Magnolia, Fairy Tail Guild Hall, Year X782, August 10

Sora sat with her knees drawn to her chest under a tree, watching her brother and Natsu fighting again. They had gotten a bit better at it, but they both still sucked at it. It would take Sora two seconds to have them both on the ground in a pile.

"Are those two fighting again?" Erza asked, walking up and sat down next to Sora.

"Let them. They need the practice." The younger girl scoffed, "Quite badly too."

"You know, you've been here for a whole year now and I still haven't seen you use any magic."

Sora got a pained look on her face, clutching the box next to her, "Don't expect to." The midnight black dog at her feet rested his head on her feet and wagged his tail a bit when she ran her hand down his head.

"You know I'm starting to doubt that you're even a wizard."

"Good for you, Strawberry."

"Why do you call me that?"

"You look like one. And you reek of strawberry cake."

"What's in the box? I've seen you carry it everywhere with you, but you never open it."

"Probably never will."

"Well? What's in it?"

"A sword."

"Is it cursed?"

"Nope."

"Can I have it, since you'll never use it?"

"Over my dead body, Strawberry."

Erza had gotten closer to figuring things out about Sora every time she'd questioned her. The box had been the biggest mystery about the girl since she'd joined Fairy Tail a year ago, but this was the first time the requip mage had questioned her on it. So it was a sword, and obviously very important to Sora.

"Is it yours?"

"Not originally, but it technically is now."

"Who did it belong to first?" The redhead sat down next to her.

"No one you know." Sora told her, suddenly more hostile than she'd been before. "Why do you constantly ask questions about me anyways? Its kinda annoying."

"That touched a nerve." Erza raised an eyebrow at her, "Bad memories?"

Sora didn't say anything, just looked over at Gray and Natsu still fighting. Her eyes narrowed at them, "You said you doubted that I was actually a wizard." She raised her hand, and two rocks floated in the palm of her hand in a circular motion, "I hope this erases that doubt." She snapped, and the two rocks that'd been floating in her hand flew forward, hitting Gray and Natsu in the side of their heads and knocking them over.

"Not bad," Erza stood back up, "But your aim is off."

"I haven't used my magic in over a year, so I'm a bit rusty. You're not allowed to judge how good my aim is anyways, Strawberry."

"If you say so, Dirt Brains." The redhead shrugged, walking off.

Sora picked up the box next to her and set it in her lap, tempted to open it, but she didn't. It was Keyra's. He said she could have it when he got a new one, but now he'd never get a new one. It wouldn't be right. It was still his. And it was her fault that he was-

Her thoughts were interrupted by her dog setting his head in her lap and looking up at her with his big brown eyes. She smoothed down his silky black fur with her hand and smiled at him. "I'm alright, Hyatate. I'm alright..."