her neck down to her stomach. Inlaid and engraved with protective runes, as her uncovered forearms be covered with matching arm bracers.
Finally a pair of twin broad swords appeared in Ashima's hands as her eyes lighten to an arctic blue, the light fading away as she crouched then shot up into the sky, heading straight for her brother's winged form. Body prepared for the fight that decides Ashima's fate. Should she win, they leave and go back home. But should she lose, she would accompanying them in chains. A precaution against her probably escape.
"Ya combelraz'porza libersvote (I will fight for my freedom)!" She roared as she raised her swords, readying herself for this was it. Kane let loose a very unbird like growl. Rumbling deep in his chest as he summoned his own broad sword to his hand. With a powerful flap of arsenic wings, Kane's sword clashed with Ashima's, letting loose sparks as they hung there midair, faces inches apart. Arms and swords struggling to find an advantage as the twins scowled and frowned at each other, despite the tears that lingered just under the surface, laying in wait for their moment to make themselves present to the world.
They pushed back at each then ran back to each other, swords flying as they danced about in the sky. Moving so fast that even the slayers had a hard time keeping up with their movements, when they had a down moment between fighting the soldiers. Who were a lot tougher then Rune Knights. They actually knew how to fight and move about their opponents. Above them were the fighting twins, neither switching to something more powerful, since the other never gave them the time to even have or attempt a chance.
Ashima held back Kane's with her two. Thinking quickly, seeing how she was starting to lose, her arms straining under the pressure of keeping her neck safe of the kiss of Kane's blade. The female moved out of the way while rushing forwards and circled her blades free of his and cut right through his harden feathers, crimson blood swelling up and dripping his left side as he released a pained exclamation. Nearly dropping his sword as he clutched his bleeding side.
He hissed in pain as his hand came into contact with the cut flesh, quickly sending a glare to a watching Ashima. Her fingers flexing and readjusting her grip on her broad swords as his free hand summoned a little bit of lightening magic to his palm. Cursing softly, he pressed his palm to one end of his cut, drawing blood from where his teeth bit down on his lip. He seared the two, six inch long cuts, closed. Ending with him panting and more determined then before. Ashima braced herself as Kane came descending upon her this time.
The impact sent them spiraling down through the sky, hurdling towards the earth. Ashima going to take the brunt of it. Both of them yelling as they crashed through the trees into another clearing, a deep crater marking their impact as a loud cry was ripped from Ashima. Kane's blade had slid between hers and buried itself in her side. Not before her own two swords buried in his stomach. His transformation fading with a soft purple light his sword disappearing with it.
Tears leaked out both of their eyes as Kane coughs up blood, leaving it to dribble down his chin, down onto her face as the blood from their wounds mixed into the dusty earth. "Kane?" Ashima called out weakly as her wound stitched itself back together. Angels and those who possess them, are granted amazing healing abilities, but only when actively thinking about it. "Brerno (Brother)?" Once her own wound was healed, her swords disappeared, her body not being able to take the magical strain any longer.
Kane fell atop of Ashima with a loud, drawn out groan. More tears slide down her mocha face as she wraps her pale gold wings around him, covering them both as her trembling hands settled on his back, where his wounds bled on her, her wings protecting them form the outside world. "I'm sorry." She whispered as her hands began to glow an arctic blue. Kane sighed in relief as the cool feeling of her healing magic flowed through him. Easing his angered pain and stitched his flesh back together.
He was going to miss her.
Both twins cried softly into the other's shoulder as Ashima finished healing him. Her takeover melting away as they held each other as if they were a land line for the other. They held each other as if this was the last time they were going to be able to do it. And honestly it just might be. Enca and Fiore were a year apart, the journey also being very tolling on the mind, body and soul. They held each other as the last drop of sun disappeared into the ground, the moon on the rise as the stars sparkled like jewels. Shinning boldly against the dark, cloudless background.
"There is no way for me to change your mind is there?" Kane asked after a moment, pulling back to look at her, his dark purple blue eyes glittering with barely restrained tears. A shake of the head causes them to be cascading down his cheeks. "You have bested me in combat, and have healed my wounds. You now get to have your freedom. " He managed to get out as Ashima began to sob. Both their bodies trembling from the chill of the night and the cold that wrapped around their hearts.
"I am going to miss you the most Brerno."
"You have the heart of an adventurer and the soul of a wanderer Sectrar. We've never been able to contain you. We never will." Kane's parting words echoed in Ashima's ears as the birds sing their songs, greeting the coming day with a joyous tune that somehow worsened Ashima's already sorrowful mood. The brunette, barely restraining tears, laid back down. Curling around the small bluette, the taller watched her gentle peachy orange aura flow around her, the surface smooth like water. Looking at her hands, Ashima seeing a rusty red color, and frowns.
Her aura always reminds her of blood. Before that morning, it really didn't matter to her, but now as trace bits of her brother's blood clung to her nail beds, she hated the color with a passion. Hiding away her hands Ashima buried her face in Wendy's disheveled hair and closed her eyes. Willing sleep to takeover and let her thoughts rest along side her body. For now, she was granted her request; settling into a restless slumber.
-l-l-l-l-l-
Ashima knew that she was dreaming, but it didn't feel like it. Not with the scene playing out before her. A dragon of an electric yellow, lightning forming in arcs around the massive scaled body, fighting a tall demon with long white hair and a black eye patch seared over his right eye. The dragons aura of a dark, yet vibrant cobalt, flared out, revealing wisps of a black and harsher white. While the demons soul of multiple shades of harsh violet, flared in rebellion of the push of the dragon's.
The larger let out an earth rumbling roar as its massive wings unfurled from its body, the demon snarled then ripped off its eye patch, causing tears of blood to flow from the glowing crimson eye. Lunging at the dragon as he summoned his minions from hell. Helping him with his attack as the dragon swiped his large, clawed hands as the never-ending grotesque creatures.
Flapping his wings, he drove himself high in the air, the resulting wind causing the minions to fall back. The dragon dove claws out first into the demon with lightning light speed. clawing ripping into the side of a barely dodging demon. Then to witness his fatal wound quickly pull itself back together, clothes ruined, but looking like he wasn't just about to die. The demon laughed in the dragon's confused and enraged face. Causing him the send a lightning storm down upon the demon. Or at least tried to, as the demon quickly jumped out of the way. Narrowly missing the chance of becoming smoking ash.
"You cannot kill me! I am the god of the underworld!" The demon proclaimed, chest puffed up with pride and head swollen with vainglorious. His self-centered statement, left him wide open to a roar, except this time, lightning was spewed from his lungs in a great blast. Hitting the demon head on, causing him to yell in pain. But when the smoke cleared, the demon was getting back on his dark purple, clawed feet. The demon let out a loud snarl and lunged straight from the dragon, aiming right for the heart with incredible speed. Almost too fast for the eye to keep up.
Ashima's body tensed, a scream building in the back of her throat, as the unrestrained attack of the demon seemed to quickly overwhelm the dragon. Causing it to to consider retreat. It was too late for that though, the demon wouldn't have it. He will have the dragon's head on a silver plater then serve it to his children. Or whatever twisted versions of children that he means.
The brunette's body jerked violently as dragon cried out in pain, again and again, the demon unrelenting. A silent scream was ripped from her throat as magical chains came up from an abyss, and wrapped themselves cruelly around the dragon's limb. One wrapping around its snout, allowing the demon to jerk the chain and bring the glaring gaze down to his level. A smirk firmly stuck in place as his eyes turned wicked.
"I win. Your head will be my prize." The dragon tried to pull away, jerking against the bindings. A last ditch effort to save itself. An attempt in vain as the demon summoned a large, heavy sword. Bringing it up above his head and then swinging it down onto the dragon's thick neck. A scream was pulled from Ashima's lips as her eyes bore witness to the execution of the lightning dragon.
-l-l-l-l-l-
Ashima was awoken by her own screams. Along with waking the three dragon slayers. Causing them to bolt into a sitting position or jump into a fighting stance, before realizing that they weren't under attack. But when they did, they found a trembling Ashima, sitting up, knees to her chest and head in her hands. Trying to to will away the sight of death dulling the dragon's explosive's stormy blue eyes. The lightning the lived within them, fading back into the earth, allowing the dragon's soul to ascend to the afterlife. His head remaining forever a prize the demon will bare.
The brunette flinched away when Wendy laid her hand on her shoulder. Frightened dark purple blue eyes snapping to meet concerned mocha eyes. The smaller's peachy orange aura wrapped itself around the larger, allowing Ashima a peak into her soul. Nurturing and fierce. There was something very ancient and old in her, something out of time, just waiting for the prefect time to burst forth and show itself. But for now it lay in wait, for that moment, it was needed.
Ashima blinked as she pulled away from Wendy's odd soul, with the sound of her soft, soothing voice. Sighing heavily, Ashima closed her eyes and rested her forehead on Wendy's small shoulder. Her body sagging and the trembling easing up, the three slayers watching her closely. Confused and worried. Or in Gajeel's case, agitated instead of worried.
"My apologies." She breathed, a shudder raking through her body, before she pulled away, not meeting any of their eyes as she stood up. Drawing herself up to her full height of six foot one. Looking over Gajeel's messy mane, and towards Fairy Tail, a weak smile pulled on her full lips. "Let us return to Fairy Tail." Natsu cheered at the tallest's statement and lead the way back. Bickering with Gajeel over something or another. Ashima didn't care to focus on their conversation as Wendy's hand slipped into hers.
Looking down at the smaller, she raised a brow in questioning, her hand tightening around hers. Holding it properly. Wendy blushed a little as she gave her a shy smile. "I glad you're staying." she confessed, making Ashima smile softly as warmth spread through her chest. Maybe it won't be so bad.
The guild whooped and hollered when the four of them returned. Cheering for the new family member. They called for a party and Mira agreed to an open bar as Ashima managed to get through the crowds, holding on to Wendy's hand as the smaller led them to the bar. Searching for Mira's glorious food; Ashima's stomach has been growling the entire way back. Her appetite could rival a dragon slayer's.
"It takes a lot of energy to maintain control over conquered souls." Ashima explains as she dug into her large meal, Wendy sipping her smoothie next to her. A few feet away, Mira nodded in agreement as she attended to her girlfriend. Lucy smiled in thanks, grabbing her shake and moved next to Ashima's free side. The taller paused long enough to give her a nod of acknowledgement, before polishing off her food and wiping herself clean.
Taking the whiskey and coke from Mira, Ashima lifted her glass to the white-haired barmaid in cheers before turning around to watch the guild brawl, sipping on her drink. Allowing herself to get lost in the muddled colors of mixed and excited auras. Embracing the way they radiated happiness and trust. Natsu and Gray's auras standing out like a beacon among the pandemonium. Ashima narrowed her eyes a little, focusing on how with each contact of skin between the two mages, their auras shifted in color.
A knowing smile crept up on the brunette's lips. It was small, and secretive as she watched the two auras try to blend together. Small bits were a muted smokey garnet as the two wrestled and fought. Blissfully unaware of their inner desires and unknown linked souls. It wil be most amusing to watch these two soul mates come together.
"I hate paperwork." Makarov grumbled under his breath as he flipped through a packet of damage reports from Team Natsu's latest job. More like latest wreckage. "Natsu, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Gray, Natsu, Gray and Natsu, Erza. Thank any gods that Lucy isn't destructive." He continued to grumble as he shifted through the piles of paperwork. That luckily hasn't turned into mountains, all thanks to the lovely Ashima. Who was not only helping with the paperwork, but has also sorted out the the books with the assistance of the lovely Lucy, and is working relentlessly for the guild to be working the best it can for the past couple of months she has been here. All the while fighting for citizenship so she can become a legal member of Fairy Tail, not just honorary.
Said brunette was currently out on a bathroom break when a faraway bell on the edge of town began ringing. Makarov looked up towards the sound and smiled a little, instantly recognizing its meaning. But Ashima did not, and came rushing but, worried and tense. Ready to defend the crazy people, she has to come to care greatly for. But upon seeing the guild master's smile, Ashima relaxed a little, yet remained just as confused. If not more so.
"Don't worry Child, that is just Gildarts Clive. The Ace of Fairy Tail." He explains, just then the ground began to rumble and move under their feet. With wide eyes, the takeover mage looked between Makarov, the floor and the the window just behind the tiny old man. "Gildarts is a crush mage, and very destructive, so we reconfigure the city, to accommodate him." Makarov chuckled at Ashima's disbelieving look as her hand shot out and latched onto the sturdy door frame. Holding steady as there was an explosion, followed by an eruption of cheers and screams. The ground rumbled and went back to its original layout.
When the land stopped moving, Ashima quickly walked out of the office, onto the second floor balcony. She was allowed since she wasn't actually a member. Looking over the edge, she spotted an older man with orange hair and a heavy, weather cloak with some metal strips on each shoulder. He sat at the bar, turned away from the rest of the guild, his heavy, dull foggy grey aura wrapping around his body so intensely bound to himself that the power that was a thought from being released, caused Ashima to take a step back as she could almost taste his power. It increased the weight of the air with only his presence, and made Ashima think that he might not be human. But a little digging debunked that easily enough.
Still it enough that it caused the takeover mage to disappear back into the office when Gildarts looked up, feeling the weight of an intense look focused on the back of his orange head. His onyx eyes briefly met narrowed, tanzanite ones. Slanted like a cat's, before the new woman turned on her heel so abruptly that it left her thick fishtail braid fluttering after her as she quickly disappeared. Gildarts' head tilted in confusion, before his hand slammed down an incoming attack from Natsu. Sending him in the bar that had Mira glaring at him as he went back to sipping his drink.
"So who's the new lady?" Gildarts asks once Makarov comes down from his office a few minutes after his arrival. Settling himself atop the bar counter, a pint of beer in his small, weathered hands, Makarov smiles into the pint, before taking a healthy gulp. The older didn't respond to the larger for a couple minutes as he watched his child wreak havoc before him. Once he finally did, it wasn't the answer the younger was expecting.
"The woman going to bare my great-grandchildren." Gildarts nearly choked on his beer, pounding on his chest with his prosthetic as he coughed and wheezed his way through the shock. Makarov erupting with belly bursting laughter. Having to put aside his pint to hold onto his stomach as he doubled over in laughter. Ashima could feel his amusement and mischief all the way up in the office.
Her fingers twitched as her hands flexed and leaned back, away from the paperwork that lay in front of her. She just needed to finish this pile before she was able to work on her own paperwork. That is if her eyes would focus on the words her hand is trying to write, and if her chin would stop trying to become a part of her chest. How much sleep did she get last night? 2 hours? Maybe 3. The brunette lost track after she woke up from the nightmare just decided to run out her problems until it was time to head to the guild.
Massages her eyelids with her middle finger and thumb, Ashima decided that she should probably take a break. She's been running herself ragged these past few weeks, since she won her freedom. Trying to keep herself from thinking too much. From both her twin and the nightmare of the lightning dragon's demise. The weirdest part was that when she was awaken from it every night, right before its beheading, Ashima could swear that the dragon would look directly at her. Revealing very human like bright orange eyes.
Sighing deeply, Ashima trudged up to her feet and left the office, wandering down to the bar. Getting her normal whiskey and coke, before making a b-line towards Wendy and the exceeds. The eyes of the two oldest members on her as she sat down with a boneless grace, besides a smiling Wendy. The bluette subconsciously leaned into the taller as she relaxed into the wooden benches and began sipping her drink, watching the guild in quiet observation.
"She's quite tall." The red head observed as she passed, her strides long and unhurried. A confident grace filled her movements that almost didn't seem natural. But then again with three angels, have fallen being despite the point, a certain amount of gracefulness must of leaked through. "She's probably taller then me." Makarov nodded in agreement as he watch the brunette observe the guild in her normal, quiet fashion.
A small, secretive smile crept up on her full lips, her eyes crinkled in the corners from amusement as she began to scout out more soul mates. Surprisingly there were many pairs just here in the guild. Alzack and Bisca were definitely soul mates, and it seems they know it too - to some extent. Their souls would beautiful, yet shy shade of sunset orange. All warm and vibrant. Another was Natsu and Gray, with their smoky garnet that remained Ashima of one of the lines of gifts in her country - ice fire. It was one of the rarest, and seemed to describe their combined auras. Lucy and Mira were soul mates, their auras made this lovely lilac light, braided with streaks of wine and navy; that at times lightened them, or caused it to darken overall.
Those were the only ones she was able to pick out amongst the daily chaos. Sometimes she would see merging auras in the corners of her eyes, but when she turned to find them, they would be gone within the second. It was aggravating and patience thinning, but it provided a bit of a mystery from Ashima to untangle. She hasn't had one of those in a while. Paperwork was growing dull.
Waving Mira for another whiskey and coke, Ashima caught a glance at what little Wendy was reading. Pressing her cheeks to her dark blue hair as Mira dropped off her drink, Ashima a couple lines and quickly found that her small companion was reading a dramatic romance novel. Her eyes quickly eating up the words, her small pink lips pursed in concentration as her shoulders hunched in, her button nose buried in the inked pages.
Releasing a small sigh, Ashima leaned back into the back of the bench, stretching out her mile long legs as she brought her drink up to lips and drank a healthy swallow. Closing her eyes as she allowed her body to decompress. She might just read a book to relax, but the thought of staring at inked pages, brought her headache to the fore front of her mind. She didn't like how she could feel her pulse just behind her eyes, beating in time with the mounting pressure and pain. And it isn't that she doesn't dislike books, she just prefers to be in this reality, not another.
Just as Ashima began to doze off, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the grains of the table, Makarov let out a loud cheer. Startling the taller into awareness, and a straighter position. Turning to look at the creator of the sound, Ashima's grumpy eyes narrowed at the tiny guild master as he read through a thick pile of documents. He looked up after skimming through the first couple pages. Old charcoal eyes glittering with such excitement, that Ashima lost her hostility, and took up curiosity instead as she stood up, her empty glass in hand as she walked over to the 3rd guild master.
With an eyebrow raised, she took the offered papers after exchanging her empty glass for a full one. Sipping on it as she quickly read through the packet, her eyes widening as he brain worked furiously at translating the words from the immigration branch of the magic council. Rereading the main paragraph twice before setting down her partially finished drink and turning to the smiling old man. Disbelief and wonder playing out in her dark tanzanite eyes. Unusually expressive and open.
"Am I reading this correctly?" She asks for the second opinion that she desperately needed. Makarov nodded, meanwhile Gildarts' onyx eyes widened at hearing her voice. And seeing her so close. She was definitely taller than him, not by much, but the redhead wants to see what the rest of her family looks like, if she's this tall.
"Yes my child you are now a dual citizen of Fiore and Enca." He confirmed and a smile appeared on her full lips. So wide, that it revealed two rows of straight, pearly white teeth, along with dimples set deep in the middle of her cheeks. Both males blushed a little at the beauty the quiet observer held. It was comparable to the sun suddenly being unleashed during a cloudy day.
"This means I am allowed a guild mark, correct?" She asks shyly, her smile lessening, slowly returning to her normal small, pleased smile. Makarov, sad such a sight was now gone, but forever happy that he now has another brat in his crazy, completely dysfunctional family. He smiled widely and nodded. Gildarts watching this interaction from the side, saw how the old man lit up around the young woman, their actions reminding the Crush mage of Makarov and Laxus in his early teens. Before his father got exiled.
"Yes my dear." Makarov waves over a smiling Mira, a stamp in her delicate hands. "Where and what color?" He asks upon being handed the stamp that was going to give her, her guild mark. The one she has been waiting to get since she first arrived here and was promised a haven, some four months ago. Ashima has long since decided what she wanted.
"Orange and on my right shoulder." She told, crouching down as she moved aside her long braid, Makarov standing up and pressing the stamp to her lovely mocha skin. Upon pulling away the machine, it revealed a bright orange Fairy Tail insignia standing boldly against its dark background. Ashima flashed that wide dimpled smile, before composing herself as the master got the rest of the guild's attention.
"Guess who finally got their guild mark?" The guild went wild - wilder - when Ashima showed off her new mark. Lucy sprinting up to her and Tackling hugging her, with Wendy not far behind. Causing Ashima to give a loud laugh, that was only partially lost in the demands for a party to be thrown. At which everyone congratulated her. Even Gajeel, who rested a heavily calloused hand on her shoulder, giving a lopsided smirk.
"Looks like you're a true Fairy now." Was all he said. But it made Ashima smile all the same. They weren't really close friends, but she greatly appreciated him, Natsu and Wendy for standing for her, when her brother came around. After that there was this silent respect between the two. Especially because, when Natsu came charging at her after her guild mark was revealed, she had instantly kicked him down six feet into the ground. Keeping him quiet for the rest of the night.
It was nice to have a quiet drinking buddy, that didn't expect you to interact. Only to enjoy each other's presence. Especially amongst the daily chaos of the guild.
"Hell Week?" Ashima asked, brows drawn together in confusion. Lucy sitting besides her, shrugged, just as lost as the taller was. The two first time guild members, looked to Wendy, who was on the other side of Ashima. But despite being a former guild member to another guild, Wendy didn't know what the term was. Besides seeing the obvious - fellow guild mates going on mission after mission in rapid success. Most teams were temporarily disbanded or broken into partnerships.
"Yes, when the non-S-Class mages try to impress Master, before he announces who will be able to compete for S-Class." Erza explains from further down the bar, fueling her sugary addiction with a half eaten strawberry cake besides her and a fresh slice on her plate.
Ashima nods in understanding and downs the last bit of her drink, before standing up and stretching. She was only out here to take a break from paperwork, which she hasn't stopped doing in the month she got her guild mark. Releasing a deep sigh, Ashima relaxes herself and heads back upstairs to finish the latest damage reports from Natsu's last couple of missions. Which have been less actually; Ashima's theory is that Gray isn't there to rile him up too much. Who isn't normally destructive at all, only when paired with Natsu.
It is going to be a long, frustrating road to get those two to recognize what is there. And correctly identifying sexual tension, instead of believing that it is plain frustration and annoyance. Very long indeed. Ashima sighed again, her fingers twitching in exasperation. Why is she doing this to herself again?
-l-l-l-l-l-
It was around noon the next day that the Master, stood on the second level, his S-Class mages standing behind him, that he revealed the candidates for S-Class:
"Natsu Dragneel."
"Gray Fullbuster."
"Juvia Lockser."
"Elfman Strauss."
"Freed Justine."
"Cana Alberona."
"Levy McGarden."
"Mest Gryder."
"We will be leaving in two weeks. All participates and their non S-Class partner will meet us early at Hargeon." Master finalized, finally allowing the guild to erupt into cheers and loud conversations as the S-Class mages disbursed and began to mingle with the others, Master heading straight for Ashima, heading towards where she sat with Team Natsu. When he hopped atop of the table, Ashima gave him a quizzical look. Brow raised and everything.
"You, Ashima N'Keiyah, will be coming along to the S-Class Trials."
"WHAT!"